tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83406974712867580252024-03-19T12:09:09.166-07:00Sonoma Ashram FoundationBlog for Sonoma Ashram Foundation. http://sonomaashram.orgSonoma Ashram Foundation:http://www.blogger.com/profile/00965581748876351353noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340697471286758025.post-61475525933568823332013-02-07T05:27:00.000-08:002013-02-07T08:37:04.000-08:00Kumbh Mela--the world's most massive act of faith<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi360gBPfpRjudQjnN6dBo-WJGzBP2NVxh8B-RaQMo9hNUuulF5ukiCrmNF6DFX9SYBUSqtvbfsrbvTxM8S4zW92uhOYSJFJ6ELE3_Zv-FRBXUyUdf28yg3fXwd87ZayKLosRHofhedNB06/s1600/IMG_4028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi360gBPfpRjudQjnN6dBo-WJGzBP2NVxh8B-RaQMo9hNUuulF5ukiCrmNF6DFX9SYBUSqtvbfsrbvTxM8S4zW92uhOYSJFJ6ELE3_Zv-FRBXUyUdf28yg3fXwd87ZayKLosRHofhedNB06/s400/IMG_4028.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arial shot of Kumbh Mela camp</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu Pilgrimage made by devotees, sadhus and monks, to bathe in sacred rivers believed to free one's self from past sins and thus be eligible for liberation from the cycle of life and death. It is held every third year at each of these four places: the Ganga at Haridwar, the Godawari at Nasik, the Shipra at Ujjain and the confluence of the Ganga, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati (Triveni Sangam) at Prayag, Allahabad. These four places hold a special place in Hindu scripture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hindu Mythology tells the tale of the 'Churning of the Ocean of Milk.' The Devas (gods,) always under siege from their brothers, the Asuras (demons,) desired immortality. They sought advice from Lord Vishnu who told them Amirt, the nectar of immortality, could only be produced by Churning the Ocean of Milk. The Gods realizing they didn't have enough power to complete this task alone, made a truce with the Demons to work together proposing an equal split of the nectar upon completion. Vishnu, aware of the agreement, assured the Gods he would see to it they alone would receive the nectar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the story goes, the Mondara Mountain was used as the churning rod, the Serpent King Vasuki as the rope and Kurma, a giant Turtle, as the support beneath the mountain. Demigods and demons pulled back and forth on the snake causing the mountain to rotate and churn the ocean. This went on for a century during which time many things were produced: poison from the serpent's mouth (which Shiva himself drank to save the universe) goddess Lakshmi, Kamadhenu the wish-granting cow, jewels and many other treasures. And finally, the Amrit Kumbh, the pot of the nectar of immortality.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoz0LjrIkU-FzCHcSwONzmHy_19MtUE_gytP-XFQNCstzdeSKn3qyFsW4N8sV7lv-JDS63jiJ4NvKHP-Q2uVQS_krkhLt2knfmdeplMCBahRtNjfMf4zCqcYPl43Yu0O1ZsS8bo4k0JLM/s1600/Gods%2526DemonsChurning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoz0LjrIkU-FzCHcSwONzmHy_19MtUE_gytP-XFQNCstzdeSKn3qyFsW4N8sV7lv-JDS63jiJ4NvKHP-Q2uVQS_krkhLt2knfmdeplMCBahRtNjfMf4zCqcYPl43Yu0O1ZsS8bo4k0JLM/s400/Gods%2526DemonsChurning.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Immediately, fierce fighting began. In an attempt to protect the nectar from the demons, Garunda, the King of Birds, took the pot and flew away from the battle scene. Legend has it during Garunda's flee, lasting 12 days-equivalent to 12 years on Earth, four drops of nectar spilled to earth; at Haridwar, Godwari, Ujjain and Allahabad...hence the four centers of pilgrimage for the Kumbh Mela.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years in Allahabad, is considered the holiest and most auspicious of the four locations. Not only is it believed that Brahma, after creating the world, offered his first sacrifice here, but it holds a significant position in Hindu scriptures for possessing the Triveni Sangam; the meeting of the three holy rivers where one of the drops fell.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5G7fUr6UMrcrPZjw6wG-IHXv4EdBD-venL89kgdSmcqI_bPcmIcrz60otTXlQJ7Q0SaQbzMuXlhCoRLcyIhyphenhyphen40MpaT3F_Nu4STh_KlAus63fs61J1aW3xiNMVAWuAT9Ox0nvlCGQ9CHS/s1600/kumbh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5G7fUr6UMrcrPZjw6wG-IHXv4EdBD-venL89kgdSmcqI_bPcmIcrz60otTXlQJ7Q0SaQbzMuXlhCoRLcyIhyphenhyphen40MpaT3F_Nu4STh_KlAus63fs61J1aW3xiNMVAWuAT9Ox0nvlCGQ9CHS/s400/kumbh.