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Vaishnava_das108

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  1. Thank you so much for this great service, thank you very much.
  2. FANTASTIC! Do we have a reference for this? Who cares, it is still FANTASTIC!
  3. Haribol, yes I know, as I said, I am a little bit aware about this question of initiations from the vyasasana and what kind of a controversy it will cause in ISKCON today. I don't know, I wa sjust very much enlivened about that statement of Srila Prabhupada being alive and sitting in his murti form on the vyasasana. I know this from my own experience and others have experienced it too. I suppose everyone can experience it if they are submissive enough and Srila Prabhupada gives them that mercy. Excuse me, am I to understand that you were in the room during that 1977 conversation that Srila Prabhupada spoke about getting initiation from the nearest representative? As you have logged in anonymously, would you mind getting in touch with me by sending me a private message or something, as I would like to have your association. Yes I understand the point about Amoghalila prabhu. I myself don't know what to make of it. On one hand it sounds like Srila Prabhupada, and yet on the other hand there are some elements that do not sound the way that Srila Prabhupada spoke. It would be nice if it were true, but at this point I guess we cannot know. Although I do wonder about something extra. There is reference in those conversations to how Srila Prabhupada spoke to Amoghalila in 1979? I wonder what those transcripts sounded like? Apparently some other devotee has said that these transcripts seemed to describe big vyasasanas, zones, etc so it seems like Srila Prabhupada was then in favour of the Zonal Acharya system? How incongruous is that with Srila Prabhupada's seeming desires today when it appears that you can take initiation from the vyasasana? These are all complicated issues, I agree. But just as Srila Prabhupada seems to say that "ten years later" people were following his ritvik instructions? So it might be a good idea to wait and see how this new desire pans out, will it cause another revolution in ISKCON in the future? Let us wait and see. I would still like to have your association, please be kind to get in touch with me.
  4. Thank you very much for sharing that, I am so glad to know that Srila Prabhupada is still VERY MUCH ALIVE and is guiding anyone who submissively asks for it. There may be no need to contain yourself, if you would like to share then please do, I would love to hear of it.
  5. http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET0110/ET22-6927.html EDITORIAL, Oct 22 (VNN) — SO YOU HAVE TO INCREASE (THE CHANTING). THAT IS THE ONLY REMEDY. DETERMINATION TO CHANT 64 ROUNDS IS DRDHA-VRATAH. (CONCLUSION: IF THE MATERIAL FEVER IS NOT BEING DIMINISHED, CHANTING 64 ROUNDS IS THE ONLY REMEDY IN THE WORDS OF SRILA PRABHUPADA IN TH EFOLLOWING MORNING WALK.) Morning Walk, May 14, 1975, Perth: Devotee (1): Srila Prabhupada, how can the position be reconciled if in Krsna consciousness one of the two, the husband or the wife, wants to enjoy sense gratification, but the other does not? Should there be separation then? Prabhupada: No... They should be trained up. Sense enjoyment means not advanced in Krsna consciousness. As soon as one is advancing in Krsna consciousness, his sense enjoyment spirit will be reduced. That is the test. Bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra ca [sB 11.2.42]. The test is, how you are advancing in Krsna consciousness is the proportionate diminishing of sense enjoyment. That is the test. Just like cure of the disease means diminishing the fever, temperature. This is the test. Devotee (1): What if that fever is not being diminished? Prabhupada: Then he should try to chant Hare Krsna mantra, instead of sixteen rounds, sixty-four rounds. That is the way. Sixteen round is the minimum. Otherwise Haridasa Thakura was 300,000. So you have to increase. That is the only remedy. If one has got determination, he will make progress without any trouble. That determination is very difficult, that determination, "I must be Krsna conscious fully." That determination. Drdha-vratah. TRY TO INCREASE (FROM 48 TO 64) BUT NEVER DECREASE YOUR CHANTING. IF YOU ARE ABLE TO CHANT MORE THAN 16 ROUNDS UP TO 64 IT IS VERY GOOD. Letter to: Indira (Iris Mendoza), Ekayani (Esther Mendoza), San Francisco, 17 December, 1967 "I am very glad to learn you are chanting 48 rounds. Actually it is all right that one should chant 64 rounds, even 16 rounds, so if one is able to chant more than 16 rounds up to 64, it is very good. You fix up your rounds. Try to increase it but never decrease it." {Note: Indira is fairly new devotee at that time.) VERY GOOD AND VERY NICE IF YOU CAN DO IT (CHANT 64 ROUNDS): Letter to: Hamsaduta, Hawaii, 23 March, 1969 "Yes, it is very good if you can chant 64 rounds; this is very nice if you can do it." PRABHUPADA PRESCRIBED 64 ROUNDS WHEN DEVOTEES WERE IN TROUBLE WITH THEIR SENSES: Letter to: Bhaktijana, Los Angeles, 12 February, 1968 "I shall advise you again to chant always, increasing the counting, namely, 16 rounds is generally prescribed, but for the time being you can stop all other activities and increase the chanting to 64 rounds." That is the instruction given by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His Siksastaka 3. Kirtaniyah sada harih: [Cc. adi 17.31] "The holy name of the Lord should be chanted twenty-four hours daily." Therefore in this Krsna consciousness movement we request the devotees to chant at least sixteen rounds on their beads daily. Actually one has to chant twenty-four hours daily, just like Thakura Haridasa, who was chanting the Hare Krsna mantra three hundred thousand times daily. Indeed, he had no other business. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.70 purport) IF YOU CAN'T SURRENDER TO KRSNA, FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HARIDASA THAKURA BY CHANTING CONSTANTLY ON BEADS Surrender is the ultimate instruction of the Bhagavad-gita, but for one who cannot surrender to the lotus feet of Krsna, it is better to chant the Hare Krsna mantra constantly, under the instruction of Haridasa Thakura. In our Krsna consciousness movement we are teaching our followers to chant the Hare Krsna mantra continuously on beads. Even those who are not accustomed to this practice are advised to chant at least sixteen rounds on their beads so that they may be trained.[.] Sada means "always." Haridasa Thakura says, nirantara nama lao: "Chant the Hare Krsna mantra without stopping."[.] One's real duty is to surrender to the lotus feet of Krsna, but if one is unable to do so, he should adopt this process, as introduced by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His most confidential servant, Namacarya Srila Haridasa Thakura. This is the way to achieve success in Krsna consciousness. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya-lila 3.137) (Note: Apart from this there are innumerable quotes by Prabhupada throughout Bhagavatam & Cc on the necessity of constantly chanting the holy names. A daily discipline of chanting 64 rounds is a great boost to come up to the stage of constant chanting imho.) FIRST INITIATION BY SRILA PRABHUPADA The Hare Krishna Explosion, p. 63, by Hayagriva dasa, Palace Press 1985. "Now that you have beads," Swamiji says the next morning, "you should chant sixty-four rounds every day.Sixty-four rounds?" To pronounce every word of the mantra distinctly, we require five minutes to chant a round. Sixty-four rounds would take over five hours. "Impossible!" we say. "We'll never have the time.All right," Swamiji says. "Thirty-two rounds.Impossible," we say. "We'll never be able to do it. It's way too much.All right," Swamiji says. "Sixteen rounds. No less." TKG's Diary June 10 Many years ago (Srila Prabhupada), he was chanting sixty-four rounds, then gradually less, until a number of years ago it was sixteen. ____________________ CONCLUSION: What follows are my personal realizations and/or feelings about the process of chanting 64 rounds daily. I appeal to all the sara-grahi vaisnavas to kindly take the good points and please don't challenge me for some of them if they disagree. If one can discharge his practical devotional services and manage to chant 64 rounds then it is the best. Chanting 64 rounds should not be an excuse to escape doing one's services or the daily program of sadhana-bhakti given by Prabhupada. If a devotee has genuine desire to chant 64 rounds then he will find out the way without disturbing anybody. As far as I know there is not a single written instruction or statement from Prabhupada discouraging devotees to chant 64 rounds if they could manage to do it alongwith their other services. Also chanting 64 rounds in the association of devotees while engaged in services related to preaching can never be considered nirjana-bhajana. Ofcourse the devotees who chant 64 rounds should not get puffed up and look down on other devotees who don't chant 64. They should feel themselves as so contaminated and fallen that chanting 64 rounds daily is the only hope for them to steadily remain in Krishna consciousness. Also if one chants 64 rounds with attachment then it automatically brings a great upsurge of humility and ecstacy in one's heart. One becomes jubilant in deep rememberance of the Lord's pastimes and constantly aspires to become the servant of the servant. And one becomes totally enthusiastic to preach vigorously (jive doya). One's preaching becomes unlimitedly more effective and can convert sinful people into devotees even by preaching only a little. This is simply due to the potency of the holy name and anyone can experience it of one increases the chanting without compromising on the quality & distinct pronunciation of the chanting. One can achieve the stage of nishtha or real madhyama-adhikari platform crossing the stage of anartha-nivrtti very quickly (maybe maximum of 10 years) by chanting 64 rounds everyday while trying to avoid the ten offenses and if one is surrendered to one's guru. One can beg from the guru his permission and blessings to chant 64 rounds. If one gets it then one will surely be successful very quickly (I can give furthur sastric references which state that the progress is very quick if one sincerely chants an increased no. of rounds without an ulterior motive and that without increasing the chanting there is no other way.) Just like the prostitute who became a pure devotee very quickly simply by chanting 3,00,000 names daily on the instruction of her guru Haridasa Thakura. According to Bhagavatam, Padma Purana, Hari-nama-cintamani, Prema-vivarta etc. chanting constantly is the only means to keep the namaparadhas from constantly attacking us. Side by side one has to deeply study the 10 offenses and conscientiously try to avoid each of them. Also one should have great attachment for Lord Gaura & Lord Nityananda's name, pastimes, dhama and associates which very quickly renders our chanting of Hare Krsna offenseless. There is an even more quicker way. If one chants 64 rounds or more while residing in Navadvipa-dhama, then according to Nityananda Prabhu and Thakura Bhaktivinoda in Navadvipa-dhama-parikrama, one gets pure love of Radha-Krsna very very quickly even though one may be full of offenses in the very beginning. One has to chant in Navadvipa with sambandha-jnana with Lord Caitanya and in a humble state of mind. Ofcourse it may not be possible for all devotees. Just one more point as food for thought. Many yogis and jnanis perform their sadhana for hours together daily. We have got the highest and most sublime process of self-realiztion which is chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. The chanting is fully capable in and of itself to award us the greatest gift of love of