practical tips for the spiritual journey

8/3/2019 Practical Tips for the Spiritual Journey

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Satsang Seeking Together- Helping to Create A Planetary Vision A Universal Heart of Compassion

Practical Tips for the Spiritual Traveller

REFLECTIONS ON THE SPIRITUALITY OF DIE QUELLE

Die Quelle - A Sadhana AshramAll persons return to the One

Source. Returning to theSource is tranquillityTao poem)

People often ask me, What is DieQuelle? And Why is it so importantfor your spiritual life as a SatsangMember?

These reflections are an attempt to provide some answers to these two questions.They are based on my personal experience of visiting Die Quelle the SatsangSadhana Ashram over many years and on my understanding of points made bySister Ishpriya in her many conferences at Die Quelle. But first of all, for somereaders, a simple explanation of some terms.

Satsang The word Satsang is a term used in Eastern Spiritual Traditions. It isderived from two Sanskrit words , Sat meaning Truth ( a term often used for God Ultimate Reality) and Sangha meaning a meeting or coming together. Thus aSatsanghas come to mean a companionship of seekers after Truth. It is a termused by Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs.

For further details about Satsang and the International Satsang Association (ISA)click on this link to visit the website. You can also download a leaflet ( in PDF format)by visiting the Resource Page of the local UK Midlands Website . Look underdocuments and print it out.

Sadhana This is a Sanskrit term meaning Spiritual Practice or Discipline.

Ashram An Ashram is an Eastern term , denoting a place where Spiritual Seekers

go to seek the teaching of a wise teacher and to find the time and space to reflect ontheir Sadhana in the company of other Satsang Members.It is also a place where the daily rhythm and way of life Seva, Teaching, chores etcare all designed to provide spiritual food for the journey back to the Source that isMystery.

Die Quelle (The Source) is a Sadhana Ashram and a Resource Centre for theInternational Satsang Association. It is also a place that welcomes any SpiritualTraveller. It is place where one can receive teaching and spiritual from SisterIshpriya, the Spiritual Guide of the ISA.

Further details on Die Quelle (The ISA Sadhana Ashram) and a downloadableProgramme of events can be found at www.international-satsang.org


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The Spirituality of the Satsang` The central purpose of the ISA and its underlyingspirituality is designed to assist spiritual seekers to read the signs of the times.So how does Die Quelle play its part in this? What can the spiritual Seeker, whovisits Die Quelle, take away from his/her time in Satsang? How might others whohave, as yet, not visited Die Quelle gain some useful, practical and simple tips for

their Sadhana?

In our current times of vastchanges we are as a humanfamily is exposed to constantchanges, business and vastamounts of data streaming(andsometimes screaming)atus from modern technology.

Consequently, many spiritual

travellers wisely decide to taketime out for deeper reflection.They do so in places like DieQuelle. There in the stillnessand beautiful surrounding, thereduction of the outside noisebegins to calm down the innernoise. During these times of increasingly deeper reflection, responses from the realself begin to rise up into our consciousness. However, as I have so often found, andperhaps others do too, we return to our busy lives and these deeper responses seemto drift away just as morning haze is burnt off by the rising sun.

So what could we all take away from our time at Die Quelle that could more easily beincorporated into our everyday lives? What practical tips could help? Here I return tomy reflections on several Pravachan (Spiritual Conference Talk) given by Ishpriya onthe importance of the Daily Rhythm and Seva at Die Quelle and also to several Podcasts the at are available either ion you Tube or the ISA Website.

Five Simple Tips for the Journey

Ishpriya often emphasise the importance of a daily rhythm.We live in a world that is naturally rhythmic. It is governedby the Seasons and the constant cycle of light and dark dawn and dusk. So the first and very one important spiritualtip is to begin to get as much rhythm of flow into life aspossible. This reminds me of the Daily Aarti. This is a simpleEastern Ceremony of marking important points in the dailycycle with Light, burning camphor. . At Die Quelle this isdone in the early morning and evening, approximately 12hours apart. It places markers in the daily rhythm andprovides a short time to pause and remember that we are

part of a greater environment and the eternal cycle of life


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Now, it may not be possible to have an Aarti Ceremony in our life. However, we couldpause each morning when we arise and each evening and notice the light growing orfading. This could be a simple practice or Sadhana in our busy life.

Spiritual Tip 1 Sharing our resources and using them wisely

I would now like to outline four further tips based on Die Quelles daily rhythm.

Food and the Preparation of Meals

We live in a world where in the Third World many suffer from malnutrition while manyin the First World struggle with the consequences of over-eating and poor dietarychoices. Our modern world encourages consumerism and greed. We are constantlypressurised to indulge or wantsand not our needs One of the more importantslogans or mantras that we could encourage in our life is Need not Greed

At Die Quelle, the lifestyle issimple and satisfying. Because itis around 5 miles or 8 km up amountain, there are noConvenience Stores around.Consequently, we cook forourselves and the rest of theCommunity at Die Quelle. Wetake turns to be the cook of theday Thus we, of necessity,encouraged to co-operate withthe other cooks to decide how toshare out the provisions in thelarder. In addition, nothing iswasted. In the spirit of our

mothers, we use every scrap of food to its best advantage; this includes anything left-over.

