When many people hear the word ‘ashram’, they often think of a secluded temple in India that is open only to members of the spiritual clergy or highly devout, but this is not often the case. Ashrams have existed in many forms throughout the world for thousands of years. They could be found in China, India, ancient Greece, and even some pre-Christian groups were based on Ashram principles and traditions.
So, what is an ashram? An ashram can be any place that helps to fuse the mind, body, and soul together. The ultimate goal of this type of establishment is to foster peace for both individuals and communities, a place where people from all walks of life can come to find a deeper insight into their own lives. Places like these can have a huge impact on visitors, especially in our modern, stress-filled world.
Although ashrams are often mistaken as a type of retreat or an educational institute, the word ‘ashram’ literally means ‘hard work’. While visitors certainly don’t perform back-breaking hard labor at an ashram, they work themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. As a place where people can face their individual problems and bad habits, ashrams provide a place that encourages us to let go of all the negativity that surrounds us.
The word ‘ashram’ has another Sanskrit root, ashraya, which means ‘retreat’ and ‘refuge’. An ashram can therefore be a place where people can temporarily retreat from the stressful world around them, where we can give ourselves the gift of time and energy to look inside ourselves and find the spiritual nourishment and inspiration to become healthy human beings.
There is a reason why ashrams are not located in large cities. The location of an ashram should be in a place that is in harmony with nature and has all the facilities to create happy and healthy human beings. While being in the middle of nowhere may be initially off-putting to some people, it allows us to gain a new respect for nature, the environment, and our relationship with the world at large.
While many self-proclaimed ashrams are commercialized and require payments in return for room and board, real ashrams operate on a donation basis. This also signifies the fact that acceptance is a big theme in ashrams, and they tend to have a very open attitude towards spirituality. While yoga is one of the main methods of teaching, there are no pre-requisite belief systems. So, if you are seeking a new spiritual experience or are bored with the typical vacation experience, think about an extended stay at an ashram!