God. There is nothing else required. And we give only 1 1/2 to 2 hours daily for chanting 16 rounds and feel we that we have done a lot of sadhana. Comparing to 24 hours everyday 2 hours is nothing. We have the greatest means of sadhana available, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra as given by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu (the combined form of Radha and Krsna who comes only in once in one day of Brahma) and we do it for only 2 hrs everyday out of 24 hours. This may not be the most effective use of the human form of life. If someone gets the most valuable jewel in the world, then he will always keep it with him. To chant 64 rounds daily it may take 5 1/2 6 or 7 or 8 hours. But what is that compared to the greatest gift which we are going to receive in return i.e. pure love for Radha & Krsna and eligibility to enter Goloka Vrindavan and put an end to all over miseries once and for all. LOOK FOR THE NEXT SEGMENT: LORD CAITANYA & THE ACARYAS ON 64 ROUNDS. (A comprehensive collection of quotes) Your aspiring servant, BR Sadhu Swami
  6. http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET0111/ET27-6991.html sri caitanya-bhagavate (1) prabhu bale,-"jana, 'laksesvara' bali kare? prati-dina laksa-nama ye grahana kare" In the Caitanya-bhagavata Madhya Khanda 9.121-122, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed us on whose worship and service He will accept: "Do you know who is a laksesvara? He is someone who chants one laksa, or one hundred thousand holy names (sixty-four rounds of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra) everyday." [NOTE: THE FOLLOWING ARE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PURPORTS (IMHO) OF SRILA SARASVATI THAKURA IN ALL HIS GAUDIYA BHASYAS SINCE IT HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN HIS FINAL UPADESHAVALI. THAT IS WHY THE ORIGINAL BENGALI IS INCLUDED.] PURPORT: [POSITIVE INJUNCTION] sri gaurasundera balibena - "jini pratidina laksanama grahana karibena, tanharai grhe bhagavan sevita hana." Sri Gaurasundara spoke as follows - "The Supreme Personality of Godhead accepts service only in the home of those who chant one hundred thousand names daily. bhagavan tanharai nikate bhoga-dravyadi grahana karena. "The Lord accepts bhoga (foodstuffs) and other ingredients only from such personalities. [NEGATIVE INJUNCTION] jini laksanama grahana karena na, tahara nikate haite bhagavan naivedya svikara-dvara seva-saubhagya pradana karena na. "Those who don't chant one hundred thousand names daily, are never awarded the great fortune of rendering service to the Lord by offering Him naivedya (bhoga). This is because never accepts (svikara) their offerings." [WARNING OF DANGER] bhagavad-bhakta matrei pratyaha laksa-nama grahana karibena natuva vividha visaye asakta haiya bhagavad-seva karite asamartha haibena. The Lord continued - "Those who consider themselves devotees of the Lord must compulsorily chant 100,000 names everyday otherwise they will gradually but surely become attached to varieties of sense-objects and thus become incapable to rendering any kind of service to the Lord." [CONCLUSION] tajjanyai sri caitanyadevera asrita sakalai nyunkalpe laksanama grahana kariya thakena. natuva gaurasunderera udesya pradatta naivedya tini grahana karibena na. (Srila Sarasvati Thakura continues) Therefore all the devotees who have taken shelter of Lord Caitanyadeva perform the chanting of 100,000 names of Krsna daily as their first and primary duty. Because they know that if they don't do so then Lord Gaurasundera will never accept the very bhoga (naivedya) which they will cook for Him daily. (2) "se janera nama ami bali 'laksesvara' tatha bhiksa amara, na yai anya ghara" "I call such a person a laksesvara. I only accept meals in that person's house. I never go anywhere else." PURPORT BY SRILA SARASVATI THAKURA: [HEAVY STATEMENT] sri caitanya bhaktagana abhaktera sahita sambhasana karena na. jini bhaktivyatita karma, jnana o anyabhilasara kathaya pradatta tahara sahita bandhutva karibe na. The devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya never talk with such non-devotees. They never do friendship with those who are engaged in the cultivation of karma,jnana or other desires which are devoid of bhakti. [Note: Srila Sarasvati Thakura indicates that those who do not chant laksa-nama daily get engaged in karma,jnana, material desires and gradually become non-devotees. The next line is even more clear.] [HEAVY WARNING AGAIN] pratyah laksa-nama grahana na karile patita vyaktiganera visaya-bhoga pravrtti vrddhi paya; takhana ara tahara sri gaurasunderarera seva karite pare na. Those who don't accept this vow of chanting 100,000 names daily, they fallen down even more although they were fallen in the first place (due to contamination of Kali-yuga). Thus their propensity for enjoying the senses and sense-objects increases and ultimately they are not able to render any kind of service to Lord Gaurasundera. [Note: Srila Sarasvati has conclusively established here that those who don't chant laksa-nama daily are absolutely sure to fall down even from the service of the merciful Lord Gaurasundera in due course of time. Then what to speak of rendering service to Their Lordships Radha & Krishna] [FINAL CONCLUSION] laksesvara vyatita gaura-bhaktira adarsa gaudiyajana kehai svikara karena na. That is the precise reason why the real Gaudiya-bhaktas do not accept any other ideal (adarsa) in Gaura-bhakti except the process of chanting 100,000 names daily. [MOST IMPORTANT FINAL STATEMENT BY SRILA SARASVATI THAKURA] adhapatita va adhapete gana eka-matra bhajana-sabda-vacya sri-nama-bhajane vimukhata-vasata laksa-nama grahana karibara parivarte anyabhajanera chalana korena, taddvara tahadera kona mangala haya na. Those spiritual aspirants who are already fallen or will fall in the future are averse to this sole means of deliverance called nama-bhajana which is also the worship of