Monthly Archives: August 2012

by Nityananda Rama dasa

Did Srila Prabhupada break tradition? Contodicting Sastra? MAYBE NOT!

August 26, 2012 in Articles by Nityananda Rama dasa

Hare Krishna, Prabhus, obeisances, all glories to SrilaPrabhupada. Please permit me to recommend some articles of interest,pertaining to these topics: —

WHETHER SRILA PRABHUPADA BROKE WITH TRADITION, CONTRADICTINGSHASTRA (The argument of “NO PRECEDENT”)

 

More Vaishnava Acharyas Accept Ritvik   – Madhu Pandit das

“There are several suchinstances in Sri Vaishnava Parampara (tradition). Take the example ofSri Ramanujacharya himself, who was the foremost amongst theSrivaishnavacharyas. He was initiated into the Srivaishnava texts andsecrets by five great acharyas who are the disciples of AcharyaYamuna. That is why is called Panchacharya Pradarshita. Though he wasa disciple of these five Acharyas, just like the Ritviks appointed byHH Srila Prabhupada ji, these ritviks never claimed that they were theAcharyas of Ramanujacharya.”

(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/ART_NAMHATTA/Sri-Sam-rittvik231107.php)

 

SrilaPrabhupada is Shastra -Praghosa das

“[Prabhupada] IS THE SHASTRA.THE SHASTRA IS ONLY RELEVANT IF IT AUTHENTICATES THE REALITY OF THEFULL INDEPENDENCE OF THE LORD AND HIS PURE LOVINGDEVOTEES!!”

(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/ART_NAMHATTA/shastra190908.php)

 

Whatare the Shastras? – Hansaduttadas

“In one essay [ThakurBhaktivinode] Srila Bhaktisiddhanta says, ‘What are the shastras? Theyare nothing but the words of the devotees (pure devotees) orsadhus.'”

(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/ART_NAMHATTA/shastra210908.php)

 

Formalities – MaheshRaja

“ALL Srila Prabhupada did waschange FORMALITIES in the way initiation was to be conducted in firstand second initiations: ‘The formalities may be slightly changed hereand there to make them Vaisnavas.'”

(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/ART_NAMHATTA/rittvik-formalities190908.php)

 

Last MinuteThoughts – Hansaduttadas

“If Srila Prabhupada isshaktavesha avatar (which we do recognise that he factually is), hecan do anything, and it becomes LAW. Because the fully liberated soulis always in touch with Krishna, whatever he does or says is shastra,law, absolute, non-different from Krishna. Because we do notunderstand does not mean it is incorrect.

 

‘Except for God, no one canestablish the principles of religion. Either He or a suitable personempowered by Him can dictate the codes of religion.’-purport,Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.43

 

Many things were never done before.Ramanujacharya engaged dacoits for collection, then had them killed.Madhvacharya pummeled his opponents. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu sang anddanced in public–never done before by sannyasis . Buddha rejected theVedas. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada created a GBC to manage hispreaching mission, leaving no successor acharya , as was traditionallydone. Srila Prabhupada made the same arrangement. In both instances,the order was disobeyed, and in both instances the result was thesame–chaos, confusion and disintegration of the Acharya’s mission.Great acharyas like Srila Prabhupada do establish the principles ofreligion according to time, place andcircumstances.”

(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/ART_NAMHATTA/SPMAY11.html)

 

WHETHER WE NEED A LIVING GURU

 

Living Guru – Hansaduttadas

“What is your idea of living? Amoving body? A warm body? The body is never living. It is the soul,the spirit within the body. … ‘You need a living guru.’ What do theymean by ‘living’? Do they mean to say that Srila Prabhupada is dead?Do they mean to say that Krishna is dead? Lord Chaitanya is dead?Vyasadeva is dead?

“If you say we need to have someone physically present givinginstructions, that also is not a fact. That is helpful, but it is nota fact. It is not a fact. Because there are many examples of boys andgirls who received Srila Prabhupada’s books, and although he was notphysically present, by reading and capturing the spirit, they becameawakened to Krishna consciousness. It is not true that I need a livingbody through which this message, this spirit will come. It will comethrough the book, or it may come through the sincereservant…”

(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/ART_NAMHATTA/livingguru180309.php)

 

QUESTION OF BREAKING THE PARAMPARA

 

LastMinute Thoughts – Hansaduttadas

“First of all, neither SrilaPrabhupada nor we say guru parampara should be abandoned. Rather,Srila Prabhupada has given specific instructions how it should becontinued and its integrity preserved.

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Wonderful program in Snohomish, WA USA

August 25, 2012 in Articles, Kanhaiya Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

Dear Devotees of the Lord, Hare Krsna,

Please accept my humble obesiances with all glories to Srila Prabhupada!

We had a wonderful Saturday Feast Program here at Shri Radha Kunja Snohomish Aashram, WA. We had wonderful Hari Naam, Nice Tulsi aarti, and Narsimha Dev Aarti, Bhajans, BG Purushotam Chapter 15 recitation and class, and a very nice feast… I would like to share the program pictures with you all…Hope you like it… Hari Hari…   http://www.flickr.com/photos/vikasnoble/sets/72157631246313258/show/

If you think you have received this email by mistake..Please ignore this. Thanks

Hari Bol

Your Humble Servant

-Kanhaiya DasAnudas

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Srila Prabhupada -Founder Acharya of Iskcon

August 25, 2012 in Articles by Nityananda Rama dasa

Dear   Bhagvatamrita Prabhu,

Please   accept my humble obeisance’s. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

You asked yesterday why one would list Srila   Prabhupada as a “sannyasi” in the MOA of Iskcon-India, rather than the”   Founder Acharya” as Srila Prabhupada has originally listed. This happened   around 1980 by a commission of the Bureau of Iskcon-India. You say it was for   legal purposes? I begged to submit that this commission may not just be a   simple legal maneuver but a symptom of the still ongoing conspiracy to remove   Srila Prabhupada as the Founder Acharya of Iskcon and replace others   unlawfully in that position.

