Always be careful

Expressions researched:
"always be careful" |"be always careful"

BG Chapters 13 - 18

One should always be careful to keep his body clean by bathing, brushing teeth, shaving, changing clothes, etc.

BG 16.7, Purport:

In every civilized human society there is some set of scriptural rules and regulations which is followed from the beginning. Especially among the Āryans, those who adopt the Vedic civilization and who are known as the most advanced civilized peoples, those who do not follow the scriptural injunctions are supposed to be demons. Therefore it is stated here that the demons do not know the scriptural rules, nor do they have any inclination to follow them. Most of them do not know them, and even if some of them know, they have not the tendency to follow them. They have no faith, nor are they willing to act in terms of the Vedic injunctions. The demons are not clean, either externally or internally. One should always be careful to keep his body clean by bathing, brushing teeth, shaving, changing clothes, etc. As far as internal cleanliness is concerned, one should always remember the holy names of God and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. The demons neither like nor follow all these rules for external and internal cleanliness.

SB Canto 1

A cultured man should always be careful in dealing with worshipful family members.

SB 1.7.46, Translation and Purport:

O most fortunate one who knows the principles of religion, it is not good for you to cause grief to glorious family members who are always respectable and worshipful.

A slight insult for a respectable family is sufficient to invoke grief. Therefore, a cultured man should always be careful in dealing with worshipful family members.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

The Vaiṣṇava, he should be always careful not to intermingle, means not to take up the ideas and thoughts of those who are very much attached to sense gratification.

Lecture on SB 3.25.25 -- Bombay, November 25, 1974:

So asat-saṅga-tyāga, vaiṣṇava-ācāra. The Vaiṣṇava, he should be always careful not to intermingle, means not to take up their ideas and thoughts. No. That is vaiṣṇava-ācāra. Asat-saṅga-tyāga, ei vaiṣṇava. And why they should be avoided? Asat eka strī-saṅgī, kṛṣṇa-abhakta. Who is asat? Asat means those who are very much attached to sense gratification. Sense... The culmination of sense gratification is sex life. So those who are too much attached to sex life, strī-saṅgī, and kṛṣṇa-abhakta, and not devotee of Kṛṣṇa, they are asat. So those who are actually serious to make advance in spiritual life, they should avoid the asat.

asat-saṅga-tyāga-ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra

'strī-saṅgī'-eka asādhu, 'kṛṣṇābhakta' āra

So if we discriminate like this, then we shall be advancing. Apavarga-vartmani. Taj-joṣaṇād āśu apavarga-vartmani śraddhā bhaktir anukramiṣyati. Just like if we are diseased, there is infectious disease, epidemic, so we should be careful not to be infected by the infectious disease.

Sri Isopanisad Lectures

Be always careful that you may not contact the quality of passion and ignorance.

Sri Isopanisad, Mantra 7 -- Los Angeles, May 9, 1970:

So one has to come, therefore, to the platform of goodness in this material world. If one does not come to the platform of goodness... The platform of goodness is the brahminical qualification. That we are preaching. Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is to bring some men on the platform of goodness. The world requires it now. The world is need of some brāhmaṇas, qualified brāhmaṇas. Not that... You are being trained up to become qualified brāhmaṇas. So be always careful that you may not contact the quality of passion and ignorance. Passion and ignorance will induce you... Kāma lobha, lust and greediness. That is the sign of passion and ignorance. And when you are in goodness, then you can see things as they are. Then you can see yourself, that you are not matter; you are spirit soul. And if you make further advance, then you understand that "I am eternal part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, the fiery spark."

Festival Lectures

Don't be puffed up. Always be careful. You are dealing with Kṛṣṇa. That is my request.

Sri Sri Rukmini Dvarakanatha Deity Installation -- Los Angeles, July 16, 1969:

Just like Madana-mohana, He was talking with Sanātana Gosvāmī. Madana-mohana... Sanātana Gosvāmī at that time had no temple; he was hanging his Deity on the tree. So Madana-mohana was talking with him, "Sanātana, you are bringing all these dry capatis, and it is stale, and you don't give Me even little salt. How can I eat?" Sanātana Gosvāmī said, "Sir, where shall I go? Whatever I get I offer You. You kindly accept. I cannot move, old man." You see. So Kṛṣṇa had to eat that. (chuckles) Because the bhakta is offering He cannot refuse. Ye māṁ bhaktyā prayacchati. Real thing is bhakti. What you can offer to Kṛṣṇa? Everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa. What you have got? What is your value? And what is the value of your things? It is nothing. Therefore real thing is bhaktyā, real thing is your feeling. "Kṛṣṇa, kindly take it. I have no qualification. I am most rotten, fallen, but (begins to cry) I have brought this thing for you. Please take it." This will be accepted. Don't be puffed up. Always be careful. You are dealing with Kṛṣṇa. That is my request.

