Lokenath Divine Life Mission Projects

BABA SHUDDHAANANDAA'S USA PRESENTATIONS

2011-08-29T21:12:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK

Swami Shuddhananda Brahmachari is visiting NYC to give speeches about Sri Sri Baba Lokenath at September 6th, 2011, 6:00 PM at Bangladesh Hindu Mandir, 94-39 44th Ave., Elmhurst, NY.
(718) 446-6727 www.babalokenathny.com

CHICAGO AREA: LISLE, IL 9/9/2011

Simple, powerful, user-friendly tools
for stress and life management.

Where: Yoga Rhythms
6450 College Road, Lisle, IL 60532
http://www.yoga-rhythms.com/ 630-778-5991

When: Friday September 9, 2011

Time: 7 – 8:30 PM
(free event, donations will be collected for Baba’s missions)

For information call Margo at (630-778-5991)
Or e-mail margo@yoga-rhythms.com

Visit Baba at http://www.feelinghearts.org/

Sri Shuddhaanandaa (Baba) is a world-renowned motivational teacher and author of numerous books. He has presented his Regeneration program at numerous venues around the world, including locally Naperville City Council, Naperville Police Dept., Foundations Fighting Blindness, Children’s Memorial Hospital, Village of Downers Grove, Math and Science Academy, Central DuPage Hospital, Rush Copley Hospital, Carmelite Center, St. Thomas, Buddhist Library. He was the keynote speaker at the Global Youth Conference, Washington. DC and lectured at Parliament of World Religions. He was a delegate to the Millennium Peace Summit at the United Nations.

SAN JOSE, IL 9/16/2011

An inspiring talk by Sri Shuddhaananda (“Baba”)

Karma:
From bondage to Freedom

Friday, September 16th, 2011
7 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Adobe Building, Jose Higuera Adobe Park, 1830 N Park Victoria Dr, Milpitas
Near the intersection of N Park Victoria Dr and Wessex Pl

What is Karma? Is it bondage of some work done in the past? Most people say 'why should a
child or I suffer today for something which was done in some unknown previous birth (past)?’.
Sri Shuddhaanandaa will take you deeper on this most mysterious riddle of all times. His
teaching revolves around the message that karma is not punitive but is the very step toward
higher life.

Join us to listen to him and feel his presence which speaks the language of his experience.

Sri Shuddhaanandaa is a pragmatic, universal spiritual teacher from Kolkata, India, where he is
also a leading-edge sustainable development leader. Baba leads workshops around the globe.
He supports human beings in awakening to our inherent power to transform our lives from within and create healthy, balanced lives that contribute to our world. His dynamic blend of incisive intelligence, immense compassion, his vibrant presence and free-flowing delight impart theenergy and naturalness of realization to everyone in his audience.

Contact: Ashis Khan, 408-907-0103; ashis@ieee.org
http://www.feelinghearts.org/

SAN JOSE, CA 9/17/2011

An inspiring talk by Sri Shuddhaananda (“Baba”)

Making Your Mind Your Best Friend

Saturday, September 17th, 2011
7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Berryessa Library, Community Room, 3355 Noble Avenue, San José

Sri Shuddhaanandaa will speak on his popular book “Making Your Mind Your Best Friend”
(available at www.amazon.com) helping you to understand the difference between the
conditioned mind and the mind that is ever anchored in the Spirit of infinite potential and
possibilities. Instead of saying 'control your mind' he brings to you a new concept of 'Befriending
the mind'. Listen to him and meditate with him to reach to the calmed state of your own friendly
mind, the Essence of your divine SELF.

Sri Shuddhaanandaa is a pragmatic, universal spiritual teacher from Kolkata, India, where he is
also a leading-edge sustainable development leader. Baba leads workshops around the globe.
He supports human beings in awakening to our inherent power to transform our lives from within and create healthy, balanced lives that contribute to our world. His dynamic blend of incisive intelligence, immense compassion, his vibrant presence and free-flowing delight impart the energy and naturalness of realization to everyone in his audience.
Contact: Ashis Khan, 408-907-0103; ashis@ieee.org
http://www.feelinghearts.org/

PORTLAND, OR 9/18/2011

SRI SHUDDHAANANDAA BRAHMACHARI (“Baba”)

BREATHING PEACE, BREATHING JOY:
Finding Sanctuary and Inner Harmony through the Breath

Sunday, September 18th
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
The Old Church, SW 11th & Clay, Portland OR 97205

The gateway to freedom, peace and joy is as close as our own breath. In the breath, we all gain direct access to the infinitely harmonious, inherently intelligent, universal energies that give birth to vibrant health, beauty and balance in living systems. In the breath, we hold the emotional space, blueprint, and possibility for the freedom, joy and health of the spirit to amplify and deepen – and, ultimately, to manifest in ourselves and the world.

Baba Shuddhaanandaa is a pragmatic, universal spiritual teacher from Calcutta, India, where he is also a leading-edge sustainable development leader. Baba leads workshops around the globe. He supports human beings in awakening to our inherent power to transform our lives from within and create healthy, balanced lives that contribute to our world. His dynamic blend of incisive intelligence, immense compassion, his vibrant presence and free-flowing delight impart the energy and naturalness of realization to everyone in his audience.

Baba will also be available for a few private appointments on Monday, September 19th.
Contact: Ann Shannon, 503-539-7844; prayerdancer1@gmail.com.

Baba Travels to Bageshwar, and UK, Blessing All

2011-08-05T21:22:00.001-07:00

Bageshwar Himalayas: standing on the terrace of Baba Lokenath Temple at Bageshwar, overlooking the picturesque snow capped mountains of Himalayas, Baba Shuddhaanandaa is inviting one and all to visit this wonderful heaven on earth.

