The Hermitages and Sanctuaries of Adidam:
The Mountain Of Attention

History of names for the Sanctuary:

• The Mountain Of Attention (late 1980? - present)
  
  
• Vision Mound (October, 1976 - late 1980?) — On December 12, 1976, Adi Da discussed the significance of the name "Vision Mound":
  
  

  Traditionally, spiritual cultures would often build a mound as a holy place. People went to a prominent place on the earth, a rise, a hill, or a mountain. Pyramids are mounds, a prominence from which to approach what was considered to be something transcendent to the earth. It was the custom to go off alone to such a place, to prepare oneself for the Divine by fasting, entering a holy mood and right approach. Then one would stand on the mound and call for a vision or insight or deliverance and wait until satisfaction came. It required giving up the whole life, throwing everything away until you were given the Divine impulse. Then you would leave the mound and return to your normal course of life, but periodically you would return to the mound for Divine refreshment. It is a kind of ceremony that everyone performs. A ceremony introduces you, initiates you into a condition of existence that you must otherwise realize directly. So ceremonies change in content, but in principle they are the same eternally. The body, as the mound, is turned over to the Infinite that pervades it until the body is surrendered perfectly.

  
  
• Right Whale (July 1976 - October, 1976) — This name for the Sanctuary coincided with the "Indoor Summer" period. (During this time, a large sign with a picture of a whale hung at All Eyes Gate.) "Right Whale" was a phrase Adi Da had used in referring to a place in Hawaii that He had been considering for a potential Sanctuary. He gave the name to the Northern California Sanctuary instead with the intent that it serve as that traditional Sanctuary that He was envisioning (a sacred, "set apart" space enabling Him to do His Work with fully prepared devotees).
  
  The "Indoor Summer" period (and use of the "Right Whale" name for the Sanctuary) ended with Adi Da moving to Hawaii with several devotees in October, 1976.
  
  
• Persimmon (January, 1974 - July 1976)

Partial list of special periods of Adi Da's Work here:

• Garbage and the Goddess (1974) — A period of lessons during the first half of 1974 at The Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary (then known as Persimmon). The focus of those lessons was the search for self-fulfillment through both sexuality and mystical experience. Garbage and the Goddess was one of Avatar Adi Da's great Teaching Demonstrations, in which He generated a most extraordinary and sustained display of yogic, mystical, magical, psychic, and intuitive phenomena in the lives and environments of His ordinary Western devotees, who otherwise had no capacity to attain such marvels. At the same time, He drew people to a "radical understanding": He constantly drew their attention to and criticized the illusions and suffering inherent in mere experience of any kind, ordinary or sublime. Through these means, He humorously and compassionately taught them the lesson that all experience high or low is but a temporary manifestation of "the Goddess," the Shakti, or great Manifesting Power of the worlds, and should therefore be treated as "garbage" and thrown away or transcended through devotional turning to Adi Da Samraj and "radical understanding". It was a time when the principle of attraction to the Guru as the God-Man, and "Divine Distraction" by Him from self, was demonstrated as the foundation of Spiritual Life.
  
  For more, click here.
  
  
• Indoor Summer (1976) — In July 1976, another major teaching demonstration began, later named the “Indoor Summer”, since many of the group instructions and activities (known as “gatherings”) occurred indoors. Here Adi Da began a fundamental group consideration about the limits of knowledge. His fundamental address (called "the Divine Ignorance" consideration) was “Do you know what anything is?”, and full participation in this consideration yielded glimpses of the Enlightened state of "Divine Ignorance".
  

The Holy Sites at The Mountain Of Attention
(along with additional Sanctuary buildings or areas)

• All Eyes Gate — The front gate of The Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is located in the Cobb Mountain area of Northern California, one of the highest elevations in California (apart from the Sierra Nevadas). The Sanctuary is above the snow line, and snow makes frequent appearances throughout the winter months here.
  
