SANNYASA ASRAMA*****PART 1/5*****

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SANNYASA ASRAMA*****PART 1/5*****

 

Bg 2.15

yam hi na vyathayanty ete

purusam purusarsabha

sama-duhkha-sukham dhiram

so 'mrtatvaya kalpate

O best among men [Arjuna], the person who is not disturbed by happiness and

distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation.

PURPORT

Anyone who is steady in his determination for the advanced stage of spiritual

realization and CAN EQUALLY TOLERATE THE ONSLAUGHTS OF DISTRESS AND HAPPINESS IS

CERTAINLY A PERSON ELIGIBLE FOR LIBERATION. In the varnasrama institution, THE

FOURTH STAGE OF LIFE, NAMELY THE RENOUNCED ORDER (SANNYASA), IS A PAINSTAKING

SITUATION. BUT ONE WHO IS SERIOUS ABOUT MAKING HIS LIFE PERFECT SURELY ADOPTS

THE SANNYASA ORDER OF LIFE IN SPITE OF ALL DIFFICULTIES. The difficulties

usually arise from having to sever family relationships, to give up the

connection of wife and children. But if anyone is able to tolerate such

difficulties, surely his path to spiritual realization is complete.

Bg 16.1-3

IN THE VARNASRAMA INSTITUTION THE SANNYASI, OR THE PERSON IN THE RENOUNCED

ORDER OF LIFE, IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE HEAD OR THE SPIRITUAL MASTER OF ALL THE

SOCIAL STATUSES AND ORDERS. A brahmana is considered to be the spiritual master

of the three other sections of a society, namely, the ksatriyas, the vaisyas and

the sudras, but a sannyasi, who is on the top of the institution, is considered

to be the spiritual master of the brahmanas also. For a sannyasi, the first

qualification should be fearlessness. BECAUSE A SANNYASI HAS TO BE ALONE

WITHOUT ANY SUPPORT OR GUARANTEE OF SUPPORT, HE HAS SIMPLY TO DEPEND ON THE

MERCY OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. IF HE THINKS, "AFTER I LEAVE MY

CONNECTIONS, WHO WILL PROTECT ME?" HE SHOULD NOT ACCEPT THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF

LIFE. One must be fully convinced that Krsna or the Supreme Personality of

Godhead in His localized aspect as Paramatma is always within, that He is

seeing everything and that He always knows what one intends to do. One must

thus have firm conviction that Krsna as Paramatma will take care of a soul

surrendered to Him. "I shall never be alone," one should think. "Even if I live

in the darkest regions of a forest I shall be accompanied by Krsna, and He will

give me all protection." That conviction is called abhayam, without fear. This

state of mind is necessary for a person in the renounced order of life. Then he

has to purify his existence. There are so many rules and regulations to be

followed in the renounced order of life. MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, A SANNYASI IS

STRICTLY FORBIDDEN TO HAVE ANY INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH A WOMAN. HE IS EVEN

FORBIDDEN TO TALK WITH A WOMAN IN A SECLUDED PLACE. Lord Caitanya was an ideal

sannyasi, and when He was at Puri His feminine devotees could not even come

near to offer their respects. THEY WERE ADVISED TO BOW DOWN FROM A DISTANT

PLACE. THIS IS NOT A SIGN OF HATRED FOR WOMEN AS A CLASS, BUT IT IS A STRICTURE

IMPOSED ON THE SANNYASI NOT TO HAVE CLOSE CONNECTIONS WITH WOMEN. One has to

follow the rules and regulations of a particular status of life in order to

purify his existence. For a sannyasi, intimate relations with women and

possession of wealth for sense gratification are strictly forbidden. The ideal

sannyasi was Lord Caitanya Himself, and we can learn from His life that He was

very strict in regards to women. Although He is considered to be the most

liberal incarnation of Godhead, accepting the most fallen conditioned souls, He

strictly followed the rules and regulations of the sannyasa order of life in

connection with association with woman. One of His personal associates, namely

Chota Haridasa, was personally associated with Lord Caitanya along with His

other confidential personal associates, but somehow or other this Chota

Haridasa looked lustily on a young woman, and Lord Caitanya was so strict that

He at once rejected him from the society of His personal associates. Lord

Caitanya said, "FOR A SANNYASI OR ANYONE WHO IS ASPIRING TO GET OUT OF THE

CLUTCHES OF MATERIAL NATURE AND TRYING TO ELEVATE HIMSELF TO THE SPIRITUAL

NATURE AND GO BACK HOME, BACK TO GODHEAD, FOR HIM, LOOKING TOWARD MATERIAL

POSSESSIONS AND WOMEN FOR SENSE GRATIFICATION--NOT EVEN ENJOYING THEM, BUT JUST

LOOKING TOWARD THEM WITH SUCH A PROPENSITY--IS SO CONDEMNED THAT HE HAD BETTER

COMMIT SUICIDE BEFORE EXPERIENCING SUCH ILLICIT DESIRES." SO THESE ARE THE

PROCESSES FOR PURIFICATION.

Bg 16.1-3

As far as simplicity is concerned, not only should a particular order of life

follow this principle, but every member, be he in the brahmacari asrama, or

grhastha asrama, or vanaprastha asrama or sannyasa asrama. ONE MUST LIVE VERY

SIMPLY.

SB Introduction

While He was contemplating accepting the sannyasa order, it so happened that

Kesava Bharati, a sannyasi of the Mayavadi school and resident of Katwa (in

Bengal), visited Navadvipa and was invited to dine with the Lord. When Kesava

Bharati came to His house, the Lord asked him to award Him the sannyasa order

of life. THIS WAS A MATTER OF FORMALITY. THE SANNYASA ORDER IS TO BE ACCEPTED

FROM ANOTHER SANNYASI. ALTHOUGH THE LORD WAS INDEPENDENT IN ALL RESPECTS,

STILL, TO KEEP UP THE FORMALITIES OF THE SASTRAS, HE ACCEPTED THE SANNYASA

ORDER FROM KESAVA BHARATI, ALTHOUGH KESAVA BHARATI WAS NOT IN THE

VAISNAVA-SAMPRADAYA (SCHOOL).

670206CC.SF

Prabhupada: So Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Prakasananda Sarasvati, they are now

together. Now there will be discussion. Now Prakasananda Sarasvati, he (is)

asking Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "I think Your name is Sri Krsna Caitanya, and You

are disciple, You have accepted this renounced order of life from Kesava

Bharati." AS I'VE EXPLAINED TO YOU, THAT THERE ARE TEN DIFFERENT NAMES IN THE

SANKARA SAMPRADAYA OF THE SANNYASIS, AND THERE ARE 108 NAMES AMONGST THE

VAISNAVA SANNYASA. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu, although He was initiated by

Vaisnava, He took sannyasa, He accepted sannyasa, from Bharati, who belongs to

the Sankara sampradaya, Sankara sect. THE RULE IS THAT IF ONE HAS TO ACCEPT

RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE, THERE IS CEREMONY; AS THERE IS CEREMONY OF INITIATION,

THERE IS CEREMONY OF ACCEPTING THIS RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE. AND THAT CEREMONY

MUST BE PERFORMED BY ANOTHER BONA FIDE, I MEAN TO..., SANNYASI, RENOUNCED

ORDER. IT IS NOT THAT YOU TAKE YOUR CLOTH AND GET IT COLORED AND ONE DAY YOU

BECOME A SANNYASI. NO. THERE ARE CEREMONIES.

 

SB 1.3.13

This spiritual realization is obtained by tapasya, or undergoing voluntarily the

path of penance and abstinence from material pleasure. THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN

TRAINED FOR ABSTINENCE IN MATERIAL PLEASURES ARE CALLED DHIRA, OR MEN

UNDISTURBED BY THE SENSES. ONLY THESE DHIRAS CAN ACCEPT THE ORDERS OF SANNYASA,

AND THEY CAN GRADUALLY RISE TO THE STATUS OF THE PARAMAHAMSA, WHICH IS ADORED BY

ALL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

SB 5.1.27 P

THE PARAMAHAMSA STAGE IS THE TOPMOST POSITION IN RENOUNCED LIFE. IN SANNYASA,

THE RENOUNCED ORDER, THERE ARE FOUR STAGES--KUTICAKA, BAHUDAKA, PARIVRAJAKACARYA

AND PARAMAHAMSA. According to the Vedic system, when one accepts the renounced

order, he stays outside his village in a cottage, and his necessities,

especially his food, are supplied from home. This is called the kuticaka stage.

When a sannyasi advances further, he no longer accepts anything from home:

instead, he collects his necessities, especially his food, from many places.

This system is called madhukari, which literally means "the profession of the

bumblebees." AS BUMBLEBEES COLLECT HONEY FROM MANY FLOWERS, A LITTLE FROM EACH,

SO A SANNYASI SHOULD BEG FROM DOOR TO DOOR BUT NOT ACCEPT VERY MUCH FOOD FROM

ANY PARTICULAR HOUSE; HE SHOULD COLLECT A LITTLE BIT FROM EVERY HOUSE. THIS IS

CALLED THE BAHUDAKA STAGE. When a sannyasi is still more experienced, he

travels all over the world to preach the glories of Lord Vasudeva. He is then

known as parivrajakacarya. The sannyasi reaches the paramahamsa stage when he

finishes his preaching work and sits down in one place, strictly for the sake

of advancing in spiritual life. AN ACTUAL PARAMAHAMSA IS ONE WHO COMPLETELY

CONTROLS HIS SENSES AND ENGAGES IN THE UNALLOYED SERVICE OF THE LORD.

 

SB 2.4.13 P

The paramahamsa stage of existence is the highest perfectional stage of

spiritual values. ACCORDING TO SRIMATI KUNTIDEVI, THE LORD IS FACTUALLY

UNDERSTOOD BY THE PARAMAHAMSAS ONLY. As there is gradual realization of the

transcendence from impersonal Brahman to localized Paramatma to the Personality

of Godhead, Purusottama, Lord Krsna, similarly there is gradual promotion of

one's situation in the spiritual life of sannyasa. Kuticaka, bahudaka,

parivrajakacarya and paramahamsa are gradual progressive stages in the

renounced order of life, sannyasa, and Queen Kuntidevi, the mother of the

Pandavas, has spoken about them in her prayers for Lord Krsna (Canto One,

Chapter Eight). THE PARAMAHAMSAS ARE GENERALLY FOUND AMONG BOTH THE

IMPERSONALISTS AND THE DEVOTEES, BUT ACCORDING TO SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM (AS CLEARLY

STATED BY KUNTIDEVI), PURE BHAKTI-YOGA IS UNDERSTOOD BY THE PARAMAHAMSAS, AND

KUNTIDEVI HAS ESPECIALLY MENTIONED THAT THE LORD DESCENDS (PARITRANAYA

SADHUNAM) ESPECIALLY TO AWARD BHAKTI-YOGA TO THE PARAMAHAMSAS. SO ULTIMATELY

THE PARAMAHAMSAS, IN THE TRUE SENSE OF THE TERM, ARE UNALLOYED DEVOTEES OF THE

LORD. Srila Jiva Gosvami has directly accepted that the highest destination is

bhakti-yoga, by which one accepts the transcendental loving service of the

Lord. Those who accept the path of bhakti-yoga are the factual paramahamsas.

 

SB 3.22.19 P

After fulfilling his responsibility to produce a nice child, one should take

sannyasa and engage in the perfectional paramahamsa stage. paramahamsa refers

to the most highly elevated perfectional stage of life. There are four stages

within sannyasa life, and paramahamsa is the highest order. The

Srimad-Bhagavatam is called the paramahamsa-samhita, the treatise for the

highest class of human beings. THE PARAMAHAMSA IS FREE FROM ENVY. IN OTHER

STAGES, EVEN IN THE HOUSEHOLDER STAGE OF LIFE, THERE IS COMPETITION AND ENVY,

BUT SINCE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE HUMAN BEING IN THE PARAMAHAMSA STAGE ARE

COMPLETELY ENGAGED IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, OR DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, THERE IS NO

SCOPE FOR ENVY.

Madhya 5.142-143

The mystery of the sannyasa-danda (staff) of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has been

explained by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

accepted the order of sannyasa from a Mayavadi sannyasi. The Mayavadi sannyasis

generally carry one staff, or danda. Taking advantage of Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu's absence, Srila Nityananda Prabhu broke the staff into three parts

and threw it into the river now known as the Danda-bhanga-nadi. In the sannyasa

order there are four divisions--kuticaka, bahudaka, hamsa and paramahamsa. ONLY

WHEN THE SANNYASI REMAINS ON THE KUTICAKA AND BAHUDAKA PLATFORMS CAN HE CARRY A

STAFF. HOWEVER, WHEN ONE IS ELEVATED TO THE STATUS OF HAMSA OR PARAMAHAMSA,

AFTER TOURING AND PREACHING THE BHAKTI CULT, HE MUST GIVE UP THE SANNYASA

STAFF.

SB 3.24.35 P

In this age of Kali-yuga sannyasa is prohibited because persons in this age are

all sudras and cannot follow the rules and regulations of sannyasa life. It is

very commonly found that so-called sannyasis are addicted to nonsense--even to

having private relationships with women. This is the abominable situation in

this age. ALTHOUGH THEY DRESS THEMSELVES AS SANNYASIS, THEY STILL CANNOT FREE

THEMSELVES FROM THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF SINFUL LIFE, NAMELY ILLICIT SEX LIFE,

MEAT-EATING, INTOXICATION AND GAMBLING. SINCE THEY ARE NOT FREED FROM THESE

FOUR PRINCIPLES, THEY ARE CHEATING THE PUBLIC BY POSING AS SVAMIS.

IN KALI-YUGA THE INJUNCTION IS THAT NO ONE SHOULD ACCEPT SANNYASA. OF COURSE,

THOSE WHO ACTUALLY FOLLOW THE RULES AND REGULATIONS MUST TAKE SANNYASA.

Generally, however, people are unable to accept sannyasa life, and therefore

Caitanya Mahaprabhu stressed, kalau nasty eva nasty eva na-sty eva gatir

anyatha. In this age there is no other alternative, no other alternative, no

other alternative than to chant the holy name of the Lord: Hare Krsna, Hare

Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF SANNYASA LIFE IS TO BE IN

CONSTANT COMPANIONSHIP WITH THE SUPREME LORD, EITHER BY THINKING OF HIM WITHIN

THE HEART OR HEARING OF HIM THROUGH AURAL RECEPTION. IN THIS AGE, HEARING IS

MORE IMPORTANT THAN THINKING BECAUSE ONE'S THINKING MAY BE DISTURBED BY MENTAL

AGITATION, BUT IF ONE CONCENTRATES ON HEARING, HE WILL BE FORCED TO ASSOCIATE

WITH THE SOUND VIBRATION OF KRSNA. Krsna and the sound vibration "Krsna" are

nondifferent, so if one loudly vibrates Hare Krsna, he will be able to think of

Krsna immediately. This process of chanting is the best process of

self-realization in this age; therefore Lord Caitanya preached it so nicely for

the benefit of all humanity.

 

Adi 15.14

It is sometimes said that Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not approve of the

acceptance of the sannyasa order in this Kali-yuga because in the sastra it is

said:

asvamedham gavalambham

sannyasam pala-paitrkam

devarena sutotpattim

kalau panca vivarjayet

"In this Kali-yuga the performance of the asvamedha-yajna or gomedha-yajna,

sacrifices in which a horse or cow is offered, should be avoided, as should the

acceptance of sannyasa, the renounced order of life." (Brahma-vaivarta Purana,

Krsna-janma-khanda 185.180)

Nevertheless we see that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself accepted sannyasa

and approved of the sannyasa of His elder brother, Visvarupa. It is clearly

said here, bhala haila,----visvarupa sannyasa karila pitr-kula,

matr-kula,----dui uddharila. THEREFORE, SHOULD IT BE THOUGHT THAT SRI CAITANYA

MAHAPRABHU MADE STATEMENTS THAT ARE CONTRADICTORY? NO, ACTUALLY HE DID NOT. IT

IS RECOMMENDED THAT ONE ACCEPT SANNYASA TO DEDICATE HIS LIFE FOR THE SERVICE OF

THE LORD, AND EVERYONE MUST TAKE THAT KIND OF SANNYASA, FOR BY ACCEPTING SUCH

SANNYASA ONE RENDERS THE BEST SERVICE TO BOTH HIS PATERNAL AND MATERNAL

FAMILIES. But one should not accept the sannyasa order of the Mayavada school,

which has practically no meaning. WE FIND MANY MAYAVADI SANNYASIS SIMPLY

LOITERING IN THE STREET THINKING THEMSELVES BRAHMAN OR NARAYANA AND SPENDING

ALL DAY AND NIGHT BEGGING SO THEY CAN FILL THEIR HUNGRY BELLIES. MAYAVADI

SANNYASIS HAVE BECOME SO DEGRADED THAT THERE IS A SECTION OF THEM WHO EAT

EVERYTHING, JUST LIKE HOGS AND DOGS. IT IS SUCH DEGRADED SANNYASA THAT IS

PROHIBITED IN THIS AGE. Actually, Srila Sankaracarya's principles for the

acceptance of sannyasa were very strict, but later the so-called Mayavadi

sannyasis became degraded because of their false philosophy, which propounds

that by accepting sannyasa one becomes Narayana. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

rejected that kind of sannyasa. But the acceptance of sannyasa is one of the

items of the varnasrama-dharma. How then can it be rejected?

 

760905rc.vrn

Prabhupada: ...SANNYASI SHOULD GO ON PREACHING, PREACHING, PREACHING, PREACHING.

Practically, I was sitting here in Vrndavana, in Radha-Damodara temple. So at

the age of seventy years, nobody goes out. At least from Vrndavana nobody goes

at the age of seventy years. But Krsna asked me. I thought that I must go, Guru

Maharaja wanted it, Caitanya Mahaprabhu... Let me try. SO IF I HAD NOT GONE THEN

THIS INSTITUTION WOULD NOT HAVE DEVELOPED. SO THIS IS PRACTICAL. Mahatah

nirvicaranam.(?) Mahatma, they must move. So when there is absolute necessity

they may stay. OTHERWISE, THEY MUST MOVE. MOVE ON, MOVE ON, MOVE ON, MOVE ON,

MOVE ON. NO STAYING. THAT IS PRINCIPLE. NO STAYING. I am this old age, I cannot

move... My... I... So many... Still I am traveling all over the world. I am

simply interested that whatever I have done, it may not be vanquished in my

absence. Let me go and encourage them. Otherwise, I have no capacity to move

now. But still I am moving. Only for this purpose. Girinam grhna-cetasam.(?) So

a sannyasi must move. A SANNYASI MUST NOT STAY ANYWHERE MORE THAN THREE DAYS.

THAT IS THE PRINCIPLE. So he was moving, but his moving is creating

disturbances here. Therefore I have stopped. And besides that, a temple is

nirguna. A SANNYASI IS FORBIDDEN TO STAY ANYWHERE ELSE, BUT IN A TEMPLE HE CAN

STAY FOR MORE THAN THREE DAYS PROVIDED THERE IS BUSINESS. OTHERWISE, THERE IS

NO NECESSITY. SO THIS IS THE EXCLUSION

 

740526SB.ROM

Prabhupada: Yam pravrajantam. Pravrajantam means to leave home in renounced

order of life. That is called pravrajantam. Therefore a sannyasi is called

parivrajakacarya. A SANNYASI IS SUPPOSED TO BE WANDERING WITHOUT ANY SHELTER.

THAT IS CALLED PRAVRAJYA. So Sukadeva Gosvami, he remained sixteen years within

the womb of his mother. He did not come out. HE WAS HEARING HIS FATHER WITHIN

THE WOMB. SO THIS IS CALLED PARAMAHAMSA. SO A PARAMAHAMSA DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY

REFORMATORY PROCESS, BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY REFORMED.

SB 4.19.23 P

At the present moment, however, many so-called sannyasis or mendicants have no

understanding of God consciousness. Such sannyasa was introduced by Indra

because of his jealousy of Maharaja Prthu, and what he introduced is again

appearing in the age of Kali. PRACTICALLY NONE OF THE SANNYASIS IN THIS AGE ARE

BONA FIDE.

LoB 32

In Kali-yuga, however, the entire system has gone topsy-turvy. The student

lives in luxury at the expense of the father or the father-in-law. When the

educated, indulgent student becomes a householder by the strength of university

degrees, he requires money by all means for all kinds of bodily comfort, and

therefore he cannot spare even a penny for the so-called vanaprasthas and

sannyasis. THE VANAPRASTHAS AND SANNYASIS NOWADAYS ARE THOSE WHO WERE

UNSUCCESSFUL IN FAMILY LIFE. THUS THE SO-CALLED SANNYASIS TRY TO CONSTRUCT

ANOTHER HOME IN THE NAME OF THE SANNYASA-ASRAMA AND GLIDE DOWN INTO ALL SORTS

OF LUXURY AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS. SO ALL THESE VARNAS AND ASRAMAS HAVE NOW

BECOME SO MANY TRANSCENDENTAL FRAUDS.

But that does not mean that there is no reality in them. One should not

conclude that there is no good money simply because one has met with

counterfeit coins. The sannyasa-asrama is meant for complete freedom from all

anxieties, and it is meant for uplifting the fallen souls, who are merged in

materialism. BUT UNLESS THE SANNYASI IS FREED FROM ALL CARES AND ANXIETIES,

LIKE A WHITE CLOUD, IT IS DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO DO ANYTHING GOOD FOR SOCIETY.

SB 3.24.34 P

Actually, sannyasa, or renunciation of material household life, necessitates

complete absorption in Krsna consciousness and immersion in the self. ONE DOES

NOT TAKE SANNYASA, FREEDOM FROM FAMILY RESPONSIBILITY IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF

LIFE, TO MAKE ANOTHER FAMILY OR TO CREATE AN EMBARRASSING TRANSCENDENTAL FRAUD

IN THE NAME OF SANNYASA. THE SANNYASI'S BUSINESS IS NOT TO BECOME PROPRIETOR OF

SO MANY THINGS AND AMASS MONEY FROM THE INNOCENT PUBLIC.

Antya 12.113

"Have I taken sannyasa for such happiness? Accepting this oil would bring My

ruination, and all of you would laugh.

Antya 12.113P

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu declared Himself a strict sannyasi. A SANNYASI IS NOT

SUPPOSED TO TAKE HELP FROM ANYONE. Retaining a masseur to give Him massages

would indicate His DEPENDENCE ON OTHERS. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to

follow very strictly the principle of not accepting anyone's help for His

bodily comfort.

Note: now we see many big temples ruled by **boards** temple presidents and

sannyasis etc(many secret inside dealings) in “equal?” salaries

deal? . Janmastimi etc Hindu jackpots for big pay shareout among members? THIS

is what it means to be come darkened if you take money for YOURSELF it affects

the mind and you become materialist also.

730805BG.LON

Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said that visayira anna khaile malina haya

mana. SUCH GREAT PERSONALITIES BECAME DARKENED BECAUSE THEY TOOK MONEY FROM

THEM, ANNA. IF I AM PROVIDED BY SOMEBODY WHO IS TOO MUCH MATERIALIST, THEN THAT

WILL AFFECT ME. I WILL BECOME ALSO MATERIALIST. I will also become materialist.

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu has warned that "Those who are visayi, those who are not

devotees, do not accept anything from them because it will make your mind

unclean." So therefore a brahmana and a Vaisnava, they do not accept directly

money. They accept bhiksa. Bhiksa. Bhiksa you can... Just like here it is said

bhaiksyam. Sreyo bhoktum bhaiksyam apiha loke. When you ask somebody... STILL,

BHIKSA IS ALSO SOMETIMES PROHIBITED FROM A PERSON WHO IS TOO MUCH MATERIALIST.

But bhiksa is allowed for sannyasis, for brahmana.

75-10-16.Letter: Jayatirtha

The local management has to be done by temple president, GBC should see

whether management is going on nicely, and if there are any discrepancies that

will be discussed at the GBC meeting in Mayapur. That is the process. SANNYASIS

ARE MEANT FOR PREACHING ONLY. THAT IS THE PRINCIPLE. BUT, CONTRARY TO THE

PRINCIPLE IF THINGS ARE BEING EMBEZZLED THEN HOW CAN I SAVE THEM. How one man

can manage the whole world affairs? This is my concern.

72-07-29. Letter: Hrdayananda

SANNYASI MUST BE INDEPENDENT AND NOT RELY UPON TEMPLES TO PAY HIS EXPENSIVE

TRAVELLING COSTS, SIMPLY HE MUST TAKE KRISHNA'S MERCY WHENEVER AND WHEREVER IT

IS OFFERED.

Note: It has become a fashion to travel the world at the exploits of temple

funds which could be used for distributing Srila Prabhupada’s

books---this sense gratification is NOT called Parivrajakacarya.

Also Srila Prabhupada just added “swami” to the former names

nowadays they CHANGE their former names.

SB 1.6.13 P

It is the DUTY OF A MENDICANT (PARIVRAJAKACARYA) TO EXPERIENCE ALL VARIETIES

OF GOD'S CREATION BY TRAVELING ALONE THROUGH ALL FORESTS, HILLS, TOWNS,

VILLAGES, ETC., TO GAIN FAITH IN GOD AND STRENGTH OF MIND AS WELL AS TO

ENLIGHTEN THE INHABITANTS WITH THE MESSAGE OF GOD. A SANNYASI IS DUTY-BOUND TO

TAKE ALL THESE RISKS WITHOUT FEAR, and the most typical sannyasi of the present

age is Lord Caitanya, who traveled in the same manner through the central Indian

jungles, enlightening even the tigers, bears, snakes, deer, elephants and many

other jungle animals. In this age of Kali, sannyasa is forbidden for ordinary

men. ONE WHO CHANGES HIS DRESS TO MAKE PROPAGANDA IS A DIFFERENT MAN FROM THE

ORIGINAL IDEAL SANNYASI. One should, however, take the vow to stop social

intercourse completely and devote life exclusively to the service of the Lord.

THE CHANGE OF DRESS IS ONLY A FORMALITY. LORD CAITANYA DID NOT ACCEPT THE NAME

OF A SANNYASI, AND IN THIS AGE OF KALI THE SO-CALLED SANNYASIS SHOULD NOT

CHANGE THEIR FORMER NAMES, FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF LORD CAITANYA. In this

age, devotional service of hearing and repeating the holy glories of the Lord is

strongly recommended, and one who takes the vow of renunciation of family life

need not imitate the parivrajakacarya like Narada or Lord Caitanya, BUT MAY SIT

DOWN AT SOME HOLY PLACE AND DEVOTE HIS WHOLE TIME AND ENERGY TO HEAR AND

REPEATEDLY CHANT THE HOLY SCRIPTURES LEFT BY THE GREAT ACARYAS LIKE THE SIX

GOSVAMIS OF VRNDAVANA.

730803BG.LON

Prabhupada: Anasritah karma-phalam karyam karma karoti yah. Do not take shelter

of your result of your activities. You must take it as duty. He is sannyasi.

Anasritam karma-phalam karyam karma karoti yah, sa sannyasi. He's actually

sannyasi. A SANNYASI DOES NOT BECOME SIMPLY BY CHANGING DRESS. NO. SANNYASI

MEANS HE'S TO WORK FOR KRSNA. WITHOUT TAKING SHELTER OF THE RESULT. It doesn't

matter. "Krsna has ordered, and Krsna's representative has ordered. Therefore I

have to do it." Karyam karma karoti yah. sa sannyasi.

681023SB.MON

Prabhupada: Well, brahmacari means he has gone out of home. Brahmacari does not

remain at home. He goes to the spiritual master's home. So there is no question

of giving wife's charge to a brahmacari. He is not at home. Do you follow? Yes.

The elderly children mean those who are married also, those who are in grhastha

life, for him, not for the brahmacari or sannyasi. Just try to understand. A

brahmacari and sannyasi does not remain at home. THE BRAHMACARI GOES TO THE

SPIRITUAL MASTER'S HOME AND THE SANNYASI, HE IS A TRAVELER FROM ONE COUNTRY TO

ANOTHER, PREACHING. SO THEY ARE NOT AT HOME. So if they are not at home, who is

taking charge? To give charge means the elderly son who is a married man, who is

living at home, the charge is given of the mother to him. Is that all right?

660824BG.NY

This is very nice point. Try to understand. The sannyasi... Just like we are

sannyasi. According to our Vedic system, we are allowed to beg alms from the

householders. The social system, the varnasrama institution, is so made that

the brahmacari, vanaprastha, and the sannyasi, and the grhastha... Grhastha

means the householder. NOW, THE BRAHMACARI WILL BEG FROM THE HOUSEHOLDER, THE

VANAPRASTHA WILL BEG FROM THE HOUSEHOLDER, AND THE SANNYASI ALSO BEG FROM THE

HOUSEHOLDER. SO HOUSEHOLDER IS THE ONLY EARNING MEMBER WHO WILL FEED ALL THESE

THREE DIFFERENT STATUS OF SOCIAL ORDERS. BUT IN THE KALI-YUGA, IN THIS AGE,

SOME UNSCRUPULOUS PERSONS, THEY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS DRESS BECAUSE THIS

DRESS IS NOT VERY COSTLY. Any kind of cotton cloth, you take, two paisa worth

from, or two cent worth, and color, and you get it orange-colored and put on.

Because in this age nobody is inquiring whether he is actually a sannyasi or

not, simply by dress... Of course, the dress is the badge.

690911AR.LON

Prabhupada: No. I cannot see. I cannot see at least my wife. BUT IF MY SONS AND

DAUGHTERS COME TO SEE ME, THEY CAN SEE. But my wife cannot see me. That is

stopped. That is the system of sannyasa. A SANNYASI CANNOT MEET HIS WIFE AGAIN.

THAT IS RENOUNCEMENT. RENOUNCEMENT MEANS RENOUNCING CONNECTION WITH WOMAN, OR

RENOUNCING SEX LIFE. THAT IS RENOUNCEMENT.

681220BG.LA

SAT NYASA, SANNYASA. THIS IS THE COMBINATION. SAT MEANS THE SUPREME, THE

EVER-EXISTING, AND NYASA MEANS RENUNCIATION. That means one who has renounced

EVERYTHING FOR SERVING THE SUPREME, he is real sannyasa. He may take this dress

or not, that doesn't matter. Anyone who has sacrificed his life for service of

the Supreme Lord, he's a sannyasi. That will be explained in the Fifth Chapter.

740312mw.vrn

Prabhupada: Those who are sudras, they should not be allowed to take sannyasa.

Only those who are QUALIFIED BRAHMANAS, they'll be allowed to take sannyasa.

741021SB.MAY

Ata saba hari ara varnasrama-dharma, niskincana haya laya krsnaika sarana.(?)

This is the... Varnasrama-dharma, that is material. VARNASRAMA IS PLANNED FOR

MATERIAL LIFE IN A SYSTEMATIC WAY SO THAT, IN DUE COURSE OF TIME, ONE MAY GIVE

UP THE FAMILY RELATIONSHIP AND TAKE SANNYASA AND COMPLETELY DEVOTE FOR KRSNA'S

SERVICE. THIS IS THE PLAN OF VARNASRAMA-DHARMA. Varnasrama-dharma is not meant

for planning something, and you remain in the family. No. The Varnasrama...

Varna means brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra. Catur-varnyam maya srstam

guna-karma-vibhagasah. Guna, not everyone is qualified in the same way.

Therefore you... The acarya will pick up that "They are meant for becoming

brahmanas. They are meant for ksatriyas." Or for coming from ksatriya family,

or the brahmana family... So first of all, these varnas, then asrama. THE

BRAHMANA, ONE WHO IS QUALIFIED AS A BRAHMANA, HE HAS TO OBSERVE THE FOUR

ASRAMAS, A BRAHMANA: THE BRAHMACARI-ASRAMA, THE GRHASTHA-ASRAMA, THE

VANAPRASTHA-ASRAMA AND SANNYASA-ASRAMA. THE KSATRIYA, THEY'LL HAVE TO OBSERVE

THREE ASRAMAS: BRAHMACARI, GRHASTHA AND VANAPRASTHA. AND THE VAISYAS, TWO

ASRAMAS: BRAHMACARI AND GRHASTHA. AND SUDRA, ONLY ONE ASRAMA, ONLY GRHASTHA. A

SUDRA IS NEVER OFFERED SANNYASA. A... ONLY THE BRAHMANA IS OFFERED.

70-04-30 Letter: Jayapataka

REGARDING YOUR QUESTIONS HOW TO OFFER RESPECTS TO SANNYASIS. EVERY SANNYASI,

EVEN IF YOU SEE A MAYAVADI SANNYASI, OFFER HIM YOUR RESPECTS--THERE WILL BE NO

HARM. As you have observed we shall follow Lord Caitanya's instruction that we

give all due respects to others regarding their position, but there is no need

of always associating with each of them. EVEN IF ONE IS VAISNAVA, BUT NOT OF

GOOD CHARACTER, WE CAN GIVE HIM THE VAISNAVA RESPECT, BUT WE CANNOT ASSOCIATE

WITH HIM.

670203CC.SF Lectures

saba namaskari' gela pada-praksalane

pada praksalana kari vasila sei sthane

Now, just see the behavior of Lord Caitanya. Although He was not in agreement

with the other party, still, because they were sannyasis, renounced order of

life, Caitanya Mahaprabhu offered His respect by bowing down before them. It is

the duty of everyone, not only between the sannyasi and sannyasi. IT IS THE

CUSTOM OF VEDIC SYSTEM. AS SOON AS ONE WOULD SEE A SANNYASI, AT ONCE HE SHOULD

OFFER HIS RESPECT. IF HE DOES NOT OFFER HIS RESPECT, THEN IT IS ENJOINED THAT

HE SHOULD FAST ONE DAY AS PUNISHMENT. HE SHOULD NOT EAT. "OH, I SAW A SANNYASI,

BUT I DID NOT OFFER MY RESPECT. THEREFORE THE PENANCE SHOULD BE THAT I SHOULD

FAST ONE DAY." THIS IS THE INJUNCTION. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu, although He was

God Himself, but His behavior and His etiquette was excellent. At once He saw

the sannyasis, He offered His respect. Pada praksalana kari vasila sei sthane.

AND IT IS THE SYSTEM THAT WHEN ONE COMES FROM OUTSIDE, HE HAS TO WASH HIS FEET

BEFORE HE ENTERS ROOM, ESPECIALLY FOR THE SANNYASIS. So He washed His feet and

sat down outside where the other sannyasis were sitting, a little off, just the

place where He washed His feet.

70-10-28. Letter: Rupanuga

I've sent the sannyasis letters requesting them to preach from different

centers. I'm glad that Subala das Swami has gone to Amsterdam. Similarly the

other three may go to other places. WHY THEY ARE TOGETHER? SANNYAS MEANS THEY

SHOULD TRAVEL EXTENSIVELY, CREATE NEW CENTERS AND NEW DEVOTEES--THAT IS

SANNYASA BUSINESS. ALSO THEY CAN CREATE LIFE MEMBERS.

70-11-13. Letter: Rupanuga

Regarding the Sannyasis, they should be INDEPENDENT. Why they should take

help from you? They are strong men, so they should manage on their OWN

strength. THAT is the TEST OF THEIR EFFECTIVE PREACHING WORK.

Note: to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books awards fearlessness--Abhay

means without fear.

SB 3.21.31

TO AWARD FEARLESSNESS TO THE COMMON MAN IS THE GREATEST ACT OF CHARITY. A

sannyasi, or one who is in the renounced order of life, should WANDER from door

to door, from village to village, from town to town and from country to country,

all over the world AS FAR AS HE IS ABLE TO TRAVEL, AND ENLIGHTEN THE

HOUSEHOLDERS ABOUT KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS.

SB 4.19.12 P

The word PAKHANDA used in this verse is sometimes pronounced PASANDA. Both of

these words indicate an imposter who presents himself as a very religious person

but in actuality is sinful. Indra took up the saffron-colored dress as a way of

cheating others. THIS SAFFRON DRESS HAS BEEN MISUSED BY MANY IMPOSTERS WHO

PRESENT THEMSELVES AS LIBERATED PERSONS OR INCARNATIONS OF GOD. IN THIS WAY

PEOPLE ARE CHEATED. As we have mentioned many times, the conditioned soul has a

tendency to cheat; therefore this quality is also visible in a person like King

Indra. It is understood that even King Indra is not liberated from the clutches

of material contamination. Thus the words amuktam iva, meaning "as if he were

liberated," are used. The saffron dress worn by a sannyasi announces to the

world that he HAS RENOUNCED ALL WORLDLY AFFAIRS and is simply engaged in the

SERVICE OF THE LORD. Such a devotee is actually a sannyasi, or liberated

person. In Bhagavad-gita (6.1) it is said:

anasritah karma-phalam

karyam karma karoti yah

sa sannyasi ca yogi ca

na niragnir na cakriyah

"One who is unattached to the fruits of his work and who works as he is

obligated is in the renounced order of life, and he is the true mystic, not he

who lights no fire and performs no work."

In other words, one who offers the results of his activities to the Supreme

Personality of Godhead is actually a sannyasi and yogi. CHEATING SANNYASIS AND

YOGIS HAVE EXISTED SINCE THE TIME OF PRTHU MAHARAJA'S SACRIFICE. This cheating

was very foolishly INTRODUCED BY KING INDRA. IN SOME AGES SUCH CHEATING IS VERY

PROMINENT, AND IN OTHER AGES NOT SO PROMINENT. It is the duty of a sannyasi to

be very cautious because, as stated by Lord Caitanya, SANNYASIRA ALPA CHIDRA

SARVA-LOKE GAYA: A LITTLE SPOT IN A SANNYASI'S CHARACTER WILL BE MAGNIFIED BY

THE PUBLIC (CC. MADHYA 12.51). THEREFORE, UNLESS ONE IS VERY SINCERE AND

SERIOUS, HE SHOULD NOT TAKE UP THE ORDER OF SANNYASA. ONE SHOULD NOT USE THIS

ORDER AS A MEANS TO CHEAT THE PUBLIC. IT IS BETTER NOT TO TAKE UP SANNYASA IN

THIS AGE OF KALI BECAUSE PROVOCATIONS ARE VERY STRONG IN THIS AGE. ONLY A VERY

EXALTED PERSON ADVANCED IN SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING SHOULD ATTEMPT TO TAKE UP

SANNYASA. ONE SHOULD NOT ADOPT THIS ORDER AS A MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD OR FOR SOME

MATERIAL PURPOSE.

Note: we now see some are so eager to live in luxury at motels, private

homes,luxury mobile homes etc exploiting the devotees and temples.

SB 3.24.42 P

Here the words anagnir aniketanah are very significant. A SANNYASI SHOULD BE

COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM FIRE AND ANY RESIDENTIAL QUARTERS. A grhastha has a

relationship with fire, either for offering sacrifices or for cooking, but a

sannyasi is freed from these two responsibilities. He does not have to cook or

offer fire for sacrifice because he is always engaged in Krsna consciousness;

therefore he has already accomplished

*****SANAYASA ASRAMA PART 2/5*****

all ritualistic performances of religion. ANIKETANAH MEANS "WITHOUT LODGING." HE

SHOULD NOT HAVE HIS OWN HOUSE, BUT SHOULD DEPEND COMPLETELY ON THE SUPREME LORD

FOR HIS FOOD AND LODGING. HE SHOULD TRAVEL.

76-02-09.Letter: Brahmananda

AS FAR AS ENTERING CREMATORIUM IS CONCERNED, NO, WE CANNOT GO. That is social

system, but we are sannyasis. A SANNYASI IS IN SPIRITUAL LIFE, NOT IN SOCIAL

LIFE AT ALL.

76-05-04.Letter: Nityananda

THE BEADS OF THE FIRST INITIATES CAN BE CHANTED ON BY ONE OF THE SANNYASIS and

the thread for brahmana initiation is herein enclosed. After the fire yajna you

can play a recording of the gayatri mantra played into the right ear of the

brahmana initiate.

76-05-23.Letter: Nityananda

On your recommendation I am accepting Danny Miller and Michael McKinly for

first initiation into Hare Krishna chanting. YOU CAN HAVE SANNYASIS CHANT ON

THEIR BEADS, AND GIVE THEM THEIR SPIRITUAL NAMES AND BEADS AT THE FIRE

SACRIFICE. They must abide by the regulative principles; no illicit-sex, no

intoxication, no gambling, and no meat-eating, and chanting minimum of 16

rounds daily. Then there will be steady and sure progress. Their spiritual

names are:

Danny--Kalaksara das

Michael--Gunavasa das

76-01-22 Letter: Jayatirtha

You have suggested that some men are best engaged in doing business. I agree.

All grhasthas who are interested in doing business should do so in full swing.

Yat karosi yad asnasi, yaj juhosi dadasi yat. yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat

kurusvamad arpanam. Let this be the guiding principle. So let all the grhasthas

who wish to, execute business full-fledgedly in the USA and in this way support

Gurukula. BUSINESS MUST BE DONE BY THE GRHASTHAS, NOT BY THE SANNYASIS OR

BRAHMACARIS. NEITHER THE SANNYASIS OR BRAHMACARIS CAN BE EXPECTED TO SUPPORT

GURUKULA. The parents must take responsibility for their children, otherwise

they should not have children. It is the duty of the individual parents. I am

not in favor of taxing the Temples. The parents must pay for the maintenance of

their children. Neither can the BBT be expected to give any loans. Now the BBT

50% for construction is pledged to the projects in India--Bombay, Kuruksetra,

Mayapur. The profits from the businesses should first go to support Gurukula

and balance may be given for the local Temple's maintenance. Grhasthas can do

business. IT IS BEST IF THE TEMPLE PRESIDENTS ARE EITHER SANNYASIS OR

BRAHMACARIS.

76-01-13.Letter: Jayatirtha

SO FAR YOUR SUGGESTION THAT THEY SEW CLOTHES FOR THE SANNYASIS DEITIES IT IS

NOT POSSIBLE. Sannyasis may have NO connection with women

75-09-04.Letter: Paramahamsa:

Regarding the restaurant, that is the defect, that if we divert our attention

more on business. Therefore it is very difficult. Things should be adjusted so

that temple programs are not hampered. THE BRAHMACARIS AND SANNYASIS MUST STICK

TO THE TEMPLE ACTIVITIES. ONLY THE GRHASTHAS CAN TAKE PART IN THE RESTAURANT.

Our aim should not be to work for profit. You American boys and girls can make

very large profit, but why you have taken to Krishna consciousness? You are not

meant for profit making but for advancing in spiritual life. So we should not

take to the restaurant for profit making at the cost of slackening of spiritual

life. This is dangerous.

75-08-04. Letter: Vedavyasa:

Regarding your questions, you may not be so advanced that you will take the

karmi remnants as prasada. The karmis should not be given so much that there is

waste. You can give them a little, and then if they like you can give them more.

This system should be introduced everywhere. I have seen myself that so much

prasada is being left. This is not good. Regarding the attitude for taking

prasada, if you think it is something palatable, so let me take more and more,

then that is sense gratification. But, still it is prasadam so it will act.

Prasad is transcendental, but one should not take too much. SANNYASIS MAY TAKE

THE MAHA-PRASADA BUT NOT TO OVEREAT. CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU WAS TAKING, BUT ON

PRINCIPLE HE WAS AVOIDING.

70-02-11 Letter: Balmukundji Parikh

According to our Sastras, the brahmacaris, the vanaprasthas, and the

sannyasis are allowed to collect alms and are considered as the children of the

society, which is composed of householders. In other words, our Vedic

civilization is the most perfect community project. Only the grhasthas are

supposed to earn money, especially the ksatriyas and the vaisyas, and the money

is distributed community-wide. The community is divided into four parts, the

brahmacari, the grhastha, the vanaprastha, and the sannyasi. OUT OF THESE FOUR

DIVISIONS, ONLY THE GRHASTHAS ARE SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN THE BRAHMACARIS, THE

VANAPRASTHAS, AND THE SANNYASIS. That is the whole program, which means if

there are 100 members in the community, three-fourths of the whole number,

namely 75%, are maintained by the one-fourth members, namely 25%. OUR MOVEMENT

IS FOR PREACHING THE SANKIRTANA VIBRATION, SO WHILE THE BRAHMACARIS AND

VANAPRASTHAS OR THE SANNYASIS TAKE TO THIS PREACHING WORK, THE GRHASTHAS OR

HOUSEHOLDERS CAN MAINTAIN THE TEMPLE AND INSTITUTION.

770513ed.hri

Prabhupada: According to Vedic civilization, the bodily identification is

divided into eight: brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, brahmacari, grhastha,

vanaprastha, and sannyasa. Varnasrama-dharma. So human civilization begins,

according to Vedic understanding, when there is varnasrama system. Otherwise it

is not human civilization. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita it is stated,

catur-varnyam maya srstam. This system should be followed. Then, gradually, one

has to come to the spiritual. Chaotic society cannot help us. There must be

systematic social order: brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, catur-varnyam, and

brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, and sannyasa. SANNYASA IS NOT VOLUNTARY, BUT

IT IS COMPULSORY. AT THE LAST STAGE ONE MUST TAKE SANNYASA. AFTER FIFTIETH YEAR

ONE MUST TAKE TO VANAPRASTHA, VANAM VRAJET. THIS IS SYSTEM. SO... SYSTEM OF

PURIFICATION, HOW TO BECOME DESIGNATIONLESS. AND IF WE KEEP THE DESIGNATION,

THEN, SASTRA SAYS, SA EVA GO-KHARAH: "ONE WHO KEEPS THE BODILY DESIGNATION,

HE'S NO BETTER THAN THE COWS AND THE ASSES, ANIMAL."

SB 3.24.40 P

Kardama Muni followed the Vedic injunction that no one in sannyasa life can

have any kind of relationship with women. But what is the position of a woman

who is left by her husband? She is entrusted to the son, and the son promises

that he will deliver his mother from entanglement. A WOMAN IS NOT SUPPOSED TO

TAKE SANNYASA. SO-CALLED SPIRITUAL SOCIETIES CONCOCTED IN MODERN TIMES GIVE

SANNYASA EVEN TO WOMEN, ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO SANCTION IN THE VEDIC LITERATURE

FOR A WOMAN'S ACCEPTING SANNYASA. Otherwise, if it were sanctioned, Kardama

Muni could have taken his wife and given her sannyasa.

67-03-14. Letter: Brahmananda

A female is never awarded the order of Sannyasam. Because a female is never

considered independent and Sannyasam was never awarded to any female in the

past by the great Acaryas like Sankara, Ramanuja etc. THE FEMALE SANNYASINS ARE

TO BE IMMEDIATELY UNDERSTOOD AS PRETENDERS OR PROSTITUTES.

