November 30, 2005 marked the tenth anniversary of Swami Radha’s passing into light. The Ashram community commemorated this milestone with a reflective bandhara celebration. Bandhara, which comes from the Indian tradition and literally means ‘storehouse,’ is a ceremony of abundance to celebrate the life of a guru no longer living.

In the morning, the 38 people currently at the Ashram participated in karma yoga. After time for reflection and chanting, everyone gathered in the afternoon for a workshop with Swami Radhananda, who has just returned from launching inspired lives: the best of real life yoga from ascent magazine in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.

“Inspiration is like a flame,” said Swami Radhananda. “It’s a spark that wants to be shared, and it ignites something within every person it touches.” She described Swami Radha as “inspiration embodied.” Workshop participants chanted together and then reflected on what inspires us.

“I feel grateful to live in a community where people do spiritual practices together,” said Swami Jyotihananda after the workshop. “Swami Radha left us an abundance of practices to choose from. When I make the choice to commit to a practice, it has an effect and I feel myself expand into something more.”

The inspirational and celebratory bandhara concludes a year at the Ashram dedicated to devotion. A fresh layer of snow outside encouraged introspection, and the atmosphere at the Ashram was light and reflective.

“I’m amazed at how the Ashram is self-sustaining,” said Young Adult intern Beth Maciver, who has been coming to the Ashram for the past three years. “The work has such momentum. I’m inspired to find that place within myself.”

Roseanne Harvey