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ABHEDASHRAM
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ABHEDASHRAM is a centre for Spiritual Studies.
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ABHEDASHRAM was established
in October 1983 by
His Holiness Shrimad Svami Sadananda
Sarasvati for the purpose of providing accommodation for those who devote
their lives to spiritual studies, their application and their propagation,
and to encourage and foster the ideals of spiritual life and the belief that
all religions and mankind are basically one.
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ABHEDASHRAM: "Abheda"
is a Sanskrit word meaning "devoid of all differences". It means that essentially
all human beings are one no matter what one's social class, religion, colour
or lineage. "Ashram" means a dwelling in which spiritual aspirants are guided
in their learning and practice.
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ABHEDASHRAM provides
free housing, food and care for residents, visiting scholars, spiritual teachers
and aspirants from Britain and abroad.
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ABHEDASHRAM provides
the opportunity to receive personal advice and initiation into traditional
meditation.
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ABHEDASHRAM provides
the facilities to hold free Yoga and Vedanta classes and the opportunity to
hear spiritual discourses aimed at elevating each individual to a higher spiritual
realm, providing a strong foundation from which to face the various problems
of everyday life. Yoga and Vedanta are taught along with their original Sanskrit
texts. The Yoga taught is the Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali while the Vedanta
is in the tradition of Bhagavatpada (509 - 477 BC) otherwise known as Shankaracharya.
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ABHEDASHRAM aspires
to promote free and independent thinking of Yoga and spirituality, and provides
a platform welcoming people of all nations, irrespective of class. religion.
belief, branch or system of Yoga and Vedanta.
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ABHEDASHRAM is an open
platform for all, where theists and atheists can study together, can discuss
and understand topics such as life and death, problems and unhappiness, relative
and absolute truth.
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ABHEDASHRAM helps the
aspirant to reveal the absolute truth, the real Self of oneself and of all
beings.
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ABHEDASHRAM is not
monopolised by any particular school of thought, religion, nation, continent
or individual.
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Abhedashram - Why?
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Peace for individuals and society is needed today more
than ever before. Unhappiness, dissatisfaction, tension, mutual misunderstanding,
hatred and enslavement to sensual pleasure are functioning unchecked in the
minds of individuals and society in general. The world today is confronted
today by mental agony which leads to mutual suspicion, conflict and confusion.
It is essential to arrest such a tragedy, and to give a proper lead towards
mutual love, security and protection for the individual and for the collective
development and happiness of society. Peace and conflict are purely individual
affairs, they start in the individual. It is the individual who is responsible
for bringing peace and prosperity to society in the same way he is responsible
for creating disturbance and war. Conflicts and confusion function in one's
own mind, not outside. Every individual should realise this fact and be prepared
to solve their problems within themselves. The social problems of violence
and hysteria, laziness and fear have to be solved individually. The more one
searches for solutions outside the more one creates problems, because the
venue of the solution lies within oneself. To provide a opportunity to learn
this introspective approach is the object of Abhedashram.
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By the practice of
Yoga one can control and regulate the mind, bringing the mind inside and enabling
it to perceive, think and analyse correctly. Ultimately, when the practice
of Yoga attains its culmination, the true nature of every being is revealed
and the individual, social and national problems will be revealed along with
their solution. To enable aspirants to learn this process of Yoga, to maintain
balance of mind and health, to learn meditation and ultimately to be emancipated,
living ever in bliss, is the object of the ABHEDASHRAM.
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Control of the animal
instincts inside is as essential as taking food and shelter. They are the
basic problems arresting happiness, peace and understanding in one's life.
Craving for food, sex and sleep, together with a fear complex, are common
to animals and mankind and, if uncontrolled, cause unhappiness and conflict.
The everyday practice of Yoga helps to control these instincts and thus develops
the divine nature which lies dormant in all beings, cultivating kindness,
generosity, happiness and wisdom. All individuals are potentially divine and
spiritual. Life therefore has a spiritual value. The material value of life
has only a relative existence, while the spiritual value of life is absolute
and free from relative values. To understand this fact one requires spiritual
education. For this purpose ABHEDASHRAM was founded.
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An Appeal
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ABHEDASHRAM
sincerely endeavours to bring harmony, health and happiness to each individual
in society. The maintenance of the ABHEDASHRAM depends entirely upon the generosity
of the people in society. Thus ABHEDASHRAM exists for society and through society.
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Generosity is a spiritual
strength which washes away anger, jealousy, greed and selfish interest, unfolding
humanity, right understanding and virtues such as love and kindness.
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ABHEDASHRAM cordially
asks for your kind co-operation in the form of a donation in kind or cash,
or in the form of a monthly contribution to enable the accomplishment of its
aims.
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