Nectarian Quotations   29.08.2010

The way the Lord teaches through others

A housewife teaches the daughter-in-law by teaching the daughter. Similarly, the Lord teaches the world by teaching the devotee… SB 1.9.17.pp

Poem to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta by Jagadbandhu Bhaktiranjana

Before he left this world, Sripada Jagabandhu wrote a poem to Srila Prabhupada. The translation of that poem is as follows: “What can I give you GuruDev? The wealth I can give you is yours. You are my treasure and I belong to you. By giving you your property I have nothing to lose. You knew about the sadness in my heart, who else could I talk to? By giving you what belongs to you, I become yours. Jagadbandhu dasa says; O you who are the land of nectar personified, you have everything. All I have is you… Prabhupada Sarasvati Thakur Biography

If not in Madhurya then turn to Lord Nityananda

All the pure devotees who are not worshipping Sri Krsna in the mellow of conjugal relationship (madhurya rasa) know Lord Nityananada to be their original spiritual master. But the original spiritual master of those who worship Sri Krsna in madhurya rasa is Srimati Radharani… (Sri Upadesamrta p.27) Prabhupada Sarasvati Thakur Biography pg.42.

Definition of a Vaisnava

kanaka kamini, pratistha bhagini

chhatiyachhe yare sei ta’ vaisnava

One who has been released from the clutches of the three tigers representing money, women and personal ambition is a vaisnava… Prabhupada Sarasvati Thakur pg.46.

Only pure devotional service can attract Krsna

“Pure devotional service is the only means to attract Krsna” You cannot attract Krsna. Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with full opulences. So you cannot attract by your richness, by your reputation, by your education, by your beauty or by your strength or renunciation. No you cannot attract Krsna by all these things, because He is already full… NOD Lect-Vbn.Nov3,72.

SP. has better friends than us in the spiritual world

Guru kripa Maharaj said Srila Prabhupada has better friends than us in the spiritual world. They must be preparing a big reception for him. He will leave us pip-squeaks here. I said, He taught us enough, so we can go there too”… Iskcon in the 70’s SDG

Personal association is for fools

Hridayananda Gosvami said that a year and half ago, Srila Prabhupada said his personal association was not very important. We remember a quote from few years ago: “Personal association is for fools.”… SDG, Iskcon in the 70’s pg.325

Why sober promises were made at the time of SP. Disappearance

It has been a month since the disappearance of Srila Prabhupada. Most tears are finished. But are sober promises to be dropped? Why were sober promises made at that time? Because we would not bear to continue the nonsense. We felt we had failed to be good disciples during his presence in this world and on his sudden disappearance, the loss made us ashamed, that we had failed to appreciate great gift of his teachings… SDG. Isk 70,s pg. 357

Vasudeva; the pure spiritual essence

The heart that is brightly illuminated by the pure spiritual essence bears the of Vasudeva… BST, Presidentail address July 1931, Harmonist

4th & 5th dimension

Baladeva is just next to Krsna in the category of object of worship. In the Maha-Vaikuntha He is manifest as, Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. The topics of the fourth dimension lie beyond the threefold specification of the Linear, superficial and cubical magnitudes of this world. The topics of the 5th dimension are still higher. They are words spoken by the flute of Krishna… BST, Presidentail address July 1931, Harmonist

The ancestry of Shree Krishna

The following account is found in the Bhagavatam. Shortly before the Appearance of Sri Krishna King Surasena ruled and resided in Mathura. Under him Mathura became the apital of the Yadus. Vasudeva father of Krishna belonged to the family of king Surasena. Vasudeva married Devaki, daughter of Devaka, of the clan of the Yadus. Kamsa was then on the throne of the Yadus. Kamsa was the son of Ugrasena. The father of Devaki was the uterine brother of Ugrasena. At the time of Devaki’s marriage Ugrasena was still living but was in carecerated by the order of Kamsa. Kamsa was the son of Padmavati, Queen of Ugrasena, by the king of the Saubhas. Kamsa was not the legitimate hear to the throne. The real heir to the throne of the Yadus was the son of Devaki. The king of the Gopas, Nanda, was the cousin of Vasudeva born of marriage of a step brother of the father of Vasudeva with a vaisya girl… Harmonist

Who is Brahmana?

