krsna

Do I feel left out from this grand old party of street sankirtana. The mercy mission of going out every day and at every opportunity to 'save' the fallen conditioned souls who are totally ignorant of their spiritual welfare has passed right out of me.Why? I realized one day that I'm the one conditioned soul who needs to be 'saved'.Isn't it the greatest mercy is to save oneself?(no ,I'm not Vasudava Datta who wanted to save everyone and he could stay in the material world forever) I feel that I need to become perfect before going out and trying to make others perfect. How can I tell others to give up eating sweets when I'm still hooked on eating sweets ??? /images/graemlins/confused.gif

REACT TO THE MODES OF PASSION AND IGNORANCE Prahlada Maharaja is humbly submitting, because he is Vaisnava,“What is my position? My position is that I am born of rajas-tamo-guna. (the modes of passion and ignorance)” This birth takes place according to quality we acquire. Just like I was criticizing the condition of that toilet. This is so nasty, tamo-guna, and if I have no response to such tamo-guna place, that means I am also of that quality. Just like between fire and fire there is no reaction, but fire and water there is reaction. Similarly, sattva-guna-sattva-guna, (goodness and goodness) there is no reaction. Tamo-guna-tamo-guna there is no reaction. You mix acid and acid, there is no reaction. But if you mix acid and alkaline, there will be effervescence immediately. If one is developing tamo-guna, then if he becomes a pig in his next life, there is no reaction. He’ll be very glad that “I am pig,” “I am dog.” There is no reaction. But if one is in sattva-guna, then he cannot tolerate it. “Oh, such a nasty condition.” So I am very sorry there was no reaction in such a nasty toilet room. And you are getting sacred thread, the quality of brahmana, sattva-guna. It is very regrettable. Nobody reacted. We have to curb down these rajo-guna and tamo-guna; otherwise there is no improvement. If a person in Krsna consciousness is found to have no reaction in rajo-guna and tamo-guna, then he’s a dull stone. He is not improving. It is simply showbottle. So showbottle will not help. This prescription is there. If one develops Krsna consciousness, then it is to be understood that he has surpassed sattva-guna, the brahminical qualification. Why do we offer sacred thread to a person who is coming from a very, very low family? Because it is to be understood that by chanting Hare Krsna mantra, by following the regulative principles, he has already come to the platform of sattva-guna. But if it is a false thing, there is no need of second initiation. This is our process: Do this--- Chant Hare Krsna mantra sixteen rounds, and don’t do this— illicit sex, meat-eating.” That means he’s becoming purified from the rotten condition of rajo-guna and tamo-guna. But if he does not, then there should be no second initiation. This should be the rule. Prahlada Maharaja is a Vaisnava; he’s transcendental. He’s on the brahma-bhuta stage, on the spiritual platform. Otherwise how Krsna is touching him? Krsna cannot touch a rajas-tamo-bhava. No. That is not possible. When Lord Nrsimhadeva touched his head, either by His touching he’s purified, or because he’s purified, therefore the Lord touched his head. This is the conclusion. So he is purified, but as a Vaisnava, he is placing himself in the platform of rajas-tamo-bhava. The whole world, at least in this age, Kali-yuga, has these two qualities, mostly tamo-guna, and a little rajo-guna, that’s all, but no sattva-guna. Therefore people cannot understand Krsna consciousness. Therefore we have to purify ourselves. The prescription is there, a very simple thing, if we simply recite all these mantras. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, all these verses, they’re all mantras, and are as good as the Hare Krsna mantra. There is no difference. In our many centers, we are inviting people so that they can hear. This class is meant for that. Simply if one hears the Hare Krsna mantra chanting, he’ll be purified. If he hears this mantra, a verse from Bhagavad-gita, a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam, attentively, even if one does not understand the meaning, the purport, still, he’ll get benefit. That is the way. So we must hear. (Class by Srila Prabhupada Mar. 4,1976) O my Lord, O Supreme, because I was born in a family full of the hellish material qualities of passion and ignorance, what is my position? And what is to be said of Your causeless mercy, which was never offered even to Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva or the goddess of fortune, Lakshmi? You never put Your lotus hand upon their heads, but You have put it upon mine. (Prahlada Maharaja SB 7.9.26)

http://www.dipika.org/2004/06/20/19_diary_5_16/index.html

"Regarding the parampara system: there is nothing to wonder for big gaps. We have to pick up the prominent acarya and follow from him." (Letter, April 12, 196)

