A Day in the Life of Srila Prabhupada - November 20

November 19 - November 21

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.

1966 - November 20

Lecture BG 08.22-27 - New York

Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada

"This material sky is meant for the conditioned soul. Just like the prison house. What is this prison house? The prison house is a certain area of the state, walled, all sides walled and protected so that the prisoners may not come out. That is called prison. But it is within the state, within the city, under insignificant portion. Similarly, this material manifestation is only a very insignificant portion of the spiritual sky, and it is covered so that we may not go to the spiritual sky. That is not possible."

661120 - Lecture BG 08.22-27 - New York

vanipedia.org

We belong to the Vaiṣṇava philosophical school, Vaiṣṇava. Vaiṣṇava means we want to worship God as He is, and we keep our separate identity eternally to serve Him. That is Vaiṣṇava philosophy. And the Māyāvāda philosophy and impersonalist philosophy is that they want to close their individual identity and merge into the existence of the Supreme.

1968 - November 20

Letter to Bali-mardana written from Los Angeles

vanipedia.org

You can serve your father working at his business and live like an aristocratic American gentleman, use his car, chant Hare Krishna, and live with the devotees at the temple. Anyway, your temple attendance must continue. So if it is possible that you shall live with the boys at the temple, then that is very good idea, and work also with your father.

Letter to Brahmananda written from Los Angeles

vanipedia.org

Subala should read carefully that Hatha yoga received in the Bhagavad-gita is very difficult in this age. Yoga system is approved, but nobody can follow the rules and regulations strictly, neither there is suitable place for executing it, and everyone is always full of anxiety, so how they can concentrate? So best thing is to chant Hare Krishna which is forced meditation. In this way make nice speech, and conclude with declaring that the topmost yogi is he who surrenders to Krishna, and worships Krishna with all thoughts, activities, and intelligence.

Letter to Madhusudana written from Los Angeles

vanipedia.org

We have to understand everything through the transparent via media of the Spiritual Master. So there is no doubt about it that Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura is eternal energy of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And whatever he did, was just to suit the time, place, circumstances, and etc. There is no contradiction in his activities.

Letter to Patita Uddharana written from Los Angeles

vanipedia.org

Yes, try to convince your brothers gradually to come to the temple and take up this Krishna Consciousness. It will be a great service.

1969 - November 20

Letter to Gargamuni written from London

vanipedia.org

Capatis, dahl, vegetables, some butter, some fruits and milk. This is necessary for keeping good health. But we should not indulge in sweetballs or halevah or like that daily. Too much first-class eating may stimulate our sex desires, especially sweet preparations. Anyway, eat Krishna Prasadam, but be careful that we may not indulge in luxury. For Krishna we can offer the most beautiful preparations, but for us Prasadam should be very simple.

Letter to Gaurasundara written from London

vanipedia.org

For Krishna, to take some risk is also devotional service. That is ordered by the Gosvamis: krishnarthe akhila chesta. This means for Krishna's sake to do everything possible.

Letter to Vasudeva written from London

vanipedia.org

Continue to chant all of your rounds daily, and read our magazines and books as much as possible. In this way your future will be very bright, and surely you will be able to do great service to this movement within your lifetime

vanipedia.org

Krishna and Maya are just like light and shadow which are directly next to one another. If you move a little this way, you are in light and there is no question of shadow. But if you move a little the other way, you are in darkness. So if we remember to always be engaged in Krishna's service, then there will be no Maya and everything will be all right. Please always remember this great secret of advancement in Krishna Consciousness.

1970 - November 20

Letter to Gaura Hari written from Bombay

vanipedia.org

Such contract of spiritual wedlock is made on the basis of compatible service of the Lord because such mutual cooperation in serving the advancement of Krsna Consciousness minimizes the illusion of material compatibility and incompatibility.

1971 - November 20

Lecture Pandal - Delhi

vanipedia.org

The purpose of yoga is to control the senses by observing the regulative principle, yama-niyama , then practicing a particular type of sitting posture. It is somehow or other mechanical, because those who are grossly in the concept of body, they are recommended to practice this hatha-yoga so that by this process his mind can be concentrated on Krsna. Yoga indriya samyama.

