|
From time
immemorial, spiritual centers, monasteries &
ashrams have been created to nurture the divinity
within us all. What makes these centers so
effective in increasing our receptivity to the
divine is that they support the lifestyle patterns
that have been found to speed our spiritual
evolution. These include vegetarian diet, various
meditative and complatative practices, and the
guidance of a spiritually awakened teacher.
The
following spiritual centers & ashrams have been
chosen, because of their adherence to a natural
(vegetarian) diet and lifestyle, and because they
hold the belief that a "guru," "master" or
spiritual teacher such as Jesus is essential for
higher spiritual development.
Many
religions and spiritual paths are included from
Hinduism, Buddhism, & Jainism, to modern day
Christianity --- reflecting our belief that "truth
is one, and paths are many."
Having
visited many centers, a few have stood out based
upon our perception of their deep sense of devotion
and service to humanity. The magnificent
twelve-petalled LOTUS Temple (whose funding came
mostly from a donation by singer/songwriter Carole
King) shines its radiance in the rolling foothills
of Virginia (see photo). The Mount Madonna Center,
only miles from the ocean, near Santa Cruz,
California, emanates a serene vibration for all to
feel. Another exciting discovery was Srila
Prabhupada's Palace of Gold (in West Virginia), a
one-of-a kind architectural marvel built in honor
of Krishna, the most revered Hindu diety.
Although
most of the centers listed are open year around,
occasionally they close their doors to the public,
for silent retreats or special events. Therefore,
we recommend you call or write before planning a
visit.
Let the
spiritual light within you guide your way
home!
Important Note: We are
constantly up-dating the listings in each of our
City
& State Guides. Please contact
Peter (peter@vegetarianusa.com) if you
find listings that are out-of-date. We would
appreciate receiving the correct address, tel #
& website.
|