"Just like Krishna can be present simultaneously in millions of places, similarly the spiritual master also can be present wherever the disciple wants. A spiritual master is the principle, not the body. Just like a television can be seen in thousands of places by the principle of relay monitoring." (Letter, May 28, 1968)

Disciple: Is there any way for a Christian to--without the help of a spiritual master--to reach the spiritual sky through believing in the words of Jesus Christ and trying to follow his teachings? Srila Prabhupada: When you read the Bible, you follow the spiritual master. How can you say "without?” As soon as you read the Bible, that means you are following the instruction of Lord Jesus Christ- -that means you are following the spiritual master . So where is the opportunity of being “without a spiritual master?” Disciple: I was referring to a living spiritual master. Srila Prabhupada: The spiritual master is not the question of [“living”]... The spiritual master is eternal--the spiritual master is eternal. So your question is “without a spiritual master.” Without a spiritual master you cannot be--at any stage of your life. You may accept this spiritual master or that spiritual master. That is a different thing. But you have to accept. You say "by reading the Bible." When you read the Bible, that means you are following the spiritual master, represented by some priest or some clergyman in the line of Lord Jesus Christ. So in any case, you have to follow a spiritual master. There cannot be the question “without a spiritual master.” Is that clear? (Questions and answers following a lecture, October 2, 1968, Seattle) /images/graemlins/grin.gif

Amavasya ends the Moon's waning phase, after which it grows in size and radiance making it auspicious. But since the Moon is dark that night, Amavasya can be seen as inauspicious. Is it on this night that the sastras recommend to kill a goat and offer it to Goddess Kali (for those who cannot give up the eating of meat)?

<font color="red">At ground ZERO there are no more atheists to be heard! </font color> /images/graemlins/wink.gif

"A neophyte Vaisnava or a Vaisnava situated on the intermediate platform can also accept disciples, but such disciples must be on the same platform, and it should be understood that they cannot advance very well toward the ultimate goal of life under his insufficient guidance. Therefore a disciple should be careful to accept an uttama-adhikari as a spiritual master." (Srila Prabhupada - NOI)

"But sometimes, if a spiritual master is not properly authorized and only on his own initiative becomes a spiritual master, he may be carried away by an accumulation of wealth and large numbers of disciples." (Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 14)

