Svarupa

Thats a double side comment prabhu, what about so many devotees who have been hurt by the patronizing words of ISKCON leaders over the years, I remember one Sannyasi telling a devotee to go a stick his head in the stool house and pull the chain and everything he touches turns to stool. Yes, everyone one laughed and revealed how immature and stupied they also were, but such bulling tactics were NOT funny to him, his self esteem and self worth were nil What in the hell do we think how he must feel because of these immature so called leaders?!! They have never ever tried to contact him over the years and those hash words are festering away in him still today like he was with them yesterday

One may have been his disciple in a previous life. Anyway one thing is certain, who ever seriously reads Prabhupada's books will be protected by Krsna whether they are his disciple or not, In the present day it is very difficult to trust anyone as a spiritual master. As the saying goes, if we are sincere and genuin, then Krsna from in the heart will send us fallen souls a BONAFIDE Spiritual Master. Krsna from in the heart will direct us and when we meet him we will just know based on the teachings of the Srimad Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrita.

An historical view of ISKCON's History An historical view of ISKCON's History <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:" /><o:p></o:p> "When Prabhupada came to the West in 1965, he had the determination to spread Krsna Consciousness all over the world and found the then troubled youth of the Western World more that happy to help.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Many had been jolted into questioning their existence from taking LSD and began searching for an understanding that could answer the many questions about why they existed; this was one of the side effects of LSD.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> So in droves they started coming to Prabhupada who arrived in America at the same time this ‘LSD insurrection’ started in America that was greatly influencing music, literature, poetry, art, philosophy and religion. <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> So it was from this background Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON movement of Krishna Consciousness began in 1966. <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> His American followers had grown up in an extremely materialistic world where their parents where embroiled in a worldwide war 20 years earlier and a server Economic Depression before that. They were now determined in the 50s and 60s to give their children all the material comforts they missed out on.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> However a small but influential baby boomers generation had become disillusioned by the material values their parents were setting up. As Prabhupada said in his Srimad Bhagavatam, <o:p> </o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Human society, at the present moment, is not in the darkness of oblivion. It has made rapid progress in the fields of material comforts, education and economic development throughout the entire world. But there is a pinprick somewhere in the social body at large, and therefore there are large-scale quarrels, even over less important issues. There is need of a clue as to how humanity can become one in peace, friendship and prosperity with a common cause. Srimad-Bhagavatam will fill this need, for it is a cultural presentation for the respiritualization of the entire human society”. <o:p></o:p> In order to bring many of these disillusioned American youth into his fold, he had to adjust some of the high spiritual principles he was used to following back in India, for example he asked his new disciples to chant 16 rounds of the Hare Krsna mantra a day instead of 64 rounds.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> In 1972 the massive book distribution programmes began all over the world and some aspiring Vaishnava historians, like myself, who was there when this massive book distribution program began, believed that this ‘distribution of books’ as well as building big ISKCON Temple basis in India, was paramount to anything else in laying the solid foundation of ISKCON that would with stand any future storm. <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> As far as I am concerned, the greatest bliss in Krishna consciousness was during those early pioneering years selling books while Prabhupada was with us. From 72 to the end of 74, they were the best years of book distribution I will always remember, I remember selling 80 of the book 'Nectar of Devotion' one Thursday in Sydney, the money we collected paid for the Melbourne Temple. <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> This massive book distribution program meant to some degree during the pioneering years of 1966-77, that even if a devotee was qualified or not, if they could distribute books and help lay the basic foundations of ISKCON, even in a small way, then that contribution by them to Prabhupada (most of them young girls and boys in their early 20’s) was more important during these pioneering years to Prabhupada than how sinful, fallen or immature they were.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Most of us were just juvenile confused kids disillusioned with the material values of our parents. We therefore new something was missing and no amount of material opulence given to us by our parents, could ever quench our thirst for the truth and wisdom. <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Prabhupada new this, but had the realization that if he could somehow use our enthusiasm and youthful energy to spread his teachings, then centres would be established and be solid bases in all major cities around the world for those future generations who are seeking the truth. <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Somehow, by Krsna’s mercy, he had to spread the message of Lord Caitanya by ‘hook or crook’. He therefore was not concerned if the ‘postmen and women’ who carried his message were qualified or not. He new, that in time, such transcendantal service would purify them. <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Srila Prabhupada had come alone with the message of Lord Caitanya from his humble abode in Vrndavana India, to a struggling sinful Western materialistic culture in 1965, that was on the verge of a technological and cultural revolution, over shadowed with the fear of an all out Nuclear war.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Regardless of this, Srila Prabhupada new that he had to speedily establish a firm foundation of his ISKCON society in the West, as well as back in India, then such Temples and the millions of books distributed, while he was here, would lay the concrete foundations that would endure any calamity the movement may go through after he departs this planet.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> He also new, from his own experience with the Gaudiya Math, set up by his Spiritual Master, there also maybe infighting amongst his young immature disciples. In this way, by Krsna’s grace, Prabhupada was determined to lay a solid foundation that his ISKCON society can grow from and withstand the impending conflicts of wars between nations and the internal ISKCON ‘growing pains’ his movement may go through during its youthful developement to Adulthood. In this way he believed a solid foundation of book distribution and big Temples all over the world, especially in India, would shelter his ISKCON teachings and organization from the mundane effects of Kali-yuga, not allowing the problems of the world to impede his preaching (Sankirtan) movement in the future. He believed if his movement was strongly established, it would weather any storm and continue to grow and expand into a dominant world Movement, as it is doing now, as predicted by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> In this fashion, considering the hash and violent background of the 20th Century, from where his disciples and grand disciples came from, it really was no surprise to anyone with spiritual intelligence, that after his disappearance their would be serious problems in ISKCON as devotees adjust and mature on their path to reach the high principles Prabhupada taught by his humble example.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> AFTER PRABHUPADA'S DISAPPEARANCE IN 1977 Srila Prabhupada appointed eleven men himself as ‘initiating Gurus’, of whom the oldest was 38 years old and the youngest being only 26 years of age, just before he left the planet, knowing it would be more dangerous to appoint a single devotee acharya, which was not the way of Gaudiya Vaishnavism anyway because the next Acharya would naturally evolve and stand out similar to the way Prabhupada stood out from his Gaudiya Matha Godbrothers.It is important to note how old the devotee were during those beginning years, the average age in 1977 was 26.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Srila Prabhupada always meant that the GBC body was the ultimate authority and NOT the individual gurus or sannyasi's. All of them were suppose to be subordinate to the GBC body headed by an elected President who has a term at that post; instead they divided the world up into their own empires. This was the first mistake of disobeying Prabhupada's orders and was the beginning of the end to the so-called 'chosen guru' system.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> We in fact, in an innocent green-horne kind of way, carried on the Guru reverence as if Prabhupada had never left, which in itself is not a bad thing if it worked, after all Prabhupada appointed these men himself.<o:p></o:p> The appointed gurus were built up by all of us with the expectations of them being pure devotees however, they were not proficient on the level of Prabhupada, yet we would adore them anyway ON THAT LEVEL with the trust they would turn out to be competent and be like Prabhupada, that's how childlike we were.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> In this way we legitimately assumed that in time, due to the purification process of Bhakti-yoga, all the 11 appointed gurus would turn out to be pure devotees under the test of time.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> In all fairness to all the original eleven 'chosen gurus', it was also their Godbrothers, including myself, who saw them as a substitute 'Prabhupada' so to speak, and then extravagantly worshiped them like Prabhupada to their disciples, attracting more and more disciples, building them up to be a 'Prabhupada' to all new devotees that we innocently yet ignorantly mislead in the early 1980”s, calling them bogus, yet sentimental names like 'Vishnupada, Bhaktipad etc'. <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> In this lesson, it must be understood the search for shining examples in a leaders disposition, is actually a natural occurrence within human society however, when we are young, inexperienced and undeveloped, our naivety unfortunately over glorifies those we have a high regard for around us, to be something they are not experienced to be, just like we did after Prabhupada left us in 1977 with the appointed eleven gurus. <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> As the years dragged on through the 80s and 90s, the method of communications with many ISKCON leaders was very patronizing. Unfortunately as the years went on, many had convinced themselves and others, who naively followed them, that they new ‘everything’ in both spiritual and material communications, when in actual fact they new very little of the 'real' world of accountability.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Sadly many ISKCON leaders had no insight into what the repercussions would be in the future due to their unqualified leadership.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> In other words they had no insight of what their judgements now, would affect seriously the lives of other devotees and the movement as a whole in the future. They and many others in leadership had become over confident, arrogant and puffed-up with the little realizations they had during these early pioneering years, but could not see at that time how childish and immature they were at just the beginning of a great pioneer movement. <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Due to their own self-importance, to pass judgment on them in the way in their attempted to manage during these early pioneering years, would only catch the attention of the criticism of them and there supporters <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> If justice is achieved and truthfulness and honesty is to be ever understood, the and others must admit they just did not have the 'mature vision' back then to appropriately guide others from putting themselves and others harms way. <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> It is however a fact that if one has firm faith in the chanting of Hare Krishna, no doubt THEIR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS will be protected, maybe not the biological vessel they are presently in. A devotee is fully dependant on Krishna's plan and surrenders to the chanting of Hare Krishna.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Again it must be stressed that the leadership back then MUST be honest enough to admit that they were clearly wrong in the way they handled many struggling devotees due to THEIR immaturity and arrogance as leaders. This period of was dominated by youthful inexperience and unpredictability.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Their attempts to lead the way in ISKCON directly after Prabhupada’s departure naturally had absolutely no idea of what the serious consequences would be later to many lives due to such pioneering immaturity. <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> It is foolish therefore, for them all to deny part responsibility for the things they could have stopped with maturity, wisdom and insight. These so-called 'good intentions' went on like this for years and it can historically in ISKCON be put down to the immature growing pains or teething problems of a young pioneering movement destined to one day be a major world wide institution as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu predicated. <o:p></o:p> Hari Sauri Prabhu once suggested to Prabhupada, "It will take some generations for devotees to become purified". <o:p></o:p> Prabhupada told Hari Sauri it does not have to be that way; we can all become purified now if we all became convinced and learn from our mistakes." Which we are gradually doing as so many preaching programs around the world prove

