During the period of Ramayana, there was an asur who disguised himself as a monk and thought of trapping Hanuman. He failed and was killed by Hanuman. Ravan was also disguised as a monk when he came to kidnap Sita. There are many documented cases of this variety of people and the tradition is still alive in the society. Here, few things will be discussed for the awareness of the society. There is a black sheep in every flock and it becomes the moral responsibility / dharmic duty to keep a check on them. Obviously, people belonging to every field must shoulder this service of cleaning one's own field. The lifestyles of those who try to live with human values will be different, their awareness towards the values remains the same. The author will be using a ‘modern’ term for them. Part time monk is the correct use to describe their modern form.
The concept of part time monk is related to the commercial and social aspect of the person concerned. This is applied in the case of a monk when the person takes the robes to impress the society. The focus is on power, prestige, popularity and politics. At Least from inside the features of a householder are totally active in those who became monks after their marriage They do not care about karma yoga.
The market (business minded sampradayas, commercialised spiritual organisations and so called hindu leaders who want to cash the faith) has highlighted the monkhood or a sanyasi in an ornamental way. There are scores of queries placed in the satsang and various social platforms related to this. The current post will cover one common dimension asked by westerners - - - 'want to experience the life of monk for a month, what to do', 'fed up of city life, want to enjoy the bliss of Himalayas by becoming a hermit for six months', 'have heard so much about sanyasis, how to become a sanyasi for few months', 'want to explore the life by becoming a monk, if it suits I may take it for the rest of my life', 'when I come to Himalayas from plain it seems as if coming from hell', 'there's no pollution here so calm and quiet' and so on and on.
Normally, people love to say that we have left the house in search of bhagavān / īśvar. Both are two different words with entirely separate meanings. That is not the ground reality in most of the cases. In a few cases, the word parmātmā is used without even realizing the implied meaning.This analysis is meant to help those who are not familiar with the facts. And they are deluded by the marketed mysticism of becoming a monk. One of the common hidden facts supported by authentic scriptures is, householder and ascetic lifestyle, both are the two sides of the same coin (ignorance or avidya).
The bookish experts have uttered the words written in the books in the name of answering. Here we'll try to know the ground reality based on personal travelling in various places out of which some are famous as holy cities. A beam of light will be thrown on the types of monk so that one can have 'window shopping' and go for the suitable choice.
While staying in Dwarka, a holy place in Gujarat, met with few monks in dirty whitish robes. One was widower and had property in his native town but couldn't prepare meals. Since he didn't relied on the idea of keeping a cook so he came in this line for free meals and extra money. The stories of others were more or less same. One new point was, the person was searching a life partner in the ashram and that's why he was going from place to place. Since ashrams are pious and pure so he can get a honest lady who'll be full of devotion. The society is full of materialistic females. He was staying in the ashram and doing service in the name of 'seva'. This symptom was also observed in Hardwar in 2003.
During 'char dham yatra' - - (the time when gates of the temples of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnarth and Badrinath are opened for pilgrimage) one can see monks in huge number in Hardwar and Rishikesh. Most of them come for extra earnings, free food and other free facilities. Though there are separate homes where they are kept for few months and taught skills or employed in temporary jobs but the number goes on increasing and they can't be kept forever. When they've run from their homes in afraid of doing labor they won't do that here which is quite obvious. So there's a hide-seek game between them and the police for some time. Therefore it is better to join a group. During a raid in 2018 around one lakh thirty thousand rupees were collected from them. The raid was conducted in Haridwar, Rishikesh, uttarkashi jointly.
There are groups which are known as mandali having a group leader. They belong to various cults so one has several options but don't jump from this to that after involving in one group. They are controlled by a person called kotwal who is the co-ordinator between them and the big ashrams who organizes bhandara (a sponsored meal with alms in the form of money and sometimes things). The groups stays from Hardwar to Rishikesh which are connected with railway stations, the weather is suitable and the bhandaras are frequent.
As soon as season is over the crowd will vanish. Most of them will either go to their villages or to some other place like Vrindavan or Guajrat. Out of them who've their own farming, they have to attend harvesting or things like that which needs their presence, go and stay for the work and again start their journey as a monk. The ones having families to attend, returns and stay quiet till the next season.
