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Vigraha

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  1. Press Conference — December 16, 1976, Hyderabad

     

    Guest (9): Recently a political party also has alleged that ISKCON temples have become abode of the CIA agents.

     

    Prabhupada: Yes.

     

    Guest (9): What do you say for it?

     

    Prabhupada: We are detecting who is irreligious. That’s all. That is our business.

     

    Guest (3): They are detecting who is irreligious.

     

    Prabhupada: He is going on in the name of religion, but he does not know what is religion. So that we are detecting. You can say like that. This is our business.

     

    Guest (3): It was an allegation by an important…

     

    Prabhupada: It is allegation. And they are so fools that the Americans, they have come here to become Vaisnava and starvation and they have become religious. They have no food there, and they have come to me and they have no dress, they have…

     

    And this boy is English boy. He is giving me massage as if he’s a poor man’s son. This is… Is he poor man’s son? Why he is giving massage? We are Indian, poor Indian. He is not in need of money. He even buys his own cloth. The other day I was chastising him, “Why you are purchasing? You take.” “No, I have got money.” Just see. This is their position.

     

    Dr. Ramachandra: May we take leave?

     

    Prabhupada: Hare Krishna. Yes. (Hindi—jokes about CIA) (laughter)

     

    Dr. Ramachandra: This is wild allegation.

    Prabhupada: It is no reason. (Hindi) As if they have no money to go to the hotel.

     

    Dr. Ramachandra: In India everything is after CIA now.

     

    Prabhupada: And in Parliament it has been denied. Rather, Home Member said that “We have no information that they are CIA.” Parliament challenged, “What steps you are going to take?” And “No step. There is no information.”

     

    They are afraid of the American government because of this Bangladesh affair. And otherwise government appreciates this movement. But because the Americans are there they think, “Some may do something,” in this way. Yes. But there is no such chance. They are all devotees. They have nothing to do…

     

    Dr. Ramachandra: This is a purely religious movement.

    Prabhupada: That is right. They have nothing to do with politics. And if they found any politics, they can hang me. I shall go.”

     

    The point here is that Srila Prabhupada didn’t care for critics. He had his own program which he didn’t change despite sometimes be subjected to negative propaganda.

     

    His movement is transcendental and as he noted above, those who see the real thing will understand that it is neither American nor Indian, it is meant for everyone around the world.

     

    3) Apart from this, the design is not exactly exclusively American. Here is a photo of another similar dome:

    image065407.jpg

    Looks familiar? This is St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

    Or check this one out:

    ima756ge009.jpg

    This is the Vatican. And if we study domes around the world, especially in Europe (where do we think the Capitol building design came from?) there are many that resemble the one being planned for Mayapur.

     

    There was another dome Srila Prabhupada liked, the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. This is a combination of European and Mughal architecture.

     

    It is one of the most famous landmarks in India. On a walk circe 1974 Srila Prabhupada told his disciples, including the two Mayapur co-directors that he want a dome like that.

    image75011.jpg

    And on another occasion he even suggested that we should apply to take it over and make it into a temple:

     

    Room Conversation About Mayapura Construction — August 19, 1976, Hyderabad

     

    Prabhupada: Why not take the Victoria Memorial? What is, they are doing?

     

    Jayapataka: I have never gone inside. I heard it is simply old English armor and some swords.

     

    Prabhupada: Yes, I have seen.

     

    Gargamuni: And the marble is turning black.

     

    Prabhupada: Because they don’t…

     

    Gargamuni: They don’t clean it.

     

    Jayapataka: How they can afford to maintain such a building?

     

    Prabhupada: Krishna will maintain. We can utilize it properly.

     

    Jayapataka: And we’ll have British pujaris. For the glory of Queen Victoria.

     

    Prabhupada: Victoria. Let them send. Tell them that we shall bring. Victoria has… Let them send to worship Victoria with prasadam of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. That is real Victoria Memorial.

     

    So if we really want to understand the mood and intention of Srila Prabhupada we cannot escape the fact that he liked European/American architecture and thought it just suitable to his purpose in advertizing his international society around the world.

     

    As for the American connection, you cannot avoid it. Ambarish prabhu comes from one of the oldest money lines in America. What could be more American than the Fords?

     

    We should also note that while American politics have never been popular, American culture has taken over the world. Indians are mad after it, and even more so since 1992 after the communist regimes collapsed and the Indian government open their doors to free trade.

     

    We humbly suggest that devotees should be less hung up on being American and more enthused about being members of Lord Caitanya’s transcendental movement.

     

    3) Environmental concerns

     

    The design and construction team have consulted with our engineers, plumbing contractors, lighting engineers and others how to make the building as ‘green’ as possible. This is very much a concern that in 20 years time we not look like dinosaurs from a previous era of flagrant disregard for nature and the environment.

     

    Samba dasa has been assigned by the Mayapur GBCs to revise the master plan and incorporate as many energy efficient systems as possible.

     

    Saranam dasi was invited to come to Mayapur to help plan energy conservation and alternative energy strategies and although this is in its infancy at the moment there is a real intent to become a model of environmental friendliness.

     

    We should at the same time remember that Srila Prabhupada wanted a small city to be built in Mayapur so there will be no question that Mayapur will remain a rural backwater with paddy fields etc. We can and do desire however to keep as much of Mayapur’s natural opulence as possible with parks and gardens and inoffensive waste disposal.

     

    I hope this helps to put some things in perspective and show that what is currently being planned is just according to Srila Prabhupada’s desire and instructions.

     

    If by solid evidence rather than sentiment and innuendo it can be shown that Srila Prabhupada wanted something else, I am sure the Mayapur GBCs will be happy to look at it.

     

    As it is, Ambarish and his team are confident that their plans are on the right track. The land is there, the Deities are waiting, and now the money is available.

     

    This is the first time in ISKCON’s history that all the necessary factors have fallen into place, and it behooves us to lend our support to this last great unfulfilled project for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada.

     

    Your humble servant,

    Hari-sauri dasa


  2. image0ee05.jpg

     

    This is the only known alternative design for the TVP apart from the one depicted in the photos from 1971. This hardly complies with the above statement “many occasions he was shown and approved designs of an Indian nature.”

     

    So where does this leave us?

     

    We can say that Srila Prabhupada did not insist on the Capitol dome and left it to his disciples to decide what to do. It’s clear that he knew he wasn’t going to be around long enough to see the project built and he was therefore giving his disciples licence to go with their own design. This is a valid argument. As he said in the November 1975 discussion:

     

    Bhagavata: So if that’s what you want, then we should not make a permanent structure? We should make some temporary structure like last year.

     

    Prabhupada: That you decide yourself.

     

    Bhagavata: So we should engage the local doll makers in doing this.

     

    Prabhupada: First of all you have your place; then make dolls. But dolls should not be exactly like this, in the same way. But when you make actually, then I will give you how the models should be made. Now, how to do, where to do, that, it is your business. You decide, some of yourself, and do the needful. You have not yet done any plan for the big temple?

    [end]

     

    Thus when Saurabha came up with his own design, Srila Prabhupada went with that.

     

    It gets down the fact that Srila Prabhupada had his stated preference and Saurabha had his. If it is a question of preferences, why not accept Srila Prabhupada’s own preference–the Capitol dome?

     

    He did after all state it several times in 1976 that he wanted his TVP to look like that. Why should we not accept Srila Prabhupada’s desire as paramount above our own?

    Let’s look at some other aspects of this argument:

     

    2) The American Connection

     

    Srila Prabhupada traveled extensively in India. He must have viewed practically every type of dome and temple design in his 70 years before coming to the west.

