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Go on working

Lectures

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

So if we go on working in non-attachment and culture our self-realization, then gradually we shall come to the perfectional point.
Lecture on BG 3.17-20 -- New York, May 27, 1966:

Now, for maintenance of your body you have to do something. That's all right. But you don't be attached to that work. You are simply to... Because you have got this body, you have to maintain it so that the body and soul can be maintained and you have to perform this spiritual realization just to keep the body nicely, not neglecting the body. But become detached from the bodily attachment. You just try to... Yuktāhāra. Yuktāhāra means to take food is not forbidden, but you have to take food only just to maintain your body, not for, I mean to say, taste of your palate or tongue. That should be practiced. You should live... You should eat to live. You should not live to eat. That should be your life principle.

Tasmād asaktaḥ, tasmād asaktaḥ satatam. Asakta: "Don't be attached." Kāryaṁ karma samācara: "Do your duty, as duty, as you are duty bound. But don't be attached to that work. Because you should always know that your real work is self-realization." Asakto hy ācaran karma param āpnoti puruṣaḥ: "And if you practice like that, then the same perfection of life you will attain." Don't be attached to your work. Don't be attached, unattached. Nirbandhaḥ kṛṣṇa-sambandhe yuktaṁ vairāgyam ucyate. Anāsaktasya viṣayān yathārham upayuñjataḥ. The same advice is given in several places, that "Work, but do not work with attachment. Just to make the best use of a bad bargain, that's all. You go on working like that."

tasmād asaktaḥ satataṁ
kāryaṁ karma samācara
asakto hy ācaran karma
param āpnoti puruṣaḥ
(BG 3.19)

And if you continue your work unattached like that, then the result will be that you will also reach that perfectional stage of life, as Śukadeva Gosvāmī.

karmaṇaiva hi saṁsiddhim
āsthitā janakādayaḥ
loka-saṅgraham evāpi
sampaśyan kartum arhasi
(BG 3.20)

So you haven't got to give up your work, your duty. Go on doing your duty, but make your point that "My life's main business is self-realization." You give more importance to that point of life. Not to the point of, that "I shall earn more and enjoy life." No. That should be given up. That is called nonattachment. So if we go on working in non-attachment and culture our self-realization, then gradually we shall come to the perfectional point.

Prasidhyati means you increase. What is that? Utsāha, endeavor. "In this life I must fulfill my mission of Kṛṣṇa consciousness." That is called utsāha. Dhairya. Don't be agitated because it is not giving result immediately. Just patiently go on working.
Lecture on BG 4.21 -- Bombay, April 10, 1974:

Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī has given definition how bhakti is killed:

atyāhāraḥ prayāsaś ca
prajalpo niyamāgrahaḥ
jana-saṅgaś ca laulyaṁ ca
ṣaḍbhir bhaktir vinaśyati
(NOI 2)

If you want to advance in spiritual life, bhakti-yoga, then you should avoid all these things, six kinds of, ṣaḍbhiḥ, six kind. Bhaktir vinaśyati.

What is that? Atyāhāraḥ, eating more than you require. Actually, we should not eat unless we are very hungry. That is good eating. In.... When you are hungry, you can eat any ordinary things. Still, you feel very satisfactory. So not routine eating. Routine eating must be there. We should not eat more than that. But the best principle is that if we do not feel hungry, we should not eat. But if there is no hunger and at the same time no appetite and we eat, that brings indigestion, dysentery, indigestion. So why should we accept that? Therefore it is forbidden, atyāhāraḥ. Āhāra means eating. Eating more than required or āhāra means collecting also. Collecting more than necessity.

Atyāhāraḥ prayāsaś ca. Prayāsaḥ means things which are done with great endeavor. No. We shall accept things which are very easily done. Not to waste our energy unnecessarily.

Atyāhāraḥ prayāsaḥ, prajalpaḥ, talking all nonsense, sitting together and on the newspaper, "Oh, such politician said like this, such social worker..." All nonsense. Practically you try to avoid all this newspaper reading or talking of nonsense subject matter. That is called prajalpa.

