by Damaghosa dasa

Two things-cows and grains can solve all our eating needs-SP

May 29, 2014 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

SB 3.2.29 Purport…..
With only these two things, cows and grain, humanity can solve its eating problem.Human society needs only sufficient grain and sufficient cows to solve
its economic problems. All other things but these two are artificial
necessities created by man to kill his valuable life at the human
level and waste his time in things which are not needed.

just so there is no mistake out there about how much “fun” it is to grow your own
food-here is a shot of the lake of rain water drowning all of the 140 brassica plant
starts I had in this section by the greenhouse. It was and is still an experiment
in seeing how by planting different varieties of the same plant (like cawly for ex) at the
same time, one can get staggered harvests over many months of time. I re-seeded
everything again and all of the 140 new plants are now again coming up in pots.
The rows in the foreground are all potatoes and all of them survived this mass of
water. We had record rains here for three months. Read the rest of this entry →

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by Damaghosa dasa

Why, should I, serve God?–SP

May 29, 2014 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

Below is a very short part of a week long series of talks between Srila Prabhupada
and Bob Cohen (later to become Brahma tirtha das) a peace corp worker then living in India.
This is a very concise and potent explanation of why every living entity must serve the Supreme Entity-Krsna.

Prabhupada: Then the wings fly there, and the jaws catch the food, and

after all he puts into the mouth. Similarly, as in this body, this

particular example, the stomach is the enjoyer, similarly, the central

figure of whole cosmic manifestation, material or spiritual, the

central figure is Krsna, God. He’s the enjoyer. We can understand. As

in my this particular body, the body is also a creation. The body has

got the same mechanism as you will find out in the whole universe. The

same mechanical, anywhere you go, you find even in animals or human

body or in the cosmic manifestation. Almost the same mechanism. So as

you understand very easily that in this body, my body, your body, the

stomach is the enjoyer. Or there is a central enjoyer. And the stomach

is friend also of everyone. Because if we cannot digest food, you see,

then all other limbs of the body they become weak. Therefore stomach

is the friend. It is digesting and distribute the energy to all the

limbs of the body. Is it not?

Bob: It is so.

Prabhupada: Similarly, the central stomach of the whole creation is

God, or Krsna. He’s the enjoyer and He’s the friend. He’s maintaining

everyone. Eko bahunam vidadhati kaman. Therefore He’s friend of

everyone. And everywhere… He is maintaining means everywhere He’s

the proprietor. Just like a king can maintain the whole country,

citizens, because he’s the proprietor. Without being proprietor, how

he can become everyone’s friend? So these things have to be

understood, that Krsna is the enjoyer, Krsna is the proprietor, and

Krsna is friend. If you know these three things, then your knowledge

is full. You do not require to understand anything more. Yasmin

vijnate sarvam evam vijnatam bhavati. If you simply understand Krsna

by these three formulas, then your knowledge is complete. You don’t

require any more knowledge. But people will not agree. “Why Krsna

shall be proprietor? Hitler shall be proprietor. Yayha Khan should be

proprietor. (laughter) Nixon shall be proprietor.” That is going on.

Therefore you are in trouble. But if you understand these three things

only, then your knowledge is finished. But he’ll not accept, he’ll put

forward so many impediments for understanding these three things. And

that is the cause of our trouble. But Bhagavad-gita, in the

Bhagavad-gita it is plainly said,

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam

sarva-loka-mahesvaram

suhrdam sarva-bhutanam

jnatva mam santim rcchati

But we won’t take this. We shall put forward so many false

proprietor, false friends, false enjoyer, and they will fight one

another. This is the situation of the world. If this education is

given and people takes this knowledge, there is peace, santim rcchati.

Immediately there is peace. This is knowledge. And if anyone follows

this principle, he’s honest. He does not claim “It is mine.” He

everything knows it is Krsna’s, so therefore everything should be

utilized for Krsna’s service. That is honesty. If this pencil belongs

to me the etiquette is… Just like my students sometimes do: “Can I

use this pencil?” “Yes.” This is etiquette, I say, “Yes, you can.”

Similarly, if I know that everything belongs to Krsna, without His

permission I’ll not use. That is honesty. And that is knowledge. And

one does not know, he’s ignorant, he’s foolish, and foolish man

commits all criminality. All criminals, they’re foolish men. Out of

ignorance one commits lawbreaking. So ignorance is not bliss, but it

is folly to be wise where ignorance is bliss. That is the difficulty,

our. The whole world is enjoying ignorance, and when we say about

Krsna consciousness, they do not very much appreciate. If I say,

“Krsna is the proprietor, you are not proprietor,” he’ll not be very

much satisfied. (laughs) Just see, ignorance is bliss. So it is my

foolishness to say the real truth. Therefore this is, it is folly to

be wise where ignorance is bliss. So we are taking the risk to offend

people because they’ll think we are fools. If I say, “Birla, Mr.

Birla, you are not proprietor, Krsna is proprietor. So whatever money

you have got spend for Krsna,” he’ll be angry. Murkha upadeso hi

prakopaya na santaye. If you instruct a rascal, he’ll be angry.

Therefore we go as beggar. “My dear Mr. Birla, you are very rich man.

I am sannyasi beggar. So I want to construct a temple if you spare

some money.” So he’ll be, “Oh, here is a beggar, give him some money.”