Letter to Bhakta dasa written from Delhi

vanipedia.org

You must take care to train them (new devotees) very nicely. They're voluntarily giving their lives to Krishna so as president you must see that they're always happy & satisfied in KC. Then they'll not go away. Your proposals for teaching them our philosophy are very good. But if we try artificially to explain sastra in our own words there is every danger of interpretation & speculation. First the student must be able to repeat exactly the words of the guru & then after some time he may be qualified to apply the principles he has learned word-for-word to personal situations.

vanipedia.org

It is not that we are a dry philosophy of dogmas and slogans. No. The language of Krishna Consciousness is ever-fresh and we can explain everything by it, just like my Guru Maharaja once lectured for three months on one verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam.

vanipedia.org

Every precaution must be taken to preserve our basic guiding principles as they are and not change them because we want to hear something new.

Letter to Danavir written from Delhi

vanipedia.org

Pusyabhisheka means a ceremony to decorate the deity profusely with flowers, ornaments, cloths. After there should be lavish feasting and a procession through the streets, so that all the citizens should see how beautiful Krishna appears.

Letter to Govinda dasi written from Delhi

vanipedia.org

The preacher should also be ideal, sincere, serious and strictly adhering to our principles, chanting 16 rounds and following the restrictive rules.

Letter to Hansadutta written from Delhi

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My Guru Maharaja used to say, "Anything material, if it is used for the service of Krishna, it is a mistake to give it up." Because I have understood this principle, he used to appreciate me in front of my godbrothers. I have given this idea all along—why you big leaders do not understand it? You should take it to heart as a guiding principle that somehow or other we always please Krishna by doing what is practical and necessary, according to time and place. Not that we should be whimsical. But one test is that all the devotees should be satisfied.

vanipedia.org

I am glad to hear that Vasudeva has returned and is working cooperatively. He is a good boy, but sometimes in a weak instant Maya can capture us and we cannot resist. That is why I am always urging my students to follow the regulative principles without fail and to resist the onslaught of Maya by chanting Hare Krishna at least 16 offenseless rounds daily. In this way Krishna protects us.

vanipedia.org

They have given their lives to Krishna, so we should see they are always happy. Their service is voluntary. It is not that we can force anyone to do anything. If we do they will go away and that is a great loss. Everyone must be encouraged to do what he likes to do for Krishna, so if someone likes to do business for Krishna, let them make $1,000,000 for Krishna.

Letter to Krishna Devi written from Delhi

vanipedia.org

I am encouraged to note that you are working very nicely in Krishna Consciousness, despite being there in a foreign land with so many obstacles. This kind of service is especially appreciated by Krishna, that some devotees should take risk for His preaching work.

Letter to Sri Galim written from Delhi

vanipedia.org

As more students become involved in our philosophical discussions, you will be able to sell them our books. I want that my books and literatures should be very widely distributed, as many as possible.

vanipedia.org

It is not so important that you have no temple building just now. The main thing is that somehow or other preaching work goes on and literature is distributed. We are prepared to sleep under a tree, so what is there need for a fancy house.

vanipedia.org

Every Vaisnava should be treated as prabhu, master, higher than me, and in this sense, if I learn from him, he may be regarded as guru. It is not that I disobey my real Spiritual Master and call someone else as Spiritual Master. That is wrong. It is only that I can call Spiritual Master someone who is teaching me purely what my initiating Spiritual Master has taught. Do you get the sense?

Letter to Sudama written from Delhi

vanipedia.org

Sankirtana means preaching, so for some time try in other ways to spread our Krishna philosophy anywhere and everywhere, by selling books, as many as possible, by holding kirtana and classes in schools and college - wherever there is preaching, that is Sankirtana.

1974 - November 20

Lecture SB 03.25.20 - Bombay

Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada

"If you associate with materialistic person, then your bondage becomes more and more tightened, and if you associate with sādhu, or spiritualist, then your bondage becomes slackened, or the door of liberation becomes open, mokṣa-dvāram apāvṛtam (SB 3.25.20)."

741120 - Lecture SB 03.25.20 - Bombay