swamis article
|
Imported quote 23422 "We think, therefore, that Krsna and Balarama may be chief demigods in heaven who have appeared before us like ordinary boys in order to execute particular duties on earth. This was also foretold by Gargamuni when making Krsna's horoscope. If Krsna were not a great personality, how could He have killed Kamsa, who possessed the strength of 10,000 elephants? Besides Kamsa, there were very strong wrestlers, as well as the giant elephant, Kuvalayapiḍa. All these animals and demons were killed by Him just as a lion kills an ordinary animal. How wonderful it is that Krsna took in one hand the big, heavy bow made of three joined palm trees and broke it very quickly. How wonderful it is that continually for seven days He held up Govardhana Hill in one hand. How wonderful it is that He has killed all the demons, like Pralambasura, Dhenukasura, Aristasura, Trnavarta and Bakasura. They were so strong that even the demigods in the heavenly planets were afraid of them, but Krsna killed them as easily as anything."
(More...) Prabhupada: Yes. Yes. "How nice barking. Oh, how he has learned to bark." Just see. We are not so fools. Krsna yei bhaje sei baḍo catura: "The first-class intelligent man is he who is Krsna conscious." Sei baḍo catura. All rascals. Krsna said, na mam duskrtinaḥ mūḍhaḥ [Bg 7.15]. Oh, so what is scientist? Mayayapahrta-jnana: "They have no knowledge, all rascals." Krsna says. Mayayapahrta-jnana. That he is not thinking, that "Suppose I can produce life by chemical combination, then what is my credit? The life is already there. It is going on very nicely." What do you think, Balavanta? If the things are going on nicely, then where is my credit? Either you say "by chance," or "by God's arrangement," "by nature," but things are going on nicely. So it is same thing, to learn how to bark, that's all. Barking is going on, but he wants to take credit by learning how to bark. That's all.
(More...) Prabhupada: Just see how forcefully they are being kept into ignorance, and we want to give knowledge, they don't..., won't allow. This is government. So anyway, it is good news that our books are being read in that way. That means people are very eager. But they are being suppressed by the so-called government. What is the wrong there, that they cannot read these books publicly, because there is God? What is the wrong? When I was in Moscow airport, as soon as they found Bhagavad-gita, they called police, the Customs checking. [laughter] The foolish man was kind enough, he said, "Not serious offense. Don't send him in the concentrative camp." They can do. In Russia, even if you are foreigner, they can immediately send you to the concen..., without any knowledge. They don't care for your embassy or your... Such a rascal state, there is no civilized method. They send their own men, such an important man like that Kruschev. He was sent into oblivion; nobody knows where he is. Just see. Such a rascal government. Very difficult to deal with. People are... Simply under terrorism the government is going on. In that sense your American government is so nice. Everyone has got the liberty. What is that nonsense government-terrorism.
(More...) Prabhupada: And on the house on bottom, there is river. Not directly, but an offshoot of river. People come, rowing. A very nice situation. And because it is black quarter, nobody was purchasing. So I said that "For us, what is black or white? Purchase it." So we got very cheap. At that time Alfred gave hundred and fifty thousand, and [indistinct] Elizabeth. We purchased.
(More...) Mahamsa: Sunday Chronicle. Deccan Chronicle. The biggest distributed English paper in this area.
(More...) Gargamuni: The Ratha-yatra conquering.
(More...) Gopala Krsna: Conquer the world.
(More...) Prabhupada: ...the eyesore of the Communist party.
(More...) Hari-sauri: It says underneath, "Ratha-yatra in foreign lands." That's the caption underneath the picture.
(More...) Prabhupada: He has made the ground. [laughter]
(More...) Gargamuni: We should send this to Blitz, this article. Because they have said "ungodly," and he is saying "divine messenger."
(More...) Prabhupada: Yes. You please send this. Get some copies and send this rascal editor Karanji. He is known to you? He is a Parsi?
(More...) Manihara: "ISKCON, which is a worldwide nonsectarian movement dedicated to propagating the message of the Vedas for the benefit of mankind. The Society was founded in 1966 by Swami Prabhupada, who had come to the United States a year earlier on the order of his spiritual master to teach Krsna consciousness in the Western world. Over the years, ISKCON has steadily grown in popularity and influence, and today it is widely recognized by theologians, scholars and laymen as a genuine and important spiritual movement."
(More...) Manihara: "At present there are 108 ISKCON centers in 30 countries throughout the world. These centers enable full-time members to live in close association, following the principles of Vedic life, and also provide a place where interested visitors can learn about the philosophy and culture of Krsna consciousness and participate in its various functions. The basis of the movement is the Hare Krsna mantra-Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. The chanting of this mantra is the most recommended means for spiritual progress in this age, as it cleanses the mind and enables one to transcend the temporary designations of race, religion and nationality and to understand one's true identity as an eternal spiritual being. In other words, simply by chanting Hare Krsna one can directly experience self-realization and lead a blissful life. The devotees experience divine ecstasy in singing the holy names of God to the accompaniment of musical instruments. The Hare Krsna devotees, as a prerequisite for the serious pursuit of spiritual life, voluntarily abstain from meat-eating, illicit sex, intoxication and gambling. The Krsna conscious life-style is based on the principles of simple living and high thinking. The devotees rise very early, about 3:30 a.m., and spend the morning hours in meditation and study. During the day, the main activity is preaching Krsna consciousness. Many devotees go out to public places to distribute the Society's books and its official journal, Back to Godhead magazine, which has a monthly circulation more than a million copies in fourteen different languages. In addition to book distribution, devotees engage in a variety of activities, including teaching, artistic pursuits and farming. The qualification in Krsna consciousness is not what kind of work one performs, but that it be done in the spirit of devotion to God. For the first time, Swami Prabhupada has introduced Ratha-yatra of Lord Jagannatha of Puri in the Western world. This festival is now being conducted in the major cities of the world like San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, New York, London, Paris, etcetera. Millions of people relish the taste of pulling the transcendental ratha and partake of Krsna prasada. Another of ISKCON's projects is New Vrindavan, a model thousand-acre Krsna conscious community farm in the hills of West Virginia. This is ISKCON's first venture in protecting cows from going to the slaughterhouses."
