Iskcon Tsukuba - Japan

02/10/2024

10/02/2024

Released today

21/01/2024

The real thing is bhakti

Any language, you should submit, and you should feel that, that "I am worthless. My Guru Maharaja has given this chance to serve Krsna, to offer Krsna... My Lord, I am worthless. I have no capacity to serve You. But on the order of my Guru Maharaja, I am trying to serve You. Please do not take any offense. Accept whatever I can do. That's all. That is my request." That mantra is sufficient. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, yo me bhaktya prayacchati. Krsna never said that "One who offers Me with Sanskrit mantra." Yo me bhaktya prayacchati. Real thing is bhakti, feeling: "How to serve Krsna? How to please Him?" That is wanted. Not to see that you are a very good scholar in speaking in Sanskrit or English or... That is not... Always feel that "I am worthless, but I have been, by the grace of my Guru Maharaja, I have been given the chance. So kindly accept whatever little service I can give. I am offensive. So kindly excuse me." In this way be humble, meek, and offer your feeling, and Krsna will be satisfied. Not that you have to show how you can speak in Sanskrit language.

Srila Prabhupada -- Conversation with Devotees -- Hyderabad, April 12, 1975

16/01/2024

The purpose of our Society —- mutual assistance in KC

Although there may be some difficulties within our Society, these things are not very important. What is important is that we should simply fix our mind on Krishna's Lotus Feet. This is His instruction in the Bhagavad-gita. So we associate with one-another so that we can assist each other in hearing and chanting about Krishna. That is the purpose of our Society. This you will not find in the materialistic society where all hearing and chanting is simply concerned with sense gratification. So our desire is Krishna and we want to go back home -- Back to Godhead where Krishna lives eternally. So you simply follow my instructions as I have given to you and surely your life will be a success.
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From Srila Prabhupada's letter to Nrhari, Bombay, 22 November, 1974

15/01/2024

Establish some relation with Krsna

Association means to develop love for the person. That is association. So we have to become associate of Krsna, as Arjuna became. Always with Krsna -- eating with Krsna, sitting with Krsna, talking with Krsna, joking with Krsna, fighting with Krsna -- everything Krsna... Krsna, does He remain with anyone unless he is very dear?

So we have to establish some relation with Krsna -- as servant, as a friend, as a son, as a father, mother, or like the gopis, madhurya-rasa, friend, conjugal love. Krsna is ready to associate with you in any way you like.

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From Srila Prabhupada's lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.23 -- September 20, 1976, Vrndavana

31/12/2023

22/12/2023

Behavior of a devotee

A devotee must execute his prescribed duties, which are glorious, without material profit. Without excessive violence, one should regularly perform one's devotional activities. The devotee should regularly see My statues in the temple, touch My lotus feet and offer worshipable paraphernalia and prayer. He should see in the spirit of renunciation, from the mode of goodness, and see every living entity as spiritual.
The pure devotee should execute devotional service by giving the greatest respect to the spiritual master and the acaryas. He should be compassionate to the poor and make friendship with persons who are his equals, but all his activities should be executed under regulation and with control of the senses.
A devotee should always try to hear about spiritual matters and should always utilise his time in chanting the holy name of the Lord. His behaviour should always be straightforward and simple, and although he is not envious but friendly to everyone, he should avoid the company of person who are not spiritually advanced.

Srila Prabhupada's translation of Srimad Bhagavatam 3.29.15-18

05/12/2023

What is this alone? Vaisnava is never alone. When I first came to the United States I was seemingly alone for one year. But I never felt alone. I always felt the presence of my Guru Maharaja. Myself, I was cooking, I was printing books, I was selling books, everything seemingly alone. But I did not lose my determination. Actually you should know this, you are never alone.

Letter to Trivikrama
December 27, 1974