ONE GETS LIBERATED WHEN ONE IS FREE FROM SENSE GRATIFICATION

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

If you come here and dance and chant or ring the bell or anything about the ārātrika, if you see  anything you do, that is your permanent credit. Therefore, for the common man, this chance is given. This temple is meant for that purpose – that people will come to see the Deity.

Srila Prabhupada offering “aratrika”, a ceremony for showing respect and veneration to the Supreme Lord  

The Deity is Krishna. Don’t think otherwise. Krishna has agreed to be dressed by you. If you think of Krishna, about His virāt-rūpa (universal form), you will fail to

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OFFERING NICE FOOD STUFFS TO KRISHNA IS FOR YOUR BENEFIT

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

You must have sense gratification, eating, sleeping, mating—but as far as you can maintain your body very nicely. Not that voluntarily you shall starve. No.

Just like these boys and girls, we are not starving. But our eating krsna-prasādam means just to live nicely for executing Krishna consciousness. We are not meant for going to the cinema or for other sense gratification purposes, but because we have got this body, there is no question that we shall stop eating.

Hare Krishna devotees honouring prasadam, food which is first offered to Krishna

We eat prasādam, krsna -prasādam, and that is very palatable. Krishna should be offered first class preparations because Krishna is the Supreme Lord. But if we don’t have money to supply Him nice things, then Krishna will be satisfied, as Krishna says, patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. Krishna wants that you offer Him something with devotional love, that’s all.

Krishna is not hungry. Krishna is ātmārāma. He is self-sufficient. He does not require (anything from us). He is producing food for us. That’s a fact. We get so many fruits and flowers. We don’t manufacture it in the factory; neither it is possible. It is manufactured by Krishna. Raso ‘ham apsu kaunteya prabhāsmi śaśi-sūryayoh [Bg. 7.8]. By the action of His different energies these things are produced. For whom are these things are produced? “For Krishna?” No. “For us.”

USE YOUR MONEY PROPERLY – Part II: DON’T BUILD A SKYSCRAPER, BUILD A TEMPLE INSTEAD

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FIRST PART 

That is Vedic civilization – if money comes, you don’t hate it. Welcome it. But it should be used properly. That is proper use. If you use your money properly, then you make your path parapavarga, clear. And if you misuse your money, then you become again entangled in the 8,400,000’s of species of life. Therefore, as recommended here: nārthasya dharmai-kāntasya. [This recommendation is for the] dharmaikāntasya – not for the irreligious demons, but for those, who are actually religious, dharmaikāntasya. Your money should not be free, should not be spent unnecessarily for sense gratification. Formerly, this was the civilization in India.

The Radha Madan-mohan Temple in Vrindavana. It was established 500 years ago by Srila Sanatana Goswa

We see so many big, big temples in South India, and in other places also, such as Vrindavana, but especially in South India. At the present moment, it is not possible to construct such huge, expensive temples. But actually, they were done by rich kings, rich mercantile people. That Madana-mohana temple (in Vrindavana) was constructed by a Sindhi merchant. He approached Sanātana Goswāmi, who was sitting underneath the tree, and his Madana-mohana was hanging in the tree.

Inquisitive Persons like to Hear about Krishna because they know it is Beneficial

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

apasyatam atma-tattvam (SB 2.1.2): Those who are ignorant of the atma-tattvam, they indulge in nidraya hriyate naktam vyavayena ca va (SB 2.1.3). This is their night’s business. And what is the day’s business? Diva carthehaya rajan: During daytime, “Where is money? Where is money? Where is money? Where is money? Where is money? Go here, go there, go there, go… All right, take money. Then how to utilize it?” Now, kutumba-bharanena va. ‘Then go to the shop. Purchase this thing for my wife, for my children, for this, for that.” So money earned and spent. And in the night: sleeping and mating. Then where is your time for cultivating Krsna consciousness? This is the position.

Those who are blind, who do not know what is the value of this life, this human form of life, they are busy in these things. Apasyatam atma-tattvam (SB 2.1.2). But actually, this life is meant for understanding atma-tattvam (nature of the soul). Athato brahma jijnasa. This life is not meant for living like cats and dogs: eating, sleeping, mating and defending. This is all cats’ and dogs’ business. Therefore those who are engaged only in these businesses:

IF YOU GIVE CHARITY TO KRISHNA, YOU CAN PURCHASE KRISHNA

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

As soon as you have got money. Best thing is, as soon as you get money, immediately you spend it for Krishna. Tyāgena means charity. Not that you starve. No. You keep yourself fit to execute Krishna consciousness, but don’t keep much money. Immediately give in charity to Krishna. Krishna can take your charity as much as you can give.