The Brahmana has no concern with the secular affairs of society. One who has no taste for secular affairs should be freely allowed to follow the best of such natural inclination. But he must not be recognized as a Brahmana at the same time. He will be classed as Kshatriya or Vaishya or Shudra or as outside the pale of civilized society, according to his disposition.But if he wants to be a member of the daiva varnasrama society he must accept the Brahman as the spiritual teacher of himself… Harmonist pg.20 (Who is a Brahman)

Krishna upholds the devotee’s promise

Hiranyakasipu thought himself to be very intelligent and wanted to cheat Krishna and his servant, but he was cheated actually. Therefore he said that tad-bhrtya-rsi-vakhyam rtam vidhatum. Rsi-vakhyam, Even the devotee or servant of Krsna says something, even if it is wrong, Krsna upholds this. Kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati, So even it is wrongly done, still, Krsna fulfils beause He thinks that “My servant has promised, it must be fulfilled.” Therefore Prahlada Maharaj, in the previous verse he has said tava bhrtya-parsva. So to serve the servant of Krsna is better than to serve Krsna directly because if the servant of Krsna says, “I’ll take you to Krsna loka,” you must go there. Even Krsna cannot do that. He can… I mean to say that He does not say very easily. But if a servant…yasya prasadad bhagavat prasadah. Therefore our philosophy is to please the servant of God, tad bhrtya, brhrtyasya bhrtya… SP lect SB 7.9.29 Mayapur March 7, 1976

Spiritual psychology

To know Krishna is to know one’s self, and to know one’s self is to know one’s relationship with Krishna… CC, Introduction pg.xvi

Love

Sarvatha dhvamsa-rahitam saty api dhvamsa-karane yad bhava-bandhanam yunah sa prema parikirtitah. If there is ample reason for the dissolution of a conjugal relationship and such a dissolution does not take place, such a relationship of intimate Love is called pure… CC.adi 4.165 pp.pp.to “atmendriya-priti”

The devotee knows everything

Kasmin tu bhagavato vijnalam bhavati, If somehow or other one knows the Absolute Truth then one knows everything.

Krsna never forgets service

Whatever service one does for Krishna, Krishna never forgets! Krishna will always remember that service, however insignificant. Even if he comes to the temple and he turns one screw for Krishna, Krishna will never forget… (Told by Romapada Maharaj)

If we don’t turn to the proper source for knowledge

We should seek for the fountainhead of all knowledge. (1)If we do not do so we find ourselves poorly supplied. (2)Our capacity for retention of knowledge also leaves us when we choose to be conversant with local, temporary, apparent truths. “Immanent and Transcendent”…Sri Caitanya’s Teachings pg.320

Riddles exdchanged by Radha and Krsna

At that time Sri Krsna and His beloved Radharani were sitting together on a golden seat, exchanging many wonderful riddles,…Syama said; “What is alive though dead and lovingly enchants the three worlds, living in a body of nine gates, like embodied living entities?” Turning Her face, Her lotus eyes fixed on His, Gauri said, “O Hari! It is Your rooked flute, which enjoys the nectar of your lips as its fee.” Then posing Her own riddle, She said with a harming laugh, “Who is known as being very young, but also very old, who is both bound and liberated, and who is the abode of darkness and duplicity, but is still very pure? Now you tell me!” Syama replied: “It is I, it is I, Krsna! I become entangled in all kinds of pastimes, but remain the bestower of liberation for all. I am Syama the abode of darkness, full of duplicity and guile, but I remain suci, for by chanting My name the greatest saints achieve perfection… (Ch.1 pg.13) Venu Gita Siva Rama Swami.

The 14 Vedic departments of learning Prem Visnu Purana 3.6.27

angani vedas catvaro

mimasa nyaya-vislarah

dharma-sastram puranam ca

vidya hy etas aturdasa

The four Vedas, their six supplements, the Puranas, the Dharma-sastras, the Mimamsa interpretation of the Vedas, and the elaborate science of Nyaya logic – these are the fourteen departments of learning…Brhad Bhagavatamrta Part 2 1ch, 41 pp

A heart where Krsna is not manifested

There is the following statement in the Padma Purana. “Within the heart of a person who is overpowered by lamentation or anger, there is no possibility of Krsna’s being manifested… N.O.D Ch.7, pg.67