     

    He certainly knew what Indian religious architecture looked like better than any of us. Yet he picked the WDC Capitol dome as the one he wanted. It wasn’t whimsical or sentimental. He was making a deliberate choice

    .

    It is useful to look at Srila Prabhupada’s mood and ambitions for the Mayapur project. He was proud of his American connection. This was expressed several times to us in 1976:

     

    Room Conversation — January 19, 1976, Mayapur

     

    Prabhupada: [talking about a pamphlet one of his godbrothers had issued] This pamphlet, I don’t think it has got any value.

     

    Tamala Krishna: It has no value, Prabhupada. What we should do is build this temple. If we just build this temple… This is my point. Let us build this temple immediately.

     

    Once this temple is built, everything is finished. All the glow worms are completely extinguished. There will be nothing left. They can do anything they want, and nothing will matter. If they have a 350-foot building with escalators, with huge compounds, then everything is ended.

     

    Prabhupada: So do like that, like America.

     

    Bhavananda: He can come here and stand outside and scream, “I am the

     

    acaryadeva.” Just like in America so many people are saying, “I am Napoleon.” No one…

     

    Prabhupada: That everyone says. That is not…

     

    Bhavananda: We have to build this temple because…

     

    Prabhupada: So make something like American which is wonderful for the world. So you are Americans. You must do something.

     

    Tamala Krishna: If we build this temple with escalators and the people go in the temple and they go up the escalator…

    Harikesa: They’ll never come back.

    And again:

     

    Morning Walk — February 21, 1976, Mayapura

     

    Acyutananda: [speaking about the local Gaudiya mathas] And if they think their matha will deteriorate, then Prabhupada has offered…

     

    Prabhupada: Yes.

     

    Acyutananda: …to maintain the temples.

     

    Prabhupada: Yes. Let their men work. Whatever expenditure is required, we shall give. There is no disturbance. Money is power. That we have got.

     

    Acyutananda: Yes.

     

    Prabhupada: By the grace of…

     

    Acyutananda: Hridayananda Maharaja mentioned that before you went to America, Indians were not interested. And now you have come back with money, so they are willing to hear.

     

    Prabhupada: Money is the strength all over, all over the world. America is prestigious—why? They have got money. So we, I have got American disciples. Why shall I not have money? If America, a guru of the Americans remains poor, it is contradictory.

     

    Acyutananda: Yes.

     

    Prabhupada: It cannot be.

    Morning Walk — March 9, 1976, Mayapur

     

    Prabhupada: …if there is water. And if there is lowland, the whole water will go to the lowland. And that means you have two or three canals, there will be no more flood.

     

    Tamala Krishna: So you need the land to make the canals.

     

    Prabhupada: That’s it.

     

    Tamala Krishna: Emergency yajna.

     

    Prabhupada: Yes. You convince him like that.

     

    Yasodanandana: This is very clever.

     

    Prabhupada: And factually we have to do that in order to check the flood. Make scheme like Europeans and Americans. Why you are thinking in terms of Indian plan?

     

    Tamala Krishna: He’s been here a long time, Prabhupada. (laughter) He’s thinking like a…

     

    Prabhupada: But I am born here. I have no Indian plan. My plans are all American.

     

    Yasodanandana: Jaya Prabhupada!

     

    Guru-krpa: Your plans are Krishna’s plans, Prabhupada.

     

    Prabhupada: Hm? Yes. I planned that “I must go to America.” Yes. That was the reason. Otherwise, generally they go to London. I did not go to London.

     

    Tamala Krishna: We were talking about that.

     

    Prabhupada: Eh?

     

    Tamala Krishna: We were just talking about that last night, that generally someone in Indian would think, “Let me go to London,” but you thought, “Let me go to…”

     

    Prabhupada: No. I was simply dreaming, “How to go to New York?” Actually I thought.

     

    Tamala Krishna: The biggest.

     

    Prabhupada: Yes. I was scheming, “Whether I shall go this way, through Tokyo, Japan, or that way? Which way is cheaper?” That was my plan. And I was targeting to New York always. Sometimes I was dreaming that I have come to New York. Hare Krishna.

     

    From these quotes we can see that Srila Prabhupada was proud of the international nature of his ISKCON society and he wanted that displayed through the architecture of the TVP–“Make something American.”

     

    According to the suggestion of our scholars the building should “take into account the traditional appearance of the dhama.”

     

    What exactly is the traditional appearance? Mud or bamboo huts and straw roofs? We already have that with Srila Prabhupada’s bhajan kutir where he personally lived in the early days of ISKCON Mayapur.

     

    Its certainly not what he wanted. As soon as he could he built the Lotus building, which doesn’t resemble any other building in the entire district.

     

    The fact is that he was not interested in ‘Indian’ architecture for the Mayapur project. Mayapur was already replete with several temples built by his godbrothers following in the same style that was adopted by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.

     

    Srila Prabhupada did not want to follow their lead. He wanted something clearly distinguishable from those who had never preached outside of India.

     

    Now one of the arguments is that America has become unpopular due to its political dealings and foreign intervention policies. The argument says: “Since the 1970s, world opinion about the United States has changed considerably for the worse.

     

    We feel an Indian-style temple will be more in harmony with the actual purposes that Srila Prabhupada envisioned for the project. An American-style design may inspire negative reactions from many categories of people (ranging from academics to ordinary people), for stylistic, cultural, political and other reasons.”

     

    We beg to say that if we want to seriously cite Srila Prabhupada and be in harmony with him, we should understand that he was proud of his American connection. His money, which he saw as Krishna’s blessing, was coming from there and he wasn’t shy to advertize his connection even in the face of suspicion from the media and politicians.

     

    Apparently the author of these comments is not aware that American foreign policies and politics were easily as unpopular during Srila Prabhupada’s time as they are now.

     

    Is the war in Iraq any more unpopular than the war in Vietnam? But Srila Prabhupada was not concerned.

     

    In 1974-77 politicians in India were railing against ISKCON’s American connection:

     

    June 22 1975 Los Angeles

     

    Prabhupada: Yes. This is very kind of you, but there have been so many attempts to cut down this movement, but they are cheated. They could not do so.

     

    Dr. Gerson: May I try to help?

     

    Prabhupada: Yes, that is your real business. In India also, they are still making so much propaganda. They are making propaganda that “These American devotees, they are CIA.” (laughter) This propaganda is very strong in India, making the people against these American boys who are preaching.

     

    So this is going on. They financed one film, “Hare Krishna.” That is spite against us. But still, those who are sincere, they are praising, “Yes, this is a real.”

     

    Even Srila Prabhupada’s own godbrothers thought he must be getting money from the CIA:

     

    Morning Walk — August 6, 1975, Detroit

     

    Harikesa: That’s why the government thinks that we are being supported. In India they think we are being supported by the…

     

    Prabhupada: CIA.

     

    Harikesa: Yes. Because we have so many nice things. Where else could we…

     

    Brahmananda: They think it is the mercy of the CIA.

     

    Prabhupada: My Godbrother says-Tirtha Maharaja—that American government has given me two crores of rupees. They are supposed to be spiritually advanced, and they are so rascal. And he is the head of Caitanya Matha.

     

    Krishna said, yoga-knemam vahamy aham: [bg. 9.22] “I take the responsibility of his expenditure.” Krishna says, and they are preaching Krishna consciousness, and they are thinking, “American government is doing, not Krishna.”