  

  All Eyes Gate, February, 2011 (photo by Douglas Short) All Eyes Gate, February, 2011 (photo by Douglas Short) (click to enlarge)

  
  
  
  
• The Manner Of Flowers — Adi Da's residence at The Mountain Of Attention.
  
  

  the gate to The Manner Of Flowers

  
  

  devotees waiting outside The Manner Of Flowers to receive Adi Da's Darshan (July 5, 2005)

  
  

  outside The Manner Of Flowers outside The Manner Of Flowers (click to enlarge)

  
  

  outside The Manner Of Flowers outside The Manner Of Flowers (click to enlarge)

  
  
• Sukra Kendra — Out of all the holy places and temples He has established at each of His Hermitage Sanctuaries, the Sukra Kendra is the most sacred of all the temples, set apart for Adi Da's (often daily) use in His Work of World-Blessing, during His human lifetime. As Adi Da described it, "I Am eternally seated in each and every one of My directly-by-Me Transcendentally-Spiritually-Empowered Sapta-Na Sannyasin Hermitages and Ruchira Sannyasin Sanctuaries — and most potently in each and every one of the Sukra Kendras I have established in those Hermitages and Sanctuaries."
  
  

  the Sukra Kendra at The Mountain Of Attention

  
  
• Temple Eleutherios — Earlier names: Laughing God Hall, the Master's Temple, the Location of Happiness, and Amrita Nadi Chakra Temple. Originally used as a small movie-viewing room (seating about 50) in the earlier Seigler Springs Resort, Temple Eleutherios was the first place on the Mountain Of Attention where Adi Da gathered with devotees.
  
  

  

  
  
  It was in Temple Eleutherios that Ruchiradama Nadikanta first met Bhagavan in 1974. Temple Eleutherios was, for many years, one of the most potent Communion Halls at The Mountain Of Attention. It is now part of Adi Da’s Sukra Kendra.
  
  

  Temple Eleutherios (1974) Temple Eleutherios (1974) (click to enlarge)

  
  
• Seventh Gate
  
  

  Seventh Gate — Bright Behind Me is to the right Seventh Gate — Bright Behind Me is to the right (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Seventh Gate, with lotus pond to the right Seventh Gate, with lotus pond to the right (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Seventh Gate (February, 2011)

  
  

  Seventh Gate at night, December, 2012 Seventh Gate at night, December, 2012 (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Adi Da giving Darshan in front of Seventh Gate

  
  

  Puja being done on Seventh Gate Shrine in front of Seventh Gate

  
  

  Adi Da Blessing Seventh Gate Shrine

  
  

  Seventh Gate Shrine

  
  
• All True Things Park [2] — All True Things Park is a park-like area of the Sanctuary that contains a forest of oaks (with the Tree of Life at its center) which Adi Da has instructed should be regarded and served as a sacred grove, in perpetuity. The Park also contains several of the holy sites mentioned elsewhere on this page. Thus, it is a single great Holy Site comprised of various "internal" Holy Sites, all of them interconnected and interdependent on the development and preservation of the others.
  
  

  All True Things Park in the background, Paduka Mandir on the left All True Things Park in the background, Paduka Mandir on the left (click to enlarge)

  
  

  All True Things Park All True Things Park (click to enlarge)

  
  The major aspects of the conditional universe ("All True Things") are represented in All True Things Park. In this sense, the Park is a great representative Mandala of the conditional universe in its relationship of submission to the Unconditional Divine Being. Adi Da created All True Things Park over a number of years during the 1970's, conforming these universal aspects of nature to Himself through the various Holy Sites. He has remarked at different times that our right relationship and full devotional service to these Holy Sites (and all the Holy Sites He has Empowered) has a benignly transformative effect upon the entire world.
  
