A 2016 study by Williams Group Wealth Consultancy found that 70% of wealthy families lose their wealth by the second generation, and 90% lose it by the third generation.

Research shows that wealth and business success often diminish over generations. There’s a saying:
“The father buys, the son builds, the grandson sells, and his son begs.”

Yet, everyone wants their parampara or legacy to continue for years, decades, even centuries. There are many brands which are famous for having existed for over 100 years. And therefore, these companies proudly mention “Since 1900s.” They showcase to us that they have survived the cruel test of time.

In the same manner, kings who came many centuries ago wanted their legacy to continue forever. Some of the forts that we visit in India today were built by those emperors 500 years ago. They did not build something to last for just one generation. They cared for the many generations to come. But we also find so many great empires having vanished into oblivion with time.

Just as it is important for the legacy of dharma to continue, it is equally important for the legacy of adharma to be curbed.

The Quest for Dharmic Parampara

Yudhishthira Maharaj wanted the legacy of Dharma to continue. When he heard about the extraordinary qualities of his grandson Parikshit from the brahmanas, he became exceedingly happy. And therefore, he renounced his kingdom with a happy mindset.

Anga was a great king in days of yore. He tried his best to have a son, but it was not written in his destiny. He had some brahmanas chant mantras in order to beget a child. He wanted to have a son to continue his legacy of Dharma, but it resulted in the opposite. His son Vena was a personification of adharma. Even as a child, he would throw his friends into the river for sport. Anga, being frustrated with his son, left for the forest.

He failed in continuing the legacy of Dharma, but he did not compromise on his personal dharma. He took his bad son as an indication from the Supreme Lord to detach from worldly affairs.

The Quest for Spiritual Parampara

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur established 64 branches of the Gaudiya Matha across India. There were many sincere disciples among his followers. But at one point, when he established the Baghbazaar Gaudiya Math, there was quarrel among the sannyasis about who would get the Ganga-facing room. That resulted in a faction of the Gaudiya Matha.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur later remarked that he could have lived for ten more years, but he chose to leave early because his disciples did not continue the parampara the way it was meant to be.

Shrila Prabhupada established ISKCON. He built 108 temples, and painstakingly formed the Governing Body Commission so that the legacy of what he had begun, single-handedly, could continue for the next 10,000 years. His sincere followers lived up to his expectations. They expanded his mission further and wider.

Now, it depends upon us whether we want to continue the parampara of dharma or squander the fortune given to us.

We can either be an instrument in furthering dharma, or we can be the founder-acharya of a new parampara of adharma.

Am I a Pioneer of Adharma?

Even in our individual practice, the way we present ourselves determines how we represent our mission. One small mistake, if observed and followed by others, can lead to the beginning of a new parampara of adharma.

Here, adharma simply means anything that is not Krishna conscious.

Imagine if we are watching useless YouTube videos or serials or doom-scrolling on Instagram—
that behaviour can easily be caught by those around us: our relatives, devotee companions, or even our children.
And thus, we may become pioneers of a new parampara—but sadly, that of adharma.

If we chant lazily, or carelessly, with mobile in one hand and bead bag in another, we are furthering the parampara of adharma.

So much of Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur’s time went into curbing the many apasampradayas that had arisen during his time.

The way we set examples for our peers, subordinates, and children determines:
Are we furthering our Guru’s mission, or are we bringing a cleavage in Parampara by unknowingly beginning our own (apa)sampradaya?

Every activity we do in spiritual life is observed by people around us. Therefore, we must be exceedingly careful to preserve our glorious sampradaya through our example. And, if possible, to further the mission and legacy of our acharyas.

But in no way should we become a blemish to the parampara, or to our own spiritual lives.