Namaste,
This month we celebrate Guru Purnima on July 18th. Guru means the dispeller of darkness. How fortunate we are to have Guru! This day we express our gratitude for the countless blessings and grace we have been given and continue to receive. Guru shines the light on the path to God or our higher selves all the while loving us as no other can. The relationship between Guru and chela (student) is profoundly deep, beautiful and ultimately transforming.
"Each chela is a bead on my heart's mala."
Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati
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Ma has always referred to the number 108 when speaking of pujas. 108 is considered a very sacred number and refers to or spiritual completion. There are always 108 beads on the Shiva mala or divisions of this number. There are 108 types of meditation, 108 paths to God, 108 names of the Mothers, 108 Gopis of Vrindavan, 108 sun salutations signify change and when practicing pranayama, 108 breaths a day brings enlightenment. This magical, mystical number holds many secret and special meanings. As we practice our meditations and pujas, keep in mind you have an amazing tool to converge on the heart chakra. And as I say so many times, "Oh this is what Ma meant."
Love, Yashoda
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The last months spent with Ma were bittersweet. We spent a lot of time sitting on her balcony over- looking the Ganga, watching people pass by or the turtles sun themselves. I would often bring my permaculture books with me and share my thoughts and show pictures. Ma told me stories about how she helped clean chicken eggs at a family farm when she was younger.
As Ma has always done with so many of us, she inspired me to pursue my dreams,to live a full life with an open heart, to serve and reach beyond myself and to transform the mundane into something enchanted. Her amazing ability to share her passion for life with everyone she encountered will always make me smile. I love and miss you so much, Mom. You will always be in my heart, reminding me to live a life full of love, laughter, and joy.
Love, Soo Se |
| Supreme Court Vote: A Momentous Occasion |
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Ma Marrying Paul Monette and Winston in 1991
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On June 26th, the United States Supreme Court voted in favor of marriage equality - something that our beloved Ma Jaya had been doing, regardless of public opinion, for decades! Ma frequently told anyone who was listening that she was "the Mother of thousands of gay and lesbian children, and everyone in between." It was very apparent that she didn't see labels or genders; just love. Whether formally in a planned wedding, or spontaneously in a hospital room where one of the partners was dying of AIDS, Ma showered her blessings on everyone. The justice system is just catching up with her a little bit now!
Love, Swami Dhumavati
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Team Purple Needs Your Help
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| Andrew, Subhadra, Baba Ram and Durgaya |
Namaste Gurubai,
As many of you know, my sister, Subhadra, has been battling breast cancer. She was diagnosed in May with tumors in both breasts and a lymphnoid. Many of you knew our mother, Durga Mayee. She passed away from Breast Cancer, so it's been a difficult transition to now see my little sister battle the same disease. Subhadra is 30 years old and has tested positive for the BRACA2 gene.
She has created a CaringBridge account that allows people to stay up to date on what is going on with us. Please login and follow her journey. Sign the guestbook, leave some comments (don't donate to this site, it goes to them). I try and add to it each day or two.
I have created a GoFundMe to help us raise money for the medical costs. Between fertility treatments, missing work and all the other bills the financial stress of cancer seems almost unmanageable,
but we are doing our best and are very thankful for any and all support.
"While this has been the scariest time of my life, I have also never felt so loved. Friends, family, acquaintances, and gurubai have all touched my heart with their kind words and generosity. I want to thank everyone for their continued support and contributions, every bit helps and I feel so wrapped in light and love." Subhadra
Love and Gratitude,
Durgaya, Subhadra, Andrew and Baba Ram
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The Atlanta Prison Project
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Kashi Atlanta Jail Yoga Program
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| Maha Devi, Surya Devi, Devaki, Rama Devi and Shakti Priya |
In collaboration with the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, Jail Services Division, five of Kashi Atlanta's regular female yoga teachers - Devaki, Maha Devi, Rama Devi, Surya Devi and Shakti Priya - team-taught yoga to groups of 4 to 12 female inmates.
Devaki had the idea to use Ma's book, The 11 Karmic Spaces and have each teacher theme the class around one of the karmic spaces (a chapter in the book). Through Devaki's work with Swami Dhumavati of Kashi Ashram in Florida, a donation program was created to purchase copies of Ma's book for the inmates.
On August 1, 2013, the team received their first donation that allowed them to give the women copies of Ma's powerful book. It is now the foundation for the jail yoga program. It's been a real joy to hear how some of the women embrace Ma's teachings, and share how the practices are impacting their lives. The women share their copies of Ma's book with others who don't come to the classes.
