Hare Krishna Society

From: Balarama dasa [Australia]

“bhakti means you utilize your energy for Kṛṣṇa”

EXCERPT:

“…In the Upaniṣads it is said that God is also a person like me, you. Nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām [Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13]. But His personality is different from your personality, from my personality. What is that difference? Eko yo bahūnāṁ vidadhāti kāmān: “He supplies all the necessities of all other personalities.” That is the difference. God is supplying us food. This conception is there in the Bible = “God, give us our daily bread.” This is nice. Accepting that you are getting all supplies from God, this is sukṛti, this is puṇyavat.

If one, anyone says, “Oh, what God? We are creating our own food”—just like the Communist says—they are duṣkṛtina, rascals. But if anyone even goes to the church and temple for asking something to God, he is pious. At least, he has approached God. So one day, when he will be advanced devotee, he will not ask anymore. He knows that “Why shall I bother God? He is supplying everyone food, so why shall I ask Him food? My food is also there. Let me serve me [Him].” That is his higher intelligence….

….. So how the energy should be utilized? For the master, not for his sense gratification.

This is perfection of life. You produce anything by your energy, but you cannot use it for your sense gratification. Then you become perfect. And if you want to do it, then Hṛṣīkeśa, the master of the senses, will give you intelligence how to do it. Just like He is giving Arjuna intelligence; therefore He is mentioned as Hṛṣīkeśa. How to win victory. How to utilize his energy for Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa wanted the battle. Arjuna was a military man. He utilized his military strength for Kṛṣṇa’s purposes. That is the perfection of life.

So whatever you have got, if you utilize it for Kṛṣṇa’s sake, hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhakti [Cc. Madhya 19.170], that is bhakti. Even by fighting, you can be a great devotee, just like Arjuna. He was not chanting on the beads, but he was fighting. But still, bhakto ‘si priyo ‘si me [Bg. 4.3], Kṛṣṇa says. “Oh, you are My great devotee.”

Now people may say that “He was not chanting. He was fighting. How he became a great devotee?” But Kṛṣṇa says, bhakto ‘si priyo ‘si me: “You are My dear friend. You are My devotee. Because you are utilizing your energy for Me.” So bhakti means you utilize your energy for Kṛṣṇa. Then your life is perfect.

Thank you very much.”

Devotees: All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda. [end]

Bhagavad-gītā 1.15

London, July 15, 1973

Audio for this lecture: https://prabhupadavani.org/transcriptions/730715bglon/

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Srila Prabhupada’s Murti takes away all our suffering

This is an inspirational, and as far as I know, previously untold story about a private conversation between Srila Prabhupada and a Pancaratriki Pandit named Sampat Kumar Bhattacarya.

The story is told by HG Atma Tattva Das in a Bhagavad Gita class on 9.34 in Los Angeles on the 20th of March 1993. I found it in our old tape collection.

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Srila Prabhupada explains the real meaning of association and ISKCON – Padmagarbha Das

Yamuna: Srila Prabhupada, although we are very happy where we are, we are prepared to go wherever you would like to send us in order to have your blessings.Srila Prabhupada: You westerners are always so restless. Why can’t you stay where you are?Yamuna: But we have been told that because we don’t have the association of devotees, we cannot make any advancement.Srila Prabhupada: Association can be two or two hundred. But you must be compatible. If you are two and are compatible, you can go back to Godhead. But if you are two hundred and not compatible [his eyes open widely], then no one will make any advancement.Yamuna: But Srila Prabhupada, some of the leaders are saying that we have lost your mercy because we left ISKCON and without your mercy there is no meaning to our lives.Srila Prabhupada: ISKCON is where you are chanting the Holy Names of Krsna. That is ISKCON.(Yamuna Devi, A Life of Unalloyed Devotion).

Krsnacandra Dasa – Vrndavan: How many times have we heard this come back? It makes me wonder if we are all reading and following the same Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada’s absolute genius was to take the highly sophisticated and spiritually elevated subject matter of the Vedic Shastra and condense it down to very simple terms for the degraded, fallen and ‘dumbed down’ people of the Kali yuga.

