1. Srila Prabhupada did not go to America empty-handed

    I didn’t go to America empty-handed. I went with the complete philosophy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, written in these rooms, inspired by the Goswamis. Thats what is pushing this Krishna consciousness movement. If I have been successful, it’s because I have delivered my Guru Maharaj’s message intact, without change or deletion. That is parampara. The bona fide guru is like the postman delivering a message. He doesn’t open the mail and write his own opinion. You may like the message...
  2. Bhakti means voluntary cooperation with Krsna

    We are persons, and Krishna is a Person, and our relationship with Krishna He leaves open as a voluntary agreement always, and that voluntary attitude -- Yes, Krishna, I shall gladly co-operate whatever you say -- that ready willingness to obey is only possible if there is love. Forcing will not make me agree. But if there is love, oh, I shall gladly do it. That is bhakti, that is Krishna Consciousness.
  3. Gorgeous Deity program

    The deity program must be improved very gorgeously. Flower garlands should be expanded, and all expenditures for the deities must be expanded without any miserly contemplation. Our temple should be so gorgeously decorated that we shall excel all Bombay temples. This is my idea. Try to fulfill it. When they hear that we decorate our deities so gorgeously, people will throng, and on festival days especially, like Janmastami, Jhulana Yatra, etc. So four or five devotees should be always...
  4. Read, morning and evening

    All the devotees who desire to know may ask their questions to the elderly members, but still they are open to write me for all their questions... I reply each and every letter I receive... but it is better if simple questions are solved among yourselves in the ista-gosthi class. Every one of you must regularly read our books at least twice — in the morning and evening — and automatically all questions will be answered.
  5. Chanting, dancing, will never go in vain

    There is a verse spoken by Narada Muni, that even by sentiment, not understanding properly the philosophy of Krsna consciousness, even by sentiment -- "All right, let me also dance and chant like these people, the saffron-colored, shaved-head people are doing. Let me do that" -- so once dancing with them will never go in vain. It will immediately be accounted, "Ah, he has danced." It is so nice. It will never go in vain. Then these children are...
  6. Giant eagles

    During one evening lecture, Prabhupada boldly spoke of giant eagles that fly from planet to planet, eat elephants, and hatch their eggs in outer space with the help of atmospheric friction. As he spoke, sitting tall and fully confident on the purple velvet vyasasana, his eyes blazed, challenging any doubters. "Any questions?" he asked at the end of his lecture. Silence. One lone hand hesitatingly sprouted from the crowd of sixty-five devotees and guests. Raghunatha: Srila Prabhupada, in your lecture...
  7. Sleepy

    Anyone who sleeps more than six or seven hours, he is a Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna was the brother of Ravana. He was sleeping six months, and six months he was awake. That means anyone who sleeps half the, out of twenty-four hours, anyone, if he sleeps twelve hours, he's a Kumbhakarna. So at least I think that one should not sleep more than seven hours utmost. That is sufficient, sufficient, seven hours. So you can sleep six hours at night...