Order of the Divine Mother
Opening: This document serves as a rule and guide to the brothers and sisters of the Mata Devi Math. 3-18-04 (1st Revision 8-05) (2nd Revision 12-05)
Function and Vows
The brothers and sisters of the Mata Devi Math are men and women who have experienced a call to go deeper in their spiritual lives. We exist to provide an outlet for our faith and calling, to provide a movement of charity and contemplation for its members. Its members follow a path of passionate devotion to the Divine Beloved who encompasses many names, faces, and genders. Living their faith, the brothers and sisters of the order do volunteer service projects doing their part to "be the change they wish to see in the world." (Gandhi). The members of the Order live and work in the world and seek to see the Divine present in all of life.
The philosophy of the order is of a progressive Hindu expression unique and yet grounded upon the best of Hindu tradition of diversity and acceptance. The philosophy is as follows:
> We support the use of the language of the people to be used in temple and home worship in conjunction with Sanskrit. While Sanskrit is valuable, it is also important for people to be able communicate with the Divine in their own language and to understand the prayers so heart and mind may be offered to God.
> We believe that the earth and cosmos are the body of God, and thus support conservation and non-violent activist efforts. The cosmos is the body of God. We can see God within and behind every tree, plant, and person. Rather than rejecting the earth, we recognize it as a sacramental presence of God.
> We recognize that there are many Hindus whether by birth or by choice who are not from India. While Hinduism's roots are in India, its religion is universal. Every culture that Hinduism has been exposed to has merged with the local _expression of Hinduism forming a beautiful synthesis of the local culture and the Hindu faith. We seek a unification of the best of Western culture and our faith as Hindus.
> We reject the caste-system as something that has become a tool of harm in many avenues. Like Gandhi, we support the equality of all people- black, white, male, female, gay, and straight in all levels and professions in life including the priesthood.
> We celebrate God as God, yet recognize that God has many forms and faces. Worshippers in our communities are not required to commit to one deity or one set of deities.
> We recognize the need for a reformation in the understanding of the guru-disciple relationship. Historically up to recent times, there has been mental, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse between the guru and his disciples. We seek a redefinition of the role of the Guru as one that is a spiritual guide to a dedicated student. We believe that as long as any individual is in the body, he or she has not achieve total eradication of the ego, thus they are capable of mistakes, and must not be accepted unquestionably.
> We welcome and celebrate converts to the Hindu faith, and call for rituals of conversion to celebrate the entrance into our glorious path. At the same time, we reject the need for proselytizing, and reject its attempts by members of other religions.
> We support the eradication of racism, sexism, and homophobia.
> We recognize that enlightenment is a process occurring over many lifetimes, and may move in stages.
The members of the order profess three vows in the presence of the Divine and the community of brothers and sisters.
The three vows are:
-Charity
-Contemplation
-Simplicity
Vows
Charity is summed up in three words: Love, Compassion, and Empathy. A brother or sister in the order seeks to provide the experience of charity for others in thought, word, and deed. Charity should be lived by helping the helpless, standing for social justice, and nurturing a deep love for the earth and its inhabitants. Charity may be lived through volunteering to help the homeless, poverty stricken, or sick, through letter writing and lobbying for equal rights for all, or working in various ways to protect the earth.
Contemplation is the action of resting in the presence of the Divine. Contemplation is prayer. The ultimate goal of a brother or sister in the order is union with the Divine. Contemplation ultimately is meditation but encompasses prayer, chanting, singing, and adoration of the Divine within all things. That which we think on, we become. When that contemplation is of the Beloved throughout a brother or sister's life, he or she enters into the mystery of oneness with That which he or she has contemplated.
Simplicty is another word for non-attachment. All things are transient and passing. Clinging or resisting things or experiences only increases suffering and demonstrates the lack of ability to see the Beloved in all things and every experience. The Divine, through life, offers many opportunities for us to develop and grow. Some of the lessons are hard and some joyous. We should utilize every opportunity to hear the Divine Lover speak through every circumstance. This vow of simplicity contains the promise of oneness, that with the Beloved we have no lack and that nothing compares to the Beloved.
