"Folioitis"

[Guest guest]

Scientist have recently isolated and named a dreaded disease which has

plagued ISKCON for many years. The disease has been christened "folioitis",

and they state that it is caused by the daily chanting of the mantra:

 

"Let my intellect be imprinted with the lexicographical meaning of the words

emanated from his lotus mouth."

[Guest guest]

"folioitis",

and they state that it is caused by the daily chanting of the mantra

 

wrong, it is caused by poor o no chanting and lack of a living spiritual master

[Guruvani]

actually, it is a spiritual disease of the heart caused by the ignorance of thinking that Prabhupada is dead and has abandoned the Krishna consciousness movement.

 

After all that Prabhupada did to establish this movement, to think that he would just die and leave ISCKON forever is the most pathetic and miserable understanding of him that anyone could imagine.

 

He is still very much alive and well in ISKCON and those that have the eyes to see can see that he is non-different from his murti, his books and his sincere followers.

 

Prabhupada is NOT DEAD! He has full spiritual power to appear and disappear as he wishes and reveal himself to those whom he chooses.

 

He has been seen alive in ISKCON by some of his disciples after his so-called death.

 

"The Vaishnava dies to live, and living spreads the Holy Name around"

Bhaktivinode

 

 

[Guruvani]

It is better to have a pure real guru who is "dead" than to have an impure guru who is "alive".

Prabhupada is doing more from his grave than all these so-called "living" gurus are doing alive.

[Guruvani]

Besides, all these envious persons who are so proud to have a "living" guru are going to have a "dead" guru someday, so what will they do when their guru is dead? Maybe take re-initiation from a "living guru"?

If the guru becomes useless at death then he is not guru.

 

[Guest guest]

you are the only one in this discussion who puts together "prabhupada" and "dead"

 

have you any doubt?

[Guest guest]

How can you use such "grave" language?

When does the guru die in the eyes of the disciple?

Who is the guru anyway?

A mere mortal?

[gHari]

I prefer the words of Srila Prabhupada to 90% of the nonsense I read here. The rude abusive egoists here have sent away two innocent devotees of Krsna in the last two weeks. This place would be a complete hell were it not for the words of Srila Prabhupada to keep these soaring egos in check.

 

Srila Prabhupada too was fond of quoting from his own writings as he did in a Madhya 20.119-121 lecture in 1966:<blockquote>PrabhupAda: Now, Lord Caitanya says,

<center>

sAdhu-zAstra-kRpAya yadi kRSNonmukha haya,

sei jIva nistare, mAyA tAhAre chADaya

</center>

Now how to become KRSNa conscious? A person who is fully KRSNa conscious, he has no problem. Now how to become KRSNa conscious? Lord Caitanya says, sAdhu-zAstra-kRpA: "One can become KRSNa conscious by the mercy of saintly devotees and by the mercy of the scriptures." These two things are recommended. Not that fools, as they are thinking, "I can..., I can think myself. I don't agree with the zAstra. I don't agree with the spiritual master. I don't agree with scriptures. I have got my independent opinion." He is fool number one, rascal number one. One who says like that, you'll at once take him that he's fool, rascal, anything. You have to take shelter of sAdhu, guru and zAstra. SAdhu means saintly persons, those who have got all those qualities. (aside:) Where is that paper? Are you using that paper which has been supplied to you? Good qualification of devotees? What are those? Can you say, any of you? Where is that paper?

 

Disciple: It's on the inside of the drawer there.

 

PrabhupAda: Oh, not with you? It is in the book. "Oh, my knowledge is in the book." No. You should learn. Everyone is missing. So how you can become saintly person? So those qualities, twenty-six qualities, they are called saintly person. Devotee means to become fully qualified with all the noble qualities. Devotee does not mean a rascal, at the same time, a devotee. No. As soon as you become devotee, the test is that all those twenty-six qualities will develop. You have to test yourself, "Out of the twenty-six qualities, how much I have developed?" If I am lacking, then you must know that you are not developing. This is the test. What are the qualities? Paul, you have got the copy?

 

Paul: Yes.

 

PrabhupAda: What are the qualities?

 

Paul: "Kind to everyone."

 

PrabhupAda: Kind to everyone. Yes. Then, go on.

 

Paul: "Does not quarrel with anyone. Fixed up in the Absolute Truth."

 

PrabhupAda: Yes.

 

Paul: "Equal to everyone."

