krsna

"So Bali Maharaja dedicated atma-nivedana, everything: his property, his personal body, everything. So in exchange, Vamana, Lord Vamana became his doorkeeper. So Vamanadeva said, "My dear Bali Maharaja, you are so great a devotee. So in return for your service, I shall remain always your doorkeeper." So by offering everything to Krsna, nobody is loser. You must always remem... They are gainer, the best gainer. Because after all, everything belongs to Krsna. Why should we foolishly say, "It is mine, it is mine?" Aham mameti. Janasya moho 'yam. This is called illusion. Nothing belongs to me, but I think that "This is mine, this is mine, this is mine." The whole world is going on (like) that. Aham mameti. "We are Americans,We are Indians,This belongs to me,That belongs to you." We make such, I mean to say, shareholder. But shareholder for other's property. Everything belongs to God. Not only this world--there are many millions and millions of planet." Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam, 09-24-72, Los Angeles <CENTER></CENTER> "Atma-nivedanam, giving everything to Krsna. That is Bali Maharaja. He did not do anything. He simply... Whatever he possessed, he gave it to Krsna, "Take it," his everything. He promised three feet land, and by two feet land all his possession was covered. Then Krsna asking that "Where to keep the another feet?" He said, "Yes, sir, there is place. Just keep it on my head. That's all." So by three feet he lost everything. He lost not everything, but he gained everything, and Krsna agreed that "You are so sacrificing. Now I shall remain as your doorkeeper here, stand here always to save you from all dangers." So by giving to Krsna, by serving Krsna, by loving Krsna, nobody is loser. Nobody is loser. Everyone is gainer. Everyone is gainer. So therefore we should take this process." Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam, 02-22-73, Auckland <CENTER></CENTER> "Regarding Bali Maharaja: He is born in the same atheistic family of Maharaja Prahlada. He happened to be the grandson of Maharaja Prahlada, and as his great grand-father, Hiranyakasipu was very powerful, and as there was animosity between the demigods and the demons, Bali Maharaja also defeated the demigods several times, and was occupying all the planets. At that time Vamanadeva appeared as the son of Kasyamuni. Bali Maharaja was very charitably disposed. Sometimes the atheists are also very charitable. Persons who believe that we are doing pious activities, making charities and welfare work to the human society, why should we bother about God?--such persons even though very moral and pious in the estimation of the material world, are also demons, on account of their apathy for Krishna Consciousness. So, Bali Maharaja was a man of that type. Under the circumstances he was not averse to accept charity and other pious activities. He was being guided by his spiritual master, Sukaracharya. Sukara means the semina. In other words, one claims to become acharya on the principle of being born of a Brahmin father. They may be called sukaracharya, or acharya or preacher not by disciplic succession, but on the right of heredity. In India there are still superstitions that one should be initiated by such sukaracharya family. They are called generally as the jatigosain. Jatigosain means the caste spiritual master. All over India, especially in Bengal, this jatigosain spiritual mastership is very prevalent. But really goswami means one who is master of the influence of different senses, namely the influence of tongue, the influence of mind, the influence of anger, the influence of belly, the influence of genital, and the influence of talking. So one who is master of these influential webs of sense gratification, he is called goswami. Goswami is not by hereditary chart. So Sukaracharya posed himself as such goswami spiritual master. He had many mystic powers, therefore he was considered to be very influential spiritual master of the demons. So when Vamanadeva appeared, Bali Maharaja was attracted by His beauty as a Dwarf Brahmin, and as he was charitably disposed, he wanted to give Him some charity. But Sukaracharya, being elevated in mystic yogic powers, he could understand that Vamanadeva was Visnu. And in order to favor the demigods, He had come there to cheat Bali Maharaja in the shape of begging some charities. Bali Maharaja was puffed up with his material vanities, and Vamanadeva as He is Visnu, all-peaceful, without interrupting his attitude, just approached him in the form of a Brahmin, Who has a right to beg something from the princely order. And the principle orders also are always disposed, to make charities to the Brahmins. ..... Bali Maharaja is Mahajana because he wanted to serve Visnu by disobeying his non-bonafide spiritual master. As explained above, Sukracarya was hereditary spiritual master by seminic succession. But Bali Maharaja first revolted against this stereotyped seminic succession spiritual master, and therefore he is Mahajana. Srila Jiva Goswami has described in his Karamasandharvha that one should be anxious to accept a spiritual master who is bona fide in spiritual knowledge. And if need be one should relinquish the connection of hereditary spiritual master and accept a real bona fide spiritual master. So when Sukaracharya advised him contrary to his previous instructions, specifically, he checked Bali Maharaja in the matter of worshipping Visnu, and thus Sukaracharya became at once fallen down from the position of becoming a spiritual master. Nobody can become a spiritual master who is not a devotee of Visnu. A brahmana may be very expert in the matter of performing Vedic rituals, accepting charities, and distributing wealth--all these are exalted qualifications of the brahmanas, but the Vedic injunction is, in spite of possessing all these qualities, if somebody is against Lord Visnu, he cannot be a spiritual master. So when Sukaracharya advised Bali Maharaja against Visnu, he at once became unqualified for becoming a spiritual master. Bali Maharaja disobeyed such unqualified spiritual master, and therefore, he is accepted as Mahajana. Mahajana means a personality whose footprints should be followed. So, his exemplary behavior in rejecting a non-Vaisnava spiritual master being ideal to the bona fide students, he is considered a Mahajana." Srila Prabhupada Letter to Satsvarupa, 07-03-68, Boston Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

