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What is an Ashram?
An Ashram is a place of inner spirituality and freedom
that is open to all people. Each Ashram centres around the
teachings of a head yogi or guru, someone who
has acquired a special, and thus an enlightened, understanding
of the world.
Apart from the spiritual challenge Ashrams can provide cheap,
clean accommodation and good food for the traveller. And anyone
is welcome to stay, provided you stick to the rules. If you
are thinking about staying in an Ashram there are a couple
of things you want to bear in mind as there are definite rules
for staying in one: |
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Andrew Daddo meditates at an Ashram
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Rules for staying at an Ashram
The first thing to keep in mind, especially if you are travelling
with your girlfriend or boyfriend is that there is to be no
touching, no feeling, no looking, no groping, no nudity and
no affection at all. Other rules, which might seem less obvious
to the westerner but are also important, include no playing
cards, no playing chess, no antisocial activities, no political
discussions and no jokes! Don't expect a fun or sociable time
at an Ashram, but it is a clean, safe and cheap place to stay
where you can get good food and is an ideal place to bed down
if you're travelling alone.
People generally come to the Ashram for peace and a new and
different way of life. Whilst each Ashram in different, some
of the common aims of an ashram is to change the whole world
spiritually by improving each individual's life, and to help
spiritually awakened, people do intense meditation to increase
the power of the divine forces. A stay in an Ashram should
cleanse the mind and foster inner peace. |