Atyāhāraḥ prayāsaś ca prajalpo niyamāgrahaḥ (NOI 2). Niyamāgrahaḥ means niyama, scheduled rules and regulation, not to accept. Niyama āgraha or niyama agraha. Āgraha means unnecessarily āgraha, but without any result. That is called niyamāgrahaḥ. You must follow the rules regulation so that you are benefitted. But if you are not benefitted simply by following the rules and regulation, that is āgraha, only for the rules and regulation, not for the result. We must see that there is result. Niyamāgrahaḥ.

Jana-saṅgaś ca, to associate with unwanted people. You must associate with devotees, not others. They are called.... laulya, jana-saṅgaś ca.

And laulyam, greediness, ṣaḍbhir bhaktir vinaśyati.

If you are a student of devotional service, you must avoid all these things. And just the opposite number,

utsāhān niścayād dhairyāt
tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt
saṅga-tyāgāt sato vṛtteḥ
ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati
(Upadeśāmṛta 3)

Prasidhyati means you increase. What is that? Utsāha, endeavor. "In this life I must fulfill my mission of Kṛṣṇa consciousness." That is called utsāha. Dhairya. Don't be agitated because it is not giving result immediately. Just patiently go on working.

If you become always engaged for sense gratification, go on working, working, working, then go to the restaurant, eat, drink and make your body agitated, then find out liquor and woman, what is this life? This is not life. This is animal life.
Lecture on BG 4.21 -- Bombay, April 10, 1974:

You have to eat. These things are eatable: food grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, sugar. That's all. Why should we eat nonsense things? This will keep your health very nice. Sāttvikāhāra. And you can prepare so many nice preparations within this jurisdiction. Why should you go and kill animals for the satisfaction of the tongue? That is not allowed. Then you will be again entangled. Otherwise, to keep your body in nice condition, you eat all these things which is meant for the human being. Then you will keep fit and save time for advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And if you become always engaged for sense gratification, go on working, working, working, then go to the restaurant, eat, drink and make your body agitated, then find out liquor and woman, what is this life? This is not life. This is animal life.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

If you go on working for better standard of life, then you'll be attached to this work and your mind will be absorbed in such work.
Lecture on SB 5.5.1-2 -- Stockholm, September 7, 1973:

If you go on working for better standard of life, then you'll be attached to this work and your mind will be absorbed in such work. And if the mind continues to be absorbed in working so hard, then after giving up this body, you'll have to accept another body to fulfill such desires within the mind. Kṛṣṇa will give you full facility.

Festival Lectures

The King was very much anxious to establish a temple of Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and Subhadrā, but there was a contract between the sculptor and the King that the sculptor would go on working in closed door and the King should not disturb him.
Ratha-yatra -- New York, July 18, 1976:

The King was very much anxious to establish a temple of Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and Subhadrā, but there was a contract between the sculptor and the King that the sculptor would go on working in closed door and the King should not disturb him. But when many days passed the King felt, "What this worker is doing?" So he forcefully opened the door, and he saw that the sculptor could not finish the Deity. So this form of Jagannātha, Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and Subhadrā, was unfinished. They were going under construction, carving, but the King forcibly opened the door. Therefore the King said, "I shall worship this unfinished Deity. Never mind." So this Jagannātha you see in this form because King Indradyumna wanted to worship Him in that form.

Conversations and Morning Walks

1968 Conversations and Morning Walks

We must go on working with enthusiasm.
Interview -- March 9, 1968, San Francisco:

Prabhupāda: First stage is faith and respect, the second stage is association. That is probational period. And so far attaining enlightenment according to one's rate of development; that development depends on your enthusiasm; how far you are serious. But one should become very serious. That is the law in every sphere of achievement. So for attaining to the perfectional stage of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one should be very much enthusiastic. Yes. He must attain to the perfectional stage in this life. And then one should be patient also. Enthusiasm does not mean if I attain something immediately the result is immediate. No. The result may be delayed but we should not be disturbed. But we must go on working with enthusiasm. This is called patience. Enthusiasm, patience and confidence. Because we believe in Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa says that if you do this you get this result. Therefore I must have confidence. Just like Kṛṣṇa says that simply by understanding Him, what He is, how does He come, how does He walk, one immediately gets passport to enter into the spiritual kingdom. So we must have confidence that I'm working in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, I must go back to Godhead, back to home. This is confidence.