Gossai ji honors baba: Bankim Gossaiji, on behalf of all the devotees of Mahalaxmi Temple, honors Baba Shuddhaanandaa with a beautiful scarf as a sign of respect. Baba accepts it bowing with reverence.

Baba speaks at Mahalaxmi Temple: The Mahalaxmi Temple at Honor Oak Park, London, presided over by Sri Bankim Gossai, recipient of the honor of "Order of British Empire" welcomed with love Baba Shuddhaanandaa and devotees from Trinidad who built the temple, listened with rapt attention his nectarine words of wisdom. This is Baba's second visit to this Holy Shrine dedicated to Laxmi Narayana and other Deities of Hindu Faith. Baba said, It's all in the mind, happiness or unhappiness these are nothing but states of mind, and it is very much up to us as to what kind of mindset we create, for we only reap the consequences of our actions and thoughts in our life. The simple art of spirituality is, to grow in consciousness, so that you are conscious of your thoughts and actions and you take complete responsibility to set right your attitude to life and always be positive and faithful to the divine. He exhorted the devotees to be cautious about their thoughts and actions for they can create either bondage for them, or can lead them toward ultimate freedom. He said, there is no greater help than Self Help. it's only when we resolve to improve our life, by following the path of truth and love, forgiveness and tolerance, patience and perseverance, that we see the flowering of the seed of divinity that we all carry in our hearts. The audience was virtually mesmerized during the course of one and a half hours of Baba's lecture. Paying rich tributes to Baba's tireless work with the poor and underprivileged on the streets of Calcutta and in the remote villages of Sunderbans, Gossai ji, said, Baba Shuddhaanandaa personifies the teachings that so effortlessly flow from his mouth, which brings to life the holiest of the Hindu Scriptures in the language of the the modern times of rationality and practicality. He only wished, with all the other the devotees present at the Temple, that Baba should return to this Temple very soon for a series of lectures on practical spirituality for not less than seven days.

Baba at Greenwich : Sri Shuddhaanandaa addressed the gathering at the Greenwich Temple in London on 2nd July 2011, where he spoke to devotees belonging to one of the oldest Hindu Temples of UK, on the Simple Path of finding peace and happiness in life. He led the group in to a silent meditation and also discussed at length about the simple things that every individual needs to keep in mind in order to first manage his/her own mind before one steps out to manage the minds of others. He said, happiness is not something that you can get by demanding it from others, but by sharing your inner sense of contentment in life with others first. Give before you ask, is the motto one should follow in life to see the beauty and beatitude that life offers, he said. The President of the Temple, Dr. Madhu Baksh, introduced Baba to the audience with the words, that with due respect to all the Swamis and Mahatmas, this simple saintly person brings to us a message which is fresh and new, practical and scientific. He indeed is a Saint with a difference. She promised to all the devotees, that next year when Baba comes back to London, she with the help of all others, organize a very big gathering at the most prestigious auditorium in London so that many youth and true seekers can listen to his practical approach to religion that transcends all dogmas, and sectarianism.

Prayers for Suffering from Tsunami, Earth Quake in Japan

2011-03-12T10:31:00.000-08:00

I am in such awe and shock as i see the devastation in the unprecedented earthquake and tsunami in Japan, that i have lost all my words to express the deepest pain in my heart for hundreds of families who have lost their lives and lives of their dear ones.

Energy in her destructive manifestation is the most painful thing to witness, but the same energy in her manifestation of love is so full of compassion.

Let us all join our hearts in prayers to the Mother Divine so that She manifests Her compassionate form to her erring children. Who else but Mother can forgive Her children for any mistakes.

I do pray to all our devotees to sit in silence and feel deeply the pains of those who are in agony in Japan as if it is happening to ones who are members of their own families, and open their hearts in earnest prayers to the Lord of the Universe who is the Sustainer of life in this planet to have compassion for the afflicted in the Tsunami that hit Japan.

We have no powers other than to be in the path of Truth and Love and fill the world with positive vibrations of peace love and harmony. We can only pray with tears of devotion to melt the heart of the Most Compassionate One.

Pray and Meditate and evoke all that is Positive Light in this world for that is the need of the Hour.

Prayerful child of God,

baba

Lokenath Divine Life Mission 25th Jubilee Celebration

2011-02-26T22:13:00.000-08:00

Baba Shuddhaanandaa in ecstasy chanting the Divine Name

Children from Sunderban Village projects perform awesome gymnastics show at the Festival

Distribution of Prasad to thousands of devotees

Colorful Dance presentation by the little angels of Mission run Street Children School, Kalighat

A section of the devotees at the Auditorium listening to Baba's Chants

An ailing child from our Sunderban school recovers through Yoga and gives his wonderful show.

Lokenath Divine Life Mission founded by Sri Sri Shuddhaanandaa Brahmachari celebrated its 25 Years of Celebration of service to the suffering humanity on 12 and 13 February 2011.

The Mission serves hundreds of thousands of poorest of the poor women and children in slums of Kolkata and islands of Sunderbans through Micro Credit, Children's Education and Community Health services with prime focus on 'Preserving dignity. Creating Consciousness'.

Yoga and gymnastic is mandatory for all children in the Villages and Slum Street schools run by the Mission. Gymnastic performance of the Mission's village schools stunned the audience. Street and Village children of Mission's schools demonstrate "Education for all" at the procession procession,. Men and women joined in large number in the procession on Calcutta streets with Baba Lokenath in a Chariot (1730-1890)

On 12 a very colorful procession through the busy streets of Kolkata "Nagar Sankirtana" was conducted followed by thrilling performance of dance and yoga by children of Village and Street schools.

On 13 Holy ceremonies, distribution of prasad and also Bhajan and Chants were conducted highlighted by Baba Shuddhaanandaaji's Bhajans and enlightening discourse on Life and Teachings of Baba Lokenath and also on The art of Transcendence.

