here - Haidakhandi Samaj

International
Haidakhandi Journal
No 7 - March 2013
Incorporating the Indian Haidakhandi
Samaj News
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Theme:
SATSANGS
Contents:
Journal 7
March 2013
Page No.
Munirajji’s Words
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Theme – SATSANGS
Navaratri Satsangs - Chilianaula 2012
Thoughts and Reflections - with Lok Nath
Not I, but Thou - by Gargi
Sri Sitaram Das Omkaranathji meets Sri Babaji
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9-10
11
12-13
Haidakhandi Samaj - News from India
Message from Chairman
Committee Members
Hospital Accounts
Chilianaula Fundraising
A Fundraising Letter from Kharku
Kumbh Mela story by Udai Chatterjee
News from Around the World
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16
17
18-19
20
21-22
List of Haidakhandi Babaji Centres in the world
Italy – The vow of unity - by Settimo
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25-26
Schweibenalp and Green Phoenix
Germany and Gurupurnima 2013
Russia
USA
27-29
30-31
32-33
34
Letters to the Journal
Raghuvir
Kalavati and a Dream
Gurus and Egos article by Filippo
Return of the Goddess ?
Editorial
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- by Sundar
35-36
37
38-41
42
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Munirajji’s words:
“Always experience Babaji as alive, never allow yourself to experience Babaji
as dead. He is always here with us.”
Often when asked when Babaji would return, he simply responded:
“Where did He go? Where can God go?” “Babaji is always here with us.”
Babaji taught us to listen to our heart in every moment, before the mind
begins to speak. “Bhav Rakho”, Babaji’s first words: “Everything depends on
faith.” Munirajji’s life was faith in action. He listened and followed Babaji
without hesitation. Babaji within him inspired and guided Munirajji’s entire
life and work. His one-pointed focus always remained on Babaji, inspiring us
to realize Babaji in our hearts and lives and to remain focused on Babaji’s
return. On the 29th of July 2012 (6 days before his samadhi) Munirajji said:
“When I go, Babaji will return.”
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Shri Munirajji speaks about Impatience
Jamuna - Kamalaya 2011
One morning, during an extended stay with us at Kamalaya, I had a quiet
moment with Shree Munirajji after his puja. I recorded this interaction and
asked him: “Shree Munirajji, I notice that ever since I was a little girl, I am
very impatient, my nature is impatient. …Please can you help me with this,
with my impatient nature ?”
Shree Munirajji took a long time to reply, there were several minutes during
which he remained completely silent. Then he spoke:
“You cannot change your nature.
You can only change your habits.”
1. First you have to think positive things, not negative… always have to
think positive things, not negative ones.
2. Also, in the past what happened has happened, the past is gone. You
have to think in the future, and stay in the present.
3. Don’t think so much – too much thinking makes craziness.
4. What is now, in the present, you have to do…. Nothing will happen
by thinking only. But if you do, if you act, then something happens so
try to think positive things and stay in the present.
5. Do your best effort. You must make effort, your best effort.
However, do not think about the result – the result is not in your
hands, it is in Babaji’s hands. This is Karma Yoga. You must give your
best effort but what you want may not be what Babaji wants. The
result is not in your hands.
6. Everything needs to be surrendered – you have to believe in God, in
Babaji. Whatever He likes he can do (whatever He wishes, He can make
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happen) – you have to surrender totally. When it happens, then you
will be happy.
7. Always sit a little bit in the evening time. Then at this time, sitting
quietly you try to know what you have done today…. What you have
done from your side that is wrong or right. Do this self-reflection
DAILY – 5 minutes. Think what have I done today? Was it right or
wrong? Then if you do this daily like this, peace will come to you.
8. If any big problem comes, then you have to sit on Sunday-Monday
midnight 12:00 for half hour to one hour to do Om Namaha Shivaya.
Anytime any big problem comes, or too much worry comes, then
you do this. This will help. Sunday midnight.
9. Don’t worry about anything, good time is coming……Babaji’s Grace.
‘Whatever a great man does is followed by others: people go by the
example he sets.’
(Bhagavad Gita 3/21)
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“We should have Satsangs every week. Here we don’t wait
for miracles. Here we create them.”
(Babaji)
Navaratri Satsangs - Chilianaula 2012
Karkhu: ‘We had many satsangs with Baba. Now that Babaji and Muniraji
are no longer with us we create our own satsangs. Baba said we should
have satsangs every week. He also said that there are no obstacles in this
world. There is nothing we can’t do with focus and true intention. Our life
comes directly from our focus.
Deviji: ‘My focus is on: “ Come! Come! Come!” She has a feeling that He
is coming. Muniraji said in his last few days: “Babaji will now come.” We
have to concentrate and focus 24/7 on Babaji inside, whether we drink
alcohol or eat food. ‘Om Namaha Shivaya’ with each breath. We have to
FEEL him inside.
Kharku: ‘Babaji said to me: “Whenever you do puja do a little pranayama
to centre yourself in the heart, then call to me as Bhole Baba. Speak to me
in your own language then perform puja”. Since that day I try and do it all
day long. It’s a way to open dialogue with my heart, with God in our
heart……and Devi, what do you do ?
Deviji: ‘We have a curtain drawn before Babaji’s altar. Before I start my
mantras I clap then draw the curtain. This is to inform him that we are
coming and that I will draw the curtain.
Karkhu: ‘Munirajji didn’t speak or teach much in the beginning. He only said
that we should do our discipline. Later on he was forced to accept our
devotion which he resisted at first. I lived with Muniraji for nine years. I
have only one notebook, he spoke so little. I was so hungry for him to
speak. At night I hoped he would talk but then he put on TV. I hated it and
went outside. Then someone very special said to me: “This Munirajji, he is
not much, but Babaji is sitting on his shoulders telling him everything.”
Gaby: ‘The night after Muniraji was no longer in his physical body, I had a
dream of him: He sat on a stone bench, with devotees busy nearby. I went
over to him as if he was an old friend, knelt down in front of him and
casually put my elbows onto his knees. It felt very familiar and close, but
then I thought maybe I was being a bit too friendly and disrespectful. So I
backed off, but his eyes deeply locked into mine. They mesmerised me with
an intense, deep and dark magnetism and kept drawing me further and
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further inside as if they had a great mystery to reveal. Eventually both his
eyes moved into the middle of his forehead and amazingly became one eye.
Deviji: ‘In hospital Muniraji said: only Babaji is doing everything. Munirajji
was more than 100% devoted. He obeyed without questioning.
Karkhu: ‘I had reckless energy and Baba tried to wear me out. One day he
sent me to deliver a letter to Muniraji in Haldwani and I had to walk over
the mountain. When Muniraji opened the letter it said: “Send Karkhu back
to Haidakhan !” I had to walk both ways on the same day.
Deviji: ‘Baba once washed his hair and then shook it in front of me while
saying: “You were a great devotee of mine in the last life, but when I left
you forgot who I was”. I said to him: “I won’t leave you again.” Baba
replied: “It’s me who is leaving and you will try and forget again.” (Deviji did
try to forget everything after Babaji left. Some years passed and Munirajji kept
calling her. Then she came back in 1990 and could not stay away ever again – K)
When I first met Baba in 1975 we had a farm in Haldwani. My mother-inlaw did a yagya, Nantin Baba was there too. Then this swaggering guy got
out of a car – some Nepalese I thought. My mother in law hissed: pranaam!
I thought no way am I going to sit on the floor and have chandan. I heard
kirtan all night, but it was no good, I refused to have chandan. Baba was on
the roof. Munna stood next to me so I asked her: who is this? Both Munna
and my mother-in-law said “This is God.” I thought if he is God then he
should throw an apple at my nose…and he did ! Then he asked me: “When
are you leaving?” I replied “tonight.” Then he gave me two bananas and
said: “I’ll visit your home.” I thought ‘oh no, I’m not having him in my
house.’ But then something happened to me, all day I felt silence and peace.
Slowly, slowly I forgot about him.
