Sister Bansy wrote:ex-l, do you wish to extend this intriguing thread to the PBKs ? These Maryadas are not a bad thing for divine discipline, though how much is Shrimat, as per guided by Murlis.
Omshanti. The Maryadas for PBKs have been mentioned in the Q&A thread as well as the thread on Dharana Points from Murlis/AVs in the PBK section. However, I am producing below some points based on my personal experiences:
a) Clothes: One is free to wear clothes of any kind/colour. But it should be simple, decent, avoiding colours/designs which attract the attention of others. Surrendered PBK Sisters generally wear white clothes during class or while giving Advance Course to new comers.
b) Jewellery: generally prohibited/avoided.
c) Food: The rules are almost same as BKs with emphasis on strictly vegetarian food, preferably cooked by oneself in Baba’s remembrance and consumed in Baba’s remembrance. Generally, it is the surrendered Sisters who cook at the mini-Madhubans, but I suppose the married PBK mothers also lend a helping hand when there is increased pressure of work.
d) Interaction with persons of opposite sex: Unmarried PBKs generally do not meet fellow unmarried PBKs/strangers of opposite sex in solitude within the mini-Madhubans/ Gitapathshalas. Generally it is done in the presence of some married PBK mother. Male and female PBKs sit separately in the Murli classes.
e) Entertainment: Like BKs, forms of entertainment like Cinema, TV serials, etc. are avoided. In accordance with the directions given in the Murlis, PBKs also avoid listening to songs (either BK or Bhakti) while meditating. Murli says that in times of unhappiness, one can listen to such songs which cause joy.
If any other PBK wants to correct me or add any other points they are welcome to do so.
Regards,
OGS,
Arjun