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[[Category:Krsna Is The Center|1]]
[[Category:Krsna Is]]
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
[[Category:Center]]
</div>
 
<div id="SB_Canto_2" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 2"><h3>SB Canto 2</h3>
== Srimad-Bhagavatam ==
</div>
 
<div id="SB2316_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_2" book="SB" index="88" link="SB 2.3.16" link_text="SB 2.3.16">
=== SB Canto 2 ===
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 2.3.16|SB 2.3.16, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Since Lord Kṛṣṇa is the center of the topics, the word vāsudeva-parāyaṇaḥ, or "devotee of Vāsudeva," suggests devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the common aim.</p>
 
</div>
<span class="SB-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:SB 2.3.16|SB 2.3.16, Purport]]:''' Since Lord Kṛṣṇa is the center of the topics, the word vāsudeva-parāyaṇaḥ, or "devotee of Vāsudeva," suggests devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the common aim.</span>
</div>
 
<div id="SB_Canto_3" class="sub_section" sec_index="3" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 3"><h3>SB Canto 3</h3>
<span class="SB-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:SB 4.28.19|SB 4.28.19, Purport]]:''' For family life it is very good for a husband to be attached to his wife, but it is not very good for spiritual advancement. Thus Kṛṣṇa consciousness must be established in every home. If a husband and wife are very much attached to one another in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they will both benefit because Kṛṣṇa is the center of their existence. Otherwise, if the husband is too much attached to his wife, he becomes a woman in his next life. The woman, being overly attached to her husband, becomes a man in her next life. Of course, it is an advantage for a woman to become a man, but it is not at all advantageous for the man to become a woman.</span>
</div>
<div id="SB31533_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_3" book="SB" index="613" link="SB 3.15.33" link_text="SB 3.15.33">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 3.15.33|SB 3.15.33, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Harmony or disharmony is realized because of the law and order of a particular place. Religion is the law and order of the Supreme Lord. In the Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā we find that religion means devotional service, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Kṛṣṇa says, "Give up all other religious principles and simply become a soul surrendered unto Me." This is religion. When one is fully conscious that Kṛṣṇa is the supreme enjoyer and Supreme Lord and one acts accordingly, that is real religion. Anything which goes against this principle is not religion. Kṛṣṇa therefore says: "Just give up all other religious principles." In the spiritual world this religious principle of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is maintained in harmony, and therefore that world is called Vaikuṇṭha. If the same principles can be adopted here, wholly or partially, then it is also Vaikuṇṭha. So it is with any society, such as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness: If the members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, putting faith in Kṛṣṇa as the center, live in harmony according to the order and principles of Bhagavad-gītā, then they are living in Vaikuṇṭha, not in this material world.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB_Canto_4" class="sub_section" sec_index="4" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 4"><h3>SB Canto 4</h3>
</div>
<div id="SB42819_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="1188" link="SB 4.28.19" link_text="SB 4.28.19">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.28.19|SB 4.28.19, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">For family life it is very good for a husband to be attached to his wife, but it is not very good for spiritual advancement. Thus Kṛṣṇa consciousness must be established in every home. If a husband and wife are very much attached to one another in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they will both benefit because Kṛṣṇa is the center of their existence. Otherwise, if the husband is too much attached to his wife, he becomes a woman in his next life. The woman, being overly attached to her husband, becomes a man in her next life. Of course, it is an advantage for a woman to become a man, but it is not at all advantageous for the man to become a woman.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB42837_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_4" book="SB" index="1205" link="SB 4.28.37" link_text="SB 4.28.37">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 4.28.37|SB 4.28.37, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Bhakti-yoga will automatically liberate a person from the dualities of life. In bhakti-yoga, Kṛṣṇa is the center, and Kṛṣṇa is always transcendental.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB_Canto_6" class="sub_section" sec_index="6" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 6"><h3>SB Canto 6</h3>
</div>
<div id="SB61010_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_6" book="SB" index="395" link="SB 6.10.10" link_text="SB 6.10.10">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 6.10.10|SB 6.10.10, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">If all philanthropic and humanitarian activities were directed toward achieving the ultimate goal of life—to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead—they would all be perfect. Humanitarian work without Kṛṣṇa is nothing. Kṛṣṇa must be brought to the center of all our activities; otherwise no activity will have value.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB_Canto_101_to_1013" class="sub_section" sec_index="10" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13"><h3>SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13</h3>
</div>
<div id="SB10725_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_10.1_to_10.13" book="SB" index="282" link="SB 10.7.25" link_text="SB 10.7.25">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 10.7.25|SB 10.7.25, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">When the force of the dust storm and the winds subsided, Yaśodā's friends, the other gopīs, approached mother Yaśodā, hearing her pitiful crying. Not seeing Kṛṣṇa present, they too felt very much aggrieved and joined mother Yaśodā in crying, their eyes full of tears.</p>
</div>
<div class="purport text"><p>This attachment of the gopīs to Kṛṣṇa is wonderful and transcendental. The center of all the activities of the gopīs was Kṛṣṇa. When Kṛṣṇa was there they were happy, and when Kṛṣṇa was not there, they were unhappy. Thus when mother Yaśodā was lamenting Kṛṣṇa's absence, the other ladies also began to cry.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="SB10138_2" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_10.1_to_10.13" book="SB" index="512" link="SB 10.13.8" link_text="SB 10.13.8">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 10.13.8|SB 10.13.8, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">Like the whorl of a lotus flower surrounded by its petals and leaves, Kṛṣṇa sat in the center, encircled by lines of His friends, who all looked very beautiful. Every one of them was trying to look forward toward Kṛṣṇa, thinking that Kṛṣṇa might look toward him. In this way they all enjoyed their lunch in the forest.</p>
</div>
<div class="purport text"><p>To a pure devotee, Kṛṣṇa is always visible, as stated in the Brahmā saṁhitā (santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti) and as indicated by Kṛṣṇa Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (sarvataḥ pāṇi-pādaṁ tat sarvato 'kṣi-śiro-mukham). If by accumulating pious activities (kṛta-puṇya-puñjāḥ  ([[Vanisource:SB 10.12.7-11|SB 10.12.11]])) one is raised to the platform of pure devotional service, Kṛṣṇa is always visible in the core of one's heart. One who has attained such perfection is all-beautiful in transcendental bliss. The present Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is an attempt to keep Kṛṣṇa in the center, for if this is done all activities will automatically become beautiful and blissful.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" class="section" sec_index="2" parent="compilation" text="Sri Caitanya-caritamrta"><h2>Sri Caitanya-caritamrta</h2>
</div>
<div id="CC_Adi-lila" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" text="CC Adi-lila"><h3>CC Adi-lila</h3>
</div>
<div id="CCAdi10134_0" class="quote" parent="CC_Adi-lila" book="CC" index="1386" link="CC Adi 10.134" link_text="CC Adi 10.134">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Adi 10.134|CC Adi 10.134, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu considered Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya and Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī to be equal in their renunciation, for although Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya was a gṛhastha engaged in government service and Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī was in the renounced order of complete detachment from material activities, they were both servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who kept Kṛṣṇa in the center of all their activities.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="CC_Madhya-lila" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" text="CC Madhya-lila"><h3>CC Madhya-lila</h3>
</div>
<div id="CCMadhya9131_0" class="quote" parent="CC_Madhya-lila" book="CC" index="1847" link="CC Madhya 9.131" link_text="CC Madhya 9.131">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Madhya 9.131|CC Madhya 9.131, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">In Vrajabhūmi Kṛṣṇa is certainly the central point of love, but no one knows Him there as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Rather, a person may know Him as a friend, son, lover or master. In any case, the center is Kṛṣṇa.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="CCMadhya15132_2" class="quote" parent="CC_Madhya-lila" book="CC" index="3327" link="CC Madhya 15.132" link_text="CC Madhya 15.132">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Madhya 15.132|CC Madhya 15.132, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu set forth three duties for three different people. Mukunda was to earn money and follow the religious principles, whereas Narahari was to remain with the Lord's devotees, and Raghunandana was to engage in the Lord's service in the temple. Thus one person worships in the temple, another earns money honestly by executing his professional duty, and yet another preaches Kṛṣṇa consciousness with the devotees. Apparently these three types of service appear separate, but actually they are not. When Kṛṣṇa or Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the center, everyone can engage in different activities for the service of the Lord. That is the verdict of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="CCMadhya223_1" class="quote" parent="CC_Madhya-lila" book="CC" index="5046" link="CC Madhya 22.3" link_text="CC Madhya 22.3">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Madhya 22.3|CC Madhya 22.3, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “I have described one's relationship with Kṛṣṇa in various ways. This is the subject matter of all the Vedas. Kṛṣṇa is the center of all activities.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="CCMadhya25103_3" class="quote" parent="CC_Madhya-lila" book="CC" index="5775" link="CC Madhya 25.103" link_text="CC Madhya 25.103">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Madhya 25.103|CC Madhya 25.103, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">“(Lord Kṛṣṇa says:) ‘I am the center of all relationships. Knowledge of Me and the practical application of that knowledge is actual knowledge. Approaching Me for devotional service is called abhidheya.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Other_Books_by_Srila_Prabhupada" class="section" sec_index="3" parent="compilation" text="Other Books by Srila Prabhupada"><h2>Other Books by Srila Prabhupada</h2>
</div>
<div id="Teachings_of_Lord_Caitanya" class="sub_section" sec_index="0" parent="Other_Books_by_Srila_Prabhupada" text="Teachings of Lord Caitanya"><h3>Teachings of Lord Caitanya</h3>
</div>
<div id="TLC5_0" class="quote" parent="Teachings_of_Lord_Caitanya" book="OB" index="11" link="TLC 5" link_text="Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 5">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:TLC 5|Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 5]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Devotional service is the only perfection accepted by all Vedic literatures. Just as when a poor man receives some treasure he becomes happy, when one attains to devotional service his material pains are automatically vanquished. As one advances in devotional service, he attains love of Godhead, and as he advances in this love, he becomes free from all material bondage. One should not think, however, that the disappearance of poverty and the liberation from bondage are the goals of devotional service. Love of Kṛṣṇa, love of God, is itself the goal, and it consists in relishing the reciprocation of loving service with the Lord. In all Vedic literatures we find that the attainment of this loving relationship between the living entity and the Supreme Lord is the goal of devotional service. Our actual function is devotional service, and our ultimate goal is love of Godhead. Therefore in all Vedic literatures Kṛṣṇa is the ultimate center, and through knowledge of Kṛṣṇa all problems of life are solved.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="TLC22_1" class="quote" parent="Teachings_of_Lord_Caitanya" book="OB" index="28" link="TLC 22" link_text="Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 22">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:TLC 22|Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 22]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">The four Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam verses beginning with aham evāsam evāgre ([[Vanisource:SB 2.9.33–36|SB 2.9.33–36]]) are the gist of the whole Bhāgavatam. These are nicely summarized by Lord Caitanya as follows: "I (Kṛṣṇa) am the supreme center for the relationships of all living entities, and knowledge of Me is the supreme knowledge. The process by which a living entity can attain Me is called abhidheya. By it, one can attain the highest perfection of life, love of Godhead. When one attains love of Godhead, his life becomes perfect."</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Nectar_of_Devotion" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Other_Books_by_Srila_Prabhupada" text="Nectar of Devotion"><h3>Nectar of Devotion</h3>
</div>
<div id="NOD22_0" class="quote" parent="Nectar_of_Devotion" book="OB" index="154" link="NOD 22" link_text="Nectar of Devotion 22">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:NOD 22|Nectar of Devotion 22]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">A person who is respected and worshiped by all kinds of human beings and demigods is called sarvārādhya, or all-worshipable.</p>
<p>Kṛṣṇa is worshiped not only by all living entities, including the great demigods like Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā, but also by Viṣṇu expansions (forms of Godhead) such as Baladeva and Śeṣa. Baladeva is a direct expansion of Kṛṣṇa, but He still accepts Kṛṣṇa as worshipable. When Kṛṣṇa appeared in the arena of the Rājasūya sacrifice organized by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, to all present, including great sages and demigods, Kṛṣṇa became the cynosure, the center of attraction, and everyone offered Him respects.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Krsna_The_Supreme_Personality_of_Godhead" class="sub_section" sec_index="4" parent="Other_Books_by_Srila_Prabhupada" text="Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead"><h3>Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead</h3>
</div>
<div id="KB13_0" class="quote" parent="Krsna,_The_Supreme_Personality_of_Godhead" book="OB" index="17" link="KB 13" link_text="Krsna Book 13">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:KB 13|Krsna Book 13]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">On hearing this proposal from Kṛṣṇa, all the boys became very glad and said, "Certainly, let us all sit down here to take our lunch." They then let loose the calves to eat the soft grass. Sitting down on the ground and keeping Kṛṣṇa in the center, they began to open their lunch boxes brought from home. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was seated in the center of the circle, and all the boys kept their faces toward Him. They ate and constantly enjoyed seeing the Lord face to face. Kṛṣṇa appeared to be the whorl of a lotus flower, and the boys surrounding Him appeared to be its different petals.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="KB22_1" class="quote" parent="Krsna,_The_Supreme_Personality_of_Godhead" book="OB" index="26" link="KB 22" link_text="Krsna Book 22">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:KB 22|Krsna Book 22]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Generally, people worship goddess Durgā for some material benediction. Here, the gopīs prayed to the goddess to become wives of Lord Kṛṣṇa. The purport is that if Kṛṣṇa is the center of activity, a devotee can adopt any means to achieve that goal. The gopīs could adopt any means to satisfy or serve Kṛṣṇa. That was the superexcellent characteristic of the gopīs.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="KB29_2" class="quote" parent="Krsna,_The_Supreme_Personality_of_Godhead" book="OB" index="33" link="KB 29" link_text="Krsna Book 29">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:KB 29|Krsna Book 29]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">The chastity of women is specifically stressed herein by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore this principle should be followed by any serious woman who wants to be elevated to a higher status of life. Kṛṣṇa is the center of all affection for all living creatures. When this affection is developed for Kṛṣṇa, one surpasses and transcends all Vedic injunctions. This was possible for the gopīs because they saw Kṛṣṇa face to face. This is not possible for any women in the conditioned state.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="KB69_3" class="quote" parent="Krsna,_The_Supreme_Personality_of_Godhead" book="OB" index="73" link="KB 69" link_text="Krsna Book 69">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:KB 69|Krsna Book 69]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">The Supreme Personality of Godhead was engaged in His so-called household affairs in order to teach people how one can sanctify one's household life although one may be attached to the imprisonment of material existence. Actually, one is obliged to continue the term of material existence because of household life. But the Lord, being very kind upon householders, demonstrated the path of sanctifying ordinary household life. Because Kṛṣṇa is the center of all activities, the life of a Kṛṣṇa conscious householder is transcendental to Vedic injunctions and is automatically sanctified.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="KB82_4" class="quote" parent="Krsna,_The_Supreme_Personality_of_Godhead" book="OB" index="86" link="KB 82" link_text="Krsna Book 82">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:KB 82|Krsna Book 82]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">The juniors were offering obeisances to the elders, and the elders were offering their blessings to the juniors. They thus welcomed one another and asked after one another's welfare. Ultimately, however, all their talk was only of Kṛṣṇa. All the neighbors and relatives were connected with Lord Kṛṣṇa's pastimes in this world, and as such Kṛṣṇa was the center of all their activities. Whatever activities they performed—social, political, religious or conventional—were transcendental.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="KB90_5" class="quote" parent="Krsna,_The_Supreme_Personality_of_Godhead" book="OB" index="94" link="KB 90" link_text="Krsna Book 90">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:KB 90|Krsna Book 90]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Kṛṣṇa lived with wives and children in all opulence, exactly like an ordinary conditioned soul, just to teach those souls who are actually conditioned that they must enter into the family circle of Kṛṣṇa, where He is the center. For example, the members of the Yadu dynasty lived in the family of Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa was the center of all their activities.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="KB90_6" class="quote" parent="Krsna,_The_Supreme_Personality_of_Godhead" book="OB" index="94" link="KB 90" link_text="Krsna Book 90">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:KB 90|Krsna Book 90]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">There are four principles of elevation from conditioned life to the life of liberation, which are technically known as dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa (religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation). If one lives a family life following in the footsteps of Lord Kṛṣṇa's family members, one can achieve all four of these principles of success simultaneously by making Kṛṣṇa the center of all activities.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Sri_Isopanisad" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Other_Books_by_Srila_Prabhupada" text="Sri Isopanisad"><h3>Sri Isopanisad</h3>
</div>
<div id="ISO2_0" class="quote" parent="Sri_Isopanisad" book="OB" index="4" link="ISO 2" link_text="Sri Isopanisad 2">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:ISO 2|Sri Isopanisad 2, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">An ordinary man works for his own sense enjoyment, and when this principle of sense enjoyment is extended to include his society, nation or humanity in general, it assumes various attractive names such as altruism, socialism, communism, nationalism and humanitarianism. These "isms" are certainly very attractive forms of karma-bandhana (karmic bondage), but the Vedic instruction of Śrī Īśopaniṣad is that if one actually wants to live for any of the above "isms," he should make them God-centered. There is no harm in becoming a family man, or an altruist, a socialist, a communist, a nationalist or a humanitarian, provided that one executes his activities in relation with īśāvāsya, the God-centered conception.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="ISO2_1" class="quote" parent="Sri_Isopanisad" book="OB" index="4" link="ISO 2" link_text="Sri Isopanisad 2">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:ISO 2|Sri Isopanisad 2, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">In the Bhagavad-gītā ([[Vanisource:BG 2.40 (1972)|BG 2.40]]) Lord Kṛṣṇa states that God-centered activities are so valuable that just a few of them can save a person from the greatest danger. The greatest danger of life is the danger of gliding down again into the evolutionary cycle of birth and death among the 8,400,000 species. If somehow or other a man misses the spiritual opportunity afforded by his human form of life and falls down again into the evolutionary cycle, he must be considered most unfortunate. Due to his defective senses, a foolish man cannot see that this is happening. Consequently Śrī Īśopaniṣad advises us to exert our energy in the spirit of īśāvāsya. Being so engaged, we may wish to live for many, many years; otherwise a long life in itself has no value. A tree lives for hundreds and hundreds of years, but there is no point in living a long time like trees, or breathing like bellows, or begetting children like hogs and dogs, or eating like camels. A humble God-centered life is more valuable than a colossal hoax of a life dedicated to godless altruism or socialism.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="ISO2_2" class="quote" parent="Sri_Isopanisad" book="OB" index="4" link="ISO 2" link_text="Sri Isopanisad 2">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:ISO 2|Sri Isopanisad 2, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">When altruistic activities are executed in the spirit of Śrī Īśopaniṣad, they become a form of karma-yoga. Such activities are recommended in the Bhagavad-gītā ([[Vanisource:BG 18.5-9 (1972)|BG 18.5-9]]), for they guarantee their executor protection from the danger of sliding down into the evolutionary process of birth and death. Even though such God-centered activities may be half-finished, they are still good for the executor because they will guarantee him a human form in his next birth. In this way one can have another chance to improve his position on the path of liberation.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="ISO2_3" class="quote" parent="Sri_Isopanisad" book="OB" index="4" link="ISO 2" link_text="Sri Isopanisad 2">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:ISO 2|Sri Isopanisad 2, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">How one can execute God-centered activities is elaborately explained in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. We have rendered this book into English as The Nectar of Devotion. We recommend this valuable book to all who are interested in performing their activities in the spirit of Śrī Īśopaniṣad.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2>
</div>
