Our Guru and Monastic Order§
What makes the monastery so special is that it is the home of an illumined satguru and his tireless monks committed to a selfless life of worship, meditation, service and self-transformation. This is not an ashram or public temple; its rules are stricter, and it is not open all day. You may see some of the monks, dressed in yellow, white or orange robes. Only celibate monks (all men) live here. Men and women from our community of initiated family people volunteer during the day. ¶The guru and abbot of this monastery is Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami (explore his teachings and writings at www.bit.ly/BODHI). When not traveling, Satguru trains the monks, leads the pre-dawn meditation, presides at the weekly fire ritual, gives initiation to monks and members, gives a weekly inspired talk in the Kadavul Temple and receives visitors. Hindu families come from all over the world for his darshan. ¶The monastic order is organized in five groups, covering our basic areas of service: 1) temples and kitchen, 2) teaching and administration, 3) finance and business, 4) buildings and grounds and 5) websites and publishing. They live a strict, joyous life under vows of celibacy, humility, obedience and confidentiality. The lifetime renunciates, called swamis, also take a vow of poverty. ¶The monks’ lives revolve around Kadavul Temple, where they perform morning disciplines and hold rotating three-hour vigils, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Religious gatherings are held to study Gurudeva’s teachings, chant mantras, sing devotional hymns and learn meditation techniques. ¶The monks grow much of their own food and keep a small herd of cows for milk, butter, ghee, yogurt and cheese. Their wood creations are made from island trees. They manage a nursery to propagate plants for the monastery’s lush gardens and hardwood forests. Working in one-minded harmony, this accomplished, high-tech order of monks, each with his Mac and iPhone, serves the island in many ways while strengthening Hinduism worldwide.§
www.himalayanacademy.com/monastery/lineage-philosophy/bodhinatha§