Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 78
July 28, 2023
Thoroughly well conversed with the philosophy
Without preaching, without understanding philosophy, you cannot keep your strength. Everyone should be thoroughly well conversed with the philosophy which we are putting… That means you must read thoroughly every day. So many books we have got. And Bhagavata is so perfect that any verse you read, you get a new enlightenment. It is so nice. Either Bhagavad-gita or Bhagavata. But it is not ordinary writing.
Srila Prabhupada, Morning Walk — December 12, 1973, Los Angeles
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Serving Krsna with great love and affection
Bhajatam priti-purvakam. This engagement means always trying to render some service to the Lord. How? Priti-purvakam: “with love and faith.” Not that “Oh, I have to do it? All right, let me do.” No. “Oh, I have to do it? Let me do it nicely.” Unless there is love, you cannot do it nicely, any matter. In the material world also, unless you have got some attachment for something, you cannot act it very nicely. Just like a musician. Because one has got a good attachment for music, he tries to perform it very perfectly. So love is the basis.
Similarly, when you serve Krsna, if you have no love for Krsna, you cannot serve Him very nicely. And Krsna also does not accept your service if it is not done in great love and affection. That is the basic principle. Krsna does not require your service. He is self-sufficient. He has got many servants, anywhere and everywhere. So Krsna does not require our service. It is our interest. If we render service to Krsna, then we become happy. That is the profit.
From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bg 2.39 — London, September 12, 1973
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July 27, 2023
The Perfection of Renunciation
Being purified by his intelligence and controlling the mind with determination, giving up the objects of sense gratification, being freed from attachment and hatred, one who lives in a secluded place, who eats little, who controls his body, mind and power of speech, who is always in trance and who is detached, free from false ego, false strength, false pride, lust, anger, and acceptance of material things, free from false proprietorship, and peaceful — such a person is certainly elevated to the position of self-realization.
Srila Prabhupada — Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Chapter18 “Conclusion: The Perfection of Renunciation ” Text 51-53
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July 26, 2023
Snakelike men
Let them chant and take prasadam. Everyone will get. Then gradually, as a snake charming, by chanting, chanting, chanting, then they will be subdued. And that is guaranteed process. There is no doubt. Anyone, even a man is like a snake. In material world everyone is a snake — envious. Snake is very envious. You are passing by the side, “Oh! You are passing by my side?” This is snake. No offense. Because he is passing — he has got the poison — he’ll utilize it. This is snake. Without offense. If somebody hurts him or tramples him — no. “Oh, you are so daring? You are passing? You do not know I am snake?” Sarpah krurah khalah krurah sarpat kruratarah khalah [Niti Sastra]. There are similarly men also. Unnecessarily they are envious, offensive. Unnecessary. They cannot tolerate others’ opulence.
Srila Prabhupada/ Room Conversation — January 8, 1977, Bombay
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July 25, 2023
Free will and acts of free will are sanctioned by Krishna
Pancadravida: Srila Prabhupada, what is our fortune that we’ve come in contact with a qualified guru? What have we done to qualify to come in
contact with you?
Revatinandana: In other words, why do some come and others not come?
Prabhupada: It is the ajnata-sukrti, say. Ajnata-sukrti. You might have done something, very pious activities, which you do not know, but on the effect of.
Madhudvisa: So it seems like it’s up to chance, then.
Prabhupada: No chance. Just like a sinful man. Some saintly person comes to him and he gives some money to him. He does not know that “I am doing very pious activity,” but because he has given, he becomes pious.
Revatinandana: If not even a blade of grass moves unless Krsna sanctions it, then why does someone have the opportunity to perform such ajnata-sukrti, another person not?
Prabhupada: Yes, Krsna wants… Suppose a saintly person comes to a very sinful man. He needs some money. Immediately Krsna says, “Give him some money. He requires.” So he says, “All right, sir, take it.” So Krsna’s desires, he gives. Unless Krsna dictates from within, how he can give?
Hari-sauri: So then where is the question of free will? If I want to give or not to give…
Prabhupada: No, no, free will under Krsna. You can become free will and become a big man immediately. Your free will sanctioned by Krsna. You are not so free that whatever you like, you can do.
Madhudvisa: So even if I want to perform some ajnata-sukrti, it is only by Krsna’s mercy that I will do it.
Prabhupada: Yes. […]
Revatinandana: But then the question is why some and not others also?
Trivikrama: Krsna is in everyone’s heart.
Gurukrpa: But some are innocent.
Prabhupada: That is Krsna’s dictation.
Revatinandana: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes. And you cannot bind Krsna to dictate in a similar way. If He likes, He can ask a sinful man, “Do this.” If He doesn’t like, He may not act. That is Krsna.
