Winter Perfection at Fire Mountain Retreat

Winter is about perfect in Nimboli/Ganeshpuri: everything is green, the air is cool and easy, the plants are at their peak with color and flowers and fruit. It is magical to see papaya and banana fruit growing abundantly on our own trees. And the taste is divine. It has taken some getting used to the tropical weather. Hot, humid, monsoon. But the winter is the big easy! What a joy! Our friends back home in New Mexico are talking the snow. We are so thankful for merely this bit of coolness in the air.

The red surrounding the Om symbol is actually red leaves, rather like coleus. Flowers aren't the only way to get gorgeous color.

We've taken to collecting hibiscus. They grow easily here in this climate and come in an array of colors: violet, pink, fushia with blood red centers, white, double white, red which we are told that Ganesh must have, double red, yellow, orange, a gorgeous peach-salmon. We have tried growing hybrid roses but the stock plant always wins out. Luckily, the stock is a wild rose that has the most exquisite fragrance, something they make into Gulken, rose jam, which is suppose to be good for you according to Ayurveda. But just the fragrance alone can send you into a sensual ecstasy.

Bouganvillia or Paper flower grows exceedingly well here. Gold, white, varigated purple, magenta. They are not utilized for puja ceremonies but we are happy to have them grow up our walls and display a big spash of color.

We were so excited by our first bunch of bananas on the property. Soon, we found we had five trees producing fruit. The birds have discovered the fruit and we have had to lay claim to them first. We wrap them up in burlap and bring them into the house to ripen.

The fountain next to the Guru's chowk has now been outfitted with a fountain and a Shree Nityananda Education Trust bio sand water filter. The water filter is an attempt to keep the pond water clean and also illustrate how the SNET water filter actually works. Our visitors like seeing one in action. Last week we added some gold fish to the pond. So far they are getting along with the local fish from the river and we aren't finding any floating on the top. Hooray!

Watching the play of the evening light on the landscape can be quite mesmerizing. Last week a visiting meditation teacher remarked at how green and quiet Fire Mountain Retreat is. Since we are off the vehicle roads, there is no road noise. We can hear the temple bells ringing at a distance and sometimes the Brahmins chanting for 4 a.m. abhisheka. (washing of the Nityananda Murti). The soft sounds of the Nimboli village act as a gentle reminder of earthly life but are not distracting from meditation and contemplation. Fire Mountain offers a clean, comfortable and quiet respit from the busy western world and the hectic Indian cities.

Fire Mountain in Nimboli is now offering free shuttle service to and from Ganeshpuri, Guru Siddha Peeth, Vajreshwari, and Alkloli as part of its lodging packages. We've added a "one meal a day" plan for those who want the flexibility to eat in town after aarti at the Bhagawan Nityananda Temple. We are currently developing some "sadhana and seva" programs for visitors to participate in the culture of our local Adivasi neighbors. Please keep informed on these possibilities by readng SNET's website: http://www.shreenityanandaeducationtrust.org/.

Divine Mother Opens the Door

Linda Horan of Los Angeles,California sent us this writing which we include as part of the celebration of NavRatri, the nine nights of the Divine Mother.

It was the Monday after our India retreat last February [2010] and I was milling around the ashram. Everyone had a free day to spend as they wished. Cynthia and Gigi were going to walk to the nearby Durga roadside shrine to say their goodbyes and Cynthia invited me to join. She asked if she should bring a flower to Durga. I said yes. Out came the scissors from her pocket and with one swift cut, she severed the rose from the Fire Mountain rose garden--a perfect, long-stem rose, the first flowering of Jeanette and Davhee’s meticulous loving attention. Uh-oh. Had I just given my encouragement to do that? Oh my.




[The Durga Temple, or Gau Devi Temple
as it is known in Nimboli. On the pathway to the RakHadi Baba Temple ]




Cynthia handed the flower to Gigi and the three of us proceeded along the path. I took a few photos of the children in front of the tiny temple. Then I snapped a shot of Gigi as she was about to offer the rose in front of the shrine door. When it was my turn to offer my prayers, I would, as before, take a photo of Durga through the iron grill.


Then from the direction of the Hanuman Temple came the old priest with the bent back. To my amazement and joy, he proceeded to unlock the door and go inside to do puja. In the years I had visited the Durga shrine, I had never seen it unlocked.






As the priest performed his rituals, Gigi went inside and offered the rose. Then Cynthia. Then me.









It was as if Durga opened her door to receive the Fire Mountain rose. They were inseparable. I took my photos and took my leave.


Happy Navratri.










Blissful in Nimboli, Linda Horan








What is Navratri?

