leyh

Young man (2): I'm a Christian. I follow Jesus. What is your spiritual master in relation to Jesus, and do you see Jesus as just another prophet like... Madhudvisa: The question was, this man is a follower of Lord Jesus Christ, and he would like to know what our opinion is of Jesus Christ. Prabhupada: We respect Jesus Christ as you do. Because he is the representative of God, son of God, and we are also speaking of God,so we respect him with our greatest veneration. Young man (2): So you're comparing Krsna, Buddha, Muhammad to Jesus as the same, and Guru Maharaj-ji too, another Jesus. You're saying that. Prabhupada: No. I am not Jesus. I am servant of Jesus. Young man (2): You're a son of Jesus. Prabhupada: Yes. I am servant of Jesus. Young man (2): What does that mean? Prabhupada: I don't say I am Jesus. Young man (2): Do you have the powers of Jesus? Can you say to a person, "Rise up and walk," when they're paralyzed? Prabhupada: What is that? Madhudvisa: He wants to know if you have the powers of Jesus. Prabhupada: Eh? No, I have no power of Jesus. Man: Well, I've got the power of Jesus. (laughter) Cause I'm a Christian. Prabhupada: That's all right. You are Christian, we are Krishnian--practically the same thing. (laughter and applause) Man: And one other question. Prabhupada: Yes. Man: I believe Jesus is coming back and not Krsna. And what are you guys going to do when you see Jesus? (laughter) Prabhupada: What is that? Madhudvisa: Jesus. He believe Jesus is going to come back again. Prabhupada: Well, he is coming, welcome. We shall welcome. It is very good news that Jesus is coming.(La Trobe University Lecture in Melbourne, July 1, 1974.)

"Those who are not exceedingly clever can never be servants of Krishna. But the service of Krishna is also never available to those whose cunning is employed for depriving Krishna of the fullness of His enjoyment." (His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati,The Serpent Kaliya,May 1932 edition of The Harmonist)

That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, combined together. All nations, all persons they should combine together. There is hope in our society, combination. There are Hindus; there are Muslims; there are Christians; there are black, white. Combine them. That looks very beautiful, just like combination of many flowers. There is black flower also. It looks nice, very nice. Each and every flower take alone; it is not beautiful, but when they are combined together, it looks very beautiful. It is attractive. And that is wanted. Because from the spiritual platform we are all working. Pandta sama-darsana. Spiritual platform, every one of us, we are servant of Krsna." (His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,Room Conversation with Rahda Damodhar Party, Mayapura, March 16, 1976)

That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, combined together. All nations, all persons they should combine together. There is hope in our society, combination. There are Hindus; there are Muslims; there are Christians; there are black, white. Combine them. That looks very beautiful, just like combination of many flowers. There is black flower also. It looks nice, very nice. Each and every flower take alone; it is not beautiful, but when they are combined together, it looks very beautiful. It is attractive. And that is wanted. Because from the spiritual platform we are all working. Pandta sama-darsana. Spiritual platform, every one of us, we are servant of Krsna." (His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,Room Conversation with Rahda Damodhar Party, Mayapura, March 16, 1976)

“So good character is immediately there. That is the test. How one is spiritually advanced will be tested how he has acquired all the good qualities.” (His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,Bhagavad-Gita Class, Los Angeles, 12-13-68)

“So good character is immediately there. That is the test. How one is spiritually advanced will be tested how he has acquired all the good qualities.” (His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,Bhagavad-Gita Class, Los Angeles, 12-13-68)

"Tirthi kurvanti tirthani. Svantah sthena gadabhrta. One who keeps Krishna always within the heart, wherever he goes, that is tirtha. Everywhere Krishna is there, but one who remembers, he is the yoginam api sarvesam mad gatenantaratman. It is very simple...." (His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,Conversation 2nd April 1977)

