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India Pledges to Restore Angkor Temple http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=3224cf9b4b8c1049 DELHI, INDIA, May 26, 2004: India has offered technical assistance, materials and $5.5 million to Cambodia for the restoration of the 12th century Ta Prohm temple at the Angkor Wat site. The Archaeological Survey of India, a government agency, said Monday that it has submitted two detailed reports to Cambodia's Apsara Authority for the restoration, expected to take 10 years. The Ta Prohm is a magnificent temple-monastery complex built in the South Indian architectural style that once housed nearly 13,000 monks and other attendants. Angkor Wat is the largest temple area in the world. Ta Prohm has been left by archaeologists in its original jungle-covered state, some of its walls cracked apart by tree roots, making it an exotic subject for photographers and a popular destination for tourists. It was built by one of the greatest Khmer Kings, Jayavarman VII, who also built Angkor Thom as his capital and the Bayon as his state temple where a mix of Buddhist and Hindu deities were worshipped. India and Cambodia signed an agreement for the restoration of Ta Prohm two years ago when Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Cambodia. Work will be carried out between the months of November and April to avoid the rainy season.

THE THOUGHTS OF LESSER MINDS Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode’s Tattva-viveka 1.27 [Certain philosophers say that] the conditioned soul should seek to please God by performing pious works and acquiring knowledge for the benefit of the whole world. Bhaktivinode’s Commentary The followers of this religion have no power to worship God selflessly. In general, their idea is that by cultivating fruitive work and speculative philosophy one should work to make improvements in the material world and thus please God. By building hospitals and schools and performing other philan-thropic works, they try to do good to the world and thus please God. Worship of God by performing fruitive work (the process of karma) and by acquiring knowledge (the process of jñāna) is very important to them. They have no power to understand pure devotional service (the pro-cess of suddha-bhakti), which is free of fruitive work and philosophical speculation. Worship of God done out of a sense of duty is never natural or unselfish. “God has been kind to us, and therefore we should worship Him.” These are the thoughts of lesser minds. Why is this not a good way to worship God? Because as a consequence one may easily develop the mentality that, “If God is not kind to me then I will not worship Him.” One will have the impure, selfish desire to receive special favors from God in the future. If one desires only that God should kindly allow one to serve Him, that is fine. But the religion under discussion does not see things in that way. This religion sees God’s kindness in terms of one’s enjoyment of a happy life in this material world. —

Satsvarupa Satsvarupa! Brother! Simple heart ! Headache guardian of the Iskcon pain, Rider of the introspection train, A dandavat to your deepest self. (O Soul! Mollusced and seaweeded in Maya’s bilge Does it take such pain to scrape you clean? Does the world soul not subsist through joys eternal and unseen?) Satsvarupa ! I’m still a part of you, I still believe in Gauranga’s good-old throbs of separation. even as I try to purge them. As a brother who has tried only to know his unknown father, I am churned by the melancholy and bittersweet juice of your pain. Have you been chosen as Iskcon’s lamb the sibling to be crucified to nourish God’s wrath and give birth to the grace of humility? Many are called, but who is chosen? Water covers the earth, but only bits are frozen, to become the resting spots for penguins, gulls and seals. Only the cloud appeases the chatak, and feeds the dried-out river bed; only the cloud in the month of Jyeshtha can make the Ganges River red. -- Jagat

IF THE FAN IS STILL MOVING His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Devotee 1: Sometimes devotees think that when Lord Kapila teaches in the Srimad Bhagavatam that there is devotional service in ignorance, in passion, and in goodness, that it may also mean your own disciples. But then some other devotees say “No, we’re above that designation. It’s not mixed devotional service, even though we’re neophytes.” Prabhupada: If you voluntarily do not follow, then you fall down. That is in ignorance. Devotee 2: So in the third canto, part four, where it is described about devotional service in ignorance, passion, goodness, and so forth, that has nothing to do with your disciples then? Prabhupada: Who is my disciple? First of all, let him strictly follow the disciplined rules. Devotee 2: As long as one is following, then he is... Prabhupada: Then he is all right. Devotee 2: He is above those lower levels? Prabhupada: Oh, yes. Otherwise, why is there a need of regulative principles? He is immediately liberated. If he thinks that, “Because I have taken to [Krishna consciousness], I am liberated,” then why the rules and regulations? Devotee 2: But as long as he follows the rules and regulations. He comes to the brahma-bhuta platform, brahma-bhuta prasannatma, immediately? Prabhupada: Yes. In Bhagavad-gita it is said, mam ca yo ‘vyabhicerena bhakti-yogena sevate — if one performs unalloyed devotional service then he is liberated [bg. 14.26]. If his service is not avyabhicarena, but vyabhicerena — sometimes he falls down — then it is within sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. Krishna says, mam; ca ya avyabhicarena bhakti-yogena — pure bhakti. Devotee 2: Fall-down means deviation from the orders of the spiritual master. Prabhupada: Yes, that is vyabhicarna, that is not avyabhicerena. If you are subjected to the attraction of maya, that is vyabhicarena. Devotee 2: If somebody is following the instructions, but there’s attraction for maya... Prabhupada: That cannot be. Maybe in the beginning due to past habits, but that must be nil very soon. Otherwise, he is not following. Just like a fan switched off may move for a little while, but it will not go on moving. If the switch is off, it must stop. And if it is still moving then it means that the switch is not off yet. — Morning walk conversation, 13 June 1976, Detroit.

"THE DUST OF THE LOTUS FEET OF THE VAISNAVAS HAVE BEEN GRANTED TO THIS FALLEN SOUL BY THE MERCY OF LORD NITYANANDA" Krsnadasa Kaviraja said, "All glory, all glory to the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, by whose mercy I have attained Sri Radha-Govinda. I am more sinful than Jagai and Madhai and even lower than the worms in the stool. Anyone who hears my name loses the results of his pious activities. Anyone who utters my name becomes sinful. Who in this world but Nityananda could show His mercy to such an abominable person as me? Because He is intoxicated by ecstatic love and is an incarnation of mercy, He does not distinguish between the good and the bad. He delivers all those who fall down before Him. Therefore He has delivered such a sinful and fallen person as me. Although I am sinful and I am the most fallen, He has conferred upon me the lotus feet of Sri Rupa Goswami. The mercy of Lord Nityananda showed me Sri Madanamohana and gave me Sri Madanamohana as my Lord and master. He granted to one as low as me the sight of Lord Govinda. Words cannot describe this, nor is it fit to be disclosed. On an altar made of gems in the principal temple of Vrndavana, amidst a forest of desire trees, Lord Govinda, the son of the King of Vraja, sits upon a throne of gems and manifests His full glory and sweetness, thus enchanting the entire world. Therefore who can describe the mercy of the lotus feet of Him, Lord Nityananda, by whom I have attained the shelter of this Lord Govinda? All the groups of Vaisnavas who live in Vrndavana are absorbed in chanting the all-auspicious name of Krsna. Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda are their life and soul. They do not know anything but devotional service to Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. The dust and shade of the lotus feet of the Vaisnavas have been granted to this fallen soul by the mercy of Lord Nityananda. Lord Nityananda said, "In Vrndavana all things are possible." Here I have explained His brief statement in detail. I have attained all this by coming to Vrndavana, and this was made possible by the mercy of Lord Nityananda. I have described my own story without reservations. The attributes of Lord Nityananda, making me like a madman, force me to write these things. The glories of Lord Nityananda's transcendental attributes are unfathomable. Even Lord Sesha with His thousands of mouths cannot find their limit." (CC Adi-lila 5.204-210, 216-220, 227-234) Lord Nityananda is greatly merciful. Taking only one's faith, He gives the pure teachings of Krsna to everyone and does not care for one's birth, wealth, knowledge, and strength. Now, giving up the illusory snare of maya, either remain in household life or in the forest as a sannyasi, for no more troubles remain. There is no more fear of the age of Kali. The merciful Nityananda gives the Holy Name to even the Chandalas. Bhaktivinoda calls out: except for the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda there is no other shelter. (Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura)

****************************** As far as I understand, there is no other bonafide Gaudiyaline that puts peacock feathers on Gauranga other than some people in ISKCON. And this originated from some new devotees in in the 1970's who really didn't have much knowledge of the tradition at the time. Thus I ask myself should I give more importance to the words of a great sadhu who was steeped in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition such as Gour Govinda Maharaja, or should I prefer to follow the new tradition established by devotee XYZ in 1970 who is probably no longer in ISKCON? I will choose to follow the instructions of recognized sadhus. ************************

Dear Prabhu,I have no good qualifications ; OK I should pay attention to ALL OTHER injunctions of the Aryan culture as well, starting with qualifications I MYSELF must develop. in general, if I develop good qualities myself, I will not have to worry about bad qualities of others affecting me. Women's Liberation Back to Godhead Vol. 14 No. 2/3 This exchange between His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and a woman reporter took place at Chicago's Krsna center during the summer of 1975. Reporter:What advice do you have for women who do not want to be subordinate to men? Srila Prabhupada: It is not my advice but the advice of the Vedic literatures- that a woman should be chaste and faithful to her husband. Reporter: What should we do in the United States? We're trying to make women equal with men. Srila Prabhupada: You will never be equal with men, because in so many respects your functions are different. Why do you say artificially they're equal with man's? The wife has to become pregnant, not the husband. How can you change this? Both the husband and wife will become pregnant - is it possible? Reporter: (No reply.) Srila Prabhupada: Is it possible? Reporter: No. It is not. Srila Prabhupada: Then by nature, one has to function differently from the other. Reporter: Why does this mean that women have to be subordinate - just because they bear children and men can't? Srila Prabhupada: By nature, as soon as you get children you require support from your husband. Otherwise, you are in difficulty. Reporter: Many women with children have no support from their husband. They have no - Srila Prabhupada: Then they have to take support from others. You cannot deny that. The government is giving them support. Today the government is embarrassed. If the husband supported the wife and children, the government would be relieved of so much welfare expenditure. So that is a problem. Reporter: What happens when women support men? Srila Prabhupàda: First of all, try to understand that you are dependent. After a man and woman unite, there are children. And if the man goes away, you are embarrassed - the woman is embarrassed. Why? The poor woman is embarrassed with the child-she has to beg from the government. So do you think it is a very nice thing? The Vedic idea is that a woman should be married to a man, and the man should take care of that wornan and the children - independently - so that they do not become a burden to the government or to the public. Reporter: Do you think that the social unrest- Srila Prabhupada: I am thinking like this. You give me the answer! Simply you go on questioning. I will question you - Do you think this burden to the government and the public is good? Reporter: I don't understand what you're saying. Srila Prabhupada: Every year the government has to pay out millions of dollars in aid to dependent children. Do you think that this burden caused when the husband goes away from the wife - this burden to the government and the people is good? Reporter: No. Srila Prabhupada: That has happened - because the woman does not agree to be subordinate. She wants "equal freedom." Reporter: And if women were subordinate to men, I suppose that would solve all of our problems? Srila Prabhupada: Yes. The husband wants that his wife should be subordinate - faithful to him. Then he's ready to take charge. Man's mentality and - woman's mentality are different. So, if the woman agrees to remain faithful and subordinate to the man, then family life will be peaceful. Otherwise the husband goes away, and the woman is embarrassed with the children, and it becomes a burden to the governrnent and the people in general. Reporter: Is there anything wrong when the woman works? Srila Prabhupada: There are so many things wrong, but the first thing is - Why should some man's wife and child become a burden to the governrnent or the public? First of all answer this. Why should she become a burden? Reporter: [No reply.] Srila Prabhupada: What is your answer? Reporter: Well, men are burdens to the government, too. Srila Prabhupada: Do you think, from the social point of view, that this situation of women and fatherless children is a very nice thing? Reporter: What I'm trying to say is that ... this may happen to some women ... I'm talking about women who are not - Srila Prabhupada: This is the general pattern. You cannot say "some." In America I see they are mostly women.... The woman should be subordinate to the man, so that the man can take charge of the woman. Then the woman is not a problem for the public. Reporter: Is this true for all women and all men? Srila Prabhupada: Yes. That is the law of nature. You take even the dogs - they also take care of their children. The tigers - they take care of their children. So in the human society, if the woman is made pregnant and the man goes away, then she is embarrassed-she has to beg from the governrnent. That is not a very good situation. Reporter: What about women who do not have children? Srila Prabhupada: Well, that is another unnatural thing. Sometimes they use contraceptives, or they kill their children - abortion. That is also not very good. These are all sinful activities. Reporter: Excuse me? Srila Prabhupida: These are sinful activities - killing the child in the womb and taking shelter of abortion. These are all sinful activities. One has to suffer for them. Reporter: Is the social unrest in this country caused because - Srila Prabhupada: Because of these things. They do not know that............

