Some years ago, I was given a vision
of Patrons of Enlightenment, a non-profit scholarship fund that could
assist final-stage students with their financial expenses during
transition to and integration of Awakening, as well as the expenses for Enlightened teachers and their facilities who support those without the financial means
to fully support themselves.
I have not ever had the ability to
refuse services to anyone coming here who was suitable and yet unable
to cover our modest costs. This has strained our Ashram finances over the years of operation and today's current economic conditions have put us in a challenged financial position.
Students and teachers of other traditions at times
must have the same challenge. Spiritual teachers at this level are
often not well known and, having no ability to focus on making money,
may also not have the resources to take care of their own needs, as
fewer students ripen into maturity often and those students who may
have already gotten to a place of being unable to work regularly or
beyond some simple low-income humble service, cannot always easily pay
their own way.
For example, for many years my
personal income has been below the federal poverty level. It is
not that I do not work or charge for retreat services. It is
simply that I am a monk and with that dedication, whatever comes
into the Ashram of Enlightenment goes to support program needs, the
facilities, and the students here. My personal needs are covered by a modest monthly income from Social Security, Canada Pension, and Food Stamps.
Unfortunately, the Ashram is unable
at this time to also pay for the often frequent acupuncture, Network
chiropractic, naturopathic, homeopathic, nutritional, massage, and even
dental and eye care needed for rapidly evolving bodies rushing to catch
up with expanded and increasing Consciousness. These services are
provided elsewhere in the Arizona community, and their lack in a timely manner
has at times meant a delay in more significant spiritual experience and
even Awakening, as well as integrating these experiences.
New wine needs new vessels.
Some of us Enlighteners are in
maturing bodies that require more support and most have no
insurance. One spiritual teacher I know has an advancing case of
diabetes, which some years ago could have been remedied by a simple
surgery costing about $5,000 uncovered by His insurance He did have. We
only heard about that situation two years after the fact. By the
time we were able to find a donor, other conditions made the surgery
unsuitable.
At other times, teachers need to take
sabbaticals and/or vacations, and have no financial means to do
so. For example, I was able to take a 2 1/2 day vacation four
years ago. The one before that was for 2 1/2 days thirteen years
earlier. I am often on call for weeks and sometimes months at a
time, along with my regular duties. This is not realistic for a
maturing body, which will be 67 in 2011.
This is not an era when Humanity can
easily afford to loose the rare Blessings of truly Enlightened Sages
still in the body when mere financial remedies could suffice. Nor
is it a time for others nearing actual Awakening to choose to abort
their experiences or, having them in unsuitable places, are unable to
integrate them because of lack of suitable support or inappropriate conditions where
they live.
I currently supervise students from North America, France, Switzerland, and India.
The Ashram needs to be free
financially to provide program scholarships and related costs to support Enlightenment when needed, and sometimes with very little notice and
no time to fund-raise for extended long-distance retreats and/or
travel.
For thousands of years, seekers
have gone to see those who might free them. When they were unable to
travel, teachers went to them.
I long to meet such pure sweet souls who have come so far with so little external support.
Right now there is no obvious means to do this.
Our last few years at The Ashram of
Enlightenment has been glorious with more Enlightenment for my Self and
major Awakening experiences for Jewel Heart, Mataji Mercy Love, Rumi Swami, and Judi Bliss-Love. The
summer of 2006, Awakenings occurred for Peace, Judi, Marcus, Sri, and
Samten, while I was teaching in Europe.
However, often what has happened each
time afterwards for several months is that I have been busy integrating
and/or supporting the integration of others so that there has been no
energy to put into the workshops, personal retreats, and other events
that usually finance the Ashram.
People who have just Awakened or Enlightened further cannot always work immediately or to full capacity.
The Ashram is growing. Subsidies to support students coming from all over the world would be a great Blessing.
This is our purpose for Being.
I am happy with my assignment and I accept it whole-Heartedly.
However, supporting further students well now requires additional
response from others.
If your Heart is moved, and if you
are able to make a donation of $75 or more, we can issue a tax-exempt
receipt that might be of use to you also. Checks should be made
out to The Ashram of Enlightenment. We can also accept bank wire
transfers and paypal payments on checking accounts, Visa and
MasterCard.
Imagine the energetic contribution to
the world at this time if more add their Enlightenment and raise the
Consciousness now. And you could be a part of this. OM
Thank You for considering us in your giving.
You will be Blessed, as will the Enlightenment of the world.
Swami Sri Guruji Grace Love, PhD
P.S. If you are moved to forward this request to anyone who might be moved to be of assistance, please do so.
One-time contributions are welcome,
as well as individual or corporate sponsors who wish to make monthly or
annual contributions. Sponsorship sponsorship of various programs
or of individuals is also available. We are also prepared to make
these scholarships and grants available to appropriate candidates for
Enlightenment outside of this Tradition.
We are also asking for suitable
volunteers who would consider forming an Advisory Board for The Patrons
of Enlightenment. I would ask that
they be of Great Heart and Compassion, empathize with our cause, and
that they understand their Stewardship is for supporting others in
worthy projects as well as themselves.
For thousands of years the arts have
had patrons.
Is it not time for Patrons of Enlightenment?
We
have 501(c)(3) status.
The times are demanding that we all take the next
step.
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