Dear Friends,

I am writing this in Corvallis, Oregon where I have come for the weekend to celebrate my nephew’s wedding.  It has been a wonderful fest of family, friends, and joy and I am very happy that I made the rather long trip for this occasion.  My sister from CA and I have been put up in the home of the next door neighbor, who is out of town.  This gives me the peace and quiet that I love as well as the proximity to family and the action that I came for.  I arrived Friday evening in the near dark, but when I awoke  the next morning and explored the huge yard of this 2-acre rural home, I was in such bliss.  There were zillions of flowers everywhere, some of the biggest dalhias I have ever seen in so many vibrant colors.  The garden was teeming with vegetables, all just asking me to put them in my green smoothies.  Fresh raspberries, blackberries, laden apple trees, mint plants and corn that was higher then an elephant’s eye (a line from the musical, Oklahoma!).  As I walked around in the soft Oregon sun with the chickens and goats bleating in the front yard, I felt such deep gratitude for all the beauty and the peace that had been given like a gift to me for this long weekend.  Life seems to me to be so full of these gifts.

I have always been a grateful person, seeing and appreciating the beauty in almost every situation.  It only recently came clear to me how that has shaped my life and the life at the Ashram.  I was in Moscow last month and some of the ashrams were asking about the success of the Ashram here in Crestone.  I heard complaints about the people at the their ashrams, the difficulty raising money and onwards.  Later, I realized that they have lovely ashrams and there are people that live and work there, so many things must be going well to have gotten this far, but that is never what I heard about, only the problems.  I later shared that I felt only when they see and appreciate and focus on the positive, will those things grow and the problems that they perceive diminish.  When I met with a leader of another large European ashram, I was so grateful to hear him express his gratitude for how well things were going at that Ashram.  This is a healthy view that will bring more harmony.  Obviously, we all have challenges and they are not to be buried in the sand, but first acknowledging all that we have and all that is working well will bring us a long way in our life situations, wherever we might find ourselves.

Finally, I would like to take a quote from one of my mentors, Sofia Diaz.  “There is a prophecy of this time about Durga, the warrior Goddess, Who is seen in a mudra with her right thumb touching the inside knuckle of Her middle finger instead of holding a weapon.  The interpretation is that She is saying, ‘Count My blessings.‘  Rather then a political strategy of weapons or mass destruction, She is saying that this time will be won by attention to blessings and beauty.  Whenever we are thinking about all the strife in our world, our hearts tend to feel laden with difficulty.  But if we do not add our memory and simply feel what is around us, and go out of our way to focus on the good, we will realize that what is happening is much bigger than tragedy.  The truth and the beauty are here in spades, so put your attention on that.  We have to take a risk, especially relative to the fruits of a really beautiful spiritual practice.  We have to find creative ways to give to our fellow men and women.”  I send my love to all.

Bhole Baba Ki Jai!

Ramloti

Ceremonies and Schedule

The full-moon fire ceremony this month is on Monday, September 12 and the new-moon fire ceremony (also the beginning of Fall Navratri) is on Tuesday, September 27. 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 7am with a paduka puja in Shri Babaji’s kutir each morning at 6:40am.  Lunch is served at about 12:30pm. The Maha Lakshmi Shop is open every day from 10am 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 or Tulsi Mala

$108 sponsorship - Rudraksha 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 of the Ashram.

Kirtan, Slides, Luncheon Fundraiser at 11:30am on Sat., Sept 17

Amazing Bhajans and Gathering in Aurora to Help Payoff Hermitage Loan - Saturday, September 17 from 11:30am until 2pm.  This will take place at Bhuban Shrestha's residence at 628 Mathews Way, Erie, CO  80516.

The morning will begin with a short puja and lots of chanting.  We will then take a quick break for a silde presentation of the Ashram and the latest building, my hermitage and finish with a sumptuous lunch.  Please call for directions and so they can plan for the proper amount of food.  You are welcome to bring your friends.  It will be a very high and special time together. 

Get ready for a love fest with our beautiful Divine Mother!  Nine magical days of singing to Her, reading about Her, praising Her, repeating Her Name, offering Fire Ceremonies to Her and resplendently adorning Her with new saris, jewels and our love and devotion.  If you are able, give this gift to yourself to be here for some or all of the time.  Otherwise, do what ever strikes you to show your love and gratitude to our Mother during these days.  You will be joining with millions of others throughout the world, so every prayer will be amplified many times.

If you wish to stay at the Ashram, call soon as we are quite full already for the Saturday night of Navratri.   Call us at 719-256-4108 or email us at info@babajiashram.org. If you wish to participate by sponsoring a fire ceremony or bhandara, 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.

