Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 19

A brahmana worships Lord Rama

One brahmana was daily seeing Lord Ramacandra and then he was breaking his fast. So Ramacandra was out of station for some royal business. So this brahmana did not take even water seven days. When Ramacandra returned, Laksmana informed Lord Ramacandra, “Here is Your devotee, My Lord. Because You were absent for seven days and he could not see You, therefore he did not take even water.” Ramacandra appreciated his devotion. Before Lord Ramacandra there was Sita-Rama Deity worshiped in the family of Dasaratha Maharaja’s family. That Deity was kept in the room of Lord Ramacandra because Lord Ramacandra was personally present. He advised Laksmana that “Give this brahmana this Deity.” And He advised him, “Brahmana, you worship this Deity, and when I am not in the station, your worshiping the Deity is as good as worshiping Me.” The Deity worship is so long going on. That Ramacandra Deity is still here in South India.

So there is no difference between the Deity and the Lord. They’re the same. Even this chanting of the name of the Lord is the same.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bhagavad-gita 7.1 — August 22, 1976, Hyderabad

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Equal treatment for all

We know that he is servant of Krsna. Forgetting Krsna, he’s thinking himself as Turkish, as Muhammadan, as Jewish, as Christian. This is his disease. So let me cure his disease. Why he should be called yavana? That is artificial. He’s krsna-dasa. Jivera svarupa haya nitya-krsna-dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108]. Just like when a physician treats a patient, does he think that “Here is a Christian,” “Here is a Muhammadan,” “Here is a Hindu”? He takes as patient, never mind what he is, and he gives treatment. He never thinks that “Here is a Christian patient,” “Here is a Muhammadan patient.” He is patient. “Give me this. Bring him medicine.” That is physician’s business. Why should we consider, “Here is a Christian patient. He should be treated differently than the Muhammadan patient”? Does he think like that? Does he think? Does any physician honestly think that “Here is a Christian patient. Special care should be taken for him”? No. If he is a physician, he should give equal treatment to everyone.

Srila Prabhupada; Conversation, 6 Sep 1976

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Neophytes worship deities, criticize authorized preachers

A prakrta devotee, or neophyte devotee, is still on the material platform. He certainly engages in worshiping the Deity, but he cannot appreciate the activities of a pure devotee. It has actually been seen that even an authorized devotee who is engaged in the service of the Lord by preaching the mission of Krsna consciousness is sometimes criticized by neophyte devotees. Such neophytes are described by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura: sarva-prani-sammananasamarthanam avajna spardhadimatam tu bhagavat-pratimaiva patram ity aha. For those who cannot properly appreciate the activities of authorized devotees, Deity worship is the only way for spiritual advancement. In the Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 7.11) it is clearly said, krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana: without being authorized by Krsna, one cannot preach the holy name of the Lord throughout the entire world. Nevertheless, a devotee who does so is criticized by neophyte devotees, kanistha-adhikaris, who are on the lower stages of devotional service. For them, Deity worship is strongly recommended.

Srila Prabhupada, SB 7.14.39, ppt.

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Man’s business, woman’s business

You see here that all young girls are carrying water, collecting. In the morning collecting water, cleansing the house, utensils, clothes, taking bath, then cooking, those girls. Their first business. Man’s business is to earn money, go to the market, the necessities. Woman’s business is take care of household affairs, children, and they have got engagement. As soon as they allow young girl to mix with young boys—finished.

Srila Prabhupada, Room Conversation, June 28, 1977, Vrindavan

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Emergency need to train new brahmanas

Sometimes brahmanas protest against our Krsna consciousness movement for creating brahmanas from Europeans, or, in other words, from mlecchas and yavanas. This movement, however, is here supported in Srimad-Bhagavatam. At the present moment, society is in a chaotic condition, and everyone has given up the cultivation of spiritual life, which is especially meant for the brahmanas. Because spiritual culture has been stopped all over the world, there is now an emergency, and therefore it is now time to train those who are considered lower and condemned, so that they may become brahmanas and take up the work of spiritual progress. The spiritual progress of human society has been stopped, and this should be considered an emergency. Here is solid support from Narada Muni of the movement known as Krsna consciousness.

