Vaiṣṇava Conduct

We are Hindu Vaiṣṇavas, and not just Hindus. In other words, our society is Hindu, but our dharma is Vaiṣṇava. Similarly, worshippable persons such as Śrī Hari Dāsa Ṭhākura were not Hindus, but they were respected by all as Vaiṣṇavas. According to the true meaning of the Veda śāstra, Śrī Śrī Mahāprabhu teaches that persons of all births are eligible to accept Vaiṣṇava dharma.

The practitioners of devotional service should not speak unnecessarily. If you do have to speak unnecessarily, better to keep quiet. Besides topics regarding Kṛṣṇa, all other topics are unnecessary.

If someone speaks in a strong way to you, tolerate it. Do not insult anybody. Do not identify with this body, and do not cultivate enmity towards anybody.

Jīvera dayā (mercy to living entities) is one of the main constituents of Vaiṣṇava dharma. It is the inherent nature of a Vaiṣṇava to be kind to the jīvas. When this nature is not detected, one cannot become a Vaiṣṇava even if one has thousands upon thousands of other external symptoms.

Our mahājana’s path is that which was shown by Śrīla Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Prahlāda Mahārāja, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and His associates. We are not to leave aside that path to follow the instructions of new puffed-up devotees.

Nowadays, people no longer offer daṇḍavat naturally and with a simple heart. When two persons meet, they generally spend the whole time meant for offering daṇḍavat in thinking, “Should I first offer him daṇḍavat?” And eventually one greets the other simply by saying, “Daṇḍavat!” Seeing all these inauspicious signs, it is feared that in the near future the influence of Kali will also enter into Vaiṣṇava society.

We are unfortunate that we no longer see such humility in the modern Vaiṣṇava society. Everyone is busy trying to display and glorify his own qualities: “I chant one lākh of names. Oh, my conduct is very pure, I am a great devotee.” Such egoistic statements have become the sole testimony of Vaiṣṇavism in present times.

It is true that when aversion to worldly life arises, that is called renunciation – yet mere aversion alone is known as ‘dry renunciation.’ If, from aversion to worldly life, a man does not develop compassion for all jīvas and pure prema-bhakti to Kṛṣṇa, then there is absolutely no substance in such renunciation. Many are confused about this topic. Some, being proficient in sādhana, lack compassion for other living beings – they do not consider what would be beneficial for them in any way. It must be accepted that their Vaiṣṇavism is significantly harmed by this.

For various reasons, common people do not easily develop faith in exalted persons who are still living, whereas they tend to develop great faith in the activities of mahājanas who have passed away.

There is no more time left to neglect the spiritual cultivation while remaining absorbed in bodily happiness and to engage in activities hostile to pure devotional service.

The practitioners of devotional service should not speak unnecessarily. If you do have to speak unnecessarily, better to keep quiet. Besides topics regarding Kṛṣṇa, all other topics are unnecessary.

The urge of the belly is a disturbance. The requirement of the stomach is to eat for the maintenance of the life and mitigation of hunger. Those who are thirsty for devotional service should maintain their life by moderate eating. Those who endeavour to overeat are called gluttons. One of the qualities of devotees is mita-bhuk, eating what is necessary. By eating less, the body remains healthy and does not disturb one’s devotional service. Those who have no strength to tolerate the urge of the stomach are always greedy to eat.

If someone speaks in a strong way to you, tolerate it. Do not insult anybody. Do not identify with this body, and do not cultivate enmity towards anybody.

Jīvera dayā (mercy to living entities) is one of the main constituents of Vaiṣṇava dharma. It is the inherent nature of a Vaiṣṇava to be kind to the jīvas. When this nature is not detected, one cannot become a Vaiṣṇava even if one has thousands upon thousands of other external symptoms.