Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 137

Speculations on Indian history

Your first question is, how can the Vedas be considered eternal since they contain many historical references? But history is also eternal. For example, six months ago there was summer now there is a new season, and in another six months summer again. This calculation of one year is history but the summer and winter seasons are also eternal. There is a saying, “History repeats itself.” Why make a distinction between history and eternity. Things are happening eternally; this is history. You have asked why the four Vedas are written in a different type of sanskrit from classical. This is not extraordinary. In India, sanskrit pronunciation is different in the North and South, and there are many different dialects. So the Vedas may also be presented with some differences within.

You have further questioned how the Vedas can be 3,000 B. C. in age. Modern historians cannot pick up when the Vedas came into existence. From our historical references, however, we understand the Vedic knowledge has been current since the time of creation but the knowledge was originally accepted in disciplic succession from spiritual master to disciple. Later, when Vyasadeva found the peoples’ memories decreasing he wrote it into language.

Otherwise it was existing by sruti, or hearing. So when this hearing began there is no history. He simply recorded the sruti, and there is no question of change. We have to understand Vedic knowledge on the authority of the disciplic succession not from mental speculators who are simply rascals and have no entrance into the Vedic knowledge. You mention Sankara, but Sankara hid so many things, so it is no wonder he did not mention Bhagavatam. There are great authorities of Bhagavatam and it is they we have to follow.

Similarly, the Bhagavatam is mentioned in an earlier Purana means that the whole language is sruti. Although the Bhagavatam may not have been written the tradition was there. It is written by Sridhara Swami quoting the Puranas, that the practice was to write out the Bhagavatam by hand and present it to a learned man. The Bhagavatam we have is the same Bhagavatam. It was originally spoken in four slokas by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to Lord Brahma. All these descriptions are in my books and I request you to read them very carefully as you are a learned scholar.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Brian Marvin — Vrindaban 15 March, 1974

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Maya will test us, especially in the beginning

If one takes to Krsna consciousness, in the beginning there will be many disturbances caused by Maya, the material energy of illusion. Maya will test us to see how firmly we are fixed in Krsna consciousness. Because she is also an agent of Krsna, she does not allow anyone the freedom to disturb Krsna. Therefore she tests very rigidly to see whether we have taken to Krsna consciousness to disturb Krsna or are actually serious. That is Maya’s business. So in the beginning there will be tests by Maya, and we shall feel so many disturbances while making progress in Krsna consciousness. But if we follow the rules and regulations and chant regularly as prescribed, then we shall remain steady. If we neglect these principles, Maya will capture us immediately. Maya is always ready. We are in the ocean, and at any moment we may be disturbed. Therefore one who is not disturbed at all is called paramahamsa.

From Teachings of Queen Kunti by Srila Prabhupada

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Marriage: the whole idea is restriction

You have got one wife or one husband, and that is also restricted: only for begetting child you can have sex life. So many things. The whole idea is restriction. Not that ‘Because I have got a wife it is a machine for sex life.’ No, no. A marriage mean, that does not mean. Marriage does not mean like that. It is restriction.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.9-11 — New Vrindaban, June 6, 1969

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God has saved my Krsna

Prabhupada: The Christian conception of God as Father is not so perfect. Because if we conceive God as Father and Mother, then the policy is to take from Him. Because everyone wants to take from the father: “Father, give me that. Mother, give me that.” But this philosophy, that to accept the Supreme Lord as son, that means to give service. Yasodamayi, he has gotten…, she has gotten Krsna as her son. So always anxious: “Krsna may not be in danger. Krsna is crawling; some animal may not attack. He may not fall down in the water. He may not touch fire.” Always anxiety, giving protection to Krsna. Krsna is giving protection to the whole universe, and Yasodamayi is giving protection to Krsna. This is conception of philosophy, Vaisnava philosophy. She is anxious to give protection. Krsna was taken away by the… What is
that asura?

Yasomati-nandana: Trnavarta.

Prabhupada: Trnavarta. Yes. So Krsna was taken, and Mother Yasoda became mad: “My son has been taken.” But Krsna became so heavy that the asura could not stay in the sky. He fell from a deep, distant place and immediately died. Krsna… And Yasodamayi saw that “God has saved my Krsna.” Yasodamayi saw: “God has saved.” He [she] began to thank some other god, some devata. Because she knows, “Krsna is my son.” She does not know that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If she thinks that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then the relationship between mother and son will be destroyed.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.9 – November 9, 1974, Bombay

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A hog and monkey in Vrndavana

Sometimes a person, the proprietor of the house, after death, remains in that house as serpent, sometimes as dog, sometimes as tree. Being too much attached to the possession, they cannot get better life. And sometimes we can get the body of a hog and monkey in Vrndavana also.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.23 — Vrndavana, November 3, 1972

