This week I became an Ananda minister. I’ve played the role of assistant minister for some time so this step was a natural one, but I still found myself a bit surprised.
Ananda doesn’t have a seminary or a list of requirements that must be met before one can serve as a minister. There is no diploma that is issued, a test that must be passed, or any outward achievement that puts one on the minister role call. Yoga is about inward unfoldment and discovery. It is also about directional energy – meaning: What step will help us move toward greater expansion, conscious awareness and self-forgetfulness? The invitation to serve as a minister in the Ananda Portland Sangha was a recognition of commitment and attunement; but even more importantly, it was a loving challenge to keep moving in the right direction.
We are beings of energy and energy is movement. You can’t stay in one place if you are a sincere seeker on the spiritual path; energy is always flowing in some direction. It may look like the place you are standing is a really nice place to be for a while. To just stand and look out at the scenery and be comfortable is a sweet temptation. But very soon the waves of the world are washing the sand out from under your feet and you have to move or get sucked under.
So now I am a minister and I realize that I was a little too comfortable where I was. Now there is a new mirror to look into and check myself for wrong thinking. The title “minister” is just a minor part in the play of life, but I want to play it sincerely and wholeheartedly, so I thought memorizing the Prayer for Ordination of Ministers would be a good idea. It is simple:
I offer my life in service, to be a channel for Thy ray, Thy love.
May my body express Your energy.
May my hands express Your servicefulness to all men.
May my eyes express Thy joy.
May my heart express Thy love.
May my voice be rich with the harmony of Your presence.
Use me as your instrument,
always in the awareness,
that Thou art the Doer, not I.
You may notice that there is nothing passive about the prayers at Ananda; Self-Realization comes with very intense activity for God! But it’s the inward movement of energy that is important, not the outward activity or label. This prayer could be used by anyone who seeks to forget the little self and move toward greater freedom and joy.
Minister is not just a role at church; it is an attitude and self-offering for all the circumstances of our lives. As I helped hold squealing guinea pigs this afternoon so my daughter could clip their claws, I had to laugh as the thought came across my mind, “Is this what Ananda ministers do?” Yes, that’s what they do – whatever it takes to move the energy in the right direction and be an instrument for God’s presence.
This past Sunday I was speaking at the Sunday service at our local Ananda Center in York, Maine and the scripture reading included Christ’s words in the Bible, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God”. One can contemplate and meditate upon these words for a lifetime or for many lifetimes to experience the glorious truth of these words. Another may experience in an instant the promise of these words due to already having a pure heart.
What is a pure heart? The great Masters share it is a heart that is free of any egoic attachments, desires or preoccupations. A pure heart feels love and devotion to God and the realization of God’s presence in all things including one self.
How do we free ourselves from the bonds that contaminate the heart’s purity?
The entire Bhagavad Gita is about the battle of slaying the evil qualities in our hearts that the Divine may shine forth triumphant in the end. Arjuna’s faintheartedness and questions to Krishna are our own. It is a long, difficult battle to say the least and yet it is the one battle we simply have no choice but to fight. The alternatives sooner or later only promise misery and we will ultimately be confronted with the same choices. The choices of truth verses dishonesty, love verses hate, sharing and giving of oneself verses anger and greed. The list goes on and on.
Fortunately we have the opportunity to use the tools Krishna advises, the tools of devotion to God and Guru, (Divine Teacher, one who has realized his oneness with the Infinite, such as Christ, Krishna, Buddha, Paramhansa Yogananda, and other Masters) In addition we have the teachings of yoga and meditation which the Masters have taught, “Be still and know that I am God”.
The teachings our Masters brought for all who care to have inner communion with God are our “sacred keys of awakening” as our Festival of Light ceremony mentions. Any of us who have been practicing the techniques of Kriya Yoga can attest to the power of transformation that occurs in purifying the heart. We ourselves know from experience the lures of the world are but “stale cheese” as Yogananda described them compared to God’s bliss in meditation.
Today as I was meditating on “purity of heart” I felt Divine bliss in my heart, the essential bliss of being. Is this not God? The ancient scriptures define God as Satchidanandam; ever existing, ever conscious, ever new bliss.
Each of us is starting right now with whatever purity of heart we have within. We are all destined to realize the sacred promise of Christ’s words. Are we willing to simply practice these teachings daily with devotion and love for God? I am and I invite you to join me.
