Do we need places of stillness like ashrams for realisation?
Realisation knows no conditions. How have I craved for silence, how have I longed for living in an ashram or monastery. How nourishing I thought this would be for me. I wanted nothing but silence, nothing but sitting in silence with my master for ever. I never got it. Whenever we were together, even at the ashram, there always was noise, construction taking place, drilling, machines, music, talking . This desire for silence has never been fulfilled, but eventually I became free of this desire, what a blessing. Unconditional peace dawned in me, at last. It is not the fulfilment of desires that sets us free. It is the realisation that freedom is free of all desire. Real stillness is pervading all sounds, real stillness is nowhere not, real stillness can be found in the midst of battle. However, places of stillness can be so very nourishing, like nature, like a temple, or a deep meditation. Charge your batteries in places of stillness, rest deeply in places of stillness, be rejuvenated an
