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Srila Narottama dasa Thakura tirobhava tithi [disappearance]- Saturday, October 28, 2018 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time]

October 31, 2018 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura tirobhava tithi [disappearance]-  Saturday, October 28, 2018 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time]


Srila Prabhupada explains the unique position of Narottama dasa Thakura in the Gaudiya Sampradaya.
compiled by Damaghosa dasa and Yasoda nandana dasaSrila Narottama dasa Thakura and Sri Srinivasa acarya
Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures : Canto 7: Lectures : SB 7.12: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.12.6 — Bombay, April 17, 1976 : 760417SB.BOM :
Dakṣa śraddadhānaḥ: faithful. Faithful to whom? To the spiritual master. Whatever he says, the brahmacārī should take it: “Yes, it is my life and soul.” That is the explanation given by Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura. He is explaining with reference to the verse vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana [Bg. 2.41]. He very nicely explains. You have perhaps read it, Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura’s… Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has taught very, very nicely about guru. Therefore he has written in Gurvaṣṭaka, yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ **. He is example, practical example of guru-bhakti, Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura. He accepted his guru, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura. So he said that “I am not interested for my salvation or going back to Godhead. I am not interested.” Interested means it may come; it may not come. “That I don’t mind. But I am interested only with the words of my guru.” Viśvanātha Cakravartī said. “That is my life. Whether I will be successful or not successful, it doesn’t matter. I must take the words of my Guru Mahārāja as my life and soul.”\

Lectures : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures : Madhya-lila: Lectures : Madhya 20: Lectures : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.100-108 — New York, November 22, 1966 : 661122C2.NY :
So Sanātana Gosvāmī, he’s ācārya in this disciplic succession from Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Caitanya. He is the first disciple of Lord Caitanya, and from him, Sanātana Gosvāmī, six Gosvāmīs. There were six among the first followers of Lord Caitanya. And then, from next step comes Raghunātha Gosvāmī and then this author of this book, Kṛṣṇa dāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, and from him, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, and then from him, Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa. In this way this disciplic succession is coming from Lord Caitanya. So as ācārya… Ācārya means one who knows the principles of scripture, properly being initiated by authority who knows things as they are, and they apply those things in their own life. They are called ācārya. Acinoti śāstrāṇi: he must know all the principles from authorities, and he should apply in his life those principles. Not that he knows but does not apply. He cannot be ācārya. Āpani ācari prabhu jīva disa (?). Lord Caitanya, He, although He is accepted as the, I mean to say, the personal, He’s Kṛṣṇa Himself, still, He behaved in such a way that others can follow. He also accepted Īśvara Purī. Īśvara, Īśvara Purī was His spiritual master, Lord Caitanya’s. This is the disciplic succession
Lectures : Nectar of Devotion Lectures : The Nectar of Devotion — Vrndavana, November 13, 1972 : 721113ND.VRN :
Prabhupāda: The Gosvāmīs, or in the Pañcarātra system, in the śāstras, the regulative principles are so made that, if we practice it, gradually our dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness will be awakened. Therefore these prescribed rules and regulations, as it is given in the śāstras and confirmed by the ācāryas… Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, tāṅdera caraṇa-sevi. We have to follow the footprints of the ācāryas. Ācārya means paramparā. One ācārya is following the previous ācārya. An ācārya does not manufacture anything, something novel. He follows the previous ācārya. And therefore he, he’s ācārya. And one who follows… Ācāryavān puruṣo veda. Ācārya upāsanam. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said. So we have to accept the principles laid down by the ācāryas. Tāṅdera caraṇa-sevi-bhakta-sane vāsa

Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 1:”Creation” : SB Introduction : SB Introduction :
Many devotees of Lord Caitanya like Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura, Śrī Locana dāsa Ṭhākura, Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, Śrī Kavikarṇapūra, Śrī Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī, Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī and in this latter age within two hundred years, Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Śrī Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana, Śrī Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī, Śrī Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, Śrī Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and at last Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura (our spiritual master) and many other great and renowned scholars and devotees of the Lord have prepared voluminous books and literatures on the life and precepts of the Lord. Such literatures are all based on the śāstras like the Vedas, Purāṇas, Upaniṣads, Rāmāyaṇa, Mahābhārata and other histories and authentic literatures approved by the recognized ācāryas. They are unique in composition and unrivaled in presentation, and they are full of transcendental knowledge. Unfortunately the people of the world are still ignorant of them, but when these literatures, which are mostly in Sanskrit and Bengali, come to light the world and when they are presented before thinking people, then India’s glory and the message of love will overflood this morbid world, which is vainly searching after peace and prosperity by various illusory methods not approved by the ācāryas in the chain of disciplic succession.
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by Damaghosa dasa

Rupanuga vada khandana – Part 3 A refutation of Rupanuga dasa’s intepretation of the October 18, 1977 conversation

October 7, 2017 in Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

Rupanuga vada khandana – Part 3 A refutation of Rupanuga dasa’s intepretation of the October 18, 1977 conversation, by Damaghosa dasa

Dear Rupanuga Prabhu
Obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
 
Thank you for putting up this website about Prabhapada’s position and his books.
   I had a few comments below I wanted to make…if I may
 
Hare Krsna
Damaghosa das… my reply is in italic, for clarity sake…
 
you write…
“In the article, this last sentence was paraphrased from memory, but the meaning is still the same as Srila Prabhupada’s statement, which now becomes enhanced when taken in the context of his speech. He is obviously referring to his present disciples as the next in the disciplic succession he has just named and numbered, all of whom are directly initiating their own disciples.
 
This is a very contentious point, as you well know. Many of our Godbrothers ARE initiating disciples, but where is the actual order for them to do that?
To my knowledge, there is no order. The only order he gave just prior to leaving his body was for the GBC (and others in the future) to become officiating acaryas. To initiate on his behalf. That’s all.This order was never amended or stopped. This lecture given in 1972 could also mean he wanted us, his disciples to continue as siksa gurus and not diksa gurus, especially after seeing what happened in his Gaudiya matha. And you were the recipient of that famous letter in 1974..
 
74-04-28.Rup               Letter: Rupanuga             
His idea was acarya was not to be nominated amongst the governing body. He said
openly you make a GBC and conduct the mission. So his idea was amongst
the members of GBC who would come out successful and self effulgent
acarya would be automatically selected. So Sridhara Maharaja and his
two associate gentlemen unauthorizedly selected one acarya and later
it proved a failure. The result is now everyone is claiming to be
acarya even though they may be kanistha adhikari with no ability to
preach. In some of the camps the acarya is being changed three times a
year. Therefore we may not commit the same mistake in our ISKCON camp.
Actually amongst my Godbrothers no one is qualified to become acarya.
So it is better not to mix with my Godbrothers very intimately because
instead of inspiring our students and disciples they may sometimes
pollute them. This attempt was made previously by them, especially
Madhava Maharaja and Tirtha Maharaja and Bon Maharaja but somehow or
other I saved the situation. This is going on. We shall be very
careful about them and not mix with them. This is my instruction to
you all. They cannot help us in our movement, but they are very
competent to harm our natural progress. So we must be very careful
about them.

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by Damaghosa dasa

SP explains 2 ways of living-the easy way and the hard way

September 25, 2017 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

May 14 1975 Australia–
 
Prabhupāda: But therefore, there are two ways of living. One way of living is called material enjoyment, or sense enjoyment. This is one way of life. In Sanskrit it is called pravṛtti-mārga, “How to enjoy more, more, more, more, more.” This is called pravṛtti-mārga. That is going on. The whole… At the present moment the whole civilization, throughout the whole world—everyone is trying to get more money. More money means more sense enjoyment. More money means more sense enjoyment. This is called pravṛtti-mārga.
Justin Murphy: Well, maybe less enjoyment but more possessions.
Prabhupāda: No, enjoyment in this way of life more sense enjoyment, you will never be able to enjoy or happiness. That is not possible. That is the nature’s way. (Aside:) You can close the door. If you simply want to enjoy, you can enjoy. But you will create more miseries. So this is one way of life, that you enjoy your senses and create more miseries. This is one way of life. And if you want to decrease your miseries, then there is another life, which is called simple life. Simple life means you produce your food and you produce your cloth so you dress yourself nicely, you eat, yourself, nicely, keep yourself fit and glorify the Lord. This is one way of life. And the other way of life, that “We don’t care for the Lord. Let us enjoy the senses to the topmost capacity and be happy…” So this way of life will never make you happy. You will simply go on struggling. This is one way of life. Another way of life, that the human life is meant for God realization…
Hare Krsna-below we have some pictures of the harvest now coming in this year.
canning tomato sauce and elderberry syrup    patty pan squash, and some peppers for dinner
Akane apples-sweet and tart same time