"Tirthi kurvanti tirthani. Svantah sthena gadabhrta. One who keeps Krishna always within the heart, wherever he goes, that is tirtha. Everywhere Krishna is there, but one who remembers, he is the yoginam api sarvesam mad gatenantaratman. It is very simple...." (His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,Conversation 2nd April 1977)

Karthik_v Prabhu: Please accept my humble obeisances.All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. We are indeed bound by duty to defend ourselves,our loved ones and even our society when confronted with aggressors.In Singapore,we have a system of National Service whereby every able-bodied young man has to be enlisted into either the Army,the Air Force,the Navy,the Police or the civil defence to serve a period of two or two and a half years (depending on education level).I spent two years and four months in the army and one day (until my Reservist liability runs out)if Singapore has to defend herself from external aggressors,I will be called to contribute to this defence.Sometimes,I wonder whether how I would feel if there ever was a war and I had to take part in it...it would probably be very difficult for me to be unemotional.Hopefully such a situation will never materialize and even if it does,may I make the best of a bad bargain by remembering the cowherd boy of Vrindaban,do my duty and dedicating it to Him. yat karosi yad asnasi yaj juhosi dadasi yat yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kurusva mad-arpanam "O son of Kunti, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me." (Bhagavad-gita 9.27) [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 04-19-2002).]

Hi Kathik_v: I hope you are well!Srila Prabhupada did not not advocating pacifism in the face of aggression or chanting Hare Krsna while our loved ones are being harmed. In one of his purports to Bhagavad-gita, Srila Prabhupada has stated that killing for self defence is sanctioned by Vedic principles: “According to Vedic injunctions there are six kinds of aggressors: 1) a poison giver, 2) one who sets fire to the house, 3) one who attacks with deadly weapons, 4) one who plunders riches, 5) one who occupies another's land, and 6) one who kidnaps a wife. Such aggressors are at once to be killed, and no sin is incurred by killing such aggressors.” (From purport to Bhagavad-gita 1.36) Whether we are pure or not, the fact remains that “Muslims” and “Hindus” are material designations and the sooner we recognize this, the better. Self defence is naturally justified when we face danger from offensive parties, but isn’t it possible to engage in self-defence and at the same time not be attached to material designations? One could defend his country or his family against aggression with such a mentality: “I am not a Hindu, a Moslem or an Indian. I am spirit soul and I belong to Krsna and I shall fight against aggression for Krsna.” In the Bhagavad-gita, Krsna says: sarva-karmany api sada kurvano mad-vyapasrayah mat-prasadad avapnoti sasvatam padam avyayam “Though engaged in all kinds of activities, My devotee, under My protection, reaches the eternal and imperishable abode by My grace.” (Bhagavad-gita 18.56) [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 04-18-2002).]

This is Srila Prabhupada's verdict on Hindu-Muslim conflict: 'During the Hindu-Muslim riots in India,some Hindus would go to the Moslem mosque and would break statues and images of God,and the Moslems would recipocrate in like manner. In this way they were both thinking,"We've killed the Hindu God.We've killed the Moslem God,etc."Similarly,when Gandhi was leading his resisance movement,many Indians would go to the street and destroy the mailboxes and in this way think that they were destroying the government postal service.People of such mentality are not jnanis.The religious wars between the Hindus and Moslems and Christians and non-Christians were all conducted on the basis of ignorance.One who is in knowledge knows that God is one;He cannot be Moslem,Hindu or Christian.'(His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,On the Way to Krsna, Chapter 4)

"If we love God,we love everything.If we do not love God,it is not possible to love anything."(His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, On the Way to Krsna,Chapter 5)

"If we love God,we love everything.If we do not love God,it is not possible to love anything."(His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, On the Way to Krsna,Chapter 5)

“Regarding the position of a person who does not speak even when he knows the truth: jani saksi nahi deya tara papa haya. A person who knows things as they are and still does not bear witness becomes involved in sinful activities.” (His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Morning Walk, May 17, 1975, Perth, Australia) [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 04-15-2002).]

“Regarding the position of a person who does not speak even when he knows the truth: jani saksi nahi deya tara papa haya. A person who knows things as they are and still does not bear witness becomes involved in sinful activities.” (His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Morning Walk, May 17, 1975, Perth, Australia) [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 04-15-2002).]

Your wish is my command,Prabhu! The following piece of nectar is specially dedicated to you. "As a bonafide Acharya of the Brahma-Madhya-Gaudiya Sampradaya the mission of Sree Sreemad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami was to re-establish the pure form of theism as propounded by Lord Chaitanya in the line of His predecessors. Lord Chaitanya preached only the teachings of Bhagwat Geeta in the most practical way to suit the present environment created by the dark age of quarrel and fight.In the latter-age calculated to be two hundred years before the advent of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj many pseudo-spiritualistic parties in the name of Lord Chaitanya grew up like mushrooms to exploit the noble sentiment of spiritualism of the innocent people of Earth. Such pseudo-spiritualistic parties deviated poles asunder from the preaching of Lord Chaitanya because they were unfit to undergo the disciplic regulations and as such they had mitigated a via-media principle of rotten materialistic idea with pure spiritualism. They misunderstood the highest form of worship contemplated by the Gopies of Brindaban in the transcendental loving pastimes of Lord Shree Krishna and misidentified the spiritual process with a materialistic idea of erotic principle. As such the highest principle Rashlila stated in the Bhagwat to be understood and relished at the stage of the Paramhansas was made a plaything by such pseudo parties are known as the Oal, Baoul, Nera, Karta Bhaja, Sain, Darbesi Sakhi-vekhi, Sahajia, Caste Goswamins, Caste Brahmins and so on. These pseudo parties passed as the disciples of Lord Chaitanya with their cheap nefarious activities and of all the above parties the Sahajias and the Caste Goswamins became the most obstinate obstructors to the onward progress of the universal movement of Lord Chaitanya."(Sree Sreemad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj by His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead, March 1952, Vol.I,Part IX)

Your wish is my command,Prabhu! The following piece of nectar is specially dedicated to you. "As a bonafide Acharya of the Brahma-Madhya-Gaudiya Sampradaya the mission of Sree Sreemad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami was to re-establish the pure form of theism as propounded by Lord Chaitanya in the line of His predecessors. Lord Chaitanya preached only the teachings of Bhagwat Geeta in the most practical way to suit the present environment created by the dark age of quarrel and fight.In the latter-age calculated to be two hundred years before the advent of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj many pseudo-spiritualistic parties in the name of Lord Chaitanya grew up like mushrooms to exploit the noble sentiment of spiritualism of the innocent people of Earth. Such pseudo-spiritualistic parties deviated poles asunder from the preaching of Lord Chaitanya because they were unfit to undergo the disciplic regulations and as such they had mitigated a via-media principle of rotten materialistic idea with pure spiritualism. They misunderstood the highest form of worship contemplated by the Gopies of Brindaban in the transcendental loving pastimes of Lord Shree Krishna and misidentified the spiritual process with a materialistic idea of erotic principle. As such the highest principle Rashlila stated in the Bhagwat to be understood and relished at the stage of the Paramhansas was made a plaything by such pseudo parties are known as the Oal, Baoul, Nera, Karta Bhaja, Sain, Darbesi Sakhi-vekhi, Sahajia, Caste Goswamins, Caste Brahmins and so on. These pseudo parties passed as the disciples of Lord Chaitanya with their cheap nefarious activities and of all the above parties the Sahajias and the Caste Goswamins became the most obstinate obstructors to the onward progress of the universal movement of Lord Chaitanya."(Sree Sreemad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj by His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead, March 1952, Vol.I,Part IX)

Ram Prabhu: Please accept my humble obeisances.All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. I'm not sure about the denial of transit visas for ISKCON sannyasis. In Singapore,I have had the good fortune to have met two ISKCON sannyasis HH Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami and HH Bhanu Swami.

