Prabhupada in Paris

Morning Walk in Paris, 11 June 1974

Paramahamsa: My question is: A pure devotee, when he comments Bhagavad-gita, someone who never sees him physically, but he just comes in contact with his commentary, explanation, is this the same thing?

Prabhupada: Yes. You can associate with Krsna by reading Bhagavad-gita. And these saintly persons, they have given their explanations, comments. So where is the difficulty? Everyone is helping you.

(Editor’s note: Srila Prabhupada says you can get help from the previous acaryas—Prabhupada refers to them here as ‘saintly persons’—in the form of their commentaries. So associate with pure devotees and Krishna by reading their words, Prabhupada is saying here.)

Pusta-krsna: You've said that the Bhagavad-gita is Krsna's mind.

Prabhupada: Bhagavad-gita is Krsna. Krsna is not different from His mind. Why do you say like that? This is material conception, the soul is different from body, the mind is different from soul. But Krsna has no such difference. Therefore He's called absolute. Advaya-jnana. His mind and Krsna are the same. Krsna and His name is the same. Krsna and His words are the same. This is Krsna understanding.

Paramahamsa: Is that why Christ didn't utter the name of Krsna?

Prabhupada: No, he said, "Hallowed be Thy name. Hallowed be Thy name." So there is name already. That means he gave you chance to find out the name. And as he came to India, so you come to India and you'll get the name.

Pusta-krsna: He was helping to lay the foundation for sankirtana movement.

Prabhupada: Yes. "Hallowed be Thy name." Yes. This is a chance for others to think, "Hallowed be Thy name." The name is glorified. "So where the name is glorified? Find out."

Prabhupada: What is that prayer?

Pusta-krsna: One devotee, he asked to Christ, "How should I pray?"
He said, "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever and ever."

Prabhupada: Very nice prayer. Very nice prayer. (pause)

Pusta-krsna: This is vandanam. Yes, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: Hmm.

Nitai: Srila Prabhupada, is there some gradual development in all those nine processes of devotional service, beginning from hearing?

Prabhupada: Yes. Adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sangah [Cc. Madhya 23.14-15]. This chanting and hearing should be in the association of devotees. First of all, one must have faith that chanting is good. Then he should chant in the society of the devotees. Then it will develop. He can chant anywhere. But if he chants along... Therefore sankirtana. Bahubhir milita. Many devotees, chanting together, that is called sankirtana. So one, our movement is sankirtana movement, many devotees together would chant the holy name of God. Then it is very quickly successful. Just like a person who comes to our center in the association of the devotees, after few weeks, he also becomes devotee. Quickly. And there are many others, they are seeing that there is a group like this, but because they do not come, they do not understand. Therefore the quick development process is to execute devotional service in the association of devotees, sadhu-sanga:
sadhu-sanga, sadhu-sanga -- sarva-sastre kaya
lava-matra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya
 [Cc. Madhya 22.54]

Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that sadhu-sanga, association of devotees, is very, very important. Even for a moment, if there is association, he immediately comes to the path of perfection. (pause) So if you actually remain a sadhu, devotee, then anyone who will come with your association, he'll be perfect by association. Means, this process of perfection will begin immediately.