Hacienda De Guru Ram Das
The Mother Ashram    
July 2011 Banner
A monthly bulletin celebrating you in community!
In this month's bulletin...
Events Calendar
Emergency Preparedness
Master's Touch Series
Unsung Hero
Ashram Gift Shop
Classified Ads
Google Calendar
Computer Corner
Yogi Bhajan Story
Sangat Birthdays
Missal Duties
New Couples
Gurujot Singh and Gian Dharam Kaur  

Gian Dharam Kaur and Gurujot Singh on their wedding day, June 17th

 

Simran and Guruprakash

Guruprakash Kaur and Simran Singh were married on June 26th 

 

Workshops  

Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training - Level 2 Authentic Relationships 

Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs, Ojo Caliente, NM 

Nov. 6 - Nov. 11, 2011

 

This course meets the certification standards for the KRI Level Two Training-Transformation. This is one module of a five part series. There are forty-eight classroom hours required as well as 12 hours of home study to be completed in 90 days after the course. To insure a welcoming and cozy course environment, this course is limited to 27 participants - be sure to register early to guarantee your place in this course. We look forward to serving you as the trainers for this course.

 

KY Trainers: Pritpal Kaur, Dev Suroop Kaur, Shanti Shanti Kaur & Pritpal Singh

 

For questions call 505-747-1119 or email to [email protected] 

Local Businesses  

 Bridges to Wellness

3916 Juan Tabo NE

Albuquerque, NM 87111

Jiwan Shakti K. Khalsa, Ph.D.

 

Bridges to Wellness currently offers:

  • Guidance for optimal wellness using the science of Ayurveda and Yoga
  • Diet and lifestyle choices to enhance wellness throughout the seasons of the year
  • Breath work, meditation and yoga
  • Therapeutic massage with optimized oils for your unique goals (women only)
  • Cooking basics for health, even amidst time constraints
  • Support through life's major transitions and transformations 

For more information:

505-323-6657 

www.bridgestowellness.com 

Local Events

The Santa Fe International Folk Art Market

July 8-10, 2011

 

The Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, a non-profit organization, produces the largest international folk art market in the world, and our success led to Santa Fe's designation as a UNESCO City of Folk Art.

Weaving

 

The Market hosts an annual festive, weekend event on Museum Hill in Santa Fe, New Mexico adjoining our renowned partner, the Museum of International Folk Art.

 

For more information visit their website >

What's New?

If you would like to recommend a restaurant you like, please send your review to the Editor to be printed in this newsletter.
 

Leona's Restaurante

 Leona's Restaurante de Chimayo   http://leonasrestaurante.com/

 

Leona's has been around for many years and those of you who were here in the 80's will remember it being the favorite lunch fare for many ashram members.  It was located off of the Chimayo Highway and I can remember spending Saturday afternoons enjoying fresh corn dripping with butter and big thick french fries hot out of the fryer. Well not exactly your health food fare but certainly a fun treat. We got the chance to visit her new location just recently at the Sanctuario de Chimayo Plaza and enjoyed a Saturday lunch. Although we felt her portions were smaller than I remember from previous years, the food was still good.  

 

Leona has several choices for vegetarians including burritos, quesadillas, veggie tamales with zucchini and green or red chili, corn on the cob, frito pies, etc.  Her red chili is my favorite so I'd make sure you ask for extra. You can also purchase her veggie tamales frozen to go as well as her green and red chile.

 

 

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.

 Gurdwara girls

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.
 

  Noor in Gurdwara
 "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                                      July 2011

July Events

 

July 4 - Independence Day
July 5-16 - Kirtan Class with
Bhai Baldeep Singh

July 6 - Akal Takhat Wish and Dish Gurdwara

July 12,14,19 & 21 - Master's Touch Series. See Calendar 

Pacheco FireEmergency Preparedness

Wildfire...Are you Prepared?

 

With the recent wildfires out of control over so much of New Mexico and many areas of the nation, I thought it only appropriate to highlight a page on emergency preparedness.  It is by no means complete but will give you some information for dealing with unexpected emergencies.  

 

Simple suggestions such as packing a day pack with essential items if you need to evacuate your home is included in the flyer, "Wildfire...Are you Prepared."  And don't forget to make one for you pets as well.