Srila Prabhupada, SB 7.11.17, ppt.

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The cannon to drive away maya

Hare Krsna mantra is like a big cannon. Go and sound this cannon so everyone can hear it, and it will drive away maya.

From Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta

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Academic careers & bhakti

It is not a fact that only one who diligently pursues an academic career can become a devotee. Even with no academic career, if one has full faith in the spiritual master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he develops in spiritual life and real knowledge of the Vedas. The example of Maharaja Khatvanga confirms this. One who surrenders is understood to have learned the subject matter of the Vedas very nicely. One who adopts this Vedic process of surrender learns devotional service and is certainly successful. One who is very proud, however, is unable to surrender either to the spiritual master or to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus he cannot understand the essence of any Vedic literature. Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 11.11.18) declares:

sabda-brahmani nisnato na nisnayat pare yadi
sramas tasya srama-phalo hy adhenum iva raksatah

“If one is learned in the Vedic literature but is not a devotee of Lord Visnu, his work is a useless waste of labor, just like the keeping of a cow that does not give milk.”

Anyone who does not follow the surrendering process but is simply interested in an academic career cannot make any advancement. His profit is only his labor for nothing. If one is expert in the study of the Vedas but does not surrender to a spiritual master or Visnu, all his cultivation of knowledge is but a waste of time and labor.

From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to CC Adi 17.257

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Preach to the submissive, not fools

Don’t waste your time with fools You can take it for granted that nondevotee class who is not in Krishna Conciousness as we are teaching are all great fools never mind how ever they may advertise themselves as meditators, yogis, philosophers, religionists, and so on. We are presenting a scientific program of God Conciousness on the basis of the highest authority, Bhagavad-gita. For a preacher there are four principles to be followed. One, he must be fully surrendered to Krishna. Two, intimately in friendly relationship with devotees trying to elevate conditioned living entities to Krishna Conciousness and rejecting the nondevotee class. So if you find a nondevotee eager to listen submissively you can show your mercy to elevate him to Krishna Conciousness, but a nondevotee who is already poisoned by the serpent of the demon class swami or yogi is very difficult to be dealt with, so the best thing is to reject them and not waste time for their elevation; but a person who is willing to hear us submissively must be given chance to understand the philosophy of Krishna Conciousness.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Gurudasa — 24 February, 1968

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Preach, become successful in spiritual life

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura explains in his Anubhasya, “A person who has attracted the attention of the spiritual master by his sincere service likes to dance and chant with similarly developed Krsna conscious devotees. The spiritual master authorizes such a devotee to deliver fallen souls in all parts of the world. Those who are not advanced prefer to chant the Hare Krsna mantra in a solitary place.” Such activities constitute, in the language of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, a type of cheating process in the sense that they imitate the activities of exalted personalities like Haridasa Thakura. One should not attempt to imitate such exalted devotees. Rather, everyone should endeavor to preach the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in all parts of the world and thus become successful in spiritual life. One who is not very expert in preaching may chant in a secluded place, avoiding bad association, but for one who is actually advanced, preaching and meeting people who are not engaged in devotional service are not disadvantages. A devotee gives the nondevotees his association but is not affected by their misbehavior. Thus by the activities of a pure devotee even those who are bereft of love of Godhead get a chance to become devotees of the Lord one day. In this connection Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura advises that one discuss the verse in Srimad-Bhagavatam, naitat samacarej jatu manasapi hy anisvarah (10.33.31) and the following verse in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu:

anasaktasya visayan
yatharham upayunjatah
nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe
yuktam vairagyam ucyate
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, 1.2.255

One should not imitate the activities of great personalities. One should be detached from material enjoyment and should accept everything in connection with Krsna’s service.

From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to Cc Adi 7.92

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Varnasrama for fulfilling the mission of human life

Modern society does not aim at fulfilling the mission of human life, which is to go back home, back to Godhead. To fulfill this mission, the system of varna and asrama must be followed. When the system is followed rigidly and consciously, it fulfills this mission, but when followed indirectly, without the guidance of superior authority, it simply creates a disturbing condition in human society, and there is no peace and prosperity.

From Srila Prabhupada’s Krsna Book ch. 80: The Meeting of Lord Krsna with Sudama Brahmana

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