Join us this weekend Saturday 12th November at 4pm Brisbane Taekwondo Centre: 19 Staple St, SEVENTEEN MILE ROCKS 4.00pm Kirtan
5.15pm Welcome address and Jaya Radha Madhava
5.30pm class by HG Madam Gopal Prabhu, topic “Your income is not your maintenance”. We are all maintained by The Supreme Personality of Godhead.
6.00pm Gaura Arati Kirtan
6.30pm Prasadam Feast Map: http://www.whereis.com/embed.htm?id=D171FCC1FF29A1
Driving – Plenty of street parking. Please park responsibly
Public Transport – Oxley Train Station on the Ipswich Line. Please call 0417 999 564 to arrange transport from the train station prior to 5:30pm Looking forward to seeing you soon Your servant,
Jaya Vijaya Das
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Lord Jagannatha and His associates have been dressed by Kamaleshwari Gopi Mataji today while Sri Sri Radha Ballabha have been dressed by Rasa Krsna Prabhu.
And... after many many many years, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai have been dressed by Acintya Rupa Mataji. Here is the darsana of our presiding Deities in Melbourne.
4:30 A.M. There were many gardens near the Gundica Temple, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees used to perform pastimes in each one of them. In the lake named Indradyumna, He sported in the water. The Lord personally splashed all the devotees with water, and the devotees also splashed the Lord. Sometimes two would [...] Poem for November 10 is a post from: EVERY DAY
Srila Prabhupada Samadhi Diary “Prabhupada’s Room 10:40 A.M. “As we enter, the mataji caretaker of this house is preaching to guests in the reception room. Inside, an ISKCON brahmacari is taking snapshots of Prabhupada at his desk. Visitors come in and out as they do in the Thoreau symposium or the Elvis Presley museum. He [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Stockholm, June 2011)
 There are different types of benefits one can get. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in his own anubhasya – commentary on the Caitanya-caritamrta explains, that there is:
‘Karma-unmukhī sukṛti’. There is ‘mokṣa-unmukhī sukṛti’ and, ‘ bhakty-unmukhī sukṛti’
(C.c.Madhya 22.45) He said: “There are pious activities for which you will get material benefits. For example, if you are giving in charity for the poor. Or if you make wells for people to drink along the way. Or if you are making arrangements to take care of elderly people. All such kind of activities are pious activities, and such pious activities will give one a lot of advancement in the material world. Maybe not right away, but maybe in the next life, but one will benefit from that! That is ‘Karma-unmukhī sukṛti’ – good karma, but more than that is, ‘mokṣa-unmukhī sukṛti,’ that one can engage in activities to become liberated from this world, especially by realising transcendental knowledge. If we have knowledge and understand that there is a beyond this temporary material energy, and that there is spirit….and that this spirit is more important, then when we are becoming fixed in such knowledge –‘mokṣa-unmukhī sukṛti’.‘Suktri’ – means benefit. So then we get the benefit that will lead to liberation. Vaisnavas don’t care! They don’t care for the temporary benefits of good karma. They say: “I have no time for such benefits”. They have to come back in the next life and be rich. “I don’t have the time for that! Do I really have to come back to the next life and just get a beautiful home and beautiful things, and all these opulence? I have no time for that. I’m too busy in serving Krishna!”  Liberation – but then I can’t serve Krishna. Sorry I have no time for liberation. In this way:
“mukulitāñjali sevate” SB. 3.25.32) – when liberation comes with folded hands and says: “Please accept me?” “Sorry I have no time for you now. I am serving Krishna….I have no time!” A vaisnava has no time. If you ask us: “Do you have any time?” “Sorry for what?” “To come to a party on Saturday night?” “Sorry, I have no time.” “Anytime to work in my company?” “Sorry no time. We have no time”. We only have time for devotional service and if we work in your company then with all that money, I will spend it on Krishna! The point is that a vaisnava has only time for devotional service! 
Program: 5.00 – 5.30pm Kirtan
5.30 – 6.00pm Class – How to Chant (from method to mood) – Priyavrata Dasa
6.00 – 7.00pm Kirtan with Sri Prahalada 7.00pm Prasadam Feast 
Thus ends the month of Damodara. I engaged in additional chanting on this final day and pondered the month’s experiences. I learned that festival days are naturally auspicious but our neglect of them can verily diminish the higher benefits we may derive. We will often give credit to people who unknowingly do devotional service but I’m sure we would lose potential credit for our own negligence also. I have noticed a new aspect in my life in the recent years: becoming busy. It used to be quite simple to observe a holiday; take a day off school, relax, meet with the devotees and cherish whatever came. Now it seems that it takes more depth and integrity to appreciate what was once spoon fed. I also learned that the holy name is naturally auspicious but our neglect can often diminish the potential ecstasies that are hidden in these mantras. Habituated inattentiveness can take hold and our occasional joys are replaced with the meager sense of duty. Excuses arise for lacking symptoms of attraction and we ponder how many Vaisnava offenses we have made, which are now slowing our progress further. Perhaps we simply need to take a new look at what is right in front of us. Of course, it can always help to beg forgiveness from any friends you may have rubbed up the wrong way. I finally learned that Krsna is naturally merciful but our neglect to seize this mercy can only work against our favour. We are showered with mercy like torrents of flooding rain but we never even open ourselves up to take one drop. Hard hearts are holding us from heeding to the holy heavens. We look down at ourselves with low self-esteem but we never look up at Krsna from a humble position. We seek self-pity for our ego but no assistance from the Divine. I beg now to properly observe holy days, months and occasions. I beg now to hear the holy name with rapt attention. I beg now that Krsna give me His holy mercy, and I stop attempting to go back home simply with my own energies. Let this poor fool have a taste of surrender. Let me one day realize what it is to be a devotee. Krsna, please do not neglect me who have only ever neglected You. Your aspiring servant, Madhavendra Puri dasa. Read original post: [http://maddmonk.wordpress.com] Subscribe: [http://maddmonk.wordpress.com/subscribe]
1. Choice of language We first request our reader to consider the particular use of language by “Ardhabuddhi Dasa.” Such words as: “conspiracy,” “secrecy,” “strategically,” and such, normally evoke negative emotions—-fear, distrust, anger, etc.—-from the reader. They conjure sinister images of the JFK assassination, CIA covert operations, Mafia hit-men, the KGB, and similar conspiracy and cover-up scandals portrayed by the media. Upon reading “Ardhabuddhi Dasa’s” account, the innocent devotee immediately feels antipathy towards the GHQ “conspirators.” We suggest that this was not at all accidental but rather a calculated use of wording designed to arouse adverse emotions. We shall demonstrate this by showing that the subject matter of GHQ is not at all what “Ardhabuddhi Dasa” professes it to be. 2. Conspiracy “Ardhabuddhi Dasa” would have us believe that the GHQ forum was a conspiracy. But GHQ members perceived otherwise. This is how Bhasu Ghosh Prabhu, temple president of ISKCON-Baroda and core member of GHQ, understood its purpose: (September 24th, 1998, four days before the forum was created by the COM sysops) “As I understand it Maharaja, GHQ is going to be a think tank with the mandate to prepare a paper with proposals to the GBC to check apasiddhanta in the form of “feminism” in ISKCON. So…” (5.3) Standard dictionary meaning of the word “conspiracy” is as follows: conspiracy, n., 1. An agreement to perform together an illegal, treacherous, or evil act. 2. A combining or acting together, as if by evil design: a conspiracy of natural forces. 3. Law. An agreement between two or more persons to commit a crime or to accomplish a legal purpose through illegal action. Perhaps we are wrong, but as far as we can see, “a think tank with the mandate to prepare proposals to the GBC,” hardly fits the definition of “conspiracy.” We must ask why “Ardhabuddhi Dasa” ascribes such sinister associations to GHQ? GHQ members broke no ISKCON law, nor the law of any sovereign state. We did not plot murder, drug-smuggling, money-laundering, or any other nefarious acts. Nor did we seek to accomplish our purposes through illegal action such as bribery, witness-tampering, etc. That GHQ was endeavoring to fulfill its mandate according to due process for reform within ISKCON is verified upon review of the “PRESENTATION FORMAT” in Section 1.2. We suggest that “Ardhabuddhi Dasa” and the parties whom he represents are the real conspirators, by dint of their attempts to obstruct due process of ISKCON law. Fearing that GHQ might succeed in its mission, they conspired to obstruct the proceedings of GHQ through various illegal activities, according to ISKCON law. A full investigation is requested and required to determine exactly which ISKCON laws and laws of secular government were broken by “Ardhabuddhi Dasa” and company. We strongly suggest that the future of ISKCON is in jeopardy if the authorized process for reform may so easily be overturned by unscrupulous parties. For a detailed account of their conspiracy see Article 25. 3. Secrecy “…a secret COM conference called GHQ” “Ardhabuddhi Dasa” would have us believe that there is something inherently wrong or sinister about a secret COM conference. If that be the case, then the Women’s Ministry conference is also suspect. It is a small group of women, with no men allowed. The conference is private and now hidden on COM. No outsiders can know the content of their discussions. (Is it therefore a sinister group of individuals planning mayhem?) Of course, there are legitimate reasons for private (or as “Ardhabuddhi Dasa” calls them “secret”) meetings. Shyamasundara Dasa discussed this point with Bharata Sreshta Dasa, the organizer of the VAST conference, which is also a private (secret) conference, postings to which may not be further distributed: BSd. The first point, about closed door meetings, requires a context. Certainly some kinds of decisions should be made in full public view. Many others should not. Confidentiality is a major factor in both personal relationships and management. Perhaps some people like to wear their feelings on their sleeve; but most other people will be neither candid nor creative in a public forum. Sd. I just wanted to show that simply because something is behind closed doors doesn’t make it bad. There are plenty of closed forums around, why ours couldn’t be? What makes it bad for us, but okay for others? BSd. I agree completely. Deborah Tannen is foremost in this field. Her research shows convincingly that if you put it all out front you actually deny a voice to many people, so what looks public is actually the opposite. As a think tank, the mood of GHQ was informal and friendly, to facilitate free expression and exchange of ideas–brainstorming–without fear of ridicule for immature or unrefined ideas. As such, it was best organized as a private forum; that is the nature of think tanks. Many situations warrant that discussions remain private and not public. For example, elders should not quarrel in the presence of children, but rather in private. Similarly, GHQ was meant for private discussions concerning internal ISKCON matters. Whenever the finished products of those discussions would be complete, they would then be made public. This is simply a normal way to handle such matters. 4. Organized by Shyamasundara (the astrologer) As other members of GHQ have already pointed out, Shyamasundara Dasa was not the head of GHQ—-it was a joint effort. Please now turn your attention to the two texts in Section 1, which explain: 1. Why there were no women on GHQ. 2. How Shyamasundara Prabhu became the “organizer” of GHQ. 3. That GHQ wanted input from chaste ladies. 4. That chaste ladies convinced GHQ members to refine their manner of speech. 5. Rights and propensities “…individuals with the right to serve guru and Krsna according to their propensities.” We shall only lightly touch upon the philosophical issues raised in “Ardhabuddhi Dasa’s” expose, for they have already been addressed masterfully by Ameyatma Dasa, Vidvan Gauranga Dasa, Jivan Mukta Dasa, and others. (To see these texts please visit our website www.ghq.org where these and many other philosophical texts on the subject of dharma are kept and new ones added daily.) The essential point for us to emphasize herein is explained by Lord Krsna in Bhagavad-gita 2.47: karmany evadhikaras te
ma phalesu kadacana
ma karma-phala-hetur bhur
ma te sango ‘stv akarmani “You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.” PURPORT “There are three considerations here: prescribed duties, capricious work, and inaction. Prescribed duties are activities enjoined in terms of one’s acquired modes of material nature. Capricious work means actions without the sanction of authority, and inaction means not performing one’s prescribed duties. The Lord advised that Arjuna not be inactive, but that he perform his prescribed duty without being attached to the result. One who is attached to the result of his work is also the cause of the action. Thus he is the enjoyer or sufferer of the result of such actions. “As far as prescribed duties are concerned, they can be fitted into three subdivisions, namely routine work, emergency work and desired activities. Routine work performed as an obligation in terms of the scriptural injunctions, without desire for results, is action in the mode of goodness. Work with results becomes the cause of bondage; therefore such work is not auspicious. Everyone has his proprietary right in regard to prescribed duties, but should act without attachment to the result; such disinterested obligatory duties doubtlessly lead one to the path of liberation. “Arjuna was therefore advised by the Lord to fight as a matter of duty without attachment to the result. His nonparticipation in the battle is another side of attachment. Such attachment never leads one to the path of salvation. Any attachment, positive or negative, is cause for bondage. Inaction is sinful. Therefore, fighting as a matter of duty was the only auspicious path of salvation for Arjuna.” Vedic culture is neither democratic nor libertarian. Everyone has his duty, according to varnasrama-dharma. Sannyasis,vanaprasthas, grhasthas, and brahmacaris each have specific duties. So also, members of the four varnas– brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, and sudra–each have prescribed duties. Similarly, women have designated duties. (Cf. If a sannyasi were to perform the duties of another asrama, he would not actually be a sannyasi and so would be criticized.) Each must perform his duties. That is our only right. Women have specific duties to perform, as detailed in the sastras. Some women may not like to perform their prescribed duties, being less adept at them. They might say, “I don’t have the propensity to be a housewife.” They might be more capable to do something else and therefore reason, “Let me give up my prescribed duties as a woman and follow my propensities to do what I can do best.” They will then neglect their husbands, children, and household affairs, generally renouncing stri-dharma to pursue their “propensities” and in so doing disturb the duties of others who depended on them to act as proper mothers and wives. But in the above verse, Krsna says “never be attached to not doing your duty.” He further states in Bhagavad-gita 18.47: sreyan sva-dharmo vigunah
