I'm ninety percent lenient
Hayagriva Dasa: "If Krishna sees you are taking one step toward Him," Swamiji says, "He will take ten toward you. He is so happy to see you turn to Him. He is more eager to see us return to Godhead than we are to go." Back in the Mott Street apartment, I stare at myself in the mirror and repeat my new name. "Now you are Krishna's," I think, inspecting the new kanthi beads around my neck. "These are Krishna's dog collars, and they don't come off."
We all optimistically resolve to try to follow the rules. For most of us, meat eating and gambling pose no problems. Rules governing sex and intoxicants, however, force some rapid changes in living patterns. I decide to convert the old Mott Street apartment into a brahmachari ashram. Down come the psychedelic posters, and up go pictures of lotus-eyed Krishna. The next day at the temple, we find a new notice posted on the bathroom door. There are additional rules and regulations written neatly in ink by Swamiji himself.
NOTICE All initiated devotees must attend morning and evening classes. Must not be addicted to any kind of intoxicants, including coffee, tea and cigarets. They are forbidden to have illicit sex-connections. Must be strictly vegetarian. Should not extensively mix with non-devotees. Should not eat foodstuffs cooked by non-devotees. Should not waste time in idle talks nor engage in frivolous sports. Should always chant and sing the Lord's holy names, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna. Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Thank you. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. Acharya Umapati says nothing when he reads the notice. Rayarama simply chuckles. "No coffee, no tea," he says, shaking his head. With dismay we begin to realize that more than hamburgers are off limits. We're all fond of coffee and tea, and it's hard to imagine breakfast without eggs. Besides, breads, hot cakes, ice cream, and cookies usually have eggs in them. Also, "no foodstuff cooked by non-devotees" excludes all restaurants, quick food shops, and even most packaged supermarket foods. And no yeast, garlic, onions, and mushrooms puts an end to pizza. Somebody even points out that most cheeses are made with rennet cow's stomach! "I'm ninety percent lenient," Swamiji says, laughing. "If I were to tell you everything at once, you'd faint."
Reference: Hare Krishna Explosion by Hayagriva Dasa
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