While staying in Rishikesh came across another variety where a householder became a sanyasi and constructed an ashram (near shisham jhari) with his personal wealth. Now in the old age he's trying to get someone to look after him. He approaches with the proposal of becoming the heir of his ashram. On the other hand he has got well established sons in Punjab but he's pretending of staying in a holy place for peace. No one was trapped though the offer was lucrative. When a well wisher asked about the offer we both started discussing because we were offered the same ownership by that monk. The conclusion of the discussion was it is only a trap and after him, his family will oppose the validity of the documents, if they are prepared. And who knows about the authenticity of his own ownership because fake papers are prepared nicely and it is not easy to make out the difference. He also took me to his place and tried hard to impress and trap me. He failed in his attempt. That is not the only case, this category of householders are present in many places. In Haridwar, kankkhal area, an aged monk was trying to trap someone to look after him by giving the same offer, the only condition was the person must take sanyas from him which was rejected by many. The point of suspicion arises by his behaviour in the old age. Even the credibility of his ashram was negligible.
From Haridwar to Uttarkashi many males are staying as a sanyasi but have family to look after which is revealed by their behavior. The local ones give the cash and the things collected by calling their children. Others just pack and once a year they go to their village with the yearly collection.
In one ashram females used to stay for the whole night in the male sanyasis room. When a monk belonging to another state complained the manager replied - 'they're locals, we can not do anything. Females will come'. When the matter reached to the management, the manager was suspended but after two years that monk was also asked to go because he favored rules and never consumed alcohol or supported those things which were done by others. He did not remain popular and the authorities love popular people. One of the trustee member constructed a separate home and labeled it as an ashram by keeping a monk in that which was also needed for the security of the property. It also helps in auditing where property can be shown as an ashram. It is a common tradition where good looking buildings are constructed with a temple and a monk is kept. It is labeled as an ashram to gain benefits in the taxation. The owner used to stay for three months in which he enjoyed the company of females. He started giving 1000 INR to seven monks every month. When he was suspended from the trust he started a game in which he pampered a wealthy monk to take over the ashram because the property was not registered. That monk also started giving monthly payments to those monks who were being paid by the suspended trustee. The manager who was suspended never showed correct income to the management. They had one lodge in the city in which pilgrims and businessmen use to stay for participating in the annual festival (carnival) held in the month of January. The new manager started showing the true income. On the other hand he started collecting the charges from those who were using their system of water supply. There were two such cases in which an adjacent building's water connection was dependent on the building of the trust and the owner never paid the required amount. In the second case an ashram also enjoyed the facility. Both of them got furious and joined the hands with the suspended trustee who gave the bribe of 2 lakh INR to become the manager because the appointed manager could not stay long due to the health issues. Now you may ask about the reason of giving the bribe? Simple, in old age one needs a safe place to stay. And in this case he had supporters who belonged to the same category. After all, 'birds of same feather flock together' is a proven fact. His money could not fetch the chair because he was exposed before the management.
In Uttarkashi and higher places famous as holy are also commercialized. The part timers have their own speciality. One goes to Nepal for purchasing Rudraksha in bulk quantity and sell them in South India at a higher rate. Few fellows from Karnataka and kerala stays in various areas of Uttarakhand. All of them are not involved in teaching, just staying in the name of penance and get huge donation as a gift for staying in the Himalayas. Among others many are getting pension, have fixed deposits in the bank and post office, saving accounts (even two) in nationalized banks, a group of rich devotees but many are only interested in bhandara. They'll sit in front of their room and keep a watch on the traffic and inquire of what's happening in this or that room or news of bhandara. The bhandara culture have taken an ugly shape where the incharge takes commission to give slips and it was seen from Haridwar to Uttarkashi.
