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Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 303
January 21, 2013
Beware of Time, Place, and Circumstances
Question:
When I explained to some leaders on not compromising on standards, the answer I got was that “we are acting according to time, place and circumstances. Exactly when can the time, place and circumstance adjustments be used and who can do such adjustments?
Download Beware of Time, Place, and Circumstances
When I explained to some leaders on not compromising on standards, the answer I got was that “we are acting according to time, place and circumstances. Exactly when can the time, place and circumstance adjustments be used and who can do such adjustments?
Download Beware of Time, Place, and Circumstances
Preaching in Unfavorable Situation of Serbia
I am writing from Belgrade, Serbia. Due to different reasons: orthodox church, government and etc. We don't have FFL here, no Harinam, no book distribution (I don't want to sound negative just giving realistic picture…). So how can we in this situation please Guru Parampara and Panca Tattva individually and in general?
Download Preaching in Unfavorable Situation of Serbia
Download Preaching in Unfavorable Situation of Serbia
How a brahmacari can channel sex desire
Madhudvisa: Prabhupada, how may a brahmacari channel his sex desire, you
know, in serving Krsna — that energy that he can’t control which is going
to his sexual desires? How may he channel that into using that energy for
Krsna?
Prabhupada: Sex desire is not unnatural, but you can utilize your sex desire
for Krsna’s service. You can produce Krsna conscious children. So we don’t
prohibit. Our process is that everything should be in the service of Krsna.
The others, they are producing children like cats and dogs. If you produce
children, Krsna conscious, the face of the world will change. So sex desire
is not unnatural. That is natural. Just like to become hungry. So hungry
means it is healthy life. But it is the thing what you are eating. That is
the thing. That will be considered whether you will keep yourself healthy or
you become diseased. That if you feel hunger, that is not unnatural.
Similarly, if you feel sex desire, that is not unnatural. That is natural.
But you have to utilize. That is restraint of the sastra. Yahsastra-vidhim
utsrjya [Bg. 16.23]. What sastra says how you shall utilize. So Krsna says
in the Bhagavad-gita that “The regulative way of sex life is Myself.” He
says, “I am.” Sex life is not condemned. But one should know that “Why I
shall use my sex life?” If it is used for Krsna’s purpose, then I shall use.
Otherwise I will not. That is Krsna consciousness.
…a Krsna conscious father and mother should be determined that “We shall
beget children in such a way that this life will be the end of his change of
body.” This life he will be liberated. That’s all. That is Krsna
consciousness sex life. “I shall take care of my children in such a way that
no more he will come back again in the womb of mother. He will be liberated,
go back to Godhead.” You can produce hundreds of children like that. That is
Krsna’s service. That is Krsna consciousness. There is nothing unnatural in
Krsna consciousness. Everything is natural.
Srila Prabhupada’s lecture, November 8, 1968
know, in serving Krsna — that energy that he can’t control which is going
to his sexual desires? How may he channel that into using that energy for
Krsna?
Prabhupada: Sex desire is not unnatural, but you can utilize your sex desire
for Krsna’s service. You can produce Krsna conscious children. So we don’t
prohibit. Our process is that everything should be in the service of Krsna.
The others, they are producing children like cats and dogs. If you produce
children, Krsna conscious, the face of the world will change. So sex desire
is not unnatural. That is natural. Just like to become hungry. So hungry
means it is healthy life. But it is the thing what you are eating. That is
the thing. That will be considered whether you will keep yourself healthy or
you become diseased. That if you feel hunger, that is not unnatural.
Similarly, if you feel sex desire, that is not unnatural. That is natural.
But you have to utilize. That is restraint of the sastra. Yahsastra-vidhim
utsrjya [Bg. 16.23]. What sastra says how you shall utilize. So Krsna says
in the Bhagavad-gita that “The regulative way of sex life is Myself.” He
says, “I am.” Sex life is not condemned. But one should know that “Why I
shall use my sex life?” If it is used for Krsna’s purpose, then I shall use.
Otherwise I will not. That is Krsna consciousness.
…a Krsna conscious father and mother should be determined that “We shall
beget children in such a way that this life will be the end of his change of
body.” This life he will be liberated. That’s all. That is Krsna
consciousness sex life. “I shall take care of my children in such a way that
no more he will come back again in the womb of mother. He will be liberated,
go back to Godhead.” You can produce hundreds of children like that. That is
Krsna’s service. That is Krsna consciousness. There is nothing unnatural in
Krsna consciousness. Everything is natural.
