Centre for Exploring Consciousness & Holistic Well-being
The Sacred Grove Foundation
Welcome to The Sacred Grove Foundation UK, the center of holistic well-being, officially inaugurated on June 23, 2023, following the grand unveiling of our website by the venerable SRI M on June 9, 2023.
Over the years, Sri M's efforts as a social reformer and educationist have given rise to many successful initiatives in the sectors of Education, Health & Wellness, Community Welfare, Sustainable Living, Environment, Interfaith Harmony, Peace and Exploring Consciousness.
Our Mission & Inception
The Sacred Grove Foundation UK stands as the UK wing of Sri M's global initiative to share the values of yoga and foster well-being. Our mission is clear—to guide individuals towards joy, health, and holistic well-being through the profound practices of yoga, mindfulness and the inner peace of meditation. Sri M's teachings serve as the key to unlocking hidden potential and living in harmony.
Embracing Spirituality in Modern Life
Acknowledging the increasing recognition of spirituality, we understand that the stress of modern life and shifting roots push more people to connect with the Spirit. The path we tread at the UK Centre is open to all who aspire to create a better life and contribute to a brighter future for humanity.
Charitable Objectives
[ 1 ] Advancement of Health & Well-being:
To advance public education and promote health and holistic well-being through the principles and practices of yoga, pranayama, mindfulness and meditation, and to maintain and improve the standard of teaching of these practices, inspired by the teachings and guidance of Sri M, a spiritual guide, social reformer, and educationalist, for the public benefit and is accessible to people of all backgrounds.
We are committed to providing opportunities for individuals and communities of all backgrounds to enhance physical and mental well-being. This includes promoting the practice of yoga, pranayama, mindfulness, and meditation as holistic well-being practices. Our offerings encompass a range of yoga courses and educational resources, fostering a state of balance, harmony, and well-being. To achieve this, we
How We Achieve This:
Accessible Programs: We offer a range of programs and educational resources, including yoga courses and guided sessions, suitable for people of all experience levels and backgrounds.
Structured Training: Providing structured training in Sanatana Dharma's scriptures, yogic disciplines, including kriya yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and other related spiritual practices, under the guidance of Sri M.
Commitment to Standards: Our teachers meet high standards, including certifications recognized by bodies like Yoga Alliance or the Yoga Certification Board. We continuously monitor and improve the quality of our teaching and resources.
Inclusive Practice: Our programs are inclusive and accessible to all, respecting participants' existing religious, cultural, and personal backgrounds. We provide a state of balance, harmony, and well-being through secular and evidence-informed methods.
Inspired by the Teachings of Sri M:
Our approach to these practices is inspired by the teachings of Sri M, an educationalist and social reformer. This guidance informs our emphasis on accessibility, inclusivity, and public benefit, aligning our work with the highest standards of ethical and responsible teaching.
[ 2 ] Advancement of Education / Training:
To advance education for the public benefit in the philosophy, theology, and spiritual practices inspired by the teachings of Sri M and the Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) tradition, including but not limited to the study of its scriptures, yogic disciplines such as kriya yoga, and related spiritual and philosophical practices. This includes, but is not limited to, the exploration of key texts such as the Yoga Sutras, Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavatam, Sri Vidya, and other significant works, with the aim of deepening public understanding and knowledge in these areas and is inclusive, accessible to all, regardless of religious or cultural background, to ensure the widest possible public benefit.
We are committed to making these teachings of Sri M, Sanatha Dharma accessible, inclusive, and beneficial to all. Our initiatives focus on high-quality education, rigorous training, and equal learning opportunities. By implementing these initiatives, we aim to deepen the public's understanding of the wisdom embedded in the Sanatana Dharma tradition and its spiritual practices, thereby fostering personal growth and well-being. We ensure that our programs are inclusive, accessible, and beneficial to all, regardless of their religious or cultural background.
Our Educational Approach:
Structured Curriculum: We offer structured programs covering a range of subjects, from philosophical schools like Advaita Vedanta to the study of key scriptures such as the Yoga Sutras, Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagavad Gita.
Academic and Inclusive Exploration: Our training and educational materials are presented academically, fostering critical analysis, reflection, and open-minded inquiry. This is not about promoting religious belief but about exploring the rich intellectual and philosophical heritage for public understanding.
High Standards for Instructors: Our teachers and educators meet rigorous standards, ensuring the quality and integrity of our training. This includes certification from recognized bodies and significant practical experience.
