The two paths

[Vinayaka]

As far as I know, nobody here is a swami, renunciate, sannyasin, monk, etc. We are all householders or single folk waiting with no particular plans, but most likely becoming a householder, or the third option, single but living in the world.

For those of us who are, in some future life, or now, interested in the sannyasin path, and since it is so very different than the householder path, I was hoping to share some knowledge and ideas about it.

I know a bit, as I have been around sannyasins somewhat. If you think the average meditater is somewhat secretive about what goes on in their meditations, you can times that secrecy factor by about 100 for monastics, so it's not that easy of a discussion.

I also recognise that some Hindu schools within Hinduism vary on it as well. Things like age of entrance, requirements, vows taken do vary. There are generally 2 types, the wanderers, or sadhus, and those who gather in monasteries in cloistered groups.

As far as I know there are only a few other faiths with strong monastic traditions, Eastern Orthodox, and Catholicism within Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, and perhaps Taoism.

 

[Poeticus]

As far as I know, nobody here is a swami, renunciate, sannyasin, monk, etc.

Nuh uh! RF is filled with self-proclaimed mystics that
have consistently typed, repeatedly, that they know
the truth and that every belief system professes that
same truth, and to even hint that there are variations
is not only a crime against the almighty universe but
is also traditionalistic, boogeyman-like drivel.​

Don't believe me? Well, then. Too bad, because I have
proof! Mwahaha!​

 

[Vinayaka]

Nuh uh! RF is filled with self-proclaimed mystics that
have consistently typed, repeatedly, that they know
the truth and that every belief system professes that
same truth, and to even hint that there are variations
is not only a crime against the almighty universe but
is also traditionalistic, boogeyman-like drivel.​

Don't believe me? Well, then. Too bad, because I have
proof! Mwahaha!​

Sorry, I meant within the Hindu DIR. Well, there is one, but there is no claim of renunciation. In a way we are all able to renounce 'small' things, like anger, lust outside marriage. But all that is included in the niyamas, Hinduism's classical set of restraints.

I've renounced debating, so I can't argue with you.

As to the topic, nobody really knows how many choose the sannyasin path, so we have only guesstimates like a million to 5 million or more. Probably the best well-known orders are the Swaminarayan order, the Ramakrishna Math, and the Maths of Sankara, including Sringeri Mutt, and Kanchi Mutt.

Here's a link to Vivekenanda famous ode to renunciation. http://www.ariseawake.com/poems/TheSongoftheSannyasin.html

 

[Vinayaka]

More info ... Sannyasa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia I think this wiki article sums it up quite nicely, and I didn't realise the ancient origins until reading this.

Occasionally, as with the first paragraph until you read further than the first sentence, there is confusion between the stage of life and the lifetime type that begins at a young age.

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

I'm a single 'householder', but I have no responsibilities within it.

I'm saving up my money (as little as I can save), to go to this thing:

Satyananda Yoga Australasia

One day (within the next 10 years), I would like to take Sannyas Diksha and maybe live in an Ashram like this one.

Problem is, of course, there are no Ashrams that you can stay in for free and Sannyasis have renounced money...there lies the rub.

 

[Vinayaka]

Sannayasins traditionally live on alms. But Yoga retreats like this do charge fees to help support the sannyasins, and they own and maintain the capital expenses like land and buildings. Generally ownership belongs to the group or the order or the organisation, and isn't individually owned. Do you know the requirements to live there full time or to become a sannyasin? I presume there would be some fairly stringent requirements.

Was this swami a disciple of Sivananda, or is there some other lineage?

 

[Poeticus]

Sorry, I meant within the Hindu DIR. Well, there is one, but there is no claim of renunciation. In a way we are all able to renounce 'small' things, like anger, lust outside marriage. But all that is included in the niyamas, Hinduism's classical set of restraints.

I've renounced debating, so I can't argue with you.

As to the topic, nobody really knows how many choose the sannyasin path, so we have only guesstimates like a million to 5 million or more. Probably the best well-known orders are the Swaminarayan order, the Ramakrishna Math, and the Maths of Sankara, including Sringeri Mutt, and Kanchi Mutt.

