krsna

"Preaching without following proper conduct falls within the category of karma, mundane activity. Without criticizing the nature of others, one should correct one's self - this is my personal instruction.":pray:

The mood of intolerance of others service represents an insecurity.

If we are truly convinced about the potency of our service, we don’t need to belittle others. We should appreciate all services done for Krishna. Its like the story of Hanuman and the spider which Srila Prabhupada told us.

Both the spider and Hanuman were engaged in building the bridge to Sri Lanka. Of course the spider was only able to kick up some dust whereas Hanuman was throwing big boulders in the water. Hanuman said to the spider:

“Get out my way, you little runt, I am serving Lord Rama.”

But, Lord Rama interceded and told Hanuman that the spider was doing as much service as he was. Actually the service that we do is performed on the subtle platform within one's heart, and mind.

[url="http://www.indiadivine.org/audarya/"]

Krishna doesn’t need anything, except for our hearts. We need to learn the art of encouraging others and appreciating their service. We should be so happy if someone is doing any service for Krishna.

No one is independent from Krishna and the thought that one is or can be is Maya. However as personalists we recognize that each and everyone of us is an independent person. That is we are not all one but eternal individuals that are part and parcel of Krishna. Now that is our ontological position. It is interesting though how independence plays out both in the eternal rasa sense and the context of Bhakti rendered in this world.

We can not be forced or cajoled to render service to Krishna. It is a purely voluntary act of the heart that is the essential aspect of Bhakti. Too often in an institutional setting we lose this understanding of the soul’s free will and we try to push people into Krishna consciousness using expressions such as “you must”, “you have to”, “you are supposed to”, “don’t be in maya Prabhu”, “I am your authority and you have to listen to me”, “shut up and act properly”, “if you don’t do this Krishna will punish you”, “you are going to get a heavy reaction for this or for not doing this”, “I’ll give you a the mahasweets if you do this”, “if you don’t do this, I will be very disappointed in you”, “you are causing me pain”, etc. These are manipulative techniques that actually separate the person from real bhakti, and may ultimately give someone a distaste for devotional service.

Krishna says in the Gita (9:2):

This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed.

For something to be done joyfully, it must be done voluntarily. The person must retain his sense of individuality and freedom of choice-his autonomy, or else there is no love. There can be no love without a lover and a beloved, and when we function on the platform of blind obedience we do away with one of the two. I have found that as individuals we do have individual needs even in spiritual life and even in the spiritual realm.

The need for autonomy is one of the needs that must be met both in the stage of devotional practice and devotional perfection. Of course our autonomy is never absolute, it is always relative. The only person who has absolute autonomy is Krishna (He is Svarat), and I am not even sure about Him-He is controlled by Radharani!

So, ISKCON has to be very careful of attempting to kill the voluntary serving mood of the individual by imposing too much authority. Srila Prabhupada was very very much against centralization.

from a letter of Srila Prabhupada to his disciple:

The Krishna Consciousness Movement is for training men to be independently thoughtful and competent in all types of departments of knowledge and action, not for making bureaucracy. Once there is bureaucracy the whole thing will be spoiled. There must be always individual striving and work and responsibility, competitive spirit, not that one shall dominate and distribute benefits to the others and they do nothing but beg from you and you provide.

So, the business of the leaders is to facilitate the individual expressions of Bhakti in the members and to guide people to Krishna’s lotus feet. By guide I don’t mean push (by threats, guilt, etc), I mean pull by attraction.

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Tibet etc... All these countries have serious ethnic strife.

Why ? Why is India surrounded by all sides by these countries with such intractable societal problems? What is the meaning here?

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According to :

A good verse for surfer devotees:

 

Srimad Bhagavatam 1:1:23

 

"We think that we have met your grace by the will of Providence, and thus we accept you as the captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the dangerous ocean of Kali, which destroys all the good qualities of a human being."

S.B. 1.1.22:deal:

http://vedabase.net/sb/1/1/22/en

"We think that we have met your grace by the will of Providence, and thus we accept you as the captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the dangerous ocean of Kali, which destroys all the good qualities of a human being.":deal: :deal: :deal:

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: left" cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 border=1><TBODY><TR><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(204,255,255)">"Thus in the beginning the students of our Krsna consciousness movement agree to live with devotees, and gradually, having given up four prohibited activities--illicit sex, gambling, meat-eating and intoxication--they become advanced in the activities of spiritual life. When one is found to be regularly following these principles, he is given the first initiation (hari-nama), and he regularly chants at least sixteen rounds a day. Then, after six months or a year, he is initiated for the second time and given the sacred thread with the regular sacrifice and ritual."

(C.c., Adi 17:265)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: left" cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 border=1><TBODY><TR><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(204,255,255)">"Due to the necessity of these activities, we do not immediately initiate disciples in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. For six months, a candidate for initiation must first attend arati and classes in the sastras, practice the regulative principles and associate with other devotees. When one is actually advanced in the purascarya-vidhi, he is recommended by the local temple president for initiation. It is not that anyone can be suddenly initiated without meeting the requirements. When one is further advanced by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra sixteen rounds daily, following the regulative principles and attending classes, he receives the sacred thread (brahminical recognition) after the second six months."

(C.c.,Madhya 15:108)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: left" cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 border=1><TBODY><TR><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(204,255,255)">"In our Krsna consciousness movement, the requirement is that one must be prepared to give up the four pillars of sinful life-illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling. In Western countries especially, we first observe whether a potential disciple is prepared to follow the regulative principles. Then he is given the name of a Vaisnava servant and initiated to chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, at least sixteen rounds daily. In this way the disciple renders devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master or his representative for at least six months to a year. He is then recommended for a second initiation, during which a sacred thread is offered and the disciple is accepted as a bona fide brahmana."

(C.c., Madhya 24:330)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya’s offering sannyasa to Mahaprabhu is the precedent and tradition of the principle of reinitiation.

