Author: Bhakti Vikasa Swami

...my request is that you continue your devotional service very faithfully and rigidly, then in this life you will be able to see Krsna face to face. That is a fact. So you follow the advice, as given by Rupa Gosvami, utsahat. The first thing is enthusiasm, that "I must see Krsna." You are seeing Krsna. The Deity of Krsna and Krsna is not different. But even personally you can see. Simply we have to continue the enthusiasm. Enthusiasm means...

One should always offer to the spiritual master whatever one can. One should chant the Hare Krsna mantra at least 16 rounds daily and follow the four regulative principles then one's life can become perfect. Always try to remember Krsna in all your activities and gradually He will help you to break free of all material attachments of life and along with your sincere desire your path back home back to godhead can be clear. One should always be...

The feeling which you had by becoming compassionate to the fallen bum is very good, but the best way to deliver a bum is to revive his dormant Krishna Consciousness. If you can do that then give the bums good food and shelter. If you cannot do that, then simple supplying food and shelter is serving the Maya.

There is no spiritual knowledge. Therefore the so-called advancement of ignorance is accepted as advancement of civilization.

There are many missionaries, they open hospitals or similar philanthropic activities, but we never do that. So many friends advised me to open some hospitals, dispensaries. Oh, I flatly said that "We are not interested in the hospitals." There are so many hospitals. So people who are interested in hospitals, they can go there. Here is spiritual hospital. The disease is, the other hospitals, they cannot stop death, but our hospital can stop death.

Although they are party, their aim is how to develop the country. Similarly, these Vaisnava sampradaya, although they appear to be a separate party, but their aim is how to serve Krsna. So don't think the party means some opposite party. No. Everyone has got, for the advanced devotee, to serve the Lord in a particular way so that the Lord may be more satisfied. That is their intention. Sometimes we also have some parties in the temple: someone...

Srila Prabhupada: My students in the Krsna consciousness society are following these principles: They are cooking for Krsna, dancing for Krsna, singing for Krsna, talking for Krsna, going around the world for Krsna -- everything for Krsna. Anyone can adopt these principles. Where is the difficulty? Vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogah prayojitah [SB 1.2.7]. And if you practice Krsna consciousness in this way, the result will be janayaty asu vairagyam jnanam ca yad ahaitukam: Very soon you will automatically attain knowledge and...

...too much official control is not good in spiritual life. The centers should remain spiritually fit and independent. Some control must be there as is now. Too much control means so many vouchers. Gradually it will become a mundane institution. All our managers should be spiritually advanced simple and honest in carrying out the orders of the spiritual master and Krsna. That will be a nice standard. Democracy in spiritual affairs is not at all good but breeds power...

You have rightly pointed out that people are becoming more materialistic in this age on account of their forgetfulness of Krsna consciousness. Actually, there is nothing like materialism. Materialism means forgetfulness of Krsna or God. We are preaching therefore Krsna consciousness. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said that the first-class religion is that which teaches love of Godhead. At the present moment, one professes a type of religion, but does not develop the real purpose of religion, namely love...

...prajalpah, talking nonsense, gossiping some subject matter which has no concern with Krsna consciousness. We are accustomed to do that. We should avoid it.

...because of the greed for tongue the whole world is going on; all the work in the world is going on because of the greed for the tongue. Some places have restaurant, some have tea, somewhere bidis, somewhere cigarettes, somewhere there is meat eating and intoxication and what is there, this tongue, everything is because of this tongue. If you can control your tongue and engage it in God's service, then you can see God. This is the instruction...

Devotee: Prabhupada, before this movement came here we were so caught up in sinful activities. How is it that we were so fortunate to be benedicted with this great Hare Krsna movement?