The brahmacari should not bleach and iron his clothes.

[Guest guest]

SB 11.7.23

 

> he should never accept a luxurious or sensuous sitting place.

 

this reminds me of the story of SBSST that Jyotishekhar das told HH Bhakti

vikasa swami,

 

"One time the devotees were travelling to Kavoori in south India, on the

bank of the Godavari River - the place where Chaitanya Mahaprabyuhu

discussed with Ramananda Raya. They were going on the train and even though

Sarasvati Thakur had a first class ticket he came in the second class

compartment just to see the devotees and give his association. Jotisekhara

was leaning against the seat and Sarasvati Thakur saw this and said, "stri

sanga kocho - you are associating with women." Jotisekhara was very

surprised because he couldn't even see any women around. Sarasvati Thakur

then explained: "You are leaning very comfortably against the seat but haram

is halam(?). Halam means comfort and haram means something very abominable.

One time on the train travelling, Jotisekhara was in the second- class

compartment. Sarasvati thakur then came from the first-class compartment to

see his disciples. When he came he saw Jotisekhara Prabhu was sitting and

admonished him saying, "stri sanga korcho... - you are associating with

women." Jotisekhara was surprised and looked around but there were no women,

so Sarasvati Thakur explained that he was sitting with his back against the

seat, so that is just like associating with a woman. "Aram (comfort) is

haram (abominable.) Comfort is apallable," he said.

Sarasvati thakur said, "Don't sit against the wall. That is stri-sanga.

That bodily comfort is a kind of pleasure as a stri-sanga is a kind of

bodily pleasure." Sarassvati Thakur himself would sit with a very straight

back. He would say, "aram (comfort) is haram (something abominable ???)." so

he warned his disciples against subtle sense pleasure in this way. This

instruction was especially meant for brahmacaris and sannyasis.

 

 

> He

> should not unnecessarily polish his teeth, nor should he bleach and iron

> his clothes.

 

TridaNDi BhikSu, Bhakti Visrambha MAdhava