 

PrabhupAda: Yes.

 

Paul: "Spotless, faultless, charitable, mild, clean, simple, benevolent, peaceful, completely attached to KRSNa, no material hankerings, meek, steady, self-controlled, does not eat more than required..."

 

PrabhupAda: Does not eat more than required. Yes.

 

Paul: "...sane, respectful, humble, grave, compassionate, friendly, poetic, expert..."

 

PrabhupAda: Poetic, expert and silent. One who is too much talkative, that means he's lacking in devotion. He should simply talk about KRSNa, nothing more. And when he, when one is actually absorbed in KRSNa thought, he cannot talk nonsense. He has no time. He does not waste time. So these are the qualities. Here, he's called sAdhu. SAdhu means these are the qualifications. Of course, not that we may develop all these qualities immediately, but sAdhu means this. SAdhu means, what is called, pious man. These are the qualities of pious man, sAdhu. And zAstra. SAstra means the scripture. By study of scripture, you can develop these qualities. That is called scripture. That is authorized scripture. Just like you study some book, and you develop some quality after reading that book, similarly, when you actually have scripture, then you develop all these qualities. And guru, spiritual master, means who teaches you all these things. So you have to make your progress--sAdhu-zAstra-guru vAkya. You have to corroborate whether guru, what guru is speaking, whether it is there in the scripture; what scripture is speaking, whether that is in the character of guru, or in the sAdhu, saintly persons, or spiritual master. So you have to always make comparison with three things: sAdhu, zAstra, guru. Nobody can become a spiritual master who has no reference to the scriptures and these qualities. Nobody can be accepted as a qualified man, he has not..., if one has not developed his character through the scripture under the instruction of guru.</blockquote>

 

These 26 qualities of a vaisnava should fill the threads of the Audarya Fellowship. Visitors would arrive and say, yes, this is truly a spiritual place, let me learn more of this esoteric bonafide teaching. Instead we are simply bickering fools, like any other message board on this God forsaken internet.

 

That godly qualities should overflow the threads is confirmed in the Sri Caitanya-Caritamrita Adi-Lila 8.58<Blockquote><center>yasyAsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiJcanA

sarvair guNais tatra samAsate surAH

harAv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guNA

mano-rathenAsati dhAvato bahiH

</center>

yasya--one who; asti--has; bhaktiH--devotional service; bhagavati--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; akiJcanA--without motive; sarvaiH--all; guNaiH--qualities; tatra--there; samAsate--become manifested; surAH--with all the demigods; harau--unto the Supreme Personality; abhaktasya--one who is not a devotee; kutaH--where; mahat-guNAH--high qualities; manaH-rathena--concoction; asati--the material existence; dhAvataH--run on; bahiH--externally.

"In one who has unflinching devotional faith in KRSNa, all the good qualities of KRSNa and the demigods are consistently manifested. However, one who has no devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead has no good qualifications because he is engaged by mental concoction in material existence, which is the external feature of the Lord."</blockquote>

 

To avoid bickering and constant argument we can learn from the Sri Caitanya-Caritamrita Adi-Lila 8.62<blockquote><center>vaiSNavera guNa-grAhI, nA dekhaye doSa

kAya-mano-vAkye kare vaiSNava-santoSa

</center>

vaiSNavera--of devotees; guNa-grAhI--accepting good qualities; nA--never; dekhaye--sees; doSa--any fault; kAya-manaH-vAkye--with heart and soul; kare--does; vaiSNava--devotee; santoSa--pacification.

He always accepted the good qualities of VaiSNavas and never found fault in them. He engaged his heart and soul only to satisfy the VaiSNavas.

 

PURPORT

It is a qualification of a VaiSNava that he is adoSa-darzI: he never sees others' faults. Of course, every human being has both good qualities and faults. Therefore it is said, saj-janA guNam icchanti doSam icchanti pAmarAH: everyone has a combination of faults and glories. But a VaiSNava, a sober man, accepts only a man's glories and not his faults, for flies seek sores whereas honeybees seek honey. HaridAsa PaNDita never found fault with a VaiSNava but considered only his good qualities.</blockquote>

 

Further detail on the twenty-six qualities of a vaisnava was provided by Srila Prabhupada in a lecture about SB 2.3.13 in LA in 1972:<blockquote>PrabhupAda: [...] This is KRSNa consciousness movement. So when we are in the process of going back to home, back to Godhead, out of so many qualities, twenty-six qualities becomes very... At least, they become manifest. And out of the twenty-six qualities, one quality is to become a poet. Poet is. Nobody can become poet unless he is poet. So kavi. And RSi. RSi, muni, RSi, those who are philosophers, learned scholars, they are called muni, RSi. So? Read the purport.

