WELCOME
Bhakti-Sadäcära
(Krishna Conscious
Behaviour)
Course
INTRODUCTION AND ADMINISTRATION
1. ‘Bhakti-Sadacara’ Study Guide
2. Self-assessment, no test
3. Register, Certification
4. Classroom clean-up / Set-up
5. Prasadam
6. Class Timings
7. Dramas and Group presentations
8. Other…
ETIQUETTE IN CLASS FOR
STUDENTS AND FACILITATORS
1. We will be punctual for classes.
2. We will be present for the entire duration of the class
except for emergencies.
3. We will value all contributions whether or not we agree
with them.
4. We will not borrow strength from status or position.
5. We will discuss issues or behaviour, not people.
6. We will maintain confidentiality. Dissatisfaction can be
discussed in this forum only.
7. We will appreciate others’ strengths and successes. We
will be sensitive to others’ weaknesses and failures.
8. We will co-operate fully even at the expense of individual
interests for the higher purpose of purification resulting
in spiritual advancement.
STUDENT SELF ASSESSMENT
Expectations
Before the After the
Course
Course
At the end of the course I expect to ..
know…
improve…
realize…
understand…
lessen / increase…
commit…
be inspired/encouraged…
be more serious…
Grading : A = 81-100%, B = 61-80%, C = 41-60%, D = 21-40%, E = 0-20%
STUDENT SELF ASSESSMENT
Expectations
Before the After the
Course
Course
At the end of the course I expect to
Lessen my offences to devotees
At the end of the course I expect to
Improve my relationships with
devotees
Grading : A = 81-100%, B = 61-80%, C = 41-60%, D = 21-40%, E = 0-20%
…it is the characteristic of a
devotee to observe and
protect the Vaisnava
etiquette.
Maintenance of the Vaisnava
etiquette is the ornament of a
devotee.
For spiritual advancement, one should be
materially satisfied with bare necessities
• Members of the Krsna consciousness movement chant a minimum of
sixteen rounds a day, which can be done without difficulty.
• (CC Antya-lila 4.103)
• What is the difficulty?
• For spiritual advancement, one should be materially satisfied, for if
one is not materially satisfied, his greed for material development will
result in the frustration of his spiritual advancement. There are two
things that nullify all good qualities. One is poverty. Daridra-doso
guna-rasi-nasi. If one is poverty-stricken, all his good qualities
become null and void. Similarly, if one becomes too greedy, his good
qualifications are lost. Therefore the adjustment is that one should not
be poverty-stricken, but one must try to be fully satisfied with the bare
necessities of life and not be greedy. For a devotee to be satisfied
with the bare necessities is therefore the best advice for spiritual
advancement. [SB 1-15.21 pp]
Summary of LESSON TWO
• 2.1 THE GOAL: ETERNAL IDENTITY
• "Who am I?" pure living entity; a spirit soul,
eternal part and parcel of the Supreme Soul,
Krsna, His eternal servant.
• Servant of the Lord’s servants
• The service attitude is the svarupa, or real
form, of the living entity.
• 2.2 FOUNDATION OF BHAKTI-SADACARA
is to chant a minimum of 16 rounds of ‘Hare
Krishna’ Maha Mantra japa daily
Group Presentations Guidelines and Topics
• 1. The group presentation should be between 10 to 15 minutes,
including questions and answers.
• 2. The group may change/adjust the suggested topic/s in consultation
with the course facilitator.
• 3. Presentations should include a short drama.
• 4. Presentations may include use of charts, pictorial drawings,
diagrams, visual aids, power-point, debates, etc.
• 5. Presentations should practically apply to situations in ISKCON.
Examples from sastra should be illustrated in a manner that devotees
can apply in advancing in Krishna consciousness.
• 6. A group may include members from other groups for part of their
presentation, eg. for drama or debate participation.
• 7. Wherever applicable, the following should be covered in the
presentations: Philosophical points, difficult concepts(if appropriate),
relevance to the modern world, Srila Prabhupäda's mood and mission,
practical challenges for devotees, suggested solutions to challenges
and other points the group may feel are of importance.
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GROUP A
Refer to LESSON THREE from pages 10 to 12
Explain ‘niyamägraha’ in relation to ‘eagerness to accept rules and
regulations’ and ‘failure to accept rules and regulations’.
GROUP B
Refer to LESSON THREE from pages 10 to 12
Illustrate ‘breaking a lesser rule for a higher rule’ in relation to ‘all
women should be addressed as “Mother”’.
GROUP C
Refer to LESSON FIVE on pages 23 and 24
Illustrate the differences between ‘imitation’ and ‘following’ in Krishna
consciousness.
GROUP D
Refer to LESSON SIX on pages 25 and 26
Illustrate examples of :
- Blasphemy to a Vaisnava for previous sinful activities prior to one’s
surrender to Lord Krishna.
- Blasphemy to a Vaisnava for the last traces of his/her previous sins
or faults that are almost rectified.
GROUP E
Refer to LESSON SIX on pages 25 and 26
What should you do(or not do) if you are not forgiven, although you
sincerely begged for forgiveness.
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GROUP F
Refer to LESSON SEVEN on page 27
Illustrate two examples of wrongly correcting others.
And then illustrate two examples of properly correcting others.
GROUP G
Refer to LESSON SEVEN on page 27
Why is it difficult for a devotee to accept correction or criticism from
another devotee?
GROUP H
Refer to LESSON EIGHT on pages 28 and 29
Is it always possible to only eat Krishna prasadam?
GROUP I
Refer to LESSON EIGHT on pages 28 and 29
Make ten common mistakes while serving and honoring prasadam.
GROUP J
Refer to LESSON ELEVEN on pages 36 to 38
Illustrate ways to overcome Mayavadi philosophy in relation to
impersonalism amongst devotees.
