For those who want to live the lifestyle of the initiate, more quotes and instructions from His Divine Grace. Srila Prabhupada has commented that anyone who actually lives as a Vaisnava, he will accept as his disciple. Of course, a person must have self-discipline and commitment. It is highly recommended to first read VAISNAVA ETIQUETTE Part 1 before reading this one, but that is each individuals choice of course.
From Prabhupada's pure translation of Chaitanya Charitamrita, Antya Lila, 4, 132 &133, we read:
"If one transgresses the laws of etiquette, people make fun of him, and thus he is vanquished in both this world and the next." -- "By observing the etiquette, you have satisfied My mind. Who else but you will show this example?"
Further he explains:
apane acara keha na kare pracara
pracara karena keha na karena acara
“Some behave very well but do not preach the cult of Krishna consciousness, whereas others preach but do not behave properly. CC Antya 4.102
[It should be recognized that the time period when these books were translated, the dictionary definition of the word cult meant "culture."]
acara pracara namera karaha dui karya
tumi sarva guru tumi jagatera arya
“You simultaneously perform both duties in relation to the holy name by your personal behavior and by your preaching. Therefore you are the spiritual master of the entire world, for you are the most advanced devotee in the world.” CC Antya 4.103
“Brahminical life means to be very, very clean, inside and out. Inside by chanting and hearing, and outside by bathing three times daily, if not possible at least two times, but never less than once. Bathing after passing stool. The qualifications of the brahamanas are described in the 18th Chapter of Bhagavat Gita verse 42: “Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness — these are the qualities by which the brahmanas work.” So see that these instructions are being followed nicely." ~SP Letter 12/7/75
"in the Skanda Purāṇa, which says, "Persons who are decorated with tilaka or gopī-candana [a kind of clay resembling fuller's earth which is produced in certain quarters of Vṛndāvana], and who mark their bodies all over with the holy names of the Lord, and on whose necks and breasts there are tulasī beads, are never approached by the Yamadūtas." The Yamadūtas are the constables of King Yama (the lord of death), who punishes all sinful men. Vaiṣṇavas are never called for by such constables of Yamarāja. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, in the narration of Ajāmila's deliverance, it is said that Yamarāja gave clear instructions to his assistants not to approach the Vaiṣṇavas. Vaiṣṇavas are beyond the jurisdiction of Yamarāja's activities." ~ Nectar of Devotion [Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu], Chapter 9
"Yes, to call one another prabhu is all right, but not to become prabhu. To accept others as prabhu, and remain as servant is the idea. But, because somebody is calling you prabhu, one should not become a prabhu, and treat others as servants. In other words, everyone should feel himself as servant, and not think himself prabhu because he is being called prabhu. This will make the relationship congenial." ~ SP Letter to Himavati Devi Dasi, June 14, 1968
“It is nice that you are doing preaching work there, but you should know that such practices like stealing are against the principles of Krishna consciousness. I always want that my students should be very ideal in character and not discredit our society.” SP Letter (10/28/68)
“I have received one complaint from an Indian devotee at Mayapur, Prabharupa Das Brahmacary, that he is maltreated by our American devotees. Kindly inquire into this matter and do the needful. Either Indian or foreign whoever joins us they are not under any obligation, our only tie is Love of Godhead. It should be our definite policy that nobody is ill-treated that he may go away. We recruit a person to join us after spending gallons of blood. Everyone comes for reformation, you cannot expect everyone to be perfect, and rather it is our duty to make everyone perfect as far as possible. So we shall be very much cautious and careful in this connection.” ~ SP Letter - 8/23/73
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Chaitanya Caritamrita, Madhya Lila 24.324-345
"Folding his hands, Sanatana Goswami said, “My Lord, You ordered me to write a directory about the activities of Vaishnava.""
“I am a most lowborn person. I have no knowledge of good behavior. How is it possible for me to write authorized directions about Vaishanva activities?”
"SanatanaGosvami then requested the Lord, 'Please personally tell me how I can write this difficult book about Vaishnava behavior. Please manifest yourself in my heart.
