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. "My wife has kicked me. I am so fool. So I shall make suicide by drowning in the water." He was crying and remembering the goddess of learning, that "I am so foolish, my dear mother Sarasvati. You did not favor me, so I shall kill myself." With great lamentation he was going to die. At that time, Sarasvati became very kind and she appeared, "Kalidasa, why you are drowning this way?" "My mother, this is my position. I have been insulted by my wife because I am a fool." "All right, from henceforward you shall be very learned." "Oh, but I do not know..." "No, whatever you say, it will be all right." He got this benediction from mother Sarasvati. He came back, then he was knocking the door. The wife said, "Who are you?" He replied, hastigrati vada visesana (?), "Somebody who can speak very learnedly." Then whatever he was replying, he became, by the grace of Sarasvati, he became highly learned scholarly speaking.
>Srila Prabhupada on John Dewey "‘O brahmanas, just accept me as a completely surrendered soul, and let mother Ganges, the representative of the Lord, also accept me in that way, for I have already taken the lotus feet of the Lord into my heart. Let the snakebird -- or whatever magical thing the brahmana created -- bite me at once. I only desire that you all continue singing the deeds of Lord
Visnu.' > Madhya 23.21
So we should discriminate between lust and love. Love cannot be accepted unless it is reposed in Krsna. That is love. And all other, everything, that is lust. It appears to be similar, but love and lust, there is so much difference of value. Just like gold and iron. Gold and iron. Real love is gold, and the so-called love, or lust, is iron. How you can evaluate gold and iron on the same level? It is not possible. So you have to learn real love. That is how to love Krsna. Our whole process is training people how to love Krsna. Just like this temple. For Krsna we are all engaged in Krsna's service, nice throne, Krsna nicely dressed. But the atheist will say, "These people are foolish. They have taken a brass idol, and they are engaged." That is false. Actually, we are engaged in Krsna's service. We are dressing Krsna directly. We are offering flower, Krsna. Krsna has kindly accepted the arca-murti incarnation to be handled by me. Otherwise just like Arjuna saw the virata-murti, the universal form of Krsna. He was
trembling; he was afraid. He requested Krsna, "Please become again just like my friend. This is very fearful." Yes.
> Ratha-yatra Lecture -- Los Angeles, July 1, 1971 Those who are overly attached to mundane activities cannot understand the ecstatic conversations between Ramananda Raya and Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Consequently the Lord requested that Ramananda Raya keep all these conversations secret and not expose them to the general populace. If one is actually advanced in Krsna consciousness, he can understand these confidential talks; otherwise they appear crazy. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore informed Ramananda Raya that they both appeared like madmen and were therefore on the same platform.
> Madhya 8.291 A Krsna conscious person does not make much endeavor even to maintain his body. He is satisfied with gains which are obtained of their own accord. He neither begs nor borrows, but he labors honestly as far as is in his power, and is satisfied with whatever is obtained by his own honest labor. He is therefore independent in his livelihood. He does not allow anyone's service to hamper his own service in Krsna consciousness. However, for the service of the Lord he can participate in any kind of action without being disturbed by the duality of the material world. The duality of the material world is felt in terms of heat and cold, or misery and happiness. A Krsna conscious person is above duality because he does not hesitate to act in any way for the satisfaction of Krsna. Therefore he is steady both in success and in failure. These signs are visible when one is fully in transcendental knowledge.
Bg 4.23
For want of sufficient knowledge in the absolute science, we are now covered with illusion, and therefore we think that we are separate from Krsna. Although we are separated parts of Krsna, we are nevertheless not different from Him. The bodily difference of the living entities is maya, or not actual fact. We are all meant to satisfy Krsna. By maya alone Arjuna thought that the temporary bodily relationship with his kinsmen was more important than his eternal spiritual relationship with Krsna. The whole teaching of the Gita is targeted toward this end: that a living being, as Krsna's eternal servitor, cannot be separated from Krsna, and his sense of being an identity apart from Krsna is called maya. The living entities, as separate parts and parcels of the Supreme, have a purpose to fulfill. Having forgotten that purpose since time immemorial, they are situated in different bodies, as men, animals, demigods, etc. Such bodily differences arise from forgetfulness of the transcendental service of the Lord. But when one is engaged in transcendental service through Krsna consciousness, one becomes at once liberated from this illusion.
