Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 166

Somehow or other preach

Ranacora Dasa, knowing that Srila Prabhupada had given specific instructions to other disciples regarding their service, once asked, “Srila Prabhupada, do you have a special instruction for me?” Srila Prabhupada replied, “Somehow or other preach, that’s all.”

(Ranacora Prabhu; Srila Prabhupada Remembrances, 71)

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Being blessed by Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada was like a loving affectionate father, who gave love millions of times greater than parents or friends or children or anyone else in this world -incomparable love and affection. And it was by that love and affection that I felt from Prabhupada that basically centered me in Krsna consciousness for my whole life. Even though I might not have been following properly in different times in my life, but still I always knew I am a devotee, I am a disciple of Prabhupada, and I will always be trying to follow. And because of that love and affection that Prabhupada showed to me and also to Srutakirti and other disciples also I saw how affectionate Prabhupada was. And I think that affection on me, like a pure devotee he can do anything, so what he can reveal to one person he can contain from another person but Prabhupada especially he showed me that love and affection that he had. I experienced that when I was cooking for Prabhupada, I was doing personal service. I was doing personal service of Prabhupada anyway within the temple as a pujari from 4 o’clock in the morning until 10 o’clock at night, I did that for 16 years within ISKCON. I was always serving Prabhupada and from that service I was enlivened and when I would attend the Bhagavatam class, Bhagavad-gita class, or I would read Caitanya-caritamrta, Bhagavatam or any Prabhupada book I was so riveted, and I was so inspired and it was so enthusing, I know that was because of serving Prabhupada. I saw so many devotees who come get initiated, they wouldn’t join the temple, they are living outside, they didn’t have the same impetus, same momentum, the same enthusiasm. Those who serve Prabhupada genuinely and gave their heart to Prabhupada in serving, you could see they were blessed by Prabhupada in a different way.

Told by Sahadeva Dasa, Srila Prabhupada Remembrances, 71

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Luxury at the expense of others

A sannyasi cannot be luxurious. A vanaprastha cannot be luxurious. Luxury is allowed only to the householder because they are earning their own money. Others are dependent. So one cannot be luxurious at the expense of others. That is not allowed.

Srila Prabhupada; Lecture, 23 Oct 1968

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Very simple method

Krsna realization begins from the tongue. How? Now you simply make it a vow, that “I shall not accept anything that is not offered to Krsna.” And you take another vow, that “I shall not talk anything except glorifying the Lord.” Then you become perfect. Very simple method. Simply you have to make this determination, that “I shall not talk anything which is not about Krsna, and I shall not eat anything which is not offered to Krsna.”

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.27 — April 16, 1974, Bombay

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You must be very, very busy

We do not allow any lazy man. He must be engaged. That is Krsna consciousness movement. That is Krsna’s order. Niyatam kuru karma. Arjuna was refusing to fight. He was trying to be a nonviolent gentleman. Krsna did not allow him. “No, no, you cannot do that. That is your weakness.” Kutas tva kasmalam idam visame sam…: “You are proving yourself rascal. It is anarya-justam. This kind of proposal is for the anarya, uncivilized man. Don’t do that.” That is Krsna’s… So don’t think that Krsna consciousness movement, those who are Krsna conscious, they’ll become lazy and imitate Haridasa Thakura. That is not Krsna consciousness. Krsna consciousness means, as Krsna instructs, you must be very, very busy, twenty-four hours. That is Krsna consciousness. Not to become a lazy fellow, eat and sleep. No.

Srila Prabhupada — Lecture, 21 Sep 1976

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Why Americans take to Krsna consciousness

I always said, “You are so much graced by God in so many ways.” At least, preliminary condition for being in touch with God is there. Because Krsna says, catur-vidha bhajante mam sukrtino ‘rjuna [Bg. 7.16]. So they are taking to Krsna consciousness. That means they are pious. And the result of sukrti, piety, is janmaisvarya-sruta-sri [SB 1.8.26]. Janma, to take birth, to take birth in nice family. And aisvarya, riches. And education, and beauty. All these four things are in America. There every boy, every girl is nicely educated, qualified, artist. Therefore they are taking to Krsna consciousness.