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by Damaghosa dasa

Effects of bad association

August 10, 2017 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

na sabhāṁ praviśet prājñaḥ sabhya-doṣān anusmaran abruvan vibruvann ajño naraḥ kilbiṣam aśnute
“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.” — Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.44.10
nindāṁ bhagavataḥ śṛṇvaṁs tat-parasya janasya vā tato nāpaiti yaḥ so ’pi yāty adhaḥ sukṛtāc cyutaḥ
“Anyone who fails to immediately leave the place where he hears criticism of the Supreme Lord or His faithful devotee will certainly fall down, bereft of his pious credit.”
— Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.74.40 

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Organized Religion
by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur
Sri Krishna manifests His eternal birth, the pure cognitive essence of the serving soul who is located above all mundane limitations. King Kamsa [the demon king who wanted to kill Lord Krishna] is the typical empiricist, ever on the lookout for the appearance of the truth for the purpose of suppressing Him before He has time to develop. This is no exaggeration of the real connotation of the consistent empiric position. The materialist has a natural repugnance for the transcendent. He is disposed to link that faith in the incomprehensible is the parent of dogmatism and hypocrisy in the guise of religion. He is also equally under the delusion that there is no real dividing line between the material and the spiritual. He is strengthened in his delusion by the interpretation of scriptures by persons who are like-minded with himself. This includes all the lexicographic interpreters.
The lexicographical interpretation is upheld by Kamsa as the real scientific explanation of the scriptures, and is perfectly in keeping with his dread of and aversion for the transcendental. These lexicographical interpreters are employed by Kamsa in putting down the first suspected appearance of any genuine faith in the transcendental. King Kamsa knows very well that if the faith in the transcendental is once allowed to grow it is sure to upset all his empiric prospects.
There is historical ground for such misgivings. Accordingly if the empiric domination is to be preserved in tact it would be necessary not to lose a moment to put down the transcendental heresy the instant it threatens to make its appearance in earnest. King Kamsa, acting on this traditional fear, is never slow to take the scientific precaution of deputing empiric teachers of the scriptures, backed by the resources of dictionary and grammar and all empiric subtleties to put down, by the show of specious arguments based on hypothetical principles, the true interpretation of the eternal religion revealed by the scriptures.

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by Damaghosa dasa

Warnings from Srila Prabhupada and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura compiled by Damaghosa dasa

August 10, 2017 in Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

Warnings from HDG Srila Prabhupada and HDG Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada
compiled by Damaghosa dasa

na sabhāṁ praviśet prājñaḥ
sabhya-doṣān anusmaran
abruvan vibruvann ajño
naraḥ kilbiṣam aśnute
 
“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.” — Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.44.10
 
nindāṁ bhagavataḥ śṛṇvaṁs
tat-parasya janasya vā
tato nāpaiti yaḥ so ’pi
yāty adhaḥ sukṛtāc cyutaḥ
 
“Anyone who fails to immediately leave the place where he hears criticism of the Supreme Lord or His faithful devotee will certainly fall down, bereft of his pious credit.”
— Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.74.40  Read the rest of this entry →

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by Damaghosa dasa

Bonds of Love–for Srila Prabhupada–in the early days….