An Answer to Ananda dasa from Hari-sauri dasa Posted June 15, 2004 [The following is a response to an article on Chakra.org entitled "Only the Unattainable Guru Makes No Mistakes," by Ananda dasa. I have not posted a link to the article because it is insulting to Srila Prabhupada and I don't want to encourage people to read it, but it is there if anyone wants to look for it.] Here's a good riposte to Ananda dasa by Srila Prabhupada himself. Ananda repeatedly refers to sections of our teachings that he either doesn't like or understands as ancient, as if this is now left behind and modern times require something different. Not according to Prabhupada: From a Lecture on SB 5.6.8, Nov. 30, 1976 Vrndavana: So if this confidential knowledge, one who preaches without any compromise, he is the confidential servant of Krsna. There is no compromise. This is real religion. The Krsna says, na ca tasmad manusyesu kascid me priya-krttamah. So this is the person who has received the authority to draw mercy water from the ocean of mercy of Krsna. Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastraih. And what Krsna said five thousand years ago, the same thing Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, same thing. There was no change, as there was no change between the statement of Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura and Narottama dasa Thakura. Sadhu sastra. As sastra, there is no change. Not that "Modernize. The sastra should be changed." No. That is nonsense. That is not sastra. Sastra cannot be changed. "Circumstantially, it will be changed, seasonal changes." No. That is not sastra. Sastra means it is perpetual. What Krsna said five thousand years ago or Krsna said some forty millions of years ago to the sun god... Imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam [bg. 4.1]. He says, "I am talking to you that puratanam yogam." Not that "Because it has passed millions of years and now it is a different time, so I will have to change." Thanks and appreciation from dipika.org to our sponsor and host, No. He said, "I am talking to you that very old system." Is it not? Just see. The sastra cannot be changed. God's word cannot be changed. Then what will be the difference between God and ourselves? He is always perfect. He is always perfect. What He said forty millions of years ago, what He said five thousand years ago— that is also correct up to date. That is sastra. Not that "So many years have passed and it has become old. Now let us reform it and put it into new way." No. You can put the same thing in a new way, but you cannot change the principle. Sadhu sastra guru-vakya, tinete kariya aikya. Sastra is never changed. And the sadhu... Sadhu means who follows the sastras. He is sadhu. He also does not change. Sadhu, sastra. And guru? Guru means who follows the sastra and sadhu. So there are three, the same. A guru will not change, that "It was spoken five thousand years ago. That is not applicable now. Now I am giving you something new, jugglery." He is useless. Sadhu sastra guru-vakya tinete kariya aikya. Yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama karatah, na siddhim avapnoti [bg. 16.23]. These things are there." [srimad-Bhagavatam 5.6.8 — Vrndavana, November 30, 1976] Ananda claims that he accepts Srila Prabhupada as his spiritual authority, so let him digest the above and stop his blasphemous vomit. What he is presently indulging in is called ardha-kukkuti-nyaya, half-hen logic. He wants to accept the things that are palatable to his own ideas and gratification but cut off the parts that require giving up his cherished mundane misconceptions. Sorry, if you separate the mouth from the rear, you get a dead chicken and no further production. Your humble servant, Hari-sauri dasa

WE ARE BEING CRUSHED BY THE WHEEL OF TIME, and at the same time, we are thinking that we are very happy. This is called maya. It is maya's grace that in any condition of life, when the suffering is very, very acute, still the living entity thinks, “I am enjoying.” Maya's arrangement is very peculiar. We see sometimes in the airplane, even an Indian eating the intestine of the hog and enjoying. There is a preparation called naphi in Burma. Every householder has a big jug at the door, and any animal that dies is put in it. If one opens it, the bad smell is so strong that whole neighborhood will be polluted. So they keep it for some years, and when it is decomposed they strain the juice and keep it in bottle. And when there is some festival, they give little and people enjoy it. When my Guru Maharaja was alive he had one temple in Burma. So when they were making puris with nice ghee, all the inhabitants came and said, “Oh! What you are doing? This is intolerable!" The flavor of ghee was intolerable, and the flavor of naphi is tolerable. We are in a peculiar condition in this material world. But do not think that when Krsna comes, He is subjected to this suffering. No. He does not become affected or, rather, infected with these three modes of nature. He’s eternal. There is no such thing as past, present and future for Him. We are also of the same quality, but under the condition of material nature we are controlled by the time factor. Therefore Prahlada Maharaja is regretting, “I am being crushed by this time factor.” But we are thinking, “It is all right.” This is called ignorance. “These living entities,” Krsna said, “ are My part and parcels.” So they should remain with Him just like the fire and the spark. Unfortunately we have fallen down and the result is we are being crushed. So if one is serious to be saved from this crushing process they should learn from Prahlada Maharaja. “Kindly pick me up. You are most powerful. Now I surrender. I rebelled against You, and now I have realized my precarious condition of life.” The animals do not understand this. In human life we should come to the understanding that we are not living happily. We are being crushed by the wheel of time in so many ways. When this sense comes, then we are human. Simply we, a few members of the Krsna consciousness movement, are going door to door trying to convince them, “Sir, you are not this body.” They don’t care for it. It is a very difficult task. To push on the Krsna consciousness movement requires great patience, perseverance, and tolerance. Those who have taken to Krsna conscious preaching work should know that things are not going to happen easily. Maya is very, very strong. Very, very strong. Anyway, if by reading all these literatures given by God Himself, we come to our senses that He is so great and so merciful, then it becomes possible to surrender unto Him. So if one is intelligent, he takes it immediately: “Oh, it is so nice. He’ll give me all protection? Let me surrender.” Business finished in one second. This is wanted. Be surrendered to the lotus feet of Krsna, and be saved from these clutches of maya. Thank you very much. (Class by Srila Prabhupada Feb.29,1976)