Inside ISKCON How do You Become an ISKCON Sannyasi? By ISKCON News Staff on 1 Jul 2008 <!--paging_filter-->Vaisnava culture emphasises renunciation therefore ISKCON has many people who have accepted a role as a sanyasa, or traveling monk. However, in the past many aspirants have had difficulty maintaining their vows which created controversy and scandal. ISKCON responded to the issue by developing a system by which we can better ensure the maturity and qualification of candidates. ISKCON News approached Prahladananda Swami, GBC minister of sannyasa, to help clarify the system by which an ISKCON member can take sannyasa. If you've spent much time in or around ISKCON or other Gaudiya Vaishnava communities, you'll be somewhat familiar with sannyasis. But what is the essence of being a sannyasi, and how does one become one? According to one verse in the ancient scripture Bhagavad-gita, a sannyasi is someone who has completely dedicated his activities – for the service of God for His satisfaction without any material desire. Of course, by that definition, any advanced Krishna devotee could be considered a sannyasi. Still, those who have taken a vow of complete celibacy and are fully engaged in spreading Krishna consciousness are given special honor because of their practical renunciation. So can just anyone who decides they're disgusted with family life, desires some special honor as well as free plane tickets around the world become an ISKCON sannyasi? Nope. Unfortunately for you, if that's your plan, your intention must be far purer and deeper. In the purport to Caitanya Caritamrita, Madhya-lila 3.6, ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada writes: "If one accepts the sannyasa order, his main business is to devote his life completely to the service of Mukunda, Krishna. If one does not completely devote his mind and body to the service of the Lord, he does not actually become a sannyasi. It is not simply a matter of changing dress." It's pretty clear that Srila Prabhupada, following the example of previous Vaishnava leaders, wanted ISKCON devotees to accept sannyasa only if they had the highest spiritual qualifications. And that's where the GBC Ministry for Sannyasa Services comes in. "Every year, at the GBC General Meeting in Mayapur, we systematically assess sannyasa candidates and give recommendations to the GBC Body," says International Sannyasa Minister Prahladananda Swami. "This assessment process for sannyasa candidates, as well as the training that follows, seems to have significantly improved the quality of the sannyasa ashrama in ISKCON." First off, every sannyasa candidate must have a sponsor, usually a senior devotee in their location. The sponsor must hand in an initial report of the candidate's qualifications according to the GBC Rules of Order, "The Qualifications for Sannyasa." Then the candidates being assessed must fill in a thorough application form which includes: 1. Age of the candidate. 2. Data necessary to do an astrological analysis. 3. Marital status. 4. If previously married, information when separated or divorced from the wife, including legal separation or divorce papers. How are the former wife and children maintained? When applicable, written statement by the wife that she is in agreement that her former husband is taking sannyasa. 5. Scriptural tests passed. Passing the Bhakti Sastri exam is a minimum qualification to apply for becoming a sannyasa candidate. 6. Service within ISKCON. Preaching experience and future preaching plans. Past responsible positions held within ISKCON. 7. A letter with a resume detailing the devotee's devotional career in or outside of ISKCON. 8. A letter explaining the devotee's reasons for wanting to take sannyasa. 9. Information about any possible criminal record. 10. Information about their opinions on certain controversial subjects. 11. Signed oath of loyalty to ISKCON. 12. A letter of endorsement from the local GBC and managerial body. 13. Names of 10 senior ISKCON devotees (i.e. sannyasis, GBC's temple presidents etc.) who can give an assessment of the devotee's qualifications to take sannyasa. 14. Names of 5 senior devotees who you trust can act as your mentors and give the Sannyasa Ministry feedback as to the devotee's preaching and devotional advancement. 15. An affirmation by the devotee that he is willing to travel and preach in areas designated by the Sannyasa Ministry and the GBC Executive Committee for one to two months a year. "When the candidate hands in this application, we review it, and interview them, as well as others who are familiar with the candidate and his qualifications and devotional history and when applicable make a recommendation to the GBC Body," says Prahladananda Swami. "Of course, if you're accepted, that doesn't mean you take sannyasa immediately! Instead you're put on a waiting list for different amounts of time according to what age you are and other factors - at 45, the wait is three years, at 40, it's four years, and at 35, five years." This seems to indicate that the GBC would rather sannyasa candidates are at a reasonably mature age, and have experienced family life for long enough to genuinely be able to renounce it. Any requirements for being placed on the sannyasa waiting list or being accepted as eligible for taking initiation in the sannyasa ashrama can be waived, but only in exceptional cases and by a vote of at least 4/5th majority of the GBC. Once the candidate has taken on their new role as sannyasi, their sponsor must send in annual reports on them, as well as making sure that any discrepancies on their conduct, behavior or attitude are rectified. "Each year, the new sannyasis themselves must also submit reports on their preaching, devotional practices, and finances," Prahladananda Swami says. On top of that, the candidate is requested to travel with an experienced sannyasi who can train them and give feedback on their qualifications and progress. Sounds like a process that couldn't possibly get more detailed. But the Sannyasa Ministry are well aware of how serious the post of sannyasa is, and want to make sure they've covered every inch of ground. "We're always looking for suggestions on how to improve our process of selecting ISKCON sannyasis," Prahladananda Swami says. "We'd really appreciate any valuable suggestions you may have."

