Sustain (Conv. and Letters)

Expressions researched:
"sustain" |"sustained" |"sustainer" |"sustaining" |"sustains" |"sustenance"

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- May 4, 1972, Mexico:

Prabhupāda: But this human form of life is better than demigods' life because demigods, they are materially very opulent. Just like when the Americans came in India, they thought, "Demigods." Is it not?

Martin: The Indians thought. Hm.

Prabhupāda: Because they're better looking, good looking, intelligent, powerful. Similarly, just like this controller or director of this rain department is Indra. This thundering, it is under his direction this thundering is going on. He throws the thunderbolts and cracks the mountain, and then we get chunks. That is his business. As in government there are different departments, similarly, God has got different departments, and the in-charge of that department is demigod. Creation, that's Brahma; sustenance or maintenance, Himself, Viṣṇu; and dissolution, Lord Siva.

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- December 13, 1973, Los Angeles:

Prabhupāda: No, no, satisfaction or not satisfaction, what he will answer possibly? Now, you are scientist. You can... What he will say?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: He will say that it is above his means.

Prabhupāda: Therefore you are a fool. Why you are becoming authority?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: He will say that "I have tried my best, but I cannot do it."

Prabhupāda: That's all right. That means you do not know. A child also tries his best, but he cannot do. That does not mean he becomes authority.

Prajāpati: He will say that there needs to be certain conditions...

Prabhupāda: What is that condition?

Prajāpati: ...for the sustenance of life.

Prabhupāda: No, no, certain conditions, that is not... That is vague. You say what is that condition. Then you are authority.

Prajāpati: Electrical charge in the heart.

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation with Monsieur Roost, Hatha-yogi -- May 31, 1974, Geneva:

Prabhupāda: Mat-saṣsthām. "Then he is promoted to the Brahman effulgence." That means he surpasses the material existence. Then?

Nitāi: Nāty aśnatas tu yogo 'sti.

Prabhupāda: Ah, nāty aśnataḥ. It is not that you should not eat, abstain, no. Eat very little. So?

Nitāi: Na caikāntam anaśnataḥ.

Prabhupāda: Ah. Not to eat more, not to eat less. Whatever will sustain you, you must eat.

Room Conversation with Biochemist, Dr. Sallaz -- June 4, 1974, Geneva:

Prabhupāda: And Kṛṣṇa is describing here in the Seventh Chapter—this is called Knowledge of the Absolute—how these energies are related to Him. Now, in the material world it's described that there are two energies. This is called bhinnā prakṛtir aṣṭadhā, inferior energy. This will be described in the next verse. Apareyam itas tv anyāṁ prakṛtiṁ viddhi me parām (BG 7.5). Now, this is describing the superior energy or the parām, the parāṁ prakṛti. And this is described, "Besides this inferior nature," which is this earth, air, water, fire, ether, "O Mighty-armed Arjuna, there is a superior energy of Mine which are all the living entities who are struggling with material nature and are sustaining the universe." So this earth, air, water, fire and ether... Just like your body, it is being sustained by the soul. And as soon as the soul leaves the body, then, of course, the earth, air, water, fire and ether, it is no longer sustained in this fashion. It merges into the various elements or energies.

Room Conversation with Roger Maria leading writer of communist literature -- June 12, 1974, Paris:

Yogeśvara: Siddheshvarananda.

Pṛthu Putra: That's another... (French)

Prabhupāda: No, you cannot... If he was referring to Kṛṣṇa, if you are referring to Bhagavad-gītā, so why don't you take it originally? (French) (break) (French)

Yogeśvara: He says, he says this is the answer from Ramakrishna. When you have a thorn in your foot, you take another thorn and pluck it out, and afterwards, you throw them both away.

Prabhupāda: So Bhagavad-gītā does not say. Bhagavad-gītā says that "You surrender unto Me, and sustain this." Therefore he has misled. He did not understand what is Bhagavad-gītā, and he misled so many fools. That is his business. One thing is, Bhagavad-gītā says, Kṛṣṇa says, mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja. And Ramakrishna says that "You can accept any path." So this is against Bhagavad-gītā. (French)

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation with Woman Sanskrit Professor -- February 13, 1975, Mexico:

Prabhupāda: That tradition is nothing. Tradition is just temporary. You make your tradition; he makes your tradition. That is another thing. But the, fact is fact. That is not dependent on tradition. Tradition we can make, tradition. "We believe." Just like somebody says, "We believe." What is the use of such saying, "We believe"? You may believe something which is not fact.

Professor: Yes, but we could say that since the Upanińads and later, all things have been sustaining the thing which you have just said a moment ago, that there exists an identity between ātman and Brahmān.

Prabhupāda: Identity is there. That, therefore, I have already said, nityo nityānāŕ cetanaś cetanānŕ. Both of them are identical so far nitya is concerned or cetana is concerned, but one is dependent, and other is maintainer. That is difference. Both of them are truth.

