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The Nectar of Instruction
liberated from the blazing fire of material existence, he can relish the taste of transcendental life.
The conclusion is that in order to get freed from the material disease, one must take to the chanting of the Hare Krṣṇa  mantra . The Krṣṇa consciousness movement is especially meant for creating an atmosphere in which people can take to the chanting of the Hare Krṣṇa  mantra . One must begin with faith, and when this faith is increased by chanting, a person can become a member of the Society. We are sending  saṅkīrtaṇa  parties all over the world, and they are experiencing that even in the remotest part of the world, where there is no knowledge of Krṣṇa, the Hare Krṣṇa  mahā-mantra  attracts thousands of men to our camp. In some areas, people begin to imitate the devotees by shaving their heads and chanting the Hare Krṣṇa  mahā-mantra , only a few days after hearing the  mantra . This may be imitative, but imitation of a good thing is desired. Some imitators gradually become interested in being initiated by the spiritual master and offer themselves for initiation.
If one is sincere, he is initiated, and this stage is called  bhajana-kriyā . One then actually engages in the service of the Lord by regularly chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa  mahā-mantra , sixteen rounds daily, and refraining from illicit sex, intoxicants, meat-eating and gambling. By  bhajana-kriyā  one attains freedom from the contamination of materialistic life. He no longer goes to a restaurant or hotel to taste so-called palatable dishes made with meat and onions, nor does he care to smoke or drink tea or coffee. He not only refrains from illicit sex, but avoids sex life entirely. Nor is he interested in wasting his time in speculating or gambling.