Vaiñnava Ettiquette Introduction:

1. Lord Caitanya speaking to Çréla Sanätana Goswami: Read this

passage from Caitanya-caritämåta, as given by Bhakti Caru Mahäräja
from page 1 to page 3.
The greatest problem in spiritual life is Vaisnava aparadha, or aparadha
generally. So Vaisnava etiquette means how to avoid that. Bhakti Caru
Mahäräja says “the whole
Vaisnava etiquette or the whole Vaisnava culture is founded on
this principle.”
2. It is known as sadacara — eternal standard of activities.
3. Lord Caitanya tells Çréla Sanätana Goswami that etiquette is the
ornament of the devotee. Story of Çréla Sanätana Goswami going to
visit Lord Caitanya by the route by the beach instead of past the
temple because he was worried about contaminating the pujaris. Then
Lord Caitanya told him:

“My dear Sanätana, although you are the deliverer of the entire
universe and although even the demigods and great saints are purified
by touching you, it is the characteristic of a devotee to observe and
protect the Vaiñëava etiquette. Maintenance of the Vaiñëava etiquette
is the ornament of a devotee.
“If one transgresses the laws of etiquette, people make fun of him,
and thus he is vanquished in both this world and the next.
“By observing the etiquette, you have satisfied My mind. Who else but
you could show this example?”

4. Çréla Sanätana Goswami says: "Since nothing can be successful

without "sadachar" or etiquette, every action should be performed with
proper etiquette." We must act according to proper etiquette. The
heart of a saintly person is free from contamination. The way a saintly
person acts is known as proper ettiquette. A way a saintly person acts
is know as "sadacara."
1. See the list of basic etiquettes in Bhakti Caru Mahäräja’s book,
pages 5-8.
2. Back to Lord Caitanya speaking to Çréla Sanätana Goswami. He
says that maintenance of the etiquette is the ornament of a Vaiñnava.
We can imagine a rich man without any money. One can be decorate
according to his means. If one is rich one can have fine clothes etc, but
if one is poor one will not be able to display anything. So similarly, the
more one is situated as a Vaiñnava the more one will be decorated in
that way.
3. Accepting the identity of a Vaisnava necessitates a certain
standard of behavior or etiquette. Vaisnava etiquette facilitates Krsna
consciousness. It provides the criteria -- the protocol -- by which a
devotee can act properly in every situation. In the Bh.gita (6.24
purport), quoting from verse 3 of the Upadesamrta, Srila Prabhupada
roughly paraphrases one of the items favorable for development of
devotional service as, "by engaging completely in activities of
goodness." Practicing Vaisnava etiquette means
always acting in the mode of goodness, which is a stepping-stone to
the transcendental plane. The mode of goodness is conducive to self-
realization, whereas ignorance and passion are not. Therefore, how one
applies the principles of Vaisnava etiquette reflects whether a devotee
is Krsna conscious or not: ie, Is he humble? conscientious? well-
mannered? disciplined? cultured? ...sensitive? Someone who is
actually a devotee will be known by how much he displays the good
qualities.
See p. 11 for some further basic etiquettes re cleanliness

Day 2
1. Preaching accompanied with Vaiñëava etiquette: We have
to push forward this movement, and we may get caught up in the
activities of pushing, and forget about Vaiñëava etiquette. However,
there is an exchange between Çréla Sanätana Goswami and Haridas
Thakura in which Çréla Sanätana Goswami praises Haridas: (Cc Antya
102-3)

apane acara keha na kare pracara

pracara karena keha na karena acara

"Some behave very well but do not preach the cult of Kåñëa
consciousness, whereas others preach but do not behave properly."

acara pracara -- namera karaha dui karya

tumi -- sarva guru tumi jagatera arya

"You simultaneously perform both activities in relation to the Holy

Name by your personal behavior and by your preaching. Therefore you
are the most advanced devotee in the world."
2. Basics must always be stressed: The basic activities are
listed by Çréla Rupa Goswami in Nectar of Instruction (see BCM’s
transcript). Bhakti Caru Mahäräja says: " Practicing Vaisnava etiquette
means always acting in the mode of goodness, which is a stepping-
stone to the transcendental plane. The mode of goodness is conducive
to self-realization, whereas ignorance and passion are not. Therefore,
how one applies the principles of Vaisnava etiquette reflects whether a
devotee is Kåñëa conscious or not: ie, Is he humble? conscientious?
well-mannered? disciplined? cultured? ...sensitive? Someone who is
actually a devotee will be known by how much he displays the good
qualities.”
3. One major component in Vaiñëava etiquette, humility:
One of the main parts of Vaiñëava etiquette is humility. It is considered
so important that Lord Kåñëa lists it as the first part of knowledge in
Bhagavad-gétä (amanitvam). Some quotes from Çréla Prabhupäda: To
Patita Uddharan (12/12/74) “So we all have to cooperate amongst
ourselves, otherwise what will people think if we ourselves fight with
one another? A devotee is always ideal in behavior.” *** SP Letter to
Gargamuni 2/5/69 "Your humble repentance is just like a Vaisnava
student, so I thank you very much for this humbleness. Lord Chaitanya
taught us to be humbler that the grass on the street and more tolerant
that the tree. so these symptoms are Vaisnava symptoms.” *** SP
Letter to Dindayal 2/2/70 "Krishna is so very merciful to those who are
very humble in their attitude engaged in service of the Lord. Lord
Chaitanta advised, therefore, one should be humbler than the straw
and more tolerant than the tree and thus be seriously engaged in
glorifying the Lord. This world is very awful. Anyone is ready to create
some disturbance, especially they are very much apt to disturb Krishna
Consciousness persons because that is the way of demoniac life. So, in
order to protect us from all dangerous elements, we have to chant the
Hare Krishna Mantra regularly being humbler than the straw and more
tolerant than the tree. Then Krishna, Who is Dindayal, will bestow His
Mercy upon us." *** SP Letter to 8/18/70 Upendra "You are good for
everything but your attitude to remain good for nothing is very nice. A
Vaisnava is always humble and meek, and he is never puffed-up, even
he has got the highest qualities of demigods."
4. Vaisnava behaviour is inspiring (see Bhakti Caru Mahäräja
p.11)
5. Vaiñëava etiquette within relationships: See verse in
transcript p.17. Read through list on p.14. Talk about use of term
prabhu, transcript p.15 To serve the spiritual master includes serving
his disciples. Read some of the quotes from letters on p.15-16.
6. Vaiñëava etiquette in regard to dealing between sexes.
See transcript p.19
7. Dangers of Vaiñëava etiquette. Transcript p.21. Particularly
the list of 4 things we should not blaspheme a Vaisnava for — p.21.
Above that, verse saying how we should greet Vaisnavas.
8. Dressing like a Vaisnava. See transcript p. 22. Sections: 1.
General. 2. Çréla Prabhupäda’s own standard. 3. Muslim story. 4. Çréla
Prabhupäda’s appreciation of Satsvarupa and Rupanuga wearing tilaka
to work.
9. Correcting others is very sensitive, see p. 23.