Back To Prabhupada, Issue 79, 2024, Interactive
"Hare Krishna! I am not a devotee, nor do I attend temple or meetings. I have some of Srila Prabhupada's books: Bhagavad-gita As It Is, The Science of Self-Realization, Light of the Bhagavata, Beyond Birth and Death. Can I consider Srila Prabhupada my teacher and mentor? Can I consider myself a devotee not by attending temple and meetings, but by studying books written by Srila Prabhupada?"
- Bhakta Maksym, Vilnius, Lithuania
1) Srila Prabhupada teaches that the only necessary requirement to be a devotee is that you follow all of his rules and regulations:
Reporter: "But suppose I were to become an initiate. Wouldn't I have to come and live in the temple?"
Srila Prabhupada: "Not necessarily."
Reporter: "I can stay at home?"
Srila Prabhupada: "Oh, yes."
Reporter: "What about work? Would I have to give up my job?"
Srila Prabhupada: "No, you'd simply have to give up your bad habits and chant the Hare Krsna mantra on these beads – that's all."
Reporter: "Would I have to give any financial support?"
Srila Prabhupada: "No, that is your voluntary wish. If you give, that's all right. And if you don't, we don't mind. We do not depend on anyone's financial contribution. We depend on Krsna."
(The Science of Self-Realization, Chapter 2)
"This is the sublime mission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Many people come and inquire whether they have to give up family life to join the Society, but that is not our mission. One can remain comfortably in his residence. We simply request everyone to chant the maha-mantra: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare."
(Cc., Madhya-lila, 7.128, purport. All emphases in article added.)
"The cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is explained here very nicely. One who surrenders to Him and is ready to follow Him with heart and soul does not need to change his location. Nor is it necessary for one to change status. One may remain a householder, a medical practitioner, an engineer or whatever. It doesn't matter. One only has to follow the instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and instruct relatives and friends in the teachings of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. One has to learn humility and meekness at home, following the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and in that way one's life will be spiritually successful. [...] One has to become purified at home by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra".
(Cc., Madhya-lila, 7.130, purport)
"Not that everyone has to live in the temple. [...] he can live separately. But he must follow the rules and regulation."
(Srila Prabhupada, Morning Walk, 3/2/75)
"I am so pleased to hear that you are living nicely with your parents and carrying on with your Krishna Consciousness activities. That is a good proposal. Nevermind there maybe some inconvenience. Krishna always appreciates when his devotee makes some sacrifice on His behalf, so there is no real difficulty under any conditions so long as we remember the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, 4/9/72)
"Actually there is no difference between devotees living inside the temple and devotees living outside the temple. You are right that the important thing is to remember Krsna, whatever is your activity."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, 29/9/72)
Therefore, according to Srila Prabhupada, as long as you are following his teachings, even if you are not attending a temple, you can consider Srila Prabhupada your teacher and mentor, and yourself a devotee.
2) Indeed, the fact that you are not in contact with the current ISKCON temples is actually an advantage! Because the current-day ISKCON is a movement which has been hijacked by persons who are deviating from Srila Prabhupada's instructions and cheating in his name. Therefore, visiting a temple or meetings with such persons can actually be harmful to your spiritual life, since Srila Prabhupada condemns such cheating association:
"Cheating oneself and cheating others is called kaitava. Associating with cheaters is called duhsanga, bad association."
(Cc., Madhya-lila, 24.99)
"Association with persons who are not spiritually advanced is forbidden."
(SB, 3.29.18, purport)
"Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has warned that "Don't mix it with Vaisnava who is not well trained up, well behaved." [...] "You should not hear." "Eh? What is the wrong there? The Krsna-katha is there." No, Krsna-katha is there just like milk is there, but if it is touched by the lips of a serpent, it is no more to be taken. It has become poison. So unless one is situated as pure Vaisnava in his dealing, in his behavior, inside and outside, he should not become a preacher because it will not be effective; neither one should hear from such person."
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, 6/3/76)
Our literature will help you further to understand Srila Prabhupada's true teachings and your relationship to him.
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