So here we are in the Ashram of Swamiji Balendu. We feel at ease and in peace – in the abundance and joy of life! What an experience! It’s quite normal, isn’t it?


Children in the ashram


Swamiji had invited us in May 2009 when we met in Innsbruck, Austria (see here).
We accepted the invitation and then planned a whole tour of India within the next four months.

We studied the website of the ashram. We learned that Swamiji Balendu, the well known Guru and spiritual teacher, has spent 3 years and 108 days in a cave on the ashram ground some 10 years ago. As a young man under 30 he left the cave on 24th December 2000 and told the astonished audience that he did not want to be a guru and more. Some months later he left India for Germany. He met a German doctor and started his healing work in Germany and other countries. Ever since he is spending the summer season in Europe or in the US together with his wife Ramona and his younger brother Yashendu.

The ashram is his work. He started it in 1995 on the basis of his father’s work who was also a well known spiritual teacher.

In 2007, the school was founded. Within three years, it has grown considerably: There are 2 kindergarten groups and three primary school classes.

Swamiji and his team have dedicated their work to these children. Because the school is growing, they need to construct another building. They need donations in order to realize it.

We talked a lot with Swamiji these days. I summarize here some of these conversations.

Swamiji points out that this is an ashram in the old sense. That means that it is not a guesthouse. The visitors don’t pay – they can give donations. They become members of the community or even the family.
This has happened to us within a few days: We eat with the core team (Samiji, Ramona, Yashendu and the third brother Purnendu). We play billiard with the two younger brothers (and of course we loose).





Yashendu above, Christina below


When Samiji came out of the cave, he initiated a little revolution: He quit his role as a guru, he said there were no more rituals and he proclaimed that there was no supernatural reality.

Somehow he convinced his community, and indeed there are no rituals, no teachings, no common belief.

I did not really believe that when I read about it in the first place – but it is true!

It’s the perfect place for us, the heralds of the creative nothing, the foolish philosophers, the messengers of joy without a reason!

At our first encounter with Swamiji in Innsbruck he had described his Chakra Dance Parties as based on “absolutely non-serious spirituality”.

This lightness of spirit can be felt in the ashram.

But still – they work a lot! All day long they sit behind their computers, update their website, prepare their next travels, write diaries and publish them. The main purpose of all this is to finance the school which has now over a hundred children.

The ashram feeds them, gives them clothes and books and pays for the teachers and the management. The money for all this comes mostly form outside, from donations.

Every day the kitchen feeds up to 200 people at noon.


Christina, Roland, Ramona, Swamiji, Babaji the father and the old grandmother

Swamiji told us today that he does not want the school to become very big. But they want to prevent that the street children who now are in school go back to the street. Often, the parents only consent because their children get food here. They would never send their children to a public school because they would have to pay there. Usually, their children do child work: Working on a kiosk, begging or some other job. They bring some money home, which is important for the family.

So, as soon as a child leaves the third class which is the highest class now, he/she will start with child labor again. That’s why they want to add another class room now.

Swamiji is a wanderer between worlds. “We should take the best out of Asian and European culture”, he said yesterday. “ I actually ran away from India after my experience in the cave. And when I landed in Hamburg, I did not know anybody. This was a real culture shock! I think they are crazy there!”

Swami then met a German doctor, Dr. Kosak, who helped him to establish his work in Europe.

“But you know – I am not very pleased with Indian culture either” – he adds. “Normally it is much too conventional, not really inspired. Still I think that Indian spirituality has a lot to offer.”

That’s how we talk these days.

Under the roof of the main building there is an old Hollywood Seesaw. The very old lady of the house is sitting there all day, preparing vegetables or playing with the children. She is the mother of Swamiji’s mother – certainly over 90 years of age, nobody knows exactly.

And Swamiji’s father, who looks like a guru in a picture book, carries little boys on his shoulders or looks for the garden and plants.

We have found a paradise of joy and love and happiness. A paradise of sweet nothingness. A coalition of joy without the need to talk about it.

I encourage you to give a donation for the school in this time before Christmas! Here you find the necessary information and also a film:
http://www.jaisiyaram.com/kindergarten.htm

The Main house in front - we live in the first floor
On the right the building with the cave with the school behind it