krsna-prasadam ki jaya

[Guest guest]

> As the last question on the last evening in Miami, one of the devotees

> asked, "Srila Prabhupada, if someone takes prasadam even once, is it true

> that they are guaranteed at least a human body in their next life?"

>

> "Yes," Prabhupada replied. "You go on simply eating, that's all. And all

> of my devotees, they have come to me simply by eating prasadam." As he

> said this, Prabhupada was beaming, smiling, looking all around. When his

> glance fell on Abhirama, the temple president, who sat beside him,

> Prabhupada said, "You, too, Abhirama?" Abhirama looked sheepish and said,

> "‘Yes, Srila Prabhupada." Prabhupada made other devotees admit their

> attraction for krsna-prasadam. "You also?" he asked one after another.

> "You also?" Everyone admitted, until the audience was thrown into laughter

> and appreciation of prasadam.

>

> "Yes," Prabhupada continued in good humor. "‘So we give all facilities. If

> you cannot do anything, please come and eat with us. All right, thank you

> very much."

>

> From Srila Prabhupada-lila

 

 

Devotee (1): Prabhupada, when we're chanting on the street and the people

walk by and hear us chant or we give them prasadam or they give a small

donation, to what extent is the benefit they receive? They can go on walking

by and hearing us chant.

Prabhupada: The benefit is... Just like the bank sometimes gives you a box,

"Whatever little money you save, put it in this." And when it is filled up,

it becomes a big amount. Similarly, these people, abodha-jata, rascals, if

they little appreciate, "Oh, these people are nice," that is one asset. This

is called ajnata-sukrti, accumulation of the result of pious activities. And

when one is fully pious, at that time, he can understand what is God. So we

are helping them, by and by, to advance in the matter of understanding God.

This is our propaganda.

Bali-mardana: I believe I've heard you said in other lectures that a person

who takes prasadam, even a plant or a..., any kind of living entity who

takes prasadam or hears the name, that it will come back at least to human

form of life. Is that correct?

Prabhupada: No, if he's devotee, then he'll come. But this taking of

prasadam, or hearing Hare Krsna mantra is advancement for becoming a

devotee. But if he takes prasadam not as ordinary prasadam, foodstuff, he

believes that "This is remnants of foodstuffs given to God," if he

understands this philosophy, then guaranteed. If he takes the prasadam as

ordinary food, "All right, these people are distributing, prasa... Let me

take it. It is very tasteful," that will give him chance to accept prasadam

next, next, next... In this way, one day he'll come to the point that "This

prasadam is not ordinary foodstuff." Then he'll... There is guarantee.

Because only the devotee can appreciate that "This prasadam is not ordinary

foodstuff. It is Krsna's remnant of..." Therefore, he understands Krsna.

That is said in the Bhagavad-gita, janma-karma ca me divyam yo janati

tattvatah [bg. 4.9]. In truth, when he understands, then his life is

guaranteed. Why guaranteed? He goes back to home next life. Tyaktva deham

punar janma naiti [bg. 4.9]. If you simply can understand what is Krsna and

what is your relationship with Krsna, that is sufficient to take you back to

home, back to Godhead. That is sufficient. It is so nice.

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.23 -- Hawaii, January 19, 1974)