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niyama – rules and regulations
āgraha – eagerness to accept
agraha – failure to accept
niyamāgraha
REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES:
1. No meat-eating
2. No intoxication
3. No gambling
4. No illicit-sex
Always remember
KRISHNA
And never forget
HIM
Breaking a lesser rule for a higher rule
Understanding the fatigue of the devotees, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stopped the
congregational chanting. Then He bathed in the sea, accompanied by them all.
Then Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took prasadam with all of them and then asked them to
return to their dwellings and take rest.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu lay down at the door of the Gambhira, and Govinda came
there to massage His legs. It was a steady, long-standing rule that Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu would lie down to rest after lunch and Govinda would come to massage His
legs. Then Govinda would honor the remnants of food left by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
This time when the Lord lay down, He occupied the entire doorway. Govinda could not
enter the room, and therefore he made the following request.
Govinda said, "Kindly turn on one side. Let me pass to enter the room."
However, the Lord replied, "I don't have the strength to move My body."
Govinda made his request again and again, but the Lord replied, "I cannot move My
body."
Govinda repeatedly requested, "I want to massage Your legs."
But the Lord said, "Do it or don't do it. It depends upon your mind."
Then Govinda spread the Lord's wrapper over His body and in this way
entered the room by crossing over the Lord.
Breaking a lesser rule for a higher rule (Cont’d.)
Govinda massaged the Lord's legs as usual. He pressed the Lord's waist and back very
softly, and thus all the Lord's fatigue went away. As Govinda stroked His body, the
Lord slept very nicely for about forty-five minutes, and then His sleep broke. When Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw Govinda sitting by His side, He was somewhat angry.
"Why have you been sitting here for so long today?" the Lord asked. "Why didn't you
go to take your meal after I fell asleep?" the Lord asked.
Govinda replied, "You were lying down, blocking the door, and there was no way to go."
The Lord asked, "How did you enter the room? Why didn't you go out to take your
lunch in the same way?"
Govinda mentally replied, "My duty is to serve, even if I have to commit offenses or go
to hell.
"I would not mind committing hundreds and thousands of offenses for the service of
the Lord, but I greatly fear committing even a glimpse of an offense for my own self."
Thinking in this way, Govinda kept silent. He did not reply to the Lord's inquiry.
It was Govinda's practice to go take lunch when the Lord was asleep. On that day,
however, seeing the Lord's weariness, Govinda continued massaging His body.
There was no way to go. How could he leave? When he thought of
crossing over the Lord's body, he considered it a great offense.
These are some of the finer points of etiquette in devotional service. Only one who
has received the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu can understand these principles.
The Lord is very interested in manifesting the exalted qualities of His devotees, and
that is why He engineered this incident.
Thus I have briefly described Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's dancing in the hall of the
Jagannatha temple. The servants of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sing about this dancing
even now.
[CC, Antya Lila, Ch 10, Text 80-102]
Transgressing a lesser rule for a
higher rule
From the character of Govinda it is to be
learned that we may sometimes commit
offenses for the service of the Lord, but not for
sense gratification – Srila Prabhupada
CC,Antya Lila, Ch 10, excerpt from chapter summary: Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu Accepts Prasadam from His Devotees
Ripened or Unripened –
Mango is always good
• Sometimes unripened stage also, it is very palatable.
So many are charged(?). (laughter) You see? It is so
nice, mango is so nice, either ripened or unripened, it
is always good. And that goodness may be tasted by
different types of men. But mango is always good.
Mango is mango, phala ka raja, "King of all fruits." So
devotional service is king of all processes of God
realization. That is its position always, either ripened
or unripe. It doesn't matter.
• Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.3.16-17 -- Gorakhpur,
February 10, 1971
By devotional service only is one elevated to the
transcendental planet Goloka Vrndavana, and there also
there is only devotional service, for the activities of
devotional service both in this world and in the spiritual
world are one and the same. Devotional service does not
change. The example of a mango can be given here. If one
gets an unripe mango, it is still a mango, and when it is ripe
it remains the same mango, but it has become more
tasteful and relishable. Similarly, there is devotional
service performed according to the direction of the
spiritual master and the injunctions and regulative
principles of sastra, and there is devotional service in the
spiritual world, rendered directly in association with the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. But they are both the
same. There is no change. The difference is that one stage
is unripe and the other is ripe and more relishable. It is
possible to mature in devotional service only in the
association of devotees.
SB. 4.9.11 Purport
Condensed
Sweetness
Sweet
Sour-Sweet
Sour
Bitter-Sour
Bitter Mango
HUMILITY
100%
T
O
L
E
R
A
N
C
E
0%
TRUTHFULNESS (HONESTY)
4.2 NOR DOES A DEVOTEE
BECOME HIS ENEMY’S ENEMY
• A pure devotee is never disturbed in any
circumstances. Nor is he envious of anyone. Nor
does a devotee become his enemy's enemy; he
thinks, "This person is acting as my enemy due to my
own past misdeeds. So it is better to suffer than to
protest.“… Whenever a devotee is in distress or has
fallen into difficulty, he thinks that it is the Lord's
mercy upon him. He thinks, "Thanks to my past
misdeeds I should suffer far, far greater than I am
suffering now. So it is by the mercy of the Supreme
Lord that I am not getting all the punishment I am
due. I am just getting a little, by the mercy of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead."
