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Hyperlinks, Footnotes, Purports and Web Links
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. Without the association of devotees, one cannot advance in Krsna consciousness. Therefore, we have established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Factually, whoever lives in this society automatically develops Krsna consciousness. Devotees are dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is only dear to devotees. On this platform only can one make progress in Krsna consciousness. Persons in Krsna consciousness, or devotees of the Lord, can please everyone, as is evident in the Krsna consciousness movement. SB 4.12.37P Krsna consciousness is not an artificial imposition on the mind. This consciousness is the original, natural energy of the living entity. When we hear this transcendental vibration,
[Hare Krishna mantra, or Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare
Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare] this consciousness is revived. This simplest method of meditation is recommended for this age. By practical experience also, one can perceive that by chanting this maha-mantra, or the Great Chanting for Deliverance, one can at once feel a transcendental ecstasy coming through from the spiritual stratum.
[Srila Prabhupada, from the Happening Album] Sri Ramadasa, later known as Abhirama Thakura, was one of the twelve gopalas, cowherd boyfriends, of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Empowered by Sri Nityananda Prabhu, he was always in ecstasy and was extremely kind to all fallen souls. It is said that if he offered obeisances to any stone other than a salagrama-sila, it would immediately fracture. It is said that Abhirama Thakura had a whip and that whoever he touched with it would immediately become an elevated devotee of Krsna. Murari Caitanya dasa- from Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila chapter 11- "There were many extraordinary activities performed by Murari, a great devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sometimes in his ecstasy he would slap the cheek of a tiger, and sometimes he would play with a venomous snake." PURPORT - In the Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-lila, Chapter Five, there is the following statement: "Murari Caitanya dasa had no material bodily features, for he was completely spiritual. Thus he would sometimes chase after tigers in the jungle and treat them just like cats and dogs. He would slap the cheek of a tiger and take a venomous snake on his lap. He had no fear for his external body, of which he was completely forgetful. He could spend all twenty-four hours of the day chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra or speaking about Lord Caitanya and Nityananda. Sometimes he would remain submerged in water for two or three days, but he would feel no bodily inconvenience. Thus he behaved almost like stone or wood, but he always used his energy in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. No one can describe his specific characteristics, but it is understood that wherever Murari Caitanya dasa passed, whoever was present would be enlightened in Krsna consciousness simply by the atmosphere he created." Saints- "One should therefore avoid bad company and associate only with devotees. With their realized instructions, such saints can cut the knot connecting one with activities unfavorable to devotional service." Bhakti- Real sannyasa-yoga or
bhakti means that one should know his constitutional position as the living entity, and act accordingly. The living entity has no separate independent identity. He is the marginal energy of the Supreme. When he is entrapped by material energy, he is conditioned, and when he is Krsna conscious, or aware of the spiritual energy, then he is in his real and natural state of life. Therefore, when one is in complete knowledge, one ceases all material sense gratification, or renounces all kinds of sense gratificatory activities. This is practiced by the yogis who restrain the senses from material attachment. But a person in Krsna consciousness has no opportunity to engage his senses in anything which is not for the purpose of Krsna. Therefore, a Krsna conscious person is
simultaneously a sannyasi and a yogi.
