You are put into jail for committing theft – That does not mean that you become an honest man

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

yathā paṅkena paṅkāmbhaḥ

surayā vā surākṛtam

bhūta-hatyāṁ tathaivaikāṁ

na yajñair mārṣṭum arhati (SB 1.8.52)

“As it is not possible to filter muddy water through mud, nor purify a wine-stained pot with wine, it is not possible to counteract the killing of men by sacrificing animals.” [Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.52]

Prabhupāda: Now, here one of the most important points is surākṛtaṁ bhūta-hatyām. Surākṛtam means things becoming impure simply by touching liquor. Liquor is so impure. Just like you have got a very big pot of milk, but if you put one drop of wine in it, it becomes immediately impure. You can analyze chemically—immediately impure. That surā, liquor, has become our daily affair. We are so impure.

And bhūta-hatyā, and killing of animals. The modern civilization means large-scale arrangement for killing animals and large-scale arrangement for distilling liquor, especially in the Western countries. And India is also now following. So this is the position of the world. What is being condemned by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, that, those items at the present moment are being encouraged by the government. This is the difference between this government and Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira’s government. You can just imagine.

So the example is very nice. Yathā paṅkena paṅkāmbhaḥ. Muddy water, if you bring muddy water, if you want to cleanse it, precipitate, then you cannot add another lump of mud in it. No. You have to add something chemical, just like alum. In muddy water if you put little alum chemical . . . Am I right, chemist?

Sins, Sufferings and the Power of the Holy Name

By Niraj Bidawatka

Prabhupada has given a very simple definition of religion. Srila Prabhupada, in one of his lectures. defines Religion as “Law of God.”

When we violate the laws of God, it is called sin.

As the proportion of sins increases, suffering increases.

Our inherent nature is to remain happy. No one wants unhappiness.

But due to the stock of our past and present sins, we are forced to suffer.

This suffering can be stopped by chanting Hare Krishna because the holy name of God has the power to destroy our sins.

RAKSHA-BANDHAN IS NOT OBSERVED BY VAISHNAVAS

Letters of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

San Francisco
26 March, 1968

 

My Dear Mukunda,

Please accept my blessings. I am sorry I am delayed to reply your letter dated March 14, 1968, which I received over a week ago. I am very glad that you are repentant even for some action which is not sanctioned by me. This attitude is very nice and improves one in progressing on the path of devotional service. The Rakhi Bandhan ceremony observed by you under instruction of Prasad isn’t approved by our Vaisnava rituals. Of course, such ceremony is observed among the Hindu community as a socio-religious convention. But in our Vaisnava community there is no such observance. Now, forget the incidence, and in future don’t be misled by some unauthorized person.

Our next ceremony is Lord Ramacandra’s Birthday, on the 7th of April. It should be observed in the same way as Lord Caitanya’s Appearance Day, namely, fasting up to evening and then accept Prasadam, and all our ceremonies should be performed with continuous Kirtana, of Hare Krishna, Hare Rama. That will make all our functions successful.

WHY IS MEAT-EATING PROHIBITED?

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Five thousand years ago Krishna came to kill some of the demons. (At that time) not all of them were demons. But the next time, when Krishna will come, there will only be demons. Only demons.

Kalki avatāra. What is that stotra? Keśava dhr̥ta-kalki-śarīra jaya jagadīśa hare. So at that time Krishna will not preach Bhagavad-gītā. Kalki avatāra will simply come to cut the throat only. That will be the preaching. That will be preaching. Mleccha-nivaha-nidhane kalayasi karavālam, karālam. Karālam means death personified. Mleccha-nidhane. Mleccha means meat-eaters. Those who are meat-eaters, fish-eaters, they are mlecchas. Mleccha-yavana, they are called, according to Vedic…

Kalki Avatara

So people are becoming meat-eaters nowadays. There is no secrecy. Formerly, at least in India, the meat-eaters used to eat meat very secretly. We had seen in our childhood. If somebody will eat meat, it was not allowed within the house. They, formerly, rich men, they used to keep Muslim servants as the caretaker of the horse or the carriage driver. So in the horse stable they would secretly cook some meat, and the so-called Babu, Zamindar, would eat. It was not allowed. And those who were not rich — poor men, śūdra class—they would go to Kālī-ghāṭa, and get one goat, sacrifice there, and cook there and eat, then come back. Meat-eating was not at all allowed. The higher caste, especially the brāhmaṇas, they would never touch. Still in some provinces, in Maharastra province, in Madras… Of course, they are now taking.