Quote: <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: rgb(102,102,102) 1px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 3ex; BORDER-TOP: rgb(102,102,102) 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 3ex; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(102,102,102) 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(102,102,102) 1px solid" bgColor=#e0e0e0>It's not just only the bad and weak minded devotees who have caused all the problems in ISKCON, the blame and responsibility must also be shared by all those good hard working dedicated devotees with good intentions with volumes of knowledge and wisdom (supposedly), who just stood by and did nothing, even when they KNEW wrong was being done, letting the bad things and bogus leadership happen to innocent devotees year after year after year and doing nothing about it! It is only honest here to point out that Srila Sridhar Maharaj from the Gaudiya Math, not only supported the 11 Zonal Acaryas in ISKCON late in 1977, but also encouraged them all to be initiating Spiritual Masters in the mood of Srila Prabhupada. I witnessed this at his Gaudiya math Temple in 1978 when he glorified the new Zonal gurus in ISKCON.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:" /><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Also Narayana Maharaj originally supported and encouraged the 11 gurus, regardless of what he says today. So as far as I am concerned, Narayana Maharaj is just as naive and Spiritually immature as us Godbrothers were back then, who also gave his blessings to the 11 guru's of ISKCON that is really just an imitation of Srila Prabhupada, just like a child imitates their hero.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> In all fairness though, at least two of them have proven themselves as bonafide Spiritual Masters, Srila Jayapartaka Swami and Srila Hridayananda Swami in ISKCON, while Srila Narayana Maharaj has established his own Gaudiya matha branches separate from ISKCON, that I personally do not involve myself with due to philosophical differences. However regardless of that, they have all past the test of time. The search for paragons is a natural phenomenon within human society, if we cannot find one a qualified Guru, then our naiveity and immaturity unfortunately builds those we admire around us to be something they are not qualified to be, just like we did after Prabhupada left us in 1977, we actually carried on the Guru worship as if Prabhupada had never left.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> The appointed gurus where not qualified on the level of Prabhupada, yet we would worship them anyway ON THAT LEVEL with the hope they would become qualified and be like Prabhupada, that's how innocent we were. In this way we genuinely believed that in time, due to the purification process of Bhakti-yoga, they would become pure devotees under the test of time.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> We all quoted Prabhupada to support this by saying that Prabhupada gave Brahmin initiating to devotees saying,<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> "Now that I have given you Brahmin initiation, now become Brahmana"<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> All of us Godbrothers put a new twist on Prabhupada's comment -<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> "Now that I have given you the authority to become initiating Guru, now become Guru" The fact is if most of the gurus never fell down, it could have worked, IT WAS WORKING, AT LEAST IN AUSTRALIA. But that was destined to eventually not be, it was destined to fail because of the way they were glorified.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> They were worshiped like Prabhupada, better than Prabhupada was. It therefore failed because clearly none of them were anything like Prabhupada.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> As another old saying goes, "No lie can live forever? In all fairness to all the original eleven 'chosen gurus', it was their Godbrothers, including myself, who saw them as a substitute 'Prabhupada' so to speak, and then treated them like Prabhupada to their disciples, building them up to be a 'Prabhupada' to all new devotees that we innocently yet ignorantly mislead, calling them names bogus names like 'Vishnupada, Bhaktipad etc'. You know, It's not just only the bad and struggling devotees who have caused all the problems in ISKCON, the blame, responsibility and karma also must be shared by all those good hard working dedicated devotees with good intentions, who have stood by and did nothing, even when they KNEW wrong was being done, letting the bad things happen year after year after year and doing nothing about it!!!'. See full-size image. THE FUTURE OF ISKCON </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Unfortunately some devotees are still being threatened to keep their mouths shut and opionions to themselves by those who just want the past buried and forgotten about