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lje8-CR0eeU6y4wewgkAwsIU5yjocbekPJyJq106lwcTrECdJrlRmnJlJ_TmXjnahoLH8Lq_ySdMY4PzeOsOcZrUEzYCe2W7QtLNpPyTgzfFjV44fMcHA7Ab7hEF9wyjRC4RbXH7vpHd/s1600/kumbh2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lje8-CR0eeU6y4wewgkAwsIU5yjocbekPJyJq106lwcTrECdJrlRmnJlJ_TmXjnahoLH8Lq_ySdMY4PzeOsOcZrUEzYCe2W7QtLNpPyTgzfFjV44fMcHA7Ab7hEF9wyjRC4RbXH7vpHd/s400/kumbh2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year, between January 27-February 25th, over 80 million people will travel from over the world, from all walks of life, to take part in religious discussions, devotional singing and bathe in this most auspicious place. Several of us, friends and family of the Bal Ashram, were blessed to take part in this spiritual tradition...one where people come together irrespective of caste, color, creed, or religion. It was an experience of a lifetime.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9lY2X_YlFea3XE4QuhWUNYjGIc2lSbONWv9WeXbMZuFEIAxBdgmDRioVHgRFJ0qo6RIEYiYkwjU249d-jxfvW-Sz72QHyNopQW0RmaU7QezojILn9DP6ifXlJwig1Ki2bUa43pCt8U4j/s1600/IMG_4057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9lY2X_YlFea3XE4QuhWUNYjGIc2lSbONWv9WeXbMZuFEIAxBdgmDRioVHgRFJ0qo6RIEYiYkwjU249d-jxfvW-Sz72QHyNopQW0RmaU7QezojILn9DP6ifXlJwig1Ki2bUa43pCt8U4j/s400/IMG_4057.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joyti and myself dipping in the Sangam</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> “It is wonderful, the power of a faith like that, that can make multitudes upon mulittudes of the old and weak and the young and frail enter without hesitation or complaint upon such incredible journeys and endure the resultant miseries without repining. It is done in love, or it is done in fear; I do not know which it is. No matter what the impulse is, the act born of it is beyond imagination, marvelous to our kind of people…”</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mark Twain 1895</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To view more amazing pictures, please click the link below</span><br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=106139946010258566986&target=ALBUM&id=5842155058545541057&authkey=Gv1sRgCOrLr8awkL2O_gE&feat=email" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maha (Great) Kumbh Mela 2013</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Slide show photos courtesy of Maria R.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Namaste,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Caspian</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bal Ashram</span><br />
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Sonoma Ashram Foundation:http://www.blogger.com/profile/00965581748876351353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340697471286758025.post-58719494946247240382013-01-26T23:14:00.001-08:002013-02-02T23:22:43.698-08:00Namaste from the Bal Ashram<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ES7G8-J2ZWcT2g0iskSSje0IlGRFNJiIGlJOuetMMUBy8_SsJJEzC_W5dDuX4c5ZgrKR4GZSAfRHSkZ4gs66A3FbAIccLGXMWULPmiMmWzfqZSF2S9tP2Iz3BZTud9ueKul2vQqhIbjh/s1600/ashram+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ES7G8-J2ZWcT2g0iskSSje0IlGRFNJiIGlJOuetMMUBy8_SsJJEzC_W5dDuX4c5ZgrKR4GZSAfRHSkZ4gs66A3FbAIccLGXMWULPmiMmWzfqZSF2S9tP2Iz3BZTud9ueKul2vQqhIbjh/s400/ashram+sign.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> Namaste from the Bal Ashram! It's been a year since my last visit and
it's wonderful to be back with the children...each and every one looks bigger,
happy and busy!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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new activities....</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Here's a quick peek at the latest:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The Ashram's Organic Store, which sells items grown and produced at
the </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="http://www.sonomaashram.org/india_service_projects_amrit_sagar.php"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">EcoPark</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">, is more
popular then ever. Every day, people from the village come to buy fresh milk,
honey and vegetables. A recent addition on the menu: fresh mushrooms! The
'mushroom center," located adjacent to the store, houses
several growing pods; grass layered with spores and shaped in to
spheres, then kept in the dark and moist room...a perfect growing
environment</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Mackenzie 'Mira' Dooner is a regular face around the Ashram. Mira, who