FOUNDER   ACHARYA OF ISKCON-HIS DIVINE GRACE A.C.

BHAKTIVEDANTA   SWAMI SRILA PRABHUPADA

 This   point of Srila Prabhupada being the FOUNDER-ACHARYA of Iskcon is very   pertinent and important. The quotations, examples and even attempts to remove   Srila Prabhupada as the Founder-Acharya were there even when Srila Prabhupada   was with us, what to speak of after His samadhi or in this case within the   official documents which are now being scrutinized by the Supreme Court in the   case between the Bureau of Iskcon-Mumbai vs. Iskcon Bangalore.

For   the time being we will leave most of those historical quotes and incidents   aside, besides the few quoted below, just to give the gist. As i hope we both   agree that Srila Prabhupada is the Founder-Acharya of Iskcon? Correct? Not   only Founder but Acharya! The principle of who is the Acharya,   and how one becomes Acharya is the subject of another discussion (such as my   claim that a Acharya has to be an Uttama adhikari and your claim that the   Acharya can be a Madhyam Adhikari !) . We will confine this dialog to   establishing the eternal principle of Srila Prabhupada as the FOUNDER-ACHARYA   of ISKCON, which did not cease in November of 1977, nor did Srila Prabhupada   ever intend that He would not be the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON after His   samadhi. Did He? If you disagree, then please show where and when  the principle of Srila Prabhupada being   the FOUNDER & ACHARYA of ISKCON ceases to be the principle?

A   few quotes from Srila Prabhupada on His being Founder-Acharya:

“So   you can go ahead and register our Society there with taking all proper and   necessary steps. Before the finalization of registration takes place I would   request you to send me one copy of the constitution for our society there so I   can approve it finally. My name should be there as the Founder-Acharya, A.C.   Bhaktivedanta Swami. I should have full authority in all matters. ” (Letter   December 29th, 1974)

note: Srila Prabhupada still has the “full   authority” through His books, Letters and Conversations as well as His   Directives of Management of His Society.

“The   Ambassador of the United States of America, Canakya Puri, New   Delhi May it please Your Excellency, I beg to introduce myself as the   Founder-Acharya of the above institution.”

(Letter   to the Ambassador of the United States of America dated 27, July, 1976   -Delhi)

”   “The deed for the property and temple should be made in favor of “His Divine   Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the   International Society for Krishna Consciousness.” It cannot be dedicated to   any of the office bearers. So I suggest that you become the president of the   temple and Upendra become the secretary, and either your brother or your wife   can become treasurer. There is no need of trustees. But in any circumstance   the temple can’t be a private property in the name of ISKCON. If you want to   keep it a private property then the ISKCON name should not be   utilized.”

(Letter   – New Vrindavna June 30, 1976)

Letter   signed by Srila Prabhupada on September 28th, 1976;

“A.C.   Bhaktivedanta Swami Founder Acharya ISKCON (all over the   world) Vrindaban 28/9/76”

“I   am not going to manage Spiritual Sky. This is ridiculous. Why they are   dragging me into the management. Now the Acharya is meant for handling   business? Jayatirtha should handle this. He is the manager. Jayatirtha and   Karandhar are the chief men. They should manage. Why I have to manage? They   have big, big brains. Why they are failing? Now the Founder-Acharya has to   manage. Without my consent the BBT has financed.” (Vrindvana Agust 31st,   1974)

“TOPMOST   URGENCY AMENDMENTS TO BE IMMEDIATELY ADDED TO ALL OFFICIAL REGISTRATION   DOCUMENTS, CONSTITUTIONS, INCORPORATION PAPERS,   ETC.

1.)      It is declared that His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is   the Founder-Acharya of (ISKCON) International Society for Krishna   Consciousness. He is the supreme authority in all matters of the society. His   position cannot be occupied by anyone else, and his name and title must appear   on all documents, letterheads, publications, and buildings of the   Society. In particular it shall be clearly understood that no real estate   may be purchased or sold by any officer of the Society without the express   permission of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, the   Founder-Acharya of ISKCON.

2.)    There shall be a   Governing Board Committee of trustees appointed by the Founder-Acharya His   Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad according to the document   Direction of Management dated July 28, 1970. The GBC is to act as the   instrument for the execution of the will of His Divine Grace Srila   Prabhupad. Dated at New York, July 22, 1974. Approved: A.C.   Bhaktivedanta Swami Founder-Acharya”

“As   more publications arrive from ISKCON Press in Boston, Prabhupäda is startled   to see they have printed His name on one small paperback simply as A.C.   Bhaktivedanta, leaving out “His Divine Grace” and “Swami Prabhupäda.” Another   booklet ascribes him the title “Acharya” rather than “Founder-Acharya.” If   that’s not bad enough, upon opening the book the binding cracks and some of   the pages fall out. Prabhupäda is furious.” “It appears that a veil of   mäyä descended over ISKCON in 1970. Seemingly innocent mishaps, or lapses in   consciousness, led Srila Prabhupäda to conclude there was a conspiracy to   minimize His position as the Founder-Acharya of His own institution. He   understood that he was being pushed into the background—that his supreme   authority was being challenged, even doubted, and that this would be dangerous   for the spiritual well being of his disciples. This was the first major   heresy on a societal level in Prabhupäda’s young movement. At the heart of the   heresy, of course, was the direct challenge to his authority, which, he   believed, originated in India. Even though it seemed to begin with seemingly   harmless incidents, Prabhupäda immediately saw the potential for the   corruption of Vaisnava philosophy.” “July   7 1970 as quoted in the biography) S

In the above   historical reference Srila Prabhupada has taken special concern that the   minimization of Him as the Founder Acharya would be “dangerous for the   spiritual well being of His disciples”. How many 1,000’s of sincere souls have   had their spiritual lives destroyed because they could not accept Srila   Prabhupada as their Founder-Acharya and instead had to accept a conditioned   soul as the Acharya due to institutionalized mandates?