Indradyumna Swami learns wisdom from a New York Taxi driver <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:" /><o:p></o:p> “Can I ask you a few questions?” Indradyumna.swami said.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Sure,” he said, “but first I want to say that I know you guys. I’ve seen you singing on the streets. You’re nice to everybody. You don’t pick on no one. And I see bad stuff everyday. I mean the other day a guy was shot dead right in front of my cab. What’s happening to this world?”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> He paused for a moment.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “When are people gonna start learning tolerance and love?” he said emotionally.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> I started to say something, but he continued. “I’ll tell you,” he said. “It’s when people start becoming religious. Religion is the only thing we got in common. I mean, we’re all God’s children. Ain’t that right?”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Before I could answer he continued. “But I have to confess to you guys,” he said. “I’m not a very good Muslim. I mean I don’t bow down five times a day and I don’t go to the mosque regularly. I’m really sorry about that.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “But you seem to be very pious …” I said.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “And sometimes I use bad words,” he interrupted. “But I promise I won’t use bad language in front of you guys. My mullah once told me that God gives and forgives. But us? We get and forget.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Just at that moment a police car pulled alongside us in the next lane. Our driver slowed down and pulled in behind the police car.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Why did you do that?” I asked.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Let me tell you, Mister,” he said, “it’s always better to be behind a police car. Omar, my friend, said that. That’s some down-to-earth philosophy, ain’t it?”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Very much so,” I replied. “Now, I’d like to ask …”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> He interrupted again. “You remember when the Taliban tore down the big statues of Buddha in Afghanistan a few years ago?” he said.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Yes, of course I remember that,” I replied.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Well, I was crying when I saw the pictures,” he said. “You gotta have respect for all the religions. All of them worship the same God. Slam one, you slam your own. You know what I mean?”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Yes, I do,” I said. “And I wish more people …”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “My philosophy is that man is here to do good for others,” he continued. “And the best way you can help another man is to encourage him to follow his religion. It makes no sense to condemn his religion. And let me tell you what the cause of all the problems in the world is. You wanna know?”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Yes, sir,” I replied trying to be patient. “I’d like to know.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “I learned it driving this cab all those years,” he said. “The problem is that people are too materialistic. And what’s worse is that they bring materialism into religion. They go to the mosque, the church, or the temple and ask God for material things. Mister, there’s only one thing for which you should ask God. You know what that is?”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Surprised by his realizations, I was speechless.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Service,” he said. “We should ask only for service. We were created by God to serve Him. Not the other way around. That’s natural. And if you do things naturally you’ll be happy. Do I have it right?”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “You hit the nail on the head,” I said, reflecting on how his words echoed Rupa Goswami’s definition of pure devotional service.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “I learned it all in a taxi,” he repeated with a smile as he looked over his shoulder at us again.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Look out for that truck!” I yelled.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> He turned around quickly and deftly avoided the vehicle.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “I see more of what’s going on around me because I’m not concerned with finding a parking place,” he said with a laugh. “That would be in the book too.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> We weaved in and out of traffic for some time and then he spoke up again.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Religion is all messed up these days,” he said. “People are worshiping God for the wrong reasons. That’s why a lot of people are giving up on religion. One of my best friends, Hafiz, became an atheist last year. I mean what do we have in common anymore? One day he said, ‘Prove to me there’s a God.’ I put him in the back of my taxi and sat there with him. I told him, ‘It’s a question of faith, Hafiz,’<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “He replied, ‘I don’t believe in faith.’<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “I said, ‘You got faith the Atlantic Ocean’s not gonna overflow, right? You got faith them stars in the sky ain’t gonna fall down and smash New York City, don’t you? Yes, you do. And you know what? Somebody’s controlling all that. And that somebody is God. It’s not all happening by chance.’<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Hafiz became an agnostic after that. He started believing that ’something is out there.’<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “But you guys, you’re helping people become religious all the time. That’s why I like you. You live for others. I live for myself, just driving this taxi. I know that Allah is more pleased with you than me. You’re out in the rain and snow, singing for Him. I’ve seen you. And that’s why I picked you guys up.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Sir,” said Gadadhara, “that’s our temple, just over there.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Oh it’s beautiful,” he said, “just beautiful.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> As we pulled up to the curb, the driver turned around. “Hey fellas,” he said, “this one’s on me. I really enjoyed our conversation.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Thank you so much,” I said. “That’s very kind of you.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Conversation?” Gadadhara whispered as he gathered his things. “You hardly got a word in.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> The driver quickly jumped out of the taxi and raced around to my side of the cab. As he opened the door he bowed slightly from the waist.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “The fare is 16 bucks,” he said. “But don’t worry about it. New York needs more guys like you.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> As I got out of the cab he stepped forward and suddenly hugged me. Then he stood back.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “I just have one request for you guys,” he said. “Please pray for me. Okay? And get that book that I was telling you about.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Will do,” I said as he got back into the taxi. “And, hey, you pray for us too.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Now that’s what folks should do,” he said, his voice trailing off as he drove away. “Religion is supposed to bring people together, not tear them apart. My friend Omar once said …”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Within a few seconds his taxi joined the fast-moving traffic. As we walked to the temple, Gadadhara laughed. “You never did get to ask your questions, did you?” he said.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> I smiled. “Doesn’t matter,” I said. “Even without the questions, I learned more about New York than I would have thought possible. We really connected with that taxi driver. He was a great guy.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> The next day I went out and bought the book. I found the following passage in it:<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “If there is understanding, there is love. If there is no understanding, there is only an endless stream of questions.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> [Taxi Driver Wisdom, Risa Mickenburg, Chronical Books, 1996]<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Indradyumna.swami@pamho.net www. traveling-preacher. com Audio lectures: www. narottam. com <o:p></o:p>

