The Vānaprastha Adventure, Installment 31
A devotee who is earning well may think that earning money and contributing to ISKCON represents a higher path than retiring. In this way, he thinks, his life as a householder is more favorable for devotional service.
Fair enough. And one may continue this way for some time. But one should carefully weigh the value of the service one is able to render against the advisability of timely retiring.
Just as one may think, “How will my wife live without me?” one may think, “How will these projects go on if I don’t give them money?” But one can’t give money forever. And at the mature stage one should free oneself and move on. Again, even Yudhiṣṭhira was thinking, “How will Dhṛtarāṣṭra live? We’re taking care of him. We’re taking care of mother Gāndhārī. How will they live?” And Nārada Muni rebuked him: “Don’t think they’re dependent on you. Kṛṣṇa is the source of maintenance for all living entities.” So at the mature stage we can think, “There are higher engagements. And there’s no shortage of money. Money will come. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement will get money. Things will go on.”
Attachment takes various forms. “I have to stay and keep earning money for these projects.” Or “I have to stay on as temple president, or trustee, or director, or head of the department. I have years of experience. I know how things are supposed to be. If I resign, how will things go on?” So one remains attached to his job. One remains attached to his post. And one can say, “This is for Kṛṣṇa.” But we can also look at it and say, “This is an attachment.” One has done the duty for so long. Now it’s time to give up the post and move forward. Why? To devote more time to direct activities of hearing and chanting and serving—śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaranam—so that at the time of death our mind will be absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Kṛṣṇa will give us more
It may be difficult. One may think, “As a doctor I’m giving money, and if I weren’t doing this service, what would be the point of my life?” Or: If I weren’t the temple president. . . If I weren’t the BBT trustee. . . If I weren’t the chief editor. . . If I weren’t the project director or the leader of the party. . .
Our picture of ourself becomes our identity. And therefore we may find it difficult to retire, to resign. But at the mature stage one has to think, “It’s my duty to turn things over and to find meaning in serving Kṛṣṇa by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa—and if I can by preaching.” And Kṛṣṇa will give us more.
The Gosvāmīs were mostly wealthy. By modern standards, Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī, and Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī were multimillionaires. But at the mature stage they gave everything up to go to Vṛndāvana and live as beggars. And in that way they became immensely enriched in devotional life and gave immense riches to us.
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Our discussion of obstacles will continue in the next installments.
This is part of a draft
This is an excerpt from a new book I have in the works—The Vānaprastha Adventure, a guide to retirement in spiritual life. While I’m working on it, I’ll be posting my draft here, in installments. I invite your comments, questions, and suggestions.
Hare Krishna, dear Guru Maharaj,
Dandavat Pranams.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to you.
There is one pastime in regard to this:
Devotees were staying on a rental basis at a certain place … the situation was so difficult that devotees were not able to figure out how they would pay rent for next month.
One evening … devotees were walking on the road and doing Harinaam Sankirtan.
And while they were doing Sankirtan … currency notes were flying and coming towards them. Devotees started to collect them, AND the total amount of money they collected was EXACTLY the rent to be paid for next month.
Thus, Krishna helped them in arranging money.
So it’s ultimately Krishna who keeps the movement running.