Within this tradition, the heart of daily practice is the cultivation of devotion to Krishna through sound, worship, and disciplined living. Central to this is the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, both privately on japa beads—often in a fixed daily quantity—and collectively in kirtan, the congregational chanting performed in temples and public spaces. This vocal remembrance is supported by regular participation in temple programs, which typically include kirtan, scriptural classes, and various forms of communal worship. Through these practices, the mind is gradually trained to remain absorbed in remembrance of Krishna.

Another major strand of practice is deity worship, understood as serving Krishna in His deity form through carefully prescribed rituals. Devotees offer incense, lamps, flowers, and food, perform arati ceremonies, and dress and decorate the deities with great care. This extends into the kitchen and dining area, where food is prepared as a vegetarian offering, presented to Krishna, and then accepted as prasadam, sanctified food. Many practitioners strive to eat only such offered food, turning even the act of eating into a devotional engagement.

The lifestyle of a serious practitioner is also marked by adherence to the four regulative principles: abstaining from meat, fish, and eggs; avoiding intoxication; refraining from gambling; and restricting sexual activity to marriage and for procreation. These vows are not seen merely as moral rules but as supports for a mind and body fit for spiritual practice. Association with like-minded devotees—through living in or near temples, attending gatherings, and seeking guidance from senior practitioners or a spiritual master—creates a social environment that reinforces these commitments and deepens faith.

Study and outreach form the remaining pillars of this path. Regular reading and discussion of texts such as the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam provide the philosophical framework that undergirds all other practices, allowing devotees to understand not only what they are doing, but why. At the same time, there is a strong emphasis on sharing Krishna consciousness with others through public chanting, distribution of spiritual literature, teaching, and the distribution of prasadam. In this way, personal spiritual discipline and compassionate outreach are woven together into a single, integrated way of life oriented toward loving service to Krishna.