all initiated devotees must shave their heads and wear robes

[Guest guest]

A few months ago one devotee was telling me that to wear jeans is as Vedic

as wearing dothi and he was trying to encourage us not to wear dothi,

especially in public. But how is that in concordance with the following:

 

 

"That should be," Prabhupada agreed. "But when they are initiated they must

shave. They must keep to the standard. If one becomes initiated and if he

still keeps the hippie form, that does not make influential. Do you think it

is all right? No, that is not good. So long they are coming as outsider,

joining kirtana, they may have their own dress. It doesn't matter. They are

coming to kirtana. That much is all right. But when they are to be

initiated, they must follow the rules and regulation given by the spiritual

master. Otherwise they should not be initiated. It is simple thing. Let them

go on chanting, taking prasadam, we have no objection. But when they are to

be initiated, they must follow this. This is the clear settlement. If you

don't want to disturb them, let them come, chant, dance, take prasadam. We

have no objection, but don't recommend them for initiation unless he agrees

to the rules and regulations given by the spiritual master. Where is the

wrong? Where is the difficulty? You can talk with him like that."

"I think they only feel that because ... "

Prabhupada cut him short. "No. No feeling. When you are surrendering to the

spiritual master -- find out this verse -- tad viddhi pranipatena

pariprasnena sevaya."

Having grown familiar enough with Srila Prabhupada's method of preaching

during darsanas I already had the Bhagavad-gita on hand. I read out the

oft-quoted verse thirty-four from the fourth chapter: "Just try to learn the

truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and

render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto

you because he has seen the truth."

"You have to submit," Prabhupada emphasized. "You cannot remain independent.

That is the first condition. Sisya means voluntarily accepting the rules

offered by the spiritual master. 'Yes, I agree to abide by your order.' Then

he becomes sisya. Otherwise, where is the question of sisya? Chant, dance,

take prasadam and remain. There is no objection, but when you become sisya,

then you cannot remain independent. These things convince him, that, 'You

don't become sisya. Remain as friend. There is no harm.'"

"So then, part of initiation means that you're prepared to do something more

than simply chant and eat prasadam?" I asked.

As our guru Prabhupada gave his clear requirement. "Initiation means to

surrender to the spiritual master. If there is still hesitation to surrender

to the rules and regulations and honor such spiritual master, he should not

become."

The visiting devotee nodded in assent. "I think it is pretty clear to me,

Prabhupada. Just for clarification: they're working, they have a store on

Maui, they are distributing foodstuffs to all the other stores on the

island, they are working a lot within the society with the karmis. Their

thinking is that 'If we shave our heads and wear robes ... '"

At the mere suggestion that shaving the head and wearing robes might be an

impediment, Prabhupada interrupted. "Then you don't become initiated. You

chant. Who is prohibiting to chant? You can chant, you can dance, you can

take prasadam."

It was becoming very clear that Prabhupada's standard for a disciple was

more than simply following the four prohibitions and chanting. There were

many other activities involved; essentially, preaching Krsna consciousness

by distributing Prabhupada's books and living visibly as devotees. This

seemed to be the real difference between the ISKCON devotees and the

split-off group. As Prabhupada had said to Bhurijana earlier in the day,

they were not doing anything wrong, but they were not doing what he asked

either.

In light of this, Pusta Krsna Maharaja brought it to a specific point. "Can

they actually say, 'His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is

my spiritual master,' if they haven't accepted all the instructions?"

"What is the use of calling that I am spiritual master? If you have not

accepted the spiritual master, what is the use? False propaganda. Better you

say, 'We could not accept at first, but we are trying to follow him.'"

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => TD 2-4: Honolulu