Monthly Archives: July 2013

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

If you think by your work, you’re getting richer-your not–here’s the proof

July 31, 2013 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

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Hare Krsna-

Everybody should watch this 6 minute video of wealth distribution in America-it is mind boggling !
 
Not only does it show the huge disparity between the rich and poor, but also the perception of Americans of what they think and the actual reality of the situation.
 
Our brain washing by the so called leaders is now complete ! They have us convinced and we have all surrendered to “their plan for material success”-instead of Gods plan, Krsna’s plan. Watch it, its short, but it will literally blow you away with how bad the economic climate has now become in America-and this is supposed to be the wealthiest country in the world?
 
Here are a few point summarized in this video:
 
1.Only 1% of  all Americans own 40% of all the wealth
2. the bottom 80%, that’s 8 out of 10 Americans, has only 7% of the total wealth
3. the top 1% takes home 24% of all the income. In 1976 that amount was 9% so it has tripled in  the last 30 years
4. the top 1% own 50% of all stocks, bonds, mutual funds and the rest of us are just scraping by-most not
even investing at all.
5. the average American worker has to work for one month to make what the average CEO makes in one hour ! 
 
 
And after you watch it-then decide if what Srila Prabhupada is telling us (below) is actually a viable solution-especially for the mass of people, yes even us “devotees” too !! We should be the one’s leading this charge back to some stage of  at least economic normalcy !! What to speak of spiritual lives.
 
Hare Krsna
your comments most welcome
Damaghosa das

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

I am the lowest of all–SP

July 30, 2013 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

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701219SB.SUR                     Lectures
Prabhupada:…paramahamsa is the highest stage of perfection. Just like as   a
preacher we have to point out… Just like I told this boy, “You   sit
down like this.” But a paramahamsa will not say. A paramahamsa,   he
sees, rather: “He is all right.” He sees. But we should not   imitate
paramahamsa. Because we are preacher, we are teacher, we should   not
imitate paramahamsa. We must tell the right source, right   course.
Revatinandana: You must be higher than the paramahamsa   stage,
Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: I am lower than you. I am lower   than you.
Revatinandana: You are so beautiful. You are paramahamsa,   but still,
you are preaching to us.
Prabhupada: No, I am lower   than you. I am the lowest of the all
creatures. I am simply trying to   execute the order of my spiritual
master. That’s all. That   should be the business of everyone. Try best.
Try your best to   execute the higher order. That is the safest way of
progressing. One may   be in the lowest stage, but if he tries to
execute the duty entrusted upon   him, he is perfect. He may be in
lowest stage, but because he is trying   to execute the duty entrusted
to him, then he is perfect. ………

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

The Pañca-tattva is a very important factor in understanding Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

July 29, 2013 in Articles, Hasti Gopala Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

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Caitanya

Caitanya Caritamrta. Adi-lila Chapter 7 First Edition.

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 168

I thus explain the truth of the Pañca-tattva. One who hears this explanation increases in knowledge of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

 

PURPORT

The Pañca-tattva is a very important factor in understanding Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. There are sahajiyās who, not knowing the importance of the Pañca-tattva, concoct their own slogans, such as bhaja nitāi gaura, rādhe śyāma, japa hare kṛṣṇa hare rāma or śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda hare kṛṣṇa hare rāma śrī-rādhe govinda. Such chants may be good poetry, but they cannot help us to go forward in devotional service. In such chants there are also many discrepancies, which need not be discussed here. Strictly speaking, when chanting the names of the Pañca-tattva, one should fully offer his obeisances: śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda. By such chanting one is blessed with the competency to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra without offense. When chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, one should also chant it fully: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. One should not foolishly adopt any of the slogans concocted by imaginative devotees. If one actually wants to derive the effects of chanting, one must strictly follow the great ācāryas. This is confirmed in the Mahābhārata: mahā-jano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ. “The real path of progress is that which is traversed by great ācāryas and authorities.”

 

TEXT 169

 

TRANSLATION

While chanting the Pañca-tattva mahā-mantra, one must chant the names of Śrī Caitanya, Nityānanda, Advaita, Gadādhara and Śrīvāsa with their many devotees. This is the process.

