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Hare Krsna-over a 5 year period, back in the  mid 1970’s, I built  3 different size Ratha carts for Vancouver temple. The first one seen below was a converted farm cart from our first “farm” up in Bridesville BC

This is another view as we took Lord Jagannatha around the seawall promenade-it was so tight you couldn’t really safely walk alongside it at places along the route. Anyway, we all had a great time.

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Hare Krsna-below we have entered many different conversations and quotes all relating to one topic-How only a madman thinks he or she is independent in this world to do as they please.

July 5 1976 Wash DC conversationsVṛṣākapi: I was thinking that they are talking of independence, but they cannot even become independent of old age and disease. Their body, they try to control things, but their own body is out of control.
Prabhupāda: So many things.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: One may say that if there’s no independence, then where is the question of initiative in the material world, taking initiative?Prabhupāda: Initiative? What is that question? Initiative I understand, but do you think that by taking initiative of independence you become independent, like this, by dancing and fireworks, you become independent? This is initiative, dancing like dogs, (sings) “We are independent, we are independent.” (laughter) Does it have any meaning? Dance like a dog, that’s all.

Hari-śauri: It’s a big show, that’s all.

Yadubara: They will say that they can do so many things.

Prabhupāda: What they can do? They cannot do anything. At any moment, you can be kicked out, “Get out.”

Yadubara: But they have choice within māyā. Isn’t that a fact?Prabhupāda: Choice?

Yadubara: Choice what to do in the material world, many different fields. They will say that they can do this or that.

Prabhupāda: Many fields, that is also conditioned. That is conditioned, that is not independence.

Hari-śauri: One has choice to become a dog or a cat, or…

Prabhupāda: Everything is conditioned. Therefore it is called conditioned life. There is no question of independence. That is foolishness. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gītā, that they are not independent, completely under the control of laws of material nature, and still they are thinking independent.

Rūpānuga: It is like a prisoner in the prison house thinking he has some freedom.

Prabhupāda: That freedom is danda jane raja jana nadi secu bhau.(?) Drowning the man in the water and, “Now you have independence, so breathe.” (laughter) So he breathes in, “Ah! Ah!” “All right, you are now a little relieved, all right, again. Again become drown.” “Oh! Save me, save me, save me, save me.” “All right,” take out, “now breathe, independently.“ This is independence. Danda jane raj jana nadi secu bhai.(?) The rascal does not know “I am breathing independent, but at any moment I can be drowned again.” Very correct example, danda jane raja jana nadi secu bhai.(?) No independence. Independence is only there when you fully surrender to Kṛṣṇa. You surrender your all independence to Kṛṣṇa. Then there is. “Kṛṣṇa, I have foolishly acted as independent, so many lives. Now I surrender all my independence at Your lotus feet. If You like, You can kill me; if You like, You can…,” that is independence. Otherwise, there is no independence. All foolishness. Ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā. By false egotism, he’s thinking that “I am independent.”

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Spiritual Vibrations to cleanse ourselves of all material contaminations

In the cleaning industry, they clean your window blinds with some sort of a machine which vibrates the dirt off the blinds. No water, just vibrations cleanses the dirt off. Similarly the Hare Krsna maha mantra is a seed sound vibration which cleanses all the dirt from our hearts, so that eventually we can see ourselves and also God, Krsna as Supersoul within our hearts.

June 23 1975 LA conversations

Here in the material world, except the spirit soul, everything is material. And he is encumbered with this material atmosphere by twenty-seven stratas, layers. The five elements, gross elements, then ten senses, and then three guṇas… In this way there are twenty-seven layers. He is within, and he has to be taken out. That is called liberation. Just like if you are covered with twenty-seven layers of dirty things, so it is very difficult position. But there is process to clear the garbage and take him out. That is Kṛṣṇa conscious movement, to take the soul out of the covering of twenty-seven layers of material atmosphere

So 27 layers of dirt, both gross and subtle, accumulated for lifetimes has to be removed, in order to see ourselves, and God within the heart. This is our problem, our only real problem

Aug 21 1973 london Just like electricity is everywhere, electrons. One who can tackle the electrons, they can talk without any direct connection by electronic method, thousand thousand miles away. Just like radio message, television message. So similarly, Kṛṣṇa is also everywhere. Just like the waves of sound wave is going on. As soon as you produce, I produce one sound, immediately within a second the sound goes round the earth seven times. So if a material thing has got so much power, just think how much power God has got.