Then I got a letter telling me he was coming. I said he can come to our
factory but he’s not coming in my house. I like to keep a clean house! So he
stayed in the factory and I went some evenings there. One day my motherin-law said: “You must invite him to your house. Make juice, get people
from the mandir and sing. Give him a place to eat in a separate room. I
didn’t understand why a separate room. He ate very little prasaad, one
didn’t see him eat. Then I visited him at 12 noon every day in the factory
and came back at night. He was in my room in my mother-in-law’s house.
The next day (I still hadn’t had chandan), he had left a beautiful picture of
Lord Bairav in my room. The room was filled with bliss and energy and
suddenly out of the blue I started to cry, really crying. Baba apparently had
said: “I left her a picture and she doesn’t have to do puja, she can do
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anything.” On another occasion he saw my garden and said: “I also love
flowers I will send you some seeds.”
In October I received a parcel of different seeds from Babaji – I didn’t know
what they were as they were not labelled – so I just threw them in the
dustbin. Later in Haidakhan Raghu gives Baba some seeds and Baba gives
them instantly to me saying: “This time don’t throw them away!”
Ram Lota: ‘The late Vimla Lal told me this sweet leela: contrary to many in
India, she always liked coffee better then chai, and over the years she took
the habit to drink her first morning cup at a table in front of a picture of
Baba, talking to him as if he was present, confiding him her worries and
hopes, asking advice, etc. Then one day, an American devotee who knew
her, went to Herakhan to have an interview with Baba. At a certain point,
during the interview, Baba ordered some chai for the two of them. Curious,
the American asked: ‘Baba, do you always drink only chai ?’ Baba replied:
‘Oh, no, I have coffee every morning together with Vimla.’ Perplexed, the
man did not comment, but when he went to Delhi he related the story to
Vimla, who remained astonished, because she had never told anyone about
her small, private ritual with Baba…
‘Janki went to Haidakhan and ordered herb seeds from Switzerland. When
they arrived Babaji broke all the packages up and mixed them together.
Janki: “No, no!! In Italy we don’t do it like this!” Baba: “This is Haidakhan
garden !” He then scattered them: salad, lettuce, flowers, all mixed together
(just like us). It made a most beautiful mixed garden with all varieties. One
day Babaji was lying down. I went to touch his feet. He held my arm very
firmly and stayed there, and said: “Tell all your friends that mankind will
experience a terrible time. Go and give love to all.” Then suddenly he
stood up at the door and said: “Our only hope is God.”
Udai: ‘After last Gurupurnima in Holland I went to Rieferath, and after that
I wanted to go to Canada and then USA to visit San Francisco and Ram Loti
in Denver. But it didn’t work out. On the 31st July I was taken over by a
strange emotion, a deep sadness within....maybe I was sad because I was
away from home so long? So I changed my plan and went to Denver on
the 2nd August and the next day I was in Baca. It was in Baca we heard
about Munirajji’s death. I felt overcome with gratitude because I was
directed to Babaji’s and Munirajji’s home. I stayed there 10 more days in
the ashram in bliss. I have known Muniraji for the last 20 years….and I
remember the moment he focussed on my face even after his car accident.
He never showed any sign of pain, but asked after my family.
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Thoughts.. .and… Reflections
with Lok Nath – Interviewed by Gaby
To pranaam or not to pranaam
Lok Nath: ‘Bowing down is a way to stay present with the sacred. But if it
becomes mechanical and automatic one wonders. It’s a gesture. It can be
very potent. But if it has to do with appearance, where we want to display
our religiosity in a chic sari or silk lunghi then it is not particularly useful for
us as a community. Sometimes I dislike it but through the act of bowing
something happens, a connection can happen. It’s a way to say hello to God.
How as a community can we create initiation and train new
people?
‘When we do the programme with a focus on Babaji, initiation happens - it
is created by itself. Our work is to keep doing the programme but also
inviting new and younger ones to participate. Babaji and Muniraji gave
mantras, practices and names. We have a vacuum here now that will have
to be worked out. Initiatory moments can come through conversations,
happenings and exchanges, on the horizontal level. We call it leela when it
happens with great intensity and awareness. SATSANG is a good forum for
communal sharing and teaching. Nobody plays the boss, it has a democratic
touch, sharing with brothers and sisters, the way we just did during
Navaratri.
On singing
‘By praising and singing to the divine we participate in sacred joy. Through
the act of singing we embody divine energy (shakti), we lose our superficial
identity and find our true nature
Is there non-divine energy ?
‘It feels like it - there is extraordinary cruelty, evil and violence on the
relative level. But in the end, God is revealed as one. Babaji was that
radiance. The light shines in the darkness and it is not overcome. Babaji
used to say kirtan karo, and so we sing.
Are you a VIP or a VUP ? (important or unimportant)
In God’s eyes we are all equal, all cherished. God doesn’t measure in
numbers, weights, time. In the human and material world we have linear
thinking, measurable values. But if we get stuck on that level we stay limited,
confined. Spirit on the other hand wants us to expand, be free from
measurably, quantifiable status. But the tension between the two has always
been there and always will - good sandpaper on the ego!
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Babaji the Clown
‘During a mela in Haidakhan, the ashram filled up
with people and VIP’s. We had a sweeper who
swept and cleaned the toilets for us. Baba put the
sweeper next to the Brahmins. One Brahmin ran
away. Baba, like a wild clown chased him and put
the sweeper right next to him again! Baba all the
time laughing and quickly scuttling around. It went
on like this until lunch was over. Babaji had the
capacity to make us laugh at ourselves, by
clowning and making fun.
‘Once we were on an overnight train and Babaji and Shastriji shared a 1st
class compartment. At night we made pranaam and went back to our
sleeping births. In the morning we went back to Baba and Shastriji’s
compartment. Babaji had dressed up Shastriji in a thick beard and
introduced him as a new and important VIP while looking ridiculous and
funny. There was so much laughter, really uncontrolled laughter. Shastriji
could play all those roles with Baba and with great regalness and fun himself.
He was able to adapt to anything Baba did.
‘We miss those walks up the river. One day we came back and carried and
helped Shastriji through the river. Before the last bend near the Hanuman
tree, Babaji told us to clean Shastriji up and give him a shave. Shastriji sat
like a stone on a rock, while I shaved him. For an Indian High Brahmin to
let a Westerner touch him in such an intimate way was unusual.
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Not I, not I, but Thou, but Thou
Lord Ram and Sita
“During the Hanuman Chalisa I am suddenly overwhelmed by jetlag
tiredness. Internally I ask Babaji to help me stay, so, instead of fighting to
stay awake, I allow myself to melt into the tiredness and let go….bliss…
A thought arises: ‘This is how I want to die.’
Once again I let go,
surrender, and He catches me from behind and takes me into His arms, and
all that remains is an ocean of dissolution, release and sweet bliss…..
At that moment Babaji’s favourite funeral bhajan resounds throughout the
kirtan hall: ‘Sita Ram, Sita Ram bolo pyare …’ This funeral, this death is not
a death, it’s a transformation from one state to another…. from I to Thou.
Hence the mantra: ‘not I not I but thou but thou.’ The recipe for how to die,
but more importantly perhaps a recipe for how to live.”
Gargi
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Sri Sri Sitaram Das Omkaranathji meets Sri Babaji
Shared in the book: "I am Harmony " by Rade Shyam
This is part of the story of Shri Sitaram Omkarnath Dass,
who, it is said, was invited into the body of Shri Muniraj......
"...In February, 1981, after completing a nine-day yagya in Bombay, Sri Babaji
and a small party flew to Calcutta for a brief stay, at the urgent request of
Sri Sib Narayan Nandi. Nandi Baba, as Sri Nandi was called, not only
wanted Sri Babaji to bless his house and household and devotees in Calcutta
by His visit, but he also wanted his long-time family guru, Sri Sri Sitaram Das
Onkarnathji, to have Sri Babaji's darshan. Sri Sri Onkarnathji was then in
his early 90's, a widely known and recognized miracle-working saint, and
guru to tens of thousands of Indians and foreigners, with ashrams in fifty-five
or sixty of India's holy places.
