Yogesvara: In the United States, there are something called minority groups. Minority group means like the Irish or the Negroes, the Jews… Prabhupada: They’re also fools. Minority fools. They’re minority fools. Yogesvara: Minority fools? Prabhupada: Yes. Because he’s thinking, “I am Irishman.” Yogesvara: Yes, but their point is that “Even if we are spirit soul, […]

In an exchange with the director of research of the Department of Social Welfare, Melbourne, Srila Prabhupada explained his antipathy to public opinion. Prabhupada: I am giving the example of ideal character. Director: Yeah, but that’s one opinion. Prabhupada: No. It will not depend on opinion. What is the value of opinion if the people […]

Say about 1945, so in front of my house there was an old man. So as neighbor, we had very good talks always. So as soon as I say “Bhagavan,” he will be angry. “God.” So one day he said, “Why you always say ‘Bhagavan, God’?” Just see, an old man, and still he is […]

Suppose this life I am human being; next life I may not be human being. This statement was not liked by the newspaper man. [laughing] He was told that next life you can become animal, so he has published in my name, “The svami can become animal.” Also the svami can become also animal. The […]

A devotee does not take suffering seriously. Tat te ‘nukampam susumiksamanah [SB 10.14.8]. A devotee thinks, “It is the favor of Krsna that He has put me into suffering.” They never see suffering as suffering. It is favor of Krsna. That is devotee’s vision. [break] It is exactly like a son who knows his father […]

Umapati: [rephrasing question from devotee] The question was that Krsna had said that He would not take part in the Battle of Kuruksetra, but later on He did. So He had actually changed His word. So does the devotee also sometimes do that — say one thing but later on change his mind? Prabhupada: You […]

So far as being leader is concerned, leader means spiritually not materially. This you should understand very clearly. If spiritual potency and strength is there, then material intelligence will automatically follow. We must have a solid foundation of chanting and following the regulative principles. Then one is fit to lead others. I hope you will […]

Every educational or progressive method has got do’s and do not’s. So the asuras, they do not know what they should do and what they should not do. That is asura. And a devotee, he knows what to do and what not to do. There is no illicit sex. That is “do not.” But there […]

Visvambhara: Why is it sometimes if we are sincerely trying to serve Krsna we still make mistakes? We make in our service some mistakes. Prabhupada: You must always remember that service means by the order of the master. So if you should always be ready to take order from the master, there will be no […]

Devotee: Srila Prabhupada? Why God gave to man free will if He knew the man would fall down in the material world? Prabhupada: If you have no free will, then you are a stone. The stone has no free will. You want to be stone? Then you must be, must have free will. But don’t […]

Satsvarupa: Some people say they don’t like to talk to Hare Krsna people because we’re like that. We always say we know everything about everything. Prabhupada: Yes, we know everything. That’s a fact. Satsvarupa: They resent it, and they say, “Oh, you people, we can’t talk with you.” Prabhupada: You may resent, but we know […]

The gopis are always liberated souls because they are fully in Krsna consciousness. They only pretended to be entangled in household affairs in Vrndavana. Because of their separation from Krsna, He might have asked them to return with Him to His capital city, Dvaraka. But the inhabitants of Vrndavana, the gopis, were not interested in […]