 

TEXT 170

 

TRANSLATION

I again and again offer obeisances unto the Pañca-tattva. Thus I think that I will be able to describe something about the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

The BBT Approves of original Bhagavad Gita As It Is 1972 edition.

July 28, 2013 in Articles, Hasti Gopala Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

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Dear Prabhus.

Back in 2000 or a year before, I received a confirmation from the BBT regarding a question that I had sent them some 18 months or so previously. They can check their sent and received archives. The question was thus asked ( slight paraphrase mine ) .  “Is the changed Bhagavada Gita As It Is that has been changed by the BBT  and published in 1982 as potent spiritually as the original 1972 edition by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.” ?  The answer was a resounding yes!. Therefore the BBT considers the original Bhagavad Gita As It Is that was printed in 1972 to be as spiritually potent as the changed 1982 edition of the exact same book. Then I responded with my answer…”Then why did you change it?”  There has been no response so far.  So far 14 years has passed regarding  that last question and lack of an answer has yet to be been received here at home and my e mail address has not changed. If the BBT cannot answer that last question after 14 years then the original Bhagavad Gita As Its 1972 edition is not diss-approved  by the GBC , the BBT or ISKCON. Therefore by lack of official condemnation they still recognize the original Bhagavad Gita As It Is by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as being as spiritually potent as the  changed 1982 edition!  The conclusion must be that the original Bhagavad Gita As It Is that was printed and released in 1972 still holds the most recognized position as the most authoritative edition around the world in all ISKCON circles. Therefore you may all distribute the original 1972 edition of The Bhagavad Gita As It is to your hearts delight!!! So get busy!!!

The majority of Americans accept the original 1972 edition of the Bhagavad Gita As It Is as most valid and prefer its classic original form.

Ys  Hasti Gopala Dasa

**newrule

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Unauthorized Gurus have no potency – it will not be effective

July 28, 2013 in Articles, Gordhan Goyani by Nityananda Rama dasa

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Do not claim to be Kripa Siddhas but be Sadhana Siddhas
Unauthorized Gurus have no potency – it will not be effective
Nitya Siddha, Kripa Siddha, Sadhana Siddha
 
 
So we should not try to imitate Prahlada Maharaja. That is not good. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. I have already explained yesterday. Prahlada Maharaja is one of the mahajanas, authorized persons, authorized devotee. We should try to follow him. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah.
So if you want to approach the same level like Prahlada Maharaja, we should not immediately imitate him. We must follow the sadhana-bhakti, sadhana-bhakti, for general, and krpa-siddha, that is special. That is incalculable.
For us to bring that full attention may take hundreds and thousands of years, full attention. But Prahlada Maharaja, immediately. Immediately. Five-years-old boy. Because he is nitya-siddha. Always we should remember that we cannot imitate. “Now, Prahlada Maharaja has immediately ekagra-manasa, and I shall become also.” No. That is not possible. May be possible, but that is not the way.
Just like in our country, perhaps you know, there was a poet, Rabindranath Tagore. He got many distinction from the Oxford University. He got… He never went to school but he got the title “doctor,” “Doctor Rabindranath Tagore.” And if you think that “I shall also get doctorate without going to school,” that is foolishness. That is special. Similarly, don’t try to imitate. Follow the general course,
Unauthorized Gurus have no potency – it will not be effective

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Servant of Maya or Krsna?-SP