Indradyumna Swami in a New York Taxi <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:" /><o:p></o:p> “Can I ask you a few questions?” Indradyumna Swami asks the Taxi driver.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Sure,” he said, “but first I want to say that I know you guys. I’ve seen you singing on the streets. You’re nice to everybody. You don’t pick on no one. And I see bad stuff everyday. I mean the other day a guy was shot dead right in front of my cab. What’s happening to this world?”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> He paused for a moment.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “When are people gonna start learning tolerance and love?” he said emotionally.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> I started to say something, but he continued. “I’ll tell you,” he said. “It’s when people start becoming religious. Religion is the only thing we got in common. I mean, we’re all God’s children. Ain’t that right?”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Before I could answer he continued. “But I have to confess to you guys,” he said. “I’m not a very good Muslim. I mean I don’t bow down five times a day and I don’t go to the mosque regularly. I’m really sorry about that.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “But you seem to be very pious …” I said.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “And sometimes I use bad words,” he interrupted. “But I promise I won’t use bad language in front of you guys. My mullah once told me that God gives and forgives. But us? We get and forget.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Just at that moment a police car pulled alongside us in the next lane. Our driver slowed down and pulled in behind the police car.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Why did you do that?” I asked.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Let me tell you, Mister,” he said, “it’s always better to be behind a police car. Omar, my friend, said that. That’s some down-to-earth philosophy, ain’t it?”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Very much so,” I replied. “Now, I’d like to ask …”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> He interrupted again. “You remember when the Taliban tore down the big statues of Buddha in Afghanistan a few years ago?” he said.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Yes, of course I remember that,” I replied.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Well, I was crying when I saw the pictures,” he said. “You gotta have respect for all the religions. All of them worship the same God. Slam one, you slam your own. You know what I mean?”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Yes, I do,” I said. “And I wish more people …”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “My philosophy is that man is here to do good for others,” he continued. “And the best way you can help another man is to encourage him to follow his religion. It makes no sense to condemn his religion. And let me tell you what the cause of all the problems in the world is. You wanna know?”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Yes, sir,” I replied trying to be patient. “I’d like to know.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “I learned it driving this cab all those years,” he said. “The problem is that people are too materialistic. And what’s worse is that they bring materialism into religion. They go to the mosque, the church, or the temple and ask God for material things. Mister, there’s only one thing for which you should ask God. You know what that is?”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Surprised by his realizations, I was speechless.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Service,” he said. “We should ask only for service. We were created by God to serve Him. Not the other way around. That’s natural. And if you do things naturally you’ll be happy. Do I have it right?”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “You hit the nail on the head,” I said, reflecting on how his words echoed Rupa Goswami’s definition of pure devotional service.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “I learned it all in a taxi,” he repeated with a smile as he looked over his shoulder at us again.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Look out for that truck!” I yelled.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> He turned around quickly and deftly avoided the vehicle.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “I see more of what’s going on around me because I’m not concerned with finding a parking place,” he said with a laugh. “That would be in the book too.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> We weaved in and out of traffic for some time and then he spoke up again.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Religion is all messed up these days,” he said. “People are worshiping God for the wrong reasons. That’s why a lot of people are giving up on religion. One of my best friends, Hafiz, became an atheist last year. I mean what do we have in common anymore? One day he said, ‘Prove to me there’s a God.’ I put him in the back of my taxi and sat there with him. I told him, ‘It’s a question of faith, Hafiz,’<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “He replied, ‘I don’t believe in faith.’<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “I said, ‘You got faith the Atlantic Ocean’s not gonna overflow, right? You got faith them stars in the sky ain’t gonna fall down and smash New York City, don’t you? Yes, you do. And you know what? Somebody’s controlling all that. And that somebody is God. It’s not all happening by chance.’<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Hafiz became an agnostic after that. He started believing that ’something is out there.’<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “But you guys, you’re helping people become religious all the time. That’s why I like you. You live for others. I live for myself, just driving this taxi. I know that Allah is more pleased with you than me. You’re out in the rain and snow, singing for Him. I’ve seen you. And that’s why I picked you guys up.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Sir,” said Gadadhara, “that’s our temple, just over there.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Oh it’s beautiful,” he said, “just beautiful.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> As we pulled up to the curb, the driver turned around. “Hey fellas,” he said, “this one’s on me. I really enjoyed our conversation.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Thank you so much,” I said. “That’s very kind of you.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Conversation?” Gadadhara whispered as he gathered his things. “You hardly got a word in.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> The driver quickly jumped out of the taxi and raced around to my side of the cab. As he opened the door he bowed slightly from the waist.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “The fare is 16 bucks,” he said. “But don’t worry about it. New York needs more guys like you.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> As I got out of the cab he stepped forward and suddenly hugged me. Then he stood back.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “I just have one request for you guys,” he said. “Please pray for me. Okay? And get that book that I was telling you about.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Will do,” I said as he got back into the taxi. “And, hey, you pray for us too.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “Now that’s what folks should do,” he said, his voice trailing off as he drove away. “Religion is supposed to bring people together, not tear them apart. My friend Omar once said …”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Within a few seconds his taxi joined the fast-moving traffic. As we walked to the temple, Gadadhara laughed. “You never did get to ask your questions, did you?” he said.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> I smiled. “Doesn’t matter,” I said. “Even without the questions, I learned more about New York than I would have thought possible. We really connected with that taxi driver. He was a great guy.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> The next day I went out and bought the book. I found the following passage in it:<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> “If there is understanding, there is love. If there is no understanding, there is only an endless stream of questions.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> [Taxi Driver Wisdom, Risa Mickenburg, Chronical Books, 1996]<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Indradyumna.swami@pamho.net www. traveling-preacher. com Audio lectures: www. narottam. com <o:p></o:p>