"If you would please manifest yourself within my heart and personally direct me in writing this book, then, although I am lowborn, I may hope to be able to write it. You can do this becauseyou are the Supreme Personality of Godhead Yourself and whatever youdirect is perfect.”
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu replied, “Whatever you want to do you willbe able to do correctly by Lord Krishna’s favor. He will manifest the real purport.
"Because you asked me for a synopsis, please hear these few indications. In the beginning one must take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master."
"In your book there should be the characteristics of the bona fide guru and the bona fide disciple. Then, before accepting aspiritual master, one can be assured of the spiritual master’sposition. Similarly, the spiritual master can also be assured of thedisciple’s position. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna,should be described as the worshipable object, and you should considerthe (bija) mantra for the worship of Krishna, Rama, or any otherexpansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
“You should discuss the qualifications necessary for receiving a mantra, the perfection of the mantra, the purification of the mantra,initiation, morning duties, remembrance of the Supreme Lord,cleanliness, and washing the mouth and other parts of the body."
"In the morning, one should regularly brush his teeth, take his bath, and offer prayers to the Lord and offer obeisances to the spiritual master. One should render service to the spiritual master and paint one’s body in twelve places with urdhva pundra [tilaka]. One should stamp the holy names of the Lord on his body, or one should stamp the symbols of the Lord, such as the disc and club."
“After this, you should describe how one should decorate his body with gopicandana, wear neck beads, collect tulasi leaves from the tulasi tree, cleanse his cloth and the altar, cleanse one’s own house or apartment and go to the temple and ring the bell just to draw the attention of Lord Krishna.”
"Also describe the Deity worship, wherein one should offer food to Krishna at least five times daily. One should indue time place Krishna on a bed. You should also describe the process for offering arati and the worship of the Lord according to the list of five, sixteen or fifty ingredients.
“The characteristics of the Deities should be discussed as well as the characteristics of the salagrama sila. One should also discuss visiting the Deities in the temple and touring holy places like Vrindavana, Mathura, and Dvaraka."
“You should glorify the Holy Name and carefully give up offenses when chanting the Holy Name. One should know the symptoms of a Vaishnava. One must give up or nullify all kinds of seva-aparadha,offenses in Deity worship."
“The items of worship, such as water, conchshell, flowers, incense and lamp should be described. You should also mention chanting softly,offering prayers, circumambulating, and offering obeisances. All these should be carefully studied."
“Other items to be considered are the method of performing purascarana (purification), taking Krishna-prasada, giving up unofferedfood and not blaspheming the Lord’s devotees.”
“One should know the symptoms of a devotee and how to associate with devotees. One should know how to satisfy the devotee by rendering services, and one should know how to give up the association of nondevotees. One should also regularly hear the recitation ofSrimad-Bhagavatam.”
“You should describe the ritualistic duties of every day, and you should describe the fortnightly duties – especially observing Ekadasi fast, which comes every fortnight.”
“You should recommend the avoidance of mixed Ekadasi and the performance of pure Ekadasi. You should also describe the fault in not observing this. One should be very careful as far as these items are concerned. If one is not careful, one will be negligent in executing devotional service.”
“Whatever you say about Vaishnava behavior, the establishment of Vaishnava temples and Deities and everything else should be supported by evidence from the Puranas.""You should give general and specific descriptions of the behavior and activities of a Vaishnava. You should outline things that are to be done and things that are not to be done. All this should be described as regulations and etiquettes.”
"I have thus given a synopsis of the Vaishnava regulative principles. I have given this in brief just to give you a little direction. When you write on this subject, Krishna will help you by spiritually awakening you."
