The Beggar-Thought from HH Bhakti-Thirtha Swami

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Ditch of Materialistic Life Posted: 26 Jan 2010 06:27 PM PST Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu said the following to Srila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami when Raghunatha left his home to become a renunciant. Text: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "The mercy of Lord Krsna is stronger than anything else. Therefore the Lord has delivered you from the ditch of materialistic life, which is like a hole into which people pass stool." Srila Prabhupada's commentary: According to the law of karma, everyone is destined to suffer or enjoy according to a certain material standard, but the mercy of Lord Krsna is so powerful that the Lord can change all the reactions of one's past karma, or fruitive activities. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu specifically drew attention to the mercy of Lord Krsna. That mercy is more powerful than anything else, for it had saved Raghunatha dasa from the strong bondage of materialistic life, which the Lord compared to a hole where people pass stool. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave His verdict that those addicted to the materialistic way of life are like worms that are living in stool but cannot give it up. A grha-vrata, one who has decided to live in a comfortable home although it is actually miserable, is in a condemned position. Only the mercy of Krsna can save one from such misery. Without Krsna's mercy, one cannot get out of the filthy entanglement of materialistic life. The poor living entity cannot give up his materialistic position on his own; only when granted the special mercy of Krsna can he give it up. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu knew very well that Raghunatha dasa was already liberated. Nevertheless He emphasized that Raghunatha dasa's life of material comfort as a very rich man's son with a very beautiful wife and many servants to attend him was like a ditch of stool. The Lord thus specifically indicated that ordinary men who are very happy with material comforts and family life are in no better position than worms in stool. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Antya 6.193 Lord Caitanya lovingly interacts with Raghunatha Dasa Goswami

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Ditch of Materialistic Life-Must Read

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Ditch of Materialistic Life Posted: 26 Jan 2010 06:27 PM PST Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu said the following to Srila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami when Raghunatha left his home to become a renunciant. Text: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "The mercy of Lord Krsna is stronger than anything else. Therefore the Lord has delivered you from the ditch of materialistic life, which is like a hole into which people pass stool." Srila Prabhupada's commentary: According to the law of karma, everyone is destined to suffer or enjoy according to a certain material standard, but the mercy of Lord Krsna is so powerful that the Lord can change all the reactions of one's past karma, or fruitive activities. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu specifically drew attention to the mercy of Lord Krsna. That mercy is more powerful than anything else, for it had saved Raghunatha dasa from the strong bondage of materialistic life, which the Lord compared to a hole where people pass stool. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave His verdict that those addicted to the materialistic way of life are like worms that are living in stool but cannot give it up. A grha-vrata, one who has decided to live in a comfortable home although it is actually miserable, is in a condemned position. Only the mercy of Krsna can save one from such misery. Without Krsna's mercy, one cannot get out of the filthy entanglement of materialistic life. The poor living entity cannot give up his materialistic position on his own; only when granted the special mercy of Krsna can he give it up. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu knew very well that Raghunatha dasa was already liberated. Nevertheless He emphasized that Raghunatha dasa's life of material comfort as a very rich man's son with a very beautiful wife and many servants to attend him was like a ditch of stool. The Lord thus specifically indicated that ordinary men who are very happy with material comforts and family life are in no better position than worms in stool. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Antya 6.193 Lord Caitanya lovingly interacts with Raghunatha Dasa Goswami