Very true, a great saying

Good points

ISKCON Gurukula in Vrndavan today IN 2008? Where are the western Gurukulis? Interesting reading about 1978 below <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> Obviously intelligence tells me it is all a test to see if we can stay with Krsna even if everyone around us, including those we worship and admire, falls away. But how is a child expected to understand that? What do others think on this subject? </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Nori Muster must understand, like all of us, that each of us is born into a situation we deserve according to karma and desire. We have to understand that most of the first generation were born as 'karmis' and not devotees, including Ananda Prabhu. If we genuinely desire to find a way out of this material impermanent frustrating universe, our sincerity will attract a bonafide Spiritual Master to come and help us. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:" /><o:p></o:p> The conditions (family, friends, society) we are born into equals the level of consciousness we have achieved and deserve, this was our first generation Most came from hippie communes and were yet to become purified in Krishna Consciousness to attract highly elevated souls although some probably were (like Sri Prahlad dasa from Australia), therefore the children they had when they joined the movement were certainly mostly not from the heavenly planets. They were not those demigods lined up to take birth on this planet Prabhupada talked about. <o:p></o:p> Nothing happens by chance. <o:p></o:p> If we are too materially contaminated, or trying to cheat Krishna, then we attract troublesome children to take birth in aspiring devotee families. Our godless atheistic society makes it very hard to understand what goes hand in hand with becoming Krishna Conscious. <o:p></o:p> If aspiring devotees in ISKCON became pure (Krishna Conscious) then such ‘Krishna Consciousness will attract souls from the higher planets, who are waiting for the right conditions to help them go back to Godhead and get out of this material universe <o:p></o:p> They will come and take birth within the ISKCON movement. In fact they are already lining up waiting to take birth within ISKCON families who can provide a protective safe Krishna Conscious atmosphere that will enable them to reignite their original ‘old’ and original Krishna Consciousness <o:p></o:p> It all depends on devotees becoming purified enough to be blessed with advanced souls waiting to join Lord Caitanya’s movement and come and join the ISKCON movement. <o:p></o:p> If the Krishna consciousness is not there at the point of conception due to householders being overwhelmed with lust and the sensual pleasures and the obsession to satisfy the itch of sex desire, then they will only attract embodied jiva-souls who are interested in mundane material worldly sense enjoyment, decorated with ‘week end’ religiosity. Such embodied souls do not come from the heavenly planets; they have evolved through the lower species and human species on this planet <o:p></o:p> It is therefore up to those pioneering devotees to take the next step and provide a level of Krishna Conscious purification, that will attract the more advance embodied jiva-souls from the heavenly planets to feel safe to take birth as their children and help further attract the ensnared earthly embodied conditioned jiva-souls trapped in the quagmire of a technological advanced materialistic society. <o:p></o:p> It all depends on the determined commitment one has in chanting the Hare Krishna mantra whether or not more advanced living entities from the higher planetary system will come and take birth here and help spread the ISKCON movement. <o:p></o:p> We only get what we deserve. There is the influence and karma from past lives to consider instead of being sentimentally mundane and concerned for this one birth. As a society, we are not spiritually advance enough to undertand these facts <o:p></o:p> The success of ISKCON as a truly advanced spiritual movement depends on devotees in our time (at the beginning of the 21st century) becoming Krishna Conscious enough to be blessed with such advanced souls. <o:p></o:p> If devotees build the Krishna Conscious Conditions and foundations that will protect the upbringing of such advanced embodied jiva-souls, by being genuinely pure or Krishna Conscious themselves, then those on the higher planets will feel safe to come and take birth in ISKCON families who are indisputably Krishna Conscious. <o:p></o:p> It will only be then that embodied jiva-souls will begin to pour into our world where ISKCON will begin its two-fold effect. <o:p></o:p> 1. Those who become Krishna Conscious enough on this earthly realm will attract those from the heavenly planets to come and take birth and join ISKCON. 2. They in turn will help attract more on the earthly real (those coming up through the lower species to the human form) who further attract more from the heavenly realm, who further attract those on the earthly realm - on and on and on, the snowball effect. In this way the ‘escalating snow ball effect’ of embodied jiva-souls entering Lord Caitanya’s movement will grow beyond our presently wildest dreams. <o:p></o:p>

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When dogs bark, you don't bark with them Ha! Such nonsense fear tactics of being called a moron were used to shut us up for years in the bogus version of ISKCON by the 'proud' so-called guru's and sanyasis of that 'cult' mentality time of imitators pretending to be a version Prabhupada <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:" /><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> They also treated us like mushrooms by feeding our brains cow dung to keep us subservient, brain-dead and just do what we tell you to do and think what we tell you to think. In the same way –<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Stop believing the nonsense from Sridar Maharaj and Narayana Maharaj we originate from a plain sheet of consciousness from the impersonal portion of the Brahmajyoti!!!!!!!!!!

Our eternal father Krishna, that we ALL long, long, long ago, had memories of always being with, is certainly not a clear bright impersonal light. It is not only offensive to think that way, but also an insult to the personal form of Krishna that we are eternally with in OUR eternal nitya-siddha bodily form, that we have presently forgot

So stop listening to the nonsense we came from the impersonal portion of the Brahmajyoti. This offensive idea only pollute all new seekers of truth Our eternal father Krishna, that we ALL long, long, long ago, had memories of always being with, is certainly not a clear bright impersonal light. It is not only offensive to think that way, but also an insult to the personal form of Krishna that we are eternally with in OUR eternal nitya-siddha bodily form, that we have presently forgot

