Ashram Blog

We are all seeking Shanti, peace. But often we think we’ll find peace only when everything outside is “perfect” - the way that we want it to be. We think – “when everything is perfect, then I will feel peace. If only the person who is in front of me agrees with me, and does exactly what I want them to do, then I... read more

There was once a holy man who was living a simple life in a little hut. One day he was looking for the axe that he used to cut wood for his fire and couldn't find it. While searching, a thought suddenly came to his mind, "Oh, that boy who comes here must have stolen it." Although he hadn't seen the boy take the axe, nor had he... read more

Everything that we are seeking is within us.  We would find the answers to all our questions, if we could only learn to be still.  Our habit of constantly projecting outwards keeps us moving in the wrong direction. No matter how engaged in the world we are or how productive we are, if there is no grounding in inner stillness, there is chaos. If not inside, we... read more

It's important to pay attention to how we engage in the world. What do we spend our time thinking about? What do we give importance to? The day we begin to really look at our actions and thoughts, we begin to live a spiritual life. We all have a tendency to hold onto negative vibrations. When we are feeling fear, anger, jealousy or any negative emotion, there... read more

Recently I saw an article that said that loneliness was the biggest cause of a short life. After the festive holiday times, when the sunshine is less and weather makes it difficult to gather with others, it becomes easy for loneliness to set in.  When we feel lonely, instead of focusing on what might be missing from our life, can we shift our focus and experience the joy... read more

Often people come to me and express frustration with the people in their lives. Someone came and told me the other day, “My partner is so needy and it’s driving me up the wall!” In my thinking, what a great blessing to have a person like that around you. Why? It’s an opportunity to practice!  What options do you have in those moments when you feel challenged... read more

This morning I was appreciating Nature’s beauty - feeling the temperature of the air, noticing the quality of light, the winter fruits that are starting to ripen, the leaves that are changing their color. There is so much beauty surrounding us.  At the same time there is so much noise and confusion in the world right now. All of the base human qualities are coming to the... read more

When we look at the way our society runs, the way that nations run, the way our world is run - it is based on fear.  Sometimes this is true even in our own lives.  In yogic tradition, the root cause of fear is attachment. Attachment to what we have, attachment to happiness, comfort, the experiences of our senses, the experiences of our mind. We are attached... read more

We all want to be happy and live with purpose. We all want to live a meaningful life and experience that wholeness. How to find that? The other day at the Ashram we were talking about why to live on bread and butter if we could have fine cuisine at home. Sometimes we skip our regular meals, snack all day long, and go to bed tired and... read more

I was thinking about the first time I met my guru. A sign board at the entrance to his ashram caught my eye. There it was written,“It’s easy to become a Hindu, a Muslim, a Christian, a Jew, a Buddhist. Those willing to be a good human being, come to me.”  You’re born into a family with a certain label, and it’s easy to adopt that label... read more

As the saying goes, “We all have come crying into this world, and we are very blessed if we can leave this world with a smile on our face.” If we have that smile on our face at our last breath, this whole life has been lived well. That liberation only happens when we are able to detach ourselves from whatever the world is offering to us.... read more

The Sanskrit word “seva” means selfless service. Seva is an integral part of spirituality. There is an old Indian saying: A tree does not eat its own fruit and a river does not drink its own water. It is for the welfare of the other that a good soul takes this body. This is the essence of seva  - acts of giving for which we expect nothing... read more

Spring is a special time of year. If you look around, everything is beginning to blossom. All the buds are coming in, and the birds are singing. The hidden strength lying dormant within everything is awakening. It is also a suitable time to enhance the intensity of our devotion that lies dormant within us. Devotion can be expressed in any way you like, but it requires you... read more

Waking up this morning, I was walking around the grounds of the ashram, and I was looking at all of the little moths that come at night and just cover the wall. Our ashram is located on the banks of the river Ganga, and given the location, all these pesky things are around. They are such a nuisance. But I also noticed that there are monkeys that come... read more

Sitting here on the banks of the river Ganga in the holy city of Varanasi in India, I can see the fires of the cremation grounds on the other shore.  Life is short. Every day is passing. So often, we go through life spending so much time and energy carrying resentments towards others, towards ourselves, towards the world. How long are we going to hold on to... read more

At the beginning of every year at the Ashram, a word is chosen that we remember throughout the year.  This year, the word is:

stability 

Our breath is the most precious thing we have.  We take it for granted and never try to understand its richness. If we tune in, we can hear the sound “Sooo” with each in-breath and the sound “Hummm” with each out-breath. So Hum   Each breath is telling us who we are. In Sanskrit, “So” means “That” and “Hum” means “I Am”. That I Am. Not “this”. “This” is... read more