Room Conversation with Jesuit -- May 19, 1975, Melbourne:

Madhudviṣa: I couldn't find the other verses. The next verse is apareyam itas tv anyāṁ prakṛtiṁ viddhi me parām.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Read that.

Madhudviṣa:

apareyam itas tv anyāṁ

prakṛtiṁ viddhi me parām

jīva-bhūtāṁ mahā-bāho

yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat

(BG 7.5)

"Besides..." Just, that previous verse was saying that "Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence...all these comprise My separated material energies." In the next verse it says, "Besides this inferior nature, O mighty Arjuna, there is a superior energy of Mine, which are all living entities, who are struggling with the material nature and are sustaining the universe." The living entities are sustaining the universe.

Prabhupāda: So from here we understand the material energy and the spiritual energy. So spiritual energy is predominating over the material energy.

Morning Walk -- November 1, 1975, Nairobi:

Indian man (5): Sometimes it was seen that the people that don't eat, then their body becomes very weak. Then the soul leaves the body after some time. People when they don't eat, their body becomes very weak, the soul leaves the body. Practically it has been seen.

Brahmānanda: Weak? Weak? The body becomes weak when they don't eat?

Indian man (5): Yes.

Prabhupāda: So that is all for the material body. Weakness or strength or dwindling or becoming old is Ṣad-avikara. Ṣad-avikara means birth, then growth, then sustenance, then by-products, then dwindling, then finish. This ṣad-avikara, six kinds of changes, are meant for the material body, not for the spiritual.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- March 17, 1976, Mayapura:

Madhudviṣa: (break) ...that you are too impatient.

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Madhudviṣa: They will say that you are too impatient. We see that in all science there's been a natural progression. Now they have.... In the test tube they have made some tissues, and the tissues are sustaining themselves and are living. So in due course, they'll be able to create some functioning brain.

Prabhupāda: Then what is the use of your creation? It is already created. Why you are, rascal, working? Why?

Madhudviṣa: We can create a better brain.

Prabhupāda: No.

Madhudviṣa: By our scientific endeavor.

Prabhupāda: You cannot do even a lesser. How you can expect to do...?

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Evening Darsana -- February 15, 1977, Mayapura:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Practically all the devotees feel your presence through these books.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Their life is sustained with these books, these books and chanting and the Deity worship, sustaining all the devotees in the world and bringing new devotees. Everyone we ask who joins this movement, "Before you joined, did you get a book?" "Yes." In every case I have seen that the first thing was the book.

Prabhupāda: Hm.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Then, after reading, they become convinced and then they joined.

Prabhupāda: So let us do our duty. Our attempt Kṛṣṇa will see. That gentleman has written, "Swami Bhaktivedanta will be remembered for centuries, making history." Is not that?

Room Conversation about BTG the Moon -- February 18, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: So the computer worker or this dictaphone, everything is living being.

Hari-śauri: Must be living.

Prabhupāda: Yes, there must be touch of a living being. Therefore the whole cosmic manifestation—there is touch of Kṛṣṇa. Mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate (BG 9.10). Dead matter cannot work. We are beginning our knowledge from this. First of all try to understand what is that living force. Apareyam. This dead matter, kiñcid, itas tu viddhi me prakṛtiṁ parām. There is another nature. What is that? Jīva-bhūtam, living... That is superior.

Hari-śauri: Which is sustaining the universe.

Prabhupāda: You can practically experience. A machine may be very complicated, but without the man who will push the button there is no value. It has no value, a lump only.

Room Conversation about BTG the Moon -- February 18, 1977, Mayapura:

Hari-śauri:

apareyam itas tv anyāṁ

prakṛtiṁ viddhi me parām

jīva-bhūtāṁ mahā-bāho

yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat

(BG 7.5)

"Besides this inferior nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is a superior energy of Mine, which are all living entities who are struggling with material nature and are sustaining the universe."

Prabhupāda: That's it. Who can deny it? Therefore they have no brain to understand.

Tamāla Kṣṇa: The whole world is in ignorance. Except for this knowledge which you are giving, everything is in darkness.

Prabhupāda: Darkness, that's all. All rascals, bokā.

Room Conversation -- October 12, 1977, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Print more books.

Hdayānanda: Yes. Also in Brazil the Bhāgavatam is very, very popular.

