For several years, I have longed to return to a more sadhana-conducive
environment in a natural setting, while at the same time, satisfying
Swami Kripalu’s wish for a place in the continental United
States where westerners could engage in this marvelous
sadhana (spiritual practices).
I have carried around a concept for how to do this for several
years. I used to think of it as my “onion” metaphor,
because of the layers that wrap around a core element.
This core element is the unique feature of the whole. It
is perhaps the smallest piece, with probably the fewest people,
but everything else revolves around it to create five layers
of community with a place for nearly any spiritually-minded individual
or family. These five layers are as follows:
1 Full Time SKY Residents - The Core
SKY stands for Shaktipat Kundalini Yoga (Surrender Meditation).
To take this practice to its fullest, solitude is needed
sooner or later. This precludes distractions
such as having to earn a living, deal with snakes and predators
(including human ones), peacocks, traffic and other forms of
noise pollution, and requires special living conditions, including
appropriate dwellings, abundant water and other provisions as
stated in the shastras, spiritual texts. (Now you know why I
have been sending you those Mystical Tidbits from the Hatha Yoga
Pradipika.)
I feel that all this can best be accomplished in a community
that can serve and be served by this core element of SKY residents
(myself and those who join me). The Core of full time SKY
residents shares its knowledge with other layers, and is
supported solely by the other layers of the community (no, we
won’t live in mansions, but we will be comfortable).
2 Part Time SKY Retreats
Not all SKY practitioners want to do it full time, but they
often want and need to spend some time in quiet and solitude
in this kind of environment, where there are others practicing
the same sadhana. This layer is their retreat. As students
of Durga Ma, they have priority access to The Core. This part
of the community is supported in part by time shares, dowries
and/or lodging fees, and the outer layers of the community.
3 Open Retreats
This layer provides a spiritual retreat of peace and solitude
for people of any path. No events or activities need be planned
for retreat guests, though they may seek out contact with residents
of The Core by appointment, and may utilize the various services
provided by the Interface (layer 5). This layer of Open Retreats
is supported in part by lodging fees and by layers 4 and 5 of
the community.
4 Residences
People of all ages living within the community, whether retired
or working within or outside the community, are represented here,
along with gardens, schools, community centers, etc. Residents
establish their own dwellings within prescribed parameters, which
may include individual or communal homes. Residents are self-supporting
and pay dowries and/or rents which in turn help to support the
inner layers.
5 The Interface
This layer represents establishments such as spiritual centers,
conference centers, monasteries, churches, temples, yoga studios,
healing arts practitioners, various small businesses, markets,
spas, eateries, etc., where residents may work and where people
from outside the community may come for services and products.
The Onion
The onion is a visual image of the concept. Keep in mind
that such a community would unlikely be as cut-and-dried
as this “onion” makes
it appear. The onion is meant to depict a concept. One thing
to keep in mind however, is that The Core is protected and provided
for by the outer layers.
This circular diagram is for the purpose of showing how the
community works, not that it is round in shape, or even that
the size of a ring necessarily represents any actual size of
property or populace. Concentric circles just seem to be the
best way to show the relationship of the members of the community
and how more conventional life styles can coexist in concert
with more unconventional ones, such as The Core of SKY
residents.
This concept was begun many years ago, began to take off, and
ultimately failed. The saying, “One
rotten apple spoils the whole bushel” applies in this instance.
This experience has taught me to pay closer attention, and to
screen all applicants (I won't be doing this alone, either).
If you are interested in any aspect of this community,
we recommend that you first explore the web pages on this site
to see who we are. Then send us an e-mail to
let your wishes be known.
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