Experience

#monklevel

focus in 31 days

ACTIVATE MY MONK MODE

2189

men have transformed their inner convo so far

We cannot solve problems with the same mind that caused them.

Want to know something

mind blowing?

Your mind craves fulfillment, not enjoyment. It doesn't want you chasing sensual comfort. It is waiting for you to choose your purpose and define your identity.

Want to know how

#themonkmode

can get you fired up in just 31 days?

Watch this

Want to know how

we realized this?

We reverse-engineered the neuroscience of Bhakti monks with 7 decades of experience challenging their minds to achieve lasting fulfillment.

Want to hear

our conclusion?

You are already wired for limitless happiness. All you have to do is switch on your inner monk

And it can happen in just

1 moment.

Even without willpower.

#themonkmode is a 31 day intensive designed by veteran monks, challenging you to an exhilarating game of purpose discovery, emotional mastery and consciousness recovery.

Why #themonkmode works

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SANGHA

Experience invigorating trust in #themonktribe that grows with you

Accountability is not enough. We need to experience satisfying trust. Unleash the extraordinary with the confidence of those who believe in us.

Live together with like-minded individuals in a very welcoming and safe space

Receive collective feedback to co-create your personal journeys and achieve challenging goals on social projects

Cultivate difficult qualities such as acceptance and vulnerability in supporting each other through inspiration and understanding

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ASHRAM

Reactivate your #innermonk right in the heart of a city

Breaking principles is easy. Avoiding distractions is hard. So change the environment, not just externally, but internally.

Live in a clean and well maintained single house for a full month

Receive a diet plan aimed at rejuvenating one's physical and mental health

Activate the switch of inner peace on-demand, even while sitting in the middle of chaos

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SADHANA

Harness #intentionalloving through conscious living

Thinking is easy. Doing is tough. Loving is hard. So learn spiritual technologies to channel intentions in our attention, and thus live compassionately.

A structured curriculum for qualitative absorption of wisdom principles, enlivened by collective deliberation

Utilize a time tested technique to measure growth in consciousness

Practically apply spiritual tools through daily routines designed for 21st century mindsets

Different monks with different purposes artwork

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DHARMA

Channel competency into #consciousservice that fulfils you

We all have choice. We all want to help. All we need is a healthy sense of purpose. Discover meaning as you search for a worthy goal.

Learn to channel character with cognizance to identify core competencies with a mentor

Use a principled approach to identify opportunities to use your strengths in service to your peers and the world

Perform communal service that reveals untapped realizations which improve our emotional quotient

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SADHU

Shortcut the learning curve with #monkmavericks

Committing to lofty ideas is daunting. Failure after trying cheap hacks is depressing. Shortcut the journey to personal fulfillment with veteran monks.

Receive training from monks with a collective experience of 75 years

Receive personalized support in implementing monastic principles, and subtle tips to deal with critical challenges along the way

Discover your inner divine masculinity practicing a 5000 year "young" process that unleashes satisfying emotions on-demand

What others are saying

Raghunath Cappo

American punk rock vocalist for Youth of Today and Shelter. Founder and lead comic on the 2020 best ranking spiritual podcast Wisdom of the Sages. Bhakti Yogi monk who has conducted 100+ retreats to India for hundreds of new age spiritualists over the last 3 decades.

Gaura Vani

Mantra Musician at Kindred Spirits . Festival founder for Chant4Change . Former monastic and Kirtan Yoga activist.

Monk Mode Winter 2023

Balaram Das

I am inspired by the patience and dedication of people working to make the world a better place. I have always dreamed of being part of a community of young men where positive peer pressure helps us to reach new heights.

Caleb Morris

Graduated from Culinary Institute of Virginia with an Associates of Applied Science in the Culinary Arts. Was a team leader at a startup called Polis Inc. pioneering a new approach to door to door sales. Everyday I'm inspired to try and make the world just a little bit better. Monk Mode attracts me because it offers a place for me to improve myself in a safe space and grant me the tools to become wildly successful.

Ramvijay

Head bartender in a 5 stars hotel. I am here to grow as a person with depth and goodness. Monk mode is not only a school where we're learning great skills such as yoga, sound meditation and studying ancient Hindu texts. It is most importantly a school of life.

Moses

My family sacrificed a lot for me growing up and had a lot of live growing up from the church. I feel it to be my duty to share even a little of what I've received. A lot of LOVE here at the ashram especially can be felt trickling down from the founder and inspiration of this project, Vedasara.

Nate

I was a team manager in a national traveling door-to-door sales company. I’m inspired by those before and around me who’ve spent their lives sacrificing for the welfare of others, and as a beneficiary of those sacrifices, I want to give back. Monk mode is fulfilling those aspirations by providing a well-rounded and balanced approach to building the character it takes to make it happen.

Nitai Das

Being of service to the world is my passion and I have never experienced serving with a group of people who aspire for high moral values and cultivate deep personal relationships. Monk Mode infuses my heart with genuine joy that I can't experience in transactional worldy pursuits.

Still not feeling lit?

MRI the mind of a monk by doing an AMA with a real one!

