By Sr Lissy Maruthanakuzhy
An Ashram in the midst of a modern cosmopolitan city like Mumbai sounds an anomaly. In the digital era of speed in every aspect of life, particularly communication; silence of an ashram resounds strangeness.
However, Dhyan Kutir (House of Meditation) at Gyan Ashram Campus, Andheri and its simple set-up seem to attract the city-dwellers in search of something which they themselves may not be able to clearly name.
Living in an Ashram was the dream of Society of the Divine Word priest Fr Ittoop from his novitiate days. Fr Ittoop had a clear vision, of an Ashram he wanted to set up, by the time he was ordained a priest on April 26, 1975.
What was then printed on his invitation card tell us that his approach to life and mission was going to be not on a beaten path:
“Strip me of the myth of a priest,
Then you have me, a man like you,
A pilgrim, with an unclean slate,
Ordinary, shallow yet true.
But trying…
To give all human life, a religious depth,
To seek for You who sought me first,
To share, to care, to love and
To keep Your love somehow alive.
Because,
I believe You’ve grabbed me,
To share Your mission with all
In my own little stupid way”
‘That little stupid way’ was foreseen by him already as a novice, and he had the permission from his Congregation, to begin and spend his entire life in an ashram.
Says Fr Ittoop, “However, after six months into it, I was asked by my superiors to be a formator. At my request, after 15 years of formation-ministry, I was permitted to move back to realise my original ashram-dream. Again, four years later, I was appointed to shoulder the responsibility of the international renewal programme at Nemi, Rome.
“The only reason I was allowed to come to Mumbai after 10 years at Nemi, was again the Ashram,” he laughs.
That was in 2006. Dhyan Kutir was blessed and inaugurated in 2009. “His own little stupid way” has taken him to what India most urgently needs now in the present scenario — an inter-spiritual-dialogue-ashram.
Having acquainted with preaching and directing retreats from a young age, Ittoop could visualize the enormous need of someone with a listening ear in a city like Mumbai. An Ashram would indeed help many who are distressed by the fast faced life; an Ashram would be like an oasis in the desert of noise in a metropolitan City.
Fr Ittoop has facilitated 25 Chapters of different congregations and conducted workshops and retreats, both in India and abroad.
Dhyan Kutir is spotted by many individuals, and Congregations, when needs of guidance, counselling and spiritual direction were felt.
“It is an open ashram for all,” smiles Fr Ittoop standing in the meditative garden he has built up in front of the Ashram.
“All who come here, specially, the genuine seekers, give me the possibilities, ‘to give all human life a religious depth’, he added thoughtfully. Today he has changed the word from “religious” to “spiritual”.
More than 50% of those who come for his biweekly meditations are non-Christians. Higher Consciousness Circle (HiCoC), a group of spiritually inclined professionals, belonging to 6 different religions have made ‘his little stupid way’ a broad passageway to deep personal, psycho-spiritual interactions. It has become a healing cottage for some who look for alternate reasons for their diseases.
It would be interesting to listen to the experiences of those who visit the ashram for different purposes.
Afrid Patel had been seeking some sort of a spiritual anchor – not being inclined towards Gurus and self-proclaimed God men.
She recalls her experience, “I didn’t think I would really find what I was looking for. One day, I had gone to pick up my daughter from her yoga classes from Ghyan Ashram, next to Dhyan Kutir. As I was waiting for her, I felt suddenly drawn towards the garden that had a the signboard “GOD-particles are here”.
“As I entered the ‘The garden’ I suddenly felt all my tensions, worries, frustrations and other negativities literally drained out of me as if the beautiful trees were pulling it all out from me. I was filled with a deep feeling of tranquillity and joy! Unknowingly, I had stopped walking and was standing there just transfixed absorbing the ethereal beauty around me. I could feel deep inside the divine vibrations of nature as I became a part of that garden as it embraced me into its arms. It was telling me “be still and know your roots.
“When I reached the Dyan Kutir hall, a group had just finished the meditation and was taking of Fr Ittoop. . That was my interaction as Fr Ittoop warmly welcomed me and invited me to join the next meditation. As I look back it was as if the garden and the trees beckoned me as if they knew and felt my seeking ….entering the garden was the start of a very precious and special bond that I developed with Dhyan Kutir and I know my search has ended,” Mrs Patel said with joy spreading on her face.
Dyan Kuti has become a point of reference for those looking for renewal, healing and discernment. People of all faiths found it a place where they could find their inner selves.
For this Fr Ittoop uses different methods: mediation, yoga, and personal counselling.
Says a Chartered Accountant Gaurav Joshi, “I took part in the guided meditation along with my uncle. From then on I tried not to miss the meditative sadhana, after experiencing what it does to me. I also had a few personal sessions with Fr Ittoop in some evenings. At the end of the day we need to have more positive people to be part of our journey. I was fortunate to find one in Dhyan Kutir.”
There are some who experience serenity and calmness just being at Dyan Kutir like Ponnamma Anthony, Director, Hardwin Fasteners Private Ltd.
She recounts, “Some evenings I reached there directly from the office with a heavy mind, full of stress and tensions, but after the meditation I used to feel inner silence, calmness and tranquillity. Actually prayer and meditation empowered me a lot, giving me inner strength to face any challenges in my life even in my business world. By the time we completed the exercises before the start of the meditation proper, I could feel all my hurts and brokenness melting away, a heavy load carried away from me, followed by the blessing of complete relaxation of all my muscles and the smooth flow of energy all through my nerve centres and letting me experience total calmness and inner peace.”
Hilda and Jerome Martis found the meditation at Dyan Kutir transforming their entire lives.
“This experience alone is worth more than anything money could buy. Since 2017 after joining the group of meditators we have become aware that our brains have literally been rewired for happiness and peace. For example we rarely become angry; the migraine has been healed; we find happiness in unexpected places. We form deeper relationships and build friendships more easily,” they said in unison.
Dr Palka Patwardan a Physiotherapist recounts, “My experience of meditation at Dhyan Kutir will ever remain unique. Regular meditation has given me a feeling of inner peace and serenity. Before meditation, we are guided to follow many vibrant exercises, making it holistic and healthy. Fr Ittoop makes it easy for people from all walks of life to follow and practice both the series of exercises and then the step by step meditative procedure…”
“I believe the quest to know, ‘what is the purpose of life and why I am who I am’, led me to Dhyan Kutir, “ observed Donald Ferriera an IT Specialist.
“One day, as I stepped inside the inter-spiritual prayer room, called, “Bliss Heaven” I let go of myself, and all I have learned about meditation. I sat on the floor in the lotus position, looking towards the oval shape in the centre of the five circles on the wall. I imagined it as the seed of life, then closed my eyes. After a few minutes of total darkness and silence I slowly started seeing some form of human figure in soft white colour, passing through all directions one after the other. A few moments later an orchestration of colours (red, blue, yellow & white) would follow. I remained in that state for a few more minutes. When I opened my eyes, I felt weightless, calmed, relaxed, peaceful, happy and more. I said to myself this is the beginning,” Donald Ferriera described his experience..
‘The One who grabbed him to share His mission’ keeps showing Fr Ittoop the path probably He Himself would have taken in the noisy polluted world that rejoices in accessories forgetting the essentials.