para-dharmat sv-anusthitat
sva-dharme nidhanam sreyah
para-dharmo bhayavahah “It is far better to discharge one’s prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another’s duties perfectly. Destruction in the course of performing one’s own duty is better than engaging in another’s duties, for to follow another’s path is dangerous.” PURPORT “One should therefore discharge his prescribed duties in full Krsna consciousness rather than those prescribed for others. Materially, prescribed duties are duties enjoined according to one’s psychophysical condition, under the spell of the modes of material nature. Spiritual duties are as ordered by the spiritual master for the transcendental service of Krsna. But whether material or spiritual, one should stick to his prescribed duties even up to death, rather than imitate another’s prescribed duties. Duties on the spiritual platform and duties on the material platform may be different, but the principle of following the authorized direction is always good for the performer. When one is under the spell of the modes of material nature, one should follow the prescribed rules for his particular situation and should not imitate others. For example, a brahmana, who is in the mode of goodness, is nonviolent, whereas a ksatriya, who is in the mode of passion, is allowed to be violent. As such, for a ksatriya it is better to be vanquished following the rules of violence than to imitate a brahmana who follows the principles of nonviolence. Everyone has to cleanse his heart by a gradual process, not abruptly. However, when one transcends the modes of material nature and is fully situated in Krsna consciousness, he can perform anything and everything under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master. In that complete stage of Krsna consciousness, the ksatriyamay act as a brahmana, or a brahmana may act as a ksatriya. In the transcendental stage, the distinctions of the material world do not apply. For example, Visvamitra was originally a ksatriya, but later on he acted as a brahmana, whereas Parasurama was a brahmana but later on he acted as a ksatriya. Being transcendentally situated, they could do so; but as long as one is on the material platform, he must perform his duties according to the modes of material nature. At the same time, he must have a full sense of Krsna consciousness.” For a woman to give up her prescribed duties to instead assume the duties of a man is condemned by Lord Krsna. Srila Prabhupada often gave the example that when a man becomes frustrated in his attempts to achieve some grand material scheme, he then renounces the world and tries to become God. Similarly, some women who may not be skilled in womanly duties become frustrated by their shortcomings; they may thus pursue other activities in which they envision success. But this is not what Lord Krsna recommends. He recommends that a woman adhere to her womanly duties even if she is not skilled at them or does not like them. To do so is pleasing to the Lord. In this regard some light is shed by the comment of a venerable old Bengali Mataji who lives in Sri Dham Mayapura, the birth place of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. We should always remember that Mayapura is the heart of Gaudiya Vaisnavism. Srila Prabhupada said that Bombay was his place of doing business, Vrndavana his residence, and Mayapura his place of worship. Such elderly cultured matajis who have worshiped Lord Gauranga all their lives embody the ideals of Vedic womanhood, not the Women’s Ministry. Her point being that by doing her womanly duties as an offering to Lord Krsna He will be pleased (she is specifically addressing those feminists who advocate that women should be allowed to lead kirtan, give classes, and do puja on the altar in Mayapura): “Why can’t they [feminist types] sit in their home and do these things? What is the difficulty in their doing puja at home to Deities? They can have kirtan at home twice a day. So what is the problem? Then the Lord Himself will come and take us to Him personally. It is greatly sinful to try to break conventions which have been established and instituted by exalted realized souls… …How can someone claim to be a Vaishnavi and NOT do her womanly duties?” ( 2.11) (For comments of many other respectable and worshipable matajis living in the Holy dham please turn to Section 2.11) Some Vaisnavis argue that because they are devotees they can therefore avoid such rules and regulations meant for ordinary women. But we may note in the Purport to Bg 18.47 above, that one is permitted to do so only when he has reached the perfect stage of Krsna consciousness–as exemplified by Visvamitra Rsi and Parasurama (an avatara, not a human). In other words, it is very rare, and not the rule. (By very rare we mean one in 10 billion.) Rather, we see that very great devotees such as Kunti Devi, the mother of the Pandavas, externally maintained her position as a woman and acted in that capacity, according to scriptural injunctions. Srila Prabhupada has so often stated (especially in Nectar of Devotion “The Handbook of Krsna Consciousness”) that great devotees virtually always maintain and act according to external social standards, while internally engaging in nitya-lila. But he warned us that it is a symptom of sahajiyas to imagine oneself as liberated and, on that pretext, neglect social constraints for the selfish, illicit gratification of one’s material bodily senses. Such contravention of scriptural injunctions governing behavior is a cause of spiritual falldown, as explained by Srila Rupa Goswami in hisUpadesamrta Verse 2: “One’s devotional service is spoiled when he becomes too entangled in the following six activities: (1) eating more than necessary or collecting more funds than required; (2) over endeavoring for mundane things that are very difficult to obtain; (3) talking unnecessarily about mundane subject matters; (4) Practicing the scriptural rules and regulations only for the sake of following them and not for the sake of spiritual advancement, or rejecting the rules and regulations of the scriptures and working independently or whimsically; (5) associating with worldly-minded persons who are not interested in Krsna consciousness; and (6) being greedy for mundane achievements. In his comment on niyamägraha (4), the present subtopic of discussion, Srila Prabhupada comments: …Accepting some of the scriptural rules and regulations for immediate benefit, as utilitarians advocate, is called niyama-ägraha, and neglecting the rules and regulations of the sastras, which are meant for spiritual development, is called niyama-agraha. The word ägraha means “eagerness to accept,” and agraha means “failure to accept.” By the addition of either of these two words to the word niyama (“rules and regulations”), the word niyamägraha is formed. Thus niyamägraha has a twofold meaning that is understood according to the particular combination of words. Those interested in Krsna consciousness should not be eager to accept rules and regulations for economic advancement, yet they should very faithfully accept scriptural rules and regulations for the advancement of Krsna consciousness. They should strictly follow the regulative principles by avoiding illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication… Illicit sex can be reduced only by introducing certain codes of social behavior between the genders, as has been explained by Srila Prabhupada in many texts. He frequently cited Manu-samhita as the “Law book for Mankind” in that regard. Indeed, the four regulative principles mentioned above are directly from Manu-samhita, including the injunction to avoid eating onion and garlic. (We do not find the injunction against eating onion and garlic in the Gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam–it is found in Manu-samhita 5.5,19 and other dharma-sastras.) We mention this point because the advocates of the feminist heresy say that we should reject Manu-samhita as “materialistic.” But Manu-samhita is the very source of the four regulative principles which all Prabhupadanugas vow to uphold. By minimizing the authority of Manu-samhita, one thereby minimizes the importance of the regulative principles of freedom, though they are essential for our advancing in Krsna consciousness: “…they should very faithfully accept scriptural rules and regulations for the advancement of Krsna consciousness. They should strictly follow the regulative principles by avoiding illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication.” UpadesamrtaVerse 2p (More references by Srila Prabhupada on Manu-samhita are provided in Section 10 of the Appendices.) We often hear in the various flavors of feminist rhetoric that Krsna Consciousness is beyond bodily designations and at the level of the soul there is no distinction of male and female, thus, they reason, that anyone can do the duties of anyone else. We have already dealt with the flaw in this argument by pointing out that one must do their duty according to the material condition they find themselves in even at the cost of their lives: “Destruction in the course of performing one’s own duty is better than engaging in another’s duties, for to follow another’s path is dangerous.” Bg 18.47 Another point is that the idea that there is a loss of distinction and everything becomes one is mayavad philosophy, please turn to Article 17 for a nice quote by Srila Prabhupada on this topic. Let us examine another flaw in their argument. They casually use the term Krsna Conscious as if we were all perfectly realized. But Krsna Consciousness is not a cheap thing. In fact it is extremely difficult. The saying is that the Krsna Consciousness is very simple but very hard to achieve. Being simple does not equate to being easy. If it were so easy why have so many devotees had serious difficulties in their spiritual lives? Even so called “big guns”, sannyasis and spiritual masters have fallen by the way side. How could this be if they were Krsna Conscious? The answer is that they were not Krsna Conscious, at least not perfectly, but rather on the bodily concept of life. In reality Krsna Consciousness is extremely rare and difficult to achieve: manusyanam sahasresu
kascid yatati siddhaye
yatatam api siddhanam
kascin mam vetti tattvatah “Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.” Bg 7.3 bahunam janmanam ante
jnanavan mam prapadyate
vasudevah sarvam iti
sa mahatma su-durlabhah “After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.” Bg 7.19 The fact is that unless one is perfectly realized in their spiritual identity then they are on the bodily concept of life which means male-female consciousness. That means 99.9999999% of all members of ISKCON. Who is not on the bodily concept of life? We would like to know? Are the members of the Women’s Ministry free from the bodily concept of life? (Obviously not, otherwise they would not call their ministry after their material bodily designation?) Who, in ISKCON, is truly free of bodily consciousness? “As long as a living entity is not completely self-realized-as long as he is not independent of the misconception of identifying with his body, which is nothing but a reflection of the original body and senses-he cannot be relieved of the conception of duality, which is epitomized by the duality between man and woman. Thus there is every chance that he will fall down because his intelligence is bewildered. PURPORT “Here is another important warning that a man must save himself from attraction to woman. Until one is self-realized, fully independent of the illusory conception of the material body, the duality of man and woman must undoubtedly continue, but when one is actually self-realized this distinction ceases. vidya-vinaya-sampanne
brahmane gavi hastini
suni caiva svapake ca