> Bg 4.35 Prabhupada: No. Actually mind carries you to the next body. So mind goes with you. The material mind, material ego, material intelligence become nil when you are completely liberated. But at that time your spiritual mind acts. It is not very difficult to understand. Somebody is acting under the impression... Just like one of our students, he was acting under the impression that he is Frenchman and doing something subversive, and now he is thinking that "I am Krsna's." (chuckles) He has stopped all those nonsense. [break] When he was thinking that he's a Frenchman, that mind was there. And now he's thinking that "I am Krsna's," the mind is there. So where is the chance of losing the mind?> Srimad-Bhagavatam
class 7.9.11 -- Montreal, August 17, 1968
Therefore, everyone in the human form of life should be induced to associate with devotees. By rendering a little service, even by eating prasadam, what to speak of chanting and dancing, everyone can be promoted to Vaikunthaloka. It is therefore requested that all our devotees in the ISKCON community become pure Vaisnavas, so that by their mercy all the people of the world will be transferred to Vaikunthaloka, even without their knowledge. Everyone should be given a chance to take prasadam and thus be induced to chant the holy names Hare Krsna and also dance in ecstasy. By these three processes, although performed without knowledge or education, even an animal went back to Godhead.> Antya 1.33 Devotional service in Krsna consciousness is so sublime that even a little service to Krsna, knowingly or unknowingly, gives one the greatest transcendental benefit. The system of worshiping Krsna by offering flowers from a tree is also beneficial for the living entity who is confined to the bodily existence of that tree. When flowers and fruits are offered to Krsna, the tree that bore them also receives much benefit, indirectly. The arcana process, or worshiping procedure, is therefore beneficial for everyone. Krsna is worshipable by great demigods like Brahma and Lord Siva, and Putana was so fortunate that the same Krsna played in her lap as a little child. The lotus feet of Krsna, which are worshiped by great sages and devotees, were placed on the body of Putana. People worship Krsna and offer food with great reverence and devotion, but automatically He sucked the milk from the body of Putana. Devotees therefore pray that if simply by offering something as an enemy Putana got so much benefit, then who can measure the benefit of worshiping Krsna in love and affection? Therefore only Krsna should be worshiped, for so much benefit awaits the worshiper.> KB 6: Putana Killed "Lord Krsna alone is the Supreme Godhead, and all others are His servants." Only those who go through life being kicked about by fate, slaving hard to fill their bellies and maintain a roof overhead, can harbor so preposterous a wish as to compete with the omnipotent Supreme Controller. It is ludicrous. They dare harbor such desires because they are totally ignorant of the supreme, transcendental position of the Lord. Yet the Supreme Lord is so compassionate that by various tricks He tries to teach even these fools the facts of His transcendental and supreme position. And the Lord's confidential servitors, accepting many hazards and pains, also try every possible means to exorcise Satan from these people, who are possessed by the demon of atheism.> RTW 2.8: The Supreme Lord always resides in the eternal Vaikuntha planets. What is destined to you, it will come. It will come. The Bhagavata says that "Either you enquire..." You go to astrologer, "What is in my fate? Whether I am getting such and such things or not?" You enquire or not enquire, if you are destined to achieve that thing, it will come automatically. Everyone is bound up by the reaction of his past work.> Srimad-Bhagavatam
lecture 1.5.4 -- Los Angeles, January 12, 1968 So when we agree to serve, not to be served, that is liberated person. When we agree to serve only, not to be served. Not to accept service from others, but to serve others -- that is real liberation. But here the material disease is that everyone is making plan "How others will serve me." This is called maya. This is called maya. Maya means that artificially we want to be served. That is not possible. When we agree to serve... As Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given us the path of liberation, jivera svarupa hoy nitya-krsna-dasa, this is our position. We are eternal servant of Krsna.> Bhagavad-gita
lecture 1.13-14 -- London, July 14, 1973 One has to first of all exhibit himself that he is divine,
