Our first Sacred Camel Ceremony was a wonderful occasion.
The purpose of the ceremony was to simply and directly invoke mankind to become more sensitive to the Life and rights of all non-human beings and natural non-human processes.
The small group of participants gathered outside the camels’ pasture. Together we walked down into the grassy fields, down in among the shady trees to the Sacred Camel Temple, a large circle of boulders set within a circle of old oaks.
The camels, grazing and gathering acorns, surrounded the outdoor Temple. There was a cool breeze and the sky was moist with clouds…
A simple and elegant ceremony was done within the Temple while the invocation and prayer were read aloud. Given that the Sacred Camel Gardens were founded by Adi Da Samraj, for the sake of all beings, the ceremony also invoked his spiritual blessing, and a large photograph of Adi Da was installed and honored during the ceremony itself.
Simultaneously, a blessing and honoring the world’s trees was performed through the tangible forms of the half dozen large oak trees surrounding the Sacred Camel Temple.
Each member of the sacred herd was also given a blessing and anointed with sacred ash and red kumkum powder. Holy water was splashed on each of the camels, on the trees, and all around the Temple.
Toward the end of the ceremony Peaceful Baba quietly entered the Temple Circle and respectfully approached Adi Da’s photograph.
Among the camels Peaceful Baba had the most direct contact with Adi Da. Here is a brief excerpt on his early contact with Adi Da (written in 2001):
March 28, 2001. Jingle Baba and Google Mama gave birth to a beautiful baby camel.
From his first days Peaceful Baba showed a spiritual sensitivity to Adi Da Samraj. Prior to Peaceful’s birth Adi Da said He was looking for the integration of human and non-human cultures into one diverse sacred culture. Among the sacred camels Peaceful Baba is one who may serve the kind of integration that Adi Da is asking for.
His sensitivity to Adi Da’s spiritual presence is obvious and demonstrable. On his second morning, on still wobbly legs, Peaceful Baba made his way directly to Adi Da’s Bench Seat in the Zoo’s meditation garden and fell fast asleep there. The next day he approached a photograph of Adi Da that was hanging on a wall in the barn. He pressed his fresh face on the photo and for several minutes stood motionless in contemplation.
During our walks across the Sanctuary Peaceful Baba developed relationships with various Holy Sites. Without prompting, or any kind of training, Peaceful approached these Sacred places quietly and with obvious sensitivity. He dropped his ears slightly, the energy of his entire being relaxed and deepened, and he gazed at the Temples without distraction. He often approached the entrances and then slowly circumambulated the Temples. A single circumambulation could sometimes take twenty or thirty minutes. He’d walk around the Temples, sniff them, lean on them, pause, nibble on the buildings, mouth the door handles and seemed oblivious to everything else going on around him. One evening, as darkness was settling, Peaceful Baba became so absorbed by one of the Temples that he lay down against the building and soon fell asleep. When he’s in such states of feeling response I simply let him do what he’s moved to do.
Adi Da Samraj and the little camel first met face to face on April 12, 2001. Their meeting was relaxed and loving. Adi Da gently touched and petted the camel all over his body. Then He fed him a bottle of milk while stroking and holding his furry head with His free hand. Peaceful was his typical calm self. While giving the camel his milk, Adi Da’s Regard of him felt Profound. I had the sense that this was more of a reunion than a first meeting.
After Adi Da said goodbye to the baby camel Peaceful Baba stood motionless, not wanting to move (or not able to). When he was finally ready to follow he didn’t want to run. For the entire walk back to his pasture he floated down the path. He was clearly in bliss, receiving Adi Da’s Blessing. Once back in his pasture he found a quiet spot and fell deep asleep. While he slept Adi Da sent word that his name is “Peaceful Baba”.
Another amusing incident occurred when Peaceful Baba, at about three months of age, tried to climb into Adi Da’s jacuzzi tub while Adi Da was in there soaking… !
So again, last Saturday, as the now grown-up Peaceful Baba approached Adi Da’s photo in the Sacred Camel Temple his energy was soft, sensitive, elevated and wide. He reached forward and brushed his whiskers against the photographic form of Adi Da’s body and face. For a good ten minutes or more Peaceful Baba stood respectfully in front of the photo while the ceremony continued. Peaceful had a great deal of attention for the actual ceremony also. It was remarkable to feel and observe this camel’s feeling response to Adi Da through the process of this ceremony. Everyone present was deeply honored to participate alongside the camels, and particularly Peaceful Baba.
At the conclusion of the ceremony Adi Da’s framed photograph was carried from the Temple all the way out to the front gate of the camels’ pasture. While the herd took off at a gallop up the road to stand together on a high point, Peaceful Baba stayed focused on Adi Da and quietly walked in procession directly behind the photograph all the way out to the front gate.
It will be interesting to observe, from ceremony to ceremony, the unfolding expression of Peaceful’s participation. Knowing the camels I’m sure their involvement in these ceremonies will grow and become more expressive as they become more familiar with what we are doing.
To Support The Sacred Camel Herd
Click here to make your online donation
- checks can be sent to: 12040 Seigler Springs Road, Middletown, CA 95461
(make payable to Fear-No-More Zoo, earmark “for Camels”)
Thank you,
Stuart
Loading...
Heart Breaking.