Forget flying halfway around the world to find happiness. Christine Garvin shows you how to look locally.
Photo by Claude Renault
Much like the billion others who read Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, I fought the immediate urge to chuck my job, rent, friends and credit card bills and book the first available flight to India so that I could meditate all of my problems away.
And my cross-continental spiritual journey might have become reality, if only I had found a credit card that still had room for a $2,000 ticket.
Ah, the romantic notion of becoming a different person by simply sitting in silence in an ashram for eight hours a day, doing a couple of hours of work seva, and eating vegetarian meals cooked by committed spiritual disciples-what could be better?
Well, knowing myself a bit more and jumping a little less quickly than I did at 22, I realized this situation wasn’t exactly, well, feasible at this point in my life.
I needed to finish my Masters thesis, I had already taken a long trip abroad the previous year that left me quite penniless, and the student loans were coming due.
Oh, and I didn’t have a job, which in theory may seem like a good reason to take a spiritual jaunt across the world, but in actuality makes it hard to afford the plane ticket.
Enlightenment Abroad
What is our Western obsession with India and spirituality?
What is our Western obsession with India and spirituality?
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that India is the birthplace of Buddhism (very spiritual), that many Indians are wrapped in saris and marked with bindis (somehow denoting a religious attitude).
But do we really need to travel halfway around the world in order to get some of this spiritual grace, some of this contentedness, some of this sanity?
Without money to get to the Golden Temple, I decided I might try to get myself a piece of spiritual action in my own neck of the woods.
Looking Locally
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, so ashrams are a dime a dozen. Pick a spiritual/religious affiliation and press play.
There’s the Buddhist Zen Center in the middle of a hipster neighborhood in San Francisco, and another out in the rolling hills of upper-crust Marin County; there’s the Hindu Siddha Yoga Ashram in Oakland whose website gives information about where to stay locally, but advises “walking from the hotel is not recommended”.
Or if I wanted, I could study meditation, dreams and out-of-body experiences at the non-denominational Berkeley Gnostic Center.
If you’re looking for similar local inspiration, you may be curious about how I actually found these places.
Ask Your Friends
Photo byLumiere
For me, word-of-mouth worked wonders: if you talk about your quest for spiritual enlightenment, people are bound to perk up with their opinions about how best to go about getting there.
If you ask in the right circles, you will be surprised how many people have gone on their own journey of self-discovery who may not have discussed it for fear of other’s reactions.
If you notice one particular place seems to come up over and over again; if you are constantly being bombarded about one center, a person might liken it to synchronicity in the works.
Ask The Internet
Then take your research to the web-just because spiritual organizations are above human vices, they are rarely above technology that pulls in more people to their way of living.
This is a good time to find out some more in-depth information about different practices, especially if you aren’t yet sure which one you are drawn to most.
Find Your Comfort Level
I decided on participating in a young adult’s week-long meditation retreat at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA, partly because of hearing about the center from person after person, and partly because their website so clearly defined the retreat process, the facilities, and the sliding scale costs (and financial aid if needed).
Cost shouldn’t be a hindrance, and most of the larger spiritual centers work from this belief. Be sure to ask about financial assistance or the possibility of paying on a sliding scale.
Scour Your Block
You might even stumble upon a free group that could be meeting right next door to your house (or as it turned out in my case, three doors down).
If you ask in the right circles, you will be surprised how many people have gone on their own journey of self-discovery.
Don’t forget to check out the front area of your local grocery store. There’s usually a large cork board where local people hang advertising fliers – this board is an untapped resource for making connections with a spiritual group.
Spiritual groups tend to meet monthly or even weekly, and as with most everything else, community plays an important role in both developing and sticking to your practice.
Do I do yoga at home? Sometimes. Do I do it for half as long or with half as much effort as when I go to a yoga class? Not even close.
You may have to hunt a little to find what you are looking for, but persistence pays off, especially if you don’t have the time or money to make a trip out of town.
Home Sweet Home
Finally, don’t forget that there is a corner of most of our homes that either has a half-dead plant sitting in it, or is simply filled with dusty magazines, most likely including a TV Guide dating from 1988.
