Excerpts from Prabhupada Memories DVD Series
(Part 1)
(Following are selected notes taken from "Prabhupada Memories DVD Series" on YouTube
These DVDs are a series of interviews with the direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada reminiscing about him)
Note:
The credits of creating the videos are with their producers, my part is only in distilling chosen words of Prabhupada from them that I found notable.
The youtube links to the DVDs are provided by their number; I encourage you to watch them yourself and share along.
Haribol
DVD #1:
To Hari Sauri das:
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Spiritual masters' praise and chastisement are alike in that they both make you Krishna conscious.
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Srila Prabhupad would keep his schedule absolutely irrespective of the place — no jetlag, no fatigue..
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Mayavadi interpretation of Krishna = dark = unknown = unmanifest
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To this he said if the (mayavadi) interpreter doesnt know Krishna then why is he commenting about Bhagavad Gita which is Krishnas' own words; thus only devotees can know Krishna and comment on Gita
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Simply by having prasadam, people can gradually develop an attraction for Krishna
To Atma Tattva das:
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Material life is an infection
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Because you have given it to me with Love, I have accepted it
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For the bullock cart sankirtan — Srila Prabhupad said these bullocks are carrying Gaur Nitai — they will go back home to God, they wont have another life
To Hridayananda das:
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This is your most imp service - to print and distribute these books
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Srila Prabhupad would always be keen to know "how is the sankirtan, how is the book distribution" even if it was late in night. A true preacher takes immense interest in preaching activities.
DVD #2:
To Jayapataka sw:
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If I get a flower everyday it will increase my longevity - can you bring me a flower - a rose?
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Dont have an important meeting on a thursday afternoon (not auspicious astrologically)
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Srila Prabhupad used to take 3 dips in the Ganges with all facial organs closed with fingers of two hands
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(at Mayapur, Srila Prabhupad said), noone in a 10 mile radius of the temple should be hungry
To Govinda dasi:
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(through a letter from India)..I know your mind
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(SP saying) “they told me, dont go to America, they eat only meat there..I thought I would live on bread and potatoes but now I see Krishna has sent me everything dal, rice, chapati, subji everything..”
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Chant even to slugs, ants, butterflies, trees … they cant speak but their soul can hear..
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There is no concept of instinct in vedic culture — its supersoul + past experience (karma)..no instinct
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Just like an artists’ palate of 3 primary colors can create all other colors, the 3 modes (gunas) of material nature are mixed in different amounts to create material nature of a certain person.
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Srila Prabhupad was always talking about Russia that it should receive the mercy of Lord Chaitanya.
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(for those) western devotees who have a tendency to fall down (ie from their devotional service) therefore they will have to take birth in India to finish their devotional service.
DVD #3:
To Brahmannda sw:
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<narrating about Gargamuni - Prabhupad conv:>
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"Even if you dont feel like, you should bow down anyway; and by bowing down, then the feeling of surrender would come."
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Prabhupad got the stroke in memorial day weekend in 1967, after which he became paralyzed on one side and couldnt type — thats when Gargamuni thought of getting the dictaphone and SP approved of it
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First street sankirtan happend in NY - on a hot summer evening in NY when it was too hot inside the temple
To Nara narayan das:
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Wanting to serve Krishna in every way possible means you have done devotional service before (in past life)
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If we can help even an ant become Krishna conscious then our whole movement is a glorious success
To Gurudas:
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even devotees need preaching..as without it complacency can kick in.
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if I dont forgive you then Krishna will and if even Krishna doesnt, Radharani will
DVD #4:
To Madhudvisa das:
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we (Vaisnavas) dont chant on Rudrakshas
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The (rathas = chariots of Jagannath rath yatra) themselves are as good as the Lord
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According to shastra a deity thats been broken cannot be installed in the temple
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In preaching you must become such expert that you can take the opponents philosophy and defeat your own philosophy using his philosophy..
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The tradition of reading Krishna book on Janmastami started in Tokyo temple.
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Dont be offensive by your ignorance
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Its ok if you name your child after your spiritual master
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(for Sannyasis who take up grhastha) -- Its important that you continue on with the Krishna consciousness — if the atmosphere is not conducive you can change it to become strong in your Krishna consciousness but you must continue on
To Srutakirti das:
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The brahman thread (upavita) is supposed be changed on ekadasi
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Old upavita is supposed to be buried under a tulasi
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SP massage: sandalwood oil on head, mustard oil on rest of the body
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(Chastisement:) "you will be intelligent when you are 80"
To Lokanath sw:
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Gandhi failed in the village cottage industry initiative in India because the spirituality was missing
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The spirituality is what makes the soul happy..
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If your service is helping the public then let them also help you (financially) otherwise its just lip service
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If you do remember, surrender, pray, salute ( BG 18.65) without duplicity then your preaching will be very effective; people will take you very seriously.
DVD #5:
To Brahmananda sw:
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"Unalloyed devotional service" - Prabhupad liked this term "unalloyed" & used it often -- he read this term on the hoarding of a steel furnace in Boston upon his arrival in US and on one occasion he took the entire group of devotees to point it out visually.
Gopa vrndpal das:
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The most important skill in book distribution is sincerity; there is no script.
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Book distribution is distribution of knowledge; book distribution is not sales.
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We are giving out the much needed knowledge to the people who most needed it..
