Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 25.205
Save for Service, Live Simply
“Earning his livelihood by selling dry wood, Subuddhi Rāya would live on only one paisa’s worth of fried chick-peas, and he would deposit whatever other paise he had with some merchant.”
What the purport teaches
- Subuddhi Rāya lived on one paisa’s worth of fried chick-peas and deposited his remaining money with a merchant. Keeping surplus money with a merchant was the banking system of that time.
- Saving money is not recommended for one in the renounced order, but saving for the service of the Lord or a Vaiṣṇava is accepted. Subuddhi Rāya, a confidential devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, followed this principle.
- Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī used fifty percent of his money to serve Kṛṣṇa through brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas, gave twenty-five percent to relatives, and deposited twenty-five percent with a merchant. Vaiṣṇavas in both the renounced and gṛhastha orders should follow the principles set forth by the previous ācāryas.
Try this today
Review one expense today and consider whether a small amount could instead be set aside for the service of the Lord or a Vaiṣṇava.
Ask yourself
How could your use of money more clearly support service to the Lord and Vaiṣṇavas?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.