Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 43

Bhakti-rasacarya, Srila Rupa Gosvami

Srila Rupa Gosvami is described as the bhakti-rasacarya, or one who knows the essence of devotional service. His famous book Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu is the science of devotional service, and by reading this book one can understand the meaning of devotional service. Another of his famous books is the Ujjvala-nilamani. In this book he elaborately explains the loving affairs and transcendental activities of Lord Krsna and Radharani.

From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to Cc Adi 5.203

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Pariksit’s conquering was not like that of Napoleon or Hitler

So this conquering of other countries was not like the Napoleon conqueror or Hitler conqueror. No. As it will be evident from the character of Maharaja Pariksit, the idea was to keep the whole world Krsna conscious. If certain countries, certain portion of the world, would not be Krsna conscious, then this king would go and chastise them. Just like Krsna used to kill the demons.

Srila Prabhupada; Lecture on SB 1.16.12 — Los Angeles, January 9, 1974

(Napoleon was born on August 15, 1769)

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The First and Last Kirtana Competition (Mayapur, 1977)

Two days before Gaura Purnima, Jayapataka Maharaja staged the nama kirtana competition, which turned out to be the first and last of its kind.

On the main stage, a day of elimination contests were held, and the next day was the grand finale. Kirtana groups from all over Bengal came to exhibit their talents — singing, dancing, and playing instruments. Particularly attractive were the special mrdangas beats the native Bengalis knew how to play. Jayadvaita Swami recalls seeing the kirtana leaders from America hanging around near the stage, picking up on the mrdangas beats that the Bengalis were doing, hoping to take their styles back to the West.

Devotees also formed their own kirtana contingents. The different temples took part, including our bullock-cart traveling sankirtana party. Some kirtana parties took the competition very seriously and spent many days practicing mrdanga beats and choreographed dance steps. Others were spontaneous and did not rehearse.

Guru-krpa’s Nama-hatta party was the most enthusiastic and did the wildest dancing. His men danced with all their strength and passion. Uttamasloka Dasa, the temple president from Chicago, had a polished routine, perfected through hours of practice. His group was favored to win the contest. In the bullock-cart kirtana party, I was the kirtana leader, and Abhayasraya played the mrdanga. Ravi, Atma-tattva, Krsna-nama, and others played kartalas and danced.

The kirtana competition went on all day, for two days. Each group performed for about half an hour, trying to put on the best show. The local Bengali singers were smartly dressed, with bright yellow and blue sashes, and they played great mrdangas beats and even cried and howled during their kirtanas. Perhaps they thought they could easily win by displaying such symptoms. So they put on a whole show, embracing each other in feigned separation from the Lord and rolling on the ground. The Bengalis sang in high-pitched voices, and the devotees responded until their throats were hoarse.

All this was being amplified through the Indian sound system. Unfortunately, the speakers were directed toward the Lotus Building, where Prabhupada was staying, and Prabhupada became disturbed by the excessive noise. He eventually asked what was happening, and the devotees told him in detail about the competition.

He reacted unfavorably: “This is not nama-sankirtana. It is nama-aparadha. They are simply singing for money.”

So the competition was stopped, and Jayapataka Maharaja decided not to hold any more kirtana competitions. The Los Angeles party of Agnideva, Puspadanta, and Ramadasa Abhirama won the competition.

From “Festivals” by Lokanatha Swami

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Impersonalists, atheists, and demons

“Why do we concentrate on the impersonalists?” Kirtanananda asked. “Why do we attack them so much? Why don’t we concentrate our attack on the atheists?”

“You say that because you are an impersonalist,” Prabhupada answered angrily.

On another occasion, Prabhupada explained that nondevotees who mislead the innocent public are demons and should be exposed. Kirtanananda objected. “If we call them demons, they’ll never come around.”

“But they are demons,” Prabhupada replied.

“But we can’t call them demons, Swamiji.”

“Yes, they are demons! Unless you understand this point, you will not make any advancement in Krsna consciousness.”

“Can demons become devotees?” Kirtanananda asked.

“Oh, yes,” Prabhupada answered. “If they chant Hare Krsna and render service, even demons become devotees.”

From Srila Prabhupada lilamrta

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Our mission

Everywhere the same instruction is there, that “You approach to a person who is coming in disciplic succession,” evam parampara-praptam [Bg 4.2], “and try to learn Bhagavad-gita as it is. Your life will be sublime. Your life will be successful.” That is our mission.

Srila Prabhupada, Pandal Lecture – March 31, 1971, Bombay

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London in comparison to India

In London also, [laughing] in a television, they asked for a distinction of hell and heaven, so I said, “Your London is hell. It is always covered with snow and darkness, so in comparison to India it is hell.” So that was published in the papers.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.42–43 — December 24, 1970, Surat

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The peace formula for the world

This peace formula for the world is given in the Bhagavad-gita (5.29). When people know that the Supreme Lord, Krsna, is the supreme enjoyer, the supreme proprietor and the most intimate well-wishing friend of all living entities, peace and prosperity will ensue all over the world. Unfortunately, the conditioned souls, being placed into illusion by the external energy of the Lord, want to fight with one another, and therefore peace is disturbed. The first prerequisite for peace is that all the wealth presented by Sri, the goddess of fortune, be offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Everyone should give up his false proprietorship over worldly possessions and offer everything to Krsna. This is the teaching of the Krsna consciousness movement.

Srila Prabhupada, SB 8.8.8, purport

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A simple definition of religion

Religious system cannot be manufactured by man. No. Man-made religion is not religion. Religion means God-made religion. That is religion. Dharmaà tu säkñät. Just like law. Law means the orders enunciated by the government. You cannot manufacture law at home. That is not law. Similarly, religion means the orders given by God. This is simple definition of religion.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture at St. Pascal’s Franciscan Seminary – June 28, 1974, Melbourne

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Utilization of time

Both by rising and by setting, the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone, except one who utilizes the time by discussing topics of the all-good Personality of Godhead.

Srila Prabhupada’s translation of SB 2.3.17

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Sum and substance, material and spiritual

It is said in the Bhagavad-gita that out of thousands of men, only one takes an interest in the perfection of human life. The perfection of human life is to develop one’s dormant love for God, and thus be released from the terrible cycle of birth and death. People are so foolish that they simply waste time in temporary pursuits of material happiness, eating, sleeping, defending and enjoying sex life. Especially sex life. The sum and substance of material life is attraction for the opposite sex. The sum and substance of spiritual life is attraction to Krishna.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Bhakta Steven Knapp – Bombay 18 December, 1975

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