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1. What harm does false renunciant cause a practitioner of devotional service? What is the benefit of giving up false renunciation?
Markala-vairagya, false renunciation, is a major weakness of heart. By carefully giving it up, one gains strength on the path of bhajana. Then enemies such as duplicity, the propensity to cheat, and the desire for name and fame become defeated. Thus, the living entities attain pure devotion and their lives become successful.
(Sajjana Tosani 8/10)
2. Should a renunciant watch cinema or theater?
There is no doubt that a renunciant who watches women acting in a cinema hall or theater behave like false renunciants. The renunciant who indulges in hearing and watching plays and dramas is certainly at fault.
(Sajjana Tosani 8/10)
3. Can one formally accept a renunciant’s dress before attaining bhaval
Simply identifying oneself as a renunciant does not make one renounced. If one has not automatically developed
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detachment from sense gratification as a result of awakening bhava, it would be illegal for him to accept a renuncianl’s dress.
(Caitanya-siksamrta 5/2)
4. Is it proper to take sannyasa at an immature stage when the desire for female association is still present in the heart?
If the propensity to associate with women is present in any corner of his heart, a man should not take sannyasa. Better he stay at home, try to give up false renunciation, and make progress in spiritual life by relishing the chanting of Krsna’s holy names. There is no hurry to take sannyasa. and no one need accept the renounced order at an improper time.
(Sajjana Tosani 8/10)
5. Whose renunciation is prone to become false?
If a householder leaves his family before developing a strong natural detachment, his renunciation is prone to transform into false renunciation.
(Sajjana Tosani 8/10)
6. What are the symptoms of false renunciation?
Thinking of sense gratification within the heart, secretly enjoying the company of women, and externally putting on the signs of a renunciant, such as by wearing only kaupinas and a cadar, are the symptoms of false renunciation.
(Commentary on Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 16.238)
7. Who is a false renunciant?
A renunciant who converses intimately with women is a false renunciant.
(Harinama-cintamani)
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8. Can only sannyasis be false renunciants? What is false renunciation for a householder?
There are two kinds of false renunciants, householder’s and sannyasis. Among the householders, those who are unnecessarily eager to leave home are outrageous.
(Sajjana Tosanl 8/10)
9. Can one become free of sense gratification simply by wearing a renunciant’s dress?
Simply wearing the dress of a renunciant does not make a devotee free from sense gratification, because renunciants often collect and save objects for sense enjoyment. On the other hand, many persons resemble sense enjoyers, but utilize everything in their worship of Lord Hari with a mood of detachment.
(Sajjana Tosanl 10/11)
10. What is the harm if one gives up the gradual path due to a desire for liberation?
If one gives up the gradual path because he desires liberation, then false renunciation overpowers him and makes him abominable.
(Caitanya-siksamrta 1/7)
11. Who are the unsteady renunciants?
Those who accept sannyasa, being induced by a temporary detachment born of quarrel, distress, poverty, disease, accident, or in the process of getting married, are unsteady renunciants. Their detachment does not last long; soon they become pseudo renunciants.
(Caitanya-siksamrta 5/2)
12. Who are the conventional renunciants?
Those who become controlled by intoxication and thus useless to society, who try to exhibit the symptoms of devotional service to Hari while under the influence of
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intoxication, and who try to execute loving devotional service while under the shelter of material attachment, are called conventional renunciants, even though they accept the symbols of renunciation.
(Caitanya-siksamrta 5/2)
13. What type of people disgrace Vaisnava dharma’! Do these people disturb society?
One who accepts the signs of a renunciant before he is actually detached certainly causes a social disturbance and disgraces Vaisnava dharma.
(Sajjana Tosani 2/7)
14. Who is responsible for creating doubts in the minds of the people about the character of renounced saintly persons?
It is extremely necessary for babajis, who are in the renounced order, to give up greed for women, wealth, palatable food, and material happiness. Since some renounced saintly persons retain attachment for these things, worldly people tend to doubt the character of renounced saintly persons.
(Sajjana Tosani 2/7)
15. Is the babajis’ custom of keeping maidservants in their cottages approved by Vaisnava dharma’!
It is extremely inauspicious for babajis who live in cottages to keep maidservants. Some babajis have their daughters from their previous asranias living as their maidservants. A true renunciant would never live in a cottage where nothing can work without women. On the pretext of serving the Supreme Lord and His devotees, enjoyment of intimate association with the opposite sex becomes the goal of those bdbajls who keep maidservants.
(Sajjana Tosani 2/7)
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16. Can one get spiritual results simply by subduing material attachment?
It is not that subduing material attachment awakens one’s spiritual attachment. Many people take shelter of renunciation just to subdue material attachment without trying to increase their spiritual attachment. This ends only in misfortune.
(Prema-pradipa, Fourth Ray)
17. Is there any point to renunciation if there is no spiritual goal?
Although by practicingpratya/wra one can control his senses, if one does not develop prema, then such renunciation is dry or insignificant. This is because when attempting to attain the ultimate goal, enjoyment and renunciation give equal results. Useless renunciation simply makes one stone-hearted.
(Prema-pradlpa, Second Ray)
18. When is one qualified to leave home?
When one becomes totally introspective, he becomes qualified to leave home. If he leaves home before such time, he is in danger of falling down.
(Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 7)
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