A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada quotes - page 4

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was an Indian spiritual teacher and the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). His movement introduced millions to the teachings of Bhagavad-gita and the practice of bhakti-yoga around the world. He inspired countless people to embrace spiritual life and devotion to Krishna. Here are 82 of his quotes:

It is said that when He was an infant in His mother's arms, He wept continually, and when the neighboring ladies and His mother cried Haribol! He used to stop. Thus there was a continuation of the utterance of Haribol in the house, foreshowing the future mission of the hero.

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

That is taught by Caitanya Mahāprabhu, that "Whatever You do . . . "Either You trample Me under Your feet or You embrace Me . . . whatever You like. You make Me brokenhearted by not seeing You-that doesn't matter. Still You are My worshipable Lord." That is love. "From God's side, He may do whatever He likes. I don't want anything in exchange." That is love. That sort of love Kṛṣṇa wants. Therefore He was so much fond of the gopīs. In the gopīs' love there was no question of business propaganda-"Give me this, then I love You." (chuckles) No. That is pure love. That is unalloyed love. Ahaituky apratihatā. Apratihatā means without being checked. No impediment. If you want to love God, there is nothing throughout the whole world which can check you. Simply you have to develop your eagerness: "Kṛṣṇa, I want You." That's all. Then there is no question of checking. In any condition, you'll increase your love, increase your love.

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Visakha has compiled an arsenal of passages and quotes over the years from Prabhupada's writings and lectures, which includes his now infamous response to an inquiry about female gurus in 1976: "She can become guru.”.

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Early in Visakha's book she quotes Prabhupada, one of the first times she encountered him. He says: "Simply by arguing and reasoning you cannot make spiritual advancement ... you cannot understand the absolute truth by argument, by material dealings.”.

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

The man who spearheaded the Hare Krishna empire, Prabhupada, espoused some very controversial views that would likely upset, and even outrage, those who are otherwise sympathetic to spiritual endeavors and theology...Even if some of his comments were taken out of context (as his defenders and apologists sometimes assert), the sheer volume and magnitude of his immense bigotry cannot be ignored nor sugar-coated. Part of Prabhupada's hatred of blacks stemmed from his deep-seated Hindu beliefs that dark-skinned peoples represent the very bottom of the hierarchy of the human race -- a direct reflection of India's ancient color-based caste system.

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

We understand in the sun planet also there are varieties of living entities, but their bodies are made of fire. As our body is made of earth, similarly, their bodies are made of fire. There are five elements in the material nature: earth, water, fire, air, and ether. So in different planets, there are different atmospheres and different bodies also. Don't think that each and every planet of the same quality. No. Same quality in the sense because these five elements are present there. Without these five elements, no material thing exists. So somewhere the fire is prominent. Somewhere the air is prominent. Somewhere water is prominent. Somewhere earth is prominent. So in this planet, or in some other earthly planet, earth is predominant. Similarly, there are other planets also. So don't think that other planets are vacant. No.

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada