Krsnanatha

Dandavat Pranams Prabhus! It has been some time since I last took the time to post here. I can’t help but feel compelled to offer some brief opinion regarding this subject. I have always felt that the unification of the Vaishnava community should be one of the top priorities of all who have found the benediction and treasure of the Holy Names of the Supreme. To that end I beg all inclined to pick some quarrel within our fraternity to instead direct such energies in the opposite direction of canvassing those who have yet to come into contact with the Yuga Dharma of Sri Krsna Sankirtana. I have known Sripada Tripuari Swami Maharaja for some years. He gave me my first book, a Bhagavad Gita in O’Hare airport in 1977. He performed the fire sacrifice at my initiation in ISKCON in 1983. And kindly engineered in concert with Sripada Swami Narasingha Maharaja my eventual connection with Srila Sridar Deva Goswami Maharaja after some tragedy had occurred with regards to my original diksha guru. The strongest criticism I could level towards Sripada Tripuari Maharaja is that my legs would often cramp up during his lectures due to his inability to conclude his stream of Krsna Katha. I never found him inclined to discussed anything but Krsna or subjects relevant to the cause of Krsna Consciousness. I will not suppose some qualification to grade who he is in terms of technical observation but I will say even from my humble post as a struggling jiva that this quality alone, the absolute tendency towards no other subjects but the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna, His expansions, His devotees and the collecting of other souls bereft of such information within this domain to be extraordinarily rare. I find any tendency of anyone, who is possessed of even a casual connection to the teachings and precepts of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada who despite such benediction remains inclined to criticize such a soul as Tripuari Maharaja to be figuratively strolling upon ice of the thinnest order. I thus beg all the Vaishanava devotees of the Lord, for their own advantage and progress towards the Supreme to avoid doing so.

I have heard it proposed in similar converations that the cows currently in these milk producing farms are by their doomed positions likely cow killers from a previous life serving out the sentence for being a cow killer. Assuming some if not most of those souls are serving out karmic sentences which will stretch far beyond just one life as a cow isn't it theoretically better to take the milk offer it to Krsna and benefit those souls karmically? Couldn't that be a means to be an agent of mercy for such souls? Doesn't the offering of such a cows milk to the Lord and His devotees radically alter that soul's karma according to Sastric notions on the subject? Aside from that if store-bought milk was good enough for Srila Prabhupada and the Dieties He installed I cannot see the need for rejecting. I am sure Srila Prabhupada was most aware of the circumstances from which the milk at the Western stores came. I have no Karma for farming otherwise I would try to make a proper cow farm. But the second someone does I will be the first to pay ten...twenty bucks a gallon (or whatever it would take) to support it.

You are not at all being selfish in the nasty use of the phrase. All aspects of human emotion can be rectified if used in the service of the Supreme. Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was quoted at different times that the number one principle in executing devotional activities is to save oneself. Your desire to understand details of philosophy is no doubt pushing toward such a goal. Understanding philosophical issues will strengthen faith and generate resolve of purpose, two corner stones to building the determination and hankering to surrender to Krsna. If that is selfish please teach me your fine selfish techniques! I will gladly be your student. My only suggestion in the previous post was to warn in advance that a resolution to the question you raised is not easily produced in two or three paragraphs. Much background information is required. Much such background you may already possess. You will know this as you investigate the answers. I never propose ignoring study or spiritual curiosity. I guess I am trying to encourage focus on how to get out of the pool of birth and death and not on how we dropped in to begin with. Bottom line we are here in this karmic jail. By untracable, causeless grace a means of escape is within our grasp. My humble advice to anyone is be selfish. Be as selfish as you possibly can be. Get out of here and on the way out, publicize the existence of this escape route to as many other souls as you can. My Dandavats.

I will suggest that if you really want to get information on the subject you consult a book entitled: "In Vaikuntha Not Even the Leaves Fall" I have heard individuals who disagree with the authors' conclusions concede it is well researched. There is a wealth of quotes from the Acharyas of our disciplic line on the subject. I will not suggest what anyone should think after reading it as even the very first line of the introduction states: "This book is the result of controversy." I do not want to open a debate on the subject which if you investigate you will find has intransigent proponents on both sides. I have long ago lost what little taste I had for debating until the final split hair is split a thousand times more. I am not so smart for these subjects and find much more shelter in simply chanting the Holy Name than in imagining that I have an absolute grasp on the infinite mechanism of the environment around me. But that is just me. I am only saying I do not feel an overwhelming need to feel that I really thoroughly understand all of the deepest points of certain very esoteric issues. It is no question important to understand philosophy but this subject will illustrate for anyone investigating it that there are certain details about the mechanics of the universes which are not always understood in a universal fashion. Fortunately Mahaprabhu is so kind in this Kali Yuga that He has boiled the realization of the Supreme Absolute Personality of Godhead down to a very simple process. Hari Kirtana, a very simple meditative concept/process which produces the same result that tremendous austerities, huge sacrifices and various complex rituals produced in previous yugas. Ultimately I have never heard or read that there is a test of Jnana one must take at the time of death. There is however repeated mention of the value of attaching one's self to this simple yet inconceivabley powerful process of Hari Nama Sankirtana. It is up to each Jiva to decide what is really important to focus the awareness upon.

