Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 77

Alas!

The word niskincanasya refers to a person who has finished his material activities. Such a person can begin to execute his activities in Krsna consciousness to cross over the ocean of nescience. It is very dangerous for such a person to have intimate relationships with mundane people or to become intimately related with women. This formality is to be observed by anyone who is serious about going back home, back to Godhead. To teach His personal associates these principles, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu expressed external anger when touched by the King. Since the Lord was very much satisfied with the humble behavior of the King, He intentionally allowed the King to touch Him, but externally He expressed anger just to warn His personal associates. Greatly lamenting, the Lord then informed Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, “‘Alas, for a person who is seriously desiring to cross the material ocean and engage in the transcendental loving service of the Lord without material motives, seeing a materialist engaged in sense gratification or seeing a woman who is similarly interested is more abominable than drinking poison willingly.'”

Srila Prabhupada, CC Madhya 11.8, purport

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Civilization means restriction

Reformation means restriction. Civilized means restriction. Aryan means restriction. That is civilized life. Unrestricted life means cats and dogs. Laws are meant for restriction, and they are meant for the human society, not for the cats and dogs. Why the legislative assembly is there? Why the cars are going right or left? It is meant for the civilized person, not for the cats and dogs. So civilization means restriction. A dog can have sex life on the street, but you cannot have. That is restriction because you are civilized. Civilized means restriction. The more you restrict, more you become civilized. Otherwise you remain animal.

Srila Prabhupada, Morning Walk — September 25, 1975, Ahmedabad

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Satisfying the Lord’s order is greater than going to Jagannath Puri

… the Lord requested Nityananda Prabhu to stay there and broadcast the message of Krsna consciousness. The Lord also entrusted a similar preaching responsibility to Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami. Nityananda Prabhu was requested not to come every year to Jagannatha Puri, although seeing Lord Jagannatha greatly benefits everyone. Does this mean that the Lord was refusing Nityananda Prabhu a fortunate opportunity? No. One who is a faithful servant of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu must execute His order, even if one has to sacrifice going to Jagannatha Puri to see Lord Jagannatha there. In other words, it is a greater fortune to carry out Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s order than to satisfy one’s senses by seeing Lord Jagannatha.

Srila Prabhupada – CC Madhya 16.64 purport

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Strong devotee

The name Malayadhvaja signifies a great devotee who stands as firm as Malaya Hill and, through his propaganda, makes other devotees similarly as firm. Such a maha-bhagavata can prevail over the opinions of all others. A strong devotee makes propaganda against all other spiritual conceptions — namely jnana, karma and yoga. With his devotional flag unfurled, he always stands fast to conquer other conceptions of transcendental realization. Whenever there is an argument between a devotee and a nondevotee, the pure, strong devotee comes out victorious.

Srila Prabhupada, SB 4.28.29 purport

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Downfall by associating with nondevotees

If the living entity again associates with the path of unrighteousness, influenced by sensually minded people engaged in the pursuit of sexual enjoyment and the gratification of the palate, he again goes to hell as before.

He becomes devoid of truthfulness, cleanliness, mercy, gravity, spiritual intelligence, shyness, austerity, fame, forgiveness, control of the mind, control of the senses, fortune and all such opportunities.

Srila Prabhupada’s translation of SB 3.31.32-33

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Vairagya-vidya

Unless there is vairagya, there is no question of happiness. But we cannot attain vairagya immediately; therefore the vidhi-marga, vidhi-marga-bhakti: to rise early in the morning, to attend mangala arati, to offer Deity flowers, fruits, and in this way we shall be engaged twenty-four hours. Then vairagya-vidya will gradually develop. Anarthopasamam saksad bhakti-yogam adhoksaje [SB 1.7.6]. Then the anartha… This material life is simply anartha, has no meaning, because we are creating another life. Without any spiritual knowledge, if we simply give ourself to the action and reaction of material nature, then we are making progress on the path of mrtyu-samsara vartmani [Bg. 9.3], and if we attain Krsna, then mam upetya kaunteya duhkhalayam asasvatam, napnuvanti [Bg. 8.15]. The two ways. So our request is that you have taken to this vairagya-vidya. So vairagya-vidya, we do not say that you starve, don’t eat anything, don’t sleep at all. No. It should be regulated. Anasaktasya visayan yathartham upayunjatah [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.255]. Don’t be attached to eating, sleeping. That is not good. But you must eat, you must sleep as little as possible, and try to conquer over it. My mind dictating, “Sleep seventeen hours.” No. That is tapasya. Tapasa brahmacaryena [SB 6.1.13]. Why shall you sleep more than four hours or five hours, or utmost six hours? That’s all, not more than that. That is vairagya-vidya. We have to learn it. That is devotional service.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.6.6 -— November 28, 1976, Vrndavana

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Easily returning to the spiritual world

If we simply place ourselves at the lotus feet of Krsna by taking to Krsna consciousness and keeping always in touch with Him by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, we need not take much trouble in arranging to return to the spiritual world. By the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this is very easy.

Srila Prabhupada, Srimad-Bhagavatam, 7.15.53 Purport

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The test of advancing in Krsna consciousness

As soon as you are engaged in the service, loving service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, immediately you feel liberation. This is practically. When you are fully engaged in Krsna consciousness, even if you walk on the street, you’ll feel that “I am separate from these persons. I am in a, I am walking on a different path.” This is the feeling. Bhaktih paresanubhavah. This is bhakti. Paresanubhavah. You will experience yourself. That is the test. If you experience yourself that “I am different from these persons,” then where is the attachment for material things? So that is the test; how much you have become advanced in devotional service, you can experience yourself. The example is given: Just like a hungry man, if he’s given food, if he eats, then he experiences himself that he’s getting strength, his hunger is being satisfied. The, these things will be experienced. He hasn’t got to take certificate from others, “Whether I am advancing in spiritual consciousness, Krsna consciousness.” He’ll feel himself. Bhaktih paresanubhava viraktir anyatra syat. This is the test.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture, Vrndavana, October 21, 1972

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I offer my humble obeisances unto Your lotus feet

If you cannot do anything, simply come and offer your obeisances: “My dear Lord Krsna, I am so poor, so unfortunate, I cannot do all these things, but I offer my humble obeisances unto Your lotus feet.”

Srila Prabhupada, Lecture, Sri Vyasa-puja – August 22, 1973, London

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Any service, willing or even unwilling, is the seed of fortune

Anyone who gives some service to this Krishna Consciousness movement is fortunate proportionately. At least the seed of his fortunate life is sown there. Whether he gives service of some sort, willingly or even unwillingly, the seed is sown, and the fortune will come proportionately. Even if somebody looks shabby and unclean, if he simply says this Krishna Consciousness is very nice thing, even he is not able to take full advantage of it at the time, still he is far more fortunate than any Rockefeller.

Srila Prabhupada – Letter to Toshana Krishna, Los Angeles, November 13, 1968

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