Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 165
February 10, 2021
Have you got the eyes to see Krsna everywhere?
Devotee (1): Srila Prabhupada, if Krsna is everywhere, why do we stress the importance of living a very strict life in the temple atmosphere?
Prabhupada: But have you got the eyes to see Krsna everywhere?
Devotee (1): No, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: Then you must attention give to temple. When you have got the eyes to see Krsna everywhere, you may not require temple worship. But why do you try to imitate that? You have no eyes to see that.
(June 26, 1974, Melbourne)
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February 9, 2021
The only remedy
Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (13.9) that the real sufferings of the material world are four-janma-mrtyu jara-vyadhi (birth, death, old age and disease). In the history of the world, no one has been successful in conquering these miseries imposed by material nature. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. Nature (prakrti) is so strong that no one can overcome her stringent laws. So-called scientists, philosophers, religionists and politicians should therefore conclude that they cannot offer facilities to the people in general. They should make vigorous propaganda to awaken the populace and raise them to the platform of Krsna consciousness. Our humble attempt to propagate the Krsna consciousness movement all over the world is the only remedy that can bring about a peaceful and happy life.
Srila Prabhupada, SB 7.9.19, purport
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February 8, 2021
We do not know what we should want
Because we are rascals, fools, we do not know what we should want. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. He does not know that his actual want is Krsna. Just like a small child crying, and we are trying to pacify him, giving this, giving that. But he’s crying, crying, because his actual want is his mother. And as soon the mother comes, takes the child on the lap, immediately he stops. Similarly, we want Krsna because we are part and parcel of Krsna.
Srila Prabhupada /Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.24 — September 21, 1976, Vrndavana
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February 7, 2021
Srila Prabhupada berates bogus avataras
Avatara does not mean a big beard or big hair. We do not like to see such ugly avatara. We kick on their face, this avatara. This is not avatara. Avatara must be mentioned in the sastra. Sanatana Gosvami inquired from Caitanya Mahaprabhu, “How we shall know one avatara?” So Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “Why? It is all mentioned in the sastra.” So avatara should be understood from the sastra, not by jugglery or magic. This is rascal. As soon as one wants to establish his avatarship by jugglery and magic, kick him out, immediately on the face, directly. Kick him. Let the avatara take steps. I don’t mind. If he’s avatara, let him kill me, all right. But I shall kick him on his face.
Srila Prabhupada /Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.25 — September 22, 1976, Vrndavana
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We have to seek the mercy
Bhakti depends not on education or scholarship but on faith and the Lord’s mercy.
This is called vyavasayatmika buddhih. I may be quite incomplete. It doesn’t matter. But if I try to follow the words of my Guru Maharaja, then I become complete. This is the secret.
Yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau. If one has strong faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead and as much faith in the guru, yatha deve tatha gurau, then the revealed scriptures become manifest. It is not the education. It is not the scholarship. It is faith in Krsna and guru.
Therefore Caitanya-caritamrta says guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija. Not by education, not by scholarship, never says. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, guru-krsna-krpaya, by the mercy of guru, by the mercy of Krsna.
It is a question of mercy. It is not a question of scholarship or opulence or richness. No. The whole bhakti-marga depends on the mercy of the Lord. So we have to seek the mercy.
Srila Prabhupada — From a lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.30 Los Angeles, December 8, 1973
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February 5, 2021
Devilish culture
This is their culture — hippies and murderer in the name of religion. This is their culture. And abortion. Because there is no such culture, therefore the result is the abortion and killing and bombing, making the whole atmosphere abominable. This is your culture. Fighting between Protestant and Catholics, and bombing… People are terrified. They cannot go out in the street. This is your culture. And begging is bad. To keep the people, whole population, in terrified condition, that is very good, and if anyone in a humble way begs, that is bad. This is your culture. Vedic way allows the brahmacari to beg just to learn humbleness, not beggar. Coming from very big, big family, all family, they practice it. This is not begging. This is to learn how to become humble and meek. And Christ said, “To the humble and meek, God is available.” It is not begging. You do not know what is this culture. You have your own culture, devilish culture, to kill even one’s own child. How you’ll understand what is this culture?
Srila Prabhupada/ Room Conversation — February 4, 1977, Calcutta
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Their life becomes sublime
Gopi-kanta: Srila Prabhupada, what is the exact benefit if a person just takes a Srimad-Bhagavatam on the street and gives some donation to help out the printing costs or whatever?
Prabhupada: That is already explained. They will read. They will see the picture of Krsna. Immediate profit is, they will ask, “What is this picture?” And you will say, “Krsna.” “Oh,” they say, “it is Krsna?” Then… [laughter] From the beginning of the cover, the benefit begins, because the uttering the word “Krsna” is benefit. Then, if he reads… Of course, if he pays for the book, he will read. So you give a chance to the person to know about Krsna, their life becomes sublime.
( June 26, 1974, Melbourne)
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February 3, 2021
Not chanting sixteen rounds?
Pancadravida: What if the person cannot chant sixteen rounds a day. He says, “I can’t…”
Prabhupada: Then he is not even a human being. He is a rascal, that’s all. He is not a human being. What to consider of talking about…? Don’t talk about him if he cannot chant sixteen rounds. He is not even a human. He’s an animal.
Mahamsa: In one of your purports, Prabhupada, you said Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja, he said a devotee is one who chant sixty-four rounds…
Prabhupada: Yes.
Mahamsa: …but you have given us only sixteen rounds.
Prabhupada: Sixteen, yes.
Mahamsa: So if we cannot do that, then…
Prabhupada: Then you are animal. That’s all. That is the only qualification. He’s not fit for becoming a human being.
(Morning Walk — April 20, 1974, Hyderabad)
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Prepare to go back to Godhead — here’s how
Please always follow the four regulative principles and chant minimum sixteen rounds per day. Study my books very carefully and prepare yourself fully for going back to home, back to Godhead.
(From a letter by Srila Prabhupada to Arjuna — Dallas 20 May, 1973)
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February 2, 2021
Srila Prabhupada whacked him hard
Once on a morning walk in Melbourne, a devotee who was following close behind, eager to hear everything that Srila Prabhupada said, made the blunder of accidentally stepping on his guru’s heel. Srila Prabhupada stopped, turned around, looked admonishingly at disciple, then turned back and continued walking. Shortly thereafter, that disciple made the same mistake. Srila Prabhupada again turned and looked at him, longer than previously. When the disciple did it for a third time, Srila Prabhupada turned and whacked him hard with his cane. Without saying anything, Srila Prabhupada turned back and continued walking.
Told by Sukla-devi Dasi, Srila Prabhupada Memories #71
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