Without Exception - Strict Adherence to the Principles of Bhakti
Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently emphasizes that the laws of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are absolute. Whether dealing with the inescapable miseries of the material world or the strict requirements for spiritual advancement, certain principles apply to every living entity without exception. True freedom is found only by strictly adhering to the universal principles of bhakti-yoga.
Universal Subjection to Māyā
The material world is a place of duality and distress, designed to reform the conditioned souls. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that regardless of one's social status, wealth, or power, every living entity within the material universe is subject to its miseries and illusions without exception.
- Beginning from Lord Brahma down to the insignificant ant, everyone, without exception, is attracted by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- In the material world everyone is suffering. There is no exception, either rich man or poor man, learned or fool, everyone. This is the place for suffering. And if we take this place of suffering as comfortable, that is our ignorance.
- You must be worried. That is material world. So, so long you are in the material platform, you must be worried. There is no exception.
- Since everyone, without exception, is subject to the modes of material nature, whether one is victorious or defeated he is not independent, but is under the control of material nature.
The Necessity of a Spiritual Master
Spiritual knowledge cannot be attained through independent mental speculation or academic study. Śrīla Prabhupāda strictly confirms the Vedic injunction that to learn the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one must accept the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master without exception.
- This word abhigacchet, it is a form of verb which is used where the sense is "You must! You must!" There is no exception. You cannot say that "I may go to a spiritual master or I may not go. I can study at home." No. You must.
- There is no exception. You cannot say that "Without going to a spiritual master, I shall learn the transcendental science." No, that is not possible.
- The students are still intelligent to find what is the best information about God and how to approach him. It is unfortunate that they are without proper guidance, but that is the condition of all persons in the world without exception.
- Sukadeva Gosvami, experienced teacher that he was, answered all the questions in a systematic way as they were received from the chain of disciplic succession. And he answered all of them without exception.
Strict Adherence to Regulative Principles
The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is built upon the foundation of purity and austerity. Śrīla Prabhupāda established clear standards for all disciples, asserting that anyone who wishes to live in the temple and seriously practice spiritual life must follow the basic rules and regulations without exception.
- All the temple members, without exception must rise by 4 AM and attend mangala arati. Everyone living in the temple must agree to the standard by proper understanding of the philosophy of tapasya.
- If new students are coming and they want to live with us in the temple, they must agree before living with us to follow these principles without any exception.
- Anyone who lives in the temple must follow all these principles without exception, otherwise they may be asked to live outside.
- Yes, if anyone agrees to live with us in the temple he must without any exception follow the four rules and regulations, plus the other regulative principles, otherwise he may be asked kindly to leave the temple and live outside.
Complete Abandonment of Material Desires
To reach the ultimate goal of yoga, the mind must be completely cleansed of all material hankerings. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that a true practitioner must diligently identify and reject all desires born of the false ego, making absolutely no exceptions for sense gratification.
- One should engage oneself in the practice of yoga with determination and faith and not be deviated from the path. One should abandon, without exception, all material desires born of mental speculation and thus control all the senses on all sides.
- One should engage oneself in the practice of yoga with undeviating determination and faith. One should abandon, without exception, all material desires born of false ego and thus control all the senses on all sides by the mind.
- One must be convinced that sex-life without exception means trouble.
- This transcendental loving service must be without adulteration, that is to say, we must love God without expecting material remuneration. Loving God to become one with Him is also a form of adulteration.
Conclusion
To be successful in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one must accept the absolute nature of spiritual laws. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that just as everyone in the material world is subject to suffering and the modes of nature without exception, the cure for this suffering—surrendering to Kṛṣṇa through the paramparā system—must also be applied without exception. By faithfully accepting the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, strictly following the regulative principles, and abandoning all material desires, a sincere soul is guaranteed to transcend the illusions of māyā. Ultimately, when one renders pure devotional service without exception, they easily return home, back to Godhead.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Without Exception. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.