Arriving at an Ashram

21-28 April 2019

I had no expectations going into the Aurovalley Ashram, especially coming from Rishikesh, and seeing how commercialised these sorts of experiences had become.  However, I was arriving on the back of a recommendation (granted from people I had known no more than 3 hours), so I figured, in the least, it could not be worse than Rishikesh. 

From my conversation with an Indian, who was up from Delhi, the night before I knew I had to catch a tuk tuk to the ashram, and that it shouldn’t cost me more than 70 rupees.  Considering the arbitrariness at how these drivers arrive at their prices, and also that I was guaranteed to be overcharged on account of being a tourist, I was primed to enter the negotiations for a price with a realistic range to work with.

Smiley face:
screwed by another tuk tuk driver,
a past time I was getting used to in India

Well, the first driver said 700 rupees.  I knew then I was either following some poor advice, or being seriously bent over.  After 5 minutes of my best attempt to justify 70 rupees, I was beginning to understand that this was far too low a base.  Another driver though had perhaps realised that I was not to be taken for a fool, so easily, or (had probably) just taken pity on my sad excuse for an attempt to haggle, and offered me to take me for 450.  His justification was that it was actually out of the town, and not the normal route.  I knew it was an hour drive at least, and had had enough "fun" playing 'Guess the actual price of this thing', and mostly because I had little other options, I accepted that I was still being taken for a ride (lol, intended pun), but I was happy with claiming the (very) small victory.

The drive was indeed far longer than expected, and about 15 minutes out of Raiwalla, so even though we picked up a few passengers along the way (an express tuk tuk takes you directly and costs more, if you take passengers along the way, it should cost far less – something I remembered only after we picked up our first passenger – and probably would have been useful to mention in my earlier negotiations), I felt the agreed price reasonable – well at least, that is how I justified it to myself.

Arriving at Aurovalley, I knew I had made the right decision to leave Rishikesh.  You could immediately get a sense of the peace and tranquillity of the place.  There was no noise to speak of, and a large open courtyard (with no vendors, scooters, or people trying to sell you something).  To the left was a large grove filled with mango trees, adjacent to the yoga hall and library.  I was told, by the lady I found at reception, that the mediation house was just behind that. 

Library, Aurovalley Ashram

Courtyard, Aurovalley
Ashram

Aurovalley Ashram

Mango grove (mango orchard?),
Aurovalley Ashram

Daily schedule attached to my key
(so I could lose both at the same time)

I was shown to my room, and given a key, which contained the daily schedule.  It was just after 11am, and 11:30 was satsang – ashram-speak for Q&A with the swami.  I quickly surveyed the room – which to my delight was a private room, with two singe beds, and an adjoining, private bathroom.  What a delight, even if I was sharing with one other person, this was a long way from the 6-bunk bed dormitories I had experienced until now, and would continue to in the future.  I was looking forward to this small luxury.

Satsang was in the library.  Walking in, one enters a large, circular room, with high-ceilings and poof cushions on the floor, arranged in a circle.  The guests sit on the floor, and the swami sits at the top of the circle, on a chair.   Very few questions were asked, and of those asked, the answers provided with quite cryptic.  However, most of the hour was spent in silence, waiting for more questions, although these never came.  I was to learn that this would be the standard practise for this session – and very quickly became my least favourite part of the day.  I would come to use this time to work on my posture and sitting upright, while cross-legged.

Private room,
Aurovalley Ashram

View from my room,
Aurovalley Ashram

Meditation hall, Aurovalley Ashram

Next was lunch, and what soon came to be a time I looked forward to each day.  The meals at the ashram were incredible.  These established, and entrenched, my love for real, genuine Indian food.  As everything was vegetarian, I had no problem trying everything, and I was sure glad to - what was the worst it could be?  Oh, no a cauliflower.  Each meal I had at the ashram was incredible.  I had no problem eating curry for 3 meals a day, and I do not think in the week I was there I ate the same meal more than twice.  The variety, taste, and portions were all so good – I actually had to ask for less food, or begin choosing what to eat – because there was just too much – as well as that all meals consisted of the real staples of any healthy (Indian) meal: rice, potatoes and a roti/chipati (sugar, salt, and oil are obviously considered automatically included).  I however ate my fill, as I felt I would not eat this well in the future (and had not done up till now).

Lunch ended at about 1:30pm and there is free time till 6pm.  So, I thought, why not go for an afternoon nap.  You deserve it Ryan.  So far, ashramming seemed to be something I could get very used to, as I dosed off for the afternoon.