  Earth-Fire Temple is dedicated to the feminine aspect of the universe. The masculine aspect of the universe is represented in the temple and great tree of Skyway Temple. The temple of Pita Mata Mantapa honors parents and children, birth and death. Fear-No-More Zoo represents the vast realms of non-human existence, our human and sacred relationship to them, and Adi Da's intention to liberate all beings (not just human beings). The blessing seat of the Divine in this world is also represented by the beautiful temple of Paduka Mandir. And seemingly out beyond the Park itself, but still intimately connected to it, is the Love of the God-Man holy site, which honors the Divine's extension and emergence into the lives of all beings, with the purpose of touching and awakening them.
  
  All True Things Park can also be viewed as a living, bodily, non-human form of Adi Da. Here is one way to look at it: Adi Da's Seat, Paduka Mandir, is the Heart. The Love of the God-Man site is the Head, looking out and "speaking" to the world. Skyway Temple is the entire central nervous system. Earth-Fire Temple is the procreative, generative, active force of the universe. Pita Mata Mantapa and the animal graves at the Zoo entrance represent the cycle of death and rebirth (equal for human and non-human). And Fear-No-More Zoo represents the broad foundation of the "pyramid" of the conditional realms and planes, the naturally contemplative non-human resource of all life and evolution, without which nothing else conditional would exist.
  
  

  Adi Da gives the landmark “Day Of the Heart” talk to over 800 devotees in All True Things Park on September 16, 1979

  
  

  Devotees waiting to receive Adi Da's Darshan in All True Things Park, 2005 Devotees waiting to receive Adi Da's Darshan in All True Things Park, 2005 (click to enlarge)

  
  
• Earth-Fire Temple — A holy site at The Mountain Of Attention, the first Empowered there by Adi Da, during the Garbage and the Goddess period in 1974, as a result of a miraculous event. It particularly expresses the nurturing-female dynamic of energies, and so is served principally by women devotees. It is now also associated with Skyway Temple (see below), a nearby site associated with characteristically male energy. For more about this Temple, read The Miracle in the Garden and The Guardian Squirrels.
  
  

  Earth-Fire Temple Earth-Fire Temple (click to enlarge)

  
  

  another view of Earth-Fire Temple another view of Earth-Fire Temple (click to enlarge)

  
  
• Skyway Temple — A holy site at The Mountain Of Attention, originally Empowered by Adi Da in 1979. The center of this site is a large oak tree, the "Tree of Life". Those who serve and attend sacred events at this holy site, as well as devotees who simply glimpse it for a few moments, testify that Bhagavan Adi Da's Murti-Form is Spiritually Manifested as this great column of living Light. The site is associated with characteristically male energy, and so is served principally by male devotees. It is associated with the nearby Earth-Fire Temple, which particularly expresses the nurturing-female dynamic of energies. Skyway Temple is also the site of regular Prosperity Pujas.
  
  

  Adi Da at Skyway Temple Adi Da at Skyway Temple (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Adi Da blessing the "Tree of Life" at Skyway Temple, 1998 (Paduka Mandir is in the background)

  
  

  Adi Da blessing the lingam at Skyway Temple (the "Tree of Life" is in the background)

  
  

  Devotees participating in a prosperity puja at Skyway Temple (2011)

  
  

  Devotees participating in a prosperity puja at Skyway Temple (2013)

  
  
• Between Skyway Temple and Earth-Fire Temple — Between Skyway Temple and Earth-Fire Temple is a connecting pathway. This path is reserved exclusively for Adi Da's own use and for use by priests on special occasions of puja at these sites.[3]
  
  

  Skyway Temple (left) and Earth-Fire Temple (right) Skyway Temple (left) and Earth-Fire Temple (right) (click to enlarge)

  
  
• Red Sitting Man — A sacred fire site at The Mountain Of Attention, Empowered by Adi Da on November 3, 1979. It is an area of the Sanctuary that is made of ash-white volcanic rock, shaped in the form of a massive natural fire-pit. In July of 1979, Adi Da Initiated devotees there in the sacramental worship of Him in the form of fire. Fire is one of the most powerful elemental symbols of the Divine — a sign of Spirit, Light, and purification. For more about this holy site, read The Hole in the Universe: The Sacred Empowerment of Red Sitting Man. Red Sitting Man is also mentioned in Look the Fire in the Eye.
  