Madhya 3.6

etam sa asthaya paratma-nistham

adhyasitam purvatamair mahadbhih

aham tarisyami duranta-param

tamo mukundanghri-nisevayaiva

SYNONYMS

etam--this; sah--such; asthaya--being completely fixed in;

para-atma-nistham--devotion to the Supreme Person, Krsna;

adhyasitam--worshiped; purva-tamaih--by previous; mahadbhih--acaryas; aham--I;

tarisyami--shall cross over; duranta-param--the insurmountable; tamah--the

ocean of nescience; mukunda-anghri--of the lotus feet of Mukunda; nisevaya--by

worship; eva--certainly.

"[As a brahmana from Avanti-desa said:] 'I shall cross over the

insurmountable ocean of nescience by being firmly fixed in the service of the

lotus feet of Krsna. This was approved by the previous acaryas, who were fixed

in firm devotion to the Lord, Paramatma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

Madhya 3.6P

In connection with this verse, which is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam

(11.23.57), Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that of the sixty-four

items required for rendering devotional service, acceptance of the symbolic

marks of sannyasa is a regulative principle. If one accepts the sannyasa order,

his main business is to devote his life completely to the service of Mukunda,

Krsna. IF ONE DOES NOT COMPLETELY DEVOTE HIS MIND AND BODY TO THE SERVICE OF

THE LORD, HE DOES NOT ACTUALLY BECOME A SANNYASI. IT IS NOT SIMPLY A MATTER OF

CHANGING DRESS. In Bhagavad-gita (6.1) it is also stated, anasritah

karma-phalam karyam karma karoti yah. sa sannyasi ca yogi ca: one who works

devotedly for the satisfaction of Krsna is a sannyasi. THE DRESS IS NOT

SANNYASA, BUT THE ATTITUDE OF SERVICE TO KRSNA IS.

The word paratma-nistha means being a devotee of Lord Krsna. Paratma, the

Supreme Person, is Krsna. Isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah. Those

who are completely dedicated to the lotus feet of Krsna in service are actually

sannyasis. AS A MATTER OF FORMALITY, THE DEVOTEE ACCEPTS THE SANNYASA DRESS AS

PREVIOUS ACARYAS DID. HE ALSO ACCEPTS THE THREE DANDAS. LATER VISNUSVAMI

CONSIDERED THAT ACCEPTING THE DRESS OF A TRIDANDI WAS PARATMA-NISTHA. THEREFORE

SINCERE DEVOTEES ADD ANOTHER DANDA, THE JIVA-DANDA, TO THE THREE EXISTING

DANDAS. THE VAISNAVA SANNYASI IS KNOWN AS A TRIDANDI-SANNYASI. THE MAYAVADI

SANNYASI ACCEPTS ONLY ONE DANDA, NOT UNDERSTANDING THE PURPOSE OF TRI-DANDA.

Later, many persons in the community of Siva Svami gave up the atma-nistha

(devotional service) of the Lord and followed the path of Sankaracarya. Instead

of accepting 108 names, those in the Siva Svami sampradaya follow the path of

Sankaracarya and accept the ten names of sannyasa. Although Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu accepted the then-existing order of sannyasa (namely eka-danda), He

still recited a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam about the tridanda-sannyasa

accepted by the brahmana of Avantipura. Indirectly He declared that within that

eka-danda, one danda, four dandas existed as one. Accepting ekadanda-sannyasa

without paratma-nistha (devotional service to Lord Krsna) is not acceptable to

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. IN ADDITION, ACCORDING TO THE EXACT REGULATIVE

PRINCIPLES, ONE SHOULD ADD THE JIVA-DANDA TO THE TRI-DANDA. THESE FOUR DANDAS,

BOUND TOGETHER AS ONE, ARE SYMBOLIC OF UNALLOYED DEVOTIONAL SERVICE TO THE

LORD. Because the ekadandi-sannyasis of the Mayavada school are not devoted to

the service of Krsna, they try to merge into the Brahman effulgence, which is a

marginal position between material and spiritual existence. They accept this

impersonal position as liberation. Mayavadi sannyasis, not knowing that Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu was a tridandi, think of Caitanya Mahaprabhu as an

ekadandi-sannyasi. This is due to their vivarta, bewilderment. IN

SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN EKADANDI-SANNYASI; INDEED, THE

TRIDANDI-SANNYASI IS ACCEPTED AS THE SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION OF THE SANNYASA

ORDER. BY CITING THIS VERSE FROM SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM, SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU

ACCEPTED THE SANNYASA ORDER RECOMMENDED IN SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM. The Mayavadi

sannyasis, who are enamored of the external energy of the Lord, cannot

understand the mind of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

TO DATE, ALL THE DEVOTEES OF SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU, FOLLOWING IN HIS

FOOTSTEPS, ACCEPT THE SANNYASA ORDER AND KEEP THE SACRED THREAD AND TUFT OF

UNSHAVED HAIR. THE EKADANDI-SANNYASIS OF THE MAYAVADI SCHOOL GIVE UP THE SACRED

THREAD AND DO NOT KEEP ANY TUFT OF HAIR. THEREFORE THEY ARE UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND

THE PURPORT OF TRIDANDA-SANNYASA, AND AS SUCH THEY ARE NOT INCLINED TO DEDICATE

THEIR LIVES TO THE SERVICE OF MUKUNDA. They simply think of merging into the

existence of Brahman because of their disgust with material existence

Note: below tuft of hair and sikha to be given up belongs to the mayavadi school.

Madhya 10.108

There are regulative principles governing the renounced order. One has to

perform eight kinds of sraddha. One must offer oblations to one's forefathers

and perform the sacrifice of viraja-homa THEN ONE MUST CUT OFF THE TUFT OF HAIR

CALLED A SIKHA AND ALSO GIVE UP THE SACRED THREAD. These are preliminary

processes in the acceptance of sannyasa, and Svarupa Damodara accepted all

these. HOWEVER, PURUSOTTAMA ACARYA DID NOT ACCEPT THE SAFFRON COLOR, A SANNYASI

NAME OR A DANDA, AND FOR THIS REASON HE RETAINED HIS BRAHMACARI NAME. ACTUALLY

PURUSOTTAMA ACARYA DID NOT ACCEPT THE SANNYASA ORDER FORMALLY, BUT HE RENOUNCED

WORLDLY LIFE. HE DID NOT WANT TO BE DISTURBED BY THE FORMALITY OF THE SANNYASA

ORDER. HE SIMPLY WANTED TO WORSHIP LORD SRI KRSNA WITHOUT DISTURBANCE;

THEREFORE WITH HEART AND SOUL HE TOOK UP THE RENOUNCED ORDER BUT NOT THE

FORMALITIES ACCOMPANYING IT. Renunciation means not doing anything but serving

the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna. When one acts on this platform,

trying to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is both a sannyasi and

a yogi. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita (6.1):

sri-bhagavan uvaca

anasritah karma-phalam

karyam karma karoti yah

sa sannyasi ca yogi ca

na niragnir na cakriyah

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: One who is unattached to the fruits

of his work and who works as he is obligated is in the renounced order of life,

and he is the true mystic, not he who lights no fire and performs no work."

Antya 13.61 Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments on this incident

as follows: Vaisnavas are all liberated persons, unattached to anything

material. Therefore a Vaisnava need not accept the dress of a sannyasi to prove

his exalted position. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the renounced order from

a sannyasi of the Mayavada school. Present-day Vaisnava sannyasis, however,

never think that by accepting the dress of the sannyasa order they have become

equal to Caitanya Mahaprabhu. IN FACT, A VAISNAVA ACCEPTS THE SANNYASA ORDER TO

REMAIN AN ETERNAL SERVANT OF HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER. HE ACCEPTS THE SANNYASA ORDER

KNOWING THAT HE IS UNEQUAL TO HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER, WHO IS A PARAMAHAMSA, AND HE

THINKS THAT HE IS UNFIT TO DRESS LIKE A PARAMAHAMSA. THEREFORE A VAISNAVA

ACCEPTS SANNYASA OUT OF HUMILITY, NOT OUT OF PRIDE.

SB 7.15.11 P

ANYONE, WHETHER A GRHASTHA OR A SANNYASI, CAN KEEP SMALL DEITIES of the Lord

suitably packed or, if possible, installed, and thus worship the Deities of

Radha-Krsna, Sita-Rama, Laksmi-Narayana, Lord Jagannatha or Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu by offering food prepared in ghee and then offering the sanctified

prasada to the forefathers, demigods and other living entities as a matter of

routine daily work.

SB 7.5.23-24 P

In the process of worshiping the Deity it is sometimes enjoined that one

worship the Deity within the mind. In the padma purana, Uttara-khanda, it is

said, "All persons can generally worship within the mind." The Gautamiya Tantra

states, "FOR A SANNYASI WHO HAS NO HOME, WORSHIP OF THE DEITY WITHIN THE MIND IS

RECOMMENDED."

770219r3.may

Prabhupada: NO. A SANNYASI'S NOT REQUIRED. CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU, WHEN HE WAS

TRAVELING, HE WAS NOT CARRYING ANY DEITY. Deity worship is specially

recommended for the grhasthas. That is compulsory.

67-11-23 Letter: Umapati

When a disciple misunderstands a bonafide spiritual master, the master regrets

for his inability to protect the disciple and sometimes he cries with tears in

the eyes. WE HAD AN EXPERIENCE WHILE MY GURU MAHARAJA WAS ALIVE. ONE OF HIS

DISCIPLES WHO ACCEPTED SANNYASA WAS ONE DAY FORCIBLY DRAGGED BY HIS WIFE. MY

GURU MAHARAJA LAMENTED WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES SAYING THAT HE COULD NOT SAVE THE

SOUL. We should always, therefore, be careful in the matter of being attacked by

Maya's influence and THE ONLY MEANS OF GUARANTEE IS TO CHANT HARE KRISHNA

OFFENSELESSLY.

72-07-29 Letter: Sudama

Regarding your question, ALL should offer due respect to a Sannyasi. His

position is always superior to all other inmates of the temple. HE MUST ALWAYS

MAINTAIN THAT SUPERIOR POSITION BY ACTION & BEHAVIOR.

76-01-05.Letter: Satsvarupa

YES, AS A SANNYASI AND GBC YOUR FIRST DUTY IS TO READ MY BOOKS. OTHERWISE HOW

WILL YOU PREACH? In order to remain steadily fixed in Krishna consciousness

there must be a sound philosophical understanding. Otherwise it will become

only sentiment. Whenever you find time please read my books.

69-08-30 Letter: Brahmananda

I do not know what you mean by cooperation with Kirtanananda Maharaja. IN OUR

SOCIETY EVERYONE, EITHER A BRAHMACARI OR SANNYASI OR GRHASTHA, WHO HAS DEDICATED

HIS LIFE AND SOUL FOR THIS MOVEMENT, THEY ARE ALL ON THE SAME LEVEL OF SANNYASI.

FOR THE PRESENT MOMENT, NOBODY CAN CLAIM AN EXTRA HONOR FROM HIS GODBROTHERS.

EVERYONE SHOULD TREAT HIS GODBROTHERS AS PRABHU. BUT NOBODY SHOULD TRY TO CLAIM

ANY EXTRA HONOR ON ACCOUNT OF AN OFFICIAL POSITION. I do not know why

Kirtanananda Maharaja says that his authority overrides yours. At the present

moment everyone is working under my authority. Similarly, Kirtanananda also

should work under my authority. So the condition imposed by Kirtanananda as

stated by you does not look well. A sannyasi has got four stages of elevation:

kuticak, bahudaka, parivrajaka and paramahamsa. THE SANNYASA IN THE PARAMAHAMSA

STAGE IS THE SPIRITUAL MASTER OF EVERYONE. I have asked Kirtanananda Maharaja to

work on the bahudaka stage for the present. I discussed this point with him when

I was in New Vrindaban. This stage means he should move amongst people to draw

their attention to the New Vrindaban scheme and try to attract their attention

for its development. SO HE SHOULD IMMEDIATELY BEGIN THIS BAHUDAKA PROGRAM AND

COLLECT MONEY FROM OUTSIDERS, NOT FROM INSIDERS.

70-11-27 Letter: Jayapataka

YOUR TITLE IS ACTUALLY TRIDANDI SWAMI OR TRIDANDI BHIKSU, WHICH IS THE FIRST

STAGE OF SANNYASA LIFE. Tridandi Goswami is for one in the fourth stage of

sannyasa life which is paramahamsa stage.

SB 1.13.30 P

The ekadandi-svamis are mostly fond of the Himalayas, but the Vaisnava

sannyasis are fond of Vrndavana and Puri. THE VAISNAVA SANNYASIS ARE

NAROTTAMAS, WHEREAS THE MAYAVADI SANNYASIS ARE DHIRAS. Maharaja Dhrtarastra was

advised to follow the dhiras because at that stage it was difficult for him to

become a narottama.

Madhya 6.48

It is the etiquette among sannyasis, those on the fourth platform of

spiritual life, to offer respects by saying om namo narayanaya ("I offer my

respectful obeisances unto Narayana"). This greeting is used especially by

Mayavadi sannyasis. ACCORDING TO THE SMRTI SCRIPTURES, A SANNYASI SHOULD NOT

EXPECT ANYTHING FROM ANYONE, NOR SHOULD HE CONSIDER HIMSELF IDENTICAL WITH THE

SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. Vaisnava sannyasis never think of themselves as

being one with the Lord; they always consider themselves ETERNAL SERVANTS OF

KRSNA, and they want to see everyone in the world become Krsna conscious. FOR

THIS REASON, A VAISNAVA SANNYASI ALWAYS OFFERS HIS BLESSINGS TO EVERYONE,

SAYING KRSNE MATIR ASTU ("MAY YOU BECOME KRSNA CONSCIOUS").

Adi 7.103

Mayavadi sannyasis address each other as Narayana. Whenever they see another

sannyasi, they offer him respect by calling om namo narayanaya ("I offer my

respect unto you, Narayana"), although they know perfectly well what kind of

Narayana he is. NARAYANA HAS FOUR HANDS, BUT ALTHOUGH THEY ARE PUFFED UP WITH

THE IDEA OF BEING NARAYANA, THEY CANNOT EXHIBIT MORE THAN TWO. Since their

philosophy declares that Narayana and an ordinary human being are both on the

same level, THEY SOMETIMES USE THE TERM DARIDRA-NARAYANA ("POOR NARAYANA"),

WHICH WAS INVENTED BY A SO-CALLED SVAMI WHO DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT VEDANTA

PHILOSOPHY.

Adi 3.34

Some SO-CALLED VAISNAVAS say that the renounced order of life is not accepted

in the Vaisnava sampradaya, or disciplic succession, from Lord Caitanya. This is

not a very intelligent proposition. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took the sannyasa

order from Sripada Kesava Bharati, who belonged to the Sankara sect, which

approves of only ten names for sannyasis. LONG BEFORE THE ADVENT OF SRIPADA

SANKARACARYA, HOWEVER, THE SANNYASA ORDER EXISTED IN THE VAISNAVA LINE OF

VISNUSVAMI. IN THE VISNUSVAMI VAISNAVA SAMPRADAYA, THERE ARE TEN DIFFERENT

KINDS OF SANNYASA NAMES AND 108 DIFFERENT NAMES FOR SANNYASIS WHO ACCEPT THE

TRI-DANDA, THE TRIPLE STAFF OF SANNYASA. THIS IS APPROVED BY THE VEDIC RULES.

THEREFORE VAISNAVA SANNYASA WAS EXISTENT EVEN BEFORE THE APPEARANCE OF

SANKARACARYA, ALTHOUGH THOSE WHO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT VAISNAVA SANNYASA

UNNECESSARILY DECLARE THAT THERE IS NO SANNYASA IN THE VAISNAVA SAMPRADAYA.

SB 4.19.22 P

SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL, THE SANNYASA ORDER HAS CARRIED THE TRIDANDA. LATER

SANKARACARYA INTRODUCED THE EKADANDI-SANNYASA. A TRIDANDI-SANNYASI IS A

VAISNAVA SANNYASI, AND AN EKADANDI-SANNYASI IS A MAYAVADI SANNYASI. There are

many other types of sannyasis, who are not approved by Vedic rituals. A TYPE OF

PSEUDO-SANNYASA WAS INTRODUCED BY INDRA WHEN HE TRIED TO HIDE HIMSELF FROM THE

ATTACK OF VIJITASVA, THE GREAT SON OF KING PRTHU. NOW THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT

TYPES OF SANNYASIS. SOME OF THEM GO NAKED, AND SOME OF THEM CARRY A SKULL AND

TRIDENT, GENERALLY KNOWN AS KAPALIKA. ALL OF THEM WERE INTRODUCED UNDER SOME

MEANINGLESS CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THOSE WHO HAVE A POOR FUND OF KNOWLEDGE ACCEPT

THESE FALSE SANNYASIS AND THEIR PRETENSES, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT BONA FIDE

GUIDES TO SPIRITUAL ADVANCEMENT. At the present moment some missionary

institutions, without referring to the Vedic rituals, have introduced some

sannyasis who engage in sinful activities. The sinful activities forbidden by

the sastras are illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling. THESE

SO-CALLED SANNYASIS INDULGE IN ALL THESE ACTIVITIES. THEY EAT MEAT AND FLESH,

FISH, EGGS AND JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING. THEY SOMETIMES DRINK WITH THE EXCUSE THAT

WITHOUT ALCOHOL, FISH AND MEAT, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REMAIN IN THE COLD COUNTRIES

NEAR THE ARCTIC ZONE. These sannyasis introduce all these sinful activities in

the name of serving the poor, and consequently poor animals are cut to pieces

and go into the bellies of these sannyasis. As described in the following

verses, such sannyasis are pakhandis. Vedic literature states that a person who

puts Lord Narayana on the level with Lord Siva or Lord Brahma immediately

becomes a pakhandi.

Note: observe also how Srila Prabhupada wants women whose husbands have left

home to take sannyasa to live austere lives also.

SB 4.23.20 P

When Caitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyasa, His wife, Visnupriyadevi, although

only sixteen years old, also took the vow of austerity due to her husband's

leaving home. She chanted her beads, and after finishing one round, she

collected one grain of rice. In this way, as many rounds as she chanted, she

would receive the same number of rice grains and then cook them and so take

prasada. This is called austerity. Even today in India, widows or women whose

husbands have taken sannyasa follow the principles of austerity, even though

they live with their children. Prthu Maharaja's wife, Arci, was steadily

determined to execute the duty of a wife, and while her husband was in the

forest, she followed him in eating only fruits and leaves and lying down on the

ground. Since a woman's body is considerably more delicate than a man's, Queen

Arci became very frail and thin, parikarsita. When one engages in austerities,

his body generally becomes lean and thin. BECOMING FAT IS NOT A VERY GOOD

QUALIFICATION IN SPIRITUAL LIFE BECAUSE A PERSON WHO IS ENGAGED IN SPIRITUAL

LIFE MUST REDUCE THE COMFORTS OF THE BODY--NAMELY EATING, SLEEPING AND

MATING--TO A MINIMUM. Although Queen Arci became very thin from living in the

forest according to regulative principles, she was not unhappy, for she was

enjoying the honor of serving her great husband.

Madhya 7.23

"BEING A SANNYASI, I HAVE A DUTY TO LIE DOWN ON THE GROUND AND TAKE A BATH

THREE TIMES A DAY, EVEN DURING THE WINTER. But Mukunda becomes very unhappy

when he sees My severe austerities.

74-12-28. Letter: Sukadeva

IN REGARDS TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT HOW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A SANNYASI AND

THE TEMPLE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE, MY HOPE IS THAT YOU WILL ALL BE ABLE TO

COOPERATE TOGETHER. The temple president is in charge and the sannyasi should

not contradict the instructions. ALTHOUGH IF HE DOES SEE SOMETHING WRONG OR IF

HE SEES A FAULT OR DEFECT HE SHOULD BRING IT OUT DIRECTLY TO THE TEMPLE

PRESIDENT. And then work it out in a Krsna Conscious way. NOT THAT HE WILL TRY

TO OVER-RIDE THE TEMPLE PRESIDENT'S AUTHORITY. I WANT THAT YOU ALL WORK

TOGETHER COOPERATIVELY.

73-10-18. Letter: Jagadisa:

It is nice that Subaladas Maharaja is travelling. As sannyasi, he should

travel. THE MORE A SANNYASI TRAVELS AND PREACHES, THE MORE HE BECOMES

EXPERIENCED AND UNATTACHED.

73-11-14. Letter: Revatinandana

I am glad that you are traveling and preaching. This is your main business. FOR

A SANNYASI THE MORE HE WANDERS AND PREACHERS, THE MORE HE BECOMES EXPERIENCED.

THE PEOPLE BENEFIT, HE BENEFITS, AND FROM A MATERIAL POINT OF VIEW HE'LL

PROFIT. SO CONSTANTLY TRAVEL AND DISTRIBUTE BOOKS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

SB 6.5.36 P

The words bhiksor marga, "the path of the renounced order," are very

significant in this regard. A sannyasi is called tridandi-bhiksu because his

duty is to beg alms from the homes of grhasthas and TO GIVE THE GRHASTHAS

SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTIONS. A SANNYASI IS ALLOWED TO BEG FROM DOOR TO DOOR, BUT A

GRHASTHA CANNOT DO SO. Grhasthas may earn their living according to the four

divisions of spiritual life. A brahmana grhastha may earn his livelihood by

becoming a learned scholar and teaching people in general how to worship the

Supreme Personality of Godhead. He may also assume the duty of worship himself.

Therefore it is said that only brahmanas may engage in Deity worship, and they

may accept as prasada whatever people offer the Deity. Although a brahmana may

sometimes accept charity, it is not for his personal maintenance but for the

worship of the Deity. Thus a brahmana does not stock anything for his future

use. Similarly, ksatriyas may collect taxes from the citizens, and they must

also protect the citizens, enforce rules and regulations, and maintain law and

order. Vaisyas should earn their livelihood through agriculture and cow

protection, and sudras should maintain their livelihood by serving the three

higher classes. UNLESS ONE BECOMES A BRAHMANA, ONE CANNOT TAKE SANNYASA.

SANNYASIS AND BRAHMACARIS MAY BEG ALMS DOOR TO DOOR, BUT A GRHASTHA CANNOT.

SB 7.11.35 P

Herein it is clearly stated by Narada Muni that one should not be accepted as

a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or sudra according to birth, for although this is

going on now, it is not accepted by the sastras. As stated in Bhagavad-gita

(4.13), catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah. Thus the four

divisions of society--brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra--are to be

ascertained according to qualities and activities. If one was born in a

brahmana family and has acquired the brahminical qualifications, he is to be

accepted as a brahmana; otherwise, he should be considered a brahma-bandhu.

Similarly, if a sudra acquires the qualities of a brahmana, although he was

born in a sudra family, he is not a sudra; because he has developed the

qualities of a brahmana, he should be accepted as a brahmana. The Krsna

consciousness movement is meant to develop these brahminical qualities.

Regardless of the community in which one was born, if one develops the

qualities of a brahmana he should be accepted as a brahmana, and he then may be

offered the order of sannyasa. UNLESS ONE IS QUALIFIED IN TERMS OF THE

BRAHMINICAL SYMPTOMS, ONE CANNOT TAKE SANNYASA.

SB 6.10.8 P

TO ACCEPT SANNYASA MEANS TO COMMIT CIVIL SUICIDE. BUT SANNYASA IS COMPULSORY, AT

LEAST FOR EVERY BRAHMANA, EVERY FIRST-CLASS HUMAN BEING.

