Don’t try to imitate. My Guru Maharaja has strictly forbidden, “Don’t try to imitate big personalities like Haridasa Thakura, Rupa Gosvami.” He used to say, rupa gosvami ke mogha vancha[?]. Rupa Gosvami, because he used to put on a loincloth… Tyaktva turnam asesa-mandala-pati-srenim sada tucchavat bhutva dina-ganesakau karunaya kaupina-kantha… So it is no use imitating Rupa Gosvami, to imitate the dress, and then, as soon as there is opportunity, smoke bidi. [laughs] [laughter] Don’t do this nonsense. This is no use, imitation. Anusarana, not anukarana. Anukarana is dangerous. Anusarana. Sadhu-marganugamanam. This is bhakti. We shall try to follow the footsteps of big, big devotees, sadhus. We cannot… We shall try to follow. Don’t try to imitate. That is very dangerous.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.5 — February 25, 1977, Mayapur