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Axis,

 

Someone I know contacted me after they logged in to your bvml site in the "webmaster" area.

 

They were very surprised at what you have published on your site.

 

It hardly seems to be in line with the principle of "becoming humbler than a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree".

 

Extremist political views where you encourage people to murder muslims is not exactly what Prabhupada taught, is it?

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Axis,

 

Someone I know contacted me after they logged in to your bvml site in the "webmaster" area.

 

They were very surprised at what you have published on your site.

 

It hardly seems to be in line with the principle of "becoming humbler than a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree".

 

Extremist political views where you encourage people to murder muslims is not exactly what Prabhupada taught, is it?

 

Guest 23, you should know that becoming a sadhaka and endeavoring for Krsna consciousness does not preclude the loss of our first ammendment rights, freedom of speech and the right to bear arms, according to the U.S. Constitution. That you think being a Vaisnava means accepting the same political views that you may accept is missing the point of bvml.org entirely.

 

Bhutabhavana prabhu is an excellent webmaster. He renders bvml service at no charge, puts in lots of hard work to glorify our acaryas, and his personal political views on Random Axes are his own and he has every right in the three worlds to believe that the Muslim fundamentalist terrorists should be eliminated. These asuras have been giving the Gaudiya Vaisnava world trouble ever since Arang Zeb knocked down the two stories of the Govindaji temple in vrndavana, and Man Singh had to move (at Their direct request of him in a dream) Sri Sri Radha Govindaji, Sri Sri Radha Damodar, Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan and Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha to Jaipura for their safe keeping and seva, to protect them from the destructive hands of such Muslims. Only Radha Raman remained in vraja, and hisd pujaris had to hide Him in the forest to avoid being harmed.

 

Perhaps you should check your history more carefully, and also do a word search through Srila Prabhupada's books to see what he has written about such demoniac behavior before you chastise Bhutabhavana prabhu for having what YOU determine to be extreme political views. Humility does not mean that we embrace the tiger or allow other Vaisnavas to be mistreated. Try to digest this Bg. 10.4-5 purport by His Divine Grace :

and take note of what he says about satyam, truthfulness.

 

 

". . . Satyam, truthfulness, means that facts should be presented as they are for the benefit of others. Facts should not be misrepresented. According to social conventions, it is said that one can speak the truth only when it is palatable to others. But that is not truthfulness. The truth should be spoken in a straight and forward way, so that others will understand actually what the facts are. If a man is a thief and if people are warned that he is a thief, that is truth. Although sometimes the truth is unpalatable, one should not refrain from speaking it. Truthfulness demands that the facts be presented as they are for the benefit of others. That is the definition of truth. . . "

Bg. 10-4-5 purport

 

 

 

 

<CENTER>Chapter 10. The Opulence of the Absolute</CENTER>

 

TEXT 4-5

 

buddhir jnanam asammohah

ksama satyam damah samah

sukham duhkham bhavo 'bhavo

bhayam cabhayam eva ca

ahimsa samata tustis

tapo danam yaso 'yasah

bhavanti bhava bhutanam

matta eva prthag-vidhah

SYNONYMS

 

bump.gifbuddhih--intelligence; jnanam--knowledge; asammohah--freedom from doubt; ksama--forgiveness; satyam--truthfulness; damah--control of the senses; samah--control of the mind; sukham--happiness; duhkham--distress; bhavah--birth; abhavah--death; bhayam--fear; ca--and; abhayam--without fear; eva--also; ca--and; ahimsa--nonviolence; samata--equilibrium; tustih--satisfaction; tapah--penance; danam--charity; yasah--fame; ayasah--infamy; bhavanti--become; bhavah--natures; bhutanam--of living entities; mattah--from Me; eva--certainly; prthak-vidhah--differently arranged.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

bump.gifIntelligence, knowledge, freedom from doubt and delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, self-control and calmness, pleasure and pain, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, nonviolence, equanimity, satisfaction, austerity, charity, fame and infamy are created by Me alone.

 

 

PURPORT

 

bump.gifThe different qualities of living entities, be they good or bad, are all created by Krsna, and they are described here.

bump.gifIntelligence refers to the power of analyzing things in proper perspective, and knowledge refers to understanding what is spirit and what is matter. Ordinary knowledge obtained by a university education pertains only to matter, and it is not accepted here as knowledge. Knowledge means knowing the distinction between spirit and matter. In modern education there is no knowledge about the spirit; they are simply taking care of the material elements and bodily needs. Therefore academic knowledge is not complete.

bump.gifAsammoha, freedom from doubt and delusion, can be achieved when one is not hesitant and when he understands the transcendental philosophy. Slowly but surely he becomes free from bewilderment. Nothing should be accepted blindly; everything should be accepted with care and with caution. Ksama, forgiveness, should be practiced, and one should excuse the minor offenses of others. Satyam, truthfulness, means that facts should be presented as they are for the benefit of others. Facts should not be misrepresented. According to social conventions, it is said that one can speak the truth only when it is palatable to others. But that is not truthfulness. The truth should be spoken in a straight and forward way, so that others will understand actually what the facts are. If a man is a thief and if people are warned that he is a thief, that is truth. Although sometimes the truth is unpalatable, one should not refrain from speaking it. Truthfulness demands that the facts be presented as they are for the benefit of others. That is the definition of truth.