Another point I was   thinking is this. If a person admits that they are fallen, then there is the   possibility of undertaking the process of Krsna consciousness and becoming   un-fallen. After all, Caitanya Mahaprabhu is “patita pavana”. And Srila   Prabhupada is ”maha-patita-pavana”. But is someone artifically proclaims   themself, or allows themself to be proclaimed, as a pure devotee/Acarya, and   accepts worship, while actually being fallen, it is a great offence. And there   is no possibility of such a person getting the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.   What they are doing is what the Srimad-Bhagavatam calls ”kaitava dharma”, or   “cheating religion”, which is rejected by Srimad-Bhagavatam and all our   Vaisnava acaryas. Think about it.

Srila   Prabhupada describes below his vision as to how he wants to structure and   operate (Materially and Spiritually) ISKCON. This letter is dated February   1967. Thus may understand that HDG Srila Prabhupada was very clear in the   beginning days of ISKCON about the model he wanted to use for the future   development and operation of ISKCON.

Srila   Prabhupada:   “I wish that each and every branch shall keep their separate identity and   cooperate keeping the Acharya in the center. On this principle we can   open any number of branches all over the world. The Rama Krishna mission works   on this principle and thus as an organization they have done   wonderfully.”

(Letter,   February 11, 1967)

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Real yoga process is to see Krsna/God within our hearts-SP