(laughter) But if I say “Mr. Birla, you have got millions of dollars

at your disposal. That is Krsna’s money. Give it to me. I am Krsna’s

servant.” Oh, he will… (laughter) He’ll not be very satisfied.

Read the rest of this entry →

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by Damaghosa dasa

Lord Jagannatha Damodara ki Jaya !!

May 29, 2014 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

Lord Jagannatha Damodara ki Jaya !!

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by Damaghosa dasa

Materialist vs Spiritualist thinking

May 28, 2014 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

The Materialist thinks–everything I do-is necessary!
The Spiritualist thinks-nothing, except Krsna, is necessary!

The Materialist thinks-I must work hard and make money
The Spiritualist thinks- excessive working is punishment , due to ignorance

The Materialist thinks-I must increase my work day and night !
The Spiritualist thinks- To stop working and death-that is spiritual tendency

Therefore the Real Civilization is to minimize work, save time,and go back to spiritual life.

Read the rest of this entry →

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

The Bhagavad Gita As It Is Study Guide

May 21, 2014 in Articles, Hasti Gopala Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

From His Divine Grace

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

The Bhagavad Gita As It Is

Study Guide

Presented by

Disciples and Followers of His Divine Grace

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

One cleanses himself daily by taking a bath in water, but one who takes his bath only once in the sacred Ganges water of the Bhagavad-gita cleanses away all the dirt of material life. Because Bhagavad-gita is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one need not read any other Vedic literature. One need only attentively and regularly hear and read Bhagavad-gita. In the present age, mankind is so absorbed with mundane activities that it is not possible to read all of the Vedic literatures. But this is not necessary. This one book, Bhagavad-gita, will suffice because it is the essence of all Vedic literatures and because it is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is said that one who drinks the water of the Ganges certainly gets salvation, but what to speak of one who drinks the waters of Bhagavad-gita? Gita is the very nectar of the Mahabharata spoken by Visnu Himself, for Lord Krsna is the original Visnu. It is nectar emanating from the mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the Ganges is said to be emanating from the lotus feet of the Lord.

Of course there is no difference between the mouth and the feet of the Supreme Lord, but in our position we can appreciate that the Bhagavad-gita is even more important than the Ganges.

The Bhagavad-gita is just like a cow, and Lord Krsna, who is a cowherd boy, is milking this cow. The milk is the essence of the Vedas, and Arjuna is just like a calf. The wise men, the great sages and pure devotees, are to drink the nectarean milk of Bhagavad-gita.
In this present day, man is very eager to have one scripture, one God, one religion, and one occupation. So let there be one common scripture for the whole world–Bhagavad-gita. And let there be one God only for the whole world–Sri Krsna. And one mantra only–Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. And let there be one work only–the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Introduction

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

sri-caitanya-mano-‘bhistam sthapitam yena bhu-tale
svayam rupah kada mahyam dadati sva-padantikam

I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisance’s unto him.
When will Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada, who has established within this material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet?

vande ‘ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam sri-gurun vaisnavams ca
sri-rupam sagrajatam saha-gana-raghunathanvitam tam sa-jivam
sadvaitam savadhutam parijana-sahitam krsna-caitanya-devam
sri-radha-krsna-padan saha-gana-lalita-sri-visakhanvitams ca

I offer my respectful obeisance’s unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master and unto the feet of all Vaisnavas. I offer my respectful obeisance’s unto the lotus feet of Srila Rupa Gosvami along with his elder brother Sanatana Gosvami, as well as Raghunatha Dasa and Raghunatha Bhatta, Gopala Bhatta, and Srila Jiva Gosvami. I offer my respectful obeisance’s to Lord Krsna Caitanya and Lord Nityananda along with Advaita Acarya, Gadadhara, Srivasa, and other associates. I offer my respectful obeisance’s to Srimati Radharani and Sri Krsna along with Their associates, Sri Lalita and Visakha.

he krsna karuna-sindho dina-bandho jagat-pate
gopesa gopika-kanta radha-kanta namo ‘stu te

O my dear Krsna, You are the friend of the distressed and the source of creation. You are the master of the gopis and the lover of Radharani. I offer my respectful obeisance’s unto You.

tapta-kancana-gaurangi radhe vrndavanesvari
vrsabhanu-sute devi pranamami hari-priye

I offer my respects to Radharani whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Vrndavana. You are the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, and You are very dear to Lord Krsna.

vancha-kalpatarubhyas ca krpa-sindhubhya eva ca
patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah

I offer my respectful obeisance’s unto all the Vaisnava devotees of the Lord who can fulfill the desires of everyone, just like desire trees, and who are full of compassion for the fallen souls.

sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda
sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda

I offer my obeisances to Sri Krsna Caitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhara, Srivasa and all others in the line of devotion.

hare krsna hare krsna, krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare.

Bhagavad-gita is also known as Gitopanisad. It is the essence of Vedic knowledge and one of the most important Upanisads in Vedic literature. Of course there are many commentaries in English on the Bhagavad-gita, and one may question the necessity for another one. This present edition can be explained in the following way. Recently an American lady asked me to recommend an English translation of Bhagavad-gita.

Of course in America there are so many editions of Bhagavad-gita available in English, but as far as I have seen, not only in America but also in India, none of them can be strictly said to be authoritative because in almost every one of them the commentator has expressed his own opinions without touching the spirit of Bhagavad-gita as it is.
The spirit of Bhagavad-gita is mentioned in Bhagavad-gita itself. It is just like this: If we want to take a particular medicine, then we have to follow the directions written on the label. We cannot take the medicine according to our own whim or the direction of a friend. It must be taken according to the directions on the label or the directions given by a physician.

