Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 48

A challenge to modern education

We have to work very hard and with intelligence and sincerity for this movement. It is a great movement undoubtedly but it takes a little time to convince the higher section of the society. Still that is one of our businesses because unless the higher section understands this movement, it will make progress slowly. If the higher section says yes, it is a nice movement, it will progress very quickly. Our mission is undoubtedly the highest welfare activity to the human society. Everyone has forgotten his real constitutional position. Therefore all of them are hovering in the air without any concrete knowledge of the goal of life. Actually we are in the position to teach everyone, never mind however great a philosopher or scientist he may be, but everyone must learn from us about spiritual activities. All the universities and educational institutions are in darkness and still they are very much proud of advancement of knowledge. This we shall challenge everywhere and come out victorious.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Bhagavan — London 21 August, 1971

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This material world is not for gentlemen

By becoming Krishna Conscious, no more need for wasting time by acquiring this or that to expand our economy. Every Krishna Conscious man should know it for certain that this material world simply has no use for us. With every step there is danger and so many anxieties. No gentleman should want to live here in this material world.

From a letter by Srila Prabhupada to Dayananda — Delhi 5 December, 1971

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By good association, go back to Godhead

Simply by giving up the association of worldly people and associating with exalted devotees, anyone can attain perfection of knowledge and with the sword of knowledge can cut to pieces the illusory associations within this material world. Through the association of devotees, one can engage in the service of the Lord by hearing and chanting [sravanam kirtanam]. Thus one can revive his dormant Krsna consciousness and, sticking to the cultivation of Krsna consciousness, return home, back to Godhead, even in this life.

Srila Prabhupada’s translation of SB 5.12.16, text

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Advice for the head of state

Following in the footsteps of Maharaja Pariksit, it is the duty of all executive heads of states to see that the principles of religion, namely austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness, are established in the state, and that the principles of irreligion, namely pride, illicit female association or prostitution, intoxication and falsity, are checked by all means. And to make the best use of a bad bargain, the personality of Kali may be transferred to places of gambling, drinking, prostitution and slaughterhouses, if there are any places like that. Those who are addicted to these irreligious habits may be regulated by the injunctions of the scripture. In no circumstances should they be encouraged by any state. In other words, the state should categorically stop all sorts of gambling, drinking, prostitution and falsity. The state which wants to eradicate corruption by majority may introduce the principles of religion in the following manner:

Two compulsory fasting days in a month, if not more (austerity). Even from the economic point of view, such two fasting days in a month in the state will save tons of food, and the system will also act very favorably on the general health of the citizens.

There must be compulsory marriage of young boys and girls attaining twenty-four years of age and sixteen years of age respectively. There is no harm in coeducation in the schools and colleges, provided the boys and girls are duly married, and in case there is any intimate connection between a male and female student, they should be married properly without illicit relation. The divorce act is encouraging prostitution, and this should be abolished.

The citizens of the state must give in charity up to fifty percent of their income for the purpose of creating a spiritual atmosphere in the state or in human society, both individually and collectively. They should preach the principles of Bhagavatam by (a) karma-yoga, or doing everything for the satisfaction of the Lord, (b) regular hearing of Srimad-Bhagavatam from authorized persons or realized souls, (c) chanting of the glories of the Lord congregationally at home or at places of worship, (d) rendering all kinds of service to bhagavatas engaged in preaching (e) residing in a place where the atmosphere is saturated with God consciousness. If the state is regulated by the above process, naturally there will be God consciousness everywhere.

Gambling of all description, even speculative business enterprise, is considered to be degrading, and when gambling is encouraged in the state, there is a complete disappearance of truthfulness. Allowing young boys and girls to remain unmarried more than the above-mentioned ages and licensing animal slaughterhouses of all description should be at once prohibited. The flesh-eaters may be allowed to take flesh as mentioned in the scriptures, and not otherwise. Intoxication of all description — even smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco or the drinking of tea — must be prohibited.

Srila Prabhupada, SB 1.17.36, purport

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For Buddha Purnima

Lord Buddha preached the preliminary principles of the Vedas in a manner suitable for the time being (and so also did Sankaracarya) to establish the authority of the Vedas. Therefore both Lord Buddha and Acarya Sankara paved the path of theism, and Vaisnava acaryas, specifically Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, led the people on the path towards a realization of going back to Godhead. We are glad that people are taking interest in the nonviolent movement of Lord Buddha. But will they take the matter very seriously and close the animal slaughterhouses altogether? If not, there is no meaning to the ahimsa cult.

Srila Prabhupada, SB 1.3.24, Purport

(Buddha Purnima this year falls on Thursday, May 23, 2024. It marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha,  all on the same date, in different years.)

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Why Prahlada didn’t save Hiranyakasipu

Prahlada Maharaja could have asked Nrsimhadeva, “My Lord, do not kill my father.” He could have asked, and immediately his request would have been granted. But he did not do that. He was standing and seeing. But he knows that “This killing of the body of my father is not killing. I shall save him. I shall save him.” That he did. When he was offered benediction, he did not take anything. He said, “My Lord, what shall I do, all this material benediction? I have seen in the case of my father, He was so strong that even the demigods were frightened for his presence. His position was so strong, and You finished it within a minute. So what is the benefit of taking? No, no. Please do not request me.” But although he did not ask anything for his personal self, but he asked the Lord, prayed, that “One thing I request.” “What is that?” “My father was a great demon, and he was against You. He has committed so many sinful life. So I know he’ll have to suffer for these things. I request You to excuse him.” This is Vaisnava son.

“Oh, yes. Immediately.” Immediately. So he knew that “What is this of asking for this material…? My father is not this body, but he has to suffer so many things for his sinful activities. I shall save him in due course of time.”

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.47 – October 27, 1974, Mayapur

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Prahlada prays to Nrsimha-deva: how to escape from the material world

Therefore, although I was born in a demoniac family, I may without a doubt offer prayers to the Lord with full endeavor, as far as my intelligence allows. Anyone who has been forced by ignorance to enter the material world may be purified of material life if he offers prayers to the Lord and hears the Lord’s glories.

Srila Prabhupada’s translation of SB 7.9.12

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The result of university education

One student said, “What is the wrong there if I become dog?” Yes, he flatly said. “I shall forget everything.” So this is the university education, that one is not afraid of becoming a dog.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on BG 16.5 — Hawaii, January 31, 1975

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The result of incapable government

Monarchy is better than democracy because if the monarchy is very strong the regulative principles within the kingdom are upheld very nicely. Even one hundred years ago in the state of Kashmir in India, the king was so strong that if a thief were arrested in his kingdom and brought before him, the king would immediately chop off the hands of the thief. As a result of this severe punishment there were practically no theft cases within the kingdom. Even if someone left something on the street, no one would touch it. The rule was that the things could be taken away only by the proprietor and that no one else would touch them. In the so-called democracy, wherever there is a theft case the police come and take note of the case, but generally the thief is never caught, nor is any punishment offered to him. As result of incapable government, at the present moment thieves, rogues and cheaters are very prominent all over the world.

Srila Prabhupada, SB 4.13.19-20, Purport

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Astika and nastika

Astikyam means to believe in the injunction of the sastra, astikyam. That is called theism. One who does not believe in the injunction… Just like Krsna is advised in the Bhagavad-gita. One who believes in the words of Krsna, he is astika. One who does not believe, he is nastika. This is the astika and nastika. So our nastika definition means one who does not believe in the Vedic instruction. He is called nastika.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bhagavad-gita 18.45 – October 11, 1975, Durban

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