On the day after His arrival in Calcutta, a large hall was furnished to allow
Sri Babaji to give darshan to His devotees. Sri Sitaram Das was brought to
this place in a car and carried on the shoulders of one of his devotees to
the door of the reception hall where Sri Babaji sat. People were full of
curiosity to see what would happen when the established, 90 year old saint
met the young looking Babaji.
At the door, Sri Sri Onkaranathji got down from the shoulder of his
devotee and, with difficulty, walked up the aisle to Babaji's dais. There, Sri
Sri Onkaranathji prostrated himself - lay flat on the flour - before Sri Babaji.
Then, refusing the offered dais and still sitting on the floor, with folded
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hands and flowing tears, he told Sri Babaji that he had completed the work
that Babaji had assigned to him. Then he stood up and told the assembled
people: "Sri Sri Babaji is God and I am His servant. He is Akhan
Parambrahma Omkar Bhagavan, I have seen Him as Lord Krsna. (Lord
Krsna is the God Sri Sitaram Das worshipped)..."
Here is Lok Nath’s account of the events :
There are a series of photos showing Babaji with the Indian Saint, Sri Sri
Sitaram Das Omkaranathj. Here are the memories of what I could make of
the meeting. We were returning to Herakhan from a Yatra and stopped
overnight at a large quest house.
Excitement in the morning grew as news and the time of arrival of Sri
Sitaram grew closer. It seemed a big deal because Sri Sitaram was a well
known saint with tens of thousands of devotees and here we were with
Bhole Baba who could just as well be home at Herakhan with ten devotees
around him. My personal curiosity was always looking to see who
recognized Babaji and what kind of people were around him - something to
this day I cannot make rhyme nor reason of.
My only sense of Babaji’s interest in this visit was that he commented about
my appearance. Typically I shaved every day. But I had cut my face and was
sporting a two day growth. (It always amazed me that Babaji himself only
had a few random hairs on his face and he never shaved). That morning
Baba said to me - What ! Today, you have stopped shaving? Babaji was very
careful about hospitality and I had breached some hospitality etiquette by
not shaving for this guest.
When Sri Sitaram arrived he prostrated himself in front of Babaji’s room.
Babaji came out, held his hands together in greeting and there was a great
shouting and cheering. A loud proclamation was made that Babaji was Sat
Guru - teacher to all teachers. Mala’s were distributed, some prasad passed
around, people sat and talked. At some point Babaji, Sri Sitaram and Shastriji
went into Baba’s room and then after about an hour the visit was over.
Sri Sitaram was himself quite an old man. The word he left behind was that
Babaji would not reach an old age. The explanation as I heard it was that
Babaji’s spiritual presence and work on the planet were too intense for a
physical body to carry for so long. The conversation was that, as a rule,
Maha Avatars like Babaji did not stay in bodies for more than about fifteen
years - and so it was.
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Haidakhandi Samaj - News from India
Message from our Chairman
My dear Brothers & Sisters,
By the Divine blessings of Shree Shree Babaji and Shree Munirajji the
autumn Navratri celebrations concluded at Anandpuri Ashram in Chilianaula
with great joy, happiness and much harmony. Devotees came in large
numbers, much beyond our expectations, to receive the blessings of
Jagdamba Maa and also to offer their humble respects to our beloved
Guruji.
The Executive Committee and the General Body of the Haidakhandi Samaj
unanimously nominated me as Chairman of our Samaj. With all humility I
have accepted this great responsibility and would like to assure you that I
would try to discharge my duties to the best of my ability. As authorised by
the Executive Committee, I have formed the new Executive Committee and
the Advisory Committee, which have been duly approved by the General
Body of the Samaj.
It is my humble request to all the members of this new Committee to come
together as a united Team and extend your cooperation to make our Samaj
stronger. There is much work to be done, so let us work together in
harmony to move forward in the service to Shree Shree Babaji and the path
shown by Shree Munirajji.
I wish you all peace and harmony for the coming times.
Bhole Baba Ki Jai, Munirajji Maharaj Ki Jai, Jai Vishva
In Truth, Simplicity & Love
Alok Banerjee
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HAIDAKHANDI SAMAJ
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & ADVISORY COMMITTEE 2012-2015
Shri Alok Banerjee
Shri Pujari (Gerard Brouwer)
Dr Arvind Lal
Shri Khurak Singh (John Stewart)
Shri Uday Chatterjee
Shri Vijay Gupta
Shri Vijay Bhatiani
Commodore Premchand
Smt Taruna Ben Patel
Shri Raghuvir (A.C.Boll)
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Vice Chairman
Vice Chairman
General Secretary
Treasurer
Joint Treasurer
Joint Secretary
Joint Secretary
Joint Secretary
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Smt Rama Pilot
Dr B Clerk
Shri Laxmi Ahluwalia
Shri Lok Nath (M Smith)
Shri Kali Shani (Giuseppe Dalessio)
Shri Prem Singh Kuwarbi
Dr V V S Rao
Shri Sushil Khanna
Shri Har Govind Baba (Martin Wolver)
Shri Yogendra Madhavlal
Ms Saraswati Devi (Gudula Gergen)
Shri Ashok Chandra
Om Sahana Vavatu Sahanau Bhunaktu Sahaveeryam Karavavahai
Tejas Vinavati Tamastuma vidhwishavahai
Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi
May He protect both of us. May He nourish both of us.
May we both acquire the capacity (to study and understand the
scriptures).
May our study be brilliant. May we not argue with each other.
Om peace, peace, peace.
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Performance Report of Chilianaula Hospitals for 8 months
SHREE BABA HAIDAKHAN CHARITABLE AND RESEARCH HOSPITAL
(Allopathic hospital)
Receipts: Rs,(lacs)
Expenses: "
Surplus
"
79,583,15 *
74,441,34 (excludes capital expenses )
5,141,81 (average surplus : Rs 64,272 per month)
If this average is maintained, we will end up with surplus of about Rs 7.71 lacs
during this financial year.
BHOLE BABA AYURVEDIC HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH CENTRE
(Ayurvedic Hospital)
Receipts: Rs Lacs
Expenses: "
Surplus
"
52,859.04
40,146,97 (excludes capital expense)
12,672,04 Average surplus: Rs 1.58 lacs per month.
The average for the year will shrink as bookings in winter months remain poor.
We have no bookings for February. There are only 5 bookings in January. We
might end up financial year with a surplus of only Rs 8 lacs. The number
of Panchkarma bookings during current year was far less than last year and we
have cut down on some expenses.
* IR 79,583,15 = US $ 150,000 or Euro € 109,000
Footnote:
For Western consumption - one Lac or Lakh = 100,000 rupees (often written in
India as 1,00,000). One US Dollar = 53 Indian Rupees, or one Euro = 73 Rupees.
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Chilianaula Fundraising Statement
Dear Sisters and Brothers
The Babaji Anandpuri Ashram in Chilianaula is a beautiful, inspiring and
important collection of buildings and grounds that include Temple/ Kirtan
hall, two hospital buildings, several darmsalas (living quarters), two dhunis,
new and old Babaji Kutirs, shop space and gardens. Over the years the
Ashram has been built on and around, a patchwork of Babaji/ Samaj owned
land, Munirajji family land and government/ public land.
During his life, Munirajji worked continuously to consolidate ownership of
the necessary land in the name of the non-profit Samaj /Ashram Trust. At
the same time Munirajji took responsibility for all of the construction and
fundraising necessary for development and maintenance.
Now it is the opportunity of the Samaj and extended Babaji community to
consolidate and add to the extraordinary legacy begun by Babaji and
Munirajji. By raising the necessary money, we will participate in furthering
this spiritual and philanthropic work.