<TABLE class=storycontent cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2>Fire in the sky: Tunguska at 100 </TD></TR><TR><TD class=storybody><!-- S BO --><!-- S IBYL --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=466 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=bottom>By Paul Rincon Science reporter, BBC News </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <!-- E IBYL --><!-- S IIMA -->The Tunguska event was caused by a space rock tens of metres across <!-- E IIMA --> At 7:17am on 30 June 1908, an immense explosion tore through the forest of central Siberia. Some 80 million trees were flattened over an area of 2,000 square km (800 square miles) near the Tunguska River. The blast was 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and generated a shock wave that knocked people to the ground 60km from the epicentre. The cause was an asteroid or comet just a few tens of metres across which detonated 5-10km above the ground, 100 years ago today. Eyewitnesses recalled a brilliant fireball resembling a "flying star" ploughing across the cloudless June sky at an oblique angle. <!-- S IBOX --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=231 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5></TD><TD class=sibtbg> Tunguska reminds us that these impact events have occurred in the relatively recent past Prof Richard Crowther, STFC </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IBOX -->The plume of hot dust trailing the fireball gave rise to descriptions of a "pillar of fire", which was quickly replaced by a giant cloud of black smoke rising over the horizon. "The sky split in two and fire appeared high and wide over the forest. The split in the sky grew larger, and the entire northern side was covered with fire," one local remembered. "At that moment I became so hot that I couldn't bear it, as if my shirt was on fire… I wanted to tear off my shirt and throw it down, but then the sky slammed shut. A strong thump sounded, and I was thrown a few yards." This eyewitness was lucky, but an elderly hunter who was much closer to the explosion died after being flung against a tree by the blast. That the airburst did not cause more casualties was in large part due to the remoteness of the area. Bright light To many, this event - the biggest space impact of modern times - serves as a reminder of the continuing threat posed to our planet by objects from space. <!-- S IIMA --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=226 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> Leonid Kulik found vast areas of forest had been levelled </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IIMA -->If the Tunguska "impactor" had exploded over a major city such as London, the death toll would have been up in the millions. "Everything within the M25 would have been wiped out," Dr Mark Bailey, director of the Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland, told BBC News. The effects of Tunguska were not limited to Siberia. In London, it was possible to read newspapers and play cricket outdoors at midnight. This is now thought to have been due to sunlight scattered by dust from the fireball's plume. The Russian mineralogist Leonid Kulik visited the region in 1921, interviewed local eyewitnesses and soon realised that a meteorite must have been the cause. He persuaded the Russian authorities to fund an expedition to the region in 1927, during which he was able to explore the vast zones of fallen trees. <!-- S IINC --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5></TD><TD class=sibtbg> Scientific expeditions to Tunguska continue today Enlarge Image </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IINC -->An aerial survey was carried out in 1938, revealing how the flattened trees were angled away from the epicentre of the explosion over a 50km-wide zone which formed a butterfly shape. Trees at the epicentre were charred and stripped of their branches and bark, but were left standing, which would lead to them being coined "telegraph poles". Some researchers think a comet would have been too fragile to have caused the Tunguska event, and that an asteroid is therefore the most likely candidate. But Mark Bailey thinks some comets could contain chunks of tough material that could survive the plunge through Earth's atmosphere. Meteor shower Indeed, one theory proposes that the Tunguska object was a fragment of Comet Encke. This ball of ice and dust is responsible for a meteor shower called the Beta Taurids, which cascade into Earth's atmosphere in late June and July - the time of the Tunguska event. <!-- S IIMA --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=226 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> Does Lake Cheko have anything to do with the Tunguska blast? </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IIMA -->The absence of any crater connected with the Tunguska event has left the door open for some outlandish alternatives to the meteorite theory. A lump of anti-matter, a colliding black hole and - inevitably - an exploding alien spaceship have all been proposed as the possible source of the blast. But in 2007, Giuseppe Longo, from the University of Bologna, Italy, and his colleagues, suggested they might have found something Leonid Kulik had missed all those years ago. Lake Cheko does not appear on any maps of the area made before 1908; it also happens to lie North-West-West of the epicentre, on the general path taken by the impactor as it plummeted to Earth. To Dr Longo, a radar signal from beneath the lake is suggestive of a dense object, possibly part of the Tunguska meteorite, buried about 10m down. The team plans to conduct an expedition to the area in 2009, to investigate this possibility. "We have no positive proof it is an impact crater, we have come to this conclusion [about Lake Cheko] through the negation of other hypotheses," Dr Longo told BBC News last year. But other researchers, including Gareth Collins and Phil Bland of Imperial College London, cast doubt on the idea Lake Cheko has anything to do with the Tunguska event. They point to trees older than 100 years which are still standing around the rim of the lake (and, they say, should have been levelled by the impact) and the features of the lake itself, which, the researchers argue, are inconsistent with an impact origin. Rock search One hundred years on, the Tunguska event remains a vibrant area for study, especially in Russia. Last week, researchers gathered in Moscow for a scientific conference arranged to coincide with the anniversary. <!-- S IIMA --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=226 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> Felled trees can still be seen today at the Tunguska site </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IIMA -->Topics on the agenda were the continuing search for pieces of the space rock, the comet vs asteroid debate and the relationship of the event to the Beta Taurid meteor shower. Dr Longo and colleagues presented a new tree-fall map, which they say is suggestive of two separate objects exploding in the atmosphere over Tunguska on 30 June. The conference also heard presentations on other historic and prehistoric cosmic impacts and current strategies for tackling an asteroid headed for Earth. An asteroid on the order of one kilometre in diameter hits the Earth roughly once every 100,000 years. <!