the sound incarnation of God in the form of chanting 100,000 names daily. Coming under the sway of their averseness to chant laksa-nama daily, they duplicitously invent other means of devotional service to justify their not chanting laksa-nama but it is to be understood that by this action they will not achieve anything auspicious in their life. [Note: This final statement is so crystal clear, straight and conclusive.] (3) prabhu bole,-"kahilan ei mahamantra; iha japa giya sabe koriya nirbandha." In Sri Caitanya-bhagavata Madhya Khanda 23.77, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed all the people of Navadvipa: "Please hear this Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Everyone please chant this maha-mantra daily in 'nirbandha'* . Then one will surely achieve all perfection. [*Thakura Bhaktivinoda explains in his book Hari-nama-cintamani that caribara mala phirile eka grantha haya. eka grantha niyama kariya kramasah vrddhi karite karite 16 granthe eka laksa nama nirbandha haibe. One round (on mala, 108 beads) = 108 times the full Hare Krsna maha-mantra One grantha= 4 rounds (malas) One nirbandha = 16 granthas = 64 rounds of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra = 100,000 total names of Hare, Krsna & Rama Samasta purva mahajanagana prabhura ei adesa palana kariya sarva-siddhi labha kariyachilena. All the previous mahajanas (great devotees) without exception have achieved success only through this process of chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra in atleast one nirbandha (64 rounds) daily. [Note: So according to Thakura Bhaktivinoda, Lord Caitanya is requesting everyone to chant atleast one nirbandha (64 rounds) of the Hare Krsna everyday to ensure the achievement of perfection in this harinama-sankirtana yajna in Kali-yuga.] SRILA BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASVATI THAKURA IN UPADESHAVALI: 22. Bhagavan will not accept anything which is offered by a person who doesn't chant Harinama one-hundred thousand times daily and such a person is considered a 'patita'. 23. By sincerely endeavoring to chant Harinama without offences and remaining fixed in chanting constantly, one's offences will fade and pure Harinama will arise on the tongue. Srila Bhakti Promod Puri Goswami Maharaja about his guru Om Visnupada Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada: "Unfailingly as a daily vow, he used to chant one lakh Names of the Lord (64 rounds) and his instruction to all his disciples was to do likewise. Keeping this vow intact, he would allot his times incredibly to cover all his preaching schedules and literary work, being a source of inspiration to all who came in contact with him." Those who have chanted laksa hari-nama for fifteen or twenty years should know such things (rasa-sastra). The beginners need not hear these topics or they will misunderstand.' (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, From an article in The Gaudiya, 1934) SRILA BHAKTIVINODA THAKURA Sadhu-vrtti, Sajjana Tosani 11/12: tinei sad-grhastha -- jini pratyah laksa-nama grahana karena, tanhara grhei suddha-vaisnavagana prasada grahana karibena Only those devotees are sad-grhasthas who chant 100,000 names of Krsna daily. And the pure devotees should accept prasada only in the homes of these sad-grhasthas. [Note: Since Lord Caitanya accepts the bhoga of only those grhasthas who chant 100,000 names daily, thus pure devotees should accept prasada only in the homes of such grhasthas.] mane habe-aja laksa nama ye kariba krame krame tina laksa nama ye smariba mahagraha habe citta namera samkhyaya acire yabe jadya sadhura krpaya In the Hari-nama-cintamani it is said: "When one's mind desires to chant and remember one hundred thousand holy names (64 rounds) daily and furthur desires to slowly increase it to three hundred thousand and when my mind becomes very attached and eager to complete the fixed number of rounds (sankhya) and pushes me to complete the sankhya everday, then it is understood that very soon the laziness or apathy in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra will vanish by the mercy of the sadhus and my chanting will bring me the desired fruit of pure love for Krsna." In Bhajana-pranali, Hari-nama-cintamani it is said: Samkhya koriya tulasira malaya namasnarana ba kirtanai upasana. Sei upasana-kramai sakala labhera mula. Sutaranga prathame atyalpakala nirjjane ekagra haiya nama koribe. Krame namasamkhya vrddhi korite korite namanusilanera nairantarjya evam visaya-pratibaddhakera ksaya avasya haibe. The upasana or the method of worship to achieve prema is to chant and remember the name of Krsna on tulasi beads. This worship gradually becomes the root cause for all auspicious achievements. That is why in the beginning one should sit down in a solitary place for a very short period and chant the name with concentration. Gradually one should increase the number of rounds (as given in the above verse). Then gradually the cultivation of the name will become continuous then all the obstacles and material desires will be destroyed. [Note: As per the above statement by Thakura Bhaktivinoda it is clear that without gradually increasing the chanting upto the point of chanting continuously (atleast 64 rounds), the obstacles on our spiritual path will never be removed.] In the Jaiva-dharma all the babajis chant 200,000 names daily. Then they read the scriptures and preach to whoever comes to meet them. Advaita das babaji experiences purification of heart and freedom from anarthas after chanting 200,000 names 3 to 4 years in Navadvipa-dhama in the association of pure devotees. Haridas babaji tells Nityananda das that he has just crossed the kanishtha platform and entered the madhyama paltform after he had chanted 64 rounds for many many years. SRILA JAGANNATHA DASA BABAJI The main teaching of Srila Jagannatha dasa babaji: "If you want to achieve perfection in Krsna consciousness, you must take a vow