krsna
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Do not try to discover the nature of Truth by the exercise of your imagination.
Do not endeavor to attain the Truth through experience of this world.
Do not manufacture Truth in order to satisfy your erring inclinations, nor hastily accept anything for the reason that it satisfies such inclinations.
Do not regard as Truth anything that has been “built up,” or has the support of a majority of people like yourself-nor as untruth, anything that is rejected by the overwhelming majority. According to the scriptures there is to be found hardly one in a crore of human beings who really worships the Truth. That which is proclaimed by the united voices of all the people of this world as Truth may turn out to be false. Therefore, cease to confront the Truth in a challenging mood.
The Truth is not brought into existence by such arrogance. One has to approach the Truth in the spirit of absolute submission. It is necessary to listen to Truth. Truth is self-revealing, and it is only when it is pleased to reveal itself that the real nature of the Truth can be known to us, and not otherwise.
In all it minutest details, the conduct of this great teacher of religion corresponds to his teaching. In his personal conduct he never deviates by the breadth of a hair from the truth of Srimad-Bhagavatam to please any individual or body of individuals. He always tries to please only God in the manner that is laid down in Srimad-Bhagavatam. It is in this sense that his conduct is superhuman.
He also never countenances the slightest deviation from the Truth-not even in the most eminent, or dearest and nearest, persons-and holds every single word of the Bhagavatam to outweigh the opinion of all the people of the world. He does not admit that all thinkers and religionists are approaching the Truth by diverse ways. On the contrary, he holds that all so-called truths that pass current in the world point only to a limited ideal formulated by the imagination, and are really untruths and, as such, positive obstacles in the way of the realization of the Truth. This would most certainly seem to be opposed to the judgment of the modern world.
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"Guru does not canvass. Sādhu does not canvass. He automatically, by his qualities, he becomes accepted. Yes." :pray: :pray:
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The distinctiveness of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada’s teachings and practices is all-pervasive, and may be illustrated by a few concrete examples. This is, for instance, what Paramahamsa Thakura says regarding Truth:
Do not try to discover the nature of Truth by the exercise of your imagination.
Do not endeavor to attain the Truth through experience of this world.
Do not manufacture Truth in order to satisfy your erring inclinations, nor hastily accept anything for the reason that it satisfies such inclinations.
Do not regard as Truth anything that has been “built up,” or has the support of a majority of people like yourself-nor as untruth, anything that is rejected by the overwhelming majority. According to the scriptures there is to be found hardly one in a crore of human beings who really worships the Truth. That which is proclaimed by the united voices of all the people of this world as Truth may turn out to be false. Therefore, cease to confront the Truth in a challenging mood.
The Truth is not brought into existence by such arrogance. One has to approach the Truth in the spirit of absolute submission. It is necessary to listen to Truth. Truth is self-revealing, and it is only when it is pleased to reveal itself that the real nature of the Truth can be known to us, and not otherwise.
In all it minutest details, the conduct of this great teacher of religion corresponds to his teaching. In his personal conduct he never deviates by the breadth of a hair from the truth of Srimad-Bhagavatam to please any individual or body of individuals. He always tries to please only God in the manner that is laid down in Srimad-Bhagavatam. It is in this sense that his conduct is superhuman.
He also never countenances the slightest deviation from the Truth-not even in the most eminent, or dearest and nearest, persons-and holds every single word of the Bhagavatam to outweigh the opinion of all the people of the world. He does not admit that all thinkers and religionists are approaching the Truth by diverse ways. On the contrary, he holds that all so-called truths that pass current in the world point only to a limited ideal formulated by the imagination, and are really untruths and, as such, positive obstacles in the way of the realization of the Truth. This would most certainly seem to be opposed to the judgment of the modern world.
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I am Guru and I Want to Die with the Title of Guru
BY: GADADHARA DASA
Dec 28, DALLAS, TEXAS (SUN) — Let us examine the new word jugglery recently put out by the GBC and Satsvarupa dasa Goswami. The GBC statement says:
- "Satsvarupa dasa Goswami (SDG) will assume the status of retired sannyasi and retired disksa guru."
That is pure nonsense. There is no such thing as 'retired Sannyasi' and 'retired Guru'.
The GBC statement says:
- "This means SDG will no longer give initiation nor present himself as an initiating Guru."
SDG says: "YES SIR! Your Honor, Mighty GBC! I will no longer give initiation nor present myself as an initiating guru. --- BUT --- Those who wish to continue as my disciples can hear from me through my books and website, through personal correspondence, and whenever possible, in person."
In other words SDG says (and GBC agrees with): "Wait a minute, Listen folks, I am still Guru, as long as I live. I want to die as a soldier on the battlefield with the title of Guru. That is all, I am truly renounced now, no more disciples please, now you can associate with me freely without any pressure to make you my disciple. After all, I am still worth something. Like they say, a bird at hand is worth two in the bush. Actually the reverse is true in my case: my experience counts and my mistakes have made me stronger. I can help you a lot, a lot, a lot."
SDG writes:
- "In December of 2001, I was at a medical and spiritual low point in my life. I had wanted to tell Pranada Dasi, before I died of my old feelings for her because this was a part of my life. Naively I told her of my prior attachment to her. I did not anticipate the result of my confession, which was a revival of the old feelings."
Excuse Me Sir! Please stop shouting your excuses about your health and claiming to be naive. You are not naive, you were checking her out as to how she will respond. Please spare us from your continuing deceit. You are 68 years old and the end may be very near. It is time to face the truth and speak the truth "AS IS" without coloring it. Your own words say that you grabbed the opportunity as soon as you got little hint from your subject. Read it below:
- "Thus began an illicit and intimate romantic phone, e-mail, and letter exchange lasting over a year. During this year she also visited me three times in Ireland, and during one such visit, there was physical intimacy. "
And:
- "During this time I was diagnosed with anticipatory anxiety disorder. Pranada became involved with my care team since she has some expertise in handling this disorder. Of course, this was a formula for further falldown."
Excuse Me Sir! What was involved in "this formula for further falldown"? What intimacy took place and how many years and/or months it lasted? Open your heart and spell it out.
SDG writes:
- "…but in general I will remain retired from the forefront of ISKCON preaching. I will now voluntarily implement a peer review system for my publishing efforts-presently, I am continuing the series A Poor Man Reads the Bhagavatam, which should go on for the rest of my years."
Excuse Me Sir! Last 30 years you have been into SMARANAM of something else so dear to you. So effectively you retired and renounced preaching 30 years ago. Please stay in the dark as much as you wish, but stop pulling the wool over our eyes. Please give up this madness of writing books. The world knows how good a writer you are.
The GBC writes:
- "Closure: This case concerning SDG's relationship with Pranada is closed and not subject to reinterpretation or reopening as long as the monitor committee report indicates compliance with these agreed upon measures."
The Mighty GBC has the last word. Let us close this chapter quickly and move on. This affair was closed from 1978 to May 2004, that is for 26 years. Then the GBC and SDG had no choice but to say few words, and two letters were posted in May 2004.
Now, it seems that the GBC and SDG had no choice but to give a little more detail. We may not know the full truth, but the following paragraph may be one reason as to why this second letter came out to mollify few more people:
- "When I first wrote about my relationship with Pranada Dasi, I understated the length and seriousness of it. I was frightened and wanted to protect my reputation, Pranada's reputation, and not cause unnecessary damage to the faith of many devotees who counted on me to provide a proper example of Krsna consciousness. In retrospect this was a mistake, and I hope this letter serves to clarify matters."
Excuse Me Sir! Mind your own business. First protect your own reputation by honest thoughts, words, and deeds. Then you do not have to worry about protecting the reputation of any one else.
It is like "pulling teeth" when it comes to finding out truth from the GBC. Now the GBC wants to close this SDG chapter again. For the last 30 years we have gotten a rotten deal -- instead of getting truly renounced leaders, we have gotten all kinds of demons as leaders. We have gotten so many Gundas, Bandits, and Crooks as GBCs. We have gotten so many Rouges, Thugs, and Rascals as Gurus pretending to be Rajarshis. Forty plus Gurus out of 100 or so appointed have been exposed as cheats and crooks.
The good thing is that the Serpent of Eternal Time is exposing and eating alive these deceiving crooks.
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Acharya Ramanuja and His Qualified Monism
BY: DR. C.S. SHAH
<CENTER>
Ramanujacarya Moolavar, Sri Rangam </CENTER>
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 -
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"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.
Such a large hearted and compassionate soul was born at Sriperumbudur (in the southern part of India) in the year A.D. 1017. After Acharya Shankara, Ramanujacharya can be said to have exerted maximum influence on Indian masses through his philosophical doctrine of Vishishthadvaita or qualified Monism. The seemingly dry and abstract conception of Reality of Acharya Shankara overwhelmed average mind, and thus a need was felt of such conception of God as would profess natural love and devotion for Him. Acharya Ramanuja can be said to have fulfilled this demand of the time.
Initially, Ramanuja studied the Scriptures and the Vedanta under the guidance of a great scholar Yadava Prakasha. However, soon they parted their ways, as differences cropped up in their interpretation of the Scriptures. Ramanuja, though young and still a student, showed unusual insight and grasp of the subtleties and nuances of Vedanta, and as if scored over Yadava Prakasha. It is said that the matter took such a turn that the teacher began to hate his pupil and in fact even attempted to assassinate him! Many years later, however, Yadava recognized Ramanuja's greatness, repented, and became his loyal follower.
Ramanuja married in his youth, but he was not happy in his marriage, for in his heart he longed for the time when he might devote himself uninterruptedly to life of worship and meditation. Hence he renounced all worldly ties, took monastic vows and set out to other town (Srirangam) where great sage Yamuna wanted him to live. Ramanujacharya became extremely popular and many spiritual aspirants gathered around him. Here he accepted Goshti Purna as his Guru who initiated him with the sacred Mantra about which we have mentioned in the beginning of the article.
Later Ramanujacharya traveled all over India giving lectures and sermons, engaging in debates and discussions, and thus spreading his interpretation of the Vedas, Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, and the Gita. He wrote commentaries on Brahma Sutras and the Gita along with other original treatises, which advocated his philosophy of devotion to God and His creatures as the highest ideal of human life. It states that the individual soul and insentient matter are distinct from Brahman, but Brahman is the basis of their existence and reality. Ramanujacharya took Maha-Samadhi in the year 1137, at the ripe and fruitful age of 120 years. He is regarded as the greatest saint and philosopher even today.
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.
