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International Haidakhandi

Journal

Incorporating the Indian Haidakhandi Samaj News

No. 6 - Summer 2012

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GURUPURNIMA 28th June to 4th July 2012

SADA SHIVA DHAM HOLLAND HOLLAND

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Gurupurnima Day 3rd July

Relocation of the Murtis and the

Inauguration of the new Temple and

Kirtan Hall.

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Page No. Babaji Quotes 5 Editorial - why Gurupurnima ? 6-7

- Gurupurnima in Holland – July 2012 8-9 Munirajji’s Letter to Holland 10 Extracts from Gurupurnima Havan speech - by Raghuvir 11 Conversation with Lok Nath 12-13

Haidakhandi Samaj - News from India 15-19

poems by satyavan 20-23

News from Around the World USA 24-26 Poland 27 France 28 Italy 29-31 Holland 32 Croatia 33

Letters to the Journal - Peter Dawkins 34-35 - Love Seeds – Gaby 36-37 - Planetbabaji.com – Lal Baba 38

Book Review – Encounters with Babaji 39 Editorial Information 40

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Babaji

“Those who see the great God in earth, sun, moon, stars,

earth, air, fire and water, and always meditate on him only, get success in life and are the true devotees”.

From Hinduism Today Babaji was - by his own definition - a humanist. He said: "My message to all of you is that the most important thing in the world is humanitarianism, or humanism. For this, you should sacrifice all self-comfort. Our motto is 'work is worship."' Babaji emphasizes the importance of the guru/disciple relationship in his teaching. Yet, even to his closest disciples he gave very little verbal instruction. Devotees claim he often taught "mind to mind." "Babaji was known generally as a silent teacher - one who taught mostly by example and by promoting learning experiences for those who sought his guidance," (writes Radhe Shyam in a transcript from his book onBabaji‘IamHarmony’). "The path of God-Realization is a most difficult one," said Babaji. "Few are those who will walk it. It is as difficult as walking on the edge of a razor. The grace of the guru is everything. No knowledge is possible without the guru." He asserted that by concentrating on these three principles, one could gain control over mind, body and emotions and attain spiritual insight. Yet, he cautioned that discovering truth, simplicity and love requires discipline. "Nothing can be achieved without discipline," said Babaji. "You should have the strong discipline of a soldier. Be a soldier of God, and act with courage and discipline."

http://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=680

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Editorial

Why Gurupurnima ? Guru Purnima sanskrit: गु पू णमा, is a festival traditionally celebrated by Hindus and Buddhists, marked by ritualistic veneration of the Guru, Guru puja. The word guru is derived from two words, 'Gu' and 'Ru' . The Sanskrit root "Gu" means darkness or ignorance. "Ru" denotes the remover of that darkness. Therefore one who removes darkness of our ignorance is a Guru. It falls on the day of the full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh (June-July). In the Haidakhandi tradition we celebrate Gurupurnimah in honour of our sad guru Shree Babaji and our living guru Shri Munirajji. Although originally Gurupurnima was only celebrated in India, since 2004 it has become the largest annual gathering of Haidakhandis outside India. It started from a small group of country elders meeting in 2003 at Haidakhan, discussing how we might keep the Haidakhandi spirit alive in Europe now that Shri Munirajji is no longer carrying out his European tours. We decided to offer to bring everyone together for this midsummer celebration and rotate it between four main Babaji centres/ashrams on a biennial basis: Schweibenalp Switzerland, Cisternino Italy, Sadashivadham Holland and Rieferath Germany. After the first one in Schweibenalp in 2004 and the second in Cisternino in 2006 it became so popular with between 200 and 400 people turning up from all over the world, that it became an annual event: 2004 in Switzerland, 2006 Italy, 2007 Holland, 2008 Germany, 2009 Switzerland again, and in 2010 once more in Italy. Then in 2011 it was held in Russia, where some Western Europeans turned up to join the Russians for a great celebration of Gurupurnima in Moscow this time graced with the Presence of an elderly and somewhat frail Shri Munirajji. Our dear friend and Indian Samaj chairman Alok Banerjee has performed an outstanding duty in turning up at each European Gurupurnima (at his own expense) as requested by Munirajji. We have been blessed with Alok’s humble service and loving kindness, as

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he performs puja’s, reads the slokas and mantras for the havans, plays the dolak, and at all hours of the day makes himself available in countless supportive interviews for individuals, and chairing endless disputing groups of local national samajes, while also representing the Indian family and particularly Shri Munirajji. Shri Udai Chatterjee accompanies Alok in these visits, again at his own expense, bringing his own special devotional heart nature and gentle kindness from India to our European family. At times Alok and some elders have also visited other ashrams and centres in Europe after or just before Gurupurnima. It has been suggested that the four main venues expand to include Poland, USA, Russia etc., however once again the group of country elders has agreed to keep the rotating annual event to these four in Western Europe (in future it will be 2013 Reiferath, 2014 Schweibenalp and 2015 Italy, etc.) but with the expressed desire that people are encouraged to travel to other countries to support their national ashrams along with Alok and our Indian visitors, just before or after the main celebration. In 2013 Alok has accepted an invitation to the UK ashram in Devon before or after Gurupurnima in Germany (22nd July full moon). This year from 28th June to 5th July 2012 we have returned once more to Sadashivadham, Loenen, Holland to celebrate together this full moon of the guru’s birthday and inaugurate their exquisite new temple and kirtan hall.

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Gurupurnima in Holland – July 2012 How does one even get close to describing the power, the magic, and the sense of joy and unity that is felt when 400 people sing in one voice ? It is impossible, unless you are a poet. Describing the programme with its daily rituals and routine won’t do, as it’s always the same, every year, and we all know it by heart. But its effect is always astoundingly and surprisingly new, fresh and transformative. The Shakti is irresistible. Most of all is the bodily felt-sense of unity that is generated by the constant rituals, the singing, and the bhakti. And thus Gurupurnimah becomes one unifying event. In a nutshell. The Guru showers His grace upon us as a result of our tapasya (spiritual endeavour). This is the way it works. Babaji says: “The kirtan and bhajans, which we sing here, must be sung with such deep devotion and concentration that the deity to whom you are singing must be invoked to appear before you” On behalf of the international Haidakhandi community we heartily thank the Dutch Sada Shiv Dham team for making this year’s Gurupurnima such a fantastically successful event. There were six full havans, and aartis held in both the new temple and kirtan hall (as well as in a vast tent when more than 250 attended), there was paduka puja and chandan at 5am, performances by Indian Sufi singers while two female whirling dervishes danced, Pahari songs led by Harigovind, Indian dance by Maya from Italy, cheering and clapping the young Italian architect of the temple complex, children’s events, the final of European football on TV in the main tent (Spain beat Italy !), endless supplies of good chai by the strong team of the younger Babaji family, Tibetan prayer flags everywhere, a field of tents and camper vans, the wooden log houses in the forest and gardens full of flowers. And, as at every Gurupurnima festival, we were graciously served with abundant delicious food by Daniela and Bhaskeranand from Italy and their team (unfortunately Gino could not join them as he was nursing his mother this time).