'Nav' means 'nine' and 'ratri' means 'night'. Thus, 'Navratri' means 'nine nights'. There are many legends attached to the conception of Navratri like all Indian festivals. All of them are related to Goddess Shakti (Hindu Mother Goddess) and her various forms. It is one of the most celebrated festivals of Hindu calendar, it holds special significance for Gujratis and Bengalis and one can see it in the zeal and fervor of the people with which they indulge in the festive activities of the season. Dandiya and Garba Rass are the highlights of the festival in Gujarat, while farmer sow seeds and thank the Goddess for her blessings and pray for better yield. In older times, Navratri was associated with the fertility of Mother Earth who feed us as her children.

The first three days of Navratri are dedicated to Goddess Durga (Warrior Goddess) dressed in red and mounted on a lion. Her various incarnations - Kumari, Parvati and Kali - are worshipped during these days. They represent the three different classes of womanhood that include the child, the young girl and the mature woman. Next three days are dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity), dressed in gold and mounted on an owl and finally, last three are dedicated to Goddess Saraswati (Goddess Of Knowledge), dressed in milky white and mounted on a pure white swan. Sweetmeats are prepared for the celebrations. Children and adults dress up in new bright-colored dresses for the night performances.

In some communities, people undergo rigorous fasts during this season that lasts for the nine days of Navratri. The festival culminates on Mahanavami. On this day, Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped. Their feet are washed as a mark of respect for the Goddess and then they are offered new clothes as gifts by the worshiper. This ritual is performed in most parts of the country. With commercialization, the festival has moved on to be a social festival rather than merely a religious one. However, nothing dampens the spirit of the devout followers of Goddess Durga, as they sing devotional songs and indulge in the celebrations of Navratri, year by year.

Sharad Navratri: October 8, 2010 to October 17, 2010.
Here is a link for a gorgeous youtube video that Linda sent us the link for:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiq6MddfBM4&feature=channel

Swami Buhravananda-- small body, BIG Presence

Look at him. He’s a small man, a vintage being of 70 years. But he exudes a Big Presence. What Kind? Well, a Big Presence, soft and gentle, like a soft, deep pile blanket of warmth and honesty. . Look into his eyes - - tunnels of depth beyond description with no attempt to hide or cover his internal consciousness - - open. He reaches out to touch you - - places his hand softly on your arm and includes you totally in his consciousness - - you might melt and want to be close to this soft fire - - get warm while you can. He is attended by and flanked by his devotees - - young men who are internally lit by love and devotion to his God devotion. He speaks of the Vedas and how God consciousness is a science explained by the Vedas which are accessible to all - - of how there should be nothing in the way of approach to God - - of how each and every sound and thought are a mantra of power invoking some intent, and how the Vedas are a map of correct intent. If you are like me, it might not matter so much what he says - - what matters might be the truth expression that emanates from his being. He is a devotee of Poorananda who is a devotee of Rakhadi Baba who is a devotee of Nityananda Bhagavan, making him of a cousin lineage to our lineage from Nityananda to Muktananda to our beloved guru Mark Griffin.

How wonderful he has come to Fire Mountain to sit in the garden and have tea and a lovely time with us. The tea is unusual for India - - it is black tea with lichee - - a high and sweet vibration. He is making a pilgrimage to visit the Rakhadi Baba Murti, Homa, and Temple next door, as he does on occasion. Kamalakur Swami, who lives at the Anusuya Ashram that Bhagwan Nityananda built for Rakhadi Baba, relates how Buhravananda Swami does wonderful pujas where he explains the meaning of the different parts of the puja so that everyone can understand what is being done. We, as novice puja practitioners express appreciation for this provision of understanding for the participants. Buhravananda Swami is encouraged to do a puja here at Fire Mountain, and he accedes to this request with a date set after late November some time.

His phone rings and we learn that the car has arrived to take him to his next visitation. Warmth, love and happiness from us follows him out the gate as we watch the orange robed figure disappear down the path. May he come again soon.

