GOODNESS, GENTLENESS AND NOBILITY

 

About Ashrams, in Short

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Ashrams are isolated places usually surrounded by nature and silence which people who see themselves as anchorites, hermits or ascetics are drawn into. In Western society a pendant to the Indian Ashram would be a monastery.

 

These are places where hermits come. Hence people who feel that they should transform or completely eradicate their passions (usually the lowest), lust, fads and all that they have recognized as a reason for confusion and restlessness in their spirit and anxiety in their heart. In ashrams people live, study the Vedas (ancient Indian scriptures) and practice together with the masters of asceticism, meaning with those people who themselves have worked on everything they felt they lacked to accomplish and complete their existence and so they approached their higher self.

The secret to taming and restraining that dark side of the ego as well as to transforming human consciousness has been known to India thousands of years before Christ. That Indian science of the soul and higher consciousness is called Yoga. There are many different life paths, or different Yogas and the famous wisdom of the ancient Indian is practiced in the Ashrams. Namely, it is about goodness, gentleness, nobility.

Unlike in India where the tradition of going to the Ashram has been centuries old, since the word Yoga (but unfortunately not its real, true practice which the root in the science and practice of Tantra is) was transmitted to the West, going to Ashram has become very popular.

Considering that the Ashrams as places where various types of Yoga are practiced and have never been part of the culture and tradition in the West, it is quite understandable that these places have very little or almost no alikeness, intent, outcome or strength (unless we allude to control and manipulation of people’s emotional insecurity, their money or their loneliness) like the Ashrams in India have always had.

Although the Ashrams are quite interesting topic that could be discussed a lot about, the topic in this place is yet about practice or learning which is inevitably and daily in such places heard, especially in the Western Ashrams.

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Westerners today travel to the Ashrams all around the world. Decisions to go to an Ashram are conscious decisions of adults and no one in the world is forced to isolate himself from the world (children born and growing up in these isolated places from the rest of the world unfortunately don’t choose it themselves).

In the Ashram, however, no one has ever enlightened or, especially in the West, encountered neither any hermits and ascetics, nor transformed, higher consciousnesses of the Ashram leaders and their associates.

The offers and program for staying in such places are different.

You can spend a day, two, a weekend, a few days, weeks or months. If you pay an all-inclusive spirituality it is up to you to choose how you want to spend your time at the Ashram, just like in an all-inclusive hotel. If you go for more affordable or special deals (not free, there is no Ashram where you can stay for free unless you decide that you do not want to spend years of your precious life nowhere else then in one Ashram) you will spend a few hours every day working at shops, gardens, bookkeeping, toilets, dishwashers and more.

In the Ashrams and in the practice of Yoga this is called karma yoga and in almost all the Ashrams of the world such work, such action and invested time without expecting compensation of any kind in the name of leaving or re-educating the dark side of the ego and transforming consciousness, is a fundamental teaching mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Indian text.

Bhavagad Gita is an extremely interesting, instructive and inspirational text that I recommend to anyone who wants to deepen his perspectives on his entire existing. When such a text is read, one begins to think about what is goodness, gentleness and nobility, and what battles are to be fought and which ones are not.

But, in order to do good deeds, to tame the side of the ego that brings about the unhappiness of the soul and instability of the psyche, you do not have to go to an ashram and wash the closets or do chores that you have certainly not longed for and certainly will not make you ” better ”people, enlightened, not least yogis.

 

To be a karma yogi which means nothing but unconditionally doing good to others and to yourself, what means to practice humanity, you do not have to imprison yourself in either the Ashram or any cocoon of prejudice or belief.

Unconditionally really means without any conditions and expectations; you should not even expect thanks for your deed though it is a boomerang which, as the most powerful prayer, returns to the other side in the most beautiful light and bliss.

 

Goodness, gentleness, nobility and philanthropy do not exist since the Ashrams exist. 

 

On the contrary, there is no philanthropy in the Ashrams. Everyone comes there for himself.

Usually these are the people who in the name of “enlightenment” and “spirituality” mostly give up family, the greatest treasure. Instead of facing problems at the very source and flowing with time, they flee to the confluence which for them will remain unattainable and thus never reachable as they are using shortcuts in life. Instead of taking care about the love at arm’s length in the closest space and time they flee to some fictional matrix thinking of themselves as very big and important yogis (a yogi is a man who has united his lower consciousness with a higher one). The latest feeds loneliness, unhappiness and the vanity and ego with food that kills heart and its goodness.

Besides, time was not given the opportunity to put the things in their place.

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One does not always have to find himself at one of the intersections of confusion and indecision in order to remember that philanthropy, unconditional giving and caring for others always and unmistakably lead him to the most peaceful days and nights. It’s innate, it just needs to be revived.

There is no need to wait for organized actions of the State or other people’s petitions and proposals. One can share and care  unconditionally without fear for tomorrow and with forgiveness for yesterday, now.

A man who shares with others even if he has very little does not lose. On the contrary, he remains in abundance of health, liberation and peace at all levels of mind and soul and therefore of the body. Such a person, like the one who gives his time and shares his knowledge without conditions or charge, is surely called karma yogi, although the same person may never have heard of Ashram or Yoga especially not for Karma Yoga. True Karma yogi speaks the truth, he is a warm person and does not usually suffer from big illnesses.

Goodness is a circle-shaped substance.

Nothing ever ends. It just changes forms.

Although we have come at a time when being good equates to being a fool it is good to remain true to that innate gift without fashion.

Yet distinction should be made between people who share what they have. True goodness is not the wine and dine someone. It’s a stupid way to get attention. True good and spiritual people are good people every day in every way.

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It is important not be too fast at giving and also to make a good difference what is given in order that kindness still contains love and meaning not to mix containers with living people. Who really needs it and who doesn’t. Otherwise goodness would turn into  pointless toward oneself and unjust to others.

The ashram is thus the whole World and the whole environment of man which is not only free but brings the most beautiful liberation.

Just remember the feeling of fulfillment and inner freedom in the moment when you got rid of everything that presses your soul and tightens your chest even if it is a twenty years padded basement mess.

You feel like the richest most empty but still the most complete not only karma yogi but a liberated being altogether will be energized and relieved, ready for new transformations.

 

Goodness, gentleness and nobility are the greatest gift that a human being could receive from his creator.