Hare Krishna Society

June 28 ,1976 New Vrndavana

Prabhupāda: So these people, these mahājanas, they know what is the principles of religion. Religion means bhagavata-dharma, to understand God and our relationship with God. That is religion. You may call it Hindu religion or Muslim religion or Christian religion, but real religion is that which teaches how to love God.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: This is off the record, but one may ask if someone like Christ or Moses was not mentioned amongst the mahājanas, present some sort of religion…

Prabhupāda:No, mahājana there is in Christian messiahs. There is mahājana. And later on, after Christ, there was so many other. Saint Matthew, Saint Thomas, like that. Mahājana is mentioned there. How can you say there is no mahājana?Mahājana means who is strictly following the original religion. That is called mahājana.Or who know the things as they are. They are called mahājana. And that means paramparā system. Just like Arjuna. Arjuna is learning Bhagavad-gītā directly from Kṛṣṇa. He’s mahājana. So you learn from Arjuna. And after hearing Bhagavad-gītā, as Arjuna acted, as Arjuna understood Kṛṣṇa, you follow that. Then mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. Then you are following the mahājana. You are on the real path. Just like we are. Here it is said, mahājana, Svāyambhu. Svāyambhu means Brahmā, Lord Brahmā. So our, this sampradāya, Gauḍīya sampradāya, is Brahma-sampradāya. And Svāyambhu, Nārada. Nārada is also in the brahma-sampradāya. And Śambhu, Lord Śiva, he is also mahājana. He has got his sampradāya, Rudra-sampradāya. And similarly, Śrī-sampradāya. So all these sampradāya we must follow. Sampradāya vihina ye mantras te niṣphala mataḥ.If you do not belong to sampradāya, mahājana, then you are useless. You cannot concoct any religious system. So either you be Christian or Hindu it doesn’t matter. You have to follow the mahājana.If a Christian says, “I don’t believe in St. Thomas,” what kind of Christian he is?Similarly, it doesn’t matter who is a mahā… But real mahājana is he who is strictly following the principle as enunciated by God. That is religious system. Otherwise there is no religion. There is no question of religion. It is simply concoction. Mano-dharmi, mental speculator. Mental speculation is not religion. Religion is the order of Kṛṣṇa and one who follows that order, he is religious. That’s all.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Yes. So far I can understand, you’re saying that there’s no need to label that there’s one religion in the world. Rather, everyone can…

Prabhupāda:One religion is there already, that how to love God. This is one religion. Will the Christian say, “No. We don’t want to love God”? Will the Christians say? Will the Mohammedans say, “No, no. We don’t want to love God”? So religion means how to love God, and any religion which teaches how to love God, that is perfect.It doesn’t matter whether he’s Christian or Muslim or Hindu. It doesn’t matter. You have to be educated to take your degree. It doesn’t matter from which college you take degree.Similarly, religion means you have to learn how to love God. If you have no love for God, it is all useless. That is not religion.

….Becauseyou do not understand God. You have no love for God.That is going on, all over the world. They’re stamping under some sect, but there is no real religion. So in order to bring them all in one platform, they have to accept the principles of Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If you do not accept in the beginning Kṛṣṇa, that He is the supreme, then you try to understand that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is education. There is somebody supreme. So if I say, because I am Hindu, I am Indian, that “Kṛṣṇa is the supreme,” you may say, “Then why Kṛṣṇa? Kṛṣṇa is Indian.” “No. He is God. Just like the sun rises first in India, then comes to Europe. But that does not mean the sun is different. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa, although appeared in India, now He has come to Western countries, Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.You try to understand whether Kṛṣṇa is not God or God. But He is God. There is no doubt about it. If you have got intelligence to understand what is God, then try to understand. But He is God undoubtedly. So take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and abide by the order of Kṛṣṇa. Then everyone comes on the same platform, the religious platform, one religion, Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Question 19, this is…

Prabhupāda: Now, this is clear or not?

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Oh yes.

Prabhupāda: Anyone? We are part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa, our business is to surrender to Him. And Kṛṣṇa personally advises that “You surrender unto Me. I shall give you all protection.” This is religion.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Sometimes we meet people in our preaching activities. They may, of course, claim to be very devout Christian or Muslim, but at the same time they will blaspheme Kṛṣṇa. Is it possible that such persons can actually be associates of God?