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But the core of it all was the ceremonies on the day of Gurupurnima. There were all night bhajans in the temple and aarti in the tent where, thanks to the internet, we were able to see Shri Munirajji on Skype during morning aarati. He cheered us on and spell bound us with his smiles and words: “Be Happy !” Then everyone gathered in the new temple complex for pujas and aarti to the re-installed murtis of Haidakhandiswari and Babaji, etc and the inauguration of the new temple. Each new building on the ashram site and the new main gate were ritually blessed and finally Babaji’s padukas were briefly placed in his new kutir beside the large outdoor dhuni. Later everyone who attended the event was invited to do abishekam to the padukas in the new temple, followed by a joyous evening aarti in this new home. And then it was all those small gatherings of people: in quiet corners, around fires outside the chai shop, in rooms, over meals, in tents and log cabins, in the washing up queue, the car park, in the woods and gardens. And those moments alone, standing at the edge of the maize field carved out of the forest as the sun rose and a deer rushed by, to chants of the Gayatri mantra. Every one of the hundreds who attended looked so happy and nourished in their hearts. It’s as if this ashram and this country hold a secret key to kindness of the heart. So the biggest thank you must go to the Dutch karma yogis and their welcome, their smiling faces (nothing seemed to be a burden), their lightness of spirit and for making sure that it didn’t rain. Hartelijk dank! By Rob and Gaby – Editors IHJ

“Are you happy ?

When you are happy, I am happy.

When I am happy, the whole world is happy.

Be happy !”

Shri Babaji

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To The President, Dutch Haidakhandi Samaj foundation, Holland

14th June 2012 Dear Pujari Shree Satguru Namah I am very happy to know that the Dutch Samaj is celebrating the inaugural function of the new Babaji temple during the Gurupurnima function this year in the Loenen ashram. To build a new temple for Him in this short time and against so many obstacles is really a Babaji miracle, for without His blessings and your dedicated efforts this would not have been possible. Please convey my blessings and congratulations to all who have worked day and night to make this project a success. May this also be an example for all other Babaji centres and ashrams across the world. They also can achieve such wonders if they work together in harmony with dedication. I am sorry that on account of my physical discomfort I am unable to be physically present with you but my thoughts and good wishes are with you. I pray to Shree Babaji for the success of your programme. Love and Blessings to all....BE HAPPY!! Bhole Baba Ki Jai.

Muniraji, Chairman Haidakhan Samaj India

(Photo of Skype video call with Shri Munirajji during bhajan singing after aarti in tent.

-bold highlighting by Editors)

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Extracts from Gurupurnima Havan speech by Raghuvir “Happy Guru Purnima Brothers and Sisters to all of you. This full moon in July is dedicated in India to the ultimate teacher, the one who guides to liberation, to unification with the Divine. This is the Divine itself bringing us home, a force instilled in each and everyone. Because of the power of Maya and a much occupied mind we are not aware generally of this constant, silent pull… The hunger for more starts to grow within us and our path towards the light begins. Shri Babaji has left us such simple teachings to walk this path and deepen our connection with the Divine. Simplicity is not easy and the power of Maya is strong. The Nature of mind is canny and at times very difficult, so even being at His Holy Feet does not take away all the troubles we face in life. Shri Muniraj who guides us too towards Shri Babaji and a wonderful Guru in his own respect, is a peerless example. His own life is far from trouble free, yet his focus is one-pointed and he never doubts or compromises on his path towards the light, or on helping others to walk this path. Shri Muniraj has told us that Babaji is back on earth in a body recently. It was a shock wave going through the world at first, but life went on and we have given it a place in our memory and experience the Lord in our individual and collective ways. It would be such a great blessing for many people including ourselves if Shri Babaji would take possession of His Assan in Herakhan once again and therefore I’d like to ask you to join me in this prayer: “O Babaji, Lord of Herakhan, we have come at your Holy Lotus Feet and are bathing here in your Divine Radiance while we have practically nothing to give you. Keep on bestowing your infinite grace upon us. Dipped in your bliss, but totally covered in ignorance, we are enjoying your Divine Presence in the ashrams you have established for our benefit, for our upliftment. Hail to you Lord of Herakhan. Praise on you Babaji, Lord of Love. Yet we are here at your Lotus Feet we have more to ask from you as we are not able to do much else than to ask and ask from you. We know from your own words you have come to give, so please Gracious One hear our united prayer for the benefit of humanity and for our upliftment to strengthen the path you have given us to alleviate the suffering in these dark and confusing times. Please do come back to Herakhan and take possession of your revered assan. We bow and surrender to you, O Lord, we do not even know how to do this properly, but we do ask you now, you have infected us with your Divine Love now. Please adorn your assan, adorn our eyes and bless us with your physical presence. Please hear our prayer. We surrender to you and are very grateful for the beautiful temple you have created for us to worship you, Lord of Herakhan.”

