My mom asked me: “Is there always a serious mood or do you have some fun as well?” Being back from my retreat, people asks me questions like this. I like it. They force me to evaluate my experiences and to better understand them. So is monastic life dead serious or is there fun as well?
It probably appears to many that a regulated life has little fun, but I can tell you monastics do have a sense of humor as well. Hinduism is not a very grave religion in nature. If you ever experienced a Hindu procession or temple program, you will know what I mean. It is very colorful to say the least. At the same time, there are many sadhus in India who go to extremities to be liberated in this life, but that is not the Hinduism that I speak of. Austerity has its place as well, but is not the end.
However, monastic life is dead serious in pursuance of its goal, but the path itself is not without joy. And that is the word I prefer, joy, because I’m not looking for fun, but for joy that nourishes my existence. Fun is a good joke that cracks you up, but I don’t just want a smile on my face. My existence itself should resonate joy and beauty. Gaudiya vedanta resonates joy and beauty. Even when the monks work hard and their muscles are sore, there is always joy in the background. Krishna is the giver of joy. Monastics draw within to explore that nature and turn to meditating on the holy names. They flip the world upside down and readjust their perspective. That this meditating on the holy names might be someone’s ultimate desire is foreign to most people, but those who’ve catched a glimpse will appreciate and bow down to it. They’ll see serious joy.

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