We are happy to share some information to assist you in your Krsna consciousness. This instruction is called sadacara, or those activities which give us nourishment in our spiritual life, which brings us to the mode of goodness and then to pure goodness, pure Krsna consciousness.
Sadacar is intended as a guideline. And the pure devotee is our example of perfect sadacar. It is not our intention that aspiring devotees should become discourage by the magnitude of these guidelines. By our personal endeavors and the grace of Sri Guru however, arrangements are coordinated, whereby a natural strength will develop to incorporate this sadacar gradually into our daily lives.
Introduction
Sadacara is explained in simple language by Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja in the following quotes:
"These are the sadacara: to rise early in the morning, to take bath, attend mangala-aratrika, and chant Hare Krsna mantra, read books, Vedic literature, and then prasadam - always some prescribed duty for Krsna consciousness. That is called sadacara. So Ajamila, on account of his association of this prostitute, he lost all good qualities, sadacara."
"No illicit sex life, no gambling, no meat-eating, and no intoxication. This is called sadacara, clean habits. Anything beyond this: unclean habits."
"Sat means 'gentle', and acara means 'behavior, gentleman's behavior'. What is that gentleman's behavior? "You don't take meat, don't have illicit sex, no gambling, no intoxication, rise early in the morning, take bath, chant Hare Krsna, attend mangala-aratrika." These are called sadacara.
"Prabhupada: 'That is Vaisnava's sadacara, humble. Trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna. Although a Vaisnava knows everything, still he presents himself very humbly, lower that the straw in the street which has been trampled beneath everyone's feet, more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and ready to offer all respect to others, not desiring any respect in return.
Trnad api sunicena
Taror api sahisnuna
Amanina manadena
Kirtaniya sada harih
The devotee does not claim any so-called popular respect, false respect."
"Therefore, anyone who wants to make progress in spiritual life, he must be sadacara. His behavior should be very regulated. Asadacari, unclean, non-regulated, behaviour is an impediment to making any spiritual progress. If somebody says that "Whatever you like, you can do. There is no difference. You can imagine your own way..." This is going on now days. "Whatever you like, you can do. You can imagine your own way of self-realization." But that is not recommended in the Vedic literatures. One must be sadacara.
This is the beginning of sadacara, to rise early in the morning, to cleanse, then chant, or chant the Vedic mantras or, simplified as in the present age, Hare Krsna mantra, maha-mantra. This is the beginning of sadacara. So sadacara means to become freed from sinful reaction. Unless one follows the regulative principles he cannot be freed. And unless one is fully freed from sinful reaction he cannot understand what is God."
The activities of sadacara are not to restrict us, but to free us. Bhagavad-gita (2.64) states:
"But a person free from all attachment and aversion who is able to control his senses through the regulative principles of freedom can obtain the complete mercy of the Lord.
The purport to this verse by Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja states:
The Krsna conscious person is concerned only with the satisfaction of Krsna, and nothing else. Therefore he is transcendental to all attachment and detachment.
Applying these instructions given by our guardians will protect us from known and unknown offenses and guard against impeding our Bhakti and it will attract the blessings of the Vaisnavas.
Everyone is responsible for his or her own situation. Srila Raksak Sridhar Maharaj says: All circumstances are favorable and the environment is always sympathetic".
Srila Gurudeva has said "you may see others do wrong, but you should never criticize them, try to encourage each other to remain on the right path and cooperate together."
Even if our senses and mind dictate not to like certain behavior we never criticize. We may not associate with that person. Should circumstances occur where we are required to do service with such a person we should act tolerantly and find a peaceful solution. We hear Srila Gurudeva say that if we admire or criticize someone's qualities, we are creating a bridge between that quality and us and therefore that particular quality (good or bad) will appear in us. The story of the brahmana and the prostitute illustrates this (he was criticizing her and she was honoring him. He went to hell and she went to Vaikuntha)
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: "One should neither praise nor criticize the conditioned nature and activities of other persons. Rather one should see this world as simply the combination of material nature and the enjoying souls, all based on the Absolute truth.