“TRUST IN GOD” IS NOT SUFFICIENT

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda

Meditation means to absorb your mind in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is meditation, real meditation. In all the standard scriptures and in yoga practice formula, the whole aim is to concentrate one’s mind in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is called samādhi, ecstasy. So that ecstasy is immediately brought by this chanting process. You begin chanting and hear for the few seconds or few minutes: you immediately come on the platform of ecstasy. Therefore, Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommended this process not only for India but for all the people of the world. He said that pr̥thivīte āche yata nagarādi grāma. Pr̥thivī means “on the face of the world”; ache, “when there is.” Nagar means “towns,” and grāma means “village” or “county.” So He said, “As many villages, towns, or counties, the human society, there are on the surface of the globe,” sarvatra pracāra haibe more nāma: “My name”- means Lord Caitanya’s name, because He introduced the simple method of chanting Hare Krishna – “will be celebrated.” That is His prediction.

Beatle George Harrisson chanting with the Hare Krishna devotees in London, circa 1968

So, we can see practically also that somehow or other, in your country this chanting Hare Krishna is introduced practically, since one year only, but it is getting popular. People are taking it very seriously. Even some places where I never visited, they are organizing centers. I have received information from Buffalo, from Atlantic City. One little boy, Terry, he is organizing. He has invited some of our brahmacārīs (celibate students) to go there. And I have received letter from Germany, from Holland. They also have begun chanting Hare Krishna. In England, the Britain, the Beatles, they are also chanting. So this is getting popular in the Western countries, and it will get, I am sure.

So this chanting process introduced by Lord Caitanya should be seriously taken up so that our aim of human life will be successful. We have forgotten. Na te viduh svārtha-gatim hi viṣṇum [SB 7.5.31]. We have forgotten… The modern civilization has… In your country I was reading a little history that in 1813 or some year the government introduced “We trust in God,” and that was declared by the secretary to be published on the coins or on the paper currency, and we see sometimes.

Although Modern Philanthropic Physicians Open Gigantic Hospitals, There Are No Hospitals to Cure the Material Disease of the Spirit Soul

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chaitanya Charitamrita

Adi Lila | Chapter 10 

Text 51

cikitsā karena yāre ha-iyā sadaya

deha-roga bhava-roga,—dui tāra ksaya

TRANSLATION

As Murari Gupta treated his patients, by his mercy both their bodily and spiritual diseases subsided.

PURPORT

Murari Gupta could treat both bodily and spiritual disease because he was a physician by profession and a great devotee of the Lord in terms of spiritual advancement. This is an example of service to humanity. Everyone should know that there are two kinds of diseases in human society.

The entrance of Murari Gupta’s house in Mayapur-Navadvipa Dhama, West Bangal | Sri Murari Gupta was an intimate associate of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

PEACE AND UNITY IS NOT POSSIBLE WITH AN UNCLEAN HEART – THEREFORE CLEAN YOUR HEART BY CHANTING HARE KRISHNA

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Rupa Gosvami says auspicity means that which spreads for everyone, in all parts of the world. That is auspicity. Not partial. In politics or sociology or humanitarian activities, there is partiality for a certain section of human being, or certain section of living beings. But this chanting of Hare Krishna mantra, awakening of dormant Krishna consciousness, is meant for all living entities. Even birds, beasts, insects, they can also awaken. This is the recommendation of Haridasa Thakura – that if we chant loudly, the trees will hear, the birds will hear, the insect will hear, and they will be liberated. Therefore chanting of Hare Krishna mantra and awakening of dormant Krishna consciousness is the auspicious, welfare activity, for every living entity all over the world.

