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Although we are not these bodies, we base our whole life on bodily relationships centered around sex attractions. Srila Prabhupada comments: "Attachment to women is so contaminating that one becomes attached to the condition of material life not only by the association of women but by the contaminated association of persons who are too attached to them. There are many reasons for our conditional life in the material world, but the topmost of all such causes is the association of women, as will be confirmed in the following stanzas. In Kali-yuga, association with women is very strong. In every step of life, there is association with women. If a person goes to purchase something, the advertisements are full of pictures of women. The physiological attraction for women is very great, and therefore people are very slack in spiritual understanding. The Vedic civilization, being based on spiritual understanding, arranges association with women very cautiously. Out of the four social divisions, the members of the first order (namely brahmacarya), the third order (vanaprastha) and the fourth order (sannyasa) are strictly prohibited from female association. Only in one order, the householder, is there license to mix with women under restricted conditions. In other words, attraction for woman's association is the cause of the material conditional life, and anyone interested in being freed from this conditional life must detach himself from the association of women." SB 3.31.36 purport

Srila Prabhupada comments on the Srimad Bhagavatam 3d Canto: It is said that when a woman is having labor pains she promises that she will never again become pregnant and suffer from such a severely painful condition. Similarly, when one is undergoing some surgical operation he promises that he will never again act in such a way as to become diseased and have to undergo medical surgery, or when one falls into danger, he promises that he will never again make the same mistake. Similarly, the living entity, when put into a hellish condition of life, prays to the Lord that he will never again commit sinful activities and have to be put into the womb for repeated birth and death. In the hellish condition within the womb, the living entity is very much afraid of being born again, but when he is out of the womb, when he is in full life and good health, he forgets everything and commits again and again the same sins for which he was put into that horrible condition of existence. SB 3.31.11 purport

Srila Prabhupada analyses a materialistic person who are mad after sense gratification. "The materialist thinks that persons engaged in Krsna consciousness are crazy fellows wasting time by chanting Hare Krsna, but actually he does not know that he himself is in the darkest region of craziness because of accepting his body as permanent. And, in relation to his body, he accepts his home, his country, his society and all other paraphernalia as permanent. This materialistic acceptance of the permanency of home, land, etc., is called the illusion of maya. This is clearly mentioned here. Mohad grha-ksetra-vasuni: out of illusion only does the materialist accept his home, his land and his money as permanent. Out of this illusion, the family life, national life and economic development, which are very important factors in modern civilization, have grown. A Krsna conscious person knows that this economic development of human society is but temporary illusion. In another part of Srimad-Bhagavatam, the acceptance of the body as oneself, the acceptance of others as kinsmen in relationship to this body and the acceptance of the land of one's birth as worshipable are declared to be the products of an animal civilization. When, however, one is enlightened in Krsna consciousness, he can use these for the service of the Lord. That is a very suitable proposition. Everything has a relationship with Krsna. When all economic development and material advancement are utilized to advance the cause of Krsna consciousness, a new phase of progressive life arises." SB 3.30.3

Srila Prabhupada explains the hidden nature of the materialistic society: "In Bhagavad-gita the Personality of Godhead Himself certifies the material world as an impermanent place that is full of miseries. There is no question of happiness in this material world, either individually or in terms of family, society or country. If something is going on in the name of happiness, that is also illusion. Here in this material world, happiness means successful counteraction to the effects of distress. The material world is so made that unless one becomes a clever diplomat, his life will be a failure. Not to speak of human society, even the society of lower animals, the birds and bees, cleverly manages its bodily demands of eating, sleeping and mating. Human society competes nationally or individually, and in the attempt to be successful the entire human society becomes full of diplomacy. We should always remember that in spite of all diplomacy and all intelligence in the struggle for our existence, everything will end in a second by the supreme will. Therefore, all our attempts to become happy in this material world are simply a delusion offered by maya." SB 3.30.10

An animated class by Purujit Prabhu. Cool Stuff!

namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktis tatrarpita niyamitah smarane na kalah etadrsi tava krpa bhagavan mamapi durdaivam idrsam ihajani nanuragah TRANSLATION O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names, like Krsna and Govinda. In these transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them. Commentary Krsna, the Supreme Lord, is absolute. In the absolute realm, there is no difference between the object and its nomenclature. In the relative realm, where we are presently situated, the substance and the name are separated. There is water in the glass... you say "water", I call it "voda". A German folk calls it "Wasser" and an Israeli will say "maim". One says "aqua" another says "eau". Yet, none of these names and designations can bring satisfaction to a thirsty man. Simply by chanting the "water-water-mantra" you cannot quench your thirst. You have to actually take the glass and drink. The name is different from the substance. But on the absolute platform there is no such difference. Krsna-name and Krsna-person are the same. Krsna's form, Krsna's name, Krsna's abode, Krsna's paraphernalia, Krsna's pastimes, Krsna's cows, Krsna's devotees, they are all non-different from Krsna. This is the way of contacting God, Krsna, in this Age of Kali. We are unable to perform mystic yoga, meditation with undeviated mind, deep study of the scriptures, opulent sacrifices or any of the processes that were feasible for God-realization in the past ages. Our lives are short, our memories flawed, our intelligence covered and our hearts are full of anxiety. Therefore, out of His causeless mercy, the Lord makes Himself available to one and all through His sound incarnation, the Hare Krsna maha-mantra: Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare By chanting this transcendental vibration one immediately enters the absolute realm and contacts God, Krsna. Krsna dances on one's tongue and manifests in one's heart. Krsna is always in everyone's heart, shining like the sun, but by the chanting method the cloud which covers our vision of the Krsna-sun is removed. When the sun of Krsna rises within the heart, all the impurities and material contamination of the consciousness are gradually purified. Thus one becomes free from illusion of material identification and realizes his original spiritual nature as an eternal loving servant of Krsna. Krsna, God, is unlimited and, therefore, His names also know no end. The names of God are in connection with His transcendental forms, qualities, activities etc. Because His forms, qualities and activities are infinite, His names are also innumerable. "Krsna" means "All-attractive". Krsna attracts everyone. There are six qualities of a person, which attract others. We are attracted to beauty, knowledge, wealth, strength, fame and renunciation. We all look for these qualities in this world and persons who manifest them and supply our hankering become our friends, lovers, business-partners etc. But we should know that everyone's attractive features in whatever proportions are simply a reflection of the unlimited beauty, knowledge, wealth, strength, fame and renunciation present in and manifested by the Personality of Godhead, Krsna. By chanting the holy names - Hare Krsna Hare Rama - we dive into the ocean of unlimited spiritual opulence and attraction and thus find the fountainhead which will satisfy all our desires. There is no one more beautiful, opulent, powerful, famous, wise and detached than Krsna and because He is not different from His holy name, the chanter of the maha-mantra - Hare Krsna - at once connects to the reservoir of all these qualities. Sañaya said to Dhrtarasṭra before the Kuruksetra battle: "Wherever there is Krsna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion." (Bg. 18.78) Krsna is present wherever His names are chanted sincerely and that is why a devotee doesn't ever have to worry about what comes next. He is under the protection and guidance of the Supreme Lord. There are no hard and fast rules concerning the way of chanting Hare Krsna. One should, nevertheless, learn about the process of pure and offenseless chanting and engage in that way, to achieve the ultimate goal of life, which is love of Krsna. Although Krsna is so merciful, that He allows Himself to be approached in this most convenient, pleasurable and simple method of chanting, we, the people of this age, have not so much attraction for hearing and chanting the holy names of the Lord. That is the influence of maya. There is a clear path to perfection, liberation and fulfilment of all our desires, but we put obstacles to our progress. One should try to understand his position as a tiny speck of dust in the fathomless universe, as being eternally a subordinate to someone or something, as desirous of an eternal life of happiness and take to this opportunity so kindly presented by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Chant Hare Krsna! "Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that each and every name of God is as powerful as God. Because God is Absolute, therefore there is no difference between His name, form, pastimes. Nothing is different from God. That is absolute knowledge. Advaya-jñana. So if you chant the holy name of God, that means you are directly in touch with God. Because the name is not different from God. Try to understand. Similarly, if you touch fire, it will act. If you do not know or know what is the quality of fire, it doesn't matter; if you touch fire, it will act. Similarly, if you actually chant the holy name of God, it will act. The example is, just like you put a iron rod in the fire, it becomes warm, warmer, and gradually it becomes red hot. By the association of fire, the iron rod becomes fire. Iron rod is not fire, but by association with the fire, it becomes as good as fire so that when it is red hot, you touch anywhere, the iron rod will burn. Similarly, if you keep yourself always in touch with God, then gradually you become godly. You do not become God, but you become godly. And as soon as you become godly, then all your godly qualifications will come out. This is the science. Try to understand." (Srila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita 2.11 lecture, Aug 1st 1972, Glasgow)

