Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

Our training is such that we will never accept and readily dismiss something that a "paul" says about a "swami" even though could be the plainest truth for everybody else in the planet to see. It is "who" says it, not "what" it is said.
Having said this, I will risk going to the hell reserved for the candid, saying no, no business for sannyasis, no, no asking for money even for the most KC project and no, no private homes for sannyasis. And I will add, no samadhis in the holy land. Who do we think we are?

Hare Krishna!

I agree that a person who has taken up the renounced order of life should not get involved in management, business, or for that matter any other than preaching and bringing the KC movement forward. That said, I do not agree that they should not have samadhis in holy land, after all they have dedicated their lives to preaching the glories of the KC movement. At the same time I am not saying that others in the movement have not dedicated their lives, all I am saying is that sanayasis should be given proper respect.

. We are also after land. We are also after building. We are also after money. We are also after business organization, either a sky... What is that? Our? Spiritual Sky. Or this book department, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Apparently, it is business. We also want money. We also [want] land. We want also building. We want also men. Then where is the difference between the ordinary person and K'e5'f1'eba consciousness movement? This is the difference: k'e4ma-sa'eckalpa-varjit'e4'f9. Everyone has sacrificed his life for K'e5'f1'eba. Personal? There is no personal interest. These boys, these girls, are working day and night, hard, in my direction, but I don'92t pay them. "
Bombay 1974

Grhastas and brahmacaries should give respect and facilities to sannyasis. Sannyasis should avoid personal facilities and live an austere live. Problem is when sannyasis accept facilities as deserving recipients, trading celibacy for material support, disciples and electronic gadgets. Then, so called well wishers turn their worship into violence against them. Did any of them show real vaishnava qualities, for example avoiding the respect and the high concept that the followers profess, even to the point of accepting "humbly" their divinity deserving of a samadhi.
Are we free from the characteristic Kaliyuga cheap worship by foolish followers?

Shouldnt all devotees live a simple lifestyle free from attachment to opulence?

I do not think that that is the absolute requirement to be poor or that everyone should have a simple lifestyle. The point of being free from attachment - that is another thing.

And there is a nice lecture by Siddhanta Sarasvati on the topic of being guru - yes he should not accept it for himself, but if someone think that one can be guru and not to accept daksina, then one misses the point.

BTW he himself never accepted much wealth for himself, but spent loots for printing or doll diorama preaching exhibitions for example and yes had an auto. What a storm was created when his senior follower went to doctor on that car, he called him a bodybuilder:-) hmmm

Prabhupada was a bit more relaxed about it. Should we be holier then the pope? I suggest to maintain the ballance that was given to as by Srila Prabhupada and not to tilt it one way or the other.

We are talking about sannyasa ashram here. Any devotee can accept money for Krishna, the point is how is spend. If you get your "share" in the form of expensive gadgets, luxury, etc.
Anybody can have a car, a computer or fly, but look at the last generation car, the expensive computer or the 100 gadgets. Then you can tell...
One can travel in a cheap second hand car, or send millions of emails through a 200 dollar computer. If the renounced sannyasi has more than that, you can tell is misspending Krishna'b4s money.
You can we offered a golden diamond ring and do 2 things, wear it or sale it to dedicate the money for preaching. Sannyasis have no two options, or shouldnt'b4t have anyway.

[quote][cite] mishra:[/cite]
You can we offered a golden diamond ring and do 2 things, wear it or sale it to dedicate the money for preaching. Sannyasis have no two options, or shouldnt'b4t have anyway.[/quote]

That is a nice example. Would you think its wrong for a sannyasi to give golden ring or a diamond disciple has given him as a present to his family member? I think its quite approporiate and no, he is not obliged to sell it and use money in preaching. What you suggest?

sannyasi giving gift to family member? Is this for real?
i said sell diamond as an example, I think you can get the import.

[quote][cite] ccd:[/cite]I do not think that that is the absolute requirement to be poor or that everyone should have a simple lifestyle. The point of being free from attachment - that is another thing.[/quote]
Living simply and being poor are two different things...simple living in the sense of not being attached to living in opulence. Srila Prabhupada did live in quite opulent facilities at times, but he was never attached - in fact he said that we are happy to live in a mud hut, but for preaching we build opulent temples and facilities to attract people to Krsna.

