why do brahmanas embrace poverty?

[theist 1]

TRANSLATION SB 6.7.36

O exalted governors of various planets, the true brahmana, who has no material possessions, maintains himself by the profession of accepting silonchana. In other words, he picks up grains left in the field and on the ground in the wholesale marketplace. By this means, householder brahmanas who actually abide by the principles of austerity and penance maintain themselves and their families and perform all necessary pious activities. A brahmana who desires to achieve happiness by gaining wealth through professional priesthood must certainly have a very low mind. How shall I accept such priesthood?

 

 

PURPORT

A first-class brahmana does not accept any rewards from his disciples or yajamanas. Practicing austerities and penances, he instead goes to the agricultural field and collects food grains left by the agriculturalists to be collected by brahmanas. Similarly, such brahmanas go to marketplaces where grains are purchased and sold wholesale, and there they collect grains left by the merchants. In this way, such exalted brahmanas maintain their bodies and families. Such priests never demand anything from their disciples to live in opulence, imitating kshatriyas or vaisyas. In other words, a pure brahmana voluntarily accepts a life of poverty and lives in complete dependence on the mercy of the Lord. Not very many years ago, a brahmana in Krishnanagara, near Navadvipa, was offered some help from the local Zamindar, Raja Krishnacandra. The brahmana refused to accept the help. He said that since he was very happy in his householder life, taking rice given by his disciples and cooking vegetables of tamarind leaves, there was no question of taking help from the Zamindar. The conclusion is that although a brahmana may receive much opulence from his disciples, he should not utilize the rewards of his priesthood for his personal benefit; he must use them for the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

[Kulapavana 0]

"The conclusion is that although a brahmana may receive much opulence from his disciples, he should not utilize the rewards of his priesthood for his personal benefit; he must use them for the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

 

some people drive a Mack truck through that gate... or should I say "Mercedes Benz"?

 

[Guest guest]

Like who? Can you be more specific?

[Kulapavana 0]

if you see a sannyasi living like royalty, how much more specific does it have to be for you?

 

of course, (they say) this is all "for Krsna's service"... and then you read later they "fell down"... well... they were not very high up to begin with.

 

Austerity is the wealth of the brahmanas - without it they are nothing.

[Guest guest]

I was asking whether this is the case with any specific org like iskcon.

[Kulapavana 0]

the problem is not limited to one organization, but in some of them it is (or was) widespread. Iskcon during the height of the "zonal acharya" era was the absolute travesty of the above referenced principle.

[Pankaja_Dasa 1]

 

 

In Chaitanya Bhagavata, Pundranaka Vidyanidha was highly very much oppulent, but he is greatest [GREATEST] DEVOTEE. So I don't think if any devotee is opulent, he can be said to be fallen.

[krsna 3]

I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength

from distress, and grow brave by reflection.

 

-- Thomas Paine (1737-1809) British-American Writer

 

[Kulapavana 0]

avadhutas like Sri Pundarika Vidyanidhi must NOT be imitated. it is bogus to claim the exception to the rules based on such exalted personalities. SPV smoked hookah too. do not try to include that habit in your sadhana /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Guest guest]

-its not what you have read, but what you have done-

thomas kempis

 

makes you wonder, it is necessary to read Srila Prabhupada's books.. and yet if we were illiterate never reading anything it would be better to live as he lives simply ...Vaisnava

 

His Grace Srila Prabhupada as well his Guru Maharaja Srila Bhaktisiddhanta gave perfect examples of humility compassion fearlessness and renunciation.

 

anyone trying to imitate will surely fail without the blessings of the lord.

[theist 1]

Beverley Hills Brahmanas --- Hmmmmmmmm.........

 

Rolls Royce Renunciates --- Hmmmmmmmm........

 

Playboy Paramahamsas --- Hmmmmmmmm.......

 

Mansion Mahatmas --- Hmmmmmm........

 

Sad Sages seeking therapy --- Whoa.........

 

Masturbating Masters --- Yucko.........

 

Goofy Gurus in general (LSD flashback prone) --- Excuse me while I kiss the sky......

 

 

Add others, sisters and brothers, of those we need to be wary of.

 

Trying to remember the goal is downward,

Hare Krsna

 

 

[akshar 1]

To keep away from maya.