     

    Such fools and rascals, they are head of…, a spiritual head. Karmis, jnanis—everyone is envious of our… And they are trying to speculate how to admit: “Where he gets money? Where he gets money?”

     

    But Srila Prabhupada had ready answers to counter the false impressions and propaganda:

     

    August 3, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm)

     

    Prabhupada: The whole world is becoming CIA. (laughter) We can say, that “All right, the Americans have sent their CIA, but why the Germans business there? They are also CIA?” And where is… Soon the Russians also will join, the Polish also will join, everyone will join.

     

    Bhagavan: Africans.

     

    Prabhupada: Yes.

     

    Harikesa: They can’t say the Russians are CIA. (laughs)

     

    Prabhupada: No. We have got potency to force everyone to join. The Russians have already imperceptibly joined—they have praised my books. That is imperceptible, what is called?

     

    Room Conversation About Mayapura Construction — August 19, 1976, Hyderabad

     

    Prabhupada: … America has got money but blind. And India has got culture but lame. So let us combine. Then things will be done very nice. Andha-paìgu-nyaya.

     

    Just like I am the same man. I was finding difficulty to start this mission in India, very, very difficult. With great hardship I published three books. But as soon as I went America, the andha-paìgu-nyaya became successful.

     

    So this is the position. So instead of becoming envious from political… We have nothing to do with… To the Americans unnecessarily thinking that “CIA, CIA…”

     

    Let American money and India’s culture combine together, and the whole world will be benefitted. America has got enough money; they can spend. Either they give me as the price of my book or anything, money is there like anything. India has got culture.

     

    So Indian culture, Vedic culture, Bhagavad-gita culture, pushed through American money, the whole world will be benefitted. Convince them. It is not the question of India, America, here… It is a cultural movement for the benefit of the whole world. Pathivite ache yata nagaradi-grama. It is cultural movement.”

     

    Srila Prabhupada’s way to deal with any negative propaganda was to write to friendly politicians for support and also use the press to counter the false claims:


  3. By Hari-sauri dasa

    June 26, 2008

    A number of concerns have been raised about the new design for the Mayapur Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. This have been collated by Janakirama dasa and were presented by Drutakarma prabhu on June 10 2008 to the first meeting of a committee formed to develop the exhibits that will be displayed in the planetarium section of the TVP. The main points were summarized thus:

     

    1) We know that Srila Prabhupada made some brief remarks on one or two occasions about the TVP looking like the US Capitol. But we also know that on many occasions he was shown and approved designs of an Indian nature.

     

    We feel it is therefore necessary for the movement’s leadership to carefully consider which of the designs that Srila Prabhupada spoke about best fulfills his overall desires for the project.

     

    2) We have some concerns that a Western design for the TVP, particularly one modeled after the US Capitol building, will not have the desired effect of attracting favorable worldwide attention to the Vedic cosmology, philosophy and culture that Srila Prabhupada wanted to present.

     

    Since the 1970s, world opinion about the United States has changed considerably for the worse. We feel an Indian-style temple will be more in harmony with the actual purposes that Srila Prabhupada envisioned for the project.

     

    An American-style design may inspire negative reactions from many categories of people (ranging from academics to ordinary people), for stylistic, cultural, political and other reasons.

     

    3) We wish to be assured that the project will be designed in such a way as to take into account the traditional appearance of the dhama and environmental factors.

     

    4) We want the planning of exhibits to keep pace with the actual level of scholarship that ISKCON has attained in the fields of Vedic cosmology.

    The above points were accompanied by further comments by two other scholars as well as the following letter “signed by a number of ISKCON scholars on VAST” reading as follows:

     

    Whereas a significant number of intelligent, educated members of ISKCON are not pleased with the Western design of the TVP;

     

    Whereas these members feel that an Indian design would be more appropriate for ISKCON’s largest temple in its most sacred dhama, especially in terms of attracting visitors from all over the world, who will expect to see in India an Indian design; and Whereas there are reasons for studying more carefully Srila Prabhupada’s instructions on this matter;

     

    We propose that no construction on the TVP begin until the GBC has had time to hear critics of the current design give a presentation of their view that an Indian design would better fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s overall desires for the TVP.

    ——————————————————-

    My reply:

    The key to this debate, as has been noted above, is to understand what Srila Prabhupada himself wanted for the project.

     

    We all agree on this point and I shall attempt to present what the current TVP design and construction team has understood and concluded in this regard.

     

    1) Janakirama prabhu states “We know that Srila Prabhupada made some brief remarks on one or two occasions about the TVP looking like the US Capitol. But we also know that on many occasions he was shown and approved designs of an Indian nature.”

     

    This statement tends to minimize Srila Prabhupada’s own stated preference for the design [‘brief remarks’] while maximizing the idea of designs of an “Indian nature” [many occasions].

     

    I was present in Mayapur with Srila Prabhupada in 1976 and 1977 when discussion of the TVP was gearing up and Srila Prabhupada was pushing the project quite strongly with Saurabha prabhu and the GBC.

     

    He gave many instructions on what was to go inside the building but in 1976 there was no real design for the outer structure as such.

     

    There was one design in late 1971 which appears more like a pyramid than a traditional ‘Indian’ style dome [see photos below].

    image001sa.jpg

    image0043.jpg

    It was, as far as I know, drawn up by Ranchor prabhu in London, who had never been to India and had little or no concept of ‘Indian’ temple architecture. At any rate, it had little resemblance to ‘traditional Indian domes.’

     

    That design was made before the idea of a planetarium came up and seems to have fell by the wayside as Srila Prabhupada’s ideas for the Mayapur temple developed. After that no design is apparent until 1977.

     

    The earliest known date that Srila Prabhupada talked about a planetarium seems to be circa 1973 in a recorded conversation with his godbrother BR Sridhar Swami but no description of the building’s appearance was stated.

    Further discussions with his disciples ensued.

     

    On November 7, 1975 the following discussion took place, whereby it is evident that no design had yet been settled upon:

     

    Prabhupada: Yes. How one is going by cheating others, by stealing. So everything. You can display, what is called? That planetary system?

    Indian man (1): Planetarium?

     

    Prabhupada: Planetarium. According to planetarium.

     

    Dr. Patel: They have got a big planetarium in Calcutta.

     

    Prabhupada: Yes, they have got, but we have also got. So it is little difference. Just like we are calculating that the sun is the beginning of the planets, sun, then moon. Therefore we say “Sunday, Monday.” This is very quite reasonable. Tuesday.

     

    Dr. Patel: And Tuesday is next word because Maìgala.

     

    Prabhupada: Yes. And planet is 1,006,000 miles above, above. And Saturday, Saturn is the last. So now sun is calculated to be 93,000,000’s miles from earth, and if the moon is still further 1,600,000, then it becomes about fifteen hundred thousand miles. No. Fifteen million miles. So how they are going, in four days, fifteen million?

     

    Dr. Patel: You ask me?

     

    Prabhupada: Yes. (laughter)

     

    Dr. Patel: Well, sir, there is no going and coming. All are what we are, wherever.

     

    Prabhupada: No, no. That is another thing. That is another thing, that with their this sputnik, how they can go in four days fifteen millions miles?

     

    Dr. Patel: You see, in the cosmos, the whole cosmos is as big… Modern scientists understand it by what we call the force of attraction and repulsion. When you go in between the two, there is no attraction, repulsion. Then you just have this and it goes on.

     

    Prabhupada: No, no. Hare Krishna.

     

    Bhagavata: So we should display the real planetary system…

     

    Prabhupada: Yes.

     

    Bhagavata: As it really exists.