 

You can view this page at the following link: 

http://espanolaashram.com/pages/sangat/emergency_prepare.php

The Master's Touch Series - July 12, 14, 19 & 21

  

Master's touchThe Espanola Sangat is invited to experience four dynamic and powerful classes given by Yogi Bhajan, Master of Kundalini Yoga, in July, 1996 at his Master's Touch course. Yogi Bhajan explains the importance of spiritual discipline in facing the challenges of life and the unique relationship between a spiritual teacher and the student.
 

This series of classes is offered as a fund raising event for Hacienda de Guru Ram Das (HGRD). All proceeds go to support the Mother Ashram.

Hacienda de Guru Ram Das thanks the Kundalini Research Institute for making these lectures available for this fund raising event.
 

 

Plan to attend this inspiring four-part series - we are all teachers in life, touching everyone we meet. These lectures give us invaluable guidance in touching the Teacher within each of us.

Cost: $11 per class or $35 for the complete series. Payment at the door.  Call Mata GuruMeher Kaur if you have questions - (505)753-0447 or email [email protected]

This Month's UnSung Hero: Avtar Hari Singh

By Ravi Kaur

Avtar HariAvtar Hari Singh became a board member of Sikh Dharma International at the beginning of 2007. By the April 2009 Khalsa Council meeting there were lots of concerns about what was going on with the management of the Dharma. By September, 2009 the SDI Board felt it was their fiduciary duty to file a lawsuit to protect the assets of our Dharma.

Being one of the 5 plaintiffs and because of his past experience with lawyers and legal documents in the entertainment and real estate industries, as well as his work in our Dharmic businesses and nonprofits since 1990, Avtar Hari agreed to serve as the lawsuit's project manager. In that role, he was and continues to be the liaison between the plaintiffs, the Sangat, and our lawyers.

Avtar Hari is known for having an even keel personality and delivering the information in a neutral manner. He shared with me, "In my travels to the various US Sangats early on, I heard someone say, 'There but for the grace of God go I.' This was a poignant moment for me and it made me remember one of the SSS's teachings, to view all of this as personally impersonal. I've come to view each of us in the Sangat as having our unique roles to play. Each of us is a puzzle piece of absolutely equal importance in fully completing the whole picture. These realizations have been humbling and inspirational."

Between 2009 and January 2011 he travelled to Portland for every court hearing (thanks to Sat Kartar Singh for donating SWA miles for every flight) and then moved there in January for all the depositions and the trial. He came home on Peace Prayer Day and he continues to spend some of his time working with the community and our lawyers.

Though he says this has been the most challenging thing he's ever done, he also feels incredibly blessed. He's gotten to know Sangat members around the world more and has seen our Dharmic family grow closer and take more ownership of our mission. He's experienced firsthand the inspiring ways so many people have given of their time, their prayers, and their financial support. He says, "It is my constant prayer that I have the intuition and discipline to serve God's will, to not be in my ego, and to be the sharpest instrument in that service that I can be. I have practiced being unattached to the particular outcomes along the way and knowing that Guru will prevail and that Sikh Dharma and the Siri Singh Sahib's mission will be protected and preserved."

Thank you, Avtar Hari, for the dedication and sacrifices you have made on behalf of us all and our Dharma. 

Ashram Gift Shop

Our new item of the month...

 

Kale ChipsOrganic Kale Chips

made by Tej Kaur.  They are tasty and healthy for you.  The two varieties she offers are Salsa Verde (green chili) and Salsa Roja (red chili). 

 

The Salsa Verde Kale Chips contain; organic kale, tomatillos, pumpkin seeds, cashews, miso, onion, garlic, serrano peppers, salt, and spices.  The Salsa Roja Kale Chips contain; organic kale, red bell peppers, red tomatoes, onion, garlic, miso, red chili powder, salt, and spices.

 

Price: $5.00/bag 

If you would like to order directly from Tej Kaur, she can be reached at 505-927-1064.

Classified Ads
  
Thanks to the volunteer efforts of Darshan Kaur, we now are able to keep the classified ads current and up-to-date.  Please send your ads to [email protected].  A link is now featured on the home page of the ashram website under Sangat Notices that will be updated on a weekly basis so you can get the latest ads. 
  
