Friday, May 30, 2008
Friday, February 2, 1968
Los Angeles, Calif.
My Dear Purusottama,
Please accept my blessings. I am so glad to receive your letter (undated), and I have noted the contents carefully.
Krishna is so sublime and transcendental that He cannot be realized by mental speculation or by personal endeavor, education, or material acquisition. He can only be approached and understood clearly by our service attitude, engaging all our senses in His service. The beginning of service is to engage our hearing organs, and receive the transcendental message by aural reception.
And whenever we are mature in receiving the transcendental message from books like Bhagavad-gita, and Srimad-Bhagavatam, via media the transparent bona fide Spiritual Master, then we are able to chant or engage our tongue in the service of the Lord, being engaged in the service of the Lord.
The material covering of our senses becomes inactive and actual spiritual form of activity becomes manifest. I very much appreciate your development of this spiritual perception, and Krishna has given you a good chance in the matter of your proposed dealings with the U.N. Please immediately finish the job by incorporating our association in the U.N. It is a very good opportunity. Consult Brahmananda and do it immediately.
In the future, we will have very great scope for introducing our Krishna Consciousness for leaders amongst all the nations. I think it is a very great opportunity for us, and we should utilize it.
Monday, May 26, 2008
September 22, 1969
London
My Dear Bhagavan das,
Actually, in every town and city there are many, many devotees of Krishna; now it is our business to go around the world wherever people are congregating and pick up these sincere souls. The world is suffering for want of this knowledge of Krishna Consciousness, and we experience practically that many people will take to this spiritual line simply if we make this information available to them.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
June 8, 1969
New Vrindaban
My Dear Hamsaduta,
Regarding the Beatle hero, certainly you will find him nonsense. Actually they are nonsense, but in the Western part of the world it is a folly to be wise, and ignorance is bliss. This whole material civilization is gross ignorance, and therefore you cannot expect very intelligent persons in this part of the world.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
“Eager to Talk with Krishna”
Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.35
Bombay, December 4, 1974
listen
——————————————————————————–
Nitai: “O My mother, My devotees always see the smiling face of My form, with eyes like the rising morning sun. They like to see My various transcendental forms, which are all benevolent, and they also talk favorably with Me.”
Prabhupada:
pasyanti te me rucirany amba santah
prasanna-vaktraruna-locanani
rupani divyani vara-pradani
sakam vacam sprhaniyam vadanti
[SB 3.25.35]
In the previous verse it is said, anyonyato bhagavatah prasajya sabhajayante mama paurusani. Those who are devotees, they assemble together. Bodhayantah parasparam. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said, “They discuss about the glories of the Lord.” Bodhayantah parasparam. That is sadhu-sanga [Cc. Madhya 22.83]. We have also discussed this. Satam prasangan mama virya-samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah [SB 3.25.25]. When things are discussed about the Supreme Personality of Godhead amongst the devotees, it becomes a different thing than the discussion in the debating club of the nondevotees. The krsna-katha is not a subject matter for debating club. It is meant for the devotees. Without devotees, nobody can understand. The others who are not devotee, they simply waste their time in reading Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam, such literature. They simply waste their time because these subject matters are for the devotees.
We have several times discussed this point that the so-called scholars, politicians, and philosophers, they read Bhagavad-gita and comment in a different way. This is their foolishness. They cannot understand Bhagavad-gita. It is not possible. My Guru Maharaja used to say, “It is just licking the bottle of honey.” Now you want honey. I give you one bottle, but you do not know how to taste it. You begin to lick up the bottle. Then what you will taste? If you think, “Here is the bottle of honey. Let me lick,” you will not get any taste. It must be opened. But the opening key is with the devotee. You do not know how to open it. Therefore it is said, satam prasangan mama virya-samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah [SB 3.25.25]. The devotees know how to open it, the bottle. And then they can taste. Therefore, sabhajayante mama paurusani.
