Notes of First Ashram Planning Meeting

Planning Meeting to Discuss
Ashram for Europe
Date: 04.10.09
Place: Zen Zone, Bournemouth, Dorset
Present: Gopal Neil , Charlie, Nandini, Sumukhi, Satyam Nick, Lalita, Raghavan, Jo, Moira, Linda Vincent from Greece, Greta, Radha, Rev. Padma Priya

Rev. Padma gave a summary of how the Ashram Project had come into being and what support has already been offered (as shown on this website).

Gopal then invited everyone to share their views and ideas.


Linda: When I visited the Ashram in the US I found that the ecological aspect was missing, so this idea is perfect – to live within what nature can provide for us. My centre in Greece was built with respect for all beings. It would flow with Gurudev’s teaching of living in harmony with the earth.

Moira: I feel this idea is really exciting. There are a lot of efforts worldwide towards eco living but it is all taking a long time. It is exciting that this project is not dependent on government. Maybe this is a another way of leading by example.

Gopal: Many people have said they want to be in a space that is in itself healing. The building itself can be a part of a spiritual process. Everyone has said this is a really good time for this to happen.

Jo: I picture it as living in a spiritual community where the children can safely play. I value my own space within the context of a community, so would like to have my own “pod”.

Raghavan: I feel very open to this but have no solid ideas are coming yet. We were trying to get the centre in Bournemouth to happen in an urban environment. I have lots of question marks around something like this. Would you draw everything to come together or will everything continue to grow separately? I don’t know how it is going to manifest. The biggest thing I learnt from the other centre was that the world didn’t need it.

Padma: Just to remind of Raghavan’s idea a few weeks ago that we could build eco (straw bale) houses which could cost perhaps £50,000 each, say for 20 families who would each pay £70,000 – the extra money could pay for the central building and that it could be a quick way to get the project started.

Gopal: We have no idea how big it might be. I like the idea of it being a place where children can grow up in a spiritual and ecological place.

Greta: In Plum Village in France everyone lives together as a community and Lee and I felt so nourished. We really want to live in that kind of community and be nourished by each other and the children can play together. I am really excited about this idea.

Lalita: I think it is very exciting and important and is going to happen. To live in an eco environment, bringing up children is the future. Everybody will be welcome – having visitors to share the energy of that type of environment. Myself and Pradip are waiting eagerly to see what direction the ashram project takes and will give our 100% support to get another “heaven on earth”.

Sumukhi: The residents would live based on the teachings of Gurudev.

Padma: It would be a place where we would support each other in our spiritual aspirations.

Jo: I am not vegetarian but would be prepared to follow that at the ashram, but am not sure I agree with vegetarianism.

Gopal: Our organisation is not meant to be prescriptive – we can teach by example and share the benefits of the example of not eating meat. I wouldn’t want to exclude people on those lines – where would you draw the line? Lacto-vegetarian, vegan?

Moira: I was inspired by the TT course to take away with me what was working for me and to leave everything else.

Charlie: It is important that it isn’t seen as a cult but as a shining light of the community pumping goodness into the local community.

Raghavan: The US ashram has 3 layers – residents in their own houses and trailers outside, then the dorms etc. where visitors stay and then the monastery where the swamis live. There is a code of conduct for the central space where we all come together.

Satyam: I was part of a community in Southbourne based on EST training, which had 6 health shops. Residents would sit down together and talk about everything to agree our ideas. It worked well and the community lasted for about 7 years.

Sumukhi: It is going to be a beacon to make a difference on the planet as a whole and a place for family and children. If we are going to make a difference and teach people to live ecologically, we have to teach our children about this so I think it’s going to be a key part of what we do – educating children – having kids come and stay and learn how to live in harmony with themselves and their planet. There will be a school there open to children from outside. I would like to be instrumental in setting that up. Our principles will spread to the rest of the country.

Gopal: I wish that the school would be as much for adults as for children. We are changing from an oil-based economy to communities of self-reliance, letts schemes, local currencies – village life and the community is the natural way and many people want to go back to it – a life of sharing and lessening our expectations of possessions. Sharing the art of the possible.

Satyam: We would have our own organic small-holding to be self-sufficient.

Raghavan: The Ashram in the US had a very profound leader who had a very clear idea of who they were.

Linda: Where would the spiritual guidance come from? People are often attracted to come and see that person.

Sumukhi: It is not the person, it is the teachings. If we are true to the teachings it will have that same pull. There would always be a swami there. There could be a committee with a swami as head of it.

Padma: People have asked me “who would the Guru be?” The answer seems clear – the Guru will be Love – the love that is inside all our hearts. This is a new time and a new energy is flowing, as we see from this wonderful ecological inspiration – it is the time to move away from hierarchies towards ethical and loving consensus based on shared spiritual values and goals.

Gopal: It would have to be practical as a business – you would need people to think about stuff like where are we going to have a biomass boiler, etc. You would need tiers of administration. Is it going to be an Integral Yoga ashram or an ashram?