  

  Adi Da Samraj at Red Sitting Man, 2002

  
  
• Paduka Mandir
  
  

  Paduka Mandir

  
  

  Paduka Mandir Paduka Mandir (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Paduka Mandir Paduka Mandir (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Adi Da in front of Paduka Mandir in 1995 Adi Da in front of Paduka Mandir in 1995 (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Adi Da in front of Paduka Mandir: July 17, 2005 Adi Da in front of Paduka Mandir: July 17, 2005 (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Humpback Flute (aka "The Bell") in winter (with Paduka Mandir in the distance)

  
  
• Ordeal Bath Lodge — The Mountain Of Attention was originally a hot springs resort. Ordeal Bath Lodge was the hot springs bath facility. It is considered one of the main Holy Sites on the Mountain Of Attention because of the profound, intimate occasions that occurred there with Adi Da. Along with Bright Behind Me, Ordeal Bath Lodge is the Temple that has been Blessed with Adi Da's Physical Presence most often.
  
  Ordeal Bath Lodge is now used as a healing Temple. For more, read: A Touch of the Divine: A Miraculous Healing at Ordeal Bath Lodge and "An Immense Burden Had Been Lifted from Me" (which features "the plunge", a large pool in Ordeal Bath Lodge).
  
  

  Ordeal Bath Lodge Ordeal Bath Lodge (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Ordeal Bath Lodge Ordeal Bath Lodge (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Ordeal Bath Lodge Ordeal Bath Lodge (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Ordeal Bath Lodge Ordeal Bath Lodge (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Ordeal Bath Lodge (December, 2010)

  
  

  Chair for Adi Da to sit in in front of Ordeal Bath Lodge (July 10, 2005)

  
  

  Ordeal Bath Lodge, with "the plunge" on right (November, 2011) Ordeal Bath Lodge, with "the plunge" on right (November, 2011) (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Adi Da in front of Ordeal Bath Lodge: July 10, 2005 Adi Da in front of Ordeal Bath Lodge: July 10, 2005 (click to enlarge)

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Love of the God-Man site — An "outreach Holy Site", speaking and looking out into the world, as well as receiving devotees. The site played a major role in Adi Da's ten-day visit to The Mountain Of Attention in 1984 to meet with devotees — which came to be known as the "Love of the God Man" celebration. A large tent was erected on the site, which held 700 people. (Tom Williams describes being in that tent, as a major part of his story about finding Adi Da.)
  
  

  Adi Da giving Darshan in the Love of the God-Man tent

  
  
• Holy Cat Grotto — Holy Cat Grotto is an outdoor Temple at The Mountain Of Attention whose name honors Robert the Cat and his relationship with Adi Da Samraj. The Grotto also holds Robert's ashes:
  
  

  I recognized that Robert had been my teacher in the wilderness. He had filled my eye and owned a thread of attention in my heart. I Knew him and he Knew me. Nothing could replace that state of life or console its absence. I treated him in death like a saint. I had him cremated, and I kept his ashes. Avatar Adi Da Samraj, The Knee Of Listening

  
  Holy Cat Grotto is a wild and profound place of healing and meditation.
  
  

  Holy Cat Grotto

  
  

  Empowerment of Holy Cat Grotto: September 17, 1979

  
  

  Empowerment of Holy Cat Grotto: September 17, 1979 Empowerment of Holy Cat Grotto: September 17, 1979 (click to enlarge)

  
  

  devotees at Holy Cat Grotto celebrating the anniversary of Robert the Cat's death July 4, 2005

  
  

  Initiation at Holy Cat Grotto: August, 2011 Initiation at Holy Cat Grotto: August, 2011 (click to enlarge)

  
  
  
• Huge Helper — Also known as "the hotel", after its original purpose when The Mountain Of Attention was still a hot springs resort called "Seigler Hot Springs".
  
