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University students

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta

CC Madhya-lila

Sometimes a university student or professor tries to study these transcendental literatures and attempts to put forth a critical analysis from the mundane view, with an end to receiving degrees like a Ph.D.
CC Madhya 8.193, Purport:

There are three books prominent in this connection. One was written by Bhakta dāsa Bāula and is called Vivarta-vilāsa. Another was compiled by Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and is called Prema-vivarta. Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya's book is called Prema-vilāsa-vivarta. The Vivarta-vilāsa by Bhakta dāsa Bāula is completely different from the other two books. Sometimes a university student or professor tries to study these transcendental literatures and attempts to put forth a critical analysis from the mundane view, with an end to receiving degrees like a Ph.D. Such realization is certainly different from that of Rāmānanda Rāya. If one actually wants to take a Ph.D. degree from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and be approved by Rāmānanda Rāya, he must first become free from all material designations (sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam (CC Madhya 19.170)). A person who identifies with his material body cannot understand these talks between Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Other Books by Srila Prabhupada

Sri Isopanisad

University students today are not given instructions in the regulative principles of brahmacarya (celibate student life), nor do they have any faith in any scriptural injunctions.
Sri Isopanisad 10, Purport:

In the modern society, even a boy thinks himself self-sufficient and pays no respect to elderly men. Due to the wrong type of education being imparted in our universities, boys all over the world are giving their elders headaches. Thus Śrī Īśopaniṣad very strongly warns that the culture of nescience is different from that of knowledge. The universities are, so to speak, centers of nescience only; consequently scientists are busy discovering lethal weapons to wipe out the existence of other countries. University students today are not given instructions in the regulative principles of brahmacarya (celibate student life), nor do they have any faith in any scriptural injunctions.

Lectures

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Even university students, they say, "If next life, if I become animal, what is the wrong?" Just see. How much degraded.
Lecture on SB 1.10.11-12 -- Mayapura, June 25, 1973:

So this rascal civilization, they do not understand what is bhava-sāgara, what is bhava. Nothing. They are so rascal. And they're passing on as civilized men. No knowledge. So when one is intelligent, actually, then he considers that "If I am eternal, why should I accept repetition of birth and death?" That is intelligence. But they have given (in) to birth and death—"Never mind." Even university students, they say, "If next life, if I become animal, what is the wrong?" Just see. How much degraded.

In your country also, why this section of people have become hippies? From university student, they have become hippies. Why? Frustration.
Lecture on SB 1.15.21 -- Los Angeles, December 1, 1973:

The modern civilization, they are so rascals, they are expecting something utopian, that by material advancement of civilization they will be happy. Now, one gentleman, that doctor, what is his name, Ifrenzia,(?) yes, he said that in Sweden they are the richest men, but the largest number of suicide cases are there. So this kind of material richness will not help you. That will not help. Actually, practically, we are experiencing. Why their every nation is dissatisfied? Although they have materially advanced so much, but dissatis... In your country also, why this section of people have become hippies? From university student, they have become hippies. Why? Frustration. They know that "What is this life? If I am become educated, then what is my future?" There is no future. Frustrated.

People say, in western country, even the university student, they say they don't, so ignorance. Therefore they have been described as mandāḥ.
Lecture on SB 3.25.28 -- Bombay, November 28, 1974:

They are simply busy how to earn some money and fill up the belly, that's all. They are not no more interested in Vedānta-sutra. Mandāḥ, mandāḥ means very slow, or very bad. They are so badly infected with the influence of māyā, they do not care to understand that there is life after death, and that life may be anything of these 8,400,000 forms of life. And if I become one of them, if I become tree, if I become cat, if I become dog, or insect or even human being, then, if I am in a very inconvenient condition then they do not care to know. Sometimes they say, "Never mind if I become a dog, what is the wrong there? I will forget everything." People say, in western country, even the university student, they say they don't, so ignorance. Therefore they have been described as mandāḥ.

