(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 16 December 2013, Sandton, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.17.38)
Krsna is like the sun, maya is like darkness; wherever there is Krsna, maya’s influence cannot be there. So in this way, we do not have to fear. We do not have to think, “How will I conquer this illusory energy? I feel weak”. We should engage in more hearing and chanting, have more devotee association and take only Krsna-prasadam; no potato chips, nothing; just Krsna-prasadam.
You may say, “I offer my potato chips!”
Alright, but actually, they have already been offered to the factory workers. Actually to tell you the truth, if you’re cooking for Krsna and someone walks into the kitchen and just puts his hand straight into the pot and starts eating from it, will you still offer it to Krsna?
Well, there was a devotee, near Ermelo (in South Africa) who had a big chips factory and one time, they wanted me to go there to bless the factory. You know, “Swamiji, please come and bless our factory?” So, I went and blessed the factory and checked it out and I saw trucks of potatoes coming in and then being washed and chopped up by machines, and then the slices are dried and they go on the conveyor belt, and then there is a dip and they go through the hot oil and they come out brown and crispy. Then on the other side, as they come out, there is some machine that blows on hot spices onto the chips which stick on. The chips are still hot and spicy and there are the workers, “Chomp! Chomp! Chomp!” eating the chips! I was like, okay… so much for the chips! But if we take shelter of Krsna-prasadam, then everything is there, we are protected. There is no doubt of that…