The Key to Eternity, Knowledge, and Bliss

On November 25, 1966 His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was just beginning his International Society for Krishna Consciousness. At that time it was only four months old. In his own written hand on that day he posted the following notice outlining to his original followers the basic rules and regulations that they should follow for the purpose of awakening their dormant Krishna consciousness. These basic principles are just as essential today as they were in 1966. 

Notice:
All initiated devotees must attend morning and evening classes.
Must not be addicted to any kind of intoxicants including coffee, tea and cigarettes.
They are forbidden to have illicit sex-connections.
Must be strictly vegetarian.
Should not extensively mix with non-devotees.
Should not eat foodstuff cooked by non-devotees.
Should not waste time in idle talks nor
Engage himself in frivolous sports.
Should always chant and sing the Lord's Holy names.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare,
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
____

Thank you,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Acharya.

International Society for Krishna Consciousness
26 Second Avenue
New York, NY

Dated Nov. 25, 1966

Here is a copy of the original notice. You can download and save this for your own archives of Krishna Consciousness treasures: http://www.backtohome.com/notice

Notice by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada

Those who are not enlightened in Krishna consciousness may find these to be constrictive and intrusive. But those who are realized in transcendental knowledge appreciate how these principles form the very key that unlocks the door to eternity, knowledge, and bliss.

Questions and Answers

Is It Wrong to Ask Krishna for Material Benefits?...

In connection to what has been posted on today's "Thought for the Day" I have a question. Is it wrong to ask Lord Sri Krishna for a material benefit or anything at all? Is it not our dependence on Him that makes us seek Him for everything? (I am including material and spiritual benefits here by mentioning everything) Kindly clarify my doubt.

My humble namaskarams,

Sri Vidya

Krishna Automatically Fulfills Material Needs. Better to Ask for Bhakti...

Our dependence on Krishna is a fact. But this does not mean that we have to approach him for the fulfillment of our desires. This self-centered mood of wanting to use Him for the fulfillment of our desires is the root cause of our entanglement in the cycle of birth and death.

Just as a parent naturally makes sure that his children are well fed, Krishna is already taking care of our material needs. Did we ever have to ask our parents if they would feed us? No, of course not! Because they love us, they always made sure that we were well fed. So why do we think that we have to petition God for the fulfillment of our needs? This is our less intelligence.

Ask not what Krishna can do for you. Ask what you do for Krishna. This is how we should be praying. We should simply be thinking how we can serve God with love 24 hours daily.

This is the mood of pure bhakti. This is how we will become liberated from the unlimited sufferings of this material existence. Only this pure bhakti mood will satisfy the yearning of the soul. Nothing else. Begging God to give us this and that will leave us feeling dirty-hearted and unsatisfied even if we get our prayers answered.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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