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Date: Wed, Jan 27, 2010 at 4:31 PM
Subject: Srila Prabhupada speaks on: "One Machine-Hundred Unamployed"
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"One Machine-Hundred Unamployed" Vrndavana, March 15, 1974 listen  Take a test Prabhupada: ...you should call learned. Arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhih. You take it... Nitai: Yes. Prabhupada: ...this quotation from Padma Purana, and distribute it by transcribing to all our devotees. Nitai: That's the verse that says that one is a resident of hell... Prabhupada: Yes. Naraki. Nitai: ...if he considers the Deity... Prabhupada: Naraki. Nitai: Yes. Prabhupada: Arcye visnau... [break] ...when it will teach military art, with tilaka, soldiers will, "Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna..." (laughter) We want that. Marching with military band, "Hare Krsna." You maintain this idea. Is it not good? Hrdayananda: Yes, Prabhupada. Prabhupada: When there will be military march of Krsna conscious soldiers. Anyone who does not believe in Krsna, "Blam!" (laughter) Yes. The same process as the Mohammedans did, with sword and Koran, we'll have to do that. "Do you believe in Krsna or not?" "No, sir." "Blam!" Finished. (laughter, Prabhupada laughs) What do you think, Madhudvisa Maharaja? Is that all right? Madhudvisa: Yes. Prabhupada: (laughing) What these communists can do? We can do better than them. We can kill many communists like that. (laughter) Then it will be counteraction of communist movement. And you think like that. "Why you are sitting idly, no employment? Come on to the field! Take this plow! Take this bull. Go on working. Why you are sitting idly?" This is Krsna consciousness movement. Nobody should be allowed to sit down and sleep. They must find out some employment, either work as brahmana or as a ksatriya or as a vaisya. Why there should be unemployment? The same example. Just like I am, this body is working. The leg is working, hand is working, brain is working, belly is working. Why there should be unemployment? You just stop this unemployment, you will see the whole world is peaceful. There is no complaint. And they'll very happily chant Hare Krsna. Hm? Nobody's working in this field. They're all drawn to the cities to work in the factory. Condemned civilization. That communist emblem, what is that? Devotees: Hammer and sickle. Prabhupada: Yes. That is good. Indian: Yeah, good. Prabhupada: But no hammer. Only this... What is called? Devotees: Sickle. Prabhupada: No hammer. That will be our emblem. Only sickle. Not hammer. The hammer has hammered the whole human civilization. So just make a counter-emblem. The communists will appreciate. Devotee: Sickle and tilaka. Prabhupada: Eh? Devotee: A sickle, and then a tilaka. Prabhupada: Yes, that is good idea. Guptaji? Come here. (Hindi) Gupta: (Hindi for few sentences) Prabhupada: Rascal civilization, rascal government. And people are transferred into rascals. (Hindi) Annad bhavanti bhutani [Bg. 3.14]. Without anna, how they can live? There is no arrangement for anna. They're simply passing resolution, legislative laws. And no anna. Just see what kind of wretched government it is. Everywhere. There is no anna. Annad bhavanti bhutani. The first duty of government is to see that everyone is happy, without any anxiety. These preliminary necessities of life, ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam, there must be sufficient arrangement for these preliminary necessities of life. One must eat sumptuously. Not over-eating, indulgence. No. But he must have sufficient food to keep up the health. Similarly, he must have place to sleep. We, we are prepared to offer everything. And be Krsna conscious. This is our mission. Not by eating and sleeping, become rogues and thieves and rascals. That we will not allow. That is varnasrama-dharma. (Hindi conversation for a few sentences) Why unemployment? There is no scarcity (of) water. Just have a big well. Electricity pump water. Oh, immediately, it will be all green. Immediately. (Hindi for a while) Jayo! Hare Krsna! [break] ...all round, for the benefit of the human society. You'll be honored everywhere. Everywhere, any part of the world. And automatically these bogus avatara, incarnations, God, and yogis and swamis will be all doomed. You see? These rascal society, avatara, "Bhagavan," incarnations, yogis, these rascals will be doomed. Gupta: These (indistinct) ought to be finished. They cannot remain. Prabhupada: No! (Hindi) ...that glowworm. Glowworm (Hindi) beautiful (Hindi) darkness hai. (Hindi) So long people were in darkness, they were beautiful. Now there is sunshine. Gupta: Yes. Hrdayananda: Prabhupada is the sun. Prabhupada: (Hindi) [break] ...the anxiety of Prahlada Maharaja, "How these rascals, who have made a plan for happiness of a few men, gorgeous plan." And they're... For happiness of the government servant. That's all. You know in Delhi there is Planning Commission? What is that plan? That people may starve, and Indira Gandhi and company may flourish. That's all. Gupta: I think, Maharaja, they are coming to the office at twelve and going back at one, doing nothing, and... Prabhupada: But what they have got to do? Gupta: They are not doing... Prabhupada: Just like I have seen in London the Parliament. When they had some so-called empire... Now the Parliament is useless, useless. The Parliament members and the Lords, House of Lords, House of Commons, they are now useless. They have got some old books only. In Parliament. I have seen. Some old books. Old books means all the speeches are recorded in books. And who is going to read them? Almiras, so many... I have seen in Parliament. Hundreds and thousands of speeches recorded and bound up very nicely. Who is going to read them? Simply waste of time. Gupta: They are increasing the load like this. Prabhupada: Yes. Gupta: Donkey's load. Go on increasing, increasing. Prabhupada: Therefore this example is given: ass. For nothing, not for himself. He'll be given a little grass. The grass is available here. But still, he's engaged. Employment. Ass will reap, eat little grass. Grass is available everywhere. But still, he'll work for others, loading, overloading. This is ass. He has no sense, "So why I have taken so much overload? I can get grass anywhere. Let me remain free." But he has no such sense. Neither he will be allowed. (laughs) This is ass. Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna... [break] ...there are many babajis. They are collecting capatis and smoking bidi, and have one or two women. That's all. It is going on. So they should be drawn: "Come on! Chant Hare Krsna and take the plough." Not that you become Rupa Gosvami simply by smoking. They are thinking they have become Rupa Gosvami. Rupa Gosvami lived like that. So they think by changing the cloth, loincloth, they have become Rupa Gosvami. And whatever nonsense they like, they can do. [break] ...taken and all these babajis should be employed, "Chant Hare Krsna and draw plough." Then it will be nice. Jayadvaita: In America too, the... Prabhupada: Eh? Jayadvaita: In America too, the big intellectuals and professors, they can also be... We can have ploughs for them. Prabhupada: Yes, because they're wasting time. Better produce some food. At least, your food. You are living at the cost of others. What is the value of your philosophy? That... To... In the Bhagavad-gita: etaj jnanam, tad ajnanam yad anyatha. To search out the Absolute Truth, that is jnana, knowledge, philosophy. Anything else, that is ajnanam. [break] ...I think it is so that if you cannot use your plot of land, then it will go to the government. Is it not? Gupta: Yes. Prabhupada: So similarly, if the government cannot utilize, it comes to us. We shall work. Is it not good? Gupta: Very good. Prabhupada: There must be some law like that. The government has taken from the public because it is not being worked out. Now we shall work. Give us this land. (Hindi) "You have taken from the public. Why should you not give us?" So that there will be no question, even government does not, we shall go and occupy, occupy, and go on tilling. What the government will...? Public will support us. Gupta: Again it is being distributed to their relations, those who are in the power, and then they do not work again. Prabhupada: Again Gupta: Then it remains... Prabhupada: Then whatever field is not being worked, we occupy them, and begin to work. And invite all the unemployed, "Come and join us. We shall give you food, shelter, everything." [break] ...how Krsna is setting example. Krsna is saying that "I have already arranged the result of this fighting. Everyone will be killed." Nimitta-matram bhava savyasacin. But still, He is inducing Arjuna to work. Not that He's already (indistinct), "I am your friend, Krsna. Everything will be done." "It will be done, but you have to work." Gupta: Maybe a friend or not. Prabhupada: This is philosophy. Not that "Because I am friend, I will do, and you will sleep and get dysentery." No. You have to work. Everything is already arranged, but you must work. That is wanted. Otherwise, why Arjuna was induced to fight. Krsna has already arranged. And Arjuna also: "Yes." Karisye vacanam tava [Bg. 18.73]. "Whatever you say..." This is Krsna consciousness. [break] ...politician, Balavanta? He's not here. So let him preach that "We shall, if you take our Krsna consciousness movement, there will be no unemployment." He can at least give this manifesto to the..., "There will be no more unemployment." People will be very nice, very glad to hear. Now this machine, this machine nonsense means unemployment. One machine will work for hundred men. So hundred men becomes unemployed, and one technician, he gets all the salaries. To work on the computer, com... Devotee: Computer, yes. Prabhupada: Machine. And he's very expert. He'll take three thousand dollars. And others will be unemployed. This is going on. And they are thinking: "Advancement of civilization." Advancement of civilization means "Exploit others and you become happy." This is advancement of civilization. "Others may die for such, out of starvation, and one man takes all the money and spends it for wine and women and motor car." That's all. This is advancement of civilization. Sarve sukhino bhavantu. This is Vedic civilization. "Let everyone be happy." That is Vedic civilization. And the demonic civilization, they're: "Let everyone suffer; I become happy. That's all." And Vaisnava is thinking, "For my salvation it is already guaranteed." But he is thinking, "How these poor people will be saved?" Soce tato vimukha-cetasa maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimudhan [SB 7.9.43]. Prahlada Maharaja. This is Vaisnava's position. Para-duhkha-duhkhi. He's unhappy by seeing others unhappy. For himself, he has no unhappiness. Para-duhkha-duhkhi. Krpambudhir yas tam aham prapadye [Cc. Madhya 6.254]. This is Vaisnava philosophy. Vaisnava shall work hard, undergo all tribulation, for others. He has no problem. A Vaisnava has no problem. Because he has taken shelter of Krsna, he has no problem. Kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati [Bg. 9.31]. Krsna also gives guarantee, "Anyone who has taken shelter of My..., he is saved. I will give him protection." Krsna says, aham tvam moksayisyami sarva... Everything is there. For Vaisnava there is no suffering, personally. But he is very much anxious: "How these rascals will be happy?" That is his business. "These rascals are misled. They are going astray, unhappy. So how they should be happy?" So that is Vaisnava's business. So the Vaisnava, therefore, will have no politics. Politics means planning for one's own happiness. That is politics. So in our society there should be no diplomacy, no politics. Everyone should be eager how to do good to others. That is Vaisnava. If he's planning something, that "I shall be leader," "I shall be doing something," that is not Vaisnavism. That politics is not good. Devotee: It seems that people are so attached to sense gratification, if we tell them we want to stop all these facilities for drinking, cinema, women, like that, they become angry. Prabhupada: So that, that is natural. If you give good instruction to a rascal, he'll be angry. Murkhayopadeso hi prakopayati na samayati (?). Murkha, a rascal, if you give him good instruction... But give him practical. "Come here. Sit down. Take prasadam. Chant Hare Krsna. And help me by doing this." In this way you have to... Just like a child. Child does not want to go to school, but some, by... Find out some means so that he'll be induced. That is intelligence. He'll be angry, naturally. He's a rascal. He'll be angry. That is not unnatural. Murkhayopadeso hi prakopayati na samayati (?). Just like a snake. You feed the snake with milk. It will increase the poison. That's all. Practically attract. Practically attract. That is the Hare Krsna movement will practically attract the people. If the world affairs are adjusted according to our Krsna conscious plan, there will be no difficulty for all the nations, all the countries. They will be happy. So we have to educate people gradually. And by our example, living example, we'll have to attract. (pause) Local people: (calling out in distance) Harilalji! Harilalji! Prabhupada: Hare Krsna. Jaya. At least they are remembering Harilalji by seeing us. So much benefit was in that. Eh? Gupta: When we pass, people say "Hare Krsna, Hare Rama." Prabhupada: This is the test of Vaisnava. If one is actually Vaisnava, then by seeing him one will chant Hare Krsna. This has been created all over the world. Yes. Wherever we go, they chant Hare Krsna. Even at midnight in Athens. Yes. That we have experienced. This is the definition given by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Jayadvaita: Prabhupada, if Krsna had already done all the work at Kuruksetra, so why was He so eager to have Arjuna work? Prabhupada: Huh? Jayadvaita: Because He'd already done the work. Prabhupada: Yes. Jayadvaita: Why did He want Arjuna to work? Prabhupada: Just to show example, that "Don't sit idly, rascal. Work." Krsna has already done, but you must work. This is the example. Jayadvaita: People will argue that "Why should we work? If we can make an arrangement for being idle..." Prabhupada: Eh? Jayadvaita: People argue that "If we can make an arrangement to be idle, then it's nice. We've worked so hard. Now we can be idle. That's nice." Prabhupada: Then, that, if you become idle, you'll be diseased. You'll have dysentery. That's all. That will not help you. You'll have to suffer. That, that, that stage has already come. Because so many rascals are idle, now there is so many things want. So you'll suffer. If you don't work, then you'll suffer. (end)   >>> Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk -- March 15, 1974, Vrndavana HOME