Gosaba and Hingulganj islands of Sundarbans, our project hubs, come with amazing Yoga and gymnastic teams.

Rashbehari School Has New Home!

2011-01-02T21:50:00.001-08:00

Baba Visits School on the Footpaths Shortly Before the Move

Baba started this street school way back in 1995 for the children and their mothers who live on the footpaths near the Rashbehari -Chetla junction of South Calcutta. Ever since many many street dwellers received not only non-formal education in this pavement school (amazing as may sound!) but lots of love and caring which they are deprived of from the very birth. Many of the children who joined the first years of the school are now grown up and are married and have children. When ever Baba visits the school that is their happiest day.

The Children with Baba, Enjoying Their New School Room

The children after spending 15 years attending their daily classes on the footpaths, where many batches of children have come and gone to better schools or homes and are employed in different capacities, are now in 2010 shifted to a rented premises very close to where they had the footpath school earlier.

When Baba inaugurated the school in Dec 10 he made the children to thank God for this gift through a silent meditation for few minutes. The pictures are taken during the meditation session. Baba asked the children how do they feel in the new premises; Very Very happy said the jubilant angels.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2011

2010-12-23T21:16:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all! Christmas is the time of celebration. We say Life in its true essence is a celebration. But how many of us miss the true celebration of Life by only celebrating on a holiday, when we exchange gifts or go to parties? Is this the only time we can have fun? What is a true celebration?

During this time of the year we give ourselves a happy, joyful time, forgetting the petty differences and routine problems of day to day life. For a brief while we feel free from all the nagging frustrations and the negative challenges of routine life at home and at work. But as soon as the holidays are over, we are all back to square one! I am afraid we sometimes do not celebrate the True meaning of Christmas; we only immerse ourselves into the transient pleasures of life and name it a celebration! Just as Siddhartha Gautama is not Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama transformed is Buddha, and Buddha is but the state of Consciousness of Unity or the Enlightened Self.

So also, Jesus of Nazareth is not the Christ, Jesus transformed is Christ, and Christ is but the state of Consciousness of Unity or the Enlightened Self.
True celebration in not in the name and form of Siddhartha Gautama or Jesus, which are ever changing and transient but true celebration is in the Buddha Consciousness or Christ Consciousness, which never dies. Let us all celebrate the Birth of Christ Consciousness by being conscious of the real essence of our Being, a state of Pure Bliss. It is only in a meditative state that we truly celebrate for then the Joy gushes forth from the Essence or the Root of our Being or Self.

This celebration does not stop a few hours after the New Year’s Bash, but continues to flow as the Life flows with all its true Merriment. If we practice meditation throughout the year then Happiness will flow spontaneously in the New Year, for then we are living life INSIDE OUT.
Love flows, Happiness happens, and Peace surrounds. Baba

2,000 School Children Fed in Honor of Baba's Mother

2010-10-01T21:30:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, September 21 thousands of loving children of the Lord were fed to their hearts content in honor of Baba's most beloved mother, who recently passed. Around 2.000 children from villages, street schools, and destitutes living on the footpaths were fed a meal with many courses on this day. They were happier than ever.

Baba and Maa went to serve the living Gods in the form of street children and destitute with their very hands and the experience was beyond expression.

Baba and Maa watch with broad smiles on their faces as the children eat to their hearts content!

Baba's Mother who was popularly known to all the devotees as Bani Ma, taught Baba the highest principle of Service to humanity as service to God. She was the very embodiment of love and compassion and showered everyone who came to her with the abundance of prayers and blessings. All through her life she was very joyful, and made everyone very happy in her presence with all her inimitable sense of humor. The devotees of Lokenath Divine Life Mission paid their richest tribute to to her eternal soul by feeding these thousands of children and the destitute living on the streets of Calcutta and the villages with sumptuous food.

Look at their most beautiful smiles of happiness and thanksgiving!

Happy, Happy, Happy!!!

BABA SPREADS LOVE AND GRACE IN USA

2010-06-15T21:29:00.001-07:00

Baba mesmerized the audience when he spoke at the American Theosophical Society in Wheaton, IL, USA on May 5. He reminded everyone that our true friend is our mind which is ever anchored in our positive thoughts and Love for God. Baba signed copies of Making Your Mind Your Best Friend after his presentation. A DVD and CD of Baba's presentation there will soon be available. To order a copy send a mail to Susan@feelinghearts.org.

Baba did several Satsangs in people's homes while he was in the US. At the Circle of Compassion Meditation Group in Naperville, IL, USA, Baba repeated again that meditation is not something to do. We just have to create a situation wherein gradually the mind will become so calm and so quiet that we will not even know when the thoughts have ceased and then it mefitation happens. But most of us have expectations of what is to happen, and when those things don’t happen we start to think that it’s not happening and then the process gets delayed. He reminded us to relax, just relax and just "Be".

At the Hindu Temple of Wisconsin, USA Baba taught that we have thought attacks that lead to heart attacks. We are always unconsciously thinking, thinking, thinking. This makes our cellular bodies unhappy and leads to stress which creates heart attacks. If we dwell on the body we purge it of its impurities.

He told the audience that we all tend to look for gifts from God rather than worshipping God and giving God gratitude for what we already have. Humans are restless and are always asking “What next?” We engage in materialistic pursuits versus spending time with God. Our exerting mind is always over-reactive and worried about what we have to do, do, do. We were never taught to relax without external props, material things.

Meditation is being conscious of what you have. Count the Gifts from God before you surrender. When you find the inter-connection between you and the Divine, God dawns in you. God will chase after you. Worship the Divine of your heart. Then open yourself to the Lord, say “I surrender”.

Baba with devotees at the Hindu Temple of Wisconsin. All enjoyed Baba's visit very much and invited him to come back next year and speak in the Temple President's home.