(More...) Manihara: It says, "This is ISKCON's first venture in protecting cows from going to slaughterhouses. Over four hundred cows give twelve hundred litres of milk daily, providing natural, healthy products like butter, ghee, etcetera, and especially milk sweets like gulabjamun, rasagulla, etcetera."
(More...) Prabhupada: That's all right. Enclose this quote.
(More...) Manihara: "ISKCON has generated many community farms like New Vrindavan, providing the ideal atmosphere of a busy yet peaceful village, fully devoted to spiritual progress. Swami Prabhupada has also established the first Krsna conscious gurukula in the West, a primary school in Dallas, Texas, for one hundred boys and girls between the ages of five and fifteen. Soon after its success, many such gurukulas have sprung up all over the world. Aside from teaching reading, writing, mathematics, geography, etcetera, the gurukula teaches the child how to cultivate God consciousness. Once a year the members of ISKCON journey to the Society's international headquarters at Sridhama Mayapur, ninety miles north of Calcutta, and the birthplace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is the site of a ten-crore-rupees international Vedic village comprised of community farming projects, high-class gurukula school, free medicinal facilities, and handloom weaving center. An institute of Vedic studies is proposed to be established at this site. Other major ISKCON centers in India are in Vrndavana, Bombay and Kuruksetra, the site of a three-crore-rupee international Sanskrit university. This project will be sponsored by Alfred Ford, a nephew of Henry Ford. This will be the cultural..."
(More...) Prabhupada: So the present Mr. Ford, his nephew, certainly, because daughter's side. His mother is the daughter, is granddaughter of Henry Ford. Alfred's mother is the granddaughter of Henry Ford. Therefore the present Ford is the maternal uncle of Alfred.
(More...) Manihara: "This will be a cultural gateway of India for the people of the world. Hyderabad is the South Indian headquarters for ISKCON in India. The magnificent Sri Sri Radha-Madana-mohana temple at Nampally Station Road, inaugurated by Swami Prabhupada, will serve as a center of the cultural, spiritual, educational and social activities given to uplift the lives of people here. According to Sri Mahamsa Swami, the president of the Society here, the devotees will hold seminars in colleges, factories, business centers, universities, schools, etcetera, to teach the techniques of spiritualizing the day-to-day life. Deity worship accompanied by the constant chanting of the holy names will be a special feature at the center. Besides, there will be daily classes in Sanskrit, Bhagavad-gita, Bhagavatam and the Upanisads. There will be a Vedic library, consisting of Swami Prabhupada's books and various books on comparative study of religion. A cassette library will be a special feature here. Devotees will travel into towns and villages and do sahkirtana for the uplift of the masses. ISKCON Hyderabad is introducing for the first time in South India its major 600-acre community farming project, 40 kilometers from Hyderabad, to benefit about 20,000 villages. Besides regular free nutritional food distribution program, ISKCON is also planning to set up a model high-yielding 600-cow dairy farm, handloom centers, nature-cure hospital, and gurukula school project. Swami Prabhupada's most substantial contribution, however, is to be found in his books, a veritable storehouse of knowledge and wisdom. He has written more than 50 books so far, explaining the principles of Krsna, or God consciousness, in a logical, practical and scientific way. Through his books people are understanding the eternal wisdom of the ancient Indian scriptures. That ISKCON has made a significant contribution to the intellectual, cultural and spiritual life of contemporary man is obvious from the fact that people of all ages and..."
(More...) Prabhupada: Yes. And it details everything. So you purchase some copies. We have to prepare...
(More...) Manihara: "...of varying degrees of education and from many walks of life-students, teachers, scientists, servicemen, laborers and professionals-indeed numerous race, creeds and nationalities-are attached towards it. The unifying characteristics that brings such diverse individuals to Krsna consciousness are high ethical standards and a sincere desire to understand spiritual truths. To make a pleasure-loving and easy-going..."
(More...) Prabhupada: When the Englishmen were ruling over this country and Gandhi had to do so much labor, his life sacrificed, some way or other they were gone. Now the same Englishman is working here as book distributor, [laughs] who was our ruler. So whose achievement is better? Gandhi's or mine?
(More...) Gargamuni: No, because in India, many Indians, when they approach a guru, they want something. But we didn't have to approach you for anything.
(More...) Prabhupada: That is the speciality. The guru... One should go to guru to serve him as menial servant. That is acceptance of guru. That is required. Nicavat. Nica. Nica means menial. Just like menial servant, he does everything. Similarly, to live with guru means to serve him as a menial servant. That is Vedic injunction. Nicavat. You should not be puffed up, that "I am coming from such royal family, I am coming from such rich family." And that tendency is trained up from the childhood. A child does not know. Just like Pradyumna's son. You can engage him in any menial service. He does not discriminate. He's trained up. So this is gurukula. Very word is used, nicavat. He gives service to the guru just like a menial servant. And this training being given from the childhood, he does not know what is low or what is high. His spiritual master asks to do something... Even Krsna went to the forest to collect some dry wood. Vasudeva's son, in royal family, but He had to go. And all of a sudden there was storm and..., what is called?
(More...) Prabhupada: Hailstorm. And they became entrapped in the jungle whole night. And in the morning guru with other disciples came to search out them. And this Sudama Vipra and Krsna was stranded, and they were found out, then taken back. So even Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He served the guru as menial. The guru's wife asked Him, "Bring some fuel from the jungle," and they went immediately. This is gurukula. No, I mean to say, prestigious position. "Guru has said-has to be done." This training. Then?
(More...) Manihara: There's just a few more sentences. "The Society has indeed set for itself a noble and laudable ideal, producing men and women of high character, sincerity and God consciousness."
(More...) Gargamuni: Yes, this shall be sent. And also to Om Mehta.
(More...) Gargamuni: I have to go to Delhi for my carnet. I will go to the office, the Blitz office, and bring them this personally.
(More...) Prabhupada: Guntur there is university?
(More...) Prabhupada: Guntur, our Tirtha Maharaja has got a branch there. Is it not? Gauḍiya Matha, they have got branch?
(More...) Prabhupada: No, that is another. In Guntur, yes.
(More...) Prabhupada: Visakhapatnam, there is one of my Godbrothers, Puri Maharaja. Did you go there?
(More...) Prabhupada: So Guntur you received order from...?
(More...) Prabhupada: Keep your health nice, because Indian climate sometimes does not suit. Eat simple things-fruits...