then he can, I mean to say, serve others divinely. "Physician heal thyself." If a physician is diseased, a patient does not like to go to him. "Well, he is himself diseased." So divine love is very good, but one should understand what is divine love. One should not misunderstand what is divine love. Just like in the material world, lust is accepted as love. A boy is loving a girl, a girl is loving... But it is lust. That is not love. But is going on in the name of love. The boy wants to enjoy the girl, the girl wants to enjoy the boy, and that is going on in love. Love is not like that. Love means, "I enjoy or not enjoy, I love you." That is love. Just like Cowper said, "England, with all thy faults, I love you." That is love. There is no return. Just like Radharani's love to Krsna. She does not require any return. You see? Krsna left Vrndavana, Radharani, and their whole life remained simply crying for Krsna. Krsna never returned. But still, they loved Krsna. That is love. That love is being shown by Caitanya Mahaprabhu: "Where is Krsna? Where is Krsna?" That's Radharani's separation, love in separation. So love means without any return, without any sense gratification, without any consideration. That is love. Aslisya. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's... Aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam adarsanan marma-hatam karotu va . The lover is saying to the beloved, "Either You embrace me with love or you kick me, trample me down under Your feet. And if You make me brokenhearted without meeting me, so whatever You like, You can do. Still I love You." That is love. That is only possible to love Krsna. That is not materially possible.
> Srimad-Bhagavatam lecture 5.5.3 -- Boston, May 4, 1968 "Even if one distributes ten million cows in charity during an eclipse of the sun, lives at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna for millions of years, or gives a mountain of gold in sacrifice to the brahmanas, he does not earn one hundredth part of the merit derived from chanting Hare Krsna." In other words, one who accepts the chanting of Hare Krsna to be some kind of
pious activity is completely misled. Of course, it is pious; but the real fact is that Krsna and His name, being transcendental, are far above all mundane pious activity. Pious activity is on the material platform, but chanting of the holy name of Krsna is completely on the spiritual plane. Therefore, although pasandis do not understand this, pious activity can never compare to the chanting of the holy name.
Adi 3.80 "You are buzzing at My feet just to be forgiven for your past offenses. Kindly go away from My feet! I know that Mukunda has taught you to speak very sweet, flattering words like this and to act as His messenger. These are certainly clever tricks, My dear bumblebee, but I can understand them. This is Krsna's offense. Do not tell Krsna what I have said, although I know that you are very envious. We gopis have given up our husbands, our sons and all the religious principles that promise better births, and now we have no business other than serving Krsna. Yet Krsna, by controlling His mind, has easily forgotten us. Therefore, don't speak of Him any more. Let us forget our relationship."
Srimati Radharani to Uddhava > Antya 19.107 He is the supreme enjoyer, and we are meant to take part in His enjoyment through service to Him, not by trying to enjoy separately. He is omnipotent and thus completely independent. Our minute independence is a tiny reflection of His total independence. It is our misuse of that minute independence and our attempt to enjoy separate from Him that have resulted in our current predicament.> LON Introduction He is thinking he is more than them. That means rascal, overintelligent. Overintelligent means rascal. Intelligence means you must have reason. And if he is going beyond reason, only depending on himself, then he is overintelligent rascal. You understand overintelligent rascal? Don't be overintelligent. That is very risky. Be intelligent. Overintelligent means rascal. Spoiling. Just like milk. You are heating, and if you give overheat, spoil so many. That kind of heating is not required. You just push on heat as much required. Otherwise you'll spoil by your intelligence.> Room Conversation -- May 2, 1976, Fiji
One has to be qualified to preach. It is a gradual process that one becomes sense controlled and a personal example. Preaching is not an easy thing. In the beginning one should worship the Deity and follow the basic practices. When one becomes advanced he can preach. The kanistha adhikari is not condemned. It is a comparative study. The kanistha adhikari can also achieve perfection. If one does not preach, it does not mean that he is fallen, condemned. It is not artificial, one gradually becomes perfect by association.
> Letter to: Srutadeva -- Vrindaban 30 October, 1976 Prabhupada: Hare Krsna. Come on. I was thinking of "Where is Jayananda?" now immediately he has come.
