Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 40

Srila Prabhupada remembers Srila Bhaktivinoda & prays to him

That is our purpose, that “Europeans and Americans will come, and they will dance here with the chanting, ‘Jaya Sacinandana!’ ” So that is being done. So when they chant and dance, I simply remember Bhaktivinoda Thakura. That’s all. I pray to Bhaktivinoda Thakura, “Now they have come to your shelter. Give them protection.” That’s all. What can I do more? I cannot do anything more.

Morning Walk — March 6, 1974, Mayapur

The post Srila Prabhupada remembers Srila Bhaktivinoda & prays to him appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Lessons from Vamana-lila; Bali Maharaja tested

Bali Maharaja passed the severe test put before him by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is further proof of the Lord’s mercy toward His devotee. The Supreme Personality of Godhead sometimes puts a devotee to severe tests that are almost unbearable. One could hardly even live under the conditions forced upon Bali Maharaja. That Bali Maharaja endured all these severe tests and austerities is the mercy of the Supreme Lord. The Lord certainly appreciates the devotee’s forbearance, and it is recorded for the future glorification of the devotee. This was not an ordinary test. As described in this verse, hardly anyone could survive such a test, but for the future glorification of Bali Maharaja, one of the mahajanas, the Supreme Personality of Godhead not only tested him but also gave him the strength to tolerate such adversity. The Lord is so kind to His devotee that when severely testing him the Lord gives him the necessary strength to be tolerant and continue to remain a glorious devotee.

Srila Prabhupada, SB 8.22.29-30, full purport

The post Lessons from Vamana-lila; Bali Maharaja tested appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Mayavadis can’t stop the Krsna consciousness movement

We sometimes feel inconvenienced by the hindrances offered by these impersonalists, but we do not care about their so-called philosophy, for we are propagating our own philosophy as presented in Bhagavad-gita As It Is and getting successful results. Theorizing as if devotional service were subject to their mental speculation, both kinds of Mayavadi impersonalists conclude that the subject matter of bhakti-yoga is a creation of maya and that Krsna, devotional service and the devotee are also maya. Therefore, as stated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, mayavadi krsne aparadhi: “All the Mayavadis are offenders to Lord Krsna.” (Cc. Madhya 17.129) It is not possible for them to understand the Krsna consciousness movement;  therefore we do not value their philosophical conclusions. However expert such quarrelsome impersonalists are in putting forward their so-called logic, we defeat them in every respect and go forward with our Krsna consciousness movement. Their imaginative mental speculation cannot deter the progress of the Krsna consciousness movement, which is completely spiritual and is never under the control of such Mayavadis.

Srila Prabhupada, CC Adi 7.39, ppt.

The post Mayavadis can’t stop the Krsna consciousness movement appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Real renunciation

National [citizen] means a living entity born in particular country. So at the present moment, the national means only human being. The animals are not nationals. They are being sent to the slaughterhouse. So this kind of sinful activities are going on. Therefore renunciation means to give up these sinful activities. That is real renunciation. Otherwise, you cannot renounce anything. You have to live. And that is allowed at the cost of God. Everything belongs to God. You are son of God.

Srila Prabhupada, Room Conversation with Dr. Arnold Toynbee, Famous Historian, at his home or office — July 22, 1973, London

The post Real renunciation appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Lord Caitanya prays in the mood of Radha: Happiness in distress

“I do not mind My personal distress. I only wish for the happiness of Krsna, for His happiness is the goal of My life. However, if He feels great happiness in giving Me distress, that distress is the best of My happiness.”

Cc Antya 20.52, translation by Srila Prabhupada

The post Lord Caitanya prays in the mood of Radha: Happiness in distress appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

Radha, Krsna, & love

Krsna has got loving propensity; we have got loving propensity. Wherefrom this love has come? Because Krsna loves Radharani, and we are part and parcel of Krsna; therefore we have learned how to love.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.19 – December 28, 1974, Bombay

The post Radha, Krsna, & love appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

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

The post Radha foremost, but anyone attracted to Krsna is glorified appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

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

The post Contaminating association of women appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

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

The post Depend on Him; He does not neglect us appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.

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

The post The Aryan family appeared first on Bhakti Vikasa Swami.