bump.gifSelf-control means that the senses should not be used for unnecessary personal enjoyment. There is no prohibition against meeting the proper needs of the senses, but unnecessary sense enjoyment is detrimental for spiritual advancement. Therefore the senses should be restrained from unnecessary use. Similarly, the mind should not indulge in unnecessary thoughts; that is called samah, or calmness. Nor should one spend one's time pondering over earning money. That is a misuse of the thinking power. The mind should be used to understand the prime necessity of human beings, and that should be presented authoritatively. The power of thought should be developed in association with persons who are authorities in the scriptures, saintly persons and spiritual masters and those whose thinking is highly developed. Sukham, pleasure or happiness, should always be in that which is favorable for the cultivation of the spiritual knowledge of Krsna consciousness. And similarly, that which is painful or which causes distress is that which is unfavorable for the cultivation of Krsna consciousness. Anything favorable for the development of Krsna consciousness should be accepted, and anything unfavorable should be rejected.

bump.gifBhava, birth, should be understood to refer to the body. As far as the soul is concerned, there is neither birth nor death; that we have discussed in the beginning of Bhagavad-gita. Birth and death apply to one's embodiment in the material world. Fear is due to worrying about the future. A person in Krsna consciousness has no fear because by his activities he is sure to go back to the spiritual sky, back home, back to Godhead. Therefore his future is very bright. Others, however, do not know what their future holds; they have no knowledge of what the next life holds. So they are therefore in constant anxiety. If we want to get free from anxiety, then the best course is to understand Krsna and be situated always in Krsna consciousness. In that way we will be free from all fear. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that fear is caused by our absorption in the illusory energy, but those who are free from the illusory energy, those who are confident that they are not the material body, that they are spiritual parts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and are therefore engaged in the transcendental service of the Supreme Godhead, have nothing to fear. Their future is very bright. This fear is a condition of persons who are not in Krsna consciousness. Bhayam, fearlessness, is only possible for one in Krsna consciousness.

bump.gifAhimsa, nonviolence, means that one should not do anything which will put others into misery or confusion. Material activities that are promised by so many politicians, sociologists, philanthropists, etc., do not produce very good results because the politicians and philanthropists have no transcendental vision; they do not know what is actually beneficial for human society. Ahimsa means that people should be trained in such a way that the full utilization of the human body can be achieved. The human body is meant for spiritual realization, so any movement or any commissions which do not further that end commit violence on the human body. That which furthers the future spiritual happiness of the people in general is called nonviolence.

bump.gifSamata, equanimity, refers to freedom from attachment and aversion. To be very much attached or to be very much detached is not the best. This material world should be accepted without attachment or aversion. Similarly, that which is favorable for prosecuting Krsna consciousness should be accepted; that which is unfavorable should be rejected. That is called samata, equanimity. A person in Krsna consciousness has nothing to reject and nothing to accept unless it is useful in the prosecution of Krsna consciousness.

bump.gifTusti, satisfaction, means that one should not be eager to gather more and more material goods by unnecessary activity. One should be satisfied with whatever is obtained by the grace of the Supreme Lord; that is called satisfaction. Tapas means austerity or penance. There are many rules and definitions in the Vedas which apply here, like rising early in the morning and taking a bath. Sometimes it is very troublesome to rise early in the morning, but whatever voluntary trouble one may suffer in this way is called penance. Similarly, there are prescriptions for fasting on certain days of the month. One may not be inclined to practice such fasting, but because of his determination to make advancement in the science of Krsna consciousness, he should accept such bodily troubles which are recommended. However, one should not fast unnecessarily or against Vedic injunctions. One should not fast for some political purpose; that is described in Bhagavad-gita as fasting in ignorance, and anything done in ignorance or passion does not lead to spiritual advancement. Everything done in the mode of goodness does advance one, however, and fasting done in terms of the Vedic injunctions enriches one in spiritual knowledge.

bump.gifAs far as charity is concerned, one should give fifty percent of his earnings to some good cause. And what is a good cause? It is that which is conducted in terms of Krsna consciousness. That is not only a good cause, but it is the best cause. Because Krsna is good, His cause is also good. Thus charity should be given to a person who is engaged in Krsna consciousness. According to Vedic literature, it is enjoined that charity should be given to the brahmanas. This practice is still followed, although not very nicely in terms of the Vedic injunction. But still the injunction is that charity should be given to the brahmanas. Why? Because they are engaged in higher cultivation of spiritual knowledge. A brahmana is supposed to devote his whole life to understanding Brahman. A brahma-jana is one who knows Brahman; he is called a brahmana. Thus charity is offered to the brahmanas because since they are always engaged in higher spiritual service, they have no time to earn their livelihood. In the Vedic literature, charity is also to be awarded to the renouncer of life, the sannyasi. The sannyasis beg from door to door, not for money but for missionary purposes. The system is that they go from door to door to awaken the householders from the slumber of ignorance. Because the householders are engaged in family affairs and have forgotten their actual purpose in life--awakening their Krsna consciousness--it is the business of the sannyasis to go as beggars to the householders and encourage them to be Krsna conscious. As it is said in the Vedas, one should awake and achieve what is due him in this human form of life. This knowledge and method is distributed by the sannyasis; hence charity is to be given to the renouncer of life, to the brahmanas, and similar good causes, not to any whimsical cause.

bump.gifYasah, fame, should be according to Lord Caitanya, who said that a man is famous when he is known as a great devotee. That is real fame. If one has become a great man in Krsna consciousness and it is known, then he is truly famous. One who does not have such fame is infamous.

bump.gifAll these qualities are manifest throughout the universe in human society and in the society of the demigods. There are many forms of humanity on other planets, and these qualities are there. Now, for one who wants to advance in Krsna consciousness, Krsna creates all these qualities, but the person develops them himself from within. One who engages in the devotional service of the Supreme Lord develops all the good qualities, as arranged by the Supreme Lord.

bump.gifOf whatever we find, good or bad, the origin is Krsna. Nothing can manifest in this material world which is not in Krsna. That is knowledge; although we know that things are differently situated, we should realize that everything flows from Krsna.

