|
|
|
Guru Gobind Singh Birthday
January 5th
Waho Waho Gobind Singh
Aape Gur Chela! |
|
Your HGRD Fund! | |
Your consistent monthly donations sustain the foundation of the Mother Ashram. Giving what you can is greatly honored.
What would inspire you to give? If you are considering becoming a monthly contributor, but have reservations, we would love to hear your feedback.
|
|
Departures 2010 | |
Guru Tej Kaur, Siri Darshan's mother, left us 12/10/10. She was an active member of the Espanola sangat in the early ashram days. Read more >
Siri Brahma Singh left this earth on April 11, 2010. He was a loved member of our community and is greatly missed. We will always remember him for his light and kind spirit
Read more about his life and works here > |
|
Guru Dharam Kaur continues to serve by caring for Dashmesh Sadan in Anand Pursahib and performing midnight seva at the
local Gurdwara. You can read more about Dashmesh Sadan at http://www.dashmeshsadan.org/ |
|
What's New? | |
Yogi Mela with
Baba Siri Chand
Led by Amandeep Singh
February 19-21, 2011
This course we will explore the incredible history and legends of Guru Ram Das and Baba Siri Chand as well as experience Kundalini yoga kriyas, meditation and mantras. The first 20 participants who register before Jan. 31st will receive a $65 discount. For more information go to
www.soulanswer.com |
|
Honoring Long Time Contributors | |
HGRD Corporation
We would like to honor those individuals of the community who over the years have consistently been able to honor SSS's hukam that every adult is responsible to pay ashram dues of $100 per person. Thank you for your sacrifice, gift and giving.
"Whosoever will serve this house, he shall be served forever."
Yogi Bhajan |
|
|
Espanola Ashram Website
Make it your home page! |
This bulletin has been compiled by Guru Meher Kaur, Jr. for your reading pleasure. To submit articles or feedback please email: |
|
A Publication of: |
Hacienda de Guru Ram Das Ashram
1A Ram Das Guru Place
Espanola, NM 87532
505-753-6341
Ashram Secretary |
|
|
|
You in Community January 2011
Happy New Year!
This month's newsletter is a reflection on the many beautiful and challenging times our community faced in 2010. Our community saw the birth of many news Khalsas and the joining of several new couples in matrimony. We also saw the beginning of new projects such as our gift shop, the new shoe porch and the installation of many new trees and a beautiful new lawn in front of the langar hall. Hopefully you will enjoy looking back and seeing what we as a community accomplished in 2010. |
Events Calendar - January 2011
January 1 - New Year's Day
January 5 - Guru Gobind Singh's Birthday
January 6 - Akal Takhat Wish and Dish Gurdwara
|
|
 10 Khalsa Babies of 2010
- Dhyana Kaur (Nirinjan Kaur & Bhai
- Daya Singh)
-
Meher Kaur (Parnita Kaur & Manpreet Singh) -
Simranpreet Singh (Kamalcharan Kaur and Sat Kartar Singh) - Akal Dharam Singh (Guru Sadhana Kaur & Harimander Singh)
- Param Anand Singh (Dharma Kaur & Meher Singh)
- Japjeet Singh (Kartika Kaur and Ajai Singh)
- Nam Sahai Kaur (Siri Guru Dev Kaur & Sukwinder Singh)
- Mantra Simran Kaur (Guru Das Kaur & Sada Sat Simran Singh)
- Jasmine Anantpreet Kaur (Melany Rodriguez, Uttampreet Kaur's daughter)
- Har Savari Kaur (Sita Kaur and Hari Singh)
|
| Year 2011 in the Skies - A Forecast
By Sat Siri Kaur Khalsa
The ancient seers calculate two New Years: one for material events of the upcoming year and one for spiritual understanding. The prognosticator for material events does not surface until shortly before the vernal equinox, not till April 3, so for now let's consider just the first one...the Full Moon nearest Winter Solstice, while the Sun is standing still and preparing for its northern journey of six months. This tells us of the prospects for increase of knowledge and inner light, perhaps because nature is frozen and in-turned, the mind and spirit can receive guidance more easily.
