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Bhagavad gita culture

Lectures

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

We should take care of very seriously about this culture of Bhagavad-gītā. This Vedic culture, instruction of Bhagavad-gītā, is meant for everyone. Especially for the human being.
Lecture on SB 5.5.3-4 -- Bombay, March 29, 1977: Similarly, India has got a great culture, background, Vedic culture or Kṛṣṇa culture. Vedic culture means Kṛṣṇa culture, and Kṛṣṇa culture means Vedic culture. Vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg. 15.15]. So study Veda or Vedānta means to understand Kṛṣṇa. That is the purpose. Vedaiś ca sarvair. Veda means knowledge, and anta means end. Vedānta. Vyāsadeva, Śrīla Vyāsadeva, he has given us the Vedānta philosophy. What is the purpose? That is explained in the Bhagavad-gītā:
sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi-sanniviṣṭo
mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca
vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaṁ
vedānta-vid vedānta-kṛt (eva) ca aham
[Bg. 15.15]
So we should take care of very seriously about this culture of Bhagavad-gītā. This is India's property. This Vedic culture, instruction of Bhagavad-gītā, was spoken on the land of Bhārata-varṣa, although it is not meant for a particular class of men or a class of people or in a particular country. It is meant for everyone. Manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye [Bg. 7.3]. Especially for the human being. So our request is that we may fight amongst ourself for political predominance, but why should we forget our real culture, Vedic culture, Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Conversations and Morning Walks

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Indian culture, Vedic culture, Bhagavad-gītā culture, pushed through American money, the whole world will be benefited.
Room Conversation About Mayapura Construction -- August 19, 1976, Hyderabad: Prabhupāda: Let American money and India's culture combine together, and the whole world will be benefited. America has got enough money; they can spend. Either they give me as the price of my book or anything, money is there like anything. India has got culture. So Indian culture, Vedic culture, Bhagavad-gītā culture, pushed through American money, the whole world will be benefited. Convince them. It is not the question of India, America, here... It is a cultural movement for the benefit of the whole world. Pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi-grāma. It is cultural movement. Caitanya Mahāprabhu's movement is aiming pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi. So Tarun Babu, you are such a devotee of Caitanya. Caitanya Mahāprabhu wants it. Pṛthivīte āche yata... Why don't you help us? Your family is devotee of Lord Caitanya, and this is spreading Caitanya's mission. You should give up everything and join this movement, if you are actually a devotee of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. And Prabhupāda says that he knows at your heart you want that Caitanya's movement is spread all over the world, so far he has studied you. So let us join together. Why we should unnecessarily be biased, American and Indian and this way and that way. Let us join together and spread Caitanya Mahāprabhu's movement all over the... They'll be happy. Everyone they'll be happy. Will be happy. It is such a nice... India will be glorified. America will be glorified."

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

No benefit has been derived from this culture of Bhagavad-gītā because mundane persons without knowing the fundamental difference between the body and soul, feel proud of becoming scholars of the Bhagavad-gītā thus keeping themselves and their followers in ignorance.
Interview with Mr. Koshi (Asst. Editor of The Current Weekly) -- April 5, 1977, Bombay: Prabhupāda: That is the beginning of Bhagavad-gītā. Asmin dehe dehinaḥ. The active principle is there within this body. So who knows it? Ask big, big leaders, big, big scholars of Bhagavad-gītā. They are concerned with this body. Nobody is interested with the active principle within the body. So what do they know about Bhagavad-gītā? The basic principle is wrong. Kṛṣṇa is speaking on the subject matter within the body, the active principle. Dehino 'smin yathā dehe [Bg. 2.13]. Asmin dehe. The dehī, the owner of the body, is there. Who knows it? Tell me. This is the beginning of Bhagavad-gītā lesson. But one does not know that what is the important thing in this body. Not this machine, but the power that is driving the machine. And still, they are proud of becoming scholar on Bhagavad-gītā, knower of Bhagavad-gītā and so on, so on. This is going on. This misconception. They are themselves in ignorance, and they are keeping their followers in ignorance. Therefore no benefit has been derived from this culture of Bhagavad-gītā. We wanted to give it to the world. This is the purpose.
At least, these (government) men should be conscientious that "Let this Bhagavad-gītā culture be maintained in pure form."
Room Conversation -- April 5, 1977, Bombay: Prabhupāda: At least, this institution which we have started to give this enlightenment, they must be maintained in India in a first-class standard, that at least some intelligent persons can take advantage. They are all fools, rascals. They cannot take. All the duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ. That is already described. Narādhamas will not take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. But there are persons who are not narādhama. For them there must be. Diamond shop is not for everyone, but there are some persons who can purchase diamonds. Manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu [Bg. 7.3]. It is not meant for everyone. So this is India's culture. At least, these men should be conscientious that "Let this Bhagavad-gītā culture be maintained in pure form." There is cultural department government. They are sending dancing party. You see. Real culture. And to make show they will pose themselves as great student of Bhagavad-gītā. So we are making alone a little tiny effort, but it is being appreciated all over the world. That is our encouragement. Our books, our philosophy, our religion, America has accepted: "Yes, it is Indian. Enough." (?) It is not sentiment.

Correspondence

1966 Correspondence

We have to convince only the Finance Minister that for spreading the culture of Bhagavad-gītā or the science of Krishna Consciousness this cultural propaganda from India's side has to be done (through the release of foreign exchange).
Letter to Mangalaniloy Brahmacari -- New York 23 June, 1966: Now I would request you to see the Finance Minister or the President immediately and get the Exchange sanctioned. There is provision for such exchange sanction but it requires special sanction from the Finance Ministry. So we have to convince only the Finance Minister that for spreading the culture of Bhagavad-gītā or the science of Krishna Consciousness this cultural propaganda from India's side has to be done. I have already explained the matter in my application but if yourself or Sripada Madhava Maharaja sees the Finance Minister immediately, I am sure the Exchange will be released.

1970 Correspondence

Actually we are presenting the culture of Bhagavad-gita (rather than presenting it as a religion).
Letter to Bali-mardana -- Los Angeles 19 April, 1970: For the service of Kṛṣṇa you are already in the jail for a few hours, so if possible try to put this movement as cultural instead of religion. Actually we are presenting the culture of Bhagavad-gītā. The Bhagavad-gītā is well known all over the world and it is widely read by scholars and philosophers especially. The religionists never read Bhagavad-gītā. I have never seen a priest of other religion reading this book, but there are many scholars and philosophers all over the world who read Bhagavad-gītā regularly. Even politicians and professional men read Bhagavad-gītā, just like one Dr. Rele in Bombay. He also presented commentary on Bhagavad-gītā on the basis of medical science. I heard that Professor Einstein, the greatest scientist, was regularly reading Bhagavad-gītā, and later on he became practically God-conscious. By scientific research he appreciated the wonderful cosmic manifestation and as a scientist he admitted that behind this there is a very great brain and that is God.
Page Title:Bhagavad gita culture
Compiler:Serene, Jai
Created:20 of Dec, 2008
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=1, Con=3, Let=2
No. of Quotes:6