Nature
Samaya lies in the heart of the rainbow region -- perhaps the lushest in Australia. It is the region of an ancient volcano called Wollumbin, a volcano whose mouth (caldera) spans twenty miles in diameter. The towns and hamlets of the rainbow region are scattered in the volcano's caldera and on its slopes, all the way down to the South Pacific ocean.
Forty minutes away from Samaya is Byron Bay, a surfing mecca and spiritual capital blessed with magnificent beaches. One hour to the other side, the rainforests of the Border Ranges. In between, seven national parks, among which, at our doorstep, the famous Minyon Falls.The region is also one of the world's preeminent centers for sustainable living and alternative lifestyles.
At the ashram, we try to live in harmony with the land, close to the earth. We eat organic vegetables from our garden, and fruit (bananas, papayas, mandarines, mangoes) from our trees. We drink water from the spring and wash dishes with rainwater.
The ashram sits on a hundred acres of rolling bushland. We enjoy glorious views and wonderful sunsets and sunrises from the top of the hill. We enjoy nature walks on the five miles of tracks that crisscross Samaya. On hot summer days, we sometimes cool down in the swimming hole in the river at the bottom of the property. During cool weather, we sometimes turn up the heat in the natural rock sweat lodge at the creek.
Many animals share the ashram life with us. We wake up to the calls of native birds. We see kangaroos and peacocks as we sit for meals in the outdoor kitchen. We meet goannas and echydnaes on our walking meditations. And we fall asleep to the sounds of cicadas and frogs.