“If one carries..fulfills the order of the Guru carefully, one can cross over all obstacles in spiritual life. Vedas also say sarva deva moyi guru.

Within the Guru are all the Devas. So in the vaishnava tradition of our sampradaya, instead of worshiping Ganesha when we begin anything auspicious, which is the normal Karma Kanda system, we worship Guru.

Om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
Caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

Within the Guru, Ganesh is there, all the Devas are there. So that is our system. We always first, ado guru, we first worship the Guru in any auspicious ceremony. When we do deity worship, we first do Guru Puja. Then we do the other worship.

So by mercy of Guru, we get the mercy of Krishna.”

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“Our mind is always trying to project itself as the centre of the universe. Sometimes we find that people who start rendering devotional service love to talk about themselves, ‘how dear they are to their guru, how important they are to the world, what great devotees they are and how successful their preaching is.’ Maybe their egos need to be glorified, but it is very painful to hear a person always talk about himself.

On the other hand, how blissful it is when a person always talks about Krishna, Guru and devotional service not putting himself in the centre. But the tendency of the mind is to reflect the false ego platform and try to see the self as having a separate role from Krishna’s.

To make the mind humble and actually take a service attitude requires an abrupt change of perspective. To do that, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura has encouraged that the mind be smashed down to silence. His instruction is that we should pick up a mental broom or shoe and beat our minds a hundred times. It is quite humiliating to be hit by a broom, because it is meant for sweeping dirty things off the floor. Similarly what could be worse than being hit by a pair of shoes.

One who is experienced in material life knows that there are many fair-weather friends, people who show interest only when one has money or position. A powerful or rich man has many such friends, but when the influence of the money is gone then so are such friends.

Actually only Krishna is our real friend and relative. Those who are connected with each other on the spiritual platform are also real relatives because such relationships are spiritual, heart-to-heart, soul-to-soul.

Gajendra, the King of elephants, was surrounded by his wives, children, and other elephants, but none could help when the crocodile in the water captured him. Feeling helpless, he prayed to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Who is above all the demigods and human beings, and Who is creator, maintainer, and destroyer of everything.

In response to his sincere prayers, Lord Visnu personally came and delivered him.

Jayapataka: Krishna said, “I am the cause of remembrance and forgetfulness.”

Prabhupada: Yes. Generally devotee dies remembering Krishna, generally. But even if for material condition he cannot, then Krishna is taken charge.

Panca-dravida: What was the arrangement with Bharata Maharaja?

Prabhupada: And there is no question of hopelessness, no. We have to do our duty very seriously. Then everything is all right.

Panca-dravida: So with Bharata Maharaja, that was special arrangement?

Prabhupada: No. It was…. It was punishment. He became so much, I mean, attached with the animal that he forgot his duty in devotional service. That is stated. Forgot. He neglected. Therefore he was punished, but he remembered that “I did it.” You cannot neglect your duty. Then Krishna is always with you. [break] …way, a soldier is dying in duty, immediately the government takes charge of the whole family. So that is…. Why not Krishna? [break] …Krishna visvasa palana. Bhaktivinoda Thakura has said. You know this song? Avasya rakñibe Krishna visvasa palana.

Jayapataka: “If one maintains his faith, then Krishna…”

Prabhupada: Ah! Yes. One should maintain his faith that “Krishna will give me protection. And my duty is to serve Him.” That’s it.

Jayapataka: Why did Krishna have all the demigod worship put in the Vedas?

Prabhupada : Hm?

Jayapataka: They put… Vyasadeva put all the demigod worship in the Vedas.

Prabhupada: For the karmis. Ksipra bhavati… What is that? Kam kanta…

Jayapataka : Karmanam siddhi.

Prabhupada: Karmanam siddhi yajanti iha devata. Who is interested to take bhakti immediately? Nobody is interested.

Jayapataka: They can get their material facilities from Krishna also.

Prabhupada: Yes. That is recommended. First of all sastra recommends that if you want this thing you worship this deity, this deity. In this way, at last it is said that you can get anything if you worship Krishna. That is said.

