Greetings to the one that rules the 18 million internal
and external universes.
Greetings to the one who created everything out of itself
Who permeates and rules it and is the consciousness of and
In it
and who dwells in me
Greetings to the one who is one alone and the many as one
Who is the substance of things unseen
Who is always more than there is
no matter
How much there may be
The rising sun that never hits the zenith
Greetings to the living light behind all appearances
Who composes the appearances and is not what appears
Greetings to the qualities and virtues that make up the personality of
The ineffable in the cloud of unknowing that shrouds the blinding world and
Humbles everything before it and which
Dwells in me.
Greetings to the unassailable unmoving center
From which spirals the galaxies and worlds
Like the spiral of a closed fist
Of perfect concentration
That holds it all in place that
Moves it all that forms and un-forms and does not
Begin or end and which dwells in me.
Greetings to that which endures and prevails
And is the life in everything
That meets and greets itself knowing and unknowing
That scatters itself into uncountable pieces and
Gathers them altogether again and
That dwells in me
Greetings to the dynamic animating principle.
Greetings to the one that does not know time nor size but
Does know sequence and form
Greetings to the one whose idea is complete in the genesis and
Is the intelligence behind evolution and design and not the result of them.
Greetings to what cannot be known but whose presence can be practiced
And enjoyed and who dwells in me.
Greetings in the before and after that both spill into the endless now
Greetings to the one who commands the superiors and inferiors
Whose every effort serves the entire
Who is the one who waits before
In the midst and at the end of every thought, word and deed
Greetings to the mind inside the mind of every architect in every dream
Who waits and watches forever and who
Abides in me.
Greetings from within the sleep that struggles for awakening
That cries out for union with the beloved
That cries in this moment for awakening to the one
Who dwells in me.
Greetings
many greetings and
much gratitude
Greetings and greetings and
much gratitude
Hare Krishna
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Hare Krishna
Patrick Willis narrates:
Beamed from the Saucer Pod By Visible at 20:21
1106 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 1106 Newer› Newest»So where is the difficulty in understanding God? There is no difficulty. If one is actually sane, one can understand God at every step. The Lord says:
“O son of Kuntī [Arjuna], I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable oṁ in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man.” (Bg. 7.8) Why then do people say, “I have not seen God”? Why don’t they see God as God directs them to see Him? Why do they manufacture their own way? One cannot see God by one’s own way. That is not possible. If one tries to do so, one will always remain blind. At the present moment so-called philosophers and scientists are trying to see God in their own way, but that is not possible. One has to see God by God’s way. Then one can see Him.
Although God is so much greater than ordinary men, rascals support the view that one can see God in one’s own way. “As many ways as you invent,” they say, “they are all bona fide.” This is rascaldom. The world is full of rascals and fools, and therefore God consciousness, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, has become a vague idea. Otherwise, if one wants to see God, if one wants Him to be always present, as Kuntīdevī is requesting that He be, one can keep God always within one's heart.
"In this age of Kali the propensity for mercy is almost nil. Consequently there is always fighting and wars between men and nations. Men do not understand that because they unrestrictedly kill so many animals, they also must be slaughtered like animals in big wars."
"Furthermore, at the present moment civilized nations are unnecessarily maintaining many slaughterhouses for killing innocent animals. When a nation is attacked by its enemies, the wholesale slaughter of the citizens should be taken as a reaction to their own sinful activities. That is nature’s law." (SB 4.11.7)
"Sometimes Kali becomes so infuriated that she indiscriminately kills all kinds of asuras. There is a popular picture of goddess Kali in which she wears a garland composed of the heads of the asuras and holds in her left hand a captured head and in her right hand a great khadga, or chopper, for killing asuras. Great wars are symbolic representations of Kali’s devastation of the asuras and are actually conducted by the goddess Kali." (SB 4.24.18)
Srila Haridas Thakura: “At twilight, the dispelling of darkness begins before the sun has risen. The fear of thieves, ghosts and evil forces is also dispelled; and when the sun has fully risen the nature and movement of things becomes revealed. Similarly, with the initial or twilight appearance of the Holy Name, our sins and obstacles are dispelled; and when the sun of the Holy Name rises fully, love for the divine lotus feet of the Lord awakens within the heart.”
“As deer flee in fear of the roar of the lion, all sins immediately flee from one who chants the Holy Name, even by chance.”
[Garuda-Purana]
"Even a person who is stumbling and falling, afflicted on the brink of death and helplessly passing away from the world – he somehow takes the Holy Name of the Lord he is liberated from the bondage of karma and attains to the supreme destination. Alas! The fools of Kali-yuga have no desire to worship that Supreme Lord.”
[Srimad-Bhagavatam]
Prabhupada: Hare Krishna. Aradhito yadi haris tapasa tatah kim. Govindam adi-purusa is known as Hari. Hari means “who takes away all your miseries.” That is Hari. Hara. Hara means taking away. Harate. So just like thief also takes away, but he takes away the valuable things, material consideration, sometimes Krishna also takes away your material valuables just to show you special favor. Yasyaham anugrhnami harisye tad-dhanam sanaih. Yudhisthira Maharaja inquired from Krishna that “We are supposed to be very pious.
My brothers are great warriors, my wife is exactly the goddess of fortune, and above all, You are our personal friend. So how is this that we have lost everything? We have lost our kingdom, we have lost our wife, we have lost our honor— everything.” So in reply to this, Krishna said, yasyaham anugrhnami harisye tad-dhanam sanaih: “My first favor is that I take away all riches of My devotee.”
Therefore people are not very much enthusiastic to come to Krishna consciousness. But He does it. Just like the Pandavas were in the beginning put into difficulty, but later on they became the most exalted personalities throughout the whole history. That is Krishna’s favor. In the beginning, He may do like that because we have got attachment for our material acquisitions.
My Dear Prem Batra:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 19, 1975 and have noted the contents.
I am very glad that you are seriously trying to understand our Krishna consciousness philosophy. It is Srila Jiva Goswami who has presented very high philosophy in his Six Sandavas.
Regarding your question about the difference between the mind and the soul, in the Bhagavad-gita it is directly said that the mind is inferior energy in a subtle form, and soul, jiva, is superior energy. So they are completely distinct. Mind is not spiritual, but mind is a subtle material form.
When the soul becomes captivated for enjoying the material world instead of rendering service to Krishna, that is the beginning of his falldown. When the living being thinks himself to be the enjoyer, that is called false ego. His constitutional position is to serve Krishna. So this false egotism degrades him to pollute the intelligence and the mind.
So mind and intelligence are already there in the soul, but in the conditional stage the same mind and intelligence become polluted as false egotism or enjoyer. The bhakti process is to purify everything. The mind is not the soul but is a venue for expressing the soul’s desire. So if the mind is purified, then things go on nicely in its original position.
If he does not go on rightly he falls down in conditional life. The whole yogic system is to convert the mind from matter to spirit. You can utilize the mind in both ways. When the mind is spiritually trained up it is the best friend of the soul, and when the mind is materially polluted, it is the worst enemy.
The Bhagavad-gita states:
bandhur atmatmanas tasya
yenatmaivatmana jitah
anatmanas tu satrutve
vartetatmaiva satru-vat
“For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his very mind will be the greatest enemy.” [Bg. 6.6]
For those who are grossly materialistic persons, for them the yogic system is recommended, otherwise if the mind is directly engaged engaged at the lotus feet of Krishna, the senses automatically become engaged in Krishna’s service; and that is the liberated stage. Chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is the direct process for curing the mind of all materialistic contamination. Take to this process and be happy.
Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Krishna's other Paraphernelia
from Srila Rupa Goswami's Radha-Krishna-ganoddesha-dipika
Krishnas Parrots
cklick to enlarge
Krishna's mirror is named Saradindu and His fan is named Marumaruta. His toy lotus flower is named Sadasmera and His toy ball is named Citrakoraka.
Krishna's golden bow is named Vilasakarmana. The two ends of this bow are studded with jewels and it has a bowstring named Manjulasara.
His glistening jewel-handled scissors are named Tustida. His buffalo-horn bugle is named Mandraghosa and His flute is named Bhuvanamohini.
Krishna has another flute named Mahananda, which is like a fishook that captures the fish of Srimati Radharani's heart and mind. Another flute, which has six holes is known as Madanajhankrti.
Krishna's flute named Sarala makes a low, soft tone like the sound of a softly singing cuckoo. Krishna is very fond of playing this flute in the ragas gaudi and garjari.
The wonderful sacred mantra He chants is the name of His dearmost Radharani. His cane is named Mandana, His vina is named Tarangini, the two ropes He carries are named Pasuvasikara and His milk bucket is named Amrtadohani.
His two armlets are named Rangada, His two bracelets are named Sobhana, His signet ring is named Ratnamukhi and His yellow garments are named Nigamasobhana.
Krishna's string of small bell is named Kalajhankara and His two anklets are named Hamsaganjana. The tinkling sounds of these ornaments enchant the deer that are the minds of the deer-eyed gopis.
Krishna's pearl necklace is named Taravali and His jewel necklace is named Taditprabha. The locket He wears on His chest is named Hridayamodana and within it is a picture of Srimati Radharani.
Krishna's jewel is named Kaustubha. In the Kaliya lake the Kaliya serpent's wives gave this jewel to the Lord with their own hands.Govinda
Krishna's shark-shaped earrings are named Ratiragadhidaivata, His crown is named Ratnapara and its crest-jewel is named Camaradamari.
Krishna's peacock feather crown is named Navaratnavidamba, His gunja necklace is named Ragavalli and His tilaka marking is named Dristimohana.
Krishna's garland of forest flowers and leaves, which reaches down to His feet and contains flowers of five different colors, is called Vaijayanti.
The eighth night of the dark moon in the month of Bhadra, when the moon rose together with its dear companion, the star Rohini, is the sacred time decorated by the birth of Lord Krishna in this world.
THE BLESSINGS OF HEARING KRISHNA’S PASTIMES
Krishna’s name and Krishna’s pastimes are not mundane things of this mortal world; they are transcendental. Hearing Krishna’s pastimes is not an ordinary activity; it is also transcendental. There is a vast difference between the mortal world and the transcendental world. When we glorify Krishna’s qualities and pastimes, or chant His holy names, the transcendental sound vibration is extremely auspicious. Even if one is covered with ignorance, and his heart is full of unwanted material thoughts and desires, still, if he has a little honour — just a very little — these transcendental vibrations will come through his ears to his heart. These are not words in the common sense; Krishna Himself comes in these transcendental sound vibrations. How? His transcendental world comes into the heart of any person who has a slight fraction of faith (Sraddha).When one realises this, his whole heart becomes clean and pure, and his faith (Sraddha) becomes more condensed. Transcendental devotion (bhakti) comes into his heart, and he becomes a devotee.
In this original Krishna form, He attracts everyone. What to speak of human beings, He also attracts the animals, deer, birds, creepers and trees. Krishna attracts all creatures, because He attracts the soul, which is present in the demigods; in the hog and the fish; in eggs, trees and creepers; and even in water particles and dust. The soul is present everywhere. If you practise bhakti-yoga, you can see and realise this fact, and you will gradually develop bhakti, devotion to Krishna.
The Voice Behind the Curtain
BY: SWARUP DAS
Oct 05, 2010 — CORRALITOS, CALIFORNIA (SUN) — Kanka and I were married in June of 1971. The following month I bought a car with some money that my mother told me I had in a savings account. Toward the end of September '71, I decided to take my car and my new wife down to Miami, Florida. My sister Manmohini and her husband Sridam had recently opened a center there, and Manmohini had just had a baby daughter on Sept. 6th, and named her Nimai dasi. I decided that I wanted to be closer to my sister and little niece and help my brother-in-law Sridam get the new temple organized in Coconut Grove.
On October 12th of '71 we drove down to Florida. We also took with us a brahmacarini named Vaijayanti as well as Harsharani (wife of Jivananda) and her two young sons, Govinda and Gopala. She and Jivananda were having marital problems and with her husband gone, Harsharani was a single mom with two toddlers living on the fourth floor of the Brooklyn temple and feeling very depressed. Kanka befriended her and we ended up taking her under our wing and bringing her to Miami with us, since that fourth floor of the Brooklyn temple was not the best place for little children.
The day after we arrived in Coconut Grove, Manmohini took me over to the temple. The asrama was a house on Center Street and the temple was two blocks away in a rented hall on Mary Street. On our way to the temple Manmohini explained that they had small Jagannatha Deities on the altar and a wonderful godsister had recently arrived to be the pujari. As we approached the entrance to the temple I heard a voice singing from behind the closed curtain of the altar. She was singing the words to a Jefferson Airplane song:
"Today I feel like pleasing you more than before
Today I know what I want to do but I don't know what for
To be living for you is all I want to do
To be loving you it'll all be there when my dreams come true
Today you'll make me say that I somehow have changed
Today you'll look into my eyes, I'm just not the same
To be anymore than all I am would be a lie
I'm so full of love I could burst apart and start to cry
.............
It's taken so long to come true
And it's all for you
all for you...."
Her voice was so angelic and the fact that she was singing with such emotion to Jagannatha blew me away. Manmohini and I sat and listened to her sing for a few more minutes when suddenly, from behind the curtain, this beautiful devotee girl who was singing to the Lord appeared. Her name was Hladini devi dasi. Manmohini introduced us, but I could barely find my voice to say "Haribol." I was blown away. She sounded so immersed in love and devotion for Lord Jagannatha.
Some years back I read on the Internet that Hladini was murdered in Africa. Murdered and martyred. To me she will always be that voice behind the curtain that melted my heart of stone.
DEDICATED TO SRILA PRABHUPADA
* Home
* About
* Bhagavad-Gita
* Lord Caitanya
* Sri Caitanya Caritamrta
* Srila Prabhupada
* Srimad-Bhagavatam
PRABHUPADANUGA NEWS
David Coats: “PEACE ON EARTH”
2010 October 8
tags: american, beavers, birds, Cancer, cats, coyotes, deer, dingoes, foxes, groundhogs, heart disease, Indian, kangaroos, kidney disease, mice, Muslim.Hindu, Peace on Earth
by admin
Prabhupada, August 12, Teheran, 1976: [...] Now analyze everyone. Everyone is thinking that “I am this body.” “I am American,” “I am Indian,” “I am Hindu,” “I am Muslim,” “I am this,” “I am that,” all in the bodily concept of life. So if you continue this bodily concept of life, then you remain animal. Full Lecture(click to enlarge)
“Isn’t man an amazing animal? He kills wildlife – birds, kangaroos, deer, all kinds of cats, coyotes, beavers, groundhogs, mice, foxes and dingoes – by the million in order to protect his domestic animals and their feed. Then he kills domestic animals by the billion and eats them. This in turn kills man by the millions, because eating all those animals leads to degenerative – and fatal – health conditions like heart disease, kidney disease, and cancer. So then man tortures and kills millions more animals to look for cures for these diseases. Elsewhere, millions of other human beings are being killed by hunger and malnutrition because food they could eat is being used to fatten domestic animals. Meanwhile, some people are dying of sad laughter at the absurdity of man, who kills so easily and so violently, and once a year, sends out cards praying for Peace on Earth.”
— David Coats
Although the main focus of Srila Prabhupada was the spreading of the Holy Names, nonetheless in a lecture from Srimad Bhagavatam 5.5.26. in Vrindavan on November 13, 1976 he spoke about the purpose of installing deities and maintaining temples:
"So Krishna is present here in this temple. This temple is meant for this purpose, that you come here, see Krishna, and become attached to Him. Then you will see Him twenty-four hours. This is the process. Not that, I have several times explained, that this Krishna is marble statue. No. This is naraki-buddhi. This is warned… Krishna is here in the temple, but He has come mercifully to be seen by you. Otherwise you are blind; you cannot see Krishna. But He has appeared as arca-vigraha so that… you are accustomed to see wood and stone, so He appears in your visible form, but He is Krishna. You will understand He is Krishna present when you have got enough love for Him."
Reverence for Life and Devotion to the Lord
BY: SATYAHIT DAS
Mother Hladini, whom we served with in Florida for about one year, was a dedicated worshiper of the Lord. At New Vrindaban she would shed tears when Lord Jagannath came out on parade outside. In Pittsburgh, she stayed with all the New Vrindaban Jagannath Deities for two weeks in an upstairs room, repainting Them. She only left to cook ekadasi prasadam for Them, and naturally that is all that she honored.
Then she went to a dangerous country in Africa, with her Deities on her lap on the plane. Although she was told that the women would not be shot, she strongly protested that the male devotees (Krsna's devotees), should not be harmed, so she was shot. She made a choice and the Lord took her away. She could have stayed in her body because they said they would not kill the ladies. The Lord wanted her elsewhere.
She poised her life to be as dedicated to the Lord as she possibly could and she got the Lord's attention. She was not at all overly attached to hearth, home, relatives and friends. At New Vrindaban's old original farmhouse she would cook barefoot for Their Lordships, using an old wood cook stove. Once from the old Coconut Grove temple we went on Hari nama for hours, just the two of us, because no one else was present for Hari nama. In all the years that I knew Hladini dasi, I don't think I spoke even ten words to her, because in the old ISKCON, it was not proper to speak with the ladies.
The lifespan of Brahma is 100 Brahma years or 311 trillion human years:
Karandhara dasa, April 1973: Then the relativity is based upon our individual situation.
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore it is said that what is food for one is poison for another. People are thinking that because they cannot survive on the moon, no other living entities can. Everyone thinks of things in a relative way, in his own terms. This is the meaning of “frog philosophy.” The frog is always thinking of things in relation to his well.
He has no power to conceive of the Atlantic Ocean, because his well is his only experience. God is great, but we are thinking of God’s greatness in our own terms, in terms of relative greatness. Some insects are born at night; they grow at night, have their children at night, and die at night. They never see the sun; therefore they conclude that there is no such thing as day.
If you asked the insect about the morning, he would say, “There cannot be any morning.” Similarly, when people hear of Brahma’s long duration of life from the scriptures, they do not believe it. They say, “How can anyone live for such a long time?” In the Bhagavad-gita (8.17) Krishna states: “By human calculation, a thousand ages taken together is the duration of Brahma’s one day. And such also is the duration of his night.”
Thus Brahma, by these calculations, lives for so many millions and trillions of years. We cannot believe this, although evidence is given in the scriptures. In other words, we conclude that Krishna talks nonsensically, while we speak as authorities. Even great scholars say that these scriptural statements are all mental speculations. Although these men are nothing but rascals, they pass for reputable scholars.
They place themselves above God’s position by attempting to refute or deny the statements of God in the revealed scriptures. In this way so many fools in the guise of scholars, scientists, and philosophers are misguiding the whole world.”
Krishna's flute was so mesmerizing that it could even penetrate through the coverings of the universe. Once Krishna was playing His flute to call all His calves. He was very young at that time, a seven year-old boy. By the sound of His flute even the stones melted in ecstasy.
Certainly the rock on which Krishna stood melted, and got imprinted with His lotus feet and the cowherd stick. This is Charan Pahari, which is on the opposite side of the road from Vrinda-kunda.
Interview of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta by
Professor Johans, Head of the Department of Philosophy,
St. Xaviers College
Q: Please tell me in brief the doctrine of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
A: There is an old Shloka which says "Bhagavan Krishna's (Son of the Chieftain Nanda of Braja) own place Vrindavana is the object of worship according to the example of the cowherd-wives of Braja which is glorified in the Srimad Bhagavatam, the stainless Puranam, and Love of God is the highest thing for attainment." This is the doctrine of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, for which we have the greatest regard and not for anything else.
The fullest development of the idea about Godship is in Shri Krishna. He reveals Himself to His devotees of different competences in three Forms. All these three are perfect conceptions, not like the partial one of Paramatma and the incomplete one of Brahman. These three perfect conceptions are full, fuller and fullest. These three are revealed in Dwaraka, Mathura and Vrindavana. At Dwaraka Krishna's manifestation is full, at Mathura it is fuller and in Braja (including Vrindavana) it is the fullest.
We are living in the Bhuloka, one out of the fourteen worlds comprising the seven lower worlds and seven higher ones. Of the latter, this world (Bhuloka) is the first. The Bhu (earth) Bhuvah (between heaven and earth) and Svah (heaven) are the regions of enjoyment for householders performing virtuous deeds with desire; the remaining higher regions, viz., Mahah, Janah, Tapah and Satya are attainable by non-householders. Of these four, the first is meant for those who live and study in the preceptor's house and intend to become house-holders after paying the preceptor a ceremonial present; the second is for the celibates who live with the preceptor for good and ever observe the rules of religious austerities; the third is for the hermits, who after retirement from worldly life live in the forest or in seclusion for meditation; and the fourth for the sanyasis (roaming mendicants). But the devotees of God, who have not the inordinate desire for worldly enjoyments or for merger in Brahman, attain to Shri Vaikuntha which is inaccessible to others. Even beyond that Vaikuntha, there is Dwaraka; higher than that is Mathura and above that too is Goloka-Vrindavana. These regions are manifested by the potency of existences lying in God's Esoteric Personality. The places that are there in the transcendental Region are revealed in the mundane region. What is non-existent in that region cannot be found in this one. The manifestation of the non-apparent sports of Vrindavana is Goloka. Just as the lotus remains in a lake without connection with water, so does Goloka stay in the world without any touch of the earth. Those whose mind is not prone to offer service (to God) cannot feel the transcendentality of the region descended on the mundane plane. Ayodhya, Dwaraka, Shri-Purushottam Kshetra of Shri Jagannath etc., are different provinces of Shri Vaikuntha. The bliss available in Ayodhya is better than that in Vaikuntha; the bliss in Dwaraka is superior to that in Ayodhya; and the bliss of the denizens of Goloka is the climax of all bliss. The difference in the degree of a particular Rasa or sentimental mellowness is the cause of the difference in the degree of the bliss. Even the afflictions and distresses that may be there in Goloka dance on the crest of all forms of blisses and happinesses; these are rather nourishers of the highest form of bliss. Shri Chaitanya Deva has demonstrated the superiority of researching the services of the Lord of Vrindavana or of Gokula. Shri Krishna is God Himself from Whom have emanated all the Incarnations of Vishnu. That Krishna manifests Himself as the Lord of Dwaraka, or of Gokula. Shri Chaitanya Deva has said about Lord Krishna of Gokula: "In Krishna are present all the five principal Rasas (forms of sentimental mellowness). He is Himself the Ocean of Rasas."
And Ten Years After, Another Rascal Will Come
BY: APRAKRITA DASA
Oct 14, 2010 — MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA (SUN) — Below is the last part of one Srimad Bhagavatam lecture given by Srila Prabhupada on how Vedic knowledge is received. It is NEVER changed down through time, otherwise it loses its inherent authority. Some present day so-called followers of Srila Prabhupada think otherwise, and therefore what they produce is flawed from the inception of their endeavors. Hare Krsna
Srila Prabhupada's Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam
Los Angeles, September 20, 1972
Now we have to accept knowledge from Vedas, Vedic knowledge, not this rascal's knowledge. Rascal knowledge is that "Yes," as soon as he comes to the imperfect point, "yes, we are trying." You are trying. What is this trying? Trying means that your knowledge is imperfect. And another rascal will come, he will say, "Now here is the perfect."
And ten years after, another rascal will come," No, this is not perfect. This is perfect." This is going on. This is called scientific advancement. This is... Advancement means... But we don't change our Vedic knowledge. We do not say, "Now, Krsna, five thousand years ago, said like this. Now we are advanced. We change this line." Of course, others are doing. In the scriptures... Just like the Christians, they are changing the words. But you cannot do that. Then where is the authority? If you change the word of the scripture, then where is the authority of the scripture? Just like in lawbooks, there is some law made already. Whimsically you cannot, I mean to say, erase the words and put something that "It should be changed like this." That will not be accepted. Law, if there is change... Actually, there is no change.
There cannot be change. Real law means there is no change. Just like day and night, it is coming. The fortnight, the dark period and the light period, it is coming for millions and millions and time immemorial. The same law is going, going on. You cannot change. So as soon as you change, that means it is imperfect. You change. So Vedic laws are not like that. You cannot change. Five thousand years ago Krsna said, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: "You give up all other religious principles. Simply surrender unto Me." We are preaching the same thing. No change. No change. There is no possibility of change. Then how Krsna is authority? So change means imperfect knowledge. This very change. And perfect knowledge... You will find that one who is very experienced medical practitioner, he gives you a prescription, and you visit him again and again, he gives you the same prescription unless you are cured. His prescription is so nice that he doesn't change. But a nonexperienced physician, every time you go, he will change the prescription. But actually, those who are experienced, he knows "This is the disease, and ultimately this medicine will cure. So let him repeat that medicine." So our is that platform. Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam. We repeat only.
We don't change: "Now harinama is not curing so let me add, instead of Hare Krsna, 'John Krsna,' if I may." No. No "John Krsna." (laughter) That same Hare Krsna must be repeated. And you will be cured. So change means imperfect knowledge. No change means that is perfect knowledge. So we follow that no change policy. No, not that because I think I have become now advanced, I change this to that. That mean I am not advanced. My knowledge is imperfect. Therefore I am changing.
The name "Jagannatha" means "Lord of the Universe", not "Lord of the Hindus"
MAHAMSA: They will say that this Krishna culture is Hinduism.