The language that Srila Prabhupada has chosen to convey these esoteric facts is very simple and must be taken ‘as it is’ in order to understand and appreciate the ideas that he is conveying to us. The words and terms he uses are not cryptic nor do they possess some esoteric or hidden meaning, thus his instructions are clear, concise and very nicely illuminate the high and otherwise bewildering Vedic injunctions.

There isn’t the question of; importation or the ‘eisegesis’ of other meanings into the text, nor is there the question of seeking a meaning that underlies the text. The text is to be taken ‘as it is’ without interpretation or bias.

When Srila Prabhupada states ‘first you become pure’ it is self-explanatory. It is not up to anyone to break that text down in an attempt to illicit another hidden or esoteric meaning or inference. His words are to be understood on their own terms, nothing more or nothing less. Nothing added or nothing taken away.

Of course in a mind polluted with impersonalist thought; that has been trained and subsequently attached to religious hermeneutics or their religious background, may not be able to appreciate or accept the simple truth. For example; in the attempts of the Abrahamic religious denominations to explain various inconsistencies and lack of clarity of their text there has arisen a science of ‘Hermeneutics’ which is a text analysis system for those who believe text has the ability to reveal or conceal the truth and cannot accept the text at face value.

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Part 2—letters on Deity worship continued

Dec 27 letter Satyabhama

I shall give you some facts about Lord Jagannatha also. I am very glad to learn the practical result of deity worship in your behavior. I am so glad to learn that you are feeling development of a bit of affection for Jagannatha by personal taking care, and that is the way of increasing our love of Godhead. Deity worship is the practical demonstration and hearing from the Spiritual Master is the nourishment of the idea. Krishna Consciousness is so nice that anyone who has a little taste of it must feel a distinction between his past and present life. It is not only the case with you but it is the case for everyone who has the fortunate opportunity for coming into contact with Krishna.

I thank you very much for your taking my time in this way. May Krishna be pleased upon you; both you and your good husband will be more and more spiritually happy by your nice service attitude in Krishna Consciousness.

Actually, I have no desire to start the school in any city. City life, especially in this age of kali yuga, is very much polluted. Poet Cowper stated that the city is made by man and the village is made by God.

Nov 4 1971 letter Vishnujana

It is very encouraging for me to hear that my Sannyasis are traveling and preaching. Regarding keeping our temples clean, this is essential. Unless we can maintain the temples we presently have superexcellently clean, we should not open new centers.

Two men may remain at the temple and clean thoroughly every day and the rest should go to the streets for sankirtana. For Spiritual life chanting Hare Krishna is sufficient but because we are habituated to unclean habits we must have temple worship. Sankirtana will keep everyone’s mind clean and surely this quarreling will cease.

Nov 17 1971 letter Himavati

I am especially pleased that you are finding great pleasure in serving Their Lordships in Hamburg Temple as pujari. I think that under your care They have become very gorgeous and satisfied. It is the sole aim of life to be constantly absorbed in thoughts about Radharani and Krishna, and because you are so determined to become fully Krishna Conscious, Krishna has given you this opportunity to realize that aim by serving Him directly. I have always instructed that the standard of arcana worship must be kept very high, because this will insure that every other temple activity will also flourish. So I am relieved to know that now the Deities are in your care. Thank you for this.

If one simply deposits all of his or her loving propensity onto the Deity of Krishna, immediately they are relieved of anxiety due to material sense agitation. This is Krishna Consciousness.

Nov 17 1971 letter Himavati

Because mushrooms grow in a filthy place, they are not usually offered to Krishna. It is very nice that all the men should participate in deity-worship, this will sanctify their all other work. I think you are the most clever manager, better than your husband, because you are organizing temple routine very nicely for serving the deities and this will have very good results for everyone.

July 30 1972 letter Arundhati

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 19, 1972, and I am simply surprised that you want to give up your child to some other persons, even they are also devotees. For you, child-worship is more important than deity-worship. If you cannot spend time with him, then stop the duties of pujari. At least you must take good care of your son until he is four years old, and if after that time you are unable any more to take care of him then I shall take care. These children are given to us by Krishna, they are Vaisnavas and we must be very careful to protect them. These are not ordinary children, they are Vaikuntha children, and we are very fortunate we can give them chance to advance further in Krishna Consciousness. That is very great responsibility, do not neglect it or be confused. Your duty is very clear.

Oct 7 1974 letter Vrajesvari devi

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 11, 1974 (sic.) I have noted in your letter that you want to serve me. I only want that all you my disciples always think of Krishna and never forget Him for a moment. In this way you can conquer Krishna. He becomes so attracted by pure devotion that He gives Himself to His devotee. And if you get Krishna, then what you want more?

How to think of Krishna that I have given, following the devotional practices and chanting 16 rounds minimum. We have also established worship of the Deity in our temple so that all day long one will automatically think of Krishna, He is so kind.

Nov 5 1974 letter Lilasakti

I am glad to see that you are advancing in Krishna consciousness by this worship of the Deity. This is the practical application to what we find stated in the Bhagavad-gita, man manah bhava mad bhakto, mad yaji mam namaskuru. We do not speculate on what Krishna says but we follow whatever He says implicitly. I also follow this process. Every morning I go to the temple and see the Deity and offer obeisances, so I expect each and every one of my disciples should also follow what I have given in this connection, arising early, taking bath, attending mangal arati. yuktasya bhaktams ca niyunjato ‘pi **. The Deity is non-different from Krishna Himself. This we have to understand

Jan 29 1976 letter Dr Wolfe

In India the system is that people go to see the Jagannatha Deity. The Deity is not very beautiful from the artistic point of view, but still people attend by the thousands. That sentiment is required. Similarly with our kirtana we are only using drums and karatalas, but people come to the point of ecstasy. It is not the ornamentation, it is the ecstasy. This ecstasy is awakened by sravanam kirtanam by devotees. I hope this makes everything clear.

RESULTS OF PERFORMING DEITY WORSHIP

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May 13 1973 LA morning walk

May 13 1973 LA morning walk conversations

Paramahaṁsa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, when you are not present with us, how is it possible to receive instructions, for example, on questions that may arise?

Prabhupāda: Well, the questions…Answers are there in my books.

Paramahaṁsa: Other than that, for example, that we would ask you in…

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Paramahaṁsa: Do you direct us also through the heart? Besides the Paramātmā?

Prabhupāda: If your heart is pure. Everything depends on purity.Whether there.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: So they were saying thateverything in the universe is just happening by chance.

Prabhupāda: So you are writing book by chance. Then what is the value of your book?

Karandhara: The book is also by chance.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Everyone can write chance,so what is your credit? Anything nonsense can be written.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Monod is his name. He got Nobel Prize in 1965 from… He is Frenchman, physiologist. And his, chance and necessity about life, he said everything started by chance.So he is saying that by chance these chemicals combined together, forming these molecules, the basic molecules…

Prabhupāda: But wherefrom the molecules came?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: According to him it is simply by chance.

Prabhupāda: Chance. So everything is chance.So what is the necessity of your writing book?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Then necessity arises, so these molecules re-orient, change as a fashion because of necessity.

Prabhupāda: Why? If everything is by chance, where is the necessity? What isthe meaning? Let the chance take place. Why necessity?

Paramahaṁsa: He is hoping for another Nobel Prize by his chance.

Prabhupāda: All fools’ paradise. That’s all.Why do they send their children to school? Why not let them grow by chance? Is there any excuse if I say, “By chance I have violated this rule?” Is that the cause of excuse?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: That’s because of my ignorance.

Prabhupāda: That is chance. That is chance. Because I am ignorant, therefore there is chance.

Paramahaṁsa: It would be just as stupid as saying a beautiful instrument like a car was made by chance.

Prabhupāda: Yes.Yes. That is the most regrettable condition, that these rascals are getting recognition; talking all foolish, and they are getting recognition.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: It’s so strange. When I read that book. He defines the difference between the living and the non-living by a term called teleonomy.I tried to find out in the dictionary and I couldn’t find any word like that. But I understood that what he meant was…

Prabhupāda: Hyerpolosvel. (Prabhupāda’s mythical scientific word) (laughter)

Kṛṣṇa–kāntī: He invents his own word jugglery.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: He was trying to present the difference between organic beings and the non-organic beings. So he goes in such a round about fashion just to differentiate.

