Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 318
October 19, 2012
We should speak strongly
Tamala Krsna: I think we’re the only… I think that what you are telling us
is perfect in that now what we have to do is we have to vigorously explain
our philosophy.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Tamala Krsna: That’s the only way. We have to educate them. If we remain
silent now, then we will become squashed. We have to speak positively. “Yes,
this is why… We are like this because of the following reasons.”
Prabhupada: Yes. And that is good for human being. That you have to
convince. And actually that is fact. They are in ignorance. And they are
advertising as scientist, philosopher-false propaganda. That is my view from
the very beginning. They are nothing, all bokas. My Guru Maharaja used to
say. In the beginning I could not understand, that “Why he says everyone is
boka?” (laughs) Actually that is fact. They do not know the value of life.
Tamala Krsna: They are criticizing us because we say every one of them is
demons. They don’t like that.
Prabhupada: Prahlada Maharaja said his father, demon. Asura-varya. Tat sadhu
manye asura-varya: “Best of the demons. My dear best of the demons.”
(laughs)
Tamala Krsna: I mean that’s why… Just like in that Back to Godhead. The
thing is that some of our devotees are becoming a little bit…
Prabhupada: Influenced.
Tamala Krsna: Yes. Influenced, and they’re a little scared, you know.
They’re fearful.
Hari-sauri: They don’t want to upset people.
Prabhupada: That you should not be.
Tamala Krsna: No. That’s why it is that the Back to Godhead magazine is
being compromised a little. They are fearful. But actually that magazine is
our platform for speaking strongly. In your Back to Godhead that you were
publishing, you were very, very strong.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation — February 18, 1977, Mayapur
is perfect in that now what we have to do is we have to vigorously explain
our philosophy.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Tamala Krsna: That’s the only way. We have to educate them. If we remain
silent now, then we will become squashed. We have to speak positively. “Yes,
this is why… We are like this because of the following reasons.”
Prabhupada: Yes. And that is good for human being. That you have to
convince. And actually that is fact. They are in ignorance. And they are
advertising as scientist, philosopher-false propaganda. That is my view from
the very beginning. They are nothing, all bokas. My Guru Maharaja used to
say. In the beginning I could not understand, that “Why he says everyone is
boka?” (laughs) Actually that is fact. They do not know the value of life.
Tamala Krsna: They are criticizing us because we say every one of them is
demons. They don’t like that.
Prabhupada: Prahlada Maharaja said his father, demon. Asura-varya. Tat sadhu
manye asura-varya: “Best of the demons. My dear best of the demons.”
(laughs)
Tamala Krsna: I mean that’s why… Just like in that Back to Godhead. The
thing is that some of our devotees are becoming a little bit…
Prabhupada: Influenced.
Tamala Krsna: Yes. Influenced, and they’re a little scared, you know.
They’re fearful.
Hari-sauri: They don’t want to upset people.
Prabhupada: That you should not be.
Tamala Krsna: No. That’s why it is that the Back to Godhead magazine is
being compromised a little. They are fearful. But actually that magazine is
our platform for speaking strongly. In your Back to Godhead that you were
publishing, you were very, very strong.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation — February 18, 1977, Mayapur
October 18, 2012
Interpretation
Interpretation is very bad. A scripture should not be interpreted. A
scripture should be taken as it is, as it is. And besides that,
interpretation… When interpretation is required? When a thing is not
properly understood, at that time, interpretation is required. Otherwise,
there is no necessity of interpretation. Just like you…, that “Such and
such village” or “such and such town is on the sea.” Somebody says. Now, the
person who hears that “Such and such town is on the sea,” and he may be
confused: “How is that? On the, on the water, how there can be a town?” So
there is explanation required. Now that explanation is that ” ‘On the sea’
does not mean ‘in the midst of the sea,’ but ‘on the bank of the sea.’ ”
Here is an interpretation. So similarly, a thing which is very clear to
everyone, so there is no necessity of interpretation.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.12 — New York, March 7, 1966
scripture should be taken as it is, as it is. And besides that,
interpretation… When interpretation is required? When a thing is not
properly understood, at that time, interpretation is required. Otherwise,
there is no necessity of interpretation. Just like you…, that “Such and
such village” or “such and such town is on the sea.” Somebody says. Now, the
person who hears that “Such and such town is on the sea,” and he may be
confused: “How is that? On the, on the water, how there can be a town?” So
there is explanation required. Now that explanation is that ” ‘On the sea’
does not mean ‘in the midst of the sea,’ but ‘on the bank of the sea.’ ”
Here is an interpretation. So similarly, a thing which is very clear to
everyone, so there is no necessity of interpretation.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.12 — New York, March 7, 1966
October 17, 2012
The leader should be ideal
If I am deficient, by seeing your example I shall correct myself. This is
the idea, not that a fool’s paradise: all fools and join together. Not like
that. There should be ideal life, at least the leaders, the president, the
GBC. They will show the example, and they will follow. Then it is
beneficial. And all of them are fools? Then it is fool’s paradise. At least,
in the blind association, at least if one man has got eyes, then he can lead
all the blind men. But if all of them are blind, then it is fool’s paradise.
