The Glory of Monastic Life
Book Specification
| Item Code: | NAE919 |
| Author: | Swami Bhajanananda |
| Publisher: | ADVAITA ASHRAM KOLKATA |
| Language: | English |
| Edition: | 2012 |
| ISBN: | 9788175053717 |
| Pages: | 56 |
| Cover: | Paperback |
| Other Details | 8.5 inch x 5.5 inch |
| Weight | 100 gm |
Book Description
The Sanyasin, as you all know, is the ideal of the Hindu’s life, and every one by our Shastras is compelled to give up. Every Hindu who has tasted the fruits of this world must give up in the latter part of his life, and he who does not is not a Hindu and has no more right to call himself a Hindu. We know that this is the ideal – to give up after seeing and experiencing the vanity of things. Having found out that the heart of the material world is a mere hollow, containing only ashes, give it up and go back.
| Publisher's Note | 7 | |
| The Glory of Monastic Life | 9 | |
| The Call of Eternity | 9 | |
| Renunciation, the Hallmark of Monasticism | 9 | |
| Origins of Monasticism | 12 | |
| Monasticim in the Vedic Period | 13 | |
| Rise of the Sannyasa Ideal | 14 | |
| Two Kinds of Sannyasa | 15 | |
| Sannyasa and Varnasrama Dharma | 16 | |
| Buddha's Contributions to Monasticism | 16 | |
| Period of Transition | 18 | |
| Samkara's Contributions to Hindu Monasticism | 20 | |
| Madhusudana's Contributions | 23 | |
| Other Hindu Monastic Traditions | 25 | |
| 1 | Udasis | 25 |
| 2 | Vaishnava Monastic Orders | 25 |
| 3 | Yogis | 26 |
| Drawbacks of Traditional Monasticism | 26 | |
| Transition from Medieval to Modern Age | 28 | |
| A New Universal Monastic Ideal | 29 | |
| Monastic Ideal | 29 | |
| Monastic Way of Life | 29 | |
| Change of Monastic Ideal in the 19th Century | 30 | |
| Contributions of Sri Ramakrishna | 30 | |
| 1 | A New Monastic Order | 30 |
| 2 | God Realization as the Goal | 31 |
| 3 | Harmony of Religions and Sects | 31 |
| 4 | Vijnana - Beyond Advaita | 32 |
| 5 | Source of Divine Love and Grace | 32 |
| 6 | Stress on Essentials | 33 |
| 7 | Highest Ideal | 33 |
| Swami Vivekananda's Contributions | 33 | |
| 1 | Adding a Social Dimension to the Monastic Ideal | 33 |
| 2 | Adding a Humanistic Dimension to the Monastic Ideal | 35 |
| 3 | Positive Outlook on Life - Monk as a Hero | 36 |
| 4 | Missionary Zeal | 37 |
| 5 | Giving a Universal Dimension to the Monastic Ideal | 39 |
| Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi's Contributions | 39 | |
| Basic Spiritual and Moral Principles | 40 | |
| A New Monastic Way of Life | 41 | |
| Patterns of Traditional Monastic Life | ||
| Ashrama | 41 | |
| Math | 42 | |
| Akhada | 42 | |
| Unique Features of Monastic Life in Ramakrishna Math Centres | 42 | |
| 1 | Universal Outlook | 43 |
| 2 | Modernity | 43 |
| 3 | Discipline and Freedom | 44 |
| 4 | Synthesis of Yogas as a Guiding Principle of Life | 46 |
| 5 | Service as a Way of Life | 48 |
| 6 | God Realization as the Ultimate Goal of Life | 50 |
| 7 | Brotherly Love | 51 |
| 8 | Centred Round Sri Ramakrishna | 52 |
| Concluding Remarks | 52 |