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1.) June 23 1975 LA

Jayatīrtha: Philosophers generally try to use their mind to speculate about the nature of the soul. But with the mind they can never understand…

Prabhupāda: Just like the madman is speculating. He is thinking, “I am president. Bas, finished.” He is lying down on the street, “Oh, I am completely independent. Why shall I go on the foot path?”

John Mize: When the soul was in the spiritual sky, it also had a mind and an intelligence like here?

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Yes. Unless he has got mind, how he misuses intelligence?John Mize: But he misused that intelligence in his freedom, his independence.Prabhupāda: Yes. Yes. Mind is there also. That is spiritual mind. Everything is spiritual. There is nothing material. Body spiritual, mind spiritual, intelligence spiritual, he is spiritual, the land spiritual, water spiritual—everything is spiritual. That is spiritual world. Here in the material world, except the spirit soul, everything is material.And he is encumbered with this material atmosphere by twenty-seven stratas, layers. The five elements, gross elements, then ten senses, and then three guṇas… In this way there are twenty-seven layers. He is within, and he has to be taken out. That is called liberation.Just like if you are covered with twenty-seven layers of dirty things, so it is very difficult position. But there is process to clear the garbage and take him out. That is Kṛṣṇa conscious movement, to take the soul out of the covering of twenty-seven layers of material atmosphere. That śloka is naṣṭa-prāyeṣu abhadreṣu: “almost cleansed.” Abhadra, abhadra means dirty things. So this clearing process going on. When it is almost cleansed the man feels, “Oh…” And that process: nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā [SB 1.2.18], constantly being engaged in the service of Bhāgavata, grantha-Bhāgavata and the person Bhāgavata. Then it will be cleansed. And then, when he comes out, that is brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā [Bg. 18.54], “Oh, I am now free.” Na śocati na…, no more lamentation, no more greediness. Everything finished. Then he begins his real business as part and parcel of God. That is perfection.

Bahulāśva: Prabhupāda, in the Thirteenth Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā, “Nature, Enjoyer, and Consciousness,” in verse number six and seven you mention those twenty-seven coverings: “The five great elements, false ego, intelligence, the unmanifest, the ten senses, the mind, the five sense objects, desire, hate, happiness, and distress, the aggregate, the life symptoms and convictions—all these are considered, in summary, to be the field of activities and their interaction.” And…

Prabhupāda: By the material life, these are our field of activities. The body is a combination of all these things. Just like a huge computer machine. It is made of these material things, but the mechanical parts are very minute, different. All these are matter. But within this matter, because the soul is there, therefore the finest machine is working. Just like your composition machine, (imitates machine:) “Kut, kut, kut, kut, kut, kut.” But one has to push the button; otherwise useless. However very nicely made the machine, without a living being’s touch, it is useless. So all this big machine, body, is wonderful so long the soul is there. And as soon as the soul is out it is lump of matter, useless, not worth a penny. Throw it away.So we are giving importance to the machine, not to the person who is dealing with the machine. This is the folly of modern civilization. We are thinking like child, “The machine is working independently.” But that is not the fact. The big airship, 747, is flying because the pilot is there, and the pilot is a soul, covered by another bodily machine. And that, that is missing point in the modern civilization, that who is working with the machine. That they do not know. That is ignorance. It is said—you see Bhagavad-gītā,īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe ‘rjuna tiṣṭhati bhrāmayan sarva-bhūtāniyantrārūḍhāni māyayā [Bg. 18.61]Yantra means machine. So the modern education is missing the pilot. They are simply wandering with the machine. Read it.

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july 5 1975 Chicago
Devotee (2): We are giving these books to so many common men. Then the books will attract them to perhaps chanting and following the regulative principles.
Prabhupāda: Yes, if they read. Even if they touch. That is the difference between this book and ordinary book. Even they touch and they read one line and says, “Oh, it is very nice,” he makes a step forward. If he simply says this word, “Oh, it is very nice,” that is sufficient to bring him. Therefore I am trying to push. He has paid some money. He will then say, “What these nonsense have written. Let me see.” (laughter) And if he sees and says, “Oh, it is very nice,” then the beginning is immediately. Therefore we are trying to push. At least let him say, “It is very nice.” The Kartikeya’s mother, the practical experience… The Kartikeya, when he used to go to see his mother, the mother was going to dance, ball dance, and she would not speak: “All right, sit down. I am coming.” She used to go out. The same mother gradually, in the association of her son, became Kṛṣṇa conscious. So at the time of death she asked Kartikeya, “Is your Kṛṣṇa here?” and she died immediately. This is the effect. So anta-kāle, she remembered Kṛṣṇa, so her life was successful. She inquired like this, “Is your Kṛṣṇa here?” And immediately died. So she got the benefit of her son’s Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You can ask Kartikeya also. She said that.