So somehow or other, we have got now a position. People likes us. So we
should not spoil by personal sense gratification. That is my request. If we
can maintain this institution rigidly according to the order, then many
people will be benefited. By seeing our behavior, by character, they will
become. Apani acari prabhu jiveri siksaya. The leader should be ideal.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk — February 3, 1975, Hawaii
the idea, not that a fool’s paradise: all fools and join together. Not like
that. There should be ideal life, at least the leaders, the president, the
GBC. They will show the example, and they will follow. Then it is
beneficial. And all of them are fools? Then it is fool’s paradise. At least,
in the blind association, at least if one man has got eyes, then he can lead
all the blind men. But if all of them are blind, then it is fool’s paradise.
So somehow or other, we have got now a position. People likes us. So we
should not spoil by personal sense gratification. That is my request. If we
can maintain this institution rigidly according to the order, then many
people will be benefited. By seeing our behavior, by character, they will
become. Apani acari prabhu jiveri siksaya. The leader should be ideal.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk — February 3, 1975, Hawaii
October 16, 2012
Capital punishment
Capital punishment is required. Nowadays the capital punishment is excused.
Murderers are not hanged. This is all mistake, all rascaldom. A murderer
must be killed. No mercy. Why a human killer? Even an animal killer should
be immediately hanged. That is kingdom. The king should be so strict.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.3 — London, August 4, 1973
Murderers are not hanged. This is all mistake, all rascaldom. A murderer
must be killed. No mercy. Why a human killer? Even an animal killer should
be immediately hanged. That is kingdom. The king should be so strict.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.3 — London, August 4, 1973
Death of devotees and of the sinful
Foolish people may say that “You devotees, you are dying, and the sinful
men, or non-devotees, they are also dying. So where is the difference?” No,
there is difference. Those who are very, very sinful, they cry, because they
see horrible scenes at the time of death, and he is going to accept some
type of body… But those who are pious, those who are devotees, they are
dying without any anxiety. This has been described by the example: just like
a cat catches its cub and catches the mouse. The cat has caught the mouse in
the mouth and the cub also in the mouth, but there are difference of
catching. The cub is feeling pleasure, “My mother is carrying me.” And the
mouse is feeling death knell, “Oh, now I am going to die.” This is the
difference. So although a devotee is dying and nondevotee is dying, there is
difference of feeling at the time of death. Don’t consider that both of them
are dying in the same process. The process may be same, but the situation is
different.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.13 — London, August 19, 1973
men, or non-devotees, they are also dying. So where is the difference?” No,
there is difference. Those who are very, very sinful, they cry, because they
see horrible scenes at the time of death, and he is going to accept some
type of body… But those who are pious, those who are devotees, they are
dying without any anxiety. This has been described by the example: just like
a cat catches its cub and catches the mouse. The cat has caught the mouse in
the mouth and the cub also in the mouth, but there are difference of
catching. The cub is feeling pleasure, “My mother is carrying me.” And the
mouse is feeling death knell, “Oh, now I am going to die.” This is the
difference. So although a devotee is dying and nondevotee is dying, there is
difference of feeling at the time of death. Don’t consider that both of them
are dying in the same process. The process may be same, but the situation is
different.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.13 — London, August 19, 1973
October 14, 2012
Mayavadis shudder
The Mayavadi philosophers, they simply stop these material activities. Just
like Buddha philosophy, nirvana. He simply advises to stop this. But after
stopping, what is, sir? “No, zero. Zero.” That cannot be. That is not
possible. This is their mistake. But the people to whom Buddha philosophy
was preached, they are not so intelligent that there can be better service
after giving up this service. Therefore Lord Buddha said, “You stop this
service. You become happy because ultimately everything is zero.” Sunyavadi.