Putting the Sadacar injunctions into practice will create a favourable environment decreasing our offenses. Any offense (namaparadha, sevaparadha, dhamaparadha and Vaisnavaparadha) (See Appendix 1) will be a hindrance to the development of love for Sri Sri Radha and Krsna.Sadacara injunctions may also be found in Sri Upandeshamrta, Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu-bindhu, and Sri Hari Bhakti Vilasa.
Daily Sadhana
- Start the day positively. Brahma-muhurta, the most auspicious time of the day, starting 1 hour 36 minutes before sunrise, approximately from 4am until about 6 am.
- Upon waking, even before getting up from bed, we do pranams (offer obeisances) to Sri Guru, guru-parampara (the disciplic succession). This helps to begin the day in a pure frame of mind.
- We apply tilaka to 12 places on the body after taking bath. (See Appendix 2)
- Brahma-Muhurta is the best time to perform Arcana (Deity worship), chant the diksa mantras (ahnik) given by Gurudeva at the time of second initiation, and chant Harinama (the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra) on our chanting beads)
- When staying at or nearby a temple, take the opportunity to be present during the following programs:
1) Arati (congregational singing in front of the Deities while the pujari (priest) is worshiping Them three times a day
2) Kirtanas (singing spiritual prayers and songs together)
3) Hari-katha (classes and lectures about spiritual related topics and Sri Krsna's pastimes)
4) Maha-prasadam (honoring the food offered to the Lord). When not at the temple, we try to schedule devotional activities to include some of these activities.
General Temple Schedule With Approximate Times:
- 4:30 am - Mangal-arati of Sri Sri Radha-Vinoda-Bihariji in the temple
- 6:00 am - Kirtana and bhajans
- 7:00 am - Hari-katha
- 12:00 noon - Madhyahna-arati
- 12:30 pm - Midday Prasadam
- 5:00 pm - Evening kirtana and bhajans
- 6:00 pm - Evening Hari-katha
- 7:00 pm - Sandhya-arati
- 8:30 pm - Evening Prasadam
Schedules are generally posted in each temple during Kartika and festivals.
Taking Assistance From External Cleanliness
Before taking full bath, if the body allows, we pass stool, fix hair and brush our teeth, and then take bath.
- Whenever possible, we put on a gamcha (Indian towel) when passing stool so that the garments we wear for the rest of the day can remain clean. There's no need to change our cloth for passing water, but we take care that the cloth is not contaminated by the walls, floor or toilet. Only Pujaris (priests) are required to change their cloth after eating.
After passing stool at any time, we wash our hands with vegetarian soap and take full bath. After passing urine we wash our hands with soap, and wash our feet if possible. After touching our feet or mouth, wash our hands, especially before touching any sacred object.
Bathe more frequently if there is a tendency to perspire a lot.
The following are some quotes on external cleanliness from Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja:
"External cleanliness by taking bath with soap and other cleansing material... Of course, in India, the brahmanas, they take... They cleanse themselves externally at least three times a day: early in the morning; at noon before taking lunch; and in the evening before going to the temple, Tri-sandhya. There are many rules and regulations for becoming cleansed."
"Cleanliness is essential for advancing in spiritual life. There are two kinds of cleanliness: external and internal. External cleanliness means to take bath, and to wash the body, wear clean clothes and cleanse ones living quarters. Internal cleanliness means to think of Krsna always, and to chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, and Hare Hare. This process cleanses the accumulated dust of past karma from the mind very nicely."
"Brahmana means suci. And the others, they are called krpana, or muci. Suci means clean.
Apavitrah pavitro va
Sarvavastham gato 'pi va
Yah smaret pundarikaksam
Sa bahyabhantaram (sucih)
We should be active both in Krsna consciousness externally and internally. Externally by taking bath, washing clothes with soda, soap or if soap is not available, with earth or oil. That is external cleanliness. Similarly, internal cleanliness, one must rise early in the morning, evacuate, then after taking bath chant Hare Krsna mantra, see the Mangala-Aratika. In this way one can purify himself internally and externally.
