Govindaram

<font color="red"> Now here are some basic principles and points that I've compiled

from Hari Bhakti Vilas and the Nectar of Devotion about the proper

activities of one who is a Vaisnava. A Vaisnava -</font color>

 

l. Offers respect and obeisances to the guru, to the Lord and His

devotees, and to other superiors.

 

One must offer respect and obeisances to the superiors, like

the guru, the Lord and His devotees. We must also respect

superior relatives, like the parents.

 

2. Get up before 4 a.m. and attend mangala-arati.

 

3. After waking up, first brush your teeth and afterwards take a

bath.

 

4. Bathe after passing stool.

 

5. Wash with water after passing urine. Also wash hands and

feet.

 

6. Wash hands, feet, and mouth before and after taking prasadam.

 

We must at least wash our hands. In the Western countries it

may be difficult to wash our feet. But when in India, you

should wash both your hands and your feet before and after

taking prasada.

 

7. Wash hands after drinking water.

 

This is done because when your hold your cup while drinking,

your hands actually become contaminated.

 

8. Use the right hand for eating and drinking. Even if you are a

lefty, try to use your right hand.

 

9. Always wear clean clothes.

 

10. Never steal anything.

 

11. Never use unpleasant words.

 

12. Never tell a lie, even if it is pleasant.

 

That is don't even tell a pleasant lie.

 

13. Never speak ill of others.

 

14. Do not become inimical to others.

 

15. Do not develop friendship with people who are envious, fallen,

insane, inimical, extravagant, deceptive, lying or illicitly

related with women. Do not develop friendship with unchaste

women.

 

16. Do not travel alone.

 

17. Do not sneeze or yawn without covering the mouth.

 

18. Do not laugh loudly.

 

19. Do not pass air loudly.

 

20. Always avoid a crematorium, a garden, and unchaste women at

night.

 

21. Do not take shelter of a fallen person.

 

22. Neither sleep too much nor stay awake too much.

 

23. Do not outstretch your legs in front of your elders.

 

24. Do not pass urine or stool on the road.

 

25. Do not spit while eating.

 

26. Do not insult women.

 

27. Do not become envious of women.

 

28. Never cause any harm to anyone; instead, always try to do good

to others.

 

29. Do not associate with unscrupulous people or read "scriptures"

that are not bona fide.

 

Scriptures are in quotes, which means they are so-called

scriptures.

 

30. Do not mock people who are foolish, insane, distressed, ugly,

cunning, lame, or fallen.

 

31. Do not chastise anyone except sons and disciples to educate

them.

 

32. Bathe after shaving, copulating, or going to a crematorium.

 

33. Do not hit anyone on the head or pull anyone by the hair.

 

34. Do not eat yogurt or chickpea flour at night.

 

Actually Prabhupada instructed us about yogurt but we are not

so sure about the chickpeas. So you be careful about that

now. Don't eat chickpeas at night. In the morning they are

good, but not at night.

 

35. If someone insults you, leave the place silently.

 

36. Never praise yourself.

 

37. Never look at a naked woman or man.

 

38. Do not place your foodstuffs on your lap to eat.

 

39. Do not quarrel with your wife.

 

40. Do not spit on water.

 

Because people sometimes drink water from ponds or lakes or

rivers, one should not spit on water.

 

41. Do not sleep in the temple room.

 

42. Sannyasis should bathe three times a day, grhasthas and

brahmacaris at least twice a day.

 

43. After one takes prasadam the area where the plate was kept

must be cleared. One should not step over the area where

prasadam was taken, because it is considered contaminated.

 

I have noticed in many temples that after we take prasada, which is

usually on the floor, we just step all over. Then without even washing

our feet we enter into the temple room. So one should be careful about

that. The place where we take prasadam becomes contaminated. And if

you step on that spot, then you must wash your feet. The place where

the prasadam has been taken, must be cleaned right after the prasadam

has been taken. Because the temple must be very clean, we should be

careful that we do not unnecessarily contaminate the temple.