to chant a minimum of two hundred thousand or otherwise one hundred thousand of holy names every day, and you must execute that without fail. Before you retire at night you must finish this specific number of rounds, then you can achieve perfection in Krsna consciousness." SRILA LOKANATHA GOSWAMI TO SRILA NAROTTAMA Prema-vilasa: Chapter 11 (Note: Both Srila Prabhupada and Srila Sarasvati Thakura have accepted Prema-vilasa as bonafide in their commentaries to Cc Adi 13.60 purp.) je vaisnava haibe laibe harinama sankhya kari nama laile krpa karena gauradhama "Those who are Vaisnavas must chant the names of Krsna in a particular number everyday. Then Lord Gaura, the supreme abode of love will be merciful to them. WHAT IS THAT NUMBER? purva abhipraye sabe laha harinama keha laksa visesatah mukhe gana "Everyone should specifically chant or sing the name loudly 1,00,000 times a day with the mood I have described earlier. EMPOWERMENT IF: narottama laksa nama laya sankhya kari nama laile gaurangera sarva sakti dhari "O my disciple, Narottama! Please chant 1,00,000 names everyday while maintaining their count. If you chant in this way then you will become empowered by all the potencies of Lord Gauranga. ACHIEVE THE LOTUS FEET OF KRSNA IF: krsna . prapti laksa laile harinama granthi purna haile eka karibe pranama. "I again repeat that if you want to achieve the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, then you have to chant 1,00,000 names daily. After chanting four rounds (granthi) or one round, you should offer obeisances to the Name. Prema-vilasa Chapter 17: Srila Narottama to Srila Kaviraja on the direct process to achieve love of Krsna prabhura achaye sankhya tina laksa nama eka laksa bhaktagane kaila krpa dana "Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to Himself chant 300,000 names everyday. But He very mercifully awarded His devotees the process of chanting 100,000 names daily. sri rupa kaila laksa granthera varnana tathapiha karila laksa nama grahana "Srila Rupa Goswami has explained and quoted from over 100,000 different scriptures. Even though he was such a great scholar and devotee he himself chanted 100,000 Names daily. dasa goswamira ache laksa pramana ei mata sarva bhakta kare harinama "Srila Raghunatha Das Goswami also rigidly followed the instructions of the Lord by chanting 100,000 names daily. In this way (laksa-nama) all the devotees chanted the holy name of Krsna. gauranga srimukhe rupe kahila vaisnave laksa nama sankhya kari avasya karibe "Lord Gauranga instructed the Vaisnavas and Srila Rupa Himself that please compulsorily chant 100,000 names of Krsna daily. SRILA NAROTTAMA & HIS FOLLOWERS yakhana avasara takhana layena harinama eimata laksa sankhya achaye pramana Whenever they used to get an opportunity all of them used to chant Hare Krsna. In this way they used to complete the chanting of 100,000 names daily. Chapter 18: Narottama instructs his disciples adhanya manaye narottama apanake suna sisya bandhugana kahiye tomake Srila Thakura Narottama considering himself worthless in his natural humility, called all his disciples, followers and friends, and spoke to them in the following important instructions. MOST IMPORTANT & FINAL INSTRUCTION: prathamei krsnapada prapti laksa jara se laiba laksa-nama sankhya apanara "Those whose top priority in life is to achieve the lotus feet of Krsna should voluntarily chant 100,000 names of Krsna daily." QUEEN RUPAMALA Narottama Vilasa 10th Vilasa: Rupamala, the queen of a distant country became so happy on getting initiation from Srila Narottama dasa Thakura that she sweared to take one hundred thousand Harinama (64 rounds of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra) in a day. Seeing her determination, everyone began to sing the glory of Srila Narottama dasa Thakura Mahasaya. SRILA RASIKANANDA DEVA Sri Rasika-mangala, Eastern part, 6th Wave: When Sri Rasikananda was a child, he did not waste time playing games like other children. Rather, he would meditate on the maha-mantra. His daily practice was to chant a hundred thousand names of Krsna (64 rounds). He would refuse to accept his mother's foodstuffs until he completed his chanting. We will end with some quotes of Srila Prabhupada which were not posted earlier: 120 ROUNDS The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 20, 1972 "Just like we have asked our students to finish sixteen rounds chanting minimum. Sixteen rounds is nothing. In Vrndavana there are many devotees, they chant 120 rounds. Like that. So sixteen rounds is the minimum. Because I know in the Western countries it is difficult job to finish sixty-four rounds or 120 rounds, like that. Minimum sixteen rounds. That must be finished." MINIMUM IS 64 BUT IT HAS BEEN FURTHUR MINIMIZED Letter to: Purusottama, Bombay, 23 October, 1973 Because we have got many duties, [text missing] ...we minimized the amount to 16 rounds, otherwise [text missing] ...minimum is 64 rounds, but Western people cannot [text missing] ...this. So 16 rounds must be executed. FOR WESTERNERS Nectar of Instruction, Verse 5: The Krsna consciousness movement prescribes sixteen rounds daily because people in the Western countries cannot concentrate for long periods while chanting on beads. Therefore the minimum number of rounds is prescribed. However, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura used to say that unless one chants at least sixty-four rounds of japa (one hundred thousand names), he is considered fallen (patita). According to his calculation, practically every one of us is fallen, but because we are trying to serve the Supreme Lord with all seriousness and without duplicity, we can expect the mercy of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is famous as patita-pavana, the deliverer of the fallen. Note: If devotees find any other quotes on the importance of chanting laksa-nama from the previous acaryas, please let me know.) Daso'smi, Tridandi Bhikshu BR Sadhu.
