My latest journey in search of peace and spirituality.

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Some experiences, before they can be recounted and shared, need time to settle and be understood in their true essence. That is what happened when, a few months ago, I decided to set off to switch off and reset myself.

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In recent years, I have observed a phenomenon that has disturbed me more than the current economic or political crisis: bullying has become increasingly accepted. Those who raise their voices are listened to; those who impose their will are often regarded as role models, whilst respect, empathy and the ability to listen are mistaken for weakness.

As far as I’m concerned, I’ve always believed the opposite. True strength does not lie in dominating others, but in knowing how to control oneself. Violence and bullying are often signs of a fragility that seeks to assert itself. Those who are truly strong have no need to overpower anyone.

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That is why I have always sought a spiritual path through which to channel my emotions. Over the years, I have taken part in retreats at Cistercian monasteries and travelled to the East to learn about traditions different from my own.

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Today, this quest interests me even more.

I am convinced that a person cannot be understood solely through what they possess, produce or achieve. There is also an inner life that deserves attention.

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I had long been interested in Eastern religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Taoism. What has always struck me is their attempt to integrate body and mind through daily practices such as meditation, yoga and contemplative disciplines.

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I wanted to understand what this approach might teach someone who had grown up in the Christian tradition.

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These reflections gave rise to my desire to spend a few days at the Ananda ashram, near Assisi. I was also intrigued by the fact that Steve Jobs, one of the most influential entrepreneurs of our time, had taken an interest in that world. I wondered what he had found there.

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So I set off for the city of St Francis with a simple mindset: to observe, listen and form my own direct impression, without waiting for others to tell me about it.

Discovering Paramahansa Yogananda.

At Steve Jobs’s funeral, many guests — entrepreneurs, executives and prominent figures — were given a copy of Paramahansa Yogananda’s *Autobiography of a Yogi*.

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I have always wondered how many actually opened it and how many, instead, left it on the shelf.

And yet, that book has spanned generations and very different circles. In the past, it has intrigued people such as the Beatles, Elvis Presley and many others.

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Yogananda himself had the opportunity to meet Gandhi during his travels in India.

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Yogananda did not propose one religion to replace another. He spoke of inner discipline, meditation and personal seeking. He founded the Self-Realization Fellowship in California and sought to foster dialogue between different cultures and spiritual traditions.

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On one condition, however: that no one should relinquish their freedom of judgement and that the teacher should not become more important than the message.

I’ve read *Autobiography of a Yogi*.

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Some passages made me smile, whilst others struck me as naïve. Not everything convinced me. But rarely has a book left me with so many questions and with the desire to explore further rather than simply shelve it.

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During my time at the Ananda ashram, this was confirmed. I didn’t encounter anyone who tried to sell me a truth or convince me of anything. I saw people engaged in personal development, carried out discreetly and without any need to show it off.

It’s a difference I’m noticing more and more: what has value doesn’t feel the need to impose itself. Spirituality, when it is authentic, doesn’t take centre stage. It remains in the background and lets behaviour speak for itself.

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Three immersive days of yoga, talks and meditation.

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Following the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, the practice centres on meditation, Kriya Yoga and self-observation. I saw people striving above all to live with greater presence, without separating their practice from daily life.

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To be honest, when I arrived at the Centre I was a little wary. I was expecting a closed environment, built around a charismatic figure or ideas to be accepted unquestioningly. Having had previous experiences in Cistercian monasteries, I was seeking silence and moderation, and feared the opposite.

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I immediately had to change my mind about everything. The people were present, but not at all intrusive. No one tried to persuade me or correct my beliefs. I took part in the yoga and meditation sessions, observing what was happening, both within and outside myself.

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The difficulty wasn’t mental, but physical. Sitting still for long periods brought to light a lot of stiffness in my body that I hadn’t realised I had before: a tense neck, a stiff back, aching knees. My mind couldn’t stay ‘still’, and I realised just how short and laboured my breathing was.

Talking about meditation is easy. Remaining still whilst the body reacts and the mind ‘wanders’ is far less so.

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What made the difference was the rhythm of the group. The dawn sessions, the daily repetition and the consistent structure made the practice feel less forced. After a few days, it was no longer a chore. It had become an unmissable fixture.

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I’d already had my first taste of yoga several years ago, at an Ayurvedic clinic in Bangalore. Back then, however, I hadn’t fully grasped it. Here, on the other hand, I had the chance to experience something where it’s not the individual practice that counts, but continuity. It is, in fact, repetition that transforms an exercise into a habit and a habit into a way of life.

An incredible exchange of energy and experiences!

What struck me most about this retreat was not the meditation, nor the yoga, but the people.

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In just a few days, I met people from very different countries and backgrounds. They didn’t need to play a role or project an image. They were there by choice.

I spoke to a Croatian lad, an American artist who showed me her studio, and a very reserved person devoted to the study of Vedic astrology. Three simple, informal conversations that gave rise to some fundamental existential questions:

What are we looking for? How do we use our time? What makes a life meaningful?

Looking back, it was precisely these encounters that gave depth and soul to my journey.

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Dana was from California. She studied philosophy and then turned to art. I didn’t see any detachment from reality in her way of life, but rather a constant awareness of what was happening around her. Whilst we were talking, she maintained her light-heartedness, without ever veering into superficiality.

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I was very struck by something she said to me:

‘A small smile can become a sea of joy’.

After getting to know her, and then interviewing her, this phrase took on a concrete meaning. In her interview she communicates full enthusiasm!

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Mauro, on the other hand, had pursued his interest in Jyotish for years, eventually undertaking an in-depth study of it.

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He was much more reserved than Dana, but he found in that context a space to carry on with his work and share it with all of us.

Listen to what he told me.

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Then I met Arudra, a Croatian member of the community. We spoke in the Temple of Light, where their gatherings are held.

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His birth name was Antonio, but today he uses the name he chose on his spiritual journey. He wasn’t trying to convince me of anything. He simply told me about his experience and his choice to live in an international community like this one.

If you want to know more about it listen to his interview.

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At Ananda, people from twelve different nationalities and traditions live together. I saw no attempts to erase their differences. On the contrary, I saw a search for a space where they could coexist. At a time like this, when there is so much talk of divisions, it is something worth observing closely.

Let’s meditate together this weekend.

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I’ve returned to Rome and have immediately settled back into my usual routine. In the space of just a few months, my experience at Ananda already feels like a distant memory. It has become something remote, almost separate from my everyday life. I must admit this has left me feeling somewhat frustrated: there was something there that, quite simply, made me feel good.

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I know I should set aside some time every day, even if only briefly. Half an hour would be enough. But in practice, it doesn’t happen regularly. I put it off, skip it, then pick it up again. It’s a simple difficulty, but a real one. And, at the same time, it’s a choice I don’t want to give up.

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What I experienced there is not a closed chapter. It is the start of a broader journey of observation into the places, people and practices I have encountered over time, both in and outside Italy. Not to draw definitive conclusions, but to piece together first-hand experiences.

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I know the subject is fraught with conflicting interpretations and rigid positions. I’m starting from a different point: I don’t regard what I’ve seen and experienced as a matter for judgement. It’s material for discussion.

Research, when it’s genuine, remains a personal matter and is measured in daily practice, not in definitions.

If you’re interested in finding out more about my experience, I invite you to check out my social media pages on Facebook Instagram and Linkedin.

Baba Nam Kevalam. Today is FRAday!

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