Ashram Newsletter - January-February, 2023

February 7, 2023  |  by Ramloti

Dear Friends,

I have just returned from 3 weeks of doing programs on both coasts of Florida, Arizona, and Southern California. It was a beautiful time full of meeting and connecting with old friends and devotees and many new ones. We were primarily doing fire ceremonies each day with some chanting as well. The fires were filled with deep love, offerings, and prayers for all the suffering beings in our world. Shri Babaji spoke often about the healing power of the sacred fire bringing peace, harmony, love, and even rain to the whole world. Babaji did a fire ceremony daily and so did Shri Muniraji. Great examples for the world.

Sometime before my trip, I was interviewed by Ashutosh Garg who has a program called “The Brand Called You” where he presents people from around the world that have unique lives and missions. He covered a wide range of topics during the twenty-two-minute interview, such as: Who is Mahavatar Babaji, how did I come to Him, the term “yoga”, the work at the Ashram and several other subjects. The last and most curious question was: “What do you want people to take away from this program today?” After some thought, I responded: “To be at peace with where you are.” I spoke of how much anxiety I observe in many of the people coming to the Ashram these days, many of them young folks. I went on to tell an experience I had with Shri Babaji in 1981.

Shri Babaji had given me a magnificent gold silk brocade sari and as I wore it the next day, I was more than proud! On top of that He asked me to walk with Him and carry His umbrella (it was monsoon season). He also handed me His open shoulder bag that had various things like rupees to pay the workers, prasad to give to people, a camera someone had given Him and on and on. Well, by this time, I was bursting with pride. Of course, being the all-knowing Babaji, He could see I was prime for a good lesson. Sure enough, as we were walking up the 108 steps that lead steeply up the side of the mountain from the Gautama Ganga River to the Ashram, I tripped on my sari and fell on my face. On top of that, the bag slipped off my shoulder and all the contents fell down the slope. I was mortified to say the least. My head was face down on the cement step and if I could have buried it in it, I would have!

Then dear Baba, knowing how big my pride was and how thick my head was, started hollering, “Hopeless lady, you hopeless lady!” Well, I never wanted to look up again, I was too embarrassed, shocked, and scared. I was sure Baba would never love me again.

By God’s grace, I remembered who Babaji was and finally had the courage to look up into His eyes. What I saw shocked me, as there was only deep eternal love and acceptance in His eyes. And at that moment I had one of the biggest realizations in my life, that the Divine (here personified by Shri Babaji) loves me just as I am always. And that there was nothing I needed to do to increase that love and nothing that I could do that would diminish that love, He just loved me unconditionally! Oh, what relief and peace that brings me. And it does not mean that I do not do my pujas, prayers, and ceremonies, but they are not for God, they are so that I can hear God when He/She/They speak to me and feel the love more deeply.

So, if you would like to listen to the interview, the link is: https://youtu.be/1NPmqGQQYJ4.

And here is a comment a viewer made about the interview:
“Your formulation of what you realized after dropping the bag and looking into His eyes is as beautiful a description of God's love as any I have ever heard: ‘There was nothing I could do that would increase Babaji's love for me, and there was nothing I could do that would diminish it.’ What a profound and yet simple statement! The mystery of God's unconditional love for us is laid before us here in the form of an immortal yet deeply personal truth. And the way you said it -- as if this is just a simple fact of life -- makes it all the more striking and powerful. You can only say such things if it comes out of the deepest part of your heart and experiences, spontaneously and effortlessly. You turned an everyday, even laughably ordinary, anecdote into a glimpse of the bright sunlit and extraordinary world of divine love. Thank you very much. I'm never going to forget this sweet definition of God's unconditional love.”

May we all experience, feel, and trust the Divine Love that surrounds us at all times and guides and protects us moment to moment.

