Surrendering to Krsna

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Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 24.261

 

"After planting the tulasi tree before your house, you should daily

circumambulate that tulasi plant, serve her by giving her water and other

things, and continuously chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra."

 

PURPORT

"This is the beginning of spiritual life. After leaving householder life,

one may go to a holy place, such as the bank of the Ganges or Yamuna, and

erect a small cottage. A small cottage can be constructed without any

expenditure. Four logs serving as pillars can be secured by any man from

the forest. The roof can be covered with leaves, and one can cleanse the

inside. Thus one can live very peacefully. In any condition, any man can

live in a small cottage, plant a tulasi tree, water it in the morning,

offer it prayers, and continuously chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Thus

one can make vigorous spiritual advancement. This is not at all difficult.

One simply has to follow the instructions of the spiritual master strictly.

Then everything will be successful in due course of time. As far as eating

is concerned, there is no problem. If Krsna, the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, supplies everyone with eatables, why should He not supply His

devotee? Sometimes a devotee will not even bother to construct a cottage.

He will simply go to live in a mountain cave. One may live in a cave, in a

cottage beside a river, in a palace or in a big city like New York or

London. In any case, a devotee can follow the instructions of his

spiritual master and engage in devotional service by watering the tulas

plant and chanting the Hare Krsna mantra. Taking the advice of Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu and our spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

Gosvami Maharaja, one can go to any part of the world and instruct people to

become devotees of the Lord by following the regulative principles,

worshiping the tulas plant and continuously chanting the Hare Krsna

maha-mantra."