Baba Hari Dass (Babaji)

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About Baba Hari Dass - Indian Yogi

Babaji - as he is known - was born in
India, left home at 8 due to a feeling
of limitation, like being in a box,
in the earth-sky structure we lived
in. He became an expert in Yoga,
specifically Patanjalis Yoga, which is
a VERY complete (Patanjalis Sutras)
almost scientific and direct set of
short aphorism on the stages of
spiritual practice and growth. Eventual
he maintained Silence for the rest
of his life - from 1952 to 2018 when
he died. Santa Cruz Sentinel and
San Jose Mercury News published
front page article Silent monk
thousands at the Mount Madonna
Center, dies at 95.

Like most Saints his activities were
very broad an in many countries. He
taught extensively and also specialized
in Ayurveda - an ancient medicine
from India that believes that health
depends on a body-mind-spirit harmony.

The author (raul garcia) visited
weekly for many years a long
meditation and chanting session
he gave in Santa Cruz CA. He
then lived around Mount Madonna
Institute a non-profit college
specializing in the field of Yoga,
Ayurvedic medicine, massage
and community studies. The Institute
is hosted by the Mount Madonna
Center in Watsonville, Santa Cruz
County, California. It is inspired
by Baba Hari Dass. Website:

mountmadonnainstitute.org

Babajis presence was very
happy and deep. He answered
questions in a session on a
chalkboard. He taught by
example - he worked along
others, played, but remained
independent too.

I will give an example of his insight:

The author used to go to some
small caves around the UCSC
woods (now Gray Whale Park)
and meditate there early on for
the morning, for 3-4 hours. Then
leave at noon for the mediation
session with Babaji. Once i asked
him a question about Enlightenment.
I was sitting close to him. He looked
at me briefly and wrote: 'Just by
sitting in a cave you will not attain
Enlightenment!'.

Well - he had no way of knowing
my habits! In another session he
wrote that mediation is like throwing
a ball up, and it comes down. But
one day one will throw it up and it
will NOT come down ever more!

His Silence enabled him to express
anything in very simple terms.
There is a book of his aphorism
called the Yellow Book by Ram
Dass. Many have been blessed
by him, including an orpahanage
in India.

To better understand Babjis life
and teachings we give some
background on Yoga:

About Patanjalis Sutras:

The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali
are a collection of 196 Indian
sutras (aphorisms) on the
theory and practice of yoga.
The Yoga Sutras were compiled
prior to 400 CE by Sage Patanjali
who synthesized and organized
knowledge about yoga
from older traditions. The Yoga
Sūtras of Patañjali was the most
translated ancient Indian text in
the medieval era,
having been translated into
about forty Indian languages.
The text fell into relative
obscurity for nearly 700
years from the 12th to 19th
century, and made a comeback
in late 19th century due to the
efforts of Swami Vivekananda,
the Theosophical Society and
others. It gained prominence
again as a comeback classic
in the 20th century.

The 8 Limbs of Yoga
-----------------------------

The Yoga Sutras contain a set
of observances and practices
to guide your spiritual journey.

These are known as the Eight
Limbs of Yoga.

Yama: Correct behavior toward
others.
Nonviolence
Truthfulness
Not stealing
Not wasting energy
Abstaining from greed

Niyama: The principles by
which you should live your
own life

Purity
Contentment
Spiritual observances
Study
Devotion

Asana: The seat of consciousness;
the yogi’s seat and postures to
prepare the body.

Pranayama: Expanding the life force
through breathing exercises.

Pratyahara: Turning the senses inward
to explore the inner universe.

Dharana: Effortless focused attention;
training the mind to meditate.

Dhyana: A continuous flow, meditation
perfected.

Samadhi: Lost or found in the Divine; unity.

This is a summary. Source:
https://chopra.com/articles/yoga-sutras-101-everything-you-need-to-know

A book from amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Sutras-Pata%C3%B1jali-Translation-Commentary/dp/0865477361/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=0KNX5ERDMD9NADFT5AHW

Books/web sites about or by Babji:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baba_Hari_Dass#Later_events_and_Death

Silence Speaks from the Chalkboard of Baba Hari Dass
https://www.amazon.com/Silence-Speaks-Chalkboard-Baba-Hari/dp/0918100194/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=baba+hari+dass&qid=1556251832&s=books&sr=1-6

Ashtanga Yoga Primer
https://www.amazon.com/Ashtanga-Yoga-Primer-Baba-Hari/dp/0918100046/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=baba+hari+dass&qid=1556251914&s=books&sr=1-8

Sweeper to saint
https://www.amazon.com/Sweeper-saint-Baba-Hari-Dass/dp/0918100038/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=baba+hari+dass&qid=1556251914&s=books&sr=1-9