Regulative Principles

In the Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 22.115-28), Lord Caitanya lists sixty-four regulative principles one must follow to be elevated to the highest platform of devotional service. Even after being elevated to the highest platform of devotional service, one must continue following the scriptural injunctions for devotional life. The sixty-four regulative principles are as follows:
(1) To accept a bona fide spiritual master.
(2) To become initiated by the spiritual master.
(3) To engage oneself in the service of the spiritual master.
(4) To receive instructions from the spiritual master and inquire about advancing on the path of devotional service.
(5) To follow in the footsteps of previous acaryas and follow the directions given by the spiritual master.
(6) To give up anything for the satisfaction of Krsna, and to accept anything for the satisfaction of Krsna.
(7) To live in a place where Krsna is present--a city like Vrndavana or Mathura, or a Krsna temple.
(8) To minimize one's means of living as much as one can, while living comfortably to execute devotional service.
(9) To observe fasting days, such as Ekadasi.
(10) To worship cows, brahmanas, Vaisnavas, and sacred trees like the banyan.
These ten principles of devotional service are the beginning.
Additional principles are as follows:
(11) One should avoid committing offenses against the holy name, the Deity, etc.
(12) One should avoid associating with nondevotees.
(13) One should not aspire to have many disciples.
(14) One should not unnecessarily divert his attention by partially studying many books so as to appear very learned. For devotional service, it is sufficient to scrutinizingly study books like the Bhagavad-gita, the Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the Caitanya-caritamrta.
(15) One should not be disturbed in either loss or gain.
(16) One should not allow oneself to be overwhelmed by lamentation for any reason.
(17) One should not blaspheme the demigods, although one should not worship them. Similarly, one should not criticize other scriptures, although one should not follow the principles therein. (18) One should not tolerate blasphemy of the Supreme Lord or His devotees.
(19) One should not indulge in idle talks, such as those about relationships between men and women.
(20) One should not unnecessarily disturb any living being, whatever he may be.
The above-mentioned twenty items are the doorway to devotional service. And among them, the first three--namely, acceptance of the spiritual master, initiation by the spiritual master, and service to the spiritual master--are the most important.
Then come the following items:
(21) To hear about the Lord.
(22) To chant His glories.
(23) To remember Him.
(24) To serve and meditate upon the lotus feet of the Lord and His devotees.
(25) To worship Him.
(26) To pray to Him.
(27) To think of oneself as the Lord's eternal servant.
(28) To become the Lord's friend.
(29) To offer everything to the Lord.
(30) To dance before the Deity.
(31) To sing before the Deity.
(32) To inform the Lord of everything about one's life.
(33) To bow down to the Lord.
(34) To offer respect to the spiritual master and the Supreme Lord by standing up at the appropriate time.
(35) To follow the spiritual master or the Supreme Lord in procession.
(36) To visit places of pilgrimage and temples of the Supreme Lord.
(37) To circumambulate the temple.
(38) To recite prayers.
(39) To chant the Lord's name softly to oneself.
(40) To chant the Lord's name loudly in congregation.
(41) To smell incense and flowers offered to the Deity.
(42) To eat the remnants of food offered to the Deity.
(43) To regularly attend the arati offered to the Deity, as well as special festivals.
(44) To regularly look upon the Deity.
(45) To offer one's dearmost possessions to the Supreme Lord.
(46) To meditate on the Lord's name, form, pastimes, etc.
(47) To water the tulasi plant.
(48) To serve the Lord's devotees.
(49) To try to live in Vrndavana or Mathura.
(50) To relish the topics of the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
(51) To take all kinds of risks for Krsna.
(52) To always expect the mercy of Krsna.
(53) To observe ceremonies like Janmastami (the appearance day of Lord Krsna) and Rama-navami (the appearance day of Lord Ramacandra) with devotees.
(54) To fully surrender to Krsna.
(55) To observe special regulations like those followed during the month of Kartika (Oct.-Nov.). (56) To mark the body with Vaisnava tilaka (clay markings).
(57) To mark the body with the holy names of God.
(58) To accept the remnants of garlands that have been offered to the Supreme Lord.
(59) To drink caranamrta, the water that has washed the lotus feet of the Deity.

Among these fifty-nine items, five are considered so important that they are mentioned again separately, thus completing the sixty-four items of devotional service. These five are:
(60) associating with devotees,
(61) chanting the holy name of the Lord,
(62) hearing the Srimad-Bhagavatam,
(63) residing at a place of pilgrimage like Mathura, and
(64) worshiping the Deity with faith and veneration.