vanprastha (1)

Vanaprastha Ashrama Today

“One in the vanaprastha order of life should always practise taking charity from others, for one is thereby freed from illusion and quickly becomes perfect in spiritual life. Indeed, one who subsists on food grains obtained in such a humble manner purifies his existence." (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.18.25) Curious how kali-yuga plays tricks with the practical interpretation of sastra. In this case, any ISKCON vanaprasthas attempting to follow this classic instruction would quickly find themselves starving and diseased. Where is the program to give in charity to vanaprasthas? They will succumb quickly to weakness depending on charity form householders or ISKCON in these days. The vanaprasthas should be living in our temples and asramas, preaching and spearheading the harinama sankirtana movement! Instead, there is no widely organized facility, that I am aware of. If there is, it is not advertised much, or enough. The vanaprasthas must nowadays exist by grace of God and a bank account, other
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