 

44. After touching the inside of the mouth or nose, one must wash

his hands.

 

45. After putting on tilaka, one must do acaman by saying "om

kesavaya namah,om narayanaya namah," and "om madhavaya

namah."

 

So those are some of the basic principles by which a Vaisnava acts.

We'll be going over many of these points in detail later in our classes.

 

 

Becoming a Vaisnava Devotee of Krsna

 

 

1. We are all infinitesimal parts and parcels of Sri Krsna. As our

Krsna consciousness evolves we will naturally develop and manifest

all divine qualities.

 

2. The Supreme process for developing such Krsna consciousness is the

chanting of the Holy Name.

 

3. Becoming a pure devotee is not a cheap thing. We must guard against

imitation and strictly follow in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada.

 

4. The qualities of a pure devotee like Srila Prabhupada are far beyond

our present grasp. However, in their compassion, Sri Krsna and the

Vaisnavas have made both the principle and the process very clear

and simple.

 

5. Sri Krsna in B.G. 12.13-20 tells us quite plainly which qualities

are dear to Him:

 

(a) "One who is not envious but who is a kind friend to all living

entities, who does not think himself a proprietor, who is free

from false ego and equal both in happiness and distress, who is

always satisfied and engaged in devotional service with

determination, his mind and intelligence are in agreement with

Me - he is very dear to Me." (BG 12.13-14)

 

(b) "He for whom no one is put into difficulty and who is not

disturbed by anxiety, who is steady in happiness and distress,

is very dear to Me." (BG 12.15)

 

© "A devotee who is not dependent on the ordinary course of

activities, who is pure, expert, without cares, free from all

pains, and who does not strive for some result, is very dear to

Me." (BG 12.16)

 

(d) "One who neither grasps pleasure nor grief, who neither laments

nor desires, and who renounces both auspicious and inauspicious

things, is very dear to Me." (BG 12.17)

 

(e) "One who is equal to friends and enemies, who is equipoised in

honor and dishonor, heat and cold, happiness and distress, fame

and infamy, who is always free from contamination, always silent

and satisfied with anything, who doesn't care for any residence,

who is fixed in knowledge and engaged in devotional service, is

very dear to Me." (BG 12.18-19)

 

(f) "He who follows this imperishable path of devotional service and

who completely engages himself with faith, making me the Supreme

goal, is very, very dear to Me." (BG 12.20)

 

6. How can we develop these qualities? Srila Rupa Goswami explained--

 

(a) be enthusiastic

(b) endeavour with confidence

© be patient

(d) act according to regulative principles (such as sravanam

kirtanam visnoh smaranam - hearing, chanting and remembering Krsna)

(e) abandon the association of nondevotees

(f) follow in the footsteps of the previous acaryas

(Nectar of Instruction Text 3)

 

7. He also elucidates those practices which will hinder our Krsna

conscious development:

 

(a) eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than

required

(b) overendeavouring for mundane things that are very difficult to

obtain

© talking unnecessary about mundane subject matters

 

(d) practicing the scriptural rules and regulations only for the

sake of following them and not for the sake of spiritual

advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the

scriptures and working independently or whimsically

(e) associating with worldly-minded persons who are not interested

in Krsna consciousness (f) being greedy for mundane

achievements.

 

8. Srila Prabhupada, being as practical as he is compassionate, has

provided a very clear and simple check list by which we can assess

our progress in Krsna consciousness. Please read Bhagavad-gita

Chapter 13, Verses 8-12.

 

9. The process for developing our Krsna consciousness is profoundly

simple and straightforward. If we sincerely take shelter of the

lotus feet of the Vaisnavas, and intensely desire to achieve the

goal, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will undoubtedly shower His mercy upon

us.

 

10. All the divine qualities are there in the spirit soul. Therefore as

we come closer to our spiritual identity, these qualities naturally

become manifest.

