Chaitanya Monks

MISSION STATEMENT — Chaitanya Monks is an order of mendicants [tridandi-sannyasa] that began in ancient India and was re-instituted in 1918 by Paramahamsa Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. The name “Chaitanya Monks” is derived from the 15th century avatar, Sri Krishna Chaitanya whose teachings and example of a life of devotion to God remain unparalleled in the history of religion.

The Holy Order of the Saffron Cross has been established in modern times with its ashrams [monasteries] in India and Switzerland to promote the teachings of Sri Krishna Chaitanya by propagating sankirtan, the chanting of the holy names of Krishna as the supreme spiritual welfare activity and prime benediction for humanity at large.

This website “Chaitanya Monks — The Holy Order of the Saffron Cross” is intended to be a resource for any person or persons desiring to know the theology of Sri Krishna Chaitanya and of the Vedic social institution of sannyasa. This website is also intended to be an information resource on the histories of all the worlds great monastic orders, their theology and their traditions.

[For a complete list of materials available on this site please click on the links provided for; View All Articles, View All Biographies and View All Histories]

Articles

The Story of Sri Krishna Chaitanya

Sri Krishna Chaitanya was the 15th century avatar [and monastic] that appeared in West Bengal, India and whose teachings and example of a life of devotion to God remain unparalleled in the history of religion. read more

The Story of Shankar Acharya

Professors of philosophy in India refer to a verse from the Padma Purana that reveals the hidden identity of Shankaracharya: “‘The Mayavada philosophy’, Shiva informed his wife Parvati, ‘is covered Buddhism. In the form of a brahmana in the kali-yuga I teach this imagined philosophy.’” read more

Origins of Monasticism

With the ascetic tendency in general, monasticism in particular is found by no means only in the Christian church, but in other religions, both before and after Christ, especially in the East. read more

Sannyasa — The Internal Meaning

What is the significance of sannyasa ? In Gaudiya Vaisnavism there are many important philosophical points to understand properly. read more

Chaitanya Monks

Loudly chant the Holy Name of Krsna and never forget the two most valuable
things Lord Caitanya taught Srila Sanatana Gosvami: phalgu and yukta, 'real and apparent renunciation' and baddha and mukta, 'freed and enslaved.' Never mistake one for the other, or think them to be the same. read more

Bhikkhu Sutta

In this work, the Buddha describes the many kinds of happiness that can be experienced through sustained practice. read more

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Biographies

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was a highly influential preacher of Gaudiya Vaishnavism throughout India in the late 19th and early 20th Century. He was born as Bimala-prasad Dutta in the pilgrimage town of Jagannatha Puri, Orissa, India. read more

Jiva Goswami

Jiva Goswami was one of the most prolific and important writers from the Gaudiya Vaishnava school, producing a great number of philosophical works on the theology and practice of Bhakti yoga and associated disciplines. read more

Sri Caitanya – His Life and Precepts (Part 1)

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born in Mayapur in the town of Nadia, just after sunset on the evening of the 23rd Falgun, 1407 Advent of Sakabda answering to the 18th Februrary, 1486 of the Christian era. read more

Yogi Padmasambhava

Now follows a short life story of Guru Rinpoche, also known as Padmakara or Padmasambhava. read more

Saint Anthony the Great

Saint Anthony and Saint Paul the Hermit are seen as the founders of Christian monasticism. Athanasius says, "For monks, the life of Anthony is a sufficient example of ascetism." read more

Dalai Lama

From his birth to his exile, the story of the Dalai Lama is one that the modern world will not soon forget. A spiritual inspiration to millions and a leader of a country in exile. read more

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Histories

Buddhist Monasticism

The order of Buddhist monks and nuns was founded by Gautama Buddha during his lifetime of over 2500 years ago. The Buddhist monastic lifestyle grew out of the lifestyle of earlier sects of wandering ascetics, some of whom the Buddha had studied under. read more

Militant Monks – The Knights Templar

The Knights Templar, a military order of
monks answerable only to the Pope himself, were founded in
1118. Their primary responsibility, at least initially, was
to provide protection to Christians making pilgrimages to
the Holy Land. read more

The Jesuit Oath

Controversy surrounds the age old Jesuit oath, "Go ye, then, into all the world and take possession of all lands in the name of the Pope. He who will not accept him as the Vicar of Jesus and his Vice-regent on earth, let him be accursed and exterminated." read more

Articles

The Story of Sri Krishna Chaitanya

The Story of Shankar Acharya

Origins of Monasticism

Sannyasa — The Internal Meaning

Chaitanya Monks

Bhikkhu Sutta

Biographies

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

Jiva Goswami

Sri Caitanya – His Life and Precepts (Part 1)

Yogi Padmasambhava

Saint Anthony the Great

Dalai Lama

Histories

Buddhist Monasticism

Militant Monks – The Knights Templar

The Jesuit Oath

Sokushinbutsu – the Mummified Monks

Datsan Gunzechoinei – The First Buddhist Monastery in the West

The Daoist 'Tian Shi Dao' Monastic Order