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Conversation with Lok Nath Babaji’s ‘Chief Justice’ – lawyer and more recently a Christian Minister in Seattle, Washington State. We started by talking about Man Singh. “The depth of loyalty that Man Singh showed to Babaji was amazing. He heated the water for his morning bath, worked all day every day, cooked his dinner, served it and cleaned it up. When I finally left after Baba’s samadhi I went back to the West to try to do something there. In India I had always felt acutely the separation with Indian culture. When I came in 1979, I was one of the first people to cause chaos: at that time it was very difficult for many Indians that I was initiated by Baba to do puja. I was like a test case, thrown into the Indian scene. I started to run the Ashram office, which at the time was in Swamiji’s room. I arrived in 1979 and stayed. Baba would send us around to do gatherings: Karkhu and I did a world tour when Sundar opened Schweibenalp. We visited Europe, Hawaii, and California, etc. At another time Pujari, Ramloti and I went around the States doing puja. This was to help set up relationships and infrastructure for us. Now there is a little story which is relevant: this woman, dressed in a western cotton dress, walked into the temple today. She had a small picture of Babaji in her house and after making enquiries about our ashram, she quite casually dropped in to the festival today. She spent some time looking at Babaji’s picture on His Asana and then she begun really shaking ! She offered her heart to Baba and He returned it to her, purified. Later she said: “I can see Baba in every face here”. So, Baba doesn’t need us to go around promoting him. As in the Jesus story, the 12 disciple became ‘instruments of the incarnation’. It is as if we became, and all of us have become, instruments of the Haidakhan Baba incarnation. The incarnation is not a singular or one event, in the Christian faith. The church becomes the body of Christ. In like fashion we become the incarnation of Babaji. Buddhists take refuge – become the incarnation of the Buddha. This woman today was an incarnation of a deep experience. Rob: “Babaji once said to a therapist friend: “Put My eyes at the back of your heart, seeing your client through your body”. Well, I have done this for years now with my clients and it still feels very profound.

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Lok: ‘Yes, you internalise the Guru in such a way that the light of the Guru illumines your own light. In Christianity you activate a spiritual imagination. But the trap is imagination can become delusional. What I imagine is becoming how Baba knew me to be. I advocate the practice of silence – a practice of enquiry – toward a deep sense of where am I, what am I, letting that deepest sense emerge. Let your own light emerge. It seems to me that often spiritual people are living out of an idea of who they are. They are saying: ‘this is what spirituality is’. It feels like it is all in the mind. Fundamentally you are the silence. Gaby: “Ah yes, but what about aarati, fire, singing ? That’s not silence; this is about raising the energy. Lok: “Well, it’s Him singing. What I find in the chanting is that it’s more than just freeing mind, it frees body to our Being, to be whom we truly are. The black Christian church feels very similar to this: it’s a tool to free us from our entrancement of being in the world. Also in Gregorian chanting the Benedictine monks have their ecstatic state, which frees them to experience transcendence. For me, I’m interested in awakening to silence. As much as I understand it at the moment, the direction for me is surrendering to that place of this ‘silent now’ out of which can become a fullness - as an expression of life – a full experience of love. Sundar says Baba was a trans-human. He was a phenomenon of love. He didn’t have a personality but had every personality. Gaby: Babaji confused the mind by playing with paradox. We are so stuck in our thoughts, imprisoned. They are a screen to keep us separate from love. Lok: “The issue of fear is always a hard one to handle for me: but I can see how shape-changing and ingenious fear is. Eckhart Tolle talks about the pain body and our attachment to it. Fear is fear by the ego, of its loss. Yes, and maybe this means it is a fear of transcendence. Fear is a narrow, tight passage and separates us. Love is all expansive and all inclusive.

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Have courage !

Yoga, the way of union with God, is to be courageous

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Haidakhandi Samaj - News from India

Guru Purnima in Chilianaula Guru Purnima was performed in Chilianaula on 3rd July. Sri Munirajji could not visit as he wanted to avoid strain of travelling for reasons of health. Kharkuji ( John Stewart ) performed pujas. Akhand Path (continuous recitation) of " Shree Sadashiv Charitamrit" was started on the morning of 2nd July by Vinod Shastri along with 11 Pandits and it was completed on the morning of 3rd July. Guru Purnima was followed by a large Bhandara for all residents of the Ashram and Hospitals. Murli Shukla Chetra Spring Navaratri 2012 in Haidakhan was wonderful once again. Shri Munirajji was present throughout the period of Navratri and graced the occasion on certain days of Puja. He did not perform ‘Havan’ himself but nominated senior devotees to perform it by rotation. Shri Alok Banerjee began and finished the 9 day Yagna offering the ghee, while others offered the ghee on the 7 days in between. This was an interesting new dynamic and the havans where very powerful, sweet and energetic. To have Shri Munirajji in our midst and particularly at the evening darshan, was a great joy for the many people that came this year. Babaji’s house was full with more than 400 people showing up to celebrate & glorify the Divine Mother Durga. During the festival the weather changed from cold to warm, but there were some who caught flu this year. For more pictures and information about Haidakhan Navaratri 2012 - see Lal Baba’s artistic website: http://www.planetbabaji.com/Navratri_Haidakhan/Navratri_Haidakhan.html

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Meeting of Executive Committee of the Indian Samaj

(Compiled by Sri Murli Shukla) The meeting of the committee was held on 29 March 2012 and presided over by Shri Munirajji. The proceedings are summarized below: Funds: The chairman brought to the attention of committee members that large funds were needed for ongoing work of retention walls, Guest House and marble cladding of temple facade in Chilianaula. The estimated cost was rupees one crore (Ed: about US Dollars 180,000). It was unanimously agreed to raise a Corpus of Rupees 2 crores of which 50% should be allocated for building work and balance maintained as fixed deposit. Land: The issue of land was likely to get resolved soon in light of a recent GO (Government Order) transferring land from Forest Department to Revenue Department. It would be now possible for the Samaj to expedite process of allocation of land through Revenue Department. Solar Energy: Feasibility report of converting part of the electricity load to Solar system was being studied. The estimated cost of conversion is about rupees seven lacs (Ed: = about US dollars 13,000). However, the efficacy of solar equipment under climatic conditions of Ranikhet will be rechecked before any change from electric power to Solar power. Assets of Sri Babaji lodged in Government Treasury, Haldwani: After the passing away of Sri Babaji in 1984, some of his assets were lodged with the Government treasury in Haldwani for safe custody. Necessary steps are being taken for release these. It was resolved that the Sri Trilok Singh (Munirajji) is fully authorized to receive the above mentioned assets and keep them in safe custody on behalf of the Samaj. Opening an account with IDBI Bank Almora: IDBI Bank has offered the Samaj a facility of EDC machine for operating credit cards. They would also favourably consider proposals for loans at a later date. It was decided to open an account with IDBI Bank. Registration of Samaj under 80 G of Income tax Act: It was decided to take steps to register Samaj under this Act so that donors can obtain the benefit of tax exemption.

