Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 113
July 21, 2022
A one month test
I assure you that if you follow the regulative principles of chanting 16 rounds, observing strictly the prohibitive injunctions, keep association with pure devotees, plus taking care of the Deities in the Temple, surely all your problems will be solved without any difficulty. Please try it for at least one month and see the result.
From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Kulasekhara – Los Angeles 11 January 1970
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July 20, 2022
Srila Prabhupada’s credit
It is a fact that by serving the spiritual master one becomes free from material life and makes spiritual advancement. I have not done anything personally, very wonderful. I am simply serving my spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja and all the acaryas in the disciplic succession. If I have done anything of credit it is that I have not changed their teachings. I have not added anything of my own interpretation.
From a letter by Srila Prabhupada, 16 May, 1974
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July 19, 2022
Modern scientists: “probably”
Tamala Krsna: This is the book of the rascal scientists. They describe the solar system according to their nonsense. The solar system… Gives all the calculations. They calculated how much it weighs on each planet. [laughs] They haven’t even been there. They say that each planet has moons. Says here — this is how scientific they are — “Pluto was discovered only in 1930, and as yet, little is known about this remote planet. Pluto is much smaller than Neptune and has a diameter probably about…”
Prabhupada: “Probably.”
Tamala Krsna: “…half the size.”
Prabhupada: “Probably.”
Tamala Krsna: “The orbit of Pluto is extremely elliptical, and the day is some 6,109 hours long. There is probably no atmosphere, and there are no known moons.”
Prabhupada: “Probably.” Their science is “probably.” Probably it is science; otherwise it is nonsense.
Bhu-mandala Diagram Discussion – July 2, 1977, Vrndavana
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July 18, 2022
No need to live long
[Sukadeva Gosvami to King Pariksit]: What is the value of a prolonged life which is wasted, inexperienced by years in this world? Better a moment of full consciousness, because that gives one a start in searching after his supreme interest.
Srila Sukadeva Gosvami instructed Maharaja Pariksit about the importance of the chanting of the holy name of the Lord by every progressive gentleman. In order to encourage the king, who had only seven remaining days of life, Srila Sukadeva Gosvami asserted that there is no use in living hundreds of years without any knowledge of the problems of life — better to live for a moment with full consciousness of the supreme interest to be fulfilled. The supreme interest of life is eternal, with full knowledge and bliss. Those who are bewildered by the external features of the material world and are engaged in the animal propensities of the eat-drink-and-be-merry type of life are simply wasting their lives by the unseen passing away of valuable years. We should know in perfect consciousness that human life is bestowed upon the conditioned soul to achieve spiritual success, and the easiest possible procedure to attain this end is to chant the holy name of the Lord…. One should, therefore, utilize one’s life in glorifying the Lord by all means, without any offense. Such activity of life, even for a moment, is never to be compared to a prolonged life of ignorance, like the lives of the tree and other living entities who may live for thousands of years without prosecuting spiritual advancement.
Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.12, Srila Prabhupada’s translation and purport
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July 17, 2022
Vanaprastha life
It is not that a grhastha should live at home until he dies. Vanaprastha is preliminary to sannyasa. In the Krsna consciousness movement there are many young couples engaged in the Lord’s service. Eventually they are supposed to take vanaprastha, and after the vanaprastha stage the husband may take sannyasa in order to preach. The wife may then remain alone and serve the Deity or engage in other activities within the Krsna consciousness movement.
From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to Cc Madhya 24.260
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July 16, 2022
Converting Chrisitians
When you want to convert Christians into Krsna consciousness, you should understand first of all the philosophy of Krsna consciousness. Without understanding the philosophy of Krsna consciousness, if we try to convert Christians into Krsna consciousness, it will be utter failure. We do not condemn any religion because the Bhagavatam says that the religious process is the best by which one can attain love of God. So we are teaching love of Godhead, not any particular type of religion. Our Krsna consciousness movement is not a religious movement; it is a movement for purifying the heart.
From a letter by Srila Prabhupada to Yadunandana – San Francisco 13 April, 1968
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July 14, 2022
Devotees are not like demons
The Krsna consciousness movement is meant for devas, or devotees. Demons cannot take part in Krsna conscious activities, nor can devotees in Krsna consciousness take part in demoniac activities or work like cats and dogs simply for sense gratification. Such activity does not appeal to those in Krsna consciousness. Devotees accept only the bare necessities of life to keep themselves fit to act in Krsna consciousness. The balance of their energy is used for developing Krsna consciousness, through which one can be transferred to the abode of Krsna by always thinking of Him, even at the point of death.
From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to Cc Adi 3.91
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July 13, 2022
Mad for Krsna, like Caitanya Mahaprabhu
You can live always in Vrndavana, always in Vaikuntha, if you are mad after Krsna. That was the teachings of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. By His practical example, He showed. When He was in Jagannatha Puri, He was mad always, day and night. Last twelve years of His life was passed in madness. Sometimes He was falling down on the sea, sometimes somewhere, sometime, day and night, just like mad.
Srila Prabhupada/ Talk on Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.26 – November 26, 1974, Bombay
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July 12, 2022
Love the dog-God
There is an English word: “If you love me, love my dog.” So the spiritual master is dog-God. He’s dog of God, therefore he’s dog-God. He’s to be worshiped. He’s the pet dog of God. Therefore if you love the dog, you love God. Spiritual master will not claim that “I am God,” but it is our duty,
because the dog is pet… Here it is said, na ca tasman manusyesu. You have to love that dog. Then you’ll get the perfection. This is the secret.
Srila Prabhupada — June 8, 1976, Los Angeles
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July 11, 2022
A devotee’s only concern
The pure devotee is never interested in material topics. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has strictly prohibited His devotees to talk about worldly matters. Gramya-varta na kahibe: [Cc. Antya 6.236] one should not indulge in talking unnecessarily about news of the material world. One should not waste time in this way. This is a very important feature in the life of a devotee. A devotee has no other ambition than to serve Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This Krsna consciousness movement was started to engage people twenty-four hours daily in the service of the Lord and in His glorification. The students in this institution engage in the cultivation of Krsna consciousness from four in the morning to ten at night. They actually have no opportunity to waste their time unnecessarily by discussing politics, sociology and current events. These will go their own way. A devotee is concerned only with serving Krsna positively and seriously.
Srila Prabhupada, SB 5.12.13 purport
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