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Imported quote 15263 To keep oneself free from material contamination and attain the Lord's favor, one must be sincerely anxious to render service to the Lord. This is the only qualification necessary. As soon as one is favored by the mercy of the spiritual master and the Lord, one is immediately given all the power necessary to write books and propagate the Krsna consciousness movement without being hampered by material considerations.
(More...) Imported quote 15605 A living being is finished as soon as there is nothing to possess. Therefore a living being cannot be in the real sense of the term, a renouncer. A living being renounces something for gaining something more valuable. A student sacrifices his childish proclivities to gain better education. A servant gives up his job for a better job. Similarly, a devotee renounces the material world not for nothing but for something tangible in spiritual value. Srila Rūpa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami and Srila Raghunatha Gosvami and others gave up their worldly pomp and prosperity for the sake of the service of the Lord. They were big men in the worldly sense. The Gosvamis were ministers in the government service of Bengal, and Srila Dasa Gosvami was the son of a big zamindar of his time. But they left everything to gain something superior to what they previously possessed. The devotees are generally without material prosperity, but they have a very secret treasure house in the lotus feet of the Lord. There is a nice story about Srila Sanatana Gosvami. He had a touchstone with him, and this stone was left in a pile of refuse. A needy man took it, but later on wondered why the valuable stone was kept in such a neglected place. He therefore asked for the most valuable thing from him, and then he was given the holy name of the Lord. Akincana means one who has nothing to give materially. A factual devotee or the mahatma does not give anything material to anyone because he has already left all material assets. He can, however, deliver the supreme asset, namely the Personality of Godhead, because He is the only property of a factual devotee. The touchstone of Sanatana Gosvami which was thrown in the rubbish was not the property of the Gosvami, otherwise it would not have been kept in such a place. This specific example is given for the neophyte devotees just to convince them that material hankerings and spiritual advancement go ill together. Unless one is able to see everything as spiritual in relation with the Supreme Lord, one must always distinguish between spirit and matter. A spiritual master like Srila Sanatana Gosvami, although personally able to see everything as spiritual, set this example for us only because we have no such spiritual vision. Advancement of material vision or material civilization is a great stumbling block for spiritual advancement. Such material advancement entangles the living being in the bondage of a material body followed by all sorts of material miseries. Such material advancement is called anartha or things not wanted. Actually this is so. In the present context of material advancement one uses lipstick at a cost of fifty cents and there are so many unwanted things which are all products of the material conception of life. By diverting attention to so many unwanted things, human energy is spoiled without achievement of spiritual realization, the prime necessity of human life. The attempt to reach the moon is another example of spoiling energy because even if the moon is reached, the problems of life will not be solved. The devotees of the Lord are called akincanas because they have practically no material assets. Such material assets are all products of the three modes of material nature. They foil spiritual energy, and thus the less we possess such products of material nature, the more we have a good chance for spiritual progress.