July 24, 2013 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

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730723BG.LON                    Lectures
Say,  a typewriter. So if you send the typewriter to the heaven, what does it mean?  It is to be worked as typewriter. Does it mean because it has gone to  heaven, the work has changed? No. The work will continue. Either in this hell  or heaven, typewriter will kat, kat, kat, kat. That’s all. Similarly, our position is servant. If you don’t become servant of  Krsna, then you serve, you become servant of your wife, your children, your  relative, your country, your nation, your dog. At last, if you have  no family, then you become servant of your dog. You know in your country it  is very usual. If he has nobody, then he keeps a dog, and takes it on the  street. His dog passes stool, and he is standing, waiting: “Yes, sir. You  pass your stool, I am waiting.” Just see. It is practical. If you don’t  become servant of Krsna, then you have to become servant of the dog. This is  nature’s way. Therefore intelligent person will take lesson from it, that  “I have to become servant. Why not become Krsna’s servant? Then I will  be happy. There are so many Krsna’s servants. They are so happy. Why shall  I remain the servant of the maya?”
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70-07-18.Tri             Letter:  Tribhuvanatha
I am very glad to know that you have been staying for some months at our  London Temple in the association of our devotees. This is certainly the most  fortunate company for you and I know that if you maintain the association of  devotees your life will be happy and perfect. That is the version of the  sastra that the most important thing for spiritual realization is the company  of realized souls or pure devotees of the Lord.
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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Hare Krsna Elk early warning deterrent system

July 23, 2013 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

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Hare Krsna to all
pranams
All glories to Prabhupada
Last night the moon was full, so I decided to do a walk about and shoot the  elk deterrent system as it operates.
Living in the country is not just about sitting back, doing nothing and  just picking the fruits from your trees, while somebody fans you in your “easy  chair”.Let there be no doubt about it-it is work, sometimes hard work, but the  benefits are practically known, only, to those who do it.
Anyway, I just thought this might be interesting for some of you who would  like to know more about
country living, and some of what goes on in an ordinary day.
Hari bol
Damaghosa das
**newrule

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Chant “Nitai- Gaura” and become purified-SP

July 22, 2013 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

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Adi 8.31   But if one only chants, with some slight  faith, the holy names of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda, very quickly he is  cleansed of all offenses. Thus as soon as he chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, he feels the ecstasy of love for God.
                                PURPORT
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura remarks in this  connection that if one takes shelter of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu  and Nityananda, follows Their instructions to become more tolerant  than the tree and humbler than the grass,and in this way chants the  holy name of the Lord, very soon he achieves the platform of transcendental loving service to the Lord, and tears appear in his eyes.  There are offenses to be considered in chanting the Hare Krsna  maha-mantra, but there are no such considerations in chanting the names  of Gaura-Nityananda. Therefore, if one chants the Hare Krsna  maha-mantra but his life is still full of sinful activities, it will be  very difficult for him to achieve the platform of loving service to  the Lord. But if in spite of being an offender one chants the holy  names of Gaura-Nityananda, he is very quickly freed from the reactions  to his offenses. Therefore, one should first approach Lord  Caitanya and Nityananda, or worship Guru-Gauranga, and then come to the stage  of worshiping Radha-Krsna. In our Krsna consciousness movement,  our students are first advised to worship Guru-Gauranga, and then,  when they are somewhat advanced, the Radha-Krsna Deity is installed,  and they are engaged in the worship of the Lord.
DSCN4718_2
One should first take shelter of Gaura-Nityananda in order to reach,  ultimately, Radha-Krsna. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura sings in this  connection:
    gauranga balite habe pulaka  sarira
hari hari balite nayane ba’be nira
 ara kabe nitaicandera karuna  ha-ibe
samsara-vasana mora kabe tuccha habe
      visaya chadiya kabe suddha habe  mana
kabe hama heraba sri-vrndavana
DSCN4720_3
   In the beginning one should very regularly chant Sri  Gaurasundara’s
holy name and then chant the holy name of Lord Nityananda. Thus  one’s heart will be cleansed of impure desires for material enjoyment.  Then one can approach Vrndavana-dhama to worship Lord Krsna. Unless one  is favored by Lord Caitanya and Nityananda, there is no need to go  to Vrndavana, for unless one’s mind is purified, he cannot see  Vrndavana, even if he goes there. Actually going to Vrndavana  involves taking shelter of the six Gosvamis by reading Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Vidagdha-madhava, Lalita-madhava and the other books  that they have given. In this way one can understand the  transcendental loving affairs between Radha and Krsna. Kabe hama bujhaba se  yugala-piriti. The conjugal love between Radha and Krsna is not an ordinary  human affair; it is fully transcendental. In order to understand Radha  and Krsna, worship Them and engage in Their loving service, one must  be guided by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu and the  six Gosvamis, Lord Caitanya’s direct disciples.    For an  ordinary man, worship of Sri Caitanya and Nityananda Prabhu or the  Panca-tattva is easier than worship of Radha and Krsna. Unless one is very fortunate, he should not be induced to worship Radha-Krsna directly. A neophyte student who is  not sufficiently educated or enlightened should not indulge in the worship of  Sri Radha and Krsna
or the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra. Even if he does so,  he cannot get the desired result. One should therefore chant the names  of Nitai-Gaura and worship Them without false prestige. Since  everyone within this material world is more or less influenced by  sinful activities, in the beginning it is essential that one take to  the worship of Guru-Gauranga and ask their favor, for thus despite all  his disqualifications one will very soon become qualified to worship  the Radha-Krsna vigraha.
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  It should be noted in this connection that the holy names of Lord Krsna and  Gaurasundara are both identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.  Therefore one should not consider one name to be more potent than the other.  Considering the position of the people of this age, however, the chanting  of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s name is more essential than the chanting of the  Hare Krsna maha-mantra because Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the most  magnanimous incarnation and His mercy is very easily achieved.
RSCN4715_5
 Therefore one must first take shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu  by chanting sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara  srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda. By serving Gaura-Nityananda one is freed  from the entanglements of material existence and thus becomes qualified to  worship the Radha-Krsna Deity.
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by KHD

