a.c. bhaktivedanta swami
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| Prabhupada Letters :: 1968 a.c. bhaktivedanta swami |
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8 May 2004 May 8, 1968 Allston, Mass [Excerpt from a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.1] yatha hi purusasya iha visnoh padopasarpanam yad esa sarva-bhutanam priya atmesvarah suhrt Very important. We are searching after a lover. The other day those boys were singing, what is that song? Student: "Find Somebody to Love, You better find somebody to love." Prabhupada: Jaya. "Better find somebody to love." That is the problem of this life. I tried to find somebody, girl or boy, to love, but I was frustrated, disappointed. Now I find dog is my best friend. Is it not? Why? Everyone is searching after somebody to love. That's a fact. Because we are lovers. Our constitutional position is lover. Prahlada Maharaja says your loving object is Visnu. Just try to love Visnu, then your life will be successful. You'll feel satisfaction. You'll feel, "Oh, I have got something now. Now I have got this loving object." I love my apartment. Why? Because I live there. Similarly, I love this body because I am spirit soul and I am living within this body. Therefore I protect it. Real love is to myself. And this self is the part and parcel of the Superself. Therefore we love indirectly the Superself. The Vedic information says the Supreme Lord as Supersoul is sitting with you in the same tree. The individual soul and the Supersoul is sitting in the heart and this body is like a tree, and He is seeing your activities. He is trying to get you back to Godhead. So in whichever form of life I am transmigrating He is also going with me. And suhrt, and He is your intimate friend. Suhrt means who is always wishing your good. That is His friendship. So that suhrt is simply looking to the opportunity when the other bird, instead of eating the fruit, looks to his friend. That's all. He's simply waiting for the opportunity. And He's sending His servant, He's coming Himself as incarnation, He is leaving books like Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bible, just to attract me. "My dear friend, come this side. Come this side." Suhrt. letters | 02:51 | May 8, 1968 Boston, Mass [Excerpt from an address given at a College engagement] Student: How does Krsna consciousness relate to Advaita philosophy? Student: Yeah. Total nonbeing. Prabhupada: Advaita philosophy means nondifferent from God. Have you studied Advaita philosophy? Yes. The basic principle of Advaita philosophy is nondifference from God. That is a fact. We are nondifferent from God. Just like the President of your country, he is American; you are also American. So there is no difference so far "American" is concerned. You are nondifferent. But at the same time, you are not the President. Because you are American it does not mean that you are on an equal level with the President. Is it not? Similarly, we are qualitatively one with God. Qualitatively means that whatever you have got as spirit soul, the same thing is also in God. There is no difference in quality. Just like you take a drop of water from the vast Atlantic and you chemically analyze the ingredients. The composition of the drop of water is equal to the composition of the vast Atlantic. Drop of water is equal to the vast mass of water in the Atlantic Ocean. Similarly, you are a spark of the Supreme Spirit Soul. You have got all the chemical qualities or similar composition as God has. But God is great; you are minute. He is infinite; you are infinitesimal. Qualitatively one, but quantitatively different. So those who are simply accepting the feature of being qualitatively one, they are called Advaitavadis. If quantitatively the living entity is equal to God, then why he is fallen in this conditional life of material existence? That means his constitutional position is very infinitesimal and he is prone to be caught up by the influence of maya. And if you say that you are also the Supreme, then how you are caught by the maya? Then God is not great; maya becomes great. These things are to be considered. So our philosophy, the Vedanta philosophy, acintya-bhedabheda: we support the philosophy of simultaneously being one and different from God. Simultaneously. We are qualitatively one with God, but quantitatively we are different. That is our philosophy. That is Vaisnava philosophy. So advaitavada and dvaitavada, they are facts. Dvaitavada means different, and advaitavada means nondifferent. So we are both nondifferent in quality, different in quantity. That is perfect philosophy. Is that clear? letters | 01:07 | 6 May 2004 Monday, May 6, 1968 Allston, Mass. My Dear Mukunda, Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your nice letter of April 28,1968, written in your own handwriting. Yes, I am keeping well by the Grace of my Guru