The Paramahaṁsa Stage of Sannyāsa

Following footprints of previous acharyas

0:01Prabhupāda: ...I am accepting this dress following the footprints of other ācāryas. This dress was accepted by Rūpa Gosvāmī, not ordinary person. The six Gosvāmīs, they accepted.

Four stages of sannyasa life

0:23It is called paramahaṁsa stage, sannyāsī's highest stage.

0:33Sannyāsī has got four stages = kuṭīcaka, bahūdaka, parivrājakācārya and paramahaṁsa. Kuṭīcaka means when he takes sannyāsa, he is not accustomed to beg; therefore he makes a small cottage outside the village, and the foodstuff comes from the home or somebody sends.

Kutichaka and bahudaka stages explained

1:11In this way, when he is little practiced, then he goes door to door, begs, bahūdaka. Then he is more practiced = parivrājakācārya, he travels all over the world.

Parivrajakacharya and paramahamsa stages

1:27And after that, when he is fully mature, he can chant one place Hare Kṛṣṇa. He has no more business.

1:41So this is the last stage of mature sannyāsa. But because you are thinking that you may not live many years, so you simply sit down, go to Māyāpur.

Instructions for chanting in Mayapur

2:02You have no other business. Simply go on chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, and whatever little prasādam available, you take. And the rest of your life simply engage in chanting. That will be success.

2:20Devotees: Jaya.

2:21Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Is he supposed to get a name, Prabhupāda?

Initiation of first babaji disciple

2:24Prabhupāda: Name is the same.

2:25Brahmānanda: Audolomi dāsa Bābājī?

2:28Prabhupāda: Ah, Audolomi dāsa Bābājī. That's all. Hare Kṛṣṇa. So this is the first time in our institution, a bābājī. So it is not to be imitated.

Babaji stage requires spiritual maturity

2:46It is the paramahaṁsa stage, when one is very mature in sannyāsa life, for that, not for ordinary person. Don't request, "Give me sannyāsa," "Give me bābājī." Don't do that. It is not a fashion.

3:04It is a stage of realization. That's all.

3:11Devotees: Jaya Śrīla Prabhu... [end]