Association of devotees is the greatest happiness

Two peas in a pod-Sukadev and Damaghosa- I really miss him

Here we are during one of his annual two week summer visits..

Madhya 8.2.48-Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked”Of all kinds of distress, what is the most painful?” Sri Ramananda replied, “apart from separation from the devotee of Krsna, I know of no unbearable unhappiness.

Brhad Bhagavatamrta 1.5.,51-King Yudhisthira said “Out of all kinds of desirable things experienced in the life of a living entity, association with the devotees of the Lord is the greatest. When we are separated from a devotee even for a moment, we cannot enjoy happiness.”

(Govinda das kavira-Bhajahu re mana)”…Having obtained this rare human birth cross over this ocean of worldly existence through the association of devotees”..

This life is tottering like a drop of water on a lotus petal, therefore you should always serve and worship the diving feet of Lord Hari…”

kali yuga gurus-what happens to them? SP explains

Hare Krsna-below we have compiled a series of texts and purports from SB which clearly explain the sick and sinful condition of those posing as spiritual masters today.

SB 5.26.40 purport….supplemenatry notes….

The activities of Ṛṣabhadeva, therefore, do not support the claims of a certain class of men known as arhat, who sometimes advertise that they are followers of Ṛṣabhadeva. How can they be followers of Ṛṣabhadeva while they act against the Vedic principles? Śukadeva Gosvāmī has related that after hearing about the characteristics of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva, the King of Koṅka, Veṅka and Kuṭaka initiated a system of religious principles known as arhat. These principles were not in accord with Vedic principles, and therefore they are called pāṣaṇḍa-dharma. The members of the arhat community considered Ṛṣabhadeva’s activities material. However, Ṛṣabhadeva is an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore He is on the transcendental platform, and no one can compare to Him.

END OF THE FIFTH CANTO

SB 5.6.10-People who are lowest among men and bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Lord will give up the original varṇāśrama-dharma and its rules and regulations. They will abandon bathing three times daily and worshiping the Lord. Abandoning cleanliness and neglecting the Supreme Lord, they will accept nonsensical principles. Not regularly bathing or washing their mouths regularly, they will always remain unclean, and they will pluck out their hair. Following a concocted religion, they will flourish. During this age of Kali, people are more inclined to irreligious systems. Consequently these people will naturally deride Vedic authority, the followers of Vedic authority, the brāhmaṇas, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the devotees.

PURPORT-Presently the hippies in the Western countries fit this description. They are irresponsible and unregulated. They do not bathe, and they deride standard Vedic knowledge. They concoct new life-styles and religions. There are many hippie groups at the present moment, but they all originated from King Arhat, who imitated the activities of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva, who was situated on the paramahaṁsa stage. King Arhat did not care for the fact that although Lord Ṛṣabhadeva acted like a madman, His stool and urine were nonetheless aromatic, so much so that they nicely scented the countryside for miles around. The followers of King Arhat went under the name Jains, and they were later followed by many others, particularly by the hippies, who are more or less offshoots of Māyāvāda philosophy because they think themselves the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such people do not respect the real followers of Vedic principles, the ideal brāhmaṇas. Nor do they have respect for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Brahman. Due to the influence of this age of Kali, they are apt to concoct false religious systems.

SB 5.26.15-If a person deviates from the path of the Vedas in the absence of an emergency, the servants of Yamarāja put him into the hell called Asi-patravana, where they beat him with whips. When he runs hither and thither, fleeing from the extreme pain, on all sides he runs into palm trees with leaves like sharpened swords. Thus injured all over his body and fainting at every step, he cries out, “Oh, what shall I do now! How shall I be saved!” This is how one suffers who deviates from the accepted religious principles.

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Deviation from a bona fide gurus order –produces a ticket to hell

SB 5.26.15-If a person deviates from the path of the Vedas in the absence of an emergency, the servants of Yamarāja put him into the hell called Asi-patravana, where they beat him with whips. When he runs hither and thither, fleeing from the extreme pain, on all sides he runs into palm trees with leaves like sharpened swords. Thus injured all over his body and fainting at every step, he cries out, “Oh, what shall I do now! How shall I be saved!” This is how one suffers who deviates from the accepted religious principles.