Someone asked me the other day, “Babaji, what is the source of your teaching? Where does it come from?” Our lineage is Aghor. Aghor is really not a tradition, not a religion. Aghor is a state of mind, where there is no discrimination. There is no two. Seeing the divine in everything is our path, is our goal. Including yourself. Seeing that sacred presence within you, and the... read more

The season is changing and the trees are dropping their leaves, with a sense of knowing that new leaves will come. It’s beneficial for us to get into the rhythm of nature and align ourselves with what’s happening around us. This is an ideal time of year to contemplate what we can drop that is not serving us, that is not helping us come closer to our... read more

The fall season is coming. The light of the sun becomes less and less, the weather outside becomes colder. Sitting inside, in a comfortable place, protected from the elements outside, how fortunate we are. We can see that strong wind and chill outside - we are aware of it but we are not much affected by it. We can only imagine what it must feel like to be in that... read more

Human beings are not the victims of situations and circumstances. The person who moves forward with their mission or goal with conviction and determination lives a meaningful life. If I have firm resolve, if I am committed to being a good human being, there is no excuse not to practice and live a virtuous life. The mind will suggest all kinds of... read more

All over the world there is so much calamity, so many natural disasters, wars, and famine. Here we live in a comfortable, clean and safe environment, in good health. There is enough to eat, we have shelter, and enough to cover ourselves. There is enough for our friends and families. No bombs are exploding next door. Our water is clean, our air is clean. We, truly, are blessed. How often do... read more

We are all looking for happiness in every endeavor we engage in. No matter what we do, the ultimate goal is always to experience fulfillment of some kind that results in happiness. Most of the time instant gratification is mistaken for happiness. This new found happiness is short lived, it is not everlasting. Where and how to find that peace and happiness that is always with us should... read more

I meet many people who say, “Babaji, I’m anxious - my mind is racing.  I cannot stop my mind from thinking negative things.”  Yes, we all want to be happy and calm and enjoy the abundance in our lives, but our minds can often keep us in negativity, depression, fear or anxiety.   The mind is restless, by nature - it is either in the past or in... read more

Life is a mystery. Beauty lies in the mystery. Sacredness lies in the mystery. Love lies in the mystery. Poetry lies in the mystery.  We look at a beautiful flower. We appreciate its color, its fragrance, the arrangement of the petals. Sweetness comes to our heart through the experience. Then our mind jumps in. We name it, we dissect it, we compare it, we think of what... read more

Om

We all want to live with peace and happiness, away from struggles of any kind. How can we bring contentment into our lives?

There is a story from the ancient Vedic scriptures that guides us. Once upon a time, the devas (gods), demons and humans were fighting amongst themselves. The world was falling into chaos. Finally, a group went to seek the help of Brahma. the Creator. As... read more

There are two aspects to everything in life. If we pay attention to just one part of our life, and neglect the other part, we get stuck and can't go anywhere.  Just imagine, you are lying on your back, looking at the sky. You are aware of the vastness of the sky. A little plane appears. Your mind immediately becomes focused on the plane, and begins to... read more

In Sanskrit the word “giving” is Daan. To be able to give is considered one of the greatest virtues. But giving of what? What can you really give to somebody?  Of course there are all kinds of presents that you can buy, but the true gift is giving of yourself.  This requires looking at yourself.  True giving can only happen when... read more

In the Aghor tradition, a mantra is given by the Guru when the student seeker is ready to go deeper in his or her spiritual practice. Beej mantras are like the seeds of a banyan tree - they are smaller than mustard seed but have enough strength and power to produce a mighty tree and a countless number of trees, provided they grow in fertile ground and are nurtured in the... read more

The Divine Mother resides within us in the form of Speech - Vageshwari. When we honor the presence of the Divine through our speech, peace and beauty are created around us. 

Our voice is one of the greatest gifts that we are given. Paying attention to what you are saying, why you are saying it, and what you seek to accomplish by speaking is a spiritual practice that... read more

It is said that when Buddha set out on his spiritual journey, he sat under the Boddhi Tree in deep meditation for three days and three nights. When he emerged, he shared the wisdom that arose from within:  There is suffering. There is a way out of suffering.  His monks went forth spreading his message: Buddham sharanam gachami Dhamam sharanam gachami Sangham sharanam... read more