-- S IIMA --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=226 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> Kulik used this hut on his expeditions in the first half of the 20th Century </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IIMA -->Space rocks about 10m across - roughly the size of the Tunguska object - are thought to hit our planet about once every 3,000 years. But Mark Bailey suspects they might be more frequent than that. He has investigated another event in 1930 known as the "Brazilian Tunguska". This little-known event was apparently caused by three large meteorites in the upper reaches of the Amazon. The fires it caused continued uninterrupted for weeks and depopulated hundreds of kilometres of jungle. And in June 2002, US military satellites detected an explosion in the Earth's atmosphere with the energy of 12 kilotonnes of explosive. The event has been attributed to an asteroid which remained undetected as it approached our planet and plummeted through the atmosphere. 'Nuclear winter' The international Spaceguard survey programme has been working to identify the Near-Earth Objects larger than 1km - the class of object could cause a "nuclear winter" if one were to strike the planet, possibly threatening civilisation. <!-- S IIMA --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=226 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> A totem to local thunder god Agby stands at the Tunguska epicentre </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IIMA -->Objects the size of the one that caused the Tunguska impact are too small to be seen by present-day surveys. But there is no guarantee the next object will explode over the sea or a sparsely populated wilderness. This begs an obvious question: how prepared are we for the next one? Dr Richard Crowther is head of the United Nations Near Earth Object (Neo) programme. He told the BBC News website: "Tunguska reminds us that these impact events have occurred in the relatively recent past. "The surveys suggest that objects of this size are numerous enough to anticipate similar events in the relatively near future." Many observers are concerned by what they regard as a lack of action to counter the threat posed by near-Earth asteroids. California-based space advocacy group the Planetary Society recently awarded an Atlanta-based aerospace company $50,000 (£25,000) to design a spacecraft which could rendezvous with and track the path of the asteroid 99942 Apophis. In 2029, this 270m-wide chunk of cosmic debris will closely approach the Earth - so close, in fact, it will be visible with the naked eye. If this primordial behemoth passes through a precise region in space, or "keyhole", several hundred kilometres wide during this pass, it will strike Earth in 2036. <!-- S IIMA --> Asteroids larger than 1km have the potential to end civilisation on Earth <!-- E IIMA --> The Planetary Society initiated its tagging mission because, it says, Earth-based observations might not be sufficient to rule out an impact in 2036. There are several technologies that could be used currently to tackle an asteroid heading on a collision course with Earth. One proposal is to use nuclear weapons to completely vapourise the object. Another is to use a spacecraft to "push" the asteroid off course. This would involve a craft either slowing down or speeding up the object to ensure that it misses its appointment with the Earth's surface. If, for some reason, the asteroid is not spotted in time, or the deflection mission arrives at its target too late, it might be necessary to nudge the space rock just enough so that it strikes the ocean, or a remote, thinly populated area on Earth. Dr Crowther, who is based at the UK's Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), comments that Neos "do not recognise national boundaries". For this reason among others, he said, it was important that any policy framework established to counter the asteroid threat "should encourage nations to work together to share data, expertise and resources to assess and mitigate the risk of a future impact". </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

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Spain Set To Give Human Rights To Apes Thursday June 26, 2008 <H2>Spain's parliament is set to approve a new law giving the right to life and freedom to apes. </H2> Gorilla in Santander nature reserve If passed, the new legislation would make it illegal to keep apes for use in animal experiments, circuses, television commercials and filming. It is thought to be the first time any national parliament has called for such rights for non-humans. The move would be all the more surprising given longstanding criticism of Spain by animal rights groups over the treatment of bulls and donkeys. The Spanish parliament's environmental committee has now approved resolutions to comply with the Great Apes Project, devised by scientists and philosophers who say our closest genetic relatives deserve rights hitherto limited to humans. Pedro Pozas, Spanish director of the Great Apes Project, said: "This is a historic day in the struggle for animal rights and in defence of our evolutionary comrades, which will doubtless go down in the history of humanity." The legislation would represent the latest step towards a liberal society for a country traditionally seen as having conservative values. The new resolutions have cross-party or majority support and are expected to become law. The government is now committed to updating the statute book within a year to outlaw harmful experiments on apes in Spain. Mr Pozas said: "We have no knowledge of great apes being used in experiments in Spain, but there is currently no law preventing that from happening." Keeping an estimated 315 apes in Spanish zoos will not be illegal, but supporters of the Bill say conditions will need to improve drastically in 70% of establishments to comply with the new law. Philosophers Peter Singer and Paola Cavalieri founded the Great Ape Project in 1993, arguing that "non-human hominids" like chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and bonobos should enjoy the right to life, freedom and not to be tortured.

Get Intiated By A Real ISKCON Diksa Guru And Be Happy!