The education is that a university student, and if he is said, if he is informed that "If you live irresponsibly, then you may become dog next life," so they say, "What is the wrong if I become a dog?"
Lecture on SB 6.1.12 -- Los Angeles, June 25, 1975:

Human life is meant for tapasya, austerity, so that human life you can stop your repetition of birth and death and come to your eternal life and enjoy blissful eternal life of knowledge. That is the aim of life. Not that "Never mind." The education is that a university student, and if he is said, if he is informed that "If you live irresponsibly, then you may become dog next life," so they say, "What is the wrong if I become a dog?" (laughter) This is the result of education. He doesn't care.

University student, they say, "What is the wrong if I become a dog?" They are not afraid.
Lecture on SB 7.9.16 -- Mayapur, February 23, 1976:

To follow the footprints of Prahlāda Mahārāja, one should be very, very afraid. And the whole process of Vedic civlization, especially devotional service, is how to avoid this saṁsāra-cakra-kadanā. Everyone should be very, very afraid of. Foolish persons... "Where angels dare not, the fools rush in." They think, "What is that? I shall die." Now it has come to the stage that in your Western countries, if we say like this, that "Next life you may become a dog," university student, they say, "What is the wrong if I become a dog?" They are not afraid. They think, "If I become a dog, then I'll be free to have sex on the street without any restriction. This is the facility.

Festival Lectures

So most of the university students... I was also. I passed my final examination, B.A., but I gave up. I did not appear, and I joined this movement.
Sri Vyasa-puja -- Hamburg, September 5, 1969:

So these false notions, isms, are going on. People are being misled. You see? Andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānāḥ (SB 7.5.31). Practical experience: In my country, India, I was also a student of Gandhi. In 1920 I joined the noncooperation movement and gave up my education because Gandhi's program was to boycott the British educational institution. So most of the university students... I was also. I passed my final examination, B.A., but I gave up. I did not appear, and I joined this movement. Fortunately, in 1922 I also met my Guru Mahārāja, and he, on my first visit, I do not know why, he told that "You should preach this Caitanya philosophy to the outside world."

General Lectures

We are claiming college students, university students, because we are presenting religion on the basis of philosophy and logic.
Lecture Excerpt -- Montreal, July 20, 1968:

Sentiment, when religion or any faith is devoid of philosophy and logic, then it is material sentiment. And philosophy and logic without understanding of God is simply waste of time, mental... (break) So both should be combined, religion plus philosophy. One should understand the principles of religion with philosophy and logic. We are claiming college students, university students, because we are presenting religion on the basis of philosophy and logic. We are not blindly following. We have not dogmatism. We have got reason, philosophy, and everything, science.

You are all students of the university, but there is no science how you can increase the duration of life or how you can stop death. That is not possible.
Lecture at Auckland University -- Auckland, April 17, 1972:

Nowadays nobody lives for one hundred years. Utmost, eighty years or ninety years very rarely. My grandmother lived for ninety-six years. My father lived for eighty-four years. I do not know how long I shall live, but still I am living. But duration of life in this age is gradually decreasing. You are all students of the university, but there is no science how you can increase the duration of life or how you can stop death. That is not possible.

Conversations and Morning Walks

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

They are all hippies. So what do we expect?
Conversation with Author -- April 1, 1972, Sydney:

Devotee: All the university students.

Prabhupāda: They are all hippies. So what do we expect? They are taking education, and then, after taking education, they don't do anything. This is a problem. And so many illicit children, and the government has to supply them food, and the welfare, what is called? That welfare department?

Devotee: Social security, welfare.

Because the knowledge has begun from wrong conception of life.
Morning Walk Conversation -- September 28, 1972, Los Angeles:

ayatīrtha: Actually people are seeing that more and more all the big problems are being created at universities, all the university students are rioting and becoming restless, Communists...

Prabhupāda: Because the knowledge has begun from wrong conception of life.