panditah sama-darsinah “The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste].” (Bg. 5.18) On the spiritual platform, the learned person not only gives up the duality of man and woman, but also gives up the duality of man and animal. This is the test of self-realization. One must realize perfectly that the living being is spirit soul but is tasting various types of material bodies. One may theoretically understand this, but when one has practical realization, then he actually becomes a pandita, one who knows. Until that time, the duality continues, and the conception of man and woman also continues. In this stage, one should be extremely careful about mixing with women. No one should think himself perfect and forget the sastric instruction that one should be very careful about associating even with his daughter, mother or sister, not to speak of other women. Srila Madhvacarya cites the following slokas in this regard:…” SB 7.12.10 As long as one is on the bodily concept of life, that is male-female consciousness, one must strictly follow the rules and regulations of the sastras regarding the duties of the varnas and ashramas and for women, their womanly duties as mothers and wives. How many feminists are off the bodily concept of life? None. If they were off the bodily concept of life then they would be atmarama and experiencing intense self-satisfaction because of the spiritual bliss of self-relization. However, rather than manifesting the symptoms of spiritual bliss of an atmarama the feminists are observed to be perennially carping about so many things which they think they need to be happy (for a humorous example of this see Ananda Prabhu’s letter to Hare Krishna World in the Appendices 12.2). For them there are so many material impediments to achieve spiritual happiness, which, if they could only be removed then they would be happy. But the sastra says there are no material impediments to spiritual life. It is all in their minds. “Hearing King Prataparudra’s determination, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya became thoughtful. Indeed, he was very much astonished to see the King’s determination. PURPORT Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was astonished because such determination is not possible for a worldly man attached to material enjoyment. The King certainly had ample opportunity for material enjoyment, but he was thinking that his kingdom and everything else was useless if he could not see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This is certainly sufficient cause for astonishment. In Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that bhakti, devotional service, must be unconditional. No material impediments can actually check the advancement of devotional service, be it executed by a common man or a king. In any case, devotional service rendered to the Lord is always complete, despite the devotee’s material position. Devotional service is so exalted that it can be executed by anyone in any position. One must simply be drdha-vrata, firmly determined.” Madhya 11.51 There is no material impediment for advancing in devotional service if someone is sincere. No matter what situation a person may find themselves in, they can still do service to the Lord and make spiritual advancement, if they are sincere. If they are not sincere then they will make so many excuses why they cannot serve or advance. “We don’t know what the other women think, but those of us who have been carefully trained up in Indian culture find it OBNOXIOUS to be in the limelight and allow our bodies to be observed by so many men. The same holds for leading kirtans as the temple kirtan and giving Bhagavatam class in the temple room. “What is the problem for the Vaishnavis? They can certainly do puja/ arati/ kirtans in their homes. Why SPECIFICALLY in the temple? Why not at homes? It is better for Vaishnavis to not be so manly. We would like to be the women that Srila Prabhupada wants us to be and we would like to see this kind of cultural development encouraged here. “This mood of “Oh! The men are doing this; we will ALSO do it!” seems to be more competitive than spiritual. “In any case, if we want to do arati or lead kirtan for Radha Madhava, we can do it in our mind. What is the problem? We can do arati to Radha Madhava 20,000 times a day. Nobody is stopping us. According to the shastra we get the SAME result anyway. We would rather go for the result than try to get the recognition and appreciation that we are leading kirtan in the temple hall disregarding Vedic conventions. “It appears to us that these demands may not be really motivated by desires for purely pleasing the Lord. The Lord has created Vedic culture where His male-bodied devotees and female-bodied devotees could serve in ways appropriately (not in the same way). Rather than consider a few activities of Srila Prabhupada on how he dealt with women and try to push forward the idea that Vaishnavis NEED to do the same activities as the male-bodied devotees, we would like to focus on the larger body of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings on what the DUTIES of Vaishnavi women are. (Section 2.11) We do not hear that Hari Dasa Thakura (born a Muslim) complained about being denied entrance into the Jagannatha Temple. (Did he even try to enter? The same goes for Rupa and Santana Goswamis who were also denied access because of their previous connections with the Muslim government. Rather than create a disturbance in society (like some of our members are doing) they continued to perform devotional service to the Lord in what ever capacity available to them. Because of their sincerity in devotional service the Lord, as Lord Caitanya, would come to see them personally. Hari Dasa Thakura, Rupa and Santana Goswamis are our acaryas, the role models that we should follow. They show us how to make real spiritual advancement despite any real or imagined impediments. How did they accomplish that? By being humble and acting within their own realm of influence. In whatever situation a person is in, if they are sincere and have a taste for spiritual life, they can chant Hare Krsna and read sastras like Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam which are the real sources of spiritual advancement. Anyone can worship the Lord Krsna, it is very simple for those who are humble: adhyesyate ca ya imam
dharmyam samvadam avayoh
jnana-yajnena tenaham
istah syam iti me matih “And I declare that he who studies this sacred conversation of ours worships Me by his intelligence.” Bg 18.70 Simply by reading Srimad Bhagavatam one performs devotional service: “And by the constant hearing of the messages of the Bhagavad-gita, and later of Srimad-Bhagavatam, one is assured herein by Srila Sukadeva Gosvami that he will reach the Personality of Godhead and render Him transcendental loving service in the spiritual planet of the name Goloka Vrndavana, which resembles a huge lotus flower. Thus by the process of bhakti-yoga, directly accepted, as suggested in this verse, by sufficient hearing of the transcendental message of the Lord, the material contamination is directly eliminated without one’s attempting to contemplate the impersonal virat conception of the Lord. And by practicing bhakti-yoga, if the performer is not purified from the material contamination, he must be a pseudodevotee. For such an imposter there is no remedy for being freed from material entanglement.” SB 2.2.37p This political agitation on the part of the feminists for equal rights and wanting to do the service of the men, is creating a serious social disturbance in ISKCON, and seems to stem from a lack of spiritual self-satisfaction on the part of the agitators. Such spiritual self-saisfaction is easily available if they simply follow the process of sravanam-kirtanam, reading and chanting. Unless they can get a taste of real spiritual life they will never be satisfied with their material pursuit of power and its fruit of labha-puja-pratishta. We shall discuss more on this topic in Article 13. Returning to our main point: While embodied in this material world, even we practitioners of spiritual life, should perform the duties prescribed to us according to our material situation. By so doing, we will achieve perfection. And this applies equally well to women. “By following his qualities of work, every man can become perfect. Now please hear from Me how this can be done.” (Bg 18.45) See Section 2 for examples of individual ladies who: 1. Could understand simply from reading Srila Prabhupada’s books what her duties as a woman were. 2. Was very independent but later surrendered to her duty and became happy. 3. Was frustrated by failure in her womanly duties but determined to succeed in those duties nevertheless. 4. Testimonies from serious Vaisnavis residing in Sri Dham Mayapura. We should like to say, as will become evident in Article 19, that GHQ was not concerned only with women’s duties exclusive from those of men. We realized and emphasized that women in general would not naturally be able to perform their duties properly unless men first performed their own prescribed duties. 
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, June 2011)  Only a proud man thinks that he can approach the Supreme Lord directly. A humble person understands:
“Who am I? Contaminated as I am with all the vices of the world – lust, greed, anger and envy. All these qualities are in me. Who am I to go before the Supreme Lord? Therefore I will serve His devotees who are very pure and fully dedicated to His pleasure. If they pray for me to the Lord, then surely the Lord will bestow His blessings upon me! Will He hear my prayer? I don’t know. Maybe if He hears it, then will He answer it with what I have done?” And everyone for himself knows the truth about himself – yes he knows, since we all know about our shortcomings! Therefore, it is quite natural to turn to the devotees of the Lord(who give their life in service to the Lord) and then please these devotees, somehow or other. And if we please them somehow or other, then surely they will, pray, they will invoke the blessing of the Lord! The Lord will say: “Oh they pleased My devotees, so nicely!” Then the Lord will certainly give me His blessings! So this is the way to really get the blessings of the Lord by serving His devotees! 
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.4.4 - The exalted position of Srila Sukadeva Goswami
Its a long while since i blogged, though there have been many things to write about, i have stayed away, partly because i was busy and also partly because i just did not feeling like opening my heart out through the blog. Just as the elephant has two sets of teeth, the tusks and the actual teeth, i have been blogging in my mind, storing away all the treasures and gifts in the abyss of my brain
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THE FOLLOWING LECTURE ON LORD KRISHNA’S PASTIMES IN VRINDAVANA IS THE SECOND LECTURE IN A SERIES OF SEVEN, GIVEN BY HIS HOLINESS BHAKTI CARU SWAMI. Transcription : Vrajendrasuta Dasa www.naamhat.blogspot.com Editing : Hemavati Radhika Dasi Audio source: click here Lord Krishna’s Vrindavana pastimes lecture was given in 7 series. The 1st series dealt mostly on Sri [...]
“ENIAC was completed in 1945 and is regarded as the first successful, general digital computer. It weighed more than 27,000 kg (60,000 lb), and contained more than 18,000 vacuum tubes…” (60,000 lbs = 30 tons) http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/comeniac.htm “Computers in the future will weigh no more than 1.5 tons.” (1.5 tons = 3000 lbs (1364 k)) Popular Mechanics, 1949 “UNIVAC – 1951. The world’s first commercial computer began use on June 14, 1951. UNIVAC weighed eight tons…” (8 tons = 16,000 lbs(7300 k)) http://www.digicamhistory.com/1950s.html “To use the EDSAC, one would program an application using a punch card. The punch card would be read by the EDSAC and then the data transferred to its two ton mercury delay lines, which were capable of holding a whopping 1.44 megabytes of memory after their expansion in 1952…” (2 tons = 4000 lb (1818 k)(two tons for the memory alone!)) http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/EDSAC iPhone 4S– 2011 specs: 64 GB (64 GB = 65,534 megabytes), Weight: 4.9 ounces (140 grams) http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html “ISKCON brahmanas in the future will only consume milk products from protected cows.” Madhava Gosh, 2011 
Filed under: News, Ramblings or Whatever        
Dear Brijabasis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! I am happy to announce that Bhakta Adam has taken up the service as Promotion Manager. He started his service on Monday, November 7, 2011. The promotion manager is responsible to attract more buses and visitors to the
Palace of Gold and the New Vrindaban Community. The Palace allows us to glorify the pure devotee of the Lord in a very unique way. It is planned to extend the Palace experience by a multimedia room and an exhibition center to further present Srila Prabhupada’s incredible contribution in Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission to the greater public. Lilasuka devi dasi (Pittsburgh) will take up the service as Communications
Director on January 3, 2012. Her focus will be to inform the community members, the congregation, ISKCON worldwide and the media about the strategies, plans and activities of the New Vrindaban community. Jesse and Lilasuka will open in room no. 8 under the lodge on May 1, 2012, an
arts and crafts shop. They will offer devotees in New Vrindaban and the region
to present their art and craft and market them locally, on a website and at
different shows. Your servant,
Jaya Krsna das
Community President
ISKCON New Mathura Vrindaban
(New Mayapur is a devotee community in France) by Arjuna dasa Dear Shayamasundara prabhu, finally I’m sending you the AG report from NM. I was working in Paris last month, therefore this delay. The report will concern mostly the gardens and vegetable production. I will not be so detailed about the goshala and the cows. If needed please write me and I will ask Jaladhuta prabhu for the goshala report. 1) Basically we started to be more focused on the AG project in Summer 2010. The idea is that all the AG departments work together: the Goshala, the Krsna Balaram garden and the grhastas involved ( Kutastha p., Vrshakriti p.,GiriGovardhan p.). I ( Arjuna das) was elected Agriculture minister to supervise the general development. 2) The departments are working independently, in teams, but the planning is done together. We divided the gardens and made a plan for each field. Some of the “big” works are done together with all the teams, like harvesting, potatoes planting etc. The goshala team is also taking care of all the plowing and working the big surfaces with the bulls. 3) The Krsna Balaram team is: Arjuna das, Kaushi p., Vrshakriti p.(flowers) If possible we engage the bhaktas, visitors and temple devotees Goshala team: Jaladhuta p., RamGopal das, Dvijabara p. ( admin.), using actively one pair of bulls Grhastas: GiriGovardhan p., roses and flowers, Kuthasta p. cooperating with the KB team, more as a counseller 4)The KB team is taking care of the KB garden (1,5Ha) and daily supply of the vegetables for the temple The Goshala team take care of all the cows, bulls and goshala. The bulls are almost daily engaged in the farm work, working on big surfaces ( the wheat field 1 Ha, potatoes field ½ Ha, pumpkin field 1/3 Ha…) (Ed, note: Ha = hectare = 2.47 acres) Vrshakriti p. and GiriGov p. are taking care of all flowers and roses, around 3/4 Ha in total Some practical info from the year 2011: a) we constructed a new plastic greenhouse 50×8 meters, half is used for the temple and half for Kutastha p. who financed the greenhouse. b) in the greenhouse and in the KB gardens we produced more than 1 ton of tomatoes. Around 600 kg was used directly in the temple, from 400 kg was made 150 liters of tomato sauce for the winter c) we started to use the garden vegetables from the end of May.
