A Spiritual Retreat and Seekers’ Delight in the Heart of Delhi – Sri Aurobindo Ashram

During a recent visit to Delhi, a one-night stay at TAPASYA Guest house in Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Delhi premises was a serene experience. This visit, after a gap of many years, after I moved to Ahmedabad many years back in year 2000, was a delightful witnessing of the exponential growth in Ashram activities in a serene environment.

What continues are sustaining Core Values imbibed from the holistic approach of Integral Yoga for all-round development of Individual Self and also the Ashram community as a whole. I could notice many resemblances in the way of life of Ashramites in Pondicherry Ashram and Delhi Ashram. This is probably due to the legacy of Sri Surendra Nath Jauhar "Chachaji", an ardent devotee of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, further nurtured by Sushri Tara Didi. My last visit to the Ashram was in 1996 with my father, Dr. Devaki Nandan Srivastava, as my father was also closely connected with Sri Aurobindo Society and Ashram.

Though being in touch with activities of the Ashram through reading about its events and listening to experiences of sadhaks in their spiritual journey following Sri Aurobindo’s thoughts on Integral Yoga, this was my first stay in the Ashram guest house. 

Some of the practices which I found inspirational were:

  1. Naming of each room having Divine significance such as True Worship, Chastity ...
  2. Concept of involvement of guests in their chosen area of service as a volunteer
  3. Nicely kept gardens and a variety of trees
  4. Peacocks singing their language
  5. Creatively done gardens with Divine touch having inscriptions of Thoughts of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother and having zig-zag path named "Labyrinth" as a metaphor
  6. Large number of volunteers from different age groups contributing to activities chosen as per core competence
This makes Delhi Ashram one of the benchmark examples of a living entity which has practiced Perseverance in a Peaceful journey of Growth, with Humility and Sincerity driven by The Mother’s symbol.

This could be a good place for seekers on spiritual journey to spend quality time in sublime environment of Nature and feeling the Divine presence of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother and actively contributing as a volunteer.

- Pranav Srivastava (India)

Comments

  1. Anonymous15 March 2024 at 18:00

    I agree. A unforgettable place. 🔥🙏🔥 Sabina Centro Sri Aurobindo e Mère Italy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous16 March 2024 at 11:41

    A book should never be judged by it's cover. Less said the better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16 May 2024 at 17:04

      Sir, The best book is our own book of life. Thanks.

      Delete

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