We are Incompetent to Proceed Without a Bona Fide Guru Serving the lotus feet of Srila Gurudeva is our foremost necessity. In this world, we even need a guru to perform karma (material activities), to acquire jnana (knowledge) or to fulfill any anyabhilasa (desires not connected to serving Krsna). The guidance of such worldly gurus engenders insignificant results, which are the antithesis of the results bestowed by the lotus feet of a bona fide guru. Srila Gurudeva is the source of our genuine welfare. The very moment we become bereft of his mercy, diverse worldly desires manifest in our hearts. And if the vartma-pradarsaka guru, who is the first to tell us about spiritual life, does not tell us how we should take shelter of the lot us feet of Srila Gurudeva, we may end up losing the gem in hand. Nama-bhajana (chanting Krsna’s names) is the sole method of performing bhajana, and it is the only method Srila Gurudeva confers upon us. Consequently, our responsibility is to worship his lotus feet at the beginning of each year, that is, every guru-puja. Srila Rupa Gosvami says: guru-padasrayas tasmat krsna-diksadi-siksanam visrambhena guroh seva sadhu-vartmanuvartanam [The first four limbs of sadhana-bhakti are: to accept the shelter of the lotus feet of a bona fide guru, to take diksa and receive instructions on service to Krsna from him, to serve him with intimacy and affection and to follow the path of the sadhus, under his guidance.” (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.74-75)] In a realm that is concealed and mystifying, it is impossible to proceed by depending on one’s own multitude of competencies. Just as it is impossible to foresee the future or making plans for the future on the strength of one’s own ability, similarly, mundane conceptions cannot help one penetrate or attain the supra-mundane realm. My senses have experience something of the time that has already passed, and therefore I have knowledge of it, but I remain ignorant about the future. In the same way, our current senses are incapable of informing us about that realm that is complete and inconceivable. Our eyes can only see a few miles into the distance, and our ears can only hear words spoken nearby. If we depend on our own competence to proceed in such a realm, we will never reach the far end, the Ultimate Reality. Such an attempt is likened to Ravana’s efforts to build a stairway to heaven. Construction may begin, but it will eventually crumble to the ground. It cannot exist in a void where no support is present. Similarly we desire to ascend to that unknown realm, and we try to do so on the strength of our own competence, but we always fail. Furthermore, if we consider an ordinary mortal who is laghu (spiritually impotent and not at all grave) to be guru (weighty with potency), we face failure. We will have to recognize who is guru and who is laghu. A guru is engaged in service to that Complete Entity whom all real gurus honor as their sole object of worship. This does not refer to a guru (teacher) of sitar or physical exercises. Such a guru cannot save one from the clutches of death. gurur na sa syat sva-jano na sa syat pita na sa syaj janani na sa syat daivam na tat syan na patis ca sa syan na mocayed yah samupeta-mrtyum [“That guru is not a guru, that father is not a father, that mother is not a mother, that demigod is not a demigod and that relative is not a relative who cannot protect us from the clutches of death, cannot bestow eternal life upon us and cannot protect us from ignorance, because of which we are deeply engrossed in this material world.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.18)] Ignorance is the sole reason a person falls into the clutches of death; a person with knowledge does not. All the education in the world is immediately dispensable for one who becomes mad or paralyzed or who meets with death. Unless we are searching for the ultimate truth, we tend to become unconscious, or devoid of real consciousness. When we are impelled to enjoy our senses, like the tongue, hands, legs, arms and genitals, we are enchanted and then deceived. It is therefore imperative upon us to remember Srila Gurupadapadma at the beginning of each year, each month, each day and at every moment, for he can protect us from all such deception. Remember Sri Guru Every Day, Every Moment Our Gurudeva’s forms are manifold. If he did not manifest himself in various ways, then who else would protect us? That person whom my Gurudeva has accepted as his own i s my savior. I do not want to see the faces of vile persons who criticize my Gurudeva or who support those who criticize him. They are the cause of all inauspiciousness. The very instant I deviate from or forget the lotus feet of Srila Gurudeva, who is continuously attracting me to his lotus feet, at that very moment I am unquestionably deprived of the Truth. Upon such deviation, I became engrossed in contemplating countless scarcities. I hurry to bathe in a holy place, and I become busy protecting myself from the cold. In this way I chase after activities other than service to Srila Gurudeva. My Gurudeva constantly protects me from dvitiya-abhinivesa, becoming absorbed in activities separate from the interest of Bhagavan. If I do not remember my Gurudeva at the beginning of each year, each month, each day, and at every moment, I will surely fall further away from the path of bhakti. Consequently, I myself will wish to be recognized as guru, and the sinister contemplation of how others will worship me will invade my mind. This alone is dvitiya-abhinivesa. We have not assembled here to perform guru-puja just for today, but to begin performance of it at every moment, forever. Sri Gaurasundara is Krsna Himself who came to this Earth as jagad-guru, the spiritual master of the whole world, and spoke Siksastaka. May the mahanta-gurus (exalted, manifest gurus) and all great Vaisnavas who are surrendered to their lotus feet, impart all aspects of the teachings of Siksastaka to us. May they deliver us from our calamitous situation. My Gurudeva Appears to Me Everywhere Our spiritual masters (asraya-jatiya guru-varga) are the abodes of love. They appear to us in different forms to bestow their mercy upon us. They are reflected in all objects and in every entity. Indeed, they are the special manifestations of Srila Gurudeva, he who imparts divya-jnana, transcendental knowledge. The object of love, Krsna (visaya-jatiya), is one half of the equation, and the abode of love, Sri Guru (asraya-jatiya), is the other half. Their combination results in a complete whole through vilasa vaicitrya (wonderfully variegated pastimes). Sri Krsna is the complete manifestation of the object of love, and Srila Gurudeva is the complete perception of the abode of love. When the transcendental reflection of asraya-jatiya tattva falls upon any conscious being, he is to be understood as a manifestation of my Gurudeva. Gurudeva is that person whose behavior at every moment instructs us that our entire life is meant for serving Bhagavan. That very Gurudeva is reflected in the heart of every living being and is situated in every entity as asraya-jatiya tattva. cuta-priyala-panasasana-kovidara jambv-arka-bilva-bakulamra-kadamba-nipah ye ‘nye parart ha-bhavaka yamunopakulah samsantu krsna-padavim rahitatmanam nah [“O mango, priyala, jackfruit, asana and kovidara trees! O trees of jambu, arka, bilva and bakula! O amra, kadamba and nipa trees, as well as all other plants and trees growing along Yamuna’s shores whose lives are devoted to benefiting others, we have lost our minds in the agony of separation from Sri Krsna, so please tell us where He has gone.