 

Pradyumna: "A pure devotee of the Lord automatically develops all godly qualities, and some of the prominent features of those qualities are as follows: He is kind, peaceful, truthful, equable, faultless, magnanimous, mild, clean, nonpossessive, a well-wisher to all, satisfied, surrendered to KRSNa, without hankering, simple, fixed, self-controlled, a balanced eater, sane, mannerly, prideless, grave, sympathetic, friendly, poetic, expert, and silent. Out of these twenty-six prominent features..."

 

PrabhupAda: So with the advancement of our spiritual consciousness, KRSNa consciousness, we should verify "Whether these qualifications are becoming manifest in my person." Just like when you eat, you understand that you are getting strength, or your appetite is being satisfied. Nobody can... Nobody requires to ask certificate. You can understand, yourself. BhaktiH parezAnubhavo viraktir anyatra syAt [sB 11.2.42]. If we are advancing in KRSNa consciousness, then our detachment for material things will, attachment for material things will decrease. This is one side. Viraktir anyatra syAt. Just like our students, they have become averse to so many things. You are all young boys and girls. So many young boys and girls are going to restaurant, to cinema, and so many other things, but you have become detached; you have no more attraction. So one side... Progress of bhakti means one side we shall be detached and another side we shall increase our attachment. So these are the qualifications.

 

The first qualification is kind. Just like these sannyAsIs. Our RUpAnuga GosvAmI. He has got a nice child, wife, nice wife. But, being kind to the humanity, he has accepted sannyAsa. This is kindness. No homely comfort. This is kindness. LokAnAM hita-kAriNau. TyaktvA tUrNam azeSa-maNDala-pati-zreNIM sadA tuccha-vat bhUtvA dIna-gaNezakau karuNayA kaupIna-kanthAzritau. RUpa GosvAmI, SanAtana GosvAmI, they were ministers. Ministers. Not ordinary men. And therefore their association was most aristocratic. MaNDala-pati-zreNIm. MaNDala-pati means big, big man, who have got many followers, leaders of the society. So, he gave up that association, tuccha-vat, "Eh, what is this nonsense?" Gave up, RUpa GosvAmI. TyaktvA tUrNam azeSa-maNDala-pati-zreNIM sadA tuccha-vat. Tuccha means very insignificant, "What is this?" Then what did they do? What he became? BhUtvA dIna-gaNezakau karuNayA kaupIna-kanthAzritau. You have seen RUpa GosvAmI's picture. Only a little cloth. KanthA. KanthA means handmade quilt. All rejected cloth, they are put together and sewn; it is called kanthA. They utilize even rejected cloth. That is called kanthA.

 

So this RUpa GosvAmI, SanAtana GosvAmI, accepted this mendicant life although they were ministers, very rich men. Not only RUpa GosvAmI, all the GosvAmIs. RaghunAtha dAsa GosvAmI was the only son of his father and uncle, and in those days the income was twelve lakhs, twelve hundred thousands of rupees. Almost king. So for being compassionate with these poor fellows, who have forgotten KRSNa and working simply unnecessarily so hard to get some bread... That's all. MUDha. So by becoming kind upon them, they took this mendicant order. Therefore kindness. And peaceful. VaiSNava is never turbulent. But the demons, they create disturbance. VaiSNava is peaceful. Peaceful, truthful. Truthful. A VaiSNava knows the ultimate truth, KRSNa. Therefore he's truthful. And equable. He has no distinction "Oh, here is a man, here is an animal. The animal has no soul, the man has soul."

 

They have no such conclusion. Every living entity has soul. As KRSNa says, sarva-yoniSu kaunteya [bg. 14.4]. So he's kind not only to the human society. These philanthropists, altruists, nationalists, "this-ists, that-ists." This... They are partial. First of all, they may be kind... They are not kind. They are all selfish. But even though they are kind, they are kind to their own men. Not even outsiders. Not to the outsiders. In your country, they'll throw away grains. But there are so many hungry people; why they should not give? Produce more, if you have got land. You have got men. And they are not producing, they are (not?) engaging. The men are becoming hippies and they're lying idle, without any production. God has given so much land. Produce. Distribute prasAdam. This is kindness.

