Before arriving at this ashram, I felt stuck. After undergoing years of mostly unsuccessful therapy in attempt to overcome a variety of different types of abuse that I had encountered throughout my childhood, I was stuck in cycles of fear and pain. I didn’t know exactly what I was wanting to gain except that I wanted to get far away from the life I was living and the people I knew. I came to this ashram in search of open-minded people who would be willing to help me overcome my past, aid me in personal growth, and answer the questions I had in order to strengthen my spiritual knowledge; what I gained was much deeper. I discovered a beautiful and genuine community that is entirely focused on serving and loving others. Not once did I feel unsafe or uncared for. The first day I arrived, I was welcomed with the most intense feelings of love and belonging that I’ve ever felt. The people here are the most amazing human beings I’ve ever met. They strive to find love in every person, place, and thing. In my time here, I always felt heard, wanted, and seen. I was allowed to and encouraged to feel all my feelings, make my own choices, and discover who I really am; free of judgment. I was taught to stand up for myself in situations where I was being treated poorly. They showed me that I deserve to feel loved and be known. Not only have they given me the support and tools that I need to start to break these cycles, I feel they sincerely want to see me grow, along with every other volunteer here. I’ll never forget the friendships and support I’ve received here and I hope to reciprocate the service this ashram and these people have provided me with. I will forever be grateful for my time here and for every single person I’ve met because of it and I’m so grateful for everything I’ve gone through in order for me to experience the love I’ve experienced here. I will absolutely be back. I cannot use enough words to express my gratitude. Thank you.