Clock ticks and the thought tricks. Amidst the busy schedule of the modern day human, the inner person yearns to seek refuge under the shade of the tree of mental peace and spiritual poise. But where do we find such symbolic trees in our lives? We are always on the run and we seldom stop to even acknowledge that we exist, let alone know that we are sentient living creatures and let alone our observation of such trees around us. Robotic is the way of our life and monotonic is the flavour of our life. The only way we can find the shade of peace in our life is when we pause for a while and escape to the world of spirituality. It is only the spiritual way of life that brings in the variegated colors to the otherwise motonic life and makes our robotic life an unexpected amalgamation of inexplicable thrills.
After finishing my doctoral work (PhD – in quantum physics) in Ireland, I have returned recently to India with the mindset that I have to serve my motherland. But in what way does my Mother-India need my services when there are already many stalwarts at her disposal, was the question bugging me. Having a spiritual inclination since childhood, I thought I must first calm the ripples in my mind and then let the inner-self see the clear path.
As I dived deep into the retrospective world of my past interactions with the spiritual giants, one clear message was waiting for me to receive its attention. This was the loving and caring message from “Chinmayaranyam (Ellayapalle, Andhra Pradesh)” which invited me to their Ashram when I was in IIT Madras (I was then a masters student). But the then situations did not allow me to visit. Yet, the heartfelt message of theirs touched my heart long ago and I guess, even after 6 years, it has been acting as a catalyst for my decision to come back and serve our country! As I am currently free from any work-entanglements, I have decided to “pause” a while in the so called busy life and pay a visit to this ashram. Little did I know that I was entering into the land of spiritual ecstasy!
It was my first visit to the ashram and hence I had no opinion as such except for the sense of serenity of the atmosphere which I decoded from looking at the google-pics. Like a kid who is eager to visit the disney land, I was very much eager to visit this ashram and spend time in the lap of mother nature. The ashram was 8 hrs away from my home and the journey was during the day which made it interesting. As the trees and stones pass by, they reminded me of the unstoppable nature of flow of TIME. After crossing the borders of my state and entered the borders of AP, towards nearing to the ashram, I could see a drastic difference in the environment greenery. The thick leaved plants on both sides of the road were standing like the heavenly beings welcoming me into their divine land of beauty. The smell of the air, the cold breeze, the setting sun, the hillocks, etc., took their paint brush and drew their beautiful sentient image on the blank sheets of my mind making it ready to experience the serenity of the Ashram soon.
Finally we have reached our destination and there was a big gate, opening its way into the Ashram. I contacted Swamini Shreyananda and informed her of our arrival and she courteously arranged a visitor room for us. After a tiresome journey, the melodious cooing of the birds and the secret whisperings of leaves and twigs had a soothing effect on my mind and hence the body. It was relaxing to be immersed in a spiritually charged atmosphere which had nothing but the energising fields emanating from each and every atom of the land. (This may seem surprising to hear but the person who sincerely comes seeking a mental poise, for sure can sense such pious emanations.) The reason for this was known to me later on but the effects I could already experience.
Chinmayaranyam
It seems that this Ashram was conceived in the mental planes and was manifested into the physical planes by that divine ray of the World Mother which was encapsulated in the physical body, for the time being, having the name of Swamini Saradapriyananda (http://chinmayaranyam.org/sarada.html) !
She was a gem-disciple of Swami Chinmayananda. Incidentally later on my mother revealed to me that Sri Saradapriyananda was the guru of my maternal grandmother and that she used to have “Bhiksha” – the food offering offered by us at our grandmother’s home whenever she visited their village. That was a strange undercurrent which might have brought me here without my intent at first! A guru of highest order, when manifests in a physical body, often brings with them their able disciples who themselves are highly evolved in the spiritual evolutionary cycles. Look at Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa – Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo – The Mother, Sri Yukteswar – Yogananda, etc. Such pairs, behind the human viel of relationships (Guru-student) form the replica of the pairs of Śiva and Śakti and enact the drama of the cosmic dance through their revered and unparalleled work! The Guru is the Śiva – the source of the world-plan whereas the disciple is the Śakti – the dynamic principle that carries out the world-plan into manifestation. The same is true in this case where, Swami Chinmayananda, hailed as second Vivekananda, is himself a dynamic and energising personality in the history of Indian spirituality. His inner plans were carried out by Swamini Saradapriyananda as the very routine of her life. She offered her thought-word & deed to her Guru and that is why HE worked through HER as verily HER!
