Archive - 2003

According to Bhaktivinoda Thakura, "energy is dependent; so energy is imagined as a female and thus she has become qualified to be embraced by the supreme energetic. To make the truth more easily understood, great sages have added ornamental language to their descriptions. Actually Radha-Krsna is an Absolute Truth."
(from Tattva-sutra 7, as rendered in Sri Bhaktivinoda Vani Vaibhava, Volume 1, page 175)

In a purport in Srila Prabhupada's Srimad Bhagavatam, it is mentioned that the human boat is a "perfectly constructed boat" which, with the help of Krishna and the spiritual master, enables us to be safely and quickly impelled on our course. Obstacles that divert us from our course include words and phrases.

An entry in Srila Prabhupada's diary dated May 3rd, 1966, says, "The Paragon book gallery man, Mr. Max met. He reported that they are selling the books."

In "Sri Bhaktivinoda Vani Baibhava," page 117, translated by Bhumipati dasa, the question is asked: "When the birthplace of Sri Gaura was discovered, how envious were the professional traders of religion?" The answer, which is said to be taken from the "Biography of Thakura Bhativinoda," is: "When ancient Navadvipa was discovered, the people of modern Kuliya, Navadvipa, became very envious. They began to say so many things and showered various abusive words on the devotees of Gauranga.

In "Sri Bhaktivinoda Vani Baibhava," page 13, translated by Bhumipati dasa, the question is asked, "What is the harm if one does not worship Sri Visnupriya?" The answer: "If one gives up the worship of Visnupriya, one cannot claim to be a devotee of the Lord."

"Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Laksmidevi are eternal husband and wife. Therefore it was quite natural for their dormant love to awaken when they saw one another. Their natural feelings were immediately awakened by their meeting."
(Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila,14.64, purport)

A cartoon drawing of Benjamin Disraeli, one time Prime Minister of Great Britain, appeared in "Punch", the erstwhile leading UK satire magazine. The cartoon showed Disraeli dressed as an angel. This was due to his public statement, "I am on the side of angels," made in 1864, shortly after Darwin published his "Origin of Species," in which he had asked, "Is man an ape or an angel?" For entertainment purposes, this statement is also often inserted into books on evolution. (Information from "Human Devolution," by Michael Cremo [Drutakarma dasa], p 2-3)

In a letter to Abhirama, dated November 19, 1971, Srila Prabhupada explained that perfection in Krsna consciousness is not static. He wrote: "Because you have given your life to Krishna, you are already perfect. But it is just like the ocean. If you are swimming in it you may swim forever and not reach the shore. Similarly, there is no limit to the perfection of Krsna
consciousness."

Devotional service is so enlivening that any one of the nine processes, if perfected, can give us the highest benefit. Therefore reading (hearing) is very important. Srila Prabhupada said this about hearing:

"If you become expert in hearing, that is as good as one who is engaged in any of the other eight processes or nine processes. That is stated in the sastra. Just like Pariksit Maharaja. He simply listened. He did not do any other process. Sri-visnu-sravane pariksit. They got liberation simply by executing one of the nine different processes.

The importance of hearing was brought home by Srila Prabhupada at the end of a lecture he gave in London on 12 March 1975. He concluded, "We should ourselves also continuously hear from authoritative literature, person, and continuously go on chanting the same thing, repetition. That's all. Then everything will be happy atmosphere. Otherwise the crows' assembly in the garbage will continue, and nobody will be happy."