– Chaturmasya fasting rules for the four months.
– Tomatoes are not forbidden in Hari-bhakti-vilasa, so you can decide for yourself whether to eat them during Chaturmasya.
– During the first month of Chaturmasya, you may eat broccoli florets, but not broccoli leaves. Also, do not eat cabbage.
– The difference between Gaudiya Vaishnavas and ISKCON devotees in observing Chaturmasya.
– Eka-bija falahara: Hari-bhakti-vilasa states that on Ekadashi we may eat only one-seeded fruits, such as avocados and peaches. For example, papaya should not be eaten because it has many seeds.
– If you are unsure what you should or should not eat, ask your Guru, and he will explain according to time, place, and circumstances. For example, originally we did not observe Shiva-chaturdashi because we were already observing Advaita-saptami (the festival of Sadashiva). However, Srila B.V. Narayana Gosvami Maharaja instructed, “We have to observe Shiva-chaturdashi because Sanatana Gosvami has so much love and affection for Shiva.”
– During Chaturmasya, it is traditionally forbidden to sleep on a bed; one should sleep on the ground. However, if you do so nowadays, you may end up in the hospital.
– Vastu-parinamavada and shakti-parinamavada.
– Question: Does the count of the holy names begin at midnight or at brahma-muhurta? Answer: From brahma-muhurta until 11:59 p.m. you should chant your rounds. Rounds chanted after midnight do not count.
– Asana-siddhi, mantra-siddhi, svarupa-siddhi, and vastu-siddhi.
– Question: If we naturally do not eat something—for example, we never eat yogurt, which is prohibited during Chaturmasya—will it still be considered an austerity? Answer: Just follow the shastras. The main thing is to practice bhakti. If you avoid yogurt during Chaturmasya but do not chant the holy names, bhakti will not develop. However, I am not saying that you should not observe Chaturmasya.
– Even if your motives are hidden and you try to hide them even from yourself, Nama Prabhu will fulfill your hidden desires because you cannot cheat Him.
– Krishna killed Putana and the demons who disguised themselves as sakhis or baby calves because of their duplicity.
– If someone does not want to chant the holy names, do not insist that they chant. Instead, engage them in activities that help them acquire sukriti, such as taking prasada, cleaning the temple, offering dakshina for seva, lighting incense, and so on
– Sadhu-sanga does not simply mean being physically present with a sadhu; it means accepting and following his guidance.