Vaisnava- ...only a man who transcends the limited knowledge of a brahmana and reaches the knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna, becomes a person in Krsna consciousness--or, in other words, a Vaisnava. [Bhagavada-gita 4.13 P.] Also- A Vaisnava is a fearless devotee of the Lord, and for the right cause he can take any step suitable for the purpose. Arjuna was also a Vaisnava devotee of Lord Krsna, and he fought valiantly for the satisfaction of the Lord. Similarly, Vajrangaji, or Hanuman, was also a devotee of Lord Rama, and he gave lessons to the nondevotee party of Ravana. The principles of Vaisnavism are to satisfy the Lord by all means. [from Srimad Bhagavatam introduction]
Thakur- So these are the science. So Prahlada Maharaja is our guru. He's not ordinary. Don't think that "He's a five-years-old boy. He has no knowledge." No. He is perfect nitya-siddha guru, and we should always pray for his mercy. And that is Vaisnavata. Vaisnava thakur tomara kukkura boliya janaha more. This is a humble way. "O Vaisnava Thakura..." All Vaisnavas are thakura. They are not ordinary persons. Thakura... We therefore address: Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. So Vaisnava Prahlada Thakura. So we should always pray, vaisnava thakura, tomara kukkura boliya janaha more. This is There is a song of Bhaktivinoda Thakura: "My dear Vaisnava Thakura, kindly accept me as your dog." Vaisnava Thakura. As the dog, by the indication of the master, does everything very obedient, we have to learn this lesson from the dog, how to become faithful to the master. That is the instruction. In everything you can learn something. Everyone Therefore maha-bhagavata, they accept everyone as guru, to learn something. Actually, from the dog we can learn this art, how to become faithful at the risk of life even. There are many instances, dog have given the life for the master. So, and we should be dog to the Vaisnava. Chadiya vaisnava-seva, nistara payeche keba. [Srila Prabhupada lecture- Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.7 Mayapur, February 27, 1977] Also, for more information on this, see- honorary title
Association- from Jayananda's Gita class- "Therefore, this is the process. Krishna consciousness means the process to get free from all bad association. And to take up good association means to take up association with Krishna. Because Krishna is all-good. And Krishna is sat-chit-ananda-vigraha. So also we're sat-chit-ananda-vigraha. But in order to realize our sat-chit-ananda-vigraha nature, then we have to associate with Krishna because He is giving instruction on how to realize Him." and- from Srimad Bhagavatam purports, by Srila Prabhupada - The Absolute, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is most intimately related to all living entities. Therefore if one understands the Vaisnava philosophy, which explains how He is present everywhere and how He acts everywhere, to worship the Supreme Lord or to realize Him is not at all difficult. Realization of the Lord, however, is possible only in the association of devotees. SB 7.6.20-23
Kinds of love- from Srila Prabhupada's purports to Mukunda-mala-stotra- Various agents of the external energy make explicit propaganda to try to root out the very seed of divine consciousness. But this is impossible to do, because although circumstances may choke up a living being's divine consciousness for the time being, it cannot be killed. In his original identity the living entity is indestructible, and so also are his original spiritual qualities. One can kill neither the spirit soul nor his spiritual qualities. To remember the Lord and desire to serve Him are the spiritual qualities of the spirit soul. One can curb down these spiritual qualities by artificial means, but they will be reflected in a perverted way on the mirror of material existence. The spiritual quality of serving the Lord out of transcendental affinity will be pervertedly reflected as love for wine, women, and wealth in different forms. The so-called love of material things--even love for one's country, community, religion, or family, which is accepted as a superior qualification for civilized human beings--is simply a perverted reflection of the love of Godhead dormant in every soul. The position of King Kulasekhara is therefore the position of a liberated soul, because he does not want to allow his genuine love of God to become degraded into so-called love for material things.
Not to lament- from Bhagavad-gita 2.11 - purport by Srila Prabhupada The Lord at once took the position of the teacher
and chastised the student, calling him, indirectly, a fool. The Lord
said, "You are talking like a learned man, but you do not know that
one who is learned--one who knows what is body and what is soul--does
not lament for any stage of the body, neither in the living nor in the
dead condition." As it will be explained in later chapters, it will
be clear that knowledge means to know matter and spirit and the
controller of both. Arjuna argued that religious principles should be
given more importance than politics or sociology, but he did not know
that knowledge of matter, soul and the Supreme is even more important
than religious formularies. And, because he was lacking in that
knowledge, he should not have posed himself as a very learned man. As he
did not happen to be a very learned man, he was consequently lamenting
for something which was unworthy of lamentation. The body is born and is
destined to be vanquished today or tomorrow; therefore the body is not
as important as the soul. * [still we feel separation from
Vaisnavas who are not within our vision, yet knowing that they still
live in sound and in the spiritual world and their teachings and example
go on forever]
