Vedic Thoughts

We should always keep Kṛṣṅa within our minds, for Kṛṣṅa is like the sun. This is the motto of our Back to Godhead magazine: Kṛṣṅa is just like the brilliant sun, and māyā, ignorance, is just like darkness. When the sun is present, there cannot be darkness. So if we keep ourselves in Kṛṣṅa consciousness always, we cannot be influenced by the darkness of ignorance; rather, we shall always walk very freely in the bright sunshine of Kṛṣṅa.

—His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Teachings of Queen Kuntī, p. 163–164

Even the entirety of whatever there may be within the three worlds to satisfy one’s senses cannot satisfy a person whose senses are uncontrolled.

—Lord Vāmanadeva, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.19.21

There is nothing more sinful than untruthfulness. Because of this, Mother Earth once said, “I can bear any heavy thing except a person who is a liar.”

—Bali Mahārāja, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.20.4

The prayers of the impersonalists offend the Lord more than denunciation by His avowed enemies.

—Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, Real and Apparent (Divine Form)

I desire to be in Vṛndāvana so that I may sit on the bank of the Yamunā and pass each long day of my life in the twinkling of an eye, meditating on Lord Kṛṣṅa.

—Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, Abhilāṣāṣṭaka

There is no friend equal to knowledge. There is no enemy equal to disease. There is no affection equal to that received from one’s own child. And there is no strength superior to the will of God.

—Cāṅakya Paṅīita

Of secret things I am silence.

—Lord Kṛṣṅa, Bhagavad-gītā 10.38

The person who has not at any time received the dust of the feet of the Lord’s pure devotee upon his head is certainly a dead body. And the person who has never experienced the aroma of the tulasī leaves from the lotus feet of the Lord is also a dead body, although breathing.

—Śaunaka Ṛṣi, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.3.23

Give up the shackles of matter slowly. Cultivate your spirit inwards. Give up prejudices which you have acquired from the so-called rational thinkers who deny the existence of spirit. Be humble in your self and learn to respect those who work towards spiritual attainments. Do these with your heart, mind, and strength in the company of spiritual people alone, and you will see Kṛṣṅa in no time.

—Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, His Life and Precepts

There is no stronger obstruction to one’s self-interest than thinking other subject matters to be more pleasing than one’s self-realization.

—Sanat Kumāra, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.22.32