Hi Rati: I hope you are well. Everything,including the desktop computer and the Internet,belongs to Krsna and should be utilized in His service. I do not picture myself as a qualified preacher of Sri Caitanya. I think you are referring to certain Srila Prabhupada quotes that I have posted where he criticizes scientists.Despite their technological achievements which have undeniably benefited human beings,scientists have also contributed to the spiritual degeneration of the human society by propagating atheistic and materialistic theories like the theory that life comes from matter and some of them have tried to imitate the Lord's potencies by developing cloning which has very dangerous implications for society. It is not that scientists should be condemned.One of Srila Prabhupada's disciples,His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara (Dr Thoudam Singh)holds a doctrate in biochemistry. But from a Krsna Conscious point of view,scientists should be criticized if they are contributing to atheism and materialism. [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 04-13-2002).]

Hi Rati: I hope you are well. Everything,including the desktop computer and the Internet,belongs to Krsna and should be utilized in His service. I do not picture myself as a qualified preacher of Sri Caitanya. I think you are referring to certain Srila Prabhupada quotes that I have posted where he criticizes scientists.Despite their technological achievements which have undeniably benefited human beings,scientists have also contributed to the spiritual degeneration of the human society by propagating atheistic and materialistic theories like the theory that life comes from matter and some of them have tried to imitate the Lord's potencies by developing cloning which has very dangerous implications for society. It is not that scientists should be condemned.One of Srila Prabhupada's disciples,His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara (Dr Thoudam Singh)holds a doctrate in biochemistry. But from a Krsna Conscious point of view,scientists should be criticized if they are contributing to atheism and materialism. [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 04-13-2002).]

"I may say that practical devotion is the secret to understanding the Shastras.My Guru Maharaja used to say that for one who is not engaged in devotional service,reading all thes ebooks is simply like licking the outside of the honey jar.One who thinks the books is the thing is content in this way.But we should learn the secret to open the jar and taste the honey." (His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,68-2-26 Letter)

"I may say that practical devotion is the secret to understanding the Shastras.My Guru Maharaja used to say that for one who is not engaged in devotional service,reading all thes ebooks is simply like licking the outside of the honey jar.One who thinks the books is the thing is content in this way.But we should learn the secret to open the jar and taste the honey." (His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,68-2-26 Letter)

"If we become arrogant after having adopted the path of devotion, if we worship only God and disregard the worship of His devotees,we would be out to manifold difficulties for our offence at the feet of the servants of God;we would be afflicted with apathy for the principle of devotion itself." (His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura,Vyasa Puja Address "Humbler Than A Blade Of Grass," Given February 24, 1924)

Haribol Sushil: Come to Singapore and you can take a look around.There are many Muslims here and they don't go around "threatening and frightening others". I have travelled extensively in Malaysia (I have some relatives there) and I have yet to experience any violence from the Muslims.I have many Muslim friends and some of them have demonstrated great kindness. Some time ago,I witnessed a Muslim woman comforting a non-Muslim boy (If I remember correctly it was a Eurasian boy) who had apparently gotten his head knocked.The boy was crying and the Muslim woman was rubbing his head in the presence of the boy's mother. While I'm not denying that many who profess to be Muslims have committed many demonic acts,the same can be said of those who profess to be Buddhists Christians,Hindus,Jews etc.Shall we also say that Christians,Hindus,Buddhists etc are demons too? To say that Muslims are demons is just too sweeping a statement. Among Muslims,there are many who are sincere devotees of God and if we risk committing offences to devotees of God if we view them as belonging to the same category as those who have perpetuated demonic acts in the name of religion. [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 04-13-2002).]

Hi Sushil: There might be demons found in the ranks of those who profess themselves to be Muslims,but that does not mean that all Muslims are demons.Islam is not a monolithic entity,and there are so many different kinds of Muslims --- the nominal Muslim,the pious Muslim,the liberal Muslim,the Fundamentalist Muslim,etc. [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 04-13-2002).]