Ashram

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A secluded retreat or community for individuals seeking spiritual advancement, often emphasizing meditation, learning, and cooperation in a religious environment
2. A place conducive to spiritual growth through shared practices, instruction, and the pursuit of enlightenment within a group setting
3. A communal setting dedicated to spiritual development, fostering learning, meditation, and a supportive environment for like-minded individuals

Etymology: The Sanskrit "āśrama" comes from a root meaning "to exert oneself" or "to toil," and in its original sense it referred to a stage of life or a place of rest for the weary, a meaning that has more to do with stopping than with striving. Hindu tradition later applied the word to hermitages in forests, where sages lived apart from ordinary society to study and meditate, and it is these settlements that English borrowed it to describe. English adopted the word from Sanskrit, keeping its basic sense of a place set apart for spiritual life. Over time the term took on the communal character it carries today, describing residences where students gathered around a teacher, sharing study, meditation and daily labour. Its meaning in English stays close to that Sanskrit core of withdrawal and disciplined practice.

Synonyms: hermitage, monastery, retreat, spiritual center, place of worship