Blessed was the time when the four ashrams, propounded
by the great authors of ancient scriptures, embellished
this country.
Of the four ashrams, the first is Bhramacharyashram,
followed sequentially by Gruhasthashram, Vanprasthashram
and Sanyasashram.
On attaining omniscience, when the Tirthankar Bhagwan
(Lord Rushabhdeva) moved from place to place, His son
Bharat gathered the contemporary scholars of the four
Vedas who then planned out a social code of conduct to
encourage purity in the social customs. It was then that the
tradition of the four ashrams along with the four castes was
introduced.Thus, this effort undertaken by Bharatji greatly
facilitated those seekers who treaded the path of social
teachings as laid down by the ever-compassionate Lord,
so that they could ultimately attain liberation.
by the great authors of ancient scriptures, embellished
this country.
Of the four ashrams, the first is Bhramacharyashram,
followed sequentially by Gruhasthashram, Vanprasthashram
and Sanyasashram.
(Patrank - 99)
On attaining omniscience, when the Tirthankar Bhagwan
(Lord Rushabhdeva) moved from place to place, His son
Bharat gathered the contemporary scholars of the four
Vedas who then planned out a social code of conduct to
encourage purity in the social customs. It was then that the
tradition of the four ashrams along with the four castes was
introduced.Thus, this effort undertaken by Bharatji greatly
facilitated those seekers who treaded the path of social
teachings as laid down by the ever-compassionate Lord,
so that they could ultimately attain liberation.
(Patrank - 100)
Seekers wishing to embark on this journey, propounded by Bhagwan Rushabhdeva and blessed by Shrimad Rajchandraji; harbouring the goal of attaining true detachment, are bestowed with 'Vanprastha Diksha' by Pujyashri Gurudev on the auspicious day of His birth, i.e. 26th September.
Those seekers, who wish to accept Vanprastha Diksha and walk ahead on the path of self-realisation, need to refer to the code of conduct given ahead:
Spiritual Eligibility
1. Retreats:
- Spiritual retreats for at least 125 days in the year.
- It is not necessary to take the retreat for all 125 days at a stretch.
- These 125 days includes stay in the Ashram, pilgrimages and retreats taken for seva and sadhana.
- Observing four hours of silence (or four samayiks) everyday, which includes the daily essentials of one hour morning and evening ajnabhakti and one hour of meditation.
- Chaityavandan and Devvandan
- Observing 12 hours of maun (silence) once a week
- A minimum of 14 hours of swadhyay every week
- 9 hours of seva-sadhana everyday during any spiritual retreat.
- Attending a minimum 3 sadhana bhattis in a year.
- Read the Vachanamrutji minimum twice.
- Vanprastha Abhyas for minimum one year.
Prayaschit:
- One besnu or 2 tunks (i.e. 2 meals in a day)
- 11 times recitation of Kshamapna
- 500 written japas of the mantra - 'Sahajatmaswaroop Paramguru'
3. Sheel (Code of Conduct):
1. Lifelong abstinence from -
- Sapta Vyasan i.e. 7 addictions (hunting, alcohol, non-vegetarian food, stealing, gambling, adultery and prostitution)
- Saat Abhaksha i.e. 7 forbidden food items (fruits of the banyan, peepal and peepla tree, umarda, figs, honey and butter)
- On the five tithi days - observing complete celibacy and not eating after sunset
3. Wearing white clothes during the spiritual retreats.
Social Eligibility
1. Financial Responsibility
- Complete freedom from debt.
- If not, there should be someone willing to accept the responsibility of fulfilling your debt. This should be in writing.
- Complete abstinence from business activities during the spiritual retreat. (Use of phone is permitted only for very important and urgent matters.)
- During other days one must not indulge in business activities for more than 6 hours per day.
- During days other than the spiritual retreats one can attend marriages and other social occasions of only immediate family members.
- Even these marriages and social occasions should be attended with complete detachment.