(More...) Gargamuni: Yes. I have also told they should eat nice fruits and vegetable so they will keep healthy.
(More...) Prabhupada: Oh, yes. Vegetable, fruits, very innocent. Little milk. That's all. Even if you don't eat these food grains, that is preferred.
(More...) Prabhupada: There is no question of disease. But for our tongue taste we eat so many cooked food. But if we eat vegetables, boiled vegetables and fruits and milk, ah, it is sufficient. Ekadasi. [laughter] Daily ekadasi. And these peanuts-a few grains, not much-that is also nice. Cashew, peanut. Yes. So thank you very much. You are working so much for Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128]. Bas. You become a guru. Actually you are doing the guru's work. "Here is a message from Krsna. Please take it." Bas. Simple. Yare dekha. And whomever you meet, tare kaha krsna-upadesa, either you speak personally or give him a book.
(More...) Manihara: This is the noon paper published...
(More...) Prabhupada: Explosion. Mahamsa Swami is continuing this.
(More...) Prabhupada: Buddhi-yogam dadami tam. As soon as we decide to work for Krsna very sincere... [chuckling] What is this Krsna crossword? This is gambling.
(More...) Gargamuni: Krsna crossword puzzle.
(More...) Hari-sauri: Oh. Crosswords are gambling?
(More...) Hari-sauri: They give clues, and it's to make you think.
(More...) Manihara: They give a clue. They say...
(More...) Manihara: No, I don't think there is prize.
(More...) Gargamuni: There is in the other newspapers. Maybe not in this. But they do offer prize. You send in, then they choose prize.
(More...) Prabhupada: So they work, originally it became for prize. [laughs] Otherwise, these karmis, why they shall waste their time? They wanted some prize.
(More...) Hari-sauri: Sometimes they print their names in the next issue: "The last week's winner was..."
(More...) Manihara: There's no mention of any reward. Just...
(More...) Prabhupada: Anything of these four prohibited regulations should not do. Yatra papas catur-vidhaḥ [SB 1.17.38]. That catur-vidha, four kinds of papa, sinful activities. From the very beginning, because I introduced this, no catur-vidhaḥ, four kinds of papa, therefore our Society is now so respected. From the very beginning we are following to keep these principles in forefront. This is appreciated by anyone. Even he is himself a debauch, he'll appreciate. It is so nice thing. A person may be a big drunkard, but he'll never like to see his son drunkard. That is natural.
(More...) Gargamuni: Yes. I think all fathers must say.
(More...) Hari-sauri: Yes, mine did too. One day I walked in with a cigarette, so he beat me because I was smoking and I was only fourteen or something. So then I said, "But you were doing the same thing." [laughs] And he beat me even more.
(More...) Prabhupada: "When you are an older, you become a debauchee. But don't become now." [laughing] If it is a good thing, why older and younger?
(More...) Manihara: That's true. Our relatives, especially close relatives, parents, and they see, they can see immediately how much...
(More...) Prabhupada: This is natural. These things are not good. They know it, but they are habituated. But they do not like that son should be habituated. That is natural. Your father predicted about Brahmananda, that "This boy will be a saintly man."
(More...) Prabhupada: Yes. He'll not be a karmi. From the beginning he could understand. How did he understand?
(More...) Gargamuni: Because his tendencies were never in the business field. He was an intellectual. He used to read a lot, and he was interested in religion.
(More...) Gargamuni: Yes. In college he took courses in religion.
(More...) Prabhupada: And when he first came to me, he expressed that "I was searching this institution. Now I'll join." And he was getting at that time four hundred dollars?
(More...) Prabhupada: Yes. So he was paying everything almost, keeping little money. And then he brought him.
(More...) Hari-sauri: I have a picture of you with your hair. I'll show you. I have a picture of Gargamuni Swami when he still had hair and karmi clothes.
(More...) Hari-sauri: Hair in this picture's a bit cropped up, but you had a bead bag then.
(More...) Gargamuni: Oh, yeah, yeah. Then that was later.
(More...) Prabhupada: You were selling Back to Godhead on the street?
(More...) Prabhupada: That time how many copies you were printing?
(More...) Gargamuni: We were printing 500 to 1,000. We started at 500 then to 1,000.
(More...) Prabhupada: Then when Brahmananda proposed that "We can get it printed from Japan, but they want order for 20,000 minimum." So I said yes. Five hundred, 1,000 we were selling, and he proposed 20,000. "Yes. You order." [laughs] Now, two million?
(More...) Hari-sauri: The biggest one, I think, was that centennial, bicentennial issue. What was that? It increases, anyway, every year.
(More...) Prabhupada: Brahmananda was hesitating how 20,000 per month we shall consume.
(More...) Prabhupada: [laughs] I said, "Yes. You order. We shall consume." Then this Tamala Krsna, he helped.
(More...) Hari-sauri: He was in book distribution from the start.
(More...) Prabhupada: Yes. He gave impetus for distribution. Then we got encouragement-other party, another party. Where those mimeograph machine gone?
(More...) Gargamuni: I don't know. After I went to San Francisco... They should be preserved. That was beginning. We could still use them.
(More...) Prabhupada: Yes. I paid $150 I had collected. They wanted hundred dollars each or $125 each. So I went there, that I want two machines, but I have got $150 dollars only. So he wanted to throw away the machine. "All right, you take two machines." So I gave $150 and took away two machines. I think it is more costly. Eh?
(More...) Gargamuni: Yes, oh, yes. Those are heavy-duty machines. They were old, but they were good.
(More...) Prabhupada: Ranchor. Spoiling so much paper.
(More...) Prabhupada: His father and mother divorced. So he used to visit sometimes his grandfather, father's father. So naturally grandfather, when he used to visit, he gave him some money.
(More...) Hari-sauri: And he'd give it to you. Then he gave it to you.
(More...) Prabhupada: Once he gave me. Anyway, Krsna is giving us encouragement. Religious, philosophical book, as soon as they hear of it they immediately say, "No, no, we..." That is the natural tendency.
(More...) Prabhupada: Yes. Naturally. That chief minister said.
(More...) Prabhupada: So that was my policy, that I shall go America, and if the Americans become devotees then these rascals will be automatically... Here they could not appreciate. When I started, wanted to start this movement, they refused to give their son.
