So Prahlāda Mahārāja said "People do not know the aim of life." The aim of life is here, amṛtatva, as good as Kṛṣṇa, as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Blissful, full of knowledge and eternal. That is the aim of life. But people do not know. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum (SB 7.5.31). Viṣṇu means the Supreme Lord who is eternal, full of bliss and full of knowledge. So our aim should be how to approach Viṣṇu. Then we get the same power, same eternity, same blissfulness. Just like a motorcar is running at the speed of sixty miles, and if a cyclist someway or other catches the motorcar, he can also go at the speed of sixty miles. Sometimes boys do that. Similarly, you approach Kṛṣṇa. You approach Viṣṇu. You get all the powers because you become under protection. Protection of the... That... Tulasī dāsa has said that in the ocean, the waves of the ocean, if you put one elephant very powerful, very strong, the elephant will be washed away by the waves. But a small fish, a teeny fish, it is swimming against the waves. They take pleasure. The fish, when the waves are coming this way, the fish go in that way. Now see. You put against the waves an elephant. It will be washed away. Why elephant? Any strong thing you give. Even big, big ships, oh, it will be washed away. But a small fish, it doesn't care the waves; it goes against the waves. Why? It has taken the shelter. It has taken the shelter of the ocean. Similarly, all power belongs to Kṛṣṇa. Yatra yogeśvaraḥ hariḥ. But if anyone takes shelter of Kṛṣṇa, he becomes as powerful as Kṛṣṇa. This is the process.
Bicycle
Lectures
Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures
So this is the whole process. So that sort of business which will lead us to the position when we shall be dovetailed, we shall be dovetailed with the supreme consciousness... Just like this morning I was giving an example. Just like one motorcar is passing on in sixty miles' speed, and a cyclist also going on. If the cyclist catches the motorcar, he can also proceed with the same speed, sixty miles' speed, without even pedalling. Similarly, if we can join our consciousness with the supreme consciousness, then our whole life becomes successful. That is the point. Now, how to join it? The religion. The whole worldly religious process is the same, I mean to say, experimental or formulas or rituals so that one may become dovetailed with the supreme consciousness. Every religion.
Prabhupāda: You make difference, we don't make. We allow everyone. But you think you are Mohammedan, "We shall not go." That is your discrimination. We say "Come everyone." You make discrimination. We don't make.
Devotee: Śrīla Prabhupāda? (indistinct) ...and all the devotees are all trying to serve your lotus feet. But sometimes a devotee may have a bicycle and two devotees want to use the bicycle, one to go to Scotland and the other to go to England to distribute your books. But because of their imperfection they disagree who should use the bicycle to go and preach. Now how would they come to some conclusion?
Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures
So everything, whatever we have got, Kṛṣṇa has also got that thing. But in Kṛṣṇa it is in perfection; in us, in our conditional state of life, it is imperfect. So if we dovetail ourselves with Kṛṣṇa, then our..., all these propensities become perfect. The same example as I have given repeatedly, that a car is running at seventy-mile speed, a cyclist catches the car, he also runs in seventy-miles speed, although the cycle hasn't got such speed. Similarly, although we are minute particle of God, if we dovetail ourselves with the consciousness of God, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then we become equally spirit. This is the technique. Go on.
I have my connection with Kṛṣṇa. It may be little, very. I may be very minute, but that, I mean to say, connection is very valuable. I have given many times this example that a car running at a speed of 60 miles, and a cycle is running at the rate of 10 miles, but as soon as the cyclist catches the car, the cyclist also runs in the 60 miles. So similarly, instead of trying to satisfy our senses independently, if we join with Kṛṣṇa in His rāsa dance, as cowherd boys, gopīs, we join with Kṛṣṇa, then you get the same pleasure as Kṛṣṇa. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Don't try to enjoy independently. Just like here, in this temple. Every one of us trying to enjoy life in connection with Kṛṣṇa. As soon as we are disconnected with Kṛṣṇa consciousness, this kind of foodstuff or this kind of living, simple living, will not satisfy you. You'll be tossed by the waves of material nature.
"My consciousness may be dovetailed with Kṛṣṇa's consciousness," then I become almost like Kṛṣṇa. The example I have given here in this class many times, that a car, motorcar, is running at seventy miles speed, but if a cyclist catches the motorcar, he can also run on the same speed. So although the cyclist is small... Similarly, although we are small particle... Just like in the fire, these sparks, the particle sparks, we can see they are very small in comparison to the fire, but when the fire and the sparks are together, everything is beautiful. Everything is beautiful. The sparks also looks very beautiful, and the fire also looks very beautiful. So God has become many. Eko bahu syāma. Why? Because as it is stated in the Vedānta-sūtra, ānandamayo 'bhyāsāt (Vedānta-sūtra 1.1.12). He is by nature ānandamaya, joyful.
Festival Lectures
I also appear many, many times. The difference is that I can remember. You cannot remember."