graduated from high school in Carmel California, was accepted to Princeton
University. Instead of starting college right away, she opted to take part in
their Gap Year Program. She is spending over seven months in Varanasi and comes
to the Bal Ashram daily to work with the children. Mira carries on the
important work of her predecessors by maintaining the grey wager filtration
system that was installed last year. She teaches the children how the filter
works and the importance of water preservation and conservation. You can read
more about the filter in the </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="http://www.sonomaashram.org/about_recent_updates.php" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">December 2012 newsletter</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8Kxt-X-uJFnOSU5E_rZsdSL1CcLHfFoa1Cq5WJzTe_APiZkzyeHx1U0rbBEwWmMxkZgdU3UudKEliFf9XhkHT-piXUJgJt88_50Tt-dxa4GDGQEkojUraX0AnT6Ojyj_v_ew3kKzdIae/s1600/mira.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8Kxt-X-uJFnOSU5E_rZsdSL1CcLHfFoa1Cq5WJzTe_APiZkzyeHx1U0rbBEwWmMxkZgdU3UudKEliFf9XhkHT-piXUJgJt88_50Tt-dxa4GDGQEkojUraX0AnT6Ojyj_v_ew3kKzdIae/s400/mira.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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filter sits on one of the terraced steps and often has a small runoff. The
benefit? A perfect area to grow rows and rows of spinach and beets!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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players. Most every evening, in the open field across from the Ashram gates,
there is a lively and competitive game to watch. Only darkness or the ball
going in to the Ganges can end the fun!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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the past few months....three of which are girls! They are all happy and healthy
and are a welcome addition to the organic dairy which is so vital in helping
the Ashram move towards self sustainability.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
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Sonoma Ashram Foundation:http://www.blogger.com/profile/00965581748876351353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340697471286758025.post-66369386290862372742012-08-11T20:18:00.004-07:002012-08-11T20:18:50.862-07:00Guru Purnima '12 Slideshow<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://sonomaashram.org/guru-purnima-2012" target="_blank">Click here</a> to see the Guru Purnima 2012 slideshow:<br />
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<a href="http://sonomaashram.org/guru-purnima-2012">http://sonomaashram.org/guru-purnima-2012</a></div>Sonoma Ashram Foundation:http://www.blogger.com/profile/00965581748876351353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340697471286758025.post-2602496151445695682012-04-25T14:42:00.000-07:002012-04-25T14:45:45.210-07:00Things are thriving this spring<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dear Friends,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After completing a wonderful Navaratri celebration in March, the Sonoma Ashram is thriving. The shift of seasons brings gratitude for the extra hours of daylight and the much needed spring rains.</span></o:p></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The garden is in full bloom providing an abundance of food,
beauty and </span><s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">S</span></s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">eva (selfless-service) opportunities. From simple day-to-day
tasks to more major projects</span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">,</span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> residents,
guests and volunteers deepen their practice by working together to maintain and
beautify this sacred space.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Friends old and new are arriving weekly from all over the
country for personal retreats. We recently had a successful visit with a group
of teens from a local high school who were interested in learning more about
the teachings of the Ashram.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Most exciting, however, is the movement on several improvement
projects. The removal of the trailer that has served as Babaji’s personal
residence began this week. This is just the first step of this project and we
look forward to sharing more about what’s in store for the future.