The lord of the weekday at the Winter Solstice Full Moon becomes the Spiritual Lord of the Year; or us in the USA it is the Moon, as it was Monday in our country's capital at this moment of augury. Moon in general is fantastic.
The Moon is the planet representing My Desire, a longing for more knowledge, the kind of knowledge that keeps branching and expanding like the antlers of a deer into ever bifurcating pathways. There will be notable advances and innovations in ways of learning and doing things. These will impact the health sciences noticeably.
The Moon is in Gemini, an air sign, and so the survival struggles of many to improve daily life, to balance personal and financial needs, will be an ongoing concern as ever, but more openly, verbally, and with lots of calculations and negotiations. Battles over how to educate children will continue at the national level. And of course the health care battles will continue on their path from obscurity to eventual improvement. Read complete article here >
|
 | | Siri Chand Singh and Harbhajan Kaur |
Khalsa Marriages of 2010
June
Siri Chand Singh and Harbhajan Kaur
Sat Gurmukh Singh and Harimander Kaur
September
Dilray Singh and Saraswati Kaur
October
Hari Har Singh and Har Simrat Kaur
 | | Sat Gurmukh Singh and Harimander Kaur |
|
 | | Wahe Guru Kaur |
New Community Members & Visitors of 2010
Hari Rattan Kaur (Minnesota)
 | | Uttampreet Kaur, Nirankar Singh and Alain |
Manjit Singh, Sukhwinder Kaur and daughters, Satvir and Taran Kaur (Maryland)
Manmandir and Guruminder Singh (Washington, DC)
Wahe Guru Kaur (Austria)
Uttampreet Kaur and sons, Alain and Nirankar Singh (Bolivia)
Manjit Kaur (Ruby's mother from Canada)
Shama Kaur (France) |
|
 Remembering Guru Tej Kaur Khalsa
6/3/43 - 12/10/10
By Guru Meher Kaur, Jr.
 Many people in our community today may not have known of Guru Tej Kaur but she lived here in the early days of the Espanola ashram. She raised both of her children here, Nav Jiwan Kaur and Siri Darshan Singh. Siri Darshan Singh and his wife, Hari Gun Kaur now live in our community with their energenic young son, Ravi Das Singh. Tragically, Nav Jiwan's life was cut short at a very early age, and her memorial plaque hangs besides the mural at the far end of the Gurdwara.
I had the good fortune of being Guru Tej's neighbor during the early years. My son, Guru Darbar, and Siri Darshan were born about 6 months apart and we moved next door to them shortly after the boys were born. Siri Darshan and Guru Darbar spent many afternoons at her house after school sharing snacks, playing and watching Sesame Street. Since I was working in Santa Fe, I relied heavily on her to pick up my son most days which she did without hesitation, What I remember most about Guru Tej Kaur was her simple innocent and humble manner. She served as the ashram secretary for a brief time while living in the Espanola. Being a fantastic cook was something she would never brag about but she did make the best stuffed paranthas which were in great demand when she made them. She was a very generous person and so when she served it was without any expectation of return. I think no one will disagree that her devotion was incredibly strong and despite the many challenges she had to face during her life, she never gave up on her commitment to her spiritual practice. Unfortunately I was not able to stay connected with her after she moved to Phoenix and only heard about her when her health started to fail. Sat Darshan Kaur (Krishna Shiva's wife) had the privledge of becoming very close with Guru Tej Kaur after she moved to Arizona and wrote a wonderful account of her experiences with her during her years in the Phoenix ashram. Read the complete story here >
Guru Tej wrote the following poem towards the end of her life, and it was read at her service. It reflects the great sensitivty and thoughtfulness she lived throughout her life.
The Need
By Gurutej Kaur Khalsa
July 18, 2010
There is one doer in the Universe and it certainly isn't me;
So I need to depend on that doer totally.
I need to trust that doer and be fear free.
I need to see that Creator in all I see.
I need to serve the Creator by serving humanity,
Because every human being is God, including me.