PURPORT-There is actually only one religious principle: dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam [SB 6.3.19]. The only religious principle is to follow the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Unfortunately, especially in this age of Kali, everyone is an atheist, people do not even believe in God, what to speak of following His words. The words nija-veda-patha can also mean “one’s own set of religious principles.” Formerly there was only one veda-patha, or set of religious principles. Now there are many. It doesn’t matter which set of religious principles one follows: the only injunction is that he must follow them strictly. An atheist, or nāstika, is one who does not believe in the Vedas. However, even if one takes up a different system of religion, according to this verse he must follow the religious principles he has accepted. Whether one is a Hindu, or a Mohammedan or a Christian, he should follow his own religious principles. However, if one concocts his own religious path within his mind, or if one follows no religious principles at all, he is punished in the hell known as Asi-patravana. In other words, a human being must follow some religious principles. If he does not follow any religious principles, he is no better than an animal. As Kali-yuga advances, people are becoming godless and taking up so-called secularism. They do not know the punishment awaiting them in Asi-patravana, as described in this verse.

Follow bogus guru-you go to hell

SB 1.19.37 P The Appearance of Sukadeva Gosvami Unless one is perfectly anxious to inquire about the way of perfection, there is no necessity of approaching a spiritual master. A spiritual master is not a kind of decoration for a householder. Generally a fashionable materialist engages a so-called spiritual master without any profit. The pseudo spiritual master flatters the so-called disciple, and thereby both the master and his ward go to hell without a doubt.

72-12-14.Letter: Tusta Krsna As for your next question, can only a few pure devotees deliver others, anyone, if he is a pure devotee he can deliver others, he can become spiritual master. But unless he on that platform he should not attempt it. Then both of them will to go to hell, like blind men leading the blind.

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The difference between material and spiritual opulences–SP

In the book called Salagram Sila composed by Padmanabha Goswami of Radha Raman temple in Vrndavana, it says…

“The Brahma Purana states that wherever Salagram sila and dvarka sila sit together, there certainly mukti also resides.In the conversation between Brahma and Narada in the Skanda Purana Brahma says..”O Munisvara Wherever dvarka sila sits in front of the salagrama sila every class of opulence goes on increasing unlimitedly.”

SB 5.24.19...For a pure devotee, the door of liberation is automatically opened. One should not think that Bali Mahārāja was given so much material opulence merely because of his charity. When one becomes a pure devotee in love, he may also be blessed with a good material position by the will of the Supreme Lord. However, one should not mistakenly think that the material opulence of a devotee is the result of his devotional service. The real result of devotional service is the awakening of pure love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which continues under all circumstances.

SB 5.24.22-The Supreme Personality of Godhead did not award His mercy to Bali Mahārāja by giving him material happiness and opulence, for these make one forget loving service to the Lord. The result of material opulence is that one can no longer absorb his mind in the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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How to live easily in Kali yuga-SP

Hare Krsna-Below we have 4 very short separate conversations with Srila Prabhupada in which he nicely explains :

1) Our position in Varnashrama system depends upon the quality of our work and he gives the example that unless one is independent in his livlihood, he cannot be brahmana, Ksatriya, or Vaisya. And next he explains how to do that. To be actual Vaisnava is not so easy a thing-one must be 100% above the three modes of nature.
2) Srila Prabhupada say..everyone should be engaged in producing their own food. The devotee must be clever– which means he must not allow the leaders of the cities to cheat him by alluring him there by paper money, being surrounded constantly by sinful life, and instead stay on your own land , produce your necesssities, and be happy.!
3) We want to keep everyone in a peaceful condition of life, not bothered by constant anxieties of modern city life.
4) Simply to say “I belong to Krsna’s family”-is not enough. We must DO something, some tangible service for Krsna !

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1) 720629rc.sd Conversations331292/530501
Prabhupada: Yes. That is the statement of the sastra. Kalau
sudra-sambhavah: “In the Kali-yuga everyone is sudra.”

Guest (2): :So only those who have independent means, then, would come

in the…

Prabhupada: They can be counted, yes. Because a brahmana is advised
not to accept service at any circumstances. That is the injunction of
the sastra. He can take the profession of a ksatriya or a vaisya, but
not the sudra. That is brahmana.

Guest (2): So whoever cannot stand on his own legs as an independent
businessman or landlord or whatever it be, he’s a sudra.

Prabhupada: Yes. These are described in the Bhagavad-gita. I have not
manufactured these things. These are sastra, that “He’s
brahmana,”–the qualification. “He’s ksatriya,”–qualification. “He’s
vaisya,”–qualification. “He’s sudra–by qualification.” And Narada
Muni says, but we have to judge by the qualification.