Who's to Blame? By Mahatma das From the beginning of Prabhupada’s preaching in New York he spoke about the development of an international society, but his new followers couldn’t imagine Krsna consciousness going beyond the walls of the little storefront on 26 Second Avenue. Fortunately Prabhupada didn’t share their vision. He had deep such deep faith in Lord Caitanya’s prediction and the instructions of his Guru Maharaja that he said the Krsna consciousness would someday go down in history for changing the world in its darkest hour. There are reason’s Prabhupada thought this way, and in this article I examine one of the most essential: taking personally responsibility for making the world Krsna conscious. Instead of thinking people are not interested in Krsna consciousness, Prabhupda taught us to see that it is our fault that we cannot interest them. This empowered way of thinking is at the heart of Prabhupada’s own success - and at the heart of our potential success. Your servant, Mahatma Das It All Depends On Us The preaching of the Gaudiya Math during Srila Bhaktisidhhanta’s life was so powerful that the most famous and prominent religious movement in Bengal at that time gradually lost its popularity. The Gaudiya Math publicly exposed the leader of this movement (he claimed to be an incarnation of Rama and Krsna) and proved that his teachings deviated from the conclusions of the Vedas. However, shortly after the demise of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, that very same religious movement began gaining popularity and again became an influential force, misleading millions of people. Prabhupada said their success was the fault of the Gaudiya Matha. Why? Because after the departure of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta the preaching work of the Gaudiya Matha slackened. About five years ago when I was living in Dallas, several people were shot to death at a weeknight church service. In responding to this incident the pastor of the church said to his congregation, “We are all responsible for the death of those church members.” He said the fact that there are people roaming the street who are so spiritually bankrupt that they would kill innocent people in a church service is a sign that our efforts to spread Christianity are failing. I was impressed by his words. Basically he was saying the same thing that Prabhupada said about the Gaudiya Matha. When a devotee of the Lord sees godlessness in the world he doesn’t blame it on the people. Rather he blames it on the lack of spiritual guidance that is being given to the people. And what this really means is that you and I take responsibility for the lack of God consciousness in the world. Prabhupada was once asked, “How far is Lord Caitanya’s prediction that His name will be heard in every town and village true?” He replied, “That depends on those who are preaching.” I lived in Mauritius for several years and it was commonly accepted that Prabhupada said Mauritius would be the first Krsna conscious country in the world. However, I couldn’t find anyone who actually heard Prabhupada say that. Finally, I was able to ask the man who hosted Prabhupada during his stay in Mauritius if he ever heard Prabhupada predict that Mauritius would become the first Krsna conscious country. He told me he never heard him say that. Then he paused for a minute and thought about it and said, “But I do remember him saying it could become the first Krsna conscious country in the world.” Nothing is set in stone. Spreading Krsna consciousness depends on you and me. In 1973 I was living in the San Diego temple and the preaching was rapidly expanding. We regularly reported our successes to Srila Prabhupada. He appreciated our service and in one letter to us made an amazing prediction. “If we go on preaching vigorously as we have been for another 25 years, then all these other so called religions will disappear. After all what do they have to offer?” (letter to Bhakta dasa, 1973). That letter has always weighed heavy in my mind. These other religions have far from disappeared. What Does Our Desire Have To Do With It? Prabhupada writes, “The Supreme Personality of Godhead, influenced by the merciful devotees’ attempt to deliver fallen souls, enlightens the people in general from within by His causeless mercy.” You have more influence over people’s spiritual lives than you might think. Srila Prabhupada’s personal desire was that every person in the world become Krsna conscious. However, when he was aboard the Jaladuta he was wondering how it would be possible for a civilization completely covered by ignorance and passion to understand the Vedic message. Thus he prayed to Krsna as the supersoul, “I wish that You may deliver them. Therefore if You so desire their deliverance, then only will they be able to understand Your message.” As it is said, “Pray as if everything depends on God and act as if everything depends on you.” This is what Prabhupada did and Krsna definitely answered Prabhupada’s prayers. Personal responsibility towards preaching is empowering. Prabhupada’s god-brothers went to preach in England in the 1920’s and came back saying that the westerners are too fallen to take up Krsna consciousness. Fortunately, Prabhupada didn’t think this way. He took personal responsibility to spread Lord Caitanya’s mission. Remember, ninety-nine percent of all failures come from people who have a habit of making excuses. If the world is not Krsna conscious, we need to look at ourselves. Whenever devotees made excuses and told Prabhupada that people were not receptive or that they were difficult to preach to, Prabhupada always said that the problem was not with the people they were preaching to; the problem was with us. What if I Am Not a Merciful Person? But what if you don’t really feel the burden of the world like the great devotees do? You should – at least if you want to call yourself a human being. The Srimad Bhagavatam says that every human being is meant to be merciful. In a lecture in 1969, Prabhupada said, “So if we human beings, if we forget even ordinary mercy, compassion and gratefulness, then what is that human life?” Gurudas relates that he was once told Prabhupada that he sometimes feels sorry for the people suffering in this material world. Prabhupada replied, “Why only sometimes?” Once Bhumi, mother earth, was not producing enough food to feed the entire population of the world. When King Prithu asked her why she told him she didn’t want to feed all the demoniac people that lived on earth. Maharaja Prithu chastised her and was ready to kill her. To protect herself she took the form of a cow thinking the king wouldn’t hurt a cow. But he continued to pursue her and said if a citizen is not compassionate on his fellow man, he or she may be killed by the king and such killing is never to be considered actual killing. All I can say is, “Wow, that’s heavy!” Prabhupada writes: “Even in the material field, if a person is not interested in other’s welfare, he should be considered to be condemned by the Personality of Godhead or his representative like Prithu Maharaja.” What’s My Duty? So the implications of not caring about others are heavy. But it is even heavier for us. Why? It is said that with the gift of knowledge comes the obligation to give it to others. We have been given an immense treasure house of knowledge, so we are duty bound to see it is distributed. “Although India has the sublime knowledge of Bhagavad-gita, Indians have not done their proper duty of distributing it.” (Srimad Bhagavatam, 10.2.19). How many Indians realize that it is their “PROPER DUTY” to spread Vedic wisdom? Just by being Indian, by having this knowledge, Indians are duty bound to distribute it. In the early days of the movement, Prabhupada told his western disciples that since the Indians are not doing their duty, it is now your duty to distribute this knowledge. Even at an initiation in 1966 Prabhupada he made this clear. He said that he is giving knowledge and the initiates are becoming obliged, by accepting initiation, to distribute it widely. He said this is their guru-daksina. What Does Preaching Mean? Before I go on, I want to clarify that I am not talking about preaching in any specific way. We can help others become Krsna conscious in unlimited ways. We all have some special gift to offer in Krsna’s service. Krsna consciousness means to connect with our inspiration and talents and use them in Krsna’s service to help the world. To excite your imagination, I’d like to share with you one inspiring example of how this might be done. This is the mission of one successful author and speaker (who, by the way, became successful as a result of this mission statement). “To create and inspire one million millionaires who each give one million dollars to their church or charity.” Wouldn’t it be nice if a devotee had the same mission? There are so many projects and temples that could flourish with this kind of funding. There are as many ways to serve Krsna as there are devotees. I’d like to share a quote that will hopefully get you thinking how you might be able to expand your service in some way. “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” (MICHELANGELO) What are You Asking For? Lord Caitanya asked Nityananda Prabhu, “How can all the fallen souls be saved?” What more could you be doing if you asked this question – and asked it often? If you do regular service at the temple I am not in anyway minimizing that. I am just asking you to consider what more you can be doing by asking yourself how all the fallen souls can be saved. If we as a society are to help the world, I believe it is essential that everyone of us ask ourselves this question continually. Do We Really Care About Others? I don’t think it is fruitful to ponder whether or not you really care that people are suffering without Krsna consciousness. We all care to one degree or another. The important question to ask is, “Do you care enough to do something about it?* Let me share a thought that has always inspired me. I know that right now there are people somewhere whose lives I can touch by making a little personal sacrifice, by going out of my way to do something to further the mission of Krsna consciousness. I may not know who those people are and I might never meet them; and I can’t always say how my efforts to spread Krsna consciousness will directly influence them. But I do know that doing nothing isn’t helping anyone. There are people all over the world who want Krsna conscious. The reality is that the choices you and I make in our daily lives will determine whether some of them will get it or not. * If we care about others we will take care of our own spiritual lives. Lord Caitanya said make your life successful and then make other’s lives successful. Physician, heal thyself. Devotees have often overextended themselves in the name of preaching and either eventually burned out or fell down as a result. Dead men don’t make good soldiers. Exercise The exercise was actually given above, but I will restate it again. Ask yourself “What more can I do to make the world more Krsna conscious? How can all the fallen souls be saved?” And never stop asking this question.

Not seems, BUT RATHER IS IGNORANT! come on Beggar, give us an easily read explaination?

Your a saint Suchandra because your posts remind everyone of Krsna

Agree, it certainly is not however, in the material world sound becomes polluted and as devotees of Lord Caitanya, we chant Hare Krishna, not to nullify such pollution as that would be offensive but to simply remember our wonderful Radha and Krishna and their expansion of pure love (devotion) in the form of a devotee Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

Interesting comments that sends one to futher reseaching Prabhupada's books, thank you theist.

Go to ISKCON Delhi and chant Hare Krsna and clap your hands, everytime you do that your destiny changes and your ‘soul’ is protected. Also seek advise off trusted senior devotees who have no interest in exploiting you for any reason, this requires some intelligence from you also. Krsna helps those who help themselves.