<div id="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="0" parent="Lectures" text="Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures"><h3>Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="LectureonBG145LondonJuly101973_0" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="6" link="Lecture on BG 1.4-5 -- London, July 10, 1973" link_text="Lecture on BG 1.4-5 -- London, July 10, 1973">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 1.4-5 -- London, July 10, 1973|Lecture on BG 1.4-5 -- London, July 10, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Therefore the sahajiyās, they do not read Bhagavad-gītā. They say, "We have nothing to do with Bhagavad-gītā." They jump over to the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Tenth Canto, Kṛṣṇa's rāsa-līlā, as if Kṛṣṇa is connected with rāsa-līlā and not with this līlā. They make distinction. Kṛṣṇa's this fighting līlā, pastimes, and the rāsa-līlā pastime, they are all the same because Kṛṣṇa is the center. Kṛṣṇa being center, whatever in connection with Kṛṣṇa is there, that becomes also Kṛṣṇa. This is the idea.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonBG131LondonJuly241973_1" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="20" link="Lecture on BG 1.31 -- London, July 24, 1973" link_text="Lecture on BG 1.31 -- London, July 24, 1973">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 1.31 -- London, July 24, 1973|Lecture on BG 1.31 -- London, July 24, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">The gṛhastha-āśrama means unless there is Kṛṣṇa or full consciousness of Kṛṣṇa, it is simply miserable, simply miserable. Duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam ([[Vanisource:BG 8.15 (1972)|BG 8.15]]). Simply working hard day and night, then there is, child is sick, then wife is not satisfied, the servant is not satisfied... So many things, problem. But if there is Kṛṣṇa in the center, the all problems will be solved. But people do not know this. They think that "I shall be happy with wife, children, servants, house, and this and that." No. That is not possible. Therefore one should be in gṛhastha-āśrama.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonBG417BombayApril61974_7" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="176" link="Lecture on BG 4.17 -- Bombay, April 6, 1974" link_text="Lecture on BG 4.17 -- Bombay, April 6, 1974">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 4.17 -- Bombay, April 6, 1974|Lecture on BG 4.17 -- Bombay, April 6, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">The real purpose of working is to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. He is the center. He is the center of all activities. Sva-karmaṇā tam abhyarcya saṁsiddhiṁ labhate parām ([[Vanisource:BG 18.46 (1972)|BG 18.46]]). Simply by satisfying the central point, Kṛṣṇa, then you get saṁsiddhi. It doesn't matter whether you are a śūdra or a brāhmaṇa or engineer or lawyer. The real point is how to satisfy Kṛṣṇa.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonBG71BombayDecember201975_2" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="247" link="Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Bombay, December 20, 1975" link_text="Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Bombay, December 20, 1975">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Bombay, December 20, 1975|Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Bombay, December 20, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Gopījana-vallabha. Kṛṣṇa... Kṛṣṇa, Vṛndāvana means that Kṛṣṇa is the center. He is the lovable object of everyone. The gopīs, the cowherd boys, the calves, the cows, the trees, the fruits, flowers, the father, mother—everyone is attached to Kṛṣṇa.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonBG713StockholmSeptember101973_3" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="253" link="Lecture on BG 7.1-3 -- Stockholm, September 10, 1973" link_text="Lecture on BG 7.1-3 -- Stockholm, September 10, 1973">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 7.1-3 -- Stockholm, September 10, 1973|Lecture on BG 7.1-3 -- Stockholm, September 10, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is to understand the Supreme Person, Kṛṣṇa, as He is, without any interpretation. That is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness yoga. That can be achieved, as Kṛṣṇa says, always keeping center Kṛṣṇa.</p>
:mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha
:yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ
:asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ māṁ
:yathā jñāsyasi tac chṛṇu
:([[Vanisource:BG 7.1 (1972)|BG 7.1]])
<p>You can understand. If you practice this yoga, keeping Kṛṣṇa in the center, always thinking of Kṛṣṇa, the form of the Kṛṣṇa, then it will be revealed. Yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau (ŚU 6.23). This is the yoga system of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonBG73BombayMarch291971_4" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="260" link="Lecture on BG 7.3 -- Bombay, March 29, 1971" link_text="Lecture on BG 7.3 -- Bombay, March 29, 1971">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 7.3 -- Bombay, March 29, 1971|Lecture on BG 7.3 -- Bombay, March 29, 1971]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">This para-upakāra business, welfare activities to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world, is the most important business at the present moment. It will unite everyone politically, socially, culturally, religiously, in every way. Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is the center. That's a fact. It is making progress. And if we endeavor more and more, it will make more and more progress.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonBG85NewYorkOctober261966_5" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="289" link="Lecture on BG 8.5 -- New York, October 26, 1966" link_text="Lecture on BG 8.5 -- New York, October 26, 1966">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 8.5 -- New York, October 26, 1966|Lecture on BG 8.5 -- New York, October 26, 1966]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Individual means he has got his own choice. If I tell you that "You can come here, but you haven't got any choice," then you won't like to sit down here. You can sit down here, you can go out immediately. That's your choice. But if I make the condition that "You can sit down here without your choice," oh, you will hate to come here. "Oh, I don't care for your meeting." That is individuality. But that choice may be very nice, and that choice may be very bad. That is different thing. But you have got your choice. That is individuality. So in the spiritual world the choice is there to serve Kṛṣṇa. Somebody is thinking, "I shall serve Kṛṣṇa like this." Somebody is thinking, "I shall love Kṛṣṇa like this." The choice is there. The individuality is there. But the center is Kṛṣṇa. Therefore there is no disagreement.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonBG1367BombaySeptember291973_6" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="356" link="Lecture on BG 13.6-7 -- Bombay, September 29, 1973" link_text="Lecture on BG 13.6-7 -- Bombay, September 29, 1973">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 13.6-7 -- Bombay, September 29, 1973|Lecture on BG 13.6-7 -- Bombay, September 29, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">For practical purpose, even if we accept that the whole world belongs to Kṛṣṇa, God, and we are sons of God, we have got right to use the property of father, so you can use. But the difficulty is that we are claiming that "This portion is mine, this portion is mine." But if we don't claim like that, everything belongs to God, that is practical communism. If we accept the whole world as the property of God, make God-centered communism... The Russians, they are making the state-center communism. But if you make God center... That is Īśopaniṣad, īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam: ([[Vanisource:ISO 1|ISO 1]]) "Everything belongs to God." And everyone has, that is stated in the śāstra, that everything belongs to God, everything is property of God, and we can utilize. We can use that. Yāvad artha-prayojanam. As much as we require, we can take.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Lectures" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures"><h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB125EdinburghJuly171972_0" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="27" link="Lecture on SB 1.2.5 -- Edinburgh, July 17, 1972" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.2.5 -- Edinburgh, July 17, 1972">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.2.5 -- Edinburgh, July 17, 1972|Lecture on SB 1.2.5 -- Edinburgh, July 17, 1972]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So in family life, if we introduce this arcā-vigraha-sevā... Every family can keep Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa vigraha, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu's photo vigraha, and as we are, whatever we are doing, center is Kṛṣṇa, similarly, everyone can do that. That will solve all social problems. Social problems, philosophical problems, economic problems.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB126CalcuttaFebruary231972_18" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="35" link="Lecture on SB 1.2.6 -- Calcutta, February 23, 1972" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.2.6 -- Calcutta, February 23, 1972">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.2.6 -- Calcutta, February 23, 1972|Lecture on SB 1.2.6 -- Calcutta, February 23, 1972]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. We are making center Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa said, yat karoṣi yaj juhoṣi yad aśnāsi tapasyasi yat tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam ([[Vanisource:BG 9.27 (1972)|BG 9.27]]). "You work. Whatever you like, you work, but ultimately you give Me the result of it." That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB15911NewVrindabanJune61969_1" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="134" link="Lecture on SB 1.5.9-11 -- New Vrindaban, June 6, 1969" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.5.9-11 -- New Vrindaban, June 6, 1969">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.5.9-11 -- New Vrindaban, June 6, 1969|Lecture on SB 1.5.9-11 -- New Vrindaban, June 6, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">What is that essence? Kṛṣṇa. Vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti ([[Vanisource:BG 7.19 (1972)|BG 7.19]]). Everything, all manifestation, all activities, they're all Kṛṣṇa's energy. Therefore Kṛṣṇa is the center. Just like the same way: what is this material cosmic manifestation? It is the sun. That's all. Similarly, there are millions of suns. Therefore Kṛṣṇa is the ultimate.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB151213NewVrindabanJune111969_2" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="137" link="Lecture on SB 1.5.12-13 -- New Vrindaban, June 11, 1969" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.5.12-13 -- New Vrindaban, June 11, 1969">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.5.12-13 -- New Vrindaban, June 11, 1969|Lecture on SB 1.5.12-13 -- New Vrindaban, June 11, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">The Bhāgavata, each line is full of philosophy, each line, practical philosophy. But there is acyuta-bhāva, Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is the beauty. Bhagavad-gītā, it is full of philosophy, but there is Kṛṣṇa in the center. This philosophy's not dry. Other philosophies, they're simply dry, because that is without Kṛṣṇa. In the... You'll find Buddha philosophy or Māyāvāda philosophy or Jain philosophy, they're philosophy, but simply dry. There is no God consciousness. There is no Kṛṣṇa consciousness.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB1724DurbanOctober141975_19" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="156" link="Lecture on SB 1.7.2-4 -- Durban, October 14, 1975" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.7.2-4 -- Durban, October 14, 1975">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.7.2-4 -- Durban, October 14, 1975|Lecture on SB 1.7.2-4 -- Durban, October 14, 1975]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Devotee: What is the Eastern or Indian understanding of utopia?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Utopia?</p>
<p>Devotee: Perfect society.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. Perfect society is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If you accept Kṛṣṇa as the center... Just like in a family if you accept the head of the family, your father, as the guiding principle, the family's happy. And if you disrupt with the opinion of the father, somebody goes away, somebody's not happy, the family is disturbed. Similarly, if you agree with the instruction of Kṛṣṇa and God, the whole human society will be peace and prosperity. If you don't agree, disagree, don't agree, disagree, then it is disruption. The instruction is there in the Bhagavad-gītā. You take it, you agree to it, and you become happy in this world and next world.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB1820NewYorkApril121973_3" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="204" link="Lecture on SB 1.8.20 -- New York, April 12, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.8.20 -- New York, April 12, 1973">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.8.20 -- New York, April 12, 1973|Lecture on SB 1.8.20 -- New York, April 12, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Spiritual part means one who knows that whatever is working in this material... Just like this body—your body, my body. Anyone who knows that this movement, the activities of this body is due to the soul which is within this body... That is the real fact. This is only outward covering. Similarly, one who knows that Kṛṣṇa is the center of these all activities, he's paramahaṁsa. He knows the fact.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB1839LosAngelesMay11973_4" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="238" link="Lecture on SB 1.8.39 -- Los Angeles, May 1, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.8.39 -- Los Angeles, May 1, 1973">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.8.39 -- Los Angeles, May 1, 1973|Lecture on SB 1.8.39 -- Los Angeles, May 1, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So it is not only applicable when Kṛṣṇa was present and Kuntī was speaking. It is not that the truth was there. It is always. With the advancement of our civilization, if we don't bring..., we cannot..., if we cannot bring Kṛṣṇa in the center, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then it will never become beautiful.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB1839LosAngelesMay11973_5" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="238" link="Lecture on SB 1.8.39 -- Los Angeles, May 1, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.8.39 -- Los Angeles, May 1, 1973">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.8.39 -- Los Angeles, May 1, 1973|Lecture on SB 1.8.39 -- Los Angeles, May 1, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So what is fact now, what is, what was fact before, during five thousand years ago when Pāṇḍavas were there, that Kṛṣṇa in the center, everything becomes beautiful—that can be done at any time. Kṛṣṇa is always there. Simply you have to invite Him, "My Lord, please come and be in the center." That's all. Everything will be beautiful.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB1844LosAngelesMay61973_6" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="248" link="Lecture on SB 1.8.44 -- Los Angeles, May 6, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.8.44 -- Los Angeles, May 6, 1973">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.8.44 -- Los Angeles, May 6, 1973|Lecture on SB 1.8.44 -- Los Angeles, May 6, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So the whole world is dissatisfied because the spiritual hunger is not satisfied. Kṛṣṇa is the central point. So spiritual hunger means... We are, our general propensity is to satisfy our hunger. So Kṛṣṇa is the center, Kṛṣṇa is the root, mūla. Yathā taror mūla-niṣecanena tṛpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopaśākhāḥ ([[Vanisource:SB 4.31.14|SB 4.31.14]]). Just like watering to the root, you can satisfy the whole tree—the trunk, branches, twigs, leaves, flowers, fruits, everything—if there is water in the root. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa is the root of all creation.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB212MombassaSeptember131971_7" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="357" link="Lecture on SB 2.1.2 -- Mombassa, September 13, 1971" link_text="Lecture on SB 2.1.2 -- Mombassa, September 13, 1971">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 2.1.2 -- Mombassa, September 13, 1971|Lecture on SB 2.1.2 -- Mombassa, September 13, 1971]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So just imagine what is the value of our so-called knowledge. We cannot understand even things within this planet or within this universe, so many planets. So how to understand the other nature where there is spiritual planets, where there are spiritual living entities, they are also working, their center is God. So there are so many information, these are called ātma-tattvam. So apaśyatām ātma-tattvam ([[Vanisource:SB 2.1.2|SB 2.1.2]]), those who are blind or rascals, have no complete knowledge, their subject matter of understanding is this newspaper, that's all. Their subject matter is newspaper. Because they have no other information.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB231415LosAngelesMay311972_8" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="383" link="Lecture on SB 2.3.14-15 -- Los Angeles, May 31, 1972" link_text="Lecture on SB 2.3.14-15 -- Los Angeles, May 31, 1972">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 2.3.14-15 -- Los Angeles, May 31, 1972|Lecture on SB 2.3.14-15 -- Los Angeles, May 31, 1972]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Just like in this house, we are living. And (in) the next house, they are also living. So what is the difference? The difference is here, Kṛṣṇa is center. That's all. Therefore it is temple. And the next door, a house. That is the difference between house, ordinary house, and temple. There is no difference. It is also made of bricks and stones and wood, that is also made of bricks and stones. They are also live, they also cook, they also eat. Everything is the same, practical. But the difference is there is no Kṛṣṇa, here is Kṛṣṇa. That is the difference. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB32616BombayDecember251974_21" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="477" link="Lecture on SB 3.26.16 -- Bombay, December 25, 1974" link_text="Lecture on SB 3.26.16 -- Bombay, December 25, 1974">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 3.26.16 -- Bombay, December 25, 1974|Lecture on SB 3.26.16 -- Bombay, December 25, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Everything belongs to God. Īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam ([[Vanisource:ISO 1|ISO 1]]). That's a fact. But I am thinking, "It is my land." Ahaṁ mameti ([[Vanisource:SB 5.5.8|SB 5.5.8]]). Janasya moho 'yam ahaṁ mameti. Nothing belongs to us. Everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa. If we accept Kṛṣṇa, the center, and we work under His direction, as it is said in the Bhagavad-gītā, our life is successful, our whole program is peaceful. All tranquility, everything is there.</p>
<p>Thank you very much. Hare Kṛṣṇa.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB565VrndavanaNovember271976_9" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="571" link="Lecture on SB 5.6.5 -- Vrndavana, November 27, 1976" link_text="Lecture on SB 5.6.5 -- Vrndavana, November 27, 1976">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 5.6.5 -- Vrndavana, November 27, 1976|Lecture on SB 5.6.5 -- Vrndavana, November 27, 1976]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Desires are going on. Now the desires are designated. Designated. Because one has got a particular type of body, his desires are different from another because another person, he has got a particular type of body. But in the spiritual world, because there is no material body, only desire is how to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. Kāma kṛṣṇa-karmārpaṇe. This is spiritual. Spiritual means when the center is Kṛṣṇa. That is spiritual. Otherwise it is material.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB6126HonoluluMay261976_10" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="642" link="Lecture on SB 6.1.26 -- Honolulu, May 26, 1976" link_text="Lecture on SB 6.1.26 -- Honolulu, May 26, 1976">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 6.1.26 -- Honolulu, May 26, 1976|Lecture on SB 6.1.26 -- Honolulu, May 26, 1976]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">The father and mother takes care of the children, how to give them foodstuffs. We have seen mother Yaśodā is feeding Kṛṣṇa. Same thing. This is the difference. We are feeding ordinary child, which is done by cats and dogs also, but mother Yaśodā is feeding Kṛṣṇa. The same process. The process there is no difference, but one is the Kṛṣṇa center and other is whimsical center. That is the difference. When it is Kṛṣṇa-centered, then it is spiritual, and when it is whimsical centered, then it is material.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB613439SuratDecember191970_11" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="658" link="Lecture on SB 6.1.34-39 -- Surat, December 19, 1970" link_text="Lecture on SB 6.1.34-39 -- Surat, December 19, 1970">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 6.1.34-39 -- Surat, December 19, 1970|Lecture on SB 6.1.34-39 -- Surat, December 19, 1970]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Side by side, hell and heaven. One has to select. (break) ...and the spiritual world there is only one class of men. Therefore spiritual world is called absolute. There is no disagreement. The center is Kṛṣṇa, or God, and everyone is engaged in His service in love, not paid servant. Paid servant will always disagree in proportion to the money he receives. But in the Vaikuṇṭha world there is no question of paid servant. Everyone is free. Everyone has got sufficient because, as I told you yesterday, that they are all liberated.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB6146DetroitJune121976_12" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="679" link="Lecture on SB 6.1.46 -- Detroit, June 12, 1976" link_text="Lecture on SB 6.1.46 -- Detroit, June 12, 1976">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 6.1.46 -- Detroit, June 12, 1976|Lecture on SB 6.1.46 -- Detroit, June 12, 1976]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So it is said, māṁ ca yo 'vyabhicāreṇa bhakti-yogena sevate ([[Vanisource:BG 14.26 (1972)|BG 14.26]]). People are missing this point, that Kṛṣṇa is the center. If any way we act, making Kṛṣṇa in the center, you may draw many thousands of circles, it will not overlap. It will not overlap.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB6146DetroitJune121976_13" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="679" link="Lecture on SB 6.1.46 -- Detroit, June 12, 1976" link_text="Lecture on SB 6.1.46 -- Detroit, June 12, 1976">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 6.1.46 -- Detroit, June 12, 1976|Lecture on SB 6.1.46 -- Detroit, June 12, 1976]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Gandhi wanted nonviolence—failed. Gandhi wanted Hindu-Muslim unity—failed. Why? Because he never said that Kṛṣṇa is the center. Find his lecture. He'll never say Kṛṣṇa. Missing. Kṛṣṇa is missing. Similarly, so many... One French professor has admitted, Aurobindo or Dr. Radhakrishnan, they have written Bhagavad-gītā, annotation, so many others also, but Kṛṣṇa is missing. They're faulty. Kṛṣṇa is missing.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB6146DetroitJune121976_14" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="679" link="Lecture on SB 6.1.46 -- Detroit, June 12, 1976" link_text="Lecture on SB 6.1.46 -- Detroit, June 12, 1976">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 6.1.46 -- Detroit, June 12, 1976|Lecture on SB 6.1.46 -- Detroit, June 12, 1976]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">If you don't make Kṛṣṇa the center, never mind the varieties of qualities are there... That will continue. It is everywhere, the varieties will be there. But if Kṛṣṇa is the center, the varieties will be very nice bouquet, bunch of flower. And without Kṛṣṇa, it is all useless. So make Kṛṣṇa center.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB6214VrndavanaSeptember171975_15" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="715" link="Lecture on SB 6.2.14 -- Vrndavana, September 17, 1975" link_text="Lecture on SB 6.2.14 -- Vrndavana, September 17, 1975">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 6.2.14 -- Vrndavana, September 17, 1975|Lecture on SB 6.2.14 -- Vrndavana, September 17, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">That is Vṛndāvana. There is ānanda, cinmāya, ānanda, because everyone is engaged in the service of Kṛṣṇa. The cowherd boys, the calves, the cows, the birds, the beasts, the trees, the water, the father, mother, playmates—everyone—Kṛṣṇa is the center. That is ānanda. And if you make Kṛṣṇa minus, then there is no ānanda. You may be Brahman realized, you may be seeing the Paramātmā, but there is no ānanda.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB631819GorakhpurFebruary121971_16" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="723" link="Lecture on SB 6.3.18-19 -- Gorakhpur, February 12, 1971" link_text="Lecture on SB 6.3.18-19 -- Gorakhpur, February 12, 1971">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 6.3.18-19 -- Gorakhpur, February 12, 1971|Lecture on SB 6.3.18-19 -- Gorakhpur, February 12, 1971]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So the number of gṛhasthas are greater than the brahmacārīs, but they are mahājanas. It doesn't matter whether he is a gṛhastha or brahmacārī. Just like we are practically following. We are giving equal rights to everyone. Either gṛhastha or brahmacārī or sannyāsī, the main center is Kṛṣṇa. One who is advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is all right. It doesn't matter what he is. That is Caitanya Mahāprabhu's recommendation.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonSB769VrndavanaDecember111975_17" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="762" link="Lecture on SB 7.6.9 -- Vrndavana, December 11, 1975" link_text="Lecture on SB 7.6.9 -- Vrndavana, December 11, 1975">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 7.6.9 -- Vrndavana, December 11, 1975|Lecture on SB 7.6.9 -- Vrndavana, December 11, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">The Vṛndāvana means everyone is engaged how to keep Kṛṣṇa in comfort. This is Vṛndāvana. Not for personal comfort. The whole Vṛndāvana is engaged, beginning from Mother Yaśodā, Nanda Mahārāja, the young gopīs and the young cowherd boys—that is Vṛndāvana. Kṛṣṇa is the center.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Nectar_of_Devotion_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Lectures" text="Nectar of Devotion Lectures"><h3>Nectar of Devotion Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="TheNectarofDevotionVrndavanaOctober241972_1" class="quote" parent="Nectar_of_Devotion_Lectures" book="Lec" index="14" link="The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 24, 1972" link_text="The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 24, 1972">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 24, 1972|The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 24, 1972]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Yes. This... Everyone in the human society is trying to establish love in the society, but it is being failed. The reason is that we are missing the central point. Just like from a point you can make a circle. What is called that?</p>