2) 730725gc.lonConversations340289/530501
Prabhupada: …satisfied to remain in the village. That is the defect
of the modern civilization.
Mother: In India, you mean. You’re talking of India now.
Prabhupada: Everywhere.
Mother: Everywhere.
Prabhupada: Yes. Everywhere.
Mother: What about India? I mean, do they believe, the villagers?
Prabhupada: India, actually, they do so.
Mother: Yes.
Prabhupada: The villagers, they have cows and land. That is sufficient
for their economic problem. But the industrialists, they are alluring
them, “To get more money, come here.” So they are going to the cities.
And the food production in the village is neglected. And therefore the
food grain price is rising. Actually, everyone should be engaged to
produce food, but the modern set-up of civilization is that few people
are engaged in producing food, and others are eating. They are
offering… They are artificially getting money. So they are offering
paper, “Here is ten dollars.” Although it is a paper, cheating. And
they are captivated by cheating. They, they are thinking, “I have got
now hundred dollars.” What is this hundred dollars? It is paper. So

some people are cheating and some people are being cheated. This is
the society.
Mother: Yes. But I think one has to be clever enough not to let people
cheat you.
Prabhupada: Clever means that he must stay in his own land. He should
not be cheated by the paper and go to the city.
Mother: But we have to teach our young to be able to define between
those who cheat and those who…, be able to tell people who…
Prabhupada: The whole civilization is a plan of cheating others.
That’s all. And they’re all sinful. According to our Vedic
understanding, there are four things sinful, pillars of sinful life:
illicit sex, unnecessary killing of animals, intoxication and
gambling.
——————

Conversations : 750514mw.per :

Prabhupāda: The solution is there. They won’t take it. Solution is there, that everyone produce your own food. There is so much land; utilize it. The solution is there. No. They want to sit down on the table, chair, in a very nice compartment, and making solution. They won’t go…..

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“We should not be attracted to modern city life”–SP

“We should not be attracted to modern city life”–SP

Bhubaneshwar Jan 31 1977

Prabhupāda: So what is the report in France? Paris atmosphere is all right?

Yogeśvara: Paris? Paris, there is good enthusiasm because there is saṅkīrtana party. It is more difficult at the farm, because there is no saṅkīrtana.

Prabhupāda: Why? There are so many men. There is no saṅkīrtana?

Yogeśvara: Yes. It is far from the nearest city.

Prabhupāda: But within the farm there is no saṅkīrtana?

Yogeśvara: Regular temple activities are going on.

Prabhupāda: Saṅkīrtana is there.

Yogeśvara: There is once a week a party going out.

Prabhupāda: No, not going out. I mean to say in the temple.

Yogeśvara: Inside the temple. Oh, yes. Inside the temple regular programs are there.

Prabhupāda: So why outside? There is no sufficient men? But when I was there I saw so many men.

Yogeśvara: Wherever you go, thousands of people will follow.

Hari-śauri: They were not all from the farm. They were from everywhere.

Prabhupāda: Then not many devotees are there in the farm?

Yogeśvara: There are maybe thirty-five devotees traveling, saṅkīrtana devotees, and then…

Prabhupāda: Centering that farm?

Yogeśvara: Centered at the farm. They come back maybe once every two months. And then there are about eighty devotees at the farm, of which forty are children. Of those children, twenty or twenty-two are Gurukula children. The others are too small.

Prabhupāda: So nobody is engaged in production, fruit, flowers, grains, milk?

Yogeśvara: There are not many full-time devotees doing production, maybe four full time.

Prabhupāda: And why part time?

Yogeśvara: Part time, everyone is trying to do an hour a day.

Prabhupāda: So what they do, others?

Yogeśvara: Well, from the other forty devotees left there is the staff of pūjārīs, press, temple maintenance. So not so many are left for doing full-time work on the land.

Prabhupāda: You are not getting new devotees to join?

Yogeśvara: In Paris.

Prabhupāda: Yes. From Paris or here… In Paris… From Paris you can bring in the farm.

Yogeśvara: Well, at the farm there is not as much of a new bhakta program as in Paris. So the new men are encouraged to stay in Paris to get fixed up first.

Prabhupāda: So new… When they are trained up, they can come, live, especially gṛhasthas. My point is whether the farm is attractive. Not very much.

Yogeśvara: The potential is wonderful.

