There are four pillars upon which human society rests. These pillars
are: mercy, truthfulness, austerity and cleanliness. Everyone
appreciates these qualities. By following the four regulative
principles, we support these pillars and free ourselves from miseries
and from causing pain to others. Along with involve in devotional
service, following these principles form the basis of Sanatana Dharma.
1. No eating meat, fish, or eggs. Killing animals destroys the quality
of mercy. One turns one's body into a graveyard by consuming dead
animals. These foods are saturated with the modes of passion and
ignorance and therefore cannot be offered to the Lord. A person who eats
these foods participates in a conspiracy of violence against helpless
animals and thus curtails his spiritual progress.
2. No gambling. Truthfulness is destroyed by gambling. This is quite
obvious. Gambling turns a person into a liar, a cheat. Gambling
invariably puts one into anxiety and fuels greed, envy, and anger.
3. No use of intoxicants. We know many arguments against the use of
intoxicants. It is not a very difficult thing to understand because
anyone with a sane mind will accept that taking intoxicants is
physically, mentally and spiritually detrimental. It destroys the
principle of austerity because the reason people take to drugs is that
they want to avoid their suffering in the material world- they do not
want to face that austerity. Drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, as well as any
drink or food containing caffeine, cloud the mind, over-stimulate the
senses, and make it impossible to follow the principles of dharma.
4. No illicit sex. Cleanliness is destroyed by illicit sex. This is sex
outside of marriage or any sex for any purpose other than procreation.
Sex for pleasure compels one to identify with the body and prevents one
from understanding the Lord. The scriptures teach that sex is the most
powerful force binding us to the material world. Anyone serious about
advancing in bhakti should therefore abstain from or regulate sexual
activity according to the scriptures. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krsna says
that sexual union for conceiving a child to be raised in God
consciousness is an act of devotion to Him.
By following these
principles, you are not repressing yourself, but are elevating yourself
to a superior platform. By reading Bhagavad Gita and engage in
devotional service, one gets a higher taste and you leave material
desires behind according to the level of your realization.
There are four pillars upon which human society rests. These pillars
are: mercy, truthfulness, austerity and cleanliness. Everyone
appreciates these qualities. By following the four regulative
principles, we support these pillars and free ourselves from miseries
and from causing pain to others. Along with involve in devotional
service, following these principles form the basis of Sanatana Dharma.
1. No eating meat, fish, or eggs. Killing animals destroys the quality
of mercy. One turns one's body into a graveyard by consuming dead
animals. These foods are saturated with the modes of passion and
ignorance and therefore cannot be offered to the Lord. A person who eats
these foods participates in a conspiracy of violence against helpless
animals and thus curtails his spiritual progress.
2. No gambling. Truthfulness is destroyed by gambling. This is quite
obvious. Gambling turns a person into a liar, a cheat. Gambling
invariably puts one into anxiety and fuels greed, envy, and anger.
3. No use of intoxicants. We know many arguments against the use of
intoxicants. It is not a very difficult thing to understand because
anyone with a sane mind will accept that taking intoxicants is
physically, mentally and spiritually detrimental. It destroys the
principle of austerity because the reason people take to drugs is that
they want to avoid their suffering in the material world- they do not
want to face that austerity. Drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, as well as any
drink or food containing caffeine, cloud the mind, over-stimulate the
senses, and make it impossible to follow the principles of dharma.
4. No illicit sex. Cleanliness is destroyed by illicit sex. This is sex
outside of marriage or any sex for any purpose other than procreation.
Sex for pleasure compels one to identify with the body and prevents one
from understanding the Lord. The scriptures teach that sex is the most
powerful force binding us to the material world. Anyone serious about
advancing in bhakti should therefore abstain from or regulate sexual
activity according to the scriptures. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krsna says
that sexual union for conceiving a child to be raised in God
consciousness is an act of devotion to Him.
By following these
principles, you are not repressing yourself, but are elevating yourself
to a superior platform. By reading Bhagavad Gita and engage in
devotional service, one gets a higher taste and you leave material
desires behind according to the level of your realization.
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