Swami Atmananda on Monastic Life

Atmananda would keep only a minimum number of clothes and other personal belongings. Normally he would keep with him one shirt, two pieces of cloth, and one vest. He would say: “If one can manage with only a single piece of cloth, one should not keep more. Should one engage the mind which should be offered to God in looking after one’s belongings?” Occasionally he used to pack all his belongings, tie them at the end of a stick, and check whether he could, if necessary carry his own luggage himself.

Atmananda loved orderliness. His few belongings were kept very nicely arranged; even a broom was carefully placed in its own particular place. Regarding the importance of keeping things in order, he said: “It is a sign of control over one’s mind. Those who are haphazard externally are so internally also. A good artist can become a good monk. An artist must have concentration of mind without which spiritual practice is impossible.” He would also say, “Everything must be in its proper place.” … He would often say: “A monk should live in such a way that he can be prepared to depart from the ashrama in five minutes. Likewise, he should also be ready to depart from this world as soon as the final call comes. He should be completely unattached.” …

According to him, ”If a monk depends solely on God, he will never be in want of anything.” His counsel to monks was: “Do you know what sannyasa means? It is to sacrifice the body for the good of the world, for the welfare of the people, by eating whose food you are maintaining your monastic life.”

Though non-acceptance of gifts was one of the cardinal principles of Atmananda’s life, he never rejected the affectionate gifts given by any devotee or monk. He would gladly accept the presents but would at once send them to the general store of the ashrama for the use of all. …

He disliked unrestrained mixing of the monastic members with lay devotees and advised the former to always keep their distance. To monks who mixed too much with householders he would say, “This will harm your spirit of renunciation and lead to your ruin.” He would also tell them: “Don’t remain in the town after dusk. The mind gets attached to worldliness by seeing the attractive glamour and beauty of the city at night. Finish your work early and return to the ashrama before evening. The prayer rug protects the monk. While walking along the street don’t look right or left out of curiosity.”

He would be annoyed if he found monastics engaged in gossip or political discussions and would say: “Gossip ruins a man. Therefore beware of it. If you have no work, you might as well sleep in your room, but do not indulge in gossip. If someone comes to you for idle talk, start reading a book. You will find that the person will not stay long.” He would say to the young monks: “When one is unable to remove the undesirable impressions already existing in the mind, why gather new impressions? It is not good for a monk to cherish such desires as ‘I shall see this,’ or ‘I shall know that,’ etc.” He also did not like to see the monks reading newspapers. Once a monk asked him, ”Unless we read the newspaper how shall we get information about floods, famine, and other calamities?" “Are you the head of the ashrama?" Atmananda asked in reply. Then he said: “The superior who is in charge of the ashrama will gather all the information and instruct you accordingly. Simply obey his orders. The goal of life is to realize God. For that purpose only, strict monastic vows are adopted. Therefore whatever stands in the way of following these vows and whatever distracts the mind should be mercilessly abandoned.” In the Dhaka monastery the newspapers were kept in the library and were not allowed inside the monks’ quarters. To the new entrants he would often say: How will you spend your days in our old age when you won’t have the capacity to work? This is why it is necessary to form right now good habits like those of meditation, japa, reading the scriptures, and holy discussion. If you waste your time now by gossiping then in your old age also you will have to do the same. Make a routine and follow it strictly. Of course, some time should be provided for talking after meals or for an evening walk.”

Atmananda also did not like the idea of monks mixing too much with women devotees. When women devotees would visit the ashrama, he would talk to them only as a duty and only by way of answering their questions. He would say, “There should be an ashrama where there is not even a female sweeper.” One day some students and teachers of a local girls’ school visited the Dhaka ashrama, and Atmananda asked a brahmachari to distribute prasad to them. Seeing that the brahmachari was taking much time doing this, Atmananda later said to him by way of advice: “Unmarried girls are like poisonous snakes. Never be in their company for long.”

—Monastic Disciples of Swami Vivekananda, 191–195