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

"Why you are sitting idly, no employment? Come on to the field! Take this plow! Take this bull. Go on working. Why you are sitting idly?" This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Nobody should be allowed to sit down and sleep.
Morning Walk -- March 15, 1974, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: When there will be military march of Kṛṣṇa conscious soldiers. Anyone who does not believe in Kṛṣṇa, "Blam!" (laughter) Yes. The same process as the Mohammedans did, with sword and Koran, we'll have to do that. "Do you believe in Kṛṣṇa or not?" "No, sir." "Blam!" Finished. (laughter, Prabhupāda laughs) What do you think, Madhudviṣa Mahārāja? Is that all right?

Madhudviṣa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: (laughing) What these communists can do? We can do better than them. We can kill many communists like that. (laughter) Then it will be counteraction of communist movement. And you think like that. "Why you are sitting idly, no employment? Come on to the field! Take this plow! Take this bull. Go on working. Why you are sitting idly?" This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Nobody should be allowed to sit down and sleep. They must find out some employment, either work as brāhmaṇa or as a kṣatriya or as a vaiśya. Why there should be unemployment? The same example. Just like I am, this body is working. The leg is working, hand is working, brain is working, belly is working. Why there should be unemployment? You just stop this unemployment, you will see the whole world is peaceful. There is no complaint. And they'll very happily chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Hm? Nobody's working in this field. They're all drawn to the cities to work in the factory. Condemned civilization. That communist emblem, what is that?

Devotees: Hammer and sickle.

Prabhupāda: Yes. That is good.

Indian: Yeah, good.

Prabhupāda: But no hammer. Only this... What is called?

Devotees: Sickle.

Prabhupāda: No hammer. That will be our emblem. Only sickle. Not hammer. The hammer has hammered the whole human civilization. So just make a counter-emblem. The communists will appreciate.

Devotee: Sickle and tilaka.

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Devotee: A sickle, and then a tilaka.

Prabhupāda: Yes, that is good idea. Guptajī? Come here.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

"Your duty is to go on working, but don't expect the result as you desire." That will never happen unless it is sanctioned.
Morning Walk -- May 20, 1975, Melbourne:

Hari-śauri: Their argument is, then, if God is there and He is actually the ultimate controller, and He is motivating everything to happen, then I can just sit back and do nothing and things will happen.

Prabhupāda: No, you should work for the result. Karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana. But do not think that because you working very nicely, the result will come. That is the... Because it is not in your hand. Therefore, karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana: "Your duty is to go on working, but don't expect the result as you desire." That will never happen unless it is sanctioned. Just like a man is suffering. Your duty is to appoint nice physician, nice medicine. But is there any guarantee that he will live? Why does he die? You can say that "I have given the best medicine and best medical treatment." Still, he dies. What is the cause? What do they say? What is the cause?

You have stopped smallpox, but you have increased cancer. So what is the use? That's all. Go on working like ass, without any… Even if you have some medicine for disease, you cannot stop disease. You cannot stop death.
Morning Walk -- Durban, October 13, 1975 :

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: The argument is that the scientists are claiming they can do so many big things, but they can’t even manufacture one egg.

Prabhupāda: That's it. And these rascals are talking very big, big words. That has to be stopped, that “Don’t talk nonsense and bluff people and take high salary, simply cheating. Don’t cheat any more. Admit that you cannot do anything. You simply bluff. That's all.” That is to be done.

Harikeśa: “Well, with all our research we’re finding cures to so many diseases. With our research…”

Prabhupāda: That, you nonsense, you go on doing, but no disease is stopped. You… Futile attempt.

Harikeśa: "But twenty years ago there was so much smallpox everywhere. But now…"

Prabhupāda: That is nonsense. You have stopped smallpox, but you have increased cancer. So what is the use?

Harikeśa: "Now we are finding a cure for that also."

Prabhupāda: That's all. Go on working like ass, (laughs) without any… Even if you have some medicine for disease, you cannot stop disease. You cannot stop death.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Bring police and in the presence of police go on working, and if he disturbs, kill him. That's all.
Conversation During Massage -- January 23, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Gargamuni: ...against the village people, and they harass the workers after working hours. So Jayapatāka said he was going to get the police there to watch.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Bring police and in the presence of police go on working, and if he disturbs, kill him. That's all. Sate sarthaṁ samācaret.