     

    Prabhupada: Yes.

     

    Bhagavata: And then we can put underneath explanations in Bengali and English.

     

    Prabhupada: Yes. Yes.

     

    Dr. Patel: In Sanskrit and English because Sanskrit contains Bengali and Gujarati and all.

     

    Prabhupada: Yes. That’s a good idea, good idea.

     

    Dr. Patel: I go, sir.

     

    Prabhupada: Hm? Time is up? Hare Krishna. [break] …many things to be displayed by these models, and we can utilize that.

     

    Bhagavata: Like the pictures we have in the Bhagavatam and the Gita, then we can make them into doll displays, some of those pictures.

     

    Prabhupada: But the idea was that in our big temple I wanted to display.

     

    Bhagavata: Oh. You didn’t want a separate building.

     

    Prabhupada: No. We wanted to display where is the Vaikuntha planet, where is the Goloka planet, where is this material world—in this way.

     

    Bhagavata: So if that’s what you want, then we should not make a permanent structure? We should make some temporary structure like last year.

     

    Prabhupada: That you decide yourself.

     

    Bhagavata: So we should engage the local dollmakers in doing this.

     

    Prabhupada: First of all you have your place; then make dolls. But dolls should not be exactly like this, in the same way. But when you make actually, then I will give you how the models should be made. Now, how to do, where to do, that, it is your business. You decide, some of yourself, and do the needful. You have not yet done any plan for the big temple?

     

    Saurabha: I have been asking Jayapataka for about one year to please send me some plan of the land so that I can place all these buildings, because there is no…

     

    Bhagavata: The blueprints are done. Jayapataka is revising them now. They are in Mayapur. He is reviewing all the blueprints. They are all done. And when they are finished… When he finishes reviewing them, then we’ll have them sent here immediately. I just sent them to Mayapur.

     

    Saurabha: As soon as I get the plans, I will make immediately, finish everything. We can make a master plan for the whole situation.

     

    Prabhupada: So ask him to send immediately site plan and begin.

     

    Saurabha: Yes. …

    [end quote]

     

    From this conversation it is apparent that there was no existing design. Saurabha was waiting for plans of the land so that he could begin work on it.

     

    Srila Prabhupada spent 2 months in Mayapur leading up to the 1976 Gaura Purnima festival. ISKCON Mayapur had bought more land and an application was submitted to the WB govt. for acquiring 350 acres for the project.

     

    Srila Prabhupada talked about a city of 50,000 devotees based on varnasrama principles.

     

    I personally sat in on most of the conversations which were held with the Mayapur co-directors Bhavananda and Jayapataka Swamis, and on morning walks with his senior disciples and secretaries–Hridayananda Goswami, Pusta Krishna Swami and Tamal Krishna Goswami.

     

    However a specific external design for the temple was not touted at that time. The only thing that was understood at that time was that there would be a large central dome which would house the planetarium and it would be 350 feet high.

     

    Saurabh prabhu was ISKCON’s main temple ‘architect’ although he himself had no formal training in architecture and he readily admits he was only a designer.

     

    At the 1976 Gaura Purnima festival there was still no design but during 1976 he took up the project enthusiastically and spent many hours working on the concept of a city for 50,000 people centered by a temple incorporating a Vedic planetarium.

     

    During 1976 Srila Prabhupada spoke frequently about the Mayapur planetarium. He was in Washington DC for the bi-centennial celebrations.

     

    On July 4 the devotees took him on a tour of the city and afterwards we sat with him for some time on a lawn at the end of the Mall, looking towards the Capitol building waiting for the fireworks display.

     

    Srila Prabhupada seems to have been meditating on the Capitol building dome and liked what he saw because on July 6, he called in Yadubara prabhu and his wife Vishakha and asked them to take photos of the Capitol Building:

     

    Prabhupada: … I wanted both of you to take various detailed photographs of that Capitol.

     

    Yadubara: The Capitol Building. For what purpose, Srila Prabhupada?

     

    Prabhupada: We shall have picture, planetarium in Mayapura. (aside:) That’s better. [break] …spiritual world, material world, and so on, so on. Planetary…, succession of the planetary systems, everything. A building like that.

     

    Yadubara: That would be a separate building from the temple?

     

    Prabhupada: Yes. We are acquiring 350 acres of land for life for constructing a small township…

     

    Yadubara: I think we…

     

    Prabhupada: …to attract people from all the world to see the planetarium.

     

    Svarupa Damodara: Is this near the temple?

     

    Prabhupada: Yes. Planetarium name, actually it will be temple. But all round, things will be… Anyway.

     

    Yadubara: I know before the idea was to have it inside the main temple.

    Prabhupada: Hm?

     

    Yadubara: As you walked up the outside of the, or the inside of the main temple, inside that dome, they would have it on the walls. But that would… That original plan was to have it inside the main temple.

     

    Prabhupada: Yes. You take all details, inside, outside. That will be nice.

    Svarupa Damodara: Can you take inside? Is it allowed?

     

    Yadubara: Yes, I think so.

    [end quote]

     

    Yadubara reported back two days later and Srila Prabhupada instructed him to make three copies of all the photos he took, one set for himself, one for Saurabha and one for the Mayapur management.

     

    Srila Prabhupada therefore did more than make ‘a few brief remarks’– he studied the exterior of the building, had photos taken, and had them sent to his men in India.

     

    The following month he met with George Harrison and informed him of his plans:

     

    July 26, 1976, London

     

    Prabhupada: … We are just attempting a big planetarium in Mayapur. We have asked government to acquire land, 350 acres. That is negotiation going on. We shall give a Vedic planetarium.

     

    George Harrison: Is that the one you were talking about? With all the…

     

    Prabhupada: In the Fifth Canto.

     

    Gurudasa: The planetarium will be 350 feet high and show the cosmology of the spiritual world.

     

    Prabhupada: The construction will be like your Washington capital, like that.

     

    George Harrison: A big dome.

     

    Prabhupada: Yes. Estimated eight crores of rupees.

    [end]

     

    Thus Srila Prabhupada several times expressed his desire to have the TVP modelled after the Capitol building.

     

    However, in Mayapur just prior to the 1977 Gaura Purnima festival Saurabha prabhu presented Srila Prabhupada with simple plans for a varnasrama city. He had designed a TVP with 108 domes around its main dome.

     

    There is no information as to whether Saurabha ever received the photos from Yadubara so we don’t know whether he didn’t know about Srila Prabhupada’s idea, or he just ignored it.

     

    At any rate, Srila Prabhupada allowed Saurabha to make a model of his own design and this was displayed on a pedestal just outside the Lotus building:


  4.  

    He doesn't have to manifest externally. Bodily conception is ignorance.

     

    The material vessel is ignorance, but not if you are a pure devotee. Remember all of us as jiva are bodily formed vigraha devotees of Krishna, presently the awareness of our nitya-siddha bodily form is covered by conscious ignorance known as the baddha jiva that becomes covered in the 'forms' of the subtle and gross material bodies.

     

    Only the two material bodies are ignorance, not the 'spiritualized' vessels or bodies that krishna sends His representative in to help us regain and re-establish our original relationship wirth Krishna.

     

    In fact the only way to achieve initiation is via a embodied devotee of Krsna who personally accepts us as his disciple


  5.  

     

     

    <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #666666 1px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 3ex; BORDER-TOP: #666666 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 3ex; BORDER-LEFT: #666666 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #666666 1px solid" bgColor=#e0e0e0>

     

    The paradox here is no one never really leaves Goloka, they only think, dream and imagine they do by falling out of sync with the 'eternal present' by adding a past and future to their existence, that is separated from Krishna AND the body they serve Krishna as in Krsnaloka.

