A life in renunciation Message from Guru Maharaj before giving sannyas, 12th of Ocotober 2003 in Baños, Ecuador.
Notes by Aditi Devi Dasi
aditi.devi@indiatimes.com
We cannot imagine the importance that a sannyasi has in this world.
It is not the dress that makes the renunciant, but the sentiment of desire to live completely for Krishna.
To prepare for sannyasi formally is to receive the blessing from the whole community.
There is no difference between a man's and a woman's renunciation, because both are disposed to render themselves to the others, to Guru and to Krishna, and to everyone who let them render to them also. One who surrenders to Guru and Krishna without material interests, is a sannyasi at heart.
There are devotees who have families, but nevertheless have a heart of a sannyasi, despite not carrying a staff.
Srila Prabhupada made us aware of that the most important for this is humility, the renunciation, the surrender; and that to have a position of leadership is not all, but rather that you are tender, honest and sweet with the others.
To surrender to the saints makes you a saint.
Today we want to give the testimony to Srila Prabhupada that we want to serve him and Krishna the whole life.
We have noticed that if someone is able to give strength, leadership, sweet words and if the devotees are happy that he/she takes sannyasi, this is auspicious.
The sannyasi has a position in which he/she is well protected.
I feel protected by all of you, you protect me from maya as I am preaching all day.
To get out of this world an serve Krishna is an immense gift. We have the protection from the great souls.
When Srila Prabhupada took sannyas, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Takura was very happy and sent him to purely deliver the message.
Our danger is to minimize the others. One may not minimize anybody. Do not minimize the women, neither the youngsters. Do not minimize the grihastas, those who marry to serve Krishna. Do not minimize the preachers. Do not minimize those who wash saucepans or those who wash toilets. If you do not minimize anybody, you will be surrounded by saints. To not minimize anybody is to be a true sannyasi. If you do not minimize anybody, it means that you have renounced the pride. To renounce the pride is the most difficult to realise. If you minimize somebody, it is because you think you are superior to the others. When you renounce, you renounce the idea to believe you are better than the others.
The temple presidents are my stars, they are my Siksa Gurus; they have responsibilities and are in charge of others. But they cannot think themselves to be superior for this; they have to feel that they have got more mercy to serve the others.
In the spiritual world we serve more to feel ourselves smaller.
If we renounce all the appearances, we are sannyasis in essence.
One who, in his/her heart wants to serve only the truth and nothing else, this person is the hope for the future.
Vidura was not a sannyasi, but he is well-known for his devotion. He preached to Dhirtarastha to renounce the power for the more elevated.
A sannyasi should say: " Oh, my Lord, let me be an instrument for Your love".
Renouncing is to follow the renunciants.
One must not make difference between the Vaisnavas; if they are German, if they are Ecuadorian, this is offensive. A Vaisnava is a Vaisnava, nothing else.
A Vaisnava is the one who gives his/her heart to the others for the whole life.
We know that in some moment we will have to give ourselves to Krishna, so let us surrender now and not leave it for later.
Devotees, male and female renunciants who give themselves to Krishna permanently, are the joy of my existence.
The sannyasis can be called the general, and the spiritual master the Ministry of Defence. If the general does not listen to the minister, the plan of the master will break.
Our joy is that we are having an intimate relation with Krishna. You want to be with Krishna and not only now, but also for eternity.
Each time that i see a sannyasi i feel very happy and protected.
A true sannyasi, the sannyasi of heart, is a spiritual master by nature.
A true sannyasi is a father, a friend, he/she is the maximum, the one who can give you the truth.
It is very difficult i this world to find someone who wants to be a true sannyasi.
A sannyasi has to walk in this world renouncing the conveniences.
I ask those who want to be sannyais, to work hard, to make sacrifices, many reunions, much love and kindness and to deliver a lot of LOVE.