Six Favorable and Unfavorable Principles

as taught by Srila Rupa Goswami in Nectar Of Instruction

 

The Six Favorable Principles

1. BEING ENTHUSIASTIC

Every endeavor in Krsna consciousness is performed with intelligence. The devotees are expert in engaging everything in Krsna's service. The practice of devotional service has nothing to do with selfish meditation, but means practical activity in spiritual life.

2. ENDEAVORING WITH CONFIDENCE

The devotee thinks "avasya raksibe Krsna": Krsna will certainly help and protect me, so that I can successfully execute my devotional service.

3. PATIENCE

One should not be impatient when executing one's devotional service but accept the orders of the spiritual master, patiently execute them and always feel dependent on the mercy of guru and Krsna. Sometimes Srila Prabhupada used to give the following example in this regard: a newly wed girl naturally may expect a child from her husband, but she cannot hope to get it right after the marriage. In other words, it takes time, until the results are manifested.

4. ACTING ACCORDING TO REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES (such as sravanam kirtanam)

The devotee is expected to enthusiastically follow the 4 regulative principles and observe positive regulations like the chanting of Hare Krsna.

5. ABANDONING ASSOCIATION WITH NON-DEVOTEES

In order to become successful in devotional service one has to give up the association of unwanted persons. This includes karmis, jnanis and other non-devotees. Sri Caitanya defines a Vaisnava as someone who gives up the association with worldly people.

6. FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PREVIOUS ACARYAS

In Krsna-consciousness we follow a daily program (sadhana) which includes getting up early in the morning, chanting, reading of Srimad Bhagavatam etc., and thus we are following the previous spiritual masters, who were expertly engaged in devotional service every single moment in their lives.

The Six Unfavorable Principles

1.Eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than required

Everyone needs possessions like food, money and other things in order to maintain his body, but one should not accumulate more than necessary for one's personal requirement.

2.Over endeavoring for mundane things that are very difficult to obtain

Although we are in need of a certain economic development, it is only allowed for essential things in life. The real goal of life is to realize the Absolute Truth. As soon as we don't direct our endeavors in this direction, we will simply increase our artificial demands. Therefore we have to guard ourselves from worldly endeavors.

3.Talking unnecessarily about mundane subject matters

Those who are not interested in Krsna-consciousness like to read heaps of newspapers, solve riddles, read novels, etc. They are simply wasting their time with useless activities. In this way materialistic people waste valuable time and energy. Old people spend their days with playing cards, fishing, television and speculations about social and political topics. All these activities belong to the prajalpa category, and should be avoided by intelligent people.

4.Practicing the scriptural rules and regulations only for the sake of following them and not for the sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the scriptures and working independently or whimsically.

Those who are interested in Krsna-consciousness should not be eager to follow rules and regulations in order to have economic success but they should faithfully follow the rules and regulations given in the scriptures and follow the order of the spiritual master in order to advance in Krsna-consciousness.

5.Associating with worldly-minded persons who are not interested in Krsna-consciousness

There are two kinds of non-devotees; those who are against Krsna's supremacy and those who are absorbed in material sense gratification. One should strictly avoid such association. We should live only in association with Krsna-conscious devotees and always be engaged in Krsna's service in their association.

6.Being greedy for mundane achievements

Desires for mystic powers, merging into Brahman, whimsically striving for wealth, etc., are all in the category of greed. All attempts for material or pseudo-spiritual achievements are obstacles in devotional service.