Prabhupāda:
- prāyeṇa munayo rājan
- nivṛttā vidhi-ṣedhataḥ
- nairguṇya-sthā ramante sma
- guṇānukathane hareḥ
- (SB 2.1.7)
So there is a stage which is called paramahaṁsa stage. At that time, one is not very strictly following the regulative principles. Not that they're not following, but they're above all regulative principles. But we should not imitate that, that "Now we have become paramahaṁsa and we can neglect all regulative principles." No. The paramahaṁsa stage is described here. If you simply imitate that, "Now I have become paramahaṁsa, I do not require to follow rules and regulation . . ." But you must prove that you are paramahaṁsa.
Therefore what is that paramahaṁsa stage? That is nairguṇya-sthā ramante sma guṇānukathane hareḥ. His only business is to glorify Kṛṣṇa. He does not do that . . . not that, "I have become paramahaṁsa. Let me eat and sleep." No. The symptom is that he cannot waste a moment without glorifying Kṛṣṇa. That is paramahaṁsa. At that time, you can know, that when you cannot remain even for a single moment without describing Kṛṣṇa, then you can know that you are on the paramahaṁsa stage. No attachment anything material; simply attachment for Kṛṣṇa. Then you can give up the regulative principles. Not before that. Don't imitate. Unless you come to that stage, positive stage . . . it is not that simply negative. Negative means you must stand on a positive platform. Therefore those who are śūnyavādī, simply negative . . . the other day, some Zen Buddhist came. He said that, "To become desireless." These nonsense people, they do not know it is impossible to become desireless. They are thinking . . . therefore they are disturbed always. It is not possible to become desireless. You . . . that is negative post, nirvāṇa. That is Buddha philosophy, nirvāṇa: "Stop these material nonsense activities." But unless he has got positive activities, how he can give up this nonsense? Paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate (BG 2.59). You must give good engagement. Otherwise, he'll go on committing all nonsense. Just like you, you have been given good engagement, Deity worship and so many other things you are engaged. Therefore you have no time to divert your attention for nonsense things. Simply artificially if you want to stop, no. The US government, they tried to stop this intoxication habit, LSD, millions of dollars. Not a single man was stopped. Not a single man. And here in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, as soon as they come, immediately . . . why? Paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate. When he understands that he is better intoxication, "Why shall I go to LSD?" That is required.