Haidakhandi Universal Ashram Newsletter

www.babajiashram.org

Dear Friends,

Ah! What a place this Crestone is. I am not sure that any place else in the world has more diversity of spiritual centers with so much connection between them. This last few weeks of the full-moon, summer solstice, our Ashram Board meeting, a busy summer weekend and so many activities coinciding with the Peace Summit in Rio de Janeiro really highlighted the specialness of this place and the reality of unity in diversity.

Several Japanese visitors from the Shumei center attended our full-moon fire ceremony. They also had two young men from Nepal, Bhuwan and Nabaraj, with them that are learning about natural agriculture so that they can return to Nepal and teach it there. So I invited Khenpo Jigme from our other spiritual neighbor, Vagra Vidya, to attend since he lived in Nepal and could speak with them in their native tongue while they all shared an Indian meal. The ceremony was also attended by another 40 or so people and being the day before solstice, many prayers for earth healing and world peace were shared.

The next day I attended one of several world peace and earth blessing ceremonies. This one was at the large Buddhist stupa where we blessed treasure vases to place in sacred places around Crestone. Several of us from different spiritual centers had gathered a few days before and brought blessed fabrics, stones, oils, precious metals, sweets and coins and put them in special vases for this occasion and tied them up in cloth offered to our Divine Mother.

Last Sunday we had our Board meeting and Ajay, our Nepalese member, came with his wife and another couple from Denver. I once again, invited Bhuwan and Nabaraj over for lunch so they could converse with these folks in their language and enjoy a Nepalese meal made by Ajay’s wife. Meanwhile, another Board member arrived with his wife, children and in-laws from South India. They brought some south Indian treats and it was all shared with other Indian visitors and all of our Board members and their families‘ from Crestone.

Earlier in the month and late last month I attended a community luncheon at the Crestone Mountain Zen Center and a few weeks later, the installation of their new abbot. The following week was the 10th anniversary for our Shumei Center and the Interfaith Celebration Day. A short time after that we had our Crestone Spiritual Alliance meeting were we discussed important community issues around fire and other disaster preparedness. You can read more about these events and see some photos under recent events in this newsletter.

As you are all aware, Colorado has been in a serious fire situation and all of the people and areas have been in our prayers. We have even had some of the evacuees come to stay at the Ashram. By Baba’s and Mother’s grace and I am sure because of the ceremonies and prayers done at all the spiritual centers around Crestone, we have been safe from fires. We even received a little rain week. We are however, under the most stringent fire ban and have taken precautions at the Ashram and gone through all of our fire gear and laid out all of our fire hoses around our buildings. I called the Kundalini Fire Management Fire Chief to ask for a few more nozzles for our hoses since they had provided us with all of the equipment. After he said he would get us some more he asked if we were still doing our daily fire ceremony (without a fire of course). When I said that we were, he thanked us. Now I am not sure that there would be many places where the fire chief would query someone about their prayers and ceremonies they were performing and then thank them for continuing them, perhaps only in Crestone! This is such a special place.

Shri Babaji often spoke about the new kingdom where people of all races and religions would live in harmony and peace. I truly believe this is happening here in Crestone and I am so glad to be a part of it!

Bhole Baba Ki Jai!

Ramloti

Ceremonies and Schedule

The full-moon fire ceremony this month is on Tuesday, July 3 (Guru Purnima Day) and the new-moon fire ceremony is on Wednesday, July 18. The fire ceremonies begin at 10am 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 6:30am. Now that the weather is warm, we often have a daily small fire ceremony as well. Lunch is served at about 12:30pm and we invite you to join us. The Maha Lakshmi Shop is open every day from 10am until 5pm.

If you would like to participate by sponsoring a fire ceremony or the meal that follows, 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 sponsors - Rosewood or Tulsi Mala

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

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

We are continually grateful for all of your support of the Ashram.

International Guru Purnima Celebration in Holland, June 28 - July 3

The six day celebration of Guru Purnima has already begun in Holland and I am still in Crestone. As the day approached to fly, I realized this body of mine, although healing, was not ready to sit on planes, trains and in airports for 15 hours or so. I was certainly looking forward to connecting with everyone in Holland and am sorry to miss it all. Watching some of the events on Lal Baba’s webiste, it seems as if everything is going very well with lots of devotion and shakti. It turned out that Shri Munirjaji was not be able to make the trip. His health is good but he still does not feel strong enough to travel that far after his extensive surgeries at the beginning of the year. He will spend Guru Purnima at the Ashram in Chilianaula just outside of Rhaniket.

