calamities | The Hare Krishna Movement

Srila Prabhupada Regarding Epidemics

22 Mar 2020 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Coronavirus, Pandemic Tags: anarchy, calamities, Coronavirus, disease and epidemic, epidemic, nepotism, SB 1.16.5, SB1.10.25, Srimad Bhagavatam. epidemic

It seems that in just a few short weeks the world has changed. We as a people are facing a worldwide Pandemic, which is defined as;

Definition of pandemic:

(1) occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population

(2)an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population : a pandemic outbreak of a disease

There are many references given by Srila Prabhupada in his books and lectures on calamities such as the one we are witnessing today. I have included a few of them in todays post. -Vyasasan das

…By the celestial influence of the stars there are many calamities like excessive heat, cold, rains or no rains, and the after-effects are famine, disease and epidemic. (from purport: Srimad Bhagavatam 1.14.10)

Just try to understand… If there is an epidemic, infection, so in that condition, first of all what is the necessity? First thing is to disinfect the epidemic. (from lecture on [SB 1.16.5])

…But at times, due to the influence of the ignorance mode of material nature (tamo-guṇa), the lowest of the material modes, kings and administrators come into power without knowledge and responsibility, and such foolish administrators live like animals for the sake of their own personal interest. The result is that the whole atmosphere becomes surcharged with anarchy and vicious elements. Nepotism, bribery, cheating, aggression and, therefore, famine, epidemic, war and similar other disturbing features become prominent in human society. (from purport [SB 1.10.25])

Full Lecture and Full Text and Purport follows: More

Safety in a Dangerous World

09 Nov 2016 1 Comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Donald Trump, Padmapani das, People, Quotes by Srila Prabhupada Tags: calamities, Donald Trump, duhkhalayam asasvatam, Krishna consciousness, material world, Padmapani das, President on the United States of America, Safety in a Dangerous World, Srila Prabhupada, temporary world

This morning I awoke to the news that Donald Trump has been elected as President on the United States of America. For some Americans this is frightening news. Others are rejoicing. I think we can all agree that the world is a dangerous place. This post by Padmapani Prabhu is really quite timely.

Safety in a Dangerous World
by Padmapani das

Ever since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the world has been faced with unprecedented danger and uncertainty. Recent headlines suggest that the threat of terrorism has reached critical proportions. News of another possible attack in the U.S. has been circulating in the press and the rhetoric of war has dominated world politics for quite some time. Once again we are forced to contemplate our fragility and mortality in this material world. Anything can happen now and we know it.

Freedom From All Calamities

03 Sep 2016 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Lectures, Srimad Bhagavatam Tags: become happy and avoid danger, calamities, danger, dangerous position, Difficulties, Freedom from Calamities, I shall enjoy life, Krishna, Queen Kunti, struggle for existence, vipada

Freedom From All Calamities
A lecture by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Recorded in Los Angeles, April 17, 1973

vipadah santu tah sasvat
tatra tatra jagad-guro
bhavato darsanam yat syad
apunar bhava-darsanam

“I wish that all those calamities would happen again and again so that we could see You again and again, for seeing You means that we will no longer see repeated births and deaths.”

Prabhupada: So that is very interesting verse that vipada, calamities, danger, that is very good if such danger and calamities remind me of Krishna. That is very good. Tat te ‘nukampam su-samiksamano bhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam. A devotee, how he receives dangerous position? Danger must be there. Danger… Because this place, this material world is full of dangers. These foolish persons, they do not know that. They are trying to avoid the dangers. That is struggle for existence. Everyone is trying to become happy and avoid danger. This is the material business. Atyantika-sukham. Atyantika-sukham. Ultimate happiness. A man is working and thinking: “Let me work now very hard, and let me have some bank balance so when I shall get old, I shall enjoy life without any working.” That is the inner intention of everyone. Nobody wants to work. As soon as he gets some money he wants to retire from work, and to become happy. But that is not possible. You cannot be happy in that way.

Let There Be Calamities

23 Jun 2012 1 Comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Krishna Consciousness, Teachings of Queen Kunti Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, back to Godhead, calamities, clamity, dangers, Krishna, Krishna consciousness, Krsna, kuntidevi, Let There Be Calamities, Queen Kunti, repetition of birth and death, Teachings of Queen Kunti, vipadah

…In this very interesting verse, it is described that vipadaḥ—calamities or dangers—are very good if such dangers and calamities remind us of Kṛṣṇa.

Here Kuntīdevī speaks of apunar bhava-darśanam. The prefix a means “not,” and punar bhava means “repetition of birth and death.” The real danger is the repetition of birth and death. That must be stopped.

As long as we are in this material world, there must be calamities because this is the place of calamity. But even with calamities our business should be to develop our Kṛṣṇa consciousness, so that after giving up this body we may go back home, back to Kṛṣṇa.

Teachings of Queen Kuntī
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Chapter Eight

Let There Be Calamities

vipadaḥ santu tāḥ śaśvat
tatra tatra jagad-guro
bhavato darśanaṁ yat syād
apunar bhava-darśanam

I wish that all those calamities would happen again and again so that we could see You again and again, for seeing You means that we will no longer see repeated births and deaths. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.25)

Generally, the distressed, the needy, the intelligent, and the inquisitive who have performed some pious activities worship or begin to worship the Lord. Others, who are thriving on misdeeds only, regardless of status, cannot approach the Supreme due to being misled by the illusory energy. Therefore, for a pious person, if there is some calamity there is no other alternative than to take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord. Constantly remembering the lotus feet of the Lord means preparing for liberation from birth and death. Therefore, even though there are so-called calamities, they are welcome because they give us an opportunity to remember the Lord, which means liberation.

One who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, which are accepted as the most suitable boat for crossing the ocean of nescience, can achieve liberation as easily as one leaps over the holes made by the hooves of a calf. Such persons are meant to reside in the abode of the Lord, and they have nothing to do with a place where there is danger in every step.