This will be a great opportunity for folks on the West coast (and other places too) to learn a small fire ceremony that they can then perform in their own home.  The photos are from one that I conducted in Florida last January and it was a very profound and educational day.  The workshop will begin promptly at 11am with a small fire ceremony and will run until 5pm.  The location will be at: 3210 Lombardy Rd. Pasadena, CA 90017.  The suggested donation for the workshop is $108 Samaj members and $135 for non-Samaj members.  Donations will go to support the Ashram.  For more information about the workshop or to reserve a space please call Randi Rubin at   951-808-1010.

Hermitage and Other Karma Yoga Report

We have also been getting ready for Fall Navratri, which begins in just over three weeks.  Each Navratri, we make nine new saris for the Divine Mother.  Many were involved in cutting them out and sewing them.  Shashi and Bipin and Ram Sakh were here from Denver and were busy all the time with the sewing, cutting out of the saris as well as cooking meals for everyone.

As mentioned last month, we had to take out a $15,000 short-term loan for the completion of the hermitage.  We would like to pay this off as quickly as possible, so if you have ideas for fundraisers, please give us a call at 719-256-4108.

We ask each of you to look into your hearts and see what this Ashram and its staff 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 made out to HUA and designated for the hermitages 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 for your support, love and prayers.  Together, with Baba’s and Mother’s grace, we have made a beautiful new home for Ramloti. 

Recent Events

Vastu Puja for Ramloti’s Hermitage

What a special full-moon morning it was as Smita and Ramakrishna Thurimillo lead Ramloti in a Vastu Puja to bless her new hermitage.  It was a warm and very sweet ceremony that was very clearly important to bring in all of the Divine energy.  The hermitage is now radiating with that light and love and certainly is a great delight to Ramloti.  She is in such gratitude and bliss over having a beautiful place of her own.  Thank you to everyone who made it possible.

Huge Full-Moon Fire Ceremony

The full-moon fire ceremony in August was huge with about 150 people attending.  The day was beautiful, the fire very strong, the chanting the followed full of devotion and joy and the bhandara (feast) delicious.  

Azelia Pradhan’s Bharatanatyam Agangetram

What a lovely afternoon it was on that same full-moon day when Azelia Pradhan and her good friend, Angela Abraham, danced several Bharatnatyam pieces together as well as solo pieces for their Agangetram after nine years of study.  The trip to Denver was well worth the effort to see these lovely ladies.  I was honored to have been asked to speak about Azelia during the break, she and her family have been such a huge blessing and gift to the Ashram.  Thank you for letting me a part of this very special day.

Shammi Kapoor, long-time devotee of Shri Babaji passed away on August 14 at the age of 79.  One of the most famous of India’s film stars, his devotion and love for Babaji was very strong.  Here is a photo from one of his many visits to Baba’s ashram in Haidakhan.  We send our love and condolences to his family.

Shri Ganesh’s Birthday at the Ashram

Every building at the Ashram has at least one statue of Ganesh installed in it.  We celebrated His birthday on September first with at least 12 pujas to different statues.  It is a great pleasure to celebrate this day and we are grateful to Lord Ganesh for all the removing of obstacles that He does for the Ashram.  Jai Ganesh Bhagwan Ki Jai!

Visitors and Families

Gratitude to all who come to the Ashram.  Seems like we have had many visitors from Texas lately.  Folks travel so far just to have Mother’s darshan.  Fortunate are we who live here and can see Her daily.  Those that live near are often up helping at the Ashram.   Thank you so much.

Calendar for 2011

September 17 - Puja, Kirtan, short Ashram slide show, fundraiser all followed by lunch.  Begins at 11:30am and is at at Bhuban Shrestha's residence at 628 Mathews Way, Erie, CO  80516

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

October 26 - Diwali, Festival of Lights. Fire ceremony at 10am. Chanting at 7pm followed by a light supper.

As I reported last month, the new book, From Age to Age - Stories of Haidakhan Babaji is ready and available in the Maha Lakshmi Shop for $12.  Now it is also available in ebook format as well as in Kindle and other reader format.  Here is the link to the Amazon eBook http://www.amazon.com/Age-Stories-Haidakhan-Babaji-ebook/dp/B005CW52IQ/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1314991372&sr=1-7

 

Here is the link to the Barnes & Noble eBook http://search.barnesandnoble.com/From-Age-to-Age/Giridhari-Lal-Mishra/e/9780983770114This delightful 125 page book was written by Shastriji’s brother, Giridhari Lal Mishra, in the late 1960’s.   It has had several printings in Hindi but this is the first translation into English.  It relates many wonderful stories of the manifestation of Shri Babaji from the late 1980’s to 1920. You can try to order the hard copy online through our Zencart but if you have any trouble please call us.

Although you can view most of our items on line at www.shop.babajiashram.org you may not be able to order them.  If you come up with this problem, just call us (every day from 10am until 5pm Mountain Time) at 719-256-4108 with your order, questions and a credit card number like in the olden days.  It is really nice to connect in this way, we love to talk to you.  We accept Visa, Mastercard or Discover.

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

Maha Lakshmi Mata Ki Jai!