Living with Siva Nandinatha Sutras: Section 7, The Monastic Path
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Monastic Path
A sannyasin is a Hindu monk, one who has thrown down worldliness, renounced name and fame, family and desires of all kinds, to find the Self within. The swami is walking with a bamboo danda along the trails of the Himalayas. A mala of ruddy rudraksha beads adorns his neck.

Sannyasa Dharma

Monastic Path Block Art

Section 7
The Monastic Path

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The ascetic who wears discolored robes, whose head is shaved, who does not possess anything, who is pure and free from hatred, who lives on alms, he becomes absorbed in Brahman.

Shukla Yajur Veda, Jabala Upanishad 5. VE

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Monastic Holy Orders

SUTRA 316: MONASTIC LIFE'S FOURFOLD PURPOSE
Siva's monastics lead a joyous, contented, steadfast, humble life. Their purpose is contemplation upon and love of Siva, to maintain Siva consciousness, realize the Self and uplift others while serving their satguru. Aum.

SUTRA 317: VOWS FOR CONTEMPLATIVE LIVING
Siva's monastics who are sadhakas and yogis uphold, and renew every two years, the four vows of humility, purity, confidence and obedience. Swamis uphold for life these four and a fifth vow of renunciation. Aum.

SUTRA 318: HOLDING FAST TO THE TRUEST TREASURES
Siva's monastics never fail to take refuge in their God, their guru and their Great Oath. This is the highest path they have chosen, the culmination of numberless lives, perhaps the last in the cycle of reincarnation. Aum.

SUTRA 319: THEIR PAST IS SMALL, THEIR FUTURE IS LARGE
Siva's monastics walk bravely into the future, letting go of the past and letting what is be. Through yoga their kundalini rises, expanding consciousness, changing values and creating magical happenings around them. Aum.

SUTRA 320: LIVING IN THE SPIRIT OF TOGETHERNESS
My Saiva monastics embrace a selfless life in which all work their minds together to keep the monastery strong. They never follow an individual path, remaining remote or aloof from brother mathavasis. Aum Namah Sivaya.

Monastic Mission

SUTRA 321: PRESERVING THE THREE PILLARS OF Shaivism
Siva's monastics valiantly bring Saivism into the future of futures. The fullness of their mission lies in our faith's three pillars -- temples, scriptures and satgurus -- which they are vowed to protect, preserve and promote. Aum.

SUTRA 322: REMAINING ABOVE CORRUPTION AND CONTROL
Siva's monastics never compromise their ideals or rules for material or political gain, nor come under the control of the rich or influential. Vows prohibit them from being told what to think, say or do except by their order. Aum.

SUTRA 323: FEARLESS DEFENDERS OF HINDUISM
Siva's monastics are unfettered and fearless, wholeheartedly and boldly supporting the ancient Sanatana Dharma against all who would infiltrate, dilute and destroy it. Yea, they are defenders of all Hindu sects. Aum.

SUTRA 324: SELFLESS SERVICE LEADS TO SELF-MASTERY
Siva's monastic disciples regard themselves as the full-time slaves of Siva, servants of the servants of the Lord. They are masters of mind, body and emotion, divine rulers of their instinctive and intellectual forces. Aum.

SUTRA 325: PURE VESSELS FOR THE DIVINE
My monastics strive to keep Lord Siva foremost in their mind and heart, seeking pure emptiness, kaif. Having mastered the Shum-Tyeif language of meditation, they are vessels for God's gracious will. Aum Namah Sivaya.

Monastic Spirit

SUTRA 326: RaJA YOGA IN ACTION
Siva's monastics -- acharyas, swamis, yogis and sadhakas -- are precise, concentrated, serenely centered, eager to serve and tireless in every task, held back to rest only by others. Jai, they carry their yoga into action. Aum.

SUTRA 327: SERVING DYNAMICALLY SINCE TIME BEGAN
Siva's monastics are strong-willed, gentle in intellect, rushing forward in youthful, happy ways. Every desire they have is for the welfare of others. Yea, this group is the religion's core and has been for eons of time. Aum.

SUTRA 328: THE WHOLE WORLD IS THEIR FAMILY
Siva's monastics who have separated themselves from family to pursue a divine life do so in a spirit of love. They look upon this not as losing their dear family of a few but as gaining all of humanity as their kin. Aum.

SUTRA 329: FIRST THINGS FIRST
Siva's monastics tread the path of experiential yoga. They never allow intellectual studies or interests to overshadow their inner life. They are men of God and the Gods first, teachers, scholars or artisans second. Aum.

SUTRA 330: FACING KARMA IN WISDOM
Siva's monastics, knowing the law of karma, accept as their own karma all that comes. They forgive others of all offenses inwardly at once, but outwardly only after transgressors sincerely reconcile. Aum Namah Sivaya.