In the Bhagavad-gita Krsna says to Arjuna that “I am speaking to you this science of Bhagavad-gita.” Imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam [Bg. 4.1]. Idam yogam. Bhagavad-gita means bhakti-yogam. So Krsna said formerly, say, four hundred millions of years ago. Bhagavad-gita is not new. It is… First of all it was spoken to sun-god, and from the Manu’s age and others’ age we can calculate it is about some millions of years ago it was spoken. Imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam [Bg. 4.1]. So Krsna said, “That very old yoga system I am speaking to you again. It is not a new thing that I am manufacturing for you. No.” Everything… God is eternal and His instruction is also eternal. And the followers are also eternal. There is nothing new. Nityah sasvato ‘yam puranah. Nityah sasvato ‘yam puranah. Very old, but still, it is eternal and fresh. This is spiritual matter. You read Bhagavad-gita. It was spoken four hundred millions of years ago, and then again, five thousand years ago. Still, if you read Bhagavad-gita daily, you will find it fresh. You will never find it old. As Krsna is never old, advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam adyam purana-purusam [Bs. 5.33]. Krsna is the Purana…, the oldest man, but nava-yauvanam ca. But He is always… See. You will find Krsna just a young boy of twenty years. Nava-yauvanam ca. So similarly, Krsna’s words, everything Krsna, absolute. His name, His form, His quality, His activities — they are all fresh and new. Otherwise, how the devotees can glorify the same Krsna daily with greater enthusiasm? Greater enthusiasm. The more you glorify, you feel more enthusiastic to more glorify, glorify, glorify.
This is spiritual. In the material world, if you speak one thing once, twice, thrice, four times, then it becomes disgusting. But how this Hare Krsna mantra… You are chanting. You can chant twenty-four hours. It will feel fresh and enthusiasm. That is spiritual. Therefore… Therefore it is not a subject matter, this sound is not like this radio, material sound. It is also sound, but it is spiritual sound, and it is coming from the spiritual world. Just like in the material world we can release some sound. From here, it can be heard from thousands of miles, but not more than that. The spiritual sound, it is released from many, many millions and millions and trillions of miles away; still, it can be heard, provided you have got the machine to capture it. That is bhagavata-prema.
So those who have got developed love of Godhead, they can hear. As it is said in the Bhagavad-gita, Krsna says that “I am speaking to you the old message, Bhagavad-gita, which I spoke to sun-god some millions of years ago.” So “Why You are speaking to me? I am not a Vedantist. I am not a sannyasi. I am not any advance in spiritual understanding.” People may say. But Krsna says, “Yes. You are My bhakta.” Bhakto ’si. Therefore to understand Bhagavad-gita means one has to become first of all a bhakta. The so-called nondevotee, atheist class, scholar and politician, they cannot understand. It is not possible. They cannot enter into it. The same thing, licking up the honey bottle, that’s all. What you will taste? It is not possible. Therefore Krsna says,
tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah
[Bg. 4.34]
The same example can be… You can go to a person who knows how to open the bottle of honey. Then you can taste. Otherwise, if you simply lick up the book, Bhagavad-gita, becoming a very big scholar, you will never taste it. You will never taste it. You can satisfy yourself, “Now I am licking up daily Bhagavad-gita, thrice,” but what you will understand unless you are a devotee? You will not understand. The bottle is packed up.
So here it is said, pasyanti te me rucirany amba santah? “They can see Me, santah.” Not these rascals and fools. They cannot see. Naham prakasah sarvasya yoga-maya-samavrtah [Bg. 7.25], Bhagavan says in the Bhagavad-gita that “I am not exposed to these fools and rascals, nondevotees.” Why I say “fools and rascals” to the nondevotees? I am not saying; Krsna says. Na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah [Bg. 7.15]. Mudha means rascal. Mudha means rascal. And duskrtinah, duskrtinah mean always engaged in sinful activities, no restraint. They can eat everything, they can drink everything, they can do everything without any restriction. They think, “What is there in drinking and eating in the matter of religion?” That is the new invention of swamis and yogis, that “You can do everything, and still you become advanced.” But that is not possible. One has to become a pure brahmana. Then why, in the Vedic civilization, a pure brahmana is so respected? Because they are symbolic representation of the Vedas. Satyam samo damas titiksa arjavam jnanam vijnanam astikyam [Bg. 18.42]. That is brahmana, who has got this qualification, satyam, who has taken the Absolute Truth as the aim of life. People, ordinary people, how they will know? Satyam saucam, very clean always, tri-sandhya-snana, taking bathing thrice. Satyam saucam samam, controlling the mind, not that “I am servant of my mind. I shall do whatever my mind dictates.” These are the qualification of brahmana. Samam damam, controlling the senses. These are the symbolic representation of the Vedas.