Recently I was talking with a friend who is a counselor to many people. She mentioned that many of the folks she was working with seem to be extremely fearful, filled with anxiety for a variety of reasons, and thus mentally paralyzed and unable to move forward with their lives.
She asked if I had any advice to give to her, so that she might be better able to help these people.
First of all, we both agreed that fears and anxieties may seem justified in the world where we are living right now. It’s a scary place! Faltering economy, much unemployment, killer viruses, global warming, growing crime rates, people working too hard and for too many long hours, little or no health care available, over-stimulation / saturation through the media — the list goes on and on!
At the close of our conversation, I agreed to make a list of things which might help people live without so much fear in their lives. These suggestions are based on teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda and Swami Kriyananda, and on some of my own experiences, too.
1) Chanting or japa: Whenever I find myself gripped with fear, I start chanting a favorite chant or saying “AUM Guru,” either out loud or inwardly. I also frequently sing Swami Kriyananda’s beautiful song: “I Live Without Fear.”
Though green summer fade, and winter draw near, My Lord in your presence, I live without fear,
Through tempest, through snow, through turbulent tide, the touch of your hand is my strength and my guide,
I ask for no riches that death may destroy; I crave only Thee, your love and your joy,
The dancers will pass; the singing must end,
I welcome the darkness with You for my Friend.
2) List your blessings on a piece of paper and make a really LONG list. Dwell on these things constantly, leaving no mental space for brooding over the things you fear.
3) Put out more energy. Doesn’t matter if it is energy directed toward overcoming the thing feared or not. Just start doing something — anything, really. Take a walk. Take a run. Talk to someone positive who will lift you up. Stay busy, but make it the kind of “busy” which is divinely guided. Be actively calm and calmly active. Forget about yourself and serve others.
4) Yogananda said during the Great Depression of the 1930’s: “If I didn’t have a job and needed one, I would shake the world until it gave one to me!” What does shake the world” mean? Tons of prayer. Lots of effort in many directions. Affirmations such as: “In the center of life’s storms, I stand serene.” Positive attitudes. Non-attachment. Faith that it’s all going to be OK, even when it doesn’t seem that way.
5) Don’t be around other fearful or anxious people. We all know the positive ones, the ones who make life work well for themselves. Be with them. Ask their advice. Ask them to help you get your energy moving in the right directions.
6) Fear is really based in wanting things to be different from the way they are. An attitude of non-attachment is the key. Accept things as they are and then move forward from that position.
7) Think of the worst-case scenario for what you are afraid of. Go to the end of it in your mind and then accept it. What could possibly happen? You could die? So what — death comes to us all anyway. You could be dependent on others and lose your cherished independence? The truth is: we are all dependant on God alone. As Yogananda often said: “If God stops ticking in your heart, then all your appointments must be canceled immediately.”
8) Years ago, I experienced a series of anxiety attacks. The interesting thing about them was that I could never pinpoint exactly what was making me anxious. What was making my heart race and nameless fears paralyze me to the point of immobility or sleepless nights? I never did find a satisfactory answer, so I gave up trying to figure out what was going on and just focused on solutions. For me it was finding someone to talk to (didn’t matter at all what the topic of conversation was—it was just some human interaction which was needed) and also it helped to eat some protein like a handful of nuts or a soft-boiled egg. Your solutions may be different, but they are there to be found, with God’s help.
9) Never give in to discouragement or the feeling that you are “in this alone.” Reach out for help from God and Gurus first and then also from your spiritual teacher, friends, family, fellow devotees and disciples. Put yourself on Ananda’s healing prayer list, through Ananda.org’s Healing Prayers section.
10) Know that there are dozens of solutions waiting to be found. Pray with faith that you are going to be guided to the right one. For example, if you are unwell in some way and are not sure about the right thing to do to get well, pray to be guided to exactly the right type of treatment, one that you can afford, and one that with God’s grace will help you in the perfect way.
11) Get familiar in meditation with what it means to be “in your spine.” When fears attack, go back to that place of inner strength. From Secrets of Overcoming Harmful Emotions by Swami Kriyananda, on attaining fearlessness: “Seek peace at that calm center within, where nothing can touch you, neither fire, nor flood, nor loss of any kind.”
12) Finally, please read and re-read these wise words:
“What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.”
—Psalms 56:3
“Look fear in the face and it will cease to bother you!”
— Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda
“You must never lose courage. Divine Mother sent me to pilot you out of the clouds of your mind. Overcome all by constant inward calling on God…. I will ever lift you up, no matter how many times you fall. Keep unceasingly trying to conquer!”
—Excerpts from “A Letter to a Disciple” by Paramhansa Yogananda
Listen to “I Live Without Fear” song by Swami Kriyananda, performed by Ananda Choir:
Lyrics:
Though green summer fade, and winter draw near,
My Lord, in Your presence
I live without fear.
Through tempest, through snows,
Through turbulent tide,
The touch of Your hand
Is my strength and my guide.
I ask for no riches that death can destroy.
I want only Thee, Your love, and Your joy.
The dancers will pass, the singing must end.
I welcome the darkness with You for my friend.
This past week at Ananda Village and The Expanding Light has been filled with inspiration and spiritual friends. It seems impossible that 12 different talks in six days about the spiritual path could hold one’s attention from beginning to end. But it did. The theme for Inner Renewal week was: Going Deeper into God.
The weather generally has been pretty gray all week with some rain. Inside the Expanding Light temple was warm and cozy. The choir sang many of my favorite songs.
The talks were very insightful, encouraging and challenging.
Anandi gave a great talk on the energization exercises. If you need any new inspiration to fuel your love for these exercises you will like this talk. You can click here to watch it.
All the talks can be accessed through ananda.org or here. I am always amazed at the depth of spiritual understanding of our teachers and of the devotion of my fellow disciples.
The week also included Kriya initiations and the very special Pilgrim initiation.
This was a special evening for me. My husband, Dave, and 102 other people took Pilgrim Vows. I felt very blessed to be part of this ceremony. These are the vows:
I understand, and intend from now on to live by my understanding, that life is a pilgrimage, of which the final goal is to find and merge back into God.
I will endeavor resolutely, therefore, to direct all my thoughts and actions toward that end.
I will offer up all material desires for purification in the fire of divine bliss.
I will offer up all attachments for purification in that cosmic fire.
I will search my heart daily for any lingering desires and attachments, and will offer them to Thee, my Cosmic Beloved.
I will strive to be an example to others of a pure, discriminating, and noble life.
I will offer the fruit of all my actions and labors to Thee alone.
Bless me, and direct my footsteps ever to the summit of Thy holy mountain.
They are beautiful aren’t they? You can find out more about them here. There was such a sweet devotion and spiritual power in the room as we took our vows. I saw alot of joy in everyone’s face.
So, next week Dave and I will be going to India! We will be with Latika, and Jyotish and Devi. I can’t believe it is only one week away! We will be in Gurgaon for the Inner Renewal Weekend there. Swamiji is planning to be there. We will also get to celebrate Master’s Mahasamadhi in Pune. I am thrilled to be able to see the great work happening in India and to be with Swamiji and my gurubhais. I plan on trying to post to this blog and also onto my Twitter account. If you would like to see some of my posts you can follow me here. I don’t know how connected I will be to the internet, but I will try to update as best as I can. I hope you will connect with me!
May the Masters bless us all. Let us radiate peace outward and create a web of joy around the world. I have been visualizing joy as an unbreakable silver string through the center of my body. It connects me to the cosmos and God’s divine joy. It connects us all.
I teach science at a public high school in a southern California suburb. This is my third year of teaching and though not a veteran yet, you can say that I have mastered it quite a bit. But I thought I’d share with you some of my experiences as a brand new teacher. While on one hand they did not feel pleasant, especially at the time, on the other hand they are some of the most cherished experiences of my life as a devotee, as Master’s (my Guru, Paramhansa Yogananda’s) child.
Let me give you a little background about myself. I had very little experience of the school system in the U.S having completed K-12 in India. An American high school classroom felt very “foreign” to me; the teenage jargon, the dress code, the behavior, the attitude – I was at times completely overwhelmed! – not to mention the pressure to perform anew in front of a 40 member class audience five times a day and the need to come up with new lessons every day, five days a week! I was exhausted!
Also since I had opted for what is called the internship instead of traditional student-teaching, it meant I had no mentor or guide to lend me a helping hand. I was on my own. However I did have Master and Divine Mother by my side.
