The monastic path is for people who have developed a strong desire to lead a life of renunciation and service. The training is offered to canditates who have successfully completed the first level ("Friends of Humanity") and used the training to create a community project.

This training imparts a deeper understanding of the world’s religions and scriptures, advanced techniques of meditation, as well as teach the fundamentals of priestly and monastic duties in the performance of the various rites and rituals in accordance with the yogic canon. This training is informal and ongoing, and started in 2007 in Lima, Peru and Haridwar, India.

The first stage of monastic training is to be initiated as a brahmachari (celibate noviciate), which entails developping control over the senses, hard work, and surrendering the fruits of one's actions to God and gurus. The length of this training period depends entirely on the discipline and dedication of the postulant. More information about the brahmachari's code of conduct and lifestyle can be found here.

The second stage, for succesful canditates, is to be intronized in ancient the swami order. The word swami literally means "master"—one who has masterd his mind and senses for the service of others, and to teach and inspire humanity to attain its divine potential.

Brahmacharis and swamis may also be yogacharyas (empowered yoga teachers), but not necessarily. Some monastics remain contemplatives, apart from the world; others are selfless workers, engaged in charitable projects; yet others are teachers of spirituality and impart initiation into the divine life. It all is a question of destiny.

Our Gurudev Paramahamsa Hariharananda wrote the yogacharya's Code of Conduct which you can find here.