Those books are not dry jnana, but are indeed filled with life giving siksa for me soul afallen here and now. Yes?

-------------------------- It's Krishna's mercy that is nagging at you, prodding you on. Be thankful for it. If that is lost then so are you. ----------------------- Mercy comes in many forms,I hope to appreciate Krsna in these multifarious forms.

It's very seldom that am I practice Krishna Conscious sadhana or vaidhi-bhakti devotional service,at least externally . Now it's all in the mind ,my own little mind and heart,the offering of prayers and obeisances and bowing down before Sri Krishna it's all in the mind. But my mind is not at all purified to practise pure bhakti in the purified mind. So what am I practising after all? Am I being deceived into bhakti-abasa or shadow bhakti by the cheating mind?

In a lecture recorded in Los Angeles, on December 23, 1968, Srila Prabhupada adds, “We are, however, misled by persons and leaders who have very little connection with God, or Krishna. Some of them are denying the existence of God; some of them are falsely trying to place themselves in the place of God; some of them are in favor of the impersonal feature of God; and last, some of them, without being able to reach any right conclusion, are accepting the ultimate goal of life as void, or zero, in utter hopelessness and frustration. “But Krishna consciousness is solid ground for understanding Krishna, or God, directly by the simple method of chanting the holy name of God, or Krishna. Misled by blind leaders, the followers who themselves are blind have failed to achieve the desired success, but here is a method called by the name Krishna consciousness which is directly offered by Krishna, and the instructions are plainly described in the Bhagavad-gita, given to us five thousand years ago, and again confirmed by Him in the form of Lord Caitanya five hundred years ago. “This Krishna consciousness movement is a great art of life, very easy and sublime. This Krishna consciousness movement gives you everything you want, without any artificial endeavor. It is transcendentally colorful and full of transcendental pleasure. We prosecute these Krishna consciousness activities through singing, dancing, eating, and talking philosophy received through the authorized disciplic succession, and therefore it gives us everything we want, without any artificial change of our natural instincts. “This consciousness is there in you, but your consciousness is now dirty, and what you have to do now is to cleanse it from all dirty things and make it clear Krishna consciousness by the pleasant method of chanting the glorified holy name of God: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.” In that lecture recorded in April 1968, Srila Prabhupada advises, “This chanting of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is a transcendental vibration or sound. Sound is the origin of all creation. So this transcendental sound--if you vibrate, you will understand very quickly this philosophy of Krishna consciousness. “And there is no loss on your part. Suppose you chant Hare Krishna; you do not lose anything. But if there is any gain, why don't you try it? We simply request you with folded hands that you kindly chant Hare Krishna. We are simply requesting you. We're not asking you, ‘Pay us something or suffer something or be educated or be an engineer or be a lawyer--then come to us.’ Never mind what you are. Stay in your position. Simply try to chant these sixteen words: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. You can try for one week. And there are no hard and fast rules. You can chant anywhere and everywhere. While walking, you can chant. While driving, you can chant. Nobody is going to tax: ‘You are chanting--give me this tax.’ It is very easy.”