AMA - Ask a Monk Anything

Unleash #themonkmode within

Are you man enough?

ACTIVATE MY MONK MODE

Still doubtful?

Have questions about

Can I join if I am under 18 or over 36?

If we could, we would even let newborn babies join. Our monks have extensively studied the psychology of young men from 27 different nationalities and have engineered a curriculum just for them. If you still believe you deserve this opportunity, please talk to us - we will take such requests very seriously.

What genders do you accept to join?

Our grand plan is to create several programs catering to different genders in the next few years. Since monastic life recommends abstinence from gross and subtle sex, our living space is designed for unisex residency. Our monks have experience facilitating the growth of those who are biologically male and identify as heterosexuals. We want to serve as many people as we can, but just do not have the resources to do so in the existing ashram. If you feel like you can help us with creating programs catering to more communities, please talk to us - we will actively pursue a conversation with you!

I have a physical disability. How do you accommodate me?

The process of Bhakti monasticism engages body, mind and heart, and so a physical disability is not a disqualification. However, if your disability requires assistance from a nurse/parent/medic or some support personnel, we would be happy to connect you with other initiatives that better facilitate your desire for spiritual growth. Our current ashram was built a century ago and is not currently built with disability accommodation in mind (although we are working on fixing as much as the city allows us to)

Can I bring my pets with me?

We love animals and have deep respect for their lovers. However, the ashram is not designed keeping pets in mind and there is a good chance they will hurt themselves or fall sick in the ashram. For the duration of the challenge, we suggest creating an alternative mode of care for your pet that does not require your physical presence.

I am currently a student and do not earn. Do you have scholarships?

For students interested in ashram life and who cannot afford the challenge cost, please talk to us by emailing at [email protected]

I come from a religious background. Will I be converted or forced to accept some beliefs?

The purpose of this ashram is to provide a bird’s eye view of living as a monk practicing Bhakti. Our ashram does have a list of principles that we request participants to adhere to - and we have worked hard to ensure a focus on essences rather than rituals. That being said, we have no desire to convert anyone - it is just a liability for us. In fact, we want to share principles of tolerance and love of all living and nonliving entities. Several participants have mentioned how following some of these principles have helped them with their personal religious faiths. If you have concerns, please talk to us

Can I just check out the ashram before I commit to doing this for a month?

Science says that human attention is becoming a priceless commodity. And science also says that it can take anywhere between 30 - 90 days to build a positive habit through your neural pathways. So even scientifically speaking, to actually get the benefit of the challenge, you must atleast give 31 days to the lifestyle choice you are making. If you still feel comfortable first checking out the ashram, join us for our ashram retreats that happen frequently (

I don’t think I can do this - it seems too intense

Everyone uses the age old adage “No pain, no gain”. We are here to meditate on your happiness, and pain is just a short transitory phase as part of the process. But do you know what would be really painful? Seeing you struggle with the same problems. Seeing you seeing your plans for change dissolve after a few hours. Seeing you worry about your career and finances because you are unable to make the right choice. Seeing you deal with health problems which were so much easier to cure when you were younger. Seeing the disappointment on the faces of your loved ones when you struggle to be there for them. It is that frustration that is crippling young men like you everywhere. All we ask is for you to be invested in your happiness - everything becomes clear when you know what you want. And we will all help you get there. If you still have concerns, talk to us.

I am in need of other accommodations/I have other concerns. What should I do?

Please talk to us and we will attempt to return a satisfying response as soon as possible.

How does the challenge work?

The Monk Intensive is a 31 day residential challenge for young men who are unmarried or not in an active relationship between 18 and under 36 years of age. All participants will reside at our ashram accommodation in Atlanta. The program starts at the beginning of the month with a 2 day orientation and ends on the last day of the month with a farewell - so we expect all participants to start and end at the same time (hence the urgency for you to register for next month’s challenge!). The learning happens through a flexible curriculum of study, a weekly routine of self realization activities and an opportunity to perform Bhakti through an amalgam of communal service and skillset driven projects. The presence of like-minded cohorts and mature caring teachers makes the process not just easy, but deliciously fresh and sustainably pleasurable. The ashram can only accommodate upto 10 residential participants - so book your spot while spaces last!

What is the exact curriculum?

The curriculum is based on learning, living and loving.

Learning involves a study of books introducing monasticism and Bhakti Yoga under the tutelage of monks through questioning, presentations, group discussions and role playing.

Living involves performing a collection of routine and special activities, but with the vision of principles learned from our readings, in cohesion with monk etiquettes taught through character building exercises.

Loving involves becoming an instrument of compassion and extending our bodies and minds to serve our peers, mentors and the general public in service of their needs. The fusion of these 3 actions enables not just character development, but competence enablement and consciousness elevation. And the amount of fun we have is unbelievable. To understand it, you just have to experience it yourself!

