Balance primary and secondary rules for healthy and happy life
Rules are of two types: primary and secondary. Those rules which directly lead us to serving and satisfying the Lord are called primary rules. Those rules of life which indirectly support that goal are called secondary. This will become clear by giving an example. Taking an early morning bath is a rule. By doing this, the body becomes fresh and disease free, and the mind as well becomes steady. If the mind is steady, one can worship the Lord properly. Here, the goal, worship of the Lord, is not the immediate intention of the bath. The bath’s direct result is bodily comfort. If bodily comfort is accepted as the final goal of the bath, then worship of the Lord is not achieved at all. There are many possible intervening results between bathing and worshipping God. With such intervening agents there is possibility of obstruction.
The direct result of the primary rules is worship of the Lord. There is no intervening results between the rule and worship of the Lord. Chanting the Lord’s name and hearing about Him are two primary rules, because their direct result is worship of the Lord. Though we must always observe the primary rules, if we do not observe the secondary rules, we cannot maintain the body properly, nor our life. If we cannot maintain our life, how can we follow the primary rules of devotional service?
Chaitanya Shikshamrita, Bhaktivinoda Thakura