Should one give charity even while being in debt?

From: sadhupran das
Is it okay to contribute for krsna consious purposes(like for preaching), financially even when we are personally in debt?

Transcript

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question from Sadhu Pran Prabhu is it ok to contribute charity for Krishna conscious purposes like preaching even when one is personally in debt answer charity is not just an activity it is a habit, it is a mentality and that is why it is best to not discontinue the habit unless one’s financial are extremely dire the amount that one gives in charity can vary but if we think that when we are financially stable and financially prosperous then we will give charity then we are shaping our mind in a particular way and eventually even when we get the money our mind will strongly resist giving charity so that’s why it’s important to as far as possible never discontinue the habit of giving charity because just as when we are in debt, we won’t stop our chanting, just as when we are in debt, we won’t stop our reading of scriptures so similarly charity, especially for those who are householders, is a dharma and that should be continued of course the amount one gives may vary and one can give even a nominal amount if one is in severe financial crisis but the principle is that charity should go on all the time now with respect to debts, there are different kinds of debts some debts are taken so that one can do necessary duties like say, their educational loans or there are some debts which are taken for taking care of family member when he or she is sick or getting a relative married and there are other debts which are taken when one wants a bigger house or one wants some other facilities which are not absolutely essential and especially if one wants them in a gorgeous way so if those kinds of debts are what is stopping us from Krishna’s contributions then that kind of situations are definitely undesirable that means we are purchasing anxiety and looking for things which are not necessary which are not really within our financial bracket and then the debts become self-created anxieties and if those debts distract us from or obstruct or stop us from giving charity then it is best not to incur that kind of debts but if the debts are for necessary financial obligations then we can certainly adjust the amount of charity that we give but because charity is not just an activity but a mentality, it’s best to continue the habit of charity adjusting the amount that one gives. It is important that the attempt to give charity shouldn’t obstruct our core practices of devotional service if we have to go to a yatra, if we have to go to temple, if we have to come to various spiritual retreats and if we think that I’ll give charity and in giving charity the amount of money that I have goes away and then I don’t have time I don’t have the money for going for spiritual programs then it is better to come for the spiritual programs and then give less charity so the hierarchy is that the direct devotional activity is centered on hearing and chanting the five primary limbs of devotional service hearing the bhagavatam, associating with devotees, worshipping the deity chanting the holy names and going to holy places, these are the primary devotional activities now giving charity is the secondary devotional activity so if our financial states are so bad that if we do charity then we won’t be able to do the primary devotional activities, then in that case it is better that one minimize the charity that one is given and focus on the primary devotional activities, but the idea is that along with the primary devotional activities it is a grhastha dharma to give charity so one should give according to one’s financial situation the amount that is possible, the principle is charity should continue