"During a conversation with Srila Prabhupada, someone commented that my son was very intelligent. Prabhupada agreed, "He is very intelligent." Someone then suggested, "Just like his father." Prabhupada shook his head and smiled, "No, like his mother." (Pradyumna) "The social institution known as varnasrama-dharma--the institution dividing society into four divisions of social life and four occupational divisions of caste--is not meant to divide human society according to birth. Such divisions are in terms of educational qualifications. " BG 16:1 - 3, Purport "We are Vaishnava's. We are not concerned with male of female position in life. That is simply bodily concept of life. It is not spiritual. Whether one is male or female, it does not matter, simply chant Hare Krishna and follow the four regulative principles and your life will be perfect." (letter to Jennifer, 1975) "The system of varnashrama-dharma is more or less based on moral principles. There is very little realization of the Transcendence as such, and Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu rejected it as superficial and asked Ramananda Raya to go further into the matter." Srimad Bhagavatam, Introduction. "A devotee woman recalls that she was once in Srila Prabhupada's room for a darshan. There were hundreds of visiting devotees from neighboring temples. Before lecturing he insisted that the women (who were all at the back) come and sit up front on one side of the vyasana. At least 5 sanyasis and about 20 men had to move to make room for the women. Srila Prabhupada sat quietly for about 5 minutes while everyone was relocating themselves and getting situated." "Regarding your questions about the examination to be given, the girls will also be able to take these. In Krishna Consciousness there is no distinction between girls and boys. The girls also may become preachers if they are able." (letter to Himavati, 1969) "Now I see that in our Society the girls are more intelligent than the boys." (Letter to Krishna Devi, 1970) "This *modern* caste system is now condemned in India also, and it should be condemned for the classification of different types of men according to birth is not the Vedic or Divine caste system." SB 3: 6:13 "There are two kinds of sva-dharma, specific duties. As long as one is not liberated, one has to perform the duties of his particular body in accordance with religious principles in order to achieve liberation. When one is liberated, one's sva-dharma -- specific duty -- becomes spiritual and is not in the material bodily concept. In the bodily concept of life there are specific duties for the brahmanas and kstriyas respectively, and such duties are unavoidable. Sva-dharma is ordained by the Lord, and this will be clarified in the fourth chapter. One the bodily planet, sva-dharma is called Varnashrama-dharma, or mans *STEPPING STONE* for spirutal understanding." BG 2. 31 Bhibavati asked Srila Prabhupada: "Should I live like in the Vedic times, and simply serve my husband and child?" Srila Prabhupada replied: "No, you have a talent as a writer, you should write articles for newspapers and propagate Krishna Consciousness." (Bhibavati) "When Srila Prabhupada was asked if Jyotirmayi should finish her studies in ethnology (study of religions and cultures) in order to teach vaishnavaism in the universities, he answered, "yes, she is very intelligent girl, she can do it." (Yogesvara) Women, as well as men, accompanied Prabhupada when he was traveling and served him as secretaries, as did Arundhati, or served him personally as did Janaki. When Srila Prabhupada was personally present, women as well as men could stand next to him. Women wrote articles in magazines. Prabhupada personally asked Bibhavati who had been journalist previously, to do so. As far as the service of temple president was concerned, Srila Prabhupada included husband and wife, he recommended them to be father and mother of the devotees they were in charge of. In France, when Prabhupada noticed that Jyotirmayi could pronounce the Sanskrit better than others, (she had been taught by Nitai, His personal Sanskrit secretary), Srila Prabhupada said that from now on, she should lead the recitation of the Sanskrit verses before class. (Jyotirmayi, 1972) Prabhupada: "Nowadays, ladies, they can understand." BG 4.10 Calcutta Sept 23, 74 Women were doing things that, later on, they were forbidden to do in front of Srila Prabhupada himself (and this forbidding came from the authorities, not from Prabhupada.) Jamuna was leading kirtans in front of him, Himavati gave public conferences, Jyotirmayi and Rukmini performed arati in front of him. "This is a *new thing* in the history of the sankirtana movement. In India all the acaryas and their dependents later on only acted from the man's side. Their wives were at home because that was the system from *old times.* BUT in Bhagavad-gita we find that women are also *equally* competent like the men in the matter of Krishna Consciousness movement. Please therefore carry on these missionary activities, and prove it by practical example that there is no bar for anyone in the matter of preaching Krishna Consciousness." SPL to Himavati 69-12-20

* "Regarding your questions about the examination to be given, the girls will also be able to take these. In Krishna Consciousness there is no distinction between girls and boys. The girls also may become preachers if they are able." (letter to Himavati, 1969) * When Srila Prabhupada was asked if Jyotirmayi should finish her studies in ethnology, (studies of religion and culture), in order to teach vaishnavism in the universities, He answered, "Yes, she is very intelligent girl, she can do it." (Yogesvara) * It is not that women should only produce children, but they are meant for advancing in devotion." (letter to Jayatirtha, 1975) * In the Bhagavad Gita we find that women are also equally competent "like the men" in the matter of Krishna Consciousness movement." (letter to Himavati, 1969) *A devotee woman recalls that she was once in a Srila Prabhupada's room for a darshan. There were hundreds of devotees visiting from other temples. Before lecturing, he insisted that the women, (who were all at the back), come and sit up front on one side of the vyasana. At least five sannyasi's, and about twenty men had to move to make room for the women. Srila Prabhupada sat quietly for about five minutes while everyone was relocating themselves and getting situated. * "Regarding your question, yes woman can certainly reach the perfectional stage of devotion to Krishna." (letter to Krishna Devi, 1969) *While during darshan, Srila Prabhupada had a brahmacari distribute a little prasadam to everyone present. The boy gave prasadam to all the men and sat down. Srila Prabhupada noticed that he did not serve the only two girls present, and said, "Give them also prasad, why don't you serve them?" * "Women are better than men because they can accept any position." (Bhavatarini) * In France, when Prabhupada noticed that Jyotirmayi could pronounce the Sanskrit better than others, (she had been taught by Nitai, His personal Sanskrit secretary), Srila Prabhupada said that from now on, she should lead the recitation of the Sanskrit verses before class. (Jyotirmayi, 1972) * When a male devotee refused to be instructed by Jadurani, the head of the art department, because of her being a woman, Prabhupada called him in and ordered him to accept her instructions. * "I want to organize a women's kirtan party singing the Gita-gan. Can you help me?" (letter to Gargamuni Maharaja, 1974) * A disciple of Swami Narayana said to Srila Prabhupada, "My spiritual master said to avoid all women and to never go where there are women." Srila Prabhupada laughed, and said, "That is impossible, there are women everywhere." Then, coming back to the temple and watching two women devotees bow down to Him, He said, "By associating with these women, you will be purified." (Madhavananda) * An acarya who comes for the service of the Lord cannot be expected to conform to a stereotype, for he must find the ways and means by which Krishna Consciousness may be spread. Sometimes jealous persons criticize the Krishna Consciousness movement because it engages *equally* both boys and girls in distribution of love of Godhead. (Chaitanya-caritamrita A.L. ch.7 purport of verses 32 and 38) * On various occasions, brahmacari's complained to Srila Prabhupada that they were agitated by the presence of women in the temple, and Srila Prabhupada replied that if they could not restrain their senses, they should go live alone in the forest. * When women were made to stand behind the men in the back of the temple room instead of side by side as established by Srila Prabhupada, women went on different occasions to Prabhupada who simply answered, "Why, the men on one side, the women on one side." * When the women were made to offer flowers after the men during guru-puja, instead of simultaneously, Srila Prabhupada, informed by Ekayani, gave the same answer: "Why, the men from one side, the women from one side." (Ekayani) * Bhibavati asked Srila Prabhupada, "Should I live like in the Vedic times, and simply serve my husband and child?" Srila Prabhupada replied, "No, you have talent as a writer, you should write articles for newspapers and propagate Krishna Consciousness." (Bhibavati) * Srila Prabhupada said to a lady disciple, "Well, if you think you are a woman that means you are less intelligent, because you are supposed to understand that you are a spirit soul and that your real identity is transcendental to these bodily designations." (Sadaputa)