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• 
  Bhagavad-gita 5-23 :
  
  PURPORT
  "There are the forces of talk, forces of anger, forces of mind, forces of the stomach, forces of the genitals, and forces of the tongue. One who is able to control the forces of all these different senses, and the mind, is called gosvami, or svami. --- Therefore, one must practice to control them (forces of senses and mind) before one gives up this material body. One who can do this is understood to be self-realized and is thus happy in the state of self-realization."
  

Nectar of Instruction 1:

"A sober person who can tolerate the urge to speak, the mind's demands, the actions of anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals is qualified to make disciples all over the world." :pray: :pray:

<CENTER> </CENTER><CENTER>From The Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa </CENTER><CENTER> </CENTER><CENTER style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">The Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa was composed by Sanatana Goswami under the direction of Supreme Lord Sri Caitanya, the bestower of religious principles for this age of Kali. </CENTER><CENTER> </CENTER><CENTER style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">The First Vilasa: Text 74 </CENTER>

<CENTER>Text 75 </CENTER>

<CENTER>Text 76 </CENTER>

<CENTER>Text 78</CENTER>

Keeping Good Men Good

BY: KRIPAMOYA DASA -Director of Congregational Development at Bhaktivedanta Manor,U.K.

Sep 28, UK (SUN) — The recent departure of Balabhadra Dasa from ISKCON, and the account of the circumstances leading up to his departure, will no doubt prompt some of my newer readers to ask the obvious question: “How could this possibly happen?” How is it that a man who was has been a Vaishnava for more than thirty years, a spiritual leader, acknowledged by all as a guru - how could such a man fall prey to sensuality, anger, and corruption?

My simple, short reply would be: ‘Please read the Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 2 verses 58-64. It’s all in there.

Many other readers, who already know something of the history of spiritual leadership within our movement, will ask the next most obvious question: “Yes, but why is it still happening?”

My simple reply to that would be that we have, quite remarkably, still not learned enough lessons from history. And that in addition we have a little institutional blind spot. Just a little spot that restricts our peripheral vision; something that causes us to rest when we should be vigilant.

The lesson from history is that men become corrupt when in close contact with power, money, women and followers. Our little ISKCON blind spot is a vague, if not articulated antinomianism - the belief that when men achieve the grace of God they rise above the laws of God - and somehow the laws of nature.

Srila Prabhupada explained how measures must be taken to keep good men good. He told the story of how one man in India visited his friend at his place of work. The man’s friend was the proprietor of a large factory and explained that his job was made all the more pleasant by the fact that each of his workers was an honest man. While walking through the factory the visitor noticed that all of the cupboards were locked with padlocks. Surprised, he asked: “You told me that all your workers were honest, but I see that you have padlocks everywhere. What is the meaning of this?” The proprietor replied: “Oh the padlocks - those are to make sure that my honest men stay honest.”

For thousands of years in India, men who had taken to the fourth stage of life - sannyasa - were protected from deviation by maintaining a healthy distance from all possible sources of temptation. They owned nothing aside from a begging bowl, a few clothes, a bamboo staff, and a few items with which to conduct their daily worship.

Because one who takes to this way of life becomes the object of affectionate regard by others, the sannyasi keeps travelling with no permanent home anywhere. He travels, says the Srimad Bhagavatam, like a fish through water or a bird through the air, leaving nothing behind him. The cautionary proverb for sannyasis in India is ‘The rolling river grows no weeds. Weeds grow where the river water slows and touches the earth of the riverbank.’

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu mentions how desires for money, followers and women are an obstacle on the spiritual path in his famous eight verses known as The Shikshashtakam. And it is a well known fact that when a man - even a man of careful spiritual discrimination - is in contact with any or all of these then the desires to enjoy them may once again arise in his heart. Not only that, but the sense of power which may affect one who has followers can be strong enough to begin the process of corruption.

For this reason alone there are many cases in history where sannyasis would not initiate disciples. Their constant travelling also precluded them from offering the education required as part of the initiation process.

But if a sannyasi was part of a mission, such as the sannyasis of the Madhva and Ramanuja communities, and their service to God was the initiating of followers who all lived together in a religious university, then measures would be put in place to safeguard their positions of celibacy and spiritual leadership - a social padlock, so to speak.

Sannyasis would be very carefully selected, often using subtle Vedic techniques to determine his inner psycho-physical nature, then arrangements were made so that he would not have to personally deal with any person or situation which might dilute his spiritual strength. This concern for the sannyasi’s wellbeing was also echoed throughout the social system.

Srila Prabhupada taught us that in addition to such common-sense precautions, the spiritual power of Krishna consciousness itself was sufficient to prevent temptations, and that the more an individual enjoyed his growing relationship with Krishna, the less he would even think of contemplating the earthly, temporary pleasures of life.

But Srila Prabhupada offered his own cautions and explained that we should not, in the name of Krishna consciousness, place ourselves in needlessly dangerous situations. For example, one who is a sannyasi is meant to control his tongue, both in the desire to speak that which is not spiritually helpful, and in the matter of eating. Yet food offered to Krishna becomes liberating, and thus a powerful aid to spiritual life. Still, Srila Prabhupada cautioned: “Many sannyasis have fallen down in the name of ‘maha-prasadam.’”

The plain facts of the matter are that in a rapidly growing movement such as ours a spiritual leader will be required to be in regular contact with many people, some of whom may naturally offer financial contributions for the work of the movement. He may also have an institutional post which requires that he be responsible for certain aspects of management. This places him in a situation where directing the movement’s assets and guiding the spiritual lives of its members may cause him to develop - if he is not careful - an unhelpful self-identity. The notion of ‘I, me, and mine’ is the main obstacle to spiritual life when it is applied to temporal objects and powers.

