How can I "fall in love" – divine love (which I will call by its Sanskrit term, bhakti)?
I cannot get bhakti by changing my hairstyle, by changing my wardrobe, my cosmetics or my name. I cannot get it by joining a religion, nor by leaving a religion; by being a member of a society or by not being a member. I can't get it by changing where I live, or when I wake up. I can get it neither by following rules, nor by breaking them. All the rituals and magic in the world will not make it materialize. Nor can I grasp it by studying every book, every commentary, and every philosophy there is to study. Nothing I give away can give bhakti to me. Nothing I give up, nothing I forego, nothing I renounce, nothing I willingly suffer can bring me any closer nor push me any further from bhakti. No luck, chance, fate, fortune, or other blind mercy will bring bhakti into my heart.
Then how? How?
Only love can create love.
I cannot get divine love until that monumentally rare event occurs wherein I encounter a person who has it. It is like a divine virus. When I finally meet a carrier, I must not miss that incredibly rare opportunity to myself become infected.
How?
The air from their lungs moves across the bhakti-saturated core of their being as it travels upwards, past their vocal chords, through their lips, and emerges in the sensorial world as a pronunciation of the beloved's name, "Kṛṣṇa," "Govinda," "Śyāmasundara;" a proclamation of the beloved's beauty, excellence and uncommonly attractive activities. These bhakti-infected vibrations enter through my ears into my nervous system and thus come into contact with my own conscious core. The circuit is complete. The transmission of the divine germ of bhakti has passed from one heart to another.
There is no other way to attain bhakti. There is no other way. There is no other way, at all. I must find a person who has bhakti and I must expose my heart through my ears to the sounds of bhakti emanating from that person. Nothing else works, nothing else.
The way I obtain the seed of bhakti is the same way that I nurture it, cultivate it, and develop it into fruit bearing vine enrapt around the strong, dark legs of the Kṛṣṇa-tree. There is no way to advance in the yoga of divine love besides opening our ears and heart ever wider to the transmissions of loving sound emanating from the hearts of divine lovers of Godhead. May we abandon all the vanities of all other means.
As fallen leaves were tossed by the shuffle of the feet I looked up and imagined the street without automobiles parked at the edge. Replace those machines with pathways and green things and you would have something that would look awesome and handsome.
I incorporated into this day some hearing and chanting as usual. The message from our visitor, a monk hailing from Nigeria - Bhakti Vasudev Swami, was a breathing of freshness into the atmosphere. He's a scholar working on his PhD (Yes, even swamis can go to further their education). He spoke of the application of varna and ashram which recognizes one's natural propensity with regard to career inclinations and how to make pure our practical activities.
"Everyone must work," so Krishna states in the Gita. But how are you working? Is it with satisfaction that you execute your work?
The general key to happy life is you do what is natural for you. For this reason the four varnas (career-types) and ashrams (marital states) is established. Doctor, lawyer, Indian chief, monk, married, whatever niche we are in must become God-centered. Because we are all uniquely psycho-physically individuals, we require something in our life to anchor ourselves together. That anchoring is the spiritual component. It is that which is common ground to all. We are all spirits in essence. Our bodies vary, as do our different natures. The thing that glues us as one is the spiritual side of life. The Maharaja, Bhakti Vasudeva Swami, proposed a Krishna-centric life.
So on a second walk that I took to I tossed some autumn leaves just by accident and I likened it to turning our lives around and not being lazy with our spiritual selves. We must be active in both the spiritual and material lives.
In fighting the common cold, I've found that walking is the way to combat it. It warms up the machinery, the body. I spent the night at a devotee doctor's home, and mentioned to him that I'll likely get up at an early morning dark hour and make my way down the Burlington trail, so I did. I warmed up my heart to Krishna through chanting, while warming up my body through mobilizing the legs. Along this beach side of Lake Ontario, rabbits were leaping about in happy numbers. I didn't seem as a threat to them, it was their territory and their time at 4 AM. They were willing to share it.
A young couple (humans this time) passed by, and I wished them well, "Good morning, or good evening, whichever way you look at it". That remark sparked some giggles. They got warmed up and so did my rabbit friends in the excitement at Fishermans' Pier. For the balance of the day, my concentration was focusing on warming up to our guru, Srila Prabhupada. On November 14th, 1977, he passed away in Vrindavan, India, and corresponding to the lunar calendar, the anniversary happens to fall on this day. With ambivalence, I approach this day feeling cool and warm at the same time. It is understandable that sadness hits the emotion. As the day rolled out, with three programs attended, and all in his honour, I felt a growth of appreciation for his great contributions to the world. As I was hearing others speak, and I was obliged to the same, the heart softened somewhat. I have moved from Burlington to Toronto to Brampton and then to Mississauga for these events. I guess you could say that something stoked up inside. It is possible to warm a cold hearted someone like myself when the topic is so endearing as the pastimes of guru. One reaches the inevitable; you can't help but feel the chills go away.
Run around for Krishna! Get really excited for Krishna about what we are having to do:
"Oh, I have to do all these things! So many things I have to do for Krishna! It's too much…..it's too much! I have to do all those things. I don't know how I can manage all of this? It's too much."
This is perfect! This is how it should be! If you think:
"I have too much service!"
That's perfect! You should have too much service. You should have so much service that you should be totally in anxiety:
"I'm totally in anxiety about all this service!"
Fantastic………fantastic! Because you want it, and not a second left to being in the anxiety about the material desires that are deeply rooted in the heart! This is how it is because we are so passionate, that we couldn't just peacefully sit there and chant the whole day!
Laura Gauthier, a well-known Italian-French TV actress and talk-show lady, spent a week in Villa Vrindavana, Florence, in April this year, living with the Hare Krishnas 24 hours a day. A TV crew followed her adventure ...
The 45 minutes long TV episode was broadcasted nationwide on the 3rd of May 2011 at the prime time: Watch it here (in Italian language only):
By gradually being firm with the senses, they become weaker. Some people have spoilt senses which are just like spoilt children. Every time they cry, they get what they want, and then they cry more, just like spoilt children! So the senses are like children, and if we spoil them, they cry. Sooner or later, we have to be a little firm with our senses, its inevitable. If you just treat them to whatever they want then it is difficult!
A few months back, I wrote you all asking for monthly financial support to help keep Prabhupada's 1st western temple up, running and under ISKCON care. My reasoning was that this temple is of global concern and surely the worldwide ISKCON community has a stake in whether or not its bills can be paid
A mature Prabhupada disciple who had spent several years with Narayana Maharaja and his followers but has now become disillusioned, reports having directly heard Narayana Maharaja vow to reinitiate the disciples of ISKCON gurus, “I’ll reinitiate their disciples!”
In 1990 I was persuaded by some who were then taking siksa from Narayana Maharaja to visit him. In the course of our discussion, the invocation of Sri Isopanisad somehow came up, and I rendered the meaning and purport the way it was presented by Srila Prabhupada, mentioning that this world (‘idam’), as an emanation from the ‘purnam’, is also ‘purnam’.
Narayana Maharaja immediately cut me off, and pronounced (in quite an ex cathedra manner) that I understood the text incorrectly. “No!” he said. “The material world is not purnam.” ‘Idam’ did not refer to this material world, which cannot be purnam. Rather, he said, ‘idam’ refers to Visnu-tattva expansions like Balarama. They are purnam.
I was a bit shocked. Here I was Prabhupada’s disciple, yet he was telling me Prabhupada was in error in his books. Of course, I understood at once that Narayana Maharaja had to be ignorant of Prabhupada’s books. He had not been enlightened by Prabhupada’s brilliant account of just what it meant for this material world to be realized as a complete whole. (It seemed weird to give an interpretation that ignored the context of the invocation, and to ignore the fact that everywhere in the Upanisads and the Bhagavatam ‘idam’ is conventionally used to stand for ‘this world’; and how strange it is to use a neuter singular pronoun to refer to Balarama and other expansions. To give him the benefit of the doubt, I assume he had some authority for his gloss of the sruti mantra. At any rate, Prabhupada’s understanding is clearly far more profound. I actually felt sorry for Narayana Maharaja that he had not received the benefit of Prabhupada’s teaching.)
Didn’t Prabhupada emphasize the importance of his books for us? Didn’t he tell us that association with him via his books was better than his personal association? Now, how is a person who has never even bothered to read Prabhupada’s books to be considered his siksa disciple? How is he to represent Prabhupada to us? Narayana Maharaja announced himself as the successor-acarya to Prabhupada, the authorized acarya of ISKCON.
Two years ago, Lokanatha Swami brought ISKCON’s parikrama party to Kesavji Gaudiya Math in Mathura, where Narayana Maharaja addressed them. It became quite emotional. He said that he used to “lie under the Tamal tree” and to “rest his head in the lap of Giriraja.” He said that even Lokanatha Swami used to be his friend. But all of them left him. They deserted him.