Nirvisesavadi.
There are two kinds of Mayavadis: the impersonalists and the voidists. They
are all Mayavadi. So their philosophy is good so far, because a foolish man
cannot understand more than this. A foolish man, if he is informed that
there is better life in the spiritual world, to become servant of God,
Krsna, they think, “I became servant of this material world. I have suffered
so much. Again servant of Krsna? Oh…” They shudder, “Oh, no, no. This is
not good. This is not good.” As soon as they hear of service, they think of
this service, this nonsense service. They cannot think of that there is
service, but there is simply ananda. One is still more eager to serve Him,
Krsna. That is spiritual world. That they cannot understand. So these
nirvisesavadi, impersonalists, they think like that. Just like a diseased
man lying on the bed, and if he is informed that “When you will be cured,
you will be able to eat nicely, you will be able to walk,” he thinks that
“Again walking? Again eating?” Because he is accustomed to eat bitter
medicine and sagudana, not very palatable, and so many things, passing stool
and urine, activities on the bed. So as soon as they inform that “After
being cured there is also passing of stool and urine and eating, but that is
very palatable,” he cannot understand. He says, “It is something like this.”
So the Mayavadi impersonalists, they cannot understand that serving Krsna is
simply pleasure and blissful. They cannot understand. Therefore they become
impersonalists: “No. The Absolute Truth cannot be person.”
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.30 — London, July 23, 1973
like Buddha philosophy, nirvana. He simply advises to stop this. But after
stopping, what is, sir? “No, zero. Zero.” That cannot be. That is not
possible. This is their mistake. But the people to whom Buddha philosophy
was preached, they are not so intelligent that there can be better service
after giving up this service. Therefore Lord Buddha said, “You stop this
service. You become happy because ultimately everything is zero.” Sunyavadi.
Nirvisesavadi.
There are two kinds of Mayavadis: the impersonalists and the voidists. They
are all Mayavadi. So their philosophy is good so far, because a foolish man
cannot understand more than this. A foolish man, if he is informed that
there is better life in the spiritual world, to become servant of God,
Krsna, they think, “I became servant of this material world. I have suffered
so much. Again servant of Krsna? Oh…” They shudder, “Oh, no, no. This is
not good. This is not good.” As soon as they hear of service, they think of
this service, this nonsense service. They cannot think of that there is
service, but there is simply ananda. One is still more eager to serve Him,
Krsna. That is spiritual world. That they cannot understand. So these
nirvisesavadi, impersonalists, they think like that. Just like a diseased
man lying on the bed, and if he is informed that “When you will be cured,
you will be able to eat nicely, you will be able to walk,” he thinks that
“Again walking? Again eating?” Because he is accustomed to eat bitter
medicine and sagudana, not very palatable, and so many things, passing stool
and urine, activities on the bed. So as soon as they inform that “After
being cured there is also passing of stool and urine and eating, but that is
very palatable,” he cannot understand. He says, “It is something like this.”
So the Mayavadi impersonalists, they cannot understand that serving Krsna is
simply pleasure and blissful. They cannot understand. Therefore they become
impersonalists: “No. The Absolute Truth cannot be person.”
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.30 — London, July 23, 1973
October 13, 2012
Qualifications for Sannyasa
After approximately seven years of service as student and minister, the male
student may, if he so wishes, take the order of Sannyasa, or renounced
order. Upon taking the Order of Sannyasa, the student receives the title of
svami. Adopting the Order of Sannyasa is voluntary, And one who adopts this
order takes a vow never to marry. Married ministers may take Sannyasa when
the sons are old enough to take care of the wife. When a married minister
adopts the Order of Sannyasa, there is no more personal contact between him
and his wife. Generaly the Sannyasi (Svami) moves to an other location. In
addition to a clear showing of personal worth, the Bhaktivedanta, in order
to join the Renounced Order of Life (Svami), must establish the following:
a. Intensive study of Vedic Scriptures:
1. Caitanya-caritamrta
2. Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu
3. Narada-pancaratra
4. Padma Purana
5. Visnu Purana
6. Vedanta-sutra
7. 108 Upanisads
b. Publication of extensive commentary on one of the above Scriptures.
c. Evidence of extensive ministry work subsequent to ordination.