At the Samaj meeting in Chilianaula during Navaratri and again at an
Executive Committee meeting on 2 December 2012 it was agreed to
purchase the necessary land from Munirajji’s family and the Indian
government. The goal is to raise $2,000,000. This would pay for the land,
the government fees and rebuild our fixed deposits, giving us a yearly
income equal to the running costs of Haidakhan, Chilianaula and the
hospital. In India 10% is average return on fixed deposits.
The actual holdings of the Samaj at Chilianaula are as follows: 5 nalis (¼
acre) - gifted to Babaji by Munirajji and his brothers during Babaji's time.
7 nalis - granted by the government; 5 nalis (¼ acre) - gifted to Samaj by a
devotee who has passed away, land contiguous with the land we are about
to purchase. Total 17 Nalis (a little less than an acre). The Samaj has already
built on and occupies 8 nalis of the land we are purchasing from the family.
The final amount and cost for the land will be known exactly only when the
contract is signed. The purchase will be between 27 and 33 Nalis , @1.4 6 acres We are paying the approximate market value of 14 lac per nali
which is @ $27,000 per nali, taxes, transfer costs and addition costs will
all be known at the moment of signing the final document and making the
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title transfer. The estimated cost will be $600,000-700,000
In addition to this land is the public/ government land on which the hospital
and part of the original, large Dharamsala stand. We have occupied 88 nalis
of public land (approx 4.4 acres). The Samaj has been negotiating with the
government for many years, for the grant of 8 nalis. We will pay a fee for
the rest. The fee though, will be a fraction of the actual value.
The extensive hospital has grown to be an efficient charitable project.
Village outreach has shrunk as more people come directly to us and do not
require us to pick them up. In the eye clinic we offer a higher quality and
more expensive lens option which many people choose to pay for even
though the surgery etc. is free. This has brought income into the hospital
and we are now the second largest eye hospital in Uttarakhand Pradesh
State. Between the Ayurvedic unit and the allopathic unit, the hospitals are
managing to operate at a surplus, just barely, but at a surplus. This has
taken a lot of pressure off as donations have been shrinking.
Giving has started. Currently there are commitments for about $500,000.
The Samaj has collected about $100,000. The goal is to raise this money in
2013 (and 2014 should we run behind). When complete, fund raising will no
longer be a constant drag on our time. With the yearly donations etc we
could look to new projects.
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A Fundraising Letter from Kharku
Most of you already know that acquiring this land and creating a proper
endowment for the Samaj took up much of Munirajji’s time and energy for
the last 28 years. He considered it his duty. In January 2012 he entrusted
these tasks to Alokji and me and, in effect, to all of us. I met with his family
on several occasions and we were about to complete the agreement, when
Munirajji passed. One of his last acts was to speak to his brother Prem and
instruct him to complete this deal for the sake of Babaji, the Samaj and the
family. The main details are outlined above. We require $2Million to buy
the land from family and Government and to create a fund to provide
income for ongoing financing and management of both Herakhan and
Chilianaula for the foreseeable future. This is a large sum of money,
however we are many thousands of devotees and Babaji taught us that we
can do anything. He showed and continues to show us that when we make
the effort with a pure heart and a selfless intention, He completes the task.
All we have to do is believe, have faith and effort. We actually already have
about 25% of the money committed.
Kamalaya exists as a result of faith in Babaji and trust in Munirajji. I had
neither money nor talent. We are part and parcel of the divine
consciousness, and there is nothing we cannot do. Babaji told me: “Kharku,
we do not wait for miracles here, we create them!” Herakhan and
Chilianaula are miracles and they exist because we believed in Babaji and
Munirajji and made them come true. We never had a large donor who
provided millions; we prayed and made an effort and day by day, through
our faith and love, money, bricks and food came. Devotees came.
I am giving more than I can afford because I know it will happen.
We need this, you and I, to return to, and to be ready to receive Babaji.
We need to repair and maintain, and to keep the pujas happening. Babaji
taught us to make a difference and to BE that difference. Bhole Baba Ki Jai !
Please donate, add the Samaj to your Trust and your Will, ask your friends,
your family, your employers. We maintain 3 hospitals and two large
ashrams. Everyone wants to be part of something good and eternal.
Love,
Kharku
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A Few Memorable Days at Kumbh Mela 2013 - by Uday Chatterjee
As I approached the Haidakhandi Samaj Camp at the Kumbh Mela Grounds
my heart was filled with a sense of anticipation. I had come here twelve
years ago and spent some blissful time in the benevolent and loving
presence of Shri Munirajji. Memories came flooding back of how he would
take us each day to have a new experience: either to the Sangam for a Holy
Dip and a Mundan (to shed ones ego), or to meet some of the great yogis
like Mahamandleswar Shri Yati Maharaj or Mouni Baba.
Well my first impression on reaching the camp was that I was back at the
same camp, and with a strong spiritual presence of Shri Munirajji. By this
time the camp was functioning smoothly, with good tents, excellent toilets
and showers, and a well functioning kitchen which was consistently turning
out simple but tasty meals. All the devotees and so many familiar faces were
enjoying the Kumbh Mela while contributing their share of Karma Yoga.
Days at Kumbh Mela started around 3.30am, with no need to set an alarm
as the loud morning music started at 3.30am ! By 4am we walked the short
distance to the Ganga for a dip (very close to our camp site) in near
darkness and in the thick morning fog. It was amazing how thousands of
people mostly from rural India: men, women, young and old were there at
this early hour of the morning for a bath in holy Ganges. Water sure was
icy cold but in that milieu of true devotion I did not feel cold, but detached
from the body. Back at Camp hot tea awaited us along with a little fire
which was lit every morning by Manda Baba and Jaman. Until about 9am we
followed the usual Ashram routine of puja, chandan, aarti, and havan (on
selected days) and finally some breakfast.
After that was time for self
exploration of the Kumbh Complex, and there was much to explore.
Spread over some 54 sq kms this was an enormous confluence of people.
The Kumbh Mela takes place every twelve years, but this time it seemed
even bigger. It has a very special meaning for me as I was born in Allahabad
during a Kumbh Mela. We returned to Camp for lunch and then again went
out visiting the myriad ashrams and holy men before returning to the camp
at about 5pm to prepare for our evening aarti and bhajans followed by
dinner. After dinner, when the whole Kumbh Nagari was bedecked in bright
lights, there was another opportunity for the more adventurous to explore
the nightlife of Kumbh Nagari, which was transformed into a magical land:
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Shri Alok Banerjee, following the tradition of Shri Munirajji, took us to have
darshan and blessings of Mahamandleshwar Shri Yati Maharaj, who though
feeble at the age of nearly 95, was still full of compassion and love. He
expressed his great mutual respect for Shri Munirajji. Later with Alokbhai,
we also went to meet Shri Mouni Baba, and to Shri Mridulji’s wonderful
discourse on Shrimad Bhagwat, as well as a bath in the Sangam. Each of
these occasions filled me with deep impressions and reinforced the
importance of continuous spiritual consciousness.
During the last Kumbh Mela in 2001, I had had a memorable experience:
On Mouni Amavasya day, Ramloti from Denver and I had gone to Sangam
for a dip, but when we returned a few minutes later we were unable to find
the man who was holding on to our clothes ! Unable to find him in that
huge mass of people, we walked back bare foot and wet all the way back to
our Camp. This time I had another experience to remember and cherish:
one night around midnight, there was a heavy downpour. Many of the tents
had got wet. In my tent which had eight beds, awaiting an influx of several
devotees expected early the following morning, I was the sole occupant for
the night. The downpour had left seven beds soaking wet but my bed was
totally dry. So much so that when the rain stopped and we had shifted
some people to dry tents (all in perfect shanti and harmony), I was able to
return to my bed for a peacefully sleep. Next morning was bright and a
beautiful sunshine came out to dry out everything and return the Camp and
Kumbh fresh and clean. For me this was the Miracle of Kumbh Mela 2013.