Revatinandana: So ultimately it is simply by the mercy of Krsna…
Prabhupada: Yes.
Revatinandana: …that he comes back to Krsna.
Prabhupada: Yes. So it is Krsna’s business where to show mercy, where not to show. You cannot oblige Him that “You show mercy everywhere.” No. Naham prakasah sarvasya yoga-maya-samavrtah [Bg. 7.25]. Krsna… You cannot oblige Krsna, “You do this.” That is not Krsna. That is not Krsna. If one is obliged to act to your dictation, then he is not Krsna. Therefore whatever Krsna likes, He’ll do. You cannot oblige Him, that “You have to do it.” No. That is karma-mimamsa, that “If good work gives good result, so why should we care for Krsna? We shall do the good work.” That is… Ordinary people, they think like that. Karma-mimamsa. “If I do good work, Krsna will be obliged to give me good effect. Why shall I care for Krsna?” That is karma-mimamsa. “Work is final. Do good work, that’s all.” They say like that. But we say, even if you do good work, if Krsna does not want it, then it will not produce good result. That is Krsna.”
Morning Walk Conversation, March 14, 1976, Mayapur
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July 24, 2023
Don’t try to approach Krsna directly
In an office, you cannot contact the proprietor directly. There are subordinate officers. Through them you have to take the proprietor’s help. The office master is there. You have to satisfy the office master. You cannot directly approach the proprietor. If you satisfy the office master, then your promotion and other things is all right. I have got practical experience. One of my friend, he was working in office. So the proprietor was there, and many other employees were there. So that my friend, he suggested something to the proprietor, and the proprietor immediately dismissed him: “Oh, this man want to suggest me? Dismiss immediately. Give him his pay, he will go away.” In that I have got practical experience. He later on became so sorry. So we should not try to approach directly Krsna. That is not good idea. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasa-dasanudasah.
Srila Prabhupada/ Room Conversation — March 16, 1974, Vrndavana
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July 23, 2023
Alert in understanding the sastric conclusions
Go on reading books and have the correct perception and Krsna will help you. siddhanta baliya citte na kara alasa iha haite krsna lage sudrdha manasa [Adi 2.117]. A sincere student should not neglect the discussion of such conclusions, considering them controversial, for such discussions strengthen the mind. Thus one’s mind becomes attached to Sri Krsna.
You should be always alert in understanding the sastric conclusions that will help you, otherwise we can be misled by bogus philosophies. I am very pleased that you are studying the books. This will make you happy and successful.
From a letter by Srila Prabhupada to Ayodhyapati — Vrindaban 22 September, 1976
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July 22, 2023
Suffering is Krsna’s mercy
It is natural for those who have developed intense love for Krsna not to care for personal inconvenience and impediments. Such devotees are simply determined to execute the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His representative, the spiritual master. In all circumstances, even amidst the greatest dangers, they undeviatingly carry on with the greatest determination. This definitely proves the intense love of the servitor. As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.8), tat te ‘nukampam su-samiksamanah: those who seriously desire to get free from the clutches of material existence, who have developed intense love for Krsna, are worthy candidates for going back home, back to Godhead. An intense lover of Krsna does not care for any number of material discomforts, scarcity, impediments or unhappiness. It is said that when one sees apparent unhappiness or distress in a perfect Vaisnava, it is not at all unhappiness for him; rather, it is transcendental bliss. In the Siksastaka (8), Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has also instructed, aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam [Cc. Antya 20.47]. The intense lover of Krsna is never deviated from his service, despite all difficulties and impediments brought before him.
Srila Prabhupada, Cc Madhya 4.187 purport
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July 21, 2023
Laksmi and Narayana
We are praying to Laksmiji with sambrahma, “Mother, give me little money. Give me little favor, I may be happy.” We are worshiping Sri. Still, she does not remain, Sri. Sri’s another name is Cancala. Cancala, she is in this material world. Today I may be millionaire; tomorrow I may be beggar in the street. Because every opulence depends on money. So money, here nobody can have fixed up. That is not possible. That Sri which is so flickering, they are worshiping the Lord with sambrahma, with respect. Here we are thinking, “Laksmi may not go away,” but there, Sri is thinking, “Krsna may not go away.” That is the difference. Here we are afraid that Laksmi may go away at any moment, and they are afraid Krsna may go away. This is the difference. So such Krsna, such Narayana, how He can be daridra? This is all imagination.
From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.2 — February 12, 1977, Mayapur
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July 20, 2023
Book distribution and income
We are selling our books unexpectedly; therefore we shall have never scarcity of money. Never. Either in India or abroad. Whatever you are doing by selling these books, that this is a great opportunity. We are not existing like others, simply by the contribution of others.
Srila Prabhupada, Room Conversation — February 2, 1977, Bhubaneswar
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