INTERNAL WORMS

Once the headmaster of the Thakur Bhaktivinode Institute asked Srila Saraswati Thakur, “So many devotees have given up everything, are staying in the math, and are engaged in devotional service. Why don’t they improve to the advanced stage?” Saraswati Thakur answered, “They have internal worms. They are being eaten up by worms inside. They are taking food but are not getting nourishment because of worms. They are engaging in devotional service, but the advancement is eaten by material desires and secret bad behavior. So they become weak.

Srimad Bhagavatam ki Jai!!

The sound incarnation of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Soul [i.e. Srimad Bhagavatam], enters into the heart of a self-realized devotee, sits on the lotus flower of his loving relationship, and thus cleanses the dust of material association, such as lust, anger and hankering. Thus it acts like autumnal rains upon pools of muddy water. (Srimad Bhagavatam 2.8.5)

‘You Are So Ugly, You Should Marry a Monkey’

When Shrila Prabhupada’s edition of Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-Lila, Volume 1, was first published, devotees were surprised and pleased to read about the humorous joking between Lord Nityananda and Advaita Acharya during the taking of prasadam at Advaita Acharya's house. One morning, during a car ride with Shrila Prabhupäda, one of the devotees expressed his appreciation for the new volume.
“There is such nice humor in the Caitanya-caritamrita, Shrila Prabhupada.”
“Yes,” said Shrila Prabhupäda, “spiritual life is humor also.” Then he began to tell a story. “Krishna said to one old lady, "You are so ugly, you should marry a monkey.’
“‘No,’ said the old lady, ‘I have given up all material desires. I will marry You, Krishna!’
“‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’ All the gopis and boys clapped and laughed.”
While Prabhupada said this, his eyes lit up and he became animated, laughing at the humorous pastimes of Krishna. “So Krishna was defeated,” said Prabhupada, “by that laughing of the gopés.”

Reading and Tapasya - Part II

I am very much stressing at this point that all of my students shall be very much conversant with the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness, and that they should read our books very diligently at least one or two hours daily and try to understand the subject matter from varieties of angles. We have got ample stock for acquiring knowledge. And if the students get knowledge more and more they will automatically become convinced and very easily perform their duties for tapasya or renunciation of the material bondage, and that will be their successful advancement in Krishna Consciousness.
— Letter to Madhudvisa, 16 June, 1972.

Reading and Tapasya

The more we become renounced from this material world the more we advance in Krishna Consciousness. But we are only able to make such sacrifices and perform tapasya if we have got knowledge. So first thing is to become knowledgeable in Krishna Consciousness, then the tapasya or voluntary life of austerity will result automatically. So I am requesting all of my students to read my books very seriously every day without fail. In this way, if your mind becomes absorbed at least one or two hours daily in the ranscendental subject matter of Shrimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, and other books then very easily you will make your advancement in Krishna Consciousness.
— Letter to Bhargava, 13 June, 1972