This document discusses various aspects of personal excellence in devotional service. It outlines daily sadhana practices for residential and congregational devotees, including chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, following the four regulative principles, and attending morning and evening programs. It also discusses developing excellence in relationships with other devotees through sharing love, respect, and developing a helpful attitude. Excellence in devotional service involves practicing the nine methods of devotion like hearing, chanting, remembering Krishna. Overall, the document provides guidance on achieving excellence in sadhana, relationships, service, leadership, and self-care.

1. Personal Excellence
Zagreb, March 2008

3. Story: Eagle (guest)

4. Excellence in
sadhana

5. THE BASIS OF EXCELLENCE
• Chanting minimum 16 rounds of the Hare
Krsna Maha Mantra
• Following the 4 regulative principles (no
meat eating, no intoxications, no
gambling, no illicit sex)

6. RESIDENTIAL SADHANA - morning
• Getting up early (4 a.m.)
• Taking shower
• Attending Mangala arotik
• Chanting japa (preferably 16 rounds in
one go)
• Darshan, Guru Puja, Jay Radha Madhava
• Class
• Breakfast
• Service

7. RESIDENTIAL SADHANA - evening
• Gaura arati
• Preaching programs or reading

8. CONGREGATIONAL SADHANA -
morning
• Getting up (between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m.)
• Shower
• Chanting all the morning program mantras
in one go
• Chanting japa (preferably 16 rounds in
one go)
• Reading or listening to class
• Breakfast
• Going to work

9. CONGREGATIONAL SADHANA -
evening
• Gaura arati or reading
• Attending a nama hatta program or sanga

10. FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF
EXCELLENCE IN SADHANA
Studying and applying ch. 8 (Offenses to
Be Avoided) and ch. 9 (Further
Considerations of Devotional Principles)
from the Nectar of Devotion

11. SRILA BHAKTIVINODA’S DAILY
SCHEDULE
08:00-10:00 P.M. Rest (two hours)
10:00-04:00 A.M. Write
04.00-04:30 A.M. Rest
04:30-07:00 A.M. Chant Japa
07:00-07:30 A.M. Correspondence
07:30-09:30 A.M. Study sastras
09:30-10:00 A.M. Bath, prasadam (half-
liter milk, fruit, 2
chapatis)
10:00-01:00 P.M. Court Duties
01:00-02:00 P.M. Refresh at home
02:00-05:00 P.M. Court Duties

12. Excellence in
relationships

14. SHARING LOVE BETWEEN
DEVOTEES
• Offering gifts in charity
• Accepting charitable gifts
• Revealing one’s mind in confidence
• Inquiring confidentially
• Accepting prasadam
• Offering prasadam
Srila Rupa Goswami, Upadesamrita 4

15. RESPECTING THE DEVOTEES
• One should mentally honor the devotee who
chants the holy name of Lord Krsna
• One should offer humble obeisances to the
devotee who has undergone spiritual initiation
(diksha) and is engaged in worshiping the Deity
• One should associate with and faithfully serve
that pure devotee who is advanced in undeviated
devotional service and whose heart is completely
devoid of the propensity to criticize others
Srila Rupa Goswami, Upadesamrita 5

16. PERSONAL ATTITUDE TOWARD
OTHERS
Every man should act like this:
• When he meets a person more quallified than
himself, he should be very pleased
• When he meets someone less quallified than
himself, he should be compassionate toward him
• When he meets someone equal to himself, he
should make friendship with him
In this way one is never affected by the threefold
miseries of this material world
SB 4.8.34 (Narada’s Instruction to Dhruva
Maharaja)

17. BASIS FOR MATURE
RELATIONSHIPS
One who works in devotion, who is a pure soul,
and who controls his mind and senses is dear to
everyone, and everyone is dear to him. Though
always working, such a man is never entangled.
BG 5.7

18. BASIS FOR MATURE
RELATIONSHIPS
Great devotees see
Krsna as the reservoir of
all relationships. In the
scriptures there are
twelve basic kinds of
relationships mentioned,
and all of them are
present in Krsna. It is
said that He is the ocean
of all the relationships
exchanged between two
living entities, between
the gods, or between
the Supreme Lord and
His devotees.
BG 11.14 Purport

19. BASIS FOR MATURE
RELATIONSHIPS
Bhismadeva advised for all human beings nine
qualifications:
(1) not to become angry, (2) not to lie, (3) to
equally distribute wealth, (4) to forgive, (5) to
beget children only by one’s legitimate wife, (6)
to be pure in mind and hygienic in body, (7) not
to be inimical toward anyone, (8) to be simple,
and (9) to support servants or subordinates.
SB 1.9.26 Purport

20. QUALITIES OF A DEVOTEE
• He is always kind to everyone, and he does not
pick quarrels.
• He is equal to everyone, and no one can find fault
in him.
• His magnanimous mind is always fresh and clean
and devoid of material obsessions.
• He is a benefactor to all living entities and is
peaceful and always surrendered to Krsna.
• He has no material desires.

