Ram Ram
My first blog, my first entry, what to say? Since moving here in December to assume the role of General Manager for the ashram my life has been profoundly impacted. To wake up every morning, look out my window and see the Temple with the Indian Pueblo’s sacred mountain behind it is moving beyond words. Living in community like this, for the first time in my life, watching everyone’s “stuff” come up for them, yet thinking I was immune, was my first big lesson. I’m glad Maharaji keeps a special 2” x 4” just for me that he uses to hit me right between the eyes every time I need it. I now feel settled in, more at peace than ever, both happy and proud to be living and working with the other staff and satsang who help to make this temple come alive every day.
So I’m back to what is that special message I want to say to all? I meditated on it quite a bit during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations and then it hit me; as I participated in and watched the weeks of preparations, the big push right before and all the activity during Jayanti, this place lives and breathes because of Seva (selfless service). Selfless service and a love of Maharaji is what keeps all of us here, working, living and coming back, but there is a very special group that deserves quite a lot of credit, our sevaks.
We have many types of sevaks affiliated with our ashram: from those who come and bake bread regularly to those who come to weed the grounds, from the board (who selflessly volunteer time, work and all forms of support) to those who come to shower and spend the next two hours cleaning bathrooms.
For this blog, though, I want to mention the sevaks that live and work here on a daily basis. They are comprised of both long term and short term sevaks. Some of them stay for 6 months or more, some come for a few weeks or days. Some of them live in more permanent residences “on campus” and some camp on the grounds. Some come not knowing much about us, Maharaji or this ashram, but, over time, we can see the dramatic transformation that takes place as they participate more and more in our life here: in Aarti, in making meals, in our family activities and in our love of one another and the power that moves us all forward, Maharaji. They go from showing up to do a few hours of seva “work” each day to being unable to stay away from washing dishes, cleaning windows, mopping floors, hanging flags, cutting firewood or spring planting because they have become One with the concept of seva, One with this wonderful, magical place. It is their efforts that help to ensure you are greeted with well manicured grounds, a pukkha temple, delicious food, clean dishes and a smile each time you visit. You may be more familiar with the managers and caretakers and never really get to know the sevaks, but please know they are here, helping us to carry Maharaji’s message forward every day. So the next time you visit us, please get to know those whose efforts enable us to keep this sacred sanctuary alive. Say hi to Mani, Greg, Drea, Jonathan, Matt, Danny, Fayble, Ben and Max or those who come in their place. Know that without them this most special of places could not be what it is today. Their acts remind us all to:
Love Everyone, Serve Everyone, Remember
Sri, Sri, Sri Neem Karoli Santa Maharaj Ki Jai!
Ganapathy Das, General Manager
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