 

<font color="red"> Introductory Class Lecture given by His Holiness Bhakti Caru Swami

</font color>

 

I'd like to welcome you all to our classes on Vaisnava Etiquette.

Thank you for coming. I'll begin by reading some quotes from Caitanya

Caritamrta, the instructions of Caitanya Mahaprabhu to Sanatana Goswami,

on sadacara--the activities of a Vaisnava.

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed Sanatana Gosvami to write

"Vaisnava Smrti" (Hari Bhakti Vilasa) in CC. Madhya lila 24.324- 344:

 

Folding his hands, Sanatana Gosvami said, "My Lord, You ordered me

to write a directory about the activities of Vaisnavas. I am a most

lowborn person. I have no knowledge of good behavior. How is it possible

for me to write authorized directions about Vaisnava activities?"

 

Sanatana Gosvami then requested the Lord, "Please personally tell me

how I can write this difficult book about Vaisnava behavior. Please

manifest Yourself in my heart. If You would please manifest Yourself

within my heart and personally direct me in writing this book, then,

although I am lowborn, I may hope to be able to write it. You can do

this because You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead Yourself and

whatever You direct is perfect."

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "Whatever you want to do you will

be able to do correctly by Lord Krsna's favor. He will manifest the real

purport. Because you asked Me for a synopsis, please hear these few

indications. In the beginning one must take shelter of a bona fide

spiritual master. In your book there should be the characteristics of

the bona fide guru and the bona fide disciple. Then, before accepting a

spiritual master, one can be assured of the spiritual master's position.

Similarly, the spiritual master can also be assured of the disciple's

position. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, should be described

as the worshipable object, and you should consider the (bija) mantra for

the worship of Krsna, Rama, or any other expansion of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead.

 

"You should discuss the qualifications necessary for receiving a

mantra, the perfection of the mantra, the purification of the mantra,

initiation, morning duties, remembrance of the Supreme Lord,

cleanliness, and washing the mouth and other parts of the body. In the

morning, one should regularly brush his teeth, take his bath, offer

prayers to the Lord and offer obeisances to the spiritual master. One

should render service to the spiritual master and paint one's body in

twelve places with urdhva pundra [tilaka]. One should stamp the holy

names of the Lord on his body, or one should stamp the symbols of the

Lord, such as the disc and club.

 

"After this, you should describe how one should decorate his body

with gopicandana, wear neck beads, collect tulasi leaves from the tulasi

tree, cleanse his cloth and the altar, cleanse one's own house or

apartment and go to the temple and ring the bell just to draw the

attention of Lord Krsna.

 

"Also describe the Deity worship, wherein one should offer food to

Krsna at least five times daily. One should in due time place Krsna on a

bed. You should also describe the process for offering arati and the

worship of the Lord according to the list of five, sixteen or fifty

ingredients.

 

"The characteristics of the Deities should be discussed as well as

the characteristics of the salagrama sila. One should also discuss

visiting the Deities in the temple and touring holy places like

Vrndavana, Mathura, and Dvaraka.

 

"You should glorify the holy name and carefully give up offenses

when chanting the holy name. One should know the symptoms of a

Vaisnava. One must give up or nullify all kinds of seva-aparadha,

offenses in Deity worship.

 

"The items of worship, such as water, conchshell, flowers, incense

and lamp, should be described. You should also mention chanting softly,

offering prayers, circumambulation, and offering obeisances. All these

should be carefully studied.

 

"Other items to be considered are the method of performing

purascarana (purification), taking krsna-prasada, giving up unoffered

food and not blaspheming the Lord's devotees."

 

This is also a very important point that devotees should remember.

A Vaisnava is not suppose to take anything that has not been offered to

Krsna. We should be very careful about that. Because I have seen

practically all over the world we are developing a tendency to eat

things that are not offered. The only consideration has become if the

food is vegetarian. But we are supposed to only take Krsna prasada.