From June we were fully supplying the temple kitchens d) this supply is going on until now and we have for min. 3 weeks more fresh veg. in the gardens. That means 6 months of total vegetable self-sufficiency e) in total we produced more than 25 kinds of vegetables and grains f) The next two months we will use the winter stock, which is 150 liters of tomato sauce, 1 tone of potatoes, 200 pieces of pumpkin of different sizes and types, apples, nuts, the winter veg. and leaves from garden, the grains. In total we will have our veg . for 8 months g) during summer we were cooking for aprox. 30 devotees everyday. We had enough veg. even for the Summer festivals. Last months we are cooking for aprox. 15 devotees every day. h) the goshala team planted the wheat on 1,5 Ha field. All the work was made with the bulls. We harvested around 1 tone of grains this year. We started to grind our own flour last week. i) to harvest the grains we bought a big harvesting machine, it is working very well j) the wheat for next year is already sowed Other areas: The forest: We had a great help for last 5 months from Anirudha p. and Craig p., they cut, split and bring from the forest around 150 m3 of dry wood for this year and around 80 m3 of live wood for drying. In total we have 150 m3 of dry wood and 150 m3 of wet wood. The dry wood should be enough for this year. The idea is to continue cutting the wet wood for next years. This system is more economic and practical. The lake: Last week Nrsimhananda p. with other devotees repaired the dam of the lake. There was a big hole in the dam, therefore the lake was never full. If the repair will be successful next year we will clean the lake. The Plan: a) continue with the same surface and number of fields
b) continue renovating and cleaning the KB garden, improving the quality of the soil
c) 20 percent more production, principally of vegetables
d) looking for self-economy and internal economy
e) find better ways to conserve the fruits, veg. and grains during winter and spring
f) engage more devotees in AG work, make the village life part of the devotees spiritual life
g) use the agriculture , gardening and cows protection for preaching.
h) try to accomplish a few bigger projects for the NM community ( the lake, winter green house, wood saw, eco wood buildings..etc) OK, this is a short report from NM farm community. If you have questions just write me. Feel free to use this report for the Farm ministry and your needs. All the best
Hare Krishna
y.s. Arjuna das NM 23/10/2011
Filed under: Cows and Environment        
Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 7, No. 17
By Krishna-kripa das
(September 2011, part one)
Leipzig Ratha-yatra, Radhastami, Berlin Harinamas, Ukraine Festival
(Sent from Tallahassee, Florida, on November 10, 2011)
Where I Went and What I Did
Hundreds of devotees from the Kirtan Mela traveled by bus to Leipzig for the Ratha-yatra on September 3. With so many devotees and kirtana leaders like Lokanatha Swami, Sacinandana Swami, and Kadamba Kanana Swami, it was Ratha-yatra at its best. The next day, Kadamba Kanana Swami did initiations at the Leipzig temple, and we did harinama in Leipzig before proceeding to Berlin to celebrate Radhastami there. Kadamba Kanana Swami and Kavicandra Swami, who was still in town because of an airline ticket problem, both gave nice lectures, which I describe separately from the other lectures under “Radhastami Lectures.” We did harinama for three hours on Radhastami, and it was really festive despite the cloudy, drizzly weather. The next day we did harinama for five hours. The day after that we did an hour harinama in Dresden, a new city for me,, before taking 40 hours of trains to the Ukraine festival. We stopped in Wroclaw to see the temple, and we chanted at the train station there for almost an hour. The Ukraine festival is always worth attending with its twenty-four seminars to choose from and three hours of kirtana every night for five days. Bada Hari Prabhu returned after a few years absence, Indradyumna Swami returned after at least a year’s absence, and Madhava Prabhu returned again after being introduced to the festival last year.
In addition to the Radhastami lectures, there were lots of great lectures by the Kirtan Mela devotees and the Ukraine festival devotees including Bhaktivaibhava Swami, Candramauli Swami, Devamrita Swami, Indradyumna Swami, Jayadvaita Swami, Niranjana Swami, Prahladananda Swami, and Bada Hari Prabhu. I also include some nice observations by Navina Shyama Prabhu from a BTG article.
Leipzig Ratha-yatra
At the end of the Kirtan Mela, devotees went by bus to Leipzig for the yearly Ratha-yatra there. Leipzig is not a big city and its downtown area is also small. To have hundreds of devotees performing Ratha-yatra there was very impressive. Lokanath Swami, in particular, led some amazing kirtana, getting the devotees dancing in a big way. 
I enjoyed singing, dancing, and passing out invitations to the festival in the park. Because we had such a large group of devotees we had to do the festival in a park several minutes walk from the downtown and so the attendance there was not so great. Still a high percentage of the people coming through the park did take spiritual food and watched the kirtana,dance, and drama, at least for some time. Many also gladly took the temple invitations.
Radhastami Lectures
Kadamba Kanana Swami:
The ever-increasing nature of love of Radha and Krishna I find attractive in this section of Caitanya-caritamrita (Adi-lila 4.142-145).
Radha smiles slightly upon seeing Krishna because They are in public and Their relationship is socially forbidden. Seeing Radha's slight smile Krishna smiled slightly Himself. Seeing Krishna smiling, Radha smiled even more. And so on, until such smiling is irrepressible.
Krishna is millions of times more dear to Radha than Her very life.
Radha's love being like a mirror, reflecting Krishna's qualities and increasing more and more, shows that the nature of the love of the spiritual world is ever-increasing.
One of the Goswami's divided the word “Bhagavan” in this way: bha—bhajaniya ga—guna va—visista This means that Krishna is irresistibly lovable.
The gopis blocking Krishna’s chariot to Mathura was still service to Krishna even though He wanted to go, because they knew that Krishna could never be happy outside of Vrndavana.
Devotional service is a personal process, and the devotee wants to capture Krishna.
Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami says that Krishna is seeing Radha's image in every tree and creeper and learning dancing from Her.
The Yamuna’s water plants wrap around Krishna’s feet to hold on to Him.
The most advanced devotees realize the insignificance of their offerings in comparison to those of Radha and the gopis. And thus they prefer to assist Radha and the gopis in their service to Krishna. Radha and the eight sakhis are sakti-tattva, thesakhis being expansions of Radharani. The manjari assistants of the sakhis are jiva-tattva. Rupa Manjari is an assistant of Lalita Sakhi.
Krishna is akhila-rasamrita-murti, the embodiment of increasing transcendental pleasure.
Even the competitors of Srimati Radharani play a role. And when Radha wins that competition they also become happy that Krishna has been pleased by Radha in a very wonderful way.
In Goloka Vrndavana there is a tinge of madhurya in all the relationships because the other residents assist in the relationship of Radha and Krishna.
Once an incredibly beautiful, well-dressed girl appeared in the courtyard of Radha at Yavat looking like demigoddess. Radha sent a messenger to the lady to ask of her identity. She got no response so Radha went to her Herself. She did not talk at first. Radha assumed she was hurt, and tried to speak empathic words. She finally said, “You are so faithful to Krishna, but He always neglects you, and that makes me upset.” Radha said, “No, it is not like that. Krishna and I are never separated. We are of one mind. I am always thinking of Him, and He is always thinking of Me.” The demigoddess said, “I believe you feel like that. But how I can be sure Krishna feels like that. If you can make Krishna appear personally, than I shall believe it.” So Radha entered into a deep meditation on Krishna. And the demigoddess transformed into Krishna before Her.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura worshiped Gaura Gadadhara.
Bhaktisiddhanta Saravati Thakura was outspoken about not entering prematurely in the conjugal rasa.
Because Lord Caitanya has stolen the mood of Radharani, it is not present fully in the personality of Gadadhara, so he has the service attitude of Radharani but not the complete mood. Sometimes he is described as having a mood more like that of Rukmini.
Laksmi-Narayana worship is done on the platform of knowing Narayana is the Supreme Lord. Whereas Radha-Krishna is on platform of serving them out of pure love. If we forget the deity is the Supreme Lord, we will neglect Him. But on the platform of love, although they forget Krishna is God, they serve Him with great attention.
Q: If Krishna is supremely renounced, why is He so attached to Radharani? A: The renunciation of Krishna is renunciation of material pleasure, for which He has absolutely no attraction. But he is not renounced as far as enjoying relationships with His devotees.
Q: How could Krishna and the gopis keep their relationship hidden in the village context? A: It was difficult. Radharani would go out to the forest on the plea of collecting ingredients for worshiping the sun god. And of course, before the rasa dance, when He played the flute, thei gopis attachment to going to see Krishna overruled everything and for that they are famous as giving up all social taboos for Krishna.
Radhastami is not a big public festival, but more just for the devotees. It is for the devotees to get together and contemplate the pure devotional service of Radharani, and to realize our own service is so much lacking. It is a time for thinking how can I become more advanced in pure devotional service.
In our embodied state, we are limited in so many ways, but Radharani has a spiritual body, which is not limited. We have become limited by our lack of devotion for Krishna. We cannot understand Radha and Her unlimited spiritual body.
When raja and rani are used in relationship to spiritual personalities, they do not mean king and queen, but indicate a spiritually influential personality, and so it is with Radharani.
Krishna felt that the devotion of the gopis was so great that there was nothing in comparison to it, and thus he concluded that the greatness of their love for Krishna is in fact its own reward.
Paurnamasi is the wife of Sandipani Muni and the mother of Madhumangala.
Not only do the devotees in intimate relationship with Krishna forget His divinity, but Krishna forgets His own divinity for the pastimes to go on.
Nandamukhi inquired from Paurnamasi, about why Radha married Abhimanyu for it seemed to the worst possible match. She explained that Kamsa heard of Radha’s beauty, and they wanted to get Radha married before Kamsa had the chance to get Her.
We can never think we have conquered Krishna. Again and again, we have to conquer Krishna. Again and again, Radha has conquered Krishna.
Radha is always thinking of Krishna favorably, even when She is angry at Him.
To reduce Radha’s separation from Krishna, Visakha drew a beautiful picture of Krishna. But Radha emotions only doubled by seeing the picture of Krishna, and She complained to Visakha for committing an offense by making the situation worse.
Little by little [in the course of our devotional service] we become captured by Krishna.
Once I was going to be flying over the Alps, so when asked if I wanted an aisle or window seat, I chose the window seat. After looking at the view for a while, I got bored and picked up the The Nectar of Devotion and read how the gopis were not interested in seeing anything of this world, and I realized I had a ways to go.
Kavicandra Swami:
Srila Prabhupada said Radha was expert at everything, especially cooking and dancing, and of those, especially cooking.
Even in English we have a saying, “Separation makes the heart grow fonder.” The case of Krishna is special because Krishna Himself is present in the remembrance of Himself. So by remembering Him, one can feel the joy of His presence.
Some people in Vrndavana chant “Radhe, Radhe!” but Bhaktivinoda Thakura says we chant “Krishna” because that is what Radharani wants to hear.
Radha wore a dark blue dress so people could not see Her sneak out at night to see Krishna.
Whoever is cooking, pray to Radharani!
Once Srila Prabhupada was asked if there was something special to cook on Radhastami. He replied, “Kaucoris, green pea kaucoris.”
Q: If Krishna is supremely renounced, why is He so attached to Radharani. A: He is reciprocal. To please His devotee, Radha, He reciprocates Her love.
The Goswamis read the whole Bhagavatam, not just the Ten Canto.
Radha keeps Krishna under Her control by Her great love.
Engaging everyone in the service of Krishna is the work of Radharani.
The deity at Alalanatha is Krishna disguising Himself as Narayana.
Sometimes people wonder what their eternal relationship with Krishna is, but the essence of the relationship is unalloyed service, and the devotee is satisfied simply to serve Krishna.
You used to wear glasses to see better, but now it is just fashion, eye wear.
Radha and the gopis take pleasure in dressing themselves for Krishna's pleasure, and we can also accept that mood of wanting to dress nicely to please Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada explained one must get the mercy of Lord Caitanya, and to do that one must get the mercy of Lord Nityananda, and to do that one must get the mercy of Jagai and Madhai, by preaching. The part about getting the mercy of Jagai and Madhai was not recorded, but I remember Srila Prabhupada saying it and so does Giriraja Maharaja.
Although Lord Caitanya is Radha and Krishna combined, in ecstasy He would enter into the pastimes of Radha and Krishna and engage in Their service.
Harinamas in Berlin and Elsewhere
On Radhastami in Berlin a multinational party of eleven devotees greatly inspired me by doing harinama at three S-bahn [train] stations, on the U-bahn [subway or underground], at three tram stops, on the tram itself, at Alexanderplatz, and near the temple for over three hours altogether. Radhastami harinama ki, jaya! For me, harinama is my favorite way to spend Radhastami. Lord Caitanya, who widely propagated the harinama sankirtana, was in the mood of Srimati Radharani, and so I think that this glorious activity is a great way to meditate on Her mood and enter into it.
The day after Radhastami we also did harinama in Berlin for almost five hours.
