H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 443 — Poem for September 25

PLANET ISKCON

 

"Planet ISKCON" - 33 new articles H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Monday 26 September 2011--Avoid the Fallacious Mayavadis--and--Spiritual Perfection Before Initiation? Akrura das, Gita Coaching: THEY DO NOT ACCUSE KRSNA Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HE DOES NOT CARE FOR SUFFERING Akrura das, Gita Coaching: THE ONLY DIFFICULTY Akrura das, Gita Coaching: A DEVOTEE IS NEVER DEPRESSED Kurma dasa, AU: Pumpkin Soup by Lakshmi Akrura das, Gita Coaching: DESPITE MANY DISTRESSFUL CONDITIONS H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 443 — Poem for September 25 H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Selected Writings Japa Group: The First Regulative Principle Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: two disciples cannot get along Akrura das, Gita Coaching: WHEN BAD IS GOOD H.H. Sivarama Swami Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: A second meeting Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: Representative of International Society for Krishna Consciousness Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: A study of ancient worlds Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: The Proud Beetle In A Lump Of Cow Dung Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters H.H. Sivarama Swami: I was going to talk about the questions for the day – gay rights Mayapur Online: Puri Parikrama- Register Now! Mayapur Online: Congregational Development Ministry News Japa Group: The Temple of the Heart P2 Dandavats.com: Thankfulness Dandavats.com: Mayor Glorifies Srila Prabhupada's Contribution Dandavats.com: MSF of Loving Exchanges, September 2011 Dandavats.com: Welcome to Sri Kshetra Parikrama: 12-16 Nov. Gouranga TV: Janmastami Temple Kirtan More Recent Articles Search Planet ISKCON Prior Mailing Archive H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Monday 26 September 2011--Avoid the Fallacious Mayavadis--and--Spiritual Perfection Before Initiation? A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Monday 26 September 2011 The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, and His eternal consort, Srimati Radharani are enjoying transcendental pastimes in the topmost planet of the spiritual world, Sri Goloka Vrindavan. They are beckoning us to rejoin them. (Click on photo to see a larger image.) Our Mission: To help everyone awaken their original Krishna consciousness, which is eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss. Such a global awakening will, in one stroke, solve all the problems of the world society bringing in a new era of unprecedented peace and prosperity for all. May that day, which the world so desperately needs, come very soon. We request you to participate in this mission by reviving your dormant Krishna consciousness and assisting us in spreading this science all over the world. Dedicated with love to ISKCON Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, our beloved spiritual master, and to you, our dear readers. For Transcendental Association Connect With Other Members of this Course. Join this Conference: http://groups.google.com/group/sda_students Today's Thought: Avoid the Fallacious Mayavadis Uploaded from Copenhagen, Denmark A Mayavadi is someone who sticks to the principle that the form of God is maya or an illusion. The Mayavadis use very sophisticated world jugglery to try to establish their false conclusion. Those who are not learned in the Vedic wisdom can easily be razzle-dazzled or misled by Mayavadi philosophy. Here is a classic example of their philosophy as stated by a popular Mayavadi guru: I am that Brahman which is bliss, which is eternal, effulgent, all-pervasive, the substratum of names and forms, which is not cognized by the impure intellect, but is cognized by the pure intellect, stainless and boundless. That is to say, when one discards the jiva (individual being) of the form of ahamkara (ego-sense), which is the apparent meaning of the word 'I', what remains merely as the effulgent and conscious Atman (Self), which is the implied meaning of the word 'I', is Brahman. This can also be understood from the following words of Arunagiriar's experience: "After swallowing me who had the form of 'I' (ego), that supreme Being remained as mere Self." In so many words, in a very sophisticated way, the Mayavadi guru is saying that the individual self is actually God, the Supreme Self, although he may be presently in an illusioned covered state of consciousness in which he thinks himself separate from God. He is saying that the individual sense of I-ness or identity is false, that the only reality is the nameless, formless Supreme Self, the impersonal Brahman. So in a roundabout way he is saying that he is God. This is directly contradicts the words the supreme authority, Lord Sri Krishna, as spoken in the Bhagavad-gita. Krishna clearly states in Chapter 2 that He and all the living entities are eternally existing as individuals in the past, present, and future. The Mayavadi philosophy is that individual identity is false, that the only reality is the impersonal, formless oneness, which they call the Self. By denying Krishna's existence as a person the Mayavadis are the greatest offenders against the Lord. Therefore any gurus who teach this Mayavadi philosophy