June 23 1976 New Vrndavana conversations Devotee (1): Śrīla Prabhupāda, when one returns to his svarūpa, his natural form, how does… Prabhupāda: First of all, anartha–nivṛtti. You are accustomed to so many bad habits. First of all try to rectify it, then talk of svarūpa. Where is your svarūpa? Simply wasting time. A man is diseased, he’s thinking, “When I shall be cured I shall eat, go to this hotel, I shall eat like this.” First […]

Hare Krsna-It seems there is a mood these days by some, of understanding that this bhakti yoga is somewhat mechanical, and that we dont have any present day love for Prabhupada or Krsna.  They think this love will come sometime in the “future” if we just follow enough rules and regulations..     This is a wrong conception as one […]

Jan 5 1972 letter to Niranjana Please accept my blessings. I thank you for your letter dated 1st January, 1972 and am glad that you have received my letter. The four sinful activities which one must avoid if there is to be any hope for spiritual advancement are the eating of meat, fish and eggs, the use of intoxicants, […]

June 28 ,1976 New Vrndavana Prabhupāda: So these people, these mahājanas, they know what is the principles of religion. Religion means bhagavata-dharma, to understand God and our relationship with God. That is religion. You may call it Hindu religion or Muslim religion or Christian religion, but real religion is that which teaches how to love […]

June 24 1976 New Vrndavana Prabhupāda:Thisisnastycivilization, unnecessarily increasing necessities of life.Anartha. Kīrtanānanda: We would not have understood you if you had said that eight, ten years ago. Prabhupāda: Hmm? Kīrtanānanda: Ten years ago I know I could not have understood you if you had said that. Now I understand a little bit. Prabhupāda: Now suppose these electric lights. So, […]

Jan 20 1952 letter to Nehru, President of India(and they knew each other earlier)   In the old days life was not so much conditional and encumbered. The simple problems were then the problems of bread, clothing and shelter which were solved by the simplest process. By agriculture they used to solve the bread, clothing and shelter problems and industrialization was unknown to them. Thus they had no idea of living in big palatial buildings at the cost of sacrificing the boon of […]

Article by Ishan das SB 2.9.43–TRANSLATION   The great sage Nārada also inquired in detail from his father Brahmā, the great-grandfather of all the universe, after seeing him well satisfied.   PURPORT- “The process of understanding spiritual or transcendental knowledge from the realized person is not exactly like asking an ordinary question from the schoolmaster. The schoolmasters in […]

  May 2 1972 letter ….I have tried it: any page you open, that is wonderful reading matter. My ambition is to spread these books far and wide all over the world so that everyone shall read at least one of our books and that will change his life. If only 1% become devotees, that will change the world. I think that eventually we can print TLC in paperback […]

Nov 20 1971 letter Hamsadutta Regarding your question about incense, Karandhara has just informed me that our Spiritual Sky incense business is making now $1,000,000 a year to spend for Krishna. How can that be Maya? My Guru maharaja used to say, “Anything material, if it is used for the service of Krishna, it is a mistake to give it up.” Because […]

June 8 1976 LA conversations Guest: Is it possible for one to know how many lifetimes it takes to reach spiritual perfection? Prabhupāda: Immediately, he can take. Provided that he accepts. Just like Kṛṣṇa says, sarva–dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Find out this verse. Ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ. Hṛdayānanda: “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.” Prabhupāda: So, when you are free from sinful life and the reaction of sinful life, then you are […]