These three vows should guide the life of a brother or sister in the order for the rest of his or her life. A life of virtue, prayer, and humility is expected to be a mark of a brother or sister.
Daily Practice
The brothers and sisters in the order are asked to practice daily prayer, ritual, song, and meditation that honors the Divine and the earth. There is also a simple common daily prayer to create a sense of oneness with the others in the order. The only other rites in common are the liturgy of the taking of vows and installment of a new leader in the Order.
Satsang
Satsangs are led by a brother/mathavasi or sister/mathavasini in conjunction with anyone the local brother or sister asks for help in the function of the satsang. The purpose of the local satsangs is to form a community of people committed to the spiritual life, who come together for fellowship, pursuit of God, and guidance in practicing a progressive/liberal Hindu spirituality. Satsangs and events are offered free of charge. However people may be asked to contribute items for snacks or similar needs.
Practice
The brother and sister are encouraged to read, study, memorize, and meditate upon the Hindu scriptures and writings to serve them in seeking God realization (jnana yoga). This study in conjunction with heartfelt prayer, song, japa, and love (bhakti yoga) will lead them far in their journey. The brothers and sisters in this order often see the world from a Tantric perspective-the cosmos is a sacrament whereby God is present in all of nature. All actions are done by God, through God, and for God. Thus we offer all we are and all we do to God (karma yoga). The brothers and sisters of the order are free to use any images or no image in their devotion to the Divine whether as God or Goddess.
Leadership and Process of Joining the Order
Leadership in the order begins with its founder and upon his demise or retirement, the order should vote by majority for his replacement which may be any fully vowed member of the order. The mathavasi swami merely guides the order but does not hold any power over any person's beliefs or convictions. The mathavasi(ni) swami(ni) may have counselors to help guide the order. A good mathavasi swami hears the desires and concerns for the order among its members.
Anuddha / Anuddhi / Aspirant
The process of joining the order begins with a person requesting to learn more about it, thus becoming a yogi(ni)/aspirant. After a month of going over the rule and spirituality of the order with an elder, the aspirant may take temporary vows for the duration of 1 to 6 months and enter as a novice.
Sadhaka /Sadhika / Novice
An individual expressing an interest or feeling of being called to the religious life, may ask the resident brother/mathavasi or sister/mathavasini to be admitted to the novitiate time of living as a brother or sister. The brother or sister notifies the head of the order. The local brother and sister then guides that person in how to live the religious life, in the establishment in regular devotions, philosophy, theology, and the spiritual practices used the by the order. The novitiate period ends when the novice, mentor brother or sister, and the head of the order feel that the novice is ready for final vows. After the novitiate period, the novice will take the permanent vows in seeking enlightenment through union with God.
Mathavasi / Mathavasini / Brother / Sister
After the time of novitiate is over, he or she may choose to take public permanent vows and thus receives the emblem of the order, is initiated into its mysteries, and is able to use the title ?mathavasi(ni)? before his or her name. An aspirant may discontinue study at anytime with or without notice. A novitiate may discontinue with the order preferably with notice. A vowed member who has taken life vows is strongly urged to leave the group only after much prayer and with the blessings of the community.
Any person 18 or older, regardless of age, race, gender, socio-economic status, or sexual orientation is free to apply to become a member.
The Future of the Order
The future of the order is in the hands of its members. At sometime they may choose to put together a Book of Hours for common prayer. They may design other rituals celebrating other rituals for its members.
We are the future of the Order. It is my prayer that this order may grow to contain many members who are known for their joy, laughter, kindness, spirituality, and compassion.
March 18, 2004
Mathavasi Swami Gadadhar Das
Members
Mathavasi Swami Gadadhar Das 3-18-04
Mathavasi Ganapati Kamesh 3-20-05
Mathavasini Prashanti Saraswati 3-20-05
