Gadi das: Is sannyasa necessary….I say no…. Its not, but you be the judge.
Just changing your color will not entitle you to any more mercy than you’ve already been given…how much more do you think there is? The whole storehouse of love of Krishna has been plundered…Like you’ve been given the whole feast plate…and perhaps you just haven’t ingested it yet…. What makes you think that your digestive system will be any better as sannyasi? If you consume the plate of mercy that is already in front of you now…regardless of what dress you are wearing, …what need , I say , what need is there for changing colors…. Just to have another false designation, (bodily designation ),…you already have a false bodily designation…. Why trade it for another one… makes no sense…and switching to that particular color with a staff etc is putting yourself in position to receive praise and honor…dangerous position…2 items strongly discouraged in prayer#3, better to remain fallen and insignificant I say…. Then there is a real chance of developing a strong digestive system.
Perfection of this life is at hand at every moment…it doesn’t require a change of dress. If your not chanting nicely now what makes you think you will chant nicely in a different color….lets be honest…. If you want to change colors…then deepen your bhakti…deepen your relationship with the Name now…whatever color your in… and you will be drawn to Krsna…He will pull you away from this world, and ….perhaps change your color, and perhaps not…at that point it really doesn’t matter….you will have attained your actual identity…you have become servant of the servant, of the servant of the servant…of Gopinath…Lord of the gopis…or friend of the gopas…..and you won’t care about color changes, except perhaps some colorful saris in your next life….
OK, you say the station of sanyasa gives better impact for preaching… I say…maybe…of course the public, Indian and some others find the mystique of sannyasa an intriguing persona…yet the other factors remain….without having ingested, relished, and digested the feast plate, the anarthas will still remain… and the potential for becoming influenced by the honor and distinction will forever obstruct the path leading to ones uninterrupted, loving relationship with our dearmost friend. This is the truth.
You say, well, if I live my life preaching and giving Krsna to others, certainly Krsna will give me the Supreme gift at the end of life…..I say perhaps…and perhaps not, since the feast plate is at your fingertips at this very moment. I say you can attain the cherished goal right now…even at 5 yrs old in some cases…. It just comes down to surrender at this or any moment…that’s all.
This “movement” was begun and maintained by those in married life…and it continues today… howbout #10 Downing street recently….howbout that mataji getting a Bhagavad Gita to the prime minister of Canada… howbout husbands and wives all over the world working their tales off to supply money and inspiration???? Howbout all that…and so and so and so forth…. Through the many years……
Srila Prabhupada states clearly in 2nd chap CC, that the sannyasi station is essentially forbidden… of course Lord Caitanya accepted that order… but Prabhupada explains that Lord Caitanya, being the complete Bhagavan, absolute Personality of Godhead could perform sannyasa perfectly because He is Krsna Himself, full in complete beauty, strength, knowledge, wealth, fame, and renunciation. So this is Krsna, as Lord Caitanya exhibiting his perfect renunciation. For us, Prabhupada says, we can only try to do the best we can…Of course Prabhupada accepted….but just see how many adjustments he made just to prepare the world for the next 10,000 years… Taking sannyasa was just the first of many time, place, and circumstance decisions he performed…. Srila Prabhupada was exceedingly special in every way…. Sooooo….
So if your contemplating the sannyasa order of life… you better be real honest with yourself and with Krsna as to your inner motives… because, its just not necessary. The fame and adoration of that station is just not worth it. The plate is presently sitting right in front of you…. My hope is that you will injest it completely before making a decision….. And then the decision will be made for you.
And remember… renunciation does not produce bhakti….. bhakti produces renunciation.
Again I get to stir your thoughts…how tolerant you are of me…always on call…yours in Prabhupada, Gadi das
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
kāmyānāḿ karmaṇāḿ nyāsaḿ
sannyāsaḿ kavayo viduḥ
sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaḿ
prāhus tyāgaḿ vicakṣaṇāḥ
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: The giving up of activities that are based on material desire is what great learned men call the renounced order of life [sannyāsa]. And giving up the results of all activities is what the wise call renunciation [tyāga]. (B.g. 18.2)
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.1.3.13)
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.
(S.B. 3.22.19 – P)
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:
“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. 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. C.c. Adi 15.14
In spreading the Krishna consciousness movement, Srila Prabhupad utilized the sannyas ashram to help him go throughout the world for expanding the Sankirtan Movement. The sannyasis do not (are supposed to anyway) have no attachment to any particular land, or circumstances. While it is true some of the early places that Krishna consciousness were expanded to were the result of householders travelling and preaching. In general, however, that was not the case. Srila Prabhupad used his sanyasis for this purpose. He would personally call them to do this preaching activity.
Nothing is perfect in the material illusory environment. There is no doubt that those who are in the “renounced order” have to fight off the allure of position, desire for material gain, and the adoration of others, including occasionally women. There were some casualties on the battlefield, and some might consider that I also was one such casualty. But, the opportunity to serve Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupad in that way were the highlight of one’s spiritual practice, undoubtedly.
So, is the taking of sanyas necessary? If one is situated in one place, with no plan to expand the sankirtan movement to the far ends of this world, then it probably is not needed. But, to expand the Sankirtan Movement (do not take it for granted…it happened with a great deal of sacrifice and determination), there is need to a dedicated core of spiritual warriors, dedicated to being vanguards for Krishna consciousness. Will there be casualties along the way? Sure. Even this year there have been. But, do not let this discourage those souls who have the passion to preach Krishna consciousness far and wide be deterred. Sense control is a struggle for both the householder and the renunciate. That battle is ever present, and it is for Krishna’s pleasure that we sacrifice (bhotaram yajna tapasam). Pusta Krishna das