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| {{notes|finished conversations up to 1973}} | | {{compiler|Visnu Murti|Floyd|MadhuGopaldas|ChandrasekharaAcarya}} |
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| | | [[Category:Prabhupada Said (or Did Not Say)|2]] |
| [[Category:Prabhupada]] | | </div> |
| | | <div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2> |
| == Lectures == | | </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> |
| === Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures === | | </div> |
| | | <div id="LectureonBG4710LosAngelesJanuary61969_0" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="147" link="Lecture on BG 4.7-10 -- Los Angeles, January 6, 1969" link_text="Lecture on BG 4.7-10 -- Los Angeles, January 6, 1969"> |
| <span class="q_heading">'''You have also guarantee. Those who are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness seriously, even they do not make perfection... Generally you can make perfection. It is not very difficult, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You have to keep your consciousness always absorbed in the thought of Kṛṣṇa.'''</span> | | <div class="heading">You have also guarantee. Those who are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness seriously, even they do not make perfection... Generally you can make perfection. It is not very difficult, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You have to keep your consciousness always absorbed in the thought of Kṛṣṇa. |
| | | </div> |
| <span class="LEC-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 4.7-10 -- Los Angeles, January 6, 1969|Lecture on BG 4.7-10 -- Los Angeles, January 6, 1969]]:''' | | <span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 4.7-10 -- Los Angeles, January 6, 1969|Lecture on BG 4.7-10 -- Los Angeles, January 6, 1969]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Devotee: Prabhupāda? You've said many times that in this material (world) we have no guarantee what our next birth will be. But, say, can't mystic yogis who perfect certain mystical powers, do they have any guarantee of a human birth in their next life?</p> |
| | | <p>Prabhupāda: You have also guarantee. You have also guarantee. Those who are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness seriously, even they do not make perfection... Generally you can make perfection. It is not very difficult, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You have to keep your consciousness always absorbed in the thought of Kṛṣṇa. Our consciousness must be absorbed in some thought. Without thought, your consciousness is not existing. There must be some thought. Now you have to replace that thought with Kṛṣṇa. That's all. You have to mold your life in such a way that you cannot think of anything except Kṛṣṇa. This our arrangement, this chanting, the dancing, or reading this Kṛṣṇa conscious book, what does it mean? That we always try to be absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So if you remain always absorbed... This is called samādhi. If you remain absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then Kṛṣṇa says that next life you go directly there. So that is guaranteed.</p> |
| Devotee: Prabhupāda? You've said many times that in this material [world] we have no guarantee what our next birth will be. But, say, can't mystic yogis who perfect certain mystical powers, do they have any guarantee of a human birth in their next life? | | </div> |
| | | </div> |
| Prabhupāda: You have also guarantee. You have also guarantee. Those who are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness seriously, even they do not make perfection... Generally you can make perfection. It is not very difficult, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You have to keep your consciousness always absorbed in the thought of Kṛṣṇa. Our consciousness must be absorbed in some thought. Without thought, your consciousness is not existing. There must be some thought. Now you have to replace that thought with Kṛṣṇa. That's all. You have to mold your life in such a way that you cannot think of anything except Kṛṣṇa. This our arrangement, this chanting, the dancing, or reading this Kṛṣṇa conscious book, what does it mean? That we always try to be absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So if you remain always absorbed... This is called samādhi. If you remain absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then Kṛṣṇa says that next life you go directly there. So that is guaranteed.</span> | | <div id="LectureonBG61LosAngelesFebruary131969_1" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="208" link="Lecture on BG 6.1 -- Los Angeles, February 13, 1969" link_text="Lecture on BG 6.1 -- Los Angeles, February 13, 1969"> |
| | | <div class="heading">That is his constitutional position. Either in the spiritual sky or material sky, he's the same. |
| <span class="q_heading">'''That is his constitutional position. Either in the spiritual sky or material sky, he's the same.'''</span> | | </div> |
| | | <span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 6.1 -- Los Angeles, February 13, 1969|Lecture on BG 6.1 -- Los Angeles, February 13, 1969]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Devotee: Prabhupāda? You said that spirit soul is one ten-thousandth the tip of a hair. In the spiritual sky, is the spirit soul still just that big?</p> |
| <span class="LEC-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 6.1 -- Los Angeles, February 13, 1969|Lecture on BG 6.1 -- Los Angeles, February 13, 1969]]:''' | | <p>Prabhupāda: That is his constitutional position. Either in the spiritual sky or material sky, he's the same. But as you develop in the material world a material body, similarly in the spiritual world you can develop a spiritual body. You follow? Your position is that small particle, but spirit can expand. This expansion in the material world is being done in contact with matter. And in the spiritual world, that expansion can be done in spirit. Here in the material world I am spirit soul. I am different from this body because this body is matter and I am living. I am living force, but this material body is not living force. And in the spiritual world there is everything living force. There is no dead matter. Therefore the body is also spiritual.</p> |
| | | </div> |
| Devotee: Prabhupāda? You said that spirit soul is one ten-thousandth the tip of a hair. In the spiritual sky, is the spirit soul still just that big? | | </div> |
| | | <div id="LectureonBG61315LosAngelesFebruary161969_2" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="214" link="Lecture on BG 6.13-15 -- Los Angeles, February 16, 1969" link_text="Lecture on BG 6.13-15 -- Los Angeles, February 16, 1969"> |
| Prabhupāda: That is his constitutional position. Either in the spiritual sky or material sky, he's the same. But as you develop in the material world a material body, similarly in the spiritual world you can develop a spiritual body. You follow? Your position is that small particle, but spirit can expand. This expansion in the material world is being done in contact with matter. And in the spiritual world, that expansion can be done in spirit. Here in the material world I am spirit soul. I am different from this body because this body is matter and I am living. I am living force, but this material body is not living force. And in the spiritual world there is everything living force. There is no dead matter. Therefore the body is also spiritual.</span> | | <div class="heading">Yes, that I have explained. That you are to simply serve Him, then He will reveal. |
| | | </div> |
| <span class="q_heading">'''Yes, that I have explained. That you are to simply serve Him, then He will reveal. '''</span> | | <span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 6.13-15 -- Los Angeles, February 16, 1969|Lecture on BG 6.13-15 -- Los Angeles, February 16, 1969]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Question: Prabhupāda, you said that Kṛṣṇa has no limbs, no eyes, no form that we can comprehend. How then are we to understand the form of Kṛṣṇa that's given to us in the pictures and the mūrtis?</p> |