Vijnapti, spiritual request kabe ha'be bolo se-dina amar (amar) aparadha ghuci', suddha name ruci, krpa-bale ha'be hrdoye sancar trnadhika hina, kabe nije mani', sahisnuta-guna hrdoyete ani' sakale manada, apani amani, ho'ye aswadibo nama-rasa-sar dhana jana ara, kobita-sundari, bolibo na cahi deho-sukha-kari janme-janme dao, ohe gaurahari! ahaituki bhakti carane tomar (kabe) korite sri-krsna- nama uccarana, pulakita deho gadgada bacana baibarnya-bepathu ha'be sanghatana, nirantara netre ba'be asru-dhar kabe navadwipe, suradhuni-tate, gaura-nityananda boli' niskapate naciya gaiya, beraibo chute, batulera praya chariya bicar kabe nityananda, more kori'doya, charaibe mora visayera maya diya more nija- caranera chaya, namera hatete dibe adhikar kinibo, lutibo, hari-nama-rasa, nama-rase mati' hoibo bibasa rasera rasika- carana parasa, koriya mojibo rase anibar Kabe jibe doya, hoibe udoya, nija-sukha bhuli' sudina-hrdoya bhakativinoda, koriya binoya, sri-ajna-tahala koribe pracar Translation When, oh when will that day be mine? When my offenses ceasing, taste for the name increasing, when in my heart will your mercy shine, when, oh when will that day be mine Lower than a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree. When will my mind attain this quality? Respectful to all, not expecting their honor, then shall I taste the name's nectar sublime. When, oh when will that day be mine? Great wealth or followers, feminine beauty, I won't care for them or the comforts of my body. Birth after birth give me, Oh Lord Caitanya, causeless devotion to Your feet divine, when, oh when will that day be mine? When will I utter Krsna,Krsna, Krsna, with words choked up and shivering body? When will I be trembling all over, lose bodily color, tears pouring from my eyes, When, oh when will that day be mine? When in Navadvipa along the Ganges bank, shouting 'Gaura-Nityananda' as a surrendered soul, dancing, chanting, running everywhere, when will I become half mad of mind? When, oh when will that day be mine? When will Lord Nityananda show mercy upon me, when will I reject the world of Maya: Bestow unto me the shade of Your lotus feet, let the right to preach the name be mine. When, oh when will that day be mine? I will beg, borrow, or steal the nectar of the name. By the name's effect I will feel paralyzed. Oh! Enjoyer of the nectar of the name, When will I touch your lotus feet till the end of time? When, oh when will that day be mine? When kindness to all beings will be appearing, with free heart forget myself comforting, Bhaktivinoda in all humility prays, "Now I will set out to preach Your order sublime." When, oh when will that day be mine?

