Lively impressions of John David and Open Sky House

The gallery’s curator, John David, had decided to exhibit only works by artists who work from Silence and not from their Mind. 

This exhibition is a beautiful example of that vision.

Radha opened the Exhibition presenting a selection of her own photographs. She calls her Series "Gentle Look", and it shows portrait of animals and plants up close, revealing a moment of recognition between herself and the object. 

The American artists Mark Harrington and Fancher Brinkman are exhibiting paintings and Norbert Diemert elegant sculptures that remind us of female silhouettes. 

www.FlowFineArt.com

John David

I arrived in Lucknow with a Russian girlfriend who had been with me for two years since my time travelling in the Soviet Union. We stayed in the Carlton hotel and then the next day we rented a bicycle rickshaw and asked to be taken to Papaji’s house. We didn’t know exactly where it was, but we knew the name of the area: Indira Nagar. The man said, ‘Yes, yes’, and he looked like he understood so we sat in the rickshaw.

It was very hot. He pedalled up the main road to Indira Nagar. He went up and down the streets looking out for the house, but we didn’t really know the address. We were sweating, this poor man was sweating, and I was getting really concerned about him.

I remember suddenly saying ‘Stop!’ I stepped off the rickshaw, I looked, and on the gatepost of the house in front of us it said ‘Poonja’. It was Papaji’s family name.

I looked up and there he was, walking down to the gate. I was walking towards the gate and we just met, as if it had all been planned by the Divine. Probably it was! I immediately went into shock, and he started saying very ordinary things like, ‘Where’s your luggage? Where are you staying?’ My thoughts were, ‘I’ve met God and he’s worrying about my luggage!’ So that is how we met.

My children watched me go through the painful breakup with their father. At times they would say, ‘Oh, Mum and her spiritual trip! It is ruining her life and ours. You are not yourself — just another spiritual nutcase.’ After the marriage ended, I was left with our beautiful family house but without enough money to maintain it. I decided to rent it out and build somewhere smaller.

I sat all three children down and told them I was going to rent the house. The oldest said, ‘Mum, a house like this is not so easy to rent. You know, you are dreaming again. Get real, get grounded. You’re out in space.’

And I just looked at him. I had this huge picture of Papaji on the wall, and I looked at it and said, ‘If it’s his will that this house is rented, two strangers will just walk up and rent the house.’

Well, less than five minutes later two strangers walked up the path looking for another house. They said, ‘Do you know where this house for rent is?’ I said, ‘No, I have never heard of the address, but why are you looking for it?’

They said ‘We need a house to rent for two years. We are moving here with a big corporation and are looking for a house.’

I said ‘This house is available.’ ‘Really? Can we look at it?’

They looked all around, and I told them the price, which was outrageously high. They said, ‘Okay, we’ll take it for two years,’ and gave me the cash!

My children were astonished. ‘We are so sorry we ever gave you a hard time about your guru and your spiritual life,’ they said. They were moved to tears and bowed before Papaji’s picture. From then on, they felt there was something real behind my devotion, not merely a passing fascination with spiritual life. For me, it was a beautiful example of Papaji’s grace.

 A journey at the foot of Mount Arunachala — a retreat in honour of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, his presence and his teaching.

3-Week Retreat €2,900 all inclusive

Early Bird until 15th November €2,500 • Concession €2,300 • Young Helpers €1,300

Programme, meals and a twin room are included • Single room €300 extra

Payment plans available — you can pay by agreement over some months.

In daily Satsang, John David explores Sri Ramana Maharshi’s teachings of Self-Enquiry and surrender. The program deepens through Self-Enquiry practice, active meditation and Heart Dance, awareness evenings and spiritual films.

Beyond the ashram, the sacred landscape becomes part of the journey — silent Pradakshina around Arunachala, visits to Ramana Ashram and the caves where Ramana Maharshi lived, bullock cart tours, the great Arunachalesvara Temple, and rare encounters with local masters and sages.

We stay at the small, quiet Sri Nannagaru Ashram, which John David has used for his retreats for 25 years. It is a fifteen-minute walk from Ramanasramam, with a direct view of Arunachala.

at Open Sky Oasis, Spain

Open Sky House, near Cologne & Düsseldorf

John David would also advise you, after this retreat, to take part in a Vipassana Island Retreat. You would be alone with yourself, but have the advantage of a meditating group. 

An incredible and constantly growing video archive: Satsangs with Topic Search, Cinematic Films, Indian masters, and European masters.

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Open Sky House · Rheinstr. 54 · 51371 Leverkusen-Hitdorf

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