This becomes further compounded if an individual is given the title of ‘guru’ as it is so easy to move from the mere title to the self-identity of: ‘I am a guru’ and from there to think in the possessive sense of ‘my disciples.’ As soon as the sense of personal proprietorship is awakened the door is opened for an increased notion of one’s personal ownership of wealth, buildings, and powerful position. And the conception of ownership is merely the precursor to enjoyment. Both conceptions are unhelpful to a progressive soul, especially one acting within a mission wherein nothing actually belongs to him. Indeed, Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual master remarked: “As soon as one thinks ‘I am guru’ he becomes ‘gauru’ or a cow” (Meaning that a cow, though sacred, is still not someone to approach for tuition)

It is not suggested by this that no-one should take responsibility for training and guiding others. The teacher-student/guru-disciple relationship is an essential component of spiritual life and is enshrined within our sacred tradition. However, the facts of the matter are that repeatedly, and with disastrous consequences, the combination of the spiritual role of guru in the context of a temporally powerful organisation is proving to be incompatible.

The difficulty in all this seems to be that, though a person is really only a guru for his disciples and no-one else, when he becomes such through institutional approval, he in effect attains an institutional position. But ‘guru’ is not an institutional position, neither is it a social position, although ’sannyasi’ is.

I am a husband to my wife but not to others. The title ‘husband’ is therefore used by her to think of me, but is not used by others to indicate me. It may be of interest for others to know that I am a husband to a wife, but it is an expression of our relationship, not a social designator. Socially I am known as a ‘grihasta’ (married person) which is an expression of my place in society and how I relate to others.

In ISKCON, however, the title ‘guru’ has become a social and institutional designation. Institutional approval for the role of guru has led to it becoming by extension an institutional position. Thus a role that is only relevant to one’s students has become a notch in the institutional hierarchy, something it was not intended to be. It has led to such tautological statements as: “Please come to our Krishna Festival, there will be lots of gurus and sannyasis there,” as if somehow there are two different categories of Vaishnava in attendance, one group higher than the other.

The further complication is that ISKCON has further endorsed this ‘position’ of guru with such temporal power that it is hardly checked by the normal organisational scrutinies exercised by any movement of our size and purpose.

The antinomianism which abounds in some quarters of ISKCON is, perhaps, one of the reasons why we are somewhat too naive in the face of potentially disastrous combinations of spiritual authority and temporal power. Certainly, until we can understand that spiritual advancement does not, and cannot, obviate a man from following all the necessary dharmic and social codes pertaining to his age and social station, we shall fail to keep good men good, and will continue to be embarrassed.

By

His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur Mahasaya

ohe! vaisnaba thakura, doyara sagara,

e dase koruna kori’

diya pada-chaya, sodho he amaya,

tomara carana dhori

O saintly Vaishnava, ocean of mercy, be merciful to me, your servant.

Give me shelter at your feet,

free me from conceit,

to follow you is all that I shall want.

chaya bega domi, chaya dosa sodhi

chaya guna deho’ dase

chaya sat-sanga, deho’ he amare,

boshechi sangera ase

Teach me self control,

rectify my wrongs,

bless me with the best of qualities.

Let me always be in the company of the Lord’s pure devotees.

ekaki amara, nahi paya bala,

hari-nama-sankirtane

tumi krpa kori: sraddha-bindu diya,

deho’ krsna-nama-dhane

Alone I lack the strength,

hardly have I hope,

to chant with love Lord Krishna’s holy name.

Grant me thus your grace,

a fragment of your faith,

so I shall that greatest treasure gain.

krsna se tomara, krsna dite paro,

tomara sakati ache

ami to’ kangala, ‘krsna ‘krsna ‘boli’,

dhai tava pache pache

The Lord belongs to you,

held ever in your heart,

your blessing can bestow Him upon me.

Calling Krishna Krishna,

I follow at your feet,

crying for your causeless mercy.

Free to Preach

April 24, 2007

By Prema Padmini dd

<BIG>Where?</BIG> A Muslim country in the Middle East.

<BIG>Who?</BIG> A grihastha couple.

<BIG>What?</BIG> Spreading Krishna consciousness and building the Vaishnava community: from two to two thousand devotees.

<BIG>When?</BIG> For the last few years - and it's still going on.

<BIG>How?</BIG> Through the Bhakti-vriksha Program: love, care, training, small groups, interaction, participation, outreach, cultivation, supervision and empowerment.

<BIG>Why?</BIG> Because of Lord Caitanya's and Srila Prabhupada's desire.

Yes there is the pure knowlege-based paradigm science as outlined in the sastras and then there is the Absolute Truth the Krsna TATTVA found in the heart, mind and consciousness of the pure devotee mahajana, tattva-vit acarya - mahajana yena gatha sa pantha - the path that is practically applied by the sadhu vaisnava guru who can practically show by his life's example how to be in Krsna Conciousness moment to moment 'on the ground' and 'in real time'.

Isn't this the difference between apparent relative ever-changing material truth and the constant ever-existing Absolute Truth of the Supreme Transcendence Lord Sri Krsna (And everything else seen as related to Him, the Krsna conception of daivi varnasrama or the Isavasya construct of spiritual reality)?

There is the pure science of scientific theory in the books of scripture but then there is the applied practical experiential science of growing your own bhakti-lata creeper of pure devotion wherein only Bhakti-devi Herself consents to appear independently so that the plant of pure devotion will bear the fruit of Krsna prema.

Who will guide you from the intellectual titilating platform mode of the arm-chair philosopher:deal: to the on hands pure spiritual mode of 'acting on the platform of the spirit soul' wherein every moment is eternal full of bliss and knowlege?

Who's got that power, authority and ultimately mercy to bring Vraja prema rasa to the fallen conditioned souls of the Age of Kali?

