Srila Prabhupada: This is our movement. We are not going to exploit anyone.

October 14, 2024 in Articles by Bhakta Rupesh

Srila Prabhupada Lila

Srila Prabhupāda: Therefore, my Guru Mahārāja used to say, “This is not a place for a gentleman.” Formerly, therefore, they used to go away from the society, go in the forest, to give up this bad association. Live alone.

Hari-śauri: Practically speaking, that’s what we’ve done. By your establishing these temples, it’s given us someplace to go where we can get out of Kali-yuga.

Srila Prabhupāda: Therefore, our temples should be very carefully managed. It may not become again another pandemonium.

Devotee: Pan-demon. Pan-demon-ium.

Devotee: Says that in the dictionary.

Devotee: Place of demons

Srila Prabhupāda: Krsna has given us many nice places. People can live very comfortably. There will be no scarcity. Cultivate Krsna consciousness very seriously. That is wanted. Therefore, in this old age I am struggling so much to see that things are going on nicely. So far, I have seen, it is going on nice. But maybe the management is lacking. It may be the māyā is very strong. So be careful. All, you are all old students, and try to organize more and more solidly. The children should be taken, you can give lectures to the mothers, that children should be taken care of. They are future hopes. Child is the father of man. They say that we escape. What we are escaping? We have got all types of social society. There is grhastha, there is sannyāsī, there is brahmacārī. Whichever position is suitable, you accept and keep yourself sincere, that’s all. Unnatural there is nothing. Is there anything unnatural? And if they think that we’re prohibiting this meat-eating, this is unnatural, that we cannot. That is not unnatural, that is natural.

(Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation. New Mayapura, Paris, France. August 2, 1976)

  • Srila Prabhupada: “This is our movement. We are not going to exploit anyone.”

Srila Prabhupada: “…The formula is already there. Bhagavad-gītā is the guidance, as it is. “Be happy here, and next life hope. Why you are disappointed? Take this way and be happy.” This is our movement. We are not going to exploit anyone. We are giving the right path: “Be happy in this life and next life also.” This is our mission. Para upakāra…”

(Srila Prabhupada Conversations. Bhuvanesvara, Orissa, India. January 21, 1977)

  • Srila Prabhupada: Do not make it a stool society, make it a honey society

“…..So, he is comparing all the books written by Vyāsadeva, including the Vedānta philosophy. He says that this is vāyasam tīrtham. Vāyasam tīrtham. Vāyasam means crows. And the crows, and their place of pleasure. Have you seen crows? In India we have got many crows. In your country crows are not very… But in India the crows, they take pleasure in all nasty things. The crows. You’ll find they will take pleasure in a place where all nasty things are thrown, garbage. They’ll pick out the garbage, find out where there is mucus, where there is pus. Just like flies. They’ll sit down on the stool. Mākṣikam bhramarā icchanti. And the bees, they will try to take honey. Even in the animals you’ll see. The honey… The bees will never come to the stool. And the ordinary flies, they never go to collect honey. Similarly, there are divisions in the birds, divisions in the beasts, divisions in human society. So, you cannot expect that ordinary person will come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You see? Because they have been trained to become flies, they will taste stool. You see? The modern education is to teach people to become flies, only stool. Not here, Krsna consciousness. But you make it a honeycomb. Those who are after, seeking after honey, they will find, “Here is something.” You see? Don’t make it a stool society. You see? Make it a honey society. At least, give chance, those who are seeking after honey. Don’t cheat people. So, they’ll come…”

(Srila Prabhupada Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures. [Sb.1.5.9-11,] New Vrindaban, Moundsville, West Virginia, USA. June 6, 1969)

Srila Prabhupāda: That is my concern, that such huge, huge establishment, if properly, regularly not managed, then again everything will be finished.

Devotee: I don’t think that that’s going to happen, Śrīla Prabhupāda. We’re too much indebted to you to allow what you have established to become spoiled.

Srila Prabhupāda: Please see to that.

Devotee: Yes, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Srila Prabhupāda: In this condition it is impossible for me.

Devotee: All you should have to do is just think about Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.

Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. Kindly give me that chance…

I have given in writing everything, whatever you wanted—my will, my executive(?) power, everything. Disaster will happen if you cannot manage it. Hm?

(Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation, Vrindavana, Uttar Pradesh, India. October 2, 1977)

Devotee: We have to appraise that if Your Divine Grace leaves us, what will be the result both to ISKCON society, to each of you disciples individually, and to the entire planet.

Srila PrabhupādaThat I am thinking that such a big society, the aims and object may be dismantled. I am thinking from that vision.

(Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation, Vrindavana, Uttara Pradesh, India. October 26, 1977)

  • If we perform some nonsensical action and think, “I am doing this for Kṛṣṇa,” that will not be accepted.
  • The work must be verified by Kṛṣṇa’s acceptance or by the acceptance of Kṛṣṇa’s representative.