I need to let the Creator work and speak through me.
I need to love everyone equally.
I need to live humbly and gratefully.
Thank you God, Thank you God,
For all you give to me.
|
|
Adi Shakti Girl's Club
By Mataji GuruMeher Kaur
 We, the Adi Shakti Girl's Club, would like to thank everyone for the support you have given us in our projects in 2010. Our fund raiser bazaar for the New Mexico Wild Life Center raised $300! We gave $30 (ten percent) to the Guru and took $270. to the Center. They were so happy to get our donation and we each got a chance to hold Basil, a very big snake! We saw all the other animals and had a fun time.
Our Holiday Food Drive got 14 big grocery bags full of non-perishable food for the hungry of New Mexico. Uttam Kaur and her Grandmother
delivered this to Santa Fe's Emergency Veterinary Hospital for the St. Elizabeth Resource Center in Santa Fe who feed the homeless. They were  very glad, because the food was getting low. Harkrishan Kaur and her family spent one day at the St. Elizabeth shelter serving a meal. It was a great experience and they plan to do it again. We hope more of us can also serve a meal there.
We had lots of fun planning and doing these things in 2010 and now we are starting new projects for 2011. For our first project we voted to sponsor an animal through "Heifer International," a group who helps impoverished families worldwide. They work in areas of livestock and agriculture to develop programs that stop hunger and poverty. They have helped more than 12 million families in more than 125 countries. We want to raise enough money to sponsor a water buffalo, but a goat, a llama, a sheep or even bees will be nice too. To do this we will first have a bake sale during Langar in January and we will let you know which date - watch for it!
Thank you again and many blessings, the Adi Shaktis, Harkrishan Kaur, Siri Atma Kaur, Suraj Kaur, Uttam Kaur, Sarab Jot Kaur and Sat Kartar Kaur - Khalsa Girls in Action!" |
|
|
 2010 in Retrospect
January
We hosted an annual luncheon for the NM Legislators at India Palace. In attendance were Senator Tom Udall, Governor Bill Richardson, Lt. Governor Diane Denish and Attornery General Gary King and many others.
Our community participated in the Santa Fe Interfaith Events both as a host to a large group in our langar hall and at the St. Francis Basilica in Santa Fe. The community sang in harmony with people from many different faiths and backgrounds together as one.
 FebruaryGuru Simran Kaur continued to oversee our donations for the Backpack Food Program serving the underprivileged children in the Espanola school district. Our children helped to stuff backpacks as part of their weekly Children's program. March
Our community served the Pilgrims on their way to the Santuario on Good Friday. Prabhu and Siri Deva Singh rounded up volunteers to help serve lemonade and fruit to the walkers on their way up the hill to Chimayo.
Hearts and Hands COV sponsored a work day at the Trio Montessouri School and helped to replace a tile floor and spruce up the outside grounds for the children.  April The Khalsa Kats raised over $1,500 at the annual Bowl for Kids Sake which supports the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in our area. Baisakhi Day was celebrated in our usual grand manner with Nagar Kirtan down Shady Lane and a splendid Gurdwara and langar to finish. May Several sangat members participated in the annual Walk Against Drugs from San Juan Pueblo to Chimayo.  The Community Garden members began working in their Beet House to get their garden going for spring & summer harvest. The fruits (and vegetables) of their labors were enjoyed in the summer when they sold their harvest after Sunday langars.
 A fabulous Memorial Day Picnic was coordinated by the Hearts & Hands COV with plenty of food, fun and family. Matamandir Singh and friends entertained everyone with live music while the children played games on the lawn. June and July
Always a time of incredible activity, we saw two weddings, Solstice, Women's and Children's Camp, KRI Teacher Training Courses and more.
The HGRD Corporation was formed in July and held its first quarterly meeting. They have remained succesful in bringing together a Board and Directors and have had several meeting the remainder of the year.
AugustThe Life and Legacy of Yogi Bhajan  party was held at the Ranch with many guests in attendance and was complete with Bhangra dance, kirtan, bazaar and food. An MPA Student Going Away party was sponsored at the Ranch as well, with a pancake breakfast, swimming and horseback riding.