    What’s makes an interesting point is, it's almost as if the 'awareness' of the living entities nitya siddha body is suspended (at least to those who have fallen due to that falling out of sync with the eternal present)

    But actually from the point of view of Goloka, everything is still going on in the service of the Lord in relationships with Krishna and His associates as if they hadn't fallen at all.

    The only thing that has changed is the awareness of 'eternal time' has given way to 'divided time' by selfishly adding 'past and future' dimensions that are activated by 'desiring' mundane plans of enjoyment without Krsna'

    This places the fallen living entity's 'awareness' outside of Krsnaloka even though they are an eternal resident of Goloka.

    They now become completely forgetful and unaware of their 'real' svarupa body (THE REAL UNENDING SELF) because the living entity in now lost in a comatose dream of self importance, imaging they are Lord of the Universe.

    As a consequence, they eventually find their way to the mahat-tattva where such dreams are given form and reality (but only a fading or temporary reality) of self-expression within that temporary material creation or mahat-tattva.

    So one falls down from Goloka by falling out of sync (pure selfless loving devotion to the Lord) with the 'eternal present' - for this reason it is not a division of consciousness, but rather a division of time.

    Actually, when one again becomes aware of their eternal nitya-siddha body and again re-establishing ones original relationship with Krishna, it will be as if their baddha-jiva dreams state never existed.

     

    On return to the 'eternal present’, it will be as if they never left because nothing has changed in Goloka. YOU JUST MAY WONDER WHY KRISHNA IS GIVING YOU A BIG HUGE

    gopakumar.jpg

     

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


  6.  

    It's magic you're talking - not reality.

     

    The word magic is simply another word for ignorance

     

    Krishna is in our hearts and is always accompanying us EVERYWHERE, therefore He can also externally manifest here on the planet in the representative form of the Guru – if you really want.

     

    He will send His representative to us if we desire. That is up to us. And yes, he will appear just like magic, but beyond the juvenile ignorant meaning of that word.

     

    Look within our hearts and trust the power of prayer, the power of chanting Hare Krishna.

     

     

     

    HareKrishna.jpg?t=1213947776

    Krishna is in the heart, look within yourself to find God

     


  7.  

    Me old mate Beggar, how are you, anyway, how else would you describe those who believe we came from a inactive realm of consciousness they have interpret in the word tatastha?

    It is them that say some marginal living entities have never been with Krishna or even to the mahat-tattva. Isn't that an impersonal origin? What else would you call 'a plain sheet of dormant consciousness' If that is what they believe, then the word 'impersonal' is correctly describing their belief of our origins - isn't this so??

    And if you see the word 'before' as material time, then you also believe we long, long, long, long ago, even before we were a 'plain sheet of dormant individual spark of consciousness in the impersonal brahmajyoti', we MUST of been with Krishna in Goloka as OUR perpetual nitya-siddha body in the 'ETERNAL PRESENT'.:deal: :deal: :deal: :deal:

     

    For a person who simply wants to have liberation and to merge into the impersonal brahmajyoti, attachment to Kṛṣṇa is not possible to acquire.

    This attachment is very confidentially kept by Kṛṣṇa and is bestowed only upon pure devotees. Even ordinary devotees cannot have such pure attachment for Kṛṣṇa.

    Therefore, how is it possible for success to be achieved by persons whose hearts are contaminated by the actions and reactions of fruitive activities and who are entangled by various types of mental speculation?

    There are many so-called devotees who artificially think of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes known as aṣṭa-kālīya-līlā. Sometimes one may artificially imitate these, pretending that Kṛṣṇa is talking with him in the form of a boy, or else one may pretend that Rādhārāṇī and Kṛṣṇa both have come to him and are talking with him.

    The impersonalist class of men sometimes exhibits such characteristics, and they may captivate some innocent persons who have no knowledge in the science of devotional service.

    However, as soon as an experienced devotee sees all of these caricatures, he can immediately evaluate such rascaldom. If such a pretender is sometimes seen possessing imitative attachment to Kṛṣṇa, that will not be accepted as real attachment.

    It may be said, however, that such attachment gives the pretender hope that he may eventually rise onto the actual platform of pure devotional service.

    This imitative attachment can be divided into two headings — namely, shadow attachment and parā (transcendental) attachment.

    If someone, without undergoing the regulative principles of devotional service or without being guided by a bona fide spiritual master, shows such imitative attachment, this is called shadow attachment.

    Sometimes it is found that a person actually attached to material enjoyment or salvation has the good fortune to associate with pure devotees while they are engaged in chanting the holy name of the Lord.

    By the good grace of the Lord one may also cooperate and join in the chanting. At that time, simply by the association of such pure devotees, the moonlike rays from their hearts reflect on him, and by the influence of the pure devotees he may show some likeness of attachment caused by inquisitiveness, but this is very flickering.

    And if by the manifestation of such shadow attachment one feels the disappearance of all material pangs, then it is called parā attachment.

    Such shadow attachment or parā attachment can develop if one associates with a pure devotee or visits holy places like Vṛndāvana or Mathurā, and if an ordinary man develops such attachment for Kṛṣṇa and fortunately performs devotional activities in the association of pure devotees, he can also rise to the platform of pure devotional service.

    The conclusion is that transcendental attachment is so powerful that if such attachment is seen manifested even in some common man, by the association of a pure devotee it can bring one to the perfectional stage.

    But such attachment for Kṛṣṇa cannot be invoked in a person without his being sufficiently blessed by the association of pure devotees.

    As the association of pure devotees can invoke attachment, so attachment can also be extinguished by offences committed at the lotus feet of pure devotees. To be more clear, by the association of pure devotees attachment for Kṛṣṇa can be aroused, but if one commits offences at the lotus feet of a devotee, one's shadow attachment or parā attachment can be extinguished.

    This extinguishing is like the waning of the full moon, which gradually decreases and at last becomes dark. One should therefore be very careful while associating with pure devotees to guard against committing an offence at their lotus feet.

    Transcendental attachment, either shadow or parā, can be nullified by different degrees of offences at the lotus feet of pure devotees. If the offences is very serious, then one's attachment becomes almost nil, and if the offence is not very serious, one's attachment can become second class or third class.

    If someone becomes attached to the principles of salvation or to merging into the existence of the brahmajyoti, his ecstasies gradually diminish into shadow and parā attachment or else transform into the principles of ahańgrahopāsanā. This ahańgrahopāsanā describes a living entity when he begins spiritual realization by identifying himself with the Supreme Lord.

    This state of self-realization is technically known as monism. The monist thinks himself one with the Supreme Lord. Thus, because he does not differentiate between himself and the Supreme Lord, it is his view that by worshiping himself he is worshiping the supreme whole.

    Sometimes it is found that a neophyte is taking part in chanting and dancing very enthusiastically, but within himself he is under the impression that he has become one with the supreme whole.

    This conception of monism is completely different from pure, transcendental devotional service. If, however, it is seen that a person has developed a high standard of devotion without having undergone even the regulative principles, it is to be understood that his status of devotional service was achieved in a former life.

    For some reason or another it had been temporarily stopped, most probably by an offence committed at the lotus feet of a devotee. Now, with a good second chance, it has again begun to develop. The conclusion is that steady progress in devotional service can be attained only in the association of pure devotees.

    If one can gradually advance his status in devotional service, this is understood to be due to the causeless mercy of Kṛṣṇa Himself. If a person is completely detached from material enjoyment and has developed pure ecstatic devotion, even if he is sometimes accidentally found not living up to the standard of devotional service, one should not be envious of him.

    It is confirmed also in Bhagavad-gītā that a devotee who has unflinching faith in and devotion to the Lord, even if sometimes found to be accidentally deviated from pure devotional characteristics, should still be counted among the pure.

    Unflinching faith in devotional service, in Lord Kṛṣṇa and in the spiritual master makes one highly elevated in the activities of devotional service.

    In the Nṛsiḿha Purāṇa it is stated, "If a person has completely engaged his mind, body and activities in the service of the Supreme Godhead, but externally he is found to be engaged in some abominable activities, these abominable activities will surely be very quickly vanquished by the influence of his staunch devotional force."

    The example is given that on the full moon there are some spots, which may appear to be pockmarks. Still, the illumination spread by the full moon cannot be checked.

    Similarly, a little fault in the midst of volumes of devotional service is not at all to be counted as a fault. Attachment for Kṛṣṇa is transcendental bliss. Amid unlimited volumes of transcendental bliss, a spot of some material defect cannot act in any way. Chapter 18: Character of One in Ecstatic Love Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Nectar of Devotion


  8.  

     

    What lessons can ISKCON management learn from others?

     

     

    The highly exalted position of the Australian Governor-General was embroiled in its greatest controversy in Australian History recently. This important post represents the Queen and now there was a debate raging over a person who got the job, but previously did nothing about child sexual abuse he new about for years when he was within a Church he previously was a leader of - sounds familiar doesn't it.

    Peter Hollingworth after he became Governor General continued to face claims that he did not adequately deal with allegations of sexual abuse within the Anglican Church while he was Archbishop of Brisbane.

    Amid calls for his resignation, Dr Hollingworth says he intends to complete his term as Governor-General regardless of what people thought of his previous mismanagement. His claim of innocence was,

    “We never new how to deal with these problems at the time and no one else did either” (Again, sounds familiar doesn’t it}

     

    Many then questioned is, how that can their ignorance be used as an excuse for neglect? Ignorance is no excuse? Leader therefore must always be held accountability for their ignorance and neglect in ANY community and Dr Hollingworth therefore MUST resign.

    Many had now asked,

    "Is the position of Governor-General being damaged while the current controversy rages? (Or in our case, is the position of GBC, Guru, or Sannyas damaged by having similar devotees who did nothing about what they new in the past in that position?)

    Should the Prime Minister terminate Dr Hollingworth’s appointment, or is a circuit breaker, such as an inquiry, needed?

    Should Dr Hollingsworth be stood aside?

    Should he resign?

    A week later after this controversy began; the Prime Minister sacked Dr Hollingworth from the Post of Australian Governor-General for knowing about child abuse but doing nothing about it. The Prime Minister would not accept any excuse, the claim of ignorance, or any oversights for mismanagement. Being ignorant is absolutely NO excuse

    For years, devotees have expressed the view that the "real" ISKCON is actually the totality of Srila Prabhupada followers that serve HIS ISKCON creation — not just the official institution of leaders who think THRY are ISKCON's owners and then deny responsibility for their immature mismanagement and get away with it as so many on the present GBC have done.

     

    Now is ALWAYS the time for the REAL ISKCON of dedicated devotees— that is, for all Srila Prabhupada followers — to reach out, to listen, and to connect with those who were emotional, psychological, and physical abused in ISKCON’s past. It is an on going healing process based on selfless honest, caring Krishna Consciousness

     

    Many are still hurt and just ignored by so-called leaders who just run away and hide like one sannyasi masquerading in the GBC ‘as a leader among men’, when in fact he is a afraid to face his past mismanagement.

    So many good devotees with so much training are just ignored and treated terribly by so many ‘claiming to be devotees in ISKCON’ and especially by some of the arrogent GBC.

     

    I believe devotees like Ravindrasvarupa prabhu (GBC member) are trying to advance the maturity of ISKCON with his wonderful lectures and writings, but still so many with so numerous talents, who were trained for years in ISKCON, are just treated badly and ignored

    What a waste


  9. Quote:

    <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #666666 1px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 3ex; BORDER-TOP: #666666 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 3ex; BORDER-LEFT: #666666 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #666666 1px solid" bgColor=#e0e0e0>"A guru's business is to canvass everyone to become a devotee of God. That is the sum and substance of a real guru's business. Indeed, he has no other business. He tells whomever he sees, "Please become God conscious." If he canvasses somehow or other on behalf of God and tries to get everyone to become a devotee of God, he is a genuine guru".

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

    <!-- END TEMPLATE: bbcode_quote -->


  10.  

     

    PrabhupadaBooks.jpg

     

     

    <TT></TT>70-01-23 Letter: Hamsaduta

    The next question: the body of a pure devotee is all spiritual and He is not different from His body. That is also a fact. The bodies of all living entities, even though they are not pure devotees, are not actually the bodies of the spirit soul. It is always separate from the spiritual body.

     

    The Vedic mantra confirm it by the sound vibration that this spirit soul is always nonattached with the material body. Therefore, we do not see the actual spiritual body of a pure devotee; but what we see, that is matter.

     

    Just like the example is given of the shining moon covered by the cloud. When the cloud moves along with the peeping moonshine, it appears that the moon is moving. Anyone who has seen such movement of cloud in the sky must have this experience. So, the moving of the cloud may appear to the layman's eyes as moving of the moon, but that is not a fact.

     

    Similarly, the moving of the body of a pure devotee is not the moving of the pure devotee. After all these are facts for the process of realization, but we can try to understand them as far as possible from the statement of authorized Scriptures through the version of the Spiritual Master or saintly person.:pray:

     

     

     

     

     

    Wonderful!!!!!!!

     

     

     

     

     

    devas.jpg

     


  11.  

     

     

    Radha%2520Krsna4.jpg

     

     

    "Radha and Krishna are one and the same, but they have assumed two bodies."

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    By Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada

     

     

     

     

     

    Sri Radha is Sri Krishna’s eternal consort and the crest jewel among his lovers. There is no one as dear to Krishna as Sri Radha.

     

     

    Sri Radha is not inferior to Krishna in any way. Lord Krishna himself accepts two forms, one as the enjoyer and the other as the enjoyed.

     

     

     

    In this way He relishes eternal pastimes. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmta (ādi 4.56) states:

     

     

     

     

     

    rādhā-ka eka ātmā,

    dui deha dhari’anyonye

    vilase rasa āsvādana kari’

     

     

     

     

     

     

    "Radha and Krishna are one and the same, but they have assumed two bodies. Thus they enjoy each other, tasting the mellows of love."

     

     

     

     

    If Sri Radhika’s beauty were not greater than the beauty of Krishna, who is overwhelmed by his own beauty, then she would not have been able to attract that most enchanting Krishna.

     

     

     

     

    Thus she is known as Madan-mohan-mohini. Krishna is compared to the full moon, and Radha is like his effulgence.

     

     

     

     

    She is also the origin of all of Krishna’s energies.

    Servants do not have sufficient words to properly describe their worshipable Lord, but the worshipable Lord can describe the truth about those servants. That is why Lord Krishna alone is capable of revealing Sri Radhika’s glories to us.

     

     

     

     

    Another personality who can reveal the science of Sri Radha is the spiritual master, who directly serves Krishna and the daughter of Vrishabhanu and who is an intimate devotee of Sri Gaurasundar.