In truth and love,
Ramloti for the Ashram

Upcoming Events

Maha Samadhi – Tuesday, February 14 at 10am MT

Shri Babaji left His body on Valentine’s Day, 1984. We will commemorate that day with a Paduka Puja (washing of His Sandals) at 10am followed by a small fire ceremony.

If you would like to attend, please call the Ashram at 719-256-4108. We will also live-stream it at Haidakhandi Universal Ashram Facebook Page and post it later on YouTube at the Ramloti Wood Channel.

Shivaratri – Friday, February 18 at 7pm MT

On the night of Lord Shiva, we will zoom the Lingam Puja and Chanting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86076814482?pwd=Rzh4QTRaNVNCbFRUU2R3YlE0YnQwQT09 Meeting ID: 860 7681 4482 Passcode: 455948

New-Moon Fire Ceremony and Pitru Puja – Monday, February 20 at 11am MT

Join us for the New-Moon Fire Ceremony and Pitru Puja at 11am followed by chanting and chai and snacks. Attending in person? Call us at 719-256-4108. We will also live-stream it at Haidakhandi Universal Ashram Facebook Page and post it later on YouTube at the Ramloti Wood Channel.

Daily Fire Ceremonies

We do a smaller fire ceremony at the Ashram each morning, except on full and new moons, when we do the large fire ceremony. The start time on these varies, so a call to the Ashram ahead of time is necessary (call 719-256-4108). They will also be live-streamed at the Haidakhandi Universal Ashram Facebook Page (you can be notified each day when it begins if you follow the page). It will also be posted on YouTube at the Ramloti Wood Channel by the evening.

A Letter from Long-Time Devotee, Richard Cahall

Why I am Remembering the Ashram in my Estate Plan

The home of Mother and Babaji is my home. I am born again in the wonderous spirit of the kirtan hall and the earthship. I’ve shared Ashram experiences with so many great souls which I hold in the deepest embrace and love. (Richard is pictured here on the right in his dark blue kurta and loving smile.) How is it possible to carry forward these gifts to our future friends and grandchildren? How do we assure the continuation of Haidakhan Babaji’s lineage and teaching? The answer for me is to create a bequest in my estate plan in the amount $250,000. I can only guess what the future needs of the Ashram will be. I know that my support of the existing residents and the attraction of new devotees to maintain this vibrant life and energy, carries for me a great sense of peace and contentment. I’ve asked that my ash be spread by the Spanish Creek that runs through the Ashram. I’m all in!

If you are considering your estate plans that include the Haidakhandi Universal Ashram in Crestone, Colorado please contact Ramloti (info@babajiashram.org, 719-256-4108). I would be pleased to discuss with you the process that I went through to make my decision to include the Ashram in my estate plan. Here is my telephone and email: cahall.richard@gmail.com or (561) 371-0067.

A Tribute to Naga

Last month a great and longtime devotee and good friend, Naga left this earth after a ten-year or more battle with cancer. Many of you may have read about her in our auction updates, since she donated many of the special items on it anticipating her exit from this plane of existence. Her love, devotion, strength, jhara, and great stories will all be missed. In 1978 she was guided to Haidakhan where she met Shri Babaji and remained there serving Him through His Mahasamadhi in 1984. There are many amazing stories about those years and her artwork is still on many of the walls in the Haidakhan Ashram to this day. I found the following account of her first physical meeting with Shri Babaji in an old International Journal that used to be published by Gaby Hock and Rob Waygood.

“My first ‘Live’ encounter with Babaji, found me on my knees, nothing new there, washing my face in the concrete trough, so hot and thirsty, drinking the water right out of the spigot, without concern for the quality. I was so thoroughly absorbed that when I did open my eyes, I was surprised to see two plump brown feet balancing on the edge of the trough right in front of me. I looked a bit higher, stunned by a flash of neon blue silk. Gazing upward, my heart beginning to race, I saw a full-on figure of the exact Babaji I had already been seeing in my dreams and meditations for the last year. I finally met His magnificent sparkling eyes, His drop dead gorgeous handsome smiling face, and that ‘Cheshire cat’, all knowing, obviously amused, GRIN! I screamed at the top of my lungs, falling forward in a dead swoon. When I recovered, He had vanished.

