Haidakhandi Universal Ashram Newsletter
 
 




Dear Friends,


I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving  and as we approach the holidays in December I want to say how grateful I am for you all in my life.  More and more I realize how blessed I am and how everything that is going on is the workings of Shri Babaji and the Divine Mother.  A couple of weeks ago, I was headed to California to be with my family for my son Jacob’s 40th birthday.  Even though I knew it
would be a push to be pujari the morning of my 1pm flight from Denver (a four and a half hour drive) I had such an overwhelming feeling of gratitude to Mother, Baba, Lord Shiva, Ganesh and Hanumanji that I really wanted to bathe them all before I left and thank Them for all that they have done for the Ashram in general and for me personally in my life.  I so realized that making or missing flights is such small stuff compared to what we do at our altars and in our pujas and prayers.  As I waved the lights to Mother’s and Baba’s feet that morning, I could hardly sing because I was so choked with tears of gratitude and love.


I have said this before but it bares repeating that everything that has transpired at this home of Baba and Mother (many refer to it as a 5-star ashram!) is the work of the Divine.  Earlier in the month we had a magnificent Diwali celebration.  A reporter from the Los Angeles Times wanted to come that afternoon to interview us about the spiritual Mecca that Crestone has become.  I told him he was coming on a very auspicious day and invited him to attend the candlelit evening program in the temple, which he did.  As he tried to interview me later in the candlelit earthship along with the other 125 or so folks eating and visiting, he commented on how surprised he was that so many people gathered in such a remote place and the beautiful structures that were here at the Ashram. I told him quite clearly that everything that is at this Ashram is the work of Baba and Mother and that it is a total miracle.  There is no doubt in my mind.


Few people know but when I was first at the Ashram in 1987, I was fasting for three months, shaving my head every Tuesday in honor of Hanumanji and singing 11 Hanuman Chalisas each Tuesday.  One night Hanuman appeared to me and He was holding a yellow flower which He gave to me.  Needless to say I was deeply touched and in the morning I asked Shila Devi what this might mean.  She told me that yellow signified devotion and that a God handing you a flower meant that He was offering a boon (blessing).  At the time, there was nothing on the Ashram grounds and things seemed a bit shaky (we were living in a rental house in the Baca).  Well each morning as we sang the Hanuman Chalisa I would see Hanumanji handing me this flower and I would ask Him to bless this Ashram and so He has.  To this day, twenty three years later, I still can see Him when we sing the Chalisa and I continue to ask Him to bless the Ashram and I know He has been part of the team with Mother and Baba creating this miracle.


In my personal life, I have also been so blessed. Having brought my sons, Jacob (age 10) and Amil (age 8) to Haidakhan for two summers in 1981 and 1982 to be with our beloved Lord Babaji,  I know they have been extremely blessed.  So I was not surprised when Amil and his wife Sarah had three beautiful sons that are as sweet and loving as the day is long. 
Jacob and his wife Simone, however had wanted a child for 5 years.  Simone, because of health challenges, had actually been told by physicians that she would never be able to have a child.  They tried everything and were even contemplating adopting.  I asked Shri Muniraji about what I could do and he suggested a puja to Lord Shiva each Monday and of course I prayed to Hanumanji, Mother and Baba for them as well.  One never knows the results of prayers and I know many others were praying for them as well but some months later, Simone was pregnant!  She had a very healthy pregnancy and a relatively easy C-section (due to previous surgeries this was necessary).  They gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Avalon last June 14.  I love my children dearly and Amil and Sarah love their boys dearly but the absolute joy, gratitude and love I see in Jake and Simone’s eyes every time they hold their baby is beyond comprehension.   One day Simone just looked at me while she was holding Avalon and with tears in her eyes said, “I can’t believe she is my baby!”


Meanwhile I am healthy, strong, blessed by my loving family and all my friends and living in the most beautiful place in the world, what more is there to ask for.   I am eternally grateful.  I send my love to all.

  

In truth and love, 

Ramloti




This Month’s Fire Ceremonies and Schedule


The new-moon fire ceremony this month is on Sunday, December 5 and the full-moon fire ceremony is on Tuesday, December 21. The fire ceremonies begin at 10:08 am and are followed by a meal.  Our evening aarati is at 6pm and morning aarati is at 8am for the winter with a paduka puja in Shri Babaji’s kutir each morning at 7:40am.  Lunch is served at about 1pm. The Maha Lakshmi Shop is open every day from 9am until 5pm.


