Srila Prabhupada Conversations | The Hare Krishna Movement

Separating the Saints From the Swindlers

06 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Guru & Disciple, Science of Self Realization, Srila Prabhupada Conversations Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Christian, economic development, God, guru, Hindu, Krishna consciousness, London Times, materialistic life, Muhammadan, Prabhupada conversations, Saints and Swindlers, Spiritual Life, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada Speaks out, The Science of Self Realization

The Science of Self Realization
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
From Chapter II, Choosing a Spiritual Master

Separating the Saints From the Swindlers

Srila Prabhupada speaks out in an interview with the London Times: “If you want to be cheated, you will find many cheating gurus. But if you are sincere, you will find a sincere guru… The genuine guru is God’s representative, and he speaks about God and nothing else… A genuine guru is not a businessman. He is a representative of God. What ever God says, the guru repeats. He does not speak otherwise.”

Reporter: Your Grace, it seems to me that more people then ever are seeking some kind of spiritual life. I wonder if you could tell me why this is so.

Srila Prabhupada: The desire for spiritual life is an absolutely natural hankering. Because we are spirit souls, we can not be happy in the material atmosphere. If you take a fish out of the water, it cannot be happy on land. Similarly, if we are without spiritual consciousness, we can never be happy. Today, so many people are after scientific advancement and economic development, but they are not happy because these are not the actual goals of life. Many young people are realizing this, and they are rejecting materialistic life and are trying to search for spiritual life. Actually this is the proper search. Krishna consciousness is the proper goal of life. Unless you take to Krishna consciousness you cannot be happy. That is a fact. Therefore, we invite everyone to study and understand this great movement.

What is Krsna Consciousness?

07 Jan 2012 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Interview with Srila Prabhupada, Krishna Consciousness, Science of Self Realization, Srila Prabhupada Conversations Tags: caste system, Christ consciousness, fake gurus, God consciousness, Hare Krsna mantra, Interviews with Srila Prabhupada, krsna consciousness, Sandy Nixon, spiritual master God, Srila Prabhupada

The following interview with freelance reporter Sandy Nixon took place in July 1975, in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s quarters at the Kṛṣṇa center in Philadelphia. This discussion serves as a superb introduction to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and covers such basic topics as the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, the relationship between the spiritual master and God, the difference between genuine and fake gurus, the role of women in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the Indian caste system, and the relationship between Christ consciousness and Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

What is Krsna Consciousness?

Ms. Nixon: My first question is very basic. What is Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Śrīla Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa means God. We are all intimately connected with Him because He is our original father. But we have forgotten this connection. When we become interested in knowing, “What is my connection with God? What is the aim of life?” then we are called Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Ms. Nixon: How does Kṛṣṇa consciousness develop in the practitioner?

Śrīla Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa consciousness is already there in the core of everyone’s heart. But because of our materially conditioned life, we have forgotten it. The process of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare—revives the Kṛṣṇa consciousness we already have. For example, a few months ago these American and European boys andgirls did not know about Kṛṣṇa, but just yesterday we saw how they were chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and dancing in ecstasy throughout the whole Ratha-yātrā procession [an annual festival sponsored by the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement in cities around the world]. Do you think that was artificial? No. Artificially, nobody can chant and dance for hours together. They have actually awakened their Kṛṣṇa consciousness by following a bona fide process. This is explained in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 22. 107)

Understanding Krsna and Christ

25 Dec 2011 1 Comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Lord Jesus Christ, Science of Self Realization, Srila Prabhupada Conversations, Vegetarianism Tags: Christ, Christos, Emmanuel Jungclaussen, Father Emmanuel, Jesus, Krishna, Krsna, Krsta, Lord Jesus Christ, Srila Prabhupada, the anointed one, The Science of Self Realization, Understanding Krsna and Christ

Conversation with Father Emmanuel

The Science of Self Realization
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter 4 “Understanding Krsna and Christ”

Conversation with Father Emmanuel

In 1974, near ISKCON’s center in Frankfurt am Main, West Germany, Srila Prabhupada and several of his disciples took a morning walk with father Emmanuel Jungclaussen, a Benedictine monk from Niederalteich Monastery.