That is the difference between God and ordinary living creature, that we are also taking birth after birth. There are 8,400,000 species of life, and so long we are in this material world, we are cycling round this birth after birth. So Kṛṣṇa's birth is not like that. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, janma karma me divyaṁ yo jānāti tattvataḥ (BG 4.9). Tattvataḥ means in truth. Not superficially. Scientifically, one who knows, he can get immediately liberation. And how one can understand the same truths? That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gītā. Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvan yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ (BG 18.55). Again the same thing, tattvataḥ, in truth. If anyone wants to know God, or Kṛṣṇa, in truth, not superficially, then he has to undertake the process of devotional service.
General Lectures
What is that? I will give you one example. Just like a motorcar is running at hundred miles speed, and you are running on your cycle at ten miles speed. But if you catch that motorcar, you will also run in hundred miles speed. Although your capacity of bicycle is only ten miles speed, you also run at hundred miles speed. So unless we dovetail our activities with the supreme consciousness, or God consciousness, there cannot be equality, fraternity, or universality as we are hankering after. It is not possible. You can go on crying in the wilderness for universal fraternity, friendship, equality, but if you keep your individuality, individual consciousness, selfish consciousness, there is no possibility of peace or tranquillity in the world.
"He is on my head." Similarly, you will say. Any direction. But the sun is one, but he is all-pervading. This is crude example. Similarly, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness means when you dovetail your consciousness with the supreme consciousness, then your life becomes perfect. Just like a motorcar is being driven at fifty miles speed, but a cyclist is going at ten miles speed. But if he catches the motorcar, he'll also have the fifty miles speed immediately. So the superconsciousness or Kṛṣṇa consciousness is all-pervading. If you dovetail your consciousness, then you get universal feeling. Otherwise it is not possible. The same example. So that is being explained. Read it.
Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. Actually, there are three names only—Hare, Kṛṣṇa, and Rāma—but they are very nicely, systematically assorted in sixteen names. It is very easy to chant. Just this evening one American child, girl, she was cycling in the street, and one of my students, she asked her to chant: "You chant Hare Kṛṣṇa," and she was very nicely chanting.
So it was... It is not very difficult. Because it is composed in Sanskrit words, it does not mean that you cannot chant. We have experimented. Now, I ask my students... They are all American boys and girls.
Conversations and Morning Walks
1968 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: On the corner?
Janārdana: It's on a corner. It's on the corner of Esplanade and the other street. I don't remember. I can go on my bicycle and take a look there.
Prabhupāda: That's a very big building?
Janārdana: It is a three story house. It is about the size of one of these houses here, not the apartment houses but...
Prabhupāda: That, some cross?
Janārdana: Yes, there's a cross there.
Prabhupāda: Pastor, it is written pastor?
1972 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: I remember when I was only about one year old, there was a great saṅkīrtana in our house and I also joined the dancing party. And I was seeing up to their knees, very small. So I remember those days. And then after that, I was a boy. I was very much fond of cycling. So many things. Yes. So many dangers, so many adventures. Now I am old man. So all those different stages of body, I remember. But these bodies are not existing. So similarly, I remember or forget, but I was in different types of body—that's a fact. So similarly, after leaving this body, I will have another body. That is natural conclusion. What is the difficulty? Why I shall conclude that after end of this body? (end)
1973 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: What is that, estimating. Estimate how many...?
Karandhara: They cannot count perfectly. So they estimate.
Prabhupāda: Rough idea. (pause) So on the sea side, it is more pleasant than in the park. Is it not? Brace air. (pause) This is bike route? Bicycle route?
Karandhara: Yes. (pause)
Prabhupāda: The car looks like governor's car.
Devotee: Jagad-guru (indistinct)
Prabhupāda: Hare Kṛṣṇa (end)
1974 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: Yes, yes.
Bicyclist: (ringing bell) Hare Kṛṣṇa! Hare Kṛṣṇa! Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Prabhupāda: Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Devotee: It's like you said last night. They begin to chant.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Guru dāsa: Do the rickshaw drivers in Letchmore Heath chant Hare Kṛṣṇa?
Prabhupāda: No, they were sleeping. (laughter) That is western. Here you will find even the old man rises early in the morning. Yes, take bath. Without any reference to Hare Kṛṣṇa. They chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. In the village, they take bath early in the morning. That is very healthy. (break) ...I have generally... (indistinct) (heavy wind noise)
Prabhupāda: Just see. They have created such a civilization.
Yogeśvara: The little boy of President John Kennedy was in Central Park last week, and another boy came and pushed him to the ground and stole his bicycle. The president's son.
Prabhupāda: From the very beginning, stealing, and robbing. What is this picture? One horse without any...
Yogeśvara: I think it is the horse of the hunter.
Prabhupāda: Oh. Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Devotee: They're the knights that live in the mountains here. It's called Alpina, live in the Alps.
Prabhupāda: Ah.