Our love and prayers are with all that are together celebrating the inauguration of the new temple and kirtan hall in Holland. For more information about the Guru Purnima celebration in Holland you can go to their website www.babaji.nl and go to the English part, or contact them at ssd@babaji.nl. You can see some of it at http://www.planetbabaji.com/livestreaming.html

Guru Purnima Day in Crestone on Tuesday, July 3

We are looking forward to our Guru Purnima Day celebration here at the Ashram. Melinda Staley from Columbia, MO has already joined us as I am sure others will too. It is on Tuesday, July 3. We will be honoring Shri Babaji that day beginning in the kirtan hall at 9:15am with a Paduka Puja (washing of Babaji’s sandals that He wore). There will then be a procession out to the havan kund (fire pit) for the full-moon fire ceremony at 10am. If the fire ban is still on, we will offer flower petals with the mantras, which is a lovely ceremony too. This will all be followed by an Indian feast.

It is always a very sweet and inspiring day, so we invite you to attend. Bhole Baba Ki Jai!

Annual American Haidakhan Samaj Weekend - July 21-22

Several devotees who met Babaji are coming to the Samaj Weekend this year and the stories should abound inspiring all who hear them. This is a very special time together so if you are able to attend, please do. Come and be a part of soulful chanting, fire ceremonies, discussions and satsangs. We are so grateful to the Samaj for having their annual meeting at the Ashram each year. To read more about the Samaj or to become a member please go to www.BabajiSamaj.org

There is still some room in the dorm but call soon at 719-256-4108 or email us at info@babajiashram.org.

Annual Family Week and Children’s Camp - July 23-26

It is almost time for our Family Week which runs this year from Monday, July 23 through Thursday, July 26. The program works in some of the daily Ashram schedule with a workshop for children and a concurrent workshop for adults. The afternoons are free for families to take field trips together to the hot springs, Sand Dunes National Park, or go hiking or horse back riding.

This year the theme will be “Peace Helpers” based on some of the ideas found in James O’Dea’s new book “Cultivating Peace - Becoming a 21rst Century Peace Ambassador.” Each of the families staying at the Ashram have received a copy of the book in preparation of this special week together. There will be special activities, discussions and maybe even a play by the children on this theme. James has also said that if he is in town that he may come up and speak to us at one of the family meetings about peace. The daily schedule is as follows:

6am - Paduka Puja and chandan (optional)

6:30am - Sacred Fire Ceremony (optional)

7-8am - Aarati and chanting (optional for children and adults staying back with sleeping children)

8am - Breakfast

9am - Family Meeting

10am - 1pm - Children's Camp and Adult workshop or karma yoga

1pm - Lunch and clean up

2pm - Field trips organized by families to Hot Springs Swimming Pool, Horse back riding, park, hiking or Sand Dunes

6-7pm Aarati

7pm - Dinner

The Children's Camp includes: circle time, karma yoga, story-time yoga, japa, chanting, craft or other activities to help learn peaceful communication and conflict resolution skills, hiking and other fun activities. The Children's workshop is a gift from the Ashram, a special donor and The American Haidakhan Samaj to our children.

We already have all of our rooms booked in the dorm but we may be renting an additional house if needed. There is still room in the yurt, so please call at 719-256-4108 or email us at info@babajiashram.org to reserve a space for you.

The Divine Mother as Nourishment with Sofia Diaz - July 23-26

Oh it will be so wonderful to have Sofia Diaz back at the Ashram leading us on another in depth journey looking at how the The Divine Mother nourishes us every moment in our lives whether we are aware of it or not. Without this nourishment, we would not survive. But the conscious awareness of it, enhances our ability to work with it and brings us a deeper understanding of our constant connection to these deeper realms of existence. We will be exploring all the different forms that She demonstrates Her love through, which transcends all. Looking at the many faces of Her nourishment we will begin to feel the graciousness of Her light on a deeper level. We will also delve into Her direct transmission of love on an individual level that is always exactly as our souls and spirits need it in every single moment. To rece

ive all of this, first and foremost, just takes noticing Her presence in our lives each second.

We are also nourishing all beings in all directions and are unique manifestations of Her grace. It is crucial during these times that we notice how much we nourish all around us by being and caring. As humanity, we have gotten away from noticing the nourishing that is happening all around us by countless beings.