The State must be responsible.
Morning Walks -- October 1-3, 1972, Los Angeles:

Jayatīrtha: ...so many riots by the students at the university there that the shopkeepers in the local area are suing the State because the windows have been broken so many times and so much merchandise has been stolen by the students, they think the State should pay them back.

Prabhupāda: Yes, they must. The State must be responsible. What the State reply?

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

Why the university students becoming hippies?
Garden Conversation with Mahadeva's Mother and Jesuit Priest -- July 25, 1973, London:

Prabhupāda: But your educational system, in the western countries, the, you have got big, big universities. Why the university students becoming hippies?

Mother: Oh, well, there're always a certain amount becoming hippies, in America, anywhere. But we must...

Prabhupāda: No...

Mother: But we must develop...

Prabhupāda: I think the college students university students, they're all hippies.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

Yes. And the education is so defective that even university students, if I say that "You are going to be a dog," they say, "What is the harm if I become?" They say like that.
Morning Walk -- October 12, 1975, Durban:

Prabhupāda: Yes. And the education is so defective that even university students, if I say that "You are going to be a dog," they say, "What is the harm if I become?" They say like that. The education is so defective, they don't mind to become a dog. They think, "It is a facility to become a dog because I can have sex on the street without any restrictions."

Just like the Hawaii University students, "What is the wrong to become a dog?" So if you think like that then you become a dog, nature is ready to give you a dog's body.
Morning Walk -- December 12, 1975, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: If you say, "A dog does not obey this law," that is no excuse. You are human being. If you don't obey then you go to jail. So many animals are on the street naked, they're having sex life, naked. You do, immediately you'll be prosecuted. Why? Because you are a human being. You have to restrain. Even if you like. Just like the Hawaii University students, "What is the wrong to become a dog?" So if you think like that then you become a dog, nature is ready to give you a dog's body.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

And they're so degraded even for argument's sake, "What is the wrong if I become dog?" They say, university students.
Room Conversation -- July 6, 1976, Washington, D.C.:

Prabhupāda: Therefore they dismiss, "No, we don't believe in the next life." And they're so degraded even for argument's sake, "What is the wrong if I become dog?" They say, university students.

All the preparations his wife had made whole day, and the small shop. And the university students will come up to night, ten o'clock, he'll finish. Nothing will remain.
Room Conversation -- August 2, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm):

Prabhupāda: In Allahabad, there was a brāhmaṇa. I had my business, and he was neighborhood, he was living. So in the morning, the husband and wife would go to take bath in the Ganges. They would very nicely take bath, and while coming they will purchase some ingredients and then come home. The husband will perform pūjā, etc., and the wife will prepare many nice preparations-baḍā, pakori, puskar (?), this, that. Then he'll take his meals, rest awhile, and in the evening he will sit down, he was sitting just in front of my shop, about four or five o'clock. All the preparations his wife had made whole day, and the small shop. And the university students will come up to night, ten o'clock, he'll finish. Nothing will remain.

So you can get the chance of attracting students.
Room Conversation -- November 15, 1976, Vrndavana:

Devotee: About ten or fifteen miles. You see it is more in, away from the ocean and it's located right in the middle of this college community where most of the residents are students of the university and the university has...

Prabhupāda: So you can get the chance of attracting students.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

He has got good experience because university students they have become so rascal.
Room Conversation -- January 21, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Prabhupāda: He has got good experience because university students they have become so rascal. In the university they don't care for professors, teachers. Don't care.

Education... University student was informed that "Next birth you may become a dog," so he said, "What is the wrong there?" This is education.
Room Conversation Varnasrama System Must Be Introduced -- February 14, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: What educated? Educated means hippies. That's all. This is their education. They do not know what is meant by education. Education... University student was informed that "Next birth you may become a dog," so he said, "What is the wrong there?" This is education.

University students, they may be educated.
Morning Conversation -- April 19, 1977, Bombay:

Svarūpa Dāmodara: University students?