Now the occupational duties have expanded, but it doesn’t matter whether one is an engineer, a doctor or whatever. Simply try to serve Kṛṣṇa by the results of work. That is bhakti. It is not the philosophy of this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement to disengage people from their activities. One should engage in his occupation, but one should never forget KṛṣṇaKṛṣṇa advises us to always become Kṛṣṇa conscious, and we should always think that we are acting for Kṛṣṇa. Of course, we should work by the order of Kṛṣṇa or His representative, not whimsically. If we perform some nonsensical action and think, “I am doing this for Kṛṣṇa,” that will not be accepted. The work must be verified by Kṛṣṇa’s acceptance or by the acceptance of Kṛṣṇa’s representative. Arjuna did not fight without Kṛṣṇa’s order; therefore, we must receive our orders alsoWe may say, “I cannot find Kṛṣṇa. How can I follow His order?” It is the role of the sādhu to impart Kṛṣṇa’s orders. Since Kṛṣṇa’s representative is the sādhu, Kapiladeva advises His mother to associate with sādhus

(Teachings of Lord Kapila. Text 24)

  • Srila Prabhupada’s warning regarding the danger of manufacturing out of whims.

Srila Prabhupada: “…This is common sense thing. I manufacture my own way by the advice of some, another rascal. This will not be good. …But to fulfill the words of the devotee, Krsna came. Therefore, He is called Sākṣi-Gopāla, witness Gopāla. So, we must have faith. We must have faith and discharge duties according to the śāstra, guru, sādhu, then our spiritual life is guaranteed. If we manufacture something out of whims, that will not help us. This is the point…”

(Srila Prabhupada Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures. [Sb. 1.16.36], Tokyo, Japan. January 30, 1974)

“Religious principles have certainly been violated in this assembly. One should not remain for even a moment in a place where irreligion is flourishing. A wise person should not enter an assembly if he knows the participants there are committing acts of impropriety. And if, having entered such an assembly, he fails to speak the truth, speaks falsely or pleads ignorance, he will certainly incur sin.”

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.44.9-10)

  • We have got practical experience how a great institution was lost by whimsical ways.

Just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, āmāra ājñāya guru hañā [Cc. Madhya 7.128], “You become a spiritual master under My order.” So if you carry out the order of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Kṛṣṇa, then you become guru. Āmāra ājñāya guru hañā. Unfortunately, we do not wish to carry out order of the ācāryas. We manufacture our own ways. We have got practical experience how a great institution was lost by whimsical ways. Without carrying out the order of the spiritual master, they manufactured something and the whole thing was lost. Therefore Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura stresses very much on the words of the spiritual master. Vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kurunandana [Bg. 2.41]. If you stick to the order of spiritual master, then, without caring for your own convenience or inconvenience, then you become perfect.

yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau
tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ prakāśante mahātmanaḥ
[ŚU 6.23]
This is the confirmation of all authorities. We have to carry out very faithfully the order of the bona fide representative of Kṛṣṇa. Then our life is successful. Then we can understand Kṛṣṇa in truth. Vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam [SB 1.2.11]. We have to hear from the tattvavit, not from the so-called scholars and politicians. No. One who knows the truth, you have to hear from him. And if you stick to that principle, then you understand everything very clearly. Thank you very much. (end)

(Srila Prabhupada Srimad-Bhagavatam Class [Sb. 1.2.11], Vrindavana, Uttar Pradesh, India. October 22, 1976)

Srila Prabhupāda: This is our position. That is very easy for us. We haven’t got to manufacture. To manufacture idea is troublesome. Why should we take trouble? And as soon as you want to manufacture something to my…, that is dangerous. Gurumukhapadmavākya, cittete kariyāaikyaārakarihamaneāśā **. This is… You are singing every day, “What our guru has said, that is our life and soul. We do not want…” ārakarihamaneāśā **. And your guru’s article, you have given. Do you think is all right? We are reading every day, yasya prasādād bhagavatprasādaḥ **. As soon as this poison will come—”Suppress guru and I become Brahman”—everything finished. Spiritual life is finished. Gauḍīya Maṭha finished, that…, violated the orders of Guru Mahārāja.

Patitapāvana: In that press release that we gave the paper we wrote a great deal about the work of Your Divine Grace in the West and how…

Srila Prabhupāda: So how you get it that “Here is only prominent, Surabhī Swami”?

Patitapāvana: One thing is, he’s a Christian.

Srila Prabhupāda: Whatever it may be…

Patitapāvana: I guess so. It’s true.

Srila Prabhupāda: He has nothing to do…

Patitapāvana: But we have emphasized that several times in the talk.

Srila Prabhupāda: Hm. What is that?

Girirāja:

sarvam etad ṛtaṁmanyeyanmāṁvadasikeśavanahitebhagavanvyaktiṁ
vidur 
devānadānavāḥ
[Bg. 
10.14]

Sarvam—all; etat—these; ṛtam—truth; manye—accept; yat—which; mām—unto me; vadasi—You tell; keśavaKṛṣṇa. Translation: “O Kṛṣṇa, I totally accept as truth all that You have told me. Neither the gods nor demons, O Lord, know Thy personality.”

Srila Prabhupāda: So, it is easy for us. What Kṛṣṇa says and Vyāsadeva says, that’s all. We haven’t got to manufacture. And as soon as you manufacture, fall down. Evaṁparamparāprāptamimaṁrājarṣayaḥ... [Bg. 4.2]. This manufacturing idea is very, very dangerous in spiritual life. Whatever little success is there for me, I did not manufacture any idea.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Neither you take any credit.

Srila Prabhupāda: No. Why shall I take?

tāṅderacaraṇasevībhakta-sane vāsa
janame janame 
hayaeiabhilāṣa

Our mission is to serve bhaktaviśeṣa and live with devotees. Not that you take the place of the guru. That is nonsense, very dangerous. Then everything will be spoiled. As soon as you become ambitious to take the place of guruguruṣu naramatiḥ. That is the material disease. The article clearly says that it is everything, “your city,” “his city.” That is clearly intimated that “You have dropped from the sky to give this city to the world.” That is the sum and substance. Is it not? What is this nonsense? So, do the needful.

Patitapāvana: All right, Śrīla Prabhupāda. (devotees offer obeisances) (end).

(Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation, Bombay, Maharasthra, India. April 20, 1977)

  • Why this GauḍīyaMaṭha failed?
  • Because they tried to become more than guru
  • He, before passing away, he gave all direction and never said that “This man should be the next ācārya
  • But these people, just after his passing away they began to fight, who shall be ācārya. That is the failure. They never thought, “Why GuruMahārāja gave us instruction so many things, why he did not say that this man should be ācārya
  • They wanted to create artificially somebody ācārya and everything failed. They did not consider even with common sense that if GuruMahārāja wanted to appoint somebody as ācārya, why did he not say? He said so many things, and this point he missed? The real point? And they insist upon it. They declared some unfit person to become ācārya
  • Then another man came, then another, ācārya, another ācārya. So better remain a foolish person perpetually to be directed by GuruMahārāja. That is perfection.
  • And as soon as he learns the GuruMahārāja is dead, “Now I am so advanced that I can kill my guru and I become guru.” Then he’s finished

Acyutānanda: What prompts the soul to misuse his independence or improperly use…?

Srila Prabhupāda: Because he has got little independence. Yathecchasi tathā, he has got this.

Acyutānanda: Why do some misuse it and some never misuse it?

Srila Prabhupāda: That depends on him. If one is determined that “I shall only act according to the advice of my Guru Mahārāja,” then he’s perfect. One has to submit like Arjuna said, śiṣyas te ‘haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam [Bg2.7]. Otherwise, he’ll argue.

Devotee: Even nityasiddha has guru.

Yaśomatīnandana: Even the liberated soul, nityasiddha.

Srila Prabhupāda: Liberated soul never says that “I am liberated.” As soon as he says “liberated,” he’s a rascal. A liberated soul will never say that “I am liberated.” That is liberated. Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He is God—guru more mūrkha dekhi’ karilaśāsan[Cc. Ādi 7.71]. “My Guru Mahārāja saw Me a fool number one, and he has chastised Me.” He’s God. This is the example. If one remains always a servant ever-lastingly of guru, then he is liberated. And as soon as he thinks that he is liberated, he’s a rascal. That is the teaching of Caitanya MahāprabhuGuru more mūrkha dekhi’Caitanya Mahāprabhu is mūrkha? Why He’s posing Himself that mūrkha? “I am fool number one.” That means that is liberation. You must be ready always to be chastised by guru. Then he’s liberated. And as soon as he thinks that “I am beyond this chastisement, I am liberated,” he’s a rascal. Why Caitanya Mahāprabhu says guru more mūrkha dekhi’ karilaśāsan? This is sahajiyā-vāda. He is thinking, “Oh I have become liberated. I don’t require any direction of my guru. I’m liberated.” Then he’s rascal. Why this Gauḍīya Maṭha failed? Because they tried to become more than guru. He, before passing away, he gave all direction and never said that “This man should be the next ācārya.” But these people, just after his passing away they began to fight, who shall be ācārya. That is the failure. They never thought, “Why Guru Mahārāja gave us instruction so many things, why he did not say that this man should be ācārya?” They wanted to create artificially somebody ācārya and everything failed. They did not consider even with common sense that if Guru Mahārāja wanted to appoint somebody as ācārya, why did he not say? He said so many things, and this point he missed? The real point? And they insist upon it. They declared some unfit person to become ācāryaThen another man came, then another, ācārya, another ācārya. So better remain a foolish person perpetually to be directed by Guru Mahārāja. That is perfection. And as soon as he learns the Guru Mahārāja is dead, “Now I am so advanced that I can kill my guru and I become guru.” Then he’s finished.

Yaśomatīnandana: They kept fighting, and when the real ācārya emerged they all became wonderstruck. They all became baffled. Now they all know in their hearts. They all know it. I can see. They all know that who is real ācārya.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: The real ācārya emerges by his own preaching?

Devotee: Yes. (devotees offer obeisances)

Srila PrabhupādaHare Kṛṣṇa. (end)

(Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation, Bombay, Maharasthra, India. August 16, 1976)

  • This is our position. That is very easy for us. We haven’t got to manufacture. To manufacture idea is troublesome.
  • What our guru has said, that is our life and soul. We do not want . . .” āra nā kariha mane āśā. 
  • As soon as this poison will come—”Suppress guru and I become prominent”—everything finished. Spiritual life is finished.  Gauḍīya Maṭha finished, that . . . violated the orders of Guru Mahārāja.
  • Whatever little success is there for me, I did not manufacture any idea.
  • Our mission is to serve bhakta-viśeṣa and live with devotees.
  • Not that you take the place of the guru. That is nonsense, very dangerous. 
  • As soon as you become ambitious to take the place of guru—guruṣu nara-matiḥ . . .that is the material disease.

Srila Prabhupāda: This is our position. That is very easy for us. We haven’t got to manufacture. To manufacture idea is troublesome. Why should we take trouble? And as soon as you want to manufacture something, to . . . (indistinct) . . . that is dangerous. Guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete kariyā aikya, āra nā kariha mane āśā. This is . . . you are singing every day, “What our guru has said, that is our life and soul. We do not want . . .” āra nā kariha mane āśā. And your guru’s article, you have given. Do you think is all right? We are reading every day, yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ. As soon as this poison will come—”Suppress guru and I become prominent”—everything finished. Spiritual life is finished. Gauḍīya Maṭha finished, that . . . violated the orders of Guru Mahārāja.

Patita-pāvana: In that press release that we gave the paper we wrote a great deal about the work of Your Divine Grace in the West and how . . .

Prabhupāda: So how you get it that “Here is only prominent, Surabhi Swami”?

Patita-pāvana: One thing is, he’s a Christian.

Srila Prabhupāda: Whatever it may be . . .

Patita-pāvana: I guess so. It’s true

Srila Prabhupāda: He has nothing to do . .

Patita-pāvana: But we have emphasized that several times in the talk.

Srila Prabhupāda: Hmm. What is that?

Girirāja: sarvam etad ṛtaṁ manyeyan māṁ vadasi keśavana hi te bhagavan vyaktiṁvidur devā na dānavāḥ (BG 10.14)

sarvam—all; etat—these; ṛtam—truth; manye—accept; yat—which; mām—unto me; vadasi—You tell; keśava—Kṛṣṇa. Translation: “O Kṛṣṇa, I totally accept as truth all that You have told me. Neither the gods nor demons, O Lord, know Thy personality.”

Srila Prabhupāda: So, it is easy for us. What Kṛṣṇa says and Vyāsadeva says, that’s all. We haven’t got to manufacture. And as soon as you manufacture, fall down. Evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayaḥ . . . (BG 4.2). This manufacturing idea is very, very dangerous in spiritual life. Whatever little success is there for me, I did not manufacture any idea.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Neither you take any credit.

Srila Prabhupāda: No. Why shall I take?

tāṅdera caraṇa-sevī-bhakta-sane vāsajaname janame mor ei abhilāṣa (Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura)

Our mission is to serve bhakta-viśeṣa and live with devotees. Not that you take the place of the guru. That is nonsense, very dangerous. Then everything will be spoiled. As soon as you become ambitious to take the place of guru—guruṣu nara-matiḥ . . . that is the material disease. The article clearly says that it is everything “Your city,” “His city.” That is clearly intimated that, “You have dropped from the sky to give this city to the world.” That is the sum and substance. Is it not? What is this nonsense? (pause) So do the needful.

Patita-pāvana: All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda. (devotees offer obeisances) (end)

(Conversation, Bombay, April 20, 1977)

We should be always active. We shall always make plan, think how to protect this miserable condition of the material… They cannot understand. They are fools. They are rascals. So, you have to give them knowledge. You have to give them help. That is missionary activity. Missionary activity is not laziness or sleeping. My Guru Mahārāja used to say that prāṇaācheyāraseihetupracāra, that “I have got some dozens of disciples, and I have got a temple, and people are contributing. Now I have got good arrangement for eating and sleeping. Now I am perfect. Because I am getting some food without any work, and honor, then I am perfect.” This is not the mentality. Prāṇaācheyāra. You must be engaged continually for these missionary activity. The Gauḍīya Mission has failed in preaching work because they adopted this principle. As soon as they got a little shelter under the name of Maṭha, or temple, and a few dozen of…, not few dozen, one dozen, then he is settled up there. Now he is bhajana, “Hare KṛṣṇaHare KṛṣṇaHare KṛṣṇaHare KṛṣṇaHare Kṛṣṇa,” showing that he is very great chanter. And what is your preaching? Lord Caitanya ordered you pṛthivīteācheyata nagarādi. Why don’t you go? How you are Indian?

Therefore my Guru Mahārāja condemned this policy. Manatumi kisera vaiṣṇava: “What kind of Vaiṣṇava you are?” Pratiṣṭhāratare nirjanera ghare: “And simply for cheap popularity, ‘Oh, he is a Vaiṣṇava. He is chanting. All right.’ ” Pratiṣṭhāratare nirjanera gharetavahari…, nirjanera ghare. No botheration, because if there is no preaching, there is no botheration. You can sit down and show people, “I have now become a very liberated soul,” and chant and meditate. That means sleeping. This sort of business is condemned by my Guru MahārājaPratiṣṭhāratare nirjanera gharetavaharināmakevala. This is simply cheating. He did not approve this kind of business. He did not approve. He wanted to see that everyone is engaged in preaching work, some sort of preaching work, either indoor or outdoor. When you are indoor you have to be busy writing articles for a magazine and proofread and so many things indoors. And outdoors you have to go door to door, make them members, make them interested in this movement, collect money for expenses, outdoor. Preaching, you have to meet opposing elements. So many will criticize, so many will attack. Nityānanda Prabhu was hurt personally, but still, outdoor. This is missionary work, not that “Whenever I find some opportunity, go to some solitary place and sleep.” This is not missionary life.

(Srila Prabhupada Srimad-Bhagavatam Class [Sb.6.3.18], Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. February 11, 1971)

The Supreme Swan

September 25, 2024 in Articles by Bhakta Rupesh

by Haripada dasa

Once Srila Prabhupada visited one of his temples in the USA, in the house in front of the temple they had painted a great insult against the Hare Krishnas, there he said that the Hare Krishna are a children of …, so that Srila Prabhupada would not see this when He went out to do his morning walk, he was surrounded by the highest devotees, in one way or another Srila Prabhupada saw the insult and said that this house is the luckiest house in the USA, because it says Krishna, the highest level devotees are called paramahansas, that means the supreme swan, the swan has the ability that from a mixture of water and milk, he will take the milk and will not touch the water, in the same way the devotee who lives in pure goodness has the ability to drink from this world the spiritual part, the positive part, and he never touches the material part or the negative part, in other words, he takes gold even from poison, Srila Prabhupada, Jesus, Srila Haridasa Thakura, etc., envious and ignorant they attack them a lot, in the period Germany’s most important story on the first page put a great criticism against Srila Prabhupada, there he said that in Los Angeles, USA, there is a guru who has his disciples like crazy selling his books, while he lives a life full of luxury.

People generally do not understand the pure devotee of God or Krishna, only a pure devotee can understand another pure devotee, in the Bhagavatam, 8.7.44 it is said that great personalities usually accept voluntary sufferings to alleviate the suffering of people common. This is considered to be the highest form of worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is in everyone’s heart, and in the purport Srila Prabhupada says that we should strive for that which we cannot attain even if we travel the entire universe. from top to bottom, carried away by the reactions of karma. And what is that? We should strive to be Krishna conscious. When someone tries to spread Krishna consciousness all over the world, it should be understood that he is doing the best beneficial activity. Immediately, the Lord is very pleased with him, and if the Lord is pleased with him, what more can he get? It is very possible that the person who has been recognized by the Lord does not ask the Lord for anything, but the Lord, who is in everyone’s heart, will give him whatever he wants. This is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham). And, as stated in this verse, tapyante loka-tāpena sādhavaḥ prāyaśo janāḥ. The best beneficial activity is raising people to Krishna consciousness, for the suffering of conditioned souls is solely due to their lack of Krishna consciousness.

Cheers up! Srila Prabhupada instructed us and said that everyone should follow Jayananda prabhu’s example, let’s all try to obey this instruction together and make Jagat-guru Srila Prabhupada Mahasaya happy, and not do anything that displeases him.

HKS/PDA Newsletter – August 2024 (Vol. 1, No. 8)

August 8, 2024 in Articles by Venkata bhatta dasa

Please find attached the eight issue of our monthly newsletter, special Janmāṣṭamī edition.

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Let’s immediately realize the importance of massive works left for all of usby Srila Prabhupada and use them to broadcastthe Krsna consciousness movement in every house

May 31, 2024 in Articles by Vijaya Pandita dasa

 Hare Krishna

All Glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada

It has been 47 years since the Krsna Consciousness movement has turned topsy-turvy, as its control has been given to the people addicted by sense gratification and still under the bodily conception of life.

“Sankirtana means chanting of the holy name of the Lord. The Hare Krsna movement is not a new movement as people sometimes mistakenly think. The Hare Krsna movement is present in every millennium of Lord Brahma’s life, and the holy name is chanted in all the higher planetary systems…. The sankirtana movement that was started in this world five hundred years ago by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is therefore not a new movement. Sometimes, because of our bad luck, this movement is stopped, but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His servants again start the movement for the benefit of the entire word or, indeed, the entire universe.”

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7:15:71 Purport

The movement was started with an aim to reestablish our eternal relationship with Krsna and enjoy unlimited transcendental bliss eternally, but the entire crux of this has been forgotten by most of us, which makes us disobey the orders of Srila Prabhupada who is our eternal spiritual master.
Therefore, this article is presented with an intention to make the devotees aware of the immense works left by Srila Prabhupada for all of us to make advancement and thus spread the glories of Krsna everywhere across the world.  One must be completely serious to realize the importance in this regard and immediately start making the best use of these resources, so that one can easily associate with Krsna and Srila Prabhupada to receive eternal spiritual happiness.
The best remedy to completely eradicate the demonic influence of those who have tried to purge the movement by self-ambition is to chant the holy name always without committing any offense and to keep oneself engaged in studying and spreading Srila Prabhupada’s original works.
It is seen that there are so many fed up with this demonic influence, but to counteract this, they have started to keep criticizing the sahajiya movement entire day, without themselves really making a good progress on the path.
This is observed on social media and other sites etc, where those who have left the movement are always engaged in making memes or trolling others in every possible way. While this might simply make others aware of what’s happening inside iskcon, it will never spread the transcendental effect of Krsna consciousness, because this is simply a rejection of the bad and lack of knowledge of how one must advance further to achieve the real good.

The readers must note that in no way does the above paragraph condemn the criticism of all nonsense happening, but it intends to put a check on its continuity with a lack of real devotional service to the Lord, as this is not what Srila Prabhupada wants. He wants all of us to go back home and enjoy our relationship with Krsna and his innumerable topmost devotees without any tinge of material hallucinative attractions.

“Satisfaction of the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life” (BG 4.34 Purport, Original Macmillan Edition)
So now, we shall see what all interesting works have been given to us by Srila Prabhupada and how to utilize them in the right way.

1. 80+ Original Books(with most of them being over 400 pages): Srila Prabhupada has written so many transcendental literatures, in which even a page can elevate one from the clutches of birth and death.
“This mission has been established simply on the publishing and distribution of my books. So get them translated and published as soon as possible”.
(Srila Prabhupada Letter , 26/7/75)

“Yes, if they read. Even if they touch. That is the difference between this book and ordinary book.”
Room Conversation with Mr. & Mrs. Wax, Writer and Editing Manager of Playboy Magazine — July 5, 1975, Chicago

“What I talk, I have written in the books…you can associate with me by reading my books.”
Morning Walk: August 7, 1975, Toronto2. 

4100+ Audio tapes: These tapes consist of lectures, morning walks, conversations,addresses, etc. Many of these tapes have a length of over 50 minutes to 1 hour(some tapes exceed even 3 hours).  Even if a person decides to complete 2 tapes a day, it will take about 5-6 years just to finish one round of completion of these tapes.  Anyone seriously interested in studying each and every of these tapes will undoubtedly make quick progress.

Earlier, these tapes were available in DVDs or in temple libraries, which were also costly and somewhat difficult to access. Now with the advent of technology, they are all available in just “a few clicks” for free of cost. All one needs to do is open the tape link and just play it for an hour or so.

Previously, people had to travel to hear Srila Prabhupada, but now we can hear him easily. Noting this, shouldn’t one hear the transcendental words making the best use of this excellent opportunity?

“Therefore, I recommend you to read books more and more and try to understand the subject matter from different angles of vision and be always discussing it with your god-brothers even while you are working at the press, and when you are working and you cannot read, then listen to the tapes of my lectures and hear in that way”.[Letter to Bhargava written from Los Angeles, June 13, 1972]

3. 7000+ letters: These letters are called as Siksamrta, they contain direct instructions to so many devotees and non devotees. So many questions posed by people have been answered here as well. One can find so much nectar present in his letters which remove doubt and illusion from one’s mind.
We can spend a minimum 15 minutes a day to complete at least 3-4 letters. To study all of them fully may take years, but it will still guarantee one the best spiritual knowledge.
4. 11,000+ Questions and answers in his books, letters, tapes etc: It is interesting to note that over 11,000 QAs have been addressed in his works. One can clear all doubts by studying these QAs asked from various angles of vision and on so many topics by interviewers, devotees, non-devotees,etc.
If one becomes proficient in studying these, one can very easily open the eyes of those still in material hankering, as the answers given by Srila Prabhupada have the effect of brightening up the spiritual dormancy being in presence for a very long time.
“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” (BG 4.34 Translation, Original Macmillan Edition)

5. The Back to Godhead Magazine: The BTG Magazine was started in 1944 to enlighten the general public in the matters of spirituality. It has 100s of articles written by Srila Prabhupada on different issues and describes methods to elevate oneself to the real consciousness that is uncontaminated from the modes of material nature.
“We have to defeat tyranny in the realm of thought and create a will for world peace.
Instruments for training the mind and educating human nature should be used to develop a proper social outlook without which institutional machinery was of little use.”These psychological movements of the leaders of all countries-combined with the orders of my Divine Master 

Sri Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada has led me to venture to start a paper under the above name and style “BACK TO GODHEAD” which implies all the words that we may intend to say in this connection.[BACK TO GODHEAD, BTG MAGAZINE,1944]
6. 250+ Kirtans, bhajans, book dictation tapes, etc: These kritans, bhajans and their purports, help one to enjoy the kirtan with Srila Prabhupada. One can learn how to play mridanga or simply play a kirtan tape and follow the style in home or workplace.

We can also associate personally with Srila Prabhupada here by playing any kirtan in a big room, where there’s a good congregation, where this will make one recognize that Srila Prabhupada himself is leading the kirtan, and we all are ecstatically chanting and dancing by following the style.

7. Other works such as essays, journals, articles, diaries,etc: Srila Prabhupada has also written essays,journals,articles and diaries in his lifetime.
For example, the essay “Who is crazy?” tries to make one aware of what he’s supposed to do and give up the crazy mindedness by being in touch with the temporary material nature.

These works are also a must read for all, for one can find so much nectar in every line of Srila Prabhupada’s words as it relishes one’s joy more and more.

“All these books should be regularly read. That will give you guidance. You haven’t got to ask repeatedly to me; everything is there.”
Room Conversation — April 2, 1972, Sydney

To summarize, Srila Prabhupada has written 80+ books, 4100+ tapes, 7000+ letters, 11,000+ Questions and answers, 250+ music and purports, BTG magazine, essays, diaries,articles, journals, etc.
We need to convince all just to constantly study and follow all the above mentioned works without deviation from the principles.

If we ourselves become equipped with this knowledge, we can fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s desires to spread the movement in every house throughout the world.

This is exactly the prediction given by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is therefore hoped that this article will be of the utmost benefit to everyone because it will make everyone realise the importance of the great literature given for us to make the best use of.
We request all disciples to make everyone aware of these works and engage everyone in studying each and every line of this excellent nectar for at least 1-2 hours a day.  Once these original “as it is” works are presented even to the general public, they shall receive a good reception.  Slowly, these works when presented to the general public, will get spread in every house thus fulfilling the prediction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Caitanya Caritamrta– 1975 EDITION ADI LILA CHAPTER 9,TEXT 40

jagat vyāpiyā mora habe puṇya khyātisukhī ha-iyā loka mora gāhibeka kīrti

SYNONYMS

jagat vyāpiyā—spreading all over the world; mora—My; habe—there will be; puṇya—pious; khyāti—reputation; sukhī—happy; ha-iyā—becoming; loka—all the people; mora—My; gāhibeka—glorify; kīrti—reputation.

TRANSLATION

“If the fruits are distributed all over the world, My reputation as a pious man will be known everywhere, and thus all people will glorify My name with great pleasure.

PURPORT

This prediction of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s is now actually coming to pass. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is being distributed all over the world through the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, and people who were leading confused, chaotic lives are now feeling transcendental happiness. They are finding peace in saṅkīrtana, and therefore they are acknowledging the supreme benefit of this movement. This is the blessing of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. His prediction is now factually being fulfilled, and those who are sober and conscientious are appreciating the value of this great movement.
Jai Srila Prabhupada. Haribol.

Srila Prabhupada: What is the Real Test of an Advanced Devotee in Krsna Consciousness?

May 18, 2024 in Articles by Vijaya Pandita dasa

Compiled by Gargamuni dasa

Question: What is the Real Test of an Advanced Devotee in Krsna Consciousness?………….

Srila Prabhupada: “This time I have passed, what I have done for Krsna?” This is character of advancement: “What I have done for Krsna? What I have done for my Guru Maharaja?” If in this way we lead our life, that is perfect. That is perfect. “Guru Maharaja has entrusted me with this business. How far I have done this?” that is perfect. So if you don’t care for your Guru Maharaja, don’t care for Krsna and Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and you do whimsically what you like, that is not progress. That is degradation. The advanced devotee will feel like this: “How I shall live in a temple or in a place like Vrndavana and Mathura,?” Priti means love — to live there, where Krsna’s devotee is there, Krsna is there, Krsna’s temple is there. Not in the railway station. Always hankering after “How I can chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra?” To scrutinizely seeing whether I have wasted my time without Krsna consciousness. These things are the symptoms of advanced devotee. You cannot say, “Oh, he’s advanced.” What he’s doing for Krsna? First of all think, “He’s advanced devotee; that is all right. But what is he doing for his guru? What is he doing for Krsna?” That is a test. If somebody is doing something whimsically, he is not advanced devotee. He may speak all nonsense, but that is not advancement. You have to see practically: what he’s doing for Krsna,what is he’s doing for his spiritual master. [Cc Madhya 19.151]. [According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Krsna. By the mercy of both Krsna and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.]>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation – January 30, 1974, Tokyo

Akshaya Tritiya May 10, 2024 [Mayapura, West Bengal, India]

May 8, 2024 in Articles by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srimad Bhagavatam 7.14.2-23

ayane viṣuve kuryād
vyatīpāte dina-kṣaye
candrādityoparāge ca
dvādaśyāṁ śravaṇeṣu ca

tṛtīyāyāṁ śukla-pakṣe
navamyām atha kārtike
catasṛṣv apy aṣṭakāsu
hemante śiśire tathā

māghe ca sita-saptamyāṁ
maghā-rākā-samāgame
rākayā cānumatyā ca
māsarkṣāṇi yutāny api

dvādaśyām anurādhā syāc
chravaṇas tisra uttarāḥ
tisṛṣv ekādaśī vāsu
janmarkṣa-śroṇa-yoga-yuk

TRANSLATION

One should perform the śrāddha ceremony on the Makara-saṅkrānti [the day when the sun begins to move north] or on the Karkaṭa-saṅkrānti [the day when the sun begins to move south]. One should also perform this ceremony on the Meṣa-saṅkrānti day and the Tulā-saṅkrānti day, in the yoga named Vyatīpāta, on that day in which three lunar tithis are conjoined, during an eclipse of either the moon or the sun, on the twelfth lunar day, and in the Śravaṇa-nakṣatra. One should perform this ceremony on the Akṣaya-tṛtīyā day, on the ninth lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kārtika, on the four aṣṭakās in the winter season and cool season, on the seventh lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month of Māgha, during the conjunction of Maghā-nakṣatra and the full-moon day, and on the days when the moon is completely full, or not quite completely full, when these days are conjoined with the nakṣatras from which the names of certain months are derived. One should also perform the śrāddha ceremony on the twelfth lunar day when it is in conjunction with any of the nakṣatras named Anurādhā, Śravaṇa, Uttara-phalgunī, Uttarāṣāḍhā or Uttara-bhādrapadā. Again, one should perform this ceremony when the eleventh lunar day is in conjunction with either Uttara-phalgunī, Uttarāṣāḍhā or Uttara-bhādrapadā. Finally, one should perform this ceremony on days conjoined with one’s own birth star [janma-nakṣatra] or with Śravaṇa-nakṣatra.

PURPORT

The word ayana means “path” or “going.” The six months when the sun moves toward the north are called uttarāyaṇa, or the northern path, and the six months when it moves south are called dakṣiṇāyana, or the southern path. These are mentioned in Bhagavad-gītā (8.24–25). The first day when the sun begins to move north and enter the zodiacal sign of Capricorn is called Makara-saṅkrānti, and the first day when the sun begins to move south and enter the sign of Cancer is called Karkaṭa-saṅkrānti. On these two days of the year, one should perform the śrāddha ceremony.

Viṣuva, or Viṣuva-saṅkrānti, means Meṣa-saṅkrānti, or the day on which the sun enters the sign Aries. Tulā-saṅkrānti is the day on which the sun enters the sign Libra. Both of these days occur only once within a year. The word yoga refers to a certain relationship between the sun and moon as they move in the sky. There are twenty-seven different degrees of yoga, of which the seventeenth is called Vyatīpāta. On the day when this occurs, one should perform the śrāddha ceremony. A tithi, or lunar day, consists of the distance between the longitude of the sun and that of the moon. Sometimes a tithi is less than twenty-four hours. When it starts after sunrise on a certain day and ends before the sunrise of the following day, the previous tithi and the following tithi both “touch” the twenty-four-hour day between the sunrises. This is called tryaha-sparśa, or a day touched by some portion of three tithis.

Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has given quotations from many śāstras stating that the śrāddha ceremony of oblations to the forefathers should not be performed on Ekādaśī tithi. When the tithi of the death anniversary falls on the Ekādaśī day, the śrāddha ceremony should be held not on Ekādaśī but on the next day, or dvādaśī. In the Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa it is said:

ye kurvanti mahīpāla
śrāddhaṁ caikādaśi-dine
trayas te narakaṁ yānti
dātā bhoktā ca prerakaḥ

If one performs the śrāddha ceremony of oblations to the forefathers on the Ekādaśī tithi, then the performer, the forefathers for whom the śrāddha is observed, and the purohita, or the family priest who encourages the ceremony, all go to hell. 

https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/7/14/20-23

Interesting Information

  • The holy river Ganges descended on Earth from the heavens on this day.
  • This is the day when the sage Parshuram, the sixth incarnation of Vishnu, was born.
  • Treta Yug, the period of the holy Ramayana, commenced.
  • Ved Vyasa initiated the recital of the great Indian epic Mahabharata before lord Ganesha.
  • Lord Krishna’s childhood friend Sudama, visited Dwarka to him and offered him a humble gift of poha (rice flakes). Therefore, Vaishnavas (worshippers of lord Vishnu) ast throughout the day and open their fasts with rice.
  • Akshaya Tritiya bears many religious specialties. It is the birthday of Lord Parasurama of the Dasa Avatars of Lord Vishnu. It is the starting day of the Treta Yuga after Satya Yuga.Thus, it is considered as the Ugadi thithi for Treta Yuga. It is the day when Sudhama (kuchela) offered aval to Lord Krishna and got a bounty of wealth through the grace of Krishna. The same day, Pandavas received Akshaya pathra (bowl) from Lord Krishna and thus were able to get unlimited food during their exile. The day has the credit of Veda Vyasa starting the great Mahabharata with Lord Vinayak writing it.It is the day Ganges came down upon the earth from heaven. In fact, Akshaya Tritiya is considered very propitious for offering dhanams of goods like umbrella, sandals, hand fans, food etc.

Description

In Sanskrit, the word “Akshaya” (अक्षय) means “imperishable, eternal, the never diminishing” in the sense of “prosperity, hope, joy, success”, while Tritiya means “third”.[7][5] It is named after the “third lunar day” of the spring month of Vaisakha..[6] Akshaya Tritiya is the birthday of Parasurama who is the sixth incarnation of Vishnu, and he is revered in Vaishnava temples.[8] Those who observe it in the honor of Parasurama sometimes refer to the festival as Parasurama Jayanti.[9] Alternatively, some focus their reverence to Vasudeva avatar of Vishnu.[6] According to one tradition, Ved Vyasa began reciting the epic Mahabharata to Ganesha on Akshaya Tritiya. That river Ganges descended to earth on this day.Akshaya Tritiya

Sri Parasurama

Inline image
“DHAMESVARA MAHAPRABHU”: This beautiful neem Deity of Gauranga Mahaprabhu is the Deity that Visnupriya, wife of Lord Gauranga worshiped for 80 years after Lord Caitanya took sannyasa.
Srila Prabhupada glorifies Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura

HKS/PDA Newsletter – May 2024 (Vol. 1, No. 5)

May 5, 2024 in Articles by Venkata bhatta dasa

Please find attached the fifth issue of our monthly newsletter.