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Bihar Samaj: The dispute regarding the Ashram in Dariyapur, Bihar was resolved. Bihar Samaj was now part of Haidakhandi Samaj. Hospitals: Ten month’s performance (April 2011 to January 2012) was compared to corresponding ten months of previous year. The following trends were noted.

Shri Baba Haidakhan Hospital a) 2.5 % increase in number of patients. b) 12 % increase in cataract operations. c) 27 % increase in receipts.

Bhole Baba Ayurvedic Hospital a) OPD patients decreased by 34 % ( opening of Ayurvedic clinic in

town diverted patients) b) Panchakarma Patients: Increase of about 2 % c) Receipts : Decrease of about 18 % ( drop in treatment days

compared to previous year) d) Expenses: Increase of 20 % due to higher cost and some unavoidable

expenses.

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Babaji's ayurveda clinic in Chilianaula has a new website. Please check it out - maybe it will inspire you to visit or recommend it to friends.

www.babajiayurveda.in

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Babaji Camp at Kumbha Mela, Allahabad - February 2013

The Kumbha Mela is the largest religious gathering in the world and every 12 years there is a Maha Kumb. In 2013 there will again be a Maha Kumb organized in Allahabad, and once again there will be a Babaji Camp where Haidakhandis can stay. The Kumbha Mela actually lasts from 27th January to February 25th 2013, whether the Babaji Camp stays the whole time is to be decided. You are especially encouraged to visit around the main bathing day of Magh Krishna Amavasya on 10th February. Most people will be visiting the camp around the 6th to 14th February. Many young people turn up at this mela – it is a lovely festival. There were 200 to 250 visitors to the last Babaji Mela Camp. The Haidakhandi Samaj will provide male and female dormitories and you will be sleeping on mattresses placed on carpets, over straw on the sand. It will get very cold at night and lovely in the daytime, so you are encouraged to bring 4-season sleeping bags and a blanket. There will be a kirtan hall, kitchen, showers and toilets. Food and accommodation is free and the Samaj is happy to accept donations toward the costs of the Camp. It is possible to fly to Allahabad from Delhi but these internal flights will be booking up quickly. It is also possible to fly internationally to Varanasi (125 miles). There are train connections to Allahabad from Delhi and Varanasi.

This is for now just for your planning and travel booking

More information will follow later on www.haidakhandisamaj.org

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FESTIVAL DATES - 2013 JANUARY 11th Amavasya 13th Lohri 14th Makar Sankranti 31st Purnima Kumbh Mela, Allahabad –bathing dates: 14th Jan Makar Sankranti 27th Jan Paush Purnima 10th Feb Main bathing day -Magh

Krishna Amavasya 15th Feb Magh Shukla Panchami 25th Feb Magh Shukla Purnima FEBRUARY 10th Feb Amavasya 15th Basant Panchami 23rd Shri Babaji’s Samadhi 25th Magha Purnima MARCH 10th Mar Maha Shivaratri 11th Amavasya 15th Babaji Prakatya Diwas 26th Holika Dahan 27th Holi APRIL 10th Apr Amavasya 11th Chaitra Navaratri Starts 13th Baisakhi 19th Navaratri ends 23rd Mahavir Jayanti 25th Hanuman Jayanti & Purnima MAY 9th May Amavasya 12th Akshay Tritiya & Parashuram

Jayanti 25th Budha Purnima JUNE 8th Jun Amavasya & Bat Pujan 18th Ganga Dushera 23rd Purnima & Kabir Jayanti

JULY 8th Jul Amavasya 10th Rath Yatra 16th Kark Sankranti 19th Dev Shayan Ekadasi 22nd Guru Purnima

AUGUST 6th Aug Amavasya 11th Nag Panchami 21st Purnima & Raksha Bandhan 28th Shri Krishna Janamashtami SEPTEMBER 5th Amavasya 9th Ganesh Chaturthi 13th Radha Ashtami 18th Anant Chaudas 19th Purnima 20th Ekam Shradha OCTOBER 2nd Oct Gandhi Jayanti 4th Pittar Amavasya 5th Autumn Navaratri starts 13th Navaratri ends 14th Vijay Dashmi 18th Sharad Purnima 22nd Karwa Chauth 27th Ahai Ashtami NOVEMBER 1st Nov Dhan Teras 2nd Choti Diwali 3rd Diwali, Amavasya & Laxmi Puja 4th Annakoot 5th Bhaiya Dooj 17th Purnima & Guru Nanak Jayanti 26th Mahakal Bhairav Jayanti DECEMBER 2nd Dec Amavasya 16th Dattatreya Jayanti 25th Christmas

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In your presence I forget who I am, All traces of ego dissolve.

You are the supreme Comforter,

My Soul rests in the Fire of your Spirit. While looking at your Divine Face,

my Soul immerses in the Ocean of Thy Peace.

You descend from the highest levels of Light to redeem mankind.

You are Sacrifice itself; the Ocean of Mercy.

Before you, Oh Lord, My Soul bows. Salutations, Oh Divine Lord.

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Something is coming closer.

Something resounds inside our hearts. It is the Messenger of the Universe

The Lord of Radiant Splendor Who is bringing the promise of love, the promise

of redemption, the promise of liberation For all souls who invoke

in the silence of their hearts.

His name is the key, his name is Love, His name is like a ray that cuts the chains

which bind our hearts.

Babaji Babaji Babaji Everyone adores and offers prayers to

the Lord of the Himalayas To the Lord of Radiant Splendor

The hearts rejoice Among us is the Lord

All sing joyfully, in the presence of the Lord Let us invoke, let us invoke, let us invoke, the

promise has been fulfilled.

These 4 pages of words are from Satyavan - a devotee of Babaji from Colombia

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Jivahamsa was walking in the Temple Gardens in a state of peace and profound silence, thus contemplating the

most beautiful flowers which were emanating the purest fragrance. Everything was peace, everything was light.

Everything was imbued with Sacredness.

In the garden, Jivahamsa contemplated beings of exquisite beauty, of divine symmetries. Absorbed in contemplation,

Jivahamsa heard a voice, an inaudible voice, the voice of silence, the voice that pervades and creates Universes.

A Celestial Being of androgynous features and eyes of Fire emerged. Jivahamsa, immersed in Eternity, gazed at the

holy being and was marked by words of Fire in the deepest of his Soul.