Prabhupāda: And therefore I’m asking. Potential is wonderful, so why they are not attracted to live in the farm and be self-independent and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa? That is our farm project. Our farm project is they should be satisfied with simple living. That is nice living. If you get milk, if you get fruit, if you get grain and open air, it is very healthy life. Why they should not be attracted?

Yogeśvara: It is still the beginning, and because it’s the beginning, it is a little difficult sometimes.

Prabhupāda: That may be. But this should be our aim. We should not be attracted by the modern city life. Simplified life. Save time and utilize for advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is perfect life. Just like Vṛndāvana. Vṛndāvana life means agriculturist, cowherd boys, uneducated girls, cows and calves, and tree, fruits. This is Vṛndāvana. The center is Kṛṣṇa.

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Dont steal from Bhagavan-SP

Stealing from Bhagavan

Elevation to Krsna Consciousness Ch 2

“From the highest executive in his skyscraper office down to the coolie in the street—all are working with the thought of accumulating wealth, legally or illegally. Actually it is all illegal, for to work for one’s self-interest is both unlawful and destructive. Even the cultivation of spiritual realization for one’s own self-interest is unlawful and destructive. The point is that all activities must be directed to the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa and His service.

May 10 1969 Ohio conversation

Prabhupada: Suppose you have stolen something from somebody’s house or some friends. You will not be happy, even possessing that thing, stolen property. But if someday you come to return that thing to that friend, you will be happy. What do you think, Hayagrīva?

Hayagrīva: Yes.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Then you will feel relieved. So therefore the real thing is that everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa. We are artificially enjoying the stolen property. Therefore if you go on enjoying like that, then this frustration will come. But before coming to that frustration, if we return this property to Kṛṣṇa, then we become happy. So best thing is to return everything to Kṛṣṇa. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And you will not be a loser. You will be gainer, just like Bali Mahārāja. Actually, if you think, everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa. Nothing belongs to you. This is māyā.Kṛṣṇa’s property you are thinking, “mine.” Is this land of American belongs to you actually? It is stolen property. You have stolen from the Red Indians or from Kṛṣṇa. Everyone is, not you, everyone. Somebody is claiming, “This much my property,” somebody is claiming, “This much my property,” but this much or that much, everything belongs toKṛṣṇa. It is stolen property. There is another example in Indian words, that hira cauri kiya abhicaurya, khira caurī kiyā abhicaura. Hira means diamond, and khīra means… What is that called? Cucumber, a small? So if somebody has stolen a cucumber from other’s tree, so he is captured. And another man has stolen some diamond. He is also arrested. So from the police, both are thieves. If the man says, “Oh, what I have stolen? I have stolen a little cucumber. It is nothing, worth not even two cent or one cent. Why you are arresting me? He is thief. He has stolen a big diamond,” no, in the eyes of law, he is also thief; he is also thief. Everyone is thief. Anyone who is not in Kṛṣṇaconsciousness, he is thief. He’ll not be happy. The best thing is to return whatever he has possessed: “Kṛṣṇa, it is Yours. Take.” Finish business. Mānasa deha geha, yo kichu mora. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s song… Now, everything we possess in mind. Actually we don’t possess. Suppose I am possessing all this. As soon as I go from this body, all possession will remain here. I’ll not take anything. So I don’t possess. But in mind I am thinking, “Oh, this is mine. This is mine. Where is another box? Why it is not coming?” And possessing in mind. If I leave this body, either the box here or in the Chicago or anywhere else, what is the difference? There is no difference. But because I am possessing in the mind, “Oh, that box is mine,” so I am asking, “Whether it is Chicago or it is here, it is there? Why it is not coming?” So possession in the mind. Actually you don’t possess. Mānasa deha geha. So by that supposingly possessing, we have got our mind, we have got our body, then expansion of body, wife, children, family, society, country. In this way we possess so many things. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says, mānasa deha geha, yo kichu mora: “Now whatever I possess, either in the mind or in the family or in the society or in the body—whatever I have got, I surrender unto You, my dear Kṛṣṇa.” Mānasa deha geha, yo kichu…, arpilun tuā pade nanda kiśora: “Nanda-kiśora, O the son ofNanda, I give unto You.” Marobi rakhobi, yo icchā tohāra: “Now whatever You like, You can do, either you kill me or You protect me, as You like. You are the proprietor. You have right to do everything.” This is surrender. This is full Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is not possible immediately. Therefore we have to practice.