"Prabhupada: They are clean. I have seen in Bombay even the poorest man, his house, and a Parsee gentleman, his house. Kitchen habits. And I have seen this poor man's house, they are neat. Their utensils how much cleansed. I had been in Parsee kitchen. All the pots black. Nothing is cleansed. For eating they use this China. So clean or unclean cannot be understood. Simply washed but not clean. But so far as the kitchen pots, all are... In our math also, devotees do not clean the black. That should not be black. It must be cleansed.
Mahamsa: By the heat with wood fire it brings up a lot of soot.
Prabhupada: But it must be cleansed daily. (for example put mud on the outside of the pot if you cook on a wood fire, Then it is easy to clean after cooking)
Mahamsa: It should not come on your finger if you touch it. That black soot.
Prabhupada: You cannot see black, not even any black spots. That is clean. Otherwise not clean. If there is a single black spot, it is not clean. You could see from this poor class of men, how their utensils were cleansed. Before taking water the jug, the water pot... You'll like to drink water. In our school days there were sweepers, they were from a different quarter. So you would like to sit down there. So clean. The sweeper, who is cleansing the toilet, bangi. But when you come to his house, living quarter, oh, it is so clean, the bed, the room, the utensils. And they also will take twice, thrice bath, only then they will eat. That is a Hindu culture. The sweeper class, lowest class I have also seen one sweeper class who were in Allahabad, regularly worshiping the Deity. Very nice standard of worship."
Entering The Temple With Respect And Honor
- Remove shoes before entering any temple (Vaisnava's or Indian person's home). (While at a temple in India, put them in such a way that they will not be stolen.) Temples prohibit the carrying of shoes into the temple room, even in a bag.
- When coming from outside after walking barefooted, we clean/rinse our feet before entering the temple wherever possible. Our hands should be clean, as there is sacred paraphernalia in the temple. Besides the spiritual benefit we derive from this cleanliness concerning body and surroundings it contributes to the Spiritual and material well-being and is an essential part of the Vedic culture.
- Offer obeisances to the Deity of Krsna or any Visnu-tattva with the left side towards the Deity, obeisances before the demigods with either side, and obeisances before Srila Gurudeva, Tulasi devi or a Vaisnava with our head facing them. If space allows, men offer sastanga dandavat pranama (lying down with forehead on the ground and with hands reaching out in front). Ladies offer panchanga-pranama (obeisances with the knees, head and hands on the ground). If there are many Vaisnavas present, we give them the space to pay obeisances. We don't point our feet towards the Deity/Deities or a senior Vaisnava.
- Circumambulate Sri Tulasi Devi, the Deity of Krsna and all Vishnu tattva Deities 4 times clockwise.
- We may bring a gift for the Deities: We can give fruits, flowers, paraphernalia etc. If financially possible, we may wish to sponsor part of a feast or an entire feast. When a feast is sponsored in our temple, we give the donation directly to Srila Gurudeva whenever possible; otherwise to the devotee in charge.
- It is appreciated when we speak and walk respectfully and modestly in the temple
- Choose a distant sitting place from Srila Gurudeva and avoid infecting other devotees when sick with a possibly contagious disease or coughing during public programs.
- We may offer services such as making garlands for the Deity, cutting vegetables, washing pots, cleaning, or other services. For details, we can consult devotees of the Math or festival.
- Wear clean clothing when performing services in the Deity kitchen (e.g. cutting, cooking, washing pots, cleaning).
- Carefully move aside any person's bedding to avoid stepping on it.
- We defer to senior devotees to utter the Jaya-dhvani prayers. If we are junior devotees, we may also lead when requested to do so by senior devotees.
- Always touch, give to and receive from Srila Gurudeva and other Vaisnavas with the right hand.