Vishishtha Advaita or qualified monism of Ramanuja is a philosophy of love and devotion; we can say he propounded Bhakti Yoga as the path to reach the Truth. Therefore it gives a synthetic view of the spiritual experiences of God or Brahman. Heavily depending upon theory of Karma, this philosophy applies the law of cause and effect to moral experiences. It brings to light the inner working of righteousness of God and affirms the impossibility of cruelty and bias in Divine nature. As you sow, so would you reap! This law applies to explain suffering for many and comfort for others. But the Grace of God, the most benevolent being, transfigures the rigorous law of karma and thus His grace or 'kripa' becomes the ruling principle of religion. Thus Ramanuja added concepts of devotion, worship, and faith as new dimensions to Vedanta. Ramanuja does not accept the impersonal and 'attribute-less' Brahman of Shankara, but rather an eternal personal Brahman, the repository of all blessed qualities.
Qualified non-dualists believe that God is the cause and the universe its effect, but as the effect can't be different from the cause, God is immanent in whole universe. Like the spider, God projects the whole universe from within Himself and therefore can withdraw it in Himself. Similarly, God can reach anywhere, as the spider reaches anywhere in the web. As from the blazing fire, fly millions of sparks of the same nature; even so from this Infinite Being -God- these souls have come. Instead of Maya, here we can say, that Ramanujacharya posits creative Power or Shakti of God. The main theme is that it is Brahman Itself who has become this whole universe. Thus Ramanuja accepts the reality of cosmos/universe/world as the manifestation of Brahman, differing here with Maya theory of Shankara. Here it must be made clear that Shankaracharya did not reject the manifest world as non-existent, but he called it 'relatively real' and not absolutely real. This concept is based on the differing definitions of knowledge given by Shankara and Ramanuja. As Swami Prabhavananda says in the book, The Spiritual Heritage of India:
"According to Shankara knowledge is self-luminous, light itself. It illumines objects of knowledge, and is therefore apart from and beyond the relation of subject and object. Relative knowledge is not true knowledge; it is not pure consciousness, though grounded upon it. Knowledge, by itself, is absolute. It is the Atman; Light itself. Relative knowledge is infinite knowledge made finite."
Shankaracharya discusses the question of reality of individual soul, this world, and Ishwara from this point of view, and labels them as illusory. He introduces the concept of primordial Ignorance - avidya - that deludes the human being in seeing the multifarious world when there is none! Final Liberation comes when this knowledge of unity of individual soul and eternal Soul is established through discrimination and dawning of universal intuition, transcendental oneness with Knowledge. Shankara is strong proponent of Jnana Yoga. The difference also alludes to one of the controversial aspects of interpretation of scriptures as far as relation between karma and knowledge is concerned. For Acharya Shankara the Highest Knowledge and the karma are antithetical to one another, while others, like Ramanujacharya and Vallabhacharya appear to disagree with him. Shankaracharya insists that the knower of Brahman, Brahmajnani, is free from all karma, both in their aspects of the effect on and the necessity for the realized soul.
"Ramanuja, on the other hand, does not take into consideration knowledge that is self-luminous and absolute. Knowledge, he declares, is always relative, and in it there is always a distinction between subject and object. In short, Ramanuja does not admit nirvikalpa samadhi, the unitary consciousness, the experience of the Self as one with Brahman."
For Ramanuja savikalpa samadhi is the highest transcendental experience that the Jiva can have. His Vedanta also emphasizes the pre-requisites such as –
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1. Approaching the Guru with due humility, who is established in the Knowledge of Brahman, and learning from him that vidya,
2. Giving up all attachments to this world and the next, and 3. Grace of the Lord to attain to the transcendental knowledge, in addition to the scriptural studies and sadhana.
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From "Anartha-nivrtti" by Sripad Bhakti Gaurava Narasingha Maharaja,
In Bhakti-sandarbha, Srila Jiva Gosvami outlines the gradual process to spiritual realization:
<DIR>"prathamam namnah sravanam antahkarana-suddhy-artham apeksyam suddhe cantah-karane rupa-sravanena tad-udaya-yoyata bhavati / samyag-udite ca rupe gunanam sphuranam sampadyate / sampanne ca gunanam sphurane parikara-vaisistyena tad-vaisistyam sampadyate / tatas tesu nama-rupa-guna-parikaresu samyak sphuritesu lilanam sphuranam susthu bhavati /
"First it is expected that one should hear the Lord's names in order to purify the heart. Once the mind and intelligence have been purified in this way, one can hear about Krsna's form, through which one's qualification to visualize it is obtained. When the form of the Lord has been clearly visualized, one can experience His qualities. Once these have been clearly understood, one develops one's own individual spiritual characteristics through the particular characteristics of the Lord's associates. Thus, once the name, form, qualities and associates of the Lord have been realized, a clear realization of Krsna's activities will follow."
</DIR>Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura confirms:
<DIR>adhikara avicara rupanuga kore na, anartha-anvita dase rasa-siksa deya na
"The followers of Sri Rupa Gosvami are never neglectful in assessing anyone's spiritual qualifications. The followers of Sri Rupa never instruct a servant who is engrossed in material impediments about the science of rasa (intimate devotional mellows)." (Prakrta-rasa-sata-dushini)
rati age, sraddha pache rupanuga bole na, krama patha chadi siddhi rupanuga bole na
"The followers of Sri Rupa never preach that transcendental attachment is reached before one develops pure faith. The rupanugas never teach that the perfection of devotion can be reached by abandoning the consecutive order of developmental stages on the path." (Prakrta-rasa-sata-dushini)
sadhana chadile bhava udaya to haya na, raganuga janile-i sadhana to chade na
"If the preliminary practices of devotional service (sadhana) are neglected, then the awakening of ecstatic emotions (bhava) can never occur. Even one who has attained realization of spontaneous devotional service (raganuga-bhakti) should never give up practicing the regulative principles of devotional service"." (Prakrta-rasa-sata-dushini)
nice quote about not jumping...without undergoing anartha-nivrtti...to the higher levels of KC... </DIR>
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The true story of a follower of Jesus who prayed to Him to be used in God’s plan
The true story of a follower of Jesus who prayed to Him to be used in God's plan
<!-- end .post-top --><!-- the main section of the post goes here -->This is the story of one young man who eventually became a devotee of Krishna by first going into the main Cathedral in Melbourne to pray to Jesus in 1972.
By Rod Davis
When this young man entered the Church as a last resort to find some meaning and purpose to life, he went down on his knees in total helplessness and, with tears in his eyes, prayed to Jesus, “Please use me in your service, in your plan, my life is now useless, it is better you use me in your plan to spread God Consciousness” He prayed like this for about an hour, then to his suprise, a young devotee in saffron robes walked in the Church (Shyamananda dasa is a brilliant artist who was admiring the various paintings there). This young man was very movement by the devotee’s simplicity and knew the mumbling he was hearing must be like the rosary, he was chanting the names of God. This young man took this as a gift and message to his prayers from Jesus, who was showing him the way. This young man was amazed and without knowing anything about Krishna, he still has tears in his eyes seeing this young devotee. He never took his eyes off Shyamananda dasa. When the devotee left, the young man followed him out and watched what he thought was one of Gods angles, walk up the street.
The young man then walked no more than ten yards up Swanston st, when a bubbling young girl in her mid teens (Krsnapremi dasi) approached him in a beautiful sari with flowers in her hair “Hari Bol'’ she said, then continued. ” I’m with the Hare Krishna Movement and here is our magazine Back to Godhead, we are having a love feast tomorrow, come along and experience the ecstasy of Krishna Consciousness! This young man was blown away, as they used to say back then, he was thrilled and truly believed Jesus had answered his prayers.
Probably the most astonishing thing was when he turned up the next day
(February 18th 1972); it was Lord Caitanya’s appearance day. He even played the part of Hari dasa Thakur in a play (because he had a beard) where Lord Nityananda was hit on the head with a clay pot.
Lord Caitanya (played by Kurma dasa instructed Nityananda Prabhu (played by Ajita dasa) and Haridasa Thakur (played by the young man who only the day before was praying in a Church for direction from Jesus) to go to everyone’s house in Nadia and request them to chant Krishna’s name. The two great devotees eagerly set forth and began to knock on each and every door with the request, “please chant Krishna’s name, worship Krishna and teach others about Krishna.” They were happily received by the pious people, while the envious would blaspheme them.
Completely unconcerned by favourable or unfavourable reactions they proceeded around the town. In Nadia there lived two very sinful brothers called Jagai and Madhai. (Played by Upananda dasa and Sanak dasa) Jagai and Madhai were born in pious Brahman families however, due to bad association they had become meat eaters, drunkards, thieves and arsonists. There was no crime that they had not committed, including the most abominable sin of killing cows and Brahmans. The entire town was terrified of these two persons who seemed to be the very personification of all sinful activities.
On the day Nityananda Prabhu and Haridasa Thakur were moving in the town, these two brothers, completely intoxicated were alternatively fighting and embracing each other. After observing them for some time Nityananda Prabhu compassionately decided to deliver them and thus approached them.
Despite the warnings of the town people Lord Nityananda and Haridasa Thakur, approached the two drunkards instructing them to chant the holy name of the Lord. Hearing these words the two sinners looked up and seeing the two saintly figures roared in anger. They leapt up and ran to catch the two sannyasis. The two devotees fled at the sight of the attacking brothers. Apparently terrified they shouted, “Krishna! Save us!! Govinda!,” and ran.
The two brothers wandered off in their drunken condition along the banks of the Ganga where Caitanya Mahaprabhu bathed. Constantly drunk, they started harassing and terrorizing the devotees. Eventually Nityananda and Haridasa went to the Ganges to see Lord Caitanya however they were again accosted by the two brothers. On seeing Lord Nityananda, Madhai became furious and struck Him with a broken earthen pot. When Jagai saw the blood flowing from the wound, he became compassionate and restrained his brother. While Nityananda Prabhu patiently stood, looking at the brothers with compassion, tolerating the pain and humiliation, Haridasa ran to tell Caitanya Mahaprabhu about the incident.
Hearing that Nityananda Prabhu had been hurt by the brothers, Caitanya Mahaprabhu ran towards them with the intention to kill them. He summoned His chakra which looked like death personified to the two terrified brothers. However Nityananda Prabhu quickly intervened and begged Caitanya Mahaprabhu to stop. He reminded Him of His mission to kill the sinners by saturating them with love of Godhead. Thus appeased the Lord took back His chakra.