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June 18-19 1975 Honolulu

Harikeśa: Morning walk, June 18th.

Prabhupāda: ...their own food, it takes working eight hours for three months. So three months, if they work hard-hard means eight hours, not more than—then the whole year’s provision is there.

Siddha-svarūpa: Yes. Simply they have to harvest, time, maybe two hours a day. Farming or being in the countryside also seems to be, in itself working in the countryside rather than in a factory, seems to be more conducive for thinking, even while they’re working.

Prabhupāda: No, it is a fact. This factory working is most demonic. It is not required at all. For the interest of a few persons this device has been invented. Therefore the Communist movement is there. And the China has found the Communistic movement in Russia is defective because although it is Communistic, the whole idea of exploitation by the powerful is there.

Siddha-svarūpa: Yes, that is their argument actually.

Prabhupāda: Yes. And that is the fact. And Chinese Communism will be perfect if they take little instruction from us. We are also Communist, Kṛṣṇa Communist. We want that everyone should be happy. The Communistic philosophy is also like that. They want to see everyone happy. But they have made a materialistic center. That will not help. People are attracted to these bad habits of materialistic civilization. The most important is that sex and intoxication and meat-eating and gambling. So their attraction has to be changed. Otherwise, although these Chinese, they are pushing in the village, that village also will be a brothel. They must have some attraction. So where is that attraction?Just like the hippies. They do not like this civilization, but the attraction for the sex and intoxication they could not give up. So they remain the nasty again in a different way. The process should be mayy āsakta-manaḥ pārtha yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ. That attraction. Mayy āsakta. “The attraction which you…, should be changed to Me.” This yoga should be practiced. Then it will be all right. The same example: if you keep the dogs as dog, there is no possibility of making a peaceful dog society. That is not possible. You have to change their doggish quality. Then there will be peace. How you can expect peaceful society amongst the dogs?Some Conclusions– Personally, we have done this  here and are still doing it. We grow as much food out in the gardens as possible, harvest it in the fall, store it inside, and then reap the benefits  for a year for only 3 months work outside-which by the way he mentions  is not the demonic work of the karmis who work in factories, or working for somebody else.Where else can you get this ratio of work to food? 3 months work for 12 months food? And its nice work out in the fresh air, sunshine, working your body as God intended us to do instead of pushing buttons and  doing everything  or as much as possible , electronically ???Some will get it but unfortunately, most will not.

Hare Krsna

damaghosa das

The following is a very instructive conversation between Lord Caitanya and Sarva Bhauma Battacarya, whom He, Lord Gauranga, was trying to convince of the errors of his mental speculative ways.

Madhya 6.109–” ‘In almost all cases, whatever learned brāhmaṇas speak becomes accepted; nothing is impossible for one who takes shelter of My illusory energy and speaks under her influence.’ “

PURPORT-In this verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.22.4), the Supreme Personality of Godhead explains that His illusory energy can perform the impossible; such is the power of the illusory energy. In many cases philosophical speculators have covered the real truth and have boldly set forth false theories. In ancient times philosophers like Kapila, Gautama, Jaimini, Kaṇāda and similar brāhmaṇas propounded useless philosophical theories, and in modern days so-called scientists are setting forth many false theories about the creation, backed up by seemingly logical arguments. This is all due to the influence of the Supreme Lord’s illusory energy. The illusory energy, therefore, sometimes appears correct because it is emanating from the Supreme Correct. To avoid the very bewildering illusory influence, one must accept the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as they are. Only then can one escape the influence of the illusory energy.

Madhya 6.132–“You do not explain the direct meaning of the Brahma-sūtras. Indeed, it appears that your business is to cover their real meaning.”

