What makes an ashram?

Pablo remarked somewhere (I can’t find it in the comments of this blog) that the Adyar estate is very sparse in its amenities. He said Radha felt it needs to be that way, so money can be spent on publishing books and it helps with the atmosphere of an ashram.

I feel that is a good point and needs clarification, because I would like to have that atmosphere of meditation at all theosophical estates. So I’m asking: what makes an ashram?

When I was at Adyar, I did not personally mind the cold water too much – after all the climate is very hot. I think I complained about it, but I don’t remember the water as a problem that seriously affected me. The beds were fine – though being in my twenties at the time, I obviously wouldn’t have had the issues with it that perhaps I will in a few years time. Fans do a better job of keeping me cool without annoyance than Air Conditioning does, unless the latter is extremely silent. Since my stay at Adyar was the most meditative stay at a theosophical estate ever, I think it did a good job enabling that.

I have been at two other theosophical estates. The main difference to my experience of it was, I think, that at Adyar I didn’t have to do any volunteer work. I did do volunteer work at Wheaton and have done a lot of volunteer work at the ITC in Naarden. I know volunteer work is often seen as meditative, but in combination with the hectic programmes on the estates it doesn’t quite work that way – I think.

One thing I did appreciate at Adyar that was different in Naarden and Wheaton is that at Adyar the rooms had their own bathroom. The toilet was out of doors at Adyar, but again – I didn’t mind that either. But going to a shower that’s shared with people I don’t know is a distraction for me. Both Naarden and Wheaton also have rooms that do have their own bathroom, including toilet, so this is again partly a money issue.

Most of our theosophical programmes are ‘ashram-like’ in that the food is vegetarian, there is no alcohol served and smoking and other drugs aren’t allowed. That is a good start – but the Adyar estate also has a program with lots of time left open. The siesta (necessary because of the climate in India) means that there is a break in between activities. Also there isn’t an evening program.

In Western theosophical schools or meetings I have attended there was always a filled program, including an evening program. We seem to feel that we wouldn’t get value for our money if we aren’t constantly entertained – or something. I do think it’s a cultural thing: I can’t even imagine a Western theosophical program that does include more time to oneself.

Mrs Trân-Thi-Kim-Diêu is doing yearly meditation retreats at Naarden, now in its second year, and I think that’s great. The attendance last year wasn’t large, but that may change. The point I want to make about that is: it isn’t easy to create a meditative atmosphere – especially in combination with the full schedules we impose on ourselves at theosophical conventions.

I wonder about the internet thing. The internet wasn’t yet an issue when I was at Adyar last time. But if I were to go now, I would want to be able to update my website occasionally. I’m not personally addicted to the internet – I don’t think. I can go without looking at my e-mail for days, for instance. Still, I do agree that making access too easy would not be a good idea. We don’t want people watching television during a retreat – do we? Of course that’s precisely what does happen at Wheaton. Do we want people checking their e-mail, or chatting online? Or doing online video games?

What kind of atmosphere do we want to create?

It may be that what’s happening at the ITC in Naarden is what needs to happen: there are theosophical gatherings where there is a lot of talk, discussion, guided meditation, watching tv, evening programmes etc. Then there are other theosophical gatherings which are more silent and meditative.

I don’t know. I feel discussion and interaction is part of what makes theosophy interesting – at least for me. The cerebral aspect of the TS is one of the things that defines our organisation. But a spiritual path isn’t complete if it is only cerebral. It also takes silence and work on the body, work on the intuition, work on the emotions. I would be interesting if we could create programmes where there is room for all of that.