13 June 2015 - QA 11

I wish to spend the rest of my life doing seva in the Ashram. Currently I teach Hindi in a school. The Ashram’s beautiful environment has stolen my heart completely. How can I serve here? Please guide.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

We have a Human Resources department here at the Ashram. If you are looking to find work, you can approach them for assistance.

I consider the entire world to be my Ashram. For me, the Ashram is not limited by four walls and boundaries. What does an Ashram mean? An Ashram is a place where one can get three things easily.
1. Where you get to be in knowledge, where you get to listen and discuss knowledge that uplifts you.
2. Where you get good food.
3. Where you get good rest.
Now can you not provide all these three in your own home? When someone visits you at your home, can you not sit and discuss knowledge with them? That is the first sign that your home has become an Ashram.
Secondly, when someone comes to your house, do you not offer them something good to eat? In India, this is a very common practice. So this is a second sign of your home being an Ashram.
Thirdly, your home should have such a positive environment that whoever comes should feel at peace, and experience a sense of deep rest and relief.

I want every home in the world to become an Ashram. I want that in every home in the world, people discuss knowledge and ponder deeper about life rather than engage in useless gossip and criticizing others. People should think about “Who am I? What is this life?”

There are three important things: Purity of heart, clarity of the mind and sincerity in action. Can we not have these three in our life? When you practice all three, your home becomes an Ashram in the true sense.