August 22, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Below are small parts of a wonderful lecture by Srila Prabhupada where he  explains to us:
1.Srimad Bhagavatam, the ripened fruit of all Vedic literatures, is  not just for Rasa Lila, the ultimate
   pastimes of the Lord.
2.To know and love God means to know in detail how this material  energy/world works.
3. If we dont know God in truth then we will be mistaken and take Him to be  an ordinary man or some
    imaginations.
4. Advanced devotees do not see fire air or sky, they see Krsna and His  energies.
5. Therefore we must make a study of these energies.
6. First class yogi sees God within his own heart, others hearts, and  everywhere, 24 hours a day.
7. How to do this? Increase our Love for God, Krsna.
8. First love Him more and more, then we can surrender totally to  Him.
Hare Krsna
Damaghosa das
750115SB.BOM                    Lectures                   223164/530501 Nitai: “Fire is appreciated by its light and by its capacity to  cook, to digest, to destroy cold, to evaporate, and to give rise to  hunger, thirst, eating and  drinking.” Prabhupada:
So people may be astonished, that “They are reading  Srimad-Bhagavatam. Why they are discussing the action and reaction of  fire?” Generally, they think Bhagavata reading means rasa-pancadhyaya,  bas, immediately jump over to the rasa-lila of Krsna. Actually to know God  means to know everything in detail. Kasmin tu bhagavo vijnate sarvam  idam vijnatam bhavati. That is the Vedic injunction. If we  understand Krsna, then we must understand also how Krsna’s different energies  are working. That is called tattvatah. Krsna says in the  Bhagavad-gita, manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye. The other day  I was reading Gandhi’s discourses on Bhagavad-gita. He said that “I can
imagine any way Krsna. I do not accept the historical Krsna.” In  this way, so many things. He was a big man. He can say like that. But  we cannot imagine or manufacture Krsna. That is not possible. That is  not Krsna. God is never imagined or speculated or manufactured by  my limited knowledge and limited senses. That is not Krsna. Of  course, Krsna is everything. But if we want to know tattvatah Krsna,  in truth, how Krsna has created the panca-bhuta and how each bhuta or  each material element is working, that is being discussed. This is  perfect knowledge, tattvatah.   So because  they do not want to know Krsna in tattvatah, factually, therefore they  mistake Krsna. Especially they attack Krsna, that “He killed so  many demons. He had rasa-lila with so many gopis. He married so many wives,”  misunderstand Krsna. But if Krsna is all-powerful, almighty, then what is  difficulty for Him to marry 16,108 wife? Krsna has many, many millions and  millions of devotees.
… So to understand Krsna, krsna-upadesa, to know about Krsna, that  is Krsna consciousness movement. Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission is  like that. Yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna’-upadesa. If you study just like here, analytical study of fire… Dyotanam,  illumination; pacanam, digesting; panam, increasing thirst. If you don’t feel  thirsty, that means the agni, or the fire element within the stomach, is  not working. Agni-mandya. Mandya, the word comes from manda. Manda  means slow. So the Ayurvedic treatment, they say it, agni-mandya. So  when there is agni-mandya, there is medicine how to ignite the fire  again. … So to know Krsna means know everything, because Krsna  is everything. How Krsna is working in everything, even in different parts  of our limbs, represented by demigods, they are all  described. Even our eyelids moving under the direction of some  demigod. And
demigods, they are different parts and parcels, bodily limbs of  whole Krsna. So do not mind, “Why Bhagavata is studying Krsna  so analytically?” That is required. If we understand Krsna by  analytical study, how His divine power is working throughout the whole  universe, within the atom, within myself, within the movable,  immovable, everywhere, antaryami… Eko ‘py asau racayitum  jagad-anda-kotim. Jagad-anda-koti. This universe, that is not one universe.  We are in one of the universes…..
  Therefore in the advanced stage of devotional life a  devotee does not see fire. He sees Krsna. A devotee does not see air, but he  sees Krsna. A devotee does not see sky, but he sees Krsna. Sarvatra  haya nija ista-deva-sphurti. Ista-deva. Krsna is the worshipable Deity  of the devotee. So immediately, he sees anything, because he knows it  is Krsna’s energy… Just like we, generally, as soon as we see in  the morning light, we can understand there is sun, immediately. There  is no delay. “Now there is sun.” The sun may not be visible  immediately, but because the darkness is gone and there is light, although  glimpse light, now we understand this is morning, and now there is  sun. Similarly, a advanced devotee, because he knows everything is  Krsna’s energy… So this is energy study. Therefore in  the Bhagavad-gita it is said, raso ‘ham apsu kaunteya: “Apsu, in the water,  the taste I am,” because every one of us becomes thirsty and we take water.  And actually it is so; the taste of water is Krsna. Otherwise who can  give taste unless Krsna is there? Now take. There are big, vast water  in front of Bombay. Now change the taste. Then there is no need  of acquiring water from here and there, bringing big, big pipes. No.  You take and change the taste, salty taste, and making drinkable. No.  That you cannot unless Krsna does it. Therefore the taste is Krsna. It  is
not difficult to understand.   So if we study in this way,  analytically, everything, Krsna’s energy… Sasi-suryayoh. Prabhasmi  sasi-suryayoh. Krsna says, “I am the illumination of the sun and the  moon.” So you can create by… Scientists, they say the sun is  combination of so many chemicals. Now you create one sun and illuminate  the whole universe. That you cannot do because that is Krsna. You cannot  create Krsna. You cannot imagine Krsna. That is not possible. Foolish  persons, they may say, “Krsna is my imagination.” No, He’s not imagination.  He’s fact. Simply one has to know how Krsna is present in  everything. That is described in the Bhagavad-gita.
                        raso ‘ham apsu  kaunteya                         prabhasmi  sasi-suryayoh                          pranavah sarva-vedesu
sabdah khe paurusam nrsu    So there is list of  understanding Krsna. Don’t say that “We have not seen God. Can you  show me God?” Why don’t you see? The God says, “I am here,” but why don’t  you see? God says, “I am the taste of
water.” So when you drink water, why don’t you see God in the  taste? He is visible in every step. Every working of this nature, He is  doing that. Simply we have to make our eyes to see. That is  Krsna consciousness. Everything is there, present. Krsna, God, is  present everywhere. Andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham. Krsna is  present here. Krsna is within your heart. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam  hrd-dese ‘rjuna tisthati. But when you learn the art to see Him within  your heart, that is called mystic yoga. Dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena  manasa pasyanti yam yoginah.   The yogic process  is to see Krsna within the heart. That is real yoga. That is real yoga  system. Try to see Krsna within the heart. Then you first-class yogi. That is  the perfection of topmost yogic process.
                          yoginam api  sarvesam                          mad-gatenantar-atmana                        sraddhavan bhajate yo  mam                          sa me yuktatamo matah
If you can learn how to see Krsna within the heart always,  twenty-four
hours, then your life is successful. That is perfection of life.  That is Krsna consciousness movement, how you can learn to see Krsna  within your heart, within other’s heart, and everywhere.  Sthavara-jangama dekhe na dekhe tara murti. This is  wanted.
So this is possible by increasing our love for Krsna. Simply  we have to increase our love. Just like in practical life also,  we begin to love somebody, one after another, gradually, not all of a  sudden, similarly, we have to increase our love for Krsna. That  love for Krsna is the devotional process.
                        sravanam kirtanam  visnoh                          smaranam  pada-sevanam                         arcanam vandanam  dasyam                          sakhyam atma-nivedanam
Then surrender. That is the ultimate state of loving  affairs, surrender. Why one should surrender to another person unless  there is love? Just like wife surrenders to husband and husband protects  the wife. This is general duty. So why one man is interested with  one woman for giving her all protection, and why one man is surrendered
to…, one woman is surrendered to one man? What is the  basic principle? The basic principle is love. So similarly, our  full surrender, full Krsna consciousness, can be achieved when we  develop our love for Krsna little by little, little by little, and then  come to the perfection. When we come to the perfection, then we  cannot live without Krsna. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught us. In the  last stage of His life He exhibited such manifestation of love that He  was dying without Krsna. Sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena  me. Sunyayitam. Sunyayitam, everything is vacant. Sunyayitam jagat  sarvam govinda-virahena me. “Without Govinda, I see everything  vacant.” Sometimes we have got experience. If we lose a friend, a son, at  that time, everything becomes vacant without my son, without my lover.  That is practical. So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was exhibiting that type  of love for Krsna, that He was feeling that “Without Krsna, everything  is void.” Sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena me. This He  taught personally, how to raise oneself to the topmost stage of love  for Krsna. That is the ultimate aim and object of life. Preman…  (break) …yam syama-sundaram acintya-guna-svarupam govindam adi-purusam  tam aham bhajami. To see Krsna within the heart always, how…  (end)

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Janmastami/vyasa puja 2012 report: Sedro Woolley, WA

August 12, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
We had a very nice Janmastami/vyasa puja festival here at Sri Sri Gaura  Nitai Mandir on Aug 11, in Sedro Woolley, Wash.
Because the actual event took place on thru/fri, and most of our  congregational members have to work and come from long distances we held a  combined event on saturday.
Many came, all had a great time, and were fed sumptuous Krsna prasadam  before they happily left.
We began the program with an Arotik for Srila Prabhupada followed by  pushpa puja, then heartfelt offerings by the devotees and lots of realizations  how Srila Prabhupada has totally transformed their lives.
Then we did Lord Krsna Arotik , followed by a short class, then a play,  then Abhisek, then opening of some presents, then everyone letting loose  with the chinese party poppers, and ending up with the huge feast comprised of  what seemed endless amounts of wonderful mercy from the Supreme Lord. Now we  have the ” problem” of how to “honor”  many sweets which were left  over.
For those who came and participated, thank you for coming, helping out,  thankyou for your donations, and for those who didn’t come-we hope to see  some of you next year.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
your humble servants
Damaghosa das and Daria devi dasi.
 