Ashram Google Calendar
By Guru Meher Kaur, Jr. 
  
Just a note for anyone who hasn't checked out the new Google calendar on the Ashram website.  You now have the option to send in your ashram-related events and have them posted on this new calendar.  Just send your events directly to [email protected]
  
Google calendarThere are also some cool features with this calendar.  You can attach pdfs with very detailed info about the event.
 
Also, if you have a personal Google calendar you can copy the ashram event to your calendar simply by clicking the link at the bottom of the event detail page. 
  
You also have the option to view the calendar in several ways; weekly, monthly or agenda mode.  The agenda mode is my favorite because it displays the information in text format with all events listed one day at a time. Google also makes it possible to print out the calendar if desired.

View the new Google calendar now
 

Computer Corner  

OMG, I can't find that file! You deleted a file yesterday; now you really need it back. Your Windows recycle bin is empty - what now?
By Guruka Singh


Your next-best option is the Restore Previous Versions tool - a truly great, automatic data-protection feature buried in Win7.
I say "buried" advisedly; most people have never even heard of it. And if you have used it, I'll bet your initial explorations were probably like mine - a click here, a poke there, some head-scratching, and then mostly ignoring it.  But it's a mistake to ignore or underuse this feature, because it really is a hidden gem.

Restore imageWhat is Restore Previous Versions, exactly?

Introduced in Vista and now present in all editions of Windows 7, "previous versions" are local backups of every data file and folder that changes on your system. The backups are created automatically and are instantly accessible. Previous versions do for your standard documents (text files, spreadsheets, photos, whatever) what Windows System Restore does for system files.

The function that creates previous versions is enabled by default and is probably working right now on your PC, whether you've ever used the previous-versions feature or not.

Read entire article here >

 

Yogi Bhajan - The Line is not Fine 

By Hari Jiwan Singh

 

I was angry. Another student had "wronged us" again. This was not uncommon. The situation had escalated past the point of betrayal. We're now talking fraud, illicit payoffs, conspiracy... need I go on? This was just the icing on the cake. I wasn't mad, I was more than mad. Remember, this was the early 1980's and I was already upset at most things. And still, despite having all the justification to be infuriated, the Master had an "Open Door Policy," one that promoted continued communication and intimacy. One that let the other party know that he was there for him or her as well. That he wouldn't abandon him/her because of their actions and that he was accepting of the truth and continued to stand available to help further if requested. The other person could not deny that the sincere relationship continued (despite my anger).

 

By this time, I was so familiar in communicating with the Master that many times I foolishly forgot my manners. But that's how it is. You can't fake something forever. Either it becomes who you are or you run out of being able to "fake it." And, for a Teacher like we have, it's when you no longer "fake it" that he does his real work. It's there that he sees what must be done and teaches accordingly. He does this effortlessly and many times, without even thinking about it.

 

He just listened as I continued to lambast, "Sir, this person is a threat. He/she is dishonest to the point of believing their dishonesty. Don't trust this person!" What I didn't understand at the time was that he would deal with the danger without excluding the person. He dealt with both matters in a conscious manner. I was just beginning to learn that, so I kept blasting my angry complaints. "Calm down," the Master replied as he gently patted my knee. He often did this as it worked in bringing me to a neutral state. When he said, "Calm down," I usually did. This time was different. There was no turning back. "This situation had to be dealt with in no uncertain terms," I blurted out, as I just needed to let the Master understand the true danger of exposing himself like that. After all, one of my duties was to be there for his protection. This is how my ego rationalized my own needs. I spoke a little louder, "Sir, this is getting out of control, you must 'draw the line!' 
Read entire story  

Sangat Birthday's for July
Now featured on the ashram website at: http://espanolaashram.com/

Missal Duties for July 2011 (listed by Missal number

Date

Set Up

Langar

Clean Up

Akand Path

6/27-7/3

3

4

1

2

7/4-7/10

4

1

2

3

7/11-7/17

1

2

3

4

7/18-7/24 

2

3

4

1

7/27-8/1 

 3

 4

 1

 2

)

 

 

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