Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 144

Competition centering around Krishna

There is competition of loving Krishna even in the party of Srimati Radharani. It is a kind of rasa to compete in loving affection centering around Krishna.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to: Brahmananda — Calcutta 18 November, 1967

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Srila Prabhupada goes to the cinema

Our students, Krsna conscious person, if he is invited, “Come on, there is a nice picture in the cinema,” no. He’ll never go. He’ll never go. [chuckles] Because he has become hamsa. He is not a crow, that he’ll go such places. Why? What is there? So hamsa, here it is said, tad vayasam tirtham usanti manasah. They reject, reject. Usanti manasa na yatra hamsa niramanty usik-ksayah [SB 1.5.10].

There was an incidence in my life. I was, of course, at that time householder. So one my friend, he was going to cinema with his family, and he saw me. I was in the street, and he immediately stopped his car and he asked me that “You come. We are going to cinema.” So I refused, that “If you give me one thousand dollars, still I shall not go to cinema.” So he dragged me. He took me to the cinema house, but I never entered. I came back. You see? Because it was detestful.

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

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Four ways you can be doomed

Canakya Pandita says, dusta-bharya: “If the wife is dusta,” dusta-bharya satham mitram, “and friend is satham, hypocrite, talking very friendly, but he has got something, design…” That is called satham mitram. Satham means hypocrite. So “If somebody’s wife is dusta and friend is hypocrite,” dusta-bharya satham mitram bhrtyas ca uttara-dayakah, “and bhrtya, servant, does not obey, he argues with the master…” Master says, “Why did you not do?” “Oh, I am this…” No argument. Bhrtya should be very silent. Then he is faithful servant. Sometimes master may be angry, but bhrtya should be silent. Then master becomes kind. But if he replies on equal level, oh, then it is very bad. Dusta-bharya satham mitram bhrtyas ca uttara-dayakah, sa-sarpe ca grhe vasah: “And you are living in a apartment where there is a snake.” So if these four things are there or one of them, not all the four, then mrtyur eva na samsayah: “Then you are doomed.” You are doomed. Your life is spoiled.

[Srila Prabhupada; Srimad-Bhagavatam Lecture 6.1.31 San Francisco, July 16, 1975]

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Thieves and rogues in Krsna consciousness

Regarding your business, Krsna will surely help you and He is already helping you. We want to show the world that Krsna’s service is not stereotyped, one sided. Krsna can be served from any position, provided one is willing to serve Him. Krsna can be served and approached by businessmen, by lawyers, by scientists, by artists, by musicians, by philosophers, even by thieves and rogues; everyone. He is so kind. One has simply to accept the prescribed method how to approach Him. When I speak of thieves and rogues I do not mean that a Krsna devotee is also a thief and a rogue. The idea is that even the thieves and rogues are eligible to accept this path of Krsna consciousness and make their lives sublime. Actually when a thief or rogue takes to Krsna consciousness he soon becomes a saintly person. Just like Jagai and Madhai. They were thieves and rogues but after being favored by Lord Nityananda they became first-class devotees. So Krsna consciousness is so nice that everyone can approach the goal, and if one simply agrees to follow the prescribed method very soon he becomes a saintly person.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Gargamuni, 11th November, 1969

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What a devotee cannot bear

A Krsna conscious person cannot bear to pass a minute of his life without being engaged in the service of the Lord.

(Srila Prabhupada; Bhagavad-gita As It Is 6.17 Purport)

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Confidence

The devotee thinks, avasya raksibe Krsna: “Krsna will surely protect me and give me help for the successful execution of devotional service.” This is called confidence.
From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to The Nectar of Instruction, verse 3

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In danger, scientists pray to God

Svarupa Damodara: That there was an explosion in the (indistinct), and they could not go to the moon. So they were in danger in outer space. So they were requesting all the people so to “Pray to God so that I can come back safe and sound to this planet.” (laughter)

Prabhupada: When they are in danger they pray to God for safe and sound, but when they go to the moon planet: “We are scientist.” (laughter) Just see how much foolish they are! When they go to the moon planet, at that time, “God give us permission, we may go”? No. “We are scientists. (laughter) We don’t care for God.” But when they are in danger, “God save us.” (laughter) Just see what kind of scientists they are.

Conversation, Los Angeles, July 9, 1974

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Jealousy in Krsna consciousness

There are many political parties in a state but in spite of all political jealousies they are one in serving the state. Similarly Krsna being the center, all competition and jealousies for serving Krsna the best is always absolute provided such jealousies do not come down to the material plane.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Kirtanananda, 13th April, 1967

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Criminal tolerance

There was a poetry by Rabindranath Tagore. The purport of the poetry is that one who is mischievous, he is culprit. But one who tolerates mischievous activity, he is also culprit. If you are mischievous, you are criminal. But if you tolerate mischievous activities, that is also criminal.

Srila Prabhupada/ Morning Walk Conversation — May 3, 1973, Los Angeles

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A pure devotee is kept in the hand of Krsna

Tvayi: “Unto You, let there be my devotion,” ahaituki, “without any motive.” Everyone has got some motive. People become dharmika, go to the temples. That’s very good. They are pious — to ask something: “O God, give us our daily bread.” A bhakta, a pure bhakta, he does not ask anything. Why he should ask? A pure devotee is kept in the hand of Krsna. Just like if you keep something very carefully, jewels, in your hand, you are very careful. Similarly, when Krsna takes care of you, as He says, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg. 18.66], then you are just in the, at the care of… Just like if a big man, a very rich man, if he assures you, “Oh, don’t bother, I’ll take care of you for everything,” just imagine what is your position, if a big man gives you assurance that “I’ll take care of you. Don’t bother. You haven’t got to do anything. I shall take.” So when Krsna says, the Supreme Lord, who is the proprietor of all opulences… Aisvaryasya samagrasya viryasya yasasah. Sad-aisvarya-purna. Aisvarya. Six kind of opulence. Krsna has got full control over six kind of opulences. All riches. We can say, “I am millionaires. I am proprietor of crores.” But I cannot say that “I am the owner of all the banks of the world.” That is not possible. But Krsna can say. Bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram [Bg. 5.29]. Not only the banks, but everything which contains the banks, all the planets. Sarva-loka-mahesvaram. So who can be richer than Krsna? So if Krsna says, “I’ll take care of you,” then where is the question of poverty? But that is… People do not know. They want some opulence, material opulence, but he doesn’t want Krsna, the proprietor of all opulences. And that is our misfortune. The proprietor of all opulences, He said, “Just surrender to Me. I’ll take care of you.” “No, no. It is not possible. I shall have to take care of my business. That will maintain me. I will have to take care of my this and that, my country, and so many family, friends, and…” Krsna says, “No, no. You simply surrender. I’ll do everything for you.”

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.37 — Bombay, December 6, 1974

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