I want to also share with you the following:
Interestingly for householders Srila Bhaktisiddhanta has said the
following; an excerpt from “ A Ray of Visnu” by Rupa Vilasa Dasa
QUOTE
During this tour when Srila Sarasvati Thakura and his followers were
returning from a darsana of Saksi-Gopal, he noticed that his householder
followers refused to give alms to some poor people who were requesting
help. He then sarcastically described their attitude as, “Money should not be
given to the poor, distressed people ... if it is given it will be karma-kanda”.
[ Srila Saraswati Thakura was satirizing the attitude of his disciples who
were thinking that it was beneath them, as transcendental Vaisnavas, to
give charity to the poor, as though this were a continuing activity within the
realm of karmic activity.]
He stated that, “This type of consideration by householders expresses
miserliness, mercilessness, and lack of affliction at others distress.
From this attitude the heart becomes hard and money even for Visnu’s service,
which is the means of one’s own interest, disappears. Therefore, offense
in service (seva-aparadha) is invited. In order to guard against all these
hypocritical, sinful deliberations, Sri Gaurasundara in His pastimes used
to give help to lowly, distressed people. Even earned wealth is obtained by
the mercy of God. It is not incorrect use of wealth if some portion of mercy
is given to the requesting poor - it is its proper use! To distribute mercy
(prasada) is the compulsory duty of householder Vaisnavas. Even though
their (poor people’s) miserableness has been obtained through the fault of their
own karma .... they are still God’s people. Therefore, to give them help
is the compulsory duty of well-to-do people”.
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