{"id":1263,"date":"2018-02-09T17:19:50","date_gmt":"2018-02-09T17:19:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yogadirectorycanada.com\/community\/?p=1263"},"modified":"2021-04-26T18:50:06","modified_gmt":"2021-04-26T18:50:06","slug":"i-heard-the-elephant-trumpeting-a-search-of-self-discovery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yogadirectorycanada.com\/community\/i-heard-the-elephant-trumpeting-a-search-of-self-discovery\/","title":{"rendered":"I Heard the Elephant Trumpeting: A Search of Self-Discovery"},"content":{"rendered":"

Photos and story by Leslie Smith<\/h3>\n

\u201cWe aspire toward the divine nature.\u201d\u2014Shri Yogi Sachinanandaji<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

AURO VALLEY ASHRAM, RAIWALA, INDIA\u2014
\nDisembarking into the flat tranquillity of Auro Valley after the vertiginous chaos of Rishikesh 45 minutes away is like stepping out of a crowded subway train directly into a spa. The setting is quietly elegant, almost remote in its other-worldliness of white marbled, elliptical-shaped buildings, neatly tended gardens and, overwhelmingly, peace. Not just peacefulness, but true peace.<\/p>\n

The ashram is located near the southern boundaries of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve and wildlife abounds. From the rooftop of the cavernous and echoing residence building, herds of spotted deer can be glimpsed at dawn, tripping through the tall grasses and trees amidst peacocks, green parrots, cattle and other animals. An unseen elephant, whose occasional trumpeting piqued my curiosity, never revealed itself, but large posters on the grounds warned of the incursion not only of pachyderms but tigers; just the week before, an elephant was shooed from the enclave.<\/p>\n

Swami Brahmdev is the resident guru of Auro Valley, which he built in memory of the principles espoused by The Mother and Sri Aurobindo, who lived in Pondicherry in the early 20th-century (see http:\/\/www.sriaurobindoashram.org\/ashram\/mother\/<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\"Auro

Auro Valley Residence featuring The Mother\u2019s eyes<\/p><\/div>\n

A hushed and dignified library hosts thousands of books from the philosophical to the entertaining, particularly the works of Sri Aurobindo, who spent much of his life in retreat, writing and thinking, aided by The Mother, an acolyte who took over much of the daily duties of the Pondicherry ashram and became a well-known guru herself, spreading her devotion and wisdom.<\/p>\n

The meditation hall features a hypnotic green and white crystal lamp as a central focal point, encouraging silent communion at dawn and dusk. Though the vegetarian food in the dining hall is uninspired, and tightly controlled by Swami Brahmdev\u2019s Russian supporters (he has a big following in eastern Europe and South America), it is at least nourishing.\u00a0 Boris, a huge, affable Russian who visits regularly, offers massages (he speaks little English, but manages to refer to himself gleefully as \u201cMr. Pain;\u201d others in my group snap up his offer) and also entertains by playing rousing folk tunes from an upper balcony on his accordion.<\/p>\n<\/div>