Dear Friends,
First of all, many wishes for a wonderful and peaceful New Year filled with the blessings of Shri Babaji and the Divine Mother. As I contemplate the New Year my mind also reviews this past year and I am filled with many emotions. To be quite blunt, it was a challenging year for me, definitely on a physical level, the most painful in my life. On an emotional level I experienced a great deal of fear and a lot of despair with continued trips to the hospital. As difficult as this was however, I also felt totally overwhelmed by the love of my son Jacob and my friends Sofia, Rosalyn, Sherri and Brad who all took such good care of me and stayed with me in the hospital. I was even more blown away by the thousands of people that were praying for me and sending me their love and support. And finally, more than anything else, I continually felt Baba and Mother taking care of me.
But I guess it was a bit of a close call for my life and that is why I am feeling so emotional now. I am deeply grateful to still be on this earth with all of my loved ones. After the initial ruptured appendix and my eight day hospital stay, I was discharged on my birthday (February 17). Even though I was in St. Louis, there was a small gathering of friends to quietly celebrate with me. My friend Shashi even flew in from Denver to be with me. So, now, as my birthday approaches again, I would like to celebrate with Shri Babaji and as many loved ones as possible. Since it occurs on a weekend, I will be in the Denver area and Colorado Springs with Babaji’s padukas, chanting and doing fire ceremonies in many locations. Please come and celebrate with me. You will find the dates and addresses below. The only thing I ask is that there be no presents, as I have more than everything I need. If you wish to make a donation to the Ashram in my name, that would be fine.
It also seems that there are going to be several wonderful gatherings in California this month. Folks are flying in from different parts of the country for the Fire Ceremony training and the Makar Sankrant celebration in Southern California. I am also looking forward to being with many old and new friends in Florida in February for the many different events planned. It is just so special when we gather together in Baba and Mother’s name, and having Shri Babaji’s padukas (sandals) that He actually wore will be an added boon.
I love you all so much. Once again I share my prayer that we all feel the guidance, presence and love of Shri Babaji and the Divine Mother in this year of 2013, and that the whole world is influenced by this energy radiating from each of us. Bhole Baba Ki Jai!
With deep love,
Ramloti
Ceremonies and Schedule
The new-moon fire ceremony this month is on Friday, January 11, and the full-moon fire ceremony is on Saturday, January 26. 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 with a paduka puja in Shri Babaji’s kutir each morning at 7:30am. This later morning aarati time is due to the colder, darker winter mornings. Lunch is served at about 1:00 pm, and we invite you to join us. (Call if you are a group or have special dietary needs.) 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 by calling 719-256-4108, or by emailing the Ashram at info@BabajiAshram.org. You may also 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.
Sacred Fire Ceremony Workshop - Saturday, January 12
To conduct the training, Ramloti and Tribuvhan will travel from the Ashram to Pasadena, California, with Shri Babaji’s padukas (sandals) on Saturday, January 12, to lead an all-day immersion in the fire ceremony. The day will begin at 11am with a paduka puja, fire ceremony and aarati. We will then spend the rest of the day learning more about the history and significance of the sacred fire, as well as learn (or for those that took the training last year, deepen our understanding of) each step to perform a simple fire ceremony of your own. The location is: 3210 Lombardy, Pasadena, CA, 90017. If you have questions about directions, call Echo at: 310-880-0259.
This will be a very rich day in the company of others that want to make a difference in the world. The suggested donation for the day is $108; partial scholarships are available and money should definitely not be an issue in your decision to be there if you feel it in your heart. There would be some room for folks to stay the night, so folks from out of town are welcome. You would also have the option to attend the large Makar Sankrant fire ceremony the next day in Yorba Linda (see below).
For more information about the training please call Ramloti on her cell at 719-480-5514. To register and to find out about overnight accommodations call Randi Rubin at 951-808-1010.
Makar Sankrant Ceremony in Yorba Linda, CA
Makar Sankrant in India is said to be the day that the sun begins its upward journey, symbolizing the expansion and upliftment of our spiritual endeavors. It is a time of great significance and marks the beginning of auspicious times. The beginning of the period, when the sun travels northwards, is considered highly favorable for auspicious activities. Shri Babaji said that on this day, no negative energies are present on the earth. Since the actual day is on Monday, January 14, we will observe it the day before with a paduka puja, fire ceremony, aarati, chanting and a bhandara (feast). This will be held at the home of Chandresh and Jayshree Trivedi at: 17352 Yorkshire Ave., Yorba Linda, CA, 92886, and Shri Babaji’s padukas (sandals) will grace the event. Call the Trivedis at: 714-484-3636 for directions or to let them know you are coming. For more information about the event, please call Randi at 951-808-1010.
