Danam and Savadhyay(Charity and Vedic Studies)

Danam and Savadhyay(Charity and Vedic  Studies)
Charity is meant for the householders Sadhaks. The householders should earn a livelihood by an honourable means and spend a part of their income to charitable causes and deserving persons. Thus a householder should give in charity to such institutional societies that are engaged in that way. Charity should be given to the right receiver. There are different kinds of charities, e.g. charity in the modes of goodness (sattva), passion (rajas) and ignorance(tamas). Sattva Charity is recommended by the scriptures, but charity in the modes of passion and ignorance not recommended, being simply a waste of money. Charity given for religious and social causes  are in the mode of goodness.However,his benevolence effects the heart of every living entity, being not restricted to a specific race, species, etc., but for the benefit of all living entities. As far as dama (self-control) is concerned, it is not only meant for other orders of religious society, but it is especially meant for the householder. There are restrictions for the householders even in sex life, which should only be engaged in for the procreation of children.  Modern society enjoys sex life with contraceptive or more abominable methods to avoid the responsibility of children. This is not in the transcendental quality but is a demoniac one. Other orders of life, namely brahmacarya, vanaprastha and sannyasa, have no money and they depend on householders, who should perform agni-hotra sacrifices as enjoined in the Vedic literature, as far as possible.  For self-control, there are six bad qualities, namely lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness and envy. A pure devotee controls these bad qualities by engaging in His service. These cannot be left behind in an artificial way by can be easily counteracted with transcendental knowledge and transcendental taste arising from one's devotional service.  Sacrifice (Yajna) is is the next quality which signifies  ‘doing action for the sake of others and in a sacrificial attitude’. Whenever somebody feeds the poor, clothes the naked or fulfils some dire need of others, it is called YAJNA So, these three items, namely charity, sense control and performance of sacrifice, are meant for the householder.

Then svadhyaya, Vedic study, and tapas, austerity, and arjavam, gentleness or simplicity, are primarily  meant for the brahmacarya or student life. Brahmacaris should live a life of celibacy and engage the mind in the study of Vedic literature for cultivation of spiritual knowledge. This is called svadhyaya. The essence of the the svadhyaya is also the distribution of transcendental knowledge.Tapas or austerity, is especially meant for the retired life. A man retired from household life must practice austerities of the body, mind and tongue. That is tapasya. The entire varnasrama-dharma society is meant tapasya. Without tapasya or austerity, no human being can get liberation. The theory that there is no need of austerity in life, that one can go on speculating and everything will be nice, is neither recommended in the Vedic literature nor in Bhagavad-gita.   He has no material hankering and is not attracted by material possessions or to gain a prestigious position.

Ved  Prakash