  7. Yes, these stories of Srila Prabhupada-lila are very inspiring and intoxicating and also very uplifting. I humbly beg you to please continue.
  8. I don't know, but through the whole transcript, I was especially affected by this part: Although I am aware of what the possible issues can arise from this statement regarding initiation etc. I feel that I can wholeheartedly agree with the statement that Srila Prabhupada is alive and sitting on the vyasasana just as he must have done in his manifest presence. About a month ago I wrote on this forum about a dream that I had of Srila Prabhupada RISING UP from his vyasasana in the Bhaktivedanta Manor temple room and dancing with us in the ensuing kirtan. I can hereby reveal that I have had SEVERAL dreams of Srila Prabhupada being "alive" or "coming back." No big deal right? After all, it's a 50-50 situation. Either these dreams are real or they may be a figment of our imagination, rising from our subconscious feelings and/or desires. But I will say something. I am a regular attendant of Bhaktivedanta Manor, and also I attend the Soho Street temple in London. This Soho temple was originally at Bury Place and this is listen in Lilamrita as the first temple in London, and then it later moved to Soho Street in 1978 I think. The Radha-Londonisvara Deities in the Soho temple are the first ever full-size Radha-krsna Deities for ISKCON, and these are the same Deities spoken about in Lilamrita which Srila Prabhupada transcendentally "stole." Anyway let me get to my point. So anyone who has been to these two temples can verify this. It is an open fact that the murti of Srila Prabhupada in Soho temple has a slightly smiling countenance, while the Srila Prabhupada murti at Bhaktivedanta Manor displays a slightly sterner countenance. So all I can say is that the very day after I had a VERY vivid dream of Srila Prabhupada "coming back," I visited the temple at Gaura-arati services. I was chosen that day to take the arati tray around the congregation. As everyone knows, the arati has to be offered to Srila Prabhupada so I made my way to the back of the temple room to offer to Srila Prahupada. Usually I have very great respect for Srila Prabhupada even in his murti form because I have always tried to maintain the vision that the murti is alive even though it externally seems like marble, or whatever. But after offering the arati to Srila Prabhupada, I looked at the murti and I saw that the murti was SMILING AT ME! WHAT ?!?! This is the murti at Bhaktivedanta Manor which everyone knows looks stern, but that day it was smiling? And it has never seemed to smile at me since? Smiling, as if confirming that the vivid dream that I had had of him the previous night was bona fide and real? I don't know, in fact I don't know anything. I just fall at the feet of those who shower me mercy that is unasked even, but I fully agree on this point, that Srila Prabhupada is alive and sitting on the vyasasana just as he used to do. I don't know what this means for initiations and the controversies that can arise, but all I know is that Srila Prabhupada is alive and sits on the vyasasana, that's all. Now my only hope is to hold fast to his instructions and become a little purified so that perhaps I may hear if he chooses to be merciful to me and speak to me. Or at least I hopelessly cry to see his benevolent smile again. My only regret is that the day I was doing that arati, my mind was fixed on duty. It was my duty to offer the arati to Srila Prabhupada and then take it amongst the congregation, so I could not look at Srila Prabhupada smiling at me for long. How I wish I had forgotten that duty so that I could have drowned in his smile. This is not a hallucination. I can personally testify that the murti at Bhaktivedanta Manor is a rather stern-looking one. Anyone who sees that murti will corroborate this, but how did I see him smile? I don't know, but all I can do is hope to see it again. I realise that this will turn out to be a very long post and most of you will probably have fallen asleep by now. Please forgive my insane ramblings and shower your mercy on me so that I may be able to glorify Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga more eloquently, so that I may redeem the tongue that was gifted to me.
