Always Be Careful - Protecting One's Spiritual Life
Practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the material world is like declaring war against māyā. As such, a devotee must remain constantly vigilant. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently admonishes his followers to "always be careful" because the material energy is powerful and waiting for the slightest opportunity to drag the soul back into illusion. Whether dealing with the internal enemy of the mind or the external dangers of bad association, the devotee protects his spiritual life through strict adherence to the rules and regulations of bhakti-yoga.
Controlling the Mind and Senses
The primary danger for a transcendentalist lies within—the restless mind. Śrīla Prabhupāda compares the mind to a snake that must be handled with great caution. If one is not careful to keep the mind fixed on Kṛṣṇa, the modes of passion and ignorance will immediately attack. Therefore, the devotee must live in such a way that desires and feelings of possessiveness do not overpower their spiritual intelligence.
- A transcendentalist should always try to concentrate his mind on the Supreme Self; he should live alone in a secluded place and should always carefully control his mind. He should be free from desires and feelings of possessiveness. BG 6.10 - 1972.
- Although the mind may be merged in spiritual consciousness, one should always be very careful in dealing with it, just as one is careful in dealing with a snake.
- You are being trained up to become qualified brahmanas. So be always careful that you may not contact the quality of passion and ignorance. Passion and ignorance will induce you... Kama lobha, lust and greediness.
Standards of Sādhana
To maintain spiritual strength, one must be careful regarding their daily sādhana. This includes chanting the prescribed sixteen rounds, rising early, and keeping the body and environment clean. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that willful negligence in these duties is dangerous. While accidental mistakes may be excused, a lack of care in following the regulative principles can lead to a fall-down from the exalted platform of devotional service.
- We must always be careful to render firstly our routine devotional practices, and maintain always the highest standards of chanting, preaching, temple worship, rising early, cleansing, street sankirtana, etc.
- The real regulated life is that if sixteen rounds is not completed, then we have to go . . . forego sleeping. The main thing is that we should always be careful that we are going . . . we have taken up a very responsible task, Krsna consciousness.
- Accidental mistake is not dangerous. Willful mistake is dangerous. That we should be careful. We should be very careful always so that accidental mistakes also may not take place. But if it takes place, it is excused.
Etiquette and Offenses
Spiritual life is also a culture of respect. One must be extremely careful when dealing with the Deity, the spiritual master, and other Vaiṣṇavas. Familiarity can breed contempt, and negligence in service can lead to serious offenses. Śrīla Prabhupāda advises that personal servants of the Deity and guru must be particularly attentive. Furthermore, one must preserve the purity of the disciplic succession by handling the knowledge carefully, without alteration.
- Personal servants of the Deity and the spiritual master should always be very careful, for negligence may overcome them in their duty.
- Don't be puffed up. Always be careful. You are dealing with Krsna. That is my request.
- One who understands and appreciates the disciplic succession is certainly advanced, and we should always be very careful to give full respect to those who have so carefully handled this Divine Fruit of transcendental knowledge before us.
Association and Preaching
Finally, a devotee must be careful about association. Asat-saṅga, or association with non-devotees and those interested only in material gain, can poison one's consciousness. Even while preaching, one must remain guarded against opposing elements and not compromise the principles of the Bhagavad-gītā. This carefulness ensures that the devotee influences the materialists without being influenced by them.
- The Vaisnava, he should be always careful not to intermingle, means not to take up their ideas and thoughts. No. That is vaisnava-acara. Asat-sanga-tyaga, ei vaisnava.
- They are not after preaching but material gain and reputation and adoration. Otherwise why they are non cooperating with me? So no cooperation is possible. Do not think or indulge in loose talks. Be careful always.
- You have to meet many opposing elements in the matter of preaching work therefore you should always be careful to follow the principles of Bhagavad Gita as it is.
Conclusion
To "always be careful" is not a sign of fear, but a sign of intelligence. It is the recognition that the spiritual creeper is delicate and valuable. By carefully guarding one's mind, maintaining strict sādhana, respecting superiors, and avoiding bad association, the devotee creates a fortress around their spiritual life, ensuring a safe journey back home, back to Godhead.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Always be Careful. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.