(More...) Hari-sauri: They always say a preacher is never appreciated in his home town.
(More...) Prabhupada: "Swamiji, what benefit there will be by becoming brahmana, by devotee? They have to earn their livelihood." Spiritual culture is in India practically rejected. They are convinced with the idea that for spiritual culture we are so much...
(More...) Hari-sauri: It must have been a big shock for them when they first saw our devotees.
(More...) Gargamuni: Yes, at 10:30 they said. Gopala said he's coming. I don't know, but I will ask.
(More...) Manihara: Srila Prabhupada, when we give prasadam to people...
(More...) Manihara: ...what is the benefit they get, exactly? There have been so many concoctions: "Oh, they will take human birth," "They will take this..." What is the actual benefit that a karmi will get when he takes prasadam?
(More...) Prabhupada: By eating, you are getting mercy. Krsna baḍa dayamaya karibare jihva jaya sva-prasad-anna dila bhai. Sva-prasad-anna dila bhai. Sei prasada anna pao radha-krsna-guna gao preme ḍaka caitanya-nitai.
(More...) Manihara: This is Krsna's arrangement, special.
(More...) Hari-sauri: Any reasonable persons appreciate it.
(More...) Prabhupada: How the books are being supplied? From Bombay?
(More...) Prabhupada: He will make some good profit? [laughs] Never mind. If books are distributed, that is our satisfaction. Let anyone make some profit. We don't mind.
(More...) Hari-sauri: No, he wants to send one of our vehicles around. Yes?
(More...) Prabhupada: Never mind. The books must reach there. That is my...
(More...) Prabhupada: Yes. That's all. Doesn't matter. We are not after profit.
(More...) Prabhupada: Anyway, wherever you go, they take it.
(More...) Manihara: Even in the West they are not so favorable, but still everybody has heard of Krsna. Everybody's heard of the Hare Krsna people.
(More...) Mahamsa: There's only five first initiations. Those ladies, I told them to wait some more time.
(More...) Mahamsa: I already told them, "You please..." They said they will give up, but I said that you...
(More...) Mahamsa: But they are waiting. What shall I tell them now? I just now told them...
(More...) Prabhupada: Oh, yes. If they have promised, we shall give. Simply you don't break promise. You have promised-do it. That's all.
(More...) Mahamsa: [laughs] I'll tell them. Another thing was those... What is... I don't know. What is the position of ladies being initiated? They are young girls. They may get married. They may get married to someone outside the Society.
(More...) Prabhupada: But she can chant and observe the rules and regulations-what is that?
(More...) Mahamsa: Even if her husband does not follow?
(More...) Mahamsa: Okay. Then there'll be five more.
(More...) Prabhupada: My sister, while she was married, so her father-in-law's house, they were all eating fish. So a new girl, ten years, eleven years old. So she was given this foodstuff with fish and everything. So she was crying. So her mother-in-law, "Why you are crying?" "No, we do not touch all these things." She immediately arranged special cooking for her. So her husband and other members, they were taking fish, but she never touched. She never touched. She does not know what is fish. If one wants to keep oneself pure, he or she can keep herself pure in any circumstances.
(More...) Mahamsa: Okay. And there'll be two second initiations, two devotees from here. So I will talk to them again, because just now I've told them, "You must wait one month more." They were willing to.
(More...) Mahamsa: So I'll tell them like that. Okay. Then the names and beads will be given downstairs by Your Grace? You'll be coming down?
(More...) Hari-sauri: They should be wearing their neckbeads before. At least two lines.
(More...) Prabhupada: So Krsna will recognize your service. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamaḥ [Bg 18.69]. You are distributing this knowledge, so you become immediately recognized, very dear servant, very confidential servant of Krsna. He says personally. Na ca tasman manusyesu [Bg 18.69]: "Amongst the human beings, those who are doing this preaching, nobody is dearer than these persons to Me-anyone." You have read that?
(More...) Prabhupada: Yes. To be quickly recognized by Krsna, this is the short-cut process. He never says those who are sitting in a secluded place meditating or chanting, doing nothing, He never says that "They are My very dear devotees." But those who are preaching-na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me [Bg 18.69]. Just like government takes more care for the soldiers, especially when there is fighting. They are giving life for the state. So their comfort-first consideration. In the wa rfield, enough supplies. Anything the soldiers require, enough supplies. Sometimes the store is blown out, and again another store is ready. Therefore in the wartime they control. In the...
(More...) Manihara: It's the sergeants and the corporals that go first. The leaders of the battalion, they will go first to start to ravage and loot, and then all the other men will follow.
(More...) Prabhupada: Everywhere, huh? So I have seen in Calcutta outside villages. So my maternal uncle's house was their Tollygunge. So when they used to come there was a, what is called, rumor, "Soldiers come here." They'll captured any woman from the street. No restrictions.
(More...) Manihara: They are simply killing, killing, killing, for no reason; therefore this killing turns just into..., they turn into animal. So when they see woman, immediately...
(More...) Prabhupada: So everywhere the same business. The soldiers are let loose in the villages.
(More...) Pradyumna: Srila Prabhupada? What is the program? Will you becoming down?
(More...) Pradyumna: As soon as ready you will come. We're not waiting for any minister or something to come or anything?
(More...) Hari-sauri: He's supposed to be here now.
(More...) Pradyumna: But as soon as we are ready, you will come down?
(More...) Manihara: Now England is finished. Everybody is completely unhappy. Nobody is happy in England. The rich men, once they were happy; now they are having their money taken away by the government. They are taxing, taxing, taxing, all the time. And the poor people, they have nothing anyway. Nobody has anything to talk about. Nothing to be proud of in England. Everybody is leaving. Every day in the newspaper you read such-and-such has happened.
(More...) Prabhupada: Yes. They expanded their empire. Where is that empire now? The expansion of empire began during Victoria's time. Huh? Victoria's time.
(More...) Hari-sauri: Even before that, though, because they were going out in the ships and... America and all.
(More...) Prabhupada: During the first Elizabeth's time. That was the beginning.
(More...) Hari-sauri: Queen Elizabeth the First.
(More...) Manihara: They went to America at that time. Pilgrim.
(More...) Prabhupada: So within four hundred years everything finished. [laughs] Everything built up and everything finished.