TALE OF A COLD WINTER NIGHT: COMPASSION IN ACTION

2010-01-22T21:34:00.000-08:00

Seldom has the city of Kolkata experienced such a chilling winter. Braving the fearsome cold weather Baba and two mission volunteers recently set out to distribute hundreds of warm woolen blankets to the numerous, forgotten homeless destitute who don’t even possess a square piece of cloth to shield themselves from the coldness. Every individual is dear to them, be it rich or poor, irrespective of cast, creed or religion.

Tonight Baba has no specific destination in mind. As the car makes its way through the alleys and by lanes of south Kolkata he notices a number of homeless beggars who have made the pavement their temporary abode, all crinkled up, and partially covered with thin pieces of cloth. Baba gets out and with care he wraps every single one of them with warm woolen blankets.

This act of benevolence seems more like an offering to god than charity. All the poor homeless souls bow down in admiration and gratefulness for Baba’s gift to them. The whole affair seems to be an exchange of love and respect, taking place…in silence…in the cold of the winter night…whiles the whole city remains in a deep slumber.

The night was becoming darker and colder. However Baba kept on moving forward and giving away blankets be it a wrinkled old man or a small handicapped boy……his service was towards humanity. Hence it was same for one and all.A child and its mother were tucked away under a thin cloth at the corner of a street under the magnificent deep blue sky, though the wind is blowing fiercely. With love and care Baba covers them with a blanket. The mother opens her eyes in gratitude, speechless.

Baba’s work was not over yet. He keeps on walking and serving numerous homeless souls. Three small boys were sleeping alone with a thin blanket covering all three of them. Baba wraps them carefully with the thick woolen. They will sleep comfortably for the rest of the night, waking in the morning to find a beautiful present of love and warmth.

Baba Asks for Prayers and Aid for Haiti Earth Quake Victims

2010-01-13T17:53:00.000-08:00

My heart bleeds with pain for those who have lost their lives in the Haiti Earth Quake and those who are struggling for a little breath from under the debris of the destruction.

This is the time when every one of us have the opportunity to open our heart in prayer and send forth positive healing vibrations and financial support to those who are in dire need of funds. All of us from Lokenath Divine Life Mission and Fellowship join our souls together and invoke the Higher Soul to help and heal the suffering people of this natural disaster.

Love and prayers, Baba

Happy New Year from Baba

2009-12-30T23:26:00.000-08:00

Radiant Eternal Spirits,

The mood of celebration is all over the world. Let us all celebrate the advent of 2010, a year that brings with it the promise of fulfillment of our deepest intentions.

As we think so we become. Let us breathe peace and let peace permeate every cell of our bodies and then ripple over to the rest of creations.As co-creators let us all resolve to hurt none and heal all as moments are presented to us, gifts from the Universe.

True Happiness is to share with those who are less privileged than us, care for those who need our help, and inspire others in the path of Light and Love by our own example.

Happy New Year 2010, it sums up to number 3 which represents the Guru, the Divine Force that dispels darkness. May the Divine Positive Light dispel the darkness of all negativity and fear from the hearts of us all and usher in Joy that springs eternally, effortlessly from the very core of our Beings.

May peace and bliss permeate the world.

Love and Gratitude to you all for joining me in the path of Light and Love.
Baba

Baba Visits a Home for Seniors

2009-12-01T20:50:00.000-08:00

On 27 November Baba visited a home for seniors at Salt Lake. He shared his love and wisdom of the sages with the inmates of an old age home called Asha Niketan, which means the Home of Hope. About 30 inmates gave Baba a warm welcome. Baba said “I have come to meet my mothers and am thankful to each one of you for sharing your presence.”

Then Baba explained that in the olden times, during the Vedic period, there was the system of four stages of life. It started with Brahmacharya, a period of 25 years, which was for the students of the Gurukul, the Home of the Master. They lived with the Master and learned all arts and sciences while strictly learning the art of Meditation and self control, through complete training of the mind.

When they completed that they were welcomed back into their family life and had to live the life of a householder for the next 25 years. This was the period when the person had to face the challenges of life and the tests of family life. All that they learned at the Home of the Master were put to acid test and that helped them to mature into deeper seekers of the Wisdom.

Then after completing 50 years, they were ready to go to the Third Ashram called Vana Prastha, or the forest life. At that time the householder had to give up every tie with the family and possessions, and retire into seclusion of the forests. For the next 25 years, they were supposed to be immersed in the contemplation of the Divine Reality, detached as they were from all that is worldly and attachments to the family and dear ones.

Finally at 75 they were ready for the final and the 4th Ashram called Sannyas, or State of equanimity. They lived a full 100 years as the most virtuous soul sharing the bliss of the Divine life.

Baba said "You have completed your family commitments, you have no more fetters of duties to your family, and now you are in the third stage of Vana Prastha. In olden times they would retire into seclusion, now you retire into a Home living with people of similar age and mental make up. Now is the time for you to detach your mind from all that is worldly and connected to your painful memories of the family life. It is your time to prepare your mind and soul for the 4th stage of Freedom from all bondage into a state of Divine Absorption.

Many of the senior women asked Baba "We are not able to forget the painful memories of the past; they haunt us all the time and cause all our sufferance, How do we get rid of them?”Baba said "First try to understand that the past is dead and gone, it will never come back to life. You keep it alive by feeding it with your energies. Once you know the cause you can start working from there. When ever the negative thoughts of the past come clogging your mind, wake up, and without any sense of condemnation just offer those thoughts into the Light of the Divine that you worship in your heart. Let each of the dark forces be offered to the Light so that they dissolve. You have to reverse your habitual pattern by cultivating a very Positive Attitude to everything that God has given you at this moment. Start counting your gifts, and always fill yourself with gratitude and love for all that is good with you. You only have to have the conviction that you can, and you will achieve it. Don't give up your efforts to wake up and become the worshipers of Light.

