Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 58

Sannyasa can be an embarrassing transcendental fraud

Sannyasa, or renunciation of material household life, necessitates complete absorption in Krsna consciousness and immersion in the self. One does not take sannyasa, freedom from family responsibility in the renounced order of life, to make another family or to create an embarrassing transcendental fraud in the name of sannyasa. The sannyasi’s business is not to become proprietor of so many things and amass money from the innocent public.

Srila Prabhupada, SB 3.24.34, ppt

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Attitude of preachers

The author of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Srila Rupa Gosvami, very humbly submits that he is just trying to spread Krsna consciousness all over the world, although he humbly thinks himself unfit for this work. That should be the attitude of all preachers of the Krsna consciousness movement, following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami. We should never think of ourselves as great preachers, but should always consider that we are simply instrumental to the previous acaryas, and simply by following in their footsteps we may be able to do something for the benefit of suffering humanity.

Srila Prabhupada, NoD Introduction

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Impotent Hindus

Although posing as great scholars, ascetics, householders and svamis, the so-called followers of the Hindu religion are all useless, dried-up branches of the Vedic religion. They are impotent; they cannot do anything to spread the Vedic culture for the benefit of human society.

Srila Prabhupada CC Adi 12.73 ppt.

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Follow the principles of varnasrama-dharma

The Vedic literature recommends that a human being follow the principles of varnasrama-dharma. Accepting the process of varnasrama-dharma will make a person’s life successful because this will connect him with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the goal of human life.

Srila Prabhupada CC Adi 12.73 ppt.

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Our only duty is to work sincerely

Vrtrasura encouraged Indra, saying, “Don’t be morose because of my victory. There is no need to stop fighting. Instead, you should go on with your duty. When Krsna desires, you will certainly be victorious.” This verse is very instructive for sincere workers in the Krsna consciousness movement. We should not be jubilant in victory or morose in defeat. We should make a sincere effort to implement the will of Krsna, or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and we should not be concerned with victory and defeat. Our only duty is to work sincerely, so that our activities may be recognized by Krsna.

Srila Prabhupada SB 6.12.7, ppt.

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Better remain foolish

Liberated soul never says that “I am liberated.” As soon as he says “liberated,” he’s a rascal. A liberated soul will never say that “I am liberated.” That is liberated. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He is God — guru more murkha dekhi’ karila sasan [Cc. Adi 7.71]. “My Guru Maharaja saw Me a fool number one, and he has chastised Me.” He’s God. This is the example. If one remains always a servant ever-lastingly of guru, then he is liberated. And as soon as he thinks that he is liberated, he’s a rascal. That is the teaching of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Guru more murkha dekhi’. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is murkha? Why He’s posing Himself that murkha? “I am fool number one.” That means that is liberation. You must be ready always to be chastised by guru. Then he’s liberated. And as soon as he thinks that “I am beyond this chastisement, I am liberated,” he’s a rascal. Why Caitanya Mahaprabhu says guru more murkha dekhi’ karila sasan? This is sahajiya-vada. He is thinking, “Oh I have become liberated. I don’t require any direction of my guru. I’m liberated.” Then he’s rascal. […] So better remain a foolish person perpetually to be directed by Guru Maharaja. That is perfection.

Srila Prabhupada, Conversation, August 16, 1976, Bombay

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Disconnected from Lord Caitanya

Anyone who has no connection with Caitanya Mahaprabhu — even if he is independently a great sannyasi, learned scholar or ascetic — is like a dead branch of a tree.

Srila Prabhupada, CC Adi 12.73 ppt.

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Training the eyes to see clearly

The foolish cannot understand how a living entity can quit his body, nor can they understand what sort of body he enjoys under the spell of the modes of nature. But one whose eyes are trained in knowledge can see all this. The endeavoring transcendentalists who are situated in self-realization can see all this clearly. But those whose minds are not developed and who are not situated in self-realization cannot see what is taking place, though they may try.

Srila Prabhupada’s translation of Bg 15.10, 11

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Always think our service incomplete

Never think that service is perfect. That will keep you in the perfect stage. Yes. We should always think that our service is not complete. Yes. That is very nice. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught us that… He said that “My dear friends, please take it from Me that I have not a pinch of faith in Krsna. If you say that why I am crying, the answer is that just to make a show that I am great devotee. Actually, I have not a pinch of love for Krsna. This crying is simply My show, makeshow.”

Srila Prabhupada, Lecture, Seattle, September 27, 1968

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Best method of atonement

The chanting of the holy name of Lord Visnu is the best process of atonement for a thief of gold or other valuables, for a drunkard, for one who betrays a friend or relative, for one who kills a brahmana, or for one who indulges in sex with the wife of his guru or another superior. It is also the best method of atonement for one who murders women, the king or his father, for one who slaughters cows, and for all other sinful men. Simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Visnu, such sinful persons may attract the attention of the Supreme Lord, who therefore considers, “Because this man has chanted My holy name, My duty is to give him protection.”

Srila Prabhupada’s translation of SB 6.2.9-10

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