PRABHUPADA: Then he's a rascal. Krishna is not Hinduism. Never.... Is there anything in the Bhagavad-gita that Krishna says, "I am for the Hindus or for the Indians"?
PRABHUPADA: There is no Hindu. It is not.... Therefore we are not Hindu.
PRABHUPADA: You can define anything. That does not mean that your definition is perfect. In the Bhagavad-gita where is the mention of "Hindu"? Hm? Krishna says that "I am the father of all living entities." So why do they say that this is Hindusim?
PRABHUPADA: Krishna's instruction is not for the Hindus. Nowhere it is mentioned.
TAMAL KRSNA: The word "Hindu" doesn't appear in the Vedas anywhere.
ACHYUTANANDA: In most books about Hinduism they describe that Hinduism is a cult where they worship many gods and ultimately God is formless.
PRABHUPADA: No.
ACHYUTANANDA: So we are against that. Then we are not Hindus even philosophically according to that.
In Lord Jagannatha's temple in Puri, Nagas are said to guard the deity's treasure chamber. Below the temple there are secret rooms that no one is allowed to enter, and these are used to store the Golden Dress (Suna Vesh) as well as many other jewels that belong to the deity. These chambers are filled with divine Nagas who guard the Lord's treasury. Only one person will be allowed to enter this treasury, and he can do so only after fasting, performing specific austerities, and offering prayers. Once the nagas have been satisfied, the pujari is then allowed safe passage to collect Lord Jagannatha's jewels and dresses. Thus the celestial Nagas have been tied to the service of Lord Jagannatha for thousands of years.
He is the student of Bhagavad-gita and in his ashrama there is not a single picture of Krishna. He does not believe in Krishna. But believe or not believe, he was reading Bhagavad-gita, had respect. That will give him some profit, there is no doubt. [break] Yesham anta-gatam papam. Everything is clearly said in the Bhagavad-gita. I speak, therefore, to my disciples that "You simply repeat like parrot Bhagavad-gita and follow by your life. Don't try to become very big scholar, do interpretation. Remain foolish and believe in Krishna. Then life is perfect." And actually that is happening.
"The Nagas in Ancient India"
The 'Sampradaya Sun' is truly special for offering these series. Blessed for these services which it provides on a continual basis.
(Click the link below to read the first offering in its entirety)
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/features/10-10/features1887.htm
Oct 17, 2010 — CANADA (SUN) — The first in a serial compilation of sastric and historical references to the Naga kings and their descending lines.
The Nagas are borne of Lord Brahma, who lay down while doing the work of creation and dropped hair from his body that transformed into snakes. Even while his body crawled along with its hands and feet contracted, there sprang from it ferocious serpents and Nagas with their hoods expanded. The Uragas are also serpentine beings, who are not exactly demigods but between the demigods and human beings.
In the realm of the asuras, the abode of the Nagas is described in numerous passages from the Bhagavatam.
Srimad-Bhagavatam 1:11:11
"The Nagaloka planet is situated below the earth planet, and it is understood that the sun rays are hampered there. The darkness of the planet is, however, removed by the flashes of the jewels set on the heads of the Nagas (celestial serpents), and it is said that there are beautiful gardens, rivulets, etc., for the enjoyment of the Nagas. It is understood here also that the place is well protected by the inhabitants."
Naga Tradition, Pt. 2
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/features/10-10/features1888.htm
The country known as Cambodia today was previously known as Kambuja, associated with the name of a great brahmana, Kambu. Kambu had once been an Indian king who led a successful campaign into the East. His victorious expedition (digvijaya) in the East culminated with his party's entrance into a region of jungles that were ruled by a Naga king. Defeating the king, Kambu married his daughter and remained there to develop the area. The combination of the names 'Kambu' and 'Mera' is thought to be the origination of the name Khmer.
The beginning of the Kambuja empire can be traced to Emperor Shrutavarma of Kaliyuga's 32nd century (the 1st century A.D.) Shrutavarma and his descendant kings carried aloft the flag of sanatana-dharma and Vedic culture in the Kambuja empire. Later, from Kaliyuga's 38th to 46th centuries (7th to 15th c. A.D.), the kings of the Shailendra dynasty ruled over Kambuja.
The Nagas are much more prominent in modern Cambodian culture and in nearby countries than in India today. Cambodian Nagas look quite different from the typical representations found in India, where the Nagas are generally shown like Sesanaga, being multi-headed or standing with collar fully extended. In Cambodia, however, the Nagas are generally more frightening and often associated with flames, like many of the Buddhist Nagas are depicted.
According to their tradition, the Cambodian people as a race were born of the Naga Princess who married Kambu, the Indian brahmana, thus creating the merged line of humans and reptilians. Even today, Cambodians describe themselves as being "born from the Naga".
Many of the Naga depictions found in Cambodia, such as those at the famous Angkor Wat temple region, are seven-headed serpents. They represent the seven different races said to be found in the Naga society.
The mixed human and Naga lines emerging in Cambodia are but one of numerous instances where these two races crossed. Some of the others include:
Naga Nahusha, who is also mentioned as a king in the Lunar Dynasty of Arya kings
King Riksha of the Puru race, a branch of the Lunar Dynasty, said to have married the daughter of a Naga in the line of Takshaka
Naga Aryaka was the grandfather of Queen Kunti's father
Iravat was the son of Arjuna and a Naga woman named Uloopi, born in the lineage of Airavata
The Sage Somasrava, a priest of Janamejaya, was the son of Srutasrava brahmana and his Naga wife
Sage Astika was the son of a sage in the line of the Yayavara brahmanas, and his Naga wife, who was the sister of Vasuki. The boy was raised in the palace of the Nagas, and helped prevent the destruction of the Naga race at the hand of Janamejaya.
In Kerala, the Namboodiris married Naga women, known as the Nakar women, thus creating the Nair caste of Kerala.
Among the large collection of Khmer artifacts held at the Guimet Museum of Asian Art in Paris is the extraordinary Naga pictured below. It was re-assembled and put on display in 2001 for the first time since 1889, when a French expedition brought the carving back to France from Cambodia, in pieces.
Question: In the purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.36, Srila Prabhupada states that even third-class neophyte devotees are liberated souls. How is it possible that such neophyte devotees, who don't possess the qualities of a liberated soul, are in fact liberated?
Srila Prabhupada:
Even the third-class devotee - who is not advanced in knowledge of the Absolute Truth but simply offers obeisances with great devotion, thinks of the Lord, sees the Lord in the temple and brings forth flowers and fruits to offer to the Deity - becomes imperceptibly liberated." ]
Lord Krishna states in the Bhagavad Gita:
nehabhikrama-naso 'sti
pratyavayo na vidyate
sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya
trayate mahato bhayat
"In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear."
Sri Sri Damodarastaka:
Sri Krsna-candra, Who is achintyananta-saktiman bhagavan - the Supreme Personality of Godhead and potent source of inconceivably limitless energies - allowed Mata Yasoda to bind Him with ropes to a wooden grinding mortar. By this pastime, He fully tasted the essence of her visuddha-vatsalya-prema-rasa, the totally pure spiritual mellows of her parental love. He also thereby revealed to the world the highest characteristics of His quality of bhaktadhinata, or willingness to subject Himself to the dominance of the devotee.
Prabhupada: Whole cars, useless, piled up. But then they are smashed and again melted and again crushed.
Satadhanya: They build them so that in one year, two years, they break. Then they can sell more.
Prabhupada: Because they have no other business. Punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30] Chewing the chewed. Make a car, break it, and again melt it and again make another car. That’s all. This is their civilization, car-making civilization. No spiritual idea, no ambition for spiritual life. But they’ll do. They’ll do something. So therefore they are making, breaking more. Make the car; break the car; again make the car; again break the car. Therefore you are habituated to change.
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.5.30
śrī-prahrāda uvāca
matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā
mitho 'bhipadyeta gṛha-vratānām
adānta-gobhir viśatāḿ tamisraḿ
punaḥ punaś carvita-carvaṇānām
TRANSLATION
Prahlāda Mahārāja replied: Because of their uncontrolled senses, persons too addicted to materialistic life make progress toward hellish conditions and repeatedly chew that which has already been chewed. Their inclinations toward Kṛṣṇa are never aroused, either by the instructions of others, by their own efforts, or by a combination of both.
PURPORT
In this verse the words matir na kṛṣṇe refer to devotional service rendered to Kṛṣṇa. So-called politicians, erudite scholars and philosophers who read Bhagavad-gītā try to twist some meaning from it to suit their material purposes, but their misunderstandings of Kṛṣṇa will not yield them any profit. Because such politicians, philosophers and scholars are interested in using Bhagavad-gītā as a vehicle for adjusting things materially, for them constant thought of Kṛṣṇa, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, is impossible (matir na kṛṣṇe).
whoa
as one that makes a car
as opposed to one that breaks a car
i have to disagree
here's why :
if you can create something
please do so
if you feel the need to destroy
don't do it near me
o k ?
An attempt to remove ignorance is always a viable action.
Better to be thought of as a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt.
Once again, proof positive; devotees are not devoidees...
Please… Give Generously
BY: MAHAVIDYA DAS (ACBSP)
Oct 23, 2010 — UK (SUN) —
Dear Prabhus,
I am urgently seeking sponsors for our new ISKCON charity, The ISKCON Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Cockroaches.
For many years now I have been painfully aware of how our fellow spirit souls in cockroach bodies (what to speak of bugs in general) have been abused, in some cases
almost to the point of extinction.
Much of this abuse has been happening in our own ISKCON Temples.
(Although to be fair, this does not apply to all of them.)
I am appealing for a mere 100,000 donors to each give a paltry £1.00 a week to support this worthy cause.
Donors will receive a signed photo of a cockroach of their choice, along with a weekly update as to the well being of their chosen bug.
Also Mega-donors, or those donating £10.00 a week or more,
will have their name inscribed on a plaque in the new Charity headquarters.
Any cash raised will, of course, be used exclusively for the cockroaches living on the Charity's new custom built 5 star yacht.
And…
in order that they (the bugs) do not suffer unnecessarily, the Charity's yacht will head for Bermuda or a similar destination.
Of course… setting the good example, I will be offering my services as a lifeguard on this yacht absolutely free.
(By "absolutely free" I obviously mean after taking a paltry allowance for food, board, lodging, travel, pension contributions, medical fund, etc.)
I may even encourage others to follow suit. (Not with the allowances, that is.)
Volunteers would obviously have to be suitably dressed to jump into the ship's pool at a moment's notice.
Also… in the interest of health and safety... they should not be older than 25.
May I remind everyone, this charity is non-sectarian and open to cockroaches from any denomination, sex, or part of the world.
So please… open up your hearts and wallets,
give generously,
remember…
there's a little bit of cockroach in all of us.
Sri Sri Damodarastakam - Text 2
rudantam muhur netra-yugmam mrjantam
karambhoja-yugmena satanka-netram
muhuh svasa-kampa-tri-rekhanka-kantha-
sthita-graiva damodaram bhakti-baddham
(Afraid of the stick in His mother's hand) | Who cries again and again and rubs His eyes with both His lotus-like hands | Whose eyes express extreme fearfulness | Who sobs again and again with quick breathing making the necklaces upon His three-lined neck quiver | Whose belly is bound only by His mother's devotion. Unto this Damodara I offer my humble obeisances..
Dig-Darsini-Tika by Srila Sanatana Gosvami:
After this, Krsna's lila-visesa (excellence of pastimes) is mentioned, as confirmed in the Bhagavatam (10.9.11) thus:
"(Mata Yasoda saw that) The mischievous child then cried and cried while rubbing His eyes with His hands, thereby smearing the dark eye-lining cosmetics from them. (Krsna saw the stick in her hands, and) His eyes became overwhelmed with fright. In this condition, Yasoda seized His hand and proceeded to chastise Him in order to instil fear in Him."
"While attempting to bind Krsna) Yasoda became fatigued from tying so many ropes together again and again, and she perspired as the flower garlands in her hair fell loose. Then the young child Sri Krsna saw her weariness and mercifully consented to being tied up. O Maharaja Pariksit! Although He controls the entire universe along with its highly qualified demigods, the supreme independent Hari thus displayed how He comes under the control of His devotees. Therefore this gopi Yasoda Mata received such a great benediction from He Who awards liberation - a favour not granted to Lord Brahma, Mahesvara or even Laksmi Devi herself, who sports as half the body of all the Lord's incarnations. Bhagavan Gopika-suta, the Supreme Lord appearing as the son of a cowherd woman, is thus readily available for His devotees, yet remains far away from those absorbed in the bodily concept of the eight fold yoga practices as well as those focusing on visions of the Self through intellectual pursuits." (In other words, the tapasvis and the jnanis embark on a very difficult path of spiritual searching, but - being completely unable to attain Bhagavan - at best can end up realising only a minute fraction of Lord Krsna's true glory".
This is why the Lord performs these and indeed all other pastimes (because of the devotion of His devotees).
My brother;
Will you ask Krishna to help me?
Yes, I can ask him myself but you know there are different things at different times and that is how it is.
thank you
Your words are humbling, les.
That you would ask such a thing of me brings tears to my eyes..
What you ask of me is easy for me yet impossible for me.
I ask the very same of Srila Prabhupada, Lord Krishna's pure devotee, his fully empowered representative.
I do ask this for you everyday as I post these daily transcendental words of realization. That you and any who read these will be relieved.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada! who tells us Krishna is present in His words, in His name, in His image, in His creation. No difference..
I'm not claiming to experience this as anything more than a neophyte on a neophyte level, but I do believe this and believe the more I keep and hold Krishna in my mind, the more He will shine in my heart. Spiritual progress occurs wonderfully.
Remember the words Srila Prabhupada expressed about the flower from the tree, before and after it was offered? How this flower always is and ever will be spiritual, even as it is seen and felt as material?
The eye, the heart, the mind of the beholder.
The Damodara lila is particularly moving for me.
The actuality of God loving someone so much, Personally, to be her own child. The transcendental past times spoken about this is at times overwhelming to me.
Thank you,
Hare Krishna
Ha! Ha! wv = backlib
les, I posted the previous before I read your latest on "Smoking Mirrors."
I shall most certainly ask Lord Sri Krishna to offer you relief and encouragement.
With all sincerity and good intent.
Of this you can be sure.
Jai Sri Rama!
Thank you brother. This is a special circumstance. It is a time of trial to the extreme and I was asking because of believing. Hare Krishna
Srila Prabhupada:
“So in my absence you read the books. What I talk, I have written in the books… you can associate with me by reading my books.” Morning walk, 1975.
“The narration of the Personality of Godhead and His devotees is absolute in itself, and thus to hear it with a devotional attitude is to associate with the Lord and constant companions of the Lord.” SB 1.15.51 purport
“Persons who hear Srimad-Bhagavatam regularly and are always taking the matter very seriously will have the Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna manifested in their hearts within a short time.” SB 2.8.5 verse
Beautiful Damodarastakam!
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/10-10/editorials6678.htm
"If you dance, then we will give you a sweet' - by these words, or by clapping their hands, the elder gopis sometimes induced Sri Krsna to dance. Thus Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, danced just like an ordinary child. Sometimes they made Him sing, and He therefore sang just like a bewildered innocent boy. In this way, He came under the control of the cowherd women exactly like a wooden puppet on strings. Sometimes His relatives would order Him to bring their shoes, chair or measuring pot; but if He was unable to lift the article called for, He would grasp it firmly and, just to please His dear relatives, flap His elbows again and again to demonstrate His childish strength."
Sri Sri Damodarastakam - Text 4
varam deva! moksam na moksavadhim va
na canyam vrne 'ham varesad apiha
idam te vapur natha! gopala-balam
sada me manasy avirastam kim anyaih
He Deva! O Lord! Although You are capable of granting any boon I do not pray to You for liberation, | nor for eternal life in Vaikuntha, or for any other benediction | He Natha! O Lord! May Your form as a cowherd child forever remain manifest in my heart | Other than this I have no need of anything
"(The four kumaras headed by Sanat, after cursing the disrespectful devotees named Jaya and Vijaya, said to Lord Visnu Who had just appeared:) Oh Lord, we pray that you let us be born in any hellish condition of life, as long as our ears are always filled with the chanting of Your transcendental qualities."
By these words, it becomes evident that the nine processes of devotion beginning with sravana can be perfected even while living in hell - wherever one is, and in whatever condition of life, one thereby experiences the perfection of living in the eternal abode of Vaikuntha.
This being the case, then what boon does one want from the Lord? The answer is given in this fourth verse of Damodarastakam: he natha! - iha idam te vapur gopala-balam - O Lord! This form of Yours as a cowherd child in Vrndavana - sada me manasi avirastam - may such a form ever be manifest in my mind. Since He is antaryami, situated as the indwelling Supersoul, He may be seen manifesting the divine beauty of His every limb within one's heart, just as clearly as one sees directly with the eyes.
Vrinda devi
*********
Above this material world is the eternal spiritual world comprised of millions of Vaikuntha planets. The topmost planet in Vaikuntha is Goloka which is presided by Sri Krishna in His original form. Here resides Vrinda devi, an intimate associate of and an expansion of Srimati Radharani. Her partial expansion is Tulasi devi in the Vaikuntha planets and they are all considered non-different from her.
As the embodiment of the lila-sakti (pastime potency), Vrinda devi is the organizer of all the transcendental pastimes between Sri Krishna and Srimati Radharani. In Goloka every thing is animate (cit) and only for the pleasure of Sri Krishna. Vrinda devi makes this happen. She is assisted by many confidential associates (which include two parrots) and with their help she makes sure that every thing is pleasing to Sri Krishna. She controls how the wind blows, when and where it rains, how the trees bend, and so many other things for the pleasure of the Divine Couple.
Manifest Vrindavana
*****************
Five thousand years ago when Sri Krishna descended on Earth to do His pastimes, Vrinda devi created the proper environment for His pastimes in Vrindavana. Millions of years before the descent of Sri Krishna, Vrinda devi had appeared as the daughter of the pious Emperor Kedera. Then she performed penances for sixty thousand years. Pleased by her penances, Lord Vishnu gave the benediction that any austerities performed in Vrindavana would be very potent. Thus Vrinda devi sanctified the place and it got the name Vrindavana. Later Vrinda devi once again descended here as Tulasi devi, the daughter of King Kushadvaja to perform penances and attain perfection here.
Pastimes of Radha-Krishna
**********************
Vrindavana is completely under the control of Vrinda devi. Without her mercy it is not possible to even approach the confidential pastimes of Radha-Krishna, even as an audience. Even being allowed into Vrindavana dhama indicates that one has received some mercy from Vrinda devi.
In Krishna lila she appeared as a young gopi friend of Srimati Radharani. Under the instructions of Purnamasya (Yogamaya), she would arrange secret meeting between Krishna and Radha. She would also make all the material arrangements, like saffron, fruits, flowers, music etc. for Radha Krishna. Thus she carried on her eternal service in Goloka Vrindavana in the earthly Vrindavana.
Once Srimati Radharani was so pleased by the service of Vrinda devi that with the help of the other gopis she arranged a magnificent throne and had Krishna and Vrinda devi sit on it. Lalita sakhi acting as the priest recited the mantras and performed the marriage cermony of Krishna and Vrinda devi. Thus by the mercy of Srimati Radharani, Vrinda devi got Krishna.
In another pastime, Vrinda devi offered all the forests of Vrindavana to Srimati Radharani. Thus Radharani is also known as Vrindavaneshwari or the queen of Vrindavana.
Tulasi devi becomes a plant
**********************
Pastimes involving pure devotees are only for the benefit of conditioned souls in the material world. This pastime, given in the Padma purana and in the Brahma-vaivarta purana involvong Tulasi devi reveals this clearly.
Once Tulasi devi descended as the daughter of King Kushadvaja. She was married to Jalhandara. It is said that Samudra deva the demigod controlling the nether regions had Lakshmi devi as a daughter (since she appeared from him at time of the churning of the ocean) and Jalandara (one who is born from water).
Jalandara was married to Tulasi devi and drew strength from her purity and chastity. So firm was her chastity that even Lord Shiva could not defeat Jalandara in battle and all the demigods went to Lord Vishnu for help.
At this time, Lord Vishnu went to Tulasi devi assuming the form of her husband, Jalandara. When Tulasi devi greeted Him, thinking Him to be her husband, her chastity was momentarily broken. Taking advantage of this the demigods killed Jalandara.
When Tulasi devi understood what happened, Lord Vishnu revealed His original form. An enraged Tulasi devi cursed Lord Vishnu for His stone hearted behavior to become a stone. Honoring His pure devotee, Lord Vishnu accepted this curse and promised to appear as the Saligrama shila in the Gandika river (now in Nepal). He also gave Tulsai devi the benediction that she will eternally reside with Him as His consort in Vaikuntha. He said that for the benefit of every one she will assume the form of a plant which will be most auspicious for anyone performing devotional service.
Thus devotees never offer anything to Krishna without a Tulasi leaf. He always adorns Himself with a Tulasi garland. The goddess of fortune, Laksmi, is sometimes envious of the Tulasi leaves which are placed at the lotus feet of the Lord, for they remain fixed there and do not move, whereas Laksmiji, although stationed by the chest of the Lord, sometimes has to please other devotees who pray for her favor. Laksmiji sometimes has to go to satisfy her numerous devotees, but tulasi leaves never forsake their position, and the Lord therefore appreciates the service of the tulasi more than the service of Laksmi.
Tulasi as the source of bhakti
************************
The scriptures are full of pastimes that reveal the potency of Tulasi in developing devotion for the Lord.
The Srimad Bhagavatam talks about this pastime with the four Kumaras, the sons of Lord Brahma who were very much attached to the impersonal aspect of Godhead.
‘When the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasi leaves and saffron from the lotus feet of the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead entered through the nostrils into the hearts of those sages [the Kumaras], they experienced a change in both body and mind, even though they were attached to the impersonal Brahman understanding.'
Thus by simply smelling the fragrance of the Tulasi leaves the four Kumaras became pure devotees of the Lord.
In Caitanya lila Srila Advaita Acarya was very much disturbed to see the growth of irreligiosity. Therefore He decided to call for the Personality of Godhead Krsna to descend by worshiping the Lord with tulasi leaves and the water of the Ganges. When Sri Krishna was please by this devotion He descended as Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Haridasa Thakura a great devotee of Caitanya Mahaprabhu purified a prostitue who had come with the intention of seducing him with instructions to chant the holy name and worship Tulasi. She became so elevated by this service that even great Vaishnavas would come to get her mercy.
Glories of Tulasi devi
*****************
Quoting from the Gautamiya-tantra, the Hari-bhakti-vilasa states:
tulasi-dala-matrena
jalasya culukena va
vikrinite svam atmanam
bhaktebhyo bhakta-vatsalah
‘Sri Krsna, who is very affectionate toward His devotees, sells Himself to a devotee who offers merely a tulasi leaf and a palmful of water.’
In the Nectar of Devotion, service to Tulasi is glorified as one of items of devotional service.
In the Srimad Bhagavatam (3.15.19) it is said that although flowering plants like the mandara, kunda, kurabaka, utpala, campaka, arna, punnaga, nagakesara, bakula, lily and parijata are full of transcendental fragrance, they are still conscious of the austerities performed by tulasi, for tulasi is given special preference by the Lord, who garlands Himself with tulasi leaves.
In the Skanda Purana there is a statement praising the Tulasi tree as follows: ‘Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the Tulasi tree, which can immediately vanquish volumes of sinful activities. Simply by seeing or touching this tree one can become relieved from all distresses and diseases. Simply by offering obeisances to and pouring water on the tulasi tree, one can become freed from the fear of being sent to the court of Yamaraja [the King of death, who punishes the sinful]. If someone sows a tulasi tree somewhere, certainly he becomes devoted to Lord Krsna. And when the tulasi leaves are offered in devotion at the lotus feet of Krsna, there is the full development of love of Godhead.’
All glories to Tulasi devi !!
This is quite wonderful!
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/news/10-10/news3516.htm
Srila Prabhupada:
“Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego—all together these eight comprise My separated material energies.” Here Kṛṣṇa explains that vāyu (gas) came from Him. And finer than vāyu is kham (ether), finer than ether is mind, finer than mind is intelligence, finer than intelligence is false ego, and finer than false ego is the soul. But the scientists do not know this. They understand only gross things. They mention gas, but where does the gas come from?
Dr. Singh: That they cannot answer.
Śrīla Prabhupāda: But we can answer. From Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam we know that gas has come from kham, or ether, ether comes from mind, mind comes from intelligence, intelligence comes from false ego, and false ego comes from the soul.
Dr. Wolf-Rottkay: But in all humility, Śrīla Prabhupāda, suppose the scientists actually succeed in artificially creating a living cell. What would you say?
Śrīla Prabhupāda: What would be their credit? They would only be imitating what already exists in nature. People are very fond of imitations. If a man in a nightclub imitates a dog, people will go and pay money to watch him. But when they see a real dog barking, they don’t pay any attention to it.
Beautiful Damodarastakam!
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/10-10/editorials6704.htm
Appearance Day of Radha-kund, Snana Dana Bahulastami, observed October 30th.
After killing a bull-demon named Aristasura, Krishna approached Radharani to engage in loving affairs. However, She rebuked Him, stating He was impure because of committing the sin of killing a bull, the symbol of religion. She suggested that to counteract this sin He should bathe in all the sacred rivers.
