• English
  • Русский

Niranjana Swami's Quote Of The Day

May 27

I was present during Srila Prabhupda’s manifest presence before he departed from this world in 1977. Because I had already been a member of the Krishna consciousness movement for five years prior to his departure, I personally witnessed his very strong, compelling desire to see that his books were distributed throughout the world. I felt pushed by simply hearing that desire. Although I felt pushed during those years, I have no feelings of regret whatsoever. In fact, it has helped me to more fully understand the personality of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada,
his motivations, his purpose, and his purity. It also enabled me to experience a very sweet taste that comes from making personal sacrifices for the pleasure of a pure devotee of the Lord. It is a taste that is incomparable to any other pleasure that one may aspire for or experience in this world.
(Lectures from a disciple, Vol 3, Book Distribution, Pg 378, 3rd Paragraph)

May 26

The symptom of someone who is sheltered is that he is peaceful and satisfied in any condition. Because he is satisfied, he can give shelter. One who is not satisfied wants something for himself. He may want to increase his prestige by having many followers. He is therefore not sheltered and cannot give shelter. Prabhupada explains in Teachings of Queen Kunti that Krishna comes to this world for the sake of His devotees—either to protect them or to give them pleasure. He is not coming to get anything for Himself. Similarly, for the devotee who is satisfied in his service to Krishna, he gives Krishna consciousness to others; not for anything for himself. His source of happiness is Krishna’s pleasure.
(Lectures from a disciple, Vol 3, Receiving and Giving Shelter)

May 25

Srila Jiva Gosvami says in his Madhava-mahotsava: “Though one usually ignores others in attaining one’s own goals, those aspiring for prema accept dependence on others with similar goals and tastes. Thus, cooperating with each other, they work together, keeping in mind the goal of prema.” In Teachings of Queen Kunti, Prabhupäda explains that in the material world, to be dependent on the mercy of someone else is the utmost sign of misfortune. But in the case of our transcendental relation with the Lord, it is the most fortunate case when we can live completely dependent on Him. To be dependent upon the Lord means to also be dependent upon the association of His devotees. It is only in the association of devotees that we can cooperate together and help each other in a common goal—the goal of being Krishna conscious. We may engage in various projects together, which may create a sense of unity and harmony, but if Krishna is not at the center, it will only produce more anxiety.
(Lectures from a disciple, Vol 3, Receiving and Giving Shelter)

May 24

Srila Prabhupäda explains in the Seventh Canto of the Bhagavatam that one should not take shelter of a person who cannot control the senses. Such persons who are still bound by the ropes of fruitive labor, which are made of very strong cords, still have to undergo repeated birth and death in the material world. They are compared to the blind leading the blind. How can somebody who is blind lead somebody else who is blind? One has to take shelter of somebody who has proper vision of how to take shelter of the Supreme Lord. It is our natural state of life to be sheltered. However, we have to take shelter in that which is sat—eternal. We must therefore take shelter of the association of devotees—those who help us to take shelter of the Supreme Lord. When devotees pray for benedictions, they pray to live in the association of devotees, as that is where there are always discussions about the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this Age of Kali, the most powerful method to obtain shelter of the Lord is through the association of devotees.
(Lectures from a disciple, Vol 3, Receiving and Giving Shelter)

May 23

Because we are eternal, we have to take shelter of something eternal. We will never be free from anxiety as long as we are taking shelter of something material. We must therefore give up our materialistic conceptions about shelter. There are many examples of taking shelter of that which is temporary. Many people go to America thinking they will find shelter and will live in opulence. However, opulence is not real shelter. It is only material shelter, and is therefore an illusion. As long as we take shelter of something that is temporary, we will be in anxiety. Prahläda Mahäräja also says that one who has accepted temporary householder life is embarrassed by anxiety. However, for one who is taking shelter of householder life, he must also take shelter in Krishna consciousness, as householder life is not full shelter.
(Lectures from a disciple, Vol 3, Receiving and Giving Shelter)

May 22

We can protect ourselves by keeping good association with devotees who are always encouraging us, and, by willingly overlooking the minor offenses that are committed by others in the process of engaging in devotional service; we have to expect that these things will happen from time to time. If they cause us to become too withdrawn and fearful of putting ourselves in a situation where such feelings could arise, then it is a good impetus for us to pray very deeply to Krishna to help us to overcome this shortcoming within ourselves. Praying like this is a very important part of our practice of Krishna consciousness, and it will give us strength.
Lectures from a disciple 3, Pg 362, 2nd Paragraph

May 21

To see if we are becoming free from envy, we can check to see how much our taste for hearing the glories of Krishna is manifesting in our heart. Conversely, if we want to see how much it has not gone away, we will see it by how much the tendency to speak about ourselves and to speak about the topics of the material world is present.
Lectures from a disciple 3, Pg 361, 3rd Paragraph

May 20

Everyone is hankering to have genuine reciprocal relationships on the spiritual platform. The natural desire in the heart of every living entity is to have a loving relationship with someone. If we cut ourselves off from having loving relationships, then we are left to deal with the enemies of the material world—lust, anger and greed. These enemies influence everything we do in this world, and impact our attempts to have personal relationships. When lust, greed or anger dominates, we cannot have a personal relationship with anybody. The best way to become free from lust, anger and greed is to have a loving relationship on a spiritual platform. It is the most powerful force that can undo these influences that are dragging us to hell.
Lectures from a disciple 3, Pg 360, 4th Paragraph

May 19

We have to remove our ego and false identity of possessiveness, thinking that everything has to be done our way. That is the main obstacle in engaging in devotional service, and is the main source of conflict in the material world. It is described in the Second Canto of the Bhagavatam that persons who are bewildered by the illusory energy of the Lord are always absorbed in the topic of “I” and “this is mine.” However, our true mood should be as a servant, simply representing the superior order. We should be looking to see that desire in others to please the Supreme Lord, the potential in
everyone else, and try to encourage them in Krishna consciousness and in serving the Supreme Lord.
Lectures from a disciple 3, Pg 358, last Paragraph

May 18

Sometimes we think unity is when we are doing everything together. This is beneficial when we are collectively endeavoring to engage in the sankirtana movement—to distribute the glories of the Lord, to maintain Srila Prabhupada’s temples, to worship the deities, etc. However, doing service together does not only mean being physically together; it also means sharing a common consciousness or goal in those endeavors. That common consciousness is the desire to please the Lord without anything in return for that service. Devotees who work together in Krishna consciousness in this way will see that here is no disunity.
Lectures from a disciple 3, Pg 358, 4th Paragraph

Pages