Additionally, we are in the midst of upgrading guest accommodations in the main
house. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With all of the new growth happening at the Ashram I can’t help
be reminded of a lesson I learned during Navaratri, that new found courage
comes when we take action and follow divine inspiration. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We hope that you are thriving this spring, and that we will see
you at a class or event in the near future.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please click on the links below to learn more about Sonoma
Ashram’s offerings.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Daily schedule </span><a href="http://www.sonomaashram.org/california_ashram_daily_schedule.php" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://www.sonomaashram.org/california_ashram_daily_schedule.php</span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yoga classes </span><a href="http://www.sonomaashram.org/california_ashram_yoga_classes.php" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://www.sonomaashram.org/california_ashram_yoga_classes.php</span></a></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Personal retreats </span><a href="http://www.sonomaashram.org/california_ashram_personal_retreats.php" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://www.sonomaashram.org/california_ashram_personal_retreats.php</span></a></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Namaste, </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jordan </span></span></div>
</div>Sonoma Ashram Foundation:http://www.blogger.com/profile/00965581748876351353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340697471286758025.post-34942385110704807942012-03-17T08:22:00.002-07:002012-03-17T08:22:47.028-07:00Little Stars School Students Visit Ecopark<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sadhana overflowing to Seva: When your heart fills to the brim with happiness, the excess flows over in the form of selfless service. At the root of Aghor Tradition, it is this which devotees and students of Baba Harihar Ramji strive towards.<br />
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<a href="http://www.littlestarsschool.org/" target="_blank">Little Stars School</a> was formed in 1996 by Babaji's long time friend and devotee, Asha Pandey. Starting out with twelve students on her rooftop and a vision to provide much needed education and nurture for Varanasi street children, the foundation was quickly laid for the first-ever school of its kind in the state.<br />
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Babaji and Asha both share the philosophy that creating significant change in the future begins with responsible, educated, respectful and civic-minded young people. Together they procured funding to buy property and build a school... enabling the program to flourish. Now with nearly 750 children, forty teachers and many dedicated friends, the school is alive with determination, encouragement and the promise of a better future for everyone there.<br />
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Learning not limited to the confines of a classroom, 30 students arrived at the Bal Ashram last week where we piled in to a boat and were rowed across the Ganges to the <a href="http://www.sonomaashram.org/india_service_projects_amrit_sagar.php" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Amrit Sagar</span></a> Ecopark.<br />
