May 12th 1975 Perth
Indian boy: Is it possible that I live on my own and still be a devotee?
Prabhupāda: That will take long time. That, also, if you follow the regulative principles… It is difficult, little. But easier method is to live with the devotees because the situation and atmosphere in your home is different from devotion. So it is not very helpful. You have got other members in the family?
Indian boy: Yes, there is…
Prabhupāda: So if you want to do something, they may not like it. So that is impediment. But if you live with the devotees, then you learn quickly the art. You are Indian?
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(Note-Unfortunately the house that Srila Prabhupada built has now been almost totally dismantled-so it is now unfit for sane devotees-but the regulative principles still must be and can be followed in one’s home, somehow or other.)
June 22 1971
Prabhupāda: Yes, I am answering. As I told you that this propaganda is meant for creating some brāhmaṇas all over the world because the brāhmaṇa element is lacking, so one who seriously comes to us, he has to become a brāhmaṇa. So he has to adopt the occupation of a brāhmaṇa, and he has to give up the occupation of a kṣatriya or a śūdra. But if one wants to keep his profession, at the same time wants to understand also, that is allowed. Just like we have many professors. There is Howard Wheeler, professor of Ohio University. He’s my disciple. So he is continuing his professorship. But whatever money he’s getting, almost he’s spending for our, this Krsna consciousness. For gṛhasthas, those who are householders living outside, they are expected to contribute fifty per cent of the income for the society, twenty-five per cent for the family, and twenty-five per cent for his personal emergency.
Note- best to be wary of where you send your hard earned money these days-
Feb 3 1975 Hawaii
Devotee (1): No, I know, but for his actions other than just following the four regulative principles and chanting sixteen rounds. He does so many other things during the day. Where does he derive his authority if he’s not, let’s say, living in the temple?
Prabhupāda: I do not follow. The authority is guru. You have accepted.
Bali Mardana: For everything.
Jayatīrtha: Say I have some outside job, I’m living outside, but I’m not giving 50% of my income. So then that work that I’m doing, is it actually under the authority of the guru?
Prabhupāda: Then you are not following the instruction of guru. That is plain fact.
Jayatīrtha: So that means that whole activity during the day, working, that means I am not following the instruction of the guru. It’s unauthorized activity.
Prabhupāda: Yes. If you don’t follow the instruction of guru, then you are fallen down immediately. That is the way. Otherwise why you sing, yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo **. It is my duty to satisfy guru. Otherwise I am nowhere. So if you prefer to be nowhere, then you disobey as you like. But if you want to be steady in your position, then you have to follow strictly the instruction of guru.
Devotee (1): We can understand all of your instructions simply by reading your books.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Anyway, follow the instruction. That is required. Follow the instruction. Wherever you remain, it doesn’t matter. You are secure. Follow the instruction. Then you are secure anywhere. It doesn’t matter. Just like I told you that I saw my Guru Mahārāja not more than ten days in my life, but I followed his instruction. I was a gṛhastha, I never lived with the Maṭha, in the temple. It is practical.So many Godbrothers recommended that “He should be in charge in this Bombay temple, this, that, that…” Guru Mahārāja said, “Yes, better he lives outside. That is good, and he will do what is needed in due course of time.”
Devotees: Jaya! Haribol!
Prabhupāda: He said like that. I could not understand at that time what does he expect. Of course, I knew that he wanted me to preach.
Yaśodānandana: I think you have done this in grand style.
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SB 1.9.27 purport-…To give charity is one of the householder’s main functions, and he should be prepared to give in charityat least fifty percent of his hard-earned money.
March 14 1976.
Acyutānanda: If someone gives to a person for spiritual…, consciously for spiritual improvement…
Prabhupāda: There is no question of…
Acyutānanda: …and the person misuses the money, does he benefit?
Prabhupāda: Eh?
Acyutānanda: If a man says, “I am giving you this donation because it is a spiritual organization,” but if the money is misused, does that man benefit?
Prabhupāda: If money is misused, then both of them become implicated. If it is not used for Kṛṣṇa, then both of them becomes under the laws of karma.
(Note-once again, from hearing the above,we should be very careful where we donate our hard earned money)
BG 13.8-12
One should approach the spiritual master with all humility and offer him all services so that he will be pleased to bestow his blessings upon the disciple. Because a bona fide spiritual master is a representative of Kṛṣṇa, if he bestows any blessings upon his disciple, that will make the disciple immediately advanced without the disciple’s following the regulated principles. Or, the regulated principles will be easier for one who has served the spiritual master without reservation.
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December 23, 1968
Viṣṇujana: How will it be possible, Prabhupāda, for a man whose mind is clouded to constantly chant Hare Kṛṣṇa? A man who’s always thinking thoughts about family, friends, country, nation?
Prabhupāda: Yes. Think of. At the same time, chant. Two things will go on, and this will conquer. (chuckling) As māyā is forcing you to drag you from this Kṛṣṇa consciousness, you also force māyā by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. There is fight. And māyā will go away.daivī hy eṣā guṇamayīmama māyā duratyayāmām eva ye prapadyantemāyām etāṁ taranti teThis māyā is very strong. She’ll force you to entice you to other path. But if you do not stop, if you chant loudly…
Just like Haridāsa Ṭhākura was chanting, and māyā could not victimize him. You know that? What was his stand? Simply chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare, Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare. Māyā could not entice. Māyā failed. Māyā became his disciple. He did not become māyā’s disciple.
This is tug of war. So don’t be afraid of māyā. Simply enhance chanting and you’ll be conqueror. That’s all. Nārāyaṇa-parāḥ sarve na kutaścana bibhyati [SB 6.17.28]. We are not afraid of māyā because Kṛṣṇa is there. Yes. Kṛṣṇa says, kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati [Bg. 9.31]. You just declare, “My devotee will never be vanquished by māyā.”
Māyā cannot do anything. Simply you have to become strong. And what is that strength? Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare, loudly. Yes.
This is tug of war. So don’t be afraid of māyā. Simply enhance chanting and you’ll be conqueror. That’s all. Nārāyaṇa-parāḥ sarve na kutaścana bibhyati [SB 6.17.28]. We are not afraid of māyā because Kṛṣṇa is there. Yes. Kṛṣṇa says, kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati [Bg. 9.31]. You just declare, “My devotee will never be vanquished by māyā.”
Māyā cannot do anything. Simply you have to become strong. And what is that strength? Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare, loudly. Yes.
Some Conclusions– We can see from the above few statements that bhakti, properly performed is not that easy It is the path of renunciation and not all of us can perform this cent percent correctly. What iskcon leaders did over the past 40 years was to destroy the institution that Srila Prabhupada built and prevented those who would come, give some service and know with 100% certainty that their service was given and received properly and not misused.. That is now over.
Today, most sane devotees would not give one cent to this organization knowing that it becomes karma khanda instead of Bhakti khanda. But that still does not nullify the daily fact that all of us who want to become Bhaktas, can and must still practice daily the principles mentioned above.-if we want to make advancement on this path back to Godhead. Don’t fret over what happened in the past, get over it, and just go on with your life and do the best you can.
Hare Krsna
damaghosa das