Srila Prabhupada’s lecture, November 8, 1968
January 19, 2013
Transcendental savings policy
Sita belonged to Rama, but was taken by Ravana. And whole world becomes
perplexed. So we are perplexed that Sita has been taken by Ravana, and so we
are trying to rescue her. And that is our Krsna consciousness movement.
Sita– Laksmiji, Ramacandra — Lord Rama, Narayana. So Ravana thought that
“Let me make profit taking away Sita.” The result was that he became
vanquished with everything. He could not get the favor of Sita, but the
whole family, whole kingdom became vanquished.
So this policy is being followed at the present moment. Everybody is
interested with Sita, not with Rama. But the foolish people do not know that
without Rama you cannot keep Sita. That is happening. When you go to ask for
some money in India, they give us one thousand, two thousand. And when there
is war within Pakistan and Hindustan, somebody is giving fifty lakhs,
somebody is giving hundred lakhs. And what is being used? Namo “bombayah”
namah. “Bombayah.” So if you don’t spend for Rama, then you will have to
spend for bomb, that’s all. You cannot keep the money. That is the way of
nature. That “I want to keep money”– that is illusion; you cannot keep. It
will be spoiled. If you don’t spend for Krsna, then it will be spoiled for
some other purpose. Therefore so long as we have got money, let us spend it
for Krsna. That is real savings.
[A] man who has given up his prescribed duties and taken to Krsna
consciousness, and even he falls down, whatever percentage he has executed
it goes with him, whereas in ordinary work, suppose you are a businessman
and you have accumulated millions of dollars in the bank; when you go, the
money remains in the bank, you go empty-handed. Therefore you have worked so
hard for this millions of dollars — it is all lost. And Krsna says in the
Bhagavad-gita, mrtyuh sarva-haras caham [Bg. 10.34]: “I am death, and as
death I take away everything.”
So the purport is that whether I accumulate millions of dollars, and at the
time of my death it remains in the bank and I go empty-handed, and according
to my karma I take another birth, maybe human being or cats and dogs — that
is a different thing. But whatever I have accumulated here, that remains
here; it does not go with me. But this devotional service, whatever you have
executed, even if it is not fulfilled cent percent, even if it is ten
percent or fifteen percent, that ten percent, fifteen percent or fifty
percent goes with you, and next life you get a chance for begin either from
fifty-one percent or sixteen percent, as you have. But all other material
assets, that you cannot take. Therefore the conclusion is that so long we
have got some strength, intelligence, money, it should be utilized for Krsna
consciousness so that it will go with us.
Srila Prabhupada, Conversation
–
September 7, 1971, London
perplexed. So we are perplexed that Sita has been taken by Ravana, and so we
are trying to rescue her. And that is our Krsna consciousness movement.
Sita– Laksmiji, Ramacandra — Lord Rama, Narayana. So Ravana thought that
“Let me make profit taking away Sita.” The result was that he became
vanquished with everything. He could not get the favor of Sita, but the
whole family, whole kingdom became vanquished.
So this policy is being followed at the present moment. Everybody is
interested with Sita, not with Rama. But the foolish people do not know that
without Rama you cannot keep Sita. That is happening. When you go to ask for
some money in India, they give us one thousand, two thousand. And when there
is war within Pakistan and Hindustan, somebody is giving fifty lakhs,
somebody is giving hundred lakhs. And what is being used? Namo “bombayah”
namah. “Bombayah.” So if you don’t spend for Rama, then you will have to
spend for bomb, that’s all. You cannot keep the money. That is the way of
nature. That “I want to keep money”– that is illusion; you cannot keep. It
will be spoiled. If you don’t spend for Krsna, then it will be spoiled for
some other purpose. Therefore so long as we have got money, let us spend it
for Krsna. That is real savings.
[A] man who has given up his prescribed duties and taken to Krsna
consciousness, and even he falls down, whatever percentage he has executed
it goes with him, whereas in ordinary work, suppose you are a businessman
and you have accumulated millions of dollars in the bank; when you go, the
money remains in the bank, you go empty-handed. Therefore you have worked so
hard for this millions of dollars — it is all lost. And Krsna says in the
Bhagavad-gita, mrtyuh sarva-haras caham [Bg. 10.34]: “I am death, and as
death I take away everything.”
So the purport is that whether I accumulate millions of dollars, and at the
time of my death it remains in the bank and I go empty-handed, and according
to my karma I take another birth, maybe human being or cats and dogs — that
is a different thing. But whatever I have accumulated here, that remains
here; it does not go with me. But this devotional service, whatever you have
executed, even if it is not fulfilled cent percent, even if it is ten
percent or fifteen percent, that ten percent, fifteen percent or fifty
percent goes with you, and next life you get a chance for begin either from
fifty-one percent or sixteen percent, as you have. But all other material
assets, that you cannot take. Therefore the conclusion is that so long we
have got some strength, intelligence, money, it should be utilized for Krsna
consciousness so that it will go with us.