Arrival Addresses and Talks

After all, it is Kṛṣṇa's desire, turn dust into coin, to turn coin into dust. So we should be always careful. If we remain Kṛṣṇa conscious, then the coin will never turn into dust. Otherwise it can be turned.

Arrival Conversation -- Los Angeles, June 20, 1975:

Prabhupāda: He is business-minded. Let him do business for Kṛṣṇa.

Jayatīrtha: Yes. He says there is so much money there they don't know how to spend it. In Iran people have so much money they don't what to do with it.

Prabhupāda: Yes. They are getting money for nothing. (laughs)

Jayatīrtha: Yes. Right. It's coming out of the ground.

Prabhupāda: And the Bengali saying, dhula mati bhatta kare mata (?): "They are catching dust and it is turning into coin." This proverb is there, dhula mati bhatta kare mato. He is thinking that I am taking some dust, but when it is in hand, it is coin. That is good time. And when it is bad time, if you catch coin and when it is in your hand, it is dust. We should think that time may also come. Yes. Because after all, it is Kṛṣṇa's desire, turn dust into coin, to turn coin into dust. So we should be always careful. If we remain Kṛṣṇa conscious, then the coin will never turn into dust. Otherwise it can be turned. So you American, you are now full of coins. Before turning into dust, catch Kṛṣṇa with the coin. It will never turn into dust. It will remain coin. Hmm? I am very hopeful of the Americans. Because you are so nice devotees, you can keep your country coinful, no dustful. India is giving up Kṛṣṇa, and therefore they are turning into dust.

1968 Conversations and Morning Walks

The main thing is that we should always be careful that our time may not be wasted.

Morning Walk at Stow Lake -- March 23, 1968, San Francisco:

Mālatī: But we should not sleep when we have, in place of our devotional service.

Prabhupāda: No, of course not. Devotional service is first.

Mālatī: So if we miss some sleep we should do it.

Prabhupāda: We should forego sleeping even. The real regulated life is that if sixteen rounds is not completed, then we have to forego sleeping. You should take out hours from sleeping. We should be... The main thing is that we should always be careful that... We are going, we have taken up a very responsible task, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So we should be very much careful in discharging the duty. The devotee should be so much careful that he'll always see "Whether this moment is spoiled or utilized?" Avyartha-kālatvam (Cc. Madhya 23.18-19). Avyartha-kālatvam, that "My time may not be wasted." He should be so careful, "Whether my time is being wasted?" and time wasted, the time we engage for our bodily necessities, that is wasted. Generally, conditioned souls, they are simply wasting their time. Only the period which we have engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that is utilized. So we should be very much careful whether time is being wasted or being utilized.

1968 Correspondence

You have to meet many opposing elements in the matter of preaching work therefore you should always be careful to follow the principles of Bhagavad-gita as it is.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 25 February, 1968:

You have to meet many opposing elements in the matter of preaching work therefore you should always be careful to follow the principles of Bhagavad-gita as it is. You will be glad to know that our arrangements with MacMillan for publishing Bhagavad-gita As It Is is already completed, and the manuscript is handed over to them. We should preach clearly that our Krsna Consciousness movement is surely on the basis of Bhagavad-gita as it is. Any other movement which does not tally with the principles of Bhagavad-gita as it is, is considered by us as unauthorized. All these so-called yogic or other spiritualist movements in this country imported from India are all against the principles of Bhagavad-gita. It is our movement only which strictly follows the principles of the Bhagavad-gita, under the guidance of the authorities or acaryas in disciplic succession from Lord Caitanya who practically demonstrated in life and practice the principles of Bhagavad-gita. The last word in the Bhagavad-gita is to surrender unto Krsna and Lord Caitanya taught us to surrender unto Krsna. His transcendental movement of chanting the Holy name of Krsna and Rama is the sublime movement, not only at the present age, but for all the time past, present and future.

1969 Correspondence

A neophyte should always be careful. One should not discuss about such great devotees' apparent fall-down.