When Baba was about to leave, the old loving women came to take Baba's blessings, but Baba said, “I have come here to receive lots of blessings from my old mothers.” They were in tears, and said, "No one has come to us and showed us this path of light with such simple words and humility."

BABA VISITS STREET SCHOOL CHILDREN

2009-10-23T18:10:00.000-07:00

The children of SwinHoe Street school perform “We shall overcome” the dance that steals the show. They were participating in Dance Competition hosted by another NGO in Calcutta.

Subhash is physically and mentally challenged. He joined Kalighat street school when he was a small boy, he has been with this school for last 14 years. He loves Baba and always wants to be comforted by his touch and hug. When he joined the school he could not talk nor could he walk properly, but the love and attention of the teachers and volunteers of the Mission and the Grace of Baba Lokenath (whose ardent devotee he is) transformed him and he started to talk and walk. Now he sings when the music class is on. DanceS when the dancing class is on session. Paints when the drawing teacher comes to teach them creative paintings.

Baba with Subhash and the street side where the Kalighat street school is located. The children look on compassion in action.

This is a very joyful girl from Kalighat Street school. The Kalighat street school draws its students from the families who live on the road side pavements and huts. They are very poor. Yet, look at the face of this girl performing a dance right on the road where the school sits with such joy and positive light on her face. The other children look on.

This is a sweet little angel from the Garcha Street school beaming with joy to receive new clothes and sweets from Baba on the eve of the festival of Durga Puja. Every year on the eve of this festive occasion, the Mission distributes new clothes to all the children of the Mission run street schools around the city of Calcutta.

Isn’t she so cute! They are deprived of most things that go to make one happy in life, yet they are the children who teach us one and all, that happiness is an attitude and it is the positive light of the Soul.

Another girl from Garcha street school and she has grown up with the Mission, for when she first joined the mission run school she was a small girl of 5 years. Baba gives her the gift of news clothes.

Namaskar with gratitude from a young student of Garcha school

BABA ASKS FOR PRAYERS AND MEDITATION FOR VILLAGERS SUFFERING FROM CYCLONE DEVASTATION

2009-06-02T17:28:00.000-07:00

Women from Self Help Groups listen to Baba in February

Baba Asks for Prayers and Meditation

This past week a cyclone of unprecedented magnitude hit West Bengal and caused the most painful devastation. Millions of poorest of the poor villagers in the villages where Lokenath Divine Life Mission has served for last 20 years were affected. Every thing was washed out and even now hundreds of thousands of people are homeless, sheltered in the school buildings. Crops have been ruined and homes are under water or washed away.

LDLM is sending as much food materials and water as possible, to the affected places.
They are also supplying plastic sheets to make temporary make shift sheds under which people can take shelter till they are back to their own homes.

Even though the devastation is terrible, Baba says:

Yes, the peace will return, for nothing can stop the indomitable spirit of man to win and keep afloat against any adversities of life. Particularly these people of the Sunderban islands who, for years, have learned the hard way of life. Good days will come again for them, for God is good. How can He watch His loving children in pain for long??? That is my faith, faith in my Mother, for Her to have compassion for Her children.

I only wish you all intensify your prayers and meditation for the good of the world, more and more! Sarve bhavantu Sukhinah! (May all beings in this universe be happy). Om Shanti,

Love, gratitude, and blessings infinite Baba

YOU CAN HELP!

Contributions for the relief work and rebuilding of the villages can be made to Lokenath Divine Life Mission. Please make checks out to Lokenath Divine Life Mission and send all contributions to:

Lokenath Divine Life Mission

24 Kali Temple Road, Kolkata – 700026, India

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABA, Love, your children

2009-06-02T16:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Baba, All the street school children of LDLM Wishes You A Very Happy Birthday!!Today I made a visit to Kalighat where all the street children came up dressed for the occasion Wishing their Baba A Very Happy Birthday! Food packets were distributed to the street childreni

from the Mission. From there I went to our Garcha center where they made an elaborate arrangement to Celebrate Baba's Birthday. They had purchased a Birthday Cake for Baba put up two candles.

Where we all sung Happy Birthday To You ! Happy Birthday Baba! They all offered the cake to Baba ... One child offered me a piece of cake with her own hands which I readily had. I prayed yes Baba is having your cake... Now I went to Swinhoe slums. There children came with Roses that they offered to their Dearest Baba and prayed to him. It was all joy and fun ! We all celebrated your Birthday knowing that your Blessings are always with us. We all love you. That's what the children had to convey to Baba. They have a complain why their Baba didn't come to visit them. to visit them. I told them He is with you all the time....Jai Baba Lokenath Babai

BABA'S VISIT TO HINGALGANJ ON 6TH FEB

2009-03-11T20:42:00.000-07:00

Baba, along with the Mission's guest Ann Shannon, made his annual visit to Hingalganj for the festival celebrating LDLM and its work. The villagers were overjoyed to see their Baba. The Self Help Group (SHG) women met Baba and escorted him to Baba Lokenath's Temple, which they e constructed with the Mission's help. Baba served 4,500 people food prepared by SHG women with grains provided by the grain bank of Dulduli.

In the afternoon all SHG women came to meet Baba to discuss their achievements and the problems they are facing with their groups. The bank managers always give them trouble when withdrawing money from bank or a loan disbursement. Baba and LDLM Rural Program Director, Amalendu Haldar, presented details of a plan to Cluster SHGs in groups of 20. The bank manager will then have to deal with one very skilled committee that represents all SHG transactions and accounts. The committee will submit complaints to Bank officials if the bank managers obstruct the loan or banking process in any way.

Baba reminded the SHG women that the main target of the Mission is to make them economically independent and to believe in their own abilities. He assured them that Baba Lokenath's blessings are always with them in their endeavors to become self reliant, and that the network of support that they provide to each other is an irreplaceable, precious safety net.