(More...) Manihara: Now the Indians are coming from India, setting up big business in England. They're controlling big factories, business, so many mills, everything. In Manchester, where I come from...
(More...) Prabhupada: There is agitation to drive away Indians.
(More...) Manihara: Now they are trying to drive away. Because they know they have money. They are taking over.
(More...) Prabhupada: Money and intelligence also. They can organize the English very nicely. And they're not extravagant. European and American, as soon as they get money they spend it. And Indians know how to save something. I saw in London, almost all Indians have got their own house. Maybe small house; it doesn't matter. But they have got their own quarters. Every Indian. And they're living very comfortably. Englishmen, local men, renting.
(More...) Prabhupada: Uganda. They got English citizenship. Now they cannot refuse them legally.
(More...) Manihara: There's one group, the National Front group, they are trying to stop the citizenship. Because the government, they are saying, "Yes, we will make you citizens if you come here, get business." And they are fighting against this.
(More...) Prabhupada: They are refusing citizenship to the children. Children born of Indians in England, naturally they should be citizens. But now they're refused.
(More...) Hari-sauri: They're making all of them get six-month... They only get... Any Indians, they give them six-month visas. That's partly the reason why India is now thinking to impose visa regulations on the British, on British people who come here.
(More...) Prabhupada: Why they are doing that? Why not make world citizen? So much space. Let anyone go anywhere and live as he likes.
(More...) Hari-sauri: Both our... Pennsylvania farm has one hundred acres of woods.
(More...) Prabhupada: Especially in America. There is enough place. And England also. There is enough place. They are not being utilized.
(More...) Manihara: Even my father, he has one big house with some land, one or two acres of land. I put this to him, I told him, "Why you cannot just live simply? You have enough room for one cow, which is enough milk for you and for four people that live there," my two sisters, like that. One cow. "You can grow vegetables, you can have an apple tree, a pear tree. Like this you can have everything. You don't need to buy anything."
(More...) Manihara: "We need meat." He said, "We need meat." He's a doctor. He's saying he needs meat. I said, "I've not been eating meat for four years. There's nothing wrong with me."
(More...) Prabhupada: And when there will be no vegetables, where you'll get meat? After all, you must have sufficient vegetables for eating by the cows. But if there is no vegetable, then where you'll get meat? Actually, in Europe it is being done, that there is drought. There is no rain. There is no grass.
(More...) Mahamsa: The Minister of Endowments is here. The Minister of Endowments.
(More...) Mahamsa: Today so early now? But your rest. It's time you take rest, Prabhupada.
(More...) Prabhupada: I take rest up to four or half past four.
(More...) Mahamsa: As soon as your car comes, we will leave.
(More...) Prabhupada: You can give him that paper. Today is very nice report about our activities in the Sunday Chronicle. [indistinct background discussion as minister leaves] You can go up to the car. Go up to the car. So, I shall take little khicuri.
(More...) Prabhupada: It is impractical. Is it possible to import drinking water for so many people?
(More...) Manihara: Just before I left England... They have so many cows in the south of England, they were grazing. But because it was so hot, the grass was not growing. It was becoming very dry, and no new grass was growing because there was no rain. So then they had to move all the cows to the north of England. Thousands upon thousands of cows, they have to move in big lorries to the north of England, where there was some grass. And now in the north of England there is no grass, so they're going to have to move them to Scotland. It's costing so much money. And then the cows are going to become thin.
(More...) Prabhupada: They are killing immaturely. Because they die, they cannot eat. They want to eat fresh, huh? They want to kill them alive.
(More...) Mahamsa: Yes. That's how it would be, if we could get permanent laborers. That's another thing I experienced, that when these village laborers come, they come at nine o'clock, nine-thirty, they work at their own speed and then, at five-thirty, they see the sun. I was amazed how they find the exact time, but they do it by the sun's movements. Exactly at five-thirty they will stop their work and go. But I have seen our laborers who stay here on our land, they work from five-thirty in the morning and they work all day, all the way to the night.
(More...) Prabhupada: Yes. That must be done. Anyone who comes to see the arati, at least two puris, little vegetable, halava should be given. Prasada distribution should go on everywhere. Who said that that is my trick? Who was...?
(More...) Tamala Krsna: Ramesvara gave her money for staying. It's really not very good. It's not very good that our devotees, especially the women, have to do like this. The government is harassing us. Now nearly all the GBC men have come. Jagadisa has still to come, and Atreya Rsi and Balavanta and Gopala Krsna. Then they'll all be here.
(More...) Tamala Krsna: BBT, yes. They had a meeting in Mayapur discussing some common points of interest and concern. It says, "We will anxiously be awaiting a report on Srila Prabhupada's reaction to the various points, and it would be good if you sent copies to all the trustees directly if there are any urgent points. I am going to Los Angeles in a few weeks, at which time I will make it my business, as one of the U.S. trustees, to look into the Press matter. I will send a report after doing so. I also share your concern in this matter. I am going to France in a few days and will send a report on my findings. I am especially concerned to see that BBT be set up along standard lines. I have heard that Srila Prabhupada's health has improved somewhat. Please be so kind as to send reports on this from time to time, as all the devotees are very much concerned. We are all praying to Lord Nrsimhadeva that His Divine Grace's health will be completely restored. I remain your servant, Jayatirtha dasa. P.S. I will be visiting Africa in May." This letter is dated 25th March.
(More...) Gopala Krsna: Yes. It advertises all your books. Plus, Srila Prabhupada, I had signed a contract with the biggest mail-order house in India, called Mail Order Sales. And this week their full-page advertisement on the Bhagavad-gita is reaching 25,000 households. Their ad wasn't ready, but they are sending it to me in few days. It's a very beautiful ad. They have a monthly newspaper called Mail Order News, and that they've given a whole page. But they pay for it. We give them a straight commission on sales. Just like in America you have Book of the Month Club and selling books by mail. This is very big. Plus we are now doing the Bhaktivedanta Encyclopedia of Vedic Knowledge. This will also... We are preparing a brochure just like this. This is a Brittanica Encyclopedia advertisement. So we're going to have your nineteen or twenty Bhagavatams here. The artists are working on it, in a small [indistinct], and this is going to be sent to about thirty thousand households. These are just for households, not libraries or anyone, just as selling to businessmen and executives.