 

But because they are not KRSNa conscious, they cannot be kind. Faultless. You cannot find any fault of the devotee. Faultless. Magnanimous. Thinking of all living entities. There is no distinction, "Oh, I am American, I shall think for the Americans.I am Indian, I shall think for..." No. Magnanimous. And the most magnanimous is Lord Caitanya. Namo mahA-vadAnyAya kRSNa-prema-pradAya te [Madhya 19.53]. Magnanimous. Giving kRSNa-prema, which is very rare. KRSNa says, manuSyANAM sahasreSu kazcid yatati siddhaye [bg. 7.3]. It is very difficult to understand what is KRSNa, and Lord Caitanya is distributing KRSNa like anything. Therefore mahA-vadAnyAya, magnanimous. Mild. Mild and meek. Clean. Always cleanliness. Because you have surpassed the stage of brahminical life. Therefore, must be very clean. By taking bath, by washing cloth, keeping the kitchen very clean, everything clean. Temple... Tan-mandira-mArjanAdau. SrI-vigrahArAdhana-nitya-nAnA-zRGgAra-tan-mandira- mArjanAdau **. The temple should be bright always, clean. Then nonpossessive. Materialistic persons, they are trying to possess more, more, more. A VaiSNava, simply what is absolutely necessary, must have.

 

Just like we don't keep any furniture in our hou... What is the use of furniture? We can lie down on the floor. So many things, materialistic persons they possess. But we try to simplify matters, plain living. Well-wisher to all. Well-wisher. Just like we are advising our all students that "Save your country. They are becoming hippies. It is not... Future is very gloom. Try to save them." So VaiSNava will always think like that, how people will be happy. Sarve sukhino bhavantu. VaiSNava desire is not exploitation. VaiSNava desire is that "How others will be happy, how they will understand KRSNa, how they will get happiness in this life and next life." This is VaiSNava. Satisfied, in any condition. Not that "I must have all these things; then I'll be satisfied. Otherwise, I'm going from the temple." (laughter.) No, this is not VaiSNava qualification. You must live with the devotees, even if you are not satisfied. Any condition, you should be satisfied. Because as soon as you leave the company, you become again rogues, again demons.

 

At least you'll be saved if you keep with the company of the devotees. SatAM prasaGgAn mama vIrya-saMvidaH. If you give up the company, then you again become rogues and demons. Therefore you must be satisfied, in whatever condition. "Whatever KRSNa has given, that's all right." Satisfied. Surrendered to KRSNa. And that satisfaction can be achieved only when one is fully surrendered to KRSNa. If I have surrendered to KRSNa, KRSNa has taken my charge, KRSNa says, ahaM tvAM sarva-pApebhyo mokSayiSyAmi, then why shall I bother myself? If I am thinking, "I am suffering," it is also KRSNa's grace. We should take like that. Even in my consideration, I am in a position which is apparently suffering, we must accept as KRSNa's grace: "All right, I have surrendered to KRSNa. If KRSNa is giving me suffering, that's all right." That is surrender. "Oh, I have surrendered to KRSNa, and now KRSNa is giving me suffering? Oh, leave KRSNa consciousness." That is not surrender.

 

Surrender means in any condition you'll remain surrendered. That is surrender. Not that I put my own condition, and if you satisfy me, then I shall... That is business. That is not surrender. Surrender means in any condition, fully surrendered to KRSNa. Without hankering. What is hankering? Why shall I be hankering? I know, KRSNa will give me all protection. So then why shall I hanker? Without hankering. Simple. No duplicity. Simple. The worldly men, they are duplicatous (?), speaking something, cheater. That is the, one of the qualification of the materialistic man. He must be cheater. There are four defects: commit mistakes, to be illusioned, to become cheater, and imperfect senses. This is called material life, conditioned life. He must commit mistakes. However a great philosopher... We are talking about the philosophers. So many contradictory things they say. Because he's an ordinary man. How he can say the right thing? It is not possible. The right thing can be said only by liberated person.