The villagers and SHG members then felicitated Baba and Ann and other guests with flowers. Then the children from the families of SHG members presented songs, poems, dance-drama and highly advanced yoga and gymnastics program that thrilled the crowd. Baba addressed the villagers and stressed the importance of this human body, how we are blessed as human beings to have organs like eyes, nose, ears, brain and heart, which gives us so many different types of senses. "Express your gratitude to the Lord for all these blessings and create awareness through the gift of your Body," Baba said. The villagers treasured every word Baba spoke.

Flexible to the Core, Yoga for Village Children

2009-02-26T20:17:00.000-08:00

Baba's visit to Hingalganj on 6th Feb,'2009 -- Baba, along with the Mission's guest Ann Shannon, made a visit to Hingalganj for the festival they put on celebrating LDLM and its work for Baba's annual visit. The yoga demonstration was part of the Celebration!

Flexible to the Core - Our yoga teacher Nimai Biswas showed us what we can do with our body through yoga. His students gave a spectacular show of yoga and gymnastics, including human pyramids, high wire feats with fire, and having 3 fully grown, strong men get inside a single, 1/3 meter steel circle . Ann just could not believe her eyes what she witnessed. She was busy snapping away with her camera. Everybody praised our yoga teacher for his work he is doing for the villagers through Lokenath Divine Life Mission.

Talented Young Painter and Former LDLM Preprimary Student Encouraged to Continued to Develop His Artistic Skills

2009-02-18T20:17:00.000-08:00

A temple of Baba Lokenath was established by the SHG's in the Mission compound of Gosaba in the year 2000. This temple initially was a mud house with thatched roof. Gradually the SHG's, with Mission's help, made it a permanent structure of brick with asbestos roofing in the year 2008. On the day of celebration solar light was installed in the Mission which would help the students to study at night at the Mission compound. They celebrated Lokenath Milan Utsav '2009 (Uniting & Bonding festival '2009) on the Mission compound in Gosaba. Baba, accompanied by Ann Shannon participated in the celebration, which unites villagers of all creeds and castes.

Asgar Ali, a talented young painter and former LDLM preprimary student, had an exhibit of his work at the festival. Asgar had drawn a sketch of Baba which he showed and later presented to Baba. Baba was deeply touched by how Asgar had captured Baba's energy, and encouraged Asgar to continue developing his artistic skills.

Baba's Visit to Gosaba, Bijaynagar on 1st of February, 2009

2009-02-15T20:30:00.000-08:00

Baba and our guest, Ann Shannon, were greeted in the Bali village by the Mission's project supervisors and Self Help Group women, as Baba landed from the boat to visit the Bengal Tiger Conservation Project compound. A huge crowd formed to welcome and escort Baba to the Mission's compound at Bijaynagar. The villagers celebrated every moment Baba was with them with broad, beaming smiles.

The SHG women prepared the food to be served to 8,000 villagers from the grains collected from their own, hard earned effort. This day is special, as all the nearby villages and villagers come to participate in what has become the favorite annual local festival. They are all served a meal. Baba served food with his own hands to the children and elderly.

In the evening, all the school children and students presented a wonderful, culturally rich program of poem recitals, elegant traditional dances, music, playful nature skits, and advanced yoga.

Ann Shannon, the guest of LDLM, was overwhelmed by the extraordinary program, all of the effort and planning it obviously required, and the immense talent of the performers. She was especially pleased to hear women's personal stories of the SHGs. The people of Gosaba were delighted to see their Baba and hear Baba's inspiring words, which they will carry to their heart for the next year. Baba spoke of the importance of lending a helping hand to one another other in leading and happy and prosperous life.

A New Life Given by Baba

2009-02-12T20:50:00.000-08:00

An Indian family of four living in the Sunderban region, Gosaba Bally district, Vijaynagar village, was stricken by poverty. The family consisted of a brother named Koushik Bera, a sister named Bandita Bera, and their father and mother. Due to unfortunate reasons the mother fell seriously ill and was admitted to a local hospital. The family did not have money to pay for proper medication so it was not given to her. As a result she suffers from a chronic mental illness. The children’s father was a mason and used to come for work in Kolkata. While in Kolkata, he remarried and neglected his earlier family totally. He would not even send money to his family.
Brother Koushik was adopted by a school teacher and Bandita was left alone in the house. Stricken by poverty she was left with no option but to borrow from people in the name of her father. As the lenders came to know about it they realized they would never get their money back. They tried to molest little Bandita. Bandita somehow managed to flee from their grasp and fled home. Panic stricken, she would not come out of the house. She lay at home without food for fifteen days.
A local coordinator of Lokenath Divine Life Mission contacted Baba and informed him of the situation of little Bandita. Baba instantly asked the coordinator to take steps and rescue Bandita. The Mission took full responsibility for Bandita and shifted her to a safe place and arranged for her food and daily needs. She was admitted to school where she was studying in ninth standard. This year she has passed her 10th grade examination by the grace of God.
Now she has been admitted to 11th grade and she is happily staying in a student's hostel adjacent to the school. She gave a spectacular solo dance performance. Her dancing talent is immense, but she is also very bright and now has 4 tutors to foster her rapidly advancing academic life. Under the loving guidance of the SHG women and the Mission, she is flourishing as never before. Baba blessed her with all his heart as she grows into a perfectly healthy, accomplished young woman.

President of Lokenath Divine Life Fellowship Tours Sunderbans with Baba

2009-02-11T19:58:00.000-08:00

Ann Shannon, President of Lokenath Divine Life Fellowship, a branch of Lokenath Divine Life Mission in the United States, was recently a guest of the Self Help Group (SHG) women in the Sunderbans and accompanied Baba on his annual visit.

While there Ann heard many true stories of how incredible the SHG are!

