You Should Be Very Strict

Srila Gurudeva: Only chanting the holy name is not enough. Only putting on tilaka will not do. Only some hearing and learning some slokas will not do. Only doing kirtana is not enough. If you are not properly hearing and obeying all these things, it is not kirtana. It is only like an amusement. It’s offensive. We should try to know and obey all the orders of Rupa Gosvami and our Gurus and we should honor everybody. Charity begins from home. Always try to control these six things. You should try to follow this. From now, from today you should follow all these things. Don’t beat anyone. If I am angry, then my anger should be punished. I should be punished. If you are speaking any bad words, abusing anybody, or doing anything bad, at once you should try to stop if you want to do bhajana. Otherwise, it will be an offense. I think that after so many years you know all these things, what is bad and what is good, what is favorable and unfavorable. You know all these things. You should strictly follow what I have told you and you should make a vow, “Oh, I want this.”

You should be very strict. Our life is so precious. We should not waste any time on these things. We should always chant, remember, and follow the principles of our holy master Mahaprabhu, Rupa Gosvami, and all the Gosvamis, of Bhaktivinoda Thakura, our Guru-varga and Svamiji. Has he not said what I am saying? If you are not obeying all these rules then you are committing offenses to your Gurudeva’s lotus feet. I want you to take a vow that you will follow what you were told. You should raise your hands showing that you will follow. Quickly, everybody raise your hands and I will be happy.

I don’t want money. I have not come to collect money. I don’t want to beg anywhere. Krsna is giving money from the sky. He is breaking the roof and Krsna is giving me anything I need. I know that if you are practicing like me, Krsna will give you everything you need. Wherever you are, Krsna will open the roof and will surely give you what you need. Follow these teachings. This is not my order, this is the order of Mahaprabhu. You are following the order of Mahaprabhu, Srila Rupa Gosvami, the Guru-parampara, and your Gurudeva. I will be happy if you are following all these things. You are not doing this for my benefit. You are the ones who will benefit by following all these things. If I hear that you are misbehaving, I will tell Rupa Gosvami, Mahaprabhu, and Nityananda Prabhu to take very serious action.

[Spoken by Srila Gurudeva on December 20th, 1998, Bali, published as part of the Bhakta Bandhav Anthology, Volume 24]