Greener Than Green at Fire Mountain Retreat

Morning meditation ends - - the rain is falling again in blankets - - it stopped for 3 days - - long enough for the villagers to celebrate the coming and leaving of Gauri (an aspect of Parvati, Shiva consort/wife, goddess of fertility/harvest/abundance - - the rice crop is coming in nicely so far this year) - - they have been drumming and singing and dancing for 3 days now and our staff has not come during this time. Yesterday they took the murti of her to the river with music and drum beat and dancing and procession. The air is heavy with the oceans gift of bringing itself on shore - - the plants everywhere have jumped out of the ground - - there are crowds of plants everywhere jostling for survival-unfoldment, like pieces in a puzzle, greener than green and luxuriating in the moisture denied them during the dry time. the plants at Fire Mountain Retreat are not all wild native and some are struggling under the downpours and have to be covered with shade netting which disperses the blows of drops falling at terminal velocity from above - - the native plants are all reaching for the sky, almost noisy in their growth - - the frogs jump, the birds chirp, the crows shake off the moisture and hang out on top of the Guru chouk waiting to get the remnants of the left over dog food. Everything slows down and is more viscous, more like when scuba diving in the the ocean - - the roads are a mess of monsoon pot holes, the infrastructures are taxed and somewhat intermittent -- people stay home inside and adjust to the rains - - a time of the interior where the exterior is dampened. The rain has stopped again - - during monsoon it turns on and off like a faucet -- when outside, if a few drops fall, it means in a few seconds/minutes it will fall in sheets, so get to shelter or whip out the umbrella if you want to stay dry. Shortly we will do the morning puja with the staff (if they come) and the arati of the Guru Chouk, the grounds and the dome. Breakfast in the garden enjoying the trees plants and loving complex Spirit. Just a quick note to give a taste of life in Nimboli. love and ocean coming on shore d and j

Ice Cream in the Jungle

Vanita churns out love ......

Everyone wants to be near her.













It ain't Baskin Robbins , Jungle Ice Cream - - tis soooo much better. Deprived of such luxuries for over a year, we all eagerly awaited some cool licks. Vanita (our beloved cook-and-everything person) spun that ice cream machine handle for hours to no avail - - in this heat, we never got off the launch pad.

We tried for three days to get the first successful batch, and even with the help of the baby, and bhiwani the dog and raja the puppy (see pic), it was cool soup, no dice, no ice - - - - but wait! Jeanetta figured out how to pre-cool the precious ambrosia and bingo, Vanita whipped up the tasssttieeesssst treat - -

Snicker Doodle ice cream - - a divine yummmm in the tummmm, with the enjoyment much heightened by the wait. Yeah Ice Cream Team!!

Important to the superb quality is our new milk Lady, (about whom we will write soon - - don't miss her pics - - she's a 1 of kind village milk matron) - - and her cows, which we've yet to meet, put out the creamiest milk ever to slide over your tongue. I guess Indian cows, being divine, naturally produce divine Self Idealized dairy.

This slick new ice cream making machine is the generous gift of generous Lee Schwing, who is not unfamiliar with such luxuries and the difficulty of producing them in rural India. Blessings to/for Lee!

??????., guess what's the plan for the next batch?

Well - - Jeanetta was strangely hankering for a childhood favorite - - candy cane ice cream without any expectation of evvveeerrr getting it here, when - - voila! - - hardlight loved ones showed up with the candy canes and the ice cream maker!! If that ain't a miracle!! So if candy cane ice cream can show up in the jungle, any wish can be granted - - caution. Of course we don't ever desire anything here.

To be sure, the next time you are here at Fire Mountain we will make your favorite - - bring your beloved flavor goodie - - we got the cream, we got the jungle, we got a shady garden in which to enjoy - - we got a handle for you to turn, we got the above pictured team to help..

Love in 108 flavors dewa and jeanetta

SNET FARMING PROJECT

Don't Children Need Clean Water?

The village mayor pours the first example of community water into Sunil's hands and points out about twenty five little football shaped worms. Startled and astounded by this, my mind reeled with the possible health consequences of wormy water, what else was in the water, and how they could get clean water out of this. Without a doubt these people need effective water filters.

This area northwest of Ganeshpuri is dry, very dry. The earth is parched and cracked with the rectangular patterning of earth that has given up its last bit of moisture. We rode on Sunil’s motorcycle over 4 wheel drive roads and pathways from village to village, the thick layer of powdery earth pulverized by foot, bike, ox cart, and truck spewed out from the tires as we lurched over rocks and branches. Mud and stick, brick and clay tile roof/tin roof houses are scattered over large areas, making distribution of water and other supplies difficult.

The mayor explained to us, while taking cover from the sun under the roof of his front porch, that potable water is a problem during the hot dry months of the year when the wells become polluted with algae and other living organisms fostered by the sunlight, and it is a problem when the monsoon comes and the well s become filled with runoff and surface bacterial and organic contaminants. He explained that adults and children suffer from worms and other invasive organisms that cause stomach pains, diarrhea, physical, emotional, and mental sluggishness and related diseases.

Later we visited one of the three schools in the area, each with about 50 to 60 children. I noticed the lackluster and somewhat vacant expressions on many of their faces.