Broad Accessibility: We develop and distribute educational materials through various formats, including printed materials, digital content, and multimedia resources, to facilitate broad accessibility.
[ 3 ] Promoting Arts/Culture & Religious / Social / Communal Harmony:
To advance education and promote the cultural and religious practices of traditional Sanatana Dharma, and to foster mutual understanding, respect, peace and harmony among diverse religious and cultural communities through interfaith dialogue, peace walks, and other related initiatives, all for the public benefit.
The foundation aspires to promote the values and principles of Sanatana Dharma and Yogic traditions, fostering compassion, non-violence, and service to others. Through partnerships with local organizations, religious institutions, and community groups, we work towards promoting dialogue, understanding, and interfaith harmony. Our inclusive approach welcomes individuals of all backgrounds, honoring their existing religious and cultural diversity.
How We Build Harmony and Cultural Understanding:
Educational Exploration of Practices: We organise sessions and workshops that advance education about the arts, cultural, and religious practices of Sanatana Dharma. This includes topics such as Indian classical music, dance, and the rich tradition of Vedic chanting.
Interfaith Dialogue Forums: We organize public forums and discussions with speakers from diverse traditions to encourage active listening, empathy, and respectful conversation on universal themes.
Walk Of Hope: We organise peace walks that bring together people from diverse religious, cultural, and secular backgrounds. The post-walk interactions lead to meaningful connections that transcend traditional boundaries, fostering understanding, harmony, and long-term collaboration.
Shared Cultural Experiences: We host inclusive gatherings that focus on the cultural and artistic expressions of the traditions, including music, dance, festival celebrations, temple arts, and iconography. These are presented in a non-sectarian way to promote cultural literacy and connection. These events are open to the public and focus on exploring the ethical, spiritual, and social themes of these occasions through storytelling, discussion, and scriptural reference, promoting broader cultural literacy and appreciation.
Youth Outreach Programs: Our youth-focused initiatives include presentations on peace, pluralism, and ethical living across world traditions, interfaith assemblies, and workshops on topics such as "Ahimsa: The Principle of Non-Violence" and "Dharma: Civic Responsibility".
Curated Film Events: We curate public screenings of films, such as “Walking with M,” which explore themes of spiritual unity and social transformation.
[ 4 ] Other Charitable Activities:
To provide grants and donations for such charitable purposes, for the public benefit, that are exclusively charitable according to the laws of England and Wales as the trustees may from time to time determine.
Our Logo
The Logo of The Sacred Grove Foundation is inspired from the teachings of Bhagavad Gita, which talks about the Eternal tree of Life.
Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 15:1
ūrdhva-mūlam adhaḥ-śhākham aśhvatthaṁ prāhur avyayam
chhandāṃsi yasya parṇāni yastaṁ veda sa veda-vit
The scripture speaks of the eternal Ashvattha, the World Tree, whose roots are in the Most High, branches in the lower regions, and leaves are the Vedic Hymns. He who knows it, understands the Veda really.
Sri M:
Chapter 15 starts with a description of an upside-down Ashvattha tree, with its roots above and branches below. This is a completely upside-down, topsy-turvy way of thinking, which is required to move on the spiritual path.
The entire universe has its origin, its root in something higher, which is beyond the understanding of the senses. The highest, when it manifests as the grosser, becomes the world, which are the branches and the leaves. These are the only things we can perceive using our five senses. In the lower regions, the leaves are considered to be the Vedic Hymns. One who understands these leaves understands the eternal root that the Vedas are talking about.
When you have a keen understanding of the leaves, which means the material world, the mental world, the mind, the sense objects, the pleasures, the pains, the emotions, the reactions and all that we go through, these are the Vedas. If you understand that, you will realize that the root from which all this has come cannot be grasped by the ordinary mind or the senses.
Perhaps when all the five senses are completely quiet, when the mind is in its quietest state, free of all distractions and remains like a polished mirror, in that is reflected the root from which this whole universe has come. This is the description of the tree of life, the eternal Ashvattha tree with its roots above and branches below.
Join Us on the Journey
At The Sacred Grove Foundation, our seasoned professionals, equipped with qualifications in yoga education and practices, ensure that our offerings meet the highest educational standards. We invite you to join us on this enriching journey towards holistic well-being, education, and communal harmony. Together, let's create cohesive, compassionate, and inclusive communities as we collectively strive for a better, more harmonious world.