The Journey to Divine Grace Yoga Ashram
I believe that the journey to the DGY Ashram began long before I even knew what yoga or an Ashram was. In case you are wondering an Ashram is a lot like a full time school for uniting all aspects (Mind, Body, Spirit) of ourselves to the Divine, this practice is Yoga. We could think of it like eating, breathing, and sleeping God awareness. Arriving at the DGY Ashram felt like the union of all the times I have spent really connected to what felt to me like Divine energy, an expansive, Loving grounded energy that allows me to remain peaceful in a great number of external circumstances. Imagine all the times you felt safe in a loved ones arms, felt accomplished and full after completing a school class, personal, or work goal, oneness with nature as you listen to the wind blow through the leaves and watch the magical dance of shadow and light on the lawn below, that moment of exhilaration and perfection during exercise, as well as the moment of relief and rest that comes afterwards, this Divine energy of connection, oneness, and Love was the reality for me at the ashram during times when my ego surrendered which was amazingly easy to do. I felt very much like my life, and innate desire to be free, to be liberated in Love, lead me to find refuge from the illusion of separation at DGY Ashram.
Practically I had decided to take several months before hand to get used to one very important aspect of Ashram life, Satsang. Satsang is translated to “gathering together for the Truth” according to Nirmala. You can find daily Satsang broadcasts on Swami Sankarananda's Face Book Page, unless Swamiji is traveling. Swami Sankarananda is a Yogic Monk and the main guide facilitator of the yogic teachings and manager at the DGY Ashram. The Satsang broadcasts are about one hour and thirty minutes each. They have three different components, meditation, kirtan and or chanting mantra, as well as a Dharma talk, which is a discourse on a spiritual text from a master. I did my best to listen and participate in one Satsang a day for two months, practicing sitting cross legged as well. I felt really amazing energy from this even though I was still hundreds of miles away from the Ashram.
The trip there came and was to be an amazing adventure in waiting and surrender to circumstances beyond my power to directly effect. This was a very good preparation to what I would be invited into when I got to the Ashram. I view waiting as an opportunity to embrace acceptance of circumstances outside of what I would have decided as a privilege now more-so than I ever did before. After many years of getting what I wanted and feeling empty as a result, I have come to find an inner light, Peace, warmth, and comfort in that space that is created within as I am waiting, if I but allow and accept rather than reject and hate. Eventually my waiting was rewarded as we arrived at the DGY Ashram. On the outside it looked like a simple well maintained and loved ranch home, but it felt energetically like what I imaged Ayodhya, the unconquerable city of Dharma or Truth that Sri Rama was raised and would become king. I slept very well :-) even though it is usually difficult for me to do so in a new place and with various night time noises and others sleeping in the same room.
Daily Life At the Ashram
“Aum Namah Sivaya!” Swamiji would call out and a bell would be ringing :-) A very fond memory :-) And our day would begin at 530AM. We would have Satsang from 6AM to about 730AM, Yoga Pranayam and Asana from about 8AM to 930AM, and brunch from 10AM to about 11AM. I would always take part in the clean up after the meals as an extra helping hand with two other karma yogis or sadhakas. There were several karma yogis either visiting temporarily or at the DGY Ashram as a more permanent resident. Karma yoga is the practice of service to reach God realization, so maintaining the Ashram in whatever way was needed, cleaning, food prep, construction, lawn care, teaching classes, assisting in ceremony, etc. I would like to thank all of the wonderful karma yogis that I met at DGY Ashram for all of their help, service, and loving kindness to me as well as all other living beings, truly an inspiration to the human potential! :-) Thank you Rukmini, Gopala, Ramaswarup, Sita Devi, Hari Krishna Das, Krishna Das :-) What a privilege to see such a loving family, and to be welcomed in! :-)
Sometimes we would have a class called Tea and Gita at noon. This was a discourse centered around the Divine Scripture known as the Bhagavad Gita (The Song of God). This is Divine Epic takes place at the beginning of a Great War between the Pandavas and Kauravas. We spend most of our time with the Lord Krishna and Arjuna the Prince of the Pandavas. In response to Arjuna's anxiety about fighting and possibly killing people he considers friends and family, the Lord Krishna relays the Truth that all are eternal, though forms may fade and transition to new ones, we in Truth are of the nature of the Eternal Divine. Lord Krishna then teaches Arjuna of a practice to help learn this Truth within one's entire being, the practice of yoga. After this class is time to complete karma yoga and for guests to do independent study until dinner at 6PM. I would spend allot of my time near the Cottonwood river which was at the back of the Ashram grounds. I spent my time trying to learn the Prayers and Chants that were most often used during daily practices, most of these were in Sanskrit (an ancient language of the Divine), so they took a while, but seemed to bring me closer to the Divine with every word I processed :-) I believe that the Divine rhythm of nature was a great help to my studies, the meditative flow of the river, the heating of the body by the sun and cooling by the waters and shade. The sound and movement of birds, insects, and animals :-) Some of my most cherished times without a doubt! But then again all the experiences that I had at the DGY Ashram were very precious, a treasure of the Spirit :-) Speaking of which, the food was such a blessing, healthy for mind and body, light and natural, organic, nutritious fresh vegetables, nuts, fruits, and spices. Eating such healthy foods was such an important part of my being open, receptive, and present to the teachings of the Divine, and reality of God in all beings.