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Most of the kids from Little Stars are from underprivileged areas surrounding Banares, heavily polluted without open space, greenery or nature. This was the first time many have seen fields of organic vegetables and herbs, bees producing honey, bio gas production and solar panels. The 10 acre parcel of land acts as a giant classroom to the students, modeling sustainable farming and overall environmental awareness.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghaZjgRVORlJFMWkYgbXcXU1PwGNzkKL3Pf5U8fk5DdCHA4JFiMh2N4MCHsVzGVXBd3xCBPdo7SO-oBogs0DpK14ALmyArSyQpCB7bPA589QJ47Yyt8NP5vO54KKu9eUF2Ffx2WlK1tK7y/s1600/group+shot+at+ecopark.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghaZjgRVORlJFMWkYgbXcXU1PwGNzkKL3Pf5U8fk5DdCHA4JFiMh2N4MCHsVzGVXBd3xCBPdo7SO-oBogs0DpK14ALmyArSyQpCB7bPA589QJ47Yyt8NP5vO54KKu9eUF2Ffx2WlK1tK7y/s320/group+shot+at+ecopark.bmp" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group shot</td></tr>
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We spent the day in the care of ‘graduated’ Bal Ashram students. Several of these young men have gone off to college and returned to take on leadership roles in maintaining, promoting and educating the community about the Ecopark.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywguNcYnm2N8U2h-9FMN3H1GzfC3Xby4oK_TWh6Bk2GzWMSFLs887K4vq26kfYE-g2YnGcPSJ8t7ZGsktGPIIiBuiqfDDpM0_sluEb_LrOJjAOS-BdqoqhFFI2GIiYiFX3aaSfQsXDblx/s1600/ramesh+giving+talk.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywguNcYnm2N8U2h-9FMN3H1GzfC3Xby4oK_TWh6Bk2GzWMSFLs887K4vq26kfYE-g2YnGcPSJ8t7ZGsktGPIIiBuiqfDDpM0_sluEb_LrOJjAOS-BdqoqhFFI2GIiYiFX3aaSfQsXDblx/s320/ramesh+giving+talk.bmp" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ramesh welcoming the kids to the park</td></tr>
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Students learned about composting, renewable engery, turning cow dung in to bio fuel and toured the dairy and organic gardens.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids learn about solar energy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXfVhvlD5seWLg0bQeX1_R7GVJYsXj4wHASUGahDz5_udA4HD8gbFngJGky7SXpfUbgv5E7BCEDhV2UikjA496CM2NIyMWa3kzULKzmzSxSf1C8jJSC6inj742caD_D1oeMy9JVctopgH/s1600/dump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXfVhvlD5seWLg0bQeX1_R7GVJYsXj4wHASUGahDz5_udA4HD8gbFngJGky7SXpfUbgv5E7BCEDhV2UikjA496CM2NIyMWa3kzULKzmzSxSf1C8jJSC6inj742caD_D1oeMy9JVctopgH/s320/dump.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys take a look at the Park's <span style="font-size: x-small;">dump truc</span>k</td></tr>
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<br />Before lunch, we broke up in to groups to lend a hand in some of the days chores…<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3bmrqpTAVbC3deIefgkEAPH4J1ohJARXhCydJLYa4nlpqQ_ASdLAWCJaiF1cp4eQ0pekyVy3uY4c9Gg2XvB5KD_GNIEVBT33PHjlCdBOm5EHDLZ6VMKORHhMIwn7sq8nx75e0vnhws41/s1600/ecopark+flower.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3bmrqpTAVbC3deIefgkEAPH4J1ohJARXhCydJLYa4nlpqQ_ASdLAWCJaiF1cp4eQ0pekyVy3uY4c9Gg2XvB5KD_GNIEVBT33PHjlCdBOm5EHDLZ6VMKORHhMIwn7sq8nx75e0vnhws41/s200/ecopark+flower.bmp" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pruning flowers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptRRkanHI6F1q83gkcVZivhkAXjD-ItfJ5VFOjPzvfaD44A4HiJolNMyRDmj1YNk9cR-U39mcO-vy0fNMlMbTvD_DAWCfC7aSkH1c9KgX1Med78dHbHtAlu7Ta-32q2aGcTsTRHE7bddv/s1600/ecopark+dumping.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptRRkanHI6F1q83gkcVZivhkAXjD-ItfJ5VFOjPzvfaD44A4HiJolNMyRDmj1YNk9cR-U39mcO-vy0fNMlMbTvD_DAWCfC7aSkH1c9KgX1Med78dHbHtAlu7Ta-32q2aGcTsTRHE7bddv/s320/ecopark+dumping.bmp" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fertilizing new garden site</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl38UkdxMLzCuSpQoHnG_kyD75ZSrQc-cnGAd8gF4Ac60dAMQQcE6DO-uFlunjFW1-Q7wdbDVGorokGPyKiJjLFwa4bUj3A2sXShpDDVGtUPClAOfx9jyjkcVc3R_c_GoeGVBkDDYxJde7/s1600/howie+ecopark.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl38UkdxMLzCuSpQoHnG_kyD75ZSrQc-cnGAd8gF4Ac60dAMQQcE6DO-uFlunjFW1-Q7wdbDVGorokGPyKiJjLFwa4bUj3A2sXShpDDVGtUPClAOfx9jyjkcVc3R_c_GoeGVBkDDYxJde7/s320/howie+ecopark.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing compost<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DqCyR_lxdZakOkU3SQLmurSLVHTzcyjUE8EDwW-lntqlbXl3BLYwwksQUuqEz0cZDMNDcF9LFYnpy4SqrUGuvftMQsyyH27_tgPYbiZ1AX45HQINCohynYiNHv9nH7KibQ5w9U97nunG/s1600/picking+chillies.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DqCyR_lxdZakOkU3SQLmurSLVHTzcyjUE8EDwW-lntqlbXl3BLYwwksQUuqEz0cZDMNDcF9LFYnpy4SqrUGuvftMQsyyH27_tgPYbiZ1AX45HQINCohynYiNHv9nH7KibQ5w9U97nunG/s1600/picking+chillies.bmp" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harvesting chilies</td></tr>
