by Laksman dasa

Bhadra Purnima special — online distribution of Original First Edition Srimad Bhagavatam

September 22, 2021 in Articles by Laksman dasa

Bhadra Purnima special — online distribution of Original First Edition Srimad Bhagavatam
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Hare Krsna. All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivednata Swami Prabhupada. 

“This Bhagavata Purana is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krishna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the Age of Kali shall get light from this Purana.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.43)The following link contains all 30 volumes of the first edition, unadulterated, uncompromised, original, authorized, versions of the Srimad Bhagavatam approved by Srila Prabhupada.
We request all those who are reading this to distribute the links to as many people as possible so that everyone will be benefitted.PDF download – https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1am9rKGII3wMrmkyxHp85hfjMjgnWGzT9?usp=sharingPurchase hard copy here – https://krishnastore.in/srimad-bhagavatam-set-original-first-edition-30-volume-h-krishna-502.html
I am expecting this printing of our literature, especially Srimad Bhagavatam, with devanagari type and diacritic transliteration will be completely entrusted to you. So you cannot type everything from the IBM. That is not possible. In the IBM machine you shall do the English work and the diacritic transliteration work. So far as the devanagari type is concerned, you have to do it with the help of another machine, and either you will have to paste on the lines or adopt some other device so that they can be joined. That shall be the process. But if we publish our Srimad Bhagavatam exactly in the way I have already begun it, it will be a unique contribution. The scholars only require diacritic marks. Then it is all right. That should be very correct and standard. If there is devanagari character it is still better.

[July 24,1969 – Letter to Pradyumna written from Los Angeles]

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by Laksman dasa

Srila Haridas Thakur.. Disappearance Monday 20 Sept

September 22, 2021 in Articles by Laksman dasa

Haridasa Thakura

Namacarya Srila Haridas Thakur: Disappearance celebration Monday 20 Sept (Sridham Mayapur time)

The Supreme Lord Anantadeva Himself praises Haridasa Thakura, “Even Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva always desire to associate with such Devotees as Haridasa. And the demigods desire to touch the transcendental body of Haridasa. Simply by saying his name, Haridasa, one will be promoted to Krishna’s abode.” (Chaitanya Bhagavata).

   As Prahlada Maharaja appeared in a family of demons and Hanuman appeared as a monkey, Shri Haridasa Thakura appeared amongst the lower caste. Haridasa had a handsome form with all aristocratic features. Highly intellectual, he won all debates in Sanskrit and philosophy. Yet, he never lost his temper. In his youth, he became famous for his extreme devotion and ascetism. Though born in a Muslim family, when he became a Vaishnava, even brahmanas would eagerly smear their bodies with the dust of his feet.

   The Supreme Lord Anantadeva Himself praises Haridasa Thakura, “Even Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva always desire to associate with such Devotees as Haridasa. And the demigods desire to touch the transcendental body of Haridasa. Simply by saying his name, Haridasa, one will be promoted to Krishna’s abode.” (Caitanya Bhagavata).
 
   Navadwipa was full of gross materialists and Kali worshipers guided by smarta brahmanas before Mahaprabhu began His sankirtana movement. The smartas forbid loud chanting by the Vaishnavas on the plea that “it might awaken Lord Vishnu, who would become angry and curse Navadwipa with a famine.” But it was Haridasa’s habit to loudly chant Hare Krishna while wandering along the Ganges bank. Every day before taking his one and only meal he would finish 192 rounds (300,000 Holy Names of Krishna).
 
   One time a rascal brahmana challenged Haridasa Thakura.The brahmana said that the proper method is to chant Hare Krishna silently within one’s mind. Quoting the Vedas, Shrimad Bhagavatam, and Naradiya Purana, Haridasa conclusively proved that loud chanting of Krishna’s names gives one-hundred times more result than silent chanting. Yan-nama grhann akhilan, srotm atmanam evaca, sadyah punati. .. “Anyone who chants Your name purifies all who hear His chanting, as well as Himself.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam 10.34.17) Haridasa concluded with, “Which is better to feed yourself, or to feed yourself and simultaneously feed a thousand others?”
 
   Some people mistakenly think, “Since Haridasa Thakura always chanted Hare Krishna he wasn’t relishing the mellows of Radha-Madhava’s pastimes.” Krishna’s name is a wish-fulfilling gem (nama cintamani) and the very embodiment of rasa (rasa vigraha). So, by purely chanting the Holy Names Haridasa Thakura definitely tasted the transcendental mellows of loving devotion to Radha-Madhava. Haridasa Thakura, the connoiseur of the Holy Name, taught everyone how to enter the rasa sastras through the door of Mahaprabhu’s mercy, received by purely land constantly chanting the Holy Names of Krishna. 

  One time a rascal brahmana challenged Haridasa Thakura.The brahmana said that the proper method is to chant Hare Krishna silently within one’s mind. Quoting the Vedas, Shrimad Bhagavatam, and Naradiya Purana, Haridasa conclusively proved that loud chanting of Krishna’s names gives one-hundred times more result than silent chanting. Yan-nama grhann akhilan, srotm atmanam evaca, sadyah punati. .. “Anyone who chants Your name purifies all who hear His chanting, as well as Himself.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam 10.34.17) Haridasa concluded with, “Which is better to feed yourself, or to feed yourself and simultaneously feed a thousand others?” (In the image: Harinaam Sankirtan Yagya, leading kirtan HG Madhava Prabhu, somewhere in Europe).

 Feeling threatened by Haridasa Thakura’s conversion to Vaishnavism, the Muslim ruler arrested him. To enlighten the Kazi Haridasa said, “All living entities in creation are inspired by the Lord in the heart to act in different ways. People of different religions praise the Lord’s Holy Names and qualities according to the view of their scriptures. The Supreme Lord accepts everyone’s mood. If anyone shows malice towards another’s religion he actually shows malice to the Lord Himself, who is worshiped by that religion. Since God is one, that person becomes envious of the same Supreme Lord that he himself is worshiping.”
 
   The governor grasped these words, but the Kazi (the local ruler) insisted that Haridasa make a choice: “Either give up your belief or die.”

   Haridasa replied firmly, “If my body is hacked to pieces and even if I am killed–still I will keep chanting Hare Krishna.”

   The infuriated Kazi ordered Haridasa Thakura publicly whipped to death. He was brutally beaten, dragged through twenty-two markets, and thrown in the Ganges. Absorbed in remembering Lord Hari, he miraculously survived by God’s grace. The Kazi, the brahman as, and his rivals ran to Haridasa. They gave Haridasa Thakura an enthusiastic welcome and begged forgiveness for their offenses. He forgave them and blessed them with devotion. Haridasa thought the ordeal was fit punishment for his having heard Vaisnava blasphemy from the mouth of the Kazi.

   Prema-vilasa says Haridasa took diksa from Shri Advaita Acharya. Haridasa Thakura exerted immense influence from the start of Shri Chaitanya’s sankirtana movement. Teaming up with Lord Nityananda, he spread Krishna consciousness in Bengal. When Haridasa Thakura came to Jagannatha Puri Lord Chaitanya gave him a room in the garden next to His. Every day the Lord sent Prasadam to Haridasa. They also met regularly to discuss Krishna-katha.
 
   While seeing Lord Chaitanya’s lotus face, holding His feet upon his chest, and chanting Shri Krishna Chaitanya, Haridasa left the world. Lord Chaitanya personally carried the body of Haridasa to the sea. And with His own hands buried him in the sand. Then Mahaprabhu begged alms for a festival to honor Haridasa Thakura’s departure. Lord Chaitanya paid tribute to His pure Devotee:

   “Let us all sing the glories of Haridasa Thakura. Haridasa was the crest-jewel of the world. By his death the earth has lost its treasure. Out of His great mercy Krishna had given Me his association. And now He has taken him away. When Haridasa himself wished to leave the world I could not hold him back. Just like Bhismadeva, Haridasa gave up his life at his own will.” (Chaitanya-charitamrta Antya 11.93-98.)
 
   The samadhi of Haridasa Thakura is located by the sea in Jagannatha Puri.

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by Damaghosa dasa

remain bramacari and your 75% of your way back to Home–SP

September 22, 2021 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

There are so many things to know but these things are not discussed nowadays. Very cheap thing: “You can do whatever you like. You simply meditate and become God, that’s all.” So much cheating is going on everywhere, all over the world. So-called yogis, they go, “Oh, you meditate. You are… And as soon as you realize, you are God, within six months.” No. Therefore in this age the only method… It is a concession to the fallen people of this world, this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. They ‘ll not be able to follow all the regulative principles; therefore they must commit all kinds of abominable activities. Under the circumstances the śāstra or God has given a concession that you simply chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and gradually you will be elevated to the highest position of spiritual life. Other things you cannot follow. You are already fallen. So you take to this process of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra without any offense. And in order to save yourself from the offenses, a little austerity that you cannot have illicit sex life. Why should you have illicit sex life? Everyone’s need is sex life. Āhāra-nidrā–bhaya-maithunam. These are the bodily needs. So śāstra has sanctioned, “All right. You can live peacefully by married life and have sex life for children, good children.” That is allowed. But why should you have illicit sex life? What is this? Irresponsible life. “I shall not take responsibility of family life, and I shall go on as so-called bachelor and have illicit life.” But that is not good. That is garhitāṁ. Na sādhu mānye: “This is not good.” This is the advice of Vedic literature. Ultimately you’ll suffer. You are thinking at the present moment that you are avoiding suffering because family life is very responsible life. So if you think that family life is responsible, yes, it is responsible life. If you don’t take, if you cannot take the responsibility, then remain as a brahmacārī. Why should you marry? Yes. If you practice brahmācārya, then you become free, seventy-five percent freedom immediately. But you do not want to undergo the austerities of a brahmacārī, and still, you want to remain as an unmarried man. Everywhere in the world it is going on. This is increasing. That is stated here, sadācāra. Naṣṭa-sadācāro dāsyāḥ saṁsarga–dūṣitaḥ. The illicit connection with man and woman will certainly make him abominable, fallen down to this abominable life. I… When I was… In my younger days, when I was in business, so I was to take agency one of big company, Smith’s Transit Company. So they had to… I had to give some guarantee of my honesty. So in that program the question was whether married or unmarried. Because unmarried man mostly become dishonest. So that inquiry was there, “Whether he is married?” Married man cannot be dishonest because he has got responsibility. If he is arrested he will be insulted in his family. His family members will be in difficulty. Therefore he does not commit dishonesty very easily unless it is absolutely… But that should not be done. But unmarried man, because he has got no responsibility, he commits all kinds of sinful activity. That’s a fact. Therefore in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement we do not allow such illicit sex life, no. You must get yourself married. And practically, we are seeing, that is very effective and that is going on nicely. All right. (Hindi)
 
Some Conclusions–I often think if I have to come back again then please Lord Krsna let me remain single and celibate- for life as a married man is so troublesome. And as Prabhupada says above if you can do so you are already 75% of the way back to Godhead.
dd

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by Damaghosa dasa

As people (and devotees) lose memory of God they become more dog like–SP

September 21, 2021 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

June 28 1976 discussion of different philosophies
 
They have no conception of God, and they are preaching religion. What is that religion? That will be misused. Religion means dharmaṁ tu sāksād bhagavat-praṇītam [SB 6.3.19]. Religion means God’s order. If there is no God, where is religion? This is going on. They have no conception of God. What is God they do not know, and professing some religion. How long it will go on artificially? It will deteriorate. That has become the present condition. They have no idea of God, and how they will know what is the order of God? And religion means order of God. Just like law means order of the state. Law means order of the state. So if there is no state, where is the order? You can manufacture your own order. That is going on. There is no conception of God. We have got clear conception of God. Here is God, Kṛṣṇa. And He’s giving orders. We accept it. And it is clear religion. And if there is no God, no conception of God, no order of God, then where is religion? If there if no government, then where is law? Outlaw. Everyone is outlaw. That is going on. Ask any religious system what is the conception of God. Can anyone tell clearly? Nobody can say. We shall immediately say, veṇuṁ kvaṇantam aravinda-dalāyatākṣaṁ barhāvataṁsam asitāmbuda-sundarāṅgam [Bs. 5.30]. Aṅgāni yasya sakalendriya-vṛttimanti… immediately description, “Here is God.” Then there is religion. And if there is no God, where is religion? Bogus. Therefore declining. They have no conception of God, and therefore there is no understanding of religion. Therefore it is declining. So this is the cause of declining. And because it is declining, human being becoming more animals. Animal means there will be no memory. A dog comes… Here is some eatables. He comes. I say, “Hut!” He goes away. Again he comes. No memory. So when this memory is reducing that means human quality is reduced. So in the Kali-yuga these eight things will reduce. That means they are becoming like cats and dogs. 
 
Some Conclusions-I think one of the worst things I see in present day devotees is their attachment to cats and dogs. Mostly dogs. Back in the “day” nobody would ever consider having a so called pet dog. Now today practically all of them have a dog.
 
 I actually had one before I moved into the temple, and after seeing Srila Prabhupada for the first time, when I got back home, my dog was gone, along with my so called “girl friend”. Krsna took them both away  to make surrendering to Him much easier. 
 
In the above conversation Prabhupada makes a nice point about  the memory of a dog and since it has basically none, it keeps coming back for your food even though you say Hut-get away. So the more people (and devotees) are losing memory of God  the more dog like they are becoming. First quality of a dog is unclean-untouchable.
And if cleanliness is next to Godliness, then how having a dog can this happen?
Hare Krsna
damaghosa das
ps-I am sure to get some negative feedback from this one!
 
SB 4.22–When one deviates from his original consciousness,he loses the capacity to remember his previous position or recognize his present one.When remembrance is lost, all knowledge acquired is based on a false foundation. When this occurs, learned scholars considerthat the soul is lost.
 
SB 7.14.11 P               Ideal Family Life              63694/530501
Although inmodern society the dog is accepted as part of one’s
household paraphernalia,in the Vedic system of household life the dog
is untouchable;as mentioned here, a dog may be maintained with proper
food, but it cannot be allowed to enter one’s house, what to speak of
the bedroom

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by Damaghosa dasa

ritviks debate video links

September 21, 2021 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

These links go with the  article about the recent ritvik fire yajna
Ritvik Debate Links
                                    Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXTW_zkCEw0
                                    Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKO_i_EySUc
                                             

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by Damaghosa dasa

letter to Anuttama das Iskcon communications GBC minister/guru-no reply back

September 21, 2021 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

Dear Anuttama dasa
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
 
Recently I received news that iskcon is now holding and giving guru seminar classes for its “gurus”. Just when I thought it could not get any worse, and now this new bit of more bad news and concocted philosophy from the GBC of Iskcon.
 
Anybody who has read Srila Prabhupadas books even at a cursory level, will understand that he tells us and shows us from the sastra (scriptures) that a bona fide spiritual master is no less than a liberated soul and has been deputed by the Supreme Lord to take disciples.
What does it take to be a liberated soul? That is explained in the scriptures as one who is free from the four defects-imperfect senses, illusions, making mistakes and the propensity to cheat.
So unless one possesses these basic four items, he cannot be a liberated soul, which means he cannot give perfect knowledge, nor can he even save himself, what to speak of others. And then to give diksa-initiation as a spiritual master, one must also be a pure devotee of the Lord on top of that, which Krsna tells us in His Bhagavad Gita is very very rare to find such a mahatma.
 
BG 7.14 purport....Another meaning of guṇa is rope; it is to be understood that the conditioned soul is tightly tied by the ropes of illusion. A man bound by the hands and feet cannot free himself-he must be helped by a person who is unbound. Because the bound cannot help the bound, the rescuer must be liberated. Therefore, only Lord Kṛṣṇa, or His bona fide representative the spiritual master, can release the conditioned soul. Without such superior help, one cannot be freed from the bondage of material nature.
 
And yet in iskcon it has now become their common practice to even arrogantly admit it is not they who are releasing/liberating their so called disciples from birth and death but it is Srila Prabhupada himself.
So any reasonably intelligent person would then ask, what do we need these people for if they admit they are not liberated and furthermore and worse still, cannot free their so called disciples from the cycle of birth and death?
Reasonable question, right? Not for these people in iskcon who have lost all their intelligence that Prabhupada originally gave to them. Here is how that happened...
 
SB 4.22 Translation-–When one deviates from his original consciousness, he loses the capacity to remember his previous position or recognize his present one. When remembrance is lost, all knowledge acquired is based on a false foundation. When this occurs, learned scholars consider that the soul is lost.

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by Damaghosa dasa

Srila Prabhupadas Men by Hari pada das

September 21, 2021 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

Srila Prabhupada’s Men, by Haripada dasa
Srila Prabhupada’s men are people who have decided to use their lives to please Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada’s men are by nature meek and humble, but when they see that there are people who offend Srila Prabhupada they are like lightning bolts. In the same way that drug addicts cannot do without their drug, Srila Prabhupada’s men cannot live without reading Srila Prabhupada’s books every day. Srila Prabhupada’s men are always making plans for people to be happy in Krishna or God consciousness. Srila Prabhupada’s men are the smartest people because they are always chanting Hare Krishna. Srila Prabhupada’s men love even their enemies. Srila Prabhupada’s men never engage in sense gratification. Srila Prabhupada’s men are the only people who have overcome lower taste by finding great satisfaction in higher taste.
Srila Prabhupada’s men are assured of their return home, their return to Godhead. Srila Prabhuada’s men use everything for the service of Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga. Srila Prabhupada’s men are obedient to Srila Prabhupada’s instructions. Srila Prabhupada’s men have no time for maya. Srila Prabhupada’s men understand and accept that Srila Prabhupada is the Acharya through his books for the next 10,000 years. Srila Prabhupada’s men establish relationships with other devotees based on spiritual love and trust. Srila Prabhupada’s men are very careful to offend any moving or immobile living entity. Srila Prabhupada’s men have found a taste in being the servants of others. Srila Prabhupada’s men have decided that their love is for Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada’s men understand and accept that many unauthorized people have used Srila Prabhupada for a living.
Srila Prabhupada’s men understand and accept that Srila Prabhupada is our direct link to the guru-parampara. Srila Prabhupada’s men understand and accept that Srila Prabhupada is the Jagat-guru the guru of the universe and to all devotees who have accepted Srila Prabhupada as the way, the truth and the life offer their respectful obeisances. Srila Prabhupada’s men establish a friendly relationship and see all the devotees who have accepted Srila Prabhupada as their Gurudeva as godbrothers. Srila Prabhupada’s men obey Srila Prabhupada’s order to initiate on his behalf, they don’t speculate.

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by Damaghosa dasa

Another ritvik initiation (video)and the sastric proof why it can and should be done today

September 21, 2021 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

Hare Krsna–We have two items below-first is the video presentation of a recent devotee becoming initiated on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. Second item is the sastric proof as to why this is possible today and others can also  do it.
damaghosa das
————————
Below is a link to the video of the initiation ceremony of Abhirama Thakura Prabhu which occurred on September 18, 2021.
 
 
Since the video is over an hour long and the file size is almost 1.5GB, you can download the video first and then watch it after it is done downloading if you have a slow internet connection.
———————————————
Hare Krsna
Below we are trying to give an explanation as to how new bhaktas can become initiated in the present day by Srila Prabhupada- without iskcon, or any other institutional hierarchy.
 
First of all I want to point out that Prabhupada once said that todays Christians today can also become “Christians” or disciples of Jesus- if they accept his instructions. And this is 2000 years later !! So if Christians can accept and be recognized as disciples of Jesus Christ today why cant Srila Prabhupada with his millions of followers also become his disciples and do the same thing?
 
They can and here is the proof below from Srila Prabhupada himself.
 
May 24 1974 Rome
Prabhupāda: … Just like Lord Jesus Christ is a bona fide teacher, and he has given his teaching, his commandments. If you follow those commandments, then you are bona fide student. But if you don’t follow then you are not bona fide.
 
Richard Webster: And if you try to follow but fail or if you…
Prabhupāda: No, you must follow. You cannot fail. Just like Lord Christ says, “Thou shall not kill.” You must follow that. If you do not follow, then you are not Christian. It is not the question of that you could not follow or you are weak to follow. You must follow.
 
And how does one become a follower today of Prabhupada or Jesus?
 
Seattle Oct 2 1968
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Can a Christian in this age, without a spiritual master, but by reading the Bible and following Jesus’s words, reach the…
Prabhupāda:When you read Bible, you follow spiritual master. How can you say without? As soon as you read Bible, that means you are following the instruction of Lord Jesus Christ, that means you are following spiritual master. So where is the opportunity of being without spiritual master?
Madhudviṣa:I was referring to a living spiritual master.
Prabhupāda: Spiritual master is not the question of… Spiritual master is eternal.Spiritual master is eternal. So your question is without spiritual master. Without spiritual master you cannot be, at any stage of your life. You may accept this spiritual master or that spiritual master. That is a different thing. But you have to accept.As you say that “by reading Bible,” when you read Bible that means you are following the spiritual master represented by some priest or some clergyman in the line of Lord Jesus Christ. So any case, you have to follow a spiritual master. There cannot be the question without spiritual master. Is that clear?
 
And what is the result of following such a bona fide spiritual master- Either Jesus or Srila Prabhupada?
 
Seattle oct 18 1968
Prabhupāda: …The test of any scripture is how one is developing love of God. Phalena paricīyate. If you find that following some religious principles you are developing your love of God, then it is perfect.It doesn’t matter whether it is Bible or Koran or Bhagavad-gītā. It doesn’t matter.We have to see what is the fruit. If the fruit is that people are developing love of Godhead, then it is perfect.
Don’t try to understand whether this is good, this is good, this is bad, this is… No. Try to understand by the result.Just like the same way: if you see the fruit, then it is first class.
So it doesn’t matter whether it is Bible or Gītā. If you can develop love of Godhead by reading Bible, it is first class, and if you can develop love of Godhead by Bhagavad-gītā, it is first class. And if you do not, then either it is Bible or the Koran or Bhagavad-gītā, it has no effect for you.
 
So it is up to you. Not by comparison, but by your own activities.If you actually follow the instruction given by Lord Jesus Christ, you will also develop love of Godhead.There is no doubt. Similarly, if you follow the instruction of Kṛṣṇa, you will also develop. So it is up to you. You try to follow. If you do not follow, simply try to make a comparative study “This is good” or “This is bad,” “This is bad” or “This is good,” that is called śrama eva hi kevalam [SB 1.2.8]—simply laboring. Why comparative study? Just see how much you are developing love of Godhead, that’s all. Phalena paricīyate.
 
Now to the present day and solving the so called problem of getting initiated today by Srila Prabhupada thru his bona fide representatives.

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by Damaghosa dasa

“Thus even if the devotees see the mischief-mongers, they do not accuse them for the sufferings inflicted. “

September 21, 2021 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

Hare Krsna-the below letters by SP to his disciples were meant to calm the fire of anger and dissension so many had towards each other at that time, and at the same time to keep them in the movement working for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhus mission.
These letters and philosophical reasons are even more applicable today.
 
Now years later, we can partly see the philosophical reasons for these letters for now we have  most of the information needed to make informed decisions based upon the philosophy of Vaisnavism. One has to approach this with a cool head as Prabhupada used to say, in order to understand the proper course of our individual actions.
 
This article by Krsna’s grace, is in my humble opinion ,one of the best for proper understanding of overall Vaisnava behavior and action
Hare Krsna
damaghosa das
————————
 
Nov 5 1967 letter…
Please accept my blessings. Replying your letter dated Oct. 21, I quite appreciate your statement and I am happy that you have now taken care of the Gita Mss. I have already written to Hayagriva that the instructions which I impart are not dogmas. Our instructions are all based on sufficient logic and philosophy. The thing is that while conducting missionary activities it is quite natural that sometimes the situation may become very provocative, but we have to deal in these matters very carefully. The boy who spat upon the person of Kirtanananda must send a letter of regret and apology. That will be nice. You should always try to pacify the living entities in their rebellious propensities. These individual propensities are factual evidence for their becoming individual entities.
 
Note—Sometimes devotees say that the letters are not important because they deal mostly with someones individual situation and are not applicable to all. Yet here Prabhupada tells us his letters are not dogmas and they can apply to many others as well.
 
Nov 5 1967 letter...
We invite outsiders to come and hear our kirtanas but I think Kirtanananda might have been disturbing the peace of the Temple and therefore you all asked him not to enter the Temple. I do not know what had actually transpired but the incident is not very happy. If possible the boy who had spat upon Kirtanananda in the presence of Hayagriva must be requested to send a letter of regret and apology for the mistake he had done. I have already given you a list of good behavior for the devotees. The person who is a devotee must develop those good qualities. Kirtanananda’s attempt to defy me might have provoked all these undesirable incidences, but in the future we shall be very much careful to deal in such provocative situations; I can understand the provocation in this situation was set in motion by Kirtanananda’s uncalled for behavior. Hope you are well.
 
Note-Kirtnaandas “provacative” behavior started a long time ago and SP noted it.
 
 
Nov 18 1967 letter….
Please accept my blessings. Replying your letter of Nov. 9, I beg to inform you that Kirtanananda and Hayagriva’s recent standing is being directly dealt by me; at least Hayagriva is not as fanatic as Kirtanananda. His latest letter reveals that he is not out of Krishna Consciousness as we understand. The whole episode was generated by personal grudge. This personal grudge is not inhuman and as I have told many times, that individualism is the cause of personal misunderstanding. When such individualism is employed in the center of Krishna there is no harm even if there is personal misunderstanding. Personal misunderstanding exists even in the higher levels. There is competition of loving Krishna even in the party of Srimati Radharani. It is a kind of rasa to compete in loving affection centering around Krishna. We shall, therefore, try to bring back Hayagriva and Kirtanananda to their senses. After all we must understand that we are dealing with persons affected by Maya. Every one of us is under the influence of the external energy, Maya. The best way to get out of the clutches of Maya is to concentrate our attention in the loving service of Krishna. I understand that Hayagriva and Kirtanananda are continuing to chant Hare Krishna is their center. I hope therefore they will not go astray and the misunderstanding may be cleared up in due course of time. (Even amongst our God-brothers we have misunderstanding but none of us is astray from the service of Krishna. My Guru Maharaja ordered us to execute his mission combinedly. Unfortunately we are now separated. But none of us have stopped preaching Krishna Consciousness. Even if there was misunderstanding amongst the God-brothers of my Guru Maharaja none of them deviated from the transcendental loving service of Krishna. The idea is that provocation and misunderstanding may remain between one man and another. But our staunch faith in Krishna Consciousness may not allow any material disruption. Please therefore try to be sympathetic with any person even if they differ. The only qualification we have to scrutinize is if one is acting in Krishna Consciousness as far as one is able to do it.)
 
July 28 1969 letter
So far as your question about controversy amongst the disciples of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja, that is a fact. But this controversy is not material. Just like in a national program, different political parties are sometimes in conflict and make propaganda against each other, but their central point is always service to the country. Similarly, amongst the disciples of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati there may be some controversy, but the central point is how to preach the mission of His Divine Grace. If the central point is fixed up then there is no harm in such controversy. Every individual being must have his opinion; that is the significance of individuality, but all such differences of opinions must coincide in Krishna. In the battlefield of Kuruksetra were Arjuna and Bhisma who were fighting with one another, and because Krishna was on the side of Arjuna, sometimes Bhisma pierced the body of Krishna also with arrows. But still they remained the greatest devotees of the Lord, and Krishna accepted the friendship of Arjuna just as He accepted the inimical arrows of Bhisma in the same loving spirit. So you do not be disturbed by such controversial points. Better you engage your mind very seriously in the matter of the service entrusted upon you. That will make you progressive in Krishna Consciousness.
 
Note-These two are very instructive letters by Srila Prabhupada regarding how to deal with individuality amongst Godbrothers. He tells us that even in the Gaudiya matha, despite their disobeying their guru Srila Bhaktisddhanta Maharaja, Prabhupada considered that they were still engaged in the loving service of Krsna. So this is an important instruction when we deal with others who do not share the same “understanding” as we.

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by Laksman dasa

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura: Appearance day Sunday 19th Sept Sridham Mayapur time

September 19, 2021 in Articles by Laksman dasa

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura: Appearance day Sunday 19th Sept Sridham Mayapur time.

Bhaktivinod Thakur

    Sri Sacidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura appeared in 1838 in a wealthy family in the Nadia district, West Bengal. He revealed that he is an eternal associate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by his extraordinary preaching activities and prolific writing. Living as a, mahabhagavata Vaisnava, he stayed in the grhasta ashram until the last few years of his life. Then he renounced everything, accepted babaji, and entered samadhi, totally absorbed in the loving service of Gaura-Gadadhara and Radha-Madhava.
 
   “He had a responsible government position as the District Magistrate (high court judge), maintained a Krishna conscious family, and wrote almost one hundred books on Krishna consciousness. At the same time, he served the Supreme Lord in so many ways. That is the beauty of his life. After a full day of government service he would sleep four hours, get up at midnight and write until morning. That was his daily program.” (Srila Prabhupada)
 
   Thakura Bhaktivinoda took Vaisnava diksa from Sri Vipinvihari Goswami in the line of Sri Jahnava Mata. Afterwards, he received spiritual inspiration and direction from Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji. Holding an exalted government post, vast erudition, and spiritual accomplishment never disturbed Bhaktivinoda Thakura. He remained prideless, always humble, friendly to all. Charity seekers at his home always left happy and satisfied. A well-wisher to everyone, he never kept grudges, even with opponents to his preaching. In fact, he never spoke a word that would hurt another’s feelings. 

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by Laksman dasa

Sri Vamanadeva avatara jayanti – Srila Jiva Goswami Tirobhava tithi Tuesday, September 10, 2019 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi]

September 19, 2021 in Articles by Laksman dasa

Subject: Sri Vamanadeva avatara jayanti –
Srila Jiva Goswami avirbhava tithi [appearance day] Saturday, September 18, 201 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time]
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Srila Prabhupada glorifies Sri Vamanadeva and Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhupada
compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

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by Damaghosa dasa

These questions are not to be discussed in public. These are very higher understanding-SP

September 17, 2021 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

Room Conversation about nature of the jiva soul
London August 17 1971
 
Prabhupāda: They will be visible in due course of time.
Śyāmasundara: What he was telling me was that the table itself has a jīva soul, that the table is a person.
Prabhupāda: No no.
Revatīnandana: So that’s what I was asking. ‘Cause I said, “Does the table have a jīva soul?” I was trying to ask that question.
Śyāmasundara:That’s what completely threw me off. I thought, “Oh…” That means the table is a person, this is a person, this is a…
Prabhupāda: A particular jīva soul was in that body. Then it is also proved that every jīva soul is individual. Although they are living combinedly, everything is individual.
Revatīnandana: Well, doesn’t… That’s all right then. Now the…
Prabhupāda: But that one jīva soul was prominent. He was visible. Others were in dormant condition. This proves that every individual soul is separate from the other; still, they can remain together. Just like the sunshine, they create… a small shining particles, combined together, molecules. So everything is combined spirit particles.
Haṁsadūta: Everything that we see around us, everything.
Prabhupāda: Everything. Sarvam idam khalv idaṁ brahma. Everything is Brahman. But when they are covered, that is called material exis...
Śyāmasundara: Each jīva is…
Prabhupāda: Just as sunshine is not covered, it is called cloudy. But this light, whatever light you are seeing, that is also sunshine. That is not different from the sunshine. And above the cloud, there is bright. So matter means when it is covered by something, it is matter. That covering is unconsciousness. That covering is also created of the sunshine, by the same energy. And then, by the same energy it is dissipated also. So the conclusion is living being, when it is covered by ignorance, that is material.
Revatīnandana: But this, the body itself is sort of a manifestation of ignorance.
Prabhupāda: Yes. When the ignorance is gone, then you have got spiritual body.
Revatīnandana: Then I know that I am not this body. Then I know that I am not this body. Now, the question is…
Prabhupāda: Then I am not ignorance.
Revatīnandana: Then there is some distinction, between the nature of the soul and the nature of the body.
Prabhupāda: That distinction is inconceivable. You cannot make clear distinction. Therefore it is called acintya.
Revatīnandana: The distinction between the soul and the body?
Prabhupāda: Yes. Everything. We distinguish matter and spirit. That distinction is inconceivable by you. You cannot make a clear distinction. Therefore it is called acintya bhedābheda tattva, inconceivable one and different, simultaneously.

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by Laksman dasa

Srila Prabhupada re The beauty of Radharani

September 15, 2021 in Articles by Laksman dasa

Srila Prabhupada explains the beauty of Radharani
compiled by Padmapani dasa

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“Among the gopīs, Śrīmatī Rādhikā is the foremost. She surpasses all in beauty, in good qualities, in good fortune and, above all, in love.” 

(Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi 4.214)

“The beauty of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s eyes forcibly devours the beauty of newly grown blue lotus flowers, and the beauty of Her face surpasses that of an entire forest of fully blossomed lotuses. Her bodily luster seems to place even gold into a painful situation. Thus the wonderful, unprecedented beauty of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is awakening in Vṛndāvana.” (Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya 1.169, Purport)

“The beauty of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is described as follows: ‘Her eyes defeat the attractive features of the eyes of the cakorī bird. When one sees the face of Rādhārāṇī, he immediately hates the beauty of the moon. Her bodily complexion defeats the beauty of gold. Thus, let us all look upon the transcendental beauty of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.” (Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 44)

“In the Vidagdha-mādhava, Second Act, verse 31, Kṛṣṇa tells His friend, ‘My dear friend, what a wonderful thing it is that since I have seen the beautiful lotus eyes of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, I have developed a tendency to spit on the moon and the lotus flower!’ ” (Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 50)

“There is no comparison to Radharani’s beauty and the luster of Her transcendental body. The so-called beauty of the moon has fallen on the ground in the presence of Radharani’s beauty.” (From Vrindavana by Srila Narottama das Thakura)

“Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s affection, Her exquisite beauty and good behavior, Her artistic dancing and chanting and Her poetic compositions are all so attractive that they attract the mind of Kṛṣṇa, who attracts the mind of everyone in the universe.” (Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya 17.212)

“Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has stated that devotional service attracts even Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa attracts everyone, but devotional service attracts Kṛṣṇa. The symbol of devotional service in the highest degree is Rādhārāṇī. Kṛṣṇa is called Madana-mohana, which means that He is so attractive that He can defeat the attraction of thousands of Cupids. But Rādhārāṇī is still more attractive, for She can even attract Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, devotees call Her Madana-mohana-mohinī—the attractor of the attractor of Cupid.” (Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 1)

“Srimati Radharani is the most beautiful, and She always enchants Krishna, but at the same time, Krishna is always the Enchanter of Radharani. This reciprocal attraction of Radharani and Krishna is the basic principal of Lord Caitanya’s philosophy.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, May 22, 1969)

“In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta it is said that when Kṛṣṇa comes before Rādhārāṇī, She becomes so much engladdened by seeing the beauty of Kṛṣṇa that She becomes more beautiful. And as soon as Rādhārāṇī becomes beautiful, Kṛṣṇa becomes engladdened and He becomes more beautiful. So unlimitedly there is competition of becoming more beautiful, duhe lage hurai… That is the statement. Competition. Because in the spiritual world everything is unlimited. So unlimitedly, both of Them becoming beautiful and both of Them enjoying unlimitedly. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.”  (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, New Vrindavan, September 6, 1972)

“In the Lalita-mādhava, Rūpa Gosvāmī explains that the movements of Kṛṣṇa’s eyebrows are just like the Yamunā, and the smiling of Rādhārāṇī is just like the moonshine. When the Yamunā and the moonshine come in contact on the bank of the river, the water tastes just like nectar, and drinking it gives great satisfaction. It is as cooling as piles of snow.” (Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 44)

“In the words of Vaiṣṇava poets, it is said that the Lord’s beauty is so enchanting that it defeats hundreds of thousands of Cupids. He is therefore called Madana-mohana. It is also described that the Lord sometimes becomes mad after the beauty of Rādhārāṇī. Poets describe that under those circumstances, although Lord Kṛṣṇa is Madana-mohana, He becomes Madana-dāha, or enchanted by the beauty of Rādhārāṇī. Actually, the Lord’s beauty is superexcellent, surpassing even the beauty of Lakṣmī in Vaikuṇṭha. The devotees of the Lord in the Vaikuṇṭha planets want to see the Lord as the most beautiful, but the devotees in Gokula or Kṛṣṇaloka want to see Rādhārāṇī as more beautiful than Kṛṣṇa.”   (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.15.42, Purport) Srila Prabhupada explains  The beauty of Radharanicompiled by APdmapani dasa

“Kṛṣṇa is the most beautiful, Rādhārāṇī is the most beautiful. Couple, young couple. Our object of worship when we see how nice Rādhārāṇī, how nice Kṛṣṇa, beauty. Yes. Wherefrom the beauty worship has come in this material world unless there is beauty in the original form, Kṛṣṇa and Rādhārāṇī? So, God cannot be nirākāra (without form). Otherwise, why this beauty worship has come?”   (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Bombay, October 13, 1973)

“Rādhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite. How She is? Gokula-taruṇī-maṇḍala-mahite. Taruṇī, taruṇī means young girls. You’ll see the pictures, they are all young girls. But of all the young girls, She is the most beautiful. She is enchanting to the young girls also. She is so beautiful. Gokula-taruṇī-maṇḍala-mahite. Dāmodara-rati-vardhana-veśe. And She always dresses Her so nicely that Dāmodara, Kṛṣṇa, becomes attracted by Her beauty. Hari-niṣkuta-vṛndā-vipineśe. And She is the only lovable object of Kṛṣṇa, and She is the queen of Vṛndāvana. This queen of Vṛndāvana.”

(Srila Prabhupada Radhastami Lecture, Montreal, August 30, 1968)

“Madana means Cupid. Cupid enchants everyone. Cupid. And Kṛṣṇa enchants Cupid. Therefore, His name is Madana-mohana. He’s so beautiful that even Cupid is enchanted by Him. But again, on the other side, Kṛṣṇa, although He’s so beautiful that He enchants the Cupid, still He is enchanted by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Therefore, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s name is Madana-mohana-mohinī. Kṛṣṇa is the enchanter of the Cupid, and Rādhārāṇī is the enchanter of that enchanter. So these are very high-grade spiritual understanding in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. It is not fiction or imagination, concoction. They are facts. They are facts. And every devotee can have such privileges if he is actually advanced.”   (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Los Angeles, April 23, 1973)

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by Damaghosa dasa

The Bona fide guru can be present wherever the disciple wants–SP

September 14, 2021 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

Hare Krsna-below are many statements by Srila Prabhupada regarding the Absolute nature and potency of the Lords pure devotee. Kindly consider them in light of many many present day mis-conceptions.
“Just as Krishna can be present simultaneously in millions of places. Similarly, the spiritual master can be present wherever the disciple wants. A spiritual master is the principle, not the body. Just like a television can be seen in thousands of places by the principle of relay monitoring.”
 
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, May 28, 1968)
 
June 8 1976
Bharadvāja: I understand, Śrīla Prabhupāda, that the pure devotee can be as pervasive as Supersoul?
Prabhupāda: Hmm?
Bharadvāja: By the mercy of Supersoul, he can be present in many places at once?
Prabhupāda: Yes. By the grace of Kṛṣṇa, a devotee can become anything.
Duryodhana-guru: So in other words that means the pure devotees can be omniscient?
Prabhupāda: Everything. God is omniscient, so a pure devotee can become omniscient by the grace of God.
“There is no difference between me and my picture. Therefore we
should honor and keep pictures in that spirit. If we throw pictures
this way and that way, that is offence. The name and picture are as good as the person in spiritual world. In the material world either picture or person, everything is illusion.”  (Srila Prabhupada Letter, September 4, 1972)
 

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by Laksman dasa

Radharani Talks to a Bumblebee

September 10, 2021 in Articles by Laksman dasa

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Tuesday, September 14, 2021 Radha Astami [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi]
Subject: Radharani Talks to a Bumblebeecompiled by Padmapani dasa

http://www.prabhupadaconnect.com/Radharani-Talks-to-a-Bumblebee.html

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