NEWS LETTER

Speaking to a gathering of devotees, on the occasion of Navaratri Baba said:

Respected mothers, brothers and beholders of future - precious children, today is the sixth day of this festival of austerity. On the eve of these auspicious days, our worship, meditation and contemplation is on different aspects of Divine Mother. She is the bestower of material and spiritual wealth, and she is the greatest treasure that we have. If we accept and embrace her with true heart, we will never lack for anything in our life. All that we might lack is fulfilled by the Divine Mother in one form or other.

. It is said that a great person makes a solemn determination and a person of weak will power, unable to trust oneself, merely wishes for something. The great person determines " I will do such and such" and success comes quickly. The person, who just wishes does not have faith in the self. There must be a reason for this lack of faith, and only that person knows the reason. This kind of weakness manifests in the person who has never thought of the welfare of others, has never sowed any seeds in the direction of the divine. This person just keeps wishing - and as we all know, nothing happens.

Brothers, Matriya Shakti, motherly divinity is the bestower of all the necessities of our life. Immeasurable amount of love, compassion and bliss is showered upon us by the Divine Mother. Motherly divinity in the form of mother, wife, sister, daughter and daughter-in-law, helps us to sail across the ocean of life. We are given comfort, support, encouragement and strength by the divinity in Her various forms. Our life is enriched by the loving, caring and positive energy of the motherly divinity. As we are enriched, others benefit as that energy passes on through our behavior. If suffering and stress is inflicted upon others due to our insensitivity, we do not measure up to the standards of an enriched life. We find ourselves very light on the scale of those standards. Contrary to this, when no one experiences any stress or anxiety, we measure up to the standards of a great being. In such a state, with solemn determination, we begin to carry out our duties, we are constantly inspired and in due time, our goal manifests itself before our very eyes. It is certain.

Our life is in constant flux during our allotted time on Earth. When that time is over, we have no idea in what family, what country, or in what karmic predicament are we reborn. For lack of divine virtues, we probably are not going to become like the roasted seed (which is not going to germinate again). Nonetheless, after accomplishing our duties of daily life, we should find a moment to reflect on the great beings, who are aware of their freedom and spiritual powers; by doing so, we receive strength and inspiration. This will bring us in the company of good people and facilitate good things in our life. Associating with less conscious people, we become weak and deplete ourselves of our natural strength, and are subjected to stress and anxieties. Because of our addiction and doubting mind, we are not able to taste the nectar of the Divine.

Baba related the story of the cow-dung beetle: "Once, the cow- dung beetle invited his friend, black bee (both look alike) for dinner. Black bee was served little balls of cow-dung. Black bee, accustomed to the nectar of flowers said, "Dear brother, surely my brain will explode if I eat this food of yours. This kind of food has never been accepted by my ancestors and it doesn't suit my daily life. Please come to my place some time for dinner". Saying this, The black bee took leave of his friend.

The cow-dung beetle went to the home of black bee. It was located in the fragrant and beautiful valley- of- flowers. Showing his friend the valley of flowers, the black bee said,"Look my brother, all these beautiful flowers are blooming, just sit on any flower and feast on it's nectar. Choosing appropriate flowers both started feasting. After some time, the black bee asked, "How does it taste to you?" The cow-dung beetle replied, "Oh, it tastes the same to me. Before I left my house, I put a dung-ball in my mouth for the fear of not getting any food". Black bee requested him to put aside his dung-ball for a while. After spitting it out, although hesitatingly, the beetle began to feast on nectar. He loved this new food. He became so enchanted that the flower-petals embraced him. A gardener came the next morning, plucked that flower, and took it to the temple for an offering. Sitting in that flower was the cow-dung beetle. The resident of a hole under the cow-dung droppings, was able to climb up to the head of the highest deity."

Friends! like that beetle, we keep carrying our ego and attachments wherever we go. We remain satisfied with temporary sensory enjoyments, confusing them for true happiness and bliss. If we convince ourselves of these superficial enjoyments, we miss out on the opportunity of taking birth as a human.

This human life is so precious that even divine spirits keep longing for a body. Because of our ego and attachments, like the dung-beetle, we seek our pleasures by criticizing and gossiping instead of feasting on eternal joy and peace. We act like the smuggler of narcotics, who transports and distributes illegal drugs without any licence or permit - we distribute criticism and secrets of our friends and well-wishers without their approval. This act of ours is neither approved by our friends and family nor by any holy texts, nonetheless, we keep doing it. How can that Great Unknown forgive our transgressions? God may forgive you, but you will not be able to forgive yourselves. You will become upset and start acting like your own worst enemy.

Friends! we should not become our own enemy. In order to protect ourselves, we must refrain from mean spirited behavior. I am not asking you to not talk about others - talk as much as you like about others, just be sure you are not coming from a jealous or a mean spirited heart. If this comes from a bad place, the criticism becomes a form of poison that we are distributing in our society. If we consider other's well being as well as our own, the negative tendency slowly ceases to exist.