     

     

     

     

     

    Lord Krishna is the reservoir of all transcendental pleasure and the origin of all beauty and transcendental qualities. He is the shelter of all opulence, heroism, and knowledge. Only he is capable of understanding Sri Radha’s greatness. What can puny human knowledge understand about her glories, or even the knowledge of liberated souls? It is impossible to describe her greatness — she whose only shelter is Krishna and who is able to enchant the most enchanting Krishna. Because of her opulence and sweetness, the whole world is bewildered.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    From Amrta Vani, collected teachings of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Compiled in Bengali by Sri Bhakti Bhagavat Mayukha Maharaja. Adapted and translated into English by Bhumipati Das and Isvara Das. Touchstone Media. Mumbai. 2004. Pages 125-126.

     

     

     

     

    HARIBOL.jpg

     


  12.  

     

    JayaSrilaPrabhupada___.jpg

     

    nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale

    srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine

     

    namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine

    nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine

     

     

     

     

    "I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.

     

    "Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvati Gosvami. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanya-deva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism."

     

    (Srila Prabhupada Pranati)

     


  13.  

     

    Supreme_Nectar.JPG

     

     

    <!-- </hs:element366> --><!-- <hs:element283> -->

     

    "My dear King Rahugana, unless one has the opportunity to smear his entire body with the dust of the lotus feet of great devotees, one cannot realize the Absolute Truth.

     

    One cannot realize the Absolute Truth simply by observing celibacy (brahmacarya), strictly following the rules and regulations of householder life, leaving home as a vanaprastha, accepting sannyasa, or undergoing severe penances in winter by keeping oneself submerged in water or surrounding oneself in summer by fire and the scorching heat of the sun.

     

    There are many other processes to understand the Absolute Truth, but the Absolute Truth is only revealed to one who has attained the mercy of a great devotee." (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.12.12)

     

     


  14.  

     

    John Lennon, George Harrison, Patti Boyd, Yoko Ono and devotees

    enjoying prasadam at John Lennon's Tiittenhurst Park estate, 1969

    Lennon-2.jpg

     

     

     

     

    <!-- </hs:element290> --><!-- <hs:element293> -->

     

    Lennon-3.jpg

     

     

     

     

    <!-- </hs:element293> --><!-- <hs:element292> -->

     

     

     

    <!-- </hs:element292> --><!-- <hs:element297> -->

     

    GH-PB.jpg

     

     

     

     

     

     

    <!-- </hs:element297> --><!-- <hs:element298> -->

     

    GH_PB2.jpg

     

     

     

     

     

    George___Devotees_Chanting_in_Esctacy.JPG

     


  15.  

     

    Quotes By Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

     

    1. We are put to test and trial in this world. Only those who attend the kirtana of the devotees can succeed.

    2. Every spot on earth where discourses on God are held is a place of pilgrimage.

    3. Possession of objects not related to Krsna is our main malady.

    4. Let me not desire anything but the highest good for my worst enemies.

    5. As dalliance with the body in luxury increases, so wanes the spirit of service of the Lord.

    6. Those favored by God find their paths set by thorns.

    7. There is no peace or happiness in our worldly life. Circumstances create turmoil and annoyance.

    8. Chant the maha mantra loudly and with attachment. This will drive away inertia, worldly evils and pests.

    9. Be indifferent to bazaar gossips, stick firmly to your cherished goals, no lack or impediments of the world will ever stand in your way.

    10. Pay due respects to the extroverts of the world, but do not be appreciative of their manners and conduct. They are to be shaken off from your mind.

    11. A devotee feels the presence of God everywhere, but one averse to the Lord denies His existence anywhere.

    12. You cannot appreciate transcendental matters with the reasoning of the world. It is sheer nonsense to decry them with the measuring stick of your intellect.

    13. To recite the name of Sri Krsna is bhakti.

    14. Life is for the glorification of topics on Hari. If that is stopped, then what need is there to carry on life.

    15. Physical illness with Hari-bhajana is preferred to physical fitness without Hari-bhajana.

    16. Our span of life on earth is short. Our life will be crowned with success if the body wears out with constant discourses on Hari.

    17. We are here on earth not to work as artisans for making big buildings with wood and stone but to work only as messengers for the teachings of Sri Caitanya Deva.

    18. A sycophant is neither a guru or a preacher.

    19. To transform the adverse desires of the jivas is the supreme duty of the most merciful. To rescue one person from the stronghold of Mahamaya is an act of superb benevolence, far superior to opening innumerable hospitals.

    20. Unless we are devoted to God, secularism shall not leave us.

    21. Look within. Amend yourself, rather than pry into the frailties of others.

    22. In this world of Maya, averse to the Lord, full of trials and tribulations, only patience, humility and respect for others are our friends for Hari-bhajana.

    23. The Lord, Gaurasundara, puts His devotees in various difficulties and associations to test their patience and strength of mind. Success depends on their good fortune.

    24. When faults in others misguide and delude you - have patience, introspect, find faults in yourself. Know that others cannot harm you unless you harm yourself.

    25. I wish that every selfless, tender-hearted person of Gaudiya Math will be prepared to shed two hundred gallons of blood for the nourishment of the spiritual corpus of every individual of this world.

     

     

     


  16.  

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

    hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

    hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

     

    Thank you for reminding me, its our ONLY hope of being delivered back home back to Godhead.


  17. 'We are always in the ugly reality,' Prabhupada said, '-- twenty-four hours a day. Suppose there is no blackout?

     

    Still, if you go in the street, there is no guarantee that you will get home. In this way, you are always in the ugly reality.

     

    Why do you say only this blackout?

     

    This is just one of the features of this ugly reality. That's all.'

     

    I'm always stumbling in the darkness of this material world!! My whole life has been in a blackout


  18.  

     

    480631262_286fad1e0b.jpg?v=0

     

     

     

     

    Theist when he meet Prabhupada in 1970

    Jim Carey says 'Hare Krishna' more clearly in this version

    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=oPkytVdy5Us&feature=related

    Beatles version

    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=cqOKvonLrH8&feature=related

    Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=rGFlkcnZRFI&feature=related

    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=wLC-y3r66Ys&feature=related

    It's all a dream, it's all a play

    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=8CMdqWh_J8I

    Devotees of Krishna in across the universe

    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=jDuSGSiZhEE

    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=GrxRAvnU1FQ&feature=related

    Chanting the names of the Lord and you'll be FREE

    http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ6sKUR0BVc

     

    I think the Beatle songs above sums up Theist and hippie phemomonon of the 1960s

     


  19.  

     

    Here are two stories of devotees trying to sincerely understand their past in ISKCON

     

     

    Quote:

    <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #666666 1px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 3ex; BORDER-TOP: #666666 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 3ex; BORDER-LEFT: #666666 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #666666 1px solid" bgColor=#e0e0e0>Originally Posted by Kulapavana

     

    I can never forgive myself for not speaking out against a crooked and manipulative sannyasi many years ago.

     

    He eventually kicked me out of ISKCON’s because he knew that I knew.

     

    Later he destroyed the lives of many devotees. Some of these devotees told me that I had the responsibility to warn them, because I was the one who introduced them to Krsna Consciousness.

     

    I did not speak out because I had no hard evidence to present to others, and I was afraid that perhaps I am seeing it from a wrong perspective.

     

    I also did not want to shatter the tender faith of these new devotees.

    He was a very clever man, too. He knew I had a strong sense of honor and he made me promise I will not "drag down others with my maya".

     

    Later he tried to ruin my reputation by spreading vicious lies among the devotees who were shocked that I was kicked out. It was a mess...

     

    He even tried to take away my service of translating Prabhupada's books.