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"If we are really Krsna conscious, then our business is to repeat the words of Krsna. That's all. What is the difference between a Krsna's representative and non-representative? The representative of Krsna will simply repeat what Krsna says. That's all."- Srila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita 1.20 , London, 07/17/73
“Yes, a new man may commit blunders in the beginning, but that does not mean we may be too impatient with him. After all, training means the man does not know, so you should train him nicely. A Vaishnava is expected to be humbler than the blade of grass, so when you train some new man you should not get agitated with him. After all, we are preachers, and we do not expect our audience or candidates completely respondent to our call. If everyone is trained [already] then what is the use of our preaching?” ~ SP Letter to Upendra 3/11/69
“One thing you may note also as a matter of etiquette. The Spiritual Master is addressed as His Divine Grace, a Godbrother is addressed as His Grace, and any sannyasi is addressed as His Holiness.” (SP letter to Rayarama 91/30/67)
“It doesn’t matter what we are, grhasthas or sannyasis, the point is to be paramahamsa, completely surrendered to Lord Krishna.” SP Letter to Upendra 8/4/70
"Regarding general state of affairs at Amsterdam temple, I can understand there is some disturbance among you, but that is not to be taken very seriously. Real business is preaching work. And if there is full attention on this matter only, all other businesses will be automatically successful. Fighting amongst ourselves is not at all good, but if our preaching work is neglected, or if we fall down in following the regulative principles — such as rising before four, chanting 16 rounds, like that — if these things are not strictly observed, then Maya will enter and spoil everything. So my best advice to you is to strictly observe these things yourself and be the example so that all others may follow. We should not criticize each other as Vaishnavas, because there is fault in everyone and we may be ourselves subject to criticism. Best thing is to be above suspicion ourselves, and then if we see discrepancies and make suggestions, the others will automatically respect and take action to rectify the matters. Otherwise the whole thing is doomed if we simply go on fighting over some small thing. So try to organize things and preach together in this spirit and that will please me very very much.” ~ SP Letter to Madhumangala (11/18/72)
"Just like these boys and girls, they were adhīra. Now they are dhīra. Adhīra. Adhīra means without any responsibility, doing all nonsense. Actually they are rich nation's sons and daughters. They are doing ev..., but now they have become dhīra. "No illicit sex, no meat-eating, no intoxication, no gambling. Yes, sir." This is dhīra. You are already intoxicated. You are already illusioned in this material world. If you still go on drinking, where is the possibility of knowledge? You must have sober brain to understand. So this is going on. Therefore my appeal to all the sober men: to understand this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and join it for the benefit of his personal self, for the benefit of his country, for the benefit of the whole human society." ~ SP lecture, Delhi India, 11-10-73
“Regarding some misbehavior, that we have to check by training peacefully. Your attitude of tolerance and kindness is very nice, so train them in this way.” ~ SP Letter to Bhavananda 10/28/70
"Our chanting is the medicine and our prasadam is the diet for curing material disease.” (SP letter to Dayananda 68/10/37)
"According to Vedic principles, the wife of another man is considered one's mother, and sexual relations are strictly forbidden with one's mother, sister and daughter. If one indulges in illicit sexual relations with another man's wife, that activity is considered identical with having sex with one's mother. This act is most sinful. The same principle holds for a woman also; if she enjoys sex with a man other than her husband, the act is tantamount to having sexual relations with her father or son. Illicit sex life is always forbidden, and any man or woman who indulges in it is punished in the manner described in this verse." ~ Srimad Bhagavatam 5.26.20
[In addition to chanting 16 rounds daily, Prabhupada's requirement for the initiated disciple is no illicit sex life, no intoxication, no meat eating, & no gambling. These 4 are known as 'regulative principles.' They're purpose is to elevate us above animal propensities so we can better understand, & advance, in transcendental qualities of Krishna Consciousness.]
“Your humble repentance is just like a Vaishnava student, so I thank you very much for this humbleness. Lord Chaitanya taught us to be humbler that the grass on the street and more tolerant that the tree. So these symptoms are Vaishnava symptoms.” ~ SP Letter to Gargamuni 2/5/69
[NOTE: This must be used properly, by both involved. No one should think it opens the door to offend another, then chastise the other if they do not respond as described. Nor does the recipient tolerate more than they can realistically tolerate. Both can be a cause of falldown. However, to start developing honest levels, would be good. Krishna Consciousness is about 'self' purification, not focusing on where others need purifying. Of course, associate with those who follow properly, but focus on purifying self. When we become very 'absorbed' & busy in activities with Krishna, like the parent always taking care of their child doesn't have much time or interest to get terribly angry, dovetailing it in service to God can be a way out of such difficulties. As long as we do not hand over power of our life to another. Bhakti Yoga means self control. Only let those in, who won't try to take that away & blame God.]