Letter to Himavati -- Hawaii 23 March, 1969:

Regarding your question about Lord Siva and Thakura Haridasa, and their different response to sex agitation: This does not mean that Lord Siva has become degraded from the devotional platform. A devotee even if he is sometimes found that he is attracted by sex life, that does not mean he is degraded. That is by chance. Because Lord Siva is Grhastha, so by his past habits if he appeared to have been attracted by sex life, that does not mean he has been degraded from his position. You should never think of any devotee like that. There are many other stories also, but such apparent falling is without any influence to very very advanced devotees. A neophyte should always be careful. One should not discuss about such great devotees' apparent fall-down. Just like one should not discuss about the sun who evaporates urine from the earth; it is possible for the sun to do it, and still remain the sun, but for ordinary man if he lives in a filthy place he will be infected. So Lord Siva or Lord Brahma, they are highly elevated devotees, and we should not try to criticize about their behavior even though it appears against the rules. These things are very nicely explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam in course of discussion between Maharaja Pariksit and Sukadeva Goswami, in the 10th canto.

We should always be careful that we are serving Krishna, and we shall do nothing which may displease Him. Than our life is successful.

Letter to Dayananda -- London 13 November, 1969:

I have heard from Tamala Krishna that you have done wonderful work very quickly in electrical installations in Boston. So wherever you go and wherever you remain you have dedicated your life to Krishna's service. That is the success of life. Now in the absence of Tamala Krishna you will have to see the management of the Los Angeles temple goes nicely. By the Grace of Krishna, now you have no financial problem, but only you have to see that things are properly managed and nothing is misused. Gargamuni is there and Stoka Krishna is there. So I hope things will go on very smoothly. We should always be careful that we are serving Krishna, and we shall do nothing which may displease Him. Than our life is successful. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam, our life, our wealth, our intelligence, and our speech should all be engaged in Krishna's service, and that is the criterion of perfection in human life.

1970 Correspondence

Always be careful, then in due course you will feel the Bhava.

Letter to Rukmini -- Los Angeles 20 March, 1970:

Regarding your dream, it is a great blessing to you that Krsna warned you. So you should never be negligent. Always be careful, then in due course you will feel the Bhava.

We should always be careful about our responsibilities.

Letter to Acyutananda -- Los Angeles 14 June, 1970:

Similarly I am initiating just now one student from Armenia. Most probably I shall send him either to the Soviet countries or to Egypt. Our preaching in Japan is going on nicely. Similarly in Sydney it is going on nicely. So by the Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura we are expanding all over the world and we are getting good response. Now for India I am counting upon you. So far you have done it is very satisfactory to me, but we should always be careful about our responsibilities. It is said in the scriptures that spiritual life is just like handling a sharpened razor. If we handle it nicely we become cleanly shaved, but a little inattention causes bloodstain. So you will always remember these maxims and depend on Krsna and the Acaryas, and make your life progressive.

1972 Correspondence

We must always be careful to render firstly our routine devotional practices, and maintain always the highest standards of chanting, preaching, temple worship, rising early, cleansing, street sankirtana, etc.; business is secondary to our basic routine work.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Jaipur 20 January, 1972:

So far your proposals, I agree that by utilizing our knowledge of selling by selling for Krishna, that is approved by my Guru Maharaja, so it may be done very nicely. But we must always be careful to render firstly our routine devotional practices, and maintain always the highest standards of chanting, preaching, temple worship, rising early, cleansing, street sankirtana, etc.; business is secondary to our basic routine work. If the routine Krishna Consciousness program is neglected for other things, then everything else will fail. I am very much encouraged that you are anxious to engage in making money for Krishna with oil business and to print my books profusely. If this can all be managed and still the regular temple practices go on nicely, that is best. In every case, as with the question regarding whether prospectus or magazine is better, do the best needful.

We shall always be careful to avoid any kind of jeopardizing our high standing in the society by some foolish and small act of illegal stealing.

Letter to Sankarasana -- Bombay 31 December, 1972:

So the idea is not what you are saying, so much as how you say it. If you understand this properly, then you may be able to say the truth at all times in the most palatable way, according to the situation and the type of hearer. To perfect this art, that takes practice, so practice preaching from this understanding and gradually you will develop it more and more. But we should never steal anything like money, food, water, gasoline, just to enhance our service to Krsna. That is too much dangerous, and if we are caught then all of our work is finished. Just like in India recently, this Balyogi Guru Maharajaji was detected by the customs authorities attempting to smuggle some small items into India. By this one tiny incident his entire effort for preaching, even he his rascal number one and his preaching is nonsense, even so the example is there, his work is now ruined and he is practically finished as the government will not grant him passport to leave India. So we shall always be careful to avoid any kind of jeopardizing our high standing in the society by some foolish and small act of illegal stealing.