In November 2005 I left the familiar comforts of my New Zealand life to attend the third Brahmacari Training Course in Balighai, India. The Hariharananda Gurukulam is an ashram started by Paramahamsa Hariharananda, one of the most outstanding disciples of Sri Yukteshwar and Paramahansa Yogananda - author of the well-known book ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’. The ashram is now under the care and guidance of his chief disciple - Paramahamsa Prajnanananda - affectionately known to his students as ‘Baba’.

The goal of the Brahmacari training is to prepare students to live a wholesome and integrated life through the practice of discipline, meditation and moderation. ‘Brahmacari’ literally means ‘one who roams in God consciousness’ and also refers to any spiritual aspirant who maintains celibacy and strives for purity in thought, word and deed.

To give you an idea of the training lets take a walk through a typical day at the ashram. Rise’n’shine from your hard bed (no mattress!) at 4am.Then take a bath, that is to say, wash yourself under a cold tap, readying yourself to be at the meditation hall at 4.45am. This was the start time for exercise class, thirty minutes of stretches and yoga asana. Then chanting class and morning Kriya meditation. Particularly in the first two months it was not unusual to hear one or two people snoring during this time!

Breakfast was at 7.15am then from 8-10am we would be blessed to sit before Baba in the classroom. Here we would receive the wisdom that naturally pours forth from his Divine being, not just from his words but just from being in his presence. To watch how a self-realized master walks, talks, sits acts, listens, interacts and gives, is an opportunity to learn in itself. 10-11.15am was ‘Seva’ time: Seva is selfless loving service and includes gardening, kitchen work, office work, or physical labour needed to help with the construction of the new temple. 11.30am saw everyone head back to the meditation hall for a self-guided Kriya meditation. Lunch was at 12.30pm, followed by some free time before resuming work at 3pm.

The second opportunity of the day to be in the holy presence of Baba came at 5.15pm. This class lasted an hour, followed immediately by evening chanting and guided meditation. Dinner followed at 7.45pm, and then again we would return to the meditation hall for ‘Satsang’, ‘Arti’ and closing prayer. Satsang is a Sanskrit word formed from the word sat (truth) plus sanga (association or company). So it means keeping good company, and can be a gathering of seekers of truth where a spiritual talk is given along with prayer and devotional singing. The metaphorical meaning of Satsang is to be united with the soul. Arti is an external form of worship. By the time the last line of the evening prayer was sung we were more than happy to retire to our rooms with lights out at 10pm, exhausted from the day’s activities. They say an idle mind is the devils playground and with this understanding the course schedule was kept full.

The highlight of the day was class time with Paramahamsa Prajnanananda. He would arrive in class and sit in a firm strict silence, with either his eyes closed, or open and fixed on eternity. There was no “Hi, how are you all this afternoon?” Immediately our minds would be drawn to the serious effort and sincere devotion necessary on the spiritual path. His presence would challenge you to forget any complaints, thoughts and restlessness. His arrival spoke volumes, saying ‘be present, rise up, waste time with none but God!’ Each class would begin with a prayer, then more often than not we were suddenly carrying on where we left off from yesterday’s text, scrambling to find the page.

Sometimes after the strict silence he would suddenly smile, a pure, childlike, immensely loving smile. He might say he didn’t feel like discussing the text and then spend the next hour or so telling us stories of his childhood or Hariharananda’s life, or stories of other saints and sages.

Three main lessons came across very clearly from seeing how Baba lives: One was the importance of time management and the potential in how much one could actually do and give. Sometimes Baba would go somewhere else in India to teach a program, travelling overnight by train to return to the ashram the next morning. Reaching the ashram at 7.45am, he would skip breakfast and be teaching by 8am as if it was all in a days work. Which it was for him!

The second striking quality about Baba was his ability to be detached, yet never cold or distant. His ways urged you to put God first, align yourself with Guru, not be concerned with trivial matters and simply play your role with devotion.

Thirdly; discipline, discipline, discipline your life! In class Baba once said “Spirituality and discipline are two sides of the same coin.” He constantly spoke of its importance and was obviously the epitome of this in his actions.

Before going to the ashram I had read that it is not so easy to stay in the company of the master. I have to say, I now understand what this means. In Baba’s presence there are no excuses. His example outshines and denies all weaknesses. He doesn’t cushion anyone’s ego or meet you at an ordinary human level, but rather rests constantly in the heights of purity. His message is to inspire you to be stronger, be wiser, be established in truth, rise up, wake up and realize who you are.

There are endless stories to tell of this experience and what is mentioned here is just one. The seven months at the ashram were on the one hand a challenging and stirring time, and on the other an immensely positive, satisfying, eye opening and life-changing experience.

An overwhelmed Disciple, Fern

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