Reading Assignment

Devotee's greatest enemy by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

a) Morning walk conversation in Paris on 12 June 1974

Devotee: Prabhupada, what is a devotee's greatest enemy?

Prabhupada: He himself. Because he is a rascal, he is his own greatest enemy. Give up this rascaldom, and you will become your friend. Nobody is your enemy. You are your own enemy.

b) Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, by Vrindavan Das Thakur.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SRIVAS PANDIT Srila Vrindavan Das Thakura's Chaitanya Bhagavata Antya 5.38-64

Summary: In all ages, the singular importance of saintly association is ALWAYS stressed, and is highly effective, in fact essential, in bringing relief from the awful symptoms of degradation within the modes of nature.

Reading Assignment

a) QUALITIES OF THE AGE OF KALI (Purport to S.B. 1.16.21, Srila Prabhupada)

Summary: Jamadagni, the father of Lord Parasurama, was visited by a powerful king, Kartaviryarjuna. The king became envious of Jamadagni's opulence, specifically in the form of Jamadagni's kamadhenu. The king wanted to have the kamadhenu for himself, so when Jamadagni denied Kartaviryarjuna's request to give him the wish-fulfilling cow, the king forcibly stole the property of the exalted brahmana, along with the calf. Parasurama proceeded to retrieve the kamadhenu, and killed Kartiviryarjuna in the process. Below are the words spoken by Jamadagni at the time of receiving his kamadhenu back from Parasurama.

Summary:

Hitler, Rahu ... doubts and Krishna consciousness

Reading Assignment

a) Letter to: Krsna dasa Vrindaban 7 November, 1972

72-11-07 My Dear Krsna dasa,

Summary: Material desires can easily draw us to the position of being taken far from the path of devotional life. A sincere devotee is quite aware of this danger, and takes all precautions to not indulge; even a small indulgence very quickly draws one into significant foolishness! To receive the Lord's protection from these desires, we need to be very very sincere in our purpose!

Summary: Soon we will be celebrating Rama Navami. The glories of Rama Lila are many, particularly highlighting the incredible standards of virtue which Lord Rama exemplified. The passage quoted below focuses upon the virtues revealed by Lord Rama when faced with a horrific reversal of Fate; instead of being crowned Regent (incumbent King), he is banished to the forest for 14 years! Total injustice, total insult, total unfairness...without any cause or provocation.

Summary: In the ordinary course of executing devotional service, one should strictly follow the codes of theistic conduct. Are there exceptions to this rule? The classic case of "not speaking the truth, under the order of Krishna" is of course the request made by Krishna of Maharaja Yudhisthira to inform Dronacarya that Asvatthama was dead. Of course, the under-the-breath statement that the elephant name Asvatthama was being referred to was intended to protect Yudhisthira's religious principle of truthfulness. However, the outstanding transcendental lesson of this episode, according to our acaryas is twofold:

1) Whatever Krishna declares, *THAT* is one's duty, THAT is dharma!

Not only does Krishna see that His devotee is cared for and provided for, but he does this directly, personally. That is our Supreme Father! When pure unmotived service exists on the part of the servitor, there are neither demands from the servant OR the master, although it may appear to be so. [Krishna demands surrender Bhagavad Gita: 18.66, and we make requests in our prayers and in our hearts.]

Uddhava-gita, the chapters from Canto 11 of Srimad Bhagavatam in which Krishna is instructing Uddhava just as He instructed Arjuna in Bhagavad-gita, is a great treasure of further instructions from Krishna, which provide a great solace for those who truly want shelter in the realm of pure devotion. Two verses which are inspiring to someone who struggles with some persistent anartha, some bad habit or worldly attractions of some kind, are found below.

Sincerity is what enables us to embrace the initial descending mercy we have received. That same sincerity is what Krishna accepts from those who have received some portion of His mercy but may continue to struggle with worldly thoughts, attractions, etc. even though continuing to strive for His shelter.

Faith in one's spiritual master is life. It can carry one all the way to Krishna without a doubt, and in between it can empower one to do that which one cannot do otherwise. The following is from Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur's commentary on the vyavasayatmika-buddhi verse of Bhagavad Gita [2.41], the potency of which propelled Srila Prabhupada all the way to the other side of the planet, following the order of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Srila Prabhupada read this commentary while preparing his Bhagavad Gita purports in India. He explained the affect upon him when reading what Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur wrote: he felt absolutely compelled to somehow execute his guru-given "mission impossible" with full confidence and conviction.