Prabhupāda: They are... University students, they may be educated. They'll also make a... Don't make it a laughing stock.

Correspondence

1967 Correspondence

We have to prepare literatures both in English and French and have to draw the attention of the university students as our members.
Letter to Kirtanananda -- San Francisco 11 February, 1967:

The thing is that in April 1967, there will be a great exposition and millions of people will gather there from all parts of the world. We have to prepare literatures both in English and French and have to draw the attention of the university students as our members.

1968 Correspondence

I think Seattle branch will come out very successful, because we have drawn the attention of the students of the university here.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Seattle 6 October, 1968:

I think Seattle branch will come out very successful, because we have drawn the attention of the students of the university here. One girl came to see me, as representative of the student paper, and we had a nice discussion. But another thing, that the priestly class of Christian and Jews churches, I think they are becoming envious of our movement. Because they are afraid of their own system of religiosity, because they see so many young boys and girls are taking interest in this system of Krishna Consciousness.

The Sankirtana party is selling daily 50 to 100 copies of Back To Godhead, and they are collecting 30 to 50 dollars, and the students of the Washington University, they are little bit attracted.
Letter to Tosana Krsna -- Seattle 7 October, 1968:

P.S. I am sorry I could not mention any activities here in Seattle activities are going very nicely. The Sankirtana party is selling daily 50 to 100 copies of Back To Godhead, and they are collecting 30 to 50 dollars, and the students of the Washington University, they are little bit attracted. I heard that yesterday in the love feast, there were attendance about 20 guests, and so the affairs in this branch is going very well.

Please try to organize the students in the State University, that will be a great service to the cause.
Letter to Hayagriva -- Seattle 7 October, 1968:

Please try to organize the students in the State University, that will be a great service to the cause, but do it very tactfully so that the administration may not be disturbed.

Similarly, here also the Washington University students, they have taken interest in our movement.
Letter to Mukunda -- Seattle 13 October, 1968:

In Columbus University, Hayagriva is doing very nicely. He is trying to have classes in the University, and the situation is very hopeful. Similarly, here also the Washington University students, they have taken interest in our movement, and one Christian gentleman, he did not like our men to speak at the University, because University is a secular. But he has been very strongly criticized by the student community.

I shall be glad to learn how Hayagriva is taking Sankirtana classes amongst the University students.
Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 3 November, 1968:

You are reading Hitopadesa, and you will know from this that the author of this book, Visnu Sharma, compiled this book for some grown up princes in order to teach them Sanskrit in a short cut way. So you have to follow that way and do our main work and at the same time. I shall be glad to learn how Hayagriva is taking Sankirtana classes amongst the University students. And I shall be glad to hear from you.

1969 Correspondence

He is also preaching this perfect religious process amongst university students.
Letter to Selective Service System (for Tosana Krsna) -- Hawaii 20 March, 1969:

He is being trained under me to become an ordained Minister of Religion in the KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS (God Consciousness) SOCIETY, and he is studying regularly the following books: (1) Bhagavad-gita As It Is, (2) Srimad-Bhagavatam, (3) The Teachings of Lord Caitanya, and other allied literatures. He is also preaching this perfect religious process amongst university students.

I want to have such position for some time in order to attract the University students.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Tittenhurst 2 November, 1969:

Regarding my accepting a teaching position in Berkeley University, which is said to be the finest University in the United States, this is also a nice proposal. Actually, I want to have such position for some time in order to attract the University students. But one thing must be noted that I will not be free to take the class between 11 am and 5 pm. If that is possible, you can negotiate for such post. If actually I get such post, naturally I will have to live in Berkeley. And as you say the climate is nice there, there will be no difficulty.