Nityananda Prabhu told Caitanya Mahaprabhu that it was Jagai who had saved Him from further harm at Madhai’s hand. Hearing this Caitanya Mahaprabhu said to Jagai, “By protecting Nityananda you have purchased Me. You may ask any desire you have in your heart. From today on you will have pure love and devotion for Krishna” Hearing this Jagai fell at the feet of the two Lords and grasping the feet of Caitanya Mahaprabhu wept.
Seeing the wonderful transformation in his brother, a remorseful Madhai begged for the mercy of the Lord. However, since he had committed the worst of all offences, that of attacking a Vaishnava, the Lord did not even consider all his pitiful pleas for mercy.
Only after Madhai grasped the feet of Nityananda Prabhu and received His mercy did Caitanya Mahaprabhu agree to deliver Madhai also.
That night the young man who took directions from Jesus, joined the Temple and eventually become initiated by Srila Prabhupada. To this very day he is thankful to Jesus who directed him to Srila Prabhupada who in turn began teaching him about Krishna’s pastimes.
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This could be true that "Krishna consciousness" was invented by Paramahamsa Yogananda but since Paramahamsa Yogananda and Swami Yuktesvar consider Krishna not as cause of all causes but as temporary manifestion of the Brahman, they are Brahma-vadis. Therefore, their understanding of "Krishna consciousness" is different than the understanding of the Vaishnavas who consider Krishna as original cause of all causes. Therefore Prabhupada is the first using the term "Krishna-consciousness" according Vaishnava understanding - Krishna is the eternal shelter of all living entities. :pray: :pray:
:namaskar: :namaskar: :namaskar: :namaskar: :namaskar: :namaskar: -
Srila Prabhupada is quoted in the book Journey to Self-Discovery:
"In another verse, Rupa Gosvami says, krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matih kriyatau yadi kuto ’pi labhyate. I have translated the words Krsna consciousness from krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita. Here Rupa Gosvami advises, 'If Krsna consciousness is available, please purchase it immediately. Don’t delay.' It is a very nice thing."
Also, in Vrndavana, March 13, 1974,
Prabhupada stated: "Rupa Gosvami advised, krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matih kriyatam yadi kuto ’pi labhyate. He advises that, 'If Krsna consciousness is available, you should purchase it. You should purchase it anywhere it is available.'"
In Seattle, Washington, Oct. 4, 1968, Srila Prabhupada stated: "Krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matih. Matih means intelligence or status of mind, that 'I’ll serve Krsna.' If you can purchase this status of mind anywhere, please immediately purchase it.":pray:
:pray: -
It is about always being in love with KRSNA 100% and swimming in that love!!!
KRSNA is LOVE Personified.
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By Srutadeva das“ISKCON, with all thy faults, I love thee”
In May of 2006, a young man who had been born into a family of devotees, who had gone to and been abused at different ISKCON gurukulas in the 70’s and 80’s, committed suicide. A huge outpouring of emotion surged through the Vaishnava community, especially on the internet. On the Chakra website, in addressing abuse in ISKCON, someone wrote:
“How can somebody take disksha from Prabhupada, chant for many years, study the shastra for many years, and end up abusing their power like this? How can somebody who associated with Prabhupada personally so much, who was personally given sannyas by Prabhupada and who was glorified by Prabhupada, end up abusing his power so much? (I’m referring to ‘Kirtanananda Swami’ in particular.) How can I have faith anymore that Prabhupada was a pure devotee? I don’t want to offend anybody, but this is how I am really thinking and feeling right now. My faith in ISKCON is almost finished, and my faith in Prabhupada and Krishna is slipping.”
In a response, another devotee wrote:
“This is possible because contrary to mass opinion in ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada was not superhuman. Although he was amazingly accurate in assessing people’s character, he was not infallible. He was capable of making an error of judgment, of putting the wrong people in charge of our movement and in charge of our schools. The reason for this is the limitations inherent in the jiva soul - they include him not being omniscient, thus there is the possibility of him making a mistake. That freedom from error is in relation to the philosophy, as the liberated soul never changes it and thus presents it as it is - perfectly- and without error.”
The first devotee brings up some very important questions and honestly reveals having a crisis of faith. How could someone who had such close association with Srila Prabhupada falldown from his spiritual practices? How could someone who is chanting Hare Krishna regularly and following the practices of Krsna consciousness become an abusive person? I am sure we have all pondered these heart-wrenching questions at one time or another. There is an interesting word - iatrogenic. This term is defined as “induced inadvertently by a physician or surgeon or by medical treatment or diagnostic procedures.” It is used especially in relation to a complication of treatment. It is estimated that in the United States alone, 250,000 deaths per year are attributed to iatrogenic causes. That would put doctors and hospitals as the third leading cause of death in the US! So not everyone who goes to a doctor or a hospital walks out a perfectly cured person. Similarly, this Krsna consciousness movement is a hospital for the diseased souls of Kali-yuga. It is a very difficult job to become free from the diseased condition.
Certainly I don’t think anyone involved in ISKCON will disagree that there is much room for improvement. But let us not subsribe to the logic of “give the dog a bad name and hang it.” Because there have been many problems within ISKCON, some of an extremely serious nature, that does not mean that the whole purpose and mission of ISKCON has been a failure. As for Srila Prabhupada, to understand his words, actions and decisions, one must have a fairly deep understanding and appreciation for Vaishnava culture and philosophy and also the time and place in which Srila Prabhupada was preaching.
ISKCON’s Mission
First of all, what is the purpose of ISKCON? Of course, Srila Prabhupada wrote down his seven purposes of ISKCON. But to summarize, if that is acceptable to our readers, Srila Prabhupada’s sole mission in life was, as was his spiritual master’s and his spiritual master’s before him, the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, to help the fallen conditioned souls who are rotting within this material world by teaching them the process of Krsna consciousness, devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna. Not only teaching, but benedicting and practically forcing them in one way or other to get some transcendental benefit. Something to change the terrible downward course of their sinful, Kali-yuga existences.
Krsna Himself states in Bhagavad-gita:
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.
PURPORT
Activity in Krsna consciousness, or acting for the benefit of Krsna without expectation of sense gratification, is the highest transcendental quality of work… One percent done in Krsna consciousness bears permanent results, so that the next beginning is from the point of two percent, whereas in material activity without a hundred percent success there is no profit. Ajamila performed his duty in some percentage of Krsna consciousness, but the result he enjoyed at the end was a hundred percent, by the grace of the Lord. There is a nice verse in this connection in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.17):
“If someone gives up his occupational duties and works in Krsna consciousness and then falls down on account of not completing his work, what loss is there on his part? And what can one gain if one performs his material activities perfectly?”
(Bhagavad-gita 2.40)
And in the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta it is said:
“My dear Thakura Haridasa, in this Age of Kali most people are bereft of Vedic culture, and therefore they are called yavanas. They are concerned only with killing cows and brahminical culture. In this way they all engage in sinful acts. How will these yavanas be delivered? To My great unhappiness, I do not see any way.”
PURPORT
Those who are following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu should take the Lord’s mission most seriously. In this Age of Kali, people are gradually becoming less than animals. Nevertheless, although they are eating the flesh of cows and are envious of brahminical culture, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is considering how to deliver them from this horrible condition of life. Unfortunately, even some so-called Vaishnavas enviously refuse to cooperate with this movement but instead condemn it in so many ways. We are very sorry to say that these people try to find fault with us, being unnecessarily envious of our activities, although we are trying to the best of our ability to introduce the Krsna consciousness movement directly into the countries of the yavanas and mlecchas. Such yavanas and mlecchas are coming to us and becoming purified Vaishnavas who follow in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One who identifies himself as a follower of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu should feel like Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who said, “How will all these yavanas be delivered?” Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was always anxious to deliver the fallen souls because their fallen condition gave Him great unhappiness. That is the platform on which one can propagate the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Haridasa Thakura replied, “My dear Lord, do not be in anxiety. Do not be unhappy to see the condition of the yavanas in material existence.
PURPORT
These words of Haridasa Thakura are just befitting a devotee who has dedicated his life and soul to the service of the Lord. When the Lord is unhappy because of the condition of the fallen souls, the devotee consoles Him, saying, “My dear Lord, do not be in anxiety.” This is service. Everyone should adopt the cause of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to try to relieve Him from the anxiety He feels. This is actually service to the Lord. One who tries to relieve Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s anxiety for the fallen souls is certainly a most dear and confidential devotee of the Lord. To blaspheme such a devotee who is trying his best to spread the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the greatest offense. One who does so is simply awaiting punishment for his envy.
“Because the yavanas are accustomed to saying ‘ha rama, ha rama’ [‘O Lord Ramacandra’], they will very easily be delivered by this namabhasa. A devotee in advanced ecstatic love exclaims, ‘O my Lord Ramacandra! O my Lord Ramacandra!’ But the yavanas also chant, ‘ha rama, ha rama!’ Just see their good fortune! Namacarya Haridasa Thakura, the authority on the chanting of the holy name, said, “The chanting of the Lord’s holy name to indicate something other than the Lord is an instance of namabhasa. Even when the holy name is chanted in this way, its transcendental power is not destroyed. Even a mleccha who is being killed by the tusk of a boar and who cries in distress again and again, “ha rama, ha rama” attains liberation. What then to speak of those who chant the holy name with veneration and faith?’ Ajamila was a great sinner during his life, but at the time of death he accidentally called for his youngest son, whose name was Narayana, and the attendants of Lord Visnu came to relieve him from the bonds of Yamaraja, the superintendent of death.
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - Antya 3.51-57)
Srila Prabhupada:
The mahatmas are always ready to render such service to the Lord with great determination. In this regard His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura once made this comment in a lecture:
“The neophyte Vaishnava devotees’ ringing the bell even once during worship of the Deity of the Supreme Lord is a million times more valuable, spiritually and otherwise, than the charitable fruitive workers building many hospitals, feeding thousands of the poor, or building homes, or even the empirical philosophers’ Vedic studies, meditation, austerities, and penances.”
(Renunciation Through Wisdom)
These are the Bhagavata. There is no comparison. There is no literature throughout the universe like Srimad-Bhagavatam. There is no comparison. There is no competition. Every word is for the good of the human society. Every word, each and every word. Therefore we stress so much in the book distribution. Somehow or other, if the book goes in one hand, he will be benefited. At least he will see, “Oh, they have taken so much price. Let me see what is there.” If he reads one sloka, his life will be successful. If one sloka, one word. This is such nice things.
(Lecture – Los Angeles, January 1974)
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Jagadisa: (translation) "I have killed many friends of women, and I have thus caused enmity to such an extent that it is not possible to undo it by material welfare work."