Timeless words from Srila Prabhupada-1936 Vyasa puja offering

July 19, 2013 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by KHD

sp4Below you will find   that In February 1936, in Bombay, (parts of a) Vyasa Puja talk give by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami on behalf of his guru maharaj, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaj.

His words then, are still relevent today . 

Hare Krsna

Damaghosa das

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SSR 2                 Choosing a Spiritual Master
Gentlemen, the offering of such an homage as has been arranged this
evening to the Acaryadeva is not a sectarian concern, for when we
speak of the fundamental principle of gurudeva, or acaryadeva, we
speak of something that is of universal application. There does not
arise any question of discriminating my guru from yours or anyone
else’s. There is only one guru, who appears in an infinity of forms to
teach you, me, and all others.

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by KHD

Hearing-the real tradition-by Vidura Das

July 19, 2013 in Articles, Vidura Dasa by KHD

HearingThe real tradition

Hearing: The real tradition

By Vidura Das

In the article by Vraja Vilasa Dasa from the Sampradaya Sun Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right, the author writes: “Real surrender to Srila Prabhupada means we should follow Srila Prabhupada’s instructions on accepting a physically manifest guru…” I would like focus this article especially on this statement because this seems to be the central point from which the author makes his assertions. First and foremost, Srila Prabhupada has never instructed anywhere that we should approach a “physically manifest guru”. Sure there are places where Srila Prabhupada says we must approach a spiritual master, hear from him, render service under him, and inquire from him – submissively. These are the general aspects of the guru-disciple relationship. However, these aspects do not necessitate the guru from whom one takes initiation being present in his physically manifest [spiritual] body. All of the above aspects of approaching a spiritual master can be done through Srila Prabhupada’s transcendental books, as the following quotes by Srila Prabhupada prove:

 

HEARING FROM SRILA PRABHUPADA:

 

“The method by which the transcendental message is received is the method of submissive hearing.”

(Teachings of Lord Caitanya – 23, Why Study the Vedanta-sutra?)

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by KHD

WANTED-dead or alive, this body–SP

July 16, 2013 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by KHD

GauraNitai-2

760527SB.HON                   Lectures
So we are concerned with the laws of God. God may be dead or
alive–it doesn’t matter. Suppose by law we are prisoners, we are in
the prison house, and all of a sudden the president or the king dies.
Does it mean you shall be free? No. You have to rot. Just like Bengali
proverb says (Bengali), that if the king dies, his government is not
stopped. We should remember that, that that government is prakrti, the
material nature. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah. You are
reading Bhagavad-gita. So this is all foolish things, that “God is
dead,” “I don’t care for God.” But God, actually, God is not dead. You
are dead. You are dead actually because this body, the bodily concept
of life, this body is dead. Just like you are driving one car. But if
you think that “I’m the car…” The car is dead. The car is moving
because you are alive. Similarly, this dead body, this body is dead,
already dead from the very beginning, but it is moving on account of
the soul. This is knowledge. It is dead from the very beginning.