1970 Correspondence

The school college and university students are very receptive to this Movement, so we must present them with an excellent example.
Letter to Tirthapada -- Bombay 13 November, 1970:

Please maintain the program of Temple worship, distribution of Prasadam, Sankirtana Party, distribution of literatures, study and Krsna work all in order and make everything as nice as possible. The school college and university students are very receptive to this Movement, so we must present them with an excellent example. They are very intelligent and bad experience has taught them to be cautious, so if you keep all your programs to the standard as I have already instructed in so many ways, then they will easily become satisfied that this is the real way of life for any intelligent person—Krsna Consciousness.

1971 Correspondence

Try to make this program very stimulating for all the students at the university by challenging anyone and everyone to try to defeat our Krishna philosophy with their philosophy.
Letter to Sri Galim -- Delhi 20 November, 1971:

I am pleased also to learn that you are teaching university course in Krishna Consciousness. Try to make this program very stimulating for all the students at the university by challenging anyone and everyone to try to defeat our Krishna philosophy with their philosophy. If such discussions can be held they will be very lively and the student body may take note and enroll in increased number.

Krishna Book should be published with the American University students in mind.
Letter to Rupanuga -- Bombay 30 December, 1971:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated December 12th, 1971. Unfortunately, it did not contain the two Krishna Book samples as I believe you sent them to Madras. But that does not matter, I have understood from your letter the point you wanted to make. Krishna Book should be published with the American University students in mind.

1972 Correspondence

I am very much pleased to learn that you are trying to find out some place where I can give two or three times a week lecture-class to university students in the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness or Bhagavata Dharma.
Letter to Rsabhadeva -- London 14 July, 1972:

I beg to acknowledge your letter from Berkeley dated nil, and I am very much pleased to learn that you are trying to find out some place where I can give two or three times a week lecture-class to university students in the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness or Bhagavata Dharma. But one thing is, the sannyasi has no such thing as teaching credentials or "academic vitae." So they can simply decide on the basis of my books and teachings.

Yes, the program of increasing book distribution is very much appreciated by me, and especially if you can preach very widely to the university students nearby to your place, that is the best program.
Letter to Sukadeva -- Los Angeles 16 August, 1972:

I am very happy to note that things are improving more and more there in our Seattle Center. Yes, the program of increasing book distribution is very much appreciated by me, and especially if you can preach very widely to the university students nearby to your place, that is the best program.

The professors and students at the University intend to "examine particular new movements in depth. The basic issue underlying the study of these movements is whether they comprise the beginning of a trans-national world culture, and what long range social and political effects might result from them."
Letter to Jagadisa -- Los Angeles 29 September, 1972:

I am surprised to hear that the universities are freely allowing us to reside on campus and propagate Krsna Consciousness, this is a very good sign. I am going in a few days to San Francisco to speak at the San Francisco State University there on the topic of "Krsna Consciousness: The Best Alternative Life Style, the Ideal Community, the New Social Order." The professors and students at the University intend to "examine particular new movements in depth. The basic issue underlying the study of these movements is whether they comprise the beginning of a trans-national world culture, and what long range social and political effects might result from them."

Your programme for the university students is very very nice, try to do it seriously and with scholarly approach.
Letter to Narottamananda -- Vrindaban 23 October, 1972:

But always remember that our first business is preaching and distributing literatures, never mind we have to live under a tree. But because the people of your country expect something, we must give them place, but preaching is our real business. Your programme for the university students is very very nice, try to do it seriously and with scholarly approach.

1977 Correspondence

As for your plan to invite university students to spend the weekend, it is very good; do it.
Letter to Giriraja -- Bhuvanesvara 31 January, 1977:

It is good news hearing good preachers like Jagat Guru and Sridhara Swami Maharajas, and Madhavananda are arriving to Bombay to push on the membership, other preaching and collecting.As for your plan to invite university students to spend the weekend, it is very good; do it.

Page Title:University students
Compiler:Visnu Murti, Sureshwardas
Created:18 of Dec, 2008
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=1, OB=1, Lec=8, Con=12, Let=16
No. of Quotes:38