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Guest 23, In the purport of this verse, Text One, from Srila Rupa Gosvami's Sri Upadesamrta, The Nectar of Instruction, His Divine Grace gives deep insight into what devotee behavior should be, and in particular the utility of "anger" is devotional service. HIs definition of sunicena taror api certainly differs from your sentimal viewpont:

 

 

". . . Similarly, anger can be controlled. We cannot stop anger altogether, but if we simply become angry with those who blaspheme the Lord or the devotees of the Lord, we control our anger in Krsna consciousness. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu became angry with the miscreant brothers Jagai and Madhai, who blasphemed and struck Nityananda Prabhu. In His Siksastaka Lord Caitanya wrote, trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna: "One should be humbler than the grass and more tolerant than the tree." One may then ask why the Lord exhibited His anger. The point is that one should be ready to tolerate all insults to one's own self, but when Krsna or His pure devotee is blasphemed, a genuine devotee becomes angry and acts like fire against the offenders.

 

Krodha, anger, cannot be stopped, but it can be applied rightly. It was in anger that Hanuman set fire to Lanka, but he is worshiped as the greatest devotee of Lord Ramacandra. This means that he utilized his anger in the right way. Arjuna serves as another example. He was not willing to fight, but Krsna incited his anger: "You must fight!" To fight without anger is not possible. Anger is controlled, however, when utilized in the service of the Lord. . . "

 

NOI purport Text One

 

 

 

TEXT ONE

vaco vegam manasah krodha-vegam

jihva-vegam udaropastha-vegam

etan vegan yo visaheta dhirah

sarvam apimam prthivim sa sisyat

SYNONYMS

vacah--of speech; vegam--urge; manasah--of the mind; krodha--of anger; vegam--urge; jihva--of the tongue; vegam--urge; udara-upastha--of the belly and genitals; vegam--urge; etan--these; vegan--urges; yah--whoever; visaheta--can tolerate; dhirah--sober; sarvam--all; api--certainly; imam--this; prthivim--world; sah--that personality; sisyat--can make disciples.

TRANSLATION

A sober person who can tolerate the urge to speak, the mind's demands, the actions of anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals is qualified to make disciples all over the world.

PURPORT

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.1.9-10) Pariksit Maharaja placed a number of intelligent questions before Sukadeva Gosvami. One of these questions was: "Why do people undergo atonement if they cannot control their senses?" For instance, a thief may know perfectly well that he may be arrested for his stealing, and he may actually even see a thief arrested by the police, yet he continues to steal. Experience is gathered by hearing and seeing. One who is less intelligent gathers experience by seeing, and one who is more intelligent gathers experience by hearing. When an intelligent person hears from the lawbooks and sastras, or scriptures, that stealing is not good and hears that a thief is punished when arrested, he refrains from theft. A less intelligent person may first have to be arrested and punished for stealing to learn to stop stealing. However, a rascal, a foolish man, may have the experience of both hearing and seeing and may even be punished, but still he continues to steal. Even if such a person atones and is punished by the government, he will again commit theft as soon as he comes out of jail. If punishment in jail is considered atonement, what is the benefit of such atonement? Thus Pariksit Maharaja inquired:

drsta-srutabhyam yat papam

janann apy atmano 'hitam

karoti bhuyo vivasah

prayascittam atho katham

kvacin nivartate 'bhadrat

kvacic carati tat punah

prayascittam atho 'partham

manye kunjara-saucavat

He compared atonement to an elephant's bathing. The elephant may take a very nice bath in the river, but as soon as it comes onto the bank, it throws dirt all over its body. What, then, is the value of its bathing? Similarly, many spiritual practitioners chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and at the same time commit many forbidden things, thinking that their chanting will counteract their offenses. Of the ten types of offenses one can commit while chanting the holy name of the Lord, this offense is called namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhih, committing sinful activities on the strength of chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Similarly, certain Christians go to church to confess their sins, thinking that confessing their sins before a priest and performing some penance will relieve them from the results of their weekly sins. As soon as Saturday is over and Sunday comes, they again begin their sinful activities, expecting to be forgiven the next Saturday. This kind of prayascitta, or atonement, is condemned by Pariksit Maharaja, the most intelligent king of his time. Sukadeva Gosvami, equally intelligent, as befitting the spiritual master of Maharaja Pariksit, answered the King and confirmed that his statement concerning atonement was correct. A sinful activity cannot be counteracted by a pious activity. Thus real prayascitta, atonement, is the awakening of our dormant Krsna consciousness.

Real atonement involves coming to real knowledge, and for this there is a standard process. When one follows a regulated hygienic process, he does not fall sick. A human being is meant to be trained according to certain principles to revive his original knowledge. Such a methodical life is described as tapasya. One can be gradually elevated to the standard of real knowledge, or Krsna consciousness, by practicing austerity and celibacy (brahmacarya), by controlling the mind, by controlling the senses, by giving up one's possessions in charity, by being avowedly truthful, by keeping clean and by practicing yoga-asanas. However, if one is fortunate enough to get the association of a pure devotee, he can easily surpass all the practices for controlling the mind by the mystic yoga process simply by following the regulative principles of Krsna consciousness--refraining from illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling--and by engaging in the service of the Supreme Lord under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master. This easy process is being recommended by Srila Rupa Gosvami.

First one must control his speaking power. Every one of us has the power of speech; as soon as we get an opportunity we begin to speak. If we do not speak about Krsna consciousness, we speak about all sorts of nonsense. A toad in a field speaks by croaking, and similarly everyone who has a tongue wants to speak, even if all he has to say is nonsense. The croaking of the toad, however, simply invites the snake: "Please come here and eat me." Nevertheless, although it is inviting death, the toad goes on croaking. The talking of materialistic men and impersonalist Mayavadi philosophers may be compared to the croaking of frogs. They are always speaking nonsense and thus inviting death to catch them. Controlling speech, however, does not mean self-imposed silence (the external process of mauna), as Mayavadi philosophers think. Silence may appear helpful for some time, but ultimately it proves a failure. The meaning of controlled speech conveyed by Srila Rupa Gosvami advocates the positive process of krsna-katha, engaging the speaking process in glorifying the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna. The tongue can thus glorify the name, form, qualities and pastimes of the Lord. The preacher of krsna-katha is always beyond the clutches of death. This is the significance of controlling the urge to speak.

The restlessness or fickleness of the mind (mano-vega) is controlled when one can fix his mind on the lotus feet of Krsna. The Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 22.31) says:

krsna----surya-sama; maya haya andhakara

yahan krsna, tahan nahi mayara adhikara

Krsna is just like the sun, and maya is just like darkness. If the sun is present, there is no question of darkness. Similarly, if Krsna is present in the mind, there is no possibility of the mind's being agitated by maya's influence. The yogic process of negating all material thoughts will not help. To try to create a vacuum in the mind is artificial. The vacuum will not remain. However, if one always thinks of Krsna and how to serve Krsna best, one's mind will naturally be controlled.

Similarly, anger can be controlled. We cannot stop anger altogether, but if we simply become angry with those who blaspheme the Lord or the devotees of the Lord, we control our anger in Krsna consciousness. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu became angry with the miscreant brothers Jagai and Madhai, who blasphemed and struck Nityananda Prabhu. In His Siksastaka Lord Caitanya wrote, trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna: "One should be humbler than the grass and more tolerant than the tree." One may then ask why the Lord exhibited His anger. The point is that one should be ready to tolerate all insults to one's own self, but when Krsna or His pure devotee is blasphemed, a genuine devotee becomes angry and acts like fire against the offenders. Krodha, anger, cannot be stopped, but it can be applied rightly. It was in anger that Hanuman set fire to Lanka, but he is worshiped as the greatest devotee of Lord Ramacandra. This means that he utilized his anger in the right way. Arjuna serves as another example. He was not willing to fight, but Krsna incited his anger: "You must fight!" To fight without anger is not possible. Anger is controlled, however, when utilized in the service of the Lord.

As for the urges of the tongue, we all experience that the tongue wants to eat palatable dishes. Generally we should not allow the tongue to eat according to its choice, but should control the tongue by supplying prasada. The devotee's attitude is that he will eat only when Krsna gives him prasada. That is the way to control the urge of the tongue. One should take prasada at scheduled times and should not eat in restaurants or sweetmeat shops simply to satisfy the whims of the tongue or belly. If we stick to the principle of taking only prasada, the urges of the belly and tongue can be controlled.

In a similar manner, the urges of the genitals, the sex impulse, can be controlled when not used unnecessarily. The genitals should be used to beget a Krsna conscious child, otherwise they should not be used. The Krsna consciousness movement encourages marriage not for the satisfaction of the genitals but for the begetting of Krsna conscious children. As soon as the children are a little grown up, they are sent to our Gurukula school in Dallas, Texas, where they are trained to become fully Krsna conscious devotees. Many such Krsna conscious children are required, and one who is capable of bringing forth Krsna conscious offspring is allowed to utilize his genitals.

When one is fully practiced in the methods of Krsna conscious control, he can become qualified to be a bona fide spiritual master.

In his Anuvrtti explanation of Upadesamrta, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes that our material identification creates three kinds of urges--the urge to speak, the urge or demands of the mind and the demands of the body. When a living entity falls victim to these three types of urges, his life becomes inauspicious. One who practices resisting these demands or urges is called tapasvi, or one who practices austerities. By such tapasya one can overcome victimization by the material energy, the external potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

When we refer to the urge to speak, we refer to useless talking, such as that of the impersonal Mayavadi philosophers, or of persons engaged in fruitive activities (technically called karma-kanda), or of materialistic people who simply want to enjoy life without restriction. All such talks or literatures are practical exhibitions of the urge to speak. Many people are talking nonsensically and writing volumes of useless books, and all this is the result of the urge to speak. To counteract this tendency, we have to divert our talking to the subject of Krsna. This is explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.10-11):

na yad vacas citra-padam harer yaso

jagat-pavitram pragrnita karhicit

tad vayasam tirtham usanti manasa

na yatra hamsa niramanty usik-ksayah

"Those words which do not describe the glories of the Lord, who alone can sanctify the atmosphere of the whole universe, are considered by saintly persons to be like unto a place of pilgrimage for crows. Since the all-perfect persons are inhabitants of the transcendental abode, they do not derive any pleasure there."

tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo

yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty api

namany anantasya yaso 'nkitani yat

srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah

"On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world's misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest."

The conclusion is that only when we talk about devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead can we refrain from useless nonsensical talk. We should always endeavor to use our speaking power solely for the purpose of realizing Krsna consciousness.

As for the agitations of the bickering mind, they are divided into two divisions. The first is called avirodha-priti, or unrestricted attachment, and the other is called virodha-yukta-krodha, anger arising from frustration. Adherence to the philosophy of the Mayavadis, belief in the fruitive results of the karma-vadis, and belief in plans based on materialistic desires are called avirodha-priti. Jnanis, karmis and materialistic planmakers generally attract the attention of conditioned souls, but when the materialists cannot fulfill their plans and when their devices are frustrated, they become angry. Frustration of material desires produces anger.

Similarly, the demands of the body can be divided into three categories--the demands of the tongue, the belly and the genitals. One may observe that these three senses are physically situated in a straight line, as far as the body is concerned, and that the bodily demands begin with the tongue. If one can restrain the demands of the tongue by limiting its activities to the eating of prasada, the urges of the belly and the genitals can automatically be controlled. In this connection Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says:

sarira avidya jala, jadendriya tahe kala,

jive phele visaya-sagare

ta'ra madhye jihva ati, lobhamaya sudurmati,

ta'ke jeta kathina samsare

krsna bada dayamaya, karibare jihva jaya,

sva-prasada-anna dila bhai

sei annamrta khao, radha-krsna-guna gao,

preme daka caitanya-nitai

"O Lord! This material body is a lump of ignorance, and the senses are a network of paths leading to death. Somehow or other we have fallen into the ocean of material sense enjoyment, and of all the senses the tongue is the most voracious and uncontrollable. It is very difficult to conquer the tongue in this world, but You, dear Krsna, are very kind to us. You have sent this nice prasada to help us conquer the tongue; therefore let us take this prasada to our full satisfaction and glorify Your Lordships Sri Sri Radha and Krsna and in love call for the help of Lord Caitanya and Prabhu Nityananda." There are six kinds of rasas (tastes), and if one is agitated by any one of them, he becomes controlled by the urges of the tongue. Some persons are attracted to the eating of meat, fish, crabs, eggs and other things produced by semina and blood and eaten in the form of dead bodies. Others are attracted by eating vegetables, creepers, spinach or milk products, but all for the satisfaction of the tongue's demands. Such eating for sense gratification--including the use of extra quantities of spices like chili and tamarind--is to be given up by Krsna conscious persons. The use of pan, haritaki, betel nuts, various spices used in pan-making, tobacco, LSD, marijuana, opium, liquor, coffee and tea is indulged in to fulfill illicit demands. If we can practice accepting only remnants of food offered to Krsna, it is possible to get free from maya's victimization. Vegetables, grains, fruits, milk products and water are proper foods to offer to the Lord, as Lord Krsna Himself prescribes. However, if one accepts prasada only because of its palatable taste and thus eats too much, he also falls prey to trying to satisfy the demands of the tongue. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught us to avoid very palatable dishes even while eating prasada. If we offer palatable dishes to the Deity with the intention of eating such nice food, we are involved in trying to satisfy the demands of the tongue. If we accept the invitation of a rich man with the idea of receiving palatable food, we are also trying to satisfy the demands of the tongue. In Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 6.227) it is stated:

jihvara lalase yei iti-uti dhaya

sisnodara-parayana krsna nahi paya

"That person who runs here and there seeking to gratify his palate and who is always attached to the desires of his stomach and genitals is unable to attain Krsna."

As stated before, the tongue, belly and genitals are all situated in a straight line, and they fall in the same category. Lord Caitanya has said, bhala na khaibe ara bhala na paribe: "Do not dress luxuriously and do not eat delicious foodstuffs." (Cc. Antya 6.236)

Those who suffer from diseases of the stomach must be unable to control the urges of the belly, at least according to this analysis. When we desire to eat more than necessary we automatically create many inconveniences in life. However, if we observe fasting days like Ekadasi and Janmastami, we can restrain the demands of the belly.

As far as the urges of the genitals are concerned, there are two--proper and improper, or legal and illicit sex. When a man is properly mature, he can marry according to the rules and regulations of the sastras and use his genitals for begetting nice children. That is legal and religious. Otherwise, he may adopt many artificial means to satisfy the demands of the genitals, and he may not use any restraint. When one indulges in illicit sex life, as defined by the sastras, either by thinking, planning, talking about or actually having sexual intercourse, or by satisfying the genitals by artificial means, he is caught in the clutches of maya. These instructions apply not only to householders but also to tyagis, or those who are in the renounced order of life. In his book prema-vivarta, Chapter Seven, Sri Jagadananda Pandita says:

vairagi bhai gramya-katha na sunibe kane

gramya-varta na kahibe yabe milibe ane

svapane o na kara bhai stri-sambhasana

grhe stri chadiya bhai asiyacha vana

yadi caha pranaya rakhite gaurangera sane

chota haridasera katha thake yena mane

bhala na khaibe ara bhala na paribe

hrdayete radha-krsna sarvada sevibe

"My dear brother, you are in the renounced order of life and should not listen to talk about ordinary worldly things, nor should you talk about worldly things when you meet with others. Do not think of women even in dreams. You have accepted the renounced order of life with a vow that forbids you to associate with women. If you wish to associate with Caitanya Mahaprabhu, you must always remember the incident of Chota Haridasa and how he was rejected by the Lord. Do not eat luxurious dishes or dress in fine garments, but always remain humble and serve Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Krsna in your heart of hearts."

The conclusion is that one who can control these six items--speech, mind, anger, tongue, belly and genitals--is to be called a svami or gosvami. Svami means master, and gosvami means master of the go, or senses. When one accepts the renounced order of life, he automatically assumes the title of svami. This does not mean that he is the master of his family, community or society; he must be master of his senses. Unless one is master of his senses, he should not be called gosvami, but go-dasa, servant of the senses. Following in the footsteps of the six Gosvamis of Vrndavana, all svamis and gosvamis should fully engage in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. As opposed to this, the go-dasas engage in the service of the senses or in the service of the material world. They have no other engagement. Prahlada Maharaja has further described the go-dasa as adanta-go, which refers to one whose senses are not controlled. An adanta-go cannot become a servant of Krsna. In Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.5.30), Prahlada Maharaja has said:

matir na krsne paratah svato va

mitho 'bhipadyeta grha-vratanam

adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram

punah punas carvita-carvananam

"For those who have decided to continue their existence in this material world for the gratification of their senses, there is no chance of becoming Krsna conscious, not by personal endeavor, by instruction from others or by joint conferences. They are dragged by the unbridled senses into the darkest region of ignorance, and thus they madly engage in what is called 'chewing the chewed.' "

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I always go to Random Axis, it dont hurt my feelings none. It takes all kinds to make this world. Random's writings are not hateful, and while I certainly have disagreements, I fully suppoort my friend here. I mean, how can I throw stones, with my far left perspective, I could have many enemies everywhere, yet, as theist can confirm, political differences have nothing to do with yuga dharma. Plenty of evidence abounds, like the differences experianced between King Bhisma and King Yudhisthira.

 

As far as the differences between muslims and islamists, Random speaks the truth. There is no tolerance for fanatics who blaspheme the Names of God (Allah) while ruthlessly murdering His humble servants. It is ksatriya duty to vigilantly prevent the spread of great offenders like the madhi freaks and the wahabi killers of the innocent. I dont agree with Random on the methodology, but we are one in terms of understanding the need to destroy this great burden to the world.

 

Haribol. ys, mahaksadasa

 

PS BVML.org is fantastic, very well done, and full of nectar for the entire vaisnava community.

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Good to here from ya, dawg! :D Hope everything is well with you and your family.

 

You know, I just spent a week in Mayapur recently, and dozens of folks I met for the first time gave thanks and encouragement for the site. Even had a short meeting with Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaja [President/Acharya of the Sri Chaitanya Gaudiya Math]. No one mentioned my personal mundane pages.:ponder:

 

Puru and I are burning CDs of the BVML site w/o the multimedia -- it will still have all of Srila Prabhupada's books, Srila Sridhar Mj's books, and Srila BV Narayan Mj's books on it for offline viewing/research. If you are still at that same address from where you mailed the Tesla book from, I'll snailmail you a CD.

 

You know, I have lots of Muslin friends. Some are even Palestinians. On my way back from Mayapur last week, I had a 14-hour layover in Dubai and had a chance to talk with many Muslims. They all hate the Islamists and jihadis as much as I do!

 

Best regards,

rX

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<TABLE style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" borderColor=#6699cc cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=625 bgColor=#ffffff border=5><TBODY><TR borderColor=#ffffff><TD vAlign=top height=125><MAP name=banner><AREA shape=RECT alt="Bhaktivedanta Memorial Library" coords=97,24,98,25 href="index.htm"><AREA shape=RECT alt="Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu" coords=87,2,147,90 href="SCM/index.htm"><AREA shape=RECT alt="Srila Sanatana Goswami" coords=151,0,205,89 href="SSG/index.htm"><AREA shape=RECT alt="Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura Prabhupada" coords=208,1,268,90 href="SBTP/index.htm"><AREA shape=RECT alt="Sri Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada" coords=274,0,336,91 href="SBSST/index.htm"><AREA shape=RECT alt="Sri Srimad Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Goswami" coords=339,0,392,91 href="SBPKM/index.htm"><AREA shape=RECT alt="Srila Bhakti Promod Puri Goswami" coords=397,0,466,90 href="SBPPG/index.htm"><AREA shape=RECT alt="Srila Hrydaya Bon Maharaja" coords=469,0,527,89 href="SHBM/index.htm"><AREA shape=RECT alt="Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Maharaja" coords=531,0,596,89 href="SBDMM/index.htm"><AREA shape=RECT alt="Srila Bhakti Rakshaka Sridhara Maharaja" coords=86,94,146,181 href="SBRSM/index.htm"><AREA shape=RECT alt="Srila Bhakti Kumud Santa Maharaja" coords=151,91,207,182 href="SBKSM/index.htm"><AREA shape=RECT alt="Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada" coords=211,92,272,181 href="ACBSP/index.htm"><AREA shape=RECT alt="Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja" coords=276,93,331,184 href="SGGM/index.htm"><AREA shape=RECT alt="Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Maharaja" coords=336,93,400,182 href="SBVM/index.htm"><AREA shape=RECT alt="Srila Bhaktivedanta Trivikrama Maharaja" coords=402,93,458,182 href="SBTM/index.htm"><AREA shape=RECT alt="Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja" coords=465,94,526,183 href="SBNM/index.htm"><AREA shape=RECT alt="Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaja" coords=533,91,598,183 href="SBBTM/index.htm"><AREA shape=RECT alt="Bhaktivedanta Memorial Library" coords=0,0,0,0 href="index.htm"></MAP>bvml_banner.jpg</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top borderColor=#ffffff align=left background=grfx/bckgrd.jpg height=332><CENTER>Bhaktivedanta Memorial Library

Mission Statement

 

 

</CENTER>

 

Dear Readers of Bvml.org,

 

Please accept our dandavat pranams. All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gouranga. All glories to Sri Sri Radha Govindaji!!! All glories to Sacinandana Goura Hari!!!

 

Bvml.org was established as an alternative to other highly politically oriented websites that concern themselves with the Gaudiya Vaisnava community. We found that posting articles on such sites and on various internet forums only incited contention, especially with regard to any deep understanding of suddha-bhakti, and guru-tattva. Rather than waste energy on fruitless arguments we decided to put that energy elsewhere. We felt more was accomplished by simply making available the positive assertions of our Gaudiya Acaryas with regard to the absolute truth through their articles and lectures, for anyone interested.

 

 

Bvml's purpose is therefore to offer the Gaudiya tattva-siddhanta as seen through the realization and scholarship of our Gaudiya-acaryas and the shastra (revealed scriptures). At the 1936 observance of the vyasa puja celebration of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, before the members of the Bombay Gaudiya Matha, Abhay Charan Das [early name of His Divine Grace Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada] declared:
"Gentlemen, the offering of such an homage as has been arranged this evening to the acaryadeva is not a sectarian concern, for when we speak of the fundamental principle of gurudeva or acaryadeva, we speak of something that is of universal application.
There does not arise any question of discriminating my guru from yours or anyone else's. There is only one guru, who appears in an infinity of forms to teach you, me and all others
."

Bvml's banner exemplifies His Divine Grace's non-sectarean mood.<SUP>[1]</SUP> Therefore, photos of selected predecessor and present acaryas have been posted. The order of their photos bears some explanation. We have placed them in order of the external calendar date they joined the Gaudiya Mission of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, "full time." Members of the "same" Mission are placed together.

Such liberated souls are eternal members of Sri Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu's Mission. However, according to their different nara lilas (earthly pastimes), "joining" means the date they moved into the matha, took harinama initiation, or left household life for full time involvement in preaching activities, even though some had some association with their gurudeva even before that date.

While bvml.org devotes a small amount of bandwidth to current "hot topics", or "controversial" discussion from contemporary disciples, the bulk of our site is dedicated to the words of the Gaudiya-acaryas, and their divine realizations about the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Your servants,

Puru das adhikari

Bhutabhavana dasa

 

 

 

<HR>
[1]
Here is the information used to organize our banner, which was obtained in India after careful research. We consulted with various senior devotees from different Missions, and took help from Srila Bhakti Vijnana Bharati Maharaja, the secretary of the Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Matha. He kindly consulted his personal notebooks to assist us in obtaining accurate information concerning dates. If you see any errors please contact us.

started The Gaudiya Mission in 1918

 

joined 1920

 

joined circa 1920

 

joined 1923

 

joined circa 1924 - 1925

 

joined 1926

 

joined 1927

 

joined 1927

 

joined 1929

 

joined 1932 at 11 years of age.

 

diksa 1932; sannyasa 1959; established ISKCON l965

 

Since all of the aforementioned acaryas are godbrothers and direct diksa disciples of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, we have tried to observe Vaisnava etiquette by not making any false disctinctions between them and listing all of their names with the same prefix "Srila." The details of their service to Sri Srila Prabhupada (His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura) may differ, but it behooves anyone to try to make mundane or sectarian value judgements with regard to the quality of guru nistha and guru seva they each exhibited in their own fashion.<SUP> [2]</SUP>

 

joined ISKCON 1975, sannyasa 1975

 

joined GVS<SUP>* </SUP>1943, sannyasa 1954

 

joined GVS prior 1946, sannyasa 1954

 

joined GVS 1946, sannyasa 1954

 

joined Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math 1947, sannyasa 1961

 

diksa 1986; residence at Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math 1987

 

 

[2]
Srila Narahari Sakara Thakura [the 40th branch of the Caitanya tree] has explained in his Sri Krsna Bhajanamrta as follows
Verse 40:
Because the Vaisnava devotees of the Lord are always meditating on Lord Sri Krsna the contamination of sinful activities cannot come upon them. Because a Vaisnava's body has the fire of Krsna Consciousness within it, even if they are fallen, this fire of Krsna Consciousness will burn up to ashes any material contamination.

 

Verse 41:
However, those who are not able to understand the respective levels of spiritual potency may take shelter of this example.
As in the Ganges there are many waves, and some of these waves are larger then other waves but all of the waves are considered to be sacred,
one wave being not considered more holy than another wave, similarly, all types of Vaisnavas, those who are spiritually strong and those who are not so strong, can be offered equal worship.
Considering this perspective in such circumstances that can be accepted as perfect worship.

 

Verse 42:
All Vaisnavas are considered as guru or spiritual master.

 

Verse 43:
Amongst all of the Vaisnavas the initiating guru (diksa-guru) and instructing guru (siksa-guru) are special.

 

Verse 44:
It is proper to offer these two special respect.

 

Verse 45:
Amongst all of the other spiritual masters these two (diksa-guru and siksa-guru) spiritual masters' orders are to be followed.

 

His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes:

 

"Narahari das Sarkara was a very famous devotee. Locan das Thakur, the elaborated author of Caitanya-mangala, was his disciple. In Caitanya-mangala it is stated that Sri Gadadhara das and Narahari Sarkara were extremely dear to Sri Caitanya Mahparabhu."

 

The Trunk, Branches and Subbranches of the Caitanya Tree

Purport to Texts 78 - 79

 

 

 

<CENTER>Return to bml_logo.gif</CENTER>

<CENTER>

Sunrise over Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's Puspa Samadhi, Mayapur, West Bengal

</CENTER>

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

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<center>BVML Newest Additions

 

</center> <center>30 March 2007

 

</center> Sri Sri Radha Mohan Mandira Photos Divine Goddess Bhajans

BB's Mayapur Videos

<hr>

29 March 2007

 

Two new additions to God Consciousness in American History:

 

and

<hr>

<center>28 March 2007

 

</center> Parishads: Shikhi Mahiti and Sri Pradyumna Mishra by Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaja Annual Number of Abortions in the World Exceeds 55 Million

<center>NEW SECTION:

The Four Vaisnava Sampradayas

 

</center> <center>

 

</center> The Brahma Sampradaya

 

The Laksmi Sampradaya

 

The Siva Sampradaya

 

The Kumara Sampradaya

 

The Mayavada School

 

<hr>

26 March 2007

 

Benjamin Franklin on Religion Rama-Navami by Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja [bangkok, Thailand: April 11, 2003]

<hr>

25 March 2007

 

A new section has been added called God Consciousness in American History:

by Patrick Henry on March 23, 1775

 

by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Founder-Acarya for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in 1966

 

Sadhana by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura Prabhupada Govardhana Tour Report -- March 2007

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24 March 2007

 

Parishads: Sri Pradyumna Brahmachari by Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaja Kazakh Hare Krishna Followers Fear Eviction

<hr>

23 March 2007

 

<center>yoga-pitha.jpg</center>

<center>Yoga-Pitha

Holy Birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

 

</center> The following articles show the authenticity of Sridhama Mayapura as the birthsite of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu:

 

Bhaktivinoda Thakura was not staying in Godrumadvipa when he had his vision of the Adbhuta Mandira. In fact Bhaktivinoda's house at Godruma was not built until two years later.

Swami B. G. Narasingha explains the original conception of Pradhupada for The Temple of Understanding in Sridhama Mayapura and discusses the prediction of the Adbhuta Mandira.

 

Where is the actual birthsite of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and where is the Adbhuta Mandira? Swami B. G. Narasingha corrects popular misconceptions regarding these topics.

 

An unbiased academic study by Prof. K.N. Mukherjee on the authenticity of the present Yogapitha temple in Mayapura, taken from 'The Indian Journal of Landscape Systems and Ecological Studies 1984' (revised in 1990).

 

[Excerpt from 'The Gaudiya' Magazine, March 9, 1934]

 

[Excerpt from 'The Gaudiya' Magazine, March 9, 1934]

 

[Excerpt from 'The Gaudiya' Magazine 1934]

 

An article by Professor Nishi Kanta Sanyal, disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada, taken from The Harmonist magazine Vol. 28. 1931. Prof. Sanyal explains both the academic and transcendental evidences to authenticate the Mayapura birthsite.

 

Some notes from the book 'Citre Navadvipa' published in 1930 by Sriyukta Saradindu Narayana Raya, secretary of the Navadvipa-dhama Pracarini Sabha. This book has many evidences including discoveries made by the famous Bengali historian Sri Nagendranath Basu.

 

A short article reporting the opening of the Yogapitha temple in 1935, with additional background information.

 

An article from The Harmonist 1931 which gives additional evidence pointing to the birth site of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

An extract from an article entitled "The Full Moon of the Advent of Lord Gauranga" from The Harmonist, Vol. 15 1935. This essay mentions the prediction of Srila Vrndavana Dasa Thakura in Sri Caitanya-bhagavata about the discovery of Mayapura.

 

An excerpt from a Bengali article found in The Gaudiya magazine written in 1935, explaining the prediction of Sri Nityananada Prabhu and it's fulfillment by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Prabhupada Sarasvati Thakura.

 

<hr>

21 March 2007

 

Sri Sacinandana-Vandana by Srila Bhakti Rakshaka Sridhara Maharaja KAZAKHSTAN: Hare Krishna Demolition Re-Started – Then Halted by "person in a black Mercedes"

<hr>

20 March 2007

 

Rules For The Temple by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada KAZAKHSTAN: Stalled Hare Krishna Demolitions to Take Place "in next five days"

<hr>

19 March 2007

 

speaking-sm.jpgcrowd-sm.jpg <center>INVITATION TO:

Houston Bhakti Yoga Retreat

(Festival of Love & Devotion)

With

His Divine Grace

Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

May 29 – June 3, 2007</center> <hr>

18 March 2007

 

SBBTM_pda-bb.jpg <center>Additions to Sri Chaitanya: His Life & Associates

[The Parishad Associates of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu]

by Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaja:</center>

<center>Sri Achyutananda | Sri Chandrasekhara Acharya

The Ghosh Brothers | Sri Ishan Thakur

Srila Gopal Guru Goswami | Sri Ramachandra Puri

Sri Raghava Pandit | Sri Shuklambara Brahmacari

Sri Nandana Acharya | Sri Subuddhi Raya

Vasudeva Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya

Sri Kali Das and Jharu Thakur</center> BVML editors take darshan with His Divine Grace

Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaja at the Sri

Chaitanya Gaudiya Math on Gaura Purnima. <hr>

15 March 2007

 

smilingnavadvipa-s.jpg

<center>Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja:</center>

<center>Srivas Thakur [An Excerpt on His Glories]</center>

<center>Tour Report -- Gaura Purnima: March 3, 2007</center>

<center>The Only English Class</center>

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