Damodar Stak Am

A few words about this book
When Srila Prabhupada started the ISKCON movement in 1966 he had, at that
time, only published the first three portions of his lifework, the Srimad
Bhagavatam. As he travelled the world, and as his movement grew, Srila
Prabhupada presented many more standard Vaishnava works. A wealth of
philosophy, history and culture, with translations and detailed commentaries in
readable English, the books totalled over sixty volumes.
Although Srila Prabhupada had frequently suggested the systematic study of his
books, the very substantial quantity of scholarly information always presented
newcomers with a dilemma: what to study, and in what order, to gain a grasp
of the entire Vaishnava theology, culture and practice? For some time after his
passing in 1977, education within ISKCON, both in the residential communities
and in the congregational groups, continued in a relatively ad hoc fashion.
In 1995 a group of senior devotees from many parts of Europe met to discuss
the standardization of teaching within ISKCON. They compiled a list of all the
subjects explained within Srila Prabhupada's books, placed the subjects in
logical order, and set about devising lesson plans and accompanying teachers'
manuals. The result was The Vaishnava Training and Education Syllabus, which
was gradually implemented within many courses at the movement's centres
throughout Europe and Russia.
ISKCON's congregational groups, variously termed nama-hatta, sanga, bhakti-

sanga or bhakti-vriksha, depending on which country you live in, now well out-
number its residential communities. The movement is thus largely a network of
such groups meeting weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Such groups regularly
chose to work their way through Bhagavad-gita, but this sometimes proved a
lengthy task, taking years to complete even with regular meetings. Unfamiliar
concepts and terminology sometimes made discussion inaccessible for
newcomers to the groups, while certain teachings of Vaishnava practice, history
or culture, were left unexplained for years.
This book, and the others which accompany it, have been written as a very
condensed presentation of the material in the Vaishnava Syllabus. They are
designed to cover all the basic themes and topics a devotee needs to know.
The volume of text has been kept deliberately short and simple, and much
information is presented as lists or bullet-points. Although the main intention
was that the books were to be read in conjunction with a series of talks given
at group meetings, they can also be studied separately and any questions noted
and brought up to a devotee teacher. The books are not intended to replace
the valuable company of experienced and knowledgeable vaishnavas, but can
act both as a systematic learning aid and a reminder of points already studied.
We also recommend that you either begin or continue your systematic study of
Srila Prabhupada's books in the order shown on the next page:
1
1. Easy to read compilations such as Science of Self Realisation
2. Sri Isopanishad
3. Bhagavad-gita As It Is
4. Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto One
5. Teachings of Lord Chaitanya
6. Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
7. Nectar of Devotion
8. Nectar of Instruction
9. Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto Two, Canto Six
10. Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita
11. Srimad Bhagavatam, remaining Cantos.
We hope you enjoy your studies in Krishna consciousness, and we wish you
progress in your friendships with vaishnava teachers and fellow students.
Hare Krishna.
Bhaktivedanta Manor Training and Education Department
A note on spellings
Sanskrit words in Srila Prabhupada’s books are written according to an internationally
recognised academic method. This makes for accuracy but has often confused readers
who can’t hear how the words are pronounced. Accordingly, we’ve changed the
spellings of some words in several sections of this handbook to make things easier for
the beginner.
2
Devotional Practice
Contents
Unit One
Practical Devotional Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
What is devotion? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The Basic Principle of Devotional Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Two Main Branches of Devotional Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
pancaratrika-vidhi: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
bhagavata-vidhi (or -marga): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
The Golden Rule of Bhakti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Sadhana-Bhakti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Personal Reflection: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
What is sadhana? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Two main categories or levels of Sadhana-bhakti: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Unit Two
The Daily Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
General Daily Programme: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Beginners Daily Programme: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
The Appearance of a Vaisnava: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Hairstyle: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Tulasi Neckbeads: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Tilak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Unit Three
The Four Regulative Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Truthfulness (Satyam) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Austerity (Tapas) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Mercy / Compassion (Daya) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Importance of Regulation and Cleanliness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
What does cleanliness mean in the Vedic context? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Cleanliness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Sense Gratification and the path of Bhakti yoga . . . . . . . . 32
Practical Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Things to do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Things to avoid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Unit Four
No Eating of Meat, Fish or Eggs (Only Eat Prasadam) . . . . 37
Points to Discuss: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Facts and Figures: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
No Illicit Sex (Practice Celibacy) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
But isn’t sex natural? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
The Underlying Philosophy in Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Sex Isn't All It's Cracked Up To Be . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
How To Keep Sexual Urges Under Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
3
MTE Introductory Course
No Gambling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Forms of Gambling: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
How Gambling Is Spiritually Damaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Consider this… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Negative or Debilitating Effects of Gambling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Examples of Corruption Linked to Gambling¬ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
No Intoxication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Three Main Spiritual Reasons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Facts and Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Tips for Those Struggling on the Path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Meat Eating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Intoxication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Illicit Sex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Gambling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Unit Five
Hearing and Chanting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
By hearing and chanting: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Hearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Chanting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Two main categories of hearing and chanting: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
When transcendental knowledge is: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Conditions for proper transmission of spiritual knowledge: . . . . . . . 58
Chanting the holy names of the Lord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Connection, Protection, Purification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
The Panca-tattva Mantra: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Hare Krishna Maha-mantra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
The Glories of the Holy Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Vedic Verses Glorifying the Holy Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Three Levels of Chanting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
The Ten Offences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Japa Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
The Process, Techniques, & Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
The Proper Use of Beads: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Pronunciation: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Chanting Speed: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Posture: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Common Pitfalls: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Attentiveness: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Attitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Kirtan / Bhajan Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
The Temple Songs: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Unit Six
Deity Worship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
4
Devotional Practice
The Articles Used in an Arati-Ceremony: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Tulasi Worship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Why Devotees Worship Tulasi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
The Glories of Tulasi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
How To Worship Tulasi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Unit Seven
Holy Days and Festivals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Why Observe Festivals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Ekadasi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
How To Follow Ekadasi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Fasting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Serving and Honouring Prasadam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
The Glories of Prasadam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Prasada Sevaya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Cultural Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Regulations in Serving and Honoring Prasadam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Unit Eight
Missionary Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
The Sankirtana Yajna – The Yuga Dharma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
What Does “Preaching” Mean? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Philosophy Behind Preaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
How to Preach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Preaching Situations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
The Preaching Tradition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (1486—1534) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
After Lord Caitanya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Srila Prabhupada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
ISKCON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Parents, Relatives and Friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Appendices
Appendix A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Cleanliness, Etiquette, and Other Rules and Regulations. . . . . . . . . 113
Appendix B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Supplement to Attentive Chanting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Concentration Exercises: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Endnotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
5
Unit One
Practical Devotional Service 9

The Basic Principle of Devotional Service 11
Two Main Branches of Devotional Service 12
The Golden Rule of Bhakti 14
Sadhana-Bhakti 15
Devotional Practice
Practical Devotional Service

Since you have come here to learn and experience Krishna consciousness
first hand, before we can go deeper into the philosophy, the first
important thing to learn is about the daily activities of a devotee. It is no
good if you carry on doing so many activities without a thorough
understanding of what they are all about. This section includes the
essential philosophical points related to practical devotional service.
What is service really? Think of some examples of service from everyday

life.
Think about this. Which one would you consider more of a service?
l Someone gives you a painting when you have loads of bare wall
space.
l Your job is to sell paintings and someone gives you one as a
present.
l You have loads of paintings already and someone gives you the
particular one you want for your collection.
How do you know what is really going to be a service to someone?
The essential factor within service that pleases Krishna is the __________.
What is the relationship between service and love?
"Service is the sign of . . .

but love is the . . .
What is devotion?
Think of someone you know who is devoted and dedicated to
something…
How do you know he is devoted?

What signs of devotion does he have?
What are the qualities of devotion?
9
How would you define devotional service to the Supreme Lord?
sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hrsikena hrsikesa-
sevanam bhaktir ucyate
"Bhakti, or devotional service, means __________________________
______________________________________________. By this process,

one is freed from all material designations and his senses are purified."
10
Devotional Practice
The Basic Principle of

Devotional Service
The basic principle of devotional service is detachment

from material activities and attachment to the
transcendental service of the Lord.
(Bhagavad-gita 15.1p)
Devotional service means mukti, freedom from material entanglement

(Srimad Bhagavatam 5.11.4p)
The underlying principle of devotional service is unalloyed love for

Krishna.
(Science of Self Realisation Ch.8)
By absorbing our senses in activities centred around Krishna, we cultivate

attachment to Krishna, which will gradually develop into love, and all our
attachment to material activities will be forgotten.
How can the senses be engaged in serving the master of the senses?
Suggest some examples:
Further reading: Bhag. 9.4.18-20 or Bg. 2.61p (a famous verse

beginning ‘sa vai manah krishna padaravindayoh’)
11
Two Main Branches of

Devotional Service
pancaratrika-vidhi:
Devotional service focused on or centered around Deity worship.
bhagavata-vidhi (or -marga):

Centered around hearing and chanting the holy name and preaching.
Bhagavata-vidhi is more important:
Both are important for cultivating Vaisnavism but

comparatively speaking bhagavata marga is more
important than pancaratriki viddhi.
(Letter to Shri Govinda das, 6 December 1974)
By chanting the holy name of the Lord, one can reach the platform of
love of Godhead.
(Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.23-24)
"Some behave very well

To chant the holy name of the Lord, one need not depend upon other
but do not preach the

paraphernalia, for one can immediately get all the desired results of
cult of Krishna
connecting or linking with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
consciousness, whereas
(Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 7.76p)
others preach but do
not behave properly. You l
simultaneously perform
Chanting the holy names is sufficient for attaining perfection, pure
both duties in relation to

love for God and returning back to Godhead.
l
the holy name by your
The main process for the age
l
personal behavior and by
Preaching makes one most dear to Krishna
l Preaching connects others to Krishna
your preaching. l Without hearing, one will lose interest
Therefore you are the
spiritual master of the
entire world, for you are
the most advanced
devotee in the world."
(Lord Caitanya to
Haridasa Thakura; Cc
Ant. 4.102-103)
12
Devotional Practice
But Pancaratrika-vidhi is still essential:
Srila Jiva Gosvami says that although sankirtana is

sufficient for the perfection of life, the arcana, or worship
of the Deity in the temple, must continue in order that the
devotees may stay clean and pure.
(SB 6.3.25p)
Like a train on
l To help free us from previous bad habits, material contamination,
parallel lines
restlessness, and sense gratification.
l To become clean, pure, and regulated in habits.
l For developing one's service attitude.
l Theoretical book knowledge is insufficient for realization; Deity
worship gives practical engagement.
l To attract people to the temple; supports the preaching.
l Purity makes the preaching more effective.
l Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu established sankirtana but He ordered
the Goswamis to establish temples.
Therefore Both Are Required:

l The Gaudiya Math emblem: Deity worship depicted together with
printing machine and books
l Bhakti runs like a train - on two parallel railway lines
The Krishna consciousness movement accepts both

processes simultaneously and thus enables one to make
steady progress on the path of realization of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead.
(Srimad Bhagavatam 4.13.3p)
Bhagavata-marga will help the pancaratrika-marga, or process, and

the pancaratrika process will help the Bhagavata process. Both
together is helpful.
(Srimad Bhagavatam Lecture 13 February 1971)
13
The Golden Rule of Bhakti
smartavyah satatam visnur

vismartavyo na jatucit
sarve vidhi-nisedhah syur
etayor eva kinkarah
"Vishnu should always be remembered and never forgotten at any

time. All rules and prohibitions mentioned in the sastras should be
servants of these two principles."
(Padma Purana)
What means can help one follow this injunction? What do you do to
remember Krishna?
Life is full of ups and downs. An inexperienced devotee will especially

remember Krishna when heęs down, but a more experienced devotee
also remembers to be thankful to Krishna and to take shelter of Him even
when everything seems to be great.
14
Devotional Practice
Sadhana-Bhakti
What would you do?
You are sick in bed. On one

side you have a qualified
doctor giving you advice,
and on the other, a well-
meaning friend who wants
to give you his opinion.
Who do you listen to?
Personal Reflection:
What symptoms of material disease do you see in yourself and want

to overcome? Be specific.
Why must you cure your material disease? What pain has it brought
you in your life? Try to remember some specific examples.
What signs of spiritual health do you want to see develop in

yourself as you make spiritual advancement throughout life? Be
specific.
Why must you become spiritually healthy? How exactly will your
life improve? Again, write down at least three specific examples.
15
What is Sadhana?
What does the word sadhana mean? The following are definitions taken
from the Monier-Williams dictionary:
l The means to achieve an end

l Carrying out
l Bringing about
In his books, Srila Prabhupada describes sadhana-bhakti (or the means to

achieve pure devotion) in the following ways:
l Devotional service performed according to the rules and

regulations.
l Practice for the spiritual world.
l The beginning stages of devotional service leading up to bhava-
bhakti and then prema-bhakti.
l A means to awaken the dormant service instinct.
Two main categories or levels of Sadhana-bhakti:

Vaidhi-bhakti: regulated service performed out of obedience to the
instructions of the spiritual master or the scriptures.
Raganuga-bhakti: service performed out of spontaneous attraction.
One can compare it to a car that needs to be pushed to get it going.

Once it starts running, it moves under its own energy.
Therefore in the beginning, the newcomer in spiritual life must render

devotional service under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master
according to the regulative principles mentioned in the revealed
scriptures.
16
Unit Two
The Daily Schedule 19

Devotional Practice
The Daily Schedule

General Daily Programme:
5:00 Rise
5:30 Chant
6:30 Someone can wake the children while the other prepares the arati
and things
7:00 Have arati in the temple room.
Chant a round together and/or read together.
7:30 Breakfast
8:00 Get ready for work
Beginners Daily Programme:

Rise at least half an hour earlier than at present.
Bathe and get yourself ready.
Chant japa for 15 - 30 minutes.
Read Bhagavad-gita for 15 minutes
Take prasadam and prepare yourself for work.
Awakening:
In order to be able to rise so early in the morning, you need to know
why. Discuss and list the reasons here:
19
The Appearance of a Vaishnava:
Srila Prabhupada wanted the devotees who live in the temple to adopt a
certain style of dress so that they would be recognizable as devotees of
Krishna.
This appearance is both simple and aesthetically pleasing. It reminds the

devotee of his position as an eternal servant of Krishna and helps others
recognise him as a spiritual authority. The dress, hairstyle, neckbeads, and
tilak are all signs of a Vaishnava and devotees like to identify themselves
as servants of Krishna.
Hairstyle:
Male residential students keep their heads shaved leaving only a sikha.
The Vedas explain that the sikha (flag) is necessary for performing
_______ and in India it distinguishes the Vaisnavas from the ___________.
The female residential students should keep their hair tied back and their
heads covered with the end of their saris.
In the Vedic culture this is a sign of _____________.
Tulasi Neckbeads:
Devotees wear neckbeads made of Tulasi wood to gain Krishnaęs favour
and ward off inauspicious influences.
"Persons who wear tulasi beads around the neck, who mark twelve
places of their bodies as Visnu temples, and who have visnu-tilaka on
their foreheads are to be understood as the ________________________.
Their presence ____________________ and makes any place they stay as
good as _______________." (Padma Purana)
"Persons decorated with tilaka, who mark their bodies all over with the
holy names of the Lord, and who wear tulasi beads around their necks
are _________________________________." (Skanda Purana)
20
Devotional Practice
Tilak
1. Forehead om Kesavaya namah

2. Belly om Narayanaya namah
3. Chest om Madhavaya namah
4. Throat om Govindaya namah
5. Right side om Visnave namah
6. Right upper arm om Madhusudanaya namah
7. Right shoulder om Trivikramaya namah
8. Left side om Vamanaya namah
9. Left upper arm om Sridharaya namah
10. Left shoulder om Hrsikesaya namah
11. Upper back om Padmanabhaya namah
12. Lower back om Damodaraya namah
13. Wipe remaining tilak on om Vasudevaya namah
sikha
21
Unit Three
The Four Regulative Principles 25

Sense Gratification and Bhakti 32
Devotional Practice
The Four Regulative Principles
No Eating of Meat,
No Gambling
Fish, or Eggs
No Intoxication No Illicit Sex
Satyam Tapah Saucam Daya

truthfulness austerity cleanliness mercy
(or honesty) (or self-discipline) (or purity) (compassion)
The regulative principles are established upon the four pillars

of religion: Truth, Austerity, Cleanliness and Mercy
l Which are all transcendental qualities belonging to godly men

endowed with divine nature (Bg. 16.1-3)
l Which were all fully present in Satya-yuga but have diminished by
one fourth in each yuga (Bhag. 1.17.25p)
l Which must be accepted in society to drive out corruption (Bhag.
1.17.43-44p)
l Which are "the basic principles of religion [and] prepares the
ground for the reception of advancement in spiritual knowledge."
(Bhag. 1.17.45)
l Which are counteracted by the principles of irreligion. (Bhag.
1.17.38p)
25
Can you determine which irreligious activity is diametrically opposed to

each religious principle? Connect each irreligious activity to the religious
principle it most clearly opposes.1
Mercy Illicit sex
Truthfulness Meat eating
Cleanliness Intoxication
Austerity Gambling
Srila Prabhupada also says that all four regulative principles are austerities
(Bhag 3.20.53p) and that illicit sex undermines all four pillars
(Bhag 3.31.32+p).
The principles of renunciation are four: (1) to avoid illicit

sex life, (2) to avoid meat-eating, (3) to avoid intoxication
and (4) to avoid gambling. These four principles are
called tapasya, or austerity. (Bhag 3.20.53p)
If we are actually serious about entering into the kingdom of God,

Vaikuntha, then we should be very careful to follow the four regula-
tive principles mentioned above. (Second Chance, Ch16)
So instead of becoming sinful, to become pious, you simply follow

these four regulative principles. (Bg Lecture, 12 Feb. 75)
In this society we propose that you give up illicit sex, meat-eating,

intoxication and gambling. When people hear this, they go away say-
ing, “Oh, Swamiji is very conservative.” But I cannot become liberal
and tell everybody, “Go ahead and do all nonsense and you can
become God conscious.” I cannot possibly recommend that. There-
fore my first condition is that if someone wants to become my stu-
dent he has to follow these four regulative principles. Consequently I
do not have many followers, but I do have a select few. Because they
are select, they will bring about a revolution in the world. One moon
is sufficient to dissipate darkness. (Interview with the New York
Times, 2 September 1972)
26
Devotional Practice
Truthfulness (Satyam)
Truthfulness is the basic principle for all reli-

gions.
(Srimad Bhagavatam1.17.41 purport)
Why is truthfulness or honesty important in spiritual life?
List some reasons here.
Satyam, truthfulness, means that facts should be present-

ed as they are, for the benefit of others. Facts should not
be misrepresented. (Bg.10.4-5p)
Satyam. This word means that one should not distort the
truth for some personal interest. (Bg. 16.1-3p)
What are some do's and don'ts associated with truthfulness? Speaking a
lie is one way of being dishonest but how else can this principle be bro-
ken? How many different kinds of lie, deception, misrepresentation, or
dishonesty can you think of?
Further reading: Truthfulness,The Last Leg of Religion by Satsvarupa