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Srila Prabhupada speaks on: "One Machine-Hundred Unamployed"-Must Read!!

Nice quotes from HH Radhanath Swami

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami, Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 1, Chapter 19

Devotional service is very simple. It can be attained in a moment. It is a matter of changing perspective. We just have to change our idea that we are the controller and enjoyer to the idea that God is the controller and enjoyer. The whole thing is to convince our mind that devotional service is OK. We worry about losing our identity. If I give up my material identity, will I be maintained? Will things go OK?

We are materially attached because we are in illusion thinking that the material world is eternal and full of happiness. Thus the Bhagavatam is always reminding us that this world is temporary and full of misery. It is not required to tell people that material endeavor is useless since by knowing this world is temporary and miserable, people can figure it out.

Vedic principles involve applying transcendental ideas to the material world.

When devotees would criticize other devotees Srila Prabhupada would correct them by telling them to first take up the service of those they were criticizing, and then they could criticize.

An uttama-bhakti (first class devotee) can be in bhava or prema . From bhava one can fall down, as did King Bharata. So a first class devotee can fall down, contrary to what some people think.

Varnasrama is to insure the depth and quality of the relationships between people so they are satisfied physically, mentally, and emotionally, and can thus peacefully execute their spiritual duties. It is not an economic system. Economics is there so that the other can go on.

Fire analogy: Let say you have a big pile of wood. Some is dry. Some is wet. Some has mud on it. Some has lichens growing on it. And you have a little flame. So what do you focus on, the little flame or the big pile of wood with all its little defects? If you focus on the flame, in time the pile of wood will become a lump of ashes. A devotee focuses on the flame.

In varnasrama one is classified according to one's prominent interests, activities, and abilities, as persons may have characteristics of multiple varnas or asramas.

It is not a problem that people have anarthas (unwanted desires) in the heart. It is a problem when they do not identify them and try to purify or remove them.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura advised that periodically we should analyze our situation and try to increase the quality of our service. If we understand where we are actually at, then we can see how to progress.

Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami, Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 1, Chapter 19-Must Read!!

Manu Samhita: Principle and Implementation

Being the moderator of this site I get the privilege of promoting my comments to posts. I'd also like to use this as an opportunity to direct your attention to this comments exchange between Krishna-kirti Prabhu [website] and Amara Prabhu [website].

Discussions amongst devotees about how the people in general may be benefited are very auspicious.

Personally I have studied the edition of Manu Samhita pictured here, and also another similar dharma-sastra called the "Yakñavalkya-smrti".

Here's my contribution:

Srila Prabhupada said:

"Manu gave the law known as Manu-samhita, which is full of directions based on varna and asrama concerning how to live as a human being. These are very scientific ways of life, but under the rule of demons like Hiranyakasipu, human society breaks all these systems of law and order and gradually becomes lower and lower. Thus there is no peace in the world. The conclusion is that if we want real peace and order in the human society, we must follow the principles laid down by the Manu-samhita and confirmed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna."

- Srimad Bhagavatam 7.8.48

In this quote Srila Prabhupada makes a distinction between the time, place, and circumstance specific rules in Manu Samhita and the principles that these implement. Smrti-sastra is generated by empowered brahmanas for the specific situation that it addresses.

"We do not want all these rituals. Chanting Hare Krishna is our only business. According to the Manu-samhita you are all mlecchas and yavanas. You cannot touch the Manu-samhita, what to speak of translating it. So if you try to follow the Manu-samhita then you become a mleccha and yavana and your career is finished"

- Letter to Madhusudhana, May 19, 1977

We might take the particular point which Srila Prabhupada has broken out from Manu Samhita (about women not being CEOs) and highlighted in this commentary, as being specifically indicated by his Divine Grace as normative and desirable, and I'm happy to do that.

At the same time, as Madhava Ghosh pointed out [in this comment], the healthy implementation of the normative role of women cannot be separated from implementation of the normative qualification of men. Varnasrama is about qualification, not just birth. You're not a man just because you were born with male genitals. You have to man up and step up to the role.

When Men are Men, Women are Women

As His Holiness Bhakti Vidya Purna Maharaja put it so succinctly: "When men are men, women are women."

That's a simple yet powerful statement with profound implications in terms of both ideal and strategy for implementation.

A lot of problems come when unqualified men demand that roles be respected when qualification is not present. This is the same dynamic that lead the people to reject the varnas at the time of Buddha. Similarly people have rejected traditional gender roles.

Just as both Buddha and Sankara demonstrated at their relative points in the course of social development, we need intelligent readjustment. We have to keep the goal in sight like the pole star ("normative view" in the language of Krishna-kirti prabhu), and work our way back onto the "royal road" of varnasrama (as Srila Prabhupada describes it Bhagavad-gita—the safer path).

There's not much point dogmatically following the same route the road follows when you've stepped off it. We have to negotiate the actual terrain we are on, and make our way simultaneously forward, and back onto the road.

