Janet Begley, Special to Treasure Coast Newspapers Published 2:31 p.m. ET April 11, 2017 | Updated 20 hours ago

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

"I'm gaining knowledge that's allowing me to grow my own food, chemical free. We have a whole permaculture project in our backyard. It requires very little land and generates a lot of food. It's a very healthy ecosystem," said Anaie Amorim, of Boca Raton, who takes notes during a permaculture course March 26 in the Sustainable Kashi farm area on the Kashi Ashram in Sebastian.(Photo: MOLLY BARTELS/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)Buy Photo

SEBASTIAN Its been almost five years since Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati, the spiritual head of Kashi Ashram, died and the community is undergoing a transformation to help secure its future.

Although followers still mourn her death, theres been a resurgence at the 80-acre community off Roseland Road along the banks of the St. Sebastian River.

"After Ma died, we didnt know if we were even going to be here, said CEO Durga Das Hutner, 51, who manages Kashis day-to-day operations. But now it feels like were being birthed anew, and its very exciting.

Hutner said the spiritual community has exploded with new visitors over the past two years.

Were seeing people coming to Kashi who are looking for afew minutes of solace from the world, she said. Sometimes, people dont even know theyre wound up or stressed, and when they come here, theyre finally able to relax and find peace. What Ma founded and created is still happening, but were able to touch many more people.

The ashram has opened up the groundsfor retreats to outside groups that share Ma Jaya and Kashis commitment of service to others. There are motivational speakers, programs designed for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorderand classes for yoga and the healing arts that use the newly renovated facilities.

We want to make a difference on the planet, Hutner said. Theres a lot of attention being paid in the world to separation; we want to make connections that bring people together.

A permaculturedemonstration site called Sustainable Kashi introduces people from across the southeastern United States to an off-grid, eco-village where food, energy, water and community are combined to form a self-maintained habitat and agricultural system modeled from natural ecosystems.

Heading up the permaculture initiative is Terry Meer, the founder of the Green Education Center in Orlando. Sustainable Kashi offers a Permaculture Design Course that attracts visitors from across the country tointensive workshops teaching methods of environmental stewardship and community-based self-reliance. The permaculture philosophy teaches the harmonious relationship between people and the earth, advocating a healthy future for both.

We have seven demonstration gardens of about 1,000 square feet, each using different styles of gardening, Meer said. The gardens can be scaled to be done in anyones backyard. But the most important crop we grow here at Sustainable Kashi is community.

"We are in a time when relationships between people and the earth are more important than ever," said Terry Meer (right), founder of the Green Education Center in Orlando, who shows students, Willie Clark (left) of Palm Bay, Emely Pfeiffer (back left), of Markdorf, Germany, and Stacey Della Femina (back right), of Sebastian, how to double-dig, or aerate, the soil March 26 during a permaculture course at the Sustainable Kashi farm area on the Kashi Ashram in Sebastian.(Photo: MOLLY BARTELS/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

In addition to the Sebastian ashram, the Kashi Church Foundation operates The River Fund, an organization founded in 1990 to coordinate and fund humanitarian activities for the hungry and homeless in Florida, Uganda and India. Locally, its Feed Everyone initiative serves people in need in Gifford and also helps supply food to local elementary schools for a backpack buddies program.

In addition, The Kashi School of Yoga operates in Sebastian and serves as a training site for a style of yoga developed by Ma Jaya called Kali Natha that interweaves the body, mind and soul. The school offers daily yoga classes as well as breath, meditation and qi gong classes for the community.

After Ma Jayas death, a committee of Kashi community members was formed to review and publish some of the written material left behind by the spiritual leader. The first book, called "Karmic Spaces," received a national independent booksellers Gold Medal Award in 2013. "First Breath, Last Breath," was released this month.

Ma Jaya left us with a legacy of her teachings, Hutner said. I think shed be enormously pleased that we are continuing to share her with the world.

Jessica Straight (left), of Orlando, and her son, Alvie Wolf, 6 months, enjoy the company of Anaie Amorim (right), of Boca Raton, and Amy Green (front left), of Orlando, on March 26 during a break from their permaculture course at the Kashi Ashram in Sebastian.(Photo: MOLLY BARTELS/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

The next five years at Kashi Ashram will continue to see more changes. There is a fundraising campaign underway called Grow Kashi, with some of the proceeds slated to upgrade facilities on campus, including the dining hall. The community uses the dining hall for its Prasad program that feeds food insecure people around the area.

The question for us now is can we make a bigger impact? Hutner said. What Ma founded is still happening but for those of us who were here with Ma Jaya, its almost like a spiritual growing up.

Where: 11155 Roseland Road, Sebastian Tours: Guided tours throughout Kashis 80-acre community are offered on Interfaith Saturdays at 3 p.m. and can be reserved in advance by calling 772-589-1403. Marketplace: A monthly marketplace featuring a buffet lunch takes place on the second Sunday of each month from October through April. Information: To make a donation or learn about additional giving opportunities, visitwww.Kashi.org.

Read or Share this story: http://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/indian-river-county/2017/04/11/kashi-ashram-diversifying-ensure-its-survival/99274072/

The rest is here:

Kashi Ashram diversifying to ensure its survival | Photos - TCPalm