Karan Gulati
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to alok deep sharma, howtolov...@yahoogroups.com, iskcon-delhi, iskcon-gurgaon, iskcon-youth-federation, iyfdelhi, iyfgurgaon, Subvesh Raichand
Haribol
Six Favorable and Unfavorable Principles
as taught by Srila Rupa Goswami in Nectar Of Instruction
The Six Favorable Principles
1. BEING ENTHUSIASTIC
Every endeavor in Krsna consciousness is performed with
intelligence. The devotees are expert in engaging everything in Krsna's
service. The practice of devotional service has nothing to do with
selfish meditation, but means practical activity in spiritual life.
2. ENDEAVORING WITH CONFIDENCE
The devotee thinks "avasya raksibe Krsna": Krsna will certainly help and protect me, so that I can
successfully execute my devotional service.
3. PATIENCE
One should not be impatient when executing one's devotional service
but accept the orders of the spiritual master, patiently execute them
and always feel dependent on the mercy of guru and Krsna. Sometimes
Srila Prabhupada used to give the following example in this regard: a
newly wed girl naturally may expect a child from her husband, but she
cannot hope to get it right after the marriage. In other words, it
takes time, until the results are manifested.
4. ACTING ACCORDING TO REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES (such as sravanam kirtanam)
The devotee is expected to enthusiastically follow the 4 regulative
principles and observe positive regulations like the chanting of Hare
Krsna.
5. ABANDONING ASSOCIATION WITH NON-DEVOTEES
In order to become successful in devotional service one has to give
up the association of unwanted persons. This includes karmis, jnanis
and other non-devotees. Sri Caitanya defines a Vaisnava as someone who
gives up the association with worldly people.
6. FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PREVIOUS ACARYAS
In Krsna-consciousness we follow a daily program (sadhana) which
includes getting up early in the morning, chanting, reading of Srimad
Bhagavatam etc., and thus we are following the previous spiritual
masters, who were expertly engaged in devotional service every single
moment in their lives.
The Six Unfavorable Principles
1.Eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than required.
Everyone needs possessions like food, money and other things in
order to maintain his body, but one should not accumulate more than
necessary for one's personal requirement.
2.Over endeavoring for mundane things that are very difficult to obtain.
Although we are in need of a certain economic development, it is
only allowed for essential things in life. The real goal of life is to
realize the Absolute Truth. As soon as we don't direct our endeavors in
this direction, we
will simply increase our artificial demands. Therefore we have to guard ourselves from worldly endeavors.
3.Talking unnecessarily about mundane subject matters.
Those who are not interested in Krsna-consciousness like to read
heaps of newspapers, solve riddles, read novels, etc. They are simply
wasting their time with useless activities. In this way materialistic
people waste valuable time and energy. Old people spend their days with
playing cards, fishing, television and speculations about social and
political topics. All these activities belong to the prajalpa category,
and should be avoided by intelligent people.
4.Practicing the scriptural rules and regulations only for the sake of following them and not for the
sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the scriptures and working
independently or whimsically.
Those who are interested in Krsna-consciousness should not be eager
to follow rules and regulations in order to have economic success but
they should faithfully follow the rules and regulations given in the
scriptures and follow the order of the spiritual master in order to
advance in Krsna-consciousness.
5.Associating with worldly-minded persons who are not interested in Krsna-consciousness.
There are two kinds of non-devotees; those who are against Krsna's
supremacy and those who are absorbed in material sense gratification.
One should strictly avoid such association. We should live only in
association with Krsna-conscious devotees and always be engaged in
Krsna's service in their association.
6.Being greedy for mundane achievements
Desires for mystic powers, merging into Brahman, whimsically
striving for wealth, etc., are all in the category of greed. All
attempts for material or pseudo-spiritual achievements are obstacles in
devotional service.
Ur Eternal Das
Karan