Ashram Residency

I had no idea what I was getting myself into as we heading towards this little Ashram in Crestone. I was ready for a spiritual adventure and that exactly what I got.  The first thing I learned was practice of karma yoga.  I was shocked to find it was a simple practice of service with a goal of connection to the divine. 

Before arriving at the Ashram in Crestone, I had plenty of time to wonder what my stay would be like. I saw myself hungry, tired, and anxious to be back in Boulder. I had no idea what sleeping accommodations would be. I wondered if there would be beds, cots, or just bare floors. 

Many strange coincidences led me to this ashram. I had never really thought I would find myself in such a place. But through forces unseen and only vaguely understood here I am. Thus far it has been a very powerful yet subtle transformative experience. 

I came to the ashram not knowing what to expect. Within the first few days I came to uncover parts of myself that I had no idea were there, and had been hindering my heart from fully opening to it’s capacity. 

Usually I spend some winter months at Haidakhan Headquarters in Northern India. This year Babaji put me here. I was planning to spend the winter in Costa Rica, but somehow I am doing my usual Ashram stint here. First, I must say, I so appreciate the hard work, faith and courage that the devotees put into this place, surely they started in the mid-1980s with just a piece of mountainside. 

From the outside, my life looks extraordinary. I have worked very hard to put all the elements in their right place; I have a wonderful husband, a successful career and we were fortunate enough this year to purchase an apartment in Manhattan, but for some reason I just haven't been happy--missing the "joy of it all". My spiritual life needed some serious fine tuning. About a year ago I read a book about a devotee's experience with Babaji in Hairakhan and was wondering how I could check out of my life for a few months to get there. It wasn't going to happen anytime soon. But as the Divine works I just followed as it unfolded; For some reason, I did not make travel plans for the holidays, a friend emailed me the link for the Ashram in Colorado and the very next day my husband said 'Why don't you do something nice for yourself and go to an Ashram or something?" He gave me the permission I thought I needed--so I knew exactly where I was going!

I have lived in Crestone for five years. My husband, Thomas, teaches at the Crestone Charter School and I have my own home busines. Our son Kailou is eight and our daughter Jade is five. When first considering moving to Crestone, we visited many of the spiritual centers. I was intrigued with all of the centers but kept being drawn back to the Ashram and the Divine Mother. Even when I planned to attend a meditation at another center, I somehow could not find it and would end up back at the Ashram to meditate in the temple.

I discovered the Divine Mother Temple as a tourist in 1990 and was immediately drawn to it, even though I had not heard of Babaji before and had not experienced any ceremonies. The prospect of an Ashram developing around the Temple fascinated me as well.  Over the next few years I returned many times, just to sit in the Temple.  When Muniraj came in 1997 I attended some of those events.   

I have talked with many visitors to the Ashram who have commented on the good energy and the atmosphere of peace here. You can see the relief in their eyes when they walk into the temple and have Mother’s darshan. I distinctly remember the first time I had the fortune of coming to the Ashram. 

Visiting the ashram is always a healing and revitalizing experience for me.  When I am here I feel renewed and nurtured by Mother’s love.  Sitting in our magnificent kirtan hall resonating with the devotion of voices singing bhajans, truly lifts my spirit and reawakens me to the divinity present everywhere and always. 

My sense of what is happening in this part of the world near the mountains, is that this seems to be a gathering point for people with their own particular spiritual practices. My direct experience of visiting and then living here is that there is a quality to the silence that seems to emanate from the land. The geography itself ties in with the legends of various Native American tribes who came here for their own spiritual practices. 

For some reason after being asked to write, “Why I like coming to the Ashram”, my mind just came to a halt. I felt as if I needed to take a step back and figure out why I actually love this place so much. The Ashram just represents something real and concrete that has been in my life from the time of my teenage years. Now here I am at the age of 22 in my life and I am finding the nessesary time to put forth toward my spiritual education. 

Hello, my name is Isaac, I’m 17, and as many of you already know, I spent a huge chunk of my summer here at the Ashram.  My father, Lok Nath, once said that spending time with Babaji in Haidakhan is one of the most difficult things you will ever do but if you approach it with an open heart it will be a very rewarding experience (or something like that).  

I first heard about the Ashram a couple of years ago.  On my first visit I was astonished at the peace, tranquility, beauty and all of the facilities.  I loved the bhajans and the temple to Mother.  I have been back on visits to the Ashram many times since then with my wife, Rashmi and my four-year-old son, Anshul. We have also brought many new families to the Ashram with us.  I even came for two visits on my own while my wife and son were in India last year.