By Prahladananda Swami
I am happy to introduce the 4 th issue this year of the ISKCON Sannyasa Ministry newsletter. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada explained that an advanced devotee and preacher out of humility takes the vows and dress of a tridandi sannyasi. Previous to the reintroduction of tridandi sannyasa by Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada, advanced Vaishnavas who were renounced, often became paramahamsa sannyasis and wore the white dress of a babaji. To keep himself in a position of a servant of his paramahamsa guru, a disciple keeps himself in the formal 3rd stage of sannyasa (parivrajakacarya) rather than the 4th and final stage of a self-realized paramahamsa. In the paramahamsa stage, the sannyasi retires from preaching. However, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and his followers in disciplic succession desire to widely spread Krishna consciousness. For this reason, Srila Prabhupada indicated that many of his advanced male students should take the role of paravrajakacaryas, and try to spread the mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in all parts of the world.