(More...) Subhaga: [Transl. Especially from Bangladesh we receive so many letters. We have made some arrangement there. There is a gentleman named Govinda Banik who lives there. They write us, but it's a problem to send books. We told him to communicate with us. If he sends money, then we will send books from here without mentioning the name ISKCON so that the Government cannot create any problem about this. We receive so many letters from different Districts of Bangladesh. From Cittagang to south Bangladesh, Srihatta and other Districts. Even the Muhammadans write us letter for our Magazine. It is so popular. Those who come here to Mayapur from there, they tell us about all this. When Prabha-Visnu went there, they say that there was no place for people to sit. So many people came. There was no place. They came to hear his kirtana. Whatever books were send there for distribution, all were finished. That is a big field for us to preach in Bengali. There is no news paper or anything there. So with our Gitar Gan and Bhagavat-darsana magazine we can preach very nicely.]
(More...) Svarūpa Damodara: Also, that will add attractions to the outsiders, if we have these nice places. Everybody who came here, those few scientists... About fifty-five, I think, all came. Most of them told me that they never knew that such thing existed in Vrndavana. It's such a nice place, and very peaceful and... They never expected that these things existed in Vrndavana. And they were very impressed. Even our incomplete building and with all our incomplete arrangements, they were very amazed that such thing existed. And one... Actually a few of them from Agra told me that "Next time, if you hold a conference," he said, "I will take all responsibility to bring all the scientists from around Agra, Delhi, and everything." He said he didn't know that such things might exist. So Vrndavana is also a place where people come and we can cultivate their..., to bring them to the spiritual consciousness, Krsna consciousness. Actually, it's very true that when they see our temple and to see our children, oh, they were so impressed that they say they will come back. And some of them attended mahgala-arati and some of them attended Bhagavatam class, even those who came for our conference. And so... Especially those who came with wives, very attracted to see our Deities and the photographs, nice, from all over the world. Everything was so attractive. Even the Mishra, who was so Mayavadi during our conference, also was almost materialist, his wife was so influential. His wife was actually a devotee. And I spent about two hours in his room with them, and she was instructing him that "You think that everything is just chemicals." And she was telling him that "Why don't you think that God existed before-there was God, and everything's coming from Him? And do research on the basis of that. If you do that, then everything will be nice." She was telling him that "Without bhakti, your science isn't going to give you any happiness, no pleasure." So actually she... Then he almost became a devotee. He said, "Yes, yes, yes." [laughter] And they wanted to see Srila Prabhupada just before they went. I told them that doctor told us that we shouldn't allow any, even the devotees, not so crowded in the room, because doctor advises not to do so. So I requested that "When Prabhupada gets better, you please come back. Prabhupada's going to get better. Then we'll have the opportunity to allow you to have Prabhupada's darsana." So they say they will come back, bring their children. Especially they were very impressed by our gurukula boys. They said it reminded them Krsna's boyhood pastimes just seeing these our gurukula boys. Especially every day we had invocation by the gurukula boys with Yasodanandana Maharaja from Brahma-samhita. The vibrations were so potent that everybody was very impressed. Though we didn't have all the guests that we invited, but still, I think, those few who came, I think they had very good appreciation about Srila Prabhupada's program. Especially bhakti-vedanta... Mishra's relation was very significant. He said he never had in his life to see this bhakti-vedanta. He called all of us as Bhakti-vedantist. He said he was always Advaita-vedantist, and he said he never saw a bhakti-vedanti. He said it was a great experience. He said he was very grateful that he came to the conference. And he had great appreciation of the whole movement. They said, "Just imagine that in about ten years a big empire can be built in such a pure spirit." So like that, Dr. Soni... Soni is the Deputy General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research. He's also a big government scientist. To see these people... Actually, even one cannot just go and see them. You have to wait for so many red tapes just to go them. They came. He came with his family. Actually, he was the chief guest on Sunday, and he had a great appreciation of our whole Movement, and he told me very frankly in his opening speech that a few years ago he saw the devotees in Piccadilly Circus, first time in London. And about that time he said he had a very wrong impression, negative impression of the whole Movement. He said he thought something that was not very impressive. Then he told me very frankly that when I came to invite him for this to be the chief guest on Sunday, he said just on the basis of that, he said he was not willing to accept the invitation. But then, he said, after talking with me for a few minutes, he said he changed his whole attitude and then just decided to come. And then he expressed that he was very grateful that he came, and he learned a lot. He said this is one of the noblest causes that one can dedicate. So he had a great appreciation for the Movement. So like that, we'd like to make some friends, especially in the higher, educated classes of people. And I think I'm very hopeful, by the mercy of Your Divine Grace and Krsna's mercy, that we can at least follow your instruction. Then I think we can do it.