Our school has a strict electronic policy that students cannot use electronic devices in the classroom. One day, and this was probably within the first three months of my first year, I had confiscated the cell phone of a student who was using it in the class and kept it on my table. It had never crossed my mind that it is possible for my students, the 14-15 year olds, to steal! Yes, I was naïve as I soon found out to my horror! The cell phone was gone and I realized it right after the class got over. It was very embarrassing as a teacher! What am I going to do?
I remember visualizing holding Master’s hand for support; “Everything is fine” – I felt calmer and centered. I talked to another teacher and she advised talking to the class which I did the following day. I told them how deeply disappointed I am and why I do not expect such behavior from the class. At the end of the class two students quietly came up to me, after everyone else had left, and said “We know who took the phone!”
Eventually the thief confessed and the phone was returned to the owner. I quietly thanked Master.
Another time I had left my thumb drive on the desk computer in my classroom. Again something one should never do, as I learned very quickly. As it turned out I had to call sick the following day. When I finally returned the day after the thumb drive was gone! Now that thumb drive had not only all my lessons, power point presentations and files, it also had all my assignments that were due at the university where I was completing my teacher preparation course. Remember that was my year of internship which means I had to go back to the university to my student-teaching class every week and yes, all my homework and papers ready to be submitted to the State was in that thumb drive. And it did not have a back-up. I was lost! Also there was a little hub like connection in the classroom where the video player, CD player, computer and speakers were all interconnected and connected to the overhead projector. Someone had pulled out every cord out of every socket and everything was lying in a big meshed up pile on the floor!
I went to see my department head about this incidence. He said this happens. As teachers we happen to enrage teenagers who then take out their anger on us. He also told me not to take it personally and that he too has lost his zip drive in a similar way. I was grateful for his support and kind words. However even though I understood it all, I was panicking in my mind – “what will I do without my lessons and assignments?”
I didn’t think I had the time and energy to recreate the lost work again – something that is sure to take months. I didn’t have all that time. I returned to my classroom and closed my eyes and tried to meditate. I mentally gave my problem to Divine Mother. “Thy will Ma, thy will; and whatever that is, its ok with me.” I felt lighter and relaxed and started to get ready for the next class.
Later that same day, I got a call from my department head. He said he’s found a zip drive and wanted me to check if it was mine. As it turned out it was mine! He, while keeping an eye out for his lost drive, by chance, saw something zip drive-like lying on the roof of one of the classrooms. The science building being a two-storey building allows a view of the rooftops of surrounding single storey buildings. Some students(s) might have thrown the zip drive and it landed on the roof. The recovery felt miraculous and I felt so grateful, both to him and to Divine Mother, that words didn’t come easy to me. I prayed that he find his drive too.
There were so many similar incidences that first year as I went fumbling my way into the school system and every time I experienced the guiding, protecting hand of Master and Divine Mother. We devotees do have an umbrella, in form of Divine Mother’s love and guidance, to protect us from the storms of our karma. We might get a little wet but isn’t it wonderful to experience the umbrella around us? And I’m thankful for all the storms. Looking back, how else would I have experienced Divine Mother’s umbrella?
One of the hardest things for me, at the start of my spiritual journey, was what to make of the phenomena I began to experience. I know this is a problem for many, in the beginning, and this is why I write about it.
When I began to awaken to the realization that there was more to my existence than the limitation of body and mind I began meditating, in my own fashion. I did not know, then, the techniques that Raja yoga has since given me. Even so, I began to experience visions, spinal manipulations, dreams, past lives, premonitions, all of which, to me, qualified explanation. Naturally, in my ignorance, I discussed them with friends.
When I discovered Ananda and Raja yoga, I would write to a certain minister with my meditational experiences. I was genuinely puzzled by what was happening to me. This minister was extremely patient with me until suddenly I did not receive replies to my emails any more. At first I was disappointed that, as I perceived, my only support was gone. Friends were unable to offer anything but fascination in what was occurring with me. However I have since deepened my own understanding and discovered the method and the blessing in the minister’s apparent madness. He was teaching me a great and valuable lesson. For which I am ever thankful.
As I progress along this path, I have come to the realization how unimportant experiences of phenomena actually are. Though seemingly valid at the time, how much validation have they really in the scheme of things? Do they change anything? I also noticed that I became a focus of unwanted attention, and the wrong sort of attention at that. People were intrigued and wanted predictions for their own self-serving interest or just plain curiosity.