  

  Huge Helper Huge Helper (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Huge Helper (February, 2011)

  
  

  Huge Helper (October, 2011) Huge Helper (October, 2011) (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Adi Da sitting with devotees at "Here I Am" holy site in front of Huge Helper, 1982

  
  

  Adi Da sitting with devotees at "Here I Am" holy site in front of Huge Helper, 1982

  
  

  "Here I Am" holy site "Here I Am" holy site (click to enlarge)

  
  

  The Well on the Mall in front of Huge Helper

  
  

  the Well surrounded by greenery the Well surrounded by greenery (Huge Helper: rear left, Darshan Adytum: rear right) (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Huge Helper and the Well beneath a full moon January, 2011

  
  

  Huge Helper in the early morning light: December, 2011 Huge Helper in the early morning light December, 2011 (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Huge Helper in the winter snow: December, 2012 Huge Helper in the winter snow December, 2012 (click to enlarge)

  
  
  
• Sri Adi Da Pitamata Asthi Mantapa — Translation: "Father-Mother Temple". Shorter name: Pita Mata Mantapa. The ashes of Adi Da's mother and father are in this Temple.
  
  

  Pitamata Asthi Mantapa Pitamata Asthi Mantapa (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Adi Da installs the ashes of His mother, Dorothy Jones, in Sri Adi Da Pitamata Asthi Mantapa October 1, 1995

  
  

  Dan Jones was Adi Da's first cousin. (Adi Da's father and Dan's father were brothers.) Dan Jones: In 1996, I went to The Mountain Of Attention. I started to actually "feel" the sanctuary when I was about fifty miles away. As I got closer, I was overcome with emotion and could feel the energy to the point that I thought I was going to be sick. Hal Okun took me to where my aunt and uncle's ashes are, and I knew without a doubt that my own blood was there, and it brought me to my knees before I could reach the door to the shrine where they are. Hal told me that Beloved Adi Da called it the most powerful spot in the universe . . . I have to agree.

  Adi Da as a young man, playing with Dan Jones Adi Da as a young man, playing with Dan Jones (click to enlarge)

  
  
• Darshan Adytum — Formerly called "Great Food Dish", because it used to serve as the central dining facility for The Mountain Of Attention.
  
  

  Darshan Adytum Darshan Adytum (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Adi Da with devotees, in front of Darshan Adytum, 1975. Land Bridge Pavilion is in the background. Adi Da with devotees, in front of Darshan Adytum, 1975. Land Bridge Pavilion is in the background. (click to enlarge)

  
  
• Land Bridge Pavilion — A large Communion Hall and one of the most used meeting places at The Mountain Of Attention. Adi Da offered devotees hundreds of Darshan and Discourse occasions here.
  
  

  Adi Da sitting with devotees in Land Bridge Pavilion in 1986 Adi Da sitting with devotees in Land Bridge Pavilion in 1986 (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Adi Da talking to devotees in Land Bridge Pavilion, 2005

  
  

  Adi Da in Land Bridge Pavilion November 4, 2005

  
  

  musical performance by concert pianist Katya Grineva Land Bridge Pavilion, August, 2005

  
  

  Adi Da's entrance to Land Bridge Pavilion Adi Da's entrance to Land Bridge Pavilion (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Adi Da's entrance to Land Bridge Pavilion Adi Da's entrance to Land Bridge Pavilion (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Presentation for devotees in Land Bridge Pavilion Presentation for devotees in Land Bridge Pavilion (click to enlarge)

  
  
  
  
• Chanting Springs
  
  

  Chanting Springs

  
  

  Chanting Springs (center) Chanting Springs (center) (click to enlarge)

  
  
• Temple Adi Da — Formerly known as "Western Face Cathedral".
  
  

  Adi Da's Entrance at the rear of the Temple Temple Adi Da: Adi Da's Entrance at the rear of the Temple (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Temple Adi Da (front): "Meditation and Puja Always in Progress. Silence Please. Om Ma Da."

