Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 36

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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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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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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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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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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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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