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by KHD

Love for God only thru pure knowledge-Bhaktivinode Thakur

July 16, 2013 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by KHD

4th-2

Hare Krsna to all

Pranams

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Bhaktivinode thakur

 

What follows is a short excerpt from The Thakur’s book called Sri Caitanya Siksamrta….

“On hearing or reading about Krsna and His sweet qualities, the living entities according to their nature understand Him in two different ways: understanding through true knowledge, and understanding without knowledge. Even when Krsna is personally present and can be seen with mortal eyes, the two types of people will see in these two different ways. If a person desires to learn more about these two types of perception, they may study the Sat Sandarbhas, Bhagavatamrta and Sri Krsna Samhita under a competent authority. It is impossible to elaborate on this subject here.

Briefly, realization through true knowledge (vidvat pratiti) may be described as realization under vidya sakti (the knowledge potency of the Lord), and understanding without knowledge (avidvat pratiti) may be described as an attempt at understanding of the Lord under ignorance.
If Krsna is understood through avidvat pratiti, many controversies arise. If He is understood through vidvat pratiti, there is no place for disagreements. Those interested in spiritual development should immediately obtain vidvat pratiti. What is the point in understanding through avidvat pratiti, falling into argument and confusion, and losing the goal of life?

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by KHD

Sedro Woolley Wash USA 79th Loggerrodeo Parade-with the Hare Krsnas !!

July 16, 2013 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by KHD

4th-1 4th-2

Hare Krsna Prabhus

Pranams to all

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and the  mystical mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu–

Today a few of us (not all could/would come),  a total of 9 (visible) devotees participated in the

Annual 79th Sedro Woolley Loggerodeo Parade—

There were thousands of people lining the streets on both sides for a couple miles and all

were very happy to see the “Krsnas” merrily dancing and chanting down their streets

AND giving away free bags of Krsna Raisin Prasadam-along with a card on each bag with

the Maha mantra on one side, and some brief information about our temple/farm ashram on the other side.

Everybody took one, some got a book also and I think most were highly surprised to even see us

for the first time in their lives. Since on the streets, or any kind of preaching, is practically speaking, gone in America,(there are some rare exceptions) to see us out there was, I would suspect, quite a shock for most.

We handed out almost 1000 bags of Organic Raisin Prasdam and could have done 2000 if we had them.

Oh well, next year!

Below we have a few youtube videos for your entertainment.

Hare Krsna

Damaghosa das

“One who has life, he can preach”–Srila Prabhupada

———————————————————————————–

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYkPHhFCHr0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5LbQ7SfZmg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfrwYmr0vDA&feature=c4-overview&list=UUIT8sc3Iy_XMi_UzOEhvgkQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Klv05okoOS4

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by KHD

Srila Prabhupada’s Cane

July 3, 2013 in Articles, Kanhaiya Dasa by KHD

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SPCane SPCane2

All glories to Srila Prabhupada’s Cane,

It came to deliver us from all the material pain, All glories to Srila Prabhupada’s Cane

 

Whenever we digress from our path of devotional Service,

And get lured away by Maya’s best bait,

May Srila Prabhupada’s Cane show It’s mercy,

Beat us hard to bring us back to Godhead’s lane, O Prabhupada’s Cane

 

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by KHD

Take Control of the BBT!

July 3, 2013 in Articles, Hasti Gopala Dasa by KHD

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sp2

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta  Swami Prabhupada the founder acharya for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
did not leave ISKCON a directive indicating the following. That after leaving his body those in charge of the BBT should cease publishing former editions of his books once the BBT had completed specifically revised editions. Nor did he indicate in any manner that his original pre 1978 books not be read sold or used for study by anyone. Absence of that specific directive leaves all of the original publishing programes in place, an a fortiori. Revision of an original book by Srila Prabhupada does not set legal precedent to cancel the continued publication of the original editions at any time.

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