- The seat and personal items of Guru and senior Vaisnavas should never be used by other persons
- When approaching Srila Gurudeva or Sri Tulasi-Devi avoid stepping on their shadow.
- It is highly recommended to regularly worship Sri Tulasi-Devi by circumambulating her clockwise, offering obeisances and some water (not too much), incense, and a ghee lamp. This is not advised for women on their menstrual cycle. Only obeisances may be offered.
- Avoid stepping on or disturbing her in any way, touching her from 1pm till 4pm, after darkness or picking her leaves on Dvadasi, the day after Ekadasi. If you do not have a plant, offer obeisances to a picture or by mantra.
- Although generally unavoidable during festivals, we do not walk in front of someone, who is paying obeisance to Srila Gurudeva, Vaisnavas or the Deities. Wait until the obeisances are finished or walk behind the person offering obeisances.
- When drinking if we (must) touch the bottle with our mouth, eat with a spoon or touch our feet, then we should wash our hands afterwards.
All activities not related to the practice of Bhakti are not allowed in the math.
Leather items are unsuitable anywhere in the holy Dhama.
Strenthening Bhakti By Hari-Katha And Kirtana
It has been told in scripture:
nasta-prayesu abhadresu
nityam bhagavata-sevaya
bhagavaty uttama-sloke
bhaktir bhavati naisthiki
["By regular attendance of classes on the Srimad Bhagavatam and by rendering service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact."(Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.18)]
- Listen to classes carefully. If late in arriving, sit at the back unless Srila Gurudeva requests you to come forwards.
- Allow a space for the senior Vaisnavas to be seated in front near the vyasasana.
- Ladies and men sit separately.
- When moving through a crowd of seated devotees, it is customary to indicate with the hand which direction we wish to go. The seated persons then can give us the required space so that we may avoid stepping over anyone's feet, lap, songbook or personal belongings. If, by mistake we touch a Vaisnava with our feet, we may apologise with folded hands.
- Sit in a cross-legged position if possible or with both legs in a bent position to the right or left. 1 leg up is ok
- Listen carefully to Hari Katha, it strengthens our Bhakti. If we like, we may make only notes during classes. Srila Gurudeva likes us to sing during kirtans and listen attentively.
- Regarding devotees of different languages: It is a nice service to translate for devotees and/or guests. If translating or with a group of devotees listening to a translation, choose a position towards the side or back of the temple so as not to disturb others. Sometimes we sit together in small groups to hear translation through earphones. When different frequencies interfere with each other and would hinder another group from hearing their translation effectively, we sit in an area that accommodates both parties.
- As parents, (either single or together) we take care of our children. Our children are devotees and maybe more advanced than adults, so we give them the attention and affection that nourishes them. In doing so, we avoid the possibility that something unwanted will happen or that they get involved in any mischievous activity.
What we avoid
- Stretching out our legs (exposing feet) or sitting with knees up and embracing them. (One knee up is alright). If we become uncomfortable from sitting as described, or tired, we may stand up near the wall or arrange for a chair at the back of the temple-room with the seated devotees.
- Placing our back towards the Deity, Srila Gurudeva, or respected Vaisnavas.
- If we have to drink, we either go outside or do it inconspicuously.
- It is an offense to honor prasadam in front of the Deity when the altar is visible.
- Discussing in detail the confidential pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna in public and among neophyte devotees.
- If giving class, we speak no longer than 1-1 1/2 hours, especially when prasadam is waiting to be served.
Honoring Guru And Vaisnavas
Srila Narottamma dasa Thakura writes
Ei-Baro karuna kara vaisnava gosai
Patita-pavana toma vine keha nai
Vaisnava Gosai, please give me your mercy this time. You are patita pavana purifier of the fallen. There is no one except you to save us!
- We usually do not say the name of our spiritual master (as an invaluable treasure is protected in a treasure-chest), but if someone asks the name of our Guru Maharaja we respectfully fold our hands and encase his name in the 'treasure-chest' of honorific titles. For example, "Om Vishnupada Astotara Sat Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja," or "Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Manaraja", not "Narayana Maharaja" or "Narayana." At the minimum, we would say, "Srila Narayana Maharaja." We address our spiritual Master as "Srila Gurudeva" or "Srila Guru Maharaja"
- We address a sannyasi as "Maharaja" (e.g. "Sripad Madhava Maharaja" and not "Madhava"), a male devotee (who is not a sannyasi) as "prabhu" (e.g. "Gopal prabhu," not "Gopal"). A female devotee (this is especially applicable when she is older than us) as "didi" (or e.g. "Uma didi," not "Uma")
- We approach our Guru Maharaja from the front. We do not touch his feet when he is paying pranams to his Guru Maharaja or the Deities.
- When Srila Gurudeva is walking, take into consideration whether his walking will be disturbed when offering our obeisances, or when he is talking to someone or looking at something if our request will interrupt his discussion.
- It is conducive to our Bhakti to offer senior Vaisnavas our respects and to serve them. Although seniority is generally determined by the date of initiation, by whom one is initiated (for example, the god-brother of our Gurudeva is considered senior to our own god-brother), and whether one is in the sannyasi ashram. More importantly it is determined by the spiritual status and advancement of a Vaisnava, and then by physical age. We can never be too sure who is an advanced devotee, so it is safer to consider all Vaisnavas as superior to oneself.
- We are respectful to everyone - not only devotees from our math, but other Gaudiya maths, Vaisnava institutions or religions - at all times, regardless of one's position.
- When you are in Vrindavan late in the evening, it can be dangerous especially if we are ladies. It is not a good reflection for the reputation of Srila Gurudeva in the eyes of the local people especially to walk alone is not considered proper.
- Quarreling with common people or with other devotees is not recommended, but if there is any disagreement, consult with a more senior devotee, to mediate a solution to the problem.
- Consider that we are known to be connected to our Srila Gurudeva and Srila Gurudeva's math. And to that extent we represent him.
- Apart from serving Srila Gurudeva, we honor sannyasis, senior brahmacari's and any senior Vaisnavas by paying obeisances, serving them (e.g. helping them to move through the crowd, arranging a place for them etc.) If we are ladies generally we do not do personal services for sannyasis and brahmacaris (like cooking, washing laundry, cleaning rooms etc., unless they are staying in our own home while on a preaching trip), because this may create subtle attachments, desires and expectations.
- Caution should be observed about unnecessary association with the opposite sex, particularly those in the renounced order. If service requires you to be in the proximity of devotees in the renounced ashram and we are of the opposite gender, we observe a respectable distance and try not to be alone in a room together. Avoid laughing and joking with the opposite sex.
Chanting Gayatri And Japa-Mala
Sri Gurvastakam
by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado yasyaprasadan na gatiù kuto 'pi
dhyayan stuvams tasya yasas tri-sandhyam vande guroù sri-caranaravindam
Only by the mercy of Sri Gurudeva can one receive the mercy of Krsna; without his grace the living entities cannot make any advancement nor be delivered. Meditating three times a day on the glories of Sri Gurudeva and reciting stava-stuti, I offer prayers unto his lotus feet.
Chant Gayatri-mantras (ahnika) at the proper times (sandhya): just before sunrise, at noon, and around sunset. After bathing in the morning, we perform acamana (purifying oneself with the water from the acamana cup, in which we have called the holy rivers by mantra (See Appendix 2) and apply tilak. (See Appendix 2)
- Apply tilak carefully whilst meditating on the various names of Sri Krsna and Their qualities, and at the same time praying for mercy.
- Chant morning and noon mantras facing east, and evening mantras facing north. If there are Deities present, we face Them if the curtains are open, and face Srila Gurudeva if he is present.
- If Srila Gurudeva enters the room, we stop chanting our mantras or japa or performing arcana (Deity worship), to show respect to him. On certain occasions we may perform guru-puja. When Gurudeva tells us to continue our service, we continue our arcana where we left off, but we restart our mantras from the beginning.