The next day we chanted in Dresden with Gaura Karuna Prabhu and Vishnujana Prabhu (formerly Bhakta Tomas from Slovakia) for an hour before taking the train to Wroclaw (pronounced Vrotswav) in Poland on the way to the Ukraine festival. One new devotee from France named Bhakta Allen also chanted with us because he decided to travel with me to the festival. It is always nicer to travel with someone else. It took about 40 hours altogether from Dresden on four different trains to get to Simferopol in Crimea but only cost about 59 euros each. I chanted harinama another hour that day in Wroclaw as we waited for our train toward the Ukrainian border. You could see some of the Polish people liked Hare Krishna, and no one was inimical.
Ukraine Festival
They say five thousand devotees registered, but that there were probably six thousand there. Last year four thousand registered and five thousand were thought to be there.
Sometimes I feel out of place at the festival. I am neither an exalted teacher of spiritual knowledge, nor a submissive servant of such a teacher. Still I benefit from the lectures and love the three hours of kirtana each night, and so I continue to go.
Niranjana Swami facilitates my stay there and that is his great kindness. I just try to be thankful for the benediction and try to become a better devotee.
As I left the Ukraine festival by bus to Dnepropetrovsk to catch a train to Kiev, the trains for the whole trip being sold out, I felt an emptiness. Where were the jubilant kirtanas, insightful lectures, and devotees with such a refreshingly nice service attitude? There were just my beads and the holy name. I recalled what I had heard again and again. There is no difference between Krishna and His holy name. There is nothing of value in the fourteen worlds but the holy name of the Lord. Perhaps this time it will sink in a little bit more. Thus I chant to feel the connection with Krishna.
Insight from Lectures
Jayadvaita Swami:
The ksatriyas are the police. The brahmanas protect the ksatriyas by giving them knowledge, and thus protect them from the illusory energy.
The materialistic society is a society of thieves where everyone is trying to exploit Krishna's energy for their own sense gratification. Varnasrama, on the contrary, is a cooperative system meant to for everyone’s spiritual benefit.
When the divisions cooperative, the Lord is pleased and gives them good direction.
The divisions of society are not meant for exploitation but cooperation for the satisfaction of Krishna.
That the Supersoul is in everyone's heart does not mean that each person has a different Supersoul.
Q: Since brahmanas and ksatriyas have different approaches might there be clashes? A: There should not be clashes if everyone's does his own duty, and therefore, Krishna advises in Bhagavad-gita that one stick to one's own duty, even if imperfectly, rather than do another duty.
Q: Practically speaking we say “I did this” in our ordinary dealings although our philosophy is that we are not the doers. A: Of course. When we say, “Who is going to cook today?” we know that ultimately the Supersoul is going to cook, but we select someone who will cook with the help of the Supersoul.
Everyone has experience of the Supersoul. The question is whether the person realizes it. Supersoul is arranging everything.
From an initiation lecture:
After millions of births a fortunate person gets to meet a bona fide spiritual master. Every human should look for that. The analogy of the turtle and the log in which the turtle comes up for air by sticking his head through a knot in a piece of wood floating in the ocean shows the rarity of meeting a bona fide guru.
So few people inquire about spiritual things and fewer get bona fide spiritual knowledge.
Once getting the seed, one has to water it, remove the weeds, and guard against offenses. Our real program is awaken our dormant love of Krishna. Even liberation is insignificant compared to devotion.
Our disease is we think we need things which we do not need and life’s ulimate goal we neglect. By engaging in devotion you get everything you need.
Service to the Lord means service to the Lord and His representative.
Kadamba Kanana Swami [from an initiation lecture]:
The scriptures say diksa is that time we receive divya-jnana from the guru.
After initiation everything becomes focused. Initiation is very important. Faithful means both having faith and being loyal. From initiation onward our energy should be used in the devotional service.
Srila Prabhupada said, in India no one chants less than 25 rounds, and thus he made a real concession for us. One must learn to naturally to serve the Vaishnavas.
Having received initiation, the number one priority in our life is to be a devotee of Krishna. Developing the brahminical qualities can help us.
Second initiation is not an award but an opportunity.
A brahmacari is a celibate student and must be situated on the spiritual plane. One must study regularly and seriously. He is a menial servant of the guru.
As a spiritual master, I will keep my commitment to make sure you go back to Godhead, even if you do not want to go anymore.
Once, after a series of lectures increasing seriousness, Indradyumna Swami said that initiation is a happy occasion. Before initation the jiva is falling downward in material life, but after initiation one moves ever upward, and the graph of his progress charts out a smile.
The personal relationship with spiritiual master is what saves one. Once when Giriraja was fighting for the Juhu land an opposing lawyer decided to try to corrupt him, so the lawyer paid a prostitute to sit next to him, and press up against him. Giriraja Swami felt sure he would give into temptation, but then the thought of Srila Prabhupada and what Prabhupada would say, and he got the strength to remain undisturbed.
Nityananda is always happy because He knows the secret of happiness is to serve Lord Caitanya. He possesses the happiness of being the Lord and serving the Lord, so who can be happier than Him. He is so drunk with transcendental happiness that he gives out transcendental mercy without discrimination.
Candramauli Swami:
from a lecture on Bhaktivinoda Thakura's appearance:
Srila Prabhupada describes Bhaktivinoda Thakura as the pioneer for spreading Krishna consciousness all over the world. He practically established Krishna consciousness in the West, and we are simply carrying on what we started.
Although appearing in a family of saktas, acaryas consider him a nitya siddha, an eternally perfect person.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura practically single-handedly reestablished the respectability of Caitanya Vaishnavaism.
He spent twenty years looking for a copy of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta.
He was magistrate in a town, which he was happy to find was populated by many Vaishnavas, and they appreciated his advanced devotion and gave him the name Sac-cid-ananda, which stuck the rest of his life.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura was so regulated he used a stopwatch to time his activities.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura was given his own railway car for his comfort as a token of appreciation of his service as a magistrate by the British Raj.
His established a Vaishnava organization called Vaishnava Sabha.
Srila Prabhupada considered Bhaktivinoda Thakura as a household paramahamsa, who showed by his life how to execute pure devotional service as a householder, an example that should be followed.
Srila Prabhupada said that devotees in the Krishna consciousness movement should read and study Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s book Jaiva Dharma, which teaches important Vaishnava philosophy and practices.
Another main accomplishment of his was to find Lord Caitanya's birthplace, which was erroneously thought to be in an incorrect place.
He had a vision of the people of the world chanting “Jaya Sacinandana!”
He wrote, “He reasons ill who say that Vaishnavas die while living still in sound, Vaishnavas die to life and living spread the holy name around.” And he had the put on Haridasa Thakura's samadhi.
On the appearance and disappearance days of the great souls we can approach them direcly.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura is Kamala Manjari, a servant of Radharani, in the spiritual world.
His siksa-guru Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja was more prominent in his life than his diksa-guru Bipin Bihari Goswami.
Q: How is that in a few hundred years that Lord Caitanya’s teachings were practically lost? A: It was about 1750 when Lord Caitanya’s teachings became almost eliminated. It is not so hard to understand because we can see that when Srila Prabhupada left so many other ideas sprung up even in our ISKCON in just a few years. When a great soul leaves, by the influence of time confusion arises. It is hard to maintain pure devotional principles in the material world.
from his seminar:
A devotee is like salt. He makes things wonderful but does not get any recognition.
Question by Candramauli Swami to his listeners, “If the Supreme Lord was willing to give you anything, what would you ask for?”
People gave the the following answers:
I said, “To be always engaged in devotional service and to be satisfied with that engagement.”
One lady said, “To always remember Krishna and never forget Him.”
Candramauli Swami himself said, “May the Ukraine festival never end.”
One boy said, “May Aindra Prabhu come back.” Candramauli Swami replied, “Maybe he does not want to come back. Better to pray to go where he is.”
Lord Caitanya said if you want my full mercy, do two things: (1) chant the holy name, (2) do not find fault with others.
How to get free from envy? Humbly serve the Vaishnavas.
Those who use chilis to imitate crying in devotional ecstasy I call “chili babas.”
In the spiritual world there are no sannyasis because there is nothing there to renounce.
Spiritual arithmetic: Krishna + everything = Krishna Krishna – everything = Krishna
Caitanya said Mukunda is like someone who worships your feet nicely and then beats you on the head. Sometimes he associates nicely with the devotees, and on other occasions he hears from the Mayavadi impersonalists.
Patience is very important. Women are more patient than men.
Three things to be Krishna consciousness: (1) chant the holy names, (2) serve the Vaishnavas, and (3) avoid offenses.
We want Krishna and Maya, a little Krishna and a little Maya. So Krishna says, “OK, when you are tired of Maya, just let me know.”
Indradyumna Swami:
from his “Simple Living and High Thinking” seminar at the Ukraine Festival:
“Let me take shelter of Sri Krishna who has descended in the form Lord Caitanya to teach real knowledge, His devotional service, and detachment from everything that does not foster Krishna consciousness. He has descended because He is an ocean of mercy. Let us take shelter of His lotus feet.”
“Simply life and high thinking” is one of the mottoes of this Krishna consciousness movement and is in contrasted to the unspoken motto of the Western civilization, a complicated life with no time to think about Krishna consciousness.
Srila Prabhupada had different descriptive sayings that did not exact correspond to any particular verse but concisely expressed an important idea, for example, “Back home, back to Godhead.”
“Chant Hare Krishna and your life will be sublime” is what Srila Prabhupada originally said. Someone changed it to “Chant and be happy,” but that not what Srila Prabhupada said. Sublime implies something deeper than just being happy.
Spiritual knowledge is not enough but it must be applied. Just having a recipe for a cake is not enough. You have to actually bake the cake!
We have to have a lifestyle that will result in realization.
Krishna does not say, “By reading this book, you will go back to Godhead,” but “by engaging in devotional service, you will attain Me.”
A simple life is described by this verse: One's desires should never be directed to self-gratification. One should desire a healthy life, or self-preservation, for the human form is simply meant for inquiring into the Absolute Truth. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.10) You can have sense gratification, as Srila Prabhupada would say, “to keep body and soul together.”
The jnanis, yogis, and bhaktas are all transcendentalists and deserve to be respected for striving for self-realization. Although we see bhakti as a superior path, we appreciate the endeavor of the other transcendentalists to renounce the material world and move toward a spiritual goal.
When I went to Muktinatha I was discussing this with a friend who slighted the other transcendentalists. The weather became worse, and then met one yogi returning, who said, “Namaste,” to which my friend said gruffly, “Hare Krishna.” The yogi was wearing only a cadar. My friend noticed the yogi was standing on the snow in his bare feet, which melted the snow as we talked. My friend become impressed with this, and said “Namaste,” as the yogi left, appreciating his amazing renunciation.
The slogan that sums up modern life is “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” This saying came from the gladiators who would engage in fights in which one opponent would live and the other would die. Because of their uncertain duration of life, they had that slogan.
They assume the more you enjoy the senses, the happier you will be, but can they prove it?
There are two paths, prvrtti-marga and nivrtti-marga, and they are diametrically opposed to each other. One must decide which to traverse. Our challenge is to show one man or one woman who has become completely satisfied by just addressing the demands of the senses. It is impossible just as it is not possible to satisfy a bird by cleaning the cage.
Every experienced traveler knows, “Travel light.”
In sending up a hot air balloon, in addition to inflating the balloon one must also throw off the ballast so the balloon will rise. Similarly we have to give up our material desires in addition to performing our spiritual practice.
There is a story of Sankaracarya. He wanted to take sannyasa at the age of five. His mother told him he could take sannyasawhen he was an old man, on the verge of death. He replied, “An old man or on the verge of death?” She said, “On the verge of death.” He went to the river where the crocodiles were swimming, and he dove in the water. Being attacked by crocodiles and thus on the verge of death, he told his mother he was going to take sannyasa. He dressed in rags from a dead body and carried a stick symbolic of renunciation, and he renounced the world.
The acaryas do not drag us by the hair back to Godhead. They just instruct us.
Sometimes we get too caught up in the material world, and we forget to hear from our spiritual master
If we were as enthusiastic about our sadhana of chanting Hare Krishna and hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam class as we are about eating, we would be very advanced.
You purchase a newspaper and then you throw it away. How valuable can that knowledge be if you throw it away?