SHG Group Intervenes to Save Village

Family in Time of Health Crisis

When a Gosaba area village woman recently fell critically ill and required Rs. 30,000 for immediate hospitalization and treatment, the family was going to be forced to sell their land, their only means of survival. The local LDLM SHG called an emergency meeting to discuss whether they could lend the large sum of money to the family. The woman was not an SHG member, so this loan would be made outside of the SHG's rules. The group members had to wrestle with the very real question of what would happen if the family could not pay the money back, since that would threaten the very survival of the SHG and its ability to function. Binodini Mondal, the cashier of the SHG since 1997, and Anima Mondal, SHG President, and Sushma Mondal, the Group's Secretary, stepped forward to personally guarantee repayment of the huge sum over time if for any reason the loan was not repaid. The SHG voted to make the loan. The woman received the necessary treatment and is now safely home and well, with her family. Because of the SHG's generosity, the family had the time necessary to raise the funds from other sources. They repaid the loan in only 2 months.

"This is so moving," Ann Shannon said to Baba, "it demonstrates so profoundly the difference that SHGs are making at a human level, the power of their commitment to everyone in their village, and why SHG members are becoming such powerful, honored and respected leaders in their local areas. I cannot imagine a Westerner making this kind of financial commitment to help a neighbor. The power and importance of what SHGs are doing to create a sense of family in their villages is unfathomable."

Share Ann's joy, and help the women and children! If you are in the United States you can make a tax deductible donation to Lokenath Divine Life Fellowship on http://www.feelinghearts.org/.

To read more about Ann's profound and touching visit in the Sunderban's, visit Ann at

http://www.travelpod.com/, and search for globalgramma.

WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!

2009-02-04T20:04:00.000-08:00

Your feedback helps us and encourages us to continue the good work LDLM is doing.

We love to hear from you, you are our family!

You support us and share with us in this beautiful service to God's blessed children.

Thank you from Baba and LDLM!

SARASWATI PUJA CELEBRATED AT THE STREET SCHOOLS ON JANUARY 31, 2009

2009-02-04T19:45:00.000-08:00

Goddess Saraswati is the goddess of learning in Kolkata. All the street school students of Kalighat, Rashbehari, Swinhoe and Garcha schools are taught to pray to Goddess Saraswati and ask for her blessings so that they all grow up enriched with the power to constantly learn and evolve. Through learning and evolution they then have the tools to fight their poor economic condition and bring smiles in the faces of their parents.

Lokenath Divine Life Mission is committed to bring these street children into mainstream schooling and instill them with confidence in themselves. The Teachers constantly remind the children “Yes, we are with you! You can do it as every other normal child does!” The Mission believes that planting the seed of education in these children will enable them to overcome their miseries and make them bloom in times to come.

Sports held for all the Street Schools of Lokenath Divine Life Mission

2009-01-22T21:43:00.000-08:00

17^th January ’09, Saturday was a day full of fun and joy for all the little children of our street schools . This day they all participated in a sports meet organized by Lokenath Divine Life Mission. Little students came well dressed raring to go on the field. The children were so happy they all came to Baba for his blessings. Baba was also full of ecstasy to see his little children bouncing with energy. The events were 100 mts run for the boys and the girls, biscuit race, skipping for girls, spoon and marble race, letter run and a 50 mts run for little children. In total 31 boys and 64 girls participated in the Sports. Each of them gave their best in the events. Baba distributed toffees to them. After successful completion of all the events the children had their lunch on the field. Then there was prize distribution, they were so proud to receive their prizes. Children were distributed little colorful hats which they wore and went to our Ashram and prayed to Baba Lokenath before leaving for their homes. Let Baba 's grace be on the blessed souls.

LITTLE HANDS IN MOTION AT PAINTING COMPETITION

2008-11-15T22:13:00.001-08:00

Teachers from Lokenath Divine Life Mission street schools celebrated children's day on November 14. All the children were overjoyed when they heard there would be a painting competition. They were given paper, pencils and colored crayons to draw their imagination on paper. Little hands were put in motion. Slowly, slowly their canvases came alive with their scribbles. After coloring their drawings they proudly came up to the teacher to show their drawings. Their eyes and face were gleaming with the joy of creation and excitement that Baba will see their drawings. Baba will award prizes to the winners soon!

TINY GIRL'S BURNS HEALED AT LDLM MOBILE MEDICAL CLINIC

2008-10-20T21:13:00.000-07:00

This 3 year old child named Radhika Paswan is a regular patient to our Mobile Medical Clinic. Her father is a day laborer and mother is a housewife. They live in a very small thatch roofed hut. When Radhika was 1 year old she suffered from burn injuries caused by a cooking accident at home. She suffered from multiple burn injuries. Our mobile medical van came to her rescue as there is no nearby hospital. They cannot afford the costly medical treatment.

She was treated for burn injuries through Homeopathy. She was thoroughly cured over time. Now she suffers from allergic cough and is undergoing treatment from mission’s doctors. She comes to Mission’s mobile medical clinic with her mother and knows that if she takes the medicines she will be cured.

Our mobile medical van serves so many poor families like Radhika who live in the slums of Kolkata. We call it the lifeline of the slums, giving medical advice, medicines, and treatments to the poor and downtrodden. The slum dwellers thank Lokenath Divine Life Mission for carrying on the mobile medical service for over 16 years.

SCHOOL CHILDREN'S FACES LIGHT UP WITH GIFT OF CLOTHES FROM BABA!

2008-10-10T19:45:00.000-07:00

On Durga Puja Baba visited Swinhoe Street School. The students were full of joy to see Baba come to their school. The children presented yoga, dance and recitations to Baba and a huge gathering of people from the community. It was so lovely to hear poems from their soft voices. Baba praised each one of them with encouagement and cheers.

It was a true celebration to see the kids faces lighting up as Baba pulled out the most beautiful outfits from the covers and handed them over to the little children.