should be avoided. We should only accept as our guru a Vaisnava, someone who knows and teaches that the Supreme Absolute Truth possesses form and personality. Lord Caitanya said that if we hear from the Mayavadis our spiritual life is doomed. We would do well to carefully follow His Caitanya's advice . Sankarshan Das Adhikari Smashing Mayavadi Philosophy Copenhagen, Denmark--25 September 2011 http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Denmark_Lect1.JPG Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Spiritual Perfection Before Initiation? Even before initiation can a person become a pure devotee of Lord Krishna by sincere chanting, proper listening, reading Vedic scriptures, and loving service to devotees and the spiritual master? Sunil Answer: All Steps Must Be Completed for Perfection. The process of becoming a pure devotee consists of nine steps as described by Srila Prabhupada and Srila Rupa Goswami: 1. Faith in the self-realization process 2. Association with devotees 3. Initiation from the bona fide spiritual master 4. Becoming free from bad habits 5. Becoming solidly fixed in Krishna consciousness 6. Developing a taste for the holy name 7. Becoming completely attached to Krishna 8. Awakening spiritual emotions 9. Awakening of pure devotional service. You are asking me if one can become a pure devotee without taking all the steps required to become a pure devotee. The answer is obviously no. One must execute the process properly according the guidelines of the great acharyas if he wants to awaken the pure love of God within his heart. Before initiation one can advance to step 2. But if he wants to go all the way to step 9, he cannot avoid taking step 3. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Transcendental Resources: Receive the Special Blessings of Krishna Now you too can render the greatest service to the suffering humanity and attract the all-auspicious blessings of Lord Sri Krishna upon yourself and your family by assisting our mission. Lectures and Kirtans in Audio and Video: Link to High Definition Videos Link to Over 1,000 Lecture Audios Lecture-Travel Schedule for 2011 http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/schedule Have Questions or Need Further Guidance? Check out the resources at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com or write Sankarshan Das Adhikari at: sda@backtohome.com Get your copy today of the world's greatest self-realization guide book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is available at:http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/store Know someone who could benefit from this? Forward it to them. Searchable archives of all of course material: http://www.sda-archives.com Receive Thought for the Day as an RSS feed: http://www.backtohome.com/rss.htm Unsubscribe or change your email address Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Daily_Thought Thought for the Day on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ultimate.Self.Realization Copyright 2005-2011 by Ultimate Self Realization.Com Distribution of this material is encouraged. Simply we request you to acknowledge where it is coming from with a link to our sign up page: http://www.backtohome.com Our records indicate that at requested to be enrolled to receive e-mails from the Ultimate Self Realization Course at: This request was made on: From the following IP address:   • Email to a friend • • Akrura das, Gita Coaching: THEY DO NOT ACCUSE KRSNA Krsna wantsyou all to be happy, and He has given the instruction how to become happy, butwe are unfortunate. We do not take Krsna's instruction and suffer. Thisknowledge is not there. Mayayapahrta-jnana.  He's suffering for his own fault,and he's accusing God that "He has put me into this position." No.Therefore those who are devotees, they do not become so foolish. When they aresuffering, they do not accuse Krsna.  They say, "My Lord, it is Your mercythat I am suffering." Just the opposite. Tat te 'nukampam susamiksamanah[SB 10.14.8]. Because he knows that "I am suffering on account of my ownfault. So better Krsna is adjusting the thing, giving me little trouble, that'sall." That is the position. - Srila Prabhupada lecture, Srimad-Bhagavatam7.9.19 -- Mayapur, February 26, 1976   • Email to a friend • • Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HE DOES NOT CARE FOR SUFFERING So after all, it is, everything, in the mind, suffering andenjoying. So a devotee's mind is trained up in Krsna consciousness. Thereforehe does not care for suffering.  That is the difference between a devotee andnondevotee. Srila Prabhupada lecture, Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.23 -- Bombay, November 23, 1974   • Email to a friend • • Akrura das, Gita Coaching: THE ONLY DIFFICULTY There is notat all difficulty. Simply because we do not take advice of Krsna, we aresuffering. This is the difficulty. This is the only difficulty. - Srila Prabhupada lecture, Srimad-Bhagavatam1.7.23 -- Vrndavana, September 20, 1976   • Email to a friend • • Akrura das, Gita Coaching: A DEVOTEE IS NEVER DEPRESSED If you areworking for Krsna, it is Krsna's desire if you be successful or not successful.Here it is, the word is used, asiddhau. That means don't think that because youare Krsna conscious, you will be always successful. No. It doesn't matter.  