“At Darshan that evening, I went forward in the cue, bowed full length, and then turned to leave. He had Sheila Devi stop me. Babaji put a mala around my neck and said through Sheila Devi: ‘It has been exactly 108 years since you have been with me. Lord Lakulish, all the gurus and the teachers you have studied with, have gotten you to this moment. There is nothing more for you to do. You have reached the Top of the Mountain.”

Recent Events

Christmas at the Ashram

Although we still have restrictions on public use of the kitchen, we did have some long-term karma yogis here that had all tested for Covid to celebrate with us. After a few years of no Christmas celebration with guests, it was lovely to have a few folks to celebrate with. We cut down a tree that needed to come out for our solar system's sun access, decorated it, and ate Christmas dinner together. It was a lovely time to gather and bless the holy time of year. Here are a few photos.

Florida, Arizona, Denver, and San Diego Fire Ceremonies

As I wrote about above, each event had its own magical quality. So grateful to all who arranged and hosted the events. They impacted many people and perhaps the whole world. Bhole Baba Ki Jai!

Karma Yoga at the Ashram and on Tour

The teaching of Shri Babaji of Karma Yoga or selfless service to the Divine pervades everywhere the Ashram travels. Whether it is at the Ashram preparing for ceremonies, helping with the auction, cooking, cleaning, repairing computers, clearing snow, fixing the plumbing, making the temple warmer for the winter, helping a neighbor, even teaching Premanand to use an iPhone, people are so generous with their time, skills, and help. On tour, the same kind of help took place; cleaning, cooking, organizing and performing the ceremonies, gathering wood, well at least there was no snow needing to be shoveled in these warm climes! We are so grateful for everyone that makes the Ashram what it is.

Visitors

Even with the colder winter weather, people still love to come to the Ashram for darshan, to shop, and to share in the fire ceremonies. It is wonderful to see people year after year and also to meet so many new people. It is a great boon to live at the Ashram and be enriched with so much love, devotion, and appreciation from so many folks. We are grateful. Jai Ma!

Ways to Support the Ashram

First and foremost is to pray, pray, pray for all the disturbances in the weather, amongst people and life all over the earth. This is a time of great challenge, and Babaji spoke over and over again about the power of prayer, the mantra, havan, puja, and seeing all as children of one Divine Mother Earth.

You may also support financially by going to …

• GoFundMe Campaign
• Donate Page (this page has links to Paypal, Amazon Smile, and GoFundMe)

Calendar of Events

Please go to our Calendar of Events page for all events.

Maha Lakshmi Shop

We currently have some lovely and unique items in the Shop. This sacred and powerful Blue Druzy Agate, Lapis Lazuli, with Silver Om Beads, and Tulsi Bead from Shri Babaji’s Mala (size M) is $95 and can be found at https://mahalakshmishop.wazala.com/products/blue-druzy-agate-lapis-lazuli-wrist-bracelet-withshri-babaji-s-tulsi-bead-and-silver-om-beads/. This beautiful 108 Mala with Matte Peach Aventurine beads and a Brass Saraswati pendant is $108 and can be found at https://mahalakshmishop.wazala.com/products/matte-peach-aventurine-beads-with-a-brass-saraswati-pendant/. This one of a kind Flower Jade 108 Bead Mala with Shri Babaji's Rudraksha Bead is $251 and can be found at https://mahalakshmishop.wazala.com/products/flower-jade-108-bead-mala-with-shri-babaji-s-rudraksha-bead/. And finally, this Brass 5” Damaru, the Drum of Shiva is $22 and can be found at https://mahalakshmishop.wazala.com/products/5-inch-brass-damaru/. Bhole Baba Ki Jai! Jai Ma!