Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 189
June 16, 2020
A devotee in all circumstances
So far as your working engagement is concerned, certainly you are not a karmi. Any person whose constant occupation is Krishna Consciousness, he is not a karmi; he is a devotee in all circumstances. So you should accept the best source of monetary income and use it for Krishna. And that is better than sannyasa. So stick to your job and use it for Krishna Consciousness. You are not a karmi.
From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Gopala Krsna — Bombay 4 April, 1971
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June 14, 2020
Genuine love is the key to preaching
Your specific duty is to chant and hear the transcendental Name of the Lord, read some passages from my English version of the Srimad-Bhagavatam and Srimad Bhagavad-gita (Gitopanisad) and explain them as far as possible you have heard from me. Any devotee who has developed genuine Love for Krishna can also explain the truth about Krishna because Krishna helps such sincere devotee seated in his heart.
From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Dayananda, Nandarani, Uddhava — Delhi 20 September, 1967
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June 13, 2020
Bhagavad-gita’s solution to communal strife
(Applicable to the present “Black Lives Matter” stir)
Communal strife that has come out of different religious faiths is due to the lack of understanding of the real nature of religious faith, and as such, the real nature of Godhead, or [it has come out of not] serving the Internal Potency of Godhead. The philosophy of Bhagavad-gita is applicable to everyone’s practical life, and therefore, the principles of Bhagavad-gita are really meant for a universal type of religious faith, to be accepted after all reasonings of human society. As such, all intelligent persons all over the world must now combine together to preach the universal religion of Bhagavad-gita. It is above all types of communalism.
Srila Prabhupada; Conception of Gita-nagari Part 2
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June 12, 2020
Undisturbed in adversity
If one is situated in real Krsna consciousness, he can face the most severe type of adversity and remain completely undisturbed.
Srila Prabhupada; as quoted in Journey of Self-discovery 7.3: Psychoanalysis and the Soul
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Noble life
Dedicate your life for Krsna. That is the perfection. Even there are some faults, even dedicated life is noble life. Maybe, due to our past habits, we may commit some faulty action, but that dedicated life is sublime.
From Srila Prabhupada’s Morning Walk Conversation — March 4, 1974, Mayapura
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June 11, 2020
Sweet home illusion
“Home, sweet home.” Yes, very sweet. The whole day and night, work. And this is moha. He is working hard day and night. There is not a single moment leisure, and still, he’s: “Sweet home.” This is illusion.
From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.26 — Mayapura, October 6, 1974
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June 9, 2020
Leadership qualities
A leader must be peaceful, self-controlled, austere, pure, tolerant, honest, wise, learned, and religious.
From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Karandhara — Bhaktivedanta Manor 27 July, 1973
(NB Bg 18.42)
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Taking risks
Of course, we must take risk for Krishna, but not to the extent it may hamper our Krishna Consciousness temperament. We can take a risk as long as it can be managed easily.
From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Tamala Krsna — Tittenhurst 1 October, 1969
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June 8, 2020
The best service
As long as one continues to think that he can enjoy material advantages, he is in conditioned life, but as soon as he comes to his senses, he develops the knowledge that he is not the enjoyer, for the only enjoyer is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (5.29), He is the beneficiary for all the results of sacrifices and penances (bhoktaram yajna-tapasam), and He is the proprietor of all the three worlds (sarva-loka-mahesvaram). He is the actual friend of all living entities. But instead of leaving proprietorship, enjoyment and the actual position as the friend of all living entities to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we claim that we are the proprietors, the enjoyers and the friends. We perform philanthropic work, thinking that we are the friends of human society. Someone may proclaim himself to be a very good national worker, the best friend of the people and of the country, but actually he cannot be the greatest friend of everyone. The only friend is Krsna. One should try to raise the consciousness of the conditioned soul to the platform of understanding that Krsna is his actual friend. If one makes friendship with Krsna, one will ever be cheated, and he will get all help needed. Arousing this consciousness of the conditioned soul is the greatest service, not posing oneself as a great friend of another living entity. The power of friendship is limited. Although one claims to be a friend, he cannot be a friend unlimitedly. There are an unlimited number of living entities, and our resources are limited; therefore we cannot be of any real benefit to the people in general. The best service to the people in general is to awaken them to Krsna consciousness so that they may know that the supreme enjoyer, the supreme proprietor and the supreme friend is Krsna. Then this illusory dream of lording it over material nature will vanish.
Srila Prabhupada, SB 3.27.4 ppt.
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June 6, 2020
Sex desire causes rebirth
As soon as one man sees the breast and armpit of young woman, then he is finished. And so long we will be charmed with these things, he has to take birth again and again.
From Srila Prabhupada’s Arrival Room Conversation — July 2, 1976, Washington, D.C.
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