WELCOME

Bhakti-Sadäcära

(Krishna Conscious Behaviour)

Course

1. ‘Bhakti-Sadacara’ Study Guide2. Self-assessment, no test3. Register, Certification 4. Classroom clean-up / Set-up 5. Prasadam6. Class Timings7. Dramas and Group presentations8. Other…

INTRODUCTION AND ADMINISTRATION

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.

ETIQUETTE IN CLASS FOR STUDENTS AND FACILITATORS

STUDENT SELF ASSESSMENT

Expectations Before the

Course

After theCourse

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

Course

After theCourse

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 rememberKRISHNA

And never forgetHIM

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

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]

Breaking a lesser rule for a higher rule (Cont’d.)

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 forsense 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

TOLERANCE

TRUTHFULNESS (HONESTY)

100%

0%

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 FIVE5.1 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 krsnanu- silanam 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

• 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)

radha

deviate

same difference

internal potency

ApaVaisnava

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 co-operate 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.

PURPORTSrila 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 non-Vaisnavas, 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]

1. Mayavadis

2. Pretenders

3. Atheists

One who does not believe in .

ASSOCIATION WITH THOSE DEVOID OF DEVOTION TO THE LORD

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 mohobandhas canya-prasangatahyosit-sangad yatha pumsoyatha tat-sangi-sangatah

SYNONYMSna -- 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.

TRANSLATIONThe 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?

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 marriageWhat 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 principlesSex 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]

Understanding

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 IntegrityNow, 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]

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 andIllicit 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]

Understanding

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

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

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?

BrahmacaryaIt 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 grhastha-asramas are easily deviated from the rigid path. In the Kali-yuga 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 acultured mother and father?

Personal ApplicationWhat 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 one-hundred-percent shelter of the Supreme Lord [SB 3.24.41].

Mood and MissionFamily 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 dasa-dasanudasah (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 prakrta-bhakta, 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 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]

…but those neophyte devotees who are ….. initiated by the ….. spiritual master and are….. engaged in carrying out the orders of the spiritual master…

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]

THREE TYPES OF NEOPHYTES

Prakrta-sahajiya

Chants HareKrishna casually

Attached towomen, moneyand intoxication

Has faith thatKrishna is GOD

respected within one's mind, but their association

should be avoided

Prakrta-bhakta

Chants 16 rounds ofHare Krishnamantra daily

Follows 4 regulativeprinciples

Only serves Guruand Krishna. Feelshe/she is the best

Disciple

respect such a person within his mind,

should be shown favor

( words)

Harinama-bhakta

Chants minimum 16rounds of Hare

Krishna daily

Follows 4 regulativeprinciples

Serves Vaishnavas, Guru and Krishna.

should be offered respectful obeisances (mind, words

and body

Transition to

Madhyama Adhikari

TEXT 5

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." (Caitanya-bhagavata, 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)