Akamah sarvo kama va moksa kama udara dhi tivrena bhakti-yogena. That is for the purpose that if he wants to take advantage, material benefit from Krishna, then Krishna bhajana will be there, gradually they will forget this material benefit. They will become pure devotee. Just like Dhruva Maharaja became. Svamin krtartho ’smi vara na yace.

“Pure devotional service is unconditional and favorable to the Lord’s desire. Since it is Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s desire that His devotees preach cooperatively the glories of the holy names of Krishna, pure devotees unhesitatingly perform this activity at all times under all circumstances.

The thought that an individual will “in his own way” spread Krishna consciousness outside of the sankirtana movement authorized by the previous acaryas is inconceivable for a pure devotee of the Lord.

There is no alternative for one who wants to achieve perfection in Krishna consciousness in this lifetime other than to remain within the shelter of the Krishna consciousness movement and cooperatively work together for the satisfaction of Guru and Gauranga!

“Those who are depending on God, they’re actually stable and steady in their situation. Otherwise material life, one minute things can go pretty good and the next minute, things can suddenly change. We think how easy it is for a human body to be killed. It’s almost a miracle that how we’re alive. I mean see, it doesn’t take much. A car accident, falling of one storey building anything. Somehow Krishna’s mercy we’re alive. It’s a kind of a miraculous thing.

So, in this time, if we actually take the stock of our life and take it as an opportunity in these times of world crisis, to become more fixed up in our spiritual life, to regularly chant hare Krishna, to regularly come to the temples, to make our home as a real ashram. Grihasta home should also make their home as an ashram for their whole family with putting Krishna in the center.

You go in the Navadvip parikrama and visit the homes of different devotees like Murari Gupta. He was a devotee of Sita Ram, he worshipped Sita Ram deity and he had a temple. He lived in a grass hut but made a stone temple for the deities. So, the temple is still there. The Sita-Ram-Laxman-Hanuman deities are still there. Like this Grihastas, they must also worship Krishna whether in a photo form or in a small deity form or whether they construct their own temple.

Prabhupada : …niharam iva bha… It is called nihara. As long, as soon as the sun becomes strong, immediately, everything finished. Just see. This… What is called fog, or…?

Jayapataka: Just like when you came to the West, Prabhupada, you cleared away the fog.

Prabhupada: At least, I tried for that. Whatever is done it is done by Krishna . [break] …keeps intelligent to the sincere servant. Otherwise, everything is done by Krishna . So if you, one is sincere to Krishna , he will act everything rightly because the direction is… Buddhi yoga dadami tam. The perfect direction is there. I do not know why people denies to take direction from Krishna . He gets perfect direction. But he does not like to take. What is this tree?

Jayapataka: The imli, I think.

Prabhupada: Imli.

Jayapataka: Not imli? They call that…

Prabhupada: No, no, not imli. Imli’s different. This way, up to that river? [break] …vasudeva-parayana. Vasudeva-parayana, means Krishna  conscious person, they solve all questions by one thing, Krishna  consciousness. Exactly like the sun solves all the problems of this nihara, foss. It is called foss?

Jayapataka: Fog.

Prabhupada: Fog.

Jayapataka: Mist.

Prabhupada: Niharam iva bhaskara. Let the scientists do it in their scientific way, drive away the fog. Is there any process? Eh? In the ocean, when there is fog like this, they have to stop all the ships and cry, (makes sound like fog horn:) onnnh, onnnh, so that they may not collide. I have seen it when I was coming, going to USA. Where is Mohanananda? He is here? No. Mohanananda? Hare Krishna .

The difference between other camps and our: they call these men from their daily, I mean to say, life, householder’s life, for this purpose for a week or so, but they are not dedicated. Here, in our camp, all our people are dedicated to the cause. That is the difference. So they cannot surpass your activities.

Jayapataka: Because you are dedicated, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Yes, everyone should be dedicated, I or you. Does not… That is the success of life. Dedicate your life for Krishna . That is the perfection. Even there are some faults, even dedicated life is noble life. Maybe, due to our past habits, we may commit some faulty action, but that dedicated life is sublime. Api cet suduracaro bhajate mam ananya-bhak, sadhur eva sa mantavyau [Bg. 9.30].

Morning Walk
March 4th, 1974
Mayapur
Reference: Vedabase Folios

“We change our name at initiation, but if we  don’t change the consciousness, then what is the use?