Srila Prabhupada has clearly told us time and time again when he was ordered by his spiritual master, His Divine Grace Om Visnupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada, to preach [and accept disciples] in the Western countries. Prabhupada has given us the complete details of this order. The order was given to Prabhupada and all of his friends when Prabhupada met his Spiritual Master for the first time in 1922 and the same order was confirmed when Srila Bhaktsiddhanta replied to a letter from Srila Prabhupada requesting “What service can I render you?” in 1936. This was not a special personal order given only to Srila Prabhupada. It was general, open order to all of Srila Bhaktsiddhanta’s disciples. The special quality of Srila Prabhupada is he took this order as his life and soul and executed it. And what was that order? “Why don't you take up Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's cult and preach all over the English knowing public? Why don't you take up this matter?” “In my last meeting with him in Radha Kunda he advised me to print some books if I get money” and “You write on, preach on in English” Srila Prabhupada received no specific order from his spiritual master to become a diksa guru and accept disciples. That order is included in the order to preach. The following quotes from Srila Prabhupada prove this statement conclusively. SB 3.22.5 P The Marriage of Kardama Muni and Devahuti Manu described herewith the result of seeing a great saintly person. Lord Caitanya says that one should always try to associate with saintly persons because if one establishes a proper association with a saintly person, even for a moment, one attains all perfection. Somehow or other, if one meets a saintly person and achieves his favor, then the entire mission of one's human life is fulfilled. In our personal experience we have actual proof of this statement of Manu. Once we had the opportunity to meet Visnupada Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, and on first sight he requested this humble self to preach his message in the Western countries. There was no preparation for this, but somehow or other he desired it, and by his grace we are now engaged in executing his order, which has given us a transcendental occupation and has saved and liberated us from the occupation of material activities. Thus it is actually a fact that if one meets a saintly person completely engaged in transcendental duties and achieves his favor, then one's life mission becomes complete. What is not possible to achieve in thousands of lives can be achieved in one moment if there is an opportunity to meet a saintly person. It is therefore enjoined in Vedic literature that one should always try to associate with saintly persons and try to disassociate oneself from the common man, because by one word of a saintly person one can be liberated from material entanglement. A saintly person has the power, because of his spiritual advancement, to give immediate liberation to the conditioned soul. Here Manu admits that all his doubts are now over because Kardama has very kindly described the different duties of individual souls. SSR 8 Attaining Perfection The spark of love for Krsna is struck by the spiritual master, the pure devotee. As for myself, my spiritual master, His Divine Grace Om Visnupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada, ordered me to take up the responsibility of spreading Krsna consciousness in the Western world. His Divine Grace had a great desire to preach Lord Caitanya's message in the West, and my success is both his grace and pleasure. When I first met my spiritual master, I was a very young man in India, a nationalist, engaged in a very responsible office. But although I did not want to go, one of my friends, who is still living in Calcutta, forcibly took me to His Divine Grace. I was reluctant to see him because in our home our father used to receive many sannyasis and I was not very satisfied with their dealings. I thought that Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja might be a similar man, and if he were, what business would I have in seeing him? But my friend took me forcibly. "Why not see him?" he asked. I finally relented and went with him, and I profited. SSR 8 Attaining Perfection On my first visit, His Divine Grace said that it was necessary for educated boys like me to go to foreign countries and preach the gospel of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I replied that India was a foreign-dominated nation and that no one would hear our messages. Actually, at the time foreigners considered Indians very insignificant because in the face of so many independent nations India was still dependent, being dominated by Britain. At the time there was one Bengali poet who actually lamented that even uncivilized nations were independent, whereas India was dependent on the British. His Divine Grace convinced me that dependence and independence are simply temporary conditions, and he pointed out that because we are concerned with the eternal benefit of humanity, we should take up this challenge of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This meeting with His Divine Grace, my Guru Maharaja, took place in 1922, half a century ago. 731213DB.LA Lectures Prabhupada: So anyway, it was Krsna's grace. I would not go, but their point of view was that unless I certify that sadhu, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he'll not be accepted. Therefore he dragged me. So I went to see Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura on that day. On the first meeting, just we offer our obeisances. It is the practice. So immediately he began his talking that "You are all educated young men. Why don't you take up Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's cult and preach all over the English knowing public? Why don't you take up this matter?" So I argued with him in so many... At that time I was nationalist. So I told that "Who will accept our message? We are dependent nation. Nobody will care." In this way, in my own way, in these younger days... But we belonged to the Vaisnava family, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda, Radha-Govinda. That is our worshipable Deity. So I was very glad that "Radha-Krsna cult, Caitanya Mahaprabhu's cult, this sadhu is trying to preach. It is very nice." So at that time we had some talks, and of course I was defeated by his argument, my argument. (laughter) And then, when we came out, we were offered prasadam, very nice treatment, the Gaudiya Matha. And when I came out on the street, this my friend asked me, "What is your opinion of this sadhu?" Then I said that "Here is the right person who has taken up Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's message, and now it will be distributed…" So I was at that time a fool, but I opined like this. And I accepted him as my spiritual master immediately. Not officially, but in my heart. That was in 1922… 761210DB.HYD Lectures So 1922 I met my Guru Maharaja through the exigency of my intimate friend, Mr. Narendranath Mullik. And I would not go. He told me information, "There is a nice sadhu. Let us go and see." I did not like very much these sadhus in those days, national spirit. So I said, "I have seen many sadhus. They come at my father's care. I was not very much pleased with their behavior." So he dragged me forcibly: "No, I have heard this person is very exalted." So I went. And his first opening version was that "You are educated young men. Why don't you preach Caitanya Mahaprabhu's gospel in the Western countries?" I did not know. So this was his blessing in the first meeting. I did not know, but because we belonged to a Vaisnava family we were very much worshiper of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda, our family Deity. So I was very much pleased that "Here is a personality who is going to preach Caitanya Mahaprabhu's gospel." I was very much pleased. 691209DB.LA Lectures …We cannot understand how things are taking place. In 1936... Today is ninth December, 1938(68). That means thirty-two years ago. In Bombay, I was then doing some business. All of a sudden, perhaps on this date, sometimes between 9 or 10 December. At that time, Guru Maharaja was indisposed little, and he was staying at Jagannatha Puri, on the seashore. So I wrote him letter, "My dear master, your other disciples, brahmacari, sannyasi, they are rendering you direct service. And I am a householder. I cannot live with you, I cannot serve you nicely. So I do not know. How can I serve you?" Simply an idea, I was thinking of serving him, "How can I serve him seriously?" So the reply was dated 13th December, 1936. In that letter he wrote, "My dear such and such, I am very glad to receive your letter. I think you should try to push our movement in English." That was his writing. "And that will do good to you and to the people who will help you." That was his instruction. And then in 1936, on the 31st December--that means just after writing this letter a fortnight before his departure--he passed away. But I took that order of my spiritual master very seriously, but I did not think that I'll have to do such and such thing. I was at that time a householder. But this is the arrangement of Krsna. If we strictly try to serve the spiritual master, his order, then Krsna will give us all facilities. That is the secret. Although there was no possibility, I never thought, but I took it little seriously by studying a commentary by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura on the Bhagavad-gita. In the Bhagavad-gita the verse vyavasayatmika-buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana, in connection with that verse, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura gives his commentary that we should take up the words from the spiritual master as our life and soul. We should try to carry out the instruction, the specific instruction of the spiritual master, very rigidly, without caring for our personal benefit or loss. 690207BA.LA Lectures In 1936, just on the 13th, December, I wrote him one letter. Not 13th. I think by the beginning of December, 1936, I wrote one letter to Guru Maharaja. I knew he was little kind upon me, so I wrote that "Guru Maharaja, you have got many disciples. I am also one of them. But they are doing direct service to you. Some of them are brahmacaris, some of them sannyasis, but I am a householder. I cannot..." Of course, I was giving sometimes some monetary help, but I could not give any direct service, so I asked him that "If there is any particular service I can do for you?" So that letter was replied in 13th December, dated 13th December, from Puri. And he passed away on the 31st December. Just a fortnight before. So the reply was the same as he wanted me to do this preaching work in 1922, when I first met him, that "You try to preach whatever you have learned from me to the English-knowing people in English. That will do good to you and to the people to whom you shall preach. That is my instruction." So I took up, direction. And then he passed away in 1936, 31st December. So I consulted some of my Godbrothers, senior Godbrothers, "Guru Maharaja has told me like this. What can I do?" So you have heard the name of Professor Sanyal, and there were other Godbrothers. They asked me to write on the Vaisnava-siddhanta in English. So perhaps in 1935 I wrote one poetry. The part of it, somebody, you have got. He was very pleased. Since then he was insisting me that "You write on, preach on in English." At that time I was thinking, "What can I do?" So anyway, after his passing away, this Back to Godhead paper was started, as late in 1944, I think, because the expenditure was three hundred, four hundred rupees per month. 750302BA.ATL Lectures So perhaps my Guru Maharaja, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, attempted to fulfill the desire of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And sometimes in the year 1918, he was brahmacari, and Bhaktivinoda Thakura, his material father, he wanted... Actually, he wanted, Bhaktivinoda Thakura... Of course, everyone wanted. But he wrote one small book, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Teachings and Precepts of Lord Caitanya, in 1896. And he presented that book to the McGill University in Canada. And he very much desired that the foreigners, especially Americans, would join this movement. That was his desire in 1896. And then, in 1918, my Guru Maharaja started with this mission one institution known as Gaudiya Math. Perhaps some of you know the name, Gaudiya Math. And he was trying to spread this message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and by chance or by prediction, as you think, I was taken to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura by one of my friends. I did not want to go there, but he forcibly took me there. Yes. And he ordered me that "You preach the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu in English language. This is very much essential." So on the first meeting he told me like that. That was my first meeting with him. So at that time I was in favor of Gandhi's movement. So I said that "We are not independent--subjugated. Who will hear about our message?" So Bhaktisidhanta Sarasvati Thakura refuted my argument. I was very much pleased. I had so many talks. But I was very much pleased to be defeated, that "This so-called nationalism or any ism, they are all temporary. Real need is the self-realization." So I was convinced. But at that time, although he wanted me to immediately join him and spread this movement, so at that time I was a married man, young man. I was married in 1918. And I got a son also at that time, 1921. And in 1922 I met him. At that time I was manager in a big chemical factory. So I thought that "I am married man. I have got so many responsibilities. How I can join immediately? It is not my duty." Of course, that was my mistake. I should have joined immediately. (laughter) I should have taken the opportunity immediately. But maya is there. So I thought like that. So that's a long history. Then in 1954, no, not 1954, 1968, when I was fifty-four years old... Nineteen fifty-four, yes. Nineteen fifty-four, I was at that time fifty- eight years. So I left home, and I was living alone. Then, 1958, I took sannyasa, and then I decided to take up the responsibility of my Guru Maharaja. I thought that "My other Godbrothers are trying, so I am not capable to do it. They are better situated." But somehow or other, they could not do very much, appreciative activities, in this connection. 68-06-12 Letter: Rayarama Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter of June 9th, 1968, and it is very kind of you that you are seriously thinking about Krishna Consciousness movement and trying to engage yourself more and more seriously. My blessings are always with you. You are very sincere boy trying your best to serve Krishna and by His Grace you are quite fit for this business, and considering all these points, I have entrusted Back To Godhead in your hand. Because this paper is the beginning of my spiritual life. During the time of my Guru Maharaja's passing away, His last instruction was to me that "You try to preach whatever you have learned from me in English, and that will do good to you and the people who will hear you." This instruction was given to me in 1936, and I started this paper in 1944. So during my householder life I was printing this paper and almost distributing free, and some of them were paying me subscription, and some of them not. But I was trying my best at my cost. You have seen the old articles about my tendency in this regard, and please try to follow this principle and improve the condition of this paper as you think best. You have got full liberty to make it acceptable to the general public, keeping pace with our principles of Krishna Consciousness. And as I have told you several times that I am awaiting for the day when this paper will take the shape of Life magazine or similar other magazines, in the matter of its popularity. From India this paper has been brought to America, with this hope that American young boys like you will take interest in spreading this sublime gospel of Krishna Consciousness. 72-02-20 Letter: Satadhanya So far personal association with the Guru is concerned, I was only with my Guru Maharaja four or five times, but I have never left his association, not even for a moment. Because I am following his instructions, I have never felt any separation. There are some of my Godbrothers here in India who had constant personal association with Guru Maharaja, but who are neglecting his orders. This is just like the bug who is sitting on the lap of the king. He may be very puffed-up by his position, but all he can succeed in doing is biting the king. Personal association is not so important as association through service. 76-11-15 Letter: Syama Sundarji You have given me the credit of being the best disciple of Prabhupada. That is very kind of you, but I am just trying to serve him. Whatever success there is is due to his mercy. In my last meeting with him in Radha Kunda he advised me to print some books if I get money. I took it very seriously and by His grace we have now published my translations of Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Caitanya Caritamrta, Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Upadesamrta, etc. to the extent of 84 books. You'll be surprised to know that these books and my magazine Back To Godhead are selling daily 5-6 lakhs of rupees in the foreign countries. Out of such proceeds I am bringing foreign exchange of not less than 10 lakhs per month for construction work in Bombay, Mayapur, Vrndavana, etc. So, this is all due to the blessings of Srila Prabhupada. I have no credit in this connection. These American boys are helping me in this endeavor, therefore, until they are admitted to the Jagannatha Puri temple I'm not inclined to go there. 730317RC.MAY Conversations Prabhupada: Big sum, yes. So Gosvami Maharaja very much appreciated, and he began to speak highly about me that "Abhay Babu is so expert, he has got so many friends, he has collected so many... So why does he... He should not be the Matha in-charge." In this way. "Why should he not live with us? Why he's living separately?" In this way. So Prabhupada, Maharaja, Sridhara may remember it (laughing), he said, "It is better to live separately from you people, and he will do the necessity in due course of time." So I could not understand what Srila Prabhupada meant by that. So his inclination, blessings, were always upon me although (indistinct), but he was so kind. 750203mw.haw Conversations Prabhupada: Sarva-sastre kaya, lava-matra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya. For me, personally, I had the opportunity to talk with my spiritual master not more than ten times in my whole life, not more. It may be less than that. But I tried to follow his instruction, that's all, although I was a grhastha. 750203mw.haw Conversations Prabhupada: Yes. Anyway, follow the instruction. That is required. Follow the instruction. Wherever you remain, it doesn't matter. You are secure. Follow the instruction. Then you are secure anywhere. It doesn't matter. Just like I told you that I saw my Guru Maharaja not more than ten days in my life, but I followed his instruction. I was a grhastha, I never lived with the Matha, in the temple. It is practical. So many Godbrothers recommended that "He should be in charge in this Bombay temple, this, that, that..." Guru Maharaja said, "Yes, better he lives outside. That is good, and he will do what is needed in due course of time." 750203mw.haw Conversations Prabhupada: He said like that. I could not understand at that time what does he expect. Of course, I knew that he wanted me to preach. 750713r2.phi Conversations Prabhupada: My life is simple. I was householder. I have still my wife, my children, my grandsons. So my Guru Maharaja ordered me that "Go and preach this cult in the western countries." So I left everything on the order of my Guru Maharaja, and I am trying to execute the order. That's all. Woman: At what point was it that he told you to do this? It was very late in your life that you...? Prabhupada: Yes. When I was twenty-five years old I met him first. On the first meeting he ordered me to this. So at that time I was married man. I had two children. So I thought, "I shall do it later on." But I was trying to get out of family life. It took some time. But I was trying my best to carry out his order. In 1944 I started magazine, Back to Godhead, when I was grhastha. Then I started writing books in 1958 or '59. In this way in 1955 I came to your country.

