Sri Sarveshwari Times
Vol. V: NO. X: SRI SARVESHWARI SAMOOH, 19334 CARRIGER RD. SONOMA, CA. 95476, USA: TEL: (707) 996-8915 October 31, 1995
FOCUS ON THE TRUTH
At a gathering of devotees and disciples in the compound of Sri Sarveshwari Samooh Ashram in Benares, "Aghoreshwar" Baba Bhagawan Ram said:
Dear mothers and brothers, the different forms of the supreme power are like the bubbles within water. It is all the same water—the bubble, the wave, the ocean, the water. I feel hesitant to try to describe it to you, but those who are really curious will understand.
We do not realize that some things which are usually thought of as small or trivial, and which are found in every home, in every nation, are important aspects of the Divine Mother. Instruments of cleanliness, like the broom, the dustpan, the mop, and also all our utensils for cooking, the pots and pans, are like little goddesses, living with us even if we pay them no attention. We neglect theml We do not understand that they merit attention and respect.
Instruments for cleaning are found in everyone's home, and with them we can make this earth clean and beautiful. But if they are neglected, there is an ^accumulation of garbage that causes disease and troubles of all kinds. In every home, also, are found utensils for preparing the food that satisfies our hunger. Without them, a house does not become a home, and a householder does not become a housemaster. Daily existence without these simple things would be like the life of the birds in the sky whose food lies on the earth. They may fly far, but in the end they have to come down to the earth for their food and water, they cannot find their sustenance in the sky. Whether they are spiritually realized beings, or creatures with great wings, or those elementals that fly only in the void, everything and everyone has to take ultimate recourse to the earth.
All these instruments and utensils are forms of the Divine Mother, but we do not pay attention to this fact and as a result we remain ignorant of the deep values of everyday life. We are not able to evaluate life in its wholeness. Our lives, then, are felt to be very unsatisfied and unfulfilled.
We see clearly that death extracts a heavy toll from human beings every day. Loved ones, unloved ones, all leave us at one time or another. We ourselves
Aghoreshwara Bhagwan Ram Ji
will go like that, too.
When is that moment
going to arrive when
you will understand
how to worship that
divine power, how to
make that power
favorable to you, thus
preserving yourself
fromunnecessary
difficulties?
Brothers, we have watched many leaders, politicos, business people, yogis and scholars come and go. In their own time they have influenced the world situation and conditions. But eventually those conditions reverse themselves. All this is an ever-present, everlasting motion of that divine power which is difficult even to think about, for She stays away from futile thoughts.
How, then, do we bring Her into our awareness? It is through being mindful of everything in daily life. Therefore, a duster, a broom, the utensils with which we eat, all are very important. That is because there is a great fire inside us (the fire of hunger), and no one is satisfied except by providing oblations to this fire. Food-oblations are what we put into our bodies for sustenance. Everyone is concerned with this, whether an ant or an elephant, a great man or a simple man. This act of offering (ahuti) is symbolic of our remembrance of the Divine Mother with many names and metaphors.
To try to tie the Divine Mother within the confines of a few words is a mistake, because how can we say anything about that which is beyond thought? How can we describe what she is like, what she is not like? But wise people seem to have a unanimous opinion of Her. Their views, expressed in different religions and sects, point in the same direction; they have tried to point out the various ways that may be taken, and their pitfalls. But human beings fail to understand and go on living in delusion until they die, without leaving anything behind of any value.
In contrast to them, there are great souls who leave us with a few stories, stories which can inspire us,
wake us up. But sometimes
what the rishis (sages) have
told us in these stories of
ages gone by are not in
keeping with the situation
today. Their teachings, their
real teachings, we have not
u nderstood. We keep
singing their stories but we
misunderstand what they
have to say. We do not pay
attention to the truth they
have expounded. We go
fonvard towards ephemeral
things, transient thoughts,
time-bound scriptures and
imaginary events. It is
because of this that we are
not able to understand the
truth about divine creativity,
the Shakti. Depending on
what we have heard, we
may understand that She is in a threefold form, or ten
great wisdoms, or sixty-four ycginis, or She is the god of
the village, the city, and the home. She can exist to us
also as time and action. Much of what we believe is a lot
of hearsay which we have taken to be our religious duty.