And then, when the parikrama party had left, Narayana Maharaja turned to his disciples and said, “Not one of these is a true follower of Srila Prabhupada! I am the only true follower of Srila Prabhupada!” Other witnesses have heard him voice the same idea still more recently: “I am the successor to Srila Prabhupada,” he says. Even: “I am ISKCON.”
There was a time when Narayana Maharaja criticized Prabhupada in public. He pointed out “mistakes” in his books and “mistakes” in naming of certain Deities. Now, however, he claims that he never said these were Prabhupada’s mistakes but those of his followers, and he never criticized Prabhupada. This is not true. The truth is that in private Narayana Maharaja still belittles or criticizes Prabhupada, while praising him in public. And if the private is made public he simply denies it happened.
If we were to accept Narayana Maharaja’s claims, we would be disregarding Prabhupada’s explicit directions to us, and, in so doing, reenacting the error of the Gaudiya Matha in disobeying the orders of its founder-acarya. Prabhupada’s instructions to us are clear and open and direct, and he has warned us of the folly of deviating from them:
Why this Gaudiya Matha failed? Because they tried to become more than guru. He, before passing away, he gave all direction and never said that ‘This man should be the next acarya.’ But these people, just after his passing away they began to fight, who shall be acarya. That is the failure. They never thought, ‘Why Guru Maharaja gave us instruction so many things, why he did not say that this man should be acarya?’ They wanted to create artificially somebody acarya and everything failed. They did not consider even with common sense that if Guru Maharaja wanted to appoint somebody as acarya, why did he not say? He said so many things, and this point he missed? The real point? And they insist upon it. They declared some unfit person to become acarya. Then another man came, then another, acarya, another acarya. So better remain a foolish person perpetually to be directed by Guru Maharaja. That is perfection. (Srila Prabhupada Speaking in a Room conversation, Bombay: August 16, 1976)
What would it be like to stand before Srila Prabhupada and explain on what authority Narayana Maharaja is to be promoted as our next acarya?
DEVIATIONS
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada radically reformed the Gaudiya Tradition, transforming it into a global preaching mission for the modern world. His work was not much appreciated by many, prominent among them the babajis of Vraja, who felt that he was deviating by his emphasis on vigorous preaching rather than the esoteric cultivation of raga-marga. His disciples were constantly assailed by the charge that their Guru Maharaja was a deviant who could not offer them the “real thing.” As you know, a number of them succumbed, most prominently the unauthorized “successor-acarya” Ananta Vasudeva dasa (later reinitiated in the babaji community as Puri Goswami).
A number of our own God-brothers also fell prey to the same attack, even while Prabhupada was present. What Narayana Maharaja is now preaching and delivering clearly comes from outside the line of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. He did not get this from Bhakti Prajnan Kesava Maharaja, his diksa guru. Narayana Maharaja has acknowledged that there was no practice of raga marga in that matha, no “rasa-katha” but rather discourse about Prahlada Maharaja, Dhruva Maharaja, and so on.
Narayana Maharaja was apparently not satisfied with this, for, as he once confessed, he left his spiritual master’s temple without permission, and he went to Govardhana. In great distress, crying, Bhakti Prajnan Kesava Maharaja came and brought him back.
But later, after the departure of his Guru Maharaja, Narayana Maharaja returned to the babajis of Govardhana, and from among them he accepted a rasika guru, supposedly the one who “pushed the switch” which made the “current of bhava flow.” After his guru’s departure Narayana Maharaja did something his guru had forcibly prohibited in his presence. Whatever it is that Narayana Maharaja is giving comes from this babaji. This is his lineage. It is clearly not the lineage from Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.
In Vrndavana there are prakrta-sahajiyas who say that writing books or even touching books is taboo. For them, devotional service means being relieved from these activities. Whenever they are asked to hear a recitation of Vedic literature, they refuse, saying, “What business do we have reading or hearing transcendental literatures? They are meant for neophytes.” However, pure devotees under the guidance of Srila Rupa Gosvami reject this sahajiya philosophy. It is certainly not good to write literature for money or reputation, but to write books and publish them for the enlightenment of the general populace is real service to the Lord. That was Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s opinion, and he specifically told his disciples to write books. He actually preferred to publish books rather than establish temples. According to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, distributing literature is like playing on a great mrdanga. Consequently we always request members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to publish as many books as possible and distribute them widely throughout the world. By thus following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami, one can become a rupanuga devotee.
Narayana Maharaja once said that the result of book distribution by a member of ISKCON would be that in his next life the book distributor might qualify for advanced association (of a rasika bhakta), but that was all. Yet Srila Prabhupada did not recognize such a dichotomy between Gauranga’s seva and Gopijanavallabha’s seva, for, as he famously commented: “Book distribution is in the mood of the gopis.” Srila Prabhupada tells us that he attained this realization from his Guru Maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura (Madhya 19.133, Purport)
In this connection, I am enclosing an exact (unedited) typescript of Prabhupada’s preface to the original edition of the second volume of Srimad Bhagavatam (1964). Here, Prabhupada replies to criticisms of his activity. These very same criticisms of “brhat-mrdanga preaching,” voiced by the sahajiya babajis of Vraja, are unfortunately being recycled by Narayana Maharaja.
Prabhupada begins by saying:
The path of fruitive activities i.e. to say the path of earn money and enjoy life as it is going on generally, — appears to have become also our profession although we have renounced the order of worldly life! They see that we are moving in the cities, in the Government offices, banks and
other business places for promoting the publication of Srimad Bhagwatam. They also see that we are moving in the press, paper market and amongst the book binders also away from our residence at Vrindaban and thus they conclude sometimes mistakenly that we are also doing the same business in the dress of a mendicant!
And Srila Prabhupada winds up by voicing his heart-felt conviction:
So even though we are not in the Himalayas, even though we talk of business, even though we deal in rupees and n.P. still, simply because we are 100 per cent servants of the Lord and are engaged in the service of broadcasting the message of His glories, — certainly we shall transcend and get through the invincible impasse of Maya and reach the effulgent kingdom of God to render Him face to face eternal service, in full bliss and knowledge. We are confident of this factual position and we may also assure to our numerous readers that they will also achieve the same result simply by hearing the glories of the Lord. (Jannama sruti matrena puman bhavati nirmala.)
Narayana Maharaja explains Prabhupada’s high praise for book distribution and book distributors as a mere tactic to encourage those of us without the samskara for raga-marga. Therefore it is worth noting that this preface was written about his own activities and some years before he had any neophytes to encourage.
During Kartika last year, Narayana Maharaja was holding a darsana in which a number of disciples of Gaura Govinda Maharaja were present. He announced that last night Gaura Govinda Maharaja had appeared to him in a dream, and after speaking some words, Gaura Govinda Maharaja merged into Narayana Maharaja’s body.
Srila Prabhupada said:
Therefore those who are sahajiyas, they simply go to the pastimes of Lord Krsna with the gopis. Other things: “Oh, no, no. That is not Krsna’s pastimes. That is not Krsna’s pastimes.” That is, they differentiate the absolute activities of the Absolute. That is called sahajiya. The sahajiyas will never read Bhagavad-gita, will never read. [Sarcastically:] Because they have been elevated to the mellows of conjugal love. Therefore they have no interest in Bhagavad-gita. (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.3.20-23; Gorakhpur, February 14, 1971)
Narayana Maharaja says within smaller circles that he has no taste for Bhagavad-gita, no attraction for Puri or Dvaraka, no interest in Rama or Narasingha.
SUMMARY
We can begin to understand what influence Narayana Maharaja exercise to make devotees disobey Srila Prabhupada? Let us look at the reason Satsvarupa Maharaja stopped hearing from Narayana Maharaja. He was the first of ISKCON leaders to reject Narayana Maharaja as a teacher. When a crisis arose concerning the others who continued under his tutelage, I asked Satsvarupa Maharaja what made him decide to quit.
He told me, “I discovered that I was reading Srila Prabhupada through the eyes of Narayana Maharaja. And I decided I had better take my Srila Prabhupada straight.”
Now, I accept Satsvarupa Maharaja’s account. He is by nature transparently honest—even, some say, to a fault. His own account is characteristically direct, simple and guileless. Satsvarupa Maharaja noticed how some subtle and powerful change was happening in his hearing of Prabhupada, and Prabhupada was now coming to him in a distorted or crooked manner. He was hearing Prabhupada differently, and this gave him such qualms that he took remedial measures.
