Sunday, January 1, 2012

People Arriving

Early in the day
Getting Started
Filling up
Support team 
Fire is tricky to photograph.  Thought this looked like a spirit form.
Getting full
Beauty of the light
Part of the numbers reflected in the shoe collection growing.
The amazing lawn.

New Year's Ritual

New Year's Ritual




Notice the beautiful light coming in the ceiling
After the ritual

Lower Part of the Complexes

Lower courtyard facing lower eating area
Lower area under meditation space--prepared for serving lunch.
Pahari Baba Complex from the ground floor
Gathering of spirit
Gurudev Complex

Working Inward

Front stairs/entrance.  New railings in. Gurudev gracing the front
Looking down on the entrance
Detail of new railing
Second floor entrance to meditation area
One of the artist quietly working as everyone piles into the ashram
Detail of design--hand chiseled 
Artist #2

Walking Clockwise Around The Property

Construction of living spaces for visitors behind the ashram

Look at the photos from 8 months ago--remarkable progress
The view out the back is lovely--looking at fields/hearing birds--can I move here now?
Side/back Gurudev Complex.
Side of Pahari Baba Complex and housing
Giant Lilly pond (eventually) and Pahari Baba Complex behind
Side View Pahari Baba Complex

Approaching The New Ashram

In the country and green fields abound
A freshly paved road to the ashram
Pahari Baba part of the ashram
Gurudev part of the ashram
Beautiful, peaceful fields 

Living Grace

Bundled Up at the New Years Gathering (still with a cold.)
Most people will never meet a being like Gurudev in their lifetime.  The grace for this opportunity is without words.  With the start of 2012, picking one of many remarkable attributes of Gurudev to emulate is his heartfelt thoughtfulness.  The first time I heard him utter a word, it was as if the word had a three dimensional quality to it--as if it was a living being unto itself.  Now I understand that the truth and refined nature of his spirit is the ethereal nature of all, so when he speaks, it penetrates every nook and cranny of one's being.  He can say one word and reach a depth in your heart that you never new existed.  Even after 6 months, I am amazed at the flood of tears that can arise from his unrelenting kindness.  A few days ago he was not well with some sort of virus or cold, but he still made the point to ask if I was warm enough and did I need another blanket.  Today, there was a big gathering at the new ashram with 300 plus people, but when he saw me he wanted to make sure I got the sack of fruit that he had arranged for me, so that I had something to eat since I don't usually eat the native food.  Just reflecting on the thoughtfulness makes me teary eyed.

I asked someone if this is how everyone feels?  YES!!!!!  A resounding yes.  He is constantly doing small things to shepherd and make our paths easier.  If I were to make a resolution, it would be to operate with even a small percentage of that remarkable spark from his heart.  He shows his love and compassion at a level that we don't even know for ourselves--too much lint on the filter.  The reading says that this stream of love is what lies as a foundation for everything, so to experience a living being "walking the talk" is GRACE.