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And in this sublime silence, the being of Fire spoke:

I am who I am. I have neither name nor form

but all names and forms belong to me. I am One with the One.

From Him I come and in Him I dwell. The One can be separated in thousands of Unities.

Do not try to position me to a particular place. I am called by many names. I am the One without name.

I live in each one of you and you live in me. I descend from time to time

as an act of grace to redeem Humanity. I hide my great Fire and I walk among you.

Don’t try to understand my mystery. I am unfathomable.

My dwelling place is not of this world. Your souls live in me

as delicate threads of a sacred cloak. My voice is the voice of many voices.

If you are worthy, you will hear my voice in the sanctuaries of your hearts.

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News from Around the World

News from the USA Haidakhandi Universal Ashram by Ramloti Oh, I love this Ashram. It is truly becoming the new world of peace and humanity of which Shri Babaji spoke. Let me tell you about just one day in hundreds that demonstrates this. I will describe today, Monday, the last day of the Memorial Day weekend. It began with morning paduka puja and aarati and a small havan ceremony. We were joined by the two Indian families visiting the Ashram from Arizona, the Indian family with their six –year-old daughter visiting from Denver, a local Crestone family with their two young sons and a young man from Crestone who volunteers at the Ashram on a regular basis. After breakfast and chai, everyone began karma yoga. The three Indian ladies began cooking a bhandara of three subjees, dhal, rice and chapattis. The young Crestonian mom made the dessert and salad. Meanwhile the gents helped with weeding, chopping vegetables, repairing the driveway, hanging laundry and polishing the copper in the pujari room. The three children played with each other having a wonderful time. As the meal was coming to completion, the family of Gene Curtis from Kentucky, who had been coming to the Ashram for years, arrived. Gene had passed away at 85 a few months ago and knowing how precious the Ashram was to him, his family arranged a memorial for him that day. The family travelled to the Ashram from all over the United States, most of them had never set foot in an Ashram before. They were greeted by all these diverse people and then we proceeded to the temple where they were introduced to Baba and the Divine Mother and we all began to share some touching memories of our kind and generous friend, Gene. Many of the Indian visitors joined us as we took some of his ashes down to our beautiful Spanish Creek that flows through the Ashram. With prayers and love we put them in the creek and then came back to the wonderful Indian feast. Another local family with their two children joined us for lunch which most of us enjoyed outside on the lawn, as the day had turned perfectly warm and sunny. As our Kentucky family was leaving they shared how deeply touched they were by this day, the warmth and hospitality they had experienced here and how they could understand Gene’s love for the

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Ashram. Meanwhile, a couple of other families arrived and were invited to have some lunch. One was a young couple from Nepal with their six-month-old baby who were visiting for the first time. Shortly after they had finished their meal a friend from the neighbouring Japanese spiritual centre, Shumei International, arrived. He was showing two young Nepalese men the Ashram who had just arrived from Nepal a week ago and are going to be at the Shumeis’ in Crestone for one year studying natural organic agriculture so they can bring it back to Nepal and teach it to the people there. They of course speak Nepalese with some English, the Shumeis mostly speak Japanese with a little English, so it was nice for them to meet and converse with the Nepalese couple in their mother tongue. They had already had lunch but we packed them up some dhal and subjees to take back to the Shumei’s so they could have some familiar food instead of only Japanese, which they had had so far. We also promised to invite them for lunch every time we were going to have an Indian bhandara or when other Nepalese families were visiting. After lunch and clean up, our Arizonian families bid us goodbye and went up to visit the temple one last time. An hour later they came back to the earthship and said they were having such a hard time leaving this place that they wanted to make some tea and stay a bit longer. We all laughed and they made chai for themselves and the group of ten more folks that had just arrived from Denver. As all of them finally got on their way another group of eight Indians arrived from Denver bearing gifts of saris, fruit, rice, flowers, chapatti flour and oil for Ma and the temple. The couple had been coming to the Ashram for years, but were excited to introduce several of their family members that had just arrived from Gujarat, India to the Ashram. As they left after having chai and snacks in the earthship, our final family of the day arrived from Colorado Springs also bearing a sari for Ma and fruits and flowers. After having darshan, they came down to the earthship for apple bread and chai and stayed for evening aarati. As they left, Jonathan, Premanand and I came down to the earthship for a quiet dinner together and talked about the busy three-day-weekend that actually stretched to five days. I expressed how beautiful it was and my gratitude for them and all the support we have. The Ashram here in the magnificent Rocky Mountains of Colorado is a second home to so many people. They feel Baba and Mother’s love so strongly here that they enjoy travelling (usually a minimum of four hours each way) here several times a year to experience the peace, quiet, the beauty of nature and warm community.

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They know they will be welcomed with the question of whether they are hungry or thirsty and offered food and chai. When I asked Shri Muniraji why he named this the Haidakhandi Universal Ashram, he said because people from all over the world would come here. This is the truth. It is not unusual to have six to eight different languages spoken at our dinner table. It is truly the beginning of the new kingdom bringing together diverse cultures from around the world in peace and love. I am deeply grateful to live and serve here.

The state of Colorado is under a very strict fire ban and even religious ceremonies cannot get dispensations if they include an outdoor fire. Yet, Shri Babaji said that it is the havan that brings rain and so we continue to have them on a daily basis but without the fire. Instead we offer flower petals as we say Swaha after each of the mantras. These fireless fire ceremonies are actually very profound and beautiful as we realize that it is the fire of devotion that is in our own hearts that is the true havan that must be nurtured on a regular basis with our prayers and offerings.

I called the Kundalini Fire Management Fire Chief to ask for a few more nozzles for our hoses since they had provided us with all of the equipment. After he said he would get us some more he asked if we were still doing our daily fire ceremony (without a fire of course). When I said that we were, he thanked us. Now I am not sure that there would be many places where the fire chief would query someone about their prayers and ceremonies they were performing and then thank them for continuing them, perhaps only in Crestone!