SB 3.15.33p - The Mayavadi philosophers, the impersonalists, interpret this verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam to mean that the small sky and the big sky are one, but this idea cannot stand. The example of the big sky and the small skies is also applicable within a person's body. The big sky is the body itself, and the intestines and other parts of the body occupy the small sky. Each and every part of the body has individuality, even though occupying a small part of the total body. Similarly, the whole creation is the body of the Supreme Lord, and we created beings, or anything that is created, are but a small part of that body. The parts of the body are never equal to the whole. This is never possible. In Bhagavad-gita it is said that the living entities, who are parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord, are eternally parts and parcels. According to the Mayavadi philosophers, the living entity in illusion considers himself part and parcel although he is actually one and the same as the supreme whole. This theory is not valid. The oneness of the whole and the part is in their quality. The qualitative oneness of the small and large portions of the sky does not imply that the small sky becomes the big sky. Lecture BG 7/28/66/NY- Lecture BG 11/27/72/HYD- Just like a green bird, when he enters into the tree, it appears that the bird is now merged into the tree, but it is not that. The bird keeps its identity within the tree. That is the conclusion. Although both the tree and the bird being green, it appears that the bird is now merged into the tree, this merging does not mean that, that the bird and the tree has become one. No. It appears like that. Because both of them are the same color, it appears that the bird has..., there is no more existence of the bird. But that is not a fact. The bird is... Similarly, we are individual spirit soul. The quality being one, say, greenness, when one merges into the Brahman effulgence, the living entity does not lose his identity. And because he does not lose the identity, and because the living entity, by nature, is joyful, he cannot stay in the impersonal Brahman effulgence for many days. Because he has to seek out joyfulness. That joyfulness means varieties.
In the Padma Purana there is a statement: "For any person who is chanting the holy name either softly or loudly, the paths to liberation and even heavenly happiness are at once open." NOD You establish Krsna at home. This center, this Krsna consciousness center, what is the purpose? You can also establish at home Deity. You can also perform the Deity worship. You can also perform kirtana at home. You can also read Bhagavad-gita at home. It is not that we are, we have made this business that you come here and pay something and we profit by your payment. No. It is education, how one should be satisfied by accepting krsna-prasadam, for working Krsna. Then you will be feeling satisfaction. You do business for Krsna, you do your occupational duty for Krsna, you cook for Krsna, you offer to Krsna, take prasadam of Krsna. You will feel very happy. That is the description. There are activities of the body, activities of the mind and activities of speech. A Krsna conscious person engages his words in preaching the glories of the Lord. This is called kirtana. And by his mind a Krsna conscious person always thinks of the activities of the Lord -- as He is speaking on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra or engaging in His various pastimes in Vrndavana with His devotees. In this way one can always think of the activities and pastimes of the Lord. This is the mental culture of Krsna consciousness.
NOD
"Simply if you are engaged in Krsna's business... Priti-purvakam, with love. Not as hackneyed: "Oh here is the duty, chanting of Hare Krsna. All right, Harekrsnaharekrsnaharekrsna..." (Prabhupada chants very quickly and indistinctly) Not like that. With priti, with love. Chant every name, "Hare Krsna," and hear. Here is Krsna; here is Radharani. That kind of chanting, quality. Not "Harekrsnaharekrsnakrsnakrsnaharehare..." Not like that. Not like that. Priti. - Srila Prabhupada - Srimad-Bhagavatam class 1.10.2 -- Mayapura, June 17, 1973 If you keep in touch with God with faith and love, then God is within yourself, He'll give you intelligence how you can go back to home, back to Godhead. There are many different processes or yoga system to be in touch with God, but for the people in this age, this is the easiest method, to be in touch with God simply by chanting His holy name. from - Bhagavad-gita 2.13 -- Public Lecture With German Translation Throughout -- Hamburg, September 10, 1969 Prasadam
We are searching after ananda, bliss, but we do not know where to get bliss. We are trying to get bliss in this material world by eating meat, eating wine, drinking wine, by sex. They are trying to get ananda. That is not ananda. Ananda is what is satyananda. These anandas, these pleasures -- flickering, for few minutes, for few hours. That is not ananda. Ananda means satyananda, real ananda, real ananda. What is that real ananda? Brahma-sukha. That ananda is in exchange with the Supreme Brahman. Brahma-saukhyam anantam. That is anantam, unlimited ananda. Therefore ramante yoginah anante. Therefore those who are actually yogis, bhakti-yogis... There are different types of yoga. So they ramante, they enjoy, ramante yoginah anante, along with the ananta, unlimited. Krsna is unlimited. When you join with Krsna in His rasa dance as gopis or as cowherds boy, play with Him, or become His father and mother, Yasoda, Nanda Maharaja, Yasoda-rani, or become servant, or even become like water Yamuna, or land in Vrndavana and trees or fruits or flowers, any way, or cows and calves... Join with Krsna. Then you get ananda, real ananda. Anandamayo
'bhyasat. Sac-cid-ananda-vigraha - Bhagavad-gita class 1.23 -- London, July 19, 1973 Then who will do this business? Krsna wants that te 'pi yanti param gatim, ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah. Then who will deliver these papa-yoni? If "I am a big sannyasi and big devotee, I do not go out side Vrndavana, I do not go outside India. I am jagat-guru..." "Have you seen jagat?" "No. I'm self-made jagat-guru." This is going on. Cheating. This cheating is going on. What is mahatma they do not know; still, they are posing themselves mahatma. Mahatmaji he (Hindi).
