A Real Sannyāsī

A Real Sannyāsī
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura
Dressing like a sannyāsī and becoming a real sannyāsī are not the same thing. We have to ‘take sannyāsa’ from material enjoyment and
the desire for liberation. One who has made Krishna’s devotional service the essence of life by giving up desire for religiosity, economic de-velopment, sense gratification, and liberation is the real sannyāsī.
To truly become a sannyāsī means to follow in the footsteps of the mahājanas and to become attached to the transcendental Lord. In addition, dressing like a sannyāsī is nothing but imitation, pretense. Sri Mahaprabhu states: parātma-niṣṭhā-mātra veṣa-dhāraṇa, mukunda-sevāya haya saṁsāra-tāraṇa : “The real purpose of accepting sannyāsa is to dedicate oneself to the service of Mukunda. By serving Mukunda, one can actu¬ally be liberated from the bondage of material existence.” (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya 3.8)
If after accepting sannyāsa one lovingly serves Krishna with body, mind, speech, wealth, knowl¬edge, intelligence, and his possessions, he can both become liberated from material existence and become a bhakta. It is impossible to attain any benefit without rendering service to the Su¬preme Lord. Whether one lives at home or in the Maṭha, one must engage in the Lord’s service as his life and soul. Then only can he please the Lord. He must give up miserliness and the propensity to cheat. If he can make the Lord’s service the goal of life, he can attain His mercy in this lifetime.
— Amṛta vāṇī: Nectar of Instructions of Immortality» His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada » Adapted and Published by Isvaradasa, Touchstone Media.