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

ACARYA CREATES THE TRADITION NOT THAT TRADITION CREATES ACARYAS WAY TO PREACH !!!

August 11, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa, Dravinaksha Dasa, other Prabhupada anugas, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

from Damaghosa dasa, Yasoda nandana dasa,  Dravinaksha dasa and other Prabhupada anugas
Srila Prabhupada re Acarya may make little changes.
They are mahājanas. So we have to follow Prahlāda Mahārāja. He is our guru, pūrva-ācārya. Nārada is pūrva-ācārya.He is disciple of Nārada. Therefore he is ācārya, and his disciplic succession… There are sampradāyas: Brahma-sampradāya, Kaumāra-sampradāya… Anyone who is bona fide ācārya, he can create his own disciplic succession, but one disciplic succession and the other disciplic—they are not different. They are of the same conclusion. The Vaiṣṇava ācāryas, just like our Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya, and Nimbārka, and who that? Rudra-sampradāya?Viṣṇu Svāmī. They are all of the same movement. Ārādhyo-bhagavān vrajeśa-tanayaḥ, kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam [SB 1.3.28].That is their conclusion. There is no different conclusion. Although they have got varieties of methods—śuddhādvaita, dvaitādvaita, vaśiṣṭādvaita, like that—they present the same philosophy in clear way. And Caitanya Mahāprabhu presented the same philosophy, that acintya-bhedābheda. That is ācārya. Ācārya gives some way for simple understanding. The same conclusion, but according to the time, circumstances, they give a very easy method to understand. That is ācārya.Ācārya is following strictly the previous ācārya, but according to the circumstances, he may make little changes. That is… That change is not change from the original idea. No.
Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures : Canto 7: Lectures : SB 7.9: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.12 — Mayapur, February 19, 1976
Sp re the ācārya knows how to adjust things, at the same time keep pace with the spiritual interest(?)
Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures : Canto 1: Lectures : SB 1.1: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.9 — Auckland, February 20, 1973 : 730220sb.auc :
Prabhupāda: But the directions should be taken from scriptures. But there are many scriptures. So ācārya means, just like Gosvāmīs, they would read all the scriptures and take the essence of it and give it to his disciples that, “You act like this.” Because he knows what to give, how to manipulate, so that his ekāntataḥśreyas will be achieved. Ultimate goal. That is ācārya. Therefore the ācārya knows how to adjust things, at the same time keep pace with the spiritual interest(?). It is not that the same thing to be applied everywhere. He is eager to engage actually the people in the real benefit of life, but the means may be different. Just like my Guru Mahārāja. He is the first time that he allowed the sannyāsīs to drive in a motorcar. A sannyāsī never drives in a motorcar, you see? But not for sense gratification. Suppose we are going by aeroplane. A sannyāsīshould walk. The Jain sannyāsīs they never ride on a car, you know that. You know that. They will never ride on a car. But now they are also riding. But suppose we are preaching now. I came from India. If I were to say, “I am a sannyāsī, I will not ride in a car or aeroplane, I must walk.” Then what kind of preaching there would have been? You see? So therefore it depends on the ācārya how to adjust things. So, my Guru Mahārāja, “Alright go on preaching on a motorcar, it doesn’t matter.” These Gosvāmīs, they went to Vṛndāvana, severest type of austerities. They used to life underneath a tree. Now if in this age I advise you that you also live underneath a tree, then it will be difficult to preach. You see? Nobody is accustomed in that way, such severe type of austerity. They must be given, as far as possible, comfortable accommodation otherwise they will not come. They will not take. Now this…. This is adjustment. The ācārya knows how to adjust things. The real purpose is how one will take to spiritual consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Keeping one’s aim to that point some concession may be given. As far as possible, keeping pace with the time, circumstances. Then? “The sages, therefore, inquired…” Huh.
Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures : Canto 1: Lectures : SB 1.1: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.9 — Auckland, February 20, 1973 : 730220sb.auc
Srila Prabhupada re   Vaiṣṇava who is preaching, it may be in a different way, according to time and place and the party—they have to change something, deśa-kāla-pātra—but we have to see the essence.
So misunderstanding of God… There is no misunderstanding of the authorities. The misunderstanding, the common man… Just like in Australia, when I spoke, there was no misunderstanding. There was agreement by the priests and myself. There was complete agreement. (aside:) You were with me? Or… No. You were not. They, after hearing my lecture for one hour, they agreed and clapped for ten minutes. So there cannot be any misun… Those who are actually… They questioned, “What is your opinion of Lord Jesus Christ?” and I said, “He preached God consciousness. He’s our guru. Anyone who preaches the message of God, he is guru.” So they very much appreciated, and actually it is so. Vaiṣṇava who is preaching, it may be in a different way, according to time and place and the party—they have to change something, deśa-kāla-pātra—but we have to see the essence. Wherever there is God consciousness, wherever is there understanding.
Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures : Canto 1: Lectures : SB 1.8: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.28 — Mayapura, October 8, 1974
Position of the pure devotee acarya, acarya is a good as Krsna
– One should never be envious of the acarya
– For preaching work, acarya may do something which is not consistent.
– Acarya may sometimes transgress the law
– Vaishnava acarya’s activities are not understood even by the wisest man
– Acarya has finished all business of material satisfaction