So therefore satam prasangan, that one has to discuss about the Supreme Personality of Godhead amongst the satam, santah. Satam, santah, the same thing. Santah. Here the word is used, santah. Pasyanti me, te me rucirany amba: “Mother, they can see, santah.” Santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti. In the Brahma-samhita again this word is used, santah.
“Eager to Talk with Krishna”
Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.35
Bombay, December 4, 1974
premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti
yam syamasundaram acintya-guna-svarupam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs. 5.38]
So the Krsna, Govinda, Syamasundara, is meant for the santa, not for the naradhamas, duskrtinas, mudhas. They cannot understand. One has to qualify himself to be sinless. Na mam duskrtinah… This is said, and another paragraph is there, yesam tv anta-gatam papam jananam punya-karmanam: “Those who are completely free from sinful activities,” yesam tu anta-gatam, “no more touch with sinful life,” te dvandva-moha-nirmukta bhajante mam drdha-vratah [Bg. 7.28], “they can fix up their devotional service to Krsna.” It is not so easy. But one can become immediately a santa, within a second. How? That also, Krsna says, that,
sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah
[Bg. 18.66]
The qualification is: unless one is sinless, he cannot understand Krsna. He cannot understand what is krsna-bhajana. But if one is eager — he’s actually very eager — he can do it immediately.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Friday, Januay 30, 1970
Los Angeles
J.F. Staal
Professor of Philosophy
and of South Asian Languages
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
My Dear Professor Staal;
But I am surprised to see that in the last paragraph of your letter you say, “it is an indisputable fact that the Bhagavad-gita (not to mention the Vedas) does not require such constant chanting.” I think, however, that you have missed the following verse in Bhagavad-gita, apart from many other similar verses.
satatam kirtayanto mam yatantas ca drdha vratah
namasyantas ca mam bhaktya nitya-yukta upasate
[Bg. 9.14]
The engagements of the Great Souls, freed from delusion and perfect in their realization of God, are described here: “Satatam kirtayanto mam” [Bg. 9.14]– they are always (satatam) chanting (kirtayanto) My glories, and “nitya-yukta upasate”–always worshiping Me.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
February 2, 1970
Los Angeles
My Dear Dindayal,
Please accept my blessings. I am very glad to accept you as my disciple, and I am returning herewith your beads duly chanted upon by me.
Your initiated name is Dindayal das Brahmacari. Din means poor and dayal means merciful. Krishna is so very merciful to those who are very humble in their attitude engaged in the service of the Lord. Lord Caitanya advised, therefore, one should be humbler than the straw and more tolerant than the tree and thus be seriously engaged in glorifying the Lord.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
February 2, 1970
Los Angeles
My Dear Lalita Kumar,
My open advice is that if any one can remain a Brahmacari, it is very nice, but there is no need of artificial Brahmacaris. In Bhagavad-gita it is stated that one who exhibits outwardly as self restrained, but inwardly he thinks of sense gratification he is condemned as mithyacara which means false pretender.
We do not want any false pretenders in numbers, but we want a single sincere soul. There is no harm in accepting a wife and living without any disturbance of the mind and thus sincerely advancing in Krishna Consciousness.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
26 August, 1972
Los Angeles
My Dear Gaurasundara,
I have stuck to my duty, keeping my Spiritual Master always in front. Because there is some fighting or bickering amongst us, that does not mean that I should go away. If I have understood the order of my Spiritual Master rightly, then I must perform my duty under any circumstances and never one think of going away under disgust.