Having learned a bit about the depressing mental affects of biological invasions of parasites, I could understand what I saw and the need to get these children clean water.

The well at the school was broken. The lifting rod extending down the well was broken. It was a government well and apparently had not been fixed for some time. An estimate of about $30 was given as the cost to repair the well.





It later took us 10 minutes to walk to the well where the water was obtained for the school. So someone, probably the women, had to walk 20 minutes to fetch water, and the container they used was rather small, so that it must have taken many trips to fill the stainless steel water pot from which they all drank. I’m guessing it took more than 10 trips to fill the container.


The children were precious as all children are, and at the prompting of the teacher, they sang a little teaching song for us, and clapped their little hands in unison as they sang. They hadn’t the liveliness of really healthy children. I thought again of “parasite depression.”




We arrived at the village by the river after leaving the school and immediately the dry, dry river bed caught our attention. Remember how depressing dry river beds are? This one was no exception - - large enough to contain lots of rushing water, and not a drop in sight.





But wait - - looking further we noticed first a small pool of water created by digging down into the river bed.







The next noticeable element was the woman washing clothes by scrubbing and pounding water soaked clothes on a rock by the pond. Children were playing in and bathing in the water. The soap and dirt from the clothes oozed back into the water. A charming village sight in many ways and also a health hazard in the making. Inspection of the water itself showed clumps of biological mass floating in the water.

Just downstream, an uncomfortably short distance in terms of the pollution from the wash water pond filtrating into the drinking water, we were lead to the smaller dugout pond where the drinking water was collected. As we approached I heard the plop of at least a dozen some-things whose blurry outlines were disappearing down into the water as we approached the rim. A quick scan of the surface flotsam and the murkiness of the water lead to the following thought. I would get really thirsty and would walk the miles to town to get clean water before I would drink this water.

Reviewing in my mind, this experience of inspecting the water sources for this remote village area, actually not that far from Ganeshpuri, the first experience of the wiggling worms in the water is enough to mobilize a strong desire to help these people. Following the wormy well, visions of the vacant faces of the children at the school whose health is obviously affected by contaminated water, appear in my mind. How about walking 20 minutes, multiple times to carry water to the school because a repair of probably $30 can’t be completed.

Sri Nityananda Education Trust (SNET) can manufacture and distribute water filters that require no fuel, electricity, maintenance or supplies, and work for life times, for $25 each. We need approximately 120 filters to cover every family and school in this area. We look forward to finding those peoples of compassionate heart who will share their resources to provide bio sand water filters for the families of this neglected area.
This woman received her SNET bio sand water filter a year ago. You can tell that she is very happy with it. This is the overwhelming positive response that we hear when we return to survey the recipients' responses to having the filter. Read the recent blog discussing the latest survey: http://firemountainretreat.blogspot.com/2009/12/bio-sand-water-filters-are-improving_8605.html

Please help us to help these people in Lindy Village. Contact http://www.tmaseva.org/

The Dude-Wali: The Milk Lady

You would think her nose would be much longer, given she’s wearing that big heavy decorative ornament pierced through her nose. It’s about all you can see for the first few moments you meet her, followed quickly by the impact of her size and earthy grounded energies. I hope your mind has better controls than this one - - questions and visions arose first about eating. How can she get anything to past that thing? One look and it’s obvious she not starving, but what, cut things thin and kind of angle them in? Hold it up with one hand? Upside down eating? And, well, kissing? Would she or he lift the thing to advantage? Oh no, mercy, this mind imagined a rope tether through that thing- - oh stop this mind please. Just look at her, I don't think she is one of those tether to a tree women. Ok, mind under control, back to composure.













A milk cow matron should have some bovine qualities, and she does in spades. Cows, in India, have a relaxed ease and are often beautiful in their aura presence. She, we don’t know her name yet, has this massive, earthy and relaxed, creamy ease - - happy in her selfhood, and engaging with her easy smile. She's the cream on top.







Style-conscious? A milk lady style-conscious? Yes, she is - - each day wearing a beautiful sari combination of colorful flowing fabrics. But the ring thing in her nose really carries the day no matter what she wears. Ladies, check it out, - - it doesn’t matter about your hair or nails, or how you tip the scales - - the ring thing is all they’ll see. Shall I ask her where she got it and how much it costs, styles available and skin tone colors? I didn’t ask her about sizes. One size fits all, or can we super size for spectacular attraction and enforced weight loss? if you happen to be one of those out of control kisser, this device might just be "the ticket." We found out today from Swami Kamalakur that this huge style ring was common in the past as a special ornament for Maharashtra women. It is definitely attractive.