Evenif you are unsuccessful, you must know it firmly that without Krsna's desire,nothing can happen. If you are unsuccessful, then you should.... That is Krsnaconscious.... You should know also that "It is Krsna's desire." It isKrsna's desire.  So there is no question of being depressed because you areunsuccessful. A devotee is never depressed in the horrible condition of life.Tat te 'nukampam su-samiksamano bhunjana... [SB 10.14.8]. - Srila Prabhupada lecture, Bhagavad-gita4.22 -- Bombay, April 11, 1974   • Email to a friend • • Kurma dasa, AU: Pumpkin Soup by Lakshmi Here's a nice blog worth revisiting:   • Email to a friend • • Akrura das, Gita Coaching: DESPITE MANY DISTRESSFUL CONDITIONS A pure devoteeis never disturbed in any circumstances. Nor is he envious of anyone. Nor doesa devotee become his enemy's enemy. He thinks, "This person is acting asmy enemy due to my own past misdeeds. So it is better to suffer than toprotest." In the Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.8) it is stated: tat te'nukampam su-samiksamano bhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam.  Whenever a devotee isin distress or has fallen into difficulty, he thinks that it is the Lord'smercy upon him. He thinks, "Thanks to my past misdeeds I should sufferfar, far greater than I am suffering now. So it is by the mercy of the SupremeLord that I am not getting all the punishment I am due. I am just getting alittle, by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."  Therefore heis always calm, quiet and patient, despite many distressful conditions. Adevotee is also always kind to everyone, even to his enemy. Bg 12.13-14 Purport   • Email to a friend • • H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 443 — Poem for September 25 Poem for September 25 The author next mentions the expansions of Lord Nityananda, Advaitacarya and Gadadhara Pandita. The branches and sub-branches are innumerable and unlimited. Just for his personal purification the author tries to mention the most prominent of them. After Nityananda Prabhu the greatest branch is Virabhadra Prabhu. He was the Supreme Personality of [...] 443 — Poem for September 25 is a post from: EVERY DAY   • Email to a friend • • H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Selected Writings From Reading Reform: Srila Prabhupada's Plan for the Daily Reading of His Books "'Yes, as a sannyasi and GBC, your first duty is to read my books. Otherwise, how will you preach? In order to remain steadily fixed in Krishna consciousness, there must be sound philosophical understanding. Otherwise it will become only sentiment. Whenever you [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY   • Email to a friend • • Japa Group: The First Regulative Principle This week's Japa Room brought some nice realisations from those attending - one devotee mentioned when their chanting is becoming hard and his mind is becoming strong and he can't concentrate on the sound....then he increases the volume of his voice and thus he is able to concentrate again and forget the mind. It reminded me of a nice quote from Srila Prabhupada on this subject. The first regulative principle is that one must chant the Hare Krsna maha−mantra loudly enough so that he can hear himself, and one must vow to chant a fixed number of rounds. Sri Caitanya caritamrta Antya−lila 11.24   • Email to a friend • • Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: two disciples cannot get along Prabhupada: What is the cause when two disciples of the same spiritual master cannot get along? Tusta Krsna: Envy, Prabhupada. Prabhupada: Yes, but who is envious is hard to tell. But time will tell. One branch will blossom and the other will wither. >From "My Glorious Master" by Bhurijana Prabhu   • Email to a friend • • Akrura das, Gita Coaching: WHEN BAD IS GOOD An excellent article by By Archana Siddhi Devi Dasi: http://btg.krishna.com/when-bad-good Highlights - Scriptures are full of the examples of pure souls who could see the merciful hand of God in all of life's reverses - Is there a good outcome to a seemingly bad situation? - How can we see Krishna's help?   • Email to a friend • • H.H. Sivarama Swami So this remembering is the whole thing. If you have got always within your heart Krsna, by sound or by mental thoughts, by work, some way or other, by reading books, any way, if simply you keep your consciousness in Krsna, then your life is successful. That’s all. - Srila Prabhupada   • Email to a friend • • Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: A second meeting I met a young high school girl in Kensington market and while I did not remember her, she reminded me of our meeting a few months ago. Enthusiastically she told me that she had read the Chant and be happy and had read it. She told me she really liked it and had already got some of her friends to read it. Just that morning I was listening to a lecture where it was being explained how people who have already had some association with Srila Prbahupada books are very receptive, and here we had a person who was unknowingly dong sankirtan by asking her friends to read the book. So I handed her a Bhagavad Gita as it is even though she had said she did not have much money. She deeply appreciated the Sanskrit and took the time to understand the picture on Reincarnation. She told me she was not interested in religion even though she believed in God. She was raised Catholic and was very disappointed as