Sivananda Ashram/Yoga Retreat- Paradise Island, Bahamas

Tour of the Sivananda Ashram/Yoga Retreat- Paradise Island, Bahamas

Cost of a Miracle

Cost of a Miracle A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet.. She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully.. Three times, even The total had to be exactly perfect.. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall’s Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it! ‘And what do you want?’ the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. I’m talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven’t seen in ages,’ he said without waiting for a reply to his question. ‘Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,’ Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. ‘He’s really, really sick…and I want to buy a miracle.’ ‘I beg your pardon?’ said the pharmacist. ‘His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now So how much does a miracle cost?’ ‘We don’t sell miracles here, little girl. I’m sorry but I can’t help you,’ the pharmacist said, softening a little. ‘Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn’t enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.’ The pharmacist’s brother was a well dressed man He stooped down and asked the little girl, ‘What kind of a miracle does your brother need?’ ‘ I don’t know,’ Tess replied with her eyes welling up. I just know he’s really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can’t pay for it, so I want to use my money.’ ‘How much do you have?’ asked the man from Chicago ‘One dollar and eleven cents,’ Tess answered barely audibly. ‘And it’s all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to….’ ‘Well, what a coincidence, ‘ smiled the man. ‘A dollar and eleven cents—the exact price of a miracle for little brothers.’ He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said ‘Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let’s see if I have the miracle you need.’ That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed free of charge and it wasn’t long until Andrew was home again and doing well. Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place. ‘That surgery,’ her Mom whispered. ‘was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?’ Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost..one dollar and eleven cents….plus the faith of a little child. In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need. A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a higher law. I know you’ll keep the ball moving! Here it goes. Throw it back to someone who means something to you! A ball is a circle, no beginning, no end. It keeps us together like our Circle of Friends. But the treasure inside for you to see is the treasure of friendship you’ve granted to me.. Today I pass the friendship ball to you. God is a friend of ours and this is what he says to you Pass it on to someone who is a friend to you. MY OATH TO YOU… When you are sad…..I will dry your tears. When you are scared…… .I will comfort your fears. When you are worried….. .I will give you hope. When you are confused…. ….I will help you cope.. And when you are lost….And can’t see the light, I shall be your beacon…..Shining ever so bright. This is my oath…..I pledge till the end. Why you may ask?……Because you’re my friend. The GOD.

Amma Taye

Kailash leads devotional chanting of the sound form of Amma Taye, She Who is All Form at Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, Paradise Island, Bahamas, on December 17, 2009. Please visit Kailash’s website at: omkailash.com

Qualities of a Realised Being.

Swami Swaroopananda talks about the qualities of a Realized Being. Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita, verses 55 to 72 are recited.

sunset In Haidakhan babaji Ashram India [2]

Shanti OMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Karadyan Nombu and Karva Chauth

On the day of Karadaiyan Nonbu, women worship Goddess Gowri and pray for longevity and welfare of their husband. Through this festival women try to emulate the devotion of Savithri and her love for her husband, Satyavan. Her bhakti to Goddess Gowri gave her the strength and wisdom to win back her husband’s life from Yaman, the Lord of Death. Among the many festivals of South India, Karadaiyan Nonbu is more a renewal of the faith in the tradition. Customs & Rituals Karadaiyan Nonbu is observed on the day of the conjunction of the Tamil months Masi and Panguni. It is to remember the great battle won by Savithri – a mythological character – over the God of Death – Yama, not by arms or ammunitions but by her clever arguments to regain her husband’s life. Married women observe fast till the auspicious time arrives, whether it is late evening or mid afternoon. Regional Celebrations of Karadaiyan Nonbu Karadaiyan Nonbu is a festival of special significance to married women all over Southern India including states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. The Karva Chauth The fast of Karva Chauth is kept by Hindu women for the well-being, prosperity and longevity of their husbands. The origin of this festival is based upon a very sweet and noble idea. In earlier times, girls would get married at a very young age, and had to go and live with their in-laws in other villages far away from their own parents. If she had any problems with her husband or in-laws, she would have no one to talk to or seek support from. Thus, there grew a custom where the bride would befriend another woman to share her joys and sorrows. Their friendship would be sanctified through a small Hindu ceremony right during the marriage. Once the bride and the woman became god-friends or god-sisters as they are commonly known, they would remain so all their lives and recognize the relation as such. They would also treat each other like real sisters.After becoming friends, they would share all their joys, sorrows and problems with each other. Thus, Karva Chauth started as a festival to celebrate this friendship (relationship) between the brides and their god-friends (god-sisters). Praying and fasting for the sake of husband came later and was secondary. It was probably added, along with other mythical tales, to enhance the festival. In any case, the husband would always be associated with this festival, because the day of starting this holy friendship between two god-sisters was essentially the day of bride’s marriage to him. Thus, praying and fasting for him by his wife during the celebration of her relationship with the god-friend would be quite logical.

Prayer To Ward Of Evil

There is a story of about a sea captain who in his retirement skippered a boat taking day-trippers to Shetland Islands. On one trip, the boat was full of young people. They laughed at the old captain when they saw him say a prayer before sailing out, because the day was fine and the sea was calm. However they weren’t long at sea when a storm suddenly blew up and the boat began to pitch violently. The terrified passengers came to the captain and asked him to join them in prayer. But he replied, “I say my prayers when it’s calm. When it’s rough I attend to my ship.” Here is a lesson for us…… If we can not and will not seek God in quiet moments of our lives, we are not likely to find him when trouble strikes. We are more likely to panic. But if we have learnt to seek him and trust him in quiet moments, then most certainly we will find him when the going gets rough. A PRAYER A DAY KEEPS EVIL AWAY. The picture of Ganesha shown here is from full glass temple at Malasia.To see the full view please click on the picture.

Krishnaprem live at 4pm Tiru Ashram India part3

Recorded on my iphone – Captured Live on Ustream at www.ustream.tv with the Ustream Mobile App

Sewa Ashram, community of the Poor, Delhi India

The Sewa-Ashram has been caring and loving the poor and destitute of Delhi for over 10 years. Founder Ton Baba.

At the Shivananda Ashram in Uttarkashi, India

Just North of Uttarkashi is the famous Anand Kutir, a Sivananda ashram of incredible beauty on the banks of the Ganga and Bhagirathi. The ashram grounds are lovingly tended gardens, while the building house devotees and dozens of young boys, a community hospital, and a gokulum. Brian Brunius