Prabhupāda:No, no. It is just like in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement there are so many Christians, so many Jews, so many Mohammedan, and Hindus. Everyone is there. It is a question of understanding.So in the beginning if… But if he’s serious to understand what is God, then he will accept Kṛṣṇa the Supreme Lord. If he knows what is God, then he’ll understand, “Here is God.”If he remains in darkness, he does not know what is God, then how he’ll understand Kṛṣṇa? He’ll understand Kṛṣṇa as one of us. That’s all. But if he knows what is God then he’ll understand. Yes, here is God, Just like if a person knows what is gold, then anywhere gold, he’ll understand, “Here is gold.” It does not mean only gold, in certain shop only gold is available. But if he knows what is God, what is meaning of God, that he will find in Kṛṣṇa in fullness. Kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam [SB 1.3.28]. The śāstra says how He is Bhagavān, what is Bhagavān. You should understand and see from the activities of Kṛṣṇa whether He is not Bhagavān. It requires brain to understand. I say, “Here is God.” Now it is up to you. If you know what is God, then test it, and then you’ll accept God. If you do not know how to test it, then you may refuse. That is another thing. You’ll accept iron as gold. That is your ignorance. You do not know what is gold.But if you actually know what is gold, you will accept Kṛṣṇa as God, there is no doubt about it. So this is the only platform, Bhagavad-gītā. Everyone come and take to Kṛṣṇa and understand God and learn how to love Him and your life is perfect.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: But if the Christians are saying that “This is the only platform, the Bible,” and the Muslims are saying, “This is the only platform, Koran,” and the community of followers of Bhagavad…

Prabhupāda:But we have to see by the result. The result is... Only platform, that only platform, that is decided… Sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmaḥ. That is actually religion. How? Yato bhaktir adhokṣaje. If one has learned how to love God. If there is no love of God, then what is the use of claiming that this is the only platform? Where is the sign of love of Godhead? That is to be seen. Simply if you say… Everyone will say, “This, my, this property is the best, or my understanding is…”But there must be practical proof. The practical proof-say how to love God, what is the process of loving God? If you do not know your relationship with God and other’s relationship with God, then how you know God? That is lacking. Nobody can give clear conception of God. Can the Christians give? Then where is love of God? If you have no understanding of what is God, where is the question of love? Love is not fictitious. You cannot love air. You love a person, a beautiful person, a beautiful woman. If you say, “I love air. I love the sky…” Where there is question of love?There must be a person. So who is that person we want to love? But they have no personal conception of God, neither they can describe the personal beauty, capacity, strength, ṣaḍ-aiśvarya-pūrṇaḥ. There is no such description.So they have got the conception of God, but actually they do not know what is God. But religion means you must know God and love Him. That is religion. That is first class religion. Is that clear or not?

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June 24 1976 New Vrndavana

Prabhupāda:Thisisnastycivilization, unnecessarily increasing necessities of life.Anartha.

Kīrtanānanda: We would not have understood you if you had said that eight, ten years ago.

Prabhupāda: Hmm?

Kīrtanānanda: Ten years ago I know I could not have understood you if you had said that. Now I understand a little bit.

Prabhupāda: Now suppose these electric lights. So, crude form of light, we grow some castor seed, everything from the earth. This also you are getting from earth, petroleum, and running on machine, and electricity is generated. But really you are getting the impetus from the earth.As soon as the petroleum supply is stopped, everything stopped. But for this purpose you have to search out petroleum from the middle of ocean, boring.Therefore it is ugra–karma. The purpose is that you grow some castor seed, press it, get oil, put in any pot, and one wick, the light is there. So even understanding that you have improved the lighting system, but that is not the only necessity of my life.But to improve from the castor seed lamp, castor oil lamp, to this electricity, you have to work so hard. You have to go to the middle of ocean and drill it and get out petroleum and… In this way your real business of life is finished. The energy and the intelligence you got for your self-realization or your, this precarious position, constantly dying and taking birth in various species of life, this is your problem, and this was to be solved in human life, you have got advanced intelligence, but that intelligence is utilized from castor seed lamp to the electric lamp. That’s all. Just try to understand. What is that improvement? And for this improving from castor seed oil lamp to electricity lamp, you forget your real business. You lost yourself. This civilization is going on. This is called māyā. For some fictitious happiness you lose your whole purpose of life.It is difficult to understand, but the fact is there. But you are under the control of nature, you have to give up this body. All right, you make very nice arrangement to live here, nature will not allow you to live. You must die. And after death you are going to get another body. So in this body, working for high grade electricity lamp, you work so hard, have got your own business, and next life by the laws of nature, if you get the body of a dog, then what is the benefit? That you cannot check. What is the answer? Hmm?

Kulādri: Simple living, high thinking.

Prabhupāda:Huh?

Kulādri: Simple living.

Prabhupāda: No, here is the charge. Now what is your answer? In this life you are living very comfortably, next life if I’m going to be a dog, then this is the charge. Now how this class of men will answer it?Can he deny that he’s not going to be a dog?

Kīrtanānanda: He says he doesn’t believe it.

