Question: Is it advisable for a sannyāsī to take help from lady-devotees in setting up and running the Maṭh? What are the rules for dealings with women by a sannyāsī in his preaching activity?

Gurudev :We cannot avoid seeing women but we should be careful of our motive while dealing with them. Everything depends upon how we look at them. Lord Chaitanya Mahāprabhu has said that—

niñkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya
pāraṁ paraṁ jigamiñor bhava-sāgarasya
sandarśanaṁ viñayiṇām atha yoñitāṁ ca
hā hanta hanta viña-bhakñaṇato 'py asādhu
(Śrī Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nātaka 8.24)

Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu expressed His extreme regret by saying, “A bona fide sannyāsī, who has taken up the vow to cross over the ocean of birth and death and the miseries of this world by fully dedicating himself to the service of the Lord, should avoid the vision of a person with mundane interest and enjoying spirit attached to riches and women. This sort of unholy vision is more condemnable than directly consuming poison”.

The female devotees can come to the Maṭh, participate in the devotional functions, and even help in running the Maṭh. However, staying in the Maṭh as a permanent resident, especially at night, should be avoided.