If there is some incident and I claim that no one is cooperating with me or no one will work with me, that is my defect, not theirs. The Vaisnava devotee must think like this. We should not find fault with others and criticize and go away, that is not the Vaisnava way. Better we should always be willing to offer all respects to others and consider them as our superiors always.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Saturday, 26 August, 1972
Los Angeles
VYASAPUJA REPLY:
My dear beloved Children,
Please accept my blessings.
I am so much pleased with your kind and affectionate words on the occasion of my birthday anniversary on the Nandotsava day this year (1972). My Guru Maharaja wanted me to spread this Krishna Consciousness Movement in western world, and you are all helping in this great attempt.
My Spiritual Master knew it that alone I could not do this great work. Therefore He has very kindly sent you all to help me in this task. I accept you therefore as representatives of my Guru Maharaja playing as my affectionate disciples.
It is said that child is father of man. Kindly therefore continue your help in this great task and act as my young father and mother in my old age. I am
Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Sunday, May 18, 2008
29 August, 1972
Los Angeles
Dear Niranjana,
If you are always remembering Him by your activities and seeing Krishna everywhere, even in the heart of the demonic persons, then anger will never overcome you, being purified of all false pride.
But occasionally if there is good reason, you may have to become angry just to chastise the evil-doers and blasphemers. We have seen that Lord Caitanya once nearly killed Jagai and Madhai for their offenses to His devotee, so, like that, if there is offensive behavior to the pure devotees you may become like Nrsimhadeva and punish them severely
Saturday, May 17, 2008
“Krishna Gratification”
Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.26
Bombay, November 26, 1974
Purport
Krsna, He can be seen immediately, provided you have got eyes to see. Therefore it is said, premanjana-cchurita… Prema and bhakti, the same thing. Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti [Bs. 5.38]. I will recite one story in this connection, that one brahmana in South India, in Ranganatha temple, he was reading Bhagavad-gita. And he was illiterate. He did not know neither Sanskrit nor any letter, illiterate. So the people, neighborhood, they knew that “This man is illiterate, and he is reading Bhagavad-gita.” He is opening the Bhagavad-gita, “Uh, uh,” like that he was. So somebody was joking, “Well, brahmana, how you are reading Bhagavad-gita?” He could understand that “This man is joking because I am illiterate.” So in this way, Caitanya Mahaprabhu also happened to be that day in the Ranganatha temple, and He could understand that “Here is a devotee.” So He approached him and He asked, “My dear brahmana, what you are reading?” So he could also understand that “This man is not joking.” So he said, “Sir, I am reading Bhagavad-gita. I am trying to read Bhagavad-gita, but I am illiterate. So my Guru Maharaja said that ‘You must read eighteen chapters daily.’ So I have no knowledge. I cannot read. Still, Guru Maharaja said, so I am just trying to carry out his order and opening the pages, and that’s all. I do not know how to read it.” Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that “You are crying sometimes, I see.” Then, “Yes, I am crying.” “How you are crying if you cannot read?” “No, because when I take this Bhagavad-gita book, I see one picture, that Krsna is so kind that He has taken the chariot driver, sarathi, of Arjuna. He is His devotee. So Sri Krsna is so kind that He can accept the position of a servant because Arjuna was ordering, ‘Keep my chariot here,’ and Krsna was serving him. So Krsna is so kind. So when I see this picture within my mind, I am crying.” So Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately embraced him, that “You are reading Bhagavad-gita. Without any education, you are reading Bhagavad-gita.” He embraced him.
So this is… How he was seeing the picture? Because he was a lover of Krsna, it doesn’t matter, he could read these slokas or not. But he was absorbed in love of Krsna and he was seeing, Krsna was sitting there, and He was driving the chariot of Arjuna. This is required, not that education. Bhaktya mam abhijanati [Bg. 18.55]. Krsna said, “Not by passing M.A., Ph.D.” Bhaktya: “Simply by bhakti.” Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Friday, 12 November, 1971
Delhi
My Dear Nityananda,
An example of summary punishment is this: If you are sentenced to be hanged but instead you are given a simple pinprick, that is very nice. Krishna minimizes the devotee’s suffering to the lowest. So long as one is engaged in devotional service, he is immune to the reactions of his past sinful activities, but if he chooses to give up this devotional service, then he has to undergo all these reactions.
