THE FOLLOWING IS FROM "PRACTICES LEADING TO DEVOTION" BY HANUMANPRASAD PODDAR. THERE ARE 24 POINTS IN THE ARTICLE, I HAVE SPLIT IN 3 PARTS - 8 POINTS PER EACH POST, SO THERE WILL BE 3 PARTS!
1. One should altogether give up lying, thieving, harming others, adultery and eating prohibited food.
2. One should never assume false appearances: one should try to become a devotee and should on no account pose as one.
3. One should relinquish all sorts of desires: he should seek nothing from God in return for his devotion.
4. One should give up the 8 forms*** of sexual enjoyment: one should copulate with his wedded consort as seldom as possible. The best thing would be to give up copulation altogether. This should, of course, be done with the mutual consent of both (husband and wife).
***8 forms of sexual enjoyment are: 1. mental enjoyment 2. talking of such enjoyment 3. amorous sport 4. casting amorous looks 5. indulging in amorous talks 6. intention to copulate 7.resolution and 8. the actual process.
5. One should have absolutely no connection with those of the other sex. One should take care never to see a person belonging to the opposite sex or talk with him or her in seclusion.
6. One should never seek honour, nor should he be afraid of insult or indignity. He should practise humility and submissiveness, should never speak harsh or unpleasant words, should bear ill-will to none, should never indulge in idle gossip or vilification at others, and should hate no one.
7. One should serve those who may be suffering from some disease or are incapacitated in body or helpless, in all possible ways, with mind, body and money. He should make it a point not to take service from others as far as possible.
8. One should avoid as far as possible societies and other public bodies and should read newspapers as sparingly as possible; he had better not read them at all.
Cited from "Kalyana-Kalpataru", 1935, Vol.02
"Practices leading to Devotion" article by
हनुमान प्रसाद पोद्दार (hanumAn prasAd poddAr)