PURPORT-This is typical of all Māyāvādīs or atheists who interpret the meaning of Vedic literature in their own imaginative way. The real purpose of such foolish people is to impose the impersonalist conclusion on all Vedic literature. The Māyāvādī atheists also interpret the Bhagavad-gītā. In every verse of Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā it is clearly stated that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In every verse Vyāsadeva says, śrī-bhagavān uvāca, “the Supreme Personality of Godhead said,” or “the Blessed Lord said.” It is clearly stated that the Blessed Lord is the Supreme Person, but Māyāvādī atheists still try to prove that the Absolute Truth is impersonal. In order to present their false, imaginary meanings, they must adopt so much word jugglery and grammatical interpretation that they finally become ludicrous. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remarked that no one should hear the Māyāvādī commentaries or purports to any Vedic literature.

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SP’s order to print 17 books of CC in two months time

June 21, 1975 LA conversations

Prabhupāda: Oh. [break] So many dogs, “best friends.” [break] …they have erased, “No dogs on beach,” “Dogs on beach.” (laughter) Just see how lawful they are. [break] How many books are pending? Rāmeśvara?

Rāmeśvara: I think we have just added one more in the Sixth Canto since you have started translating it.

Prabhupāda: No, no. How many books are pending?

Rāmeśvara: Still about seventeen.

Prabhupāda: So?

Rāmeśvara: We have just sent Madhya Two…

Prabhupāda: They are not complete?

Rāmeśvara: You have finished them.

Prabhupāda: No, I have finished. I mean to edit, editing?

Rāmeśvara: Editing, we are done five volumes in Madhya-līlā and two volumes in Antya-līlā. But they are being held up in the Sanskrit division.

Prabhupāda: So you get it corrected. I am present. I will do that.

Rāmeśvara: I think when Nitāi and Jagannātha come,

Śrīla Prabhupāda, all the books will come out within a few months, all of them.Prabhupāda: No, no, not a few months. I want these seventeen pending books must be printed within two months. That I want. Otherwise disqualification. Yes. [break] …be done. Your so many GBC’s are here, and you are also here, I am also here. Decide! It must be done. It is too much delay. [break] …constructing something here, but stopped? What is that?

3 Days later….

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The inhabitants of the village brought to the Deity of Gopāla as much food grains, ghee, yogurt and milk as they had in their village.

PURPORT-Anna, ghṛta, dadhi and dugdha are food grains, ghee, yogurt and milk. Actually these are the basis of all food. Vegetables and fruits are subsidiary. Hundreds and thousands of preparations can be made out of grains, vegetables, ghee, milk and yogurt. The food offered to Gopāla in the Annakūṭa ceremony contained only these five ingredients. Only demoniac people are attracted to other types of food, which we will not even mention in this connection. We should understand that in order to prepare nutritious food, we require only grains, ghee, yogurt and milk. We cannot offer anything else to the Deity. The Vaiṣṇava, the perfect human being, does not accept anything not offered to the Deity. People are often frustrated with national food policies, but from the Vedic scriptures we find that if there are sufficient cows and grains, the entire food problem is solved. The vaiśyas (people engaged in agriculture and commerce) are therefore recommended in the Bhagavad-gītā to produce grains and give protection to cows. Cows are the most important animal because they produce the miracle food, milk, from which we can prepare ghee and yogurt.The perfection of human civilization depends on Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which recommends Deity worship. Preparations made from vegetables, grains, milk, ghee and yogurt are offered to the Deity and then distributed. Here we can see the difference between the East and the West. The people who came to see the Deity of Gopāla brought all kinds of food to offer the Deity. They brought all the food they had in stock, and they came before the Deity not only to accept prasāda for themselves but to distribute it to others. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement vigorously approves this practice of preparing food, offering it to the Deity and distributing it to the general population. This activity should be extended universally to stop sinful eating habits as well as other behavior befitting only demons. A demoniac civilization will never bring peace within the world. Since eating is the first necessity in human society, those engaged in solving the problems of preparing and distributing food should take lessons from Mādhavendra Purī and execute the Annakūṭa ceremony. When the people take to eating only prasāda offered to the Deity, all the demons will be turned into Vaiṣṇavas. When the people are Kṛṣṇa conscious, naturally the government will be so also. A Kṛṣṇa conscious man is always a very liberal well-wisher of everyone. When such men head the government, the people will certainly be sinless. They will no longer be disturbing demons. It is then and then only that a peaceful condition can prevail in society.Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/madhya/4/93

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