Nests for a SEASON!

All the nests above are temporary for a season! It is not in the lectionary of birds or ants to have permanent homes. They live freely and therefore less preoccupied. 

It can't be for humans. I know that in some countries the state provides homes  to reduce the pressure to invest in real estate which is the costliest item for any couple. But many still stretch themselves to own a house. 

I feel fond of the the Christian Ashram movement in India which is less popular now unlike twenty fifty years ago. It was at least in the consideration of those who were socially conscious to live as a community and live out of a common purse sharing the provisions and resources. There is no attraction for young people now to consider to live in community as the option of the Ashram movement drowned itself in rigidity, rituals, and requirements. 

One conversation I had with late Dr A.K.Tharein, two months before his home call, who was one of the founders of the Inter-Ashram Fellowship asked me, 'Why did you not join the Oddanchatram Fellowship'! I told him then, recalling an earlier conversation with him about 25 years ago, requesting him to  have two categories of members in the Ashram community- the residents and the non- residents. The Ashram movement is a way of living as followers of Jesus, giving greater mindfulness to others in need. If it is so, there was provision for non -residents provided the residents and the non-residents met together at least twice in a year for week ends for retreat and sharing experiences. 

When I was invited to be present for the annual meeting of the Inter-Ashram Fellowship  in 1990, in my presentation I revived this conversation of considering non-residents as members of an Ashram. They once again did not concede to the role of non-residents being part of an Ashram movement. 

I revived this request earnestly with Dr Tharien in my meetings with him since then.  There is a benefit of  having a life giving connection with the changing world by having non-resident members linked to an Ashram. It can bring the resident members closer to the societal history and cocntemprariness. The residents and non-residents are thus united by the mission and the call of  presence and service. Dr Tharien had reservations as according to him,  a demonstration of simple living in an austere way by reducing the 'creature comforts' was inherent to fee near to the disadvantaged in the community in thought, orientation and practice. I tried to get him to see the other side, but he feared that with non residents even from overseas requesting to be members, we would end up as a 'club' or an organisation and not an Ashram.  

Whither the Christian Ashram Movement in India today! In an engagement with the present inheritors  of the Christian Fellowship, Oddanchatram about seven years ago, I tried exploring this idea further. It seems to have widened the gap of communication  between us and I feel almost estranged from some of them. They are hesitant even to reply my letters. 

Late Bishop Abraham Marthoma, the Bishop of the Marthoma Church, from 1917-1947, out of which the last three years was as the Metropolitan of the church was, credited with fostering the Ashram movement in India through the call he gave to the young men and women, to 'go and live in the villages in India'. He was inspired by the example of Rev Dr Stanley Jones (in the photo below), who established the Sat Tal Ashram near Nanital in 1930, which by then was a place for retreat and social action initiatives. 

I feel hesitant to believe that the Christian Ashram Movement was only for a season in the history of Christian mission in India. It cannot be like a nest of a bird. Its roots are deeper in Judo-Christian history, where Jesus and His disciples lived as pilgrims moving geographically and engaging the needs of those who were left behind by others. 

Even a man with a withered hand in a synagogue had to sit far behind in the assembly whom Jesus had to call to the front (Mark3 1-8) to give him a chance to stretch forth his hand to receive healing. The Pharasees were burning with anger and was ready to accuse Jesus of breaking the Sabbath observance rules. While the Pharasees were noticed to plot with the Herodians to harm Jesus, the passage also described how Jesus with His disciples went out to the sea side in order to be with people who were seeking for Him. 

Jesus lived sharing His life experiences with His disciples. The essence of the Ashram Movement is living by sharing and participating in the lives of each other. 

I feel that Dr Hans Burki who conducted an annual Life Revision Seminar in Switzerland brought together people form different parts of the world who were ready to live contemplatively. He fostered another version of 'living by sharing common journey path and action plan'. 

There are other versions of this in the catholic and protestant communities. The Orthodox traditions have monasteries where those who take the vow of celibacy live together for short or long periods, actively engaged in a common purpose. 

A nest announces the presence of birds. An ashram shall announce the presence of followers of Jesus in a community! 

The main line church is getting too top heavy with its entanglements of running hospitals, educational institutions,  children's  homes, managing shopping complexes built to earn an income, etc.

The personal and corporate spirituality the churches endeavour to bring into the life of its members do not inspire them to live as salt or light in the world. The recent instance of the Orthodox Church and the Jacobite Church conceding to have the disputes between settled by the mediation of the Prime minister of India to me is an instance of this departure that is taking place in the life of the Church. Does it not show how dialogue, prayer, discernment, and seeking conciliation by giving and taking, which are the spiritual means to settle disputes have evaporated from the lectionary of the Church! The church, the mother in our faith, which is called in to being to promote the 'servant mission' of its Lord, Jesus of Nazareth has reduced itself to be a disputing community, unforgiving to each other and unrelenting to live its mission! 

This sight of the Jacobite church engaged in a protest outside the Chief Minister's office to represent its concerns arising out of the disputes with the Orthodox Church, which appeared in a leading daily news paper disturbed me deeply! Cannot the Orthodox Church and the Jacobite Church see each other as neighbours! Are we not commanded  to love our neighbours as ourselves!

The new year is a time to look inward, backward and forward.

I still live with hope that the followers of Jesus would live as path finders for us to live in harmony in the service of each other!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)