"Unnecessary association with women ... is strictly prohibited. This is human civilization. A civilization that allows men to mix unrestrictedly with women is an animal civilization. In Kali-yuga, people are extremely liberal, but mixing with women and talking with them as equals actually constitutes an uncivilized way of life." SB 7.12.8 Purport) A man is always famous for his aggression toward a beautiful woman, and such aggression is sometimes considered rape. Although rape is not legally allowed, it is a fact that a woman likes a man who is very expert at rape." (SB 4.25.41 purport) "Women, especially beautiful young women, invoke the dormant lusty desires of a man. Therefore, according to Manu-samhita, every woman should be protected, either by her husband, by her father or by her grown sons. Without such protection, a woman will be exploited. Indeed, women like to be exploited by men. As soon as a woman is exploited by a man, she becomes a common prostitute." (SB 8.9.9 purport) "You ask about marriage, yes, actually I want that every woman in the Society should be married. But what is this training to become wives and mothers? No school is required for that, simply association.... A woman's real business is to look after household affairs, keep everything neat and clean, and if there is sufficient milk supply available, she should always be engaged in churning butter, making yogurt, curd, so many nice varieties, simply from milk. The woman should be cleaning, sewing, like that. So if you simply practice these things yourselves and show examples, they will learn automatically, one doesn't have to give formal instruction in these matters." – (Letter to: Chaya dasi, Feb 16, 1972) Prabhupada also says that women are like children: "As for behavior, there are many rules and regulations guiding human behavior, such as the Manu-samhita, which is the law of the human race. Even up to today, those who are Hindu follow the Manu-samhita. Laws of inheritance and other legalities are derived from this book. Now, in the Manu-samhita it is clearly stated that a woman should not be given freedom. That does not mean that women are to be kept as slaves, but they are like children. Children are not given freedom, but that does not mean that they are kept as slaves." – BG 16.7p Srimad-Bhagavatam / Prabhupada verse & purport: "Urvasi said: My dear King, you are a man, a hero. Don't be impatient and give up your life. Be sober and don't allow the senses to overcome you like foxes. Don't let the foxes eat you. In other words, you should not be controlled by your senses. Rather, you should know that the heart of a woman is like that of a fox. There is no use making friendship with women." PURPORT "Canakya Pandita has advised, visvaso naiva kartavyah strisu raja-kulesu ca: 'Never place your faith in a woman or a politician.' Unless elevated to spiritual consciousness, everyone is conditioned and fallen, what to speak of women, who are less intelligent than men. Women have been compared to sudras and vaisyas (striyo vaisyas tatha sudrah). On the spiritual platform, however, when one is elevated to the platform of Krsna consciousness, whether one is a man, woman, sudra or whatever, everyone is equal. Otherwise, Urvasi, who was a woman herself and who knew the nature of women, said that a woman's heart is like that of a sly fox. If a man cannot control his senses, he becomes a victim of such sly foxes. But if one can control the senses, there is no chance of his being victimized by sly, fox-like women. Canakya Pandita has also advised that if one has a wife like a sly fox, he must immediately give up his life at home and go to the forest. mata yasya grhe nasti / bharya capriya-vadini / aranyam tena gantavyam / yatharanyam tatha grham (Canakya-sloka 57) – "Krsna conscious grhasthas must be very careful of the sly fox woman. If the wife at home is obedient and follows her husband in Krsna consciousness, the home is welcome. Otherwise one should give up one's home and go to the forest." Hitvatma-patam grham andha-kupam / vanam gato yad dharim asrayeta – (Bhag. 7.5.5) – "One should go to the forest and take shelter of the Lotus feet of Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead." – (SB 9.14.37) "Devotee (1): They said that the man cannot be convicted of rape if he honestly believes that the woman consented to his raping her. Prabhupada: Yes, that is law always. Rape means without consent, sex. Otherwise there is no rape. There was a rape case in Calcutta, and the lawyer was very intelligent. He some way or other made the woman admit, "Yes, I felt happiness." So he was released. "Here is consent." And that's a fact. Because after all, sex, rape or no rape, they will feel some pleasure. So the lawyer by hook and crook made the woman agree, "Yes, I felt some pleasure.Now, there is consent." So he was released. After all, it is an itching sensation. So either by force or by willingly, if there is itching, everyone feels relieved itching it. That's a psychology. It is not that the woman do not like rape. They like sometimes. They willingly. That is the psychology. Outwardly they show some displeasure, but inwardly they do not. This is the psychology." – (Morning Walk – May 11, 1975, Perth) Bhagavatam Translation & Purport TRANSLATION "A living entity who, as a result of attachment to a woman in his previous life, has been endowed with the form of a woman, foolishly looks upon maya in the form of a man, her husband, as the bestower of wealth, progeny, house and other material assets. PURPORT From this verse it appears that a woman is also supposed to have been a man in his (her) previous life, and due to his attachment to his wife, he now has the body of a woman. Bhagavad-Gita confirms this; a man gets his next life's birth according to what he thinks of at the time of death. If someone is too attached to his wife, naturally he thinks of his wife at the time of death, and in his next life he takes the body of a woman. Similarly, if a woman thinks of her husband at the time of death, naturally she gets the body of a man in the next life. In the Hindu scriptures, therefore, woman's chastity and devotion to man is greatly emphasized. A woman's attachment to her husband may elevate her to the body of a man in her next life, but a man's attachment to a woman will degrade him, and in his next life he will get the body of a woman. We should always remember, as it is stated in Bhagavad-Gita, that both the gross and subtle material bodies are dresses; they are the shirt and coat of the living entity. To be either a woman or a man only involves one's bodily dress. The soul in nature is actually the marginal energy of the Supreme Lord. Every living entity, being classified as energy, is supposed to be originally a woman, or one who is enjoyed. ****** In the body of a man there is a greater opportunity to get out of the material clutches; there is less opportunity in the body of a woman. ********* In this verse it is indicated that the body of a man should not be misused through forming an attachment to women and thus becoming too entangled in material enjoyment, which will result in getting the body of a woman in the next life. A woman is generally fond of household prosperity, ornaments, furniture and dresses. She is satisfied when the husband supplies all these things sufficiently. The relationship between man and woman is very complicated, but the substance is that one who aspires to ascend to the transcendental stage of spiritual realization should be very careful in accepting the association of a woman. In the stage of Krsna consciousness, however, such restriction of association may be slackened because if a man's and woman's attachment is not to each other but to Krsna, then both of them are equally eligible to get out of the material entanglement and reach the abode of Krsna. As it is confirmed in Bhagavad-Gita, anyone who seriously takes to Krsna consciousness-whether in the lowest species of life or a woman or of the less intelligent classes, such as the mercantile or laborer class-will go back home, back to Godhead, and reach the abode of Krsna. A man should not be attached to a woman, nor should a woman be attached to a man. Both man and woman should be attached to the service of the Lord. Then there is the possibility of liberation from material entanglement for both of them. (SB 3.31.41) Here's an ACBSP quote on sex... "It is a psychological fact that when a woman at the age of puberty meets a man and the man satisfies her sexually, she will love that man for the rest of her life, regardless who he is. Thus so-called love within this material world is nothing but sexual satisfaction." (SB 4.25.42 Purport) "As women, Shudras and degraded twice-born men were unfitted for hearing the Veda, the Muni (Vyasa) with a view to their welfare composed the narrative called the Mahabharata." – (strii-shudra-dvijabandhuunaam trayi na shruti-gocharaa I karma shreyasi muudhaanaam shreyah eva bhaved iha I iti bhaaratam aakhyaanam krpayaa Muninaa krtam) – Bhagavata Purana 1.4.25 – Commenting on this verse, the Vaishnava sage Srila Prabhupad who founded the Hare Krshna movement says that women and shudras are "less intelligent classes" and "devoid of the necessary qualifications to understand the purpose of the transcendental Vedas". August 2, 1976 – Room Conversation – Paris Prabhupada: In, actually, in Bengal, Bengal has lost its original culture. In other provinces the brahmana class, they are keeping very strictly the original culture. Even a brahmana would not accept foodstuff prepared by his wife, because woman is considered sudra. The woman, when she becomes the wife of a brahmana, then she is called brahmani, but she's not offered brahminical culture. She remains as sudra. So therefore a strict brahmana does not accept foodstuff prepared by his wife. .... BG 9.29-32 New York, December 20, 1966: "Because in India, according to the caste system, or varnasrama-dharma, the brahmana and ksatriyas are considered to be the highest in the society, and the vaisyas, a little less than them, and sudras, they are not taken into account. In the similarly, woman class, they are taken as sudra, sudra. SB 1.5.2 Los Angeles, January 10, 1968: And who are ordinary class of men? Now, stri-sudra-dvija-bandhu. Stri, woman class, are taken as less intelligent. It is not partiality; it is stated in the sastra and practically it is so. So woman class, stri, and sudra. Sudra means laborer class. Stri, sudra, and dvija-bandhu. Dvija-bandhu means born of a high family... The brahmana, ksatriya and the vaisyas, they are considered as in the higher status of social life, and the sudras... It is everywhere. It is not that... SB 7.9.10 Mayapur, February 17, 1976: "Krsna says even papa-yoni, less than the sudra... Sudra is also papa-yoni. Even woman is called papa-yoni according to strict... Sri Sri Rukmini Dvaraka-natha – Deity Installation -- Los Angeles, July 16, 1969: Striyah sudrAs tatha vaisyah, including woman and sudras and vaisyas, they are considered as less intelligent. They are considered as less intelligent. Therefore, according to Vedic system, a boy born in a brahmana family, he is allowed all the samskaras, reformatory, purificatory process, but the girl is not. Why? Now, because a girl has to follow her husband. So if her husband is brahmana, automatically she becomes brahmana. There is no need of separate reformation. And by chance she may be married with a person who is not a brahmana, then what is the use of making her a brahmana? That is the general method. So therefore the woman, even born in a brahmana family, a woman is taken as woman, not as brahmana. But Krsna says, "Never mind. Even if she is woman, even she is sudra, even she is vaisya, or any other, I mean to say, family born in, never mind." *IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE HERE HOW PRABHUPADA CORRECTS HIMSELF AFTER SAYING THAT A WOMAN IS A SUDRA, VAISYA, OR ANY OTHER BY SPECIFICALLY SAYING ****FAMILY BORN IN*****. I UNDERSTAND THIS TO MEAN THAT WHEN A WOMAN IS CALLED A VAISYA, IT SPECIALLY REFERS TO THE FAMILY SHE IS BORN INTO. NOT THAT SHE IS HERSELF INDEPENDENTLY A VAISYA. LIKEWISE WHEN A WOMAN IS CALLED A BRAHMANI OR KSATRIYANI AND SUDRANI. Arrival -- Philadelphia, July 11, 1975: "Artificially, to make man and woman equal, that may be artificially your sentiment, but actually it is not the fact." Pandal Lecture – Bombay, January 12, 1973: They are simply proud of getting birth in higher families. They are called dvija-bandhu. They are equal to woman and the sudra. January 31, 1977 – Room conversation – Bhubaneshwar Satsvarüpa: Yes. (break) Mainly it's about the girls who are over ten. They were in Våndävana and discussed this with Jagadéça, but they couldn't settle up, so they wanted to know what you think. Their idea is that... As of now, there is no plan for a school for the girls over ten, but just that they should return to their parents and not get any more schooling. But they're thinking that there should be, and one reason is that you said in France that the girls could learn these sixty-four arts. So they were thinking that there should be a school for girls over ten, and that it should be situated in India. One reason is that in India our teachers can take help from Indian Life Member ladies who know these arts. Our Western devotees don't know them, the cooking and painting and things like this, but the Indian women do. ... Prabhupada: My opinion is already there according to the... They should be chaste, faithful to husband. Little literary knowledge, they can read. That's all. Not very much. Satsvarupa: As for the details of where and how to do this, that should be worked out by the GBC. Prabhupada: Yes. April 29, 1977 - Conversation - Bombay Prabhupada: So far gurukula is concerned, that also, I have given program. They have given the name of "girls." We are not going to do that. Tamala Kåñëa: What is that? Prabhupada: Girls. Boys and girls. That is dangerous.... Girls should be completely separated from the very beginning. They are very dangerous. Tamala Kåñëa: So we're... I thought there were girls in Vrindävana now. They said that they're going to have the girls' gurukula behind the boys' gurukula. Gopäla was talking about that. Prabhupada: No, no, no. No girls. Tamala Kåñëa: It should be in another city or somewhere else. Prabhupada: Yes. They should be taught how to sweep, how to stitch... Tamala Kåñëa: Clean. Prabhupada: ...clean, cook, to be faithful to the husband. Tamala Kåñëa: They don't require a big school. Prabhupada: No, no. That is mistake. They should be taught how to become obedient to the husband. Tamala Kåñëa: Yeah, you won't learn that in school. Prabhupada: Little education, they can... Tamala Kåñëa: Yeah. That they can get at home also. Prabhupada: They should be stopped, this practice of prostitution. Prabhupada: Ordinary education is sufficient, ABCD. This is all nonsense, so big, big, sound education and later on become a prostitute. What is this education? (laughter) To make them prostitute, it doesn't require education.... (Conversation: July 10, 1975, Chicago) Bhagavad Gita lecture in Hawaii, February 3rd, 1975 ..To understand Brahman is not the business of tiny brain. Alpha-medhasan... There are two Sanskrit words, alpa-medhasa and sumedhasa. Alpa-medhasa means having little brain substance. Physiologically, within the brain there are brain substance. It is found that the brain substance in man is found up to 64 ounce. They are very highly intellectual persons. And in woman the brain substance is not found more than 34 ounce. You'll find, therefore, that there is no very great scientist, mathematician, philosopher, among women. You'll never find because their brain substance cannot go. Artificially do not try to become equal with men. That is not allowed in the Vedic sastra. Na striyah svatantratam arhati . . . (Lecture: Bg. 16.7, February 3, 1975, Hawaii) ---- Woman, they are generally equipped with the qualities of passion and ignorance. And men also maybe, but man can be elevated to the platform of goodness. Woman cannot be. Woman cannot be. Therefore if the husband is nice and the woman follows, woman becomes faithful and chaste to the husband, then their both life becomes successful. There are three qualities of nature: sattva, rajas, tamas. So rajas, tamas generally, that is the quality of woman. And man can become to the platform of goodness. Therefore, initiation, brahminical symbolic representation is given to the man, not to the woman. (Lecture: S-B 1.3.17, Sept. 22, 1972, Los Angeles) July 9, 1975, Chicago Woman reporter: When you came to Chicago last week you said you were going to tell us some of the solutions to our problems in this country. Can you tell me what some of those solutions are? Prabhupada: Solution not only of your country or our country, it is the solution for the whole human society. I told that as there are different divisions in the same body, the head, the arms, the belly, and the leg... Although the body is one, but there are different parts for different function. Then the body is going nicely. The head is the most important part of the body. So if the head is not in order, then, in spite of presentation of other parts of the body, hands, leg, the body is useless. Just like a madman. Madman, this brain is not in order. Therefore despite the presentation of the hands, legs, and other things, it is useless. Similarly, the human society should be divided into four classes according to quality. Not everyone is on the same level. So for, even for material purposes there must be four divisions: first-class, second-class, third-class, fourth-class, means... The definition of the first-class, find out. This is the definition of the first-class man. Nitai: samo damas tapah saucam / ksantir arjavam eva ca / jnanam vijnanam astikyam / brahma-karma svabhava-jam – " Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness—these are the qualities by which the brahmanas work." Prabhupada: This is first-class man. Then second-class man? Nitai: sauryam tejo dhrtir daksyam / yuddhe capy apalayanam / danam isvara-bhavas ca / ksatram karma svabhava-jam – "Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity, and leadership are the qualities of work for the ksatriyas." Prabhupada: This is second-class. And then third-class? Nitai: krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam / vaisya-karma svabhava-jam / paricaryatmakam karma / sudrasyapi svabhava-jam … Prabhupada: That is fourth-class. First of all, third-class. Nitai: Third-class: "Farming, cattle raising and business are the qualities of work for the vaisyas,..." Prabhupada: Not cattle raising, cow protection. Nitai: Cow protection. Prabhupada: Yes. Farming and cow protection and trade, this is meant for the third-class division. And worker, fourth-class. These divisions must be there. Then the society will go on very nicely. Exactly the same example, that if the different parts of the body—the brain, the arms, the belly and the legs—all are in order, the bodily function will go on very nicely. This is natural. Woman reporter: Where do women fit into these four classes? Prabhupada: That I already explained. Women's position is subordinate to man. So if the man is first-class, the woman is first-class. If the man is second-class, the woman is second-class. If the man is third-class, the woman is third-class. In this... because woman is meant for assisting man, so the woman becomes suitable according to the man, her husband. Woman reporter: Would you say that women are inferior to men? Prabhupada: Yes. Woman reporter: Why? Prabhupada: By physiological condition. Just like you are. Your bodily features are different from the man's features. You cannot deny it. So according to the bodily features, the psychological condition and everything is there. How you can deny it? Woman reporter: Do you think that I am inferior to you? Prabhupada: It is not the question of inferior or superior. Different. Now you take one inferior or superior. That is your calculation. But the bodily features are different. That is material. But spiritually, they are all one. Materially... Just like your bodily feature and a man's bodily feature is different. Now, so far question of inferior, superior, that is your calculation. But we say that by nature, a woman and man is different. Woman reporter: What does this mean as far as whether women can do the same things that men can do, or whether women can lead people? Prabhupada: Well, women can bear children, but the man cannot. Is it possible to bear children? A man can become pregnant? Is it possible? Woman reporter: No. Prabhupada: Physically... Therefore there are so many things which is possible in man and which is not possible in woman, by nature. How you can say that they are of the same nature? Woman reporter: I'm not saying they're the same. What can... Prabhupada: Then if you not saying that, then they are different in their physiological condition. So now this physiological condition, you may calculate, "This is better, this is better." That is your calculation. Our calculation is the man and woman are different in their physiological condition. Woman reporter: But you say women are subordinate to men. Prabhupada: Yes, that is also natural. Because when the husband and wife are there or the father and daughter is there, so the daughter is subordinate to the father and the wife is subordinate to the husband. Woman reporter: What happens when women are not subordinate to men? Prabhupada: Then there is disruption. There is disruption, social disruption. If the woman does not become subordinate to man, then there is social disruption. Therefore, in the western countries there are so many divorce cases because the woman does not agree to become subordinate to man. That is the cause. Woman reporter: What advice do you have to women who do not want to be subordinate to men? Prabhupada: It is not my advice, but it is the advice of the Vedic knowledge that woman should be chaste and faithful to man. Woman reporter: What should we do in the United States? We're trying to make women equal with men. Prabhupada: I am not trying. You are already not equal with the man because in so many respects, your functions are different and man's functions are different. Why do you say artificially they are equal? As I told you that the husband and wife—the wife has to become pregnant, not the husband. How you can change this, both the husband and wife will be pregnant? Is it possible? Is it possible? Woman reporter: No, it is not. Prabhupada: Then by nature one has to function differently from the other. Woman reporter: But why does this mean...? Prabhupada: So how you can change? Woman reporter: Why does this mean that women have to be subordinate? Prabhupada: Yes. Woman reporter: Just because they bear children and men can't? Prabhupada: Well, by nature... No, as soon as you get children, you require support from the husband. Otherwise you are in difficulty. Woman reporter: Many women have children and have no support from husbands. They have no husband. Prabhupada: Then they have to take support from others. You cannot deny that. The government is giving you support. But the government is embarrassed. If the husband supports the wife and children, the government is relieved of so much welfare contribution. So that is a problem. Woman reporter: What happens when women support men? Prabhupada: First of all try to understand that you depend. The... After man and woman unite, there is children, and the man goes away, and you are embarrassed. The woman is embarrassed. Why? Why this is, is made possible? A man and woman unites, and the woman becomes pregnant, and the husband goes away. Then the poor woman is embarrassed with the child. She has to beg from the government. So do you think it is very nice thing? The Vedic idea is that woman should be married to a man and the man should take charge of the woman and the children independently so that they do not become a burden to the government or to the public. Woman reporter: Do you think the social unrest... Prabhupada: I am thinking like this. You give me the answer. Simply you go on questioning. I question you, do you think this burden to the government or the public is good? Woman reporter: I don't understand what you're saying. Nitai: Do you think that the burden caused when the husband goes away from the wife, that burden to the government is good? Woman reporter: No. Prabhupada: So that has happened. Because the woman does not agree to be subordinate—she wants equal freedom—so the husband goes away and the woman is embarrassed with the children. And it becomes a burden to the government. Woman reporter: Is there anything wrong when the woman works? Prabhupada: There are so many things wrong. But first thing is the wife, the woman, the wife of somebody, and the child born by somebody, they should become burden to the government or to the public. First of all answer this thing. Why she should become burden to the government? What is your answer? Do you think, from social point of view, this position of woman and the fatherless children are very nice thing? No. Woman reporter: What I'm trying to say is that... This may happen to some women. I'm talking about women who are not... Prabhupada: Not... These are the general cases. You cannot say, "some." I see in America mostly the woman... Woman reporter: Oh, then what you're saying is not all women should be subordinate to all men. Prabhupada: No, man should be subordinate to the man, woman, so that the man can take charge of the woman. Then that woman is not a problem to the public. Woman reporter: Is it true for all woman and all men? Prabhupada: Yes, that is the nature. You take even in the dogs. The dogs they also take care of their children. The tigers, they take care of the children. So in the human society, if the woman is made pregnant and the man goes away and she is embarrassed, she has to beg from the government, that is not a very good situation. Woman reporter: What about women who do not have children? Prabhupada: Well, that is also another unnatural thing. Sometimes they use contraceptives. They kill children, abortion. That is also not very good. These are all sinful activities. These are sinful activities, to kill child in the womb. And take shelter of abortion. These are all sinful activities. One has to suffer for that. Woman reporter: Is the social unrest in this country caused because... Prabhupada: Because of these things. They do not know that. Woman reporter: And if women were subordinate to men, it would solve all of our problems? Prabhupada: Yes. Man wants that woman should be subordinate, faithful to him. Then he is ready to take charge. The man's mentality, woman's mentality different. So if the woman agrees to remain faithful and subordinate to man, then the family life will be peaceful. Woman reporter: Thank you. It's late. TV Cameraman: Any more questions? Woman reporter: Yes. I'll ask the same questions again, do not answer. Prabhupada: Hmm? Nitai: She's going to ask the same questions, but none to answer. They're just going to photograph her. This is for on TV they will show her asking the questions. (break) Woman reporter: What will you do in Philadelphia? Prabhupada: The same thing. I have got my temple there. I stay there, and I teach people according to my philosophy. Woman reporter: Is Philadelphia your last stop in... Prabhupada: No, no, I travel all over United States. Then I will go to Europe. Then I will go to Africa. I have got my touring program for 4 months. (break) Woman reporter: There's one more question I'm going to ask. Is that tea? Is that tea that you're drinking? Prabhupada: No, we don't drink tea. We don't drink tea, don't drink liquor. We don't smoke. This is our process, no illicit sex, no meat eating, no intoxication, no gambling. Unless one is married, there is no sex. And unless one is going to beget child, there is no sex. Not for pleasure. This is our regulative principle. Woman reporter: You have different schools for men and women, is that correct? Prabhupada: Yes. Man is regulated to become a first-class man, and woman is regulated to become very chaste and faithful wife. Woman reporter: There is one more question. Prabhupada: Then the life will be very successful. And marriage, compulsory. Marriage, compulsory. Woman reporter: Everyone should marry? Prabhupada: Yes. Every woman, at least, should be married. Therefore, according to Vedic conception, polygamy is allowed. Woman reporter: Is allowed? Prabhupada: Yes. Because every woman must be married. But every man may not be married. Therefore man has to accept more than one wife. Woman reporter: There is one question I have for you. You say that a woman's brain is smaller than a man's. Prabhupada: Woman? Nitai: Woman's brain is smaller than a man's brain. Prabhupada: Yes, that is a fact. In the history there is no woman who is a big philosopher, a big mathematician, big scientist, big educationist. We don't find. They were all men. Woman reporter: What about women who are leaders of countries such as your own country? Prabhupada: Well, according to Vedic conception woman is never offered leadership. But experience has shown that woman's leadership has not been successful. Woman reporter: Do you think Mrs. Gandhi's leadership has not been successful? Prabhupada: Well, there is already trouble. There are many big, big men, they do not agree with her and she has taken emergency steps. So on the whole, the country is in trouble. Woman reporter: What about Mrs. Meir, president of Israel? Prabhupada: I do not say of any particular woman, but according to Vedic civilization, we have never seen in the history that woman has become a leader. Woman reporter: Women have been leaders. Prabhupada: They were not selected. The leader—formerly it was monarchy—the monarchs were selected by the advisory board of the first-class men. So they never selected any woman to become the leader of the society. Woman reporter: What about women who are elected by the people? Prabhupada: Well, people election... Just like you elected Nixon and then you wanted him to come down. So this kind of election has no value. Sometimes you elect and sometimes you pull down. So what is the value of this election? Woman reporter: So a leader should not be elected. Prabhupada: Elected, but not by this general public. They have no intelligence. They sometimes elect a wrong man, and again they try to drag him down. So what is the use of such election? Because that election is not sober, not mature. If the election was mature and sober, then there was no need of dragging him down again. Woman reporter: We have talked to scientists who say that the size of the brain has nothing to do with intelligence. Do you believe that? Prabhupada: I think that the scientists do not think like that. They keep the brain of a particular scientist to study. They keep the heart of a particular noble man. Why they try to study the heart and the brain if there is no difference? Nitai: Sometimes they keep the brain of a great scientist to study because they think that he is so intelligent, there must be something we can learn from studying the brain. So if they are thinking like that, then there also must be a difference between a woman's brain and a man's brain. Woman reporter: What they say is that there is difference, but it has nothing to do with the size. Nitai: Then why do they keep great scientists' brain to study? Woman reporter: They keep many people's brains to study. Nitai: Especially great scientists, that they want to see what has made this man so intelligent. Woman reporter: That's not necessarily true. Prabhupada: Then why they study the brain? What is the purpose of studying brain unless there is difference? You study different brains. Unless you feel that there is difference between this brain and that brain, why do you study. What is the meaning of study? Woman reporter: To find differences among men. It's not necessarily differences between men and woman. Prabhupada: I don't say man or woman. But I say you study different brains—why? Unless you think there is some difference? Woman reporter: There is difference. Prabhupada: Yes. So if there is difference, then what is the harm if there is difference between man and woman's brain? Woman reporter: They say there isn't. Prabhupada: They say, but the fact we have to study. As soon as you study the construction of different brain, then you must know that there is difference, different activities. Woman reporter: In other words, you do not believe this, what they say. Prabhupada: Then why do you study different brain? Woman reporter: I don't study them. I'm just telling you what the scientists say. Prabhupada: So scientists, the psychologist... As I was a student of psychology and our professor, a big man, Dr. W. S. Urquhart, he said that "By studying the brains of man and woman, we have found the highest brain substance found in man, sixty-four ounce by weight." You may deny. This is the statement of a big psychologist. You can shake your head, but this is the scientific words by big psychologist. You can note down his name, Dr. W.S. Urquhart, professor of psychology in the Scottish Churches College in 1918-20. Woman reporter: Oh, dear, no wonder. 1918-1920, that means... O.K. I see now what you're thinking about. That was many, many years ago. Prabhupada: So can you give any proof since then that the woman's... In 1920... She does not take it? Nitai: She does not take it. Somehow they think that the brain is no longer small. If it was small, then, it is not small today. Prabhupada: But where is the proof... Woman reporter: You do not believe that there has been advancement of science since 1920? Nitai: Well, if the brain has been ascertained as being half the size then why should it change by now? Should it change? Woman reporter: Well, do you think that the Romans weren't as tall as men are today? Nitai: No, but the... But then, within fifty years there is not going to be any change in the brain. Woman reporter: Not in the 1900's. Why do you use the technology that you use? You didn't have cars in those days, this television. Things have changed since 1920. Prabhupada: So what change has become? Can you give any evidence that woman is more powerful in brain than the man during these years? Can you give any evidence? Woman reporter: No, what I'm saying is that... Prabhupada: Now, can you give any evidence that woman has become more powerful than the man during these fifty years? Woman reporter: Yes. Prabhupada: What is that? Give me some tacit example. Woman reporter: That she and I wouldn't be here if women weren't more powerful than they were fifty years ago. Harikesa: Now they are talking louder. (laughter) Woman reporter: Thank you. Thank you. (woman leaves) Harikesa: The scientists have the theory that the brain, the intelligence is measured by creases in the brain, creases, not by size. Prabhupada: Not size, but what is the proof that the brain of woman has increased? Where is the proof? Harikesa: They think because the ego has increased, the brain has also increased. Prabhupada: Oh, that's nice. (laughter) That's nice.(laughing) So to become angry means defeat. If two persons are in argument the man, the one party, he becomes angry, that means he is defeated. Why one should become angry? It is the argument, logic. They should continue. And to become angry and to go away, that means defeat. "BSST - Sarasvati Thakura also said that women are on the level of jungle men, or wild people, meaning aborigines. He warned that though their words may be sweet, their hearts are very hard. Sarasvati Thakura many times warned against association with women. In Caitanya Bhagavata he gave a ten page purport on big sized pages, about the dangers of associating with those who are attached to women. This was the purport to the Bengali verse, "muni gana dustha sanga kori nanandan(?)". In this long purport Sarasvati Thakura gives so many quotes from scriptures warning about the dangers of associating with women." Brahmananda: Pet. Prabhupada: Pet, like that. Dhol gunar sudra pasu and nari. Nari means woman. (laughs) Just see. He has classified the nari amongst these class, dhol, gunar, sudra, pasu, nari. Ihe sab sasan ke adhikari. Sasan ke adhikari means all these are subjected for punishment. And what about the guest? Govinda dasi: Oh, the guest? It's coming. Prabhupada: So sasan ke adhikari means they should be punished. (laughs) Punished means, just like dhol, when the, I mean to say, sound is not very hard, dag-dag, if you beat it on the border, then it comes to be nice tune. Similarly, pasu, animals, if you request "My dear dog, please do not go there." Hut! (laughter) "No, my dear dog. Hut!" This is the way.(?) Similarly, woman. If you become lenient, then she will be troublesome. So in India still, in villages, whenever there is some quarrel between husband wife, the husband beats and she is tamed. (laughs) In civilized society, "Oh, you have done this??" Immediately some criminal case. But in uncivilized society they don't care for court or civilized way of... Room Conversation—April 12, 1969, New York Satsvarupa: Srila Prabhupada, is this school for women also, or just for men? Prabhupada: For men. Women should automatically learn how to cook, how to cleanse home. Satsvarupa: So they don't attend varnasrama college. Prabhupada: No, no. Varnasrama college especially meant for the brahmana, ksatriya and vaisya. Those who are not fit for education, they are sudras. That's all. Or those who are reluctant to take education, sudra means. That's all. They should assist the higher class. (Morning Walk: March 14, 1974, Vrindavan) Women must have protection, because they cannot do anything independently. To give them independence means to create some trouble. In the Manu-samhita it is clearly said: na stri svatantryam arhati. Woman cannot be given independence. No. They must be protected. . . . (Lecture: S-B, May 19, 1972, Los Angeles) Srila Prabhupada on Divorce Q. In your ISKCON society, do you allow for divorce? Srila Prabhupada: There is no question of separation. There is no question of divorce. (Lecture: SB, 1975) We don't allow divorce; once they're married, there is no separation. (Interview: NY Times, New Vrindavan, 9-2-72) Q. But isn't it necessary to have divorce as a legal option? Srila Prabhupada: The divorce act is encouraging prostitution, and this should be abolished. (SB 1.17.38) In Vedic civilization the husband and wife were not separated by such man-made laws as divorce. We should understand the necessity for maintaining family life in human society and should thus abolish this artificial law known as divorce. (SB 4.23.5)...there is no such thing as divorce in the Vedic literature. A wife is always trained to be chaste and faithful to her husband, for this helps her achieve deliverance from any abominable material condition SB 9.20.22) Q. What if a woman simply cannot tolerate her husband any longer? Srila Prabhupada: Generally, separation between husband and wife is due to womanly behavior; divorce takes place due to womanly weakness. The best course for a woman is to abide by the orders of her husband. That makes family life very peaceful. Sometimes there may be misunderstandings between husband and wife...but a wife should not leave her husband's protection because of such misunderstanding. If she does so, it is understood to be due to her womanly weakness. (SB 4.4.3) What is this nonsense, divorce? There is no such thing in the Vedic civilization, divorce. You must accept whatever God has given you as husband or wife, you must. They had no thinking even, idea of divorce. One may not agree with the husband. That is natural. Sometimes we do not agree. But there is no question of divorce. (Room Conversation, Baltimore, 7-7-76) Q. Isn't it unreasonable to expect a woman to remain enslaved in a dysfunctional marriage? Srila Prabhupada: In the modern day, the wife is never submissive, and therefore homelife is broken even by slight incidents. Either the wife or the husband may take advantage of the divorce laws. According to the Vedic law, however, there is no such thing as divorce laws, and a woman must be trained to be submissive to the will of her husband. Westerners contend that this is a slave mentality for the wife, but actually it is not; it is the tactic by which a woman can conquer the heart of her husband, however irritable or cruel he may be. (SB 9.3.10) Krsna explained the duty of a woman. He also stressed the point of serving the husband: "Even if he is not of very good character, or even if he is not very rich or fortunate, or even if he is old or invalid on account of continued diseases, whatever the husband's condition, a woman should not divorce her husband if she actually desires to be elevated to the higher planetary systems after leaving this body." (Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Ch. 29) And the girl agrees to serve the boy for life. There is no question of divorce. (Lecture, SB, 1973) Q. But what if two people simply aren't compatible? Srila Prabhupada: In Krsna consciousness marriages there is no question of any separation or divorce. Any disagreement between husband and wife is not taken seriously, as much as disagreement between children is not taken very seriously.(Letter) So one should tolerate these things. If there is some misunderstanding they should not go to the court for divorce. They should tolerate. These are some of the rules for spiritual advancement. (Lecture, Bg, 1966) And therefore in the human society there is marriage. Not in the animal society. Married means that one should be satisfied with one woman and one man. That's all. And there is no question of divorce. Divorce is introduced by the modern rascals, but it is not sanctioned by any religious person. You see? (Lecture, Initiation/Wedding, 1971) ...combined together for life. There was no question of divorce. There was no question of divorce. Even if they fight. Fight there must be....Therefore Canakya Pandita says, dam pate kalahe caiva bambharambe laghu kriya. Whenever there is fight between husband and wife it should be neglected. (Lecture, SB 1968) In Krsna consciousness marriages there is no question of any separation or divorce. Any disagreement between husband and wife is not taken seriously, as much as disagreement between children is not taken very seriously. (Letter) Q. But what if a couple simply no longer love each other? Srila Prabhupada: That is also animalism. Just like a dog having sex intercourse with another female dog, and another, another, another. It is another animalism. (Conversation) So this marriage is not for sense gratification. We should always remember. It is helping one another. The husband will help the wife, the wife will help the husband so that both of them become advanced in Krsna consciousness and make their human life perfect. So there is no question of divorce. There is no question of separation. Because divorce, separation, these are meant for sense gratification. (Lecture, Initiation/Wedding, 1969) So our, this new bride and bridegroom should always remember that in any condition of life they should remain together. And that will be possible if they concentrate their ideas to Krsna consciousness....You should always remember that this marriage has no separation, no divorce. Lifetime. (Lecture, Initiation/Wedding, 1969) This Krsna conscious marriage does not mean sense gratification. Once married, there is no question of divorce or separation. That you should remember. We don't allow any divorce and separation. (Lecture, Initiation/Wedding, 1972) ...the present bride and bridegroom must know it certainly that this marriage is not for sense gratification. This marriage is for purification of life. So there is no question of divorce. There is no question of separation. So don't get into married life if you have got such propensity. (Lecture, Initiation/Wedding, 1968) Q. It seems that at least in some circumstances divorce must be permitted. Srila Prabhupada: There is no question of divorce or separation. In any condition of life, happiness or distress, you shall continue as husband and wife because our main business is Krsna consciousness....It is not for sense gratification. So in this way there is no question of separation or divorce. (Lecture, Initiation/Wedding, Boston, 1968) There is no question of. We do not know what is divorce. In our country there is no divorce, at least in Hindu law. Yes. Wife and husband, once combined that is for life. There is no question of separation, in all circumstances. Either in distress or in happiness, there is no question of separation. (Lecture, 1969) Still India...95% people living, husband and wife, very peacefully. And in the Western countries, after six months' marriage, divorce. Are they not fourth class? Even the husband and wife cannot continue peaceful life, what to speak of others. Now this rascal Jawaharal Nehru has introduced divorce in the Hindu society. Otherwise, in the Hindu society separation between husband and wife is not even dreamt of. That, it cannot be. However there may be quarrelsome, but there is no question of separation. Husband and wife, they fight everywhere. I have seen. My father and mother was fighting. I fought. (laughter) But there is no question of separation. Separation, they never think. Neither the husband can think of, nor the wife can think of. (Conversation, Perth, 5-19-75) Q. But in cases where the husband and wife fight, surely we should allow for divorce. Srila Prabhupada: They may fight. The husband and wife fighting, that is not unusual. Therefore, Canakya Pandit says, "Fight between husband, wife, never take it seriously. Dam pate kalahe caiva bambharambe lagu kriya. They'll make all arambha but it is not very important. Don't take [seriously]. Next moment they will again live peacefully. So according to Indian culture there is no divorce. There is no question of divorce. (Morning Walk, Nairobi, 11-2-75) In India there is no question of divorce. So nobody takes very serious care when there is fight between husband and wife. So there also: "I'm going to immediately leave you, going to kill you..." and so many things. But after an hour everything is finished. No more quarrel. Dam pate kalahe caiva prabhate megha dumbune...(Lecture SB, 1973) Canakya Pandita said: bambharambe laghu kriya. The husband and wife may fight. It becomes a very serious thing, but don't take of it as serious. This is Hindu philosophy. Husband and wife quarrel should not be taken as very serious. They fight and again they live peacefully. Why this divorce? Divorce means it kills the whole family life. The children goes away; the father goes away; the mother goes away. I have seen so many cases. (Conversation, Perth, 5-14-75) Equal Rights for Women = Demoniac Equal rights is nonsense. (Morning Walk: Rome, 5/29/74) It will be failure. (Arrival Lecture: Philadelphia, 7/11/75) Equal rights is claimed by rascal Westerners. (Morning Walk: Ahmedabad, 9/25/75) By equal rights women are killing their own child. (Letter: Ed Gilbert, Vrindavan, 9/9/75) I am not trying for equal rights. (Television Interview: Chicago, 7/9/75) Rascals give equal rights. (Morning Walk: Los Angeles, 6/27/75) If you want equal rights then stop giving birth to a child. (Morning Walk: Perth, 5/75) Why you are accepting this nonsense philosophy? (Morning Walk: Rome, 5/29/74) The equal rights movement is a means by which men cheat the women. (SSR, 1) This equal rights philosophy is very appealing [to] fools and rascal. (Morning Walk: Rome, 5/29/74) Equal rights is not allowed in the Vedic sastra. (Bg. 16.7: Hawaii, 2/3/75) Regardless of attempts for equality, unequality there must remain. (Morning Walk: Rome, 5/29/74) Equal rights is not Vedic idea. (SB 1.8.51: Los Angeles, 5/13/73) It is not possible—it is not possible. (Morning Walk: Rome, 5/29/74) Where is the benefit of equal rights? (Room Conversation after Press Conference: Chicago, 7/9/75) Equal rights will not help the human society. (Conversation [regarding the philosophies of B.F. Skinner & Henry David Thoreau]) How she can be happy? That is not possible. (Bg. Lecture: Ahmedabad, 12/8/72) Equal rights is very grave problems. (SB 1.16.7: Los Angeles, 1/4/74) You cannot make equality. (Morning Walk: Rome, 5/29/74) That is not Vedic civilization. (SB 7.9.24: Mayapur, 3/2/76) Do not artificially try to become equal with men. (Bg. 16.7: Hawaii, 2/3/75) There cannot be equality, Sir. You are talking nonsense. (Morning Walk: Rome, 5/29/74) Equal rights is an artificial introduction to human society. (Conversation [regarding a theory of Bertrand Russell]) Equal rights is rascaldom philosophy. (Morning Walk: Rome, 5/29/74) It is already failure.(Arrival Lecture: Philadelphia, 7/11/75) Equal rights is impossible (Cc. Adi. 17.44) Western civilization is a rascal civilization. I do not take they are civilized even. No. White aborigines. That's all. (Morning Walk: January 24, 1977, Bhubaneswar) "So this dasi-pati, this is also significant word, "the prostitute's husband." Prostitute means... They are, in Sanskrit, called pumscali. Pumscali means they are moved by other men, umsacli. There are three kinds of women: [sairini,] sairindhri, pumscali...In this way there are divisions. So some women, they are very easily carried by men. So that is not very good. Therefore I am instructing our GBCs that "Let our little girls be educated to become faithful and chaste." That is their qualification. No education required. And the boys should be trained up to become first-class men, samo damas titiksa, like that. And literary, Sanskrit and English, that will make them perfect. If the husband is first class and the wife is chaste and faithful, then the home is heaven." (Lecture: SB 6.1.31; San Francisco, July 16, 1975) "I am also in receipt of your letters dated October 20 & 21, 1975. I note that your wife and Visalaini both gave birth to baby girls. That is the defect. I want male children but you have no stamina for it. I expected from Visalaini by her belly that it would be a boy. Anyway, never mind. The name Brijlata is nice. Why do the majority of my married disciples give birth to girls?" (Letter to: Dhananjaya: Bombay 9 November, 1975) Prabhupada said: Himavati, would you like to go to India and learn to carry this waterpot like the Indian women? Speaking with Kausalya and Srimati, Prabhupada praised them for having arranged the Jaipur pandal program. "You girls are carrying on Lord Caitanya's movement so nicely," he said. "Just see! Even without husbands, you go on preaching." He said that the Western women were different from Indian women, who simply stayed at home. Then Prabhupada discovered that his two women disciples had not actually done a thorough job. Although the pandal program was to begin in two days, no one had arranged for the large tent to be erected. Prabhupada said it was not a woman's nature to do such organizational work. The women became morose to hear him. Then they showed him the flyer they had printed advertising the festival, Prabhupada became angry. "It is not standard," he said. It did not say "International Society for Krishna Consciousness," but only "A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami and his foreign disciples." "What is this!" Prabhupada shouted. "What, Srila Prabhupada?" Kausalya asked. "Foreign! Why do you say foreign? It must be "American' and "European'. That is what is attractive, that they are American and European. But you are just a woman. What can I expect?" The two women began to cry and left the room. -Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta 38: No One Listens to a Poor Man Another example is that in distributing prasada, it is "first offered to the brahmanas, then to the children and old men, then to the women, and then to animals like dogs and other domestic animals." Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.14.18

