WELCOME

Bhakti-
Sadäcära
(Krishna Conscious
Behaviour)

Course
 INTRODUCTION AND ADMINISTRATION

1. ‘Bhakti-Sadacara’ Student’s Handbook

Srila Prabhupada: "Good judgement comes from
experience, and experience comes from bad
judgement." (Quoted by His Holiness Giriraja Swami)
2. Self-assessment, no test
3. Register
4. Classroom clean-up / Set-up
5. Prasadam
6. Class Timings
7. Dramas and Team presentations
8. Other…
 ETIQUETTE IN CLASS FOR
STUDENTS AND FACILITATORS
1. We will be punctual for classes.
2. We will be present for the entire duration of the class
except for emergencies.
3. We will value all contributions whether or not we agree
with them.
4. We will not borrow strength from status or position.
5. We will discuss issues or behaviour, not people.
6. We will maintain confidentiality. Dissatisfaction can be
discussed in this forum only.
7. We will appreciate others’ strengths and successes. We
will be sensitive to others’ weaknesses and failures.
8. We will co-operate fully even at the expense of individual
interests for the higher purpose of purification resulting
in spiritual advancement.
 INTRODUCING OURSELVES

My Name is ……………

I am from ………….

Presently, I am feeling …………….

 STUDENT SELF ASSESSMENT
Expectations Before the After the
Course Course
At the end of the course I expect to ..

know…
improve…
realize…
understand…
lessen / increase…
commit…
be inspired/encouraged…
be more serious…
Grading : A = 81-100%, B = 61-80%, C = 41-60%, D = 21-40%, E = 0-20%
 STUDENT SELF ASSESSMENT
Expectations Before the After the
Course Course

At the end of the course I expect to

Lessen my offences to devotees

C B
At the end of the course I expect to

Improve my relationships with C E

devotees

Grading : A = 81-100%, B = 61-80%, C = 41-60%, D = 21-40%, E = 0-20%

 TEAM PRESENTATIONS GUIDELINES
AND TOPICS
1. The team presentation should be between 10 to 15 minutes, including
questions and answers.
2. The team 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 team may include members from other teams 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 Prabhupada’s mood and mission,
practical challenges for devotees, suggested solutions to challenges and
other points the team may feel are of importance.
 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, Krishna, His eternal
servant.

• Servant of the Lord’s servants.

• The service attitude is the svarupa, or real form, of the

living entity.
 FOUNDATION OF BHAKTI-SADACARA
Spiritual Master’s Most Essential Order
In our Krishna consciousness movement, we have
recommended that the neophyte chant at least sixteen
rounds. This chanting of sixteen rounds is absolutely
necessary if one wants to remember Krishna and not forget
Him. Of all the regulative principles, the spiritual master's
order to chant at least sixteen rounds is most essential. (CC
Madhya-lila 22.113 purport)

Member of ISKCON
The members of the Krsna consciousness movement chant
a minimum of sixteen rounds a day, which can be done
without difficulty, and at the same time they must preach the
cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu according to the gospel of
Bhagavad-gita As It Is. (CC Antya-lila 4.103, purport)
 VAISNAVA ETIQUETTE

…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.
LESSON THREE - REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES

• niyama – rules and regulations

• āgraha – eagerness to accept
• agraha – failure to accept
• niyamāgraha

REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES:

1. No meat-eating
2. No intoxication
3. No gambling
4. No illicit-sex
 Always
remember
KRISHNA
And never forget
HIM
 BREAKING A LESSER RULE FOR
A HIGHER RULE
Understanding the fatigue of the devotees, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stopped
the congregational chanting. Then He bathed in the sea, accompanied by them
all. Then Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took prasadam with all of them and then
asked them to return to their dwellings and take rest.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu lay down at the door of the Gambhira, and Govinda
came there to massage His legs. It was a steady, long-standing rule that Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu would lie down to rest after lunch and Govinda would
come to massage His legs. Then Govinda would honor the remnants of food left
by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This time when the Lord lay down, He occupied
the entire doorway. Govinda could not enter the room, and therefore he made
the following request.
Govinda said, "Kindly turn on one side. Let me pass to enter the room."
However, the Lord replied, "I don't have the strength to move My body."
Govinda made his request again and again, but the Lord replied, "I cannot move
My body."
Govinda repeatedly requested, "I want to massage Your legs."
But the Lord said, "Do it or don't do it. It depends upon your mind."

