Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 44

What is religion?

This material world is full of problems. One who understands, he is called sura, or civilized man. And one who does not understand, he is called asura. Asura, not sura. Aryan, non-Aryan. So amongst the suras — those who can understand the problems of life — there is a system which is called religion. And what is the purpose of religion? Religion is to understand what is God. That is religion.

Srila Prabhupada, Lecture on BG 16.7 — Tokyo, January 27, 1975

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If you can’t read, simply chant

If you feel that you cannot read or you have no money to purchase book, never mind. Lord Caitanya has given you very simple path: chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. If you chant this mantra with faith and devotion, without any offense, but simply by chanting you will realize yourself, you will realize God, Krsna, and your life will be successful.

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

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Srila Prabhupada’s ecstasy at news of LA Rathayatra

Now the photographs depicting Rathayatra in Los Angeles arrived from you. His Divine Grace was fully entranced on how all of you, His loving disciples and children, dedicated all of your energy in this ceremony. With keen interest Srila Prabhupada heard the description of each photograph and glanced so lovingly at each of you who were engaged in the service of Lord Jagannatha. There were tears in Srila Prabhupada’s eyes and they made a path down His cheeks as He shook His head from side to side, so much appreciative was He of the effort which you have all made. When the photographs showing the three chariots on procession were shown to Him, Srila Prabhupada made a long humming sound, and with His eyebrows very arched He declared, “We have never seen such carts!” When the photographs showing the long lines of people lining up to see the “Changing Body” exhibit were shown to Him, Srila Prabhupada was deeply pleased and said, “I told you this would happen. I am very much glad to see this.” The experience of seeing these photographs was so much moving to His Divine Grace that He was unable to sit for His massage, nor could he take His meals. We requested Him to have His massage, but in a choked voice, He said not now. Then after two hours He retired to bed, deeply in trance meditating on the Rathayatra of Lord Jagannatha at Los Angeles.

From a letter by  Tamala Krsna Goswami to Godbrothers and Godsisters of New Dvaraka-dhama

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Gundica-marjana

By His practical activity, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu informed us how to cleanse our hearts. Once the heart is cleansed, we should invite Lord Sri Krsna to sit down, and we should observe the festival by distributing prasadam and chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to teach every devotee by His personal behavior. Everyone who spreads the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepts a similar responsibility. The Lord was personally chastising and praising individuals in the course of the cleaning, and those who are engaged as acaryas must learn from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu how to train devotees by personal example. The Lord was very pleased with those who could cleanse the temple by taking out undesirable things accumulated within. This is called anartha-nivrtti, cleansing the heart of all unwanted things. Thus the cleansing of the Gundica-mandira was conducted by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to let us know how the heart should be cleansed and soothed to receive Lord Sri Krsna and enable Him to sit within the heart without disturbance.

Srila Prabhupada, CC Madhya 12.135, ppt.

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Grhastas also to preach — Bhaktivinoda is the example

“It is the business of the sannyasi or brahmacari.” No. It is the business of everyone. The whole world is suffering for want of knowledge. The present civilization is animal civilization. They do not know anything beyond eating, sleeping, mating and defending. That’s all. This is animal civilization.

Animal does not know beyond these four principles of life: eating, sleeping, mating and defending. That’s all. No. Human life is meant for something else: “What I am? What is God? What is my relation with God? What is this material world? Why I am here? Where I have to go next?” So many things one has to learn. Athato brahma jijnasa. This is human life. Not that eat and sleep and have sex life and die someday like cats and dogs.

Therefore, there is need of acaryas, teachers, for propagating spiritual knowledge, Krsna consciousness. Bhaktivinoda Thakura was… Although he was a grhastha, householder, a government officer, magistrate, but he was acarya. So from his dealings, from his life, we should learn how one can become a preacher in any stage of life. It doesn’t matter what he is.

Srila Prabhupada; Bhaktivinoda Thakura Appearance Day Lecture — September 3, 1971, London

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What this movement teaches

The Krsna consciousness movement is teaching people how to come to the stage of dedicating everything to the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Srila Prabhupada, SB 7.15.64, ppt

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Krsna conscious dictatorship

So up to that point, Maharaja Pariksit, the whole planet was very nicely governed by dictatorship. So we can bring in such dictatorship, provided that dictator is perfectly Krsna conscious. Because he knows how to conduct kingdom, how to make everyone happy.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on BG 1.4-5, London, July 10, 1973

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Even the Spiritual Master sees his disciples as “prabhu”

We are teaching our disciples to address amongst themselves “prabhu.” This is not new thing. This is very old. Now Narada is addressing Vyasadeva, “prabhu,” his disciple. His disciple, he’s addressing prabhu. So we should give respect. Just like we address, “Kirtanananda Maharaja.” Although he’s my disciple, but the respect should be given. Here, see, Narada is addressing Vyasadeva: “Prabhu.”

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on SB 1.5.1-4, May 22, 1969

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Guru as tax collector

Your strong desire to serve me is very beautiful; your serving me means serving Krishna. I am also your servant so I cannot accept your service from you, or from any of my disciples. I accept service from my disciples on behalf of Krishna. Just like a tax collector must collect for the treasury, not for himself. If he himself touches so much as a farthing it would be unlawful.

So I have no right to accept service from any disciple, but on behalf of Krishna I can accept. Sincere service to the Spiritual Master is service to the Supreme Lord. As stated in the prayer, ‘Yasya Prasadad Bhagavat-Prasado’. That means because Krishna accepts service through the via media of Spiritual Master, therefore pleasing the Spiritual Master is equal to pleasing the Supreme Lord.

Srila Prabhupada – Letter to Upendra, February 13, 1968

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Representatives of God and their guidance

Just like spiritual master is representative of God, similarly, king is also representative of God. The father is also representative of God. These are the statements of the sastras. Because they will guide. The king will guide. The spiritual master will guide. The father will guide. What is that guidance? That guidance is how one can become Krsna conscious by education, by culture.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.9.49 – June 15, 1973, Mayapur

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