21. QUALITIES OF A DEVOTEE
• He is very humble and is fixed in his purpose.
• He is victorious over the six material qualities
such as lust and anger
• He is always sane and is respectful to others, but
he does not require respect for himself.
• He is grave, merciful, friendly, poetic, expert and
silent.
TLC 12: The devotee

22. Excellence in
devotional
service

23. GLORIES OF DEVOTIONAL
SERVICE
Perfection in self-realization cannot be attained by any kind
of yogi unless he engages in devotional service to the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, for that is the only
auspicious path.
SB 3.25.19

24. 9 METHODS OF DEVOTIONAL
SERVICE
• Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy
name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of
Lord Visnu
• remembering them
• serving the lotus feet of the Lord
• offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types
of paraphernalia
• offering prayers to the Lord
• becoming His servant
• considering the Lord one’s best friend
• surrendering everything unto Him (in other words,
serving Him with the body, mind and words)
SB 7.5.23-24

25. 9 METHODS OF DEVOTIONAL
SERVICE
“Among the ways of executing devotional service, the
nine prescribed methods are the best, for these
processes have great potency to deliver Krsna and
ecstatic love for Him.”
CC Antya 4.70

26. 9 METHODS OF DEVOTIONAL
SERVICE
One may be able to perform one item or many items,
according to one’s capacity, but it is the principal
factor of complete attachment to devotional
service that makes one advance on the path.
There are many devotees in history who have attained
perfection in devotional service simply by discharging
the duties of one item, and there are many other
devotees, like Maharaja Ambarisa, who executed all
the items.
TLC 12: The devotee

27. 9 METHODS OF DEVOTIONAL
SERVICE
Some individual devotees who attained perfection in
devotional service by executing only one item are:
• Maharaja Pariksit, who was liberated and fully
perfected simply by hearing;
• Sukadeva Gosvami, who became liberated and
attained perfection in devotional service simply by
chanting;
• Prahlada Maharaja, who attained perfection by
remembering;
• Laksmi, who attained perfection by serving the lotus
feet of the Lord;

28. 9 METHODS OF DEVOTIONAL
SERVICE
• King Prithu, who attained perfection simply by
worshiping;
• Akrura, who attained perfection simply by praying;
• Hanuman, who attained perfection simply by
becoming the servant of Lord Rama;
• Arjuna, who attained perfection simply by being a
friend of Krsna’s;
• Bali Maharaja who attained perfection simply by
offering whatever he had in his possession.
TLC 12: The devotee

29. EXAMPLE OF EXCELLENCE IN
DEVOTIONAL SERVICE
Govinda massaged the Lord’s legs as usual. He
pressed the Lord’s waist and back very softly,
and thus all the Lord’s fatigue went away. As
Govinda stroked His body, the Lord slept very
nicely for about forty-five minutes, and then His
sleep broke.
CC Antya 10.82-100

30. EXAMPLE OF EXCELLENCE IN
DEVOTIONAL SERVICE
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw Govinda
sitting by His side, He was somewhat angry.
“Why have you been sitting here for so long
today?” the Lord asked. “Why didn’t you go to
take your meal after I fell asleep?”
CC Antya 10.82-100

31. EXAMPLE OF EXCELLENCE IN
DEVOTIONAL SERVICE
Govinda mentally replied, “My duty is to serve,
even if I have to commit offenses or go to hell. I
would not mind committing hundreds and
thousands of offenses for the service of the Lord,
but I greatly fear committing even a glimpse of
an offense for my own self.”
CC Antya 10.82-100

32. SERVICE EXCELLENCE
• To preach / approach dealings with
devotees, clients, friends and others
with a deep desire to really help and
solve their problems
• Successful devotees have an
external focus of how they can serve
and not an internal focus of what
they can get.