<p>Pradyumna: Compass.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Compass. Yes. That compass, you put the pointed part on the center, you can make a circle. So if I do not take the central point, I make my own point, then my circle will overlap your circle, there will be a clash. But if the center is the same, I can draw one circle, you can draw one, another circle. None of these circles will overlap. So if taking Kṛṣṇa as the center... Nirbandhe kṛṣṇa-sambandhe. If we relate our activities, social activities, philanthropic activities, political activities, any a..., religious activities, any activity. If you make center Kṛṣṇa, then my circle, your circle, another circle will not overlap. But it will give different lights. Kṛṣṇa being center. That point we were discussing in this morning from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ. Everyone is trying to make his own circle. Political, social, humanitarian, philosophical, scientific. That's all right. But Bhāgavata says that make your circle perfect from the point of Kṛṣṇa. Don't miss the point. Svanu, svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam ([[Vanisource:SB 1.2.13|SB 1.2.13]]). Whatever you do, if you try to please Kṛṣṇa, then your circle is perfect. Kṛṣṇa must be center. Rūpa Gosvāmī says, nirbandhe kṛṣṇa-sambandhe. Kṛṣṇa-sambandhe. You can deal in politics. Then politics will be perfect. Kṛṣṇa-sambandhe, you can make circle of scientific knowledge. Then it will be perfect. Making center Kṛṣṇa, either politics, sociology, philosophy, religion, whatever it may be. It will be perfect.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="TheNectarofDevotionVrndavanaNovember21972_0" class="quote" parent="Nectar_of_Devotion_Lectures" book="Lec" index="30" link="The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, November 2, 1972" link_text="The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, November 2, 1972">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, November 2, 1972|The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, November 2, 1972]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">When we are free from designation, sarvopādhi-virnirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam, when we are purified, then we can unite in the service of the Lord, Kṛṣṇa. That is real unity. Hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanam... ([[Vanisource:CC Madhya 19.170|CC Madhya 19.170]]). That is Vaikuṇṭha platform. Just like in Vaikuṇṭha, the Vaikuṇṭheśvara, Nārāyaṇa, or Kṛṣṇa, He's the central point of service. Just like in Vṛndāvana... The Vṛndāvana... The animals, the birds, the beasts, the water, the trees, the flowers, the cowherds boy—everyone—center is Kṛṣṇa. That is Vṛndāvana. They did not know that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but they loved Kṛṣṇa with their heart and soul. That is Vṛndāvana.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="3" parent="Lectures" text="Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures"><h3>Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="LectureonCCAdilila11MayapurMarch251975_0" class="quote" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta_Lectures" book="Lec" index="1" link="Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.1 -- Mayapur, March 25, 1975" link_text="Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.1 -- Mayapur, March 25, 1975">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.1 -- Mayapur, March 25, 1975|Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.1 -- Mayapur, March 25, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">These demons, they are preaching Bhagavad-gītā without Kṛṣṇa. Nobody preaches about Kṛṣṇa. Nobody says what Kṛṣṇa wants. Sarva-dharmān parityajya. Kṛṣṇa wants this, but they are misinterpreting in different ways and diverting the attention of the people most foolishly, that... In the Bhagavad-gītā Kṛṣṇa is the center. So this is going on. You know, you are coming all from foreign countries. Bhagavad-gītā is popular in your country, at least amongst the scholars and theosophists and theologists. Going on, for the last two hundred years at least. But nobody understood Kṛṣṇa. That is the difference. Now for the last, say, five or ten years, because we are presenting Kṛṣṇa as it is, it has become very easy for you to accept it. Unadulterated Kṛṣṇa. Before this, everything was presented adulterated. Therefore there was no effect.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonCCAdilila116MayapurApril91975_1" class="quote" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta_Lectures" book="Lec" index="17" link="Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.16 -- Mayapur, April 9, 1975" link_text="Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.16 -- Mayapur, April 9, 1975">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.16 -- Mayapur, April 9, 1975|Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.16 -- Mayapur, April 9, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Here Kṛṣṇa is sitting, Rādhā-Mādhava is sitting on the throne. He is the enjoyer, and we are trying to serve Him so that He may very nicely enjoy. This is called Kṛṣṇa family-center, Kṛṣṇa. Just like in ordinary family the head man is there, and he is the chief man, and all other—his wife, children, servants, and other friends, associates, even animals, cats, dogs, cows—everyone is serving the center point, master. Similarly, our Kṛṣṇa family means Kṛṣṇa is the master, and He is the supreme enjoyer. Bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram ([[Vanisource:BG 5.29 (1972)|BG 5.29]]). And if we understand this point, that Kṛṣṇa is the center, He is the enjoyer, and we are meant for serving Him for His enjoyment, that is Kṛṣṇa family.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LectureonCCMadhyalila211349NewYorkJanuary41967_2" class="quote" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta_Lectures" book="Lec" index="104" link="Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 21.13-49 -- New York, January 4, 1967" link_text="Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 21.13-49 -- New York, January 4, 1967">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 21.13-49 -- New York, January 4, 1967|Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 21.13-49 -- New York, January 4, 1967]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">The living entities, when they enter into the spiritual planets, they become as good as Kṛṣṇa and Viṣṇu—there is no difference—because it is absolute world. Here the difference is there. The impersonalists, they cannot understand that even in individuality there is no difference. As soon as they think of individuality, oh, they think that there is a difference. Then what is liberation? Yes. And actually there is no difference. The difference is only that Kṛṣṇa's personality and others' personalities, they are conscious that "Kṛṣṇa is our object of love." That's it. The center is Kṛṣṇa. In this way the individual boys and girls and Kṛṣṇa, everyone is enjoying spiritual bliss.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Arrival_Addresses_and_Talks" class="sub_section" sec_index="7" parent="Lectures" text="Arrival Addresses and Talks"><h3>Arrival Addresses and Talks</h3>
</div>
<div id="ArrivalAddressLosAngelesJune201975_0" class="quote" parent="Arrival_Addresses_and_Talks" book="Lec" index="24" link="Arrival Address -- Los Angeles, June 20, 1975" link_text="Arrival Address -- Los Angeles, June 20, 1975">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Arrival Address -- Los Angeles, June 20, 1975|Arrival Address -- Los Angeles, June 20, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">That is the Vṛndāvana picture. Vṛndāvana, everything is attracted with Kṛṣṇa. That is Vṛndāvana. The animals, the trees, the flowers, the land, and the cowherd boys, the elderly cowherds men, Nanda Mahārāja and others—all are attracted to Kṛṣṇa. This is Vṛndāvana. The Yamunā water, everything. Fruits, flowers and everything. That is Vṛndāvana. So Kṛṣṇa is the center of attraction. You might have read that when Brahmā stolen all Kṛṣṇa's associates, so He created Himself again all of them, and everyone was feeling more attracted by Kṛṣṇa. So this is natural. This is not unnatural. Our position is, natural position is, to be attracted by Kṛṣṇa. If we do not become attracted by Kṛṣṇa, that is unnatural. And to become attracted by Kṛṣṇa, that is not unnatural. That is natural.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="General_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="11" parent="Lectures" text="General Lectures"><h3>General Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="LectureSeattleSeptember301968_0" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="19" link="Lecture -- Seattle, September 30, 1968" link_text="Lecture -- Seattle, September 30, 1968">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture -- Seattle, September 30, 1968|Lecture -- Seattle, September 30, 1968]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So we have to increase. Increase. The increase means there are two ways. If you practice, "I love my society, I love my country, I love my human nation," then "Living entities," go on... But if you directly touch Kṛṣṇa, then everything is there. It is so nice. Because Kṛṣṇa means all-attractive, includes everything. Why everything? Because Kṛṣṇa is the center. Just like in a family, if you love your father, then you love your brothers, sisters, the servant of your father, the home of your father, the wife of your father, namely, your mother, everyone. The central point is father. This is crude example. Similarly, if you love Kṛṣṇa, then your love will be expanded everywhere. Another example, just like if you love a tree, the leaves, the flowers, the branches, the trunks, the twigs, everything. You simply pour water on the root, then your loving affairs for the tree will automatically serve. If you love your countrymen, if you want to see that your countryman becomes educated, advanced economically and mentally, physically, then what you'll do? You pay tax to the government. You don't hide your income tax. You simply pay tax to the central government and it will be distributed to the educational department, to the defense department, to the hygienic department, everywhere. Therefore... These are crude examples, but actually, if you want to love everything, then you try to love Kṛṣṇa. You'll not be frustrated because that is complete.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LecturetoInternationalStudentSocietyBostonDecember281969_1" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="67" link="Lecture to International Student Society -- Boston, December 28, 1969" link_text="Lecture to International Student Society -- Boston, December 28, 1969">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture to International Student Society -- Boston, December 28, 1969|Lecture to International Student Society -- Boston, December 28, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So everyone is feeling nationally or internationally, but the center is missing. Therefore your feeling, your international feeling, my international feeling, your national feeling, my national feeling, they are overlapping. So we have to find out the center. Then you expand your circle, it will not, I mean to say, overlap or counteract. It will go on. That center is Kṛṣṇa. Our society, International Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness, is teaching to the people of all countries that the center is Kṛṣṇa. You try to think from the central point of Kṛṣṇa. That Kṛṣṇa philosophy is the Bhagavad-gītā.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LecturetoInternationalStudentSocietyBostonDecember281969_2" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="67" link="Lecture to International Student Society -- Boston, December 28, 1969" link_text="Lecture to International Student Society -- Boston, December 28, 1969">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture to International Student Society -- Boston, December 28, 1969|Lecture to International Student Society -- Boston, December 28, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So our point is that if we actually want to expand this international feeling, then we must find out the real center. That center is Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa, or God, I have already explained. Kṛṣṇa said in the Bhagavad-gītā... You'll please always remember that this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement means placing Bhagavad-gītā as it is. Whatever I am speaking, it is there in the Bhagavad-gītā.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LecturetoInternationalStudentSocietyBostonDecember281969_3" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="67" link="Lecture to International Student Society -- Boston, December 28, 1969" link_text="Lecture to International Student Society -- Boston, December 28, 1969">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture to International Student Society -- Boston, December 28, 1969|Lecture to International Student Society -- Boston, December 28, 1969]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">There is no use of commentary. The words are sufficient to give you enlightenment, but unfortunately, people take advantage of the popularity of Bhagavad-gītā, and they try to impress under the shelter of Bhagavad-gītā their own philosophy or own idea. That is useless. You try to understand Bhagavad-gītā as it is; then you will get this entitlement, enlightenment, that Kṛṣṇa is the center of all activities. And if you become Kṛṣṇa conscious, then everything will be perfect, all problems will be solved.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="PandalLectureBombayFebruary231971_4" class="quote" parent="General_Lectures" book="Lec" index="76" link="Pandal Lecture -- Bombay, February 23, 1971" link_text="Pandal Lecture -- Bombay, February 23, 1971">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Pandal Lecture -- Bombay, February 23, 1971|Pandal Lecture -- Bombay, February 23, 1971]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Just like water, when it falls from the cloud directly, it is clear and without any dirty things, but as soon as it touches the ground, it becomes muddy. Again, if you decant the muddy portion of the water, it becomes again clear. Similarly, our consciousness, being polluted by the three modes of material nature, we are thinking one another as enemy or friend. But as soon as you come on the platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, you feel that "We are one. The center is Kṛṣṇa."</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Departure_Talks" class="sub_section" sec_index="12" parent="Lectures" text="Departure Talks"><h3>Departure Talks</h3>
</div>
<div id="DepartureLectureLondonMarch121975_0" class="quote" parent="Departure_Talks" book="Lec" index="5" link="Departure Lecture -- London, March 12, 1975" link_text="Departure Lecture -- London, March 12, 1975">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Departure Lecture -- London, March 12, 1975|Departure Lecture -- London, March 12, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">That is spiritual world. In Vṛndāvana the cowherds boys, they are playing with Kṛṣṇa on equal terms. They do not know Kṛṣṇa is God. They simply know how to love Kṛṣṇa, that's all. There is no need of thinking that "Kṛṣṇa is greater than the other cowherds boy. They are living entities." There is no such sense. Kṛṣṇa wants that. That is Goloka Vṛndāvana worship. Simply the center is Kṛṣṇa, and all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, they love Kṛṣṇa, and they do not know anything except Kṛṣṇa. This is Vṛndāvana life. Everyone knows that "Kṛṣṇa is my very intimate friend." Somebody knows, "Kṛṣṇa is my son," somebody knows that "Kṛṣṇa is my master," and somebody is thinking, "Kṛṣṇa is my lover." But center is Kṛṣṇa. The cows, the calves, the friends, the gopīs, and the cowherds boy, Kṛṣṇa's father, Nanda Mahārāja, Kṛṣṇa's mother, Yaśomatī, and... Everyone's center is Kṛṣṇa, "How Kṛṣṇa will be happy?" This is Vṛndāvana life. If we try to follow the footsteps of the residents of Vṛndāvana, how to love Kṛṣṇa, then our life is successful.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Philosophy_Discussions" class="sub_section" sec_index="13" parent="Lectures" text="Philosophy Discussions"><h3>Philosophy Discussions</h3>
</div>
<div id="PhilosophyDiscussiononHegel_0" class="quote" parent="Philosophy_Discussions" book="Lec" index="4" link="Philosophy Discussion on Hegel" link_text="Philosophy Discussion on Hegel">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Philosophy Discussion on Hegel|Philosophy Discussion on Hegel]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Śyāmasundara: But if the truth is unfolding itself in history, in biology, in sociology...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Everything. Center is Kṛṣṇa.</p>
<p>Śyāmasundara: So all events are leading toward what?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Then all, everything is emanating from Kṛṣṇa and after some manifestation, temporary, again going to Kṛṣṇa. Bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate ([[Vanisource:BG 8.19 (1972)|BG 8.19]]).</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="PhilosophyDiscussiononHegel_1" class="quote" parent="Philosophy_Discussions" book="Lec" index="4" link="Philosophy Discussion on Hegel" link_text="Philosophy Discussion on Hegel">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Philosophy Discussion on Hegel|Philosophy Discussion on Hegel]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Śyāmasundara: The philosophy of Bhāgavata is not...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: God-centered.</p>
<p>Śyāmasundara: But it's not purely conceptual, is it?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Well, it is religion in this sense that carrying out the order of God. That is religion. Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam ([[Vanisource:SB 6.3.19|SB 6.3.19]]). Just like law means the law given by the state. Similarly, religion means the order given by God. That is religion.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="PhilosophyDiscussiononSorenAabyeKierkegaard_2" class="quote" parent="Philosophy_Discussions" book="Lec" index="11" link="Philosophy Discussion on Soren Aabye Kierkegaard" link_text="Philosophy Discussion on Soren Aabye Kierkegaard">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Philosophy Discussion on Soren Aabye Kierkegaard|Philosophy Discussion on Soren Aabye Kierkegaard]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Śyāmasundara: So when someone has integrity, you can see that they are one-minded.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. Just like we are. Our concern is Kṛṣṇa. At ārati, we stand before Kṛṣṇa. The integrity is that Kṛṣṇa is the shelter. We are all serving, chanting Kṛṣṇa, ārati, someone is chanting, someone is dancing. The center is Kṛṣṇa. Similarly, when you go to preach, when you write books, when you go to the play, the center is Kṛṣṇa. Then all our activities are on the platform of liberation.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="PhilosophyDiscussiononTheEvolutionistsThomasHuxleyHenriBergsonandSamuelAlexander_3" class="quote" parent="Philosophy_Discussions" book="Lec" index="24" link="Philosophy Discussion on The Evolutionists Thomas Huxley, Henri Bergson, and Samuel Alexander" link_text="Philosophy Discussion on The Evolutionists Thomas Huxley, Henri Bergson, and Samuel Alexander">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Philosophy Discussion on The Evolutionists Thomas Huxley, Henri Bergson, and Samuel Alexander|Philosophy Discussion on The Evolutionists Thomas Huxley, Henri Bergson, and Samuel Alexander]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Śyāmasundara: And then eventually he'll reach the point where he realizes, "All that is unhappiness," and then he will turn to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, the most confidential part of knowledge, that sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja ([[Vanisource:BG 18.66 (1972)|BG 18.66]]). This will give you happiness because constitutionally you are made like that. Therefore in the Vaikuṇṭhaloka there is happiness, eternal happiness because they are all surrendered to Kṛṣṇa. Just like in Vṛndāvana. Vṛndāvana, ell the gopīs, all the cowherd boys, all the cows, all the trees, everyone—simply center is Kṛṣṇa. How Kṛṣṇa will be happy.</p>
<p>Śyāmasundara: So everyone is striving to return to that stage...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes.</p>
<p>Śyāmasundara: ...and they have simply perverted their drive...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Therefore they are confused and frustrated. This is called māyā.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="section" sec_index="5" parent="compilation" text="Conversations and Morning Walks"><h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2>
</div>
<div id="1967_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="0" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1967 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1967 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="DiscourseonLordCaitanyaPlayBetweenSrilaPrabhupadaandHayagrivaApril561967SanFrancisco_0" class="quote" parent="1967_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="1" link="Discourse on Lord Caitanya Play Between Srila Prabhupada and Hayagriva -- April 5-6, 1967, San Francisco" link_text="Discourse on Lord Caitanya Play Between Srila Prabhupada and Hayagriva -- April 5-6, 1967, San Francisco">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Discourse on Lord Caitanya Play Between Srila Prabhupada and Hayagriva -- April 5-6, 1967, San Francisco|Discourse on Lord Caitanya Play Between Srila Prabhupada and Hayagriva -- April 5-6, 1967, San Francisco]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Hayagrīva: Now I noticed in the list of characters we have up here, Rādhārāṇī. She doesn't appear at this point.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No. Rādhārāṇī will be in the rāsa dance?</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: Oh. In the rāsa dance.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes.</p>
<p>Hayagrīva: That's the...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Rādhārāṇī and Kṛṣṇa in the center. And Kṛṣṇa has expanded Himself for other gopīs, hand to hand.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1969_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1969 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1969 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationWithJohnLennonYokoOnoandGeorgeHarrisonSeptember111969LondonAtTittenhurst_0" class="quote" parent="1969_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="20" link="Room Conversation With John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and George Harrison -- September 11, 1969, London, At Tittenhurst" link_text="Room Conversation With John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and George Harrison -- September 11, 1969, London, At Tittenhurst">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation With John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and George Harrison -- September 11, 1969, London, At Tittenhurst|Room Conversation With John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and George Harrison -- September 11, 1969, London, At Tittenhurst]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Yoko Ono: But every sect says that...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, there is no question, "every sect." Kṛṣṇa is the center of every sect. If Kṛṣṇa is the center, then there is no question of every sect. Only Kṛṣṇa sect.</p>
<p>John Lennon: Does Kṛṣṇa mean God?</p>
<p>Śyāmasundara: Yes.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. Kṛṣṇa means God, and God means Kṛṣṇa.</p>