“We should not let a day go by without reading a verse, a line of a verse, or a word of a verse from the scripture.”—Canakya Pandit
In London I got a call from my mother at 2 a.m. She said, “Can you take me to Vrndavana? I want to go to Vrndavana.” I was surprised because she had a materialistic philosophy and no interest in Krishna consciousness. I said I would call back when I got up in the morning. When I called three hours later, my brother answered. I asked to talk to my mother, but found she had just died. When my mother died, my brother said her last words were, “Don't lament I am not this body. I am going to Krish . . .” When she found she had cancer, she realized her materialistic philosophy was no solace, so she read theBhagavad-gita I sent her years before every day for six months. She ordered 300 tapes from my tape ministry and listened to them every day. She was an intelligent lady, Phi Beta Kappa, and at the end of her life, she used her intelligence to realize the Absolute Truth. When I went to the funeral home to pay for the cremation, they apologized for not fulfilling her wish to have her ashes spread in the ocean and did not charge me. They said they had the ashes and would do it in a few days. I asked for the ashes and used the money saved from the cremation to go to Vrndavana and threw her ashes in the River Yamuna, thus fulfilling her last wish expressed to me to go to Vrndavana.
“When the king dies, the kingdom goes on.”—Bengali proverb
Better we renounce everything willingly before we die than be forced to renounce it at death.
Thus Prabhupada wrote to Gandhi and advised him to give up everything and preach Bhagavad-gita as it is. Two weeks later, he was killed by a political enemy.
In India, on the planes everyone reads the newspaper. When they finish one, they take up another and read the same news again, and then they pick up a third. It is unfortunate that in the land of dharma, people are carried away by the mundane.
We must consider that sense enjoyment does not give lasting satisfaction. We have been doing it for years, and it has never given satisfaction, and therefore, we should give it up. It is just as foolish, as if I struggle with the microphone for five minutes and it does not work, and then I struggle with it for an hour, and it still doesn't work, and next year, when you come back to the Ukraine festival, I am still struggling with the microphone and it still doesn't work, and in twenty-five years, I am still struggling with the microphone.
Because the Lord is the father of all living beings, He feels obliged to maintain them and has set up a system to do that (Isopanisad Invocation). Sacrifice means to thank the Lord for providing our necessities. We are using all these material elements, but we have to say, “Thank you.”
By taking more than our quota, we create an imbalance. It cannot go on forever. We have the answer to restore the environment in which we live.
You can only live a simple life if your happiness is coming from within, and therefore, there must be high thinking for there to be simple living.
This knowledge has been valuable in the past, it is valuable in the present, and in 10,000 years this knowledge we still be valuable.
Prabhupada wanted a devotee to write a book of spiritual solutions to mundane problems.
My diary is the umbilical cord for my disciples to hear from me, and they must read it.
Usually at some point, we inquire, “Why am I suffering? Who am I? Is there some Absolute Truth?” Human life begins when you begin to question.
Thus education in Krishna consciousness begins at five years old.
Television is directed to the mind of a fourteen year old.
Mark Twain said civilization is limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessaries.
Rogers: Too many people spend money they do not have, to buy things they do not need to impress people they do not like.
In Radha-kunda, I heard a father playing the drum and saw a boy doing arati with tears in his eyes, and the other sons and daughters were dancing, and it went on for an hour and a half. That I thought was real family life.
Now Americans spend four times more but are less happy than the previous generation.
Suppose you are working for someone and you quit and he still maintains you, and then you write bad articles about him and he still maintains you, and then you even say he doesn't exist, and he still maintains you. God is such a kind friend.
Jiva Goswami says kirtana is so powerful it enables even neophytes to taste some spiritual ecstasy.
Devamrita Swami:
We think we know how to enjoy, and that is the problem. We think we know what a good time is. Bhakti purifies us of the idea that we know what is pleasure because our idea of pleasure is contaminated with material conceptions.
Summer is mystical in Vrndavana. The summer heat is there, but it does not disturb anyone.
Vrndavana is a very sensual place with the beautiful sounds of waterfalls, cooling mist which cools the body, songs of birds, all for Krishna's pleasure, without having to work for it.
Why does Krishna carry a flute? To remind us, that Krishna is only playing; He never has to work.
Krishna simply acts with the intention of enjoying a pastime.
Krishna bewilders the materialists by making them think He has to take care of cows to maintain Himself, but the devotees know that it is all play.
In the spiritual world, Krishna's friends are encouraging each other in their sporting activities. This is its nature. Krishna does not keep the enjoyment for Himself but shares it with His friends.
The cowherd boys ask the cowherd girls how much the yogurt is and end up stealing as much as possible. Meanwhile Krishna is sleeping. His friends do what ever is best so Krishna enjoys more, sometimes jumping, fighting, teasing, imitating animals, etc. Krishna's intention is that all His devotees enjoy. Yet we are afraid if that if we surrender to Krishna, we will not enjoy.
Krishna is expert at transforming His devotees desires.
The demon Pralamba, with a plan to kill Krishna and Balaram, took the form of a cowherd boy who had stayed home that day. Krishna externally welcomed him as a friend but internally made a plan to kill him. The larger plan was for the enjoyment of his devotees and only incidentally for the killing of the demon.
Because Krishna had received the imitation cowherd boy as a friend, Balarama was reluctant to kill him at first. Krishna injected the idea into Balarama's mind that the cowherd boy was a demon in disguise and then He killed him.
On Haridasa Thakura's disappearance:
Although we cannot imitate Haridasa Thakura's practice of chanting Hare Krishna so many rounds a day, we can get enough strength from his example to attain success ourselves. If we emulate his determination to chant, we will see amazing results in our own spiritual life.
We can get strength seeing how he was able to overcome all kinds of impediments by chanting Hare Krishna.
In his activities you will see Vaishnava camaraderie and humility. Haridasa Thakura sincerely felt Sanatana Goswami was most important among Lord Caitanya’a associates, while Sanatana Goswami glorified Haridasa Thakura as being the foremost teacher of the holy name.
In addition to telling the prostitute to chant Hare Krishna, he also told her how to restructure her living situation: Give away your illicitly acquired wealth. Sit here and chant in front of the tulasi plant.
Devotees told Srila Prabhupada, “Isn't it enough to tell people to chant Hare Krishna?” Srila Prabhupada explained, “We also have to teach the people how to live so their chanting will become offenseless.”
Haridasa Thakura explained that attaining love of Krishna is the real result of chanting Hare Krishna, not becoming liberated or becoming free from sinful reactions.
Haridasa Thakura taught that by chanting Hare Krishna can solve all problems. One can tolerate persecution. One can understand the Lord's internal feelings of compassion for all beings.
By bhakti, the devotee becomes privileged to understand the heart of the Supreme Lord, so much so that the Lord is surprised to see it.
Haridasa Thakura had a plan to leave the material world which he told to Lord Caitanya: I want Your feet on my heart, I want to look at Your face, I want the dust from the feet of Your devotees on my head, and I want to chant your name, Sri Krishna Caitanya, Sri Krishna Caitanya, Sri Krishna Caitanya. And the Lord fulfilled it.
Lord Caitanya showed His great love for His pure devotee, Haridasa Thakura, by organizing a great festival in honor of His disappearance, distributing prasadam, and chanting his glories.
Haridasa-natha, the Lord of Haridasa Thakura, is a name for Lord Caitanya.
One disciple of mine on returning home from the ashram, was visited in his room by a former girl friend at 9:00 p.m. who sat in front of him, hoping to engage in their former activities, and he just chanted Hare Krishna. She stayed the whole night, leaving around 8 a.m. in the morning. He called me internationally and told me he passed maya's test and told the whole story. “Why did you let her in?” I asked. It is not that we have to set up situations to test the power of chanting.
Maya first tries to wears down your confidence in bhakti. She says things like, “You're no saint, face it.” “Nobody really follows anyway.” “Bhakti works on exception people, and may even work on you in the future when you are old.” How do you get past this? What you do is just chant and chant and ignore all such thoughts, and you will never forget the results. This is Haridasa Thakura's example and his mercy. We can try for complete absorption in the holy name, and we will get some realization. We can realize by chanting Hare Krishna, you can drive the material energy away.
Maya creates false hopes for intimacy. Chanting Hare Krishna, however, can provide a greater intimacy than can be obtained by material means.
Relationships begin with trust, and so with our relationship with Krishna.
Krishna uses Haridasa Thakura to show that you can transcend the problems of the body by chanting Hare Krishna.
I was in Warsaw during communist times. It was a challenge to find a place for a meeting. The parents of some devotee went away for the weekend, and so we could have the place for a meeting. We had thirty people at the apartment, sitting in a circle, and the boy’s mom appeared, who happened to be a high official in the police (which the devotees had neglected to tell me about). She went around the room, looking at each person individually, memorizing their face, when she got to me, and stared at me, the light went out of her eyes, and they appeared like dull stones, and then she skipped me, and looked at the next person, who happened to be her son, and the light came back to her eyes again. She took him into the kitchen and began beating him for having political meetings in her home, risking her reputation. I took the opportunity to run out of the house. Later I asked what the lady had said about me, but she had never even seen me. From that I realized it is true that Krishna is controlling what we see.
Another time, during Communist rule, I had just spoken at the university, and so many students came and they were happy, and they invited me to go on the student radio program. We were austere brahmcaris, and slept in the car parked at the university. An official-looking man knocked on the window in the morning, and brought us to the office of the university president. You could tell they were happy they had caught some foreigners and were turning them over to the authorities. They took us to what we found out later was the KGB headquarters. There were 15 KGB men yelling accusations of political intrigue. Your American passports will not save you. They told us we had to tell them everyone we knew in the country, and there might be some hope for us. I prayed to Krishna for inspiration. Then I told them, “You may think I am an America because I have an America passport, but there men of color are oppressed. I cannot get a job. I am discriminated against. So I came to your country looking for freedom. I heard about the glories of socialism, and wanted to see it for myself. That is was I was speaking about at the university, and as I talked they became more and more happy, and they returned out passports and they apologized and said we could travel as we liked.”
The more pure we are, the more we will be effective, but even a new devotee will have some potency derived from the line of spiritual teachers.
When I hear Krishna's pastimes, I pray that I do not inject my own materialistic conceptions into them.
Aropya is the mistake of putting material conceptions upon the Lord's pastimes.
Kubja is the bhu-sakti of Krishna, but she is showing us a lesson.
Karma-yoga means you are attached to serving in a particular way, and you offer that to Krishna. Bhakti-yoga means you do whatever Krishna wants.
Although Kubja wants to use Krishna for her own desire, Krishna still deals with her.
Krishna goes to Kubja's house to elevate her to the platform of bhakti. When she held His feet to her chest, by smelling the fragrance of His lotus feet, she was freed from her lusty desires.
Krishna brought Uddhava with Him during His visit to Kubja because Uddhava was famous for His proper behavior, and thus no one would question His activities.
This pastime gives confidence that even if we approach Krishna with material desire, Krishna will handle the situation to purify us.
Kubja thought that Krishna was coming to please her senses, but Krishna was thinking He was coming there to turn her into a pure devotee.
Never mind your material desires. Run to Krishna. By running to kirtana, you are running to Krishna.
Niranjana Swami:
We always prefer questions on the subject matter of the class.
Propensity indicates something not artificial or contrary to one's nature. The soul has a propensity to serve Krishna. The whole purpose of the [Ukraine] festival [(Bhakti Sangama)] is to awaken that propensity to serve Krishna.
We know that we are progressing if we are becoming more absorbed in spiritual activities.
We know we are advancing when we find our relief within devotional service instead of looking for relief outside devotional service.
We all have our daily duties in life, but we find relief in our sadhana.
By increasing our absorption in devotional activities during this festival, we can come to appreciate the shelter our sadhanaoffers us in our daily life.
Srila Prabhupada himself was absorbed in these devotional engagements of hearing and chanting about Krishna.
Shyamasundara Prabhu, who was Srila Prabhupada's servant for three years, said he saw the most profound magic of his whole time as servant in the five days they were in Moscow. Srila Prabhupada spoke to one boy Shyamasundara met at the store for two days straight, telling everything the boy could absorb about Krishna consciousness.
This festival is a test of our ability to be absorbed.
The purpose of festivals, reciting Bhagavad-gita, and discussing katha [the instructions and pastimes of the Lord], is to give everyone the opportunity to awakening their propensity to serve Krishna.
To neglect the path of the line of spiritual teachers due to pride is the way of destruction.
To cultivate an understanding that we are not exceptional is a qualification for the Lord's mercy.
The Lord's heart is moved by the feelings of lack of qualification possessed by the great devotees.
