About Us

Many people who visit this place say that

it is enough to just be here and breathe the air, in order to feel good!

EVERYTHING YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT…

The SANT BANI ASHRAM in Italy, Tuscany was founded in 1979 by Master Sirio and since its foundation, many spiritual retreats have been organized and are being organized here every year.

The atmosphere is very special, very peaceful, very relaxing and very silent. We could say very holy.

It is a functioning Sant Mat or Surat Shabd Yoga Meditation Centre in Europe, it offers regular spiritual (intense meditation) retreats for all sincere seeking souls who would like to benefit from the teachings of Master Sirio and this special place, experiencing its atmosphere.

It was also the location of three big European spiritual programs of Master Sant Ajaib Singh: in 1980, 1984 and 1989 with the participation of several hundred people.

ADMINISTRATION

The Ashram is run by the nonprofit Sant Bani Ashram Association.
Anyone who is attending the programs must be registered as a member of the Association. All the possibilities are only and exclusively offered to the registered members. (The inscription fee for administrative reasons is 5 euros/year.)
All spiritual programs that are organized here are free for all attendants, the only fee that occurs is the personal cost of staying (such as accommodation and three times daily vegetarian meals).  Donations are accepted for maintaining and improving the Ashram.

The president of the Ashram is Master Sirio Carrapa Ji.
He is a spiritual teacher of Surat Shabd Yoga (meditation on the Inner Light and Sound) or Sant Mat, who doesn’t take anything for his spiritual work. He maintains and takes care of the Ashram in a completely nonprofit way, free of charge as a selfless service.

There’s an Administrative Council of the Association, that consists of the President, the Vice-President and the Secretary.

THE EQUIPMENT

Since its foundation in 1979 lots of work has been done in the Ashram so by now from the beginning spartan simplicity, through the dedicated and selfless work of Master Sirio, it has become a well-equipped place, besides remaining an isolated and very peaceful sanctuary in nature, far from everything. There is water, electricity, solar panels, an artificial lake for irrigation, heating, internet (wi-fi) connection. Most of the furniture in the Ashram is handmade of wood by Master Sirio.

There are four buildings that include a separate gents’ and ladies’ dormitory with kitchen and dining hall, meditation and Satsang room, where yoga is also practised. Above this, there’s a large yurt under a huge oak tree, that also can be used – by opening its sides – as an outdoor meditation place, to sit in peace and enjoy meditation and Satsang or do yoga in nature.

A few years ago the Ashram was broadened with a therapeutic section, that is called Sirio Ayurveda, where it is possible to be renewed physically, to heal and purify with the help of Ayurvedic treatments. This way we may be renewed by the means of the more than a thousand years old, ancient but still living knowledge, and Master Sirio’s decades’ experience, who is an expert in Ayurveda. The director of this therapeutic centre is one of the disciples of Master Sirio who has learnt this ancient science personally from the Master through the years, practising by his side.

The Sant Bani Ashram in Ribolla is really the place where Heaven and Earth meet, where body and soul may be reborn for the complete human well-being on all levels of our existence.

THE RULES

The Sant Bani Ashram Association only welcomes those seekers who are ready to respect the place and keep its rules. 
The Ashram is a non-smoking, vegetarian place where it’s not allowed to smoke and it’s forbidden to use any kind of drugs or to drink alcohol. People while staying here are requested to follow a vegetarian diet (no meat, no fish, no eggs). Those who break these rules, and behave disrespectfully towards the place, the Master or any other person who is staying in the Ashram are requested to leave immediately.

There’s no spiritual community in the Ashram.
Out of the programs people have to ask permission to stay here, but as a general rule, no one can stay longer than two weeks. People sometimes come to offer help, as a selfless service in the bigger maintenance works, or in the preparation for the programs, cleaning etc.

Since the scope of the Sant Bani Ashram Association is the spreading of Surat Shabd Yoga, it also functions as a small publisher (SBA Books) for spiritual literature. The Association also has a small spiritual library (Italian and English language literature) that tries to offer a view on spirituality, especially from the view of Surat Shabd Yoga and its Masters.

If you are interested in visiting our Ashram to organise a group event (yoga retreat, seminar, workshop, course), to receive Ayurvedic treatments or to attend any of our programs, please don’t hesitate to contact us!