Everyone’s experiences are unique and right only for them, so it does not pay to compare one’s experiences over another’s, or a lack of them. The amount of experiences one has of phenomena bears little to one’s actual spiritual development. One can be extremely psychic, yet have the worldliest consciousness. It was interesting and a relief, when I refused to play the psychic role any longer and all interest in me waned. How much of it was entrapment by Satan’s cunning after all?
I later discovered, after reading extensively the lives of great yogis and saints that many of my experiences are actually quite common with the upliftment of Kundalini. Kundalini is our latent spiritual energy, safely housed at the base of the spine. One should never release this energy by forcible yogic practices. It must be gently release it over time, by comprehensive Raja yoga. The raising of this energy is necessary for our ultimate ascension.
The test of spiritual progress, rather, must be measured in the level of divine communion one has in meditation; through the bliss and the love Guru graces us with and our ability to transpose it to our daily lives and the lives of others; to live in a sea of calm amidst ‘the crash of breaking worlds’; to bear the torch of the Infinite and shine its light on to others, living in the service of God, truly renouncing all self-serving interests.
Now I can see why this minister overtly dismissed my ramblings. I was attached to my experiences. Paramhansa Yogananda says that phenomena can actually hinder spiritual development, as I discovered. They were diverting my attention from the true direction I should be aiming, through the spiritual eye at the centre of the brow, to God. I learned my lesson.
Now? Yes I still experience certain things, though far less than at first. It is common to experience much at first, only to be tested with apparent inertia for any length of time, to see if ones interest in God still continues when no ‘carrot’ is dangled to tempt us. I take all experiences in my stride, asking myself, is this experience life changing? Usually not, therefore dismissing most, however I keep those precious ones that do touch me close to my heart, not to sully them with outward verbal expression, which cannot possibly capture a superconscious experience anyway.
Occasionally, I am guided to share some of my superconscious experiences, which led to the writing of Touching Soul, which will be published shortly by Crystal Clarity. My writing of poetry, often given in meditation, is one light that I feel Divine Mother does not want me to hide under a bushel.
Secrets in the Silence
My God,
Thy whispers held to my heart dear
As I rejoice Thou art so near.
Full of joy, to world would shout
Of precious moments none could doubt.
But my heart’s Counsel, O so wise,
To honour Thee in every guise.
My one True Friend Who loves me well
Does not commune for me to tell.
My closest moments in Thy Heart’s love
Are sacred, for the highest good.
Softly, private secrets shared
That must be held and rarely spared.
Cherished, this love ‘twixt Mother and child,
So precious are Thy secret smiles.
In silence, bears the witness true,
The loving grace Thy Heart communes.
Last weekend I wrote an email to my family, sharing with them about the lifetime monastic vow that I took on Christmas Eve at Ananda Village.
In the email, I wrote,
This is something that I’ve been hoping to do for years — so, understandably, I’m thrilled about it.
What changes for me? Outwardly, very little. The vows aren’t “I renounce the world” kind of vows, but more, “I want to live for God alone” kind of vows. (I often think of “God” as “Divine Joy.”) The way I’ve been living already is simply the way I’ll keep living.
Yellow is my monastic color, so I wear yellow shirts now, but it looks pretty normal — you wouldn’t think it at all unusual! (The color is yellow because a pure, golden orange-yellow is symbolic of calm, or joyful, wisdom.) I was already doing this when I visited a few weeks ago.
Inwardly, I’m making the effort to dedicate myself more completely to my chosen path of meditation and yoga, which has already been a transforming experience for me over the past several years. If we’ve talked about it much, you probably already know this.
One of my most noticeable outward changes is a new title: “Brahmachari.” This means “flowing with Brahma,” or “flowing with God.” So my full name now is “Brahmachari Nabha.” There’s no need for you to use the title — I only want you to know so you aren’t bewildered when it appears online and in my emails.
Apart from all this, I’m still as you know me — with all that this entails!
If you have any questions, I’d love to share more, I just don’t want to impose on anyone. In any case, thank you for being a part of such a beautiful, loving, and supportive family. It is something that I always appreciate when I come visit and get the chance to spend time with you.
I didn’t know for sure what kind of a response I’d get, but my family — including grandparents, parents, cousins, and brother — are supportive of the spiritual life choices I’ve made. I was on pretty safe ground expressing myself this way. Also, they all knew that I’ve lived as a monk for years.
One of my grandmothers wrote to ask more about what all this meant, what interested me in Ananda in the first place, what renunciation was about, and how we practiced it. I’m answering her separately, but I’d like to share the thoughts with you, too.