From the Hare Krsna Handbook, 1970
student may, if he so wishes, take the order of Sannyasa, or renounced
order. Upon taking the Order of Sannyasa, the student receives the title of
svami. Adopting the Order of Sannyasa is voluntary, And one who adopts this
order takes a vow never to marry. Married ministers may take Sannyasa when
the sons are old enough to take care of the wife. When a married minister
adopts the Order of Sannyasa, there is no more personal contact between him
and his wife. Generaly the Sannyasi (Svami) moves to an other location. In
addition to a clear showing of personal worth, the Bhaktivedanta, in order
to join the Renounced Order of Life (Svami), must establish the following:
a. Intensive study of Vedic Scriptures:
1. Caitanya-caritamrta
2. Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu
3. Narada-pancaratra
4. Padma Purana
5. Visnu Purana
6. Vedanta-sutra
7. 108 Upanisads
b. Publication of extensive commentary on one of the above Scriptures.
c. Evidence of extensive ministry work subsequent to ordination.
From the Hare Krsna Handbook, 1970
most dangerous, so-called gurus
Prabhupada: So-called gurus, they are so-called gurus. They are not gurus.
That is already explained. If one does not speak what Krsna speaks, he is
not guru. If you accept so-called guru, that is your misfortune. What can be
done?
Pusta Krsna: Some of them will say some things that Krsna says, but they’ll
take from other places also. What is the position of such persons?
Prabhupada: He’s most dangerous. He’s most dangerous. He is opportunist.
He’s finding out customer, something here… According to the customer he is
giving something, as the customers will be pleased.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Answers to a Questionnaire from Bhavan’s Journal
That is already explained. If one does not speak what Krsna speaks, he is
not guru. If you accept so-called guru, that is your misfortune. What can be
done?
Pusta Krsna: Some of them will say some things that Krsna says, but they’ll
take from other places also. What is the position of such persons?
Prabhupada: He’s most dangerous. He’s most dangerous. He is opportunist.
He’s finding out customer, something here… According to the customer he is
giving something, as the customers will be pleased.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Answers to a Questionnaire from Bhavan’s Journal
most obedient servant
We are preaching this movement all over the world, just to place Krsna…
Our only ambition is that to place Krsna as the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. That is our proposition. We don’t want to become Krsna, but we want
to become the most obedient servant of Krsna.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.13 — Hyderabad, November 18, 1972
Our only ambition is that to place Krsna as the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. That is our proposition. We don’t want to become Krsna, but we want
to become the most obedient servant of Krsna.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.13 — Hyderabad, November 18, 1972
October 11, 2012
Krsna consciousness duty
Madhudvisa: “O best among men, the person who is not disturbed by happiness
and distress, and is steady in both, is certainly eligible for liberation.”
Prabhupada: Yes. This is the sign, characteristics or symptoms of a person
who is going to be liberated in this life. He has to do his duty. So far we
are concerned, we have accepted Krsna consciousness duty, so we have to
execute our duties faithfully and seriously. Then it is sure Krsna will give
us the desired result.
…So let us do our duty perfectly, as far as possible. We cannot execute
anything perfectly in presence of Krsna because He is infinite, we are
finite. Our energy, our talent, everything is finite. But if we try our
best, then bhava-grahi-janardana. Krsna sees only how much sincere I am, how
much sincerely I’m executing the duties entrusted upon me. That’s all.
Otherwise it is not in our power to serve Krsna perfectly. That is not…
Because we are very teeny. But be assured that the desired result will come
if we act sincerely to the point.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.13-17 — Los Angeles, November 29, 1968
and distress, and is steady in both, is certainly eligible for liberation.”
Prabhupada: Yes. This is the sign, characteristics or symptoms of a person
who is going to be liberated in this life. He has to do his duty. So far we
are concerned, we have accepted Krsna consciousness duty, so we have to
execute our duties faithfully and seriously. Then it is sure Krsna will give
us the desired result.
…So let us do our duty perfectly, as far as possible. We cannot execute
anything perfectly in presence of Krsna because He is infinite, we are
finite. Our energy, our talent, everything is finite. But if we try our
best, then bhava-grahi-janardana. Krsna sees only how much sincere I am, how
much sincerely I’m executing the duties entrusted upon me. That’s all.
Otherwise it is not in our power to serve Krsna perfectly. That is not…
Because we are very teeny. But be assured that the desired result will come
if we act sincerely to the point.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.13-17 — Los Angeles, November 29, 1968
