Srila Prabhupada's Quote Of The Day

April 29

The materialistic way of life means these four things: eating, sleeping, defending and mating - sense gratification. But if we want to go to the spiritual platform, then these bodily demands, at least for the present, we have to regulate. We cannot enjoy material life without any restriction and at the same time, we can stand on the spiritual platform. That is the whole thing. The difficult problem is that: we want to be spiritualists by speculation only. That is the whole tendency. People are much interested in philosophical speculation without any practical life. In the modern world it is said, yaso 'rthe dharma-yajanam. This is the symptom of this age.

Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.59-69, New York, April 29, 1966

April 28

As for speaking this knowledge effectively, that requires a little experience. The more you are experienced then you will be able to give examples.

Letter to Balavanta, 28 April, 1974

April 27

Now you all Ph.D.'s must carefully study the details of the 5th Canto and make a working model of the universe. If we can explain the passing seasons, eclipses, phases of the moon, passing of day and night, etc. then it will be very powerful propaganda.

Letter to Svarupa Damodara Das, 27 April, 1976

April 26

There are four things desirable in this material world, namely, good parentage, sumptuous wealth, sufficient education, and good beauty. These things are sometimes impediments in the service of the Lord because such persons with great parentage, wealth, etc., becomes materially puffed up, and thus deviates from Krishna Consciousness, but when they are employed in the service of the Lord, their value becomes many more times greater. Just like zero has no value, but when zero is placed on right side of one, the value of zero enhances to 10 times; similarly, our life, wealth, intelligence, and words become 100 times 100 greater and greater if they are employed in the service of the Lord.

Letter to Janardana, 26 April, 1968

April 25

Best thing is to keep a Guru-Gauranga altar at home and take part in the Deity worship program at the temple.

Letter to Caitanya Dasi, 25 April, 1973

April 24

Krsna said in the previous verse, mat-sthani sarva-bhutani na caham tesv avasthitah [Bg. 9.4]. That is explained in this verse that "Everything is resting upon Me. But at the same time," na caham tesv avasthitah, "they are not also in Me." This particular portion has to be understood. When Krsna says, God says, that everything is resting upon Him, that means everything is resting upon His expanded energy, not personally on Him. Personally He is aloof. Therefore it is said, na ca mat-sthani bhutani. The same example. Just like when we say everything is resting on the sunshine, that does not mean everything is in the sun but the sunshine is not different from the sun.

Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 9.5, Melbourne, April 24, 1976

April 23

You have rightly pointed out that people are becoming more materialistic in this age on account of their forgetfulness of Krishna Consciousness. Actually there is nothing like materialism. Materialism means forgetfulness of Krishna or God. We are preaching therefore Krishna Consciousness. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said that the first-class religion is that which teaches love of Godhead. At the present moment, one professes a type of religion, but does not develop real purpose of religion, namely love of Godhead - that is materialism.

Letter to Sri Birlaji, 23 April, 1970

April 22

The formula for ISKCON organization is very simple and can be understood by everyone. The world is divided into twelve zones. For each zone there is one zonal secretary appointed by Srila Prabhupada. The zonal secretaries duty is to see that the spiritual principles are being upheld very nicely in all the Temples of his zone.

Letter to All Temple Presidents, 22 April, 1972

April 21

Your chart for reporting book and record distribution is approved by me, as from this chart I can quickly see how the centers are doing.

Letter to Hamsaduta, 21 April, 1974

April 20

Since a human being is a rational animal, he is born to make inquiries. The greater the number of questions, the greater the advancement of knowledge and science. The whole of material civilization is based on this originally large volume of questions put by young men to their elders. When elderly persons give the proper answers to the questions of the youngsters, civilization makes progress, one step after another. The most intelligent man, however, inquires about what happens after death. The less intelligent make lesser inquiries, but the questions of those who are more intelligent go higher and still higher.

“Back to Godhead”, April 20, 1960

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