Introduction to Monastics
Monastic Definition: A monk or Nun who practices religious asceticism, the conditioning of mind and body for initiations and service to humanity, and does so living either alone or with any number of like-minded people, while always maintaining some degree of separation from those not sharing the same purpose. A monk or nun is considered a monastic by taking an oath or vow dedicating their lives to serve God through a religious organization and philosophy. The concept of monastic life is ancient and can be seen in many religions and in many philosophies.
Historically monks and nuns wear uniforms symbolizing their lifestyle. Some wear a light orange or saffron colored uniforms. This color is close to the color of our Sun and has a direct connection originally. Other monks and nuns wear reddish colored uniforms. Some orders of monks and nuns are noted for wearing different colors for different occasions. White is perhaps the best choice from a subtle perspective but is not always so practical. Ananda Marga’s monastic monks and nuns wear the light orange (close to saffron) colored uniforms. They do not live in isolation like hermits, but rather work in society performing there duties of service to humanity and protecting the created universe. These monks and nuns (respectively called dadas/brothers and didis/sisters) have taken a sannyasii oath. They are also known as acaryas –which in Ananda Marga means spiritual initiators of the yogic science. Generally they live with fellow monks or nuns and those training to become monks or nuns in order to keep their mind and body conditioned for their Apexed Psychology. Ananda Marga families/members generally live separately from the monastics, but unite regularly for group meditations and programs. The Ananda Marga families/members aspire to follow a similar lifestyle but in a family environment. The expectations are not to become monastic, but to create a spiritual family and subtle environment for the evolution of Ananda Marga and Society. The Ananda Marga families have their own programs based on the spiritual development of the children and family organization –as the monks and nuns have their own programs based on the spiritual development of the monastic organization. For example: It does not help society for a father to go to the disasters in Haiti and bring back diseases and psychic trauma to his wife and children. This work is done by the monks, nuns and their bachelor volunteers. For this reason the monks, nuns [and their bachelor volunteers] also keep a certain degree of separation from the families –so they do not give the families their psychic trauma involved with their monastic lifestyle. Likewise the family members also do not want to give the monks and nuns their psychic trauma involved with the family lifestyle.

However both sides unite regularly for the common ideological goal in the spirit of devotional ideation. There is a basic oath when initiated into Ananda Marga, but the monks and nuns have taken a special oath/s dedicating their lives to the Pinnacled Order of Spirituality with their Exclusive Devotion to the Supreme Entity. Ananda Marga monks and nuns ultimately take an oath –not to work for self liberation –but to protect the created universe. Part of protecting the created universe is also to protect the monks and nuns welfare –as it is also to protect the families welfare. All in Ananda Marga are interested in protecting the created universe but only the monks and nuns have given their oaths/lives and therefore received the monastic initiations.