 

Try to avoid it as much as possible. When you are traveling or if

you are on sankirtana, then it is different. But still try to offer

everything to Krsna before you take it.

 

"One should know the symptoms of a devotee and how to associate

with devotees. One should know how to satisfy the devotee by rendering

services, and one should know how to give up the association of

nondevotees. One should also regularly hear the recitation of

Srimad-Bhagavatam."

 

We can see how Prabhupada actually implemented all of these

instructions of Sanatana Gosvami in our Society.

 

"You should describe the ritualistic duties of every day, and you

should describe the fortnightly duties - especially observing Ekadasi

fast, which comes every fortnight."

 

Now here also it's an important thing to consider, like we

generally think that just by not taking grains we are observing Ekadasi.

But actually when we talk about observing Ekadasi, it actually means

fasting. And fasting means not taking anything. Fasting does not

necessarily mean just fasting from grains. In the beginning of course,

devotees may just abstain from grains on Ekadasi day. But as one makes

advancement, one should try to fast completely. Also as it has been

described that one may also stay awake for 24 hours. Stay up during the

day and the night.

 

When I give class on observing Ekadasi, devotees often raise the

point that Prabhupada never really instructed us to observe Ekadasi in

this way. But actually in the Nectar of Devotion Prabhupada says that

devotees may stay awake the whole night singing the glories of the Lord

fasting. So Prabhupada actually did instruct us to stay up all night as

well. It's actually not a very difficult thing.

 

"You should recommend the avoidance of mixed Ekadasi and the

performance of pure Ekadasi."

 

Perhaps you've noticed that sometimes we don't fast on the Ekadasi

but we fast on the Dvadasi. The reason we do this is that the Ekadasi

is mixed. That is, dasami enters into Ekadasi. When the tenth day

overlaps the eleventh day it is to be mixed or penetrated. And one does

not fast on that Ekadasi but instead fasts on the next day which is

Dvadasi, the twelfth day. And it has been described that fasting on a

Maha-Dvadasi is a thousand times more potent then fasting on an Ekadasi.

 

"You should also describe the fault in not observing this. One

should be very careful as far as these items are concerned. If one is

not careful, one will be negligent in executing devotional service.

 

"Whatever you say about Vaisnava behavior, the establishment of

Vaisnava temples and Deities and everything else should be supported by

evidence from the Puranas.

 

"You should give general and specific descriptions of the behavior

and activities of a Vaisnava. You should outline things that are to be

done and things that are not to be done. All this should be described

as regulations and etiquettes."

 

Here are some other quotes from Srila Prabhupada on etiquette:

 

"All the inhabitants of Vrndavana are Vaisnavas. They are

all-auspicious because somehow or other they always chant the holy name

of Krsna." CC Adi 5.232 Purport

 

So here we also must understand one thing that all of the devotees

in ISKCON are Vaisnavas because somehow or other they are chanting the

holy name. Prabhupada is giving the qualification of a Vaisnava. One

should consider all of the inhabitants of Vrndavan Vaisnavas. Why?

Because somehow or other they chant the holy name of the Lord. So what

to talk of the devotees of ISKCON, we should be very respectful of all

of the devotees knowing well that they are all Vaisnavas.

 

The biggest hindrance to our spiritual progress is Vaisnava

aparadha. It's actually a very dangerous offense. We must be very

careful about committing Vaisnava aparadha.

 

"Even though some of them do not strictly follow the rules and

regulations of devotional service, on the whole they are devotees of

Krsna and chant His name directly or indirectly."

 

This is a very important instruction. Actually the whole Vaisnava

etiquette or the whole Vaisnava culture is founded on this principle.

 

CC Adi 7.50 Purport: "A Vaisnava should be tolerant like a tree and

submissive like grass."

