Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Confessions of an Ashramite

Akin to a self sufficient capsule, in idyllic environs, you loose count days, and time simply dissolves.
Living in an ashram, away from the chaotic hustle bustle of the city life was something I took for granted. Ever since my parents moved here a year ago, I've made countless trips.
I remember the first sight of ashram, almost five years ago, the first glimpse of the majestic Vishalakshi Mandap, proudly standing against the backdrop of a clear sky, with a dome that glistens in the sunlight, and changes color at night. It looked as if it was something out of dreams.

And then over the years, with numerous satsangs with the master in the VM, and the meditation sessions in His presence. The sanctity of the place only increased in my eyes. And now, I feel almost as if I have grown up in this ashram, as the world outside ceases to exist the moment I step in here. 

Life before the day I stepped into this enchanted land has slowly faded into oblivion. Every step I walk here feels sacred. Everything seems to take on an ethereal quality here. The colors seem more intense, music, more melodious, its as if mother nature is dressed in her best attire to please her lord.

Calm and meditative, yet alive and kicking. I've lost count of the time I've seen teary-eyed people, wishing they didnt have to ever leave this place. 

Home is where you come back to nature, where you dont have to pretend anymore, where you never need to prove anything.
Its where you get the deepest rest. Its where no matter how much you grow up, you still get taken care off like a child. 

Sometimes its not easy to accept things which are so blatantly natural, that truth shines from every pore of it. I got so accustomed to living in a artificial and pretentious world, that there were times when I felt uncomfortable, times when I felt my identity dissolved, times when I felt like rebelling.

And then I felt a presence, so comforting, so unconditional, that I knew, no matter what I did, I will always be taken care of. And those insecurities that lash on, only makes me stronger by the day, so that when I go outside, to take on the world, I would be able to extend the same unconditional love and comfort to those not as fortunate as me.

Ashram....even a simple act like typing this post in its space feels divine. 

Jai gurudev!

6 Annotations:

Ashish said...

I am speechless.....
But it is the best thing to be in ashram...
and in your case , be in the ashram whenever you want to....[:)]

Anonymous said...

Beautifully put :)
I jus realized that its jus been 3 n half years since I came to AOL n ashram. And now cant imagine a day without AOL my sadhana as if its been a part of me since birth.
Life as I see now is same but the way I approach it has changed completely. I realize it when on a monday morning when see sad faces of my colleagues I realize that now there is no difference between in feeling I have on a sunday morning or a monday morning :).
Jaigurudeva!
Love
Anant

In Search Of Myself said...

Nicely written...!!!

Anonymous said...

particularly man that english is really good :)
man just too good.
In my opnion the whole world is the ashram:)
so that is what guruji wants to happen right:)
And that is what we and everyone will be working for
So all you guys are with me:)
In few years time this will happen and by this way the Ashram wont get crowded and i wil get to meet the guruji in person:)

what do you think about it Wicked right:)
lots of love to whomsoever breathing or not:)
jaigurudeva

Goli said...

Hi,
Loved those lines about home. That was written beautifully.

I agree about Aashram thing, I love the meditation that happens on the ground in the evening, under the moonlight, it is really great experience.

keep writing.

Abhay Karnataki said...

Yeah, there is so much silence in there. Even when I leave for Ashram, something quietens. And sometimes Euphoria downs!

And its amazing what a variety of things happen there! Like one day a piano concert, another day, homas and pujas, other day, classical dance performance, Sikh Guru s, Muslim moulavi s, so many languages, international guests, ... list is endless!