Similarly, Bhagavad-gita should be taken or accepted as it is directed by the speaker Himself. The speaker of Bhagavad-gita is Lord Sri Krsna. He is mentioned on every page of Bhagavad-gita as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan.

Of course the word bhagavan sometimes refers to any powerful person or any powerful demigod, and certainly here bhagavan designates Lord Sri Krsna as a great personality, but at the same time we should know that Lord Sri Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as is confirmed by all great acaryas (spiritual masters) like Sankaracarya, Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Nimbarka Svami, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and many other authorities of Vedic knowledge in India. The Lord Himself also establishes Himself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the Bhagavad-gita, and He is accepted as such in the Brahma-samhita and all the Puranas, especially the Srimad-Bhagavatam, known as the Bhagavata Purana (krsnas tu bhagavan svayam). Therefore we should take Bhagavad-gita as it is directed by the Personality of Godhead Himself. In the Fourth Chapter of the Gita the Lord says:

(1) imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam
vivasvan manave praha manur iksvakave ‘bravit

(2) evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh
sa kaleneha mahata yogo nastah parantapa

(3) sa evayam maya te ‘dya yogah proktah puratanah
bhakto ‘si me sakha ceti rahasyam hy etad uttamam

Here the Lord informs Arjuna that this system of yoga, the Bhagavad-gita, was first spoken to the sun-god, and the sun-god explained it to Manu, and Manu explained it to Iksvaku, and in that way, by disciplic succession, one speaker after another, this yoga system has been coming down.

But in the course of time it has become lost. Consequently the Lord has to speak it again, this time to Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra.

He tells Arjuna that He is relating this supreme secret to him because he is His devotee and His friend. The purport of this is that Bhagavad-gita is a treatise which is especially meant for the devotee of the Lord. There are three classes of transcendentalists, namely the jnani, the yogi and the bhakta, or the impersonalist, the meditator and the devotee. Here the Lord clearly tells Arjuna that He is making him the first receiver of a new parampara (disciplic succession) because the old succession was broken. It was the Lord’s wish, therefore, to establish another parampara in the same line of thought that was coming down from the sun-god to others, and it was His wish that His teaching be distributed anew by Arjuna. He wanted Arjuna to become the authority in understanding the Bhagavad-gita. So we see that Bhagavad-gita is instructed to Arjuna especially because Arjuna was a devotee of the Lord, a direct student of Krsna, and His intimate friend. Therefore Bhagavad-gita is best understood by a person who has qualities similar to Arjuna’s. That is to say he must be a devotee in a direct relationship with the Lord. That is a very elaborate subject matter, but briefly it can be stated that a devotee is in a relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead in one of five different ways:

One may be a devotee in a passive state;
One may be a devotee in an active state;
One may be a devotee as a friend;
One may be a devotee as a parent;
One may be a devotee as a conjugal lover.

Arjuna was in a relationship with the Lord as friend. Of course there is a gulf of difference between this friendship and the friendship found in the material world. This is transcendental friendship which cannot be had by everyone. Of course everyone has a particular relationship with the Lord, and that relationship is evoked by the perfection of devotional service. But in the present status of our life, we have not only forgotten the Supreme Lord, but we have forgotten our eternal relationship with the Lord.

Every living being, out of many, many billions and trillions of living beings, has a particular relationship with the Lord eternally. That is called svarupa. By the process of devotional service, one can revive that svarupa, and that stage is called svarupa-siddhi–perfection of one’s constitutional position. So Arjuna was a devotee, and he was in touch with the Supreme Lord in friendship.
How Arjuna accepted this Bhagavad-gita should be noted. His manner of acceptance is given in the Tenth Chapter:

(12) arjuna uvaca
param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan
purusam sasvatam divyam adi-devam ajam vibhum

(13) ahus tvam rsayah sarve devarsir naradas tatha
asito devalo vyasah svayam caiva bravisi me

(14) sarvam etad rtam manye yan mam vadasi kesava
na hi te bhagavan vyaktim vidur deva na danavah

“Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Brahman, the ultimate, the supreme abode and purifier, the Absolute Truth and the eternal Divine Person. You are the primal God, transcendental and original, and you are the unborn and all-pervading beauty. All the great sages like Narada, Asita, Devala, and Vyasa proclaim this of You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me. O Krsna, I totally accept as truth all that You have told me. Neither the gods nor the demons, O Lord, know Thy personality.” (Bg. 10.12-14).

After hearing Bhagavad-gita from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Arjuna accepted Krsna as param brahma, the Supreme Brahman. Every living being is Brahman, but the supreme living being, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the Supreme Brahman.

Param dhama means that He is the supreme rest or abode of everything, pavitram means that He is pure, untainted by material contamination, purusam means that He is the supreme enjoyer, divyam, transcendental, adi-devam, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ajam, the unborn, and vibhum, the greatest, the all-pervading.

