grhasthas

So our mission, Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, Krsna consciousness, the same mission as Caitanya Mahaprabhu: yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. This krsna-upadesa I have translated into "Krsna conscious," how to make people Krsna conscious. This is our mission. On this principle, either grhastha or vanaprastha or sannyasi, everyone can take part. Yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was taking instruction from Ramananda Raya. He was grhastha, not even brahmana. So he was hesitating, that "Caitanya Mahaprabhu is coming from a very exalted brahmana family, and sannyasa," and Ramananda Raya was grhastha, not even brahmana. How he could teach Him or give Him instruction? He was hesitating. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in order to favor him, He said, "It doesn't matter. Don't hesitate."    (More...)

That is very, I mean to say, prestigious everywhere. Why this false dress? What is the wrong to become grhastha? I was grhastha, Bhaktivinoda Thakura was grhastha. My Guru Maharaja was brahmacari. Just see his character. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was grhastha, but when He took sannyasa: "Oh, I am now..." Not showbottle. That is wanted. That is ideal. He married twice. Bhaktivinoda Thakura married twice. Caitanya Mahaprabhu married twice. What is the wrong there? One has to become pure devotee, that's all. Other things, according to circumstances favorable, either a grhastha, brahmacari or vanaprastha or sannyasa.    (More...)