Ashram Residency
There are currently three long term residents at the Ashram; Ramloti, Premand, and Jonathan. To read each of their experiences about coming to the Ashram or meeting Shri Babaji, click on their names; Ramloti, Premanand, and Jonathan. Those that have visited the Ashram would remember them since they have been here for many years. Why do they live and serve here? Shri Babaji's strongly urged us to practice karma yoga which is selfless service offered to the Divine. To practice this at Shri Babaji's and the Divine Mother's home here in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado is extremely meaningful. Each one of them plays a part in creating and maintaining this special place that has served thousands of people who are seeking spiritual growth and refuge. What good fortune to be able to live and serve this way.
Would You Like to Serve?
With the Ashram continuing to grow, it seems to be time to have one or two more full-time residents living here. Jonathan, Premanand, and Ramloti wear several hats here and they are all willing to share some with the right person or persons. Some of these hats would be maintenance person, pujari, shop manager, administrative assistant, and web master. Before giving the job description of each of the positions, let us first consider the basic qualifications for a long-term resident at the Ashram.
First of all the person needs to have established a relationship with the Ashram. This can be accomplished by a few visits of a week or so. This gives everyone time to consider how living together would be. The qualities that make a good fit is a sincere desire to serve, a generosity of spirit, a sense of humor, a willingness to take on any task at any time that is needed, a willingness to share your feelings and take advise, and a deep faith and commitment to Shri Babaji and His teachings of truth, simplicity, love, and service to all of humankind. Excellent health and a strong body are also important here since we live in a rugged climate, work hard and the Ashram is located at an altitude of 8,500 feet. The nearest hospital is an hour away in Alamosa, as are most medical doctors.
Financial arrangements are as follows: One should expect to make the suggested donation of $324 for the first month at the Ashram. If all goes well, board and room are provided with no donation expected for the next two months. After three months, the new resident is eligible to receive a small monthly stipend along with board and room. The food served at the Ashram is all organic, vegetarian, and a raw diet is also possible if one desires. The accommodations vary with the time of the year from a private room in the beautiful straw-bale adobe dorm to shared space with other residents, perhaps even on the floor in the yurt. A married couple could also be considered.
Everyone at the Ashram does just about everything from cooking, cleaning, weeding, tending the Shop, sweeping and shoveling snow, taking care of visitors, and helping in the temple, however there is also some specialization. Job descriptions are as follows:
Maintenance Person - Handy at repairs of all kind, a general knowledge of solar, plumbing, electricity, and construction.
Pujari - A willingness to rise early and learn to awaken, bathe, dress, and decorate the Divine Mother and other murtis in the temple. Must be very sincere, devoted, and focused on the duty and have a good eye for color and balance.
Shop Manager - Some experience in running a retail store. Duties would include ordering products, pricing, display, organization, and keeping the on-line shop up to date. Basic computer knowledge (preferably Macintosh) would be helpful.
Administrative Assistant - Help with the management of the Ashram. Skills needed would be good telephone presence, organizational and management skills, typing and computer knowledge.
Web Master - Maintain and enhance the Ashram website. Must have solid computer skills (preferably Macintosh), must be careful and methodical and a good speller.
Living at the Ashram is both a great blessing with many joys and also a challenging life of service. As most of you know, the Ashram is located in one of the most beautiful places in the world on 101 acres of pristine land with a creek running through it providing our delicious water supply. If you feel you can be of service to the Ashram, please call or email us for more information at 719-256-4108 orinfo@BabajiAshram.org. The following are some excerpts from people who have stayed at the Ashram for periods of time or who visit frequently.
My Home in the Mountains by Jason Almendarez |
| Posted by Ramloti (ramloti) on Dec 01 2007 |
HUA: My Home In The Mountains
by Jason Almendarez
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.
I have been blessed with the presence of Shri Babaji at variouse times in my life, good and bad times, that made my connections with Baba, my friends and family so much stornger than what they were in the past. Although I was never blessed to meet Him when He was in a physical enbodiment, I have felt His presence in my life: that sort of guiding hand, or that slap on my forehead when I know I am doing something wrong. I have always (well after my early teens) felt this deep gratitude and reverence for my Divine father.
After knowing about Babaji for some time, I was suprised to hear from a friend that Babaji has an Ashram in the Mountains of Colorado!! I was thrilled to hear this news, the mountains just always seemed to attract my heart. The odd thing is that once we heard about the Ashram our trip did not happen immediatley, it took four years before my friends and I were able to all come. As you can immagine I had built up a lot of things to be thankful for to my Divine Father and it was just a MUST to come and pay my respects.
So there we were heading up to Crestone from Houston TX. singing Baba’s chants as we made our 20 hour drive to go see Babaji’s Ashram. The week my friends and I spent at the ashram was wonderful and the ararti and chanting were just so addictive, as if they just drew me in. I absolutly loved it! So I was suprised when Ramloti asked me to stay a few weeks longer to help with kids week. I felt as if Baba, Himself, was asking me and decided to do it!
I just love to be here at the Ashram and elevate myself fom the sort of daily grind that attacks you in the big city. I like to recharge when I get out here, and by that I mean gain my sense of self back along with selfless service and humblness. The vibrations here can be experienced by all who come, and the energy is truely infectious. I see many people come to the Ashram who are all welcomed with a feeling of a second home, if you will. When we all join in for chanting most can go all night long. So many people with their own unique backrounds of how they got to know Babaji and why they like the Ashram are just living proof that Baba taught something True and Simple for all to grasp and taught it with Love. This infinite love that pours endlessly through His being and that we radiate to each other in our daily lives. We have all unified in Him and take from His teachings individually. So when asked, “Why I like coming to the Ashram”, I just simply answer “Because I enjoy life and would love to continue enjoying it”.
Last changed: Dec 18 2009 at 7:15 PM
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