A life of control and and freedom at the same time, the real use of the human body. An excerpt from "Krsna consciousness, the matchless gift." By his divine grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Some tapasya is certainly required. Without it, one can not advance in spiritual life or knowledge. If we simply engage in the animal propensities of eating, sleeping, mating and defending, not accepting the tapasya process, human life is a failure. If one wants to become an initiated member of our Krsna consciousness society, we first of all ask him to undergo tapasya. In the Western countries especially it is a great tapasya to give up illicit sex life, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling. Although we require only these austerities, it is very difficult to observe them. In England, a wealthy aristocrat inquired from a Vaisnava godbrother: "Swamiji, can you make me a brahmana?" The Swamiji replied, "Yes, why not? You just have to observe these four principles—no illicit sex, intoxication, gambling and meat-eating." "Impossible," the Britisher replied. Yes, it is impossible, for in Europe or in America self-indulgence is the way of life from the very beginning. Indian gentlemen often come to the West to learn these indulgences, and they think themselves to be thus advancing. Indians are automatically taught tapasya through their Vedic culture, but they come to America to forget that culture and accept another type of life. The real fact is, however, that if one wants to advance in spiritual understanding and solve all the problems of life, he must accept this life of tapasya—austerity and restriction. Restriction is for human beings, not for animals. We encounter restrictions daily in our common dealings. We cannot drive a car on the left or run a red light without risking apprehension by the law. If a dog, however, walks on the left side of the street or crosses against a red light, it is not punished because it is an animal. The law therefore makes distinctions between human beings and animals because human beings supposedly have advanced consciousness. If we do not follow rules and regulations, we again lapse into animalism. Apparently propaganda is being made celebrating freedom as opposed to a regulated life, but one who sees things as they are can understand that freedom from all restriction is animal life. Therefore Sukadeva Gosvami recommends tapasya. If we want actual freedom from the problems of life, we have to accept a life of austerity. Bondage to material life is the only other alternative. What is tapasya? What is austerity? The first principle of austerity is brahmacarya, restricted sex life. The real meaning of brahmacarya is complete celibacy, and according to Vedic culture in the beginning of life one should strictly follow the regulations of brahmacarya. When he is grown up, the brahmacari can marry and become grhastha, and as a grhastha he can have sex, but in the brahmacarya life strict celibacy is the rule. In the present age people have become degraded for want of tapasya because they are not taught how to execute tapasvi life. Criticism for its own sake will not do; one must be effectively trained in the life of tapasya. In the Vedas it is said that those who execute a regulated life of tapasya are brahmanas. Etad aksaram gargi viditvasmal lokat praiti sa brahmanah/ etad aksaram gargy aviditvasmal lokat praiti sa krpanah. Everyone is dying, for no one can live here permanently, but one who dies after executing a life of tapasya is a brahmana, and one who dies like a cat or dog, without executing tapasya, is called a krpana. These two words are used frequently in Vedic literature—brahmana and krpana. Krpana means "miser" and brahmana refers to a liberal, broad-minded person. Brahma janatiti brahmanah: One who knows the supreme, the Absolute Truth, is a brahmana, but one who does not know is an animal. This is the difference between animal and man; man, to deserve the name, must be educated to understand the Absolute Truth. Because human life is meant for knowledge, there are schools and colleges, philosophers and scientists and mathematicians. The processes of eating, sleeping, mating and defending need not be taught, for they are learned instinctively. Human life is obviously meant for more. It is meant for tapasya and knowledge. There are descriptions in the Vedas of brahmacarya, celibacy, which characterize the beginning of a life dedicated to tapasya: Smaranam kirtanam kelih preksanam guhyabhasanam/ sankalpo 'dhyavasayas ca kriya-nirvrttir eva ca (Sridhara 6.1.12). To properly execute celibacy, one should not even think or even talk of sex life. Reading modern literature and newspapers which are filled with sexual material is also against the principles of brahmacarya. Similarly, indulging in sex in any way, looking at and whispering with girls, and determining or endeavoring to engage in sex life are all against the principles of brahmacarya. One executes real brahmacarya when all these activities come to a halt. By austerity, celibacy, and control of the mind and senses one can advance in pure life. Similarly, advancement can be made through charity properly directed. That is called tyaga, renunciation. If one has a million dollars, he should not keep it, but, as long as it is within his jurisdiction, he should spend it for Krsna. Money or energy is properly utilized when it is directed to Krsna.