Prabhupāda: Petitio principii. This logic is called petitio principii. He has to prove something, but he is taking his premises from that something. (end)

Some Conclusions–This business of proposing that chance determines everything is foolish. Prabhupada gives the nice example of why send your kids to school when just by “chance” they will become educated? And why if everything is run by chance then where does the word “necessity” come into play if everything is run by chance? Or if I just throw my shovel out into the back gardens then by chance everything will just grow so nicely?

I wish it were so but unfortunately work is involved and without work we get nothing because that is how this material world is set up. And Krsna tells us in His BG that work done as a sacrifice for Lord Vishnu must be doneotherwise all our work binds us to karma.

So there are two points in this conversation the first one is the most important that Supersoul and Srila Prabhupada will guide us and our actions-if we are pure.

How to become pure? Chant Hare Krsna and follow the 4 regulative principles under the directions of Krsna’s pure representative Srila Prabhupada.

Hare Krsna

damaghosa das

Note-as a side note–why does nobody in iskcon understand Guru tattva? And by their own admission? After 40 years???

Part 2—letters on Deity worship continued

Dec 27 letter Satyabhama

Nov 4 1971 letter Vishnujana

Nov 17 1971 letter Himavati

If one simply deposits all of his or her loving propensity onto the Deity of Krishna, immediately they are relieved of anxiety due to material sense agitation. This is Krishna Consciousness.

Nov 17 1971 letter Himavati

July 30 1972 letter Arundhati

Oct 7 1974 letter Vrajesvari devi

Nov 5 1974 letter Lilasakti

Jan 29 1976 letter Dr Wolfe

RESULTS OF PERFORMING DEITY WORSHIP

Sept 15 1968 letter Brahmananda

Regarding my Deity worship: I can understand that the regulative principles are taking much of your time, but you can minimize according to your convenience. There is no harm. But I am so glad to learn that this engagement makes one developing the Brahminical qualities. I thank you very much for appreciating this secret of worshiping the Lord. Generally, we in the conditioned state, we are contaminated. But, this worshiping system called “Arcana vidhi” cleanses the polluted heart and one becomes actually fit for becoming qualified Brahmin. So at least you be engaged in that way. Where is that boy Jaya Rama, who was taking care of it? So one by one, one should be engaged in that “Arcana vidhi” so that one may be fixed up in his Brahminical qualification.

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Dec 9 1973 LA

Prabhupāda: No, the things is that it is the government’s duty to see that nobody is rascal, either the scientist is rascal or the priest is rascal. There must be real understanding. That is government’s duty. Otherwise, if the priest says, “The scientist speaking against religion; therefore he should be hanged,” so that is not good government. Government must see that whether the scientist is speaking the truth. That sense must be there. Yes, world is round. That is fact. Goloka. In Vedic literature it is bhū-gola, jagad-aṇḍa. These words are there. We can see also it is round, jagad-aṇḍa. The universe is round. And Goloka. Or Bhū-gola. Bhū-gola, the earth is round. So in the Vedic literatures… Therefore their knowledge is also imperfect because they do not refer to the Vedic literatures. It is already there. Bhū-gola. Bhū means the earth; gola means round. It is already there. And the geography’s called, according to Sanskrit, it is called Bhū-gola. Long, long ago, before Galileo. So if the state is blind, he does not see whether he’s talking right or wrong, then havi candra raja gobi candra mantri (?). What can be done. That is going on. Because the government means a set of fools, so all foolish people are flourishing. Government is a set of fools because sinful men. They cannot be intelligent. A sinful man cannot be intelligent. Yes. That’s a fact. If he’s intelligent, then his intelligence is used for wrong things. Duṣkṛtina. Kṛtina. Kṛtina means intelligent, but duṣkṛtina, badly intelligent, for doing wrong things. Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Of course, there is a gap of understanding.

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: There is a gap of understanding.

