To join an Ashram or not?

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>"Harsha (Dr. Harsh K. Luthar)" <hluthar

>Gary wrote: Hello Allan and everyone on this list,

>

>Help! I need help!

>

>Part of me is sensible and says I need to stay here and work and get a

>business going and earn some more money. Then the other part of me says go

>away and foucus entirely on thyself...sort of like "Seek first the kingdom

>of God." This part is drawing me to live in a ashram for at least a short

>period of time like two years maybe. But the logical side of me says "Hey

>and then what?... How would I be able to integreat back into the work place

>afterwards? It would be tough to start over from square

>one".................snip

>

It is always difficult to advice another. - May be it is the other way

too- it is easier to advice the other but more difficult to follow ones own

advice.

 

Bhoutika sanyaasa, one should not take unless one has the necessary

manasika sanyaasa. Going to ashram isa different thing - it is not

necessarily committing one self to monastrasic life. If it is meant for

experiencing ascetic life and one has requited mind for it then there is no

problem, since one can always leave the ashram if that is not one needs.

But if one is worried about "what is going to happen when I leave after

couple of years since I will be out of circulation etc.", then such is mind

is not ready for such an extended time. One can experiment for couple of

months in the ashram, if the possibility exists and then make a decision.

 

 

As long as one has a desire to earn more money - which essentially meant

for security and means for comfort, then that mind is not there for ascetic

life where renunciation is the mode of life. Only when one realizes the

futility of all these false security and comforts, then only the mind can

accept a life of a renounciate and be still be contended.

 

As a general rule as long as one feels one has obligations to the family,

parents, wife and children,etc., then one should not take an acetic life -

it is only an escapism from the obligations. When one feels his obligation

to discover the truth is more important than anything else (like

Siddhaartha) , then one can take up a life of recluse for mananam and

nidhidhyaasanam.

>From the point of the truth, of course it does not matter where one lives.

Having said that, environment does matter for a sadhak - Conducive

environment helps the mind to arrive at a peaceful state without much

coaxing. Shama and dama, where control of the mind and avoiding

experiences that disturb the mind both are involved for a sadhak. If I

donot want to drink, there is no point for me to hang around the bars. I

should look for places where the mind gets quieted. Ashram life which is

free from sensuous objects definitely add conducive environment than a

downtown life if my interest in life is contemplate and meditate on the

truth. But if I am worried the money and business, then sitting in an

ashram, I will be trying to contemplate while my mind is roaming in

downtown. Only when mind has commitment for a particular life style, one

should take to such a life.

 

Giving the understanding that self-knowledge is more important than any

thing, one can, of course experiment at least couple of months in an ashram

to see if one is ready for such a life. One has to give an honest chance

for the mind to see the nature of the life it will have in an ashram and

then make a decision, if that two months is not going to undermine ones

chances in the business.

 

Hari Om!

Sadananda

 

 

 

K. Sadananda

Code 6323

Naval Research Laboratory

Washington D.C. 20375

Voice (202)767-2117

Fax:(202)767-2623