Letter by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

[Guest guest]

Below is a lightly edited version of a letter published in the late 1990s in

the magazine Krsna-kathamrta (I'm not sure which year or issue it appeared

in). The editor, Madhavananda Prabhu, does not recall whence he received

this translation. If anyone knows the original source, please let me know.

Thankyou and Hare Krishna.

 

dasa, BVS

 

 

 

 

My dear ...,

 

We who have come to Sri Caitanya Matha are all surrendered to Sri

Caitanyadeva. Therefore we do not have any other goal besides serving the

Supreme Lord. If we lack in our devotional service, then our mentality will

become like that of a materialistic person and devour us. In order to

protect the Matha we have to abide by some rules.

 

It is the duty of sannyasis to never use shoes; rather they should go

everywhere on foot. They should never use shoes or conveyances.

 

They should never accept service from anyone. They should never get someone

to massage their bodies or feet with oil.

 

Eating nice food and eating separately are totally forbidden.

 

One should never go to a physician, or take medicine, according to his own

wish.

 

When a sannyasi needs something, it is the duty of residents of the Matha to

take care of his requirement. It is the duty of a sannyasi to serve those

who are not sannyasis. The living entity invites difficulties by criticizing

others, scandalizing others, and unnecessarily talking about others. One

should always desire auspiciousness. One can control his mind and destroy

his desires by serving the holy name.

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is residing in every spirit soul,

therefore one should not think that he is worshipable and that others should

serve him. When a sannyasi is free from his false ego then the residents of

the Matha should serve him, otherwise he should go back home.

 

Excessive foppery, excessive drinking of milk, and eating luxuriously like a

big man should all be given up totally. We don't want gymnasts (body

builders) to stay in our Matha. This is a place for devotees.

 

Strengthening the senses by taking excessive medicine, and trying to spread

one's domination in order to attract others' wives, should be totally given

up.

 

Krsna is the only Lord and enjoyer of everybody and everything. One should

always remember this. One should serve according to the degree of his

devotion. There cannot be any evil desire to use the devotees in our

service. The fire of lust that burns for sense gratification should be given

up. But that doesn't mean to dress in an uncivilized way in order to mix

with the dignified society.

 

A brahmacari should not desire to become a sannyasi in order to have greater

sense gratification. The desire to dominate is detrimental to devotional

service. To consider a sense enjoyer to be a sannyasi, and wanting to become

a sannyasi with that ideal, should be totally rejected. When one starts to

enjoy his senses and becomes deceptive, he cannot serve the Lord or His

devotees.

 

One should be very careful that no mood of foppery enters into the Caitanya

Matha in order to ruin the sannyasis and brahmacaris. The examples that we

are getting should not be tolerated. The householders also, like the

sannyasis, should overcome the urges of lust and anger. Everyone should

consider himself to be very low and serve the residents of the Matha and

other Vaisnavas.

 

Those who are not residents of the Matha, but are staying in the Matha for

some business, or wanting some favor from the Matha, should always be

willing to serve the Matha and the residents of the Matha. The residents of

the Matha should never behave indecently with a guest in the Matha.

 

The residents should reject the mentality that the Matha is their property,

and that the guests are objects of their mercy. A guest should be treated

with the highest honor; indeed, everyone in this world should be respected.

Otherwise we may end up in the same distress as the materialists.

 

A resident of the Matha should remember all these things very carefully. One

should always serve Krsna. There shouldn't be any mistake in that, and more

indispensable is the service of the Vaisnavas.

 

If a sannyasi has to go to the shop or dispensary for some reason other than

service to the Matha, then he should go on foot. Even if the car is sitting

they still should not get it. They should not get any conveyance. What

everybody else gets, they should get that only.

 

Previously they never used any conveyance, but with the excuse of going to

the doctor, they take the car. They buy medicine and eat luxurious food. If

they behave properly for one year, then their eligibility can be considered.

 

The Matha is not the place for foppery or staying in a hospital. They should

not display foppery. They can better behave that way staying at home.

Instead of saffron cloth they can be clad in white cloth with a kaccha and

sent back home. Those who want foppery, luxurious food, and medicine, can go

back to their homes and take care of their families. Then they won't have to

identify themselves with the Matha.

 

Everybody should be reminded very nicely that cars, horses, launches, and

men are all meant for the use of the Matha, not for any individual's display

of foppery. Luxurious eating should be totally stopped. The sannyasis who do

not indulge in foppery should be recognized as Gaudiya Matha sannyasis. The

rest should be sent back home. Even if our manpower decreases due to that,

it is still better. If those who have taken shelter of the Matha but are

motivated by their bellies and genitals are driven away, then the expenses

of the Matha will be reduced.

 

The pleasure loving, sense-gratifying managers should not be allowed to

waste money. Everyone should earn for the Matha. It is important to make a

list about how much one earns. It is not necessary to eat, buy medicine, and

display foppery more than one earns.

 

Those who come to render devotional service are brahmacaris, grhasthas,

vanaprasthas, and sannyasis. The Matha will not give shelter to those who do

not render devotional service, because they do not deserve it. One should

never think, "I have rendered a lot of service to the Matha, so I will use

the car." This is the mentality of a materialist. One who is serving the

Matha should do so without any expectation of return, because everyone has

come to serve the Matha. If anyone takes anything in return for his service

to the Matha, or serves himself, he will become a sense gratifier.

 

When one is a guest, then he cannot demand, but should eat according to the

wish of the host. One who is busy having his sense gratification should be

asked to leave.

 

Your ever well-wisher,

 

Siddhanta Sarasvati