December 17, 1968
Los Angeles, Calif.
My Dear Sivananda,
You mentioned that leaving is the best thing for your devotional service, but you should know that without the instructions of the spiritual master that there is no question of devotional service. So I think that you must remain in the Hamburg center until I advise you further.
I am anxiously awaiting to hear your reply. I hope you are well.
Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Thursday, May 15, 2008
December 31, 1968
Los Angeles, Calif.
My Dear Sivananda,
Anyway, I have carefully read the contents of your letter and I can understand your mental situation. Your scheme is all right, your mother has some financial strength and you want to be in her confidence to get the money engaged in the Krishna Consciousness Movement. That’s a good scheme, but unfortunately we do not get financial help by our schemes, but should always depend upon the Causeless Mercy of Lord Krishna.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
May 10, 1970
Los Angeles
My Dear Bali Mardan and Upendra,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated by Post 5th May, 1970.
So it is very encouraging that people are coming to the extent of 40 heads, and they are trying to understand the importance of this great movement, and any sane man will be able to understand that. But I do not know why our students who are supposed to be the leaders of this movement will fight amongst themselves for supremacy. Our whole process is of surrendering.
We are taught to address others as Prabhu. Prabhu means master; and the leader of the masters is called Prabhupada. So if the Prabhus have surrendered to the Prabhupada, why there shall be such mentality of occupying the superior position? This is contradictory.
Kindly stop this unnecessary misunderstanding. Both Upendra and yourself are competent and experienced, so please adjust your disagreement amongst your selves. It is my request. As a matter of fact, as you are the pioneer in taking all risks to go to Australia, naturally you shall be considered as the leader, but a leader’s position is also very grave and responsible. A leader has to lead others very tactfully and intelligently. Kindly therefore do not quarrel, but go on with your duties progressively.
I can understand very well that Upendra is feeling very much disturbed on account of Citralekha’s absence, it is quite natural, but what can I do? I have arranged for $500 also, but the Australian Immigration detained her for a technical reason. This is already informed in detail to Upendra by Madhudvisa, as I understand. So this is the position.
In the meantime, things should run on as it is, and if there is any need of change, we shall consider about it when Citralekha goes there. Please try to organize the new center as nicely as possible even at personal inconvenience–that is real service. Krsna is sitting in everyone’s heart, He knows everything what to do, so depend on Him and do your duties patiently.
Maya is very strong, and we are liable to fall down at any moment. We have to gather our strength by chanting the beads sixteen rounds regularly and praying to the lotus feet of Krsna for guidance.
I hope both of you will kindly follow my instruction and forget if there is any accidental disagreement.
Hope this will meet you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
May 13, 1969
Columbus, Ohio
My Dear Tamala Krishna,
Your next festival will be as follows: RAIRAYA–On this day the Gopis played by making Radharani a Queen, and She is seated on a gorgeous throne, and Krishna is made as Her doorman of the palace, so He is standing by the throne-room with a sword. So this is one Pastime arranged by the Gopis, and there is nice feasting, dancing and singing on account of the coronation of Srimati Radharani.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
1975 May 11: “Wherever you live, you can follow the regulative principles and my instructions along with chanting. That will make you happy. Do not deviate from the path I have chalked out for every one of you.”
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
1974 May 11: “The karmis who the boys deal with here are always cheating them, and only because I am here I catch so many things. As I am leaving soon, I am fearful what will happen here in my absence?”
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
Saturday, May 10, 2008
1968 May 10 : “I am so pleased to learn that you are constantly trying to follow my instructions. Of course, I have no particular instructions, save and except the instructions which I have heard from my Spiritual Master.”
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
1967 May 5: “If you can organize the sales of my books then there is no question of scarcity of money. I can go on printing so many books. But because the books are not selling nicely, neither there is sufficient money, so I am handicapped.”
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967
Sunday, May 4, 2008
19 April, 1975
Vrindaban
My dear Viruha dasa,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 2-4-75 and have noted the contents.