What major lifestyle changes are involved?

i) As a monk, we expect everyone to be clean, disciplined and enthusiastic to learn. No, you do not have to shave up and you do not have to wear monk robes - even if you wanted to, we would need to have a conversation about what your intention is. Just keep your hair regularly cleaned and wear clean white pants/shirts that you wash regularly.

ii) We abhor violence of any kind. We abstain from eating meat, fish, eggs, aphrodisiacs like onion, garlic etc., extremely spicy food, and anything cooked from outside the ashram. We cook under guidance in a community and feed ourselves healthy tasty plant based meals.

iii) Getting high does not have to hurt - so we avoid external stimulants. We avoid consumption of intoxicants including but not limited to alcohol, cigarettes, vaping devices, recreational drugs.

iv) We want to redefine love and how we exercise our hearts so we do not get confused by lust. To help us better understand relationships through monasticsm, we abstain from gross sex with any people for the duration of the program.

v) The future is unpredictable, but controlling it pushes us into the abyss of greed. To help overcome the reactionary responses of greed in tempting situations, we do not gamble - either at casinos/lotteries etc., or through personal betting on sports/stocks/crypto etc.

vi) We believe that a technology detox is a big part of dealing with dopamine and hormonal imbalances that are hurting our health and resolve. We try to self-control our internet and device usage to avoid access to sites dealing with porn, darkweb, trafficking, violent movies etc. during the challenge

vii) Being open to learning also requires being open to suggestion and feedback. Your monk mentors will request action items for you to follow based on their personal interactions with you or the immediate need. Many times, they may only explain their reasoning after you have gone through the experience. Your peers may pass feedback that is not always palatable based on time, place and circumstance. And in those moments, your response defines your willingness and ability to grow.

viii) But the most important lifestyle change is what happens on the inside. Your intention changes by leaps with just a few healthy choices. BE READY to experience the changes in your neurology and emotions. Since we have not experienced so much energy for quite some time, participants can feel overwhelmed if they are not ready to expect that their life will change massively if they choose to change.

Can I stay in touch with family and friends during the challenge?

We are not for social isolation. You can stay in touch with them the way you would normally. There are only 2 requests: if connecting with your family and friends means you will break a principle in the challenge (check the above lifestyle question), then we would suggest you arrange another way of connecting with them (a vegan restaurant instead of a bar, over a call instead of in-person etc.). Second, your family is like our family, so they can come over to one of our nature retreats or other initiatives. But we do not have the ability to host them in the monastery space.

Can I work while on the challenge?

It is just 31 days, are you really certain you would not be able to take off from work/school? We strongly recommend full time participation in the challenge. If you are desperate to join but cannot give up your work for a month, please talk to us

Are you able to take care of basic needs?

All essential material needs such as food/water, co-sharing living space, internet, laundry facilities and shelter are provided by the monastery. Please note that the monastery will not be able to compensate any amount for personal issues concerning pre-existing medical conditions, or in the unlikely event of a medical emergency. To travel around, we have a few vehicles, but use of personal vehicles may be required in case of nature retreats and special events. Clothing is a responsibility of the participants.

Can I stay for more or less than 1 month?

To just look at our experience, join one of our weekend ashram retreats at http://tinyurl.com/monkretreat. To stay for more than one month, you must first complete the 1 month challenge. At the end of the challenge, your mentor monk will talk to you about how you could stay longer.

What is this program not?

i) It is not a fast track way to set Guinness records for sense control. We do reduce unnecessary complexities in life, but not for self aggrandizement or influencer marketing. Our aim is simplicity by higher internal happiness, not raw detachment and austerity.

ii) Our program is not a substitute for clinical medicine - please visit a doctor for issues including but not limited to clinical depression, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, suicidal tendencies etc. (Bhakti does help significantly, but that is only if practiced sincerely for years under supervision, not when somebody is already in a crisis and wants a quick fix solution).

iii) This is not a program that makes compromises in principles. If you feel weak about giving up some habits, consider joining our weekend retreats at http://tinyurl.com/monkretreat

What if I am unhappy with the results?

If you have even lived with our monks and not done anything else other than eat the food they cook, you would not be asking this question. But if you still feel that way, we will treat you to a full dinner - on the house - with AS MANY friends and family you want to invite at an amazing vegan restaurant in Atlanta. If you don’t like the place we take you to, we will do a second dinner for all of you at a vegan restaurant of your choice. And everything we gave you during the challenge is yours to keep. We are not trying to do a business transaction here - we are interested in changing lives, or atleast making great memories with amazing friends.

How do I know if this is right for me?

If you are a young man, seeking genuine empowerment in your focus, execution, emotions and consciousness, then this is for you. You do not need any prerequisite experience in monasticism or any yoga philosophy - just an open heart. Our students have been graduates from engineering universities, software engineers, musicians, teachers, historians, social media marketers, chefs - almost everything under the sky. The real question is: when will you realize that you waited too long to start?

Welcome to the Inner Revolution

The #1MillionMonks project is an ambitious undertaking to empower young men to revitalize their inner monastic. And the march to 1 million starts with you.

By entering your email address, you are not just subscribing to another newsletter. You have taken the first step to ignite a revolution in the heart. And inspired a generation to rewrite history for our collective good.

This is not a site for personal disclosure of mental health distress, suicidal thoughts or behaviors. If you are in crisis, please call 911 or reach out to your nearest emergency department for assistance.