Dasa Goswami
27
Austerity (Tapas)
Without tapasya, or austerity, no human being

can get liberation.
(Bhagavad-gita 16.1-3 purport)
Why is austerity important for achieving success in spiritual life?
List some reasons here.
In Bg 17.14-16, Krishna describes the three types of austerity. Look them

up and fill in the missing items below:
Body: worshiping the Supreme Lord, the _______________, the spiritual

master, and superiors like the __________ and __________; remaining
clean, __________, celibate and ___________.
Speech: speaking words that are truthful, ____________, beneficial, and

not ____________ to others, and also in regularly reciting Vedic literature.
Mind: satisfaction, __________, gravity, ____________ and purification of

one's existence.
Can you think of any other austerities that devotees perform for the pur-
pose of spiritual advancement?
28
Devotional Practice
Mercy / Compassion (Daya)
Material compassion, lamentation and tears are

all signs of ignorance of the real self. Compas-
sion for the eternal soul is self-realization.
(Bhagavad-gita 2.1 purport)
In Srimad Bhagavatam 1.16.26-30 word for word translation, Srila Prab-

hupada defines daya as intolerance of others’ unhappiness.
Why is being compassionate and merciful toward other living entities

important in spiritual life?
What activities should a devotee avoid or especially perform in order to

follow this principle?
Avoid: Especially Perform
Think of some other qualities that could be included within mercy and
compassion. And compare them to their opposites.
Further reading: Bhag. 7.9.43 or the Story of Mrgari the hunter

from the Chaitanya Charitamrita.
29
Cleanliness
In regulated life only can one understand transcendental

knowledge.
(Bhag. 3.25.1purport)
He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping,

recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the
yoga system.
(Bg. 6.17)
Importance of Regulation and Cleanliness
As you can see, a devotee lives a very regulated life indeed. At every time
of the day he always has something to do for Krishna. On top of that, a
devotee needs to know many other rules related to etiquette, cleanliness,
and regulation. So many rules and regulations may seem a bit over-
whelming at first, but don’t worry – we are not the International Society
for Rules and Regulations. As long as you remember the basic principles,
you’ll pick them up and in time they’ll become second nature.
What are the advantages and benefits of having a regulated

lifestyle?
l It helps cultivate the mode of goodness.

l It helps to cultivate self-discipline.
l It helps you conquer the mind, keep it peaceful and free of specu-
lation.
l It ensures you don’t waste your time and energy (efficiency).
l It keeps the senses engaged like the iron in the fire.
l It is good for health.
l It prepares you to enter Vaikuntha.
l It is the way to subdue lust. (Bg. 3.41)
What does cleanliness mean in the Vedic context?
The Vedic injunctions have a much more subtle approach to cleanliness

and purity (saucam). For example, they require one to wash his hand
after drinking from a glass of water, to not offer bhoga to the Deities if it
has been seen by a dog, and to not enter the temple after seeing a dead
body. Of course, being externally clean, tidy, and orderly is also included
within the term saucam.
30
Devotional Practice
What are the advantages and benefits of maintaining cleanli-

ness?
l It affects your consciousness; keeps the mind pure.

l It supports the process of Krishna consciousness by helping you to
clean the heart.
l Being clean is one of the items that constitute a state of knowl-
edge
(Bg 13.8-12); Srila Prabhupada says: “Cleanliness is essential for
making spiritual advancement.”
l It is one of the qualities of “godly men endowed with the divine
nature”
(Bg. 16.1-3); “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
l One of the four pillars of religion.
l Uncleanliness is related to illicit sex, dirtiness: dirty books, dirty
humour, dirty language...
l Helps to remember and respect Krishna and thus please Him.
l One of two main qualities of a brahmana (other: truthfulness),
l One of two main qualities for Deity worship (Gurv-astaka 3)
(other: punctuality).
l It helps cultivate the mode of goodness.
l Uncleanliness = laziness = mode of ignorance.
l It is good for health and hygiene.
l It prepares you to enter Vaikuntha
See Appendix A: Cleanliness, Etiquette, and other rules and regulations.
31
Sense Gratification and the path of

Bhakti yoga
There is no possibility of one becoming a yogi, O Arjuna, if
one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or
does not sleep enough. He who is regulated in his habits of
eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all mate-
rial pains by practising the yoga system.
(Bhagavad-Gita 6.16—17)
And by doing so sets the tone for the lifestyle of someone on the path of
yoga – the key words are regulation and moderation. When eating,
sleeping, recreation and work are involved there will always be some
enjoyment available. The spirit of yoga is not one of flagrant sense gratifi-
cation. It is rather one of self-monitored restraint according to realisation.
The analogy of salting food illustrates the point that there must be suffi-
cient material comfort so that you will possess physical strength, enthusi-
asm and sensual power.
Sense gratification is just like salt; we should not take too much or too
little. Saltless food is bland and so we must add some salt for health and
in order to make the food palatable. It would be foolishness to therefore
think “Salt is very good, let me add the whole salt pot.” Because that
would spoil the entire preparation. Conversely, if we taste over-salted
food, or read about hardened arteries and conclude that any salt is a bad
thing, and that we should consume no salt whatsoever – that could also
lead to disaster. The body craves salt because it needs salt, thus the sens-
es also crave and need some gratification, but rather than be dragged by
our senses, we can make conscious decisions about how much and what
forms of sense gratification we accept into our lives.
Not too much

In the previous lesson we discussed taking the broader spiritual picture
into perspective when making decisions. The question of finding a bal-
ance of sense gratification, is a real and decisive practical application of
this principle. Whenever I make the choice about the level and type of
sense gratification I accept, I can ask: “Is this decision consistent with my
real identity as a spiritual being on a journey of self-discovery?” and “Are
the long reaching consequences of this decision for the general good of
me and my spiritual brothers and sisters?”
Not too little

Attempting to give up sense gratification completely has often proven
counterproductive, because strength of will is not sufficient to maintain
such an extraordinary level of renunciation. When those trying to give up
32
Devotional Practice
“cold turkey” suffer a set-back or relapse they are prone to dive into
sense gratification as an extreme reaction to the self denial they have
been artificially maintaining.
The key to controlling the senses is spiritual realisation, one of the charac-
teristics of the soul is that it is attracted to enjoyment, thus sense enjoy-
ment must be replaced by another type of enjoyment. When a small child
wants to play with something harmful such as a sharp implement, the
best way to take the dangerous implement away from the child is to sim-
ply offer the child something else to play with, it will have to relinquish the
objectionable object to accept the safe one. Forms of sense enjoyment can
be accepted that are congruous with the spiritual ideals and truths you
have chosen to accept and honour within your life. As a traveller on the
path of self-realisation it is very helpful to regulate your daily activities to
maintain the consistent level of self-discipline that is right for you.
Practical Application
There are times in our devotional practice when chanting and following
the regulative principles is very easy. However, there are also times when
these practices become very difficult and seem insurmountable. In fact, it
has often been found that in the beginning these practices are easy, but
with the passing of time it becomes more difficult to maintain them.
What to do?
Remember Krishna’s words in the Bhagavad Gita:

Bg 12.8 - Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Person-
ality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence in Me.
Thus you will live in Me always, without a doubt.
Bg 12.9 - My dear Arjuna, O winner of wealth, if you can-

not fix your mind upon Me without deviation, then follow
the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga. In this way develop a desire to
attain Me.
Bg 12.10 - If you cannot practice the regulations of bhakti-yoga, then

just try to work for Me, because by working for Me you will come to the
perfect stage.
Bg 12.11 - If, however, you are unable to work in this consciousness of Me,
then try to act giving up all results of your work and try to be self-situated.
Bg 12.12 - If you cannot take to this practice, then engage yourself in the
cultivation of knowledge. Better than knowledge, however, is meditation,
and better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of action, for by
such renunciation one can attain peace of mind.
33
Things to do:
l Pray to Krishna for strength and direction.
l Learn to take shelter in chanting, this will help to transform your
heart.
l Find your own maintainable level of devotional practice, one
which will gradually enable you to reach the ideal rather than an
unrealistic and unachievable end which will only frustrate you.
l Associate with those who have a slightly higher level of practice
than you do (those who are also struggling but maintaining higher
standards).
l Practice some level of self discipline, it is the genuine path to high-
er enjoyment.
Things to avoid:
l Getting negative to the point that you feel like abandoning your
self-discipline and devotional service.
l Feeling remorse when you keep tripping up in your practices is
healthy; however, beware of a guilt complex, which leads to
deceptive unhealthy habits such as hiding behind masks.
l Imposing your set of standards on other members of your family,
especially spouses. Inspire them by your example.
l Don’t be too hard on yourself, ask for help from another vaishnava.
l Rupa Goswami teaches us in the Nectar of Instruction to accept
those things favourable for devotional service and reject those
things that are unfavourable.
l Become responsible for your own spiritual life rather than feeling
you must compete with others.
l Endeavour to come to the mode of goodness before striving for
‘transcendence’, evaluate your lifestyle, what things help you and
what things act as obstacles.
Pray to Krishna
Chanting only a few rounds and adhering to only one or two regulative
principles does not exclude you from being a devotee, as long as Krishna
for strength and

sees that you are trying in His service and keeping the goal in sight, even
direction.
if it takes you a lifetime to reach it. We are living beings in fallible human
bodies. It’s OK to make mistakes as long as we learn from them (rather
than become lax as a result of them).
The regulative principles minimise the risk of you becoming a victim of

advertising campaigns, marketing psychologists and therapy gurus.
The Lord helps those who help themselves. If you approach the Lord with
sincerity and depend upon him, then the Lord Himself will clean your
heart from within.
34
Unit Four
No Eating of Meat, Fish or Eggs 37

No Illicit Sex 40
No Gambling 44
No Intoxication 48
Tips for Those Struggling on the Path 52
Devotional Practice
No Eating of Meat, Fish or Eggs (Only

Eat Prasadam)
The six main categories of disadvantages of meat eating are Health,
Ethics, Economy, Environment, Karma, and Spiritual.
Ultimately, devotees are only interested in what pleases Krishna (the

spiritual reason). But each of the remaining five reasons is also important
to consider in pleasing Krishna and making spiritual advancement.
Discuss this and see if you can see why.
1. Health:
2. Ethics:
3. Economy:
4. Environment:
5. Karma:
37
Points to Discuss:
l In nature, chickens often lay unfertilized eggs as a matter of
course. Why should devotees not eat them? It wouldn't be
harming any creature.
l If devotees don't eat animal products or support animal
exploitation, why do they take milk products?
l Onions and garlic are vegetarian, so why should devotees not eat
those?
When there is no alternative, one may kill an animal, but

it should be offered in sacrifice. At any rate, when there
is an ample food supply for humanity, persons who are
desiring to make advancement in spiritual realization
should not commit violence to animals.
(Bg.16.1-3 purport)
l Human bodies are not designed for flesh eating (though a human
being is able to eat meat if he wants) (Iso 17p 2nd para).
l Krishna wants us to be vegetarians (or rather "Krsnatarians") (Bg
9.26+p 1st&2nd paras/Bg 3.13+p).
l In times of emergency only, when there is no alternative meat
eating may be allowed (Bg 16.1-3p 13th para 10th para Mac).
l The slaughtered animal has to come back again to complete his
allotted time in that species (Bg 16.1-3p 13th para).
l The foolishness of animal protection societies (PQPA page 79-80)
l Read book called the "Higher Taste".
Facts and Figures:
Health:
l The time when a human requires the most protein is when it is
growing most rapidly: as a baby. The amount of protein in
motheręs milk is about 1.2-1.6% -- about the same as fruit.
l Excess protein creates excess nitrogen in the system, which creates
fatigue.
l Meat contains lots of uric acid, which leaches calcium from the
system. People who eat meat have the weakest bones.
l The body can deal with about 8g of uric acid in one day. An
average piece of meat (3-4oz) contains 16g. Uric acid in the
bloodstream creates arthritis: it irritates the tendons and joints.
l Meat products can carry disease and infections.
38
Devotional Practice
l 50% of people in the U.S. die of heart disease, 33% die of

cancer. Meat is a primary cause of heart disease and cancer.
l Excess cholesterol from meat accumulates inside arteries leading
to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
l Well-known vegetararians: Leonardo daVinci, Sir Isaac Newton,
Voltaire, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Pythagoras, Ralph Waldo
Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Leo Tolstoy, George Bernard
Shaw, Socrates, Plato, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison,
Schweizer, Gandhi, Albert Einstein.
Economy (Ethics):
l The livestock population of the U.S. consumes enough grain and
soybeans to feed the entire human population 5 times over.
l By feeding the grains to livestock, we receive only 10% of the
available kilojoules.
l For every 16kg of grain and soybeans, we get 1kg of flesh in
return.
l Supplying a meat-eater for one year requires 3ŕ acres.
l Supplying a lacto-ovo vegetarian for one year requires ř acre.
l Supplying a pure vegetarian for one year requires 1/6 acre.
l On this earth planet, one child dies every two seconds.
l If Americans reduced meat consumption just 10%, it would free
12 million tons of grain annually for human consumption - an
amount that would entirely feed the 60 million people who will
starve to death on this planet this year.
l The water required to raise a 1000 pound steer would float a
destroyer.
l If the water required to produce beef were not subsidized, the
cheapest hamburger meat would cost $35 per pound (Vegetarian
Times, 1985)
l Corn and wheat provide 22 times more protein than beef for
the amount of fossil fuel expended. Soybeans provide 40 times
more.
Health: heart problems, many forms of cancer including bowel cancer, as

well as poisons attacking the nervous system that lead to senility.
For the economic, environmental, ethical, karmic, and spiritual reasons

for vegetarianism you can refer to the various cookbooks produced by
ISKCON and the books Coming Back and Divine Nature.
39
No Illicit Sex (Practice Celibacy)

Do you know how people in South America capture monkeys?
What is licit and illicit sex?
“But isn’t sex

“But isn’t sex natural?”
natural?”
Yes, but contraceptives are not. Sex is natural, and child-birth is the
natural consequence of sex. And it is also natural and healthy for a child
to grow up in a stable environment where the parents share a
commitment to each other.
The desire for sex is also natural. It stems originally from the spiritual
world where it is found in its pure form, called adi-rasa. Material sex
“Yes, and so
desire is natural for the material senses, but it is unnatural for the pure
are babies!”
soul. It is the perverted reflection of the adi-rasa, contaminated by a
covering of lust, the selfish desire to enjoy and imitate Krishna rather
than to serve and satisfy Him.
40
Devotional Practice
The Underlying Philosophy in Summary
l Lust, or the desire to enjoy the material energy, is the original

cause of the living entity's falldown: "…lust is the greatest enemy
of the living entity, and it is lust only which induces the pure living
entity to remain entangled in the material world."
l The greatest object of lust is sexual enjoyment. Thus sex desire is
known as the binding principle of material existence. It creates a
hard knot of attachment in the heart of the conditioned soul.4
l Sex desire is the culmination of the desire to enjoy the material
body. The greatest physical pleasure is sex. Everyone has sex
desire, and when one engages in sex, he becomes more solidly
anchored to the bodily concept of life.5
l Being the most potent form of sense gratification, sex has the
greatest potency for hindering spiritual advancement.
l To attain spiritual perfection one needs to become free from
sexual attraction. Therefore the practices of Krishna consciousness
are designed to help the devotee ultimately conquer this
attraction.6
But if sex is detrimental to spiritual life, why is marriage included in the

process of Krishna consciousness? Shouldn't it just be avoided altogether?
l The brahmacari and grhasta asramas will be covered in more

detail in a later section. At this point, it is sufficient to say that
lifelong celibacy is not suitable for everyone. Others may find
marriage unsuitable and do not need to restrict themselves
unnecessarily.
l The desire to find a partner and have family life is so integral to
life in the material world, a devotee may feel too uncomfortable
abstaining from it for his or her entire life. And to artificially
restrain themselves on a high level of renunciation may be more
harmful than beneficial.7
l Therefore Krishna consciousness allows sanctified sexual
enjoyment within married life according to religious principles.8
Such practice is also considered celibacy.9
l This process of regulated gratification allows one to satisfy the mind
and senses. At the same time, one gradually becomes purified from
the attachment to the point that he becomes free from it.10
"Therefore, O Arjuna, best of the Bhäratas, in the very

beginning, curb this great symbol of sin [lust] by regulating
the senses, and slay this destroyer of knowledge and self-
realization." (Bhagavad-gita 3:41)
41
Sex Isn't All It's Cracked Up To Be
Materialistic society glorifies sex through its popular idols and advertising,
while it plays down the obvious drawbacks. Devotees like to remain
conscious of the drawbacks and glorify the saints who exercise self-
restraint.
Materialists project the idea that sex makes you happy. If this were true,
then prostitutes would be the happiest people in the world. Consider all
the problems related to unrestrained sexual conduct and the benefits of
celibacy and Vedic marriage.
Think of all the suffering that can be related to sex, for individuals and
the society. And what is the true value of the pleasures one gains?
Compare it to spiritual life. Write your thoughts and ideas here.
"The whole system of materialistic life revolves around

this sexual pleasure. But this pleasure is like one drop of
water in the desert. The desert requires an ocean of
water. If you find one drop of water in a desert, you can
certainly say, ‘Here is some water.’ But what is its value?
Similarly, there is certainly some pleasure in sex life, but
what is the value of that pleasure? Compared to the unlimited
pleasure of Krishna consciousness, it is like one drop of water in the
desert. Everyone is seeking unlimited pleasure, but no one is
becoming satisfied. They are having sex in so many different ways,
and the young girls walking on the street are almost naked. The
whole society has become degraded. The men take advantage of the
situation. There is a saying in Bengal: ‘When milk is available in the
marketplace, what is the use of keeping a cow?’ So men are
declining to keep a wife because sex is so cheap. They are deserting
their families.”
(Journey of Self-Discovery 7.3)
42
Devotional Practice
How To Keep Sexual Urges Under Control
The Tongue
"… the bodily demands begin with the tongue. If one can restrain the
demands of the tongue by limiting its activities to the eating of prasada,
the urges of the belly and the genitals can automatically be controlled."
(Nectar of Instruction 1)
Eat moderately at regulated times and keep a balanced diet for good
Do not think of a
health. Eating for sense gratification at any time the tongue urges you
will agitate the senses. Packing the belly up to capacity places pressure on
pink elephant
the genital.
The Mind with green spots!

"While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person
develops ttachment for them, and from such attachment
lust develops…"
(Bhagavad-gita 2.62)
Now I want you to try something:
Do not think of a pink elephant with green spots!
Did you think of one? But I told you not to!
What do you think is the best way to avoid contemplating the opposite
sex?
(a) Would it be by thinking about how you shouldn't do it?