Then Govinda spread the Lord's wrapper over His body and in this way
entered the room by crossing over the Lord.
 BREAKING A LESSER RULE FOR A HIGHER
RULE (CONTINUED)
Govinda massaged the Lord's legs as usual. He pressed the Lord's waist and back very
softly, and thus all the Lord's fatigue went away. As Govinda stroked His body, the Lord slept
very nicely for about forty-five minutes, and then His sleep broke. When Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu saw Govinda sitting by His side, He was somewhat angry. "Why have you been
sitting here for so long today?" the Lord asked. "Why didn't you go to take your meal after I
fell asleep?" the Lord asked.
Govinda replied, "You were lying down, blocking the door, and there was no way to go.“ The
Lord asked, "How did you enter the room? Why didn't you go out to take your lunch in the
same way?"
Govinda mentally replied, "My duty is to serve, even if I have to commit offenses or go to
hell. I would not mind committing hundreds and thousands of offenses for the service of the
Lord, but I greatly fear committing even a glimpse of an offense for my own self." Thinking in
this way, Govinda kept silent. He did not reply to the Lord's inquiry. It was Govinda's practice
to go take lunch when the Lord was asleep. On that day, however, seeing the Lord's
weariness, Govinda continued massaging His body.
There was no way to go. How could he leave? When he thought of crossing
over the Lord's body, he considered it a great offense.
These are some of the finer points of etiquette in devotional service. Only one who has
received the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu can understand these principles. The Lord is
very interested in manifesting the exalted qualities of His devotees, and that is why He
engineered this incident.
Thus I have briefly described Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's dancing in the hall of the
Jagannatha temple. The servants of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sing about this dancing even
now. (CC, Antya Lila, Ch 10, Text 80-102)
 TRANSGRESSING A LESSER RULE FOR A
HIGHER RULE

“From the character of Govinda it is to be

learned that we may sometimes commit
offenses for the service of the Lord, but not for
sense gratification.” – Srila Prabhupada

(CC,Antya Lila, Ch 10, excerpt from chapter summary:

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Accepts Prasadam from His
Devotees.)
 4. 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.”
(SB 6.3.16-17 -- Gorakhpur, February 10, 1971)
“By devotional service only is one elevated to the
transcendental planet Goloka Vrndavana, and there also
there is only devotional service, for the activities of
devotional service both in this world and in the spiritual
world are one and the same. Devotional service does not
change. The example of a mango can be given here. If one
gets an unripe mango, it is still a mango, and when it is ripe
it remains the same mango, but it has become more tasteful
and relishable. Similarly, there is devotional service
performed according to the direction of the spiritual master
and the injunctions and regulative principles of sastra, and
there is devotional service in the spiritual world, rendered
directly in association with the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. But they are both the same. There is no change.
The difference is that one stage is unripe and the other is
ripe and more relishable. It is possible to mature in
devotional service only in the association of devotees.”
(SB. 4.9.11, purport)
Condensed
Sweetness

Sweet

Sour-Sweet

Sour

Bitter-Sour

Bitter Mango
 HUMILITY
100%
T
O
L
E
R
A
N
C
E 0%
TRUTHFULNESS (HONESTY)
 5.1 DECORATIONS AND DRESS
OF A VAISNAVA

• You are how you dress

• Without speaking, one can preach simply by
one’s decorations and dress
• People are easily attracted and repulsed by
externals
• Decorate and dress oneself for the pleasure of
Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga
• Decorate and dress oneself for bringing others
to practice Krishna consciousness
 5.2 IMITATION AND FOLLOWING

“However, one should not imitate the

behavior of an advanced devotee or
maha-bhagavata without being self-
realized, for by such imitation one will
eventually become degraded.” (NOI,
text 5 purport)

“The devotee should also know his

own position and should not try to
imitate a devotee situated on a higher
platform.” (NOI, text 5 purport)
 IMITATION OF A GOOD THING IS DESIRED

“In some areas, people begin to imitate the devotees by

shaving their heads and chanting the Hare Krishna 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
7 purport)
LESSON SIX – VAISNAVA APARADHA

