Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 148

Degraded America should lead the world with varnasrama

According to the laws of nature, when one is extremely opulent one becomes degraded, and this is true both individually and collectively.

… 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 (7.5.31), na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum: persons who are unenlightened 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?

.. 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.

From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to SB 6.7.12

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Srila Prabhupada’s plan in America

Pancadravida: …went to America, what was your idea of what would be your program when you got there?

Prabhupada: This idea: I shall speak to don’t eat meat, and they’ll immediately kick me out. [laughter] That was my program. And I was going to say that “Don’t eat meat. No illicit sex,” and immediately they will kick me out. “All right.” I never thought that you would accept it… And I was asking Krsna, “I do not know why You have brought me here. As soon as I will say these things, they will kick me out. What is Your program, I do not know.” [chuckles]

Aksayananda: Everybody knows in their heart that actually these things are wrong.

Lokanatha: You are so expert. For one year you did not mention those rules and regulations, I heard.

Prabhupada: No, I simply said, “Come and join and chant.”

Lokanatha: And when they developed higher taste, then you said, “Now no more meat-eating.”

(Morning Walk — April 8, 1976, Mayapur)

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People should be trained to hear only krsna-katha

Even a person perpetually condemned to the miseries of material existence can get relief from bondage if he simply agrees to hear only krsna-katha. In this Age of Kali, the process of hearing krsna-katha is the most effective means of gaining release from unwanted family affection and thus finding permanent freedom in life. The Age of Kali is full of sinful reactions, and people are more and more addicted to the qualities of this age, but simply by hearing and chanting of krsna-katha one is sure to go back to Godhead. Therefore, people should be trained to hear only krsna-katha — by all means — in order to get relief from all miseries.

From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to SB 3.5.44

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Pure love in Vrndavana

That is Vrndavana atmosphere. Everyone loves Krsna. Everyone is overwhelmed with love of Krsna. When they cannot find Krsna, they become mad. Although they do not know that Krsna… When they see some wonderful activities of Krsna, they think, “Some demigod might have come here. Otherwise, how this wonderful thing is possible?” So this is pure love. This is pure love, without any knowledge of the supreme powerful, almighty.

Srila Prabhupada, Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.22 – December 31, 1974, Bombay

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In Delhi, Srila Prabhupada meets a Sikh

Rajasekhara Prabhu recalls:

That particular afternoon, a few visitors came and went then at around 6 P.M., a Sikh gentleman came to see Srila Prabhupada, bringing along with his wife and two young children. He had been regularly visiting the temple for a number of months and was very eager to meet Srila Prabhupada. He entered the room and sat before Srila Prabhupada, who warmly greeted him and they began discussing various topics.

Srila Prabhupada had been talking in a very friendly and intimate way with the Sikh gentleman, and also shared a few laughs. Suddenly Srila Prabhupada asked him in a nonchalant sort of way, “So what do you think, this married life is simply full of suffering.” The Sikh gentleman was completely taken aback and utterly surprised by Srila Prabhupada’s question. After stuttering to find an answer for a few moments, he replied saying that it was a matter of doing one’s duty. Srila Prabhupada said, “Yes, duty is there, but it is simply suffering, don’t you agree?”

I could see that the Sikh gentleman was feeling uncomfortable and perhaps somewhat embarrassed by such direct questioning, especially as he was sitting there with his wife and children; once again he tried to avoid giving a straight answer, replying instead that there were many things in life that were unpleasant, but out of duty we must do them. There was a momentary pause as Srila Prabhupada looked at the Sikh gentleman and everyone was wondering what Srila Prabhupada would say next. The tension in the room was palpable as the exchange took place because the Sikh gentleman was deliberately avoiding a direct answer. The entire room became silent and one could have heard a pin drop. Srila Prabhupada was obviously not satisfied by the Sikh gentleman’s answer and once again posed the same question saying, “Doing your prescribed duty to your family is one thing, but do you admit that it is simply suffering?”

Realizing that there was no escaping Srila Prabhupada’s questions, the Sikh gentleman went momentarily silent as he looked into Srila Prabhupada’s eyes. Then, heaving a huge sigh of relief said, “Yes Srila Prabhupada, it is true, family life is full of suffering.” The tension suddenly dissipated and Srila Prabhupada was extremely happy that the Sikh gentleman was honest enough to admit the factual truth. Even the devotees in the room felt relieved; it was as if every single person in the room was being directly asked the same question. The great illusion of so-called happiness in family life lay shattered and the Sikh gentleman’s vision on life had been completely changed forever.

Rajasekhara Dasa Brahmachari. Glory of India: History of The Hare Krishna Movement in Delhi, p. 98-99

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Chanting and remembering pastimes

Regarding your first question, is it offensive to think of Krishna’s Pastimes while chanting, I think you should know that it is not offensive, but rather it is required. One must try for the point when he simply hears Krishna and immediately all of Krishna, His Pastimes, His Form, His Quality, are in his thoughts. So to always be immersed in thoughts of Krishna this is our process. When we are full in Krishna then where there can be any chance for maya in us? So this is our duty to remember Krishna’s Pastimes. One who cannot remember Krishna, let him always hear Hare Krishna and then when he has perfected this art, then always he will remember Krishna, His Activities, His Qualities, etc.

