Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 39

Pariksit, an ideal king, representative of the Supreme Lord

Pariksit Maharaja was an ideal king and householder because he was a devotee of the Personality of Godhead. A devotee of the Lord automatically has all good qualifications. And the Emperor was a typical example of this. Personally he had no attachment for all the worldly opulences in his possession. But since he was king for the all-around welfare of his citizens, he was always busy in the welfare work of the public, not only for this life, but also for the next. He would not allow slaughterhouses or killing of cows. He was not a foolish and partial administrator who would arrange for the protection of one living being and allow another to be killed. Because he was a devotee of the Lord, he knew perfectly well how to conduct his administration for everyone’s happiness-men, animals, plants and all living creatures. He was not selfishly interested. Selfishness is either self-centered or self-extended. He was neither. His interest was to please the Supreme Truth, Personality of Godhead. The king is the representative of the Supreme Lord, and therefore the king’s interest must be identical with that of the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Lord wants all living beings to be obedient to Him and thereby become happy. Therefore the king’s interest is to guide all subjects back to the kingdom of God.

Srila Prabhupada, SB 1.4.12, Purport

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Dangerous scholarship

I am also practically finding that if any of our students artificially try to become scholars by associating with unwanted persons they become victimized, for a little learning is dangerous, especially for the Westerners. I am practically seeing that as soon as they begin to learn a little sanskrit immediately they feel that they have become more than their guru and then the policy is kill guru and be killed himself.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Dixit — Vrindaban 18 September, 1976

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Srila Prabhupada in America: You are never alone

A 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 — Bombay 27 December, 1974

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Promise and become perfect

If you make it a promise, that “I shall not talk anything except Krsna’s message,” and if you promise that “I shall not take anything which is not offered to Krsna,” these two things, this prasadam and chanting, will make you perfect to understand Krsna.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.33 — November 20, 1976, Vrndavana

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Chanting manifests lila

Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, kirtaniyah sada harih [Cc Antya 20.21], life should be so moulded that this kirtana will go on twenty-four hours.

Even you are engaged in your occupational duties if you practice it. It will go on twenty-four hours and when you are advanced in practice as soon as you chant the Hare Krsna mantra immediately the Krsna with all His paraphernalia. Krsna does not mean alone, just like when we speak, “The king is coming,” that does not mean king is coming alone. He is coming, his private secretary is coming, his etikong [?] is coming, his military secretary is carrying on, so many people are coming. Similarly Krsna those who are impersonalists, voidists, for them Krsna has nothing to do. But actually those who are devotees of Krsna as soon as they chant this word, “Krsna” or, “Rama,” immediately all Krsna’s paraphernalia becomes manifest.

Just like it is stated in the Brahma-samhita [Bs 5.29]:

cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa-
laksavrtesu surabhir abhipalayantam
laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

Krsna means Krsna, immediately Krsna’s Vrndavana-lila, Krsna’s Dvaraka-lila, Krsna’s Mathura-lila, immediately becomes in rememberence. Krsna who is fighting with such-and-such demons, Krsna is playing with His cowherd boyfriends, Krsna is dancing with the gopis. Krsna is speaking with His mother, Krsna is joking with His friends, Krsna is taking the cows to the pasturing grounds there He is taking bath in the… So many things will come in your mind. So these descriptions are there in the Krsna. So actually one who is advanced in Krsna consciousness, simply by chanting one word, “Krsna,” so many things will come — harer muhuh: and this remembering of Krsna’s pastimes when you are accustomed. Then even when you are sleeping you will think of Krsna — harer muhuh. That is perfection of Krsna consciousness. Not a second, not a moment he is without Krsna consciousness. That is recommended here: srnvatam grnatam viryany uddamani, because when you are thinking of Krsna everything is profoundly uddamani — encouraged. Krsna is engaged in fighting with the demons, how He is saving his friends in the forest fire, everything is. How He has lifted the Govardhan hill. All endeavors are uncommon in the human society, they are very interesting especially to the devotees.

Yatha sujataya bhaktya: but these things happen when you are developed in devotional service — bhaktya. Just like you can imagine that if you have got profound love for a person, either for your children or for your wife, then you’ll always think of them. You can not be without thinking of them for a second, this is practice only. So if we transfer this power of thinking to Krsna, that is our perfection of life. We are thinking, we can not stay without thinking for a moment but if we think Krsna and His pastimes then our life is perfect, that is Krsna consciousness. Yatha sujataya bhaktya: but this situation is possible by advanced devotional service — sujataya bhaktya. Suddhyet: that means so long we are thinking of Krsna and His pastimes we are being purified, purified. If you can not think then you must hear therefore this is the opportunity. In a temple or in a place, institute like this where there is always something Krsna business. So from morning to night something is going on about Krsna so by association one becomes purified.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.3.32-33 February 23, 1971, Gorakhpur

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Loving everyone by chanting

When one becomes Krsna conscious, he loves everyone. If you chant loudly Hare Krsna, even the ants and insect who is hearing, he’ll be delivered, because it is spiritual vibration.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on The Nectar of Devotion — Bombay, January 4, 1973

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The power of chanting

The chanting of the holy name is so powerful that it gradually establishes its supremacy above everything in the world. The devotee who chants it becomes transcendentally situated in ecstasy and sometimes laughs, cries and dances in his ecstasy. Sometimes the unintelligent put hindrances in the path of the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, but one who is situated on the platform of love of Godhead continues to chant the holy name loudly for the benefit of all concerned. As a result, everyone becomes initiated into the chanting of the holy names — Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. By chanting and hearing the holy names of Krsna, a person can remember the forms and qualities of Krsna.

Srila Prabhupada, TLC 18: The Conversations with Prakasananda

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Even imitative hari-nama has effect

The powerful hari-nama is so strong that even one unconsciously or conscious… Sometimes they imitate: “Hare Krsna.” They have no intention to chant the holy name of Krsna, but they imitate or criticize, “Hare Krsna.” That has also effect.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.2.5-8 — Calcutta, January 10, 1971

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Srila Prabhupada’s father prepares him for sannyasa

Actually, I never liked my wife. I was going to marry another, but my father saved me from the danger and he told me that you do not like your wife, that is the grace of Krishna. So don’t be worried about your wife. If she wants to re-marry, let her do so, and you’ll be free and I shall give you Sannyas and you will be preaching freely.

From a letter by Srila Prabhupada to Gopala Krishna, Honolulu 11 May, 1972

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Haridasa Thakura, relieving Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s anxiety

CC Antya 3.52 Translation by Srila Prabhupada:

Haridasa Thakura replied, “My dear Lord, do not be in anxiety. Do not be unhappy to see the condition of the yavanas in material existence.”

PURPORT
These words of Haridasa Thakura are just befitting a devotee who has dedicated his life and soul to the service of the Lord. When the Lord is unhappy because of the condition of the fallen souls, the devotee consoles Him, saying, “My dear Lord, do not be in anxiety.” This is service. Everyone should adopt the cause of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to try to relieve Him from the anxiety He feels. This is actually service to the Lord. One who tries to relieve Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s anxiety for the fallen souls is certainly a most dear and confidential devotee of the Lord. To blaspheme such a devotee who is trying his best to spread the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the greatest offense. One who does so is simply awaiting punishment for his envy.

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