Srila Prabhupada explains the current fallen position of the modern goverement, in contrast to the ideal standard set by the Kings of the Vedic era. Taken from the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The all good King enquired, "Oh the geat souls, will he become as saintly a king, pious by the very name and famous and glorified by achievements, as those who appeared in this great royal family?" PURPORT The forefathers of King Yudhisthir were all great saintly kings pious by the very name and glorified by their great achievements. They were all saints on the Royal Throne. And, therefore, all the members of the state were happy, pious, well behaved, prosperous, and spiritually enlightened. Under strict guidance of the great souls and spiritual injuctions such great saintly Kings were trained up and as results of that, the kingdom was full of saintly persons and a happy land of spiritual life. Maharaj Yudhisthir was himself a prototype of his ancestors and he desired that the next King after him shall also become exactly his great forefathers. He was happy to learn from the learned Brahmins by astrological calculations mentioned above,-that the child is born a first-grade devotee of the Lord and to be more confident he wants to know whether the child was going to follow the footprints of the great forefathers. That is the way of monarchical state. The reigning king should be pious, chivalrous, devotee of the Lord, fear personified for the upstarts and must leave an heir apparent equally qualified to rule over the innocent citizens. In the modern set up of democratic states, the people themselves are fallen to the qualities of the Sudras or less than them, and the Government is run by their representative without any scriptural mode of administrative education. As such the whole atmosphere is surcharged with Sudra quality manifested by lust and avarice. Such administrators quarrel every day between themselves: The cabinet of ministers change often on party and group selfishness. Everyone wants to exploit the state resources till he dies. Nobody retires from political life unless they are forced to do so. How such low grade man can do any good to the people. The result is corruption, intrigue and hypocrisy. They should learn from the Srimad Bhagwatam how ideal the administrators must be before they can be given over the charge of different posts. 1.12.19

Srila Prabhupada in this conversation expresses his concerns in regards to his disciples who work in materialistic world and gives some practical suggestion on how they can be saved from fall-downs. Prabhupada: ...grhastha life. Bhaktivinoda Thakura independently... Or I was also grhastha. Our aim was different. But this neophyte, if they remain aloof from temple connection without attending the function, gradually they will be lost. Tamala Krsna: That was the reason that I suggested to Abhirama Prabhu that he should make his business in Bombay. Actually the grhasthas have no desire to live independent of the temples. Just like Madhavananda, he's got an apartment now just near the temple so that he can attend mangala-arati and the other functions. Prabhupada: Yes. Unless these things are continued, the karmis' poison will spoil them. He can do independent business; there is no harm. But must be connected with the devotional service. Tamala Krsna: Yeah. Prabhupada: Just like Abhirama constructed that house. That's all right. He is within the campus. There is no harm. And now if he goes away after so much training, advancement, if they are lost, then that's a great loss for the Society. With such... With great difficulty we make one Vaisnava. And again, if he goes like Syamasundara, then it is great loss. The whole idea is to give up attachment for material world and increase attachment for Krsna. That is perfection. Now, according to one's position, gradually... But this is the aim. Param drstva nivartate [Bg. 9.59]. Nivrtti. Tamala Krsna: I don't think Abhirama has any intention of going away. Prabhupada: No, he has no intention, but he lives apart from temple connection... Tamala Krsna: Then he will go away automatically. Prabhupada: Yes. Tamala Krsna: So that's not possible, then, for him to go to Bangalore, 'cause we have no center in Bangalore. Prabhupada: So he wants to organize a center there? Tamala Krsna: No, he was thinking of organizing business. Prabhupada: Then Bombay is better place than Bangalore. Tamala Krsna: Yes. He admits it's a better place. No, he can be encouraged very easily to go to Bombay. I mean, generally, throughout our Society, I don't think the trend of the grhasthas is to move away from temples and live independently. If they live independently from the temple, it's in close... Prabhupada: No, no. There is chance, I said. Tamala Krsna: Yes. Prabhupada: The karmis' association is very contaminous. Asat-sangi. So for him the best thing will be to take a room in Bombay. Let him do business. Tamala Krsna: I'm sure now that... I'll convey all... Prabhupada: Grhastha should not be dependent on Society. At the same time, he should not be independent of the Society. (laughs) This is the position. Because Society cannot take charge of a family. There will be so many number of families. How it is possible? At the same time, if they remain independently of the Society, without touch, then the karmis' poison will infect. Tamala Krsna: It seems like the solution is to get apartments near the temple, get room near the temple. Prabhupada: Why not in the temple? Why? If he pays, what is wrong? Tamala Krsna: No, in a place like Bombay where we have so many buildings, in the temple. But sometimes... Just like in America, if there's only one building with only... Prabhupada: No, America also... Just like Los Angeles we have got. Tamala Krsna: That's different. There there are apartments. Prabhupada: Similarly, you have to arrange like that. They should not live completely independent. That will be future danger. Tamala Krsna: It has to be a community