     

    Fortunately Harikesa did not listen to him on that account. I was living alone, working full time, following strict sadhana, and translating Bhagavatam for several hours every day.

    I hope he has changed, because he is now a guru and a GBC in Iskcon

     

    I am trying to encourage the new devotees to take inspiration from ANY and ALL of these great teachers.

    All of these books are valuable and precious.

     

    I do not care which camp they join, or not join, and whose line will be more prominent in the future, as long as Mahaprabhu's mission is growing.

     

    The new generation joining now is much more open to that vision. I see it everywhere.

     

    It is so painful to watch devotees who have been in the movement for several decades and still have this intense 'party spirit', to the point of deriding truly remarkable Vaishnavas for not fitting their narrow vision of what KC should be.

     

    Like they have not grown above such petty designations.

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

     

    Quote:

    <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #666666 1px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 3ex; BORDER-TOP: #666666 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 3ex; BORDER-LEFT: #666666 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #666666 1px solid" bgColor=#e0e0e0>Originally Posted by Unknown Author

     

     

    Back then in the 1980s, we had the 'frog in the well' mentality, puffed up with the little knowledge we had, especially Ramai Swami, he thought he new everything, but now we can see how blind we all were back then, Ramai Swami had no idea how to lead and protect the lives of others.

    <?xml:namespace prefix = u1 /><u1:p></u1:p>

    <u1:p></u1:p>He did not know how to deal with or handle so many basic issues he new about, he new me better than I new myself at the time but still had no idea how too deal with me or anyone else for that matter.

    His innocent simplicity and conviction, that he only had good intentions in mind, had really convinced him he was trying his best to help myself and many others. And he was.

    <u1:p></u1:p>

    <u1:p></u1:p>These 'good intentions' went on like this for years.

    <u1:p></u1:p>

    <u1:p></u1:p>In all fairness and honesty, he just did not have the 'mature vision' back then to properly lead and protect others from putting themselves and others in danger. He new all along what was going on with many devotees, yet did nothing do to stop it due to his immaturity as a leader.

    <u1:p></u1:p><u1:p></u1:p>He just did not know how a REAL leader or teacher should act due to his youthful naivety. There was no plan on his behalf to cover-up anything or cheat anyone, there was no deceit, he was just too spiritually and materially immature to know what to do.

    <u1:p></u1:p>

    <u1:p></u1:p>He was only 27 years old when he took sannyas at Mayapur in 1981, but like many others, he became proud and very arrogant as the years went on. He had convinced himself he new everything when he new nothing!

    <u1:p></u1:p><u1:p></u1:p>

    Due to such pride, to criticize him would only attract the wrath of him and his 'boys' to break your spirit with fear tactics, 'you cannot find fault in such an advanced devotee of the Lord like His Holiness Ramai Swami Maharaj, you offenses will send you to hell', and put you in back your place below their feet as a useless dependant soul!

     

    Like Bhavananda, Ramai Swami became intoxicated by all the worship and began foolishly believing he was a great devotee who should NEVER be questioned and is still that way today. He becomes very offended by anyone who questions his authority and motives, then belittles you to other devotees for daring to question his authority.

    <u1:p></u1:p>

    <u1:p></u1:p>In this way my self esteem was so eroded, always being told, 'your out of it', 'your so far down there' that I was too insecure to not go along with it all, after all, ISKCON was my only family.

     

    The point is clear here, he and other Godbrothers always new exactly how fallen I was and always told me so, but never really did nothing and just let things go on because of their innocents, simplicity and blindness due to ignorance.

    <u1:p></u1:p><u1:p></u1:p>Paradoxically in this way, due to this default, I was so very fortunate to organise and manage the most successful Gurukuli project in Australian ISKCON history in 1986-7 - but that is a truly wonderful and sad story to be told at a later date.

    It's amazing how sometimes failure, embarrassment and the feeing of being totally helpless becomes the pillar of commitment, determination and success, as it did with me in coming up with ideas to help the international effort to free the Soviet Hare Krishnas from persecution and imprisonment.

     

    This was done with very sincere and helpless prayers to Lord Caitanya and Prabhupada in 1986, so they could one day soon attain their freedom to follow their Religion in the Soviet Union, and freely chant Hare Krishna in every town and village in Russia and all the surrounding states of the Union.

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


  20.  

    Video - http://manojsangani.blogspot.com/2008/05/bomb-blast-in-jaipur-13th-may-2008.html

     

    ISKCON Delhi joins other large Indian temples that are increasing security after Jaipur Blast.

     

    The serial blasts in Jaipur have caught the Centre completely unawares. Jaipur was not on the radar of the security and intelligence agencies that were focusing on the metros and prominent places of worship.

     

    Following the first-ever terror attack in Jaipur, the Union home ministry issued an advisory to all states, asking them to step up vigil and strengthen security at historical monuments and crowded places. The Centre also rushed a team of explosives experts from the National Security Guards (NSG) to Jaipur to help with the investigations.

     

    President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and home Minister Shivraj Patil condemned the blasts.

    The Prime Minister appealed for calm “at this difficult moment”, assuring support to the Rajasthan government and assistance to the affected families. Singh spoke to Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje. Sonia called the attacks a “crime against humanity”.

     

    Minister of state for home Sriprakash Jaiswal said that according to reports coming from Jaipur, the extremists appeared to have used RDX. Jaiswal said a “foreign hand cannot be denied” in the serial bomb blasts. “I can say about a foreign hand, but cannot identify any country,” he said.

     

    In hindsight, officials said they should have seen it coming. “Jaipur is a bustling tourist hub, especially popular with foreign tourists. What better way to spread terror and get international attention than by attacking Jaipur,” an official said.

     

    "We had information that terrorists had made inroads into Rajasthan following the blast at the Ajmer dargah in October last. However, Jaipur was still considered safe. That is why perhaps the terrorists found it a soft target,” said an intelligence official.

     

    Sources said the blasts appeared to be the handiwork of a well-organised group since the attacks were meticulously planned and executed.

     

    The Uttar Pradesh government had been asked to be on a high alert with Agra being another popular tourist destination. In Delhi, security had been tightened around the Jama Masjid, and the Akshardham and Iskcon temples.

     

    Home minister Patil was on a visit to the Northeast during the blasts. “A team is being rushed to Jaipur but we are still ascertaining the facts of the incidents,” home secretary Madhukar Gupta told The Telegraph around 8pm.

    The BJP tonight held the Congress-led government’s “soft approach” towards terrorism responsible for the blasts

    .

    BJP president Rajnath Singh said the explosions were a “dangerous” indication of Pakistan-based terror groups spreading their activities into the Hindi heartland. Another BJP leader, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, said such attacks were the result of the “weak policies” of a government headed by a “weak Prime Minister and a “coward home minister”.

     

    Pak condemns blasts

     

    Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has condemned the blasts. “Pakistan condemns all acts of terrorism and reaffirms its firm commitment to fight this scourge together with the international community,” he said.

     

    Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed his condolences to the victims’ families. Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain said those involved in such attacks were “not human”.


  21.  

    If we are actually without free will then we are being made to suffer like dolts, mudhas & fools par excellence since it would be god himself that is inflicting sorrow etc on to us.

     

    There is free will otherwise how can there be love without it.

    In the material world though, unlike Krsnaloka, it is restricted, think about it, think about it, an animal is controlled by instinct of eating, sleeping, mating and defending. An animal is simply dragged around by the urges of the senses.

    Sometimes we may think we have freewill but really, it is the urges of the material body.

     

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