“A flute, unless it is empty, is of no use. It must be hollow, otherwise it will not produce any music. You must empty yourself of the ego and then the flute-player will take you up.” These are some of the maxims that greet us as we enter the Abode of Bliss- Anandashram. This unconventional, unconditional and untainted haven takes you to the mother’s womb where you have the constant resonance of the primordial sound of Sriram Jayaram jaijairam Om. It is the Moolamantra given by Papa Ramdas, a loving saint who had evolved into an avatar, practising supreme love for all, beyond any barrier whatsoever. Accompanied by his disciple, an equally exalted soul Krishnabai and their protégé, Swami Sacchidananda, Papa weaved spirituality into one’s breath, suffused with devotional love for the One Consciousness. Nothing about this sacred home is in any way complex or complicated as it believes in simple existence with mindful awareness and heartful togetherness. Although it lies in the confines of the town of Kanhangad of Kerala, sandwiched between it’s border and Karnataka, it truly expands to literally embrace every being who wishes to touch the core of truth, be it from any part of the world.
Manovai Gaganakaram Manovai Sarvathomukham Manoatheetham Manha Sarvam Na Mana Paramarthatha”- Avadhuta Gita Chapter – 1, Sloka -9.
Translated as – The mind is free and boundless like the space. It seems to face in all directions. It seems to transcend everything. It seems to be everything. But in reality, the mind is not the highest Truth.
“The basic ground of our experience is empty space, the void,” says the Seer Ramdas, by which He means- It is an experience of spaciousness, openness and boundlessness. The mind is empty then, completely empty of the personality. It is as if the inner space is cleaned out”. As we are lead to pay attention to the gap between two thoughts, the silence between words, between the notes of a piano, between the dance movement, we focus on the gap between inhalation and exhalation. In fact, this brings us face to face with Prajapati- the Creator and reservoir of infiniteness.
We realize at that single moment, this vast Emptiness and Freedom that we essentially ARE! Searching for the Sakshi, the witness, the Seer in oneself is like chasing one’s own tail!
Witness the changing world drama with the detached happiness borne by an unchanging Atman.
The one who is free from obsessive and cyclical thoughts will be far more efficient in every aspect, even at the physical level. It is the human potential and destiny to experience the richness of the head and heart. All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players; with exit and their entrance with many parts to play…
In Anadashram one can never be lonely but aloneness is encouraged so that one can concentrate deeper. The air is brimming with Ramnam amidst the lush greenery, seductive fruits like mangoes, jackfruits to name a few and most colourful and fragrant flowers. It is rare to find in this world a place where even the labourers are joyfully singing Ramnam while doing the cleaning chores. Everyone is easy on you without any show of hierarchy or formalities. The cord that connects one and all here is ‘The Name’ which is the link between the devotee and God. Namasmaran is capable of granting the universal vision to see everything as God. You are actually taking the Name of the Lord who dwells in your own heart – the Atmaram or the incessant vibration of the cosmos. The Mantra has got its intrinsic value as it is soothing to the mind when it is sung in a particular tune continuously. The mother is He, the master is He. Your supreme Beloved is He.
“The world we live in is a school, in which observation and experience offer us immense possibilities for self-improvement, nay, the world itself is our Guru or God. Expansion expresses itself in the form of quality care and concern in all that we think, talk and do. We develop lover for His Creation – not only human beings, but also birds and animals, plants and trees and even inert and insentient matter. The liberation and peace of the individual is surely based upon his or her contribution towards the collective human happiness & harmony. You have to seek him within yourself. External worship is a distant means of realizing God. The sooner you begin to worship Him in your own heart, the better for you.” – Swami Ramdas.
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