Northern California Fire Ceremonies
On the next weekend Shri Babaji’s padukas will travel to Northern California. On Saturday, January 19 we will have a fire ceremony at 11am in Sunnyvale, CA. Call Nirmal at 508-847-9135 for location. On Sunday, January 20 we will have a fire ceremony at 11am followed by a potluck at Mary Jo Bryan’s home at 613 E. 12th St, Davis, CA 95616. For more information call 719-480-5514.
Birthday Weekend Celebrations with Shri Babaji’s Padukas
As I stated above, I am so grateful for all of the loved ones in my life and what better way to celebrate my birthday than to be with as many of you as possible. Myself and Tribhuvan from the Ashram will be bringing Shri Babaji’s padukas to several homes in the Denver area and Colorado Springs for paduka puja, chanting, bhandaras and fire ceremonies. I so hope you can join us at least at one of them. There is still some time on Monday, February 18 (President’s Day), if you wish for Shri Babaji’s padukas to bless your home in the Denver area. Please call me at 719-480-5514, or email at info@babajiashram.org as soon as possible, if you would like this to happen. Here is the schedule so far: (All will begin with a paduka puja and include chanting and a meal.)
Friday, February 15 at 7:30pm - Smita and Prabohd Telang’s home at 3068 143rd Ave, Thornton (sometimes it comes up as Brighton), CO 80602. You may call them at 720-250-6325 to RSVP or for more information.
Saturday, February 16 at 11:30am - Monika and Sumit Celly’s home at 2840 Helnsdale Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80920. You may call them at 719-533-1579 to RSVP or for more information.
Sunday, February 17 at 11am - Shashi and Bipin Agarwal’s home at 4 Redhawk Run, Englewood, CO 80113. This will include a fire ceremony. Please call them at 303-523-8627 to RSVP or for more information.
Sunday, February 17 at 6pm - Sabina and Ajay Pradham’s home at 4834 S. Eagle Circle, Aurora, CO 80015. Please call them at 720-732-6141 to RSVP or for more information.
Afire with the Flames of Devotion - A Tour of Love
Right after the birthday gatherings with Shri Babaji’s padukas in Colorado, Ramloti and Tribhuvan will fly to Florida. It will be a special time, as devotees come together to perform paduka pujas, chant, participate in fire ceremonies and share stories about Babaji. We are so excited to be with you all and to help spread the flames of love and devotion on this tour. Here are the locations so far:
Wednesday, February 20 at 11am - Fire Ceremony in Tampa, FL. Call Jeffrey and Sharda at 727-363-0800 for more information.
Wednesday, February 20 at 7pm - Paduka Puja, aarati and chanting in Treasure Island, FL. Call Jeffrey and Sharda at 727-363-0800 for more information.
Thursday, February 21 at 11am - Fire Ceremony in St. Petersburg, FL. Call Jeffrey and Sharda at 727-363-0800 for more information.
Friday, February 22 at 7pm - Paduka Puja, chanting and stories of Babaji in Ft. Lauderdale or Coral Gables to be arranged. Call 719-480-5514.
Saturday, February 23 at 11am - Fire Ceremony at Olga Lucia Toro’s home at 909 Sanctuary Cove Dr,
North Palm Beach, FL 33410. For more information, please call Elaine at 561-277-8326.
Saturday, February 23 at 7pm - Chanting and stories of Babaji at Transformational Studies at 900 E. Indiantown Road #310, Jupiter, FL 33477. Call Jim at 561-371-2832 for more information.
Sunday, February 24 at 11am - Paduka puja, fire ceremony, aarati, chanting and pot luck in Delray Beach at Sal and Sarena Morello’s home. Call 561-274-0883 for more information.
Monday, February 25 at 8am - Fire Ceremony in Alachua, Florida. Call 719-480-5514 for more information.
Karma Yoga at the Ashram
With the holidays this month it has been a busy time at the Ashram, with lots to take care of. We are so grateful to all of the those who can come and help at the Ashram and to all of you that help make these projects possible by your financial donations. 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 (made out to HUA) to 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 Toll-Free Number Phased Out
The Ashram’s toll-free number will be discontinued on January 2, 2013. The only land line will be 719-256-4108. Please note this for your convenience.