She always wanted to help the village people in the right way. She wanted to uplift the dynamic human inside each one of them and train them to be the useful citizen of Mother India. To do this, they need work, a lifestyle, an income source, a good environment for their children to learn and develop, etc. All this needs to be carried out without losing the grounding to Indian Dharma and not leaving any villager hungry. That was her inner desire (or the seeds of the divine plan!). The perfect spot was given by God (through the people of the village) to her (this ashram’s land). But, when it was given, it was a barren land – no water, no tree, nothing. When she established this Ashram and invited her Gurudev, it seems that Swami Chinmayananda meditated in the land and performed the divine initiation-Yajña. He pointed places in the land where water would flow out. To the utter surprise of the authorities water did flow at those exact locations later on and this was the divine Ganga indicating the blessings of Īśvara unto the conviction of Sri Saradapriyananda. A barren land was turned into a serene green Araṇyaṃ – the forest over the time. That was the beauty of blessings of Guru and God! For more details one may visit the webpage: http://chinmayaranyam.org/whoweare.html.
There is a temple in memory of Sri Saradapriyananda in the ashram, called Matrimandir where meditations and discourses take place.
My Experiences at the Ashram
Let me know describe my experience with the ashramites during my stay.
That which makes us human is LOVE and not intelligence. Even ants are intelligent but love towards fellow being, across the many species can only be showered by HUMAN and this universal love is one of the primary aspects that I noticed here. There are four elements that make up the body of the ashram:
- The Nature – Trees, animals, birds, crops, etc.
- The Ascetics – Those who have sacrificed their personal life for the welfare of the society – whom we call as swaminis.
- The Children – Chinmaya Hari Har Vidyalaya is the backbone of futuristic India that trains the students with the undercurrent of value-based education. The school children who are residents of the Ashram are the budding lights of the Greater India!
- The Wise-Old – They are the residents of “vānaprasthaṃ” a spiritual phase of life that comes after dissemination of civic and social duties, according to the ancient Dharma.
- Gōśāla (cowshed) – Whenever I see cows my heart throbs with joy. There is a beautiful group of cows in this Ashram which are as pleasant as they can be!
The Nature
As you can see from the pics and the video clips the nature of the ashram is unparalleled. Imagine the same land without trees and water when it had started (some 30 years ago)! So much hard work of the, the then residents and villagers has shaped a life out of apparent nothing. Currently the ashram enjoys the fruits and flowers that the nature of the land lends with unconditional love. Mangoes, guavas, lemons, tamarind, lilies and what not! you can find almost all that we miss in big cities. The shade of the tree indeed literally gives the shade to our busy mind for it to relax and cherish every breath as the boon of GOD. A walk in the evening and morning does greet you with warm sunrise, joyous songs of the birds and naughty dance of the branches. There are many spots in the ashram where if one is inclined towards meditation will be surely attracted. There are certain huts still intact since the time of Ashram’s inception which are maintained with care. Sri Saradapriyananda’s hut is one amongst them and this hut is utilised by the ashramites for spiritual purposes – discourses or meditations. I felt the presence of the Mother permeating this small hut. Of course she is all-pervading, but somehow this hut seemed to have acquired more of her spiritual vibration (if we may call it so) and this for sure is ready to recharge those who self-surrender to the GURU in all. Overall, the natural beauty does induces spiritual thoughts and on the parallel lines gives conducive environment to the age old practice of “Self-Inquiry: Who am I?!”.
The Ascetics
If the natural beauty is the physical body of the ashram, the ascetics are the living souls inside the body. The ascetics are divided into
- Student Brahmacāri(/ṇi): The initial phase which trains a pupil in the path of Brahman – spiritual practices, regulations, service, knowledge (pertaining to Brahman), etc.
- Mission Brahmacāri(/ṇi): After the previous phase the pupil is given a choice to renunciate the family life and oin the Ashram’s activities for life or to go back into the family life and spread the wisdom learnt. Either way the path of Brahman is only expanded but not left! I liked this freedom of choice after the initial phase.
- Swami/Swamini: They are the advanced disciples in the path set forth by Swami Chinmayananda and Swamini Saradapriyananda. If the student stage is a seed of wisdom, the Swami stage represents the tree of wisdom.
These three form the triangle that forms the core of the Ashram. Majority of the work of is carried out by them either in the mental planes or the physical planes. Some give discourses on spiritual subjects while some on social lives. Some work hard to arrange food and material in the Ashram for kids and the old whereas some takes are of the admin work. But in these many varied dynamic external works, they show the calmness, poise and efficiency which is the direct outer manifestation of inner LIGHT whose source is their Guru! We definitely can see the difference between they working and in place of them a city (or so called modern) person working in the same role! As Krishna says in the Gita – “It is the attitude of the WORK that needs to be changed (towards dissolving the sense of “mine”) and not the WORK itself”. This message is vividly visible in the working of the ascetics of the Ashram. They greet you, meet you, satisfy all your queries and even foresee your needs – all with a beautiful smile unquenched even a bit for once! I have interacted with Swamini Seelananda (current head) and Swamini Shreyananda who have showered upon me the love and affection that I can never forget. I inquired about a lot of things (myself being notoriously inquisitive) and patiently and caringly they answered and clarified. During their evening discourses I played flute and my father (he is Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Asthana Vidwan) sang Carnatic songs and this was very much enjoyed by everyone.