(More...) Tamala Krsna: Not that pillow? Is that all right? Says, "Book distribution, worldwide." Says here... These are the world totals for the month of September, Srila Prabhupada. In the month of September all over the world they distributed the following number of big books: 215,914. 216,000 big books in one month, Srila Prabhupada. Medium books: 226,000 in one month. Small books: 237,000. And Back to Godheads: 433,000. Now I calculated, Srila Prabhupada, also the total amount of money realized by the BBT. In the month of September the BBT sold..., the temples sold 675,000 dollars' worth of books. In rupees, I figured out it's fifty-nine lakhs the BBT sold. Now, the temples, when they..., if they sell a book, they get double the amount of money. You know what I mean? If the BBT sells the book to the temple for say $2.50, the temple gets $5.00 when it sells the book. So I calculated that the temples collected $1,350,000 from selling your books in the month of September, which comes out to one crore, seventeen lakhs collections from book sales. And then I was calculating what this would mean... [end]
(More...) Please accept my blessings. I have received your recent letters of April 16 and April 25 and have noted the contents. You have also written in a letter to Satsvarupa that temple donations are being put toward the Indian BBT debt. Please, let me know in this connection what is the amount taken from donations and transferred to the BBT account for the book debt by India? Also I will request you that as much book debt amount as you receive from donations you should again dispatch that amount in new books to India. There is not sufficient stock of books here. Whatever variety of books are in stock send according to the amount paid against the debt. I think you are aware Gargamuni Maharaja has formed a spiritual sky tours program and will be bringing about 70 life members on a world tour including of course the United States. I need to know from you whether the BBT has sufficient capital in the bank to cover the amount of $130,000.00. This amount will be required to cover their expenditure. Regarding the grhasthas houses, we have given these houses with the purpose that they should execute devotional service exactly like the Brahmacaris and sannyasis. Otherwise, why purchase houses near the temple? The whole idea is to live near the temple and take advantage of the temple program, which means morning arati, classes, sankirtana and all services connected with the temple. They are also members of the temple. Locana das may deposit his contributions with the Mayapur Vrindaban fund which will also go for the Krsna Balarama temple as is his desire. I am still not aware how fast the remittance is going from the Union Bank to the Punjab National Bank in Vrindaban. For example I have not received a report on when the interest for April, due payable April 10, actually reached Vrindaban. I have written the Punjab National Bank about this and am awaiting their report. You have asked about Gaura Nitai deity worship by the householders in Los Angeles. That is for those who live far away from the temple and cannot attend. Otherwise, such worship is redundant; there is already deity worship going on in the temple and they should attend the aratis, not install their own deities. The impression of Lord Caitanya's feet which you have there may be kept in a picture, not that it is worshiped as a deity. Keep it as a picture. Regarding your invitation that I attend the Rathayatra festival in San Francisco, on July 7th, it is possible that I may attend depending on when I finish my European tour. I am due to arrive in Rome on May 23, then after a week Geneva, the Paris and possible Stockholm, Germany and England. If there is time I can fly directly from Europe to Los Angeles and go to the festival, then as you suggest, go to Australia Rathayatra via Hawaii. This is known as jet-age parivrajakacarya. For the present I will be staying in Bombay for about two weeks, then to Delhi and Vrindaban before leaving for Rome. Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami P.S. I want the monthly interest from the Union Bank to go to account 668 at the Punjab National Bank, Vrindaban, called "ISKCON Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust Fund". At present they are sending the interest to the account number 6112. "A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami". So please go to the Union Bank and find out how this change may be brought about and let me know. Also I am enclosing a check for $21.00 (twenty one dollars) which I have received here. I want you to deposit this for me in the Union Bank, ISKCON MVT, and the savings deposit slip is enclosed.
(More...)Please accept my blessings. I have just now received some letters from London from Madhavananda and others brought by Paramahamsa Swami who was there. Regarding Madhavananda being the president, if he received the vote, why you have opposed? You must be impartial. My recommendation is that he must be the president. He has been chosen by the vote, and I am giving the casting vote for him. He is doing things very nicely there, so he must be the president. Prabha Visnu should go on Sankirtana, and Madhavananda should be president. Everything must go on. The women are doing nicely, so why are they being changed from the pujari to the Sankirtana? These things should be done by the President. These are internal things, and you should not interfere. I do not approve of your changing the women. It should be the choice of Madhavananda who should be the pujari.
(More...) Regarding the New Orleans' farm, do not make sugar. Just boil it and make molasses. You can eat the molasses instead of sugar. Just boil it and keep boiling it until granule forms and then keep in a pot. Don't try to make sugar and sell it. That will simply increase the botheration. If you start trading business, then so many problems will be there. You should produce just enough for our own use. Trading leads to envy and jealousy and cheating, then everything is lost. I am seeing now that the business activities in our society, they are increasing. Originally I allowed that Gargamuni could start the incense business. I thought that the Ramakrishna Mission, they are doing and the incense we are using, so if we make some and sell it, then what is the harm. But now I see that Spiritual Sky, they have so many products. And now there is jewelry business going on. So why should the business increase? Nanda Kumar, he came here to India simply for doing business. This is not required. So I have given him sannyasa and now he is finished with all business, and he will go to Africa to preach. So this business should be discouraged, otherwise, if they do it, our men will again become karmis. Our business is simply book distribution. So far increasing the New Orleans' farm, yes, if you have got more men, you can get more land. You should make a stock of ghee from the farm and if possible open a restaurant in the city for attracting people. You can prepare samosas, kacoris, rasgullas, sweetballs. In Honolulu they are doing nicely, this restaurant. You can take information from Srutakirti das. And the farm will get money by selling ghee to the restaurant. And also you can sell the ghee to the Indian people in the city.
(More...) Your smile is the radiant sunshine that lights our every day, Guiding us back to Godhead the harer nama way. (Your smile alone, Srila Prabhupada, can make the world Krishna Conscious.) The darkest regions-we dark, covered souls-immediately respond with bliss, Dancing and singing in ecstasy to see you smile this. (Your smile alone, Srila Prabhupada, can make the world Krsna conscious,) Our fondest dream, our only hope: to please Your Divine Grace: To somehow coax your beautiful smile upon your lotus face. (Your smile alone, Srila Prabhupada, can make the world Krishna Conscious.) Thank you Srila Prabhupada for appearing awhile, But mostly Srila Prabhupada, thank you for your smile. (Your smile alone, Srila Prabhupada, can make the world Krishna Conscious.) We were involved in the movie-going, T.V. watching, getting high set … and feeling miserable Everyday thinking that there must be something else, some lost dream in the back of our mind that knew this wasn't real or right but we had no one to show us the way out Wandering around in all this illusion drowning, suffocating, screaming, crying … praying for something: for You, O Dear Master (More...) Srila Prabhupada had earlier seen many Indians living in the West and he knew well their intentions for coming to America. Upon seeing me, he commented that all brilliant young Indians were rushing towards the West, influenced by its advancement, to study science and earn dollars. Even I told him that many of my friends had been coming to America and my goal in life was to come to America. Srila Prabhupada then countered, "You-young scholars and students-have come as beggars to beg scientific knowledge and dollars. But I have not come here to beg. I came here to give to the Americans something-the spiritual knowledge, which they do not have. Why don't you also do the same? Why are you simply taking? Why don't you also give something?"Srila Prabhupada had made a strong statement, and he was very serious about it. I was struck by his sincerity, frankness, and dedication to his purpose.