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.30.9)] Sri Krsna disappeared from the rasa-sthali (the place of the rasa-lila), and the gopis, who are eternally liberated souls, approached each and every living entity in search of Him. Did the gopis simply depend upon the knowledge acquired through their senses to find Him? We receive the opportunity to hear about these subjects from our Gurudeva. The variegated transcendental pastimes of Nanda-Govinda, Yasoda-Govinda, Sridama-Sudama-Govinda, Citraka-Patraka-Govinda, Vamsi-Govinda, Go-Govinda and Kadamba-Govinda are accounts of the rasa-laden pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda. If a person is blessed with the darsana of Sri Guru in his heart, or if he makes a place in his mind where Sri Guru can wander, then such pastimes are revealed in his heart. The one and only way to attain service to the Complete Being is to worship that person who, by his every activity, encourages us to serve the Complete Being. Our Gurudeva’s image, reflected in many different ways, constantly manifests newer and newer lessons for us. My Gurudeva manifests in various repositories and, upon seeing their attitude of service to Bhagavan, I pray that I may spend thousands and thousands of lifetimes serving Sri Hari in their association, and that my aversion to serving Him, which has prevailed for millions of lifetimes, is finally destroyed. Everyone is Advancing Except Me Once I went to Mangala-giri in South India to establish the sacred impressions of Sriman Mahaprabhu’s footprints. A devotee amongst us raised this doubt: “When I first came to the matha (temple), I noted the character of the matha residents and their attachment o serving Bhagavan. This impressed and inspired me and I cherished a high aspiration to be like them. But now, the standard I once envisioned attaining has lessened considerably. I am engrossed in various mundane thoughts such as thinking about the many brahmacaris who have turned to their homes and entered household life.” In reply I said, “I cannot say that they have left hari-bhajana just because they have returned to their homes. In fact I see each and every one of those brahmacaris as amazing Vaisnavas and that their Vaisnava qualities and devotion for the Lord have increased manifold. What a wicked atheist I used to be, but my wickedness substantially abated in their association. I see that I am averse to Bhagavan, but they a ll are engaged in hari-bhajana. By the mercy of Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, I have come to know this verse: vaisnavera nindyakarma na pade kane sabe krsna bhaje tinha ai matra jane [“Gossip about Vaisnavas indulging in abominable activities should never enter my ears. I should only see that all persons are serving Krsna.”] From my perspective, everybody is advancing in hari-bhajana, and this universe, which was created by Bhagavan, is prospering in every respect. Everyone except me is receiving spiritual benefit. You have become restless without due reason, and because you are intensely eager to serve Bhagavan you want the devotees who left to also be increasingly keen to engage in hari-bhajana. They are, however, engaged in hari-bhajana. Still you are dissatisfied and want their exuberance to serve their beloved Lord to increase a million-fold. My heart, on the contrary, is meager and unable to accommodate the magnitude of their bhajana of Sri Hari. They exemplified living according to an astonishingly high ideal. The only person who is incapable of performing hari-bhajana is me, because I busy myself with finding faults in others. How, then, can I ever make progress?” Enthusiastic to Find Faults Who finds faults in the Vaisnavas? Those who depend on their senses to acquire knowledge. Their senses – the eyes, ears, nose and so forth – are their sole support; hence external objects deceive them. In other words, those who are averse to hari-bhajana find faults with the Vaisnavas. When a person tells me that someone has stopped chanting his harinama, I think, “He must have become highly elevated at heart as a result of so much chanting. This is why he has left the path of bhajana, which is the sole source of one’s welfare, and become engaged in other activities. Only a rich man is so content that he does not care to earn more.” In Srimad Bhagavad-gita, Bhagavan says: “na me bhaktah pranasyati – My devotees never perish or face misfortune.” api cet su-duracaro bhajate mam ananya-bhak sadhur eva sa mantavyah samyag vyavasito hi sah [“If even a man of abominable character worships Me with single-pointed focus, he is still to be considered a sadhu because he is rightly situated in bhakti.” (Bhagavad-gita 9.30)] ksipram bhavati dharmatma sasvac-chantim nigacchati kaunteya pratijanihi name bhaktah pranasyati [“He quickly becomes virtuous and attains eternal peace. O Kaunteya, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.” (Bhagavad-gita 9.31)] Can anyone who is one-pointed and unflinching in his performance of hari-bhajana ever become degraded? They have doubtlessly attained full auspiciousness. Our attitude, however, is defective, and this is why we do not attain our own auspiciousness. para-svabhava-karmani na prasamsen na garhayet visvam ekamakam pasyan prakrtya purusena ca [“Sri Bhagavan said: Do not criticize or praise the conditioned nature and activities of others. View this world as a combination of material nature and souls who have an enjoying propensity, both based on the one Ultimate Reality.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.28.1)] If I depend on my sense-perception for information I will remain deprived of service to the Lord, who is beyond the perception of the senses (adhoksaja), and of Srila Gurudeva. I have not attained my own welfare, but still I meditate on the auspicious behavior of others, and although I myself am full of shortcomings, I am enthusiastic to find faults in others. If I ever began to really focus on my own welfare, would I have time to observe another’s imperfections? krsneti yasya giri tam manasadriyeta diksasti cet pranatibhis ca bhajantam isam susrusaya bhajana-vijnam ananyam anya- nindadi sunya-hrdam ipsita-sanga-labdhya [“One who chants Krsna’s name just once is a neophyte devotee (kanistha-adhikari). One should consider him to be his family member and silently respect him. One who, fully understanding the principle of diksa, has accepted initiation from a qualified guru and performs bhajana of Bhagavan in accordance with Vaisnava conventions is an intermediate devotee (madhyama-adhikari). One should respect such a devotee who is endowed with the correct understanding of reality and illusion by offering him pranama and so forth. One who is adept in the science of bhajana as described in Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Vaisnava scriptures, and who performs exclusive bhajana of Sri Krsna, is a maha-bhagavata devotee. Due to his undeviating absorption in Krsna, the pure heart of such a devotee is free from faults such as the tendency to criticize others. He is expert in bhajana, meaning that he mentally renders service manasa-seva) to Sri Radha-Krsna’s pastimes which take place during the eight segments of the day (asta-kaliya-lila). Knowing him to be a topmost devotee whose heart is established in the particular mood of service to Sri Radha-Krsna for which one aspires, and who is affectionately disposed towards oneself, one should honour him by offering dandavat-pranama, making relevant inquiry and rendering service with great love.” (Upadesamrta, verse 5)] Our lives are short. Last year we gathered here to worship Srila Gurudeva. Since then, those who received the mercy of Bhagavan have departed from this world. However, for the purpose of finding faults in others and to show an example of the absence of trnad api sunicena, we are in this material world absorbed in sense gratification. The slightest tendency to find faults in others is completely absent in Srila Gurudeva. At the same time, his sole function is to kindly point out our hundreds and thousands of faults, which are the cause of our misfortune. May we not lose sight of this quality of Srila Gurudeva. If I live for one more year, then I will