Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 201
February 14, 2020
Hired cooks
The hired cook, they are most wretched people. Their association is bad. Make some arrangement so that you can avoid hired cook unless it is
absolutely necessary.
Srila Prabhupada — Room Conversation — August 8, 1977, Vrndavana
February 13, 2020
Chanting to please the predecessor acaryas
So this is very nice process. And even others do not take it very seriously
or they do not come to our philosophy, if you try for it, that is your business. Krsna will be satisfied. Our acaryas will be satisfied, Guru Maharaja will be satisfied. And yasya prasadad bhagavat… If they are satisfied, then your business is finished. You see? Not that others is satisfied or not. By your chanting some public is satisfied — no, we are not concerned with that. He may be satisfied or not satisfied. But if I chant in the proper way, then my predecessors, the acaryas, will be satisfied. That is my business, finished, if I don’t invent in my own way.
From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Appearance Day, February 7, 1969, Los Angeles
February 11, 2020
The beauty of Krsna
The beauty of Krsna, as described by Lord Brahma and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada:
venum kvanantam aravinda-dalayataksam-
barhavatamsam asitambuda-sundarangam
kandarpa-koti-kamaniya-visesa-sobham
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
TRANSLATION
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept in playing on His flute, with blooming eyes like lotus petals with head decked with peacock’s feather, with the figure of beauty tinged with the hue of blue clouds, and His unique loveliness charming millions of Cupids.
PURPORT
The matchless beauty of Krsna, the Supreme Lord of Goloka, is being
described. Krsna, the all-pervading cognition, has a spiritual form of His own. The form of Krsna is not a fanciful creation of imagination formed after visualizing the beautiful things of the world. What Brahma saw in his ecstatic trance of pure devotion, is being described. Krsna is engaged in playing upon His flute. That flute by his enchanting musical sound attracts the hearts of all living beings. Just as a lotus petal produces a pleasant sight, so the two beautiful eyes of Krsna who causes the manifestation of our spiritual vision, display the unlimited splendor and beauty of His moonlike face. The loveliness that adorns His head with peacock feather figures, the corresponding feature of the spiritual beauty of Krsna. Just as a mass of blue clouds offers a specifically soothing, pleasant view, the complexion of Krsna is analogously tinged with a spiritual dark-blue color. The beauty and loveliness of Krsna is far more enchanting that that of Cupid multiplied a millionfold.
Brahma-samhita 5.30
February 10, 2020
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati: “Do not preach for getting money”
This is the competition between Krishna and His devotee. Krishna wants to give everything to the devotee. He wants to see that My devotee is very comfortable. Just like the father wants to see the children are very comfortable. So why the devotees should be hankering after something material? No. Kasmad bhajanti kavayo dhana-durmadandhan. Sukadeva Gosvami said. Why we should go to the puffed-up rich men for begging something? Krishna will arrange for everything. My Guru Maharaja used to say that You do not try to preach for getting some money. Money will come automatically. On your feet money will say, ‘Please accept me.’ You should preach very sincerely. That is your business. Never bother that Where is money? Where is money, money, money? Money…
From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.55 — Vrndavana, April 10 1976
February 9, 2020
Success of life: live simply and chant Hare Krsna
No luxuries. Live very simple life and you save time for chanting Hare Krsna. That is my desire. Don’t waste time for bodily comforts. You have got this body. You have to eat something. You have to cover yourself. So produce your own food and produce your own cloth. Don’t waste time for luxury, and chant Hare Krsna. This is success of life. In this way organize as far as possible, either in Ceylon or in Czechoslovakia, wherever. Save time. Chant Hare Krsna. Don’t be allured by the machine civilization.
This is soul-killing civilization, this kind of way of life, especially European countries. Anywhere you can inhabit it. It is not very difficult. A cottage; you can produce your own food anywhere.
And money, spend for Krsna — for Krsna’s palace, for Krsna’s temple, for Krsna’s worship, gorgeous, as gorgeously as… Not for false… This is the human civilization. And to organize this, varnasrama will help you to divide the society — brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya — as there is division in the body. That will help. Don’t waste human form of body for sense gratification. I wanted to introduce this. Now I have given you ideas. You can do it. You are all intelligent. For Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s para-upakara. So you do good to others, not exploit others. Any human being who has been bestowed by this body has the capacity to chant Hare Krsna. Give them chance and make situation favorable.
Srila Prabhupada — October 8, 1977, Vrndavana
February 8, 2020
The principle of chanting
The principle of chanting is to glorify the Lord & not to attract a crowd. If Krishna hears nicely then he will ask some sincere devotee to gather in such place.
From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Subala — Calcutta 12 November, 1967
February 7, 2020
A meditation for Nityananda-trayodasi
ataeva bhaja, loka, caitanya-nityananda
khandibe samsara-duhkha, pabe premananda
I fervently appeal to everyone to adopt the method of devotional service given by Lord Caitanya and Nityananda and thus be freed from the miseries of material existence and ultimately achieve the loving service of the Lord.
(Cc Adi 8.44 text, translation by Srila Prabhupada)
February 6, 2020
Why there is no peace or happiness in the world
In the Manu-smrti it is stated that a woman should not be given independence, but should be given protection by her father, husband and elderly sons. In all circumstances a woman should remain dependent upon some guardian. Presently women are given full independence like men, but actually we can see that such independent women are no happier than those women who are placed under guardians. If people follow the injunctions given by the great sages, srutis and smrtis, they can actually be happy in both this life and the next. Unfortunately rascals are manufacturing so many ways and means to be happy. Everyone is inventing so many methods. Consequently human society has lost the standard ways of life, both materially and spiritually, and as a result people are bewildered, and there is no peace or happiness in the world. Although they are trying to solve the problems of human society in the United Nations, they are still baffled. Because they do not follow the liberated instructions of the Vedas, they are unhappy.
From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to SB 4.18.3
February 5, 2020
A prayer for Lord Varaha’s protection
The Supreme indestructible Lord is ascertained through the performance of
ritualistic sacrifices and is therefore known as Yajnesvara. In His incarnation as Lord Boar, He raised the planet earth from the water at the bottom of the universe and kept it on His pointed tusks. May that Lord protect me from rogues on the street.
From Srila Prabhupada’s translation of SB 6.8.15
February 4, 2020
Krsna reciprocates our love
In this material world we have many relationships as father, mother, wife or husband. Whatever relationship we find here is but a perverted reflection of the relationship we have with the Supreme Lord. Whatever we find in this material world is born of the Absolute Truth, but here it is pervertedly reflected in time. Whatever relationship we have with Krsna goes on. If we have a relationship in friendship, that friendship is eternal and continues from life to life. In the material world, a friendship exists for a few years and then breaks; therefore it is called perverted, temporal, or unreal. If we make our friendship with Krsna, it will never break. If we make our master Krsna, we will never be cheated. If we love Krsna as our son, He will never die. If we love Krsna as our lover, He will be the best of all, and there will be no separation. Because Krsna is the Supreme Lord, He is unlimited and has an unlimited number of devotees. Some are trying to love Him as lover or husband, and therefore Krsna accepts this role.
From “Raja-Vidya,” by Srila Prabhupada.
