Why we Should Give Donations

SOME CLARIFICATION FROM SRILA PRABHUPADA ON THE TOPIC OF INITIATIONS AND DONATIONS TO SUPPORT IT:

Shrila Prabhupada handing a disciple his mala beads

The initiation requires some Guru daksina, so during the time of initiation, the disciple must collect some alms and present it to the Spiritual Master. That is the system.

 Letter to: Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 2 March, 1970

I am very much pleased to learn that $50 of this check was collected by the two new students as guru daksina, that is the proper execution of the initiation function so everything is complete to the Vedic standard.

 Letter to: Bhagavan -- Los Angeles 26 May, 1970

The system is that after initiations, each devotee should collect some alms to the best of his capacity either cash or something else and make a presentation to the Spiritual Master. This is called daksina. Without daksina the initiation ceremony is not perfect.

 Letter to: Satsvarupa -- Bombay 26 February, 1971

vidhi-hinam asrstannam

mantra-hinam adaksinam

sraddha-virahitam yajnam

tamasam paricaksate

TRANSLATION

Any sacrifice performed without regard for the directions of scripture, without distribution of prasadam [spiritual food], without chanting of Vedic hymns and remunerations to the priests, and without faith is considered to be in the mode of ignorance.

 Bg 17.13

In the Padma Purana it is stated that King Bhagiratha was the emperor above all other kings, yet he developed such ecstatic love for Krishna that he became a mendicant and went out begging even to the homes of his political enemies and untouchables. He was so humble that he respectfully bowed down before them.

There are many similar instances in the history of India. Even very recently, about two hundred years ago or less, one big landlord known as Lal Babu, a Calcutta landholder, became a Vaisnava and lived in Vrndavana. He was also begging from door to door, even at the homes of his political enemies. Begging involves being ready to be insulted by persons to whose home one has come. That is natural. But one has to tolerate such insults for the sake of Krishna. The devotee of Krishna can accept any position in the service of Krishna.

NOD Pridelessness

Shrila Prabhupada conducting an initiation ceremony