From a letter from Srila Prabhupada to Sivananda das

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Leaders who do not care for religious principles

By deprecating the principles of Vedic civilization and supporting cow-killing, they are immediately degraded to the platform of mlecchas and yavanas. A mleccha is a meat-eater, and a yavana is one who has deviated from Vedic culture. Unfortunately, such mlecchas and yavanas are in executive power. How, then, can there be peace and prosperity in the state? The king or the president must be the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When Maharaja Yudhisthira accepted the rule of Bharata-varsa (formerly this entire planet, including all the seas and land), he took sanction from authorities like Bhismadeva and Lord Krsna. He thus ruled the entire world according to religious principles. At the present moment, however, heads of state do not care for religious principles. If irreligious people vote on an issue, even though it be against the principles of the sastras, the bills will be passed. The president and heads of state become sinful by agreeing to such abominable activities.

From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to Cc Madhya 1.197

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Rectifying devotees rather than rejecting them

Prabhupada: Now if they do not also obey the orders of the sannyasi, then naturally… But that thing should be brought to the notice of higher, or some official, president. Then steps should be taken, that “If you cannot follow the rules and regulations, then you must leave.” It is plain thing. There is no question of fighting. First thing is that a sannyasi, leader, they should behave themselves according to the rules and regulations, and then ask others to follow. The others who do not follow, once, twice excused; three times, “Please leave.” Like that.

Syamasundara: If, if he follows strictly the principles, then he’ll be automatically respected.

Acyutananda: Now I wanted to ask somebody to leave, but how does he leave? We have to buy him his ticket or something. There was a boy, one…

Prabhupada: Leave means he can go to other center.

Acyutananda: I wanted to ask him to leave, but where would he go? Who will pay for his way out?

Prabhupada: Then one thing is, that this ultimate, we are canvassing, we are preaching to bring men. To get them out is not our business. That is not our business that, but if he is incorrigible, he is not…, then he must leave. That is… If you are making so much preaching, why, to bring men, not to ask them to go. If for some paltry reason you ask, that is not…

Devotee: This was not a paltry reason.

Prabhupada: When he is incorrigible. First of all you have to try to correct him and… That is preaching. Our preaching means that people are useless; we have to train them in such a way they may take to Krsna consciousness. That is our management. But if he is completely incorrigible, then he will be asked to leave. Otherwise it is not our business that as soon as we see something is being wrong… He must be trained, by our example, by our teaching, by our work. Santa yam cinvanti kutih[?]. By word, by example, he should be corrected. If I cannot correct him by my words and example, that is also my [indistinct]. Because they are…, they are…, you cannot expect that everyone has come here, sadhu. It is not that. We collect from ordinary men, but we have to make him sadhu. That is preaching. That is preaching. That you have to do tactfully. Not that because one is incorrigible… After trying all our ways, if he is still incorrigible, then you can ask. Not that for paltry reason he cannot be…, “Get out.” That “get out,” if you make, then everything has to be “get out.” That is not the policy. Policy is first of all to correct him. That is preaching. As far as possible by example, by teaching, by everything.

Srila Prabhupada, Room Conversation with Sannyasis — March 15, 1974,
Vrndavana

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Ph.D. rascal

We say clearly, “If you are not Krsna conscious, you are rascal number one.” “No, I am M.A. Ph.D.” “Still, you are rascal.” That is our verdict. “We don’t care for your Ph.D. I know that you are a rascal because you do not know Krsna.” Just a few minutes before, one gentleman came to see me, and he advertised himself that “I have read Vedas, I have read the Puranas, I have
seen Dr. Radhakrishnan and so on, but I do not get peace of mind.” So I asked him, “You have studied so many literatures. Do you know who is God?” And the God who has created this, what is His name, what is the address — that he does not know. Yes. This is going on. Vimudhan. They are proud of education, proud of learning, advancement, everything, all right, complete. But real knowledge — “Do you know God?” — that he cannot explain. That he cannot explain. He will explain something hodgepodge. This is the disease. Therefore they are vimudhan.

Srila Prabhupada, Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.22 – December 31, 1974, Bombay

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Logic and analogy

I once spoke to a professor who said that Krsna consciousness appears to be a combination of logic and sastra. I asked Prabhupada about this and he replied to me as follows:

“Concerning our use of analogy. We do not bring in imperfect analogy, but we follow the instructions of the sastra strictly. Our authority is on the basis of sastra, not analogy… We give analogy for the general mass of people who have no faith in sastra. Analogy is not proof, sastra is proof. Foolish people cannot understand or accept, so we use analogy. The conclusion is not drawn from the analogy but from the sastra. We don’t use a combination of logic and authority, we use authority. The logic of using analogy is called in sastra, ‘sakha chandra nyaya.’ It is easier to focus on the moon through the branches of a tree.” (Letter 75.10.21)

From Satsvarupa das Goswami’s Vyasa-puja offering to Srila Prabhupada, 2020

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