Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 41

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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Material world: upside down

If somebody takes your legs and catches you and your head down, then it is not very comfortable. This whole material world is like that. It is uncomfortable. It is perverted reflection. On the bank of a river or the bank of a pond, tree is standing, but the reflection in the water, of the tree, is not real. Real tree is up. Similarly, real enjoyment, real varieties — everything is in the spiritual world.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bhagavad-gita 15.1 — Calcutta, February 26, 1974

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Come as you are, join this chanting and dancing, be purified

Our aim should be how to get out of this miserable condition of this material existence. And we should prepare ourself for that purpose. And the best and easiest method is this Krsna consciousness. You chant Hare Krsna, dance in ecstasy, you become in the process of purification. You chant, you dance nicely, enjoy. Just see how nice and easiest process has been endowed to us by Lord Caitanya. He’s teaching Himself. And immediately you can take part. If… There is no prerequisite qualification. You haven’t got to educate yourself. Just like if one studies Vedanta, he has to tax his brain so much, he has to learn Sanskrit, he has to learn the intricacies of logic and philosophy and so many things. Here, there is no need of anything. You come here as you are, whatever you may be, and join this chanting and dancing—your purification method immediately begins. Immediately. And if you continue, then you become purified. Ceto-darpana-marjanam.

Srila Prabhupada, Talk on Bhagavad-gita 2.13 — November 18, 1972, Hyderabad

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Devotees address each other as “prabhu”

Yes, to call one another prabhu is all right, but not to become prabhu. To accept others as prabhu, and remain as servant is the idea. But because somebody is calling you prabhu, one should not become a prabhu, and treat others as servants. In other words, everyone should feel himself as servant, and not to think himself prabhu because he is being called prabhu. This will make the relationship congenial.

Srila Prabhupada, From a letter to Himavati Devi Dasi, June 14, 1968

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The secret of Vyasa-puja

The plain truth so vividly explained in the Gita, which is the central lesson of the Vedas, is not understood or even suspected by the most powerful scholars of the empiric schools. Herein lies the secret of Sri Vyasa-puja. When we meditate on the transcendental pastimes of the Absolute Godhead, we are proud to feel that we are His eternal servitors, and we become jubilant and dance with joy. All glory to my divine master, for it is he who has out of his unceasing flow of mercy stirred up within us such a movement of eternal existence. Let us bow down at his lotus feet.

Srila Prabhupada, The Science of Self-Realization, Ch. 2

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