Category:Begging Money
Theme Analysis
The act of begging serves two diametrically opposed purposes depending on the consciousness of the individual. In the material conception, begging is a desperate resort for the conditioned soul driven by unfulfilled desires and the need to maintain the body for sense gratification. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda presents a higher, spiritual perspective where the renounced orders of life act as "licensed beggars" (vikshu). In this context, begging is not for personal accumulation but is a transcendental mechanism to engage householders in service to the Supreme and to support the mission of the Spiritual Master.
- The Trap of Material Desire: The conditioned soul, driven by the demands of the senses—specifically for intoxication, meat-eating, or maintaining women—often resorts to begging, borrowing, or stealing. This path leads to social degradation and entanglement in material life.
- The Licensed Beggar: In the Vedic social system, the brahmacari and sannyasi are authorized to beg. Their purpose is strictly to collect funds for the service of the Guru and the propagation of Krsna consciousness, rather than for personal sense enjoyment.
- Dependence on Krsna: A true brahmana or sannyasi demonstrates complete faith by not hoarding wealth. Even if receiving a large sum, they spend it immediately in Krsna's service, remaining dependent on the Lord for the next day's maintenance.
- The Preaching Principle: Unlike ordinary beggars who only seek to take, a devotee approaches others to give the gift of spiritual culture. While collecting is necessary for the mission, the primary focus remains on delivering the truth and engaging the donor's wealth in the service of the Lord.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Begging Money for Kṛṣṇa or for Sense Gratification.
Pages in category "Begging Money"
The following 19 pages are in this category, out of 19 total.
H
- He (a person) therefore goes to beg money from others, but when his desires are not fulfilled by begging, he wants to borrow or steal the property of others. Thus he is insulted in society
- He (Krsna) convinced them (the cowherd boys) that one who is engaged in collecting or begging should not think that he will be successful everywhere. He may be unsuccessful in some places, but that should not be cause for disappointment
I
- If one continuously poses himself as possessing nothing and collects money by begging, he should be killed - sainam tatraiva hanyat
- It is said that necessity knows no law. When the conditioned soul needs money to acquire life's bare necessities, he adopts any means. He begs, borrows or steals. Instead of receiving these things, he is insulted and chastised
M
- Many devotees fall down due to illicit sex. They may steal money and even fall down from the highly honored renounced order. Then for a livelihood they accept menial services and become beggars
- Meat-eating and intoxication excite the senses more and more, and the conditioned soul falls victim to women. In order to keep women, money is required, and to acquire money, one begs, borrows or steals
S
- Sannyasa does not mean begging from door to door to accumulate money for sense gratification. However, because in Kali-yuga people are more or less prone to sense gratification, immature sannyasa is not recommended
- Sannyasi means he is in renounced order and lives by begging alms for the bare necessities of life. It is not good to make trade to get money for personal expenditure
- Some way or other, people are determined to earn money or get money by begging, borrowing or stealing and applying that for sense gratification. Such a civilization is the greatest obstacle in the path of self-realization
T
- The Grhasthas or the householders can engage himself in earning money, either by accepting job or some professional work. But a Brahmacari, Vanaprastha, and Sannyasi is supposed only to depend on Krishna and beg from the Grhasthas
- The sannyasi should depend completely on God. That is sannyasa. Not that I shall go to a rich man and beg something and take money and utilize it. No. That is not required. Completely independent
- They come here to beg, "Give me rice, give me dahl, give me wheat, give me money," but I have come here to give something of Indian culture. That is the difference
- They will acquire money, begging from door to door, simply for the satisfaction of the body