It is the great boon of the Bhakta to collect and cherish the nectar which the Saints of our line leave in the wake of their pastimes. Here are a some drops of nectar from a poem seventy two stanzas long reviewing the glories of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Dev-Goswami Maharaja. Sri Sri Prema Dhama Deva Strotam Verse One The universal gods, perfected beings, salvationists, mystic yogis and exalted servitors of the absolute Truth, Sri Krsna, constantly chanted the glories of Sri Gaurasundar. (In regard to Lord Chaitanya's pastimes, Sri Rupa Goswami has mentioned the follow verse in his Sri Caitanyastakah: The Gods headed by Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma, accepted the garb of ordinary men in the pastimes of Sri Caitanyadeva in order to eternally worship Him with heartfelt affection.") Sri Caitanya is the embodiment of that vast nectarian ocean found in Lord Krsna's holy name, which is none other than Sri Gauranga's own pure name. Sri caitanyadeva is compared to that grand ocean of milk which, after being churned, produced nectar. The nectar Mahaprabhu distributes is Lord Krsna's holy names which extinguish all the misieries of material existence, such as anxieties arising from sinful activities performed in direct opposition to the Lord, and the three-fold sufferings which fuel the grand forest fire that scorches those in search of sense gratification, salvation and mystic yoga perfections. I fall down at the feet of Sri caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Golden Volcano of Divine Love. Verse Two The charming aura of Sri Gaurasundara's divine figure resemble the reflection of millions of radiant golden mirrors. Furthermore, the personified sweet fragrance of the earthly and heavenly lotus flowers humbly offer their prayers before the aromatic scent which permeates the air from the beautiful form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Millions and millions of cupids fall unconscious before the feet of Sri Caitanyadeva's elegant figure. They are severly shocked because their sense of universal fame arising from their beautiful splendor is checked. While performing His joyful pastimes of dancing, the divine form of Sri Gaurangadeva playfully sways to and fro. The flowing pulsations of the Lords limbs move in rhythm with the various charming moods of devotional sentiments, bhava, overwhelming His graceful figure. I fall down at the feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Golden Volcano of Divine Love. Prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram: I fall down at the feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Golden Volcano of Divine Love.

The previous post was from Krsnanatha dasa.

One can always bend almost any philosophy to fit ones illicit material desires. I remember one Bhakta approaching me and telling me that one of our initiated devotees had convinced him to smoke marijuana with him justifiying doing so because "Lord Shiva smokes ganja and he is the best of the Vaisnavas." I explained to him whatever may be said in connection to Lord Shiva we are not Lord Shiva and all the preceptors in our line of teaching have recommended strongly against such activity. It is without question best to avoid sin and when one can't, better to take the blame upon one's self for being unable to reach the proper standard as opposed to trying to bend and distort the siddhanta into some farcicle justification for fallen behavior. If one is sinful acknowledging the short coming and praying to Krsna to take the petty obsession away would seem the most result bearing gesture. (Definition of Obsession: Excessive preoccupation with an idea or delusion .) Inventing propaganda that somehow those activities, whatever form they may take, which generate obstacles in spiritual pursuit and push one further away from the topmost goal of human life, realization of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are actually somehow acceptable is begging for ridicule from the community of those whose desire it is to engage the world around them in a honest minded fashion.

I am reminded of the period in the former Soviet Union when devotees where being systematically and aggressively pursued and persecuted by the demonic communist government. A certain devotee had been captured and was being interrogated by the authorities as to the whereabouts of other Hare Krsna devotees. The devotee subjected to this line of question suggested to these demons that if they wanted to find devotees they could quite simpley start by boarding a municipal bus. Once on the bus they should set about purposely stepping upon the feet of the various riders on the bus. Those who offered no protest or complaint would most likely be devotees.

A friend of mine was the Temple President at a farm community in Europe in the early eighties. One day he returned from a couple days of visiting some other temples in the region to find a large expensive irrigation system waiting to be installed. As Temple President he was well aware that there was no money for the purchase of this expensive irrigation equiptment. He asked where hence it had come and was told "Oh So an So Prabhu, gave several thousands dollar for the purchase. It was a well known fact that this friend of the temple was making his money through some connection to the distribution of illegal drugs. My friend told the devotees they needed to return the irrigation system and get the money back. The cause for this decision was explained to me as being two fold. One was he did not want to give the impression to the donor that he could "wash" the Karma from his activities by offering some of the fruit to the devotees and Krsna. Second he wanted no financial connection between the temple and this illegal drug activity. As attractive as it may have seemed at the time to simply take the several thousand dollars and use it in Krsna's service the devotees didn't. The equipment was in fact returned, and the Temple President took the Laxmi and went to the door of the donor and politely returned it explaining why he felt he could not and should not take the money. Not much concern was further paid to the event until years later. At a festival a devotee approached this Temple President and told him "You don't know me but you made me a devotee." The unknown Prabhu explained that he had years back been a friend to this man connected to the drug dealing. They would smoke marijuana together and the dealer would make conversation about Krsna and the philosophy connected of Krsna consciousness. He said he had never much taken these discussions seriously as such conversation was always spoken while a large cloud of reefer smoke enveloped the room. All the talk of purity of character and pursuit of an absolute standard of moral integrity and behavior seemed at the time just so much pie in the sky talk given the atmosphere in which such talks were conducted. That is until one day when they were hanging out and a knock came to the door. It was the Temple President returning the several thousand dollar donation. This impressed him right off the bat as his experience with religionists was that they generally spent the vast amount of their waking hours hunting down money often by "hook or crook". But what really shocked him was what he heard. Listening from the other room he had heard the Temple President thoroughly explain to the donor the reasons why this money could not be accepted from the platform of operating only in terms of what Krsna and Prabhupada would sanction. Hearing this he was convinced that while his friend might not properly represent the behavior proposed in the philosophy there were, somewhere out there people would did. He became determined to seek them out, which he did, eventually joining a temple somewhere else in Europe. This boy over time became one of that temple's best preachers distributing thousands of books and collecting many thousands of dollars in the course of this preaching. From a calculative point of view, he collected far more money than the donation which had years before been returned. what to speak of the thousands of souls eternally benefited from his activities as a preacher in Sri Chaitanya's Mahaprabhu's sankirtana movement. The Temple President obviously had no clue this would eventually play out in this way. He simply did the right and honest thing and left it up to Krsna to create the results from there. We may think we can manipulate the material energy in some less than moral or righteous manner and may even appear to get the result we desire but ultimately Krsna will the final arbitor. I am similarly reminded of a time when a carefully crafted campaign was conducted at one temple to endear the local people of the town to the devotees. The devotees engaged in free prasadam distribution to the local homeless and poor, interfaith dialog in the local religious community and they also participated in some community social events. It worked. The locals began to see the devotees as just nice regular folks who merely happen to put loving God at the top of their list of things to do every day. That is until early one morning. On this day a couple of devotees were caught stealing flowers which had recently been planted as landscaping for large local building project. Much of the goodwill which had been generated towards the devotees evaporated when it was publized that they were out in the wee hours of the morning digging up and stealing less than a hundred dollars worth of Marigolds. A huge effort for preaching was all but erased by a plan to "save" a handful of Krsna's Laxmi by stealing these plants instead of properly buying them. It is in my view ALWAYS best to operate within the confines of so-called mundane morality and let Krsna dictate the results from there.

How Well Do You Know Srila Prabhupad & Narayan Maharaj? BY KULASEKHARA DAS EDITORIAL, Jul 18 (VNN) — Dandavat pranams to all the soft-hearted Vaishnava devotees of the Lord. Over the last eight years, I have observed Srila Narayan Maharaj, spent time with and observed his disciples, and taken some time to read his translations and writings. I have also educated myself as to the history of his relationship with my Guru Maharaj - Srila Prabhupada. I do not know how much my godbrothers know about the relationship between our Guru Maharaj and Srila Narayan Maharaj. The first time I met Narayan Maharaj, I presented him with a nice garland and thanked him for coming to preach in the west. I was impartial, giving him all respect as a Vaishnava sannyasi. I was not looking for a teacher, I had already been with Srila Prabhupad for thirty years. A major concern was the siddhanta, or conclusion. Was Srila Narayan Maharaj bona-fide and fit to ascend the Vyasasana, or was he preaching something different to Srila Prabhupada and the rest of the Parampara? Also, how does "The Final Order" and ritvik initiation relate to the presence of a Maha-Bhagavat devotee? And what are the consequences of insulting a Maha Bhagavat devotee? His Disciples It is said that you do not get a good fruit from a bad tree. Associating with Srila Narayan Maharaj's disciples was the most convincing to me. Over a period of eight years, I found them to be brahminical, fixed, sweet, exhibiting all devotional qualities, all in all - a tribute to their Guru Maharaj and Vaishnava's everywhere. His Sannyasis are fixed, sweet, extremely scholarly, potent and not into politics. In all my conversations on siddhanta, they have convinced me of the validity of Srila Narayan Maharaj's teachings, and their bona-fide relationship to our parampara. His Relationship with Srila Prabhupada Srila Prabhupada said, "I didn't have any desire to take sannyas, but upon the repeated insistance of Srila Narayan Maharaj, Srila Kesava Maharaj bestowed boundless mercy upon this unwilling and blind person." Srila Prabhupada was then assisted with his taking of sannyas by Narayan Maharaj, who dyed his cloth, made his danda and performed his sannyas fire jajna. Narayan Maharaj was a diksa & sannyasi disciple of Srila Bhaktiprajnana Kesava Maharaj, and thus a senior sannyasi godbrother to Srila Prabhupada, although he accepted Srila Prabhupada as his Siksa guru. Srila Prabhupad requested in a letter to Trivikrama Maharaj in Navadvip, that he send a picture of Srila Bhaktiprajnana Kesava Maharaj, for it to be included in the parampara in all ISKCON temples. (This was never implemented). Srila Prabhupad's negative quotes regarding 'his godbrothers' certainly did not extend to the group that he helped establish - the Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti - that included his own sannyas guru! Srila Narayan Maharaj was a cornerstone of this establishment. In a letter to Srila Trivikram Maharaj in condolences for the passing of his sannyas guru - Kesava Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada writes, "I have a very close connection with Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti. Yourself, and particularly Sripad Vaman Maharaj are well aware of the fact that I am one of the three persons who founded Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti. We had conceived of the idea of the formation of Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti at Bosaped Lane, Calcutta, even before Srila Kesava Maharaj accepted sannyasa." Srila Narayan Maharaj along with Srila Sridhar Maharaj spoke up against their godbrothers in the Gaudiya Math defending him in his use of the title "Srila Prabhupada". (This endearing term was how Bhaktisiddhanta was known). Upon his passing, Srila Prabhupada only wanted Srila Narayan Maharaj to perform his last-rights, and asked him to help his disciples after he passed away. How did Srila Prabhupada feel about Narayan Maharaj? In a letter dated Sept. 28th 1966 from the Gopal Agarwal house, Srila Prabhupada wrote: "I received your letter dated 20.9.66 on time. Our relationship is certainly based on spontaneous love. That is why there is no chance of us forgetting one another. By the mercy of Guru and Gouranga may everything be auspicious for you. This is my constant prayer. From the first time I saw you I have been your constant well-wisher. At his first sight of me Srila Prabhupada (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami) also saw me with such love. It was in my very first darshan of Srila Prabhupada that I learned how to love. It is his boundless mercy that he has engaged an unworthy person like me in fulfilling some of his desires. It is his causeless mercy to engage me in preaching the message of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha..." (After reading this, how can any Srila Prabhupada disciple harbor any negative thoughts regarding Narayan Maharaj?) The Siddhanta As Rupanugas, followers in the footsteps of Rupa Goswami, our prime business is to first understand what it means to be/live as a devotee. What is the path of pure-bhakti, where does it take you, and how do you attain perfection. (The goal). It behooves us to educate ourselves with the knowledge flowing from the lotus lips of our predecessor acharyas, and to understand their conclusions. After years of study, I can assure you that their conclusions are one. Everything written in Srila Prabhupad's books reflects this conclusion, and Srila Narayan Maharaj supports and preaches the same conclusion. i.e. nikunja-yuno rati-keli-siddhyai, ya yalibhir yuktir apeksaniya, tatrati-daksyad ati-vallabhasya. (He serves Sriman Mahaprabhu's Sankirtan mission on this planet - previous verses), and assists the gopis in the loving pastimes of the Divine Couple in the higher realm. Guru must be "there". Ritviks & "The Final Order" I have always had some nagging doubts about "The Final Order", some anomaly's if you like, for instance: Why would the Parampara stop with Srila Prabhupada when Krsna say's in the Bhagavad Gita "This knowledge comes in an unbroken chain of masters". I believe it will continue, regardless of whether or not I - do not have faith in there being another pure devotee after Srila Prabhupada - just because I cannot become 'that'. Also, Srila Prabhupada said that you should take up this sankirtan movement and take it to every town and village, but if you do not, then someone else will do this job, but it will happen because Sriman Mahaprabhu has predicted this. Being convinced that ISKCON has failed to do this I can only conclude that others ARE doing this, with Narayan Maharaj, BB Tirtha Maharaj, Puri Maharaj, Bodhayan Maharaj, all travelling and preaching in the west. Very exalted vaishnavas, sweet men preaching the mission of Sriman Mahaprabhu - Lord Chaitanya, it is continuing. (Also Srila Prabhupada was a founder of the Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti - it is also his movement!) By saying that Srila Prabhupada is the last pure devotee on this planet, you limit Krsna and Lord Chaitanya. I will accept that Srila Prabhupad's books will be the lawbooks for the next ten-thousand years. (Narayan Maharaj tells his disciples to read them, and teach from them daily). Srila Rupa Goswami advised that if your Spiritual Master leaves the planet prematurely, (which means before you have attained Bhava) then you should take shelter of another Maha Bhagavat devotee. You may not agree with Rupa Goswami, but that is your decision. Ritvik initiation is bona-fide - when the Spiritual Master has asked his disciples to act in this capacity, and only while he is alive on the planet. Otherwise the Parampara would have ended with Lord Chaitanya, or Srila Bhaktivinode, or Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati. etc. What are the consequences of insulting a Maha Bhagavat devotee? Srila Narayan Maharaj knew Srila Prabhupada since 1947. After Srila Prabhupad's sannyas, for five years he spent much time with Narayan Maharaj, going on parikram daily, discussing Srimad Bhagavatam and the writings of the Goswami's. Srila Narayan Maharaj is a very advanced and much loved Siksa disciple of Srila Prabhupada. By denying him access to the Math's and an invitation to ascend the Vyasasana in all of Srila Prabhupad's temples, the devotees of ISKCON have denied themselves an opportunity to please His Divine Grace - that's putting it mildly - you could say "greatly displeased" or "greatly offended!" How can they advance? In the presence of a more advanced devotee one should not accept disciples, but refer them to the oldest/most advanced Vaishnava. Srila Narayan Maharaj used to refer people who came to him for initiation to Sridhara Maharaj. Only after Sridhar Maharaj passed away did he start accepting disciples. (Not until 72 years of age - mature and qualified - definitely - super-aggressive - I would say not! Compassionate - incredibly!) So I encourage all of my godbrothers to associate with Srila Narayan Maharaj - Srila Gurudeva; you can only gain more love for Srila Prabhupada. I am convinced that he loves Srila Prabhupada more than me - and that Srila Prabhupada loves him more than most! If you love Srila Prabhupada, you have nothing to fear from Srila Gurudeva. His bhakti is amazing... Your servant, Kulasekhara das Srila Prabhupad's first initiated European Disciple. Unqualified Siksa disciple of Srila Narayan Maharaj.

Does it sound like someone you may have seen around there? I didn't mention his name in case he's solved this problem. No need to embarrass the poor chap.

Oddly enough you should ask, he was from the Berkeley Temple!

Once back in '83 at the Laguna Beach temple a devotee arrived wanting to live in the temple. He seemed nice enough, he was initiated so he was allowed to stay. The next morning during japa there was alot of talking amongst the devotees. Since this was unusual I asked Agni Dev Prabhu the Temple President what was such a strong issue to intervene the Japa time. He said a couple of brahmacharis had been severely attacked by ghosts during the previous night. During the day the "New Prabhu" was given some service which he set about engaging in but it was noticed that when ever he was alone or should I say thought he was alone he would be talking, long involved conversations with no one visibly present. When the devotees, myself included would make their presence know to him the conversation would abruptly stop. That night the same two Brahmacharis were again roughly harrassed by ghosts. By the next morning there was a theory going around the temple that this new fellow may might be the source of these disturbances. The authorities contacted the temple from which he had come and were told "Oh yes, he is a nice boy but he has contact with some ghosts who he is convinced are his friends. We preached to him that it was unhealthy to maintain their association but he was resistant to the advice." Hearing this the pujari and I went to the brahmachari ashrama and burning incense, tossing Ganges water and blowing a conch we recited the Narasingha Kauvacha several times. That night I was in my sleeping bag preparing to take rest when "New Prabhu" came in and laid out his bedding. Quite curious about how he might react to out ghost busting, I observed him to see if he would show any subtle hints that we had run off his buddies. To my suprise it was not at all subtle. He laid down briefly, looked around, sat up looked around again, laid down and then sat up again and blurted out "That funny I'm not recieving any messages." I said "What?" having heard him but wanting him to repeat it for confirmation. He looked at me and said "Oh nothing, never mind." When my alarm went off at three AM he was gone. Packed up in the middle of the night and vanished. Never came back. Never saw him again. I have always imagined those ghost standing at the ashrama door whispering to him "Hey man come on, we gotta go, we can't go in there any more!" It was one of my first experiences that this stuff is quite real.

Once an atheist scientist was in his lab. He was working on a formula which he was sure would allow him to create life by putting some dirt through various chemical processes. Being an atheist he was ecstatic that he would be the one to finally prove there is no God. That life is a mere mixture of chemicals. Having finished his calculations he about to try to practically apply his theory when God appeared in his laboritory. God said "What are you doing?" "I.... Am about to prove you don't exist." boasted the scientist proudfully. "Really?" replied God a slight smile appearing on His face. "And how may I ask do you propose to do that?" "Glad you should ask. You see I was just now about to create life, right here in my lab." said the scientist "Really... please show me your technique." said God "Well, you see I just take some dirt just like this..." said the scientist pouring some dirt into a large flask. "Wait a minute...!" God interrupted. "Wait for what!" demanded the scientist. "Get your own damn dirt!!"

I recall reading that Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Prabhupada, notably a life long celibate commented on the issue of Krsna Conscious children. He said along the lines that if he could know with certainty that the children would become Krsna conscious he would have willingly had one hundred. If that is the value of Vaisnava children in the mind of the highest of high Vaisnavas Srila Saraswati Thakura, could there be any further question? Having Krsna conscious children is the sole justification for the married life of a devotee. If the parents are active in arranging at best effort, the spiritual advancement of the child how could the parents possibly avoid also steadily advancing toward Krsna themselves?

Srila Gaura Kishora das Babji Maharaja would externally present himself as a person of unbalanced mind to push away the interruptions society can create for one's bhajan. There is a story that some little boys took sport in tossing stones at him thinking him just some vacant person. One devotee who had had notible success as a book distributor told me a story of how the devotees had started selling cut-out records at the airport to raise money for the temple. One day a passing airport worker said: "Hey, why aren't you guys selling your books any more?" Srila Prabhupada had just recently left the planet. He said he felt that Srila Prabhupada had just walked up to him in the guise of this person. He went back to book distribution that day. We truly never know who is who, thus Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has stated directly that one of the qualifications for constant meditation upon the Lord's holy names is when one is "Ready to offer all respects to others." (Sri Sri Siksataska) Not just the folks that one may sort out in the mind through some invented grading system as being worthy of basic respect.

One of my all time favorite stories of how Srila Prabhupada handled a particular situation came from a friend who is a senior disciple of His Divine Grace. At the time that this exchange took place he was in a position of responsibility which gave him regular access to Srila Prabhupada. The devotee was travelling by air with Prabhupada and a couple of other disciples. When they landed at the airport they were of course greeted by the local Vaisnava community. My friend was driving back to the temple in a separate car with one of the temple administrators when this manager began telling a laundry list of problems the local Temple President was having. Kind of a you name it, he is doing it list as far as uncontrolled senses. He begged my friend to bring this issue up to Srila Prabhupada as it had become a severe controversy within the community. Later when the opportunity arose this devotee began repeating to Srila Prabhupada the long story he had been told about this temple leader and the alleged improprieties connected to his behavior. Prabhupada listened without a word or interruption for about twenty minutes until my friend had exhausted the story. At this point Prabhupada looked at him and said: "There are stories about you also." Ultimately Srila Prabhupada dealt with the issue of the local temple leader but the point he made to this Prabhu is obvious and quite teaching.

Krsna is the source of remembrance and forgetfulness. Fortunately He has not yet allowed my advancing senility to deprive me of this recollection. I have often reflected on the amazing sukrti it would take to live with Srila Prabhupada one on one, for months on end, every night reading sastra in His company and hearing from Him, His absolute realizations on the subjects covered. Nightly chanting Kirtana together. Daily taking prasada prepared from his own hands within the sphere of His Divine company. I am always hoping to someday be properly grateful that such persons are within this family of devotees which has causelessly rescued me and treated me as one of their own despite all lack of merit and qualification from my side.

If you are merely curious what is the meaning of these words I wil try to make a reply. Gaudiya Math is the preaching institution originally created geographically in India by Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Prabhupada. By the dedication and surrender of his disciples and followers and their disciples and followers it now extends outside of India as well. The heads of the various Gaudiya Math temples are mainly to be found to be either the Godbrothers of our A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada or the disciples of Srila Prabhupada's Godbrothers. GBC is an anacronym for Governing Body Commision as a group or Commissioner in reference to a singular member. Srila Prabhupada created this commitee of senior devotees within the ISKCON institution to (in theory) as a group oversee the welfare and integrity of the preaching within the ISKCON movement. Ritvik is the theory that one can be initiated by a Vaisnava who has departed from our earthly vision through an intermediary representative. If the question you pose also desires an explanation of the apparent controversies connected to these three subjects, that I haven't the time or patience to even try to superficially explain. I will say that if somehow you have little or no exposure to the fights surrounding these subjects, consider yourself extremely lucky. Please go on chanting Hare Krsna, read the satras recommended by the Gaudiya Vaisnava Acharyas and try to seek out like minded souls to share the beauty and nectar to be found in such endeavors. I am not as fortunate as you. I instead have been exposed to the detailed complications surrounding these three subjects and I assure you the better use of investigative energies is to search out how to assist and serve Krsna's servitors to the fullist extent of one's ability. Gaura Haribol!

Please see the post "Many positive things also happened."

During the month of Kartika 1991 in Vrndavana I was fortunate to be at an observance of Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance which was attended by several of his senior sannyas disciples and Srila Govinda Maharaja (the current Acharya of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math the temple founded By His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhar Dev-Goswami) and many of the wonderful Vaisnavas of the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. It is said when discussions of Krsna Katha commence it is like churning a pot of nectar and generally the order of speakers goes from less senior to most. Following this schematic first some of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples spoke memories and appreciations of His Divine Grace and then Srila Govinda Maharaja was asked by Bhakti Gaurava Narasingha Maharaja to speak something on his experiences with Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabuhpada. The history related from Srila Govinda Maharaja was extraordinary. I will try to retell what he said to the best of my ability. While certain details such as his exact age at the times of these pastimes escape me the general point and the main details I feel I have committed enough to memory to repeat. Essentially he told the following. He explained how he came to join the Math. Everyday that he would go to play soccer after school. The trip to the football field would take him by the Math. He would hear the Kirtanas as he walked by and I believe he also said he would sometimes hear some speaking of a class as well. For some time he was attracted but never actually stopped. He explained that his Father was a professional musician. An expert at the percussion instruments of Kirtana. This of course was not like western professionals as they would play kirtana but still his Father did not want Govinda Maharaja to follow his footsteps thus he was forbidden to learn how to play. Little did his Father know Govinda Maharaja would often go to the pandala in advance of a performance and hide under the stage. From this post he would listen to the beats his father played on the mrdunga and later at home secretly replicate them until he was quite good at playing. One day as a teenager he entered the Math as Kirtana was about to commence. He asked if he could play the drum and in a mood of “Sure why not” with little expectation someone gave him the drum. Obviously he played very expertly which drew immediate attention from all the Vaisnavas there that day. He was warmly treated and very much encouraged to take up Krsna consciousness. This progressed to the point where he felt incline to join but being underage his father refused to allow it. So as he said he took to running away from home to the Math and his Father would come and take him back home. This eventually turned into situations involving his Father “Coming in the front door as I ran out the back door.” Eventually this created so much disturbance that a plan was hatched that Govinda Maharaja would stay with one householder and hide from his Father. Since he would not be at the Math, the Math would not be culpable to the Father as to the whereabouts of his son. The householder turned out to be none other than our Srila Prabhupada, who was affectionately referred to by the devotees at that time as “Abay Babu.” As a young brahmachari Govinda Maharaja lived there with Srila Prabhupada for many months. Every night Prabhupada would read Bhagavad Gita to him and give class. The birth of the externally manifest Bhaktivedanta purports. One day Govinda Maharaja was in the attic for some reason or another when become across stacks of “Back to Godhead Magazines“. That evening he asked Srila Prabhupada about these magazines. Prabhupada explained that sometimes he would print a new issue before he was able to completely distribute the previous one. He explained to Govinda Maharaja that due to his busy schedule he had fallen behind and it would be a great assistance if Govinda Maharaja could help him distribute them. Govinda Maharaja explained to Prabhupada that he spoke no English thus he saw no way he could distribute an English language magazine. Srila Prabhupada sat him down, taught him a handful of English lines about the magazine and sent him out. (Sound familiar to anyone.) So out he went. Srila Govinda Maharaja then said “I do not mean to speak in a proud way but merely stating fact, I am the original distributor of Back to Godhead Magazine. (Beside Srila Prabhupada of course.) Eventually Srila Govinda Maharaja’s Father begged the temple authorities that his son could join if they would just tell him of his son's physical whereabouts. There was a family reunion and Govinda Maharaja was officially given sanction by his Father to join the Math. He did not. Instead he continued to live with Srila Prabhupada for quite some time continuing their program of Bhagavad Gita study and BTG distribution. He later told of Srila Prabhupada’s depart and return from America. He said “Here we still affectionately knew him as Abay Babu even though he had by that time taken Sannyasa. He left for America our beloved Abay Babu. Imagine our surprise when he came back, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Fully manifest Sakyavesa Avatara!" He went on to make the point that we can never know who a devotee might actually be and what Krsna may do with him or her at some point in the future. The point of this story is this. These great souls are our family. It is of our finest self interest to move ourselves as close to them as we can. Not push them away or aside. What to speak of the spiritual suicide of condemning them. We need their mercy as we need the mercy of all Vaisnavas. They were dear enough to His Divine Grace that they lived with Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada was intimate enough that when the need to place a young Brahmachari outside the Math came up our Srila Prabhupada was asked to handle the responsibility. Srila Govinda Maharaja was the first brahmachari to distribute Back To Godhead magazines under the personal direction of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, if theat doesn't qualifiy him as our senior spiritual relative what could or would? These associates of Srila Prabhupada's who predate his mission in the West are all our senior in terms of sukrti, birth, service, association, experience and simply years lived. Whenever we come into contact with someone who feels the hallucinated freedom to criticized such persons we should plug our ears and run full speed from their company. I beg the devotees to see the huge trick Maya plays by maintaining disharmony in the broad community of the devotees. Change starts one person at a time. On this day, as I have countless days before, I humbly pray an end to these imagined quarrels. I offer my humble dandavats at the feet of all the Vaisnava devotees of the Lord. Krsnanatha dasa

I see this thread and I feel very happy. These types of disclosures have historically been in short supply and as a result, aparadhas towards the best of Vaisnavas continue to be committed knowingly and unknowingly daily. I was very fortunate to hear from Srila Govinda Maharaja a very sweet history of Srila Prabhupada, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami and Srila Govinda Maharaja when he was but a young man in his teens. Unfortunately I am short for time now and it will require a bit of time to properly retell. Take my word it is a very charming story! Coming soon.

I am feeling the need for someone to toss me a life ring. These topics quite exceed my standard "kiddie pool" musings.

Your place looks like it would have very clean ether in the Brahma-muhurta. No streetlights lights shining into the windows, no buzz of a near by city and all the confused subtle energies which swirl around any city/town. The stars are not obscured by the glare of hundreds of thousands of artificial lights. Have you taken some strict vow? Such distant isolation can be extremely helpful for focus but maybe little bit lonely too. One of the best times in my life I spent two weeks all by myself at my Grandfathers ranch in the mountains of Southern California. It was thirty miles from the nearest town to his driveway (using the term loosely) and seventeen miles down this crookedey (A new word only recently invented. Definition: Crook'ed'ey - Crooked beyond all presently known means of describing crooked) bumped up "driveway" to his cabin. The quiet and the lack of civilized distraction allowed me some of the most fruitful sadhana (as far as attention goes) I ever experienced. After about the fourth maybe fifth day when I was reading First Canto Bhagavatam it was no longer like a mechanical activity. It was as if the words on the page were pouring off the page through the filter of the eye and directly into my center of consciousness. (No I wasn't smoking weed to any cynics who may be reading this.) I got a real idea of why the sages split for the hills and the advantages isolation can bring. I was but a high school boy at the time and sadly I have never as as strongly recreated the describe atmosphere. I suppose I should try to. I hope these types of benefits and beyond are your daily life out there in the Northern-Nevada-Desert-Desh. Gaura Haribol! Gaura Haribol! Nitia Gaura Haribol!

It is only some brief business trip being played in the hometown of Satan himself. After that she's back to the semi-sattvic forests of the Pacific Northwest.