Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 146

Krsna will annihilate demons

One should not endeavor for ugra-karma, or unnecessary work for sense gratification. Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma yad indriya-pritaya aprnoti (SB 5.5.4). Simply for sense gratification, people make plans for material happiness. Maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimudhan (SB 7.9.43). They do this because they are all vimudhas, rascals. For flickering happiness, people waste their human energy, not understanding the importance of the Krsna consciousness movement but instead accusing the simple devotees of brainwashing. Demons may falsely accuse the preachers of the Krsna consciousness movement, but Krsna will arrange a fight between the demons in which all their military power will be engaged and both parties of demons will be annihilated.

Srila Prabhupada, SB 9.24.59, Purport

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Srila Prabhupada’s message to America

The demigods are situated in the mode of goodness, but sometimes even one who is situated in such an exalted position as King Indra, the king of all the demigods, falls down because of material opulence. We are now actually seeing this in America. The entire American nation has tried to advance in material opulence without striving to produce ideal human beings. The result is that Americans are now regretting the wholesale criminality of American society and are wondering how America has become so lawless and unmanageable. As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum: [SB 7.5.31] persons who are unenlight ened do not know the aim of life, which is to return home, back to Godhead. Therefore, both individually and collectively, they try to enjoy so-called material comforts, and they become addicted to wine and women. The men produced in such a society are less than fourth class. They are the unwanted population known as varna-sankara, and as stated in Bhagavad-gita, an increase of varna-sankara population creates a hellish society. This is the society in which Americans now find themselves.

Fortunately, however, the Hare Krsna movement has come to America, and many fortunate young men are giving serious attention to this movement, which is creating ideal men of first-class character, men who completely refrain from meat-eating, illicit sex, intoxication and gambling. If the American people are serious about curbing the degraded criminal life of their nation, they must take to the Krsna consciousness movement and try to create the kind of human society advised in Bhagavad-gita (catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]). They must divide their society into first-class men, second-class men, third-class men and fourth-class men. Since they are now creating only men who are less than fourth class, how can they avoid the dangers of a criminal society? Long, long ago, Lord Indra regretted his disrespect to his spiritual master, Brhaspati. Similarly, it is advised that the American people regret their mistaken advancement in civilization. They should take advice from the spiritual master, the representative of Krsna. If they do so, they will be happy, and theirs will be an ideal nation to lead the entire world.

SB 6.7.12, Purport

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Krsna and Balarama in the forest of Vrndavana

Accompanied by the cowherd boys and Balarama, Krsna brought forward the cows and played on His flute as He entered the forest of Vrndavana, which was full of flowers, vegetation and pasturing grass. The Vrndavana forest was as sanctified as the clear mind of a devotee and was full of bees, flowers and fruits. There were chirping birds and clear-water lakes, with waters that could relieve one of all fatigue. Sweet-smelling breezes blew always, refreshing the mind and body. Krsna, with His friends and Balarama, entered the forest and, seeing the favorable situation, desired to enjoy the atmosphere to the fullest extent. Krsna saw all the trees, overloaded with fruits and fresh twigs, bending down to touch the ground as if welcoming Him by touching His lotus feet. He was very much pleased by the behavior of the trees, fruits and flowers, and He began to smile, realizing their desires.

From Srila Prabhupada’s “Krsna” Book, ch. 15: The Killing of Dhenukasura

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Naughty Krsna and Balarama

All the gopi friends of Yasoda and Rohini enjoyed the naughty childish activities of Krsna and Balarama in Vrndavana. In order to enjoy further transcendental bliss, they all assembled and went to Mother Yasoda to lodge complaints against the restless boys. When Krsna was sitting before Mother Yasoda, all the elder gopis began to lodge complaints against Him so that Krsna could hear. They said, “Dear Yasoda, why don’t you restrict your naughty Krsna? He comes to our houses along with Balarama every morning and evening, and before the milking of the cows They let loose the calves, and the calves drink all the milk of the cows. So when we go to milk the cows, we find no milk, and we have to return with empty pots. If we warn Krsna and Balarama about doing this, They simply smile so charmingly that we cannot do anything. Also, your Krsna and Balarama find great pleasure in stealing our stock of yogurt and butter from wherever we keep it. When Krsna and Balarama are caught stealing the yogurt and butter, They say, ‘Why do you charge Us with stealing? Do you think that butter and yogurt are in scarcity in Our house?’ Sometimes They steal butter, yogurt and milk and distribute them to the monkeys. When the monkeys are well fed and do not take any more, then your boys chide, ‘This milk and butter and yogurt are useless — even the monkeys won’t take it.’ And They break the pots and throw them hither and thither. If we keep our stock of yogurt, butter and milk in a solitary dark place, your Krsna and Balarama find it in the darkness by the glaring effulgence of the ornaments and jewels on Their bodies. If by chance They cannot find the hidden butter and yogurt, They go to our little babies and pinch their bodies so that they cry, and then They go away. If out of fear of these naughty boys we keep our stock of butter and yogurt high on the ceiling, hanging on a swing, although it is beyond Their reach They arrange to reach it by piling all kinds of wooden planks over the grinding machine. And if They cannot reach, They make a hole in the pot. We think therefore that you’d better take all the jeweled ornaments from the bodies of your children.”