Noticing that Srila Prabhupada was carrying meditation beads similar to the rosary, Father Emmanuel explained that he also chanted a constant prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, be merciful unto us.” The following conversation ensued.

Srila Prabhupada: What is the meaning of the word Christ?

Father Emmanuel: Christ comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning “the anointed one.”

Srila Prabhupada: Christos is the Greek version of the word Krsna.

Father Emmanuel: This is very interesting.

Srila Prabhupada: When an Indian person calls on Krsna, he often says, “Krsta.” Krsta is a Sanskrit word meaning “attraction.” So when we address God as “Christ,” “Krsta,” or “Krsna,” we indicate the same all-attractive Supreme Personality of Godhead. When Jesus said, “Our Father, who art in heaven, sanctified be Thy name,” that name of God was “Krsta” or “Krsna.” Do you agree?

Father Emmanuel: I think Jesus, as the son of God, has revealed to us the actual name of God: Christ. We can call God “Father,” but if we want to address Him by His actual name, we have to say “Christ.”

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. “Christ” is another way of saying Krsta, and “Krsta” is another way of pronouncing Krsna, the name of God. Jesus said that one should glorify the name of God, but yesterday I heard one theologian say that God has no name-that we can call Him only “Father.” A son may call his father “Father,” but the father also has a specific name. Similarly, “God” is the general name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose specific name is Krsna. Therefore whether you call God “Christ,” “Krsta,” or “Krsna,” ultimately you are addressing the same Supreme Personality of Godhead.

“Your Bhagavad-gītā reading is perfect. You have taken the essence.”

30 Sep 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Krishna Consciousness, Srila Prabhupada Conversations Tags: bhagavad-gita, bhakti, conversation with Srila Prabhupada, Krishna consciousness, perfection of yoga, remembering Krishna

Remembering Krishna. This is Krishna Consciousness

Bhagavad-gītā 2.1-10 and Talk
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Los Angeles, November 25, 1968

…It is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, that we have to try to remember Kṛṣṇa. He’s so beautiful, His instructions are so nice. If we simply remember Kṛṣṇa… That was the perfection approved by Lord Caitanya.

I think I have narrated the story. When Lord Caitanya was traveling in South India in a big temple, Raṅganātha temple, He went to see the Deity, and He saw one brāhmaṇa was reading Bhagavad-gītā. And people were joking him, “Oh, Mr. brāhmaṇa, how you are reading Bhagavad-gītā?” Because they were the neighbors, they knew that this brāhmaṇa was illiterate and he was studying Bhagavad-gītā. So they were joking. But the brāhmaṇa did not about care them. He was taking the book and in his own way he was reading. Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw this incident, He came to the brāhmaṇa. So He asked the brāhmaṇa, “My dear brāhmaṇa, what you are reading?” So he could understand “This persons is not joking with me; He is serious.” So he explained, “My dear sir, I am reading Bhagavad-gītā. Unfortunately, I am illiterate. I do not know even the alphabets.” “Why you are reading Bhagavad-gītā?” So he said that, “My spiritual master knows that I am illiterate, but still, he has asked me to read Bhagavad-gītā. What can I do? Therefore I have taken this book. I am seeing simply. I do not know how to read.” “Oh, that’s all right. You cannot read. But I see that you are crying. How you are crying if you are not reading?” “Yes, I am crying. Of course, there is cause.” “What is that?” “As soon as I take this Bhagavad-gītā, I remember Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is sitting as driver and Arjuna is hearing. I have heard the story. I know something of the instruction but cannot read. So as soon as I take this book, this picture comes before me and I simply think, ‘Oh, how Kṛṣṇa is nice that He has become a charioteer of His devotee. He is so great. Still, He has accepted a menial service of His devotee.’ This gives me so much pleasure that I cry.” Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced him, “Your Bhagavad-gītā reading is perfect. You have taken the essence.” So this is the thing. If you simply remember Kṛṣṇa is teaching Arjuna and Arjuna is hearing, if you simply remember the picture, that is sufficient. Even if you think that you cannot read. Because after all we have to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. We haven’t got to become a learned man to argue with another learned man. If it is possible we can do that, but that does not make any difference if I cannot argue with others or if I cannot teach very nicely Bhagavad-gītā to others. Simply if I remember this picture, that is perfection. Because we have to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. We have to simply think of Kṛṣṇa. You think in any way. That is your perfection. Smartavyaḥ satataṁ viṣṇuḥ. This is the injunction. You have to think of Viṣṇu always. This is samādhi; this is meditation; this is yoga siddhi, perfection of yoga.

ISKCON’s Decline after Srila Prabhupada’s Departure

21 Apr 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Srila Prabhupada Conversations, The Hare Krishna Movement Tags: Gaudiya Matha, guru-puja, Iskcon temples, Iskcon's, post-samadhi, spiritual institution, spiritual instruction, Srila Prabhupada conversation

ISKCON’s Decline after Srila Prabhupada’s Departure

The following conversation of Srila Prabhupada’s clearly explains the reasons for ISKCON’s decline after Prabhupada’s departure. Though Srila Prabhupada was speaking about the failure of the Gaudiya Matha, amazingly it perfectly matches ISKCON’s own post-samadhi history, line for line. Seven sentences have been numbered for direct comparison to ISKCON.

“1) Why this Gaudiya Matha failed? Because they tried to become more than guru. 2) He, before passing away, he gave all direction and never said that ‘This man should be the next acharya.’ But these people, just after his passing away they began to fight, who shall be acharya. That is the failure. 3) They never thought, ‘Why Guru Maharaja gave us instruction so many things, why he did not say that this man should be acharya?’ 4) They wanted to create artificially somebody acharya and everything failed. 5) They did not consider even with common sense that if Guru Maharaja wanted to appoint somebody as acharya, why did he not say? He said so many things, and this point he missed? The real point? And they insist upon it. 6) They declared some unfit person to become acharya. Then another man came, then another, acharya, another acharya. 7) So better remain a foolish person perpetually to be directed by Guru Maharaja. That is perfection.” – Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation, 08-16-76, Bombay

Special Message

26 Mar 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Srila Prabhupada Conversations Tags: bhagavad-gita, disciples, eternal relationship with God, materialistic persons, spiritual movemnt, Swamiji

This exchange between His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and reporters took place at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Reporter: Swamiji, what special message would you have for people who don’t know anything about your movement and would like to know something about it?

Srila Prabhupada: It is a little difficult to understand this movement, because it is a spiritual movement. Unfortunately, people have practically no information about what spirit is and what a spiritual movement is. They can simply understand that the body is there — but the body is a machine, and the driver of the machine is the spirit soul. So we are beginning our movement from this platform. People are very much engrossed with the machine only, but they have no information about who is driving the machine. That is what we are teaching.

Reporter: Swamiji, your movement has received much attention because many of your followers dress in what, for the West, is an odd fashion. Why have you asked your followers to dress in this fashion and play drums on the streets?

Srila Prabhupada: This is our preaching method — somehow or other to draw people’s attention, so that they may have the opportunity to revive their eternal relationship with God.

I am always thinking of You. From, Letters, Conversations, Lectures, and Walks.