people did not practice what they preached. I showed her the Guru Parampara in beginning of the Gita and told her how the message is lost when disciplic succession is broken. I showed her the section in Introduction where Srila Prabhupada explains the difference between Religion and Sanatana Dharma…I briefly explained it to her and she marked it in her copy so she could go home and read it. Vaisesika Prabhu had told us that Bhagavad-Gita is sold on its own merit and it was nice to see how she was reading and loving sections of it. The English world religion is a little different from sanätana-dharma. Religion conveys the idea of faith, and faith may change. One may have faith in a particular process, and he may change this faith and adopt another, but sanätana-dharma refers to that activity which cannot be changed. For instance, liquidity cannot be taken from water, nor can heat be taken from fire. Similarly, the eternal function of the eternal living entity cannot be taken from the living entity. Sanätana-dharma is eternally integral with the living entity.   • Email to a friend • • Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: Representative of International Society for Krishna Consciousness While I was trying to show people some of Srila Prabhupada books, a group of Asian students stopped. They were having fun but they stopped to look at our books. Suddenly one of them asked me - which organisation do you belong to. I somehow was not prepared for this question but magically I remembered the words of Mukunda Maharaj from my recent readings of his book 'Miracle on 2nd Avenue'. Automatically i repeated, I am a representative of the International society of Krishna consciousness founded by our Guru Srila Prbahupada and showed her a picture. She immediately accepted and all 3 took some laxmi out of their bags and gave me. While I was saying this, another person stopped and simply demanded a book. Suddenly having used these words I noticed people were stopping on their own to take books. It was an inspiring experience to see the power of repeating the words of disciplic succession.   • Email to a friend • • Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: A study of ancient worlds I had some pain in my back so it was a little hard to stand. University was full of people - it was like Eaton centre. I was praying for Krishna to magically stop someone when a young man stopped as I was talking to someone else. First he stood patiently while I finished the previous conversation and then we started to talk about our books. I did not think he would be interested but I was up for a surprise. Behind his beard and big bag he looked very academic person so I was not sure how to present it but I decided to keep it straight. I showed him the chant and be happy and explained how it was a great book on meditation and helps us get over stress and anxiety. He agreed to take the book and gave me a small donation even though he had initially said he had no money. Upon my inquiry he told me he was studying Ancient civilizations at University. I immediately referred him to the Searching for Vedic India and started to describe how the book talked about ancient civilizations and was the work of deep research. He kind of looked at my face expecting me to speak more and I started to say whatever I remembered from having read the book. I started to talk about how the book describes the Dogons, the Mayans and many other civilisations. Being a specialist in ancient civilisations he stared to ask me detailed questions about the Dogons and how this was connected to what I was doing in terms of yoga. A long interview later he said he was interested in the book but I was not carrying a copy. So I asked him if we could meet later that evening near my home and I would give him a book. To my great surprise he came in the evening to get the book walking all the way from University. He started reading it that night and came next day to the Gita class. I was a little worried as to what I could say to such a student who was topping his class in study of ancient civilisations but the magic of presenting Bhagavad gita as it is - is really special. After the class, I showed him the Gita and started to explain it. He said as soon as he read a few lines he wanted it and took a copy of it. He then explained to me how 2 days ago when in University book store, he was attracted to the Gita there and bought it, but he had not read it. I told him to read as it is as it was written in the proper mood of devotion. I do not know whether he will return, but he indeed was a rare should who chanted, appreciated Bhagavad gita, ate prashad, and washed dishes - all in a short time. Please pray that he returns to deep dive into the philosophy of Bhagavad gita. Watching the potent effect of Srila Prabhupada books reminded me of the introduction to the Bhagavad gita: Of course there are many commentaries in English on the Bhagavad- gita, and one may question the necessity for another one. This present edition can be explained in the following way. Recently an American lady asked me to recommend an English translation of Bhagavad-gita. Of course in America there are so many editions of Bhagavad- gita available in English, but as far as I have seen, not only in America but also in India, none of them can be strictly said to be authoritative because in almost every one of them the commentator has expressed his own opinions without touching the spirit of Bhagavad- gita as it is.   • Email to a friend • • Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: The Proud Beetle In A Lump Of Cow Dung There once was a beetle which came upon a lump of cow dung. He worked himself into it and liking what he saw, he invited his friends to join him in building a city in it. After working feverishly for a few days they built a magnificent `city´ in the dung and feeling very proud of their achievement they decided to elect the first beetle as their king. Now to honour their new `king´ they organised a grand parade through their `city´. While these impressive proceedings were taking place,  an elephant happened to pass by and seeing the lump of cow dung he lifted his foot to avoid stepping on it. The king beetle saw the elephant and angrily shouted at the huge beast. `Hey you! Don´t you have any respect for royalty? Don´t you know it is rude to lift your leg over my majestic head? Apologies at once or I´ll have you punished.´ The elephant looked down and said, `Your most gracious majesty, I humbly crave your pardon.´ Thus saying he knelt down on the lump of cow dung and crushed king, city, citizens and pride in one act of obeisance.” Ven. K Sri Dhammananda Filed under: News, Ramblings or Whatever   • Email to a friend • • Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1969 September 25: "Dress has to be accepted according to the taste of others and foodstuffs accepted according to the eater's taste. So if you think this kind of dress will attract more people, you can dress yourself in that manner. But our real dress is the tilaka and sikha." Prabhupada Letters :: 1969   • Email to a friend • • Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1970 September 25: "It appears they were advised to come to India and join Tirtha Maharaj. It is now clear that my Godbrothers take objection to my being called Prabhupada and on this point they want to poison the whole Society - that is now clear." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970   • Email to a friend • • Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1970 September 25: "You will remember I called you not Gargamuni but Gargamoney. Whenever I required some money I approached you and you were kind to pay me immediately. So please continue your capacity in this way. That will please Krsna." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970   • Email to a friend • • Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1971 September 25: "Krishna will give you all intelligence how to push on this movement. Now we are giving commentary on the Western philosophers. I never studied philosophy or science but Krishna has given me the intelligence how to defeat their nonsensical proposals." Prabhupada Letters :: 1971   • Email to a friend • • Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1971 September 25: "Secure the tape of me reciting Gayatri mantra and hold a fire yajna. Then the devotees should hear the tape individually, privately, through the right ear. They should repeat each word. Then get the threads on their bodies." Prabhupada Letters :: 1971   • Email to a friend • • Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1975 September 25: "The District Court has given us the permission 'for as long as the country lasts.' By the grace of Krishna may your country last forever, and may the justice also live a long time and may you go on selling my books. That is my desire." Prabhupada Letters :: 1975   • Email to a friend • • Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1975 September 25: "In your country the girls are being exploited. They are taught to be independent so they become playthings for sex. So where is the freedom? I want that they live, man and wife together, chant Hare Krishna and be happy." Prabhupada Letters :: 1975   • Email to a friend • • H.H. Sivarama Swami: I was going to talk about the questions for the day – gay rights But got distracted by a wonderful incident recently in Radha-Syama’s temple.   • Email to a friend • • Mayapur Online: Puri Parikrama- Register Now! In the modern times, everyone looks forward for attractive discount offers. In spiritual pursuits, devotees are eager to earn more spiritual benefit by taking austerity to perform parikramas of holy dhamas, fast on certain days, and engage in the chanting of holy names in the association of devotees. Vrindavan Kartik Parikrama is performed for 30 days and Navadipa Mandala Parikrama is done on seven days. read more   • Email to a friend • • Mayapur Online: Congregational Development Ministry News The aim of the Congregational Development Ministry is to assist all kinds of community groups within ISKCON—Nama-hatta, Bhakti-vriksha, Counselor groups, Sunday Schools, Prison Preaching, Youth Preaching, and any other group or gathering broadcasting Srila Prabhupada's message—for the purpose of expanding this movement and training the members of ISKCON. read more   • Email to a friend • • Japa Group: The Temple of the Heart P2 Here is part two of the chanting seminar given by Sacinandana Swami in Alachua.   • Email to a friend • • Dandavats.com: Thankfulness By Bhakti-lata Dasi Sometimes, devotees ask me if the inmates are grateful for the support ISKCON Prison Ministry provides to them. You can find this answer loud and clear, in the quotes below