Once the secretary of sadhu samaj, ujaili boycotted three monks for not dancing on their tunes and refusing to sign the papers which were prepared to satisfy personal agenda. Out of them one belonged to an organization who had an ashram in Uttarkashi whose incharge asked him to attend every bhandara organized in his ashram. Though there was a rule that in rotation monks will be called because only 51 could be adjusted but that particular monk went every time. Later no slips were given to him(from April 2018) because the kotwal or the agent appointed to distribute the slips showed that he was under pressure but the fact was he could not get COMMISSION. The other monks did not objected but he pretended to follow the rules(there are 150 monks in uttarkashi and we have to give a chance in rotation) which were broken for his hot favorites and they were given slips regularly. And that particular monk was remembered only when the number crossed 100. And that also a slip of Netala (Shivanand ashram) where a bag full of things (around 8kg) is given in every November was not given to him and to other two who were boycotted by the Sadhu Samaj. Though enough number of slips are given to the kotwal with instruction that he would not give any slip to the beggars or druggists but they get every year. Therefore this particular monk was facing double boycott. In 2019 April, mercy was showered and boycott was lifted but that particular monk remained a culprit and when he went to a bhandara to his GURU ASHRAM on 26 th April after talking with the same incharge he was targeted in a negative way. Later when he enquired the incharge said - ''what to do? I've to stay here and follow the rules".
Many things can be said in the favor and against but that monk had to go away from uttarkashi like sw. Ratnananda giri and a studious student Nitin staying in the keshav ashram and whose room rent was given by the somashram where he attended the classes of vedanta. Nitin stayed for two years and was charged for misconduct which wasn't proven.
Though many ashrams claim that they don't entertain monks consuming drug or alcohol but they get the slip by giving commission and freely goes to the same ashrams. The heads of those ashrams knows this thing but keep their mouth shut because they're only worried about the numbers. That's why beggars wear white or ochre clothes and easily become a monk on the basis of outer appearance. There are fellows who have secret room for personal use in which only VIP monks are allowed and that also it depends on the intimacy with the owner.
An interesting case of 2013 reveals the craving for money by a female monk who quoted the price of her own ashram as 70 lakh (Indian currency) but the cost incurred by her was around 5 lakh (cost of the land and construction of the ashram). Two buyers came. One monk offered 40 and another monk who came after some months offered 55 lakh. She asked the mediator who was also a monk to convince the buyer to pay more because she has to buy a new property. The mediator was offered 4% commission which was rejected and the person became furious. After that the calamity of 2013 occurred in which water entered her ashram and big trees which were uprooted started hammering the walls because they were flowing with the water. In starting she managed to come out, again went inside to take the valuables. As soon as she came out, a floating tree trunk pushed her back in the water. The government offered her family 5 lakh as a compensation which was refused. They started searching someone else who would built an ashram there and the family is ready to give the land as a donation.
In short but brief let us see few popular varities :--
1. In Hinduism becoming a widower is the favorable reason of becoming a monk. Once in haridwar saw a monk wearing clothes of his dead spouse. Later on knew about a cult belonging to devotion where males stay in female uniform and think themself as beloved 'gopi' of krishna. There was a case in kolkata in 50's where a group of this cult, from vrindavan were presenting a devotional dance in praise of krishna. A wealthy merchant of Burrabazar area was deeply attracted towards a male who was in the female uniform. Though he had his own children but wanted to adopt him. The group leader took a lump sum amount and pressurized the merchant to transfer the ownership of his one textile shop in the name of that boy who was an adult. One branch of this cult used to have females behaving as males while chanting bhajans in the praise of krishna. One of them used to behave like krishna and others played the role of 'gopis'. Without having the required level of spiritualism the game remained a physical game. Their weekly satsang used to held in the area of Girish Park of kolkata from 50's - 60's.
2. Join some cult who are worried about their numbers and there's no need of formal education. Unfamiliarity with the implied meaning and essence of the scriptures is favored. With this one has the liberty to interpret the meaning of the scriptures according to the demand of the cult. One must know the art of raising the voice as and where asked to do.
3. Few lovers facing the problem of romantic heart break found the ultimate shelter after wearing the robes of a monk. This does not mean that they became pious or honest. One can find many highly qualified (engineering, medical, etc) professionals in the robes of monk who were cheated by their lovers. A common quality of engineering profession is firmness in the policy of 'input - output' which is applied in the every field they enter. Their approach will have a hidden agenda which normally do not care about social norms or values. A lawyer will have the tendency of arguing in every matter which looks bit odd sometimes in the dress of a monk (ex lawyer).
4. Many employees of public sector took VRS (voluntary retirement from service) and got a good amount of money. They became monk and constructed their own ashrams or gave donation to any existing organization for opening a new branch.