Maharaja, and I am working also on Srimad-Bhagavatam as well as for a nice edition of Caitanya Caritamrta. The Teachings of Lord Caitanya is being printed, 5000 copies in Japan; and the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, is being published by MacMillan Co. very shortly. The arrangement is complete and things are going on. Now you have to find out some person who can distribute our literature and other things. Sometimes you told me you can find out some man who can take charge of our distribution of literature, now please do it very seriously. Because if we have no outlet for selling the books it will be a problem to get the new stock of books. If there is nice distribution arrangement, then at least 2 to 4 books we can publish every year. I am very glad that Janaki is busy decorating the temple; this is what I want, that every disciple should always remain busy in some work for Krishna. We shall not allow to remain vacant our mind, and if the mind is always filled up with Krishna Consciousness activities, there is no chance of Maya to sit on the mind and force us to act under her spell. Maharaja Ambarisa he did like that and in spite of his becoming a responsible emperor of the world, he was a great devotee of Lord Krishna, and he successfully winned the challenge of a great yogi, Durvasa. I am so glad to learn about Haridasi, the fortunate girl in Los Angeles. She has got nice parents, and has the opportunity of being in Krishna Consciousness from childhood. It is therefore needed that we may train some children in our Krishna Consciousness movement, and it will come out very successful. Yamuna devi is also training 2 nice boys in S.F., and they are getting very encouraging achievements. It is very good news that the girl Haridasi is dreaming about Krishna, and Krishna is playing with her; it is very much encouraging. It means she will come out a great and successful devotee of Krishna when she is grown up and young. May Krishna bless her, and her good parents, who are training her in that way. Please offer my thanks to Balarama and his good wife. I know that Umapati is a very intelligent boy, and he tries in that way, he will come out a nice preacher in the future. If he has decided to remain a Brahmacari, and preaches our movement of Krishna Consciousness, it will be a great success for his life. Please inform him that his intimate friend, Hayagriva, came to see me in New York and we talked very frankly, and he is still my good disciple, and I have asked him to stay with me wherever I may be, and he has agreed. I understand also from him that Kirtanananda Swami is also eager to see me, and we shall be very glad if they come back and work with us conjointly. I am praying for this to Krishna. It is very nice that you are keeping the Radha Krishna Murti so nicely there with you. No, it is not improper to keep Them at your home, but it must be kept with due veneration and respect. If we keep the Statue of Krishna in our room, we must know that Krishna is present, and as such we must be careful in our dealings, talkings and behavior, as we are present before Krishna directly. The altar should be so made, with curtain, that it may be closed when Krishna and Radha are taking rest. Dress them as nicely as possible, we have so many Radha Krishna pictures, you can take idea from them. Yes, your observation is perfect. If we spread this Krishna Consciousness movement, certainly there will be an atmosphere of purity and people will be happy both and this life and the next. Please try for these things, draft deferral and tax exemption. It is greatly needed. You will be pleased to know that Robert Kennedy heard Hare Krishna Kirtana from poet Allen Ginsberg. He is very kind to chant Hare Krishna wherever he goes, as I have requested him to do, and when he met me at San Francisco, he told me that he chanted Hare Krishna before Mr. Kennedy. So I think it is already in his attention. That is all right, whenever you are able to do so, then contribute 50% of your income to the temple. Syamasundara. wanted to go to London; what is his opinion about this? I am very much eager to open a center in London. If Syamasundara. and Malati go there, then one or two other Brahmacaris may go there to organize a center in London; and as soon as it is in makeup then I may also go there for sometime, to deal with the Beatles who are so much anxious to understand about spiritual knowledge. Any sincere person, never mind whether he is hippy or Beatle, if he is actually searching for something beyond this hackneyed material sense gratification, surely he will find the most comfortable shelter under the Lotus Feet of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Who is non-different from Lord Krishna. We should try our best, begging every person to give us some time to listen about this Krishna Consciousness movement, as it is taught by Lord