of devotees. Prabhupada: Krsna conscious ideal grhasthas. That we want. Just like Bhaktivinoda Thakura. There are many. I was grhastha. There was Deity worship, everything nice. I was publishing Back to Godhead from grhastha. So aim was there. But I could not leave family life for some circumstances. That is a different thing. Must be in touch with the devotional service as in the temple. If live nearby temple, it is easier, or in the temple. But aloof, that is dangerous. Tamala Krsna: If they live in the temple, then there's the problem of... You know. Prabhupada: No. Temple, he can take one room, pay for it. He wants to pay. That is also payment. And further, if he can pay, that's all right. Tamala Krsna: In America, supposing a householder family pays for a room in our temple building. So they can have their sex life and family life? Prabhupada: If they can pay for prasadam also, it is nice. Sex... Husband-wife living, there must be sex, so who can...? Tamala Krsna: So how can that be in the same building as the brahmacari ashram? Prabhupada: No, no, no, so many other grhastha tenants. Tamala Krsna: That's in, like, Hare Krsna Land in Bombay. But supposing in a... Prabhupada: That you cannot check. Grhastha means they must have sex. But they're living independent, separately. Tamala Krsna: Yeah, that's in Hare Krsna Land. Prabhupada: No, anywhere. If they are doing independent business, let them do that. Tamala Krsna: So in the New York... Prabhupada: Karmis' concession, sex. Tamala Krsna: In the New York they can live families together? In that building, families can live together and have sex life? Prabhupada: What is wrong? Tamala Krsna: In that building. It's all right? Prabhupada: Yes. Why not? In a building there are so many different types of men. In a big building, apartment building, you cannot expect all of them of the same class. Tamala Krsna: Hm. 'Cause in Bombay you had said that is was better that in an immediate building of the temple they should not live together with wife. They should live separately. Prabhupada: No, that is, they are not doing business. They are attached to temple activities. Anyway, these things have to be adjusted. You cannot follow very rigid in case of grhasthas. Some way or other, you have to adjust. We cannot allow them to be lost. Tamala Krsna: No. That's clear. Prabhupada: Better allow them to live together. What can be done? But we cannot lose them. After training so much, if they are lost, then that is a great loss. This I am giving hint. Now you GBC, you change them. Make process. Tamala Krsna: Yeah. Right now in our Society throughout the world, wherever there are grhasthas living in our temples, they live separate from their wives. And if they want to live with their wives, then they get a room or an apartment near the temple. Prabhupada: So may be like that, but must be attached to the temple. Tamala Krsna: Yeah, that's the clear point. We should not lose anyone. Prabhupada: No, that's a great loss. Tamala Krsna: Because if husband and wife live together in the temple itself, where there are so many brahmacaris and... [break] Prabhupada: ...he makes love with a girl and marries and live at the cost of Society, and that is to be discouraged. If you want to marry, you work independently. Maintain yourself. And whatever you can contribute, do that. That is the... Just like Abhirama. He's very good. And I don't want to be lost. He constructed that house, I never forbade. And it is in the campus. Let him remain a little separately. It doesn't matter. Tamala Krsna: I think the main reason he can't live there anymore is that because of doing business he'll not always be able to be in Mayapura, and he doesn't feel that that house is safe for his wife to live there alone. Prabhupada: Why alone? Can live with others. Tamala Krsna: Other householders there also. Prabhupada: Yes. Many householders can live there together. Tamala Krsna: Yes. There's room on the floor below... Prabhupada: Yes. Tamala Krsna: ...his apartment for two other families. I don't know what... Prabhupada: That can be arranged. That is not... Tamala Krsna: I don't think he feels it's safe enough. Prabhupada: No, no. This is incidental. This is not permanent problem. Tamala Krsna: I don't know what's behind it. I don't know the full reason why he doesn't want to stay there anymore. Prabhupada: If he wants to do business, how he can stay there? Tamala Krsna: Yeah. There's no business in Mayapura. Prabhupada: What is business there? Tamala Krsna: He wants to go where there's a business center. Prabhupada: No, business means he must do business in some city. Tamala Krsna: Yeah. Bombay. Prabhupada: Anywhere. Bombay is the best city. He has got facility to stay there. For business Bombay is the best city. Tamala Krsna: In India. Prabhupada: In India. No, world. It is a very important city. Export, import, local. Tremendous business possibility there. Many poor men goes and becomes very rich men. Bombay is very important center. You have to get a place by giving bribe, fifty thousand, sixty thousand, to stay there. Tamala Krsna: They call that hundi. Prabhupada: Not hundi. Bhakti-caru: Pagri.