Why along with chanting there is initiation and other devotional service

To chant the holy name of the Lord, one need not depend upon other paraphernalia, for one can immediately get all the desired results of connecting or linking with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It may therefore be questioned why there is necessity for initiation or further spiritual activities in devotional service for one who engages in the chanting of the holy name of theLord. The answer is that although it is correct that one who fully engages in chanting the holy name need not depend upon the process of initiation , generally a devotee is addicted to many abominable material habits due to material contamination from his previous life, in order to get quick relief from all these contaminations, it is required that one engages in the worship of the Lord in the temple. The worship of the Deity in the temple is essential to reduce one’s restlessness due to the contaminations of conditional life… CC Adi.7.76-pp

How to become a bonafide spiritual master

A neophyte disciple begins by hearing and chanting, associating with devotees and practising the regulative principles, and thus he vanquishes all of his unwanted bad habits. In this way he develops attachment for Krsna and cannot forget Krsna even for a moment . Bhava is almost the successful stage of spiritual life. A sincere student aurally receives the holy name from the spiritual master, and after initiation he follows the regulative principles given by the spiritual master. When the holy name is properly served in this way, automatically the spiritual nature of the holy name spreads, in other words, the devotee becomes qualified in offenselessly chanting the holy name. When one is completely fit in this way, he is eligible to make disciple all over the world and he actually becomes jagad guru. Then the entire world, under his influence, begins to chant the holy names of the hare krsna maha mantra. Thus all the disciples of such a spiritual master increase in attachment for Krsna, and therefore he sometimes cries, sometimes laughs, sometimes dances and sometimes chants. These symptoms are very prominently manifest in the body of a pure devotee… CC Adi 7.83

Logic is to be applied to resolve apparent contradictions in Vedic texts

tam tv aupanisadam purusam prcchami

I shall now inquire about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is revealed in the Upanisadas.

Brhad-aranyaka Up,3.9.26

(2) Samsaya (doubt): What’s the best method for understanding the Supremely worshipable Lord Hari: the mental speculation of the logicians or the revelation of the Vedanta scriptures?

(3) Purva paksa (the argument of the philosophical opposition). The sage Gautama (Brhad Aranyaka Up.4.5) and others maintain that the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be understood by the speculations of logicians.

(4) Siddhanta (the conclusion): In the Vedanta Sutra, Srila Vyasadeva explains that scriptural revelation is the real way to understand the Supreme Brahman, He says,

Sutra 3.

sastra yonitvat

sastra – the sriptures; yonitvat – because of being the origin of knowledge.

(The speculations of the logicians are unable to teach us about the Supreme Personality of Godhead) because he may only be known by the revelation of the Vedic scriptures.

Purport by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana:

In this sutra the word “not” should be understood, even though it is not expressed. They who aspire after liberation are not able to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead simply by logic and speculation, Why? Because He is only known by the revelation of the Vedic Scriptures. Among the Vedic Scriptures, the Upanisad’s especially describe the Supreme Person. For this reason it is said aupanisadam purusam (The Supreme Person is understood through the revelation of the Upanisads). The process of logic and speculation as described by the word mantavya (to be understood by logic) as described in Brhad aranyaka Upanisad 4.5 should be employed the revelation of the scriptures and not independently. This is confirmed by the following statement of sruti sastra:

purvapara-virodhena ko’rtho’

susha tarkam vivarjayet

“Logic is properly employed to resolve apparent contradictions in the text of the Vedas. Dry logic, without reference to scriptural revelation should be abandoned.”

Govinda Bhasya commentary on Vedanta Sutra by Baladeva Vidyabhusana Vs1- 1 txt.

Proof that SB explains the meaning of the Vedanta Sutra

artho yam brahma sutranam

vedartha – paribrmhitah

puranam sama-rupah

srimad bhagavatabhidhah

The meaning of the Vedanta Sutra is present in Srimad Bhagavatam. The full purport of the Mahbharat is also there. The commentary of the brahmagayatri is also there and fully expanded with all Vedic Knowledge. Srimad Bhagavatam is the Supreme Purana, and it was compiled by the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His incarnation as Vysadeva. There are 12 cantos, 335 chapters and 18 000 verses… CC Mad 25/143-144 quotation from the Garuda Purana.