Alokbhai single handedly had managed to make all the arrangements and
everybody felt much love and harmony in the Camp. As I was leaving the
Camp and Kumbh Nagari, I prayed to all the Gods above and Saints present
that all my friends, family, Babaji’s family around the world may find peace,
prosperity and happiness in the years to come. I also wished and prayed to
God that Alokbhai will once again create this beautiful opportunity for all
Haidakhandis to come and experience Bliss in 2025.
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Navaratri weather report
Chandan and Himalayan sunrise
unprecedented clear sky
all thirty or so dark peaks set sharp
against a warm orange.
There is mist in the valley below
and a show of the first snow caps.
Autumn navaratri is under way
potent as ever
with its ancient rituals and rhythm
The fire and the ashes
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News from Around the World
Haidakhandi Babaji Centres and Samajes in the world – 2013
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The vow of unity
News from Italy
“Everyone today must take a vow and sacrifice everything for unity.”
Babaji – 26th December 1982
The Italian Samaj currently coordinates the activities of five affiliated centres
in Italy and has assets in real estate of nearly three million euro, managed by
a foundation. All over the world the movement of the devotees of Babaji
includes people from all walks of life and all religions, and has as its ultimate
goal, unity and universal brotherhood. Until a few months ago we had in
Shri Maha Munirajji an enlightened leadership that has led us by the hand
and prepared us for this moment. Now we are called to move forward
with our own efforts.
We must show that we understand the path we are following, a path that
Babaji has shown us clearly. In the period from Christmas ‘82 to December
‘83, he asked us to take some vows, in seven of his speeches. Those
speeches begin and end with the same vow: ‘sacrifice ourselves for unity,’
and this is particularly important for us today. To honour this vow, to
paraphrase the words of Babaji, we must eradicate pride, jealousy and
hatred from our hearts, and lovingly unite to do good in the world. Only
then, as Babaji says, will we deserve the goodwill of the majority of people.
These are His instructions, simple words that should leave no doubt in
anyone.
During 1983 He asked all of us to take five vows:
Working and serving
Save ourselves and the world
Help the needy
Eradicate laziness
Spread the message of Karma Yoga
For the success of our movement and the concrete progress of our
ashrams and centres, we must show that we are able to sit down together
and talk with a loving attitude, truly listening to each other, as Muniji
advised us a few days before passing away. In this regard, as there have
been elections in the Indian Samaj, we want to confirm our full support to
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the current President of the Samaj, Shri Alok Banerjee, approved by
Munirajji. We have met Alok several times, even in Italy, and we have always
appreciated his harmony with Munirajji, his openness, his willingness to help
everyone, his discreet way to manage things without imposing his opinion,
his great inner determination, his great listening skills and group
involvement.
To realise the task of unity that Babaji gave us we must take the vows that
Babaji asked of us just thirty years ago, and demonstrate that, despite the
large differences that exist among us, we can come to understand each
other and take decisions, based only on the common good.
Like the petals of a flower, each of us is important to the overall picture.
What would the scent of a sublime flower be if the petals began to fight
among themselves or if a petal was ten times larger than the others? I am
ever more conscious that the grace of Babaji pervades us only in those
moments when, in his name, we truly meet and unite.
With Love,
Tulsa Singh (Settimo Catalano)
- President of the Italian Samaj
26
News from Switzerland – Schweibenalp and the birth of Green Phoenix
The Center of Unity Schweibenalp-Siddhashram was founded in 1982 by Sundar
Baba (Dr. Robert Dreyfus) on instructions from Sri Babaji to create an Ashram
and Centre/Spiritual University in Switzerland. Sundar lived there during the first 9
years. Thereafter he moved with his family to nearby Spiez, and continued to be
involved on a smaller scale. Schweibenalp has been going through various phases
and hosting many spiritual masters and karma yogis and guests, all who served
the place selflessly and benefitted from Babaji’s energy there. It has always served
to spread new consciousness and spiritual teachings and hence has been self
sufficient financially. After having been called back internally by Sri Babaji, Sundar
is back in Schweibenalp for the last five years. In this article he shares how he
returned, and gives some insights as to where Schweibenalp is now.
‘When Babaji ordered me back to Schweibenalp in 2007 I first hesitated. As
usual, He got me by surprise and my first reaction was: ‘No! I have other
plans and other needs and other ideas and other duties’. He insisted, played
several lilas on me and so I sold my house, closed my practice and less than
half a year later had returned to Schweibenalp. Actually I had no clear idea
where we were going and looking back on the last 5 years I can only marvel
at the changes. What an Odyssey it has been, and such blessing for the
place and for myself.
Schweibenalp has traditionally been a place for communication, networking
and exchange of Babaji consciousness with main stream consciousness, as
well as ‘new age’ consciousness, other religions, and with pioneering social
and political consciousness. Babaji’s puja was established from the beginning
and carried on rigorously for 25 years without a break. Puja is still going on
and feels part of the fabric, even if less frequent. The program and the
language here has always reflected spiritual and social (r)evolution in many
ways. I consider Babaji a revolutionary, even though He often relied on
tradition and main stream social order. His few words and high ideals
reflect goals, which we will only reach by extremely revolutionary attitudes
and actions. Schweibenalp has often been confronted and attracted by
pioneers and their work, and so it has been exposed to new and daring
ideas. This seems part of its purpose.
During the 15 years that I was physically absent from Schweibenalp I
continued to engage in the Herakhandi family and network with many other
spiritually and socially pioneering groups and communities. I had a great
longing and vision to learn from socially advanced ideas and teachers. This
became a mission to cooperate with other networks in order to help form
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a global force of revolution for peace and unity in the world and to embody
Truth Simplicity and Love. At that time something about Schweibenalp
didn’t feel right to me anymore. Part of it was the old spiritual religious
language, separating us from many other movements. We didn’t really know
how to engage in creating a new model of life on the planet, and to
investigate what could be modern tools and ways to serve a new humanity.
I want to express at this point my great gratitude and admiration to all
those, in those years of transition, who persevered at Schweibenalp and
held the place, the energy and the Puja!
When a new board started to work in 2007 and I returned to live there, we
had two priorities:
1.) The buildings and general infrastructure had to be renovated and
enlarged massively in order to be able to continue to serve as a seminar
centre and host a community. We managed this task with huge effort and
financial investments from friends and the bank. We achieved much but still
have more to do in the coming 3 to 5 years.
2.) We were aware, that this large place needed a new focus in addition to
being Babaji’s home and a place of spiritual power, practice and retreat.
After some false starts the vision of Green Phoenix came through, as an
initiative to follow and implement at Schweibenalp, but also to carry out
into the world and to share with other communities and projects. Green
Phoenix is a network in Eco-Social-Peace Work for a sustainable life, a
platform of networks, communities and experts to exchange, support and
learn from each other. It’s an attempt to help a systemic change in the
world. More than a little repair is needed at this time, to shift from self
destruction to self realisation and implement this in society, economics and
ecology. From greed to sharing, from competition to cooperation, from
violence to non violence, and from fear and separation to trust and
oneness. An attitude of higher consciousness (i.e. spirituality) is needed,
meaning not only a love of and surrender to God privately, but also a
concrete and systematic service to mankind and all living beings and nature.
Some of the premises of Green Phoenix are:
- a platform of collective and individual networks and projects.
- a dedication to the healing process of this rapidly changing world, and
imbalanced biosphere.
- an assumption that experimental communities, as models of a new form
of living, are the most efficient and convincing strategy.
- these are practiced in experimental rural, urban and virtual communities.
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- a demand that simultaneous conscious and coherent transformative work
is practiced in the four areas of Ecology, Economy, Living Together, and
Spiritual Consciousness
- a belief that man is an evolutionary being with a future way beyond
where we are now and that we as co-creators are co-responsible for this
evolution and change to come about.
Since 2010 Schweibenalp has been organising conferences where experts,
communities/life models, networks and projects meet. Our meetings are a
varied program containing not only intellectual and practical work but also
spiritual practise, art and group sharings. They take place in the familiar
atmosphere typical for Schweibenalp. This is the beginning of the
recreation of Schweibenalp. It was started with the help of the new board.