(b) Or by absorbing the mind in devotional service to Krishna?
The restlessness or fickleness of the mind (mano-vega) is
Krishna. The Caitanya-caritämrta (Madhya 22.31) says:

controlled when one can fix his mind on the lotus feet of
krishna-surya-sama; maya haya and hakara yahaì

krishna, tahaì nahi mayara adhikara. Krishna is just
like the sun, and maya is just like darkness. If the sun is
present, there is no question of darkness. Similarly, if Krishna is
present in the mind, there is no possibility of the mind's being
agitated by maya's influence. The yogic process of negating all
Find out about

material thoughts will not help. To try to create a vacuum in the mind
of Krishna and how to serve Krishna best, one's mind will naturally the story of the
is artificial. The vacuum will not remain. However, if one always thinks
be controlled. two monks
43
No Gambling
Definition of gambling: 1. verb. to play games of chance to win money

or prizes; 2. to bet on the outcome of an event; 3. to act with the
expectation of; 4. noun. a risky act or venture.
What's so bad about gambling? Why should it be forbidden in spiritual

life? List some of the negative or debilitating effects of gambling here.
Forms of Gambling:
l Card games like blackjack l Bingo

and poker l Sports wagers
l Races (horses, dogs, etc..) l ‘One-armed bandits’
l Dice games like roulette l Many gambling games now
l Lotteries and raffles possible over the Internet
l Scratch and Win
Facts
Researchers estimate U.S. citizens spend $32 billion a year on gambling.
Previously wary governments and religious groups are now among the
biggest profit makers, promoters, and proprietors of legal games.
44
Devotional Practice
How Gambling Is Spiritually Damaging

A gambler thinks that by luck or chance combined with his manipulation
of the material energy, he can win more wealth and thus enjoy more
sense gratification. He thinks he can get something for nothing. He
thinks, "I can beat the odds and win some new pleasure. I just have to
hit the right number, pull the right card, spin the right digit." In this way,
he discounts the natural laws of God.
The term "chance" in gambling is a denial of God's control and the law
of karma. The gambler thinks that there is a loophole somewhere in the
system or no system at all. He believes himself independent and thinks
that there are no laws governing pleasure. He thinks he can abrogate the
will of the Supreme. Thus, "chance" is the materialist's mentality,
epitomized in the games of gambling.
Consider this…
Within the category of gambling, Srila Prabhupada often included mental
speculation, sports, or entertainment like cinema or theatre. Why do you
think he included all of these activities? (By "mental speculation,"
Prabhupada meant concoctions that deviate from the conclusions of the
scriptures)
A person who runs after

something indefinite by
abandoning something
definite,
often loses his indefinite
and no doubt his
definite also vanishes.
(Canakya Pandit, Niti-
Sastra 1.13)
45
Negative or Debilitating Effects of Gambling
l The gambling industry takes advantage of people's weaknesses. It preys

on those who can afford it the least - persons with low incomes.»
l Well over a million compulsive gamblers live in America alone and
the number is predicted to shortly rise over three million.Â They
used to build treatment centers for heroin addicts. Now they are
building them for the compulsive gamblers.
l The increase in gambling represents a decline in moral values and
the work ethic. "Gambling's get-rich-quick appeal appears to
mock capitalism's core values: Disciplined work habits, thrift,
prudence, adherence to routine and the relationship between
effort and reward," concludes the Twentieth Century Fund, a New
York research group, in a study of legalized betting.
l Crime and cheating are often linked to gambling, especially in the
form of bribery and game fixing. See examples on the next page.
l Everyone gambles to win and may go to great lengths to win -
even farther than most of us know.
l Gambling breeds an attitude of contempt for human life.
Example: In the intensive care unit of Sunrise Hospital in Las
Vegas, employees were betting on how long critically ill patients
would live. Some of the employees were overly anxious about
their bets, and would tamper with the oxygen supplies or other
life support systems of heavily wagered patients. One nurse in
particular, who styled herself, 'The Angel of Death,' allegedly
turned off equipment on at least six critically ill patients.
l Compulsive gamblers can destroy their families and sometimes
even end their lives with suicide. One expert's description of
compulsive gamblers: "They run into enormous financial
difficulties borrowing or even stealing from others, including
their families. Heavy debt is a constant fact of life for compulsive
gamblers. They sleep poorly, and are indifferent towards eating
and affection. They may drink a good deal, and they're tense
and irritable. They even consider suicide. But they always think
about the next bet."
l Gambling can be a more powerful addiction than drugs.
l Gambling cultivates greed, attachment, possessiveness, and an
obsession with money.
w Studies confirm that people with less money spent a bigger percentage of their small
incomes on the lottery-although less in absolute terms than was spent by those with
higher incomes. (The Four Principles Of Freedom — A Comprehensive Study by Satyaraja
Das)
W From the U.S. National Commission of Gambling (The Four Principles Of Freedom — A
Comprehensive Study by Satyaraja Das)
46
Devotional Practice
Examples of Corruption Linked to GamblingÂ
l Four Boston College basketball players have been sentenced to up

to 20 years in prison for taking bribes to reduce their team's score
so that gamblers could beat the point spreads.
l Baltimore Colts quarterback Art Schilchter went to the FBI after
losing $389,000 to illegal bookmakers by betting on games.
l A police report prompted the New York Times to editorialize that
the casinos "are providing easy credit to gangsters and letting
compulsive gamblers destroy themselves."
l Two officials of the Pennsylvania lottery were convicted of perjury
and theft by injecting liquid weight into numbered table tennis
balls so that only two of the 10 could be blown up to a plastic
tube by a machine that selected the winning number.
l One survey of police enforcement of gambling laws found that
80% of the police believe that profits from illegal gambling are
used to finance other illegal activities such as loan-sharking and
drug distribution. In half of the sample cities, local independent
criminal organizations were said to control gambling operations.
l Sports bookies are often cited as the main source of bribes to
police, prosecutors, and local politicians. In his New Complete
Guide to Gambling, John Scarne reports: "No other form of illegal
gambling .. enjoys such effective police and political protection as
illegal bookmaking." Police prosecutors reply that gambling has
low priority because the public doesn't consider it a serious
offense and as few as two percent of police officer's cases result
in prosecution.
W All examples taken from The Four Principles Of Freedom - A Comprehensive Study by
Satyaraja Das.
47
No Intoxication
What's Wrong
One definition for intoxicant:
With Taking
"A substance that is not required for sustenance and has a stimulating or
Intoxicants?
depressing effect on the mind and body."
People will use any and all means possible for getting intoxicants into
their system: drinking beverages, smoking dried leaves and resin (in
various forms), inhaling vapors, injecting solutions, sniffing or snorting
powders, inserting suppositories, chewing seeds, popping pills, and even
rubbing on the skin..
There are literally hundreds of different kinds of drugs, but some of the
most common are alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, cannabis, speed, heroin,
valium, mescaline, LSD, ecstasy, cocaine. Some are "uppers" (stimulants)
and some are "downers" (depressants). But in all cases, they produce
artificial states and have detrimental side effects, both spiritually and
materially. Of course, some drugs are prescribed for medical / therapeutic
purposes, so they may have an overall beneficial effect.
Almost everyone takes some form of intoxication at some time in their

lives if not throughout their lives. All levels of society are involved, from
teenagers to octogenarians, from the lowest slums to the most highly
placed professionals and officials. An enormous amount of money is
spent every year on legal drugs (beer, wine, cigarettes, coffee, tea, med-
icines…) in countries all over the world. They are multi-billion dollar
industries. And the illegal drug trade is just as well established.
Taking intoxicating substances is a part of cultures all over the world for
as far back in history as we can know. Even in the heavenly planets, the
demigods drink soma-rasa. Intoxication is definitely a part of the material
world and it is here to stay.
If drugs could help God realization, then drugs would be

more powerful than God. How can we accept that?
Drugs are chemical substances, which are material…
(SSR5)
48
Devotional Practice
Why Do People Take Intoxicants?
You
Everyone basically knows that intoxicants are bad for your health, but still
they take them. What do you think drives people to take drugs? What do
Decide!
you think is their motivation? What reasons do they give themselves?
What's Wrong With Taking Intoxicants?

Detailed points are given overleaf, but without referring to these, list in
general terms, the main problems with taking intoxicants.
You Decide
Evaluate each of the reasons given for the first question to see how
strong they are. Do they outweigh the answers given in the second
question? You make the decision…
49
Three Main Spiritual Reasons
1) Taking Shelter:
People take shelter of intoxication when they could be taking shelter of
Krishna.
They try to decrease their pains and troubles this way by forgetting them.
This is in the mode of ignorance and leads away from enlightenment;
2) Seeking Pleasure:
People also take drugs to seek pleasure, when they could be seeking
pleasure in spiritual consciousness of Krishna. This is simply another way
of enjoying and exploiting the material body and mind;
3) Increases Illusion:
We are already in maya in the material world and intoxicants simply
increase our illusion and take us farther away from Krishna, human life is
precious chance to awaken ourselves to the Absolute Truth.
Some people argue that drugs are good for spiritual realization because
they enable one to perceive higher levels of reality or can open one's
mind to spiritual topics. How would you respond to this?
Stay High Forever!

In the mid-60s, Srila Prabhupada told his disciples that they didn't need
chemical stimulants. Krishna consciousness was the way to permanently
elevate the consciousness to the spiritual platform through the natural
process of yoga and meditation so they could stay high forever!
“…How can something material help one realize God,

who is all-spiritual? It is impossible. What one
experiences from taking drugs is simply a kind of
intoxication or hallucination; it is not God realization.”
(SSR5)
50
Devotional Practice
Facts and Figures
Drugs
l Cash crops robbing poorer countries of their natural resource of
land and food.
l The dangers associated with harder drugs are widely recognized,
but the social acceptability of "soft" drugs is a danger in itself.
Nicotine
l About 120,000 people die every year in the US from smoking-
related diseases
l Stimulates the adrenal gland to release nor-epinephrine (NE),
which gives a feeling of pleasure, but raises the heart rate
l Raises blood pressure
l Carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream instead of oxygen
l Atheroma builds up to block the arteries
l Smoking is carcinogenic and tar builds up in the lungs
Caffeine
l And as far as the coffee problem goes, the renowned David A.
Phillips, Ph.D., has this to say, "Whether tea, coffee, cocoa, and
meat are consumed, the gradual accumulation of oxalic acid,
inherent in each of these, will actively degenerate the kidneys,
developing integrative crystals and kidney stones."
l The caffeine in two cups of coffee can produce changes in the
heart rate (palpitations) This is dangerous for some people.
l Possible chronic effect on the central nervous system
l Leaves the brain more fatigued after the effect is over
l Contributes towards hardening of the arteries and premature gout
l Caffeine is a metabolic credit card, it forces the body to secrete
enough hormones now, but we must pay later with fatigue, when
the caffeine buzz wears off. It helps keep us out of touch with the
real bodily needs.
Alchohol
l There are an estimated eight million known alcoholics in America.
Dr. Andre Ivy, former head of the Clinical Science Department of
the University of Illinois, notes that the number of alcoholics is
increasing by four hundred and fifty thousand each year. A recent
survey has disclosed that 75 percent of all crimes and 60 percent
of all divorces have drinking in their background. Meanwhile, the
National Safety Council revealed that 50 percent of all traffic
deaths are caused by drivers who had been drinking. Twenty
thousand persons die and four hundred thousand are injured
annually in accidents caused by drinking drivers.
l Permanently kills brain cells
l Impairs intelligence and weakens memory and reasoning faculty
l Lessens endurance and resistance to disease.
51
Tips for Those Struggling on the Path

If you find yourself struggling with chanting or the four regulative
principles, don’t be alarmed, it is natural and to be expected for any
individual who makes sacrifices (mental or physical) in order to progress
spiritually. In fact, expect challenges as you move forward, be prepared
for them and gradually work through them rather than evade them,
otherwise they will only come back again and again. Find your own level
of manageable practice, even though initially it may appear to be a
compromise, gradually work up to the ideal, it may take weeks…….,
months………, or even years! But, sincerely persevere and the Lord
within the heart will reciprocate.
Whenever there is a human impulse, our tendency is to respond

immediately without even contemplating the outcome. In reality there
exists a short moment between an impulse and a response.Catch yourself
during this short moment, think first, then act. If this thinking is based on
principled directions (or scripture), you will succeed in holding back the
force of unwarranted impulses.
Remember, whilst striving for the highest spiritual principles, we still have
responsibilities to our spouses, children and friends. We must be
conscious of their needs before imposing our own.
In all cases of upholding any vows, the key principle is DESIRE, half of the
battle is won if we ourselves make a conscious decision to follow a
practice rather than feel obliged to do so – so desire it!
Meat Eating
If you find it difficult to give up meat eating, the following list of
progressive stages might help you to gradually come to your desired level
of practice:
1) red meat (avoid beef)

2) white meat
3) eggs and fish
4) meat additives and preservatives
5) full vegetarian
6) mainly eating food offered to Krishna (prasadam)
7) eating prasadam only
Chanting a few attentive rounds regularly also makes an immense

difference, Krishna helps to take away the taste for meat.
52
Devotional Practice
Intoxication
Intoxication generally falls in three main categories:
1) hard / heavy addictions

2) mediocre habits
3) mild pushings
If you can give up a particular type of intoxicant straight away, great, but
most of us struggle for a while and then have moments of indulgence.
We fall prey to subtle impulses!
If withdrawal symptoms result in constant headaches…..
1) regulate the habit (with heavy addictions, if it not possible after

several attempts, then seek professional help).
2) Once regulated, gradually diminish the frequency of the habit (this
period may vary from one person to another).
3) Regularly evaluate your responses.
4) If possible, find a replacement for your habit.
5) Catch yourself each time you abuse your commitment.
6) Put a £1 in a charity box as a penalty for breaking your
commitment each time.
7) Eat lots of prasadam!!!
Once again, to state the obvious, having a desire to give up a particular

intoxicant and acquiring a taste for chanting goes a long way to help
achieve your goal.
l Family and friends can also help keep your commitment

l Progress gradually from a heavy addiction to a mediocre one to a
light one…go all the way.
l Small habits such as tea, coffee, chocolate and the drug of TV
watching are often the most difficult to drop. Naturally, they are
not as bad as other drugs, but they have become part of the
social fabric / lifestyle and they still influence our consciousness in
a cumulative way.
53
Illicit Sex
Sex is very similar to an intoxicant, it thrives on a repetitive and addictive
urge that one feels. In today’s society, sex is all pervasive and is used to
market everything from perfumes to chainsaws. The present atmosphere
in the west (the east is not far behind) is one of over-stimulation.
Someone else is constantly disturbing our senses to sell us something; we
may think we are above it but advertising works in a very subtle way and
it is very effective. In modern culture sex life has thus become exploitative
and manipulative, the result is that it damages our determination. When
one gives in to the sex urge, one loses the determination to do what one
wants and becomes a victim to cheap desires sold by advertising
campaigns.
So, what to do?
l It becomes easy to say NO when there is a deeper YES in your life

ie if there is a greater burning goal you wish to achieve.
l Just as we cut out other bad habits, sex life also damages our
determination and resolve. Avoid it from shackling you.
l Prioritise sex, relegate it to an inferior position on your list of
priorities.
l Avoid sexually explicit magazines, novels, videos and films.
l Beware of acting whimsically, reflect on what is proper action, these
sensitive matters must be mutually arranged with your partner.
Gambling
This revolves around the possibility that ‘I might win’. It carries with it an
attitude that denies the existence of God. Chance becomes the greater
force, chance becomes my God! Once again, this is another example of
an addiction that controls one, the thrill and rush of blood which
accompanies a WIN. Time wasting activities and excesses in practically
anything fall under this category including excessive TV.
Gambling can be dealt in a similar way to intoxication, regulate your bad

habits, come in control of your habit rather than become a victim of your
habit, gradually decrease its frequency, till finally you can relinquish it.
54
Unit Five
Hearing and Chanting 57

The Ten Offences 65
Japa Workshop 71
Kirtan / Bhajan Workshop 76
Devotional Practice
Hearing and Chanting

Spiritual life begins with hearing and chanting. And they together they
form the essence of the means of advancement.
By hearing and chanting:

1. one's heart and mind are purified and elevated
2. one gains spiritual strength
3. one pleases Krishna
In the beginning it may be difficult, but with constant practice one
gradually develops a taste. Just like to a diseased person (jaundice) sugar
candy will taste bitter in the begining but it remain the ayurvedic cure.
Action Result
Most people hear and speak Thus their minds become
about mundane topics absorbed in mundane
(compared to a croaking frog thoughts.
calling the black snake of
maya).
In this way, one's mind will
We must keep the natural become spiritually
tendency to hear and speak, but enlightened.12
change the subject to Krishna.
Hearing
l The Vedanta-Sutra 4.4.22 says anavrtti sabdat, "one is liberated

by sound."
l Sound is the subtlest element that we can perceive. Therefore
transcendental sound can most effectively enter the mind and
heart to produce change.
l When a man is sleeping, he can be awakened by sound. Similarly,
the conditioned souls sleeping in illusion can be awakened to
knowledge of God by hearing transcendental sound.13
Shri Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the

Supersoul in everyone's heart and the benefactor of the
truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment
from the heart of the devotee who has developed the
urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves
virtuous when properly heard and chanted.
(Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.17)
57
Of all the senses,

the tongue is very
Chanting
prominent, or deeply
rooted in our psyche.
People always want to see God, but we cannot see God with our blunt
As babies the first material senses. However, if we please Krishna with our devotional
sense we can actively service, He reveals Himself. The shastra states that such devotional service
use is the tongue for
sucking and wailing.
begins with the tongue: through chanting and taking prasadam. Thus
Chanting engages the

‘seeing’ God begins with the tongue - a rather unusual principle!14 The
tongue in devotional
yuga-dharma (process of religion for this age) consists of chanting:
service and thus has

a powerful effect.
1. the holy name congregationally15 (nama-sankirtana) and
2. the glories of the Lord and His holy name (nama-pracara).16
Two main categories of hearing and chanting:
1. Knowledge and Glorification 2. The Holy Names

l Explanations of Krishna l Private meditation (japa)
consciousness l Singing out loud while
l Glorification of the Lord dancing (kirtana)
l Preaching l Sitting & singing with
l Reading/Writing about instruments (bhajans)
Krishna l Singing the holy names in
public (harinam sankirtan)
When transcendental knowledge is:
1. Received (heard) 2. Given (chanted)

l One learns to see things l One gains deeper
differently understanding and
l One's doubts and illusions assimilates the knowledge
are destroyed which he has received
l One gains the special mercy
of Krishna
Conditions for proper transmission of spiritual knowledge:
1. Must be heard with the 2. Must come from the right

right attitude source
l with humility and respect l from a genuine devotee
Further l open-minded, not l not Mayavadi or
reading: Bg
challenging professional speaker
l l
7.1p last
two paras, SB 1.1.6p; with desire to learn and has controlled senses and
1.2.14+p; 1.2.17-18+p; understand sufficient knowledge
SB 2.1.11; SB 1.1.14 Both the hearer and the speaker must be qualified.
58
Devotional Practice
Chanting the holy names of the Lord
Chanting the holy names of the Lord is the central practice of Lord
Caitanya's followers. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya once asked Lord
Caitanya, "Which item is most important in the execution of devotional
service?" The Lord replied that the most important item was the chanting
of the holy name of the Lord.
harer nama harer nama

harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha
"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is
the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way.
There is no other way. There is no other way."
(Brhan-Naradiya Purana, thirty-eighth chapter, verse 126)
l Chanting is a preparation to call out to the Lord at death

(Story of Ajamila)
l With tears in the eyes is the price for attaining Krishna
l Trnad api sunicena ( one must chant with a humble state of mind)
l For control of the mind and tongue
l Includes processes of hearing, chanting, remembering, praying,
meditation, service, sacrifice . . . ,
l In this age all other processes must be accompanied by the chanting
…whatever one does in executing devotional service must be
accompanied with the chanting of the holy name of the Lord.
l Hearing and chanting the names of God. Can also be Allah or
Jehovah.
l Name, form, qualities, pastimes
l Taste for chanting attained by full surrender
59
The Panca-tattva Mantra:
Jaya Shri Krishna Chaitanya,

Prabhu Nityananda,
Shri Advaita, Gadadhara,
Shrivasadi Gaura-bhakta-vrinda
Before chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one must first take
shelter of Gaura-Nitai by reciting the Panca-tattva mantra. This frees one
from the reactions of his offenses while chanting Hare Krishna because
Lord Caitanya is the most magnanimous incarnation of the Lord and His
mercy is easily achieved.
Lord
Caitanya
Lord Gadadhara
Nityananda
Advaita Srivas
Acarya Thakur
Panca = Five; Tattva = Truths; "The Absolute Truth in five features"
Lord Chaitanya Krishna Himself Form of a devotee Visnu Tattva

Lord Nityananda Balarama Expansion of a devotee Visnu Tattva
Advaita Acarya Maha-Vishnu Incarnation of a devotee Visnu Tattva
Gadadhara Radharani Devotional energy Sakti Tattva
Shrivas Thakur Narada Muni A pure devotee Jiva Tattva
Adi refers to all the other great devotees of Lord Chaitanya.
Gaura-bhakta-vrnda refers to the present, assembled devotees of the

