Vaishnav Calendar-August

** Sri Krishna Janamashtami ** Sri Balarama Jayanti **

Vaishnava Calendar AUGUST 2016

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"This is the way of increasing devotional service"

Prabhupāda: If you are following Kṛṣṇa, then how you can violate the regulative principles?
Devotee (1): Just like they follow a few regulative principles, like the basic four: no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling, and no intoxication. If they follow those four regulative principles and just work for Kṛṣṇa...
Prabhupāda: He doesn't follow the four principles?
Devotee (1): Oh, yes. Yes. There's this one devotee in Sydney who works very hard for Kṛṣṇa, but...
Prabhupāda: But does not follow.
Devotee (1): He does not like āratis or things like that. He just likes to work hard all the time.
Śrutakīrti: He follows the principles, but he doesn't go to ārati, maybe he doesn't chant his rounds, but he's working...
Devotee (1): Real hard for Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: Like Gargamuni. (laughter)
Śrutakīrti: Yes, like that. And his plea is that Kṛṣṇa says...
Prabhupāda: Then he will fall down.
Devotee (1): He will fall down?
Śrutakīrti: But the plea is that Kṛṣṇa says in the Gītā,  "By working for Me one can come to the perfectional stage."
Prabhupāda: Yes, but he will fall down.
Śrutakīrti: That means "By working for Me eventually one will come to the point of follow the principles and..."
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Śrutakīrti: Not "Simply by working for Me you can do it."
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Śrutakīrti: You will advance to the other stages.
Prabhupāda: Just like if a man is working hard, but he will never become rich, then what is the use? Working hard means one must become rich. But if he does not become rich, simply working hard, then what is the use? Śrama eva hi kevalam [SB 1.2.8]. Utsāhād dhairyāt niścayāt tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt. You must follow the regulative principles. Sato vṛtteḥ. This is your honesty, and sādhu-saṅga [Cc. Madhya 22.83], this can be done-association with devotees. Ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati: "This is the way of increasing devotional service." (end)

Morning Walk -- May 15, 1975, Perth

"An ordinary man interested in bodily comforts does not need a guru."

One should not accept a guru unless one is inquisitive to know the ultimate goal of life. An ordinary man interested in bodily comforts does not need a guru. Unfortunately, at the present moment, the word guru refers to someone who can give bodily medicine. One approaches a Mahātmājī and says, "I am suffering from this disease. Please help me." And the Mahātmājī says, "Yes, I have a mantra that will heal you and give you success. Give me a little money and take it." This is not a real guru. One should approach a guru to learn about tattva, the Absolute Truth. One should not search out a guru to cure some material disease; rather, one requires a doctor. Similarly, people think that if a person can make him successful in business, that person is a guru. The śāstras do not confirm this either. A guru is one who knows the Vedas and the Vedic conclusion. The Vedic conclusion is the understanding of Kṛṣṇa. Vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ: "By all the Vedas, I am to be known." (Bg. 15.15)

 Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūti Verse 4

To Vote or Not To Vote ?

Interviewer: Do you think most of the Hare Krishna members will participate in the election in November? Do you think they will register and vote?

Prabhupada: Personally I never give votes.

Interviewer: Will they follow your example and not vote?

Prabhupada: I do not know, but our principle is that I vote for this man or that man if there is some spiritual benefit. That is our point. (Interview with the religion editor of the Associated Press in New York, 16 July 1976)

I have never given vote. Since we have got this sva-raj, Indian independence, as soon as the vote question comes up, I go away. I think, “Why shall I give this nonsense person my vote? None of them are liked by me.” So I avoid it. I don’t believe in it.

(Room Conversation in Bombay, 8 January 1977)

IF SOMEONE IS NOT ATTRACTED TO CHANTING

Candanācārya: Śrīla Prabhupāda, you once said that if someone is not attracted to chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, that he is being punished by Yamarāja.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Āpana karama bhuñjāye śamana kahaye locana dāsa.

Morning Walk -- June 8, 1976, Los Angeles

Our Glorious Master - In trance of devotional service

Our Glorious Master - Perfect Vaishnava