SB 6.18.41 P

Woman is now depicted very well from the materialistic point of view by

Kasyapa Muni. Women are generally known as the fair sex, and especially in

youth, at the age of sixteen or seventeen, women are very attractive to men.

Therefore a woman's face is compared to a blooming lotus flower in autumn. Just

as a lotus is extremely beautiful in autumn, a woman at the threshold of

youthful beauty is extremely attractive. In Sanskrit a woman's voice is called

nari-svara because women generally sing and their singing is very attractive.

At the present moment, cinema artists, especially female singers, are

especially welcome. Some of them earn fabulous amounts of money simply by

singing. THEREFORE, AS TAUGHT BY SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU, A WOMAN'S SINGING IS

DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT CAN MAKE A SANNYASI FALL A VICTIM TO THE WOMAN. SANNYASA

MEANS GIVING UP THE COMPANY OF WOMEN, BUT IF A SANNYASI HEARS THE VOICE OF A

WOMAN AND SEES HER BEAUTIFUL FACE, HE CERTAINLY BECOMES ATTRACTED AND IS SURE

TO FALL DOWN. There have been many examples. Even the great sage Visvamitra

fell a victim to Menaka. Therefore a person desiring to advance in spiritual

consciousness must be especially careful not to see a woman's face or hear a

woman's voice. TO SEE A WOMAN'S FACE AND APPRECIATE ITS BEAUTY OR TO HEAR A

WOMAN'S VOICE AND APPRECIATE HER SINGING AS VERY NICE IS A SUBTLE FALLDOWN FOR

A BRAHMACARI OR SANNYASI.

74-09-07. Letter: Cidananda:

SO FAR THE QUESTION OF MARRIAGE, THIS IS GENERALLY NOT THE CONCERN OF A

SANNYASI. THEREFORE I HAVE ASKED THE TEMPLE PRESIDENTS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS

MATTER IN A MATURE AND RESPONSIBLE WAY. I therefore request you to approach the

temple president there and the GBC and ask for their advise.

SB 7.12.7 P

Brahmacarya essentially means the vow not to marry but to observe strict

celibacy (brhad-vrata). A BRAHMACARI OR SANNYASI SHOULD AVOID TALKING WITH

WOMEN OR READING LITERATURE CONCERNING TALKS BETWEEN MAN AND WOMAN. THE

INJUNCTION RESTRICTING ASSOCIATION WITH WOMEN IS THE BASIC PRINCIPLE OF

SPIRITUAL LIFE. Associating or talking with women is never advised in any of

the Vedic literatures. THE ENTIRE VEDIC SYSTEM TEACHES ONE TO AVOID SEX LIFE SO

THAT ONE MAY GRADUALLY PROGRESS FROM BRAHMACARYA TO GRHASTHA, FROM GRHASTHA TO

VANAPRASTHA, AND FROM VANAPRASTHA TO SANNYASA AND THUS GIVE UP MATERIAL

ENJOYMENT, WHICH IS THE ORIGINAL CAUSE OF BONDAGE TO THIS MATERIAL WORLD.

SB 8.9.14-15 P

A sannyasi or a person about to perform a ritualistic ceremony SHOULD NOT dress

himself in clothing sewn with a needle.

SB 7.6.9 P

"By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna,

one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world."

(Bhag. 1.2.7) If one engages in devotional service from the beginning of life,

he easily attains vairagya-vidya, or asakti, detachment, and becomes

jitendriya, the controller of his senses. ONE WHO PERFECTLY ENGAGES IN

DEVOTIONAL SERVICE IS THEREFORE CALLED GOSVAMI OR SVAMI, MASTER OF THE SENSES.

UNLESS ONE IS MASTER OF THE SENSES, HE SHOULD NOT ACCEPT THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF

LIFE, SANNYASA. A strong inclination for sense enjoyment is the cause of the

material body. WITHOUT FULL KNOWLEDGE ONE CANNOT BE UNATTACHED TO MATERIAL

ENJOYMENT, BUT AS LONG AS ONE IS NOT IN THAT POSITION ONE IS NOT FIT TO RETURN

HOME, BACK TO GODHEAD.

74-06-08 Letter: Damodara

You have asked about Rupanuga. So I have asked him to not remain secluded but

to work vigorously as grhastha now that he has returned with his wife. There is

nothing wrong in his preaching as you are and so many GBCs as grhastha. SO

ALTHOUGH IT IS OFFICIALLY A FALLDOWN FROM SANNYASA, THERE IS NO LOSS IF HE WILL

BECOME MORE ENTHUSIASTIC BY THIS WAY. SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO COOPERATE WITH HIM

AND IMPLEMENT ALL OUR REGULAR PROGRAMS.

74-06-08. Letter: Rupanuga

SO YOU SHOULD NOT CONSIDER TAKING SANNYASA AGAIN, BUT IN YOUR COUNTRY IT IS

NOT A GREAT THING. ALTHOUGH OFFICIALLY IT IS A FALLDOWN FROM SANNYASA, IN YOUR

COUNTRY NO ONE UNDERSTANDS SANNYASA. THE MORE IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE IS THAT WE

SHOULD PURIFY OUR THOUGHTS AND ENGAGE THEM IN KRSNA'S SERVICE. Please try to

understand this important principle: being disgusted with their nasty thoughts

people sometimes attempt to become thoughtless, but this is never possible. We

should encourage everyone to not become thoughtless but to purify their

thinking by always thinking of Krsna in the recommended ways. So I request you

to go back preaching vigorously along with your wife who is also a good

preacher.

75-09-21. Letter: Gaura Govinda

Regarding your returning to your own village, A SANNYASA IS NOT SUPPOSED TO GO

BACK TO HIS OWN VILLAGE.

*****SANNYASA ASRAMA PART 3/5*****

SB 7.15.36 P

Materialistic activities are regulated by the institution of

varnasrama-dharma. Without varnasrama-dharma, materialistic activities

constitute animal life. Yet even in human life, while observing the principles

of varna and asrama--brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, brahmacarya, grhastha,

vanaprastha and sannyasa--one must ultimately accept sannyasa, the renounced

order, for only by the renounced order can one be situated in brahma-sukha, or

transcendental bliss. IN BRAHMA-SUKHA ONE IS NO LONGER ATTRACTED BY LUSTY

DESIRES. INDEED, WHEN ONE IS NO LONGER DISTURBED, ESPECIALLY BY LUSTY DESIRES

FOR SEXUAL INDULGENCE, HE IS FIT TO BECOME A SANNYASI. OTHERWISE, ONE SHOULD

NOT ACCEPT THE SANNYASA ORDER. IF ONE ACCEPTS SANNYASA AT AN IMMATURE STAGE,

THERE IS EVERY POSSIBILITY OF HIS BEING ATTRACTED BY WOMEN AND LUSTY DESIRES

AND THUS AGAIN BECOMING A SO-CALLED GRHASTHA OR A VICTIM OF WOMEN. SUCH A

PERSON IS MOST SHAMELESS, AND HE IS CALLED VANTASI, OR ONE WHO EATS THAT WHICH

HE HAS ALREADY VOMITED. He certainly leads a condemned life. In our Krsna

consciousness movement it is advised, therefore, that the sannyasis and

brahmacaris keep strictly aloof from the association of women so that there

will be no chance of their falling down again as victims of lusty desires.

SB 7.12.13-14 P

ANOTHER POINT TO BE OBSERVED FROM THIS VERSE IS THAT FROM THE

BRAHMACARI-ASRAMA ONE MAY ACCEPT THE SANNYASA-ASRAMA, VANAPRASTHA-ASRAMA OR

GRHASTHA-ASRAMA. IT IS NOT COMPULSORY FOR A BRAHMACARI TO BECOME A GRHASTHA.

Because the ultimate aim is to understand the Absolute Truth, there is no

necessity of going through all the different asramas. THUS ONE MAY PROCEED TO

THE SANNYASA-ASRAMA DIRECTLY FROM THE BRAHMACARI-ASRAMA. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta

Sarasvati Thakura accepted the sannyasa-asrama directly from the

brahmacari-asrama. IN OTHER WORDS, HIS DIVINE GRACE BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASVATI

THAKURA DID NOT THINK IT COMPULSORY TO ACCEPT THE GRHASTHA-ASRAMA OR

VANAPRASTHA-ASRAMA.

SB 7.13.9

A peaceful, equipoised person who is FACTUALLY ADVANCED in spiritual

consciousness does not need to accept the symbols of a sannyasi, such as the

tridanda and kamandalu. According to necessity, he may sometimes accept those

symbols and sometimes reject them.

SB 7.13.9 P

There are four stages of the renounced order of life--kuticaka, bahudaka,

parivrajakacarya and paramahamsa. Herein, Srimad-Bhagavatam considers the

paramahamsas among the sannyasis. THE MAYAVADI IMPERSONALIST SANNYASIS CANNOT

ATTAIN THE PARAMAHAMSA STAGE. THIS IS BECAUSE OF THEIR IMPERSONAL CONCEPTION OF

THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH. Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate. THE ABSOLUTE

TRUTH IS PERCEIVED IN THREE STAGES, OF WHICH BHAGAVAN, OR REALIZATION OF THE

SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, IS MEANT FOR THE PARAMAHAMSAS. INDEED,

SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM ITSELF IS MEANT FOR THE PARAMAHAMSAS (PARAMO NIRMATSARANAM

SATAM). UNLESS ONE IS IN THE PARAMAHAMSA STAGE, HE IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO

UNDERSTAND THE SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM. FOR PARAMAHAMSAS, OR SANNYASIS IN THE

VAISNAVA ORDER, PREACHING IS THE FIRST DUTY. To preach, SUCH SANNYASIS may

accept the symbols of sannyasa, such as the danda and kamandalu, or sometimes

they may not. Generally the Vaisnava sannyasis, being paramahamsas, are

automatically called babajis, and they do not carry a kamandalu or danda. SUCH

A SANNYASI is free to accept or reject the marks of sannyasa. His only thought

is "Where is there an opportunity to spread Krsna consciousness?" SOMETIMES THE

KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT SENDS ITS REPRESENTATIVE SANNYASIS TO FOREIGN

COUNTRIES WHERE THE DANDA AND KAMANDALU ARE NOT VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. WE SEND

OUR PREACHERS IN ORDINARY DRESS TO INTRODUCE OUR BOOKS AND PHILOSOPHY. OUR ONLY

CONCERN IS TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS. WE MAY DO THIS IN THE DRESS

OF SANNYASIS OR IN THE REGULAR DRESS OF GENTLEMEN. OUR ONLY CONCERN IS TO SPREAD

INTEREST IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS.

Madhya 3.85

There is always a difference of opinion between a smarta-brahmana and a

Vaisnava gosvami. There are even smarta opinions and Vaisnava gosvami opinions

available in astrological and astronomical calculations. By calling Nityananda

Prabhu a bhrasta avadhuta (a rejected paramahamsa), Advaita Acarya Prabhu in a

sense accepted Nityananda Prabhu as a paramahamsa. In other words, Nityananda

Prabhu had nothing to do with the rules governing smarta-brahmanas. Thus under

pretense of condemning Him, Advaita Acarya was actually praising Him. IN THE

AVADHUTA STAGE, THE PARAMAHAMSA STAGE, WHICH IS THE SUPERMOST STAGE, ONE MAY

APPEAR TO BE VISAYI, ON THE PLATFORM OF SENSE GRATIFICATION, BUT IN ACTUALITY

HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SENSE GRATIFICATION. AT THAT STAGE, A PERSON

SOMETIMES ACCEPTS THE SYMPTOMS AND DRESS OF A SANNYASI AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT.

SOMETIMES HE DRESSES LIKE A HOUSEHOLDER.

Madhya 3.96

The word AVADHUTA REFERS TO ONE ABOVE ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS. Sometimes,

not observing all the rules and regulations of a sannyasi, Nityananda Prabhu

exhibited the behavior of a mad avadhuta.

Madhya 4.123

This is the paramahamsa stage, the highest stage for a sannyasi. A sannyasi

can beg from door to door just to collect food, but a paramahamsa who has taken

ayacita-vrtti, or ajagara-vrtti, does not ask anyone for food. If someone offers

him food voluntarily, he eats. Ayacita-vrtti means being accustomed to refrain

from begging, and ajagara-vrtti indicates one who is compared to a python, the

big snake that makes no effort to acquire food but rather allows food to come

automatically within its mouth. IN OTHER WORDS, A PARAMAHAMSA SIMPLY ENGAGES

EXCLUSIVELY IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD WITHOUT CARING EVEN FOR EATING OR

SLEEPING. It was stated about the six Gosvamis: nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau.

IN THE PARAMAHAMSA STAGE ONE CONQUERS THE DESIRE FOR SLEEP, FOOD AND SENSE

GRATIFICATION. ONE REMAINS A HUMBLE, MEEK MENDICANT ENGAGED IN THE SERVICE OF

THE LORD DAY AND NIGHT. Madhavendra Puri had attained this paramahamsa stage.

710726I3.NY

Prabhupada: OUR, THIS DANDA, THERE ARE FOUR STICKS. ONE STICK IS REPRESENTING

THE JIVA SOUL, ANOTHER STICK IS REPRESENTING BODY, ANOTHER STICK IS MIND, AND

ANOTHER STICK, SPEECH. KAYA MANA VAKYA. SO THE JIVA ENGAGES HIMSELF WITH HIS

BODY, MIND, AND WORDS FOR PREACHING WORK. Go on. So there is another sect of

sannyasi, Mayavadi sannyasi. They take one stick, eka.

SB 1.13.30 P

Maharaja Dhrtarastra accepted the order of vanaprastha, and at this stage the

wife is allowed to remain as a voluntary servitor, BUT IN THE SANNYASA STAGE NO

WIFE CAN STAY WITH HER FORMER HUSBAND.

Note: Sannyasis hardly distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books door to door

now. Do they not want to CONQUER heat cold, honour dishonour,happiness

unhappiness, hunger thirst and be detached(RENOUNCED?) from material world? Do

they not want to DEPEND on the holy name by distributing Srila

Prabupada’s books(which contains the holy name)?

Madhya 8.39

A sannyasi is supposed to beg from door to door. HE DOES NOT BEG SIMPLY

BECAUSE HE IS HUNGRY. HIS REAL PURPOSE IS TO ENLIGHTEN THE OCCUPANT OF EVERY

HOUSE BY PREACHING KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS. A SANNYASI DOES NOT ABANDON HIS

SUPERIOR POSITION AND BECOME A BEGGAR JUST FOR THE SAKE OF BEGGING. Similarly,

a person in householder life may be very important, but he may also voluntarily

take to the mendicant way of life. Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami were

ministers, but they voluntarily accepted the mendicant's life in order to

humbly preach Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's message. It is said about them: tyaktva

turnam asesa-mandala-pati-srenim sada tuccha-vat bhutva dina-ganesakau karunaya

kaupina-kanthasritau. Although the Gosvamis were very aristocratic, they became

mendicants just to deliver the fallen souls according to the order of Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One should also consider that those who engage in the

missionary activities of Krsna consciousness are under the guidance of Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu. THEY ARE NOT ACTUALLY BEGGARS; THEIR REAL BUSINESS IS TO

DELIVER FALLEN SOULS. THEREFORE THEY MAY GO FROM DOOR TO DOOR JUST TO INTRODUCE

A BOOK ABOUT KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN BECOME ENLIGHTENED BY

READING. Formerly brahmacaris and sannyasis used to beg from door to door. At

the present moment, especially in the Western countries, a person may be handed

over to the police if he begs from door to door. IN WESTERN COUNTRIES, BEGGING

IS CONSIDERED CRIMINAL. MEMBERS OF THE KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT HAVE NO

BUSINESS BEGGING. INSTEAD, THEY WORK VERY HARD TO INTRODUCE SOME BOOKS ABOUT

KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN READ THEM AND BE BENEFITED. BUT IF ONE

GIVES SOME CONTRIBUTION TO A KRSNA CONSCIOUS MAN, HE NEVER REFUSES IT.

751102mw.nai

Prabhupada: No. Therefore it is said, "OTHER'S WIFE," NOT YOUR WIFE. But

Ramakrishnan, he was saying his wife "MOTHER," and he became famous by this

foolishness.

740806BG.VRN Lectures

Brahmananda: IN YOUR LECTURE YOU QUOTED CANAKYA PANDITA THAT A MAN MUST SEE

EVERY WOMAN OTHER THAN HIS OWN WIFE AS MOTHER. How should a woman see other

men?

Prabhupada: As SON. (laughter)

Brahmananda: That was my idea.

Prabhupada: Yes. If I see woman as mother, she must see me as son. That's all.

That is the system. THE BRAHMACARI, THE SANNYASI GO TO BEG ALMS FROM DOOR TO

DOOR. "MOTHER, GIVE ME SOME BHIKSA, ALMS." AND IT IS THE DUTY OF THE GRHASTHA

TO TREAT BRAHMACARI AND SANNYASI AS THEIR SON. AS THEY MAINTAIN THEIR CHILDREN

WITH FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTH, SIMILARLY THE BRAHMACARIS AND SANNYASIS, THEY ARE

DEPENDENT ON THE SOCIETY. THEY SHOULD BE TREATED AS THE SONS OF THE SOCIETY.

AND THEY MUST SUPPLY THEIR NECESSITIES, BARE NECESSITIES. A SANNYASI,

BRAHMACARI, DOES NOT WANT MORE THAN WHAT THEY NEED. THEY SHOULD NOT COLLECT

MORE THAN WHAT THEY NEED. BHIKSA NIRVAHANA. NOT COLLECT MORE AND ENJOY AT

OTHERS' COST. NO. THAT IS NOT THE BUSINESS OF SANNYASI. THEY CAN COLLECT SO

MUCH AS THEY NEED. THAT'S ALL.

Madhya 15.193

A SANNYASI SHOULD NOT COOK FOOD FOR HIMSELF OR ACCEPT AN INVITATION TO EAT AT

A DEVOTEE'S HOUSE CONTINUOUSLY FOR MANY DAYS. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very

kind and affectionate toward His devotees, yet He would not accept a long

invitation at Sarvabhauma's house. Out of affection, He accepted only five days

in the month.

Madhya 4.169

The Caturmasya period begins in the month of Asadha (June-July) from the day

of Ekadasi called Sayana-ekadasi, in the fortnight of the waxing moon. The

period ends in the month of Kartika (October-November) on the Ekadasi day known

as Utthana-ekadasi, in the fortnight of the waxing moon. This four-month period

is known as Caturmasya. Some Vaisnavas also observe it from the full-moon day

of Asadha until the full-moon day of Kartika. That is also a period of four

months. This period, calculated by the lunar months, is called Caturmasya, but

others also observe Caturmasya according to the solar month from Sravana to

Kartika. The whole period, either lunar or solar, takes place during the rainy

season. CATURMASYA SHOULD BE OBSERVED BY ALL SECTIONS OF THE POPULATION. IT

DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER ONE IS A GRHASTHA OR A SANNYASI. The observance is

obligatory for all asramas. THE REAL PURPOSE BEHIND THE VOW TAKEN DURING THESE

FOUR MONTHS IS TO MINIMIZE THE QUANTITY OF SENSE GRATIFICATION. This is not

very difficult. In the month of Sravana one should not eat spinach, in the

month of Bhadra one should not eat yogurt, and in the month of Asvina one

should not drink milk. One should not eat fish or other nonvegetarian food

during the month of Kartika. A nonvegetarian diet means fish and meat.

SIMILARLY, MASURA DAL AND URAD DAL ARE ALSO CONSIDERED NONVEGETARIAN. THESE TWO

DALS CONTAIN A GREAT AMOUNT OF PROTEIN, AND FOOD RICH IN PROTEIN IS CONSIDERED

NONVEGETARIAN. On the whole, during the four-month period of Caturmasya one

should practice giving up all food intended for sense enjoyment.

Antya 8.85

"For a sannyasi to indulge in SATISFYING THE TONGUE is a great offense. THE

DUTY OF A SANNYASI IS TO EAT ONLY AS MUCH AS NEEDED TO KEEP BODY AND SOUL

TOGETHER."

680824BG.MON

Even at the time of death you are very sorry because you have to change the

body. Even for changing one apartment for another apartment you are sorry.

THEREFORE FOR A SANNYASI IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT HE SHOULD NOT LIVE MORE THAN

THREE DAYS IN A PLACE. BECAUSE AS SOON AS HE LIVES MORE THAN THREE DAYS, HE'LL

GET SOME ATTACHMENT. ATTACHMENT. SO HE IS FORBIDDEN.

70-04-30.Letter: Brahmananda

REGARDING TRAVELLING, A SANNYASI'S NAME IS PARIVRAJAKACARYA, THAT IS THE

BEGINNING OF SANNYASA. IN THE BEGINNING ONE IS ORDERED NOT TO STAY MORE THAN

THREE DAYS AT A PLACE, BUT AT THE PARAMAHAMSA STAGE, ONE CAN STOP MOVING, BUT

THAT IS NOT COMPULSORY. So I have made my headquarters at L.A., that is a fact,

still I may go in an emergency outside (not ordinarily) for a few days, and then

come back to my headquarters.

741021SB.MAY

SO IN SANKARA-SAMPRADAYA, STRICTLY, UNLESS ONE IS BORN IN BRAHMANA FAMILY,

HE'S NOT OFFERED SANNYASA. He's not given sannyasa. So far we are concerned, we

also offer sannyasa to the brahmana, not to the sudras. But according to quality

we create brahmana, not that we are offering sannyasa to the sudras, No. THE

PRINCIPLE IS: SANNYASA CAN BE OFFERED ONLY TO THE BRAHMANAS. So one may not

mistake that we are offering to the..., offering sannyasa to the mlecchas,

yavanas, as they complain. Some of my Godbrothers, they criticize like that,

that I am offering sannyasa to the mlecchas, yavanas. This is wrong idea. This

is naraki-buddhi. Actually, a Vaisnava is above this varnasrama-dharma. But we

don't claim that we have become perfect Vaisnava. We are not so impudent. We

want to remain under the Vaisnava. Under the Vaisnava. Otherwise Vaisnava

means... In Caitanya-caritamrta you'll find the Vaisnava is paramahamsa.

VAISNAVA HAS NO SAFFRON CLOTH. VAISNAVA IS WHITE CLOTH BECAUSE VAISNAVA IS

PARAMAHAMSA, ABOVE. BUT WE DON'T CLAIM THE POSITION OF VAISNAVA. WE WANT TO

REMAIN SERVANT OF VAISNAVA. THEREFORE SANNYASA ORDER IS BELOW THE POSITION OF

VAISNAVA. SANNYASA ORDER MEANS STILL IN THE MATERIAL CLASSIFICATION. BUT THIS

VAISNAVA IS PARAMO NIRMATSARANAM SATAM. DHARMAH PROJJHITA-KAITAVO 'TRA PARAMO

NIRMAT... THIS VAISNAVISM IS MEANT FOR PARAMO NIRMATSARANAM, PARAMAHAMSA. Sa

gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate.

740325mw.bom

Prabhupada: They are also. They are also. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu has

denied: "I am not a sannyasi, I am not a brahmana, I am not a ksatriya, I am

not a vaisya, none of these." He said, GOPI-BHARTUH PADA-KAMALAYOR

DASA-DASANUDASAH. "I AM THE SERVANT OF THE SERVANT OF GOPI-BHARTUH." THAT IS

CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU'S IDENTIFICATION. SO THOSE WHO ARE ACTUALLY IN THE, ENGAGED

IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD, THEY ARE BEYOND, TRANSCENDENTAL TO THE POSITION OF

BRAHMANA, KSATRIYA, VAISYA... YES.

