After reciting the punar musiko bhava story in 1972 in Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada immediately explained its relevance. This is the excerpt from that lecture: “So this mouse also came and begged the saintly person, ‘Sir, I am in difficulty. If you give me some blessing?’ ‘What is that?’ ‘The cat chases after me always. I’m very unhappy.’ ‘So what do you want?’ ‘Now, if you make me a cat, then I can get relief from this thing.’ ‘All right, you become cat.’ So he became cat. So after few days, again he comes. ‘Sir, again I am in trouble.’ ‘What is that?’ ‘The dog is chasing me.’…. ‘All right, then, what do you want?’ ‘Now, make me a tiger.’ ‘All right, you become a tiger.’ So when he became a tiger he was staring on the saintly person like this. So he asked, ‘Why you are staring upon me? You want to eat me?’ ‘Yes.’ So he again curses, punar musiko bhava: ‘Again you become mouse. Again you become mouse.’ So that is our position. We are advanced in civilization. Now we want to kill God. So we are again going to be uncivilized, to remain in the forest and to remain naked.”

In Krsna Book, Srila Prabhupada writes (Narada Muni speaking), ” `My dear Lord, You are the Supreme, Parabrahman, and Your pastimes as an ordinary human are another tactical resource, exactly like a play on the stage in which the actor plays parts different from his own identity. Because the Pandavas are Your cousins, You have inquired about them in the role of their well-wisher, and therefore I shall let You know about their intentions. Now please hear me.’ “

(The following article was posted in the “Meditations” column of the Hindustan Times, one of India’s largest English language daily newspapers, on 23 January 2004.) FIVE THOUSAND years ago the Bhagavata predicted marriage would be based on verbal agreement and physical considerations alone (12.2.5). Deterioration of the marital institution corroborates this. Non-Vedic writers have noticed a rupturing in age-old traditions. Some have tried remedies. For example, Catholic encyclicals, starting in the mid-20th century, defined marriage as a ‘contract’, later as a ‘covenant’, and most recently as a ‘communion of love’. On the surface, it appears these authors have grown with the times in making permanence of male-female relationships more meaningful. In these church definitions, the idea of ‘contract’, although it seemed legal and impersonal, supported the concept that marriage is not to be taken lightly, and that legal implications would have to be weighed. This is vastly different from the popular ‘nofault’ divorce system, which enables one partner to easily bring a marriage to an end. ‘Covenant’ carries a far more religious-spiritual connotation, and downplays the fear and permanence aspect of ‘contract’. The most recent definition, which promotes marriage based on ‘interpersonal love’, is ostensibly far more liberal than earlier designations, but has a touchy-feely colouring. We live in a lust-impregnated world. Also working against any seeming progress are three powerful trends: the cost-benefit analysis of ‘my life’ (if it works for me, I’ll keep it; otherwise, I’ll trash it); the ‘therapy relationship’ model (my partner will solve all my problems); the Hollywood glamour quest (I need Mr or Mrs Right for the dream romance). These trends are so entrenched that efforts to reinstate the sanctified aspect of marriage appear ridiculous. Today pre-and post-marital relationships are increasing and in most parts of the world are the norm. Nonetheless, the search for a lifetime partner is natural. The planned offspring of such couples readily contribute to the health of the planet. Neglected, uncared-for children often become criminals. Loved and wanted kids are usually the product of loyal partners who believe in the sacredness of their relationship. If a better world is to arise, committed partnerships should be offered to God and sanctified with marriage vows. Such co-dependents can be lifetime companions, attracting wise souls to become their children. The writer is emeritus member of the ISKCON governing body commission.

In a bizarre recollection heard in an informal setting, Srila Prabhupada told about a freakish incident that involved a devotee: “Recently, within ten years. And he committed suicide, this my godbrother. Everyone is, every father is affectionate to the son, and when he saw, This is my wife, and she has killed my son.' And the son saw the paramours were coming, and he says,Who are these men, coming?’ You see?” (June 28, 1975)

Sometimes the material world is likened to a dream. Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakur says that just as one soon forgets the experience of a dream after awakening, similarly, a liberated soul in Krsna consciousness does not see anything substantial in even the most exalted rewards offered by the Vedas, such as promotion to the heavenly planets. Therefore Lord Krsna advised Arjuna in Bhagavad-gita to remain fixed in self-realization, without being deviated by fruitive rituals performed in the name of religion.

The phrase “lateral thinking” was coined by Edward DeBono. According to DeBono, creative and innovative thought is considered “thinking outside of the box.” To understand the concept of transmigration requires spiritual intelligence, and this type of intelligence, at least for Westerners, can be considered “lateral thinking.”

“Conditioned souls think that material life is the source of happiness and separation from this life is the source of distress. Thus they give up the shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet. Being ass-like servants of maya, they become fully absorbed in material life.” (from Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Gitamala 8-6)

In Srimad Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada writes that “forgiveness is a quality of those who are advancing in spiritual knowledge.” This is Vedic literature’s version of the often quoted maxim attributed to Alexander Pope: “To err is human, to forgive divine.” (Purport Srimad Bhagavatam 4.20.3)

From a New York lecture from CC from Madhya-lila 20.367-84 on 31Dec66 Srila Prabhupada said: So Krishna-lila means beginning from His childhood, up to the age of sixteenth year, when He performed the rasa-lila, this is actual Krishna-lila.

Devotional service is superior to “spiritual understanding.” Here’s what the verse and beginning of the purport to Bhagavad-gita As It Is has to say on this topic. Verse: “The senses are so strong and impetuous, O Arjuna, that they forcibly carry away the mind even of a man of discrimination who is endeavoring to control them.” Start of purport: “There are many learned sages, philosophers and transcendentalists who try to conquer the senses, but in spite of their endeavors, even the greatest of them sometimes fall victim to material sense enjoyment due to the agitated mind.”