  9. I'm amazed to read this thread. I don't quite know what to make of Amoghalila's "revelations," but it would be very nice if Srila Prabhupada is communicating these "new" instructions, only time will tell if they are true or not. But I am so foolish and degraded that I do not know what are Srila Prabhupada's instructions on this matter. In fact, I do not know his instructions on any matter. I am so foolish and stupid and so dullheaded that even after all these years of being in ISKCON and reading his books artificially, not even one word has entered into my ears. I don't know what to do about this, so I am just wanting to associate with all the devotees of Sri Krishna. I want to fall at your feet in absolute hopelessness with the secret desire that you may raise me up and teach me the eternal truths of Krishna Consciousness. I need this association, I am so desperate for help that I beg for it everywhere. Please have mercy on me.
  10. "..all jivas are not liable to be eclipsed by the deluding potency. Those who are so liable are again distinct from the eternally free jivas. The eternally free jivas are inseparable associates of Nityananda. They are integrated part and parcels of Himself. They never fall into the clutches of maya. When Nityananda manifests His appearance on the mundane plane His inseparable constituents also appear in His company. They sometimes manifest their functions on this lower place in a visible form on the errands of Nityananda. They are Vaisnavas whose subordination to Nityananda is natural and ingrained in their nature. It is not necessary for such souls to undergo the process of enlightenment for being restored to the spiritual plane. Unless this fact is born in the mind the conditioned soul may be tempted to undervalue the constant guidance of the guru on the hypocritical plea of following in the footsteps of the eternally free pure devotees. Those, therefore, who suppose that deliverance from the bondage of this world should be practicable without the constant guidance of the spiritual preceptor, confound the conditioned state with the free. "The guidance of the guru is no curtailment of one's spiritual freedom. Those who are eternally free also follow his guidance by the spontaneous undeviating impulse of their perfectly pure nature. Guidance of the guru is the only divine guidance. Only atheists who are by their choice opposed to the service of Godhead, can be consistent opponents of the obligation to serve the guru in the same unconditional way as one should be prepared to serve Godhead Himself. There is no difference between the two functions. If the claim of the one is denied it necessarily involves the denial of the claim of the other. Nityananda and His companions form one of the five groups of the associates of Sri Krsna Caitanya, whose distinctive function is that of the guru. "But Nityananda does not directly instruct in the confidential service of Krsna. Srimate Radhika is the guru of the inner circle of the servants of Krsna. Srimati, however, accepts the offer of service of only those souls who are specially favored by Nityananda and are deemed by Him to be fit for Her service. There is, therefore a most intimate relationship between the function of Nityananda and that of Srimati which is at once supplementary and inclusive of the former." -- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.
  11. Srila Prabhupada did in fact begin the translation of the Tenth Canto in Bhubaneshwar, Orissa in 1977. Srila Prabhupada started it in the middle of the night. Pradyumna Prabhu was also awake and was very excited since he could hear Srila Prabhupada dictating the purports on tape. Srila Prabhupada is even reported to have said that he will write the Tenth Canot in such a way that it could never be miscontrued by sahajiyas. Just because he decided to depart this world before the completetion of the Tenth Canto does not necessarily mean that he chose NOT to reveal it, and this also goes for possibly every other rasa-text. In fact, in 1966 Srila Prabhupada is reported to have told Hayagriva das that he would translate EVERYTHING, including Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, all the sastras. I feel that it is quite erroneous to imply that Srila Prabhupada had his "reasons" not to do all this. It is probably due to a hidden agenda to enhance the glory of Srila Narayana Maharaja by stating that he somehow starts where Srila Prabhupada left off, thus implying that the former is the latter's successor.
  12. Aside from Sridhara Maharaja's own speculations, where is the sastric basis for Srila Prabhupada's supposedly being of sakhya-bhava?
  13. This reminds me of a story in which several blind men touch-and-feel their way around an elephant. One blind mans feels the elephant's leg and thinks it is a pillar. Another feels the tail and thinks it is a hanging rope. Yet another feels the belly and thinks that it is a big wall. Pity that they are blind. A person with sight can see quite clearly that it is an elephant. /images/graemlins/wink.gif
  14. I am not particularly interested in creating or partcipating in controversies, but I feel I can no longer hold my feelings. Sorry, but I think that these sort of statements are extremely offensive to Srila Prabhupada. More to the point, it has been endlessly repeated by just about every NM disciple/follower that I have met. What is worse is that the source of this idea is NM himself, as he himself spoke this idea in an infamous lecture some time ago. I don't think that it is a very fruitful project to minimise the contribution of Srila Prabhupada by stating in any way that his teachings are somehow "incomplete," etc. It may be so that Srila Prabhupada focused on the basic topics of Krsna-tattva but this does not mean to say that he never gave knowledge about rasa or raganuga bhakti. 'Nectar of Devotion' is a book that is proof of the falsity of this statement. I do have much more to say about this, but let us see how this issue develops. But I am just saying that this is a very offensive mentality, to say that Srila Prabhupada didn't do this, or that, and so on ..
  15. Am I understanding coreectly? Tripurari Swami says that Srila Prabhupada is a gopa (cowherd boy)? Do you have a quote, please?
