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Initiated devotees vow to follow four regulative principles
These are :
- No Eating of Meat, Fish, or Eggs
- No Gambling
- No Intoxication
- No Illicit Sex
These regulative principles are based on the four pillars of religion:
Truth (satyam or honesty); Austerity (tapah or
self-discipline); cleanliness (saucam or purity) and mercy
(daya or compassion).
Truthfulness (Satyam)
Truthfulness is the basic principle for
all religions.
Satyam, truthfulness, means that facts should be presented
as they are, for the benefit of others. Facts should not be misrepresented.
(Bhagavad-gita10.4-5)
Satyam. This word means that one should not distort
the truth for some personal interest. (Srimad-Bhagavatam
16.1-3 purport)
What are some do's and don'ts associated with truthfulness? Speaking
a lie is one way of being dishonest but how else can this principle
be broken?
Further reading: Truthfulness, The
Last Leg of Religion by Sarvarupa Dasa Goswami
Austerity (Tapas)
"Without tapasya, or austerity, no human being
can get liberation."
Mercy / Compassion (Daya)
Material compassion, lamentation and tears are all signs of ignorance
of the real self. Compassion for the eternal soul is self-realization.
(Bhagavad-gita 2.1 purport)
Srila Prabhupada defines daya as intolerance of others´ unhappiness.
Why is being compassionate and merciful toward other living entities
important in spiritual life?
Further reading: Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.43, or the story
of Mrgari the hunter from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta
Cleanliness
In regulated life only can one understand transcendental knowledge.
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.1 purport)
He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation
and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga
system. (Bhagavad-gita 6.17)
Importance of Regulation and Cleanliness
A devotee lives a very regulated life. At every time of the day
he has something to do for Krishna. On top of that, a devotee needs
to know many other rules related to etiquette, cleanliness, and
regulation. So many rules and regulations may seem a bit overwhelming
at first, but don't worry — we are not the International Society
for Rules and Regulations. As long as you remember the basic principles,
you'll pick them up and in time they'll become second nature.
What are the advantages and benefits of having a regulated lifestyle?
- It helps cultivate the mode of goodness.
- It helps to cultivate self-discipline.
- It helps you conquer the mind, keep it peaceful and free of
speculation.
- It ensures you don´t waste your time and energy (efficiency).
- It keeps the senses engaged.
- It is good for health.
What does cleanliness mean in the Vedic context?
The Vedic injunctions have a very subtle approach to cleanliness
and purity (saucam). For example, they require one to wash
his hand after drinking from a glass of water, to not offer food
to the Deities if it has been seen by a dog, and to not enter the
temple after seeing a dead body. Of course, being externally clean,
tidy, and orderly is also included with the term saucam.
What are the advantages and benefits of maintaining cleanliness?
- It affects your consciousness; keeps the mind pure.
- It supports the process of Krishna consciousness by helping
you to clean the heart.
- Being clean is one of the items that constitute a state of knowledge
(Bhagavad-gita 13.8-12); Srila Prabhupada says: “Cleanliness
is essential for making spiritual advancement.”
- It is one of the qualities of “godly men endowed with the
divine nature”
(Bhagavad-gita 16.1-3)
- “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
- It is one of the four pillars of religion.
- Helps us to remember and respect Krishna and thus please Him.
- One of two main qualities of a brahmana (the other
is truthfulness),
- One of two main qualities for Deity worship (Gurv-astaka
3) (the other is punctuality).
- It helps cultivate the mode of goodness.
- Uncleanliness = laziness = mode of ignorance.
- It is good for health and hygiene.
- It prepares you to enter Vaikuntha
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