If we want to see traditional gender roles remanifested in a contemporary context, then we need to understand the essence of them, and also understand how their misuse has lead to their abandonment. Then we can create something that is at the one time contemporary, natural, organic, and functional.

First Deserve, then... you don't even have to Demand

From Satsvarupa Goswami's ISKCON in the 70s:

"If we gain political power, will we follow Manu-samhita?

"First gain power, he said. Then yes, Manu-samhita. Actually everything is in the Gita and Bhagavatam in gist. Manu-samhita is based on varnasrama and that is in the Gita, I created the four orders. First we would divide society into orders by quality and work, not birth. Someone made a brahmana would have to act like a brahmana or else he would be punished."

So first gain power. That means become qualified to lead before demanding that others follow.

As the maxim has it: "He who thinks he leads but has no-one following is merely taking a walk".

"Actually the qualified brahmanas are meant to give direction to the kings for proper administration in terms of the scriptures like the Manu-samhita and Dharma-sastras of Parasara. A typical king is the ideal of the people in general, and if the king is pious, religious, chivalrous and munificent, the citizens generally follow him."

- Srimad Bhagavatam 1.9.27

Qualification is a pre-requisite, and then implementation follows naturally. As Prabhupada points out here, if you have the qualification, you don't need to spend so much time arguing with people about how they should follow you, you just spend your time actually leading them. In the words of Srila Prabhupada, "first deserve, then desire".

So a lot of our time might be better spent focusing on our own qualification than railing at people for not following. It's a poor workman who blames his tools, and a poor leader who blames their "followers."

Andy Stanley puts it: "As soon as you blame your followers you've stopped leading".

This is not to devalue the valuable work that is done by thinkers who contemplate normative views and discuss implementation pathways. However, especially for new devotees their initial focus is better directed to the essential practices of bhakti, such as sadhana, study of sastra, and cultivating Vaisnava qualities and relationships.

I've found that if people respect you as a person they naturally respect what you say. When you give them relevant advice on their personal situation they are more likely to follow it. Change begins with us and then goes one person at a time. A brahmana is one who thinks globally (in fact universally, and beyond), and acts locally. He becomes an empowered agent of positive change.

Manu Samhita: Principle and Implementation-Powerful points to ponder upon!

[granthraj] Preaching for Purification

VEDIC THOUGHT-Sadhu Sanga

VEDIC THOUGHT-The Slightest Favor

VEDIC THOUGHT-A Great Soul

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From: Pragosh das <servant@prabhupadavani.org>

"What Is Real Leadership" January 7, 1974 listen   Take a test Prabhupada: Yes. [Break] They have achieved their advancement of knowledge by seeing a crack in the moon. You know that? Yes. They are now researching, "What is this crack?" For seeing the crack, they spend so much money. Bali Mardana: They are so foolish. Prabhupada: Just see. Bali Mardana: When I was in Hawaii I gave a lecture at one Catholic college, and the priest in charge, he was asking me if in our philosophy we believe that animals have a soul. He's so foolish... Prabhupada: Eh? Bali Mardana: The Christians are so foolish, even though they have big learned positions, they do not understand that the animal also has a soul. Prabhupada: You told? In that meeting? Bali Mardana: Yeah. Prabhupada: What did they say? Bali Mardana: They could not deny. They could not say anything. Prabhupada: Yes, what is the difference that you say the animals...? How do you say? What is the symptoms of possessing soul? The symptoms of possessing soul is described in the Bhagavad-gita: yena sarvam idam tatam. The consciousness. The animals have no consciousness? How foolish they are! Bali Mardana: Just to rationalize their sins. Prabhupada: Yes. No. Rational or not rational... Bali Mardana: No, to rationalize their meat-eating, they say... Prabhupada: Yes, to support, yes, their sinful activities. Bali Mardana: Yes. Prabhupada: How you can say there is no soul in the animals? What is the reason? What is their reason? Satsvarupa: At one interview a person said to you, "They do not understand metaphysics, and the human being understands metaphysics." Prabhupada: Metaphysics. A child also does not understand. So therefore he has no soul? Cut him? They are doing that. They are doing that, so rascal. So do everyone understand metaphysics. Karandhara: No. Satsvarupa: They should not be killed if they don't understand. Prabhupada: Eh? Satsvarupa: They should not be killed just if they don't understand. Prabhupada: Yes. Is that any reason? Devotee: Actually, they have no philosophical basis for that belief that the animal has no soul. It's just speculation. Yes. Prabhupada: No philosophy. Simply rascaldom. Simply rascaldom. And that is being preached by the priestly class. Priestly class. Just see the society! What third-class society! (pause) [break] ...the soul enters after the birth of the child. Eh? Is it not? Therefore killing or abortion is not bad. Devotee: Oh, they say that abortion isn't bad because the child is not fully formed and therefore is not really a life. It's not really alive. Prabhupada: Just see. Therefore one man who is sleeping, he has no soul. Bali Mardana: No one... They do not believe that generally. Prabhupada: Yes. Bali Mardana: They admit that they are killing. Prabhupada: They admit? Bali Mardana: That they are killing the child. But they do not care. 'Cause they don't want to take the trouble to raise it. Gurukrpa: Just like the rabbit. Prabhupada: Rabbit philosophy. So therefore, considering from all points of view, our Krsna consciousness movement is the best in the world. There is no doubt. You must be convinced about it. Otherwise, how you can preach? Bali Mardana: Now is a very ripe time to push forward our philosophy. Prabhupada: Eh? Bali Mardana: Now it is a very ripe time to push forward our philosophy. Prabhupada: Yes. Bali Mardana: I was thinking of taking a full..., large advertisements in New York Times, present our philosophy so that people can read. Everyone will see it. Prabhupada: No... Now, you... Why don't you publish that...? I have suggested that poster. Karandhara: That poster? Bali Mardana: We have a poster? Prabhupada: Yes. Karandhara: It's being worked on. Bali Mardana: I have not seen it. Prabhupada: Take contribution from public... Bali Mardana: Oh yeah, yeah. Prabhupada: ...for one day's advertisement. And advertise this poster in every paper. You see... Bali Mardana: I want to do that. Prabhupada: Yes. Bali Mardana: Also I was thinking to have a large scale propaganda in all the college newspapers. Prabhupada: Yes. Bali Mardana: Specifically. To attract... Prabhupada: The same, one advertisement. What is the...? Karandhara: "Real leaders of human society." Prabhupada: Yes. That... You have seen that design I have given? Karandhara: No, I haven't seen it. Prabhupada: Oh, it is not yet done? Karandhara: No, it's being worked on. Prabhupada: Hm. You can give him the rough idea. That will be very nice propaganda, to select real leaders of the society. The... We are misled by rascal leaders. That is the difficulty, all rascals. If the society is led by real, learned scholars, then it will be nice. Qualified leaders. That is wanted. Leader means better qualified man to lead others. That is leader. Leader does not mean he is himself a fool and leading other fools. [break] Bali Mardana: ...the poster could have a coupon for Bhagavad-gita to find the real solution... Prabhupada: No, no. Bali Mardana: So they can purchase? Prabhupada: Bhagavad-gita there are so many. They'll purchase another rascal's Bhagavad-gita. Simply you make propaganda that what is real leadership. Then they will inquire and we shall reply. [break] ...so many things. So we may not create any disruption amongst our solidarity. Then things will not make progress. In a big machine, even one screw is slack, the machine stops. You know that? So we should not commit such mistake. "Don't care. It is a small screw." No. Even that small screw can stop the whole machine. [break] ...that we are on the platform of deathlessness. Then we can be careful about falling down. And this is a fact. Bali Mardana: And we will not want to fall down. Prabhupada: Yes. That, that is seriousness. Suppose you are going on a plane to Vaikuntha. So your business should be that you may not fall down. The plane may not stop. It is like that. [break] ...Bhagavata, simply this point is being stressed, that "This is the platform of deathlessness." Bali Mardana: Oh. Prabhupada: In Bhagavad-gita. [break] Where is that boy? No, not... Oh, you. So you are now living in Mexico? Devotee: Yes, Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada: Oh, that's nice. He's our old student. Bali Mardana: Yeah, from New York. Prabhupada: From New York, yes. [Break] ...fall. Simply by following the regulations and chanting. That's all. (end)   >>> Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk -- January 7, 1974, Los Angeles HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with permission.