Being Devotee is higher than being equal to Krsna

The position of being a devotee is higher than that of equality with Lord Krsna for the devotees are dearer to Lord Krsna than His own self… CC adi 6.100txt

By reading SB, one beomes attached to chanting Hare Krsna

Lord Caitanya’s spiritual master instructed Him, therefore that one must read Srimad Bhagavatam regularly and with scrutiny to gradually become attached to the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra… CC Adi 7.73

Empowerment

In his Amrta-pravah bhasya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur explains that this spiritual potency is the essence of the pleasure potency and the knowledge potency. By these two potencies one is empowered with devotional service. Lord Krsna Himself or His representative, the unalloyed devotee, can mercifully bestow these combined potencies upon any man. Being thus endowed with such potencies, one can become an unalloyed devotee of the Lord. Anyone favoured by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was empowered by this bhakti-sakti. Thus the Lord’s followers were able to preach Krsna consciousness by divine grace… CC Mad 7.99 pp.

The effulgence of Radharani

Anxiety

A gopi said: stealing the flute from sleeping Krsna’s hand, Radharani carried it into the dense darkness of the creeper – jungle of the grove of creepers.

When she noticed that the luster of her face, which eclipses the splendour of the autumn moon, illuminated the entire area, She became frightened, and bitterly criticized the creator Brahma for giving Her such an effulgence… Ujvala Nilamani

Empowerment of the parampara

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared five hundred years ago, but it cannot be said that now the potency of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is less than it was in His presence. By hearing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu through the parampara system, one can be purified. Therefore in this verse it is said; tathapi tanra darsana sravana prabhave. It is that everyone is able to see Krsna, or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu physically, but if one hears about Him through books like Sri Caitanya Caritamrta and through the parampara system of pure vaisnava, there is no difficulty in becoming a pure vaisnava, free from mundane desires and personal motivations… CC Mad 17.52 pp

Vyasadeva is jiva tattva

He also incarnates as empowered living entities like Prithu and Vyasa… CC Mad 21.104

What Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught to Rupa gosvami in Prayaga and thus empowered him

krsnatattva-bhaktitattva- rasatattva-pranta

saba sikhaila prabhu bhagavat-siddhanta

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught Rupa Gosvami the ultimate limit of the truth about Lord Krsna, the truth about devotional service and the truth about transcendental mellows, culminating in conjugal love between Radha and Krsna. Finally, He told Rupa Gosvami about the ultimate conclusions of Srimad Bhagavatam… CC Mad 19.115

The glory of Ramananda Raya

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is known as Gauranga, is the ocean of all conclusive knowledge in devotional service. He empowered Sri Ramananda Raya, who may be likened to a cloud of devotional service. This cloud was filled with the water of all the conclusive purports and was empowered by the ocean to spread this water over the sea of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself. Thus the ocean of Caitanya Mahaprabhu became filled with the jewels of the knowledge of pure devotional service… CC Mad 8.1

Empowerment

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught Rupa Gosvami all the conclusions He had heard from Ramananda Raya and duly empowered him so that he could understand them… CC Mad 19.117 txt

By entering the heart of Rupa Gosvami, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu empowered him to ascertain properly the conclusions of all truths. He made him an experienced devotee whose decisions correctly agreed with the verdicts of the disciplic succession. Thus Sri Rupa Gosvami was personally empowered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu… CC Mad 19.117 txt

A spiritual master must train his disciples to speak on Srimad Bhagavatam

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu broadcast the purport of Srimad Bhagavatam. He sometimes spoke for the benefit of His devotees and sometimes empowered one of His devotees to speak while He listened… CC Mad 25.267 txt

This is the way an acarya should train his disciple. Not only should he describe the bhagavat cult personally, but he should also train his disciples to speak on this sublime subject… CC Mad 25.267 pp

Parampara from 6 Gosvamis

Caitanya Mahaprabhu directly empowered Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami. Following in their footsteps, the other gosvami’s understood Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His mission. One should understand Sri Krsna from the six gosvamisin the parampara system… C Madhya 25.271

Madhvacarya avoided to comment on the Brahma Vimohan lila because they are Brahma Madhva Sampradaya

Actually the disciplic succession of Madhavacarya is known as the Brahma Vaisnava sect that is the sect coming down from Lord Brahma. Consequently the Tattvavadis, or followers of Madhavacarya, do not accept the incident of Lord Brahma’s illusion, which is recorded in the Tenth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. Srila Madhavacarya has purposely avoided commenting on that portion of Srimad Bhagavatam… Mad 9.11 pp