Our recognition of our lack of qualification is our qualification. Those who are proud have difficult recognizing their lack of qualification.
The reason the devotees are very willing to donate for the festival is they know no one is profiting from it. They are just covering the expenses. Many devotees come just to do service and give a donation as well. That creates the nice mood here.
One should display tolerance as Haridasa Thakura did, despite so much adversity, and be compassionate to the people in general.
Quote from Amrta-vani:
“What is actual independence? . . . Material independence is a disguised form of dependence. To be dependent on the Lord is actually to be independent. . . . Because the Lord is Absolute, dependence on Himself is our happy state of independence.”
Although we strive for complete independence in this world, it is not actually possible. We see powerful autocrats are eventually removed in due course.
Madhava Maharaja jokes, “In God we trust. All others pay cash.”
No one is self-sufficient in this world. If we do not want to become dependent on Krishna, we will become dependent on someone else. But foolishly we think that if we serve Krishna that we will become enslaved. In reality, the pure living entities can serve the Lord in anyway they want. Sometimes the Lord, because of love, gives up His position as the Supreme Lord to give Himself completely to His devotee in a subordinate relationship. Who is willing to do that in this world?
Time is destroying everyone's plans and everyone's independence.
Everything is taken away from the living entity who identifies with the material body, but nothing is taken away from the soul.
The bee is so eager to taste the nectar that he does not realize the flower is closing up, and similarly the Lord does not realize losing his superior position because of being absorbed in the love of His devotee who treats Him as a subordinate.
Srila Prabhupada made the point that you can become greater than God by becoming a devotee to whom the Lord is so much obliged because of his great love.
Q: What is the motivation about warning us not to invent something new. Is is a problem this days? A: I spoke on it because I opened up the book and it seemed interesting so I spoke on it. The previous spiritual teachers in the line have warned us about the dangers of deviation. We must never think that any pious activity can be as valuable as propagating the holy name of the Lord. We should not equate the holy name with service to mankind. To propagate the holy name of the Lord is the best service to the Lord.
Q: What about innovative preaching? A: If the result is that it brings people to the chanting of the holy name of the Lord it is OK, but it should not be done for some other result.
We cannot create a service for Krishna. Service for Krishna descends. First we must develop a desire for service. That is done by the chanting, which purifies our heart.
Q: You say we should avoid envious people, but then we have to look for faults in people. Should we look for faults in people? A: To be adosa-darsi, to see no faults, is a very elevated platform. We should strive for that . . .
Q: You say chanting is more important. But you also say that we are chanting for service. So which is more important? A: Chant and when you are given service, do it, but do not let the service interfere with your chanting.
Q: Regarding avoiding envious people dressed in Vaishnava clothing, does that mean if I am envious, I should not wear Vaishnava clothing or that I should leave the association of devotees? A: Well, if you act enviously toward devotees, you will not have to leave the association of devotees, Krishna will see to it that you go. He is expert at weeding His garden. But better to recognize the envious mentality and at least avoid acting on the platform of envy.
Bhaktivaibhava Swami:
It is said because Narayana has four syllables, Krishna sent four Vishnudutas. There were three Yamadutas, who were thus outnumbered.
The holy name can destroy sins because it is the name of the All Powerful.
The first time he chanted Narayana, he became free from sins, but unfortunately he continued sinning. He lifespan was reduced because of his sinful acts, but when the Vishnudutas protected Him, the Lord extended it so he could perfect his spiritual life.
Srila Prabhupada emphasized the chanting of the holy name because the scripture stresses it is the only recommended spiritual practice for this age. This festival is so potent because we follow Srila Prabhupada's instructions and we follow the scripture.
Chanting the holy name in the association of so many devotees is such a powerful thing. I think we should keep these festivals going.
It may be difficult for some people to give up sinful activities, but at least they must not think “these sinful activities I commit are not very important because by chanting Hare Krishna I can be free from the reactions.” To think in that way is offensive.
There are many rules for dealing with different people according to their positions, but the more important thing is to remember that other people are conscious beings and not treat them like harmoniums. We will be treated as we treat others. Often devotees think that life should be different as devotees, and they do not deal with their emotions arising in the context of relationships. But it is not so different. In fact the only difference is that Krishna is in the center.
Arjuna was in illusion at two times in his life. The difference between him and us is that we are always in maya [illusion].
Why do feelings and emotions and relationships exist at all? Because they exist in the spiritual world.
Lord Krishna is rasa. He is the embodiment of all relationships.
When we approach Krishna, we see how He reciprocates.
When you are aware of what you can realistically expect from a relationship then you will not be disturbed.
Q: If the Hare Krishna maha-mantra means “Please engage me in Your service,” then why can't we just do a variety of services. Why do we have to chant? A: Because we also have to do our service to the holy name and that is to chant a fixed quota of holy names each day. We should also experience that the service we do is given by Krishna.
It is not that whatever that disciple feels he needs is necessarily a spiritual need which the guru is obliged to fulfill.
Sometimes ladies are too shy to express the need to be married. Some of them say that Krishna is my only husband, but practically we can see very few can actually act on that platform. Still we have to respect that feeling, because in some cases it is a genuine realization.
Is not proper for the wife to constantly express all her thoughts and feelings to her husband and thus overwhelm him. Better to share your feelings with a father or mother or other relative who can listen attentively and then bring up the problem to the husband if it is serious.
We always feel strong when we do things according our own nature, things that we are competent at. In the beginning we may not so be so competent, but we should not be disturbed because by practice we will become competent.
Some people are genuinely eager to do anything for Krishna. It is an advanced state. This cannot be imitated.
I think too many devotees think that they are not vaishyas, otherwise we would not have any financial problems.
If you can quickly learn something and teach it, then do that brahminical work for Krishna.
In this lifetime do something substantial for Krishna.
Generally Vaishnavas do not express their spiritual emotions. They are like his private parts. One does not display them to get followers.
If people are overly expressive to draw attention to themselves, that can detract from people's meditation on Krishna.
Q: How to avoid hiding behind masks? A: By associating with advanced devotees, for they can see through these things.
Prahladananda Swami:
Maya makes our life seem very difficult, and we seem to have so many problems. Prahlada Maharaja says that there is only one problem, the uncontrolled mind. The mind is also very simple. It is either hankering or lamenting. If we stop focusing on this hankering and lamentation, we can absorb ourselves in the holy name and become happy.
One who is aware that the only shelter is Krishna, can perfect his life.
Kunti did not stay to Krishna, “Every day I chanted my rounds. Every day I followed the rules and regulations. Why are all these things happening to me?” Rather she prayed, “Please give me more troubles for in these troubles I am remembering You.” People can challenge, “You are crazy because you are depending on Krishna.” And we can challenge back, “You are crazy because you are depending on Maya.”
If we pray to the Supreme Soul, please wake us up at 3:00 a.m., we will find the Supreme Soul is the greatest alarm clock. He can wake the sun up every morning, even if he is tired, and so he can certainly wake us up.
Everything is an instrument of Krishna.
If I understand I am a servant of Krishna, if I pray to Him, I will understand what to do.
Lord Caitanya wanted us to preach to the conditioned souls. Most of our friends and relatives are conditioned souls, so we can have kirtana morning and evening together and discuss Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam with them, and in this way please the Lord.
Giving Srila Prabhupada’s books is the best thing we can do for anyone’s spiritual life.
It is easy to be a pure devotee when everything is going all right. But if someone kicks you in the chest while you are sleeping, it would be difficult not to get angry.
By diksa one becomes gradually disinterested in material enjoyment and gradually attached to spiritual life.
Satisfaction of the self-realized devotee is the secret of success in Krishna consciousness.
By chanting we get the strength to follow the principles.
Advice on college preaching [from a lunchtime conversation]:
from Niranjana Swami:
Be yourself. Be a friend. Don’t be a “Hare Krishna monk.”
from Devamrita Swami:
Be patient.
Do not think the students will be as thoughtful these days as they were in your generation.
Bada Hari Prabhu:
Srila Prabhupada revealed this truth that other religions do not understand, that even the greatest person in this world is a servant.
On book distribution one woman chastised me, saying that God is a not poor man. She was saying, “I have my mobile home because I am serving the real God while you are begging in a parking lot.” They do not understand that service is its own reward.
And we serve the greatest by serving his servants. And the service is so sweet the devotee does not want anything else. This is the beautiful gift that Srila Prabhupada has given us. What the whole world cannot figure out, Srila Prabhupada gave us in a few sentences. This service satisfies the heart, and we have experience of it. It is not just a lofty philosophy we just realize when we are pure devotees, but even before we are perfect, we can experience the pleasure of service. If we serve Krishna, but want something else, that is cheating. This spoils our devotional service, and robs us of the pleasure of devotional service. We are not cheating Krishna, because He cannot be cheated. He is the greatest cheater. But we cheat ourselves.
Srila Prabhupada said that the service I have given you is all you know of love.
Srila Prabhupada said spiritual pleasure comes when you want to please Krishna. We may not be great devotees, but we can think, “How may I please Krishna?” Then under the guidance of devotees we can engage in that service and be satisfied.
This verse says the devotional service begins with the holy name, but according to Brhad-bhagavatamrita, the holy name is everything. Devotional service ends with the holy names as well. Brhad-bhagavatamrita recommends nama-sankirtana done with the aim of attaining the Lord's lotus feet.
Nama-sankirtana leads to Krishna prema.
The holy name is chanted with the heart not the tongue, but when chanted by the heart it appears on the tongue.
According to Bhaktivinoda Thakura, the holy name is the bud of the flower of divine love.
Some approach a babaji [a renounced holy name] to attain siddha-pranali [knowledge of our original relationship with Krishna], but Bhaktivinoda Thakura says the holy name ultimately gives us our spiritual form. Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji agreed that the holy name is a siddha mantra [a mantra granting spiritual perfection].
Navina Shyama Prabhu [from a BTG article]:
This world’s sole function is to simulate existence without God. . . . Why does He stay hidden? Simply to satisfy our desire to be rid of Him.
Such is the wonder of Krishna’s material creation: It is so complete and perfect that it can simultaneously provide a God-free playground for those wishing to ignore Him, as well as a God-centered temple for those wishing to serve Him.
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vede ramayane caiva purane bharate tatha adav ante ca madhye ca harih sarvatra giyate
“Throughout the Vedas and everywhere in the Ramayana, Puranas, and Mahabharata, from the beginning to the middle to the end, the praises of Lord Hari are sung.” (Hari-vamsa 3.132.95)
 HG Jananivasa Prabhu (left) and HG Pankajanghri Prabhu (right) with Sri Sri Radha-Madhava and Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya
       
  
       
 Jananivasa Prabhu purifying the bhoga to be offered, with mantra and mudra.
Text by: Gauranga Simha Prabhu Photos by: Syamesvari dasi
       
 “If we have ever had the slightest thought of faithlessness to Krsna, let us then burn in the fire of our sin.” and so they walked through fire.
After this, Vaninatha Raya brought all kinds of prasadam. and Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted lunch with His devotees. The King also sent a large quantity of prasadam. The author of Caitanya-caritamrta admits his inability to describe the varieties of food offered to Lord Jagannatha. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw half the garden filled with a variety [...] Poem for November 9 is a post from: EVERY DAY
From My Autobiography The autobiography is a work-in-progress. I have already finished my pre-Krishna conscious memories and I have written about my career in ISKCON. Now I am writing about the books I have written. Because writing is so important to me, it is a crucial part of my life story. At present I am [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard these verses He was pleased beyond limits, and He said again and again, “Go on reciting!” As soon as the King recited the verse beginning with the words “Tava kathamrtam” the Lord rose in ecstatic love and embraced him. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to recite the verse again and again. [...] Poem for November 8 is a post from: EVERY DAY
From Prabhupada Meditations, Volume II “Report from Poland” “For two nights I spoke about Prabhupada at the request of the devotees on the Polish farm, New Santipura. I started by telling them how Prabhupada took the Jaladuta to America. By the end of the first night I had finished narrating up to the beginning of [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY
When they reached the place called Balagandi Lord Jagannatha stopped His car and began to look left and right. On the left side Lord Jagannatha saw a neighborhood of brahmanas and a coconut grove. On the right side He saw nice flower gardens resembling those in Vrndavana. It was customary that food be offered to [...] Poem for November 7 is a post from: EVERY DAY
From My Autobiography The autobiography is a work-in-progress. I have already completed giving my pre-Krishna conscious memories. I have also told of my career in ISKCON. Now I am writing of the books I have written. Because writing is so important to me, it forms a crucial part of my life story. I am now [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu spoke thus to Lord Jagannatha: “Here at Kuruksetra You are dressed like a royal prince, accompanied by great warriors, but in Vrndavana You appear just like an ordinary Cowherd Boy, accompanied only by Your beautiful flute. My dear Lord, kindly hear My true submission. My home is Vrndavana, and I wish Your [...] Poem for November 6 is a post from: EVERY DAY
From Entering the Life of Prayer “Hare Krishna. This is the first walk in France in the Pyrenees. Just before I left the house it occurred to me that this morning’s walk will be quite an adventure. It’s still dark out. This is a foreign country. I can’t speak the language. We are way up [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY
For organizations, clergy, and chefs: please consider signing on to the NYC Food and Farm Bill Principles and Why We Care document! Go to
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/692712/Sign-on-to-NYC-Food-and-Farm-Bill-Principles
We will have a sign-on opportunity for individuals shortly.
