Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 135

How to get personal instruction from Srila Prabhupada and Krsna

The instruction given in my books is supposed to be personal instruction. When we read the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, it is understood that we are receiving personal instructions of Krsna. No physical barrier is there in the case of spiritual affairs.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Dhrstaketu — Bombay 14 October, 1973

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Read Bhagavad-gita thoroughly, as it is

Our only request is that if you want happiness, if you want to prosper, make your life successful, you must read Bhagavad-gita thoroughly, as it is, as Krsna says. Don’t try to misinterpret.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.13 — 2 April, 1974

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Bhagavad-gita purport about Bhagavad-gita

One who has a little faith in Bhagavad-gita should learn Bhagavad-gita from a devotee, because in the beginning of the Fourth Chapter it is stated clearly that Bhagavad-gita can be understood only by devotees; no one else can perfectly understand the purpose of Bhagavad-gita. One should therefore learn Bhagavad-gita from a devotee of Krsna, not from mental speculators. This is a sign of faith. When one searches for a devotee and fortunately gets a devotee’s association one actually begins to study and understand Bhagavad-gita. By advancement in the association of the devotee one is placed in devotional service, and this service dispels all one’s misgivings about Krsna, or God, and Krsna’s activities, form, pastimes, name and other features. After these misgivings have been perfectly cleared away, one becomes fixed in one’s study. Then one relishes the study of Bhagavad-gita and attains the state of feeling always Krsna conscious. In the advanced stage, one falls completely in love with Krsna. This highest perfectional stage of life enables the devotee to be transferred to Krsna’s abode in the spiritual sky, Goloka Vrndavana, where the devotee becomes eternally happy.

Srila Prabhupada; Bg 8.28, ppt.

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Bhagavad-gita: join Krsna and Arjuna at Kuruksetra

You can associate with Krsna and Arjuna every twenty-four hours, by reading Bhagavad-gita. Why do you require to go there? It is already here.  Read the Bhagavad-gita and you are immediately in the battlefield of Kuruksetra.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.36 — January 30, 1974, Tokyo

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Understanding Krsna through Bhagavad-gita and Krsna book

Therefore our duty is to know Krsna. Janma karma. Krsna comes, Krsna appears, Krsna disappears. Why Krsna comes? Why Krsna is not seen? Janma karma. Why He acts? Why He takes birth in the battlefield of Kuruksetra? Why He teaches Arjuna? Why He dances with the gopis? So many things, Krsna’s life. We have read Krsna book. There are so many activities. They’re all transcendental, although they’re written just like ordinary story activities of a person. But they are not ordinary things. If you simply read Krsna book, although it looks like story, then you become delivered from these clutches of repetition of birth and death. It is so nice. Because you will understand Krsna, what is Krsna, and here it is said, janma karma me divyam ye janati tattvatah [Bg. 4.9]. It is explained. The people who are reading Krsna book very seriously, and tries to understand Krsna, he will understand. Krsna is very kind. As soon as he begins reading Krsna book with a little faith and adherence, Krsna will be very much pleased. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah [SB 1.2.17]. As soon as Krsna is within your heart, so when you read Bhagavad-gita or Krsna book with little seriousness, then Krsna understands, “Now he is serious to understand Me.” He’s with the… You haven’t got to search out Krsna. He’s already within you. Simply you have to become little serious: “Krsna, kindly give me knowledge so that I can understand.” Buddhi-yogam dadami tam.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.9 — March 29, 1974, Bombay

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How devotees see suffering

Prabhupada: Yes, it is because he is always free. Why do you make Krsna dependent on your so-called goodwill, that “Krsna must give me always pleasure”? This is sense gratification. This is sense gratification, that you approach Krsna for your comfort, sense gratification. That is not bhakti. That is sense gratification. Prahlada Maharaja was given suffering by his father so harshly, but he never said, “Oh, I am devotee of Krsna and giving me so much trouble? Oh! Give it up.” He never said that. Neither he asked Krsna to come and save him. That is krsna-bhakti. The Pandavas… The Pandavas, they were always with Krsna, and they were suffering. They never asked Krsna that “You are the Supreme, and why we are suffering?” Never said. Never said. That is krsna-bhakti.

Giriraja: “Because You are the Absolute Truth, there is no difference between Your mercy and punishment.”