Prabhupada: So here is a special reference to the woman, strinam. Previously there was reference bala-dvija. Eh? Previous verse? Bala-dvija-suhrn-mitra-pitr-bhratr-guru-druhah. Bala. Bala means children. Dvija. Dvija means brahmana or Vaisnava, who are fully engaged in the matter of cultivating spiritual knowledge. Brahma janatiti brahmanah. One who knows what is Absolute Truth, Brahman.
So children, brahmana, and here it is said stri, woman. According to Vedic politics, the children and brahmana, old men and woman, they have no fault. They are out of all laws of the state. Their fault will never be taken as seriously. They are innocent. They require protection. Now the agitation is that woman should have equal rights with man. So that is not Vedic idea. Vedic idea is that woman should be always protected. She is not independent. Just like child. All these children, their mother is always attentive. Child is going here; she is taking care. So that dependence is required. If the child says, "I am independent," that is not for his profit. The child must be taken care of. That is good. Similarly, woman also. Just like old man like us, I am always taken care of. Similarly, a brahmana also should be taken care of, first consideration. First protection, brahmana, saintly person. That is civilization. That is human society. Not that the children, women and the brahmanas should be treated like cats and dogs. No, that is not civilization.
So Maharaja Yudhisthira is very much repentant: "I have killed so many men, and they are, some of them are father, some of them are brother, some of them are sons, some of them are husbands of the women. And because I have killed them, now this woman class, they have become friendless." So he is... Just see how much he is aggrieved, thinking of the condition of the woman. And people accuse that India, woman are considered just like slaves. Just see. The king is thinking of woman so seriously, and is it a fact that in India woman is taken as slaves? Who cares for the slaves? So much anxiety. And that is king. Yes. A king shall give protection to everyone, especially those who are helpless.
So woman is protected in childhood by the father, and when she is grown-up girl, youth, although the father is ready to give her protection in every respect, but she has developed by that time sex desires. Under the circumstances, it is the duty of the father to hand over the girl to a nice young boy to take her protection. This is marriage. Kanya-dana. According to Vedic system, kanya, means daughter, is given in charity. To find out a suitable... Practically, I'll say, in our childhood age, my sisters were married between nine to twelve years. My eldest sister was married when she was nine years old, before my birth. She is the eldest. And my second sister was married at the age of twelve, twelve years. And my third sister was married at the age of (indistinct) years. So by the (indistinct) years, the marriage must be finished. That was the duty of the father. I remember, because my second sister was going twelve years, my mother said to my father that "I shall go to the river and commit suicide. The daughter is not married." (laughter) You see. The father was very sorry, "Yes, I am trying. What can I do?" (laughter) And then next generation, when my... I was also married man, you know. I was married when my wife was only eleven years old. And at the age of fourteen years she gave birth to first child. And next generation, when my eldest daughter was married at the age of sixteen years -- it is little increased -- but I was also very much upset that the daughter is sixteen years old.
But now things have changed. Nobody cares whether the daughter is married or not. But that is not good. Another difficulty is that everywhere, all over the world, the female population is greater than, on the average, than male population. So if each and every woman has to be married, then there is no sufficient number of male population. Therefore, according to Vedic rituals, those who are higher caste, just like the ksatriyas or the brahmanas, especially, others also, polygamy is allowed. Polygamy is allowed. Just like our most exalted personality, Krsna, He has married sixteen thousand wives. He is God. (laughter) Unless you have got so many wives, how you can be God? Not that sixteen thousand wives, one wife is to be seen one day, so that the turn will come after sixteen thousand days. No. That is God. He expanded Himself into sixteen thousand forms also, so that every wife was happy to live with the husband. And for Krsna, why sixteen thousand? If He marries sixteen millions, still, it is not sufficient. Because in the Bhagavad-gita it is said, isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati: [bg. 18.61] "The Supreme Lord is situated in the heart of all living entities." So all living entities, if Krsna can expand Himself to live in the heart of all living entities, and from the heart He comes out to become some woman's husband, is it very difficult for Krsna? That is not difficult.
Anyway, the point is that Maharaja Yudhisthira, he, how responsible king, just think over. Arjuna was also thinking before fighting. He was arguing with Krsna that "If I kill my brothers, all the my sister-in-laws, they'll be widow." And there was no such thing as widow-marriage in India. No. No widow can marry. Why? Because the woman population is greater than the man. If widow again marries, then the unmarried girl does not get chance to have another husband. Therefore there was no widow-marriage. Widow-marriage was especially allowed only when the girl did not see her husband at any time or she had no children. Formerly, in our days, younger days, although the girl was married at an early age, she was not allowed to see her husband unless she is grown-up fully. Unless she has attained puberty, she is not... She lives with her parents. But she knows that "I have got my husband." This consciousness is a great pleasure for a women psychologically, that "I have got husband." A very nice system. And when the girl grows up, puberty, then again another ceremony is taken. That is almost like second marriage. The girl goes to her husband, to live with her husband. This was the system.
So women were taken so much care by the Vedic civilization. Still they are taken. It is the duty of the father... Until she is married, it is the duty of the father to give her all protection. Therefore the father wants to get her married, to get relief from the responsibility. He has a great responsibility. It is called kanya-daya. Actually the word is called kanya-daya. Putra-rna. Rna means debt. If you are debtor to somebody you may not pay it, saying, "Sir, I have no money. Whatever you like, you can do." But daya means a great burden. It must be get relieved of. Daya means a great responsibility. Daya. Daya-bhak. Just like a son inherits the property of the father... It is called daya-bhak, law. Similarly, this is the, I mean to say, most obligatory duty of the father, to get the daughter married. And then it is the duty of the husband next. Just like we get... When we perform marriage ceremony in our society, we get the husband promise that he takes charge of the girl for life. And the girl agrees to serve the boy for life. There is no question of divorce.
So the father hands over the charge to a nice boy. Never mind he is rich or no. That doesn't matter. He must be a responsible boy, who knows his responsibility. Not that "Today I marry, and tomorrow I go away. That's all." Not like that. Still you will find in India, even the poorest man, living with husband and wife very happily. Still you will find. I have seen (in) Ahmedabad. One day I saw in the street one husband and wife pulling on a thela, hand-cart, with great load, and the small child is on the load. That means their child. They are laborer class. But ordinary laborer class, poor man, but they are living husband and wife and children happily. Still.
So marriage is very compulsory in Vedic system because who is to take charge of the woman? They require protection. The father must take charge naturally, or the husband. And when she is old... Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu was taking charge of His widow mother. So when He took sannyasa, so mother became very much upset: "Oh, that I have no husband, and this boy is going to take sannyasa." Naturally. But that is a different case. For Krsna's sake, we can forsake our obligatory duties. For Krsna's sake. In the sastra it is said that one who has fully surrendered to Krsna, he has no more any material duty. Neither he has got any obligation that he must perform. But so long he is not fully surrendered to Krsna, he has to execute each and every duty as obligatory.
So the point is that Yudhisthira Maharaja, how much responsible king he was, that for ordinary woman, the soldiers... Take for... Soldiers or officers, commander-in-chief, they all died. Now he is thinking of their welfare activities, how to give protection to these woman. Just imagine how much responsible king. And he is thinking in this way, that "The sinful activity which I have done in this connection by killing their husbands or sons or father, even if I give some donation as welfare..." Just like in your country there is welfare department. All these helpless girls are given some donation. He says, "That is not sufficient. That... By that way, I cannot compensate what harm I have done to them." That is... That is his con... "Even if I give some money, donation, they'll not be happy, because they have lost their protection." This is called responsible king. How much they are thinking. And similarly he was thinking for the children.
Naturally... I have sometimes told you that we have got one Godbrother, German. He said that in the last war, in the first war, which started in 1914, so all the men were killed everywhere. And the women, they went to the church, either as wife or as sister or as daughter or as mother. Naturally, they prayed for their relatives to come back. But who is coming back? They were all dead. So they became atheist, that "There is no God." Because they prayed for their relatives to come back... So that is our position. We want to worship God if He becomes my order-supplier. "I will order and He will supply. Otherwise there is no God. I don't care for this nonsense God. He must satisfy my senses. I want this, and You must satisfy." Just like the Communists, they ask people in general to go to the church, and they say, "Now pray." So the Christian prayer, "O God, give us our daily bread." So when they come out, the Communist leaders, they ask, "Have you got bread?No, sir.You ask us." They ask, "O my Communist friend, give me the bread.Take bread, as many as you like."
So common men, they think that bread is coming from these rascals. But actually, bread is coming from God. So because God could not supply the bread in the church, they become Communists. This is the position. They take God as some solace, what is called, opium? Opiate. Yes. When there is no other source... And the whole over the world, they do not know, actually, what is God, what is our relationship with, what is God's function. That you will find only in Krsna consciousness movement. That we can say very proudly. What is God, what is the philosophy, what He is doing, what is His name, what is His address, what is His father's name -- we know everything. (laughter) That is our position.
So a king must be very responsible for the citizens how they are happy. So Yudhisthira Maharaja was that type of king. Every king was like that. It was the duty of the king to see. You have read already that during Yudhisthira Maharaja's time there was no excessive heat or excessive cold, neither there was disease in the country. Because the king was so perfect, so pious, so God-conscious, that these things would not disturb. And the citizens, also, would abide by the orders of the king. So everything was very peaceful. Very peaceful. So without king, not like the present government officers, all rogues and simply take taxes and let the citizens go to hell. There is no protection for anyone, either for the children, either for the brahmanas or for the women. No protection. "You go to hell. If you like, we can give you some contribution. That's all." No. The king must be so responsible that he should see to the comfort of the citizens, especially the brahmanas, the children and the women. This was the duty of the king.
Go on reading. Grhamedhi, the purport, grhamedhi.
Pradyumna: "The grhamedhis are those whose only business is to perform welfare work for the sake of material prosperity. Such material prosperity is sometimes hampered by sinful activities, and the materialist is sure to commit sins even unintentionally in the course of discharging material duties. To get relief from such sinful reactions, the Vedas prescribe several kinds of sacrifices. It is said in the Vedas that by performing the asvamedha-yajna, or horse sacrifice, one can get relief from even brahma-hatya, the killing of a brahmana. Yudhisthira Maharaja performed this asvamedha-yajna, but he thinks that even by performing such yajnas it is not possible to get relief from the great sins committed."
