Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 101

Napoleon, Hitler, Churchill, all fools

Yes, you have to make him intelligent. Everyone is fool, mudha. Everyone within this material world is supposed to be a fool. Because everyone is thinking, “I am this body.” So he’s fool. “I am Indian,” “I am American,” “I am German,” “I am Frenchman,” “I am this,” “I am that.” What is the difference? A cat is thinking, “I’m cat.” A dog is thinking, “I am dog.” So if somebody thinks that, in relationship with the body, “I am Frenchman,” “I am Englishman,” “I am…”, then where is the difference between the cat and the dog? He’s thinking himself as this body. Therefore everyone is thinking, at least in this modern world, the so-called nationalism, everyone is thinking, “I am Englishman,” “I am Frenchman,” “I am Indian,” “I am this,” “black,” “white.” So everyone is fool. Is it not? Yes. He’s thinking in a way what he is not. Therefore he’s a fool. All these big, big political leaders, Napoleon, Hitler, Churchill, and in Europe , they fought with this consciousness, “I am Englishman,” “I am German,” “I am Frenchman.” That’s all. Even the big, big leaders, they are fools. And what to speak of common men?

Srila Prabhupada, Morning Walk — June 11, 1974, Paris

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Krsna likes preaching sadhus

Sadhu does not mean that he is alone enjoying the fruits of his spiritual life. Sadhu means who is trying to make others sadhu. He is sadhu. Krsna likes such sadhu, as He has described in the last portion of Bhagavad-gita, na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on SB 6.2.12-14, Allahabad, January 17, 1971 (Kumbha-mela)

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Misconception re marriage

But the proposal that marriage will solve the question of lust, is not practical. Neither wife should be accepted as a machine for satisfying our lust. The marriage tie should be taken as very sacred. One who marries for subduing lust is mistaken.

Srila Prabhupada; letter to Hayagriva — Seattle 7 October, 1968

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The beginning of sinful life

As sense control is the beginning of pious life, illicit sex is the beginning of sinful life. One should not engage in illicit sex, or sex for any reason except having a child with one’s wife. Marriage is meant for begetting children, and in that sense it is a religious institution. Lord Krsna confirms this in the Bhagavad-gita (7.11): dharmaviruddho bhutesu kamo ‘smi. “I am sex that does not contradict religious principles.”

Srila Prabhupada. Second Chance 13: Ajamila Begins His Degraded Life

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America, communism, godlessness, and material suffering

Prabhupada: No, they are right officially: “We trust in God.” (break) …the whole, I think, Americans are fortunate because this sankirtana movement is there. Yes. If they take it more seriously, they will be actually favored nation of the Lord.

Hari-sauri: At the present moment it seems that the Communist movement seems to be taking over more and more countries.

Prabhupada: They will take because people are becoming godless. That is the defect. People are becoming hippies, godless. This material world is full of miseries because most people are godless. Here… Material world means avoiding God. That is the sum and substance of material world. They are trying to avoid, becoming independent of God. That is their endeavor. The scientist, the philosopher, the politician-everyone is trying that. Therefore they are suffering. Maya is there. Just like a criminal, if he says “I don’t care for government,” the police will take care of. That is certain.

Morning Walk — May 20, 1975, Melbourne

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Controlling the urges of the tongue and the genitals

The conditioned soul under the clutches of maya, the material energy, is very much agitated by the urges of the tongue and the genitals. Control of the urges of the tongue, the belly and the genitals (which are situated in a straight line) is called dhrti. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, tara madhye jihva ati, lobhamaya sudurmati. Among the senses, the tongue is the most formidable enemy of the conditioned soul. Urged by the tongue, one commits many sinful activities. Although Krsna has given human beings nice food, people still commit sins by killing poor animals for the satisfaction of the tongue. Not being able to control the tongue, the conditioned soul eats more than he needs.

Of course, everyone must eat to keep the body fit for the Lord’s service, but when one cannot control the senses, he falls victim to the dictations of the tongue and the belly. Naturally, genital agitation follows, and one seeks illicit sex. However, if one is fixed at the lotus feet of Krsna, he can control the tongue. Bhaktivinoda Thakura further states, krsna bada dayamaya, karibare jihva jaya, sva-prasada-anna dila bhai: in order to conquer the tongue, Krsna has been very merciful and has given us nice food that has been offered to Him. When a person is attached to Krsna’s lotus feet, he does not eat anything not offered to Krsna. Sei annamrta khao, radha-krsna-guna gao, preme daka caitanya-nitai. Since a devotee eats only prasadam, he conquers the dictations of the tongue, belly and genitals. One can control the dictates of the senses when situated in the position of santa-rasa. Then one’s advancement in Krsna consciousness is assured.

From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to Cc Madhya 19.213

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Aryan civilization means this Vedic civilization

Non-Aryan means not civilized, and Aryan means civilized. This is the distinction. Now people are very much fond of calling themselves as civilized, Aryan, belonging to the Aryan family. Where is the Aryan civilization? Aryan civilization means this Vedic civilization.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on SB 1.8.47 — Mayapura, October 27, 1974

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University professors as croaking frogs

The education cultivated by so-called learned scholars who do not believe these statements of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta is like the tumultuous croaking of frogs. The croaking of the frogs in the rainy season resounds very loudly in the forest, with the result that snakes, hearing the croaking in the darkness, approach the frogs and swallow them. Similarly, the so-called educational vibrations of the tongues of university professors who do not have spiritual knowledge is like the croaking of frogs.

Srila Prabhupada’s purport to CC Adi 8.6

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India should take this movement very seriously

And all over the world… There are many Bhagavad-gitas. There are about six hundred and forty different editions. But still ours, this Bhagavad-gita As It Is, it is being accepted very widely, and therefore we are very much hopeful. And as practical example you can see so many European, American, they have taken to this Krsna consciousness very seriously. And before this movement, many swamis, yogis, and scholars went to the foreign countries, but not a single person became a devotee of Krsna. That’s a fact. Not a single person. But now, because Bhagavad-gita is being presented as it is, so many thousands, they are becoming devotees of Krsna, Krsna consciousness.

So this movement has practical effect, and both in the scholarly and people in general circle. And as advised by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, India should take this movement very seriously and send many trained teachers so that India’s glories will be enhanced. People will take it very seriously.

Srila Prabhupada, Press Interview, 16 October 1976, Chandigarh

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How Srila Prabhupada makes everything so simple

Visnujana: How do you make everything so simple to understand?

Prabhupada: Because the whole philosophy is so simple. God is great; you are not great. Don’t claim that you are God. Don’t claim that there is no God. There is God, and He is great and you are small. Then what is your position? You have to serve Krsna. This is simple truth.

September 27, 1968, Seattle

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