Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 35

Always remember this song of Narottama dasa Thakura

Narottama das Thakura sings,

hari hari biphale janama gonainu
manusya-janama paiya, radha-krsna na bhajiya
janiya suniya bisa khainu

So we should always remember this song of Narottama dasa Thakura. He is acarya. He’s guru. Acaryopasanam. Acarya upasana is one of the process of making progress. So this song is very important.

hari hari biphale janama gonainu
manusya-janama paiya, radha-krsna na bhajiya
janiya suniya bisa khainu

In the material world everyone is suffering. There is no exception, either rich man or poor man, learned or fool — everyone. This is the place for suffering. And if we take this place of suffering as comfortable, that is our ignorance. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura sings,

bisaya bisanale diba-nisi hiya jwale taribare na koinu upay
golokera prema-dhana hari-nama sankirtana rati na janmilo kene tay

Narottama dasa Thakura says that we should take advantage of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s and Nityananda Prabhu’s presence. Papi tapi jata chilo hariname uddharilo tara saksi jagai and madhai, brajendra-nandana jei saci-suta hoilo sei balarama hoilo nitai, that “Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna. Formerly He was Brajendra-nandana.” Brajendra-nandana. Brajendra is Maharaja…, Nanda Maharaja. And He accepted father — Nanda Maharaja. Nanda-nandana.

“Same Nanda-nandana has now become Saci-nandana.” Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mother’s name is Sacidevi. So brajendra-nandana jei saci-suta hoilo sei:

“Who was formerly Brajendra-nandana, He has now become Saci-nandana. And formerly who was Balarama, He has become Nitai.”

Brajendra-nandana hei saci-suta hoilo sei balarama hoilo nitai. So why They have come again? Now, papi tapi yata chilo hariname uddharilo:

“They have come to deliver all kinds of sinful men, suffering humanity, just allowing to chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra.” Papi tapi jata chilo, hariname uddharilo. So what is the evidence how papi tapi were delivered? Tara saksi jagai and madhai.

Lecture — January 21, 1977, Bhavanesvara

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Be satisfied with simple village life, as is Krsna

This Krsna consciousness movement is trying to revive the original, constitutional position. So one of them, in Krsna consciousness movement, is village organization, as you are trying here. Krsna, in His natural life, is a village boy in Vrndavana. Vrndavana is a village. There is no factory, there is no motorcar, there is no big, big skyscraper buildings; it is village. That Krsna likes. In the sastra it is said, vrndavanam parityajya padam ekam na gacchati. Krsna is so fond of that Vrndavana village life, with His cowherd boys and cowherd girls, gopis, mother Yasoda, father Nanda, and Upananda, uncles, and big family, the cows and the calves, the trees, the Yamuna River. He is satisfied in that life. So at least those who are Krsna conscious, they should be satisfied with simple life in the village. That is part of Krsna consciousness.

Srila Prabhupada, lecture at Gita-nagari farm, July 16, 1976

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Gopis’ devotion is the highest

Gopis, the topmost devotees, their only business is to please Krsna. That’s all. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended, ramya kacid upasana
vraja-vadhu-vargena ya kalpita [Caitanya-manjusa]. There cannot be better method of worship than the process which the gopis adopted. They did not care for anything. The gopis, some of them were engaged in household affairs, somebody was talking with husband, some of them taking care of the children, some, some of them were boiling milk. As soon as there was Krsna’s flute, everything left undone. “Where you are going?” Husband, brother, father: “Where you are going?” “No, don’t care. Krsna’s flute is there; we do not know anything.” This is devotion, the highest, topmost.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.20 — July 24, 1974, New York

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Krsna accepts the feeling

Bhava-grahi janardanah: “Janardana, Krsna, He accepts the feeling.” So we have to purify our feelings. That is Krsna consciousness: “How I can serve?” And if we purify… Purify means purification will be done by Him. We cannot purify. Purification will be done by Him. Simply we have to become purified feelings, that “I must serve Krsna very nicely.” Then He will give facilities, He will give you intelligence, He will give you everything.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on SB 7.9.11-13, Hawaii, Mar 24, 1969

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United States of the World

Why not make one state — the whole world? Keep the democracy, but make one state, “United States of the World.” Why “United States of America”? Make English language common language and “United States of the World.” If they organize, they can do it. Just like United States has included Hawaii. They are not actually of the same blood. They are not European. So how they are managing Hawaii? Hawaii is a different stock. It is from Chinese.

Srila Prabhupada, Room Conversation — January 29, 1977, Bhuvanesvara

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You are never alone

What is this alone? Vaisnava is never alone. When I first came to the United States I was seemingly alone for one year. But I never felt alone. I always felt the presence of my Guru Maharaja. Myself, I was cooking, I was printing books, I was selling books, everything seemingly alone. But I did not lose my determination. Actually you should know this, you are never alone.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Trivikrama — 27 December, 1974

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Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami did not consider the faults of a Vaisnava

Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami … never talked of nonsense or worldly matters but always engaged in hearing about Krsna twenty-four hours a day. He never cared to hear blasphemy of a Vaisnava. Even when there were points to be criticized, he used to say that since all the Vaisnavas were engaged in the service of the Lord, he did not mind their faults.

From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to CC Adi 10.158

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Republicans and Democrats

Revatinandana: The Republican party is elephant and the Democratic party is ass, a donkey.

Prabhupada: What is the value of vote by asses?

Srila Prabhupada, Conversation — December 13, 1970, Indore

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Ravana wanted to separate Laksmi from Rama

If anyone tries to separate Sri from Narayana, then he will be vanquished. The example is Ravana. Ravana wanted to separate Laksmi from Rama. This attempt is so dangerous that Ravana, instead of becoming happy… He was so-called happy, materially opulent. But as soon as he separated Laksmi from Narayana, he became vanquished with all his friend. So don’t try to do that, to separate Laksmi from Narayana. She cannot be separated. But if anyone attempts like that, he’ll be ruined. He’ll be ruined. The example is Ravana. So at the present moment people are very much fond of sri, money. Sri-aisvarya. Sri-aisvarya. Sri-aisvarya prajepsavah. General people, they want sri, money, or beauty, beautiful woman. Sri-aisvarya: money, riches. Sri aisvarya prajepsavah. Praja. Praja means family, society, money. They want. So Sri is always hankered after, searched after. But do not try to keep Sri alone. Then you’ll be ruined. This is the instruction. You do not try to keep Sri alone. Keep always with Narayana. Then you’ll be happy. Keep Narayana. So those who are riches, those who have got riches, rich, they should worship Narayana also with their money. Spend money. Money is meant for service of Narayana. So if you have got money, don’t spoil it like Ravana, but engage it in Krsna’s service. If you have got money, just spend it for very costly temple, for installing Laksmi-Narayana, Radha-Krsna, Sita-Rama, like that. Don’t spoil your money in other way. Then you’ll always remain rich. You’ll never become poor. But as soon as you try to cheat Narayana, that “I have taken Your Laksmi,” you starve. That policy is very bad.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.2 — February 12, 1977, Mayapur

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Varnasrama helps, but is not essential in spiritual life

The varnasrama system is for convenience sake in the material world. It has nothing to do with spiritual life. Acceptance of varnasrama means a little easy progress to spiritual life, otherwise it has no importance to us. For example, all my European and American disciples have no varnasrama position, but spiritually because they have followed the rules and regulations and also my instructions, their advancement spiritually is being appreciated by everyone. Always remember that varnasrama life is a good program for material life, and it helps one in spiritual life; but spiritual life is not dependent upon it.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Hamsaduta — 19 Oct 1974.

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