Prabhupāda: You believe or not believe. Just like this child, it is boy, he does not know anything.But I know, his mother knows, his father knows that he’s going to be young man. If he says, “No, I am not going to be young man,” that is childish.That is childish. But the father, mother, friends know that the boy is going to grow a young man, so he should be educated and he should be properly situated.That is the guardian’s business. He doesn’t know. He doesn’t know.So that he doesn’t know, that does not mean it is fact. So similarly, if rascals say, “I don’t believe it,” that’s not a fact. He is a rascal, mad, he may say so, but that is not the fact. Karaṇaṁ guṇa–saṅgasya. Real fact is that he’ll have to accept a body according to the quality of development.

Kīrtanānanda: But what if they say that “Actually this life of growing the castor seed is very difficult, farming is very difficult. It is easier to go to the factory for eight hours, and then I come home with my money and I enjoy.”

Prabhupāda: No, you enjoy, but by enjoying, if you forget your real business, is that intelligent?Your real business is that you have got this human form of body to improve your next life. You are going to have a next life. Suppose you are going to be a dog. Is that success? So you must know the science that instead of becoming dog, how shall you become God. That is intelligence.

Kīrtanānanda: Why is it any better to grow castor seed than to dig oil?

Prabhupāda:Huh?

Kīrtanānanda: Why is it any better to grow castor seed than to…

Prabhupāda: No, you require lamp. So you finish that lamping business as simply as possible. In the balance time you save you improve your self-realization. That is the life.Just like this child, he wants to play. He does not go to school, does not take an education, and he improves type of toys, toys, he’s engaged in improved type of football playing, and… Then is that very good intelligence?

Kīrtanānanda: But nobody works longer hours than the farmer.

Prabhupāda:Huh?

Kīrtanānanda: No one works harder than the farmer. The farmer has to work very hard.

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Jan 20 1952 letter to Nehru, President of India(and they knew each other earlier)

In the old days life was not so much conditional and encumbered. The simple problems were then the problems of bread, clothing and shelter which were solved by the simplest process. By agriculture they used to solve the bread, clothing and shelter problems and industrialization was unknown to them. Thus they had no idea of living in big palatial buildings at the cost of sacrificing the boon of humanity. They were satisfied to live in the cottages and yet they were perfectly intelligent. Even the famous Canakya Pandit who was the Prime Minister of India during the reign of Candragupta, used to live in a cottage and draw no salary from the State. Such simple habits did not deteriorate his high intelligence and dignity and as such he had compiled many useful literatures which are still read by millions for social and political guidance. Thus the simplicity of Brahmanical culture was an ideal to the subordinate others of the society and in the Deductive way the subordinate orders, namely the the Ksatriyas, the Vaisyas and the Sudras would follow the instruction of the cultured Brahmin. Such ways of approaching the Truth is always simple, plain and perhaps the most perfect.

The cultured Brahmin-order of the society would declare that there is God or Brahman and the Ksatriyas, Vaisyas and the Sudras who were less cultured than the Brahmins—would follow the later faithfully call it blindly or otherwise. By such faithfully following the subordinate classes would be able to save much time in the matter of arguing or reasoning for the existence of God at all, and still they would not be faithless.

In the old days even a politician Brahmin like Canakya would say that

Vidwatamcha Nrpatamcha
Naiva Tulaya Kadacana
Swadesa Pujyate Raja
Vidvar Sarbatra Pujyato.

A really cultured learned fellow is far above a politician. Because a politician is honoured by the votes of his countrymen while a cultured and learned fellow is honoured everywhere all over the world. So we say that Ravindra Natha and Gandhi were never dependant for the votes of their countrymen but they were honoured all over the world for their cultural contribution. The same Canakya Pandit defined the standard of learning. The standard of learning had had to be testified by its result and not by the manner of University degrees. He said that one, who looks upon all women, except one’s married wife as mothers—all other’s wealth as the pebbles on the street and all living being as one’s own self,—is really learned fellow. He never stressed on the point of standard of how many grammars, rhetorics or other books of knowledge one might have gone through, or how many Doctorates of different Universities one might have been decorated with.

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Article by Ishan das

SB 2.9.43–TRANSLATION

The great sage Nārada also inquired in detail from his father Brahmā, the great-grandfather of all the universe, after seeing him well satisfied.