Bhagavad-gita Ch 2 : Verses 13-17 [Los Angeles, November 29, 1968] Madhudvisa: Prabhupada, when you say we must be honest in our dealings... If we have an advantage to, to take advantage of somebody else for Krishna, for Krishna consciousness, is this permissible? If we have a chance to take advantage of somebody to get money from them, not by stealing but by means... (Prabhupada chuckles) Is this permissible? Prabhupada: Yes, but that is not by your discretion. You have to consult your spiritual master. Just like what Krishna says Yudhisthira Maharaja, "Yudhisthira, My dear brother Yudhisthira, you go and tell," I mean to say, "Dronacarya, that 'Your son is dead.' " Because this gentleman would not die unless he hears the message of the death of his son. So he was not dying. So Yudhisthira was commissioned to speak this lie, that "You go and say that 'Your son is dead.' " And he says that "I never spoke lie. I cannot do that." Now here the order is coming from Krishna, therefore he should have executed the order immediately. Although speaking lie for common man is sin, but because it is in relationship with Krishna, it is not sin. So that telling lie should not be taken risk of at one's own discretion. It must be ordered by Krishna or by His representative. Telling lie is always sinful. That's all right. But if Krishna says "Tell lie," it is not sinful. That is the secret. You can violate the laws only on the direct order of Krishna or His representative. That's all. That is common sense. Just like a political person is engaged to kill somebody under superior order. And if he can kill, he is rewarded, he is given high post. But the same man, if he kills by his own discretion, he'll be hanged. So serving greater purpose, supreme purpose, absolute purpose, there is no question of such piety or sinful. But in the ordinary field, there must be "This is pious, this is sinful." So that discretion should not be taken by oneself, but it should be consulted. Jaya-gopala: If one can engage one who is demonic in service by telling a lie... Prabhupada: General principle is that if you can engage anyone in Krishna consciousness, that is good. That is good. That is also said in the Bhakti-rasamrta. Yena kena prakarena manah krsne nivesayet. If your aim is to engage him in Krishna consciousness, if you do something which is not very straight, that is allowed. (laughter) Because you are doing very good to him. Suppose a man is drunkard. So suppose if you say, "Oh, all right. I'll give you a very nice bottle of whiskey at cheap price. Give me fifteen dollars." And if you take fifteen dollars and engage it (in) Krishna consciousness, that cheating is allowed. (laughter) Because that fifteen dollars he'll take and drink. So you have by some way taken away that fifteen dollars and engaged in Krishna consciousness. So that you have done good to him. So therefore it requires little intelligence and discretion. But that does not mean you shall cheat fifteen dollars from everywhere. But there is no cheating because anyone who is not Krishna conscious, he is a drunkard. He is drunkard, he is illusioned under material spell. You see? You see? The greatest drunkard, everyone who is not Krishna conscious. Therefore any way, if you can induce him to spend something of his hard earned money in Krishna consciousness, that is very good to him. Yes. This is called ajnata-sukrti. He does not know, but he is advanced one step to Krishna consciousness. Anybody who is contributing even a farthing to you, he is advanced in Krishna consciousness. It is so nice thing. Yes. Young man: I had something come up once. Is it all right to cheat the government? Prabhupada: Oh, we don't care for anyone. (laughter) We are on the supreme government. (laughs) But don't take the risk. No, that should be not our policy. But the basic principle is that if some way or other you can engage a materialistic person's money into Krishna consciousness, it is good for him. It is good for him. You may take some tactics, that doesn't matter. But not... We cannot take anything for our personal consideration. Yes?