| | | <p>Prabhupāda: Yes, that I have explained. That you are to simply serve Him, then He will reveal. You cannot understand Kṛṣṇa by your ascending process. You have to serve Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa will reveal to you. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā you'll find in the Tenth Chapter.</p> |
| <span class="LEC-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 6.13-15 -- Los Angeles, February 16, 1969|Lecture on BG 6.13-15 -- Los Angeles, February 16, 1969]]:''' | |
| | |
| Question: Prabhupāda, you said that Kṛṣṇa has no limbs, no eyes, no form that we can comprehend. How then are we to understand the form of Kṛṣṇa that's given to us in the pictures and the mūrtis? | |
| | |
| Prabhupāda: Yes, that I have explained. That you are to simply serve Him, then He will reveal. You cannot understand Kṛṣṇa by your ascending process. You have to serve Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa will reveal to you. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā you'll find in the Tenth Chapter. | |
| | |
| :teṣām evānukampārtham | | :teṣām evānukampārtham |
| :aham ajñāna-jaṁ tamaḥ | | :aham ajñāna-jaṁ tamaḥ |
| :nāśayāmy ātma-bhāva-stho | | :nāśayāmy ātma-bhāva-stho |
| :jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā | | :jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā |
| :[Bg. 10.11] | | :([[Vanisource:BG 10.11 (1972)|BG 10.11]]) |
| | | <p>"Those who are always engaged in My service, just to show them a special favor," teṣām evānukampārtham, aham ajñāna-jaṁ tamaḥ nāśayāmi. "I vanquish all kinds of darkness of ignorance by the light of knowledge." So Kṛṣṇa is within you. And when you are sincerely searching after Kṛṣṇa by the devotional process, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, you'll find in Eighteenth Chapter, bhaktyā mām abhijānāti ([[Vanisource:BG 18.55 (1972)|BG 18.55]]). "One can understand Me simply by this devotional process." Bhaktyā. And what is bhakti? Bhakti is this: śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ ([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.23-24|SB 7.5.23]]). Simply hearing and chanting about Viṣṇu. This is the beginning of bhakti.</p> |
| "Those who are always engaged in My service, just to show them a special favor," teṣām evānukampārtham, aham ajñāna-jaṁ tamaḥ nāśayāmi. "I vanquish all kinds of darkness of ignorance by the light of knowledge." So Kṛṣṇa is within you. And when you are sincerely searching after Kṛṣṇa by the devotional process, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, you'll find in Eighteenth Chapter, bhaktyā mām abhijānāti [Bg. 18.55]. "One can understand Me simply by this devotional process." Bhaktyā. And what is bhakti? Bhakti is this: śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ [SB 7.5.23]. Simply hearing and chanting about Viṣṇu. This is the beginning of bhakti. | | <p>So if you simply hear sincerely and submissively, then you will understand Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa will reveal to you.</p> |
| So if you simply hear sincerely and submissively, then you will understand Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa will reveal to you.</span> | | </div> |
| | | </div> |
| <span class="q_heading">'''Begin chanting. Then everything will be all right. Begin chanting. Then all other things will be adjusted.'''</span> | | <div id="LectureonBG73NairobiOctober291975_3" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="265" link="Lecture on BG 7.3 -- Nairobi, October 29, 1975" link_text="Lecture on BG 7.3 -- Nairobi, October 29, 1975"> |
| | | <div class="heading">Begin chanting. Then everything will be all right. Begin chanting. Then all other things will be adjusted. |
| <span class="LEC-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 7.3 -- Nairobi, October 29, 1975|Lecture on BG 7.3 -- Nairobi, October 29, 1975]]:''' | | </div> |
| | | <span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 7.3 -- Nairobi, October 29, 1975|Lecture on BG 7.3 -- Nairobi, October 29, 1975]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Devotee (3): Śrīla Prabhupāda, you said that by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa you can go back to home, back to Godhead. So if you chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and not follow the regulations, not reading your books, can you go back to Godhead?</p> |
| Devotee (3): Śrīla Prabhupāda, you said that by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa you can go back to home, back to Godhead. So if you chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and not follow the regulations, not reading your books, can you go back to Godhead? | | <p>Prabhupāda: Begin chanting. Then everything will be all right. Begin chanting. Then all other things will be adjusted.</p> |
| | |
| Prabhupāda: Begin chanting. Then everything will be all right. Begin chanting. Then all other things will be adjusted. | |
| | |
| :yena tena prakāreṇa | | :yena tena prakāreṇa |
| :manaḥ kṛṣṇe niveśayet | | :manaḥ kṛṣṇe niveśayet |
| :sarve vidhi-niṣedhāḥ syur | | :sarve vidhi-niṣedhāḥ syur |
| :etayor eva kiṅkarāḥ | | :etayor eva kiṅkarāḥ |
| | | <p>There are vidhi-niṣedhā, regulative principle. If you see that you are unable to follow, then chant Hare Kṛṣṇa sincerely. Then you'll be able to follow the regulative principles. Automatically.</p> |
| There are vidhi-niṣedhā, regulative principle. If you see that you are unable to follow, then chant Hare Kṛṣṇa sincerely. Then you'll be able to follow the regulative principles. Automatically.</span>
| | </div> |
| | | </div> |
| === Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures ===
| | <div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Lectures" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures"><h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3> |
| | | </div> |
| <span class="q_heading">'''Under the pretext that "Kṛṣṇa said," "My spiritual master has said," "Prabhupāda has said," we manufacture something. Don't do that. Unless you are directly ordered, you cannot do at least such things as to chastise a brahma-bandhu. '''</span>
| | <div id="LectureonSB173435VrndavanaSeptember281976_0" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="186" link="Lecture on SB 1.7.34-35 -- Vrndavana, September 28, 1976" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.7.34-35 -- Vrndavana, September 28, 1976"> |
| | | <div class="heading">Under the pretext that "Kṛṣṇa said," "My spiritual master has said," "Prabhupāda has said," we manufacture something. Don't do that. Unless you are directly ordered, you cannot do at least such things as to chastise a brahma-bandhu. |
| <span class="LEC-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.7.34-35 -- Vrndavana, September 28, 1976|Lecture on SB 1.7.34-35 -- Vrndavana, September 28, 1976]]:''' So in considering all
| | </div> |
| | <span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.7.34-35 -- Vrndavana, September 28, 1976|Lecture on SB 1.7.34-35 -- Vrndavana, September 28, 1976]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So in considering all angles of vision, this Aśvatthāmā was not a brāhmaṇa. Therefore Kṛṣṇa personally advised him, mā enaṁ pārtha arhasi trātum: "Don't excuse him. Kill him, this brahma-bandhu. He has done wrong, now he deserves to be killed." It is clearly said. So does it mean that Kṛṣṇa is advising brahma-hatyā? No. Kṛṣṇa cannot do that. He is the teacher, world teacher. How He can advise somebody, especially His friend Arjuna? Bhakto 'si priyo 'si me ([[Vanisource:BG 4.3 (1972)|BG 4.3]]). Can you advise anything adversely to your friend? To your son? No. I must give very good advice. So Kṛṣṇa is advising Arjuna, "Don't excuse this rascal brahma-bandhu. Don't excuse." This is Kṛṣṇa's advice. But it does not mean that we can do anything and everything under the pretext of Kṛṣṇa's advice. You must be first of all a confidential friend or servant of Kṛṣṇa. You must receive direct order from Kṛṣṇa. Then you can do it. Otherwise not. Otherwise not. Under the pretext that "Kṛṣṇa said," "My spiritual master has said," "Prabhupāda has said," we manufacture something. Don't do that. Unless you are directly ordered, you cannot do at least such things |