Our point is that the consciousness has to be purified. It says in the first Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam ‘janata agha viplavah’, that in every shloka and every verse of the Srimad Bhagavatam, it has the potency to create a revolution in our sinful consciousness

Similarly we should be detached from our materialistic point of view and become attached  to cultivating and developing this type of spiritual knowledge, so that we can actually very systematically purify the consciousness. If we don’t purify the consciousness, what is the benefit of practicing?

Real benefit comes from purifying the consciousness and then engaging that purified consciousness in devotional service.

It doesn’t matter what externally one’s birth might have been, but if one’s consciousness has become purified, then they are elevated. And they become eternal consort or associate of the Lord. They become connected with the Lord eternally.”

“Preaching Krishna consciousness is the Ultimate Shelter for the followers of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Preaching Krishna consciousness is non-different from Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu—it is an extension of His own transcendental pastimes.

Those who have deviated from the path of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and yet want to cheat themselves and others that they are still, in fact, true followers of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu or otherwise genuinely on the bonafide spiritual path create distorted philosophies and unauthorized systems to substantiate their false claim . They criticize the real followers of Lord Caitanya and the authorized process of Krishna consciousness being bewildered by their materialistic minds and false egos.

The first verse of “What Kind of Devotee Are You?” is more than a nuclear blast destroying these misconceptions to ashes . Therefore, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has repeatedly referred to this verse of his writings to protect all sincere seekers and followers from these fatal dangers along the path of Krishna consciousness. ”

“His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has used the appropriate analogy of Cream.

Cream naturally rises to the top of the milk, and similarly, if the devotee’s Desires are pure, light and free from all material contaminations, that pure desire will pull one higher and higher in Devotional Activities.

There is no need to be misled; one should exclude all other desires except one- to be the servant of the servant, in other words, to be a pure Vaisnava.”

“When a living being attempts to enjoy separately from the Lord, he enters Maya’s Web.

Just as an unwitting insect flies into a spider’s web and, just as by struggling, the fly becomes increasingly entangled, so the unwitting living being becomes increasingly implicated in illusion the more he struggles to implement his Independent plans.

On the other hand, just as a baby spider crawls nonchalantly across the web, so the devotee who is linked with Lord Madhava, the original author of illusion, remains free from material entanglement.

By personal devotion and dedication of all one’s wealth to Lord Madhava’s service, one can easily be liberated from the web of illusion.”

“In good times anybody can serve Krishna. Difficult times are a REAL TEST of a devotee.

Sometimes because of our Karmas or something, the situation becomes very complicated. Krishna is just watching. He allows it to go on. But anyway nothing happens without His permission. When he sees that the devotee, even though in problem, is still thinking of Me and is wanting to serve Me, then he becomes ‘purchased’ and feels that this devotee is so determined to serve Me.

If you want to impress Krishna, you should serve Him not only in the good times but other times also. In difficult times if we say, “Forget it, I won’t serve”, that kind of friend you can get anywhere. You can buy people like that. Real Devotee means, that you serve anytime and in any circumstance.

Krishna promises He will protect you. He wants to see whether you believe Him or not. If He sees that this person even in distress is looking to Him for protection, then Krishna will protect. If he is not looking for protection, then why will He protect? We have to be fixed that we want Krishna’s protection, then He will protect us, in His own way.”

Jayapataka: Everything you plan is perfect.

Prabhupada: No. I imagine. Krishna makes it perfect. I think, “It would have been nice if it would have been like this,” but Krishna… Yei prasade pure sarva asa. Long, long ago, when I was publishing Back to Godhead, one sheet, I was thinking that “What is this sheet? If it would have been like Illustrated Weekly, then it would have been nice.” Now they are coming like that.

Jayapataka: Now ‘Illustrated Weekly’ is nothing compared to Back to Godhead.

Prabhupada: No. (laughs) Better than Illustrated Weekly. I thought of getting some help from artist. For painting picture, I will dictate, and they will paint picture. Now Krishna has got lots of artists. So depend on Krishna. He can do everything. Krishna-Balarama.