Lord.
60
Devotional Practice
Hare Krishna Maha-mantra
Srila Prabhupada once announced, "The chanting of Shri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu's name is more essential than the chanting of the Hare
Krishna maha-mantra."17 One devotee then inquired whether we should
therefore chant rounds of the Panca-tattva mantra to which Srila
Prabhupada replied, "No - because Lord Caitanya's instruction was to
chant Hare Krishna."
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
l The Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is a very simple mantra consisting

of only three words: Hare, Krishna, and Rama.
l Hare means unto Mother Hara (i.e. Lord Krishna's personal
pleasure potency, Srimati Radharani).
l Krishna means the all-attractive Lord.
l Rama means the source of all enjoyment.
l When we chant Hare Krishna we are praying: "O energy of the
Lord (Hare), O Lord (Krishna and Rama) please engage me in Your
service!"
l Maha-mantra means it is the Great Mantra Of Deliverance.
Lord Caitanya and the Vedas both recommend this process:
hare krishna hare krishna

krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama
rama rama hare hare
iti sodasakam namnam
kali-kalmasa-nasanam
natah parataropayah
sarva-vedesu drsyate
The Hare Krishna

mantra is especially
"The sixteen words of the Hare Krishna mantra are especially meant
meant for
for counteracting the contaminating influence of the age of Kali. After
counteracting the
searching through all the Vedic literature, one cannot find a better
contaminating
method."
influence of Kali.
61
The Glories of the Holy Names
l Krishna and His names are non-different 18

l The Lord's name has descended from Goloka 19
l Invested with the Lord's spiritual potency 20
l Purifies the heart and mind 21
l The chanting process is simple, sublime, and all-auspicious; even a
child can take part
l Frees one from sinful reaction and material bondage; 22*
l Chanting "Rama" gives the same result as chanting the 1000
names of Visnu 23
l Chanting once "Krishna" has the same potency as 3x the 1000
names of Visnu
l Also effective for someone who is not even aware of its potency*
l Contains the benefits of all other Vedic rites; to be chanting is the
same as having performed all the Vedic processes of purification 24
l The means in this age for attaining pure love of God (Krishna-
prema)
l Protects you from maya and falldowns (Bg 9.31p)
l Purifies the whole atmosphere
l Yields the same results as the processes of previous yugas*
l Elevates one even from a low background*
l The only possible process in this age: everything else is too difficult
to execute (Bg 8.11purport, last paragraph)
l Chanters are most attractive to Krishna*
l All the Vedic knowledge is contained within the maha-mantra, the
essence of the Vedas is to chant, and by chanting one realizes the
meaning of the Vedas
l The ultimate means to attain the ultimate success*
*Refer to the verses on the following page
62
Devotional Practice
Vedic Verses Glorifying the Holy Names
"By once chanting the holy name of the Lord, which consists of the two
syllables ha-ri, one guarantees his path to liberation." (Skanda Purana)
"Simply by chanting one holy name of Hari, a sinful man can counteract
the reactions to more sins than he is able to commit." (Brhad-visnu Purana)
"If one chants the holy name of the Lord, even in a helpless condition or
without desiring to do so, all the reactions of his sinful life depart, just
as when a lion roars, all the small animals flee in fear." (Garuda Purana)
Refer also to the story of Ajamila and the story of the Yavana (harama!).25
"Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Visnu,

in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices, and in Dvapara-yuga by serving
the Lord's lotus feet can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting
the Hare Krishna maha-mantra." (SB 12.3.52)
"To say nothing of the spiritual advancement of persons who see the
Supreme Person face to face, even a person born in a family of dog-
eaters immediately becomes eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices if he
once utters the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or
chants about Him, hears about His pastimes, offers Him obeisances or
even remembers Him." (SB 3.33.6)
"My dear Narada, actually I do not reside in My abode, Vaikuntha, nor

do I reside within the hearts of the yogis, but I reside in that place
where My pure devotees chant My holy name and discuss My form,
pastimes and qualities." (Padma Purana)
"O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the
ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of
success for all, including those who are free from all material desires,
those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who
are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge." (SB 2.1.11)
"Those who are actually advanced in knowledge are able to appreciate

the essential value of this age of Kali. Such enlightened persons
worship Kali-yuga because in this fallen age all perfection of life can
easily be achieved by the performance of sankirtana." (SB 11.5.36)
"Living beings who are entangled in the complicated meshes of birth

and death can be freed immediately by even unconsciously chanting the
holy name of Krishna, which is feared by fear personified." (SB 1.1.14)
63
Three Levels of Chanting
1. Namaparadha: Conditioned chanting with offences

(aparadha = offence)
This is the level that most people start on when they first take up regular
chanting. The ten kinds of offences are covered in the next section.
To attain the next stage one must continue to chant the Hare Krishna
maha-mantra regularly according to the principles of trnad api su-nicena
taror iva sahisnuna (Siksastaka 3) and repent, "I have committed offences
unnecessarily or unknowingly." Then one will attain the next stage called
namabhasa (offenceless chanting).
2. Namabhasa: Liberated chanting without offences

(abhasa = morning twilight26; "the faint light of the holy name")
This stage of chanting immediately frees the chanter of all sinful reactions and
gives liberation.27 It has two divisions: sraddha-namabhasa and namabhasa.
Namabhasa: If someone chants the holy name accidentally.
l Chanting as a joke
l In the course of ordinary discussion
l In indicating something extraneous28
l In negligence
Examples:
l Ajamila calling his son, Narayana.
l The yavanas who are accustomed to saying, 'ha rama, ha rama'.
l If someone says, "Can you take this washing to the
Launderama?"
l Even if syllables are separated: "Nah, I don't think Ryan should do it."29
Sraddha-namabhasa: This is when a completely faithful devotee chants

on the liberated platform and avoids all the offences. This is almost on the
transcendental platform. Continued chanting on this level leads to the next.
3. Sudhanama: Pure chanting in love of God

(sudha = pure)
Further The perfectional stage: while the devotee fully relishes the nectar of the
Reading:
holy name (nama), he sees Krishna's form (rupa), realizes His qualities
Conversation with (guna), and remembers His pastimes (lila).30
Haridasa
Cc Ant. 3.176-86
64
Devotional Practice
The Ten Offences

Get together with a partner and try to fill in the blanks and number of
each of the ten offences listed here:
( ) To ___________ the Vedic literature or ___________ in pursuance of

the Vedic ________.
( ) To consider the chanting of Hare Krishna one of the _________

__________ __________ offered in the Vedas as fruitive activities (karma-
kanda).
( ) To consider the names of ___________ like _____ _______ or _____

______ to be equal to, or independent of, the name of _____ _______.
( ) To commit ________ __________ on the __________ of the holy

name of the Lord.
( ) To _________ the orders of the _________ ___________.
( ) To not have complete ________ in the chanting of the holy names

and to maintain ___________ _____________, even after understanding
so many ____________ on this matter.
( ) To instruct a ___________ person about the _________ of the holy

name.
( ) To ___________ the devotees who have dedicated their lives for

______________ the holy name of the Lord.
( ) To give some ______________ on the holy name of the Lord.
( ) To consider the _________ of chanting Hare Krishna to be

_____________.
Try to learn these by heart.
In the following section, we will look a little more closely at each offence
and give the means to nullify any offence made.
65
1. Blaspheming devotees (Sadhu-ninda)

A sadhu is anyone who is surrendering to Krishna.To show gross
irreverence or disrespect to those devotees who have dedicated their lives
to Krishna is compared to a mad elephant trampling on the creeper of
devotion in the garden of the heart.
Examples: criticizing a devotee because…
l He has a lower social status (e.g. born in a sudra family)

l His manners are not yet so polished
l He eats too much prasadam
l He had previously had bad habits or behaviour
l He has been weak and temporarily gave up devotional service
Faultfinding versus Constructive criticism

Pride: Feeling superior. With a caring attitude, free
Envy: when someone from envy, meaning to
manifests an anartha that benefit the person,
you yourself have. keeping the good things
about the person in mind.
Frustration: when others do
not fulfill your expectations.
A devotee should be like the honey bee that always looks for the nectar
and not like the fly that always looks for stool or open sores. One
associates with whatever qualities he focuses on, and thus he cultivates
those qualities.
Just as a dirty man should no longer be regarded as dirty if he is having a

shower, so a devotee, even though still impure, should never be criticised
if he is sincerely involved in the purificatory process of Bhakti.
Humbly approach that devotee,

How to counter- offer obeisances, and beg
act the offence:
forgiveness.
66
Devotional Practice
2. Considering Demigods to be equal to Krishna

l Applies mainly to India, where many people worship demigods.
l The demigods are subordinate and dependent (e.g. light bulbs
and powerhouse). Whatever powers the demigods have and
whatever benedictions they can offer are only possible because
Krishna empowers them and gives them His sanction.
l Also refers to considering the holy name a material sound vibration
l A devotee must know that the name of Krishna is absolute and
non-different from Krishna Himself, whereas the names of the
demigods are relative and different from them.
Study the scriptural statements

How to counter- regarding the nature of the holy
act the offence: name and Krishna; take shelter of
the holy name and beg forgiveness
3. Disobeying orders of the Spiritual Master (guror avajna)

l Explicit instructions must be followed
l Under certain circumstances the spiritual master may deliver
general advice or suggestions but leaves it up to the disciple to
choose what to do on specific occasions
l This offence includes having a material conception of the guru or
envying him
How to counter- Humbly approach the guru, offer

act the offence: obeisances, and beg forgiveness.
4. Blaspheming the Vedic Literature (sruti-sastra-nindanam)

l To denounce the information in the revealed scriptures.
l To regard the vedas as mundane literature
l To keep scriptures in a dirty place
How to counter- Offer flowers to the Srimad-

act the offence: Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita
67
5. Considering the Glories of the Holy Name to be Imaginary

(atartha-vadah)
l To consider the statements as exaggerations just to motivate
people
l To think that devotees have given artificial importance to the holy
name. E.g. freedom from all sins by chanting the holy name
once; The highest realization of spiritual value is to chant the holy
name
l Don't be surprised; the holy name is non-different from Krishna
l It’s simply a question of time before one gets the effects of chanting
l See conversation with Haridasa Thakur (CC Ant 3.176-86)
Study the philosophy; take

How to counter-
act the offence: shelter of the holy name and beg
forgiveness
6. Giving Some Mundane Interpretation (hari-namni kalpanam)

l To think that chanting creates a chemical reaction in the brain and
simply produces some euphoric effect
l Thinking that Hari means impersonal Brahman, Krishna refers to
the mind, and Rama means satisfaction; Or Krishna = black =
unknown
l To define the holy name of the Lord in terms of one's mundane
calculation
How to counter- Reveal it to a devotees and beg

act the offence: forgiveness
7. Committing Sinful Activities

(namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhir)
l To commit sins with the expectation of neutralizing the reactions

by chanting
l Prabhupada often repeated that this is the greatest offense
l People who go to church to confess but then sin again next week
l After taking shelter of the holy name, one should strictly restrain
him or herself from committing sinful acts.
l Accidental sins don't count
How to counter- The only thing that can help is to

act the offence: sincerely repent
68
Devotional Practice
8. Auspicious Ritualistic Activities (karma-kanda)

l Karma-kanda: performing religious ceremonies, following austere
vows, practicing renunciation, penances and austerities, fire
sacrifices in order to gain material benedictions (wealth, power,
health, etc.) from the demigods.
l To think that chanting Hare Krishna belongs to this category or is a
pious activity
l To equate chanting to other spiritual activities, such as meditation,
austerity, penance or sacrifice
l One should not try to utilize the holy name for one's personal service
l Chanting the holy name is meant for attaining love of God
How to counter- Approach devotees and attain

act the offence: sambandha-jnana from them
9. Instructing a Faithless Person

l To glorify the importance of the holy name, or elevated
information of Krishna to persons who have no interest; who are
not ready to hear, or who may as a result of hearing become more
antagonistic.
l Pseudo-spiritualists selling the holy name to unqualified persons.
What about public chanting and preaching?
l You can get people to chant; by chanting they will be purified and
appreciate the holy name. Srila Prabhupada encouraged everyone
to chant, but he didn't immediately tell them all the details.
l When you make this offence, you run the risk of diminishing your
own faith
No recommendation given for

counteracting this offense. Just
don't do it.
10. Incomplete Faith / Material Attachments

Bhaktivinoda
l Material attachments; to be attached to the misconception of
Thakura: “The
possessing something, or to accept the body as one's self, while
spiritual master
executing the process of spiritual cultivation. Bodily concept: “I,
shouldn't initiate
me, and mine.”
l
someone with no
We must have a service attitude and let go of the attachments 31
l
faith in the holy
We may be attached but if we are stubbornly attached, one
name”
should intend to get free of attachments. We should mark them
with “X” just as a woodcutter marks trees to be cut down in the
future
69
l Having complete faith in the holy name means that you feel the
holy name is all you need (to be happy, etc). Keeping material
attachment means you still think you need these things
In order to develop complete

How to counter- faith and give up attachments,
act the offence: associate with advanced devotees
and chant with them
11. Lack of Concentration

l This is like inviting someone around to visit, and then ignoring
them. You are calling out to Krishna, but meanwhile you are
distracted by the mind or what is going on elsewhere.
l Examples: While chanting, reading the notice board, having a
chat, driving the car, tidying up the room, thinking in the mind
about different things, etc.
l To have the full effect, the holy name must enter the ear and
make an impression on the mind. The mind must be focused on
the sound vibration. This is an association with Krishna. We want
to associate as fully as possible.
Pray to the holy name that one

may always chant clearly and
hear attentively
70
Devotional Practice
Japa Workshop
The Process, Techniques, & Methodology
Chanting, while mostly devotional, is also a technical process of

meditation. This section will help you to understand more of what is
involved and how to improve your japa meditation:
Class Brainstorm:
Personal difficulties in chanting, common pitfalls and things to be avoided.
Discuss solutions
The Proper Use of Beads:
l Start from bead no.1; turning at bead no.108

l Turn each bead in the fingers. Why?
l Don’t chant on or cross the larger bead where you start
71
Pronunciation:
“One should note in this connection that chanting

involves the activities of the upper and lower lips as well
as the tongue. All three must be engaged in chanting the
Hare Krishna maha-mantra. The words “Hare Krishna”
should be very distinctly pronounced and heard.
Sometimes one mechanically produces a hissing sound
instead of chanting with the proper pronunciation with the help of the
lips and tongue. Chanting is very simple, but one must practice it
seriously.”
(Cc Adi 7.32 purport)
On one hand, there are different pronunciations throughout India and

the sastra does state that the holy name is still effective even if
improperly pronounced, but it is beneficial to concentrate and practice
clear pronunciation.
Typical faults
l ‘H’ in Hare: sometimes dropped
l ‘A’ in Hare: mispron. ‘O’ as in Lorry; should be ‘uh’ as in Hurry.
l ‘R’ in Hare: sometimes sounds more like ‘D’
l ‘E’ in Hare: mispron. ‘I’ as in Bit; should be ‘ay’ as in Ray.
l ‘K’ in Krishna: sometimes sounds more like ‘G’ in Grip.
l ‘R’ in Krishna: sometimes dropped: ‘Kishna’
l ‘SH’ in Krishna: ‘G’ as in Genre (French pronunc.) or ‘S’ as in
Snug.
l ‘N’ in Krishna: sometimes dropped: ‘Krisha’
l ‘A’ in Krishna: run together with the next Hare: ‘Krishna-ray’
l Rama: be careful not to call out for Rum.
l Sometimes with ‘Rama Rama Rama,’ you get the ‘revving-up-the-
motorbike’ effect: ‘manar-manar-manar-manarrrr!’ (trying to chant
too fast)
Note: Both Ram and Rama are OK.
Result:
“ Odi gish-odi gisha gisha gish-odiyodi

Odi rumma odi rummanar-manar-manar odiyodi ! ”
(hint: try to chant the above real fast and you might recognize it!)
72
Devotional Practice
Chanting Speed:
l In the beginning you may be slow (around 10 minutes per round)

l It is important to practice proper pronunciation
l But in time you should naturally speed up (no more than 7 – 7ř
min/round)
l Ultimately it is individual, but most devotees find that speeding up
increases the intensity of their chanting and their concentration
level
l If your rounds are taking too long, it could mean that you are
‘distracted’
l Try to maintain good, clear pronunciation with a good speed
l Some devotees can chant a round in 5 – 5ř min, but be careful
not to lose the clarity of the syllables!
Posture:
l One’s mental and physical state is affected by one’s bodily posture

and can be altered by changing the posture. That is why
practicing asanas is integral to the yogic process, which is a highly
developed science. And this has also been proven by modern
experimental science.
l Importantly, you can affect the mind’s ability to concentrate.
Remain peaceful, and accept the proper attitude by adopting
certain postures
l Perhaps you have already experienced the difference between
chanting sitting in a conventional chair (legs down) and sitting
cross-legged
l Basically, sit cross-legged with a little extra support under your
bottom. The back and neck should be erect in a straight line, the
head up. Breathing should be deep and rhythmic.
l Discuss further with your tutor.
Common Pitfalls:
l “Prajalpa-japa”: Unnecessarily talking while chanting

l “Dive-bomb japa”: Falling asleep while chanting (head nodding off)
l “Radar japa”: constantly looking all around the room
l “Machine-gun japa”: much too fast while shaking the finger
l “Jibber-japa”: it is just gibberish, no one can understand it
l “Day-dreamy japa”: not concentrating, following the wandering mind
73
Attentiveness:
l This is the most essential part of chanting: how attentive are you?
Imagine you are driving a car and you have a passenger sitting
next to you. The passenger is continually pointing things out and
trying to draw your attention to them: “Oh, look there’s a shoe
sale on! Look at those nice shoes! … Ah, look at that guy with
the funny hat! … Are those your gloves on the back seat? …
Look out, no, no, turn left! Oh, I thought we had to go left. …
Look at the TV shop – is that your favorite football team playing?
… Uh-oh, check this out: there’s a guy getting arrested over
there….” If you keep getting distracted by what your passenger is
saying, you’re going to crash the car.
The passenger is like your mind, and driving the car is like
chanting your rounds. If you keep talking to someone and they
are continuously ignoring you, eventually you are just going to
shut up. That is the best way to deal with the mind: just ignore it
and keep your attention on “the road”, it will eventually shut up.
l Tip: Keep a paper and pencil to note anything down that should
not be forgotten. Then you can tell your mind that you will think
about it later.
l An Interesting Exercise: Keep a list of all the subjects brought

up by the mind during your japa and then review it at the end.
Usually you can just throw away the whole list because you didn’t
need to think about any of these things at all. It is a very graphic
way of proving to yourself that you don’t need to take the mind
so seriously (the mind won’t like that and will try to convince you
that you should take it very seriously).
l Concentration Exercises: See Appendix E for some suggested

exercises you can try in order to strengthen your ability to
concentrate. The mind is like a muscle that needs exercise. These
exercises may help and certainly gives you a more constructive
way to engage the mind.
l The Big Picture: Now, chanting is just not about getting the
technique right. It is just as important to not lose sight of the big
picture. We are ultimately not independent of Krishna, and we
must always humbly pray to Him and seek His shelter and
guidance. In the larger picture, we must always see that we have
to get to the platform of taste in our chanting and ultimately
attain love for Krishna.
74
Devotional Practice
Attitude
Your mood, attitude, or mentality is also very important while chanting.
Chanting is not just a mechanical process. It must be accompanied with
the appropriate feelings, performed for the right purpose, and with
proper consciousness.
l Enthusiasm/Great Eagerness: One should realize that love for

Krishna is the ultimate goal. He should have total eagerness to
attain it, even to the point of crying for it, like a baby. That is the
price one must pay.32
l Prayerful: Remember that the maha-mantra is a prayer.
Remember the meaning of the prayer, and offer it in a prayerful
mood: a communication between you and God – a very personal
experience.
l Helpless/Dependent: A devotee feels helpless without the Lord’s
mercy and dependent on the holy names. Example: small child
and grown teenagers.33
l Humility/ Reverence: When we take darsan of the Deity, we
must first take our shoes off, ring a bell, bow down, conch shells
blow, the curtains are drawn – we are seeing the form of the
Lord. The same respect and reverence should be given to the holy
name.
l Service: Chanting is a kind of service. It should be performed in a
serving mood, serving the holy name by uttering it. Not that we
are the master of Krishna, causing Him to manifest.
l Grateful: Be thankful to the Lord for the mercy that He is
bestowing upon you and all the fallen souls in the form of His
holy name
l Tolerant: All difficulties and obstacles of the mind must be
tolerated. One may not have any taste for chanting or find the
process hard to follow. All discomforts must be tolerated for
Krishna’s satisfaction.
l Patient: It may take a lot of practice before one gets better at
chanting. One must patiently continue to endeavor. We are
eternal, so there is no need to panic.
l Determined: Never become discouraged. Always continue with
determination knowing that success is ultimately guaranteed.
l Important/Essential: Be conscious of the importance of this
chanting process. Remember that it is essential to spiritual
advancement.
l Faithfully: We must cultivate our faith in the holy name, put our Further
Reading:
trust in it.
l
Japa
Please let me in: Ask Krishna to allow us to enter into the inner Reform Notebook by
realizations of chanting the holy names. Satsvarupa Dasa
Goswami
75
Kirtan / Bhajan Workshop