Krsna attracts by love therefore all-attractive

So we are worshipping Krsna. His simple business is, as we described Radha-Madhava, He is lover of Srimati Radharani. Krsna means lover. This very word Krsna means “all-attractive” : You can attract by your love, not by anything else. Therefore His name is Krsna… SPlec.SB1.2.10 Delhi Nov.16-73

Life like hardwood

The life of material existence is just like hardwood, and if we can carve Krsna out of it that is the success of our life… letter to Krishna Devi Jan 26, ’68

S.Q.

Five plus five is equal to ten. Two plus two is equal to four. So Krishna plus everything is Vrndavan. Do not forget Krishna and you shall always be in Vrndavan… letter to Ekendra Jan 24, ’70

When the Supreme Lord is pleased, there is nothing more to achieve

When the brahmanas and vaisnavas are pleased with a person, Lord Visnu is also pleased.

…By pleasing the spiritual master, who is both Brahman and vaisnava, one pleases the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased, then one has nothing more to achieve either in this world or after death.

To serve the servant is best

To serve the servant of Krishna is better than to serve directly Krishna, because if the servant of Krishna promises something, if the servant of Krishna says, “I’ll take you to Krishnaloka”, you must go there… Mayapur, March 7, 1976

The human form of life is the opportunity to become free of the cage of birth and death

Sometimes somebody takes his bird in the field and lets him loose, out of the cage, and the bird goes and then again comes in to the cage. This human form of body is jut like being let loose. Now you get the freedom of flying away from this cage of birth and death, but that we’ll not do. We’ll enter again. We are not interested how to get out of the cage. We are again and again coming back to the cage… Calcutta, March 9, ’72

The Supreme guru

Don’t approach the cheater guru, bluffer guru, and be cheated. Stop this business. This has spoiled the whole spiritual atmosphere of the world. Take guru, the Supreme guru, Krishna… Tehran, March 13,1975

Krishna has given everyone an extra ordinary talent

3 tons of blood to convince one

They have forgotten Krishna, they have forgotten God, and I am trying to make them Krishna conscious. It is a very difficult job. I have to shed my blood three tons before I can make one convinced in Krishna consciousness. That is my experience. I have to talk with them, especially these Europeans and Americans. They do accept anything so blindly… Hong Kong 18-4-72

Why visit the temple?

Krishna is living every where, that is the vision of the higher devotees. Actually He is living, but still, because we are in the lower condition, we should know that here is Krishna in the temple. Krishna is everywhere, but for us, because we have no such vision to see Krishna anywhere and everywhere, therefore we should come here in the temple and see Krishna, “Here is Krishna, Krishna has kindly appeared here in a manner in which I can see Him. That is Krishna’s mercy.” That is temple… Los Angeles, April 29,’73

Krsna is the greatest scientist

Krishna an hange anything, therefore we worship Him as the greatest scientist. If a man knows swimming he can stay up. So if a man has this much power, what to speak of God. So we see that Ramacandra has the art how to make stones float. It is a question of knowing the art. Art means the display of intellectual energy. Everywhere we can see intelligence in everything, so the Lord knows the art of everything, so He can change anything, we cannot… Letter to Rupanuga, May 3, 1972

Yasoda gave birth to Krsna in Gokul

The Hari-Vamsa says that in the eighth month of pregnancy, before full term, Devaki and Yasoda gave birth at the same time to their children. But the Bhagavatam states that Yasoda gave birth after Devaki. How to correlate these contradictory statements? Exactly when Devaki gave birth to Krsna in Mathura, Yasoda also gave birth to Krsna in Gokula. After that as described in the verse Yasoda gave birth to Yogamaya. Thus two children appeared from Yasoda at different times. This is confirmed in Srimad Bhagavatam (10.4.9) which describe Yogamaya as anuja, the younger sister of Krsna. But when Krsna appeared from Yasoda it is not stated that He had four hands. Therefore it is understood that Krsna appeared from Yasoda with two hands, because she worshipped Krsna without understanding His Godhead. But Vasudeva and Devaki worshipped their son as Visnu… commentary by Visvanatha Chakravarthy Th. on SB 10.3-47

The ancestory of Krsna part II.