<p>John Lennon: So for the Bible or any other holy book, they all talk about one God, but they all have many ways of...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That's all right.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1973_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="6" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1973 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1973 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="MorningWalkApril201973LosAngeles_0" class="quote" parent="1973_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="12" link="Morning Walk -- April 20, 1973, Los Angeles" link_text="Morning Walk -- April 20, 1973, Los Angeles">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- April 20, 1973, Los Angeles|Morning Walk -- April 20, 1973, Los Angeles]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: You are a science student. By your scientific knowledge, you prove that behind these laws, there is Kṛṣṇa. Then your scientific knowledge is perfect. Either from the chemical department or physical department or electrical department. Any department. It doesn't matter. Through that department you go to the ultimate center. Just like here is center. And there are so many spokes. So many spokes. So whichever spoke you may be, come to the center. That is your perfection. The spokes may be of different direction. Like that. But center is Kṛṣṇa. The energy, central energy is Kṛṣṇa.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="MorningWalkApril271973LosAngeles_1" class="quote" parent="1973_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="16" link="Morning Walk -- April 27, 1973, Los Angeles" link_text="Morning Walk -- April 27, 1973, Los Angeles">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- April 27, 1973, Los Angeles|Morning Walk -- April 27, 1973, Los Angeles]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Svarūpa Dāmodara: They're inquiring.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: It is right, but when we speak that the ultimate shelter is Kṛṣṇa, that they will deny. Therefore they're wrong. Just like you are coming this side. If I say: "Come to here," they'll say: "Why shall I go to there?" That is their fault. We are requesting everyone that: "Accept Kṛṣṇa in the center. All your research work will be successful." That they'll not.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="7" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1974 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1974 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="MorningWalkExcerptsMay21974Bombay_0" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="77" link="Morning Walk Excerpts -- May 2, 1974, Bombay" link_text="Morning Walk Excerpts -- May 2, 1974, Bombay">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk Excerpts -- May 2, 1974, Bombay|Morning Walk Excerpts -- May 2, 1974, Bombay]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: But this grief is for Kṛṣṇa. Therefore it is spiritual.</p>
<p>Dr. Patel: The gopīs became in grief when Kṛṣṇa went away.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Center is Kṛṣṇa.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationwithRogerMarialeadingwriterofcommunistliteratureJune121974Paris_1" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="112" link="Room Conversation with Roger Maria leading writer of communist literature -- June 12, 1974, Paris" link_text="Room Conversation with Roger Maria leading writer of communist literature -- June 12, 1974, Paris">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Roger Maria leading writer of communist literature -- June 12, 1974, Paris|Room Conversation with Roger Maria leading writer of communist literature -- June 12, 1974, Paris]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Yogeśvara: In other words, he's saying, "I know what you want to get me to say. You want me to say that the center is God." But he's saying, "I'd rather not say that because that's too mystical."</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Then what is the use of talking if you do not know the central point? He says that to come to the truth, neti neti. So we must come to the truth. So we must find out first of all truth. Then we discuss the other, subordinate things.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationsSeptember111974Vrndavana_2" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="146" link="Room Conversations -- September 11, 1974, Vrndavana" link_text="Room Conversations -- September 11, 1974, Vrndavana">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversations -- September 11, 1974, Vrndavana|Room Conversations -- September 11, 1974, Vrndavana]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: When we exchange rasa, transcendental mellow, (Sanskrit), then we get transcendental bliss. As the materialist has centered around the sex, this way or that way, similarly the transcendentalists, they are..., their center is Kṛṣṇa. That is the difference. So if you want to enjoy life making Kṛṣṇa as the center, that is eternal happiness.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1975 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1975 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="InterviewMarch51975NewYork_0" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="22" link="Interview -- March 5, 1975, New York" link_text="Interview -- March 5, 1975, New York">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Interview -- March 5, 1975, New York|Interview -- March 5, 1975, New York]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: It is material service, as I showed. If you put foodstuff in your stomach, all the parts of your body feel energetic. That is material service. That is not spiritual service. Spiritual service (is) beyond that. Similarly, the center is God. If you understand God, then you understand everything.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationJuly311975NewOrleans_1" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="163" link="Room Conversation -- July 31, 1975, New Orleans" link_text="Room Conversation -- July 31, 1975, New Orleans">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- July 31, 1975, New Orleans|Room Conversation -- July 31, 1975, New Orleans]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: That is Kṛṣṇa. Give this garland... Center is Kṛṣṇa. That I (indistinct) to say. Bring one, the zeros will have value. And if you get out the one, all zeros. This is our philosophy.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="MorningWalkSeptember301975Bombay_2" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="195" link="Morning Walk -- September 30, 1975, Bombay" link_text="Morning Walk -- September 30, 1975, Bombay">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- September 30, 1975, Bombay|Morning Walk -- September 30, 1975, Bombay]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Now the village program of Gandhi is lost.</p>
<p>Dr. Patel: Absolutely. But whatever he has got, he had a lot of vidhi-niṣedha...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: And it is lost because it was not God-centered. It is lost.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationwithProfessorOlivierOctober101975Durban_3" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="210" link="Room Conversation with Professor Olivier -- October 10, 1975, Durban" link_text="Room Conversation with Professor Olivier -- October 10, 1975, Durban">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Professor Olivier -- October 10, 1975, Durban|Room Conversation with Professor Olivier -- October 10, 1975, Durban]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: It's not that everyone will become a monk.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, no.</p>
<p>Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Not everyone will become a jeweler or a teacher. But all different occupations must be there in society. Simply they have to somehow or another become God-centered.</p>
<p>Prof. Olivier: Yeah. Well, this is the point, you see. Man only lives because God allows him to live. God has given him breath to live, and he's got to breathe God and speak God and live God now.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That is wanted.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="MorningWalkNovember121975Bombay_4" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="238" link="Morning Walk -- November 12, 1975, Bombay" link_text="Morning Walk -- November 12, 1975, Bombay">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- November 12, 1975, Bombay|Morning Walk -- November 12, 1975, Bombay]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: So we are dealing with very, very difficult task. It is not very easy, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Naturally we have got attraction for God. That is spiritual kingdom. Just like Vṛndāvana. Vṛndāvana means center is Kṛṣṇa. The elderly person like Nanda Mahārāja, Yaśoda, their friends, their..., they are also attracted to Kṛṣṇa. The gopīs are attracted to Kṛṣṇa, the cowherds boys, they are attracted to Kṛṣṇa. The cows, calves, animals and peacock—everyone is attracted to Kṛṣṇa. The water is attracted to Kṛṣṇa. That is Vṛndāvana. And here in the material world nobody is attracted by Kṛṣṇa.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="9" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1976 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1976 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationWithRadhaDamodaraSankirtanaPartyMarch161976Mayapur_0" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="55" link="Room Conversation With Radha-Damodara Sankirtana Party -- March 16, 1976, Mayapur" link_text="Room Conversation With Radha-Damodara Sankirtana Party -- March 16, 1976, Mayapur">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation With Radha-Damodara Sankirtana Party -- March 16, 1976, Mayapur|Room Conversation With Radha-Damodara Sankirtana Party -- March 16, 1976, Mayapur]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Spiritual platform, every one of us, we are servant of Kṛṣṇa. So where is the competition between one servant with another? There is.... Even there is competition, the center is Kṛṣṇa—"Who can serve more?" Therefore that competition is very welcome, because there is no personal interest. Everyone is trying how to serve Kṛṣṇa more. That is wanted. The competition is there in his real form and perverted form. In the real form Kṛṣṇa is the center, and the perverted form, I am the center. I compete with you to satisfy my senses more. What is called? Heliocentric or...?</p>
<p>Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Egocentric.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Egocentric, yes. This is egocentric.</p>
<p>Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It should be Kṛṣṇa-centric.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, then it is perfect. The competition must remain. The others, they say, "Why competition? Make it zero." That is imperfect. But competition to satisfy Kṛṣṇa, that is reality.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="MorningWalkJune211976Toronto_1" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="153" link="Morning Walk -- June 21, 1976, Toronto" link_text="Morning Walk -- June 21, 1976, Toronto">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- June 21, 1976, Toronto|Morning Walk -- June 21, 1976, Toronto]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Indian man (4): They must have a common background, common ground whereby you can...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That they haven't got. Common.... He is trying to become Kṛṣṇa. Everything is rolling around. So this is the mistake. He's trying to become center, that foolish rascal. How he's center? Center is Kṛṣṇa.</p>
<p>Indian man (4): So the only hope for humanity is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, only hope.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="EveningDarsanaJuly131976NewYork_2" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="209" link="Evening Darsana -- July 13, 1976, New York" link_text="Evening Darsana -- July 13, 1976, New York">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Evening Darsana -- July 13, 1976, New York|Evening Darsana -- July 13, 1976, New York]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: So in reality, we're not trying to create farmers, we're trying to create brāhmaṇas. But our farming communities are, so to speak, an example, an ideal example how human society can live: some people in the capacity of preachers, some people in the capacity of farmers, how so many activities can go on—various occupations—but all of them can be God-centered. So in reality, these people, they're farmers, they're out there on their tractor, they can jump off their tractor at any moment and preach the highest philosophy, because actually they're brāhmaṇas.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="10" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1977 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1977 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="DiscussiononDeprogrammersJanuary91977Bombay_0" class="quote" parent="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="21" link="Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay" link_text="Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay|Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: The Vṛndāvana life means the gopīs, the cowherd boys, the cowherdsmen, the elderly men, Nanda Mahārāja, Yaśodārāṇī, his (her) status, every-cows, calves, trees, flowers, Yamunā—everyone is dedicated to Kṛṣṇa. That is the Vṛndāvana. They have no other business. That is Vṛndāvana. Everywhere, the whole description of the Kṛṣṇa book, center is Kṛṣṇa.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="DiscussiononDeprogrammersJanuary91977Bombay_1" class="quote" parent="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="21" link="Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay" link_text="Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay|Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: That is Vṛndāvana life, either in rasa dance or the cowherd's play or killing the demons or in dining and dancing. The friends are eating, they are being stolen by Brahmā—but the center is Kṛṣṇa. That is Vṛndāvana. All activities are going on, just like in other place. But here in Vṛndāvana, all activities centered around Kṛṣṇa. When Brahmā is stealing His friends, the center is Kṛṣṇa. The demon is coming to destroy—the center is Kṛṣṇa. When there is forest fire, the center is Kṛṣṇa. This is Vṛndāvana beauty. In happiness, in danger, in perplexities, in friendship—everything Kṛṣṇa. Kāliya-damana. "Oh, Kṛṣṇa has gone to Yamunā. He has fallen down in the..., to fight the Kāliya." It is a very, what is called, calamity. But still, the center is Kṛṣṇa. This is the beauty of Vṛndāvana. "Kṛṣṇa has entered Yamunā to fight with Kāliya." It is not at all good news for mother Yaśodā, Nanda, friends and family, not at all. Their life is lost. But still the Kṛṣṇa is center. This is Vṛndāvana life. In everything Kṛṣṇa is center, anything. We are having just like: "Kṛṣṇa's a bad propaganda," opposition.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="DiscussiononDeprogrammersJanuary91977Bombay_2" class="quote" parent="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="21" link="Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay" link_text="Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay|Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: I am happy that Kṛṣṇa is center. That's all. This is the beauty of this movement. Although we are put into some difficulty, but center is Kṛṣṇa.</p>
<p>Hari-śauri: The difficulty actually is increasing our thinking of Kṛṣṇa.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. The papers are publishing, "Kṛṣṇas, they are bad. They are so on, so on, so on." That's all right. Kṛṣṇa is center.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="DiscussiononDeprogrammersJanuary91977Bombay_3" class="quote" parent="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="21" link="Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay" link_text="Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay|Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: That I was explaining, that what is Vṛndāvana life. In Vṛndāvana life there is everything—the cowherds boy, the calves, the cows, the elderly person like Nanda Mahārāja, Yaśodāmayī, friend. What is their aim? The aim is Kṛṣṇa. The demons... (laughter) Everything is Kṛṣṇa. The demon is coming there. That is also... Center is Kṛṣṇa. And gopīs are dancing. That is also... Center is Kṛṣṇa. And Brahmā is stealing the friends and cows. That is also center Kṛṣṇa.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="DiscussiononDeprogrammersJanuary91977Bombay_4" class="quote" parent="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="21" link="Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay" link_text="Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay|Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Trivikrama: Now we are also getting the demons.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That is Vṛndāvana life. When everything is Kṛṣṇa, that is Vṛndāvana life. Why Vṛndāvana life is so exalted? Because they have no other shelter except Kṛṣṇa. The whole book Kṛṣṇa is therefore center Kṛṣṇa. That's all. But there are many varieties of activities.</p>
<p>Hari-śauri: There's ninety chapters there. That's a drop in the ocean.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Every page, the center is Kṛṣṇa. Not only the Kṛṣṇa book. All our books-Caitanya-caritāmṛta—the center is Kṛṣṇa. Bhāgavata, the center is Kṛṣṇa. Bhagavad-gītā center is Kṛṣṇa. Nectar of Devotion, the center is Kṛṣṇa. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Similarly, our, this book, the center is Kṛṣṇa. When we open a temple, the center is Kṛṣṇa. In this way manage, promotion. All spend for promotion. Then the income tax will not be able to touch your hair, what to speak of your body. (laughter) So now our counterpropaganda is going on. The center is Kṛṣṇa. Big, big Kṛṣṇa's name are coming: "These Kṛṣṇa people," "These Kṛṣṇa devotees," "This Kṛṣṇa center"—that is our triumph.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationJanuary311977Bhuvanesvara_5" class="quote" parent="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="70" link="Room Conversation -- January 31, 1977, Bhuvanesvara" link_text="Room Conversation -- January 31, 1977, Bhuvanesvara">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- January 31, 1977, Bhuvanesvara|Room Conversation -- January 31, 1977, Bhuvanesvara]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: Potential is wonderful, so why they are not attracted to live in the farm and be self-independent and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa? That is our farm project. Our farm project is they should be satisfied with simple living. That is nice living. If you get milk, if you get fruit, if you get grain and open air, it is very healthy life. Why they should not be attracted?</p>
<p>Yogeśvara: It is still the beginning, and because it's the beginning, it is a little difficult sometimes.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That may be. But this should be our aim. We should not be attracted by the modern city life. Simplified life. Save time and utilize for advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is perfect life. Just like Vṛndāvana. Vṛndāvana life means agriculturist, cowherd boys, uneducated girls, cows and calves, and tree, fruits. This is Vṛndāvana. The center is Kṛṣṇa.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="EveningDarsanaFebruary191977Mayapura_6" class="quote" parent="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="95" link="Evening Darsana -- February 19, 1977, Mayapura" link_text="Evening Darsana -- February 19, 1977, Mayapura">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Evening Darsana -- February 19, 1977, Mayapura|Evening Darsana -- February 19, 1977, Mayapura]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: We have to stop this change, and that is the mission of human life: no more cat, no more dog, no more demigod, but eternally servitor of Kṛṣṇa as cowherd boys, and gopīs, or whatever you like. As trees, as calves, as cows, as Yamunā water, as Vṛndāvana-bhūmi—everything spiritual. Enjoy. Somebody's enjoying spiritual happiness by becoming Yamunā water. Somebody's enjoying as flower of Vṛndāvana, somebody as calf, somebody as cow, somebody as father, as mother, as friend, as conjugal friend, gopīs—all concentrated in Kṛṣṇa. That is Vṛndāvana. Center is Kṛṣṇa.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationFebruary251977Mayapura_7" class="quote" parent="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="106" link="Room Conversation -- February 25, 1977, Mayapura" link_text="Room Conversation -- February 25, 1977, Mayapura">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- February 25, 1977, Mayapura|Room Conversation -- February 25, 1977, Mayapura]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: That is Kṛṣṇa's order, kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyam ([[Vanisource:BG 18.44 (1972)|BG 18.44]]). (break) ...is important, not that the learned brāhmaṇa class is important and śūdra, he is not im... He is also important. He is giving you service according to his quality. Cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭam ([[Vanisource:BG 4.13 (1972)|BG 4.13]]). And center is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Correspondence" class="section" sec_index="6" parent="compilation" text="Correspondence"><h2>Correspondence</h2>
</div>
<div id="1970_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="5" parent="Correspondence" text="1970 Correspondence"><h3>1970 Correspondence</h3>
</div>
<div id="LettertoSyamasundaraLosAngeles12April1970_0" class="quote" parent="1970_Correspondence" book="Let" index="231" link="Letter to Syamasundara -- Los Angeles 12 April, 1970" link_text="Letter to Syamasundara -- Los Angeles 12 April, 1970">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Syamasundara -- Los Angeles 12 April, 1970|Letter to Syamasundara -- Los Angeles 12 April, 1970]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Yes, I always think of your little girl, she is so nice. Sometimes I think that I left my home leaving aside all children and grandchildren, and Krsna is giving another batch to whom I am becoming attached. But this attachment is nice because the center is Krsna. I always narrate the story of your daughter when she was dancing on the platform of the law college and she obliged all other law students to imitate her dancing. Anyway, just raise this girl in full Krishna Consciousness and she will be a great preacher when she is young.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LettertoKrsnadasaCalcutta6October1970_1" class="quote" parent="1970_Correspondence" book="Let" index="545" link="Letter to Krsna dasa -- Calcutta 6 October, 1970" link_text="Letter to Krsna dasa -- Calcutta 6 October, 1970">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Krsna dasa -- Calcutta 6 October, 1970|Letter to Krsna dasa -- Calcutta 6 October, 1970]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Human life is especially meant for reviving our lost relationship with God by following the instructions of God contained in religious books like the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, etc. Without God-centered society, the whole thing is dog-centered society. A dog also eats, a dog also sleeps, a dog also defends and they have ample opportunity for sex-life. So the goal of life is Krsna—to become free from the cat and dog propensities of eating, sleeping, defending and mating and achieve the spiritual platform of Eternity, Knowledge and Blissful Life in pure devotional service to the Lord—Bhakti yoga, that is religion. Simply loving Krsna. Society without religion, it is all animal society.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1973_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Correspondence" text="1973 Correspondence"><h3>1973 Correspondence</h3>
</div>
<div id="LettertoAmarendradasCalcuttaJanuary311972_0" class="quote" parent="1973_Correspondence" book="Let" index="55" link="Letter to Amarendra das -- Calcutta January 31, 1972" link_text="Letter to Amarendra das -- Calcutta January 31, 1972">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Amarendra das -- Calcutta January 31, 1972|Letter to Amarendra das -- Calcutta January 31, 1972]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So if you study my books very carefully, then I am sure you will find out the means for applying this Krsna Consciousness philosophy in all spheres of life.  There is no limitation.  Simply it requires a little common sense practicality.  The main point is that Krsna is the center of all activities, whatever is going on.  Whatever the activity may be, if Krsna is the center, that is all right.  The details simply require a little common sense.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LettertoKirtananandaBombay18October1973_1" class="quote" parent="1973_Correspondence" book="Let" index="349" link="Letter to Kirtanananda -- Bombay 18 October, 1973" link_text="Letter to Kirtanananda -- Bombay 18 October, 1973">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Kirtanananda -- Bombay 18 October, 1973|Letter to Kirtanananda -- Bombay 18 October, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Material nature means dissension and disagreement, especially in this Kali yuga. But, for this Krsna consciousness movement its success will depend on agreement, even though there are varieties of engagements. In the material world there are varieties, but there is no agreement. In the spiritual world there are varieties, but there is agreement. That is the difference. The materialist without being able to adjust the varieties and the disagreements makes everything zero. They cannot come into agreement with varieties, but if we keep Krsna in the center, then there will be agreement in varieties. This is called unity in diversity. I am therefore suggesting that all our men meet in Mayapur every year during the birth anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. With all GBC and senior men present we should discuss how to make unity in diversity. But, if we fight on account of diversity, then it is simply the material platform. Please try to maintain the philosophy of unity in diversity. That will make our movement successful.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="LettertoHamsadutaNewDelhi8November1973_2" class="quote" parent="1973_Correspondence" book="Let" index="373" link="Letter to Hamsaduta -- New Delhi 8 November, 1973" link_text="Letter to Hamsaduta -- New Delhi 8 November, 1973">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Hamsaduta -- New Delhi 8 November, 1973|Letter to Hamsaduta -- New Delhi 8 November, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">I am also glad to note the work going on in East Germany. Try to impress upon them to make communism God-centered. God is the father of everyone, and we are all His sons. Everything is His property, and everyone has the right to enjoy it. Without being God-centered, Communism will fail. So we have got good potency to be the leaders of the world if we carefully push on this movement.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>