On hearing this, Yasoda would say, “All right, I will take all the jewels from Krsna so that He cannot see the butter hidden in the darkness.” Then the gopis would say, “No, no, don’t do this. What good will you do by taking away the jewels? We do not know what kind of boys these are, but even without ornaments They spread some kind of effulgence so that even in darkness They can see everything.” Then Mother Yasoda would inform them, “All right, keep your butter and yogurt carefully so that They may not reach it.” In reply to this, the gopis said, “Yes, actually we do so, but because
we are sometimes engaged in our household duties, these naughty boys enter our house somehow or other and spoil everything. Sometimes, being unable to steal our butter and yogurt, out of anger They pass urine on the clean floor and sometimes spit on it. Now just see how your boy is hearing these complaints. All day He simply makes arrangements to steal our butter and yogurt, and now He is sitting just like a very silent good boy. Just see His
face.” When Mother Yasoda thought to chastise her boy after hearing all the complaints, she saw His pitiable face, and smiling, she did not chastise Him.

From Srila Prabhupada’s “Krsna” Book, ch. 8: Vision of the Universal Form

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A very amusing incident

(From “A Transcendental Diary,” by Hari Sauri Prabhu)

There was a very amusing incident in mid-morning, when Prabhupada had a visit from a yogini, Yogashakti Ma. She came smiling into Prabhupada’s room, her long hair streaming over saffron clothing, accompanied by three male followers. She wanted to invite Prabhupada to a World Yoga and Peace Conference they plan to hold. The address they gave was an apartment in
Calcutta. She expressed her hope that leaders of various yoga and peace groups could get together and exchange their different experiences to everyone’s benefit, so that the world could be a better place to live, where everyone could become happy. Of course, she would be at the center of it, as the organizer. To this end she had issued a leaflet. One of her men read it out. It proclaimed “Health, Harmony, Happiness” through jnana, dhyana, bhakti, karma, and so on. In other words, it was a hodgepodge of ideas with no real focus. She finished by saying that their goal was to serve God and humanity. Hearing the bit about serving God, Prabhupada called her bluff. “Who is God?” he asked her.

But neither she nor any of her followers could answer. One of them mumbled, “Hari Om.” Another said something about the Creator and “love of us all.” Prabhupada continued in his matter-of-fact, simple, and direct manner. “If there is a toilet,” he said, “and you go there and throw some scent, does that make it a nice place? Trying to make the toilet a nice place is less intelligent. Krsna says duhkhalayam asasvatam. This material world is temporary and full of suffering, so trying to be happy here is simply a
waste of time.”

He was going to continue but couldn’t. His analogy visibly shocked them. Yogashakti Ma had conjured up an image of attaining bliss on earth, and Prabhupada frankly and abruptly shattered her sentimental vision. They all took it like a slap in the face. One of the men became visibly disturbed. Speechless, he began to shake. Agitated and disturbed in mind, he wouldn’t stay a moment longer. He simply offered his respects, uttered “Hari Om,” and got up and left. Yogashakti Ma and the others followed. Srila Prabhupada continued to sit at his desk, a smile gracing his face. He wasn’t concerned that his words had disturbed their idealistic notions. They were typical Mayavadis — in maya. He had spoken the truth as revealed by God Himself, Lord Sri Krsna. If they couldn’t take it, it was no fault of his. He laughed. “By their yoga-sakti,” he told me, “they have one flat in Calcutta. We have no such sakti, and we have a hundred centers like this [Mayapur]!”

Prabhupada is simply wonderful. Others may or may not appreciate, but he cannot compromise the truth for anyone. His only interest is in serving Krsna and Krsna’s mission — nothing else. By Krsna’s grace he is enjoying world-wide success. He has neither the need nor desire to have his name associated with anything that deviates from the strict principles of bhagavata-dharma.

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Russians invade Czechoslovakia

We are so much disturbed by the present atmosphere, everyone. Just like this morning you have news that the Russians, they have captured Czechoslovakia. How much distressed they are. I heard from the newspaper that several of them were crying.