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We should not be attracted to modern city life”–SP

“We should not be attracted to modern city life”–SP

Bhubaneshwar Jan 31 1977

Prabhupāda: So what is the report in France? Paris atmosphere is all right?

Yogeśvara: Paris? Paris, there is good enthusiasm because there is saṅkīrtana party. It is more difficult at the farm, because there is no saṅkīrtana.

Prabhupāda: Why? There are so many men. There is no saṅkīrtana?

Yogeśvara: Yes. It is far from the nearest city.

Prabhupāda: But within the farm there is no saṅkīrtana?

Yogeśvara: Regular temple activities are going on.

Prabhupāda: Saṅkīrtana is there.

Yogeśvara: There is once a week a party going out.

Prabhupāda: No, not going out. I mean to say in the temple.

Yogeśvara: Inside the temple. Oh, yes. Inside the temple regular programs are there.

Prabhupāda: So why outside? There is no sufficient men? But when I was there I saw so many men.

Yogeśvara: Wherever you go, thousands of people will follow.

Hari-śauri: They were not all from the farm. They were from everywhere.

Prabhupāda: Then not many devotees are there in the farm?

Yogeśvara: There are maybe thirty-five devotees traveling, saṅkīrtana devotees, and then…

Prabhupāda: Centering that farm?

Yogeśvara: Centered at the farm. They come back maybe once every two months. And then there are about eighty devotees at the farm, of which forty are children. Of those children, twenty or twenty-two are Gurukula children. The others are too small.

Prabhupāda: So nobody is engaged in production, fruit, flowers, grains, milk?

Yogeśvara: There are not many full-time devotees doing production, maybe four full time.

Prabhupāda: And why part time?

Yogeśvara: Part time, everyone is trying to do an hour a day.

Prabhupāda: So what they do, others?

Yogeśvara: Well, from the other forty devotees left there is the staff of pūjārīs, press, temple maintenance. So not so many are left for doing full-time work on the land.

Prabhupāda: You are not getting new devotees to join?

Yogeśvara: In Paris.

Prabhupāda: Yes. From Paris or here… In Paris… From Paris you can bring in the farm.

Yogeśvara: Well, at the farm there is not as much of a new bhakta program as in Paris. So the new men are encouraged to stay in Paris to get fixed up first.

Prabhupāda: So new… When they are trained up, they can come, live, especially gṛhasthas. My point is whether the farm is attractive. Not very much.

Yogeśvara: The potential is wonderful.

Prabhupāda: And therefore I’m asking. Potential is wonderful, so why they are not attracted to live in the farm and be self-independent and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa? That is our farm project. Our farm project is they should be satisfied with simple living. That is nice living. If you get milk, if you get fruit, if you get grain and open air, it is very healthy life. Why they should not be attracted?

Yogeśvara: It is still the beginning, and because it’s the beginning, it is a little difficult sometimes.

Prabhupāda:That may be. But this should be our aim. We should not be attracted by the modern city life. Simplified life. Save time and utilize for advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is perfect life. Just like Vṛndāvana. Vṛndāvana life means agriculturist, cowherd boys, uneducated girls, cows and calves, and tree, fruits. This is Vṛndāvana. The center is Kṛṣṇa.

Some Conclusions-the book we just published (see below) is a must read for anybody who feels he should follow the above instructions given by Srila Prabhupada. And if we dont follow this instruction, unless we are doing daily dedicated preaching KC in some city,, it is very difficult to avoid “modern city life”….and not become thoroughly entangled in its endless webs

Hare Krsna

damaghosa das

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Garden video of our 3 gardens for Govinda

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux6nYbexcEM

Our New book just released by Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1696418623?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Where have all the flowers gone? Srila Prabhupada had 10,000 disciples !

How many disciples of SP ?? over 10,000

 

Room Conversationwith Journalist

May 19, 1975, Melbourne

Journalist: Yes. How many followers do you have throughout the world now?

Prabhupāda: No, throughout the world, in India everyone is Kṛṣṇa conscious. In the outside India we have got about ten to twelve thousand dedicated followers.

 

Room Conversation

April 23, 1976, Melbourne

Guest: How many people are in the Kṛṣṇa movement in the world, about?

Prabhupāda: About ten to twelve thousand, directly dedicated. Otherwise millions, they are reading our books. They have sympathy. We are selling books very nicely, daily twenty thousand dollar minimum all over the world. In learned circle, big, big universities, professors, they are appreciating. We have many congratulations.

 

Press Interview

October 16, 1976, Chandigarh

Interviewer: What is, sir, the number of your disciples round the world?