• (Bg 12.13-14 purport)
DRESS OF A DEVOTEE
• Queen Draupadi had a beautiful bunch of hair which was
sanctified in the ceremonial function of Rajasuya-yajna. But
when she was lost in a bet, Duhsasana touched her glorified
hair to insult her. Draupadi then fell down at the lotus feet of
Lord Krsna, and Lord Krsna decided that all the wives of
Duhsasana and company should have their hair loosened as a
result of the Battle of Kuruksetra. Thus after the Battle of
Kuruksetra, after all the sons and grandsons of Dhrtarastra died
in battle, all the wives of the family were obliged to loosen their
hair as widows. In other words, all the wives of the Kuru family
became widows because of Duhsasana's insulting a great
devotee of the Lord. The Lord can tolerate insults upon Himself
by any miscreant because the father tolerates even insults from
the son. But He never tolerates insults upon His devotees. By
insulting a great soul, one has to forego all the results of pious
acts and benedictions also. (SB 1.15.10 purport)
LESSON FIVE
5.1 DECORATIONS AND DRESS OF A
VAISNAVA
• You are how you dress
• Without speaking, one can preach simply by
one’s decorations and dress
• People are easily attracted and repulsed by
externals
• Decorate and dress oneself for the pleasure
of Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga
• Decorate and dress oneself for bringing
others to practice Krishna consciousness
5.2 IMITATION AND FOLLOWING
• However, one should not imitate the behavior
of an advanced devotee or maha-bhagavata
without being self-realized, for by such
imitation one will eventually become
degraded. (NOI, text 5 purport)
• The devotee should also know his own
position and should not try to imitate a
devotee situated on a higher platform. (NOI,
text 5 purport)
Imitation of a good thing is desired
• In some areas, people begin to imitate the
devotees by shaving their heads and
chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, only a
few days after hearing the mantra. This may
be imitative, but imitation of a good thing is
desired. Some imitators gradually become
interested in being initiated by the spiritual
master and offer themselves for initiation.
• (NOI, text 5 purport)
Devotees, but not pure Devotees
• O best among the Bharatas, four kinds of pious men begin to render
devotional service unto Me -- the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the
inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.
•
• … These persons come to the Supreme Lord for devotional service
under different conditions. These are not pure devotees, because they
have some aspiration to fulfill in exchange for devotional service. Pure
devotional service is without aspiration and without desire for material
profit. The Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.1.11) defines pure devotion thus:
• anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam
• anukulyena krsnanusilanam bhaktir uttama [Cc. Madhya 19.167]
• "One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme
Lord Krsna favorably and without desire for material profit or gain
through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called
pure devotional service.“ [ Bg 7.16 translation and purport]
Neophyte devotee disturbs the Lord
• A neophyte devotee, of course, approaches the Supreme Lord
for relief from distress or poverty, or for speculative knowledge
of the Lord. Bhagavad-gita (7.16) mentions four kinds of pious
men who begin devotional service to the Lord -- one who is
distressed (arta), one in need of money (artharthi), one who is
inquisitive (jijnasu) and one who is searching for the Absolute
Truth (jnani). A pure devotee, however, knows that since the
Lord is omnipresent and omniscient, there is no need to offer
prayers or worship Him for one's personal benefit. A pure
devotee always engages in the service of the Lord without
demanding anything. The Lord is present everywhere and
knows the necessities of His devotees; consequently there is no
need to disturb Him by asking Him for material benefits.
• [SB 6.9.42 pp]
Not actually devotees
• Initiation into bhakti begins when one is in a distressed condition
or in want of money, or when one is inquisitive to understand the
Absolute Truth. Nonetheless, people who approach the
Supreme Lord in this way are not actually devotees. They are
accepted as pious (sukrtinah) due to their inquiring about the
Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Not
knowing the various activities and engagements of the Lord,
such people unnecessarily disturb the Lord for material gain.
However, the Lord is so kind that even though disturbed, He
fulfills the desires of such beggars. The pure devotee is
anyabhilasita-sunya; he has no motive behind his worship. He is
not conducted by the influence of maya in the form of karma or
jnana. The pure devotee is always prepared to execute the
order of the Lord without personal consideration. [SB 5.3.15 pp]
Everyone is encouraged to engage in
devotional service
•
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Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.3.10) therefore recommends:
akamah sarva-kamo va
moksa-kama udara-dhih
tivrena bhakti-yogena
yajeta purusam param
Everyone-whether akama (a devotee), sarva-kama (a
karmi) or moksa-kama (a jnani or yogi) -- is
encouraged to worship the Supreme Personality of
Godhead by the direct method of devotional service.
In this way one can get both material and spiritual
profit simultaneously. [SB 4.21.34 pp]
Chaste Devotee
• Kunti is described herein as sati, or chaste, due to her unalloyed
devotion to Lord Sri Krsna. Her mind will now be expressed in the
following prayers for Lord Krsna. A chaste devotee of the Lord does
not look to others, namely any other living being or demigod, even
for deliverance from danger. That was all along the characteristic of
the whole family of the Pandavas. They knew nothing except Krsna,
and therefore the Lord was also always ready to help them in all
respects and in all circumstances. That is the transcendental nature
of the Lord. He reciprocates the dependence of the devotee. One
should not, therefore, look for help from imperfect living beings or
demigods, but one should look for all help from Lord Krsna, who is
competent to save His devotees. Such a chaste devotee also never
asks the Lord for help, but the Lord, out of His own accord, is always
anxious to render it. [SB 1.8.17 pp]
We should not strain Krishna
• Yes, I agree the construction of a temple in Calcutta
should wait until we finish our present projects which
we have undertaken. We should not accept projects
which will strain us. Bombay was a great strain, but
Krsna has now given it to us. Henceforth we should
not accept too much strain. It was a very bitter
experience for me in Bombay. As Nair's party was
determined not to let us have the land I was more
determined to take it at any cost. Krsna has helped
us, but we should not strain Krsna by such action.
• ( SP Letter to: Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 11
January, 1974)
Vaisnava
Apa
deviate
same
radha
internal potency
difference
Is vaisnava-aparadha more sinful than
material sins?
• The conclusion is that if Krsna consciousness is
covered by material sins, one can eliminate the sins
simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, but if one
pollutes his Krsna consciousness by offending a
brahmana or a Vaisnava, one cannot revive it until
one properly atones for the sin by pleasing the
offended Vaisnava or brahmana. This was the course
that Durvasa Muni had to follow, for he surrendered
unto Maharaja Ambarisa. A vaisnava-aparadha
cannot be atoned for by any means other than by
begging the pardon of the offended Vaisnava.
• (SB 4.26.24 purport)
6.1.2 Four Kinds of Blasphemy to a
Vaisnava
• a) To blaspheme a Vaisnava for his/her apparent
low birth or caste.