Kirtan and bhajan are universal; you will find these methods of worship in all
religious traditions around the world. Kirtan literally means chanting. Bhajan
literally means worship. Both refer to singing the holy names while playing
musical instruments.
Underlying Principles of Kirtan: Proper Use of Karatalas:

l Chanting, dancing, and l Be careful to stick to the rhythm
playing musical l Don’t inadvertently speed
instruments together in a up or ‘drag’ on the kirtana
group is an enjoyable and l The first two beats should
absorbing experience that be staccato, the third a
uplifts one’s mind and chiming ring
heart l Be aware of the mood: if
l Song and dance is a natural kirtana is soft, gentle, and
part of all human cultures sweet, don’t go clashing your
l Usually has a slow start to karatalas together loudly
get everyone locked in, and Movement / Dancing
then gradually builds up to l One may feel stiff or self-
a climax conscious and may not feel
l In this context, it like dancing.
heightens the l If you do it anyway, you can
concentration on the shake off your inhibitions; it
names is good for the soul.
l Integral part of Deity l Getting the entire physical
worship body to take part in the
l Helps to build relationships chanting process makes the
between devotees whole experience far more
l You can chant longer absorbing and more easily
without feeling fatigued creates lasting mental
l All kinds of people can impressions.
join in
The Temple Songs:

These may be difficult at first but do try to follow. We sing the same
songs regularly every day. The repetition becomes more relishable. These
are the main ones you will need to know:
l Shri-Shri-Gurv-astaka (Beginning of Mangal Arati)

l Shri Nrisimha Pranama (End of Mangal Arati)
l Shri Tulasi-kirtana (for Tulasi Arati, after Mangal Arati)
l Shri Guru-vandana (Srila Prabhupada’s guru-puja)
l Jaya Radha-Madhava (sung before class)
l Prasada-sevaya (sung before honouring prasadam)
l Gaura-arati (sung in the evening)
76
Devotional Practice
Çré Çré Gurv-añöaka

(1)
saàsära-dävänala-léòha-loka-
träëäya käruëya-ghanäghanatvam
präptasya kalyäëa-guëärëavasya
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam
The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a
cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers
the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material exis-
tence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual mas-
ter, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.
(2)
mahäprabhoù kértana-nåtya-géta-
väditra-mädyan-manaso rasena
romäïca -kampäçru-taraìga-bhäjo
Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instru-
ments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the saìkértana movement of
Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion
within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body,
and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the
lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
(3)
çré-vigrahärädhana-nitya-nänä-
çåìgära-tan-mandira-märjanädau
yuktasya bhaktäàç ca niyuïjato ’pi
The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Çré Çré Rädhä and
Kåñëa. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in
beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar
worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a
spiritual master.
(4)
catur-vidha-çré-bhagavat-prasäda-
svädv-anna-tåptän hari-bhakta-saìghän
kåtvaiva tåptià bhajataù sadaiva
The spiritual master is always offering Kåñëa four kinds of delicious food [analyzed
as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the spiritual master
sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasäda, he is satisfied. I
offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
77
(5)
çré-rädhikä-mädhavayor apära-
mädhurya-lélä guëa-rüpa-nämnäm
prati-kñaëäsvädana-lolupasya
The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal
pastimes of Rädhikä and Mädhava, and Their qualities, names, and forms. The
spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obei-
sances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
(6)
nikuïja-yüno rati-keli-siddhyai
yä yälibhir yuktir apekñaëéyä
taträti-däkñyäd ati-vallabhasya
The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopés, who at
different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Rädhä
and Kåñëa’s conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Våndävana. I offer my most
humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
(7)
säkñäd-dharitvena samasta-çästrair
uktas tathä bhävyata eva sadbhiù
kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya
The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is
the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed
scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obei-
sances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representa-
tive of Çré Hari [Kåñëa].
(8)
yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo
yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto ’pi
dhyäyan stuvaàs tasya yaças tri-sandhyaà
8) By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kåñëa.
Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement.
Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three
times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiri-
tual master.
78
Devotional Practice
Çré Nåsiàha Praëäma

namas te narasiàhäya prahlädähläda-däyine
hiraëyakaçipor vakñaù-çilä-öaìka-nakhälaye
I offer my obeisances to Lord Narasiàha who gives joy to Prahläda Mahäräja and
whose nails are like chisels on the stonelike chest of the demon Hiraëyakaçipu.
ito nåsiàhaù parato nåsiàho yato yato yämi tato nåsiàhaù
bahir nåsiàho hådaye nåsiàho nåsiàham ädià çaraëaà prapadye
Lord Nåsiàha is here and also there. Wherever I go Lord Nåsiàha is there. He is in
the heart and is outside as well. I surrender to Lord Nåsiàha, the origin of all
things and the supreme refuge.
tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-çåìgaà
dalita-hiraëyakaçipu-tanu-bhåìgam
keçava dhåta-narahari-rüpa jaya jagadéça hare
O Keçava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of
half-man, half-lion! All glories to You! Just as one can easily crush a wasp between
one’s fingernails, so in the same way the body of the wasplike demon
Hiraëyakaçipu has been ripped apart by the wonderful pointed nails on Your beau-
tiful lotus hands.
Çré Tulasé-püjä-kértana
namo namaù tulasé kåñëa-preyasi namo namaù
rädhä-kåñëa-sevä päbo ei abiläñé
1) O Tulasé, beloved of Kåñëa, I bow before you again and again. My desire is to
obtain the service of Çré Çré Rädhä and Kåñëa.
ye tomära çaraëa loy, tara väïchä pürëa hoy
kåpä kori’ koro täre våndävana-väsi
2) Whoever takes shelter of you has his wishes fulfilled. Bestowing your mercy on
him, you make him a resident of Våndävana.
mora ei abhiläña, viläsa kuïje dio väsa
nayana heribo sadä yugala-rüpa-räçi
3) My desire is that you will also give me a residence in the pleasure groves of Çré
Våndävana-dhäma. Thus within my vision I will always behold the beautiful pas-
times of Rädhä and Kåñëa.
ei nivedana dhara, sakhéra anugata koro
sevä-adhikära diye koro néja däsé
4) I beg you to make me a follower of the cowherd damsels of Vraja. Please give
me the privilege of devotional service and make me your own maidservant.
déna kåñëa-däse koy, ei yena mora hoy
çré-rädhä-govinda-preme sadä yena bhäsi
5) This very fallen and lowly servant of Kåñëa prays, “May I always swim in the
love of Çré Çré Rädhä and Govinda.”
yäni käni ca päpäni brahma-hatyädikäni ca
täni täni praëaçyanti pradakñiëaù pade pade
When a person circumambulates Çrématé Tulasé-devé, all the sins he may have com-
mitted are destroyed at every step, even the sin of killing a brähmaëa.
79
Çré Guru-vandanä
(1)
çré-guru-caraëa-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma,
bando mui sävadhäna mate
jähära prasäde bhäi, e bhava toriyä jäi,
kåñëa-präpti hoy jähä ha’te
1) The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure
devotional service. I bow to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace
one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Kåñëa.
(2)
guru-mukha-padma-väkya, cittete koriyä aikya,
är nä koriho mane äçä
çré-guru-caraëe rati, ei se uttama-gati,
je prasäde püre sarva äçä
2) My only wish is to have my consciousness purified by the words emanating
from his lotus mouth. Attachment to his lotus feet is the perfection that fulfills all
desires.
(3)
cakhu-dän dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei,
divya jïän håde prokäçito
prema-bhakti jähä hoite, avidyä vinäça jäte,
vede gäy jähära carito
3) He opens my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge.
He is my Lord birth after birth. From him ecstatic prema emanates; by him igno-
rance is destroyed. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character.
(4)
çré-guru karuëä-sindhu, adhama janära bandhu,
lokanäth lokera jévana
hä hä prabhu koro doyä, deho more pada-chäyä,
ebe jaça ghuñuk tribhuvana
4) Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor, and the lord
and master of the devotees. O master! Be merciful unto me. Give me the shade of
your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds.
Jaya Rädhä-Mädhava
(jaya) rädhä-mädhava (jaya) kuïja-bihäré
(jaya) gopé-jana-vallabha (jaya) giri-vara-dhäré
(jaya) jaçodä-nandana, (jaya) braja-jana-raïjana,
(jaya) jämuna-téra-vana-cäré
80
Devotional Practice
Prayers for honouring Prasadam
çaréra avidyä-jäl, joòendriya tähe käl,

jéve phele viñaya-sägore
tä’ra madhye jihvä ati, lobhamoy sudurmati,
tä’ke jetä kaöhina saàsäre
kåñëa baòo doyämay, karibäre jihvä jay,
sva-prasäd-anna dila bhäi
sei annämåta päo, rädhä-kåñëa-guëa gäo,
preme òäko caitanya-nitäi
O Lord, this material body is a place of ignorance, and the senses are a network of
paths leading to death. Somehow we have fallen into this ocean of material sense
enjoyment, and of all the senses the tongue is the most voracious and uncontrol-
lable. It is very difficult to conquer the tongue in this world. But You, dear Kåñëa,
are very kind to us and have given us such nice prasädam just to control the
tongue. Now we take this prasädam to our full satisfaction and glorify You—Çré Çré
Rädhä and Kåñëa—and in love call for the help of Lord Caitanya and Nityänanda.
mahä-prasäde govinde näma-brahmaëi vaiñëave
svalpa-puëya-vatäà räjan viçväso naiva jäyate
O king, for those with little pious credit, faith in mahä-prasäda, Çré Govinda, the
holy name, and the Vaiñëavas never arises. [Mahäbhärata]
Gaura-ärati
(1)
(kiba) jaya jaya goräcänder äratiko çobhä
jähnavé-taöa-vane jaga-mana-lobhä
jaga-jana-mana-lobhä
(First Refrain)
gauräìger ärotik çobhä
jaga-jana-mana-lobhä
1) All glories, all glories to the beautiful ärati ceremony of Lord Caitanya. This
Gaura-ärati is taking place in a grove on the banks of the Jähnavé [Ganges] and is
attracting the minds of all living entities in the universe.
(2)
dakhiëe nitäicänd, bäme gadädhara
nikaöe adwaita, çréniväsa chatra-dhara
2) On Lord Caitanya’s right side is Lord Nityänanda, and on His left is Çré
Gadädhara. Nearby stands Çré Advaita, and Çréväsa Öhäkura is holding an umbrella
over Lord Caitanya’s head.
(3)
bosiyäche goräcänd ratna-siàhäsane
ärati koren brahmä-ädi deva-gaëe
3) Lord Caitanya has sat down on a jeweled throne, and the demigods, headed by
Lord Brahmä, perform the ärati ceremony.
81
(4)
narahari-ädi kori’ cämara dhuläya
saïjaya-mukunda-bäsu-ghoñ-ädi gäya
4) Narahari Sarakära and other associates of Lord Caitanya fan Him with cämaras,
and devotees headed by Saïjaya Paëòita, Mukunda Datta, and Väsu Ghoña sing
sweet kértana.
(5)
çaìkha bäje ghaëöä bäje bäje karatäla
madhura mådaìga bäje parama rasäla
(Second Refrain)
çankha bäje ghaëöä bäje
madhur madhur madhur bäje
5) Conchshells, bells, and karatälas resound, and the mådaìgas play very sweetly.
This kértana music is supremely sweet and relishable to hear.
(6)
bahu-koöi candra jini’ vadana ujjvala
gala-deçe vana-mälä kore jhalamala
6) The brilliance of Lord Caitanya’s face conquers millions upon millions of
moons, and the garland of forest flowers around His neck shines.
(7)
çiva-çuka-närada preme gada-gada
bhakativinoda dekhe gorära sampada
7) Lord Çiva, Çukadeva Gosvämé, and Närada Muni are all there, and their voices
are choked with the ecstasy of transcendental love. Thus Öhäkura Bhaktivinoda
envisions the glory of Lord Çré Caitanya.
82
Unit Six
Deity Worship 85
Tulasi Worship 87
Devotional Practice
Deity Worship
Follow the threads and discuss the features of this map. Is there anything
you can add?
DW is authorised The form of God

when the form is is non-different
regular Installation therefore
authorised from Him.
Bhoga offerings programs
Mailbox
example
Darshans and
&
bhajans
He possesses
The process must form, which is
be fully authorized absolute and
Underlying unlimited
Puja
philosophy
Dressing the
Deity What the
Process
to make serving Involves Therefore
and meditating
on Krsna easier
God is a person.
the Deity is a He is absolute
direct expansion and unlimited.
To Krsna,
of Krsna
so we can make matter and
advancement spirit are
Why Krsna
inter-
comes as changeable
God has form?
To please His the Deity

devotees Worship of
God's form
Deity
Worship
Radha-Krishna What is Deity
Worship?
Different
Kinds of
Deities I dolatry or
Deity Worship?
Jagannatha-
Baladeva-Subhadra
What is idol worship?
Gaura-Nitai
Anything other
Golden Calf
than God
8 Different For Example Demigod Forms
worshiped as
Materials A rock or a tree
God
Sri Nrsimha
Do you know
some others?
Which Deities in metal stone mind jewels clay

paint wood
your temple? sand
85
The Articles Used in an Arati-Ceremony:
1. Conch shell (to blow)

2. A cup of fresh water and
a spoon (acamana – for
purification)
3. Incense sticks (at least 3)
4. Ghee lamp (usu. 5 wicks)
Peacock-feather fan
5. Conch shell (for offering
is only used in
water) with a stand
Summertime)
6. Container of water to be
offered
7. Cloth or Handkerchief
8. Small plate for flowers
9. Lighter or Matches
10. Whisk (camara)
11. Bell
In the temple, offerings are made at regulated times each day, and
should last for a specific amount of time. The following table shows the
order in which the articles are used/offered and how they are
used/offered. Each item offered is offered (items 3—9) from the ‘top
down’ (i.e. starting from Krishna, then Radha, then Gaura, then Nitai,…
parampara… devotees) one after the other.
1. Conch Shell Blown to announce the beginning of the ceremony

2. Bell Rung throughout
3. Incense 7 circles around the whole body
4. Ghee Lamp 4 circles to the feet; 2 to the middle; 3 to the
head; 7 to the whole body
5. Water 3 circles to the head; 7 to the whole body
6. Cloth 7 circles around the whole body
7. Flowers 7 circles around the whole body
8. Whisk 7 waves to the whole body
9. Peacock Fan 7 waves to the whole body (Summertime only)
10. Conch Blown to announce the end of the ceremony
Each of the gross material elements is represented in the arati ceremony.

See if you can tell which articles represent each element:
Earth Air
Water Ether
Fire
86
Devotional Practice
Tulasi Worship
At first, it may appear strange to worship a plant. But Tulasi is no ordi-
nary plant, as we are about to find out. Tulasi means “one who has no
comparison.”
Why Devotees Worship Tulasi

Tulasi gets its name from Srimati Tulasi-devi, one of Lord Krishna’s dear-
most eternal consorts, a pure devotee in the form of a gopi, who lives in
the spiritual world. The Tulasi plant is a manifestation or expansion of
her. To find out how this came about, read the story. Because Tulasi is so
dear to Krishna, one gains all kinds of benefits by worshiping her. By
attaining her mercy, one can more quickly make spiritual advancement
and gain entrance into the spiritual world.34
Tulasi plants and their leaves are very important in devotion-

al service. Devotees are recommended to water the Tulasi
tree every day and collect the leaves to worship the Lord.
(SB 3.15.19p)
The Glories of Tulasi

“There is no better recipient of charity than a vipra, no better gift than
cows, no better tirtha than the Ganga, and no better leaf than a Tulasi
leaf. Whatever one can obtain by offering the Lord all types of flowers
and leaves may be attained by simply offering Him one Tulasi leaf. An
offering of flowers made of gold, jewels, and pearls is not equal to an
offering of Tulasi leaves.”
“Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the Tulasi tree, which can
“Krishna is very
immediately vanquish volumes of sinful activities. Simply by seeing or
eager to see His

touching this tree, one can become relieved from all distresses and dis-
eases. Simply by offering obeisances and pouring water on the Tulasi
devotee serve
tree, one can become freed from the fear of being sent to the court of
Tulasi, Vaisnavas,
Yamaraja. If someone sows a Tulasi tree somewhere, certainly he
Mathura, and
becomes devoted to Lord Krishna. And when the Tulasi leaves are offered
in devotion at the lotus feet of Krishna, there is the full development of
Bhagavatam.”
love of Godhead.” (Skanda Purana, quoted by Srila Rupa Gosvami)
The worship of Lord Narayana is not complete without Tulasi leaves. 35

(Cc Madhya 22.125)
Tulasi must be offered to Visnu-tattva only. 36
Read also the Eight Names of Tulasi at this footnote.37
87
Shri Tulasi Pradaksina

Mantra How To Worship Tulasi
yani kani ca papani Tulasi-puja is relatively simple, consisting of only three articles: incense, a
brahma-hatyadikani ca
ghee lamp, and flowers. Sooner or later, you will get an opportunity to
tani tani pranasyanti

offer puja to Tulasi, so here are the steps that you need to know:
pradaksinah pade pade 1. Acamana (purification):

l
“By the
Take the spoon from the acamana cup and purify both hands by
circumambulation of
sprinkling water onto them.
Srimati Tulasi Devi
l A spoonful into your right palm, chant om keshavaya namah, and
all the sins that one may
sip.
have committed are l A spoonful into your right palm, chant om narayanaya namah,
destroyed at every step,
even the sin of killing a
and sip.
l
brahmana.”
A spoonful into your right palm, chant om madhavaya namah,
and sip.
l One more spoonful to wash your right hand.
2. Offering the incense:
l Purify (sprinkle with a spoon full of water) the bell and the incense
holder.
l Light the incense.
l Pick up the bell in the left hand; ring the bell throughout the puja.
l Pick up the incense holder in the right hand and offer the incense
to Tulasi with seven circles around her whole form.
l Offer to Srila Prabhupada and then all the devotees.
3. Offering the ghee lamp:
l Purify the ghee lamp.
l Light it.
Shri Tulasi Pranama l Offer it to Tulasi: 4 circles to the base, 2 to the middle, 3 to the
vrndayai tulasi-devyai
top, and 7 to the whole.
l
priyayai keshavasya ca
Offer to Srila Prabhupada and then all the devotees.
visnu-bhakti-prade devi
4. Offering the Flowers:
l
satyavatyai namo namah
Purify the flowers.
l Offer them to Tulasi with 7 circles to the whole form.
l Place one at her base (optional).
“I offer my repeated
l Offer them Srila Prabhupada and then
obeisances unto Vrnda,
Srimati Tulasi Devi, who
all the devotees.
l
is very dear to Lord
Now the puja is complete and you
Kesava. O goddess, you
can serve the devotees by assisting
bestow devotional them to purify their hands before
service to Lord Vishnu
and possess the highest
watering Tulasi.
truth.” Planting, watering, protecting, maintaining,

circumambulating, seeing, bowing down to,
praying to, and glorifying are all ways of
serving and worshiping Tulasi and are highly
beneficial.
88
Unit Seven
Holy Days and Festivals 91

Ekadasi 92
Serving and Honouring Prasadam 94
Devotional Practice
Holy Days and Festivals

Have you ever taken part in a Hare Krishna festival? If so, you will know
that they are lively and cheerful celebrations with sounds, music, colour,
good smells, and activity. Most of these festivals are based around holy
days and traditions going back thousands of years.
Why Observe Festivals
Festivals often require a lot of extra endeavour, financing, and take us out
of our daily routine. Consider here why observing holy days is important
and all the different kinds of benefits gained from celebrating festivals:
Different Kinds of Festivals and Holy Days
Appearances of Appearance/ Others: Based on

