Sustainable Ashrams Building Yogis
How yoga inspires sustainability
Among the many types of yoga, is Karma Yoga, the yoga of action. Karma means action, and according to the Law of Karma, every action generates consequence. Our body, mind and present circumstances are a result of our past karma. Our life ahead and the many lives to come will be defined by our present and future karma. To act according to dharma(the right way of living) is the path of spiritual liberation through unselfish action.
In the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali– one of the foundational texts of yoga philosophy, Patanjali defines a few behavioural guidelines or virtuesin the path of Yoga. One of these is Ahimsa (अहिंसा) or non-violence and non-injury to others. Patanjali also preached Aparigraha (अपरिग्रह) which is non-greed.
Following these virtues, Yogis envision a world which is sustainable and strive to do things differently to supportand integratewith the ecosystem. They look at Mother Earth as a living, breathing entity which is nurturing human growth and development. In turn, they have respect and love for her.
What does it mean for Yoga Ashrams to be sustainable?
Yoga ashrams around the globe preach and practice morality. Ashrams are a place to grow and live spiritually. They provide a safe space for all to relax in and merge with nature while aiming to find themselves and their true meaning.
Acting as a means to bring individuals back to nature from the busy, and probably unhealthy lives back at home, Ashrams also have a moral obligation to support and integrate themselves with the environment they operate in and also with the world as a whole.
Sustainability is a large concept and can be understood as anything between maintenanceand improvement. It can be imparted as a concept to be practiced by several individuals. Or.. it can be integrated as part of daily operations of institutions.
In this list, we talk about a few Ashrams and Schools of thought that practice sustainability in at least one of the following ways:
- The first and most important way for Ashrams to practice sustainability is through their daily operations. As a school practicing and preaching Yoga, Ashrams have a moral duty to not harm their environment when it comes to their operations. It has to be a sustainable unit in itself.
Apart from not harming the environment, the Ashram would be sustainable if it looks after the community and supports the environment. A sustainable ashram would allocate parts of its resourcesfor the benefit of society. For example, Six Senses Ninh Van Bay has a sustainability manager who has put in place projects for energy reduction, rainwater collection, and restoration of coral reefs in the area.
- Ashrams impart knowledge to individuals on how to lead a fruitful life. Ashrams can practice sustainability in terms of their teachings. If the teachings of an Ashram enablean individual to live a holistic lifestyleand benefit their environment and people around them with their practice, that Ashram promotes sustainability. For example, Sivananda Yoga Vedanta has Karma Yoga Programmes that teach individuals to be selfless and accept the yogic way of living.
- Some ashrams approach sustainability in a unique way and solve an issue or fill a gap that we don’t even realize exists. Auroville in the list below is one such example which set out to bring the world together and strives to sustain culture, peace, and unity.
Ashrams practising sustainability…
The Art of Living Foundation, founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, has it’s Ashrams all around the world and is exceptionally involved in Service Projects. It is a non-profit, educationaland humanitarianorganization. The foundation is involved in rural development, ecological restoration, disaster relief, women empowerment, stress relief, and prisoner rehabilitation at large scales.
The Art of Living Ashram, Montreal is one of the most beautiful Ashrams in the world, made up of 250 acres of land dotted by five pristine lakes and numerous nature trails. The Ashram is an ideal location for deep meditation and offers a wide variety of activities and programs, including Art of Living Courses, yoga programs, annual youth summer camps and family retreats.
Auroville (Sri Aurobindo Ashram), Tamil Nadu/Puducherry
A town which is a world in itself. Auroville was built with an aim to realise human unity. In 1966, UNESCO commended it as a project of importance to the future of humanity.In 1963, 500 people from 124 nations sowed the soil of their homeland in this town. Auroville today has a population of 50,000 people from all over the world living harmoniously.
Auroville is a successful practical experiment researching into sustainable living and the future cultural, environmental, social, and spiritual needs of mankind.
The ‘City of Dawn’ was the brainchild of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. Auroville is the perfect example of the sustainability of culture and human connections as well as that of the environment.
Auroville offers ayurvedic treatments, Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Raja and Kriya Yoga sessions.
Founded by Sadhguru, Isha Foundation is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating human potential. It focuses on empoweringone another to drive Global Transformation.
Located at the foothills of Vellangiri hills, the Ashram has a unique energy and is a beautiful place to seek inner transformation. They have various programs including a 21-week 1750-hours Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program.
Isha Foundation has been involved in many large scale human service projects offering medical care and rehabilitationin rural areas, rural education and planting 114 million trees increasing green cover in Tamil Nadu.
GMCKS Arhatic Yoga Ashram, Pune
Founded by Grand Master Choa Kok Sui, this Ashram can only be visited by serious practitioners of Pranic Healing and Arhatic Yoga who have done or are about to do the course on Arhatic Yoga. Pranic Healing courses can be done in various centres all around the world.
The Ashram has sixty acres of scenic land surrounded by hills and valleys. This location was selected by Master for its special properties conducive to spiritual growth.
Pranic healing is a no-touch therapy used for healing individuals with the help of pranaor energy. Pranic Healing promotes sustainabilityof body and mindthrough life force (or prana).
The meditation on Twin Hearts, the most famous and basic meditation of Pranic Healing is aimed to send energy to and heal the Earththrough tapping into the divine energy. Pranic Healing is a service aimed to sustain and foster life.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
ISKCON has Ashrams all over India but one of the most beautiful and holy is the Ashram in Mayapur. The Ashram is located between the rivers Hoogly and Jalangi.
At ISKCON devotees practise Bhakti Yoga, which involves dedicating all thoughts and actions towards pleasing God. ISKCON has classes on Bhagavad Gita and lectures on spirituality.
ISKCON is involved in a number of initiatives in supporting and sustaining its environment including regularly distributing food to the needy, distributing books, interacting with and uplifting prisoners, and its contribution to animal rights.
There are many more Yoga Ashrams around the world promoting and practising sustainability in unique ways.
Sadhguru once said that practising spirituality essentially means that your experience of life has gone beyond your physical self, this leads to the natural inclusion of life around you in that experience. And so, with yoga, it becomes the very nature of every individual to cultivate loveand responsibilitytowards the universe.
Life is lived forwards but understood backwards. Yoga, handed down to us, takes us back to our roots and cultivates our understanding of the core of life.