Write a short story (600 – 1000 words) that describes your sense of home; write about the values and the stories that you use to connect yourself to, and to identify your sense of home.

Waking up every Sunday morning at 7:00am for the past 20 years of my existence. That is where my sense of home lies.

“Simran, wake up! We’re going to be late!” is what I heard from my shrieking mother, nearly each and every Sunday morning.

My brother was not spared either, as my father would take the liberty to walk down the stairs to my brother’s bedroom and yell at him too, telling him to hurry up and muttering something under his breath along the lines of, “No wonder you guys can’t wake up – you stay up on your phones all night. That’s it! When we get back, I’m confiscating your phones!”

This (empty) threat always made both my brother and I snicker and have smiles on our faces, but it also reminded us that we needed to get out of bed and go about our morning routines, leaving the house by 8:15 am on the dot.

Where were we going? To our meditation centre.

You see, my family, alongside millions around the world, follow this specific spiritual path that is based on teachings from major religions include Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Christianity. Combining certain aspects from each of these religions and practicing them in a way to enrich our spiritual lives through the guidance of living Masters, is what our lives are based upon. It is known as the Radhasoami path.

Our entire congregation only met (and still meets) once a week for a couple of hours, which is why we were not allowed to be late. Think of it as a Catholic Mass – we have hymns and spoken readings and blessed food, but opposite to such an “event,” we sit on the ground with our legs crossed, meditate, and watch recorded talks given by Saints.

This event is followed by langar, which is a communal free meal, and tons of socializing. I am blessed to have a close-knit family of over 100 people living in Vancouver, and even more fortunate to be able to maintain my relationship with them, as I see them once a week at the meditation centre.

There have been times where many of us tease each other and say something similar to, “If it weren’t for the meditation centre, we wouldn’t even talk to each other.” We all tend to laugh and chuckle after hearing this, but until recently, I have discovered that there is a lot of truth to this statement.

The meditation centre and the associated “mass” is what brings not only my family closer together, but also the entirety of the congregation. I can say with absolute certainty that we would not be as close as we are now, as we definitely wouldn’t see each other once a week. Although there are some pros and cons to having a big family, I am lucky enough to have one that I can see so often.

Part of what always reminds me of how close we are is when I am unable to make a particular event at the meditation centre on a random Sunday morning. After the event is over, I will receive text messages and calls, inquiring about my whereabouts and health. Even a week later on the following Sunday, some family member will ask if everything is alright, since I wasn’t able to attend the event, a week prior.

In other words, the meditation centre is my one true home. Not only does it help me grow my spiritual life and progress it, but I am also able to simultaneously bond with my family members over meals made with absolute love and devotion. What more could a home consist of?

For me…

Home is a place of worship.

Home is a platform to allow for one’s spiritual growth.

Home is a venue to connect with those that you love, who are kept close to one’s heart.

Home is a sense of belonging, where one can share their values and stories with those who will appreciate them.

Home is my meditation centre for the past 20 years of my life, and for the rest to come. For my readers – is your home linked to a physical place and/or family as well?

Works Cited

Chalhotra, Simran. “Four Pictures, One Word: Home.” 2019. JPG file.

“Radha Soami Satsang.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Radha-Soami-Satsang. Accessed 28 January 2019.

Singh, Harman. “Langar Is The Sikh Tradition Of Serving Free Meals, And All Canadians Are Invited.” Huffington Post Canada, 10 Oct. 2018, https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/harman-singh/langar-sikh-free-meals_a_23556757/. Accessed 28 January 2019.