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The following is an excerpt from Srila Acharyadeva's anthology in the making, compiled from various lectures and writings of his, taken from the category "God," subcategory "Krishna": *
"All the gross physical elements are extensions of Krishna’s energy. Krishna plays all these roles so that we get a higher taste. One can remember baby Krishna when one sees one’s own child. In every aspect of life, we can be centered around Krishna."
(from lecture on CC 14-16, Alachua 2007)
*
"Every religion talks about the name of the Lord as an incarnation of the Lord. In the Old Testament there is an instance where a temple is built. It is said to be a, “Temple to the Name of the Lord and as God lives in His realm, the name of the Lord will live in the temple.”"
(from lecture, Atlanta, May 28, 2007)
*
"We all have a strong propensity to be the center of our lives. First we identify with ourselves. When our ego expands, we identify with our extended family, which is tribal consciousness. People may live for their family, community, or country. They become nationalists, internationalists, or even galaxists. It creates a larger self-centeredness, but it is still self-centered. Only when we construct our identification along with Krishna, is it perfect. We accept Krishna as the center and the most important. We need to deflate ourselves and understand that we are not the most important person. We are all trying to get the happiness and avoid the unhappiness, but we cannot take one without the other. They are inseparable. The more I want to expand my happiness, the more I am increasing my pain."
"We have to include Krishna in our lives: “Good night, devī. Good night, prabhu. Good night, Krishna.” Exploitation can take place not only in a marriage relationship but also in a guru-disciple relationship. I can try to control disciples too much because of my own impurities. Disciples also can see the guru as the ultimate sympathetic listener. On both ends, if there is impurity, we can use other people and not think what is best for them."
(from Gaura-Purnima lecture, Alachua 2007)
*
“Krishna wants us to choose Him—based on our own free will—because it is in our rational self-interest. He is a perfect life coach.”
(from lecture “Success of Spiritual Movements”, place unknown, April 3, 2000)
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A Letter from Srila Acharyadeva |
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 My Dear Devotees,
Jaya Srila Prabhupada. I am writing to share with you dynamic and ecstatic
events in my own life. As we know Lord Krishna has personally divided human
life into various divisions of varna and ashrama. We also note that a normal
human naturally being passes through different stages of life.
My material body has now completed sixty-one years, and it is therefore
natural and necessary that I consider how I will utilize the remaining years
of my life. My goal is the goal that we all share: to serve the mission of
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada in the best possible way.
Lord Krishna has made it very clear to me, and Srila Prabhupada confirms
in his writings, that my most important contribution is literary. For years
I have tried to balance this service with other duties, like that of GBC,
but I find it is very difficult to do both both services at the same time.
Fortunately, in my GBC work both in North and South America, Lord
Krishna has blessed me with the opportunity to work with exceptional leaders
who are distinguished both in personal character and leadership abilities.
Given the necessity to complete certain books before I leave this world,
and given the excellent leadership in my zone, and especially given the will
of Lord Krishna which He has revealed to me in unmistakable ways, I am
retiring from my service as GBC secretary. Again, in doing so I am sure that
I am obeying Lord Krishna's desire.
I want to make clear that despite my present writing retreat, in the
future, I will be happy to continue to help the devotees to the best of my
ability. In fact, my GBC service for the last several years has consisted of
offering advice and guidance, rather than directly managing. I will continue
to offer this service, as needed and desired, so there will be continuity.
In North America, the GBC has already made various arrangements for the
continued management of my zone. In Brazil, Lord Krishna has blessed us with
an unusually good Executive Committee, which will manage there for up to
three years, during which time they will select, with the International GBC,
a permanent GBC representative.
I want to assure all the devotees that I have never been happier in my
own spiritual life, that I am fully inspired in my service, and that I pray
to continue to serve Srila Prabhupada's servants in a meaningful way.
With best wishes,
Hridayananda das Goswami
January 18, 2010
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