Prabhupada: Yes. Suppose you have done something wrong. So the court fines you, "Oh, you have done this wrong." Just like one man knocked some of our student, and he died, and then he was fined twenty thousand dollars, like that. So everyone knows that "If I knock somebody or kill somebody, there is motor accident, there will be so much trouble." And when there is trouble, actually, they go and fine some fine. But the accident is going on. Nobody is careful. So that is the position. Unless one is careful to his sense that "Why should I drive so fiercely or without any care that others may be injured, my car will be injured? Why shall I created this trouble? Let me drive the car very conscientiously..." So that is required. Simply atonement, or giving fine for some misdeed, that is not sufficient. One should be awakened to his knowledge about his responsibility.
So this grhamedhi... There are two words: grhamedhi and grhastha. I have explained many times. Grhamedhi has no philosophy. He is like cats and dog. Every animal has also family, wife, children. So those who have no responsibility in life, no Krsna consciousness, they are called grhamedhis, and those who live with family, wife and children, but have got this sense of responsibility, that "I am meant for developing my dormant Krsna consciousness," they are called grhasthas. So there is two words. So don't become grhamedhis, simply having a wife and few children. That, cats and dogs they have also got. That is not required. You find inconvenience to live alone as brahmacari -- all right, you take to a wife. Live with wife. Live responsibly. Develop Krsna consciousness. That is grhastha. Not that grhastha like cats and dogs.
Thank you very much. (end)
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.51 -- Los Angeles, May 13, 1973
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #666666 1px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 3ex; BORDER-TOP: #666666 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 3ex; BORDER-LEFT: #666666 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #666666 1px solid" bgColor=#e0e0e0>Originally Posted by Kulapavana
the concept where one can not be a madhyama-adhikari unless one has been a successful preacher needs to be properly understood.
Srila Gaurakishora Babaji did not "preach" yet people were transformed spiritually by his very presence.
the idea that unless one has so many disciples one is not qualified to be an acharya is very superficial. better to have one good disciple then 1000 offenders to the Vaishnavas, or 1000 disciples which turn people against Vaishnavism. better to train just a few nice Vaishnavas. quality over quantity.
Chairman Mao had millions of blind followers, but their legacy was simply more misery.
Some of the people I have met in life who call themselves followers of Prabhupada bring him no glory, and no credit. they are the ones who turned millions of people against Vaishnavism. If preaching makes real devotees then it can be called spreading the sankirtana movement. If you make pretenders and offenders, that is simply making propaganda.
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kula tells it like it is.
soooo heavy.
but the truth is the truth!
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"Sometimes a diksa-guru is not present always. Therefore one can take learning, instruction, from an advanced devotee. That is called the siksa-guru."
(Srila Prabhupada: lecture - Bhagavad-gita 17.1-3, Honolulu, 07/04/73)
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Forgiveness
Forgiveness is letting go of the pain and accepting what has happened, because it will not change.
Forgiveness is dismissing the blame. Choices were made that caused the hurt; we each could have chosen differently, but we didn’t.
Forgiveness is looking at the pain, learning the lesson it has produced, and understanding what we have learned.
[url="http://www.indiadivine.org/audarya/"]
Forgiveness allows us to move on toward a better understanding of universal love and our true purpose.
Forgiveness is knowing that love is the answer too all questions, and that we all are in some way connected.
Forgiveness is starting over with knowledge that we have gained.
It is saying: “I forgive you, and I forgive myself. I hope you can do the same.”
- Judith Mammay
Ten Things to Remember
When Your Feelings
Have Been Trampled On
1. Whether it’s a family member, somebody at work, or your best friend who’s hurt you badly, put yourself in their shoes and treat them the way you would want to be treated, even if they don’t deserve it.
2. If you’ve heard something you didn’t want to be hear, remember it may not be 100% true. So lighten up. If it’s not urgent, put off thinking about it for a couple of days. Forgive the person who wronged you; don’t forget, you’re doing this for yourself, too. Prove to yourself that you can practice what you believe. Try to be as understanding of others as you would want them to be of you.
3. There will always be losers and winners. Act according to how you want to feel about yourself when all is said and done. Don’t judge what others do if you don’t want them to judge you.
4. Remember, what other people do is their responsibility. Don’t let them cause you to carry a grudge and let their actions weigh you down. They are not responsible for your actions, no matter what they do. You are.
5. If someone has said something untrue about you or done something intentionally to hurt you, wish good things for that person – even if you don’t feel like it. Ask for them what you desire for yourself, and it will draw those things to you.
6. If you’ve made a mistake or disappointed yourself or others, apologize quickly and earnestly; that’s all you can do. Let your remorse teach you how to have compassion for others when they make mistakes. Nobody’s perfect, even though we all try to be. If someone can’t accept your apology, that’s okay, too. Just do the right thing and go on.
7. Talk less and listen more; you could learn something about others and about yourself. If you feel like yelling, go outside and throw rocks on the cement instead. Take a walk or, better yet, sing… it will put a melody back in your life.
8. If you think someone is making fun of you or someone you love, disarm them, not with your fist, but with your best smile. Give them something they don’t know how to give. Speak to them; be bold. Ask that they be blessed and you’ll be blessed, too. Forgiveness is a powerful thing; it will help your body and soul. Don’t let anyone cause you to act they way they’ve acted toward you, and remember that they have a right to do whatever they choose also.
9. Don’t hide your hurts and pains and feelings inside where they will harden your heart. Use common sense and understanding to process them. Don’t react just from your feelings; respond with maturity rather than childish habit. You won’t regret it.
10. Get in touch with the person you want to be and become that. Listen to your heart… you can find the answer there to every question you have. Remember, no matter how you’re treated, just treat others the way you would want to be treated when your feelings are getting trampled on.
- Donna Fargo
Love is without reason
True religion teaches causeless love of God. It does not say, “I love God because He supplies me nice objects for my sense gratification. ” That is not love. God is great, God is our eternal father, and it is our duty to love Him. There is no question of barter or exchange. We should not think, “Oh, God gives me my daily bread; therefore I love God.” God gives daily bread even to the cats and dogs. Since He is the father of everyone, He is supplying everyone food. So loving God for daily bread is not love. Love is without reason. Even if God does not supply us our daily bread, we should love Him. That is true love. As Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam adarsanan marma-hatam karotu va: “I know no one but Krsna as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly by His embrace or makes me broken-hearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, for He is always my worshipful Lord, unconditionally.” That is the sentiment of one who is established in pure love of God. When we attain that stage of love of God, we will find that everything is full of pleasure; God is full of pleasure, and we also are full of pleasure.
suhrn-mitrary- udasinamadhyasth advesya-bandhusu sadhusv api ca papesu sama-buddhir viisyate
“A person is said to be still further advanced when he regards all–the honest well-wisher, friends and enemies, the envious, the pious, the sinner, and those who are indifferent and impartial–with an equal mind.” (Bg.6.9)
This is a sign of real spiritual advancement. In this material world we are considering people friends and enemies on the bodily platform–that is, on the basis of sense gratification. If one gratifies our senses, he is our friend, and if he doesn’t, he is our enemy. However, once we have realized God, or the Absolute Truth, there are no such material considerations.
:pray: :pray: -
Guest: "When did you become the spiritual leader of Krishna consciousness?"
Srila Prabhupada: "When my Guru Maharaja ordered me. This is the guru-parampara. Try to understand. Don’t go very speedily. A guru can become a guru when he’s ordered by his guru. That’s all. Otherwise, nobody can become guru."
(Conversation, October 28, 1975, Nairobi)
"The guru must be situated on the topmost platform of devotional service. There are three classes of devotees, and the guru must be accepted from the topmost class... When one has attained the topmost position of maha-bhagavata, he is to be accepted as guru and worshiped exactly like Hari, the Personality of Godhead. Only such a person is eligible to occupy the post of a guru."
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 24.330, Purport, citing Padma Purana)
“One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksa-vidhana. Lord Krishna states in Bhagavad-gita, vyapasrita: one should accept a spiritual master. By this process the entire world can be converted to Krishna consciousness.”
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.54, Purport)
Disciple: "Srila Prabhupada, when you are not present with us, how is it possible to receive instructions--for example, on questions that may arise?"
Srila Prabhupada: "Well, the answers are there in my books."
Disciple: "Other than that--for example, [questions] that we would ask you in [specific daily matters]. Do you direct us, also, through the heart? Besides the Paramatma?"
Srila Prabhupada: "If your heart is pure. Everything depends on purity."
(Conversation, May 13, 1973, Los Angeles)
Guest: "Are you planning to choose a successor?"
Srila Prabhupada: "It is already successful. A genuine thing is always a success."
Disciple: "One thing he's saying, this gentleman--and I would like to know: Is your successor named?"
Srila Prabhupada: "My success is always there. Yes. Just like the sun is there always. It may come before your vision or not--the sun is there. But if you are fortunate, you come before the sun. Otherwise, you remain in darkness. The sun is open to everyone. Our Krishna consciousness movement--Krishna is open to everyone. But if you are fortunate, you come to the light. If you are unfortunate, you do not. That is your choice." (Conversation, February 12, 1975, Mexico City)
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By Jatayu dasa (SDG)
<!-- end .post-top --><!-- the main section of the post goes here -->I can ask any devotee I see about faults in ISKCON and will find myself in a long conversation. But then I take a step back and ask myself again, where are the faults? Actually there are none. There are none because ISKCON is based on the Vedic scriptures such as the Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, which are perfect in themselves.
ISKCON was formed by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada who is a perfect student of such literatures. So where is the fault? The fault lies in me, in my heart. Not in ISKCON. Look at it closely, whatever faults are found in ISKCON some are ones that I myself brought into it. Of course, ISKCON was formed so that any man or woman suffering from the pangs of material life can come and learn to free themselves from such troubles. But the troubles and problems I find in ISKCON are not ISKCON’s, they are mine.
Within ISKCON I will find the perfect yoga system for self realization as taught by numerous saints and sages of the past. I will also find that all of its members, though sincere in their desires, are not perfect, but neither am I.
As we enter ISKCON we bring with a bundle of problems with us, which, get dealt out to those devotees around us. I may be a pure spirit soul but I am a pure spirit soul who is conditioned by material nature.
So, what are the faults? Irresponsible leaders? They are everywhere, in all companies, in all nations. Child abuse? That’s everywhere, in all religions, throughout all society. Women’s issues? Everywhere, for years. Frustrated? Yes, of course, but where am I going to live where these things don’t exist? These problems were not born in ISKCON, they were brought into ISKCON. The social structure of ISKCON prohibits these activities. ISKCON is meant to set up a society based on the religious tenets found in Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavata gita so that modern man can find shelter from these atrocious activities. Those who join are expected to uphold, protect and promote the philosophy of these great literatures. Those who deviate are the fault, not ISKCON. And those who stand by and do nothing share in that fault and those who criticize ISKCON, feed the fault.
