HANDLING HABITS

HABIT
S
HANDLING
HANDLING HABITS
Dedicated to and based on the teachings of
HDG ACBhaktivendanta Swami Prabhupada
HANDLING HABITS
Second Nature
Habits are also called our second nature
because of their extremely powerful
influence in all aspects of our sensory and
mental activities
HANDLING HABITS
Srila Prabhupada Quotes
Story: A thief on a pilgrimage:
He does not want to commit theft anymore, but because he is habituated, sometimes he does. Thus Ka
says that one who has decided to refrain from his immoral habits and make progress in Ka
consciousness is to be considered a sdhu, even if
out of past habit or by chance he yields to his fault.
In the next verse we find that r Ka says:
kipra bhavati dharmtm
avac-chnti nigacchati
kaunteya pratijnhi
na me bhakta praayati
"He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son
of Kunt, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes." (Bg. 9.31)
HANDLING HABITS
Srila Prabhupada Says
The example is... Just like the electric fan is going on, and if you put off the switch, you'll
see the fan is still going on. But that going on will stop because the switch is already off.
Similarly, if one dovetails himself in Ka consciousness, then automatically he'll become
a saintly person, automatically. Because his switch is made off. Just like the fan, when the
switch is made off, the current supply is stopped. Now... There was a force of running.
You may see that it is running for few minutes. But it will stop. Similarly, anyone, it
doesn't matter what he is, if he puts himself, dovetails himself in Ka consciousness,
then he, all his material contamination will be washed off, washed off.
HANDLING HABITS
Srila Prabhupada Story
There was a fisherman. So at, in the evening... That is still in India. In the evening you
can ask shelter from any householder's house. They'll give you shelter. So he came in the
evening, "Sir, I want to pass night in your home." "All right, you are welcome." So the
fisher basket, fishing basket. "You keep this here, outside, and you sleep inside." So whole
day, he was restless. Then whole night, he could not sleep. Then the master said, "You are
not sleeping?" "No, sir." "Why?" "Now, because my baskets are kept outside." "What is in
the basket?" "No, unless I smell, I cannot sleep." (laughter)
HANDLING HABITS
Srila Prabhupada Quotes -
Dog
Habit is second nature; it is very difficult to break. v yadi kriyate rj/ tat ki nnty
upnaham (Hitopadea): One may seat a dog on a royal throne, but as soon as he sees a
shoe, he will immediately jump down and run after it simply because he is a dog. The
canine qualities are there, and they cannot be changed simply by putting the dog on a
throne. Similarly, we have acquired material qualities by associating with the three modes
of material naturesattva gua, rajo gua and tamo guaand our habits are formed by
association with these three qualities, which are the qualities of goodness, passion and
ignorance.
HANDLING HABITS
Srila Prabhupada Quotes -
Dog
If, however, we disassociate ourselves from the three modes of material nature, our real
spiritual nature is invoked. That is the process of Ka consciousness. If one is Ka
conscious, there is no chance of his associating with the three modes of material nature,
and when one is conscious of Ka, one's spiritual nature is automatically invoked. That
is the secret. Those who seriously follow the process of Ka consciousness, though
previously habituated to many undesirable things, are able to stay on a platform where
there is no material contamination simply by virtue of practicing Ka consciousness.
HANDLING HABITS
sada ceate svasy
prakter jnavn api
prakti ynti bhtni
nigraha ki kariyati

Even a man of knowledge acts according to his
own nature, for everyone follows the nature he
has acquired from the three modes. What can
repression accomplish?
[BG 3.33]
HANDLING HABITS
In Krishna consciousness, we tend to
think that we have practically given up all
bad habits (like meat eating, intoxication,
gambling, illicit sex, watching movies etc.)
and are now practicing many good habits
like rising early, chanting, studying
scriptures etc.
HANDLING HABITS
But, in spiritual life, one should never become complacent. One
should be ever vigilant in order to make spiritual advancement.
If we carefully introspect, we can observe that there are still so
many bad habits to give up and so many good ones to take up for
advancement in KC
HANDLING HABITS
Lord Caitanya
says that one
should cultivate
the creeper of
bhakti with great
care and
attention and
remove all
unwanted weeds
HANDLING HABITS
Principle to follow
anukulyasya sankalpah
accept things favorable for DS


pratikulyasya varjanam
Reject things that are unfavorable
HANDLING HABITS
Cultivating Habits
yukthra-vihrasya
yukta-ceasya karmasu
yukta-svapnvabodhasya
yogo bhavati dukha-h

He who is regulated in his habits of eating,
sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all
material pains by practicing the yoga system.
[Bg 6.17]
HANDLING HABITS
Cultivating Habits
Eating
Take only Krishna prasadam
Do not waste Krishna prasadam
Take prasda at scheduled times
Do not fast or eat more than is required
Do not allow the tongue to eat according to its
choice

HANDLING HABITS
Cultivating Habits
Sleeping
Unnecessary time spent sleeping is
considered a great loss
Do not sleep in Bhagavatam class
One should not sleep more than six hours
daily
HANDLING HABITS
Cultivating Habits
Not a single moment is wasted in mys
service
Every moment of our lives is utilized for
the rendering of devotional service and
nothing else
One should not waste time in gossiping
or spreading rumors
Our recreation is dancing and chanting
[PoP]
Avyrtha-klatvam
HANDLING HABITS
Cultivating Habits
With Devotees
A gurus servants or disciples are all
Godbrothers to one another, and as such they
should all respect one another as prabhu, or
master.
Appreciating good qualities in other devotees
Not finding faults with other devotees habits
Not misbehaving with a Godbrother
Respecting temple authority
HANDLING HABITS
Choice is Yours
HANDLING HABITS
Deleting a Habit
HABIT
ABIT remains
BIT remains
Still IT remains
Delete Letter by Letter
HANDLING HABITS
Changing Habits
TRANSCENDENTAL SOUND
The most powerful way to change the habit of
the mind transcendental sound

This is the way of changing the habit of the
mind. The mind is not to be killed.

[SB 2.1.17 Purport]

e.g. Parikshit Maharaja
HANDLING HABITS
Changing Habits
DEVOTEE ASSOCIATION
Nothing is stereotyped. One can change his
habit by good or bad association, and one has
to become intelligent enough to discriminate
between good and bad. The best association is
the service of the devotees of the Lord, and by
that association one can become the highest
qualified man by the grace of the Lord's pure
devotees.

[SB 2.10.41 Purport]
HANDLING HABITS
Changing Habits
WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE
A diseased person who has become diseased
because of a certain bad habit must be ready
to follow the advice of the physician, and as a
natural sequence he must attempt to give up
the cause of the disease. The patient cannot
indulge in the bad habit and at the same time
expect to be cured by the physician.

[CC Adi. 5.20 Purport]
HANDLING HABITS
Hare Krishna