| :you mam evam asammudho | | :you mam evam asammudho |
| :janati purusottamam | | :janati purusottamam |
| :sa sarva-vid bhajati mam | | :sa sarva-vid bhajati mam |
| :[Bg. XV, 19] | | :(Bg. XV, 19) |
| | | <p>"Whoever knows Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is to be understood as the knower of everything, and he engages himself therefore in devotional service"—this is the understanding of advanced devotee, so my best advice to you is to agree to come to this understanding.</p> |
| "Whoever knows Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is to be understood as the knower of everything, and he engages himself therefore in devotional service"—this is the understanding of advanced devotee, so my best advice to you is to agree to come to this understanding.</span> | | </div> |
| | | </div> |
| === 1973 Correspondence === | | <div id="1973_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Correspondence" text="1973 Correspondence"><h3>1973 Correspondence</h3> |
| | | </div> |
| <span class="q_heading">'''In summary, purchasing jewelry for the Deities is unnecessary, dangerous and unauthorized. Prabhupada said to "write elaborately to all Centers on this point. Try to understand the principle.'''''</span> | | <div id="LettertoAllCentersLosAngeles13December1973_0" class="quote" parent="1973_Correspondence" book="Let" index="424" link="Letter to All Centers -- Los Angeles 13 December, 1973" link_text="Letter to All Centers -- Los Angeles 13 December, 1973"> |
| | | <div class="heading">In summary, purchasing jewelry for the Deities is unnecessary, dangerous and unauthorized. Prabhupada said to "write elaborately to all Centers on this point. Try to understand the principle.'' |
| <span class="LET-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Letter to All Centers -- Los Angeles 13 December, 1973|Letter to All Centers -- Los Angeles 13 December, 1973]]:''' | | </div> |
| | | <span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to All Centers -- Los Angeles 13 December, 1973|Letter to All Centers -- Los Angeles 13 December, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">MEMO TO ALL CENTERS</p> |
| :MEMO TO ALL CENTERS | | <p>Dear Prabhus,</p> |
| | | <p>Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet.</p> |
| :Dear Prabhus,
| | <p>Today we received a newsletter from Syamasundara. Prabhu regarding gems and I assume every Center received the same letter. I discussed the contents with Srila Prabhupada and His Divine Grace instructed me to immediately issue the following letter.</p> |
| :Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
| | <p>First of all, Srila Prabhupada never sanctioned or encouraged this program of buying or selling jewels. Furthermore, Srila Prabhupada does not want us to purchase jewels and gems for decorating the Deities in our own Temples. Expensive gems and jewelry will only attract thieves and rogues. It was because of the jewels in Indian Temples that the Mohammedans invaded India, destroying the Deities and Temples and plundering the jewels. In previous ages, when people were honest and pious kings maintained law and order, then the Deities and Temples were decorated with costly jewels but in this age it is not advised. Srila Prabhupada said, "Bhakti does not depend on seeing the Deity with jewelry—it is a different matter. We worship the Deity by strictly observing the rules and regulations of Deity worship—not by decorating with jewelry. Jewels will not attract anyone except thieves and rogues. People will be attracted by our preaching. I don't advise the Temples to purchase jewelry. Do not expose the Deity to this danger. I am not in favor of this." Furthermore, "purchasing jewels means increased anxiety only. It is not the days for this practice. I do not advise buying or selling jewelry."</p> |
| | | <p>In addition to thieves and rogues, there is risk that even our own men may fall victim to stealing. We have the examples of Kausika and Mahadeva, both devotees who stole from Temples. Prabhupada said, "Our men are coming from outside with so many bad habits and the stealing mentality is there. We are trying to reform, but if the opportunity is there, the mentality may come forward and they may fall down. We will loose our money, our prestige and out students. Why expose them in that way? No jewelry! It is not the time for that."</p> |
| Today we received a newsletter from Syamasundara. Prabhu regarding gems and I assume every Center received the same letter. I discussed the contents with Srila Prabhupada and His Divine Grace instructed me to immediately issue the following letter. | | <p>In summary, purchasing jewelry for the Deities is unnecessary, dangerous and unauthorized. Prabhupada said to "write elaborately to all Centers on this point. Try to understand the principle."</p> |
| | | <p>We improve on Deity worship by regulated puja, purified chanting and bold and enthusiastic preaching work. Those are the real ornaments with which to decorate the Lord.</p> |
| First of all, Srila Prabhupada never sanctioned or encouraged this program of buying or selling jewels. Furthermore, Srila Prabhupada does not want us to purchase jewels and gems for decorating the Deities in our own Temples. Expensive gems and jewelry will only attract thieves and rogues. It was because of the jewels in Indian Temples that the Mohammedans invaded India, destroying the Deities and Temples and plundering the jewels. In previous ages, when people were honest and pious kings maintained law and order, then the Deities and Temples were decorated with costly jewels but in this age it is not advised. Srila Prabhupada said, "Bhakti does not depend on seeing the Deity with jewelry—it is a different matter. We worship the Deity by strictly observing the rules and regulations of Deity worship—not by decorating with jewelry. Jewels will not attract anyone except thieves and rogues. People will be attracted by our preaching. I don't advise the Temples to purchase jewelry. Do not expose the Deity to this danger. I am not in favor of this." Furthermore, "purchasing jewels means increased anxiety only. It is not the days for this practice. I do not advise buying or selling jewelry." | |
| | |
| In addition to thieves and rogues, there is risk that even our own men may fall victim to stealing. We have the examples of Kausika and Mahadeva, both devotees who stole from Temples. Prabhupada said, "Our men are coming from outside with so many bad habits and the stealing mentality is there. We are trying to reform, but if the opportunity is there, the mentality may come forward and they may fall down. We will loose our money, our prestige and out students. Why expose them in that way? No jewelry! It is not the time for that." | |
| | |
| In summary, purchasing jewelry for the Deities is unnecessary, dangerous and unauthorized. Prabhupada said to "write elaborately to all Centers on this point. Try to understand the principle." | |
| | |
| We improve on Deity worship by regulated puja, purified chanting and bold and enthusiastic preaching work. Those are the real ornaments with which to decorate the Lord. | |
| | |
| :Haribol Prabhus. | | :Haribol Prabhus. |
| :Your unworthy servant, | | :Your unworthy servant, |
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| :/kdd | | :/kdd |
| :APPROVED: ACBS | | :APPROVED: ACBS |
| :His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami</span> | | :His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami |
| | | </div> |
| <span class="q_heading">'''Repeatedly Srila Prabhupada says, "I only want my disciples to take this Movement seriously.'' So, the punch line is that Prabhupada wants to initiate the following schedule:'''</span> | | </div> |
| | | <div id="LettertoAllCentersLosAngeles16December1973_1" class="quote" parent="1973_Correspondence" book="Let" index="433" link="Letter to All Centers -- Los Angeles 16 December, 1973" link_text="Letter to All Centers -- Los Angeles 16 December, 1973"> |
