Spoken December 29
Cc. Madhya 20.358-359
Prabhupāda: " bhāgavatārambhe vyāsa maṅgalācaraṇe ‘parameśvara’ nirūpila ei dui lakṣaṇe" So we have been discussing the symptoms, characteristics, of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One characteristic is that is eternally constant, or present with Him, and another characteristic is that it is sometimes manifested, sometimes not manifested. These two characteristics are called the superior energy and the inferior energy. Manifestation of the superior energy is always constant, prese…
Purport to Gaurāṅga Bolite Habe
Prabhupāda: This song was sung by Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, a great devotee-ācārya in the disciplic succession of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Sampradāya. Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Sampradāya means the disciplic succession who are coming down from Lord Caitanya. So this Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has written many songs, and it is recognized as a authority by all the Vaiṣṇavas. He has sung the songs in simple Bengali language, but the purport and the deep meaning of the song is very significant. He says:…
Bg 13.1-2 Lecture
Bhagavad-gītā 13.1–2 Pradyumna: Translation: “Arjuna said: O my dear Kṛṣṇa, I wish to know prakṛti, nature; puruṣa, or the enjoyer; and the field and the knower of the field; and of knowledge and the end of knowledge. The Blessed Lord then said: This body, O son of Kuntī, is called the field, and one who knows this bodyPrabhupāda:Pradyumna:Prabhupāda:Pradyumna:Prabhupāda:Pradyumna:Prabhupāda:Pradyumna:Prabhupāda:Pradyumna:Prabhupāda:Indian man (1):Prabhupāda:Indian man (1):Prabhupāda:…
Morning Walk
Prabhupāda: ... [indistinct] not come? Karandhara: He’s coming Prabhupāda. He just pulled up. Prabhupāda: Oh. Jaya-hari: Prabhupāda?, this morning you talked astrology in your lecture. Is this accepted in the Vedic scripture and by the gurus? Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Astrology means... That is also Vedic. Jaya-hari:Prabhupāda:Svarūpa Dāmodara:Prabhupāda:Dr. Wolfe:Prabhupāda:Svarūpa Dāmodara:Prabhupāda:Sujit:Prabhupāda:Svarūpa Dāmodara:Sujit:Prabhupāda:Sujit:Prabhupāda:Svarūpa Dāmodara:Prab…
SB 1.16.1
Prabhupāda: Hm. So, there are many important words in this verse. The first is dvija-varya-śikṣayā, “trained by the best of the brāhmaṇas.” Dvija. Dvija means twice-born: first birth by the father and mother, and second birth by the spiritual master. That is Vedic civilization, dvija-varya. One must take twice birth. Once birth, father and mother, that is done by the cats and dogs. Any birth, either you take a birth as a cat or dog or human being or anything, there requires father and mother.
So that birth is not sufficient. Therefore a Vaiṣṇava kavi says, janame janame saba pitā-mātā pāya, kṛṣṇa guru nahe mile bhaja hari ei [Prema-vivarta]. In any birth you will get father and mother. It is natural. Without father, mother, how can you get a body? So therefore it is said, janame janame: in any birth. Either human being, or cats, dog, snake, or tree or insect, you will get father and mother. But in every birth you cannot get Kṛṣṇa and guru. That is not possible.
So this birth you can get. This human form of birth you can get. That is the special significance. Father, mother, you can get any birth. It doesn’t matter. But you cannot get Kṛṣṇa and guru. That you can get in this birth. Therefore twice-born. You must get another birth, through the initiation of the spiritual master, dīkṣā. Dīkṣā means initiation. Di means divya jñānam, and kṣa means kṣapayati. From the day of initiation, you simply get spiritual knowledge, transcendental ...