<CENTER>

From Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarawati Prabhupada's

'Real and Apparent Vaishnavism'

Daya or kindness to jiva

</CENTER>One apparent jiva considers himself (mentally and physically) less distressed than another jiva, feels for his distress and does something in the shape of relief or redress. This is but stopping or diminishing the unending miseries partly, locally or temporarily. It is frequently seen that a jiva who feels aggrieved and consequently abstains from committing wrong owing to weakness or inability, recovers, at such relief, strength or ability enough to commit wrong to other jivas. So it often happens that such apparently kind services not only bring harm to the recipient but cause indirect injuries to others. This is one aspect of the thing. Let us turn to the other. As a gardener prunes a growing tree, allowing its root to grow freely and easily, as a physician treats a patient leaving the prime-disease undisturbed, so this sort of temporary kindness stops, no doubt, the growth of the present inconveniences for a while but in no way uproots the cause whence all these afflictions arise. This cause has been identified with the enslaved condition of jivas. So real and permanent kindness consist in bringing before the enslaved jivas a true and vivid picture of their natural, free and blissful existence and reinstating them in their true position.Thus real kindness is applicable to the real jiva and apparent kindness to the apparent jiva.

*As an instrument, a servant, a friend, parents and a consort. uproots the cause whence all these afflictions arise. This cause has been identified with the enslaved condition of jivas. So real and permanent kindness consists in bringing before the enslaved jivas a true and vivid picture of their natural, free and blissful existence and reinstating them in their true position. Thus real kindness is applicable to the real jiva and apparent kindness to the apparent jiva.

Can you pay the highest price - your full unconditional surrender - for the highest possible wealth , Krsna prema dana? Is it not described as laulyam, the spiritual greed for the highest spiritual attainment?

can you really hanker for the sweetness and absolute beauty of Lord Sri Krsna in all His variegated splendor, lalasamayi?

Can you put aside all other things belonging to this worrld and go for the ultimate spiritual goal of getting Krsna's mercy, krsna kripa, His merciful sidelong glance and soliciting His paternal affection?

If you still haven't made up your mind about wanting love of God, then don't go to Vrindavan to see Krsna standing by the river Yamuna, playing the flute on a full moon night ...as you might verily lose all interest in pursuing a career in business administration.

72-08-29.Gurudasa Letter:

Please accept my blessings.

I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 23, 1972, and I have noted the contents carefully.

Do not be depressed. ALL ALONG MY GODBROTHERS GAVE ME ONLY DEPRESSION, REPRESSION, COMPRESSION--BUT I CONTINUED STRONG IN MY DUTY.

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In

</STRONG>

A Summary of Srila Prabhupada’s Miraculous Accomplishments from 1965 to 1977

In 1965, at seventy years of age, he ventured outside India for the first time to fulfill the order of his spiritual master. During his voyage at sea, he suffered two severe heart attacks. He reached the shores of America with the equivalent of seven dollars to his name.

He founded the International Society for Krsna Consciousness with a small group of disciples, after a year of struggling alone in New York City. This marked the only time in history that a Krsna devotee successfully trained non-Indians in the strict disciplines of Vaisnavism. Amazingly, this was achieved during the blossoming of America’s hedonistic counterculture movement.

He sent his followers, chanting the names of God, into the streets of cities and towns everywhere and Hare Krsna became famous in every corner of the earth.

He sent his disciples to London, where they recorded the single, “Hare Krsna Mantra”, with George Harrison, in 1969. It became the fastest selling of all the Apple Corporation’s releases, including those of the Beatles. The record reached #3 in Czechoslovakia, #9 in Britain, and made the top ten in Germany, Japan, Australia, South Africa, Yugoslavia, and many other countries.

He formally initiated approximately five thousand disciples. These initiates represented a sweeping diversity of nationalities, races, ethnicities, and religious backgrounds.

He established 108 Krsna temples on six continents, installed the deity of Krsna in each center and trained his disciples in the process of deity worship. Thirty-two new temples (almost three a month) were opened in a single year, between 1970 and 1971.

He inaugurated the Rathayatra Festival of Lord Jaganatha in major cities around the globe, in effect, bringing the temple to the people.

He instituted the brahmacarini asram, something previously unheard of in Vedic culture, to give shelter to single women wishing to practice Krsna consciousness.

He instructed his disciples in 1967 to start an incense business to provide financial support for the temples. Within four years the business, Spiritual Sky Incense, generated an annual revenue of one million dollars (equivalent to $4,600,000 in 2004).

He introduced the “Sunday Love Feast” and other prasadam (sanctified food) distribution programs that provided millions of free meals to the public.

He created the world’s first chain of vegetarian restaurants.

He spoke daily on the philosophy of Krsna consciousness, delivering thousands of formal lectures. Over 2,200 were recorded and archived.

He conducted many hundreds of informal conversations on the science of Krsna consciousness with disciples, guests and friends. Over 1,300 were recorded and archived.

He had scores of interviews and philosophical discussions with news reporters, scientists, religious leaders and politicians, as well as meetings with world-renowned dignitaries and celebrities like Indira Gandhi, Allen Ginsberg, Ravi Shankar, Alice Coltrane, John Lennon and George Harrison.

He recorded more than twenty albums of devotional music.

He published the monthly magazine, Back to Godhead, which he called the backbone of his movement. At the height of its circulation in the mid seventies, over a million copies per issue were sold.

He launched the ISKCON Life Membership Program that enrolled tens of thousands of members.

He built major temples in Bombay and Vrndavana, and founded a spiritual city at Mayapur. All became international sites of pilgrimage.

He established primary schools to provide education in the principles of devotional service.

He founded the Bhaktivedanta Institute to advance Krsna consciousness within the scientific community, engaging serious academics in the consideration of the science of self-realization.

He formed the Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust to unearth and renovate the holy places of Lord Caitanya’s pastimes.

He set up farm communities to teach “simple living and high thinking”, emphasizing cow protection and dependence on God and nature.

He commissioned his artist disciples to produce hundreds of illustrations of Krsna’s pastimes based on his meticulous instructions and the descriptions in his books.

