Life at Sanatan Ashram Ponda

Sanatan Sanstha immediately made it clear that it was displeased with the results of my husband’s visit to Sanatan Ashram Ponda. They had expected me to either make him join or provoke a fight. Neither happened despite the sanstha’s and my best efforts. I pointed this out to the sadhaks, but they were not pleased. They said that this was due to my emotional attachment with my family. I had not yet surrendered myself in spirit, mind and body to my Guru, Dr Jayant Athavale. I had to learn to let go and as part of the process, I was instructed to spend more time to remove personality defects. The personality defect removal process is the cornerstone of spirituality practise at Sanatan Sanstha. As it becomes clear later on, it is also a very powerful psychological tool in the hands of some selected sadhaks.

Sanatan reworks my schedule

The pain at having failed my Sanatan during a critical process weighed heavily on my mind. I also agreed with them that I was at fault, my emotions had got better of my devotion towards my Guru and hence I had failed. I agreed to spend more time to remove the personality defects. This would lead to less time for other activities; sevas as well as less free time.

Sanatan Sanstha also asked me to switch off my mobile for some time and not to meet any visitors. As such I had only one visitor during the previous month, so I agreed with them. Switching off the mobile was a difficult decision as my family was my only contact with the outside world. I had started to miss them so much that I could not sleep without speaking to my husband during the night. But, perhaps they were right. I needed to be emotionally detached from my family so that I could follow my Guru’s, Dr Jayant Athavale’s instructions and embark on the true path and discover the spirituality within me.

Family loses touch

The decision by Sanatan Sanstha to make me switch off the mobile resulted in my family losing touch with me. I now started devoting more time for personality defect removal process. The auto-suggestion sessions now took up most of my time. Though the sanstha recommended only 3-4 sessions per day, I was made to undergo 8-10 sessions for the next 10 days. I lost any interest in food and would only eat very meagre food.

Such intensive sessions and loss of touch with the outer world made for a very heavy cocktail and I fainted during one such session.

Sanatan Sanstha took this as evidence that evil spirits (read my family) was trying to entice me back to the materialistic world and were interfering with my sadhana. I was given any treatment nor shown to any doctor.

My “rakshak” came to the rescue. I was in a catch 22 situation; but she deftly handled the situation for me. She talked to the sadhaks who mattered and asked them to put me under her. She would supervise my activities and my behaviour. They agreed.

The impact of my husband’s visit and inability to provoke him had very negative impact on my life at Sanatan Ashram Ponda. I had to undergo sustained sessions of personality defect removal process and also stop contact with my family. My rakshak came to the rescue once again.

Sanatan Sanstha differentiates sevas

 Sanatan Sanstha defines Seva and Sadhana

I had always assumed that sadhana and seva are different until Sanatan Sanstha started differentiating between them. Sadhana was practice or learning about religion; it entailed learning about our holy scripts. Seva, on the other hand, was more about selfless service to the society. Sanatan says that this is incorrect. Seva and sadhana are one and the same thing.

Worshiping is not important, Seva is

According to the sanstha’s philosophy and our Guru, Dr Jayant Athavale’s methods, there is no need to worship, Pooja is not that important, seva is most important and we should spend maximum time in naamjap and seva. Pooja is said to be used by lazy people. We should do sadhana. Sadhana is divided into two types:

• Vyashti Sadhana: This sadhana is done with the objective of self. Personality defect removal is termed as Vyashti Sadhana. This type of sadhana is termed as inferior by the sanstha as it is led by selfish motives.
• Samashti Sadhana: This sadhana is the true sadhana and gives superior results. We must actively propagate Dharma by holding satsangs at our home, spreading the message of Sanatan Sanstha and distributing newsletters and periodicals. We should actively search for donation givers and induce them to give as much as possible.

A question that is natural to us is that why should Samashti sadhana be given more importance. There are no quotes from scriptures or holy books. This is true because Sanatan Sanstha says so, no questions asked.

Samashti Sadhana and Sanatan Sanstha

Samashti seva means propagating the message of Dr Jayant Athavale, plain and simple. It involves meeting people and converting them to Sanatan. It involves collecting donations. It involves selling the sanstha’s products. Now I realise why this is important to Sanatan, why it is given more importance. Holding rallies, selling periodicals or collecting donations does not lead to spiritual growth. All religions, including Sanatan Dharma, says that we should pray to the respective Gods to seek their blessings and get spiritual knowledge.

Hindu Dharma has four margs (paths) to attain Mooksha, they are

• Bhakti Marg: Through chanting the name of God, performing Pooja and other stipulated rituals with a clean body and mind.
• Jnana Marg: Through study of scriptures and vedas.
• Karma Marg: Performing one’s duties and responsibilities without any selfish motive.
• Dhyana Marg: Through trance like state, doing continuous meditation.

Sanatan Sanstha does not talk of any of these, they have a different method, they are diverting from Hinduism. Their brand of spiritualism is different; they have their own terminology. They stress that only samashti sadhana is needed. They are trying to establish their own brand of Sanatan Dharma; one defined by them and to be followed exclusively by their followers. No questions asked…

This becomes evident to outsiders and that is why they do not support the sanstha. They oppose the sanstha. Sanatan Sanstha also believes in blind faith and superstition. It tries to practice black magic. It tries to control the minds of its followers.

This is why others are unhappy with it.

But, I am on the path of Anand, Bliss as defined by Sanatan Sanstha. I have no control on myself; neither in mind or body or spirit.