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Srila Prabhupada speaks on: "What Is Real Leadership"

VEDIC THOUGHT-Grahmiya Katha

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Jayadvaita Swami, Questions and Answers on Dhruva Maharaja's Pastimes

Q: Although the association of devotees is glorified we see in Dhruva's case, he had such brief association with Narada, while most of the time he performed austerities alone.
A: A little association of a devotee is all that is needed for one who takes the instruction seriously. Prabhupada did not have so much physical association with his guru, but he took his instruction to heart.
Once during the Communist times Srila Prabhupada told a devotee to back to his country of Hungary and preach. The devotee was worried that he may not be able leave Hungary again to associate with the devotees. Srila Prabhupada told him not to worry for it did not matter if he never left Hungary again.

Modern means to do what feels good to you (or does not feel artificial). Vedic means to do what is your duty. If people always did what they felt like doing, the world would be in more of a mess than it already is.

Q: Can you explain why the following statement by Narada is true. "Every man should act like this: when he meets a person more qualified than himself, he should be very pleased; when he meets someone less qualified than himself, he should be compassionate toward him; and when he meets someone equal to himself, he should make friendship with him. In this way one is never affected by the threefold miseries of this material world."
A: Well, just think about it. If you are respectful with your superiors, friendly with your equals, and compassionate to juniors, how would you feel? Pretty good, wouldn't you? Uncongenial dealings between people tend to cause a lot of distress.
Srimati Mataji: Could it be that once one gets to such a level of consciousness when he can act properly with others, naturally he will be detached from the distresses of the world?
Krishna-kripa Das: The discussion reminds me in Bhagavad-gita 6.8-9, Krishna says an advanced soul sees arrangements of matter equally, but a more advanced soul can deal with people equally.

While talking about dealing with difficulties, Jayadvaita Swami tells how he was talking with one fellow who had been in the Vietnam War. When the man was recounting his experiences it was clear that all the troubles he went through were the most memorable things. Jayadvaita Swami recalls the time the devotees produced the 17 volumes of Caitanya-caritamrita in two months. It was very intense but a memorable ecstatic experience.

Q: Although Dhruva bathed in the Yamuna and lived in Mahavana, the Lord appeared to Him as Narayana rather than Krishna. Why?
A: Maharaja and the students offered many speculations, but he concluded that we will find out when we attain the spiritual world or we meet someone a lot more qualified than him. Some of the suggestions were:
• That Narada had described the Narayana form of God to Dhruva, and thus it was what he was meditating on.
• Narayana was Narada's own worshipable deity as he worshiped the Lord in opulence.
• Narada knew Dhruva's svarupa was with Narayana, and so he instructed Dhruva thus.

