You mentioned that your pathway has become filled with stumbling blocks, but there are no stumbling blocks, I can kick out all those stumbling blocks immediately, provided you accept my guidance. With one stroke of my kick I can kick out all stumbling blocks.

Letter to: Krsna dasa — Dallas 9 September, 1972

Some people argue that Arjuna was talking with Krishna because Krishna was present before him, whereas in my case, Krishna is not present. So how can I get directions? But that is not a fact. Krishna is present by His words—the Bhagavad-Gita.

Krishna, the Reservoir of Pleasure authored by Swami Prila Prabhupada

So this is life of Krishna, worshiping Krishna in the temple, to sell Krishna’s books, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, to think of Krishna—Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna—to eat Krishna-prasadam, to take all risk for Krishna, to do work for Krishna, as Arjuna, to fight for Krishna. He did not like to fight, but for Krishna’s sake he fought. So fight for Krishna, work for Krishna, think of Krishna, eat Krishna-prasadam, talk of Krishna, read for Krishna. So Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna. This is life. This is Krishna consciousness.

Lecture on: Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.1-5 — Melbourne, June 26, 1974

If we want the degraded mass of people to be elevated, we must stop their sinful activity. To stop sinful activity one must purify the mind and the best process for purifying the mass mind is the chanting of the maha mantra Hare Krishna. This can be done in public where everyone has a chance to hear and be purified.

Letter to: Swami Jara Kumar — Vrindaban 20 August, 1974

Srimat Kunti devi when there was difficulty, she prayed to Krishna. That is Krishna consciousness. Not that when there is difficulty I shall forget Krishna. Whatever the material condition may be we should just cling to Krishna’s lotus feet.

Letter to: Shaktimati — Mayapur 7 October, 1974

We can see stone, we can see metal, we can see wood. We can see all these material elements. But Krishna is everything. Therefore to be visible to our imperfect eyes, Krishna has appeared in the stone form, but Krishna is not stone. It is not that we are worshiping stone; we are worshiping Krishna. But because we cannot see except stone, therefore Krishna has kindly appeared in the form carved from the stone. This is the conclusion.

Lecture on; Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.37 — April 29, 1973, Los Angeles

A Vaisnava is ready to excuse even the greatest enemy. But Krishna does not want. If you insult His devotee, the devotee may excuse, but Krishna will not excuse. This is Krishna’s position. Therefore be careful to insult a devotee. A devotee may excuse you. But Krishna will not excuse you. Krishna is so strict. He cannot tolerate any insult to His devotee.

Lecture on: Bhagavad-gita 1.26-27 — July 21, 1973, London

A devotee is always nonviolent; he is qualified with all good characteristics. But, in the common world, when there is mischief made by others, he should not forget to become angry, at least for the time being, in order to drive away the miscreants.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.11.31

Unless one becomes detestful of this material world, it is to be understood that he has not yet entered in the spiritual understanding. This is the test of bhakti. If one has entered the domain of devotional service, this material world will be not at all tasteful for him.

Lucture on: Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.15 — February 22, 1976, Mayapur

Do not be depressed. All along my godbrothers gave me only depression, repression, compression—but I continued strong in my duty. So never mind there is some discouragement, continue with your work in full enthusiastic Krishna Consciousness attitude of service.

Letter to: Gurudasa — Los Angeles 29 August, 1972

Don’t feel yourself to be alone because Krishna is always with you. Krishna is always with every living entity as Supersoul, and to His devotee especially He talks and gives instructions how to attain the perfectional stage of meeting Him. So don’t feel alone.

Letter to: Ananda — San Francisco 3 April, 1969

I know that if you maintain the association of devotees your life will be happy and perfect. That is the version of the sastra that the most important thing for spiritual realization is the company of realized souls or pure devotees of the Lord.

Letter to: Tribhuvanatha — Los Angeles 18 July, 1970

The pickpocket takes from your pocket and he becomes a criminal, and when the wife takes thousand dollars from your pocket, you do not consider to be criminal. You laugh, “Oh, you have taken the money?” “Yes, I’ve taken.” The business is a pickpocket. Actually thieves and rogues, but we have named them “relatives.”

Morning Walk at Niavaran Park — August 8, 1976, Tehran

Always think of the Lotus Feet of Sri Krishna and you will find no difficulties in executing the tasks allotted to you by Krishna

Letter to: Satsvarupa — Bhaktivedanta Manor 28 August, 1973

Even you insult Krishna, He will tolerate. But if you insult His devotee, He will never tolerate. Then you are finished. Then you are finished. Just like a big man. If you insult him, he may think, “All right, let him.” But if you insult or do something harm to his child, he will never tolerate. He will never tolerate. Similarly, a devotee who is dependent on Krishna in everything, and if somebody does harm to him, insults him, Krishna will never tolerate. That is explained in the Caitanya-caritamrta, vaisnava-aparadha. Tara madhye vaisnava-aparadha hati matta. So we should be very careful not to offend Vaisnava devotees. Not to offend. This is greatest offense.

Lecture on: Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.22–23 — December 2, 1973, Los Angeles

We should not eat more than required. Eating, sleeping, mating, all these are material demands; the more we minimize, then that is good, but not at the risk of health. Because He have to work for Krishna, so we must maintain our health nicely.

Letter to: Yadunandana — San Francisco 13 April, 1960

Even you insult Krishna, He will tolerate. But if you insult His devotee, He will never tolerate. Then you are finished. Then you are finished. Just like a big man. If you insult him, he may think, “All right, let him.” But if you insult or do something harm to his child, he will never tolerate. He will never tolerate. Similarly, a devotee who is dependent on Krishna in everything, and if somebody does harm to him, insults him, Krishna will never tolerate. That is explained in the Caitanya-caritamrta, vaisnava-aparadha. Tara madhye vaisnava-aparadha hati matta. So we should be very careful not to offend Vaisnava devotees. Not to offend. This is greatest offense.

Lecture on: Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.22–23 — December 2, 1973, Los Angeles

To have a look at the Lord is a great festive occasion undoubtedly, as it was considered by the metropolitan ladies of Dvaraka. This is still followed by the devout ladies of India. Especially during the days of the Jhulana and Janmashtami ceremonies, the ladies of India still throng up in the greatest number at the temple of the Lord, where His transcendental eternal form is worshiped. The transcendental form of the Lord installed in a temple is not different from the Lord personally.

Srimad Bhagavatam purport 1.11.24

Water from the sky falling down on the ground looks muddy, but water is not muddy, it is clear. When the water is again filtered, and muddy things are precipitated, the water comes to its original luster, crystal clear. So our Krishna Consciousness movement is that we have to clear our consciousness by the transcendental addition of Krishna chemical. Then everything will be nice and clear, and we shall be able to see our identification without any designation.

Letter to: Chidananda, Montreal, July 12, 1968

We should utilize our time for elevating ourselves in Krishna Consciousness than for so-called economic development. If we are satisfied with plain living, with minimum time and the balance time is engaged for elevating our Krishna Conscious program, then every man can be transferred to Goloka Vrindavana, just in this very life.

Letter to: Hamsaduta, Los Angeles, January 11, 1968