Keep a diary of daily events and activities, a record of impressions recollected in tranquility, pictures taken at random
The theme is a tour of India, a visit to the ashrams and the stay there, a tour of the spiritual landscape of India, a journey as much of the body as of the mind and heart.
A spiritual journey into the land of numerous ashrams and schools of thought.
What do they offer?
Why are there so many?
Why do they differ in approach?
What is their role in the society?
What is their origin, individually and collectively?
What is the insight or inspiration behind each one?
Who is the Guru and what is his message?
Who is the founder and who is the head now?
What is their contribution to society?
Why and how does one differ from the other?
Who are the followers? In what way are their lives different?
Why are they here? What forces or compulsions drove them here?
What according to them is the idea of god, the universe, the living world and the human consciousness?
What is their contribution to art, literature, music and dance?
Where are their ashrams located in India and abroad?
Do they have a website?
How do they disseminate info about their activities?
What are their charges for boarding and lodging?
What are their publications?
Who are their donors?
What uses are their lands put to?
What crafts or skills do they develop in their followers?
On what basis do they select a place for their ashram?
What forms of worship do they follow?
Do they have a Hall of Fame? Some outstanding personalities as their donors, patrons or followers?
What is the best time to visit? Perhaps a wrong question as an ashram is not a picnic spot.
What is the feedback received from the visitors?
Which school of thought or philosophy does the Guru subscribe to?
What activities are conducted at the ashram? And why?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Ashrams
List ashrams in each state
Select ashrams which offer free or low cost boarding and lodging
Prepare an ashram route map
Make an itinerary
Calculate travel expenses
Prepare list of halts
Duration of stay at each halt
List items to carry
Sabarmati - Gujarat
Ramanasram - Tamilnadu
JK retreat - Andhra Pradesh
Aurobindo - Pondicherry
Shantiniketan - W. Bengal
Places to visit
Andhra Pradesh, Madanapalle
Tamilnadu, Ramanasram, Kanyakumari
Kerala, Shankaracharya ashram?
Karnataka, ?
Maharashtra, Aurangabad, Ajanta
Madhya Pradesh, ?
Gujarat, Sabarmati, Ashram Express
Rajasthan, ?
Himachal Pradesh, ?
Jammu, ?
Uttar Pradesh, Rishikesh, Varanasi
Bihar, ?
West Bengal, Shantiniketan, ?
Orissa, ?
The Ashram Route
1. JK retreat Naimisam
2. Madanpalle Rishi Valley
3. Ramanasramam, Arunachala
4. Aurobindo Ashram Pondicherry
5. COIMBATORE
6. Vivekananda, Kanyakumari
7. Shankaracharya asramam, Kerala
8. Ramakrishna Mutt, Karnataka
9. Samadhi Ashram, Ghrishneshwar Dharmasala, Ellora, Maharashtra
10. Sabarmati, Ahmadabad, Gujarat
11. Ashram Express, Abu, etc.
12. Advait Ashram, Mayavati, Uttaranchal
13. JK retreat, Varanasi
14. Gaya, Bihar
15. Shantiniketan, WB
16. Konark, Cuttack, Orissa
Return home
Sent from Nokia Smartphone
No comments:
Post a Comment