The point is what you take for yourself. The duty of householders is to give, the duty of the sannyasis is to renounce personal comfort. If one is like the cloud that gets the water from the sea and distributes it (all of it) to the land, that is brahmana. If a sannyasi gets a lot and thinks he has right to a personal share beyond plain living, that is called maya or swaping wife for material comfort, adoration, etc.
Believe me, some are trading a struggling life with a wife for celibacy in opulence.

consider the plight of poor romapada prabhu who has to use "his own personal bank account" to keep the NY temple out of receivership. after loaning $ 80,000 to the temple to keep it solvent, he really does have a reason to see success there. shame he cant remember those life members who were with him in those early days...

Interesting. We were just discussing today what to do with Bhavanandas old swimming pool in what used to be his personal quarters here at New Govardhana. Now it just fills up with water after the rain and attracts mosquitoes and cane toads. Some folks want to smash it and fill it with soil for a garden and some want to keep it as is.

Im for making a garden because the brahmacaris have made that their asram now and probably wont use it anyway.

Is that the pool at the Green house?. Why not keep it covered in the winter and the kids can use it in summer?
Rarely we think about children and they are supposed to be our future.

If you fill it with soil then you are using it without changing it too much and its former use can always be returned : )

[quote][cite] mishra:[/cite]sannyasi giving gift to family member? Is this for real?
i said sell diamond as an example, I think you can get the import.[/quote]
Its interesting to note that this was a reference to what Srila Prabhupada did.

for example:
[quote][/quote]
"They bought Prabhup'e4da gifts, a soft gold ring with the letter '93P'94 imprinted on it and a gold I.D. bracelet. Accepting the ring, Prabhup'e4da took a gold ring from his own finger, placed it in the ring box just given to him by Bh'fcrijana, and presented the ring and the box to Jagatt'e4ri'eb'e9."LWTPM
[quote][/quote]
This ring was given as a present by Srila Prabhupada to his son in Calcutta same year.
[quote][/quote]
BTW BBT is a personal business of Prabhupada. And no Prabhupada WAS attached to Krsna money. What is wrong in being attached to Laksmi for the pleasure of Krsna? What is wrong of sannyasi to keep 25% for himself at the time of taking up renunciation, Sanatana did it with his inheritance...
[quote][/quote]
I guess you are just not realistic at all and mix karmasannyas with vaisnava tridani bhiksu sannyasa?

What is interesting is the readiness we want to mimic certain actions of great souls that suit us.
Are we prepared to emulate the feats and renunciation they displayed?
Without even abandon the simplest sense grat, we talk about sannyas keeping money, etc. Doesnt sound to me like a good start.
Ardhya kukuti nyaya... half hen philosophy that is.

[quote][cite] paul:[/cite]are sanyasi`s allowed to be engaged in business deals with their disciples?
also are they supposed to demand disciples give money every month.
why dont sanyasis live in temples but in private homes?[/quote]

Hey Paul if youre still around can you tell me why you think these things are so. Is this your own opinion, have you heard it from someone else, or have you read it somewhere. Thanks

The most important person in society[the sannyasi] should be treated so,by giving to him the best equipment,best lodging,best car,travel first class in planes,if the financial situation of the yatra allows it.Such treatment will impress the mass of people when they see how they are treated.After a lifetime of total service to the Lord,he deserves samadhi in a pilgrimage place...
But of course,I taliking about genuine sannyasi and not fake ones,who pass their time sleeping and eating,with a fat bank account!

Our part we are mostly doing: treating them like kings,
Their part is mostly failing if they think they are deserving kings.
This is "deja vu". We tried that in the eighties and the rest is history.
And if you refer to equipment brand new SUV every 6 months and expensive last generation computer, I can only conclude you are very young and na'efve.
And the savings in the 2nd class flight and "equipment" can be used by the sannyasi to print books or distr. prasadam.
THAT will impress people.

[quote][cite] Balaramadas:[/cite]Such treatment will impress the mass of people when they see how they are treated.[/quote]

Mass of people wont see a difference between s.g. and yukta vairagya. They will get the opposite feeling, of a personality cult. In case of BSST even many other spiritualists (or spiritualists) couldnt see it.

[quote][cite] mishra:[/cite]What is interesting is the readiness we want to mimic certain actions of great souls that suit us.[/quote]

That is the dillema indeed. If one will say this and this swami can do business, but that one, is not so advanced, he can not.. that will create a difficulty.

But the answer is yes, sannyasi can engage in business, but not for his own profit.