leyh

Dear JRdd: Thank you for your inspiring post.Have you ever had direct association with Srila Prabhupada? How was he like on a personal, day to day practice? I'm really curious and at the same time happy to simply know more about Srila Prabhupada although I was born a year after he left this material world. I hope you will not find my questioning too nosy, and I understand if you deem your association with Srila Prabhupada too personal to be shared.Yours Very Sincerely

Maybe this letter from Srila Prabhupada can shed some light on the issue? Bombay 16 November, 1970 My Dear Bansidhari, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your nice report from Santa Barbara dated October 22nd, 1970. I am always so glad to know that you are keeping to the standard practices as I have instructed you to do and all the devotees are feeling the sublime result of their work in Krsna's loving service. Your program for extending Sankirtana Party activities to the nearby towns and cities and universities is very welcome. I have received similar good report of such extended Sankirtana Party tours or trips from many other centers in Europe as well as America. Lord Caitanya's desire was that this chanting of the Holy Names be spread to every town and village on the face of the globe, and now His desire is being fulfilled. That is to your credit as sincere servants of the Lord. It is always the difficulty with the karmis that they "have no time" for attending spiritual functions or gatherings. Sukadeva Goswami analyzes the situation for the karmis in the narration of Bhagavatam as sleeping and indulging in sex-life in the night and in the daytime working hard "Where is money? Where is money?" and when they have got money, how to accumulate household paraphernalia, etc. Anyway, by the mercy of Lord Caitanya even such materially absorbed persons can be extricated from their entanglement in the maya by contact with offenseless chanting of the Lord's Holy Names Hare Krsna Mantra. If you vibrate these transcendental sounds everywhere continually, it will pierce their ears and enter their hearts, and then their natural attraction for Krsna will be revived. So do not care for the temporary excuses of the unwilling and unfortunate persons, you simply carry our program forward distributing Sankirtana, Prasadam and literatures and the effect will take place. I am very glad that your distribution to the libraries is well recieved. Please get our books at least one full set in every city and college library in you neighboring areas. And if you read these literatures carefully you will realize the topmost science of Krsna Consciousness and be more inspired to spread the same to all persons as their real welfare benefit. Please keep me informed about your activities. Hope you are well. Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami I found a copy of this letter at the following URL: http://www.krishna.org/Letters/2000/07/L00011.html [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 06-07-2001).]

What can I say? All Glories To His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada!

Dear Forum Members: I know this might sound like a frivilous post, but I am really curious to know why Srila Prabhupada wore gold rings.I have seen photographs where he is shown wearing three gold rings!I don't believe that it was for vanity's sake and I don't think that as a sannyasi, he could or would wear wedding rings.Could it be (and I'm speculating here)that the rings have any astrological or spiritual purpose? Although I was born after Srila Prabhupada left this material planet, I am somehow very attracted by the personality of this great soul and I want to know more about him --- even the little details.I would be evry grateful if anyone can enlighten me.Yours Very Sincerely [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 06-07-2001).]

Dear Bhakthavasya: You state that it would be more correct to say that:"there is no love in material consciousness, but for those who are cultivating a spiritual life, spiritual consciousness, there is indeed love between 2 humans."Does this mean that those who do not engage in spiritual practice do not know how to love? There are many non-spiritual practioners and even atheists who I'm sure have done selfless and compassionate things for people that they've felt love for. Maybe it would be more corrrect to say that the completition and perfextion of love is achieved through spiritual practice. I feel that it seems inaccurate to say that love can only be manifested by spiritual cultivators.Yours Very Sincerely.

Dear JRdd and Maitreya: I'm glad that you found the transcript interesting and inspiring.So did I.I especially liked the last part where Srila Prabhupada sounded like a father asking his son in a mood of concern:"You are going alone or is someone going with you?" and George Harrison replies:"I go alone...Well,a little bit of you will be with me!" George is surely very blessed to have such intimate association with a great soul like Srila Prabhupada! The footnote (presumably written by the author Geoffery Giuliano) regarding Srila Prabhupada's "You have given us this center" says:"Bhaktivedanta Manor". So the conversation must have taken place in England. The time and date of the conversation is not specified.Yours Very Sincerely [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 06-05-2001).]

