Chant Hare Krishna Maha-mantra & Be Happy!
Maha-mantra means "great sound that liberates the mind from ignorance"
Krishna means "The All-Attractive" Rama means "The Greatest Pleasure"
Hare is God's supreme pleasure potency, the energy of God
These names of God and the Hare Krishna Mantra are derived from ancient Indian texts of knowledge called Vedas.
Sankirtana means congregational chanting of God's names.
Four Regulative Principles
No meat, no fish, no eggs - eating food prepared for and offered to God.
We have to avoid needless violence. Devotees see other creatures as spiritual living beings. Though these creatures may be less intelligent.
By the subtle laws of karma, the suffering we cause others will come back looking for us. By nature's arrangement we have plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains, milk products, and other innocent food. We should content ourselves with this and be happy.The Higher Taste - A Guide to Gourmet Vegetarian Cooking and a Karma-Free Diet
12/91
Based On Work by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Great introduction to the philosophy and practice of vegetarianism in Hare Krsna style. It lets the reader discover the health and economic advantages as well as the important ethical and spiritual considerations of a Krsna conscious approach to diet and nutrition.
Three qualities of food - 3 Gunas
No intoxication
No drugs, no liquor, not even coffee, tea (caffeine), or cigarettes. The world is already high enough -- high on illusion, high on greed, high on false power and false ego. The devotee of Krishna wants to be thoughtful, sober.
Material substances like drugs are useless for spiritual realization. They can bend the mind, but they can't free it. They may take you up, but sooner or later they let you down.
The self within is by nature joyful. So we don't need any material stuff to *make* us happy. We just need to purify ourselves and uncover the happiness that's already there.
No gambling
In Krishna consciousness, you're trying to purify your mind - to make it clear and steady for spiritual realization. But gambling makes the mind cloudy. It agitates the mind. You start thinking: What are my chances? How much could I walk off with? What could I do with my winnings? Even if you just play for the sake of playing, gambling pulls the mind away from thinking about the real purpose of life.
No illicit sex
When sex takes place within marriage, and only for the sake of having children, it's fine. And then the parents have the responsibility to train up their child in Krishna Consciousness.Sex for material senses enjoyment makes one identify with the body, and it brings about entanglement, exploitation, disappointment, and illusion. so it must be regulated by using it for procreation only.
For spiritual advancement, you want to simplify your life and bring your mind and senses under your control.
No matter what your religion is, if you try to experience spiritual life, you have to follow the above standards. This will bring us closer to God. This is what real religion means.The Story of the Four Regulative Principles
https://www.hknet.org.nz/Regs-4page.htm
Excerpts From Saptama Skandha of the Devi Bhagavata PuranaHare Krishna Philosophy and Culture
Chant Hare Krishna and be Happy! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!