Latest revision as of 02:19, 18 May 2018

Expressions researched:
"I (Krsna) am the supreme center" |"I am the center" |"Krsna as the center" |"Krsna became the cynosure, the center" |"Krsna is the ultimate center" |"Krsna is wonderful and transcendental. The center" |"Krsna must be brought to the center" |"Krsna or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the center" |"Krsna the center" |"Krsna, the center" |"Krsna. He is the center" |"center Krsna" |"center is god" |"center is krsna" |"god-centered" |"krsna in the center" |"krsna is center" |"krsna is the center" |"krsna was the center" |"krsna-centered" |"krsna-centric"

Srimad-Bhagavatam

SB Canto 2

SB 2.3.16, Purport:

Since Lord Kṛṣṇa is the center of the topics, the word vāsudeva-parāyaṇaḥ, or "devotee of Vāsudeva," suggests devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the common aim.

SB Canto 3

SB 3.15.33, Purport:

Harmony or disharmony is realized because of the law and order of a particular place. Religion is the law and order of the Supreme Lord. In the Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā we find that religion means devotional service, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Kṛṣṇa says, "Give up all other religious principles and simply become a soul surrendered unto Me." This is religion. When one is fully conscious that Kṛṣṇa is the supreme enjoyer and Supreme Lord and one acts accordingly, that is real religion. Anything which goes against this principle is not religion. Kṛṣṇa therefore says: "Just give up all other religious principles." In the spiritual world this religious principle of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is maintained in harmony, and therefore that world is called Vaikuṇṭha. If the same principles can be adopted here, wholly or partially, then it is also Vaikuṇṭha. So it is with any society, such as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness: If the members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, putting faith in Kṛṣṇa as the center, live in harmony according to the order and principles of Bhagavad-gītā, then they are living in Vaikuṇṭha, not in this material world.

SB Canto 4

SB 4.28.19, Purport:

For family life it is very good for a husband to be attached to his wife, but it is not very good for spiritual advancement. Thus Kṛṣṇa consciousness must be established in every home. If a husband and wife are very much attached to one another in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they will both benefit because Kṛṣṇa is the center of their existence. Otherwise, if the husband is too much attached to his wife, he becomes a woman in his next life. The woman, being overly attached to her husband, becomes a man in her next life. Of course, it is an advantage for a woman to become a man, but it is not at all advantageous for the man to become a woman.

SB 4.28.37, Purport:

Bhakti-yoga will automatically liberate a person from the dualities of life. In bhakti-yoga, Kṛṣṇa is the center, and Kṛṣṇa is always transcendental.

SB Canto 6

SB 6.10.10, Purport:

If all philanthropic and humanitarian activities were directed toward achieving the ultimate goal of life—to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead—they would all be perfect. Humanitarian work without Kṛṣṇa is nothing. Kṛṣṇa must be brought to the center of all our activities; otherwise no activity will have value.

SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13

SB 10.7.25, Translation and Purport:

When the force of the dust storm and the winds subsided, Yaśodā's friends, the other gopīs, approached mother Yaśodā, hearing her pitiful crying. Not seeing Kṛṣṇa present, they too felt very much aggrieved and joined mother Yaśodā in crying, their eyes full of tears.

