A Day in the Life of Srila Prabhupada - November 11

November 10 - November 12

Srila Prabhupada's letters, lectures and conversations throughout consecutive years

Click on the year dates to go to the Timeline of Srila Prabhupada's Life for that year.

The Days in the Life of Srila Prabhupada presents 2200+ of his lectures; 905+ of his conversations; 490+ of his morning walks; 65+ of his interviews and 6,570+ of his letters.

This listing covers all available material and includes:

10,300+ links to Vanisource - our repository of all of Srila Prabhupada's words;
450+ short audio clips - Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada sprinkled throughout the months;
1,080 short video clips extracted from lectures, conversations, morning walks and interviews, with subtitles in up to 88 languages, sprinkled throughout the months;
13,350+ concise statements, drawn from Srila Prabhupada's lectures, conversations and letters, highlighted within quoteboxes;
For further study on the different subjects addressed, each statement links to the various categories in our thematic section of Vanipedia named Vaniquotes.

These statements from the Days in the Life of Srila Prabhupada offer unparalleled insights into his devotional character; his vision to re-spiritualize human society; his dedication to translate, publish & distribute his books; his expertise to tirelessly lead & manage his worldwide movement; his empowered ability to encourage, care for, train & clearly communicate the disciplines he expects from all his disciples as he engages them in their pursuit of Krsna consciousness & performance of missionary activities. Through all these situations one can also experience how Srila Prahhupada consistently represents the pure teachings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates.

See also: A Month in the Life of Srila Prabhupada.

1967 - November 11

Letter to Brahmananda written from Calcutta

vanipedia.org

I have read your statements regarding opening centers. I am not in agreement with Mr. Altman that we are expanding very thinly. In my opinion, a single sincere soul can maintain a center. You know I started the center at 26 2nd Ave. alone. I took the risk of 200.00 dollars per month for the rent. At that time there were no assistants. Mukunda was at that time a friend but there was no responsibility for him for maintaining the center. Gradually Kirtanananda and Hayagriva joined but they did not take any responsibility.

vanipedia.org

If Krishna hears nicely then he will ask some sincere devotee to gather in such place. Therefore, be advised that thousands of centers may be started if we find out a sincere soul for each and every center. We do not require more men to start. If there is one sincere soul that is sufficient to start a new center. With this expectation I wanted to send Kirtanananda to London but he has proved himself unworthy.

vanipedia.org

If a sincere soul goes out and opens a center in any part of the world Krishna will help him in all respects. Without being empowered by Krishna, nobody can preach Krishna Consciousness. It is not academic qualification or financial strength which helps in these matters, but it is sincerity of purpose which helps us always.

vanipedia.org

Follow my example as I did in the beginning at 26 2nd Ave. That is preaching, cooking, writing, talking, chanting everything one man's show. I never thought about the audience. I was prepared to chant if there were no man to hear me.

Letter to Mukunda written from Calcutta

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Regarding your business, I have seen many merchants who will supply us incense, frankincense, saris, musical instruments, dancing ghungru (jingle bells for feet) etc.

1968 - November 11

Letter to Sivananda written from Los Angeles

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Your specific talents are to be engaged under direction of the Spiritual Master. Everything, every talent can be employed in Krishna's service, and how to do it is known to the Spiritual Master.

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Yes, the students should agree to be malleable by the Spiritual Master, then his success is sure. In your western part of the world, people are falsely taught not to become slavish. Everyone wants to assert his personal views and opinions, without following any authority. That is the general tendency. But although such persons claim not to be slaves, actually they are slaves to the senses.

vanipedia.org

In your western part of the world, people are falsely taught not to become slavish. Everyone wants to assert his personal views and opinions, without following any authority. That is the general tendency. But although such persons claim not to be slaves, actually they are slaves to the senses. So instead of being a slave of the senses, if one voluntarily becomes the slave of Krishna, or His representative, that is good for him. This is maya, thinking that we are independent. We are slaves—every moment we are serving our senses.

Letter to Umapati written from Los Angeles

vanipedia.org

I require so much money for purchasing a printing press as well as paying the bill of Dai Nippon. So do not quit your job, but try to earn some money for feeding our missionary activities.

vanipedia.org

1969 - November 11

Letter to Gargamuni written from London

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We want to show the world that Krishna's service is not stereotyped, one-sided. Krishna can be served from any position, provided one is willing to serve Him. Krishna can be served and approached by businessmen, by lawyers, by scientists, by artists, by musicians, by philosophers, even by thieves and rogues; everyone. He is so kind. One has simply to accept the prescribed method how to approach Him.

Letter to Rudra written from London

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It is very much pleasing to know that Vancouver center is improving daily. Cidananda is a very good organizing leader, Ananda is a good soul, and you are also a sincere devotee, so combinedly together push on this Krishna Consciousness Movement. Surely you will be successful.

Letter to Srimati written from London

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Any new brahmacaris who come with good faith should be helped. We are living in the Kingdom of Maya, so Maya's influence is very great in the material world. It is just like an epidemic. So one has to become immune very carefully by Krishna Consciousness. So you are experienced now in association with devotees, and you are very sincere also. Try to help any newcomers as far as possible.

1970 - November 11

Letter to Central Bank of India written from Bombay

vanipedia.org

The money was immediately deposited with your cashier and I possess the receipt slip, but here in Bombay your Gwalia Tank Branch says that they have not received the money. Kindly immediately inform me what is the fate of the money.