 

"Nevertheless the author of this instruction, Caitanya Mahaprabhu,

did not tolerate the misbehavior of Jagai and Madhai. When they

harassed Nityananda Prabhu, He immediately became angry and wanted to

kill them. One should be very meek and humble in his personal

transactions, but if there is blasphemy against one's guru or another

Vaisnava, one should be angry as fire. One should not tolerate

blasphemy against a Vaisnava but should immediately take one of three

actions. If someone blasphemes a Vaisnava, one should stop him with

higher arguments and higher reason. If one is not expert enough to do

this he should give up his life on the spot, and if he cannot do this,

he must go away. But we should never listen to blasphemy against a

Vaisnava."

 

Although Vaisnavas are very humble and tolerant, that is not

weakness. Vaisnavas are not weak. Vaisnavas are as hard as a

thunderbolt. If it is necessary they can become as violent as a lion, a

soft as a rose petal and he's as hard as a thunderbolt. A Vaisnava is

not only soft, but if necessary he can become hard. That shows that

Vaisnavas are not weaklings. Vaisnavas are very, very powerful. Both

physically and spiritually. Actually it is the spiritual power that

endows them with the physical power.

 

Vaisnavas should not be disrespectful to anyone. One should always

be respectful to others but should not demand respect for himself.

"amanina manadena"

 

A Vaisnava is adosa darsi. A Vaisnava never sees other's faults.

Of course, every human being has good qualities and faults. Therefore,

it is said "sadyana guna mitsanti." A Vaisnava accepts only a man's

glories and not his faults. "Adosa darsi" means one who does not find

faults in others. He simply sees the other's good qualities and he

finds faults with himself. He is very strict with himself and he is

always watching himself very scrutinizingly, detecting all of the

defects he has in himself.

 

A Vaisnava always follows the order of guru and Krsna. Anyone who

attempts to write about Krsna, must first take permission from the guru

and Krsna. One must first become a pure devotee and then he must take

permission from the spiritual master and that permission must be

confirmed by Krsna from within his heart.

 

Sanatana Goswami followed the instructions of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and

wrote a book on Vaisnava Etiquette. This book is the guidebook that

directs a Vaisnava's activities. The Hari Bhakti Vilasa describes

Vaisnava etiquette as the behavior of a pure Vaisnava. Everybody should

follow that standard. Here is how the Hari Bhakti Vilas defines Vaisnava

etiquette, its philosophy, and some basic Vaisnava principles.

 

"Since nothing can be successful without "sadachar" or etiquette,

every action should be performed with proper etiquette." We must act

according to proper etiquette. The heart of a saintly person is free

from contamination. The way a saintly person acts is known as proper

etiquette. A way a saintly person acts is know as "sadacara."

 

"If a person reads the six branches of the Vedas without practicing

proper etiquette, he does not get purified, just as a bird flies away

from the nest as soon as it grows wings, the Vedas leave him at the time

of his death.

 

"Although one may have acquired the knowledge of all of the Vedas,

but if one is not practicing the proper etiquette or if he did not

become a Vaisnava, then all of this knowledge which he has acquired,

will be lost at the time of death.

 

"Proper etiquette increases fame, opulence, longevity and destroys

all inauspiciousness.

 

"O king, proper etiquette gives the results of dharma, artha and

kama. Therefore a wise man very carefully performs the proper etiquette

described in the scriptures.

 

"Thus one can understand that Vaisnava etiquette purifies the heart

and the consciousness."

 

He is not a Rat, Krishna incarnated as a boar and fish, but theres no sciptural quotes saying that krishna ever incarnated as a Rat. haribol

 

HariboL!

 

Going to chant for 25 years etc, rounds etc, become a pure devotee, and if this forum is still running by then, then I'll come and answer your question, until then just chant the holy names of God and always think of Krishna.

Bye Haribol.

'something'..

