Sanatan Jyoti - Bharat Sevashram Sangha

ETERNAL LIGHT ♦ SANATAN JYOTI ♦ 2013Message from the Acting President of ExecutiveCommittee of BSSNADear Fellow Devotees,November 23, 2013It’s amazing how far Bharat Sevashram Sanghas’ Chicago branch came in shortperiod of time. It all started in 1992 in the basement of a devotee’s home in Chicago.That was the time when Swami Purnatmananda-ji just came to this country. With thecooperation of devotees and his hard work and dedication, within few years in 1997Swami Purnatmananda-ji was able to acquire Chicago Ashram’s first own building.Soon after that Ashram purchased a bigger building in Elgin, Illinois and from therein 2007 Ashram moved to even bigger building in the historic city of Aurora, Illinois.Aurora Ashram’s building is 16,000 sq. ft. of floor space with high ceiling andauditorium in the basement. It also has 60 car capacity parking lot. These are somethings none of the previous Chicago Ashram buildings had.Purchasing a big building is one thing, maintaining a building of this size is evenbigger challenge. Being in Midwest, during coldest months of the year heating bill forthe Ashram alone goes as high as $3,000/month. Then of course there are otherutility bills and cost of building maintenance, lawn maintenance etc. These are notonly expenses for the Ashram. There are many other legal and compliance relatedexpenses.With Gods grace, with generous donations received from all devotees like you,Ashram somehow able to manage such huge expenses. Apart from monitorydonations, many devotees give their countless hours to do Ashram’s work thatotherwise Ashram had to pay someone to hire to get that work done. Devotees’selfless work not only does good to their heart and soul, but also sets great examplefor future generation.Annual fundraiser is the only event which Ashram holds for the purpose of collectingdonations. Other times devotees willingly donate when they come for Pujas and8BHARAT SEVASHRAM SANGHA OF NORTH AMERICA, CHICAGO