This body belongs to Krishna and therefore we must always keep it in healthy condition to the best of our ability, but if due to some past sinful activities, we are suffering some bodily miseries we should not become discouraged. Devotional service must continue under all circumstances.
This material body is actually a bad bargain because it is prone to suffer, but we must make the best use of this bad bargain. That means to always be engaged in the service of Krishna without fail.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
1974 May 1: “I know you have multifarious and complicated affairs to manage. The most important thing is that we must be ideal Krsna Conscious persons, and then we can attract others.”
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
Friday, May 2, 2008
Thursday, December 21, 1967
San Francisco, Calif.
My Dear Brahmananda,
Please accept my blessings. Your handwritten letter of 12.18.67 is a great pleasure. Your handwritten letter is more valuable than type written. Regarding Damodara’s plight, we are very sorry but we must always expect that some of the weak soldiers may fall down in a fight waged against the great Maya external energy of Krishna.
The sex attraction is very great in the material world. But in the spiritual world it is different. From Srimad-Bhagavatam we know that the opposite sex namely the female members of Vaikuntha are many many times more beautiful than they are in the heavenly planets. Their hips and attractive smiles cannot stimulate sex urge passion of the man or male devotees. In the Vaikuntha planets the opulence is very great and yet they are all engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.
It is very difficult to conquer over the influence of Maya, but who firmly fixed up in Krishna Conciousness cannot be a victim of Maya. Anyway, we cannot stop our fighting with Maya, neither we can expect that all our soldiers will remain unhurt. You know Arjuna’s son Abhimanyu was killed in the battle in which Bhismadeva was a party. Fight Krishna’s cause sincerely and you will be gloried with victory
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
1970 April 29 : “You must always ask the Lord’s grace to make you in the right position. For the Lord’s service we can ask for His grace and mercy a hundred times, but for our sense gratification we cannot pray or ask anything - that is pure devotion.”
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
JOURNAL: Thursday 3 February
N.Y.
Today there was a very nice demonstration of tape-record Samkirtan by me.
It is all Grace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Haridas Thakur said that the transcendental sound of Hari Nama would even purify the heart of birds and beasts. Today this statement of Thakur Haridas is corroborated. These American can not understand even a word’s meaning of the Sankirtan and yet they were so much attracted? It is all Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s power; there is no credit for me.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Sunday, 31 December, 1972
Bombay
My dear Gurudasa and Yamuna,
If you can construct nice temple in Vrndaban for me in this way, I shall be eternally grateful. Because we are world wide movement of Krsna, and if we do not have any nice place at Vrndaban, then what will be the use? Vrndaban is Krsna’s land, and in future so many of our disciples will go there just to see, along with many tourists and other friends, so therefore we must have sufficient place for them. That will be our great contribution.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
31 December, 1972
Bombay
My dear Dhananjaya,
Of course, the devotee is always very liberal-minded and tolerant towards everyone, seeing everyone as the part and parcel of Krsna and the pure devotee of Krsna, only seeing that due to maya they have temporarily forgotten their real position. So a devotee is always very understanding if there is some discrepancy behavior on the part of nondevotees, and even some devotees misbehave, he is always very tolerant and understanding.
The point is that no one is actually qualified in this material world to approach Krsna, but if he makes the attempt through our inducing him gradually to give his energy to Krsna, by that attempt Krsna will extend his mercy and deliver the fallen soul despite his so many disqualifications. And such person or aspiring devotee, he is to be considered the most exalted of men because he has given his life to Krsna.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Saturday, December 16, 1967
San Francisco, Calif.
When I left your country on the 22nd of July, I had very little hope to come back again. But Krishna informed me that I’m not going to die immediately; therefore, I have come back again to get inspiration of Krishna Consciousness from you all good souls. Although officially I am your Spiritual Master, I consider you all students as my Spiritual Master because your love for Krishna and service for Krishna teach me how to become a sincere Krishna Conscious person.
Friday, April 25, 2008
December 29, 1967
San Francisco, Calif.
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 was worshipper of Lord Visnu, but he knew also that Krishna is the same Lord Visnu.
