Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar came to North America from India in 1986. He taught the first Art of Living Courses (or Basic Courses, as they were then known) in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Eventually, he went to Montreal and continued giving the courses there. The people he met were won over by his love, sense of humour and wisdom.
In 1990, Gurudev said we should have our own facility. He wanted us to find a quiet place with a mountain, a lake, and enough room to build. We found a beautiful 32-acre site near Bromont, in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, but Gurudev instructed those looking for the land “to open your mind, your vision, and look for something bigger. Look for a place somewhere between Montreal and Quebec City.” Eventually, we found the land where the current Centre is situated in Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc. After the purchase was concluded, Mr. Brouillette, the previous owner, said “I have been working on this land for over 32 years, clearing forests, making roads; villagers have called me the beaver. I never knew why I was working so hard, but I always knew it was for a bigger cause than myself.”
When we bought the land there was not a single building on the 230 acres. Today there are 23 buildings, and from an original meeting space for 300 people, there is now a new hall that holds 2,000. The growth of our infrastructure is only one of the significant changes that has occurred since the early days of the Centre.
We now offer more than 15 different courses, and are home to one of only four Sri Sri Ayurveda Centres in the world where you can benefit from a dozen different massages and treatments, come for health retreats, and train to become an Ayurveda technician. Vegetarian cooking classes are also available, and we have a raw food distribution center. We also have special events like our Open Houses where participants come for lunches featuring our organically grown produce, guided meditations, and tours of our facilities.
From the first Advanced/Art of Silence course in 1992, which hosted 80 people, to current summer programs that peak at a participation of about 3,000, we have worked to create a place that is welcoming and offers the best conditions for rest, relaxation, learning, and growth. Our first small organic garden patch has become 2.5 acres of gardens that provide most of our summer vegetables, as well as root vegetables lasting well into the winter. Garden internships provide opportunities to work in the garden and learn about Permaculture.
We are only a couple of hours’ drive from either Montreal or Quebec City, so it is easy to visit for the day or a long weekend. The Parc national de la Mauricie, one of Canada’s largest and most beautiful national parks, is just a few kilometers away and is only one of many beautiful natural environments to visit in the area. With five lakes and lots of surrounding forests, you may never want to leave the Centre.
Whether you want to take a walk in the serenity of our woods, sit by the lake, meditate, contemplate your inner nature or the wonder of the nature that surrounds you, or get involved with one of the many work projects around the site, the Centre is the place to be. We invite you to join us for lunch or dinner and come see for yourself what the Centre has to offer (best to call ahead so we can cook enough for everyone!
Welcome home!