Krishna, being eager to engage in loving affairs with Srimati Radharani, immediately shoved His lotus foot into the ground, making a large hole, and called all the sacred rivers to enter into it. They appeared before Him and formed Syama-kunda (the bathing place of Syama--one who is the color of a dark rain cloud).
After bathing, Krishna stated that He had become pure by bathing in Syama-kunda, but that the gopis had become impure, having sided with a demon, even though he appeared in the form of a bull. Radharani, along with some of Her gopi friends, broke their bangles and dug a hole with the broken pieces. But there was no water - so Krishna laughed. The gopis then formed a line to the Manasi Ganga and started to fill the hole with water that was passed from one gopi to another. At that time, all the sacred rivers again arrived in person and requested permission to enter into Radharani's kunda, which they did after receiving Radharani's blessing.
One of the popular names of Hindu God Shiva is Chandrashekara. He got this name after he gave refuge to Moon or Chandra on this matted locks after Chandra was cursed by Daksha.
Legend has it that Daksha Prajapati, the master of civilization, married twenty seven of his daughters – the Nakshatras, lunar asterisms - to Chandra – the moon god. But Chandra was attracted by the beauty of only Rohini Nakshatra and ignored the other stars.
The disappointed daughters complained to Daksha about Chandra’s favoritism for Rohini. This behavior of the moon god angered Daskha. He cursed Chandra that his body of which he is so proud will fade away.
Soon the body of Chandra started fading away and this caused upheaval on earth. Several plants and herbs need the moonlight to survive. Chandran then approached Lord Vishnu who directed him to Lord Shiva who is the supreme physician and the keeper of the sacred herb Soma.
Left with only one part (Kala), Chandra approached Shiva. Lord Shiva helped Chandra in regaining his lost luster and glory with the herb Soma. But Daksha cursed him again and he took the help of Lord Shiva and this continued for a long period. Finally, Shiva asked Chandra to take refuge in his lock of hair on his head where he will find enough soma to rejuvenate him periodically.
Thus the curse of Daksha causes the moon to wane and Lord Shiva rejuvenates him.
Since Shiva gave refuge to Chandra, he came to be known as Chandrashekara.
Chandrashekara is one of the pleasant forms of Shiva and in this form he is believed to cure ailments and helps in fulfilling the wishes of his devotees.
Sri Sri Damodarastakam - Text 8
namas te 'stu damne sphurad dipti-dhamne
tvadiyodarayatha visvasya dhamne
namo radhikayai tvadiya priyayai
namo 'nanta-lilaya devaya tubhyam
O Lord Damodara! I offer my obeisances unto the exalted rope binding Your waist which is the source of splendrously brilliant effulgence | I offer my obeisances unto Your belly which is the support of the entire universe | I offer my obeisances unto Radhika, Your dearmost beloved | And I offer my obeisances unto Your wondrous, uncommon pastimes
Dig-Darsini-Tika by Srila Sanatana Gosvami:
Now at the conclusion of the prayer, in order to summarise the presentation of topics that are being prayed for, and also to arouse the attributes of bhakti, obeisances are given separately unto Bhagavan's unique binding,, bodily limbs, associates, and so on in the verse beginning with namas te 'stu. It is stated te damne namo 'stu - I bow to the maha-pasa, the magnificent rope that binds Your belly. What is this grand rope like? It is sphurantya dipte dhama - the source or shelter of a splendrous effulgence. In this regard, it is suggested by the author that such a maha-pasa is the very abode of the (endlessly radiant) concentrated brahma-teja, or all-pervading brahman effulgence.
It is never possible to factually bind the (all-pervading, limitlessly potent) Lord, Who is Isa (the supreme controller), but He willingly accepts binding as an attribute of His superexcellent affection for His devotees (bhakta-vatsalya-visesa). And by that acceptance of binding we are informed that such pastimes are imperceptible to all the logic and reasoning available within all the material universes. This is an intimation of His aisvarya-visesa or attributes of majesty.
It is Lord Balarama who expands into the great serpent known as Ananta, or Seshanaga. He reposes on the Causal Ocean and serves as the couch upon whom Lord Maha-Vishnu reclines.22 That Ananta-Sesha : is the devotee incarnation of God who knows nothing but service to Lord Krishna. With His thousands of mouths He always sings the endless glories of Lord Krishna. He also expands Himself to serve as Lord Krishna’s paraphernalia, including such items as the umbrella, slippers, bedding, pillow, garments, resting chair, residence, sacred gayatri thread, and His throne in the pastimes of Lord Krishna. Thus, He has attained and exhibits the ultimate end of servitude to Lord Krishna.23
At the time of creation, after the Supreme has been sleeping for some time, the first emanations from the breathing of Lord Maha-Vishnu are the personified Vedas who serve Him by waking Him from His mystic sleep. They begin to enthusiastically sing His glories, pastimes, and praises, just as a King is awoken in the morning by poets who recite his heroic deeds.24 This shows the eternal nature of the Vedic literature. They are not merely the writings of men, but they are spiritual vibrations that exist before and after the material creation, and which emanate from the Supreme Lord.
-Stephen Knapp (Sri Nandanandana)
Even in this 21st century, today's Kali Yuga, India retains and exhibits a wonderful display of its spiritual heritage.
Standing ovation for the performance as well as for themselves and Sanatana Dharma!
Das Avatar – Prince Dance Group:
Prince Dance Group performs 'Das Avatar' - Winners of India's Got Talent.
Hare Krishna!
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/news/11-10/news3522.htm
What is the position of Krishna..
In the Brahma Samhita, Lord Brahma not only describes the position of Krishna in an absolute sense but also relative to the five principal gods: Vishnu, Brahma, Shiva, Durga and Ganesa.
Lord Vishnu: When a candle lights several candles, the quality of light in all the candles is identical. Similarly Krishna expands Himself into many Vishnu forms, which though separate are still identical to Him.
Lord Brahma: Just as the effulgence of the gems is actually a reflection of the light of the Sun, Lord Brahma receives His power of creation from Krishna. The life of Lord Brahma (and the material universe) by our perspective extends for a fantastically long time of some three hundred trillion years, yet it is only the duration of one breath of Maha Vishnu Who is a plenary portion of a plenary portion of Krishna.
Lord Shiva: The relationship of Krishna with Lord Shiva is compared to the process of transformation of milk to yogurt. Milk and yogurt is the same, yet there is a difference. Milk can become yogurt, but yogurt cannot become milk. Similarly Krishna assumes the form of Lord Shiva for the purpose of destruction. Krishna never comes in direct contact with the modes of material nature, but as Lord Shiva He very kindly takes charge of those in the mode of ignorance.
Goddess Durga: The internal spiritual potency of Krishna is reflected in the material world as Maya devi or Durga devi. She is the proprietor of the mundane worlds, the agency through which the worlds are created, maintained and destroyed and she conducts herself according to the will of Krishna.
Lord Ganesa: The lotus feet of Krishna are always held with great respect by Lord Ganesa on the pair of tumuli (tusks) that protrude from his elephant head. It is from Krishna that Ganesa receives his power to remove all obstacles in the path of progress in the three worlds.
Krishna is inconceivable
All the creations, material and spiritual are inside Krishna, yet He is present in His complete form within each and every atom. He is non-different from His potencies and by these potencies He creates, maintains and destroys. The effulgence of His body is the impersonal, non differentiated Brahman glorified in the Upanishads. His external potency embodies the three modes of material nature, goodness, passion and ignorance, but He is never touched by these modes. The wheel of time moves under His direction yet He is never affected by it. He lies on Ananta Sesa, His own plenary portion, in yoga-nidra (creative sleep) and creates millions of universes from the pores of His hair that last only the duration of His exhalation, yet in each of these universes He descends as His own avatar. All virtues, all vices, the Vedas, all forms of austerity, all living entities, the nine elements of the material worlds, the spiritual worlds, the cycle of karma, all enjoyment and suffering, all devotional service, everything that is to be known comes from Krishna. He is the cause of all causes.
How to approach Krishna
Krishna is inconceivable and inaccessible by the Vedas. Powerful yogis who perform the pranayama by controlling their breaths or great jnanis who try and understand Him by mental speculation may approach the tip of His toe after practicing for thousands of millions of years.
However Krishna is easily obtained by pure unalloyed devotion. He is seen by His pure devotees with eyes of devotion, tinged with the salve of love. His devotees meditate upon Him under the sway of love, parental affection, friendship, service or reverence and thus establish their eternal relationship with Him.
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.7.32
prajopadravam ālakṣya
loka-vyatikaraḿ ca tam
mataḿ ca vāsudevasya
sañjahārārjuno dvayam
TRANSLATION
Thus seeing the disturbance of the general populace and the imminent destruction of the planets, Arjuna at once retracted both brahmāstra weapons, as Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa desired.
PURPORT
The theory that the modern atomic bomb explosions can annihilate the world is childish imagination. First of all, the atomic energy is not powerful enough to destroy the world. And secondly, ultimately it all rests on the supreme will of the Supreme Lord because without His will or sanction nothing can be built up or destroyed. It is foolish also to think that natural laws are ultimately powerful. Material nature's law works under the direction of the Lord, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā. The Lord says there that natural laws work under His supervision. The world can be destroyed only by the will of the Lord and not by the whims of tiny politicians. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa desired that the weapons released by both Drauṇi and Arjuna be withdrawn, and it was carried out by Arjuna at once. Similarly, there are many agents of the all-powerful Lord, and by His will only can one execute what He desires.
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.7.34
śibirāya ninīṣantaḿ
rajjvā baddhvā ripuḿ balāt
prāhārjunaḿ prakupito
bhagavān ambujekṣaṇaḥ
TRANSLATION
After binding Aśvatthāmā, Arjuna wanted to take him to the military camp. The Personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa, looking on with His lotus eyes, spoke to angry Arjuna.
PURPORT
Both Arjuna and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa are described here in an angry mood, but Arjuna's eyes were like balls of red copper whereas the eyes of the Lord were like lotuses. This means that the angry mood of Arjuna and that of the Lord are not on the same level. The Lord is Transcendence, and thus He is absolute in any stage. His anger is not like the anger of a conditioned living being within the modes of qualitative material nature. Because He is absolute, both His anger and pleasure are the same. His anger is not exhibited in the three modes of material nature. It is only a sign of His bent of mind towards the cause of His devotee because that is His transcendental nature. Therefore, even if He is angry, the object of anger is blessed. He is unchanged in all circumstances.
Srila Prabhupada reveals why the pure devotee is able to reveal and write about the glories of the Kingdom of God (Vaikuntha Dhama or Goloka Vrindavana):
"…and this love of Godhead can be attained only by the practice of transcendental loving service of the lord and nothing Else... the lord's name, form, quality, pastimes, entourage, etc as they are described in the revealed scriptures or as performed in the Vaikuntha lokas, far, far beyond the cosmic manifestation are factually being televised in the heart of the devotee… The spiritually developed person is able to have the television of the Kindgom of God always reflected within his heart. This is the mystery of knowledge of the Personality of Godhead…"
(Srimad-Bhagavatam Bhaktivedanta Purports 2.9.35)
Srila Prabhupada further explains how we should understand the amazing potency of His books:
"…When a pure vaishnava speaks, he speaks perfectly. How is this? His speech is managed by Krsna from within the heart…"
"...It will come some day they will realize what valuable books we have left for the study of the whole world-that will come…"
-Srila Prabhupada
Srila Prabhupada repeatedly told us again and again that He did not invent a new philosophy or his own philosophy. He said that His books were simply the presentation of the message of the great Acaryas.
Srila Prabhupada: "Thank you. You have read some of my books?"
Guest: "Yes."
Srila Prabhupada: "They are not my books. I am simply translating. They are written by Vyasadeva, the original Vedic scholar."
Ramesvara: "The only hope is to read your books."
Devotees: "Jaya."
Srila Prabhupada: "Not my books, Krsna's books,"
You Still Teach Us Eternal Love
BY: HASTI GOPALA DASA
Nov 09, 2010 — TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA (SUN) —
From the first days to these days
Our honor has held fast and true.
In all of our tanglement over the years
We pushed ahead whatever the cost.
Wavering and wandering reaching back to hold
Those treasures of love from you.
With your great words we conquer on
And still have never been lost.
Nations of hearts by seas of minds
Loosen now Maya's control.
All that has been is still here now
Just as it was at your start.
Everyday your foundation spreads
The Holy Name to everyone's soul.
In spite of Maya's volley of toil
You are constantly in our heart.
"Chant Hare Krsna no matter what happens"
You told us knowing our way.
Dispensing your truths in original form
Proves that truth still rises above.
More and more the world is moving
To your lotus feet to stay.
Your continual presence and speaking
Are still teaching eternal love.
Thank you eternally Dear Srila Prabhupada.
Your servant Hasti Gopala dasa
Govardhan Puja 2010
This festival is celebrated to commemorate the pastime of the Lord lifting the Govardhana Hill on His little finger, in order to protect the residents of Vrindavan from torrential rains sent by Indra. The Supreme Personality of Godhead performed this pastime as a seven year old boy in order to crush the pride of Indra, the Lord of the heavens.
Lord Krishna forbade the residents of Vrindavana from worshipping Indra. He induced them to worship Govardhana Hill instead. The Govardhana Hill is not an ordinary hill. It is actually very dear to the Lord.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We have to rewrite the history books. Your Bhāgavatam is actually rewriting history, universal history.
Prabhupāda: Yes. I have many times said that this is universal history.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, you mentioned, “This is not done according to the time chronology or place. Many events have taken place on other planets.” That you mention in the First Canto. That was very appealing to me.
Prabhupāda: And Kṛṣṇa incarnation appears according to the particular planet and climate, er, planet. Just like churning. That is in higher planetary system. There are persons like that. It is not improper. And we are comparing with us, that “We cannot churn. Therefore there is no churning.” That is our disease, to simply compare with our position.
“The process is very simple. Just keep a picture of Lord Caitanya with His associates. Lord Caitanya is in the middle, accompanied by His principal associates — Nityananda, Advaita, Gadadhara, and Srivasa. One simply has to keep this picture. One can keep it anywhere. It is not that one has to come to us to see this picture. Anyone can have this picture in his home, chant this Hare Krsna mantra, and thus worship Lord Caitanya. That is the simple method. But who will capture this simple method? Those who have good brains. Without much bother, if one simply keeps a picture of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at home and chants Hare Krsna, then one will realize God. Anyone can adopt this simple method. There is no expenditure, there is no tax, nor is there any need to build a very big church or temple. Anyone, anywhere, can sit down on the road or beneath a tree and chant the Hare Krsna mantra and worship God. Therefore it is a great opportunity.”
devotional service is dependent on nothing other than the sentiment or desire for such service. It requires nothing more than sincerity.” (Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 14)
“Now, suppose a poor man, he wants to offer something to God”
Here is a prescription given by the Lord Himself which can be offered even by the poorest man. What is that? Patram puspam phalam toyam. A, a little bit of tulasi leaves or any leaf, puspam, a little bit of flower, patram puspam phalam, a small fruit, and toyam, a little water.
The real thing is love. “Anyone who is offering Me these four things in love,” tad aham bhakty-upahrtam, “because he has brought these four things with love and devotion,” then God says, Lord says, tad aham asnami, “I eat. I eat,” bhaktya prayatatmanah, “because with devotion, with faith, and with love, he has brought.”
Suppose there is a very nice rose flower. Somebody takes it: “Oh, it is very nice rose flower. Oh, I shall take it and offer my girlfriend or boyfriend.” That is sense gratification. That is sense gratification. The same flower, if you take it and think, “Oh, it is very nice flower. I shall offer to Krishna,” that is your service to the Lord.
The flower is there. Simply change of consciousness… This is called Krishna consciousness. The flower is there. You are there. The consciousness is there. This offering is there.
Simply you have to change. That’s all. You have to change. If you utilize things for sense gratification, then you go to the darkest region of this material atmosphere. And the same thing, if you offer to Krishna, it becomes spiritual.
Now, after offering Krishna, Krishna is not taking it away. You are… You are taking the prasadam. That means the whole thing becomes spiritualized.
We are… We are anxious for peace. This is the process of peace; you change your consciousness. Don’t accept anything for your sense gratification. Everything is there. It is supplied by the Supreme Lord.
Svarupa Damodara: The spirit soul must necessarily have a body, either spiritual or material.
Prabhupada: He has got already spiritual body. Material body is his covering. It is unnatural. Real body is spiritual. Just like your coat, this is unnatural. But your real body is natural. Otherwise how transmigration is possible? I am accepting different unnatural bodies. Unnatural means to my constitution. My real constitutional body is servant of Krsna. So, so long I do not come to that position, I remain servant of nature and I get so many bodies. . . . . . . .
Paramahamsa: But ultimately if we come to Krsna, there’s no return. But nevertheless, Jagai, and..., the two gatekeepers, they returned?
Prabhupada: There is return, that is voluntary. Return there is.
Paramahamsa: If we want.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Paramahamsa: So we can come to the spiritual world and return?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Paramahamsa: Fall down?
Prabhupada: Yes. As soon as we try, "Oh, this material world is very nice," "Yes," Krsna says, "yes, you go." Just like nobody is interested in Krsna consciousness. Do you think everyone is interested? So. They want to enjoy this material world. Otherwise what is the meaning of free will? Every living entity has got a little free will. And Krsna is so kind, He gives him opportunity, "All right, you enjoy like this." Just like some of our students, Krsna conscious, sometimes go away, again come back. It is free will, not stereotyped.
The Eleven Princes
BY: ADIPURUSA DAS
Nov 13, 2010 — CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, USA (SUN) —
~ The Eleven Princes ~
Oh! Eleven Princes, who killed their King
who held their meeting that following Spring
Oh! Eleven Princes, who took control
who bought their fame, and sold their soul
Oh! Eleven Princes, to whom earth was their pie
who divided it up - all based on a lie
Oh! Eleven Princes, who ruled with an 'iron-fist'
whose 'divine-right' came from a list
Oh! Eleven Princes, who sat upon their throne
who became emperors with a land of their own
Oh! Eleven Princes, who enslaved the new
who banished the old to hide what is true
Oh! Eleven Princes, who measured by numbers sold
who turned the temples into their palaces of gold
Oh! Eleven Princes, whose philosophy was deceit
who had others bow and worship their feet
Oh! Eleven Princes, who took the lead
who always put first their ambition and greed
Oh! Eleven Princes, who became the 'only way'
who still have faithful followers to this day
Oh! Eleven Princes, who wore their crown
who one by one came tumbling down...
Srila Prabhupada predicts the collapse of money:
Journalist, May 19, 1975, Melbourne: [...] Do you think modern man must mend his ways or he will… he must get better and know God or he will destroy himself?
Prabhupada: Yes, he is destroying already. The society is not in stable stage. Just like in America, they are also in trouble now. They are asking money from the federal government. They cannot make solution. So as soon as the monetary source will decline, this civilization will be finished.
Journalist: As soon as the money declines.
Prabhupada: Yes. Because there is no culture. They are not standing on culture. They are standing on money.
Journalist: You think we pay too much importance to money?
Prabhupada: Yes, everybody, yes. They do not know what is culture of life. They simply want money, that’s all.
Journalist: Do you think we have too much for our needs?
Prabhupada: You are creating your needs. You are not too much in need, but you have created so many artificial needs.
Hare Krishna! On 17 Nov’10, Wednesday is the Disappearance Day of His Divine Grace Srila Gaura-Kishora Das Babaji Maharaj, the spiritual master of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.
30 years he lived in Vrindavan wandering around the forests and pastime places of Srimati Radharani and Lord Sri Krishna while absorbed in chanting Holy Names: HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE/ HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE.
He would lie prostrate, offering his humble obeisances to the residents of Vraja, considering them as embodiments of Lord Krishna. During this time he took babaji initiation from Bhagavata dasa, a disciple of Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaj.
Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaj was a renunciation personified. He chanted 200,000 names of Lord each day and stayed in isolated places, eating only what would come of its own accord and sleeping wherever he found himself at night time.
He had very few possessions: Tulasi-mala (Tulasi beads) around his neck; another Tulasi-mala on which he chanted; and a few books such as Narottama Dasa Thakura’s Prarthana and Prema Bhakti Chandrika. He refused service from anyone and would not let anyone serve him, though many tried.
n 1894, he heard that Lord Caitanya’s birthplace has been discovered and so he came to Navadvipa-Mayapur Dham, knowing the two Dhamas are non-different. In Navadvipa-Mayapur, he again wandered around the places of the Lord’s pastimes absorbed in ecstasy of separation. His renunciation was intense and genuine. He would dress himself in the discarded cloth used to dress corpses, beg rice from householders, and cook with discarded earthen pots.
He would dance on the banks of the Ganges chanting the Holy Names of Krishna; at other times he would lie on the ground unconscious. Others tried to imitate Gaura-kishora dasa Babaji’s renunciation wanting to gain fame for themselves, but they all fell away into disgrace.
Babaji Maharaj encountered many disturbances to his Hari-bhajana from the materialists who sought benedictions from him. They all received heavy instructions from Babaji Maharaj, but very few were able to understand that these instructions were actually for their eternal benefit.
In 1908 Gaura Kishora Dasa Babaji Maharaja lost his sight. He refused attempts to take him to an eye specialist, preferring instead to chant and worship Lord Krishna. He stopped travelling at this point. He would sit in his bhajana-kutir deeply absorbed in Krishna’s pastimes.
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SRILS GAURA-KISHORA BABAJI
On 17 Nov 1915, on Utthana Ekadasi in the Kartika-vrata, Srila Gaurakishora dasa Babaji Maharaja re-entered into his eternal loving pastimes with the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. After Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja had heard of his disappearance, he went to the place where Srila Gaura-kishora lived.
At that time different persons from different temples in the area began to fiercely argued to claim the spiritual body of Srila Babaji Maharaja. But Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja obstructed them from doing so.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta in a voice as deep as thunder said, “I am the only disciple of Paramahamsa Babaji Maharaja. Even though I have not accepted sannyasa, I am a celibate brahmacari and by the grace of Babaji Maharaja I am not secretly addicted to abominable habits or involved in fornication as some monkey-like people are. If there is someone amongst the people here present who is a renunciate of stainless character, then he can have Babaji Maharaja’s samadhi. We have no objection to that.
He, who within the last year, or the last six months, three months, one month or at least within the last three days, has not had illicit connection with a woman will be able to touch this spiritual blissful body. If anyone else touches it he will be completely ruined.”
Hearing this, the superintendent of police said, “How is it that he can prove this?”
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Thakura replied, “I have faith in their word”.
At this, one-by-one all the bogus babajis slipped away without a word. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati then claimed the samadhi.
Srila Prabhupada:
Active means especially in killing the demons. But such demons could be killed without the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If there is little earthquake, millions of demons can be killed. It is not very difficult job. If the Pacific Ocean overfloods this city, millions of people can be killed. If there is a war, millions of people can be killed. If there is epidemic, millions of men can be killed. So killing the demons, for that purpose He does not come, Krishna. Rather, Krishna's many agents, they can kill such demons without any difficulty. But He comes, paritranaya sadhunam. Just like Lord Nrsimha appeared not to kill the demon Hiranyakasipu. He could be killed otherwise. But He appeared for Prahlada. Prahlada Maharaja, he was being so much teased and so much tortured. He could not tolerate it. So he wanted to show His devotee that "I shall kill your torturer before you." That is the purpose. So He did not appear for killing Hiranyakasipu. He appeared to give encouragement to Prahlada Maharaja.
Friday, November 19, 1965
New York, New York
My dear daughter Sally,
I beg to thank you for your kind letter of the 16th instant and I have noted the contents carefully. I am glad to learn that you had been to your parents house for a few days and now you have returned home. I am still more glad to learn that you are going to observe the third birthday of Miss Kamala Agarwal on Saturday next.
I am obliged to your good daughter for awarding me a good degree as SWAMI JESUS which is actually a great honour for me. Some time the Lord speaks through innocent child and I take this honour as sent by Lord Jesus through an innocent child free from all formalities of the current society.
Lord Jesus preached the message of God and I have taken up the same mission, and it would be a good luck for me if I can follow the foot prints of Lord Jesus who preached the message of God in spite of all persecution. Lord Jesus is a living example how one has to suffer in this material world simply for the matter of preaching the message of God.
In Bhagavatam also there is another example like Lord Jesus. He is Prahlada Maharaja a boy of five years old but because he was a great devotee of God and preaching the message of God among his little class mates, his atheist father tried to kill him. So the atheist class of men are always inimical to the devotees of God even though such devotee happens to be the atheist’ s son like Prahlada.
Origin of the Ganges River..
Once, long ago, a king named Bali Maharaja conquered all the planets in the universe. Ousting the demigods, the deputed managers of universal affairs, from their heavenly domains, Bali Maharaja installed himself as king of the celestial realm. Aditi, the mother of the demigods, being aggrieved at her sons' defeat, fasted and prayed to Vishnu (God) for twelve consecutive days. Pleased with Aditi, Vishnu agreed to reinstate the demigods by incarnating as Vamanadeva, a dwarf brahmana mendicant (saintly priest).
