(Page from the 2008 Golden Temple - Inspirations Calendar)
Monthly Archive for December, 2007
Well I’m still here in Florida, however being in Orlando in the city is quite a different experience than being in Lake Wales Florida at the Winter Solstice Camp. This is probably the most crowded time to be in Orlando. We went out the other day to go to the mall and after hitting the mass crowds we are still recovering. We tried to lay low yesterday "recovering" from that outing. Going to amusement parks with huge crowds is so draining! Last year we went to the various Disney parks (Animal Kingdom, Epcott Center and Magic Kingdom) which was more than enough. Disney has it worked out to a science to grease as much money out of you as possible (taking full advantage of you being tired and having whiny sugared up kids). Now that I am here again this year and see the even larger crowds than last year I don’t want to go anywhere. Looking outside my room window I can see the crowds of people constantly streaming by and the cars jammed up trying to go somewhere. Well, it was worth it coming to this side of the country for Winter Solstice. That hit the spot. It was so relaxing and chilled out this year.
So, I’m a bit stuck in my room right now; Charanjeet isn’t feeling that good this morning so she is sleeping as I type here in the room. Narayan is going to go out with his grandfather to the driving range and maybe play some Golf. I guess it might be another dull day in sunny Orlando. It supposed to be about 82°F / 28°C today so it should be quite warm. Quite a contrast to back home where it is probably pretty cold and maybe snowy.
I’m already missing quiet little Espanola. This place (and most big cities) is Maya city! Living in a small town I sometimes forget how things are for the rest of Americans. It can be so sad looking around at the American consumerism and waste. It’s a constant trying to "look cool" and competition with everyone around. Who has the nicest car, cell phone, clothes, looks sexy..is the prettiest…etc..etc. It’s so shallow. People never seem to be satisfied with what they have and who they are. The sad part is that our society drives this craze. One of the benefits of living in Espanola is that you are not constantly hit up by this maya and the want to buy something. Life is a bit simpler since there are no malls, shopping centers (other than the evil Walmart). There isn’t much to do (city wise) other than sports, outdoors stuff and hanging out with friends. I suppose I am also in a different stage of life than many younger people, since I am married and have kids. Being in a city can fun for some time, but I prefer smaller places to live. For me living in a sangat of like minded people is most important. Check out this thought provoking video called "The Story of Stuff".
2008 is almost here and another year has whizzed by. At this rate I’ll be a grandfather before I know it and we’ll be taking vacations to mars. I’m looking forward to this next year…
At the playground…
Guess who’s charan…?
Last night I started a bonfire and we told stories by the fire and sang songs..
5-11 year olds at camp. All the parents take turns on different days to help with the kids. Here is a picture of some of the kids I was watching on my day.
(Page from the 2008 Golden Temple - Inspirations Calendar)
Today was my day to help with the kids camp and I had a lot of fun doing all kinds of things with them. In the evening as we all were sitting around enjoying a nice hot cup of golden milk and listening to some jamming tunes at the "Yogi Tea Cafe", Narayan and I sat next to this very nice lady who was painting people’s faces. Narayan asked her to paint a Dragon on his face which she did beautifully….and then all the other kids wanted to get painted too. Here are some pictures from tonight with Narayan, Gurudev Singh and Prabhjot Singh.
In our tent getting ready to go to sleep. Narayan didn’t want to wash off the dragon.
(Page from the 2008 Golden Temple - Inspirations Calendar)
Thanks to technology….I can be in my tent on a computer by the lake at the "Circle F dude ranch", and listen to SikhNet Radio while I post this online. Here I am in Florida at the Winter Solstice camp with my son Narayan, along with about 500 other people. Narayan has been having such a fun time. By the time we get back to our tent at night he is fast asleep within seconds. Tomorrow will be another fun filled day for him again.
It’s been great here meeting with so many new people and having lots of time to meditate and relax. Here are a few pictures that I took from the past day or so…
The lake at sunset…
Narayan making a volcano in the sand
Tenting area…
Snatam Kaur and her husband
One of the big tents where we did the white tantric yoga/meditation (during a break)
Kayaking in the lake
In the afternoon mostly the guys playing volleyball.
Jumping into the lake from high up.
Narayan being covered in sand by Prabhujot
An evening program that the kids did for Winter Solstice
(Page from the 2008 Golden Temple - Inspirations Calendar)
by Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa www.ekongkaar.blogspot.com
Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh.
Sat Nam and Divine Blessings.
In the first half of 2008, four different centers will be hosting a Japji Sahib weekend in their areas. The weekends will focus on meditation, chanting, a little bit of yoga and much conversation and discussion about the steps that Guru Naanak gives us in Japji Sahib to heal ourselves and find the Love that lives within us.
If it’s possible for you to be there, I would love to see you. Come join me with the sangat, and give yourself the time and space to go deeply into the universal teachings that started the Sikh tradition.
Austin, Texas
February 1-3, 2008
Yoga Yoga North
512.380.9800 or info@yogayoga.com
Continue reading ‘Japji Sahib: The Song of the Soul. Intensive Weekends: 2008′
"Don’t be proud that you have money; there are millions and millions of millionaires. Don’t be proud that you have a beautiful woman or man; each woman or man is more beautiful than the next. Don’t be proud that you have children; there are people who have dozens of them. And don’t be proud of what you have; in the spur of the moment what you have can be washed away.
You can be only proud of one thing – if you have found your soul within yourself. You can be only proud that you have found the selflessness within yourself, and you become grace of God. Then there is nothing which can bother you, there is nothing which can take away from you anything, because you have been created by God. God shall then create all the circumstances to create happiness for you and when he creates the happiness it is everlasting.
Therefore, dear ones, as nearer we are coming to the summer solstice the highest day of light, the highest day of grace, the highest day when the sun energy, the life force prevails on this planet, I’d like you to sit down and assess in yourself what you have gained, how much you have gained. Let this day be a day with you that you should leave something behind, some elementary pushing habit, some ego habit, something that keeps you away from your soul and being victorious.
May God bless you, may He prevail through you, may His grace be your grace, may you become the true teacher of the coming Aquarian Age, may you move forward to spread the truth and the light to the humanity. May each one in you practice the grace of God and become grace of God." - SSS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa - June 19, 1971 (Summer Solstice Camp)
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