King Devamidha of the Yadu clan (Yadavas) had two wives, one of a ksatriya family, the other of a vaisya family. Through the ksatriya wire he bar a son named Sura and through the vaisya wife he bore a son named: Parjanya. Sura had a son named Vasudeva, a ksatriya, and Parjanya had a son named Nanda, a cowherd or vaisya. Thus Vasudev and Nanda were brothers or cousins, with the same grandfather (a Yadava) and different grandfather… Visv.Ch.Th.SB Comm.SB 10.5.20 Sarartha Darsini

Why Putana’s body was found outside the house

Due to intense pain, Putana ran out of the house, fled the village and fell down to the ground on the outskirts of Vraja…All the trees within an area of six krosas (twelve miles) were crushed by the falling body of the gigantic witch. It was remarkable that only the trees were crushed and none of the village house. According to Sri Jiva Gosvami’s Vaisnava Tosani Tika, these trees which were laden with pleasurable fruits were located in Kamsa’s personal garden… Sarartha Darsini SB 10.5.14 Visv.Ch.Th.

Putana attained Goloka

Therfore , Putana attained Goloka , but her position was predominated by happiness and reverence. She did not attain the place predominated by service in prema. One cannot say that she attained the status of a mother. Verse 10.6.36 says that place is reserved for those who are anuragi (raktas), with pure loving attachment for Krishna. Here verse 38 says that the cows and motherly gopis who fed milk to Krsna during the brahma vimohan lila attained a higher destination than Putana. How could Putana whose enmity was equal to Kamsa’s, though she imitated the dress and emotion of a gopi, attain the same status as Yasoda? Therefore Uddhava says in the SB3.2.23 lebhe gatim dhatry-ucitam. “Putana attained a status like a nurse.” Thus in the present verse some interpret the word janani (mother) to be datri (nurse). But even then one should not say that Putana was a direct nurse of Krsna. Rather she attained a form like a nurse in Goloka filled with sukhaisvarya, reverential happiness… Sarartha Darsini Comm.SB 10.6.37-38

As long as you remain a fool, then I can instruct you

Prabhupada asked me to give relief from management, as far as possible, so he could concentrate on chanting and translating Srimad Bhagavatam. “What can I do, Prabhupada”, I said . “I am simply a fool, you will have to give me then intelligence.” Srila Prabhupada answered , “As long as you remain a fool, then I an instruct you; but when you think you are very intelligent, then nothing is possible!… TKG Diary April 23

Defeat Mayavada

The first verse of the Brahma Sutra is athato brahma jijnasa: “We must now inquire into the Absolut Truth.” The Absolute Truth.” The second verse immediately answers “Janmadyasya yatah: “The Absolute Truth is original source of everything. Janmadi asya yatah does not suggest that the original person has been transformed . Rather it clearly indicates that He produces this cosmic manifestation through His inconceivable energy. This is also clearly explained in the BG, where Krishna says , “Mattah sarvam pravartate , From Me everything emanates.” (BG 10.8). This is also confirmed in the Taittriya Upanisada: yato va imani bhutani jayante: The Suoreme Absolute Truth is that from which everything is born.” (Tait Up 3.11). Similarly in the Mundaka Upanisad (1.1.17) it is stated “yathorna-nabhih srjate grhnate ca, the Lord creates and destroys the cosmic manifestation as a spider creates a web and it back within itself.” All of these Sutras indicate the transformation of the Lord’s energy, it is not that the Lord undergoes direct trans formation which is called parinama vada… CC Mad 6.172 pp

One must remove false pride with intelligence

Krsna: “But Indra, how is it possible for My devotee to do this?”

Indra: “I became angry when my worship was stopped.”

Krsna: “Though I am your master and I stopped your worship, I cannot believe that my servant would do such a thing.”

Indra: “Anything is possible for one who is falsely proud (manina).”

Krsna: “Though pride may sometimes arise in My devotee, he will remove it with intelligence.”

Indra: “But intense anger (tivra-manyana) destroys all one’s intelligence.”

… Comm.Visvanatha Ch.Th, Sarartha Darsini ch.27, Lord Indra and Mother Surabi offer prayers.

Q: What if a woman wants a child but not a man?

JAS: It’s not that you don’t want a man, but you want a first class man. And to get a first class man you have to be a first class woman.

