DHARMACAKRA

Dharmacakra is a congregation of spiritual aspirants for collective performance of Iishvara Pran'idha'na (meditation) and spiritual discussions. All will sit in rows adjacent to each other. Women and men will sit in separate rows. Anyone joining dharmacakra (after Iishvara Pran'idha'na has started) will silently occupy a suitable seat in proper order.
Iishvara Pran'idha'na should be performed at a scheduled time. After the expiry of the time of Iishvara Pran'idha'na fixed by an a'ca'rya/a', as soon as the signal is given, everyone (including those still in meditation) should be ready to join the collective meeting.

The following mantra will be recited three times at the beginning of Iishvara Pran'idha'na:

Sam'gacchadhvam'
sam'vadadhvam'
sam' vo mana'm'si ja'nata'm,
Deva'bha'gam'
yatha'pu'rve
sam'ja'na'na' upa'sate.

Sama'nii va a'ku'tih
sama'na' hrdaya'nivah,
Sama'namastu vo mano
yatha' vah susaha'sati.

(Let us move together
let us sing together,
let us come to know our minds together,
let us share like the sages of the past,
so that all people may enjoy the universe.

Unite our intentions,
let our hearts be inseparable.
Our minds are as one mind,
as we, to truly know one another,
become one.)

 

Directions

(1) Dharmacakra should be organized every Sunday at a time directed by the local a'ca'rya/a'. On festival days also, dharmacakra may be held.

(2) When in good health, one must participate in the weekly dharmacakra. In case one is unable to attend the dharmacakra at the appointed time due to involvement in governmental duties or service to patients, one should go to the ja'grti any time that day and perform Iishvara Pran'idha'na. If even that is not possible, one should completely forgo one principal meal at the end of that week.

(3) In dharmacakra everybody will sit on common seats and wear clothes acceptable to the society.

(4) Non-Margis having an ardent spiritual longing may attend dharmacakra as a spectator or as audience. In that case they will have to make known their intentions to and obtain prior permission from the ja'grti manager. Only Ánanda Margiis are entitled to ask or answer questions at dharmacakra. It is the exclusive prerogative of the ja'grti manager to allow or disallow a non-Margi to be present at dharmacakra. Tattvasabha' [spiritual conference] should be arranged for the convenience of spiritually inquisitive non-Margiis.

 

(source: Cara'carya Part I)