RULES OF CONDUCT

  Rules of conduct in Pushti Marg are in accordance with scriptural laws of Sanatan Dharm, which hold a position of great importance. It is said that rules of conduct are the foremost of ones' duties. The reason for this is that every human being brings with him a vast range of desires at birth itself. The fulfillment of these desires is a birthright as well as a duty. On understanding this, the question arises as to how these desires can be satisfied.

  To avoid the spread of chaos due to stealing, plundering, violence, etc., saints and sages of ancient times contemplated deeply on this to determine as to how to structure a disciplined society.

  What is the proper daily routine? What is appropriate behavior and what is inappropriate behavior?

  After deep contemplation, a number of treatises were written containing the teachings of a disciplined life, appropriate behavior, inappropriate behavior, corrupted behavior, etc. and a delineation of rules of conduct. Originally, these rules of conduct were practiced only by high caste Brahmins, but by SHRI MAHAPRABHUJI'S grace, those from the other three castes also began to practice them. Through these rules of conduct, the Bhavnatmak oneness of all the four divisions of caste were established and became stable in Pushti Marg.

  In the treatises on conduct, mother, father and teacher were supposed to give training to the children at a young age. It is said mother is Bhagavan, Father is Bhagavan, and teacher is Bhagavan. It should be understood that just as moist earth can be shaped into a pot, similarly a child will behave according to the rules of conduct that are taught to him at an early age. Accordingly, it is said that proper rules of conduct is of utmost importance.

 The code of ethics of ancient times has deteriorated over the course of time and all guidelines have been destroyed in present era.

  In one of the famous shlokas from Bhagavad Gita, Krishna has told to Arjun 'In every yuga, whenever dharm is destroyed, Bhagavan will take a divine birth to re-establish the Dharm'.

  According to that law, Srimad Vallabhacharya manifested in a divine birth, to re-establish the pure vedic values and spread the teachings for the highest realization. Seeing the imperfectness of human souls, Mahaprabhuji felt deeply worried and became lost in contemplation.

  He questioned himself. 'How can the fault pervaded soul experience the unblemished perfection of God ?'. At that time Prabhu appeared before him and ordained, 'I will remove the five innate faults of any one to whom you would give 'brahm sambandh'. The five type of faults are due to natural, place, time coincidence and touch manifestation.

  Further, he stated 'Other than surrendering all things, there is no way to remove the innate faults. Therefore, one should abstain from using any thing which has not been surrendered to Him first. The question then arose as to what could be the correct rules of living to establish and maintain this way of surrender.

  For developing this in his sevaks, Srimad Vallabhacharya prescribed rules for a dedicated life with devotion and on that, his teachings are founded.

  By living according to these guidelines, one will become physically and mentally disciplined and purified and will become worthy and capable to perform seva of the ultimate supreme, Parabrahm. In the early days of Pushti Marg, after taking 'Brahm Sambandh', vaishnavs used to ask, 'What is my duty?' At that time either the guru himself or a scholar of Pushti Marg would teach the vaishnav the rules and methods of seva and remembrance.

  These teachings have been forgotten these days hence once again they should be understood and followed.

<<<  Previous                  ||                  Next  >>>