Sunday, February 1, 2009
Spirit life at Sri Ram Ashram
Babaji sits in his room every morning and every evening and enjoys the company of the residents and visitors of his Ashram. This is called Darshan. People talk to one another, play games, sit with Babaji, receive his council. Everyone receives a piece of candy tossed by Babaji or a child seated with him as they enter, and most generally touch Babaji's feet as they enter or exit the room.
Morning and evening, the children have Arati, which is kind of like church. I haven't attended the morning session, but in the evening, they light the oil lamp, incense, chant a series of prayers that goes on non-stop for about 10 minutes, Om three times with a brief period of silent meditation maybe 2 minutes, sing some bhajan songs. They have a harmonium and tabla drums. The lead chanter last night was a 4 year old girl. A boy about 10 years old dressed in white lights the lamp, flings water, lights incense in front of the altar that includes statues of Shiva and Nandi and Ganesh, pictures of Babaji and Hanuman and a picture of a caucasian woman the children refer to as their mother who is now deceased. She must have been one of the Ashram's caregivers some years ago.
The poster above of Hanuman as a small child is hanging in on the baby rooms. The picture of Babaji as a young man is hanging in the children's dining room. The statue of Hanuman above middle is in front of the main Ashram building. The top left photo of Babaji was taken by me the first morning I was here. He is now 86 years old, I think.
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