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The
thousands of ashram groups, each in their own area or camp invite individual
and family members to join in the festivities by staying in a tent,
and participating in ashram activities. The Gita Prachar camp is typical
of a medium-sized ashram with a "Guru" or teacher at its center. Many
of these ashrams are built around a particular sacred teaching, practice,
or a teacher. (Pause) We can see how the Ashram forms an extended family
for many of the monks. Orphaned children are accepted into the religious
order and trained in hatha yoga, meditation and the practice of selfless
service to others or karma yoga. Whole families also join in to experience
the feeling of living spiritually even if at home they usually live
engrossed with material life. They may have a brief encounter with a
saintly teacher or "Guru," hopeful it may effect their lives and their
family life positively. In India, there is such a strong feeling of
closeness between family members. It is much stronger than in America.
In many families a kind of built-in support network exists that creates
a strong individual sense of well-being. The children look after the
grandparents, and visa-versa, while the parents are at work. Everyone
shares their daily efforts and earnings, and in the evening they may
pray or meditate together or sharethe rich heritage of songs and stories
that have kept their tradition alive for five thousand years. For many
families it's like camping out or like summer camp with a festive, yet
spiritual atmosphere. They have a chance to reinforce many of their
religious traditions and give their children first hand experience of
the religious context in which they live.
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