Gurukul Immersion Program
GurukulSpiritual Discipline from the Gurukul Tradition | Discovery of Spiritual Living
One of the more popular courses at the ashram is Gurukul Training designed to give students the experience of ashram living and spirituality from India. The heart of the gurukul tradition is self-knowledge and integral wellness.
The Gurukul Tradition is a root component of Indian Spirituality reaching as far back in time as the ancient civilization of the Indus, Saraswatti, and Ganges. Mentioned quite extensively in the Vedic literature, the Gurukul tradition was a means of transmitting the lures of mystic wisdom from guru to discipline. It most often involved the initiation of the discipline, Upanayana, which gave the discipline a ‘second birth’ in which their spirituality could be cultivated to its greatest potential.
Traditionally, the Gurukul setting involved a commitment of 12 years of the disciples life in which the sapling of spirituality evolved to become a fully rooted banyan tree in the heavens of spiritual awakening. After this 12 year period the student either became fully initiated into the path of sainthood or took on the family life as a means to dissolve the remainder of their karmic merit. However in both cases the discipline was always attached to the guru, like a child to its mother, and often returned to the guru for additional guidance and instruction in their spiritual evolution.
From as early as 5,000 year ago until this very day the Gurukul Tradition has existed as a dynamic vehicle for students of spirituality to utilize for the cultivation of their spirituality. What differs from the ancient tradition and the modern is the cultural context; as late as 200 years ago it was quite reasonable for students to spend many years under the guidance of a guru, but modern humanity has adopted a drastically different cultural lifestyle which entails a very unique gurukul system.
While the fundamental aspects of the Gurukul Tradition remain – the transmission of treasured mystic techniques to disciples who are ready to embrace the hidden truths of the infinite self – modern culture requires the superficial modifications of the gurukul tradition to allow for students to come and go from the ashram in order to facilitate their demanding lifestyles which they have committed themselves to. In fact, it is neither wrong nor harmful to live a life that is both involved in the world and engrossed in spirituality but rather represents the ability to adapt to the natural evolution of life and humanity.
The Gurukul Immersion Program represents the profound strength of ancient discipline with a receptive mind to the life of modern man which is culturally diverse and dynamically active. Spirituality is never static, and when it is it become a dogmatized religion. With this in mind, the Tureya Ashram has designed the Gurukul Immersion Program as a means for students with a blossoming heart in spiritual wisdom to delve deeply into the mysteries of their inner divine. By utilizing the power of wisdom and intuition students begin to witness the inner flowering of their soul-consciousness.
An equal balance of self discovery and individual guidance compose the key elements of the Gurukul Immersion Program. Similar to the ancient tradition, time is balanced between finer aspect absorption into the inner self through insight meditation and personal spiritual guidance. Together, self discipline and spiritual guidance/initiation forms the two sided coin of a dynamic spiritual life. Ideally, after one has completed their stay at the ashram, they should be competent enough to continue in their spiritual practice anywhere in the world.
Programs are available year around and admission is open on an ongoing basis. Accommodations are limited so please be sure to register in advance if you wish to participate in one of the gurukul system of yoga taught at the ashram. Admission is open to both men and women between the ages of 16 to 60. Please contact us for more information and details regarding the registration process.