Q: How does sense gratification destroy mercy?
A: Arunzeb put his father in jail to take his kingdom. The U.S.A. killed 600,000 people in Iraq in the recent war to protect their oil interests. The cigarettes manufacturers know what cigarettes do to people's health yet they are always making plans to get innocent young people addicted to them so they can make money.

Q: Austerity is sometimes said to make one's heart harder, yet Dhruva Maharaja performed so many austerities. How do we know what austerities to perform so that our heart will not become hard?
A: That is why the spiritual master is required, to select the austerities. Not that we say no to all austerities claiming that we want to keep our heart soft for Krishna and austerity might make it hard.

Q: I have heard that things get really hard after second initiation why is that?
A: I have not heard that anywhere. Where does it say that Krishna makes life difficult for people after second initiation?

Jayadvaita Swami, Questions and Answers on Dhruva Maharaja's Pastimes

H.H. Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami on Married Life

H.H. Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami on Married Life

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How can I know if God Exists?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Pragosh das <servant@prabhupadavani.org>

"Unlimitedly Merciful Lord" Melbourne, June 29, 1974 listen  Take a test Prabhupada: ...in the beautiful tomb. Then how do you go? Either hell or heaven, that doesn't matter. So how do you go there? Madhudvisa: They say that the material body and the soul join back together again at the end. Prabhupada: That is dehantara-prapti, another body. Madhudvisa: No, they say same body. Prabhupada: Same body means same material body. The form may be different. The form is actually different, because this form is lying in your tomb. It is not going. Where that... If it has gone, then why the body is here? That is dehantara, another body. How you can say the same body? The same body is lying here. After death, if the same body is going, then why the same body is not going? Why it is lying here? They must be reasonable, not dogmatic. How it is same body? Satsvarupa: I don't understand their philosophy. Prabhupada: Pure nonsense. Same body, how can you? The body is here. Madhudvisa: The body is rotting in the tomb, and then they say that the body at the end of the creation is reconstructed and reunited with the soul. Prabhupada: That's all right, but not this body. Reconstruct. Madhudvisa: That they say, this body. Prabhupada: That is their foolishness. This body, you can say, this is material body; that is also material body. But not this body. Just like you change your cloth. The other cloth also made of cotton, and this is also made of cotton. In the same way, you can say, "the same body," cotton body or dress. But you cannot say that this cloth or this dhoti is going with you. How they can say? This body is lying here. This body means this material body. Madhudvisa: They will say, "Some things you cannot understand. You must simply accept on faith." Prabhupada: "You cannot understand" -- that is also good. Suppose a child cannot understand. But there must be some explanation. Otherwise, how in advanced stages one can accept. They will say, "dogmatic." This body means this material body, and this material body has got so many shapes, 8,400,000. So hell means... This is also hellish. A tree is standing for five thousand years or five hundred years. Is it not hellish? If I ask you, "Stand here for five days," you will die. (laughing) If there is such order from the government, "You stand here for so many days..." Satsvarupa: Naked. Naked too. Prabhupada: Naked. This is hellish. (dog barking) Now this, another hellish life. His only business is to bark. The master may like to keep a dog, but if he is said that "You also become a dog," he will not agree. Will he agree? Madhudvisa: But whether he agrees or not, he will become one, if he is too much attached. [break] ...the chief engineer of building the chariots, and all of these people are his assistants. Prabhupada: Jagannatha will be very much pleased upon you. Yes. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. Little service to God is taken as great service. Krsna is so kind. So we should try always to give the best service, best energy, and you become liberated. Actually we cannot give any service to Krsna. He is unlimited. What is the value of our service? But He takes it seriously: "Oh, he is trying to give me some service." Otherwise what service He needs from us? Suppose He has created these big universes, what service we can give? By His will, He can create millions of universes. What service we can give? We... No. These are the chances of service, this Ratha-yatra. God is so great, so big, how we can pack up in the ratha. But this is a chance, that you get Him sit on the ratha and prepare it, manufacture it. Because your energy is engaged for His service, that is accepted. So this example... Just like a small child eating lozenges, and out of that, if he offers father, "Father, take it," and father takes it very serious..., "Ah, very nice." And what is that lozenges to the father? It is nothing. But because the child offers to the father in love, father takes it very seriously: "Oh, you are so nice. Yes, yes, give me." That is stated in Bhagavad-gita. Patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati: [Bg. 9.26] "A leaf, a fruit, a little water." What is the value of these? But yo me bhaktya prayacchati: "Because he is giving Me in faith and devotion, I accept it." And what is this one piece of leaf and a fruit for God? It is nothing. He is being served by many thousands of goddess of fortune. Laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambrahma-sevyamanam. Then what is the value of this leaf and flower and fruit? But still, He says, tad aham asnami: "Yes, I eat them." And once God eats from your hand, then your life is successful. Madhudvisa: Sometimes a question is arisen that devotees are working hard to serve Krsna, but sometimes they don't feel that they are working in love and devotion. They are doing the work, but sometimes... Prabhupada: Yes, in the beginning there is no love. Let him work on the direction of God's representative. [break] Therefore it has been warned, arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhih. The Deity of Visnu, if one thinks, "This is made of stone; this is made of wood; this is made of metal," and spiritual master as ordinary human being, these are hellish considerations. Arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matih. Gurusu means the spiritual master. Nara-matih, a ordinary human being. And vaisnave jati-buddhih. And Vaisnava, a devotee -- "Oh, he is brahmana Vaisnava. He is European Vaisnava. He is this Vaisnava, that..." No. These are forbidden. Vaisnava is Vaisnava. Spiritual master... They are all transcendental. In... of course, in this country you are introducing new, but in India... Just like we had been at Tirupati, Tirumala. Many thousands of people were coming, and their daily collection is not less than 100,000 rupees. And do you think these people are coming to offer these 100,000 rupees daily to a stone? And the acaryas established this temple for bluffing these people? Does it mean, their collecting? They do not know the science, rascals. And therefore simply... Sinful life cannot help. Vina pasughnat [SB 10.1.4]. That is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, that "One who is killer of animal, he cannot understand the spiritual science." Vina pasughnat [SB 10.1.4]. This is the statement. Pasughna means the animal killer. Therefore the first prohibition is stop this animal killing. Otherwise, this dull brain will not be able to understand. They are not fit for understanding. Mudha, mudha. Na mam duskrtino mudhah [Bg. 7.15]. Duskrtina means always engaged in sinful activities. They have got brain but their brain is being utilized only for sinful activities, they are called duskrtina. Krti, krti means good brain, and duskrti means brain is being utilized for sinful act. Therefore they are mudha. In spite of good brain, they are rascals, because brain is being utilized for sinful activities, how to set up up-to-date machinery for killing animals. Brain is being used for this purpose. Any animal can be killed with ordinary knife, but they're manufacturing latest machinery. Their brain, rascal brain is being used for that purpose. And what they will understand? They are preparing their road for going to hell. What they will understand about spiritual matters? Nature will not excuse. That is not possible. [break] That is sufficient for your being killed. Yes, sir. Wherefrom these laws come unless there is God's laws? Everyone will be killed. They are thinking that "We are not going to slaughterhouse to kill. They kill; we purchase." The Buddhist says like that. Everyone says like that. Therefore, according to Vedic scripture, those animal-eaters, they should kill them personally so that they can see how much suffering is there, so he will stop. But now the things are being done in the slaughterhouse. They do not see. They purchase very nicely packed. They do not know. And they are becoming implicated. Therefore, according to Vedic injunction, if you want to eat meat, you kill yourself in your front, in the front of goddess Kali. So that the animal will get next life as human being. He is promoted immediately. He hasn't got to go to the evolutionary process. He gets immediately. And it is given right that "After you get human form of (life), you can kill this person." You see? This is the process of bali-dana, mantra and everything. [Break] ...regulation that... that is not cow. An insignificant animal, goat... (end)   >>> Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk -- June 29, 1974, Melbourne HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with permission.