One by one the children gave Baba greeting cards which they painted with the words “Baba we love you”. Baba was most pleased that the children beautifully painted Baba Lokenath’s picture, who is closest to their hearts.

SWINHOE STREET SCHOOL SPONSORED BY USA MEDITATION GROUP

2008-09-30T20:26:00.000-07:00

Swinhoe Street School was started by Baba Shuddhaanandaa to give the slum children the feeling that they are important in this world,

and that there are people from their own country and other countries of the world who love them and adore their capabilities and creativity.

The children who come to Swinhoe Street School are from nearby slums in Calcutta. Their parents do menial work such as cleaning people’s homes, and carrying luggage on their heads in the nearby railway station. The road to the slum is a dark narrow lane with small shacks on the both sides. The shacks are so small that it is difficult to believe that any human being can fit into it let alone live in it.

The parents are so poor that they are unable to send their children to school. Some parents force their children to do odd jobs to earn money for the family, robbing the child of their right to go to school and have a natural childhood. These children are abused daily at home. Some of the children roam the streets the whole day doing all kinds of mischievous activities. Our mission’s main role is to make them feel that they are loved. One of the major focuses of the street schools is to fight the curse of child labor. The Mission continually educates the parents on the need for education for the children and encourages them to not just think of earning some money out of their child's labor.

The major challenge for the Mission is to first bring the children to the school and then hold their attention. To facilitate that major focus is given to the Play Way Method of education. Along with literacy they are continually encouraged to explore their innate creativity and playfulness.
The children are offered training on the practice of Hatha yoga, Meditation, Creative art, Dancing apart from literacy. The initial batches of students from this school were groomed enough to join better schools run by government and private houses. Our task was to create interest in their hearts through fun, playful education and love. Our experience says what they needed most is for somebody to say they are wonderful children of God and deserve to become worthy citizens of mother India.

The Naperville, Il, USA Meditation Group has recently agreed to sponsor this school. Their contributions will cover a honorarium for teachers, school supplies, daily snacks for the children, and an outfit of clothing during the holiday season. We on behalf of Lokenath Divine Life Mission in Calcutta express our sense of gratitude to the Naperville Meditation Group for their generosity and love for these destitute yet smiling children of God.

GARCHA SCHOOL CHILD DRAWS PICTURE OF BABA LOKENATH

2008-09-30T20:14:00.000-07:00

Report by Babai,

Today I made a visit to Garcha school. It was lovely to see the children enjoying their education through laughter and fun. I had lots of fun with them. I asked them," Let's see how well you can draw." They were full of confidence! One by one everybody came to the board to show me their drawing skills. I was amazed to see a child draw Baba Lokenath on the board . Now I asked him, "Can you write the name of Lokenath Baba in English". He said yes and wrote Baba's name on the board. As I took the picture in my camera, they all came trooping to me to see their picture. They are so blessed with Baba's eternal blessings.

Young, Inspiring Trailblazers for the Street Schools and Active Compassion

2008-09-19T21:10:00.000-07:00

Carleen Sinton and Jamey Rossano, two 12 year old friends who live in Boston, have been collecting and sending money for the street schools for over a year now. Last Fall, after Carleen's grandma told them about the street schools, Carleen and Jamey got very excited. They wanted to adopt a school. They wanted to do something for these children who had so much less than they did! They quickly got to work raising money to help support the schools. During the school year, they created a program they called "Save The Change" and got their families to save all their coins. Their efforts generated two separate $100 contributions for the schools . Carleen's grandparents were so inspired by Carleen and Jamey's efforts that they sent $400 for the street schools. Then this past summer Carleen started making bracelets to sell in order to raise more money. She makes bracelets and sells them for $1 each; so far, she has raised $23. Jamey has also started making bracelets now; he plans to sell them in his Mother's store. Carleen and Jamey have also sent letters, artwork and photos over to the street schools, so that the children in the schools can learn something about other people in the world, and will know that others in the world love them and think about them. One of Carleen and Jamey's goals is to get some bit of communication going with the children and themselves. (If anyone would be interested in periodically translating a few letters into Bengali from English, and from English to Bengali for that purpose, please email raehack@comcast.netto volunteer). We all have a lot to learn from Carleen and Jamey, their open hearted vision and concentrated effort to reach out and serve others in need.=

Feeding the Hungry on the Streets of Calcutta,India

2008-08-27T05:10:00.000-07:00

Thank you Sue Berg for Norman’s kind donation of $171 toward feeding 342 blessed souls who are destitute on the streets of Calcutta under Anna Dana Seva (Blessed Food for the Poor Project) through www.feelinghearts.org which is our Mission’s exclusive projects website.

It is so heartening to know Norman saved 1 dollar bills towards this humanitarian cause. Norman sets the precedence which we are sure many other generous and compassionate people will follow. Thank you Norman! Thank you, Sue Berg for feeding the hungry!

Garcha Street School Recently Sponsored

2008-08-26T20:28:00.000-07:00

Garcha Street school was established by Baba Shuddhaanandaa in the year 1995. The people of Garcha are mainly migrant labourers from neigbouring states doing menial jobs in kolkata and are from lower starta of the society. The mission wants to pull them out of social deprivations. The children are offered training on the practice of hatha yoga, meditation, creative art, dancing apart from literacy.

The initial batches of students from this school were groomed enough to join better schools run by government and private houses. Our task was to create interest in their hearts through fun, playful education and love.

Our experience says what they needed most is for somebody to say they are wonderful children of god and deserve to become worthy citizens of mother India. Love has the power to transform and raise the spirits of each soul to its highest sense of Freedom.

We on behalf of Lokenath divine Life Mission in Calcutta do express our sense of gratitude and thankfulness to Connie Weaver for her generosity and love for these destitute yet smiling children of God.