What Vow Did I Take?
I took the vow of brahmacharya in the Nayaswami Order, founded by Nayaswami Kriyananda a few months ago. More than 70 others at Ananda Village took vows on the same day — most of them becoming swamis, or, as they are called in this order, nayaswamis. Initiations have also been held in Italy (pictured below), Palo Alto, Seattle, and India.
Why Live a Spiritual Life?
The goal of the spiritual life is Divine Joy — a union of our little self, the ego, with the infinite Self, God. This is a truth expressed in all religions, though not always grasped by the followers of those religions.
Meditation is one way to forget ourselves and experience God-as-Joy directly. Early experiences of Him often comes as peace, which Yogananda compared to a cooling mist, or a weightless waterfall.
Service is another way, because thinking of others’ needs can help us to expand beyond our own.
But in all of this, the goal is the same: renounce our little selves, our little ego with its “needs” and daily desires, and become a part of something much bigger and more beautiful, the vast tapestry of life; and to live in Divine Joy.
That is pretty abstract. It is what got me interested in being part of Ananda, though, which my grandmother asked about.
What Makes Ananda Special?
Until I found the yogic teachings, my religious experience was mainly with mainstream Christian churches. Compared to finding union with “ever-existing, ever-conscious, ever-new joy” — according to Yogananda, a good definition of God — the goals they had were very low.
By my first day as a Christian, I had already attained the heights that most of my peers aspired to: believe in God, believe in Jesus, and don’t be a bad person. These are good things, no doubt, but I came to feel that they weren’t enough.
With Ananda, I found many people who sincerely wanted to dedicate themselves to the highest that they could, saying, “I want to find true, eternal joy; to this I give my life.” And also, “I want to help those who want to, to do the same, regardless of their path.”
The sincerity of their dedication is still something I admire, even after years of living at Ananda Village.
What Do Members of the Nayaswami Order Renounce?
It can be hard to tell from the outside. If you came to visit Ananda Village, you’d see a community of men and women with jobs and bank accounts, getting up, making breakfast, meditating together, going to movies, getting the car fixed, working in their gardens on the weekend, and doing many other normal, everyday activities, which of course vary from person to person.
You’d see that they are good people, and happy, but also that they are people like you and I.
What is unusual is something they have inside: their goals in life are centered on realizing that what they truly are is the soul: a part of us that stretches beyond this lifetime, and is said to be changeless and eternal.
Contrast that with what many people’s goals are focused on: the stuff of daily life: the garden itself, the new car, or the new husband or wife.
It’s that narrow focus, rather than the stuff itself, that members of the Nayaswami Order are making the effort to renounce. They want to give up identifying with a passing reality in favor of identifying with something much greater.
There’s an emphasis here on inner renunciation, which is different from past forms of monasticism. So I can’t compare it easily with traditions that you might already be familiar with. As Nayaswami Jyotish recently put it, the classic vows of Christian monastics — poverty, chastity, and obedience — or Ananda’s equivalent, simplicity, chastity, and cooperative obedience — are still very important, but they can’t be the focus, because we can have them and still not have God.
The Renunciate Vow of Brahmacharya
A brahmacharya-color scarf
There are four vows in this renunciate order: the vow of the pilgrim, which anyone can take; the vow of brahmacharya, for people who are single; the vow of tyaga, for (usually married) couples; and the vow of nayaswami, a vow of complete renunciation for people who are single or for married couples.
More detailed explanations of the brahmacharya, tyaga, and nayaswami vows are in the chapter of A Renunciate Order for the New Age, The Vows of Renunciation. The vow of the pilgrim is new, so there isn’t yet any comprehensive information online about it. (I believe Nayaswami Kriyananda will be adding it to the book first.) If you’re interested in taking that vow, or any of these vows, please fill out this form.
I took the vow of brahmacharya, so I’ll quote from it to talk about on what I’ve made a commitment to, and what others do when they join this order.
Excerpts from the Vow of Brahmacharya
In pursuit of that goal [of seeking God], I offer my own life unreservedly to seeking my Divine Source.
In other words, “I want to find God (Divine Joy), and I’m giving it everything I possibly can.”
I will retain no ego-gratifying goal in my life, but will strive always, and above all, to please God.
To me this means, “I don’t want to serve my little self, my petty desires, my passing likes, dislikes, and selfish thoughts — I want to live only for the attainment of Divine Joy.”