Now one may think that because Krsna was the friend of Arjuna, Arjuna was telling Him all this by way of flattery, but Arjuna, just to drive out this kind of doubt from the minds of the readers of Bhagavad-gita, substantiates these praises in the next verse when he says that Krsna is accepted as the Supreme Personality of Godhead not only by himself but by authorities like the sage Narada, Asita, Devala, Vyasadeva and so on. These are great personalities who distribute the Vedic knowledge as it is accepted by all acaryas. Therefore Arjuna tells Krsna that he accepts whatever He says to be completely perfect. Sarvam etad rtam manye: “I accept everything You say to be true.” Arjuna also says that the personality of the Lord is very difficult to understand and that He cannot be known even by the great demigods. This means that the Lord cannot even be known by personalities greater than human beings. So how can a human being understand Sri Krsna without becoming His devotee?
Therefore Bhagavad-gita should be taken up in a spirit of devotion. One should not think that he is equal to Krsna, nor should he think that Krsna is an ordinary personality or even a very great personality. Lord Sri Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, at least theoretically, according to the statements of Bhagavad-gita or the statements of Arjuna, the person who is trying to understand the Bhagavad-gita. We should therefore at least theoretically accept Sri Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and with that submissive spirit we can understand the Bhagavad-gita.

Unless one reads the Bhagavad-gita in a submissive spirit, it is very difficult to understand Bhagavad-gita because it is a great mystery.
Just what is the Bhagavad-gita? The purpose of Bhagavad-gita is to deliver mankind from the nescience of material existence. Read the rest of this entry →

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Harinam in Montreal

May 20, 2014 in Aprakrita dasa, Articles, Harinama by Nityananda Rama dasa

Hare Krishna prabhus

PAMHO AGTSP

Voici notre harinam du 17 mai.
Here is our harinam of May 17.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFsyrMFTjYA

Ys
Aprakrita Dasa

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

ONLY MAHA-BHAGAVATA IS DIKSA GURU- Reply to Rocana das

May 16, 2014 in Articles, Mahesh Raja, other Prabhupada anugas by Nityananda Rama dasa

ONLY MAHA-BHAGAVATA IS DIKSA GURU: Srila Prabhupada is OUR Diksa Guru For As Long as His Books Are On The Planet

Reply to Rocana’s article “A Ritvik Smokescreen”

By Mahesh Raja and Prabhupadanugas

A) If you are NOT on Transcendental platform you CAN NOT give TRANSCENDENTAL Knowledge.

B) Madhyama means MIDDLE stage he is the RECEPIENT of Diksa whereas the Mahabhagavata is the Spiritual Master who TRANSFERS Krsna in the heart of Madhyama Adhikari thus Diksa is described GRAPHICALLY SB10.2.18. And Antya lila 4.192 – 4.194.

C) Madhyama can NOT be a Diksa Guru as that would be OFFENSIVE chanting – means his spiritual life is FINISHED!

Purport, Nectar of Instruction 5

One should NOT become a spiritual master UNLESS he has attained the platform of uttama-adhikari.

The 3rd Offence in chanting is to disobey the Spiritual Master so if one becomes a spiritual master without being on Uttama Adhikari he will be committing offense

NoD 8 Offenses to Be Avoided

The offenses against the chanting of the holy name are as follows: (3) To disobey the orders of the spiritual master.

Lectures: BG 7.1 – Ahmedabad, December 13, 1972 : 721213BG.AHM : The madhyama-adhikārī should not touch the demons. Because maybe, he may turn again, be demon. Therefore one should be very careful to associate with the demons.

D) Kanistha is a MATERIALLY CONTAMINATED hence he is unfit to give Diksa

So how can we establish that Kanistha does NOT give diksa?

Kanistha is a QUALIFIED Brahmana. But even such a QUALIFIED Brahmana is in MATERIAL CONTAMINATION. And because he has MATERIAL CONTAMINATION he does NOT have Transcendental Knowledge. What you do NOT have you can NOT give. And it is Transcendental Knowledge that frees one from ALL MATERIAL CONTAMINATION.

Definition of Diksa:

Madhya 15.108 The Lord Accepts Prasada at the House of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya

Srila Jiva Gosvami explains diksa in his Bhakti-sandarbha (283):

divyam jnanam yato dadyat kuryat papasya sanksayam tasmad dikseti sa prokta desikais tattva-kovidaih

“Diksa is the process by which one can awaken his transcendental knowledge and vanquish all reactions caused by sinful activity. A person expert in the study of the revealed scriptures knows this process as diksa.”

Madhya 4.111 Sri Madhavendra Puri’ s Devotional Service Diksa actually means initiating a disciple with transcendental knowledge by which he becomes freed from all material contamination.

So here we see from above definition of Diksa quotes:

D1) Transcendental Knowledge awakened, initiated

D2) becomes freed from all material contamination; vanquish all reactions caused by sinful activity

Now ask a simple question HOW can a Brahmana(Kanistha) who is NOT freed from MATERIAL CONTAMINATION GIVE DIKSA -BY WHICH- ONE BECOMES FREED FROM **ALL** MATERIAL CONTAMINATION?

Just take a look at how contradictory and stupid this looks:

Q1) HOW can a Brahmana (Kanistha) who is HIMSELF material contaminated free another person from **ALL** MATERIAL CONTAMINATION?

SB 9.19.25 P King Yayati Achieves Liberation The word vidhuta, meaning “cleansed,” is very significant. Everyone in this material world is contaminated (karanam guna-sango ‘sya). Because we are in a material condition, we are contaminated either by sattva-guna, by rajo-guna or by tamo-guna. Even if one becomes a qualified brahmana in the mode of goodness (sattva-guna), he is still materially contaminated. One must come to the platform of suddha-sattva, transcending the sattva-guna. Then one is vidhuta-trilinga, cleansed of the contamination caused by the three modes of material nature.