(More...) Bhaktisiddhanta-Sarasvati Thakura Gosvami Maharaja Prabhupada (1874-1937) the spiritual master of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and thus the spiritual grandfather of the present day Krsna consciousness movement. A powerful preacher, he founded sixty four missions in India; The transcendentally empowered son of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura appeared in this world on February 6, 1874. His father was deputy magistrate of Jagannatha Puri in Orissa at this time. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura had been very concerned about unauthorized pseudo-Vaisnavas who were usurping the pure teachings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and therefore had begun a revival of the sahkirtana mission. Though very busy with his profession, he wrote profusely about all aspects of Krsna consciousness. He prayed constantly for someone to boldly preach his writings. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura's prayers were answered in Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. When he was six months old, the Ratha-yatra festival of chariots was held in Puri. Lord Jagannatha's chariot stopped in front of Srila Bhaktivinoda's house, which was on the main road between the temple and the Gunḍica mandira. The chariot stayed there for three days. On the third day, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's mother brought the child out to see the Lord. The pūjaris picked him up and put him on the cart. He crawled to the base of Lord Jagannatha, touching His lotus feet. Simultaneously a garland fell from the neck of the Lord and landed around the child. The pūjaris exclaimed that this child was especially blessed by the Lord. The boy grew up to be a great scholar in many fields of learning. But when he reached twenty-two, he left his studies at college, vowing to never take to householder life. For three years, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura held the post of raja-panḍita (royal scholar) of the Vaisnava king of Tripura. Thereafter he took initiation from Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji. Srila Gaurakisora was a Vaisnava renunciate who had fully absorbed himself in the worship of Krsna at Vrndavana for a long time. Then he settled at the holy city of Navadvipa on the bank of the Ganges. By this time Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura had retired from his government work and was worshiping Lord Krsna in a small house near Navadvipa, at Godruma. Every day he gave Srimad-Bhagavatam class there. Srila Gaurakisora used to attend these classes. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura told his son, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, to accept Srila Gaurakisora as his initiating spiritual master. He received the name Varsabhanavi-devi-dayitaya dasa. Thereafter Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gave up all other activities to chant 194 rounds daily for seven years. He stayed in a kutira (hut) but did not take time to repair the roof; if it rained, he just used an umbrella. In 1918 he opened the first center of the Gauḍiya Mission in Ultadanga Road in Calcutta. He was then forty-four. All across India he established Lord Caitanya's teachings as the most excellent spiritual philosophy. He started his mission in the midst of war and political agitation for national liberation. He was uncompromising in his disregard of such mundane concerns. The most important thing is to invoke the spirit of devotion to the Supreme Lord; this concern lies far above any material consideration. Many leaders objected that he was diverting too many young men from India's national interests, but he paid them no heed. In this period, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada visited Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura on the rooftop at Ultadanga Road. Srila Prabhupada, at that time known as Abhay Caran De, was an adherent of Gandhi's svaraja movement. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura convinced him in just one sitting of the vital necessity of Lord Caitanya's mission over everything else. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura departed this world in 1936. Two weeks before leaving his body, he instructed Srila Prabhupada to introduce the sahkirtana mission to the Western world. See Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Krsna. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is the foremost Vaisnava acarya in the modern age. In 1896, he appeared in this world as Abhay Caran De in Calcutta, where he received an English-language education. He first met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, in 1922. At their first meeting, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura requested Srila Prabhupada to broadcast Vedic knowledge through the English language. In 1933, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura initiated Srila Prabhupada as Abhaya Caranaravinda dasa. In the years that followed, he wrote a commentary on the Bhagavad-gita, assisted the Gauḍiya Mission in its work, and in 1944 started Back to Godhead, an English fortnightly magazine, still continued by his disciples today. He received the title Bhaktivedanta in 1947 from the Gauḍiya Vaisnava Society. In the 1950's, Srila Prabhupada retired from family life, accepting the vanaprastha order. Thus he was able to devote more time to his studies and writing. He came to Vrndavana to live humbly at the historic medieval temple of Radha-Damodara. After several years of deep absorption in Krsna consciousness, Srila Prabhupada accepted the order of sannyasa from his Godbrother Kesava Prajna Maharaja, in 1959. It was then that he began to work on his life's masterpiece: a multivolume translation of and commentary on the eighteen-thousand verse Srimad-Bhagavatam. After publishing three volumes of the Bhagavatam in India, Srila Prabhupada came to the United States in 1965. After great difficulty, with no initial financial resources, he established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in New York in July, 1966. The residents of that great metropolis of materialism were astounded as the youthful American followers of Srila Prabhupada danced and chanted the Hare Krsna maha-mantra in their midst, that eternal Vedic sound echoing between the glass and steel skyscraper canyon walls. The Krsna consciousness movement soon spread to San Francisco, where the Ratha-yatra festival of the chariots was held for the first time outside of India. A group of American disciples started a branch in London, where George Harrison of the Beatles became a life-long follower of Srila Prabhupada. From England the movement went to Germany, Holland, France, and other European countries. It likewise flourished in Canada, Latin America, Australia and Africa. Simultaneously, Srila Prabhupada personally established several multi-million-dollar ISKCON temple and guesthouse projects in India at Bombay, Vrndavana, Mayapur and Hyderabad. But Srila Prabhupada considered his most significant contribution to be his books, which form a veritable library of Vedic philosophy, religion, culture and literature. Highly respected by the academic community for their authority, depth and clarity, they serve as standard textbooks in numerous college courses. His writings have been translated into more than eighty languages. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, established in 1972 to publish his works, is the world's largest publisher in the field of Vedic studies. In the twelve years after his first arrival in America up to his departure from this world in 1977, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe fourteen times on lecture tours that took him to six continents. Even in his physical absence, his great mission continues to move forward. With the collapse of the Soviet Empire that Srila Prabhupada predicted during his 1972 visit to Moscow, Krsna consciousness is vigorously blossoming throughout Eastern Europe, Russia, a (More...) Imported quote 23467 So he's answering the question, munayaḥ sadhu prsto 'ham [SB 1.2.5]: "My dear sages, great saintly persons, I'm very much honored that you have inquired so nicely," sadhu. Sadhu means [indistinct], that is the explanation. [indistinct]. That is called sadhu. So this question about Krsna is sadhu because Krsna is discussed among the sadhus, not amongst the rogues. And who is a sadhu? That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita: sadhur eva sa mantavyaḥ [Bg 9.30], he is sadhu. Bhajate mam ananda-bhak. Anyone who is purely devotee of Krsna, he's sadhu, not anyone else. Sadhu means he's mahatma.
(More...) Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/?qg=5552
|