krishna/articles/2009/008

There is need of a clue as to how humanity can become one in peace, friendship and prosperity with a common cause. Srimad-Bhagavatam will fill this need, for it is a cultural presentation for the respiritualization of the entire human society.
- Delhi, December 15, 1962.

From the very beginning of His childhood life, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the system of observing a fast on the Ekadashi day. In the Bhakti-sandarbha, by Srila Jiva Gosvami, there is a quotation from the Skanda Puraëa admonishing that a person who eats grains on Ekadashi …… and even if he is elevated to a Vaikuëöha planet, he falls down.

On Ekadashi, everything is cooked for Vishnu, including regular grains and dhal, but it is enjoined that a Vaishnava should not even take Vishnu-prasadam on Ekadashi. It is said that a Vaishnava does not accept any eatable that is not offered to Lord Vishnu, but on Ekadashi a Vaishnava should not touch even maha-prasadam offered to Vishnu, although such prasadam may be kept for being eaten the next day.
- Purport – Cc Adi 15.9

"If due to negligence a Vaishnava does not fast on Ekadashi, then his worship of Lord Vishnu is useless, and he will go to hell." The members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness fast from grains and beans on Ekadashi, and this vow should always be observed by all of its members.
- Purport – SB 11.12.1

Our centres are like the oasis in a vast desert. In the desert, there is no water, but occasionally if one is fortunate, he may come in contact with an oasis and he is saved. Similarly, in this material world we are drying up due to lack of spiritual knowledge.

Our ISKCON centres are meant to give relief to the dried up conditioned souls who are searching after the nectar of joyful life.
- Letter to Bhagavan, December 18, 1970.

The secret of surrendering to Krishna is that such surrendered devotee sees that everything is part of Krishna’s plan. Whatever is meant to be I am doing. Let me do it with my full attention to every detail. Let me become absorbed in such service, never mind what it is. Let all other considerations be forgotten and only my desire to do the thing best for Krishna’s alone pleasure is my motive.
- Letter to Jayapataka, December 19, 1972.

Anukarana, anasarana, these are two Sanskrit words. One is imitation, and one is following the footprints. If one tries to follow the footprints of great personalities, that is very nice, but we cannot imitate. Imitation is dangerous. Los Angeles, December 23, 1968.

There is no limit to perfection – we may go on improving more and more, and still there is no limit to how much we may please Krishna, just like for the materialist there is no limit to how much Maya can kick us!
- Letter to Balavanta, December 22, 1971.