A decade has elapsed since the birth of the very first and one-of-its-kind spiritual laboratory in Mauritius. The Prashant Ashram, a full-fledged meditation centre at Dubreuil has been instrumental in shaping the spiritual path of more than 1300 persons under the expert guidance of an illumined Meditation Master – Swami Paramananda.
31st 0ctober, 1st & 2nd November 2009
Swami Paramananda conducted a three-day spiritual retreat, exclusively for disciples, on 31st 0ctober, 1st & 2nd November 2009 at the Prashant Ashram, Dubreuil. Approximately 500 disciples participated in this retreat, which was meant to boost their spiritual evolution. They practised meditation for about 2 hours in the morning after having chanted the sacred mantra ‘AUM’ 108 times. This was followed by a discourse on Creation given by Swamiji in the afternoon. Another half an hour was dedicated to the practice of meditation and the day ended with shaktipat, which is the transmission of energy by the Master to the disciples.
What can stop such a scourge as road accidents? Is it laws that will restrain the recklessness of drivers? Has this ever worked? Evidence is here: the more severe the laws have been made, the more the situation has worsened. The more moralistic and academically educated we are, the more uncivilised we have become. If education is not enough to deal with road accidents and other ills, then nothing can. A time will come, and I am afraid it already has, when without laws we shall not even be able to leave our doorstep.
But first we have to understand what we mean by education. Have we really dispensed that education which makes people responsible and self-disciplined, whether it is at home, in public places or elsewhere? Are we still taking high status, brilliant academic qualifications, mastering of both written and spoken languages, especially English or French, as signs of being educated? If yes, then I think we are very far away from understanding what education is. The root of the word education means “to lead out”, from the root word ‘educare’. But to lead out of what? Of our unconsciousness, ignorance, selfishness and so on, which are the root causes of not only irresponsible attitudes, but all forms of misery, conflict and evil.
