Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 29

Spoken by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada

(Spoken shortly before his disappearance)

I have upset many persons’ minds. Many may have considered me their enemy because I was obliged to speak the plain truth of service and devotion toward the Absolute Godhead. I have given them all those troubles only so that they might turn their face toward the Personality of Godhead without any desire for gain and with unalloyed devotion. Surely some day they will be able to understand that.

All of you propagate the message of Rupa-Raghunatha with supreme enthusiasm. Our ultimate desire is to become dust at the lotus feet of the rupanugas. All should remain united in following the asraya-vigraha, for the sake of serving the advaya-jnana.  In this ephemeral sphere you should somehow or other live only for Hari-bhajana. In spite of all dangers, criticisms, and discomforts, do not give up Hari-bhajana. Do not be disappointed that most people in this world do not accept topics of unduplicitious Krsna-seva. Do not forsake your own bhajana of Krsna-katha-sravana-kirtana, which is your all in all. With humility like a straw and forbearance like a tree, you should always perform Hari-kirtana.

Let our bodies, which are like those of aged oxen, be offered into the sankirtana-yajna of Lord Caitanya and His associates. We do not aspire to be any kind of heroes of karma or dharma, but our constitutional position and all in all is to become dust at Sri Rupa-Raghunatha’s lotus feet in every birth. The bhaktivinoda-dhara will never stop. With all your energy, devote yourselves to fulfilling the desire of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. There are many among you who are well qualified and able workers. We have no other wish whatsoever. Our only motto is:

adadanas trnam dantair idam yace punah punah
srimad-rupa-padambhoja-dhulih syam janma-janmani

Taking a blade of grass between my teeth, I repeatedly fall and pray to become dust at Srimad Rupa’s lotus feet, birth after birth.

Certainly there are multiple inconveniences while we are in this mortal domain, but there is no need to be overwhelmed by them or to try to overcome them. Rather, even during the duration of our present life, we must become acquainted with what we shall gain after surpassing all those difficulties, and what shall be the mode of our permanent existence. In this world we are compelled to make decisions regarding objects that evoke our desire and revulsion, both those that we want and those we do not. Attachment and detachment in this damned existence increase according to the degree that we are separated from Sri Krsna’s lotus feet. When we are able to transcend the position of attachment and detachment in this world of death and are attracted by the holy name of Godhead, then only can we understand the taste of Krsna-seva-rasa.

At the present time, Krsna’s instructions seem highly startling and perplexing. Knowingly or unknowingly, everyone who is considered a human being is more or less struggling to eliminate those invading elements that baffle our perception of our eternal need. Our only requirement is to enter into the kingdom of our eternal necessity, by going beyond dualities. We have no love or hatred toward anyone in this world. All arrangements made herein are but temporary. Therefore that supreme goal is indispensably necessary for everyone in this world. All of you should work unitedly and harmoniously for the same objective of attaining eligibilty for seva to the original asraya-vigraha.

May the conceptions of the rupanugas flow in the world. Let us never feel the slightest dejection while engaged in the seven-tongued flame of sankirtana-yajna.  Only if we have undaunted and ever-increasing attachment for it shall we achieve all perfection. Under the guidance of the rupanugas, all of you should fearlessly and with utmost energy preach Rupa-Raghunatha-katha.

The post Spoken by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Srila Prabhupada, like his guru, did not compromise

Atreya Rsi: Yes. That’s the difference between Your Divine Grace and all these other bhogis. They make it according to the taste of the people. They change. That’s why this movement is so solid: no compromise.

Prabhupada: No. Why compromise? My Guru Maharaja never made any compromise.

Room Conversation — June 29, 1972, San Diego

The post Srila Prabhupada, like his guru, did not compromise appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura on simplicity & duplicity

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments that saralata, or simplicity, is the first qualification of a Vaisnava, whereas duplicity or cunning behavior is a great offense against the principles of devotional service.

From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to CC Antya 2.117

The post Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura on simplicity & duplicity appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Get everything by book distribution

If you simply push on our literature, then our movement is going, you must know. It is really going forward. And there will be no scarcity. You’ll get everything.

Srila Prabhupada – January 5, 1974, Los Angeles

The post Get everything by book distribution appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Achieve the highest perfection just by reading

Now people are reading all kinds of nonsense books and thus their reading capacity is helping to pave their way through the circles of birth and death. If they will simply take to reading this transcendental literature we are presenting, the same reading capacity will elevate them to the highest perfection of spiritual life.

Srila Prabhupada; letter to Harer Nama, 6th November, 1969

The post Achieve the highest perfection just by reading appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Preaching depends on book distribution

Our preaching work will be measured by the quantity of books we distribute so continue ever-increasingly.

Letter to Makhanlal, 11 December 1973

The post Preaching depends on book distribution appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Book distributors ki jaya!

You have said rightly when you write that the devotees are working to please me by distributing my books. My mission on behalf of my guru maharaj and Lord Caitanya, to spread Krsna Consciousness would never have been so successful if it had not been taken up by enthusiastic boys and girls such as in San Francisco, especially through distribution of books.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Bhakta dasa – 28 June, 1974

The post Book distributors ki jaya! appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

“the only solace in my life”

Regarding sales figures, please endeavor in this way. The sales figures — this is the only solace in my life. When I hear that my books are selling so nicely, I become energetic like a young man.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Ramesvara — 13 August, 1974

The post “the only solace in my life” appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Demonic nonviolence

Arjuna was trying to become very gentleman, nonviolent, Arjuna: “Krsna, I am not going to fight.” People very much appreciate, “Just see, Arjuna is so gentle, he is trying to become nonviolent, and Krsna is inducing him to become violent.” This is the vision of the demons. They do not know whatever Krsna desires, that is rightful. Krsna wanted Arjuna to fight. That is rightful. And Arjuna wanted to become nonviolent. That is not rightful.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.28 — January 5, 1975, Bombay

The post Demonic nonviolence appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

About 600 commentaries on Bhagavad-gita, all misleading

You cannot understand God by your speculative method. Big, big scholars, they have speculated about Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita. Misled, they could not understand. Just like a big politician, Gandhi, he also has Bhagavad-gita in his hand, but he never spoke throughout his whole life that Krsna is worshipable. He never spoke. Have you seen that he has advised that Krsna is worshipable? Never. Dr. Radhakrishnan, he is also so big scholar. He has commented on Bhagavad-gita. Rather, he says, “It is not to Krsna.” When Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg 18.65], Dr. Radhakrishnan says, “It is not to Krsna.” That is the difficulty. Because they have no mercy of Krsna upon them, they cannot understand Krsna.

Naham prakasah sarvasya yogamaya-samavrtah [Bg 7.25].
Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah [Bg 18.55].

This is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. But they are not bhaktas. Tilak, he has described Bhagavad-gita as a karmi; never said that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You’ll find like that, so many, what to speak of others? There are about six hundred commentaries on Bhagavad-gita, all misleading. Therefore we have presented Bhagavad-gita as it is, without any misinterpretation. And it is acting.

Srila Prabhupada, talk on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.44 – October 24, 1974,
Mayapur

The post About 600 commentaries on Bhagavad-gita, all misleading appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.