Visnu-tattva Disappearance of the Lord's lila, His
Incarnations Previous Acaryas associates, etc..
Examples: Examples:
Examples:
Srila Prabhapada Vyasa-puja
Gaura Purnima
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Ratha-yatra
Rama Navami
Gaura Kishora das Babaji Jhulana Yatra
Nrsimha Caturdasi
Bhaktivinoda Thakura Ramacandra
Varaha Dvadasi
Sanatana Goswami Vijayotsava
Sri Krsna Janmastami
Ramanujacarya Dipa dana, Dipavali
Sri Vamana Dvadasi
Nityananda Trayodasi Vrndavana Dasa Thakura Govardhana Puja
Haridasa Thakura Radhastami
91
Ekadasi
Ekadasi refers to the eleventh day after the full moon and the new moon
(once a fortnight). On these special days devotees fast and make an extra
effort to render devotional service. Observing Ekadasi increases spiritual
advancement.
All major religions observe some kind of fasting. To find out what is so
special about this particular day, read the story, The Appearance of Shri
Ekadasi.
One has to perform devotional service in full tapasya, aus-

terity. One should fast on the two Ekadasi days, which fall
on the eleventh day of the waxing and waning moon, and
on the birthdays of Lord Krishna, Lord Rama, and Cai-
tanya Mahaprabhu.
(SB 3.27.22p)
How To Follow Ekadasi

l Fast from grains and pulses (legumes). See below for more details.
l Chant extra rounds (if you are daily chanting 16 rounds than at
least 2538 ). Try to do more reading.
l Try to become more absorbed in hearing, chanting, and devotion
to Krishna.
l Bhaktivinoda Thakur said it is a time to step back, get a little out
of the normal routine, and take stock of ones spiritual life.
l Try to rise above the bodily concept; avoid as much as possible
any activities relating to the body (shaving, laundry, going to a
doctor, shopping, sleeping).
92
Devotional Practice
l Avoid strenuous physical labour. Don’t travel long Types of Fasts

distances. Different practitioners observe the
Ekadasi fast on different levels:
1. Completely fasting from food
Fasting and water (although acamana
water and caranamrita are still
The Benefits of Fasting allowed).
l It gives one a taste for renunciation, and thus helps
2. Taking water while fasting from
one to give up sense gratification.
l
all food.
Fasting gives the system a rest: The physiological sys-
tem may become overworked due to a little overeat- 3. Taking water and only a little
ing or indiscrimination in diet. Fasting gives the sys- fruit.
tem a chance to catch up. 4. Taking water and one meal in
l Fasting helps us practice self-discipline in eating and the afternoon.
concentrate more on pleasing God.
l
5. Drinking and eating as usual but
Fasting helps keep the body light and the stomach
without any grains or pulses.
free so that one can meditate better. The digestive
system draws the blood circulation towards the
Other Points About Fasting
digestive organs. Therefore blood circulation to the
head is decreased once food is taken: feeling more Ø Ideally, one abstains from eating
sleepy, and mental strength is diminished. after the midday meal on the
l Helps in controlling of the mind and will. day before Ekadasi.
Ø The fast must be broken
Ø One following the stricter type
between specified times on the
The Mind, Yogis, and Ekadasi of fast may only drink milk on
next day (Dvadasi).
The Moon is the mind’s presiding deity. It’s waxing and wan- Dvadasi.
Ø One following the stricter type
ing has an influence on the mind. An example of this is how Ø Completely fasting from food
of fast may only drink milk on
people with unstable minds become disturbed on the full and drink on Bhima-nirjala-
Dvadasi.
moon and new moon days. In contrast, during the two Ekadasi atones for any mistakes
Ekadasis, the mind can be more easily concentrated. Yogis Ø Completely
one made onfasting
all thefrom food
other
therefore take advantage of these two days by practicing and drinkfor
Ekadasis on the
Bhima-nirjala-
previous year.
Ekadasi atones for any mistakes
deep meditation. Ø One should not overdo fasting.
one made on all the other
It is supposed to cause
Ekadasis for the previous year.
“One day Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu fell down at the buoyan cy of feeling and not
feet of His mother and requested her to give Him one Ø One should
fatigue. Onenot overdo
should onlyfasting.
thing in charity. His mother replied, ‘My dear son, I will It is supposed
practice as much to cause
fasting as
give You whatever You ask.’ Then the Lord said, ‘My dear buoyan
one’s cy of feeling
capacity allowsandandnot
not try
mother, please do not eat grains on the Ekadasi day.” fatigue.
to One impress
artificially should onlyothers.
practice as much fasting as
Ø If one cannot do service
(Cc Adi 15.8-9) one’s capacity allows and not try
because of fastin g, he is better
to artificially impress others.
off eating.
Ø If one cannot do service
93
Serving and Honouring Prasadam

Prasadam = The Lord’s Mercy: Food prepared in pure consciousness with
pure products and offered with love to the Lord
The Glories of Prasadam
l Prasadam is spiritual, not

different from Krishna39
l Purifies the heart (different
levels of potency)40
l Frees one from sinful
reactions41
l Anyone who eats some
gets eventual liberation
l We can simply eat our way
back to Godhead42
l Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and
Krishna become very pleased when
we cook nicely for Them.43
l Krishna actually eats the offering
l By eating prasadam, the devotee becomes Krishnaized44
l Connects our eating process to Krishna
l Helps control the tongue
l Protects one from falling into illusion45, as opposed to food
cooked by non-devotees
l The offering contains love and devotion
l We get benefit through offering, serving and eating it.
l We are not dry renouncers; we can prepare wonderful feasts
l The Lord likes to see His devotees enjoy in a Krishna
conscious way.
Prasada Sevaya
Recited before taking prasadam
O Lord, this material body is a place of ignorance, and the senses are
a network of paths to death. Somehow, we have fallen into this ocean
of material sense enjoyment, and of all the senses the tongue is most
voracious and uncontrollable. It is very difficult to conquer the tongue
in this world, but You, dear Krishna, are very kind to us and have
given us such nice prasada, just to control the tongue. Now we take
this prasada to our full satisfaction and glorify You Lord - Radha and
Krishna - and in love call for the help of Lord Caitanya and
Nityananda.
(from Saranagati)
94
Devotional Practice
Cultural Background
Preparing, serving, and eating prasadam in the association of devotees
are integral to devotional service with roots based in the most ancient
Vedic culture and the Lord’s pastimes.
l A part of Deity worship (arcanam): Cooking for Krishna is an exact

science. Various dishes are prepared in certain ways because
experts in the art have determined that these preparations are
most pleasing to Krishna.
l Trains us for the spiritual world in the correct service attitude of
taking pleasure in eating Krishna’s remnants. The cowherd boys
enjoy eating in Krishna’s company and sharing His remnants.
l In the spiritual world, Radha cooks for Krishna and She never
cooks the same preparation twice. The temple kitchen is under-
stood to belong to Radharani. She is the controller there.
l In Lord Caitanya’s pastimes, the devotees would make kirtana
until they were exhausted and then eat a big feast together with
great joy. The Caitanya-caritamrta contains many descriptions of
the food preparations and feasts the devotees used to make. Look
in the Caitanya-caritamrta and find a section where such a feast is
described.
The cowherd
boys enjoy
eating in
Krishna’s
company and
sharing His
remnants.
95
Regulations in Serving and Honoring Prasadam

Serving:
l Cleanliness and etiquette – utensils / right hand
l Be sensitive: give what is wanted
l Be quick: others may be waiting
l Don’t give more than requested
l No mixing: keep the preparations separate
Honouring:
l Should be respected (remember: nondifferent from
Krishna)
l Don’t criticize prasadam
l Should never be wasted (not one grain)
l Your consciousness also affects how much benefit
you get from eating it.
l Sarira avidya jal: proper meditation and advancement
l Srila Prabhupada hardly spoke while eating46
l Prayer to spiritual master – start and finish
l Don’t steal from others
l Don’t grab for yourself: serve and be served
l Don’t eat while walking (like an ass)
l Don’t horde prasadam
Be wise:
l Take a short walk afterwards or sleep 10 min on the left side
l Don’t eat too much
l Take the right balance
l Don’t eat too much in the evening
l Consider regulation and health
We get
benefit by
offering,
serving and
eating
prasadam
96
Unit Eight
Missionary Activities 99
Parents, Relatives and Friends 110
Devotional Practice
Missionary Activities
Missionary work is a very important aspect of the Krishna consciousness
movement.
“Preaching is like the head of our Krishna Consciousness

Society—if the head is removed, the whole body dies.”
(Letter to many leading devotees, 3 December, 1971)
“Preaching is the most important business. Although my

personal service is also important, the preaching work comes first. I
want everyone of our men to become first class preachers.”
(Letter to Pusta Krishna, 25 July 1976)
Following the rules and regulations of Krishna conscious practices gives

us the purity, the force, the strength to preach.47 Now we will look at the
process of giving it to others, what preaching really means, what the phi-
losophy behind it, and how it should be performed.
The Sankirtana Yajna – The Yuga Dharma
“Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditat-

ing on Vishnu, in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices, and
in Dvapara-yuga by serving the Lord’s lotus feet can be
obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krishna
maha-mantra.”
(SB 12.3.52)
“In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanti-

ng to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the
names of Krishna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is
Krishna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants,
weapons and confidential companions.”
(SB 11.5.32)
99
What Does “Preaching” Mean?

What is the dictionary definition? What is people’s general understand-
ing? What did Srila Prabhupada mean by preaching? What do you think
it means? Write down all relevant points and suggestions here. Then
compare and discuss similarities, differences, misunderstandings and their
probable causes.
Look in the Endnotes to read Prabhupada’s statements on what preach-

ing means.48 Add anything that was missed.
Philosophy Behind Preaching

In today’s culture, preaching is often looked down upon with the atti-
tude, “You can believe what you like for yourself, but you shouldn’t try
to push your beliefs onto someone else.” Preaching is sometimes viewed
as foolish, uncultured, or rude. Of course, they don’t even consider that
all organizations—spiritual or not—advertise their goods or services.
Still, devotees need to have a deeper understanding of the rationale

behind preaching, why preaching is so important, and what the proper
attitudes towards preaching are. Before going through the delineation
below, consider these things for yourself first. Jot down any thoughts and
ideas that you have.
100
Devotional Practice
One can chant the holy names alone or congregationally, but in this age, chant-
ing congregationally in the association of devotees is more recommended.
San = together/congregational; kirtana = chanting.
l Sankirtana includes preaching because without inviting people to

take part there is no question of congregational chanting.
l Lord Caitanya’s mission was to spread congregational chanting of the
holy names all over the world. (Cc Mad.7.128: yare dekha tare kaha…)
l Followers of Lord Caitanya and Srila Prabhupada, follow their
example of spreading the sankirtana movement. (We will look
“He who has life can

more closely at their examples a little later.)
l
preach.”
The purpose of the material world is two-fold:
w To give the living entity a chance to fulfill his material desires;
w To reform the living beings so they can return to the
spiritual world.
l The great desire of the Lord is that all the lost souls come back and
be happy with Him. He descends to the material world Himself,
sends His representatives, and establishes the religious scriptures in
order to show the fallen souls the way back to Godhead.
l The devotee who serves the Lord by bringing living entities closer
to Him and connecting them with Him is very dear to the Lord.
Such devotees please Krishna the most (“There is no servant in
this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one
more dear.” Bg 18.69). Therefore one gets extra mercy from Krish-
na. The more you give, the more you get.
l Spreading Krishna consciousness is real welfare work49 ; People are
wasting their lives suffering in the material world, but just by hearing
the holy name or taking a little prasadam, they become connected
to Krishna and the pathway back to Him. (brahmanda bhramite
kona bhagyavan jiva, guru-krishna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija )50
l In Summary: preaching is one of the best activities for one’s own
spiritual advancement, it is beneficial for others, and it is greatly
pleasing to Krishna.
l Other points:
w You can’t just keep Krishna consciousness for yourself;
w Increases one’s own experiences and realization; challenging
w Selfless service: a devotee should not be just interested in
his own liberation; devotees are para-dukha-dukhi; com
passion is a fundamental motivation; read Prahlada
Maharaja’s verse: SB 7.9.43.
w Preaching brings life to the devotees, temples, and ISKCON.
“Otherwise no more haribol!” “He who has life can preach.”51
w Even the Uttama-adhikari comes down to the Madhyama
platform to preach. 52
101
How to Preach
So far we have looked at the what and why of preaching. Now we will
look at the how: (a) the practical preaching activities themselves and (b)
the underlying principles and policies that should guide our preaching
activities.
Three Branches
Lord Caitanya’s preaching mission was characterised by three main
branches:
1.
2.
3.
ISKCON Preaching Programmes
List all the ISKCON preaching programmes you can think of:
Can you think of any activities that could be included?
102
Devotional Practice
The Principles and Policies of Preaching

What do people think of missionaries and preaching? For many, these
words conjure up negative images of self-righteous, moralizing evangel-
ists preaching fire and brimstone and doomsday. Or perhaps newly con-
verted believers who are naēve, dogmatic, pigheaded, smug, or conde-
scending. Whatever the case, in today’s world more than ever, preaching
(try: “Giving others the opportunity to receive transcendental knowl-
edge,” “explaining spiritual wisdom,” or “passing on information about
spiritual life.”) is an extremely subtle art.
Team Task:
Compile a class list of principles and policies that should guide the devo-
tee in his preaching. Start by having a brainstorm in the section provided.
If you come up with any more points as you work through the other
material in this “Missionary Work” section, add them to the list, until by
the end you have a pretty thorough and comprehensive list of guidelines.
A couple of examples are already there to start you off. Now do the
brainstorm:
NB: Should be done according to realization. Repeat what you’ve heard,

don’t speculate
103
Preaching Situations
Consider the situations listed below by asking these 3 questions for each
one:
1. How might the person feel or react?

2. Would this assist them in accepting Krishna consciousness?
3. What principles or policies can be drawn from this?
l The devotee finds out about the person’s beliefs or convictions

(religious, scientific, or general) and forcibly argues against them
to show that they are inferior to the Krishna conscious under-
standing.
l The devotee finds out about the person’s beliefs or convictions
(religious, scientific, or general) and finds interesting parallels
between them and the Krishna conscious understanding.
l The devotee uses the very strong arguments and philosophy of
Krishna consciousness to show how he has better knowledge,
arguments, and intelligence.
l The devotee first establishes a friendly relationship with the person
and makes him feel comfortable and at ease. They chat in the
beginning about all kinds of ordinary things.
l The devotee makes light of the individual’s views and speaks as if
he is superior and knows everything better.
l The devotee deals with each individual according to his specific
case. He finds out why the person has come to the temple and
what it is about Krishna consciousness that interests him. He then
fans the spark of interest.
l The devotee holds an unbroken (unbreakable?) monologue with
the individual for 45 minutes.
l The devotee mainly presents these points: no illicit sex, must sur-
render to Krishna, everyone is so fallen in maya and rotten, under-
stand the Absolute Truth or you have to suffer in hell.
Try to remember some other situations that you may have witnessed or
been in or imagine some that might arise. Ask the same questions and
think of better alternatives.
104
Devotional Practice
The Preaching Tradition

Preaching is completely in accordance with our tradition and the
parampara. The following briefly outlines the preaching of exemplary per-
sonalities in our tradition. The tutor will probably need to explain in more
detail.
Ancient times: Vedic texts like the Bhagavatam record the preaching of
great souls in our tradition. See if you can come up with an example
from the Bhagavatam for each of the following. In case you get stuck
examples are given at footnote 53
Who was instructed Bhagavatam

reference
Narada Muni e.g. King Pracinibarhisat SB 5.1
Lord Brahma
Lord Siva
Lord Kapila
Prahlada Maharaja
Grandfather Bhisma
Bali Maharaja
Sukadeva Gosvami
105
Lord Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (1486—1534)
Lord Caitanya vigorously established a lively preaching mission to expand

the glories of the holy names far and wide. Previously, Vaisnavism had
always existed, but Lord Caitanya was a reformer who re-energized the
spiritual movement. Here are some of the things He did and said:
He organised the sankirtana movement.

l He ordered Rupa and
Sanatana to write books and
sent them to Vrndavana to
excavate the holy places and
establish temples.
l He sent Nityananda Prabhu
to Bengal to preach.
l He had His followers go out
and request everyone to
“Worship Krishna, chant
Krishna, and follow Krishna’s
instructions.”
l He initiated civil disobedi-
ence against the Chand Kazi
l He organized big kirtans and
prasadam distribution.
He preached by His own example

l Wherever He went, He chanted, danced, and spread the holy
name
l He toured South India for 6 years and preached to many people
along the way.
l He preached to the Mayavadis (Prakasananda), Sarvabhauma,
Buddhists, Advaitists…
He imparted vital teachings and instructions to the devotees

l Refer to his discussions with Ramananda Raya, Rupa and Sanatana
Wherever He
Goswamis.
l
went, He
He predicted, “My holy name will be preached in every town and
chanted, danced,
village throughout the world.” (Cait.-Bhagavat);
l
and spread the
He instructed, “Wherever you go, whomever you meet, tell
holy name
them to follow Krishna’s instructions. In this way, become a spiri-
tual master and try to liberate everyone in the land.”
(Cc Mad.7.128)
106
Devotional Practice
After Lord Caitanya
Three selected highlights from the time between Lord Cai-

tanya and Srila Prabhupada:
The disciplic succes-

The first book distribution mission: sion connecting Srila
l Rupa, Sanatana, and Jahnavi-devi were concerned about the need Prabhupada and Lord
for literary support in Bengal. Jiva arranged the mission. Caitanya:
l Syamananda Pandit, Narottama das Thakura, and Srinivasa Acarya
ê
were put in charge of a chest of holy books written by the Lord Caitanya
Goswamis.
l They placed the chest in a cart pulled by four strong bullocks and Rupa and Sanatana
ê
took it to Bengal with 10 armed guards escorting them. Goswamis
Bhaktivinoda Thakur is renowned, among other things, for… Jiva and Raghunatha das
l
ê
Re-establishing the respectability of the Vaishnava tradition Goswamis
l Determining the bona-fide sites of holy places around Mayapura
l Authoring a large amount of Vaishnava literature Krishnadas Kaviraja
l
ê
Strengthening the organization within the Vaishnava community Goswami
for the purpose of conducting a unified preaching effort.
ê
Narottama das Thakur
Bhaktisiddhanta expanded the preaching mission even more by…
l Challenging and defeating the influence of the smarta/caste brah- Visvanatha Cakravarti
ê
manas Thakur
l Challenging and defeating the influence of the Mayavadis
l
ê
Establishing the Gaudiya-Matha with temples all over India Jagannatha das Babaji
l Having sannyasis adopt the principles of yukta-vairagya and
ê
preach in the cities Bhaktivinoda Thakur
l Sending out brahmacaris on harinam and magazine distribution
ê
Gaurakishora das Babaji
Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON Bhaktisiddhanta Saras-
ê
vati Thakur
Srila Prabhupada’s preaching
example is not only interesting A C Bhaktivedanta
to us because he is the Swami Prabhupada
founder of ISKCON, but also
because he is the one whose
preaching spread Krishna con-
sciousness around the globe.
We will also learn here about
how preaching developed
within ISKCON after Srila Prab-
hupada established it.
107
Srila Prabhupada
From the time Srila Prabhupada met his spiritual master, he was engaged
in the preaching mission. The following lists some milestones in Srila
Prabhupada’s life as a preacher:
l Taking up the mission of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati (Calcutta, 1922)

l Making preaching programmes at home
l Writing, producing and distributing Back To Godhead magazine
(start: 1944)
l Establishing the League of Devotees at Jhansi
l Writing his books; placing them in shops (bringing them to the
President)
l Accepting Sannyasa in 1959
l Going to America to preach (Sept. 1965)
l Establishing the first temple in New York
l Engaging the hippies in chanting, dancing, eating prasadam, and
listening to some philosophy
l First public harinam: Thompkins Square Park
l Establishing further temples around America
l Sending disciples abroad
l Travelling, lecturing, and writing profusely
l Meeting VIPs
l Establishing ISKCON’s infrastructure (GBC, etc..)
l Establishing various ISKCON preaching programmes
Think of a specific (perhaps your favourite) example that shows Srila Prabhupada’s
preaching genius in his dealings with the devotees in the temples, with special
guests and VIPs, or in his preaching strategy and development of ISKCON. Write a
short depiction of your example here and share it with the class.
What do you like about this example? What can you learn from it?
A number of factors contributed toward Srila Prabhupada’s success in setting up the