Caitanya. Hope you are all well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 05:48 | May 6, 1968 Allston, Mass. [Excerpt from an address at Brahmana Initiation] Prabhupada: We are very glad to receive Professor O'Connell in this auspicious meeting. And it will be very nice, because he's studying the process of Caitanya philosophy. And this ceremony is one of the functions in devotional service. We have got a big book... I think, Professor O'Connell, you have secured that book, Hari-bhakti-vilasa. Have you secured that book? Professor O'Connell: I have the book. I'm yet to be a professor or even get my degree beyond the... I have the book. Prabhupada: That's all right. So that Hari-bhakti-vilasa is written by Sanatana Gosvami in the name of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. In this book the rules and regulation of the Vaisnavas are described--of the brahmacaris, the students; of the grhasthas, householders; vanaprastha, retired men; and sannyasi, renounced order--how grhastha should live, how brahmacari should live, how vanaprastha should live, how sannyasis should live. All the... It is called Vaisnava smrti. So the general rule is that if one is inquisitive... Just as we follow in our, this Krsna consciousness society we ask everyone to come. We don't make any imposition that with such and such qualification one can sit here or hear. No. All these students who are initiated, they know we don't impose anything. "You must be such and such, you must be such an such educated, you must be Hindu or you must be brahmana, or you must be white or black..." No such restriction. Anyone. This is universal. Chanting Hare Krsna, everyone is welcome. Chant Hare Krsna. That's all. And hear something from Bhagavad-gita. So following this principle, if one is a little more interested, then he offers himself. "Swamiji, I shall be initiated." So if I see that that boy or that girl is sincere and is following, then we say that "You have to follow these four principles." What are these? Nisiddhacara. These are injunction by Lord Caitanya, that no illicit sex life, no intoxication, no, I mean to say, nonvegetarian dishes, and no gambling. These four principles. So they agree, and he is given initiation for chanting beads, Hare Krsna, at least sixteen rounds daily. So if one follows the rules and regulation rigidly... And the next initiation is this dvijatvam. Dvijatvam means twice-born. Twice-born one becomes immediately when he approaches a spiritual master, but the sacred thread is offered as the symbol that he has a spiritual master. Just like there is some phase, there is some degree. So this sacred thread is offered after one year. One who has followed strictly the rules and regulation and chanted sixteen rounds Hare Krsna at least, so he is given the second chance. The third chance is to offer renunciation. If he wants to completely in the service of the Lord, there is sannyasa. Just like the other day we were discussing, anasritah karma-phalam karyam karma karoti yah, sa sannyasi. Of course, these are formal regulative principles. Real life is within, how much one is sincere in the service of the Lord. letters | 01:05 | 5 May 2004 Sunday, May 5, 1968 Allston, Mass. My Dear Gargamuni, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your very nice letter dated 4.27.68, and the sentiments expressed in that letter by you gives me more pleasure that you are appreciating the importance of our movement. I am sure that you must appreciate like that because I am always of opinion that both you and your elder brother are the result of a good mother. So I very much appreciate both yours and your brother's activities and it appears that both of you were in your previous birth advanced in this line of Krishna Consciousness, and here is another chance to complete it. So by the Grace of Krishna you have got good intelligence, you are born of a great nation, and good family; just utilize the opportunity to finish the business of Krishna Consciousness, without waiting for further incarnation. Srimad-Bhagavatam says that we should try for the highest achievement, and complete it before the next death comes. I think that your separation from Karunamayi is Krishna's desire. So don't be sorry for it. In this connection I may tell you my personal life experience. When I was married at the age of 21 with a wife who was only 11 years old, practically I did not like my wife. And as I was at that time very young man, and an educated college student, I wanted to marry again, in spite of my wife being present. Because amongst the Hindus one can accept more than one wife (of course the law is now changed). So, whenever everything was all ready for my marriage with another girl, my great father who was a great devotee of the Lord, called me and instructed me in the following words: "My dear boy, I understand that you are trying to get yourself married