 

Right, Swaminarayana is Guru, that is what SP is saying, but ppls worship him as God, which is Mayavadi, Guru and God not the same, though we worship Guru as well etc, so its pretty clear, if I'm wrong then correct me, but its pretty clear from what Srila Prabhupada said, Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam, so we worship Krishna as Supreme, Guru is servant of Krishna. Thankyou.

 

haribol!

 

I can't give any, the quotes from His Divine Grace, speak for themselves, hare krishna. somebody else can do so if they like.

 

Hare Krishna,

 

Its clear from above posts, whats being said.

 

Haribol.

 

<font color="red"> Bhagavad-Gita As It Is:

Verses 10.8-11</font color>

<font color="green">

I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.

 

 

The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are surrendered to Me, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss enlightening one another and conversing about Me.

 

 

To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.

 

 

Out of compassion for them, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance. </font color>

 

 

--

10.8 --108 hehe, what are the chances of that happening?

 

My made up jokes:

--

 

A Karmi asks a Hindu Karmi, Prabhu how was the Universe created?

 

Hindu guy says first God created put the Hindus on planet Earth and then it all got rolling..

 

So the Karmi asks well what about the ahem 'others'?

 

Hindu Karmi says "oh they live on a parallel universe, we can't see them".

 

--

Time warp-

--

 

A Muslim guy asks the same question to a Christian and gets the same answer.

--

 

A Jew asks the question to a Muslim and gets ignored.

--

 

A donkey asks the question to a monkey, and gets hit in the face.

--

 

HariboL!

 

Haribol!

 

Sometimes I think with all my problems (which i don't want to air), Krishna sure has a funny way of showing His love, I keep thinking maybe KC is not for me, but I can't help but still like Krishna, and what the hell am I going to do if I don't be in KC?..anyways, I feel better for saying all that, I hate this world, - Hare Krishna.

 

Haribol!

 

Jaya Nitai-Gauranga Nitai-Gauranga!

 

 

 

Hare Krishna

 

I couldn't help but smile at this comment:

 

"the thing unique is that the past has no beginning and the future has no end, but it is certain. and the present is now"

 

if time is eternal how can the present be Now? /images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

Hare krishna

 

Talking about realisations on another thread, I was thinking about the Soul, and I thought in all religions it is thought of as eternal, so how can this be our 1st birth, eternal means no past/present/future meaning ever-existing, re-incarnation has to be a fact, Hope that makes sense, it pretty much just convinced me LOL.

 

 

Hare Krishna

 

I am having trouble thinking about this, should we think that Lord Krishna loves us, and then we think yes! cool, or like (this is so hard to explain..sorry), should we think oh He doesn't love us, so we should try to love/serve Him, or ?..Hope you all understand what i'm saying if not!, then don't worry /images/graemlins/crazy.gif

<font color="red">A.C.Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada

</font color>

Letter to: Dhananjaya, Bombay, 31 December, 1972

Therefore Rupa Gosvami has introduced this system of regulative principles which I have taught to you also. These regulative principles, such as rising before 4 a.m. for mangala aratrika, chanting 16 rounds minimum on beads daily, reading books, going for the street sankirtana, preaching to anyone and everyone, offering the prasadam, like that, these principles of devotional service are there to safeguard us from maya's attack by keeping us always enthusiastic. If we strictly observe these principles, we shall remain always enthusiastic. These are the sources and the maintainers of our enthusiasm to serve Krishna. As soon as someone is not following them regularly, it may be certain that his enthusiasm will gradually disappear. Therefore, my request to you is that under any and all circumstances that you yourself shall without fail stick to these principles and make certain that all of the devotees in your charge are also following them strictly.

<font color="blue"> --- </font color>

Letter to: Dayananda, Allston, Mass, 1 May, 1969

As you continue to follow the regulative principles and thereby as you continue to advance in your understanding of Krishna Consciousness, you will find that your attraction for Krishna and spiritual life will increase more and more.