We are also in need of more books! If you would like to donate towards purchasing copies of The 11 Karmic Spaces for the jail please click here |
| The Eco Project's Star: Shiva Duke |
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Shiva Duke is the Eco Project's livestock guardian dog. He has a very big job protecting all of our goats and chickens. Under his supervision we have not lost a single animal from predation. This breed, Great Pyrenees, innately feel protective of small helpless beings, know how to make decisions on their own, are extremely smart, self confident, loners, nocturnal, and very loving. They are not attack dogs, they are protectors.
The quality of life that an animal lives is very important to the Eco Project, therefore, we made sure we adopted Shiva Duke from a rescue society in Florida. He came from a very sad situation, so we are super happy to have given him this amazing life that he was intended for. He actually gives the Project and anyone that knows him, way more then we give him. THANK YOU SUSHILA, for sponsoring our big guy and making it possible to have such a beautiful being with us! He is so loved.
Love, Kwang Mae
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"I myself can never get enough of the feet of my Guru or my teacher Swami Nityananda, for it was Swami's great desire for your Ma to understand the importance of being with Guru.
He taught me the grace of the Guru in every single breath and every single non-breath.
As the years go by, this intense love for Guru magnifies itself over 100 times.
When ever I think of my Baba's name I go into a deep bliss, and I see this in my chelas eyes also.
I can't ever imagine my life or lifetimes without my Guruji's breath upon my brow and this is one of the reasons I can understand my chela's hearts.
I live to share with my chelas the pure beauty of loving Guru and being loved by Guru.
There is nothing greater."
Love, MA
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| Join one of our satsang gatherings via phone. The evening includes a recording of Ma Jaya teaching. Global Live is held on the second Saturday of each month. (No Global Live in August) For more information, click here. |
Namaste,
I am so grateful to cook for Ma and Her Kashi. This month's recipe is ... Watermelon Granite (ice). It is great in the summer time. This is such a simple and delicious recipe. Enjoy !!! Love Swami Rudra Das
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| Fruit Trees Click Here Pressure Cleaner
Desk Top Computer Windows 7
Sinks for Laxman Kitchen (Swami Rudra Das will love you!)
Pick Up Truck (Sustainable Kashi is in great need)
Music System for café and dining hall
For more Information please contact:
772.913.5184
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| Support Kashi Through Amazon Smile Simply choose Amazon Smile Kashi Church Foundation as your charity of choice and 0.5% of your purchase will be donated to Kashi. |
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Indrani With Her Father, Ramana Hanuman
After spending almost 2 years volunteering in India, Indrani returned back to Melbourne, Australia. She completed her yoga teacher training with Power Living Australia in December of 2014 and is currently teaching at a few locations around Melbourne. She is also working and volunteering as a doula (non-medical birth support) for women of varying cultural backgrounds, some coming from disadvantaged situations. She is working towards developing both of these areas of her work and will pursue both prenatal yoga teacher training, and combining movement therapy with the practice of yoga. Indrani was born here at Kashi and attended the River School. We are so happy to have her home for awhile!
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Our wish came true!!!! Sundari Sita and Maha Dev purchased 2 carts for Kashi for transporting puja items and kirtan instruments back and forth to the Fire Pujas. The last carts they sent were invaluable: they lasted15 years and were used heavily. All of us, including Prana, are so doggone happy!!!
Thank you so much!
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$25.45
Namaste" is a the Hindu universal greeting meaning "The god in you, greets the god in me."This wooden Namaste plaque is a simple piece of wall art that you can use to greet your guests. You can hang it on the wall inside your house or outside. This larger Namaste plaque size is 12" wide x 5" tall. (Remember, it comes from India so sizes may vary slightly).
For more information, please go to www.mas-india.org and while you are there check out Ma's India's brand new website!
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| Upcoming Event at Kashi Ashram |
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Guru Purnima 2015
The Guru - meaning
"dispeller of darkness" - is traditionally celebrated at the full moon in June or July. At this time, the feet of the Guru are celebrated as they represent where Guru took human form to bring blessings to the Earth. This day is particularly joyful and full of gratitude and bhakti (devotion).
Everyone is invited to help with the extensive preparation and decoration that it takes to transform the Dattatreya Temple into a jungle during the day on Saturday. Although Ma Jaya is not present in her body, puja is performed before Ma's tucket honoring the imprint of Her feet.
Friday, July 17, 5:00 pm EDT to Sunday, July 19, 10:00 am EDT
Register Here
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| July's Joke Sunday school teacher: Tell me, Margaret, do you say your prayers before you eat? Margaret: No, I don't have to. My mom's a good cook. |
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Stay Connected
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