Gargamuni: He's a big demon.

Prabhupāda: So you become bigger demon. (laughter) (break) Place an application to the district magistrate and take police help. (break)

In your sickness, if you go on working, it will increase. Better take rest.
Room Conversation -- April 10, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: ...always studying, for the last ten years. It is my conclusion that originally everything Indian, that is very, very high grade—for human society, for personal. That is actual human civilization. Everything, hygienic principles, Vedic knowledge, moral knowledge, everything perfect.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I'm going to tell them to... It's good to take rest now.

Prabhupāda: Hm. Otherwise it will increase. In your sickness, if you go on working, it will increase. Better take rest.

Devotee: Ginger, and keep warm.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Last night you were translating a little bit.

Prabhupāda: I began, but...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You stopped.

Prabhupāda: No, stopped not for my incapability, but I stopped it feeling sleepy.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, I mean you are taking so little prasādam that it is not to be expected that you can do very much physical activity. But I can see one thing is that you are very now fully recovered and alert.

Prabhupāda: I think so.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I think simply it is just weakness now. Due to not, you know, it is like a fast. You've been maintaining a fast now for nearly two months.

Prabhupāda: Yes. I like that. If there is no appetite, what is the use of forcibly eating? When appetite will come, we shall eat. Natural. Nature's...

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So we are not at a loss, because we can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Prabhupāda: Yes. I am chanting. If I am not writing I am chanting. Of course, sometimes irregularity. What can be done with this physical impediment? Otherwise, I'll either chant or read books or write books.

Correspondence

1967 Correspondence

Krishna forgives his devotee who is very sincere so go on working sincerely and Krishna will protect you always.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Vrindaban 29 August, 1967:

I can assure you your steady progress in K. C.; as you are sincerely trying for the cause of K.C. In the conditioned stage there is every possibility of being mistaken; but Krishna will always protect us if we are sincere; even if there is a gross mistake, Krishna forgives his devotee who is very sincere so go on working sincerely and Krishna will protect you always. Kindly made Boston center very nice. The prospect there is very good, due to the large number of students.

1968 Correspondence

Always depend upon Krishna and go on working with enthusiasm, patience and conviction.
Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 24 December, 1968:

Regarding your analogy of sowing KC seeds, I may inform you that there is a Bengali proverb—Sa bure Meoya Phale. This means that fruits like chestnuts and pomegranates, or similar other valuable fruits and nuts take some time to be fructified. So any good thing comes in our possession after hard struggle and endeavor. So Krishna Consciousness is the greatest of all good fruits. We must therefore have necessary endurance and enthusiasm to get the result. We shall never be disappointed when things are presented in reversed order. Anyway, your honest labor is now coming to be fructified. Always depend upon Krishna and go on working with enthusiasm, patience and conviction.

1969 Correspondence

It is so gratifying that you have already saved $600 for the improvement of the temple. So I am very much pleased. Go on working like this and Krishna will give you ample money—there is no scarcity.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Hawaii 21 March, 1969:

Your letter dated March 18th by special delivery is in hand and it is so gratifying that you have already saved $600 for the improvement of the temple. So I am very much pleased. Go on working like this and Krishna will give you ample money—there is no scarcity.

Go on working sincerely and Krishna will surely help you.
Letter to Upendra -- Allston, Mass 29 April, 1969:

Do not be worried that there is only yourself and Gajendra as full time members. You will get more doubtlessly. Don't be agitated. Go on working sincerely and Krishna will surely help you. Both Gajendra and yourself are very sincere souls, and I give you both all blessings. So please continue to try to develop nicely. If you have got a nice place and a Sankirtana Party, then success is assured. That is already experimented in Los Angeles, You have already seen it, and try to organize a Sankirtana Party in that way in Seattle also.

1970 Correspondence

As long as Krishna desires, I must go on working.
Letter to Gaurasundara -- Los Angeles 24 January, 1970:

For the time being there is no question of retirement because things are just growing. It requires more pouring of water, so I do not think there is immediate prospect for my retiring. Therefore, as long as Krishna desires, I must go on working, but I am trying to give more time to my writing works.