It would be hard to make such a definite commitment if I hadn’t already (by God’s grace) experienced some (small) part of this joy in meditation. Even a slight touch of it is more interesting than any other experience.
I renounce attachment to things, people, places, and all self-definitions…
Traditionally, monastics have often taken vows of poverty, which I mentioned earlier. This is so they don’t become attached to money or possessions, which might pull them away from their spiritual goals.
This brahmacharya vow makes the firm commitment to renounce the attachment itself, which after all is the important thing to be free of.
This new form of renunciation may still mean living very simply, but it depends on the individual. I do, after all, live in a canvas tent. On the other hand, it has electricity, heat, a laptop, and an iPhone!, which I use for service as much as possible, instead of just for entertainment.
Christmas Eve morning found over 100 devotees filling our largest temple at Ananda Village
We began the ceremony at 10:00 am after an hour-long meditation. Afterward the meditation, Jyotish gave a short talk, which you can listen to here, or download from The Nayaswami Order website:
Jyotish talked about the sacredness of the occasion; about renunciation; and about how one who is ready to dedicate their lives to God is very close to the end of the soul’s long journey through delusion.
His talk ended with an invitation to those taking, first, the brahmacharya vow to come forward. I was in this group, so I stood up and walked to the center area, which you can see in the photos. We knelt, and as Jyotish read the vow a line at a time, we repeated it after him.
We then came forward to be blessed individually and receive a scarf. As Jyotish blessed me, I felt within myself a deep commitment to live for God alone.
After a moment, I rose and stood before Devi, who put a scarf, yellow for the color of brahmacharya, around my neck. In the photo above, you may see what I saw in her expression at the time: her respect for those coming forward, and for the important step on the spiritual journey that this vow signifies.
The room was silent while everyone who had taken the vow came forward one at a time. (This took some time.)
Next, those taking the vow of tyaga rose, repeated the vow, and were blessed; and finally, those taking the nayaswami vow came forward.
The nayaswami vow is the “Vow of Complete Renunciation.” Jyotish said one line of it at time, and those taking the vow repeated it before stepping forward and offer a spoonful of ghee into a blazing fire, placed in the center of the temple. (Ghee is purified butter and symbolizes pure spiritual aspiration.)
The next part of the ceremony was for those taking the vow to prostrate themselves before the fire. This symbolized unconditional surrender to the divine will.
The atmosphere was very still. I imagine that those taking the vow were making a supreme effort to offer their lives to God as completely as they could.
Finally, each person came forward to be blessed and to officially become a swami.
Two and a half hours from the time we had first started the meditation, the ceremony finished with Jyotish offering a few words and leading us in a closing prayer, that we might become free from ego in this lifetime.
Final Thoughts, and How I Decided to Take the Vow
These vows are holy. Just as I felt unusually calm after taking them, for days afterward I noticed an other-worldly joy emanating from those who took the nayaswami vow, the “Vow of Complete Renunciation.” Indeed, I still often noticed it weeks later.
Freedom! Bliss! This is the fruit of a life of renunciation — not a painful emptiness, which so many people imagine it to be.
This renunciate order is just being born; surely, in the years (and centuries) to come, it will change and grow. Certain details about exactly how it will work, we may only discover through day-to-day experience. If you have questions, or if you felt something was confusing in this post, please do mention it in the comments.
Taking a vow of renunciation is something that some here felt unsure about, in part because the idea is so awe-inspiring. Some of us wondered, “Am I worthy?” or, “Can I do it?”
Whether I’m “worthy” or not, I don’t know, but I did have a memorable experience a few weeks ago when I was reading one of the final chapters of A Renunciate Order for the New Age, in preparation for taking the vow.
The true renunciate is one who is willing to face any obstacle in his struggle to reach the goal, for he knows that there is no acceptable alternative.… even if he is killed, he knows that he belongs utterly and completely to God alone.
I was starting to question, “Could I be ready for this? What if I’m not? Yes, I’ve already decided to take the vow, but perhaps I should back out…”
As I thought this, a tightness formed around my heart. “No!” some deep part of myself cried, “I must do this! This — the search for God — is my life!”
I felt this was the answer to my question.
In fact, it is the answer for everyone eventually, in the final stages of their soul’s long journey away from God. For there is simply no other way, without at least inner renunciation, to find true happiness.
