Background

Background

The Lord's Great Mercy

The Vedantic Center established Shanti Anantam Ashram in 1983 on 50 acres of land located in the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California. This land is sacred, serene and conducive to spiritual practice and development. For many centuries the Chumash-native Americans lived and worshiped here. Traditional Chumash ceremonies were occasionally performed on this land by the late Chumash elder Chief Grandfather Rivera.

The Ashram serves as a sanctuary where seekers of all faiths can receive and experience the sublime teachings on spiritual life. Students and residents of the Ashram are instructed to reflect spiritual values of modest dress, vegetarian diet and correct ethical behavior. The practices include meditation, scripture study, selfless service and chanting of God's Holy Names.

The spiritual teacher and anchor of the ashram is Swamini Turiyasangitananda, who has served in this capacity for over three decades. Swamini exemplifies a dedicated life of devotion and selfless service. Her vital role is to provide spiritual guidance, teach the holy science of meditation and the esoteric wisdom of the holy scriptures.

On July 3, 1994, the ashram was reinaugurated as "Sai Anantam Ashram in Chumash Pradesh." The Ashram is blessed to have Swamini Turiyasangitananda as its spiritual director under the leadership of the Avatar of this age, Sri Satya Sai Baba.

Philosophy & Principles

The Vedantic Center appreciates the contributions of spiritual wisdom and insight from other faiths and religions. Studies undertaken at the ashram include not only Vedantic or Vedic scriptures, the oldest of the world's literatures, but also exemplary narratives and scriptural texts from more recent revelations of God found in the Bible and in the Islamic and Buddhistic texts.

The Vedas teach that the purpose of human birth is for making spiritual advancement toward the highest perfectional stage of life, which is devotional service rendered unto the Supreme Lord. Charity, kindness, selfless service, spiritual discipline and a dedicated life of devotion can bring one toward the supreme goal of life and attainment of divine realization of the Supreme Lord.