Srila Prabhupada, Conversation
–
September 7, 1971, London
January 18, 2013
No sex life in Krsnaloka
In the abode of Krsna, everyone — the tree, the animal, the cows, the
birds, the bees, and the goddess of fortunes… They are called, all the
women there, they are called goddess of fortune. Every woman is goddess of
fortune. So there men are very beautiful, women are very beautiful, many,
many thousand times of beautiful. These are described in the
Srimad-Bhagavatam. But the men are attracted, but there is so much
attraction for krsna-kirtana that both men and women forget of anything of
sex life. It is so nice, so attractive, that they have no more attraction
for sex life. There is embracing, there is kissing — everything is there
birds, the bees, and the goddess of fortunes… They are called, all the
women there, they are called goddess of fortune. Every woman is goddess of
fortune. So there men are very beautiful, women are very beautiful, many,
many thousand times of beautiful. These are described in the
Srimad-Bhagavatam. But the men are attracted, but there is so much
attraction for krsna-kirtana that both men and women forget of anything of
sex life. It is so nice, so attractive, that they have no more attraction
for sex life. There is embracing, there is kissing — everything is there
January 17, 2013
Be a starving tiger or go to Krsna
People think like that: “If I become so powerful as a tiger, then I can
attack any less powerful animal and I feed on it.” But nature is so cruel,
the tiger for most of the days he starves. Although he has got strength, he
cannot get daily a prey. No. This is not possible. When he is too hungry,
Krsna gives a chance to prey. So he gives, “I wanted to be such and such.”
He gives me intelligence, He is so merciful. If you want to be as powerful
as a tiger, if you want to be a predominant businessman, He gives, ye yatha
mam prapadyante [Bg. 4.11]. He gives opportunity, and He gives also chance
to His devotees to go back to home, back to Godhead. He is giving chance to
everyone. If you want to remain here, yanti bhutejya bhutani [Bg. 9.25]. If
you want to remain here in this material world and do hard work for sense
gratification, that chance will be given to you. But if you want to go back
to home, back to Godhead, that chance also will be given to you. Now, it is
my selection. When they are entangled in this material activities, they
accuse Krsna: “Why God has created somebody this, somebody that?” No. God
has not created; we have created. We wanted to become like this, so God has
given us. Krsna has given us this chance, “All right, you become this.” So
it is my desire. He is called kalpataru — desire tree. Therefore we have to
change our desire or purify our desire. That is Krsna consciousness. That is
Krsna consciousness. The desire is mine.
From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on February 3, 1971
attack any less powerful animal and I feed on it.” But nature is so cruel,
the tiger for most of the days he starves. Although he has got strength, he
cannot get daily a prey. No. This is not possible. When he is too hungry,
Krsna gives a chance to prey. So he gives, “I wanted to be such and such.”
He gives me intelligence, He is so merciful. If you want to be as powerful
as a tiger, if you want to be a predominant businessman, He gives, ye yatha
mam prapadyante [Bg. 4.11]. He gives opportunity, and He gives also chance
to His devotees to go back to home, back to Godhead. He is giving chance to
everyone. If you want to remain here, yanti bhutejya bhutani [Bg. 9.25]. If
you want to remain here in this material world and do hard work for sense
gratification, that chance will be given to you. But if you want to go back
to home, back to Godhead, that chance also will be given to you. Now, it is
my selection. When they are entangled in this material activities, they
accuse Krsna: “Why God has created somebody this, somebody that?” No. God
has not created; we have created. We wanted to become like this, so God has
given us. Krsna has given us this chance, “All right, you become this.” So
it is my desire. He is called kalpataru — desire tree. Therefore we have to
change our desire or purify our desire. That is Krsna consciousness. That is
Krsna consciousness. The desire is mine.
From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on February 3, 1971
our detachment from Krsna is hallucination
Krsna is eternal, we are eternal, and our dealings with Krsna is also
eternal, but sometimes it becomes interrupted by this maya, which is called
svapna. Svapna means dream life. As dream has no fact, it is all
hallucination, similarly our detachment from Krsna is also an hallucination.
Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.4
eternal, but sometimes it becomes interrupted by this maya, which is called
svapna. Svapna means dream life. As dream has no fact, it is all
hallucination, similarly our detachment from Krsna is also an hallucination.
Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.4
January 15, 2013
produce one hundred children
So you are now married, and you happily go on with Krsna consciousness and
have Krsna conscious children. If you cannot produce Krsna conscious
children, then don’t indulge in sex life; don’t bring in cats and dogs.
[laughter] All Krsna conscious. And if you can bring Krsna conscious
children, you produce one hundred children.
Srila Prabhupada, Wedding Lecture
–
Los Angeles, July 9, 1971
have Krsna conscious children. If you cannot produce Krsna conscious
children, then don’t indulge in sex life; don’t bring in cats and dogs.
[laughter] All Krsna conscious. And if you can bring Krsna conscious
children, you produce one hundred children.
Srila Prabhupada, Wedding Lecture
–
Los Angeles, July 9, 1971
January 14, 2013
Srila Prabhupada gives the marriage formula
Prabhupada: The whole idea is that woman requires protection. They are very
innocent, weaker sex. They should not be given freedom. No. That is not…,
very dangerous. Just like a child cannot be given freedom. It is dangerous.
If I give one child freedom, “All right, you cross this road,” that means
his life is at risk. Similarly women, they are weaker sex. Artificially
don’t try to become one with man; that is not possible. That is not
possible. Better to remain protected by man. In the childhood a girl is
protected by the father; in youth she is protected by the husband; and in
the old-age she is protected by the elderly sons. This is the three stages
of woman. There is no fourth stage. That is nice.
So this system — the husband taking charge of the young girl, husband and
wife in Krsna consciousness — it is very nice life. Introduce this.
Everyone will be happy. There will be no unhappiness in the society. So I am
very glad that Hari-nama, a Krsna conscious boy, is taking charge of you,
and you also promise that “I shall serve you throughout my whole life.” Say
like that.
Prabhavati: I promise to serve Hari-nama [her husband] for my whole life.
Prabhupada: Oh. And there is no question of separation in any condition of
life. Not that, “Oh, the husband is a little poor. I am giving…, give him
up.” No. There is no question. [laughter] In any condition of life you
should remain together. Even if you have to live underneath a tree, don’t be
separated — you’ll be happy. And chant Hare Krsna.
(Wedding, Los Angeles, July 9, 1971)
innocent, weaker sex. They should not be given freedom. No. That is not…,
very dangerous. Just like a child cannot be given freedom. It is dangerous.
If I give one child freedom, “All right, you cross this road,” that means
his life is at risk. Similarly women, they are weaker sex. Artificially
don’t try to become one with man; that is not possible. That is not
possible. Better to remain protected by man. In the childhood a girl is
protected by the father; in youth she is protected by the husband; and in
the old-age she is protected by the elderly sons. This is the three stages
of woman. There is no fourth stage. That is nice.
So this system — the husband taking charge of the young girl, husband and
wife in Krsna consciousness — it is very nice life. Introduce this.
Everyone will be happy. There will be no unhappiness in the society. So I am
very glad that Hari-nama, a Krsna conscious boy, is taking charge of you,
and you also promise that “I shall serve you throughout my whole life.” Say
like that.
Prabhavati: I promise to serve Hari-nama [her husband] for my whole life.
Prabhupada: Oh. And there is no question of separation in any condition of
life. Not that, “Oh, the husband is a little poor. I am giving…, give him
up.” No. There is no question. [laughter] In any condition of life you
should remain together. Even if you have to live underneath a tree, don’t be
separated — you’ll be happy. And chant Hare Krsna.
(Wedding, Los Angeles, July 9, 1971)
January 13, 2013
our business, our aim, our ambition
That is our business, how to become dear to Krsna. If Krsna says only, “Yes,
you are all right,” then your life is a success. Recognition by Krsna! That
is the success for us. This whole movement is how to be recognized by Krsna.
Only Krsna has to confirm, “Yes, you’re doing [indistinct].” That is our
aim; that is our ambition — how Krsna will recognize our service. And once
recognized, then your life becomes successful. But He recognizes even slight
service to Him. He is so kind.
Srila Prabhupada
Room Conversation
–
Hawaii, [unknown date] February, 1970
you are all right,” then your life is a success. Recognition by Krsna! That
is the success for us. This whole movement is how to be recognized by Krsna.
Only Krsna has to confirm, “Yes, you’re doing [indistinct].” That is our
aim; that is our ambition — how Krsna will recognize our service. And once
recognized, then your life becomes successful. But He recognizes even slight
service to Him. He is so kind.
Srila Prabhupada
Room Conversation
–
Hawaii, [unknown date] February, 1970