Sumukhi: My understanding is an Integral Yoga ashram based on the teachings of Gurudev.

Padma: The call for this ashram has come from the hearts of the Integral Yoga students and devotees, so it would be answering that call. It will be based on the principles of faith and charity and service and the teachings of Sri Gurudev.

Satyam: We need about £3 million for the land.

Raghavan: The place in Wimborne cost £3 million.

Satyam: We need to look for a brown site and do an eco study. Malcolm Davis is an expert who would be prepared to give a free report and help us to get planning permission. He will work together with Gopal’s land-finding person – a dream team!

(Action agreed: Satyam & Gopal to put them in touch with each other)

Nandini: I want to be involved and give something back to Integral Yoga. I have never felt that anything has been forced on me and it will attract those kind of people who will enjoy that kind of lifestyle.

Satyam: It would be wasting time to look for land until we have some money.

Gopal: Satish Kumar of Resurgence Magazine has offered support. The magazine would like to publish a series of articles on how to build a spiritual ecological community. Perhaps we could put an ad in Resurgence?

Satyam: Contact the Prince of Wales and let him know what we are doing. We could choose ten people to let them know what we are doing but not ask for money.

Gopal: You have to let them offer on their own terms. We got the Duke of Westminster to host a dinner party and auction stuff but we were not asking for anything.

Satyam: We could look up Who’s Who and write to lots of people. Then we could put “supported by so-and-so”

(Action agreed: Satyam, Gopal and Padma to work together on a draft letter)

Gopal: Let’s remember it is to be Europe wide and be open to that.

Sumukhi: Euro MP’s and local MP’s want to be seen to be green – they could be a source of support.

Satyam: Nice to have a mix of people who are also spiritual as well as eco.

Raghavan: It could be good to draft a letter to the Euro sangha to see who would be interested in living there, coming to visit or what would your interest be? Let’s ask people what they are prepared to do? Sell their house and live at the ashram?

Satyam: We would need to buy somewhere with room to expand if necessary. It might really take off.

Raghavan: People could have second homes there as a base – it could be rented out to visitors on programmes. There are simple structures that don’t need planning permission – wooden buildings, yurts, etc..

Padma: Would the Wimborne property be suitable for eco building?

(Action agreed: that Raghavan would check if it was still for sale)

Gopal: It needs its own website to link to a letter.

Moira: I know an eco architect who may like to help us. I will ask him and put him in touch with Gopal.

Gopal: I will ask my website builder to help us get a website up and running.

Satyam: We need to be clear about how many houses, how many dorms, how many central buildings, etc. Straw bale buildings are very cheap.

Gopal: The council in Leicester has approved a straw bale project to be built by a company called Amazon Nails. They might draw something for us and we could retain them as consultants to build it.

Satyam: What is the lifespan of these houses?

Gopal: It is suggested 300 or 400 years.

(Action agreed: that Gopal will contact Amazon Nails)

Raghavan: Prefab dome homes are very cheap and can be connected to each other.

Gopal: Or you can build from green wood and let it season in situ. It is much cheaper – instead of £40,000 it could cost hundreds instead.

Satyam: I have some contacts who are involved in oak frame buildings.

Gopal: I suggest we set up 3 small groups to begin working on these ideas and to come back to a meeting in a few weeks time and take it to the next stage. Perhaps financial, building and land-finding groups.

Raghavan: Invite meetings of Integral Yoga all over Europe and send them a questionnaire of how would you like to be involved – buy your own house, rent one or just visit.

Moira: We need a clear vision of what everyone wants.

Sumukhi: Ask all teachers to ask their students their ideas and needs and offers of skills, finance, fund raising, etc.

Moira: Yes, personal involvement is much better than a letter.

Gopal: We could say the Bournemouth group has had a meeting and has come up with the following suggestions. It would be helpful for Siva, Uma and Bath to have similar meetings and come up with their suggestions and all the Euro Centres.

(Action agreed: that Padma will email the Euro Sangha to invite them to hold their own meetings and also to ask their needs of the ashram, also to ask teachers to speak with their students.)


Raghavan: The name is important. Ashram may put some people off.

Padma: It has been suggested it is called the L.O.T.U.S. Community or maybe just the L.O.T.U.S.

Gopal: I have set up an email forum and will send invitations to everyone.

(Action agreed: Gopal to send invitations to the Euro sangha to join the ashram forum group.)

Sumukhi: I feel drawn to organise the fund raising.

(some ideas already mentioned are: dinner party and auction of promises, straw bale house paper weight, text message donations, sponsored and named planks, bales, plants, trees, etc.)

Charlie: I would like to help with that, and may be able to help through Bournemouth Council.

(Action agreed: Sumukhi and Charlie to head up a fund-raising committee)

Moira: Networking is important – putting people in touch with each other.

It was agreed that Rev. Padma would send a letter inviting all sanghas throughout Europe to hold their own similar meetings and share with us their ideas and suggestions and also to ask how they would like to use the ashram – whether buying, renting, teaching or visiting and the replies would be discussed at the next meeting.