“It is quite interesting to note, especially for Americans, that in those days they did not use Ford, Chevy, Benz or Rolls Royce but beautiful chariots, hand carved, with silver and gold. Beautiful horses and elephants were the methods of conveyance. From this we can understand that a great king could feel very proud of his chariots decorated in newest design, with good horses, and so on. Naturally he could be attached to it and go around showing off his buggy to everyone.

But it is mentioned here that Ambarisha Maharaja was detached from all these things. In the material world, you find that sometimes people are very proud of their vehicle. It is a very big status symbol for them to have a proper vehicle. Some people, even if they do not have a big town house, feel very proud if they have a nice vehicle.

The point is, although Ambarisha Maharaja had his vehicles, friends, family or even his own treasury, he simply took shelter of Krishna, and did not remain attached to these things. He accepted them to whatever extent he needed. He used them, but he was not attached to them. This is really being liberated, while in the material world, whether one has or does not have these things, one must not be attached.

It is actually more difficult to have something and not be attached. If we do not have something, it is easier to be detached, in one sense. But most people do not have, and they are still attached to possessing things-they like to have.”

“Preachers who distribute the process of chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra are specifically banned from asking money for mantras. Some yogis sell mantras, and even certain sampradayas in India have basic, fixed price for diksa and mantras.

Here Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura exposes this practice as a disqualification. Actually the Holy Name is priceless – so how can any price be attributed to it? The point is to avoid commercializing the chanting of the holy name. Nama Hatta preaching is a great opportunity for receiving the mercy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and spreading it to others. The reward that a devotee should aspire for is the priceless mercy of Lord Caitanya, not any mundane remuneration.

Having forbidden the asking for money for mantras, Bhaktivinoda Thakura does not restrict the acceptance of voluntary donations given in accordance with the customs of varnashrama society. Sannyasis, vanaprastas, brahmacharis, and brahmana grihastas are authorized to receive donations, which should be given voluntarily and according to the donor’s desire.

Guru-Dakshina is also authorized. Actually Bhaktivinoda Thakura makes the point that is it beneficial for the disciple, at the time of receiving the mantra, to donate to his guru.”

“Every human in the world is a potential customer (for taking up Krishna Consciousness). There are no restrictions due to caste, color, creed, gender or age. Everyone is a potential customer. Whoever has the proper ‘money’ can buy the goods.

The currency is described as being the pure desire to serve the Lord. Any mixture with other motives create a counterfeit situation. Counterfeit money means that when the customer chants the holy name of Krishna, he will not be able to experience the same transcendental bliss, or the same realization, as does the pure devotees, who has no mundane motive for chanting.

To enter deep into the real ecstasy of Krishna consciousness, one should be sure that his motives are pure, thus avoiding counterfit money, which only resembles money but has no actual purchasing power!.”