Since the passing of Sridhara Maharaja, it’s relevant to cite Srila Prabhupada’s translation of CC Antya, 11.91-93, which deals with the passing of Haridasa Thakura. It reads: “Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave this benediction: ‘Anyone who has seen the festival of Sri Haridasa Thakura’s passing away, anyone who has chanted and danced here, anyone who has offered sand on the body of Haridasa Thakura and anyone who has joined this festival to partake of the prasada will achieve the favor of Krsna very soon. There is such wonderful power in seeing Haridasa Thakura.'”

In Krsna Book, Srila Prabhupada writes (Narada Muni speaking), ” `My dear Lord, You are the Supreme, Parabrahman, and Your pastimes as an ordinary human are another tactical resource, exactly like a play on the stage in which the actor plays parts different from his own identity. Because the Pandavas are Your cousins, You have inquired about them in the role of their well-wisher, and therefore I shall let You know about their intentions. Now please hear me.’ “

Evil is the backside of God. Just as the sun creates fog, cloud, and mist and thus sometimes obscures itself, Krsna is the origin of maya, which clouds our clear vision of Krsna.

In Vedic literature red signifies passion. Red clothes, cars and even hair alert us to rashness, and impetuous actions.

In his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindu, Rupa Goswami describes the percentages the various incarnations and expansions of Visnu possess. In Amhedabad, Srila Prabhupada reiterated these, as follows: “He [Rupa Goswami] has analyzed that Krsna is cent percent Bhagavan. And Narayana is ninety-four percent Bhagavan. And Lord Siva is eighty-four percent Bhagavan. And all other living entities, all living entities, we are, we are minutely seventy-eight percent Bhagavan. That means when you come to the perfection of life, when you are actually in the spiritual stage, then you are…, you have got the qualities of Bhagavan in minute quantity, but not all the qualities-eighty, seventy-eight percent.”

A temple on the Vrndavana Parikram path known as Gauri Douji still exists. It commemorates a time Radharani dressed up as Balaram and wrestled with Krishna, until their eyes met and He understood it was Her.

According to Srila Prabhupada, when the British were ruling India they made vigorous propaganda world-wide that the English people were civilizing the Indian people, who were primitive and superstitious. When UN delegates queried the validity of British occupation in India, the English maintained the position that they were civilizing India’s people.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual master, sometimes referred to modern society as “The cheaters and the cheated.” For a recent publication several prominent intellectuals were asked if we were being lied to, by whom and why. Many answered that the biggest lie is the one we tell ourselves. We tell ourselves, they argued, the we’re not being lied to; advertising is done only to increase consumer discrimination and information, politicians’ primary wish is the welfare of the citizens, psychiatrists’ fundamental desire is to improve the quality of life, scientists’ aim is only better living standards, world trade is necessary for the good life, and that wholesomeness and human happiness can be measured in terms of wealth, education, aristocracy and physical beauty.

In 1973, when Srila Prabhupada heard that the British government had banned the Rathayatra festival from Trafalgar Square, he insisted that the devotees fight back – even though he’d been informed that some ISKCON people had defaced part of the monument. The following is an excerpt from a conversation he had in India shortly after learning of the ban: Prabhupada: So even it is as it is, they may take in palanquin, but there must be a protest meeting continuously. Protest meeting and the Indians should approach the Ambassador that, “Represent our case to the Queen that Hindus are being harassed.” This should be organized. Bali Mardana: And also newspaper. Prabhupada: Also newspaper. There must be… Bali Mardana: They can make advertisements in the newspaper. Prabhupada: Yes. That “On certain plea only, they have stopped our most important ceremony.” In this way agitation must go on. And our men, those who took part in political agitation, they should go there and speak everywhere, that “It is religious discrimination.” Prabhupada: Protest meeting must be there. How to organize? At least, a protest meeting should be done in such a way that the whole world may know that the British Government stopped the yearly Ratha-yatra ceremony of the Hindus. That should be organized.

Just like you offer your devotion, respects, to guru. So that respect is offered to Krishna. Guru does not think that he is Krishna, but he collects the devotional services of the disciples to offer to Krishna. This is the process. We cannot approach Krishna directly. We should approach through guru. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasu sreya uttamam [SB 11.3.21]. That is the injunction of the sastra, that one should approach the guru who can transfer the service from the disciple to the Supreme Person. So… Therefore the first offering is guru, vande gurun. Then guru creates many devotees. Guru’s business is to canvass on behalf of Supreme Lord. That is guru’s business. Krishna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66], so, “You give up all material, engage…” Sarva-dharman means in the material world we have created so many so-called duties. (from a lecture delivered in Mayapura on the 15th of March, 1975.)