Srila Prabhupada, 20 Feb 1974

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Advice to a suffering old man

All our ailments are due to the external body. Although we have to suffer some time from bodily inconveniences specially in the old age, still if we are God conscious, we shall not feel the pangs. The best thing is therefore to Chant the holy Name of the Lord Constantly.

From a letter by Srila Prabhupada to Mr. Dambergs (senior) — New York 12
April, 1967

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A clash between our movement and others

Therefore present policy is that “Engage them in work only, and never mind. There is no need of spiritual education. There is no need of jnana. You throw them out, then. Now work just like ass. That’s all.” This is the modern policy of the whole world: engage them. In England and other countries, they want to see that everyone is engaged in working. Then their factories and other things will go on. And if one is engaged in philosophy, jnana, then the work will stop.

So they do not like this Krsna consciousness movement anywhere. We are not liked. They are under the impression that we’ll make the people escaping. But that is not the fact. We are actually distributing knowledge. Jnanagni-dagdha-karmanam. When one becomes actually on the platform of knowledge, then he does not work like an ass.

But people want that people should work like ass. That is the difficulty. There is a clash between our movement and others. They want to make all people to work hard like an ass. There is a difference of philosophy. We are preaching, nayam deha nrloke, in the human society, this is not meant for working so hard, like an ass, like a hog, simply for sense gratification. This is Krsna consciousness philosophy.

Srila Prabhupada/ Talk on Bhagavad-gita 4.19 — April 8, 1974, Bombay

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Utilization of human life

One who has got this body, material body, as human being, for him it is not good to work so hard like hogs and pigs and asses simply for sense gratification, kastan kaman. Why one should? You should be peaceful. You should be sober. You should think what is the value of life. And you be satisfied with nature’s gift. Nature will give you so many things. Krsna has given you food grains, fruits, milk. You don’t require to eat meat and open slaughterhouses. Be satisfied with, as Krsna is satisfied: patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati [Bg. 9.26].

Srila Prabhupada/ Talk on Bhagavad-gita 4.19 — April 8, 1974, Bombay

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The business of the preacher

Prabhupada: That is the duty of the preacher, four things: isvare tad-adhinesu balisesu dvisatsu ca [SB 11.2.46]. The preacher should see four things. First of all isvara, the Supreme Person, God. So that vision must be there. He knows what is isvara, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then tad-adhinesu, those who have taken shelter of that isvara. That means devotees. Tad-adhinesu. And then balisesu. Balisesu means those who are innocent, have no sufficient knowledge. Innocent. And dvisatsu. And there is always a class of men who are envious of God, dvisat. Dvisat means envious. So a preacher has to see these four classes of men, or three classes. One, isvara, and the other three classes. So he has to behave like that. To behave with isvara-prema, how to love, that is his business-how to increase love for the Supreme. Prema. Maitri, how to make friendship with the devotees. And to the innocent-krpa, how to become merciful. And to the envious-upeksa, negligence, not to talk with them. Four behaviors. Isvare tad-a… This is madhyama adhikari. And the position of the preacher is madhyama adhikari. Therefore they have to point out, “Here is a jealous man, envious man.” But people do not want it. They say, “Why you are pointing out? Why you are pointing out?” But this is business of the preacher. Otherwise how he will preach?

Giriraja: They want to be artificially the uttama adhikari, to see everyone as nice.

Prabhupada: Yes. Yes, everyone as nice, except himself. [break] Uttama adhikari vision, that everyone is nice, then the preacher is also nice. Why you find out fault with the preacher? So imitation uttama adhikari will not help.

Morning Walk — April 7, 1974, Bombay

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