• b) To blaspheme a Vaisnava for previous sinful
activities prior to one’s surrender to Lord Krishna.
• c) To blaspheme a Vaisnava for some
unpremeditated accidental falldown.
• d) To blaspheme a Vaisnava for the last traces of
his/her previous sins or faults that are almost
rectified.
• What should you do if you realized
that you have offended a devotee?
• What should you do if you realized
that you have offended a devotee,
but you do not have the courage or
potency or needed-strength to
approach the devotee for
forgiveness?
• What should you do if you begged
for forgiveness, but the offended
devotee superficially forgives you?
• What should you do if you begged
for forgiveness, but the offended
devotee does not forgive you?
• What should you do if a devotee
approaches you to beg for
forgiveness?
• The devotee approaches you to
beg for forgiveness. But you have
been so deeply hurt that you
cannot forgive the offender. What
should you do?
6.2 FORGIVENESS
• It is said that forgiveness is a quality of
those who are advancing in spiritual
knowledge.” (SB 4.20.3 purport)
• To get freedom from anger, one should
learn how to forgive. (SB 1.9.27 purport)
Cooperative Behavior Between Vaisnavas
•
•
•
•
TRANSLATION
As King Indra was standing by, he became ashamed of his own activities and
fell down before King Prthu to touch his lotus feet. But Prthu Maharaja
immediately embraced him in great ecstasy and gave up all envy against him for
his having stolen the horse meant for the sacrifice.
PURPORT
There are many cases in which a person becomes an offender to the lotus feet
of a Vaisnava and later becomes repentant. Here also we find that although the
King of heaven, Indra, was so powerful that he accompanied Lord Visnu, he felt
himself a great offender for stealing Prthu Maharaja's horse that was meant for
sacrifice. An offender at the lotus feet of a Vaisnava is never excused by the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. … Indra decided to fall down at the lotus feet
of King Prthu, but the King was so magnanimous a Vaisnava that he did not
want Maharaja Indra to fall down at his feet. Instead, King Prthu immediately
picked him up and embraced him, and both of them forgot all the past incidents.
Both King Indra and Maharaja Prthu were envious and angry with each other,
but since both of them were Vaisnavas, or servants of Lord Visnu, it was their
duty to adjust the cause of their envy. This is also a first-class example of
cooperative behavior between Vaisnavas. In the present days, however,
because people are not Vaisnavas, they fight perpetually among one another
and are vanquished without finishing the mission of human life. There is a great
need to propagate the Krsna consciousness movement in the world so that even
though people sometimes become angry and malicious toward one another,
because of their being Krsna conscious such rivalry, competition and envy can
be adjusted without difficulty. [ SB 4.20.18 ]
Why co-operate?
• Your love for me will be shown by how much you cooperate to keep this institution together after I am
gone.' (Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta)
•
• Srila Prabhupada emphasised, ‘Your love for me will
be tested how after my departure you maintain this
institution. We have glamour, and people are feeling
our weight. This should be maintained. Not like
Gaudiya Math. After Guru Maharaja's departure so
many acaryas came up.' (TKG's Diary)
SENIOR by :
– Age
– Time of Initiation
– Managerial Position
– Administrative Position
– Spiritual Position
ADVANCED by one’s Krishna
consciousness
8.1 HONORING PRASADAM or FOOD?
TRANSLATION
"When one eats food offered by a materialistic man, one's mind
becomes contaminated, and when the mind is contaminated, one is
unable to think of Krsna properly.
PURPORT
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura suggests that people who are
materialistically inclined and sahajiyas, or so-called Vaisnavas who take
everything very casually, are both visayis, or materialists. Eating food
offered by them causes contamination, and as a result of such
contamination, even a serious devotee becomes like a materialistic
man. …One should very carefully avoid associating with both the
sahajiyas, who are sometimes known as Vaisnavas, and the nonVaisnavas, or avaisnavas. Their association changes the
transcendental devotional service of Lord Krsna into sense gratification,
and when sense gratification enters the mind of a devotee, he is
contaminated. The materialistic person who aspires after sense
gratification cannot properly think of Krsna. [CC Antya 6.278]
8.2 SERVING(OFFERING) PRASADAM
• bhunkte bhojayate caiva
•
We should also invite pure devotees to
our home, offer them prasada and be
prepared to please them in all respects.
• [NOI,Text Four purport, p39]
ASSOCIATION WITH THOSE DEVOID
OF DEVOTION TO THE LORD
1. Mayavadis
2. Pretenders
3. Atheists
One who does not believe in
.
The Missionary’s
Family Spirit
Our Mission:
Spreading Krsna consciousness
• prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama
• sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama
• "In every town and village, the chanting of My name will be
heard." (Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya 4.126 or CC, Madhya
25.264 purport)
• Spreading Krsna consciousness is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's
mission; therefore His sincere devotees must carry out His
desire.
• The devotees of Lord Caitanya must preach Krsna
consciousness in every village and town in the world. That will
satisfy the Lord.
• It is the duty of every disciple to carry out the order of the bona
fide spiritual master and spread Lord Caitanya's message all
over the world.
• (CC, Madhya 16.64 purport)
Our Mood: Care for Devotees
•
•
The Lord and Devotees Care for each other
The devotees, therefore, are under the direct care of the Lord. And the Lord
also voluntarily puts Himself under the care of His devotees only. (SB 1.9.47
purport)
•
•
Spiritual Master's Care
The Lord, being full and free from problems, can wholeheartedly care for His
devotees. His concern is how to elevate and protect all those who have taken
shelter at His feet. The same responsibility is also entrusted to the spiritual
master. The bona fide spiritual master's concern is how the devotees who
have surrendered to him as a representative of the Lord may make progress
in devotional service. (CC,Adi 1.62 purport)
•
•
Temple President’s Care
I am also glad to hear that in your temple no one misses mangala arati and
that everyone is becoming steady and peaceful in their service. It sounds as
if you are taking care of your men very nicely. This is first class management.