To read Ramloti’s monthly Newsletter go to: www.babajiashram.org

Full-moon

Flower Petal Fire

Ceremony (without fire)

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News from Poland

Herakhandi Seva Dham ashram in Mąkolno, Poland. This name and a blessing were given by Sri Munirajji and it has been a constant working ashram for over15 years. It was founded in 1997 and the temple pujas have been performed since 2000. It is housed in buildings of over one hundred years old, including a dhuni and a living part for residents and guests seeking Karma Yoga and peace. Every ashram has a particular aspect of Babaji energy. Here, it seems like a wild European aspect of Shiva and Parvati. This place belongs to the Polish Herakhandi Samaj and it is free from any obligations or loans and it is totally dedicated to Babaji and his disciples. The ashram is situated close to the border with the Czech Republic in Western Poland, 1½ hours from Wroclaw. The property has 6 hectares (15 acres) of surrounding land which offers great opportunity for future development. The whole area is very beautiful and environmentally clean. Lying on the slope of a hill, it has a breathtaking picturesque view of the mountains around and the local National Park. The ashram has more than a hectare of mixed flower-vegetable garden, and with surrounding fields and an independent water source this enables the ashram to be well-stocked and self-sufficient for most of the year. Cultivation is strictly ecological: based on bio-dynamic methods and using organic fertilizer. The Polish Samaj is currently looking for a full time pujari and a resident for Herakhandi Seva Dham Ashram, ready to commit to a longer period of time. After over 10 years of being residents Mohan and Megha would like to move out and let other people take on the responsibilities at the same time still declaring that they are going to be fully involved and supporting the ashram. The Polish Samaj is proceeding with new projects to build a new Babaji Temple, to increase the number of sleeping rooms, dormitories and facilities in the ashram, with the goal to organize a big Mela on a European scale. Various changes and renovations are being undertaken at present, so if you have time to visit us or would like to try yourself in a role of construction worker or a gardener – You are more than welcome! HERAKHANDI SAMAJ - POLAND Mąkolno 129 57-250 Zloty Stok, Polska Tel: +48 74 817 73 32 mob: +48 505 839 943 babaji.poland@gmail.com www.babaji.org.pl facebook: Haidakhandi Seva Dham Polska

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News from France

Summer Retreat in Auvergne: 23th-27th August Pujas morning and evening, karma yoga all the morning (gardening, cooking, etc) Meeting in the afternoon to share about Babaji, an ashram and more, to get to know each other better and enjoy time together in Saignes in the house proposed by Michel, to be used by the French Samaj (when needed or as a provisory ashram). This retreat will give the opportunity to "test" the place. On the Sunday will be a festival of sacred music and chant nearby, with two Haidakhandi bhajans concerts.

For more information: info@babaji.fr and www.Babaji.fr

(Ed: Saignes is 30 miles from Puy de Dome – as the crow flies - according to Peter Dawkins this is a major Sacral Chakra centre in Western Europe – a great place for an Ashram - see page 35).

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News from Italy How Haidakhandi Love Centre, Umbria was Born In 1986 I was in India in Rajasthan in the desert and I was praying. I asked the Great Spirit Babaji to tell me what I had to do in life, the answer came: “Go back to Italy, open a centre in my name and let a baby be born.” Coming back to Italy, without money and girl-friend, I was in Cisternino ashram on 15th August 1987 and I remembered Shastriji’s words when the Haidakhandeswari murti was installed in the temple in Cisternino ashram: He said that the Mother helped to fulfil all spiritual desires. So I prayed to the murti and asked the Mother to remember Babaji’s words and the program He had for my life. I went down to the ashram canteen and opposite me I saw a woman in front of Baba’s kutir and, strangely, I saw her pregnant in the astral form while the inner voice was telling me not to worry: “She’s pregnant of you”, and I asked myself what joke Baba was making as I had never met her before. I sat at the canteen and I saw this woman sitting in front of me. I married her and after three months she, Aliana, was pregnant. I found out later, through Givaudan’s books that souls get together three months before the physical act of conceiving. The baby Babaji had forecast was born on Gurupurnima day: his divine play works like a Swiss watch! Our partnership and our love were the channels through which the centre was to be manifested. A few months later Babaji appeared to me in meditation again saying: “This is the time, go and buy a property for the ashram!”; in that period, though, we had only debts. So the day after, full of hope I started searching for a property. The second house I saw in Pietralunga inspired me: I closed my eyes and when I reopened them, Babaji appeared, on the only bit of roof still standing, telling me: “This is the place, this valley will be full of people and you’ll work in the name of the only one supreme being, Baghawan. In 1995 Shri Muniraji initiated Shri Haidakhandeshwari Murti in Haidakhan and when we asked him a name for the centre, he then asked Ganga in Hindi how to say Prem in Italian, and so he said “Hairakhandi Amore”, then said again: ”Call it ‘Love’ so that everybody can understand.” In 1996 I received a letter from India from Shri Muniraj written on the 8th January, my birthday, and I read : “Blessing to you and to your family, I’ll come to bless your centre.”

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Six months later I went to pick up Guruji in Pagialla with Ganga and some Indian devotees and, with him on board, the car became a beautiful spaceship, even the engine was more silent, and I finally felt myself accepted for what I really was and not for what I represented in the world. Getting to Villarosa, Muniraji was very happy, he saw something familiar in the atmosphere, the mountains, the sound of the river. The devotees were waiting for him singing bhajans and as soon as he got out of the car, he was given a flower mala. Walking from the parking place to the ashram, Guruji looked around and, smiling, told me three times: “You are a very lucky man.” At evening aarti Shri Muniraji was full of joy, another piece was adding to Babaji’s puzzle, Hairakhandi Love was to be born, and twelve years had gone by since Babaji had appeared to me asking to build a centre in his name. The day after there were 250 people celebrating the Guru and for many of them it was the first time they had ever met a spiritual master. Arriving at the dhuni to initiate it, Guruji stopped to observe the dhuni architecture and the sangam created by three streams running to the valley and joining to make a river. The dhuni had to be lit for the first time by the master, so, as soon the fire was lit it was covered by so many offerings that you couldn’t see the person next to you ! Everybody cried, but Munirajji, ecstatically, sitting as a great yogi, didn’t shed a tear, it was easy to see the difference between us, and him, beyond joy and pain, immense like a mountain, present in joining sky and earth. At the end of the ceremony Muniraj said that the smoke from the yajna heals and that all the people who had breathing troubles would be healed. Later, he asked the Indian shastri to speak and he said: “This place is not only called Hairakhandi Love but in this ashram Hairakhan love lives !” Thank you, thank you, thank you Shri Muniraj Gurumaharaji. Sixteen years have gone by since that initiation by Shri Muniraj, many people came to this place, it was born as Healing Centre where we took care of human beings who had never heard about Babaji before, as time went on it has become more and more an ashram with regular puja and Aarti performed by residents; in these years a group has grown who formed a committee that rules the centre and we joined the Italian Samaj to bring our own contribution to it.

