Recent visit to India

[Guest guest]

Let me share some my experience of my recent visit to India.

 

I recently went for a two week visit to India. The first week was spend in

Gujerat where I had the opportunity to visit the Ramakrishna Rajkot ashram. The

ashram is located within the city centre and seem to dominate the cutural hub of

the city. The noise, the rush and the clamour that is typical of an Indian city

is present in Rajkot - but entering the ashram complex, one transferred to the

serenity of the environment - and times appear surreal to be separted from the

chaos that is the outside world. The temple complex has taken many of the

architectural ideas from the main Belur Math temple in Calcutta. How wonderful

to mediate in the peace and serenity in the presence of the great avatar!

 

My second week, I went to Kerala, South India. I stayed eight days at a place

called Anand ashram. Anandashram was founded by Swami Ramdas. Little bit about

Swami Ramdas - on his pilgrimage around India, he visited Dakshineswar temple in

Calcutta. On entering Sri Ramakrishna's room, Ramdas felt the electrifying

presence of the great master - and lost body consciousness - and he was found

rolling on the floor in great ecstacy. The atmosphere at Anandashram is highly

charged in sprituality. The very air vibrates in the name of Ram. From early

morning, 5:30 though to 7:30pm, the name of Ram is chanted continously. The 12th

of Feb was the mahasamadhi of Krishnamata and the name of Ram was chanted from

early morning and continued through the whole night. At the ashram, I was

priviledged to meet Swami Chidanandaji, the president of the Divine Life Society

and the president of Raman Ashram (of Raman Maharishi), Mr Raman. At the

ashram, one is learns the real meaning of simplicity, devotion and humbleness.

One is reminded of the words of Shri Ramakrishna, " Mother - take away this

knowledge and ignorance, - all I want is Bhakti (devotion) " . What a place, what

spirituality and such sincerity!!!

 

The vibration of the chanting of the name of Ram stayed with for a week - and

helped me meet the challenge and the chaos of returning back to London via

Mumbai in a calm and stressless manner. The first thing that enters your mind in

the morning is the name of Ram and stays with you for some time during the day.

How many times during thisweek, the mind instead of thinking of some problem or

other, is automatically 'chanting the name of Ram'.