If you would like to participate by sponsoring a fire ceremony, we would like to send you a blessed item from the fire ceremony. They are:


$27 sponsorship - Copper, brass, nickel Om Namah Shivaya bracelet

$54 sponsorship - Rose Quartz, Rosewood, Garnet or Tulsi Mala

$108 sponsorship - Rudraksha Mala or Crystal Mala or Copper, silver, brass bracelet


You can make the donation online by just clicking here or call 719-256-4108 or e-mail the Ashram at info@BabajiAshram.org or send us a check to: P.O. Box 9, Crestone, CO 81131.

We are continually grateful for all of your support.






Hermitage Construction Fundraisers January 7, 9 and 16, 2011


We certainly hope that if you are in the area, that you will join Ramloti and friends for some inspirational events.  The three evening events will include puja, chanting, a slide presentation and satsang.  There will be images of the hermitage project and its progress will be discussed and all money raised will go to the hermitage building fund.  The events will be at the following locations.


Friday, January 7 at 7:30pm - Karin Kabalah Center at 2531Briar Cliff Rd, #217, Atlanta, GA 30329. Call 404-320-1038 for more information.


Sunday, January 9 at 7pm - Dr. Bob Walsh’s at 1501 S.W. 52nd Terrace, Plantation, FL 33317.  Call 954-873-8083 for more information.


On Sunday morning, January 16 at 9am, we will perform a a fire ceremony at Harmony House in Delray Beach, FL followed by aarati, chanting and a potluck vegetarian brunch.  Call 561-274-0883 for more information and directions.

 

Sunday evening, January 16 at 7pm we will gather at Transformational Studies Institute at 108 Intracoastal Point, Dr. Jupiter FL.  For more information and directions call 561-744-9123 ex. 2. 

 

Ramloti will have items from the Maha Lakshmi Shop.  If you would like her to carry something special for you, please call her at 719-256-4108 before January 5.  We hope you can join us and if you have friends in any of these areas, please let them know about it.  All are welcome.



Fire Ceremony Workshop in Hollywood, FL - Thursday, Jan. 13


Ramloti will be conducting a special fire ceremony workshop from 10am until 3pm in Hollywood, FL on Thursday, January 13.  Florida is fortunate to have a monthly fire ceremony at Harmony House in Delray Beach since Ramloti and Pujari from Holland did a training some six years ago in Florida.  The vision of Floridian devotees is to have more of these ceremonies going on in different areas to make it possible for more people to attend.  Fire ceremonies are very helpful to the energy in an area bringing harmony, good health, prosperity and purification of the atmosphere.  However, anyone performing one does need to have proper training as the energy is very strong and additional training is also a very helpful thing. 


The workshop will include a small fire ceremony, instruction on performing a simple one, discussion, a questions and answer period and a potluck lunch.  If you call Ramloti at the Ashram before she departs on her tour (Jan. 5), she can bring some of the articles you would need to conduct a simple ceremony in your home including a small copper havan kund and a book about puja.  Attending the workshop does not oblige someone to perform fire ceremonies, many would just like a deeper understanding of the ritual to make it more meaningful for them.    


The cost of the workshop will be by donation and all funds raised will go to support the hermitage project at the Ashram.  You may call 954-924-0408 for more information and to reserve a space in the workshop.  We will limit the class to 12 people so please call.  It will be an intimate and profound day together.



Dreaming and Embodying the Divine Dance

with Sofia Diaz & Elaine Heroux - Jan. 14 - 16


A
weekend workshop for men and women wanting to access their inner world to discover the next step on their spiritual journey will be offered by world renown facilitator and teacher Sofia Diaz and Elaine Heroux LCSW, a graduate of Marion Woodman’s Body Soul Rhythms Leadership Training Program, who specializes in mind/body therapy using dreams and the creative arts.


The workshop will combine Sofia’s gifts of intuitive processing, leading group work and sacred movement with Elaine’s gifts of understanding the dream world.  The participants will invite the Divine to speak to them through their dreams on the auspicious Friday night of Makar Sankrant.  Saturday will be spent exploring these dreams by understanding the symbolism gifted from them and then embodying these gifts through creative movement and sacred gesture.


The workshop will be from 6pm until 9pm on Friday and from 9am until 9pm (with lunch and dinner breaks) on Saturday in Ft Lauderdale, FL.  The workshop attendees will join in the Fire Ceremony and chanting in Delray Beach on Sunday morning for the culmination of the workshop.  The suggested donation for the workshop is $108 for Samaj members and $135 for non-Samaj members, if you register ahead of time.  For those who register that evening  it will be $150 if there is still space available.   Reasonable priced lodging is available in the area.  All proceeds will go to support the work of spreading Shri Babaji’s message through the American Haidakhan Samaj.  For more information call Elaine at 561-277-8326 and leave a message.