Vamanadeva approached Bali Maharaja and begged him for three paces of land. When Bali agreed, Vamanadeva expanded His form to gigantic proportions and covered the entire universe with His first step, thus reclaiming the demigods lost property. With His second step, Vamanadeva kicked a hole in the universal shell with His toe, causing a few drops of water from the spiritual world to leak into the universe. This water flowed into the universe and became known as the Ganges River. The Ganges is thus considered sacred because it originated from the spiritual world and because it touched the toe of Vamanadeva, the incarnation of Vishnu.
continue...
Originally, the Ganges flowed only in the heavenly planets. Then a great king of ancient India, named Bhagiratha, desired to have the Ganges purify the earth and prayed for the river to descend. The personified Ganges, mother Gangadevi, appeared before King Bhagiratha and agreed to fulfill his desire, but she had two reservations. First, she hesitated to come to earth because she feared that many sinful people would bathe in her waters and contaminate her with bad karma. King Bhagiratha then assured Gangadevi that although many sinful persons would bathe in her waters, many saintly persons who can purify even places of pilgrimage would also bathe there, thus purifying her of all karmic contaminations.
Secondly, Gangadevi said: "When I fall from the sky to the surface of the planet earth, the water will be very forceful. Who will sustain that force? If I am not sustained, I shall pierce the surface of the earth and glide down to the lower regions of the universe." To satisfy Gangadevi, King Bhagiratha prayed to Shiva, and when the king asked the great demigod to catch the falling Ganges water on his head, he agreed to the request. Since that time, Shiva has been sustaining the Ganges on his head, and her sacred water has been flowing on the earth, purifying all those who come in contact with them.
JAGANNATHA MISHRA DASA:
To all of us:
Do we have to consider ourselves at all cost well situated and completely right in the perfect path? NO, actually we have disadvantages, misgivings and bad karma, like many of us were too late to get direct initiation or physical association with Srila Prabhupada. Our maths and movements are in general poorly managed and full of inebriates.
Sir, we do have problems. And Srila Prabhupada is not here physically to correct them directly.
Our movement has become a religion by (amazingly) contravening the Founder's clear instructions.
Generally, the current spiritual masters do what they can but are not up to the standard of pure devotion.
Not only that, but the sad truth is that many gurus, GBCs and assorted authorities in other maths make a deaf ear or a blind eye when confronted with clear deviations, just to keep their position.
Why do we not acknowledge our shortcomings and live in peace, respecting each other's choices of how to approach spiritual life?
Is our devotional service based on looking at others faults (right as we probably are)?
How much time do we dedicate to that and how much time to preaching to forgotten souls?
Denounce with boldness what you see wrong once and very clearly, then continue with your devotional service, doing the right thing. That does not take much time and is a balanced approach.
Is the validity of our devotional service depending on anyone's institutional sanction? NO.
Is constant fighting among camps devotional service? NO.
Can hate to other Vaishnavas be ascribed to a category of devotional service? NO.
If we want to do negative service we have to fight the Lord as big demons do, then we might get benefit.
Otherwise we are stuck in the same business as materialists, claiming to be so right like the fundamentalist do. Just that we happen to dress different and have a fancy name.
“Initiation is a formality. If you are serious, that is real initiation [...] My touch is simply a formality. It is your determination, that is initiation.”
(Srila Prabhupada
“The chanting of Hare Krsna is our main business, that is real initiation. And as you are all following my instruction, in that matter, the initiator is already there.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, August 19th, 1968)
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.14.51
maitreya uvāca
śrutvā bhāgavataḿ pautram
amodata ditir bhṛśam
putrayoś ca vadhaḿ kṛṣṇād
viditvāsīn mahā-manāḥ
TRANSLATION
The sage Maitreya said: Hearing that her grandson would be a great devotee and that her sons would be killed by Kṛṣṇa, Diti was highly pleased in mind.
PURPORT
Diti was very aggrieved to learn that because of her untimely pregnancy her sons would be demons and would fight with the Lord. But when she heard that her grandson would be a great devotee and that her two sons would be killed by the Lord, she was very satisfied. As the wife of a great sage and the daughter of a great Prajāpati, Dakṣa, she knew that being killed by the Personality of Godhead is a great fortune. Since the Lord is absolute, His acts of violence and nonviolence are both on the absolute platform. There is no difference in such acts of the Lord. Mundane violence and nonviolence have nothing to do with the Lord's acts. A demon killed by Him attains the same result as one who attains liberation after many, many births of penance and austerity. The word bhṛśam is significant herein because it indicates that Diti was pleased beyond her expectations.
In a lecture in New York in 1966, Srila Prabhupada gave his opinion on "The Illuminati":
Just become a little gentle and submissive, and hear these messages from Krsna. Tanu. Tanu means your body, and vak means your words, and mana means mind. Just try to adjust your mind, your body, your words, and hear the Srimad-Bhagavad-gita which is spoken by the Supreme Lord, and put your arguments, put your reason, whatever you have got. Don’t accept it blindly. And think over it, and then you’ll see what is the result.
The Lord says, the raksasam asurah caiva, those who are raksasas... Raksasa means almost man-eaters. Raksasa are called man-eaters, more than tigers. They, for their self-satisfaction, they can eat, even, their own sons. You see? They are called raksasas. No shame. “My sense gratification should be satisfied. Never mind. You go to hell.” So this is the age. So we, we create a machine that everyone comes and becomes smashed in that machine, and my sense satisfaction is there. Although I’ll never be happy by that sense satisfaction. This is going on. You can know this world is now managed by the raksasas. Raksasa. They don’t mind what is happening. They are prepared to sacrifice everything for fulfilling their whimsical nonsense. They are called raksasa. Why they are? Now, they are very much enamored by this material beauty. Not beauty. The material civilization. So they cannot. They cannot understand. It is very difficult for them. They cannot understand. And they’ll never try to understand because they are raksasas.
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, the founder of the Hare Krishna movement, made some appropriate observations in this regard, back in the 1950s, in a note to the 14th text, second canto of the Bhagavat Purana. There, he noted that " Even fifty years ago, the social structure of all Indians was so arranged that they would not read any literature that was not connected with the activities of the Lord. They would not play any drama not connected with the Lord. They would not organize a fair or ceremony not connected with the Lord. Nor would they visit a place which was not holy and sanctified by the pastimes of the Lord. Therefore, even the common man in the village would talk about Ramayana and Mahabharata, Gita and Bhagavatam, even from his very childhood. But by the influence of the age of Kali, they have been dragged into the civilization of the dogs and hogs, laboring for bread without any sense of transcendental knowledge."
“If you are sincere you don’t have to search out your guru, Krishna will send him.”
-Srila Prabhupada
"I recall that in those early lectures he spoke mainly in terms of Absolute Truth to better communicate with us. No one had the slightest idea what “Krishna” meant. I had read Gita before, and so had my friends, but to us Krishna, at most, was just a literary personification of the Divine, a characterization of Sankaracarya’s Self. At that first meeting I had some difficulty understanding what Srila Prabhupada said, but his words nonetheless moved me, and I was interested to hear more. I noticed that my friends were also listening attentively, and most of the others seemed to show respect. Then, incredibly, midway through the lecture, an old white-haired begrizzled Bowery bum entered the storefront and walked right through the middle of the room, past all of us who sat in shocked silence, and on up towards Srila Prabhupada, who sat beneath the back windows. I didn’t know what he was about to do, but I noticed that he was carrying a package of paper hand-towels and a couple of rolls of toilet paper. He didn’t say a word, but walked right past Srila Prabhupada and carefully placed the hand-towels by the sink and the toilet paper on the floor under the sink. Then, clearing his throat and saying something incoherent, he turned around and walked out. No one knew what to say and no one knew whether or not Srila Prabhupdda had been insulted.
“Just see,” Srila Prabhupada suddenly said. “He has just begun his devotional service. That is the process. Whatever we have–it doesn’t matter what we must offer it for Krishna’s service.”
-hayagriva-dasa
Lord Shiva: The Glance of Love
"Out of love for all the jivas, the Lord glances at material nature to manifest them, that they may come to meet their maker and love him. This glance of Visnu, this is Siva, it is the glance of love for all jivas. So how we can not appreciate Lord Siva?"
Lord Shiva is actually the brother-in-law of Krsna. From Yasoda a daughter and a son were born. When Vasudeva exchanged Devaki-nandana Krishna for the daughter, Devaki-nandana Krishna merged into Nanda-nandana Krishna and the daughter was taken and she showed an eightfold form, Katyayani, Durga and chastised Kamsa. So Katyayani is the wife of Lord Siva and sister of Krishna. So Lord Shiva is the brother-in-law of Krishna. In this way he is part of the extended family. Krsna’s guru, Sandipani Muni, was a Shaivite. In Mathura, Krishna was initiated by a Shaivite, so Shiva is in our guru parampara!
So it goes in the highest realm to the gopis. But there we find Shiva also: Mahadeva Gopisvara. Shiva’s desire to become a gopi."
Srila Prabhupada always called him "Hari's son."
It was 36 hours of George Harrison drifting in and out of consciousness, with his wife and son at his side. One outsider allowed was George’s friend Ravi Shankar, who played sitar music.
According to Ravi Shankar, George positioned two pictures of Hindu gods Krishna and Rama around his bed, and he chanted the Hare Krishna mantra. Two more of George’s close friends from the Hare Krishna faith, Shayam Sundara and Mukunda, were there chanting quietly into their meditation beads, while George passed away at 1:20pm on the 29th of November, 2001.
He was 58 years old.
Room Conversation
with Irish Poet, Desmond O’Grady
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
May 23, 1974, Rome
O’Grady: O.K. Now, is the Absolute internal or external?
Prabhupāda: Absolute has no internal or external. That is Absolute. If there is internal and external, it is not Absolute.
O’Grady: I don’t mean in time, and I don’t mean in space. I mean in time in the sense that one is born and one dies, etc., that is, in one’s own time, one’s own Absolute, ultimately the Absolute that one finds for oneself.
Prabhupāda: No, we are not absolute. We, when we are situated in the absolute platform, then we are absolute. Now we are in the relative world. Here there is absolutism, but the sense is not so elevated to understand the absolutism. So so long we are under the control of time, there is no question of becoming absolute.
O’Grady: So therefore there is a life beyond time.
Prabhupāda: That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā.
anma karma ca me divyam evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mam eti so ’rjuna [Bg. 4.9]
“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.”
Prabhupāda: And that is absolute. When he goes back to home, back to Godhead, that is absolute. So long he is in the material world, changing body, transmigrating from one body to another, that is not absolute plane. That is the duality plane, dualism. When we go back to home, back to…, in the spiritual world, that is absolute.
O’Grady: When he goes back to his original.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Thank you very much. That is the position. That is absolute.
O’Grady: So you don’t find it possible to achieve any absolute condition in our time?
Prabhupāda: No. In the material world it is not possible. This is the world of duality. Therefore so many different varieties of unity is suggested, but they are all failure. Just like when we were students in 1917, so there was League of Nations. And after that again there was war. (chuckles)
Prabhupāda: And then, now they have manufactured United Nations. But for the last twenty years or more than that, they are endeavoring to be united, but when I go New York, I see flags are increasing, no united, disunity. You see? And war is going on. Therefore, on this material platform this so-called unity is impossible. Unity is possible only on the spiritual platform.
Sorry. I try to not overrun but at times fail.
I fail at many things but press on.
My failures compel attention.
Usually only humans get the opportunity to break free of the cycle of samsara. But there are special cases where an animal gets special mercy. Such as Sivanand sena's dog who was blessed by Lord Caitanya. Or Gajendra, the elephant.
In 1976 Srila Prabhupada had clearly stated to Lokanatha Swami that the bulls that pull the Deities cart (Padayatra) will return directly to the spiritual world after their mortal life as a bull is over, this is the care of special mercy.
Me too, les.
These past couple of weeks have been really difficult for me.
I've lost my temper several times lately, where even though it might be appropriate, it really wasn't at necessary at all.
It sure wasn't very commendable, disciplined or humble.
Humbling, yes.
I have a feeling you know what I mean.
I just try to always chant and allow myself compassion for me and hope for me.
I know it's selfish but sometimes if I don't do this I'm not much help at all to me or anyone else.
I do ask the Lord to look after you, les.
Thanks for listening.
Homer
Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayor vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane [SB 9.4.18]. You engage your senses. So this is practice. First of all think of the Deity. First of all think of the lotus feet, then the knees, then the eyes, then the belly, then the chest.
In this way, as you become practiced, then go further, advance. In this way, when you become fully practiced, then automatically, in whatever condition you are, you will be able to meditate upon Krsna. That is the highest perfection of life. Satatam kirtayanto mam [Bg. 9.14]. Satatam cintayanto mam. If you always think of Krsna, always chant… Chanting is also meditation.
As soon as you chant, you immediately remember Krsna, His form, His name, His quality, His pastimes. So where is difficulty? The Gosvamis practiced it.
Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.28.19
Nairobi, October 29, 1975
Thank you Homer.
Yes, it's been pretty rocky. I got some ayahuasca in today and other things are coming from the far corners of the world- unknown to most- but shamanic remedies and that will set me right. it always does.
I recognize the prohibitions against certain things on the path but I have permission. God even said to me, "You chose this path".
We'll be having a chat in a couple of days while I ponder when and so forth. It usually goes on for several days and I have six of them empty at the moment.
Regards and much respect.
Although Lord Brahma is a very exalted personality he is ‘ambho janma jani’ meaning one who is born from a lotus. This indicates that he has a material birth and is under the influence of material nature. Lord Brahma had just observed the activities of Lord Krishna and His childhood pastime of killing and delivering the Anghasura demon. Lord Brahma was impressed with how little Krishna had handled the angry brother of Putana and Bakasura and now he wanted to show of some of his own mystical powers. Although Lord Brahma’s mystical power is compared as the light of a glowworm trying to show of in the sunlight of Lord Krishna’s mystical power, Lord Gaura Krishna in His unlimited mercy plays along and in such a magnitude that it even bewildered Lord Balarama. But before we talk about that we have to understand that it was not really Brahma’s power of illusion at work. Lord Brahma being influenced by the material nature doesn’t have any power over the eternally liberated intimate friends of Lord Sri Krishna, neither over the calves they were herding. Lord Sri Krishna Who is in the heart of everyone knew about Lord Brahma’s intentions and He deceived Brahma already before he stole the boys and calves. With His yogamaya He had hidden the boys and calves and mahamaya had instantly produced exact replicas of the boys and calves for Brahma to steal. The real boys and calves were never stolen, the same as the real Sita was never in the hands of Ravana.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu continued, “Sitadevi, the dearmost wife of the Supreme Lord Ramachandra, certainly has a spiritual form full of bliss. No one can see her with material eyes, for no materialist has such power. To say nothing of touching mother Sita, a person with material senses cannot even see her. When Ravana kidnapped her, he kidnapped only her material, illusory form. “As soon as Ravana arrived before Sita, she disappeared. Then just to cheat Ravana she sent an illusory, material form. Spiritual substance is never within the jurisdiction of the material conception. This is always the verdict of the Vedas and Puranas.”
Mother Nature is, as She should naturally be, the most faithful mistress of Godhead:
Srila Prabhupada:
1949: May
Calcutta
Dear Sir,
Mother Nature is, as She should naturally be, the most faithful mistress of Godhead and She becomes angry for the behavior of the Asura and thus assume the role of Daivamaya (generally known as the Mohakali, Durga, Bhadrakali etc.) and take at once Her grim trident and inflicts the weapon in the heart of the asura who is also Her son. The asura thus becomes subject to threefold miseries and this is done according to the plan of Godhead as the mother has to chastise the disobedient son in order to make him alright.
This process of chastisement is necessary for the benefit of both the asura and the daiva sons in order to stop disorder in the great plan of Godhead. As sons as the asura, however, surrenders unto Godhead as the obedient son and servitor of the plan of Godhead the asura is turned into a devata. The angry mode of Mother Nature at once subsides and she appears to such godly sons as the most affectionate Mother in the role of Yogamaya (commonly known as Laksmi, Sita and Radharani etc).
So according to Bhagavad-gita the whole trouble of the world is due to the increase in the number of the asura and decrease in the number of the daivas. Who is a daiva and who is a asura is clearly defined in the Bhagavad-gita. Thus the whole problem has to be solved according to expert advices and it is not possible to solve the world problem so easily as by holding occasional discussions by some who are already themselves under the influence of the asuric qualities. This should be done most scientifically which is above mistakes and illusion.
As stated above the asura, as soon as he surrenders to Godhead makes the whole problem solved. But unfortunately the ____ to the threefold miseries of mother Nature and thus befooled by his repeated foolish activities will not easily surrender unto Godhead due to his long forgetful relation with the almighty Father.
It's is interesting how you mirror your commentary after certain posts. Am I assuming wrong that this reflects the recent Origami? Also, you often mirror the circumstances of my moment with what you choose. It's as if you provide for me what I seem to provide for others (according to them).
You're very perceptive as well as intelligent, les.
Of course, everyone knows that.
Your adjective list is long.
This is the intent, yes.
In hope of offering any insight and encouragement which might help to not only acknowledge your thoughts and feelings but enhance this promotion of gratitude and reverence for Krishna/Jesus/Buddha/Allah/God.
It's for anyone who desires or even simply wonders. Always has been and always will be.
Your kind comment is really meant for Srila Prabhupada, the one who is spiritually complete and serves us all eternally.
I'm just a lucky loser who found a lamp and rubbed it.
(I try not to drop it on my foot too often)
Thanks for your words and your time.
I'm a fan.
That the above article was written in 1949 is wonderful, don't you think?
les, I just now read your latest Origami..
The related post which "reflects the recent Origami," "The Tunnel of Light In the Spider's Web," was actually posted Friday night. The night before you posted The Tunnel of Light.
This caused a big smile.
Srila Prabhupada:
Affection for God-brothers is nice, it is a good sign. Affection for God-brothers as well as for all other living entities, even they are not God-brothers, these signs are seen in the advanced devotees. There are three kinds of devotees: The lower grade devotees, they have high regard for the Deity in the temple, but not very much regard for devotees or people in general. The second grade devotee takes compassion with innocent non-devotees. In that stage, he has got 4 kinds of vision.
One is that he always keeps Krishna as the most Lovable Object, second is that he makes intimate friendship with his devotee God-brothers or any other devotees, third is that he takes compassion with innocent non-devotees, and tries to convince them about the importance of Krishna Consciousness, and fourth is that he does not take any serious interest for the atheist class of men.
The first grade devotee, of course, sees everyone in relationship with Krishna and as such, he makes no distinction between a devotee or non-devotee. His vision is high grade, because he sees that everyone is engaged in Krishna’s service directly or indirectly. This position of high-grade devotee should never be imitated. It was possible only in Lord Caitanya or Lord Nityananda, or Haridasa Thakura.
Thakura Haridasa was so powerful that he could convert even a harlot. But we should not try to imitate Haridasa Thakura or Lord Caitanya. Our position is in the second grade platform. We should not be satisfied remaining in the third grade platform. But we should try to elevate ourselves in the second grade platform. So far the first grade platform is concerned, it is not attained by our endeavor, but it is possible when we have full Grace of Krishna. It completely depends on the causeless Mercy of Krishna.
Saturday, December 16, 1967
San Francisco, Calif.
When I left your country on the 22nd of July, I had very little hope to come back again. But Krishna informed me that I’m not going to die immediately; therefore, I have come back again to get inspiration of Krishna Consciousness from you all good souls. Although officially I am your Spiritual Master, I consider you all students as my Spiritual Master because your love for Krishna and service for Krishna teach me how to become a sincere Krishna Conscious person.
-Srila Prabhupada
December 29, 1967
San Francisco, Calif.
My Dear Jadurani,
Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter of Dec. 23(?), 1967, and I am glad to hear you are doing so nicely in Krishna Consciousness.
Regarding your questions: This incidence is in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Bhismadeva, when he was lying on his arrow bed before passing away, Lord Krishna, accompanied with the Pandavas, came to see him. Ordinarily, Bhismadeva was worshipper of Lord Visnu, but he knew also that Krishna is the same Lord Visnu.
When Krishna came to see Bhismadeva on his death bed, Bhismadeva remembered Krishna in His fighting feature at the battlefield of Kuruksetra. Bhismadeva wanted to see Krishna angry, he knew that Krishna was very kind upon him, but to make a front he displayed a chivalrous mood, pretending to kill Arjuna, although he knew it very well that no power in the world could kill Arjuna while he was shielded by Krishna Himself as his charioteer. Yet he tried to agitate the mind of Krishna, but Arjuna he almost killed.
Actually, Krishna thought it that Bhismadeva was to see Him in His angry mood and supposed to be broken in His promise, to fulfill the desire of Bhismadeva He got down from the chariot and took a wheel of the chariot, going forward as if to kill Bhismadeva Bhismadeva, as soon as found Krishna in that angry mood, he gave up his fighting weapons and prepared himself for being killed by Krishna.
This attitude of Krishna pleased Bhismadeva very much, and at the time of his death he recalled back the angry feature of Krishna. He was a military man so he was pleased to see Krishna in military spirit, as much as the Gopis wanted to see Krishna as the most beautiful lover.
There is no difference between the attitude of the gopis and Bhismadeva in the matter of exchanging transcendental mellows between God and His devotee. Krishna can be loved in any feature and because he is absolute there is no difference to love Krishna as a military man or as a simple Gopi.
"In the Bhagavad-gita, it is stated that for the fixed up devotee there is one duty. This duty is understood through the transparent medium via media of the Spiritual Master. It is better service to Krishna and Spiritual Master in a feeling of separation; sometimes there is risk in the matter of direct service.
For example, Kirtanananda was giving me direct service by massaging, cooking for me, and so many other things; but later on by dictation of Maya, he became puffed up, so much so that he thought his Spiritual Master a common man, and was existing only on account of his service.
This mentality at once pushed him down. Of course, those who are sincere devotee, they take direct service as an opportunity, but the illusory energy is so strong that it acts on this doctrine of familiarity breeds contempt. Kirtanananda was thinking I was existing on his service, instead of realizing I was giving him opportunity to do me some service."
-Srila Prabhupada
My Dear Hladini devi,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your very nice letter dated 28th November.
I am glad to learn that the Deities are being cared for there in Chicago so nicely by your good self. I personally gave instruction to Silavati how to care for the Deities properly when I was in Los Angeles and you were trained up by her. So I am confident that everything is going on nicely.
Proper Deity worship, with all attention to cleanliness, is of the utmost importance. If you can please the Deity by your sincere service, then your temple will flourish. To be able to personally serve the Deity is a great privilege and such a person is very fortunate indeed. So you continue in this way and Krishna will surely bless you.
-Srila Prabhupada
6 December, 1974
Bombay
My Dear Sri Govinda das:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter undated together with clippings and photos, and thank you very much.
I think the article about the book distribution at the airport is indirectly an advertisement. People will come to know about our books and our movement. Here in Bombay they also have the complaint that we are nuisance. What can be done? The writer of the article calls us Hare Krishnas. He calls us this over and over again. He does not know that by doing this he is chanting the holy name and will be benefited.
Just like during Lord Caitanya’s time, the Muhammadans used to joke how the devotees were chanting Hare Krishna. One of the officers said to his subordinate that it was all right that they were chanting, but why was he chanting. And the man had to admit that yes he was also chanting and that he did not know why he was doing it. So by writing this article, this man is chanting.
Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
JOURNAL: Sunday 10 April 1966
Sun Rise 5/25 am. Sunset 6/38 pm. Moonrise 0.03 pm.
Sasthi.
Today the whole day I remained at Paul’s loft and did not go out. I paid Paul one dollar for expenses.
Today I am working on Cohen’s big Royal Typewriter and it is very good for hard working. Paul is impressed with my mission in America.
No income — Expenditure $1.00
-Srila Prabhupada
Friday, 12 November, 1971
Delhi
My Dear Nityananda,
An example of summary punishment is this: If you are sentenced to be hanged but instead you are given a simple pinprick, that is very nice. Krishna minimizes the devotee’s suffering to the lowest. So long as one is engaged in devotional service, he is immune to the reactions of his past sinful activities, but if he chooses to give up this devotional service, then he has to undergo all these reactions.
-Srila Prabhupada
Srila Prabhupada:
You are trying to develop yourselves, so please develop spiritually, for spiritual development is sound development. Don’t imitate the Americans and Europeans, who are living like cats and dogs. Such civilizations built on the consciousness of sense gratification cannot stand. The atomic bomb is already there, and as soon as the next war breaks out, all their skyscrapers and everything else will be finished. (SSR 7)
We don’t want to stop trade or the production of grains and vegetables and fruit. But we want to stop these killing houses. It is very, very sinful. That is why all over the world they have so many wars. Every ten or fifteen years there is a big war–a wholesale slaughterhouse for humankind. But these rascals–they do not see it, that by the law of karma, every action must have its reaction. (JSD 6.5)
Arjuna enquired, “Who are You, Sir?” He replied, kalo ‘smi: “I am kala, kala. I have appeared to take away all these sinful demons.” So Krsna appears still in form of war, big gigantic war, and takes away so many millions of people by one stroke. This is going on. (750707SB.CHI)
The history of the West beginning from the time of the Greeks and the Romans down to the modern age of atomic war–is a continuous chain of sense gratificatory materialism and the result is that the westerners were never in peace within the memory of 3000 years of historical records. Neither it will be possible for them at any time in future to live in peace till the message of spiritualism suitable to the present age reaches their hearts. (58-08-04 Letter: Jawaharlal Nehru)
“Without any delay, Godhead enters the heart of one who constantly and faithfully hears and chants the narrations of His transcendental activities.” Our real good is assured if we have the good fortune to hear the Word of Godhead at the lotus-feet of Sri Guru. The divine master constantly chants the Word of Godhead. He has no other function.
