True sādhus do not go to other people’s homes for their own needs. They do not need anything; they can easily receive a capātī from anywhere. They have left everything material, and some of them have been brahmacārīs from birth. They come to others’ homes only to remind them: “Listen, you are not residents of this world. You are refugees. Old age will come soon. After that you will give up this body, and you will have to leave everything behind. You must endeavour to become free from the entanglement of this material world. Perform your work, but don’t be attached.”
In order to make everyone aware of these facts, sādhus travel here and there. Śrī Nārada Muni, Sanātana, Sanandana, Sanaka, Sanat Kumāra, Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu went to the homes of the fallen souls. What did they do there? They gave the same instructions that I am giving you now.
They would say, “O brother, I have come to your house, asking for a donation. What is that donation? Just chant Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s holy names: ‘Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare, Hare Rāma Hare Rāma, Rāma, Rāma, Hare Hare.’ This is all you need to do, and in this way your life will be auspicious. Simply avoid eating meat and fish, don’t take alcohol and other intoxicants, and do bhajana of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa-bhajana is the first duty of our life, and the final duty of our life. Perform your duties and do your work, but don’t forget Kṛṣṇa.”
This is why we have come – to remind you. In modern times, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda started this preaching movement. He made sannyāsīs, brahmacārīs, and gṛhastha bhaktas, and told them to go house to house to tell the residents: “Meditate on the Supreme Lord. Please remember that you are not this body; you are soul. Therefore, engage in bhajana of the Lord.” May all the members of your family be happy, and may your lives be auspicious. Even if you don’t have much time – when you first wake up and before going to sleep – chant the Lord’s names.
—Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja (January 14, 2008)
Walking with a Saint – Morning Walks and Conversations 2008
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