man guided by lame man (India & United States)

Imported quote 14169

In this verse the word laksita-laksanam indicates that the human body attained in Bharata-varsa is very auspicious. Vedic culture is full of knowledge, and a person born in India can fully take advantage of Vedic cultural knowledge and the cultural system known as varnasrama-dharma. Even at the present time, as we travel all over the world, we see that in some countries human beings have many material facilities but no facilities for spiritual advancement. We find everywhere the defects of one-sided facilities and a lack of full facilities. A blind man can walk but not see, and a lame man cannot walk but can see. -pahgu-nyaya. The blind man may take the lame man over his shoulder, and as he walks the lame man may give him directions. Thus combined they may work, but individually neither the blind man nor the lame man can walk successfully. Similarly, this human form of life is meant for the advancement of spiritual life and for keeping the material necessities in order. Especially in the Western countries there are ample facilities for material comforts, but no one has any idea of spiritual advancement. Many are hankering after spiritual advancement, but many cheaters come, take advantage of their money, bluff them and go away. Fortunately the Krsna consciousness movement is there to give all facilities for both material and spiritual advancement. In this way people in the Western countries may take advantage of this movement, and in India any man in the villages, unaffected by the industrial cities of India, can still live in any condition and make spiritual advancement. (More...)

Imported quote 23212

Prabhupada: ...but to engage them in Krsna's service. Our knowledge in spiritual life and your help, material opulence, combined together, there will be great change in the whole world. Cooperate with us. There is no loss on your part, but there is great benefit to the whole world. Try to convince them. Although they are not very big authority, but still, through them, you can approach bigger authorities. [break] ...big churches, no use, no utility. [laughs] [break] ...speak, andha-khanja-nyaya . Andha-khanja-nyaya, you know that, the lame man and the blind man? (More...)

Prabhupada: So America is blind, and we are lame. So let us get on the shoulder of the American blind and give him direction, and both will be benefited. The whole world will be benefited. The America, blind, he cannot see where he is going. [chuckles] And for want of money we cannot make progress. So let the Americans take on the shoulder this lame man, and I will give direction, "Go this way. Go this way." Everything will be done. Andha-khanja-nyaya. (More...)

Jayatirtha: Prabhupada was talking about the fact that the Western world is blind, and the..., India is lame for lack of money. But by a combination there is very good effect. So if the Western world takes us on its shoulders... (More...)

Jayatirtha: Especially America. On its shoulders, then we can give..., Prabhupada can give direction, and they can provide the resources. (More...)

Prabhupada: ...mayor and the police officers, through them, try to approach higher authorities. And what is that? We met yesterday? (More...)

Prabhupada: And if possible, send them ideas and direction. Bhavananda has gone. [break] ...convince them that they are doing very nice, to their best capacity, but they are doing it blindly. You are very good driver, but if you are a blind man, then how you will drive? You will create disaster. So we can open their eyes so that their good driving capacity will be properly utilized. A good driver, blind, what he will do? Ajnana-timirandhasya. [Gautamiya-tantra 7.11] (More...)

Please accept our most humble obeisances at your feet. Srila Prabhupada has instructed that we issue a letter of direction to you all regarding the business of travelling road shows, electronic music, and drama presentation. His Divine Grace has instructed that these things should stop. Our process is kirtan, philosophy, and prasadam, and nothing more. We do not need to glamorize or spectacularize beyond these simple methods at the risk of deviating from the Disciplic Line of presentation and diminishing the gravity of our message. All these new additions, i.e. electronic musical instrumentation, so-called dramas .and plays, songs written by devotees (Prabhupada said that it is prohibited for a Vaishnava to write songs unless he is on the liberated platform; then they are as good as the Vedas), and public relation-promotion departments are unnecessary and artificial. Granted, people may be entertained by the incorporation of such things, but they will not take us seriously nor understand the actual import of Krishna Consciousness. The conditional souls will be attracted by the Holy Name sincerely chanted by pure devotees and the perfect knowledge of Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam as rendered by the Acharyas. There is absolutely no need of anything more. Our presentation should not become a cheap flim-flammery to attract mediocre and mundane mentalities. Prabhupada has personally never regressed to such tactics, nor His Guru Maharaj (His Guru Maharaj absolutely forbade the use of anything other in accompaniment to kirtan than mrdanga and kartals), and see what They have accomplished. The responsibility to maintain the standard of Krishna Consciousness as Srila Prabhupada has given to us is our single, most important duty. We must be so careful to avoid the entrance of poison and pollution into our line. If we simply present things exactly as Prabhupada does, there will be no loss. Anyone who will be attracted will be attracted by that alone, nothing more, not psychic sleep, nor rock and roll music, nor ridiculous plays, nor sentimental, wishy-washy songs. Chant Hare Krishna and speak Srimad Bhagavatam, that is all. If we want to travel, then we may take a bus and Radha-Krishna Deities and hold kirtan (four mrdungas and ten kartals, specifies Prabhupada), distribute prasadam liberally and speak solid vidya from Bhagwat. If people come or do not come, that does not matter, but we know we are presenting the real thing, not a Madison Avenue version which will do no good for anyone. (More...)

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