He directed some of his followers to learn the Indian art of “doll making” to present Vedic philosophy through dioramas. This project became the FATE Museums.

He counseled his disciples on complex managerial, philosophical and personal issues in more than 6,000 archived letters.

He was the subject of more than 30,000 archival photos and more than seventy hours of documentary film footage.

He wrote approximately seventy books on the science of Krsna consciousness, sleeping only a few hours per day. Dozens of prominent scholars and educators from leading universities praised his work (see appendix). The Encyclopaedia Britannica proclaimed that his voluminous translations from the original Sanskrit and his lucid commentaries “have astounded literary and academic communities worldwide.” This feat is even more astonishing considering the translations and commentaries were in English, which was a second language to the author.

He founded the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) in 1972, to produce his books. By 1976, over 55,000,000 literatures had been published in twenty-five languages and distributed in almost every country, making the BBT the world’s largest publisher of Indian religious and philosophical texts. One printing alone of Bhagavad-gita As It Is required seventy-six train cars to ship the paper needed to print it.

He completed the entire Caitanya-caritamrta manuscript (seventeen volumes) in eighteen months.

He ordered and supervised the BBT in publishing seventeen volumes of his books in only two months time, in 1974.

He circled the globe fourteen times, visiting twenty-four countries, preaching, inspiring his followers and making countless public appearances before multitudes of people.

He skillfully managed his international society simply through letters and personal meetings, virtually without the use of a telephone.

In accomplishing all the above, he also fulfilled the following:

idam sthanam parityajya videsam gamyate maya

I will leave this place [Vrndavana] and travel to foreign lands...

Bhakti Devi speaking to Narada,

Srimad Bhagavata Mahatmyam

(Padmapurana, Uttarakhanda)

translated by Sri Satyanarayana Dasa

[The Srimad Bhagavata Mahatmyam (The Glories of Srimad Bhagavatam) is a section of the Padmapurana. It tells the story of how Bhakti can be revived in Kali yuga through recital of Srimad Bhagavatam. When Srila Prabhupada left Vrndavana and came to America, it is significant that his only possession was a trunk containing the first volumes of his Srimad Bhagavatam, which he considered his most important work. It is also significant that he instituted daily recitation of the Bhagavatam as the foundation of the temple program, and that Srimad Bhagavatam (in the form of Krsna Book) was the first of Srila Prabhupada’s books to be distributed in large quantities. Until Srila Prabhupada came west, devotional service (Bhakti) had never been successfully introduced in foreign lands.]

krsne sva-dhamopagate

dharma-jnanadibhih saha

kalau nasta-drsam esa

puranarko 'dhunoditah

This Bhagavata Purana is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krsna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this Purana.

Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.43

(Lord Caitanya speaking of the reasons for His

descent):

ebe nama sankirtana tikshna khadaga laiya

antara asura jivera phelibe katiya

Taking the sharp sword of the congregational chanting of the Hare

Krsna mantra, (nama-sankirtana) I will root out & destroy the demoniac

mentality in the hearts of all the conditioned souls.

yadi papi chadi dharma dure dese yaya

mora senapati-bhakta yaibe tathaya

If some sinful people escape and giving up religious principles go to far off countries, then my Senapati Bhakta will come at that time to give them Krsna consciousness. (senapati - a military field commander, bhakta - a devotee. Lord Caitanya will empower His own devotee to spread Krsna Consciousness around the world.)

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

Sri Caitanya Mangala, Sutra-Khanda

by Locana das Thakura

prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama

sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama

In every town and village, the chanting of My name will be heard.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya 4.126

Very soon the unparalleled path of hari-nama sankirtana will be propagated all over the world…Oh, for that day when the fortunate English, French, Russian, German, and American people will take up banners, mrdangas, and karatalas and raise kirtana through their streets and towns! When will that day come?

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Sajjana Tosani 4.3, 'Nityadharma Suryodoy'

1885

Prabhupada: Just like Thakura Bhaktivinoda. In 1896 he sent the Caitanya Mahaprabhu's message to McGill University. That book you have seen. The letter was there. And these are coincidence. Now, after so many years, a servant of that disciplic succession has come here again to preach. So these things are significant.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 7.149-171

San Francisco, March 18, 1967

Prabhupada: ...in 1896. Bhaktivinoda Thakura was the first origin of this movement. But he simply thought of it. And he was expecting some others that willing to take up the work. Well, somebody says that I am the same man. And I was born in 1896.

Room Conversation with Canadian Ambassador to Iran

Iran, March 13, 1975

Anyway please try to save temple of Jiva Goswami because in very near future many people from all parts of the world will come to see the Temple and Samadhi of Jiva Goswami and Rupa Goswami.

Letter to Nripen Babu

San Francisco, March 18, 1967

Prabhupada: And in my horoscope there was written there, "After seventieth year this man will go outside India and establish so many temples."

Tamala Krsna: Really?

Prabhupada: I could not understand. "What is this, that I have to go outside India? That is not..." And Guru Maharaja foretold. He told my Godbrothers, Sridhara Maharaja and others, that "He'll do the needful when time comes. Nobody requires to help him." He told in 1935. And after all, this was true. Guru Maharaja told. And in the beginning, first sight, he told, "You have to do this."

Room Conversation

Vrndavana, June 17, 1977

He (Srila Prabhupada) seemed to know that he would have temples filled up with devotees. He would look out and say, "I am not a poor man, I am rich. There are temples and books, they are existing, they are there, but the time is separating us from them."