5. There are many who were inspired by the teaching of modern 'TEACHERS' and left the home in their youth or in the middle age. They never thought that hunger, shelter, clothing, disease, etc will be a problem. While talking with the monks, many confessed - 'I never wanted to become a sanyasi. I was taught in such a way that I could not resist. In this old age nothing else to do.'
6. In the families where a male is unable to adjust with the quarreling spouse loves to become a monk. In this variety there are examples where the child went for love marriage and was supported by the mother so the 'father' either committed suicide or became a monk.
7. Unemployment is also helping to become a monk. It brings easy comfort and luxuries. Just keep the mouth shut and know the art of oiling. There is a good demand of volunteers in many ashrams for washing, cleaning, cooking and caretaker job. In most of the places a monk is given the charge or an unemployed person loves to do it. There are many examples where that FREE LABOURER was given ochre or saffron robes which was a type of recognition of his service. The so called monk continued with the previous seva but received prestige from the society due to his robes. In the families where parents expired and elder brother did not cared for his own unemployed younger brother, the most easy way of surviving was becoming a monk. In few cases the fellow either could not receive education properly or stayed jobless. And even the portion of the property was not given in some places so monkhood was the best option.
8. The Bhandara culture mentioned earlier is a good source of income. There are places where monks are served cooked rice - dal or chappati - dal or chappati, cooked rice and dal. In few places they stand in the row and take the food in their utensil and go. The thing is quality is not monitored and the number of monks shown in the audit report is exaggerated. In one place there is a sitting arrangement where 4 - 8 monks sit throughout the year. In the audit report of the same place 80 monks are mentioned. Once a monk asked to give cash instead of things because many people were giving more or less the same goods. The head monk of an ashram of uttarkashi laughed and explained the secret. The amount of quantity, handling charges (packaging, transporting, storing, etc) can be easily manipulated in the audit report. While staying in Himachal Pradesh an experienced monk laughed and said you (Akshay) people are new in this field. Prepare few lists of the same goods you need to prepare the food and approach the merchants in the market and the rich householders. Most of them are eager to donate for bhandara. They will give and never confess that you have received the priduct(sugar, spices, pulses, etc) from others. Just go on taking and later sell them.
The agent distributing slips known as kotwal takes commission which has been mentioned earlier.
9. Game of regionalism can be easily played so there is no need to avoid this or other habits. One must know the technique of playing. In 2017 in Uttarkashi swami Rathnananda Giri of Telangana was asked to go away from uttarkashi by the committee of monks which was under the influence of the rich monks and students of Andhra Pradesh. This kind of hatred was experienced while talking with the monks of Andhra Pradesh who came with their devotees. During the discussion of this article an example of a rich monk was mentioned who gave cash to create a type of vote bank. He was also from Andhra Pradesh.
10. In the order to receive the facilities given to the senior citizens several monks increased their age while preparing the aadhar card which was made compulsory by the Indian government.
11. While staying in the uttarkashi came across two cases in which a wealthy monk called his wife and children when he became sick. When asked about this attachment he said-'If something happens, who will look after. I do not have attachment. Once my wife tore my robes and asked to come home or keep her in the ashram but I replied that now I'm a sanyasi. She asked me to accompany her for the char dham yatra and that I did'. In another case an old monk (widower) stayed for around 13 years and went to his son. The reason was he had accumulated cash (3 lakh) which he wanted to give to his family. It was in the form of the deposit in the post-office. There is no harm in it because one needs fund for survival.
12. In the few books of astrology and rituals it is mentioned that people having white spots are the sinners and they must not be entertained in the festivals or yajnas. In ujaili (in uttarkashi) an ashram organised chanting of 'hare rama, hare rama' verse. Few monks were invited out of which two had this problem. They reached at the right time. Since the session was for three hours mike was given to every person present in the audience. The monks having the problem of white spots were not given the mike. The head monk used the sign language and pointed towards the spots. There is nothing odd about the behavior because a frog of the well may be in any uniform or protocol will remain narrow minded.
13. The monks keeping relation with the alcoholic and druggist youth use them to disturb other monks who are doing their penance in satvik manner. When talked about discipline with them they said, ' we do not say anything that's why no one cares. I'll just give few rupees to the boys who consumes alcohol and they will teach a lesson'. Later on this information was confirmed by others.