Clearing even a small area in a spare room or your bedroom to create a “sacred space,” whatever that means to you, can be both a mental and physical reminder to slow down and sit in the mystery.
I have an altar in the corner of my bedroom that holds artifacts from many of my travels, quite a few derived from different spiritual sects, and others are simple items such as a rock from a trip to Santa Cruz, or a nut from a forest in Germany.
The Truth About Spirituality
Anything can be spiritual if you make that connection. Because I have to see the altar on my way to bed, I often stop to light a candle and sit in front of it for 10 minutes or so before crawling under the covers. What a difference this little (non-pesky) habit makes.
In my case, some time after I felt that urge to visit India, I began to realize I was depending on an exotic destination to instill something in me that I should be able to find anywhere, because essentially, it is something that already resides within me.
Take the pressure off of yourself to become that yogic, enlightened being in “30 short days,” our American mantra for self-improvement, and let the little movements make the big changes.
And save that $2,000 ticket for after monsoon season.
What are your tips for finding spirituality at home? Share in the comments!
About the Author
More By This Author
- Are Americans Afraid of Overseas Travel? (11 comments)
- Prostitution Rocks! SuperFreakonomics on the Oldest Profession in the World (10 comments)
- Death Becomes Them: Who are the Highest Earning Saints? (4 comments)
Related Posts
23 Comments... join the discussion!
-
-
This article reminded me of the old koan “If you see the Buddha on the road…kill him.” (link)
I think often travel becomes a means of escape and distraction for people, who think their entire lives will change once they head to an ‘exotic’ land. While deep travel with certainly have an effect (or more, as Elizabeth Gilbert found) ultimately everyone must face themselves.
Once they do, travel (and existence at home) will be that much more satisfying.
↵ -
Nice thoughts.I won’t bore you with any comments on your blog but I want to inform you that ven though the spirituality is within you the external influences on your body also has some effect.If you come to India,you will experience such magnetism in the air that you will be attracted towards the “physical” way of life.Allthough you may call them rituals,I call them the procedures to attain salvation.As no person can become gymnast without practise so also practise of rituals will make you spiritual and to practise rituals you have to definately visit this beautiful country of the GOD.Come once here to breathe in the sweet smell of freedom and blossom into a spiritual and an enlightened person.COME & SHARE THE ULTIMATE JOY
↵ -
I always believed that searching for spirituality begins at home. Really I have always felt that it begins internally. You have to desire it. Clearly your article shows that you do and also shows you aren’t fooled into thinking traveling to India is the the only path to follow. If you need a helping hand in the bay area to guide you there are plenty of highly qualified people without needing to go to India. Just check out the yogis in the bay area.
↵ -
Well done! Enjoyed it very much. I felt like I was sitting next to you having a conversation. Answers are always within, sometimes it takes a lot of digging to get to it…but if you are willing to dig it is worth it.
↵ -
Great insight-Way to go for submitting!
↵ -
Excellent article. Superb writing.
↵ -
In this article you sneaked in a lot of gems about how to live a healthy spiritual life. And, how did you write it and make it seem so easy? I’m having a hard time writing a three-line comment!
↵ -
I don’t think people need to go anywhere to achieve any sense of inner peace. You don’t need to be in any place to achieve inner peace. And neither do you need to follow any religious practice to achieve inner peace. (I assume you mean inner peace by spirituality). India is not the magical place which gives you instant Nirvana the minute you step down from you flight. I’m from India and If you really want to achieve inner peace, read Osho. You don’t need to leave home for your spiritual journey.
Sorry for being such a drab!!
↵ -
What a wonderful article! With all the resources right here in the Bay Area (and for those who may live elsewhere, on the web), there really is no need to travel to find spiritual enlightenment since true self-awareness and enlightenment must come from within. That being said, travel to India, or anywhere else for that matter, can certainly inspire or jump-start the process of enlightenment and there is a lot to be said for the influence, positive or negative, that environment can have on one’s spirituality. I think you capture this idea beautifully in your description of your altar. I love the idea of creating a meaningful ’sacred space’, whether it contains spiritual elements from already established religions or practices or whether it contains items that are significant to you, personally or a combination of both. The key, I think, is to take the time to appreciate whatever sort of oasis you are able to create, wherever that may be – at an ashram in India or in a corner of your own bedroom!