| <span class="LET-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Letter to All Centers -- Los Angeles 16 December, 1973|Letter to All Centers -- Los Angeles 16 December, 1973]]:''' | | <div class="heading">Repeatedly Srila Prabhupada says, "I only want my disciples to take this Movement seriously." So, the punch line is that Prabhupada wants to initiate the following schedule: |
| | | </div> |
| Memo to All Centers | | <span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to All Centers -- Los Angeles 16 December, 1973|Letter to All Centers -- Los Angeles 16 December, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Memo to All Centers</p> |
| | | <p>Repeatedly Srila Prabhupada says, "I only want my disciples to take this Movement seriously."</p> |
| Repeatedly Srila Prabhupada says, "I only want my disciples to take this Movement seriously." | | <p>So, the punch line is that Prabhupada wants to initiate the following schedule:</p> |
| So, the punch line is that Prabhupada wants to initiate the following schedule: | | <p>1. Reside 4 months in India, 4 months in Europe and 4 months in the U.S.A. out of each year.</p> |
| | | <p>2. See or speak to no one except very important visitors wherever his is staying.</p> |
| 1. Reside 4 months in India, 4 months in Europe and 4 months in the U.S.A. out of each year. | | <p>3. Be completely relieved of managerial affairs and have full time for translating.</p> |
| | | <p>What this means to us is the following:</p> |
| 2. See or speak to no one except very important visitors wherever his is staying. | | <p>1. Don't ask Prabhupada to come to our Temple.</p> |
| | | <p>2. Solve all problems amongst ourselves and don't burden Prabhupada with them.</p> |
| 3. Be completely relieved of managerial affairs and have full time for translating. | | <p>3. Continue to advance dynamically in Krsna Consciousness by keeping all our principles very strictly and vigorously preach and propagate the movement around the world.</p> |
| | | <p>Now we have the GBC, the sannyasins, the presidents and so many qualified devotees. We have to give up the habit of placing everything on Prabhupada's shoulders. We must be responsible, mature, steadfast and convinced. Wherever Prabhupada is staying he will deliver morning lectures. Presidents, etc., may visit there and go on the walks with Prabhupada. Other than that we must take care of all affairs.</p> |
| What this means to us is the following: | |
| | |
| 1. Don't ask Prabhupada to come to our Temple. | |
| | |
| 2. Solve all problems amongst ourselves and don't burden Prabhupada with them. | |
| | |
| 3. Continue to advance dynamically in Krsna Consciousness by keeping all our principles very strictly and vigorously preach and propagate the movement around the world. | |
| | |
| Now we have the GBC, the sannyasins, the presidents and so many qualified devotees. We have to give up the habit of placing everything on Prabhupada's shoulders. We must be responsible, mature, steadfast and convinced. Wherever Prabhupada is staying he will deliver morning lectures. Presidents, etc., may visit there and go on the walks with Prabhupada. Other than that we must take care of all affairs. | |
| | |
| :Enough said. The rest is up to us. | | :Enough said. The rest is up to us. |
| :Haribol. | | :Haribol. |
Line 332: |
Line 713: |
| :APPROVED: A.C. Bhaktivedanta | | :APPROVED: A.C. Bhaktivedanta |
| :Swami | | :Swami |
| :KDA:kdd</span> | | :KDA:kdd |
| | | </div> |
| === 1974 Correspondence === | | </div> |
| | | <div id="1974_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="9" parent="Correspondence" text="1974 Correspondence"><h3>1974 Correspondence</h3> |
| <span class="q_heading">'''Srila Prabhupada has said that book distribution is more important that street chanting. Book distribution is brihat kirtana.'''</span> | | </div> |
| | | <div id="LettertoRamesvaraWestBengal25October1974_0" class="quote" parent="1974_Correspondence" book="Let" index="522" link="Letter to Ramesvara -- West Bengal 25 October, 1974" link_text="Letter to Ramesvara -- West Bengal 25 October, 1974"> |
| <span class="LET-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Letter to Ramesvara -- West Bengal 25 October, 1974|Letter to Ramesvara -- West Bengal 25 October, 1974]]:''' | | <div class="heading">Srila Prabhupada has said that book distribution is more important that street chanting. Book distribution is brihat kirtana. |
| | | </div> |
| :Dear Ramesvara Prabhu: | | <span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Ramesvara -- West Bengal 25 October, 1974|Letter to Ramesvara -- West Bengal 25 October, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Dear Ramesvara Prabhu:</p> |
| :Please accept my humble obeisances.
| | <p>Please accept my humble obeisances.</p> |
| | | <p>There have been two letters from GBC men to Srila Prabhupada regarding street chanting and book distribution, and there seems to be some discussion about the two. Srila Prabhupada has said that book distribution is more important that street chanting. Book distribution is brihat kirtana. It is literally kirtana in the sense that the books are spoken and therefore anyone who reads a book is hearing. Because his books are recorded and transcribed Srila Prabhupada calls his books spoken kirtanas, or recorded chanting. So book distribution is also kirtana and should not be considered less than kirtana.</p> |
| There have been two letters from GBC men to Srila Prabhupada regarding street chanting and book distribution, and there seems to be some discussion about the two. Srila Prabhupada has said that book distribution is more important that street chanting. Book distribution is brihat kirtana. It is literally kirtana in the sense that the books are spoken and therefore anyone who reads a book is hearing. Because his books are recorded and transcribed Srila Prabhupada calls his books spoken kirtanas, or recorded chanting. So book distribution is also kirtana and should not be considered less than kirtana. | | <p>The reason book distribution is greater than chanting is because the effect is wider. A purchased book goes into a person's home and will be read by others, whereas street kirtana only benefits those in the vicinity who hear. Two cases are cited. In Portugal one boy, who is only 11 years old, has become a devotee. He offers prasadam and is translating Bhagavad-gita As It Is into Portuguese with the help of his mother. He got several of our books at a bookstore in Lisbon and has asked his father who is just now coming to USA to get him all available Srimad-Bhagavatams. Prabhupada remarks that our books went there to Portugal but we did not, but still he has become a devotee. Then in Tokyo airport Prabhupada tells how one Japanese youth approached Srila Prabhupada and asked if he could speak with Srila Prabhupada. When Prabhupada said yes, the boy asked, "Where do you get all the knowledge that is in your books?" So by comparative study book selling is more important.</p> |
| The reason book distribution is greater than chanting is because the effect is wider. A purchased book goes into a person's home and will be read by others, whereas street kirtana only benefits those in the vicinity who hear. Two cases are cited. In Portugal one boy, who is only 11 years old, has become a devotee. He offers prasadam and is translating Bhagavad-gita As It Is into Portuguese with the help of his mother. He got several of our books at a bookstore in Lisbon and has asked his father who is just now coming to USA to get him all available Srimad-Bhagavatams. Prabhupada remarks that our books went there to Portugal but we did not, but still he has become a devotee. Then in Tokyo airport Prabhupada tells how one Japanese youth approached Srila Prabhupada and asked if he could speak with Srila Prabhupada. When Prabhupada said yes, the boy asked, "Where do you get all the knowledge that is in your books?" So by comparative study book selling is more important. | | <p>Srila Prabhupada also pointed out that is the West sometimes the street chanting is considered as a farce. Also in India. At first street chanting was tried but was met with mostly derogatory reaction. Therefore there is mostly Life Membership preaching in India, which is of course book distribution.</p> |
| | | <p>But on no account should street chanting be stopped. Prabhupada has never said that street chanting should be stopped. The chanting can go on for a little while and when a crowd is drawn books can be distributed. When I mentioned to Srila Prabhupada that when in L.A. last, there was the system of book distribution all week long and on weekend nights full street kirtanas, he said that was a good system.</p> |
| Srila Prabhupada also pointed out that is the West sometimes the street chanting is considered as a farce. Also in India. At first street chanting was tried but was met with mostly derogatory reaction. Therefore there is mostly Life Membership preaching in India, which is of course book distribution. | | <p>Regarding the claim that devotees have difficulties maintaining Krishna consciousness by only doing book selling with not enough street chanting, Prabhupada remarked that if things deteriorate that is another thing, but it is not the fault of book distribution. Book distribution must not be neglected.</p> |
| But on no account should street chanting be stopped. Prabhupada has never said that street chanting should be stopped. The chanting can go on for a little while and when a crowd is drawn books can be distributed. When I mentioned to Srila Prabhupada that when in L.A. last, there was the system of book distribution all week long and on weekend nights full street kirtanas, he said that was a good system. | | <p>Srila Prabhupada received an advance copy of S.B. 3:4 which was printed in the USA in five weeks with the quality practically as good as Japan. Prabhupada was also informed that the index of the Third Canto will be a separate volume, as well as for the Fourth Canto which will have a separate volume index. When we mentioned to His Divine Grace that this is the system of encyclopedias to publish separate volumes for the index he said that we could advertise his Srimad-Bhagavatam as "The Encyclopedia of Spiritual Life." S.B. 4:4 has also been given to the American printer and three remaining volumes of S.B. 3:3, 4:2, and 4:3 have already been printed in Japan. That makes 13 volumes of S.B. not including the index volumes!</p> |
| | | <p>Prabhupada's translation of Caitanya Caritamrta is almost finished, only two more chapters left in the whole book. Then he will resume S.B. starting with Canto Five. This was Srila Prabhupada's reason for taking up C.C. by working on C.C. the Press was given time to publish all the backlog of S.B. that was piling up. By exact coincidence Prabhupada is finishing C.C. just as they have finished publishing all of S.B. through the Fourth Canto. Now as Srila Prabhupada resumes S.B., they can publish the C.C.</p> |
| Regarding the claim that devotees have difficulties maintaining Krishna consciousness by only doing book selling with not enough street chanting, Prabhupada remarked that if things deteriorate that is another thing, but it is not the fault of book distribution. Book distribution must not be neglected. | | <p>MAYAPUR</p> |
| | | <p>Here at Sridhama Mayapur, Srila Prabhupada gave further impetus to the main temple project. It will be a 30 story skyscraper temple based on the following verse of Brahma-samhita:</p> |
| Srila Prabhupada received an advance copy of S.B. 3:4 which was printed in the USA in five weeks with the quality practically as good as Japan. Prabhupada was also informed that the index of the Third Canto will be a separate volume, as well as for the Fourth Canto which will have a separate volume index. When we mentioned to His Divine Grace that this is the system of encyclopedias to publish separate volumes for the index he said that we could advertise his Srimad-Bhagavatam as "The Encyclopedia of Spiritual Life." S.B. 4:4 has also been given to the American printer and three remaining volumes of S.B. 3:3, 4:2, and 4:3 have already been printed in Japan. That makes 13 volumes of S.B. not including the index volumes! | |
| Prabhupada's translation of Caitanya Caritamrta is almost finished, only two more chapters left in the whole book. Then he will resume S.B. starting with Canto Five. This was Srila Prabhupada's reason for taking up C.C. by working on C.C. the Press was given time to publish all the backlog of S.B. that was piling up. By exact coincidence Prabhupada is finishing C.C. just as they have finished publishing all of S.B. through the Fourth Canto. Now as Srila Prabhupada resumes S.B., they can publish the C.C. | |
| | |
| MAYAPUR | |
| | |
| Here at Sridhama Mayapur, Srila Prabhupada gave further impetus to the main temple project. It will be a 30 story skyscraper temple based on the following verse of Brahma-samhita: | |
| | |
| :goloka-namni nija-dhamni tale ca tasya | | :goloka-namni nija-dhamni tale ca tasya |
| :devi-mahesa-hari-dhamasu tesu tesu | | :devi-mahesa-hari-dhamasu tesu tesu |
| :te te prabhava-nicaya vihitas ca yesu | | :te te prabhava-nicaya vihitas ca yesu |
| :govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami | | :govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami |
| :[Bs. 5.43] | | :(Bs. 5.43) |
| | | <p>There will be the main temple that will extend upwards the full 30 stories, as well as different levels depicted in doll tableaus, first the material world, devi dhama; then mahesa dhama, then vaikuntha dhama, and finally goloka vrindaban. Already a competent engineering firm in Calcutta, which is the only firm in India to use an IBM computer in its calculations, has been contacted for making the foundation. "It will not be difficult", assured Srila Prabhupada. He further revealed, "I have named this temple Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir, the Rising Moon of Mayapur. Now make it rise, bigger and bigger until it becomes the full moon. And this moonshine will be spread all over the world. All over India they will come to see. From all over the world they will come...Krishna will supply the money. Don't bother. The money will come either locally or from USA."</p> |
| There will be the main temple that will extend upwards the full 30 stories, as well as different levels depicted in doll tableaus, first the material world, devi dhama; then mahesa dhama, then vaikuntha dhama, and finally goloka vrindaban. Already a competent engineering firm in Calcutta, which is the only firm in India to use an IBM computer in its calculations, has been contacted for making the foundation. "It will not be difficult", assured Srila Prabhupada. He further revealed, "I have named this temple Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir, the Rising Moon of Mayapur. Now make it rise, bigger and bigger until it becomes the full moon. And this moonshine will be spread all over the world. All over India they will come to see. From all over the world they will come...Krishna will supply the money. Don't bother. The money will come either locally or from USA." | | <p>When informed that the government here will pay 2/3 of the cost for road and bridge development if 1/3 is put up locally, Prabhupada said we should immediately inform them that he will put up 1 crore (dollars 1 million), and they can give 2 crores to develop the entire Mayapur area. He wants roads parks, gardens, like the descriptions of Dvaraka in the Krishna Book. Prabhupada personally surveyed the sites for a large lake as well as the second residential building. He called for a wall with a large front gate to be built. Work on a spacious kitchen complex near the Bhaktisiddhanta Road is progressing, but Prabhupada ordered that a second story should be added so that women and householders can live there and that the kitchen operation in the present residential building be moved there so that additional guest rooms can be added in the present kitchen and women's quarters. A dollar 25,000.00 Prasadam Distribution Pavilion attached to the new kitchen complex will also be built. Gargamuni Swami has pledged half the cost, and Hamsaduta Prabhu has sent dollars 4,000.00 from Germany and promises more. 1,000 people will be able to be served prasada at one sitting.</p> |
