Meditating in Amritapuri

[Guest guest]

Jai Lisa:

 

In response to your recent questions, let me add a bit of my experience.

 

If you have never been to India, it is noisy! The entire country is noisy.

>From the constant use of car, bus and truck horns to loud speakers blaring

out Sanskrit chants. Rishikish, one of the most spiritual towns in the

country, is a bedlam of noise from high powered loudspeakers from the Ashrams

at 5:00 (sharp) in the morning. I swear the ashrams must compete with one

another to have their prayers heard above all the other ones.

 

Traveling on "video" busses was a real problem for me. The drivers always

wanted me to sit in the front seat to be courteous and give me a little more

leg room. It was always just under the video monitor was for showing Indian

videos. The volume was always loud so the people in the back could hear it

over the traffic noise.

 

I spent several months at Amritapuri in 2000. There was another temple

closeby and they just install a sound system. They strung speaker wires a 1/4

mile down the road to speakers hid in the palm trees. There were at least

three very large speakers almost surrounding Amma's ashram. I believe this

temple had a celebration going and the speakers were at full volume from 5:00

am in the morning until 2:00 am the following night. Day after day after day.

 

They do have morning chants and meditation in Amma's temple every morning and

usually satsang in the late afternoon. Other times, the meditation hall has a

lot of activity going on from handling the magazines to the Western store.

The Western office is there so there is a lot of people flowing in and out.

 

But when you are mediating, you shut all that stuff out. It might take a bit

of doing!

 

There is a room, where Amma sometimes holds satsang for residents, in the top

floor of the Temple that may be the best place to find some peace and quiet.

I don't think it was used that much.

 

Things may have changed considerably since I was there. An email to the

Ashram might provide better information.

 

Albeit, being at the Ashram is a tremendous experience and I highly recommend

a visit. I had many outstanding experiences often happening when I least

expect it! It is well, well worth the time.

 

The main thing is that you are there with Amma and Her close disciples. Being

in that energy is something you will never forget. Lives are transformed.

 

Even if you don't get to meditate as much as you would like, being there is a

spiritual growth that words cannot describe.

 

Usually, they put four people to a room. Rooms are stark and you sleep on

foam mats on the flour. Each room has a kitchen and bath room with a shower.

Water is precious so there are no tubs.

There is no such thing as hot and cold water. It is always "warm" and quite

comfortable to shower. Besides, the temperature can get hot and a warm shower

is most refreshing. Some days, I changed my shirt many times because of the

heat. But, I love the heat!

 

They do not use water heaters because electricity is expense and in short

supply. Also, no electrical devices like hair dryers, heaters, etc., that

need a lot of power. Cooking in the kitchen is done by a gas stove.

 

Meals are free if you like Indian food. There is also a "Western" cafe for

breakfast and lunch that is not too expensive. It is best to take your own

dinner dish and cutlery. It is available but washing dinnerware, "Indian

style", consists of rinsing the plates with "warm" unfiltered water and

putting then back into a bucket. You are never sure how well the previous

person washed the plate. Not quite what we are a custom to.

 

BTW, there is lots of filtered water available for drinking.

 

And you met some on the greatest people in the world!

 

Hope this helps a bit!

 

Peter White

Alachua, Florida