<font color="blue"> --- </font color>

Letter to: Revatinandana, Bombay, 15 December, 1974

As soon as one discontinues his staunch following of the regulative principles such as no meat eating, no illicit sex, no intoxication, no gambling, rising early before 4:00, coming to mangala arati, chanting at least 16 rounds, etc., then his spiritual life is hampered and there is a chance that at any time he may become a victim of maya.

<font color="blue"> --- </font color>

Letter to: Kisora, Bombay, 23 December, 1974

Please follow all of our regulative principles, such as rising early, attending classes and without fail chant 16 rounds and follow our 4 regulative principles. Without these things your spiritual life will be hampered.

<font color="blue"> --- </font color>

Letter to: Amarendra, Johannesburg, 21 October, 1975

You will find enclosed 4 brahmana threads and you should perform fire-sacrifice for all of the new initiates stressing the responsibility involved. Everyone must follow the four regulative principles and chant minimum of 16 rounds japa daily. There is no question of falldown if one seriously follows these principles.

<font color="blue"> --- </font color>

Morning Walk, Vrndavana, August 13, 1974, (new98)

Prabhupada: No, after catching them from the forest, they kept within the bars, and no eating for at least one week. Then the trainer comes, only whips. He comes and open the door (indistinct) (makes crying noise). Already he is hungry, weak, and he is whipped. In this way, he becomes fearful. As soon as the man comes, he becomes fearful. Then he gives him little food. In this way-after all it is animal-he thinks that "This man is my God. He can save me, he can kill me." Then he takes to him. Whatever he says, he will take. Similarly, if you do not give the ingredients for sense enjoyment, the mind will be controlled. That is the beginning.

<font color="blue"> --- </font color>

Morning Walk, May 20, 1975, Melbourne

Prabhupada: Yes, no illicit sex, no...This is the method, and chanting is the process. Then you will remain strong. And if you neglect, then you become weak. To remain strong is not difficult, but we don't want to remain strong. That is our decision. Otherwise it is not difficult. But we don't want to remain strong. We voluntarily become weak. Then maya catches, "Come on."

<font color="blue"> --- </font color>

Letter to: Candravali, Ahmedabad, 13 December, 1972

Raise your family to be exemplary Vaisnavas by yourself following the regulative principles and rigidly chanting Hare Krishna mantra, and without any doubt they and yourself will become all of you firmly situated on the path back to home, back to Godhead.

<font color="blue"> --- </font color>

The Nectar of Instruction text 3.Purport (excerpts)

In this Krishna consciousness movement there are four basic regulative principles, forbidding illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. A devotee must be very enthusiastic about following these principles.

---

In addition to these four prohibitions (yama), there are positive regulative principles (niyama), such as the daily chanting of sixteen rounds on japa-mala beads. These regulative activities must be faithfully performed with enthusiasm.

<font color="blue"> --- </font color>

 

 

<font color="blue"> "Anyone can easily practice this tapasya, and then the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra will be effective without delay" </font color>

 

Hare Krishna

 

What I meant to say was if we have realsisations according to sastra that thats ok, what I mean by this is, we all have our own way of thinking, putting things together in our own mind, making analogys etc, anyway, if I am wrong in this please correct me. jaya prabhupada!

 

 

Hare Krishna

 

Your 2nd paragraph mata is spot-on, no sastric, but this is your realisation according to sastra, so you could say its good as sastric?..(praising devotees is cool), I heard a lecture in which a devotee was saying that, when Krishna left for Goloka, then the extrodinary power that Sri Arjuna had was taken away from him, because he had no need for it. Hare Krsna

 

Time and Circumstance, but ideally Tulasi should be worn around the neck, ok I understand now, (LOL), you can see the mode of IGNORANCE is prominent in me today, sorry for all the bother, Haribol!!

 

Hare Krishna

 

Tulasi is so sacred, Prabhuji, I won't be convinced on this issue unless I find a quote from Prabhupada saying its ok, to wear Tulasi bracelets. jai sri krishna!