According to Narayana Maharaja, Prabhupada was, in effect, a lower-level guru (a teacher of vaidhi-bhakti only) while Narayana Maharaja is a higher-level guru (a giver of raga-marga). In essence, then, those who follow him may set aside significant parts of Srila Prabhupada's teachings and directions as a kind of outgrown elementary instruction. In effect, Narayana Maharaja gives them the way to "respectfully" disregard Srila Prabhupada’s teachings without suffering the pang of conscience.
I doubt Narayana Maharaja’s claims to be Prabhupada’s follower or designated successor because A) he acts in an envious manner toward Vaisnavas and ISKCON in particular and seems to be driven by a competitive spirit of domination, B) he is unacquainted with Prabhupada’s teachings and he differs from them in many ways, C) he has gone outside the line of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura for instruction and does not follow the directions given by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and D) he receives teachings on "raga-marga" from babajis unauthorizedly.
I wonder what he saw. Was it the Visnhuduttas? Could have been the "white light" (effulgence of the Supersoul) at the end of the naga? Doesn't appear to be the Yamadhuttas or he would be deathly afraid...
Haribasara Das: Our temple is located only a few blocks from the University of California at Berkeley. The neighborhood is very nice and peaceful. Prasadam is first class. We have the first Jagannath deities in the movement. The temple is very beautiful with a faithful following. There is so much potential for preaching here. We just need the right minded devotees to help us develop this temple into a wonderful ISKCON center
Dinadayal dasa: Dear Vaishnavas, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Guru-parampara ki jaya! Presentations from this year's ELM are now available online
Madhavi Kirti dd: We are very happy to inform you that we have e-Books available on our website. The tittles on hand are : Sri Godruma Kalpatavi, Free to Preach, The Nectar of Congregational Preaching and Super Sunday
Sri Krishna Murti das: Between November 11th and 15th, taking advantage of a national holiday, Nova Gokula, the biggest Hare Krsna rural community of Latin America, will have the honor to host a 48 hours Kirtana, the biggest one ever done in the continent
Krsnacandra das (BVPGM): There are people who are fighting for justice, who are hungry both spiritually AND physically. What better way to recapture and honor the fantastic birth of the world-wide movement of Srila Prabhupada than to feed the protesters (particularly those like in Los Angeles who need it most) Krishna's Prasadam?
It is certain that Srila Prabhupada will be known as one of the great acaryas [holy teachers] of all times.
A disciple asked Srila Prabhupada how to follow that instruction to follow a resident of Vrndavana. Srila Prabhupada said I am that resident of Vrndavana.
Srila Prabhupada asked us in Potomac, "What is that red light on the transformer?" We did not know. He said we should know everything. Turns out next Janmastami at the celebration that transformer burned out. Perhaps we should have learned about it.
After I heard Srila Prabhupada speaking for the first time, I knew he was my spiritual master.
Godruma Prabhu:
Thanks so much to New Raman Reti residents for their association since my visits to the community began in 1985.
Mother Nartaka Gopal:
Everything Srila Prabhupada did or said endeared us to him and increased our love for him.
He explained that humility is to act boldly for Krishna.
A man said, "Sai Baba is the Lord Himself. What do you say about this?" Srila Prabhupada replied saying that he did not know so much. His only realization was the Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the others are all bogus.
Prabhupada once said he had ten thousand dedicated followers with admirers numbering into the millions.
There was one Mayavadi in the area, and Srila Prabhupada said we should debate him. Devotees asked the topic of the debate. Srila Prabhupada said, "The debate shall be whether he can lift Govardhan Hill. God did it."
Prabhupada told us the Vrndavana jasmine fragrance regulates your life airs.
He told people with hard-to-take-off shoes that they could keep their shoes on and sit at the extreme back of the temple.
Srila Prabhupada said, "If you distribute my books till your dying day, Lord Caitanya will personally take you back to Godhead."
Mother Kanti:
By acting according to Srila Prabhupada's instructions throughout our lives we realize how much he has made us what we are and made us able to deal practically with so many situations.
Dealing with my mother's impending death, I could see Srila Prabhupada had equipped us to handle it while my other siblings were confused and tended to act in denial.
Acyutananda Prabhu:
Srila Prabhupada told us many things:
Study my books very carefully because after I go so many people will say "Prabhupada said . . ."
It is the business of maya [the deluding energy of the Supreme Lord] to make this Krishna consciousness movement look ridiculous.
You may be Rockefeller or any feller, but death will come.
He answered many questions:
Q: Why did not Lord Caitanya spread Krishna consciousness all over the world? A: He saved it for me.
Q: Why do we need a guru? A: The book cannot do this [he gestured by pulling his ear].
Q: What is the difference between the mind and the intelligence? A: Your mind says to jump off the roof, but your intelligence says not to.
Q: I have so many doubts what should I do? A: Doubt is a symptom of intelligence. We are not blind followers. Read my books and answer your doubts.
His disciples asked him to write a BTG [Back to Godhead magaine] article. He asked if the authors of the articles were writing what they had heard from him. When they said yes, he replied, "I am already writing all the articles."
I saw the priest had placed Krishna's flute in backwards, and I told Srila Prabhupada, who replied, "Krishna is all powerful. He can play the flute from either end."
Caturatma Prabhu:
I had a successful prasadam business with Prahlada Priya Prabhu, but two very highly placed temple leaders who were friends of mine were so critical of my business it was painful. The night after a very heavy Srimad-Bhagavatam class on that issue, Srila Prabhupada appeared to me in a dream. We were sitting in the back of a car. He said, "So…?" indicating he wanted me to speak. I said I was thinking that if we could have many prasadam businesses like this, Krishna consciousness would spread and Krishna would be pleased. He smiled in agreement and embraced me. After that I had no doubts about what I was doing. And I learned if I am following Srila Prabhupada's instructions to the best of my abilities, even if others do not appreciate that, I will be protected by Srila Prabhupada.
Lilananda Prabhu:
I secured a ten-minute meeting with an important businessman. I went in and admitted that I had no business to discuss. I just wanted to give him a deluxe Bhagavad-gita. He said, "This is what we should be reading, not having these meetings."
Mother Madana Mohan Mohini:
I saw Srila Prabhupada rubbing some cream in Radha's face. Later I understood there had some been some problem with the painting. Observing Srila Prabhupada, I understood Srila Prabhupada wanted everything to be first-class for the deities.
In one temple, they were not prepared for Srila Prabhupada's arrival. They threw one devotee's possessions out of her room, cleaned it, and put pictures from BTG over the holes in the walls. They built a vyasasana [sitting place for a guru] out of the devotees sleeping bags, but Srila Prabhupada accepted it all so regally.
Prabhupada once said, "You must have peanuts and raisins on Ekadasi." [This was funny for me because on the very last Ekadasi I was expressing to a devotee that it would be better if we had peanuts and raisins.—kkd]
Prabhupada told us, "Do not pick all the flowers. Save some for beauty."
Yasomatinandana Prabhu:
Ramananda Raya Prabhu said, "There is no greater suffering than separation from a pure devotee."
What Srila Prabhupada gave us no one has given to the world.
The subtle point which Srila Prabhupada taught—that love of Krishna is attained by preaching the message of Lord Caitanya for His pleasure was not understood, even by many of his godbrothers.
"Where are you from?" Prabhupada asked, and I replied, "Surat." He smiled and said, "A very nice place. I spent three weeks there. What do you do?" I told him, "I am an engineer." He answered, "Very good, when you get sufficient money then build a temple in Surat."
Prabhupada asked Kesava Prabhu, "Are you thinking of getting married?" When Kesava replied, "No." Srila Prabhupada smiled and said, "That is very nice. Marriage is like taking a 10-ton burden and putting it on your head. It makes it so difficult to preach."
When I got married, Srila Prabhupada encouraged me saying, "Husband and wife, double strength." In this way, he saw what we could do and encouraged us.
When serving Srila Prabhupada, I slept in Prabhupada's room. Once Srila Prabhupada kicked me gently with his feet, and said, "You are snoring too much." I said, "I can sleep on the terrace." He said, "No, usually it is not so bad. Just tonight it was too much."
I would stop massaging him only when he told me. Once he did not say for some time. Then at 12:30 a.m. he asked the time, and when he heard it was so late, he said, "OK, you can go now." Five minutes later he rose, and began translating at 12:45.
Although Srila Prabhupada was guru of the world, he would act like a respectful gentleman and treat everyone nicely.
One time Srila Prabhupada was blasting the philosophy of "yata mata, tata patha" which says you will attain the same destination regardless of the path you take. Mr. Shah protested, "You criticize Gandhi. You criticize Ramakrishna. You criticize Vivekananda. . . ." Srila Prabhupada explained, "We are not against any person just the bogus teachings." Krishna says those who do not surrender unto Him are fools. So we are teacher. We must tell what Krishna has said. Later at the temple, Mr. Shah bowed at Srila Prabhupada's feet with tears in his eyes and apologized for his critical remarks.