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Now, a new phase is coming, it is important not only to get together to pray or celebrate, but also to live together dedicating life to our inner growth, to harmony, to Babaji, trying to put together spirit and matter, and organize living together in a different way. The structures have been created for this new phase, now the energy is working to create human truth in relationships. It’s not enough to be devotees, but also to have a common goal and a frequency of communication, not about our protection but about union and love. Working together, having a responsibility and independence, singing and playing and growing together, anyone who feels that can join this common project. One of the few tasks Baba left us is the task of union and this is the great job that Italian Samaj is trying to accomplish.

Anandu Singh http://www.babajicenter.net/

Villarosa - Loc.Corniole 06026 Pietralunga (PG) Tel/Fax +39 075 933074 Cell. 0039 339 1474529

E-mail: evan.aliana@libero.it

Location: Between Florence and Perugia, in Umbria

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News from Holland

Summer 2012 after Gurupurnima in the Ashram 'Sada Shiva Dham'

It is too much to describe the Guru Purnima festival, 20th anniversary of the ashram and the inauguration of the new Babaji temple and other buildings. Still, almost a month after the festival, our thoughts go back to that wonderful 6-day happening under the umbrella of Shri Maha Prabhuji and the virtual presence of Shri Munirajji. We felt like innocent children enjoying the daily presence of our Divine Mother and we were so happy! Jai Maa!! After five years of designing and almost two years of building activities the festival was a catharsis for all of the participants of that process. What we have experienced during this process is far beyond our imagination. Babaji was constantly guiding the building process; and what a resource manager He appeared to be! Of course, there were difficulties and even mistakes were made; but every time He turned those mistakes into new and sometime even better solutions! After taking a break we want to restart the building process in August. We want to invite every Karma Yogi who is willing to join us to help with finishing the loose ends of the buildings. For instance isolation, plastering, painting, gardening, etc. As far as we can see now we need to do some additional fundraising for finalizing the job. It turned out that our plans for organizing an auction during the mela were too ambitious. We have seen from Ramloti in the USA, that it is possible to do an auction on line: in this way the whole world can participate! We will inform you soon about this fundraising activity.

Maheshanand

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News from Croatia June 2012 Among other activities that Haidakhan Samaj Croatia usually performs, this year was the first trip of Babaji Padukas that had been especially initiated by Shri Guru Munirajji for Croatia. Babaji’s Padukas traveled from Osijek, where the main Croatian Center is located, to a village near Pula where my husband and I built a new house with Shri Guru Munirajji’s blessings - I like to call it ‘Baba’s house’. It was a short, speedy but mega beautiful event filled with high power Shiva’s energy. Since Babaji’s padukas came I felt like I was dreaming, I actually couldn’t realize that it is really happening. In addition to the visit of Babaji Padukas, which came from Osijek with Parvati, Madhumati and Nirmala and joined from Zagreb by Kishor, there was also Saraswati present because she moved to a city which is close to Pula. Babaji also called another two devotees from Pula who I met for the first time on that day. Maybe they will join me once a week for puja and aarti. It is already many years that I have been doing the practice alone so it is a very big blessing now having Saraswati close and maybe the other two devotees. Anyway, the day the Padukas came it was actually late in the evening, somehow we squashed ourselves into Baba’s small room and Parvati lead the Paduka Puja and after that we played the aarti. Since we see each other very rarely, after aarti we talked and joked and after having a light soup we went to sleep. The next morning we started with aarti, then Paduka puja and, after a break, Havan was performed by Parvati assisted by Nirmala (also in Baba’s room). After Havan we had just enough time to have a lunch and after the lunch the Padukas left. So it was really a short but powerful event thanks to Parvati, Madhumati and Nirmala who are a very well organized and coordinated team able to perform the ceremonies very smoothly.

Although Babaji is omnipresent, meetings like this surly intensify His presence many times. What more can I say ? Thank You sweet Bhole Baba ! Kamala

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Letters to the Journal

babaji’s message - june 2006 By Peter Dawkins “The day after the summer school had finished, when Sarah and I were relaxing over lunch with Marianne Rieke in the garden of a restaurant on the edge of Bodensee, Germany, the angel at the heart of the Konstanzland Zodiac caught my attention. As I looked, a figure of light came out of the angel towards us, hovering, as it were, above the lake. This figure then stressed that he, Babaji, is now fully born in his new form in the world. This is the time of the birth of the new Mercury, the Christ Being, Babaji. He said:

“Do not think of the old form [of Babaji]. I am NEW! Do not dwell on the old [thought-forms]; think only of the new.” He meant by this, not only thoughts concerning him but thought-forms generally. Babaji then went on to say:

“Sport is important. Everyone needs to develop a sport, or the consciousness of a sport, and be involved with it. Sport is fun and brings a sense of achievement. It also requires training, effort, discipline and talent. Talent can be developed, as well as being a gift—a grace of God. This is important. But it is also a talent to be a good spectator and supporter.

“Sport catches most people’s attention. All life is like a sport. We need to play it as best as we can. Train very hard, with joy and love. Sport has important social and community implications. The growth of international sport is important. Don’t disparage it; it is helping to manifest the Golden Age. Grasp the opportunity! Take sport as a channel for good. Be involved! There are many kinds of sport, and new ones can always be invented. Work out how to use sport to raise people’s consciousness. Sport can dissolve barriers and transform battle into something playful, so that human beings are no longer warriors at war. We cannot repress competition, for this is an

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evolutionary urge, but we can transform it into better expressions. To develop mankind’s evolution by sport was a definite decision made by the spiritual Hierarchy some time ago.