Unfortunately it is not possible in this short article, to give due regard to
the related projects and people, guiding and helping in this process. All this
has come together in these recent years by work/karma yoga, intuition and
guidance. My gratitude goes to Babaji, who inspired us all the way through.
I am very happy to share this work with you all. If you would like to know
more about us, please visit the websites of:
www.schweibenalp.ch
and
www.greenphoenixglobally.org
I have not written here about the universal peace celebration, nor about
our alpine Permaculture project and many other projects going on.
Naturally we would love any of you join our next conference from Sept 25th
to 30th, 2013. In addition we are looking forward very much to host the
Hairakhandi family at the Gurupurnima of 2014 ! In the next edition of the
Journal I hope to be able to write about how we are putting these ideas
into form in Schweibenalp.
Sundar Baba for Center of Unity Schweibenalp – Siddhashram
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Gurupurnima – 19th to 22nd July 2013 – in Germany
You are most heartily invited to the ninth European Gurupurnima festival.
This year 2013 to be held at Bhole Baba Ashram, Reiferath, Germany.
Nirmala (President Haidakhan Samaj Germany) writes:
We are looking forward to celebrate this blessed occasion in honour of the
Guru, this festival of universal homage to one`s own Guru on this full moon
in July. Let us sing, dance, hold satsang together and “Be happy, happy,
happy” as this has been Sri Munirajji`s final spoken wish and message for us.
Shri Alok Banerjee, chairman of the Indian Samaj, will join us and guide us
through the four days of sacred ceremonies. Please let us know in advance if
you are coming. You can bring your own private tents and shared sleeping
space in bigger tents will also be available. Of course you are free to make
your own private arrangements. Karma Yogis are welcome to arrive 1 to 2
weeks beforehand to set up for this large event. www.babajiashram.de
30
News from Germany
It is difficult nowadays to meet Rieferath devotees of Babaji talking to each
other without hearing the magical and exciting word ‘Gurupurnima’.
Preparations for our big festival are fully under way now. Our winter
here in Germany has been a very wet one so far, but all the same a lot of
work has been done already: a natural fence has been created around the
Havankund; a new open barn has been built attached to the dhuni house;
paint and colours have arrived and the painting of all the rooms of the
ashram has begun. I daresay you visitors from abroad can count on
traditional German virtues: everything will be most solidly prepared and
ready in time ! It is very good to see how many people are taking a great
interest in assisting and contributing with the work. You are most
welcome join us and help prepare the ashram in advance.
A new “Stairway to Heaven” is under construction (well, from the parking
place straight up to the temple entrance !) For a very long time we
wanted to accomplish this project which Peter Dawkins, the geomantic
seer, recommended that we built. We all agree that it opens up the
energy of the place. Even our neighbours like it.
We are looking forward to Turkantam`s concert in honour of Babaji on
his Samadhi day, and as usual we will have springtime Navaratri with daily
fire ceremonies, paduka pujas and readings of the Sapta Sati.
See you in Summer,
Jai maha Maya ki jai! Love,
Urmila & the Rieferath community
31
News from Russia with Love
Land has been bought for a new Ashram outside of Moscow
The visit of Maha Munirajji to Moscow was unforgettable and his
inspiration is still here. He strongly inspired us to get an ashram going
outside of Moscow, and in wondrous ways this is slowly taking shape. In a
small village called Drozhzhino, a good 3 hours away from Moscow, land
has been bought along the river Ugra that wells up in springtime to create
a little lake at this site. It has great views of the natural simple
surroundings. On Christmas day a first small puja was performed on the
land in minus 30º !
One of the Ashram plots has an old house that will make good firewood.
While we are looking to buy some adjoining plots of land, a group of
devotees that gather or connect with Durga Das’ home-centre and/or at
the aarati circle at Indu’s house, are getting ready to build an ashram
there.
Pujari, Anjani and Durga Das have also bought personal plots, one with
another firewood house on it. There is much karma yoga ahead and a
challenge to fit in with the locals of the area. But we are happy to get this
news out, so that more devotees can participate in this great adventure.
At the same time activity is going on at Omkar Shiva Dham, Siberia, and
groups are in Perm, Surgut, and the Haidakhandi Love Center in
Zaluchnoe (see opposite). We hope to see you there and looking
forward to your participation. Bring your tools and tea and Mala. You
can always connect with Durga Das: durgadas@mail.ru
or Tara: kashi108@yandex.ru or Indu: dubinskaya@mail.ru
or myself: pujaribrouwer@gmail.com
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Hairakhandi Love Center (Russia, near Moscow)
The Center is located in Zaluchnoe village, 120 km from Moscow. The
river Protva nearby has very clean water, perfect for bathing. At the
moment we have a covered Dhuni, Babaji Kutir and a small summer
kitchen on the land.
Hairakhandi Love Center was founded in the year 2006. When Shri
Munirajji was in Russia for Guru Purnima in 2011 he visited Zaluchnoe and
said: “Much karma-yoga should be done here, with many flowers to
plant”.
Shri Guru Munirajji gave a name to this place – “Hairakhandi Love Center
“. He had always been interested in this project, asking how it was going
on, and recommending that we keep on with construction. In autumn
2011 a preliminary project plan was shown to him. Guruji said that this
work will be a part of the general Samaj project in Russia. In summer 2013
we hope to start the construction of a new house – a warm building with
rooms for staying in cold times, so that we can organize the rituals all year
round. For the moment this place is possible to use only in summer.
We are planning to increase the activity in “Hairakhandi Love Center “ –
- to perform every day practice in the tradition of Hairakhan Babaji,
- to arrange traditional holiday rituals and celebrations,
- to make individual pujas and havans,
- and keep on karma yoga practice!
We will be always happy to see you at our place!
Our contacts:
+7-926-127-13-37 Arman
zaluchnoe@gmail.com
33
News from Crestone, USA
Travelling with Babaji by Ramloti
The Haidakhandi Universal Ashram at Crestone, Colorado USA
Going from home to home when Shri Babaji travelled, He would bless His
devotees with His Divine Presence. There was always so much
anticipation and preparation before His arrival, so much excitement as He
arrived, and finally such deep devotion when He was there. Although the
physical form that did all this left our mortal view twenty-nine years ago,
this tradition still continues around the world.
The padukas (the wooden sandals that He wore) carry His Divine energy.
In the temple here in Crestone, Colorado (as in most temples of Baba
around the world) they receive daily pujas and aaratis and are taken from
the temple to His kutir (Babaji’s room) each night. When they travel
around the country with representatives from the Ashram, the same
anticipation, preparation, excitement and devotion are elicited from the
devotees as when He was in physical form.
In January and February of this year, Babaji’s padukas accompanied by
Ramloti, Tribhuvan, Shashi and Bipin travelled around California,
Colorado, and Florida. Oh what sweetness, joy, celebration, and
devotion! In each place we were received with such love. From one
person we received a thank you that said it was one of the most
important days of her life. Another in preparation for His visit wrote that
it was the answer to a lifelong prayer. It seems that everyone wants to be
part of these magical tours and so folks fly in from Washington, Canada,
New Mexico and other parts of the country to travel with us doing fire
ceremonies, paduka pujas, presentations, aarati, and chanting.
What good fortune we have to be able to facilitate the spreading of this
divine expression of love that is Shri Babaji. His family is huge and our
connections run deep. The sacred padukas are a physical symbol of
Babaji’s presence but His true presence is in every exchange of love that
we make in this world.
34
Letters to the Journal
Letter from Raghuvir
“During the last 3 months of last year Annapurna and I stayed in Babaji’s
ashrams in India; something I had not done for a long time outside the
busy festival periods. I learned a lot and would like to share some of these
thoughts with you.
It’s now 29 years since Babaji left his physical form, spending time with
Him was divine time, heaven on earth. Even though I was having the time
of my life, I was not fully aware how divine it really was back then. We
did various practices and some of them even seemed hardcore but it was
all sparked by this deep devotion that He Himself had instilled in us. Of
course compared to the practices of true yogis it was all child’s play.