I hope you realize that some of those things were said in
a different time and age, and are strange for today. But
what is to happen will happen. We cannot stop it. And
we cannot do what is not to happen. That can be done
only by that one who makes happen what has not yet
happened, about whom it is said:
Fills the empty, drains the full, and,
Time for silence, contemplation and study during the Navaratri at the Ashram
When we examine whether we understand these things, whether we are doing things rightly or wrongly according to our practices, do we know the reason for our not being successful? When we experience difficulties in fulfilling our goals, in sending our oblations to the divine, in attracting the people we want to attract, it is because of our own behavior, not because of the Divine Mother, or the supreme nature. We do not understand how to harmonize all this, how to join the links which make things move by themselves. If this happens suddenly, as if by accident, then it depends upon the internal vibration which rises differently and in mysterious ways in each person.
at will, refills again."
The sleep of illusion created by the Divine Mother overwhelms everyone, but even so7the Mother's heart is a sea of nourishing love. All animals, birds, human beings, or other creatures harbor in their hearts what rishis and scriptures have described as Brahm. But by naming it, calling it Brahm, they made the intellect Brahm-oriented. All such efforts go to waste.
Sharing of the meal after puja during the Navaratri:
If all sorts of things keep arising in someone's mind, and he keeps changing his mind again and again, when is such a person going to be stable? You may have noticed often that you can see your face in still water, but if you throw a little pebble in it, or a small stick, or even a grain of mustard which causes ripples, then you cannot see your face in the water. So also, if such a disturbance occurs in a calm mind, you will not be able to
Group photo after the ceremony of Kumari Puian at the Ashram: Fall Navaratri '95
May the Divine Mother keep your intellect pure, may you experience that supreme power with your intellect, may you see the Divine Mother in each of your actions. May She be favorable to all of us. I bow to the Divine Mother sitting within you, and take leave from you.
see yourself in it. It becomes very difficult Then one has to calm oneself again. Then in a sky without blemish, or a blue pond, or water in a plate without the slightest movement, one can see one's true form as it is.
One's true form is also the form of that supreme power for which you pine, about whom you are curious; it is no different. It is that, and it happens in this way. Then you have to resolve within yourself, "Yes, this is how it is." And then you have to carefully study the truth that if such and such a thing happens, its result is
such and such. If you follow such and such an action, it leads to such and such an outcome. You think of such and such a thing and it happens that way! You will say to yourself, "If by thinking this way a given result has come about, then this must be the right way of understanding which has arisen in me by itself." All this depends on that supreme power, whether you think of it as a trinity, or ten-fold, or any other form. You will know the mystery of knowledge, and all the secrets behind them. Otherwise, whatever exists is a delusion and hearsay, not the real stories left us for our inspiration by those rishis of the past.
Every human being is here because of the Divine Mother's creativity. This creativity is expressed through the yantra (reproductive organs in this case). There is no human being on this earth who does not feel an attraction for the yantra. This yantm represents the supreme power, the Divine Mother. It is not only a representation, it is That itself. By having a right view and reverence towards this yantra, the instability and restlessness of the mind are stilled.
The act of procreation is worship, but we do not always remember the sacredness of it. Other creatures in nature know instinctively the sacredness and seasonality of it, but human beings have lost such knowledge, and they are no longer attuned to the rhythms of nature. Forgetting the sacredness and overindulging in sensory pursuits result in feelings of emptiness and loss of purpose in life.
I hope that slowly you will understand this, that you will understand the true meaning of yantra. When you engage in such activities with the proper understanding, your intellect will not be a hindrance.