Mr. Ruben,

subway conductor who met Prabhupada in 1965

Fulfillment of these prophecies was also confirmed by Srila Prabhupada’s Godbrothers:

This return back to homeland of Srila Prabhupada, is particularly significant, because this time he comes back with a host of his western disciples. This signifies to me the meeting of the East and the West, or at least the beginning of such a meeting. This signifies the victory of spiritualism over materialism, of good over evil. This is really a rare moment in history, for the first time in the history of the world, for the first time at least living memory, Vaisnavism, the message of Vaisnavism, the message of Mahaprabhu, the message of devotion and of pure devotion has been carried to the west an d carried so successfully. I am sure that historians of the future will have a lot to say about Prabhupada and his movement, and they will be even envious of us for living in a time when this movement was begun and for participating in it.

Introduction Speech By Dr. O.B.L. Kapoor

Vrndavana, October 15, 1972

And what about the qualities he had? All devotional qualities he possess. And that we can know him that he is great only by preaching. Less than 10 years. There is no history, no recording anywhere. Preaching in 10 years he has established this divine name everywhere. As is told in Mahaprabhu’s future [prediction].

His Holiness B.V. Puri Maharaj

ITV, Memories of Srila Prabhupada

Sripada Sridhara Maharaja also appreciated my service. He said that Caitanya Mahaprabhu's prediction: prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama/ sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama, would remain a dream only, but he congratulated me that I have done it practically.

Srila Prabhupada letter to Bon Maharaja

Evanston, Illinois, July 7, 1975

Any one of the feats mentioned above would be a significant feather in anyone’s cap—even if it were the only thing a person accomplished in a lifetime. That Srila Prabhupada did all these things in just twelve years, and fulfilled so many predictions of sastra, great devotees, acaryas and astrologers, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, is patent validation of his inimitable role in Vaisnava history. By his efforts, uncountable millions have read about Krsna, honored Krsna prasadam, and heard and chanted the maha mantra. Through his teachings, he continues to relieve humanity from the maladies spawned by doctrines of monism and voidism, while holding open the door of Krsna bhakti for many generations to come. Let us recognize and remember his unprecedented contributions and strive to bring him honor throughout the world.

Devotee: Prabhupada, they said that if Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted Krsna consciousness in the Western countries, why didn't He go there Himself? That's what they told us.

Prabhupada: So He left the credit for me. (laughter)

Morning Walk

Nellore, January 4, 1976

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

English is a wonderful language with some of the strangest pronunciation rules and words that come from many other languages.

This is a list of 20 weird English words:

1. Erinaceous

Like a hedgehog

2. Lamprophony

Loudness and clarity of voice

3. Depone

To testify under oath

4. Finnimbrun

A trinket or knick-knack

5. floccinaucinihilipilification

Estimation that something is valueless.

6. Inaniloquent

To babble

7. Limerance

To be in love

8. Mesonoxian

Pertaining to midnight

9. Mungo

A dumpster diver - one who extracts valuable things from trash

10. Nihilarian

A person who deals with things lacking importance (pronounce the ‘h’ like a ‘k’).

11. Nudiustertian

The day before yesterday

12. Phenakism

Deception or trickery

13. Pronk

A weak or foolish person

14. Pulveratricious

Covered with dust

15. Rastaquouere

A social climber

16. Scopperloit

Rude or rough play

17. Selcouth

Unfamiliar, rare, strange, marvelous, wonderful. For example: The List Universe is such a selcouth website!

18. Tyrotoxism

To be poisoned by cheese

19. Widdiful

Someone who deserves to be hanged

20. Zabernism

The abuse of military power or authority. I wonder how long it will take for this one to show up in the comments.

Pravda

BY: BHAKTA ALEX

Sep 25, OTTAWA, CANADA (SUN) —

I recently came across a

philosophical distinction made by former Polish communist Joseph Berger,

in his 1971 book Shipwreck of a Generation. Berger discusses two Russian

words that were used in communist times as denoting truth. The word

"istina" referred to objective reality. It was the truth that is. There

was also the word "pravda". My understanding is that in Polish "pravda"

simply means truth, but in communist parlance the term referred to

something like "higher Communist truth". In other words, pravda referred

to how things should be, according to the communist view of the world,

not to how things really were in objective reality.

There was a famous communist newspaper called "Pravda", ostensibly

implying that the newspaper reported the truth. But the truth that it

reported was only that which was in line with how things should be,

according to communist ideas. If objective truth was not in line with

what should be true according to the communist view, then that truth

didn't get printed.

To my mind this ties in with a number of controversial issues related to

the ISKCON organization. For starters, in the second edition of the book

Srila Prabhupada: The Prominent Link

<http://www.geocitie s.com/pointofsur render/index. htm> (PL) there's a

mention of a change made to the Sri Caitanya Caritamrta

<http://vedabase. net/cc/en> (CC). The second paragraph of the summary

of Adi-lila chapter 1 lists some members of the parampara, and mentions

their relationship to each other. In the second edition of PL, in an

article entitled "Caitanya-caritamrt a- Page 1

<http://www.geocitie s.com/pointofsur render/pl- caitanya. htm> ", Dhira

Govinda Prabhu writes the following about the original version of this

paragraph:

"Perhaps even more noteworthy is that Srila Prabhupada uses the word

'initiated' to describe parampara relationships where no official

initiation occurred, in reference to the relationships between Srila

Jagannatha dasa Babaji and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and between Srila

Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji.

"In the recently published edition of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta the

editors deleted the words 'initiated' in the two cases cited above."

There was no initiation ceremony formally linking Srila Bhaktivinode

Thakura to Jagannatha dasa Babaji, but Srila Prabhupada nonetheless uses

the word "initiated" when mentioning them in succession. A BBT

representative stated:

"Thank you for your inquiry concerning the Caitanya-caritamrta changes.

I agonized over this one for some time, consulting several senior

devotees before making this change."

(...)

"On the side of not changing the 'initiated' phrases we have the strong

bias against changing the books unless absolutely necessary and the fact

that Srila Prabhupada did indeed say that Jagannatha das Babaji

initiated Bhaktivinode. "

This is where I think pravda and istina come in. The BBT representative

sates that "Srila Prabhupada did indeed say that Jagannatha das Babaji

initiated Bhaktivinode. " This would be the istina. This is what actually

is. If the the BBT representative is correct, then Srila Prabhupada did

actually state that Jagannatha das Babaji initiated Bhaktivinode.