Vaisnava
Apa Radha

Deviate Internal
Potency

Same Difference
 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.

hati mata
 VAISNAVA-APARADHA IS MORE SINFUL
THAN MATERIAL SINS

“The conclusion is that if Krishna

consciousness is covered by material
sins, one can eliminate the sins simply
by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra,
but if one pollutes his Krishna
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.” (Purport, SB 4.26.24)
 RECOGNISING OFFENCES

The more one advances in Krishna consciousness,

the quicker (in a shorter space of time) one will know
that one has offended another devotee. - BBBS
 FURTHER RECOGNISING OFFENCES
The furthermore one advances in Krishna consciousness,
then one will recognise that one is offending others most
of the time – in this way one realizes that although one is
offensive, still the devotees are most merciful in keeping
one in their association - BBBS
 WHEN WILL I BEGIN TO BECOME
A DEVOTEE?

Then one realizes: “When will that day come when I will
begin to become a devotee? When will that day come ?”
- BBBS
 BEG FORGIVENESS

“If anyone offends a sadhu/sadhvi in a moment of

delusion and madness, one must fall at the sadhu's/
sadhvi’s feet and repent bitterly; weeping and full of
contrition, one must beg forgiveness. One should declare
oneself a fallen wretch in need of a Vaisnava's grace.
(Sri Harinama Cintamani, Chapter 4, Remedies for sadhu-ninda)
• What should I do if I realized that I
have offended a devotee?
• What should I do if I realized that I
have offended a devotee, but I do
not have the courage or potency or
needed-strength to approach the
devotee for forgiveness?
• What should I do if I begged for
forgiveness, but the offended
devotee superficially forgives me?
• What should I do if I begged for
forgiveness, but the offended
devotee does not forgive me?
 FORGIVE

A sadhu/ sadhvi is very merciful; his/her heart will soften and

he/she will forgive the offender, thus exonerating him/her from
the offenses.”
(Sri Harinama Cintamani, Chapter 4, Remedies for sadhu-ninda)
• What should I do if a devotee
approaches me to beg for
forgiveness?
• The devotee approaches me to beg
for forgiveness. But I have been so
deeply hurt that I cannot forgive the
offender. What should I do?
BENEFITS OF FORGIVING AND
BEING FORGIVEN
• “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)

• “The duty of a brahmana is to culture the quality of

forgiveness, which is illuminating like the sun. The
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is pleased
with those who are forgiving.” (SB 9.15.40)

• “Ksama, tolerance and forgiveness, should be

practiced; one should be tolerant and excuse the
minor offenses of others.” (Purport Bg 10.4-5)

• “It is said that the beauty of a tapasvi, or saintly

person, is forgiveness.” (Purport, SB 4.6.48)
 Our Founder-Acarya Teaches by Example
Except From Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta, Vol. 6 Ch. 55, The Final Lesson:
When Prabhupada began asking his Godbrothers to forgive him,
they protested. "You are the eternal leader," one of them asserted.
"You rule over us, guide us, and chastise us."
"Forgive all my offenses," Prabhupada repeated. "I became proud of
all my opulence."
"No," said Puri Maharaja, "you never became proud. When you
started preaching, opulence and success followed you. That was the
blessing of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Krsna. There cannot
be any question of your being offensive."
When Srila Prabhupada presented himself as maha-patita, greatly
fallen, Puri Maharaja did not accept it. "You have saved millions of
people around the world," he said. "Therefore there is no question of
offenses. But you should be called maha-patita-pavana [the great
savior of the fallen]."
Our Founder-Acarya Teaches by Example -Cont’d

Prabhupada's disciples regarded Prabhupada's asking for his

Godbrothers' forgiveness as a manifestation of his humility. But they
were also puzzled. Certainly Prabhupada's Godbrothers were
sincere in saying Prabhupada had committed no offense. Whatever
he had done, he had done for Krsna. But Srila Prabhupada was also
sincere in asking for forgiveness. That was the beautiful gem of his
humility-to ask everyone for forgiveness.
For the purpose of preaching, displaying this gem had not always
been the most effective way to spread the merciful teachings of Lord
Krsna in every town and village. But now it could be displayed... This
attitude of complete humility was a symptom of the highest stage of
devotional life... Prabhupada's disciples had all read of the maha-
bhagavata stage in the scriptures, and now they were seeing it fully
displayed, as Prabhupada referred to himself as the most fallen and
asked for everyone's forgiveness.
 EXERCISE ON FORGIVENESS: ONE