It is imperative that we listen to and accept the Word chanted by Sri Guru and yet, even after we have been enabled to receive the Word issuing from the lotus lips of Sri Guru, we still cannot retain Him for He tends to be eclipsed if He is not chanted to others. If we busy ourselves in any unnecessary pursuit by abstaining from chanting the Word received from Sri Gurudeva, we lose our connection to the eternal entity and render ourselves fit for welcoming sorrow.
A person is entitled to the treasure of serving the lotus feet of Godhead, who redeems us of our worldly bondage, if he lives with his heart, speech and body submitted to Him and if, through his good vision, he truly sees the Mercy of Godhead in the sufferings he brought about by his own deeds (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.8).
The whole world has been poisoned with the impersonal concept of the Supreme. So these days even if someone believes in God it is very unlikely that he realizes that God is a person.
“The question raised here is whether or not a person afflicted by material desires is fit to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The answer is that everyone is fit to worship Him. Even if one has many material desires to fulfill, he should take to Krsna consciousness and worship the Supreme Lord Krsna, who is so merciful that He fulfills everyone’s desires. No one is barred from worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, even if one has many material desires.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.35 Purport)
Srila Prabhupada:
So we have no place. So we don't mind. We can sit down underneath a tree and preach this Krsna consciousness movement. Some gentleman has offered this garage. That's all right. So people are afraid to give us place, you see, because we are pushing God consciousness. That is our fault. You see? This is the position. So never mind. We can sit down anywhere and chant Hare Krsna. And I'll request you to come and join us, and you'll be happy.
Thank you very much.
BY: THE HIGHER TASTE EZINE
Sanatana-dharma is eternally integral with the living entity. When we speak of sanatana-dharma, therefore, we must take it for granted on the authority of Sripada Ramanujacarya that it has neither beginning nor end. That which has neither end nor beginning must not be sectarian, for it cannot be limited by any boundaries. Those belonging to some sectarian faith will wrongly consider that sanatana-dharma is also sectarian, but if we go deeply into the matter and consider it in the light of modern science, it is possible for us to see that sanatana-dharma is the business of all the people of the world-nay, of all the living entities of the universe."
Inspite of being Supreme Lord of all that exist, inspite of being atmaram, Krsna performs these pastimes just to give pleasure to his pure and unalloyed devotees. What does Krsna says to Gopis? He says that I can't repay your debt even in a lifetime of Brahma. That's why there is no para-tattva, nothing superior truth (mattah para-taram anyat kincid asti dhananjaya), other than Krsna. And what is the responsibility of jivatma towards Krsna? To love him. This is real Sanatana Dharma.
From 'The Institutes of Vishnu',
1. A cow in the act of bringing forth a young one is (comparable to) the earth.
2. By bestowing such a cow upon a Brahmana, after having decked her with ornaments, he obtains the same reward as if he were to bestow the earth (upon him),
3. There is a stanza in regard to this subject:
4. 'One who full of faith and with intense application of mind gives away a pregnant cow, enters heaven for as many Yugas (or ages of the world) as that cow and her calf together have hairs on their bodies.'
KALI YUGA: Undeniable.
How can anyone even imagine India, the world, without tigers?
Just 1,000 tigers left in India.
The Indian government admitted this week that nobody has seen a Royal Bengal tiger in Panna National Park since January 2009.
A century ago, India had about 40,000 tigers. By 1988, as a result of extensive hunting and poaching, there were just 4,500 left. Now the true figure is probably 1,000.
Panna, located near Khajuraho, is the second reserve in which there are now no tigers. Sariska National Park in Rajasthan lost all its tigers in 2005.
Srila Prabhupada:
You try to trace out the history of the world, you'll find always persons who are for Krsna or God, they have been persecuted. Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, Haridasa Thakura was caned in twenty-two market places, Prahlada Maharaja was tortured by his father. So there may be such things.
The Ravana (A great demon) will kill and Rama (God) will kill. Better to be killed by Rama. Eh? That Marica--if he does not go to mislead Sita, he'll be killed by Ravana; and if he goes to be killed by Rama, then it is better.
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/news/01-11/news3615.htm
Hari Hari Biphale Janama Gonainu
(1)
hari hari! biphale janama gonainu
manus?ya-janama paiya, radha-krsna na bhajiya,
janiya suniya bisa khainu
1) O Lord Hari I have spent my life uselessly. Having obtained a human birth and having net worshiped Radha and Krsna, I have knowingly drunk poison.
(2)
golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana,
rati na janmilo kene tay
samsara-bisanale, diba-nisi hiya jwale,
juraite na koinu upay
2) The treasure of divine love in Goloka Vrndavana has descended as the congregational chanting of Lord Hari's holy names. Why did my attraction for that chanting never come about? Day and night my heart burns from the fire of the poison of worldliness, and I have not taken the means to relieve it.
(3)
brajendra-nandana jei, saci-suta hoilo sei,
balarama hoilo nitai
dina-hina jata chilo, hari-name uddharilo,
tara saksi jagai madhai
3) Lord Krsna, who is the son of the King of Vraja, became the son of Saci (Lord Caitanya), and Balarama became Nitai. The holy name delivered all those souls who were lowly and wretched. The two sinners Jagai and Madhai are evidence of this.
(4)
ha ha prabhu nanda-suta, vrsabhanu-suta-juta,
koruna karoho ei-baro
narottama-dasa koy, na theliho ranga pay,
toma bine ke ache amara
4) O Lord Krsna, son of Nanda, accompanied by the daughter of Vrsabhanu, please be merciful to me now. Narottama Dasa says, "O Lord, please do not push me away from Your reddish lotus feet, for who is my beloved except for You?"
Sri Krsna has countless varieties of transcendental associates, including all the demigods and controlling deities, the great sages and devotees, the vahanas (carriers) and those who take the role of demons in lila pastimes.
"The demigods are also associates of the Lord without personal touch, whereas the direct associates of the Lord are in constant personal touch with Him. The Lord and His personal associates incarnate in many universes without cessation. The Lord remembers them all, whereas the associates forget due to their being very minute parts and parcels of the Lord; they are apt to forget such incidents due to being infinitesimal. This is corroborated in the Bhagavad-gita (4.5)."
Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.49 Purport
Srila Prabhupada:
"I am very glad to read in your letter a nice line, “My main concern is seeing Him constantly in my daily life, that is, to constantly remember Him and not to forget Him.” This is actually Krishna Consciousness. We can remember Krishna in every moment. We can remember Krishna while taking a glass of water because the taste of water is Krishna. We can remember Krishna as soon as we see the sunlight in the morning, because the sunlight is a reflection of Krishna’s Bodily Effulgence.
Similarly, as soon as we see moonlight in the evening we remember Krishna because moonlight is also reflection of sunlight. Similarly, when we hear any sound we can remember Krishna because sound is Krishna, and the most perfect sound, transcendental, is Hare Krishna, which we have to chant 24 hours. So there is no scope of forgetting Krishna at any moment of our life provided we practice in that way."
Srila Prabhupada: "When I sit down here to write these books, Krishna personally comes and dictates every word."
Srila Prabhupada said: "He (meaning Krishna) asked me to come here and I said that I did not want to go because it was such a dirty place. He (meaning Krishna) told me if you go I will arrange so many nice palaces for you to live in. I said but I do not want to go. He (meaning Krishna) said you just go and write these books and I will make it comfortable for you."
So Srila Prabhupada said "because He asked me to write these books I came."
"When I sit down here to write these books, Krishna personally comes and dictates every word."
(Srila Prabhupada is not talking about coming to the USA here, he is talking about coming to this world, this earthly planet)
Whenever the Supreme Lord descends he always brings with him his entourage. Similarly when a greatly advanced Nitya Siddha devotee appears in this world a few associates from the spiritual world and many highly developed souls with great amounts of sukriti from the material world come to join him.
Bowing low at the swami's feet, Dhirendranath submitted himself. "O great Maharaja, I long to enter the renounced order, and--abandoning all desires--simply perform parikrama around Govardhan Hill till the last of my days. I long to hear the pravochan of the renounced followers of Mahaprabhu as their instructions waft across Radha Kund on the full moon night of Kartika. I long only for the Holy Names of God to emanate from my lips. Please, O saint, therefore I beg you to initiate me into the renounced order.
The saint inhaled deeply and closed his eyes thoughtfully. Dhirendranath wanted to taste the same other-worldly trance that he felt his aspiring guru was feeling. In his heart, which was now beating in anticipation, he knew that this move, which he had hoped for cherished his entire life, was the will of God. Slowly, the guru opened his eyes. Dhirendranath prepared to hang upon every word for even the most casual syllables of the guru are taken as shastric commands. Catching his aspirant's eyes in the magnetism of his vision, thus spake the guru:
"Since that's what you want, the steering committee might be able to put you on the sannyasa list maybe sometime in the near future, say around 2012. I dunno, the list is pretty crowded, because there's a lot of ambition out there these days. I mean look at the fringe benefits. Maybe there's a slot on the TWL, the ten-year waiting list, if you're lucky. But there is no assurance in this business. This ain't free tickets to the football game, you know. It's pretty serious stuff even with a little luck thrown into the mix.
"I mean, anyway, I don't want to lie to you. The sannyasa minister is at a yoga retreat somewhere in the Poconos now. Besides, I doubt there's any room on the agenda for discussing such things at this year's meeting with all the lawsuits and more important business. Since the leadership committee's power lunch is just three months away, you understand that it is already beyond the last minute to put these items on the slate. Maybe at next year's GBC meeting at the earliest, if you can convince enough swamis to put in a good word for you.
"Hey, I know what, why not just clean the toilets in the camp until we're ready to think about it, once the other more important business interests have been solved. By the way, how much money did you bring? Sannaysa means surrender, you know. Hand it over. Anyway, I don't want to irritate the Sannyasa Minister with unimportant requests because he's pretty busy these days trying to update his website. Hey, that's an idea. Why not find an Internet café and drop the Sannyasa Minister an e-mail?"
I would be remiss in failing to direct credit for the above to where credit is due..
The above was offered to all sincere and insincere souls by one B.K. DIGVIJAYA and is titled "The Great Sannyasi."
It can be read in its entirety at the following link.
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/01-11/editorials6946.htm
Why ISKCON is not "Hindu"
BY: RAVANARI DAS
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/01-11/editorials6955.htm
"Yet man professes to belong to a particular type of faith with reference to particular time and circumstance and thus claims to be a Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist or any other sect. Such designations are non-sanatana-dharma. A Hindu may change his faith to become a Muslim, or a Muslim may change his faith to become a Hindu, or a Christian may change his faith and so on. But in all circumstances the change of religious faith does not effect the eternal occupation of rendering service to others. The Hindu, Muslim or Christian in all circumstances is servant of someone. Thus, to profess a particular type of sect is not to profess one's sanatana-dharma. The rendering of service is sanatana-dharma."
-Srila Prabhupada
YAT-PADA-PALLAVA-YUGAM VINIDHAYA KUMBHA-
DVANDVE PRANAMA-SAMAYE SA GANADHIRAJAH
VIGHNAN VIHANTUM ALAM ASYA JAGAT-TRAYASYA
GOVINDAM ADI-PURUSAM TAM AHAM BHAJAMI
I adore the primeval Lord Govinda, whose lotus feet are always held by Ganesha upon the pair of tumuli protruding from His elephant head in order to obtain power for His functions of destoying all the obstacles on the path of progress of the three worlds.
Better than a thousand
Hollow words
Is one word that brings peace.
Better than a thousand
Hollow verses
Is one verse that brings peace.
Better than a hundred
Hollow lines
Is one line of the law,
Bringing peace.
It is better to
Conquer yourself
Than to win a thousand battles.
Then the victory is yours.
- The Dhammapada
Mike Robinson, August of 1976, London Broadcasting Company: How does the process of transmigration work?
Srila Prabhupada: The process is very subtle. The spirit soul is invisible to our material eyes. It is atomic in size. After the destruction of the gross body, which is made up of the senses, blood, bone, fat, and so forth, the subtle body of mind, intelligence, and ego goes on working.
So at the time of death this subtle body carries the small spirit soul to another gross body. The process is just like air carrying a fragrance. Nobody can see where this rose fragrance is coming from, but we know that it is being carried by the air. You cannot see how, but it is being done. Similarly, the process of transmigration of the soul is very subtle.
According to the condition of the mind at the time of death, the minute spirit soul enters into the womb of a particular mother through the semen of a father, and then the soul develops a particular type of body given by the mother. It may be a human being, it may be a cat, a dog, or anything.
Mike Robinson: Are you saying that we were something else before this life?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes.
Mike Robinson: And we keep corning back as something else the next time?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes, because you are eternal. According to your work, you are simply changing bodies. Therefore, you should want to know how to stop this business, how you can remain in your original, spiritual body. That is Krishna consciousness.
"Forgetting its relationship with god the living entity considers himself to be independent and tries to lord over the material nature by his own stenght. In this way he entangles himself more and more in the complex reactions on his activities and gets hoplessly lost in material struggle. His only chance for liberation is to realize his dependence on god and to surrrender unto him. This process of bhakti-yoga is described in the Bhagavad-gita as well as in other vedic scriptures, but it is also the essence of all religions on earth. This process can be started by sincerely calling out the names of god, which are revealed in different spiritual cultures around the world. The Vedas especially recommend to recite the maha-mantra, which consists only of names of god:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
This powerful spiritual soundvibration refoms the desires of the living entities, so that they will direct them towards god-realization and devotional service. It transforms the false material ego of the soul into its real spiritual identification as an eternal part and parcel of the Lord, who is meant to be eternally situated in his transcendental loving service. This is the state of pure consciousness, which is characterized by eternal knowledge and divive bliss.
Spiritual soundvibration is identical with the represented spiritual object. On the spiritual level no diffference between an object and its name exists and therefor the name of god and god are nondifferent. By chanting the names of god in a mode of love and surrender one can realize ones eternal relationship with god and finally attain liberation in his own abode."
-Marcus Schmieke
http://www.vedic-academy.com/articles/science/cosmology.htm
Therefore Lord Caitanya said that bharata-bhumite manusya-janma haila yara [Cc. Adi 9.41] To take one’s birth in the land of India, to take one’s birth as human being, is great opportunity undoubtedly. But still more great opportunity is there who has taken his birth in India. We are… We must be proud, provided we do not forget our own Vedic culture.
Unfortunately, the present policy is that students are being taught to forget their old Vedic culture and try to imitate the Westernized way of life, industrial life, technical life. That is being encouraged. But here I find that the young men and young girls and boys, both, they are very much interested about Indian original culture of spiritual life.
Recently, you know, some yogi came, and he simply bluffed so many people that “If you pay me thirty-five dollars, I will give you one personal mantra, and you will be in transcendental life,” or so many things. So thousands and thousands of European boys and girls, as well as in America, they flocked together, but later on, they were frustrated.
That means while the Indian youths are coming to the Western countries for advancement of technological knowledge, the Western boys and girls, they are hankering after spiritual life. This I have very particularly studied. I am here, not in Canada, in America. I came here in 1965, and I am studying the mind of the younger generation especially. They are hankering after something, spiritual enlightenment, not only in America, also in Europe. And they expect something from India because… It is a fact.
“As far as the other boy is concerned, this child has taken different bodily complexions in different yugas [millennia]. First of all He assumed the color white, then He assumed the color red, then the color yellow and now He has assumed the color black. Besides that, He was formerly the son of Vasudeva; therefore His name should be Vasudeva as well as Krishna. Some people will call Him Krishna, and some will call Him Vasudeva. But one thing you must know: This son has had many, many other names and activities due to His different pastimes.” Garga Muni (the astrologer) speaking to Nanda Maharaja, Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 8
Oh Lord! At Vasudeva's request, Garga Muni an expert at astronomy and astrology, went to Thy house Sage Garga, came to Thy house, to conduct secretly, the ceremonial rites of birth forThee, who art beyond all ceremonies.
Sage Garga said,'O Respected Nanda, since I am the priest of the Yadu clan, wished to perform these functionsunder cover, out of fear of rousing Kamsa's suspicion. Accordingly, the sage, performed the naming ceremony of Thee and Thy elder brother.
How should I do the naming of this child? He indeed has thousands of names or rather endless names. O Lord! May be that sage Garga thinking like this, performed Thy naming in great secrecy.
The putting together of the root of the verb Krish and the suffix N, denoting the combining of Existence and absolute Bliss, which is Thy real nature, declaring, the sage gave Thee the name Krishna. Also signifying the drawing away of the sins of the people of the world, the name Krishna was given to Thee.
The sage also gave Thee other different names like Vaasudeva. Then he gave the name Raama etc to Thy elder brother. Having done so, Garg Muni indicated to Thy having superhuman powers and disposition, to Thy father. Yet he did not fully reveal Thy real identity as Lord Himself.
The noble sage, elaborated further to Thy father, averring that,whosoever showed affection to his son, would be free from Maya and worldly sorrows, but those who hated him would be destroyed. Thus the great sage described Thy glory and greatness.
He will conquer many Asuras and will take his own people to the realms of purity. You will have occassions to hear of his untainted pure fame.' Thus the sage spoke of Thy greatness.
Without explicitly saying that By his help alone you will be able to overcome all obstacles. Remain with your full faith placed in him.' Thus without saying that Thou were Hari, the sage thus described Thee.
Then Garga Muni went away. Nanda and the others were very delighted and looked after Thee endearingly..Oh Guruvayurappa ! May Thou who went blessed and showered with affection byNanda and others after sage Garga left, show mercy on me and save me.
Sri Krsna's transcendental Vrindavan associates:
Sri Krsna's Vrindavan friend, Subala, also manifested during Lord Caitanya's Lila. This is stated in Sri Gaura Ganodesa Dipika by Srila Kavi Karnapura:
"Lord Krsna's dearest friend Subala appeared in Lord Caitanya's pastimes as Gauridasa Pandita." (128)
In the Ananta-samhita, which is part of the Gaudiya Vaisnava Narada-pancaratra, there are statements wherein the Lord predicts His coming Appearance in Navadvipa as Sri Caitanya:
"In Kali-Yuga, I will descend to the earth with My associates. In Navadvipa, which is surrounded by the Ganges, I will take birth in Saci-devi 's womb.
They who are bewildered by My illusory potency will not understand the great secret of the appearance in this world of Me in My personal form, in My form as the incarnation of devotion, in My form as the incarnation of a devotee, in My form bearing the name of a devotee, in My form as a devotee, and in My form as the giver of devotional service.
This secret is not to be revealed to them. Only the saintly, pure, renounced devotees, diligently engaged in My devotional service, will be able to understand Me in these five forms.
My dear male and female associates, headed by Sridama and Subala, who came to this world at the time of My advent as Lord Krsna, will come again during the Kali-Yuga.
The Gopas will become the sixty-four mahantas and the twelve gopalas. To establish the truth of religion, I will enjoy many pastimes with them.
In this way I will again reveal the path of devotional service, which has been destroyed in the course of time. My sons should also descend to the earth, assume the forms of devotees, and, by My order, also work to re-establish the principles of true religion.
At this time My names will be: Krsna Caitanya, Gauranga, Gauracandra, Sacisuta, Mahaprabhu, Gaura and Gaurahari. Chanting these names will bring devotion to Me."
Entirely On My Own
BY: RAGHU MISHRA
Jan 24, 2011 — CANADA (SUN) —
i
am not used
to mind
blowing elephant offenses
are
you
i am
not
used
to being entirely on
my
own
are you
i
am
not used
to
hanging
with
savages in an atmosphere of
perverse cupidity
are
you
i've grown accustomed to
singing
Hare
Krsna with polite
enthusiasm
as you know
and
feel
the patience one
has
in
mind
differently
like
this yes but i am not used
to
being entirely
on my own now and
again
are
you ?
In order to render service to the Lord, one may accept necessary things. If one lives in this way, he may actually become renounced. In the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.108), it is said:
yavata syat sva-nirvahah svi-kuryat tavad artha-vit
adhikye nyunatayam ca cyavate paramarthatah
"The bare necessities of life must be accepted, but one should not superfluously increase his necessities. Nor should they be unnecessarily decreased. One should simply accept what is necessary to help one advance spiritually."
The word markata-vairagya is used by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to indicate so-called Vaisnavas who dress themselves in loincloths trying to imitate Srila Rupa Gosvami. Such people carry a bead bag and chant, but at heart they are always thinking about getting women and money. Unknown to others, these markata-vairagis maintain women but externally present themselves as renunciants. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very much opposed to these markata-vairagis, or pseudo Vaisnavas."
Then a youngman asked Prabhupada a question on re-imcarnation. Was it true that most dead were reborn and passed through the cycle of life and death once again, except those few good men who attained nirvaana and were not born again but blended with Brahman or the Almighty? If so, could Prabhupada (who was considered to be a reincarnation of the sage Vyasa, the writer of the Mahabharatam) throw some light on the current status of Nehru. Did he obtain nirvaana or was he reborn; if so what kind of a body did he receive on his next birth?
The question was a loaded one, I thought. In fact, I had the misgiving that Prabhupada might refuse to answer. But then, I was wrong. I had not yet known Prabhupada so well. He was undaunted by any question and his reply came forth instantly. Quite clearly Prabhupada knew Nehru like the palm of his hand; it was us who knew so little of the man, thanks to all the well executed suppression of details of Nehru’s private and personal life by the GoI and the Indian media. For instance, even today, some half a century after Nehru and his family took over the reins of Indian government, we do not know who indeed was Indira’s father-in-law!
Prabhupada started his discourse. He said that Nehru was re-born almost immediately after his death, a thing that happens only to the most sinful people. He did not even have a short-lived taste of heaven before he was born again. What was worse, is that Nehru was born this time in the form of a dog. He was a dog in a small town of Sweden. His master had another dog before the dog-Nehru was acquired by him and so the dog-Nehru had to share the love of his master with another dog.
Prabhupada explained that to be born as a dog, after having been born as a Kashmiri Brahmin in India, is a big fall. It indicated that Nehru had led a vile life, a very vile life, during his existence as a man in India. Also, Nehru’s hatred for anything vaishnava did not make things any easier for him.
Prabhupada was quite discreet; we know now, for he did not divulge to us at the time that Nehru finally died of syphilis (exactly like the communist leader Lenin of Russia) and not a bullet wound on the battle front. Prabhupada, however, told us in detail all the harms Nehru did to the Hindus of India, all the insults that he had heaped on them during his reign.
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.5.38-40
My dear King, the inhabitants of Satya-yuga and other ages eagerly desire to take birth in this age of Kali, since in this age there will be many devotees of the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa. These devotees will appear in various places but will be especially numerous in South India. O master of men, in the age of Kali those persons who drink the waters of the holy rivers of Draviḍa-deśa, such as the Tāmraparṇī, Krtamālā, Payasvinī, the extremely pious Kāverī and the Pratīcī Mahānadī, will almost all be purehearted devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva.
PURPORT
The Vedas contain information of past, present and future living conditions throughout the universe. This is not very wonderful. For example, although at present time in India we are experiencing spring weather, we know that in the future the torrid summer will come, followed by the rainy season, autumn and eventually winter and a new spring. Similarly, we know that these seasons have occurred repeatedly in the past. Thus, just as ordinary human beings can understand the past, present and future seasons of the earth, the liberated followers of Vedic culture can easily understand the past, present and future conditions of the seasonal ages of the earth and other planets. The inhabitants of Satya-yuga are certainly aware of the conditions of Kali-yuga. They know that in Kali-yuga the difficult material situation forces the living entity to take complete shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that the inhabitants of Kali-yuga therefore develop a high degree of love of Godhead. Therefore although the inhabitants of Satya-yuga are far more sinless, truthful and self-controlled than the people of other ages, they desire to take birth in Kali-yuga in order to taste pure love of Kṛṣṇa.
"The name of the Lord need not be chanted with regard to place, time, circumstantial conditions, preliminary self-purification or any other factors. Rather, it is completely independent of all other processes and rewards all the desires of those who eagerly chant it." Similarly, it is stated in the Viṣṇu-dharma,
kalau kṛta-yugaḿ tasya
kalis tasya kṛte yuge
yasya cetasi govindo
hṛdaye yasya nācyutaḥ
"For one who has Lord Govinda in his heart, Satya-yuga becomes manifest in the midst of Kali, and conversely even Satya-yuga becomes Kali-yuga for one who does not have the infallible Lord in his heart." The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is potent everywhere, at all times and in all circumstances; therefore one should always chant the holy names of the Lord, either in Kali-yuga, Satya-yuga, in heaven, in hell or in Vaikuṇṭha. Kṛṣṇa's holy name is eternally nondifferent from Him, and Kṛṣṇa is eternally the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus, it is not that the holy name is powerful in this age only because other processes are not effective.
