The Ashram derives its income for daily upkeep primarily from paying guests and general/project specific donations for capital works. The much more expensive tertiary education funding is raised and managed separately by the tireless friend of the Ashram, the NZ based Pak Terry Cox.

In return, the members work outside school hours to maintain the upkeep of the Ashram and the bungalows for the paying guests. They also help during the seed planting and harvesting of the Ashram’s offsite farms that are otherwise tilled with nonviolent or organic farming methods by tenant farmers with the Ashram sharing some of the produce such as beans, nuts or rice.

The members have a strict routine of puja or pray time four times a day plus English, general or yoga lessons with the guests when they are not at school. Generally the young Ashram members have an advantage in English through these lessons and through interaction with the guests at the Ashram, plus the confidence that is very much reflected in their generally good report cards with some at or near the top of the class, therefore enhancing their future employment prospects in Bali considerably.

Whilst the Candidasa Ashram is our main full-functioning ashram we do have two other ashrams with somewhat reduced activities namely the GGA Vydiapith in Denpasar (Bali) and Yogyakarta (Central Java). These ashrams mainly housed our university student members, some are ‘graduates’ from the Candidasa Ashram who are continuing their studies on Ashram’s facilitated scholarships, but there are others who are self-funding students who are attracted to the Ashram life and get free accommodation in return. The Denpasar Ashram is on a freehold site whereas the Yogyakarta Ashram has the house’s annual lease paid for by Gedong Gandhi Ashram, or by donation from one of Ibu’s sons.