Nevertheless, that love and devotion He instilled in me, grew and matured
through the years. For this I am also grateful to Shri Muniraj who, through
all these years, created the environment to learn, grow and mature. He
was a peerless example of spiritual discipline and untiring service to Babaji
and His devotees.
Now with Babaji not in physical form (at least not
amongst us) and without Shri Muniraj’s guidance we need to grow up fast
in our organization. Selfless service in the way that Shri Muniraj practised
is a quality that not many posses. Much rests on the shoulders of those
who have taken up responsible positions in the Samaj, but it is clear that
we all need to unite in our actions. Only this way can there be any
chance for an organization to be just a little worthy to carry Babaji’s name.
We all have ideas and opinions and a need to express them, but in the end
we were taught by the master of Karma Yoga, and it is a lot of work to
run such an organization which includes three hospitals. We need to be
able to put aside our personal ideas and know when to step aside or unite
in Seva to the ONE who binds us, who has called us all to His lotus feet,
Shri Babaji. So it is in our personal lives that we need to sharpen our
focus, strongly determine what is important to us, and have our intensions
clear, at a time when economical, political and all sorts of crises are filling
our world.
Shri Babaji has given us wonderful practices to sharpen our focus on the
divine like Japa, reading the Saptasati, Puja, etc.
According to our
individual inclinations we might wave an incense stick in front of Babaji’s
picture in the morning, and then start running on the treadmill of our life,
and some others might be able to take more time to dedicate to these
spiritually uplifting practices. We know now from science that we are
35
only conscious for 20% or our brain’s capacity to be conscious. So 80% of
our self is unconscious ! This explains why we think of ourselves in one
way but act in another, why we do things that we had better not do and
avoid things that we and others would actually benefit from. We need to
get really honest with ourselves to look in that mirror to discover our
unconscious fears and desires, which are mostly at the bottom of all this.
It’s amazing how cold and hard we can become with our fellow human
beings and justify our behaviour with silly arguments, believing we are
right. Such behaviour usually stems from our unconscious patterns shaped
by our fears and desires.
We keep ourselves really busy with activities and work, or in an altered
state with alcohol, drugs and food, and all this so as to avoid looking in
that mirror or face the facts of who we truly are. Not that there is
anything wrong with who we are, no guilt is needed. It is just who we are,
it’s just like that, the way that life has shaped us. But when we take a good
look at ourselves, without covering, bending or justifying the facts, we can
then understand better the cross that others carry. Have compassion for
whom we are, and for the way others are.
Shri Babaji has called us and if we believe who He says He is, what we sing
in the aarti, then we can realize how very lucky we are in this life time to
have such a high being take interest in us. We need to take full benefit of
the chance that the divine has given us, and do some of these simple
practices that the Lord has shown us how to celebrate the divine in our
life. However this spiritual path will become a highway if we apply more
awareness to who we truly are, instead of defending the one we imagine
we are or want to be. The reason we are on earth is to discover who we
are and to clean up this unconscious material which keeps us from divine
harmony. That is not easy, our ego will do anything to maintain this false
identity, to maintain itself. It will take honest self reflection and great
courage to discern our ego filled with pride, desire, fear and anger, etc, to
distinguish it from who you really are. It will be an emotional roller
coaster as all things we could not, did not want to, or were afraid to deal
with, still await resolution, to be dealt with now, later or in the next
life…....
We need to apply compassion in the first place toward ourselves and our
failures, and then toward those around us, as we are all suffering. The
more we replace this unconscious material with the name of the divine,
the more light will shine in our daily life, the more the presence of Babaji
will happen in us.”
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Letter from Kalavati
J. Amba Edizioni www.j-ambaedizioni.com
“Since our beloved Muniraji has left his body, after some months spent just
crying, I am experiencing a new phase of relaxed awareness of a new
freedom. I had some vivid dreams of him in a relaxed happy homelike
environment with some devotees around him, all in a most peaceful state.
I am taking care of myself after long years of selfless service and feeling
that spiritual discipline as I used to practice before is no longer needed for
me – at least for now. I am naturally fixed in a contemplation which is
active at the same time, thus including meditation and karma yoga
together in a new “soft and natural” way. No mala, no puja but just simple
intimate communion. This made me feel uneasy at first because spiritual
practice is also a habit, but isn’t it like just “being” our Master, now that he
is not in his body but is all pervading and free from material bondage ?
New website for J. Amba Edizioni www.j-ambaedizioni.com
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A Dream from One of our family
About two months ago I dreamt a very enlightening dream with Sri Babaji and
Sri Muniraji:
“In the first part we were doing puja. It was puja to God and to Babaji.
There was no altar and no deity as form or image. Still we did aarati and
simultaneously there was a puja going on in a Western mode, I remember
hearing the Halleluya-Praise God.
In the second part, together with
Muniraji we entered another room or loka through a door. We were all
sitting on the floor in one direction. We were of young age or ageless.
Muniraji was sitting with us. At once He turned around looking at us in a
almost indescibable way with a divine smile of happiness and eyes of divine
love and glow. He was completely unveiled and his divine joy and youth
and love as a divine being in a divine realm entered our experience.”
Anon
37
Gurus and Egos
by Filippo Falzoni Gallerani, Milano
Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic
is morphine or idealism. C. G. JUNG
The intuitive mind is an immediate awareness, which does not depend on memory, time,
experience, or a logical process. It’s an immediate state, beyond logic and thought.
Intuition is a kind of knowledge-action that occurs spontaneously in an open mind,
receptive, attentive, free from confusion and conflict, patterns, desires and fears. A
restless mind is like a distorted mirror, a conditioned or dogmatic mind sees only within
its expectations. A mind victim of inner conflicts is not able to hear and see clearly.
Nowadays men have a great need to develop intuition to deal with this historical period
of great transformation, characterized by the collapse of old values and embryonic
emergence of consciousness of Unity.
Some people have a problem finding a guru, a spiritual guide to free them
from inner conflicts and maybe even to solve worldly matters, economic
and sentimental issues. Others have even more problems because they
met one, and now they are lost in the quagmire of a spiritual ego. I think
this has often happened to the followers of saints and masters, both in the
past and in the present. Man lives as a prisoner of abstractions and
conceptual worlds, which take him away from the direct perception of
what really ‘is’. In this way he experiences the frustration of those who
confuse the map with the territory, living always separated from real life,
trapped in a cage of thoughts. Under these conditions, even if he
encounters a true Master, his perception will be through the
filter of his mind, and the relationship with the Guru will be
affected by his way of seeing and thinking.
The problem with religion for centuries has been truly dramatic. It is hard
to believe that the message of Love spread by Jesus could have led to
phenomena such as the Inquisition, and the fact that Protestants and
Catholics have been killing each other for centuries. It’s amazing how the
words of the wise men can be so deeply distorted by religion. So many
communities, inspired by spiritual paths and humanitarian purposes, are
often places where conflicts, are amplified rather than disappear. In the
end, a lot of researchers face the same issues: the moment you identify
with the separate, disconnected ego we are treading a dangerous path.
Observing the dynamics of the separated ego, we realize that this is at the
base of all human problems. Ashrams are no different from the rest
of the world. But here, the problems of the ego seem to be even
38
more evident, probably due to the gap between reality and
professed ideals.
The purpose of this article is not to criticize those who follow a Guru:
meeting a Master has been the most important experience of my life. I
simply want to point out how easy it is to fall into the traps of the mind,
and with the problems that that entails. We are all victims of this.
However if we want to achieve self-realization we need to wake up and
face the divisive aspect of the ego that drives us. Ego is the human
problem par excellence. I do not criticize individuals, but rather I want to
shed light on the mental deceptions and the false values that we can all
become prey to. Erroneous assumptions are the root of all our problems.
That’s why all the sages say that the development of a new consciousness
is urgently needed.