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 6.17.30
aviveka-kṛtaḥ puḿso
hy artha-bheda ivātmani
guṇa-doṣa-vikalpaś ca
bhid eva srajivat kṛtaḥ
TRANSLATION
As one mistakenly considers a flower garland to be a snake or experiences happiness and distress in a dream, so, in the material world, by a lack of careful consideration, we differentiate between happiness and distress, considering one good and the other bad.
PURPORT
The happiness and distress of the material world of duality are both mistaken ideas. In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Antya 4.176) it is said:
"dvaite" bhadrābhadra-jñāna, saba — "manodharma"
"ei bhāla, ei manda", — ei saba "bhrama"
The distinctions between happiness and distress in the material world of duality are simply mental concoctions, for the so-called happiness and distress are actually one and the same. They are like the happiness and distress in dreams. A sleeping man creates his happiness and distress by dreaming, although actually they have no existence.
In dreams we sometimes enjoy eating sweet rice and sometimes suffer as if one of our beloved family members had died. Because the same mind and body exist in the same material world of duality when we are awake, the so-called happiness and distress of this world are no better than the false, superficial happiness of dreams. The mind is the via medium in both dreams and wakefulness, and everything created by the mind in terms of sańkalpa and vikalpa, acceptance and rejection, is called manodharma, or mental concoction.
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 6.17.37
The great devotee Citraketu was so powerful that he was quite competent to curse mother Pārvatī in retaliation, but instead of doing so he very humbly accepted the curse and bowed his head before Lord Śiva and his wife. This is very much to be appreciated as the standard behavior of a Vaiṣṇava.
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 6.17.38
Being cursed by mother Durgā [Bhavānī, the wife of Lord Śiva], that same Citraketu accepted birth in a demoniac species of life. Although still fully equipped with transcendental knowledge and practical application of that knowledge in life, he appeared as a demon at the fire sacrifice performed by Tvaṣṭā, and thus he became famous as Vṛtrāsura.
PURPORT
The word yoni is generally understood to mean jāti — family, group or species. Although Vṛtrāsura appeared in a family of demons, it is clearly said that his knowledge of spiritual life still existed. Jñāna-vijñāna-saḿyutaḥ: his spiritual knowledge and the practical application of that knowledge in life were not lost. Therefore it is said that even if a devotee falls down for some reason, he is still not lost.
yatra kva vābhadram abhūd amuṣya kiḿ
ko vārtha āpto 'bhajatāḿ sva-dharmataḥ
(Bhāg. 1.5.17)
Once one is advanced in devotional service, his spiritual assets are never lost under any circumstances. Whatever spiritual advancement he has achieved continues. Although Vṛtrāsura was known as an asura, or demon, he did not lose his consciousness of Kṛṣṇa or devotional service.
Prabhupada, Mauritius, October 2, 1975: [...] That is God’s arrangement. Everywhere there is sufficient land to produce food grains, not only in your country. I have traveled all over the world—Africa, Australia, and other, in America also.
There are so much land vacant that if we produce food grains, then we can feed ten times as much population as at the present moment. There is no question of scarcity. The whole creation is so made by Krishna that everything is purnam, complete.
Throughout the whole world there are so many breweries manufacturing liquor. Especially in the Western countries you will find so many, the advertisement, liquor advertisement, whiskey advertisement, cigarette advertisement. And what to speak of slaughterhouse? There are many, many hundreds and thousands of slaughterhouse. And innocent animals are being killed all over the world unnecessarily. People can live with food grains. That is allowed for the all living entities. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said, annād bhavanti bhūtāni: “Simply by growing food grains, both the animals and the man, they can live very happily.” And you can grow food grains very easily. I have seen in the Western countries, they are growing food grains for the animals, and the food grains are eaten by the animals, and the animal is eaten by man. They are producing food grains. What is the statistics that the animal eating food grains, the same time, the same amount food grains can be eaten by so many men?
Brahmānanda: The acreage… For a cow to eat requires so many acres for that one cow, and then that cow is slaughtered and it only feeds a few men, whereas that same acreage could feed hundreds of men by grains.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Sri Krishna says: ”By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them.”
Prabhupada: Explain that. [break] So, it is understood or if there is difficulty, you can question?
French Devotee: What does it mean when Krishna says “I am not in them”?
Prabhupada: Huh? “I am not in them” because you cannot see there. Krishna is there, but you cannot she Him. You are not advanced. Just like another example. Here is, the sunlight is here. Everyone experiences. But that does not mean sun is here. It is clear? Sun is here means… Sunshine is here means sun is here. But still, because you are in the sunshine, you cannot say “Now I’ve captured the sun.” Sunlight is existing in the sun, but sun is not present in the sunshine. Without sun there is no sunshine. That does not mean the sunshine is sun. At same time, you can say the sunshine means sun.
This is called acintya-bhedabheda, simultaneously one and different. In the sunshine you feel the presence of the sun, but if you are able to enter in the sun globe, you can meet the sungod also. Actually, the sunshine means the rays of the body of the person living in the sun globe.
That is explained in the Brahma-samhita, yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti [Bs. 5.40]. On account of Krishna’s… You have seen Krishna’s effulgence is coming. That is the source of everything. That expansion of that effulgence is the brahmajyoti, and in that brahmajyoti, innumerable spiritual planets, material planets, are generated. And in each and every planet there are varieties of presentation.
Actually, the origin is the Krishna’s rays of the body, and the rays of the body’s origin is Krishna.
Light of the Bhagavata:
LoB 3: We should always know that God is ever kind to us. Despite our gross disobedience to the laws of God’s nature, the Lord is kind enough to look after our maintenance. Water is one of the most important items for our maintenance, because without water we can neither produce food grains nor quench our thirst.
Water is also required very liberally for many other purposes. Thus the Lord has preserved water on three fourths of the globe and has made it salty to preserve it. Salty water does not decompose, and that is the arrangement of providence.
The Lord has engaged the powerful sun to evaporate the water of planets like earth and distill it into clear water in the clouds and then stock it on the peaks of mountains, as we stock water in overhead tanks for later distribution. Part of the stock of water is refrigerated into ice, so that it will not flood the earth for no good purpose. The ice melts gradually throughout the year, flows down through the great rivers, and glides down to the sea again for preservation.
Therefore the laws of God’s nature are neither blind nor accidental, as men with a poor fund of knowledge conclude. Behind the laws of nature is the living brain of God.
Matter can never work automatically, without a living hand, and therefore we must admit the existence of God, the supreme living being, behind the laws of nature. The Lord says in Bhagavad-gita that nature works under His superintendence. Nature is only a power, and behind the power is a powerhouse and a brain, just as behind electrical power there is an electrical powerhouse, where everything is conducted by the brain of the resident engineer.
The material nature works so nicely, and not blindly, because of the superintendence of the supreme powerful God. In the Vedic hymns (Atharva Veda) the same thing is confirmed. It is only under the superintendence of God that all the natural laws are conducted.
http://causelessmercy.com/LoB3.htm?ND=1
Some man in New York was saying how the end of the world was near, but Srila Prabhupada said that “the end is always coming.” The person in material consciousness is always fearful of the end, wondering “when is it coming?, is it coming now?” But the devotee knows that the end is always coming, either with wars or natural calamities, or individually, each spirit soul is continually coming to end after end as they change from one body to another. So the concern of the devotee is not when the end is coming, but what they can do with the precious time remaining. Srila Prabhupada compared these calamities to waves in the ocean. Some waves are wars, some are natural catastrophes, and some are the death of family or self. There are always waves of calamities in this material world, but we should not be concerned with the temporary waves always coming and going, but our goal is to cross over the ocean of material energy. As Bhagavad-gita says in 7.14;
This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.
Srila Prabhupada was talking to his disciples on a morning walk on January 5th, 1974 in LA, and one disciple was saying how Christians were going to flee to Canada, afraid of death, but devotees were not. He said that at the end of the month, the United States would be destroyed by the Kahutek comet, and they would all move to Mexico and Canada. Then Srila Prabhupada said:
“They are so good Christian that at the time of danger, they're all going away to Canada. Just see--afraid of death, even though they are preaching themselves, priest, they are also the same common man, afraid of death. And if we people keep to Krsna consciousness, we are not afraid of death. For going from one place to another, that's all. Going home, nobody becomes afraid going back to home. He becomes pleased. You avoid death, there is no death. If we simply practice this, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama... No more death. Finished death. This is a fact. Or do something for Krsna. Don't waste time, single moment. Then no more death. Because this is the deathless condition. And the changing of the body, that is momentary, that is all. Yes, this is deathless position.”
Srila Prabhupada has written, "Real philosophy is nothing more than this: friendliness to all living entities." Elsewhere, he writes, "If people are to be educated in the path back to Godhead, they must be taught first and foremost to stop the process of animal-killing."
Srila Prabhupada wrote, "We do not begrudge an atheist, provided he has got some philosophy."
Karma
---------------------------------
Caller: Yes, yes, I see. One thing I just wanted to clarify, did you… are you are follower of Lord Krsna?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Caller: That’s all I wanted to know. Thank you.
Interviewer: The callers know more about the subject today evidently than I do. Now, your guru told you to be a wanderer.
Prabhupada: Yes. A sannyasi means itinerant teacher. He will wander and teach from door to door.
Interviewer: When was it that you arrived from India with $2?
Prabhupada: It was in September, 1965.
Interviewer: Several years ago.
Prabhupada: About three years before.
Interviewer: Now, you met a gentleman by the name of Harvey Cohen?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Interviewer: And how has he helped you?
Prabhupada: Yes, in the beginning he helped me. Because I rented one room. That was $72 per month. So…
Interviewer: Was this in New York?
Prabhupada: In New York, yes, Seventy-second Street West. So whatever there was shortage, he was supplying. I was getting some money by contributions in my lectures. But in the beginning my all expenditures were not sufficient collection. So the deficiency he was giving me.
Lord Sri Krishna says:
“Those who know Me as the Supreme Lord, as the governing principle of the material manifestation, who know Me as the one underlying all the demigods and as the one sustaining all sacrifices, can, with steadfast mind, understand and know Me even at the time of death. And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt. "
Lord Krishna also explains in the Bhagavata Purana that the residents of both heaven and hell want to take a human birth on earth since such a human life provides the best facility to achieve transcendental knowledge and love of God. Neither heavenly nor hellish bodies provide the efficient means for such opportunity. This is the fortunate nature of life on this earth planet and in these humans bodies, which we often take so much for granted.
Feed the Rich
BY: HASYA MUKHI DEVI DASI
Feb 05, 2011 — HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA (SUN) — Tonight is the celebration of the Golden Globes awards, and all those filthy rich sudras we call movie stars are pouring out of their limousines and swank sports cars. Yes, it's the perfect place for me to set-up my table as part of our new ISKCON Feed the Rich program. Me, I'm decked w-a-ay out in my rosy-red, gold-embroidered Banarsi silk sari with matching nail polish. I look hotter than a diva-devi on the runway at a gurukuli mela.
Let's be honest for just a second. These days there is too much tomfoolery in our society with trying to convince the public that ISKCON is some kind of bleeding heart organization aimed at feeding India's starving masses. Meals for Kids, Food for Life, Eat and Learn. We devotees have more than that to offer. Prasadam should be for everyone, and to counteract all the hoopla and humanitarian hysteria we see on fantasizing propaganda sites like ISKCON News, Planet ISKCON, Dandavats or ISKCON TV, I am here at the Golden Globes night to swing the pendulum in the other direction. I'm here to feed the rich.
Somehow I manage to set up my table, my pot of kicheri and paper plates right along the red carpet that leads into the theatre. Must be some mystic siddhi I didn't know I have that keeps the cops away. Suddenly there he is, Tom Cruise. "Hey, Tom," I call out. "Jai! You're a rich guy. Take a plate and give me a small donation of $10,000. You'll get our new vegan cookbook as a perk." Unfortunately, he doesn't hear me. Neither does Penelope Cruz, who saunters in after him.
Wait, there's Brangelina, Hey, you guys hungry? Give a donation and get a chance to win an autographed copy of The Journey Home by Radhanath Swami." Hmmm, guess they must have read it already.
Wait, there's Natalie Portman. "Hari Bol, Nat," I call out affectionately. "Yeah, it's me, Hasya Mukha devi. You know me from my video on Youtube. Over 2,000 hits and counting." OK so maybe Nat also just ate, as she doesn't seem to notice me, either. What next?
Suddenly one of those irritating Hollywood beggars gets in my face and demands, "Hey, lady, I need a bite. I haven't eaten in three days," No, I didn't bite him like he deserved -- according to his obviously bad karma. But I turn to him and admonish, "Bugger off, pal. This is Feed the Rich. Maybe there's a Food for Life around the block where..e-r-r-r.. people like you can get a free meal. I'm here for the celebs."
Suddenly I spot him. It's Nguyn Luc Duc, the Vietnamese kung fu master and opera singer who has been nominated for the award, 'Best Stage Hand in a Third World Documentary'. "Hey Nguyn," I call out. "Are you hungry?" "Sure am," he replies politely. Unfortunately, the hot soupy kicheri on the paper plate is a bit of a logistical miscalculation and it spills all over his white shirt, tuxedo jacket and dribbles down his neatly ironed trousers onto his shoes. "Hey," he responds. "You ruin my suit. Now what I do!? Take Golden Globe like this, huh? I kill you, you %!+@#."
Where are the cops when you need them? Finally the police notice my predicament and pack me into my van with a stern warning, leaving Mr. Duc fuming about receiving his little award with kicheri all over his clothes. Well, hey, that's karma for ya.
I'm sorry to report that our first attempt at Feed the Rich was not a great success. But, hey, this is only the beginning. The Oscars are coming up.
Regarding your questions, as Brahma realized that he was the maidservant of Krishna, similarly, everyone of us has to realize that Krishna is the only single purusa. Purusa synonymously means male, but actually, in the spiritual dictionary, male means “enjoyer” and female means “enjoyed.” So in this sense, Krishna is the only male and all others being energies of Krishna, they are prakrti, or female.
Please do not try to understand this male and female in the material sense. In other words, our perfection of life will be actually realizing that we are all females. In the material world we have got simply different dresses. Here in the material world, everyone is in the temperament of male, even the so-called females are also in the temperament. This is very prominent in the Western part of the world, and you know it very well how the females here think on the level of equality with males. This aptitude is material.
Please convey my blessings to the others. I hope this will meet you in good health and cheerful mood.
Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Kali Yuga extant:
India on Verge of 'Cultural Ecocide'
BY: TRIPTI LAHIRI
Feb 06, JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN (WALL ST. JOURNAL) — It would be hard to accuse India of being a country that doesn't care about its past, when in everyday conversation—and even judicial cases —people here reference Hindu epics, Urdu poets and events from across millennia of history. But Sheldon Pollock, the renowned scholar of Sanskrit and Indian literary history, warned that in literary terms, India is on the verge of becoming a country as brand-new as America. He gave the keynote speech opening the Jaipur Literature Festival Friday morning.
"It is now entirely legitimate to ask, if dismaying and disturbing, if within two generations there will be anyone in India who will have the capacity of reading Indian literature produced before 1800," he said. "I have a feeling that that number is slowly approaching a statistical zero."
There is a lot of anxiety around writing in India's languages other than English and whether authors in those languages are getting their due.
Mr. Pollock's concern is over the loss of the treasury of literature that already exists and has been preserved over thousands of years, in part, he said, through literary festivals like Jaipur that took place several hundred years ago.
The scholar, who teaches at Columbia University, says he has become gravely concerned over 40 years of coming and going from India and learning its classical languages, including Hale Kannada, or ancient Kannada, in Mysore and Bangalore.
The scholar said he wondered at the disarray of the classical institutes he studied in and at the lack of fellow students. Then he realized that there were no other students and "that my teacher had no successor."
"Over the 35 or 40 years coming to India…it's been the same in classical Assamese, it's the same in Bangla, it's the same in Gujarati, Marathi, Oriya and all the way down the long list," he said. "India is on the verge of a potentially cataclysmic cultural ecocide."
That seems like a hard thing to make people care about in a young country that's thinking very hard about its future and about economic growth–both of which seem inextricably tied to English. Although technology has helped a surge of journalism and writing in some Indian languages, English is still the language that most young people are desperate to acquire. But Mr. Pollock makes his argument anyway.
"I don't think I need to make the case in an audience like this that it's probably not a good idea to let the past just pass away," he said. "Within 3,000 years of human consciousness are sedimented not just possible tools for living but possible different ways of being a human being. This is what we're on the brink of losing if we lose our capacity to access the classical past."
-
once upon a time
when hands went only round
the face of a clock
and words were leather bound
it was then in the darkest night
that i heard the faintest sound
so far away and yet so close
the spring so tightly wound
all the possible combinations
with which reason could abscond
i searched in vain eternally
and this is all
i found
a man his home
his forlorn castle
at any time
a lonely wail
his hound
he carried dirt
he piled it up
and soon he had a mound
he weighed it in his mind
it was cheaper by the pound
all things being equal though
his verbal subjunctive
adjectives
were perpetually
out-noun'd
-
ok
it's some kind of limerick
-
"India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most astrictive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only!"
-Mark Twain
"In India, I found a race of mortals living upon the Earth, but not adhering to it, inhabiting cities, but not being fixed to them, possessing everything, but possessed by nothing"
-Apollonius Tyanaeus
“Initiation is a formality. If you are serious, that is real initiation [...] My touch is simply a formality. It is your determination, that is initiation.”
(Srila Prabhupada
“The chanting of Hare Krsna is our main business, that is real initiation. And as you are all following my instruction, in that matter, the initiator is already there.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, August 19th, 1968)
"Whenever we speak of Krsna, we refer to His devotees also, for He is not alone. He is never nirvisesa or sunya, without variety, or zero. Krsna is full of variety, and as soon as Krsna is present, there cannot be any question of void." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.23.35)]
"The Lord has qualities and a special form, and He comes in that form from the spiritual world to this world for the benefit of all living entities. He's not formless. Nirguna (without quality) doesn't mean that He doesn't have qualities. The meaning of nirguna here is that He doesn't have any material qualities. If He doesn't have ANY qualities, how can He be merciful? How can He fulfill all of our desires? What is the use of such a Brahman? So nirguna means that He doesn't have any material qualities. He is the embodiment of all transcendental qualities."
-Srila Narayana Maharaja
Srī Brahma-saḿhitā 5.6
evaḿ jyotir-mayo devaḥ
sad-ānandaḥ parāt paraḥ
ātmārāmasya tasyāsti
TRANSLATION
The Lord of Gokula is the transcendental Supreme Godhead, the own Self of eternal ecstasies. He is the superior of all superiors and is busily engaged in the enjoyments of the transcendental realm and has no association with His mundane potency.
PURPORT
The sole potency of Kṛṣṇa which is spiritual, functioning as Kṛṣṇa's own proper power, has manifested His pastimes of Goloka or Gokula. By her grace individual souls who are constituents of the marginal potency can have admission into even those pastimes. The deluding energy who is of the nature of the perverted reflection of the spiritual (cit) potency. has got her location on the other side of the river Virajā, which surrounds the Brahma-dhāma forming the boundary of Mahā-Vaikuṇṭha as the outer envelope of Goloka. The position of Goloka being absolutely unalloyed with the mundane, deluding energy. far from having any association with Kṛṣṇa, feels ashamed to appear before His view.
Śrī Brahma-saḿhitā 5.7
māyayāramamāṇasya
na viyogas tayā saha
ātmanā ramayā reme
tyakta-kālaḿ sisṛkṣayā
TRANSLATION
Kṛṣṇa never consorts with His illusory energy. Still her connection is not entirely cut off from the Absolute Truth. When He intends to create the material world the amorous pastime, in which He engages by consorting with His own spiritual [cit] potency Ramā by casting His glance at the deluding energy in the shape of sending His time energy, is an auxiliary activity.
PURPORT
The illusory energy has no direct contact with Kṛṣṇa, but has got indirect contact. Viṣṇu the prime cause, lying in the Causal Ocean, the plenary portion of Mahā-Sańkarṣaṇa who has His scat in Mahā-Vaikuṇṭha the sphere of Kṛṣṇa's own extended transcendental pastimes, casts His glance towards the deluding energy. Even in casting His glance He has no contact with the deluding energy because the spiritual (cit) potency Ramā then carries the function of His glance as His unpolluted ever-submissive potency. The deluding energy as the maidservant of the spiritual (cit) potency Ramā, serves the manifested plenary portion of Godhead consorted with Ramā, the time energy representing the force of activity and instrumentality of Ramā; hence there is found the process of masculinity or the creative force.
The reader will recall that in the story of Sri Krsna's pearl-growing pastime, He threatened the gopis that if they could not afford the exorbitant prices being charged for His pearls, he would put them in jail – the same jail that Radha was expert at escaping from in the pastime of the milk tolls.
From Srila Raghunatha Goswami's 'Cintamani Jewel of the Toll Pastime', we hear Krsna's conversation with His gopa friends, including Subala, the toll booth collector. They are discussing how obstinate the gopis are in refusing to pay the toll:
"…These wicked girls are ignoring My toll and proudly going away. Just see their arrogance. My friends, I will now single-handedly force them to pay the toll.
Sound the flutes and buffalo-horn bugles! Stop these girls! With My own arms I will personally stop Radha, the leader of these crooked-hearted girls!
O Subala, O leader of thousands of toll-collectors, you forcibly stop Visakha! O Ujjvala, O protector of the toll-booth, O My friend, you stop Citra-devi! O Vasanta, O leader of the assembly, you stop Campakalata and Tungavidya! O Kokila, O most expert leader of thousands of guides, you stop Lalita.
Speaking many arrogant words, the cowherd boys surrounded Radha and Her friends and stopped them from proceeding. Radha jubilantly assailed Krsna with many crooked words which were actually disguised prayers of glorification. Krsna appeared to become angry, and He said to proud Radha:
My dear proud thief, I know that You regularly travel in these forest pathways, carefully hiding these milk-products and lucratively selling them in the black market. By good fortune You have now fallen into My hands. I will now arrest You, bind You with ropes, and take You before King Kamadeva."
Srila Prabhupada:
Everything is clearly said in the Bhagavad-gita. I speak, therefore, to my disciples that "You simply repeat like parrot Bhagavad-gita and follow by your life. Don't try to become very big scholar, do interpretation. Remain foolish and believe in Krishna. Then life is perfect." And actually that is happening.
The Disappearance day of Sri Ramanujacarya is observed on February 13th.
The Guru refused to initiate the learned disciple six times, but the disciple was not discouraged and came back for the seventh time! The gracious Guru, seeing the sincerity and earnest of Ramanuja, now gave him the Mantra, warning –
"Do not disclose the Mantra to anyone, else you shall suffer the agonies of Hell."
"And what will happen to those who hear the Mantra, Sir," asked Ramanuja innocently.
"Why, my son, the power of the Mantra would lead all those to salvation!"
"What is more desirable than thousands of people attaining to heaven even if I alone be damned," thus thought the kind hearted Ramanuja, and climbing up the platform in a temple shouted - "Come, O my brothers, come! Listen to this Mantra that will open floodgates of liberation for you."
And in front of all, he repeated the Mantra aloud.
Qualified Monism of Ramanujacharya
Ramanujacharya maintained that the wisdom of the Shrutis points to the fact that Shiva and Jiva (Universal Soul (God) and the individual soul) are not same, although they are not separate from each other. While universe is the body of Brahman, He is the Soul and controlling Power of the universe. Brahman is not only the material and efficient cause of the universe; He has in fact become this universe of multiple names and forms. God has become all, even though remaining separate from His creation. It is not illusion or Maya. The God is seen as having all the benevolent qualities (Grace, Compassion, bestowing blessings etc.) and also the power to create, maintain, and destroy the creation. The highest ideal, and the final goal of human endeavor, is to love and worship God as our own, and completely surrender oneself to Him. Thus, Ramanuja's philosophy is called Advaita nondualism with qualification - as it accepts the plurality both of matter and of souls.
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/02-11/editorials7026.htm
The Disappearance day of Sri Madhvacarya is observed on February 12th.
Madhvacarya was born around 1238 A.D. eight miles south-east of the modern town of Udipi, in the Karnataka State. He is reputed to be the incarnation of Bhima, taking birth in Kali-yuga to destroy the daityas. Others refer to him as Vayu himself and it was his life's mission to defeat the followers of Sankaracarya.
He was born in the family of very elevated brahmanas and from his early childhood performed many amazing pastimes, such as the killing of a huge serpentine demon named Maniman, simply with the big toe of his left foot.
Madhava was only eight years old when he received spiritual initiation and at the age of twelve he accepted the sannyasa order and began to travel the length and breadth of India.
His life, as described in the Madhvavijaya, is the narrative of a born leader of men. Madhva recognized the soul of man to be potentially divine; but man, in the ignorance of his true status, has lost his soul to his body and its cravings, and needs to be awakened by God himself or His devotees.
One night, as Madhva lay sleeping, Lord Gauranga appeared to him in a dream. The Lord told Madhava, "It is well known to everyone that you are My eternal servitor. When I appear here in Navadwipa, I will accept your sampradaya. Travel everywhere and care fully uproot all the false scriptures of the mayavadis and reveal the glories of worshipping the personal form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Later, when I appear, I will personally broadcast your pure teachings." The Lord then disappeared.