  
  

  Temple Adi Da (front)

  
  

  Temple Adi Da (side view) in the snow

  
  

  Temple Adi Da and Plain Talk Chapel Temple Adi Da and Plain Talk Chapel (click to enlarge)

  
  
• Plain Talk Chapel — While most devotees meditate in Temple Adi Da, Adi Da set aside the neighboring Plain Talk Chapel for those devotees who, in meditation, tend to have noisy kriyas (bodily movements, vocalizations, etc. that arise when the natural bodily energies are stimulated by Adi Da's Spiritual Transmission), which might disturb other meditators if they weren't in a separate hall.
  
  

  Plain Talk Chapel in winter

  
  
• Fear-No-More Zoo / Sacred Camel Gardens — For more, visit the Fear-No-More Zoo website. Sacred Camel Gardens offers occasional "Retreats Among Camels"; check our Special Events section.
  
  

  Sacred Camel Gardens Sacred Camel Gardens (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Sacred Camel Gardens Sacred Camel Gardens (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Sacred Camel Gardens Sacred Camel Gardens (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Sacred Camel Shrine Sacred Camel Shrine (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Peaceful Baba (who has always shown a spiritual sensitivity to Adi Da) Peaceful Baba (who has always shown a spiritual sensitivity to Adi Da: more here) (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Sanctuary turkeys Sanctuary turkeys (click to enlarge)

  
  
  
  

  		Daji Megan Fear-No-More — Until the early 1980's, a German Shepherd named Megan lived with Adi Da at The Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary. Adi Da loved him dearly, and it soon became obvious that Megan wished only to serve his Spiritual Master as devoted friend and protector. He did so for nearly eight years. Daji Megan's burial site is at the entrance to Fear-No-More Zoo, a tangible sign of his guardianship.

  
  
  
• Tall Animals Land — A beautiful, forested area of the Sanctuary. The first puja was performed here on March 25, 1980.
  
  
• Bright Behind Me — Houses the Adidam Library and the Sacred Archives of Adidam. It was built on the site of the original Bright Behind Me Temple, which was lost to fire. Devotees still wear a bead (on their mala) that contains ash from the original Bright Behind Me (Adi Da's original residence at The Mountain Of Attention), as a reminder of their personal responsibility for Adi Da's Sanctuaries and every aspect of His work for the liberation of all beings.
  
  

  Bright Behind Me Bright Behind Me (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Devotees on the lawn in front of Seventh Gate. Bright Behind Me is behind them and Seventh Gate is to the left (not in picture). Devotees on the lawn in front of Seventh Gate. Bright Behind Me is behind them and Seventh Gate is to the left. (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Bright Behind Me Bright Behind Me (click to enlarge)

  
  
  
• Lithia Springs — One of the original springs from the Seigler Springs resort.
  
  

  Lithia Springs

  
  

  Lithia Springs: the original "Seigler Springs Resort" sign is still there! Lithia Springs: the original "Seigler Springs Resort" sign is still there! (click to enlarge)

  
  
• Goat's Wool Blanket — Quarters for Sanctuary residents.
  
  
• Spirit Vase — Quarters for Sanctuary residents.
  
  
• Middle Phase Chief
  
  
• Pile of Poles — Quarters for devotee retreatants on the Sanctuary.
  
  

  Pile of Poles Retreat Quarters Pile of Poles Retreat Quarters (click to enlarge)

  
  
• Home Dance — Home Dance was for many years the laundry facility of the Sanctuary (hence the name), until it was expanded and transformed into a retreat facility for devotees. It is now permanently heated with hydronic flooring. Hot water from Holy Cat Grotto is constantly flowing under the floor boards, providing radiant heat.
  