- Chant mantras in a separate room and at a separate time from Prasad seva, so that we are not distracted. Noon Gayatri can be said before the noon Arati, if possible.
- We utter the Gayatri mantras in a clean and peaceful place. Shoes are removed and we sit on an asana (sitting mat or cushion) on the floor. We may sit on a chair if this is too difficult. The right hand is cupped with fingers closed in the vicinity of the heart, and covered with cloth, in order to receive the mercy.
Focus on the mantra, to avoid becoming distracted, chanting silently.
- When others are chanting Gayatri (or Harinam) they should not be disturbed.
- We chant Harinama on our beads aloud, but when others are around, we chant in such a way not to disturb them. Chanting too quietly may cause our mind to wonder, so we try to pronounce the mantras clearly. In order to help focus our mind, we may remember one verse at a time and sincerely meditate on it while chanting. We also pray to Nama Prabhu (Krsna) for His mercy, sometimes remembering various verses in that regard.
- We are performing worship of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna by chanting on our japa-mala. We therefore consider japa beads sacred and non-different from Sri Harinama Prabhu. We consider them our umbilical cord to our Gurudeva and Sri Krsna.
- Being sacred we always carry our mala in a bead bag. Keep them from touching the floor, the ground, our feet, shoes, any dirty objects, or any unclean place.
- Srila Gurudeva requests not to chant during Hari Katha given by himself or senior Vaisnavas.
- Srila Gurudeva requests that we not shake and make sounds with our japa-mala whilst chanting.
- We chant Harinama on our beads, a fixed amount of rounds daily - 16, 24, 32, or 64. It is beneficial to increase our chanting on Ekadasis and other special days like Janmastami etc.
- We use a white bead bag and try to keep it as clean as possible. The white bead bag represents our heart, the main bead represents Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, and the 108 beads represent the gopis.
- We remove our hand from our bead bag when honoring the lamp offered to the deities, offering obeisances to the Deities, Vaisnavas, Tulasi etc. At that time we try to place it inside our upper garment or allow it to hang down our back, so we may put both hands on the floor/ground while protecting our mala.
- When not chanting on our mala, we keep them either around our neck or in our carrying bag separate from any unclean items (like shoes or any food or bottle that was touched by mouth).
- After eating or drinking or touching our mouth with our hand, we wash our hands and mouth. We wait until our hands are clean before we take your beads and chant, or before we touch anything, especially sacred items like sastras (scriptures), or pictures of the spiritual master, Sri Mahaprabhu, Sri Sri Radha- Krsna etc.
- Please feel free to ask questions on this subject to senior devotees.
- Chanting on a japamala when driving, cooking, or engaged in other activities is not proper. There are no restrictions when chanting without mala.
- We should not take our beads into toilet rooms, unless we are somewhere traveling alone and it is unavoidable, in this case, we protect them in some way.
- Take good care of japa mala, so that they do not become misplaced.
Honoring Maha-Prasadam
The term bhoga refers to food before it is offered to the Lord or Srila Gurudeva If we plan to honor prasadam (offered food) at the math, except during festivals, we inform the person in charge before 9 a.m and give a small donation. We may wish to offer our help in the kitchen (if we have taken diksa - second initiation) or with cleaning duties.
Please arrive for prasadam on time. One should be mindful of the time when programs are attended just before prasadam or noon arati.
- Wash hands and feet before honoring prasadam.
- Say the prayer "Maha-prasad Govinde Namo Brahmany Vaisnave" and "Sarira avidya-jal, jadendriya tahe kal…" (not on Ekadasis) before honoring prasadam. Remember that we are not eating ordinary food; we are serving the Lord in the form of prasadam.
- In the Indian temples, men and women sit usually separately.
- When we are serving prasadam, we do not touch the devotee's plates with the serving spoon. If it does happen by mistake, wash the spoon. We are careful not to spill or splash prasadam on devotees.
- If we do not have diksa initiation, we usually do not serve prasadam in Indian temples.