- lecture on His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada's Disappearance Day,
Los Angeles, December 9, 19 Now, however, that has all been changed - changed by the merciful intervention of Your Divine Grace, our beloved spiritual master. By some superior arrangement you entered into our lives and altered the course. You so compassionately halted our headlong plunge toward increased degradation and initiated our first step back home, back to Godhead. That dark most chapter of our lives is over and gone forever. Within one profound moment you spawned within us the most wonderful transformation; your sublime presence melted our stone like hearts, and we became receptive to hear the truth - loving devotional service to Lord Krsna. At that moment the whole universe appeared to unfold, revealing its divine plan. What was previously a meaningless place of death took on significance and the quality of life. Everything appeared resplendent in the transcendental light of bhagavata-dharma. No longer were we looking through the "glass darkly." We were now seeing through the eyes of a self-realized saint. With his every penetrating word, the purpose of life, devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, became increasingly more luminous and clear. It was then that we were delivered from the cruel charge of the material world to the protective shelter of Krsna's lotus feet. Now our future is brilliant. Our lives are filled with such happiness and love that we sometimes think we must be dreaming. This has all been possible only by your unlimited mercy. Remembering that distinguished moment, that first contact with Your Divine Grace, moves us to tears - tears of love and gratitude for you who have saved us. Some of us first met you many years ago, others barely weeks ago. Yet, each of us is struck with wonder at the extraordinary power of your association and by the unfathomable ocean of mercy that you've shown us. It is by this mercy alone that all of us, senior and junior alike, are happily situated on the same boat - your ISKCON, under the able guidance of the same captain - Your Divine Grace, and proceeding toward the same destination, loving devotional service at the lotus feet of Lord
Krsna.> Vyasa Puja offering, 1984 - Puerto Rico
Therefore this Krsna consciousness movement is just like falling of rain from the cloud. Yes. The cloud means a process which collects water from the sea and distributes all over the surface. And the same water again glides down through the river unto the sea. Similarly, this movement means taking mercy from the ocean of mercy of Krsna and distribute it all over the world, so that again the merciful water goes down to the sea. So those who actually want peace or mercy of God, they should kindly try to understand the philosophy of Krsna consciousness movement. And even though you have no time to understand this philosophy through books of knowledge, you can simply join with us for chanting and dancing this Hare Krsna mantra.
> Lecture -- Tokyo, April 29, 1972, (with interpreter)
Prabhupada: They'll not touch: "Oh, it is still dirty." But our going on. What can be done? Where there is no cleanliness, little rubbed with soap, that is sufficient. What can be done? But that is not cleanliness. If there is a black spot on the..., it has to.... It will immediately be cleaned. My mother used to see every utensil, whether there is any spot. The maidservant had to surrender. Examine. Then it is no spot. Then it is finished. Otherwise she has to do again. Everything should be neat and clean. The kitchen should be very neat and clean, washed twice daily, opened nicely and smeared with water and gobar. And if you see the kitchen, immediately you'll feel comfortable. It is very cleanly prepared, then offered to the Deity. Then you take. Automatically your mind becomes cleansed.
> Room Conversation -- April 22, 1976, Melbourne So therefore bhoga, bhoga means enjoyment. The real enjoyer is the Supreme Lord. We are enjoyed, we are not enjoyer. Just like a crude example. Because we have got our material senses, the example, in material world, we can just understand. Just like the husband and the wife. Now, the husband is called the enjoyer, purusa. Purusa. Purusa, man. Man is called purusa. Purusa means enjoyer. And the wife is called stri. Stri means woman. Stri means prakrti. Prakrti means which is enjoyed. The subject and the object. But the enjoyment, actually the enjoyment between husband and wife, that is participated by both. There is no division. When the actual enjoyment is there, there is no division, the husband is enjoying more or the wife is enjoying less or like that. There is no such division when the enjoyment is there. This is a crude example, but still, there is division. The husband is called the enjoyer, and the wife is called the enjoyed. Husband is called the predominator, and the wife is called predominated.Bhagavad-gita Lecture Excerpts: 2.44-45, 2.58 -- New York, March 25, 1966
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