 

Therefore we take advice from the liberated person. Just like we are understanding all this from VyAsadeva, from Sukadeva GosvAmI. They are liberated. We are not reading some Mr. John R. Mead's (?) book. No. Liberated soul. So that should be our source of knowledge. Mannerly, prideless, grave. Grave means don't talk nonsense. Don't talk nonsense. Don't waste time. If you have got time, chant Hare KRSNa, but don't talk nonsense. Grave, that is called gravity. Grave, sympathetic. We should be very much sympathetic. If some of our fellow men fall sick, we must take care of him, give help him. Because, after all, we have got this body. Sometimes we may fall sick. So one, we should be sympathetic. And friendly. Everyone friend. As KRSNa is friend of everyone, suhRdaM sarva-bhUtAnAm, so if we are KRSNa's representative, how I can be enemy of anyone else? I must be friendly. Friendly. Poet. And expert. And silent. Silent worker, not advertising. Silent. These are the qualifications of VaiSNava. So we must try to follow; not imitate, but follow. Follow, that is nice. Then?

 

Pradyumna: "Out of these twenty-six prominent features of a devotee, as described by KRSNadAsa KavirAja in his Caitanya-caritAmRta, the qualification of being poetic is especially mentioned herein in relation to Sukadeva GosvAmI. The presentation of SrImad-BhAgavatam by his recitation is the highest poetic contribution. He was a self-realized learned sage. In other words, he was a poet amongst the sages. "

 

PrabhupAda: So? Next verse?</blockquote>

 

There is nothing wrong with reading Prabhupada. In fact, I dare say there is something wrong with not reading Prabhupada, if it falls in your face and if you are his follower.

 

gHari

[Guest guest]

To dispel the webs of illusion and misinformation.

[Guest guest]

Maya's Illusion

 

Maya's illusion is like the foam

Which mixes again with the sea.

 

No one is mother, father, or relative;

Like the sea foam, they remain a short while only.

 

And, as the sea foam merges into the sea,

This precious body of five elements disappears.

 

Who can say how many ephemeral forms

The embodied soul has taken?

 

Bengali poem by- His Divine Grace

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

[Guest guest]

No One--Not Even Darwin--Can Be Independent

 

 

Here is an exchange that occurred in Perth, Australia, on May 9, 1975, between His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and Carol Cameron, then a doctoral candidate in anthropology.

 

Carol: Your Divine Grace, is the intellect helpful in knowing God?

 

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Unless you have got the necessary intellect, then you are no better than the animals. The animals have no intellect for understanding God, but the human being has got that intellect. That is the distinction between animal and human being.

 

Otherwise, as for material necessities such as eating, sleeping, mating, and defending: Both the human beings and also the animals sleep. Both the human beings and also the animals enjoy sex. And both the human beings and also the animals become fearful and arrange for defense. So, as for access to the material necessities of life, that is equal in the animal and the human being.

 

But the human being has a special intellect, more developed than the animals'. He can understand what he is, what God is, what this cosmic manifestation is, and what the aim of life is--how we should conduct our lives. These things are prerogatives for the human being. The animals have no such prerogative.

 

Now, if we do not utilize these special intellectual facilities, then we remain animals. We do not make any spiritual advancement. So at the present moment, we are simply trying to improve our access to the material necessities of life--eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. We are thinking, "The dog is eating on the floor. If we can eat on a table, using chairs and nice dishes, that is advancement of civilization."

 

We are thinking like that. The dog is sleeping outdoors, but if we sleep in a very nice apartment, lavishly decorated, that is advancement of civilization. The dog is having sexual intercourse on the street, without any shame--and we are also coming to that point--but for the time being, if we have sexual intercourse in an apartment, in the name of love and so on, that is advancement. The dog is defending with his jaws and nails and teeth; we are defending with nuclear bombs; therefore, we are advanced.

 

But we have forgotten that the human being has got this special intellect to understand God. That understanding we are not pursuing. For example, you are going to be a doctor in anthropology. Is it not?

 

Carol: Yes.

 

Srila Prabhupada: Where is the sense of God there?

 

Carol: I do it only for a living. The other side of me is something else.

 

Srila Prabhupada: No, I mean to say that anthropology is a big scientific department. Where is the understanding of God there?

 

Carol: Right. I find it difficult to reconcile the love of God with actually doing something like this study of anthropology.

 

Srila Prabhupada: Then why are you wasting your time speculating on anthropology?

 

Carol: Hmm.

 

Srila Prabhupada: If you cannot adjust yourself to this anthropology business, why are you wasting your time? Anthropology is a false science. There is no meaning.

 

Carol: I'm waiting to be led into something which is good.

 

Srila Prabhupada: The whole Darwinian theory is false. It has no sound basis. Darwin himself admits it is just a theory. Theory is not science.