absorb myself in the service of Gurudeva at every moment from today onward and give up my tendency to criticize others. I will not say, “I am valorous, scholarly and a gifted speaker; he is foolish, ignorant and cannot express anything.” On the strength of exclusive absorption in hari-katha, I will not foster an attitude of aversion to Bhagavan, and thus I will become truly benefited. Sadhaka and Siddha are Not the Same asa-bharair-amrta-sindhu-mayaih kathamcit kalo mayatigamitah kila sampratam hi tamce krpam mayi vidhasyaci n aiva kim me; pranairvrajena ca varoru vakarinapi [“O Varoru (girl with beautiful thighs), I am passing my time with the sole hope of being able to serve You. If You withhold Your mercy, what value to me are this life, the land of Vraja, and Sri Krsna, the enemy of Baka?” (Vilapa-kusumanjali, verse 102)] Some people ask me, “Why don’t you give siddha-pranali (the identity of one’s eternal relationship with Krsna)?” However, I cannot understand how a sadhaka and a siddha can be on the same level. How can one in the stage of sadhana that is full of anarthas (unwanted material contamination) cultivate the activities of sadhana that is free from anarthas or that of siddhi (the stage of perfection)? If someone is siddha, self-realized, and he mercifully reveals his svarupa to me, then only can I come to know his eternal constitutional form. In madhura-rasa Srila Gurudeva is Varsabhanavi (Sri Radha). According to a person’s eternal nature, he will see that same Sri Gurudeva as a certain absolute reality (vastu). One in the mood of a parent sees him as Nanda-Yasoda; one in the mood of a friend sees him as Sridama-Sudama and one in the mood of a servitor sees him as Citraka-Patraka. The truth of who is visaya (the lover, the devotee) and who is asraya (the beloved, Krishna) appears in the heart of one who remains engaged in service to Srila Gurudeva. This truth does not manifest in the heart by an artificial means. When the tendency to serve arises in a fortunate soul, this truth automatically appears in his heart. We are not obliged to serve anyone other than our Gurudeva. The nature of nitya-lila (Krsna’s eternal pastimes with His devotees), which even Sesa, Siva, Brahma and others cannot conceive of, will never be realized by one whose consciousness is polluted with mundane conceptions. I offer my obeisances unto the lotus feet of you all, my guru-varga (respected elders). [The Harmonist. No 15. Kartika 2005]

The Scienctific Truth of Guru Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada Sri Guru-Tattva and Seva Excerpts from a lecture delivered by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada on January 28th, 1931, in Mayapura Dhama, India. A Golden Opportunity to Serve Collectively Today I have an opportunity to worship my Sri Gurudeva (Srila Gaurakishora Dasa Babaji Maharaja). Last year, also, I had the good fortune of worshiping him, and today that auspicious occasion has come again. By the mercy of Bhagavan, I had the fortune of being able to serve Srila Gurudeva for another year. If Srila Gurudeva had wanted to deprive me of service to him, I would not have survived this past year. Since I have been granted this one year, I must again, today, contemplate whether I have properly taken advantage of that opportunity and served him accordingly. Srila Gurudeva said that we shall collectively engage in the service of Bhagavan. He used the word “we” which means he was not referring to one person alone. Many persons egotistically profess, “I am Bhagavan’s exclusive servant” or “I have been selected to perform a particular service to Him because no one else is qualified to do it.” But Srila Gurudeva’s words issue from a heart melted with loving compassion: “Come! Let us forget our tendency to block each other’s spiritual progress; this is violence. Service to Bhagavan is superior to all else.” By saying “superior to all else” he is not implying, “No one can do this service but me; I will not allow anyone else to do it.” My Srila Gurupadapadma’s nature contains no such violence. Humbly Praying for Help “Bahubhirmilitva yat kirtanam tadaiva sankirtanam – sankirtana means congregational chanting.” Glorification and prayers are included in sankirtana. From an external perspective, one who offers stuti (Vedic prayers) holds a lower position than the object of the prayers. A third party however, can best understand the glories of a person by hearing his prayers. Sri Gaurasundara explained that to genuinely call out for Bhagavan, one has to more humble than a blade of grass (trnad api sunicena). We cannot cry out for someone until we have accepted our own insignificance in relation to that person. We beg for assistance when we are forced to acknowledge our helplessness. Whenever we find ourselves incapable of completing a task on our own, we are left with no choice but to seek another’s help. Alone I cannot complete a task that requires five people to accomplish. Sri Gaurasundara has instructed us to genuinely cry out for Bhagavan, which means He has urged us to solicit Sri Bhagavan for help. This we have heard from Srila Gurudeva. However if I cry out to Him with the intention of involving Him in service to me, or if I petition Him for the purpose of accomplishing any task, my cries lack the real humility of trnad api sunicena. Real humility is never found in an external show of humility, which is actually mere duplicity. Calling out to Bhagavan in the mood of being His master, expecting Him to obey like a servant, is ineffective. He does not hear such a call because He is supremely independent and fully conscious. Consequently, He is not controlled by anyone. Until a person’s egoism establishes roots in sincere, non-duplicitous humility, his prayers will not reach Bhagavan, who is fully independent. A person who is more humble than a blade of grass may cry out to Bhagavan, but unless he is endowed with the qualities of patience and tolerance, his calling out will still not bare fruit. If we show impatience by hankering after our own interests, our behavior is in direct opposition to the mood of trnad api sunicena. If we are fully confident that Bhagavan is the Complete Being, and that our calling out to Him will never result in scarcity, we will not experience any dearth of patience. But if I become greedy, intolerant and restless, and if I remain adamant that I will accomplish my task on the strength of my own ability and competence, I will not be able to call out to Bhagavan in the true sense. If we are excessively vain, we cannot properly call out to Him. And also if we try to annihilate our real self-interest, then we will not be able to cry out to Bhagavan properly. Often, I think that I am obliging Him by my prayers, and therefore I engage in other activities in which I don’t need to ask for His help. This mentality also indicates the absence of tolerance. We therefore require a guardian to save us from such tendencies until we become qualified to sincerely pray in the mood of trnad api sunicena. His shelter and support are necessary to shield us from such unfavourable inclinations. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says: “asraya laiya bhaje, tanre krsna nahi tyaje, ara sabe mare akarana – one who performs bhajana under the shelter of personalities who are the abode of love for Krsna, is not neglected by Krsna; everyone else lives in vain.”