I read in "Dark Horse --- The Life and Art of George Harrison"(by Geoffery Giuliano)that in September 1996,a tape recording of a conversation between former Beatle George Harrison and Srila Prabhupada was found at the bottom of an old cardboard box in North Carolina.The tone of the conversation was personal and I found the last part, when George Harrison bade Srila Prabhupada farewell,quite touching. The transcript was included in the book and I would like to submit it here for the reading interest of the forum members: George Harrison: I seem to keep going around in circles, Maybe it has something to do with me being a Pisces, one fish going this way and one going that way. I have periods where I can¡¦t stop chanting and other times when I turn into a demon and forget to chant. A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada: You are not a demon. You are a demigod! Somehow or other you were attracted to Krishna, so let Him help you. George: I¡¦m reading the Gita. I read it over and over, just one section again and again. Srila Prabhupada: All the instructions are there. So this is your duty now. By the grace of Krishna you are a very great personality. You are a young man, but Krishna has blessed you with such a high position, there are many young men who follow you. George: In a way, when you really commit yourself to something, it¡¦s like putting your head on the chopping block. Someone can turn around and chop it off. I find the more commitment I make, even though it¡¦s a small one, I find it provokes bad reactions. Srila Prabhupada: There is a saying, ¡§If one is foolish and you give him good instruction, he will become angry.¡¨ Has it happened like that? George: I feel a little animosity from people. In some ways the more committed you are, and the stronger you are in what you do, the stronger you are in what you do, the stronger the animosity. Sometimes, I get the feeling there¡¦s one person to whom it means something and and ten it doesn¡¦t mean anything to. I¡¦m not sure how it all balances out. Devotee: If you reach one person, it¡¦s worth it. George: But what if you don¡¦t reach anyone? If you only reach one person and by reaching that one, twenty people are annoyed? Srila Prabhupada: Yes, preaching is very difficult. When one preaches, he must tell the truth. Just like Jesus Christ. People didn¡¦t like his preaching, but he didn¡¦t stop. That is another point. In preaching there is always the possibility of creating animosity. By the way, I have heard your new album Living In The Material World, is being appreciated by many people. George: There is one song in particular which was a direct result of the conversation we had when you came to my home and we talked about fame and fortune. Srila Prabhupada: People are seeking after something spiritually enlightening. Especially in the Western world, that is a fact. Sometimes, people become angry. We have no reason to make enemies, we are simply teaching love. George: There is one problem I¡¦ve found when chanting. I start beginning to relate less and less to the people I know. I suddenly found myself on such a different level, where it¡¦s really hard to relate. It feels as though I¡¦m at a point where I should slow down or pull back towards those people in order to take them down with me. The building up of the mantra and its effect is so subtle. There's a point where I can¡¦t relate to anyone anymore. Maybe you don¡¦t have that experience. Devotee: George is saying that when he chants, he becomes spiritualized, so it is difficult for him to relate to his business associates. George: Not even that --- my friends, my wife, anybody! Srila Prabhupada: Your wife is very nice. She¡¦s a nice girl. George: Yes, she is, she¡¦s an angel. Srila Prabhupada: Your wife is interested in Krishna Consciousness. That is a very great advantage. George: What happens is if I¡¦m not into it too deeply, I¡¦ll come down to begin the day and be quite nice and off we go. The periods where I¡¦m so deeply into chanting all the time I¡¦ll come down and I¡¦m like Ravana. I¡¦m not smiling and I¡¦m not particularly happy. It¡¦s like everybody¡¦s wasting their time doing mundane things. Devotee: But while you were chanting, you wrote these beautiful songs and it¡¦s proven by everyone purchasing them that they want to hear that. George: The problem is where to find the balance, because obviously I know where I benefit from doing that. However, I¡¦m benefiting so much that suddenly I¡¦m out on a limb and it¡¦s hard to pull those people along with you. There¡¦s a point where suddenly I¡¦m not going to know them anymore. Devotee: George says it¡¦s difficult when you become spiritualized by chanting. He feels it¡¦s a dangerous position, because he will be cut off from his audience, the ordinary people. He¡¦s afraid they will not understand him and he will not be able to take them with him to that point. Srila Prabhupada: Yes, keep your balance. Don¡¦t spoil your position. Regarding your talent, it is not ordinary. You are getting money. It is not that you should refuse it. Our policy is not that you don¡¦t touch money. Krishna says we should do so may things and money allows one to do so. George: We¡¦ve just been making some music in California and one of his songs --- it¡¦s Ravi Shankar¡¦s music--- is based on the ten incarnations of Vishnu. It¡¦s a beautiful song. But I was wondering why there isn¡¦t anything in the lyrics concerning Krishna? Srila Prabhupada: Krishna is not an incarnation; rather, Krishna is the origin of all incarnations. His incarnations are called ¡§avatar¡¨ but He is ¡§avatari.¡¨ Therefore, the song is a prayer to Krishna. It was composed by a great Vaisnava poet. George: There is one song; it is simple and beautiful. It¡¦s in English and only ahs three lines: ¡§I am missing you, Krishna, where are you? Though I can¡¦t see you, I hear your flute all the while. Please come wipe my tears and make me smile.¡¨ It¡¦s so sweet I¡¦m sure it¡¦s going to be very popular. Srila Prabhupada: When I entered this room, I said: ¡§All glories to George Harrison!¡¨ You have given us this center and Krishna will surely give you shelter at his lotus feet. You are very nice and sincere. George: The Krishna Consciousness Movement is getting so big there¡¦s going to be a point where it¡¦s going to need such fantastic management¡K At the moment we have Srila Prabhupada who is the figurehead which everyone can draw energy from. Sooner or later though, everybody¡¦s going to be out there on their own and carry out what they¡¦ve learned. Devotee: We¡¦ll always rely on our spiritual master, even if he is no longer with us. We¡¦ll always take our strength from him. George: I must go, but I¡¦ll be back very quickly. Srila Prabhupada: You are going alone or is someone going with you? George: I go alone¡K Well, a little bit of you will be with me! Srila Prabhupada: My blessings to your wife. Thank you very much for your kindness. [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 06-04-2001).] [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 06-05-2001).]