When Krishna came to see Bhismadeva on his death bed, Bhismadeva remembered Krishna in His fighting feature at the battlefield of Kuruksetra. Bhismadeva wanted to see Krishna angry, he knew that Krishna was very kind upon him, but to make a front he displayed a chivalrous mood, pretending to kill Arjuna, although he knew it very well that no power in the world could kill Arjuna while he was shielded by Krishna Himself as his charioteer. Yet he tried to agitate the mind of Krishna, but Arjuna he almost killed.
Actually, Krishna thought it that Bhismadeva was to see Him in His angry mood and supposed to be broken in His promise, to fulfill the desire of Bhismadeva He got down from the chariot and took a wheel of the chariot, going forward as if to kill Bhismadeva Bhismadeva, as soon as found Krishna in that angry mood, he gave up his fighting weapons and prepared himself for being killed by Krishna.
This attitude of Krishna pleased Bhismadeva very much, and at the time of his death he recalled back the angry feature of Krishna. He was a military man so he was pleased to see Krishna in military spirit, as much as the Gopis wanted to see Krishna as the most beautiful lover.
There is no difference between the attitude of the gopis and Bhismadeva in the matter of exchanging transcendental mellows between God and His devotee. Krishna can be loved in any feature and because he is absolute there is no difference to love Krishna as a military man or as a simple Gopi.
During the day the two sides would battle, and at night they would visit one another’s camps, just like friends, talking and eating together. Bhisma was accused of not trying hard enough to kill the Pandavas, due to affection for them. So, he said, tomorrow I will kill all five brothers, and these five special arrows I shall kill them with. For safekeeping Bhismadeva gave the five arrows to Duryodhana, who had accused Bhisma of too much affection for the Pandavas.
Formerly, Duryodhana had made promise to Arjuna that he could someday ask for some favor, so Krishna, knowing all these things, sent Arjuna to Duryodhana for asking favor of giving the arrows to Arjuna. So as the promise was made, Duryodhana gave Arjuna the arrows, that night. Next day, Bhisma knew it was Krishna who arranged all this, and so he told Duryodhana, today it will be either Arjuna or I, but one of us will die.
And so he fought very hard to kill Arjuna, but with Krishna as Protector, no one in world could kill Arjuna. Krishna’s body was pierced, here and there, all over as you like. As military man, Bhisma had no right to shoot the chariot driver, but he knew Krishna’s body is not material, and will not be harmed, so he took pleasure in piercing the body of the Lord.
Bhismadeva became so pierced with arrows that he laid down and with the arrows all standing on end, all over stuck through his body. Yes, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva came and were there in the sky with many demigods, and throwing flowers. You can consult Srimad-Bhagavatam second part.
The picture and contents of the article appearing in Harvard Crimson is very nice. Krishna has already recognized you as one of the prophets of this missionary work, and I approve this statement.
Please go on in Krishna Consciousness and I’m sure even in my absence you will be doing nicely acting as prophet.
Hope you are well.
Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
P.S. I have received your Namakali wrapper.
Thank you very much. - ACB
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Saturday, December 30, 1967
San Francisco, Calif.
My Dear Madhusudana,
Please accept my blessings. I am so happy to read your letter dated Dec. 28, 1967. And I am very concerned that due to your sincerity and service mood you have improved in Krishna Consciousness excellently. Whatever allocation of duty there may be, if we try to execute such specific duty sincerely, that alone can make us much more advanced in Krishna Consciousness.
In the Bhagavad-gita, it is stated that for the fixed up devotee there is one duty. This duty is understood through the transparent medium via media of the Spiritual Master. It is better service to Krishna and Spiritual Master in a feeling of separation; sometimes there is risk in the matter of direct service.
For example, Kirtanananda was giving me direct service by massaging, cooking for me, and so many other things; but later on by dictation of Maya, he became puffed up, so much so that he thought his Spiritual Master a common man, and was existing only on account of his service.
This mentality at once pushed him down. Of course, those who are sincere devotee, they take direct service as an opportunity, but the illusory energy is so strong that it acts on this doctrine of familiarity breeds contempt. Kirtanananda was thinking I was existing on his service, instead of realizing I was giving him opportunity to do me some service.