Shooting for the Rhino

Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Successful people know the art of the setting the highest unachievable goals for themselves. They focus on achieving the unachievable, and thus they realize the most amazing success. In this connection Srila Prabhupada gives the example of shooting for the rhinoceros, which is a very difficult animal to kill:

"We should always be enthusiastic to try for shooting the rhinoceros. That way, if we fail, everybody will say Never mind, nobody can shoot a rhinoceros anyway, and if we succeed, then everyone will say, Just see, what a wonderful thing they have done."
(from a Letter to: Balavanta Das -- Bombay 22 December, 1971)

This is of course is only an example because our philosophy is not to hurt even a little ant. The point is by trying for what is considered to be impossible we can achieve astoundingly amazing results.

Srila Prabhupada writes: "The Lord is all-powerful, and in His presence anything impossible can be made possible by His inconceivable energy." So if one attracts the presence of Krishna by always being in the mood of total devotion to Him one can accomplish anything which is the impossible. And for the preacher that is the goal of making the entire world Krishna conscious as soon as possible.

Devotees Don't Want to Hurt Even a Little Ant

Devotees Don't Want to Hurt Even a Little Ant

Srila Prabhupada Dictates His Purports

Srila Prabhupada Dictates His Purports

Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom

Question: Okay to Not Read Prabhupada's Purports?

My Dear Respected Gurudeva 
Please accept my humble obeisances 
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
 
I have a friend he accepts Vedas as truth, we read Gita and Bhagavatam. 
He likes the books, but not the purports (commentary). So we read the texts only. Is it OK? How can I help him to accepting the Prabhupada's purports?
 
Thank you so much for your help. 
 
Kaspars

Answer: It Is Not Okay

My Dear Kaspars,

Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

It is not okay because Lord Sri Krishna says in Bhagava-gita 4.34:
 
tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ
 
"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth."
 
So, reading Srila Prabhupada's purports is approaching the spiritual master.  Without doing this one will never get a proper understanding of the scriptures.

Hoping this meets you in good health. 

Your ever well-wisher,
Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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