This attachment of the gopīs to Kṛṣṇa is wonderful and transcendental. The center of all the activities of the gopīs was Kṛṣṇa. When Kṛṣṇa was there they were happy, and when Kṛṣṇa was not there, they were unhappy. Thus when mother Yaśodā was lamenting Kṛṣṇa's absence, the other ladies also began to cry.

SB 10.13.8, Translation and Purport:

Like the whorl of a lotus flower surrounded by its petals and leaves, Kṛṣṇa sat in the center, encircled by lines of His friends, who all looked very beautiful. Every one of them was trying to look forward toward Kṛṣṇa, thinking that Kṛṣṇa might look toward him. In this way they all enjoyed their lunch in the forest.

To a pure devotee, Kṛṣṇa is always visible, as stated in the Brahmā saṁhitā (santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti) and as indicated by Kṛṣṇa Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (sarvataḥ pāṇi-pādaṁ tat sarvato 'kṣi-śiro-mukham). If by accumulating pious activities (kṛta-puṇya-puñjāḥ (SB 10.12.11)) one is raised to the platform of pure devotional service, Kṛṣṇa is always visible in the core of one's heart. One who has attained such perfection is all-beautiful in transcendental bliss. The present Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is an attempt to keep Kṛṣṇa in the center, for if this is done all activities will automatically become beautiful and blissful.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta

CC Adi-lila

CC Adi 10.134, Purport:

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu considered Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya and Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī to be equal in their renunciation, for although Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya was a gṛhastha engaged in government service and Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī was in the renounced order of complete detachment from material activities, they were both servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who kept Kṛṣṇa in the center of all their activities.

CC Madhya-lila

CC Madhya 9.131, Purport:

In Vrajabhūmi Kṛṣṇa is certainly the central point of love, but no one knows Him there as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Rather, a person may know Him as a friend, son, lover or master. In any case, the center is Kṛṣṇa.

CC Madhya 15.132, Purport:

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu set forth three duties for three different people. Mukunda was to earn money and follow the religious principles, whereas Narahari was to remain with the Lord's devotees, and Raghunandana was to engage in the Lord's service in the temple. Thus one person worships in the temple, another earns money honestly by executing his professional duty, and yet another preaches Kṛṣṇa consciousness with the devotees. Apparently these three types of service appear separate, but actually they are not. When Kṛṣṇa or Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the center, everyone can engage in different activities for the service of the Lord. That is the verdict of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

CC Madhya 22.3, Translation:

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “I have described one's relationship with Kṛṣṇa in various ways. This is the subject matter of all the Vedas. Kṛṣṇa is the center of all activities.

CC Madhya 25.103, Translation:

“(Lord Kṛṣṇa says:) ‘I am the center of all relationships. Knowledge of Me and the practical application of that knowledge is actual knowledge. Approaching Me for devotional service is called abhidheya.

Other Books by Srila Prabhupada

Teachings of Lord Caitanya

Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 5:

Devotional service is the only perfection accepted by all Vedic literatures. Just as when a poor man receives some treasure he becomes happy, when one attains to devotional service his material pains are automatically vanquished. As one advances in devotional service, he attains love of Godhead, and as he advances in this love, he becomes free from all material bondage. One should not think, however, that the disappearance of poverty and the liberation from bondage are the goals of devotional service. Love of Kṛṣṇa, love of God, is itself the goal, and it consists in relishing the reciprocation of loving service with the Lord. In all Vedic literatures we find that the attainment of this loving relationship between the living entity and the Supreme Lord is the goal of devotional service. Our actual function is devotional service, and our ultimate goal is love of Godhead. Therefore in all Vedic literatures Kṛṣṇa is the ultimate center, and through knowledge of Kṛṣṇa all problems of life are solved.

Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 22:

The four Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam verses beginning with aham evāsam evāgre (SB 2.9.33–36) are the gist of the whole Bhāgavatam. These are nicely summarized by Lord Caitanya as follows: "I (Kṛṣṇa) am the supreme center for the relationships of all living entities, and knowledge of Me is the supreme knowledge. The process by which a living entity can attain Me is called abhidheya. By it, one can attain the highest perfection of life, love of Godhead. When one attains love of Godhead, his life becomes perfect."

Nectar of Devotion

Nectar of Devotion 22:

A person who is respected and worshiped by all kinds of human beings and demigods is called sarvārādhya, or all-worshipable.

Kṛṣṇa is worshiped not only by all living entities, including the great demigods like Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā, but also by Viṣṇu expansions (forms of Godhead) such as Baladeva and Śeṣa. Baladeva is a direct expansion of Kṛṣṇa, but He still accepts Kṛṣṇa as worshipable. When Kṛṣṇa appeared in the arena of the Rājasūya sacrifice organized by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, to all present, including great sages and demigods, Kṛṣṇa became the cynosure, the center of attraction, and everyone offered Him respects.

Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead

Krsna Book 13:

On hearing this proposal from Kṛṣṇa, all the boys became very glad and said, "Certainly, let us all sit down here to take our lunch." They then let loose the calves to eat the soft grass. Sitting down on the ground and keeping Kṛṣṇa in the center, they began to open their lunch boxes brought from home. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was seated in the center of the circle, and all the boys kept their faces toward Him. They ate and constantly enjoyed seeing the Lord face to face. Kṛṣṇa appeared to be the whorl of a lotus flower, and the boys surrounding Him appeared to be its different petals.

Krsna Book 22:

Generally, people worship goddess Durgā for some material benediction. Here, the gopīs prayed to the goddess to become wives of Lord Kṛṣṇa. The purport is that if Kṛṣṇa is the center of activity, a devotee can adopt any means to achieve that goal. The gopīs could adopt any means to satisfy or serve Kṛṣṇa. That was the superexcellent characteristic of the gopīs.

Krsna Book 29:

The chastity of women is specifically stressed herein by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore this principle should be followed by any serious woman who wants to be elevated to a higher status of life. Kṛṣṇa is the center of all affection for all living creatures. When this affection is developed for Kṛṣṇa, one surpasses and transcends all Vedic injunctions. This was possible for the gopīs because they saw Kṛṣṇa face to face. This is not possible for any women in the conditioned state.

Krsna Book 69:

The Supreme Personality of Godhead was engaged in His so-called household affairs in order to teach people how one can sanctify one's household life although one may be attached to the imprisonment of material existence. Actually, one is obliged to continue the term of material existence because of household life. But the Lord, being very kind upon householders, demonstrated the path of sanctifying ordinary household life. Because Kṛṣṇa is the center of all activities, the life of a Kṛṣṇa conscious householder is transcendental to Vedic injunctions and is automatically sanctified.

Krsna Book 82:

The juniors were offering obeisances to the elders, and the elders were offering their blessings to the juniors. They thus welcomed one another and asked after one another's welfare. Ultimately, however, all their talk was only of Kṛṣṇa. All the neighbors and relatives were connected with Lord Kṛṣṇa's pastimes in this world, and as such Kṛṣṇa was the center of all their activities. Whatever activities they performed—social, political, religious or conventional—were transcendental.

Krsna Book 90:

Kṛṣṇa lived with wives and children in all opulence, exactly like an ordinary conditioned soul, just to teach those souls who are actually conditioned that they must enter into the family circle of Kṛṣṇa, where He is the center. For example, the members of the Yadu dynasty lived in the family of Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa was the center of all their activities.

Krsna Book 90:

There are four principles of elevation from conditioned life to the life of liberation, which are technically known as dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa (religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation). If one lives a family life following in the footsteps of Lord Kṛṣṇa's family members, one can achieve all four of these principles of success simultaneously by making Kṛṣṇa the center of all activities.

Sri Isopanisad

Sri Isopanisad 2, Purport:

An ordinary man works for his own sense enjoyment, and when this principle of sense enjoyment is extended to include his society, nation or humanity in general, it assumes various attractive names such as altruism, socialism, communism, nationalism and humanitarianism. These "isms" are certainly very attractive forms of karma-bandhana (karmic bondage), but the Vedic instruction of Śrī Īśopaniṣad is that if one actually wants to live for any of the above "isms," he should make them God-centered. There is no harm in becoming a family man, or an altruist, a socialist, a communist, a nationalist or a humanitarian, provided that one executes his activities in relation with īśāvāsya, the God-centered conception.

Sri Isopanisad 2, Purport:

In the Bhagavad-gītā (BG 2.40) Lord Kṛṣṇa states that God-centered activities are so valuable that just a few of them can save a person from the greatest danger. The greatest danger of life is the danger of gliding down again into the evolutionary cycle of birth and death among the 8,400,000 species. If somehow or other a man misses the spiritual opportunity afforded by his human form of life and falls down again into the evolutionary cycle, he must be considered most unfortunate. Due to his defective senses, a foolish man cannot see that this is happening. Consequently Śrī Īśopaniṣad advises us to exert our energy in the spirit of īśāvāsya. Being so engaged, we may wish to live for many, many years; otherwise a long life in itself has no value. A tree lives for hundreds and hundreds of years, but there is no point in living a long time like trees, or breathing like bellows, or begetting children like hogs and dogs, or eating like camels. A humble God-centered life is more valuable than a colossal hoax of a life dedicated to godless altruism or socialism.

Sri Isopanisad 2, Purport:

When altruistic activities are executed in the spirit of Śrī Īśopaniṣad, they become a form of karma-yoga. Such activities are recommended in the Bhagavad-gītā (BG 18.5-9), for they guarantee their executor protection from the danger of sliding down into the evolutionary process of birth and death. Even though such God-centered activities may be half-finished, they are still good for the executor because they will guarantee him a human form in his next birth. In this way one can have another chance to improve his position on the path of liberation.

Sri Isopanisad 2, Purport:

How one can execute God-centered activities is elaborately explained in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. We have rendered this book into English as The Nectar of Devotion. We recommend this valuable book to all who are interested in performing their activities in the spirit of Śrī Īśopaniṣad.

Lectures

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

Lecture on BG 1.4-5 -- London, July 10, 1973:

Therefore the sahajiyās, they do not read Bhagavad-gītā. They say, "We have nothing to do with Bhagavad-gītā." They jump over to the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Tenth Canto, Kṛṣṇa's rāsa-līlā, as if Kṛṣṇa is connected with rāsa-līlā and not with this līlā. They make distinction. Kṛṣṇa's this fighting līlā, pastimes, and the rāsa-līlā pastime, they are all the same because Kṛṣṇa is the center. Kṛṣṇa being center, whatever in connection with Kṛṣṇa is there, that becomes also Kṛṣṇa. This is the idea.

Lecture on BG 1.31 -- London, July 24, 1973:

The gṛhastha-āśrama means unless there is Kṛṣṇa or full consciousness of Kṛṣṇa, it is simply miserable, simply miserable. Duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam (BG 8.15). Simply working hard day and night, then there is, child is sick, then wife is not satisfied, the servant is not satisfied... So many things, problem. But if there is Kṛṣṇa in the center, the all problems will be solved. But people do not know this. They think that "I shall be happy with wife, children, servants, house, and this and that." No. That is not possible. Therefore one should be in gṛhastha-āśrama.

Lecture on BG 4.17 -- Bombay, April 6, 1974:

The real purpose of working is to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. He is the center. He is the center of all activities. Sva-karmaṇā tam abhyarcya saṁsiddhiṁ labhate parām (BG 18.46). Simply by satisfying the central point, Kṛṣṇa, then you get saṁsiddhi. It doesn't matter whether you are a śūdra or a brāhmaṇa or engineer or lawyer. The real point is how to satisfy Kṛṣṇa.

Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Bombay, December 20, 1975:

Gopījana-vallabha. Kṛṣṇa... Kṛṣṇa, Vṛndāvana means that Kṛṣṇa is the center. He is the lovable object of everyone. The gopīs, the cowherd boys, the calves, the cows, the trees, the fruits, flowers, the father, mother—everyone is attached to Kṛṣṇa.

Lecture on BG 7.1-3 -- Stockholm, September 10, 1973:

Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is to understand the Supreme Person, Kṛṣṇa, as He is, without any interpretation. That is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness yoga. That can be achieved, as Kṛṣṇa says, always keeping center Kṛṣṇa.

mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha
yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ
asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ māṁ
yathā jñāsyasi tac chṛṇu
(BG 7.1)

You can understand. If you practice this yoga, keeping Kṛṣṇa in the center, always thinking of Kṛṣṇa, the form of the Kṛṣṇa, then it will be revealed. Yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau (ŚU 6.23). This is the yoga system of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Lecture on BG 7.3 -- Bombay, March 29, 1971:

This para-upakāra business, welfare activities to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world, is the most important business at the present moment. It will unite everyone politically, socially, culturally, religiously, in every way. Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is the center. That's a fact. It is making progress. And if we endeavor more and more, it will make more and more progress.

Lecture on BG 8.5 -- New York, October 26, 1966:

Individual means he has got his own choice. If I tell you that "You can come here, but you haven't got any choice," then you won't like to sit down here. You can sit down here, you can go out immediately. That's your choice. But if I make the condition that "You can sit down here without your choice," oh, you will hate to come here. "Oh, I don't care for your meeting." That is individuality. But that choice may be very nice, and that choice may be very bad. That is different thing. But you have got your choice. That is individuality. So in the spiritual world the choice is there to serve Kṛṣṇa. Somebody is thinking, "I shall serve Kṛṣṇa like this." Somebody is thinking, "I shall love Kṛṣṇa like this." The choice is there. The individuality is there. But the center is Kṛṣṇa. Therefore there is no disagreement.

Lecture on BG 13.6-7 -- Bombay, September 29, 1973:

For practical purpose, even if we accept that the whole world belongs to Kṛṣṇa, God, and we are sons of God, we have got right to use the property of father, so you can use. But the difficulty is that we are claiming that "This portion is mine, this portion is mine." But if we don't claim like that, everything belongs to God, that is practical communism. If we accept the whole world as the property of God, make God-centered communism... The Russians, they are making the state-center communism. But if you make God center... That is Īśopaniṣad, īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam: (ISO 1) "Everything belongs to God." And everyone has, that is stated in the śāstra, that everything belongs to God, everything is property of God, and we can utilize. We can use that. Yāvad artha-prayojanam. As much as we require, we can take.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Lecture on SB 1.2.5 -- Edinburgh, July 17, 1972:

So in family life, if we introduce this arcā-vigraha-sevā... Every family can keep Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa vigraha, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu's photo vigraha, and as we are, whatever we are doing, center is Kṛṣṇa, similarly, everyone can do that. That will solve all social problems. Social problems, philosophical problems, economic problems.

Lecture on SB 1.2.6 -- Calcutta, February 23, 1972:

This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. We are making center Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa said, yat karoṣi yaj juhoṣi yad aśnāsi tapasyasi yat tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam (BG 9.27). "You work. Whatever you like, you work, but ultimately you give Me the result of it." That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Lecture on SB 1.5.9-11 -- New Vrindaban, June 6, 1969:

What is that essence? Kṛṣṇa. Vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti (BG 7.19). Everything, all manifestation, all activities, they're all Kṛṣṇa's energy. Therefore Kṛṣṇa is the center. Just like the same way: what is this material cosmic manifestation? It is the sun. That's all. Similarly, there are millions of suns. Therefore Kṛṣṇa is the ultimate.

Lecture on SB 1.5.12-13 -- New Vrindaban, June 11, 1969:

The Bhāgavata, each line is full of philosophy, each line, practical philosophy. But there is acyuta-bhāva, Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is the beauty. Bhagavad-gītā, it is full of philosophy, but there is Kṛṣṇa in the center. This philosophy's not dry. Other philosophies, they're simply dry, because that is without Kṛṣṇa. In the... You'll find Buddha philosophy or Māyāvāda philosophy or Jain philosophy, they're philosophy, but simply dry. There is no God consciousness. There is no Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Lecture on SB 1.7.2-4 -- Durban, October 14, 1975:

Devotee: What is the Eastern or Indian understanding of utopia?

Prabhupāda: Utopia?

Devotee: Perfect society.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Perfect society is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If you accept Kṛṣṇa as the center... Just like in a family if you accept the head of the family, your father, as the guiding principle, the family's happy. And if you disrupt with the opinion of the father, somebody goes away, somebody's not happy, the family is disturbed. Similarly, if you agree with the instruction of Kṛṣṇa and God, the whole human society will be peace and prosperity. If you don't agree, disagree, don't agree, disagree, then it is disruption. The instruction is there in the Bhagavad-gītā. You take it, you agree to it, and you become happy in this world and next world.

Lecture on SB 1.8.20 -- New York, April 12, 1973:

Spiritual part means one who knows that whatever is working in this material... Just like this body—your body, my body. Anyone who knows that this movement, the activities of this body is due to the soul which is within this body... That is the real fact. This is only outward covering. Similarly, one who knows that Kṛṣṇa is the center of these all activities, he's paramahaṁsa. He knows the fact.

