For those who want to be initiated in this Society for Krsna
consciousness, there are four principles: no illicit sex, no
intoxication, no meat-eating, and no gambling. We don't say, "No sex."
But we do say, "No illicit sex." If you want sex, get married and have
Krsna conscious children. "No intoxication" means not even taking tea
or coffee—to say nothing of other intoxicants. And there is no
gambling and no meat-eating (including fish and eggs). Simply by
following these four basic rules and regulations, one becomes
immediately uncontaminated. No further endeavor is necessary. As soon
as one joins this Krsna consciousness movement and follows these rules
and regulations, material contamination is immediately removed, but
one must be careful not to be contaminated again. Therefore these
rules and regulations should be followed carefully.
Material contamination begins with these four bad habits, and if we
manage to check them, there is no question of contamination.
Therefore, as soon as we take to Krsna consciousness, we become free.
However, we should not think that because Krsna consciousness makes us
free, we can again indulge in these four bad habits and get free by
chanting. That is cheating, and that will not be allowed. Once we are
freed, we should not allow ourselves to become contaminated again. One
should not think, "I shall drink or have illicit sex and then chant
and make myself free."
The Path of Perfection
Excerpt from the book Sri Namamrta, published by Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, compiled and edited by Subhananda das
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