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How does one get initiated to be a Anagarika?
Does the Anagarika live in monestary/retreat centres?
Can one be Anagarika who takes 8 priseps and be living in the worldy life…I mean work to support oneself economically and live in the society?
Thanks you for answers.
Hi Vani,
Really, you can do any of these! The word anagarika means “homeless”, which implies that you would normally be staying in a monastery or perhaps at a retreat centre. However, people who keep the eight precepts but still live at home sometimes also call themselves anagarikas, a famous example being anagarika Dharmapāla, the founder of the Mahabodhi Society of India. Here he is:
To be an anagarika, simply take the eight precepts. You can do this on your own or in the presence of a spiritual teacher, especially a monastic.
It is wonderful that you are so committed to spiritual practice! Be careful, however, with trying too hard. It can be difficult to keep all eight precepts in an ordinary lay setting. Please make sure you don’t harm yourself, for instance, by not eating enough. On the other hand, if this comes quite naturally to you, then it’s a powerful way of furthering your spiritual life. I wish all the very best!
One item of Precept 8 seems hard to imagine for me.
" Nacca-gīta-vādita-visūka-dassanā mālā-gandha-vilepana-dhāraṇa-maṇḍana-vibhūsanaṭṭhānā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṁ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from dancing, singing, music, watching shows, wearing garlands, beautifying myself with perfumes & cosmetics.
If done properly does the precept demand one forego radio etc…?
Yes. However, if you go somewhere, like a cafe or shop and there is music playing then you didn’t really chose to have music inflicted on you. Whereas if you go to concert or play some music on your stereo/headphones then it’s quite different. It doesn’t stop you getting songs stuck in your head completely but it lessens the opportunity. The bus driver might still be playing ‘eye of the tiger’ at 7am 
It’s not really about the radio as such, but about why you are listening to it. Is it for entertainment or for some other reason? If you listen to learn, e.g. something relevant to your Buddhist practice or perhaps just the news - because knowing a bit about what’s happening in the world can be useful - then, I would say, you are fine. Of course, you can stop these other things too, but be reasonable with yourself. Let things come as naturally as you can. Too much force is usually counterproductive.
Thanks you for taking time to answer my questions. 
I naturally keeping 6 priseps. Eat only once wont be a problem, iv done peridic fasting for several years before, I had no problem. But sometimes when I’m with my family or others occasions I eat after noon.
Am I then breaking the priseps? Also the last one sleeping on high bed…I have artrosis and back problem and cant sleep on thin madrass on the floor.
Can I sleep on normal bed?
I do not want to take the 8 priseps if I’m breaking it.
Best Regards Vijay vani
I think the root issue is not losing mindfullness
as much as a pious frowning on carrying on.
But with the right music, ‘head out on the highway’ or ‘born to be wild’ or some street samba, I can be seen on the dancefloor.
According to this precept, you should eat only between dawn and midday. So there is quite a bit of flexibility. It is not required that you only have a single meal.
Just be clear when you take this precept that you will occasionally break it for family reasons.
For many precepts, including this one I would say, there is an exemption for illness! 
Use what you need, without indulging.
It’s all about what we are aiming for. Mindfulness is always good, of course, but it is also about where we find pleasure. The idea is to gradually elevate the mind beyond the ordinary pleasures of life to something far superior.
This is a great interpretation of the precept. I’m not sure if it’s generally seen that way, but makes so much more sense than seeing the precept as just concerning high beds or mere inactivity as such.
So the goal seems to be elevating the mind to find pleasure in something un-ordinary (brahmaviharas etc, I guess?). Could this goal be also framed as a goal for cultivating dispassion towards things generally perceived as pleasurable? This would make the precept regarding not eating after noon more understandable, since I’ve always wondered whether such practice is necessary if you don’t really need it to improve your meditation.
But is it really ok to practice the eight precepts as a lay person? Can it get you too far spiritually, not being able to keep up with the mundane life anymore? Is the goal to reach nibbana a prerequisite for practicing the 8 precepts? Why would you do it otherwise? Is it safe to aim for such a goal as a lay person?
Yes, I would agree with this. It’s about getting enough to eat without indulging in food. Instead one should turn towards meditation for pleasure.
I would not normally recommend lay Buddhists to keep the eight precepts, except on retreats or the uposatha days. It is just too difficult to combine with lay life, especially the eating. However, people are different. For some people, depending on what sort of life they have, it may be possible to focus more intently on spiritual practice, including meditation. In this case it may be feasible to keep the eight precepts regularly. As so often, the answer to such questions is not one-sided.
You might do it if your goal is deep meditation. This does require a significant renunciation of the five sense world.