Letter to Madhudvisa written from Bombay

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When my Guru Maharaja ordered me to spread this movement to the English speaking countries, I did not know how I could do it, but I never lost faith nor did I ever forget this order.

1971 - November 11

Lecture Pandal - Delhi

Conversation - Delhi

vanipedia.org

Para-tattva is Bhagavan. Para-tattva means Krsna, Rama, Narayana, Visnu. These are para-tattva. Bhagavan avatara, rama, nrsimha, varaha, kurma, vamana, dasavatara, all avatara. (Hindi) Or sakti-tattva, material energy, apara-tattva, matter. Similarly cit-tattva, spiritual world. The living entities, although they are in the material world, they belong to the spiritual world. Therefore Krsna says, apareyam. This material energy is inferior. Itas viddhi me prakrtim param. Beyond this there is another, superior energy, jiva-bhuta, that is jiva.

1972 - November 11

Lecture NOD - Vṛndāvana

vanipedia.org

Our business is not to be attracted by the glimmer of this material world, but to be attracted by Kṛṣṇa. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Unless you become attracted by the beauty of Kṛṣṇa, we must have to be satisfied by beauty of this false beauty of this material world.

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There may be thousands of beautiful women before a devotee, but that does not disturb his mind. He sees they're all energies of Kṛṣṇa. "They are gopīs of Kṛṣṇa. They are enjoyable by Kṛṣṇa. I have to serve them. They're gopīs. Because I am servant of the servant." Gopī-bhartuḥ pada-kamalayoḥ dāsa-dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ (CC Madhya 13.80). So a devotee should try to engage all beautiful women in the service of Kṛṣṇa. That is his duty. Not to enjoy them. That is sense gratification.

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Our purpose is not to construct big, big buildings. That is required for propaganda work, for giving shelter to people. But our main business is how to turn the face of the bewildered conditioned souls towards Krsna.

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Kṛṣṇa's name is Mādana-mohana. Mādana-mohana means that one who is attracted to Kṛṣṇa, he'll forget the pleasure derived from sex life. This is the test. Therefore His name is Mādana-mohana.

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He presented Himself like that. Is Caitanya Mahāprabhu mūrkha? But that is the conception, advanced devotee. They never think that they are very highly advanced devotees. What is advanced devotee? What devotion we can offer to Kṛṣṇa? He's unlimited. He's kindly accepting our little service. That's all. Don't be proud of becoming a great devotee. That is the cause of falldown.

Lecture SB 01.02.32 - Vṛndāvana

Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada

"The child is insisting: 'Father, I want this'. Father says, 'No, you don't take it'. 'I shall touch it. I shall touch the fire'. Father says, 'No, don't touch it'. But he's insisting and crying, so father says, 'All right, you touch'. Similarly, we create our own fortune and misfortune. Ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham (BG 4.11). So the father wants us to do something else, but we want to do something else against the wish of the father. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa wants that every one of us should surrender unto Him and work according to His direction, but we want to do against His will. Therefore we create our own fortune and misfortune. That is the way."

721111 - Lecture SB 01.02.32 - Vrndavana

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Ksetrajna means the knower of the body. I, you, every one of us, we are individual living entities. We are also ksetrajna. I know this is my body, this is my finger, this is my hair, this is my leg. Jna. Jna means one who knows. So I know; you know. You know about your body; I know about my body. Therefore we are all ksetrajnas. Ksetrajna means one who knows about his field of activities.

Letter to Cyavana written from Vṛndāvana

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Preaching is our real business, not getting big, big buildings and doing business for money just to maintain them, no.

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We shall live under a tree, that is not difficult, but we must go on preaching every moment, that will make us happy.

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Yes, if there are African girls also who want to join us, and if they get the consent of their elder family members to live with us, they may live in the temple provided there is separate place for them so that boys and girls will not mix freely.

Letter to Yadubara written from Vṛndāvana

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I have also received report that there is some difficulty for maintaining the devotees peacefully, so that they may not fall sick and lose hope. So if there is shortage of money for maintenance, I have no objection if you divert some of the money from advertisements collection to improve the sanitary and health conditions. But most essential thing is, if you improve the preaching programme, automatically everything else will improve, Krishna will give you all facilities.

vanipedia.org

Distribute all the books, and print more, and in this way, Krishna is the husband of the Goddess of Fortune, you will get as much money and as many big buildings as you need for spreading Krishna Consciousness movement.

1973 - November 11

Lecture SB 01.02.06 - Delhi

vanipedia.org

When we speak of "Krsna," means God. God has got many thousands of name, but this one name is chief. Krsna means "the all-attractive." Krsna attracts everyone. Or one who attracts everyone, He is God.

Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada

"We, the living entities, we are part and parcel of God. Mamaivāṁśo jīva-bhūtaḥ (BG 15.7). Jīva-bhūta, jīvas, all jīvas, living entities, they are part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa, or God. When we speak of 'Kṛṣṇa', means God. God has got many thousands of name, but this one name is chief. Kṛṣṇa means 'the all-attractive'. Kṛṣṇa attracts everyone. Or one who attracts everyone, He is God."

731111 - Lecture SB 01.02.06 - Delhi

Chanting SB 05.05.06-16 Verses - Delhi

Letter to Govinda dasi written from Delhi