To Yasodanandana das:
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The secret of success is to try to please Krishna and if we are very sincere, Krishna will personally make sure you become successful; you just try! whether theres success or failure thats not up to you, thats upto Krishna.
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Example of preaching without shastras: just like one has a father, and he has his father and so on, the chain goes on to the original father who is Krishna.
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A pure devotee, “experiences” the leelas of the Lord and thats why he cries listening to them
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Being a devotee is not the end..you have to train constantly..
To Sudama das:
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When you dont see me here physically, always listen for me;
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I will instruct you through the bodies of others from time to time; anyone. it can be anyone.
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You just speak from your heart. Krishna doesnt care if you cant quote slokas in sanskrit.
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You chant and Love krishna — what else is needed? dont make things so complicated..
DVD #6:
To Gurudas:
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Krishna consciousness means happiness
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Art means full belly..if someone is hungry they cannot think about making or looking at art
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Krishna loves all his devotees equally but if someone steps towards Him, He will reciprocate..
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In times of scarcity, you can even eat meat if you have to, to keep this preaching going on
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My Guru Maharaj (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati) on ekadasi, fed the quarter but observed ekadasi himself..(so rules are for us but they can be flexible for others for preachings sake)
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To Prajapati das (about plays/arts) - let us distribute these Krishna conscious art in every town and village just like books
To Baradraj das:
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an artist worships Krishna by his intelligence
To Sridhar sw:
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If Indians would just take up Krishna consciousness the way Prabhupad was doing it would be such a thrust to Lord Chaitanya’s Sankirtan movement..
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Our business is preaching
To Hari vilas das:
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Your business is preaching; especially as a brahmachari, you should not do business (for money) but grhastha can
DVD #7:
To Kesava das:
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God is a person who noone is equal or greater than, anywhere in the universe.
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Srila Prabhupad did not show favoritism..his Love was distributed evenly to all his disciples.
To Pusta krsna das (one who gets pusta = strength from krsna)
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Dont trust me, I will let you down. Trust krishna, He will never let you down.
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(in reference to a group of smokers in a plane) — what is the diff bet us and them if we cant tolerate
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It doesnt matter if you are a sannyasi or grhastha — continue to follow the 4 regulative principles and chanting 16 rounds — that will protect you from becoming like common foolish men and help you become high minded vaisnavas.
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Study the books - study the philosophy — to become strong in the philosophy of Yukta vairagya - doing everything but detached..that is real sannyasa.
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(morning walk in Mayapur, talk between Visnujan maharaj and Prabhupad) if someone falls down from the position of sannyas then they must do what chota haridas did to keep Sri Chaitanyas mercy..upon this, that day, Visnujan maharaj after bath in the Ganges, disappeared and was never seen again..
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ISKCON is one of the many branches of Sri Chaitanya’s movement so there should be no envy towards others
To Yamuna dd:
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The first and foremost principle when cooking for Krishna is to engage the senses to it — to cook with Love and devotion and not think of our own senses — so no bio breaks, no water drinking, no any other distractions..
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Yamuna dd went on morning walks with Srila prabhupad in SF Golden gate park
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I had never known what Love was until I met Srila Prabhupad — we were his children
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Engaging the senses - chanting dancing feasting
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Srila Prabhupad didnt teach by many words but rather by example
To Gauri das:
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if there are insects in the temple it means temple is not clean
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you can kill mosquitoes only if they are biting you
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Dont waste Krishna’s money
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Guru means heavy
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Idid not write these books, Krishna wrote these books..
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Do not become a leapfrog and try to jump over your spiritual master — thats the worst thing a disciple can do
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The fruit from the eastern side of the tree are best as they get the morning sun
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The soul is not dependent on the body for subsistence, rather the body is dependent on the soul
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I appeared in this world for 2 reasons:
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to establish krishna as supreme personality of godhead and
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to defeat these rascal scientists
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(at Vrindavan, towards the end): I have come here to leave my body but you should not lament; I have given you everything in my books; if you simply read my books and cooperate with each other everything will go on nicely.
To Jadurani devi dasi:
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There is a need for everything…even the material world…(in search of kc)
To Giriraj swami:
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You can become godly not God; God is ready to help you become godly. God is within your heart.
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Giriraj is the name of govardhan hill where krishna tends his cows
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Srila Prabhupada took bath later in the day (after mangal arati).. ie its not compulsory to shower at 4 am!
To Bhakti Charu swami:
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(Srila Prabhupada said to industrIliast Sri Dalmiya) -
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"Modern education is only meant to create sudras; train children up to be leaders"
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The sign of ones (spiritual) advancement is not in our position but rather in how humble and tolerant we are.
To Nanda Kumar das:
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Cleanliness and punctuality are essentials to deity worship
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All the rules and regulations (of temple cleanliness, punctuality & preaching) are for us (ISKCON); dont judge others if they dont follow the same
To Srutakirti das:
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A Vaisnava is a person who when you see them you remember Krishna
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When your mind is really disturbed chant loudly
To Kirtanananda swami:
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Faith begets faith -- if you dont have the faith yourself, you cannot convince others (
To Shyam sundar das:
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The first quality of a devotee is to be merciful
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The next quality is freedom from desire for material possessions
To Tamal Krishna maharaj:
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Spiritual life is not static its ecstatic.
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You dont eat prasadam, you respect prasadam
To Indradyumna swami:
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So much endeavor in the material world…
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Preach boldly and have faith in the holy names
Jai JagatGuru Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupad ki Jai !