again, but I would advise you not to do this. It is Krishna's Grace that your present wife is not just according to your liking. This will help you not to become attached with wife and home, and this will help you in the matter of your future advancement of Krishna Consciousness." Now, I accepted my father's advice, and by his blessings, only, I was never attached to my wife or home which resulted in my complete liberation from worldly attachment and devote myself fully in Krishna Consciousness. Therefore I think your separation from Karunamayi is also the same opportunity for your being cent per cent engaged in Krishna Consciousness. I thank you very much for your check of $50.00, and I am very glad to learn that you are already in possession of a nice storeroom for exhibiting your sellable goods. There are samples of pictures in the temple there, and whichever picture you like, to have in your store, I shall advise Jadurani to dispatch for selling purposes. Yesterday your brother Brahmananda accompanied by Mr. Kallman and Purusottama came here and I understand that you had telephone conversation with him. He is also doing nice business of the same line as you are doing. I have advised your brother as well as I advise you to get experience of the articles that are nicely selling and then you may directly import them from India. You have got some infection, and I am very much anxious about your cyst pain. I do not know what is the actual position but if it is ordinary, then I think a little painting of Sloan's Liniment may reduce the painful reaction. But if it is within the skin then you have to consult some physician, but you can try by applying Sloan's Liniment, and before applying the liniment you can foment by heating some soft pad in hot water, and apply on the spot. After heating you can apply Sloan's Liniment. I hope you will be feeling better soon. Please keep me informed. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami P.S. Regarding church negotiations, Mr. Kallman's letter of assurance shall be the last word from us. They must reply it now yes or no. If "yes" then take in writing and send it to me. If "no" then take back the check for $1000.00; there is no need of lingering the matter. Please inform Jayananda and Cidananda about my opinion in this connection. Please let me know the result by return post. ACB letters | 06:23 | Sunday, May 5, 1968 Allston, Mass. My Dear Subala, Please accept my blessings. I am in due reciept of your letter of April 30, 1968, and noted the contents. So your duty as you are doing, even nobody is coming in morning, Lord Jagannatha will hear your kirtana, because we are always in company with the Lord of the Universe. But I think Krishna has sent you one nice boy to help you. Please try to convince him rightly about the philosophy of Krishna consciousness and read Srimad-Bhagavatam and other literatures, from Back to Godhead, and I think this boy will be helpful to your activities there. So far changing the place; we must give first consideration to the right place, not to the rent. Even the rent is high, we shall first pay for a place where many people come and go. Our New York center and San Francisco center is well situated because many newcomers pass through the street in front of the temple. Similarly if the present place is better, you may not change to other place for cheaper rent. Please try to convince that college boy who is coming and I hope he will be very much helpful to your activities. Hoping you are well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 06:21 | May 5, 1968 Boston, Mass. [Excerpt from an address given at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology] There is a nice story. You'll appreciate it. In India, especially in Bengal, there are many rivers. The land is full of rivers. Because it is on the bank of the Bay of Bengal, all rivers are falling. Therefore Bengal, the land of, especially the east Bengal, is full of rivers. One student of technology was going home, and he was on the boat. So the student was asking the boatman, "Do you know what are the stars?" The boatman said, "Sir, we are ordinary boatman. What do we know about these stars?" "Oh. Then your fifty percent of life is wasted, useless." Then he was asking, "Do you know what are these trees? Do you know any science of botany?" He said, "Sir, we are ordinary laborer. What do we know about botany?" "Oh. Then seventy-five percent of your life is useless." In this way the student of technology was asking the boatman, "Do you know this? Do you know that?" And he said that "I am ordinary man. What do I know all these things?" Then all of a sudden there was a black cloud, and there was storm, and the river began to be inflated, and the boatman said, "My dear sir, do you know swimming?" "Oh," he said, "no." Then the boatman said, "Then your cent percent knowledge is spoiled. Now you