Thread by @HindooHistory

The Sun, 1912

"KARMA SOUGHT IN THE LAND OF WOODEN NUTMEG"

"In the Berkshire Hills of Connecticut, in an out of the way valley, is a school of philosophy, a religious retreat, an eastern monastery in embryo, perhaps. There is not, however, a trace of Oriental coloring visible to the casual observer to call attention to the fact..."

"that it is not indigenous to the soil that gave us wooden nutmegs-- not a trace, that is, except the Hindu Swami, monk and sage at the head of the establishment and the name, which is in good Sanskrit the Vedanta Ashrama"

"Ashrama means peace retreat and Vedanta is the name of the Oriental religion and philosophy which first became known to the Western world in 1893 at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago."

"A Hindu monk and priest, Swami Vivekananda, a picturesque figure from the fastnesses of the Himalaya Mountains, represented the religion in Chicago and founded the Vedanta Society in New York"

"The followers of the Hindu religion who have pitched their tents in the secluded valley in Connecticut are for the most part native American and English. Not only have they pitched their tents, but they have restored the colonial cottages on the place..."

"they have planted vineyards and fig trees and settled themselves with an industry truly American"

"The spiritual teacher in charge of the place is the Swami Abhedananda, a Hindu monk of the yellow robe, a Sannyasin, which is probably the oldest religious order in existence"

"The fact that missionaries should come to America from India, a land people are accustomed to regard as a hotbed of heathenism, arouses in some surprise..."

"strongly tinctured with indignation and curiosity regarding the dark skinned Swamis who seem to have been remarkably successful in luring American women away from Christian churches in the worship of strange eastern divinities"

"Being myself strongly permeated with curiosity and indignation at the invasion of a Puritan stronghold by heathen from the land of spicy breezes, where every prospect pleases and only man is vile..."

"I determined to make an attempt to the view the doings of the heathen at close range. As a result I actually found myself one torrid day last summer standing upon the platform of the station at West Cornwall awaiting some philosophic guide to lead my feet to the Vedanta Ashrama"

"After a pleasant drive over the winding roads of the Connecticut hills we reached Lotus cottage. All of the sisters came out to meet me and embraced me as if I were an old friend or child of the family..."

"The Hindu Swami, a tall and imposing figure, looking the picture of poise and comfort in cool white flannels, came to meet me at the steps of the veranda and made me welcome in the Ashrama"

"There was absolutely nothing conventional or monastic in the atmosphere or surroundings. The little New England dining room looked very much as it might have looked when occupied by the Connecticut farmers who built the place over a hundred years ago..."

"The sisters wore no regulation nunlike garb, were decidedly lively and showed no traces of fasts and midnight vigils. The Hindu Swami seemed to have nothing more weighty on his mind than a game of tennis or golf"

"I looked in vain for some outward visible sign of the Eastern monastery I had half hoped to find, and discovered not a trace. The high priest brother superior and Swami sat at the head of the table, made jokes and was as merry as a boy"

"After a long walk I returned to the Ashrama and found every one hard at work. The Swami, armed with a huge watering can, was deeply absorbed in watering the flowers and vegetable garden. One of the brothers, a German, was making cheese..."

"The spirit of the place is purely democratic and no distinctions are made when it comes to work, or at any other time. The wealthy, fashionable lady, when she comes here for the training, puts on a calico dress and gets to work"

"They are entirely wrapped up in their religion and absorbed in working out their Karma... This Hindu religion teaches that we return to earth in different incarnations until we have finished all our duties here and have learned all the lessons that life on earth can teach"

"Seven O'clock found us all gathered for dinner this first evening of my visit, and I made the acquaintance of many diverse and interesting types, from the man who cuts stone for a living to the wealthy Mrs. Steele of Pittsburgh."

"There were people from every grade of society all united by the ties of this strange and fascinating Oriental religion which, coming from a land having the most rigid system of caste in the whole world, is yet a religion of democracy"

"At the long table over which the Hindu Swami presided with marked suavity and grace there were two artists, a musician, a mental healer, a German stone cutter, a Hebrew tailor, a young businessman from the city, a society woman of wealth and position, an impoverished daughter.."

"of an old Southern family, a woman physician of Brooklyn, one of the leaders of the woman suffrage movement and myself. The talk was of travel, tiger hunting in India, woman suffrage, American politics"

"When we parted for the night I felt I had made a good beginning in my search for color... I was convinced that I had fallen in with the oddest, most delightfully queer and dearest people I had ever dreamed of"

"The next morning I discovered that the brothers and sisters and most of the advanced students had adopted me for a pupil..."

"A true mystic and philospher is Brother Wilfred, a brother who undertakes to bring up the chickens in a manner befitting their environment. Born of humble Jewish parents, brought up in a sweatshop, after losing his health he was attracted to this Eastern religion..."

"SOme years of the studies and practices have given him the poise of a high caste Brahmin, the thoughtful, intellectual face of a scholar, and superb health. I fed the chickens with Brother WIlfred while he entertained me with stories from the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana..."

"and other Indian epics. I spent blissful hours eating jam and honey in the kitchen with Sister Beatrice, who instructed me in Karmic law and tried to start me on the path of wisdom, or Jnana Yoga, while she made the bread"

"The magnificent Hindu Swami thought I had too much imaginationa nd tried to impress upon my mind the importance of being practical. He thought I should learn something of cooking and he himself initiated me into the mysteries of several rare Eastern dishes..."

"the secrets of wish are known only to a favored few. For instance, the chicken which is served to the guests is prepared according to a Hindu recipe, and is called in French oulet & l'astral, which might be translated as astralized chicken"

"The enjoyment of this subtle preparation of chicken depends on the progress the student has made in practice. The sacred Ghee of the East, which is simply clarified butter, can be enjoyed by every one in any stage of evolution"

"When it came to the breathing exercises, I was confronted with this: 'Blessed be the Yogi who breathes through his bones!' Remarkable, isn't it? But they do it, which only goes to prove that we have everything to learn of this apparently simple and necessary art of breathing"

"I spent three months of happiness in this place. I took long walks and drives, pored over the different text books, Rajah Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, read the Vedas and Upanishads, the great Indian epics, the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, Sakuntala"

"I think the dear brothers and sisters all conspired together to work out my Karma for me, for I was not encouraged to do much work and they were always ready to put aside their wisdom and gravity for a godo laugh with me"

"While religion and philosophy are certainlt he most important questions in life to them, yet they do not spend all their time in meditation, austerities and work. They take their religion seriously but not sadly and believe that health and happiness rather than anemia and..."

"melancholy are the natural effects of a spiritual life. Every day had its interest and surprise at this place. I lingered on loath to leave this charmed spot until autumn had painted the chestnuts and maples crimson and gold."

"The hills were dreams of beauty when I said goodbye to the Yogi farm in Connecticut"

Illustrations from the piece:.