Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 61

The purpose of our Society — mutal assistance in KC

Although there may be some difficulties within our Society, these things are not very important. What is important is that we should simply fix our mind on Krishna’s Lotus Feet. This is His instruction in the Bhagavad-gita. So we associate with one-another so that we can assist each other in hearing and chanting about Krishna. That is the purpose of our Society. This you will not find in the materialistic society where all hearing and chanting is simply concerned with sense gratification. So our desire is Krishna and we want to go back home — Back to Godhead where Krishna lives eternally. So you simply follow my instructions as I have given to you and surely your life will be a success.

From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Nrhari, Bombay, 22 November, 1974

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Establish some relation with Krsna

Association means to develop love for the person. That is association. So we have to become associate of Krsna, as Arjuna became. Always with Krsna — eating with Krsna, sitting with Krsna, talking with Krsna, joking with Krsna, fighting with Krsna — everything Krsna. … Krsna, does He remain with anyone unless he is very dear?

So we have to establish some relation with Krsna — as servant, as a friend, as a son, as a father, mother, or like the gopis, madhurya-rasa, friend, conjugal love. Krsna is ready to associate with you in any way you like.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.23 — September 20, 1976, Vrndavana

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Chant, all will be revealed, & you can do something

Chant Hare Krsna, and everything will be clear. Ceto-darpana-marjanam. The more you chant, the spiritual life will be revealed. So it is very easy: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama… As much as possible, you chant. Then everything will be revealed, and you’ll be able to do something. I started this movement simply by chanting. Now it has spread all over the world. And we are still chanting.

Srila Prabhupada/ Room Conversation with Alice Coltrane – July 1, 1977, Vrndavana

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Inconceivable Krsna

Long, long ago I was talking with one Arya-samaji friend. So he did not believe that a lotus stem can grow on the navel of Visnu and there is Brahma born. Everyone says like that, “Mythology.” It is not mythology; it is fact. So I asked him that “Here we see one coconut tree, and about sixty feet above, there is coconut and there is water, there is pulp, and it is being carried from the ground. Where is the pipe? Where is the pump? How the water is there within the coconut? Can you explain?” So he could not explain. And I said that “Even in material things which is in front of you, you cannot explain. How you will explain the spiritual position? How the lotus grown from the navel of…?” Therefore it should be accepted as inconceivable. Acintyah khalu ye bhava na tams tarkena yojayet [Mahabharata, Bhisma parva 5.22]. Don’t try to argue; it is foolishness. It is inconceivable.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.31 — November 18, 1976, Vrndavana

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Touching the feet of devotees

(Referring to Narada in his previous life serving the great devotees)

Simply being served by somebody as…, like a boy servant, they become delivered. There was no question of preaching. Simply giving the opportunity to serve, the fallen souls become delivered. But you must be competent; not to take service for nothing. Then you’ll go to hell. If you are actually in spiritual position, then by giving others little opportunity to serve you, he’ll be delivered. No question of understanding the philosophy. A devotee must be so perfect. The system is, therefore, as soon as one sees a devotee, he falls down and takes the…, touches the feet. This is the system. Because by touching the feet… Mahat-pada-rajo-‘bhisekam [SB 5.12.12]. If one is actually elevated to the spiritual life and people take the opportunity of touching his lotus feet, then he becomes devotee. This is the process.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.23, August 4, 1974, Vrndavana

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Individuality & oneness

Here in the material world we are individual, and in spiritual world we are also individual. But what is the difference between material world and spiritual world? In the material world we are individual to serve my own senses. Therefore there is fight. Everyone is trying to satisfy his own senses. I am trying to satisfy my senses, you are trying… So there is clash. That is material world. And the spiritual world: when all of them agree to satisfy the senses of Krsna… There is like Vrndavana. What is Vrndavana? The devotees of Vrndavana, they are all individuals. The gopis are individual, the cowherd boys are individual, the calves are individual, the cows are individual. Everyone is individual. But the purpose is how to love Krsna. That is oneness. There is no disagreement in that purpose. The gopis are trying to satisfy Krsna, the cowherd boys are satisfying…, trying to satisfy Krsna, Mother Yasoda is trying to satisfy Krsna, Nanda Maharaja is trying to satisfy Krsna. The whole center is how to satisfy Krsna. That oneness is required. Not that I become one with Krsna. That is not possible.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.18 — November 6, 1976, Vrndavana

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A Vaisnava has no material problems

Ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca. These things are problems of this material world. A Vaisnava has no problem. He knows that “If Krsna can give food to the elephant down to the ant, so Krsna will give me food. So why shall I endeavor for it? When Krsna gives, I shall eat. That’s all. If He does not give, I shall starve. What is the wrong there?” This is Vaisnava. He’s not afraid. He has no problem of ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca. No.

Srila Prabhupada, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.22 — September 18, 1976, Vrndavana

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Srila Prabhupada’s standard advice to all disciples

Please always follow the four regulative principles and chant minimum sixteen rounds per day. Study my books very carefully and prepare yourself fully for going back to home, back to Godhead.

From a letter by Srila Prabhupada to Arjuna — Dallas 20 May, 1973

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The test: giving up sex

So far maithuna [sex life] is concerned, it is completely rejected. Bhaktim param bhagavati pratilabhya apahinoti kamam [Cc. Antya 5.48]. This is Vaisnava. Vaisnava means as he makes progress in devotional service, these material lusty desires become vanquished: No more. Finished. Bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anya… [SB 11.2.42]. This is the sign. Yad-avadhi mama cetah krsna-padaravinde nava-nava-rasa-dhamani…, tad-avadhi bata nari-sangame smaryamane bhavati mukha-vikarah [Sri Yamunacarya]. This is Vaisnava. When one will spit of sex enjoyment, that means he has attained the Vaisnava stage. Otherwise not yet. That is the test. Yad-avadhi mama cetah krsna-padaravinde nava-nava-rasa-dhamany udyatam rantum asit, tad-avadhi bata nari-sangame. Because nari-sangame, sex with nari, that is the highest pleasure of this material world. Yan maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham [SB 7.9.45]. Very abominable happiness, maithunadi. It is kanduyanena karayor iva duhkha-duhkham. It is entailed with so many sufferings. Either illicit or legal, there is suffering.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.22 — September 18, 1976, Vrndavana

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First-class men (brahmanas); people will learn by their behavior

The first-class men, who have got full knowledge of life and the problems of life… That there should be, the first-class men. They may be very few; it doesn’t matter. Ideal class. People will learn by their behavior, by their character, by their knowledge.

Srila Prabhupada, Conv. May 14 1975, Perth

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