PURPORT-

“The process of understanding spiritual or transcendental knowledge from the realized person is not exactly like asking an ordinary question from the schoolmaster. The schoolmasters in the modern days are paid agents for giving some information, but the spiritual master is not a paid agent. Nor can he impart instruction without being authorized. In the Bhagavad-gītā, the process of understanding transcendental knowledge is directed as follows:

tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva–darśinaḥ

Arjuna was advised to receive transcendental knowledge from the realized person by surrender, questions and service. Receiving transcendental knowledge is not like exchanging dollars; such knowledge has to be received by service to the spiritual master. As Brahmājī received the knowledge directly from the Lord by satisfying Him fully, similarly one has to receive the transcendental knowledge from the spiritual master by satisfying him. The spiritual master’s satisfaction is the means of assimilating transcendental knowledge. One cannot understand transcendental knowledge simply by becoming a grammarian. The Vedas declared:

yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau

tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ prakāśante mahātmanaḥ

“Only unto one who has unflinching devotion to the Lord and to the spiritual master does transcendental knowledge become automatically revealed.” Such a relationship between the disciple and the spiritual master is eternal. One who is now the disciple is the next spiritual master. And one cannot be a bona fide and authorized spiritual master unless one has been strictly obedient to his spiritual master. Brahmājī, as disciple of the Supreme Lord, received the real knowledge and imparted it to his dear disciple Nārada, and similarly Nārada, as spiritual master, handed over this knowledge to Vyāsa and so on. Therefore the so-called formal spiritual master and disciple are not facsimiles of Brahmā and Nārada or Nārada or Vyāsa. The relationship between Brahmā and Nārada is reality, while the so-called formality is the relation between the cheater and cheated. It is clearly mentioned herewith that Nārada is not only well behaved, meek and obedient, but is also self-controlled. One who is not self-controlled, specifically in sex life, can neither become a disciple nor a spiritual master. One must have disciplinary training in controlling speaking, anger, tongue, mind, belly and the genitals. One who has controlled the particular senses mentioned above is called a gosvāmī. Without becoming a gosvāmī one can neither become a disciple nor a spiritual master. The so-called spiritual master without sense control is certainly the cheater, and the disciple of such a so-called spiritual master is the cheated.

One should not think of Brahmājī as a dead great-grandfather, as we have experience in this planet. He is the oldest great-grandfather, and he is still living, and Nārada is also living.The age of the inhabitants of the Brahmaloka planet is mentioned in the Bhagavad-gītā. The inhabitants of this small planet earth can hardly calculate even the duration of one day of Brahmā.

…………………..

Now, let us once again read Srila Prabhupada’s purport and contemplate his instructional guidelines:

The first point Srila Prabhupada makes is that transcendental knowledge must be received from the realized person and not from someone who can repeat book knowledge. Unless the spiritual master is realized, he cannot actually impart a realized understanding to his student.

The specific process of transmission of knowledge, from the realized spiritual master to his student, is further explained by Srila Prabhupada; but first Srila Prabhupada clarifies the distinction between a paid teacher and a spiritual master.

A paid agent is a person who is hired to give information. In this sense, such a teacher is the paid servant of the student, and is giving information regardless of the qualifications of the student. The spiritual master is not obliged to impart transcendental knowledge.

“……. but the spiritual master is not a paid agent. Nor can he impart instruction without being authorized…. “

The bonafide spiritual master is the unalloyed devotional servant of Krishna and therefore he will not be hired by or obliged to anyone. And because he is Krishna’s unalloyed confidential servant, he is authorized by Krishna to impart transcendental knowledge. Unless he is authorized by Krishna, he is not empowered to impart transcendental knowledge to his student.

After making these opening points, Srila Prabhupada proceeds to elucidate the relationship between the bonafide spiritual master and his student that qualifies the student for receiving transcendental knowledge from the bonafide spiritual master:

“In the Bhagavad-gītā, the process of understanding transcendental knowledge is directed as follows:

tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva–darśinaḥ

Arjuna was advised to receive transcendental knowledge from the realized person by surrender, questions and service.”

Surrender, questions and service. In Bhagavad-gita, 2.7, Arjuna asks questions of Krishna in a mood of surrender:

“Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of weakness. In this condition I am asking you to tell me clearly what is best for me. Now I am your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto you. Please instruct me.”

Srila Prabhupada continues to bring the nature of the relationship between the bonafide spiritual master and his student more precisely into focus as follows:

“Receiving transcendental knowledge is not like exchanging dollars; such knowledge has to be received by service to the spiritual master. As Brahmājī received the knowledge directly from the Lord by satisfying Him fully, similarly one has to receive the transcendental knowledge from the spiritual master by satisfying him. The spiritual master’s satisfaction is the means of assimilating transcendental knowledge. One cannot understand transcendental knowledge simply by becoming a grammarian.”

A bonafide spiritual master is not in need of anything material. He is atmarama, completely self-satisfied in his reciprocal loving relationship with Krishna. However, he is very merciful and kind. And when he sees the sincere endeavor of his student to satisfy him, he is moved to bless his disciple with spiritual understanding. As Srila Prabhupada states above:

“The spiritual master’s satisfaction is the means of assimilating transcendental knowledge.”

