Today, most Vaishnavas make efforts to lead a theo-centric life. They struggle to remember that they are souls who are equal to the plants and animals, and that they are not their bodies, with the associated desires to exploit and kill the Lord’s nature. They try to remember that the universal soul or Supreme Soul is their friend who is in their hearts and who with love beckons them to turn away from violence and exploitation. Recent Vaishnava sages, like Prabhupad...

“Everything should be done on the basis of love. Strictness is not very good. The students should act automatically, out of love. That is wanted. [However,] Superficially, strictness may be necessary—some material laws or basic principles—and if they don't follow they'll be reprimanded. But they should develop the idea of love. Sometimes you have to [force], but even so, the basic principle should be love. Sometimes, out of love, a father must force his son to do ...

Particularly in India, environmental solutions can be solved within the context of religion. Experts say that a fundamental cause of environmental problems in the West is that the Protestant disregard for God’s nature has allowed business, government, and science to collaborate in the rape and destruction of the earth and its living beings.

Prabhupada"s point about "no scarcity" is extremely important. He was interested to hear that although his disciple was giving fifty percent he had no scarcity of facilities to maintain his family.

Former Vice President Al Gore writes that significant changes are urgently needed to avoid global warming. According to the Save America’s Forests organization, “There is a world deforestation crisis - and America is at the center of the problem.”

A devotee should learn to direct his or her life in order to obtain needed enjoyment from service to Krishna. Devotees are not enjoyment-seekers, so the hard work of sankirtana service does not frighten them.