Srila Prabhupada's Quote Of The Day

Topic

May 24

Generally, the yogis, they are trying to concentrate the mind upon the Supreme Absolute Truth. That is the yogic practice. Yoga indriya-samyamah. Yoga means to concentrate your mind to the Absolute Truth by controlling the senses. Because the senses are very restless, it will not allow you to concentrate your mind. Therefore yoga indriya-samyamah. That is yoga. So here the same yoga is advised: yogaа yunjan mad-asrayah. This yoga has to be practiced under Krsna. Mad-asrayah. Mat means "Me," and asrayah means taking shelter. Or mad-asrayah means to take shelter of Krsna's devotee, one who has completely taken shelter of Krsna, to take shelter of him.

Lecture on Bhagavad-Gita 7.1, Fiji, 24 May 1975

May 23

If we always concentrate on reading our literature then there will be no difficulty to preach. Nor will the mind wander to other subjects. By reading these books regularly we become more and more convinced in Krishna Consciousness. And if we become more convinced, that will spread the potency of Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement with great strength.

Letter to Sudama, 23 May, 1972

May 20

I can understand your difficult position in preaching work. Not only you, but I also had the same difficulty when I wanted to start this Krsna Consciousness Movement from India. I approached many respectable gentlemen and requested that, "My dear sir, you have got four children, out of them can you spare one only under my guidance, because I want to make a brahminical society all over the world.'' Everyone replied in this connection, "Sir what benefit will there be in becoming a brahmana??''

Letter to Niranjana, 21 May, 1973

May 20

If you do not work for that supreme perfect, then you will be bound up and your, this encagement of body will continue. This encagement of body will continue if you work on your own responsibility and not for the supreme purpose of the Supreme Lord, Yajna, or Visnu. That is the secret. Yajna means yajno vai visnuh. It is sruti. Sruti means the Vedic literature, the Vedic hymns. They prove it, "Yajna means Visnu." Visnuh tu sartham karma samacara.(?) Therefore we have to work for the satisfaction of Visnu. That is called Yajna.

Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 3.8-13, New York, May 20, 1966

May 19

Everyone is on the threshold of death. Any moment, we can die. Therefore it is said, "As sure as death." All other things may be not sure, but death is sure. Therefore, before death, one... Manisinam, manusyesu manisinam. Not ordinary man. Manisi. Manisi means thoughtful. They question, "What is to be done now, before death comes? Shall I die like cats and dogs, or shall I die like human being?" This is the question. Cats and dogs dying, nobody cares. But a human being dying, there are so many ceremonies, mourning. Because human life is important.

Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.1, Los Angeles, May 19, 1972

May 18

Krsna said that this material life is duhkhalayam, simply full of miseries. But under the spell of mäyä we are thinking that we are very happy. That's not the fact. Therefore human life is a chance to get out of this miserable condition. That should be the aim of life, how to get out of this miserable condition of life. That requires knowledge how we are suffering, how it can be mitigated. The sufferings will be ended... The same thing: unless you become law-abiding to the laws given by God, you'll suffer. That is nature's way. The same principle: unless you become lawful, the police will give you punishment.

Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.18, Honolulu, May 18, 1976

May 17

The third-class men, vaisyas, mercantile, simply "Where to get money?" And they are, according to Vedic civilization, third-class men. But at the present moment those who are acquiring money somehow or other, they are first-class men. It doesn't matter what is his qualification. If he has acquired some money some way or other, then he is a first-class man. This is Kali-yuga. In the Kali-yuga there is no honor for qualification. There is honor for money only. That's all.

Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.9.3, Los Angeles, May 17, 1973

May 16

Human opulence means the society must have enough gold, enough jewelry, enough silk, enough grains, enough milk, enough vegetables, like that. That is opulence. Formerly a person was considered rich by two things: dhanyena dhanavan. How much grain stock he has got at his home. A big, big barn, filled with grains. Still in India, if I am going to give my daughter to some family, to see the family's opulence, I go to see the house, and if I see there are many, many barns' stock of grains and many cows, then it is very good. It is opulent.

Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.9.2, Los Angeles, May 16, 1973

May 15

We have to deal with so many men with different personalities. So kindly utilize their energies and at the same time keep them satisfied. That is leadership. If one man is appointed as leader, all must follow him and be obedient. "Obedience is the first law of discipline.'' They are pointing out irregularities, but they themselves are not doing their duty, so they are pointing out the irregularities in others. They came to serve; now they don't want to serve so there is some excuse. Oh, irregularity let me go away. The workers should not suggest irregularities.

Letter to Giriraja, 15 May, 1972

May 14

If you continue in Krsna consciousness, you will see that nothing is material. When you offer a flower to Krsna, it is not material. Krsna will not accept anything material. And this does not mean that the flower is material on the bush, and then it becomes spiritual when you offer it to Krsna. No. The flower is "material" only as long as you think that it is made for your enjoyment. But as soon as you see that it is for Krsna's enjoyment, you see it as it really is - spiritual.

The Tenth Morning Walk, Cheviot Hills Park, Los Angeles, May 14, 1973

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