Srila Prabhupada had a definite vision of the role of women – grihini – in society, and that FDG is NOT in concordance with that vision. And Prabhupada rejected it in his purport to SB 4.12.32 Woman, they are generally equipped with the qualities of passion and ignorance. And menContinue Reading
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s contribution to intellectual and cultural life may be less obvious than his more visible achievements in preaching, establishing temples, and publishing books. However, the effect of a philosopher on the way people think is the ultimate test of his influence. Śrīla Prabhupāda’s entire mission was to overcome theContinue Reading
“Ācārya all the way.” That’s what Guru-kṛpā said about Śrīla Prabhupāda in his final days, showing us how to be fully Kṛṣṇa conscious in the worst of health, and teaching how a pure devotee prepares for and meets death. From the moment Prabhupāda entered our lives till the moment of hisContinue Reading
The constitutional position of the jīva is to serve Kṛṣṇa, but he has to do that through the agency of a confidential devotee. Śrīla Prabhupāda is our eternal link with Kṛṣṇa (janme janme prabhu sei). So for Prabhupāda’s disciples at least, we feel that not only service to Kṛṣṇa, but service toContinue Reading
When we think of the great ācāryas, such as Madhva, Rāmānujācārya, and Narottama, it seems as if they were from another time and world, when the spiritual culture was thriving in India and saintliness was possible. In today’s nasty, impersonal, technological age, there is no culture or quest for God. It almostContinue Reading
Śrīla Prabhupāda did not present śāstra as a dry academic subject to be theorized, discussed, and armchair-philosophized about. Instead of giving abstruse explanations, he spoke and lived the essence of śāstra. He repeatedly emphasized the point of all śāstra: “You are not this body. Surrender to Kṛṣṇa.” Śrīla Prabhupāda said that by reading hisContinue Reading
In India’s recent history, there were certainly many Vaiṣṇavas who were devoted, learned, and renounced. However, the fact remains that only Śrīla Prabhupāda was sufficiently qualified to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world. Only he had sufficient faith in the instructions of Lord Caitanya, the order of his spiritualContinue Reading
“Prabhupāda: Hitler one side, fought with the Britishers, smashed them. This is one cause. Another cause = Hitler helped Subhas Chandra Bose to organize I.N.A. Two causes, the Britishers to go away. Otherwise, Gandhi’s noncooperation movement was started in 1917, and we got our independence in 1947. Indian man: ThirtyContinue Reading
Everyone knows that Śrīla Prabhupāda thought big: “Take over the world with Kṛṣṇa consciousness.” But Prabhupāda also thought small. He did not like over-centralization or top-heavy management. When he saw devotees in Hawaii living simply on the land and chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, he told them to go on like that.Continue Reading
Kuntī says that this intoxication position, madaḥ, edhamāna-madaḥ (SB 1.8.26), increasing, pumān, such person, naivārhati, they cannot feelingly address, “Jaya Rādhā-Mādhava.” They cannot feelingly. That is not possible. Their feeling, spiritual feeling, is lost. They cannot feelingly address, because they do not know. “Oh, this God is for poor man.Continue Reading