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Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Evening class

Evening classThat evening Srila Prabhupada continued to speak on Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 9, verse 2 on the subject of Raja Vidya, the king of knowledge. Krsna consciousness, he explained, was the solution to all problems -- and all problems were due to forgetfulness of Krsna. Prabhupada gave a very clear analogy: a small screw, that is part of a big machine has value and can function normally only if connected to the machine. If separated, however, it is useless."Similarly, we are part and parcel of Krsna, just like this finger is the part and parcel of my body. What is the business of the finger? The business of the finger is to serve the whole body."Prabhupada held up his infected finger. "Now I have got some pain in this finger, so it is not working. This is an abnormal condition. Normal condition, it is alright. As soon as I say, 'Finger come here,' it will come here. But, if there is some pain, I cannot use it. So the conclusion is, we living entities, being part and parcel of God, Krsna, our only business is to serve Krsna. We have no other business. As soon as we are engaged in other business, that is our abnormal condition. That is not a normal condition. Just like this finger is not serving me, but it is serving some medicine from the physician. That service is not very palatable."Prabhupada expanded his finger analogy. "When any part of my body is engaged in giving service to the physician, that is not very palatable. But in a healthy condition, when the parts and parcels of the body give service to the healthy body, that is very nice. That is pleasing. So, this is very simple thing. Mamaivamso jiva bhutah - The living entities, they are parts and parcels or samples of God."Last night some boy was claiming that he was God. He's God? He's sample God, not the original. This acintya bhedabheda, this is the perfect philosophy. We can be just like this finger. It can be said to be the body, it is my body, but the real identification of this part of the body is called 'finger'. Similarly, we may be called God because we are part and parcel of God. Not the original God. Part and parcel of God. This is called acintya bhedabheda, simultaneously one and different."Despite the obvious discomfort of his swollen finger, Prabhupada's entire lecture was, as usual, powerful and crystal clear.In question time, an Indian gentleman requested Srila Prabhupada to provide a proper temple. Srila Prabhupada answered by way of an amusing example. "The mouse," he said, "makes a hole and the snake enters it. Similarly, our business is ajagara-vrtti. You have got so many skyscraper buildings, let us enter there. We have come to your country, you provide, we enter." The devotees laughed. Prabhupada admitted though, that he appreciated the man's suggestion and said it was a good one. He confirmed that he had been talking to Madhudvisa Swami that day about the same subject."But, after all, we are beggars. We have no money, no business, no income. Whatever you pay us in exchange of books or subscriptions, we utilise it. So we have got one means. We have got very good books. If you collect some money by selling our books, then you can have a nice place."- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu
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