Now, if one advances a little more, he wants to do something for Krsna. Just like if you think somebody is very great, very noble, then if you think that I must do something for that man. So this is called
dasya. First, santa, neutral, then activity begins. This is later stage than the santa stage. In the santa stage a devotee simply admits the greatness of God. But when he makes a further advancement in the understanding of that greatness, that is the beginning of Krsna consciousness. When one wants to do something for Krsna.
- Bhagavad-gita lecture 10.1 - New York, December 27, 1966 This is called santa-rasa. Above this, somebody is giving me flower, sandalwood. This is called dasya-rasa, serving. Better than ... This is silence; there is work. The santa-rasa, dasya-rasa, then, again develop, sakhya-rasa, more intimate, friendly. Then vatsalya-rasa, more intimate. Just like the parental affection. And more intimate, conjugal love. Just like young boy, young girl, try to love one another. So these rasas are there. Vrndavana, Krsna is in love with the gopis. He is playing with friends, cowherd boys. His affectionate mother Yasoda, feeding Him, and there are servants also, serving Krsna. And the trees, the water, the flowers, they are serving silently. Panca-mukhya-rasa, five chief mellows, humors. The same thing is here also. Here also the santa-rasa, sakhya-rasa, dasya-rasa is there. But that is mixed with material cranks (grains?). Just like sweet rice. Sweet rice is very nice, but if it is mixed with some grains of sand, just imagine. The Bhagavad-gita, on the other hand, teaches liberation through devotional service to the Supreme Lord. The only way to obtain this devotional service is to take full shelter of the spiritual authority, the
guru, who is coming in the line of a proper disciplic succession. Those who toil without worshipping the spiritual master will find that all their endeavors are futile.
> RTW 4.5: Captivated by Maya, the Jiva Has Forgotten Lord Krsna.
Being part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, if we do not aspire to serve Him, then we forgo our actual identity and fall down into nescience. An appropriate parallel is the functioning of the body: If a limb refuses to execute its usual duty, it becomes useless to the body. Similarly, if our activities are not focused on Lord Krsna, they are rendered impotent and valueless. The eternal constitutional position of the self is to
serve the Supreme Lord, Krsna. In fact, all our sufferings start from our refusal to act in our original capacity as Lord Krsna's eternal servants. Therefore, the prime duty of all living entities is to become re-instated in their original, consitutional position. The first step toward that goal is to perform karma-yoga. In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is stated, "The living entity is bound around the neck by the chain of maya because he has forgotten that he is eternally a servant of Krsna."