750212rc.mex

Prabhupada: Well, Arjuna was grhastha and a king and a politician. If he could

learn within half an hour the aim of life, then where is the difficulty for a

grhastha? ARJUNA WAS NOT A SANNYASI. SO IT WAS SPOKEN TO HIM ONLY, AND KRSNA

SELECTED THAT "YOU ARE THE RIGHT PERSON." SO THERE IS NO QUESTION OF GRHASTHA,

SANNYASI. THE PERSON MUST BE RIGHT TO UNDERSTAND.

Madhya 5.152

Sri Nityananda Prabhu considered Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's acceptance of

sannyasa to be useless. He therefore relieved the Lord of the trouble of

carrying the staff. SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU EXPRESSED ANGER BECAUSE HE WANTED

TO TEACH ALL OTHER SANNYASIS THAT THEY SHOULD NOT GIVE UP THE STAFF BEFORE

ATTAINING THE PLATFORM OF PARAMAHAMSA. Seeing that the regulative principles

could be slackened by such action, Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to carry the

staff personally. However, Nityananda broke it. For this reason Caitanya

Mahaprabhu displayed a little anger. It is said in the Bhagavad-gita (3.21),

yad yad acarati sresthas tat tad evetaro janah: Whatever great people do,

others follow. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to follow the Vedic principles

strictly in order to save inexperienced neophytes who try to imitate

paramahamsas.

SB 7.15 Summary

Every householder should be very careful because even though a householder

may try to conquer the senses, he becomes a victim to the association of

relatives and falls down. Thus a grhastha must become a vanaprastha or

sannyasi, live in a secluded place, and be satisfied with food gotten by

begging from door to door. He must chant the omkara mantra or Hare Krsna

mantra, and in this way he will perceive transcendental bliss within himself.

AFTER TAKING SANNYASA, HOWEVER, IF ONE RETURNS TO GRHASTHA LIFE, HE IS CALLED A

VANTASI, WHICH MEANS "ONE WHO EATS HIS OWN VOMIT." SUCH A PERSON IS SHAMELESS. A

HOUSEHOLDER SHOULD NOT GIVE UP THE RITUALISTIC CEREMONIES, AND A SANNYASI SHOULD

NOT LIVE IN SOCIETY. IF A SANNYASI IS AGITATED BY THE SENSES, HE IS A CHEATER

INFLUENCED BY THE MODES OF PASSION AND IGNORANCE. WHEN ONE ASSUMES A ROLE IN

GOODNESS BY STARTING PHILANTHROPIC AND ALTRUISTIC ACTIVITIES, SUCH ACTIVITIES

BECOME IMPEDIMENTS ON THE PATH OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE.

SB 8.19.17 P

A BRAHMANA OR SANNYASI IS QUALIFIED TO ASK CHARITY FROM OTHERS, BUT IF HE

TAKES MORE THAN NECESSARY HE IS PUNISHABLE. NO ONE CAN USE MORE OF THE SUPREME

LORD'S PROPERTY THAN NECESSARY. Lord Vamanadeva indirectly indicated to Bali

Maharaja that he was occupying more land than he needed. In the material world,

all distresses are due to extravagance. One acquires money extravagantly and

also spends it extravagantly. Such activities are sinful. All property belongs

to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and all living beings, who are sons of

the Supreme Lord, have the right to use the Supreme Father's property, but one

cannot take more than necessary. THIS PRINCIPLE SHOULD ESPECIALLY BE FOLLOWED

BY BRAHMANAS AND SANNYASIS WHO LIVE AT THE COST OF OTHERS.

SB 7.15.30 P

THIS IS THE PROCESS FOR CONQUERING THE AGITATION OF THE MIND. ONE IS

RECOMMENDED TO TAKE LEAVE OF HIS FAMILY AND LIVE ALONE, MAINTAINING BODY AND

SOUL TOGETHER BY BEGGING ALMS AND EATING ONLY AS MUCH AS NEEDED TO KEEP HIMSELF

ALIVE. Without such a process, one cannot conquer lusty desires. Sannyasa means

accepting a life of begging, which makes one AUTOMATICALLY VERY HUMBLE AND MEEK

AND FREE FROM LUSTY DESIRES.

SB 8.2.30 P

From this we can understand that in this age the sannyasa-asrama is forbidden

because people are not strong. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu showed us an example in

taking sannyasa at the age of twenty-four years, but even Sarvabhauma

Bhattacarya advised Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be extremely careful because He

had taken sannyasa at an early age. For preaching we give young boys sannyasa,

but actually it is being experienced that they are not fit for sannyasa. THERE

IS NO HARM, HOWEVER, IF ONE THINKS THAT HE IS UNFIT FOR SANNYASA; IF HE IS VERY

MUCH AGITATED SEXUALLY, HE SHOULD GO TO THE ASRAMA WHERE SEX IS ALLOWED, NAMELY

THE GRHASTHA-ASRAMA. THAT ONE HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE VERY WEAK IN ONE PLACE DOES

NOT MEAN THAT HE SHOULD STOP FIGHTING THE CROCODILE OF MAYA. ONE SHOULD TAKE

SHELTER OF THE LOTUS FEET OF KRSNA, AS WE SHALL SEE GAJENDRA DO, AND AT THE

SAME TIME ONE CAN BE A GRHASTHA IF HE IS SATISFIED WITH SEXUAL INDULGENCE.

THERE IS NO NEED TO GIVE UP THE FIGHT. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore

recommended, sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhih. One may stay in

whichever asrama is suitable for him; it is not essential that one take

sannyasa. If one is sexually agitated, he can enter the grhastha-asrama. But

one must continue fighting. For one who is not in a transcendental position, to

take sannyasa artificially is not a very great credit. IF SANNYASA IS NOT

SUITABLE, ONE MAY ENTER THE GRHASTHA-ASRAMA AND FIGHT MAYA WITH GREAT STRENGTH.

BUT ONE SHOULD NOT GIVE UP THE FIGHTING AND GO AWAY.

Madhya 10.55

When one surrenders unto the lotus feet of the Lord, he does so with

everything in his possession--his house, his body, his mind and whatever else

he possesses. If there is any obstruction to this surrendering process, one

should immediately give it up without attachment. IF ONE CAN SURRENDER WITH ALL

HIS FAMILY MEMBERS, THERE IS NO NEED TO TAKE SANNYASA. HOWEVER, IF THE

SURRENDERING PROCESS IS HAMPERED BY SO-CALLED FAMILY MEMBERS, ONE SHOULD

IMMEDIATELY GIVE THEM UP TO COMPLETE THE SURRENDERING PROCESS.

Note: this is Madhyama adhikari.

Adi 7.67

A VAISNAVA SANNYASI OR A VAISNAVA IN THE SECOND STAGE OF ADVANCEMENT IN

SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE CAN UNDERSTAND FOUR PRINCIPLES--NAMELY, THE SUPREME

PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, THE DEVOTEES, THE INNOCENT AND THE JEALOUS--AND HE

BEHAVES DIFFERENTLY WITH EACH. He tries to increase his love for Godhead, make

friendship with devotees and preach Krsna consciousness among the innocent, but

he avoids the jealous who are envious of the Krsna consciousness movement. Lord

Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself exemplified such behavior, and this is why

Prakasananda Sarasvati inquired why He did not associate or even talk with

them. CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU CONFIRMED BY EXAMPLE THAT A PREACHER OF THE KRSNA

CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT GENERALLY SHOULD NOT WASTE HIS TIME TALKING WITH

MAYAVADI SANNYASIS, BUT WHEN THERE ARE ARGUMENTS ON THE BASIS OF SASTRA, A

VAISNAVA MUST COME FORWARD TO TALK AND DEFEAT THEM IN PHILOSOPHY.

760211SB.MAY Lectures

In the madhyama-adhikari he can SEE four things. What is that? Four things

means, first of all the Supreme Lord, ISVARA, THE CONTROLLER, HE CAN SEE. He

can see means he understands, he appreciates, he can conceive, "Yes, the

Supreme Lord is there". THERE IS NO MORE THEORETICAL.

Note: to know the constitutional position is to understand ones SVARUPA

(relationship with Krishna in particular loving mellows).

Bg 6.2 P Sankhya-yoga

REAL sannyasa-yoga or bhakti means that one should KNOW his CONSTITUTIONAL

POSITION as the living entity, and ACT ACCORDINGLY.

Note: mere saffron cloth and danda is not sannyasa. Here one can see

the point when a madhyama adhikari(PREACHER-SANNYASI) is able to ACHIEVE diksa.

NoI text 5 talks about accepting Divya-jnanam(tad-vijnana) TRANSCENDENTAL

KNOWLEDGE--DIKSA--SPIRITUAL INITIATION (MEANS HE CAN SERVE KRISHNA IN LOVING

MELLOWS).Whereas a kanistha TRYS to chant the hari-nama Madhyama actually

CHANTS and therefore is able to SERVE Krishna in LOVING MELLOWS. Just see how

ludicrous it is to suggest 2\3 majority voted\nominated gurus give diksa in

ISKCON. ALL this voted\nominated swamis give is formality--RITVIK INITIATIONS.

Unfortunately they want to cheat by pretending to give this diksa and in return

THEY themselves are CHEATED from receiving THIS diksa from Srila Prabhupada.

Antya 4.192

DIKSA-KALE bhakta kare atma-samarpana

sei-kale krsna tare kare atma-sama

Antya 4.192

"At the time of initiation, when a devotee fully surrenders unto the service

of the Lord, Krsna accepts him to be as good as Himself.

Antya 4.193

"When the devotee's body is thus transformed into spiritual existence, the

devotee, in that TRANSCENDENTAL BODY, renders service to the lotus feet of the

Lord.

Antya 4.194

" 'The living entity who is subjected to birth and death, when he gives up all

material activities dedicating his life to Me for executing My order, and thus

acts according to My direction, at that time he reaches the platform of

IMMORTALITY, and becomes fit to enjoy the spiritual bliss of EXCHANGE OF LOVING

MELLOWS WITH ME.'

Antya 4.194P

This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.29.34). AT THE TIME OF

INITIATION, a devotee gives up all his material conceptions. Therefore, being

in TOUCH with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is situated on the

TRANSCENDENTAL platform. THUS HAVING ATTAINED KNOWLEDGE AND THE SPIRITUAL

PLATFORM, HE ALWAYS ENGAGES IN THE SERVICE OF THE SPIRITUAL BODY OF KRSNA. WHEN

ONE IS FREED FROM MATERIAL CONNECTIONS IN THIS WAY, HIS BODY IMMEDIATELY BECOMES

SPIRITUAL, AND KRSNA ACCEPTS HIS SERVICE.

Note:THIS is what it ACTUALLY means when it says his body becomes SPIRITUAL(THIS

is why the ACTUAL sannyasis body is not burned by fire).

690213BG.LA

A SANNYASIS BODY IS NOT BURNED BECAUSE IT IS CONSIDERED SPIRITUAL. So how it

becomes spiritual? The same example. WHEN THE BODY HAS NO MORE ANY MATERIAL

ACTIVITIES, SIMPLY SPIRITUAL ACTIVITY IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, THAT BODY IS

SPIRITUAL.

Adi 7.59

By offering His obeisances to the Mayavadi sannyasis, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

very clearly exhibited His humbleness to everyone. Vaisnavas must not be

disrespectful to anyone, to say nothing of a sannyasi. SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU

TEACHES, AMANINA MANA-DENA: ONE SHOULD ALWAYS BE RESPECTFUL TO OTHERS BUT

SHOULD NOT DEMAND RESPECT FOR HIMSELF. A SANNYASI SHOULD ALWAYS WALK BAREFOOT,

AND THEREFORE WHEN HE ENTERS A TEMPLE OR A SOCIETY OF DEVOTEES HE SHOULD FIRST

WASH HIS FEET AND THEN SIT DOWN IN A PROPER PLACE.

Bg 16.1-3 P

The next item is jnana-yoga-vyavasthiti: being engaged in the cultivation of

knowledge. Sannyasi life is meant for distributing knowledge to the

householders and others who have forgotten their real life of spiritual

advancement. A SANNYASI IS SUPPOSED TO BEG FROM DOOR TO DOOR FOR HIS

LIVELIHOOD, BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT HE IS A BEGGAR. HUMILITY IS ALSO ONE OF

THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A TRANSCENDENTALLY SITUATED PERSON, AND OUT OF SHEER

HUMILITY THE SANNYASI GOES FROM DOOR TO DOOR, NOT EXACTLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF

BEGGING, BUT TO SEE THE HOUSEHOLDERS AND AWAKEN THEM TO KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS.

THIS IS THE DUTY OF A SANNYASI. IF HE IS ACTUALLY ADVANCED AND SO ORDERED BY

HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER, HE SHOULD PREACH KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS WITH LOGIC AND

UNDERSTANDING, AND IF HE IS NOT SO ADVANCED HE SHOULD NOT ACCEPT THE RENOUNCED

ORDER OF LIFE. BUT EVEN IF HE HAS ACCEPTED THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE WITHOUT

SUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE, HE SHOULD ENGAGE HIMSELF FULLY IN HEARING FROM A BONA

FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER TO CULTIVATE KNOWLEDGE. A SANNYASI, OR ONE IN THE

RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE, MUST BE SITUATED IN FEARLESSNESS, SATTVA-SAMSUDDHI

(PURITY) AND JNANA-YOGA (KNOWLEDGE).

Note: there is this “he is senior” disease in ISKCON but we find

here the true meaning of senior. Also important to note Sukadeva Gosvami was

also 16 years of age yet many old sages stood up to receive him.

SB 6.7.33

The demigods continued: Do not fear criticism for being younger than us. Such

etiquette does not apply in regard to Vedic mantras. EXCEPT IN RELATIONSHIP TO

VEDIC MANTRAS, SENIORITY IS DETERMINED BY AGE, BUT ONE MAY OFFER RESPECTFUL

OBEISANCES EVEN TO A YOUNGER PERSON WHO IS ADVANCED IN CHANTING VEDIC MANTRAS.

THEREFORE ALTHOUGH YOU ARE JUNIOR IN RELATIONSHIP TO US, YOU MAY BECOME OUR

PRIEST WITHOUT HESITATION.

SB 6.7.33 P

IT IS SAID, VRDDHATVAM VAYASA VINA: ONE MAY BE SENIOR WITHOUT BEING ADVANCED IN

AGE. EVEN IF ONE IS NOT OLD, ONE GAINS SENIORITY IF HE IS SENIOR IN KNOWLEDGE.

Visvarupa was junior in relationship to the demigods because he was their

nephew, but the demigods wanted to accept him as their priest, and therefore he

would have to accept obeisances from them.

SB 1.4.5

While Sri Vyasadeva was following his son, beautiful young damsels who were

bathing naked covered their bodies with cloth, although Sri Vyasadeva himself

was not naked. But they had not done so when his son had passed. THE SAGE

INQUIRED ABOUT THIS, AND THE YOUNG LADIES REPLIED THAT HIS SON WAS PURIFIED AND

WHEN LOOKING AT THEM MADE NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE. BUT THE SAGE

MADE SUCH DISTINCTIONS.

SB 1.4.5 P

IN THE BHAGAVAD-GITA (5.18) IT IS SAID THAT A LEARNED SAGE LOOKS EQUALLY ON A

LEARNED AND GENTLE BRAHMANA, A CANDALA (DOG-EATER), A DOG OR A COW DUE TO HIS

SPIRITUAL VISION. SRILA SUKADEVA GOSVAMI ATTAINED THAT STAGE. THUS HE DID NOT

SEE A MALE OR FEMALE; HE SAW ALL LIVING ENTITIES IN DIFFERENT DRESS. The ladies

who were bathing could understand the mind of a man simply by studying his

demeanor, just as by

looking at a child one can understand how innocent he is. Sukadeva Gosvami was a

young boy sixteen years old, and therefore all the parts of his body were

developed. He was naked also, and so were the ladies. But because Sukadeva

Gosvami was transcendental to sex relations, he appeared very innocent. The

ladies, by their special qualifications, could sense this at once, and

therefore they were not very concerned about him. But when his father passed,

the ladies quickly dressed. The ladies were exactly like his children or

grandchildren, yet they reacted to the presence of Vyasadeva according to the

social custom because Srila Vyasadeva played the part of a householder. A

HOUSEHOLDER HAS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN A MALE AND FEMALE, OTHERWISE HE CANNOT

BE A HOUSEHOLDER. ONE SHOULD, THEREFORE, ATTEMPT TO KNOW THE DISTINCTION

BETWEEN SPIRIT SOUL WITHOUT ANY ATTACHMENT FOR MALE AND FEMALE. AS LONG AS SUCH

DISTINCTION IS THERE, ONE SHOULD NOT TRY TO BECOME A SANNYASI LIKE SUKADEVA

GOSVAMI. At least theoretically one must be convinced that a living entity is

neither male nor female. THE OUTWARD DRESS IS MADE OF MATTER BY MATERIAL NATURE

TO ATTRACT THE OPPOSITE SEX AND THUS KEEP ONE ENTANGLED IN MATERIAL EXISTENCE. A

LIBERATED SOUL IS ABOVE THIS PERVERTED DISTINCTION. HE DOES NOT DISTINGUISH

BETWEEN ONE LIVING BEING AND ANOTHER. FOR HIM THEY ARE ALL ONE AND THE SAME

SPIRIT. THE PERFECTION OF THIS SPIRITUAL VISION IS THE LIBERATED STAGE, AND

SRILA SUKADEVA GOSVAMI ATTAINED THAT STAGE. SRILA VYASADEVA WAS ALSO IN THE

TRANSCENDENTAL STAGE, BUT BECAUSE HE WAS IN THE HOUSEHOLDER'S LIFE, HE DID NOT

PRETEND TO BE A LIBERATED SOUL, AS A MATTER OF CUSTOM.

670203CC.SF

"The next day the Lord went to the house of that person who invited, that

brahmana, and He saw there were many other Mayavadi sannyasis sitting

together."

saba namaskari' gela pada-praksalane

pada praksalana kari vasila sei sthane

Now, just see the behavior of Lord Caitanya. Although He was not in agreement

with the other party, still, because they were sannyasis, renounced order of

life, Caitanya Mahaprabhu offered His respect by bowing down before them. It is

the duty of everyone, not only between the sannyasi and sannyasi. IT IS THE

CUSTOM OF VEDIC SYSTEM. AS SOON AS ONE WOULD SEE A SANNYASI, AT ONCE HE SHOULD

OFFER HIS RESPECT. IF HE DOES NOT OFFER HIS RESPECT, THEN IT IS ENJOINED THAT

HE SHOULD FAST ONE DAY AS PUNISHMENT. HE SHOULD NOT EAT. "OH, I SAW A SANNYASI,

BUT I DID NOT OFFER MY RESPECT. THEREFORE THE PENANCE SHOULD BE THAT I SHOULD

FAST ONE DAY." THIS IS THE INJUNCTION. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu, although He was

God Himself, but His behavior and His etiquette was excellent. At once He saw

the sannyasis, He offered His respect. Pada praksalana kari vasila sei sthane.

And it is the system that when one comes from outside, he has to wash his feet

before he enters room, especially for the sannyasis. So He washed His feet and

sat down outside where the other sannyasis were sitting, a little off, just the

place where He washed His feet.

760906rc.vrn

Gopala Krsna: I have one other question regarding... We are going to observe

very strict policies. Unless somebody is working he cannot stay in the temple.

If some other tourist devotee comes from some other center, he can only stay

for three days. But beyond that he should either pay or he should go and preach

or do something else. What should we do with, like there's some sannyasis here,

like Yasodanandana Swami and his party. I hear they're going to stay for the

whole month. They're

already here since two weeks. They're occupying two rooms, everything. They're

going to stay here till the end of the month.

Aksayananda: Get him to go and preach for Vrndavana.

Gopala Krsna: The only reason I'm talking this is because now it's really tight.

We can't take... They have air conditioned room...

Prabhupada: YES, THEY SHOULD GO AND PREACH AND BRING SOME COLLECTION.

761222rc.poo

Prabhupada: That's it. Similarly you will find the so-called sannyasis, not

bhaktas, they undergo severe austerities, penances, but after some time they

come to the worldly atmosphere. Because they could not get any place, therefore

they come down. JUST LIKE THE MAYAVADI SANNYASIS THEY SAY THAT THIS DUNIYA,

[WORLD] JAGAT MITHYA. IF JAGAT IS MITHYA, YOU HAVE LEFT IT, THEN WHY YOU COME

AGAIN TO GIVE SOME PHILANTHROPIC SERVICE? IF IT IS MITHYA, THEN WHY YOU COME

AGAIN AFTER SO MUCH? IS IT NOT NONSENSE? IF JAGAT IS MITHYA WHY YOU ARE COMING

AGAIN TO THIS MITHYA? THAT MEANS YOU COULD NOT GET PLACE IN THE SATYA.

THEREFORE YOU COME DOWN AGAIN. THAT IS STATED IN THE SASTRA. ARUHYA KRCCHRENA

PARAM PADAM. ALTHOUGH WITH SEVERE AUSTERITIES AND PENANCES (HE) MIGHT GO TO THE

PARAM PADA,

*****SANNYASA ASRAMA PART 4/5*****

PATANTY ADHAH, ANADRTA-YUSMAD, BECAUSE HE COULD NOT GET SHELTER AT THE LOTUS

FEET OF THE SUPREME LORD, HE FALLS DOWN. HE MUST FALL DOWN TO THE MATERIAL

ACTIVITIES. PATANTY ADHAH. THAT IS ADHO PATHA. AS SOON AS A PERSON, AFTER

UNDERGOING SEVERE AUSTERITIES, BECOMES VERY HIGHLY ELEVATED IN THE SANNYASA

STAGE, BUT IF HE CANNOT GET SHELTER AT THE LOTUS FEET OF KRSNA, THEN SURELY HE

SHALL FALL DOWN FOR THESE MATERIAL ACTIVITIES, MATERIAL ENJOYMENT. That is the

sign that he's fallen down.

NoI 1

As far as the urges of the genitals are concerned, there are two--proper and

improper, or legal and illicit sex. When a man is properly mature, he can marry

according to the rules and regulations of the sastras and use his genitals for

begetting nice children. That is legal and religious. Otherwise, he may adopt

many artificial means to satisfy the demands of the genitals, and he may not

use any restraint. When one indulges in illicit sex life, as defined by the

sastras, either by thinking, planning, talking about or actually having sexual

intercourse, or by satisfying the genitals by artificial means, he is caught in

the clutches of maya. THESE INSTRUCTIONS APPLY NOT ONLY TO HOUSEHOLDERS BUT ALSO

TO TYAGIS, OR THOSE WHO ARE IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE. In his book

prema-vivarta, Chapter Seven, Sri Jagadananda Pandita says:

vairagi bhai gramya-katha na sunibe kane

gramya-varta na kahibe yabe milibe ane

 

svapane o na kara bhai stri-sambhasana

grhe stri chadiya bhai asiyacha vana

 

yadi caha pranaya rakhite gaurangera sane

chota haridasera katha thake yena mane

 

bhala na khaibe ara bhala na paribe

hrdayete radha-krsna sarvada sevibe

"My dear brother, you are in the renounced order of life and SHOULD NOT

LISTEN TO TALK ABOUT ORDINARY WORLDLY THINGS, NOR SHOULD YOU TALK ABOUT WORLDLY

THINGS WHEN YOU MEET WITH OTHERS. DO NOT THINK OF WOMEN EVEN IN DREAMS. You have

accepted the renounced order of life with a vow that forbids you to associate

with women. If you wish to associate with Caitanya Mahaprabhu, you must always

remember the incident of Chota Haridasa and how he was rejected by the Lord. DO

NOT EAT LUXURIOUS DISHES OR DRESS IN FINE GARMENTS, BUT ALWAYS REMAIN HUMBLE AND

SERVE THEIR LORDSHIPS SRI SRI RADHA-KRSNA IN YOUR HEART OF HEARTS."

