Blind person

Expressions researched:
"blind person" |"blind saintly person" |"person becomes blind" |"person who is blind"

SB Canto 7

Why should one approach a person who is blind with wealth? Rather, one should depend on Kṛṣṇa, and He will give everything.

SB 7.15.15, Purport:

As advised by Nārada Muni (SB 1.5.18), tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovidaḥ: one should simply endeavor to increase his Kṛṣṇa consciousness. One should not desire to do anything else, even to earn his livelihood. There are many, many examples of this attitude. Mādhavendra Purī, for instance, would never go to anyone to ask for food. Śukadeva Gosvāmī has also said, kasmād bhajanti kavayo dhana-durmadāndhān (SB 2.2.5). Why should one approach a person who is blind with wealth? Rather, one should depend on Kṛṣṇa, and He will give everything. All the members of our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, whether they be gṛhasthas or sannyāsīs, should try to spread the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement with determination, and Kṛṣṇa will supply all necessities. The process of ājagara-vṛtti, the means of livelihood of a python, is very much appreciated in this regard. Even though one may be very poor, he should simply try to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and not endeavor to earn his livelihood.

Philosophy Discussions

Any person who does not follow the instruction of the Supreme Controller, he is a blind person.

Philosophy Discussion on Thomas Aquinas:

Prabhupāda: To obey the imperfect person means just like a blind man following other blind man. So what benefit he will get? If one blind man is begging help from others, "Please help me in crossing the road," if another blind man comes and he says, "Yes, come on with me," so what will be the result? Both will be crushed by accident. So any, any person who does not follow the instruction of the Supreme Controller, he is a blind person. He cannot lead. As we are concerned, we therefore don't accept the so-called scientist's or philosopher's belief. They say, "We believe," "Perhaps it may be like this." These are all doubtful declaration. There is no truth in it. If there is any truth, that is also doubtful. Why should we risk our life by following such blind man who is thinking, who is believing, but he has no clear knowledge? Therefore we have decided to take lesson from the Supreme Person, Kṛṣṇa, who knows everything perfectly well. Vedāhaṁ samatītāni (BG 7.26). He knows past, present and future, and what is our benefit, welfare, everything. So we should follow Kṛṣṇa instead of so-called blind philosophers.

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

You are going to somewhere by aeroplane. You do not know. But others are purchasing ticket and going there, so you have to follow them.

Room Conversation with Mr. Deshimaru -- June 13, 1974, Paris:

Puṣṭa-kṛṣṇa: How can one discriminate what is a real authority and who is a blind person posing as an authority?

Yogeśvara: How can we tell a real authority?

Puṣṭa-kṛṣṇa: As opposed to someone who is posing as an authority?

Prabhupāda: This authority means just like you follow somebody. You are going to somewhere by aeroplane. You do not know. But others are purchasing ticket and going there, so you have to follow them. That's all. So the authority is if he does not know... Therefore we are giving the chance, the association of the devotee. The devotee, they are practicing something for going back to home, back to Godhead, so you have to mix with the devotees and then gradually understand.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

You have to convince him that "Your eyes are imperfect."

Morning Walk -- November 11, 1975, Bombay:

Devotee (3): (break) You were speaking about the blind person who is thinking that he can see. He is in illusion. How can we best convince him that he is not able to see?

Prabhupāda: You have to convince him that "Your eyes are imperfect." Then you can tell, "Just close your eyes. Can you see the eyelid? It closes, but you cannot see. Why? You have got eyes. When there is some particle in the eye, so close and find out where is the particle. Why making this way, this way, this way? So what is the value of your eyes? This is the proof. You cannot see even your eyelids. So why do... Why you are so much proud of seeing?" Is it not?

Devotee (3): Yes.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Even that blind saintly person also went. But coming back, he is disappointed.

Morning Walk -- February 3, 1976, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: (laughs) Nowadays all these yogis and swamis are going. Even that blind saintly person...

Hari-śauri: Gange...

Prabhupāda: Gangesvarananda. He also went. But coming back, he is disappointed. Nobody took care of him. Although in India he is known as a great saintly person. They have no asset. They have no Kṛṣṇa; therefore they are beggars. Yaṁ labdhvā cāparaṁ lābhaṁ manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ. If one gets Kṛṣṇa, then he gets everything.

Blind person, he should hear. He should hear.

Room Conversation with Indian Man -- December 22, 1976, Poona:

Prabhupāda: Blind person, he should hear. He should hear.

Indian man: But a blind person wants to see. What is milk, it will be complicated if we keep on teaching him it is white or something like that. We have to give eyes. And then he can see.

Prabhupāda: Therefore eyes... What do you give? What you mean by giving eyes? Knowledge.

Indian man: Knowledge.

Prabhupāda: Now where you get the knowledge?

Indian man: From the learned one.

Prabhupāda: Yes. So who can be learned more than Kṛṣṇa?

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

If one inquires as a blind person, keeping her faith or his faith in something differently, then it is as useless.

Evening Darsana -- January 7, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Just like Arjuna learned Bhagavad-gītā from Kṛṣṇa. He submitted, śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam (BG 2.7). So in that attitude... But pariprasna, counter-inquiry is allowed. Just like good logician, good scientist, one can... That answer is there. But if one inquires as a blind person, keeping her faith or his faith in something differently, then it is as useless. It must be flexible to the level of logic and science. Then it is very easy.