Please continue in this kind of management. (SP Letter to: Kurusrestha -Bombay 28 December, 1974)
Our Mood: Care for Devotees (continued)
•
•
Caring for Devotees Who are Sick
One of the symptoms of a devotee is that he is kind, so if our Godbrother
becomes ill it is our duty to help him get the proper medicine and treatment so
that he can recover. Recently our Giriraja became chronically ill in India and
had to return to the U.S. for proper medical treatment. There, in our Los
Angeles center, he was given his own room, and was able to recuperate
comfortably, and now he has returned to his full duties in Bombay. Now Tamala
Krsna Goswami has just had a successful hernia operation which was
arranged free of charge at one of the most modern hospitals, and there is also
a girl devotee undergoing operation there also. Tamala Krsna is now living in a
room at our temple; the devotees see that he gets all facility, a hospital bed,
proper prasadam, and personal care and visiting. (SP Letter to: Sukadeva Bombay 5 April, 1974)
Lord Kapila Speaks [SB 3.31.35]
na tathasya bhaven moho
bandhas canya-prasangatah
yosit-sangad yatha pumso
yatha tat-sangi-sangatah
SYNONYMS
na -- not; tatha -- in that manner; asya -- of this man; bhavet -- may arise;
mohah -- infatuation; bandhah -- bondage; ca -- and; anya-prasangatah -from attachment to any other object; yosit-sangat -- from attachment to
women; yatha -- as; pumsah -- of a man; yatha -- as; tat-sangi -- of men
who are fond of women; sangatah -- from the fellowship.
TRANSLATION
The infatuation and bondage which accrue to a man from attachment to any
other object is not as complete as that resulting from attachment to a
woman or to the fellowship of men who are fond of women.
Understanding
PURPORT
Attachment to women is so
contaminating that one becomes
attached to the condition of material
life not only by the association of
women but by the contaminated
association of persons who are too
attached to them. There are many
reasons for our conditional life in the
material world, but the topmost of all
such causes is the association of
women, …Only in one order, the
householder, is there license to mix
with women under restricted
conditions. In other words, attraction
for woman's association is the
cause of the material conditional
life, and anyone interested in being
freed from this conditional life must
detach himself from the association of
women.
[SB 3.31.35]
Who is being addressed (or spoken to) in the above verse and purport?
Understanding
Who is being addressed (or spoken to) in the above verse and purport?
asat-sanga-tyaga, -- ei vaisnava-acara 'stri-sangi' -- eka asadhu, ‘krsnabhakta' ara
Association ‘with men too much attached to women’ [Madhya 22.88–90]
Association with persons who are not spiritually advanced is forbidden. Lord Caitanya advised,
asat-sanga-tyaga: one should avoid persons who are attached to the temporary. Asat is one who
is too materially attached, who is not a devotee of the Lord and who is too attached to women or
enjoyable material things. Such a person, according to Vaisnava philosophy, is a persona non
grata. [SB 3.29.18]
Illicit association with women outside of marriage
What are the symptoms of the age of Kali? They are (1) illicit connection with women, (2)
indulgence in meat-eating, (3) intoxication and (4) taking pleasure in gambling.
[SB 1.16.10]
Association with one’s wife not according to religious principles
Sex life with one's wife is equal to prostitution if the regulations are not properly followed.
[SB 3.14.33pp]
When the wife is accepted as a sense gratificatory agency, personal beauty is the main
consideration, and as soon as there is a break in personal sense gratification, there is disruption
or divorce.
[SB 3.14.19]
Preaching Application
Women, due to not receiving proper
care, affection and protection - lose
faith and trust in men …
Then men give women ‘liberation’
I see in your country that the girls
are being exploited. They are
taught to be independent so they
become the playthings for sex. So
where is the freedom? I want that
they live, man and wife together,
chant Hare Krishna and be happy.
[SP Letter, 26 September, 1975]
Academic Integrity
Now, in the Manu-samhita it is clearly stated that a woman should not
be given freedom. That does not mean that women are to be kept as
slaves, but they are like children. Children are not given freedom,
but that does not mean that they are kept as slaves. The demons
have now neglected such injunctions, and they think that women
should be given as much freedom as men. However, this has not
improved the social condition of the world. Actually, a woman should
be given protection at every stage of life. She should be given
protection by the father in her younger days, by the husband in her
youth, and by the grownup sons in her old age. This is proper social
behavior according to the Manu-samhita. But modern education has
artificially devised a puffed -- up concept of womanly life, and
therefore marriage is practically now an imagination in human
society. Nor is the moral condition of woman very good now. The
demons, therefore, do not accept any instruction which is good for
society, and because they do not follow the experience of great
sages and the rules and regulations laid down by the sages, the
social condition of the demoniac people is very miserable.
[Bg 16.7, purport]
Preaching Application
Institution of Sacred
Marriage(vows) is lost
Brahmananda: The wife of the
President, she recently said that sex
life before marriage is good because
it will reduce the divorce rate.
Prabhupada: Yes. If everyone is
prostitute then where is the question
of divorce? (laughter)
Nitai: There's also no question of
marriage.
Prabhupada: Yes. And that is going
on.
[MW -- September 6, 1975, Vrndavana]
Understanding
Unwanted Progeny - Institution of Family Culture is lost
adharmabhibhavat krsna pradusyanti kula-striyah
strisu dustasu varsneya jayate varna-sankarah Bg 1.40
In Bhagavad-gita Arjuna informed Krsna that if there is unwanted population (varna-sankara), the
entire world will appear to be hell. People are very anxious for peace in the world, but there are so
many unwanted children born without the benefit of the garbhadhana ceremony. [SB 3.17.15]
Divorce,
The divorce act is encouraging prostitution. [SB 1.17.38]
And when the unwanted progeny try to marry:
At the present moment, because boys and girls are not married according to quality and character, most
marriages are unhappy, and there is divorce. [SB 3.24.15]
Abortion and
Illicit sex creates pregnancies, and these unwanted pregnancies lead to abortion. [SB 5.14.9]
Understanding
Single Mothers
Prabhupada: All right, trying. But you
women, you cannot see that this so-called
equal right means cheating the woman. Now
I say more clearly that a woman and man
meets. Now they become lover. Then they
have sex, and the woman becomes
pregnant, and the man goes away. The
simple woman, she has to take charge of
the child and beg from government alms,
"Please give me money." This is your
independence. Do you admit this is
independence, that the man makes the
woman pregnant and he goes away without
any responsibility, and the woman cannot
give up the child, she maintains, begging
from the government or she tries to kill the
child? Do you think it is very good
independence? What is your answer?
