Chapter Seven: Code of Conduct for Vratdhari sisters

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  1. Physical body, attire, food and drink, place of residence and the temple should be kept clean and tidy.
  2. Regularly perform swaroopyog, puja, japyagna and prayers according to the instructions of one’s guru.
  3. If required to venture out, one should always go accompanied by a fellow sadhak.   However, those Vratdhari sisters requiring to venture alone due to their occupation or profession may do so with the consent of the guru.
  4. Any associations or dealings with male devotees should only be undertaken by Bhagwat Swaroop Sisters (Gunatit Swaroopos). Vratdhari sisters should refrain from dealing with male devotees at all times.
  5. Vratdhari sisters should not attend weddings, funerals or indeed any other traditional ceremonies.  Devotees should not be visited without good reason.  Sadhaks should only visit a devotee for spiritual or devotional reasons.  Elders may visit devotees at their own discretion, ensuring that their visit does not coincide with the presence of male devotees; but they must never preach to a male congregation.
  6. Vratdhari sisters who have attained the status of Gunatit Swaroop may preach to an audience of male devotees.  However, sermons given to individual male devotees in confidence and private meetings are strictly forbidden.
  7. Vratdhari sisters should refrain from going shopping.  Those who have been appointed the specific task of shopping, and/or have the prior consent of the Gunatit Swaroop (guru) may do so without any hesitation.
  8. Vratdhari sisters should never independently attempt to accumulate or save any wealth personally or for the ‘sanstha‘ – without the knowledge, or indeed the consent of the Gunatit Swaroop.  Any money or gifts donated by devotees, any money earned by karma-yogi Vratdhari sisters should be handed over to the appointed treasurer or the store-keeper.  Vratdhari sisters should not independently agree to hold wealth, funds or jewellery belonging to others who wish to deposit them in trust.   The appointed storekeeper and treasurer will be solely responsible for such transactions.  They too should ensure that all transactions are fully documented and accounted for in writing.  All transactions should be authorised, and witnessed signatures obtained. The Vratdhari sisters who have been appointed as treasurer or store-keeper or who have been assigned the task of shopping will not find such tasks a hindrance in their sadhana as they are acting on the instructions of their guru (i.e. guru-mukhi).
  9. Vratdhari sisters should refrain from keeping any kind of relationship or association with their next of kin.  However, with the consent of their guru, they may associate with these relatives in their capacity as fellow devotees. A sadhak should consider her relatives in this life as though they were from her previous life.  She should never utilise her relationships with them to help fulfil her own requirements, wishes etc.  She should never use the ‘relationship’ to acquire any favours, gifts or wealth from them.  A Vratdhari sister may convey her good wishes and blessing at auspicious ceremonies such as births or marriages of her relations.  A sadhak may even convey messages of condolences at bereavement, encouraging her relations to pledge mahapuja and seva – but she should not send gifts.  Gifts given by devotees to the sadhak for the sadhak’srelatives should be accepted and given directly to the store-keeper or treasurer.  They should not be given to the relatives; the reason being that whatever was given was given on the basis of a personal relationship.  Just as a sadhak would not associate with her own dehbhav (impurities of the self) – so, she should not associate with relatives.
  10. A Vratdhari sister should refrain from making independent decisions about her own personal requirements or items of necessity.  Whatever is required should be acquired via her guru.  However, she should never approach her friends or relatives privately, or even with the consent of her guru, in order to satisfy her requirements.  If the Sud-guru feels it necessary, items may be obtained from the storekeeper or the treasurer.  If the required item is not made available in this manner, the Guru Hari should be approached and the sadhak should abide by the instructions of the Guru Hari, whatever they may be.
  11. With the exception of Bhagwat Swaroop Sants, Vratdhari sisters should never, under any circumstances, get involved in the personal and social affairs of any married devotees.