Prabhupāda: Gap of understanding because the basic principle is wrong, because everyone is fool. And they are trying to understand things with their foolish background. There is the wrong. They are trying to be advanced in knowledge on the foolish background. They do not accept that, that they are foolish rascals. And they are trying to advance in knowledge, active-foolish, fourth class men. Their background is wrong. No scientist, no politician, no philosophers, at the present moment, believe in this, that there is soul, and the soul is transmigrating from one body… Nobody believes it. So their whole background is foolish. So their so-called advancement must be all foolish. They’re all fools, rascals, animals. An animal does not know that there is soul and the soul is transmigrating from one body to another. This is animal conception. You cannot teach these pigeons that “You are spirit soul. Your body’s different from you.” They will, they have no power to understand. So if a human being cannot understand, what is the difference between these pigeons and cats and dogs and him? Then basic principle is wrong. Just like in mathematical calculation, if at one point you have mistaken, then will that be correct ever? It will go on, mistaking, mistaking, mistaking, mistaking. If the, if one point, while adding, you have made two plus two equal to five, then after that, everything wrong, everything wrong. Everything wrong. So that is their position. Their basic principle is like animal. The animal cannot understand that there is soul and there is transmigration of the soul. And if the human society makes progress of their so-called knowledge on this wrong basis understanding, then what will be the result? Everything wrong, everything wrong, everything wrong. Everything foolish. That is stated in the Bhāgavata: parābhavas tāvad abodha-jāto yāvan na jijñāsata ātma-tattvam: “If somebody does not know what is ātma-tattva, what is the science of soul, then whatever he is making, so-called advancement that is all defeat.” Parābhava. That is being done. And defeat they are taking as success.

NOTE-THERE ARE MANY DEVOTEES TODAY WHO DO NOT ACCEPT THIS AND MANY OTHER STATEMENTS BY SRILA PRABHUPADA-THAT THE EARTH IS ROUND AND NOT FLAT. HARD TO BELIEVE ISNT IT???

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Therefore in this age kalau śūdra-sambhavaḥ. In Kali-yuga, there is no brāhmaṇa, no kṣatriya. There are some vaiśyas. And all śūdras. Because they cannot live without being engaged by somebody else. And the whole civilization is going on, big, big factories, big, big… What is that? Śūdras. They are creating śūdras. “People should be dependent.” Unless you work… Therefore people are going fifty miles away, going… I have seen in New York. People are coming from the other side… What is that?

Haṁsadūta: Connecticut

Prabhupāda: No, no. Staten Island?

Haṁsadūta: Staten Island.

Prabhupāda: Crossing by ferry, one hour. Then waiting for bus, another hour. Then going to the office. Then after office, they’re coming back. Again going. Whole day, they’re dependent on everything. That is the condition in New York. It is to be supposed: the most advanced city. The same thing is everywhere. People are becoming dependent, śūdra, just like dogs. A dog, unless he gets a nice master, he’s not happy. So at the present moment, all the population, just like the cats and dogs, they’re dependent. They are not intelligent. Intelligence means he must be independent. That is intelligence. And people are struggling for independence. That is their motive. Everyone is struggling hard for independence. Because that is the culmination of intelligence. So our problem is that we do not know what we are. Neither we know how to get out of the miserable condition of life. Therefore we have no intelligence. We are like cats and dogs. This is the conclusion. What do you think? Am I right or wrong?

Guest (1): I couldn’t follow you.

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Guest (1): I haven’t followed you.

Prabhupāda: No, what is your opinion, my description of intelligence and not, no intelligence?

Guest (1): I think you’re right.

Prabhupāda: Thank you. (laughter)

Guest (1): But you know, my thoughts must be really not worth very much.

Prabhupāda: But we can give intelligence by which he can become independent. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.

Guest (1): How can we in a money-orientated world?

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Haṁsadūta: How can we become intelligent or independent?

Guest (1): In a money-orientated world?

Prabhupāda: Well, money you can get. That money does not mean independence.

Guest (1): No, I know.

Prabhupāda: They are, while working, they’re getting money, but they’re not independent.

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Hare Krishna Society

“bhakti means you utilize your energy for Kṛṣṇa”

Srila Gaura Kishora dasa Babaji Tirobhava tithi – Monday, November 15, 2021 [Mayapura, West Bengal]

Srila Prabhupada’s Murti takes away all our suffering

Srila Prabhupada explains the real meaning of association and ISKCON

That’s Your Interpretation Prabhu

Deity worship and the results–letters by SP-part 2

If your heart is pure-everything depends upon purity–SP

SP letters on Deity worship

The Earth is round and we are not these bodies–SP

no karmic footprints like no carbon footprints–SP