“…But in devotion, there is no karma-bandha. As Kṛṣṇa is free from all reaction, similarly Kṛṣṇa’s devotee who wants to satisfy Kṛṣṇa only, he is also free from all reaction. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān nāva-manyeta karhicit [SB 11.17.27]. “The ācārya is as good as I am,” Kṛṣṇa says. Nāva-manyeta karhicit, “Never neglect him.” Na martya-buddhyāsūyeta,“Never be envious of the ācārya, thinking him as anything of this material world.” Ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān[SB 11.17.27]. Therefore, ācārya’s position is as good as Kṛṣṇa. Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair **. Ācārya is always cautious that he may not be subject to criticism. But who criticizes ācārya,he becomes immediately offender. Because he is playing the part of ācārya,he plays as far as possible. But sometimes for preaching work, he might have to do something which is not consistent. But if he is criticized, then that man who criticizes, he becomes... Of course, he must be ācārya, not a bogus. Ordinary man cannot transgress the laws, but Kṛṣṇa and His representative, ācārya, might be sometimes seen that he has transgressed. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān[SB 11.17.27]. Vaiṣṇavera kriyā, mudrā vijñeha nā bujhaya. In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Vaiṣṇava ācārya, his activities is not understood even by the wisest man. Vaiṣṇavera kriyā, mudrā vijñeha nā bujhaya. Brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam. Ācārya, guru, he is completely surrendered to Kṛṣṇa. He has taken the shelter of Kṛṣṇa, being completely freed from all material affection. Brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam. Everything… Everyone has got some material desire to fulfill, but a guru or ācārya has no such business. That is the symptom of ācārya. He has no more any material business.Brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam. He has finished all business of material satisfaction. That is the symptom of ācārya. And śābde pare ca niṣṇātam. And he has taken full bath in the ocean of transcendental (indistinct). Śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam. Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta [SB 11.3.21], one should surrender to such spiritual master. Jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam,when he is actually serious about inquiring the transcendental subject matter. Otherwise there is no need of accepting guru or ācārya. He has no business. If one is not interested in the transcendental subject matter…”    Conversations : 1972 Conversations : March, 1972 : Room Conversation with John Griesser (later initiated as Yadubara Dasa) — March 10, 1972, Vrndavana
From: DasDasDas@aol.com Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2007 14:40:14 EDT Subject: Direct instruction more important than book instruction To: DasDasDas@aol.com
750327rc.may               Conversations                376438/530501 Atreya Rsi: …I am degraded. “Very seriously, or may be given to me from time to time directly, these directions, by my aforesaid Guru Maharaja, or through his books, or…” In other words, direction given, instruction given, directly by him or through his… Prabhupada: Better directly. Atreya Rsi: No “His books”? Prabhupada: No. Atreya Rsi: Not necessary. Prabhupada: Because I may give direction according to the time. Atreya Rsi: “Or” means both. Prabhupada: Hm? Atreya Rsi: “Or” can mean… All right. “Or through his commissioners…”(?) Prabhupada: Direct, direct instruction is important. Just like Krsna. In the books He has given many instructions, but then He says, sarva-dharman parityaja. If one says that “You gave me instruction before like this. How can I give up this?” so that is not important. The direct instruction is important.
This conversation with Srila Prabhupada and the GBCshows us how important he considered his Direct Instruction over his book instructions. Therefore his last instructions to us are more important than ALL previous ones. He said to appoint ritvik priests and never rescinded this order. Therefore it stands for as long as iskcon does.
Guru must be authorized by the bona fide Guru. “Self-made guru cannot be guru. He must be authorized by the bona fide guru. Then he’s guru. This is the fact…Similarly, bona fide guru meanshe must be authorized by the superior guru.” (SP NOD Lecture, October 31. 1972)
Guru must be authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. “One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who isauthorised by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksa-vidhana.” (S.B. 4.8.54, purport)
Srila Prabhupada explains how he became the leader of the KC movement. Guru must be ordered by His guru. “Indian man: When did you become spiritual the leader of Krsna Consciousness? Srila Prabhupada: What is that? Brahmananda: He is asking when did you become the spiritual leader of Krsna Consciousness? Srila Prabhupada:When my Guru Maharaja ordered me. This is the guru parampara. Indian man: Did it… Srila Prabhupada: Try to understand. Don’t go very speedily. A guru can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. That’s all. Otherwise nobody can become guru. ”     (SP Bg. Lecture, 28/10/75
TEXT
Translation
The Supreme Personality of=20 Godhead said to the brahmana: I am completely under the control of My devote=s. Indeed, I am not at all independent. Because My devotees are completely devo=d of material desires, I sit only within the cores of their hearts. What to sp=ak of My devotee, even those who are devotees of My devotee are very dear to Me.
PURPORT All the great stalwart personalities in the universe, including Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, are fully under the control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead is fully under the control of His devotee. Why is this? Because the devotee is anyabhilasita-sunya; in other words, he has no material desires in his heart. His only desire is to think always of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and how to serve Him best. Because of this transcendental qualification, the Supreme Lord is extremely favorable to the devotees—indeed, not only the devotees, but also the devotees of the devotees. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says, chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba: without being a devotee of a devotee, one cannot be released from material entanglement. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu identified Himself as gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah. Thus he instructed us to become not directly servants of Krsna but servants of the servant of Krsna. Devotees like Brahma, Narada, Vyasadeva and Sukadeva Gosvami are directly servants of Krsna, and one who becomes a servant of Narada, Vyasadeva and Sukadeva, like the six Gosvamis, is still more devoted. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura therefore says, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah: ** if one very sincerely serves the spiritual master, Krsna certainly become favorable to such a devotee.FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS OF A DEVOTEE IS MORE VALUABLE THAN FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD DIRECTLY.
SB 9/4/63 TEXT 63
Nalinī-kānta:Whatever the spiritual master says, that is also perfect?
Prabhupāda:Yes. Because he says nothing concocted. Whatever he says, he says from śāstra, and guru Conversations : 1975 Conversations : April, 1975 : Morning Walk — April 8, 1975, Mayapur.