Just like Bali Mahārāja. Bali Mahārāja, he secured the whole three worlds. He became the master of the three worlds, i.e. the upper planetary system, lower planetary system, middle planets. But he was a devotee also. Therefore Krishna came to him as Vāmana.

Lord Vamana, the dwarf incarnation of Krishna

chalayasi vikramane balim adbhuta vāmana

pada-nakha-nīra-janita-jana-pāvana

keśava dhrta vāmana śarīra

jaya jagadīśa hare

So, because he was very proud of his possession, therefore Vāmanadeva came to Bali Mahārāja: “Mahārāja, you are ksatriya. I have heard that you are very charitable. If you can give me a little land?” So Bali Mahārāja was very much pleased: “Yes, I will give You. How much land do You want?” ‘Now, three feet.’ “Three feet? For this you have come to me?” ‘Yes, yes.’ So, “All right, I will give you three feet.”

So by one feet He covered the whole sky, and the other feet, he covered the whole lower planetary system. So Bali Mahārāja understood that what kind of beggar is He. (laughter) Yes. So Vāmanadeva said, “My dear Bali Mahārāja, you promised three feet, but by two feet you have finished all your possession. So what about the other feet?”

BASIC PRINCIPLE OF MATERIAL LIFE IS SEX – THEIR ULTIMATE GOAL IS SEX

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

The whole world is working so hard. They are going to the office, working hours to earn livelihood, but what is the pleasure? The pleasure is sex. That’s all. Their ultimate goal is sex. yan maithunādi-grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham [SB 7.9.45]. So, one should consider, “The sex indulgence is given to the hogs and dogs, and for the same enjoyment I have to work so hard?” This is knowledge. “For same enjoyment? I have got this human form of life for understanding Krishna, for understanding God, my position, what I am. I am not this body. I am spirit soul. I have been put into this body, and because I have been put into this body—the body is material—it must finished. It must be finished.”

By the Mercy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Even an Ignorant Child can Understand the Absolute Truth

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chaitanya Charitamrita

Adi Lila- Chapter 2 – Verse 1

TRANSLATION

I offer my obeisances to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, by whose mercy even an ignorant child can swim across the ocean of conclusions about the ultimate truth, which is full of the crocodiles of various theories.

PURPORT

By the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, even an inexperienced boy with no educational culture can be saved from the ocean of nescience, which is full of various types of philosophical doctrines that are like dangerous aquatic animals. The philosophy of the Buddha, the argumentative presentations of the jnanis, the yoga systems of Patanjali and Gautama, and the systems of philosophers like Kanāda, Kapila and Dattātreya are dangerous creatures in the ocean of nescience. By the grace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu one can have real understanding of the essence of knowledge by avoiding these sectarian views and accepting the lotus feet of Krishna as the ultimate goal of life. Let us all worship Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for His gracious mercy to the conditioned souls.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Golden Incarnation

Adi Lila- Chapter 2 – Verse 2

TRANSLATION

O my merciful Lord Chaitanya, may the nectarean Ganges waters of Your transcendental activities flow on the surface of my desertlike tongue. Beautifying these waters are the lotus flowers of singing, dancing and loud chanting of Krishna’s holy name, which are the pleasure abodes of unalloyed devotees. These devotees are compared to swans, ducks and bees. The river’s flowing produces a melodious sound that gladdens their ears.

PURPORT

Our tongues always engage in vibrating useless sounds that do not help us realize transcendental peace. The tongue is compared to a desert because a desert needs a constant supply of refreshing water to make it fertile and fruitful. Water is the substance most needed in the desert. The transient pleasure derived from

Don’t Remain in the False Conception that “I am making Spiritual Progress by doing Yoga” – Yogic Postures can only Nourish the Body – Not the Soul

By Niraj Bidawatka

Mostly everyone who practices pranayama (breathing exercises) and asanas (bodily postures), thinks that he is on the spiritual path. But this is a wrong conception because he has no idea of the spirit soul. Unless one does not have any idea about the “spirit”, how can he make any “spiritual” progress ? Secondly, when such pranayamas and asanas do not, in any way, nourish the spirit soul, such a belief that “I am progressing on the spiritual path”, is a mistaken idea. This is called illusion, or maya.

