Meaning of Renunciationalist

Srijiva · November 30, 2004

I have been reading a bio of Srila Gaura Kishore das babaji Maharaja and in it it speaks of renunciationalists in a manner much like materialists. It does not go much further into the renunciationalists aside from just general mentioning & that their association should be avoided, etc...

I am not getting a clear picture of what they mean by renunciationalist, I mean speculatively I have an idea. I would like hear what explanations you might have to offer. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

The part of the bio I am reading that mentions them can be found at:

http://www.gosai.com/chaitanya/saranagati/html/guardians/gaura-kisora-bio-3.html

and:

http://www.gosai.com/chaitanya/saranagati/html/guardians/gaura-kisora-bio-4.html

Srijiva · December 1, 2004

In reading what I could find I think it was a show of markata vairagya (monkey renunciation) to

achieve some name and fame & that is why Shrila Gaura Kishore dasa babaji rejected it.

I suppose it is better to honestly live a life of a

non-renunciant and practice nama bhajana then to dress in a garb of a renunciant and display and show off one's renunciation in different ways to simply achieve name and fame.

Would that be more dangerous than even a

non-devotee who is in ignorance?

theist · December 1, 2004

We need to simply and honestly humble ourselves before the Lord and His divine devotees. Krsna will not be impressed with our showbottle attempts although the public and our friends might.

theist · December 1, 2004

Matthew 6

Giving to the Needy

1 "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Prayer

5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ....

...

Fasting

16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,

18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.