The Hermitages for Jonathan, Ramloti and Premanand


The work has been continuing on the hermitages.  The important job of securing the edges of the excavation on the hermitage site to prevent erosion from snow, wind or rain needed to be done before winter set in.  Jonathan has been heading this work under our contractor, Paul’s guidance.  Darrell was one of the main helpers before he left for the winter to go back to New Zealand.   We also hired a local friend, Jata, who has been a great help.  About a week and a half ago, Will arrived from Utah to serve at the Ashram for a couple of months.  He loves working outside on hard jobs like this and has really helped bring the project to completion.  We are also scattering wild grass seeds before each snowfall to restore the grasses that may have been disturbed in the excavation.


We are anticipating the construction of at least one hermitage to begin in early spring but this is dependent on the Ashram having the funds in place.  Above you can find the information about the fundraisers that will happen in in January and hopefully we will have a few more in February.  Our annual on-line auction will be in March (see article below) and all money raised will go to the hermitage fund.  We look forward to other’s fundraising ideas for helping to build quiet spaces for Ramloti, Jonathan and Premanand.  Call us with your ideas at 719-256-4108. These hermitages will not only give the long-time residents the quiet and rest they need to continue their service here, it will also open up more space for visitors in the dorm and yurt. 


We ask each of you to look into your hearts and see what this Ashram means to you and to please donate as you are able. You may go to our website and donate through PayPal (you can even set up a monthly tithe). You can also send a check designated for the hermitages to the Ashram at P.O. Box 9, Crestone, CO 81131 or you can call us at 719-256-4108 with a credit card number. We want to thank you in advance for your support, love and prayers.  Together, with Baba’s grace, we can make this happen! 



Annual On-Line Auction Hermitage Fundraiser - March 7 - 21


It may seem like a long way off until March but this is the time for everyone to begin thinking of how they can participate in this very fun and worthwhile event.  The auction is already up for viewing at http://www.biddingforgood.com/babajiashram and it would be wonderful if everyone took a look at what has been donated so far and came up with items or services that they could donate.  Most of us have closets, attics, spare rooms or basements that house items that are too good to give away but have not been used for years.  These may be just what someone else is looking for!  It will be a total win-win.  You will clear out some space, someone else will get what they need for a good price, it will be healthy for the environment to recycle goods and the money will all go to the Ashram. 


Such items as electronics (maybe you just upgraded your laptop or ipod), sports memorabilia,  small kitchen appliances (like a vitamix, dehydrator or juicer), cloth items, jewelry, get aways, food items and services are great.  For our audience, any sacred item that you may be willing to part with would be treasured.  You are able to upload the image and item directly on to the auction yourself or you can call Ramloti at 719-480-5514 or email her at info@babajiashram.org and she can help you.


Another way to support the auction and ultimately the hermitage project is by being a sponsor of the auction.  If you are a business your logo with a link to your website will be displayed on the home page as well as several of the emails that we will send out during the auction.  Several families and individuals have also sponsored the auction just to show their support.  There are three levels of sponsorship:   Maha Lakshmi for $216, Saraswati for $108 and Durga for $54.

  Some of the 113 items already donated:



Karma Yoga and Ashram Maintenance at the Ashram


Despite the colder weather, karma yoga goes on at the Ashram.  We have actually been blessed by a lot of sun which makes the cold feel much warmer.  Most of the energy has gone into the hermitage site erosion control which is reported above.
 
We have also been doing a fair amount of wood cutting and storing for the winter time.  We are also beginning erosion control work on the hill just west of the lawn area outside the earthship.  The sandy soil here is often subject to erosion and Jonathan felt that lining that ledge with jute and rocks would be a good thing.  If this is complete in time before the major snows, we will also scatter wild grass seeds to encourage the grasses whose roots do a tremendous amount to hold soil.


We have purchased cold fire extinguishers for the three main buildings of the Ashram. The cold fire is much more effective on many different types of fires and they can be recharged and refilled easily here at the Ashram.  We are researching fire horns, a walkie talkie system and working on getting some fire fighting equipment (hoses, helmets and clothing) through a grant.  Meanwhile work has begun on a fire plan of action so that we would know the best thing to do in case of fire. 