13 Mar 2011 1 Comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Quotes by Srila Prabhupada, Remembering Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada Conversations, Srila Prabhupada's Books Tags: Bhagavad Gita, Brahmananda dasa, conversations, Gaurasundara dasa, God-brothers, Govinda dasi, Hansadutta dasa, Jayananda dasa, Karandhara dasa, Krishna dasa, krsna consciousness, lectures, personal guide, physical association, Sivananda dasa, Srila Prabhupada letters, Srimad Bhagavatam, Suci devi, vani, vapuh, Vrindavan, walks

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I am always thinking of you (Srila Prabhupada)

Prabhupada: So there is nothing to be said new. Whatever I have to speak, I have spoken in my books. Now you try to understand it and continue your endeavor. Whether I am present or not present, it doesn’t matter. (770517ar.vrn Conversations)

“I shall remain your personal guidance, physically present or not physically, as I am getting personal guidance from my guru maharaja” (Srila Prabhupada to Tamal Krishna, 14 July 1977)

You write that you have desire to avail of my association again, but why do you forget that you are always in association with me? When you are helping my missionary activities I am always thinking of you, and you are always thinking of me . That is real association. Just like I am always thinking of my Guru Maharaja at every moment, although he is not physically present, and because I am trying to serve him to my best capacity, I am sure he is helping me by his spiritual blessings. So there are two kinds of association: physical and preceptorial. Physical association is not so important as preceptorial association. (SP Letter to Govinda Dasi, 18/8/69)

But always remember that I am always with you. As you are always thinking of me, I am always thinking of you also. Although physically we are not together, we are not separated spiritually. So we should be concerned only with this spiritual connection. (SP Letter to Gaurasundara, 13/11/69)

You write to say, ….I really miss Swamiji and my God-brothers’ association so much.” But I may remind you that I am always with you. And so wherever I am there, and you are there, all your God-brothers are there. Please remember always the humble teachings that you have received from me, and that will make you always associated with me, and with your other God-brothers. (Letter to: Sivananda dasa. Montreal , 24 August, 1968)

“However, the disciple and spiritual master are never separated because the spiritual master always keeps company with the disciple as long as the disciple follows strictly the instructions of the spiritual master. This is called the association of vani (words). Physical presence is called vapuh. As long as the spiritual master is physically present, the disciple should serve the physical body of the spiritual master, and when the spiritual master is no longer physically existing, the disciple should serve the instructions of the spiritual master.” (SB 4.28.47 purport)

Associate with Srila Prabhupada through his Vani

There is no difficulty

05 Mar 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Devotee's, Srila Prabhupada Conversations Tags: always think of Me, devotional service, Krishna consciousness movement, Madhudvisa Swami, man mana bhava mad bhakto, sinful activity, surrender to Krishna, there is no difficulty

There is no difficulty

Madhudvisa prabhu (repeating question to Srila Prabhupada): “We have been here for many lifetimes performing sinful activities. So is it possible to counteract all those sinful activities in one lifetime, or does it require many…?”

Srila Prabhupada: “One minute. That is Krishna consciousness movement. One minute. You are not reading Bhagavad Gita? What Krishna says? sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayisyami (BG 18.66) ‘You surrender unto Me. Give up your all business. I will give you relief from all sinful reaction immediately.’ So it requires one minute. ‘My dear Krishna, I was forgotten. Now I understand. I fully surrender unto you.’ Then you become immediately free from all sinful reactions.

Without any reservation, without any politics, if you fully surrender, Krishna is assuring, aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah. He reassures, ‘Don’t worry whether I will be able to give you relief from all reaction’; ma sucah, finished, guaranteed. You do this. So how much time it requires to surrender to Krishna? Immediately you can do that. Surrender means you surrender and work as Krishna says.

That is surrender. What Krishna says to do? man mana bhava mad bhakto mad yaji mam namaskuru (BG 18.65); four things: ‘You always think of Me, and you become My devotee, you worship Me, and offer your respect, full obeisances unto Me’ You do these four things. That is full surrender. Mam evaisyasi asamsaya: ‘Then you come to Me without any doubt.’ Everything is there. Krishna has given everything fully. If you accept it, then life is very simple. There is no difficulty. Yes?”