When Madhva awoke, he was astonished and as he remembered the Lord he began to cry in separation, saying, "Will I ever see that beautiful golden form again?" A celestial voice from the sky replied, "Worship Me secretly and you will come to Me."
Carrying these instructions within his heart, Madhva continued his travels more determined than ever to defeat the mayavadi philosophers." (from Sri Navadwipa Dham).
Shri Madvacaharya taught that:
1.Krishna, who is known as Hari is the Supreme Lord, the Absolute.
2.That Supreme Lord may be known through the Vedas.
3.The material world is real.
4. The jivas, or souls, are different from the Supreme Lord.
5.The jivas are by nature servants of the Supreme Lord.
6.There are two categories of jivas: liberated and illusioned.
7.Liberation means attaining the lotus feet of Krishna, that is, entering into an eternal relationship of service to the Supreme Lord.
8.Pure devotional service is the cause of this relationship.
9.The truth may be known through direct perception, inference, and Vedic authority.
Srila Prabhupada – “The Lord’s dreaming conditions are also factual manifestations”. Srimad Bhagavatam 1.16.26-30
We see within the heavenly planets of the mahat-tattva and even its Satya-yugas on the middle planetary systems like our earth planet, there is also no difference between ‘thoughts’ ‘dreams’ and ‘actions’. It is only at the end of the Dwarpa-yuga and the entire Kali-yuga, does ones thoughts, imaginings and dreams of the biological gross body no longer instantly materialize and therefore do not create karma. In this way those trapped in the Kali-yuga have dreams and thoughts that no longer materialize as they would in the Satya-Yuga or the heavenly planets thus we are not punished or rewarded for our thoughts, dreams and wishes, we are judged only by our actions.
On the other hand within the Vaikuntha’s all thoughts are instant actions of loving devotion within Krishna lila though, when one chooses to think or dream of their own self-importance, they instantly activate their nitya-baddha sub-consciousness and enter the dreams of Maha-Vishnu that are in the realm of past, present and future.
Srila Prabhupada – “Just like one man is dreaming and he forgets himself. In the dream he creates himself in different forms: now I am the King discussing like that. This creation of himself is as seer and subject matter or seen, two things. But as soon as the dream is over, the “seen” disappears. But the seer remains. Now he is in his original position”.
Srila Prabhupada – “As such the Vaishnavas do not take this cosmic manifestation to be false. The Vaishnava philosopher sees everything in this material world in relationship with the Supreme Lord”. The Eighty-seventh Chapter of Krsna, “Prayers by the Personified Vedas.”
Srila Prabhupada – “How the living entity becomes liberated from the modes of material nature after surrendering unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead is illustrated by a sleeping man within a room. When a man is sleeping, everyone sees that he is present within the room, but actually the man himself is not within that body, for while sleeping a man forgets his bodily existence, although others may see that his body is present. Similarly, a liberated person engaged in devotional service of the Lord may be seen by others to be engaged in the household duties of the material world, but since his consciousness is fixed in Krsna he does not live within this world. His engagements are different, exactly as the sleeping man’s engagements are different from his bodily engagements”. The Eighty-seventh Chapter of Krsna, “Prayers by the Personified Vedas.”
Sri Nityananda Trayodasi, the Appearance day of Lord Nityananda, February 16th.
Nityananda Prabhu and Advaitacarya are the two expansions of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu who assist His transcendental pastimes. (Cc. Adi 5.146)
May Sri Nityananda Prabhu be the object of my constant remembrance. Sankarsana, Mahavisnu, Garbhodaksayi Visnu, and Ksirodaksayi Visnu, as well as Sesa are His expansions and the expansions of His expansions. That same Nityananda Prabhu, is none other than Balarama. (Cc. Adi 1.7)
I surrender unto the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, who is known as Sankarsana in the midst of the catur-vyuha. He has full opulences and resides in Vaikunthaloka far beyond the material creation. (Cc. Adi 1.8)
I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, whose partial representation called Karanodakasayi Visnu, lying on the Karana ocean, is the original Purusa, the master of the illusory energy and the shelter of all the universes. (Cc. Adi 1.9)
I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, a partial part of whom is Garbhodaksayi Visnu. From the navel of Garbhodaksayi Visnu sprouts the lotus stem that is the birthplace of Brahma, the engineer of the Universe. The stem of that lotus is the resting place of the multitude of planets. (Cc. Adi 1.10)
I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, whose secondary part is the Visnu lying in the ocean of milk. That Ksirodakasayi Visnu is the Supersoul of all living entities and the maintainer of all the universe. Sesa Naga is His further sub-part. (Cc. Adi 1.11)
Lord Balarama is the original Sankarsana. He assumes five other forms to serve Lord Krsna. He helps in the pastimes of Lord Krsna, and He does the work of creation in four other forms. (Cc. Adi 5.8,9)
"In Kali-Yuga, I will descend to the earth with My associates. In Navadvipa, which is surrounded by the Ganges, I will take birth in Saci-devi 's womb. [ ] My dear male and female associates, headed by Sridama and Subala, who came to this world at the time of My advent as Lord Krsna, will come again during the Kali-Yuga. The Gopas will become the sixty-four mahantas and the twelve gopalas. To establish the truth of religion, I will enjoy many pastimes with them.
(Narada-pancaratra, Ananta-Samhita, Verse 70)
Mukunda: Did you know that complete sets of Prabhupada's books are in all the major colleges and universities in the world, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Oxford, Cambridge, and the Sorbonne?
George Harrison: They should be! One of the greatest things I noticed about Prabhupada was the way he would be talking to you in English, and then all of a sudden he would say it to you in Sanskrit and then translate it back into English. It was clear that he really knew it well. His contribution has obviously been enormous from the literary point of view, because he's brought the Supreme Person, Krishna, more into focus. A lot of scholars and writers know the Gita, but only on an intellectual level. Even when they write "Krishna said...," they don't do it with the bhakti or love required. That's the secret, you know-Krishna is actually a person who is the Lord and who will also appear there in that book when there is that love, that bhakti. You can't understand the first thing about God unless you love Him. These big so-called Vedic scholars-they don't necessarily love Krishna, so they can't understand Him and give Him to us. But Prabhupada was different.
The nature of Krishna's absolute position is nicely illustrated by the following story of a visit by Lord Brahma to Krishna in Dvaraka. In the story, Krishna first responds to Brahma's request to see Him by having His secretary ask, "Which Brahma wishes to see Me?" Brahma later begins his conversation with Krishna by asking why Krishna made this inquiry.
"Why did you inquire which Brahma had come see you? What is the purpose of such an inquiry? Is there any other Brahma besides me within this universe?"
Upon hearing this, Sri Krishna smiled and immediately meditated. Unlimited Brahmas arrived instantly.
These Brahmas had different numbers of heads. Some had ten heads, some twenty, some a hundred, some a thousand, some ten thousand, some a hundred thousand, some ten million and others a hundred million. No one can count the number of faces they had.
There also arrived many Lord Sivas with various heads numbering one hundred thousand and ten million. Many Indras also arrived, and they had thousands of eyes all over their bodies.
When the four-headed Brahma of this universe saw all these opulences of Krishna, he became very bewildered and considered himself a rabbit among many elephants.
All the Brahmas who came to see Krishna offered their respects at His lotus feet, and when they did this, their helmets touched His lotus feet.
No one can estimate the inconceivable potencies of Krishna. All the Brahmas who were there were resting in the one body of Krishna.
When all the helmets struck together at Krishna's lotus feet, there was a tumultuous sound. It appeared that the helmets themselves were offering prayers unto Krishna's lotus feet.
With folded hands, all the Brahmas and Sivas began to offer prayers unto Lord Krishna, saying, "O Lord, You have shown me a great favor. I have been able to see your lotus feet."
All of them then said, "It is my great fortune, Lord, that you have called me, thinking of me as your servant. Now let me know what Your order is so that I may carry it on my heads."
Lord Krishna replied, "Since I wanted to see all of you together, I have called all of you here. All of you should be happy. Is there any fear of the demons?"
They replied, "By your mercy, we are victorious everywhere. Whatever burden there was upon the earth You have taken away by descending on that planet."
This is the proof of Dvaraka's opulence: all the Brahmas thought, "Krishna is now staying in my jurisdiction."
Thus the opulence of Dvaraka was perceived by each and every one of them. Although they were all assembled together, no one could see anyone but himself.
Lord Krishna then bade farewell to all the Brahmas there, and after offering their obeisances, they all returned to their respective homes [CC ML 21.65-80].
In this story it is significant that each of the Brahma's remained within his own universe. This means that Krishna was simultaneously manifesting His Dvaraka pastimes in all of those universes. Each Brahma except ours thought that he was alone with Krishna in Dvaraka within his own universe, but by Krishna's grace our Brahma could simultaneously see all of the others. This illustrates how Krishna has access to all locations at once, and it also shows how, by Krishna's grace, different living beings can be given different degrees of spatial access, either permanently or temporarily.
Sadaputa Dasa Prabhu:
Mystic Siddhis
The eight mystic siddhis provide a direct illustration of how sentient beings can operate at different levels of sensory power by being endowed to varying degrees with Krishna's primordial potencies. Srila Prabhupada gives the following description of some of the mystic siddhis:
...a mystic yogi can enter into the sun planet simply by using the rays of the sunshine. This perfection is called laghima. Similarly, a yogi can touch the moon with his finger. Though the modern astronauts go to the moon with the help of spaceships, they undergo many difficulties, whereas a person with mystic perfection can extend his hand and touch the moon with his finger. This siddhi is called prapti, or acquisition. With this prapti siddhi, the perfect mystic yogi can not only touch the moon planet, but he can extend his hand anywhere and take whatever he likes. He may be sitting thousands of miles away from a certain place, and if he likes he can take fruit from a garden there (NOD, pp. 11-12).
The prapti siddhi provides a perfect example of what we mean by the extension of access between locations. Consider the yogi on the earth who reaches out his hand to touch the moon. Does the yogi experience that his hand moves up through the atmosphere and crosses over thousands of miles of outer space, followed by a greatly elongated arm? This hardly seems plausible. We suggest that this siddhi actually allows the yogi to directly reach any desired location, and thus it requires higher dimensional connections between remotely separated regions. The idea here is that Krishna always has direct access to all locations, and by His grace this power of direct access can be conferred to varying degrees on various living beings.
The following verses in the Eleventh Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam show that the eight siddhis are indeed obtained by partial realization of Krishna's inherent potencies:
1. anima -- becoming smaller than the smallest. "One who worships Me [Krishna] in My atomic form pervading all subtle elements [bhuta-suksma and tan-matram], fixing his mind on that alone, obtains the mystic perfection called anima" (SB 11.15.10).
2. mahima -- becoming greater than the greatest. "One who absorbs his mind in the particular form of the mahat-tattva and thus meditates upon Me as the Supreme Soul of the total material existence achieves the mystic perfection called mahima" (SB 11.15.11).
3. laghima -- becoming lighter than the lightest. "I exist within everything, and I am therefore the essence of the atomic constituents of material elements. By attaching his mind to Me in this form, the yogi may achieve the perfection called laghima, by which he realizes the subtle atomic substance of time" (SB 11.15.12).
4. prapti -- acquisition. "Fixing his mind completely in Me within the element of false ego generated from the mode of goodness, the yogi obtains the power of mystic acquisition, by which he becomes the proprietor of the senses of all living entities. He obtains such perfection because his mind is absorbed in Me" (SB 11.15.13).
Similar statements are made about the other siddhis. According to the purport to SB 11.15.13, "Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura states that those who pursue such perfections without fixing the mind on the Supreme Lord acquire a gross and inferior reflection of each mystic potency."
Sadaputa Dasa Prabhu:
This ability to appear and disappear is not "just" a matter of mystical power. Rather, it demonstrates an important feature of the physical world in which we live. This world contains many manifestations which are not accessible to our ordinary senses, but which are accessible to more highly developed beings, such as the demigods. There is a hierarchy of "dimensional" levels within the universe, and beings on one particular level can operate within a larger continuum than beings on lower levels. The spiritual realm of Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrndavana is on a still higher level. Thus Brahma, the topmost demigod within the material universe, became completely bewildered when Krishna revealed the spiritual world to him.
In SB 1.16.3 it is said that during Maharaja Pariksit's horse sacrifices, even a common man could see demigods. It appears that in Vedic times demigods often visited the earth and engaged in various dealings with human beings. However, only qualified persons were generally able to see them. Even recently, after the advent of Lord Caitanya, demigods used to invisibly visit the home of Jagannatha Misra to glorify the Lord (CC AL 14.172-174).
The Bhagavatam often alludes to the idea that by acquiring higher spiritual qualifications, one's sensory powers will be enhanced, and one will automatically be able to experience phenomena within a broader realm of existence. (It is also emphasized, of course, that such automatic developments should not be exploited for sense gratification, since this would divert one from the actual goal of spiritual life.) One example of this is given by the instruction of Narada Muni to Dhruva Maharaja that by chanting the mantra, "om namo bhagavate vasudevaya," he would soon be able to see "the perfect human beings (khe-caran) flying in the sky" (SB 4.8.53).
The transcendental realms of Navadvipa and Vrndavana are purely spiritual, but there are also material examples illustrating the idea of parallel worlds co-existing in one place. For example, the Bhagavatam states that Maru and Devapi, two ancient royal princes belonging to the Surya and Soma dynasties, are still living in the Himalayas in a place called Kalipa-grama. By the power of mystic yoga they will prolong their lives until the beginning of the next Satya-yuga and then revive the lost Surya and Soma dynasties by begetting children (SB 9.12.6, 9.22.17-18).
As a final point, we note that the history of the Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya sheds some light on the higher dimensional nature of reality. In SB 1.4.15p Srila Prabhupada points out that Vyasadeva is residing in Samyaprasa in Badarikasrama. Many people in India make a pilgrimage to Badarikasrama every year, but it is not possible for an ordinary person to meet Vyasadeva. However, it is said that Madhvacarya met Vyasadeva there and took initiation from him. It was through this higher dimensional link that the Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya was passed down from Srila Vyasadeva to the recent line of acaryas.
Letters Srila Prabhupada Didn't Write
BY: HASYA MUKHI DEVI DASI
Feb 19, 2011 — USA (SUN) —
The Youth Movement
My dear Youths,
Please accept my blessings. I have received the request for initiation for Mr. Young, and his name is now Sri Youthananda. Please hold a fire sacrifice for Sri Youthananda das Prabhu, but as you are all youths, don't play with matches either. Also since you are youth and subject to the temptations of your years, yes, you may drop the name Brahmachari in favour of "Whatever." So your new devotee's name there is now Sri Youthananda das Whatever.
In the past I have noted your Christmas and New Years' celebrations with great joy and look forward to hearing about your upcoming Easter celebrations in the temple also. Who will dress as the Easter rabbit? This is very important service, as you youths find new ways to spread the teaching of this movement.
Regarding the article of Narasimha (Nash) Selvester, yes he is correct that this worldwide organization will only run on the strength of youth. I heartily approve of your sub-society's new name as YOUTH-CON. Please consider other material designations into which our international society can be further splintered into sub-communities. Success will be measured when we have as many sub-sub organizations as there are actual members.
Please remind the leader of the middle-age society, the Mid-Life Crisis ex-Youth Support Group, also to write me. Also inform the members of O.A.S., the Old Age Society, that we have no place in our organization for such decrepit useless people, and they must pack up and go to a tent city in Florida. Such people who have failed to understand the deep significance of skateboarding and co-ed sports have no place whatsoever in our society. I agree with your brilliant statement, "Like, who wants those people and their old-fashioned ideas about rules and regulations? Duh!" This enlightened policy of yours must be enforced.
Do not be offended by the article of Mr. Kumar Mahadevan. We should appreciate that he was merely expressing a traditional Indian point of view. Since Indians have only a mere 5,000 years of culture behind them, it must be understood that such people are thoroughly misguided and their ignorance must be overlooked. Probably he is influenced by the imprudent Indian poet who wrote, "The three greatest poisons are youth, wealth and a comely appearance." Please do not allow yourself to be misled by sastra, but draw your own conclusions based upon your youth and your wonderful five senses.
For some reason that I could never understand, there are many foolish persons who consider youth fleeting and thereby often do not take full advantage of those wonderful years, when activities in the mode of ignorance carry a stamp of approval by doting fathers with unlimited pockets. Probably Kumar Mahadevan is one of those unfortunate Indian engineers who is ashamed of being in his mid-20's because he is already married with two children and has a job that nets him $100,000 per year. How people like him can waste their lives like this when they could be performing sunrise yoga in the company of young ladies dressed in revealing yoga attire or having midnight karaoke to Bollywood hits, I will never understand.
Since it is only proper to worship youth, therefore I want you members of YOUTH to hold a Baby Festival for the real youths who are under one year of age. You may rent some grand theater and place all the babies on the stage and enjoy their activities. After all, these babies are your future.
I hope that this has met you in the best of health.
Adya dasa:
My wife and I loved cooking all the time in the kitchen in the Manhattan temple. Once Prabhupada was due to arrive the next day and we were told to make a skirt for Prabhupada's tulasi devi, but my wife didn't know how to sew. We had an assignment we couldn't do but we tried. My wife stayed up the whole night making that tulasi skirt. In the morning we brought the tulasi skirt, and the devotee said, "Oh this is a terrible job. How could you do this? Don't you have any sense?" We were broken-hearted. My wife started crying and I was hurt, but we put the skirt on tulasi devi anyway. When Prabhupada finally walked into the room the first statement he made was "What a beautiful tulasi skirt." We started crying again but this time out of great pleasure. Prabhupada's statement made us realize that we just met a pure representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Mangalananda dasa:
When Prabhupada first came to New York he was living in the Bowery. Once Prabhupada said, "Even if a drunk man in the Bowery sips wine with the attitude, 'O Krishna makes the nice taste in this wine,' he will eventually achieve perfection."
"If you make a dog king and he is sitting on a throne
and you throw him a shoe, he will run off the throne and bite the shoe"
--A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
----------------------------------
Equality Once More
Regarding rich and poor, Prabhupada once remarked, "Water tastes the same in an iron pot or a gold pot."
----------------------------------
Unending Compassion
One afternoon, as i was walking through the streets of London, I noticed the struggle and squalor and started reflecting on injustice, wars, starvation, and prejudice in the material world -and became sad. I went to Prabhupada's room and remarked to him, "Sometimes I feel sad for humanity."
Prabhupada replied, "Why sometimes?"
----------------------------------
Dr. Joe Burke
Dr. Joe Burke was a well-known psychiatrist in London, a colleague of Dr. Ronnie Laing, who gained notoriety for his work with schizophrenics. He became a friend of mine, and one day I mentioned that he might enjoy meeting Prabhupada. He readily agreed.
I picked him up at his office in the Krishna Van. When one of his staff asked him where he was going, Dr. Burke answered, "I am going to see my psychiatrist."
----------------------------------
Be Independent
In the upper rooms of the Radha Damodar Temple, I saw Prabhupada washing his dhoti in a bucket of water. I said, "Prabhupada, I would be happy to wash your dhoti for you."
He replied, "I can wash my own cloth, and in that way I can remain independent," He continued, I shall teach you to roll a chapati with a bottle -- just bring me one bottle." I fetched a bottle, and Prabhupada taught me to roll a chapati with the bottle. Then he said, "I don't even require the bottle," and he proceeded to teach me how to flatten the dough into a perfectly round chapati with only his hands.
Yet another time, I saw Srila Prabhupada down on his hands and knees washing the floor. When he looked up and saw me, he said, "Be as independent as possible."
So if we want to please Krishna, He is kind enough to give us the formula how to please Him in the Bhagavad-Gita, so if we are intelligent we shall follow the instructions and orders of Krishna as He gives them, that is pleasing Krishna, that is surrender. If I say, Yes, I like rossogullahs, I like this type of incense, I like this and that -- so if you bring me rossogullahs, that incense, like that, that will be pleasing to me, will it not? But Krishna is not so rascal as me, He wants only little flower, some water, that's all, but main thing He wants is our devotion, nothing more:
manmana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji namaskuru
mam evaisyasi satyam te
pratijane priyo'si me. (B.G. XVlll, 65)
"Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend." So to become the friend and the devotee of Krishna, that is required. Just become the pet dog, that is surrender.
In the course of a Mott Street evening, a conversation might revolve around ego-loss, death, Buddha, peyote, LSD, St. John, reincarnation, Bach, astral travel, Plato, and Lao Tzu. So the arrival of a new swami sparks immediate interest.
"Where's he from?"
"Calcutta."
"Maybe he followed us back," Keith suggests.
"To a Second Avenue storefront?"
"Just two blocks away. He wonders if it's a good neighborhood."
"The Bowery?!"
"What's he teaching?"
"Bhagavad-gita."
"Now that should be interesting. Is he a guru, or avatar, or what?"
"Swami, guru—who knows?"
"Well, let's go Monday and find out."
"Just what we need," Wally says. "Another guru."
"Maybe he was sending out all those strange vibes in India," Keith says.
"Maybe," I say. "Anyway, let's try him."
We sit on the floor and look around. A half dozen other people are also sitting and waiting. Someone with a beard and long hair introduces himself as Roy.
"The Swami's out back and will be down soon," he informs us.
"Out back" refers to the rear apartment building where the Swami has a second floor apartment.
As we wait, others come in. Then, through the back windows, I can see the Swami crossing the courtyard to the storefront. He enters through the hall door and quickly slides off his white pointed shoes. Then he sits on one of the straw mats and faces his new congregation.
His attire is humble, ascetic: a saffron dhoti worn in the style of a sannyasi monk, and a saffron chadar over his shoulders. As he sits erect and cross-legged, his body seems to dwindle. His magnetism and personality are concentrated in his face, large and noble like a Buddha's. It is a serene, meditative, grave face, a tranquil face, encompassing joy, compassion, sorrow, and much more. it is a face unlike any other I have ever seen.
He turns to me and smiles. "You have brought your friends?"
"Yes," I say.
"Very good."
Picking up a pair of kartals, the kind of bell-metal hand cymbals used in temples in India, he taps them together rhythmically—ching ching ching, ching ching ching—then begins to chant:
vande 'ham
sri-yuta-pada-kamalam
sri-gurun
vaishnavams cha
He sings in a pure, rich baritone, a voice filled with devotion. Since no one knows what he is chanting, no one can join in. Only after chanting for some minutes does he begin to explain the Sanskrit words.
"Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Hare, Krishna, and Rama. These names of God are the transcendental seeds of the maha-mantra," he tells us...
For your enjoyment, les.
Please take a little time some night, relax and laugh a little.
----------------------------------
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/news/02-11/news3685.htm
----------------------------------
Radio Rama
BY: SHYAMASUNDARA DASA
Feb 23, 2011 — INDIA (SUN) —
I'm in the process of digitizing my old tape collection into MP3s and came across a special one that I thought the devotees might find of particular interest. Back in the early 1980's my friend Bhakta dasa (ACBSP) produced a series of radio programs called "Radio Rama." They were professionally done, thought provoking, and above all, incredibly entertaining (at least I thought so).
Unfortunately I only have one. Maybe after listening to it, someone will be inspired to do the same on Internet radio, which is a lot cheaper than radio was 30 years ago.
This link to the MP3 (56 MB) will be good only until February 28th.
-
every time one of those
pleas for help retrieving
large sums $ gets thru
i send this back :
'since i have taken a vow of poverty
for the good of the health and peace
of this world and the next
i can not possibly take advantage of your kind offer
best of luck in all your endeavors'
-
You Will Listen
BY: RAGHU MISHRA
yes stop
it
stop offering me a filthy
fortune
or
a lame
excuse for lingering like
mad
please
stop
expecting me to
accept
sexually surcharged admiration
i
am
thoroughly incapable of enjoying
myself
with
you
all in
mind that
way
yes
you will
listen
as
still
there
is one yes
one
chance
to
remind
and be
reminded
of
each and every single
pure
common
sense
like this yes
our
meditation is
fine
rich
with personality
you
will
listen
like
this yes
who
will
listen to
the
chanting
of the Hare Krsna mantra
again
like this
if
not
you
dear
dearhearted being
sober
now
yes
being
sober you
now
simply
must
realize there
is a way
like
this
a way to
listen
again
and
again and you
will
you
will
listen to
the
chanting
of
the
Hare Krsna mantra like
this
you
will
listen
and you
will
chant
again
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Martin: How is the human life better than the demigod?
PrabhupAda: Better than in this way, that just like here also on this planet, those who are richer section, they particularly do not care to know what is this KRSNa consciousness. They're proud, puffed-up for material opulence. "Ah, what is this KRSNa consciousness. Let us enjoy drink.'' That is their position. So it is a curse for them. Their richness is a curse for them, that they cannot adore such a nice movement. The middle class section, they are being attracted. Similarly, the demigods, they have got very, very high standard of life, duration of life, beauty, opulence, facilities, so generally they forget. Not forget; they are servant. Just like government servant does not mean a devotee. So they are devotee, officially devotee. They, they offer their obeisances to KRSNa. (Sanskrit), worship by Lord Siva or Brahma, but their devotion is conditional because they're posted in such high post, so they may remain in their post. In this way, exchange. But in the human society you'll find devotees, there is no
question of exchange; it is simply love. (more thunder)
Martin: These demigods are what we call angels?