Monastic Attitudes

SUTRA 331: ENCOURAGING OTHER QUALIFIED MONASTICS
Siva's monastics support sadhus, yogis, swamis and gurus of other orders, male or female, even if their beliefs differ, as long as they promote the Vedas, the Hindu religion and the renunciate ideals of monasticism. Aum.

SUTRA 332: REMAINING APART FROM THE UNQUALIFIED
Siva's monastics restrain their support for sannyasins in saffron robes who are married, who have personal income, live with birth family, deny or dilute Hinduism, have left their guru or are known philanderers. Aum.

SUTRA 333: SUPPORTING HINDU PRIESTS AND PANDITS
Siva's monastics honor and support the good causes of Hindu lay ministers, priests and pandits of all lineages to create a dynamic solidarity in diversity to carry Sanatana Dharma to each succeeding generation. Aum.

SUTRA 334: HUMILITY IS THEIR HALLMARK
Siva's monastics never boast of their accomplishments, knowledge, position, equipment, money they handle, places they have been or people they know. Se lf-effacement -- yea, self-erasement -- is their hallmark. Aum.

SUTRA 335: OVERCOMING THE FOUR OBSTACLES
Siva's monastics regard sex, money, food and clothes as the prime challenge to their spiritual quest, harboring the potential to reinvolve them in the world. Thus, they restrain themselves accordingly. Aum Namah Sivaya.

Monastic Restrictions

SUTRA 336: NEVER INDULGING IN SEXUAL FANTASY
All Siva's monastics strictly avoid sexual fantasy, knowing that it opens the door to the progressive stages of glorifying sex, flirting, desirous glances, love talk, pining, deciding to have sex and finally intercourse. Aum.

SUTRA 337: RESERVE TOWARD WOMEN
All Siva's monastics honor all older women as their mother and younger women as their sisters. Intensely renounced, modest and reserved, they avoid extended conversation and exchange of subtle energies. Aum.

SUTRA 338: THEIR LIKES ARE THEIR DISLIKES
All Siva's monastics firmly uphold the spirit of nonownership, never adopting the householder attitudes of claiming their own space, timing, tools, friends, ambitions, likes and dislikes. Yea, they are unattached. Aum.

SUTRA 339: THE PROBLEMS OF TODAY END TODAY
All Siva's monastics treasure harmony as their way of life. They stop work, attend to and resolve before sleep any inharmonious conditions that may arise, knowing that creativity lies dormant while conflict prevails. Aum.

SUTRA 340: QUALIFICATION TO PERFORM TEMPLE PuJa
All my Saiva monastics who qualify may perform the parartha puja in their temples. Should they not renew their vows or be dismissed, they are prohibited to perform or teach this puja thenceforth. Aum Namah Sivaya.

Monastic Personal Care

SUTRA 341: SIMPLE CLOTHING FOR SIMPLE MAtHAVaSIS
Shi va's monastics wear robes of cotton or wool -- hand-spun, hand-woven and unsewn. Other clothing should be made of simple, unadorned cotton, wool or synthetics, in traditional North or South Indian style. Aum.

SUTRA 342: LUNAR RETREATS FROM GUESTS AND THE PUBLIC
Siva's monastics observe the full, new and half moons and the day after each as retreats for sadhana, study, rest, personal care and ashrama upkeep, plus a fortnight's retreat at the end of each of the year's three seasons. Aum.

SUTRA 343: DISCIPLINES FOR SLEEP
My monastics sleep six to eight hours a day for rejuvenation and astral duties. They refuse a soft bed and sleep on a firm floor mattress, ideally on a neem plank. This custom may be relaxed when ill or traveling. Aum.

SUTRA 344: KEEPING LITTLE, OWNING NOTHING
Siva's monastics have no more personal belongings than they can easily carry in two bags, one in each hand. By tradition, they have little, and even these few things they do not own. Yea, they are true mendicants. Aum.

SUTRA 345: NURTURING NEW MONASTICS
Siva's monastics look upon newcomers to the monasteries as their potential spiritual heirs, to care for, tenderly nurture and train. They know it is their duty to pass on the wisdom of their years. Aum Namah Sivaya.

Monastic Travel and Retreat

SUTRA 346: RECEIVING NO PERSONAL GIFTS
My Saiva monastics do not accept personal gifts of any kind, but they may receive offerings on behalf of the monastery and support during pilgrimage, including fruit, flowers, food, lodging and travel expenses. Aum.

SUTRA 347: OVERNIGHT STAYS WHEN TRAVELING
My Saiva monastics while traveling may reside and take meals in ashramas, temples, hotels or homes of worthy initiated familie s of our Saiva Siddhanta Church. Their sojourn in homes must never exceed three nights. Aum.