- Use the right hand for honoring prasadam.
- Try to keep the left hand from touching a plate with prasadam already on it.
- On special days, invited guests and senior Vaisnavas sit together and are served separately. Sannyasis and senior brahmacharis sit together.
- While honoring prasadam, it is better not to talk excessively.
- Ask the servers, if you would like additional prasadam. We do not serve ourselves by taking from the pots. Generally, men serve the prasadam.
- When you are pointing out the prasadam that you want, please do not touch the pot or spoon of the server.
- It is the tradition that devotees remain seated until the senior Vaisnavas are finished although now-a-days we don't see this so much any more.
- After taking prasadam avoid touching anything with unwashed plate or hand. When carrying the plate away, if it is dripping, be careful not to spill any remnants on anyone or on plates. Wash the plate if it is a metal one or throw it away if it is a disposable one, in the designated place. Then wash your hands, mouth and feet.
- Keep prasadam and bhoga separate at all times (even in the fridge).
- We keep Krsna's pots and utensils separate from the plates and containers used for eating.
- Use different sponges to clean Krsna's plates.
- Particularly when dressed as a Vaisnava/devotee, do not eat in public, outside on the street, unless there is some exceptional reason.
- Avoid eating grains cooked by materialistic people. If we buy good quality bread, though, we can offer it to Krsna.
What we avoid
- Touching prasadam (or any sacred item) with our feet
- Stepping over prasadam
- Placing the prasadam plate on our lap (plates remain on the floor or table. In exceptional cases, for example when the ground is wet or dirty, we may keep the plate in our left hand and honor the prasadam with our right hand.
- Allowing our garments to touch our plate
- Allowing our plate to touch the mat we are sitting on
- Placing a container or plate of prasadam on any Vaisnava's seat or sleeping place.
- If taking prasadam while sitting on the floor, avoid sitting with our knees up or legs stretched. Sit cross-legged or with both legs aside.
- Try not to waste prasadam. It is best to ask for only as much prasadam as your stomach can comfortably manage. If it cannot be helped, avoid discarding it in a filthy place. You may give it to animals or put it under a tree.
- Leave shoes ALWAYS at a good distance from where prasadam is being served and honored.
- When you need to go into a place where prasadam has just been served, it is best to wait until it has been cleaned/ washed or to walk carefully, avoiding stepping on Mahaprasadam.
- Offered prasadam should not be taken back into the kitchen of the Deity (e.g. pots with already offered prasadam, or your prasadam from previous offerings which you want to heat up). Avoid bringing personal eating plates to the kitchen of the Deity.
- Prasadam and pots of prasadam should not be mixed with any bhoga. Be careful not to mix eating plates with utensils used for cooking for Krsna (they should not touch each other).
- Make an effort to follow every Ekadasi and break the fast properly on Dwadasi (next morning, within the specific timing called "paran") to make your vow complete. Consult the Vaisnava calendar or the math to learn Ekadasi dates. The standards for following Ekadasi and Caturmasya are mentioned in the end of the Srila Gurudeva's vaisnava calendar. For the festivals of Visnu-tattva appearance (Janmashtami, Rama Navami, Nrsimha-Caturdasi etc.) it is proper to fast as on Ekadasi days.
- We never refuse Maha-prasadam. The only exception is on a fasting day, at which time we simply offer our pranama to the prasadam. If someone offers Mahaprasadam to us and we can't honor it at that time, we at least honor it by accepting a crumb.
Other Helpfull Tips:
For female devotees:
- Respecting the math as a monastery and place of worship, during kirtanas we dance in a discrete way.
- While taking bath in a holy river or pond, cover the body from the shoulders down to at least the knees. We generally bathe in a separate place from the men, but we know that this is not always possible during parikrama.
