Don't try to imitate Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. But because they were (the six Gosvamis) associates of Lord Caitanya, each one of them showed some example, unique example of how Krsna consciousness can be advanced

Expressions researched:
"Don't try to imitate Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī. But because they were associates of Lord Caitanya, each one of them showed some example, unique example how Kṛṣṇa consciousness can be advanced"

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

Saṅkhyā-pūrvaka-nāma—you have heard it while singing Six Gosvāmīs song. Saṅkhyā-pūrvaka-nāma-gāna-natibhiḥ kālāvasānī-kṛtau. So there are very nice examples of minimizing. Minimizing all material necessities. Up to the point nil. You see? But that is not possible for everyone. Don't try to imitate Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī. But because they were associates of Lord Caitanya, each one of them showed some example, unique example of how Kṛṣṇa consciousness can be advanced. But our business is not to imitate them, but try to follow them. Try to follow as far as possible. Not artificially.

Lecture on BG 6.16-24 -- Los Angeles, February 17, 1969:

Eat kṛṣṇa-prasādam, nice prasādam. If your tongue wants some nice, palatable dishes, we can supply you hundreds, thousands, offered to Kṛṣṇa. Samosā and this sweetball, rasagullā, these so many things we can supply. You are not prohibited. But don't take too much. "Oh, it is very palatable. Let me take one dozen of rasagullā." No, don't take that. (laughs) Then that is not good. That is greediness. You should simply take so much as will keep your body fit, that's all. You should sleep so much as will keep your body fit, that's all. Nothing more. Yuktāhāra vihārasya yogo bhavati siddha (BG 6.17).

This is called yukta. We should eat simply for keeping healthy condition. We shall sleep simply for keeping healthy condition. But if you can reduce, that's nice. But not at the risk of becoming sick.

Because in the beginning, because we are accustomed to eat voraciously, so don't try to eat less artificially. You eat, but try to minimize it. The more . . . therefore there are prescription of fasting: at least two compulsory fastings in a month. And there are other fasting days. The more you can reduce your sleep and eating, you keep good health, especially for spiritual purpose. But not artificially. Not artificially. But when you advance, naturally you'll not feel.

Just like Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī. There are examples. Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī was very rich man's son, and he left home. So he joined Lord Caitanya. So his father . . . he was the only son, very beloved son, very nice wife. Left everything. So his . . . and left means stealing, without saying anything. Somehow or other he left home. And the father could understand he has gone to Lord Caitanya at Purī. So he sent four servants, because he was very rich man, and four hundred rupees. Five hundred years ago, four hundred rupees means twenty times at the present value.

So first of all he accepted that, "Oh, father has sent, all right." So how he was spending money? So he was inviting all the sannyāsīns—in Jagannātha Purī there were many sannyāsīns, renounced order—and every month he was offering feasting. Then after few days, Lord Caitanya inquired His secretary, Svarūpa Dāmodara, "Oh, nowadays I don't get any invitation from Raghunātha. What happened?" "Oh, Sir, he has stopped accepting his father's money."

"Oh, that's very nice." "He thought that 'I have renounced everything, and I am enjoying my father's money. This is all nonsense.' He refused. He asked the man, 'You go home. I don't want money.' " "Then how he is living?" "Oh, he's standing on the staircase of Jagannātha temple, and when the priest go home with their prasādam, they offer something and he's satisfied in that way." So Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Oh, this is all right, very nice."

Then Caitanya Mahāprabhu was inquiring how he's standing there. So he . . . saw he is standing. So Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, after a few days, he stopped that standing also. Then Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired his secretary, "I don't see Raghunātha standing there. What he is doing?" "No, Sir, he has given up that standing, because he thought, 'Oh, I'm standing just like a prostitute, somebody will come and give me some. No, no, I don't like it.' " "Oh, that's very nice. Then how he is eating?" "Oh, he's collecting some rejected rice in the kitchen, and that he is eating."

So to encourage Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, one day Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to his room. "Raghunātha? I heard that you are eating very nice foodstuff and you are not inviting Me?" So he was not replying. So He was finding out where he has kept that rice, and He took and immediately began to eat. "Sir, You do not eat. This is not fit for You." "Oh! It is Jagannātha's prasādam! How do you say it is not fit?" Just to encourage him. He may not think that "I am eating this rejected," you see?

In this way Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī reduced his foodstuff, ultimately, every alternate day only one piece of, what is called, butter, so much. And he was offering even bowing down hundreds times and chanting so many times. Saṅkhyā-pūrvaka-nāma—you have heard it while singing six Gosvāmīs' song. Saṅkhyā-pūrvaka-nāma-gāna-natibhiḥ kālāvasānī-kṛtau (Ṣaḍ-gosvāmy-aṣṭaka).

So there are very nice examples of minimizing—minimizing all material necessities up to the point nil. You see? But that is not possible for everyone. Don't try to imitate Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī. But because they were associates of Lord Caitanya, each one of them showed some example, unique example how Kṛṣṇa consciousness can be advanced. But our business is not to imitate them, but try to follow them. Try to follow as far as possible. Not artificially.

Therefore here it is said: "There is no possibility of one's becoming a yogī . . ." If you try to become immediately Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī by imitating, you'll fail. Whatever progress you have made, that will be finished. No. Not that. You eat, but don't eat more. That's all. Eating more is no good. You eat. If you are elephant, you eat hundred pounds, but if you are ant you eat one grain. Don't eat hundred pounds, imitating the elephant. You see? God has given food to the elephant and to the ant. But if you are actually elephant, then you eat like elephant. But if you are ant, don't eat like elephant; then you'll be in trouble (chuckles).

So here it is said: "There is no possibility of one's becoming a yogī, O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little."