“All should offer due respect to a sannyasi. His position is always superior to all other inmates of the temple. He must always maintain that superior position by action and behavior.” ~ SP Letter to Sudama 7/29/72 Respect for sannyasi
[NOTE: Since early on, we've seen sanyasis fall down in different ways. How then, are regular devotees to act? If the sanyasi is still wearing saffron, caring dunda, & sincerely endeavoring, I myself will not risk an offense. I will bow, will offer all respects. It is to their soul & to Paramatma. Now, this is not to make falldowns acceptable, simply those in positions of power are the ones who should take responsibility & deal with that aspect. Our aspect is to protect our spiritual creeper. Prabhupada did give the instruction to stop giving sanyasi initiation because it's too hard for kali yuga devotees to maintain. But that too, is not really our business -its theirs. Just, good to know. Trying to control those we have no power over, will only increase lowering of our own consciousness. How to act? If even we respect an ant, why not respect a fallen devotee? Then avoid associating.] “This Krishna consciousness movement through music, philosophy, spiritual culture, and personal behavior culminating in ideal character of the devotees. All these heavenly contributions combined together will certainly bring about a major change in the life of Western people.” SP Letter to Shivananda (9/14/68)
“Regarding your second question about greeting karmis, if a karmi is a friend, you just greet him HareKrishna, and with folded hands touch your forehead. If the karmi is a superior relative, then chant Hare Krishna and bow down to him on the ground. That should be the etiquette in our society transactions.” SP Letter to Arundhati 6/16/69
“The daily regulative duties must be performed by everyone very strictly: the beads chanted sixteen rounds, and our literatures read and discussed. In this way, everything should be done very nicely. Sankirtan should be done by you in the streets and at gatherings and in this manner display what is this Krishna Consciousness movement and how it is for everyone’s eternal welfare and happiness. So you do all these with great enthusiasm and very carefully. Our all activities must be open so that no one may criticize our mission. So all dealings must be to the standard of Vaishnavism. We cannot misrepresent ourselves for the purpose of taking monies from the public, but as everything is undertaken forthrightly in a Krishna Consciousness way, then Lord Krishna will be pleased to provide all facilities for aiding our sincere service.” ~ Letter to Sridama 7/8/70
“If you have any specific grievance, please let me know but don’t but don’t be disturbed by any sort of disagreement with your Godbrothers and Godsisters. Each and every living entity is an individual soul and as such disagreement is quite possible in our dealings with one another. But we have to consider the central point of interest. You are both very intelligent and sober girls and I have got good estimation of you; do not take at any time an attitude of non-cooperation because you have not agreed with another’s point of view.” SP Letter to Yamuna Devi & Harsharani 1/15/68 “Anyway, do things in good sense, without any disturbance. We have to make progress very soberly, and I am always at your service when ever required.” SP Letter to Satsvarupa (8/19/69)
"Every man should act like this: when he meets a person more qualified than himself, he should be very pleased; when he meets someone less qualified than himself, he should be compassionate toward him; and when he meets someone equal to himself, he should make friendship with him. In this way one is never affected by the threefold miseries of this material world."
PURPORT
Generally when we find someone more qualified than ourselves, we become envious of him; when we find someone less qualified, we deride him; and when we find someone equal we become very proud of our activities. These are the causes of all material tribulations. The great sage Nārada therefore advised that a devotee should act perfectly. Instead of being envious of a more qualified man, one should be jolly to receive him. Instead of being oppressive to a less qualified man, one should be compassionate toward him just to raise him to the proper standard. And when one meets an equal, instead of being proud of one's own activities before him, one should treat him as a friend. One should also have compassion for the people in general, who are suffering due to forgetfulness of Kṛṣṇa. These important functions will make one happy within this material world." ~ SB 4.8.34