Now on to the pravda. Dhira Govinda Prabhu writes:

"Of concern is that the explanation for deleting the word 'initiated'

seems to be largely based on the understanding of the word 'initiated',

'as we know it in ISKCON'. Perhaps when Srila Prabhupada used the word

'initiated', he did so deliberately, and the meaning of the term as it

has come to be understood in ISKCON is incomplete. That is, instead of

making changes in this passage based on what we think Srila Prabhupada

may have meant, it may be fruitful to consider that the current

conception in the organization of the word 'initiated' is not perfectly

consistent with Srila Prabhupada's understanding of the concept."

So the pravda here is the understanding of the word "initiatedas we

know it in ISKCON". The pravda in this case is the assumptions that we

make about the word "initiated". The pravda is what the word "initiated"

should mean, according to how things are currently understood in ISKCON,

as opposed to what Srila Prabhupada actually states in this instance.

The BBT representative writes:

"Notice that while Srila Prabhupada does say that Bhaktivinode Thakura

was initiated by Jagannatha das Babaji, he doesn't say that Gaura

Kishora das Babaji was initiated by Bhaktivinode, which was added in the

1975 edition of the CC. Historically, neither is accurate if we accept

the usual sense in which Srila Prabhupada used the word 'initiated.' So

just on the grounds of bringing the new edition closer to the original

words Srila Prabhupada wrote, no longer having Bhaktivinode initiating

Gaura-kisora is justified. But we are still left with Jagannatha das

initiating Bhaktivinode. "

So the istina, the objective truth, seems to be that Srila Prabhupada

actually stated that Jagannathat dasa Babaji initiated Srila

Bhaktivinode Thakura. If what the BBT representative is saying is

correct, then the objective reality is that Srila Prabhupada actually

said it.

When discussing two instances of the word "initiated" being used in the

CC paragraph in question, the BBT representative states that

historically "neither is accurate". The implication here seems to be

that Srila Prabhupada is making an incorrect statement, because his

statement does not conform to our understanding.

As far as I can tell, this is an interpretation. It's an interpretation

based on how things should be. It's pravda, rather than istina. First of

all, we assume that we correctly understand Srila Prabhupada's

philosophy. Then we assert that our current understanding of that

philosophy is identical with what Srila Prabhupada is teaching. If what

Srila Prabhupada is teaching turns out to be different that our current

understanding of that philosophy, we change what Srila Prabhupada is

teaching, in order to bring it in line with our current understanding.

Reality be damned. Pravda trumps istana.

In Shipwreck of a Generation, Joseph Berger writes:

"In the rooms of the NKVD and at Party meetings, istina was nothing - it

was relative and it could easily be changed: only pravda was absolute.

It seemed to me, as it must do to millions of others who have not been

through this school, hard to understand how a philological distinction

could have such an effect on the lives of so many. But in fact this

small difference - this tyranny of pravda over istina - was the lever by

which white was turned into black; no such dialectic had existed since

the Inquisition. The notion of pravda was the basis of power."

As Dhira Govinda Prabhu writes in a post to the PL conference from

August 30th, 2007

<http://www.geocitie s.com/pointofsur render/pl- this_isnt_ about_philosophy \

.htm> :

"Earlier today I had a conversation with a devotee in his early thirties

who was raised in the Hare Krsna movement. He related to me about an

initiation ceremony that was recently conducted by an ISKCON guru here

in Alachua. At the event the person conducting the ceremony stated that

he is initiating on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. This devotee with whom I

was speaking did not claim to have any special philosophical insight

into the controversies surrounding the guru issue, and his state of

distress when talking with me did not stem in a direct way from any

philosophical stance. He expressed simply that 'When I was growing up at

these ceremonies they would say this, and ten years ago they would say

that, and now they're saying something different... ' Perceiving and

experiencing this inconsistency, his faith in the system and people

leading it is almost completely destroyed."

The way I see it, it's like there's a "discourse community" within the

ISKCON organization that defines reality. Certain ideas are

ideologically correct (pravda), even if they are not supported by

reality (istina). The "discourse community" has been forced by reality

(istina) to modify their virtual world (pravda) a number of times,

because the gap between reality and the virtual world that they were

living in was too great. It was too difficult to maintain the

self-deception needed to live in the virtual world for a long period of

time.

I think the above-mentioned terminology may also tie in to the issue of

Srila Prabhupada's disappearance pastime. I recently read a 1999 article

by Dhanesvara Prabhu, entitled "Impact Assessment Of The Poison

Controversy <http://www.vnn. org/editorials/ ET9910/ET02- 4849.html> ". In

the article, Dhanesvara Prabhu states:

"As we have discussed in the previous segment this whole poisoning

affair has immense implications that almost naturally create a knee-jerk

reaction based upon both our experiences and the outcome we desire.

Therefore we have heard many devotees make statements to the effect that

this couldn't possibly be true "because . . .(fill in the blank)." The

arguments why this cannot be true run an entire gamut from Prabhupada's

self-realized, pure devotee status to someone's personal relationship

with those who would have been the so-called conspirators.

"Despite the fact that we may have so many reasons why it could not have

happened, we do have one very strong reason to believe that it did-Srila

Prabhupada said that he was being poisoned."