  16. "A pure devotee always engages in the service of the Lord, taking shelter of his lotus feet, and therefore has a direct connection with the saffron mercy particles that are strewn over the lotus feet of the Lord. Although when a pure devotee speaks the articulation of his voice may resemble the sound of this material sky, because the voice touches the particles of saffron dust on the lotus feet of the Lord, the voice is spiritually very powerful." - HDGACBSP Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.25 [Los Angeles, CA, USA Bhaktivedanta Book Trust 1974] “Therefore although he is visible in every atom, the Supreme Personality of Godhead may not be available to the eyes of the dry speculators, still, the mystery is unfolded before the eyes of the pure devotees because their eyes are anointed with love of Godhead. And this love of Godhead. And this love of Godhead can be attained only by the practice of transcendental loving service of the Lord, and nothing else....the Lord's name, form, quality, pastimes, entourage, etc. as they are described in the revealed scriptures or as performed in the Vaikuntha lokas, far, far, beyond the cosmic manifestation, are factually being televised in the heart of the devotee....the spiritually developed person is able to have the television of the Kingdom of God always reflected within his heart. This is the mystery of knowledge of the Personality of Godhead." - HDGACBSP Srimad-Bhagavatam 'Answers by citing the Lord's version' 2.9.35 [New York, NY, USA ISKCON press 1971] Interviewer: In the same way I'm curious with respect to the way Krsna communicates with you, whether it's in a similar kind of way that he gives you your necessities. Bali Mardana: In other words, when you decide that someone is to be in charge of a particular temple does Krsna tell you that this person should be in charge? Interviewer: or do you by judging him say this person is qualified? Srila Prabhupada: Yes, because a devotee always consults Krsna and he gives order. Interviewer: It's more of a direct communication. Srila Prabhupada: Yes, because a devotee always consults Krsna and he gives order. Ramesvara: Because intelligence, our philosophy is that intelligence comes from Krsna. So if I have some... Interviewer: And your philosophy is that your daily necessities come from Krsna as well. Ramesvara: Yes, try to understand. Suppose my intelligence has told me. Srila Prabhupada: No, not necessarily. Krsna will tell him directly. A devotee always consults Krsna and Krsna tells him. “Do like this." Not figuratively. - as in item # I Interview with Srila Prabhupada July 14, 1976 New York, NY, USA.
  17. "A pure devotee always engages in the service of the Lord, taking shelter of his lotus feet, and therefore has a direct connection with the saffron mercy particles that are strewn over the lotus feet of the Lord. Although when a pure devotee speaks the articulation of his voice may resemble the sound of this material sky, because the voice touches the particles of saffron dust on the lotus feet of the Lord, the voice is spiritually very powerful." - HDGACBSP Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.25 [Los Angeles, CA, USA Bhaktivedanta Book Trust 1974] “Therefore although he is visible in every atom, the Supreme Personality of Godhead may not be available to the eyes of the dry speculators, still, the mystery is unfolded before the eyes of the pure devotees because their eyes are anointed with love of Godhead. And this love of Godhead. And this love of Godhead can be attained only by the practice of transcendental loving service of the Lord, and nothing else....the Lord's name, form, quality, pastimes, entourage, etc. as they are described in the revealed scriptures or as performed in the Vaikuntha lokas, far, far, beyond the cosmic manifestation, are factually being televised in the heart of the devotee....the spiritually developed person is able to have the television of the Kingdom of God always reflected within his heart. This is the mystery of knowledge of the Personality of Godhead." - HDGACBSP Srimad-Bhagavatam 'Answers by citing the Lord's version' 2.9.35 [New York, NY, USA ISKCON press 1971] Interviewer: In the same way I'm curious with respect to the way Krsna communicates with you, whether it's in a similar kind of way that he gives you your necessities. Bali Mardana: In other words, when you decide that someone is to be in charge of a particular temple does Krsna tell you that this person should be in charge? Interviewer: or do you by judging him say this person is qualified? Srila Prabhupada: Yes, because a devotee always consults Krsna and he gives order. Interviewer: It's more of a direct communication. Srila Prabhupada: Yes, because a devotee always consults Krsna and he gives order. Ramesvara: Because intelligence, our philosophy is that intelligence comes from Krsna. So if I have some... Interviewer: And your philosophy is that your daily necessities come from Krsna as well. Ramesvara: Yes, try to understand. Suppose my intelligence has told me. Srila Prabhupada: No, not necessarily. Krsna will tell him directly. A devotee always consults Krsna and Krsna tells him. “Do like this." Not figuratively. - as in item # I Interview with Srila Prabhupada July 14, 1976 New York, NY, USA.
  18. I can't believe this either! /images/graemlins/shocked.gif
  19. If telling the truth means that I eat dogs, then fine; I eat dogs. Hare Krishna.
  20. Really? So what do you suggest we do about the Iraq situation? Go to Iraq and convert the civilians there into Gaudiya Vaishnavas at gunpoint? /images/graemlins/crazy.gif
  21. Who knows? Who cares? The whole doctrine is not bona fide, that's all I care.
  22. OK Thanks, but I wouldn't take stuff from Yogi Bhajan very seriously since he is not a very good representative of Sikhism.
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