Practical importance of Vaisnava dress and behaviour in temple

Upon entering the temple compound Prabhupāda noticed a young Western hippie girl who was staying in the guest house. He cautioned the managers that people in such dress should not be admitted to the guest house simply because they are paying guests. We must use some discretion, otherwise the local residents will consider us no better than our hippie visitors.

Akṣayānanda Mahārāja explained that the hippie girl had agreed to wear a sari when she arrived, but has now reverted to her old dress.

Prabhupāda said “Yes, that is due to habit.”

Akṣayānanda told Prabhupāda that recently one young man had arrived there dressed in a similar way, but after a few days he shaved his head and became a devotee.

Prabhupāda told him that was all right, but meanwhile the temple will become known as a “hippie resort, and the prestige of the temple will be minimized.” Nevertheless, he agreed that we must give everyone a chance to become devotees; but if they do not change their habits after three days they should be asked to leave.

A Transcendental diary Volume one, Chapter 2 Sri Vrndāvana Dhāma