To Be A Guru, Pt. II by Zack V. Sunderman Posted on chakra June 11, 2004 My article accomplished something I sincerely hoped it would: Discussion. I am without a doubt happy to see all the points and counter-points that have been posted since. Without discussion, no one can get anywhere, and I offer my respects to everyone who has voiced their opinion in this matter. However, I feel I need to elaborate more, now. I feel that some people have, understandably, misunderstood some of my points. I originally wrote the article from a simplistic perspective - a solid addressing of one solid issue. Now, I think I should get a little bit more technical. I think the most misunderstood of my points was "the guru is not human." By no stretch did I mean that the guru is "superhuman!" in the sense that Subhadra-mayi Mataji took it. The word "human" conjures up a number of different ideas, but an overview of what it means to be a "human" could be this: A human is an advanced being, with unparalleled capacity for intelligence, communication, and emotion, and unique abilities to reason and to question existence. A human is also connected to its primal biological instincts (whether or not you believe that this is due to evolution is a whole other conversation), and is sometimes imperfect in its sensory perceptions as well as its judgement. These concepts are all over Prabhupada's purports, and are clear to everyone - We are not perfect, we make mistakes, and we sometimes have difficulty rising above the base levels of existence. So, if a human being desires to completely transcend material existence and understand the highest spiritual truths, and he chooses a guru to help him do this - what good does it do to take spiritual shelter of someone who is just like you? What is the purpose of guidance from someone who is possessed by the same shortcomings that you are? The only way a guru can be valid is for the guru to have already accomplished the task of transcendence. nikunja-yuno rati-keli-siddhyai ya yalibhir yuktir apekshaniya tatrati-dakshyad ati-vallabhasya vande guroh sri-charanaravindam This verse from Sri Gurvastakam is sung every morning in ISKCON temples, and describes the guru as an expert in assisting the gopis in their arrangement of conjugal pastimes for Radha and Krishna. "One should not become a spiritual master unless he has attained the platform of Uttama-Adhikari. A neophyte Vaisnava, or a Vaisnava situated on the intermediate platform, can also accept disciples, but such disciples must be on the same platform and it should be understood that they cannot advance very well toward the ultimate goal of life under his insufficient guidance. Therefore, a disciple should be careful to accept an Uttama-Adhikari as a spiritual master." Prabhupada states this in the Nectar Of Instruction, Chapter 5. Every day, "Guru Vandana" by Narottam Das is sung as well. The translation is also recited. When reciting that translation, think about it: Do you have the ability to provide the things the guru is credited for in this song? Could you do these things, were you to have disciples? And if not, then why should you become the disciple of someone else who is still troubled by the same human problems that you are? There is a reason I mentioned Rupa Goswami and other maha-bhagavat acharyas in my first article. I wanted to conjure up the image of their devotion and level of realization, next to the gurus of today who continue to fall down before our eyes, and make the reader see the difference. Yes, it is very rare to find someone in this day and age who is up to their standard; but that does not mean anyone should settle for anything less. Nor should one come up with a new definition of guru - I find it upsetting to hear: "Another thing: 'A guru is meant to be someone who has risen far above the platform of the material world and is in no danger of going back.' Also intriguing, maybe because it's not my definition of guru. I'm more leaning towards the idea that guru is one who is honest. especially truthful with himself." One quality of the guru is certainly honesty, but this alone does not make one a qualified bestower of divine truth and prema-bhakti. It is without a doubt, unequivocally, entirely good and advisable to be honest with yourself about your own position. However, one who is in a diminished position, whether honest or not about it, does not fit the definition of what it means to be a guru. A guru is someone who is "in no danger of going back," and this level of understanding and devotion possessed by a guru is corroborated by every scripture devotees will read. We can't make our own definition to suit the problem. And yes, the modern age is not an easy one, and there are all kinds of psychological factors present in the trouble many gurus face. Many of these gurus had twenty to thirty years of material conditioning under their belts, and then suddenly swore lifelong vows of sannyas. That does not work well on one's mind, and has the potential to create a number of serious problems - as it's quite easy to see, now. I didn't mean to give the impression that I thought all these gurus that have fallen down were fundamentally lesser or that they didn't suffer any problems from the way they applied their spirituality early on. However, it still stands that one should not expect someone who has not yet accomplished this task of transcendence to truly bring them to the esoteric truths for which they are hoping. I'm glad that people saw in my original article that I think Satsvarupa Maharaj is an exemplary man, steadfast in honesty, sincere in his quest. I stand by this. I just worry when I see a society fabricating a new definition of spiritual master that will result in the dumbing-down and loss of understanding of the siddhanta of Chaitanya Vaishnavism.

