“Every disciple should always remain busy in some work for Krishna. We shall not allow our mind to remain vacant, and if the mind is always filled up with Krishna consciousness activities, there is no chance of Maya to sit on the mind and force us to act under her spell.” - Srila Prabhupada (Letter to…
“Time is eternal and is compared to a sharp razor. A razor is meant to shave the hair from one's face, but if not carefully handled, the razor will cause disaster. One is advised not to create a disaster by misusing his lifetime. One should be extremely careful to utilize the span of his life…
“Living like an animal, not understanding the goal of life, one foolishly thinks that there is no eternity and that his life span of fifty, sixty, or, at the most, one hundred years, is everything. This is the greatest foolishness.” - Srila Prabhupada (Purport, Shrimad Bhagavatam 6.5.19)
In our inner world, we have a natural attraction…
“Therefore, any comfort of life or any material happiness which does not warrant an eternal life is but an illusion for the eternal living being. One who factually understands this is learned, and such a learned person can sacrifice any amount of material happiness to achieve the desired goal known as brahma-sukham, or absolute happiness.…
“One whose happiness is within, who is active within, who rejoices within and is illumined within, is actually the perfect mystic. He is liberated in the Supreme, and ultimately he attains the Supreme.” (Bhagavad Gita 5.24)
Although our external lives are important, it can’t be at the cost of our inner growth. We may analyse…
“Spiritual strength means sincerity and sincerity means spiritual strength.” – Srila Prabhupada (May 14, 1975, Perth)
A song from the 1954 award winning Bollywood film Boot Polish, graphically explains how empowered we are: John, a bootlegger teaches little children self-respect and asks - nane munne bacche teri mutti mein kya hai? – ‘Oh dear children,…
“In this world men are not meant for quarrelling like cats and dogs. Men must be intelligent to realize the importance of human life and refuse to act like ordinary animals.” – Srila Prabhupada (Introduction, Bhagavad Gita As it is)
If you win one million rupees, you could either waste it away or double it…
“Only if a living entity gives up the false conception that the body is the self and always thinks himself an eternal servant of Krishna and the Vaishnavas can he surpass the influence of Maya.” - (Srila Prabhupada purport to Chaitanya Charitamrita, Antya 3. 251)
The final test
The Lord in great happiness asked him…
“Krishna did not teach Bhagavad Gita to a Vedantist. He went to teach to Arjuna. He was a family man, he was a soldier, but why he was selected? – because Krishna saw that Arjuna was Bhakto si – a devotee.” – Srila Prabhupada (November 10, 1971, Interview)
In the mid sixteenth century when Lord…
“If one is fortunate enough to beg from the Lord this Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, his life is successful.” – Srila Prabhupada (Chaitanya Charitamrita, Adi 9.36, Purport)
He fights harder, struggles to perform more austerities, takes up more responsibilities, busies with day long services – hoping that he’d get so busy that he’d have no…
“Devotional service is more or less a declaration of war against the illusory energy.” – Srila Prabhupada (Bhagavad Gita 9.30, Purport)
A young warrior brandishing an AK 47, and with adrenaline pumping, marches confidently to battle. His seniors and comrades encourage him to fight the enemy called ‘Maya’. He is confident and roars at the…
“When one is intelligent enough, one tries to find out the supreme cause of all causes—within and without.” – Srila Prabhupada (in Science of Self-Realization)
A friend of mine was surprised when I organized a high profile event and a lunch programme that featured some of the senior most leaders of our community, including the…