With the Guru, over the years, I have gone through phases similar to
those I described. When I was younger I was a passionate admirer of
Jiddu Krishnamurti. It was then that I went through the very same
deceptions of the spiritual ego, although on an intellectual level I was
certain that I had understood and could resolve any problem. I hope that
my experience can help those who follow a Master and a path of self
knowledge. The example of the ashrams reflects what is happening all over
the world, because at this stage humanity is a victim of the limits of thinking
that fragments and distorts reality.
TO MEET A MASTER
Meeting a Master, a truly enlightened and awakened individual free from
the prison of the ego who lives in harmony with the cosmos, is a touching
and unforgettable experience. We perceive that his mental presence is so
different from the restless and divided mind of the common man. The
mere presence of such a person can lead to moments of great depth and
clarity. Interacting with him we become aware of the prison of thoughts
in which we live. Next to him the continuous internal dialogue of the
mind stops, at least for a moment. Seeing more clearly the mind games
leads to moments of true awareness in which the mind is still and clear.
The Master is not lost in thoughts and words because he
communicates from the spontaneity of his heart. He touches us
deeply because he sees our essence, and is not fooled by the
masks we wear, so in front of him frequently there emerges in us an
authentic transparency of mind that leads to a magnificent sharpness of
39
perception1. Often after a meeting with the Master, we find that
all the problems we had in our head have been dissolved
miraculously. It is enough to feel for a moment the “natural state2”, to
get in touch with real life and to free consciousness from the fallacies of
thought. In the natural state the reality of the moment is clear and radiant.
This awareness is the true Inner Master, who guides us in the present, here
and now. From the perspective of the intuitive mind we find that
awareness is the Guru and daily life is our true Yoga.
At this point it is clear that it is no longer necessary to retire to an ashram
in order to grow spiritually. Being aware that every situation that life
presents us is our true sadhana3, perfect practice, right for us. A retreat
into nature or to an ashram for meditation and isolation for periods away
from ordinary life can be very beneficial and is certainly advisable. We
must, however, be very vigilant not to confuse the knowledge of the Self,
free of time and thought, with the desires and fantasies of the spiritual ego
that grows very easily in every ashram. The spiritual ego is the inflated ego
that is just playing another role. It is just another illusion, another
deception, because spirit can only be there when the ego is out of the
way.
WE DO NOT SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE, BUT AS WE ARE
Unfortunately, states of lucid mindfulness and ecstatic perception are
momentary because the ego immediately tries to take over and possess
the experience. This moment of awakening soon becomes a memory that
we become attached to, and so we go back to sleep in our thoughts: not
grasping the actual experience, ever new, the truth of the moment that is going
on now. We once again become prisoners of the conceptual dimension,
and our experience is interpreted under the influence of our religious
conditioning and desires. Although we met a true master who offered us
an opportunity to awaken, over time the relationship with him becomes
influenced by our way of seeing and thinking and we invent a story that is
11
[1] However, immature individuals might not seize the magic of mindfulness, but
they will be overwhelmed with exaltation and owned by religious fantasies in a regression to
mythical and magical thinking. The search for emotional pleasures of this kind of
spirituality, leads many to go astray and discredits the authentic spirituality.
2
[2] Natural State is the term used by Ramana Maharshi to indicate the
spontaneous awareness of the Self, which is free from the sense of separation induced by the
ego, which is a product of thought.
3
[3] Spiritual practice. Literally means to achieve something.
40
more or less imaginative. Following the practices that the Master has
suggested there are moments of great serenity and enthusiasm, but
eventually the unsolved problems of the ego re-emerge. We soon desire
that these states become more consistent, deep and complete and this is
the beginning of further problems for the ego, as it projects into the
future. If there is a religious context around the Master, symbols handed
down for thousands of years will certainly have a great hold on the mind
of the disciple, strengthening mystic fantasies that may facilitate the loss of
contact with reality.
So, instead of cultivating a fluid and
spontaneous awareness and truly living the teachings, we are
driven to create a new religion. By crystallizing the experiences with
the Master we end up creating an excessive attachment to rules and
rituals, and lose sight of the spirit. If there are human conflicts they are
expected to be resolved through the intervention of the imagined grace of
the Guru, and this can be a direct abdication of responsibility to sort
things out ourselves in simple and human terms. Furthermore, the
phrases of the Master (often poorly translated) are emphasized as
commandments, without realizing that, outside of the context in which
they were expressed, they often make no sense.
In these ways, emphasis is more to the outward forms rather than our
own consciousness. And this is often at the expense of our serenity. Of
course in the ashram there are also many good things, sometimes we
meet very lovely people, and can have important human relationships.
However this can lead to a glossing over of deep contradictions within the
group. We ignore big problems, only willing to see good things.
Unfortunately, the ego, identifying with the spiritual seeker, finds a
rewarding role, seductive and worth living. “I’m not just anyone, but a
disciple, led by a guru, and I will have access to higher and higher spiritual
attainments.”
In this way more troubles will be created: the subtle
illusions of the spiritual ego…
The illusions can lead to painful
disappointment. Hubris4 arouses the wrath of the gods, and certain
Nemesis follows.
If you wish to read the other half of this article,
please e-mail filippofalzoni1@gamil.com. The Editors welcome comments on
articles and letters, which can be published in the next edition.
4
[4] Hubris or Hybris is a technical term of Greek tragedy and Greek literature,
which appears in Aristotle's Poetics. It literally means "arrogance", "excess", "pride",
"proud" or "abuse." It is a "fault" due to an action that violates God's immutable laws. As a
consequence of Hubris, Nemesis follows on. Nemesis means "revenge of the gods",
"anger", and therefore refers to the punishment justly inflicted by the gods to those guilty of
hubris.
41
Suggested theme for Journal 8 – Summer 2013:
“Return of the Goddess”
42
Editorial
It has been a real joy to compile so much rich material for this edition of
the Journal. We had to sift through quite a lot and be economical with
space. We’ve already started gathering material for the next edition! We
welcome your comments on the contents here (e.g. Filippo’s article on
Gurus and Egos? or Settimo’s or Sundar’s letters? or the theme for the
next edition? – see opposite page). We call this a ‘Journal’ because
we want to invite your articles and to stimulate
discussion/satsang. Please also send us your letters and country news.
And if you find the Journal boring or improvable, be bold and let us know !
If you did not receive an email from us recently requesting your
country/centre/group news it is because we don’t have your email
address. So please send it to us before the next edition, being compiled
this coming July. We will publish it in August so as to contain stories
from Gurupurnima in Germany and for printing in India for Autumn
Navaratri. I, Rob, am attending this Spring Navaratri in Herakhan so
please approach me there if you have stories, comments or news for the
next edition.
Kharku has kindly agreed to join our Editorial Board of Alok, Lok Nath,
Gayatri Devi and Raghuvir to assist us in approving and improving the
content and style of publication. The responsibility for the content of the
IHJ lies with the Editors, with the support of their Editorial Board,
however the Editors do not take responsibility for individual’s stories or
country information. We often need to edit information sent to us, for
the purpose of shortening the length of articles or improving written
English or presentation.
With warm thanks to everyone who contributed to this edition, and in
particular to the amazing international communication maintained by that
enigmatic gentleman Lal Baba in his superb website www.planetbabaji.com
Please contact us on info@oxford-transpersonal.co.uk
Love to all,
Rob and Gaby
This Journal is printed in India by the Haidakhandi Samaj, Regd Office:
54 Hanuman Road, New Delhi -110 001 Regd No. Delhi – S-1455
43
Do not go to the house of Peace to request something,
go to the house of Peace as a co-creator.
Do not go to the fire pit (dhuni) as the dazzled one,
go to the fire pit to be burnt by its Light.
Do not go to the Temple to ask for something,
go there to be one of its stones.
Do not go to the feet of Babaji as somebody who is inferior,
go to the feet of Babaji as somebody who understands Love.
Simplicity Truth and Love are the pillars of thy inner castle –
through them learn to commune with the essence that is present in the
innermost of all manifest forms.
Then you will become Free and will thus commune
with the oceans of pure Peace.
A devotee.
3