An Ashram

An Ashram

“The ashram has a totally different perspective.  The ashram means a community, a communion of people, of souls who are alike.  You will be surprised: remember, the modern Hindu ashram is not really Eastern.  The modern Hindu ashram is so influenced by the Christian monastery that it is not Hindu at all.  If you really want to have a glimpse of a Hindu ashram, you will have to go to the days of the Vedas.  The master was there, but the master was not a monk.  He was a married man: he had a wife, he had children, the ashram was his family.  That’s why the ashram was called gurukul.  Gurukul means the family of the master.  He had children, he had a wife, he lived a relaxed life, deep in the forest, deep in nature: a spontaneous way of life, unhurried, not searching, but waiting; not putting God against the world, but enjoying the world because God is in it.  And the disciples who lived with him were his family, gurukul.  It was not an institution; it was a family.  They were children to him, his own kids.  They may have been older than him – that is not the point – but they were his kids.” – Osho “The Path of Love” – pg. 172

That is how I see real Martial Arts is to be shared, through a family.  It is not an institution.  It is a community of souls that are alike.  They are unique in their ways, different than the society and culture.  They are artistic, creative, and self-expressive.  A Martial Artist is so unique that it would be rare to bump into one.  Anybody can be an athlete, but not anybody can be an Artist, it is a different breed of individuals. 

The Boxing Gyms, the Fight Gyms that you find around in America are not Eastern.  They are so influenced by the Christian way of life that it is not Eastern at all.  If you really want to have a glimpse of the Chinese Martial Arts Kwoon, you will have to go to the days of the past.  Some Chinese Martial Art movies that you will find will provide a glimpse. 

The Sifu was there, but the Sifu was not a monk.  He was a married man: he had a wife, he had children, the kwoon was his family. He had children, he had a wife, he lived a relaxed life, deep in nature: a spontaneous way of life, unhurried, not searching, but waiting; not putting Tao against the world, but enjoying the world because Tao is in it.  And the disciples who trained with him were his family.  It was not an institution; it was a family.  They were children to him, his own kids.  They may have been older than him – that is not the point – but they were his children.