Jahnava Dasi

Thank you for distinguishing between "the powerful effects of one pure devotee" and "bogus gurus". Certainly, only one whose hands are untied can free the hands of one whose hands are bound, because the bound cannot rescue the bound. Srila Prabhupada's hands are still unbound, and my firm conviction is that by submissively reading his books and listening to his recordings anyone can advance. My conviction is based on the fact that even though I am an insignificant devotee still I am being guided every single day by His Divine Grace to take just one more step. Cheater celebs masquerade as being 100% Krsna conscious. Even worse cheaters admit they aren't 100% KC but they still advertise that they can liberate others from the cycle of birth and death. I admire you and other sober-minded souls like you who refuse to be cheated.

Srila Prabhupada is so wonderfully available in his recordings. Do you have access to them? The first time I heard his voice was when he lectured on October 14th, 1968 in Seattle. After his lecture I asked him, "How is it that this universal presence, which is inconceivable, at least to me at this time, how can it have the form of Krishna Radha?" As you can tell, this was my first day! It was obvious that Srila Prabhupada had such love for Krishna and he was quoting Sanskrit verses to back up what he said. Just as when you hear his voice in the recordings or watch him on DVD you can see that. The 15 devotees in the room that night included Jayananda and Vishnujana and the kirtan was celestial. I was so happy that here at last was someone teaching good behavior-the 4 regs! And his followers were so happy-like a family. So I felt it was safe to ask my question. Srila Prabhupada answered, "It is His mercy. The Bhagavata says that if you want to understand God, His name, His quality, His paraphernalia, His form, it is not possible to realize by your present senses. It is not possible. Atah sri krsna namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih. These present senses, they are so contaminated that it is not possible that you can understand God, His form, His name, His quality, His paraphernalia by speculation. No, it is not possible. Then? How is it possible? Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah. God reveals to you by your service attitude. And that service attitude begins from your tongue, jihva. Jihva means tongue. How? You chant Hare Krsna and taste Krsna prasadam. then you will realize. Two things. Very simple method. He'll reveal. You cannot ask the sun, "Please rise up. I want to see you." Oh, he is not our servant. But when the sun reveals to you, you see yourself, you see the sun, and the whole world, everything nicely. So you have to wait for that revelation. And you have to practice this, first of all, this tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. This particular tongue is mentioned. You can begin to reach that stage of revelation by training your tongue. What is that? Chant Hare Krsna and taste Krsna prasadam. Very simple method. You try it and see. Otherwise it is not possible. God is not so little that you can order Him and He'll ... No, that is not possible. But if He's pleased, then He'll reveal Himself." From the moment he began answering I felt satisfied and I never tire of remembering that first impression of his causeless mercy. How very merciful he IS AT THIS MOMENT since he has kept me from Oct. 14, 1968 to today, Dec. 15, 2007 at his sheltering feet! You can be certain that you are just as fortunate since whenever we remember him, he is with us. Please tell me something about yourself and what direction of Srila Prabhupada katha you wish to go in. Thank you, KrishnasGirl.