“Assimilation” is not a process of intellectual or logical understanding. Rather, spiritual assimilation is a process of transformation in which the spontaneous devotional demeanor becomes alive within the heart of the bonafide student. And “the means of assimilating transcendental knowledge” is to satisfy the spiritual master. In the last sentences of his purport to BG 4.34, Srila Prabhupada Speaks of his inclination for having a very compassionate personal response to the sincerity of a bonafide disciple:

“A bonafide spiritual master is by nature very kind toward the disciple. Therefore when the disciple is submissive and always ready to render service, the reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect.”

In other words, when the bonafide spiritual master is pleased with the genuine service attitude of his disciple, he is moved to bless the disciple with the ability of “assimilating transcendental knowledge.”

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May 2 1972 letter

….I have tried it: any page you open, that is wonderful reading matter. My ambition is to spread these books far and wide all over the world so that everyone shall read at least one of our books and that will change his life. If only 1% become devotees, that will change the world. I think that eventually we can print TLC in paperback also.

Srila Prabhupada writes…..If only 1% of the world population becomes devotee-that alone will change this hellish world.

Note–Therefore when one soul decides to become a devotee of God, it is very very rare and when we, as already decided devotees come across another devotee, we should never do anything that will drive them away from Krsna or other devotees. Otherwise Srila Prabhupada tells us we are a total nonsense and we are also offensive to that devotee.

Now please consider what the bona fide Acarya has to say on this topic.

July 9 1971 letter

And it is very encouraging to hear that so many new devotees are coming. That is an indication of your sincerity. The more sincere you are in pushing this movement forward, so Krishna will reciprocate and send you many new devotees. Thank you very much. So give them protection and instruct them so that they may not go away. We recruit devotees with great difficulty. So they must be well-treated. New men may not always behave so nicely but we must be tolerant. To train a new man is like training a wild animal to be a pet. Just like the tiger is trained in the circus and later on they are dancing to the tune of the master. So the point being stressed is training. A preacher should always be tolerant.

Sept 15 1972

The boy Sharma from Bombay may come there to join you if you want him. By your own work you can recruit men locally, that is the best process. So immediately resume the preaching work amongst the Africans and show yourselves as always meek and humble and refrain from a tough attitude and in this way gain their confidence. Gradually you will recruit men locally and they will be able to share the responsibilities. Our process is slow but sure, not that we must do everything immediately and then later on regret it. Many of our big centers started with only a handful of men and because they were determined to expand by recruiting the local men, that has been their success.

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Nov 20 1971 letter Hamsadutta

Regarding your question about incense, Karandhara has just informed me that our Spiritual Sky incense business is making now $1,000,000 a year to spend for Krishna. How can that be Maya? My Guru maharaja used to say, “Anything material, if it is used for the service of Krishna, it is a mistake to give it up.” Because I have understood this principle, he used to appreciate me in front of my godbrothers. I have given this idea all along—why you big leaders do not understand it? You should take it to heart as a guiding principle that somehow or other we always please Krishna by doing what is practical and necessary, according to time and place. Not that we should be whimsical. But one test is that all the devotees should be satisfied. They have given their lives to Krishna, so we should see they are always happy. Their service is voluntary. It is not that we can force anyone to do anything. If we do they will go away and that is a great loss. Everyone must be encouraged to do what he likes to do for Krishna, so if someone likes to do business for Krishna, let them make $1,000,000 for Krishna.

Oct 27 1968

Our Gosvāmīs, they have prescribed yukta–vairāgya: accept everything in relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Then it is yukta–vairāgya. It is also vairāgya. Śuṣka-vairāgya and yukta–vairāgya. Śuṣka-vairāgya means simply renunciation without assimilation. Māyāvādī sect, Śaṅkara sect, they have got stringent laws for renunciation. But Vaiṣṇavas, they have no stringent law. They accept everything as Kṛṣṇa–prasādam, actually offering Kṛṣṇa, working for Kṛṣṇa, living for Kṛṣṇa. This is the best use. My Guru Mahārāja used to say, “The best use of a bad bargain.” Everything in Kṛṣṇarelationship. That is yukta–vairāgya. Nirbandhaḥ kṛṣṇa–sambandhe yukta–vairāgyam ucyate. Vairagya means detachment. So when we are attached to Kṛṣṇa, automatically we are detached to māyā. Not artificially we want to be detached from māyā. Just like theoretically I know that I am not this body, but the bodily necessities are there because I am encaged in the body. Therefore the bodily necessities-eating, sleeping, mating, defending-should be done in relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Then it is all right. Then my consciousness is always in Kṛṣṇa, and I am detached to my bodily demands. And those who are not Kṛṣṇa conscious, their bodily demands is on the materialistic platform. They are going on, increasing the degree of fever and coming to the 107 degree.