Lecture on SB 1.8.39 -- Los Angeles, May 1, 1973:

So it is not only applicable when Kṛṣṇa was present and Kuntī was speaking. It is not that the truth was there. It is always. With the advancement of our civilization, if we don't bring..., we cannot..., if we cannot bring Kṛṣṇa in the center, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then it will never become beautiful.

Lecture on SB 1.8.39 -- Los Angeles, May 1, 1973:

So what is fact now, what is, what was fact before, during five thousand years ago when Pāṇḍavas were there, that Kṛṣṇa in the center, everything becomes beautiful—that can be done at any time. Kṛṣṇa is always there. Simply you have to invite Him, "My Lord, please come and be in the center." That's all. Everything will be beautiful.

Lecture on SB 1.8.44 -- Los Angeles, May 6, 1973:

So the whole world is dissatisfied because the spiritual hunger is not satisfied. Kṛṣṇa is the central point. So spiritual hunger means... We are, our general propensity is to satisfy our hunger. So Kṛṣṇa is the center, Kṛṣṇa is the root, mūla. Yathā taror mūla-niṣecanena tṛpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopaśākhāḥ (SB 4.31.14). Just like watering to the root, you can satisfy the whole tree—the trunk, branches, twigs, leaves, flowers, fruits, everything—if there is water in the root. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa is the root of all creation.

Lecture on SB 2.1.2 -- Mombassa, September 13, 1971:

So just imagine what is the value of our so-called knowledge. We cannot understand even things within this planet or within this universe, so many planets. So how to understand the other nature where there is spiritual planets, where there are spiritual living entities, they are also working, their center is God. So there are so many information, these are called ātma-tattvam. So apaśyatām ātma-tattvam (SB 2.1.2), those who are blind or rascals, have no complete knowledge, their subject matter of understanding is this newspaper, that's all. Their subject matter is newspaper. Because they have no other information.

Lecture on SB 2.3.14-15 -- Los Angeles, May 31, 1972:

Just like in this house, we are living. And (in) the next house, they are also living. So what is the difference? The difference is here, Kṛṣṇa is center. That's all. Therefore it is temple. And the next door, a house. That is the difference between house, ordinary house, and temple. There is no difference. It is also made of bricks and stones and wood, that is also made of bricks and stones. They are also live, they also cook, they also eat. Everything is the same, practical. But the difference is there is no Kṛṣṇa, here is Kṛṣṇa. That is the difference. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Lecture on SB 3.26.16 -- Bombay, December 25, 1974:

Everything belongs to God. Īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam (ISO 1). That's a fact. But I am thinking, "It is my land." Ahaṁ mameti (SB 5.5.8). Janasya moho 'yam ahaṁ mameti. Nothing belongs to us. Everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa. If we accept Kṛṣṇa, the center, and we work under His direction, as it is said in the Bhagavad-gītā, our life is successful, our whole program is peaceful. All tranquility, everything is there.

Thank you very much. Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Lecture on SB 5.6.5 -- Vrndavana, November 27, 1976:

Desires are going on. Now the desires are designated. Designated. Because one has got a particular type of body, his desires are different from another because another person, he has got a particular type of body. But in the spiritual world, because there is no material body, only desire is how to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. Kāma kṛṣṇa-karmārpaṇe. This is spiritual. Spiritual means when the center is Kṛṣṇa. That is spiritual. Otherwise it is material.

Lecture on SB 6.1.26 -- Honolulu, May 26, 1976:

The father and mother takes care of the children, how to give them foodstuffs. We have seen mother Yaśodā is feeding Kṛṣṇa. Same thing. This is the difference. We are feeding ordinary child, which is done by cats and dogs also, but mother Yaśodā is feeding Kṛṣṇa. The same process. The process there is no difference, but one is the Kṛṣṇa center and other is whimsical center. That is the difference. When it is Kṛṣṇa-centered, then it is spiritual, and when it is whimsical centered, then it is material.

Lecture on SB 6.1.34-39 -- Surat, December 19, 1970:

Side by side, hell and heaven. One has to select. (break) ...and the spiritual world there is only one class of men. Therefore spiritual world is called absolute. There is no disagreement. The center is Kṛṣṇa, or God, and everyone is engaged in His service in love, not paid servant. Paid servant will always disagree in proportion to the money he receives. But in the Vaikuṇṭha world there is no question of paid servant. Everyone is free. Everyone has got sufficient because, as I told you yesterday, that they are all liberated.

Lecture on SB 6.1.46 -- Detroit, June 12, 1976:

So it is said, māṁ ca yo 'vyabhicāreṇa bhakti-yogena sevate (BG 14.26). People are missing this point, that Kṛṣṇa is the center. If any way we act, making Kṛṣṇa in the center, you may draw many thousands of circles, it will not overlap. It will not overlap.

Lecture on SB 6.1.46 -- Detroit, June 12, 1976:

Gandhi wanted nonviolence—failed. Gandhi wanted Hindu-Muslim unity—failed. Why? Because he never said that Kṛṣṇa is the center. Find his lecture. He'll never say Kṛṣṇa. Missing. Kṛṣṇa is missing. Similarly, so many... One French professor has admitted, Aurobindo or Dr. Radhakrishnan, they have written Bhagavad-gītā, annotation, so many others also, but Kṛṣṇa is missing. They're faulty. Kṛṣṇa is missing.

Lecture on SB 6.1.46 -- Detroit, June 12, 1976:

If you don't make Kṛṣṇa the center, never mind the varieties of qualities are there... That will continue. It is everywhere, the varieties will be there. But if Kṛṣṇa is the center, the varieties will be very nice bouquet, bunch of flower. And without Kṛṣṇa, it is all useless. So make Kṛṣṇa center.

Lecture on SB 6.2.14 -- Vrndavana, September 17, 1975:

That is Vṛndāvana. There is ānanda, cinmāya, ānanda, because everyone is engaged in the service of Kṛṣṇa. The cowherd boys, the calves, the cows, the birds, the beasts, the trees, the water, the father, mother, playmates—everyone—Kṛṣṇa is the center. That is ānanda. And if you make Kṛṣṇa minus, then there is no ānanda. You may be Brahman realized, you may be seeing the Paramātmā, but there is no ānanda.

Lecture on SB 6.3.18-19 -- Gorakhpur, February 12, 1971:

So the number of gṛhasthas are greater than the brahmacārīs, but they are mahājanas. It doesn't matter whether he is a gṛhastha or brahmacārī. Just like we are practically following. We are giving equal rights to everyone. Either gṛhastha or brahmacārī or sannyāsī, the main center is Kṛṣṇa. One who is advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is all right. It doesn't matter what he is. That is Caitanya Mahāprabhu's recommendation.

Lecture on SB 7.6.9 -- Vrndavana, December 11, 1975:

The Vṛndāvana means everyone is engaged how to keep Kṛṣṇa in comfort. This is Vṛndāvana. Not for personal comfort. The whole Vṛndāvana is engaged, beginning from Mother Yaśodā, Nanda Mahārāja, the young gopīs and the young cowherd boys—that is Vṛndāvana. Kṛṣṇa is the center.

Nectar of Devotion Lectures

The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 24, 1972:

Prabhupāda: Yes. This... Everyone in the human society is trying to establish love in the society, but it is being failed. The reason is that we are missing the central point. Just like from a point you can make a circle. What is called that?

Pradyumna: Compass.

Prabhupāda: Compass. Yes. That compass, you put the pointed part on the center, you can make a circle. So if I do not take the central point, I make my own point, then my circle will overlap your circle, there will be a clash. But if the center is the same, I can draw one circle, you can draw one, another circle. None of these circles will overlap. So if taking Kṛṣṇa as the center... Nirbandhe kṛṣṇa-sambandhe. If we relate our activities, social activities, philanthropic activities, political activities, any a..., religious activities, any activity. If you make center Kṛṣṇa, then my circle, your circle, another circle will not overlap. But it will give different lights. Kṛṣṇa being center. That point we were discussing in this morning from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhā varṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥ. Everyone is trying to make his own circle. Political, social, humanitarian, philosophical, scientific. That's all right. But Bhāgavata says that make your circle perfect from the point of Kṛṣṇa. Don't miss the point. Svanu, svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam (SB 1.2.13). Whatever you do, if you try to please Kṛṣṇa, then your circle is perfect. Kṛṣṇa must be center. Rūpa Gosvāmī says, nirbandhe kṛṣṇa-sambandhe. Kṛṣṇa-sambandhe. You can deal in politics. Then politics will be perfect. Kṛṣṇa-sambandhe, you can make circle of scientific knowledge. Then it will be perfect. Making center Kṛṣṇa, either politics, sociology, philosophy, religion, whatever it may be. It will be perfect.

The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, November 2, 1972:

When we are free from designation, sarvopādhi-virnirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam, when we are purified, then we can unite in the service of the Lord, Kṛṣṇa. That is real unity. Hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanam... (CC Madhya 19.170). That is Vaikuṇṭha platform. Just like in Vaikuṇṭha, the Vaikuṇṭheśvara, Nārāyaṇa, or Kṛṣṇa, He's the central point of service. Just like in Vṛndāvana... The Vṛndāvana... The animals, the birds, the beasts, the water, the trees, the flowers, the cowherds boy—everyone—center is Kṛṣṇa. That is Vṛndāvana. They did not know that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but they loved Kṛṣṇa with their heart and soul. That is Vṛndāvana.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures

Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.1 -- Mayapur, March 25, 1975:

These demons, they are preaching Bhagavad-gītā without Kṛṣṇa. Nobody preaches about Kṛṣṇa. Nobody says what Kṛṣṇa wants. Sarva-dharmān parityajya. Kṛṣṇa wants this, but they are misinterpreting in different ways and diverting the attention of the people most foolishly, that... In the Bhagavad-gītā Kṛṣṇa is the center. So this is going on. You know, you are coming all from foreign countries. Bhagavad-gītā is popular in your country, at least amongst the scholars and theosophists and theologists. Going on, for the last two hundred years at least. But nobody understood Kṛṣṇa. That is the difference. Now for the last, say, five or ten years, because we are presenting Kṛṣṇa as it is, it has become very easy for you to accept it. Unadulterated Kṛṣṇa. Before this, everything was presented adulterated. Therefore there was no effect.

Lecture on CC Adi-lila 1.16 -- Mayapur, April 9, 1975:

Here Kṛṣṇa is sitting, Rādhā-Mādhava is sitting on the throne. He is the enjoyer, and we are trying to serve Him so that He may very nicely enjoy. This is called Kṛṣṇa family-center, Kṛṣṇa. Just like in ordinary family the head man is there, and he is the chief man, and all other—his wife, children, servants, and other friends, associates, even animals, cats, dogs, cows—everyone is serving the center point, master. Similarly, our Kṛṣṇa family means Kṛṣṇa is the master, and He is the supreme enjoyer. Bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram (BG 5.29). And if we understand this point, that Kṛṣṇa is the center, He is the enjoyer, and we are meant for serving Him for His enjoyment, that is Kṛṣṇa family.

Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 21.13-49 -- New York, January 4, 1967:

The living entities, when they enter into the spiritual planets, they become as good as Kṛṣṇa and Viṣṇu—there is no difference—because it is absolute world. Here the difference is there. The impersonalists, they cannot understand that even in individuality there is no difference. As soon as they think of individuality, oh, they think that there is a difference. Then what is liberation? Yes. And actually there is no difference. The difference is only that Kṛṣṇa's personality and others' personalities, they are conscious that "Kṛṣṇa is our object of love." That's it. The center is Kṛṣṇa. In this way the individual boys and girls and Kṛṣṇa, everyone is enjoying spiritual bliss.

Arrival Addresses and Talks

Arrival Address -- Los Angeles, June 20, 1975:

That is the Vṛndāvana picture. Vṛndāvana, everything is attracted with Kṛṣṇa. That is Vṛndāvana. The animals, the trees, the flowers, the land, and the cowherd boys, the elderly cowherds men, Nanda Mahārāja and others—all are attracted to Kṛṣṇa. This is Vṛndāvana. The Yamunā water, everything. Fruits, flowers and everything. That is Vṛndāvana. So Kṛṣṇa is the center of attraction. You might have read that when Brahmā stolen all Kṛṣṇa's associates, so He created Himself again all of them, and everyone was feeling more attracted by Kṛṣṇa. So this is natural. This is not unnatural. Our position is, natural position is, to be attracted by Kṛṣṇa. If we do not become attracted by Kṛṣṇa, that is unnatural. And to become attracted by Kṛṣṇa, that is not unnatural. That is natural.

General Lectures

Lecture -- Seattle, September 30, 1968:

So we have to increase. Increase. The increase means there are two ways. If you practice, "I love my society, I love my country, I love my human nation," then "Living entities," go on... But if you directly touch Kṛṣṇa, then everything is there. It is so nice. Because Kṛṣṇa means all-attractive, includes everything. Why everything? Because Kṛṣṇa is the center. Just like in a family, if you love your father, then you love your brothers, sisters, the servant of your father, the home of your father, the wife of your father, namely, your mother, everyone. The central point is father. This is crude example. Similarly, if you love Kṛṣṇa, then your love will be expanded everywhere. Another example, just like if you love a tree, the leaves, the flowers, the branches, the trunks, the twigs, everything. You simply pour water on the root, then your loving affairs for the tree will automatically serve. If you love your countrymen, if you want to see that your countryman becomes educated, advanced economically and mentally, physically, then what you'll do? You pay tax to the government. You don't hide your income tax. You simply pay tax to the central government and it will be distributed to the educational department, to the defense department, to the hygienic department, everywhere. Therefore... These are crude examples, but actually, if you want to love everything, then you try to love Kṛṣṇa. You'll not be frustrated because that is complete.

Lecture to International Student Society -- Boston, December 28, 1969:

So everyone is feeling nationally or internationally, but the center is missing. Therefore your feeling, your international feeling, my international feeling, your national feeling, my national feeling, they are overlapping. So we have to find out the center. Then you expand your circle, it will not, I mean to say, overlap or counteract. It will go on. That center is Kṛṣṇa. Our society, International Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness, is teaching to the people of all countries that the center is Kṛṣṇa. You try to think from the central point of Kṛṣṇa. That Kṛṣṇa philosophy is the Bhagavad-gītā.

Lecture to International Student Society -- Boston, December 28, 1969:

So our point is that if we actually want to expand this international feeling, then we must find out the real center. That center is Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa, or God, I have already explained. Kṛṣṇa said in the Bhagavad-gītā... You'll please always remember that this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement means placing Bhagavad-gītā as it is. Whatever I am speaking, it is there in the Bhagavad-gītā.

Lecture to International Student Society -- Boston, December 28, 1969:

There is no use of commentary. The words are sufficient to give you enlightenment, but unfortunately, people take advantage of the popularity of Bhagavad-gītā, and they try to impress under the shelter of Bhagavad-gītā their own philosophy or own idea. That is useless. You try to understand Bhagavad-gītā as it is; then you will get this entitlement, enlightenment, that Kṛṣṇa is the center of all activities. And if you become Kṛṣṇa conscious, then everything will be perfect, all problems will be solved.

Pandal Lecture -- Bombay, February 23, 1971:

Just like water, when it falls from the cloud directly, it is clear and without any dirty things, but as soon as it touches the ground, it becomes muddy. Again, if you decant the muddy portion of the water, it becomes again clear. Similarly, our consciousness, being polluted by the three modes of material nature, we are thinking one another as enemy or friend. But as soon as you come on the platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, you feel that "We are one. The center is Kṛṣṇa."

Departure Talks

Departure Lecture -- London, March 12, 1975:

That is spiritual world. In Vṛndāvana the cowherds boys, they are playing with Kṛṣṇa on equal terms. They do not know Kṛṣṇa is God. They simply know how to love Kṛṣṇa, that's all. There is no need of thinking that "Kṛṣṇa is greater than the other cowherds boy. They are living entities." There is no such sense. Kṛṣṇa wants that. That is Goloka Vṛndāvana worship. Simply the center is Kṛṣṇa, and all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, they love Kṛṣṇa, and they do not know anything except Kṛṣṇa. This is Vṛndāvana life. Everyone knows that "Kṛṣṇa is my very intimate friend." Somebody knows, "Kṛṣṇa is my son," somebody knows that "Kṛṣṇa is my master," and somebody is thinking, "Kṛṣṇa is my lover." But center is Kṛṣṇa. The cows, the calves, the friends, the gopīs, and the cowherds boy, Kṛṣṇa's father, Nanda Mahārāja, Kṛṣṇa's mother, Yaśomatī, and... Everyone's center is Kṛṣṇa, "How Kṛṣṇa will be happy?" This is Vṛndāvana life. If we try to follow the footsteps of the residents of Vṛndāvana, how to love Kṛṣṇa, then our life is successful.

Philosophy Discussions

Philosophy Discussion on Hegel:

Śyāmasundara: But if the truth is unfolding itself in history, in biology, in sociology...

Prabhupāda: Everything. Center is Kṛṣṇa.

Śyāmasundara: So all events are leading toward what?

