A SANCTUARY

The ashram is a place for making spiritual progress. Parents in Vedic times would send their sons to the ashram of the guru for training and guidance. Although the traditional mud-and-straw hut is unavailable at the Manor, the principle of simple living during one's student life is still encouraged. Bhaktivedanta Manor offers students a residential facility to assist them in their spiritual life and education.

Rising early, students shower and then dress in clean clothes. They sing and dance at the first temple function of the day: mangala-arati, at 4.30 a.m. Their personal meditation consists of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra on beads. The pure sound vibration creates a mystical feeling of peace, and the morning calmness helps the students absorb their minds in the meditation. Daily they complete sixteen rounds of 108 beads, chanting the Hare Krishna mantra once on each bead.

The aim of the ashram training is to build good character. Students are encouraged in three areas:

(a) study of scriptures

(b) menial service, and eventually

(c) teaching others.

Students learn the essential texts from the Bhagavad-gita. Lord Krishna says, 'He who studies the Bhagavad-gita worships Me with his intelligence.' An important aspect of this learning is the application of the knowledge in daily life.

Menial service may need a little more encouragement than studying. However, once the students roll up their sleeves and accept the task given, joy and pleasure radiate from their faces. It's a tough job scrubbing the large pots and woks, but the meditation is: 'It's for Krishna, and these are His pots.' The cleaning, gardening and sweeping around the Manor encourage the humble mood of serving in the home of the Lord.
Teaching others solidifies the faith of the students and tests it. Students are given a taste of teaching by distributing literature, by accompanying our teachers to school programmes or by taking guests on a tour of the Manor. These are opportunities for the students to realise the wealth of Vedic wisdom and accept the challenges of their audience. Help is always on hand if they are faced with daunting questions. The excitement of these experiences draws the students further into their studies.

During their stay in the ashram, the students focus on the foundation of spiritual culture. They explore the qualities of truthfulness, austerity, compassion, and purity - the essential qualities of religious life. The development of these saintly qualities is assisted by following four prohibitions:

a) Students abstain from eating meat, fish and eggs. They eat a wholesome vegetarian diet first offered to Lord Krishna.
b) Intoxicants are prohibited: no alcohol, smoking, drugs or stimulants. Many students may have experienced these before joining the ashram, but come to appreciate a more natural way to be happy.
c) Gambling is prohibited.
d) Illicit sex is not allowed. Sex in marriage for procreation is licit sex. Students may get married after their training, and parenthood is welcomed.

The students are offered time to plan and consider their future life in Krishna consciousness and how to progress in areas of service that will assist their spiritual practices.

The personal care and attention shown to the students creates a fraternal atmosphere. As one student said, 'It takes a little getting used to - living with so many people - but it is fun, as we share a common purpose.'
The male students wear traditional robes. Those who have completed their preliminary studies wear saffron. New students wear white. Ladies wear saris. As a sign of renunciation and to curtail vanity, men often shave their heads and keep a tuft of hair on the back of the head. This is called a sikha and distinguishes them as devotees of Lord Krishna.

The distinctive white marking on the nose and forehead is called tilak. Made with clay from holy places in India, it is also applied on eleven other parts of the body, to mark the body as a temple of the Lord. The particular symbol consists of a V shape and the representation of a leaf, specific to the Gaudiya Vaishnavas.

Copyright © Bhaktivedanta Manor 2008
UK Headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
back to homepage