SB 8.1.14 purport….Knowledge of self-realization, even though freed from all material affinity, does not look well if devoid of a conception of the infallible [God].” Jnānīs recommend that one adopt naiṣkarmya by not doing anything but simply meditating and thinking of Brahman, but this is impossible unless one realizes Parabrahman, Kṛṣṇa. If there is no Kṛṣṇa consciousness, any kind of activity, be it philanthropic, political or social, simply causes karma–bandhana, bondage to material work.

As long as one is entangled in karma–bandhana, one must accept different types of bodies that spoil the human form of facility. Therefore, in Bhagavad-gītā (6.3) karma–yoga is recommended:

“For one who is a neophyte in the yoga system, work is said to be the means; and for one who has already attained to yoga, cessation of all material activities is said to be the means.”…….

NOTE-Therefore in the following conversation with Srila Prabhupada he explains that karma yoga is BETTER than vaidhi (regulative) bhakti…. In other words for the neophytes (most of us) it is better to use what we already have gotten thru our past karma and then dovetail those assets for Krsna seva. This is called yukta vairagya

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June 8 1976 LA conversations

Guest: Is it possible for one to know how many lifetimes it takes to reach spiritual perfection?

Prabhupāda: Immediately, he can take. Provided that he accepts. Just like Kṛṣṇa says, sarva–dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Find out this verse. Ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ.

Hṛdayānanda: “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.”

Prabhupāda: So, when you are free from sinful life and the reaction of sinful life, then you are immediately on the spiritual platform. So here Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He assures that “You simply surrender unto Me, and I immediately excuse you for all your sinful life.” So it can be done in one second. It doesn’t take much time. One second. He says “immediately.” But we don’t want that, that is the difficulty. Read the purport.

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BG 7.28–Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life, whose sinful actions are completely eradicated and who are freed from the duality of delusion, engage themselves in My service with determination.

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What is the devotees greatest enemy?

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June 13 1976 Detroit

Devotee (2): …devotional service is transcendental to the modes of material nature. That’s from the very moment that one first begins to render devotional service? Or gradually? From the first very moment?

Prabhupāda: Yes. [break]

Devotee (2): …of devotional service in the modes of material nature, there’s no such thing.

Prabhupāda:No. Means if you do not follow the regulative principles, then it is mixed.

Satsvarūpa: Sometimes devotees think that in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, when Lord Kapila teaches there isdevotional service in ignorance and in passion and in goodness, that that may mean your own disciples too. But then some devotees say “No, we’re above that designation. It’s not mixed devotional service, even though we’re neophytes.”

Prabhupāda:If you voluntarily do not follow, then you fall down. That is in ignorance.

Devotee (2): So where that is described in the Third Canto, Part Four, where it is described about devotional service in ignorance, passion, and goodness, and so forth, that has nothing to do with your disciples then?

Prabhupāda:Who is my disciple? First of all let him follow strictly the disciplined rules.

Devotee (2): As long as one is following, then he is…

Prabhupāda: Then he is all right.

Devotee (2): …above those lower levels.

Prabhupāda:Oh, yes. Otherwise, why there is need of regulative principles? He is immediately liberated. If he thinks that “Because I have taken to, I am liberated,” then why the rules and regulations?

Devotee (2): But as long as he follows the rules and regulations.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Devotee (2): [break] …the brahma–bhūtaḥ platform, brahma–bhutaḥ prasannātmā [Bg. 18.54], immediately?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Bhagavad-gītā it is said māṁ ca yo ‘vyabhicāreṇa [Bg. 14.26], unalloyed. Bhakti–yogena sevate, then he’s liberated. If it is vyabhicāreṇa, sometimes falls down, sometimes…, then it is within sattva–guṇa, rajo–guṇa, tamo-guṇa. The word is māṁ ca yaḥ avyabhicāreṇa bhakti–yogena, pure bhakti.

Hari–śauri: Without any falldown.

Devotee (2): Falldown means deviation from the orders of the spiritual master.

Prabhupāda: Yes, that is vyabhicāreṇa, that is not avyabhicāreṇa. If you are subjected to the attraction of māyā, that is vyabhicāreṇa.

Devotee (2): If somebody is following the instructions, but if there’s attraction for māyā…

Prabhupāda:That cannot be. Maybe in the beginning due to past habits, but that must be nil very soon. Otherwise he’s not following. Just like fan switched off may move for a little, but not that it will go on moving. Must stop. Switch is off. And if it is going on, then the switch is not yet off. [break]

Devotee (2): A devotee is sometimes subject to hankering or lamentation. That is material though, isn’t it?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Devotee (2): In other words, if, at that moment, if he desires something other than Kṛṣṇa, that’s a material desire.