Text versions of the two above PDFs are below, followed by a black and white version of the PDFs:
TheFOOD and FARM BILL:
Why New York City Cares
The Food and Farm Bill is the single greatest influence on what we eat. It determines how billions are spent shaping our food system, from producer to consumer. We, in New York City (NYC), have an enormous stake in the Food and Farm Bill. Eight million of us spend $30 billion annually on food.[i]
Yet, hunger persists in NYC. An all-time high of 1.84 million NYC residents rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as Food Stamps, and 1.4 million of us rely on emergency food.[ii] One in six of us, including more than 400,000 of our children live in households facing food insecurity.[iii]Many of us find unhealthy food far more accessible than healthy food. The nutrition safety net does not meet the needs of our hungry neighbors.
Past Food and Farm Bills inadequately promote healthy food choices, like fruits and vegetables. America needs 13 million more acres in fruit and vegetable production for each of us to meet USDA healthful dietary guidelines.[iv] Yet, the Food and Farm Bill provides incentives for the production of processed foods that are high in added sugars (from federally subsidized corn) and added fats (from federally subsidized soy). The least healthful calories in the supermarket are the cheapest, in part, because of federal financing.
Past bills perpetuate the paradox of chronic hunger and widespread overweight and obesity. Overweight and obesity are significant risk factors for adult diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. Nearly 25 percent of our children and 67 percent of our adults are overweight or obese.[v] In New York State, $6.1 billion is spent annually fighting diet-related diseases.[vi]
Food is also connected to the health of our environment and our economy. Our current food system is unsustainable. It accounts for about 20 percent of our national energy consumption and relies heavily on inputs including chemicals, fossil fuels, and a staggering amount of water.[vii]Unchecked, such practices can degrade our natural resources, eroding our soil and polluting our air and water.
While we are dependent on national and international food production, the relationship between NYC and our regional food shed, particularly in New York State, is significant. New York State is home to more than 36,000 farms - most of which are small, family farms ranging from one to 99-acres - that generate $5 billion in annual revenue.[viii] However, this valuable resource is threatened as we lose farmland to development, especially near cities, and it is difficult to find new farmers to replace retiring farmers.
A relatively small number of corporations increasingly control food production, availability, and cost. Unsound public policies have resulted in corporate consolidation of the food chain, making it increasingly difficult for small and mid-sized farms to continue operation.
Our federal policies put national food sovereignty at risk: we are losing farmland and our farmers are fewer and older; our system of production and distribution is unsustainable; our fruits and vegetables are grown on land in danger of development; and we import almost as many agricultural products as we export, all this while our population is growing. Not only is our own food sovereignty at risk, our policies risk the food sovereignty of other nations. Around the world, particularly in the global south, family farmers and local food self-sufficiency are disappearing, in part, because of their inability to compete with our subsidized commodity crops.
With the 2012 Food and Farm Bill, there is an opportunity to re-evaluate our farm and food policies, maintaining the most beneficial and, when it makes good sense, changing others. As a matter of social justice and our core values, a decided majority of Americans believe that we must provide an equitable food safety net.[ix] Despite this, our food safety net is unraveling. While we consider the role of our federal government, including its relationship to our farms and our food, we must determine what in the Food and Farm Bill can best serve the common good.
To these ends, the New York City Food and Farm Bill Working Group has developed five Principles that we hold must be embodied in our nation’s next Food and Farm Bill: A Health-Focused Food System; An End to Hunger and Access to Healthy Food; A Level “Plowing” Field; Good Environmental Stewardship; and Vibrant Regional Farm and Food Economies.
[i] Chittenden, Jessica. “ Survey Says Wholesale Market Good for Farmers, Consumers.” Department of Agriculture& Markets News. Feb. 9. 2005. <http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/AD/release.asp?ReleaseID=1403>
[ii] New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. “Temporary and Disability Assistance Statistic. Table 16. July 2011. <http://otda.ny.gov/resources/caseload/2011/2011-07-stats.pdf>
[iii] New York City Coalition Against Hunger. “NYC Hunger Catastrophe Avoided (For Now).” November 2009. <http://www.nyccah.org/files/AnnualHungerSurveyReport_Nov09.pdf>
[iv] American Farmland Trust. “American Farmland Trust Says—The United States Needs 13 Million More Acres of Fruits and Vegetables to Meet the RDA”. 2010. <http://www.farmland.org/news/pressreleases/13-Million-More-Acres.asp>
[v] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Overweight and Obesity/New York. <http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/stateprograms/fundedstates/new_york.html>
[vi] New York State Department of Health. “Prevention of Childhood Overweight and Obesity - Activ8Kids!”. Request for Applications Number 0601261256:4. 2006. <http://www.health.state.ny.us/funding/rfa/0601261256/0601261256.pdf>
[vii] Center for Sustainable Systems: University of Michigan. “Life Cycle-Based Sustainability Indicators for Assessment of the U.S. Food System”. Report No. CSS00-04. December 2006 <http://css.snre.umich.edu/css_doc/CSS00-04.pdf>
[viii] United States Department of Agriculture. Agriculture in the Classroom, “A Look at New York Agriculture”. July 2010 <http://www.agclassroom.org/kids/stats/newyork.pdf>
[ix] Food Research and Action Center. "FRAC Releases New Polling Data Showing Overwhelming Support for Federal Efforts to End Hunger." Press Release. December 2010. <http://frac.org/2010/12/frac-releases-new-polling-data-showing-overwhelming-support-for-federal-efforts-to-end-hunger/>
New York CityFOOD and FARM BILL Principles
1 A Health-Focused Food System
Obesity and diet-related diseases have reached epidemic proportions. A food system that focuses on increasing the production and distribution of healthy foods - including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains - for consumption in our communities, homes, schools, and institutions will support the health and well being of us all.
2 An End to Hunger and Access to Healthy Food
While hunger is a large and growing problem in our communities, our food system also contributes to a national obesity epidemic. In accord with our core American values and our principles of social justice, we must provide food security for all, including our most vulnerable, the disadvantaged, the young, and the aged. Ending food insecurity and hunger by protecting our nation’s nutrition programs and ensuring equitable access to healthful, sustainably produced food is of paramount importance. Also of great importance are consumers’ abilities to make informed, healthy food choices and to access healthy food.
3 A Level “Plowing” Field
The face of farming in our nation is changing. Small- and mid-scale family farms are increasingly struggling against anti-competitive practices, industry consolidation, and subsidies that tilt the playing field. Meanwhile, extensive outbreaks of food-borne illnesses are becoming increasingly common. While the productive capacity of large-scale agriculture is considerable, so is its capacity to negatively impact our health, our environment, and the diversity and competitiveness of agricultural enterprise. Conservation, risk management, access to credit, and food safety programs often are calibrated to the scales of “production” agriculture. Restoring competition, promoting fairness, encouraging decentralization, and developing scale-appropriate programs will contribute to the future vitality of small- and mid–scale regional, rural, and urban farm and food enterprises.
4 GoodEnvironmental Stewardship
Our present agricultural system, which relies heavily on chemicals, fossil fuels, and a staggering amount of water, is damaging our environment and our ability to feed ourselves in the future. Conservation priorities must align with our best interests. To ensure a secure food system today and well into the future, we must preserve our vital agricultural soil and water resources, reduce farm and other food-system energy consumption, and practice sustainable agricultural production methods that minimize air and water pollution.
5 Vibrant Regional Farm and Food Economies
High unemployment and a sluggish economy compound challenges facing those who labor in the food system, including small- and mid-scale farmers. Opportunities that create fair wage jobs are key to a strong economy. We must look to innovative methods to strengthen our regional food systems as a means to regain economic vitality. We must provide entrepreneurial opportunities and foster business growth and job creation in rural and urban production, processing, and distribution. Farm and food strategies must support beginning and disadvantaged urban and rural farmers, as well as established farmers facing the challenges of feeding America. By doing so, we will increase the amount of regionally produced, healthy food that is available in our communities while we strengthen our economy.
 Food and Farm Bill - Why NYC Cares & NYC Principles_B&W.pdf
1975 November 10: "As soon as one thinks that he is greater than the Spiritual Master that is the greatest offense. Krsna will give one everything, but to these offenders - everything is lost."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
1975 November 10: "Now the GBC has become more than Guru Maharaja? GBC is simply for looking after pounds, shilling, pence? The GBC does not look after spiritual life? They will have to become Guru, but our students are not qualified - this is a difficulty."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
1975 November 10: "The Deity is proof of the sincere service. It is the duty of GBC to maintain this. Their duty is how to enthuse and maintain. Now I want that there should be established 108 temples before my death, so you think how to do it."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
1965 November 10: "Under the guidance of a bonafide devotee the way is open. Americans, Kirata, Pulinda, Pukkasa, Yavana, all can be trained up under the pure and bonafide devotee. That is the instruction of Sukadeva Goswami."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1965
1970 November 10: "All of our success is due to following the regulative rules of devotional service. So our good standing will be diminished if we join with groups who permit intoxicants, etc. If we wish to remain pure and strong we should not compromise on this point."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
1975 November 10: "As a child going to the neighboring Mallik temple, I was thinking when will I have such nice Deity. Now Krsna is so kind, I am establishing temples all over the world."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
1975 November 10: "This is the way for the neophyte devotee to absorb his mind. The more the Deity is decorated, the more your heart will be decorated with Krsna consciousness. Never think stone or wood. Krsna is personally present."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
1975 November 10: "I have introduced this Deity worship amongst the non-believers, the mlecchas and yavanas. I pray to Krsna, I am inviting You, come. And may He not be insulted by disrespectful behavior."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
Escape from Charging Mad Elephant within – HH Radhanath Swami
Krishna Lounge Discussion
A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Thursday 10 November 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 Help Popularize Our Message By Liking Today's Thought on Facebook: Today's Thought: Is the Spiritual Master God? uploaded from Sri Vrindavan Dhama, India The other day when I was asked for the Vedic equivalent of the holy trinity I replied that Krishna is God the father, the spiritual master is God the son, and that the Paramatma is the holy ghost. When it is said that the spiritual master is God the son, this does not mean that he is God, the source of all existence. No. That cannot be. What this does mean is that the spiritual master has been granted power of attorney by Lord Krishna to act with His potency for spreading Krishna consciousness throughout the world. This is confirmed as follows in the Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Antya 7.11: krsna-akti vin nahe tra pravartana Without being empowered by Lord Sri Krishna one cannot spread Krishna consciousness throughout the world. In this connection Srila Prabhupada states: Persons who do so are empowered. Therefore they are sometimes called vea-avatras, or empowered incarnations, for they are endowed with the power of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Govardhana Parikrama--9 November 2011 http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Govardhan_Parikrama.JPG A Bull Sits Peacefully at the Foot of Govardhana http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Govardhan_Bull.JPG Beautiful Govinda Kunda at the Foot of Govardhana http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Govardhana_Gvoinda.Kunda.JPG Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: How Does Karma Work? Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances All glories to Srila Prabhupada. How does our good karma and bad karma work? And do both of them work at the same time?. Shamesh Answer: Action and Reaction Good karma means that one is rewarded for his past pious activities. And bad karma means that he is punished for his past impious activities. By past good karma one can become wealthy, but then while he is enjoying that wealth he may be killed in car accident due to his past impious activities. 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: {contact_address
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