Prabhupada was very excited to go to new places.
On the vyasasana [speaker's dais] he was very bold, but when he came off he was very friendly.
He showed the power of one who is faithful to guru, saints, and the scripture, and he encouraged that we could also do like him. By preaching in this way, we can please Prabhupada.
Mother Mukhya:
Keep it simple. Our main practice is harinama [chanting the holy name]. By chanting for the deity, we invoke His mercy.
As far as the children. They should be trained in such a nice way that whatever they do they will not forget Krishna.
Ganga Narayana Prabhu:
I would always give Srila Prabhupada a rose in the morning. Once I was late and his Rolls Royle (which Karadhara had leased) was pulling out. Prabhupada could see me following the car, and he had the driver back up to get the rose I had in my hand.
One disciple eagerly said he was going to distribute BTGs to spread Srila Prabhupada's movement. Srila Prabhupada responded gravely, "This is not my movement. It is Lord Caitanya's movement.
Mother Samapriya:
Love for the guru is the foundation of our love for Krishna.
Trying to maintain loving relationships with ordinary people who have left their bodies increases our material bondage. They are already in new bodies enjoying loving affairs with a new set of people. [The guru can reciprocate our love after he has left this world.]
Puskar Prabhu:
In Henry Street, Srila Prabhupada said, "You will be surprised to know self-realization comes through tongue. By chanting and hearing about the Lord, we remember Him."
For the last five months of his stay, Srila Prabhupada had not eaten practically anything. If he ate a grape, we were all excited.
Big bags of salt arrived for the samadhi [memorial], while Prabhupada was lying in bed inside the building, and it suddenly hit me about Prabhupada's leaving. It was so disturbing I did not eat the rest of the day.
When Krishnadasa Babaji Maharaja would come, the atmosphere became enlightened. Prabhupada enjoyed his company.
Mother Aditi:
We all have a treasure box that is so deep.
Abhirama Prabhu tells how near the end of his life, Prabhupada regretted being so heavy with his wife.
Once in Paris, Srila Prabhupada sat on the vyasasana and began by saying that Krishna is feeling hot. Then he lectured on the importance of care in deity worship.
In 1977 when he came to London after the lecture, he looked at each and every devotee as if to say thank you and we looked back at him as if to say thank you. That was the last time I saw him. I am glad Krishna made that arrangement to say good-bye to him in that way.
Mother Mahatama:
I spoke in Atlanta to a Christian vegeatarian group. The leader loved the prasadam and inquired about it, saying he thought he had tasted it before. I asked how he became vegetarian as many Christians are not. He explained he was disenchanted with Chrisitanity and visited other groups. He visited a Hare Krishna temple and heard Srila Prabhupada speak and was attracted and attended many lectures. Once, however, a devotee giving a lecture dealt with a Christian lady in a disrespectful way and he was turned off and never returned. All the while he was telling the story, I did not tell him I was a Hare Krishna. Srila Prabhupada's association was such that although the man did not become a devotee, he gained the conviction to start a society of Christian vegetarians.
Sankha Prabhu:
I was Prabhupada's flower boy. I would give him a flower in Bombay whenever I saw him.
Once I gave him a flower from another devotees garden, and he noticed it and chastised me for taking a flower from someone else's garden. He called all the gardening devotees to his office, and showing us a map of the temple grounds, pointed out the locations of gardens for each of us and told us not to take from another's garden.
I brought a whole branch of a banana tree to the airport to show Srila Prabhupada. "These are our own bananas?" he asked. "Yes," I replied and he cut them up and distributed pieces to all the devotees.
I made samosas, but he did not take any. Later an Indian man made delicate small Indian samosas. Prabhupada asked if I made them. I said no but some Indian man did, and he replied, "You do not know how to make samosas, you only know how to make footballs."
I explained to Srila Prabhupada that aphids and spider mites were attacking tulasi [Krishna's favorite plant], and I asked how to kill them. Srila Prabhupada said angrily, "Who are you to kill the insects? Leave them alone."
A devotee asked the benefit of offering flowers to Krishna and the guru, and Srila Prabhupada replied, "For every flower you offer to Krishna or guru, the plant producing it becomes a human in the next life." Ranjit Prabhu:
Once at the end of "Jaya Om" prayers, I said directly to Srila Prabhupada, "Jaya Srila Prabhupada!" And Srila Prabhupada responded, "Jaya Srila Prabhupada." Then I remembered he also had a Srila Prabhupada—Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada!
Kalakantha Prabhu and Mother Sukhada wrote beautiful poems, and I hope to post them in their totality in the future.
Krishna-kripa Das:
[I signed up to speak in Alachua but was never called on as there were so many devotees. I also missed speaking on Vyasa Puja, so I decided to write an offering now.]
I like the Prabhupada appearance and disappearance festivals in Alachua so much. So many disciples of Srila Prabhupada tell of his amazing activities and qualities.
When Lord Caitanya visited South India, everyone who saw Him would attain symptoms of love of God. These fortunate people would return to their villages and everyone who saw them would attain love of God. This would continue, and in this way, all of South India became Vaishnavas. Similarly Srila Prabhupada gave many disciples great conviction about the path of Krishna consciousness, when others saw those people they also become convinced. And when this new generation of convinced people would share Krishna consciousness, they would create conviction in the hearts of others, and thus by Srila Prabhupada's grace, this sankirtana movement is spreading all over the world.
Srila Prabhupada, it is your expertise to create an institution that would expand Krishna consciousness even in your physical absence.Each year I see a gradual increase in ISKCON's activiies:
New Ratha-yatra festivals are always appearing. In 2007 devotees started Ratha-yatra in Brno, Czech Republic, the next year they added Prague (Praha), and in the third year, Trutnov, the home of the Czech Woodstock festival. In 2009 Ratha-yatra also started up in Wroclaw, Poland. In 2011 Ratha-yatra came to Hamburg, Germany, and Fredrikstad, Norway, for the first time.
Last year 4,000 devotees registered for the Ukraine festival, and the total participants numbered 5,000 devotees. This year 5,000 devotees registered for the same festival, and about 6,000 devotees were there.
Bhagavad-gita (18.68-69) states, "For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me. There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear." How can we understand how dear Srila Prabhupada is to Krishna? He had his Bhagavad-gita As It Is translated into dozens of important languages and had them distributed all over the world. He gave over a thousand lectures, interviews, and conversations, to give Krishna's message to the people. Thus it is impossible to calculate how dear Srila Prabhupada is to Lord Krishna.
Oh Srila Prabhupada. I bow down before you again and again. I pray that I may be faithful to you and to your mission, and that I might attain Krishna by this process.
I found this Japa cartoon today, I appreciated the humour but there is a serious point behind it - the cartoon reminded me of a quote I use quite often in the Japa Room that addresses the issue of distraction.
The devotee should make it a regular practice to spend a little time alone in a quiet place and concentrate deeply on the holy name. He should utter and hear the name distinctly. It is impossible for the jiva to singlehandedly avoid and overcome the illusion of distraction. By the mercy of the Lord, however, this is accomplished with ease. Therefore it is essential to prayerfully beg for the Lord's grace with great humility, for this is the only means to salvation from this offense.
All of a sudden Braja Mohan, who had appeared very relaxed, said, ‘Come, let’s go!’ Okay, I thought. I’d accept his hospitality. He stopped at a chaiwalla and bought a cup of tea. We sat down and Braja Mohan drank his tea. ‘I want you to come to my house’, he said.
We turned around the corner and arrived at a small house at the foot of Vrsabhanu’s Hill. An old woman greeted us at the door. Braja Mohan said, ‘This is my mother’. The old woman humbly offered pranams, and I returned the gesture. She couldn’t speak a word of English. Like many Indian village houses, Braja Mohan prabhu’s family residence opened into a courtyard. Inside the courtyard were two cows, flanked by huge piles of grain. Braja Mohan looked at the cows and looked at me and proudly announced, ‘This is my mother! And this! This is my father!’ I felt most embarrassed. Just under a year ago I would have thought nothing of eating a hamburger. And here were two healthy cows being offered the respect you would pay to your parents! I felt most fallen. I may have changed my ways but did that make me pious? Did that make me a Vaisnava?
I was warming to my host: The loving reception of his mother; his beautiful infant daughter, Gunjin (named after the flower in Sri Radha’s hair); and his natural respect for the cow. Braja Mohan took me to a room at the side of the courtyard and said, ‘This is your room. My house is your house’. I had heard Indian businessmen in South Africa make similar pronouncements to sadhus. Braja Mohan, however, said this with so much sincerity I felt like I had become a member of his family! The room was spotlessly clean and white. There was a picture of a white-haired Indian gentleman above the single wooden bed. ‘That is my father’, Braja Mohan said. He left the room and returned with a handful of writings in Devanagari, impressed with my recognition of certain verses from the Bhagavad-gita. He started speaking to me in Hindi but stopped when I said, ‘Hindi samasta nahi‘ – ‘I do not understand Hindi’.
