Archive - 2004

When the George Harrison recording was first released, some objected when Srila Prabhupada said it should be played in all ISKCON temples of the world. One of the objections was that a woman's voice was the lead. In a letter dated September 12, 1975, Srila Prabhupada responded as follows:
"All along you have been hearing the recording of Yamuna devi and now you want to change. It is not ordinary singing, it is concert, many people are singing, so it is not bad. Just like Sankirtana, many voices are there, men and women, so it is the same thing, sankirtana. I approve of it.

Srila Prabhupada said this about three big political leaders,: "The Napoleon was given horse urine. You know? By the Britishers. At the last stage when he was asking for water he was given horse urine. He died
like that. Hitler committed suicide. Gandhi was killed."
(12 August 1975, Paris)

Shortly after the impeachment of former US President Richard Nixon, Srila Prabhupada said this about him:
"You can see the Nixon. When he was in the office, oh, he was a big man. He was responsible man. Now he is kicked out. He is begging, and America is going on. Where is the need of this responsibility? For several months he was asked that 'You give up your responsibility?' The rascal will not give: 'No, without me America will go to hell.'"
(12 August 1975, Paris morning walk)

Srila Prabhupada used telephones, airplanes, dictaphones and computers while most of his colleagues considered this was contamination.

Once when Srila Prabhupada was asked about Jesus feeding loaves and fishes to the masses, he commented that Jesus Christ could eat the whole world.

The concept of ignorance can be understood by observing animals. One can readily see that dogs, cats, birds, horses, buffaloes and cows, cannot conceptualize as we do. They need to hear simple human commands, sometimes thousands of times, before they can understand them.

This isn't exactly a "thought for the day." It's more of joke. But it has a certain relevance in terms of spiritual equality for men and women, and besides, since Christmas is a holiday in the West, and Srila Prabhupada seemed to approve of Chaplin-esque style humor, I thought to print this little Xmas joke:

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December.

One of the things that's unique about the Krsna consciousness philosophy is the knowledge of the existence of the soul, and it's constitutionally happy condition. Most people admit that they're not truly or continually happy, so a teaching that our natural, normal condition is one of happiness is attractive.

Srila Prabhupada spoke in Conway Hall, London, in Red Lion Square, when he first arrived in England in 1969. And one of his recorded and transcribed lectures in that hall is the Introduction to his book, "Isopanisad." The title of the Introduction is "Teachings of the Vedas," a heading Gurudasa prabhu submitted to Srila Prabhupada. Gurudasa suggested a series of titles for other lectures to be given in that same auditorium throughout December, 1969. Srila Prabhupada used these titles for all his lectures there.

In one morning walk Srila Prabhupada explained that everyone wants to look up to someone. That's why he talked about the value of enlightened monarchy, and that people elect a president, even in countries with democratic governments, because they naturally wish to be sheltered by an individual.