Prabhupāda: Dedicated life—not less than ten thousand. And admirers, there are many millions. Recently one American politician has remarked in Houston, that “This Kṛṣṇa consciousness, Hare Kṛṣṇa movement is spreading like epidemic. So unless we take some steps it may take our government.” (laughter)

Interviewer: Who was the man who said it?

Hari-śauri: A government official in Houston.

Prabhupāda: No, no, what is his name? You can give.

Hari-śauri: His name was not given.

Prabhupāda: Oh. Simply it is said a government official.

 

Press Conference

December 16, 1976, Hyderabad

Guest (3): Total membership for around the world?

Prabhupāda: Total membership is practically unlimited because we are now getting opposition, so… But actually dedicated life, about ten thousand like these boys.

SB 10.2.26 purport…The devotees who are fully engaged in spreading the Krsna consciousness movement, more than ten thousand men and women all over the world, have no steady or permanent occupation, yet we actually see that they are maintained very opulently…

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“It is a great responsibility you now have.”

So it is up to you to learn it and be able to present it nicely. Now you have everything, respect, philosophy, money, temples, books, all these things I have given, but I am an old man and my notice is already there. Now it is up to you all how to manage it. If you cannot increase it, you should at least maintain what I have given you. You cannot accuse me that I have not given you anything. So it is a great responsibility you now have.” Letter to Jagannatha Suta – August 26, 1975

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3 Kinds of disciples

Phalgun Krsna Pancami-

Srila Prabhupada’s address to his Godbrothers on the appearance day of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Maharaja-Radha Damodara temple 1961 Vrndavana

 

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Srila Prabhupada on Politics

Hare Krsna-

So today Nov 16, 2019 in USA there is much concern by the common man over President Trump and his behind the scenes dealing with his political adversaries, whom he would like to eliminate in the next Presidential election. So he has gone to the corrupt Ukrainian government officials to tried to bribe them into investigating his democartic rivals activities and try to influence the next election in his favor. Otherwise Trump will not release 400 million dollars in military aid to this government. And this is just the tip of the devious iceberg or current world wide governments.

Srila Prabhupada let one of his disciples try out politics in Atlanta Georgia some time ago, but then told him to just forget it because as everyone knows, politics is always a corrupt and back biting business and not meant for those souls who want to go back to Godhead.

Better to keep our minds focused on the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna-that will ensure us a brighter future, something the politicians can never deliver to anybody.

damaghosa das

Canakya pandit tells us to never trust women, politicians and those with long nails. And he also says, that is we don’t take good advice then we will perish soon…….

June 14 1974 Paris

Devotee: But isn’t that not good because the politicians nowadays, when they are running their campaign, they say so many lies and everything to the public, that “When I am elected I will do this and I will do that,” and they do so many… They pay off so many people in order that they can become elected. So always the good persons are… I guess they also have to cheat in order to get in position, but usually the…

Prabhupāda: Therefore we have stopped our political activities. It is not good. It will be hampering to our spiritual understanding.

Devotee: Because we will also have to do that.

Prabhupāda: If you want to dance, you cannot be shy. There is a Bengali proverb, nate vase guṇṭhana tana (?). You understand Bengali? No. That, “When you are going to dance… A girl, or a lady is supposed to dance in the platform, in the stage, and when she came, she saw thousands of people. Then she drew her veil, what is called, guṇṭhana, became little ashamed. So you are going to dance. What is the use of veiling yourself?” So similarly, when one takes part in politics, if you don’t take all the tactics of politics, then you cannot gain ground.

Devotee: But more and more the people, especially in America, they are seeing how these politicians are cheating. Because every year, in every campaign, the same politician is saying, “I will do this, I will do that,” and when he gets into office, he never does anything. But maybe now this time, when our Kṛṣṇa conscious devotees are running and they are showing the people what rascals… Just like Balavanta on TV, he was saying “How can these people be leader, when they are themselves permitting slaughter, drinking, smoking, having illicit sex life.”

Prabhupāda: That is a fact. That is a fact. But why the leader? The public also drinks. They also encourage slaughterhouse. So if you say to the public that they cannot be leader, then there is no leader. They cannot find out any leader. The public will understand that “I also eat meat, I also drink, do the same thing. Why the leader should be something, saintly person? After all, he is our leader. So we are of the same character. So why the leader should be something different?” They cannot understand it.

Devotee: Therefore we must cheat.

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