Dear dasanudas: Do you think that the teaching that "The Guru is one" can be reconciled with what Jesus says in John 14:6? Maybe we can solve the apparent contradiction with Srila Prabhupada's formula:"for when we speak of the fundamental principle of gurudeva, or acaryadeva, we speak of something that is of universal application. There does not arise any question of discriminating my guru from yours or anyone else's. There is only one guru, who appears in an infinity of forms to teach you, me, and all others." (February 1936 discourse at the Bombay branch of the Gaudiya Matha). When Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth and the life", could the "I" be a reference to the guru principle (Christ) rather than the person (Jesus) who embodied it?Comments, anyone? [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 06-03-2001).]

When I talk to Christians about Krishna, they inadvertently would quote John 14:6 ("I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the father except through me.") to "prove" that Krishna and Christ cannot be both divine.By their logic,if Krishna is divine, then Christ must have been lying when he declared that no one can go to the father except through him, and on the other hand, if Christ is not a liar,then Krishna cannot be divine. So how should such claims be satisfactorily answered?

Dear Gauracandra: Thank you very much for the information. It has been very enlightening.

I'm not actually for meat-eating and animal slaughter,but I think its quite pointless to demonize meat-eaters. What exactly is the "character of a meat-eater"?Just because one eats meat doesn't mean that they are automatically people of low character.I've met many "meat-eaters" who are compassionate, loving and selfless. I've also met vegetarians who are selfish, rude and arrogant. I'm not saying that meat-eating is good or that animal slaughter is justified, all I'm saying is that just because you eat meat doesn't make you a bad person and being a vegetarian doesn't make you a better person than a meat-eater. It doesn't work that way in real life. By the way, a very well-known German politician by the name of Adolf Hitler favoured a vegetarian diet. [This message has been edited by leyh (edited 05-26-2001).]