We talked and talked and talked. Night fell, and Braja Mohan continued talking - about his family, his job in the fan factory in Mathura, about the sadhus who had visited his house and so on. It was pitch dark. We couldn’t see each other. There was only the sound of the crickets and Braja Mohan speaking to his new friend. I would have to stay the night in Varsana. This was Radharani’s wish. I was reminded of the story in Krsna Book, where Uddhava and Nandamaharaj talk to one another throughout the night.
After some time Braja Mohan’s elderly mother came upstairs with a candle, like a figure out of a fairy-tale. She spoke animatedly to her son, obviously pleased to have a guest. She disappeared into the darkness, returning with some braja rotis and sabji. We both relished the simple meal. I was thankful for all the love and hospitality my hosts had shown me. This must be the mercy of Sri Radha. ’Come’, Braja Mohan said, ‘it is almost time for arati‘.
Only those who render unreserved, uninterrupted, favorable service unto the lotus feet of Lord Krsna... can know the creator of the universe in His full glory, power and transcendence.
(SB 1.3.38)
Here is the darsana of His lotus feet on this first day of the month of November.
One should not be too quick about initiation. In the beginning, one takes instructions from the various exalted and experienced vaisnavas, who then give many relevant inspiring instructions. Initiation is really not the order of the day!
In due course of time, one does need to go further and develop a deeper relationship, not just as a casual form of instructions, but also one needs to make commitments to those instructions. It's really lots of fun that someone gives far out instructions, but one still sits around thinking:
“This one I like…..but this one not so much. So that one I don't take.”
In this way one takes only instructions that one likes. That is in the beginning. The next stage is when one starts to make commitment and says:
“Ok, now I'm going to commit to the instructions of one particular spiritual master and promise to follow what he says.”
So then we have another good look at all the instructing spiritual masters, and at that point one asks:
“Well, which one do I want to commit myself to?”
At that point, one begins to realise what it takes to make such commitments. It takes some trust which must be there. Somebody can give a great class, but you don't know how he's going to instruct you outside of the class. The class may be absolutely fabulous, and then one asks:
“What should I do with my life?”
And the next thing is, that one gets the instructions to move to China and preach:
“But I don't want to go to China.”
It has been said that one must follow the order of the spiritual master. So therefore, one must test the waters. One must also see:
‘There are so many inspiring instructors, but there are a few whose nature and ways appeal to me. I have some confidence and trust in them.’
One should then ask them some questions, either in writing, or one may speak to them personally, and ask for some advice about their life. Don't ask them general questions. Ask them questions such as:
“Well, this is the situation in my life. What do you think? How should I react? How should I progress?”
Because it is still ‘siksa’ so one is not bound. One can test to see if it works, and if it starts to fit then one feels:
“Yes, I'm inspired by this person. I can see that the practical instructions that this person gives is something I can deal with.”
If one feels that the spiritual master is instructing in the way that one can relate to, then the relationship maybe comfortable.
At one point, one can make this commitment and start aspiring to become a disciple. Sooner or later, one will get a little more personal with some instructors than with others and they become candidates. Maybe someone would have two or three candidates. Test them, test them all on how the relationship works on a practical level. It is important to test!
One cannot test everything – like how advanced they really are. One cannot really test that, but there is another mechanism to make sure the chosen one is really spiritually advanced. And that is, when one has a particular interest in a spiritual master, then they should ask senior devotees for blessings, who will be able to look on a deeper level. When they start to give blessings, then that is the protection one has for the qualification of the spiritual master!
Lecture – Srimad Bhagavatam 6.15.8 Anxiety & Krishna 10-31-2011 Los Angeles A question about identity, a question about the incredible stories in the Vedas and a question about Varnasrama
SB 06.15.08 Anxiety & Krishna 2011-10-31 Lecture - Srimad Bhagavatam 6.15.8 Anxiety & Krishna 10-31-2011 Los Angeles A question about identity, a question about the incredible stories in the Vedas and a question about Varnasrama
We are becoming leaders, the friends of the people. But we are not a friendof the people. Krsna (God) is the real friend. Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam.
If I say that I am your friend in a sense that I deliver the message to youthat Krsna is your best friend, I am your friend because I am givingyou this valuable information. But your actual friend is Krsna.
If we teach Krsna consciousness and say to everyonethat Krsna is your best friend, we will not say, "I am your bestfriend." How can I say I am your best friend? What can I do for you?
Iam a tiny living entity. I may become yourfriend, but when you are in danger, I cannot give you protection. And Krsna cangive you all protection. So if I help you to connect with Krsna and take His shelter, this is real friendship.
What if the U.S. could get 20 percent of its power from solar near transmission lines without covering virgin desert?
It could. Transmission right-of-way corridors, vast swaths of vegetation-free landscape to protect high-voltage power lines, could provide enough space for over 600,000 megawatts of solar PV. These arrays could provide enough electricity to meet 20 percent of the country’s electric needs. (Note: There may not be good interconnection opportunities for solar under these huge towers, so this should be read as a land use discussion rather than technical analysis of interconnection to the grid.)
It starts with the federal Government Accountability Office, which estimates there are 155,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines in the United States (defined as lines 230 kilovolts and higher). According to at least two major utilities (Duke Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority), such power lines require a minimum of 150 feet of right-of-way — land generally cleared of all significant vegetation that might come in contact with the power lines.
That’s 4,400 square miles of already developed (or denuded) land for solar power, right under existing grid infrastructure.
That leaves 2,200 square miles of available land for solar. With approximately 275 megawatts (MW) able to be installed per square mile, over 600,000 MW of solar could occupy the available right-of-way, providing enough electricity (over 720 billion kilowatt-hours) to supply 20 percent of U.S. power demands (note: we used the average annual solar insolation in Cincinnati as a proxy for the U.S. as a whole).
Making big strides toward a renewable energy future doesn’t require massive, remote solar projects. We can use existing infrastructure or land to generate significant portions of our electricity demand. Transmission right-of-way, providing 20 percent of U.S. electricity from solar, is just one piece of the puzzle, with another 20 percent possible from using existing rooftops, and a solar potential of nearly 100 percent from solar installed on highway right-of-way. Solar can help achieve a 100 percent clean — and local — energy future.
1974 October 31: "It is very good that our books are being appreciated by the learned circles. If our books are distributed more and more in this way, there will be unlimited scope for spreading this movement all over the world." Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
So take shelter of Krsna's lotus feet. That is the only way. Then everything is all right. samasrita ye pada-pallava-plavam mahat-padam punya-yaso murareh bhavambudhir vatsa-padam param padam padam padam yad vipadam na tesam [SB 10.14.58] Bhagavata is giving you Krsna. Therefore everyone should read Bhagavata, Bhagavad-gita. So this is the parampara system, we are giving. In future if they follow, they will also be delivered(?). This is wanted. We have made some plan. We are making. So this will be left. When we shall die this will be left. And anyone who will accept this parampara system will be promoted to Krsna.
Once Hari-sauri, his second volume of his diary, he wrote to a Professor Tom Hopkins, who is a very good friend of ISKCON, been following ISKCON since the mid-'60s and has very good feelings. So he asked him to write a foreword to his second volume, and this was over the phone. I think Hari-sauri was in Alachua, and Tom Hopkins was...he's a professor of the Sanskrit Department somewhere, I can't remember the university. Anyway, Tom Hopkins just laughed and laughed over the phone. He said, "You know, the Christians have a few books about Jesus, and the Muslims have some books about Mohammad. But you Hare Krishnas, you have a book for every day in the life of Srila Prabhupada."
Upendra: At the Willard Street apartment [San Franscisco], Prabhupada would sometimes go out on the back porch. It was very small and wasn't meant for walking, just for going down the back stairs two levels. But the people in the apartment below us had a little Pekingese dog that would bark at anyone who would come out above. The dog would run up the stairs to the next platform below and yap away with a shrill bark. Prabhupada would go out and stand on the little porch, inciting the dog's barking, and then ignore the dog. Then all of a sudden he would turn to the dog, raise his hands, and make a scary face. The Pekingese would become very frightened and would whimper and run down the stairs, while Prabhupada would laugh. He did this a number of times, like a young boy.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => SPL 7-1: Return to America, 1967
Antya 2.96 maha-bhagavata yei, krsna prana-dhana yara mayavada-sravane citta avasya phire tanra" TRANSLATION "The Mayavada philosophy presents such a jugglery of words that even a highly elevated devotee who has accepted Krsna as his life and soul changes his decision when he reads the Mayavada commentary on the Vedanta-sutra."