Morning Walk
Prabhupāda: ...free. Free education, why they’ll not accept? Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Free education they will. Prabhupāda: It is free. Guest (1) [Indian man]: It is free education. Prabhupāda: It is free. We are asking people, “Come here, live here, take this education.” Guest (1): Nobody pays anything. Prabhupāda: It is free. Everything is free. We are not going to charge anything. Retired man, come here, take this spiritual education. This is our whole system. [greets guest] Hare Kṛṣṇa.Guest (2) […
Room Conversation
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda is the author of all these books that you see. These books are being translated in every major language of the world. Indian man (1): How many books in number? Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Eighty-four books of four hundred pages each. Indian man (2): How many in vernacular languages printing?Gopāla Kṛṣṇa:Indian man (2):Gopāla Kṛṣṇa:Indian man (2):Gopāla Kṛṣṇa:Indian man (1):Gopāla Kṛṣṇa:Prabhupāda:Indian man (2):Indian man (3):Prabhupāda:Gopāla Kṛṣṇa:Indian…
Letters December 29
Balai My dear Balai dasi, Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter of Dec. 26, 1967. In reply I am very happy to hear you are doing so nicely in executing this Krishna Consciousness. Please go on chanting Hare Krishna, and typing, cooking, cleaning or whatever the engagement for Krishna; that way you will always be happy.
Brahmananda My dear Brahmananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 12/27/67, along with the MacMillan Co. agreement form. Prior to this letter I have received your other two letters, but I was expecting this letter, so I did not reply your prior letters earlier. I am sending herewith the agreement duly signed by me. Regarding Mr. Alan Watts introduction, I may inform...
My dear Jadurani, Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter of Dec. 23(?), 1967, and I am glad to hear you are doing so nicely in Krishna Consciousness. Regarding your questions: This incidence is in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Bhismadeva, when he was lying on his arrow bed before passing away, Lord Krishna, accompanied with the Pandavas, came to see him. Ordinarily, Bhismadeva...
Hladini Chicago My dear Hladini devi, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your very nice letter dated 28th November. I am glad to learn that the Deities are being cared for there in Chicago so nicely by your good self. I personally gave instruction to Silavati how to care for the Deities properly when I was in Los Angeles and you were trained up by her. So I am confident that everything...
Jagadisa Toronto My dear Jagadisa, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 26th, 1970. In the meantime I have received one other letter from you and I have replied the same just the other day. I am very glad to learn that you have begun worship of Tulasi in your Toronto Temple. The presence of Tulasi is proof of true devotional atmosphere there. Please...
Cyavana Nairobi My dear Cyavana, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 15, 1972, and I note that you have returned from another successful preaching mission in distant parts of Africa. I am always so much pleased to hear such good news how the traveling preachers are spreading this Krsna Consciousness movement to every nook and corner of the world. Such traveling...
Geneva My dear Pusta Krsna, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 27, 1972, and I can very well appreciate your preaching work on European continent, having received very favorable reports from other big leaders there. That is wanted, that all of you will take upon yourselves the responsibility of preaching widely everywhere the message of Lord Caitanya...
Bombay My dear Vaikunthanatha, Please accept my blessings. Your letter of December 23, 1972, is in hand and I can very well understand your dilemma, it is apparently a common feeling amongst the devotees from your country who come to India for some time. Of course you are educated and trained up in another way, so the style of living as it is found here in India may not be to your liking. That is...
My dear Yasomatinandana, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 27, 1973. I am very glad to hear you are now to leave New York for working at the great task of spreading Krsna Consciousness in India. Lord Caitanya has said those born in India have the special responsibility to spread Krsna Consciousness all over the world. So almost all Indians have...
Bhaktivedanta Manor My dear Mandakini, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 22, December 1974 and have noted the contents carefully. You mentioned in your letter that you are getting only a tourist visa for Moscow. But my original plan was that by marrying this man you would be able to get a permanent resident/permit there in Russia as his wife. But apparently this...
Lautoka My dear Vijayadvaja, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil and have noted the contents carefully. My feeling is that Mr. Punja should be encouraged as much as possible. He can help our movement there a great deal in Fiji. I have written him one letter asking him to take charge of management, handling of money and the registration of the society. I request...
Satish Kumar Varma c/o Jagdamba Chhavikala Ksetra Bagla Marg, Hathras Dist. Aligarh, U.P. Hare Krishna Land Juhu, Bombay-54 My dear Mr. Varma, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your Hindi letter dated 25/11/76. Come to Kumbha Mela by the 14th January. Please find our camp and try to meet us there.
Subhavilasa Don Mills, Canada My dear SubhaVilasa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 9, 1976 and have noted the contents. Thank you for helping in this way by taking signatures in support of our movement from the Indian people in Toronto. Yes, I will be happy to visit your home again next time I come to Toronto. In the meantime, please give whatever assistance...