Q2) If a Brahmana(Kanistha) had Transcendental Knowledge then why is contaminated by goodness(sattva-guna)?

Diksa is the process by which one can awaken his transcendental knowledge and vanquish all reactions caused by sinful activity.

Diksa actually means initiating a disciple with transcendental knowledge by which he becomes freed from all material contamination

Q3) So HOW can a Kanistha(Brahmana) who HIMSELF is material contaminated does NOT have Transcendental Knowledge give another person Transcendental Knowledge to free him?

Common-sense: What you do NOT have you CAN NOT give to others.

770214r2.may Conversations Prabhupada: Vaisnava is not so easy. The varnasrama-dharma should be established to become a Vaisnava. It is not so easy to become Vaisnava. Hari-sauri: No, it’s not a cheap thing. Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore this should be made. Vaisnava, to become Vaisnava, is not so easy. If Vaisnava, to become Vaisnava is so easy, why so many fall down, fall down? It is not easy. The sannyasa is for the highest qualified brahmana. And simply by dressing like a Vaisnava, that is… fall down. Hari-sauri: So the varnasrama system is like for the kanisthas, Kanistha-adhikari. Prabhupada: Kanistha? Hari-sauri: When one is only on the platform of neophyte. Prabhupada: Yes. Yes. Kanistha-adhikari, yes. Hari-sauri: Varnasrama system is beneficial. Prabhupada: Kanistha-adhikari means he must be a brahmana. That is kanistha-adhikari. The spiritual life, kanistha-adhikari, means he must be a qualified brahmana. That is kanistha. What is esteemed as very high position in the material world, brahmana, that is kanistha-adhikari. arcayam eva haraye pujam yah sraddhayehate na tad-bhaktesu canyesu sa bhaktah prakrtah smrtah The brahmana means from the material stage gradually he is elevated to the spiritual stage. And below the brahmana there is no question of Vaisnava. Hari-sauri: No question of? Prabhupada: Vaisnavism.

760206mw.may Conversations Dayananda: But what about the persons who may be a little bit devoted but who have not achieved that unalloyed devotion? Prabhupada: Kanistha-adhikari. They are not devotees, but they are called bhaktabhasa. There is some signs of bhakti. Actually they are not bhakta. Bhaktabhasa. Abhasa. Abhasa means a simple, a little light. Hrdayananda: So devotee really means one who has love for Krsna. Prabhupada: Yes, unalloyed, without any condition. Anyabhilasita-sunyam, zero, all other, that “I am this, I am that, I am jnani, I am yogi, I am karmi, I am minister, I am king”–all these are thinking like that, they’re all nonsense. “I am servant of Krsna”–that is greatness. Jivera svarupa haya nitya-krsna-dasa. That is self-realization, atma-tattvam.

Madhya 20.59 Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Instructs Sanatana Gosvami in the Science PURPORT This verse is spoken by Prahlada Maharaja in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.9.10). A brahmana is supposed to be qualified with twelve qualities. As stated in the Mahabharata:

dharmas ca satyam ca damas tapas ca amatsaryam hris titiksanasuya yajnas ca danam ca dhrtih srutam ca vratani vai dvadasa brahmanasya

“A brahmana must be perfectly religious. He must be truthful, and he must be able to control his senses. He must execute severe austerities, and he must be detached, humble and tolerant. He must not envy anyone, and he must be expert in performing sacrifices and giving whatever he has in charity. He must be fixed in devotional service and expert in the knowledge of the Vedas. These are the twelve qualifications for a brahmana.”

Bhagavad-gita describes the brahminical qualities in this way:

samo damas tapah saucam ksantir arjavam eva ca jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam

“Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness–these are the qualities by which the brahmanas work.” (Bg. 18.42)

In the Muktaphala-tika, it is said:

samo damas tapah saucam ksanty-arjava-virakta yah jnana-vijnana-santosah satyastikye dvisad gunah

“Mental equilibrium, sense control, austerity, cleanliness, tolerance, simplicity, detachment, theoretical and practical knowledge, satisfaction, truthfulness and firm faith in the Vedas are the twelve qualities of a brahmana.”

730828BG.LON Lectures So first of all, we have to become brahmana. Then Vaisnava. Brahmana simply knows that “I am spirit soul,” aham brahmasmi. Brahma janati iti brahmana. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma. By such knowledge one becomes prasannatma. Means relieved. As you feel relief… When there is burden on your head, and the burden is taken away you feel relieved, similarly, this ignorance that “I am this body” is a great burden, a burden upon us. So when you get out of this burden, then you feel relieved. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma. Means when actually one understands that “I am not this body; I am soul,” then he has to work so hard for maintaining this body, so he gets relief that “Why I am working so hard for this lump of material things? Let me execute my real necessity of life, spiritual life.” That is great relief. That is great relief. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati. The relief means there is hankering, no more lamentation. These are the brahma-bhutah.

