What is the Gauranga Dharma...

[Guest guest]

So you edited your post while I was replying to it. Anyway, if you seriously want to know the answers, why not ask him directly? He is easily accessible via three email addresses so why not ask him if you have grave doubts over the philosophy he is preaching? Personally I think that these questions are a little pathetic not to mention offensive. What difference would it make to you if he sold 100,000 books or 1 book? How does this make any difference to his preaching? Do you mean to say that he woud look more impressive if he had sold a million books? So as I said if you seriously want to know then just email him and ask. Simple no?

[livingentity 0]

and there was no reply but as a disciple you should know the answers to these simple questions and would want to gladly proclaim the pastimes of your guru. Out of three disciples that were asked these same questions (you are number three)- none had the answers.

 

BTW...I did not ask how many books he has sold...I only asked about what was stated in the description of the one book.

 

 

 

[Jahnava Nitai Das 2]

The concocted mantra that was on the gauranga dharma site was: "Jaya Nityananda Jaya Gauranga Hare Krishna Nitai Gauranga", very similar to "Nitai Gaur Radhe Shyam Hare Krishna Hare Rama" which was criticized by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta. This concocted mantra was being propogated by one of the "appointed gurus" of Gauranga Dharma.

 

What I sense here is a tendency to flout spiritual authority, to manufacture our own path, and a refusal to be a humble disciple and follow the instructions and examples of previous acharyas. First Swami Gaurangapada creates a new sadhana of "mantrarajas", then in one month one of his "appointed gurus" has created his own mantra ("jaya nityananda jaya gauranga hare krishna nitai gauranga"). In another month another follower will create his own mantra, and this will go on.

 

It is a fact that neither Srila Prabhupada nor Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati (whom Gaurangapada likes to quote and show photos of) have instructed their disciples to chant nityananda gauranga on japa beads as a sadhana. Both acharyas have instructed their disciples to chant the hare krishna mahamantra, and both have practically demonstrated this sadhana by performing it themselves. There is no such thing as an initiation into nityananda-gauranga mantrarajas. Its a fabrication.

 

It is good that it gets people to chant the names of the Lord, but there is an underlying refusal to submit to the acharya's example behind it.

 

Again, I will restate the following point: If Swami Gaurangapada cannot explain why the panchatattva mantra cannot be chanted on japa beads, then he is not quaified to decide which mantras can and cannot be chanted on japa beads.

 

Other troubling things include his opinion that his own books on Chaitanya lila should be distributed instead of Srila Prabhupada's books. He believes his own books will have more effect in making devotees (because they speak of Gaura Lila) than the books of Srila Prabhupada.

 

Did he forget that he became a devotee by reading Srila Prabhupada's books, not by reading a gaura lila book on Gauranga Dharma? Did he forget that Srila Prabhupada's books have made thousands of devotees throughout the world?

 

Unfortunately many Gaudiya organizations exist by cultivating people already associated with ISKCON. They are practically unable to make devotees on their own, so they try to point out defects in ISKCON in an attempt to draw people away from ISKCON to their camp. Gauranga Dharma is no different in that it targets those already practicing Krishna consciousness (under the teachings of Srila Prabhupada). Naive newcomers who have not actually read the books of Srila Prabhupada are impressed by a couple quotes taken from Srila Prabhupada's books glorifying Gauranga's name. By misuse of these few quotes, they are led to believe Srila Prabhupada's true desire was to spread "Gauranga dharma". All those who disagree with their view of Srila Prabhupada are labelled offenders to Gauranga's holy name and to the feet of the acharya Swami Gaurangapada. This shows clearly that these followers are newcomers to Krishna consciousness with little understanding of the history or teachings of Krishna consciousness.

 

Everyone is looking for an easy answer to their problems. Rather than accept our own shortcomings in spiritual life and become introspective we prefer to blame our process of sadhana. "We aren't advancing because the chanting of Hare Krishna is a difficult and long process." Such grasshoppers jump around to "easier" sadhanas that offer more for less.

 

Srila Prabhupada's most emphatic instruction was not to change anything. In just 30 years, someone who never saw him wants to alter his teachings and create a new religion called gaurangaism by collecting impatient followers of Srila Prabhupada who want something for nothing, an easy path that requires less work for more gain. Unfortunately they will find the flaw was not in the sadhana but in ourselves, and as such their advancement will remain at the same pace regardless of which mantra they choose to chant.

 

[livingentity 0]

one of your godbrothers that a group of us was talking with got extremely agitated and he said to me, "YOU ARE A SINNER. YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE!!!!", when I said that I did not consider Srila Prabhupada to be "dead".

 

But when we asked him why he was so upset about that he either could not or would not answer. Perhaps you can clear this mystery for me.

 

Why am I am sinner because I do not consider Srila Prabhupad to be "dead"?

 

and What is "one of those" in relation to not considering Srila Prabhupada "dead"?

 

[Govindaram 1]

 

Thankyou Guest Prabhuji, for your kind words about me, i feel humbled, Indas Prabhuji post is amazing, wow, everything he has said, i wish i could have thought up!..

 

Jai!, i think that post has in my eyes effectively ended, the argument, i wish you all the luck in your quest for Krishna!..Guestji.

 

 

[Guest guest]

Haribolliving entity, i decided to answer your two posts in one. First let me explain that I am not his disciple but I was once very close to him shortly before all of this Gauranga Dharma and so on, and I used to chat with him for hours about all of these same questions that you and jndas is asking and so on, and he was very convincing, this is why I say that if anyone has any problems understanding this philosophy then it is pretty easy to write and clarify since he has three email addresses. OK I was wrong, you didn't ask how many books he had sold. Well, personally I still think that those questions are rather irrelevant but you can always ask him. I don't know why he has said that thing about his book, I assume that he is humbly writing about Gauranga's pastimes so to create interest in Srila Prabhupada's Caitanyacaritamta. Again, why not ask him at one of his three email addresses?

And I don't know why that person (whoever he was) reacted in such a silly way about Prabhupada. I do not consider him to be "dead" either, he is still very much living. Perhaps he thought you were some sort of ritvik? Who knows? I agree with you on this point, Gaurangapada would never approve of such blasphemy or behaviour. Gaurangapada is very very strict on this point, that we should always respect the gurus and acharyas of our Gaudiya line. We do not wish to speak bad about ISKCON either but it is also a fact that they treat and have treated us very very badly.

[Guest guest]

"The concocted mantra that was on the gauranga dharma site was: "Jaya Nityananda Jaya Gauranga Hare Krishna Nitai Gauranga", very similar to "Nitai Gaur Radhe Shyam Hare Krishna Hare Rama" which was criticized by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta. This concocted mantra was being propogated by one of the "appointed gurus" of Gauranga Dharma."

 

Really? Well if you're so concerned about it thenwhy not ask Gaurangapada or that appointed guru why they have a concoted mantra on their site? And earlier you said: "Srila Prabhupadapada says even those who chant "Nitai Gaur Radhe Shyam Japa Hare Krishna Hare Rama" attain spiritual ecstasy despite the mantra being a sahajiya concoction, so what then of chanting the bonafide names of Gouranga and Nityananda." This is completely blasphemous. Everybody knows that NGRSHKHR is a complete concoction, and you are comparing this sahajiya ecstay chanting to the ecstasy felt when chanting the pure and bonafide names of Lord Gauranga and Lord Nityananda! Absolutely pathetic. I wonder how anyone can say that the two names of Gauranga and Nityananda are complete concoctions. It is plainly observed through sadhu sastra and guru that the chanting of Nityananda and Gauranga's names is perfectly bonafide.

 

"What I sense here is a tendency to flout spiritual authority, to manufacture our own path, and a refusal to be a humble disciple and follow the instructions and examples of previous acharyas." Sivananda Sena chanted 'Gauranga' on his japa beads. Is that manufacturing a path or is that following the examples/instruction of past gurus?

 

"First Swami Gaurangapada creates a new sadhana of "mantrarajas", then in one month one of his "appointed gurus" has created his own mantra ("jaya nityananda jaya gauranga hare krishna nitai gauranga"). In another month another follower will create his own mantra, and this will go on." Really? That's a nice prediction which will never come true. If you raise your voice in protest to Gaurangapada, the appointed guru or the webmaster, they may agree with you and take it down. Unfortunately you would rather commit offenses by publicly decrying a great Vaishnava who has given hope to many aspiring sadhakas.

 

"It is a fact that neither Srila Prabhupada nor Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati (whom Gaurangapada likes to quote and show photos of) have instructed their disciples to chant nityananda gauranga on japa beads as a sadhana." I think that you have not studied the teachings of either Prabhupada or Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati properly. Numerous quotes were earlier given on this site which prove the point rather perfectly. "Now, what is the difference, Nitai-Gauranga and Hare Krsna? Nitai-Gauranga and Hare Krsna, there is no difference. Nitai-Gauranga is also nice. Whatever he finds convenient, let him chant.” (Shrila Prabhupada's Room Conversation with Yoga Student specifically regarding Japa, March 14, 1975, Iran) If you had studied the quotes earlier posted in this thread, you will find that there are plenty of references in Prabhupada's teachings as well as teachings of other acharyas.

 

"Again, I will restate the following point: If Swami Gaurangapada cannot explain why the panchatattva mantra cannot be chanted on japa beads, then he is not quaified to decide which mantras can and cannot be chanted on japa beads." I think that you are not qualified to criticise or demand an explanation from an elevated V aishnava who is successfully preaching and serving Gauranga. But if you are genuinely concerned then you can be free to email him and ask him. However it would be good not to maintain an attitude of envy as Vaishnava-aparadha is so severe that it shrivels bhakti and makes it dry up. You should yourself know why pancatattva mantra cannot be counted on beads, did Prabhupada et al teach that by their personal examples?

 

"Other troubling things include his opinion that his own books on Chaitanya lila should be distributed instead of Srila Prabhupada's books. He believes his own books will have more effect in making devotees (because they speak of Gaura Lila) than the books of Srila Prabhupada." Have you asked him about this or is this just your assumption?

 

"Did he forget that he became a devotee by reading Srila Prabhupada's books, not by reading a gaura lila book on Gauranga Dharma? Did he forget that Srila Prabhupada's books have made thousands of devotees throughout the world?" Gaurangapada has always told us to read the books of Srila Prabhupada. More than that he has told us to read Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's books as well as Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura's books. In fact, he approves the reading of all boks of the acharyas. He has recently completed a translation of Prabhodananda Sarasvatis Caitanya-candramrtam.

 

"Unfortunately many Gaudiya organizations exist by cultivating people already associated with ISKCON. They are practically unable to make devotees on their own, so they try to point out defects in ISKCON in an attempt to draw people away from ISKCON to their camp." This is a complete blasphemy and a total lie. jndas should apologise immediately for sspreading complete lies. No one has made an effort to draw iskcon devotees away and join Gauranga Dharma. They are free to come of course, but no one has made propaganda against Iskcon. Rather the case is that iskcon devotees always come to us and abuse us and are sometimes thrown out of our chatrooms for making trouble and spoiling the chat. As far as I know, the people who come to Gaurangapada's ashram in India previously had no connection with ISKCON and did not have a single clue who ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada was before they met Gaurangapada. Most of them are just simple villagers. This extremely offensive allegation that they are stealing ISKCON followers is a total and complete lie.

 

"Naive newcomers who have not actually read the books of Srila Prabhupada are impressed by a couple quotes taken from Srila Prabhupada's books glorifying Gauranga's name. By misuse of these few quotes, they are led to believe Srila Prabhupada's true desire was to spread "Gauranga dharma". All those who disagree with their view of Srila Prabhupada are labelled offenders to Gauranga's holy name and to the feet of the acharya Swami Gaurangapada. This shows clearly that these followers are newcomers to Krishna consciousness with little understanding of the history or teachings of Krishna consciousness." Again this is totally without base and is completel lies. Again I have to ask the offensive jndas if he knows all this for a fact or is he just assuming? Several people who have come to GD are not naive newcomers, this is completel nonsense. Several of Prabhupada's disciples have come to see Gaurangapada and that have absolutely no problem at all with the philosophy that he preaches. Calling such people naive newcomers who have little understanding of Krishna consciousness is rather silly? I think thatdisciples of Prabhupada have had much more experience in sadhana and so on than jndas? How many years has jndas been a devotee and how many books has he sold, by the way?

 

"Everyone is looking for an easy answer to their problems. Rather than accept our own shortcomings in spiritual life and become introspective we prefer to blame our process of sadhana. "We aren't advancing because the chanting of Hare Krishna is a difficult and long process." Such grasshoppers jump around to "easier" sadhanas that offer more for less." More offense and lies. Almost all those who have taken to the chanting of Gauranga and Nityananda's name have experienced beneficial effects such as an increase of japa chanting of even HK mantra as well as with attentive chanting and so on. The whole experience makes them want to dive into Srila Prabhupada's books more and more. Let them be so called "grassphoppers" they are extremely happy grasshoppers who have taken to the chanting of Gauranga and Nityananda and make them free of the offences to chant Hare Krishna mantra.

 

I think that Ample evidence has already been posted from Prabhupada's and Acharya's books on this topic. It is clear that there is absolutely nothing wrong with chanting 'Gauranga' and 'Nityananda' names. People who are envious tend to be blind to the clear eveidence and criticise a lot. This will lead to Vaishnava-aparadha which will shrivel and dry up our bhakti. It is all over bar the shouting.

[Guest guest]

>>>>>As far as I know, the people who come to Gaurangapada's ashram in India previously had no connection with ISKCON and did not have a single clue who ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada was before they met Gaurangapada.

 

Last time I saw him he was living in an apartment at Mira Road, Mumbai. There is no ashram in India unless it is something new.

[bhaktamaxime 0]

All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

 

Respected Matajis, Prabhus and everybody in-between,

 

I received Mahadiskha into the Nityananda-Gauranga Mantrarajas and chant it daily along with the Maha-Mantra on beads.

If you cannot appreciate what Swami Gaurangapa is doing, please, just wish him success in his work because what he is preaching changed my life. I am much more focused on devotional service and I have found a wonderful wonderful international community of fellow bhaktas/bhaktins to have fellowship with daily.

I never meet my beloved Gurudeva, but I know that he is working day and night for us, the fallen conditionned souls. He is always, always, available to help anyone who request it.

I cherish the initiation he gave me as a great treasure. It was not an @easy@ initiation. I had to prove that at least I had little love for Lord Caitanya. To be frank, I know I don't have any but my Gurudeva had mercy on me.

You have the right to disagree. You have the right to not chant the NG Mantrarajas, but please...please, do not make offenses. I know I am very stupid (I once joked that Gurudeva would call me Mahastupid dasa) and that my bhakti-lata is very weak so I try to respect all Vaisnavas and Vaisnavis, even if their practices is different than mine.

I used to dream about inter-Vaisnava Harinam but I have to be less flower-power and more realistic. It may never happen. Why? Because we are so attached to our designations (I am in ISKCON, I am a ritvik, I am in Gaudiya-Math, I am.. I am...). We all belong to Lord Caitanya's family tree, why can't we just get along with each other for Krsna's sake!

All of this discussion started with Starman prabhu who was asking what Gauranga-Dharma is. Let us focus on that so we won't look like spiritual children screaming @My Guru is better than yours@ or @Outside of my matha, there is no salvation@.

I bow down very low at the lotus feet of my beloved Gurudeva and at all of your spiritual masters, even if they are against Gauranga Dharma. This is the only intelligence that I have.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krsna! Jaya Srila Prabhupada! Jaya Srila Gaurangapa!

Om Shanti!

 

Mukunda Gauranga das

P.S French is my native language, sorry for the mistakes

[Guest guest]

It is an intolerable lie that Gauranga Dharma tries to seduce people from Iskcon. People leave Iskcon for several reasons that could fill volumes but this thread is not about offending each other, even though some persons due to the lack of Vedic references use offences as their only "weapon".

 

This thread was started by Starman who wanted to know what Gauranga Dharma is, and some wise member advised him to see it for himself to decide and gave the link. And then some persons appeared who started to criticize and judge. This is disgusting and reminds one of the horrifying style, where, in the name of Srila Prabhupad the most terrible offences are presented against almost everyone.

 

We presented lost of arguments based on the Vedas, the writings of the Acharyas and quotes from Prabhupad. In return all you could present was ONE quote from a letter, the famous "Who is that rascal..." sentence. That was all. Apart from that only personal opinions and offensive statements.

 

Puri Gauranga das

[Jahnava Nitai Das 2]

 

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu has appeared with panca..., panca-tattvatmakam. You cannot neglect anything. If you think that “I shall simply worship...,” oh, that is a great offense, “...Caitanya Mahaprabhu or only Caitanya-Nityananda” No. You must worship Panca-tattva, panca-tattvatmakam krishnam, in full. Similarly, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, sixteen names, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ (devotees chant) Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. So you cannot mix up. You must do according to sastra. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. If you deviate from the sastra, then you will never be successful.

 

 

- Srila Prabhupada

[Jahnava Nitai Das 2]

 

Taking advantage of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, many unscrupulous devotees manufacture a maha-mantra of their own. Sometimes they sing bhaja nitai gaura radhe syama hare krishna hare rama or sri-krishna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda hare krishna hare rama sri-radhe govinda. Actually, however, one should chant the names of the full Panca-tattva (sri-krishna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda) and then the sixteen words Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. But these unscrupulous, less intelligent men confuse the entire process. Of course, since they are also devotees they can express their feelings in that way, but the method prescribed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s pure devotees is to first chant the full Panca-tattva mantra and then chant the maha-mantra—Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

 

 

- Srila Prabhupada

[theist 1]

to try and find some fault with the two quotes above I would think to be offensive.

 

People are quoting Prabhupada but at the same time ignoring the quote from the letter he posted.

 

The sannyasi was His Holiness Vishnujana Swami. When I heard he was chanting panca-tattva mantra on his beads I started immediately. Then a couple weeks later I was chanting thusly at the temple and somone told me Prabhupada had spoken against the practice. I immediately stopped.

 

Why it is not correct is not understood by me. Now Prabhupada certainly did not stop the chanting of panca-tattva mantra obviously. It was only not to be chanted on beads.

 

I had always kind of assumed is was a rasa-bhasa thing that was over my head. I now have a hand counter that I put a yellow sticker on and use only for panca-tattva mantra. That is of course when I am chanting enough to count.

 

All I see being said is don't deviate from Prabhupada's instruction and then claim you are presenting his process. Very simple. No hard and fast rules. OK then chant as you please just don't claim it's what Prabhupada taught.

 

Maybe someone can explain why Prabhupada stopped the chanting of the panca-tattva mantra on beads. I would like to know.

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Puri Gauranga prabhuji,

 

unfortunately the abuse and offense levelled towards Sri Gaurangapada is an occasional affair for some fanatical and envious people, but for us followers of Gaurangapada it is an almost daily affair when fanatical devotees send us offensive and abusive emails and come and disturb our chats in the chatroom. All we ever do is immerse ourselves in Krsna-katha and they come almost daily to abuse us. What else do fanatics have to do in their spare time?

We have to deal with all of these silly arguments as an almost daily affair so that it becomes our cross to bear. Just see how the arguments go; first they say there is nothing in Srila Prabhupada's teachings about this. Then when we present all of the relevant quotes, then they change their arguments and say we are taking the quotes out of context and misusing them which is total nonsense. As if the quotes are not there in Srila Prabhupada's own books and as if we have "spiced them up" in some way. Then they say we are stealing ISKCON followers which is an absurd lie, and lastly they say that followers have not got very good knowledge of Srila Prabhupada's teachings, another absurd lie since almost all of our followers are extremely well-read in Srila Prabhupada's books. Then the last argument is that we chant concocted mantras, another absurd lie. We simply chant the names of "Nityananda" and "Gauranga," this is a concoction? We are urged to chant 64 rounds of Hare-Krishna mantra also, this is not good? These four or five lies is the sum and substance of the arguments against us and we smash them on an almost daily basis? Critics and offenders have nothing better to do than to commit Vaishnava-aparadha in their spare time, we will have nothing to do with this activity we sall just serve Guru and Gauranga and continue with out sadhana. But we must expose the barefaced lies that are very offensive and slanderous.

[Guest guest]

Haribol theist,

 

it is always beyond our means to understand the words and actions of a pure devotee such as Srila Prabhupada. But we try to follow his orders in toto, we do not chant panca-tattva mantra on beads as per his instruction.

The interesting thing is that all acharyas have said that chanting of names Nityananda and Gauranga should be done and there is provision in Srila Prabhupada's teachings for this also. He even said it is ok to chant on beads, all of the necessary quotes have already been posted. They will clear all of the offenses that are obstructing us from chanting Hare Krsna mantra and many of us feel great benefit from this process. It is quite simple to follow. Sorry I cannot answer your question as I do not know answer, please try to understand.

[Jahnava Nitai Das 2]

Please see the following quote from Swami Gaurangapada:

 

 

Article by Swami Gaurangapada:

 

Thus the neophyte faces a big dilemma in his or her spiritual life. The solution to this dilemma is given by Shrila Prabhupada himself in the following two quotes:

 

(1) Yoga Student: “...to chant the names of Nitai-Gauranga before we encourage them so much to chant the maha-mantra?”

 

Prabhupada: “No. Why? Now, what is the difference, Nitai-Gauranga and Hare Krsna? Nitai-Gauranga and Hare Krsna, there is no difference. Nitai-Gauranga is also nice. Whatever he finds convenient, let him chant.”

 

(Shrila Prabhupada's Room Conversation with Yoga Student specifically regarding Japa, March 14, 1975, Iran)

 

This conversation is specifically about the japa chanting the Mantras on beads. The Yoga Student is not only asking about his own self but also how to preach to others about japa on beads. And in his response Shrila Prabhupada recommends and authorizes the chanting of the two names of Nityananda and Gauranga on japa beads (he clearly does not mention the Pancha-tattva Mantra) and states that chanting Nityananda and Gauranga (either in japa or kirtana) is actually non-different from the chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

 

 

This conversation doesn't mention anything specifically about chanting japa or whether it is in reference to chanting on japa beads, yet Swami Gaurangapada adds the following caption, "Shrila Prabhupada's Room Conversation with Yoga Student specifically regarding Japa". And Swami Gaurangapada repeatedly makes wild claims like "in this quote Prabhupada authorized" and "recommended" the chanting of Nityananda-gauranga on "japa beads". None of this exists in this conversation.

 

There is no way for anyone to know what the conversation was about because it is a 10 second conversation that abruptly switches to discussing Islam. Prabhupada was in Iran talking to a yoga student, this is not an instruction to a disciple on how sadhana should be done.

 

Please see the full conversation. It begins very abruptly with the tape recorder being turned on just as the discussion on chanting is ending. There is no way for anyone to know what they were talking about, nor what the question of the yoga student was, or if it was specifically about japa. Yet Swami Gaurangapada claims this is a conversation specifically about japa, and that the unrecorded question of the yoga student was about chanting nitai-gauranga on japa beads and about preaching this japa to others!? And that in reply Srila Prabhupada approved and recommended the chanting of Nitai Gaura specifically on japa beads. I'm sorry, but none of this exists on the recording.

 

Here is the complete conversation:

 

 

Room Conversation

with Yoga Student

--

March 14, 1975, Iran

750314rc.teh

 

[begining of recording]

Yoga Student: ...to chant the names of Nitai-Gauranga before we encourage them so much to chant the maha-mantra?

 

Prabhupada: No. Why? Now, what is the difference, Nitai-Gauranga and Hare Krishna? Nitai-Gauranga and Hare Krishna, there is no difference. Nitai-Gauranga is also nice. Whatever he finds convenient, let him chant.

 

Yoga student: This country, which was, once at one time followed the Aryan path of Zoroastrianism, which is now practices primarily Islam although having absorbed many of the original elements in it. Do you have a recommendation as to how people of this country might feel the grace of Krishna, perhaps even within the forms of their own traditional practice?

 

Prabhupada: What is that traditional practice?

 

Yoga student: They’re in... Apart from Zoroastrianism, the majority of traditional practice now is Islamic of the Shiite sect.

 

Prabhupada: What is that philosophy?

 

Yoga student: That involves the prayer of three to five times a day of the Shiist...

 

Prabhupada: Prayer five times?

 

Yoga student: Well, it’s the Islamic prayer five times a day, but the Shiist compress it to three times. It’s the same prayer.

 

Prabhupada: Why?

 

Yoga student: Because they are permitted to say two of the prayers at noon and two of the prayers in the evening at one time, rather than spreading them through the afternoon and the...

 

Prabhupada: So why they are disobeying the order of Muhammad?

 

Yoga student: Yes. The... They follow... It’s essentially the same practice as the...

 

Prabhupada: No, you cannot amend on the words of Muhammad if you are a true Mussulman.

 

Yoga student: I don’t think they have to amend it. They’re...

 

Prabhupada: Why? There was five. Why they have made three? That is amendment. You cannot do that.

 

Yoga student: It has been maintained that Ali..., that this was the practice of Ali.

 

Prabhupada: What is that?

 

Yoga student: That Ali prayed at noon, in the afternoon...

 

Atreya Rishi: Ali, the representative of Muhammad.

 

Yoga student: He’s the brother-in-law..., the son-in-law... Hazrad(?) Ali.

 

Prabhupada: Ali, Ali. Ali Hussein. No.

 

Yoga student: Hussein is his son. Ali is the cousin and the son-in-law of the prophet Muhammad. But can they feel the grace of Krishna within this framework, within the framework of their dietary laws and their..., in opening up the experience of Krishna to them?

 

Prabhupada: No, no. If one wants to follow Koran, let him follow strictly that. No halfway mixing.

 

Yoga student: Then preaching in Iran should be essentially to those people who are fallen away from their traditional path.

Prabhupada: Yes. Everyone is fallen. They are simply amending and concoction. That is not good. Why they should amend? [break]

 

 

Based on this recording between Srila Prabhupada and a yoga student in Iran, Swami Gaurangapada claims that "This conversation is specifically about the japa chanting the Mantras on beads", and that Srila Prabhupada "authorized and recommended" this chanting on beads.

 

Swami even tells us what the yoga student was asking to Srila Prabhupada, despite it not existing on the recording: "The Yoga Student is not only asking about his own self but also how to preach to others about japa on beads."

 

How does he know the yoga student specifically asked Srila Prabhupada about the chanting of Nitai Gaur on japa beads? This is complete misrepresentation of the teachings of Srila Prabhupada.

 

And what does Swami claim Srila Prabhupada's answer is:

 

"And in his response Shrila Prabhupada recommends and authorizes the chanting of the two names of Nityananda and Gauranga on japa beads".

 

None of this occurs in the recorded conversation.

 

This is an unfortunate misrepresentation of the teachings of Srila Prabhupada in an article written by Swami Gaurangapada.

 

There is nothing wrong if someone wants to teach others to chant Nitai Gauranga on japa beads, but why try to claim it is Srila Prabhupada's instruction? Srila Prabhupada has established the sadhana for his disciples to follow, and he personally taught his disciples how to chant and what to chant for sadhana.

 

It is unfortunate that often those from the Gaudiya matha who are not disciples of Srila Prabhupada want to tell Srila Prabhupada's followers what Srila Prabhupad actually meant or what he actually taught. What Srila Prabhupada taught is clear by what he had his disciples do and by what he himself did.

[Jahnava Nitai Das 2]

I offer the following from an article by Swami Gaurangapada without comment:

 

 

So spreading the Name of Lord Gauranga was the second-phase plan of Shrila Prabhupada which he initiated himself and left to his followers to spread the names of Nityananda and Gauranga all over the world.

 

 

[Jahnava Nitai Das 2]

This is what Gauranga dharma does according to their website:

 

 

# Quickly Attain the Topmost Spiritual Realizations unattainable even after practicing all kinds of Yoga combined together for millions of lives!

 

# Get instant and permanent relief from each and every problem in life including all kinds of physical (diseases), emotional, mental stress, external influences etc.!

 

# Solve all your financial problems in life!

 

# Permanent Fulfillment of all desires in life!

 

# Gain complete control over your present and future and change your past too!

 

# Feel the ultimate happiness, peace, satisfaction, harmony and prosperity in life

not available by any other means!

 

# Become a great success in whatever you do!

 

# Realize, control & experience the power of your every breath (prana) & second of your life!

 

# Gauranga-Kriya is the topmost welfare activity for your own self and humanity!

 

# Experience the real energy, strength and confidence from within!

 

# Unlimitedly increase your memory, will-power, determination and efficiency!

 

# Ideal for students, working and business class for ensuring maximum output on all levels!

 

# Dovetail yourself in the supremely blissful service of the Cosmic Controller!

 

# Awaken the universal love, kindness and compassion which is lying dormant in your heart!

 

# Instantly illuminate and open all your chakras and raise your kundalini permanently to the topmost perfection and thus always be in harmony with the Purusha!!

 

# Gauranga-Kriya is the culmination and essence of all kinds of Yoga, Maha-Meditations Mahapranayams, Mahakriyas, Mahamudras, Maha-asanas and Mahayajnas in the Vedas!

 

# Give 30 minutes daily for the most powerful Gauranga-Kriya in Kali-yuga,

the One and Only Supreme, Free and Permanent Remedy for all the problems of Life!

 

 

 

Nope, not what Srila Prabhupada taught.

[Jahnava Nitai Das 2]

Don't forget to mix in some Kriya yoga and pranayama into your Gauranga chanting as Swami Gaurangapada instructs on his website:

 

 

Gauranga-Kriya-Mahadiksha is the process of clearly uttering, pronouncing and hearing the "Nityananda" and "Gauranga" Mantra Rajas along with one's breath or without breath 1080 times each daily. When one inhales one should either utter in the mind or loudly (the mouth, lips and tongue should move fully and compulsorily for the clear and proper pronunciation of the Mantra Rajas in the mind even though a sound may or may not be produced externally) "Nityaa" and when one exhales one should utter "nanda" in a similar way. Then during the next inhalation one should utter "Gau" and "raanga" during the exhalation. This cycle of two breaths (two inhalations and two exhalations) accompanied by the chanting of the "Nityananda" and Gauranga" Mantra Rajas once each constitutes one cycle of Gauranga-Kriya (Bhaktiyogic-Kriya) and has to be repeated 1080 times daily or by chanting 10 rounds on a rosary of 108 beads (one can go to the next bead when one completes one cycle of uttering the Mantrarajas once each in two breaths. 1 round = 108 times since there are 108 beads).

 

 

Srila Prabhupada's process is simple and sweet. Crisp and clean, with no Kriya yoga. Never had it, never will.

[Jahnava Nitai Das 2]

From Swami Gaurangapada's website:

 

 

On the completion of the 1080 cycles of Gauranga-Kriya daily, one has to chant three times the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra

 

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare; Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

 

 

[Jahnava Nitai Das 2]

Who is Swami Gaurangapada? From his website:

 

Shri Gurudeva Swami Gaurangapada is the 33rd Spiritual Preceptor in the line of the most powerful disciplic succession (guru-shishya-parampara) of the Krishna-Brahma-Madhva-Nityananda-Gauranga-Gaudiya-Vaishnava-Vinoda-Sarasvata-Bhaktivedanta Sampradaya and has been widely accepted all over the world as the most powerful preacher on the science of Gauranga-Bhaktiyoga. He has scrutinizingly studied the teachings of his three instructing spiritual masters: His Divine Grace Shrila A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, His Divine Grace Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada and His Divine Grace Shrila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura and is practically implementing them for the ultimate benefit of the whole world. He is an alumnus of the world-reputed Indian Institute of Technology at Powai, Mumbai, India.

 

 

[gHari 0]

I can remember being so impressed when Prabhupada wrote that we should promote the form of Lord Syamasundara and name of Lord Caitanya that I created a tee-shirt with the painting of Sri Krsna from the early Bhagavad-gita and under it was the name 'Sri Caitanya'.

 

Some vastly superior dude in a dhoti who later disappeared chastised "That's not Sri Caitanya!" Thank goodness I'm not quite as stupid as I look.

 

<center><img src=http://home.primus.ca/~caitanya/Syamasundara.jpg>

 

 

<H1>Sri Caitanya</H1></center>

 

[Guest guest]

 

This is what Gauranga dharma does according to their website:

 

 

In reply to:

--

 

# Quickly Attain the Topmost Spiritual Realizations unattainable even after practicing all kinds of Yoga combined together for millions of lives!

 

# Get instant and permanent relief from each and every problem in life including all kinds of physical (diseases), emotional, mental stress, external influences etc.!

 

# Solve all your financial problems in life!

 

 

 

Does this come with a money-back guarantee?

 

[Guest guest]

Shrila Prabhupada has clearly authorized both japa and kirtana of the Gauranga Mantra in his purport in Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita Antya-lila 2.31 purport:

 

"Worshipers of Sri Gaurasundara accept the four syllables gau-ra-an-ga as the Gaura mantra, but pure worshipers of Radha and Krsna accept the four syllables ra-dha krs-na as the Gaura-gopala mantra. However, Vaisnavas consider Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu nondifferent from Radha-Krsna (sri-krsna-caitanya radha-krsna nahe anya). Therefore one who chants the mantra "gauranga" and one who chants the names of Radha and Krsna are on the same level."

 

-------------------------

Therefore one who chants the mantra "gauranga" and one who chants the names of Radha and Krsna are on the same level.

-------------------------

 

If someone says that here the word "chant" means only kirtana that is totally unjustified and there is no evidence to prove such a claim especially when the Gauranga Mantra was the ista Mantra of Shrila Shivananda Sena. The ista Mantra is chanted in japa like the 10-syllable ista mantra of the Gopakumara in Brhad Bhagavatamrta. It is understood that Shivananda Sena was doing japa of the Gauranga Mantra when he was called by Nakula Brahmachari. And japa as per Hari Bhakti Vilasa has to be done on beads or fingers.

 

So if someone can blame the tape recorder for the conversations with Srila Prabhupada but his books are universal and for 10,000 years and the chanting of Gauranga Mantra is authenticated in the writings of Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami, Srila Locana dasa Thakura, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada and Srila Prabhupada.

 

[Guest guest]

Srila Prabhupada Uvaca

March 18, 1973

Camp: ISKCON Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir

 

The first international festival has taken place here for the Iskcon devotees. The Bengali form of kirtan has had a major influence on many of the devotees. Srila Prabhupada expressed some displeasure about the chanting of so many different mantras. He said, "They can chant their 'Nitai Gaura, Hari Bols', but I will chant Hare Krsna and go back home, Back to Godhead."

 

Some of the kirtans did get caught up in the 'Hari bols' too much. If we understood the translation maybe we would know what to do. Srila Prabhupada enjoyed chanting the Maha mantra.