For protection from our weaknesses, we seek the Divine, calling out: "Oh Mother! Bhagwati, Durga, Kali, Bhavani, Chandi, Tara! May wickedness never arise in me. May I never harm others. May I never possess the tendency of causing embarrassment to others". Joining ten fingertips together, I pray to the Mahamaya, Bhuvaneshwari, Sarveshwari,"Oh Mother, Your love is boundless, Your compassion is immeasurable - you give me a chance to be polite, trustworthy and respectful to my family and friends.

Palms that are not used to be joined together, have a tendency of pointing at others. These are the palms that are taken away in the next live and replaced with two more feet. A creature with four feet is called an animal. We are endowed with these two hands for paying respect and for shaking hands with sincerity. These hands are symbols of hard work and are given to us for doing good to others. These hands are given to us for working hard and providing for the well being of our parents, spouse, children and others who depend on us - so that, they may live a carefree and happy life.

If we do not work hard, people who depend on us, lose respect for us. We are insulted and rejected. The day Pranamayi, the Divine Mother in the form of breath, absorbs Itself into Itself, the whole creation sinks into darkness for the particular body.

So, friends, the time that we have at hand in this life, should be well spent, should be colored with the feelings of well being for all. If we are not capable of it, we should pray to the Divine Mother for enabling us to play our role well. The Divine Mother is very kind and compassionate. Because of Her grace, some how or other, directly or indirectly, our needs are met - help comes our way.

This celebration of Navaratri, gives us a chance to reflect on ourselves, and prepares ourselves to walk on the path of right action. These nine days and nights are saturated with the divine energy. Whatever commodities are available in the given place or circumstances for worship, accepting it, we offer the flowers of our heart and our voice to the Divine Mother, in her various forms. I am sure it will be accepted and we will be bestowed with divine virtues in the days to come. With Divine grace our days will be filled with light. May we not be encouraged towards ego because of this austerity, this is my fear and ask you to be watchful of it. I thank you all for giving me the chance to express my views and concern on this occasion. I bow to the lotus feet of the Divine Mother residing within you all and take leave of you.

Navaratri is observed twice a year when seasons are changing. The spring and fall Navaratris are observed with much enthusiasm in the ashrams established by Aghoreshwar Bhagwan Ramji. It is the time for aspirants to intensify their practice and reap the benefit of intensive.

Navaratri is the time to engage ourselves in the upasana of Shakti. Upasana literally means, to obtain a seat next to, to get close to, enrich oneself with, worship, etc. Shakti is all pervading energy that is the source of the existence of the world. All the living creatures become lifeless for lack of Shakti. It manifests itself in numerous ways. Seers of the ancient time have tried to describe Shakti in various ways.

In order to speak about Shakti, seers have called the Shakti "Mother". Shakti manifests itself as creation; it is the mother who gives birth to and nurtures the newborn. Although Shakti is beyond the boundaries of gender, form or color, we call It Mother because of its qualities as a mother. Out of this idea different names and forms came into existence. It is the formless that takes form depending on the intensity of the seekers' longing and devotion. Navaratri is the time to acknowledge and revere that formless by giving it a form. Shakti is worshipped as Maha Kali, remover of darkness; Maha Lakshmi, provider of opulence, and Maha Saraswati, giver of wisdom.

Navaratri has become my favorite and most important time of the year. It is the time during which I attempt to live as fully conscious life as possible.

During Navaratri, the hunger and yearning to know the Divine Mother takes center stage. I want to know Her so completely I am always conscious that every vibration of my being and surrounding my being is, was and always will be Her.

Each day and night I will say my mantra a determined number of times, my diet will simplify, as well my unnecessary activity in the "world". This I will do, but it is my belief that my deepening relationship with the Mother, and her grace will be like a pick, which will break open the layers of my ignorance and fear, and allow for a deeper penetration of her light into the core of my being.

My prayer to the mother before this Navaratri is for a deep quiet within, and greater compassion to always be available for the service to others.

Some helpful hints for participation in the spirit of Navaratri.

(1). Restrain on sensual organs. (2). Practicing contentment. (3). Observing silence. (4). Sleeping on the ground or firm surface. (5). Avoiding sitting or sleeping on otherês seat. (6). Eating in moderation (once in 24 hour or going on a fruit and vegetable diet. (7). Japa (repetition of Mantra, more than usual. (8). Meditation (9). Maintaining a calm heart and mind without much deviation. (10). Bowing with all limbs to the Guru, Divine Mother at least once in the day. (11). Practicing gentleness with everyone who we come in contact with.

Ashram News:Sthapana Divas was celebrated in the ashram on Sept 21 with much sweetness and enthusiasm.

Morning puja: 6:30 AM - 7:30 AM The whole day is open to practice mindfulness through silence, meditation, seva, rest, jap etc. Evening puja: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Havan: 7:30 PM Final Havan will be on Mahanisha, 8th of October, and conclusion will be on the morning of 9th of October.

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