Activities of sense gratification, meant only to please one's mind and senses, are the cause of material bondage, and as long as one engages in such fruitive activities, the soul is sure to continually transmigrate from species to species. Lord Rishabhadeva, an incarnation of Krishna, warned, "People are mad after sense gratification. When a person considers sense gratification the aim of life, he certainly becomes mad after materialistic living and engages in all kinds of sinful activity. He does not know that due to his past misdeeds he has already received a body, which, although temporary, is the cause of his misery. Actually, the living entity should not have taken on a material body, but he has been awarded the material body for sense gratification. Therefore, I think it not befitting an intelligent man to involve himself again in the activities of sense gratification, by which he perpetually gets material bodies one after another. As long as one does not inquire about the spiritual values of life, one is defeated and subjected to miseries arising from ignorance. Be it sinful or pious, karma has its resultant actions. If a person is engaged in any kind of karma, his mind is called karmatmaka, or colored with fruitive activity. As long as the mind is impure, consciousness is unclear, and as long as one is absorbed in fruitive activity, he has to accept a material body. When the living entity is covered by the mode of ignorance, he does not understand the individual living being and the supreme living being, and his mind is subjugated to fruitive activity. Therefore, until one has love for God, he is certainly not delivered from having to accept a material body again and again." (Srimad Bhagavatam 5.5.4–6)