Then we would usually have another Satsang at 8PM to about 930PM, or, on specially days, a Puja (a very elaborate ceremony to honor God), or a movie on a Spiritual subject, practice, or person (These nights we had popcorn. One of Swamiji's favorites!). There is some free time until lights out at 1030PM. A day well lived in service of the Lord :-) that is what most of the days felt like if my ego was in a state of surrender, it was always rather easy, but the longing for bad habits can be difficult sometime, disruptive to inner peace. I can never remember being sleepy in an exhausted sort of way, but I always managed to fall asleep soundly, and dreams were pleasant except for once, out of 12 days away from home that was a miracle for me! I also never fell asleep during meditation a 6AM, which was another miracle! Where did all this wonderful energy come from?! Divine Grace Yoga Ashram Life such a blessing! I look forward to the next time, not an if! Thank you Swamiji, and all the wonderful dear souls that I met and or lived with at the Ashram, beautiful dear souls one and all! Aum Namah Sivah! :-)
Life afterwards
I would say that the world glitters and sparkles much more than it used to, God is more present in everything around, a deep knowing resounds like the eternal “AUM” within my heart. I am not struggling as much to fit the pieces together, to make my life out to be what I though it should look like. I notice that the great reservoir of energy that seemed to be with me at the Ashram is not as present, though I feel a definite connection. I am starting a new job where service and presence, courage and strength of character are so very important. A mantra that I received during my stay at the Ashram has become part of my regular internal dialogue...or should I say listening. “Aum Sri Hanumate Namah!” repeated over and over so that I might be inspired to allow great devotion to the Lord shine through all my thoughts, words, and actions, so that I might find strength of character, body, and mind, and courage to do that which the Lord desires be done.
Driving I do my best to bless each car journey with “Aum tryambakam yajamahe sugandhim pustivardhanam urvarukamiva bandhanan mrtyor muksiya ma'mrtat” just like we did at the Ashram when we got into the car. I also practice some of the other chants and prayers that I learned during my time at the Divine Grace Yoga Ashram as regularly as I can. Part of me wishes that I never left, part of me is still attached to old habits, and part of me knows that I need to work through my attachments with God at the center of my service whatever it should be time to time. If I am meant to find my way back to that paradise before this form fades I will, but surrender and practice to the Lord will surely expedite the process, it already has, that is yoga :-)
Thank you God, Swamiji, Divine Grace Yoga Ashram, Krisna Das, Hare Krisna Das, Rukmini, Rama Swarup, Sita Devi, Narayan, Gopala, Ashira, Meenakshi, Ratika, Hanuman, Latika, Nika, Nella, to everyone that has helped me on the journey in some way shape or form :-) Without everyone helping me along the way. I would have never know that there was a better option :-) Everyone includes the sun and moon, flowers and trees, birds, insects, bees, cats, dogs, fruits, veggies, to all beings. Thank you so much for being wonderful you, I would not be me without you, I would not know of Love, life, and joy, or see the Truth that we all are one in God :-) Have a wonderful day, my friend! Thank you so much for being an important part of my journey, and I hope that I have done the same for you :-) I hope that you enjoyed “Thank You Divine Grace Yoga Ashram :-) For Love, Peace, Family, and Service :-)” May all living beings find there is a better option to act and live in Love, and Peace, with God at the center of everything that we offer and receive :-) Love, Aaron :-)