LET US BE ENGAGED IN CHANTING OR READING THE PASTIMES OF THE LORD If some ordinary person has written something about Krsna's lila, you should not touch it. It must be in the sampradaya, by an authorized person. Otherwise it is useless. Therefore Prahlada especially mentioned: “which is given by mahajanas like Brahma.” We cannot offer prayers written by some nonsense. If you recite the prayers composed by a mahajana, it has got spiritual power. In your country Mr. Max Mueller is very famous as translator of the Vedas. Many scholars have read the translation of Max Mueller, but nobody could understand the purpose of Vedas, because he’s not in the sampradaya. He’s useless. Similarly, what do Dr. Radhakrishnan or Aurobindo know about Krsna consciousness? Because they are not in the line, they simply tried to exhibit their erudite scholarship. If you have got a very fertile brain for manufacturing concocted ideas, that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to understand Krsna. It is not possible. Only one who is favored by Krsna and His confidential devotee can understand Krsna. Therefore Prahlada Maharaja is giving warning that “I shall recite the narration of Your pastime which is composed by Brahma.” That is the secret of success. We should not indulge in literature, or a literary career, which is never touched by the mahajana. Why you are giving so much stress on Bhagavad-gita as it is? Because it is spoken by Krsna. Similarly, anything written by Krsna's pure devotee, that is important. Otherwise it’s not important. Reading books is very good, but it must be written by authorities. Otherwise, if you read the newspaper or ordinary books, that kind of reading is simply a waste of time. But if we read authorized literature, what will happen? We shall be free from material entanglement. These literatures are enjoyed by the paramahamsas. Paramahamsa means they have kicked out the material things, but they have taken Krsna. Those who are in Krsna consciousness are being trained up to become hamsa, or swans. They don’t care for anything material. They are concerned with Krsna. What is the process? - devotional service. If you are engaged in devotional service anywhere, you are with Krsna. If one has got a sincere desire to serve Krsna in any position, in any body, in any circumstance, he is a paramahamsa. So we have to take shelter of such person. If we associate with hamsas, pure devotees, then our life will be successful. We shall very easily cross over this ocean of nescience. Sometimes we are so-called happy by getting desirable things, and mostly we are unhappy, associating with undesirable things. In order to save ourselves from these opposing elements, the best thing is to be engaged always chanting or reading the pastimes of the Lord. Either we should chant Hare Krsna mantra or we should read our books. Then we’ll be safe from maya. Otherwise, at any time, we’ll be victimized. Thank you very much. ( Class by Srila Prabhupada Feb. 25, 1976)

Knowlede of this world makes an ass of the eternal soul (2)1.bidyara bilase katainu kala, parama sahase ami tomara carana, na bhojinu kobhu, ekhona sarana tumi 2. porite porite, bharasa barilo jnane gati habe mani se asa bifala, se jnana durbala se jnana ajnana jani 3. jada-bidya jato, mayara vaibhava, tomara bhajane badha moha janamiya, anitya somsare, jibake karaye gadha 4. sei gadha ho’ye, somsarera ‘bojha, bhavinu aneka kala bardhakye ekhona, sakti na abhave, kichu nahi lage bhalo 5. jibana jatana, hoilo ekhona, se bidya abidya bhelo abidyara jwala, ghatilo bisama, se bidya hoilo selo 6. tomara carana, bina kichu dhana, somsare na ache ara bhakativinoda, jada-bidya chari tuwa . kare sara Translation Confidently, I spent my time in the pleasures of mundane learning and never worshiped Your Lotus feet, O Lord. Now You are my only shelter. Reading on and on, my hopes grew, for I considered material knowledge to be life’s true path. How fruitless was that hope, and how feeble that knowledge proved to be. I know now that all such knowledge is ignorance. Knowledge of this world is knowledge born of Your illusory energy (maya). It impedes devotional service and makes an ass of the eternal soul by encouraging his infatuation with this temporary world. Here is one such ass who for so long has carried on his back the burden of material existence. Now in my old age, for want of the power to enjoy, nothing pleases me. Life has become agony now, my knowledge has proven itself worthless, and ignorance has penetrated my heart with the intolerable, burning pain of a pointed shaft. O Lord, I seek no other treasure in this world than Your lotus feet. Bhaktivinoda abandons everything to make them the sum and substance of his life.

8.15 suspasta-dainyenatma-vijnaptih - na ninditam karma tad asti loke sahasraso yan na maya vyadhayi so 'ham vipakavasare mukunda krandami sampraty agatis tavagre Sri Yamunacaryasya Heartfelt petition in stark humility - "O Mukunda, there is no offensive activity in this world that I have not performed thousands of times. Now, finally, I have no alternative but to simply weep before You." Sri Yamunacarya

Should I pray as if everything depended on the mercy of Krsna ? And at the same time should I endeavor in a way as if everything depended on me?

