How it all began ...

Hari Om!

Om Namo Bhagavate Satchidanandaya!

Through the series of Living Yoga Retreats in the UK, Sri Gurudev seems to have awakened a pure river of devotion and a yearning to live together in Divine Love and Light, creating Sri Gurudev's vision of a heaven on the earth. It has awakened in many hearts a wish for our very own Ashram, here in Europe.

At the moment it seems that the Ashram would be based in the UK (where the energy and enthusiasm has arisen) and from there it would serve the entire European Sangha. It will be for us all - everyone is included.

For this to manifest, we need to all share together in its vision and planning, to make it truly ours.

Gopal (Neil) Hill has been inspired with a beautiful vision of an eco Ashram which you will see below, and he has kindly agreed to be the Project Manager. If you are interested to see our ideas for taking it forwards, our plans so far are below.

We ask you to send us your very own vision for our Ashram here in Europe - any and all ideas that come into your mind and heart - post them on this website and share them with everyone. We will collate all the ideas into one final and radiant Vision Statement. All offers of help, expertise and experience, any comments are very welcome.

So let everyone have a say, the more we share our vision, the more we will own the concept and divine energy will pour through us to bring it into being .
Let's all join together to contribute to this project and enable our Ashram to be born soon!

Jai Sri Satguru Maharajki! JAI!

Om Prem
Rev. Padma priya



WISDOM CEREMONY FOR THE ASHRAM

Ashram for Europe Project
On the weekend of 16th August, our dear Usha Piscini traveled from Italy to London and performed a special Mandala Wheel Ceremony for our Ashram Project.

The ceremony took 4 hours and is based on native American tradition combined with Raja, Jnana, Karma and Bhakti Yoga. It gave us access to much wisdom and guidance. Our deep thanks to Usha and to Sri Gurudev for all his blessings.

Here is a synopsis of the guidance that came through the ceremony – at times it was as if the Ashram itself was speaking to us.

First Vision: A golden lotus flower as tall as a tree, weeping white nectar all around – as each drop touched the ground, a L.O.T.U.S. Temple sprang up.
A weeping rose tree, overflowing with beautiful pink blossoms, almost touching the ground.
Both are symbols of Divine Love – one eastern and one western – symbolizing the coming together of east and west.

Eagle Vision: Location: south west UK. There seemed to be woodland to the NW, a hill to the NE, a river to the E and a road to the SE.

First Question: How to help motivate and inspire this yearning which is flowing through all hearts, like a flower that has bloomed simultaneously in so many hearts. How to enable each one to contribute to it in some way?

Answer: It is to be a place where everyone feels it is their Home – the people who live there will be simply taking care of the home for everyone and to welcome them when they come, so that each visit is like family Christmas (the good ones!). In order to contribute people have to know what it is going to be and that it will be something for all future generations.

Question: It has been asked why in the UK?
Answer: Europe is diverse and is now experienced in coming together in peace. The UK is a country where all nationalities are welcome. Unity in diversity. Also Sri Swami Satchidananda made the UK his last place to visit before returning to India to leave his body. It is possible the reason he chose the UK was to “seed” this Ashram for Europe as a gift to all. All the European Integral Yoga Centres are the drops of nectar from the Golden Lotus. There will be a Board of European Representatives. It will be a Home for all of Integral Yoga in Europe.

Guidance: It has to be affordable and sustainable. Its foundation is faith and charity. The Ashram will be like a flower that all the bees come to. Setting it up as a charitable foundation will enable it to prosper as a channel of Mother Lakshmi’s prosperity. Providing finance and donations and tithing and offers of services and materials and facilities in advance in full faith, will help the Ashram to be born easily, to manifest itself.
Fund-raising programmes also create streams of energy to support the Project as it prepares to come into being. People should know what the money is going to.
Creating the right spirit is a good foundation. There needs to be a clear picture of what is needed and good management.

For the Residents: The leader, staff and all residents to be good examples of clear boundaries, able to serve self and others – no examples of burnt-out exhausted people. Staff package to include at least one massage and one hot tub per week. This is joyful living. There will be a “Bank of Time” exchange system, sharing services between the whole community.

Creativity Nurturing the artists and creative people – art exhibitions, poetry workshops and sharing it in Satsang. Sharing dance – peace dances, Sufi dance, sacred dance, Bio Danza, etc. Having a choir as well as kirtan group, and musicians supported in their creativity. A theatre group – sketches and plays to start small and let everyone have a go. Keywords: fun, light and lively.

Learning from the Past Learn what was difficult in the beginning of the Ashram in the US – example, lack of privacy. This Euro Ashram envisages having “pods” or cabins for residents. Each pod would also have a guest room to take in visitors and people on residential programmes – so we all get to know each other – elderly or lonely people or people whose children have left home having possibility to host – but also possibility of private cabins or dorms. We are inviting people involved in the setting up of the US Ashram to be on our Board of Guiding Angels.

Emotional Life The founding emotion of the Ashram is peace, tranquility, serenity.
Following all the teachings of Sri Swami Satchidananda. Personal relationships to be founded on spiritual values. Fostering understanding of the benefits of committed relationship based on shared spiritual values – perhaps newspaper articles “Why are yoga boys and girls so attractive?” “Why marry a yoga girl?” Understanding they have different values, are solidly grounded and value service and faithfulness.
To cope with possible anger and conflict between residents, have a mediation facility – how do yogis resolve their conflicts? When we have the same value system, we always have one thing in common to work from – finding common ground. Not just listening, but having counsellors. Have occasional seminars about fear, anger, depression, etc. Ensure there is a very good communication system.

Human Resources Look at changing people around in their work roles to help them develop other aspects of themselves. Let work always be their play – it’s all fun. Get a balance of that in everyone’s day, in their week, in their life.

Message from the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine, An Ashram For Europe:
I am a living creature with my own life, my own timeline, my own flavour – my own life! I will be a place of peace for at least the next 7 generations. No doubt about it.