Transcribed by Savitri Devi Dasi(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, Australia, 2009)
The one thing I want to say about charity is Vaisnava charity.. I am interested in Vaisnava charity. I am not interested in giving the donations here and there because when a Vaisnava gets charitable he doesn't just give the donation, he doesn't just give some of his wealth, Vaisnava gives himself. That is the greatest charity, when we give ourself.
This is how it works in devotional service, Vaisnava generosity goes beyond the logic. It goes beyond the calculation. It goes beyond the limits - and Krsna, somehow or other , helps...
Of course, there is such a thing as over endeavour. Overendeavour means when, somehow or other, we begin to sacrifice our essential spiritual practice: chanting, rising early, reading,.. We are so busy with service we have no time for reading and chanting. No!! Then it is time to say:
"No! No Prabhu, it is not possibile.“
Then it is time to say:
"I can't because I have to chant.and I have to read. If we do so much service that we can't chant and can't read, then it is useless. Useless! We are shooting ourselves in the foot. That is overendeavour..."
Otherwise, this Vaisnava generosity is a very beautiful thing where a vaisnava goes out of his way to please another Vaisnava or anyone else. So preaching is also based on this principle of generosity.
When I first used to go on Sunday feast, those were the days! T
here were fifteen preparation and every preparation was far out. It was for free which was amazing. It really was overwhealming that they gave that for free. It was extraordinary. It really did impress me.
So, we can only conquer people by our generosity. It is the only way. Krsna can attract anyone but if we can be of any help in attracting someone to Krsna Cosciousness, then it is only through that generosity. It is the only thing that will do it - if we extend ourselves then we'll conquer and touch peoples hearts.
Transcribed by Savitri Devi Dasi
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, Australia, 2009)