A little more advanced explanation for older kids I suppose: Actually God is everyone's father. We are all his sons. But the living entity (the soul) takes shelter within the semen of the man and whe he has sex with his wife the seed is planted within the womb of the mother and the child gradually develops. First a pea-like form is there and gradually the different holes of the body develop and the body forms. After seven months the child becomes conscious within the womb and after 9/10 months he takes birth...

"that foolishness is widespread in our movement. they seem to forget that ours is essentially a sampradaya of the INSTRUCTING spiritual masters" *********************************** Thing is ,if we make it a movement of INITIATING spiritual masters we can market and monopolize a very lucrative guru business of money,followers,temples,etc....

The essence of my spiritual life is that I am being instructed at every moment of every day by that great acarya spiritual master who is sitiuated above and beyond this material world.I know it,I live it and I'll leave this body by realising it.Thank Krsna that Sri Guru has entered into my heart and soul.

"This movement of Krsna consciousness was introduced by Lord Caitanya five hundred years ago in Bengal, and now all over India and especially in Bengal there are millions of followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Now this movement is starting in the western countries, so just be very serious in understanding it. We do not criticize any other religion. Don't take it in that way. We have no business criticizing any other process of religion. Krsna consiousness is giving people the most sublime religion -- love of God. That's all." . (Science of Self-Realization, Chapter 5)

New Discussion Groups From Kalavati devi dasi Posted May 26, 2004 Dear Vaisnavas, Hare Krishna. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga. I have recently created the following discussion groups on . Vaisnava Family and Community Conference "Building Healthy Relationships in Krishna Consciousness" VFCC VFCC@ Vaisnava Attachment Parenting Association Vaisnava-Attachment-Parenting-Association Vaisnava-Attachment-Parenting-Association@ Vaisnava Breastfeeding Support Service Vaisnava-Breastfeeding-Support-Service Vaisnava-Breastfeeding-Support-Service@ Thanks and appreciation from dipika.org to our sponsor and host, Vaisnava Homeschoolers Vaisnava-Homeschoolers Vaisnava-Homeschoolers@ Vaisnava Ecologists Vaisnava-Ecologists Vaisnava-Ecologists@ I offer these discussion forums in service to the community of devotees. My prayer is that these groups will facilitate positive, progressive communication that will serve us all in our journey toward Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. I believe that if we understand how much influence each of us has on the experiences of our children, our families, our communities, and the world, we will feel empowered to make positive changes. If we realize that our every action sends waves out into the ocean of life, we will be inspired to try to make those waves sweet and plentiful. If we continue to learn and grow in our practice of Krishna Consciousness so that we can be healthy and confident, we will be able to share Krishna Consciousness in a substantial way with all living entities. I feel blessed to have the association that has started to develop on these new lists. I hope you will join us in these talks as we explore various issues related to the groups' topics. Please visit us. Feel free to join any or all of the lists and share this information with your friends who may be interested. Thank you. [Note: Each group is moderated for new members. The Vaisnava Breastfeeding Support Service is for women only.] Your servant, Kalavati devi dasi