[RC-- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia]
Preaching Application
women further losing faith and trust in men …
women trusting and associating with women …
men trusting and associating with men …
It appears here that the homosexual appetite of males for each other is created in this
episode of the creation of the demons by Brahma. In other words, the homosexual appetite
of a man for another man is demoniac and is not for any sane male in the ordinary course of
life. SB 3.20.26
women lose faith in women…
men lose faith in men…
women or men associating with animals …
yas tv iha vai sarvabhigamas tam amutra niraye vartamanam
vajrakantaka-salmalim aropya niskarsanti.
A person who indulges in sex indiscriminately -- even with animals -- is taken after death to
the hell known as Vajrakantaka-salmali. SB 5.26.21
Preaching Application
What is the root cause?
Association ‘with men too much attached
to women’ – unscrupulous, sly, cunning men
of bad character – debauchees.
What is the solution?
Preaching Application
What is the root cause?
Association ‘with men too much attached to women’ – unscrupulous, sly, cunning men
of bad character – debauchees.
What is the solution?
Brahmacarya
It is essential, therefore, that girls as well as boys be trained to discharge spiritual duties so
that at the time of cooperation both will be benefited. The training of the boy is
brahmacarya, and the training of the girl is chastity. [SB 3.14.17]
The principle of brahmacarya is celibacy. [SB 3.22.14]
According to Vedic principles, the first part of life should be utilized in brahmacarya for the
development of character and spiritual qualities. [SB 3.22.19]
Who is responsible to finance and ensure facilities for the ongoing
existence of the brahmacari asrama?
Personal Application
Who is responsible to finance and ensure facilities for the ongoing
existence of the brahmacari asrama?
The householders should earn a livelihood by an honorable means and spend
fifty percent of their income to propagate Krsna consciousness all over the
world. Thus a householder should give in charity to institutional societies that are
engaged in that way. [Bg 16.1-3]
The citizens of the state must give in charity up to fifty percent of their income
for the purpose of creating a spiritual atmosphere in the state or in human
society, both individually and collectively. [SB 1.17.38]
Ksatriyas and vaisyas are therefore especially advised to give in charity at
least fifty percent of their accumulated wealth. [SB 4.12.10]
FIRST WHY?
Preaching Application
FIRST WHY?
The student (brahmacari)
communities are no longer
being maintained, and
householders do not observe
the rules and regulations of the
grhastha-asrama.
Consequently, the so-called
vanaprasthas and sannyasis
who come out of such grhasthaasramas are easily deviated
from the rigid path. In the Kaliyuga the whole atmosphere is
surcharged with faithlessness.
Men are no longer interested in
spiritual values. Material sense
gratification is now the standard
of civilization.
SB 1.1.10
What is the greatest anxiety for a
cultured mother and father?
Personal Application
What is the greatest
anxiety for a cultured
mother and father?
Srila Prabhupada:
“I remember, because my
second sister was going
twelve years, my mother said
to my father that ‘I shall go to
the river and commit suicide.
The daughter is not
married’."
“…most obligatory duty of
the father, (is) to get the
daughter married.
[SB 1.8.51 LA, May 13, 1973]
Besides senior brahmacaris and sannyasis, who is ALSO responsible
to train the young boys as brahmacaris?
And why?
Personal Application
Who is ALSO responsible to train the young boys as brahmacaris? And why?
O King, the learned brahmana Sandipani carefully considered the two Lords' glorious and
amazing qualities and Their superhuman intelligence. Then, after consulting with his wife, he
chose as his remuneration(guru-daksina) the return of his young son, who had died in the
ocean at Prabhasa. [SB 10.45.37]
Wife of the guru as one of the seven mothers. atma-mata guroh patniSB 7.12.8
Dronacarya: wife is Krpi, son is Asvattama, teacher of both the young Pandavas and Kurus.
In the order of vanaprastha, (and) at this stage the wife is allowed to remain as a voluntary
servitor [SB 1.13.30]. At the vanaprastha stage of retired life, or the stage midway between
householder life and renounced life, one may keep his wife as an assistant without sex
relations [SB 3.24.40]. Vanaprastha is retired life for practicing penance [SB 3.12.41].
Everyone should go to the forest at least as a vanaprastha. Forest-going means to take onehundred-percent shelter of the Supreme Lord [SB 3.24.41].
Mood and Mission
Family Culture of Interdependency amongst Asramas
• Most important is to ‘live’ family – daughter, son, mother, father,
grand-daughter, grand-son, grand-mother, grand-father with our
founding father’s missionary and family spirit in the centre –
where care, affection and protection for each other are our
foundation.
• Everyone relates to each other as devotees, irrespective of
asramas. Still in order to avoid, as Srila Prabhupada says, “one
of his children wishes to break family connections”, a family
culture of interdependency amongst asramas is necessary to
serve and protect each other in the family.
• Brahmacaris and brahmacarinis treat grhasthas as mothers and
fathers.
• Grhasthas treat brahmacaris and brahmacarinis as sons and
daughters.
Mood and Mission
• Vanaprasthas are an ocean of spiritual wealth – experience,
wisdom and practical realizations in Krishna-conscious Family
Life. They adopt and train brahmacaris and brahmacarinis as
spiritual sons and daughters. Brahmacaris and brahmacarinis
treat vanaprasthas as spiritual mother and father, just as
Krishna and Balarama treated Sandipani Muni and his Wife.