Krishna consciousness movement when he went to America, while a number of
other factors created difficulties. Think of factors that belong in each column below.
Favourable factors Unfavourable factors
108
Devotional Practice
ISKCON
l The main methods of preaching for the devotees in the beginning

were going on harinam and inviting people to the sumptuous
Sunday feasts.
l Gradually magazine distribution accompanied all harinams.
l Krishna books first distributed at 1970 Ratha-yatra, San Francisco.
l Devotees found ways to distribute the books, gradually focused
more on that, and became increasingly competent.
l Devotees begin having a book ‘marathon’ each Christmas
l Devotees distribute prasadam and magazines on the subways of
New York
l The Radha-Damodara Bus Party begins criss-crossing America
l Improper tactics, attitudes, and methods crept into the preaching
practices:
w Too much emphasis on money
w Devotees believed they could do anything to sell books
and Krishna would protect them; “the end justifies the
means.”
w The distributor is always right:”Who cares what
non-devotees think?”
w Misrepresentation and trickery
w Being overly aggressive, and mistreating people
A long journey of learning separates the ISKCON of the 70’s from the
ISKCON of today. Today, preachers are far more conscious of the impor-
tance of leaving good impressions on people. We have training for
preachers and mature experienced leaders. We communicate with the
media, government, and other religious groups. The whole approach is
far more sophisticated and effective: consider the list of ISKCON Preach-
ing Programmes.
Now, take some time to go back and add any items to your list of Princi-
ples and Policies. Consider here what qualities a preacher must have in
order to be most effective.
Write down as many as you can think of:
See if you can think of examples that illustrate any of these qualities, and
try to find more points to add to your Policies and Principles list.
109
Parents, Relatives and Friends

Conflict between spiritual and material visions is nothing new. From
ancient times to the most recent, there has always been resistance when
a member of the family, or a close friend, chooses a more spiritual path
through life. Brahma and his sons, the Four Kumaras had their confronta-
tion; Daksa protested to Narada Muni when he instructed his sons in
renunciation. Buddha, Jesus, and the saints of all religions have all had to
contend with those who did not share their vision. Still, when visiting
parents and relatives or even old friends, devotees should bear certain
things in mind. Here is a list of important reminders and tips.
l We must always respect our parents.

l Devotees can speak with them about other things too (not exclusively
about Krishna).
l The relationship shouldn’t be disturbed by our involvement in Krishna
consiousness. It should continue just as before.
l When Srila Prabhupada was staying at the Aggrawals, for example, and
people would smoke, he would tell them not to worry about him; he
didn’t mind. He didn’t create any trouble for anyone. He cooked for
them. He shared in their joy (the baby standing). He could speak about
mundane things like the vacuum cleaner. He was always very friendly
and pleasant to be with.
l We can be patient because we will continue to be their kids for the rest
of their lives.
l Try to understand how they may view our acceptance of a devotional
life.
l Be careful of the tendency to zealously share your enthusiasm for Krish-
na Consciousness with your family or friends. It may not always be
appropiate.
l Ease your parents into it gradually. Don’t load everything onto them at
once.
Tip
l Keep regularly in touch with your parents.
Preaching Play Exercise

Pair up and create a play that will show the audience what should be
done and what should not be done. Think up the situation yourself.
Don’t tell the audience what you want to show. Let them tell you at the
end and see if they picked up all of your points. Have fun!
“Save yourself, save others. This is our Krishna consciousness

movement. First of all save yourself; then try to save others. Or
both things can go on simultaneously. … If you want to save
somebody who’s drowning you must know that I may not be
washed away. I have to remain strong; then I can save him.”
(Conversation, 14 February 1977)
110
Appendices
Appendix A 113
Appendix B 117
Endnotes 119
Devotional Practice
Appendix A
Cleanliness, Etiquette, and Other Rules and Regula-
tions.
Personal Habits:
1. The mouth is a dirty place (being positioned at one end of the
intestines, it is a place where many germs are found) and there-
fore one should not suck one’s fingers or pen, or bite one’s
nails, etc. If one does touch one’s mouth then the hands should
be washed. Don’t lick things like stamps and don’t blow out
candles, incense sticks, etc. One extinguishes candle flames by
creating a breeze with a hand movement. Also it is a good
practice to learn to pour water/juice into your mouth when you
drink, then the cup remains clean, not having touched one’s
lips.
2. If you make a mess clean it up, especially in the toilet or wash-
basin etc. A place should always be as clean, if not cleaner, after it
has been visited by a devotee.
3. When you clean anywhere in the temple building try to make the
place as clean as glass (see TQK p.143)
4. If someone else leaves a mess then you can clean it up.
5. Use the right hand only for eating, chanting rounds, offering
and accepting things to and from others, turning on commu-
nal switches, opening doors and using the toilet flush etc.
(the left hand is reserved for cleansing oneself upon passing
stool).
6. Do not waste Krishna’s energies such as toothpaste, electricity,
water, etc. In fact, if you see a light or fire left on somewhere
turn it off. Once on a morning walk, Srila Prabhupada turned
off a running tap in someone’s garden. Another time when he
was ill in Mayapur he rose especially from his bed to chastise a
disciple for leaving a fan on when she left a room for only 5
minutes.
7. Do not use your feet to do something that could be done with
your hands.
8. Keep a particular floor cloth for every area. The cloth that is
meant for use in the eating or sleeping area should not be mixed
up with the cloth for the showers, toilets, or stairs.
113
Sacred Items:
1. Do not touch your foot to anything sacred or use your foot to do
something that can be done with your hand.
2. Do not walk over books, devotees, prasada or any sacred arti-
cles. To touch someone with your foot is considered offensive.
For instance, if you have to walk past seated devotees in the
temple room at class time, extend your right hand to indicate
you wish to go by and they will move their knees to let you
pass. If you happen to touch a devotee with your foot you can
touch his body gently with your hand and then touch your head.
3. Books, beads, karatalas, etc. should not go on the ground or on
one’s seat or bed, nor should things be put on books (like alarm
clocks, karatalas, etc.).
4. If a sacred object falls to the floor, pick it up and touch it to your
head.
5. If your japa beads are out of your bag, keep them in a clean place
but do not hang them on a hook. The best is to have two bead
bags. When you wash one, you can immediately put the beads
into the other.
6. Do not take sacred items into the toilet, e.g. beads, books, Hari-
nam chaddar.
7. Respect sacred items. Don’t lean on them or throw them around.
Don’t write in books.
Asrama:
1. Do not take other’s possessions thinking that everything is Krish-
na’s and therefore everything is one. This is not our philosophy!
2. Do not sleep on your stomach. When sleeping try to sleep with
your head pointing East (or at least South, but not North).
3. A devotee puts on freshly washed clothes every morning.
4. Do not stand in one’s underwear in front of Vaisnavas, or pictures
of Krishna or the Guru. The Lord and His devotee are present in
Their pictures and so should be respected accordingly. Always
keep your lower body covered with a towel or cotton ‘gumcha’.
5. Your locker should always be neat and clean (Don’t leave prasada
in it or even bring prasada to your room).
6. If you sleep with a bedroll on the floor, roll it up upon rising and
wash down the floor area where you slept.
7. Do not leave clothing lying around. Dirty laundry is to be placed in
a bag or laundry basket.
8. The asrama floor should be washed daily.
9. Prasadam should not be taken into the asrama.
114
Devotional Practice
Kitchen:
1. The kitchen is an extension of the altar, so whatever you do in the
kitchen should be done with great care and attention for the
Deities.
2. Wear only clean, uncontaminated clothes in the kitchen. Clothes
that have been eaten in or worn in the bathroom cannot be used.
(Depends on the standards used in the particular temple.)
3. Fingernails should be kept short. Wash your hands upon entering
the kitchen before beginning your service.
4. Never enter the kitchen in an unclean state.
5. Don’t put anything in your mouth or touch anything to your
mouth while in the kitchen. Don’t rinse your mouth or spit in the
kitchen sinks.
6. No eating or drinking in the kitchen.
7. If you touch the floor, the waste bin or any of the openings of
your body, wash your hands before touching anything else.
8. No unnecessary talking in the kitchen, only Krishna katha or
something directly related to what you are doing.
9. If you are sick and have a bad cold, you should not work in the
kitchen.
10. It is important not to enjoy any of the preparations that are being
prepared for Krishna’s enjoyment. You should not smell what is
being cooked or even look at it with an enjoying spirit before it
has been offered, what to speak of tasting it.
11. Clean up the place you are about to work in and clean it up after
you have finished.
12. If a vegetable or cooking utensil falls on the floor, wash it off. If it
falls on your foot, you have to throw it away.
13. Women should always keep their hair tied back and covered with
a scarf. Men should make sure that their sikha is knotted.
14. Don’t pass air or burp in the kitchen.
Temple:
1. Never enter the temple in an unclean state.
2. One should ring the bell or knock on the door and chant the
names of the Deities.
3. One should always pay obeisances when entering or leaving the
temple room. Obeisances should be offered with two hands on
the floor, not one.
4. Do not talk informally, read or write personal letters in front of the
Deities — only devotional activities such as hearing, chanting,
reading and praying, or some important matter related to the
service of the Deity should be carried on in the temple room.
115
5. While sitting do not expose your feet to the Deities or point them
at the spiritual master, or Tulasi devi, etc. Always try to keep them
covered.
6. Don’t pass air or burp in the temple room.
7. Avoid sitting with your back to the Deities, the Vyasasana, Tulasi,
or spiritual master.
Bathroom:
1. Nails should always be clipped short. This should not be done in
one’s bedroom but in the bathroom and the clippings should be
flushed away down the toilet or sink, or thrown in the rubbish bin
provided. Evacuating, nail cutting, teeth brushing, shaving, etc.,
should be done before showering.
2. Devotees prefer to use water than toilet paper. It is much cleaner.
Afterwards the hands should be thoroughly cleaned with soap.
3. In toilets and bathrooms, devotees should always be dressed in a
gumcha.
4. Take at least two showers a day (or more if you have to pass stool
at another time) — the early morning shower can be cool to help
invigorate the system and should be efficient but quick (a warm
shower should be taken if one is sick). It is also important to take
a “mental bath” by chanting Hare Krishna as one takes one’s
physical bath.
5. Scrub and file feet whenever necessary (which avoids painful
cracks in the heel from developing)
6. Tilak should be applied in all 12 places after showering.
7. After the following activities one is considered unclean and there-
fore needs to take a shower:
a. sleeping more than one hour
b. brushing teeth
c. shaving
d. passing stool
One should also take a shower after returning to the temple from hari-
nam or from hard work that makes you all sweaty.
Do not worry unduly about all these rules and regulations; soon they will
be your second nature. We all make mistakes in the beginning. Most of
what we do is simply common sense. If anything is not clear or confuses
you, please don’t hesitate to ask.
116
Devotional Practice
Appendix B
Supplement to Attentive Chanting
Concentration Exercises:
Each-mantra-of-each-round:
l Don’t think I am chanting my rounds; that’s too general. The
rounds are spread over 2 hours and this mental frame gives the
mind too much opportunity to put the listening off until later.
l You have to chant and hear each mantra. Right here and now.
l Focus on this bead you are now holding between your fingers,
this mantra that is now being uttered from your lips and now
entering into the ear.
l And then move onto the next mantra, which you must focus on
in the same way… and the next… and the next.
l This may work for 10 or 15 mantras, maybe even 30, and the
mind will become diverted again. Then you have to pull the mind
back and set to it again.
l Continue to do this and you will succeed
l At the end of each round, take stock of how well you did, and
resolve to make the next round even better: “This time I am going to
concentrate fully on each and every mantra of this round – all 108.”
l The attitude is, “Right now, this is the only round that counts.”
l And so it goes on for each and every mantra of each and every
round… You will see steady improvement… And if you practice this
each and every day, your rounds in general will steadily improve.
Emphasizing individual words – gradually build up:

l At the beginning of each round, decide on a particular word or
words in your mantra to emphasize, e.g. the first ‘Hare’ of the
first half, or every ‘Krishna,’ or the two ‘Ramas’ in the last line,
etc.; i.e. …hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare...
l You will see how the words you emphasize start to stand out more
l With each round, add to it: the double ‘Krishna’ and the double
‘Rama,’ i.e. Hare Krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare/
Hare rama hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare.
l Again, these words in the mantra will stand out more
l Keep adding to it, never take a step backwards, or allow an
emphasis you have already established slip away, until finally you
are emphasizing every word of the mantra
l This might blow your mind, but your concentration will go
through the roof!
117
Reading it:
l If the maha-mantra is written on the wall somewhere, try reading
it while you are chanting it
l With each word of the mantra that you are chanting, follow it on
the wall with your eyes
l This way, you are engaging one additional sense in helping you to
concentrate
Blank the Mind:

l Everyone knows what it means to ‘blank the mind’
l Take a moment to put the mind in ‘blank’ state
l Try to hold it in that state while you chant
Chanting in Unison:
l Form a group (or pair) and chant a round or two in unison
l The strength in numbers and trying to keep the same pace really
helps in conquering the minds failing attention span
Four Steps:
1. First of all, make sure you are not tired
2. Make sure you have proper pronunciation
3. Make sure you are not being distracted by anything
4. Then fix on your concentration
Outside Opinion / Feedback:

l You will need to get the help of your tutor to do this exercise.
l Start by reading some verses about the holy name
l Everyone sits down and starts chanting normally
l After a few minutes when everyone gets into the swing of it, the
tutor should go around and listen to each person individually,
focusing carefully on the pronunciation for a few minutes and
then mentioning any improvements that can be made
l Then after everyone has been given feedback, the group should
chant one round as briskly, yet clearly, as possible while remem-
bering their feedback and see how quickly they can still chant
their rounds
118
Devotional Practice
Endnotes
1As far as the urges of the genitals are concerned, there are two—proper
and improper, or legal and illicit sex. When a man is properly mature, he
can marry according to the rules and regulations of the sastras and use
his genitals for begetting nice children. That is legal and religious. Other-
wise, he may adopt many artificial means to satisfy the demands of the
genitals, and he may not use any restraint. When one indulges in illicit
sex life, as defined by the sastras, either by thinking, planning, talking
about or actually having sexual intercourse, or by satisfying the genitals
by artificial means, he is caught in the clutches of maya. (NOI 1p, 2nd last
para)
2 See SB 12.2.5p
3Material sex is but a perverted reflection of the original; the original is

found in the Absolute Truth. (TLC Ch.23)
Lust is only the perverted reflection of the love of God which is natural
for every living entity. But if one is educated in Krishna consciousness
from the very beginning, that natural love of God cannot deteriorate into
lust. When love of God deteriorates into lust, it is very difficult to return
to the normal condition. Nonetheless, Krishna consciousness is so power-
ful that even a late beginner can become a lover of God by following the
regulative principles of devotional service. (Bg 3.41p)
When a living entity comes in contact with the material creation, his eter-
nal love for Krishna is transformed into lust, in association with the mode
of passion. Or, in other words, the sense of love of God becomes trans-
formed into lust, as milk in contact with sour tamarind is transformed
into yogurt. (Bg 3.37p)
“The origin of everything is the Supreme Brahman.” Therefore the origin

of lust is also in the Supreme. If, therefore, lust is transformed into love
for the Supreme, or transformed into Krishna consciousness—or, in other
words, desiring everything for Krishna—then both lust and wrath can be
spiritualized. (Bg 3.37p)
4This sex life is the basic principle of material life—attachment for man or
woman. And when a man and woman are united, that attachment
becomes increased, and that increased attachment will induce one to
accumulate grha (a home), ksetra (land), suta (children), apta (friendship
or society) and vitta. Vita means money. In this way—grha-ksetra-sutapta-
vittai—he becomes entangled. Janasya moho ’yam: this is the illusion.
And by this illusion he thinks, aham mameti: “I am this body, and any-
119
thing in relationship with this body is mine.” (PQPA 2)
In the material world, the center of all activities is sex, and thus this
material world is called maithunya-agara, or the shackles of sex life. In
the ordinary prison house, criminals are kept within bars; similarly, the
criminals who are disobedient to the laws of the Lord are shackled by sex
life. (Bg 3.39p)
Sex life in the mundane world is the root-cause of being conditioned by

the shackles of illusion… (SB 2.4.20p)
5 One who is addicted to sexual gratification, foolishly identifying himself
with the external material body, cannot change his conception of himself
from that of an enjoyer to that of the enjoyed. (SB 11.3.54)
6 Liberation means no more material life, and the basic principle of mate-
rial life is sex. Therefore whole Vedic civilization is based on principles to
train people to become free from sex desire. (SB Lecture, 31.10.76)
A female wants male, a male wants female. This is the attraction. This is
the basic principle of binding the conditioned soul in this miserable life of
repeated birth and death. This attraction. Therefore Vedic civilization is
based on how to get out of this attraction. (SB Lecture, 26.6.72)
7 We often see that because of false pride a so-called brahmacari, or celi-

bate student of Vedic knowledge, rejects the marriage ceremony as
maya, or material illusion. But if such a celibate student is unable to con-
trol his senses he will undoubtedly degrade himself by eventually engag-
ing in illicit sex, which has no connection to Vedic culture. (SB 11.3.45p)
…if you cannot avoid, take one wife and remain as a grhastha. And
there are so many rules and regulations of grhastha life. Grhastha life is
not that “Whenever I like, I have sex.” No, that is not. There is regulated.
Once in a month. When there is menstruation, and if the wife is preg-
nant—then no more sex life. There are so many rules and regulations. (SB
Lecture, 30.10.76)
8 A grhastha is not meant to enjoy sex life without restriction. Indeed, the
whole purpose of Vedic life is to become free from sexual indulgence. All
the asramas are recognized for spiritual progress, and therefore although
the grhastha-asrama gives a kind of license for sex life for a certain time,
it does not allow unrestricted sex life. Therefore, in grhastha life also,
there is no illicit sex. A grhastha should not accept a woman for sexual
enjoyment. (SB 7.12.Summary)
120
Devotional Practice
According to Vedic civilization, one should have sex indulgence only once
in a month. That is the prescription. And when the wife is pregnant there
is no sex life. That is dharmaviruddha. That is not against the religious
principles. Even in your life, married life, if you indulge sex life more than
once in a month, or in pregnancy, that is against religious principles.
(SB Lecture 25.7.71)
9Sex with one’s wife according to the scriptural injunctions is also accepted
as brahmacarya (celibacy), but illicit sex is opposed to religious principles,
and it hampers advancement in spiritual consciousness. (SB 5.5.10-13p)
10 Unrestricted sense enjoyment is the cause of material encagement, but

one who follows the rules and regulations of the revealed scriptures does
not become entangled by the sense objects. For example, sex enjoyment
is a necessity for the conditioned soul, and sex enjoyment is allowed
under the license of marriage ties. According to scriptural injunctions, one
is forbidden to engage in sex relationships with any women other than
one’s wife. All other women are to be considered as one’s mother. But in
spite of such injunctions, a man is still inclined to have sex relationships
with other women. These propensities are to be curbed; otherwise they
will be stumbling blocks on the path of self-realization. As long as the
material body is there, the necessities of the material body are allowed,
but under rules and regulations. (Bg 3.34)
For sense enjoyment one can act in any capacity of the social order, but if
one follows the rules and regulations of his particular status, he can make
gradual progress in purifying his existence. (Bg 3.6p)
There are many purificatory processes for advancing a human being to spiri-
tual life. The marriage ceremony, for example, is considered to be one of
these sacrifices. It is called vivaha-yajēa. Should a sannyasi, who is in the
renounced order of life and who has given up his family relations, encourage
the marriage ceremony? The Lord says here that any sacrifice which is meant
for human welfare should never be given up. Vivaha-yajna, the marriage cer-
emony, is meant to regulate the human mind so that it may become peaceful
for spiritual advancement. For most men, this vivaha-yajna should be encour-
aged even by persons in the renounced order of life. (Bg 18.5)
11 Finally, you should not take part in any gambling, including so-called sports,
cinema, theatre, or any such entertainment. (Letter to Mr. Kair, 8 July 1969)
Devotee: This rule, “No gambling,” does this also include speculation?
Prabhupada: Yes. Speculation is gambling.