Save the Ashram Money on Your Paypal Donations & Purchases
Help out the Ashram by ensuring that your donation or purchase amount is fee-free. To do this you will need to link your bank account to your Paypal account. This will allow you to pay directly from your bank account, thus canceling the credit card fees routinely charged by Paypal, and save the Ashram $3.43 on every $100 donation. To link your bank account to your Paypal account and save the Ashram the concurrent credit card fees, follow the steps outlined below as written by Paypal:
You can link your bank account or enter your bank information (we’ll keep this private) by following these steps:
-
1.Log in to your PayPal account.
-
2.Click Profile near the top of the page.
-
3.Click My money under My Profile.
-
4.Click Add my bank in the Bank accounts section.
-
5.Select Checking or Savings account and enter your information.
-
6.Click Continue.
Then just confirm your bank account to complete the process. If you bank online, you can usually do this instantly. If you don’t have online access to your bank account, it’ll take a few days.
We've recently created "how-to" videos for some of our or most common PayPal questions. Here's where you can watch these videos: https://www.paypal-community.com/t5/News-Announcements/New-PayPal-How-To-Videos/td-p/529328.
Thanks for your continued support! Bhole Baba Ki Jai!
Recent Events
What a sweet time we had at the Ashram this Christmas. Tribhuvan, Michou, Ramloti and Jonathan trimmed a small tree in the earthship as well as decorating the temple.
It has become a tradition for many of our families to come up on Christmas Eve for aarati, singing Christmas carols, exchanging small gifts for the children, and dinner. So that was a fun night.
Since we had snow on Christmas, it was a beautiful (looking like a winter wonderland), quiet and a small group for our yummy Christmas day meal. Sometimes it is nice to have a peaceful holiday.
Decorating Maha Lakshmi of the Creek for Christmas
Years ago, we placed a four foot brass murti of Maha Lakshmi up toward the top of our property. She overlooks our water system so that all of our water is filled with Her blessings. We do a large puja to Her during Diwali, but at Christmas time we decorate Her with some new clothes and garlands of popcorn and cranberries, so She and all the birds can celebrate Christmas. Here are some of the folks helped make the garlands and that took part in this little excursion through the snow to Ma.
A Story about Babaji by Roger Hamstra
My first conscious meeting with Babaji was in 1980. I was in bed, asleep, when I suddenly awoke, feeling as though there was someone in the room with me—my first thought was that someone had broken into the house and had come into my bedroom, but neither of my two dogs were making any fuss. My reaction was to lie very still, not moving, until I could figure out what was happening. So I lay there, on my chest, my eyes barely open, and I had this feeling that someone was passing his or her hands all over my body, just above my body. I could see and feel the energy moving in my body. After some time this stopped and I sat up in bed. In the room with me was this bright golden white "figure"—I use the term loosely—surrounded by a golden white aura. It wasn't someone I recognized, but I had the very distinct impression that the figure was waiting long enough for me to definitely focus on it—for me to make sure I was fully awake and not dreaming—and I had the distinct impression that even though I didn't recognize the figure, at least by name, that I'd know who it was shortly. When I'd absorbed all that, the figure vanished.
The next day I went down to a local store to do some shopping. They had a small book section that I always browsed when I shopped there. The previous weekend I'd seen a small, black-covered book with a very intense person sitting cross-legged on the cover—it wasn't someone I recognized, so I didn't pay much more attention to it. When I went into the book section this next weekend, the day after the figure appeared in my bedroom, here was this same small black book facing outward on the shelf so that the cover was in plain view, with this intense person on the cover looking at me—and I knew immediately that he and the being in my room the previous night were one and the same—and he turned out to be Babaji. And that was the beginning of my conscious relationship with Babaji.
I frequently feel as though Babaji is "inside" my body, or super-imposed on it—I'll bend down to pet my cat and it feels as though Babaji is bending down with me, "inside" me. Or I'll be taking a shower, and be washing my chest, when I feel as though I'm washing Babaji's chest. Or I'll be sitting in meditation and suddenly feel him literally come into my body from across the room. (I make sure to pay close attention when that happens, because it usually means I'm going to learn something!) Sometimes I'll sense him in the room, around me, and I'll know enough to sit still and pay attention.
