Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

"we will only attract hippies!" HEY! :)

hippies are welcome,but not ONLY hippies :)

whats wrong with accepting some donations and using it for Krishnas service? they benefit and they get an opportunity to make advancement so long as the devotees use the money properly.

accepting charity is brahminical and also an act of love and compassion. (again, provided we engage the funds in something directly supporting the 9 processes of devotional service.)

In the West they dont know about brahminical practices... when people see a beggar they dont think "oh! see what a brahminical person!". Its just the opposite, people dont like beggars. If a lawyer or a doctor sees this they wont join for sure... and they also have the right to be devotees :) I think its important that we are conscious of how non devotees see us in order to make it attractive for them.

Donations can be always accepted but putting a plate means that you are doing that for collecting money and that is not the goal, is it?

Money will come by itself if we have the faith, no need to pass the plate.

Fair enough. you have to judge according to your particular circumstances. where i live decent people play music in the street and accept donations. high school kids even play their instruments from the band in the street and put out something to collect money - especially around christmas. people are accustomed to it. it doesnt make us look like beggars here. it may be different wherever you are from.

And what about giving the Holy Name for free?
For free doesnt mean "Its free but, you know, I came here and Im chanting and you are watching so why dont you pay something to me to recognize my effort?".

Do we need to do that, really?

You can always sell incense, books, paintings... but please do not charge for the Holy Name!!!

Giving without getting is a higher experience.

how about setting a little little table with books, incense and accept donations for that?

i dont want to be pulled into a pointless debate here. hey - if providing a facility for people to give a donations really upsets you and you feel its bad preaching or trying to make a business out of the Holy Name then dont do it. simple. do whatever you gotta do - its good that you want people to hear the Holy Name. Understanding these details can come later.

I see Im not politic enough to start an interesting thread hehehe

>should Harinam be charged?

it depends on how good singers devotees are hehehe

the question to begin with is wrong: you cant "charge" for harinam. its not a concert where people come to your place; were going out, into a public (the peoples) place, asking them to listen to the holy name. chanting krsnas names is bliss, and we want to share that. maintaining the asram is a differnet topic.

its always ok to accept donations; but running with an empty bucket after the harinam-party is probably not a good idea. thats a better time to hand out invitations, for (paid or unpaid for) sunday feasts, or hand out books - then you can ask for a donation.

also a good idea to have a table with books, and pushing some particular cause: cow protection, FFL (not for the wife), and ask for donations, as mishra mentioned already.

[img]http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1101/664063666_8a424179c5.jpg?v=0[/img]

[img]http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1208/740293331_e6426eb0be.jpg?v=0[/img]

I dont see how we can charge for this welfare work however, if someone feels moved to donate freely from their hearts then no problem. I agree with doing book distribution along with harnam.

..if you dont attend you should be charged.

hey we are just giving them oppurtunity to give their money to Krishna.
if we attract hippies fine.they are also spirit souls.Srila Prabhupad attracted hippies forthe first time and now they are perfect gentlemen