Sannyāsa Initiation

Prabhupāda: Sannyāsa means that finishing all material desires. The sannyāsa means, real sannyāsa, means no more material desires. It is the beginning of spiritual life. Etāṁ sa āsthāya parātma-niṣṭhā. Parātmā, Bhagavān... To completely devote one's life for service of the Lord. There are āśramas, four āśramas: brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa. So sannyāsa means everything sacrificed for Kṛṣṅa's sake. Anāśrita-karma-phalaṁ kāryaṁ karoti yaḥ, sa sannyāsī [Bg 6.1]:

[The Blessed Lord said: One who is unattached to the fruits of his work and who works as he is obligated is in the renounced order of life, and he is the true mystic: not he who lights no fire and performs no work.]

anyone who is working without any aspiration for resultant action. Our sannyāsīs, they work very hard, preach, they collect money—but not a single farthing for himself. The first of all, the brahmacārī is trained up. Brahmacārī guru-kule vasan dānto guror hitam [SB 7.12.1]. Brahmacārī is trained up to live at the place of guru for the benefit of guru. The same principle, when it is matured and when one dedicates his life for the benefit of Kṛṣṅa...

Benefit of Kṛṣṅa means benefit of the whole world. Kṛṣṅa wants sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṅaṁ vraja [Bg 18.66]. A sannyāsī should go door to door. Mahad-vicalanaṁ nṛṅāṁ grhiṅāṁ dīna-cetasām [SB 10.8.4]. A sannyāsī is called mahātmā. Why he is mahātmā? Because his ātmā is now broader. Gṛhiṅāṁ dīna-cetasām. Mahad-vicalanam. Mahātmā travels or wanders country to country, door to door—mahad-vicalanaṁ nṛṅāṁ gṛhiṅām—especially for the householders, dīna-cetasām, whose consciousness or mind is very crippled. They are dīna-cetasām. All these materialistic person, they are simply interested how to enjoy senses; therefore they are called dīna-cetasām, cripple-minded. They have no other idea. So to enlighten them it is the duty of the sannyāsī to go from door to door, country to country, just to teach them about the aim of life. That is still going on in India. Still, if a sannyāsī goes in a village, people will come to invite him, try to hear from him.

So you are taking this pledge for serving in front of Kṛṣṅa, Vaiṣṅava, guru and fire. So you shall be very much cautious not to forget your duty. You have got good opportunity. You are going to Africa to deliver these persons. Śukadeva Gosvāmī says, kirāta-hūṅāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ, ye 'nye ca pāpā [SB 2.4.18]. These groups of men are considered very fallen, kirāta, the black men. They are called niṣāda. Niṣāda was born of Vena, King Vena. So they are habituated to steal; therefore they have been given a separate place, African jungles. That is there in the Bhāgavatam. So..., but everyone can be delivered. Kirāta-hūṅāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ ye 'nye ca pāpā. These are known as sinful life. But Śukadeva Gosvāmī says, "There may be others which is not mentioned here." Ye 'nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ: "If they take shelter of a Vaiṣṅava," śudhyanti, "they become purified."

So you have to become very rigid Vaiṣṅava; then you will be able to deliver them. Śudhyanti. How they can be purified without taking another birth? Yes. Prabhaviṣṅave namaḥ. Because Vaiṣṅava is going to deliver them, by the power of Viṣṅu they become empowered. So practically we have seen last time when I went to Nairobi, so many, these Africans, they are making progress very nicely. They are making nice questions. They are following rules and regulation. So African people, they are not so much sophisticated or so-called civilized to forget God. But if you work sincerely and if you can deliver one person only by your endeavor, then immediately you become recognized by Kṛṣṅa. Na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ [Bg 18.69]. This is the quickest way to become recognized by Kṛṣṅa, by preaching work.

So be seriously..., you take. This business is very nice, and there is good prospect. Prospect is there for everywhere. It is not that... Pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi-grāma. Caitanya Mahāprabhu said there are as many villages and as many towns on the surface of the globe. So His word is not a trifle thing. Yes. There is potency in all the parts of the world to become Vaiṣṅava.

pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi-grama sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma [CB Antya-khaṅḍa 4.126]

[In every town and village of the world, the chanting of My name will be heard.]

So with Caitanya Mahāprabhu's blessing and spiritual strength, and with the good wishes of Vaiṣṅavas, just proceed and preach and always think of Kṛṣṅa. He will help. Buddhi-yogaṁ dadāmi tam [Bg 10.10].

[To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.]

If you sincerely work... Kṛṣṅa is within yourself. He will give you strength, instruction. Simply you have to become... But we should always remember that sannyāsa means material activities finished. This is sannyāsa: no more material activities. Only for the service of Kṛṣṅa to live, that's all. [aside:] Give the daṅḍa. So this daṅḍa, there are four daṅḍas. Daṅḍas mean rods. One rod is body, one rod is mind, and one rod is speaking. Kāya mana vākya. And the fourth rod is the self. So you should always remember that taking this daṅḍa means that "My mind, my body and my words—everything is dedicated to Kṛṣṅa. It will be used only for Kṛṣṅa and for no other purpose." This is called tridaṅḍa-sannyāsa. Come on.

Devotees: Jaya. Haribol. Jaya Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: Chant Hare Kṛṣṅa. Chant Hare Kṛṣṅa. [japa] [end]