Author: Shyamasundara Padmanabha Das

As far as being vegetarian goes, Prabhupada told us about a Jain monk who came to meet him in Berkeley, America. When Prabhupada had asked him what the results of his preaching were, the man replied that he had converted one million people to vegetarianism. But Prabhupada didn't give him much credit for that. Although the Jains advocate nonviolence, Prabhupada pointed out that being vegetarian is violence, since one has to kill the vegetables.

Puja means I call you and offer you some respectable [indistinct], some foodstuff, and then very much seated very comfortably. Naturally I may ask, "What do you want?" Then I'll expect, "Give me this. Give me that. Give me that." That is going on. That is called puja. But those who are worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that is not called puja; that is called seva, krsna-seva. We never say krsna-puja. Nobody... Never says like that. Seva. Seva...

As for detachment from children, wife and home, it is not meant that one should have no feeling for these. They are natural objects of affection. But when they are not favorable to spiritual progress, then one should not be attached to them. The best process for making the home pleasant is Krsna consciousness. If one is in full Krsna consciousness, he can make his home very happy, because this process of Krsna consciousness is very easy. One need...

When we refer to something as being "Hindu", this is unintelligent; neither is "Hindu" a Vedic word. Many small, sectarian religions have sprung up, diverting from the original Vedic principles. They are also going on as "Hindu", but they are all started within countable years, not more than 1,000 years ago. Swamiji wants to preach the oldest of the Vedic scriptures, the Bhagavad Gita. If we present the Bhagavad Gita as it is, the people of the world will...

This age, Kali-yuga, is full of faulty things. Kaler dosa-nidhe [SB 12.3.51] It is an ocean of faulty things. It is very, very difficult. Sarvange gha upaidha mala[?]. A man is suffering from itches, or what is called, sores, all over the body. So where he shall give ointment? He should be dipped in the ointment. This is the position. Similarly, how much you will find out, "This is faulty, this is faulty, this is faulty..." The life in...

If all philanthropic and humanitarian activities were directed toward achieving the ultimate goal of life -- to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead -- they would all be perfect. Humanitarian work without Krsna is nothing. Krsna must be brought to the center of all our activities; otherwise no activity will have value.

Dhrstadyumna Swami appeared at the door in some anxiety. He delivered a message from Tamal Krishna Goswami that the Berkeley and Washington D.C. temple presidents had banned the Radha-Damodara buses and men from attending the San Francisco Ratha-yatra parade, and the bicentennial Independence Day celebrations on July 4th in the capital.