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<br />After returning back to Bal Ashram the kids sat and shared their experiences with Babaji. Brimming with excitement, you cant help but think it will overflow...<br />
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Namaste,<br />
Caspian Merritt<br />
Bal Ashram<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Strong Girl" team</td></tr>
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</div>Sonoma Ashram Foundation:http://www.blogger.com/profile/00965581748876351353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340697471286758025.post-42407455588535296092012-02-24T07:28:00.002-08:002012-02-24T07:28:27.757-08:002012 Shivaratri Celebration at the Bal Ashram<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Every year, on the 13th or 14th night of the full moon in February, Hindus revel in the celebration of Lord Shiva. One of the three 'Supreme Gods,' Shiva is known as the destroyer or transformer. What Brahma creates, Vishnu preserves. But there is an unenviable end to everything...and Shiva destroys allowing for rebirth. Each year, people from all over India travel to Varanasi, Shiva's home, to pay homage to this beloved deity. Devotees flock to temples and honor, while thousands of young men carry on the tradition of running through the city in lively chanting.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running through the streets of Varanasi celebrating Shiva!</td></tr>
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There are many stories surrounding Shiva, but it is commonly thought that this day marks the wedding between Shiva and Parvati...the ultimate connection of matter and energy.<br />
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This last Monday February 20th, we celebrated Shivaratri here at the Bal Ashram. Friends and family traveled far and wide to take part in this auspicious day of worship.<br />
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A two hour morning Shiva Rudra Abhishekam, or Puja was preformed. All gathered around the linga, a phallic symbol representing Shiva's energy, and watched while it was ceremonially offered bael leaves, milk, ghee and honey.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBesVugW3eAenhf_5yBccB3Zh6Obo_HZqCVFJM0NF62AXp1fx9365uLeT3tRDNgmR3DikcVbCOutjMSGDYgSfZwOV_1PD4kEjccK3P6Jk07AmPRFpqRav63og76aURWn2VLUh9n_nHpVKo/s1600/boys+at+shivararti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBesVugW3eAenhf_5yBccB3Zh6Obo_HZqCVFJM0NF62AXp1fx9365uLeT3tRDNgmR3DikcVbCOutjMSGDYgSfZwOV_1PD4kEjccK3P6Jk07AmPRFpqRav63og76aURWn2VLUh9n_nHpVKo/s320/boys+at+shivararti.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the Ashram boys front and center</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEF1ovzz0LfCa_oAdFohCTt5rvvx7KveCt0_crPfiWzzLXfnKntF8ZBIQKRWS8yIqd3Fkrn-GljWP5NL2jzC5O8vAYqPn53MZbO_HXVkNOh_yPqXS6jbSvCpuUVVB4fi507_H-FKTutwd2/s1600/dolly+at+Shiva.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEF1ovzz0LfCa_oAdFohCTt5rvvx7KveCt0_crPfiWzzLXfnKntF8ZBIQKRWS8yIqd3Fkrn-GljWP5NL2jzC5O8vAYqPn53MZbO_HXVkNOh_yPqXS6jbSvCpuUVVB4fi507_H-FKTutwd2/s320/dolly+at+Shiva.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Babaji's niece Dolly (on right) watching the ceremony</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowers, milk, honey and ghee offered to Shiva</td></tr>