1975 Conversations and Morning Walks
Akṣayānanda Swami: ...only had one sweeper so I wasn't able to engage him, but I got some soda to do it with. Hopefully today this morning he will start.
Prabhupāda: Bicycle was available, forty-five rupees.
Akṣayānanda Swami: Accha. Now they're 250 almost three hundred rupees.
Prabhupāda: And very first class bicycle like Triumph BA. BA? What is that, BS?
Akṣayānanda Swami: BSA.
Prabhupāda: Ha, BSA. Eighty rupees, eighty-five.
Harikeśa: Viśvambhara's cost 500.
Prabhupāda: Now that must be. Everything has risen.
1976 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: Philosophy.... But we see, I mean, a distant matter is moving. We can see. And nearer we cannot see. It is fixed up. What is this?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: If you take a bicycle wheel, a spoke...
Prabhupāda: A bicycle you cannot concern. Bicycle or train, they have got different speed. You cannot compare. That analogy will not...
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Say you take one spoke, one...
Prabhupāda: No, no, we, cannot.... You cannot bring bicycles in discussion first of all. You can talk all this to the fools. Analogy cannot be accepted unless they are similar.
Prabhupāda: Antique, antique, antique shop. That means no purchaser. People have no p..., no bank. People have no money, simply bare necessities of life their government supplies. And bus transport, buses standing in one place, best time, and people are running after. Women, men, mostly they walk.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Or bicycles.
Prabhupāda: Bicycle, I did not...
Guru-kṛpā: I think they must all wear the same clothes.
Prabhupāda: I did not study so much. Yes, there is no gorgeousness.
Prabhupāda: (break) ...bicycle also?
Ambarīṣa: Made where?
Prabhupāda: Bicycle? Cycle?
Ambarīṣa: Do the car companies make bicycles?
Prabhupāda: No, some companies.
Ambarīṣa: Oh, yes. Some they do here.
Prabhupāda: (break) ...Indian Village?
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Well, see the Taj Mahal. That's thousand times better than this.
Prabhupāda: In the gate it is said that bicycle prohibited. (break) ...tomb was constructed before Taj Mahal. Hare Kṛṣṇa. (break)
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: ...improvement on this park.
Indian man: the last two years the have rebuilt this park.(?) (break)
Prabhupāda: ...there are similar buildings.
Hari-śauri: In Rome?
Prabhupāda: Yes. Old. And hundreds of tourists go to see them.
1977 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: Hm.
Gurudāsa: Electricity, he wanted to know. The thing is there's also sound with bicycles going. Bicycles also go across that bridge. So there's some sound. Not during the high afternoon, because people don't go out. And not during very early morning, but during the day there is. What do you think?
Prabhupāda: How can I think unless I see? (break)
Hari-śauri: If it's not suitable at the camp, Prabhupāda can go to the house at night and the camp in the day.
Gurudāsa: Yes. Even during the day he doesn't have to go except for darśana.
Prabhupāda: All right. Whatever you say.
Jayapatākā: When I left Māyāpur, everything was in order. Nitāicānd and Sarva-bhāvana Prabhu, as well as Pañca-ratna, are there. Actually one of our workers, he is filing his own case against thirteen Māyāpur villagers, because they had attacked him while he was riding on his bicycle. So that was the only disturbance that had happened in the past month. But he's doing a case against them, and the police said that they would prosecute against them for what they did. So because the people are of such a bad nature, they are continually making such mistakes. This is even getting the authorities against them.
Prabhupāda: Yes, they are guṇḍās. (laughter)
Correspondence
1968 Correspondence
I am in due receipt of your letter via New York, dated July 23, 1968. The bicycle accident may be ignored, because even if there is a case against you, you can plead that the man was going, and all of a sudden he turned imbalance, and dashed with my car. So it was his fault, he could not keep balance with the cycle. And as soon as I saw him dashed, I stopped immediately and what could I do more? In India such accidents are never taken seriously by the police, because in busy streets, cycling is prohibited. So your decision not to pay him any money is right. Besides that, if he was to institute a case against you, he should have at once reported the matter to the policy nearby.
1972 Correspondence
I think that is exorbitant price for one bullock. And for that you have purchased two bullock-carts, why? And why you are paying salaries so much to engineers, there was understanding the engineers will work for nothing, only little pocket money, but not for salary. Who is keeping the accounts? All bills must be kept. One bicycle was purchased for Rs. 300/-, but these things anyone will give you, why you are spending money unnecessarily? Why so much legal fees are being paid for purchasing land? It is a simple matter, I pay you some money for your land, the solicitor makes deed of sale, finished. Why so much exorbitant spending? The building must be finished at any cost, that's all right, but it appears there is not clear idea of how to spend, now you say four lakhs, now eight lakhs, so I cannot continue to send so much money if there is no clear idea how to save.
| Page Title: | Bicycle |
| Compiler: | MadhuGopaldas, RupaManjari |
| Created: | 20 of Dec, 2011 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=10, Con=12, Let=2 |
| No. of Quotes: | 24 |