  

  Home Dance Retreat Center

  
  
• Quiet Dogs — In 1974, at Adi Da's request, Quiet Dogs was purchased to be part of The Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary. "Quiet Dogs" derives its name from the fact that the previous owner of Quiet Dogs had noisy dogs that were disturbing the quiet of the Sanctuary, a principal reason why Adi Da asked that devotees purchase the property. For members of the First and Second Congregation, meditation and service retreats are open all year round at Quiet Dogs for any length of time. Service retreats for members of the Third Congregation are offered on a case by case basis depending on the devotee's skills and the services needed on The Mountain Of Attention.
  
  

  Quiet Dogs Retreat Center

  
  
  
• Mother's Bed — A beautiful lake where Adi Da liked to swim and gather with devotees.
  
  

  Mother's Bed

  
  

  Adi Da with devotees on the platform in the middle of Mother's Bed: July 7, 1982 Adi Da with devotees on the platform in the middle of Mother's Bed: July 7, 1982 (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Adi Da in a kayak in Mother's Bed

  
  

  Children boating on Mother's Bed at The Mountain Of Attention (click to enlarge)

  
  
• Bright Room Gallery — Exhibiting the artistic work of Adi Da Samraj from 2003 - 2011. More here.
  
  

  Bright Room Gallery

  
  
• The Man of Radical Understanding — The public retreat center for The Mountain Of Attention.
  
  

  The Man of Radical Understanding Retreat Center

  
  

  The Lake of Radical Understanding

  
  
• Fresh Milk — The Adidam Bookstore at The Mountain Of Attention (open to the public).
  
  

  Fresh Milk (outside)

  
  

  Fresh Milk (inside)

  
  

  Fresh Milk visitors Fresh Milk visitors (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Fresh Milk visitor Fresh Milk visitor (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Fresh Milk visitors Fresh Milk visitors (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Fresh Milk visitors Fresh Milk visitors (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Fresh Milk at night, December, 2012 Fresh Milk at night, December, 2012 (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Celebration Gate (an entrance to the Sanctuary near Fresh Milk)

  
  

  Celebration Gate in winter

  
  

  A wild turkey on the path, heading up toward the gate A wild turkey on the path, heading up toward Celebration Gate (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Celebration Gate, looking outward Celebration Gate, looking outward (click to enlarge)

  
  

  Celebration Gate during a Celebration Celebration Gate during a Celebration (click to enlarge)

  
  
  
• First People — The primary kitchen and dining facility for The Mountain Of Attention.
  
  

  First People (in the snow)

  
  

  Adi Da making cookies in First People (December 23, 1995)

  
  

  Inside First People

  
  

  On a wall of First People: a picture of Adi Da as a young man, working in a kitchen similar to First People in the Catskills On a wall of First People: a picture of Adi Da as a young man, working in a similar kitchen in the Catskills (click to enlarge)

  
  

  devotees eating outside First People devotees eating outside First People (click to enlarge)

  
  
  
  
• Third People
  
  
• Art Trailer
  
  
• Cabins on the Circle — Cabins for some of the Sanctuary residents.
  
  

  Cabins on the Circle

  
  

  Cabins on the Circle (February, 2011) with Huge Helper in the distance

  
  
• First Room Theater
  
  

  First Room Theater

  
  

  Curtain Call

  
  

Partial list of books compiled from Adi Da's Instruction to devotees while He was living here:

• Garbage and the Goddess
• The Way That I Teach
• Love of the Two-Armed Form
• The Enlightenment of the Whole Body
• Drifted in the Deeper Land

Stories on this site associated with The Mountain Of Attention:

