Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 22

Falling again into the clutches of maya

We are trying to enlighten humanity so that people may come to the understanding that they should work hard in tapasya for self-realization and freedom from the continuous bondage of birth, death, old age and disease in one body after another. Maya, however, is very strong; she is expert in putting impediments in the way of this understanding. Therefore sometimes one comes to the Krsna consciousness movement but again falls into the clutches of maya, not understanding the importance of this movement.

Srila Prabhupada, SB 6.5.11, ppt.

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Direct connection with Krsna

The holy name, chanting of holy name, if we act it properly, without any offense, then we are directly in connection with Krsna.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.19 — 16 September, 1976

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Don’t complain about democracy

When there is a pious king ruling over the world, the people are happy. When the ruler is impious, the people are unhappy. In the Age of Kali in most cases the rulers are impious, and therefore the citizens are also continuously unhappy. But in the case of democracy, the impious citizens themselves elect their representative to rule over them, and therefore they cannot blame anyone for their unhappiness.

From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to SB 1.8.32

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Out of compassion, the Lord tries to liberate the fallen souls

[Gajendra prayed,] “Since an animal such as I has surrendered unto You, who are supremely liberated, certainly You will release me from this dangerous position. Indeed, being extremely merciful, You incessantly try to deliver me….”

Only Krsna can deliver us from this material existence. Indeed, He is always trying to deliver us…. He is within our hearts and is not at all inattentive. His only aim is to deliver us from material life. It is not that He becomes attentive to us only when we offer prayers to Him. Even before we offer our prayers, He incessantly tries to deliver us. He is never lazy in regard to our deliverance…. It is the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord that He always tries to bring us back home, back to Godhead. God is liberated, and He tries to make us liberated, but although He is constantly trying, we refuse to accept His instructions…. Nonetheless, He has not become angry. Therefore He is described here as bhuri-karunaya, unlimitedly merciful in delivering us from this miserable material condition of life and taking us back home, back to Godhead.

Srila Prabhupada’s translation of Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.3.17, and excerpts from his purport

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Lord Siva, the ideal husband

Today in Hindu society, unmarried girls are still taught to worship Lord Siva with the idea that they may get husbands like him. Lord Siva is the ideal husband, not in the sense of riches or sense gratification, but because he is the greatest of all devotees. Vaisnavanam yatha sambhuh: Sambhu, or Lord Siva, is the ideal Vaisnava. He constantly meditates upon Lord Rama and chants Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Lord Siva has a Vaisnava sampradaya, which is called the Visnu-Svami-sampradaya. Unmarried girls worship Lord Siva so that they can expect a husband who is as good a Vaisnava as he. The girls are not taught to select a husband who is very rich or very opulent for material sense gratification; rather, if a girl is fortunate enough to get a husband as good as Lord Siva in devotional service, then her life becomes perfect. The wife is dependent on the husband, and if the husband is a Vaisnava, then naturally she shares the devotional service of the husband because she renders him service. This reciprocation of service and love between husband and wife is the ideal of a householder’s life.

From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to SB 3.23.1

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Siva and Visnu, same and different

Indian man (7): Swamiji, Siva is not another name of God?

Prabhupada: Yes. Siva is next to God. Just like yogurt, dahi. What is this dahi?

Indian man (7): Curd milk.

Prabhupada: Milk, but it is not milk. Dahi is not anything but milk, but it is not milk. Similarly, Lord Siva is nothing but Visnu, but it is not Visnu. Is it clear now?

Indian man (7): Yes.

Prabhupada: You can say, “Well, dahi is nothing but milk.” Yes. But it is not milk. If instead of milk you take dahi, the result will be different. And if you take milk instead of dahi, the result will be different, although the milk and dahi is the same thing, same ingredients. So you have to understand in that way. Lord Siva is nondifferent from the Supreme Lord. Everyone is nondifferent from Supreme Lord, but he’s still different. This is the perfect philosophy, acintya-bhedabheda, simultaneously one and different.

Morning Walk — October 5, 1975, Mauritius

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Don’t become a guru

One who cannot deliver his dependents from the path of repeated birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a father, a husband, a mother or a worshipable demigod.

Srila Prabhupada’s rendering of Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.18

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Chanting can convert many people

We are not powerful enough to enchant the lower animals such as tigers, snakes, cats and dogs or entice them to dance, but by chanting the holy names of the Lord we can actually convert many people throughout the world to Krsna consciousness.

Srila Prabhupada, NoI 4 ppt.

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No noble man in government

At the present moment, no honest man can become a government officer, everywhere. Unless he is a rogue, dishonest person, he cannot maintain his governmental position. Therefore no noble man is going to the government. But what you can do?

Srila Prabhupada, Morning Walk — May 3, 1973, Los Angeles

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Real renouncement

Prabhupada: We are not renouncing. We are actually accepting. You are renouncing.

Devotee: We are accepting the real world.

Prabhupada: No. We are accepting the Krsna’s society, or Krsna’s association. Krsna has got His society in Vrndavana. We are going to become one of the members of that society. But you are avoiding it. So you are renouncing. Our mission is back to home, back to Godhead, to enter into the society of associates of God — but you are avoiding it. You do not want. You want this temporary so-called society, friendship and love, which will be finished within some years. That is your ignorance. This society will not stay. How long you shall remain American? You will not remain for many days. Then where is your position? You will be kicked out. However you may try to remain in this so-called society, friendship and love, you will not be allowed to stay. You will be forced to renounce. We are trying to enter into the society of Krsna, where everything is eternal.

yad gatva na nivartante
tad dhama paramam mama
[Bg 15.6]

So which is better? Your so-called society will not stay. You cannot stay here, however you may nicely dressed with hats and coats and boots. You will be kicked out. Then where you will go? Ask this question to them.

Room Conversation – May 30, 1976, Honolulu

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