THE CONCLUSION IS THAT ONE WHO CAN CONTROL THESE SIX ITEMS--SPEECH, MIND,

ANGER, TONGUE, BELLY AND GENITALS--IS TO BE CALLED A SVAMI OR GOSVAMI. SVAMI

MEANS MASTER, AND GOSVAMI MEANS MASTER OF THE GO, OR SENSES. WHEN ONE ACCEPTS

THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE, HE AUTOMATICALLY ASSUMES THE TITLE OF SVAMI. THIS

DOES NOT MEAN THAT HE IS THE MASTER OF HIS FAMILY, COMMUNITY OR SOCIETY; HE

MUST BE MASTER OF HIS SENSES. UNLESS ONE IS MASTER OF HIS SENSES, HE SHOULD NOT

BE CALLED GOSVAMI, BUT GO-DASA, SERVANT OF THE SENSES. Following in the

footsteps of the six Gosvamis of Vrndavana, all svamis and gosvamis should

fully engage in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. As opposed to

this, the go-dasas engage in the service of the senses or in the service of the

material world.

Madhya 3.70

prabhu kahe----sannyasira bhaksya nahe upakarana

iha khaile kaiche haya indriya varana

SYNONYMS

prabhu kahe--the Lord said; sannyasira--by a sannyasi; bhaksya--to be eaten;

nahe--this is not; upakarana--varieties of food; iha--this; khaile--if eating;

kaiche--how; haya--there is; indriya--senses; varana--controlling.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "IT IS NOT PROPER FOR A SANNYASI TO EAT SUCH A

VARIETY OF FOODS. IF HE DOES, HOW CAN HE CONTROL HIS SENSES?"

THE WORD UPAKARANA INDICATES A VARIETY OF FOODS, SUCH AS DAL, VEGETABLES AND

OTHER VARIETIES OF POSSIBLE DISHES THAT ONE CAN EAT VERY NICELY WITH RICE. IT

IS NOT PROPER, HOWEVER, FOR A SANNYASI TO EAT SUCH PALATABLE DISHES. IF HE DID

SO, HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL HIS SENSES. SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU DID NOT

ENCOURAGE SANNYASIS TO EAT VERY PALATABLE DISHES, FOR THE WHOLE VAISNAVA CULT IS

VAIRAGYA-VIDYA, AS RENOUNCED AS POSSIBLE. CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU ALSO ADVISED

RAGHUNATHA DASA GOSVAMI NOT TO EAT VERY PALATABLE DISHES, WEAR VERY NICE

GARMENTS OR TALK ON MUNDANE SUBJECTS. THESE THINGS ARE ALL PROHIBITED FOR THOSE

IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER. A devotee does not accept anything to eat that is not

first offered to Krsna. All the rich foods offered to Krsna are given to the

grhasthas, the householders. There are many nice things offered to

Krsna--garlands, bedsteads, nice ornaments, nice food and even nicely prepared

pan, betel nuts--but a humble Vaisnava, thinking his body material and nasty,

does not accept such preparations for himself. He thinks that by accepting such

things he will offend the lotus feet of the Lord. THOSE WHO ARE SAHAJIYAS CANNOT

UNDERSTAND WHAT SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU MEANT WHEN HE ASKED ADVAITA ACARYA TO

BRING TWO SEPARATE LEAVES AND GIVE A SMALL QUANTITY OF THE PRASADA TO HIM.

SB 7.13 Summary

Sri Narada Muni has been describing the symptoms of various asramas and

varnas. NOW, IN THIS CHAPTER, HE SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBES THE REGULATIVE

PRINCIPLES TO BE FOLLOWED BY SANNYASIS. After retiring from family life, one

should accept the status of vanaprastha, in which he must formally accept the

body as his means of existence but gradually forget the bodily necessities of

life. AFTER VANAPRASTHA LIFE, HAVING LEFT HOME, ONE SHOULD TRAVEL TO DIFFERENT

PLACES AS A SANNYASI. WITHOUT BODILY COMFORTS AND FREE FROM DEPENDENCE ON

ANYONE WITH RESPECT TO BODILY NECESSITIES, ONE SHOULD TRAVEL EVERYWHERE,

WEARING ALMOST NOTHING OR ACTUALLY WALKING NAKED. WITHOUT ASSOCIATION WITH

ORDINARY HUMAN SOCIETY, ONE SHOULD BEG ALMS AND ALWAYS BE SATISFIED IN HIMSELF.

ONE SHOULD BE A FRIEND TO EVERY LIVING ENTITY AND BE VERY PEACEFUL IN KRSNA

CONSCIOUSNESS. A SANNYASI SHOULD TRAVEL ALONE IN THIS WAY, NOT CARING FOR LIFE

OR DEATH, WAITING FOR THE TIME WHEN HE WILL LEAVE HIS MATERIAL BODY. HE SHOULD

NOT INDULGE IN UNNECESSARY BOOKS OR ADOPT PROFESSIONS LIKE ASTROLOGY, NOR

SHOULD HE TRY TO BECOME A GREAT ORATOR. HE SHOULD ALSO GIVE UP THE PATH OF

UNNECESSARY ARGUMENT AND SHOULD NOT DEPEND ON ANYONE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

HE SHOULD NOT TRY TO ALLURE PEOPLE INTO BECOMING HIS DISCIPLES JUST SO THAT THE

NUMBER OF HIS DISCIPLES MAY INCREASE. HE SHOULD GIVE UP THE HABIT OF READING

MANY BOOKS AS A MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD, AND HE SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO INCREASE THE

NUMBER OF TEMPLES AND MATHAS, OR MONASTERIES. WHEN A SANNYASI THUS BECOMES

COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT, PEACEFUL AND EQUIPOISED, HE CAN SELECT THE DESTINATION

HE DESIRES AFTER DEATH AND FOLLOW THE PRINCIPLES BY WHICH TO REACH THAT

DESTINATION. ALTHOUGH FULLY LEARNED, HE SHOULD ALWAYS REMAIN SILENT, LIKE A

DUMB PERSON, AND TRAVEL LIKE A RESTLESS CHILD.

SB 7.13.1

Sri Narada Muni said: A person able to cultivate spiritual knowledge should

renounce all material connections, AND MERELY KEEPING THE BODY INHABITABLE, he

should travel from one place to another, passing only one night in each

village. In this way, WITHOUT DEPENDENCE IN REGARD TO THE NEEDS OF THE BODY,

the sannyasi should TRAVEL ALL OVER THE WORLD.

SB 7.13.8 P

So-called svamis and yogis generally make disciples by alluring them with

material benefits. There are many so-called gurus who attract disciples by

promising to cure their diseases or increase their material opulence by

manufacturing gold. These are lucrative allurements for unintelligent men. A

sannyasi is prohibited from making disciples through such material allurements.

Sannyasis sometimes indulge in material opulence by unnecessarily constructing

many temples and monasteries, but actually such endeavors should be avoided.

Temples and monasteries should be constructed for the preaching of spiritual

consciousness or Krsna consciousness, not to provide free hotels for persons

who are useful for neither material nor spiritual purposes. Temples and

monasteries should be strictly off limits to worthless clubs of crazy men. IN

THE KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT WE WELCOME EVERYONE WHO AGREES AT LEAST TO

FOLLOW THE MOVEMENT'S REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES--NO ILLICIT SEX, NO INTOXICATION,

NO MEAT-EATING AND NO GAMBLING. IN THE TEMPLES AND MONASTERIES, GATHERINGS OF

UNNECESSARY, REJECTED, LAZY FELLOWS SHOULD BE STRICTLY DISALLOWED. THE TEMPLES

AND MONASTERIES SHOULD BE USED EXCLUSIVELY BY DEVOTEES WHO ARE SERIOUS ABOUT

SPIRITUAL ADVANCEMENT IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS. SRILA VISVANATHA CAKRAVARTI

THAKURA EXPLAINS THE WORD ARAMBHAN AS MEANING MATHADI-VYAPARAN, WHICH MEANS

"ATTEMPTS TO CONSTRUCT TEMPLES AND MONASTERIES." THE FIRST BUSINESS OF THE

SANNYASI IS TO PREACH KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, BUT IF, BY THE GRACE OF KRSNA,

FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE, THEN HE MAY CONSTRUCT TEMPLES AND MONASTERIES TO GIVE

SHELTER TO THE SERIOUS STUDENTS OF KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS. OTHERWISE SUCH TEMPLES

AND MONASTERIES ARE NOT NEEDED.

SB 7.15.38-39

It is abominable for a person living in the grhastha-asrama to give up the

regulative principles, for a brahmacari not to follow the brahmacari vows while

living under the care of the guru, for a vanaprastha to live in the village and

engage in so-called social activities, OR FOR A SANNYASI TO BE ADDICTED TO

SENSE GRATIFICATION. ONE WHO ACTS IN THIS WAY IS TO BE CONSIDERED THE LOWEST

RENEGADE. SUCH A PRETENDER IS BEWILDERED BY THE EXTERNAL ENERGY OF THE SUPREME

PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, AND ONE SHOULD EITHER REJECT HIM FROM ANY POSITION, OR

TAKING COMPASSION UPON HIM, TEACH HIM, IF POSSIBLE, TO RESUME HIS ORIGINAL

POSITION.

SB 7.15.38-39 P

We have repeatedly stressed that human culture does not begin unless one

takes to the principles of varnasrama-dharma. Although grhastha life is a

concession for the enjoyment of sex, one cannot enjoy sex without following the

rules and regulations of householder life. Furthermore, as already instructed, a

brahmacari must live under the care of the guru: brahmacari guru-kule vasan

danto guror hitam. If a brahmacari does not live under the care of the guru, if

a vanaprastha engages in ordinary activities, OR IF A SANNYASI IS GREEDY AND

EATS MEAT, EGGS AND ALL KINDS OF NONSENSE FOR THE SATISFACTION OF HIS TONGUE,

HE IS A CHEATER AND SHOULD IMMEDIATELY BE REJECTED AS UNIMPORTANT. SUCH PERSONS

SHOULD BE SHOWN COMPASSION, AND IF ONE HAS SUFFICIENT STRENGTH ONE SHOULD TEACH

THEM TO STOP THEM FROM FOLLOWING THE WRONG PATH IN LIFE. OTHERWISE ONE SHOULD

REJECT THEM AND PAY THEM NO ATTENTION.

SB 1.4.8 P

Sukadeva Gosvami met Emperor Pariksit and explained the text of

Srimad-Bhagavatam. He was not accustomed to stay at any householder's residence

for more than half an hour (at the time of milking the cow), and he would just

take alms from the fortunate householder. That was to sanctify the residence by

his auspicious presence. Therefore Sukadeva Gosvami is an ideal preacher

established in the transcendental position. FROM HIS ACTIVITIES, THOSE WHO ARE

IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE AND DEDICATED TO THE MISSION OF PREACHING THE

MESSAGE OF GODHEAD SHOULD LEARN THAT THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS WITH HOUSEHOLDERS

SAVE AND EXCEPT TO ENLIGHTEN THEM IN TRANSCENDENTAL KNOWLEDGE. SUCH ASKING FOR

ALMS FROM THE HOUSEHOLDER SHOULD BE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SANCTIFYING HIS HOME.

ONE WHO IS IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE SHOULD NOT BE ALLURED BY THE GLAMOR

OF THE HOUSEHOLDER'S WORLDLY POSSESSIONS AND THUS BECOME SUBSERVIENT TO WORLDLY

MEN. FOR ONE WHO IS IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE, THIS IS MUCH MORE DANGEROUS

THAN DRINKING POISON AND COMMITTING SUICIDE.

SB 1.4.32 P

The vacuum felt by Vyasadeva was not due to his lack of knowledge.

Bhagavata-dharma is purely devotional service of the Lord to which the monist

has no access. THE MONIST IS NOT COUNTED AMONGST THE PARAMAHAMSAS (THE MOST

PERFECT OF THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE).

SB 1.9.26 P

The varnas are, so to speak, classifications of different occupations, and

asrama-dharma is gradual progress on the path of self-realization. Both are

interrelated, and one is dependent on the other. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF

ASRAMA-DHARMA IS TO AWAKEN KNOWLEDGE AND DETACHMENT. The brahmacari asrama is

the training ground for the prospective candidates. In this asrama it is

instructed that this material world is not actually the home of the living

being. The conditioned souls under material bondage are prisoners of matter,

and therefore self-realization is the ultimate aim of life. The whole system of

asrama-dharma is a means to detachment. One who fails to assimilate this spirit

of detachment is allowed to enter into family life with the same spirit of

detachment. THEREFORE, ONE WHO ATTAINS DETACHMENT MAY AT ONCE ADOPT THE FOURTH

ORDER, NAMELY, RENOUNCED, AND THUS LIVE ON CHARITY ONLY, NOT TO ACCUMULATE

WEALTH, BUT JUST TO KEEP BODY AND SOUL TOGETHER FOR ULTIMATE REALIZATION.

HOUSEHOLD LIFE IS FOR ONE WHO IS ATTACHED, AND THE VANAPRASTHA AND SANNYASA

ORDERS OF LIFE ARE FOR THOSE WHO ARE DETACHED FROM MATERIAL LIFE. The

brahmacari-asrama is especially meant for training both the attached and

detached.

SB 1.9.27 P

To give charity is one of the householder's main functions, and he should be

prepared to give in charity at least fifty percent of his hard-earned money. A

brahmacari, or student, should perform sacrifices, a householder should give

charity, AND A PERSON IN THE RETIRED LIFE OR IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER SHOULD

PRACTICE PENANCES AND AUSTERITIES. Those are the general functions of all the

asramas, or orders of life on the path of self-realization.

SB 1.13.35 P

UNLESS ONE IS CONVINCED OF A BETTER LIFE AFTER RENUNCIATION of the present life,

ONE CANNOT STICK TO THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE SIMPLY BY ARTIFICIAL DRESS or

staying out of the home.

SB 2.2.5 P

THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE IS NEVER MEANT FOR BEGGING OR LIVING AT THE COST

OF OTHERS AS A PARASITE. ACCORDING TO THE DICTIONARY, A PARASITE IS A SYCOPHANT

WHO LIVES AT THE COST OF SOCIETY WITHOUT MAKING ANY CONTRIBUTION TO THAT

SOCIETY. THE RENOUNCED ORDER IS MEANT FOR CONTRIBUTING SOMETHING SUBSTANTIAL TO

SOCIETY AND NOT DEPENDING ON THE EARNINGS OF THE HOUSEHOLDERS. On the contrary,

acceptance of alms from the householders by the bona fide mendicant is an

opportunity afforded by the saint for the tangible benefit of the donor. In the

sanatana-dharma institution, alms-giving to the mendicant is part of a

householder's duty, and it is advised in the scriptures that the householders

should treat the mendicants as their family children and should provide them

with food, clothing, etc., without being asked. PSEUDOMENDICANTS, THEREFORE,

SHOULD NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHARITABLE DISPOSITION OF THE FAITHFUL

HOUSEHOLDERS. THE FIRST DUTY OF A PERSON IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE IS TO

CONTRIBUTE SOME LITERARY WORK FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HUMAN BEING IN ORDER TO

GIVE HIM REALIZED DIRECTION TOWARD SELF-REALIZATION. Amongst the other duties

in the renounced order of life of Srila Sanatana, Srila Rupa and the other

Gosvamis of Vrndavana, the foremost duty discharged by them was to hold learned

discourses amongst themselves at Sevakunja, Vrndavana (the spot where Sri

Radha-Damodara Temple was established by Srila Jiva Gosvami and where the

actual samadhi tombs of Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Jiva Gosvami are laid).

For the benefit of all in human society, they left behind them immense

literatures of transcendental importance. Similarly, all the acaryas who

voluntarily accepted the renounced order of life aimed at benefiting human

society and not at living a comfortable or irresponsible life at the cost of

others. HOWEVER, THOSE WHO CANNOT GIVE ANY CONTRIBUTION SHOULD NOT GO TO THE

HOUSEHOLDERS FOR FOOD, FOR SUCH MENDICANTS ASKING BREAD FROM THE HOUSEHOLDERS

ARE AN INSULT TO THE HIGHEST ORDER. SUKADEVA GOSVAMI GAVE THIS WARNING

ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE MENDICANTS WHO ADOPT THIS LINE OF PROFESSION TO SOLVE

THEIR ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. SUCH MENDICANTS ARE IN ABUNDANCE IN THE AGE OF KALI.

WHEN A MAN BECOMES A MENDICANT WILLFULLY OR BY CIRCUMSTANCES, HE MUST BE OF

FIRM FAITH AND CONVICTION THAT THE SUPREME LORD IS THE MAINTAINER OF ALL LIVING

BEINGS EVERYWHERE IN THE UNIVERSE. WHY, THEN, WOULD HE NEGLECT THE MAINTENANCE

OF A SURRENDERED SOUL WHO IS CENT PERCENT ENGAGED IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD? A

common master looks to the necessities of his servant, so how much more would

the all-powerful, all-opulent Supreme Lord look after the necessities of life

for a fully surrendered soul. The general rule is that a mendicant devotee will

accept a simple small loincloth without asking anyone to give it in charity. He

simply salvages it from the rejected torn cloth thrown in the street. When he

is hungry he may go to a magnanimous tree which drops fruits, and when he is

thirsty he may drink water from the flowing river. He does not require to live

in a comfortable house, but should find a cave in the hills and not be afraid

of jungle animals, keeping faith in God, who lives in everyone's heart. The

Lord may dictate to tigers and other jungle animals not to disturb His devotee.

Haridasa Thakura, a great devotee of Lord Sri Caitanya, used to live in such a

cave, and by chance a great venomous snake was a co-partner of the cave. Some

admirer of Thakura Haridasa who had to visit the Thakura every day feared the

snake and suggested that the Thakura leave that place. Because his devotees

were afraid of the snake and they were regularly visiting the cave, Thakura

Haridasa agreed to the proposal on their account. But as soon as this was

settled, the snake actually crawled out of its hole in the cave and left the

cave for good before everyone present. BY THE DICTATION OF THE LORD, WHO LIVED

ALSO WITHIN THE HEART OF THE SNAKE, THE SNAKE GAVE PREFERENCE TO HARIDASA AND

DECIDED TO LEAVE THE PLACE AND NOT DISTURB HIM. SO THIS IS A TANGIBLE EXAMPLE

OF HOW THE LORD GIVES PROTECTION TO A BONA FIDE DEVOTEE LIKE THAKURA HARIDASA.

According to the regulations of the sanatana-dharma institution, one is trained

from the beginning to depend fully on the protection of the Lord in all

circumstances. THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION IS RECOMMENDED FOR ACCEPTANCE BY ONE

WHO IS FULLY ACCOMPLISHED AND FULLY PURIFIED IN HIS EXISTENCE. THIS STAGE IS

DESCRIBED ALSO IN THE BHAGAVAD-GITA (16.5) AS DAIVI SAMPAT. A human being is

required to accumulate daivi sampat, or spiritual assets; otherwise, the next

alternative, asuri sampat, or material assets, will overcome him

disproportionately, and thus one will be forced into the entanglement of

different miseries of the material world. A SANNYASI SHOULD ALWAYS LIVE ALONE,

WITHOUT COMPANY, AND HE MUST BE FEARLESS. HE SHOULD NEVER BE AFRAID OF LIVING

ALONE, ALTHOUGH HE IS NEVER ALONE. THE LORD IS RESIDING IN EVERYONE'S HEART,

AND UNLESS ONE IS PURIFIED BY THE PRESCRIBED PROCESS, ONE WILL FEEL THAT HE IS

ALONE. BUT A MAN IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE MUST BE PURIFIED BY THE

PROCESS; THUS HE WILL FEEL THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD EVERYWHERE AND WILL HAVE

NOTHING TO FEAR (SUCH AS BEING WITHOUT ANY COMPANY). Everyone can become a

fearless and honest person if his very existence is purified by discharging the

prescribed duty for each and every order of life. One can become fixed in one's

prescribed duty by faithful aural reception of Vedic instructions and

assimilation of the essence of Vedic knowledge by devotional service to the

Lord.

SB 2.2.12 P

This stage of knowledge is called vairagya, or detachment from unwanted things.

WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED THAT THE TRANSCENDENTALIST IS REQUIRED TO BE

SELF-SUFFICIENT AND SHOULD NOT BEG FROM THE RICH BLIND PERSONS TO FULFILL THE

BARE NECESSITIES OF LIFE. Sukadeva Gosvami has suggested some alternatives for

the bare necessities of life, namely the problem of eating, sleeping and

shelter, but he has not suggested any alternative for sex satisfaction. ONE WHO

HAS THE SEX DESIRE STILL WITH HIM SHOULD NOT AT ALL TRY TO ACCEPT THE RENOUNCED

ORDER OF LIFE. FOR ONE WHO HAS NOT ATTAINED TO THIS STAGE, THERE IS NO QUESTION

OF A RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE. SO BY THE GRADUAL PROCESS OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A PROPER SPIRITUAL MASTER, AND FOLLOWING THE PRINCIPLES

OF THE BHAGAVATAM, ONE MUST BE ABLE AT LEAST TO CONTROL THE GROSS SEX DESIRE

BEFORE ONE ACCEPTS THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE FACTUALLY.

SB 2.6.20 P

THE HOUSEHOLDERS AND PERSONS WHO HAVE DELIBERATELY BROKEN THE VOW OF CELIBACY

CANNOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF DEATHLESSNESS. The pious householders or the

fallen yogis or the fallen transcendentalists can be promoted to the higher

planets within the material world (one fourth of the energy of the Lord), but

they will fail to enter into the kingdom of deathlessness. Abrhad-vratas are

those who have broken the vow of celibacy. THE VANAPRASTHAS, OR THOSE RETIRED

FROM FAMILY LIFE, AND THE SANNYASIS, OR THE RENOUNCED PERSONS, CANNOT BREAK THE

VOW OF CELIBACY IF THEY WANT SUCCESS IN THE PROCESS. THE BRAHMACARIS,

VANAPRASTHAS AND SANNYASIS DO NOT INTEND TO TAKE REBIRTH (APRAJA), NOR ARE THEY

MEANT FOR SECRETLY INDULGING IN SEX LIFE. Such a falldown by the spiritualist

may be compensated by another chance for human life in good families of learned

brahmanas or of rich merchants for another term of elevation, but the best thing

is to attain the highest perfection of deathlessness as soon as the human form

of life is attained; otherwise the whole policy of human life will prove to be

a total failure. Lord Caitanya was very strict in advising His followers in

this matter of celibacy. One of His personal attendants, Chota Haridasa, was

severely punished by Lord Caitanya because of his failure to observe the vow of

celibacy. FOR A TRANSCENDENTALIST, THEREFORE, WHO AT ALL WANTS TO BE PROMOTED TO

THE KINGDOM BEYOND MATERIAL MISERIES, IT IS WORSE THAN SUICIDE TO DELIBERATELY

INDULGE IN SEX LIFE, ESPECIALLY IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE. SEX LIFE IN THE

RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE IS THE MOST PERVERTED FORM OF RELIGIOUS LIFE, AND SUCH A

MISGUIDED PERSON CAN ONLY BE SAVED IF, BY CHANCE, HE MEETS A PURE DEVOTEE.