PrabhupAda: Yes.
ISKCON Launches New 'Guru for a Day' Program
BY: HASYA MUKHI DEVI DASI
At the recent Ex-Zonal Acarya Classical Music Conference (EZACMC), an annual get-together between Srila Acharya Dave and Srila Guru Pad, the two acclaimed novelists discussed several new ideas for expanded social harmony, racial relations and world happiness.
I interviewed Sri Bhakta Bob, one of the hundreds of servants at the two-man conference. Bob said that it was his job to serve the tea according to the rules of the Japanese tea ceremony. Then Bob revealed some of the confidential dialogue between these two great spiritual leaders.
Bob said, "This year the discussion began with a lively exchange about Guru Inter-faith, a really important issue. I mean, these ex-acaryas recognize that we must build bridges between Judeo-ISKCON-ism and Catholic-ISKCON-ism to find our place in the Universal order. Then Srila Guru Pada reflected over an article he read about Bob Dylan on ISKCON News.com. Srila Guru Pad wondered aloud: ‘Perhaps we can find the answer to world peace in the lyrics of Bob Dylan?'
"It was then that Srila Acharya Dave came up with a revolutionary idea. He said, ‘I was watching re-runs on television with members of the ISCON Youth Forum the other day in order to forge inter-generational relations, and I remembered the old TV show, ‘Queen For a Day.' Suddenly it dawned upon me that what ISKCON needs is a 'Guru for a Day' program.
"Acharya Dave went on to explain that the greatest problems in ISKCON are caused by petty Mayavadi Godbrothers who are envious of the Zonal Acaryas. ‘Or why else would there be criticism?' he asked rhetorically. So the idea was launched over gently spiced tea and the sweet strains of Vivaldi's ‘The Four Seasons', that each member of ISKCON would get to be Guru for a Day on his birthday. Acharya Dave exclaimed joyously, ‘That way they could each have a vegan Guru cake and Vyasa Puja also! And at the end of the year, we can give prizes to the Gurus-for-a-Day who have initiated the most disciples and collected the most money."
Bob could hardly hold back the tears of joy as he noted, "It was a brilliant revelation... but what can you expect when a retired acarya and a millionaire swami get together? They also came up with this great innovation -- we could all initiate each other!"
Then suddenly he paused. A warm feeling came over Bhakta Bob as he divulged, "You know, Mataji, today is my birthday. Would you like to become my disciple? We also offer re-initiations."
The phenomenon of something changing from material to spiritual is an extraordinary one.
As Krishna says, pratyakshavagamam dharmyam: “The principle of religion is understood by direct experience.” (Bhagavad-gita 9.2), or in this case, the proof is certainly in the tasting. Those who have tasted Krishna’s prasadam know that it has extraordinary potency, and eating it is a very different experience from eating food that isn’t offered to the Lord with love and devotion.
But for an offering to be successful, it must be accepted. When Krishna accepts what we offer to Him, it becomes prasadam.
“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water, I will accept it.” He says, “I accept the bhakti.” You may offer a leaf, a flower, fruit, milk, or ghee-cooked preparations, but the devotion is what carries those preparations to Krishna, and that’s what makes Him inclined to accept it.
Prabhupāda: They are there already. In every planet there are living entities, residents.
Reporter: And this is written in this book.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. There is a vivid description of different planets in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. There are innumerable planets within this universe and all of them are described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. The sun planet, the moon planet, and other planets, they are all vividly described, what kind of residents there are, their mode of living, everything is there.
Hayagrīva: Swamiji? Are there people living on the moon now or were they in other yugas living there? Are they in this yuga living there?
Prabhupāda: No, they’re still living there. Yes. As we are living here, they are living there. Yes.
Reporter: And how would you describe these people that live there? Would they be invisible to us or visible?
Prabhupāda: Almost invisible, yes.
Hayagrīva: Spiritual body.
Prabhupāda: Not spiritual. That is also material.
Hayagrīva: Like ghost bodies? Subtle bodies?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Demon King Hiranyakashyap’s son Prahlad was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu right from childhood. That is why he became famous as Bhakt (devotee) Prahlad. The name of Prahlad’s mother was Kayadhu. Kayadhu was a great devotee of Devi (goddess) Ganga. While Prahlad was in the womb of Kayadhu, demon priest Shukracharya with his spiritual power came to know that Kayadhu’s child will be a devotee of Vishnu. That is why he planned a conspiracy to destroy the fetus and during the Godbharai ceremony (baby shower) of Kayadhu, he transformed the fruit juice which was to be given to Kayadhu into poison. Devi Ganga herself drank the poison and thus saved Prahlad while he was in the womb.
Lord Vishnu himself preached religion to Prahlad and crowned him the King. He also got the status of lord Indra. Prahlad was the first demon to get the status of lord Indra. He was married to Devi and of this marriage he had a son named Virochan and a daughter named Rachna.
Well I Never
BY: RAGHU MISHRA
yes i
never took this one too
seriously
like it
or
not
how would
one
as this
life is
this
life is now
quite
simply
not just some
kind
of
pool of abuse so
dear
life
full
of original
personality being
once
up
the
creek without
a
paddle one
certainly
has
the
experience enough fused
and
addled by
it
one
actually died off coming
back
though
did
die yes coming back
though
a
soul
somehow or other for
another
round
coming
back for another
round of stiff
stuff that
must
still black
out
as
the burnt out ever
dying
dust
does
you
know
i never i never
took
it for Krsna
or
even
thought this
was
the
time
to feel
rounded
or way
grounded as
one
for life
spirit
making
a difference where
one
is
one
plus
one equaling
one yes
spirit
there
is
nothing
else
to make too
as
one
plus
one goes
on
not too
too
seriously equaling the
difference
spirit makes
a
difference
again here yes
and
all
the way over
where
spirit is
the
difference i am
cool
remembering with some
warmth
of
amusement
Krsna
Krsna
Krsna
and well i
never
forget
how there
is
no
sense in
wondering why
He
has saved the best
like
no
other telling
us
how and when it
is
different
like
this and that
He is
in
love
as Srimati
knows
yes as
Srimati
hears
the singer as it is
best
not
the
song it
is
the
singer yes of
course
it is
the
singer
not the song one has
a
choice to
identify
it
is best that one identify the
singer
at
any
rate yes
not
the
song
Hare Krsna !
SB7.9Summary
As related in this chapter, Prahlāda Mahārāja, following the order of Lord Brahmā, pacified the Lord when the Lord was extremely angry after having killed Hiraṇyakaśipu.
After Hiraṇyakaśipu was killed, the Lord continued to be very angry, and the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, could not pacify Him. Even mother Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, the constant companion of Nārāyaṇa, could not dare come before Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva. Then Lord Brahmā asked Prahlāda Mahārāja to go forward and pacify the Lord’s anger. Prahlāda Mahārāja, being confident of the affection of his master, Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, was not afraid at all. He very gravely appeared before the Lord’s lotus feet and offered Him respectful obeisances. Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, being very much affectionate toward Prahlāda Mahārāja, put His hand on Prahlāda’s head, and because of being personally touched by the Lord, Prahlāda Mahārāja immediately achieved brahma-jñāna, spiritual knowledge. Thus he offered his prayers to the Lord in full spiritual knowledge and full devotional ecstasy. The instructions given by Prahlāda Mahārāja in the form of his prayers are as follows.
Prahlāda said, “I am not proud of being able to offer prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I simply take shelter of the mercy of the Lord, for without devotion one cannot appease Him. One cannot please the Supreme Personality of Godhead simply by dint of high parentage or great opulence, learning, austerity, penance or mystic power. Indeed, these are never pleasing to the Supreme Lord, for nothing can please Him but pure devotional service. Even if a nondevotee is a brāhmaṇa qualified with the twelve brahminical symptoms, he cannot be very dear to the Lord, whereas if a person born in a family of dog-eaters is a devotee, the Lord can accept his prayers. The Lord does not need anyone’s prayers, but if a devotee offers his prayers to the Lord, the devotee benefits greatly. Ignorant persons born in low families, therefore, can sincerely offer heartfelt prayers to the Lord, and the Lord will accept them. As soon as one offers his prayers to the Lord, he is immediately situated on the Brahman platform.
"Ter Kadamba – this is a very important place in Vraja Mandala. This is near Nanda Grama. Anybody in the village will tell about the location of Ter-kadamba. On the day of Gopashtami, Mother Yasoda first sent Krishna to herd-grazing. She dressed Him as a prince with jeweled ornaments, beautiful turban and silken clothes. When the friends of Krishna saw Him, they started making fun of Him. They said, "Look at Him. He has come dressed, as though He has come to take care of the kingdom. He has simply come to get the calves grazed but in the dress of a King? Remove His ornaments and clothes. Let us dress Him like a perfect cowherd boy."
They then removed the gorgeous dresses and ornaments of Krishna and while making fun of Him, and started to dress Him with the flowers available there. They would gather varieties of colorful flowers and then adorn them on Krishna. Relishing this act of His friends, Krishna also planned to make fun of them. He saw a lake here which is called as Shyam Talaiya. Through his potency, He covered that lake with small, small green floating leaves. And then pointing out towards the other side of the lake, He told His friends, "O! My dear gopas, look on that side. Many flowers are blooming there. Why don't you all pluck them and bring to adorn on me?" Listening to Krishna's words, all the gopas started running towards the other side, not knowing they have to cross a lake in between to reach them. As they neared the lake, not noticing it, they all started falling into it, thus giving pleasure to Krishna.
Ter in Vraja means ‘call'. Many Kadamba trees grow at this beautiful spot. Hence it is called as Ter Kadamba. Krishna used to put ter three times a day here.
Krsna Works According to His Own Master Plan
for Everything
BY: SHYAMASUNDARA DASA
Mar 13, 2011 — USA (SUN) — Once there was a sweeper in a well known temple and he was very sincere and devoted. Every time he saw thousands of devotees coming to take darshan of the Lord, he thought that the Lord is standing all the time and giving darshan and He must be feeling very tired.
So one day very innocently he asked the Lord whether he can take the place of the Lord for a day so that the Lord can have some relief and rest. The Deity of the Temple replied, "I do not mind taking a break. I will transform you like Myself, but you must do one thing. You must just stand here like Me, smile at everyone and just give benedictions. Do not interfere with anything and do not say anything. Remember you are the Deity and you just have faith that I have a master plan for everything.
The sweeper agreed to this. The next day the sweeper took the position of the Deity and a rich man came and prayed to the Lord. He offered a nice donation and prayed that his business should be prosperous. While going, the rich man inadvertently left his wallet full of money right there. Now the sweeper in the form of Deity could not call him and so he decided to control himself and keep quiet.
Just then a poor man came and he put one coin in the Hundi and said that it was all he could afford and he prayed to the Lord that he should continue to be engaged in the Lord's service. He also said that his family was in dire need of some basic needs but he left it to the good hands of the Lord to give some solution. When he opened his eyes, he saw the wallet left by the rich man. The poor man thanked the Lord for His kindness and took the wallet very innocently. The sweeper in the form of the Deity could not say anything and he had to just keep smiling.
At that point a sailor walked in. He prayed for his safe journey as he was going on a long trip. Just then the rich man came with the police and said that somebody has stolen his wallet and seeing the sailor there, he asked the police to arrest him, thinking that he might have taken it. Now the sweeper in the form of Deity wanted to say that the sailor is not the thief, but he could not say so and he became greatly frustrated. The sailor looked at the Lord and asked why he, an innocent person, is being punished. The rich man looked at the Lord and thanked Him for finding the thief.
The sweeper in the Deity form could no more tolerate and he thought that even if the real Lord had been here, He would have definitely interfered, and hence he started speaking and said that the sailor is not the thief, but it was the poor man who took away the wallet. The rich man was very thankful, as also the sailor.
In the night, the real Lord came and He asked the sweeper how the day was. The sweeper said, "I thought it would be easy, but now I know that Your days are not easy, but I did one good thing." Then he explained the whole episode to the Lord. The Lord became very upset on hearing this, whereas the sweeper thought the Lord would appreciate him for the good deed done.
The Lord asked, "Why did you not just stick to the plan? You had no faith in Me. Do you think that I do not understand the hearts of all those who come here? All the donation which the rich man gave was stolen money and it is only a fraction of what he really has and he wants Me to reciprocate unlimitedly. The single coin offered by the poor man was the last coin he had, and he gave it to Me out of faith.
The sailor might not have done anything wrong, but if the sailor were to go on the ship that night he would die because of bad weather, but if instead he was arrested, he would be in the jail and he would have been saved form a greater calamity. The wallet should go to the poor man because he will use it in My service. I was going to reduce the rich man's karma by doing this and save the sailor also. But you cancelled everything because you thought you know My plan and you made your own plans."
Sudama and friends anxiously join Krsna in the morning, preparing to take the cows out:
"21. Then, at sunrise, Krishna's affectionate and gloriously youthful friends, followers, kinsmen, cowherd associates and sudra servants all met at the entrance of Krishna's charming palace. They all shone with great splendour.
22. Then, accompanied by servants bearing various articles for His bath, youthful Krishna, the brother of Balarama and the protector of all, entered the bathing room for His early morning bath.
23. Then Subala and other playful, joking, cheerful, affectionate friends, all sons of vaisya cowherds, came there. Eager for joking words, Krishna stopped to talk with them. He sat down on a glorious seat. Filled with wonder, all the boys affectionately served Him.
24. The soul and the body are different. The life and the life-force are different. But Krishna and His friends are not different. They are each others life. They are each other's life force.
25. Morning after morning Krishna enjoys these pastimes in the company of His friends:
Krishna washing Krishna's glorious face, hands, and feet, the massage of His body with oil, His bath, the washing of His limbs, His being dressed with a pair of garments, His performing acamana, His being marked with tilaka, His performing His morning duties, His being dressed in splendid garments and decorated with jewel ornaments, His wearing a peacock feather, and His carrying a flute, bugle, and a stick all attract my heart.
26. Even Lord Ananta Sesa praises the servants that massage Lord Krishna's body:
The servant who, thirsting after the touch of Lord Krishna's body, lovingly place fragrant oils on His head and lovingly massage His feet, arms, and other limbs, attain the same happiness Krishna's parents and gopi lovers attain.
27. Then, wearing yellow garments, and accompanied by His friends and servants, Krishna entered the courtyard. Standing before His mother. He became like a lifeless statue.
28.
"He has come!"
"Glory to His graceful sweetness!"
"We should offer arati to Him."
"Please stand before my eyes."
"May He stand always before my eyes."
Suddenly seeing lotus-eyed Krishna come before them, the people became filled with wonder. How can I describe the wonder they felt?
BY: HASYA MUKHI DEVI DASI
Mar 14, 2011 — USA (SUN) —
My dear Leaders,
Yes, I have received the report detailing current scores--the credit scores of each temple member, that is. This is a very good plan to charge interest on loans according to each DCR, devotee credit rating. This is why the GBC was formed, so that such important decisions can be made. But interest above 24% should be discouraged generally, except in a few cases of those rascals who have not made their monthly usury payments on time. Be generous, and keep the rate at around 16.9%. In the future you should issue your own currency for lending with the Zonal Acaryas depicted on each of the different denominations. You can decide which Zonal Acarya goes on which note of currency by his wealth, how many college degrees, how many disciples and other important indications of spiritual advancement.
--------------------------------------
(Romapada Swami's mistreatment of them and other wonderful devotees in Chicago, who have quietly moved to the sidelines over the years, reflects the cold heart of someone who is rumored to be making private fortunes in lending money to individuals and temples, money which he has amassed from donations over the years. He has even become the butt of Hindi jokes, as the "Jewish rupee lender".)
Mar 15, 2011 — CANADA (SUN) —
Today, the eyes of the world are on the dire situation unfolding in Japan, which threatens to become a global disaster of unprecedented proportion. Srila Prabhupada has given us a wealth of instruction to help us understand and deal with such situations. While the jiva's tendency is to immediately look for material solutions to their problems, the devotee is trained to look for spiritual solutions. Foremost among solutions is the practice of taking shelter of the Spiritual Master's instructions, such as those presented in the following brief selection of statements.
From the Introduction to Life Comes From Life:
"Though beset by internal doubt and division, modern scientists have somehow managed to present a united front to the nonscientific public. Their behavior brings to mind the worst in political and corporate trickery. For instance, despite the recent outcry over their masking the difficulties of maintaining safety standards at nuclear power plants, the scientists and the government remain committed to nuclear power and even make light of the fact that there is no safe way of dealing with radioactive waste."
In his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 3.9.10, Srila Prabhupada describes the hellish activities of these scientists and industrialists:
ahny aprtarta-karana nisi nihsayana
nana-manoratha-dhiya ksana-bhagna-nidrah
daivahatartha-racana rsayo 'pi deva
yusmat-prasanga-vimukha iha samsaranti
"Such nondevotees engage their senses in very troublesome and extensive work, and they suffer insomnia at night because their intelligence constantly breaks their sleep with various mental speculations. They are frustrated in all their various plans by supernatural power. Even great sages, if they are against Your transcendental topics, must rotate in this material world.
PURPORT
As described in the previous verse, people who have no taste for the devotional service of the Lord are occupied in material engagements. Most of them engage during the daytime in hard physical labor; their senses are engaged very extensively in troublesome duties in the gigantic plants of heavy industrial enterprise. The owners of such factories are engaged in finding a market for their industrial products, and the laborers are engaged in extensive production involving huge mechanical arrangements. "Factory" is another name for hell. At night, hellishly engaged persons take advantage of wine and women to satisfy their tired senses, but they are not even able to have sound sleep because their various mental speculative plans constantly interrupt their sleep. Because they suffer from insomnia sometimes they feel sleepy in the morning for lack of sufficient rest. By the arrangement of supernatural power, even the great scientists and thinkers of the world suffer frustration of their various plans and thus rot in the material world birth after birth. A great scientist may make discoveries in atomic energy for the quick destruction of the world and may be awarded the best prize in recognition of his service (or disservice), but he also has to undergo the reactions of his work by rotating in the cycle of repeated births and deaths under the superhuman law of material nature. All these people who are against the principle of devotional service are destined to rotate in this material world without fail…"
This is especially lovely and potent chanting of Gayatri Mantra.
http://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/?p=18436
“Our mission is to serve (…) Not that you take the place of the guru. That is nonsense, very dangerous. Then everything will be spoiled. As soon as you become ambitious to take the place of guru – gurusu nara matih. That is the material disease.” (Srila Prabhupada Conversation, April 20th,1977)
“That is the difficulty. Everyone sees that, “Some way or other, I become guru. Then so many persons will offer me respect. Somehow or other, create some situation. Then I become guru. [...] This is going on. Not bona fide guru. [...] Somehow or other become popular and become guru. This is going on.” (Srila Prabhupada Conversation, May 2nd, 1976)
“According to sastra, the duty of the guru is to take the disciple back home, back to Godhead. If he is unable to do so and instead hinders the disciple in going back to Godhead, he should not be a guru.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 8.20.1, purport)
Maya—The Nature Of Illusion
Maya has three attributes: sattva, rajas and tamas [goodness, passion and ignorance]. These attributes are just like chains used to tie up the ungrateful souls. Maya then applies a double case on the spiritual form of the soul. The double case is described by the words linga and sthul. The mayik existence has twenty-four substances: the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and firmament); the five properties (sound, touch, sight, taste and smell); and the ten indriyas, i. e. the five receiving senses (the eye, ear, nose, tongue and touch) and the five working organs such as hands, legs, etc. These twenty form the sthul, or outer case.
The mana, the buddhi, the chitta and the ahankar, i. e. the mind, the understanding, the attention and the perverted ego, compose the linga-deha, or inner case.
After encasing the spiritual form of the soul, maya employs the fallen souls to work. Mayik work is composed of karma, akarma and vikarma. Karma is conventionally good action done to obtain virtue, such as the performance of duties enjoyed by the Varnashram dharma [the Vedic system of civilization]. Akarma is the omission to do duty. Vikarma is sin or crime.
Karma procures heavenly elevations up to the Brahmaloka planet. Akarma gives an unpleasant state on earth. Vikarma hurls down souls to hell. The fallen souls travel from body to body with their linga-deha doing karma or vikarma, rising up to the heavens, and again coming down at the exhaustion of their virtues, going down to hell, and after suffering punishment, again rising up to the platform of work. Thus the state of the fallen souls is deplorable in the extreme. They enjoy and suffer massacre and murder, and go on in this state, sometimes smiling as the princess and sometimes suffering in ruin. The world is, therefore, a prison or a house of correction, and not a place for enjoyment as some people assert.
Krsna with a smile lighting His countenence spoke to Duryodhana, "O son of Dhrtarastra, I accept you arrived here prior to Arjuna, but on my awaking, it was Kunti's son upon whom my glance fell. Your arriving first, but Arjuna's first catching my eyes, your claims on me are equal; thus, I'm bound to give assistance to both sides.
"Scripture states that one should offer one's help to the youngest first, so it is to Arjuna I will give the first choice. I have an army of one million soldiers, the Narayanas, who are all equal to me in battle. Let one of you take my army with their weapons and fighting ability, and let the other take me alone, without weapons, as I will not fight. O son of Kunti, what is your choice?, my fierce fighting army, or Me, Who will remain without weapons and will not fight throughout the entire war.
Duryodhana in joy heard Arjuna, make the choice, "I'll take You Krsna, even though you will remain without weapons and unfighting. Duryodhana thought that Arjuna's love for Krsna had overpowered his reason. With a smile, Duryodhana said, "It seems then that I'm left with the army. With your permission, O Keshava, I shall now depart." After Duryodhana left, Krsna asked Arjuna, "Why did you choose Me, knowing I will not fight, rather than take My army? Don't you feel this was foolish?" Arjuna lovingly replied, "There is no doubt that wherever You are, there will be victory. What do I care about what outcome will happen when I have You, my dearmost friend with me?"
Krsna, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is not impressed with anything but love, for any and everything else that we think we "are possessed of" is given by Krsna Himself: "From me comes remembrance knowledge (even forgetfulness). I am the strength of the strong. I am the intelligence in women," so we are not independently possessed of anything, other than the capacity to love. Thus, it is this love for Krsna that purchases and impresses Krsna. At any moment, our material abilities, capacities, and assets can be taken from us; squashed!
When the spider (some renditions of Ramayana say squirrel) was kicking in its grains of sand with love to serve Lord Ramacandra, the Lord accepted the service offered with love, despite the seeming insignificance of this jiva embodied in such a small material vehicle. Yet this spider obtained through his purchase, Lord Ramacandra's eternal glance.
Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur:
Krishna is supreme will in Himself, and He exercises His supreme power at His pleasure, which submits to no law, because all law has proceeded from His will and power.
Power is known from its exercise. In this world we have experience of only three of the attributes of Krishna's power. We see the material phenomena and we understand that His power has the attribute to create matter. This attribute is styled in the Vedas as maya-shakti. We see man and we understand that the Supreme Power has the attribute to produce limited and imperfect souls. The shastras [scriptures] call that attribute jiva-shakti. We conceive of one who is spiritual and supreme in His realm of eternal spirits. We understand that His power has an attribute to exhibit perfectly spiritual existences. The Vedas call that attribute by the name of atma-shakti, or chit-shakti.
All these attributes together form one Supreme Power which the Vedas call Para-shakti. In fact that power (shakti) is not distinguishable from the person of that Being. Still, the powers are separately exhibited in their separate actions. This is styled achintya-bhedabhedaprakash, or the inconceivable simultaneous existence of distinction and non-distinction. Hari being well above law, He exercises His infinite powers, while He Himself remains unaffected. This is not understood, but felt in the soul as intuitive truth.
Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur:
Then again there are three distinct philosophical ideas of the Deity, i. e., (i) the idea of the negative Brahman of the pantheistic school, (ii) the idea of a universal soul, Paramatma of the yoga school, and (iii) the idea of a personal Deity with all His majesty, might, glory, beauty, wisdom and supremacy combined in His Person.
The ideas of Brahman and Paramatma are included in the idea of Bhagavan. Spiritually, therefore, Bhagavan is Hari, the Supreme Being. Human ideas are either mental or spiritual. The mental idea is defective as it has relation to the created principles of matter. The spiritual idea is certainly the nearest approach to the Supreme Being.
Then again, the spiritual idea of Bhagavan is of two sorts. In one sort, the person of the Deity is overpowered by His own majesty, and in the other, His personal beauty overpowers all His majesty. The first idea is represented in the great Narayana of Vaikuntha, Who is the Lord of Lords and God of Gods. The second is represented in the all-beautiful Krishna with Radhika, who is the representative of His hladini, or superior ecstatic energy. Krishna appears as man amongst men, and is again generally accepted as God above Gods. Krishna attracts, loves and produces ecstasy in all souls. His person and personal attachments are all purely spiritual and have no relation to the material world. The material senses of man cannot approach Him. It is the spirit in man which can see Him directly and commune with Him.
The soul, fettered in matter, has from its own degradation lost its right to see Krishna and His spiritual lila [pastimes] in the spiritual world, but Krishna out of His own Supreme Power and prerogative may appear with all His Vrindavan lila before the eyes of all men. The rational man can hardly conceive of or believe in Krishna and His lila. As his spiritual essence improves, however, he sees and loves Him with all his heart.
Post a Comment