| | | <p>Turning to philosophy, Prabhupada had some things to say about his godbrothers. "He is just sitting on Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's birthplace waiting for people to come and give money. He has taken that now this is his own hereditary property. He has taken it that he and Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur were associated together in an enterprise, and now that the senior partner is gone, it is his property.</p> |
| When informed that the government here will pay 2/3 of the cost for road and bridge development if 1/3 is put up locally, Prabhupada said we should immediately inform them that he will put up 1 crore (dollars 1 million), and they can give 2 crores to develop the entire Mayapur area. He wants roads parks, gardens, like the descriptions of Dvaraka in the Krishna Book. Prabhupada personally surveyed the sites for a large lake as well as the second residential building. He called for a wall with a large front gate to be built. Work on a spacious kitchen complex near the Bhaktisiddhanta Road is progressing, but Prabhupada ordered that a second story should be added so that women and householders can live there and that the kitchen operation in the present residential building be moved there so that additional guest rooms can be added in the present kitchen and women's quarters. A dollar 25,000.00 Prasadam Distribution Pavilion attached to the new kitchen complex will also be built. Gargamuni Swami has pledged half the cost, and Hamsaduta Prabhu has sent dollars 4,000.00 from Germany and promises more. 1,000 people will be able to be served prasada at one sitting. | | <p>"We should make a scheme so that everybody will come here and not there. We are not competing with Yoga Pith but with the proprietor of Yoga Pith. Actually the birthplace of the Lord is not as important as the place of His activities. Kurukshetra is more important than Mathura, because the whole world knows the Bhagavad-gita. It is because of the activities of the Lord that people take interest in His birthplace. The "karma" is more important than the "janma." Even when Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was present people went to see him at Jagannath Puri, but they did not come to His birthplace, because His activity was more important than His birthplace. To His birthplace we offer our namaskars, but from the place of His activities we get inspiration. And, what was the Lord's activitiy at Puri? It was preaching. Our temple must be active with preaching and not a dead place."</p> |
| | | <p>It was pointed out to Srila Prabhupada that of all the temples in Mayapur our mangol aratik at 4:15 A.M. is the first of the day and that at Chaitanya Math it is suspected to take place after sunrise. When asked if he wanted to see the new temple for Bhaktivinode Thakur that has been constructed near the entrance at Yoga Pith, Prabhupada replied, "I do not want to see how he has made Bhaktivinode Thakur the gatekeeper."</p> |
| Turning to philosophy, Prabhupada had some things to say about his godbrothers. "He is just sitting on Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's birthplace waiting for people to come and give money. He has taken that now this is his own hereditary property. He has taken it that he and Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur were associated together in an enterprise, and now that the senior partner is gone, it is his property. | | <p>Within our movement Mayapur temple is the first. "Nowhere do we have such a nice temple in such an open place," Prabhupada remarked on one morning walk. In Bombay a shipment of 2,000 kilos of Australian ghee has been sent by Madhudvisa Maharaj. It will be sold to the Indian temples and used for the festival for the opening of the Vrindaban temple to be held after the Gour Purnima festival in April. For the Mayapur festival ghee will be supplied by each and every devotee who comes. Everyone should bring one tin of ghee. It can be brought for personal use.</p> |
| | | <p>I mentioned to His Divine Grace that air fares will be increased next year due to the petrol shortage, and this might affect the number of devotees who attend the Gour Purnima festival. Prabhupada asked me, "How much foodstuffs have you eaten in your whole life?" Quite a lot I had to admit, not understanding why he asked this question. "And what is the cost of all these foodstuffs?" That I could not say. "So, do you stop eating because there is so much cost? No. You go on eating and whatever is the cost, you spend. The principle is that if you have got money, then you can spend, but if you do not have money, then you cannot spend." So as many as possible should surely come if the money is there.</p> |
| "We should make a scheme so that everybody will come here and not there. We are not competing with Yoga Pith but with the proprietor of Yoga Pith. Actually the birthplace of the Lord is not as important as the place of His activities. Kurukshetra is more important than Mathura, because the whole world knows the Bhagavad-gita. It is because of the activities of the Lord that people take interest in His birthplace. The "karma" is more important than the "janma." Even when Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was present people went to see him at Jagannath Puri, but they did not come to His birthplace, because His activity was more important than His birthplace. To His birthplace we offer our namaskars, but from the place of His activities we get inspiration. And, what was the Lord's activitiy at Puri? It was preaching. Our temple must be active with preaching and not a dead place." | | <p>One evening Srila Prabhupada revealed what he said was his theory, that the moon is covered with ice, to explain why the moonshine is so pleasant. Moonrays are very soothing, and we find in many places describing the pleasing effect of the moon, nitai-pada-kamala, koti candra-susitala, ye chayaya jagat judaya. This is because the moon must be covered with ice.</p> |
| | | <p>In the morning after his lecture from the Prayers of Queen Kunti in Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada takes great pleasure in the kirtan with the devotees singing and dancing very nicely. The large temple area affords ample space for everyone to take part in the (indistinct) dancing, and as we move to and fro up and down the temple Prabhupada pelts us with handfuls of flowers. Afterwards he circumambulates the Deity house of Radha Madhava three times, each time ringing the temple bells three times and turning around completely in front of the Deities.</p> |
| It was pointed out to Srila Prabhupada that of all the temples in Mayapur our mangol aratik at 4:15 A.M. is the first of the day and that at Chaitanya Math it is suspected to take place after sunrise. When asked if he wanted to see the new temple for Bhaktivinode Thakur that has been constructed near the entrance at Yoga Pith, Prabhupada replied, "I do not want to see how he has made Bhaktivinode Thakur the gatekeeper." | | <p>On October 30 Prabhupada will start for Bombay. There on Hare Krishna Land he will stay in a flat that has been newly constructed for him. There is one report that the land there is now worth one crore, whereas we paid only 14 1/2 lakhs for it.</p> |
| | |
| Within our movement Mayapur temple is the first. "Nowhere do we have such a nice temple in such an open place," Prabhupada remarked on one morning walk. In Bombay a shipment of 2,000 kilos of Australian ghee has been sent by Madhudvisa Maharaj. It will be sold to the Indian temples and used for the festival for the opening of the Vrindaban temple to be held after the Gour Purnima festival in April. For the Mayapur festival ghee will be supplied by each and every devotee who comes. Everyone should bring one tin of ghee. It can be brought for personal use. | |
| I mentioned to His Divine Grace that air fares will be increased next year due to the petrol shortage, and this might affect the number of devotees who attend the Gour Purnima festival. Prabhupada asked me, "How much foodstuffs have you eaten in your whole life?" Quite a lot I had to admit, not understanding why he asked this question. "And what is the cost of all these foodstuffs?" That I could not say. "So, do you stop eating because there is so much cost? No. You go on eating and whatever is the cost, you spend. The principle is that if you have got money, then you can spend, but if you do not have money, then you cannot spend." So as many as possible should surely come if the money is there. | |