 

I can propose some theory--"It is like that." But that is not science. Science means observation plus experimental proof. That is science. You observe how the rules are working, and when you practically bring them to bear in your experiment, then it is science. If you simply theorize, that is not science. Mental speculation. It has no benefit.

 

You can speculate, constructing a castle in the air. That is not a very good thing. You should present something which will benefit the people, something practical. That is science.

 

Carol: Do you think it is possible for people to live in, say, an educational framework?

 

Srila Prabhupada: Education--if it is not for the benefit of the people--then what is the use of such education? That is not a good education. Education means something which will benefit the mass of people. That is education. To enlighten them to do something better--that is education.

 

Now, this whole Darwinian theory is false. But people are giving it so much stress. First of all, no one--not even Darwin--can be independent. For instance, Darwin died. So he was under the control of something higher. No man wants to die, but he is forced to die. Is it not? Then where is his independence?

 

Carol: That is the illusion.

 

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. So if you simply live in illusion, then where is your education? If you remain in darkness, then where is your education? Illusion means darkness. So if you are in darkness, now, where is your education? And where is your philosophy?

 

Carol: The only way to remove this darkness is through love. Is this what you are saying?

 

Srila Prabhupada: Love is far away. First of all, you become educated.

 

Carol: How? In what way?

 

Srila Prabhupada: Education means right knowledge. Right knowledge. For instance, everyone wants to live. Nobody wants to die. So the inquiry should be, "I do not wish to die. Why is death forced upon me? What is that force--what is the nature of that force?"

 

On the other hand, if I simply resign myself--"Yes, some kind of force is there"--then whereis my knowledge?

 

Again, I do not wish to die. So education means finding out, "Why is death forced upon me?" Nobody wants miserable conditions of life, but miserable conditions of life are forced upon me. So first of all, I should inquire, "I do not want these things. Who is forcing these things upon me?" This is life's first philosophical inquiry.

 

Carol: I tend to approach from the other side and ask, "Who am I?" and "What is this thing that I call myself?"

 

Srila Prabhupada: But first, everyone has this basic problem. "I don't want these miserable conditions, but they are forced upon me." For instance, you are now a young girl. You do not like the idea of becoming an old woman. But you will have to become an old woman.

 

Carol: Oh, yes. Hmm.

 

Srila Prabhupada: Nature will force you. After forty years of age, you must become old, and you cannot remain so beautiful. This is forced. No one wants this. No woman wants that "I shall not look so beautiful, and my flesh shall be flabby, with no more luster." I don't want all these things. Why are they forced?

 

Carol: Suffering and pain lead people to God, don't they?

 

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. That is the law. But we are so dull-headed that we do not inquire. That is my statement--that you should inquire, "Who has made this law? Who is forcing these things upon me?" After you make this inquiry, then you can inquire about God's actual identity and your actual identity. But first of all, you must be aware of your situation--that these miserable conditions are being forced upon you.

 

For instance, a dog cannot understand that he's on a chain. He's leading a life most dependent, most miserable. And yet he is jolly. He is jumping here and there. That is a dog's life. If the master wants to kill him, he cannot do anything. But he is very jolly. Sometimes he even jumps.

 

That is a dog's life--not human life. Human life means realizing, "I am dependent at every step, and still I am declaring myself independent. What is this nonsense?" This inquiry should be there. "I am dependent at every step, exactly like the cats and dogs, but still I am claiming, 'I am independent.' Why?"

 

Carol: Your Divine Grace, is it possible to carry out this inquiry while you're engaged in ordinary daily activities?

 

Srila Prabhupada: Yes, certainly. You can become spiritually realized in any walk of life, regardless of your daily activities.

 

The thing is, this is the real inquiry: "Why I am put into these conditions which I do not like? Who is forcing them upon me? Wherefrom has my life begun? What is the ultimate goal of my life?" These things should be asked. That is the proper inquiry of the human being.

 

Without getting answers to these questions, we cannot solve the very real problems of birth, death, old age, and disease. Instead, like Darwin, we are forced to theorize something utopian. What is the use of such so-called knowledge?

 

 

[Guest guest]

What is it!

 

[Guest guest]

.. who think at prabhupada's siddhanta as a collection of single sentences out of context, very able to find one of them to support his own speculation...

 

of course there are many sincere devotees using this precious tool in their study and preaching