Prabhupāda: Then all, everything is emanating from Kṛṣṇa and after some manifestation, temporary, again going to Kṛṣṇa. Bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate (BG 8.19).

Philosophy Discussion on Hegel:

Śyāmasundara: The philosophy of Bhāgavata is not...

Prabhupāda: God-centered.

Śyāmasundara: But it's not purely conceptual, is it?

Prabhupāda: Well, it is religion in this sense that carrying out the order of God. That is religion. Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam (SB 6.3.19). Just like law means the law given by the state. Similarly, religion means the order given by God. That is religion.

Philosophy Discussion on Soren Aabye Kierkegaard:

Śyāmasundara: So when someone has integrity, you can see that they are one-minded.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Just like we are. Our concern is Kṛṣṇa. At ārati, we stand before Kṛṣṇa. The integrity is that Kṛṣṇa is the shelter. We are all serving, chanting Kṛṣṇa, ārati, someone is chanting, someone is dancing. The center is Kṛṣṇa. Similarly, when you go to preach, when you write books, when you go to the play, the center is Kṛṣṇa. Then all our activities are on the platform of liberation.

Philosophy Discussion on The Evolutionists Thomas Huxley, Henri Bergson, and Samuel Alexander:

Śyāmasundara: And then eventually he'll reach the point where he realizes, "All that is unhappiness," and then he will turn to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Prabhupāda: No. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, the most confidential part of knowledge, that sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (BG 18.66). This will give you happiness because constitutionally you are made like that. Therefore in the Vaikuṇṭhaloka there is happiness, eternal happiness because they are all surrendered to Kṛṣṇa. Just like in Vṛndāvana. Vṛndāvana, ell the gopīs, all the cowherd boys, all the cows, all the trees, everyone—simply center is Kṛṣṇa. How Kṛṣṇa will be happy.

Śyāmasundara: So everyone is striving to return to that stage...

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Śyāmasundara: ...and they have simply perverted their drive...

Prabhupāda: Therefore they are confused and frustrated. This is called māyā.

Conversations and Morning Walks

1967 Conversations and Morning Walks

Discourse on Lord Caitanya Play Between Srila Prabhupada and Hayagriva -- April 5-6, 1967, San Francisco:

Hayagrīva: Now I noticed in the list of characters we have up here, Rādhārāṇī. She doesn't appear at this point.

Prabhupāda: No. Rādhārāṇī will be in the rāsa dance?

Hayagrīva: Oh. In the rāsa dance.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Hayagrīva: That's the...

Prabhupāda: Rādhārāṇī and Kṛṣṇa in the center. And Kṛṣṇa has expanded Himself for other gopīs, hand to hand.

1969 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation With John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and George Harrison -- September 11, 1969, London, At Tittenhurst:

Yoko Ono: But every sect says that...

Prabhupāda: No, there is no question, "every sect." Kṛṣṇa is the center of every sect. If Kṛṣṇa is the center, then there is no question of every sect. Only Kṛṣṇa sect.

John Lennon: Does Kṛṣṇa mean God?

Śyāmasundara: Yes.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Kṛṣṇa means God, and God means Kṛṣṇa.

John Lennon: So for the Bible or any other holy book, they all talk about one God, but they all have many ways of...

Prabhupāda: That's all right.

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- April 20, 1973, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: You are a science student. By your scientific knowledge, you prove that behind these laws, there is Kṛṣṇa. Then your scientific knowledge is perfect. Either from the chemical department or physical department or electrical department. Any department. It doesn't matter. Through that department you go to the ultimate center. Just like here is center. And there are so many spokes. So many spokes. So whichever spoke you may be, come to the center. That is your perfection. The spokes may be of different direction. Like that. But center is Kṛṣṇa. The energy, central energy is Kṛṣṇa.

Morning Walk -- April 27, 1973, Los Angeles:

Svarūpa Dāmodara: They're inquiring.

Prabhupāda: It is right, but when we speak that the ultimate shelter is Kṛṣṇa, that they will deny. Therefore they're wrong. Just like you are coming this side. If I say: "Come to here," they'll say: "Why shall I go to there?" That is their fault. We are requesting everyone that: "Accept Kṛṣṇa in the center. All your research work will be successful." That they'll not.

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk Excerpts -- May 2, 1974, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: But this grief is for Kṛṣṇa. Therefore it is spiritual.

Dr. Patel: The gopīs became in grief when Kṛṣṇa went away.

Prabhupāda: Center is Kṛṣṇa.

Room Conversation with Roger Maria leading writer of communist literature -- June 12, 1974, Paris:

Yogeśvara: In other words, he's saying, "I know what you want to get me to say. You want me to say that the center is God." But he's saying, "I'd rather not say that because that's too mystical."

Prabhupāda: Then what is the use of talking if you do not know the central point? He says that to come to the truth, neti neti. So we must come to the truth. So we must find out first of all truth. Then we discuss the other, subordinate things.

Room Conversations -- September 11, 1974, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: When we exchange rasa, transcendental mellow, (Sanskrit), then we get transcendental bliss. As the materialist has centered around the sex, this way or that way, similarly the transcendentalists, they are..., their center is Kṛṣṇa. That is the difference. So if you want to enjoy life making Kṛṣṇa as the center, that is eternal happiness.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

Interview -- March 5, 1975, New York:

Prabhupāda: It is material service, as I showed. If you put foodstuff in your stomach, all the parts of your body feel energetic. That is material service. That is not spiritual service. Spiritual service (is) beyond that. Similarly, the center is God. If you understand God, then you understand everything.

Room Conversation -- July 31, 1975, New Orleans:

Prabhupāda: That is Kṛṣṇa. Give this garland... Center is Kṛṣṇa. That I (indistinct) to say. Bring one, the zeros will have value. And if you get out the one, all zeros. This is our philosophy.

Morning Walk -- September 30, 1975, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Now the village program of Gandhi is lost.

Dr. Patel: Absolutely. But whatever he has got, he had a lot of vidhi-niṣedha...

Prabhupāda: And it is lost because it was not God-centered. It is lost.

Room Conversation with Professor Olivier -- October 10, 1975, Durban:

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: It's not that everyone will become a monk.

Prabhupāda: No, no.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Not everyone will become a jeweler or a teacher. But all different occupations must be there in society. Simply they have to somehow or another become God-centered.

Prof. Olivier: Yeah. Well, this is the point, you see. Man only lives because God allows him to live. God has given him breath to live, and he's got to breathe God and speak God and live God now.

Prabhupāda: That is wanted.

Morning Walk -- November 12, 1975, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: So we are dealing with very, very difficult task. It is not very easy, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Naturally we have got attraction for God. That is spiritual kingdom. Just like Vṛndāvana. Vṛndāvana means center is Kṛṣṇa. The elderly person like Nanda Mahārāja, Yaśoda, their friends, their..., they are also attracted to Kṛṣṇa. The gopīs are attracted to Kṛṣṇa, the cowherds boys, they are attracted to Kṛṣṇa. The cows, calves, animals and peacock—everyone is attracted to Kṛṣṇa. The water is attracted to Kṛṣṇa. That is Vṛndāvana. And here in the material world nobody is attracted by Kṛṣṇa.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation With Radha-Damodara Sankirtana Party -- March 16, 1976, Mayapur:

Prabhupāda: Spiritual platform, every one of us, we are servant of Kṛṣṇa. So where is the competition between one servant with another? There is.... Even there is competition, the center is Kṛṣṇa—"Who can serve more?" Therefore that competition is very welcome, because there is no personal interest. Everyone is trying how to serve Kṛṣṇa more. That is wanted. The competition is there in his real form and perverted form. In the real form Kṛṣṇa is the center, and the perverted form, I am the center. I compete with you to satisfy my senses more. What is called? Heliocentric or...?

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Egocentric.

Prabhupāda: Egocentric, yes. This is egocentric.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It should be Kṛṣṇa-centric.

Prabhupāda: Yes, then it is perfect. The competition must remain. The others, they say, "Why competition? Make it zero." That is imperfect. But competition to satisfy Kṛṣṇa, that is reality.

Morning Walk -- June 21, 1976, Toronto:

Indian man (4): They must have a common background, common ground whereby you can...

Prabhupāda: That they haven't got. Common.... He is trying to become Kṛṣṇa. Everything is rolling around. So this is the mistake. He's trying to become center, that foolish rascal. How he's center? Center is Kṛṣṇa.

Indian man (4): So the only hope for humanity is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Prabhupāda: Yes, only hope.

Evening Darsana -- July 13, 1976, New York:

Prabhupāda: So in reality, we're not trying to create farmers, we're trying to create brāhmaṇas. But our farming communities are, so to speak, an example, an ideal example how human society can live: some people in the capacity of preachers, some people in the capacity of farmers, how so many activities can go on—various occupations—but all of them can be God-centered. So in reality, these people, they're farmers, they're out there on their tractor, they can jump off their tractor at any moment and preach the highest philosophy, because actually they're brāhmaṇas.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: The Vṛndāvana life means the gopīs, the cowherd boys, the cowherdsmen, the elderly men, Nanda Mahārāja, Yaśodārāṇī, his (her) status, every-cows, calves, trees, flowers, Yamunā—everyone is dedicated to Kṛṣṇa. That is the Vṛndāvana. They have no other business. That is Vṛndāvana. Everywhere, the whole description of the Kṛṣṇa book, center is Kṛṣṇa.

Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: That is Vṛndāvana life, either in rasa dance or the cowherd's play or killing the demons or in dining and dancing. The friends are eating, they are being stolen by Brahmā—but the center is Kṛṣṇa. That is Vṛndāvana. All activities are going on, just like in other place. But here in Vṛndāvana, all activities centered around Kṛṣṇa. When Brahmā is stealing His friends, the center is Kṛṣṇa. The demon is coming to destroy—the center is Kṛṣṇa. When there is forest fire, the center is Kṛṣṇa. This is Vṛndāvana beauty. In happiness, in danger, in perplexities, in friendship—everything Kṛṣṇa. Kāliya-damana. "Oh, Kṛṣṇa has gone to Yamunā. He has fallen down in the..., to fight the Kāliya." It is a very, what is called, calamity. But still, the center is Kṛṣṇa. This is the beauty of Vṛndāvana. "Kṛṣṇa has entered Yamunā to fight with Kāliya." It is not at all good news for mother Yaśodā, Nanda, friends and family, not at all. Their life is lost. But still the Kṛṣṇa is center. This is Vṛndāvana life. In everything Kṛṣṇa is center, anything. We are having just like: "Kṛṣṇa's a bad propaganda," opposition.

Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: I am happy that Kṛṣṇa is center. That's all. This is the beauty of this movement. Although we are put into some difficulty, but center is Kṛṣṇa.

Hari-śauri: The difficulty actually is increasing our thinking of Kṛṣṇa.

Prabhupāda: Yes. The papers are publishing, "Kṛṣṇas, they are bad. They are so on, so on, so on." That's all right. Kṛṣṇa is center.

Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: That I was explaining, that what is Vṛndāvana life. In Vṛndāvana life there is everything—the cowherds boy, the calves, the cows, the elderly person like Nanda Mahārāja, Yaśodāmayī, friend. What is their aim? The aim is Kṛṣṇa. The demons... (laughter) Everything is Kṛṣṇa. The demon is coming there. That is also... Center is Kṛṣṇa. And gopīs are dancing. That is also... Center is Kṛṣṇa. And Brahmā is stealing the friends and cows. That is also center Kṛṣṇa.

Discussion on Deprogrammers -- January 9, 1977, Bombay:

Trivikrama: Now we are also getting the demons.

Prabhupāda: That is Vṛndāvana life. When everything is Kṛṣṇa, that is Vṛndāvana life. Why Vṛndāvana life is so exalted? Because they have no other shelter except Kṛṣṇa. The whole book Kṛṣṇa is therefore center Kṛṣṇa. That's all. But there are many varieties of activities.

Hari-śauri: There's ninety chapters there. That's a drop in the ocean.

Prabhupāda: Every page, the center is Kṛṣṇa. Not only the Kṛṣṇa book. All our books-Caitanya-caritāmṛta—the center is Kṛṣṇa. Bhāgavata, the center is Kṛṣṇa. Bhagavad-gītā center is Kṛṣṇa. Nectar of Devotion, the center is Kṛṣṇa. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Similarly, our, this book, the center is Kṛṣṇa. When we open a temple, the center is Kṛṣṇa. In this way manage, promotion. All spend for promotion. Then the income tax will not be able to touch your hair, what to speak of your body. (laughter) So now our counterpropaganda is going on. The center is Kṛṣṇa. Big, big Kṛṣṇa's name are coming: "These Kṛṣṇa people," "These Kṛṣṇa devotees," "This Kṛṣṇa center"—that is our triumph.

Room Conversation -- January 31, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Prabhupāda: Potential is wonderful, so why they are not attracted to live in the farm and be self-independent and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa? That is our farm project. Our farm project is they should be satisfied with simple living. That is nice living. If you get milk, if you get fruit, if you get grain and open air, it is very healthy life. Why they should not be attracted?

Yogeśvara: It is still the beginning, and because it's the beginning, it is a little difficult sometimes.

Prabhupāda: That may be. But this should be our aim. We should not be attracted by the modern city life. Simplified life. Save time and utilize for advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is perfect life. Just like Vṛndāvana. Vṛndāvana life means agriculturist, cowherd boys, uneducated girls, cows and calves, and tree, fruits. This is Vṛndāvana. The center is Kṛṣṇa.

Evening Darsana -- February 19, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: We have to stop this change, and that is the mission of human life: no more cat, no more dog, no more demigod, but eternally servitor of Kṛṣṇa as cowherd boys, and gopīs, or whatever you like. As trees, as calves, as cows, as Yamunā water, as Vṛndāvana-bhūmi—everything spiritual. Enjoy. Somebody's enjoying spiritual happiness by becoming Yamunā water. Somebody's enjoying as flower of Vṛndāvana, somebody as calf, somebody as cow, somebody as father, as mother, as friend, as conjugal friend, gopīs—all concentrated in Kṛṣṇa. That is Vṛndāvana. Center is Kṛṣṇa.

Room Conversation -- February 25, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: That is Kṛṣṇa's order, kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyam (BG 18.44). (break) ...is important, not that the learned brāhmaṇa class is important and śūdra, he is not im... He is also important. He is giving you service according to his quality. Cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭam (BG 4.13). And center is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Correspondence

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Syamasundara -- Los Angeles 12 April, 1970:

Yes, I always think of your little girl, she is so nice. Sometimes I think that I left my home leaving aside all children and grandchildren, and Krsna is giving another batch to whom I am becoming attached. But this attachment is nice because the center is Krsna. I always narrate the story of your daughter when she was dancing on the platform of the law college and she obliged all other law students to imitate her dancing. Anyway, just raise this girl in full Krishna Consciousness and she will be a great preacher when she is young.

Letter to Krsna dasa -- Calcutta 6 October, 1970:

Human life is especially meant for reviving our lost relationship with God by following the instructions of God contained in religious books like the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, etc. Without God-centered society, the whole thing is dog-centered society. A dog also eats, a dog also sleeps, a dog also defends and they have ample opportunity for sex-life. So the goal of life is Krsna—to become free from the cat and dog propensities of eating, sleeping, defending and mating and achieve the spiritual platform of Eternity, Knowledge and Blissful Life in pure devotional service to the Lord—Bhakti yoga, that is religion. Simply loving Krsna. Society without religion, it is all animal society.

1973 Correspondence

Letter to Amarendra das -- Calcutta January 31, 1972:

So if you study my books very carefully, then I am sure you will find out the means for applying this Krsna Consciousness philosophy in all spheres of life. There is no limitation. Simply it requires a little common sense practicality. The main point is that Krsna is the center of all activities, whatever is going on. Whatever the activity may be, if Krsna is the center, that is all right. The details simply require a little common sense.

Letter to Kirtanananda -- Bombay 18 October, 1973:

Material nature means dissension and disagreement, especially in this Kali yuga. But, for this Krsna consciousness movement its success will depend on agreement, even though there are varieties of engagements. In the material world there are varieties, but there is no agreement. In the spiritual world there are varieties, but there is agreement. That is the difference. The materialist without being able to adjust the varieties and the disagreements makes everything zero. They cannot come into agreement with varieties, but if we keep Krsna in the center, then there will be agreement in varieties. This is called unity in diversity. I am therefore suggesting that all our men meet in Mayapur every year during the birth anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. With all GBC and senior men present we should discuss how to make unity in diversity. But, if we fight on account of diversity, then it is simply the material platform. Please try to maintain the philosophy of unity in diversity. That will make our movement successful.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- New Delhi 8 November, 1973:

I am also glad to note the work going on in East Germany. Try to impress upon them to make communism God-centered. God is the father of everyone, and we are all His sons. Everything is His property, and everyone has the right to enjoy it. Without being God-centered, Communism will fail. So we have got good potency to be the leaders of the world if we carefully push on this movement.