Brahmana and Vaishnava Dāsyam (Servitorship)
BY: TATTVA DARSHINA DASA
Srila Prabhupada always said that one must first be aware and then Krishna consciousness will manifest. A conscious person is one who lives in the mode of goodness, for a person living in the mode of goodness has to live a sinless life and follow very strictly the four regulative principles:
1 - Do not eat meat, fish or eggs
2 - No gambling games
3 - No illicit sex-- just sex with your own wife to procreate and produce nice Krsna conscious children
4 - No intoxication-- no tea, no coffee, no snuff and alcohol.
And so that one can follow these four rules and regulations he/she must chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra as the primary method. Srila Prabhupada gives us the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, and by chanting one obtains the strength and purification needed to lead a sinless life and follow the 4 rules and regulations mentioned above.
When Srila Prabhupada performed the first initiations in New York, He then put a paper written in his own handwriting in the temple. On the paper it said that all initiates must follow these 4 rules and regulations, and the devotees asked Srila Prabhupada what it means to follow these 4 rules and regulations...
Srila Prabhupada appeared very happy and said yes, you have to follow these 4 rules and regulations. He went on to say that by practicing the six brahminical activities one becomes a brahmana. These are:
1 - Studying the Scriptures or shastras (a brahmana should be very learned)
2 - Teaching others shastra (he should teach others Vedic knowledge)
3 - To worship the Deities (he must be a devotee or great worshiper)
4 - Teaching others to worship the Deities
5 - Receive charity (he will accept charity from others) and...
6 - Giving charity (he will give in charity again to others)
In the verses of the First Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.17-21) It is explained in a scientific manner the whole entire process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. By serving Srila Prabhupada in faith, love, attachment and gratitude one acquires the 26 qualities of a Vaishnava: (from the beginning of the 12th Chapter of Teachings of Lord Chaitanya):
1) He's always kind to everyone
2) He does not seek quarrels
3) His interest is in the essence of life, which is spiritual
4) is equal to everyone
5) No one can find fault with him
6) His magnanimous mind is always fresh and clean and devoid of material obsessions
7) Her mind is always pure
8) His mind always sharp
9) Your mind always devoid of material obsessions
10) He is a benefactor to all living entities
11) is peaceful
12) always surrendered to Kṛṣṇa
13) has no material desires
14) He is very humble
15) He is always fixed in purpose
16) He is victorious over the six material qualities such as lust and anger
17) he does not eat more than he needs
18) is always sane
19) is always respectful of others
20) does not demand respect for his/her self
21) He is grave
22) He is merciful
23) He is friendly
24) He is poetic
25) is expert
26) is silent
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