A Gandhian Ashram at Candidasa, Bali

Apologies - still undergoing construction, hence, a little rough with some missing links. However, you can still write feedback to the Ashram email address listed at the bottom of this page. Shantih!

Who are we?

Welcome to the official site of Gedong Gandhi Ashram. For those new to us we are a community organisation that has been active since 1976 despite losing our revered founder Ibu (madame, mother or mrs in 'bahasa') Gedong Bagoes Oka in 2002. It is now being run by the trusted confidants of Ibu with the support her six sons, particularly through their generous consents for the continued use of the Candidasa land for Ashram's purposes - in line with the commitment given to Ibu during her last days before she passed away.

The objective of the Ashram was simply to translate Gandhian ideals of living into action and to promote a life of simplicity (which also implies sustainability and care of our environment), self-sufficiency and service to the community. Thus while ahimsa (nonviolence), satya (truth), karuna (compassion - by extension universal brotherhood) are its guiding principles, in practice it is swadeshi (self-sufficiency) that shapes the Ashram's economic and productive activities.

The Ashram is pursuing these ideals at many levels. In the local community the focus is on delivering actual health and education services through its well established Nature Cure Health Clinic (acupuncture and traditional herbal medicine) and its kindergarten. At the national and international levels it is more about the promotion of Gandhian ideas and values by working together with a network of similar minded Gandhian, inter-faith and peace organisations. The Ashram has hosted numerous symposiums and workshop on these over the years and its leadership is actively engaged in the all critical inter-faith initiatives in Indonesia, largely through its close cooperation with a much respected Indonesian interfaith organisation called Interfidei. Ibu was a prominent co-founder and former vice-president of World Conference of Religions for Peace and a trustee of Sarvodaya International Trust (note a picture of Ibu in the middle of the group photo), to name a couple. In the latter, after she passed away she was replaced by Mr. I Nyoman Sadra who has been with Ibu since the Ashram's inception and a village and community activist in his own right, and who is the current Chairman of the Ashram.

The Candidasa Ashram is home for a number of mostly school age young members from poor rural families, with a sprinkle of core senior members who have been with Ibu for a long time before thrusted with the difficult task of continuing the Ashram after her passing. These young people would not otherwise have the opportunity to study and some are a little older for their class after missing a few years of schooling prior to joining the Ashram.

The Ashram derives its income for daily upkeep primarily from paying guests and general donations, whereas capital works are generally raised from fund raisings and separate fundraising again for the costs of schooling and tertiary education for its school age members. In return the members work outside school hours to maintain the upkeep of the Ashram and the bungalows for the paying guests. They also help during the seed planting and harvesting of the Ashram's offsite farms that are otherwise tilled with nonviolent or organic farming methods by full time farmers, and the Ashram shares some of the produce such as beans, nuts or rice.

The members have a strict routine of puja or pray time four times a day plus English, general or yoga lessons with the guests when they are not at school. Generally the young Ashram members have an advantage in English through these lessons and through interaction with the guests at the Ashram, therefore broadening their employment prospects in Bali considerably.

Whilst the Candidasa Ashram is our main full-functioning ashram we do have two other ashrams with somewhat reduced activities namely the GGA Vydiapith in Denpasar (Bali) and Yogyakarta (Central Java). These ashrams mainly housed our university student members, some are 'graduates' from the Candidasa Ashram who are continuing their studies on Ashram's facilitated scholarships, but there are others who are self-funding students who are attracted to the Ashram life and get free accommodation in return. The Denpasar Ashram is on a freehold site whereas the Yogyakarta Ashram has the house's annual lease paid for by Gedong Gandhi Ashram.

How can I stay at the Ashram?

Often the more pressing questions to the would-be/travellers to the island..

Apart from the primary source of income that helps pay for the Ashram expenses the guest programme is quite important as it brings personal and cultural interactions for the Ashram members, hence making the Ashram more 'alive' than it otherwise would be. Over the years and most notably during Ibu's lifetime we have had a number of discerning guests that have become long term friends of the Ashram. At Candidasa we have the most unique site that is straddled by the tranquil, spring-fed lagoon on one side and the pounding waves of Lombok Strait/Indian Ocean on the other, overlooked by the sacred temple Candidasa nestled on the hills at the rear. Take a nice journey off-shore in one of the fishermen's perahu or sail boat on a clear day and you would see the imposing Mount Agung as if rising from the sea that would make one appreciate why this mountain has been so important to the psyche of the Balinese since ancient times.

It is indeed an experience to be able to observe or participate in the Ashram's varied daily activities from the dawn puja, the yoga, right to the after dinner night time puja and discourse. Wholesome, authentic and sumptuous Balinese fish and vegetarian meals are served for the guests that - at the risk of blowing one's own trumpet - have been praised by many. Should you elect to venture outside, many sites are within relatively short distance for day trips and of course, our Ashram can organise a number of hikes through our nearby hills and fields, such as the one to the ancient village of Tenganan. For those preferring peace and quiet for meditation or plain solitude, our 'outpost' bungalows provide such retreat, and you will find that the serenity and the surroundings that are very conducive to such pursuits.

We are however aware that this is not eveyone's cup of tea. Consequently in an effort to prevent unnecessary disappointment as well as ensuring that our guests program does not in any way adversely affect the functioniing of the Ashram, we have set up a few rules for our guests to observe. Some of these are: no sharing of bungalows for unmarried couples, no consumption of alcohol or smoking and no nude bathing to mention just a few. While these may sound draconian, in reality it is no more than common sense to respect, observe and, hopefully, to be in tune with, the environment of the peoples you visit, which is not a bad philosophy to have. Naturally, if you find this too restrictive and not what you are comfortable with then we suggest that you go elsewhere where it is more in keeping with your expectations (Having said that there are a number of eating places within our vicinity that serve meat and drinks and yes, even allow smoking, for those wanting a temporary 'time-out' from the 'austere' Ashram's life. Most of our guests in fact find the Ashram stay as a good time-out from the hustle and bustle of today's harried life, but each to his or her own. For any genuine issues, please speak to our Ashram's leader or senior members at the Ashram).

We also have a volunteer's programme that reduces the rates to a token amount as unfortunately tax for the accommodation still has to be paid. However, the volunteers are expected to participate in the Ashram's activities or to perform the tasks relevant to their individual skills and, due to limited numbers that can be accommodated at any one time, advance notice is required to ensure that we are ready for them.

How do I get in touch?

For more details such as rates for our bungalows for guests or volunteers please visit 'Info for Guests or Volunteers' or, alternatively,on this or on any other matters contact us on the address below (Please note that as an anti-spamming measure the "@" in the email address has been replaced with "X". Simply enter "@" - without the quotation marks - in place of the "X" when sending your email to us)

Gedong Gandhi Ashram

Email> gandhiashramXyahoo.com (please enter "@" in the place of "X")

Web> www.ashramgandhi.com

Telephone and Fax> + 62 (0) 363 41108

Postal Address>

Gedong Gandhi Ashram

Candidasa, Karangasem, 80851

Bali

Indonesia

"The end of all nonviolent struggle is always an agreement, never dictation, much less humiliation of the opponent." (M.K. Gandhi)