2009-02-26Srimad Bhagavatam 07.13.08 - Duties Of A Sanyasi (download mp3)
HG Radhika Vallabha Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.net
SB 7.13.8
na sisyan anubadhnita
granthan naivabhyased bahun
na vyakhyam upayuñjita
narambhan arabhet kvacit
Translation:
A sannyasi must not present allurements of material benefits to gather many disciples, nor should he unnecessarily read many books or give discourses as a means of livelihood. He must never attempt to increase material opulences unnecessarily.
Purport:
So-called svamis and yogis generally make disciples by alluring them with material benefits. There are many so-called gurus who attract disciples by promising to cure their diseases or increase their material opulence by manufacturing gold. These are lucrative allurements for unintelligent men. A sannyasi is prohibited from making disciples through such material allurements. Sannyasis sometimes indulge in material opulence by unnecessarily constructing many temples and monasteries, but actually such endeavors should be avoided. Temples and monasteries should be constructed for the preaching of spiritual consciousness or Krsna consciousness, not to provide free hotels for persons who are useful for neither material nor spiritual purposes. Temples and monasteries should be strictly off limits to worthless clubs of crazy men. In the Krsna consciousness movement we welcome everyone who agrees at least to follow the movement's regulative principles—no illicit sex, no intoxication, no meat-eating and no gambling. In the temples and monasteries, gatherings of unnecessary, rejected, lazy fellows should be strictly disallowed. The temples and monasteries should be used exclusively by devotees who are serious about spiritual advancement in Krsna consciousness. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura explains the word arambhan as meaning mathadi-vyaparan, which means "attempts to construct temples and monasteries." The first business of the sannyasi is to preach Krsna consciousness, but if, by the grace of Krsna, facilities are available, then he may construct temples and monasteries to give shelter to the serious students of Krsna consciousness. Otherwise such temples and monasteries are not needed.