“Nowadays we try to organize once a week namahata meeting, or house program or get people to come to the Sunday feast but they’re too busy. They cant even break away one night to come together for a meeting and have some kirtan in somebody’s house. This is our progress in the modern society. We progress so much that people are so stressed out that they cant even get together and chant ‘Hare Krishna’ once in a week.

But somehow or the other we must make the time, because we sing together, study the Bhagvatam, study the Caitanya Caritamrita, study the Bhagavad Gita. This actually makes our minds very peaceful, very fixed up in Krishna consciousness and makes our spiritual life very clear. The whole existence becomes balanced.

We become like these mountains we discussed earlier. Solid, even in the midst of clouds, even in the midst of lightening. The mountains stand stiff, solid. We want to be able to survive these difficulties which keep coming in the modern society. We don’t know where its going to lead. It could lead anywhere.”

“Every one of us has experienced how someone in a completely miserable condition – like a person in traction in a hospital – says “I am fine!” when asked “How are you?”, just because he has slightly less pain since the day before. This is the standard of material happiness.

In His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s books and lectures, a similar example is often given. From this example one easily realizes that in material life it is not real happiness that is experienced; rather one experiences simply momentary happiness.

Real happiness is not dependent on material situations, is fully satisfying, and can be experienced when in Krishna Consciousness.

When one is able to understand all these truths about material and spiritual life, that is not an ordinary thing. It is only possible by the special mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

“In the previous ages, the Lord was carrying weapons. When the devas approached Caitanya Mahaprabhu when He was still in the womb of His mother, they were glorifying Him that, in every incarnation You come, and You deliver the demons and You deliver Your devotees.

The demons are delivered by getting killed by the Lord and then they are given moksha. They merge into the light of the Lord. The devotees of the Lord are given His shelter, and the achieve Vaikunta.

But in the incarnation of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord doesn’t carry any weapons of violence. His weapons are only weapons of Love, of Bhajan.

Mrdangas, Kartals, Srimad Bhavagat, His personal beauty, His associates, His festivals…these are all transcendental weapons of the Lord. But they are weapons to kill our demoniac nature! The weapons are not to kill us, but the weapons to kill our demoniac nature only…leaving the devotional nature. That is the special mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

So we see in all the incarnations They are very affectionate to the devotees, but Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the personified…total compassion! Even Jagai-Madhai beat Lord Nithyananda, still Lord Nithyananda gave them His mercy. Who can be more merciful? ”

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“By preaching we can burn up the effects of our offenses. By helping others to be Krishna Conscious, we attract the mercy of Krishna in a very quick manner and we can advance quickly.

For those who are liberated, there are also special rasa when they go out and preach and that is what the Lord wants.

So whether one is a very neophyte or one is a liberated soul, they can all engage in preaching.”

“Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and his beloved disciple, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, are “sages” or bona fide spiritual masters whose instructions are Transparent Windows to the Spiritual World.

Where blindly following can cause mishap, one is protected by carefully comprehending the instructions of the previous spiritual masters and the Vedic literatures using reasoning and logic. Logical reflection on the teachings of Krishna is recommended, while mental speculation based on material conceptions and blind sentiments are forbidden.

On the long journey back to Godhead, who but a fool would travel without a map, without a guide? However, when a devotee has a bonafide spiritual master and the Vedic literatures as his guide and yet instead listens to his false ego, that is even more foolish..”

“ What ever pleasures one is getting by meditating on Krishna’s qualities, that pleasure is coming again newer and newer!

This newness is something everybody is hankering for in the material world. You see in the store, on the packages-New! Newest! The daily newspapers tell you what’s new, what’s the latest. What is new is news. Something you don’t know yet, something that’s new for you, something that is inexperienced.

So people go to great lengths not to get bored. Some TV show maybe gets top ratings, but after a while the materialists get bored with it. When it goes down they want something new. People want always something new.

The wonder, “How is it that you can always be just worshiping Krishna? Don’t you get bored?”

Krishna is Nava Nava. He is EVER NEW! The ecstasy of worshiping Krishna or serving Krishna is ever new. You always feel that this is a new happiness; this is something better than I have ever experienced before, this is something different, this is something new. The devotee doesn’t feel any compulsion to look for something different. He thinks, “Why should I go looking for something different when Krishna is giving ever new transcendental pleasures?”