> RTW 1.8: The Living Entities' Real Identity The spirit soul is transcendental to all material calamities; therefore, the so-called calamities are called false. A man may see a tiger swallowing him in a dream, and he may cry for this calamity. Actually there is no tiger and there is no suffering; it is simply a case of dreams. In the same way, all calamities of life are said to be dreams. If someone is lucky enough to get in contact with the Lord by devotional service, it is all gain. Contact with the Lord by any one of the nine devotional services is always a forward step on the path going back to Godhead.> TQK 8: Let There Be Calamities
Krsna's foster mother, Yasoda, is thinking, "If I do not feed Krsna sumptuously, He will die." She for. gets that Krsna is the Supreme Lord, that He is sustaining the three worlds. She forgets that only one Lord is supplying the necessities of all the living entities. This same Personality of Godhead has become the son of Yasoda, and she is thinking, "If I do not feed Him nicely, He will die." This is love. She has forgotten that it is the Supreme Personality of Godhead who has appeared before her as a little child. The spiritual world is three fourths of the total creation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and it is the most exalted region. The spiritual world is naturally superior to the material world; however, Mathura and the adjoining areas, although appearing in the material world, are considered superior to the spiritual world because the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself appeared at Mathura. The interior forests of Vrndavana are considered superior to Mathura because of the presence of the twelve forests (dvadasa-vana), such as Talavana, Madhuvana and Bahulavana, which are famous for the various pastimes of the Lord. Thus the interior Vrndavana forest is considered superior to Mathura, but superior to these forests is the divine Govardhana Hill because Krsna lifted Govardhana Hill like an umbrella, raising it with His lotuslike beautiful hand to protect His associates, the denizens of Vraja, from the torrential rains sent by the angry Indra, King of the demigods. It is also at Govardhana Hill that Krsna tends the cows with His cowherd friends, and there also He had His rendezvous with His most beloved Sri Radha and engaged in loving pastimes with Her. Radha-kunda, at the foot of Govardhana, is superior to all because it is there that love of Krsna overflows. Advanced devotees prefer to reside at Radha-kunda because this place is the site of many memories of the eternal loving affairs between Krsna and Radharani
(rati-vilasa).> NoI 9 The concept of accepting God as a son is superior to the concept of accepting God as a father. There is a distinction. The relationship between father and son is that the son wants to take something from the father. The father's relationship with the son is that the father always wants to give something to the son. Therefore, the relationship with God or Krsna as son is better than the relationship with Krsna by one who thinks, "If I accept God as my father, then my business will be to ask for my necessities from the father." But, if I become the father of Krsna, then from the very beginning of His childhood, my business will be to serve Him. The father is the parent of the child from the very beginning of his birth; therefore the concept of this relationship of Vasudeva and Devaki is sublime.> TYS 2: Yoga and the Master of Yoga It is said in the scriptures, brahma-saukhyam tv anantam: spiritual happiness is unlimited. Here it is said that even the Lord cannot measure such happiness. This does not mean that the Lord cannot measure it and is therefore imperfect in that sense. The actual position is that the Lord can measure it, but the happiness in the Lord is also identical with the Lord on account of absolute knowledge. So the happiness derived from the Lord may be measured by the Lord, but the happiness increases again, and the Lord measures it again, and then again the happiness increases more and more, and the Lord measures it more and more, and as such there is eternally a competition between increment and measurement, so much so that the competition is never stopped, but goes on unlimitedly ad infinitum. Spiritual happiness is anandambudhi-vardhanam, or the ocean of happiness which increases. The material ocean is stagnant, but the spiritual ocean is dynamic. > SB 2.6.36 Lord Sri Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead is ad infinitum, more powerful than the most powerful sun of our experience. Millions and billions of suns are created by Him and annihilated by Him within His one breathing period. In the material world the sun is considered to be the source of all productivity and material energy, and only due to the sun can we have the necessities of life. Therefore, during the personal presence of the Lord on the earth, all paraphernalia for our peace and prosperity, especially religion and knowledge, were in full display because of the Lord's presence, just as there is a full flood of light in the presence of the glowing sun. Maharaja Yudhisthira observed some discrepancies in his kingdom, and therefore he became very anxious about Arjuna, who was long absent, and there was also no news about Dvaraka's well-being. He suspected the disappearance of Lord Krsna, otherwise there would have been no possibility of fearful omens.
