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Jai Krupalu Maa.
We were at the Shibir for two weeks. Calgary is
about 4 hours flight from Toronto by air (Approx 3500 Kms) and is 2
hours behind in time from Toronto. It is located in the Province of
Alberta, on the western side of Canada.
Camp Gardner is a campground place owned and
operated by Scouts Canada. It is such a beautiful and majestic place
that everyone would fall in love with. It covers approx. 150-200 acres
with tall pine trees, shrubs, grass (all natural). The only man-made
things in the camp ground are a few scattered lodges (each
accommodates 40 persons), main meeting hall, kitchen and dining rooms,
washroom building, swimming pool, roads and parking for vehicles.
Everything else including the walking trails is all natural.
The snow covered peaks of the Rocky Mountain look
so beautiful on the horizon. The Elbow River flows by the property and
approximately 2000 ft. of riverbank is available to enjoy. There are
sand and stone dunes where we can sit and enjoy the sound of the
flowing waters. The sound is really very tranquillising and helps in
meditation. The atmosphere is most peaceful beyond description.
Because of rain and melting of ice up on the mountains, the water is
cool and flows continuously.
As we can see, Pujya Maa loves and really like
this place. Almost daily, Pujya Maa goes to the river- bank to do
japas. There are campsites where other people come with their campers
during summer months and they spend their time there in this facility
with basic needs. During two weeks of our Shibir, we had the entire
place to ourselves between Monday and Friday – no botheration from
outside! From the entrance gate, you go a long way into the campsite
before you reach the main hall. So, we are cut off from the outside
world – no TV, radio or any other people to bother us. Every one can
do sadhna peacefully in a quiet, natural and tranquil place without
disturbance of any kind. Because of summertime here at this time of
the year, there is lots of greenery all around. The campground is
surrounded by cattle farms and scattered farmhouses. The nearest town
is 10 km. away!
Pujya Maa walks about in the campground freely.
All Sadhakas follow discipline and do not run after or follow Pujya
Maa when she goes out for a walk or to the riverbank – and that is
very important to Pujya Maa. We have her constant Darshan all
throughout the day without disturbing her peace of mind. And Pujya Maa
seems to enjoy this. As a matter fact, we can say Pujya Maa can do all
her sadhna without going into Kastha Maun. Just like Swargarohan,
during the Shibir, we have a daily timetable of activities. – starting
Prabhat Feri at 6:30 Am to last prayer bethak starting at 8:30 PM and
lasting up to 10 – 11 pm or beyond depending on the agenda of the last
bethak, usually a movie, Pujya Maa’s slate, a speaker or two, Bhajans,
Garba etc. Everyday is busy and we find that there is lot to do and
not enough time. The time in between the scheduled event is for
individual sadhana of each sadhak – such as Japa, reading books,
games, etc. Pujya Maa brings over 120 books for everyone to read –
included in them is printed binders of Anubhavs by sadhaks – in their
own words as experienced by them. There is reading for everyone and so
much that it is difficult to choose where to start and what to read.
Everyone is so busy during these two weeks that many loose track of
day and date. Only on the final day of the Shibir that we realize how
fast the two weeks gone!
The theme of the Shibir is of course, MAUN – so
one do not hear any loud talking or sounds – everyone talk as little
as possible – and mostly in hushed tone. At breakfast, lunch and
dinner time, when there is a large gathering, some gabbing goes on for
a little while, but even that is no where near any social gathering!
Other times, everyone is scattered and go for walk, go to riverbank,
etc.
The food menu of the Shibir is kept very simple.
We ate healthy foods three times a day. The morning breakfast consist
of milk, fruit and nuts while salad and fruits are for lunch. Dinner
usually include khichadi, kadhi, shak and ready made naans. Many
Sadhakas were taking fruits only during the entire Shibir, while
others observed one meal a day routine. On Agiaras (11th day in lunar
calendar), most Sadhakas observe fast as well. Certainly, the Shibir
gives us a great opportunity to shed few pounds of our weight and
allow us and opportunity to return to simple yet healthy diet. After
the last bethak of the day, small balls of Ginger powder (Sunth Ni
goli) is distributed to everyone to protect from cold. ‘Harde’ was
also distributed occasionally in previous Shibirs.
Usually, two thirds of the participants were
ladies and one-third men folks. The participants this year were a
mixture of old, middle aged and young sadhakas. People came from
Panama, California, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, New Jersey, Florida,
Kansas, Toronto, Edmonton, Ottawa etc. – some even from a distance
that takes a full day to get to Calgary by plane!
We had two new events worthy of mention this
year. It was Pujya Maa’s desire to erect a Swargarohan like Kutia
here. So a tent (having six angles) was erected – that can sit 8-10
people inside and have enough space to put Prabhuji and Pujya Maa’s
swaroops inside. The Kutia was located right in the middle of the
large ground in front of the main hall.
The second was Shobha Yatra. At the beginning of
the Shibir, it rained for 3-4 days so the tent was not set up. Then
the weather improved. So, Pujya Maa said – do Shobha Yatra of the
swaroops and then place them in the Kutia after the yatra. Every one
was ecstatic. We borrowed a small tractor (that camp uses for cutting
grass and move items around in a trailer) and hitched it up to a
trailer. We decorated the trailer, prepared cushion seats for the
swaroops and placed the swaroops in the trailer – all of course while
singing Dhuns, Bavni, and all kinds of noise and pomp. Then, for four
hours, we went around the camp ground, dancing, singing, doing garba
and raas, and every one expressed their love and joy in every way they
can. Then, the Shobha Yatra ended up at the riverbank, there we sat
and did more dhuns, bhajans etc. Finally the entire group returned to
the center hall and placed the swaroops in the Kutia. Many did
Pradakshina daily and sat inside kutia for dhyan etc.
We usually had breakfast at 8:30 AM. Pujya Maa
suggested to start Shobha Yatra at 11:00AM. We actually returned back
at 3:30 PM – well past our lunch time at 12:30. Although, it was late,
every one was so happy and joyful that no one felt hungry. After the
swaroops were placed in the Kutia, we prepared small lamps, (diva),
and one for everyone and did Samooh Aarti.
After the Pratistha of the swaroops in the Kutia, it did not rain for
the remainder of the Shibir! So every one took advantage of the good
weather and participated in all outdoor activities.
One evening, we held continuous Dhoon for two
hours in the open grounds in front of the Kutia. It went on until
midnight!
Oh, at the Shibir there is so much to do and so
little time! Not even enough time to sleep. It is amazing that no one
feels tired at the Shibir! Pujya Maa gives energy to every one and it
is because of that energy that we can do all this! However, at the end
of two weeks, when we came home, we felt so tired that it took 2-3
days to recover from the fatigue.
For some reason, Pujya Maa was not so keen on coming to the Shibir
and kept us guessing all the time. Prior to the Shibir, many times
Pujya Maa gave hint from New Jersey to do the Shibir yourself, do the
Shibir without Maa etc. We all kept on insisting that “how can there
be a Shibir without Pujya Maa?” After all, Pujya Maa is the center of
the Shibir, the Pran of the Shibir and energy and inspiration provider
to us all.
Usually, Pujya Maa comes a day or two ahead of
the start of the Shibir. This time, Pujya Maa tested our patience and
gave every one a big shock. The Shibir was to start on Sunday, June
13th. A few people came a day or two early to help set up the hall,
kitchen and decorations. We waited, but Pujya Maa did not show up on
11th of June. We carried on our work on the 12th and hoped that Pujya
Maa would come today because the Shibir starts tomorrow. As late as
11:00 pm. on the 12th of June, Vasudevbhai and Padmaben (the host of
the Shibir) prepared their van and went to the airport to receive
Pujya Maa. – But no Pujya Maa! We tried to contact Pujya Maa in New
Jersey and other places, but to no avail.
Now it is Sunday – 13th of June. It is Morning
6:30 Am – time to start Prabhat Feri – and No Maa! We all decided to
carry on our activities as per Shibir Schedule and started to do
special prayers so that Pujya Maa would hear that prayer and come to
the Shibir to be with us all. Now it is lunchtime – 12:30 noon and no
word from Pujya Maa Everyone’s face looks empty and sad – it
definitely shows the feeling that every one is missing Pujya Maa.
Now finally it is 2:00 PM – Pujya Maa, Vinodbhai and Sarojben shows
up in a rented car at the Shibir. Well, you can imagine the relief on
every one’s face and the change of everyone’s mood. Just with her
presence, the entire place came to life; everyone was so happy and
ecstatic.
Calgary airport is a good 45 minute drive from
the camp. We rented vans to transport sadhakas from the airport to the
camp. Everyone sends in their arrival and departure schedule well in
advance so they can be received at the airport. A team of young
dedicated sadhakas provided this seva of transportation. Most of the
sadhakas were there for two weeks, however, some came for one week
during the first week while others came there for the second week
only. Just about everyone gets settled in the camp so nicely in their
routines and then it is time to depart to return to their own home. We
find that two weeks is really a very short time for the Shibir.
The Shibir brings a real peace of mind and
tranquility in the middle of our busy life. That experience is really
beyond description. This is a unique way to experience a temporary
renunciation of our materialistic world and to be with Pujya Maa,
Prabhuji and the nature. In this unique way, Pujya Maa is reminding us
that the materialistic world that we exist in is very fragile and
temporary – a sort of illusion. Pujya Maa teaches us that one should
not divulge in it, always find time to do your Sadhana and keep
Prabhuji in the center of ALL your activities. Thus, the whole
experience of the Shibir leaves us with many thoughts and questions
about our life and how we should look at everything. The Shibir also
provides inspirations to youths who came as participants. It is an
excellent starting point for anyone who wants to progress on the path
of Sadhana. Perhaps for these and many more other reasons known only
to Pujya Maa, she holds these Shibirs for us and to find Pujya Maa so
happy and at peace with herself at the Shibir is an added joy to us
all.
So that was our Calgary Shibir – 2004!
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