Ayodhya the Ideal Home
Ayodhya was described to me by Swamiji as a city where there was no want, where life was in perfect balance and harmony. This is the city that Rama was born into, and would later become king. I have seen Ayodhya illustrated as a gold carving, everything precise and perfect. I might compare Ayodhya to New Jerusalem, a city where only Peace and Love are found, and God dwells among His people. I believe in its essence Ayodhya is a Safe Harbor for the heart to dwell in the light of Love, the light of the soul. During times in life when fear (especially fear as a result of experiencing a place or way of life strange to my own) seems to overwhelm me, picturing a time and place where there is this Peace and Love governing the thoughts, words, and actions of all living beings allows me the opportunity to rest and let go of anxiety, worry, and find a better way, a way to bring the present into the harmonious Ideal Home that exists wherever Hope and Love are found. Ayodhya, I believe, is very much like this, and can serve as a point of contemplation, meditation, and remembrance that we can Love one another without wanting in return, that we can live in Love and harmony. I believe that I witnessed this Ayodhyian like community in Yoga Ashrams, and what I imagine the early Christians to have lived like, everyone shares and receives, there is no competition, no greed, Love is the guide.
Practice
If you would like take some time to reflect on your own Ideal Home. Ayodhya, New Jerusalem are both very good examples that might inspire peace an harmony within because of the amount of reverence and devotion that has embodied them throughout the centuries. There is a strong presence that I feel with these cities even though I have not physically been, which, interestingly enough, brings them to life in an almost physical way. I believe that any memory that is particularly ideal for us like a happy childhood home, or some other place where we have had an experience of selfless Love and care with others is another inspiration for an Ideal Home. Having a picture, artifact, or artistic rendering of our Ideal Home might be useful in recalling this Loving quality within our hearts as we gaze upon it. Once our awareness is resting on a picture, either physical or mental, let us take some time, as much as we can manage and seems appropriate, to meditate upon this place and the qualities of Love and Peace that it opens our hearts to. Invite them in to live and grow, to form a Loving community within ourselves now and always.
Thank you Ramayana, Swami Dharmakirti, Shanti Ashram, satvic food, nature, honest seekers, fellowship, Ayodhya, Idea Homes, and you, my friend, for taking the time to be here today, to reflect on your own Ideal Home :-) It is amazing how we can Love and support each other just by doing what is best for ourselves, because as we reflect on our own Ideal Homes, and internalize this Loving feeling, we eventually connect to all Loving places, all Ideal Homes, all hearts, all living beings :-) Have a wonderful day, my friend! Thank you so much for joining me, for being wonderful you! I hope that you enjoyed “Thank You Peace :-) For Ayodhya and the Ideal Home :-)” May all living beings find their Ideal Homes in Love and Peace :-) Love, Aaron :-)