[Posted May 19, 2006]
"I
belong to Krishna's family"
Prabhupada: You see the so-called swamis
and yogis. They could not do anything, because they are
outsider. They are not within the jurisdiction of Krishna. One must
remain within the jurisdiction of Krishna. Then his spiritual life is
assured. Otherwise, [no more?(?)]. [break] Similarly, everything,
everyone belongs to Krishna's family, but we have to see what he's
doing for Krishna. Just like everyone is citizen of the state. Why a
man is given high position and big title? Why? Because he's recognized.
Sudama: Right.
Prabhupada: So one must give
service. Simply to feel, "I belong to Krishna's family," and doing
nothing for Krishna, that is not...
Sudama: That's no good.
Prabhupada: That's no good.
That is not good. That means he'll... Very soon he'll again forget
Krishna. He'll again forget Krishna.
Sudama: Actually, the other
element is so powerful. These people here, because, even though they
are part of Krishna's family, but because they have forgotten, then we
become influenced by their forgetfulness.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Forgetfulness means maya.
Sudama: Yes.
Prabhupada: Maya is
nothing. It is a forgetfulness. That's all. It has no existence.
Forgetfulness, it does not stand. But so long it is there, it is very
troublesome.
There
must be some leader
Sudama: I've been asked a
question by some devotees sometimes that they don't feel happy. So even
if they are unhappy, mentally, should, they still should continue in
Krishna consciousness. I tell them, even if one is unhappy...
Prabhupada: But you should
show example. If you show example different way, how they will follow
you?
Sudama: Yeah.
Prabhupada: Example is better
than precept. Why you are living outside?
Sudama: Well, I...
Prabhupada: Last time I was
so much deteriorated in health, I had to leave this place. That does
not mean I'll leave the Society. I went to India and recuperated. Or
came to London. That's all right. So health may be sometimes... But
that does not mean we shall give up the Society. If my health is
unsuitable here, I go... I have a hundred centers. And you'll not go
out of this universe for your health recouping. You have to remain
within the universe. Then why do you go out of the Society? [break]
...Sri Narottama dasa Thakura. We have to live with devotees. Why I
left my family? Because they were not devotees. Therefore I come...
Otherwise, in old age, I would have been comfortable. No. We should not
live with the nondevotees, may be family men or anyone. Just like
Maharaja Vibhishana. Because his brother was not devotee, he left him,
left him. He came to Ramachandra. Vibhishana. You know that?
Sudama: Yes.
Hrdayananda: So Prabhupada,
it says that a sannyasi should live alone. That means only with
devotees.
Prabhupada: Who...! Where it
is said sannyasi should live alone?
Hrdayananda: I mean,
sometimes in your books.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Hrdayananda: Sometimes in
your books. So that means with devotees.
Prabhupada: In general, sannyasi
may live alone. But sannyasi's duty is to preach.
Sudama: That I don't ever
want to stop.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Sudama: I don't ever want to
stop preaching.
Prabhupada: Yes. Well,
preaching, you cannot manufacture preaching. You must do preaching
according to the principles ordered by your spiritual master. You
cannot manufacture your own way of preaching. That is required. There
must be some leader. Under the leadership. Yasya prasadad
bhagavat... Why it is said? Everywhere, in the office, there is
some immediate boss. So you have to please him. That is service.
Suppose in office, in a department there is office superintendent. And
if you do in your own way, "Yes, I'm doing my business," and the office
superintendent is not pleased, do you think that kind of service is
nice? No. Similarly, we have got, everywhere we have got immediate
boss. So we must work. That is systematic. If everyone manufactures,
invents his own way of life, then there must be chaos.
Sudama: Yeah, that's true.
Prabhupada: Yes. Now we are
world organization. There is spiritual side, and there is material side
also. That is not material side. That is also spiritual side, means
systematic management. Otherwise how it will be done?
© 2004 -
Hansadutta dasa
World Sankirtan Party
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