Tag Archives: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Thakura Prabhupada

Vaktritavali by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Thakura Prabhupada

Due to an absence of hearing the topics of Hari from the mouth of saintly persons the bodily and mental propensities exhibit…

If by good association we are given the chance to remain aloof from people busy satisfying their animal propensities, only then can we hope for our own well-being. When people fall into bad association, they consider themselves expert and sometimes become crazy. We should not associate with anyone other than those engaged always in Lord Hari’s service. To worship Hari is the perfection of human life. Don’t waste time. Immediately start your worship of Lord Hari. With firm enthusiasm and confidence dedicate your human form of life to securing the ultimate goal.
If we waste time, other godless and sinful people will have the chance to approach us and influence us with their bad ideals.

Amrita Vani
Q&A by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Thakura Prabhupada

Q : Who is a materialist?

A : A materialist is one who accumulates material objects for his own pleasure and who engages them as ingredients of his sense gratification. One who accumulates material objects for the Lord’s service is not a materialist but a devotee. It is not possible to differentiate between a material enjoyer and a devotee on the basis of their respective activities, but it is possible to differentiate by studying the motivation of each. One who eats for personal sense gratification is a materialist; one who eats to maintain the body for Krsna’s service is a devotee. A devotee is neither a material enjoyer nor a dry renunciant but a servant of the Lord. A devotee engages wealth, material objects, and everything in this world in the Lord’s service.

Q. What is karma?

A. Work done for one’s own happiness and the happiness of others is called karma. There is nothing about trying to please Krsna in the performance of karma. The goal of karma is to search after one’s own happiness and the happiness of others, whereas searching for Krsna’s pleasure is called devotional service.
This material world is the field of karma for ordinary people, but for the devotees the material world is a place in which to cultivate devotional service. Whatever is performed in this world with the prideful thought, “I am the doer,” is called karma, whereas whatever is done for the Lord’s pleasure, induced by the Lord, with the idea, “I am Krsna’s servant,” is called devotional service.

Q. How long should we engage in karma?

A. The Bhagavatam (11.20.9) states:tavat karmani kurvita, na nirvidyeta yavatamat-katha-sravanadau va, sraddha yavan na jayateOne should continue to perform the Vedic ritualistic activities until one actually becomes detached from material sense gratification and develops faith for hearing and chanting about Me.
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Amrta Vani

Q&A by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Thakura Prabhupada

Q : What does true humility means?

A : In other words, true humility means to develop a taste for chanting and to become a true servant of the holy name. Service to Guru and the Vaisnavas is the gateway through which we develop such taste.