Bringing prior instructions given by Prabhupada to contradict a later direct order – such as the letter of July 9, 1977, the formal directive designating ritvik representatives – is crazy,insanity,madness.

SRILA PRABHUPADA: “I may say many things to you, but when I say something directly, “Do it”, your first duty is to do that. You cannot argue, “Sir, you said me like this before.” No, that is not your duty. What I say now, you do it. That is obedience. If the captain of the ship says “Five degrees starboard” and the first mate replies, “But captain, before you told me‘Ten degrees port’,” then it can be understood that the first mate has gone insane.” — lecture by Srila Prabhupada on the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Hyderabad, India, April 15, 1975

From: “DasDasDas@aol.com” <DasDasDas@aol.com> To: yasoda1008@yahoo.com; vikramasingha@gmail.com Sent: Thursday, August 9, 2012 7:35 AM Subject: Fwd: pass it on!

Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2012 17:52:30 -0400 Subject: A nice post from “Mathius Sabji” on Facebook From: georgiadis108@gmail.com To:
ACARYA CREATES THE TRADITION NOT THAT TRADITION CREATES ACARYAS WAY TO PREACH !!!
“Every acarya has a specific means of propagating his spiritual movement with the aim of bringing men to Krishna consciousness. Therefore, the method of one acarya may be different from that of another, but the ultimate goal is never neglected.”
( Caitanya-caritamrta purports Adi 7.37)

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

The significance of Srila Prabhupada’s appearance

August 10, 2012 in Articles, Vidura Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

                                        

                                                prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama

                                                sarvatra pracara hoibe mora nama

                                                (Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya 4.126)

 

Lord Caitanya desired that “In all the towns, in as many towns and villages as there are on the surface of the globe, My name will be broadcast.” He is Krsna Himself, svayam krsna, krsna caitanya-namine, simply changing His name as Krsna Caitanya. So His prediction will never go in vain. That’s a fact. So my plan was that “I shall go to America. America is the leading country of the world. If I can convince  younger generation of America, they will take up.” I am old man. I came here at the age of seventy years; now I am seventy-six. So my warning is already there. In nineteen hundred and seventy-one, I had a severe heart attack. You know, all. So the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu is now in your hands. You are American boys and girls, very intelligent and graced by Krsna. You are not poverty-stricken. You have enough resources, prestige. Everything materially, you are all well-equipped. If you kindly take this Krsna consciousness movement seriously, your country will be saved, and the whole world will be saved.”

 

Arrival Lecture — Los Angeles, May 18, 1972

 

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur predicted:
“Soon there will appear a personality who will preach the holy name all over the world.”
Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas, introduction, Prabhupada-approved 1974 edition
“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted that His message should be broadcast all over the world, in every village and every town, and my Guru Maharaja attempted. Bhaktivinoda Thakura distributed his literature. I think, in 1896, he sent his first book, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, and I saw in McGill University that book. And I do not know. That was the year of my birth also, 1896. So somehow or other, later on, I came in contact with Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja in 1922, and he immediately asked me that ‘Why don’t you go to the foreign countries and preach Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s blessings.'[…] In this way I started, first in New York, then in San Francisco, then Montreal, then Boston. In this way, now we have got about one hundred branches all over the world, forty branches in America. Big, big cities…”
Lectures : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 7.149-171 — San Francisco, March 18, 1967
Devotee: …you Srila Prabhupada. Only by your mercy you have brought us to this Krsna consciousness movement.
Srila Prabhupada: I am simply messenger. Mercy is of Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Prabhupada. Before your coming they predicted, that “Somebody will bring.” Maybe that somebody I am. (chuckles) Bhaktivinoda Thakura predicted. So anyway, Krsna has given us nice place.
Arrival Talk in Room — Mayapur, March 23, 1975
“He [Bhaktivinoda Thakura] sent his first book in 1896. Bhaktivinoda Thakura was the first origin of this movement. But he simply thought of it. And he was expecting some others that willing to take up the work. Well, somebody says that I am the same man. And I was born in 1896.”
Room Conversation with Canadian Ambassador to Iran — March 13, 1975, Iran
“Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura then comments: ‘Without being empowered by the direct potency of Lord Krsna to fulfill His desire and without being specifically favored by the Lord, no human being can become the spiritual master of the whole world. He certainly cannot succeed by mental concoction, which is not meant for devotees or religious people. Only an empowered personality can distribute the holy name of the Lord and enjoin all fallen souls to worship Krsna. By distributing the holy name of the Lord, he cleanses the hearts of the most fallen people; therefore he extinguishes the blazing fire of the material world. Not only that, he broadcasts the shining brightness of Krsna’s effulgence throughout the world. Such an acarya, or spiritual master, should be considered nondifferent from Krsna-that is, he should be considered the incarnation of Lord Krsna’s potency. Such a personality is krsnalingita-vigraha-that is, he is always embraced by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. Such a person is above the considerations of the varnasrama institution. He is the guru or spiritual master for the entire world, a devotee on the topmost platform, the maha-bhagavata stage, and a paramahamsa-thakura, a spiritual form only fit to be addressed as paramahamsa or thakura.”
C.C. Madhya Lila 25.9 How All the Residents of Varanasi Became Vaisnavas

 

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Happy 116th Vyasa Puja Srila Prabhupada​!!!