Prabhupāda: This is life. This material world and the bones... The bones are not our... This is life. We are not concerned with bones and stones. Our real concern is the living force. Apareyam itas tu viddhi me prakṛtiṁ parām, jīva-bhūtāṁ mahā-bāho yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat (BG 7.5). The living force which is sustaining the bones... Bone is not important. It may remain; it may go. It doesn't matter. Real life, what is sustaining the bone, is steady. We have got history that there was a ĺńi, he had only bones. So there is a science by which you can sustain life—only bones. Hiraṇyakaśipu did it, practically.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You are also doing it, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda: So take care of the bones as long as possible. Real life is here. Always remember that. And material world means there are simply all protecting bones and flesh together. They have no idea what they are.(?) Bones and flesh... Bhūmir āpo 'nalo vāyuḥ (BG 7.4). Apareyam. It is useless. Not useless-inferior. Real? That jīva-bhūta, which is sustaining. Thank you very much. Print books, and as I have given in my will, half, again print, and half spent for propaganda as you like. In this way go on.

1947 to 1965 Correspondence

Letter to R. Prakash -- Allahabad 22 June, 1951:

The diet portion of the transcendental treatment consists in the distribution of prasadam. i.e. in all gatherings the audience should not only be sustained by melodious musical performances of Bhajan Sangat or by religious or theistic discourses but they must be given some sort of remnants of food-stuff offered to God, as recommended in Bhagavad-gita.

1969 Correspondence

Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 30 January, 1969:

The best thing will be therefore to organize sales of our books as other publishers are doing. The simple and approved method is to appoint at least 1000 stores and booksellers who agree to purchase at least three copies apiece of our books as soon as they are published. This means that if we have 1000 dealers, we can immediately sell 3000 copies, and this will give us sustenance for conducting our publication activities. I do not think it is a very difficult task to appoint such selling agents throughout the country.

Letter to Prabhas Candra Mittra -- Los Angeles 17 February, 1969:

So if you agree, immediately send book the following goods, send me the invoice and upon presentation to the Bank of America (Pico and La Cienega Branch, 85-01 W. Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, Calif.), they will pay the amount of your bill. If you agree to this them immediately send the following goods:

1. 1 first class harmonium with good bellow which sustains without much labor

2. 2 first class mrdangas

3. 5 pairs of big Navadvipa karatalas

4. 1 first class panca pradipa

5. 1 jahanjh (gong)

6. 1 round ghari (good sound)

7. 3 water conch shells

8. 2 blowing conch shells

9. 1 Bengali New Year (1375) panjika

Letter to Unknown -- Tittenhurst 1 October, 1969:

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness is a bona fide religious society strictly following the principles described in the Vedic scriptures and practiced in India for thousands of years. Our basic beliefs are as follows:

1) The Absolute Truth is contained in all the great Scriptures of the world; the Bible, Koran, Torah, etc. However, the oldest known Revealed Scriptures in existence are the Vedic literatures, most notably the BHAGAVAD GITA which is the literal record of God's actual Words.

2) God, or KRISHNA is eternal, all-knowing, omnipresent, all-powerful and all attractive, the seed-giving Father of man and all living entities. He is the sustaining energy of all life, nature and the cosmic situation.

3) Man is actually NOT his body, but is eternal spirit soul, part and parcel of God, and therefore eternal.

4) That all men are brothers can be practiced only when we realize God as our common ultimate Father.

5) All our actions should be performed as a sacrifice to the Supreme Lord . . . "all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me." (Bhagavad-gita, IX, 27)

6) The food that sustains us should always be offered to the Lord before eating. In this way He becomes the Offering, and such eating purifies us.

7) We can, by sincere cultivation of bona fide spiritual science attain to the state of pure, unending blissful consciousness, free from anxiety in this very lifetime.

8) The recommended means of attaining the mature stage of Love of God in the present age of "Kali," or quarrel, is to chant the Holy Name of the Lord. The easiest method for most people is to chant the Hare Krishna mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Ekayani -- Los Angeles 10 February, 1970:

I am so glad to learn that you are taking very much interest in the Deity worship, and such activities must be accompanied with chanting of the Holy Name regularly. Actually chanting of the Holy Name regularly is our life and soul, and on the basis of such activities all other devotional services will sustain.

I am still more glad to learn that your mother is also taking interest.

Letter to Nevatiaji -- Los Angeles 16 July, 1970:

Cow protection practically solves the problems of sustenance and the greater portion of time of the devotees, being not engaged in the frantic scramble of materialistic competition for food and shelter, is kept engaged in the pursuit of spiritual perfection.

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Locanananda -- Delhi, India 8 December, 1971:

As for the teachings of Sri Aurobindo, his idea is not correct. Just like the whole material universe is the creation of the sunshine, so to go to the sunshine does not mean to sit down in the shade of a tree. If somebody argues that this tree is also a creation of the sun so why not sit under the shadow of a tree, this philosophy is not practical and is not accepted in BG. Krishna states that everything is resting in His impersonal feature, but that He is not there. Just like the cloud is sustained in the air, but that does not mean that cloud and air are the same thing. Why worship atom? If in deity there are so many atoms, is it not better to worship combination of atoms in nice form? This sort of philosophy is very misleading and damaging to people who become befooled by it.