This also shows their nature of inclusion rather than an exclusion. It was their affection that made my leaving difficult even after the duration of my trip.
I also met another swamini Bharatamma, who chose to stay as Brahmachariṇi due to her liking to serve. Bharathamma often kept an eye on our food needs – including coffee or the like, even if we miss once, she would be worried. I am sure that anyone who comes to this ashram and meet these divine swaminis and brahmachariṇīs, they will leave the ashram only with an unforgettable association (which for sure would have been started in past lives and will continue for lives to come)!
The Children
The most attractive for me in the Ashram was the students who reside in the Ashram and belong to the Chinmaya Hari Har vidyalaya (school that is run by the Ashram). It seems that many of these students (higher class) have be in the Ashram for more than 6-8 years. So by observing them we would definitely know the way the Ashram is bringing them up. The following will summarise their routine:
- They wake at 4 am. They distribute amongst themselves the works such as decorating the temples, idols, etc. I could hear the temple bells in early morning hours. They have spiritual discussions in the mornings and then get ready for school.
- During the breakfast, lunch and dinner I observed that they followed super discipline. They utter the required mantras at the start and in between the eating routine which I myself had to learn from them. This particular routine intrigued me as this removes the mind from the dualities of the eating habits and puts it on the lord’s name which helps in assimilating food easily (those who know the effect of mind on food and body will know the secret that I have realized here). All this they do without nudging of the wardens or Swaminis.
- After the school they come back, freshen up, play, have snack and then attend the evening discourses – like Mahabharata, Ramayana, etc.
- After That they sit for tutions or home work practices.
- On weekends they are played some movies over projector: like Tom & Jerry, Chota Bheem, etc. which I see that they enjoy a lot.
The above surely gives us the idea as to how well disciplined the students are brought. They are starved of nothing – entertainment, spiritual background, modern education, tasty food, etc. – everything is provided. I think that is why every one of their faces was filled with happiness. They are brave and strong inward. Speaking to them I see that they own the ashram in their hearts and hence it is a 24 acre land that they are actually growing in – literally in the bosom of nature! The filth of un-filtered movies of the present era is not touching the budding minds of this ashram and this is one of the best points to notice. The drastic difference in the attitude of a kid of this ashram and a kid of a city is easily seen. The kids here are super helpful and they like to spend a lot of their time with those who visit the ashram. They are proud to explain their spiritual-home and their interesting-routine. They are proficient in much of the spiritual glossary – with meaning as well as its inner meanings. I saw no tiredness nor disrespective attitude amongst them. GOD surely shines through their every smile! At such young age they have imbibed those qualities which the modern man still dreams of attaining. We have to definitely applaud the whole structure of the ashram which gave them enough freedom to grow as well as laid gentle boundaries for them to orient in proper direction. The sense of bond that they developed amongst themselves and with the ashram suggests the “right approach” of the ashram. I am sure that when they grow up, they are going to transform the world around them and influence it in high orders of magnitude. By the way during the three days I had played flute for them in the evenings and my father sang Carnatic songs. The interest they showed everyday was giving us much happiness inside the heart. Before I left the ashram on the third day, it was as if I was leaving my own brothers and sisters – they too felt the same.
The Wise-Old
The vānaprasthaṃ is another interesting aspect in the Ashram. Some of the old (age wise) who have served their families during the times of the strength now retreated into the Ashram for inner solace. For example I have seen an 88 year old woman who is an ardent disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi and his teachings. Her every statement oozes the wisdom of Sri Ramana. She, being 88, serves the kids in the early morning their energy drink (ragi malt), plucks flowers, and walks to and fro from her home in the ashram. Her dynamic levels are surprising! We, the young city people feel tired even after a little 3 hr work! I found that the inner clarity and purity in outline (like service, spiritual thoughts, etc.) are the main reasons for her strengths which most of the modern humans lack these days! Similar to her there are few people who form the group of vānaprastha (I could not click their pics) and live and work in the ashram in the theme of selfless service.
The Gōśāla
Where the cows see the light and love of humane nature there the humanity flourishes. The ashram has a cowshed as an integral part. There are dedicated people who cater to the needs of the cows – taking them for feeding near the hillocks, cleaning their homes, milking them for the sake of ashram children, etc. But all that is done with love and affection. Children enjoy their presence as well as play with the calves.
This is the overview of my experience of the Ashram. Though each and every minute I spent in the Ashram still remains fresh in my memory vault, I could express only little bit of it. There is a natural symbiosis between the different aspects of the Ashram which makes it a living LIFE that is evolved in a highest manner! Those who want to spend some time away from a busy life and seek spiritual shelter, I hope they will consider this divine place. It is for such people in search of true shade of inner poise, I took sincere effort to write this article.
