Q&A with Swami Satyananda Saraswati: On Life In An Ashram

[Guest guest]

Q&A with Swami Satyananda Saraswati: On Life In An Ashram

1. When there is a group of serious seekers, searching for union

with the universe or God, what principles need to be honored to

create harmony and mutual respect?

 

The question is extremely subjective, and there is no one answer

that will fit all the time in all circumstances. However, we have

all observed that there are four main elements in each of our

disciplines: attention, knowledge, devotion, and service; dhyan,

jnan, bhakti, and karma. These four are present in everyone's

discipline, no matter what path we choose to practice. But the

emphasis is constantly shifting for us all. At one time we are more

a student, another time we are called upon to be a teacher;

sometimes we are engaged in deep meditation, while other times we

are called to serve.

 

When we realize that our balance is always changing, and the needs

of our associates and community is always changing, then we find

that in acknowledging the elasticity of our paths, we create greater

harmony and mutual respect. In giving up our dogmatic nature, we

build bridges of harmony which demonstrate respect.

 

2. What is the proper attitude for living in an ashram, what is

needed in terms of behavior and attitude to gain the most from

contact with a Saint?

 

Sincerity and humility. A guru is an example that we wish to follow.

In order to become a disciple, it is required to have a sincere

desire to follow the example of the guru. Disciples are people who

make changes in their lives. They do what the guru does, chant the

way she chants, worship the way she worships, cook and clean as per

the example provided.

 

If we do not have the humility to admit that my former way of life

was not satisfying, then we cannot seek to make changes with

sincerity. It is not important to find the best guru. What is

important is to become the best disciple. Remember, it is not about

performing spiritual practices. The goal is to lead a spiritual

life. Practices are only important in so far as they help us to

remember that the objective is to lead a spiritual life!

Spirituality means giving more than we take.

 

3. What do the days look like in an ashram, what are the regular

daily activities at Devi Mandir?

 

Shree Maa says that God means "Go on Duty". God gave us twenty four

hours in a day so that we can work eight hours a day for God, eight

hours a day for our families and communities, and eight hours a day

for ourselves. We believe that the person who accomplishes 24 hours

of work in a 24 hour period stands still. In order to gain a

benefit, one must accomplish 25 hours or work in a 24 hour period.

Then there is gain.

 

Sadhu means efficient. Sadhus become so efficient at everything they

do, that they don't waste time or resources. Then they don't require

to repeat actions that are incomplete. They get it done right the

first time.

 

Our days begin with worship and they end with worship. Throughout

the day there are structured breaks for worship. The length of the

worship varies according to the activities that we are performing,

and those activities vary according to the needs of our community.

But the most important remembrance of living in an ashram is our

sense of purpose: to keep God in the center of our lives, to serve

God, to serve the gurus, to serve each other.

 

4. You are responsible for maintaining this structure called an

ashram, how does that support and how does it conflict with your

personal sadhana? What sacrifices are needed to be a "leader"

or "servant" of the aspirants living in the ashram community?

 

There is always a balance between too much and too little to be

maintained, and I consider it my privilege to have an ashram

community to assist me in making those decisions. Like every family,

we have a limited amount of resources, and we are constantly working

to adjust the allocation of those resources so we can accomplish the

goals of our community in the most efficient manner.

 

Therefore, the ashram community does not conflict with my personal

sadhana. It is one of the expressions of my sadhana. It is a result

of my sadhana. Love is such an experience -- you have to give it

away in order to make it grow.

 

There are three things that are necessary to leadership: Pure love,

Inspiration, and Appreciation. Pure love means I accept you the way

you are. Inspiration motivates you to make changes. Appreciation

expresses gratitude for every effort. These three are the necessary

ingredients for inspiring participation. I believe that is the only

way we can serve.

 

5. What is the proper attitude around money? I never

see "fundraisers" for Devi Mandir, yet things get done -- can you

talk a little about "Dakshina" and how it works in India and here in

America?

 

Money is a form of energy that we are all accustomed to using. But

we all know that it is neither the most important energy nor the

most efficient energy. It is only one form of energy. When we fall

in love, money is relatively unimportant. In fact, when we fall in

love, food and sleep also become relatively unimportant.

 

Now we all know how little effort is required to fall in love. It

just happens of its own accord. What is difficult is how to stay in

love? That requires effort, understanding, communication, surrender.

 

Dakshina means that which is given without effort, because of our

understanding, in order to communicate the intensity of our

surrender, a token of our respect which demonstrates the sincerity

of our love, and how much we appreciate what your being means to me.

Dakshina is not an agreed upon business transaction. It is not a fee

levied for the performance of a religious ritual, nor a tax

collected by a guru or ashram in exchange for teachings or

initiations or participation in religious functions.

 

Dakshina is offered as a privilege to support what I believe in, to

honor the conveyor of knowledge, in all humility to share respect,

and to enable the recipient to do more in order to make this world a

better place.

 

In the Devi Mandir, Shree Maa and I believe in the functions of

nature. We see that it is both the duty and the privilege for the

flowers to give their nectar to the bees. It is both the duty and

the privilege for the bees to take the nectar from the flowers.

Neither need to advertise or to fundraise. If we will only exude our

wonderful fragrances, the bees will come of their own accord. We are

only responsible for fun raising.

 

6. How does an ashram relate to the larger community? Is there any

responsibility to have contact with the larger community, or is self

sufficiency a goal? Does an ashram have a responsibility to perform

Seva in the larger community?

 

As many as there are seekers, so many are the paths. Each individual

and each ashram has its own goals and relationships with the larger

community. Some ashrams have one or two devotees, others have

thousands. This is by no means a measure of the success of the

ashrams. It is rather an expression of the intentions of the

participants. Some sadhus want to fund raise and engage in social

service projects, while others want to stay home and perform

sadhana.

 

In either case there will come a time when we want to give back to

our communities. Even Hereclitus, after years of wandering on the

mountain tops naked, left a copy of his book in the temple of

Apollo. No one stays on the top of the mountain. Either they do not

find what they are looking for and require to return to society for

the needs of the body, or they do find what they are looking for and

feel they must share it.

 

Jai Maa