I’m glad I bought a small bungalow in Vrndavana four years ago. Soon prices will be outragous <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3 height=22> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3> The holy lands in India are witnessing a real estate boom. The twin cities of Mathura and Vrindavan, traditionally steeped in Krishna consciousness, are a testimony to this development. They not only draw devotees by thousands but are now attracting home seekers who want to own apartments for a peaceful life without compromising on the need for modern amenities. Mathura- Vrindavan is witnessing lots of development on the residential and commercial front with the emerging interests of various local and outstation real estate players like Shri Group, Triveni, Suncity Projects, Space Buildwell, Tarang, Prabhatam Buildwell and many more. Because of the saturation in Delhi and NCR, the people now wish to set foot on Mathura and Vrindavan in the search of peace and contentment. The presence of several ‘ghats’ along the Yamuna with beautiful temples makes it a good holiday destination as well. And to satisfy the aspirations of the house seekers, both local developers and those from New Delhi and other places are coming up there with various residential projects. Residential scenario Shri Group, a major Mathura based housing construction company, is in the forefront of real estate development. It has already constructed and sold out Shri Radha Puram, a colony of designer row houses located strategically on NH2. This colony is fully inhabited and has 300 houses. Earlier, the company built a colony Jamuna Dham which according to the group, is the first housing society in Mathura. Currently, it is working on about a dozen projects including Shri Radha Orchids, Shri Radha Puram Estate, Shri Radha Farms, Shri Radha Brij Vasundhra, Shri Radha Golf, Shri Radha Valley, Shri Radha Highway Farms, Shri Radha City, Shri Radha Town and Shri Radha NRI Greens. Along with Villas, new houses and apartments, the township concept has also caught up in Mathura.Triveni Infrastructure Development Company (TIDCO) is creating a mini township, ‘Triveni Krishna Vatika’, in Vrindavan, on 43 acres of land incorporating all the modern conveniences and accoutrements like marble flooring, lavishly designed interiors, state-of-the-art attachments and fitting, security camera scans etc. The proposed township will be a blend of modern and spiritual living as it will have a golf course, a billiard room , tennis court, skating rink along with the provisions of conducting “ pooja and havanas.” House-keeping facilities will also be included. The plan is to have three segments¾ Nand Vatika, Anand Vatika and Govind Vatika, each of them independent These all freehold villas having options as one, two and three bedrooms. They are planning one more Kanha Vatika consisting of four bedrooms to come up on 1000 sq.yard area. The price of a fully furnished residency at Krishna Vatika will range from Rs. 2000 to Rs. 2700 per sq. ft. The luxurious Krishna Vatika project is being developed keeping in mind the needs of NRI and HNI buyers. As Madhur Mittal, JMD,TIDCO says, “Triveni Krishna Vatika project is primarily targeted of NRI and HNI customers. NRIs will be interested in preserving a unique residency close to NCR with the lifestyle standards matching to their expectations and HNIs shall look forward to own a piece of land to add an icon to their financial and lifestyle portfolio.” There are two types of buyers in such sacred spots ¾ one section which has only holidaying in mind and the other, senior citizens specially, intending to spend the twilight of their life in serene atmosphere. This is the only reason why the construction firms operating in this region are trying hard to provide all possible facilities to their target buyers. Lots of USPs are being thrown in to attract customers. For example Ananta, a 15-acre housing project of Space Buildwell Pvt. Ltd., highlights in its advertisement the proximity of a big temple and a swimming pool to its location. Leading Delhi developer Suncity Projects Pvt Ltd. is planning to raise a modern high- tech township in Mathura very soon. This is the joint effort of three major groups¾ Action, Essel and Odean. This proposed township will cover more than 1,500 acres. And they have targeted mostly the upper middle class and the foreigner devotees of Lord Krishna. Suncity is developing a Krishna-theme township. Ashok Bansal, Director, Suncity Projects says that their target customers are those in quest of peace and really want to get acquainted with the ancient culture of India. “ We want to change the residential scenario of Mathura where most of the housing projects being constructed are very congested. We are using only 40% of the land for residential purposes and the rest 60% will be left open for greenery and one more thing the buyer will get full satisfaction with our project”, says he. Push to affordable housing Mathura- Vrindavan Development Authority (MVDA) has also been playing a significant role in contributing to the real estate boom, particularly by way of meeting the demand for low income housing. Says Kartikey Nath Dwivedi, Secretary of MVDA, “We have already developed Radha Puram, Krishna Puram, Chaitanya Vihar, Kailash Nagar colonies of low cost houses offering one bedroom flats of Rs. 4 lakhs and two bedroom flats for Rs. 8-10 lakhs” Taking a cue from MVDA and cashing in on the demand for affordable or low-income group housing , private players like Shri Group and Tarang Infrastructure have also taken to low-cost housing. Tarang is offering one bedroom and two bedroom apartments in its project¾Radhe Radhe, at Rs 1300 psf. Says Pradeep Agarwal of Shri Group, “We are getting a very good response as good housing is available for the lower income group.” Capitalising on pilgrimage tourism, Delhi developer Prabhatam Group is coming up with a residential project of 480 flats over 20 acres of Goverdhan, near Mathura. The USP of this project comprising 1 and 2 bedroom double-storey flats is that these will be fully furnished flats equipped with all modern facilities. The one bed room flat of 500 sq ft costs Rs. 8-9 lakhs while the 2 bedroom flat of 800 sq ft costs Rs. 12.5-13.5 lakhs. The residential complex promises beautiful landscaping and recreational facilities in the form of a Club House. In the last few years, Vrindavan has ushered in the group housing concept because of the growing population and the rising land prices. Several small housing societies are coming up there. For example, in Vrindavan’s Raman Reti area, small group housing societies like Radhe Priya Kunj, Keshav Kunj, Shree Radhe Dham and many more have only 83 to 175 flats in their premises. But these societies are providing the residents affordable living options. According to a local builder, the rising land rates are compelling the lower income group customers to opt for the group-housing schemes. Rising demand & soaring realty rates The appetite for modern living in tranquil environs of Mathura-Vrindavan is clearly evident from the growing demand for residential properties. According to Pradeep Agrawal, Chairman, Shrigroup, they have sold out 100-115 houses in just one month. Triveni Krishna Vatika in Vrindavan has sold out 80% of the total of over 500 villas under construction. The high demand for housing is created by NRIs , HNIs and investors (particularly for NCR) besides local-end users. This pent-up demand is in turn fuelling property prices. According to Pawan Gautam of Kamdhenu Real Estate, prices in Mathura-Vrindavan region have more than doubled. “The plot prices in Mathura today range from Rs.4000-15000 per sq yd. But at some places, the hike is much higher”, says Pradeep Agarwal of Shri Group. Hardly a year back, the cost of land at Raman Reti was just about Rs1,000 per sq yd and now it has gone up to Rs 5,000 per sq yd. Even the prices of flats and independent houses are registering a steep rise. A fully furnished residency at Triveni’s Krishna Vatika costs Rs 2,000-2,700 psf. Even the retail real estate prices have registered a considerable hike from Rs 5,000 per sq meter to Rs 7,000 per sq meter in two years’ time. Mall culture Meanwhile, the residential boom has spawned mall culture in Mathura. There is a total transformation of retail real estate scene in the city which till a few years back had only small shopping clusters. Now one can enjoy shopping in a mall where all the famous national and international brands are seen. This has been made possible by Shri Group, which has come up with Mathura’s first mall¾ Highway Plaza on NH-2. Following this more new shopping malls are coming up that will completely change the face of retail real estate of Mathura. Future Prospects Little wonder then that Shri Group has come up with a slogan¾ “Mathura Bane Metro” (Making Mathura a Metro City). Says Shuresh Kaushik, Director of Shri Group, “We want to make Mathura really a metro city, providing all modern residential and shopping facilities to the residents.” So what are the parameters? They are improved connectivity through NH2, fresh government impetus religious tourism, and overall, selling a dream of leading a modern spiritual life. On the strength of these basics and the rising demand for modern housing and retail that may go up and up in the coming years, the real estate boom in Mathura has arrived and is certain to stay. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