We received the final decree by the Colorado Water Court on November 9 making the water rights for agricultural, commercial and educational uses absolute.  We are very grateful for this positive results.   This only leaves our conditional hydroelectric use needing renewal in six years.  This will require showing either use of this right or in the very least, diligence in researching the possibility of using it.  Because the Spanish Creek is below all of the buildings on the Ashram and because it flows at different rates throughout the year, we have been unable to ascertain that it would be a reliable source of energy all year round.  Without this certainty we feel we cannot justify the expense of putting in a hydro system at this time.  As technology increases, perhaps we will be able to do so.  If anyone hears of ideas or resources, please let us know.




Recent Events


Diwali - A Celebration of Lights and of Peace


What a very special day this year’s Diwali was.  Beautiful, warm weather made the fire ceremony and then the trek up to the Maha Lakshmi statue for Her yearly bath and puja most enjoyable.
 
Over sixty people and many children participated in these events and then ate a delicious feast.  The rest of the day was spent preparing for the big night festival.  Food was prepared and hundred of candles and Christmas lights organized for the evening. 

Over 125 people gathered in the temple to hear chants and songs of peace and light from the different spiritual traditions and groups.  It was an amazing night.  Here are some photos:

Oniyan Wakan Tipi - Native American            Crestone Charter School 
Suzy (Carmelites), Jillian (Voice Yoga),             Shumei International Institute                                                                    

and Alicia  (Chokecherry Farm)

Sufi Dances of Universal Peace                                                Dharma Ocean - Buddhist Group
Temple of Consciousness - Hindu Group                            Sikh Chant from Crestone Healing Arts
Darrell with a Song from New Zealand                              And the Resplendent Divine Mother




Thanksgiving Day

                   





Mother on Thanksgiving Day.


We are so Grateful for Her Love and all that She Gives to Her Children.


Our Children, Families and Visitors


With the cooler weather and snow in the mountains, the visitors to the Ashram are fewer.  We enjoy everyone that comes here and hope to see them when it warms up again.





Calendar for 2010 and 2011


December 5, 2010 - New-moon fire ceremony at 10am followed by a meal.


December 21, 2010 - Full-moon fire ceremony at 10am followed by a meal.


January 7, 2011 - Hermitage Construction Fundraiser in Atlanta, GA. Call - 404-320-1038.


January 9, 2011 - Hermitage Construction Fundraiser in Plantation, FL. Call - 954-873-8083.


January 13, 2011 - Fire Ceremony Workshop w/ Ramloti in Hollywood, FL.  Call - 954-924-0408. 


January 14 - 16,  2011 - Workshop with Sofia Diaz & Elaine Heroux in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  (Ends with fire ceremony and chanting in Delray Beach Jan. 16th morning.)  Call - 561-277-8326.


January 16 - Fire Ceremony, aarati, chanting and satsang followed by a potluck brunch at 9am.  Located at Harmony House, in Delray Beach, FL. Call - 561-274-0883.


January 16 - Chanting, puja and presentation at Transformational Studies Institute in Jupiter, FL. at 7pm.  Call - 561-744-9123.


March 4, 2011 - Maha Shivaratri with all-night chanting.


April 3 - 11, 2011 - Spring Navratri, the Divine Mother Festival.


July 14, 2011 - Guru Purnima Day


July 23 - 24, 2011 - Annual American Samaj Weekend.


July 26 - 29, 2011 - Annual Family Week and Concurrent Workshop.


September 27, 2011 - October 5 - Fall Navratri, the Divine Mother Festival.


October 26, 2011 - Diwali, Festival of Lights. Fire ceremony at 10am. Chanting at 7pm.




Maha Lakshmi Shop Report



We are happy to announce that the 2011 Babaji Calendar, which is produced in Italy each year, arrived today. Please call the shop with a credit card to receive a copy as they go out very quickly.  We will not be putting them on-line this time as we had difficulty with the shipping costs charged for foreign countries.  There is a slight flaw in the January dates but the rest of the months are fine.  The photos are beautiful.  The calendar sells for $18.



We also received some many lovely silk scarves (altar clothes) from someone returning from Nepal.  They are selling for $10 each and are shown here.  Since each one is a unique color, we will not put these on-line either but you can call and order them from this photo.  


You may view and order the majority of the other items online at www.shop.babajiashram.org/  You may also call us at 719-256-4108 with questions or to place an order.  We love to talk with you.  We accept visa, mastercard or discover.  The Maha Lakshmi Shop is open everyday from 9:30am until 5pm.


The Shop is a major support of the Ashram, so we deeply appreciate your patronage.


Maha Lakshmi Mata Ki Jai!

 

December, 2010