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Krsna meditation

You haven’t got to make a very exalted throne for Krsna. You can imagine that “In my heart I have placed now a very diamond throne, and Krsna is sitting.” That is accepted. It is… Actually it becomes. Even within the mind you think that “I have kept one diamond throne, very costly throne, because Krsna is coming. He will sit down here,” that is not false. That is a fact. So you create such situation within your heart. “Now Krsna has seated. Let me wash His feet with the Ganges water, Yamuna water. Now I change His dress to a first-class costly garments. Then I decorate with ornaments. Then I give Him for eating.” You can simply think of this. This is meditation. Svantah-sthena gadabhrta. It is so nice thing. Anywhere you can sit down and think that Krsna is sitting in your heart and you are receiving in so nice way. They are not false. They are also fact. It is so easy.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.13.10 — Geneva, June 1, 1974

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Go to Krsna or not, as you like

If you like Krsna, you can go to Krsna. If you like something else, you can go there. That is your discretion. Everyone has got independence, little independence.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture to the International Student Society — May 2, 1969, Boston

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Mahaprabhu recommends: the gopis’ method of worship is best

The best method of worship of Krsna was exhibited by the gopis. Now what were the worshipable method of the gopis? They were not very learned scholars or Vedantists. Or theosophists or mental speculators. None. They were ordinary village girls. And that also, not coming of a very high royal family or brahmana family. They were cowherdsmen. So their fathers were not very rich, but they had several cows, that’s all. So the gopis’ method of Krsna worship was that they could not forget Krsna even for a moment. That was their qualification. There are many verses about the mental situation of the gopis. I shall just try to explain you about their mentality, how they are loving Krsna. Krsna used to take His cows to the forest for pasturing. And the gopis, when Krsna was away from the village, the gopis were thinking, “Oh, Krsna’s, I mean to say, foot is so soft, and He’s walking barefooted on the stones and chips of stones, and they are pricking His foot. Oh, how much He’s suffering!” In this way they were thinking and crying. Krsna is away from the village and is walking in the forest, and the gopis were thinking at home that, “How much troublesome the walking is that He has gone out.” In this way there are so many. So while they were at home, while they were cooking or they were feeding their children, always they were thinking of Krsna. That was their qualification. That’s all. They were so much absorbed in thoughts of Krsna that not a single moment were without Krsna consciousness.

So therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommends that ramya kacid upasana vraja-vadhu-vargena ya kalpita. There is no better method of worship than it was conceived by the gopis. And what was that? The gopis were twenty four hours, they were always Krsna conscious. They were requesting Krsna, “My dear Krsna, many, many yogis, many, many saintly persons, they go to the forest and meditate upon Your lotus feet. But they cannot fix up. They meditate Your lotus feet, but still, they think of something else. They are not perfect. Their meditation fails. But in our case Your lotus feet is so much fixed up in our heart that we are thinking of You and we cannot discharge our family duties. So kindly get out of our heart.” Just see. “Please excuse. Kindly go out of our heart so that I, we can do our duties.” That was their prayer. Therefore that is Krsna consciousness, ideal Krsna consciousness. You have to mold your life in such a way that you cannot think of Krsna, you cannot think but Krsna, only. The gopis were doing their duties. They were household…, housewife, girls. They had their husbands, children. But in spite of all these things, they were thinking of Krsna.

Srila Prabhupada; March 16, 1968

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Krsna helps the sincere

A devotee must be very sincere in his devotional service; then, although there may be many things wrong on the devotee’s part, Krsna will guide him and gradually elevate him to the highest position of devotional service.

From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to SB 4.9.17

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Don’t think that Krsna is a doll

Krsna is so kind that from Vaikuntha He has come here in this remote village of America — He’s so kind — just to accept your service. Don’t think that “Here is a doll.” No. Krsna. Krsna, on the request of devotee, He has come. You should always remember this, that “Here is Krsna, personally present.”

Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu… It requires only advanced sense. When He saw Jagannatha at Puri temple, He immediately fainted: “Here is My Lord.” So it is only advanced understanding. But preliminary understanding is that “Here is Krsna.” Don’t think that it is a doll. Even if you think it is doll, but Krsna has come to you in the form of doll so that you can see. Otherwise, Krsna is always present everywhere. We cannot see. Or you can handle.

Krsna is everything. So Krsna is so kind that He has come here to be seen by you, to be touched by you, to be dressed by you, to be decorated by you, to accept whatever you nicely offer with bhakti. Krsna is not hungry, or Krsna has no food at His Vaikuntha? No. He has got. He is supplying everyone food. So He has got everything. We should always remember that He has kindly come for our benefit, so let us be always cautious and very respectful and offering the nicest prasadam, prepared with great attention. In this way, if we practice, then our life becomes very successful.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.9 — June 25, 1976, New Vrindavan

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