August 3, 2017 in Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

Bonds of Love: Praharana Devi Dasi

Praharana became a devotee in Toronto in the fall of ’71. At the time she was studying science at the University of Western Ontario. She received a copy of Sri Isopanisad from a friend. It made so much sense that it prompted her to start chanting even though she had never met a devotee. She was also very attracted to Spiritual Sky incense, with the beautiful picture of Vishnu on its packaging and its exotic scents. At that time, Govindam, with Yamuna and George Harrison, was a hit on the radio, and for some reason it was being played every morning when her clock radio alarm activated. It seemed mystical to her. A few months later the Toronto devotees visited the university where she was attending and served a prasada feast. She was reluctant to go to the program when she saw how the devotees were dressed and the way they carried on during their kirtana – one devotee had neck beads the size of golf balls – but curiosity and hunger somehow got her to the feast. There she bought a Macmillan Gita and read it within a few days – after which she wanted to quit school and move into the temple. She spent a week at the temple during her spring break. However, Jagadisa and Laxmimoni told her that since she was only a few months from graduating, she should get her degree. So she received her degree and moved into the temple. In retrospect, she is grateful for that short delay because sixteen years later, as a single mother receiving almost no child support from a devotee ex-husband, she was able to go back to school for her master’s degree and subsequently find a job. Read the rest of this entry →

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by Damaghosa dasa

Srila Prabhupada glorifies Srila Gopala Bhatta Goswami

July 15, 2017 in Damaghosa Dasa, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

Friday, July 14, 2917 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time]
Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami tirobhava tithi [disappearance day of Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami]

Srila Prabhupada describes the glories of Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami

compiled by Damaghosa dasa and Yasoda nandan dasa

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by Damaghosa dasa

Collected Teachings Book Summary-Vol #5

July 14, 2017 in Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

Hare Krsna to all–


Below we have a few tidbits of nectar from the collected teachings book of Srila Prabhupada, Vol #5 which is sure to enliven any sincere and serious devotee of Lord Krsna.
———————————————–
 
1.Why maya is so strong if our purpose is to be with Krsna.
 
2.Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu found in S. India temple only the fifth chapter of the Brahma Samhita, which originally had  100 chapters.
 
3.If one has no master, he will keep a dog and become- his servant.
 
4.Don’t reject anything material if can be used in Lords service.
 
5.One who keeps himself  confined by boundaries of limited space-body consciousness, family consciousness,
community consciousness, even universal consciousness-he or she can never understand Krsna Consciousness.
 
6.We cant fix our minds upon the Lotus Feet of Krsna unless we get the dust of the Lotus Feet of a nisckincana pure devotee of the Lord.
 
7.Rasa Lila was not discussed by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu even with His Panca Tattva members.
 
8.As soon as a child is born, he requires milk, an invalid requires milk, an old man needs milk, sick person requires milk. Milk is the food of life.
 
Hare Krsna
damaghosa das

Collected Teachings vol #5

 

 That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Don’t reject anything. This tape recorder we don’t reject. We don’t say, “Oh, it is material. We shall not touch.” Bring any scientific invention, we shall engage in the service of Kṛṣṇa. That’s all. (laughter) We don’t say it is false. Why? You have applied your brain, you applied your energy to invent such nice machine. Let it be engaged in Kṛṣṇa’s service. Your life will be successful. Nov 13 1968