Seize the Day! "What is the value of a prolonged life which is wasted, inexperienced by years in this world? Better a moment of full consciousness, because that gives one a start in searching after his supreme interest." (Sukadeva Gosvami, Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto II, "The Cosmic Manifestation") "Pass, therefore, not today in vain, For it will never come again" (Omar Khayyám)

oil on canvas (2004) 52 x 66 cm by Dina Bandhu Dasa Drona to Arjuna. “What do you see?” In a great challenge, Drona sets up a wooden bird upon a tree, and from across the adjacent river, asks the princes to shoot it down by striking its eye. When prince Yudhisthira tries first, Drona asks him what he saw. Yudhisthira replies he saw Drona, his brothers, the river, the forest, the tree and the bird. Drona replies that Yudhisthira would fail and asks another prince to step forward. The others give the same reply, and Drona is disappointed with all. But when Arjuna steps forth, he tells Drona that he sees only the eye of the bird and nothing else. When Drona excitedly asks him to continue, Arjuna replies that he saw only the bird’s eye. Drona asks him to shoot, and Arjuna strikes the bird down in the eye. (Mahabharata, Book I, Adi Parva, Sambhava Parva)

11-day Prayer For Obama's Success Jun 24, NEW DELHI, INDIA (THE HINDU) — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama can now expect help from an unexpected quarter - Lord Hanuman. All-India Congress Committee member Brij Mohan Bhama has organised a 11-day religious ceremony at Karol Bagh here for his success in the U.S. elections. The idea of sending an idol of Hanuman dawned on him after friends in the United States mentioned a “prominent American politician who carried a miniature Hanuman idol in his pocket for luck,” Mr. Bhama said speaking on the first day of the ceremony on Tuesday. “After hearing that, I decided to gift Mr. Obama a larger, gold-plated version along with the wishes of thousands of his supporters in this country,” said the leader struggling to lift the 15 kg, 21-inch brass idol. The first-day ceremony, pranapratishta, or infusion of divine life into an idol, was performed by a dozen priests reciting mantras in tandem. It was attended by Democrats Abroad India chairperson Carolyn Sauvage, who spent over an hour at the venue. The idol was later kept in the sanctum sanctorum of the Sankat Mochan Dham, where it will be kept for 10 more days. Mr. Bhama said several temples in New Delhi had already expressed an interest in keeping the idol for worship on their premises before it begins its journey across the Atlantic. Along with the idol, a copy of Hanuman Chalisa, a compilation of hymns in praise of the Lord, would be sent. “We will ensure that Mr. Obama receives the idol by August 24, a day before the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado,” said Mr. Bhama.

Butter from Asuraland BY: CID ANANDA DAS Jun 25, VRINDAVAN, INDIA (SUN) — The recent scandal of tons of adulterated butter from Italy that was sold overseas makes us wonder if true vegetarians exist nowadays, and whether Lord Krishna is accepting such obnoxious ingredients on the altar. For people of Islamic faith, such products turn their halal food into improper offerings, as it contains pigs fat. Due to heavy subsidies allotted to dairy products exporters from the European community, the Italian mafia realized how much money they can make by producing fake butter from coconut oil mixed with beef tallow from the rendering industry, which produces millions of tons of by-products from slaughterhouse rejects, diseased animals that did not meet the health requirements (including pigs), those found dead on the motorways, as well as euthanized animals together with the poison administered, from the pet industry. The “civilized” countries have perfected this recycling technology, so much so that not many are aware of what is going on within the walls of these windowless factories, where stainless steel equipment is boiling this witches brew 24 hours a day, and turning these unpleasant dead bodies into gelatin, tallow (undigestible fat) and bone meal for pets. Due to the mad cow disease, many parts of dead cattle were declared unfit for consumption, such as brains, liver and kidneys, as they are suspected to cause the disease, but the rendering industry is here to transform all dead bodies, diseased or not into colorful and odorless substances that the biscuit and sweets industry as well as restaurants use on a daily basis. Recently McDonalds had to pay $10 million to various vegetarian societies, as it was frying chips (french fries) with tallow or beef fat. With expert knowledge from scientists, such substances are turned into palatable margarine and even sold as pure butter, realizing huge profits with export subsidies. However, the side effects of ingesting such impure products is diseases and deaths that are puzzling the medical practitioners, as humans are natural vegetarians, just as cows are, and a diet containing meat can cause serious imbalance in health. With globalization of trade and corrupt practices from greedy businessmen, it is very difficult to trust any product, as even in developed countries there's no guarantee that real inspections are done. But even if such inspection is done, they can’t eliminate the multiple drugs administered to the cattle and poultry industries, such as penicillin and growth hormones, which may be the cause of the obesity epidemic around the world. So-called less developed countries are more aware of such unhealthy practices, as they give to vultures, pigs or dogs the remnants of leftovers from feasts, and so there’s no need of a big rendering industry to cater for this. While boasting that they are more civilized than others, the "developed" countries are gradually digging their own graves with their teeth, and recently even dog eating South Korea refused U.S. beef, as it is suspected to carry the deadly prions of BSE disease or mad cow. The unlimited greed for profit has turned such businessmen into dangerous Mafiosi, whose only interest is accumulating more and more money, without remorse. Unfortunately, most devotees are ignoring such issues, having no real emergency plans to produce their own pure products from protected cows and agriculture. There are exceptions, such as HH. Bhakti Raghava Swami (http://varnasrama.org), who is fighting to establish such farms worldwide. Still there are too few of them, and these impure products are being used daily in temples globally. Source: European Anti-fraud Office