For higher quality audio, you may purchase the MP3s/CDs from www.Krishna.com

Srila Prabhupada speaks on: "Unlimitedly Merciful Lord"

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How can I know if God Exists?

The Dangers of Criticizing Others

Monday, November 13, 2006

Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami, Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 1, Chapter 6

Krishna cannot be attained by following the rules and regulations.

Vaishnava association is the foundation of our spiritual life. We have to learn how to appreciate the Vaishnavas. If you feel it is your business to find fault with devotees when it is not (when you are not playing the role of their spiritual superior, guru, teacher, parents, etc.) then you are in a dangerous position. The ability to find fault should be applied to ourselves, without pride, to make advancement by giving up our bad qualities.

The jiva (individual soul) is always small and dependent, and thus we must always follow the devotees, even in the spiritual world. If we analyze how we joined the Hare Krishna movement we will see it was due to association with some devotee. We advance by appreciating the good qualities of the devotees. We avoid falling down by avoiding association of people with bad qualities.

If we criticize someone, according to Mahabharata, we take on their bad qualities. If someone criticizes us and we do not get angry, that person takes your bad qualities.

Lord Caitanya said he would distribute the accumulated sinful reactions of the most evil Jagai and Madhai to those people who criticize the Lord's devotees.

In India many people know the Vedic culture but not so much the philosophy. In the Hare Krishna movement, we tend to assimilate the philosophy, but we have not really embraced the culture.

In preparing Mahabharata Vyasadeva watered down the philosophy so much to make it accessible to the people in general that it had lost the potency to be effective. [When Maharaja said that it made me wonder if we sometimes do that in our own preaching strategies. At least we should be careful not to.]

If one has strong faith in eternal damnation, it means he has little faith in the power of devotional service to God.

Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita:
• Do your duty
• In knowledge
• Without attachment
• Thinking of Krishna
• For the pleasure of Krishna

We tend to have problems understanding the first three.

Notes on Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 4, Chapter 4 (entitled "Sati Quits Her Body") discussion: In a discussion about using anger in God's service, Sarvabhauma Prabhu reminded us of this pastime:
Someone asked Srila Prabhupada, "Is God love?"
Prabhupada replied, "Yes, but God is also hate."
God hates to see innocent devotees tortured by the demoniac.

"One should be extremely careful about associating with persons who are not respectful to the higher authorities" (SB 4.4.26). This applies to persons within and outside the Hare Krishna movement.

We can learn from the chapter on Sati's quitting her body.
• We should not hear blamphemy of great souls.
• We should try to rectify blamphemers.
• Having all material facility without pure devotional service doesn't satisfy our soul.

The Dangers of Criticizing Others