I've received a GBC report of the Pittsburgh meeting and it is very nice. Please go on working cooperatively in this way and always keep in touch with the other GBC members.
Letter to Jagadisa -- Bombay 26 November, 1970:

I've received a GBC report of the Pittsburgh meeting and it is very nice. Please go on working cooperatively in this way and always keep in touch with the other GBC members. Such communication will give you spiritual strength to make the right decisions for pushing this Sankirtana movement.

Husband and wife working conjointly in Krishna Consciousness is the perfection of household life. So both of you go on working in this way to strengthen and improve our wonderful New Vrindaban community project and Krishna will be very pleased.
Letter to Nara-narayana, Dinadayadri -- Surat 19 December, 1970:

That you are working hard to build cottages there in New Vrindaban is very encouraging to me. I want very much to see this project grow, so you please continue to work in this respect. So far as what materials to be used to finish the cottages, I think whatever is easiest and least expensive is best.

So far as your casting of Murtis there during the winter months, that sounds very nice. If you could produce plaster Murtis of Lord Caitanya the same size in height as Kartamashai Murtis you produced earlier, that would be very nice. And then your good wife Dinadayadri, acting as pujari there, can take nice care of that Murti. Husband and wife working conjointly in Krishna Consciousness is the perfection of household life. So both of you go on working in this way to strengthen and improve our wonderful New Vrindaban community project and Krishna will be very pleased.

It is my desire that Mukunda now act as president of London center and that your good self act as vice president. In this way go on working together and make our London center a grand success.
Letter to Murari -- Surat 31 December, 1970:

I am very glad to hear that you are working cooperatively with Mukunda in managing London temple affairs. Mukunda is a very intelligent boy and I am pleased to learn that he has again taken an active part in such affairs. It is my desire that Mukunda now act as president of London center and that your good self act as vice president. In this way go on working together and make our London center a grand success. It is a very important center and I am concerned to see that it develops nicely. You can send me reports periodically on the progress being made there.

1971 Correspondence

For technical matters, let Advaita go on working independently. He is certainly competent. So far as decision making regarding contents of publications, etc., that can be done conjointly.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Allahabad 21 January, 1971:

So far as ISKCON Press moving to N.Y. is concerned, if Advaita feels it will benefit the press, then why not? From your description it appears that Advaita has found a better place and if he is taking on the responsibility of expanding the Press, then he should definitely go there. For technical matters, let Advaita go on working independently. He is certainly competent. So far as decision making regarding contents of publications, etc., that can be done conjointly.

So long as Krishna will keep me fit I will go on working.
Letter to Makhanlal, Tilaka -- Nairobi 24 September, 1971:

So far my health is concerned, there was a slight indication of a heart attack but it was not very acute. Krishna saved me. I have had many times such slight heart attacks since 1970 but it does not hamper my activities in Krishna Consciousness. So long as Krishna will keep me fit I will go on working. So you devotees should pray to Krishna that I can go on giving Him service up to the last point of my death.

So long Krishna will keep me fit I will go on working.
Letter to Sukadeva -- Nairobi 24 September, 1971:

So far my health is concerned, I am quite all right now. Only there was a slight indication of heart attack but Krishna saved me. It was not very acute. So long Krishna will keep me fit I will go on working, so you devotees should pray to Krishna that I might go on serving Him up to the last point of my death.

1973 Correspondence

The important thing now for GBC members is that they go on working.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 20 July, 1973:

There will not be a GBC meeting in Janmastami, New Vrindaban. The important thing now for GBC members is that they go on working. It is not important to hold a meeting for passing resolutions etc. The best time and place is Mayapur on Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day. That is not only the best for me but for everyone. Mayapur is meant for that. If possible all devotees from all our centers should go for 8 days at that time. There is no need for the Janmastami meeting. Go on working and send me regular reports. Besides, I will not be going to New Vrindaban for Janmastami. They are having a deity installation here in London and they are making huge arrangements for many important men to attend this ceremony.

Page Title:Go on working
Compiler:Visnu Murti, MadhuGopaldas
Created:28 of Dec, 2009
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=5, Con=6, Let=12
No. of Quotes:23