Brief History

Swami Shanti Prakash Ashram is a trust registered in India and its primary purpose is to spread the philosophy of the Atman / Soul. It runs various charitable Institutions like education center’s, home for the aged, hospitals for the poor and the needy and is distributing free food to them regularly. The eye Hospital does free surgeries for the poor irrespective of their caste, creed or nationality.

Swami Teouram who was the first Guru/Master who had propounded this philosophy. He was followed by Swami Sarvanand and thereafter Swami Shanti Prakash. The present Master is Swami Dev Prakash Maharaj.

Philosophy

It is the belief of the Master Swami Dev Prakash that the soul has passed through various birth’s and in the process has accumulated both good and bad karma (deeds) for which the soul has to come back and take birth to reap the fruit of its actions or karma’s.

Karma or actions (both good and bad) performed are like the sowing of a seed for which one has to take birth to eat the fruits of that tree. The only way out of this cycle of birth and rebirth is the philosophy of Nam Dan (a process wherein the master initiates the disciple and imparts the technique of meditation) which burns away all the karma’s or deeds and actions accumulated in our journey through various births.

This philosophy is open to everybody irrespective of the caste, creed, sex or Nationality and the only prerequisite is that the member whosoever is willing to follow the path has to abstain from eating Non vegetarian food (including eggs) as taking any form of life only adds to our debt of Karma which has to be paid for in our future births.

Vegetarian diet creates a respect and empathy for all forms of life and as per the master’s philosophy the kind of food we eat impacts our thoughts to a great extent and hence only Sattvic (i.e. food with least spices and cooked to the bare minimum) form of food is conducive to the path of meditation as shown by the Master Swamiji Dev Prakash Maharaj. The second condition is that one must abstain from liquor, drugs or other intoxicating substances and should lead a moral life as abstaining from intoxicating substances improves our ability to concentrate and keeps our mind calm and free of any artificial stimulation.

Central to our philosophy is that the divinity of God resides in all of us and that the sole purpose of Human birth is to experience and see this truth.

The process of self realization is done through the practice of meditation or Dhyan Yoga as per the technique shown by Swami Dev Prakash Maharaj. This is to be practiced daily in Brahma Muharat or between 3.30 A.M. to 5.30 A.M as the mind can concentrate itself best free of any disturbances at that time.

By performing the meditation practice or the Ajapa Jaap according to the Master’s instructions, individuals can be rid of their ego and realize the presence of God within themselves. It is a solitary practice that is done in the quiet of one's own home. Members commit themselves to a way of life that supports spiritual growth while carrying out their responsibilities to family, friends and society. Dhyan Yoga burns up all your karma and liberates you from the cycle of birth and death.

Swami Shanti Prakash Maharaj who was the Master/Guru of Swami Dev Prakash was a very staunch believer in the sanctity of the cow or GauMata and has said time and again that by feeding the cows and worshipping it we lessen the impact of our Pralabhdha Karma and Gau Mata bestows good health, wealth, prosperity and brings peace and serenity in our life. He has built a Gau shala (a sanctuary where more than 1,500 cow’s are looked after and fed) in India where people come to worship and serve them.