Chapter Six: Code of Conduct for a Tyagi Sadhu (an Ascetic Saint)

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  1. Every tyagi sadhu should endeavour to lead a life according to the following spiritual scriptures: Shikshapatri – code of conduct prescribed by Maharaj; Nishkam Shudhi – an existence free from worldly pleasures and desires; Dharmamrut – religious doctrines and philosophy.
  2. Celibacy is the fundamental requirement for a tyagi sadhu, – it is his religion.  Thus an ascetic saint should not have any relationship (direct or indirect) nor communicate with females in any capacity whatsoever.
  3. To be free from any worldly desires, including a desire for wealth or money is the sadhu‘s fundamental principle and religion, thus a sadhu should never accumulate personal wealth nor request others to hoard wealth for him.  Any monetary dealings or transactions should be carried out by the youths or married devotees accompanying him.  These sevaks should handle and keep any alms or charitable donations given to the sadhu, ultimately handing them over to the temple treasurer.  No sadhus, apart from those responsible and appointed as treasurers of the temple, should accumulate or hold personal wealth.  Similarly, all monetary dealings should be carried out through the temple treasurer.
  4. A sadhu should not obtain material things privately for himself from friends or devotees.  Whatever gifts or donations received should at first be given to the appointed store-keeper.  Anything required by the sadhu for personal use, should be issued at the store-keeper’s discretion.  Sadhus should always remain sincere to the store-keeper and loyal to their gurus in these matters.
  5. A sadhu should always maintain a certain discipline as far as physical hygiene and cleanliness of food and drink consumed are concerned.  His attire should be neat, simple and yet portray dignity.  When visiting devotees – sadhus should be careful to only accept prasad prepared from dairy products and should avoid offers of food which have not been prepared by the devotees themselves but have been bought from shops.  Drinking water should also be clean and filtered.  If necessary, sadhus should make prior arrangements with devotees to ensure that clean water is made available – but should never drink domestic un-purified water.
  6. The place of residence of a sadhu should always be kept clean, neat and tidy.  Even those places at which the sadhu resides temporarily whilst on his travels should be kept clean.
  7. The sadhu should endeavour to perform swaroopyog, puja, japyagna, read and recite the scriptures on a regular basis, and without fail  according to the instructions (agna) of his guru. 
  8. Sadhus should not maintain any kind of relationship with close relatives.  Under the guru’s instructions or with the guru’s consent the sadhu may continue an association with his relatives; acknowledging them as fellow devotees.  A sadhu should consider his relatives in this life as though they were from his previous life.  He should never utilise his relationship with them to help fulfil his own requirements, wishes etc.  He should never use the ‘relationship’ to acquire any favours, gifts or wealth from them.
  9. Any personal requirements or items of necessity needed by the sadhu should not be decided by himself.  Whatever required should be acquired via the store-keeper with the full knowledge and total consent of the Guru Hari. A sadhu should never approach friends or relatives for anything.
  10. Sadhus given the responsibility of touring should  humbly accept whatever gifts they are offered by devotees without expecting the donors to donate more.  They should always endeavour to build and strengthen the spiritual relationships between themselves and the devotees.  It is the sadhu‘s main aim to nurture these relationships such that the bond between sadhus and devotees is enhanced and maintained.
  11. Sadhus should never get involved in the personal and private affairs of any devotees under any circumstances.  Such devotees should always be referred to the Bhagwat Swaroop Santos (i.e. – Gunatit Swaroops).
  12. If a sadhu is present at a general sabha attended by male and female devotees, a curtain should be used to segregate the male and female devotees and to provide a screen between the sadhus and the females.
  13. If anyone swears abuse, argues, insults or attacks a sadhu, the sadhu should readily endure and tolerate such behaviour without any form of retaliation.  Sadhus should never swear, argue, insult or physically strike back.  A sadhu is only entitled to pray.  The sadhu should pray for the abuser, to wish well of the attacker and never ever wish anyone any harm.