Dear Swamiji
After my three month Yogic Studies Course in 2019, I had the opportunity to come and stay in my spiritual home for which I am really thankful. I was eagerly waiting to relive the ashram life because once you taste something higher, you never want to taste anything else. This is how I hold this place in my heart.
I came to the ashram with the only purpose to go back to basics and free myself from everyday indulgence, and realigning myself with the truth, reality and teachings of my Guru. Normally when we do anything, we do it in the mood of achievement. We want to get it done as easily and as neatly as possible. This makes us believe that we are the real doers and it puts us at the centre making our ego to be the driving force.
In the ashram when we do something, we do it in the mood of service. We pray to the divine for being an instrument. This makes automatically everything perfect and auspicious because we surrender our will to Him.
This is what I learnt from you, from this place and tried working upon it, and also managed consciously to an extent. Spiritual life is all about serving and not achieving. With these teachings and keeping these goals clearly in mind – to serve, to love, to give, to be purposeful, humble and to spread love and joy to everyone – I say Hari Om.
Devishakti, Munger
Dear Swamiji
This short stay in the ashram has impacted me so much that I am already planning my next visit. I have been coming to the ashram before going to school. My whole family encouraged me to come to the ashram, yet I never made up my mind to stay . . . In life we are told to study, have a degree, get a job, a good married life and then life is set. That is all I did. I studied and got a good job, yet I did not know why I felt I was missing something. I worked on every aspect of my life but not the internal one. Especially my grandparents told me to visit yet I was busy in my own way. Now that they are no more I feel like doing exactly what they wanted me to do.
I am amazed to encounter how a place can be so positive, an environment where everyone is so full of energy and smiles. A place where we work for one another without any motive. A place where I came several times yet failed to understand. I can say I was not mature to understand the true meaning of life. I am 27 now and I think I have done MBA, yet no degree teaches what needs to be taught . . . the basic learning I learnt here – doing things without expectation, to serve, love and give, to live a yogic lifestyle, to wake up early, to do karma yoga, to deal with my attitude and ego, to have a better understanding of positivity and goodness, to be more aware in all actions and to be positive in thought, word and action.
These are very small things yet I never imagined they could bring peace and happiness to me. I may sound not so mature but I also had my reality check. Doing things here was easy but doing the same when I am outside will be a challenge. I understood the changes in lifestyle and the small steps have the answers of my unanswered questions All people in the ashram are examples and we learn from them. My stay was full of learnings and a lot of hard work, a pocket full of sunshine, a lot of broccoli and positive vibes in my tummy. It was my first step to a good life.
Shruti, Munger