33. SERVICE EXCELLENCE
• Customer: A person who purchases a
commodity or service
• Client: A person who is under the
protection of another

34. SERVICE EXCELLENCE
• Become a trusted friend or advisor
• Talk in the way which shows your care and
concern
• Focus on giving value and advice instead
of manipulating
• Don’t fall in love with your ideas or effort –
fall in love with the people you serve; take
responsibility for their well-being

35. THINK BIG
 Everything is possible by the grace of
the Lord. SB 3.31.18 P
 By the blessings of a Vaisnava,
everything is possible. SB 5.1.10 P
 By Krsna's supreme will, everything
is possible. Krsna Book 50
 For advanced devotee, everything is
possible. Lecture 1975

36. Excellence in
leadership

37. Story: Butterfly (undeveloped
muscles)

38. The words nyasino ’tyartha-lolupah indicate that
charismatic religious leaders, and even those who
are not charismatic, will proclaim themselves
prophets, saints and incarnations to cheat the
innocent public and fatten their bank accounts.
Therefore the International Society for Krishna
Consciousness is working arduously to establish
bona fide celibate student life, religious
householder life, dignified and progressive
retirement, and genuine spiritual leadership for
the entire world.
SB 12.3.33 Purport

39. Story: Mango (guest)

40. Excellence in self-
care

41. BASIS OF PERSONAL WELL-BEING
• Body
• Mind (thinking, feeling, willing)
• Intelligence
• Soul

42. BODY – SADHANA SARIRA
• Our body is “sadhana sarira” or vehicle for performing
devotional service
• “Your body is My principal instrument for executing
many necessary functions. By your body I shall carry
out many tasks.”
CC Antya 4.78
• An expert horseman, desiring to tame a headstrong
horse, first lets the horse have his way for a moment
and then, pulling the reins, gradually places the horse
on the desired path. Similarly, the supreme yoga
process is that by which one carefully observes the
movements and desires of the mind and gradually
brings them under full control”
SB 11.20.21

43. PHYSICAL WELL-BEING
A weak body means a weak mind – accept everything
that is favorable for your service like
• Healthy diet
• Regular sleep
• Exercise (e.g. 20-30 minutes of walking, swimming,
etc most of the days)
Learn to relax – e.g. Use pranayama or other breathing
techniques, meditation, yoga exercises, massages,
etc.

44. EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
• Be positive – don’t put yourself down, challenge
negative thoughts that pop into your mind (I’m no
good, I can’t do this) with positive ones, remind
yourself of past success.
• Practice gratitude everyday (beginning from small
things)
• Don’t identify with the 6 enemies (lust, greed, illusion,
envy, anger and pride)

45. EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
• Accept the given situation as it is - Your external
situation is as it is. You have to say "yes" to what
Krsna has given you. You have to also say "yes" to the
weakness which you feel. And then you have to go
forward. Forward in a gratitude which comes from
acceptance.
• Have fun – schedule some ‘time out’ for yourself,
pursue your hobbies or interests, spend time with
friends – focussing too intensely on something can
lead to ‘burnout’.
‘burnout’

46. SOCIAL WELL BEING
• Cultivate devotee friendships - invest time in
those relationships you care about the most. Take
time for confidential talks. Share gifts. Avoid
criticism
• Monitor your stress – recognise your own signs of
stress and identify situations you find difficult, so
you can be more pro-active about managing
stress at these times.

47. SOCIAL WELL BEING
• Set goals and priorities – be realistic, focus on
how you want to contribute rather than
comparison with others, accept that
circumstances are outside your control.
• Manage your time – avoid procrastination, plan
ahead, make a schedule and follow it, evaluate
how you are spending your time.

48. YUKTA VAIRAGYA
anasaktasya visayan yatharham upayunjatah
nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe yuktam vairagyam ucyate
prapancikataya buddhya hari-sambandhi-vastunah
mumuksubhih parityago vairagyam phalgu kathyate
“When one is not attached to anything but at the
same time accepts everything in relation to Krsna,
one is rightly situated above possessiveness. On
the other hand, one who rejects everything
without knowledge of its relationship to Krsna is
not as complete in his renunciation.”
BRS 1.2.255-256

49. Anyone can have this picture in his
home, chant this Hare Krsna mantra,
and thus worship Lord Caitanya. That
is the simple method. But who will
capture this simple method? Those
who have good brains.
Srila Prabhupada November 1969, London's Conway Hall

50. To prosecute Krishna Consciousness there is
no limitation, no material impediment can stop
progress of Krishna Consciousness. That is the
symptom of spiritual life. Spiritual life doesn’t
depend on material conditions.
So it is only the question of understanding the
process how to execute Krishna
Consciousness.
(Srila Prabhupada letter, February 13, 1969)

51. Workshop
“Personal Excellence
Plan”

53. ISKCON Croatia ki
jaya!