Swami Paramanand Maharaj E-NEWSLETTER

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$`\\\\\\\\\\\\\ SPRING 2008 1 st Edition Swami Paramanand Maharaj E-NEWSLETTER The latest news following the footsteps of Maharaji and Akhand Paramdham, the non-profit organization that oversees his$

1 `\\\\\\\\\\\\\ SPRING st Edition Swami Paramanand Maharaj E-NEWSLETTER The latest news following the footsteps of Maharaji and Akhand Paramdham, the non-profit organization that oversees his vast array of projects and events. Published by Akhand Paramdham Main Ashram: Rani Gali Saptover Haridwar, India Ph Office: Opp. Pocket R Dilshad Garden Delhi, India Ph Editor: Valerie Naiman valdevi@mac.com Highlights: - USA Tour Russia Tour UK Tour Haridwar Retreat 08 - Maharaj Ji Message - Oldest Ashram - New Books & Video - Paramanand Univ. - Newest Ashram USA TOUR APRIL 18 th -July 10 th 2008 Maharaj Ji is in the USA this spring and summer for 3 months. The tour begins on the West Coast in San Francisco and Los Angeles areas. He ll then stop by Colorado on his way to NY and you can catch a satsang at a variety of places on the East coast starting in NY, then onto NJ, Mass., Washington DC, Rockville VA, Asheville NC, Columbia SC, Atlanta Ga., Orlando Fla., and over to Houston & Dallas Texas. Check the full schedule to find a location near you. There s also longer retreats scheduled this year so you will have the opportunity to go deeper into the teachings and practices in a nurturing retreat environment. - Click here to see the entire 2008 Tour schedule RUSSIA TOUR JULY 21 st -Aug 5 th 2008 Russian devotees are finally having their long time wish fulfilled as Maharaj Ji will be in Russia this summer for 2 weeks. Translation will be in English and Hindi. Surya Dobhal and Somya Kant are coordinating this event and you can reach them at sursom@vsnl.com ENGLAND TOUR AUGUST 21 st -5 th 2008 Maharaj Ji heads back to the UK again at summers end for 16 days of programs at various locations. Contact Daljit Singh for full program itinerary at / Ask Maharaji Ji - You

Haridwar is the ideal place for this weeklong experiential retreat where you will be immersed in satsang and meditation. More details will be announced soon but be sure to mark your calender now.

Do you realize when you are caught up in the grip of bad habits, anger, lust, greed, etc.? Are you are unable to get rid of these traits even though you may have a sincere desire to?

2 Swami Paramananad E-Newsletter RETREAT IN HARIDWAR OCT.30 th NOV. 5 th A weeklong retreat for foreigners will be held at Maharaj Ji s main ashram in Haridwar, India this year. Located next to the magical Ganga River where sun rises like no place else in the world. Haridwar is the ideal place for this weeklong experiential retreat where you will be immersed in satsang and meditation. More details will be announced soon but be sure to mark your calender now. MESSAGE FROM MAHARAJ JI Only the pure in heart enter Godhood God helps all who are truthful in their observations and confessions. Do you realize when you are caught up in the grip of bad habits, anger, lust, greed, etc.? Are you are unable to get rid of these traits even though you may have a sincere desire to? You have not to worry, but you must confess the truth with utmost sincerity and faith. If you express your downfalls sincerely in your prayers, and know you want to change, you will definitely be successful. But when your ego does not allow you to accept your faults and you pretend to be right and think that you know what s going on, you cannot be helped. God knows everything, our truths and flies, and there is really nothing you can do to be deceptive. Dishonesty is not an appreciated trait in the universe. God likes everything except dishonesty. It is said that only the pure in heart can enter Godhood. One who truthfully confesses his weaknesses is pure in heart. Excerpted from the book Inner Peace based on the teachings of Swami Paramanand Ji Maharaj. YOUR INPUT CAN GO A LONG WAY If you would like to donate to Swami Paramanand s ongoing work and the many social projects underway and ongoing, you can now do so through paypal. Your funds go a long way in India and rest assured all funds go directly into these projects. There are no middlemen or organizational expenses. Most all of the work needed in his many social projects is done by devotees and those choosing to do seva. So you can give at ease knowing your donation will make a big difference in the ongoing work of Maharaj ji. Click here to make a contribution. WISH LIST Pure hearted spirits wanting to help make this a better world by realizing their divine essence!

The plans for the ashram s expansion are through the vision of Maharaj Ji along with the supportive efforts of his disciple Didima Sadhvi Ritambhara Ji.

and the construction of wells & water tanks that will give much support to the farmers who have endured great hardships due to the serious droughts in the region over the past four years.

