Be Very Careful To Avoid - Protecting the Creeper of Devotion
Cultivating spiritual life is often compared to growing a delicate plant. While watering the root through chanting and hearing is essential, one must also build a fence to protect the plant from being trampled. Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings serve as this protective fence, constantly reminding practitioners to be very careful to avoid specific dangers—ranging from offensive association to subtle desires for adoration—that can completely destroy one's advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Avoiding Unfavorable Association
The association we keep determines the condition of our consciousness. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that a pure Vaiṣṇava must be extremely careful to avoid the company of those who are inimical to the Lord. This includes not only gross materialists but also Māyāvādīs who disrespect the Supreme Lord's personal form, and sahajiyās who make a cheap show of devotion.
- One is advised to associate with the holy devotees of the Lord and carefully avoid the association of unholy nondevotees. Those who are pure devotees of Krsna are very careful to keep aloof from the two types of nondevotees.
- One should very carefully avoid associating with both the sahajiyas, who are sometimes known as Vaisnavas, and the non-Vaisnavas, or avaisnavas.
- We shall be very careful to avoid these kind of mahatmas, who are thinking themselves as Narayana, equal to Narayana, or sometimes they claim greater than Narayana.
- You should be very, very careful to avoid these Mayavadi rascals. There cannot be such thing as "Narayana has become daridra." It is impossible.
Guarding Against Offenses
The chanting of the mahā-mantra is the most powerful spiritual practice in this age, but its full potency is only realized when chanted without offenses. Śrīla Prabhupāda stresses that beginners will naturally commit mistakes, but the key to success is to consciously and carefully avoid the ten offenses against the holy name and the offenses in Deity worship.
- Rupa Gosvami's instruction, One should carefully avoid the various offenses in chanting the holy name of the Lord, or in worshiping the Deity in the temple.
- The chanting of the holy names of Krsna is so sublime that if one chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra offenselessly, carefully avoiding the ten offenses, he can certainly be gradually elevated.
- The devotee should very carefully try to avoid offenses and chant purely. This does not mean that the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is sometimes pure and sometimes impure. Rather, the chanter is impure due to material contamination.
- The ten kinds of offenses should be considered. In the beginning, when one is initiated into the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, there are naturally many offenses. the devotee should very carefully try to avoid these offenses and chant purely.
Avoiding Sense Gratification and Distractions
The material energy is incredibly subtle and constantly tries to divert the attention of the soul. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that devotees must be careful to avoid anything that agitates the mind toward sense gratification. This includes avoiding mundane literature, the allure of wealthy people, and the temptation to use spiritual facilities for personal comfort.
- Persons who have taken to the path of self-realization must therefore be very careful to avoid contamination by the influence of maya. Srila Rupa Gosvami says that a devotee should be completely free from all sorts of material desires.
- Those who are engaged in the devotional service of the Lord because they are very serious about going back home, back to Godhead, should be very careful to avoid seeing the beautiful gestures of women and should also avoid seeing persons who are very rich.
- We should always be very careful to avoid utilizing any of the facilities available for our own sense gratification, but we should use everything for the satisfaction of Krsna only.
- A person desiring to advance in spiritual understanding should be extremely careful to avoid reading ordinary literature. The world is full of ordinary literature that creates unnecessary agitation in the mind.
Uprooting Unwanted Habits
As one practices devotional service, unwanted weeds often grow alongside the creeper of devotion. Śrīla Prabhupāda cautions that diplomatic behavior, the desire for importance, and scandalous dealings can ruin a devotee's standing. Everyone, regardless of age or position, must be very careful to avoid these unfavorable circumstances.
- One should be very careful to avoid all these unwanted things (such as diplomatic behavior, animal-killing; mundane profiteering, adoration and importance). Sometimes these unwanted creepers look exactly like the bhakti creeper.
- Not only children but also elderly persons should be very careful to protect their sense of Krsna consciousness and avoid unfavorable circumstances so that they may not forget their prime duty.
- We must be very careful to avoid anything scandalous in our dealings, and always keep to the highest standards of respect and courtesy.
- Imitating the behavior of Sumati, they (Jains) claim to be the descendants of Rsabhadeva. Those who are Vaisnavas carefully avoid their company because they are ignorant of the path of the Vedas.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the instruction to be very careful to avoid material pitfalls is not meant to inspire paralyzing fear, but rather healthy, spiritual intelligence. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the material world is inherently dangerous, and the creeper of bhakti is fragile in its early stages. By strictly avoiding the association of offenders, guarding against offenses in chanting, and uprooting subtle desires for sense gratification and adoration, a sincere devotee creates the perfect, protected environment for pure love of Kṛṣṇa to blossom.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Be Very Careful To Avoid. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.