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Babaji reminded all that this is a time to be aware and connect with your energy.<br />
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"Be careful of boundaries," he said. 'Whenever you create a boundary with something...I hate this, I'm jealous of this person, I care for this but not for that...all your energy is tied up. When this energy is free, we are able to be whole. Wherever your attention is, that's your reality."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After concluding Shivaratri Puja, everyone performed Arati to Babaji</td></tr>
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Namaste,<br />
Caspian Merritt<br />
Bal Ashram<br />
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<br /></div>Sonoma Ashram Foundation:http://www.blogger.com/profile/00965581748876351353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340697471286758025.post-6900687631158451742012-02-21T04:19:00.000-08:002012-02-21T04:19:04.808-08:00What's all the buzz about?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Directly east from the Bal Ashram, across the Ganges, the<a href="http://www.sonomaashram.org/india_service_projects_amrit_sagar.php" target="_blank"> Amirt Sagar</a> ('Ocean of Nectar") Environmental Center constantly brims with activity. The 10 acre parcel is home to many on-going projects, including a dairy, vegetable and herb gardens, solar panels, bio gas system and a bee colony. This last month, the buzz has been all about the bees.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had the pleasure to spend time with Bee Experts Alessandro and Barbara Buisnar, during their one month visit to the Bal Ashram from Venice Italy. Although the bee project has been active since 2010, the program needed a bit of guidance and fine tuning from the father-daughter team.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I accompanied Alessandro and Barbara on a recent trip to check on each hive with Eco Center resident and Bee Keeper in Training, Ramesh. The</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Center currently homes over 20 </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langstroth_hive" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Langstroth Hives</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> each hosting 60-70 </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">thousand</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> bees..each with one Queen.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-SejEVWtfAhuyRQtuVEE-gSLdMqrzh3KaHhXxYGpCDj2Dal8RmXsc9DHvFQ9bGuekNoh3KgvvghW7dGeV9ILmJL0ZzrNS8OPphxElDLYKAxNqbsvbHH6iPoPSuyCvUkEX8Ljw5-A6AJX/s1600/maincolony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-SejEVWtfAhuyRQtuVEE-gSLdMqrzh3KaHhXxYGpCDj2Dal8RmXsc9DHvFQ9bGuekNoh3KgvvghW7dGeV9ILmJL0ZzrNS8OPphxElDLYKAxNqbsvbHH6iPoPSuyCvUkEX8Ljw5-A6AJX/s320/maincolony.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Queen bees lay an average of 1,500-2 thousand eggs per day. While most result in workers and drones, the rearing of another Queen is avoided to prevent </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swarming_(honey_bee)" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">swarming</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> -the original queen leaving the hive with her 'swarm' looking for a new residence. This is done by pulling each cell out of its hive and knocking off any 'queen cells' that contain the larvae of potential new leaders. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was inside these queen cells that I was able to taste a little bit of heaven. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ramesh, Alessandro and Loknath check one of the hives.