Antya 2.97 acarya kahe,—'ama sabara krsna-nistha-citte ama sabara mana bhasya nare phiraite' TRANSLATION In spite of Svarupa Dämodara's protest, Bhagavan Acarya continued, "We are all fixed at the lotus feet of Krsna with our hearts and souls. Therefore the Sariraka-bhasya cannot change our minds."
Antya 2.98 svarupa kahe, "tathapi mayavada-sravane 'cit, brahma, maya, mithyä'—ei-matra sune TRANSLATION Svarupa Damodara replied, "Nevertheless, when we hear the Mayavada philosophy, we hear that Brahman is knowledge and that the universe of maya is false, but we gain no spiritual understanding.
Antya 2.99 jivajnana-kalpita isvare, sakala-i ajnana yahara sravane bhaktera phate mana prana" TRANSLATION "The Mayavadi philosopher tries to establish that the living entity is only imaginary and that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is under the influence of maya. Hearing this kind of commentary breaks the heart and life of a devotee." PURPORT Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami wanted to impress upon Bhagavan Acarya that even though someone firmly fixed in devotion to Krsna's service might not be deviated by hearing the Mayavada bhasya, that bhasya is nevertheless full of impersonal words and ideas—such as Brahman—which represent knowledge but which are impersonal. The Mayavadis say that the world created by maya is false and that actually there is no living entity but only one spiritual effulgence. They further say that God is imaginary, that people think of God only because of ignorance, and that when the Supreme Absolute Truth is befooled by the external energy, maya, He becomes a jiva, or living entity. Upon hearing all these nonsensical ideas from the nondevotee, a devotee is greatly afflicted, as if his heart and soul were broken.
I am pleased that these countrymen of this American country, they are taking our books, reading. So gradually they will understand. But take real knowledge. Don't be misled by bluffers who have no authority to speak. And to cheat you... Because you are wanting, hankering after something, so so many bluffers, cheaters, they come and cheat you. Don't be cheated. Here is authorized literature. Read them, be enlightened, and make your life successful.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.104 -- New York, July 10, 1976
Therefore the best humanitarian work is to give knowledge to the humanity, not that one is suffering for want of food and... If I give some food, that is good work, but that is not sufficient. I may give food; that's all right. You give. We also give prasadam free. But that does not mean simply by giving prasadam, we are silent. We give knowledge also. This is Krsna consciousness movement. Food, automatically you have to give. That is... There is no prohibition. But at the same time: knowledge. Without knowledge-giving, if he remains ignorant... Just like the same example. If you have got some children, if you don't give them education, simply feed them, that is not your proper duty. You must give knowledge.
Because this body belongs to Krishna, and we are using it in His service, it should be kept in good working order. A little dal, a little rice, some vegetable and a few chapatties is a substantial diet, along with a little fruit and milk. Two cups of milk a day is sufficient. The Ayurvedic system of eating is to decide how much you can comfortably eat, then take half of that amount, filling the remaining half one quarter with water and leaving one quarter for air. This simple, regulated diet along with strict cleanliness will keep one healthy, strong and free from disease.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Koumadaki -- Australia March 27, 1972
There is no need of material qualifications for making progress on the path of spiritual realization. In the material world, when one accepts some particular type of service, he is required to possess some particular type of qualification also. Without this one is unfit for such service. But in the devotional service of the Lord the only qualification required is surrender. Surrendering oneself is in one's own hand. If one likes, he can surrender immediately, without delay, and that begins his spiritual life.
The greatest danger to our movement will come when we manufacture and create our own process for worshiping the deities. So don't ask any more new questions, whatever is going on, follow it just to the exact standard as I have given you, that's all.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Dhruvananda -- Bombay 4 January, 1973
Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given one line of Vaisnava behavior: asat-sanga tyaga ei vaisnava acara [Cc. Madhya 22.87]. Simply to give up these rascals' association. The rascal means the Mayavadi, karmi, jnani, yogi, all they are rascals. It is our open declaration. So we have to give up the company of these rascals. If we actually serious about advancing in Krsna consciousness, we should not mix with them.
Actually the whole world is full of Krsna's singing, but it is appreciated in different ways by different kinds of living entities. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita: ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham [Bg. 4.11]. Krsna is dancing, and every living entity is also dancing, but there is a difference between the dancing in the spiritual world and that in the material world. This is expressed by the author of the Caitanya-caritamrta, who says that the master dancer is Krsna and everyone else is His servant. Everyone is trying to imitate Krsna's dancing. Those who are actually in Krsna consciousness respond rightly to the dancing of Krsna: they do not try to dance independently. But those in the material world try to imitate Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The living entities are dancing under the direction of Krsna's maya and are thinking that they are equal to Krsna. But this is not a fact. In Krsna consciousness, this misconception is absent, for a person in Krsna consciousness knows that Krsna is the supreme master and everyone else is His servant. One has to dance to please Krsna, not to imitate or attempt to become equal to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => KB 33: Description of the Rasa Dance
Actually the whole world is full of Krsna's singing, but it is appreciated in different ways by different kinds of living entities. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita: ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham [Bg. 4.11]. Krsna is dancing, and every living entity is also dancing, but there is a difference between the dancing in the spiritual world and that in the material world. This is expressed by the author of the Caitanya-caritamrta, who says that the master dancer is Krsna and everyone else is His servant. Everyone is trying to imitate Krsna's dancing. Those who are actually in Krsna consciousness respond rightly to the dancing of Krsna: they do not try to dance independently. But those in the material world try to imitate Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The living entities are dancing under the direction of Krsna's maya and are thinking that they are equal to Krsna. But this is not a fact. In Krsna consciousness, this misconception is absent, for a person in Krsna consciousness knows that Krsna is the supreme master and everyone else is His servant. One has to dance to please Krsna, not to imitate or attempt to become equal to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => KB 33: Description of the Rasa Dance
One should understand that no one is independent, for everything is part and parcel of Krsna and is acting and moving by the supreme desire of Krsna. This understanding, this consciousness, is Krsna consciousness.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 10.13.53
Translated by Srila Prabhupada as he lay on his bed in Vrndavana shortly before his departure to the spiritual world.
Once Hari-sauri, his second volume of his diary, he wrote to a Professor Tom Hopkins, who is a very good friend of ISKCON, been following ISKCON since the mid-'60s and has very good feelings. So he asked him to write a foreword to his second volume, and this was over the phone. I think Hari-sauri was in Alachua, and Tom Hopkins was...he's a professor of the Sanskrit Department somewhere, I can't remember the university. Anyway, Tom Hopkins just laughed and laughed over the phone. He said, "You know, the Christians have a few books about Jesus, and the Muslims have some books about Mohammad. But you Hare Krishnas, you have a book for every day in the life of Srila Prabhupada."
So take shelter of Krsna's lotus feet. That is the only way. Then everything is all right. samasrita ye pada-pallava-plavam mahat-padam punya-yaso murareh bhavambudhir vatsa-padam param padam padam padam yad vipadam na tesam [SB 10.14.58] Bhagavata is giving you Krsna. Therefore everyone should read Bhagavata, Bhagavad-gita. So this is the parampara system, we are giving. In future if they follow, they will also be delivered(?). This is wanted. We have made some plan. We are making. So this will be left. When we shall die this will be left. And anyone who will accept this parampara system will be promoted to Krsna.
Syama, His bodily hue is blackish, therefore He is called Syamasundara . . . Navina nirada, nirada means cloud, His complexion is just like new cloud. New cloud, blackish, rupa. Still He is so beautiful. Generally black is not considered very beautiful within this material world, but because His body is transcendental, even He is blackish, He is the universally attractive. Rupa manohara. Mohana-vamsi-vihari, simply when He stands with His flute, He, even though He is blackish, He becomes so attractive to everyone.
From the Purport to Vibhavari Sesa
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Antya 2.96 maha-bhagavata yei, krsna prana-dhana yara mayavada-sravane citta avasya phire tanra" TRANSLATION "The Mayavada philosophy presents such a jugglery of words that even a highly elevated devotee who has accepted Krsna as his life and soul changes his decision when he reads the Mayavada commentary on the Vedanta-sutra."
Antya 2.97 acarya kahe,—'ama sabara krsna-nistha-citte ama sabara mana bhasya nare phiraite' TRANSLATION In spite of Svarupa Dämodara's protest, Bhagavan Acarya continued, "We are all fixed at the lotus feet of Krsna with our hearts and souls. Therefore the Sariraka-bhasya cannot change our minds."
Antya 2.98 svarupa kahe, "tathapi mayavada-sravane 'cit, brahma, maya, mithyä'—ei-matra sune TRANSLATION Svarupa Damodara replied, "Nevertheless, when we hear the Mayavada philosophy, we hear that Brahman is knowledge and that the universe of maya is false, but we gain no spiritual understanding.