14. In 2008, south 24 parganas of West Bengal, the cost of a project was 40 crore and the bills of 80 crore was prepared by the secretary of the ashram concerned who was incharge of that particular project. A monk whose signature was needed refused to sign so he was kicked out and others managed the affair by mutual understanding.
The foreigners have their own role to play. There are few ashrams which are either made for them or made by them. They are quite influential so there's nothing to worry or get depressed.
Akshay had the golden opportunity to see various colors while roaming in various parts of India after adopting the life style of a monk. After being initiated, circumstances motivated to stay away from the safe and secured human made umbrellas. The conclusion derived after study reasoning and experience via various mediums was essential for inner development. Before this an illusion of being improved covers the mind and intellect. After seeing, watching, analyzing and contemplating a thought of writing on this topic emerged.
When the mind is overtaken by jealousy anything can happen and who cares? Neither the society nor the media or government pays any attention. Scores of cases have taken place where seekers of truth were eliminated from the planet or their residence was snatched by those monks who were jealous about their penance. During the last decade three monks were killed in Gangotri, two were asked to move away from their caves out of which one was the incharge of issuing slips to the monks who used to go to Gomukh,. He left this service and started staying in a hut which was between surajkund and devikund (before the bridge). It was seen by me in 2017. A monk of Harthyoga tradition used to stay in a cave known as 'pandava gufa' which is near a power house. Other monks were jealous of his penance because they thought that he would become more famous so they hired a person to kill him. The yogi knew this by his power and kept a bowl of chilli mixed with water. The person came and took out his dagger. The yogi threw the water on his face which resulted in a fight between both. The yogi overpowered him and threw him on the ground. Both were injured but the yogi thought that he was killed so he went to the police station. In the meantime a doctor was passing by who took the injured person to his dispensary. When that yogi returned with the police the injured person was not there so it was confirmed that he was alive. The monks who had hired that fellow were seeing and realising the danger and killed that man whose body was recovered after a week but the yogi also could not survive. Within a few days he was killed.
Most of the monks staying in higher altitudes ( gangotri, gomukh, tapovan, yamunotri, etc during the winter season become commercialised sooner or later. A natural phenomena which raises the desire brings the downfall of a seeker. Why does it happen? In this variety of sadhana kāraṇa sharir - causal body stops the inner growth by mystical experiences and divine powers. These are taken as the final thing. It is a trap and brings lot of popularity in the form of an Ashram constructed by the monk himself /herself with the help of wealthy devotees or made in their memory. In both the cases name and form becomes famous and that is the only result of this type of sadhana / penance. One I enquired about was the process of getting permission to stay in the winter. Several people explained the same thing - the sunlight is visible at noon only. There is no electric or water supply and one goes down to bring the water which is in the frozen form. Major portion of the river is frozen on both sides and a narrow stream of melted water is seen but one slips from bringing that water and if one manages, it becomes frozen while reaching home. So it has to be melted in both situations. Most of the time is wasted in this. Though hunger is less but whatever urge is there eats the time. That's why most of them cause paralysis or other probkems of the lower portion of the body or / and heart problems sooner or later. Huge funds and things are given to those who are registered but the total event is limited to the body level only. Few mnks are a bit clever. The people of their state help in making ashram in the Himalayas and in their own state. It becomes a matter of pride that a person of their state is staying in Gangotri, Badrinath etc. This mentality is cashed easily and nicely by the concerned monk.
There are several monks who claim that nothing happens to them after consuming pickles, a glass of milk with turmeric powder and consuming clarified butter. All these things help in increasing testosterone and if anyone talks about 'NO IMPACT' - he is either speaking false or he is impotent. In this group few follow homosexuality to meet the urge of physical relation. In the order to hide their lust they promote the feeling of 'guru is God and one must surrender to satisfy him. It will bring liberation'.
Last but not least if anyone wants to do real sadhana or penance do it in one's own place. Take your job or service or profession as a hobby and sadhana. Please do not stay in a place where other monks are staying because they will get offended by your level if by chance your true spiritual progress comes into the picture. If you can have a fake picture based on external appearance, ornamental vocabulary and memorizing scriptures, nothing to worry. The problem lies with the serious seekers who do not have enough financial support to construct their own residence in the hilly region or near the sea shore or any holy place which is attractive to the seeker concerned. That fellow has to stay in someone's ashram which will be harmful for the progress in the path of spiritualism and experience.
