Sadhus: best not bitter

Bring the bank of the Ganges river in uttar pradesh varanasi, aThe HinduSadhus blot out his face.The ancient city of varanasi is the heart of the Hindu holy land, is also the Chinese tang dynasty monk xuan zang the end of the scriptures.

Ascetic (Sadu) prevailed in ancient India.The word "asceticism" Sanskrit, meaning "hot", because the climate is hot in India, religious so heated as the main means of austerity.Now general metaphor for the practice of some kind of faith and temperance, to temper themselves, refused to material and physical temptation, endure the severe environment oppressed.

After years of development, the interior of the ascetic many factions, each have their own leader, teachings, and Canon.From the perspective of big division, can be divided into two groups, who believe in god of Vishnu, who believed in god shiva.The past between them because of forfeiting declare war against each other for many years, also with in kung fu novel the story of the fight between the gai.

Such as according to the dress, ascetic and can be divided into days set garment and tsing yi.Set day dress is naked, the whole body naked, the most sensitive parts use a narrow cloth cover.Day clothes sent related to worship Lord shiva.Shiva is the god of destruction and creation of god, always naked body, said the pursuit of the original state, from the left, otherwise.Always apply the ashes, said sin, death and rebirth.Tsing yi send clothes, is usually yellow cotton clothing.(source: xinhua daily telegraph)

On the streets of Nepal's capital Kathmandu, often can see some ragged, unkempt middle-aged and old man.Their faces painted with colorful stripe in one hand and a small tin can, one hand on crutches in the wandering.If you have a crush on him, he will coming soon in your point in a lucky mole on his forehead.Of course this is not free, you want to walk to his 10 ~ 20 rupees.These are unique to a Hindu country social landscape - ascetic.

Material needs to a minimum

Sadhu in Nepal called Baba, meaning "the saint".They are considered to the bun (" an angel of god ", get the respect of the people.Kathmandu sadhu more like gathered at the local's largest open-air crematorium, bargh Marty river of shu Patty living near the temple.They live in small groups under the corridor outside the temple.Most people get in over 40 age, mostly naked, apply the charcoal grey evenThe deadThe ashes.Only on the waist wrapped in a piece of rag don't see color.Sadhus each almost nothing except a bowl, the value of their body all things probably not more than five dollars.But there are exceptions, I just saw a dervish fashionable MP4 players in listening to music in his hand, which kind of tourists gave him.

Ascetic perennial don't cut hair washing, random plate on the top of the head, a long beard the volume, covered in dust.These people bath twice only (birth and death after each wash), radiates the unpleasant smell.Ascetic face painted with colorful stripe, is said to represent different denominations.Their faces look some ferocious because of various stripes and color, in fact, these people temperament is very gentle.Near the temple, occasionally can see several female sadhus, is the difference between them and male sadhu is very young, and wear is neat, and ordinary people.

Heat of the day the ascetic collective in the gallery under the eaves of cool, chat, the day is cold will build a bonfire in the evening, around sleeping next to the fire.They reduce the demand for life to a minimum, sleeping pillow of hard rocks, body shop only, a piece of cloth or nothing at all.Seldom drink at ordinary times, three meals a day are made of in a like camellia surface half-baked dough for food.

Mostly from India

Sadhu is most of the poor, but there are middle class, millionaires and dignitaries.According to locals, Kathmandu dervish mostly from India., seal completely open border residents freely between the two countries, do not need any documents, and the "jump out of the three worlds, not in the five elements" of the practitioner, do not ignore what identity documents at all.Nepal's mild climate, beautiful natural environment and very tolerant of all kinds of religions.The government of Nepal is basically a laissez-faire attitude to them, without any intervention, so here is very suited to their practice.

The author found that a closed near the temple decades old.A small White House behind the temple, a white beard, white hair old man lying on the floor MATS to sleep.It is said that the old man has more than 80 years old.From more than 20 years old, he didn't leave the house.Every day he was to supply food, serve the daily life.His job is to practice every day, meditation, meditation, sleep, eat food only milk and fruit.Measure the old man hadn't out of the house for nearly 60 years, probably can break the guinness book of world records.

February and march every year during the period of shiva's day, there will be a large number of ascetic converge to Kathmandu, most time can reach more than 10000 people.They are temporary tent bargh Marty river on both sides.To pray during the day and the celebration.Night lit bonfires along the river bank, burned, and spectacular.The outline of National People's Congress gathered a month will drift away.

Penance present different reasons

Penance may for modern people to understand, this is a kind of ancient India and popular science of uniting the way, has in India for one thousand years of history.Hinduism believes that human life is divided into net date, the period that occupy the home, stage practice asceticism and four stage, after many cycles of people need to enter heaven.Ascetic torture and abuse their bodies, because they put their own body as the carrier of iniquity.Ascetic hopes to minimize material needs to obtain the liberation of mind, get god's sanctuary and gifts, so as to get rid of the endless cycle of suffering.

Some scholars analysis, ascetic enduring oppression and the caste system.In thirty-four thousand years ago, some one who advocates abolished caste system hope that through join without equal dervish, equal to caste.And they think, life is equal, as long as loyal and faithful to god, each caste can equally in front of god, for god's protection.Since entering modern society, although the caste system is no longer protected by the law, but is still deeply rooted in the idea of people.Caste discrimination in social life from time to time.At the same time, because of materialism in modern society, intrigues, let many people born blind and tired, eager to traveling away from life, in spiritual pursue a kind of sublimation and purification, the asceticism in contemporary is an important reason.(source: "look at the world")