OFFERINGS OF JUST LOVE FOREST ASHRAM

The Lineage

Just Love Forest Ashram is held in the spirit of Neem Karoli Baba, the beloved Indian saint known simply as Maharaji, whose teachings continue to inspire people around the world. His path was one of simplicity: to love everyone, serve everyone, and remember God. This way of being forms the heart of our ashram.

We honor the traditions of Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of love and devotion, while also welcoming all paths rooted in compassion. The ashram is not bound to one religion or practice. Instead, it is a home for kind and curious seekers of every background to gather, pray, meditate, walk in nature, or simply sit in silence.

Our lineage is carried not only through teachings but through the living forest itself. Each tree, stream, and mountain here reminds us of the same truth: everything is sacred, and everything belongs.

STATEMENT OF BELIEF

The following Statement of Belief expresses the sincerely held religious beliefs that guide the spiritual life, practices, and governance of Just Love Forest Ashram Church.

These beliefs arise from lived spiritual practice rather than adherence to a fixed dogma. They are expressed and embodied through regular religious gatherings, prayer, meditation, service, devotional practice, and stewardship of the natural world. At Just Love Forest Ashram Church, belief is understood not solely as an intellectual position, but as a way of life formed through direct spiritual experience, ethical commitment, and communal practice.

The Ashram recognizes the forest itself as sacred space and a place of worship, where spiritual teachings are lived through service, silence, community, and reverence for all life. Our religious life is rooted in the devotional lineage of Neem Karoli Baba, Ram Dass and the spirit of Hanuman, emphasizing love, humility, service, truthfulness, and remembrance of the Divine.

This Statement of Belief provides the theological and spiritual foundation for the Church’s activities, leadership, ceremonies, and community life, and serves as a public declaration of the principles that guide our religious purpose and practice.

Devotional Practices at Just Love Forest Ashram

Our Devotional Guidebook, downloadable using the link below, is an open-hearted introduction to the lineage, spirit, and practices that shape life at Just Love Forest Ashram. It’s offered for anyone who feels curious, unsure, or simply wants to understand what happens here in a grounded, accessible way.

Inside, you’ll learn about the Neem Karoli Baba and Ram Dass lineage that inspires this space, how we approach devotion without dogma, and how practices like puja and aarti are used as invitations into presence, service, and love rather than belief or obligation. The guidebook gently walks through the flow of our ceremonies and includes the words and meanings of the chants we sing together, including the Hanuman Chalisa, Jaya Jagadisha Hare, and Twameva Mata.

Whether you’re new to devotional practice or simply want to follow along with understanding, this guide is here to help you feel oriented, welcomed, and at ease.

The Land

The ashram is the protected forest of 716 acres in the mountains of northwest Georgia. This land is held in a permanent conservation easement, ensuring its beauty and integrity for generations to come.

Walking here, you’ll find quiet creeks, open meadows, and winding trails that lead through old hardwood groves and pine ridges. At the heart of the land stands Bhakti Mountain, our most sacred peak, where community gathers for ceremony and prayer.

The forest is both teacher and temple. It offers silence, stillness, and a living reminder of how to be in balance. Whether sitting beneath the canopy of trees, listening to birdsong, or watching the light shift across the hills, the land itself becomes a practice, inviting us into presence, reverence, and renewal.

The Community

At the heart of Just Love Forest Ashram is community. The ashram is not only the forest, but a circle of people who come together to support one another, to learn, and to serve.

Throughout the year, we gather for retreats, seasonal ceremonies, community weekends, and days of silence in the forest. Some come for meditation and kirtan, others for forest therapy walks or the simple joy of being in nature together.

Service, or “seva” is a central practice. Whether cooking a meal, tending the trails, or supporting each other in times of need, we each take part in caring for the ashram and allowing it to care for us in return.

Above all, community here is built on belonging. Whoever you are, whatever path you walk, you are welcome.

Living Ashram Traditions

The rhythm of Just Love Forest Ashram is shaped by simple, timeless practices that open the heart and connect us to the sacred.

Each day, we hold the traditions of puja (prayer) and aarti, an ancient Vedic ritual honoring the elements and four directions. These daily offerings are part of the heartbeat of the ashram, and guests are welcome to join us by request, outside of our monthly public gathering.

Once each month, during our Community Weekend, we open the forest for a Friday public evening and overnight gathering. These weekends weave together meditation, kirtan, ceremony, and time in nature, a chance to experience the ashram in community.

As we step into 2026, we will begin announcing more regular gatherings and retreats, creating steady rhythms for practice, service, and celebration on the land.

An Invitation to You

Just Love Forest Ashram is here for all who feel the call to rest, reflect, and reconnect with what is sacred. You are welcome to walk the trails, join a community gathering, sit in meditation, or simply spend time in the quiet of the forest.

This is not a place of requirements or membership, it is a sanctuary of belonging. Whether you come once or return often, whether you arrive in joy or in grief, you are received as family.

If you feel drawn, we invite you to explore our upcoming events, reach out with a request to join daily puja and aarti, or come for one of our monthly community weekends. However you arrive, may the forest remind you of the love and presence that are always here.

Visit

Just Love Forest Ashram welcomes all who feel called to join us to puja or aarti by request. We are located in the foothills of the Appalachian foothills of northwest Georgia, about two hours from Atlanta. If you would like to come to a retreat, you can find those offerings here.

Daily Practices
Each day, we hold puja (prayer) and aarti, a simple Vedic ritual honoring the directions and the elements. These offerings form the daily rhythm of the ashram, and guests are welcome to join us by request.

Community Weekends
Once a month, we open the land for a public evening and overnight gathering as part of our Community Weekend. These gatherings weave together meditation, ceremony, shared meals, and time in nature. It’s the best way to experience the ashram in community.

Guidelines for Visiting
The ashram is a place of refuge, respect, and simplicity. When you visit, we ask that you:

• Honor the land as sacred.

• Bring what you need for your comfort in nature (water, sturdy shoes, layers).

• Refrain from alcohol, drugs, and loud music.

• Help us care for the forest by leaving no trace.

Staying Overnight
Accommodations are simple and close to nature often in yurts, bell tents, or campsites. Shared meals and spaces create a sense of family. Please come prepared for rustic, communal living and the beauty of the outdoors.

Directions
Just Love Forest Ashram is located at:
1782 Old Holland Road
Lyerly, GA 30730