• As soon as is practical, I shall approach

at least three devotees that I have
offended and beg for forgiveness.
 EXERCISE ON FORGIVENESS: TWO
• Optional: Accompanied by an experienced
mature senior devotee, I shall then approach
the devotee/s that have offended/hurt me the
most and say, “I felt you deeply offended and
hurt me. Please forgive me for feeling this
way”.
 WHY SHALL I DO THE ABOVE EXERCISES?

trnad api su-nicena taror iva sahisnuna

amanina mana-dena kirtaniyah sada harih
TRANSLATION
"‘One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more
tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honour
but is always prepared to give all respect to others can very
easily always chant the holy name of the Lord.'
(Cc. Antya 20.21)

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
 7. ASSOCIATION WITH THOSE DEVOID OF
DEVOTION TO THE LORD

1. Mayavadis

2. Pretenders

3. Atheists

One who does not believe in _____________.

THE MISSIONARY’S FAMILY SPIRIT
 OUR MISSION:
SPREADING Krishna CONSCIOUSNESS
prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama
"In every town and village, the chanting of My name will be heard."
(CB. Antya 4.126 or CC. Madhya 25.264 purport)

• “Spreading Krishna consciousness is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's

mission; therefore His sincere devotees must carry out His
desire.”

• “The devotees of Lord Caitanya must preach Krishna

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 Krishna 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
Krishna 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)
 ASSOCIATION WITH MEN
TOO ATTACHED TO WOMEN
SB 3.31.35 yatha tat-sangi-sangatah
SYNONYMS
yatha -- as; tat-sangi -- of men who are fond of women;
sangatah -- from the fellowship.

TRANSLATION: The infatuation and bondage which accrue to

a man from attachment to any other object is not as
complete as that resulting from attachment to a woman or
to the fellowship of men who are fond of women.

PURPORT: …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.
 UNDERSTANDING
Who is being addressed (or spoken to) in the above verse and purport?

Association ‘with men too much attached to women’

“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, purport)

Illicit association with women outside of marriage

“What are the symptoms of the age of Kali? They are (1) illicit connection with
women, (2) indulgence in meat-eating, (3) intoxication and (4) taking pleasure in
gambling.” (SB 1.16.10, purport)

Association with one’s wife not according to religious principles

“Sex life with one's wife is equal to prostitution if the regulations are not properly
followed.” (SB 3.14.33, purport)

“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, purport)
 PREACHING APPLICATION
Women, due to not receiving proper care, affection and protection - lose faith and
trust in men …

Then men give women ‘liberation’

“I see in your country that the girls are being exploited. They are taught to be
independent so they become the playthings for sex. So where is the freedom? I
want that they live, man and wife together, chant Hare Krishna and be happy.”
(SP Letter, 26 September, 1975)
 ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
“Now, in the Manu-samhita it is clearly stated that a woman should
not be given freedom. That does not mean that women are to be
kept as slaves, but they are like children. Children are not given
freedom, but that does not mean that they are kept as slaves. The
demons have now neglected such injunctions, and they think that
women should be given as much freedom as men. However, this
has not improved the social condition of the world. Actually, a
woman should be given protection at every stage of life. She should
be given protection by the father in her younger days, by the
husband in her youth, and by the grownup sons in her old age. This
is proper social behavior according to the Manu-samhita. But
modern education has artificially devised a puffed -- up concept of
womanly life, and therefore marriage is practically now an
imagination in human society. Nor is the moral condition of woman
very good now. The demons, therefore, do not accept any
instruction which is good for society, and because they do not
follow the experience of great sages and the rules and regulations
laid down by the sages, the social condition of the demoniac people
is very miserable.” (Bg 16.7, purport)
 PREACHING APPLICATION

Institution of Sacred Marriage (vows) is lost

“Brahmananda: The wife of the President, she

recently said that sex life before marriage is
good because it will reduce the divorce rate.

Prabhupada: Yes. If everyone is prostitute then

where is the question of divorce? (laughter)

Nitai: There's also no question of marriage.

Prabhupada: Yes. And that is going on.”

