Ashram
West was founded in 1997 and incorporated as a non-profit, 501(c)3,
religious corporation in 2001 to inspire and guide gay-identified
persons to personal fulfillment and spiritual enlightenment. The
teachings of Ashram West are based on traditional Hindu Tantra that
encourages the integration of all aspects of life with spirituality,
including sexuality. Tantra teaches that our fundamental nature is
pure, perfect, and divine, and one specialty of Tantra is a whole body
of spiritual technologies for developing greater awareness of the our
true divine Self.
Gay Tantra
Ashram
West's adaptation of traditional Hindu Tantra for gay-identified
persons is called Gay Tantra. Gay Tantra recognizes the special needs
and unique advantages of those who have developed a gay identity. Most
gay-identified persons have grown up in a culture that views gay love
as unnatural and immoral. These false notions about gayness often get
internalized leading to feelings of shame and unworthiness. Most
traditional religions contribute to the psychic and spiritual wounding
of gay persons by promoting these notions. Many gay persons rightly
reject traditional religions as a result, perhaps substituting work,
compulsive sex, drugs, or a combination of these. Gay Tantra can help
gay persons develop a well-integrated gay identity that can be a
positive asset in spiritual life.
Gay Tantra is a registered Service Mark of Ashram West Tantra Brotherhood, Inc.
Individual Instruction & Counseling
Ashram
West offers private, individualized instruction in meditation and other
spiritual practices. Instruction is given by appointment. Individual
and couple counseling is also available by appointment. There is never
a charge for these services. A tax-deductible minimum donation of $40
per session is suggested. No one is ever turned away for inability or
unwillingness to donate. Donations are an important source of support
for the work of Ashram West and can be made conveniently on-line using
PayPal.
To Get Instruction or Counseling
Call or e-mail to make an appointment with Brother Williamfor
individual instruction or counseling. Those who live an inconvenient
distance from Los Angeles can get instruction via e-mail. We also offergroups.It is recommended you read the Introductory Essaybefore making an appointment or asking for e-mail instruction.
Newsletter
Ashram
West publishes a periodic e-mail newsletter that usually contains a
short essay on some aspect of spiritual life and occasionally
announcements through the GayTantraGroup on Yahoo. To subscribe to the
Newsletter click on the Yahoo Groups link below. Then follow directions to join the group.
There are three basic levels of membership in Ashram West, Student, Supporter, and Resident:
Student Membership
Anyone
of any race, creed, religion, gender, or sexual/affectional orientation
may be considered a Student Member of Ashram West by seeking and
receiving instruction or counseling from the Ashram or by reading the Newsletter regularly. Student Members may participate in all public activities of the Ashram and in those private groups for which they qualify.
.
Supporter Membership
Supporter Members are those who support the work of Ashram West either by volunteering at Ashram events
or by making monthly tax-deductible monetary donations by subscription.
Supporter Members may be eligible to be on the Board of Directors of
Ashram West and may also apply for residence.
Resident Membership
Supporter
Members may apply for residence in Ashram West. Residence is normally
limited to gay-identified men only, but exceptions may be made for
short-term residence. Our facilitiy at present permits only one
permanent resident, Brother William, and one or two short-term
residents (usually for one week or less). Contact Brother William to apply for residence.
The Ashram West Logo
In the center is the Sanskrit syllable OM, an ancient Hindu word for the divine Self
In the center is the Sanskrit syllable OM, an ancient Hindu word for the divine Self. The interlocked triangles are a Tantric symbol that represents the integration of spirit and matter and of male and female. The circle and square both represent spiritual wholeness as they manifest in the mind and in the outer world respectively. The message is that one may experience the divine Self and manifest spiritual wholeness by integrating spirit and matter, male and female within oneself and in the world.