Here's a link to Vivekenanda famous ode to renunciation. The Song of the Sannyasin

I apologize, Vinayaka. As you can see, I am not
very good at satirical sarcasm. I presumed you
would understand the inside joke I was utilizing.
In regards to the thread topic, dear friend, the
assessment that not many choose such a path,
when numerically compared with the congested
number of self-identified Hindus (well into the
hundreds of millions), is an accurate assessment.​

 

[Vinayaka]

I apologize, Vinayaka. As you can see, I am not
very good at satirical sarcasm. I presumed you
would understand the inside joke I was utilizing.
In regards to the thread topic, dear friend, the
assessment that not many choose such a path,
when numerically compared with the congested
number of self-identified Hindus (well into the
hundreds of millions), is an accurate assessment.​

Oh I got your sarcasm, my man. But I've renounced humour too. Mayhaps I be the only one who would take the other alternative seriously for next lifetime. Go figure, eh?

 

[ratikala]

Please what does ''Go figure'' mean ?

 

[Maya3]

I feel torn about this in a way. I absolutely love my life, my husband, my job and my family, so no torn is the wrong word. But I sometimes wish that I could have a lot more time for my meditation. Maybe in another life, or if I'm blessed with a long life and can retire, then I would love to meditate much more.

Maya

 

[Vinayaka]

I feel torn about this in a way. I absolutely love my life, my husband, my job and my family, so no torn is the wrong word. But I sometimes wish that I could have a lot more time for my meditation. Maybe in another life, or if I'm blessed with a long life and can retire, then I would love to meditate much more.

Maya

That's one of the things that is hard to remember to keep consciously alive : reincarnation. If we do, life seems really quite different. For example, we would rarely imagine switching genders in a single lifetime, yet if we look at evolution of the soul, not the physical body, gender basically becomes a 50-50 deal. Half the time we're women, the other half we're men.

I'm definitely aware of last lifetime, as well as somewhat aware of the next in terms of future considerations. But at 72 or thereabouts, we enter the sannyas period of life, which, although not full sannyas, is close.

 

[Vinayaka]

Please what does ''Go figure'' mean ?

this, I guess... go figure! - definition in the British English Dictionary & Thesaurus - Cambridge Dictionaries Online

 

[ShivaFan]

Namaste

I am a great admirer of the Order of the Kapalikas (Skull Bearers), which I see as part of my tradition though I am a grihasta. Normally, the vow taken by the Skull Bearer is similar to Our Kala Bhairava, that of a vow or Mahavrata of 12 years wandering in ashes, such as to forests but also to distant tirthas, you cover with ashes as Shiva and use the skull cap as your Begging Bowl for Bhiksha, you meditate on Lord Bhikshatana who wears a little bell tied just below the right knee thus wearing voluntarily the mark of the Pariah as if an untouchable who rings a bell of warning, caring not and laughing while thinking of the tale of Shiva Kala Bhairava Who cut the head off of a brahmin and on pretext of mitigating this sin eventually wanders to the destination of Kashi where the "skull fell" (from hand).

This time over the next 60 years is that of cherishing Kala Bhairava (so I am bow told), starting in this Century or so, and within that spirit there is much renunciation or thought to cut off the head of things and put ashes on, approximate to sannyasin.

Interestingly, this thread indirectly aligns with what has been on my mind of late.

On some forum, I don't think it was this one, I told the story of how once when I was a teen, I erected a sand Lingam on the shore of Lake Tahoe and sat meditating, drawing somewhat of a crowd of observers while chanting Om Namah Sivaya, that is up until my Mother came and yelled at me, "ok, now that's ENOUGH!" and waved the crowd away and ordered me up and back to my Uncle's condo where we were staying at.

Actually, it was a lot of fun. And in that spirit of late, I have been thinking I want to obtain a human skull cap and just go out some place, perhaps Mount Diablo, with the Begging Bowl or kapa and sit and hold it out saying "alms... alms for the ashes of our end times" or something like that and see what happens or how it effects my soul adventures.

Now, of course I am not talking any 12 year vow, though you never know it might be good practice and who knows, it may start a trend and soon we may be a group of practitioners as skull bearers or "birds of a feather" (stick together).

I have been an advocate of the right to keep and bear Tridents, and have explored this thought before to have gatherings of Trident Bearers, and all this may be a future "club" of those who are "weekend Skull Bearers".

But the problem is getting the human skull. I don't want a fake one. Normally it is taken from the cremation grounds, or a body floating in the Ganga, something like that. Jokes aside, I am not sure you can order one online. That is not sannyasin, but it is perhaps beneficial, and in line with the March of Time we find ourselves now in and in honor and devotion to Kala Bhairava.