have to go down to the river. Your life is finished." In this way they dropped in the river, and the technological student, because he did not know how to swim, so the storm and the waves grabbed him. The idea is that we are making progress, certainly, in technology, in economics, in so many other departments of human necessities. But Bhagavad-gita says that real problem of this world, or real problem of our life, it is said in the Bhagavad-gita, janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi- duhkha-dosanudarsanam If you are intelligent enough, then you should see the real problem is birth, death, old age and disease. - A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 01:54 | 3 May 2004 Friday, May 3, 1968 Allston, Mass. My Dear Brahmananda, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 1, 1968, along with enclosure of Acyutananda's letter. On the day of our departure I was expecting you in the airport, but I think as you are young man, you were tired on the last night, on the 30th April, on account of late arriving from the Long Island meeting, and you could not get up earlier from your bed. In that sense, I am more active than you because on that night also I got up from my bed at 4:00 a.m. instead of 2:00 a.m. as usually, and I worked on my usual duties. So you young men should not simply eulogize my hard working capacity, but I wish that you should also follow my example. Now, it is understood that Acyutananda is on the safe side, and you might have noted that my friend Seth Dalmia has sanctioned for him 100 Rs. per month through the Dalmia trust. So I shall have less anxiety for him from now. Now, if he can open a center with cooperation of Hit Sharan, then we can send any number of Brahmacaris there. Later developments we shall have to wait. In the meantime, as I have already advised you, you please arrange to send 1000 Mahamantra records (by seaship) as free gifts for Indian friends and the documents may be sent to the following address: Seth Jayadayal Dalmia; 4-Scindia House; New Delhi-1; India. This may be done immediately and the price $500.00 may be paid to Mr. Kallman in cash. Mr. Kallman formerly supplied us at 50c per piece which we meant for selling, but this time we are now distributing free. So he should have reduced less than 50c; if not, let him not charge more than 50c. Because this 1000 records we are taking from the old stock. When he manufactures the new stock we shall pay him as he desires. I have already advised Acyutananda for purchasing your store goods. Now if you can send him a list of goods you require, and he may submit you a quotation from the Delhi market. I hope you have already sent Mr. Kallman's letter to San Francisco, and I am very much anxious to know the result of it. Also, I shall be glad to know the affairs in connection with MacMillan, and Dai Nippon. You will be pleased to know that yesterday we had a very nice meeting in the North Eastern University, and they presented copies of the enclosed letter for distributing. The copy is enclosed; please find. Hope you are all well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Enclosure--2 letters | 06:16 | Friday, May 3, 1968 Allston, Mass. My dear Upendra, Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated April 27, 1968, and noted the contents. Your feelings of separation are very strong, and I thank you for your kind sentiments expressed therein. So far the date of the Rathayatra festival, it is to be on the 28th of June, and will continue for 8 days. There are two festivals; one going, and one returning. So you can make plans like that. Yes, if it is necessary then you can make a nice bed for Lord Jagannatha and Lord Balarama, and keep them nicely until I return. It is your responsibility to see to keeping all the things which I left there very nicely, so please see to it. Among the medicines I left there you will find some small phials, with the name on them "Bhasker Bajra Jog". Please send me immediately by 1st day mail 4 phials entitled as above. Please see to it. Please keep me with information so far the church is concerned, and try for it. Hope you are all well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 06:13 | Friday, May 3, 1968 Boston, Mass. My Dear Uddhava, Please accept my blessings. I am just in receipt of your letter forwarded from New York. Please be happy in separation. I am separated from my Guru Maharaja since 1936 but I am always with him so long I work according to his direction. So we should all work together for satisfying Lord Krishna and in that way the feelings of separation will transform into transcendental bliss. Hope you are well. I am very anxious to know about the church. If they do not agree then take back the check. Your ever well wisher A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami letters | 05:47 | |
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