Unity and Peace is possible only when everyone accepts Krishna, or God as the Supreme Enjoyer

At the present moment, groups of people are engaged in welfare activities in terms of society, community or nation. There is even an attempt in the form of the United Nations for world-help activity. But due to the shortcomings of limited national activities, such a general mass welfare program for the whole world is not practically possible. The Krishna consciousness movement, however, is so nice that it can render the highest benefit to the entire human race. Everyone can be attracted by this movement, and everyone can feel the result. Now the human welfare activities are now developed in the form of United Nations. They are trying for the last twenty years, but still, even the nations have not become united, what to speak of other welfare activities.

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

It is just a comparison, a little comparison, but this Krishna consciousness movement was started, practically, from 1967. I went there in 1965, and for one year I could not do anything. In 1966 this movement was registered in New York, and from 1966 it is spreading. So within four or five years it has spread all over the world. We have got branches in every part of the globe. And at least, people know there is a movement, Krishna consciousness, and we are welcome everywhere as Krishna conscious people. Our name is “Hare Krishna People.” So people may take note of it that within a short period, it has spread so widely. In comparison to United Nations, what we are? We have no money. We have no means. We have no influence. We have no government support. Nothing of the sort. But still, it is spreading.

The Chanting of Krishna’s Holy Name is far above all mundane pious activity

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

koti aśvamedha eka krishna nāma sama

yei kahe, se pāsandī, dande tāre yama

SYNONYMS

koti—ten million; aśvamedha—horse sacrifices; eka—one; krishna—of Lord Krishna; nāma—name; sama—equal to; yei—one who; kahe—says; se—he; pāsandī—atheist; dande—punishes; tāre—him; yama—Yamarāja.

TRANSLATION

One who says that ten million aśvamedha sacrifices are equal to the chanting of the holy name of Lord Krishna is undoubtedly an atheist. He is sure to be punished by Yamarāja.

PURPORT

In the list of the ten kinds of offenses in chanting the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hare Krishna, the eighth offense is dharma-vrata-tyāga-hutādi-sarva-śubha-kriyā-sāmyam api pramādah. One should never consider the chanting of the holy name of Godhead equal to pious activities like giving charity to brāhmanas or saintly persons, opening charitable educational institutions, distributing free food and so on. The results of pious activities do not equal the results of chanting the holy name of Krishna.

The Vedic scriptures say:

go-koti-dānam grahane khagasya

prayāga-gangodaka-kalpa-vāsah

yajnāyutam meru-suvarna-dānam

govinda-kīrter na samam śatāmśaih

“Even if one distributes ten million cows in charity during an eclipse of the sun, lives at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamunā for millions of years, or gives a mountain of gold in sacrifice to the brāhmanas,

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

A Disciple may leave the Bonafide Spiritual Master but the Spiritual Master never lets go of His disciple

Letters of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

 

 

Calcutta

23 November, 1967

 

 

 

My Dear Umapati,

Please accept my blessings. I am so glad to receive your letter dated 15th Nov. 1967. You’re very anxious to see me back in New York and I may inform you that I had settled to be in San Francisco on the 24 of Nov. but due to a petty revolution in Calcutta I am not able to leave. Future arrangements are pending. I wish to go from San Francisco to the other two new branches and then return to New York.

Prabhupada with His disciples during the early days of ISKCON

I am so glad to learn that you are now getting the fruit of chanting Hare Krishna. Hare Krishna is so nice that it clears the dirty things from the mind of the devotee and the more one is used to chant the Holy Name offenselessly, the more one develops love of God, forgetting the whole material nonsense. (It is my duty to deliver you the right thing in right earnestness and it is the duty of the receiver to act in the standard spiritual regulation. When you left us I simply prayed to Krishna for your return to Krishna Consciousness because that was my duty. Any good soul who approaches me once for spiritual enlightenment is supposed to be depending on my responsibility to get him back to Krishna, back to home. The disciple may misunderstand a bona fide spiritual master being obliged to do so under pressure of Maya’s influence. But a bona fide spiritual master never lets go of a devotee once accepted. When a disciple misunderstands a bona fide spiritual master, the master regrets for his inability to protect the disciple and sometimes he cries with tears in the eyes. We had an experience while my Guru Maharaja was alive. One of His disciples who accepted sannyasa was one day forcibly dragged by his wife. My Guru Maharaja lamented with tears in His eyes saying that He could not save the soul.)