| | |
| One evening Srila Prabhupada revealed what he said was his theory, that the moon is covered with ice, to explain why the moonshine is so pleasant. Moonrays are very soothing, and we find in many places describing the pleasing effect of the moon, nitai-pada-kamala, koti candra-susitala, ye chayaya jagat judaya. This is because the moon must be covered with ice. | |
| In the morning after his lecture from the Prayers of Queen Kunti in Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada takes great pleasure in the kirtan with the devotees singing and dancing very nicely. The large temple area affords ample space for everyone to take part in the [indistinct] dancing, and as we move to and fro up and down the temple Prabhupada pelts us with handfuls of flowers. Afterwards he circumambulates the Deity house of Radha Madhava three times, each time ringing the temple bells three times and turning around completely in front of the Deities. | |
| On October 30 Prabhupada will start for Bombay. There on Hare Krishna Land he will stay in a flat that has been newly constructed for him. There is one report that the land there is now worth one crore, whereas we paid only 14 1/2 lakhs for it. | |
| | |
| :More in my next. I hope this meets you in good health. | | :More in my next. I hope this meets you in good health. |
| :Your servant, | | :Your servant, |
| :Brahmananda Swami | | :Brahmananda Swami |
| :Personal Secretary | | :Personal Secretary |
| N.B. Srila Prabhupada's tentative plans are to remain in India through the April temple opening in Vrindaban, and then start for the USA. | | <p>N.B. Srila Prabhupada's tentative plans are to remain in India through the April temple opening in Vrindaban, and then start for the USA.</p> |
| What needed to be repaired on that Adler typewriter I sent with Jayatirtha? It is a brand new one that Paramhansa Swami purchased in U.K. | | <p>What needed to be repaired on that Adler typewriter I sent with Jayatirtha? It is a brand new one that Paramhansa Swami purchased in U.K.</p> |
| | | :Seen: ACBS (initialed by hand) |
| :Seen: ACBS (initialed by hand)</span> | | </div> |
| | | </div> |
| == Conversations and Morning Walks ==
| | </div> |
| | |
| === 1972 Conversations and Morning Walks ===
| |
| | |
| <span class="q_heading">'''Prabhupāda said that only a fool would believe in miracles because... '''</span>
| |
| | |
| <span class="CON-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Talk with Bob Cohen -- February 27-29, 1972, Mayapura|Talk with Bob Cohen -- February 27-29, 1972, Mayapura]]:'''
| |
| | |
| Bob: Without perfect knowledge, though, you can teach what knowledge you have.
| |
| Prabhupāda: No, that is cheating. That is not teaching, that is cheating. Just like the scientists said, "There was a chunk, and the creation took place, perhaps..." What is this? Simply cheating. It is not teaching, it is cheating.
| |
| Bob: Let me say what else you said this morning that was interesting. I asked him about miracles, and Prabhupāda said that only a fool would believe in miracles because... Let us say you are a child and an adult lifts this table. That's a miracle. Or you're a chemist, and you combine acid and base and make smoke, an explosion or whatever. To somebody ignorant, that's a miracle. And for everything there's a process. And so when you see a miracle, it's just ignorance of the process. So that only a fool would believe in miracles, and, you correct me if I say wrong...
| |
| | |
| Prabhupāda: Yes, yes.
| |
| | |
| Bob: ...that when Jesus came, the people then were somewhat more ignorant and needed miracles as aid. Was that... I wasn't sure if that's quite what you said.
| |
| | |
| Prabhupāda: Yes, yes, yes. Miracle means ignorant.
| |
| | |
| Bob: I had asked this in relation to all the miracle men you hear about in India.
| |
| Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa is the highest miracle man.</span>
| |
| | |
| <span class="q_heading">'''Śrīla Prabhupāda? You said you want to present more philosophy in Back to Godhead magazine. '''</span>
| |
| | |
| <span class="CON-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- July 4, 1972, New York|Room Conversation -- July 4, 1972, New York]]:'''
| |
| | |
| Devotee (9): Śrīla Prabhupāda? You said you want to present more philosophy in Back to Godhead magazine. Does that mean that we should make it more and more sophisticated? Or does that mean that we should try to present the philosophy in the easiest way?
| |
| | |
| Prabhupāda: You should insert articles. It is reality. It is not speculation. Nothing, our activity, is speculation or imaginary. Everything is fact. We should present in that way. Either picture or philosophy, anything. They are all facts. People may not take it as something imagination. That argument will be there. Just like here there is a picture, Dakṣa is with a goat head. But they may not take it as imagination. That is possible. It is fact.
| |
| | |
| Devotee (9): So the..., our business is to present it in such a way that people will...
| |
| | |
| Prabhupāda: Yes, people will understand it is reality, not sentiment or fictitious. Because they have been instructed by rascals that all these Vedic literatures, they are allegories. Or, how do they call it?
| |
| | |
| Devotees: Mythology.
| |
| | |
| Prabhupāda: Mythology. So we are presenting facts, not mythology. That should be the spirit of all our artists and philosophy, writing.</span>
| |
| | |
| <span class="q_heading">'''As long as we students repeat what Śrīla Prabhupāda said, they have the same potency.'''</span>
| |
| | |
| <span class="CON-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Conversation with Bajaj and Bhusan -- September 11, 1972, Arlington, Texas, At Their Home|Conversation with Bajaj and Bhusan -- September 11, 1972, Arlington, Texas, At Their Home]]:'''
| |
| | |
| Satsvarūpa: So that is actually Kṛṣṇa Himself within the Deity and He accepts the food by our prayers. So just by His seeing, by His glancing... Try to come and see all these things. And every Sunday we have a festival there. Every evening we have classes on Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. And as long as we students repeat what Śrīla Prabhupāda said, they have the same potency. We don't try to make something up that our guru didn't teach us. We just try to present his teachings.
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| Guest (2): That's good. Please take it and then we're going to distribute it to everybody. This is Sister Lucille Perry. She has been to India.
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| Prabhupāda: Oh. Come here.</span>
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| <span class="q_heading">'''Just like Śrīla Prabhupāda says, there are so many departments of knowledge in all the universities, but the most important department of knowledge, what is the purpose of human life, is left out.'''</span>
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| <span class="CON-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Morning Walk Conversation -- September 28, 1972, Los Angeles|Morning Walk Conversation -- September 28, 1972, Los Angeles]]:'''
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| Jayatīrtha: Actually people are seeing that more and more all the big problems are being created at universities, all the university students are rioting and becoming restless, Communists...
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| Prabhupāda: Because the knowledge has begun from wrong conception of life.
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| Jayatīrtha: They see that they are being cheated, yet they are cheating others also.
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| Svarūpa Dāmodara: Just like Śrīla Prabhupāda says, there are so many departments of knowledge in all the universities, but the most important department of knowledge, what is the purpose of human life, is left out.