(MW - September 6, 1975, Vrndavana)
 UNDERSTANDING
Unwanted Progeny - Institution of Family Culture is lost

adharmabhibhavat Krishna pradusyanti kula-striyah

strisu dustasu varsneya jayate varna-sankarah (Bg 1.40)
In Bhagavad-gita Arjuna informed Krishna 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, purport)

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
Illicit sex creates pregnancies, and these unwanted pregnancies lead to
abortion. [SB 5.14.9]
 UNDERSTANDING
Single Mothers

“Prabhupada: All right, trying. But you women, you

cannot see that this so-called equal right means
cheating the woman. Now I say more clearly that a
woman and man meets. Now they become lover.
Then they have sex, and the woman becomes
pregnant, and the man goes away. The simple
woman, she has to take charge of the child and
beg from government alms, "Please give me
money." This is your independence. Do you admit
this is independence, that the man makes the
woman pregnant and he goes away without any
responsibility, and the woman cannot give up the
child, she maintains, begging from the government
or she tries to kill the child? Do you think it is very
good independence? What is your answer?”
(RC-- July 13, 1975, Philadelphia)

women further losing faith and trust in men …

 PREACHING APPLICATION

What is the root cause?

Association ‘with men too
much attached to women’
– unscrupulous, sly, cunning
men of bad character –
debauchees.
 PREACHING APPLICATION

What is the solution?

Brahmacarya
“It is essential, therefore, that girls as well as boys be trained to
discharge spiritual duties so that at the time of cooperation both
will be benefited. The training of the boy is brahmacarya, and
the training of the girl is chastity.” (SB 3.14.17, purport)

“The principle of brahmacarya is celibacy.” (SB 3.22.14, purport)

“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, purport)
 PREACHING 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 Krishna 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, purport)

“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,
purport)

“Ksatriyas and vaisyas are therefore especially advised to give in

charity at least fifty percent of their accumulated wealth.” (SB 4.12.10,
purport)
 PREACHING APPLICATION
Why should the householders
be responsible for the
ongoing existence of the
brahmachari asrama?

“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, purport)
 PREACHING APPLICATION

What is the greatest anxiety

for a cultured mother and
father?

Srila Prabhupada:
“I remember, because my second
sister was going twelve years, my
mother said to my father that ‘I
shall go to the river and commit
suicide. The daughter is not
married’."
“…most obligatory duty of the
father, (is) to get the daughter
married.”
(SB 1.8.51 Lecture LA, May 13, 1973)
 PREACHING APPLICATION
Besides senior brahmacaris and sannyasis, 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 patni”
(SB 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 MISSION

Family Culture of Interdependency amongst Asramas

• Most important is to ‘live’ family – daughter, son, mother,

father, grand-daughter, grand-son, grand-mother, grand-
father with our founding father’s missionary and family spirit
in the centre – where care, affection and protection for each
other are our foundation.
• Everyone relates to each other as devotees, irrespective of
asramas. Still in order to avoid, as Srila Prabhupada says,
“one of his children wishes to break family connections”, a
family culture of interdependency amongst asramas is
necessary to serve and protect each other in the family.
• Brahmacaris and brahmacarinis treat grhasthas as mothers
and fathers.
• Grhasthas treat brahmacaris and brahmacarinis as sons
and daughters.
 MOOD AND MISSION

• Vanaprasthas are an ocean of spiritual wealth –

experience, wisdom and practical realizations in Krishna-
conscious Family Life. They adopt and train brahmacaris
and brahmacarinis as spiritual sons and daughters.
Brahmacaris and brahmacarinis treat vanaprasthas as
spiritual mother and father, just as Krishna and
Balarama treated Sandipani Muni and his Wife.
• Vanaprasthas are naturally locally situated spiritual
masters as guru-pati and guru-patni even for
grhasthas in a village, town or city. The guru-patni
primarily helps the female-bodied devotees in their
spiritual progress. Vanaprastha should not be in anxiety
in earning for their living. Grhasthas should fully maintain
the vanaprasthas, who are adopting the sons and
daughters of the Grhasthas for spiritual training.
 MOOD AND MISSION
• Sannyasis accept the whole world as their home, and are
fathers of all asramas. “A sannyasi is constitutionally the
spiritual master [*siksa-guru] for all the orders and
divisions” (SB 1.3.13). Sannyasis adopt ‘children’
(members of other asramas) of behalf of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. They are primarily assisted by
trained brahmacaris. They are maintained and protected by
the grhasthas for their basic needs and therefore do not
necessarily have to deal with too much wealth. They are
protected by the vanaprasthas in not dealing too intimately
with women, who are cared for by the guru-patni. In this
way the sannyasis are above feelings of possessiveness
(Bg 6.10 & purport), simultaneously belonging to everyone
as spiritual fathers.

