Spiritual Practice in the Community

The Ashram maintains an environment that is naturally conducive to the joy of spiritual practice, where members and guests are able to easily partake of a daily programme. Each day there is a space created in our sanctuary room for the community to converge for silent meditation, yoga and other spiritual practice. There are also optional regular programmes running such as Reiki Circles, Devotional Singing, Sharing Circles etc, as well as events hosted by guest facilitators.

Daily Programmes:

Meditation / Contemplation
There is a silent sitting period offered in the morning as an opportunity for the community to submerge in the silence of Being together. Through meditative practice the mind becomes still and concentrated. One is then able to choose where their focus is directed rather than having it unconsciously chosen by the butterfly mind. One is able to concentrate more fully on the task at hand or direct their awareness toward perception of the more subtle impressions of life and Consciousness. During these times one might chose to contemplate something specific such as:
Who Am I? What Am I? What Is Life?
When the contemplator focuses their awareness in such a way their sense of discernment with regard to what is True becomes sharpened, as that which is untrue and transient arises to be exposed for what it is.

Hatha Yoga
In short Hatha Yoga is a holistic practice which has been used for thousands of years to strengthen, revitalise and purify the body, mind and emotions. Its effect is both remedial and preventative toning all aspects of the practitioner. By penetrating deeply into the physical using a combination of right use of will power (stretching, breath and compression) and surrender (relaxing into the stretch and being in perfect acceptance of where the body expresses its limitation), yoga reinstates the body as a clear vessel of free flowing universal energy. Over time with diligent practice the body is released from accumulated toxins, outmoded information, stored trauma, and notions of limitation held in the cell tissue and bone structure. This in turn promotes a state of mental clarity, emotional balance and boundless physical energy.

Karma Yoga Working Periods
Being a working community, daytimes are ordinarily spent tending to the day to day maintenance requirements of the Ashram. This time is an integral part of being at the Ashram. Ordinary work becomes extraordinary when we become fully present with it. In so doing we love what we are doing, and are completely happy regardless of the type of task we are engaging.