- If we are on the first three days of our monthly period, we generally do not enter the temple-room. We do not touch Srila Gurudeva or the paraphernalia of Radha-Krsna, and we do not touch or pick Tulasi. After three days burn the pads when we are in India, and we wash our hair, cloth and room before going to the temple. During parikrama, even during this time mentioned above, Srila Gurudeva wants his daughters to come and listen to Hari-katha. We therefore attend his functions, but we are careful not to touch him, or any paraphernalia of the Deity( honoring the lamp during aratis we can fold our hands in front of our chest and bow our head), or any other person, and we do not walk around the Deities, Tulsi Devi or any sacred place. During this time we do not engage in helping in the kitchen or in Deity worship.
- During the time of Harikatha, we sit at the back of the temple. Ayurveda says it is healthy to take rest during those 3 days.
- We dress simply and decently. Wear saris or any other Indian traditional dress that fully covers us. Keep the upper portion of our skirt above the navel.
For male devotees:
- It is better not to wear long hair. Keep hair short and keep your sikha (don't tie it in a braid; just tie the end in a knot).
- For brahmacharis in the math, the rule is to shave the head and beard once a month on full moon Purnima day, except for Caturmasya, when shaving should not be done until after two months and the end of Karrtik month (Sriman Mahaprabhu Himself and Srila Gurudeva are following this).
- In the Dhama or at public programs, dress appropriately - in dhoti, kurta/or t-shirt and uttariya (piece of upper cloth), all of the same color. If you are grhastha or brahmachari in white-then all cloth should be white. If you are brahmachari in saffron-then all saffron. Don't wear white and saffron mixed, and try not to mix too much Western and Vaisnava cloth in the math and public places in the Dhama. Better to wear full devotee clothing (at least in India).
- Gamchas should not be worn in public, especially in Vaisnava gatherings. Wear only devotional dress in the temple and in sadhu-sanga. For men, if you are not a sannyasi, don't wear your dhoti without kacha. This is the tucked in part of your dhoti at the back. (that is, don't dress like a paramahamsa unless you are a paramahamsa); If you are not a sannyasi ideally you should not wear kaupina (given by Srila Gurudev to Sannyasis). It's like accepting the tridanda staff in an unauthorized manner.
- If taking bath in the river or pond, cover yourself from the waist to the knees with gamcha,
- Men should not expose their bare chest in public. Cloth should always be worn over their shoulder covering the chest.
The Dhama
- Respect all living entities in the holy dhama - people, animals, insects, trees, or plants. We don't harm any of them. We don't harm them anywhere, not only in the Dhama.
- Protect the holy dhama and serve it. Never throw garbage here and there, especially plastic bags, plastic bottles etc.
- We chant Harinama, hear Hari-katha, read the scriptures and perform service to Hari, Guru and Vaisnavas. Try not to waste time in useless talking and other non-devotional pursuits.
What we avoid
Try not to be a target for thieves. We dress simply, without opulent jewelry, and avoid openly showing our money. Keep valuables safely either in our room, not too close to the open monkey grill window and after we are certain that the room is safe. We can give them to a devotee who lives in the Dhama, whom we can trust. During Indian parikramas we can deposit our valuables to the assigned person, but realize in that case you will not be able to get your valuables back till the last day of Kartik.
Gaura Premanande Haribol Gopinath Bhavan,
Ranapat ghat, Sevakunj
Vrindavan 281121 (UP)
India
Karthik month of 2001
(Retyped April 2007 and
Edited by Syamarani dasi and Jahnava dasi),
From Srila Gurudeva's class in Hilo Feb 7 2005, about Criticism
To bring a person from the clutches of Maya is very, very hard. If lust or any other attachment is present in that person's heart it will go away soon, if he is chanting, remembering and listening to Hari-katha. Be very careful. Don't criticize devotees - or non-devotees. First look at your own condition, and try to purify yourself. Is there any lust in you? Is there any kutinati (deceit) in you, or not? Be worried for that; don't worry for others. Sri Guru and Lord Sri Krsna are responsible for others. You cannot do anything to help them, so you have no right to criticize.
Please feel free to consult any senior vaisnava or Srila Gurudeva, about this or additional questions you may have!