Prabhupāda:Then he has to learn it. So long one is not competent in that position, he’s subjected, he may fall down.

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April 26 1976 Melbourne conversations

Devotee (1): Is a devotee always in some anxiety to see others unhappy?

Prabhupāda: Yes. How to deliver them? This is Kṛṣṇaanxiety. This kind of anxiety is welcome.

Devotee (1): Yes. Is that also in the spiritual world like this?

Prabhupāda: Yes. In spiritual world there is everything, but only central point is Kṛṣṇa. Here anxiety is “Where I shall get money? Where I shall get woman?” And there is anxiety, “How shall I get Kṛṣṇa?” The anxiety is there. That is the difference.

Devotee (1): But do they have anxiety…

Prabhupāda: Here all people are anxious how to get money and how to get woman, that’s all. And there the anxiety is how to get Kṛṣṇa. The anxiety is there, but quality is different.

Devotee (1): If we’re in anxiety that we cannot perform devotional service nicely, that is all right?

Prabhupāda: That is devotional side. Kṛṣṇaanxiety itself is the first-class devotional service. If one becomes anxious like that, then he is perfect. Janma–koṭi-sukṛtair na labhyate. After many, many millions of life of pious activities one can get such anxiety. This is not so easy, to become anxious for Kṛṣṇa. You don’t think it is like ordinary activity (anxiety?). Koṭi–sukṛtaiḥ. If one becomes full of anxiety for Kṛṣṇa, that is the highest stage of perfection.

Devotee (1): So the anxiety that I am always falling down…

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Devotee (1): We are in the neophyte stage, and we’re often falling down.

Prabhupāda: You don’t imitate. You follow the rules and regulations. Don’t try artificially to be anxious. When you are purified, then you’ll get that anxiety, not artificially. Then you are sahajiyā.

Devotee (1): I don’t mean to hanker for the anxiety, but to…

Prabhupāda: No, anxiety, that is…. That will come, the perfectional stage. Don’t try to be perfect artificially. Perfect stage, we have to follow strictly the regulative principle, the injunction of the spiritual master, śāstra. Then you come to that stage. Don’t artificially imitate.

Devotee (1): What if one keeps falling down from following the regulative principles?

Prabhupāda: He’s falling down? If he’s falling down from regulative principles, that means he’s falling down to the material world. Falling down means falling down.

Devotee (2): [break] …from the regulative principles and feels anxiety, then that anxiety is material anxiety.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Devotee (2): It’s not spiritual.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: So anxiety for one’s self is māyā?

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Anxiety for one’s self is māyā?

Prabhupāda: That is material.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: And anxiety for Kṛṣṇa?

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Hare Krsna-Below we have found many quotes from the Bhagavad gita which are very similar to those found in the Christians Bible Often times devotees like to criticize others religions thinking themselves “superior” in some way. But as Srila Prabhupada says below,

…”The test of any scripture is how one is developing love of God. Phalena paricīyate. If you find that following some religious principles you are developing your love of God, then it is perfect. It doesn’t matter whether it is Bible or Koran or Bhagavad-gītā. It doesn’t matter. We have to see what is the fruit. If the fruit is that people are developing love of Godhead, then it is perfect.

Don’t try to understand whether this is good, this is good, this is bad, this is… No. Try to understand by the result. Just like the same way: if you see the fruit, then it is first class. So it doesn’t matter whether it is Bible or Gītā. If you can develop love of Godhead by reading Bible, it is first class, and if you can develop love of Godhead by Bhagavad-gītā, it is first class. And if you do not, then either it is Bible or the Koran or Bhagavad-gītā, it has no effect for you. So it is up to you. Not by comparison, but by your own activities. If you actually follow the instruction given by Lord Jesus Christ, you will also develop love of Godhead. There is no doubt.…”

SB 4.22.24 purport…..Another important point mentioned in this connection is anindayā—we should not criticize others’ methods of religion. There are different types of religious systems operating under different qualities of material nature. Those operating in the modes of ignorance and passion cannot be as perfect as that system in the mode of goodness. In Bhagavad-gītā everything has been divided into three qualitative divisions; therefore religious systems are similarly categorized. When people are mostly under the modes of passion and ignorance, their system of religion will be of the same quality. A devotee, instead of criticizing such systems, will encourage the followers to stick to their principles so that gradually they can come to the platform of religion in goodness. Simply by criticizing them, a devotee’s mind will be agitated. Thus a devotee should tolerate and learn to stop agitation.