SB 1.2.20 P Divinity and Divine Service The very same thing is confirmed herein in the above words. No ordinary man, or even one who has attained success in human life, can know scientifically or perfectly the Personality of Godhead. Perfection of human life is attained when one can understand that he is not the product of matter but is in fact spirit. And as soon as one understands that he has nothing to do with matter, he at once ceases his material hankerings and becomes enlivened as a spiritual being. This attainment of success is possible when one is above the modes of passion and ignorance, or, in other words, when one is actually a brahmana by qualification. A BRAHMANA IS THE SYMBOL OF SATTVA-GUNA, OR THE MODE OF GOODNESS. AND OTHERS, WHO ARE NOT IN THE MODE OF GOODNESS, ARE EITHER KSATRIYAS, VAISYAS, SUDRAS OR LESS THAN THE SUDRAS. THE BRAHMINICAL STAGE IS THE HIGHEST STAGE OF HUMAN LIFE BECAUSE OF ITS GOOD QUALITIES. SO ONE CANNOT BE A DEVOTEE UNLESS ONE AT LEAST QUALIFIES AS A BRAHMANA. The devotee is already a brahmana by action. But that is not the end of it. AS REFERRED TO ABOVE, SUCH A BRAHMANA HAS TO BECOME A VAISNAVA IN FACT TO BE ACTUALLY IN THE TRANSCENDENTAL STAGE. A PURE VAISNAVA IS A LIBERATED SOUL AND IS TRANSCENDENTAL EVEN TO THE POSITION OF A BRAHMANA. IN THE MATERIAL STAGE EVEN A BRAHMANA IS ALSO A CONDITIONED SOUL BECAUSE ALTHOUGH IN THE BRAHMINICAL STAGE THE CONCEPTION OF BRAHMAN OR TRANSCENDENCE IS REALIZED, SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUPREME LORD IS LACKING. ONE HAS TO SURPASS THE BRAHMINICAL STAGE AND REACH THE VASUDEVA STAGE TO UNDERSTAND THE PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD KRSNA.

Rocana: Mahesh does not make a distinction between the issue of the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master, and the fact that sastra acknowledges that there also exist kanishta and madhyam gurus. He does not distinguish between the qualifications of the uttama diksa, and the range of possibility the candidate has for the sorts of guru he might choose for himself, which includes not only uttama-diksa.

Mahesh: The “range of possibility” is non-existent. By definition ONLY Mahabhagavata is Diksa guru as discribed in CC Madhya 24.330

MAHĀ-BHĀGAVATA-śreṣṭho brāhmaṇo vai gurur nṛṇām sarveṣām eva lokānām asau pūjyo yathā hariḥ

ahā-kula-prasūto ‘pi sarva-yajñeṣu DĪKṢITAḤ sahasra-śākhādhyāyī ca na guruḥ syād avaiṣṇavaḥ

“The guru must be situated on the topmost platform of devotional service. There are three classes of devotees, and the guru MUST be accepted from the topmost class.”

The first-class devotee is the spiritual master for all kinds of people. ….When one has attained the topmost position of MAHA-BHAGAVATA, he is to be accepted as a guru and worshiped exactly like Hari, the Personality of Godhead. ONLY SUCH A PERSON IS ELIGIBLE TO OCCUPY THE POST OF A GURU.

Rocana das is trying to juggle OUT of this in the hope that Kanistha is also some sort of Diksa guru.

Note: When Krsna comes into the heart of sincere soul AT THE STAGE OF MADHYAMA ADHIKARI BY DIKSA FROM MAHABHAGAVATA he SEES Krsna and his SVARUPA is revealed in the heart. Kanistha can NOT transfer Krsna into your heart. Madhyama is A RECEPIENT.

69-01-22. Letter: Vilasavigraha

In regard to your next question, self realization means God realization, and God realization means self realization. JUST LIKE TO SEE THE SUN MEANS TO SEE ONESELF, AND TO SEE ONESELF MEANS TO SEE THE SUN. SELF REALIZATION DEPENDS COMPLETELY UPON GOD REALIZATION, OR ELSE IT IS NOT COMPLETE. ONE MUST KNOW HIS RELATIONSHIP TO THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH TO FULLY KNOW HIS POSITION.

Note: Srila Prabhupada gives Divya-jnana(DIKSA). Divya means TRANSCENDENTAL and Jnana means KNOWLEDGE Hrde means heart and Prokasito means revealed just as in prakasa – manifested Krsna becomes manifest in the heart of the Pure Devotee.

760711CC.NY Lectures Prabhupada: Divya-jnana hrde prokasito. What is that divya-jnana? Divya-jnana is that we are all servant of Krsna, and our only business is to serve Krsna. Divya-jnana. This is divya-jnana. It is not difficult at all. Simply we have… We have become servant of so many things–servant of society, servant of community, servant of country, servant of wife, servant of children, servant of dog and so many. “Now let me become servant of Krsna.” This is divya-jnana. Diksa. Diksa means from this divya-jnana. That is di. And ksa means ksapayati, expands.

When at the stage of Madhyama Adhikari one is RECEPIENT of THAT Diksa in the HEART from SRILA PRABHUPADA he becomes a SERVANT OF KRSNA. He relishes a particular mellow (Rasa) of his relationship with Krsna. This point HE SEES KRSNA and HIS RELATIONSHIP (svarupa) is established. So it is not so CHEAP to be Diksa guru.

Madhya 8.83 Talks Between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Raya The purport in presenting this verse necessitates explaining the comparative positions of the transcendental mellows known as santa, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya and madhurya. All these rasas, or mellows, are situated on the transcendental platform. Pure devotees take shelter of one of them and thus progress in spiritual life. Actually one can take shelter of such spiritual mellows only when one is completely uncontaminated by material attachment. When one is completely free from material attachment, the feelings of the transcendental mellows are awakened in the heart of the devotee. That is svarupa-siddhi, the perfection of one’s eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord. Svarupa-siddhi, the eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord, may be situated in one of the transcendental mellows.

