Ashram Life: Brother Bhaktananda

[Jitendra Hydonus]

BB 24 Bhaktananda Ashram Life mid 1970’s


To qualify for ashram life: take the lessons for one year. Less than age 35. Good health. Good mental health. Good attitude. Desire for God alone. Not for easy living. No desire for marriage or sex. Get along – not touchy. Dowry - $800.


Schedule: Gong 5:00 AM. Group meditation 7:00 AM. Breakfast 8:00 AM. 8:30 AM work. 12:00 meditation. 12:30 dinner largest meal. 1:00 work. 4:30 recreation. 5:00 PM group exercise and meditation. 6:00 PM supper, lightest meal. 6:30 PM class on Friday. 


Two one-week retreats per year. 


Breakfast – eggs and toast, millet, granola, fresh fruit salad (rotating menu). Two times a year or so waffles or pancakes. 


Dinner – heaviest meal. Cooked protein casserole: soy, beans, nuts, seeds. Spaghetti on rare occasions. Every 3 to 4 months pizza with whole grain flour. Starch – bread, potatoes, rice, yams, cooked vegetables – at least two per meal. Raw salad also. 


Supper – lightest. Soups and raw vegetable salad is the basis. Very rare occasion- dessert. 


In the ashram there is no retirement. The rule is to keep busy with something. You can’t just let yourself go. 


Monks individual meditation for evening is about at 10:00 PM or if possible, earlier.