(?) Tamala Krsna: Pagri, I mean. Prabhupada: Pagri, yes. To get a place there... Bombay is so important that if you want to get a place you have to pay no less, fifty thousand, lakh of rupees to stand. Then do business. Very important. Anything you do, you must have land first of all to stand. Otherwise what you'll do? To stand in Bombay you have to pay lakh of... Don't you see -- we drive away the tenants -- how much we recompense. We pay compensation. Tamala Krsna: Yes. We have to pay a lot of money... Prabhupada: That's it. Tamala Krsna: ...so that they can pay for some other place. Prabhupada: Yes. Tamala Krsna: That's true. Nowadays it's very difficult. Prabhupada: This is system in Bombay. Without paying, you cannot get even inch of land. Tamala Krsna: Trivikrama Maharaja told me in Japan it's getting like that also, Tokyo. Prabhupada: Wherever there is scarcity, that is the system. Tamala Krsna: In America that is not there. Prabhupada: America, enough places. Tamala Krsna: They have paying a few months' rent, but not pagri. Prabhupada: There are so many houses. Why they should pay? Tamala Krsna: Yeah. That's true. Prabhupada: Multi-story building. Why people should pay? Now Bombay have got many multi-story building; therefore that demand is reduced. But still, you have to pay in important place, pagri or underhand. What is called? Tamala Krsna: Bribe. Prabhupada: Bribe is very bad word. "Under table." (chuckling) Tamala Krsna: Under the table. Unofficial. Prabhupada: Yes. Mean I am paying on the table hundred rupees and under table two hundred rupees. Tamala Krsna: Srila Prabhupada, I think you know everything spiritual and material. Prabhupada: Hm? So my fear is that after training our men so much, if he's lost, that's a great loss. Then future of society becomes very hopeless. Tamala Krsna: So the principle is that if a householder has outside employment and can pay, then he can live inside our temple buildings. Prabhupada: That's nice. What is the wrong? Tamala Krsna: At least for five or six years now the system has been that no man and woman should live together in the same building as where the Deity is. Prabhupada: That is the system. Temple is meant for retired men. Brahmacari, sannyasi, vanaprastha. Tamala Krsna: So then how we can let them live together, man and woman? Prabhupada: But if there is no alternative, what can be done? Tamala Krsna: Hm. No, but there is alternative always. There are available rooms and apartments just adjoining the temples. Prabhupada: Then it is all right, but he must be connected with temple. Tamala Krsna: Yeah. That's the principle. Under no circumstance should anybody be independent. Prabhupada: Upendra is here? Upendra: Yes, Prabhupada. Prabhupada: So you have corrected that paste? Upendra: Yes, Prabhupada. Prabhupada: It has become soft? Upendra: Yes, it's very soft and moist. Prabhupada: That's good. Tamala Krsna: Prabhupada? It seems like your voice has become a little congested tonight. Are you feeling congested? Your voice seems a little... Prabhupada: Congested, my vice? Tamala Krsna: Voice. In the nose. Congestion. Prabhupada: My nose? Not very much. Tamala Krsna: Oh. Prabhupada: So you can go. Upendra: Prabhupadaji? I have one question since you are speaking about grhastha. If a brahmacari decides to get married and then enters into married life, should he be encouraged to maintain that responsibility throughout his life? Prabhupada: No, no, unless he can maintain family, why should he marry? Upendra: Well, I'm specifically questioning the fact that some... Of course, our movement is young, but so many women, their husbands leave them, and they are so young and they're left. So these young women I'm thinking may become a disturbance in the future to the movement, because how a woman can remain unmarried for so many years? Her husband has left her after a few years of marriage. Generally... Prabhupada: What we can do? Upendra: I'm saying the emphasis of marriage responsibility, I don't know if it's preached that strongly. Generally it's preached that one should not... Prabhupada: No, if he marries, why he should not take responsibility of maintaining? Why he should marry if he has no power of maintaining? Tamala Krsna: What does that mean, "power of maintaining," Srila Prabhupada? Prabhupada: He must maintain his wife, children nicely. Otherwise why he should marry? Tamala Krsna: He shouldn't expect the temple to maintain him. Prabhupada: That is not possible. Tamala Krsna: Of course, he might be thinking, "Well, I'm a pujari, so the temple should pay me money to maintain my family." Prabhupada: If we have got brahmacari pujari, why should we maintain a grhastha? He is not only one pujari. We have got sannyasi, brahmacari. Why should we maintain a grhastha? And where is the means? After all, these things are to be adjusted. I can give you the ideas. The pujaris were given in Vrndavana the temple, and they made it a source of income. Just like the gosais are doing. Their puja goes to hell. Tamala Krsna: Who? Prabhupada: Mean these grhastha pujari. Gradually the puja will go to hell. They'll gradually glide down how to maintain family by showing the Deity. That is... The gosais are doing. People have sentiment to give something to the Deity, and they will depend on that income. Bas. This is the position of these Vrndavana temple. What is the position of the Radha-Ramana? Deterioration. It is not being properly done. They'll sell the property. Tamala Krsna: Yes. Just like that Madan Mohan is thinking... Prabhupada: Yes. Tamala Krsna: ...to do. He says it's his property. Prabhupada: Yes. Tamala Krsna: Imagine that. Whew! Boy! Prabhupada: He is maintaining it for his sons', daughters' marriage. That is... Tamala Krsna: After all, Tirtha Maharaja did that too. Prabhupada: Yes. Tamala Krsna: He says, "My son is the next in line." Whew. Prabhupada: The interest will go to the family, not to the Deity. Tamala Krsna: That's not good. Prabhupada: Jiva Gosvami was brahmacari. So he gave to a grhastha sisya to maintain Radha-Damodara. But what is the position now? Gopala Bhatta Gosvami was also a brahmacari. Everything depends on training and mentality. If the attention is diverted otherwise, then it is lost. Tamala Krsna: I think Madhavendra Puri, he gave his Deity. Now it's again... You know, who has Govardhana Deity. Vallabhacarya's line now worships. Prabhupada: They gave to the Vallabhacarya. But somehow they are maintaining the status quo. Tamala Krsna: Hm. Still very opulent. They do very elaborate. That Pushti Marg group, they do very elaborate Deity worship. Prabhupada: Very nice. Tamala Krsna: Of course, they don't preach very vigorously, but at least their Deity worship... Prabhupada: That is also preaching. Arcanam. One of the... If they maintain the Deity worship gorgeously, that is also