SB 3.4.6 P

THOSE WHO ARE IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE OFTEN TAKE SHELTER UNDERNEATH A

TREE. The Lord was found by Uddhava in that condition of taking shelter as do

persons who have no shelter. Because He is the proprietor of everything,

everywhere is His shelter, and everywhere is under His shelter. The entire

material and spiritual cosmic manifestation is sustained by Him, and therefore

He is the shelter of everything. SO THERE WAS NOTHING ASTONISHING IN HIS TAKING

SHELTER IN THE WAY OF THE UNSHELTERED WHO ARE IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE.

SB 3.12.43

The FOUR DIVISIONS OF RETIRED LIFE are the vaikhanasas, valakhilyas,

audumbaras and phenapas. The four divisions of the renounced order of life are

the kuticakas, bahvodas, hamsas and niskriyas. All these were manifested from

Brahma.

SB 3.12.43 P

THE VARNASRAMA-DHARMA, OR THE INSTITUTION OF THE FOUR DIVISIONS AND ORDERS OF

SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL LIFE, IS NOT A NEW INVENTION OF THE MODERN AGE, AS PROPOSED

BY THE LESS INTELLIGENT. IT IS AN INSTITUTION ESTABLISHED BY BRAHMA FROM THE

BEGINNING OF THE CREATION. THIS IS ALSO CONFIRMED IN THE BHAGAVAD-GITA (4.13):

CATUR-VARNYAM MAYA SRSTAM.

SB 3.14.20 P

OF THE FOUR ORDERS OF HUMAN SOCIETY--THE STUDENT, OR BRAHMACARI ORDER, THE

HOUSEHOLDER, OR GRHASTHA ORDER, THE RETIRED, OR VANAPRASTHA ORDER, AND THE

RENOUNCED, OR SANNYASI ORDER--THE HOUSEHOLDER IS ON THE SAFE SIDE. The bodily

senses are considered plunderers of the fort of the body. The wife is supposed

to be the commander of the fort, and therefore whenever there is an attack on

the body by the senses, it is the wife who protects the body from being

smashed. The sex demand is inevitable for everyone, but one who has a fixed

wife is saved from the onslaught of the sense enemies. A man who possesses a

good wife does not create a disturbance in society by corrupting virgin girls.

SB 3.14.21 P

So much glorification of a woman by her husband indicates that he is

henpecked or is talking lightly in joke. Kasyapa meant that householders living

with wives enjoy the heavenly blessings of sense enjoyment and at the same time

have no fear of going down to hell. THE MAN IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE HAS

NO WIFE AND MAY BE DRIVEN BY SEX DESIRE TO SEEK ANOTHER WOMAN OR ANOTHER'S WIFE

AND THUS GO TO HELL. IN OTHER WORDS, THE SO-CALLED MAN OF THE RENOUNCED ORDER,

WHO HAS LEFT HIS HOUSE AND WIFE, GOES TO HELL IF HE AGAIN DESIRES SEXUAL

PLEASURE, KNOWINGLY OR UNKNOWINGLY. In that way the householders are on the

side of safety.

SB 3.33.21 P

A WOMAN WHOSE HUSBAND IS AWAY FROM HOME OR HAS TAKEN THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF

LIFE SHOULD NOT BE VERY SORRY, BECAUSE SHE STILL HAS THE PRESENCE OF HER

HUSBAND'S REPRESENTATIVE, HER SON. It is said in the Vedic scriptures, atmaiva

putro jayate: the husband's body is represented by the son.

SB 4.14.9 P

IN BHAGAVAD-GITA (18.5) IT IS STATED THAT EVEN IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER ONE

SHOULD NOT GIVE UP SACRIFICE, CHARITY AND PENANCE. The brahmacaris must perform

sacrifices, the grhasthas must give in charity, AND THOSE IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER

OF LIFE (THE VANAPRASTHAS AND SANNYASIS) MUST PRACTICE PENANCE AND AUSTERITIES.

These are the procedures by which everyone can be elevated to the spiritual

platform.

SB 4.25.62 P

ON THE WHOLE, FOR SPIRITUAL ADVANCEMENT, ONE MUST GIVE UP THE COMPANY OF

WOMEN. THIS IS WHAT IS MEANT BY THE ORDER OF SANNYASA, THE RENOUNCED ORDER.

BEFORE TAKING SANNYASA, OR COMPLETELY RENOUNCING THE MATERIAL WORLD, ONE HAS TO

PRACTICE AVOIDING ILLICIT SEX. Sex life, licit or illicit, is practically the

same, but through illicit sex one becomes more and more captivated. By

regulating one's sex life there is a chance that one may eventually be able to

renounce sex or renounce the association of women. If this can be done,

advancement in spiritual life comes very easily.

SB 5.6.2 P

EVEN ONE WHO HAS RENOUNCED THE WORLD AND HAS TAKEN SANNYASA SHOULD NOT

RENOUNCE CHANTING THE HARE KRSNA MAHA-MANTRA. RENUNCIATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT

ONE HAS TO RENOUNCE SANKIRTANA-YAJNA. SIMILARLY, ONE SHOULD NOT RENOUNCE

CHARITY OR TAPASYA.

SB 5.8.8 P

yajna-dana-tapah-karma

na tyajyam karyam eva tat

yajno danam tapas caiva

pavanani manisinam

"Acts of sacrifice, charity and penance are not to be given up but should be

performed. Indeed, sacrifice, charity and penance purify even the great soul."

EVEN IF ONE IS IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER, HE SHOULD NEVER GIVE UP THE REGULATIVE

PRINCIPLES. HE SHOULD WORSHIP THE DEITY AND GIVE HIS TIME AND LIFE TO THE

SERVICE OF KRSNA. HE SHOULD ALSO CONTINUE FOLLOWING THE RULES AND REGULATIONS

OF AUSTERITY AND PENANCE. THESE THINGS CANNOT BE GIVEN UP. ONE SHOULD NOT THINK

ONESELF VERY ADVANCED SIMPLY BECAUSE ONE HAS ACCEPTED THE SANNYASA ORDER. The

activities of Bharata Maharaja should be carefully studied for one's spiritual

advancement.

SB 6.5.40 P

Prajapati Daksa was correct in stating that changing one's dress cannot

detach one from this material world. THE SANNYASIS OF KALI-YUGA WHO CHANGE

THEIR ROBES FROM WHITE TO SAFFRON AND THEN THINK THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY LIKE

ARE MORE ABOMINABLE THAN MATERIALISTIC GRHASTHAS. This is not recommended

anywhere. Prajapati Daksa was right in pointing out this defect, but he did not

know that Narada Muni had aroused the spirit of renunciation in the Haryasvas

and Savalasvas through full knowledge. Such enlightened renunciation is

desirable. ONE SHOULD ENTER THE RENOUNCED ORDER WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE

(JNANA-VAIRAGYA), FOR THE PERFECTION OF LIFE IS POSSIBLE FOR ONE WHO RENOUNCES

THIS MATERIAL WORLD IN THAT WAY. This elevated stage can be reached very

easily, as supported by the statements of Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.7):

vasudeve bhagavati

bhakti-yogah prayojitah

janayaty asu vairagyam

jnanam ca yad ahaitukam

"By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna,

one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world." IF

ONE SERIOUSLY ENGAGES IN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE TO LORD VASUDEVA, JNANA AND VAIRAGYA

ARE AUTOMATICALLY MANIFEST IN ONE'S PERSON. There is no doubt of this. Prajapati

Daksa's accusation that Narada had not actually elevated his sons to the

platform of knowledge was not factual. All the sons of Prajapati Daksa had

first been raised to the platform of jnana and had then automatically renounced

this world. IN SUMMARY, UNLESS ONE'S KNOWLEDGE IS AWAKENED, RENUNCIATION CANNOT

TAKE PLACE, FOR WITHOUT ELEVATED KNOWLEDGE ONE CANNOT GIVE UP ATTACHMENT FOR

MATERIAL ENJOYMENT.

SB 6.6.1 P

FEMALES ARE NOT MEANT FOR THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE; THEY SHOULD BE FAITHFUL

TO THEIR GOOD HUSBANDS, FOR IF A HUSBAND IS COMPETENT FOR LIBERATION, HIS WIFE

WILL ALSO ACHIEVE LIBERATION WITH HIM. As stated in the sastra, the results of

a husband's pious activities are shared by his wife. Therefore a woman's duty

is to be very chaste and faithful to her husband. Then without separate

endeavor she will share in all the profit the husband earns.

SB 7.12.9 P

If a butter pot and fire are kept together, the butter within the pot will

certainly melt. Woman is compared to fire, and man is compared to a butter pot.

However advanced one may be in restraining the senses, it is almost impossible

for a man to keep himself controlled in the presence of a woman, even if she is

his own daughter, mother or sister. INDEED, HIS MIND IS AGITATED EVEN IF ONE IS

IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE. Therefore, Vedic civilization carefully

restricts mingling between men and women. If one cannot understand the basic

principle of restraining association between man and woman, he is to be

considered an animal. That is the purport of this verse.

Adi 10.84

SRI RUPA GOSVAMI GAVE UP ALL FAMILY CONNECTIONS, JOINED THE RENOUNCED ORDER

OF LIFE AND DIVIDED HIS MONEY, giving fifty percent to the brahmanas and

Vaisnavas and twenty-five percent to his kutumba (family members) and keeping

twenty-five percent for personal emergencies.

Madhya 20.81

THE WORD MADHUKARI COMES FROM THE WORD MADHUKARA, WHICH REFERS TO BEES

COLLECTING HONEY FROM FLOWER TO FLOWER. A MADHUKARI IS A SAINTLY PERSON OR A

MENDICANT WHO DOES NOT ACCEPT A FULL MEAL AT ONE HOUSE BUT BEGS FROM DOOR TO

DOOR, TAKING A LITTLE FOOD FROM EACH HOUSEHOLDER'S PLACE. IN THIS WAY HE DOES

NOT OVEREAT OR GIVE HOUSEHOLDERS UNNECESSARY TROUBLE. A PERSON IN THE RENOUNCED

ORDER MAY BEG BUT NOT COOK. HIS BEGGING SHOULD NOT BE A BURDEN FOR THE

HOUSEHOLDERS. THE MADHUKARI PROCESS IS STRICTLY TO BE FOLLOWED BY A BABAJI,

THAT IS, ONE WHO HAS ATTAINED THE PARAMAHAMSA STAGE. This practice is still

current in Vrndavana, and there are many places where alms are offered.

Unfortunately, there are many beggars who have come to Vrndavana to accept alms

but not follow the principles of Sanatana Gosvami. People try to imitate him and

lead an idle life by practicing madhukari. It is almost impossible to strictly

follow Sanatana Gosvami or Rupa Gosvami. IT IS BETTER TO ACCEPT FOOD OFFERED TO

KRSNA IN THE TEMPLE THAN TO TRY TO IMITATE SANATANA GOSVAMI AND RUPA GOSVAMI.

Antya 2.117

The Lord replied, "I cannot tolerate seeing the face of a person who has

accepted the renounced order of life but who still talks intimately with a

woman.

Antya 2.117 P

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments that saralata, or

simplicity, is the first qualification of a Vaisnava, whereas duplicity or

cunning behavior is a great offense against the principles of devotional

service. As one advances in Krsna consciousness, one must gradually become

disgusted with material attachment and thus become more and more attached to

the service of the Lord. IF ONE IS NOT FACTUALLY DETACHED FROM MATERIAL

ACTIVITIES BUT STILL PROCLAIMS HIMSELF ADVANCED IN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, HE IS

CHEATING. NO ONE WILL BE HAPPY TO SEE SUCH BEHAVIOR.

Antya 2.144

In connection with stri-sambhasana, talking with women, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta

Sarasvati Thakura says that talking with women for the purpose of mingling with

them for sense gratification, subtle or gross, is strictly prohibited. Canakya

Pandita, the great moral instructor, says, matrvat para-daresu. THUS NOT ONLY A

PERSON IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER OR ONE ENGAGED IN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE BUT EVERYONE

SHOULD AVOID MINGLING WITH WOMEN. ONE SHOULD CONSIDER ANOTHER'S WIFE HIS

MOTHER.

Antya 6.224

"A VAIRAGI [A PERSON IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER] SHOULD NOT DEPEND ON OTHERS. 'IF

HE DOES SO, HE WILL BE UNSUCCESSFUL, AND HE WILL BE NEGLECTED BY KRSNA.

Antya 6.237

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya that when a man

and woman are married, they beget children and are thus entangled in family

life. Talk concerning such family life is called gramya-katha. A PERSON IN THE

RENOUNCED ORDER NEVER INDULGES IN EITHER HEARING OR TALKING ABOUT SUCH

SUBJECTS. HE SHOULD NOT EAT PALATABLE DISHES, SINCE THAT IS UNFIT FOR A PERSON

IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER. HE SHOULD SHOW ALL RESPECT TO OTHERS, BUT SHOULD NOT

EXPECT RESPECT FOR HIMSELF. IN THIS WAY, ONE SHOULD CHANT THE HOLY NAME OF THE

LORD AND THINK OF HOW TO SERVE RADHA AND KRSNA IN VRNDAVANA.

Antya 6.254

"He is in the SUPREME order of RENOUNCED life. INDEED, HE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT

EATING OR DRESSING. Somehow or other he eats and maintains his life.

 

*****SANNYASA ASRAMA PART 5/5*****

Antya 6.314

This verse (Bhag. 7.15.40) was spoken by Narada to Yudhisthira Maharaja

regarding a householder's liberation from material bondage. ON THE SPIRITUAL

PLATFORM, ONE DOES NOT UNNECESSARILY CARE FOR THE BODY. SRILA NAROTTAMA DASA

THAKURA HAS SAID, DEHA-SMRTI NAHI YARA, SAMSARA BANDHANA KAHAN TARA. ONE WHO IS

SPIRITUALLY SITUATED DOES NOT THINK THAT HE IS THE BODY. THEREFORE HE CAN

TRANSCENDENTALLY EXECUTE SEVERE PENANCES IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE. THE

BEST EXAMPLE OF SUCH RENUNCIATION IS RAGHUNATHA DASA GOSVAMI.

MG 2 Getting Out the Material Mire

THE TAKING OF THE RENOUNCED ORDER, HOWEVER, IS NOT ALWAYS NECESSARY. IF ONE

CAN EXECUTE KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS IN FAMILY LIFE, THAT IS ALSO RECOMMENDED.

ALTHOUGH BHAKTIVINODA THAKURA WAS A FAMILY MAN AND MAGISTRATE, HE STILL

EXECUTED DEVOTIONAL SERVICE MOST EXCELLENTLY. DHRUVA MAHARAJA AND PRAHLADA

MAHARAJA WERE ALSO GRHASTHAS, HOUSEHOLDERS, BUT THEY TRAINED THEMSELVES IN SUCH

A WAY THAT EVEN AS HOUSEHOLDERS THEY WERE NOT FACED WITH INTERRUPTIONS IN THEIR

SERVICE. Therefore Prahlada Maharaja said, "I have learned the art of always

remaining in Krsna consciousness." What is that art?

Tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-magna-cittah: simply glorifying the victorious

activities and pastimes of the Lord.

660824BG.NY

JUST LIKE ARJUNA. ARJUNA WAS NOT A SANNYASI. HE, AFTER HEARING BHAGAVAD-GITA,

HE DID NOT TAKE UP THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE AND DRESSED HIMSELF IN

ORANGE-COLORED DRESS AND WENT AWAY FROM THE BATTLEFIELD, NO. HE REMAINED THE

SAME MAN, THE SAME MILITARY MAN, BUT HE BECAME THE MOST PERFECT KRSNA CONSCIOUS

MAN. SO SAME PRINCIPLE WAS THERE. THEREFORE HERE LORD KRSNA SAYS, SANNYASAH

KARMA-YOGAS CA NIHSREYASA-KARAV UBHAU: "EITHER YOU TAKE SANNYASA OR YOU REMAIN

IN YOUR POSITION, THAT DOESN'T MATTER. YOU CAN ATTAIN THE HIGHEST PERFECTION

FROM ANY POSITION, PROVIDED YOU ARE KRSNA CONSCIOUS." THAT'S ALL. Jneyah sa

nitya-sannyasi yo na dvesti na kanksati. Hear how nicely Krsna says. Jneyah sa

nitya-sannyasi. Just try to understand. That person is always a sannyasi--not

by dress but by his actual activities. What? Na dvesti na kanksati. "He does

not, I mean to say, hate anything, and he does not desire anything." These two

qualifications. He does not hate anything, and he does not desire anything.

660826BG.NY

Jneyeh, "Just understand," sa. Sa means he. Who? Nitya-sannyasi: "That person is

always in renounced order, not by dress, but by action, always in renounced

order..." Yo na dvesti na kanksati: "That person who does not hate, neither

desires." Nitya-sannyasi. THE RENOUNCED ORDER MEANS THAT I RENOUNCE MY MATERIAL

PROPENSITIES. THAT IS CALLED RENUNCIATION. A living entity is living. He has got

his different propensities. That is his natural position. If I say that "You

don't desire," no, that is not possible. I cannot desire, I don't desire... If

I am desireless, then I am dead. What is my life? Desire... Somebody says that

"You become desireless." That is an impossible, sir. Desireless means don't

desire materially. That is desireless.

SO A PERSON WHO HAS RENOUNCED EVERYTHING FOR SERVICE OF THE LORD. SANNYASI.

SANNYASI MEANS SAT-NYASI. SAT MEANS THE SUPREME ETERNAL, AND NYASI MEANS

RENOUNCED. SO SANNYASI... HE IS A SANNYASI WHO HAS RENOUNCED EVERYTHING FOR THE

SAKE OF THE LORD. HE'S CALLED SANNYASI. AND HE HAS NO HATRED FOR ANYTHING

BECAUSE IN HIS VISION EVERYTHING IS MEANT FOR THE SERVICE OF THE LORD.

750706SB.CHI

Prabhupada: Eight thousand rupees for his personal expenditure. So he was

utilizing that money by inviting sannyasis of Jagannatha Puri. There were many

sannyasis. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu was also being invited. So after a few days,

there was no invitation. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu inquired His secretary that

"Why Raghunatha does not invite?" So he replied that "He refused to take his

father's contribution." So Caitanya, "Oh, it is very nice." It is not that

"Money will come from home, and I shall become a renounced order of life." No.

He understood that "I have left my home. Why shall I take money from my

father?" He refused.

SO IN THIS WAY RAGHUNATHA DASA GOSVAMI, ONE OF THE SIX GOSVAMIS, VERY

IMPORTANT DEVOTEE, HE USED TO LIVE. HE USED TO EAT EVERY ALTERNATE DAY, NOT

DAILY. ONE DAY STARVING, AND THE NEXT DAY, A LITTLE BUTTER. BUT HE WAS

OBSERVING HIS REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES, TAKING THRICE DAILY BATH AND OFFERING

DANDAVAT, WHAT IS CALLED? COUNTING, NUMERICAL. JUST LIKE WE COUNT TWENTY-FIVE

ROUNDS MINIMUM, SO RAGHUNATHA DASA GOSVAMI WAS ALSO CHANTING BY COUNTING.

SIMILARLY, HE WAS OFFERING DANDAVAT. YOU OFFER DANDAVAT, THE SAME WAY. THAT IS

ALSO COUNTING. SANKHYA-PURVAKA-NAMA-GANA-NATIBHIH. SANKHYA-PURVAKA, KEEPING A

STRENGTH, A NUMERICAL STRENGTH, JUST LIKE WE ARE ADVISED AT LEAST SIXTEEN

ROUNDS. SO THESE THINGS WERE GOING ON. NOT THAT BECAUSE HE WAS TAKING LITTLE

BUTTER ALTERNATE DAY, HE LOST HIS STRENGTH. NO. THE STRENGTH WAS ALL RIGHT. SO

THE FASTING MEANS IF YOU DON'T FEEL WEAK, THEN YOU FAST. NOT THAT YOU IMITATE

RAGHUNATHA DASA GOSVAMI. THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE IN THE BEGINNING. BUT IT IS

POSSIBLE IF YOU PRACTICE, IF YOU PRACTICE. NIDRAHARA-VIHARAKADI-VIJITAU

CATYANTA-DINAU CA YAU SANKHYA-PURVAKA-NAMA-GANA-NATIBHIH KALAVASANI-KRTAU. SO

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. BUT THAT IS ADVANCED SPIRITUAL LIFE. IT IS NO USE

IMITATING A HIGHER AUTHORITY, HARIDASA THAKURA. JUST LIKE HE WAS CHANTING NOT

SIXTEEN ROUNDS, BUT 164 ROUNDS. SO THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. GRADUALLY, SANAIH

SANAIH, GRADUALLY, WE HAVE TO PRACTICE.

680612SB.MON

There is one verse in Bhagavatam. One devotee, he has taken sannyasa.

Sannyasa means the renounced order of life. Just like as you see me by my

dress, this is called sannyasa. SANNYASA MEANS... THIS IS SANSKRIT WORD,

SAT-NYASA. THIS IS SANNYASA. SAT MEANS THE SUPREME, THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH. AND

NYASA MEANS RENOUNCED. ONE WHO HAS RENOUNCED EVERYTHING FOR THE SERVICE OF THE

SUPREME, HE IS CALLED A SANNYASA. SANNYASA DOES NOT MEAN A PARTICULAR TYPE OF

DRESS OR PARTICULAR TYPE OF BEARD. SANNYASA MEANS YOU CAN BECOME A SANNYASI

EVEN WITH YOUR, THIS COAT-PANT. IT DOESN'T MATTER, PROVIDED YOU HAVE DEDICATED

YOUR LIFE FOR THE SERVICE OF GOD. THAT IS CALLED SANNYASA. IN THE BHAGAVAD-GITA

IT IS CLEARLY SAID, ANASRITAH KARMA-PHALAM KARYAM KARMA KAROTI YAH, SA SANNYASI,

SA SANNYASI SA YOGI CA NA CANYA AKRIYA. The meaning of this verse is that

anasritah karma-phalam. Everyone is working in this material world for some

salary or for some remuneration, BUT IF ONE WORKS NOT FOR SALARY OR FOR

REMUNERATION BUT AS A MATTER OF DUTY... Anasritah karma-phalam karyam. Karyam

means "It must be done." Karma karoti yah: "In such a way, if somebody acts,

then sa sannyasi, he is sannyasi."

760622SB.NV

So people do not know this, how this science is working, but this is the

fact. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah. Tatha dehantara-praptih. So

we have to read all these things carefully. Tatha dehantara-praptih, there is

dehantara, another body. So we must be very careful what kind of body I'm going

to get. Now, this life I have got very nice, beautiful body and everything is

all right, but if we act irresponsibly, the nature will give me a suitable

body. Otherwise, why there are so many varieties of life, 8,400,000? So we

should be very, very careful not to waste the duration of life even by a

second. WE SHALL EAT LESS, THEN WE SHALL SLEEP ALSO LESS. NIDRAHARA-VIHARAKADI:

THEN OUR SEX APPETITE ALSO WILL BE LESS. Unnecessarily eating, unnecessarily

sleeping is not required at all. That is the practice by the Gosvamis.