3 Page 3 of 4 Swami Paramanand E-Newsletter NEW GROWTH FOR MAHARAJ JI S OLDEST ASHRAM In February, thousands of people gathered in the village of Sijai, MP to celebrate the expansion of Maharaj Ji s first ashram. The Chief Minister, Srii Shiv Raj Singh Chauhan, was also present. The plans for the ashram s expansion are through the vision of Maharaj Ji along with the supportive efforts of his disciple Didima Sadhvi Ritambhara Ji. Projects are already underway and include a new school, a co-housing development for women and children similar to Vatsalya Gram in Vrindavan, a new cowshed that will house approximately 1,000 cows. and the construction of wells & water tanks that will give much support to the farmers who have endured great hardships due to the serious droughts in the region over the past four years. These projects are being supported through the combined contributions of the Chief Minister and the public at large. The funds donated so far are a million rupees for the cow shed, twenty-one hundred thousand rupees for the home for women and five million rupees for the co-housing village and school. (About 40 rupees is equal to one US dollar.) First ashram built by Swamiji on land secured in This is a grand project being implemented on the 120 acres Maharaj Ji first secured in It s hard to believe the land was purchased back then for 225 rupees or about $5.50 per acre. This ashram has continued to serve the welfare of the small community and the new expansion is a big excitement for everyone in the area. The Chief Minister expressed his heart-felt gratitude for this inspiring start to help such a remote area and expressed his total commitment along with his political colleagues to support these projects. He also thanked Maharaj Ji for his proposal of building water tanks in this area so that rainwater can be harvested and stored. He invited all to serve society and assist with Maharaj ji s projects whole heartedly with body, mind and wealth. PARAMANAND UNIVERSITY NEWS Construction of the 30,000 sq' university main building is underway that will house the main library, classrooms and recreation areas. PU is also in the process of securing 50 additional acres to accommodate further expansion. Currently, PU's City Campus is being utilized in its 9000 sq. hall for yoga, meditation, and allied practices. There are more than 80 rooms that accommodate about 200 students. The Trustees & staff are pleased to also announce that The College of Yoga and Ayurvedic Sciences (CYAS), affiliated with PU, is scheduled to start Certificate and Diploma programs in Yoga and Ayurveda in October This program is especially tailored for American, European and Russian students. Click here to learn more about Paramanand University or to apply for admission. Paramanand University Library & Meditation Hall

) with music - 108 Insights from Gurudev (NEW) with music - Sukti Mala in Hindi (NEW!

) - Body Consciousness to Soul Consciousness - Click here to order Talking Book CD s NEW

art of Meditation - Meditation (Available in Book or CD) NEW HARDBACK BOOKS: - The Direct

Living Legend Swami Paramanand Ji Maharaj 20 minute DVD showing the life of Maharaj Ji that

4 Swami Paramananad E-Newsletter Page 4 of 4 NEW TALKING BOOKS - Four new Talking Books have been released! - Inner Peace (NEW!) with music Insights from Gurudev (NEW) with music - Sukti Mala in Hindi (NEW!) with music -Direct Experience of Truth (NEW!) - Body Consciousness to Soul Consciousness - Click here to order Talking Book CD s NEW BOOKS NEW PAPERBACK BOOKS: - Uniting Divinity with Science - Inner Peace - Awareness as an art of Meditation - Meditation (Available in Book or CD) NEW HARDBACK BOOKS: - The Direct Experience of Truth - Click here to order these or other books NEW VIDEO Introduction to a Living Legend Swami Paramanand Ji Maharaj 20 minute DVD showing the life of Maharaj Ji that incorporates many old photos of his youth as well as up to date photos of many of his ashrams and social projects. -Click here to view video NEW BROCHURE -Click here to download This is a great accompaniment to the video

The location is the pilgrimage spot of many foreigners and Indians who travel here for the abundant blessings of this mighty river.

5 Page 5 of 5 SWAMI PARAMANAND E-NEWSLETTER NEWEST ASHRAM BREAKS GROUND Close to the head of the sacred Ganges River, known as Mata Ganga in India, construction of a new ashram has begun. On April 10 th, Swami Paramanand Ji laid the first 7 foundation bricks on the site. The project will be under the guidance of Maharaj Ji s devotee Swami Vishnuatmand Ji. The location is the pilgrimage spot of many foreigners and Indians who travel here for the abundant blessings of this mighty river. You ll be pleased to know that the design being implemented accommodates the basic creature comforts that foreigners so seldom find in the far reaches of India. It will also be an ecofriendly built and run ashram. You are invited to contribute funds in any amount for this project. You are further invited to have your own room built in this ashram. Construction begins this summer and if you have a room there, it will be well maintained and available for your arrival at any time. Plus you can choose the name of the room and whatever you would like on the plack that goes above the door at the Akhand Paramdham ashram in Uttarkashi! ASK MAHARAJ JI The Student: asked, If enlightenment is the true goal of our existence as human beings, then why do so few of us ever reach that awareness? Many people who have done spiritual practices for most of their lives never reach this stage. I would think that God would have planned this better. Can you help me to understand this? Maharaj Ji replied, Many people perform spiritual practices for the sake of making a show of it. They may not even realize this. Even though they are doing spiritual work, it is attached to their ego. They may recite mantras and perform various ceremonies but are lacking one thing very important to their progress. That one thing is that it has to come from a true and pure heart space. It has to be honestly coming from the heart because that is where it is revealed. If it was easy to attain, many people would not value this divine treasure. It is more like a privilege for those that really have no other desire left but to reveal their true Godself and there s not many people in the world today who are at that point in their life. We want to Hear From You! Inquiries contact: akhandparamdham@gmail.com This newsletter is informal and meant to connect Maharaj Ji s ever growing large family of English speaking students. You are welcome to submit news briefs and events or stories related to Maharaj Ji s teachings. You can also send in a question for Maharaj Ji that just might get answered in this newsletter. Send inquiries or briefs to akhandparamdham@gmail.com Headwaters of the Ganges River where the new ashram is being constructed

Divine 2009 Time to Practice True Yoga

Divine 2009 Time to Practice True Yoga Winter 2009 Happy Holydays to You! Highlights: - Divine 09, editorial - Foreigner Retreats - Gangotri Pilgrimage - Haridwar Hindi Camp - Gift from Maharaji - Gifts that Keep Giving - Overcome Challenges