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| Prabhupāda: Yes. (break) ...leaders. General public, they do no know, they are ignorant, blind. But the leaders are also blind. So blind leader leading other blind men, that means disaster. That is happening.</span>
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| === 1973 Conversations and Morning Walks ===
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| <span class="q_heading">'''There was a Christian father, a Catholic father. So the question raised that Śrīla Prabhupāda said, "Thou shalt not kill," in the Bible, in the Commandments.'''</span>
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| <span class="CON-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Morning Walk At Cheviot Hills Golf Course -- May 15, 1973, Los Angeles|Morning Walk At Cheviot Hills Golf Course -- May 15, 1973, Los Angeles]]:'''
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| Paramahaṁsa: Not only did Christ tell them not to kill, but he also, he himself said that all his disciples were like sheep and animals and he was their herder. So he gave the example that we are all like, we should be like innocent animals. So many examples he gave like that.
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| Svarūpa Dāmodara: I remember this in Pittsburgh last year Śrīla Prabhupāda, in that meeting with the bishops, there was a Christian father, a Catholic father. So the question raised that Śrīla Prabhupāda said, "Thou shalt not kill," in the Bible, in the Commandments.
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| Prabhupāda: Yes. I was invited by some Christian priest in Melbourne, very good gathering. I said also the same thing.</span>
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| <span class="q_heading">'''Prabhupāda said that Jawaharlal Nehru, the former prime minister of India, someone has said now he is a house dog in a home in Sweden.'''</span>
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| <span class="CON-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Anna Conan Doyle, daughter-in-law of famous author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle -- August 10, 1973, Paris|Room Conversation with Anna Conan Doyle, daughter-in-law of famous author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle -- August 10, 1973, Paris]]:'''
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| Prabhupāda: In the human form of life, if we do not try to understand God, then we are committing suicide. Yes. Because we got the chance. Nature gave us the chance to understand God. But if we do not divert our attention in understanding God, then we are making suicide. Misuse of human life. For a human being, the only business is how to understand God. Not for economic development. What economic development? This Napoleon planned so many things. But where he is now? Can anyone say where is Napoleon? One astrologer in India has said that Jawaharlal Nehru is now a dog in the house of a gentleman in Sweden.
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| Guru-gaurāṅga: Could you understand that?
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| Anna Conan Doyle: Not exactly.
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| Guru-gaurāṅga: Prabhupāda said that Jawaharlal Nehru, the former prime minister of India, someone has said now he is a house dog in a home in Sweden.
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| Anna Conan Doyle: I hope not for him.
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| Prabhupāda: You may not, but nature is different. Just like a child does not hope that if he puts his finger in a fire, it will not burn. But nature is so strict, it doesn't care for the child or the old man. It will burn. I may prove very innocent, but nature doesn't care for that. Nature doesn't care for that. Nature will not show any mercy for the innocent child. No. That is nature. Is it not fact? If a child puts his finger on the fire, nature will not consider that: "Here is a innocent child. He may not be burned." No. Equally. Therefore nature is very strong. We cannot avoid the control of the nature. If you do something, it must acting, react in the same way.</span>
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| <span class="q_heading">'''One time, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you said, "I will go to hell," but none of your disciples accepted that.'''</span>
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| <span class="CON-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- December 15, 1973, Los Angeles|Morning Walk -- December 15, 1973, Los Angeles]]:'''
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| Candanācārya: ...that there are some things that the guru says that the disciple does not accept.
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| Prabhupāda: What is that?
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| Candanācārya: He says that there are some things that the guru says that the disciple will not accept.
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| Prabhupāda: Who says?
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| Candanācārya: Jayādvaita told me that in the śāstra it says that. So when the guru says that the disciple is nice, he does not accept.
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| Prabhupāda: (laughing) That is very good quality. Oh, Jayādvaita has written like that?
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| Candanācārya: No, he was telling me that it was in one śāstra.
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| Prabhupāda: No, it is very intelligent. Yes. Just like guru does not accept, although he is worshiped like Kṛṣṇa, he never accepts that "I am Kṛṣṇa." That is our paramparā system. Śiṣya has to accept guru as Kṛṣṇa, but guru will never accept that he is Kṛṣṇa. This is our relationship. Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstraiḥ. Samasta-śāstraiḥ, all revealed scripture.
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| Svarūpa Dāmodara: This is the unique quality of Vaiṣṇava.
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| Prabhupāda: Yes.
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| Svarūpa Dāmodara: Nowhere we can find these things.
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| Candanācārya: One time, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you said, "I will go to hell," but none of your disciples accepted that.
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| Prajāpati: Actually, coming to this country, this is hell.
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| Prabhupāda: No, I am not in hell. I am with the devotees, so how can I say I am in hell? [break] Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, tāṅdera caraṇa sevi bhakta-sane vās: "My duty is to serve my guru and live with the devotees." That is Kṛṣṇa's grace. "My mission is to serve my guru, but live with the devotees."
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| tāṅdera caraṇa sevi bhakta-sane vās
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| janame janame hoy ei abhilāṣ
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| "This is my desire life after life." A guru or bhakta does not aspire that he is going to Vaikuṇṭha, Kṛṣṇa. "Never mind." But their only desire, his only desire, is that to serve the predecessor ācārya and live with devotee. That's all. This is the only ambition.</span>
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| <span class="q_heading">'''Wolfe said, "If Śrīla Prabhupāda said, then you believe. And if it is not said by Śrīla Prabhupāda, you don't believe."'''</span>
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| <span class="CON-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- December 29, 1973, Los Angeles|Morning Walk -- December 29, 1973, Los Angeles]]:'''
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| Svarūpa Dāmodara: This looks like collecting some facts from some experience.
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| Prabhupāda: No, no. It is calculated by the astral movement. It is a great science. People do not know it now.
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| Svarūpa Dāmodara: So Wolfe Prabhu was telling me that "So we don't believe in astrology, but when Śrīla Prabhupāda says, then you believe."
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| Prabhupāda: Huh?
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| Svarūpa Dāmodara: Wolfe, he was telling me that, because I was telling him that I did not believe in astrology. Then one day Śrīla Prabhupāda was talking on astrology. Then Wolfe said, "If Śrīla Prabhupāda said, then you believe. And if it is not said by Śrīla Prabhupāda, you don't believe."
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| Prabhupāda: No. We believe in astrology. But because it is a difficult science, people do not understand it properly. That is another thing. In my practical life I see. In my horoscope, everything is written, what I am doing. Everything is written. So...
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| Svarūpa Dāmodara: That would be called like genius. Sometimes. If somebody can predict what is going to happen in the future, can be, just like, taken...
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| Prabhupāda: No, these astrologers can give everyone exact, the history of life, what is going to happen, what happened.
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| Svarūpa Dāmodara: But it is true, though Śrīla Prabhupāda, in our family life, when we want to do something, they always go to a...
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| Prabhupāda: Astrologer. Yes.</span>
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| === 1974 Conversations and Morning Walks ===
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