View source for Be an example

{{terms|"be an example"|"be the example"|"be example"}}

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{{first|03Dec08}}

{{last|19Feb09}}

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[[Category:Example]]

== Lectures ==

=== Festival Lectures ===

<span class="q_heading">'''The world is suffering for want of highest kind of mankind. And be an example.'''</span>

<span class="LEC-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Nrsimha-caturdasi Lord Nrsimhadeva's Appearance Day -- Boston, May 1, 1969|Nrsimha-caturdasi Lord Nrsimhadeva's Appearance Day -- Boston, May 1, 1969]]:''' So things are going like that. Atheist class of men, they're declaring themselves free, no God, and that is all nonsense—mūḍha. They have been described as mūḍha. First-class fool. Na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhā prapadyante narādhamāḥ [Bg. 7.15]. Study Bhagavad-gītā. Everything is there. Those who are narādhama, lowest of the mankind. As the lowest of the mankind is atheist, similarly, the highest of the mankind is Kṛṣṇa conscious. So try to be the highest kind of mankind. The world is suffering for want of highest kind of mankind. And be an example. So you'll learn this lesson in this day of the advent of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva.</span>

== Conversations and Morning Walks ==

=== 1973 Conversations and Morning Walks ===

<span class="q_heading">'''Everyone is not going to stop their karmī mentality. So this will be an example, that "You are engaged in material.'''</span>

<span class="CON-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Malcolm -- July 18, 1973, London|Room Conversation with Malcolm -- July 18, 1973, London]]:'''
Therefore, to get that better thing, it is advised that part of your hard labor you offer to Kṛṣṇa. This is called karma-yoga. You remain in your karma, but nirbandha, nirbandhaḥ kṛṣṇa-sambandhe, be touched with Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and spend at least fifty percent for Kṛṣṇa. Then, gradually, you come to the... Just like the Gosvāmīs came. So this is the policy. Otherwise, for Kṛṣṇa conscious men there is no need. Everything Kṛṣṇa will supply. Mādhavendra Purī installed a Deity. Now, for months, years together, only festival was going on. (pause) And another good example is that if somebody is in business and if he spends for Kṛṣṇa, that is a very good example for the karmīs. Because everyone is not going to stop their karmī mentality. So this will be an example, that "You are engaged in material. Now spend like this." That is another preaching. Loka-saṅgraha. This is called loka-saṅgraha, to collect ordinary men for Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Just like Janaka-rāja, he was a king, but great saintly person.</span>

=== 1975 Conversations and Morning Walks ===

<span class="q_heading">'''There is no brain in the society. That is the defect of modern civilization.'''</span>

<span class="CON-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Mr. & Mrs. Wax, Writer and Editing Manager of Playboy Magazine -- July 5, 1975, Chicago|Room Conversation with Mr. & Mrs. Wax, Writer and Editing Manager of Playboy Magazine -- July 5, 1975, Chicago]]:'''

Mrs. Wax: The four natural divisions... I understand that at Vṛndāvana, that that will be an example to American society, but how can the four natural divisions of man be translated into American society?

Prabhupāda: It has to be. If you don't, then you must suffer with all these criminals. That is natural. Just like in your body there is head, and there is arm, and there is belly, and there is leg. The head is the most important part. Why? Why not all legs? Why there are different divisions? Similarly, in the human society, if we want to make it perfect, there must be head, there must be arm, there must be belly, there must be legs. So leg can walk, but leg cannot do the work of brain. So at the present moment we have got all walking men, no brain. Therefore the society is in chaotic condition. There is no brain in the society. That is the defect of modern civilization. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is stated, cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ [Bg. 4.13]. According to quality and work, there are four divisions. (aside:) You can push it back. Four divisions. So similarly, four divisions must be there: a group of men, first-class; a group of men, administrators; a group of men, food producer; and a group of men, general worker. So the brain is the chief. If your body... There are other parts, but if your head is cut off, then what is the use of other parts? If your hand is cut off, you can live. If your leg is cut off, you can live. But if your head is cut off, then finished. So that is lacking in the present society, no brain how to guide, so that whole human... If the brain is there, then it can guide. It can ask the hand to work in a certain way, the leg to work in certain way, to eat in a certain way. Then the health of the whole body will be quite competent. But if there is no brain, then everything... Just like a man becomes mad when the brain is not working.</span>

=== 1976 Conversations and Morning Walks ===

<span class="q_heading">'''If you make your country, America, God conscious, Kṛṣṇa conscious—they are already—that will be example to the whole world. '''</span>