SB 1.14.3 When Lord Caitanya was born during the lunar eclipse, all India was roaring with the holy sound of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. These sixteen names of the Lord are mentioned in many Puranas and Upanisads, and they are described as the Taraka-brahma nama of this age. It is recommended in the sastras that offenseless chanting of these holy names of the Lord can deliver a fallen soul from material bondage. There are innumerable names of the Lord both in India and outside, and all of them are equally good because all of them indicate the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But because these sixteen are especially recommended for this age, people should take advantage of them and follow the path of the great acaryas who attained success by practicing the rules of the sastras (revealed scriptures).> SB Introduction
This intuition of the living being is sometimes manifested even during the conditioned stage of a living being in the material world, and such intuition is expressed in the manner of altruism, philanthropy, socialism, communism, etc., by the undeveloped minds of less intelligent persons. In the mundane field such an outlook of doing good to others in the form of society, community, family, country or humanity is a partial manifestation of the same original feeling in which a pure living entity feels happiness by the happiness of the Supreme Lord. Such superb feelings were exhibited by the damsels of Vrajabhumi for the happiness of the Lord. The gopis loved the Lord without any return, and this is the perfect exhibition of the akamah spirit. Kama spirit, or the desire for one's own satisfaction, is fully exhibited in the material world, whereas the spirit of akamah is fully exhibited in the spiritual world.> SB 2.3.10 The name Durga is sometimes used to refer to the internal, superior potency, as stated in the Pancaratra: "In all mantras used to worship Krsna, the presiding deity is known as Durga." Thus in the transcendental sound vibrations glorifying and worshiping the Absolute Truth, Krsna, the presiding deity of the particular mantra or hymn is called Durga. The name Durga therefore refers also to that personality who functions as the internal potency of the Lord and who is thus on the platform of suddha-sattva, pure transcendental existence. This internal potency is understood to be Krsna's sister, known also as Ekanamsa or
Subhadra. This is the Durga who was worshiped by the gopis in Vrndavana. Several acaryas have pointed out that ordinary people are sometimes bewildered and think that the names Maha-maya and Durga refer exclusively to the external potency of the Lord.
> SB 10.22.4 The rasa dance is a completely spiritual performance. In order to establish this fact, Krsna, the supreme mystic, expanded Himself into many forms and stood beside each gopi. Placing His hands on the shoulders of the gopis on both sides of Him, He began to dance in their midst. The mystic expansions of Krsna were not perceived by the gopis because Krsna appeared alone to each of them. Each gopi thought that Krsna was dancing
with her alone. Above that wonderful dance flew many airplanes carrying the denizens of the heavenly planets, who were very eager to see the wonderful dance of Krsna with the gopis. The Gandharvas and Kinnaras began to sing, and, accompanied by their respective wives, all the Gandharvas began to shower flowers on the dancers.> KB 33: Description of the Rasa Dance Devotional service is always dormant in everyone's heart, and by the offenseless chanting of the holy names of the Lord, one's original dormant Krsna consciousness is awakened. This awakening to Krsna consciousness is the beginning of sadhana-bhakti. This can be divided into many different parts, including faith, association with devotees,
initiation by the spiritual master, engagement in devotional service under the instructions of a spiritual master, steadiness in devotional service and the awakening of a taste for devotional service. In this way, one can become attached to Krsna and His service, and when this attachment is intensified, it results in ecstatic love for Krsna.> Madhya 19.177 "Prabhupada came down the ramp, Jayananda was holding a parasol umbrella over Prabhupada's head. Well, at that time the Spiritual Master was glowing. He was glowing like a light bulb. The lobby was illumined by the brightness. And when a devotee used a flash bulb to take a picture the glow came back...A black janitor responsible for sweeping the floors was there leaning on his broom. His eyes got comically wide & he exclaimed, "That man is shining. I tell you that man is shining.." from Jim Lyles SB- He [Sri Krsna] expands Himself as Paramatma in everyone's heart by His inconceivable energy, and He also expands Himself as the glowing effulgence of brahmajyoti by expansion of His personal glow. It is stated in the Brahma-samhita that the brahmajyoti is His personal glow. Therefore, there is no difference between Him and His personal glow, brahmajyoti, or His plenary portions as Paramatma. Less intelligent persons who are not aware of this fact consider brahmajyoti and Paramatma to be different from Sri Krsna.
> SB 1.9.42 So if we always chant... Suppose I am now freed from all sinful reaction. I may be attacked again. That is quite possible. I may be free from the disease but I may be attacked again by this disease. That is possible. But if you always keep yourself constantly in Krsna consciousness, chanting Hare Krsna. Therefore we supply the beads and ask the student, "Chant Hare Krsna." Then sinful activities cannot touch you. These are the processes. And if you keep yourself without being touched by the sinful activities, then one who does so achieves liberation in the supreme. Then your liberation is guaranteed. Yes.