		The Miracle in the Garden: Adi Da's Empowerment of the First Holy Site — During her first weeks of coming to Avatar Adi Da in 1974, Ruchiradama Nadikanta broke many things, including a plaster statue of the Virgin Mary that belonged to Avatar Adi Da. At the same time, she was also in charge of the vegetable garden being planted at The Mountain Of Attention, and this too was problematic. Nothing would grow! For this reason, Avatar Adi Da decided (as He later put it) "to show her something".
		The Hole in the Universe: The Sacred Empowerment of Red Sitting Man Fire Site — In 1979, Avatar Adi Da created and consecrated a holy site at The Mountain Of Attention called Red Sitting Man. It was there, in July of that year, that He Initiated devotees into sacramental worship of Him in the form of fire. Fire is one of the most powerful elemental symbols of the Divine — a sign of Spirit, Light, and purification. Ann Rogers recalls the potency of the occasion in initiating her recognition of Avatar Adi Da as the Divine Person.
		The Guardian Owls: The Empowered Protection of Earth-Fire Temple — At Earth-Fire Temple, an elemental outdoor Holy Site at The Mountain Of Attention, the squirrels would messily eat the flower offerings every day. Laura deBaun tells how Adi Da worked via Empowered animal fetishes to protect this sacred Temple while also blessing the squirrels.
		A Touch of the Divine: A Miraculous Healing at Ordeal Bath Lodge — Ann Walsh tells the story of a miraculous healing that occurred spontaneously during a sacramental event at Ordeal Bath Lodge, a Holy Site/healing Temple at The Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary.
		The Peach — In July 1978, Avatar Adi Da Samraj invited the children of Mound Builder Free School to a devotional occasion at The Mountain Of Attention. This is the story of how Adi Da reads the mind and heart of one young devotee.
		An Immense Burden Had Been Lifted from Me — Toni Vidor tells a story (that took place in Ordeal Bath Lodge) of the impact of Adi Da's Spiritual Transmission on her: "When it was finally over, I felt as if an immense burden — eighty tons of whatever it was I had been carrying around all my life without even realizing it — had been lifted from me."
		Look the Fire in the Eye — On September 17, 1979, a hot and dry day, fire threatened The Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary. Ben Fugitt, a devotee caretaker of the Sanctuary, noticed the initial tuft of smoke, and sprang into action. He soon discovered that the fire was out of control, and heading on a direct line for the Sanctuary. He never anticipated the adventure Adi Da would involve him in that day.
		Garbage and the Goddess — Newcomers to The Mountain Of Attention during the first half of 1974 found themselves entering a place of Divine Power. They became immersed in a sea of energy, visions, and other psychic experiences, awakened through contact with the Spirit-Force of Adi Da Samraj. But, as their stories show, what was fundamentally occurring was the utter and overwhelming Revelation of Real God — and, therefore, of the true Nature and Power of Avatar Adi Da.
		"What Difference Does It Make How I Choose to Respond?" — Leroy Stilwell recounts a conversation with Adi Da about potential possession by a demon.
		Saving a Life in Future Time — Adi Da teaches devotee Hellie Kalogeros the Heimlich maneuver so that she can save the life of her child a few days later.
		When There Is Surrender — An account of Leroy Stilwell's first direct, tangible experience of Avatar Adi Da's Spiritual Transmission.
		The First Celibacy Consideration — In the summer of 1979, Adi Da began to talk about celibacy. He suggested that if we cut out our “middle class indulgence” in coupling, perhaps we would be able to really get down to the spiritual practice. James Steinberg describes where the consideration went from there.
		Remember the Mystery in Which You Live — In Land Bridge Pavilion, Avatar Adi Da Samraj responds to a young boy who wants to know how he can stop being "righteous".
		The Way That I Teach — Adi Da's 1975 essay.
		Reality as Happiness as Avatar Adi Da Samraj — an account by Kathleen Ewart of recognizing Avatar Adi Da Samraj as all-pervading Happiness.
		"And Who Is a Master?" — a conversation between Crane Kirkbride and Adi Da Samraj about the difference between the Divine Self-Realizer and God.

Miscellaneous

The Mountain Of Attention Coloring Book — A fun and educational activity-book for children ages 3–10. Features a full-color cover and 22 drawings of the Holy Sites of The Mountain Of Attention. Also includes stories about Adi Da Samraj's relationship to each of these special places. Available from The Dawn Horse Press.

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