• *BBBS’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

What is our mission?
Spreading
Krishna Consciousness

What is our mood?

Caring for Devotees
 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)
 8.4 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?
 9.5 PRAKRTA-SAHAJIYA
“The prakrta-sahajiyas generally chant the Hare Krishna
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. 5, purport, page 50)
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 Krishna. One should respect such a
person within his mind as a kanistha-vaisnava.”
(NOI. 5, 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. 5, 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. 5, purport, p50)
…but those neophyte devotees who are
….. initiated by the ….. spiritual master
and are….. engaged in carrying out the
orders of the spiritual master…

…but those neophyte devotees who

are actually initiated by the bona
fide spiritual master and are
seriously engaged in carrying out the
orders of the spiritual master…
(NOI. 5, purport, p50)
 HARINAMA-BHAKTA

...but those neophyte devotees who are actually initiated by

the bona fide spiritual master and are seriously engaged in
carrying out the orders of the spiritual master should be
offered respectful obeisances. (NOI. 5, 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. 5, purport, p50)
 TEXT 5

THREE TYPES OF NEOPHYTES

Prakrta-sahajiya Prakrta-bhakta Harinama-bhakta

Chants Hare Chants 16 rounds of Chants minimum 16
Krishna casually Hare Krishna rounds of Hare
mantra daily Krishna daily
Attached to
women, money Follows 4 regulative Follows 4 regulative
principles principles
and intoxication

Only serves Guru Serves Vaishnavas,

Has faith that
Guru and Krishna.
Krishna is GOD and Krishna. Feels
he/she is the best
Should be offered respectful
Respected within one's Disciple
obeisances (mind, words
mind, but their and body
association should be Respect such a person
avoided within his mind,
should be shown Transition to
favor ( words) Madhyama Adhikari
 HARINAMA-BHAKTA TRANSITION TO
MADHYAMA-ADHIKARI

...but those neophyte devotees who are actually initiated by

the bona fide spiritual master and are seriously engaged in
carrying out the orders of the spiritual master should be
offered respectful obeisances. (NOI. 5, 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. 5, 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. 5, 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. 5, 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 Krishna consciousness. (NOI. 5, 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 Krishna
consciousness movement. Such a Vaisnava should be accepted as
an uttama-adhikari, a highly advanced devotee, and his association
should always be sought. (NOI. 5, purport, p50/57)

…an uttama-adhikari Vaisnava can be recognized by his ability to

convert many fallen souls to Vaisnavism. (NOI. 5, purport, p58)
 WHO IS A PURE DEVOTEE?
“Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that a person who
simply chants the holy name of Krishna 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 Krishna 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, purport)
 LESSON TEN – OFFERING CORRECTION

SENIOR by :
– Age
– Time of Initiation
– Managerial Position
– Administrative Position
– Spiritual Position

ADVANCED by one’s Krishna

consciousness
 11.1 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 Krishna properly.”

PURPORT
“Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura suggests that people who
are materialistically inclined and sahajiyas, or so-called Vaisnavas
who take everything very casually, are both visayis, or materialists.
Eating food offered by them causes contamination, and as a result
of such contamination, even a serious devotee becomes like a
materialistic man. …One should very carefully avoid associating
with both the sahajiyas, who are sometimes known as Vaisnavas,
and the non-Vaisnavas, or avaisnavas. Their association changes
the transcendental devotional service of Lord Krishna 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 Krishna.” (CC
Antya 6.278)
 11
11.2 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)
 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 Krishna." (Caitanya-
bhagavata, Antya-lila 3.44)

“Everyone has dormant love for

Krishna, and by culture and education
that has to be awakened. That is the
purpose of this Krishna
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 Krishna consciousness. (SB
4.29.50, purport)