↵ -
Great article. It reminds me of a quote which sums it up for me:
When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere. – Francois De La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680), French author
↵ -
I often lusted to travel to the exotic places I was reading about then read “The Heart of the World” by Ian Baker. The key thing I got from it was that spiritual places can be found anywhere if one is open to them. I find peace and tranquility in my backyard and nearby mountains (within walking distance from my house) – no long distance travel required.
↵ -
Well-written easy to read article. Thanks for the reminder to commit to ongoing prayer. I found that my spiritual connection greatly improves the more I put into it and am grateful that Jesus is Risen! Praise God, blessings to all.
↵ -
Way to go, Cristine. You did a nice job with the article-. easy to read and has some good humor. I hope you continue to write and make worthwhile contributions that will benifit all of us. You are inspiring to me. Jerris Hogue
↵ -
Christine, thank you so much for this article! Although I constantly read stories of life-altering retreats in magazines and books, I’m barely able to afford my rent. As a student pursuing an MA, I find it extremely difficult to suppy the needed time or money to invest in a regular class- let alone a whole spiritual journey that’s across an ocean and a few continents. It’s nice to know that others feel my pain. I will look into that neighborhood group and perhaps a little meditation corner for some balance. Thanks again, this is a wonderful article!
↵ -
Great article! I live in Arizona and Za Rinpoche, a Tibetan Monk, is the founder of the Emaho Foundation in Scottsdale, AZ. I was honored to meet Za Rinpoche at a local bookstore that I volunteer for. I haven’t visited the Emaho Foundation but I would like to do so. I would like to visit Sedona, AZ as well.
Yes, I do have places in my backyard that I can visit to help me enhance and develop my spirituality. But, I would like to visit India; it’s on my list of places to visit.
↵ -
Monks don’t take vows of stability for nothing…
↵ -
As I “stumble and fall” at age 29 and start to wonder about what I am actually meant to do on this planet not having ever been religious or spiritual, and after reading Eat, Prey, Love, I too wonder about joining an ashram and finding out what I am all about. My other option is to join the Anun as I am based in Thailand. Your article however has given me a slightly different perspective and I thank you. I know I need guidance but in the meantime I can start internally (and in the comfort of my home)
↵ -
I agree with you that you can find spirituality at home. however having had the opportunity to travel to India i can honestly say the place is truely spiritual. even my travel companion who considereds himself non-spiritual sd he felt something during our visit. Begin at home and then expand …. visit india if you can
↵ -
Being from India, I would say ya there can be multiple perspectives to this issue. Any thing different opens our mind, so Indian living will certainly give a different perpectiveto life and living. Especially due to its long history, everything has multiple layers of meanings, both good and bad.
Apart from this, I also feel every country has its unique strength, some military some economic, so there is some special sense of spirituality here. And even in India there are places which might be having this sense more than other places. Where even Indians want to make at least once in a life time pilgrimages.
For example, I’m still a student and am trying to save money and leaves to make a trip to Himalayas. and then for every year pick up one area of the country and visit small places with lesser known spiritual centres.↵ -
Nicely written. One of the stereotypes Americans (Westerners) have of India is that one not only finds spirituality in India but that it’s because Indians are by default spiritual. But like people all over- we are all spiritual beings- we express it differently. On all continents people are somewhat to very materialistic, even and especially India… which contradicts the usual stereotype of spirituality in India.
I think one reason spirituality is ‘found’ in India for westerners or foreigners is because how can it not be surrounded by a billion people – in being surrounded by people like that we Westerners who are a bit spoiled by privacy and crowdless public areas (for the most part), going to India one must learn to share places and spaces with all kinds of people and for non-Indian looking people, being started at a lot more!
↵ -
Hi Christine,
Enjoyed your article — and replied to it on my blog at http://breathedreamgo.com/india/finding-spirituality-on-trip-to-india/
Thanks for writing about spiritual ideas and inspiring discussion.
Mariellen
↵
