680530 - Letter to Sacisuta written from Boston

Letters by Date, 1968

ISKCON RADHA KRISHNA TEMPLE
95 Glenville Avenue
Allston, Mass. 02134

May 30,...............1968

My Dear Sachisuta,

Please accept my blessings. I am very glad to receive your letter dated May 26, 1968, along with beads, and I am so pleased that you are seeking for being initiated. So, after due chanting I am sending both your beads by separate first class post parcel. Receive it and chant without any offense. The 10 kinds of offenses are like this:
Blaspheming the Lord's devotee
Considering the Lord and the demi-gods on the same level--or assuming there are many gods
Neglecting the orders of the spiritual master
Minimizing the authority of the Scriptures
Interpreting the Holy Name of God
Committing sin on the strength of chanting
Instructing the glories of the Lord's Name to the unfaithful
Comparing the Holy Name with material piety
Inattention while chanting the Holy Name
Attachment to material things while engaged in the practice of chanting

So you follow those principles as well as the four restrictive rules, namely;
No addiction to indulgence in any form of intoxication, including coffee, tea and cigarettes
No illicit sexual relationships
Must be strictly vegetarian
No gambling

And the other standard practices for initiated devotees:

Must attend evening and morning classes
Should not extensively mix with non-devotees
Should not eat food cooked by non-devotees
Should not waste time in idle talks
Should not become engaged in frivolous sports
Should always chant and sing the Lord's Holy Names

Chanting as enunciated by Lord Chaitanya is the only means for spiritual realization in this age of dissension. So chant at least 16 rounds daily, and for other help you can ask assistance from your elderly God-brothers.

Hope you are well.

Your ever well wisher,