Like all spiritual communities, ashrams have historically been organized around a set of rules which serve to maintain an environment conducive to spiritual development. These rules encourage self-discipline required for the spiritual advancement and also assist the ashram’s community to co-exist more harmoniously.

A strong spiritual community, in turn, benefits each of its members and promotes individual spiritual growth. The rules and regulations of an ashram should be carefully read and considered. Residents and guests at Ajatananda Ashram are required to observe the Ashram’s guidelines earnestly in order to create a conducive atmosphere for spiritual sadhana, for themselves and for the community as a whole.

The process of sadhana is a mysterious inward journey, an attaining of an ever present state of being, which has never been non-attained. For, you are the being whom you are seeking. You are already that, which you want to be. But great effort is required to discard the persistent wrong idea that you are something other than what you really are.

— Swami Chidananda Saraswati

The success of a spiritual community does not depend on its external achievements, its organization, or the size of its membership. Rather, its bedrock is the inner spiritual life of each of its members. Therefore, ashramites need to continuously deepen their practice and strive to maintain their spiritual progress.

In keeping with this perspective, all ashramites at Ajatananda Ashram are requested to follow the major traditional observances as an essential part of their sadhana. These observances are found in many religious traditions: satya (truthfulness), ahimsa (non-violence), brahmacharya (strict continence or chastity), asteya (non-stealing), aparigraha (non-possessiveness), saucha (purity), santosha (contentment), dana (generosity), daya (compassion), maitri-karuna (loving kindness), samarpana (surrender) and monastic obedience.

Ajatananda Ashram, like all traditional ashrams in India, is a place for spiritual Awakening. Therefore, ashramites are to follow vigilantly, the four essential disciplines as a preparation for spiritual enlightenment (sadhana-chatushtaya). These disciplines are comprised of viveka (spiritual discernment), vairagya (dispassion), shat sampatti (the sixfold virtues or qualities), and mumukshutva (intense aspiration for liberation).

The sixfold virtues or qualities consist of shama (calmness of mind), dama (self-restraint), uparati (self-withdrawal), titiksha (forbearance), samadhana (one-pointedness), and shraddha (faith).

From now on, and for the rest of my life, until the inevitable moment comes, when I shall breathe my very last, my life is to be devoid of any goal, and I shall have nothing to do, inasmuch as the call that brought me to this world has been fully accomplished…!

— Swami Ajatananda Saraswati, May 1972

Ajatananda Ashram is comprised of a small number of sannyasis, brahmacharis, and fulltime volunteers and seekers. The community operates under the direction and guidance of Swami Atmananda Udasin.

The Ashram offers monastics and genuine spiritual seekers the opportunity to live together and experience contemplative life in an interreligious monastic community. After the completion of a retreat, monastic candidates or spiritual seekers may apply to stay in the Ashram as long-term resident members, and be admitted into a two-year novitiate period. This is a period of formation designed according to the needs and background of the aspirant, and generally takes the form of earnestly living within the Ashram community and embracing its way of life. After successfully completing the novitiate period, the candidate may then make a long-term commitment, and become a resident member of the Ashram community.

A structured daily timetable encourages a harmonious rhythm of sadhana and seva.

The residents (monastics and lay contemplatives) living in the ashram must be willing to be flexible with their time as required. Besides the mandatory group meditation sittings and meal times, each resident lives according to his own spiritual requirements, in conjunction with his seva and ashram responsibilities.