SUTRA 348: MALES SERVE MY MAtHAVaSIS
My Saiva monastics are all males, our ancient tradition ordains. When they visit homes, temples or ashramas, all service to them, such as meals, travel assistance, laundry and visitor hosting, shall be carried out by males. Aum.

SUTRA 349: FOOD GUIDELINES FOR TRAVELING MONASTICS
My Saiva monastics when traveling may partake of food prepared at home by devout families and delivered to them. They may also cook for themselves, or enjoy meals in restaurants, whether served by men or women. Aum.

SUTRA 350: THE TRADITION OF MOVING IN PAIRS
My Saiva monastics, whether in or outside the monastery, perform ministry only in pairs. They never travel alone. Exceptions are made in dire emergencies and for those on the nirvana sadhaka path. Aum Namah Sivaya.

Monastics and the World

SUTRA 351: REMAINING ALOOF FROM INTRIGUE
My Saiva monastics stand apart from intrigue, corruption and cunning. They never act as go-betweens, spies, agents or bearers of false witness and cannot be bought, influenced, or obligated by the rich or powerful. Aum.

SUTRA 352: STAYING OUT OF SOCIAL SERVICE AND POLITICS
My Saiva monastics are assigned to religious work alone and, except to bless, advise and counsel, do not involve themselves with secular events or social service. Nor do they vote in elections or seek to influence politics. Aum.

SUTRA 353: CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRING A SECOND MONK
My Saiva monastics follow the tradition of not holding serious or lengthy private conversations in person or by telephone without another monk present. Gracious, impersonal small talk in public is, of course, allowed. Aum.

SUTRA 354: THE TRADITION OF NOT TOUCHING
My Saiva monastics maintain a strict nontouching policy. They do not shake hands or embrace. However, if someone unaware of their protocol initiates such contact, they do not recoil, but respond appropriately. Aum.

SUTRA 355: DEMURENESS IN CONVERSATIONS
My Saiva monastics, in respect, stand no closer than an arm's length during conversations. When speaking to men and women together, they direct their attention mostly to the men, as is traditional. Aum Namah Sivaya.

Instructions for Swamis

SUTRA 356: UPHOLDING YOGASWAMI'S AND MY TEACHINGS
My swamis know there is strength and guidance in orthodoxy and avoid adopting the new for its own sake or because the old seems an arduous path. They uphold traditions that have survived the trials of time. Aum.

SUTRA 357: PRESERVING THE AUTONOMY OF OUR LINEAGE
My swamis rigidly maintain the Nandinatha Sampradaya as independent and absolutely separate from the Smarta dashanami orders and all other lineages. Yea, this autonomy shall endure until the end of time. Aum.

SUTRA 358: MY SWaMiS DO NOT SPEAK OF THEIR PAST
My swamis never speak of their past or the personal self they have renounced. Those who know tradition do not ask, for one never looks for the source of a rishi or a river. These always remain shrouded in mystery. Aum.

SUTRA 359: REMAINING APART FROM FAMILY MATTERS
My swamis do not participate in births, weddings or other intimate householder events, always remaining aloof from such activities. Nor do they attend funeral rites, except those of brother monks and satgurus. Aum.

SUTRA 360: THE BROTHERHOOD OF RENUNCIATES
All those in saffron robes who have braved death to the world are the brethren of my swamis, who appropriately honor authentic male swamis older than themselves and touch their feet in homage. Aum Namah Sivaya.

Instructions for Acharyas

SUTRA 361: THE SACRED DUTY OF MY ACHARYAS
My sannyasins who are acharyas are the supreme architects of our sampradaya's future and the fulfillers of these Nandinatha Sutras. They carry this responsibility on top of their head. Yea, they are chosen ones. Aum.

SUTRA 362: TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHURCH KARMAS
My sannyasins who are acharyas realize that they are not beyond the laws of the land, but must work within them, even to the point of apologizing should misconduct occur on the part of Saiva Siddhanta Church. Aum.

SUTRA 363: NEVER DEMEANING OTHERS
My sannyasins who are acharyas nurture each devotee equally. They never make others their servants, order them about, shout at them, snap their fingers, clap their hands, nor strike or demean them at any time. Aum.

SUTRA 364: MY ACHARYAS SPREAD LOVE AND LIGHT
My sannyasins who are acharyas, filled with love and helpfulness, promote joy and harmony among the congregation. They never anger, incite fear or take advantage of a person's health, wealth or well-being. Aum.

SUTRA 365: THE END IS ONLY THE BEGINNING
Numberless successors of the Nandinatha lineage have gone before me. Numberless shall follow. I have woven these 365 threads of wisdom, but there is infinitely more to know of the mysterious Nathas. Aum Namah Sivaya.

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