preaching. Tamala Krsna: So the guiding principle should be that under no circumstance should anyone become lost. Prabhupada: Then what is the preaching? Alexander the Great? He was conquering, and as soon he went to conquer another place, the last place lost. Tamala Krsna: What happened? Prabhupada: Suppose I have conquered Bombay. Then I go to Karachi. In the meantime, Bombay is lost. That was being done, Alexander the Great. Means no proper management. Just like British Empire lost. They could not manage. So long they were managing well, it was going on. Tamala Krsna: Too much expansion with not enough good management. Prabhupada: No. Tamala Krsna: Similarly, we should not expand too quickly... Prabhupada: No. Tamala Krsna: ...unless we have the proper management. Prabhupada: I am stressing, therefore, book selling. Tamala Krsna: Hm. Prabhupada: Not opening temples. Tamala Krsna: Oh. Yes. This is the reason, one of the reasons. Hm. I don't think many devotees think in terms of that, but this is a very practical point, that selling books, once you make the sale, that's it. The book will act. Prabhupada: Yes. It will remain permanent. Tamala Krsna: Hm. It establishes itself as a Deity within a person's home. Prabhupada: Yes. Tamala Krsna: The book. Prabhupada: Now I have given my program. You tackle, GBC men. At least, don't make me Alexander the Great in my lifetime. (laughs) They say, "You are great, great, great." But don't make it small while I am living. Tamala Krsna: Or after. We will never make you that way. Prabhupada: Eh. Tamala Krsna: We should never do that. Prabhupada: That's... That's my request. Room Conversation about Grhasthas -- July 17, 1977, Vrndavana

These are some beautiful slokas from the 3d Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam as translated and commented upon by Srila Prabhupada. The Lord here praises his devotees. We should take inspiration from these words in our dealings with the devotees and avoid offenses, which will make our path difficult. ye me tanur dvija-varan duhatir madiya bhutany alabdha-saranani ca bheda-buddhya draksyanty agha-ksata-drso hy ahi-manyavas tan grdhra rusa mama kusanty adhidanda-netuh The brahmanas, the cows and the defenseless creatures are My own body. Those whose faculty of judgment has been impaired by their own sin look upon these as distinct from Me. They are just like furious serpents, and they are angrily torn apart by the bills of the vulturelike messengers of Yamaraja, the superintendent of sinful persons. PURPORT The defenseless creatures, according to Brahma-samhita, are the cows, brahmanas, women, children and old men. Of these five, the brahmanas and cows are especially mentioned in this verse because the Lord is always anxious about the benefit of the brahmanas and the cows and is prayed to in this way. The Lord especially instructs, therefore, that no one should be envious of these five, especially the cows and brahmanas. In some of the Bhagavatam readings, the word duhitrh is used instead of duhatih. But in either case, the meaning is the same. Duhatih means "cow," and duhitrh can also be used to mean "cow" because the cow is supposed to be the daughter of the sun-god. Just as children are taken care of by the parents, women as a class should be taken care of by the father, husband or grown-up son. Those who are helpless must be taken care of by their respective guardians, otherwise the guardians will be subjected to the punishment of Yamaraja, who is appointed by the Lord to supervise the activities of sinful living creatures. The assistants, or messengers, of Yamaraja are likened here to vultures, and those who do not execute their respective duties in protecting their wards are compared to serpents. Vultures deal very seriously with serpents, and similarly the messengers will deal very seriously with neglectful guardians. SB 3.16.10 purport ye brahmanan mayi dhiya ksipato 'rcayantas tusyad-dhrdah smita-sudhoksita-padma-vaktrah vanyanuraga-kalayatmajavad grnantah sambodhayanty aham ivaham upahrtas taih TRANSLATION On the other hand, they captivate My heart who are gladdened in heart and who, their lotus faces enlightened by nectarean smiles, respect the brahmanas, even though the brahmanas utter harsh words. They look upon the brahmanas as My own Self and pacify them by praising them in loving words, even as a son would appease an angry father or as I am pacifying you. PURPORT It has been observed in many instances in the Vedic scriptures that when the brahmanas or Vaisnavas curse someone in an angry mood, the person who is cursed does not take it upon himself to treat the brahmanas or Vaisnavas in the same way. There are many examples of this. For instance, the sons of Kuvera, when cursed by the great sage Narada, did not seek revenge in the same harsh way, but submitted. Here also, when Jaya and Vijaya were cursed by the four Kumaras, they did not become harsh towards them; rather, they submitted. That should be the way of treating brahmanas and Vaisnavas. One may sometimes be faced with a grievous situation created by a brahmana, but instead of meeting him with a similar mood, one should try to pacify him with a smiling face and mild treatment. Brahmanas and Vaisnavas should be accepted as earthly representatives of Narayana. Nowadays some foolish persons have manufactured the term daridra-narayana, indicating that the poor man should be accepted as the representative of Narayana. But in Vedic literature we do not find that poor men should be treated as representatives of Narayana. Of course, "those who are unprotected" are mentioned here, but the definition of this phrase is clear from the sastras. The poor man should not be unprotected, but the brahmana should especially be treated as the representative of Narayana and should be worshiped like Him. It is specifically said that to pacify the brahmanas, one's face should be lotuslike. A lotuslike face is exhibited when one is adorned with love and affection. In this respect, the example of the father's being angry at the son and the son's trying to pacify the father with smiling and sweet words is very appropriate. SB 3.16.11

