Quotes

“In our Vedic science of living, it is enjoined that the society should be organized in such a way to protect women, children, old people and cows, because factually all of them are innocent.”
Srila Prabhupada letter to Mr. Loy Vrindavana 7 November 1972

“The essence of all beings is earth. The essence of earth is water. The essence of water is plants. The essence of plants are human beings.”
Chandogya Upanishad

“Those who think that devotion to God and kindness to the Jivas (spirit souls) are mutually different from each other, and perform accordingly in their life, such persons will not be able to follow the devotional culture. Their performance is only a semblance of devotion. Therefore, all the types of beneficence to others, like kindness, friendliness, forgiveness, charity, respect, etc. are included in Bhakti… Charity of medicines, clothes, food, water, etc. shelter during adversities, teaching of academic and spiritual education, etc. are the activities included in the devotional culture.”
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sri Tattva-sutram, 35

“One who feeds a handful of grass to a cow everyday for one year, by this vow all his desires are fulfilled. He will receive sons, fame, wealth and property, and all his sorrows are destroyed.”
Mahabharata, Anusasan parva 69/12-13

“…..The best humanitarian work is to give knowledge to humanity, not that one is suffering for want of food and… If I give some food that is good work. But that is not sufficient. I may give food that is all right. You give. We also give prasadam free. But that does not mean simply by giving prasadam,. we are silent. We give knowledge also. This is Krsna consciousness movement. Food automatically you have to give. That is… There is no prohibition. But at the same time knowledge… Just like the same example. If you have got some children. If you don’t give them education. simply feed them. that is not your proper duty. You must give knowledge. Krsna consciousness movement is therefore giving them knowledge.”
Srila Prabhupad S.B. lecture on September 9,1975 in Vrindavana, India.

“Krishna is not in need of anything, He is purnam, the complete whole. And yet He appreciates our love for Him, just like everyone appreciates if someone exhibits love for them. So He kindly allows us to show that love by considering that if I do not feed Him, Krishna will go hungry, if I do not give Him rest, He will be tired, like that… Everything we do should be for the reason that it gives pleasure to Krishna. Because Krishna’s intimate associates (the Brajbasis) give Him the most pleasure, and because they are His favourites, it pleases Him to see that these associates and close friends are also offered all respect by the devotees. “
Srila Prabhupada‘s letter to : Patty Dorgan, Delhi 17 November 1971

“Attracted by the sweet tone of Haridas Thakur’s kirtan, hundred of devotees went to his cottage and offered fruits to him. Haridas shouted “Haribol” and threw away the fruits to be picked up by the children. He also asked them to shout “Haribol” happily for the sake of the fruits. Thus Haridas sowed the seed of Harinam in their hearts at the tender age, when the heart is fertile and the seed sown in it easily takes root and sprouts.”
The Companions of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu page 124, by O. B. L. Kapoor

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Prabhupada: “During aratika time, hundreds of children come to us. I give little prasadam. You have seen it?
Dr. Patel: “Yes.
Prabhupada: They are very interested in dance and… Now, I wish that they
may be given sumptuous food and dress.
Dr. Patel: Yes, dress, I also thought of that. Some of them are very badly
dressed, poor people…
Prabhupada: Yes, if they come, “All right, come here. Just take your bath,
be cleansed, tilaka, and a nice dress” and giving them some food.
Tamala Krsna: “Every day they can put on their nice clothes for the Deity.”
Prabhupada: Yes, because their father, mother, neither they do know how to
take care of the children, but they come to us. We should take care of them.
Dr. Patel: This is just like those Christian missions, we must…
Prabhupada: Any one…
Dr. Patel: I think, I think we must do that. Then we will be able to propagate.
Prabhupada: Not with that purpose. Here is a poor child. He comes automatically to dance. So we should take care of them.
Dr. Patel: Yes, I have thought of it long ago.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Dr. Patel: We must collect some funds and buy some ready-made clothes, keep them ready and present them.
Prabhupada: So from santa-rasa we can begin this dasya-rasa. Yes. Instead of taking care of them, you please kindly take up these poor children.
Dr. Patel: No, no, no. I will try. I have taken your, this thing to my heart. I will try to collect some fund and get some clothing, those ready-made ones.
Prabhupada: So one day a tailors may be brought and take their measurement.
Dr. Patel: But ready-made is there.
Prabhupada: Or ready-made. Ready made. So in the evening they should come, they should take bath, be cleansed, and give dress. Next day when they come, change the dress. Let them be habituated. They are coming…
Dr. Patel: In cleanliness, you give them impression of cleanliness.
Prabhupada:…voluntarily, to dance, to take prasadam. So why you should not take care of them? This is my point. We don’t make distinction whether they are coming from Christian or Hindu or… Our, our, our mantra is sarve sukhino bhavantu.
Dr. Patel: That’s right.
Prabhupada: Sarve sukhina… Everyone be happy. This is Krsna consciousness movement. We want to see everyone to be happy. That’s all. And how lovingly they come to take little prasadam. I was thinking that…
Dr. Patel: I was noticing, myself, the same thing…”
Prabhupada: How lovingly they offer me obeisances, touch my feet, and a little fruit or little, whatever I give, they are satisfied. So they are so friendly because they are innocent. They do not know what is this Hindu, Christian. So we must take care of them.”
Srila Prabhupada, morning walk- 17 February 1974, Bombay