Therefore, I should not make the mistake of identifying ISKCON with the actions of bad devotees but I can identify ISKCON with good devotees. Because when the good devotees first arrived, they were not good. But now that they have become good then that is the credit for ISKCON. ISKCON is meant to bring in conditioned souls suffering in the material world and make them happy by purifying their consciousness. If this does not happen then it is the fault of the individual for not taking to the program properly. To say that ISKCON is bad because there are problems within it is a grievous mistake. ISKCON is always good and will always create good devotees.
ISKCON is not bad because some individuals have failed to succeed. And I cannot say that because bad devotees exist then I am unable to advance in my own spiritual life. I am responsible for my own life and it is I that am responsible for following the rules and regulations stated in ISKCON. No one can do the work of self-realization for me, that is my responsibility. Also, no one can stand in the way of a relationship between a spiritual master and his disciple. There is no person and no situation that can stop the flow of Krsna’s mercy upon us.
If I were to say ISKCON has many problems, I would be wrong. It would be more correct to say that, as these spirit souls come to ISKCON to perfect their lives, they will, inadvertently cause problems as they themselves struggle to become free from material bondage. The faults lie within all conditioned souls. The faults I see are also my own and it is my responsibility to correct them. ISKCON is the vehicle to correct and/or to remove such actions from our hearts. ISKCON is there to assist me and anyone else who are suffering from the modes of material nature. ISKCON is not an illusion factory of ever happy endings, it is a philosophical institution meant to teach and guide all living entities back to the spiritual world and back into their original loving relationship with Krsna. It is the responsibility of the individual though, to take the necessary steps towards that goal.
ISKCON is meant to create an environment where its members can come together spending the day serving Krsna and enlivening one another by discussing His pastimes and qualities. This is actually what is going on in the spiritual world. If someone is deviating from these activities in a serious way then by me focusing attention on his activities and by criticizing him, then I am also in a fallen state. Instead of placing myself in a mood of judging I should simply go on glorifying Krsna and allow Krsna to deal with the manner in His own way. I should remember that Krsna is also dealing with me and all devotees individually in such a way as to purify us. If a situation arises where my life is disrupted then I should not try to solve the problem externally but look within to see what Krsna wants me to solve there. I should also understand that we are a community and as a community it is also our responsibility to assist each other, not that we stand around and watch material nature drag down individual devotees one by one.
ISKCON does not cause problems, it solves them. No matter what problem arises among us, the solution to such problem can be found in Srila Prabhupadas books. Granted, problems do exist that are not so easy to cure. And I have seen that to cure them a host of other problems arise one after another. Patience and tolerance is certainly required at this time, along with prayer. Were devotees to throw a rock at each dark spot in me, surely I would have no place to duck. So let me practice, do onto others what I would have them do unto me. Let me pray for their advancement; let me pray that Krsna’s kindness would guide them to become a more mature devotee. I are not here to become a great leader or manager; I’m here to become pure. I am here to reestablish my relationship with Krsna, my dear most friend. Each person in his or her services is undergoing the same process of purification and we all have our own battles to fight. So instead of hatred, let me offer assistance; instead of condemning let me forgive and instruct. Let me forgive as Krsna and my spiritual master has forgiven me. ISKCON is promoting the highest religious standards in the world today. Let me read the seven purposes of ISKCON, read the rules one must follow to live in the temple, read the books I am to study and to teach others, that is ISKCON. Look at the teachings of the six goswami’s, that is ISKCON. Look at the rich culture of Vaisnava tradition and the disciplic succession, that is ISKCON.
If I do not see myself gradually becoming freed from material desires and becoming happy, then I have not joined ISKCON. I have to admit that most of the time I actually do not comprehend the depth of ISKCON. ISKCON is not a social club, ISKCON is a totally dynamic spiritual force meant to bring about a revolution in the consciousness of the entire world for many generations to come. Therefore, I should not identify the faults of a devotee with ISKCON; I should identify the faults with the material world. Problems will always be there. Troublemakers will come and go. Immature devotees will say and do immature things. It is an imperfect world so the perfect situation will never be found. I should learn to deal with each situation individually and in a way that it produces a Krsna conscious result. I may not always see an example to follow; but they are there, a lot of examples. And, if there were no examples, then I should become the example. Why do I always throw the burden of responsibility on others? I am a mature adult and should start acting like it.
ISKCON does not solve material problems, it gives spiritual solutions. But I am too quick to judge and correct others and am slow to judge and correct myself. Many criticisms are placed on our leaders. They too are not fault free. And, without question, I have made errors. But is my fault finding in the interest of lending assistance to heal an aiding society or is it meant as a vicious weapon to hurt others as means to cover up my own faults? Or still, am I looking for an excuse not to give up the sense gratification I am so dearly holding onto? I must consider as I judge and condemn my fellow devotee and the organization ISKCON, a cloud of material consciousness covers me, rendering me ineffectual in such circumstances.
Working sincerely to bring the wrong doers closer to his own perfection is what ISKCON is all about. It will be my own material desires that will distort and twist all that I hear and see. Many devotees have left ISKCON because of this reason or that, but have they reached perfection outside ISKCON? I should remember that at one point in my life, through years of suffering, I prayed for help. ISKCON was the answer to that prayer. Some even go so far as to judge Srila Prabhupada by saying that he did not give us everything, how arrogant. He gave us everything we need to return to the spiritual world. Such an unfortunate situation, that we leave his shelter after he cared for us for so many years, even forgiving us for our animal like behavior. ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada have rendered the highest service to mankind by distributing knowledge of the individual souls relationship with Krsna and as soon as ISKCON encounters some difficulty its own members turn against it. Therefore I say, if I find fault, then it is me that is ISKCON’s greatest fault. If I find fault with ISKCON, I find fault with Srila Prabhupada. And by doing so, the severest tragedy awaits me. Let the pseudo intellectuals talk all they want about the perfect society.
If I want the perfect society, then I should chant Hare Krsna perfectly and all the faults in ISKCON will flee. I must learn to stop talking about how others are not following Srila Prabhupada, but start talking about how I am not. Of course troublemakers should be dealt with but in an authorized manner. Negative talk among the devotees will hurt us more than any enemy outside of ISKCON. By negative thought and speech we are actually accepting the association of the modes of material nature. And by doing so, our future as a devotee remains uncertain. Devotees who abuse their management positions indeed bring into ISKCON a destructive element but criticism of them brings us greater harm, for both the speaker and the hearer. Therefore let me, with a sober mind deal with such problems where all parties benefit.
Many of us have seen bad managers remain in their posts far too long. We must keep in mind though that Krsna also sees them and it is Krsna that will make the final decision when and how such an individual be corrected or removed. Remember, such bad managers are also conditioned souls trying to free themselves from material nature. My goal in such cases should maintain charity and I should also avoid judging such persons in a final way, which gives him no room to change, correct or recover from his mistakes. Devotees must learn to stand up for their rights as an individual and as a group. But it should be performed intelligently and according to the Vaisnava standards that Srila Prabhupada has given us.
The road to spiritual life is not always an easy road to tread. There will be problems. But it is still my responsibility to serve Krsna with body, mind and words. Even if every devotee around me falls down, Krsna’s mercy is still available to me. I can safely say that all devotees will make a mistake; even sincere devotees who are trying to serve ISKCON. As Srila Prabhupada said, all of our books, all of our study and all our endeavors are meant to get people to chant Hare Krsna. This is our real work because this is where the purification begins. When someone begins to chant Hare Krsna I should understand that he is not an ordinary person. It is extremely rare for the living to chant Hare Krsna and try to surrender to the orders of the spiritual master.
When I see a fault it is not the time to criticize but a time to reach out and help. I should think how it will feel when no friends are found by my side when I need them most. How horrible it must feel when I fall and there is no one to extend a helping hand. This is the real mood of ISKCON, a group of individuals working together towards a common goal and when one falls, others go back, without regard for their own comfort and pick him up. All of us have been wounded by material nature; some of us are slow to accept the teachings and others always need someone to tell them what to do but when that sincere devotee steps forward to offer a helping hand without judgment then the actions of that individual devotee reflects the true depth of ISKCON. And when the leaders themselves act to rectify their mistakes and show that they see themselves accountable for their own mistakes then the society at large will become more united as they watch these devotees develop into qualified leaders.
ISKCON may suffer slightly from our wrongdoing but it will always recover. It will recover because it is Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana movement and therefore it is glorious. It is glorious because it issues forth the chanting of the Lord’s holy name and it distributes transcendental literature that glorifies the activities of Krsna. All over the world these literatures are to be found. All over the world one can hear the chanting of the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra. All over the world the Deity form of Krsna is being worshiped, prasadam is being distributed and thousands of individuals are being purified and are returning to the spiritual world. This is the real glory of ISKCON. ISKCON is perfect and complete; I only have to correct the mistakes I have made.
So where is the real fault? The only fault in ISKCON is in me, that I have not fully surrendered to this wonderful and dynamic process of self-realization. The faults lie in my heart. The faults lie in my inability to forgive, the lack of caring for others and the lack of personal interaction. These are the real evils that are tearing apart our society. This impersonalism, there is no greater enemy than this. Real unity will come when I develop discussion about Krsna, when I find pleasure in the activities of Krsna, when my only business is to give Krsna to everyone around me. Then the faultfinding will stop, the anger in my heart will disappear, the lusty desires that permeate my entire being will turn into love of Krsna and I will actually become happy and peaceful and the faults will not exist any more.
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touching the soul
Sivarama Swami writes:
Thirty years ago I was doing the Prabhupada marathon at the Chicago airport. One afternoon, we devotees were so intoxicated by distributing books that we decided to show that one doesn't have to speak to sell books, that book distribution just depends on our state of consciousness. So we didn't speak.
Just after loading my bookbag with (20) maha books I tapped a man on the arm and looked him in the eye. He stopped, expecting me to say something. I didn't. I put a book in his hand, pointed at Prabhupada's picture, to the Sanskrit inside and then up to the sky indicating the books are meant to elevate you. I remember being absorbed in the desire to give out books and after looking deep into his eyes again, I slapped my pocket indicating he should give a donation. He did.
He was a young businessman, obviously heavily stressed out and floundering in the world of consumerism. He held the book appreciatively. As he started to go I held his arm. I wanted him to get more mercy. We locked eyes for a minute and in my mind I said, "These books will give your life meaning", and I stuck another two books in his hand. Now he had three books. Again I tapped my pocket. Again he gave a donation.