Q: If I can’t find a first class man, should I then settle for a second class man? Or better to have no man at all?

JAS: Even if you have a first class man, that doesn’t make you Krsna conscious or if you are with a second class man, you can still become Krsna conscious somehow…

JAS in Sweden

When the five Pandavas were living in the forest, four of them had fallen unconscious after drinking the water from the enchanted lake. The water was guarded by a spirit in the form of a heron who had asked the brothers to answer his questions before drinking. Yudhisthira came in search of his brothers and although wracked by intense thirst, resisted the temptation to drink and began to answer the birds questions.

Q: “What is heavier than Earth?”

A: “A mother’s love”, replied Yudhisthira.

Q: “By what does one become wise?”

A: “By serving one’s elders.”

Q: “What are the tidings of this world?”

A: “The world is like a cooking pot with the sun as its fire, days and nights as its fuel and months and seasons as its wooden spoon. All of us are being cooked by time.”

Q: “What is the most wonderful thing?”

A: “The most wonderful thing is that although everyday innumerable humans and their animals go to the abode of death, still a man thinks he is immortal.”

Q: “What makes the soul rise out of matter?”

A: “It is knowledge of the Supreme Lord which makes the soul rise.” Pleased by these answers, the spirit then revealed himself to be Yamaraj, none other than the father of Yudhisthira.

It was the practice that the GBC’s would send Srila Prabhupada a monthly report. The then GBC for Mexico wrote to express his difficulties working with the president of the Mexico temple, closing his letter by saying, “But I have to give the devil his due. He is very good at organizing book distribution.” You wrote back, “This is a devotee, he an find good even in the devil.” Then you added, “I ask that you tolerate him, just as I tolerate you… Badri Narayana VP off.

In Detroit you wanted a painting of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta to be brought to your darsana room and hung behind your desk. When the devotees came to do this they found you at your desk working. They asked, “Srila Prabhupada should we come back later?” You said: “No, you can do it now.” As the painting was quie large with heavy wooden frame, they asked, “Srila Prabhupada, would you like to get up for a moment while we are hanging it?” “You said no you can go ahead now.” The devotees made their initial attempt and feeling that they might jostle or disturb you in process again asked you if you would like them to come back later. You replied, “What? For service you can stand on my head… Badri Narayana Vp off.

Upon returning to LA

On June 27 (71), Srila Prabhupada travelled from L.A. to S.F. for the fifth annual Ratha Yatra. Two hundred followers met him at the airport. “How many devotees do you have?” a reporter asked, “Unlimited,” Prabhupada said, “Some admit and some don’t admit. Admit you are a servant of Krsna, and your life will be a success .”… In every town and village, SP.Lilamrta Vol.9 ch.35

These Krsna conscious boys and girls – in sixty centres they are living in the best houses. They are eating the best food. They are in the best consciousness. They have got the best hope. Everything best. Their feature of body is best. What material happiness do you want more than this? They have got wife, children, happiness, home – everything full. So material happiness is nothing to a Krsna conscious person. Material happiness will roll at his feet, saying, “Please take me.” There is no need for asking for it. Simply be steady and ask Krsna, “Please engage me in Your service!” Then your satisfaction will automatically come. Don’t bother for material happiness… NY July 19.’71

Mercy

That is the nature of mercy, if you don’t distribute it right away, it may disappear… JAS Mayapur Dec1’04

Offense in Dhama, Lower species

However, if one goes to Mathura – mandala – bhumi for sense gratification or to make a livelihood, he commits an offense and is condemned. Whoever does so must be penalized in the next life by becoming a hog or a monkey in Vrndavana dhama. After taking on such a body, the offender is liberated in the next life. Srila bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur remarks that residing in Vrndavana with a view to enjoy sense gratification surely leads a so-called devotee to a lower species… CC Mad 22.132 pp

Kirtan is not just banging some cymbals together and absentmindedly chanting. Kirtana means calling out for the Lord in a mood of helplessness, humility and submission. Development of a submissive attitude will enable one to chant the holy name of Krsna properly. The holy name is feeling bhava. Bhava cannot be heard with mundane ear, it can only be heard by the soul. As the Supreme soul Krishna can hear the quality of our chanting. The quality of our chanting is more important than the quantity of our chanting.