Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 47

The Vedas are for civilized, responsible people

A civilized human being is very much responsible life. The chance is given to get out of this cycle of birth and death. Therefore, for civilized human being, these Vedas, these scriptures, are made for them, not for the rascals and fools, those who are in the lower stage of life — only for the civilized.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on SB 6.1.39-40 — Surat, December 21, 1970

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Peace treaties

If you keep them as dogs, and if you ask some dogs, “My dear dogs, please do not bark. Live peacefully,” is it possible? The dog will bark. That is their business. So we are not enlightening them what is actually we are. We are keeping on this bodily conception. That is the dog’s conception. And how there will be peace? There cannot be. Simply by agreement, by treaty, there can be any peaceful? No. Just like children. They agree, “Yes, we shall not fight.” Next moment they’ll fight. And again they will make agreement. This is going on.

Srila Prabhupada; Room Conversation with Mr. K. Purushotamma Naidu, Endowments Commissioner of Andhra Pradesh – August 22, 1976, Hyderabad

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Students’ political struggle

I have received your letter without date, stating about the situation in Boston. On the statement of your letter, I can understand that it is a political situation. Of course, although everything includes in Krishna Consciousness, we do not wish to take part directly in controversial politics. We can take part in politics only which is sanctioned by Krishna. This political struggle by the students is different thing. It is reaction of the karma. Because both the opposing parties namely, the students who have taken shelter in the churches, and the government force, which is coming to arrest them, both of them are on the same category, because when there will be question of meat eating, or supporting the slaughterhouse, both of them will agree. So the present situation is reaction of man’s sinful activities. We, specially recommend to restrain from four kinds of primary sinful activities, namely, illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating, and gambling. But all these fighting people, they are cent per cent addicted to all these habits. So if they are serious of mitigating the unpalatable situation of the society, they must agree to accept Krishna Consciousness, otherwise, there is no possibility of peace in the world. Anyway the situation in Boston as you have described is not very much favorable for preaching our Krishna Consciousness, but if there is possibility of selling our Back To Godheads, that is very nice. You can take advantage.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Satsvarupa — Seattle 9 October, 1968

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Grhasthas and grhamedhis

Family life within the kingdom of illusory energy, maya, is just like a prison for the eternal living entity. In prison a prisoner is shackled by iron chains and iron bars. Similarly, a conditioned soul is shackled by the charming beauty of a woman, by her solitary embraces and talks of so-called love, and by the sweet words of his small children. Thus he forgets his real identity.

In this verse the words strinam asatinam indicate that womanly love is just to agitate the mind of man. Actually, in the material world there is no love. Both the woman and the man are interested in their sense gratification. For sense gratification a woman creates an illusory love, and the man becomes enchanted by such false love and forgets his real duty. When there are children as the result of such a combination, the next attraction is to the sweet words of the children. The love of the woman at home and the talk of the children make one a secure prisoner, and thus he cannot leave his home. Such a person is termed, in Vedic language, a grhamedhi, which means “one whose center of attraction is home.” Grhastha refers to one who lives with family, wife and children, but whose real purpose of living is to develop Krsna consciousness. One is therefore advised to become a grhastha and not a grhamedhi. The grhastha’s concern is to get out of the family life created by illusion and enter into real family life with Krsna, whereas the grhamedhi’s business is to repeatedly chain himself to so-called family life, in one life after another, and perpetually remain in the darkness of maya.

Srila Prabhupada’s purport to SB 3.30.9

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Become like Arjuna to see the universal form

Guest (8): Why didn’t anyone see Krsna’s universal form before Arjuna? Krsna said no one has seen before Arjuna. Why is that?

Prabhupada: You become like Arjuna, you will see. First of all you become like Arjuna, friend of Krsna. Then you will see. Do you think you are as good as Arjuna? Krsna says, Arjuna addressing, that I am instructing to you my dear Arjuna, because you are my dear friend. And you are very great devotee. Bhakto ‘si priyo ‘si me rahasyam etad uttamam [Bg. 4.3]. I am speaking to you this Bhagavad-gita because you are qualified. What is that qualification? Because you are My devotee and very intimate friend. So you become also intimate friend and devotee, you will understand everything. That is our request. If Arjuna becomes a friend and devotee you can also become. Why you are losing this opportunity? That is our propaganda. You also become a friend, a devotee, and be happy and see Krsna as He is simply symbolic representation. He says everyone. Let us take this opportunity and become like Arjuna. That is perfection of life.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bhagavad-gita 3.27 — Melbourne, June 27, 1974

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One nice practice in this short, disturbed life

Life is short, at the same time, so much disturbed by anxieties, by disease, by natural disturbances. Roga-sokadibhih. Short life; that is also disturbed by disease and lamentation. Every moment there is something for which you have to lament: “Oh!” Roga-sokadibhih. And disease. This body is a breeding ground of all kinds of disease. Life is short and it is so much disturbed. So how it is possible to practice?

Therefore, this one practice — chanting Hare Krsna, and hearing — that is very nice. And praying to Krsna, “Please give me strength.” Hare, “O Energy of Krsna, O Krsna, I am fallen; I have no strength. Please accept me.” That’s all. “I have no qualification. I am frail. I am trying, but I am failing.” All these appeals should be made. And Krsna is all-powerful; He can do anything. Even the…, we do not perform, trying our best, if we fail, Krsna will help us. Just like a child tries his best, but he falls down. The mother takes up and “All right. Come on. Walk.” Like that.

Srila Prabhupada, Morning Walk at Stowe Lake – March 23, 1968, San Francisco

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Democracy is not sufficient unless…

Formerly, in practically all parts of the world, there were monarchies, but gradually as monarchy declined from the ideal life of religion to the godless life of sense gratification, monarchies all over the world were abolished. However, simply abolishing monarchy and replacing it with democracy is not sufficient unless the government men are religious and follow in the footsteps of great religious personalities.

Srila Prabhupada, SB 4.14.16, Purport

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All religions except one are cheating

Except Bhagavata religion, all other religions in the world are sentiments. Therefore in Bhagavata beginning is said, dharmah projjhita kaitava, all cheating type of religion is kicked out from dharma. Projjhita, kicked out. Except Bhagavata religion, any religion which is going on in the world, they’re all cheating.

Srila Prabhupada, discussion with Syamasundara dasa about Hegel, 1976

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How democracy can be perfect

The mass of people should be educated in Krsna consciousness so that according to the democratic process they can select a first-class devotee like Bharata Maharaja to head the government. If the head of the state is guided by qualified brahmanas, everything is completely perfect.

Srila Prabhupada, SB 5.5.21-22, Purport

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Philanthropic work is not the duty of a sannyasi

Suppose he begins in philanthropic work, some hospitalizing or opening educational institution. That is nice, but these things are being done by the government and many philanthropic persons. That is not the duty of a sannyasi. A sannyasi, a renounced order of life, his main business is to spread Krsna consciousness, or God consciousness. That is his real business. But if one has not the taste what is Krsna consciousness, simply accept sannyasa, then he will do all this nonsense work.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bhagavad-gita 3.1-5 — Los Angeles, December 20, 1968

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