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfeHE-3YhXmW4zO1Xl84pT2nm4xyglByTHdvI1Rk6YcV7xlQEJfKiEWZDI-qI8SAIpUbOmsMWFFkzRbuBio_YK6EFyQ1yEoRryN9Ho-ENtApC0ykqd-Xd5xJa1VFYymNKoJbl61rS2rPI/s1600/beeinspection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfeHE-3YhXmW4zO1Xl84pT2nm4xyglByTHdvI1Rk6YcV7xlQEJfKiEWZDI-qI8SAIpUbOmsMWFFkzRbuBio_YK6EFyQ1yEoRryN9Ho-ENtApC0ykqd-Xd5xJa1VFYymNKoJbl61rS2rPI/s320/beeinspection.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ramesh inspecting for a 'Queen Cell"</td></tr>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_jelly" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Royal Jelly</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is secreted from the glands in the heads of worker bees. All larvae is initially fed royal jelly but only burgeoning queens are fed it exclusively. Reported to have many health benefits including</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> brain cell growth, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">antibiotic</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> effects, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cholesterol</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> lowering and anti-</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">inflammatory</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> agents as well as anti-aging properties, this bi product is certainly sought-after. The taste is mildly sweet with an almost goat cheese like quality. Sucking the jelly out of a freshly cracked queen cell is certainly a moment I will remember forever! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9Ncj6rXDOuxUcIF5-ZqL46H-4YflrjUfTTYXs3ig9Oua0IZFbcOO-29glOpy627bVnSCL81tlmos2mcQaUkd3Z0sf2ZtwTZT81UcWUWlmQVPGq6jelBavFfonMS_9gZBMrPkGU0Big5a/s1600/bee3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9Ncj6rXDOuxUcIF5-ZqL46H-4YflrjUfTTYXs3ig9Oua0IZFbcOO-29glOpy627bVnSCL81tlmos2mcQaUkd3Z0sf2ZtwTZT81UcWUWlmQVPGq6jelBavFfonMS_9gZBMrPkGU0Big5a/s320/bee3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After removing the larvae, the Royal Jelly is ready to eat!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUL9nLCtcD5tkmnhG0dwxPKtRfFkEOMzvmMuzW26NV95MCy5G0vVDIQHGdzX65-ToObOf2-13e56xcWSZHpCeYYtHqMvBz1YYY4epGSO5fyi5N7SH1ojUQo5ky5Fd3QpJxUCZDVqEuMSB/s1600/bee+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUL9nLCtcD5tkmnhG0dwxPKtRfFkEOMzvmMuzW26NV95MCy5G0vVDIQHGdzX65-ToObOf2-13e56xcWSZHpCeYYtHqMvBz1YYY4epGSO5fyi5N7SH1ojUQo5ky5Fd3QpJxUCZDVqEuMSB/s320/bee+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first taste!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alessandro and Barbara spent many days with the Eco Center team, sharing their vast knowledge and immense respect for bees and the vital role they play in the worlds ecosystem. Success with this program moves Bal Ashram closer to self sufficiency, with income generated from the sale of the honey as well as provides the young adults of the Ashram with responsibility and ownership in an important link to the Aghor Foundation's prosperity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Namaste,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Caspian Merritt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bal Ashram </span></div>Sonoma Ashram Foundation:http://www.blogger.com/profile/00965581748876351353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8340697471286758025.post-35016264349781743972011-04-11T12:11:00.000-07:002012-05-08T16:59:56.112-07:00Spring 2011 Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Dear Friends of Sonoma Ashram, This spring
Sonoma Ashram celebrated Navaratri – the nine lunar nights of the Goddess –
from April 4th to 11th. (to read the more click on the link below)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.sonomaashram.org/pdf/20110411-Navaratri.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.sonomaashram.org/pdf/20110411-Navaratri.pdf</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>Sonoma Ashram Foundation:http://www.blogger.com/profile/00965581748876351353noreply@blogger.com0