WOMEN and men who are interested in living a life of religious consecration at the ashrama need to be in good health physically and psychologically, and to be free of debt, as well as of dependents.
As followers of Sri Ramakrishna, we follow the path of devotion, including participation in the three-times daily community worship services, meditation, prayer, spiritual study, and many different kinds of karma yoga (selfless service).
If you wish to dedicate your life to the Divine through selfless service at the ashrama, the first step is to come to Sunday services and Thursday evening classes so you can get to know us and we can get to know you. If you are coming from a long distance, you can make arrangements to stay for a long weekend (Thursday through Sunday afternoon) so you can attend the Thursday evening class at 7 PM, our daily services and complete your visit after the 11 o’clock service on Sunday.
The next step would be for you to make longer visits during which you more fully participate in the full life of the community.
If you feel inspired to be a member of the community and the community feels inspired as well, you may be invited to become a consecrated worker for a probationary period. If this works out, you may continue on and serve at one of our ashramas. All residents of the ashrama observe celibacy except for married residents.
If, at some point, you feel a “vocation within a vocation,” and are drawn to try your vocation as a monk or nun in the monastic community, you would begin your monastic training at our headquarters at the Vedanta Centre in Cohasset, Massachusetts, under the direct guidance of the Reverend Mother. Ordinarily, you would begin with a six-month period of postulancy, followed by a two-year training as a brahmacharin or brahmacharini. After receiving your first vows, you would continue your training for five years leading to final ordination as a Sannyasin or Sannyasini.
If you have any questions, please write:
Rev. Mother Sudha Puri
Vedanta Centre
130 Beechwood Street
Cohasset, MA 02025
Or e-mail:
centrevedanta@gmail.com