• Vanaprasthas are naturally locally situated spiritual masters as
guru-pati and guru-patni even for grhasthas in a village, town
or city. The guru-patni primarily helps the female-bodied
devotees in their spiritual progress. Vanaprastha should not be
in anxiety in earning for their living. Grhasthas should fully
maintain the vanaprasthas, who are adopting the sons and
daughters of the Grhasthas for spiritual training.
Mood and Mission
• Sannyasis accept the whole world as their home, and are
fathers of all asramas. “A sannyasi is constitutionally the
spiritual master[*siksa-guru] for all the orders and divisions”[SB
1.3.13]. Sannyasis adopt ‘children’ (members of other
asramas) of behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
They are primarily assisted by trained brahmacaris. They are
maintained and protected by the grhasthas for their basic needs
and therefore do not necessarily have to deal with too much
wealth. They are protected by the vanaprasthas in not dealing
too intimately with women, who are cared for by the guru-patni.
In this way the sannyasis are above feelings of possessiveness
(Bg 6.10 & purport), simultaneously belonging to everyone as
spiritual fathers.
•
*Bmd’s note
Devotee Family Culture of
Interdependency amongst Asramas
Devotees in Brahmacarya Asrama
Devotees in Grhastha Asrama
Devotees in Vanaprastha Asrama
Devotees in Sannyasa Asrama
“Under My order ,
become spiritual master and…”
•
•
•
•
yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna'-upadesa
amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa
SYNONYMS
yare -- whomever; dekha -- you meet; tare -- him; kaha -- tell;
krsna-upadesa -- the instruction of the Bhagavad-gita as it is
spoken by the Lord or of Srimad-Bhagavatam, which advises
one to worship Sri Krsna; amara ajnaya -- under My order; guru
hana -- becoming a spiritual master; tara' -- deliver; ei desa -this country.
• TRANSLATION
• "Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Sri Krsna as they
are given in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. In this
way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in
this land.“ (CC Madhya 7.128)
gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasadasanudasah (CC, Madhya 13.80)
• servant of the servant of the servant of
the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna, the
maintainer of the gopis
• disciple of my disciple
Our Mission:
Spreading Krsna consciousness
•
•
•
prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama
"In every town and village, the chanting of My name will be heard."
(Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya 4.126 or CC, Madhya 25.264 purport)
•
Preaching Caitanya Mahaprabhu's cult throughout the world is more
important than staying in Vrndavana or Jagannatha Puri for one's own
personal satisfaction. Spreading Krsna consciousness is Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu's mission; therefore His sincere devotees must carry out
His desire.
The devotees of Lord Caitanya must preach Krsna consciousness in
every village and town in the world. That will satisfy the Lord. It is not
that one should act whimsically for his own personal satisfaction. This
order comes down through the parampara system, and the spiritual
master presents these orders to the disciple so that he can spread the
message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is the duty of every disciple to
carry out the order of the bona fide spiritual master and spread Lord
Caitanya's message all over the world. (CC, Madhya 16.64 purport)
•
Our Mood: Care for Devotees
•
•
The Lord and Devotees Care for Each Other
The devotees, therefore, are under the direct care of the Lord. And the Lord
also voluntarily puts Himself under the care of His devotees only. (SB 1.9.47
purport)
•
•
Spiritual Master's Care
The Lord, being full and free from problems, can wholeheartedly care for His
devotees. His concern is how to elevate and protect all those who have taken
shelter at His feet. The same responsibility is also entrusted to the spiritual
master. The bona fide spiritual master's concern is how the devotees who
have surrendered to him as a representative of the Lord may make progress
in devotional service. (CC,Adi 1.62 purport)
•
•
Temple President’s Care
I am also glad to hear that in your temple no one misses mangala arati and
that everyone is becoming steady and peaceful in their service. It sounds as
if you are taking care of your men very nicely. This is first class management.
Please continue in this kind of management. (SP Letter to: Kurusrestha -Bombay 28 December, 1974)
Our Mood: Care for Devotees (continued)
•
•
Caring for Devotees Who are Sick
One of the symptoms of a devotee is that he is kind, so if our Godbrother
becomes ill it is our duty to help him get the proper medicine and treatment so
that he can recover. Recently our Giriraja became chronically ill in India and
had to return to the U.S. for proper medical treatment. There, in our Los
Angeles center, he was given his own room, and was able to recuperate
comfortably, and now he has returned to his full duties in Bombay. Now Tamala
Krsna Goswami has just had a successful hernia operation which was
arranged free of charge at one of the most modern hospitals, and there is also
a girl devotee undergoing operation there also. Tamala Krsna is now living in a
room at our temple; the devotees see that he gets all facility, a hospital bed,
proper prasadam, and personal care and visiting. So there is no question of ill
treating of our own Godbrothers simply because they are sick, nor should you
allow such neglect to go on. So long we have this material body there will be
sickness, but we have to remain on the transcendental platform nevertheless.
As far as a centralized medical plan for the whole society, no such plan or
facility or insurance has seemed practical as yet. The best thing is to work it
out locally, try to find the services of a free medical facility in Seattle, or some
way that sick devotees can be cared for; that is your responsibility. I think
further questions of this sort can be handled by the GBC. (SP Letter to:
Sukadeva - Bombay 5 April, 1974)
Mood and Mission
From Srila Prabhupada’s Letters:
“My Dear Sons and Daughters…”;
“…all my sons and daughters…” ;
“My spiritual sons and daughters…”;
“…my sincere spiritual sons, daughters…;
“…my beloved spiritual sons and daughters…”;
“…so many wonderful sons and daughters…”;
Mood and Mission
Our ISKCON should be
taken as being a family
based upon love and
trust, so as the father
becomes unhappy when
one of his children
wishes to break family
connections I also
become unhappy when
there is difficulties within
our ISKCON family.