August 10, 2012 in Articles, Nityananda Rama Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

 nāma oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya

  bhū-tale śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine

  nāmas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe

  nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe

  Happy 116th Vyasa Puja Srila Prabhupada thank you for all that you did and continue to do for all the fallen jivas of this universe. I am forever in debt which I am unable to repay even after many births. You are the personification of Mahaprabhu’s mercy and is very dear to Him. You are the Person Bhagavat, the shelter for the fallen, the torch bearer who smashes darkness born of ignorance. The giver of the highest perfection in human life prema bhakti (love of God), you even purify the places of pilgrimage and have turned hellish places in the west into heavenly abodes where due to your powerful love and bhakti Sri Krsna has decided to reside. You have given us so many things and what can we possible give you? Even after your physical disappearance from our material vision you have stayed within in your murti, within the hearts of your faithful followers and within the pages of your books and continue to guide, protect and uplift us this is all due to your unconditional causeless mercy and love upon us. You are our captain, the only one leading us back home back to Godhead.  I pray that I may have thousands of mouths to always sing your praises, thousands of eyes to see your lotus like face and smile and thousands of ears to hear your transcendental voice but alas I do not and due to me having no bhakti and my heart being like a stone how can I do such things? How can I sing the holy names of Sri Krsna and praise Your Divine Grace without love in my heart? All I can pray is to stay your humble servant birth after birth and to serve the vaishnavas. Please allow this lowly servant the shade of Your Lotus like Feet.

  All Glories to my eternal spiritual master His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Your most fallen and humble servant

Nityananda Rama dasa

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Earn money for good activities-“your activities” is sinful activity–SP

August 4, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Below is two different things-but the same idea in both-namely if we
use our senses, given to us by God, for any purpose other than
to satisfy Him, we become implicated in papa, or sinful activity,  also
known  on the street as– “bad ju ju”.
dd
750105SB.BOM                    Lectures                    So the Aniruddha, He is the master of the senses, as it is  stated here, hrsikanam adhisvaram, adhisvaram, master, proprietor. So the common sense is that if my hand is the property of Krsna, why  it should be used for me? It should be used for Krsna. This is  good sense. Suppose something belongs to somebody else. If you use it  for your purpose, that is illegal, not lawful. This is my watch. If  you take away this watch and use for your purpose, then it is  criminal. You cannot say the watch is being used either by him or by…  It is being used, that’s all. No. You cannot use it. You can use it only  by the permission of the proprietor. Without permission of the proprietor,  if you use it, then you are criminal or you are  sinful. Similarly, we have got all the senses. The senses are  meant for working. The eyes are meant for seeing, the ears are meant  for hearing, the nose is meant for smelling, the hand is meant  for touching, the leg is meant for going, the stomach is meant  for eating–so many, we have got, different senses. They are meant  for different purpose. But if the purpose is for your sense  gratification, then you are criminal because you are not proprietor.  This is to understand bhakti. If you do not use all the senses for  Krsna’s purpose, then it is criminal. That is called papa.
   So you are doing that. Every one of us, who is doing for  Krsna? Nobody is doing for Krsna. Everyone is doing for his own  purpose. He is taking one flower. The devotee is bringing the  flower: “Oh, very nice flower. Let me take it to the temple and offer  it to Krsna.” That is devotion. The same flower, “Oh, it is very nice flower.  Oh, let me pin it on my bunch of hair.” That is papa. The same thing.  You must know how to utilize it. That is called bhakti. Everything  can be utilized. Nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe yuktam vairagyam ucyate. That art we have to learn. Anasaktasya visayan.  Visayan means objectives for sense gratification, visayan.  Ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca. These are called visaya–eating, sleeping,  mating, and defending. Visaya.    So we are visaya. Everyone  are. We are eating. Everyone is eating. Who can say, “I am not eating”?  So visaya. So our business should be not to be attached for eating. Then  shall I starve and die? No, you eat Krsna prasadam. Eating is not stopped.  Eating is not stopped. Eating means as you are cooking for yourself at home,  the same cooking, do it for Krsna and offer it to Krsna and eat it. That’s  all. The mode of life should be changed. That is Krsna consciousness. It  is not that you shall give up eating. No, how can I give you that? No,  it is not possible. Neither Krsna says, “Just give up eating.”
Never  you will find in the Bhagavad… Yuktahara-viharasya. You must eat what you  need. Yuktahara-viharasya yogo bhavati duhkha-ha. Krsna never says that  “Unnecessarily you starve.” You never find in the Bhagavad-gita; neither  any acarya will say. Rather, you offer to Krsna first-class foodstuff  because He is the enjoyer, and Krsna is so kind, He will leave everything for  you for taking prasadam. So automatically you can satisfy your tongue.  You offer to Krsna first-class food, and Krsna is so kind that He will eat;  at the same time, He will keep it for you. Purnasya purnam adaya purnam eva  avasisyate. Krsna’s eating is not like that: because you have given Him very  nice foodstuff, He will eat everything and nothing for you. (laughter) That  is not Krsna. Krsna eats everything, He accepts your service, and keeps  everything for you.    So this is bhakti-marga. It is very  nice. Simply you have to learn how to engage your senses. Hrsikena  hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate. Your senses are property of  Hrsikesa….

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