This simple, yet necessary practice is NOT just about meals, it is designed to makeus more aware both of our choices and the spiritual value of sharing and usingresources sparingly and wisely. Ishpriya remarked once, that this practice of sharing

could remind us of a message so many of us have received from our mothers.Mothers often say to their children Be nice and share your toys. Well, whether itstoys, time or the worlds resources, perhaps we could become more aware of ourneed to share at its importance if we are to live in harmony and compassion with ourneighbours and our environment. So I find this part of the Rhythm at Die Quelle areminder and challenge, not just about food and diet, but also about my use of otherresources.

Spiritual Tip 2 Sharing our resources and using them wisely


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Water

Water is an essential element for survival. In factwe can survive longer without food. It is a

precious and free resource but it needs to bepurified and used wisely. Die Quelle, like manyplaces in our world, depends upon its ownsource or well. It is not connected to apermanent water supply provided by a UtilityCompany. In parts of our World wars break outabout water rights, millions of people die or are illbecause of inadequate clean water

Consequently, the Rhythm at Die Quelle, of filling the water jugs at mealtimes,washing, cleaning and cooking are a reminder that the water supply is not endlessand we need to be mindful of using it wisely. It also reminds me of my need to begrateful for clean water and be compassionately mindful of those who dont haveaccess to clean water.

Spiritual Tip 3 Each day have an awareness of using water moment

Disposal of Garbage

Ishpriya often reminds us of our human tendencyto use our environment as a giant Garbage CanThis does not jut effect our planet and itsenvironment but also space. Scientists warn thatwe are currently scattering the debris of spacecraft all over our universe. So we have movedfrom polluting our planet and environment topolluting space.

This is yet another sign of the duality of our thinking and philosophy. It shows how

removed we are from any sense of Oneness or connectedness, not just with eachother but also with our environment and the Cosmos.

Die Quelle is in an area that is well aware of the beauty and balance ofits Environment. Consequently, part of rhythm and practice at Die Quelle iscareful recycling of as much as possible. From paper to plastic, garbage, milkcartons, batteries, glass, wood, metal etc. It was an eye opener for me, comingfrom the UK where recycling is still in its infancy. Many could see this as eithera mundane task or a necessary but time-wasting chore. However, Ishpriyareminds us that this is a simple spiritual practice

Spiritual Tip 4 Regularly recycle old ideas, thoughts, garbage and clutter


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SEVA - Selfless Service to and for Others

I have left SEVA until the last. It is a Sadhana that encompasses all the others. NowSEVA is one of the few Eastern terms which has been retained by the ISA. SisterIshpriya lays great stress upon this as an essential spiritual practice in the Sadhana

Ashram.

SEVA is a well known Sadhana in IndianSpirituality. In Hindu tradition it is referred to asNishkam Karma. This is a self-less actionperformed without any expectation of rewardsor results. It is a central tenet and practice ofKarma Yoga.

It is also a wonderful practice in Sikhism. Theirfounder Gurudev Nanakplaced great

emphasis on SEVA. Consequently, whereveryou travel in the world an meet Sikhs ownpractice is that of the you will be impressed bytheir dedication to SEVA. One of their bestknown practices is that of the tradition of theLangar. This is attached to all their Temples orGurdwaras and their everybody, regardless ofrace, station or faith, are served a free meal.These meals are prepared by Sikhs as part oftheir SEVA.

Die Quelle, places great emphasis on SEVA., both indoors and outdoors. Becausethe Ashram needs to be self-sufficient all tasks must be undertaken by theCommunity. This involves cleaning, cooking, washing, gardening, decorating etc.Each morning before Ishpriyas Pravachan, we all undertake an hour of SEVA. AsIshpriya emphasises, SEVA IS NOTjust about maintaining the Ashram and it isbest not to view it merely as a task or chore that is either enjoyable or mundane.Undertaking SEVA is a Sadhana, where one approaches the particular task with joy,mindfulness and a willingness to serve others.

This is a practice that one can take home. I have begun to see tasks like, dishes,

ironing, cleaning toilets ,washing the dishes, cooking etc as daily opportunities topractice mindfulness. They are opportunities to serve others This attitude isbeginning to help me to reduce my tendency to view some tasks as chores , which Itry to avoid, and others as enjoyable, which I try to reserve for myself.

Spiritual Tip 5 Begin to see everyday tasks as an opportunity to bothserve others and to be mindfully present to Reality

practical tips for the spiritual journey

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