<span class="CON-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- May 4, 1976, Honolulu|Room Conversation -- May 4, 1976, Honolulu]]:'''

Prabhupāda: Then don't try. Don't waste time. Don't try. Better try in your country. You have got enough field, and they are intelligent and they are favorable. So why should we waste our time? There is no need. If you make your country, America, God conscious, Kṛṣṇa conscious—they are already—that will be example to the whole world. These men, rascals' program, will be failure, finished, this, today or tomorrow. They'll never be successful. It is not.... That is not possible. If they have so foolishly declared that "We are going above the laws of nature," they're first-class rascals. Which is impossible. What they have conquered over the nature? These rascals will not die?</span>

<span class="q_heading">'''This will be an example.'''</span>

<span class="CON-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Ambarisa and Catholic Priest -- June 14, 1976, Detroit|Room Conversation with Ambarisa and Catholic Priest -- June 14, 1976, Detroit]]:'''

Stansky: Yes. Now the reason I would like to keep a log and prepare an outline and start a book, say a year from now, it would show a transition from Roman priesthood to Hare Kṛṣṇa devotee. I think this would open up the door to all of the colleges and universities across the country.

Prabhupāda: Very good idea, yes. Paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate [Bg. 9.59]. The nature is if we get better engagement, we give up inferior engagement. Paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate. So this will be an example. You are a Roman priest. You are educated, learned scholar also. So when you come to this movement, you do not come here by sentiment or by whims. You consider, then you have come.</span>

== Correspondence ==

=== 1972 Correspondence ===

<span class="q_heading">'''Your Trial Balance is very good, and it should be an example to all the other centers.'''</span>

<span class="LET-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Letter to Cyavana -- Bombay 18 January, 1972|Letter to Cyavana -- Bombay 18 January, 1972]]:''' As you are so quickly managing the affairs of East African campaign, I am sure you have all blessings of Lord Krishna, so continue to work very hard for His pleasure and all of you will go back to Home, back to Godhead.
Your Trial Balance is very good, and it should be an example to all the other centers. I am sending a copy of it to all the other centers.</span>

<span class="q_heading">'''My best advice to you is to strictly observe these things yourself and be the example so that all others may follow.'''</span>

<span class="LET-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Letter to Madhumangala -- Hyderabad 18 November, 1972|Letter to Madhumangala -- Hyderabad 18 November, 1972]]:''' Regarding general state of affairs at Amsterdam temple, I can understand there is some disturbance among you, but that is not to be taken very seriously. Real business is preaching work, and if there is full attention on this matter only, all other businesses will be automatically successful. Fighting amongst ourselves is not at all good, but if our preaching work is neglected, or if we fall down in following the regulative principles such as rising before four, chanting 16 rounds, like that, if these things are not strictly observed then maya will enter and spoil everything. So my best advice to you is to strictly observe these things yourself and be the example so that all others may follow. We should not criticize each other, as Vaisnavas, because there is fault in everyone and we may be ourselves subject to criticism. Best thing is to be above suspicion ourselves, then if we see discrepancies and make suggestion the others will automatically respect and take action to rectify the matters. That is cooperation. And we must exist on such cooperation, otherwise the whole thing is doomed if we simply go on fighting over some small thing. So try to organize things and preach together in this spirit, and that will please me very, very much.</span>

=== 1973 Correspondence ===

<span class="q_heading">'''Take good care of them all and always be an example for them to follow in Krsna Consciousness.'''</span>

<span class="LET-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Letter to Trai -- Los Angeles 8 December, 1973|Letter to Trai -- Los Angeles 8 December, 1973]]:''' I hereby accept the devotees you have recommended as my duly initiated disciples and their names are as follows:

:Edward S. Basu Gopala das
:Donald Narindra das
:Ernest Nityasiddha das
:Gary Krsnarcana das
:Michael Bhudhara das
:Rita A. Govinda-vallabha dasi

Rupanuga Maharaja may chant their beads. Take good care of them all and always be an example for them to follow in Krsna Consciousness.</span>

<span class="q_heading">'''Always be an example to your son by being steadfast in Krsna Consciousness and your motherhood will be perfected.'''</span>

<span class="LET-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Letter to Kadamba -- Los Angeles 8 December, 1973|Letter to Kadamba -- Los Angeles 8 December, 1973]]:''' Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your note and gift of one ring. Just now I am wearing it. Because you have sincerely offered, I must accept on behalf of my Guru Maharaja although I am not worthy.
I have met your son. His lovely features are very nice and he appears to be a first class brahmacari. Always be an example to him by being steadfast in Krsna Consciousness and your motherhood will be perfected.</span>