The camera phone backlash By Megan Lane BBC News Online Magazine Mobiles with built-in cameras have sparked fears of industrial espionage. And schools, health clubs and strip joints have also banned the devices. Is the lens cap being put on phone snappers? Point, snap, send The booming popularity of camera phones which can snap and instantly send photos - and, with some models, short video clips - have piqued fears about workplace security. The prospect of sensitive information being snapped and sent to other phones, copied to websites or e-mailed to others has prompted the likes of Intel, the phone maker Samsung, the UK's Foreign Office and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories in the United States to go as far as banning camera phones from their buildings. At previews for popular films, reviewers are being asked to leave such gadgets behind, to prevent unauthorised stills being leaked before the release date. Now Sprint, the US phone operator, and the handheld PC manufacturer PalmOne - keen to cater to deep-pocketed clients concerned about industrial espionage - have released a camera-less version of the best-selling Treo 600 smartphone. Although convictions for the misuse of camera phones have so far involved invasion of privacy rather than corporate espionage, those with secrets worth stealing worry that it is a matter of if, not when. Tim Donahue, of Sprint, says those in the fields of finance, government, hi-tech manufacturing, and research and development are most concerned. "They're just scared to death someone might take a photograph of something." Happy snappers Worldwide, more camera phones were sold last year than digital cameras - a first. Sales went up almost five-fold from 2002 to 84 million. Phone snappers are now ubiquitous In some countries, almost every model sold has a built-in camera. In Japan, for instance, it has become next to impossible to take a sneaky pic without someone noticing - people have come to recognise the posture of a phone snapper, which is quite different to that of a talker, gamer or texter. According to Guardian travel writer Gwyn Topham, of all the tourists who annoy others with their cameras, those with phones are the worst offenders. "The simple Camcorder Man is at least a discreet menace compared with the new Mobile Muppet, ignoring all around while holding his phone aloft, trying to capture a grainy image to send to a mate who couldn't care less," he wrote. Some schools ban camera phones And those with concerns about privacy and child protection issues also have a problem with the devices. Some schools, fitness centres and local councils have banned camera phones from their premises, as has an Edinburgh lap dancing club to protect the identities of its workers and clients. Camera phones are banned in Saudi Arabia, and their use is frowned upon in other Middle Eastern nations. In the US, lawmakers are considering a bill banning so-called up-skirt photos and other forms of voyeurism. One possibility is a law forbidding the use of camera-phones operating without the familiar "shutter" noise. And in Italy, the government's information watchdog has issued guidelines on the use of the devices, which state that users can only take photos of people for personal use and must keep the images safe. Phone paranoia Emily Turrettini, of Textually, a website which monitors camera phone trends, says that such paranoia is caused by the gadgets' dual function. Popular model: The Treo 600 "Taking a picture and being able to send it with immediacy - these two technologies combined obviously continue to fuel lawmakers' imagination of worst-case scenarios." While it makes sense to ban all cameras - phone or otherwise - from workplaces with sensitive information, Ms Turrettini says the horror stories about these new gadgets have gained an influence out of all proportion. "It reminds me of the early days of the internet. In 1995, Time magazine ran a cover story about how easy it was to access porn online, and it created a tremendous backlash against the web. "Camera phones can't do anything nearly as dubious as can be done on the internet. But with the internet, we've had time to see that it can do many wonderful things as well." Regardless of bans and clampdowns on the use of such gadgets, the popularity of camera phones seems unlikely to wane Some experts predict that by 2007, almost half of the mobiles sold worldwide will include a camera.

This is from the rants of born-again Krishnites who because of their sentimental approach to Bhagavata dharma have made Srila Prabhupada's teachings fanatical to say the least.They have made Srila Prabhupada to be a Jesus Christ like figure and that all who accept him shall be saved from eternal damnation.Why?

Quote: ------------ The only end to this cycle is grace and forgiveness. Forgivness is the antithesis of resentment and revenge. ----------- Yes Krsna will forgive and forget all the trespasses as we also forgive and forget all those who have trespassed against us. Om Tat Sat Let us go on forever chanting: Hare Hare/Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare/Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare/Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare/ Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare/Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare/Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare/Hare