Ten principles essential for neophyte devotees

Expressions researched:
"observe these ten principles" |"if a neophyte devotee observes the above-mentioned ten principles"

Teachings of Lord Caitanya

It is essential for a neophyte devotee who is beginning to follow the path of devotional service to observe these ten principles.

Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 12: In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.1.5) Śukadeva Gosvāmī advises Mahārāja Parīkṣit:

tasmād bhārata sarvātmā

bhagavān īśvaro hariḥ

śrotavyaḥ kīrtitavyaś ca

smartavyaś cecchatābhayam

"O best of the Bhāratas, it is the prime duty of persons who want to become fearless to hear about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, and to chant about Him and always remember Him. Lord Viṣṇu is always to be remembered; indeed, He is not to be forgotten for even a moment. He is the sum and substance of all regulative principles." The conclusion is that when all the rules, regulations, recommended and prohibited activities revealed in scriptures are taken together, the remembrance of the Supreme Lord is invariably the essence of everything. Remembrance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead within one's heart is the goal of devotional service. When devotional service is performed purely and affectionately, there is no question of regulative principles. There are no do's and don't's.

However, one should generally accept the following principles to properly execute devotional service:

(1) take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master,

(2) receive initiation from the spiritual master,

(3) serve the spiritual master,

(4) inquire and learn love from the spiritual master,

(5) follow in the footsteps of holy persons devoted to the transcendental loving service of the Lord,

(6) prepare to give up all kinds of enjoyment and miseries for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa,

(7) live in a place where Kṛṣṇa had His pastimes,

(8) be satisfied by whatever is sent by Kṛṣṇa for the maintenance of the body and hanker for no more,

(9) observe fasting on Ekādaśī day (this occurs on the eleventh day after the full moon and the eleventh day after the new moon. On such days no grains, cereals or beans are eaten; simply vegetables and milk are moderately taken, and chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and reading scriptures are increased.),

(10) show respect to devotees, cows and sacred trees like the banyan tree.

It is essential for a neophyte devotee who is beginning to follow the path of devotional service to observe these ten principles.

Nectar of Devotion

These ten items are preliminary necessities for beginning the discharge of devotional service in regulative principles. In the beginning, if a neophyte devotee observes the above-mentioned ten principles, surely he will quickly make good advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Nectar of Devotion 6: Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī states that his elder brother (Sanātana Gosvāmī) has compiled Hari-bhakti-vilāsa for the guidance of the Vaiṣṇavas and therein has mentioned many rules and regulations to be followed by the Vaiṣṇavas. Some of them are very important and prominent, and Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī will now mention these very important items for our benefit. The purport of this statement is that Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī proposes to mention only basic principles, not details. For example, a basic principle is that one has to accept a spiritual master. Exactly how one follows the instructions of his spiritual master is considered a detail. For example, if one is following the instruction of his spiritual master and that instruction is different from the instructions of another spiritual master, this is called detailed information. But the basic principle of acceptance of a spiritual master is good everywhere, although the details may be different. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī does not wish to enter into details here, but wants to place before us only the principles.

He mentions the basic principles as follows:

(1) accepting the shelter of the lotus feet of a bona fide spiritual master,

(2) becoming initiated by the spiritual master and learning how to discharge devotional service from him,

(3) obeying the orders of the spiritual master with faith and devotion,

(4) following in the footsteps of great ācāryas (teachers) under the direction of the spiritual master,

(5) inquiring from the spiritual master how to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness,

(6) being prepared to give up anything material for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa (this means that when we are engaged in the devotional service of Kṛṣṇa, we must be prepared to give up something which we may not like to give up, and also we have to accept something which we may not like to accept),

(7) residing in a sacred place of pilgrimage like Dvārakā or Vṛndāvana,

(8) accepting only what is necessary, or dealing with the material world only as far as necessary,

(9) observing the fasting day on Ekādaśī and

(10) worshiping sacred trees like the banyan tree.

These ten items are preliminary necessities for beginning the discharge of devotional service in regulative principles. In the beginning, if a neophyte devotee observes the above-mentioned ten principles, surely he will quickly make good advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.