Going to Krsna means- no more material desires
LA conversation about does God exist or not
God can bless you from a picture–SP
Srila Prabhupada defines -who is his disciple
How we entangle ourselves in the webs of Maya devi
March 6 1974 Mayapur
There is that story that one old woman, she was suffering. And she had to collect woods from the forest and sell in the market. So one day, how do you say, she was praying to Kṛṣṇa, or God, that “Kindly help me. I am in very poverty-stricken.” So one day, she was carrying that load of fuel. It fell down. So nobody was there to help him. So she began to cry, “Who will help me?” So she began to pray to God “Kindly help me.” And God came: “What do you want?” “Who are you, Sir?” “I am God.” “Kindly help me to take this burden on my head.” Yes. “All right.” From God, she’s asking, “Please help me to get this burden on my head.” That’s all. So everyone is going on, “Let family be very happy, my son be married. He may… Let him pass MA examination.” But it is the same thing, “Give me the burden on my head.” This is the prayer. Mūḍhāḥ. Na māṁ prapadyante mūḍhāḥ [Bg. 7.15]. The life was meant for understanding Kṛṣṇa and worship Him, and he’s asking, “Give me the burden on my head.” Therefore mūḍha, rascal, fool. He’s asking something which will never make him happy, even by merging into the effulgence, Brahman effulgence. It will never make him happy. But he does not know. Therefore he’s mūḍha, rascal.
Siddha-svarūpānanda: That’s a very clear example.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Siddha-svarūpānanda: Very clear.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Everyone is asking, “Please help me to get this burden on my head.” Everyone is asking. [break] Kṛṣṇa mantra means asking nothing from Kṛṣṇa, but only praying, “Please engage me in Your service.” This is Hare Kṛṣṇa. Now let him engage, whatever service He likes. I don’t dictate that “Give me this service.” That is also sense gratification. As soon as I’ll say that “Engage me in this type of service,” that is also sense gratification. When one surrenders fully that “Engage me in Your service in whatever way You like,” that is pure devotion. You cannot dictate Kṛṣṇa. Because He wants, sarva-dharmān… “First of all surrender, then I will give you. I will allot what kind of service you can do.” Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇam, ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva… [Bg. 18.66]. But if I dictate, then Kṛṣṇa will be…, “All right, you take this.” Then you again become unhappy. Don’t dictate Kṛṣṇa. Be dictated. That is happiness. But everyone is dictating, “Please give me this. Give me this. Give me that. Give me that. Give me this.” Why should you dictate Kṛṣṇa? As soon as I dictate, that is my sense gratification. That is not pure devotion. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam [Brs. 1.1.11]. Make zero all your desires. It doesn’t matter, this desire or that desire. Any kind of desire. Whatever you desire, that is material. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. That is pure devotee.
Devotee: That takes practice.
Srila Prabhupada explains dipavali (Diwali)
- Mother Yashoda Tying Krishna to a Wooden Mortar

DIWALI FESTIVAL: 10th October. 1968,
(Letter from Srila Prabhupada to Hamsadutta dasa written from Seattle., Letters book Vol 1. p.549.)Diwali ceremony can be observed in the temple by illuminating 100’s of candles, indifferent parts of the temple, and offering a special Prasad to the Deity. This ceremony was observed by the inhabitants of Ayodhya, the Kingdom of Lord Ramachandra, while Lord Ramachandra was out of His Kingdom due to His 14 years banishment by the order of His father. His younger step-brother Bharat, took charge of the Kingdom and the day on which Lord Ramachandra took back the charge again from His brother, and seated on the throne, this is observed as Diwali, and Deepabali. Deepabali means the same thing – Deepa means candles, and bali means numerous. When numerous candles are lighted it is called Deepabali. In India, this Deepavali function is celebrated in a special auspicious occassion. This Deepabali function can be observed on 21st October, and Prasad can be distributed on 22nd October, during daytime, which is known as Govardhan Puja and Annakuta Ceremony. In India, in all Vaishnava temples, this ceremony is observed and 100’s of people are given prasadam according to the capacity of the temple.So I understand that last year the Deepabali ceremony was held in the temple, and there was collection of $130.00. So you can do the needful. Hope you are all well.Your Ever Well Wisher.
A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami
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