The workshop runs from 10am until 1pm and will include group processes, chanting, movement, stories, and introspective exploration. Sofia is a gifted and intuitive facilitator and it is a gift to the Divine Mother that she offers this time at the Ashram each year. We are truly blessed.

The suggested donation for the workshop is $108 for members of the American Haidakhan Samaj and $135 for non members with partial scholarships available. To find out more about Sofia go to SofiaYoga.com. To find out more about the Samaj go to www.BabajiSamaj.org.

Karma Yoga & Ashram Projects

We are happy to announce that the final $5,000 that was borrowed to finish the hermitage was paid off this last month. Thank you to all who helped build this wonderful quiet space for Ramloti. There is now lovely rock work with deer resistant plants and flowers in front of it adding beauty and holding the sand down when the wind blows.

We have had lots of great help this last month and so many projects have been completed. There is now a gate across the unmaintained road to Ramloti’s hermitage to keep cars from driving down there and getting stuck in the sand.

We also have a new child-size picnic table for family week art projects and the water system meter

box has new flashing on it. We are improving walkways, applying linseed oil to our wooden stairs, doors and picnic tables, weeding and harvesting lots of produce from our well-cared for garden and greenhouse. We are also preparing to paint the whole inside of the temple and kirtan hall, which after eight years of incense and ghee lamps has a lot of black soot on the lovely white diamond-finish plaster walls that no longer washes off without eroding the plaster. This project is due to happen this month along with painting the earthship bathrooms and the floor in the temple.

We are so grateful to have so much help with these summertime upkeep tasks at the Ashram. Of course, the materials and food to feed all our helpers cost money so we do 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 made out to HUA 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.

Ashram Emergency Medical Fund for Ramloti

The hospital bills have all been paid thanks to all of your generosity and the hospitals’ various programs. Thank you deeply to all who have helped with this. Your love is so deeply felt and appreciated.

In Memory of Shirley Brinks - Lulli

A very dear friend of the Ashram from the early days, Lulli, passed away this last week. A generous and loving soul until the end, Lulli met Babaji in the early 80‘s. This was a heroic trip for her since she had rheumetoid arthritis but it was very important to her. It was also a challenging but wonderful service that she gave to the Ashram when she lived here and helped take care of the new temple for a year in 1990. She lived in Pueblo and had a home where frequent gatherings were held with chanting and other uplifting and inspirational activities despite the fact that she was confined to a wheelchair. About two weeks ago she had a stroke, recovered, went home and had another gathering. She had another stroke the next day and her body could no longer sustain life. She died among her children, grandchildren and friends. She was a bright light on this earth and I am sure she is a bright star in the heavens. We love you Lulli.

Recent Events

Crestone Mountain Zen Center’s Installation of Their New Abbot

It was a very special occasion to be invited to the Zen Center for this auspicious event of the passing of the position of Abbot from Roshi Richard Baker to new Abbot, Dan Welch. About 130 people attended the ceremony from all around the world. We were grateful to be invited to such a gathering of Buddhist teachers and long-time students. The Zen tradition is more formal than the Haidakhandi tradition but equally moving and filled with the graciousness of our fine next door neighbors.

Shumei Tenth Anniversary and Interfaith Day

Our good neighbors, the Shumeis have now been in Crestone for 10 years. It has been the tradition to have a full weekend of programs during their anniversary and this year was no exception. On Saturday was the interfaith Day highlighting many of the centers in Crestone. We were asked to present not only our own chant in the morning but to lead a longer chanting session in the afternoon with some members of the other spiritual groups.

So Prem and I joined with Annie Pace from Shakti Sharanam, Deva Kaur from the Sikh tradition and Brian Chi from Spiritual Awakenings to lead kirtan. It was a wonderful time and everyone, including the 75 Japanese visitors, seemed to get into it as you can see from this photo.

The next day there was a very special tea ceremony for many of the representatives of the spiritual groups in Crestone. This tea ceremony was the first time that Yoshino Shosho shared Sado in the West in this way. The ancient tea ceremony is a very sacred and formal ceremony and this master has taught many people in Japan this ritual. The ceremony that we attended was a bit more casual and included explanations along the way. It was also accompanied with many hundreds of years old artifacts from the Miho Museum in Japan. Once again, we were deeply grateful to be among the attendees.

Crestone Spiritual Alliance

About 15 of the spiritual groups in Crestone were represented at the last Spiritual Alliance meeting. Some of the topics discussed were fire protection, care facilities in case of some catastrophe, a tour of the spiritual centers for the various government agencies and the upcoming peace events. The Spiritual Alliance is where different issues can be discussed relating to all of our centers and the safety of the community. It is also a great chance to catch up with all of our neighbors, share some laughs and wonderful refreshments. The Ashram is renowned for bringing the chai to each meeting. What a wonderful way to work together.

