Experiences of Serving Long Term
at Shree Muktananda Ashram
As a long-term retreat participant at Shree Muktananda Ashram, I was able to contribute
in a meaningful way to something I love and deeply value. I learned an immense amount
– from how to run meetings to how I welcome people.
A number of years after serving in the ashram, I was sitting in a graduate school
class on leadership. The professor was speaking about the various skill sets of
a leader and how a leader thinks and acts. As I watched people furiously taking
notes, I sat still, smiling. I had already learned the leadership skills the professor
was speaking about – critical thinking, generosity, authentic caring for those
around you, and efficient communication – as a long-term retreat participant.
These skills and qualities were part of the ashram culture.
A Siddha Yoga student from USA
I gained a greater respect for myself and others through my service at Shree Muktananda
Ashram. I developed this virtue through the attention paid to details like how we
clean our rooms, how we respect the atmosphere of the ashram by observing silence,
and even how thoroughly we chew our food! As a long-term retreat participant, I learned
how to develop overall goals for each seva project. This helped me to pay more attention
to everything I was doing and why I was doing it.
In these and many other ways, I also learned to become more attuned to the energy
in my own heart as a basic and fundamental approach to life.
I’m now much more aware of how my state influences my environment and my relationships,
and I choose behaviors and relationships that are respectful to me and are energizing.
All in all, this has resulted in a much smoother and richer experience of my life.
A Siddha Yoga student from USA
Following the ashram schedule was the most transformative aspect of my time in Shree
Muktananda Ashram, as it has turned me into a much more disciplined person. Before
coming into the ashram, when I was in university, I had no proper time to wake up
in the morning and subsequently missed classes and so forth. Living in the ashram
transformed this for me. I became respectful of my time and other people’s
time. This helped train my mind to be focused and not all over the place. I overcame
laziness, became much more organized, and stopped taking things – and people!
– for granted.
After my time in the ashram, this newfound discipline truly helped me in overcoming
fear and setting up my own business. I had to set goals and reach targets while
making sure I maintained a good balance with my personal life. Without that discipline
I wouldn’t have been able to do it so successfully. I really thank Gurumayi
for the ashram daily schedule.
A Siddha Yoga student from England
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