Om Namah Sivaya

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

Sannayasins traditionally live on alms. But Yoga retreats like this do charge fees to help support the sannyasins, and they own and maintain the capital expenses like land and buildings. Generally ownership belongs to the group or the order or the organisation, and isn't individually owned. Do you know the requirements to live there full time or to become a sannyasin? I presume there would be some fairly stringent requirements.

Was this swami a disciple of Sivananda, or is there some other lineage?

Yes, Swami Satyananda was a disciple of Swami Shivananda.

I would have to make more inquiries, I don't know very much about this, but they charge like an angry bull and that's all I know.

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

Namaste

I am a great admirer of the Order of the Kapalikas (Skull Bearers), which I see as part of my tradition though I am a grihasta. Normally, the vow taken by the Skull Bearer is similar to Our Kala Bhairava, that of a vow or Mahavrata of 12 years wandering in ashes, such as to forests but also to distant tirthas, you cover with ashes as Shiva and use the skull cap as your Begging Bowl for Bhiksha, you meditate on Lord Bhikshatana who wears a little bell tied just below the right knee thus wearing voluntarily the mark of the Pariah as if an untouchable who rings a bell of warning, caring not and laughing while thinking of the tale of Shiva Kala Bhairava Who cut the head off of a brahmin and on pretext of mitigating this sin eventually wanders to the destination of Kashi where the "skull fell" (from hand).

This time over the next 60 years is that of cherishing Kala Bhairava (so I am bow told), starting in this Century or so, and within that spirit there is much renunciation or thought to cut off the head of things and put ashes on, approximate to sannyasin.

Interestingly, this thread indirectly aligns with what has been on my mind of late.

On some forum, I don't think it was this one, I told the story of how once when I was a teen, I erected a sand Lingam on the shore of Lake Tahoe and sat meditating, drawing somewhat of a crowd of observers while chanting Om Namah Sivaya, that is up until my Mother came and yelled at me, "ok, now that's ENOUGH!" and waved the crowd away and ordered me up and back to my Uncle's condo where we were staying at.

Actually, it was a lot of fun. And in that spirit of late, I have been thinking I want to obtain a human skull cap and just go out some place, perhaps Mount Diablo, with the Begging Bowl or kapa and sit and hold it out saying "alms... alms for the ashes of our end times" or something like that and see what happens or how it effects my soul adventures.

Now, of course I am not talking any 12 year vow, though you never know it might be good practice and who knows, it may start a trend and soon we may be a group of practitioners as skull bearers or "birds of a feather" (stick together).

I have been an advocate of the right to keep and bear Tridents, and have explored this thought before to have gatherings of Trident Bearers, and all this may be a future "club" of those who are "weekend Skull Bearers".

But the problem is getting the human skull. I don't want a fake one. Normally it is taken from the cremation grounds, or a body floating in the Ganga, something like that. Jokes aside, I am not sure you can order one online. That is not sannyasin, but it is perhaps beneficial, and in line with the March of Time we find ourselves now in and in honor and devotion to Kala Bhairava.

Om Namah Sivaya

...and that would be the epitome of what I would like to do, but in Australia, one cannot.

Om Namah Shivaya

 

[Jaskaran Singh]

...and that would be the epitome of what I would like to do, but in Australia, one cannot.

Om Namah Shivaya

LOL, you shaiva-s are scary, wanting to carry trishUls around and take bhikShA using actual skulls...jk

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

LOL, you shaiva-s are scary...jk

It's better than Halloween!

Om Namah Shivaya

 

[Poeticus]

But the problem is getting the human skull. I don't want a fake one.

I would gladly offer you mine, Noble Sir!
But, it is not this day!* Śhambhu!
______________
* Plus, I still gotta get married; ya feel me?
And, LOTR status. ​

 

[Poeticus]

Oh I got your sarcasm, my man. But I've renounced humour too. Mayhaps I be the only one who would take the other alternative seriously for next lifetime. Go figure, eh?

Perhaps, it is the ardent seeking of gaining a
celibate, renunciate-like life that is bothersome.
Should one go looking for this path? Or does it
come naturally like a heat-like essence rising
outwards from within?​

 

[Jaskaran Singh]

It's better than Halloween!

Om Namah Shivaya

Hehe, the guy (or is that a woman?) at the front on the right looks like a ghost ...