Author: Vrindavanachandra Das

I have given this example many times. Just like a king and a bug is sitting on the same throne. The bug is biting and the king is ruling. It is not that because the bug is there on the throne, he is king, or the king is sitting with the bug, he is bug. Why this difference? Difference of consciousness. The king knows his duty.

Jaya-gopala: I thought I heard it said that you are in this world without being a part of it. You are in the world without being a part of it, being a part of it, like the lotus flower which floats on the water. Prabhupada: Yes, that is the way of understanding. Just like I am in America.

A pure devotee is just like the Desire-Tree from whom we can have on request everything desirable. This is no myth or bluff but it is actual fact. The devotee can deliver to us the mercy of God and what is not obtainable by one who has got the mercy of God? Therefore the devotees are the most magnanimous in their charitable disposition of mind.

Guest: How many other people are there on this planet who have made as much spiritual progress as you have? Prabhupäda: Many. But not many, but there are many also. There is no statistics in my possession. But... The formula is that what is the use of taking statistics how many there are? Why don't you become one of them? [laughter] Why you are wasting time in that way?

The whole world is very eager to satisfy the dormant propensity of love for others, but the various invented methods like socialism, communism, altruism, humanitarianism and nationalism, along with whatever else may be manufactured for the peace and prosperity of the world, are all useless and frustrating because of our gross ignorance of the art of loving Krsna.

Atreya Rsi: Is it true, Srila Prabhupada, that Krsna is testing us every day? We're having tests, opportunities... Prabhupada: No, just like if you want responsible post, then there is question of test. If you want to become a vagabond, remain vagabond. Where is question of test?

H.H. Mukunda Goswami ACBSP 1966: "Srila Prabhupada was not an ordinary spiritual master; he saved me. H.H. Satsvarupa Goswami ACBSP 1966: "Srila Prabhupada gave to me, to my whole generation, and to future generations the precious gift of realization that God is not dead, but He lives in the spiritual world; we are meant to live eternally with Him in bliss and full knowledge and, as part of Prabhupada's gift, we do this by taking up bhakti-yoga, and especially the...

In the eyes of a devotee, politicians, social workers, philanthropists, philosophers and humanitarians are simply wasting their time, for human society is not freed from the cycle of birth and death by their activity and propaganda.

India is going down by giving up this original cultural life which is its own. The government is enamored by the glittering civilization of the West, and it was a definite policy of our late prime minister, Mr. Nehru, who wanted to see India overnight as rich and materially advanced as America. It was, of course, Gandhi's policy to concentrate his organization in village life, taking to simple life and cow protection.

As the gopis and Krsna danced together, a very blissful musical sound was produced from the tinkling of their bells, ornaments and bangles. It appeared that Krsna was a greenish sapphire locket in the midst of a golden necklace decorated with valuable stones. While Krsna and the gopis danced, they displayed extraordinary bodily features.

When there is miseries, a Krsna conscious person takes the responsibility himself, and when there is happiness, it is due to Krsna. But the materialistic person is just the opposite. When he is in miseries, he'll say, "Oh, God has put me into such miseries." And when he's happiness, his friend says, "Oh, you are now well-to-do." "Yes, you do not know how much I have worked hard."

Miser knows his self-interest, "How much nice foodstuff I have got to eat daily." That's all. And liberal, "How much Krsna prasada I am distributing to the world."