So here again we have pravda and istina. The reality (istina) is that

Srila Prabhupada actually said certain things. These things may come

into conflict with the official explanation (pravda) of Srila

Prabhupada's disappearance. This can cause some cognitive dissonance in

us, and the possible implications of what Srila Prabhupada said are

certainly intense, profound and far-reaching. In the same article,

Dhanesvara Prabhu states the following about the possibility of Srila

Prabhupada being poisoned:

"The consequences of the second case, that in fact Srila Prabhupada was

poisoned, are immense and terrible to contemplate. Beyond coming to know

that such a thing had in fact happened, everyone will have to deal with

the many implications and consequences. Past, present, and future

consequences will all simultaneously clamor for attention. Feelings of

betrayal and mistrust would rise to extreme levels. The entire history

of the society as influenced by those involved in the conspiracy would

have to be reconsidered. It is immediately implied that any persons who

had any hand in this most despicable activity would have to be

immediately expelled from the society at the very least, and given the

fact that all those who were close enough to Srila Prabhupada at the

time to have participated in this are now gurus there would be immense

implications for those who had accepted initiation from them as well.

"It is the terrible implications of this possible truth that make the

situation difficult to contemplate. "

There are a number of issues connected to the ISKCON institution that

can be difficult, uncomfortable and unpleasant to contemplate. In his

Sampradaya Sun article "Faith Is Blind And Ignorance is Bliss

<http://www.harekrsn a.com/sun/ editorials/ 03-07/editorials 1372.htm> ",

Hrishikesh Prabhu writes:

"...one mother told me her son at the New Vrindaban Gurukula exclaimed

to her once during a 1979 visit with his mother: 'Guess what! While you

were gone I was selected to be Kirtanananda Swami's personal servant for

a week! And do you know what? He fondled my genitals!' The mother

chastised her son: 'You're in maya! Bhaktipada's a pure devotee! Don't

you ever say any nonsense like that again or I'll chastise you

severely!'"

So in 1979 the pravda, the socially-constructe d and socially-reinforced

"reality", was that Kirtanananda was a "pure devotee". If you didn't

play along with this idea, you were a bad guy. If you pointed out

something bad that Kirtanananda was doing (istina), you were the bad guy

for pointing it out. Kirtanananda, the person who was engaging in the

activity wasn't himself bad. You were bad for perceiving, acknowledging

and pointing out what Kirtanananda was doing.

If you played along, and pretended that this person was a pure devotee,

then you did inner violence to yourself. The term "pure devotee" lost

its meaning. Words are important. "Pure devotee" means something, and

it's possible to distort that meaning, and then to spread that distorted

definition (pravda) throughout the culture. Every time we use the

expression "pure devotee" in a way that isn't true, then we cheat

ourselves, and we cheat the other person.

Every time we bow to a false idea, and act as though it's true, it

corrupts us from inside. It fogs up our perception. We lie to ourselves.

The longer we play the game (pravda), the more we start to identify with

the game, the more we forget what reality (istina) outside of the game

is like.

What if some of the things that we're told from within the ISKCON

organization, and that the we're the most sure of, were simply not true?

How might that affect our map of reality?

Joseph Berger writes:

"In 1936, I eventually succeeded in persuading one of my most

intelligent interrogators to answer my question: 'Are you not in the

least interested in what actually happened? Do you really only want the

pre-selected truth which is the "Party" truth?' He gave this trenchant

reply:

"'Pravda is what appeared in today's leading article in Pravda [the

newspaper]. Anything that doesn't fit into this framework is, for us,

objectively, not true. What have we to do with your petty istinas?'"

It's okay to have ideas in our head, but we have to stay open to the

feedback loop from reality (istina). In an exchange with Professor J. F.

Staal, Professor of Philosophy and of South Asian Languages at the

University of California Berkeley, in January of 1970, Srila Prabhupada

states: "We have to test everything by its practical result."

We have to test everything by its practical result (istina). As far as I

can see, this is the sort of thing that makes Krsna Consciousness a

science, as opposed to a pseudo-science, or a cult.

Who did he take sannyasa from?

bhagavan

circa 1978-79

Here they are taken on initiation day...

I didn't get anything like that.

I just got a questionable ritvik initiation in ISKCON from Jayatirtha das, so I really don't consider myself a proper disciple of anyone.

 

I am just a new bhakta that has been reading some books for the last 32 years.

 

I am not a proper disciple of anyone.

 

I don't really acknowledge my make-believe initiation I got from Jayatirtha and a tape recording of the gayatri mantra.

 

I had a chance to meet Srila Prabhupada and get some direct connection and instructions, but neither HE or the GBC gave me that opportunity even though I was standing right in front of him.

 

I am not really an initiated devotee.

I have rejected the organization that gave me some formal ceremony, so I guess that makes me a real "nowhere man" living in his nowhere land.

 

 

 

The Beatles.

<TABLE width=950 bgColor=#ffffee><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=200 bgColor=#ffffee>

</TD><TD vAlign=top align=middle width=550 bgColor=#ffffee>

THE BEATLES lyrics - Nowhere Man

He's a real nowhere man

Sitting in his nowhere land

Making all his nowhere plans for nobody

Doesn't have a point of view

Knows not where he's going to

Isn't he a bit like you and me?

Nowhere Man, please listen

You don't know what you're missing

Nowhere Man, the world is at your command

He's as blind as he can be

Just sees what he wants to see

Nowhere Man can you see me at all?

Nowhere Man, don't worry

Take your time, don't hurry

Leave it all till somebody else lends you a hand

Doesn't have a point of view

Knows not where he's going to

Isn't he a bit like you and me?

Nowhere Man, please listen

You don't know what you're missing

Nowhere Man, the world is at your command

(with a keyboard and mouse of course)

He's a real Nowhere Man

Sitting in his nowhere land

Making all his nowhere plans for nobody

Making all his nowhere plans for nobody

Making all his nowhere plans for nobody

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

"Being ordered by his father, Parasurama killed his mother,

Renuka, just as if she were an enemy. Laksmana, the younger

brother of Lord Ramacandra, immediately engaged Himself in the

service of His elder brother and accepted His orders. The order of the spiritual master must be obeyed obeyed without consideration. "

What specific, particular and personal order did you receive from His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, that you must as of necessity follow without consideration?