I opened one of the books and pointed to a part of Prabhupada's purport and had him read it. I watched his face. It was obvious Prabhupada was speaking to him. I tapped his arms and smiled at him and he smiled at me. Although standing in the middle of the busiest airport in the world we were somewhere else, in a different land where there was no stress, no noise; our own world of Krsna consciousness. Then he looked at the other books in my arm and I knew he wanted more. I gave him a few more books. He gave another donation. By now the total was past $40. To impress upon the man what was reality I waved nonchalantly at the bustle about us and pressed my forefinger to his heart, indicating the soul. I looked at him, "You are not this body. You are spirit soul." He understood. He smiled appreciatively. We then shook hands and as he turned to go it was as if he was leaving a realm of peace for the world of anxiety around. For a minute he hesitated. He didn't want to go. He wanted to remain in that realm of consciousness in which our exchange had taken place. He had been happy. I saw there were tears in his eyes. I touched his hand and tapped the books saying in my mind, "It's all in the books. Don't worry." He nodded shook my hand and left. Neither he, nor I had spoken a word. Yet we were communicating fully. It was one of many such experiences that afternoon. I was convinced that success in book distribution depends upon our state of consciousness. Making soul-to-soul contact with people is the most effective way to sell books. We need to be in the consciousness that we are not this body, that we are Krsna's spiritual messengers and that we have to want to distribute the mercy. Give! Give! Give! That is our dharma. Give Krsna to others.
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Srila Prabhupada -
"It is the living entity’s constitutional position to be an eternal servant of Krsna because he is the marginal energy of Krsna and a manifestation simultaneously one with and different from the Lord, like a molecular particle of sunshine or fire. Krsna has three varieties of energy"
Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.108-109
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(Srila Prabhupada lecture, New York City, USA January 3, 1967)
agaty-eka-gatim natva
hinarthadhika-sadhakam
sri-caitanyam likhamy asya
madhuryaisvarya-sikaram
Agaty-eka-gatim natva. So the author of this Caitanya-caritamrta is offering his respectful obeisances unto Lord Caitanya. So he says, agaty-eka-gatim natva. Agaty, persons who have fallen, who have no hope for reaching the supreme destination, for them Lord Caitanya is the only hope. In this age, it is stated in authoritative scriptures, in this age the people are unfortunate. Of course, they are very much proud of advancing. From spiritual point of view, the people of this age, Kali-yuga, they are unfortunate. Their description is given in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Second Chapter, First Canto, that people are short-living, their duration of life is very short, and they are very slow in the matter of spiritual realization. The human form of life is especially meant for spiritual realization, but they have forgotten that aim of life. They are very much serious about maintaining about the necessities of this body, which he's not. And if somebody's interested to have some taste of spiritual realization, they are misdirected.
prayenalpayusah sabhya
kalav asmin yuge janah
mandah sumanda-matayo
manda-bhagya...
(Srimad-Bhagavatam, 1.1.10)
And they are unfortunate, upadrutah, and always disturbed by so many things.
So this is the position of the present-day population and the author of Caitanya-caritamrta, he says that Lord Caitanya is the only hope for these people. Why? Because spiritual realization is not an ordinary subject matter. But He has given us the shortcut. He's so kind to the people of the world that simply He has introduced this "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare." By simple chanting of this transcendental vibration the people of this age will make exact progress in the matter of spiritual realization. Therefore this reference is there, agaty-eka-gatim. Those who are hopeless about their spiritual realization, Lord Caitanya is the only one hope. So hinarthadhika-sadhakam sri-caitanyam likhamy asya. "So I am just offering my respect to Lord Sri Caitanya. I am trying to describe about His transcendental activities and instructions and philosophy."
Now... jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda. This is the process of offering respect to Lord Caitanya. What is that? Lord Caitanya is always presented with five transcendental entourage. He is Himself present, and His next expansion, Nityananda, and His incarnation, Advaita, and His internal potency, Gadadhara, and His marginal potency, Sri Srivasa. So panca-tattvatmakam krsnam. He is Krishna, but He is present in this age with His five associates. Panca-tattvatmakam krsnam bhakta-rupa-svarupakam. But although He is Krishna, He presents Himself as a devotee of Krishna. Bhakta-rupa-svarupakam. Bhaktavataram bhaktakhyam. And incarnation of devotee, Advaita, and bhaktakhyam. These five associates are always with Krishna Caitanya. So to offer Krishna Caitanya means to offer with His associates. Sa-ghosti. This is the process.
Now Krishna's... about the position of Krishna, what is Krishna, he has already described. The first proposition is sambandha. Sambandha means we have to understand our relationship with Krishna. Just like if we want to make some relationship with a friend, then we must know about him, what he is. So we are going to be Krishna conscious, so we must know what is Krishna. So Krishna, about Krishna he has described shortly, that He is personally like this, His incarnations are like this, and there are so many incarnations, and He is existing in this way, He manifests Himself in this material world in this way. As far as possible he has given description about Krishna. Now, about Krishna's abode... Krishna means not only Krishna. Nama dhama guna lila parikara vaisistha. Krishna means Krishna Himself, His name, His place, nama dhama, His quality, then His entourage, then His pastime. All these things Krishna means. Because we are not impersonalists, simply understanding Brahman we are not satisfied. The impersonalists are satisfied simply understanding that He is Brahman. But the Vaisnavas, they are not satisfied simply by knowing Brahman. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said, brahma-bhutah. Brahma-bhutah means he's already Brahman, but he forgot himself. He thought himself that "I am matter." That is illusion. So every living entity, by constitutional position he is Brahman, but his forgetfulness -- he thinks that "I am something of this matter." So brahma-bhutah, when one becomes spiritually realized that he is not anything of this material world, he is spirit soul, brahma-bhutah, this is called brahma-bhutah. So long he does not understand that he is spiritual entity, he is jiva-bhutah. That is called jiva-bhutah.And when he understands that he is nothing of this material world, he belongs to the spiritual world and his position is spiritual identity, that is called brahma-bhutah stage. That is described in Bhagavad-gita. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma (Bhagavad-gita 18.54). Prasannatma means he becomes immediately enlivened: "I don't belong to this. Why I am identifying myself with these all miseries of material world? I belong to the part and parcel of the Supreme, sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah (Brahma-samhita. 5.1), eternal, blissful knowledge." So he becomes prasannatma. Prasannatma means joyful, spiritually enlivened.
So this is the first stage of Brahman realization. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that this Brahman realization, people take so much, I mean to say, undertaking of austerity, penance and... but by chanting Hare Krishna, He says, ceto-darpana-marjanam. Ceto-darpana-marjanam (Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila 20.12). At once one becomes cleansed of the dust accumulated on the mind. Because everything is misconception. I am thinking matter. Actually I am not. This is misconception. So by chanting Hare Krishna, the first installment of benefit is that one becomes brahma-bhutah. He at once becomes brahma-bhutah. And prasannatma. Prasannatma. Brahma-bhutah. Next stage is prasannatma. Atma. He becomes engladdened: "Oh, I am not this matter." Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the same thing, He says: ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam. This bhava-maha-davagni. This world is compared with forest fire. It is going on. The fire is going on. So for a realized soul, the fire is at once extinguished. One who is realized soul, that he's not this matter, the fire of this material existence at once extinguished. So Lord Caitanya gave us this opportunity, and the author of Caitanya-caritamrta, he's saying that agaty-eka-gatim. Those who have fallen, for them Lord Caitanya is the only hope.
sarva svarupera dhama-paravyoma-dhame
prthak prthak vaikuntha saba nahika ganane
Now Lord Caitanya describes about the kingdom of God, or the spiritual sky. He says... He has already explained to you about different kinds of expansions: prabhava, vaibhava, vilasa, prakasa. You may remember it. So there are innumerable expansions. Eko bahu syama: "The one Supreme Lord has become so many." The same example: the original candle, and from that candle, you can expand millions and millions candles. Similarly, the original Personality of Godhead is Sri Krishna, and He has expanded in so many ways. Now, Lord Caitanya says, all the expanded plenary manifestation of Krishna has got a separate abode. Each and every one of them has got a separate abode. Sarva rupera dhama-paravyoma-dhame. And where they are? That is in the paravyoma. Paravyoma means... vyoma means sky, and para means transcendental, beyond this sky. This sky is called material sky, and beyond this there is paravyoma, spiritual sky. They have no information. The material scientists, they have no information. What information they have got? They cannot reach even the moon planet, what to speak of others. It is far, far away. Whatever... we can see the sky just like a pot, and that is the covering of this universe. And if you can penetrate that covering -- that space is also many, many times longer than this outer space -- then you'll find the spiritual sky. That is not possible for any material scientist to find out where the spiritual sky is. But you can understand from authoritative scriptures and from authorities like Lord Caitanya. He says that for each of the expansions of Sri Krishna, there is a separate, I mean to say, planet in the, I mean to say, spiritual sky. Prthak prthak vaikuntha nahika ganane. Prthak prthak. Each of them has got a separate Vaikuntha planet, but how many planets are there nobody can count. Nahika tara ganane. So some estimate? The Lord says:
sata, sahasra, ayuta, laksa, koti-yojana
eka eka vaikunthera vistara varnana
There is no question of voidness or impersonalist. He says that all those Vaikuntha planets are so big that some of them, hundreds, some, millions and millions of miles, I mean to say, area. What is called? Round. Eka vaikunthera vistara varnana. Vistara means very much expanded.
saba vaikuntha-vyapaka, ananda-cinmaya
parisada-sadaisvarya-purna saba haya
And each and every Vaikuntha planet, there are living entities, not that they are vacant. But all of them are ananda. They are all made of sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah (Brahma-samhita 5.1), eternity and bliss and full of knowledge. The land is also eternal, blissful and full of knowledge; the inhabitants are also eternal, blissful and full of knowledge; and the presiding Deity expansion of Krishna, Narayana, He is also eternal, blissful and full of knowledge. This is called absolute. Here in the material world we have got difference. I am spirit soul, but there is difference between me and my body; there is difference between me and this material world. But there, everything is spiritual. Therefore there is no difference. The impersonalists, they cannot understand. Because everything is spiritual, they think that there is no variegatedness. But from this description of Caitanya-caritamrta and other scriptures like Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, we can understand that the spiritual sky is exactly like this, but that is spiritual and this is material.
ananta vaikuntha eka eka dese yara
sei paravyoma-dhamera ke karu vistara
Now, so far the spiritual sky is concerned, there are innumerable Vaikuntha planets, and nobody can measure how great those Vaikuntha planets are. Therefore how great that space of spiritual sky is, nobody can calculate.