Letter to: Isana, Vibhavati -- Calcutta 21
September, 1970
10.4 A DEVOTEE’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS
PARENTS (AND RELATIVES)
• Why should the devotee still be respectful
towards parents(or relatives or friends) who
appear offensive to one’s practices in Krishna
consciousness?
Prakrta-sahajiya
The prakrta-sahajiyas generally chant the Hare
Krsna maha-mantra, yet they are attached to
women, money and intoxication. Although such
persons may chant the holy name of the Lord, they
are not yet properly purified. Such people should be
respected within one's mind, but their association
should be avoided.
[NOI,Text Five purport, p50]
Prakrta-bhakta(Materialistic devotee)
The kanistha-adhikari is a neophyte who has received the
hari-nama initiation from the spiritual master and is trying to
chant the holy name of Krsna. One should respect such a
person within his mind as a kanistha-vaisnava.
[NOI,Text Five purport, p48]
"A person who is very faithfully engaged in the worship of the
Deity in the temple, but who does not know how to behave
toward devotees or people in general is called a prakrtabhakta, or kanistha-adhikari [NOI,Text Five purport, p49]
Those who are innocent but simply carried away by bad
association should be shown favor if they are eager to
receive proper instructions from pure devotees
[NOI,Text Five purport, p50]
…but those neophyte devotees who are
….. initiated by the ….. spiritual master
and are….. engaged in carrying out the
orders of the spiritual master…
…but those neophyte devotees who are
actually initiated by the bona fide
spiritual master and are seriously
engaged in carrying out the orders
of the spiritual master…
[NOI,Text Five purport, p50]
Harinama-bhakta
...but those neophyte devotees who are actually
initiated by the bona fide spiritual master and are
seriously engaged in carrying out the orders of the
spiritual master should be offered respectful
obeisances. [NOI,Text Five purport, p50]
When a neophyte devotee is actually initiated and
engaged in devotional service by the orders of the
spiritual master, he should be accepted immediately
as a bona fide Vaisnava, and obeisances should be
offered unto him. [NOI,Text Five purport, p50]
TEXT 5
THREE TYPES OF NEOPHYTES
Prakrta-sahajiya
Prakrta-bhakta
Harinama-bhakta
Chants Hare
Krishna casually
Chants 16 rounds of
Hare Krishna
mantra daily
Chants minimum 16
rounds of Hare
Krishna daily
Attached to
women, money
and intoxication
Has faith that
Krishna is GOD
respected within one's
mind, but their
association should be
avoided
Follows 4 regulative
principles
Only serves Guru
and Krishna. Feels
he/she is the best
Disciple
respect such a person
within his mind,
should be shown
favor ( words)
Follows 4 regulative
principles
Serves Vaishnavas,
Guru and Krishna.
should be offered respectful
obeisances (mind, words
and body
Transition to
Madhyama Adhikari
Harinama-bhakta transition to Madhyama-adhikari
...but those neophyte devotees who are actually
initiated by the bona fide spiritual master and are
seriously engaged in carrying out the orders of the
spiritual master should be offered respectful
obeisances. [NOI,Text Five purport, p50]
When one is actually initiated by the bona fide spiritual
master and when he seriously engages in the
service of the Lord, he should be accepted as a
madhyama-adhikari. [NOI,Text Five purport, p53]
Madhyama-adhikari
A madhyama-adhikari has received spiritual initiation
from the spiritual master and has been fully
engaged by him in the transcendental loving service
of the Lord. [NOI,Text Five purport, p48]
The madhyama-adhikari is a devotee who worships
the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the highest
object of love, makes friends with the Lord's
devotees, is merciful to the ignorant and avoids
those who are envious by nature.
[NOI,Text Five purport, p49]
Uttama-adhikari
An uttama-adhikari is not interested in blaspheming others, his
heart is completely clean, and he has attained the realized
state of unalloyed Krsna consciousness.
[NOI,Text Five purport, p48]
Out of many such Vaisnavas, one may be found to be very
seriously engaged in the service of the Lord and strictly
following all the regulative principles, chanting the prescribed
number of rounds on japa beads and always thinking of how
to expand the Krsna consciousness movement. Such a
Vaisnava should be accepted as an uttama-adhikari, a highly
advanced devotee, and his association should always be
sought. [NOI,Text Five purport, p50/57]
…an uttama-adhikari Vaisnava can be recognized by his ability to
convert many fallen souls to Vaisnavism.
[NOI,Text Five purport, p58]
Who is a pure devotee?
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that a person
who simply chants the holy name of Krsna once becomes
perfect and should be regarded as a Vaisnava. This is
confirmed by Srila Rupa Gosvami in his Upadesamrta (5):
krsneti yasya giri tam manasadriyeta…
When one is situated on the neophyte platform, one cannot
understand the devotional ingredients of a pure, unalloyed
devotee. However, when the novice engages in devotional
service -- especially in Deity worship -- and follows the order
of a bona fide spiritual master, he is a pure devotee. Anyone
can take advantage of hearing about Krsna consciousness
from such a devotee and thus gradually become purified. In
other words, any devotee who believes that the holy name of
the Lord is identical with the Lord is a pure devotee, even
though he may be in the neophyte stage. By his association,
others may also become Vaisnavas. [CC, Madhya, 15.106]
12.1 DEVOTIONAL FRIENDSHIP
• Why is it that there are no offenses committed
amongst genuine friends?
12.2 CONCLUDING WORDS:
CULTURE AND EDUCATION
• "Being cultured, educated, very active and religious
means developing natural love for Krsna." (Caitanyabhagavata, Antya-lila 3.44) Everyone has dormant
love for Krsna, and by culture and education that has
to be awakened. That is the purpose of this Krsna
consciousness movement. Once Lord Caitanya
asked Sri Ramananda Raya what the best part of
education was, and Ramananda Raya replied that
the best part of education is advancement in Krsna
consciousness.
• (SB 4.29.50, purport)