Ashram News:
Fall Navaratri was observed in the Ashram from September 25th through October 2nd . Many people participated in this observance of mindful living. Days were filled with the richness of devotion, prayers, sincerity and discipline of mind, speech and action. Mornings and evenings were dedicated to puja, prayers and service. Hie rest of the day was reserved for contemplation, japa and mindul actions.
Puja began every morning at 6:30 AM and went on till 7:30 AM. After puja everyone shared a light breakfast of fruit, yogurt and nuts and tea. Some people went to work and some who had taken this week off spent their day in being quiet and contemplation in seclusion. Everyone gathered again at 6:30 PM for the evening puja and after an hour of puja and chants, havcm (fire ceremony with mantra) was performed by all the participants and meal was shared. All the participants avoided taking any grain or beans during this whole week of observance. light meals kept the body and mind light. Many guests also dropped in during the puja and havan every evening.
Hard work of Melissa Goode with flowers and leis reflected the richness of dedication and touched everyone with its beauty. Joint effort of Ronni Wilson, Marilyn Goode, Luis Kong, Penny Snyder, Polly Ellis, Kimberly Coleman and Howard Morris made the kitchen an enjoyable place to be of service. All the efforts put in the Havan Kunda (fire ceremony place) by Tom Weatherspoon for daily havan is praisworthy
At the end of observance kumari pujan (receiving the blessings of children in the form of the Divine) was done and for visarjan all the participants went to Sonoma Creek for sending off the flowers from the altar.
Navaratri reflects the beauty of being in the presence of the Divine Mother, at the same time remaining with oneself in a group environment. This Navaratri definitely was a very special one and touched many visitors and participants with its richness.
Yoga Class Update at the Ashram:
Every Sunday 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM a new Yoga and Meditation class for children (7-12 years) is being taught. Parents are welcome to join their children.
Two classes have resumed at the Ashram. Thursday at 5:30 PM and Saturday at 9:30 AM. Tuesday class has been cancelled. Vintage House classes will continue on Monday and Wednesday at 5:30 PM.
Publications of the Ashram:
On the ocasion of Navaratri. two new booklets have been published by the Sonoma Ashram:
(1)Aghor Upasana (English, 30 pages) consists of
meaning and ways of observance of Navaratri (selections from
Baba's talks). It also has Sarveshwari chants, prayers and Arati
with translation.
(2)Aghor Sadhana (English, 30 pages) Selected gems
of Aghoreshwar Baba on Daily practice, Mantra, Jap,
Meditation, Puja and Pranayam & Pranav. This booklet will
prove to be a very helpful book for those practicing.
Both books are beautifully presented and have color photographs of Baba. These books can be ordered by sending a check of $ 7.00 for each plus shipping cost
(3)Aehor Guru Samhita (English, 50 pages). This
little booklet was published during Guru Purnima. It is a
translation of Aghor Gum Samhita in Hindi, a book of daily
prayers. This booklet is also veiy well done. It can be ordered
from the Ashram by sending a check for $5.00.
(4)Aghor Yoga (English, 60 pages). An introductory
booklet for Yoga practioners by Hari Ji. It talks about the
simplicity of Yoga practice in everyday living. A good book for
children and those you love. $3.00
(5) Sri Sarveshwari Times (English): This monthly newsletter is published by the Ashram. Annual Subscription is $10.00 per year.
Thank You note: We are thankful to Carol Bojarsky, Susan Bundschu, Carola Brucker, Margaret Carradine, Linda Dillon, Carol Evans, Barbara Fetesoff, Luis Kong, Kanak Raj, Carol Ruff, Pt Anirudh and Reena Shastri, Rhody Snyder, for their help to maintain the Center. We are also thankful to Gay Luce and Sybil Sanders of Nine Gates mystery School for their support. Special thanks to Ken Heinrich and Shannon Heinrich for their fine touch in updating the kitchen cabinets.
Published by Sri Sarveshwari Samooh, P.O.Box 950 Sonoma, California 95476 USA Tel (707) 996 - 8915 Guidence: Harihar Ram, Editors: John MacKay and Marjorie Russell, Distribution: Howard Morris © Aghor Publications
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