> Bhagavad-gita class 5.17-24 -- Los Angeles, February 8, 1969 In a similar way, we find in the Bhagavad-gita that the Gita was taught to the sungod, some millions of years ago, but Krishna has mentioned only three names in this parampara system--namely, Vivasvan, Manu, and Iksvaku; and so these gaps do not hamper from understanding the parampara system. We have to pick up the prominent acaryas, and follow from him. There are many branches also from the parampara system, and it is not possible to record all the branches and sub-branches in the disciplic succession. We have to pick up from the authority of the acharya in whatever sampradaya we belong to. > Letter to: Dayananda -- San Francisco 12 April, 1968 Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita it is recommended, acaryopasanam. If you want real knowledge, then you must take knowledge from the
acaryas or the acarya-parampara. Then there is knowledge. Otherwise it is ignorance.
> Lecture with Translator -- Sanand, December 25, 1975
The surrendering process is described here very nicely. The first qualification is that one should not be deluded by pride. Because the conditioned soul is puffed up, thinking himself the lord of material nature, it is very difficult for him to surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One should know by the cultivation of real knowledge that he is not lord of material nature; the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Lord. When one is free from delusion caused by pride, he can begin the process of surrender. For one who is always expecting some honor in this material world, it is not possible to surrender to the Supreme Person. Pride is due to illusion, for although one comes here, stays for a brief time and then goes away, he has the foolish notion that he is the lord of the world. He thus makes all things complicated, and he is always in trouble. The whole world moves under this impression.
> Bg 15.5
New York Ratha-yatra Prabhupada: Last year we introduced Ratha-yatra in Philadelphia. It was very successful. And this year we have introduced in New York. It is also very successful. Everyone, government official, police, public, all enjoyed. And the Fifth Avenue is the most important avenue in the
world. > Garden Conversation -- September 7, 1976, Vrndavana Our philosophy is that everything is Krsna's property, and everything should be used for Krsna's service. I instructed this philosophy to George Harrison, and he is trying to render service to Krsna in many ways. Recently you know he has given us our London temple, the cost being L220,000. Our devotees are very happily living there and the blessings of Krsna are going to George Harrison. So everyone of us should try to please Krsna and His devotee. Then our life is successful. Better to please His devotee first. That is a recommendation for being introduced to Krsna.
> Letter to: Dhrstaketu: -- Bombay 14 October, 1973 The emblem of Hanuman on the flag of Arjuna is another sign of victory because Hanuman cooperated with Lord Rama in the battle between Rama and Ravana, and Lord Rama emerged victorious. Now both Rama and Hanuman were present on the chariot of Arjuna to help him. Lord Krsna is Rama Himself, and wherever Lord Rama is, His eternal servitor Hanuman and His eternal consort Sita, the goddess of fortune, are present. Therefore, Arjuna had no cause to fear any enemies whatsoever. And above all, the Lord of the senses, Lord Krsna, was personally present to give him direction. Thus, all good counsel was available to Arjuna in the matter of executing the battle. In such auspicious conditions, arranged by the Lord for His eternal devotee, lay the signs of assured victory. Lecture- "Besides that, when we chant Krsna's name, we chant also Lord Rama's name. Just like in the prayer offered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, krsna krsna krsna krsna So devotees, they always chant together Krsna's name and Rama's name. So when there is question of rama-nama, there is Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. That is rama-nama."
> Bhagavad-gita lecture 4.12 -- Bombay, April 1, 1974 When a man professes to belong to a particular type of faith with reference to the particular time and circumstances of birth, and thus one claims to be a Hindu, a Muslim, a Christian, Buddhist, or any other sect, and sub-sect, such designations are non-sanatana-dharma. A Hindu may change his faith to become a Muslim, or a Muslim may change his faith to become a Hindu or a Christian, etc., but in all circumstances such change of religious faith does not allow a person to change his eternal engagement of rendering service to other. A Hindu or a Muslim or a Christian, in all circumstances, he is servant of somebody, and thus to profess a particular type of faith is not to be considered as sanatana-dharma, but the constant companion of the living being, that is, rendering of service, is the sanatana-dharma. So factually, we are related in the service relationship with the Supreme Lord.
> Bhagavad-gita Introduction (new98) -- New York, February 19, 1966 |
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