Note: When Krsna is TRANSFERRED FROM Pure devotees HEART to another Pure devotee then there is DIKSA. Divya jnana revealtion of ones CONSTITUTIONAL positon Svarupa is UNDERSTOOD. This may take many many many births — NOT so cheap. This is why In Guru Puja to Srila Prabhupada we sing Janme janme prabhu sei:

760805BG.PAR Lectures Prabhupada: Yes, that arrangement will be done, you go on with your business. We are singing this song daily. Why do you forget? Cakhu-dan dilo jei **janme janme prabhu sei**. ONE WHO HAS OPENED THE EYES, **HE’LL REMAIN MY MASTER LIFE AFTER LIFE**.

Note: Srila Prabhupada is WITH US TO GUIDE US through difficult journey of transmigration cycle to attaining Back to Godhead IF we follow him. Bilvamangal Thakura’s Spiritual master came thru a prostitute to deliver him so Srila Prabhupada is also SO POWERFUL to help us:

SB 3.15.24 P Description of the Kingdom of God IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO GO BACK TO GODHEAD IN ONE LIFE, but in the human form one should at least understand the goal of life and begin Krsna consciousness.

Note: A MADHYAMA-ADHIKARI HAS RECEIVED SPIRITUAL INITIATION FROM THE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND HAS BEEN FULLY ENGAGED BY HIM IN THE TRANSCENDENTAL LOVING SERVICE OF THE LORD.** THIS IS DIKSA**.

Antya 4.192 T Sanatana Gosvami Visits the Lord at Jagannatha Puri:

DĪKṢĀ-KĀLE bhakta kare ātma-samarpaṇa sei-kāle kṛṣṇa tāre kare ātma-sama

“At the time of initiation, when a devotee fully surrenders unto the service of the Lord, Kṛṣṇa accepts him to be as good as Himself.”

Antya 4.193 Sanatana Gosvami Visits the Lord at Jagannatha Puri: “When the devotee’s body is thus transformed into spiritual existence, the devotee, in that transcendental body, renders SERVICE to the lotus feet of the Lord.

Antya 4.194 Sanatana Gosvami Visits the Lord at Jagannatha Puri: “‘The living entity who is subjected to birth and death, when he gives up all material activities dedicating his life to Me for executing My order, and thus acts according to My direction, AT THAT TIME HE REACHES THE PLATFORM OF IMMORTALITY, AND BECOMES FIT TO ENJOY THE SPIRITUAL BLISS OF EXCHANGE OF LOVING MELLOWS WITH ME.’

NoI 5: In order to intelligently apply the sixfold loving reciprocations mentioned in the previous verse, one must select proper persons with careful discrimination. Srila Rupa Gosvami therefore advises that we should meet with the Vaisnavas in an appropriate way, according to their particular status. In this verse he tells us how to deal with three types of devotees–the kanistha-adhikari, madhyama-adhikari and uttama-adhikari.

The kanistha-adhikari is a neophyte who has received the hari-nama initiation from the spiritual master and is trying to chant the holy name of Krsna. One should respect such a person within his mind as a kanistha-vaisnava.

A MADHYAMA-ADHIKARI HAS RECEIVED SPIRITUAL INITIATION FROM THE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND HAS BEEN FULLY ENGAGED BY HIM IN THE TRANSCENDENTAL LOVING SERVICE OF THE LORD. The madhyama-adhikari should be considered to be situated MIDWAY in devotional service.

The uttama-adhikari, or highest devotee, is one who is very advanced in devotional service. An uttama-adhikari is not interested in blaspheming others, his heart is completely clean, and he has attained the realized state of unalloyed Krsna consciousness. According to Srila Rupa Gosvami, the association and service of such a maha-bhagavata, or perfect Vaisnava, are most desirable.s to act for everyone’s welfare.

Note: in this Srila Prabhupada makes a point of Initiation as a formality this is different from Madhyama Adhikaris receiving Diksa

761016iv.cha Conversation Interviewer: Interviewer: What is the procedure of the movement? Do you initiate yourself all the disciples or do your other disciples also do that? Prabhupada: Well, initiation or no initiation, first thing is knowledge. (break) …knowledge. Initiation is formality. Just like you go to a school for knowledge, and admission is formality. That is not very important thing. Read the rest of this entry →

Tags: Diksa, Guru, guru tattva, Maha Bhagavata, ritvik, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada
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by Damaghosa dasa

Many questions by devotees answered by Srila Prabhupada

May 15, 2014 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

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Hare Krsna to all

Pranams

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Below is a very interesting conversation with Srila Prabhupada about many things

devotees have always wondered about. Such as..

1.What happens to the neophyte at the time of his or her death?

2.If a devotee is not yet perfect it is not possible to think of Krsna at death. So another birth.

3.Jada Bharata protected himself from materialistic association by becoming silent.

4. Japa should only be chanted in the temple-not outside. (what to speak of car japa, TV japa, etc)

5. women present in temple, men should see them as mother and the women see men as son.

6. Women married to brahmanas become brahmanas automatically.

7. No sannyasa for women-ever.

8. Duty of woman after husband takes sannyasa-she remains unmarried and devotee.

Hare Krsna

Damaghosa das

————————-

751102mw.nai Conversations

Harikesa: I’m curious about the destination of a neophyte devotee. If
a neophyte devotee is with determination endeavoring for purification
but he were to meet with death as he is still influenced by the lower
modes, although he is seriously trying, then does he take another
birth or does he go to Krsna?

