Sathkhol: Celebration of Spirituality in Salubrious climes of Himalayas

Deep in the woods of majestic Himalayas’ foot hills lies leisurely  a non-descript hamlet  Sathkol, perched on a height of 6000 feet above sea level.

Whistling pine trees impart suspense to the environment which is filled with wafting  fragrance of  wild flora and fauna. Reading “Save wild life and  forests” small tin plates kiss an internationally famed meditation centre's outer fences. 

The centre, cocooned in  mesmerizing breathtaking  environs, holds a raft of intriguing attractions like Heartfulness meditation in surreal calmness. Ice capped Himalayan peaks paint a befitting background.

The serene tranquility here is punctuated only by chirping of Himalayan birds. Abhyasis (Practitioners) who get a chance to visit what they call ”Sathkhol Ashram” are a few in numbers. Only small batches are permitted at a time due to limited capacity of two dormitories. One gets this chance only once in a span of four years.   

Master Shri Ramchandra 's Bust 

Oriental Gong in Sathkhol 

An Oriental huge gong, pitched atop there, is banged manually with help of a hanging rope four or five times a day for split of seconds as per strict drill. The first ring is precisely scheduled at godly hours of  4 am and the last at 9.30 pm on week days except Friday. On this day, the editation is special and lasts upto 9.45 pm across the world. 

Next to it is the key attraction- sparkling white bust of Master  Ramchandra of Shahjahanpur ,U.P. (India). He was popular as “Babu ji” and had started the heartfulness meditation sixty years ago, now blossoming  into a global movement. 

Right under the bust is a huge green granite plaque with details of eternal hierarchy of masters.

In front  of this lies a simple but elegant looking cottage which is opened only when head of the movement –HFN (Heartfulness movement) drops in.  (Picture / video of the cottage).

The Himalayas’ ecosystem is highly fragile, but confines of the centre look more fragile if golden silence rules implied here are any indication. (file photo of golden silence/ video).

Master  Kamlesh  Patel 

Banglorian Prakash meditate in Sathkhol 

The Heartfulness Meditation is a fine blend of science and spirituality and it fills the practitioner, known as “Abhyasi” with cosmic energy. This energy dissipates to all cells for healthy and balanced approach to all aspects of life. But it needs practice and nothing could be accomplished in a short span, says Sahaj Marg and the HFN Chief Master Kamlesh Patel.

“In Heartfulness meditation we are evoking the subtlest notion of this deepest Self. The only way mystics and yogis over the centuries have been able to put that into words is to use the word ‘light’, as light has no apparent material qualities –you can’t touch it, or see it, or taste it or smell it or hear it. We do not take anything gross to meditate upon.

In This meditation, Abhyasis are asked to gently bring their attention to the Source of Light or Divine Light in the heart. We aim to experience a superfine and finer consciousness of this light within our hearts, that has been described as “light without luminosity”. 

The meditation can be done under the guidance of trained preceptors at 5000 different locations around the world. To contact for details on Heartfulness one can mail at info@heartfulness.org for more information and guidance.

The month of April has been announced as the month of Heartfulness and particularly April 30, is the HFN day , the Birth anniversary of late Sri Ramchandra , Babu ji. 

Away from cities’ clutter and hustle -bustle, Sathkhol is nestled in salubrious climes. Trees  of orange, apple, pear and wild berries trees dot the centre, bedecked  with a wide variety of brightly colored flowers.

“Consider why you are coming to the ashram. Remember that it is not a resort, but a place where your spiritual progress is supported by an environment that has been especially prepared to benefit your spiritual growth, a place for retreat and rejuvenation of the true Self. Keep silent as much as possible, and listen. In silence you will find the inner Master”, say the organizers here.

Ostensibly mindful of language barriers and composition of visiting batches of Abhyasis (practitioners), many of them coming from different background of caste, creed and language, rules sheets strictly  prohibiting mobiles in the meditation hall are hung and pasted in different languages at strategic points  (different languages notices/ outside dormitories notice boards).

For Professor of English from Austria, Christiaan Deschacht and Maria, his wife also an Austrian,the tranquility and surroundings are bewitching ,but more than that,” Vibrations inside the meditation hall and heartfulnes programme in this ambience have everlasting mental peace.

A  small group of people file pass dormitories in hush silence and choose to maintain what they say is golden silence to ward off any bid to disturb vast expanse of nature mixed with calmness. They drive  down here by hired or personal vehicles either from the Haldwani centre or Kathgodam, which has direct rail links with Delhi. Sathkhol is situated about 80 kms away on circuitous hill route from Kathgodam Railway station in  Nainital.  

The HFN practitioners say they are there to maintain inner silence for unbridled evolution of soul through meditation and for that an equilibrium between the outer and inner environs be struck. (Dormitories photos- Bothers’ & Sisters’). They claim that positive energy vibrations instill sense of peace in hearts whether one is sitting in the meditation or quietly walking down flowers laden steep pathway .

Mr Satish Joshi, a linguist ( By virtue of serving in various parts of India as an executive with Indian Council of medical research)  looks after  the centre. He says people themselves stick to norms and discussions and interactions in the rich library speak volumes of the drills underway there .

A heavenly atmosphere permeates the Satkhol centre Wherever one sits, the silence and stillness lead inward, toward a mystical exploration of the mind and deep states of meditation. After a few days, one feels totally absorbed in the atmosphere, and there is finally little difference between the state of meditation and that of performing all other simple, daily actions, quoting the SRCM’s website.

Young Dharmendra Sharma, who is assigned with multiple tasks also acts as a guide to abhyasis  and take part in various activities of the centre . A library full of books is yet another major attraction for those visiting the place. Many of them, after meditation session, absorb themselves into reams of books and hold discussions among themselves in various interaction sessions and symposium.

 Centre's Library 

Commenting on the Sahaj Marg which is carrying out the HFN, lanky beared Charu with broad smiles says the HFN is catching up but in

Mr Charu, Ashram dweller/ Abhyasi 

Sathkhol, only restricted number of people were allowed for a three or four days in batches to avoid crowding and disturbances to what he described as subtle divine vibrations and “ palpable transmission”, the USP of HFN.

Volunteers preparing lunch  for visitors  

No fee is levied here, but timely tea, breakfast, lunch, evening tea and dinner are all free . People voluntarily donate and take part in upkeep of the centre during the sojourn. Vegetables and fruits  are grown here and consumed in free kitchen for visitors. 

( The Group phto of the Batch stayed in Sathkhol between March 29,2016 to April 3,2016 )

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Within the boundary,there is a neelyam, which means Bhawan –having rooms for life time but permission of stay is also to be sought from the HFN HQs in Hyderabad/ Chennai). A Doctor is available round the clock  from all visiting batches.