(Room Conversation, July 16 1968)
121
(4) the inner member shall not indulge in unnecessary indoor or out-
door games, sporting or gambling habit. (Let-
ter to Brothers, 1 January 1955)
From the very beginning, they are trained to refrain from the following
four principles of degradation: 1) sex life outside marriage, 2) intoxica-
tion, 3) meat eating, and 4) gambling and idle sports. (Let-
ter to Archbishop of Canterbury, 1969)
12 The Lord is absolute in all respects, and thus there is no difference

between Him and the subject matter heard about Him. Therefore, hear-
ing about Him means immediate contact with Him by the process of
vibration of the transcendental sound. And the transcendental sound is
so effective that it acts at once by removing all material affections men-
tioned above. (SB 1.7.7p)
13A pure devotee always engages in the service of the Lord, taking shel-
ter of His lotus feet, and therefore he has a direct connection with the
saffron mercy-particles that are strewn over the lotus feet of the Lord.
Although when a pure devotee speaks the articulation of his voice may
resemble the sound of this material sky, the voice is spiritually very pow-
erful because it touches the particles of saffron dust on the lotus feet of
the Lord. As soon as a sleeping living entity hears the powerful voice
emanating from the mouth of a pure devotee, he immediately remem-
bers his eternal relationship with the Lord, although up until that
moment he had forgotten everything.(SB 4.20.25p)
14 That devotional service begins from jihva, tongue. This tongue means
can be utilized in devotional service in two ways, namely by chanting
the holy name of God and by tasting prasadam. If one engages his
jihva, means tongue, in devotional service by chanting the holy name,
Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and tasting only Krishna-prasadam, not
anything else, then Krishna, being pleased by his devotional service, He
will manifests Himself, reveals Himself. (Srimad-Bhagavatam Lecture,
Los Angeles, 20 January 1969)
15“I shall personally inaugurate the religion of the age—nama-sankirtana,

the congregational chanting of the holy name. I shall make the world
dance in ecstasy, realizing the four mellows of loving devotional service.”
(Cc Adi 3.20)
16The religious practice for the Age of Kali is to broadcast the glories of
the holy name. Only for this purpose has the Lord, in a yellow color,
descended as Lord Caitanya. (Cc Adi 3.40)
122
Devotional Practice
17 There are offenses to be considered in chanting the Hare Krishna maha-

mantra, but there are no such considerations in chanting the names of
Gaura-Nityananda. Therefore, if one chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra
but his life is still full of sinful activities, it will be very difficult for him to
achieve the platform of loving service to the Lord. But if in spite of being an
offender one chants the holy names of Gaura-Nityananda, he is very quickly
freed from the reactions to his offenses. Therefore, one should first
approach Lord Caitanya and Nityananda, or worship Guru-Gauranga, and
then come to the stage of worshiping Radha-Krishna.
One should first take shelter of Gaura-Nityananda in order to reach, ultimate-

ly, Radha-Krishna. … It should be noted in this connection that the holy
names of Lord Krishna and Gaurasundara are both identical with the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore one should not consider one
name to be more potent than the other. Considering the position of the peo-
ple of this age, however, the chanting of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s name is
more essential than the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra because
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the most magnanimous incarnation and His
mercy is very easily achieved. Therefore one must first take shelter of Sri Cai-
tanya Mahaprabhu by chanting Sri-Krishna-Caitanya Prabhu Nityananda Sri
Advaita Gadadhara Srivasadi Gaura Bhakta-Vrnda. (Cc Adi 8.31p)
18 The name of Krishna and Krishna are nondifferent, but we cannot real-
ize this intellectually. We have to practice chanting Hare Krishna to realize
it. When we actually advance in devotional service and chant the Hare
Krishna maha-mantra offenselessly, we will realize that Krishna and His
name are nondifferent. (TLK 12)
19 Golokera prema dhana, harinama sankirtana
20 O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living
beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names like Krishna
and Govinda. In these transcendental names You have invested all Your
transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chant-
ing these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily
approach You by chanting Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that
I have no attraction for them. (Siksastaka 2)
21 Glory to the Sri Krishna sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the
dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of
repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime bene-
diction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benedic-
tion moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the
ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar
for which we are always anxious. (Siksastaka 1)
123
22“Although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality

about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one
can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the tran-
scendental kingdom. (SB 12.3.51)
“The chanting of the holy name of the Lord is able to uproot even the reac-
tions of the greatest sins. Therefore the chanting of the sankirtana move-
ment is the most auspicious activity in the entire universe.” (SB 6.3.31)
23“If a person utters the name Rama only once, he gets the result of chanti-
ng one thousand names of Visnu. And if somebody once chants the name
Krishna, he achieves the results obtained by chanting the name Rama three
times. In other words, uttering the name Krishna once is equal to uttering
three thousand other names of Visnu.” (Mukunda-mala-stotra 2)
24“Oh, how glorious are they whose tongues are chanting Your holy
name! Even if born in the families of dog-eaters, such persons are wor-
shipable. Persons who chant the holy name of Your Lordship must have
executed all kinds of austerities and fire sacrifices and achieved all the
good manners of the Aryans. To be chanting the holy name of Your Lord-
ship, they must have bathed at holy places of pilgrimage, studied the
Vedas and fulfilled everything required.” SB 3.33.7
25 See SB 6.1 onwards
There is one statement in the Nrsimha-Purana that a Muhammadan was

attacked by a white boar. They kill by the tusk of the nose. So while the
boar was killing that Muhammadan, he uttered, “Harama, harama.” Hara-
ma is an Urdu word, but this word is found in Puranas also, ha rama. Hara-
ma means condemned, condemned. So the Muhammadans, they do not
eat, I mean, the flesh of pig. Just like the Hindus, they do not eat the flesh
of cow, similarly, this flesh of pig is harama. So he did not mean Rama. He
wanted to say, “Condemned. This boar is condemned, harama.” But he got
the result of chanting ha rama, ha rama, “O my Lord Ramacandra.” He got
the result. So the holy name of Krishna, Narayana... There are hundreds and
thousands of names of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So
any name, if you chant, you get the result. (SB Lecture, 4 January 1974)
There is a verse in Nrsimha-purana that one Muhammadan died calling

harama. They say harama. Anything against their religion is called hara-
ma. So he was trapped by a boar, and the boars, the pigs, they... The
Muhammadans, they call it harama. So when he was attacked, he said,
harama. So harama. But it was taken as “Ha Rama,” “O Rama,” and he
was liberated. So it is so nice. Some way or other, practice “Ha Krishna,
Ha Rama.” Then your life is successful. (SB Lecture, 14 January 1975)
124
Devotional Practice
26Abhasa means just before sunrise, you find the darkness is off, but it is
not sunlight. It is different from sunlight, but still, there is the dawn, you
can see everything distinctly. Similarly, first there is offensive name and, if
you avoid, avoid the ten kinds of offenses, then gradually it becomes
namabhasa. (NOD Lecture, 30 October 1972)
27“Even a faint light (namabhasa) from the holy name of the Lord can
eradicate all the reactions of sinful life.” Antya 3.64
28Namacarya Haridasa Thakura, the authority on the chanting of the holy

name, said, “The chanting of the Lord’s holy name to indicate something
other than the Lord is an instance of namabhasa. Even when the holy
name is chanted in this way, its transcendental power is not destroyed.
Antya 3.56
29 “If a devotee once utters the holy name of the Lord, or if it penetrates
his mind or enters his ear, which is the channel of aural reception, that
holy name will certainly deliver him from material bondage, whether
vibrated properly or improperly, with correct or incorrect grammar, and
properly joined or vibrated in separate parts. O brahmana, the potency of
the holy name is therefore certainly great. However, if one uses the vibra-
tion of the holy name for the benefit of the material body, for material
wealth and followers, or under the influence of greed or atheism—in
other words, if one utters the name with offenses—such chanting will
not produce the desired result very soon. Therefore one should diligently
avoid offenses in chanting the holy name of the Lord.’ ” (Antya 3.60)
30 The perfection of chanting harer nama means as soon as you chant the
holy name of Krishna immediately you will see the form of Krishna, you
will realize the qualities of Krishna, you will immediately remember the
pastimes of Krishna. That is pure chanting of Hare Krishna mantra. That is
the commented by Srila Jiva Gosvami, that a pure devotee who chants
Hare Krishna mantra, immediately all these—nama, rupa, guna, lila,
parikara, vasistha... Simply by chanting name you will feel the form of
Krishna: “Here is Krishna.” Nama, rupa, guna. “Here are the qualities.
Oh, Krishna is so qualified. He is so kind. He is so magnanimous.” So
many qualities you will remember. Nama, rupa, guna, lila. Then His pas-
times. “Oh, Krishna instructed Arjuna. Krishna played with His cowherd
boys. Krishna had very nice talks with the gopis, with His mother Yaso-
da.” These things will be remembered. That is factual perfection of
chanting, that Ajamila... (Conversation, 6 September 1976)
31A pertinent analogy: A man is walking along the bank of a river carry-
ing a big sack of stones sweating under the hot sun. On the other side
are lovely people playing and laughing. They call out to the man to come
125
and join them. He really wants to cross the river, but he can’t swim across
with his sack of stones. They call out again. So he tries to swim across
with his stones…
32One should learn how to cry for the Lord. One should learn this small
technique, and he should be very eager and actually cry to become
engaged in some particular type of service. This is called laulyam, and
such tears are the price for the highest perfection. If one develops this
laulyam, or excessive eagerness for meeting and serving the Lord in a
particular way, that is the price to enter into the kingdom of God. Other-
wise, there is no material calculation for the value of the ticket by which
one can enter the kingdom of God. The only price for such entrance is
this laulyam lalasamayi, or desire and great eagerness. (NOD9)
33If one feels independent of the Lord, the Lord says, “OK, I’ll leave you to
your own devices and see how you get on.” But if one is crying out for the
Lord’s mercy like a small baby, the Lord feels very much obliged to come to
his aid. A newborn baby will similarly gain the immediate and (pretty much)
constant attention of the parents because he is totally dependent.
34 O Vrnda-Devi, I offer my respectful obeisances to your lotus feet. The

living entities who attain the service of the lotus feet of your Lord reside
in Vrndavana and the desire to understand the Lord’s amazing pastimes
of the rasa dance is only by your mercy. (SRI VRNDEVY-ASTAKA by Srila
Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
35Tulasi leaf is very, very dear to Visnu. All Visnu-tattva Deities require
profusely Tulasi leaves. Lord Visnu likes garland of Tulasi leaves. Tulasi
leaves mixed with sandalwood pulp and placed on the lotus feet of the
Lord is the topmost worship. (Letter to Govinda, 7 April 1970)
36But we must be very careful that Tulasi leaves cannot be placed on the
feet of anyone else than Lord Visnu and His different forms. Tulasi leaves
cannot be placed even on the lotus feet of Radharani or on the lotus feet
of the Spiritual Master. It is entirely reserved for being placed on the lotus
feet of Krishna. We can place, however, Tulasi leaves in the hands of Rad-
harani for being placed on the lotus feet of Krishna, as you have seen on
the Govinda Album. (Letter to Govinda, 7 April 1970)
37 EIGHT NAMES OF TULASI DEVI
VRINDAVANI - One who first manifested in Vrindavan.

VRINDA - The goddess of all plant and trees.
VISHVAPUJITA - One whom the whole universe worships.
PUSHPASARA - The topmost of all flowers, without whom Krishna does
126
Devotional Practice
not like to look upon other flowers.

NANDINI - Seeing whom gives unlimited bliss to the devotees.
KRISHNA-JIVANI - The life of Sri Krishna.
VISHVA-PAVANI - One who purifies the three worlds.
TULASI - One who has no comparison.
Anyone while worshipping Tulasi Devi chants these eight names will get
the same results as one who performs the Ashwamedha sacrifice. And
one who on the full-moon day of Kartik (Tulsi devi’s appearance day)
worships Her with this Mantra will break free from the bonds of this mis-
erable world of birth and death, and very quickly attains Goloka Vrnda-
van. On the full moon-day of Kartik Lord Sri Krishna Himself worships Sri-
mati Tulasi Devi with this Mantra. One who remembers this Mantra will
very quickly attain devotion to Lord Krishna’s Transcendental Lotus Feet.
38“Why just twenty-five rounds? You should chant as many as possible.

Real Ekadasi means fasting and chanting and no other business. When
one observes fasting, the chanting becomes easier. So on Ekadasi other
business can be suspended as far as possible, unless there is some urgent
business.” (Letter to Jadurani, 9 July 1971)
Bhoga cooked and offered by neophyte as opposed to that done by a

39
maha-bhagavat devotee.
40The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sin because they
eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for
personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin. (Bg 3.33)
41 Once Srila Prabhupada was in India at a Pandal Program attended by many

transcendentalists invited from all kinds of groups, most of them Mayavadis.
The audience was completely bored and falling asleep from hearing the same
old dry impersonal philosophy again and again. When the devotees appeared
and led a big kirtana, everyone became enlivened and danced and sang
along. Prabhupada was dissatisfied with all the Mayavadi talk that had gone
on, and when he came on to speak he simply said, “So many people can say
so many things, but we will simply eat our way back to Godhead,” and he
popped a sandesh in his mouth. “Let the kirtana continue!”
42“You are most fortunate, and your endeavor is successful, for you have
offered such wonderful food to Radha-Krishna. The color of the rice is so
attractive and its aroma so good that it appears Radha and Krishna have
directly taken it. My dear Bhattacarya, your fortune is very great. How
much shall I praise you? I also am very fortunate to be able to take the
remnants of this food.” (Lord Caitanya to Bhattacarya, Cc Madhya
15.228-230)
127
43Simply by decorating ourselves with the garlands, fragrant oils, clothes

and ornaments that You have already enjoyed, and by eating the rem-
nants of Your meals, we, Your servants, will indeed conquer Your illusory
energy. (SB 11.6.26)
44 Once, Prabhupada’s servant brought in Prabhupada’s lunch while Prab-

hupada was in the middle of an animated (heated) discussion with his
GBC men. Prabhupada accepted the prasadam and while he did so, he
didn’t speak one more word. He was calm and collected. He took his
time. Meanwhile, his GBC men stood around and waited patiently.
Observers said that Prabhupada’s eating was like a kind of worship. Forty-
five minutes later when Prabhupada had eaten to his full satisfaction, the
plate was taken away and he washed himself. And then he got back into
the discussion in full swing.
47 I am very glad to note that you are now realizing that without execut-
ing the regular routine work of spiritual life nobody can grow in spiritual
strength and without spiritual strength nobody can preach the Krishna
Consciousness Movement. (Letter to Gargamuni, 23 August 1970)
48“Preaching means that you have to turn the rascals and unfortunate to
become intelligent and fortunate.” (Bhagavad-gita Lecture, 29 January
1975)
“And preaching means to propagate or to vibrate what Krishna has

said.” (SB Lecture, 20 May 1975)
“Because people are ignorant, we have to enlighten them. That is

preaching.” (Morning Walk, 2 December 1973)
“Krishna consciousness preaching means to convince them that there is

life like this (in the spiritual world).” (Morning Walk, 5 January 1974)
“This (temple construction) is also preaching. So it is not that preaching

means simply talking. Preaching means everything. The construction is
also preaching. The designing is also preaching. Everything is... Otherwise
what is the use of spending so much money if it is not preaching?”
(Morning Walk, 14 Mar 74)
“Our preaching means to turn demons into devotees.” (Morning Walk,

29 August 1975)
“Preaching means to make Jagai-Madhai a devotee.” (Morning Talk, 25

April 1977)
128
Devotional Practice
“Preaching means to convert Mayavadis to Vaisnava.” (Room Conversa-

tion, 1 November 1977)
“Preaching means to recruit more and more men.” (Letter to Karandhara,

1 January 1971)
“Preaching means to increase our family members” (Letter to Cit-

sukhananda, 1 June 1973)
Expressions Synonymous to Preaching: spreading/propagating this Krishna

consciousness movement/the sankirtana movement/the glories of Lord
Krishna; re-connecting the conditioned souls to Krishna
49Following the examples of the previous acaryas, all the members of the
Krishna consciousness movement should try to benefit the conditioned
souls by inducing them to become Krishna conscious and giving them all
facilities to do so. Such activities constitute real welfare work. By such
activities, a preacher or anyone who endeavors to spread Krishna con-
sciousness is recognized by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (SB
6.4.44)
The best friend and benefactor of all people is one who awakens human-
ity to its original Krishna consciousness. (SB 4.22.47p)
50“According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout

the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper plane-
tary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems.
Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortu-
nate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by
the grace of Krishna. By the mercy of both Krishna and the spiritual mas-
ter, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.”
(Cc Mad 19.151)
My Guru Maharaja used to say, prana arthe yanra sei hetu pracara.
51
“One who has got life, he can preach.” (Morning Walk, 13 July 1974)
52Those who are active in the Krishna consciousness movement should

not remain in the neophyte stage but should rise to the platform of
preachers, the second platform of devotional service. Devotional service is
so enchanting that even the first-class devotees (uttama-adhikaris) also
come down to the second platform to preach and render service to the
Lord for the benefit of the whole world. (Cc Mad.24.205)
129
Unless one comes to the madhyama-adhikara, he cannot preach. Because

in the uttama-adhikara there is no need of preaching, because uttama-
adhikara, he sees everything good. He does not think anyone is lacking
Krishna consciousness. He says everyone is Krishna conscious, “Simply I
am not Krishna conscious.” (Nectar of Devotion Lectures, 4 November
1972)
53Narada Muni – Vyasadeva (SB 1.6), sons of Daksa (SB 6.5), Prahlada &
Kayadhu (SB 7.7)
Lord Brahma – Priyovrata (SB 5.1)
Lord Siva – sons of Pracinibarhi (SB 4.24), Parvarti (SB 4.2)
Lord Kapila – Devahuti (SB 3.25-32)
Prahlada Maharaja – sons of demons (SB 7.8)
Grandfather Bhisma – Yudhisthira (SB 1.9)
Bali Maharaja – Sukracarya (SB 8.20)
Sukadeva Gosvami – Maharaja Pariksit (throughout)
Yamaraja – Yamadutas (SB 6.3), wives of King Suyajna (SB 7.2.27-59)
130

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A few words about this book

ISKCON's congregational groups, variously termed nama-hatta, sanga, bhakti-

4. Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto One

5. Teachings of Lord Chaitanya

6. Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

9. Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto Two, Canto Six

10. Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita

11. Srimad Bhagavatam, remaining Cantos.

Bhaktivedanta Manor Training and Education Department

The Articles Used in an Arati-Ceremony: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Practical Devotional Service 9

Practical Devotional Service

What is service really? Think of some examples of service from everyday

How do you know what is really going to be a service to someone?

What is the relationship between service and love?

"Service is the sign of . . .

How do you know he is devoted?

How would you define devotional service to the Supreme Lord?

"Bhakti, or devotional service, means __________________________

______________________________________________. By this process,

The Basic Principle of

The basic principle of devotional service is detachment

Devotional service means mukti, freedom from material entanglement

The underlying principle of devotional service is unalloyed love for

By absorbing our senses in activities centred around Krishna, we cultivate

Suggest some examples:

Further reading: Bhag. 9.4.18-20 or Bg. 2.61p (a famous verse

Two Main Branches of

bhagavata-vidhi (or -marga):

Bhagavata-vidhi is more important:

Both are important for cultivating Vaisnavism but

"Some behave very well

but do not preach the

both duties in relation to

But Pancaratrika-vidhi is still essential:

Srila Jiva Gosvami says that although sankirtana is

Therefore Both Are Required:

The Krishna consciousness movement accepts both

Bhagavata-marga will help the pancaratrika-marga, or process, and

The Golden Rule of Bhakti

smartavyah satatam visnur

"Vishnu should always be remembered and never forgotten at any

Life is full of ups and downs. An inexperienced devotee will especially

You are sick in bed. On one

Who do you listen to?

What symptoms of material disease do you see in yourself and want

What signs of spiritual health do you want to see develop in

l The means to achieve an end

In his books, Srila Prabhupada describes sadhana-bhakti (or the means to

l Devotional service performed according to the rules and

Two main categories or levels of Sadhana-bhakti:

Raganuga-bhakti: service performed out of spontaneous attraction.

One can compare it to a car that needs to be pushed to get it going.

Therefore in the beginning, the newcomer in spiritual life must render

The Daily Schedule 19

The Daily Schedule

Beginners Daily Programme:

The Appearance of a Vaishnava:

This appearance is both simple and aesthetically pleasing. It reminds the

Mind: satisfaction, , gravity, __ and purification of