ananta vaikuntha-paravyoma yara dala-sreni
sarvopari krsnaloka karnikara gani
Now, all these planets... just like in a stem there are so many branches and flowers, take it for granted it is something like that. And the topmost flower... just like if you take a rose flower, there are so many leaves, and on the topmost there is the nice flower, so the topmost planet in the spiritual sky, that is called Krishnaloka. Karnikara. That is just like... The shape of the Krishnaloka is just like a lotus flower.
ei-mata sad-aisvarya, sthana, avatara
brahma, siva anta na paya-jiva kon chara
The Lord says, "So what these ordinary living entities with teeny brain, they can calculate about Lord's opulence?" These are opulences of the Supreme Lord. He says, Brahma, Siva. Brahma. Brahma is considered to be the highest of the living entities, and Siva, Lord Siva, he is also considered very high-grade demigod. So Lord Caitanya says that even Brahma and Siva cannot calculate, and what to speak of these ordinary human beings. They cannot understand it. It is not possible. Ei-mata sad-aisvarya. Nobody can calculate the six opulences of Krishna. We have discussed the six opulences: wealth, riches and strength and fame and knowledge and beauty and renunciation. Nobody can calculate. So he's giving a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam:
ko vetti bhuman bhagavan paratman
yogesvarotir bhavatas trilokyam
kva va katham va kati va kadeti
vistarayan kridasi yoga-mayam
He, bhuman: "O the great, O the Supreme Personality of Godhead, O the Supersoul, O the master of mysticism, how You are acting tri-bhuvane, tri-bhuvane, within the three worlds?" Three world means that in the material there is lower planet and middle planets and upper planets, these three worlds. "So how You are acting within these three worlds, and how You are utilizing Your internal potency, yogamaya, extending Yourself in so many expansions, plenary expansions? Who can understand You? Nobody can understand You." You may say if nobody can understand, what is the use of discussing such things? That is the qualification of the devotees. In spite of their inability to understand His supremacy, the expansion, the extension of the Supreme Lord, still, by discussing about the Supreme Lord, hearing and chanting, they take transcendental pleasure. It is not that anybody can understand Krishna, but still, it is a transcendental pleasure to try to understand. Not that we shall be able to understand Krishna fully; it is not in our power. But still, bodhayantah parasparam, tusyanti ca ramanti ca. Mahatma, those who are great souls, in their society, in their spiritual society of Krishna consciousness, by discussing about Krishna in terms of the Vedic literature and authoritative literature, they enjoy transcendentally. This is transcendental pleasure.
(Srila Prabhupada lecture, New York, January 3, 1967)
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<!-- the top of the post, the background graphic gets applied here, and we truncate the title itself so it fits, in case of long post titles - title will still show the full title though -->Keeping Srila Prabhupada at the center
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City of Joy
by Anuttama das ACBSP (non-GBC)
Posted December 15, 2007
Today is my last day in India and what a day it was. I am in Calcutta--The city of Joy
I am staying at the ISKCON Temple in the center of the city. The devotees here are very helpful. They even picked me up at the airport. So this morning they informed my that the Radha Govinda temple where Srila Prabhupada had worshipped as a child was having a special function. When I say special I mean one in a life time, at least for me. They were taking the Deities off the altar and walking them up and down the main street in front of the temple. Now remember, these are no small deities. They are brass and almost the size of Radha Damodar at Gita Nagari.
We arrived [there were only four of us] and had some mellow kirtans. There were about a dozen ladies dressed in their best saries and about a dozen men. These were all members of the Mullick family and they all lived around the Temple. The Mullick family is the family the Srila Prabhupada was born into. Several of the older men remembered when Srila Prabhupada had visited in the early 70's.
Prabhupada had said that these Deities of Radha Govinda were his inspiration.
The Pujari took the Deities off the altar and placed each one on a separate carrying board where they were tied to a small rod on the board. Then, some family members picked up Radha and Krishna and we all started to go out to the street, bare foot of course.
The ladies were banging the gongs and we all shouted "Radha Govinda ki jai". After a few minutes the pujari asked me if I would like to help carry Radharani.
Whoo-what a blessing.
The streets of Calcutta are no stroll in the park. They are full of everything and everyone. But when The Lord comes out everyone gives way. The traffic even stoped as we crossed the street twice. Up and down we went, banging Gongs,chanting Hare Krishna and shouting "Radha Govind Kai Jai".
After we returned to the Temple courtyard, a big offering was made and we all took turns fanning their Lordships. Then we all took Maha Prasadam. I must also admit to touching both Radha and Krishna's Lotus Feet several times as I saw the family members doing it. Never turn down a chance like that. Also Radharani is in a rare dancing stance with her legs crossed like Krishna's. I have never seen any Radha like that. These Deities were installed about 200 years ago by the Mullick family and have been worshipped ever since.
I was told that this festival only happens once a year just after the full moon in the month of November.
After leaving Radha Govinda, we drove to Srila Prabhupada's birth place. The place is small and one story, very simple. Giriraja Swami and Radhanath Swami were there just yesterday. They had eaten some of the dirt from the court yard and there was a small hole there. When Mahaprabhu had visited his Guru's birth place {Isvara Puri} he had also eaten some of the soil. Following in the the Acaryas foot steps we also partook of the Holy dust. Next time you are in Calcutta and think there is nothing to do try visiting the Holy Tirthas of Srila Prabhupada's early pastimes. You will have a whole new outlook on the City of Joy.
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THE POISON IS PERSONAL AMBITION
If personally I have any credit in this matter, it is only that I have tried to present Bhagavad-gita as it is, without any adulteration. Before my presentation of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, almost all the English editions of Bhagavad-gita were introduced to fulfill someone’s personal ambition. But our attempt in presenting Bhagavad-gita As It Is is to present the mission of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna.
This whole institution was started single-handedly without any capital. I went to your country with only Rs. 40/- and 200 sets of books. So if we take the capital of the whole business, it was the books and the Rs. 40/-. The Rs. 40/- was not even touched because Indian Rupees currency could not be spent in your country. In 1967 when I came back to India the Rs. 40/- was paid for the taxi cab. The 200 sets of books was sold, and I was maintaining myself with great difficulty. Now by the grace of Krishna book sales have increased tremendously, and whatever money we are spending it is from the book sales; or whatever money is also being squandered that is also from the book sales.
Now by the grace of Krishna we have got sufficient properties all over the world, so there cannot be any diplomacy or conspiracy by any sane man. All these properties and opulences will not go with me when I go away from this world. It will remain here. I am training some of my experienced disciples how to manage after my departure. So if instead of taking the training, if in my lifetime you people say, "I am the Lord of all I survey", that is a dangerous conspiracy.
In India some of the important members have collected huge amounts in the name of the Society and spent it luxuriously. I wanted all my experienced disciples to manage the whole institution very cleverly without any personal ambition like ordinary materialistic men. The Gaudiya Math institution has become smashed, or at least stopped its program of preaching work on account of personal ambitions.
So whatever is done is done. I shall request you all not to be personally ambitious. I believe all my students are very serious devotees, maybe sometimes influenced by maya, but they can be corrected and the whole thing will go on as usual without any difficulty. Please try to help me in this connection...
...All my disciples they are good boys, intelligent, and hard working. I pray to Krishna that you all may use your intelligence for Krishna's service and not for any personal ambition. We have worked very hard and established a great institution, but if we think for our personal benefit then it will become ruined. This is my only concern.
...We have got ambition, but this is our ambition: live with devotees and execute the mission of our predecessor. This is our aim. Without ambition nobody can live. Self-interest, ambition, is everywhere. But self-interest is to execute Krsna's desire.
...he is actually surrendered soul, but Maya is so strong that on account of association he has even fallen down. So these two things are always side by side--Maya and Krsna--Krsna is service and Maya is sense gratification, so at every moment we are prone to be subjugated by either of them. Our duty is therefore to be very, very careful. The poison is personal ambition. So everyone has the chance, therefore one should not be complacent. Doubts may come about, but one should be firmly fixed up that there cannot be any doubt on the Spiritual Master or Krsna.
Our life is very short. The Krsna consciousness movement is not meant for fulfilling one's personal ambition, but it is a serious movement for the whole world. I am therefore going to the Eastern hemisphere, beginning from Japan. In this old age I am going with this party just to set an example to my disciples who have taken recently the Sannyas order. Now we want very many Swamis to take up this job. The Grhasthas are to take care of the Temples as well as the general management.
Sri Suta Goswami said:
"Emperor Yudhisthira administered generously to everyone during his reign. He was exactly like his father. He had no personal ambition and was freed from all sorts of sense gratification because of his continuous service unto the lotus feet of the Lord Sri Krsna." (SB. 1.12.4)
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Amul is safe. I would stick to Amul. Amul states that they don't add such things. I hope they are sticking up to this standard and will in the future.
Amul is safe! OK (O KRSNA)
Question: Through a book can you contact the spiritual master???
in Spiritual Discussions
Posted
Question: Through a book can you contact the spiritual master?
Prabhupada: No, you have to associate.
Devotee: "Can you associate through a book?" she asked.
Prabhupada: Yes, through books and also personal. Because when you make a spiritual master you have got personal touch. Not that in air you make a spiritual master. You make a spiritual master concrete. So as soon as you make a spiritual master, you should be inquisitive. (RC London, Sept. 23, 1969)
"One should not proudly think that one can understand the transcendental loving
service of the Lord simply by reading books... One must accept a Vaisnava guru
(adau gurv-asrayam), and then by questions and answers one should gradually
learn what pure devotional service to Krsna is. That is called the parampara
system." (Cc. Antya-lila 7.53, purp.) - AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The disciple, if he cannot understand the statement of the scriptures or any saintly person, he submits his doubts before the spiritual master and he clears it. In this way we have to make progress. (Montreal, July 9, 1968)
By reading you cannot understand. (Bom. Jan. 8, 1977 )
''Therefore out of thousands of men, one may inquire about his spirit self and thus consult the revealed scriptures like vedanta-sutra, Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. But in spite of reading and hearing such scriptures, unless one is in touch with a realized Spiritual master, he cannot actually realize the real nature of self,etc (Bhag.2.3.1(2:1,p.136)
Oh, I may or may not accept a spiritual master. In any case, there are books that I can learn from." No, the Vedic injunction is tad-vijïänärthaà sa gurum eväbhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. The word gacchet means "one must go," not that one may or may not go. To understand transcendental knowledge, one must go to a spiritual master. That is the Vedic injunction. (NOI)