Devotees blissfully chanting Hare Krishna and making some tangible spiritual progress

When one starts doing yogic exercises, his body feels rejuvenated and fit and strong. This bodily fitness gives him a feeling of

They will present so many False Gods but they will not Worship the Real God

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

The science of Krishna consciousness or God consciousness is not meant for the rascals. It is meant for the intellectual persons. Krishna yei bhaje sei bada catura: Unless one is very intelligent, he cannot be God conscious or Krishna conscious.

kaumāra ācaret prājno dharmān bhāgavatān iha

durlabham mānusam janma tad apy adhruvam arthadam

[Srimad Bhagavatam 7.6.1]

Therefore this word is used: prājna: pra means prakrsta-rūpena, specifically. jna means a man of intellect. So Bhāgavata-dharma means to re-establish our lost relationship with God.

Therefore in every section of human society there is an attempt to re-establish our relationship with God. But at the present moment there is a systematic propaganda to forget whatever little relationship we have got with God. People may not understand what is the science of God, but still, people know that there is something like God.

Every Householder Must Offer Food to the Lord – You Can Thus Satisfy All Your Guests

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Srimad Bhagavatam

Canto 1 – Chapter 15 – Verse 11

TRANSLATION

During our exile, Durvasa Muni, who eats with his ten thousand disciples, intrigued with our enemies to put us in dangerous trouble. At that time He [Lord Krishna], simply by accepting the remnants of food, saved us. By His accepting food thus, the assembly of munis, while bathing in the river, felt sumptuously fed. And all the three worlds were also satisfied.

PURPORT

Durvasa Muni, a powerful mystic brahmana, had about ten thousand disciples, and wherever he visited and became a guest of the great kshatriya kings, he used to be accompanied by a number of followers. Once he visited the house of Duryodhana, the enemy cousin of Maharaja Yudhisthira. Duryodhana was intelligent enough to satisfy the brahmana by all means, and the great rsi wanted to give some benediction to Duryodhana. Duryodhana knew his mystic powers, and he knew also that the mystic brahmana, if dissatisfied, could cause some havoc, and thus he designed to engage the brahmana to show his wrath upon his enemy cousins, the Pandavas. When the rsi wanted to award some benediction to Duryodhana, the latter wished that he should visit the house of Maharaja Yudhisthira, who was the eldest and chief among all his cousins. But by his request he would go to him after he had finished his meals with his Queen, Draupadi. Duryodhana knew that after Draupadi’s dinner it would be impossible for Maharaja Yudhisthira to receive such a large number of brahmana guests, and thus the rsi would be annoyed and would create some trouble for his cousin Maharaja Yudhisthira. That was the plan of Duryodhana. Durvasa Muni agreed to this proposal, and he approached the King in exile, according to the plan of Duryodhana, after the King and Draupadi had finished their meals.

Bill Clinton volunteers for serving Prasadam at the Hare Krishna Temple in Bangalore

On his arrival at the door of Maharaja Yudhisthira, he was at once well received, and the King requested him to finish his noontime religious rites in the river, for by that time the foodstuff would be prepared. Durvasa Muni, along with his large number of disciples, went to take a bath in the river, and Maharaja Yudhisthira was in great anxiety about the guests. As long as Draupadi had not taken her meals, food could be served to any number of guests, but the rsi, by the plan of Duryodhana, reached there after Draupadi had finished her meals.

When the devotees are put into difficulty, they have an opportunity to recollect the Lord with rapt attention. So Draupadi was thinking of Lord Krishna in that dangerous position, and the all-pervading Lord could at once know the dangerous position of His devotees. He therefore came there on the scene and asked Draupadi to give whatever food she might have in her stock. On her being so requested by the Lord, Draupadi was sorrowful because the Supreme Lord asked her for some food and she was unable to supply it at that time. She said to the Lord that the mysterious dish which she had received from the sun-god could supply any amount of food if she herself had not eaten. But on that day she had already taken her meals, and thus they were in danger.