Our Visitors, Children and Families
Calendar for 2013
January 12 - Fire Ceremony training in Pasadena, CA with Ramloti and Tribhuvan. Call 719-480-5514 for more information.
January 13 - Fire Ceremomy, aarati and bhandara in Yorba Linda, CA. Call call Randi at 951-808-1010 for more information.
January 14 - Makar Sankrant
January 20 - Fire Ceremony at 11am followed by potluck in Davis, CA. Call 719-480-5514.
February 14 - Shri Babaji’s Mahasamadhi
Friday, February 15 at 7:30pm - Smita and Prabohd Telang’s home at 3068 143rd Ave, Thornton (sometimes it comes up as Brighton), CO 80602. You may call them at 720-250-6325 to RSVP and for more information.
Saturday, February 16 at 11:30am - Monika and Sumit Celly’s home at 2840 Helnsdale Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80920. You may call them at 719-533-1579 to RSVP and for more information.
Sunday, February 17 at 11am - Shashi and Bipin Agarwal’s home at 4 Redhawk Run, Englewood, CO 80113. This will include a fire ceremony. Please call them at 303-523-8627 to RSVP and for more information.
Sunday, February 17 at 6pm - Sabina and Ajay Pradham’s home at 4834 S. Eagle Circle, Aurora, CO 80015. Please call them at 720-732-6141 to RSVP and for more information.
Wednesday, February 20 at 11am - Fire Ceremony in Tampa, FL. Call Jeffrey and Sharda at 727-363-0800 for more information.
Wednesday, February 20 at 7pm - Paduka Puja, aarati and chanting in Treasure Island, FL. Call Jeffrey and Sharda at 727-363-0800 for more information.
Thursday, February 21 at 11am - Fire Ceremony in St. Petersburg, FL. Call Jeffrey and Sharda at 727-363-0800 for more information.
Friday, February 22 at 7pm - Paduka Puja, chanting and stories of Babaji in Coral Gables or Ft. Lauderdale (still in planning). Call 719-480-5514 for more information
Saturday, February 23 at 11am - Fire Ceremony at Olga Lucia Toro’s home at 909 Sanctuary Cove Dr,
North Palm Beach, FL 33410. For more information please call Elaine at 561-277-8326.
Saturday, February 23 at 7pm - Chanting and stories of Babaji at Transformational Studies at 900 E. Indiantown Road #310, Jupiter, FL 33477. Call Jim at 561-371-2832 for more information.
Sunday, February 24 at 11am - Paduka puja, fire ceremony, aarati, chanting and pot luck in Delray Beach at Sal and Sarena Morello’s home. Call 561-274-0883 for more information.
Monday, February 25 at 8am - Fire Ceremony in Alachua, Florida. Call 719-480-5514 for more information.
March 10 - All-night chanting for Maha Shivaratri. Aarati is at 6pm with first lingam puja at 7pm. All-night chanting begins at 10pm with next lingam puja and goes until 4am.
March 11 - Maha Shivaratri fire ceremony at 10am, followed by a meal.
April 10 - 18 - Spring Navratri - Divine Mother Festival with daily fire ceremonies, pujas, discourses, reading, chanting and other ceremonies.
July 22 - Guru Purnima
July 30 - August 2 - Annual Family Week w/ concurrent Sofia Diaz Workshop.
October - 4 - 12 - Fall Navratri - Divine Mother Festival with daily fire ceremonies, pujas, discourses, reading, chanting and other ceremonies.
November 3 - Diwali, Festival of Lights.
We have a wonderful, new book about Shri Babaji in our Shop and on line. It is titled Encounters with Babaji - Master of the Himalayas by Renata Caddy. This deeply personal and inspiring 254-page book sells for $18.95 and is a treasure. As one reader put it, “I found the book very inspiring and one of the best on Babaji.”
We also have two new photos of Shri Babaji. They are codes PRR and PHH respectively. They are available in 5x7 and sell for $7.
Go to http://mahalakshmishop.wazala.com to order all of these on line, or call the Ashram at 719-256-4108.
You can order most of the our items on line at: http://mahalakshmishop.wazala.com/. We also can take orders over the phone, so just call us at 719-256-4108 (every day from 10am until 5pm Mountain Time) with your order, any questions and a credit card number (Visa, Mastercard or Discover). It is really nice to connect in this way. We love to talk to you.
The Shop is a major support of the Ashram, so we deeply appreciate your patronage.
Maha Lakshmi Mata Ki Jai!