Full-moon Flower Petal Fire Ceremony

The state of Colorado is under a very strict fire ban and even religious ceremonies can not get dispensations if they include an outdoor fire. Yet, Shri Babaji said that it is the havan that brings rain and so we continue to have them on a daily basis but without the fire. Instead we offer flower petals as we say Swaha after each of the mantras. These fireless fire ceremonies are actually very profound and beautiful as we realize that it is the fire of devotion that is in our own hearts that is the true havan that must be nurtured on a regular basis with our prayers and offerings. About 60 people attended the ceremony followed by chanting in the temple and a feast afterwards. And guess what, we received some rain that afternoon!

Interfaith World Peace Ceremonies

On June 19 and 20, Crestone had several ceremonies in conjunction with the World Peace convention in Rio de Janero. It is so typical of this wonderful place to have people from several different spiritual groups joining together for this. At our fire ceremony on the 19th we had 14 Japanese visitors from the Shumei as well as two Nepalese and the Bhutanese Khempo from the Vagra Vidya Center. The day before, Ramloti brought sacred items from the temple to join with other sacred offerings to fill treasure vases filled with precious items to be buried in sanctified places.

On the 20th, Dharmananda and Ramloti joined several others from Shumei, Chama Ling, Way of Nature, Shri Aurobindo Center and several Buddhist groups at the large stuppa to bless the vases, offer them and also to celebrate the Karmapa’s 26th birthday. There were also several other gatherings during this time at the Crestone Baptist Church, Chama Ling, The I am Harmony Labarinth and Dances of World Peace in the park. What a powerful few days.

Children and Visitors to the Ashram

Another wonderful full month at the Ashram. I must admit though that I have been sinking into the experience of being with all of our visitors so much that I am often not pulling out the camera to take a photo. So if you visited and do not see a photo here, it only means the image is in my heart and our time together was so rich that a photo seemed like a bit of an intrusion. Thank you to all who enrich this Ashram with your presence. You are all the wealth of this Ashram.

Calendar for 2012

June 28 - July 3 - Annual Guru Purnima Celebration in Holland.

July 3 - Guru Purnima - Paduka puja at 9:15am followed by a fire ceremony at 10am and an Indian feast.

July 21 and 22 - Annual American Samaj Weekend with fire ceremonies, chanting, satsang and meeting.

July 23 - 26 - Ashram Annual Family Week with concurrent workshop with Sofia Diaz.

October 15 - 23 - Fall Navratri - Divine Mother Festival with daily fire ceremonies, pujas, discourses, reading, chanting and other ceremonies.

November 13 - Diwali, Festival of Lights

Maha Lakshmi Shop Report

The Maha Lakshmi Shop is full of new items. We have just gotten a new shipment of our lovely deity candles which are all displayed on our new website at http://mahalakshmishop.wazala.com/ The new price on the hand decorated 8 inch candle is $15 and the 5 inch is $12. Even after the candle has been burned down, the beautiful cylinder can be filled with rice or sand and used as an incense burner or a small votive candle can be placed in it. They are so nicely done, you will want to keep them on your altar longer.

e also have a new book in stock. It is “Cultivating Peace, Becoming a 21rst Century Peace Ambassador” by James O’Dea. Former Washington Office Director of Amnesty International and past president of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, James reframes and expands the mission of building a global culture of peace. This renowned figure in international social healing who conducts healing and reconciliation dialogues in places such as Rwanda, Israel/Palestine and Northern Ireland lives in Crestone and is a great supporter of the Ashram. He will be speaking to our families about cultivating peace during Family Week if he is in town. The 242 page book sales for $15.95 and is available on line.

Please also check out our lovely new collection of malas, both 108 and 27 bead (wrist size). We are particularly excited about the new green sandalwood malas. See it also on our website. Yes, our new Shop website is up and is easy to use! We invite you all to take a look and even spread the word to friends. Just go to to our Ashram website, www.BabajiAshram.org and pull down the store button in the upper left corner or go directly to http://mahalakshmishop.wazala.com/

You are also still welcome to call us and ask about all of the wonderful items in the Shop. You may call every day from 10am until 5pm Mountain Time at 719-256-4108 with your questions, or to place an order with a credit card 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!

July, 2012