(More...) Due to enviousness one leaves his eternal home and wanders in the material world. In this way he turns his back on Krsna and meets with good and evil amongst various specifies of life. But although one may choose out of envy and delusion to forget Krsna, still Krsna cannot forget the conditioned souls, and thus He is situated in everyone's hart simply to direct the wanderings of all living entities (Bg. 18.61). in this way the Lord acts as caitya-guru, the spiritual master within. But you have warned us that although Krsna is directing, still "He gives direct instructions only to the advanced pure devotees. In the beginning, when a devotee is serious and sincere, the Lord gives him directions from within to approach a bona fide spiritual master." (Bhaktivedanta purports to 4.28.41) So in this way we have all become bhagyavan jiva, or fortunate living entities, because we have come in contact with a true spiritual master like yourself, and we are receiving your mercy through your instructions and through the association of advanced disciples who are true to your instructions. Now one should not again return to the conditioned world by becoming falsely independent or mistakenly thinking that he alone is in a position to receive instructions from the Supersoul, and that only he can understand the desires of the spiritual master. This is to fall victim to a very deep and treacherous pitfall. On the other hand, you have indicated that for one who has been "trained by the spiritual master according to the regulative principles of devotional service and is situated on the platform of spontaneous attachment for the Lord (raga-bhakti), the Lord also gives instructions from within. This distinct advantage is obtained by a liberated soul." (also from the purport to Bhag. 4.28.41) To assist us in advancing to the platform of fixed devotional service, you have declared that "Krsna is now present in this ISKCON movement," and that ISKCON is nondifferent from you yourself. So if one in great delusion rejects the instructions of the spiritual master, and departs from the association of the loyal servitors of yourself who are endeavoring to push on your movement and Lord Caitanya's prophesized mission, then it can only be understood that once again he has fallen prey to envy and become a victim of the deluding potency. Srila Prabhupada, I pray that I will never turn away from you and my Godbrothers, who are your loyal disciples. Srila Prabhupada, we know that there will be many pasanḍis, cheaters who do not know the real path of spiritual advancement, and that they will come forward to disrupt this Krsna consciousness movement. In this way they unjustly belittle your endeavors my minimizing how you relentlessly endeavored to establish ISKCON. All these things will come to pass now that this unfortunate planet is no longer blessed with your footprints and the point of your cane. But those who are actually sincere will not become deluded, and free from envy, they will work with transcendental determination to establish this mission in every town and village. By your divine grace we will see every person as a recipient of your causeless mercy.
(More...) Imported quote 20635 I very much appreciated your publicity material for the Bhagavata-dharma program, now go on developing it more and more to perfection. I am very much satisfied by this activity, that is your real work for Krsna. In this way, try to recruit some of the intelligent class of student class to take up this Krsna Consciousness philosophy and study it carefully. Try to recruit some of such men to become our devotees. There is need for intelligent young men to train them up as future leaders and preachers to go all over the world for spreading the message of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If we simply go to the college on one night and leave immediately for another place, it will be difficult to make very much impression upon these students. I think it is better to stay at one place for some time, at least one week, or as long as the students are interested, and try to sell as many books as possible. After your lecture in the college you may request if there are any interested students, that they may make further programs for you in their homes, or in some club or hall, like that, so that you may remain some time longer and concentrate on recruiting two or three good men, whoever appears to be the most interested, and by your diligent preaching to them you may be able to persuade some of them to become our devotees. Of course we shall not expect them immediately to come into the temple, like that, but if at least the seed is planted and they begin chanting rounds and following the principles while continuing their studies at school, that is our great victory. And if they like, they may go and live in one of our centers, wherever they like, and learn further. But we shall not present Krsna Consciousness as anything dry or like set of rules and regulations only, no. Krsna Consciousness is the topmost philosophy also, the highest knowledge of educational experience, so try to impress this aspect of offering the perfect scientific understanding of everything as it is, not the temporary and unsatisfactory and incomplete understanding of things. Try to present everything very logically and always quoting our Sanskrit authorities in connection with the main points, and that will impress them greatly. Yes, and if you also yourselves write something daily, that will sharpen your use of language and you will be able to make your points very clear. And if you dress neatly and conduct yourselves properly, that will help further.
(More...) Imported quote 21602 Enclosed please find a conversation between Dhrstadyumna das and a Professor Verdu of the University of Kansas. It was a television program as you can see from the enclosed photos. The professor has very much appreciated the discussion and he has written that he will now teach a course with special attention to the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This conversation can be published as a small pamphlet similar to the one published originally as the "Vedic Way''. The photos can be used for the front and back covers. The letter from the Prof. Mr. Verdu, can also be included. You can also include some reviews from important professors on Caitanya-caritamrta. There should be an advertisement for Caitanya-caritamrta 1st Part _ pp.; 2nd Part _ pp.; 3rd Part _ pp.; Complete _ pp. It should be printed so that Temples can give to persons who offer small donations, even too small to give a BTG to. It will also impress all intelligent people, that our students can present our philosophy so nicely and authoritatively.
(More...) Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/?qg=2389
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