Prabhupada: Yes. This is to be understood. If we understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Absolute Truth, then this is understanding, that either suffering or enjoying, it is all Krsna’s mercy. There must be some purpose. When Krsna puts me into suffering, there must be some purpose. So we should welcome, because it is Krsna’s mercy. Tat te ‘nukampam susumiksamano bhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam [SB 10.14.8]. It is Krsna’s mercy that He is reforming me, slightly suffering. I would have suffered very greatly on account of my past deeds, but He is kindly accommodating me by giving little suffering. That’s all.”

Morning Walk Conversation – May 1, 1974, Bombay

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Bloop

Swamiji’s lectures often included the metaphor of falling back into the material illusory ocean or maya. He would gesture as if throwing a stone. One day Vince got confused and yelled, “I don’t get it. It’s just another religion, another sectarian cult.”

He stomped out of the temple.

Brahmananda and I looked at each other, and I said, “He fell back into the
ocean of maya.” Brahmananda made the gesture of throwing a stone and said, “Bloop.” After that, every time a devotee left we’d say, “Ah, he’s blooped.” Or if someone was misunderstanding we’d say, “I think he’s gonna bloop.” Or when someone didn’t show up for a few weeks, we’d say, “He’s probably blooped.” Bloop became our word for leaving.

Some weeks later the Swami asked, “Where’s that boy Vince?”

Brahmananda said, “Oh, he blooped.”

Prabhupada slowly turned to Brahmananda. “Bloop? What is this bloop?” Brahmananda gulped and meekly said, “Well, you’ve been explaining how if we do not catch onto the lotus feet of Krishna, again we will fall into the ocean of material illusion. So, like a stone falling into water, it makes that
sound – bloop.”

Prabhupada paused, considered the word, and said, “Well then, if he has blooped, what can be done?”

(From BLAZING SADHUS or Never Trust A Holy Man Who Can’t Dance, by Achyutananda Das)

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Spiritual life: no envy

Unity is possible on the spiritual platform, not on the material platform. Material platform means “I am envious of you; you are envious of me.” Matsarata. Matsarata means matsarata para utkarsah asahanam[?]: when I cannot tolerate other increasing in opulence, I become envious. This is material life. Spiritual life is different. Spiritual life means if somebody has advanced in spiritual life, and somebody, one, he is still in the neophyte stage, he will eulogize, “Oh, how fortunate he is. He has advanced. He is serving Krsna in such a nice way. When I can get that position?” There is no enviousness. That is glorifying. That is the distinction between material life and spiritual life. [Material] life means enviousness: “How to kill you, how to stop you.” But spiritual life means to see you advancing, one becomes happy, “Oh, how fortunate he is.” This is spiritual life. Therefore spiritual life is meant for a person who is completely not envious. That is spiritual life. Paramo nirmatsaranam satam vastavam vastu vedyam atra. Dharmah projjhita-kaitavo ‘tra [SB 1.1.2]. This Bhagavata-dharma is meant for the person paramo nirmatsara, paramahamsa. He is not envious of anyone.

Srila Prabhupada, Talk on Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.16 – December 25, 1974, Bombay

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Thief population will starve

A huge arrangement exists for the production of large-scale industrial and agricultural products, but all these products are meant for sense gratification. Therefore despite such productive capacities there is scarcity because the world’s population is full of thieves. The word cori-bhute indicates that the population has turned to thievery. According to Vedic understanding, men are transformed into thieves when they plan economic development for sense gratification. It is also explained in Bhagavad-gita that if one eats food grains without offering them to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Yajna, he is a thief and liable to be punished. According to spiritual communism, all properties on the surface of the globe belong to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The population has a right to use goods only after offering them to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the process of accepting prasada. Unless one eats prasada, he is certainly a thief. It is the duty of governors and kings to punish such thieves and maintain the world nicely. If this is not done, grains will no longer be produced, and people will simply starve.

Srila Prabhupada; Purport, Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.18.7

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Advice to preachers

Our principle should be to speak strictly according to the Bhagavatam. No change. Then you will be successful. And to understand this, one should be given chance: chant Hare Krsna as much as you can. No argument. That’s all. And preacher should behave himself exactly what he speaks. Apani acari prabhu jivere sikhaya. First of all behave yourself rightly and then become preacher. If you don’t behave yourself rightly, you have no power; don’t preach. Apani acari prabhu jivere. Apani means personally; acari: behaving according to the rules and regulation, teach yourself.

Srila Prabhupada/Room Conversation – June 15, 1975, Honolulu

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