In the world but not of it. - A bachelors life.

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

 

When St Francis of Assisi built his monastery, many monks and nuns joined. But

there also came along a great number of men and women who wanted to be a part of

the monastery but could not join for various reasons. The Saint could sense

their passion for a devoted life, but then what was to be done? At last he

categorised them into a different category, The Third Order. The first order

were the monks, the second order were the nuns, and these devoted men and women

were the third order. He ordered them, " Be in this world but do not be a part of

it " . The group complied with all the rules of the monastery but stayed outside,

led celibate lives and earned their bread through honest labour. There spare

time they spent in the monastery.

 

The scene shifts to twentieth century Bengal. Sarath Chandra Chakraborty, the

foremost lay devotee of Swami Vivekananda, asked the ultimate from his Guru, the

blessing of God realisation. Swamiji placed his hand on the lads head and

blessed him. " From you begins a new category of devotees, he said, men and women

who will neither join monasteries nor lead family lives. " Thus were born the

Mahavirs, or representatives of Lord Hanuman, the celibate Lord.

 

Even before that a lay devotee approached Holy Mother for her blessings. Sarada

Devi blessed him and asked him to lead a celibate life. The devotee protested,

" But I have such strong tendencies Mother, what if I cannot keep my vows? " . The

Mother replied, " You have my blessings my child, nothing will happen to you. "

The devotee packed his bags and retired to a backward area of the state and

opened a school for the destitute children. He remained there for the rest of

his life and died a celibate.

 

This feauture will be continued.

 

Love & Regards,

Jagannath.

 

 

 

 

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