While we all
pursue our own religious beliefs, sometimes, by Grace a call comes for all of
us to unite and contribute to a worthy cause and share in a dream.
A place has
been identified for spiritual retreat and silent meditation in a forested
environment in Bemban Village in Mambau, Seremban ,Malaysia
Anandashram
project, committed to Mauna-Silence, is a sweet interruption from the writing
chore to receive Mata’s prasada earmarked for the need of seekers who would
arrive to find silent solace at the Ashram and its environment. Anandashram to
be, when renovations are complete, would be a place of spiritual refuge removed
from urban life, for silent meditation and yogic disciplines amid forest, river
setting and man-made caves where spiritual and yogic disciplines are pursued.
Short of basic
guidance to tune out a noisy world, each ashramite is his or her own guru. The
Ashram is only a conduit for personal and communication with the Divine. Ashram
environment works in subtle ways affecting the inner world, the inherent home
of wisdom and intellect, as opposed to the outer world in which the senses and min d take place. Ashram life dissolves outer
influences and natures inner life directly thus giving rise to pure child-like
thoughts. But ashrams cannot remain as a crutch in anyone’s life. Erstwhile
experience of mauna in an ashram eventually leads one to essential sadhana to
carry out the express qualities of ashram life upon return and continue the
process.
Ashram prana is
spiritual in nature. It is a third perspective between the world and ashram
environment. Enter a forest, the pathway to your own inner Temple, be silent,
be still and find your silent Self; silent from mundane expectations and
resulting stress, silent from disappointments or anger, silent from negativity,
silent from the min d chatter and
above all silence from your lies and ego.
Discover that you are not a material
baggage but a spiritual being. That is true silence. In it, one may recognize
that you have been quietly reassessing prejudices and assumptions about
yourself and your life and opt to alter pre-set patterns of life.
Nature, as
Prakriti Mata stays showering grace in any green spiritual farm with
magnificent sunrise and sunsets, the sound of flowing water, sweet sounds of
birds chirping, are one of the best teachers for antahkarana suddhi, min d cleansing. Flora and fauna, which are the
embodiments of truth are spiritual shelters, the pathway to your own inner
sanctum, the quiet space inside, is found in mauna. Self-improvement, clarity
and relaxation come with silence. ‘The cure for all the illness is stored in
the inner depth of life itself, the access to which becomes possible when we
are alone. This solitude is a world in itself, full of wonders and resources
unthought of. It is absurdly near; yet so unapproachably distant” –
Rabindranath Tagore.
As it is, the
present building requires massive renovations. New ones are to be erected for
male-female dorms with kitchen and meditation hall, a bridge to cross a river
to enter virgin forest and also for earthworks and landscaping. Footpaths need
to be carved without hurting any part of prakriti. Three streams are also to be
redirected to found an inner pond in temple tank style with steps. Man-made
caves for experience sake are also envisaged. Time sharing chalets across the
river are future prospects.