sorry forgot to log in

Who's a Genuine Guru? John Lennon: Yes, we should go to a true master. But how are we to tell one from the other? Srila Prabhupada: It is not that you can go to just any spiritual master. He must be a member of a recognized sampradaya, a particular line of disciplic succession. John Lennon: But what if one of these masters who's not in the line says exactly the same thing as one who is? What if he says his mantra is coming from the Vedas and he seems to speak with as much authority as you? He could probably be right. It's confusing like having too many fruits on a plate. Srila Prabhupada: If the mantra is actually coming through a bona fide disciplic succession, then it will have potency. John Lennon: But the Hare Krishna mantra is the best one? Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Yoko Ono: Well, if Hare Krishna is the best one, why should we bother to say anything else other than Hare Krishna? Srila Prabhupada: It's true, you don't have to bother with anything else. We say that the Hare Krishna mantra is sufficient for one's perfection, for liberation. George Harrison: Isn't it like flowers? Somebody may prefer roses, and somebody may like carnations better. Isn't it really a matter for the individual devotee to decide? One person may find that Hare Krishna is more beneficial to his spiritual progress, and yet another person may find that some other mantra may be more beneficial for himself. Isn't it just a matter of taste, like choosing a flower? They're all flowers, but some people may like one better than another. Srila Prabhupada: But still there is a distinction. A fragrant rose is considered better than a flower without any scent. Yoko Ono: In that case, I can't Srila Prabhupada: Let's try to understand this flower example. Yoko Ono: O.K. Srila Prabhupada: You may be attracted by one flower, and I may be attracted by another flower. But among the flowers a distinction can be made. There are many flowers that have no fragrance and many that have fragrance. Yoko Ono: Is that flower that has fragrance better? Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore, your attraction for a particular flower is not the solution to the question of which is actually better. In the same way, personal attraction is not the solution to choosing the best spiritual process. In Bhagavad-gita [4.11], Lord Krishna says, "All of them -- as they surrender unto Me -- I reward accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pritha." Krishna is the Supreme Absolute. If someone wants to enjoy a particular relationship with Him, Krishna presents Himself in that way. It's just like the flower example. You may want a yellow flower, and that flower may not have any fragrance. That flower is there; it's for you, that's all. But if someone wants a rose, Krishna gives him a rose. You both get the flower of your choice, but when you make a comparative study of which is better, the rose will be considered better. Yoko Ono: I see a pattern in what you've said. For instance, you said that Hare Krishna is the most superpowerful word. And if that is true, then why do we bother to utter any other words? I mean, is it necessary? And why do you encourage us, saying that we're songwriters and all, to write any other song than Hare Krishna? Srila Prabhupada: Chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is the recommended process for cleaning our hearts. So actually one who chants Hare Krishna regularly doesn't have to do anything else. He is already in the correct position. He doesn't have to read any books. Yoko Ono: Yes, I agree. So why do you say that it's all right to write songs, speak, and all that? It's a waste of time, isn't it? Srila Prabhupada: No, it's not a waste of time. For instance, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would spend most of His time simply chanting. He was a sannyasi, a member of the renounced spiritual order of life. So, He was criticized by great sannyasis, who said, "You have become a sannyasi, and yet You do not read the Vedanta-sutra. You are simply chanting and dancing." In this way, they criticized His constant chanting of Hare Krishna. But when Caitanya Mahaprabhu met such stalwart scholars, He did not remain silent. He established the chanting of Hare Krishna by sound arguments based on the Vedic scriptures.

Grieving and Healing: The entire Vedic system of samskaras is so set up so that we can become fixed in our devotion to the Lord irrespective of what developments or challenges come in our way. It is important to remember that we are eternal spirit souls, temporarily in these material bodies, we have an original home in the spiritual realm, and a direct relationship with Krishna the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Those souls who we have, or are associating with have been given to us by the Lord, that we can mutually benefit each other in our sojourn in this place. At the present we may be the son, husband or father of a particular soul, but in the real or permanent scale of things, we have all had so many fathers, been so many husbands or wives, and been son to so many mothers and fathers, from time immemorial, in various species, under various circumstances, in different lives. This is nicely explained in the story of Chitraketu (Srimad Bhagavatam 6th canto 14-16th chapters), who after being revived after passing away by his grieving parents of that life, asks “Which parents of mine are you?” Our love that we feel for the departed is genuine and should not be denied artificially out of fanaticism. Rather we need to grieve for the soul, but at the same time understand that for one who has taken birth as a devotee, always hearing the Holy name, taking prasadam, rendering service to the Deity, serving the spiritual master and the Vaishnavas, he or she has gained so much benefit, that will never be lost. For those of us who have by the grace and mercy of the Lord come to Krishna consciousness at a later stage of our lives, similarly there is no loss for any and all devotional service that we have performed, and that such service will not forgotten by Krishna when we are relocating into a new body. There are numerous places in Bhagavad Gita where Lord Krishna states to Arjuna that one who performs devotional service he is very dear to me, that there is never any loss or dwindling/diminition of the results of that service. In the shastras there are numerous incidents where devotees have been saved by even performing a small amount of devotional service, what to speak of great devotees like Sri Prahlad or Dhruva, who benefit many generations. Actually, even those of us who have performed a meagre amount of service, those who are associated with us, our parents, relatives, friends all gain benefit from that service, such is the wonders of devotional service. And as for who is to blame for our loss is described in the Srimad Bhagavatam 1:17:22 purport. In Bhagavad-gitä it is said: svalpam apy asya dharmasya (Bg. 2.40). It is certainly a great fall to go from human life to animal life, but in the case of Bharata Mahäräja or any devotee, devotional service to the Lord never goes in vain. As stated in Bhagavad-gétä (8.6): yam yam väpi smaran bhävam tyajaty ante kalevaram. At the time of death, by nature’s law the mind is absorbed in a certain type of thinking. This may lead one to animal life, yet for a devotee there is no loss. Even though Bharata Mahäräja received the body of a deer, he didn’t forget his position. Consequently, in the body of a deer he was very careful to remember the cause of his downfall. As a result, he was given a chance to be born in a family of very pure brähmanas. Thus his service to the Lord never went in vain. (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad Bhagavatam 5:12:15. Purport.) Närada Muni says, “Oh, there is no loss for him.”Yatra kva väbhadram abhüd amushya kim ko vä artha äptah abhajatäm sva-dharmatah. Närada Muni says that even if he falls down he does not lose anything. But what does he gain if one is engaged in his occupational duty as a brähmana, kshatriya, vaishya, or this or that? If he sticks to his occupational duty and does not understand Krishna consciousness, what does he gain? He does not gain anything. Suppose if one follows the rules and regulations of a brähmana. His next life he may get a brähmana birth or a very, I mean to say, learned family. Like that he can get. But that is not a very good gain. But Närada Muni says if one has begun the occupational duty of Krishna consciousness, giving up all other occupational duties, even if he falls down, that one percent, two percent, remains as his asset so that he will be able to begin from next life again Krishna consciousness. So it is so nice that even one falls down, it will not Whatever he has done, whatever you have done, that is your permanent asset. Permanent because it is spiritual. This Krishna consciousness movement is spiritual. As spirit soul is eternal, permanent, similarly, any activity on the spiritual platform is eternal. It will never be lost. So there are many instructions like this. So Prahläda Mahäräja is also stressing on that point, that durlabham mänusham janma tad apy adhruvam arthadam. Although this human form of life is not very long, but you can get the very nice result out of it.(Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 8th May 1968. Srimad Bhagavatam class 7:6:1. Boston, USA) “It is said in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that this devotional service is so powerful that even if a devotee occasionally falls down from the standard there is no loss for him. If he is sincere, he will automatically rectify his error and Lord Krsna immediately purifies him from within. This is stated in the Bhagavad-gita also, that for the devotee Krsna gives all protection, and there is never any loss for him. But if one is not engaged in Krsna Consciousness, there is no gain for him in any position of material life. So we must stick firmly to the chanting of the Holy Name and following the rules. This will keep us from being tricked by Maya. But there is no question of disappointment for some temporary bewilderment. We are all new and weak in this Krsna Consciousness. Just as everyone in the hospital is diseased, and although they are trying to become well there is a chance that anyone of them may relapse, but that does not mean that the hospital should be closed. It is now our business to struggle with Maya, and when we win out by Krsna's grace that is to regain our natural healthy life of Krsna Consciousness. So there is no case of disappointment.” (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 19th February 1970. Letter to Sucandra dasa. LA.) Simply engage yourself in such things which will continue, ...will exist forever. Just like we are learning here Krishna’s service. So Krishna’s service is here, and if you are perfect, then Krishna’s service is there after death also, the same thing. Therefore it is said, mära vä jiva vä. One saintly person said to a royal prince, räja-putra ciran jiva, ciran jiva: “Oh, you are the son of a king. You will live forever.” Muni-putra muni-putra mä jiva mä jiva: “Oh, you are the disciple of a saintly person, brahmacäri, you please die immediately.” Just see. Räja-putra ciran jiva, blessing räja-putra, “You live forever.” And muni-putra, the son of a muni, or the disciple of a muni, he says, mä jiva, mä jiva: “You don’t live, you’ll die. You die.” And that thing... That, what is called? This butcher. Butcher, he is advising the butcher, jiva vä mära vä: “Either you...” No. He is advising butcher, mä jiva mä mära: “Don’t die, don’t live.” And to a sädhu, saintly person, he is advising, jiva vä mära vä, two things. So what is the purport? The purport is that this prince, he is enjoying material enjoyment, but next life he will have to become a dog. “So better you live with your enjoyment. Ciran jiva. Because as soon as you die, you are going to be a dog. So better you live. So long you will live it is good for you.” And muni-putra, a brahmacäri, his business is fasting and go to collect for Guru Mahäräja, and then whatever he takes, he offers to the guru. Then the guru says that “You can eat,” he can eat. It is hardship, but by this hardship he is now prepared to go back to home, Godhead. So he says, “You immediately die so you can go to Vaikuntha immediately.” And the cruel butcher, he is advised, mä jiva mä mära: “You don’t live and don’t die. Because your living condition is so horrible that every day, morning, you have to kill so many animals and see bloodshed and this. It is a horrible life. Your occupation is very, very horrible. Therefore you should not live. But at the same time, if you die, then you are going to suffer all this suffering yourself. Then you don’t die also.” So this is the position. And sädhu, those who are saintly person, devotees, he is advised, jéva vä mära vä: “Either you live or either you die, your business is to serve Krishna. You are serving Krishna now, and after death, you will serve Krishna. So there is no question of your death, neither there is no question of your birth.” So these are some moral instructions.(Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 3rd January 1974. Srimad Bhagavatam class 1:16:6. Los Angeles.) So having grieved naturally utilise the Asaucham period to reflect on the situation. Reflect on the nature of the soul, the nature of consciousness, and our relationship with the Lord. Having thus resolved our understanding of who we are in relation to those around us, and their eternal relationship with the Lord, and our temporal position in this world, we can be thankful for the moments of association that we had with departed loved ones, but now understanding the situation work towards healing, through spiritual knowledge and realisation. It is required that the functional pujas of the samskaras aide us to get over the loss, and with confidence and faith fix our God given intelligence back to the job at hand, our preparation to overcome the impending threats of death and to return to the spiritual abode. To be successful in this venture we need to have addressed all aspects of our being through the development of Krishna consciousness, as stated in Bhagavad Gita 2:59. If we have genuinely gained a higher taste and understanding, then we will no longer lament for the things of this world, having understood their nature. Where this is lacking, we need to understand that it is us who is lacking, and through positive association seek aide of fixed up devotees. The qualification to enter into Krishna’s realm and pastimes is that we have attained at least to asakti (100% attachment to Krishna, and 100% detachment from the myre/maya of the temporal world) (Madhurya Kadambini). Those of us who have stepped even one foot on this path will never be the loser. We will take up from where we left off each time in each life until we have dealt with all the issues that presently convince us to seek temporal pleasure in this material realm separately from Krishna consciousness. Until this is resolved in our hearts we remain here. In this regard, if you see me lost on the path, please kindly stop and redirect me. Some things I have understood, some I still to work on. Like persons who are attending a bath-room for the purpose of becoming cleansed – those who are preparing to bathe tolerate, while those in the shower properly equipped act as their preparation – those now drying off are supportive. Let us then be like that in all stages of our development – where we can reach down and lend a hand, while ourselves holding on to those devotees who themselves reach down to us. Thus reaching upward in appreciation, and downward out of compassion simply following the process of devotional service we will reach the required goal, in due course of time. Of that there is no doubt. As Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada so nicely, and kindly writes to his dear disciple Brahmananda: Krsna Consciousness means We should always be satisfied and happy, Not that we must work something impossible, Become overburdened and then, Because we are unhappy by so much trouble, We lose enthusiasm and give up all hope. By all means we must preserve our spiritual status, that is the point. Not that we are mad after big buildings, Many devotees, life members, this, that______ No. These are only the ways to engage the devotees, So that they may apply the principles Of devotional service to some kind of work. It is not the result of the work that we want. If we sincerely preach To only one person a day, That is sufficient, Never mind big, big programs. So do not be bothered by these things. Krsna does not like to see His sincere devotee Suffer or become frustrated or depressed. He will not stand idly by, in such a case, So do not fear on that account. Krsna has a plan for you, Always think in that way And very soon He will provide Everthing to your heart's desire. Letter from Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to Brahmananda Swami (9th December 1972) Put in the form of a poem.

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But the special ORDER to preach in english language all over the western countries, for example ,received by Srils Prabhupada from his Guru Maharaja was the 'vyavasatmika buddhir' or one pointed intelligence fixed ORDER which heart and soul he carried out perfectly. You see the special instruction received by Arjuna to fight,to Uddhava to carry Krsna's message ,to Sri Hanumanji to serve Sri Rama,etc...This is the active life principle of a disciple.He will eat ,sleep and breathe this ORDER .He'd rather die than give up the ORDER of the spiritual master.Again what is that very special divine ORDER which authorizes you to do what you are doing(beside just chanting 16 rounds and following 4 regs).Did your spiritual master tell you to preach in ISKCON,for example?