Prabhupada: No, he has to take another birth. If he is not completely
purified, he has to suffer another birth. Nobody is allowed to enter
into the spiritual unless he is cent percent pure. No allowance. Then
he has to… Therefore it is said, sucinam srimatam gehe yoga-bhrasto

sanjayate. He is given chance, another chance, to take birth in a very
pure brahmana family or rich family so that he may take again the
chance, not in, he is allowed to enter. He is given a good chance
again. That is his benefit. Even if you are failure, still, your next
birth as a very first-class human being is guaranteed. Not for others.
It is only for the yogis. If he is… Therefore it is said that “What
is the loss even if he is failure?” Tyaktva sva-dharmam caranambujam
harer bhajann apakvo ‘tha patet tato yadi yatra kva va abhadram abhud
amusya kim. This verse is very important. Even by sentiment one comes
to Krsna consciousness and discharges the regulative duties, chants
Hare Krsna, his next life is guaranteed as a human being. Even he does
it for some time–he is not perfect–still, his next life is
guaranteed. But others, there is no such guarantee. Even if he
discharges his so-called duties, material duties, there is no
guarantee that he’ll become a human being. (break)

Harikesa: They let him [Ajamila] stay in that body and then he went to Hrsikesa
and performed devotional service and then became perfect.
Prabhupada: No, he was already perfect, but to increase his
desire–“How shall I go Vaikuntha?”–another time he had to go. He was
a perfect; otherwise how he was saved from the Yamadutas?

Read the rest of this entry →

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by Damaghosa dasa

How to increase our quality of chanting-by love not by force–SP

May 14, 2014 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

751102mw.nai Conversations

Brahmananda: The quality of the chanting he’s asking. How can we make
the quality the best?

Prabhupada: Quality, you’ll understand first of all come to the
quality. Without having quality, how he’ll understand the quality? You
follow the instruction of your spiritual master, of the sastra. That
is your duty. Quality, no quality–it is not your position to
understand. When the quality comes there is no force. You will have a
taste for chanting. You will desire at that time, “Why sixteen round?
Why not sixteen thousand rounds?” That is quality. That is quality. It
is by force. You’ll not do it; therefore at least sixteen rounds. But
when you come to the quality, you will feel yourself, “Why sixteen?
Why not sixteen thousand?” That is quality, automatically. Just like
Haridasa Thakura was doing. He was not forced to do. Even Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, He requested, “Now you are old enough. You can reduce.” So
he refused, “No. Up to the end of my life I shall go on.” That is
quality. Have you got such tendency that you will go on chanting and
nothing to do? That is quality. Now you are forced to do. Where is the
question of quality? That is given a chance so that one day you may
come to the quality, not that you have come to the quality. Quality is
different. Athasaktih. Asakti, attachment.
Just like Rupa Gosvami says that “How shall I chant with one tongue, and how shall I hear, two
ears? Had it been millions of tongue and trillions of ear, then I
could enjoy it.” This is quality. Quality is not so cheap. Maybe after
many births. For the time being you go on following the rules and
regulations. It is being done by force. Where is the quality? So you
wanted to understand quality. This is the quality. You’ll not be
forced, but automatically you’ll desire. That is quality.

I am writing books. I am not being forced by anyone. Everyone can do that. Why one
does not do it? Why I get up at night, one o’clock, and do this job?
Because I cannot do without it. How one will do it artificially? This
is quality. Therefore they like my purports. That quality is shown by
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda virahena me. “Oh,
I do not see Govinda. The whole world is vacant.” Sunyayitam jagat
sarvam govinda virahena me. This is quality. Just like we have got
practical example. One man’s beloved has died, and he is seeing the
whole universe vacant. Is it vacant? So that is quality of love. So
there is no formula of quality. It is to be understood by himself.
Just like if after eating something you feel refreshed and get
strength, that is quality. You haven’t got to take certificate: “Will
you give me a certificate that I have eaten?” You’ll understand
whether eaten or not. That is quality. When you will feel so much
ecstasy in chanting Hare Krsna, that is quality. Not
artificially–“Chant. Chant. Otherwise get out.” This is not quality.
This is in expectation that someday you may come to quality. That
requires time. That requires sincerity. But quality is there.
Sravanadi suddha citte karaye… It will be awakened. Not by force.

So if we want this quality of chanting we must have constant devotee association

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by Damaghosa dasa

To Avoid being God Conscious is not an option for one who is sane–SP

May 9, 2014 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

760217SB.MAY Lectures
So this is the test. This is the test, that as soon as one is not
Krsna conscious, immediately he comes to the group of sinful
activities, rascaldom, lowest of the mankind, mayayapahrta-jnana, all
knowledge taken away, and he’s an asura, Hiranyakasipu’s family,
Hiranyakasipu’s category. So this is not optional, that “If I don’t
take to Krsna consciousness, that is my wish, my desire.” No. If you
desire in that way then you’ll be punished. You become immediately…
You cannot say, “It is my optional. I may become a thief; I may remain
honest. That is my option.” No. As soon as you become thief, you are
punishable. Similarly, anyone who is not Krsna conscious, he’s
immediately punishable. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya. The
punishment will go on in various ways. Read the rest of this entry →

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