There is a certain symptom that is manifest in the person who is sheltered. It is that he is able to face adversity without being disturbed, that he is able to go on serving, taking shelter of the Holy Name of the Lord without any material consideration.
June 19, 2004, Moscow
I went through many tests during those first few years, and Radha Gopivallabha were always there as support. The reciprocation I experienced from Them was immeasurable. From those days onward, They have always been as an object of meditation. It is important to me that some from among the disciples feel, at least some degree, the same strong feelings towards these deities as I have.
June 18, 2006, Letter
When a person has attracted the attention of the spiritual master by sincere service, then the spiritual master authorizes this devotee to deliver fallen souls in all parts of the world.
June 17, 2000, Doneck
When we speak about Krishna's relationship with His devotees, we are not talking about some temporary relationship that is simply manifest for some time and then His devotees die. No, there is no death for the living entity. There is no death for Krishna's servants. Their relationships are eternal. But when the living entity forgets that relationship and he falls into material consciousness, he becomes absorbed with the reflection of this eternal relationship. He starts chasing after the reflection, but it is not reality. It is like jumping into a lake to pick apples from the reflection of an apple tree.
June 15, 1996, Nikolaev
There is no enthusiasm in “maintenance" consciousness. The consciousness will simply degrade. But when there is devotion with minds fixed on Guru and Krishna, then the Lord will step in and help bring about results beyond all expectations. Ultimately all these results are up to Him. We are not the doers.
June 14, 2005, Letter
Although the motivations may be there within the heart and one may recognize the impure motivations within the heart, one who is actually serious about making advancement in spiritual life will always be conscious of the fact of why he is actually taking part in Krishna consciousness, why he is actually accepting a spiritual master, what is the actual objective or goal of rendering devotional service.
June 13, 1995, Kiev
That’s the vaishnava method of having a relationship. You serve somebody. If you serve someone, then you find that by serving them, then they reciprocate. That’s our vaishnava standard. If you actually want to get the attention of somebody, the way you can get his attention is by serving him. And if you really want attention, you serve him without any expectation of something in return, because that is the foundation of love.
June 12, 2005, Kiev
When the living entity turns to Krishna, then Krishna will help that living entity from within the heart. How does he make that turn? What is that turning point? That turning begins when he actually hears the message of Godhead and by hearing the message of Godhead from a devotee, he turns his attention to the Lord. And a devotee is praying to the Lord who is in the heart of all living beings “Please help them to hear Your message. This is Your message, I’m simply Your servant.”
June 11, 1996, Krasnodar
So not simply mechanically. Somebody can do it mechanically for years. They can look really good. Get up early in the morning; sit in class, but somehow nothing is happening. They chant their rounds, but something has to awaken within the heart. How does that desire to awaken that bhakti within the heart take place? It is awakened by the bhakti which is manifested in the heart of another devotee. Bhakti causes bhakti.
June 10, 2002, Sochi
Just like somebody may become attached to wealth, somebody may become attached getting a position, somebody may become attached by enjoying another person. So, although they are in the position of master, they are not independent, because they are actually controlled by something material.
June 9, 1996, Rostov-on-Don