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If one earns his livelihood by displaying the Deity in the temple, he is not an acarya or gosvami

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Sri Caitanya-caritamrta

CC Antya-lila

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura used to say that if one earns his livelihood by displaying the Deity in the temple, he is not an ācārya or gosvāmī

CC Antya 3.223, Tanslation and Purport: Advaita Acarya was always absorbed in thoughts of how to deliver the fallen souls of the entire world. "The entire world is full of nondevotees," He thought. "How will they be delivered?"

Srila Advaita Acarya sets the standard for acaryas in the Vaisnava sampradaya. An acarya must always be eager to deliver the fallen souls. A person who establishes a temple or matha to take advantage of people's sentiments by using for his livelihood what people contribute for the worship of the Deity cannot be called a gosvami or acarya. One who knows the conclusion of the sastras, follows in the footsteps of his predecessors and endeavors to preach the bhakti cult all over the world is to be considered an acarya. The role of an acarya is not to earn his livelihood through the income of the temple. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura used to say that if one earns his livelihood by displaying the Deity in the temple, he is not an acarya or gosvami. It would be better for him to accept service even as a sweeper in the street, for that is a more honorable means of earning one's living.

Page Title:If one earns his livelihood by displaying the Deity in the temple, he is not an acarya or gosvami
Compiler:Syamananda, Visnu Murti, Labangalatika
Created:24 of jan, 2008
No. of Quotes:4
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=2, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=1, Let=1