A short digression about our previous milkman who wore no ornament – just a smile to make Mona Lisa jealous and here’s why - - we read the smile wrong. He was discharged for watering down the milk and mixing buffalo milk with the more desirable cow’s milk to achieve monetary advantage. We thought he was an evolved and principled being, who fairly floated into our compound each day, with beautiful smile and lovely presence. We looked forward to our meeting each day, just to receive his cool-breeze darshan. Boy were we ever shocked to discover that he diluted the milk! Our perceived Milk Saint has feet of clay and swindling mind plastered over by the biggest smile. Sunil, not as naive as we newbies, discovered this by keeping a glass of milk on the shelf overnight to see how much water came to the top when the milk settled. Guess what?!! A lot - - almost half the glass. When confronted, he said - - oh no, never again - - ok, I won’t do that. Guess what? Again we caught him. Out the door and down the drain with that guy. We have found that it is pretty common for people to water down beverages or grains or whatever, with a filler to increase profits, and people actually expect it. Hmmm. The bottom line wins out over integrity again.

So, we asked our new lady from the very start if she diluted the milk, and of course she said “no.” We told her that we wanted the whole cow, not just half the cow. We have tested her. There is no water at the top in the morning, we got the whole cow. In addition, WOW is her milk divine. Creamy and balanced and wholesome, like her. We weren’t getting the real thing with the other guy. Never thought I’d be tasting milk like a fine wine - - savoring its nuances and rolling it around on my tongue - - eking out the variety of flavors and qualities present. Hmmm, apricot, lilac, overtones of bergamot, alfalfa and a long smooth green grass finish..... And the yogurt - - best just straight up with no kicker. Cows here are divine, you know, and it flows on through as udderly delicious.

We want to meet her cows and see her with them. The last guy, Mr. Smiley Face-Deceitful-Mind, when we went to meet him at his house, showed us his buffalo, and when we asked to see the cows he gestured “out there some where” with some Marathi Language we didn’t understand. From now on, “out there some where" ain’t good enough. We have to see “cow on the hoof.” From our experience so far with this very pleasant new milk lady, we expect a very nice family of cows with lots of social harmony and cowzie ease. But who knows - - as you can see, we are easily duped. We’ll take a peek and show you a slice of her home and cow life. Well, bottoms up - - as they say when drinking a great beverage. Things go better with Jungle Milk - - It’s the real thing.

31 Flavors Sadhu - - Genuine? Leading edge style setter?

There he was standing outside the gate at Fire Mountain Ashram with the big raspberry bag stretched between him and his little assistant. He looked a lot like a nomadic herdsman who had just raided a clothing store, and both curiosity and red flags flew up in this mind as we approached him. Our crew had called us to the gate and explained that he was on his way to Shirdi Sai Baba, and it was customary to give him some rice and perhaps a few treats to sustain him on his spiritual journey.




Well, Jeanetta, queen of helping the needy and everyone in general, jumped into the opportunity to help a “holy man” and quickly returned with some rice and goodies for his long trip. Don’t we love her generosity!



Upon offering the sustenance, the sadhu with amused smile and somewhat impatient air, stuck his hand in the raspberry bag and pulled out a fist full of rupee notes. Oh, I see - - its modern times and rice is just peanuts now to a new age sadhu. I didn’t get to see how much loot he had in the raspberry bag. I hope it was full and he either was off to really receive an enlightening darshan from Sai Baba in style or off to Goa to have a really good time. Darn it - - I forgot to get his email. Either way, he was a good show and you see Jeanetta giving him some rupees. You will want to remember big raspberry bags if the recession gets much worse. FYI: apparently rice is not “just peanuts” cause he accepted the rice and goodies after the rupee offering was “in the bag.”


Check out the eyes of the little guy - - abused, enslaved accomplice or returning tulku? Son of renunciate or what? Hmmmmm.




India has its many moments of wonder.....










Please check him out and let me know what you think. Should we bow and say "Namaste" or as they said on The Apprentice, "You’re fired"?

Scroll down and post a comment!!

APPROACHING MEDITATION DOME AND DYNAMIC ENERGY SCULPTURE
















GANESH GRACES THE DOME GARDEN WITH THE FRAGRANCE OF THE EXOTIC CHAMPA FLOWER FILLING THE AIR

















KAI, FERNANDO, MARK GRIFFIN, MARK BONNLANDER, LAUREN ENJOYING THEIR ARRIVAL AT FIRE MOUNTAIN















UP ON THE THIRD FLOOR TERRACE OVERLOOKING NIMBOLI WITH GURU FLAGS BLOWING IN WIND