The difference between neophyte devotees and advanced devotees lays in how much they are interested in the missionary activities of the sankirtana movement for the benefit of others. Srila Prabhupada explains these important differences here: "The demigods in the celestial heavenly planets, who are appointed administrators of the material affairs, are also devotees of the Lord. But at the same time they have desires for material opulence and sense gratification. The Lord is so kind that He awards them all sorts of material happiness, more than they can desire, but He is not satisfied with them because they are not pure devotees. The Lord does not want any one of His innumerable sons (the living entities) to remain in the material world of threefold miseries to perpetually suffer the material pangs of birth, death, old age and disease. The demigods in the heavenly planets, and many devotees on this planet also, want to remain in the material world as devotees of the Lord and take advantage of material happiness. They do so at the risk of falling down to the lower status of existence, and this makes the Lord dissatisfied with them. Pure devotees are not desirous of any material enjoyment, nor are they averse to it. They completely dovetail their desires with the desires of the Lord and perform nothing on their personal account. Arjuna is a good example. On his own sentiment, due to family affection, Arjuna did not want to fight, but finally, after hearing Srimad Bhagavad-gita, he agreed to fight in the interests of the Lord. Therefore, the Lord is very much satisfied with pure devotees because they do not act for sense gratification but only in terms of the Lord's desire. As Paramatma, or Supersoul, He is situated in everyone's heart, always giving everyone the chance of good counsel. Thus everyone should take the opportunity and render transcendental loving service to Him wholly and solely. The nondevotees, however, are like neither the demigods nor the pure devotees but are averse to any transcendental relationship with the Lord. They have revolted against the Lord and must perpetually undergo the reactions of their own activities. The Bhagavad-gita (4.11) states, ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham: "Although the Lord is equally kind to every living being, the living beings, for their own part, are able to please the Lord to either a greater or lesser extent." The demigods are called sakama devotees, or devotees with material desires in mind, while the pure devotees are called niskama devotees because they have no desires for their personal interests. The sakama devotees are self-interested because they do not think of others, and therefore they are not able to satisfy the Lord perfectly, whereas the pure devotees take the missionary responsibility of turning nondevotees into devotees, and they are therefore able to satisfy the Lord more than the demigods. The Lord is unmindful of the nondevotees, although He is sitting within everyone's heart as well-wisher and Supersoul. However, He also gives them the chance to receive His mercy through His pure devotees who are engaged in missionary activities. Sometimes the Lord Himself descends for missionary activities, as He did in the form of Lord Caitanya, but mostly He sends His bona fide representatives, and thus He shows His causeless mercy towards the nondevotees. The Lord is so satisfied with His pure devotees that He wants to give them the credit for missionary success, although He could do the work personally. This is the sign of His satisfaction with His pure, niskama devotees, compared to the sakama devotees. By such transcendental activities the Lord simultaneously becomes free from the charge of partiality and exhibits His pleasure with the devotees. Now a question arises: If the Lord is sitting in the hearts of nondevotees, why are they not moved to become devotees? It may be answered that the stubborn nondevotees are like barren land or an alkaline field, where no agricultural activities can be successful. As part and parcel of the Lord, every individual living entity has a minute quantity of independence, and by misuse of this minute independence the nondevotees commit offense after offense, to both the Lord and His pure devotees engaged in missionary work. As a result of such acts, they become as barren as an alkaline field, where there is no strength to produce. SB 3.9.13

People who lack piety do not relish when the Lord gives spiritual advice for their well-being. They do not take it seriously and thus are punished by the laws of material nature. Srila Prabhupada explains: "Lord Krsna, who is the spiritual master of the entire universe, accepted the duty of a messenger, and, deputed by Arjuna, went to the assembly of King Dhrtarastra on a peace mission. Krsna is everyone's Lord, yet because He was the transcendental friend of Arjuna, He gladly accepted the role of messenger, exactly like an ordinary friend. That is the beauty of the Lord's behavior with His pure devotees. He reached the assembly and spoke about peace, and the message was relished by Bhisma and other great leaders because it was spoken by the Lord Himself. But neither Duryodhana nor his father, Dhrtarastra, took the message very seriously due to the exhaustion of the pious results of their past deeds. That is the way of persons who have no credit of pious deeds. By past pious deeds, one may become the king of a country, but because the results of the pious acts of Duryodhana and company were dwindling, it became evident from their actions that they were sure to lose the kingdom to the Pandavas. The message of Godhead is always like nectar to the devotees, but it is just the opposite to the nondevotees. Sugar candy is always sweet to a healthy man, but it tastes very bitter to persons suffering from jaundice." SB 3.1.9 purport