Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 205

Indestructible beauty

The beauty of the outer skin can be destroyed in a few hours time only by one dose of strong purgative pill but the beauty of Truth is always the same and indestructible as it is always.

Srila Prabhupada, Truth and Beauty, November 20, 1958

The symptom of a devotee

Devotees, they are para-duhkha-duhkhi. The symptom of a devotee is they are unhappy by seeing others unhappy.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.1 — Ahmedabad, December 6, 1972

Test the Hare Krsna mantra

These are some of the practical examples. There are persons who criticize the chanting of Hare Krsna mantra. Because the glories of the holy name are described here, sometimes those who are not in the line, they think, “It is too much. It is too much.” So it is advised, no it is not too much. You can test it. Test it. What is that test? When you fall down from a high place. Suppose from the roof you may fall down, you may slip and fall down. By falling down you may break your bones. Or you may be bitten by some animal — cats, dogs, a snake. There are so many, domestic. Or you may be burned or you may be injured by others. Then during this time you can test, practical. What is that test? Try to chant Hare Krsna. If anyone does so, you’ll immediately feel that from the injuries you are not feeling pain. This is practical. Even a snake bite you may be saved. The author never says that you may be saved from death, but the suggestion is that you may not feel much pain. This is practical.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.2.15 / Vrndavana, September 18, 1975

What kind of civilization is this?

In your country the dog is protected, and the cow is killed. The dog is passing stool and urine in the street, he is considered the best friend of man, and the cow is all pure, stool, urine, and milk, but they are taken to the slaughter house and killed for food. What kind of civilization is this?

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Rupanuga — Vrindaban 7 December, 1975

Suggestion for a New Year resolution

Only service can be rendered to Krsna. That is, He is the only person who can accept service. Nobody can accept service. Therefore, the resolution should be how to serve Krsna.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.1 — November 4, 1973, Delhi

Two parallel lines

The Spiritual Master and Krishna are two parallel lines. The train, on two tracks, moves forward. The Spiritual Master and Krishna are like these two tracks, they must be served simultaneously. Krishna helps one to find bona fide Spiritual Master, and bona fide Spiritual Master helps one to understand Krishna. If one does not get bona fide Spiritual Master, then how he can ever understand Krishna? You cannot serve Krishna without Spiritual Master, or serve just Spiritual Master without serving Krishna. They must be served simultaneously.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to: Mahapurusa — Los Angeles 12 February, 1968

Kirtana Vaikuntha

Kirtana is going on. It is Vaikuntha. Do it very nicely. Tatra tisthami narada yatra gayanti mad-bhaktah. If devotees chant always, that is Krsna or Vaikuntha. They must be pure devotee and always talk about Krsna, chant about Krsna. Then it is Vaikuntha.

Srila Prabhupada — February 16, 1977, Mayapur

Taking birth in Vrndavana next life, as an animal

If one purposefully commits mistake and sinful life, “Now I am chanting Hare Krsna. I can do all sinful life. It will become counteracted,” that rascal will be punished very, very much. Namnad balad yasya hi papa-buddhih. “I am living in Vrndavana. Oh, it is dhama, so let me do all nonsense. It will be counteracted.” They’ll be these cats and dogs and monkeys in Vrndavana.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.4 — Vrndavana, December 5, 1975

The best service to humanity

Krsna is the root of everything. If He is pleased, everyone will be pleased. If you pour water on the root, the water will be distributed all over the tree. This is the best service to humanity.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to: Mr. Karsan — Hyderabad 2 December, 1976

Boarding a stone boat

Leaders who have fallen into ignorance and who mislead people by directing them to the path of destruction are, in effect, boarding a stone boat, and so too are those who blindly follow them. A stone boat would be unable to float and would sink in the water with its passengers. Similarly, those who mislead people go to hell, and their followers go with them.

From Srila Prabhupada’s translation of SB 6.7.14