“One who helps others reside in Vrindavan by supplying them food, clothes, and residence accumulates a million times more piety than one who resides there, because one who resides there delivers only himself whereas one who helps others reside there delivers himself as well as those he helps. One who helps someone reside in the highest abode of Vrindavan easily develops wonderful attachment for Krishna, the beloved Lord of the daughter of King Vrishabhanu. “
Srila Prabhodhananda Sarasvati- Vrindavan mahimamrita: Sataka 1 verse 73

“One who plants one asvattha (pipal tree), One picumarda (neem tree), one nyagrodha (banyan tree), 10 puspa-jatis (flower giving trees), and two atroms (pomegranate trees) will not go to hell. “
Varaha Purana

All that is not given is lost
“In India people faced the basic problem of how to get enough food to eat each day. Prabhupada’s solution was not merely to offer them philosophy and kirtana, he would have them take nourishing Krsna prasadam. By respecting the foodstuffs which had been offered to the Lord, a hungry man could become satisfied both physically and spiritually. In the Nadia district of West Bengal, where Mayapur is situated, there were thousands of undernourished mothers and small children, as well as many unemployed men. For them our prasadam distribution program was tangible evidence that Krsna was their true protector and maintainer. While the other temples in the area only distributed prasadam during the annual festival of Lord Caitanya’s birthday, Srila Prabhupada had ordered that our Mayapur Chandrodaya temple distribute prasadam at least twice a week, and if possible every day. As a result, thousands came, many walking as much as twenty miles from distant villages.”
Servant of the servant, Chapter 14

“I ask you one thing: do not tire of giving, but do not give your leftovers. Give until it hurts, until you feel pain.”
Mother Teresa, Calcutta

“To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required, not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.”
John F. Kennedy

“You educate a man, you educate an individual. You educate a woman you educate a family.”
Mahatma Gandhi

During this tour when Srila Sarasvati Thakura and his followers were returning from a darsana of Saksi-Gopal, he noticed that his householder followers refused to give alms to some poor people who were requesting help.
He then sarcastically described their attitude as, Money should not be given to the poor, distressed people… if it is given it will be karma-kanda.

[ Srila Saraswati Thakura was satirizing the attitude of his disciples who were thinking that it was beneath them, as transcendental Vaisnavas, to give charity to the poor, as though this were a continuing activity within the realm of karmic activity.]

He stated that, This type of consideration by householders expresses miserliness, mercilessness, and lack of affliction at others distress. From this attitude the heart becomes hard and money even for Visnu’s service, which is the means of one’s own interest, disappears. Therefore, offence in service (seva-aparadha) is invited. In order to guard against all these hypocritical, sinful deliberations, Sri Gaurasundara in His pastimes used to give help to lowly, distressed people. Even earned wealth is obtained by the mercy of God. It is not incorrect use of wealth if some portion of mercy is given to the requesting poor – it is it’s proper use! To distribute mercy (prasada) is the compulsory duty of householder Vaisnavas. Even though their (poor people’s) miserableness has been obtained through the fault of their own karma…. they are still God’s people. Therefore, to give them help is the compulsory duty of well-to-do people.
An excerpt from A Ray of Visnu by Rupa Vilasa Dasa

“The rich man should distribute prasadam through Krishna consciousness to the poor man, and the poor man should not be envious of the rich man. Then there will be happiness prosperity.”
Srila Prabhupada

“It is the duty of a householder to feed first of all the children, the old members of the family, the brahmanas and the invalids. Besides that, an ideal householder is required to call for any unknown hungry man to come and dine before he himself goes to take his meals. He is required to call for such a hungry man thrice on the road. The neglect of this prescribed duty of a householder, especially in the matter of the old men and children, is unpardonable.”
Srila Prabhupada

“That prasadam is also Isa [God]. The prasadam accepted by Krishna, offered to Krishna, is also Krishna. So if we give prasadam, then he is getting the opportunity of associating with Krishna. This is our idea. But people very much appreciate poor-feeding. So that, you can take it.”
Srila Prabhupada

“Just like feeding the poor. It is also yajna. But the same thing, if it is dovetailed in consciousness, that becomes perfect. People are very much inclined to feed the poor with sumptuous food, but it can be done in a little different way, that the foodstuff offered to Vishnu, prasada, that distribution foodstuff is better than ordinary distribution of foodstuff. Ordinarily, that is punya, pious activities, but when it is connection with Krishna, this is called yajna.”
Srila Prabhupada

“Everywhere. In the hospitals, charitable societies, Industrial places, everywhere – distribute this prasada and chant this Hare Krishna. Just see what is the result. You want peace? These are the processes of peace.”
Srila Prabhupada

“The self-effulgent Vaikuntha planets, by whose illumination alone all the illuminating planets within this material world give off reflected light, cannot be reached by those who are not merciful to other living entities. Only persons who constantly engage in welfare activities for other living entities can reach the Vaikuntha planets.”
Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.12.36