Spiritual Retreat
What is an ashram? Why go on a spiritual retreat? This lens explains the way of life on an ashram and has links to ashrams and pictures of ashrams.
An ashram is a place of spiritual retreat. Usually there are permanent residents as well as visitors who come for retreats.
The word Ashram is originally Indian (and Hindu), but is used for more general spiritual retreat centers as well these days.
Ashram pictures
Going on a Retreat - three reasons to do it
- To get away from it all
- To rethink your life
- To regroup, find your center, get in touch with yourself (again)
About food on an Ashram
Ashrams usually have practical rules to make sure the atmosphere stays spiritual and meditative. For the permanent residents these rules have become a way of life. For visitors they are voluntarily taken on, usually for spiritual cleansing purposes.Rules often found in Ashrams include:
- No meat: vegetarian food
- No alcohol or other intoxicants
- No smoking
On stricter Ashrams rules may even include the following:
- No sweets or sugar
- No coffee or tea (these contain caffeine)
Source for this image of the headquarters of the Theosophical Society in India, which is an Ashram
Books about Spiritual Retreats
Other restrictions to life on an ashram
As spiritual growth is supposed to be the main occupation on ashrams, everything else can be secondary to that.The following are rules that may or may not be practised on specific ashrams. Just to give you an idea.
- No tv, radio or internet
- Strict rules about waking and sleeping times
- Silence, except during talks with a spiritual teacher
- Shared physical activities like cooking, cleaning and gardening
The image is of the room Mahatma Gandhi stayed in. His spinning wheel is still there
Links about Ashrams and Spiritual Retreats
Choosing a Spiritual Retreat
Each retreat is unique. Find one that works for yo more...0 points
eat pray love ashram | ashrams in India
Find spirituality through ashrams in India. Eat pr more...0 points
Why do you go on retreats?
What do you look for in an ashram?
Vote for your reason(s) for going on a retreat. If your reason isn't listed, add it.
Ashram: etymology and dictionary meaning
"religious hermitage," from Skt. asramah, from a-, adnomial prefix, + sramah "effort, toll, fatigue."
Etymology online
ashram
1. a secluded building, often the residence of a guru, used for religious retreat or instruction in Hinduism.
2. the persons instructed there.
Dictionary .com
Spiritual Retreat products
Ashrams as Monasteries
Your favorite Ashrams
The International Theosophical Centre, Naarden, The Netherlands
Ashram in the Netherlands1 point
Plum Village - Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
Zen Ashram.1 point
Christian Ashram
1 point
Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas
Aims at realisation of educational, social, cultur more...1 point
Siddha Yoga Ashram in Oakland - Gurumayi
The Siddha Yoga Ashram in Oakland makes the teachi more...1 point
Wheaton Theosophical Headquarters
Headquarters in the shape of an ashram.0 points
Theosophical Society-Adyar Head Quarters
At Adyar, near to Chennai (Madras), India.0 points
Param Pujya Sant Shri Asaramji Ashram
Non-dogmatic Ashram0 points
Ananda Ashram
Monroe, New York: a spiritual retreat and educatio more...0 points
Have you ever been to an ashram?
Did you like the Ashram?
For those of you who have experience with going on a retreat, please tell the rest of us whether you liked it or not.
Did you like going on a retreat? Would you go again?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes, I would go again.
Amyji says:
The ashram I attend periodically is near my home. The Oakland SYDA Ashram doesn't offer many retreats, so my vote was incorrect - I just attend periodically, as one would visit a temple or church. The program I attend includes chanting and meditating.
Posted February 28, 2009
EelKat says:
I built one in my backyard, it's where I go to do my reading, writing, and meditating.
Posted September 16, 2008
spirituality says:
I loved meeting people and having time for reflection. I didn't like the cold showers too much - but I do feel it was essential to the experience.
Posted June 06, 2008
No, I would not go again.
What do you think of this ashram lens?
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Reply
- spirituality spirituality May 7, 2009 @ 2:00 am | in reply to Sonia_Gallagher
- I'm sure there are several Ashram's in The Netherlands. After all, it has a population of 16 million people. The one mentioned here is just the one I know (and love) about personally.
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Reply
- Sonia_Gallagher Sonia_Gallagher May 6, 2009 @ 9:37 pm
- Great lens. I did not know there was an ashram in the Netherlands. I lived in Leiden for several months (wish I had known while I was there). I am now in South Florida so I meditate at home with my husband, in the Morikami Japanese Botanical Gardens, at the beach, and in parks. I love the feel of the breeze while I am meditating. Its a very different experience to meditating indoors.
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Reply
- Soul-expert Soul-expert Jan 8, 2009 @ 9:46 am
- Great lens! You've put together a lot of helpful information on retreats and ashrams. I'd love for you to visit my lens and say hello when you have the chance.
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Reply
- Jewelsofawe Jewelsofawe Dec 18, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
- I forgot to tell you that I added this lens to my lens: a> Welcome to the Spirituality Group!
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Reply
- Jewelsofawe Jewelsofawe Dec 18, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
- I like it. I am debating whether I would want to go to an ashram or not. Probably not. I can meditate at home and be comfortable.
- Load More
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