Sannyasi life and ceremony

Sannyas is like a rebirth into another life
a life that does not carry with it the
entanglements of the past
it is the opportunity to break the bonds of identification
with the world, family and preoccupations that
one is attached to
as well as
the conditionings that have driven the mind for
lifetimes

There are many ways to come into the spiritual path
and many practices that can be engaged
but sannyas is different in the way that it is not meant to vary
according to the whims and changing desires of the seeker
It is a traditional path that has within it the substance
of the rishis and the sages that have
completed the journey...
It is a beautiful and mysterious path that speaks
(in the form of rituals and symbols) to  the shedding
of attachment to body and mind
with the aim of uncovering eternal freedom within.

The sannyasi is different than a regular seeker in that
this one's vows are to uphold the scriptures and the light
of the tradition as well as renounce worldly drives
and pursuits. A sadhaka or seeker that has not taken
up the sannyasi cloth is more a broad seeker that is for the most
part still engaged in the world and desires to be
more peaceful and harmonious **with** life, nature, family etc...
(not to renounce them)
the sadhaka does not journey alone like the sannyasi -
he or she is still connected to society and it's activities.

If the sannyasi is found within society and is engaged
in the endeavors of work (in the world) and family etc.. then this one is to keep
the light of truth as foremost and not be pulled by the sway
of dual activities as this focus on the external is what keeps separative energies
in motion.

The goal of the sannyasi is to discover the true nature
by directly confronting mental conditionings as they arise
also practices infused with the grace of Guru are engaged
to destroy the conditionings as they emerge..

A sannyasi goes through a ceremony that is rich in tradition and meaning
First white robes are worn that symbolize purity and the freshness of
new birth. This part of the ceremony is literally
like the sannyasi's funeral as it represents dying to the old life, habits and ways
and opening the door to the path of renunciation (the laying down of all earthly attachments).
The sannyasi's head is shaved to symbolize letting go of attachment
to form and releasing vanity -- The head is naked - the symbology here
is that the sannyasi is to be like a newborn babe -- fresh as the day the form came into being. The sannyasi will also bathe in the Ganges naked.... which symbolizes releasing the conditionings into mother Ganga to purify and rinse away... and also coming in and walking the earth unstained (naked) without the experiences of worldly drama .......
****the sannyasi is literally at this point supposed to be dead to the past -
traditionally any talk of the sadhus formal life is not to pass the lips ....
the sadhus family is now satsang (or company of the wise which includes sincere sadhus
and Guru)
the preceptor or wise elder (Guru), the sole guide and is what is to
be looked to for spiritual sustenance  -
what took place in the mundane life has nothing to offer the sadhu in way of aiding with **progress
on the journey**
and spiritual progress or uncovering the non-dual reality is to be held foremost in the sadhus life now****

Rituals and chants are said during the ceremony that are intended to purify, release and
dissolve away the past life.
The sannyasi sits around a dhuni or ritual firepit as the chants are being said. A flower petal is thrown in the fire with each chant to symbolize the sannyasi's heartfelt devotion to the tradition and quest as well as the burning up of all holdings. If the sannyasi does have hair, a lock of hair is thrown in the fire to symbolize burning away attachment to form.

The sannyasi then changes into orange/saffron robes that have the meaning of burning away mental dross -- like a fire....
the sannyasi is given a dandi (a spiritual staff) as well as a begging bowl. The staff is what holds the sannyasi steady while within the journey (representative of truth and  the light of Gurus wisdom) ... this is what is to be leaned on as the journey unfolds... The begging bowl is symbolic of relying completely on grace for sustenance and strength ....  whatever is given is to be taken in gratitude and without complaint as it has come from the heart and is what will keep the body strong to continue the journey This is all the sannyasi carries as the bare feet step on the path --

***If physically the sadhu/sannyasi does not have the elements of wandering and the open earth available or the lifestyle is not permitting (which is true of the sannyasis here on this path)....  Then this one is to live as if it were true in the heart....

-  Naked is coming into the journey fresh in mind and heart with a willingness to shed the coverings   and attachments....
-  The Ganges are living waters within that purify infused with Guru's grace and compassion....
-  The staff, the light of truth (the vows and Guru's pointings) that one *leans on* and follows without waver .....
-  The begging bowl represents surrender  and relying on grace for sustenance... taking into the heart what comes in life with gratitude ......***
-  The dhuni fire pit is symbolic of the fires of purification or pure consciousness that are to burn all that is not pure to ash....

One must understand that the sannyasi symbols are truly symbolic and point to the journey within which is where the road and the end are ---  not outside in the exterior....
This is why it is such compassion that Guruji offered sannyas to westerners so that these ones could still live this life even without having roots in India or elsewhere -- because, sannyas is of the heart and has nothing to do with gender, culture etc..... these are only externals....  and are not related to freedom or the absolute -- it lives in all hearts and is the birthright of all to come into it....

The sannyasi is given a spritual name by the Guru-
** (A Guru is integral ... there is no such thing as a self-proclaimed sannyasi -- the sannyasi comes into the tradition by way of the Guru's blessing and grace... there is no other way to come into )**
The name given is infused with Guru's compassion and grace -- it's energy points to a quality that the sannyasi already posses and needs to enhance or a quality that is to be nurtured and brought forth...  The name of a sannyasi ends in ananda which means bliss --  **the bliss of fulfillment for example (Siddhananda)**
the name given is very powerful as it carries a transformative energy infused with Gurus grace ..it is symbolic of leaving the mundane world and baggage go...  and journeying forward into the land of the mystic....