“Likewise, drama has the same effect. Drama is the complement to sport. They are twin beacons, capable of shining light and spreading joy amongst all people. They draw countries, races and cultures together in the enjoyment of the game or show. Enjoy, therefore, the creative challenge!” Babaji then said that we need to understand what is meant by ‘leela’:

“Everything is a leela, but this needs to be better understood. The leela is a play, a sport, not an illusion as such. People have tended to interpret leela as an illusion, as if it shouldn’t or doesn’t really exist; but it does exist, because God wants it to. It is God’s television.” Today Sarah and I have just checked the meaning of leela on the Internet and found it described: “Leela is a Sanskrit term meaning ‘creative spark’, the aspect of creation that is ‘play’.” ____________________________________________________________________________

Letter from Rob 25th July 2012

In June this year Peter, Sarah and I went with 18 others on a Pilgrimage to France to help, in our small way, raise the Kundalini energy up through France to the London heart centre, as part of Babaji’s work in Western Europe. We travelled to the landscape sacral chakra at Puy de Dome in the Auvergne and on to the landscape base chakra of Les Saintes Marie de la Mer on the Mediterranean coast. With love in our hearts we ‘carried’ this energy back to London, which seemed timely as the Olympic Games were about to open here. In early July the Olympic torch was carried by runners through Oxford and I imagined putting all this love energy into the torch. This Friday the great Olympic torch is to be lit in the Olympic Stadium in London and we will all visualise that love energy pouring out to the world through the fun and joy of the Games ! Join us please.

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love seeds by Gaby Babaji communicated often with just a few words such as “Why ?” or, “Where do you come from?”, “What is your work?” or with an order such as: “You go home now ”. From the outside these communications could be seen as ordinary, everyday, unspectacular exchanges. From the inside however, they could feel like thunderbolts. Whether He communicated through word, gesture, gaze or otherwise, any exchange with Him, carried an enormous arsenal of transformational energy. His whole being emanated pure, unadulterated Shakti, and to come in contact with that amount of pure Shakti was confrontational. If I resisted it, I felt pain. If I opened and surrendered to it, it took me out of my dulled and sleepy mind-box into a new, verdant field where the air was fresh and the sun was shining. Most of His ‘little’ communications were like that: like seeds, some of which germinate and blossom only years later. Such is my own experience. I stayed with Babaji for 6 weeks Winter 1983-84. One day he called me to give acupuncture to a person who had just arrived in the ashram. I said to Him...that I couldn’t do that as I was about to leave

to go home. To my surprise He said: “why?” with His head gently tilted to one side...... (i.e. why was I going home ?)......But what a “why ” that was.....it was so tender, so soft, so loving, that it penetrated all my usual well erected ego defences, right into my heart, like the song of a lover, the tune you had been waiting for all your life, but which you didn’t even know you had longed for. Shockingly and sadly this was radically new to me. And indeed, when I questioned my reasons for going back to the West I couldn’t find one. They all felt inferior to the reasons for staying here with Him. With an offer of so much love, where else was there to go ? But I wasn’t ready for that. On the day of my departure I asked Babaji if I could come back. His reply was “WHY ?” This time the “WHY” had a very different ring to it, it was as if He was saying: “Why on earth would you want to do that ? What’s the point ?”

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......Babaji, as always, became my mirror. I had made my decision and followed the instructions of my ego to go back to the West, with all its good and rational reasons. Again I had closed my heart. And so had He. My question if I could come back had come from the mind. So He replied from the mind. Now I could spend the rest of my days figuring out, with my mind, what it all means. 28 years on and when relating this story to a dear friend of mine, I finally got it. Real understanding and true knowledge can never come from the mind alone. In the first place it has to come from the heart and through the agency of love. Because of my well-entrenched resistance, it was only towards the end of my stay, for a brief moment, that I was able to fully receive Babaji’s gift to me. It took me another 28 years to deeply feel and know it. It was as if for the first time, deep within my body, and initiated to this knowledge in a satsang with my wise and dear friend Mahendri, I realised that: “This is why Babaji made us move all those rocks and boulders in the Gautama Ganga river. They are all the boulders of our minds which we need to move before we can reach the pure source of Love.”

Van Gogh’s: The Sower

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planetbabaji.com From Lal Baba

The Livestreams from Chilianaula last year became a big hit. The page received up to 890 clicks per day, and the last Havan was visited live by 174 people from all over the world. There were many stories associated with this viewing. Because of the time differences:

- Australia viewed this Livestream during working hours, - In England Om Prakash got up in the night, - in Costa Rica it was a nice "programme" for the afternoon !

It is my personal toffee to look every evening at the visitors, the hits and their origin, and it is funny to send things to America where it is still ‘yesterday.’ Sri Babaji's planet is so BIG ! This is the taste of a global page, which for the last nearly 3 years sends daily news and blogs and serves you during the festivals. The main reason for this page is charitable; it’s about ‘crowd-funding’ to support projects such as the Haidakhandi Vidyashram School in Rajgarh, the School initiated by Sri Vishnu Datt Misra Shastriji. See: www.haidakhandividyashram.com Please know that both projects need financial support and join the crowd-funding, the circle of givers and receivers in a circular way. This gives us an opportunity to realize good projects on His earth, on Planet Babaji. As Sri Babaji said: “Spread my message like electricity around the world.”

planetbabaji.com livestream contacts around the world – Navaratri 2011

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Book Review New Book ! Encounters with Babaji, M aster of the H imalayas By Renata Caddy “Out of the blue I dreamed red In red I fell into black Through black I won gold In gold I knew white In white I recognised you Then I awoke” This is a truly wonderful book. The first 76 pages is an intimate 12 day account of Renata’s (Nila’s) first experience with Babaji in Haidakhan in 1978. This is followed by 78 encounters with Babaji over a period of six years right up to 1984, when He left his body. Then follows Nila’s three pilgrimages to the Tibetan Mount Kailash after Babaji’s Mahasamadhi: three incredible journeys, throughout which Babaji continued to reveal to the author His divine nature. Nila’s experiences are vividly depicted and shared with great openness. It is as if the reader is invited to immediately and directly partake in them. Her story becomes palpable. Her encounters with Babaji are charged with hidden initiatory material, radical and momentous. They are a direct reply to this seekers sincere and ardent longing for union with the divine, which is felt throughout the entire book and makes it such an inspirational read. What’s more, Babaji delivers. He delivers and He responds in countless ways. This book shines. (the editors)

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This Journal is printed in India by the Haidakhandi Samaj, Regd Office: 54 Hanuman Road, New Delhi -110 001 Regd No. Delhi – S-14556 The International Haidakhandi Journal (IHJ) is published twice a year on the international website of the Haidakhandi Samaj: http://www.haidakhandisamaj.org/. 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. The Editors reserve the right to edit information sent to us.

We would like to heartily thank all contributors. info@oxford-transpersonal.co.uk