What is the Point of Being in My Mission? (08/20/08)I’d Rather Face an Army of Man-eaters Than Be involved in Back-biting (08/21/08)Sannyāsa it is Not About Sitting in Vṛndāvana and Polishing Your Beads. (08/20/08)
Daṇḍavats M____ Mahārāja,
As you know, I am not in favor of devotees living in Vṛndāvana who do not have a full time service engagement and I am certainly not going to support anyone’s life style of living in Vṛndāvana by providing finances unless they are fully engaged in service connected to our mission. Your situation now falls within that category so please be advised, beyond any question of a doubt, that after receiving the 8000 rupees from ____ Mahārāja, we will not be able to provide you further finances simply for living in Vrindavana.
If you are going to be part of our mission and want to get involved in some meaningful service then we will get you a train ticket to return to Govindajī Gardens. But please bear in mind that I am not supporting anyone living in Vṛndāvana without the proper service engagement.
If you have a mind to preach or serve or live in some other place, in another mission, or in some other association — then I accept your decision without out question or criticism. As I have said to you on more than one occasion, we are trying to do something very difficult, in that my mission is very small and runs on a tight set of ideas. Limited no doubt, but exceptionally wonderful for those who can find there service within our group of devotees.
At this point I want to stress that you are not being rejected and I also want to stress that you are not being coaxed to remain with us. Your future engagement of service, what mission you are in and association you keep is now 100% your decision. Whatever that decision is will be embraced by me and the other devotees in our mission.
Lastly, I want to make myself very clear on the above that the only additional finances that I can provide for you must be in direct connection to service needed within our mission and that does not include an extended stay in Vṛndāvana. It also does not include a ticket back to America (should you decide to develop your preaching there). If you are going to be part of our mission then it means that you must return to Govindajī Gardens and in the future, if you later decide that you want to live separate from our mission, then I will only go so far as to finance your return to Vṛndāvana where Śrīla Prabhupāda first arranged for our fateful meeting before you took sannyāsa. I will not be in a position to send you to America if that is what you decide you must do.
It may sound strange that I am mentioning America to you at this point, but it may be Śrīla Prabhupāda’s plan for you to preach in the west. You are a very nice preacher and your service to Śrīla Prabhupāda may be better utilized in western countries. But that is for you to realize if indeed that were Śrīla Prabhupāda’s desire for you. That you will know in your heart.
The real life of a sannyāsī is about doing something (preaching, writing, service, opening centers, book distribution, etc.) to help the suffering people of the world. Sannyāsa is not about sitting down in Vṛndāvana and ‘polishing your japa beads’.
I have tried to make myself clear on these matters, but please do not hesitate to write me if further clarification is necessary.
Hoping this meets you well.
With Affection,
Swami BG Narasingha