September
Another spectacular wedding (Saraswati Kaur and Dilraj Singh) followed by eleven nights of evening chanting in sangat households leading up to Guru Ram Das' Birthday celebration.
The new Guru Ram Das Library opened on the second floor of the langar hall through the tireless efforts of Guru Simran Kaur. She has been fortunate in obtaining many book donations from various individuals that has made this library a wonderful addition to our community.
October The sangat celebrated Guru Ram Das' Birthday and Guru Gaddee Day in the same month with a heart-felt Nagar Kirtan down Shady Lane and a beautifully decorated Gurdwara. Siblings of Destiny held its fall meeting at the Santa Claran Hotel for the first time and had a successful meeting at this new facility. NovemberThanksgiving dinner and the White Tantric Yoga Course went hand in hand in November. The Thanksgiving dinner was fabulous with a  beautifully decorated langar hall and a scrumptous dinner prepared by the Gurubachans, Matamandir Singh and friends. December
The cold of winter came on with a vengence in December but there was still a tremendous amount of warmth that generated from the New Year's Eve Ransabi that brought everyone together to chant in the Gurdwara until midnight. Scrumptious food was prepared by Harimander and Ravinder Singh with desserts provided by the sangat.
From the Editor:
If I missed anyone or any prominent event, I apologize, but with a community as big as ours, its hard to keep up with everyone and every event. Hope 2011 brings us just as much activity and enjoyment as we had last year.
|
| Another Perspective
Hari Jiwan's Wall
Now Is the Time
The Siri Singh Sahib could take more on than any man I have ever known. He could pocket treachery, deny slander, rebuke idleness, sustain delivery, and I've just begun to scratch the surface of his virtues. Yes, he was a man, but a man with an instant transmission. If calamity befell him, he was always at his calmest. He dealt with people equally; he taught openly; he gave freely; he demanded sincerity. He was more than I thought. He was the real deal beyond my thought.
As time passes, sometimes our minds forget the incredible gift he left in our care. This Dharma was him, and he was this Dharma. If you remember and love him, it follows, you must love this Dharma, care for this Dharma, protect this Dharma as he did. It's not a matter of politics; it's a matter of reality. It was the Siri Singh Sahib's duty and now it's ours. Our prayer should be that we take it on selflessly as he did and give ourselves the opportunity to perform as he would want.
Sometimes people ask me if I regret anything. My answer is always the same. Siri Singh Sahib Ji would say, "if you like where you're at, there is no reason to regret or apologize for anything. For, everything you've done, good or bad, has brought you here."
I must admit, I still harbor one regret. And, when I think about it, I used to do it a lot, but I wish I would have done it even more. I miss telling the Siri Singh Sahib how grateful I was and how great he was. He was a humble man and really didn't take compliments well as he always felt there was more to be grateful for.
Nevertheless, when done properly, respectfully, reverently, honestly, and humbly he really appreciated the acknowledgement of who he was. It's the highest gift you can give your teacher because it reflects his good duty and that is most satisfying. I miss this shared experience. |
Sangat Birthday's for January
Now featured on the ashram website at: http://espanolaashram.com/ |
Missal Duties for January 2010
|
Date |
Set Up |
Langar |
Clean Up |
Akand Path | | 12/27-1/2 | 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | | 1/3-1/9 | 2 |
3 |
4 |
1 | | 1/10-1/16 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
2 | | 1/17-1/23 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
3 | | 1/24-1/30 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
How can we continue to serve you? The ashram management team welcomes your feedback. We would also like to understand your individual needs. If you or someone you know is in need of something please let us know how we can move forward in supporting you. All emails are kept confidential. Confidential feedback
If God has guided you here and has given you the virtue to do service here, and has given you that chance, then don't waste it. It's a place to gain and to be what is yours to be. Therefore, I say to you that take the very earth of this place and put it on your forehead. It will rewrite your destiny."
~Yogi Bhajan |
|
|