NIDRAHARA-VIHARAKADI-VIJITAU. THEY CONQUERED OVER EATING, SLEEPING. MATING,

THERE WAS NO QUESTION: THEY WERE SANNYASIS, RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE. AND

DEFENSE ALSO, THERE WAS NO QUESTION BECAUSE THEY DEPENDED ON KRSNA, THE MOST

POWERFUL DEFENDER. SO THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF DEFENSE. SIMPLY TWO THINGS,

EATING AND SLEEPING. AND THAT THEY ALSO CONQUERED. NIDRAHARA-VIHARAKADI-VIJITAU

CATYANTA-DINAU CA YAU. SO SPIRITUAL LIFE MEANS YOU HAVE TO CONTROL. THAT IS

CALLED GOSVAMI.

661121CC.NY

Then, after getting him washed in the Ganges and cleansed by a barber,

Candrasekhara offered him a new pair of clothing and... Sei vastra sanatana na

kaila angikara. And Sanatana Gosvami did not accept that new clothing. Suniya

prabhura mane ananda apara. And when Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard it that

Sanatana Gosvami, after renouncement, he's not going to accept any new

clothing... SO FOR A REALLY RENOUNCED PERSON IS THAT WHATEVER CLOTHING IS

THROWN IN THE STREET, HE'LL COLLECT AND HE'LL WEAR IT. HE WOULD NOT PURCHASE

ANY NEW CLOTHING. That is the order of strictly one who follows... Cirani.

Sanatana... Svarupa... Sukadeva Gosvami, in the Bhagavata, he says that

"Whether old clothings and torn clothings cannot be had on the street? Whether

trees are not giving fruit? Whether the rivers are dried up? Whether the caves

of the mountains, they are closed? Then why the renounced order of persons go

to the visayi?" Visayi means those, those who are materialistic. Sometimes

renounced order of life, sannyasi, they go to the householders... Of course,

that is their duty. But still... So Sukadeva Gosvami, a great personality in

the renounced order of life, he would live naked. He would not go even to the

human society. SO THOSE WHO ARE FOLLOWING STRICTLY, THEY DON'T MAKE THEMSELVES

DEPENDENT ON THE HOUSEHOLDERS OR ON THE WORLDLY PEOPLE. SO SANATANA GOSVAMI DID

NOT ACCEPT THAT NEW CLOTHING, AND WHEN IT WAS HEARD BY LORD CAITANYA, HE WAS

VERY GLAD.

661121CC.NY

Then this is a hint by Lord Caitanya that a sannyasi who has renounced

everything, if he lives very gorgeously, with good dress, and good house, and

apartment... No.... far as possible... WHATEVER IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSITY, HE

SHOULD ACCEPT, NOT MORE. YES. THAT IS RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE, NOT THAT IN THE

NAME OF RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE HE SHOULD LIVE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE

HOUSEHOLDERS, VERY GORGEOUSLY. NO..

681021DK.SEA

Prabhupada: ONE HAS TO ACCEPT THE RENOUNCED ORDER FROM ANOTHER PERSON WHO IS IN

RENOUNCED ORDER. So I never thought that I shall accept this renounced order of

life. In my family life, when I was in the midst of my wife and children,

sometimes I was dreaming my spiritual master, that he's calling me, and I was

following him. When my dream was over, I was thinking. I was little horrified.

"Oh, Guru Maharaja wants me to become sannyasi. How can I accept sannyasa?" At

that time, I was feeling not very satisfaction that I have to give up my family

and have to become a mendicant. At that time, it was a horrible feeling.

Sometimes I was thinking, "No, I cannot take sannyasa." But again I saw the

same dream. So in this way I was fortunate. My Guru Maharaja (Prabhupada begins

to cry, choked voice) pulled me out from this material life. I have not lost

anything. He was so kind upon me. I have gained. I left three children, I have

got now three hundred children. So I am not loser. This is material conception.

We think that we shall be loser by accepting Krsna. Nobody is loser. I say from

my practical experience. I was thinking that "How can I accept this renounced

order of life? I cannot accept so much trouble." So... But I retired from my

family life. I was sitting alone in Vrndavana, writing books. So this, my

Godbrother, he insisted me, "Bhaktivedanta prabhu..." This title was given in

my family life. It was offered to me by the Vaisnava society. So he insisted

me. Not he insisted me. PRACTICALLY MY SPIRITUAL MASTER INSISTED ME THROUGH

HIM, THAT "YOU ACCEPT." BECAUSE WITHOUT ACCEPTING THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE,

NOBODY CAN BECOME A PREACHER. So he wanted me to become a preacher. So he

forced me through this Godbrother, "You accept." So unwillingly I accepted. And

then I remembered that he wanted me to go to the Western country. So I am

feeling now very much obliged to my, this Godbrother, that he carried out the

wish of my spiritual master and enforced me to accept this sannyasa order.

690916LE.LON

Prabhupada: They are working so hard, just like animals, simply for sense

gratification. That is the beginning of His speech. But the human form of life

is meant for saving time for spiritual cultivation. We should be satisfied with

the bare necessities of life, and the time should be saved to cultivate

self-realization. That is the basic principle of Vedic civilization. THEREFORE

IN VEDIC CIVILIZATION A CERTAIN PERIOD IS DEVOTED FOR ACCEPTING RENOUNCED ORDER

OF LIFE, SANNYASA. COMPULSORY. THIS SANNYASA ORDER, AS WE HAVE ACCEPTED, IT IS

COMPULSORY REGULATIVE PRINCIPLE OF VEDIC WAY OF LIFE. The first twenty-five

years brahmacari, strict life of celibacy, student life, without any sex

indulgence completely, up to twenty-five years. Then grhastha. That is not for

also all. If somebody is unable to remain a brahmacari all through, then the

spiritual master gives him permission to marry a suitable girl and become a

householder. This is called grhastha life. Then, up to fifty years, he can

indulge in householder life. Householder life, according to Vedic civilization,

is a sort of license for sense gratification. BUT NOT FOR ALL THE TIME. THE

INJUNCTION IS PANCASORDHVAM VANAM VRAJET. JUST AFTER YOUR FIFTIETH YEAR YOU

MUST GIVE UP, RETIRE FROM HOUSEHOLDER. THAT IS CALLED VANAPRASTHA. Vanaprastha

means you can take your wife with you and travel all over the world in places

of holy pilgrimage just to give up your attachment for family life. IN THIS

WAY, WHEN ONE IS COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM FAMILY AFFECTION, THEN HE SENDS BACK

HIS WIFE TO THE ELDERLY CHILDREN TO TAKE CARE OF HER AND HE TAKES SANNYASA,

RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE. This renounced order of life means dedicate completely

for the service of the Lord.

anasritah karma-phalam

karyam karma karoti yah

sa sannyasi ca yogi ca

na niragnir na cakriyah

Lord Krsna said that one who acts for the sake of duty, NOT FOR ENJOYING THE FRUIT

69-10-24 letter:Kapiladev

Regarding Nityananda Prabhu breaking the sannyasi rod of Lord Caitanya, the

explanation is that this was to show that Lord Caitanya was Krishna, so He had

no necessity of taking sannyasa. In the higher sense the Vaisnavas are meant

for being members of the family of Krishna to serve as friend, to serve as

parent or to serve as lover. So for such elevated devotees sannyasa is

superfluous. But still, Lord Caitanya took sannyasa just to prove it factually

that so far as the material conditions are concerned, they must be given up.

Without knowing this fact some so-called Vaisnavas have turned to be sahajiya.

This means one who takes everything as very easy. All the acaryas, beginning

from Lord Buddha, Sankaracarya, Ramanuja, etc., all of them renounced this

world. So renunciation is required, but when one makes further progress after

renunciation towards spiritual life and enters into the Pastimes of Krishna,

then things become perfect. The summary is that sannyasa is renunciation, which

is imperative for all. NITYANANDA'S BREAKING THE SANNYASI ROD OF CAITANYA

MAHAPRABHU WAS WITH THE PURPOSE TO SHOW THAT LORD CAITANYA IS TRANSCENDENTAL TO

ALL MATERIAL CONDITIONS.

73-01-04.Mad Letter: Madhukara

So I have introduced this marriage system in your Western countries because

there is custom of freely intermingling male and female. Therefore marriage

required just to engage the boys and girls in devotional service, never mind

distinction of living status. But our marriage system is little different than

in your country, we do not sanction the policy of quick divorce. We are

supposed to take husband or wife as eternal companion or assistant in Krsna

consciousness service, and there is promise never to separate. Of course if

there is any instance of very advanced disciples, married couple, and they have

agreed that the husband shall now take sannyasa or renounced order of life,

being mutually very happy by that arrangement, then there is ground for such

separation. BUT EVEN IN THOSE CASES THERE IS NO QUESTION OF SEPARATION, THE

HUSBAND, EVEN HE IS SANNYASA, HE MUST BE CERTAIN HIS WIFE WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF

NICELY AND PROTECTED IN HIS ABSENCE. Now so many cases are there of unhappiness

by the wife who has bee abandoned by her husband against her wishes. So how can

I sanction such thing? I want to avoid setting any bad example for future

generations, therefore I am so much cautiously considering your request. But if

it becomes so easy for me to get married and then leave my wife, under excuse of

married life being an impediment to my own spiritual progress, that will not be

very good at all. THAT IS MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS ADVANCEMENT IN SPIRITUAL

LIFE. OCCUPATIONAL DUTY MUST BE THERE, EITHER THIS ONE OR THAT ONE, BUT ONCE I

AM ENGAGED IN SOMETHING OCCUPATIONAL DUTY, THEN I SHOULD NOT CHANGE THAT OR

GIVE IT UP, THAT IS THE WORST MISTAKE. DEVOTIONAL SERVICE IS NOT BOUND UP BY

SUCH DESIGNATIONS. THEREFORE ONCE I HAVE CHOSEN, IT IS BETTER TO STICK IN THAT

WAY AND DEVELOP MY DEVOTIONAL ATTITUDE INTO FULL-BLOWN LOVE OF GODHEAD. THAT IS

ARJUNA'S UNDERSTANDING.

74-01-09. Letter: Revatinandana

I know you are a very good cook and I can understand that you have found the

books useful for distribution. I have no objection to your printing it with the

name "Revatinandana Swami's Cookbook", BUT THE ROYALTY SHOULD GO TO THE

BHAKTIVEDANTA BOOK TRUST. JUST AS I AM PUBLISHING BHAGAVAD-GITA AS IT IS WITH

MACMILLAN CO. BUT THE ROYALTY IS GOING TO THE BBT. I THINK THIS METHOD IS

APPROPRIATE. IF YOU YOURSELF TAKE THE ROYALTY IT WILL BE PERSONAL INTEREST IN

MONEY AND TRADE, AND THIS WILL DEVIATE YOUR PRINCIPLE OF SANNYASA. SANNYASI

MEANS HE IS IN RENOUNCED ORDER AND LIVES BY BEGGING ALMS FOR THE BARE

NECESSITIES OF LIFE. IT IS NOT GOOD TO MAKE TRADE TO GET MONEY FOR PERSONAL

EXPENDITURE. If the royalty is given to the BBT, we will keep a SEPARATE

account from this royalty and necessary expenditures for your preaching may be

supplied from the BBT.

74-04-30. Letter: Govinda

To you my advice is, because you are very intelligent and educated girl, you

forget your relationship with Gaurasundara. Now you become mixed up in Krsna

business and live like a chaste Hindu widow woman. There are many ideal young

Hindu widows who do not dress nicely at all, do not comb the hair, and who take

bath three times daily in the Ganges, wear white sari and are engaged 24 hours a

day in chanting Hare Krsna Mantra. The vivid example is Visnupriya devi, Lord

Caitanya's wife. When Lord Caitanya left home accepting the renounced order of

life, sannyasa, at that time Visnupriya was on the summit of youth, 16 years

old, BUT WHEN HER HUSBAND BECAME SANNYASI SHE ALSO BECAME GREATER THAN

SANNYASA. She was chanting her rounds on the beads and after one round she was

collecting one grain of rice. In this way all day and night, as many rounds as

she could finish, that many grains she would cook and eat. Just she how much

austerity she underwent! Visnupriya is the incarnation of the Goddess of

Fortune but to teach us how much austerity and penance she underwent, I THINK

YOU SHOULD FOLLOW THE FOOTSTEPS OF SRIMATI VISNUPRIYA. YOU HAVE GOOD WRITING

CAPACITY, AND GOOD ARTISTIC ABILITY. NOW DEVOTE YOUR LIFE TO CHANTING HARE

KRSNA AND IF POSSIBLE WRITE ARTICLES ON KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, AS MANY AS

POSSIBLE WITH YOUR OWN PAINTINGS AND SEND IT FOR PUBLICATION TO BTG. FORGET

THIS NONSENSE GAURASUNDARA. THESE ARE ALL MATERIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND HAVE

NOTHING TO DO WITH SPIRITUAL ADVANCEMENT.

74-07-16. Letter: Alfred Ford

So far as your questions are concerned, in India a sannyasi or a person in

the renounced order of life is always honored. Even in this fallen down

condition of India a sannyasi is honored everywhere, and he has no problem for

his living condition. SO YOU ARE CORRECT THAT A PERSON IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER

OF LIFE IS HONORED. UNFORTUNATELY SOME UNSCRUPULOUS MEN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS

RENOUNCED ORDER DRESS AND BEING FILLED UP WITH ALL MATERIAL DESIRES THEY COMMIT

SO MANY WRONGFUL THINGS, AND THE PEOPLE IN GENERAL TAKE NOTE OF IT AND GRADUALLY

THE HONOR FOR THE SANNYASI IS DWINDLING. Exactly like a person having received

some counterfeit money is always afraid of being cheated, but this does not

mean there is no good money. So unscrupulous men on account of this age of Kali

yuga are taking advantage of sannyasi dress and are exploiting the people. So

there is very awkward, and even a genuine sannyasi is sometimes in trouble. IN

THE SASTRAS THEREFORE IT IS STATED THAT UNLESS ONE IS PERFECTLY DETACHED FROM

MATERIAL THINGS HE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO ACCEPT SANNYASA ORDER.

75-01-12. Letter: Kirtiraja

Any householder devotee who is working full-time (with his wife) as a

sankirtana book distributer, of temple managerial duties, artist, cook, etc.

shall be provided food, shelter, and other bare minimum necessities by the

temple itself. They should not cook their own meals separate from the temple

meals. If they have children, then some minimal allowance may be given

according to the number of children. If they want anything extra or over and

above what the temple president sees as absolute necessity, then they should

work outside--the temple cannot pay for anything beyond the bare necessities.

AND DEFINITELY, THE BBT CANNOT PAY ANY SALARY TO ANYBODY. OUR PHILOSOPHY IS

"SIMPLE LIVING AND HIGH THINKING"--NOT SENSE GRATIFICATION. THE TEMPLE

PRESIDENTS AND LEADERS (ELDER STUDENTS) MUST SHOW THIS BY EXAMPLE. TEMPLE OR

ASRAMA MEANS FOR RENUNCIATION AND RENOUNCED PERSONS. IF ONE IS ENGAGED IN

SELF-REALIZATION PROCESS, THEN HIS MATERIAL NECESSITIES BECOME ALMOST NIL.

PERSONS WHO DO NOT LIKE THIS CAN WORK OUTSIDE.

701212rc.ind

Prabhupada: Similarly, a renounced life, sannyasa, if he is following the

regulative principles, that is sannyasa asrama. NOT THAT IMITATING SOMEBODY, I

PUT ON A SAFFRON DRESS AND I BECOME A SANNYASI AND BY BEGGING I LIVE. THIS HAS

KILLED THE WHOLE HINDU SOCIETY OR THE SANATANA-DHARMA SOCIETY. Unqualified

persons, they do not know the regulative principles but for solution of

economic problem they dress themselves. This is Kali-yuga. They will pass on

simply by the dress without any knowledge.

70-03-07. Letter: Trivikrama

But at the mature age say after 50 years old age, everyone should separate

from wife. Married life does not mean that one should continue to live with

wife throughout the whole life; at a certain stage, say between 20-25 years,

one may accept a wife, live with her to the maximum age of 50 years, and then

there should be no more sex relationship--stringently. AND AT THE MATURE OLD

AGE, SAY 65-70 YEARS, EVERYONE MUST ACCEPT THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF SANNYAS; IF

NOT IN DRESS, THEN IN ACTION POSITIVELY.

69-11-23 Letter: Madhusudana

I am very glad that Kancanbala is performing the regulative principles and

worshipping and helping you to become an ideal Vaisnava householder. REGARDING

SANNYASA, YES, ACCORDING TO VEDIC PRINCIPLES, AS A MARRIED MAN, YOU MUST GIVE

YOUR WIFE AT LEAST ONE BOY CHILD. AND WHEN HE IS GROWN UP, AFTER YOU ARE 50

YEARS OF AGE, YOU CAN TAKE SANNYASA. THE GROWN UP BOY MAY TAKE CARE OF YOUR OLD

WIFE. THAT IS THE VEDIC SYSTEM.

71-08-15 Letter: Indira

One should become sannyasa by action, NOT BY DRESS.

 

73-02-10. Letter: Satsvarupa

Regarding your writing, you must know that it is the DUTY OF SANNYASA TO WRITE

ALWAYS TO SAVE THE CRIPPLE MINDED MAN AND WOMEN.

SB 4.4.24

It is said that when a man desires to quit his body he dresses in SAFFRON GARMENTS.

 

73-06-28 Letter: Jadurani

THERE IS NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE IN THE ROBES OF MAYAVADIS AND VAISNAVAS, BUT

THEY GENERALLY USE A DEEPER COLOR AND WE USE LIGHTER SAFFRON. Lord Caitanya did

not necessarily wear the mayavadi robes. He carried ekadanda, but that is

covered by the cloth, they have one rod, we have four rods. But they look the

same. Yes, Lord Caitanya carries a water pot.

74-03-07. Letter: Muralidhara

6. THE MAYAVADI SANNYASIS GENERALLY WEAR THEIR DHOTIS UP OVER THEIR

KNEES, and because Lord Caitanya took sannyasa from a Mayavadi sannyasi He is

shown like that. So He is seen like this as a sannyasi.

Note: this ASSISTING A SANNYASI holds true if one is actually **renounced** from

sense enjoyment and preaching for Krishna. Simply danda and saffron cloth has no

respect. Srila Prabhupada says respect has to be commanded NOT demanded. Bg 16.4

states (demoniac) THEY DESIRE TO BE WORSHIPED BY OTHERS, AND DEMAND

RESPECTABILITY, ALTHOUGH THEY DO NOT COMMAND RESPECT. They do everything

whimsically, according to their own desire, AND THEY DO NOT RECOGNIZE ANY

AUTHORITY. This is DENYING Srila Prabhupada’s unique position of Jagad

diksa guru. Jagad guru means siksa AND diksa BOTH. So those who are against

Srila Prabhupada as our Jagad guru are NOT sannyasis ACTUALLY--- THEREFORE THEY

CANNOT BE ASSISTED! THEY ARE JEALOUS OF SRILA PRABHUPADA’S UNIQUE POSITION

AS JAGAD GURU.

Madhya 1.218

THERE ARE MANY JEALOUS PEOPLE IN THE DRESS OF VAISNAVAS IN THIS KRSNA

CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT, AND THEY SHOULD BE COMPLETELY NEGLECTED. THERE IS NO

NEED TO SERVE A JEALOUS PERSON WHO IS IN THE DRESS OF A VAISNAVA. When

Narottama dasa Thakura says chadiya vaisnava seva nistara payeche keba, he is

indicating an ACTUAL VAISNAVA, not an envious or jealous person in the dress of

a Vaisnava.

Madhya 7.27

A brahmacari is supposed to ASSIST A SANNYASI; therefore a BRAHMACARI SHOULD

NOT TRY TO INSTRUCT A SANNYASI. That is the etiquette. Consequently Damodara

should not have advised Caitanya Mahaprabhu of His duty.

740408mw.bom

Yasomatinandana: That is the special quality of Kali-yuga, that sudra class

people will take up the preaching of Vedas.

Prabhupada: Yes. AND EVEN FOLLOWERS OF SANKARACARYA... SANKARACARYA DOES NOT

GIVE ANYONE ANY RECOGNITION UNLESS HE'S A SANNYASI. THAT IS THE STRICT

PRINCIPLE OF SANKARA SAMPRADAYA. They are grhamedhis and they are thinking they

are advanced in spiritual consciousness. SANKARACARYA DOES NOT GIVE ANYONE ANY

POSITION UNLESS HE IS IN THE RENOUNCED ORDER OF LIFE.

761101SB.VRN

So for that there are so many practices, regulative principles, mentioned

here. The first thing is hamse gurau mayi bhaktyanuvrtya. This is religion.

Adau gurvasrayam. If you do not get a QUALIFIED GURU, then EVERYTHING IS BOGUS.

If you, by good fortune, if you get the association of a guru, QUALIFIED HAMSA,

PARAMAHAMSA... Paramahamsa guru means sannyasi's last stage is paramahamsa.

Kuticaka, bahudaka, parivrajakacarya, and paramahamsa, these are the different

stages.

67-01-30 Letter: Brahmananda

One thing you may note also as a matter of etiquette. The Spiritual Master is

addressed as His Divine Grace, a Godbrother is addressed as His Grace, and ANY

SANNYASIN IS ADDRESSED AS HIS HOLINESS.

Note: here history (like Gaudiya math) repeats itself similarly in ISKCON. We

see IDENTICAL trappings. It is only by keeping the acarya (Srila Prabhupada) at

the center and carrying out his FINAL ORDER to the society of July 9 1977 namely

to Institute Ritvik initiations we can succeed ---otherwise FAILURE.The plain

fact is Srila Prabhupada is our Jagad guru (inclusive of diksa and siksa). And

he is addressed as His Divine Grace.

PHALGUNA KRISHNA PANCAMI

10. "That sannyasa which I have given you" is for preaching in devotion. The

FAITHLESS SENSE ENJOYERS are UNABLE to understand this.

23. IF EVERYONE JUST INITIATES then there will only be a CONTRADICTORY RESULT.

As long as it goes on THERE WILL BE ONLY FAILURE.

25. But simply a festival of flowers and fruits does not constitute worship.

THE ONE WHO SERVES THE MESSAGE OF THE GURU REALLY WORSHIPS HIM.

26. The SERVICE OF THE MESSAGE is the REAL MEANING of the Vedas. DON'T BE

PROUD, BROTHERS, COME BACK TO THIS.

29. O shame! My dear brothers, aren't you embarrassed? IN THE MANNER OF

BUSINESSMEN YOU INCREASE YOUR DISCIPLES.

32. BUT JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE TERRIBLE SITUATION THAT HAS ARISEN. EVERYONE

HAS BECOME A SENSE ENJOYER AND HAS GIVEN UP PREACHING.

39. You have become renouncers, brothers, so renounce everything. BUT IF YOU

ALSO RENOUNCE THE ORDER OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, THEN WHAT KIND OF RENUNCIATION

IS THAT?

40. THE ONE WHO RENOUNCES THE GURU'S ORDER (GURU TYAGI) AND THE ONE WHO TRIES

TO ENJOY THE ASSETS OF HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER (GURU-BHOGI) ARE TWO KINDS OF

USELESS PERSONS. First become A SERVANT of your spiritual master (guru-sevi)

and then you will understand things clearly.

43. GIVE UP YOUR WEALTH FOR PREACHING. SIT DOWN TOGETHER AND MAKE SOME SPECIAL

JUDGEMENT.

56. THE HOUSEHOLDERS BEG FROM SANNYASIS, AND WHY NOT? THE SANNYASIS HAVE TENS

OF MILLIONS OF RUPEES IN THE BANK.

ALL GLORIES TO OUR JAGAD GURU SRILA PRABHUPADA!

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE