Therefore a Vaiṣṇava is always busy preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness throughout the world.

July 26, 2015 in B. Radha Govinda Swami by Yasoda nandana dasa

SB 6.10.9
If one is unhappy to see the distress of other living beings and happy to see their happiness, his religious principles are appreciated as imperishable by exalted persons who are considered pious and benevolent.
PURPORT
One generally follows different types of religious principles or performs various occupational duties according to the body given to him by the modes of material nature. In this verse, however, real religious principles are explained. Everyone should be unhappy to see others in distress and happy to see others happy. Ātmavat sarvabhūteṣu: one should feel the happiness and distress of others as his own. It is on this basis that the Buddhist religious principle of nonviolence — ahiḿsaḥ paramadharmaḥ — is established. We feel pain when someone disturbs us, and therefore we should not inflict pain upon other living beings. Lord Buddha‘s mission was to stop unnecessary animal killing, and therefore he preached that the greatest religious principle is nonviolence.
One cannot continue killing animals and at the same time be a religious man. That is the greatest hypocrisy. Jesus Christ said, “Do not kill,” Read the rest of this entry →

Prabhupada katha lecture by His Excellency P.B Acharya (the governor of Assam, Tripura and Nagaland)‏

March 29, 2015 in B. Radha Govinda Swami by Yasoda nandana dasa

On 26th March, we had a Prabhupada katha lecture in Mayapur Temple by His Excellency P.B Acharya (the governor of Assam, Tripura and Nagaland). He’s a Vaisnava born in Udupi, Karnataka and had the fortune of serving Srila Prabhupada at his house in Bombay for 40 days.
During that time he had many memorable experiences with Srila Prabhupada and he narrated some of them. We can’t replicate the nectarine experience of hearing this katha  in Temple but we attempt to share some of the pastimes told by him.
  •  Even before he met Srila Prabhupada, he was surprised to see His western disciples clean a bushy land even without caring for their meals. One day he asked Brahmananda prabhu for tea/coffee but he refused to have that. Then he invited him for a meal at his home. Brahmananda prabhu accepted food after knowing that it was prasad. Few other devotees also honored prasad at his home during next few days. When he first met Srila Prabhupada, He asked if he was a Vaisnava. He said yes and to his surprise Srila Prabhupada asked if He could stay at his home. He agreed and devotees cleaned His room very nicely. One day devotees objected to use of grinder as that may disturb His rest. He appreciated the attention His disciples had in serving Him.
  • During the Hare Krsna festival, he was amazed to see devotees from Western countries in Bombay dressed in Indian attire, chanting Hare Krsna while he was in shirt pant. He felt that Srila Prabhupada’s remarkable contribution is to spread the Holy Names and teachings of Lord Krsna throughout the world in a short time.

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Pleasing Krsna‏

March 29, 2015 in B. Radha Govinda Swami by Yasoda nandana dasa

srila-rupa-goswami prabhupada-mrdanga
CC Adi 3.21
apane na kaile dharma sikhana na yaya
ei ta siddhanta gita bhagavate gaya
“Unless one practices devotional service himself, he cannot teach it to others. This conclusion is indeed confirmed throughout the Gita and Bhagavatam.”
 
Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu 1.1.11
anyabhilasita sunyam jnana karmadi anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanusilanam bhakti uttama
One should render [uninterrupted] transcendental loving devotional service exclusively for the pleasure of Lord Sri Krsna without any desire for material profit or gain through philosophical speculation or fruitive activities.

Any other desires or activities executed – such as looking to obtain money for our own materialistic purposes,looking for position, name/fame – which are outside of the realm of pure devotional service rendered exclusively for the pleasure of Krsna constitutes (compromised) devotional service mixed with other motive.
BG 11.54; 18.55

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Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya

December 18, 2014 in B. Radha Govinda Swami by Yasoda nandana dasa

From Srila Prabhupada’s Sept 9, 1972 letter to Krsna Das:

6

“Know that I am eternally your guide, but if you don’t accept me as your guide, what can I do? If my disciples do not take my guidance, what can I do? By bad association it so happens, so I remain silent. I see the pricks of maya …

“You mention that your pathway has become filled with stumbling blocks. But there are no stumbling blocks. I can kick out all those stumbling blocks immediately, provided that you accept my guidance. With one stroke I can kick out all stumbling blocks.”

Srila Prabhupada’s Letter To Sudama Prabhu‏

December 14, 2014 in B. Radha Govinda Swami by Yasoda nandana dasa

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My dear Sudama,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 27, 1972, and I have noted the contents carefully. So far the Road Show and this Yoga Village are concerned, these things should be stopped. Simply perform our kirtana. If we divert our attention in this way, the whole thing will gradually deteriorate. He is going far away. All these things are nonsense inventions. Such inventing spirit will ruin our this movement. People may come to see, some will become devotees, but such devotees will not stay because they are attracted by some show and not by the real thing or spiritual life according to the standard of Lord Caitanya. Our standard is to have kirtana, start temples. What is this “Road Show” and “Yoga Village?” It will be another hippie edition. Gradually the Krishna Consciousness idea will evaporate: another change, another change, every day another change. Stop all this. Simply have kirtana, nothing else. Don’t manufacture ideas.
Hoping this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Isvarah paramah krsnah

December 14, 2014 in B. Radha Govinda Swami by Yasoda nandana dasa

Isvarah paramah krsnah sac cid ananda virahah anadir adir govindah sarva karana karanam

Krishna plays flute with the cows

Srila Prabhupada

How sad it is that despite our being taught this, we still want to manipulate the lives of others and exploit over them, (and for some of us), even to the point of [out and out] viciousness…
 
How, despite the understandings given to us, we still look for profit, adoration and distinction and for some of us will do anything to obtain it, compromising our spiritual life for social recognition, which in regards to eternity, lasts for much less than a truti.
 
Srila Prabhupada has given us such a precious gift. May we utilize it…