Nov 15 1968

So only Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the perfect… So Bhāgavata says, na te viduḥ… matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā mitho ‘bhipadyeta gṛha-vratānām. So actually gṛha means this material confinement. Gṛha, real gṛha, means one is bound up within some limited space. So gṛha means to keep oneself within some boundary. So Bhāgavata says so long one is interested to keep himself within the boundary of some limited area, he cannot understand Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Matir na kṛṣṇe. He cannot understand what is Kṛṣṇa consciousness or God consciousness. He’s limited within certain boundary. So Bhāgavata says Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not possible for persons who are limited by certain boundary, including universal concept of life. That is also boundary. And matir na kṛṣṇe svataḥ. Svataḥ means by his personal mental speculation. Just like many philosophers are thinking to reach the Absolute Truth beyond this limitation. That is called svataḥ, by personal speculation. Svataḥ, parataḥ. Parataḥ means from authorities. From a spiritual master, from scriptures, from authoritative books, authoritative source of knowledge, that is called parataḥ. Matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā mitho. Mitho means by great assembly. Just like the United Nation is trying to solve the problem for the last many years, twenty to twenty-five years, all the nations. This is called mithaḥ, assembly. Mithaḥ means assembly. So why it is not possible? Because they are limited. Their real concept is that “I am this body, I am this nation, I am this this, I am this, I am that.” That’s all. The basic principle is wrong. Therefore it is not possible to make a solution of the problems, either by personal speculation or by receiving knowledge. Just like our principle is to receive knowledge from the spiritual master. But if I keep myself within this boundary… Suppose if somebody thinks that “I am American,” then naturally he’ll be inclined, “Oh, why shall I be inclined to hear from a spiritual master who is Indian, who is Hindu?” So he’ll not be able to capture parataḥ. Similarly, if you go to the assembly like United Nation or Commonwealth conference, like that, but if you keep yourself that “I am this, I am this, I am this,” there is no possibility; therefore they are failing. The basic principle is wrong. Gṛha-vrata. The concept of life is wrong. Gṛha-vratānām. And why they want to be limited by this poor concept of life? This is called material existence. Adānta-gobhir viśatāṁ tamisram [SB 7.5.30]. This limited concept of life is due to unbridled sense. This limited concept of life they want to keep because they want to satisfy their senses. I am going to the assembly, United Nation, but I am keeping myself as American or as German, as Russian, or Indian, that “My nation shall be happy in this way.” Indian is thinking in that way, American is thinking that way, Russian is thinking in another way, another way. They are keeping themself in that limited area, and what benefit they will derive simply by wasting time in the assembly and talking? This is called gṛha-vratānām.

So one has to go outside this limited area. That is called brahma-bhūtaḥ stage. Then they’ll have real Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

…..But because they are trying to keep themselves within the limit of sense gratification, they’re coming again and again to that same platform, eating, sleeping, mating, and defending, without Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So this is the secret how to become Kṛṣṇa conscious.

As soon as one becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious or one becomes in touch with Kṛṣṇa consciousness, spṛśaty, anartha, immediately he becomes delivered from all these misgivings of material existence. That is the test. How one is in contact with Kṛṣṇa consciousness will be tested—how he is freed from all misgivings. Just like for example—not very gigantic example; very small—our students, as soon as they take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, initiated, immediately so many misgivings they give up. So many. The basic principles of misgiving, what is that? No illicit sex, no intoxication, no meat-eating, no gambling. It is very difficult for persons, especially in the Western countries, to give up all these habits. They are so much entangled.

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by Damaghosa dasa

meeting the Pure Devotee is no accident-must be sincere otherwise get cheated

April 8, 2017 in Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

From the Prabhupada Connection
 
Meeting a pure devotee is no accident-must be sincere, otherwise get cheated
Devotee: Srila Prabhupada, why has it taken so long for a pure devotee to come to the West? Has the West been so sinful that no pure devotee has come before Your Divine Grace?
Prabhupada: Don’t be sorry. At that time, you were so sinful that you could not receive a pure devotee.
Devotee: Yes. Once in a lecture a lady asked you why hadn’t you come sooner, and you just said, “Well, you weren’t ready for me.”
Prabhupada: Yes, “Because you were not ready.” Yes, I told. Yes. Now the Western boys, the descendant of the Western people, they are fortunate; therefore they receive Kṛṣṇa. Kona bhāgyavān jīva (CC Madhya 19.151). It is Kṛṣṇa’s desire that “These people are suffering so much; let some devotees come here.” So you are all devotees. You have come to join together.
(Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, Los Angeles, December 7, 1973)

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by Damaghosa dasa

What does it mean to be God Conscious??? A pop quiz by Srila Prabhupada

March 5, 2017 in Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

What does it mean to be Krsna Conscious??
Dec 10 1975 Vrndavana conversation-–
Hare Krsna-below is a very nice conversation where Srila Prabhupada sets us straight about what it means to be Krsna or God Conscious. If any of us were there during this pop quiz session, then I am sure many other answers could have been given and maybe even one may have been correct.
One amazing quality of Srila Prabhupada was his ability to make seemingly complex things very easy to understand.  We make things difficult, and the bona fide spiritual master makes it all clear-if we are willing to continually hear in a submissive mood from him
damaghosa das
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