Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 193

What is most important in teaching children

Srila Prabhupada said:

The most important thing you need in order to teach children is to love
them.

Told by Krsnanandini-devi Dasi (edited). Recorded in Memories of a Modern Day Saint Vol. 5 by Siddhanta das

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Cleanliness is next to Godliness

The temple and altar should always be very clean and decorated with flowers and incense. We shall touch the Deity altar and Deity in very clean condition, after taking bath and washing mouth nicely. Practice washing hands after eating and wash with soap and water after toilet. Cleanliness is next to Godliness, so this point should be very carefully observed, then you will advance very quickly to the perfectional stage of Krishna Consciousness.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Kancanbala — Los Angeles 20 April, 1970

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Guru as faultfinder

It is the duty of the spiritual master to find fault with his students so that they may make progress, not that he should always be praising them. So if you find some criticism, kindly accept it in that spirit. I am only interested in that you along with all my other students should become Krishna Conscious.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Giriraja — Los Angeles 24 May, 1972

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Two frogs see proof of God

Prabhupada’s eyes were closed as he leaned back in a relaxed position, and he started speaking about Mayavada philosophy. He explained how philosophers were saying, “I am God, you are God, we are all God.” Then Prabhupada would say, “This is going on.” Every time he would state something that was false or erroneous, he would then say, “This is going on.” Eventually he got to the story about two frogs who had heard that there was a God, and they wanted to see proof of God.

There was a stick nearby and they started jumping up and down on the stick, and they said, “This is not God, it doesn’t even respond.”

Then they jumped up on a stone, and the stone also didn’t respond, so they said, “How can this be God?” Then a crane appeared.

At this point in the story Prabhupada started acting out the part of the crane, using his arm as the long legs of the bird and his hand represented the bird’s long neck and head.

Prabhupada’s eyes got really big and with a hilarious expression on his face, he made a gesture with his hand, looking around at both frogs he said, “Then the crane ate one frog and then he ate the other frog.” I was sitting there cross-legged along with Aravinda and Shyamasundar, all of us listening very intently at what appeared to be a very serious philosophical
discussion.

Then when Prabhupada made the gesture with his hand eating the frogs, it was so funny that I rolled over backwards with my legs up in the air laughing uncontrollably.

Prabhupada was also laughing but he was laughing at me along with my two god-brothers.

Told by Locananda Das (edited). Recorded in Memories of a Modern Day Saint Vol. 5 by Siddhanta das.

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How do we become sick?

I had a question in my mind about sickness and how we become sick. Do we become sick from karma? Do we become sick from our mind? Do we become sick from uncleanliness? How does sickness come upon us? I hadn’t been able to form it into a question that I could actually ask Srila Prabhupada, and as Srila Prabhupada and I were walking along the big main street, Prabhupada stopped, turned to me and said, “Ninety per cent of all sickness is caused by the mind.”

Told by Sivananda Das (edited). Recorded in Memories of a Modern Day Saint Vol. 5 by Siddhanta das.

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Always be fearful

I am very glad to learn that you are doing spiritual activities very nicely and you are always alert to see whether you are committing some offense. This is a very nice attitude. In rendering service to Lord Krsna and His representative the Spiritual Master, we should always maintain this fearful attitude which means careful attention. This attitude will advance you progressively in Krishna Consciousness.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Gopala Krsna — Los Angeles 21 April, 1970

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Always remain busy

Every disciple should always remain busy in some work for Krishna. We shall not allow to remain vacant our mind, and if the mind is always filled up with Krishna Consciousness activities, there is no chance of Maya to sit on the mind and force us to act under her spell.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Mukunda — 6 May, 1968

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Hear the maha-mantra, all else will follow

Hearing the vibration of Hare Krishna automatically reminds one of Krishna’s Pastimes. So both of them arise simultaneously in the mind when one is sincerely chanting. So you cannot make any distinction between listening to the sound and thinking of the Pastimes. But the process is to hear, and then Krishna’s Pastimes, Form, Qualities, etc. will automatically come to mind.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Satsvarupa — New York 10 April, 1969

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The sign of spiritual life

I am so glad to learn that everyone in L.A. is working very hard. And Krishna Consciousness is so nice that you are aspiring for still more work. That is the sign of spiritual life.

In the material world we want to minimize our activities and take rest more but in the spiritual world, there is no rest and there is no limit of activities. Krishna is unlimited, His service is unlimited, and the energy of His servants is unlimited.

I am so glad to learn that you are prepared to work even harder, as a forward soldier, to fight the Maya. May Krishna give you more and more strength.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Tamala Krsna — Hawaii 18 March, 1969

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Advice to a sick devotee: depend on Krishna

Depend on Krishna, because after all, He is the ultimate Master of all situations. It is not the doctor, or the medicine, or the place, but it is ultimately Krishna Who is the Master to do everything.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Rayarama — Hawaii 20 March, 1969

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