Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 34
October 30, 2024
Advice to Indira Gandhi
Brahmananda: What would be your advice to her? [Indira Gandhi]
Prabhupada: My first step will be to capture all the hoarders and distribute the grains free. Immediately public will be obliged to… There are immense food grains; they are simply hoarded. They are not selling without good price. This is going on. Immediately she can capture the public. And some of the hoarders should be hanged, yes, so that in future nobody will hoard. People are hungry. And she says she has got some program, garibi hatao, “Drive away the poverty.” This is the point. If she can supply all consumer goods for the time being free to the poor, then immediately the whole population will be after her. And the hoarders should be exemplary punished.
Shoot them, that’s all. Then nobody will hoard. But to remain the dictator she requires spiritual knowledge. Otherwise it will be another disaster. If she wants to remain the dictator, then she must be a spiritual man. She must become a Vaisnavi.
Morning Walk, July 10, 1975, Chicago
(She was assassinated on 31 October 1984)
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October 28, 2024
Dancing with Krsna
Krsna is dancing — you have seen — similarly, our position is simply dancing with Krsna and be happy. That is our position. But we have come to this material world to enjoy independently of Krsna. Therefore we have been captured by the illusory energy.
From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.9 — Hyderabad, April 23, 1974
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Why are the gopis exalted?
Prema means when you engage to yourself for satisfying Krsna’s senses. Why gopis are exalted? Because their only endeavor was to satisfy Krsna’s senses. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended, ramya kacid upasana vraja-vadhu-vargena ya kalpita. They had no other business.
From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.24 — September 21, 1976, Vrndavana
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October 27, 2024
Modern democracy
The thieves and rogues of modern democracy seek election by misrepresentation of votes, and the successful rogues and thieves are like wolves who devour the mass of population as if they were scattered lambs. One trained monarch is far better than hundreds of useless ministerial rogues, and it is hinted herein that by the abolition of a monarchical regime like that of Maharaja Pariksit, the mass of people become open to many attacks of the Age of Kali. They are never happy in a much-advertised democracy.
From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to SB 1.18.43
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October 26, 2024
Vrndavana is not meant for imitating Rupa Gosvami
Vrndavana is not meant for making a solution of the economic condition — one who has nothing to eat outside should come and beg capati and roti from door to door. Rupa Gosvami did madhukari. Rupa Gosvami used to beg. Not beg, collecting twenty capatis. Only one or two, that’s all. Not to collect the capatis and sell it in the market and get some money and purchase bidi. This is not Rupa Gosvami. And just to have a loincloth, imitating Rupa Gosvami, and having so many illicit connections. This is spoiling.
From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on SB 7.6.7 — Vrndavana, December 9, 1975
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October 25, 2024
By democracy, make a make Krsna conscious government
Prabhupada: There is chance of being accepted all over the world. They are… There is now opposition, and some of the politicians, they’re of opinion that “This culture, Hare Krsna movement, is spreading like epidemic, and if we do not check, in ten years’ time they’ll take the government.”
Indian man (1): Of America.
Prabhupada: Yes. [laughter] That there is possibility, because these young men, they are taking. So everywhere revolution takes place by young men. So if it is actually spreading like epidemic, and young men, they are taking part, so within ten years it is not impossible.
Guest (1): It’s a very good idea, then, to follow it. I’m quite serious.
Prabhupada: And they are democratic. It can pull down even a President like Nixon. So if they like, if the majority becomes Krsna conscious, they can make Krsna conscious government. There is no wonder in it. So anyway, because these youngsters in the Western countries, both in Europe and America, are taking… And the recent telegram we have received… Just see how many books we have sold.
Room Conversation — January 8, 1977, Bombay
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October 24, 2024
Who Vrindaban is meant for
Why there are so many women in Vrindaban? Vrindaban is meant for retirement. Elderly persons in Krishna Consciousness can devote all their time to devotional service. Such men are wanted to live in Vrindaban, not women and children. That is a fact, the holy dhamas are meant for the sannyasis and brahmacaris especially. If necessary, the management must be done by sannyasis and brahmacaris, not grhasthas.
Srila Prabhupada, letter to Gopal Krishna, June 9,1976
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October 22, 2024
Democratic Party, Republican Party, Hare Krsna Party
Prabhupada: So take your country in your[?] hand, Krsna conscious. Then surely we shall get the government. This is the prediction of a politician: “Krsna conscious, the Hare Krsna movement is spreading like epidemic. That I’m afraid within ten years they’ll get the government.”
Alex Kulik: I know.
Prabhupada: If the young men joins — immediately.
Hari-sauri: If they find out that that’s our actual plan they will…
Prabhupada: Why you should not be? It must have. Hare Krsna party. They have got Democratic Party, Republican Party, another party, Hare Krsnas. Bas.
Alex Kulik: Prasadam party.
Prabhupada: No, Hare Krsnas. That will be main thing. At least they will criticize Hare Krsna and chant Hare Krsna. (laughter) That’s all. We want. helaya sraddhaya. It is said that, helaya sraddhaya. If we respect chanting, it is very good; even by neglecting chant, that is also good. Just like Ajamila, he chanted. He never meant “Narayana.” He meant his son, but he got result. Ante narayana smrtih [SB 2.1.6]. He never meant that he’s calling for Narayana. He forgot bhakti. But Narayana took care of it that “Now anyway he’s chanting ‘Narayana.’ He must come to Vaikuntha.”
Conversation — November 15, 1976, Vrndavana
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Desire Krishna, but first become purified
We should follow in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya and the six Goswamis of Vrndavana. They were always serving Krishna in the mood of separation. They never said that “now I have seen Krishna” or “last night I danced with Krishna” – no. They were crying where is Krishna, and they were always searching after Him, wondering when they would finally be able to see Him. We should also desire intensely to see and be with Krishna, but first thing is to become purified through devotional service. It is not possible otherwise. So, keep on helping me to spread this Krishna Consciousness movement, following the rules and regulations very carefully, and your life will be perfected and you will see Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada, letter to Lalita Priya devi 7 May, 1975
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October 21, 2024
Democracy is a farce
Arjuna was a ksatriya, trained up by Dronacarya how to kill. Nonviolence is not the business of the ksatriya. That is cowardice. They are taught how to become violent. Otherwise, they cannot rule over. Formerly the judgement was given by the king, immediately finished. Not go to the court and wait for the judgement for ten years. In the meantime everything is finished. Not like that. Regularly, the king used to sit in his assembly, and all the criminals, culprits, they were judged by the king himself. Sometimes the king had to kill personally with the sword. Even in European countries, the royal orders were trained up. Nowadays it is constitutional, democratic government. The king has no power. But this is not good for the people. The democracy is a farce.
Srila Prabhupada, lecture on BG 1.28-29 — London, July 22, 1973
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