 

Is was actually my mum who said it to me one day, and I have to agree with her, on this one /images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

I can't find any sastric evidence in the Folio, about not wearing nor can I find anything saying we can, so for now I should assume its not a good idea, sorry I am not convinced that it should be done at all.

 

Hare Krishna

 

In another thread a devotee talks about the above, but to my understanding, I always thought it was forbidden to wear Tulasi Bracelets.

 

Hare Krishna

 

Its not just about having a Guru, like a 'in thing at the moment' a Guru is a pure devotee whom you try to please, by serving his instructions, easy way to please krishna is through His devotee, this is the way it always been.

 

Hare Krishna

 

 

I searched the Folio Infobase for

 

Hridya Swami

Hridayananda

 

and I came up with no searches!, I'm sure I saw swamiji's name before, while looking throught the folio, can anybody help?

 

ahhhh, its bugging me, haribol

 

<font color="red"> Morning Walk </font color>

--

March 2, 1974, Mayapura

 

<font color="red">Prabhupada</font color>: "Swami Narayan is better than Krsna," then what they learn?

 

Indian man: (indistinct)

 

<font color="red">Prabhupada</font color>: In London they have got a branch, and they're chanting....

 

Indian man: (Hindi)

 

<font color="red">Prabhupada</font color>: (Hindi) Swami Narayan. That is my objection. Why they are putting...

 

Indian man (2): "Swami Narayan, Swami Narayan, Swami Narayan." (laughs)

 

<font color="red">Prabhupada</font color>: What is this thing? "Swami Narayan." Narayana is there.

 

Indian man (4): Narayana is there.

 

Indian man (2): Swami is their guru and Narayana is God, so both, Prabhupada and Krsna, Prabhupada and Krsna, Prabhupada Krsna...

 

<font color="red">Prabhupada</font color>: But that does not mean they should chant. Just like, we are not instructing our disciples to chant my name, "Bhaktivedanta Swami, Bhaktivedanta Swami..." No. They're chanting Hare Krsna. Hari-tvena samasta-sastrair uktah. Guru is respected as good as Krsna, but that does not mean I shall teach them to go and chant my name, "Bhaktivedanta Swami, Bhaktivedanta Swami, Bhaktivedanta Swami." What is this?

We are teaching, "Chant Hare Krsna." Harer nama, harer nama... [Adi 17.21].

 

Indian man (3):Prabhupada so much...

 

<font color="red">Prabhupada</font color>: Because he, my disciple respects me as God, that does not mean I'll think I have become God.

 

Indians: (indistinct)

 

<font color="red">Prabhupada</font color>: Hold some meeting, and you are belonging to the, you asked them, "Why you say like this?"

 

Indian man (4): We are... here I represent them, and you represent...

 

<font color="red">Prabhupada</font color>: No, they're preaching.

 

Indian man (4): Both are Vaisnavas...

 

<font color="red">Prabhupada</font color>: Just like these boys said.

 

Indian man (3): [break] ...all difference here, and they have got no difference at all.

 

<font color="red">Prabhupada</font color>: No, no.

 

Indian man (3): I would not say that...

 

<font color="red">Prabhupada</font color>: I can understand that. That is not difficult.

 

Indian man (3): Ah?

 

<font color="red">Prabhupada</font color>: So only thing is that why they're preaching against their own principle?

 

Indian man (4): Eka vasinam tapasa tapa ya bratah... (?)

 

<font color="red">Prabhupada</font color>: That is my point. That is my point. Everything is there for Krsna, but they're chanting "Swami Narayan." Why?

 

Indian man (4): There are... In Swami Narayan's sampradaya there are...

 

Indian man (3): (indistinct) ...you have to follow me." (Indians laugh)

 

<font color="red">Prabhupada</font color>: So far we are concerned, Gaudiya Vaisnavas, there is no different conclusion. The conclusion is there. <font color="red"> Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam. </font color>