Antya 2.99 jivajnana-kalpita isvare, sakala-i ajnana yahara sravane bhaktera phate mana prana" TRANSLATION "The Mayavadi philosopher tries to establish that the living entity is only imaginary and that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is under the influence of maya. Hearing this kind of commentary breaks the heart and life of a devotee." PURPORT Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami wanted to impress upon Bhagavan Acarya that even though someone firmly fixed in devotion to Krsna's service might not be deviated by hearing the Mayavada bhasya, that bhasya is nevertheless full of impersonal words and ideas—such as Brahman—which represent knowledge but which are impersonal. The Mayavadis say that the world created by maya is false and that actually there is no living entity but only one spiritual effulgence. They further say that God is imaginary, that people think of God only because of ignorance, and that when the Supreme Absolute Truth is befooled by the external energy, maya, He becomes a jiva, or living entity. Upon hearing all these nonsensical ideas from the nondevotee, a devotee is greatly afflicted, as if his heart and soul were broken.
I do not care very much for these plays and dramas unless they are coming directly from the Vedas. If we can recite from Bhagavad gita the first chapter without any need for elaborate scenery or stage-props and gorgeous dresses, that is best. Just like your Shakespeare. Macbeth may be recited by two men, without anything else, and simply by their acting ability and the meaningful words alone, they can very easily capture the entire audience and give them real substance. We have so many stories, like Jagai-Madhai, Krishna departing for Mathura, like that. Satire will not help us. Our message is very grave, and because it is the Absolute Truth, it will work without any artificial presentation.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Madhudvisa — London 8 July, 1972
"For my training in doing long-distance walking I explored the trails of the Greater Toronto Area. One of them took me along the lake, which curved away form the coastline to accommodate the building and the complex we are in right now and I wonder what go on in there?"
After saying Happy Diwali to a crowed of 200 at one of canada largest nuclear plant, these where my words. I was asked to be the guest speaker to employees here who where from various ethnic backgrounds (mostly your standard white canadians) to say something about Diwali. Being introduced as the walking monk I opened up with the above words and then continued.
"On the new moon of this time of year is a celebration of good over evil when King Rama had slain the demon Ravana and returned home, when the spirit of surrender over comes the atmosphere, to resonate a mood, "Oh God, from this day on I am yours!" And when the public approaches a fresh start of resolution, burying the ego and attempting an inner and outward peace once again. Diwali is celebrated in India once a year but for those wishing to see it stretched out you make Diwali the time you wake up each morning with a mood that benefit us all lets all celebrate.
I had five minutes to talk and so the message had to be succinct and to the point. At the end, everyone followed my lead of peace with two chants. " Shanti means peace so lets come together on that : Shanti Shanti Hari OM Shanti. Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare." Response was great! We lunched with the group and organizers of the event who where employees with a Hindu background. I met and spoke with chief staff members, one of whom is about my age and is the same Dutch background and who's wife teaches yoga. We hit it on well. The program wrapped up within an hour and a half.
Another day was lit up and this time with Diwali cheer.
One becomes joyful by discharging devotional service. In that joyful attitude, one can understand the science of God, or Krsna consciousness; otherwise it is not possible.
[The Won-Durr Boiz diary series is based on four ex-gurukuli brothers (surname: Durr) coming together for the first time to share Krsna consciousness with the outside world. Madhavendra Puri (the author and middle elder) has been waiting in Radhadesh (Belgium) for his brothers to arrive. Nitai Canda (the eldest) and Rupa Gosvami (the youngest) arrive first, and Bhisma Deva (the middle younger) is scheduled to come half way through. Their adventure takes them through Belgium, Germany and Poland, for rathayatras, festival tours and kirtana events. These diaries aim to bring inspiration and joy to the readers, and hopefully encourage others to entangle themselves in Lord Caitanya's Sankirtana movement – whether for the spiritual benefits or simply for the fun.]
Friday 5th, August 2011.
I served breakfast for the VIPs. The group was smaller now than the previous day's breakfast. The devotees were already feeling the heat of the Woodstock yajna. I sat after the breakfast with my little Aussie crew (Prakash and Daniela), now a daily tradition in the Green School. From there Prakash and I decided to walk to the field. Prakash had me talking about my course at Radhadesh, particularly Vaisnava Vedanta. Our talk on philosophy managed to fill out our entire journey, from the school to the field.
We arrived just on time for the Rathayatra, which was blissful as per usual. I found one gentleman from the Woodstock staff who was anxious to meet our organizer. I directed him to HH Indradyumna Swami, in the midst of the loud harinam party. Maharaja arranged a meeting with the man and was incredibly hospitable.
I caught up with my brothers later in the day. Nitai was in distress because his phone was out of order, and he was managing our main stage and our Kirtana Rock Tent without any means of external communication. He was already exhausted but now he had to do a lot more running around to communicate what was normally communicated in the airways.
Later in the day, Nitai sent me to the Red School to see if I could fix his phone. Prakash and I went, having a little picnic on the way. Ten minutes before we arrived at the Red School it started to pour down rain. We kept running through the rain and our trip culminated in a sun shower as we finally arrived.
I used the time in the Red School to try and publish some more Won-Durr Boiz diaries but the internet was still too unreliable. I missed my bus back to the Woodstock field so I decided I would walk again. It was another mad night at Woodstock. There were passed out drunkards everywhere and there was almost no room to walk when I finally made it near the field.
I found my siblings in the kirtana yet again, dancing to Madhava and BB Govinda Maharaja. We danced our night away in the yuga-dharma of sankirtana, along with the youth of Woodstock. Krsna's Village of Peace was always a sheltering light in the dim madness of the Woodstock masses, who came to manufacture their own bliss, while it was actually being distributed by the devotees free of charge.
The nice thing about undertaking service at The Temples/centers is the realizations that come to you as you undertake service, no matter how small; even the most mundane service can give you some profound thoughts on the condition of the soul bound by the modes of material nature.
Cleaning is one of those service that if entered into can give for me any ways the biggest insights into our true condition as we mix with the three modes of material nature, and how we are so enwrapped that we have little true insight or understanding.
Whilst looking at a small boiler used for making hot drinks (the overload switch had broken) I was asked to descale it as there is a huge lime scale problem due to hard water in the area; looking into the service hatch at the tank of water I announced with almost clear certainty that I truly didn’t think it was a big problem as it looks clean to me. Pouring in the chemical and left as directed for four hours.
Returning I peered again into the service hatch and was shocked; there was large bits that had broken off; concerned that what I initially thought was a lining had broken I took out one piece, shock! It was a huge piece of lime that had consolidated and given the appearance of a lining. The Job was bigger and the situation worse than first suspected; my prognosis was indeed incorrect, indeed the devotee who asked me was also quiet shocked by how severe the problem was; it took several treatments to clear the problem.
I pondered this.
Before coming into the association of devotees I was certain that I was not a bad person, compared with many, and that the job and lifestyle was God fearing and indeed somewhat pure. But as the understanding of the modes of material nature and association of the holy names; shock! There is indeed many things wrong and so much to work on.
Like my initial assessment it was made with little correct knowledge, with the correct knowledge comes greater understanding. What we then do with it is another matter indeed. It would have been easy to ignore the lime scale just removing the large bits; but more was needed. Also as the boiler is still effected by hard water it will need regular cleaning.
So why do I need to regularly chant, read and associate with devotees, simply I am always mixing with the modes of material nature, forever contaminated and so deep cleaning by absorption in Krishna, thoughts of Krishna and devotional service is constantly needed.
Temple cleaning never ends, there is always something to do, or some maintenance needed, this includes the temple vehicles; although I was slightly amused to be given a small stick like a lipstick and asked to go around removing all the chips and marks showing up then T-Cut. A devotee had made a small start but first it needed a wash down; but I was asked to finish the bit started.
Finishing the small area, I proceeded to clean, sadly the small bit done also showed up the marks again which was not very amusing; moving over each and every small crack that was showing on the van’s bodywork, smoothing it in and then T-Cut the area several thoughts went through my mind.
The first was obvious "It’s a van this is crazy, it’s meant to have scrapes and dint’s it’s a work horse not a prestige sports car or showroom piece" but still it need’s caring for.
But more profound was this, "make-up" more so it’s use. No matter how much effort I took with the lipstick thing to cover over the marks indeed they still remain only covered. No matter how much effort taken the van’s body will indeed deteriorate , newer and better models will come out and eventually it will indeed let us down, need more extensive repairs and eventually need replacing.
It’s interesting how much money the make-up industry makes, to make one look more stunning or to cover up the cracks, we see so many products that claim to stop the signs of aging or reduce it’s effects. Is this self imposed torture?