This letter written in 1985 seems was way ahead of its time. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:" /><o:p></o:p> The writter of this letter blames ISKCON leaders for taking advice off Sridar Maharaj who encouraged the bogus Guru system and was really the instigator of it. <o:p></o:p> Very few don’t know this true fact about Sridar Maharaj. <o:p></o:p> “I beg to remind Dheera 1 did not touch upon the bad advice Sridhar Maharaj gave ISKCON's GBC when they approached him in 1978 for approval to play guru. <o:p></o:p> Two famous quotes by Sridhar Maharaja at that time were: "It will be to deceive the disciple (telling them you're a pure devotee)" or, "There is no big mantra or little mantra for guru. Guru is one. (So go ahead and pose as uttamas.)" <o:p></o:p> A few years later when that bogus advice exploded in a series of falldowns, violence and dissension, Sridhara Maharaja said to Dheera, "They will dig their own graves (and bury Prabhupada along with them.)" Then he summed it all up very clearly by saying to Yashomatinandan, <o:p></o:p> "I am a form breaker," and, "I don't agree with Swami Maharaja (Prabhupada) in everything." <o:p></o:p> The effect of Sridhar Maharaja's bad advice on ISKCON did not surprise us since Prabhupada had already warned: <o:p></o:p> "They (specifically Sridhara Maharaja) cannot help us in our movement but they are very competent to harm our natural progress." (Letter to Rupanuga.) <o:p></o:p> As such, the fact that Dheera could not answer the section on the impersonal tendency leaves little doubt in our minds that he will not be able to respond to these heavy charges, i.e., that Sridhar Maharaja unduly interfered with the divine mission of Srila Prabhupada. <o:p></o:p> Personally, because I have full faith in Srila Prabhupada, I never had to read further than the one quote written to Rupanuga wherein Prabhupada said, <o:p></o:p> "Sridhar Maharaja is responsible for disobeying this order of Guru Maharaja." <o:p></o:p> Dheera simply refuses to address this and other serious statements made by Prabhupada. <o:p></o:p> No one is denying that at one tune Sridhar Maharaja was sincere, advanced, friends with Prabhupada, etc., and that Prabhupada liked him and even confided in him, but when an offence is committed to a pure devotee, or his mission (the Gaudiya Math) which is non-different, one loses all importance in Krsna consciousness and immediately fails down to mundane mental speculation. <o:p></o:p> (Narayana Maharaja said, "Don't you know this man (Sridhar Maharaja) is a breaker of institutions?") <o:p></o:p> As far as "high realizations" go, I'm sure Jayatirtha also has some very high realizations which make him and his followers "faint" all the time. We are not interested in those kinds of "high realizations." <o:p></o:p> We are interested in solid, direct, and concise rebuttals to our philosophical points. Words spoken by Prabhupada in the mood of flattery, encouragement, Vaisnava etiquette, respect for seniors, humility, gratitude, friendship, etc., are not valid arguments to counter all of the negative statements Prabhupada made about Sridhar Maharaja just before leaving this world. <o:p></o:p> Prabhupada even when talking to the most disgusting human beings imaginable always used flattering and encouraging speech, so what to speak of what Prabhupada was capable of saying to a senior Godbrother, and in that Godbrothers presence. <o:p></o:p> The words Prabhupada spoke about Sridhar Maharaja to his disciples when Sridhar was not there is the actual fact. And even then, Prabhupada was very cautious. If Prabhupada put in writing that Sridhar Maharaja is responsible for disobeying an order of his guru, that's it. Case closed. <o:p></o:p> If Dheera wants to defend Sridhar Maharaja, then he has to confront these points, and not simply invoke the sentiments of those with no knowledge of Prabhupada's style of encouragement, his tactfulness, and humility and compassion. <o:p></o:p> All these factors have to be taken into consideration when analysing something Prabhupada says about an individual. To say that Prabhupada was whimsical when he wrote the letter to Rupanuga is very offensive. <o:p></o:p> Prabhupada always was very careful about what went into writing. <o:p></o:p> So if Dheera still wants to defend Sridhar Maharaja on the basis of flattering statements, then first he has to explain why Sridhar Maharaja says the jiva soul originates in the Brahmajyoti, whereas Prabhupada says the jiva's original home is with Krsna. <o:p></o:p> Why did Prabhupada write to Visvakarma in August of 1975, <o:p></o:p> "I have now issued orders that All of my disciples should avoid all of my Godbrothers." <o:p></o:p> And why did Prabhupada tell Gargamuni right after Sridhar Maharaja left the room once, "He is simply envious." <o:p></o:p> These are solid facts that we require solid rebuttals to if Dheera wants to be a preacher and try and establish Sridhar Maharaja as being equal to Prabhupada. <o:p></o:p> Actually, even though he denies it, Dheera and his clan are trying to establish Sridhar Maharaja as superior to Prabhupada. His statements clearly reveal this fact. <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Your servant in the exclusive service of Srila Prabhupada: <o:p></o:p> Sulocana dasa, Dec. 12, 1985 The following also exposes Narayana Maharaj. http://iskcon.krishna.org/Articles/2002/05/001.html Why are you following this man when Prabhupada has given us so much. Don't judge ISKCON by the present version of ISKCON with the likes of Ramai Swami on the GBC, movie goers like him will fade away within a few years anyway, but ISKCON will remain. Whos going to know or care about him in 2050? Be smart and follow the teachings of Prabhupada instead of the charisma of fools.