"For one who does not take personal training under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, it is impossible to even begin to understand Krishna." — BG 11.54 Purport by Srila Prabhupada
"To achieve success in this way, one must first find the proper spiritual master and receive training under his direction. Then one can achieve faith in the Supreme. When that faith matures, in course of time, it is called love of God." — BG 17.28 Purport by Srila Prabhupada
"And by such training, even for some days, the neophyte devotee gets intelligence in such transcendental service, which leads him ultimately to get free from perpetual inhabitation in the material worlds and to be promoted to the transcendental world." — SB 1.6.23 Purport by Srila Prabhupada
As Srila Prabhupada said above, training under a bona-fide spiritual master is the first step toward making spiritual advancement. Because of this, Dharmavira Prabhu took a step down from his position and started the Harinam program.
"A bona fide spiritual master is a representative of Krishna. If he bestows any blessings upon his disciple, that will make the disciple immediately advanced without the disciple's following the regulative principles. Or, the regulative principles will be easier for one who has served the spiritual master without reservation." — BG 13.8-12 Purport by Srila Prabhupada
Anyone living at Sri Radhakund Dham with Sri Dharmavira Prabhu will tell you how simple it is to live there. The food given to all the sadhakas who stay there are healthy – so healthy in fact, that it will help suppress your appetite, which helps in getting a good night’s sleep and rising early the next morning. Srila Gurudev has created a peaceful environment where everyone feels comfortable to go out on Harinam with him each day. It is also an ideal opportunity for sadhakas staying at the ashram to serve Srila Gurudev personally and express their concerns to him directly.
2:00 AM Wake up alarm
3:00 AM Chanting with Srila Gurudev
6:00 AM Sri Radhakund Parikrama
8:00 AM Rest in the room
9:00 AM Breakfast
10:00 AM Rest in the room
11:00 pm Chanting with Srila Gurudev at Radhakund
1:00 pm Lunch
2:00 pm Rest in the room
4:00 pm Chanting with Srila Gurudev at Radhakund
6:00 pm Return to the room
6:00 pm Sleep
The returns on pious activities are not comparable to the extensive benefits of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra because it has unlimited potency and power.