Christian Bible quotes similar to Bhagavad Gita quotes

What follows is a short clip from a1974 dialogue between Srila Prabhupada and Father Emmanuel Jung Claussen, a Benedictine monk from a Monastery in Bavaria Germany. Noticing that Srila Prabhupada was carrying meditation beads similar to the rosary, Father Emmanuel explains that he also chants a constant prayer:“Lord Jesus Christ, be merciful unto us.” The following conversation ensued:

Father Emmanuel:Christ comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning “the anointed one.”

Srila Prabhupada:Christos is the Greek version of the word Krsna.

Father Emmanuel:This is very interesting.

Srila Prabhupada:When an Indian person calls on Krsna, he often says, “Krsta.” Krsta is a Sanskrit word meaning “attraction.” So when we address God as “Christ,” “Krsta,” or “Krsna,” we indicate the same all-attractive Supreme Personality of Godhead. When Jesus said, “Our Father, who art in heaven, sanctified be Thy name,” that name of God was Krsta or Krsna. Do you agree?

Father Emmanuel:I think Jesus, as the Son of God, has revealed to us the actual name of God: Christ. We can call God “Father,” but if we want to address Him by His actual name, we have to say “Christ.”

Srila Prabhupada:Yes. “Christ” is another way of saying Krsta, and “Krsta” is another way of pronouncing Krsna, the name of God. Jesus said that one should glorify the name of God, but yesterday I heard one theologian say that God has no name — that we can call him only “Father.” A son may call his father “Father,” but the father also has a specific name. Similarly, God is the general name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose specific name is Krsna. Therefore whether you call God “Christ,” “Krsta,” or “Krsna,” ultimately you are addressing the same Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Father Emmanuel:Yes, if we speak of God’s actual name, then we must say, “Christos.” In our religion, we have the Trinity: the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe we can know the name of God only by revelation from the Son of God. Jesus Christ revealed the name of the father, and therefore we take the name Christ as the revealed name of God.

Srila Prabhupada:Actually, it doesn’t matter — Krsna or Christ — the name is the same. The main point is to follow the injunctions of the Vedic scriptures that recommend chanting the name of God in this age.

Bible-Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Mat 5.48)

Bg 5.26- Those who are free from anger and all material desires, who are self-realized, self-disciplined and constantly endeavoring for perfection, are assured of liberation in the Supreme in the very near future.

Bible–Do not set your hearts on the Godless world or anything in it. Anyone who loves the world is a stranger to the Fathers love. Everything the world affords, all that panders to the appetite or entices the eyes, all the clamour of its life springs not from the Father but from the Godless world. And that world is passing away with all its allurements. But he who does Gods will stand forevermore.

Bg 2.42-43– Men of small knowledge are very much attached to the flowery words of the Vedas, which recommend various fruitive activities for elevation to heavenly planets, resultant good birth, power, and so forth. Being desirous of sense gratification and opulent life, they say that there is nothing more than this.

Bg 2.49- O Dhananjaya, rid yourself of all fruitive activities by devotional service, and surrender fully to that consciousness. Those who want to enjoy the fruits of their work are misers.

Bg 2.52– When your intelligence has passed out of the dense forest of delusion, you shall become indifferent to all that has been heard and all that is to be heard.

Bg 8.16– From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place But one who attains to My abode, O son of Kunti, never takes birth again.

Bible-I bid you put away anxious thoughts about food and drink to keep you alive and clothes to cover your body. Surely life is more than food, the body more than clothes. Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow and reap and store in barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. You are worth more than the birds. And why be anxious about clothes. Consider how the lilies grow in the fields. They do not work, they do not spin and yet I tell you even Solomon in all his splendor was not attired like one of these. But if that is how God clothes the grass in the fields, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown on the stove, will He not all the more clothe you? How little faith you have!

Bg 3.10– In the beginning of creation, the Lord of all creatures sent forth generations of men and demigods, along with sacrifices for Visnu, and blessed them by saying, “Be thou happy by this yajna sacrifice ,because its performance will bestow upon you all desirable things.”

SB 11.5.32-“In the Age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His associates, by performance of saṅkīrtana-yajña.” (Bhāg. 11.5.32)

Bible-Only thru Me can the Father be reached.

Bg 4.34– Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.

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Hare Krishna Society

Love for God is preceded by knowledge-SP says Yes!

Castor oil or Big Oil companies??

Jan 20 1952 letter to Nehru, President of India(and they knew each other earlier)

To assimilate Transcendental knowledge is much more than a formality–SP

We recruit a person to join us after spending gallons of blood.—SP

Using everything for Gods service-Yukta Vairagya

So it can be done in one second. —SP

Srila Prabhupada explains the “razors edge” of Devotional service

SP explains spiritual anxiety

SP on Christianity and BG quotes that are similar to Bible