Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 39

Radha foremost, but anyone attracted to Krsna is glorified

There are different kinds of devotees who have different aptitudes and relationships with the Supreme Lord. Any one relationship with the Lord is as good as any other because the central point is Krsna. As stated in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu: “Krsna is the reservoir of all pleasures, and He is always attracting the gopis by the spiritual luster of His body. He especially attracts Taraka, Pali, Syama, and Lalita. Krsna is very dear to Radharani, the foremost gopi.” Like Krsna, the gopis are glorified by Krsna’s pastimes. There are different kinds of relationships with Krsna, and anyone who is attracted to Krsna by a particular relationship is glorified.

Srila Prabhupada, TLC  ch. 31

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Contaminating association of women

Apart from all other contamination, if one simply remains attached to a woman, that single contamination will be sufficient to prolong one’s miserable material existence. Consequently, in Vedic civilization one is trained from the beginning to give up attachment for women. The first stage of life is brahmacari, the second stage grhastha, the third stage vanaprastha, and the fourth stage sannyasa. All these stages are devised to enable one to detach himself from the association of women.

Srila Prabhupada, SB 4.28.27

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Depend on Him; He does not neglect us

According to the reactions of karma, the living being appears separate from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but actually he is very intimately related with the Lord. Consequently, even though we now seem neglected by the Lord, He is actually always alert to our activities. Under all circumstances, therefore, we should simply depend on the supremacy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus revive our intimate relationship with Him. We must depend upon the authority and control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam (7.2.43) purport

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The Aryan family

So the Aryan family, the history of Aryan familyi From Central Asia, Caucasian ranges, they divided, the Indo-Aryans, Indo-Europeans. This is the history of mankind. So the Europeans, they belong to the Indo-Europeans, and some of the Europeans, not the uncivilized, the civilized, they came from that side, eastern side, when there was a threatening by Parasurama to kill the ksatriyas. So most of the ksatriyas, they came to Europe, and some of them settled in the middle, the border of Europe and Asia, Turkey, Greece.

Srila Prabhupada, Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 9.3, Melbourne, on April 21st, 1976

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The special favor of Krsna

Actually this is the point: surrender. But they are so rascal they will not do it; therefore maya is giving them trouble in every way, ultimately. That is special favor. Krsna says, yasya anugrhni harisye… “Especially if I am very much anxious to get one reformed, by My mercy, the first thing is that I take away all his money.”

By force the whole plan is like that, but everyone wants to delay. By special favor he draws by force, “Come on. This time.” Because that is explained in Caitanya-caritamrta that a rascal, he wants Krsna, or he wants God, but at the same time he wants to enjoy this material world, because to want God means finish with material world. But sometimes he is both ways. When Krsna sees the other way is hampering, He breaks his profit by force, so that in helpless condition. Everything is explained in the Bhagavata. “I take away his all money. He may try to get money — again I take. So in this way, when he becomes hopeless and there is no money, then he surrenders to Me.” And as soon as he has no money, his so-called relatives, friends, wife, children, they neglect, “Oh, what is this man? He is useless.” So he is bereft of money, he is bereft of friends, bereft of any love from wife and children, then hopelessly he surrenders to Krsna.

From Srila Prabhupada’s conversation regarding philosopher Leibniz

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Atonement for Vaisnava-aparadha

The conclusion is that if Krsna consciousness is covered by material sins, one can eliminate the sins simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, but if one pollutes his Krsna consciousness by offending a brahmana or a Vaisnava, one cannot revive it until one properly atones for the sin by pleasing the offended Vaisnava or brahmana. This was the course that Durvasa Muni had to follow, for he surrendered unto Maharaja Ambarisa. A vaisnava-aparadha cannot be atoned for by any means other than by begging the pardon of the offended Vaisnava.

Srila Prabhupada – SB 4.26.24 purport

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Kirtana, a different atmosphere

Whenever there is Kirtana, either morning or evening, immediately there is a different atmosphere by the Grace of Lord Krishna. And all people, both devotees and outsiders, begin to dance in ecstasy.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Hayagriva – San Francisco 17 March, 1968

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Not that everyone has to be a brahmana

Now that we are more and more trying to implement the varnasrama divisions of society, we should not think that everyone has to become a brahmana. For example you are developing a farm there; so those who work the farm do not necessarily have to be a brahmana if they are not inclined to the brahminical standards. In this way, be careful about awarding the second initiation.

From a letter by Srila Prabhupada to Sudama Maharaja: 74-05-26

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Subduing sex desire

“The strong desire for sex can be subdued only by advancement in Krsna consciousness.”

Srila Prabhupada, SB 9.19.16 Purport

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Let them go to the farm

Hari-sauri: Should we try to make an effort to have our householders go and live on the farms, a special effort to persuade them to do that?

Prabhupada: Why householders? Everyone. Hare Krsna.

Ramesvara: In America there is a very big emphasis on getting people to join us by moving into our temples. The temple presidents are very eager to get as many people to move in as possible. But in the long run most people
cannot come up to the standard.

Prabhupada: Therefore I am… Farms.

Ramesvara: So they have to be encouraged to have a little bit of Krsna consciousness in their own home, make their home a temple.

Prabhupada: No, let them go to the farm, New Vrindavan.

Conversation on Train to Allahabad — January 11, 1977, India

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