…the Russians have occupied Czechoslovakia. They are thinking, “It is mine.” Or somebody is thinking, “It is mine.” This is the cause of. Because it is ignorance. But actually, everything belongs to God. If this sense is spread all over the world — “Nothing belongs to anyone but God, and we are all sons of God” — that is the best communism.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.12 – August 19 (?), 1968, Montreal

On the night of August 20, 1968, approximately 200,000 Warsaw Pact troops and 5,000 tanks invaded Czechoslovakia

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Stick to Rupa Gosvami’s system

Therefore Rupa Gosvami has introduced this system of regulative principles which I have taught to you also. These regulative principles, such as rising before 4 a.m. for mangala aratrika, chanting 16 rounds minimum on beads daily, reading books, going for the street sankirtana, preaching to anyone and everyone, offering the prasadam, like that, these principles of devotional service are there to safeguard us from maya’s attack by keeping us always enthusiastic. If we strictly observe these principles, we shall remain always enthusiastic. These are the sources and the maintainers of our enthusiasm to serve Krishna. As soon as someone is not following them regularly, it may be certain that his enthusiasm will gradually disappear. Therefore, my request to you is that under any and all circumstances that you yourself shall without fail stick to these principles and make certain that all of the devotees in your charge are also following them strictly.

(From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Dhananjaya — 31 December 1972)

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Take advantage of Srila Rupa Gosvami’s Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu

It is only for our guidance that Srila Rupa Gosvami prepared his book Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, which is now presented in the form of The Nectar of Devotion. Persons engaged in the Krsna consciousness movement may take advantage of this great literature and be very solidly situated in Krsna consciousness.

Srila Prabhupada; NoD Preface

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Dinosaurs are not extinct

Svarupa Damodara: What type of species are extinct? Not all the species extinct. As it is during Brahma’s day, that partial annihilation, devastation, now some species are extinct?

Prabhupada: No species extinct. What you are reading? This is garbage.(?)

Svarupa Damodara: The physical forms.

Prabhupada: No, nothing is extinct. Everything is going on.

Svarupa Damodara: At that point, they are going to come up with the point that “How about dinosaurs?” They are going to ask like that.

Prabhupada: That is imagination, where is dinosaur finding.

Svarupa Damodara: They say they have all the bones.

Prabhupada: No, they are describing maybe another animal. That is existing. That is timingila, they can swallow up big, big whale fishes. That big, bones, they are living still. Nothing is extinct. They are already there.

Rupanuga: Did these dinosaurs exist, or is it just their imagination?

Prabhupada: The big animal exists. I call it dinosaur or finosaur, that is your choice. Big animals existing. Timingila, I said the name, timingila, still exist.

Rupanuga: Still exist.

Prabhupada: Oh, yes. They are always existing. Water elephants. There are elephants in water. Everything.

Rupanuga: So there is no such thing as extinction.

Prabhupada: No extinction, there is no question of extinction.

Rupanuga: If these animals were on this planet some millions of years ago, they are still here, is that correct?

Prabhupada: Yes. What do you know what are there within the water? You can take information from the sastras. It is not possible for you to see and go into the water, how big, big animals are there.

Hari-sauri: But it’s possible that an animal may disappear from one planet, but still be on another planet, though, like that.

Prabhupada: No.

Hari-sauri: Because they claim that even within recorded historyi

Prabhupada: They claim everything. That isi There is no question.

Svarupa Damodara: (indistinct) fossil, they are called fossil record.

Prabhupada: That is another thing. You can get a dead animal’s body, but what is that?

Svarupa Damodara: They claim that many species are extinct.

Prabhupada: How they are extinct?

Hari-sauri: Well, like, they say that within modern history,

Prabhupada: First thing is they are all imperfect speculators. So what is the value of their sport? We don’t take any value of it.

Rupanuga: They don’t know where these animals are, that’s all.

Prabhupada: They, simply like child, they are speculating. If he’s imperfect, then what is the value of his speculation? There is no value.

“Life Comes From Life” Slideshow Discussions, Washington D.C, July 3, 1976

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Free sex & women’s lib

Prabhupada: In the name of religious men, because they are not civilized even, it is further, further.

Ramesvara: And another thing that came out of the hippie movement is this abortion. Because the whole thing… The slogan was “free sex.” So now they have free sex.

Hari-sauri: Women’s liberation was another thing.

Ramesvara: All based on sex. Abortion, divorce — everything related to sex has increased.

Hari-sauri: They used to carry signs, “I want the control of my body,” the women, the women’s liberation.

Prabhupada: That is woman’s liberation.

Hari-sauri: Yeah. “I can do with my body whatever I like. Nobody can tell me what to do. If I want to kill my child, I can kill.”

Prabhupada: The child has father’s…, the life from father’s property, and the mother is only giving you shelter. She is not the proprietor. Even in other’s, womb of other’s wife, a child is born… I give birth to a child in other’s wife, that is my child. Mother is considered the field, ksetra. But when I till the ksetra, field, the production is mine. This idea. The land may be yours, but if I plow on it and produce food grains, that is mine. That is not yours. Even in other’s wife, if somebody begets child, the child belongs to the father.

Conversation — January 11, 1977

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