There is a society pressure on Women to look a certain way radiant and youthful; they are sold an illusion that there is a need to enhance, reduce any blemish and fight any sign of aging; attraction is the key; doesn’t this lead to ultimate frustration?
Age still comes, the blemish remains; and newer more attractive models come along, so best make the most of what you’ve got whilst you’ve got it; but as you get older lamination and resentment; more make-up and hope or resolve?
Sounds like hell.
But then no matter how we look at it the moment we associate with the modes of material nature problems arise; so much need then to concentrate more closely on Krishna and spiritual advancement; for then we truly start to see thing in the true sense and for what they really are.
Service sometimes gives us nice realizations and thoughts into the real nature of material life, but how we deal with this and act upon it; well that’s a personal thing.
Even though my garden is ridiculously crowded and I'm running out of things to plant in, I couldn't resist the urge to get some non-hybrid old traditional open pollinated seeds from Eden Seeds. I've always admired their ethics and their great seeds, So I spent $50 and got myself a selection of what I thought I could handle in a tiny space.
Radishes are always a pleasure to grow so I got five varieties: watermelon, purple plum, French breakfast, champion and china rose.
Eden seeds have a mind-boggling variety of tomatoes, and I almost got some. Instead I chose some red giant mustard, Bloomsdale long-standing spinach, and some Komatsuna salad greens.
Add to that some slow-bolting cilantro, some Tabasco chili seeds, mesclun mild-mix, and for a laugh, some heirloom black zucchinis.
Don't ask me where I will plant all these! I'm actually looking into something called vertical planters. Bags that hold about 25 litres of potting mix and hang on walls. I have a lot of wall space that gets afternoon sun, so that's a possibility. Any ideas on that, fellow gardeners?
The other thing I almost bought was a construct-it-yourself above ground 3 square metre planting box that you fill with soil. Mitre-10 ran out of all stock. I'll keep my eyes open for more.
Though just six days in Vrindavan and Govardhan, my visit was an enormous revelation.
First, Krishna invites one deeper into His abode according to His own will and personal schedule.
Second, how dare I calculate that I deserve such a personal response—as some kind of spiritual trophy for great efforts performed.
What madness would lead me to adjudge:
"It's about time Krishna reciprocated more with me.
"Just consider all I've endured, what I've gone through for Him . . . "
Really?
A diseased imperceptible microbe in the vast ocean of Kali's poison, I think I merit an intimate response from Krishna?
Arriving in London for Srila Prabhupada's disappearance day, I abandon myself at his feet, begging that he and his Lord make of me what they like.
The famous song of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur beckons me onward. Is it genuinely my reality or do I merely parrot the words?
"Gurudeva, give to this servant just one drop of mercy. I am lower than a blade of grass. Give me all help. Give me strength. Let me be as you are, without desires or aspirations.
"I offer you all respects, for thus I may have the energy to know you correctly. Then, by chanting the holy name in great ecstasy, all my offenses will cease.
"O Lord and Master! When will such mercy fall to this one who is weak and devoid of intelligence? Allow me to be with you.
"If you examine me, you will find no qualities. Your mercy is all that I am made of. If you are not merciful unto me, I can only weep, and I will not be able to maintain my life."
The "last of the buffoon dictators" was one correspondent's take on the death of Muamar Gaddafi. With his numerous outlandish costumes, opulent palace and corps of female Amazonian bodyguards he certainly cut a colourful figure as he paraded on the world stage. But his record on human rights was a black one. His sponsorship of terrorism and his brutality against even his own people were well known and in the end he met a gruesome fate which many will say was well-deserved.
Although Western leaders had previously been happy to do business with Gaddafi and his oil rich country, they lost no time in condemning him after his demise. The Defence Secretary Peter Hammond said Libya had been liberated from a "forty year tyranny", while the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared that his death "brought to a close a very unfortunate chapter in Libya’s history."
Perhaps they are right, and surely we in the West should be grateful that no secret police prowl our streets and dissenters are not hanged from lamp posts, but how much better is our leadership? Vedic scriptures say much on the subject as of course good leaders are critical to the peoples' welfare. The Mahabharata goes so far as to say that the age itself is determined by the leaders. In other words, whether it is the Kali age – the age of quarrel and hypocrisy – or the "golden" Satya age of goodness depends entirely on the worlds' leaders.
Leaders have a vision they lead us towards, but that vision must be based upon knowledge of where humanity should be headed for its ultimate good. These days it is all about economic success, but this is not the Vedic standard. Human life is meant for much more than material happiness. Leaders without this vision are described as the blind leading the blind. As in Bruegel's famous painting everyone ends up in the ditch, which in the case of poor Gaddafi turned out to be more than just a metaphor.
Today's leaders are mostly just managers. Leadership guru Stephen Covey puts it nicely when he says, "Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall." We all want happiness and the right wall is the one which, when we get to the top, we find happiness with no further chance of any more suffering. That is the supreme destination where a truly qualified leader will take us. According to the Vedas this is the vision of spiritually advanced persons who always look to the divine abode of Krishna. It is only there that the hankering soul finds ultimate peace and happiness.
The right vision means the right paradigm, which means recognising how no one in this world has independent authority. All authority derives from God and must therefore be exercised on his behalf. Without God's sanction nothing can succeed. A good example was seen earlier this year when the Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, faced with an unprecedented drought situation and realising that there was only one solution, intelligently proclaimed an official "three day period of prayer for rain."
Higher powers and indeed the highest power of God controls everything and until we recognise that power we must inevitably fall foul of it by transgressing divine law. Following divine law means being led by the godly towards God. This brings about all benefit, both material and spiritual. The Vedas speak about a hierarchy of authority coming down from Krishna, through the Devas or the powers behind nature, to the king or leader in human society. Aligning society with this hierarchy will create a heaven on earth. The Ramayana describes the rule of Rama, the famous 'Rama-rajya', as having brought this about. At that time there was no undue suffering anywhere – not even from natural causes (controlled by the Devas), bodily ailments, poverty, anxiety or anything. Everyone was peaceful, fully satisfied and happy, and at the end of life they ascended to the Lord's supreme abode.
Conversely, however, a rule that neglects God's laws will eventually create a hell on earth. Disease, want, war, depression and miseries of every type will become rampant. No matter how well meaning and hard working the leaders may be, if they have no spiritual vision they will find all their plans thwarted and the people they are trying to lead dissatisfied to the point where they will eventually throw them out.
Genuine happiness will never come from mere worldly affluence, even if it is acquired. As spiritual beings we cannot be satisfied with that. We need to connect with the Supreme Spirit and experience supreme spiritual bliss. Leaders without this knowledge are useless. We can find our own way into the ditch without their help, but of course that is not where we want to be. We want to be led back to Krishna and our loving relationship with him. Let us look for such leaders and make our lives truly successful.
A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Monday 31 October 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: Sweeter than the Sweetest Nectar uploaded from Sri Vrindavan Dhama, India On Srila Prabhupada's disappearance day in Vrindavan the assembled ocean of devotees were privileged to hear so many disciples of Srila Prabhupada speak their offerings of love. The master of ceremonies, Dina Bandhu Prabhu, explained that because there were 85 Prabhupada disciples present that not everyone would get a chance to speak. So I sat peacefully for several hours relishing all the wonderful expressions of love from my Godbrothers and Godsistere thinking that I would not be speaking. Then when I was called to speak, although I was somewhat surprised, I took it as wonderful opportunity to glorify my spiritual master to a highly receptive audience. The sweetest nectar is to glorify Lord Sri Krishna, but sweeter still is to glorify ur beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. Sankarshan Das Adhikari At Vrindavan's Prabhupada Disappearance Festival 30 October 2011: The Pandal Was Packed With Devotees http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Vrindavan_Devotees.JPG Blessed With a Chance to Glorify Srila Prabhupada http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Vrindavan_Address.JPG Bathing Ceremony for Srila Prabhupada http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Vrindavan_Bathing_SP.JPG Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Is Mother or Krishna More Important? Dear Gurudeva, Bless me. I am having a doubt that who is more important to us. Is it our mother who gave us birth or is it Lord Krishna? Kowsthub Answer: Which Mother are You Referring To? Who is the supplying the air you breathe, your mother or Lord Krishna? Who is feeding all living beings throughout the universe, your mother or Lord Krishna? Who is supplying everyone with a mother, your mother or Lord Krishna? And which mother are you referring to, your mother from this birth or one of your billions of mothers from one of your billions of lifetimes? 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: 21
By Yadunath das
A mature Prabhupada disciple who had spent several years with Narayana Maharaja and his followers but has now become disillusioned, reports having directly heard Narayana Maharaja vow to reinitiate the disciples of ISKCON gurus, “I’ll reinitiate their disciples!”
By Nrsimhananda dasa
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