how to join iskcon as a monk

And they serve in the kitchens, getting the chance to feed 500 people a pure vegetarian healthy meal every Sunday. There’s no old school “join and shave your head” pressure here, rather a friendly invitation from a peer to try out something new over the weekend. “The monks were more than inviting, the food was delicious, and the experience was nothing short of spiritually wholesome. Currently it is only available for men, but Jaya Chaitanya is looking for senior female teachers to guide a women’s program. Manuel Gutierrez, a student in environmental engineering at Citrus College, was so inspired he wrote a glowing two-page testimonial on his experience. While some temples continue to promote Life Memberships, most have toned down their benefit claims, with wording such as "free room and board at temples with Life Member facilities, when available.". “For my stay at the temple, I only have positive memories,” he wrote. ISKCON started as a predominantly monastic group but nowadays the majority of members live as lay persons. I recommend everyone to try this program of a lifetime!”. Participants also get free room and board, vegetarian/vegan meals, and meditation beads, songbooks, and other spiritual gear to help them with their journey. But they're often disappointed to learn that there's a long wait time, perhaps as long as six months. I used to eat junk, but now I get to eat really healthy! They are a common sight in many places around the world. The sex instinct is the greatest urge in human life. Jaya Chaitanya is excited. Older grihastha with grown-up children are traditionally expected to accept vanaprastha (celibate retired) life. And I’m sure lots of people want to go through that type of training too.”. “I just ask students in colleges, ‘Hey, you ever thought about becoming a monk?’” he explains. 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All rights reserved. “They were the best three months of my life,” he says. In exchange, Life Members received copies of ISKCON books, free room and board at ISKCON temples worldwide for three days a year, and the satisfaction of supporting Srila Prabhupada's movement. Similar in appearance to Buddhist monks, monks from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), or Hare Krishnas as they are popularly known, are the best known Vaishnava monks outside India. Madhvaacharya (Madhvacharya), the Dwaita philosopher, established ashta matha (Eight Monasteries). Recognizing this, most temples, especially those outside India, where temples are smaller and have fewer guest facilities, have transitioned from Life Membership to local donor and annual member programs. To those considering testing the waters before committing to become a monk, I highly recommend it.”. Not all the participants are students. “I used to hear people yelling all the time, now I hear the peaceful sounds of singing glories to God,” he says. Their appearance—simple saffron dhoti, shaved head with sikha, Tulasi neckbeads and tilaka markings—and social customs (sadhana) date back many thousands of years to the Vedic era with its varnasrama society. Jaya Chaitanya Das (far right, front row) with a group of monks outside the LA temple. For example, you can become a Patron Member of Bhaktivedanta Manor in London and receive benefits at that temple. But as the years passed, the number of temples increased and included many small centers run out of devotees' homes. You need to live that life, understand what it means correctly. Now, he has come up with an innovative new program that shows young Americans today may be more interested in staying in ISKCON’s brahmachari ashrams than we might think. One element that is particularly fulfilling to students is the selfless volunteer experience of serving prasadam to 500 people at the Sunday Feast. Using the slogan “Be a Monk till Monday,” Jaya Chaitanya’s basic idea is to give young people a unique experience that doesn’t lock them into a commitment. It seems that one would reach self realization by renouncing material life, and live like a monk, who will have of course to be careful to don’t enjoy anything coming from this world. So the future will see websites such as beamonk.org/az for Arizona, and beamonk.org/sd for San Diego. How to Eat Healthy. Meanwhile Chris Marsh, a dad in his forties who runs his own construction business in North Carolina, already knew about Krishna consciousness but had no idea how to go to a temple. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement or Hare Krishnas, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava religious organisation. I was alone and seeking a spiritual path. Each matha's swamiji gets a chance to worship after fourteen years. It is permanent and one cannot give it up. After that they can decide if they prefer to continue as monks or as married Grihasthas. “I used to smell filth where I lived, now I smell flowers at the temple. Make a donation. More specifically, participants attend morning programs and Bhagavatam class, chant japa, serve in the kitchens, go out on Harinama and book distribution, and spend time with senior devotees like Brighupati Das. “This program works because people are won over by experience – and that’s what we thrive on. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. He then enrolled in the Be A Monk program and was so blown away by his experience that he did shave his head. Demetrio Landeros, a student at Ventura College, received a copy of Science of Self Realization from Jaya Chaitanya and became a vegetarian overnight. The number of Life Members grew as well. This ritual is called Paryaya. Meanwhile, Be A Monk is already spreading across the country. Be A Monk is still in the beginning stages, with lots of developments on the way. In exchange, Life Members received copies of ISKCON books, free room and board at ISKCON temples worldwide for three days a year, and the satisfaction of supporting Srila Prabhupada's movement. Jaya Chaitanya says leaders in ISKCON temples with the best introductory programs have contacted him asking to represent “Be a Monk” in their location. Sannyasa, a life of full dedication to spiritual pursuits, is the highest stage of life in the varnasrama society. ISKCON started as a predominantly monastic group but nowadays the majority of members live as lay persons. ISKCON Life Membership. Therefore, some of the benefits of ISKCON Life Membership as they were conceived in the early 1970s are no longer practical. Members still reap the spiritual benefit of offering charity to ISKCON to support its many programs – Deity worship, book distribution, prasada distribution, festivals, and so on – but they cannot be assured of being able to stay in ISKCON guesthouses. Many people want to join ISKCON and devote their life to Krishna, but because of family or other responsibilities, they are unable to become a full-time devotee. I very much welcome events such as this, which will help us all to celebrate the values and benefits of diversity… but also shows the positive expression of belief that is characteristic of the Krishna consciousness movement. Location-specific applications will come in to these regional websites, which will be customized with their own picures, videos and testimonials. You have to truly evaluate if monkhood is right for you. Today, he lives in the ashram full-time and chants sixteen rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra daily. Many of them, however, spent some time as monks. 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