Monthly Archives: December 2014

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by Yasoda nandana dasa

Prabhupada nicely explains the “mind”

December 29, 2014 in Damaghosa Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

The material mind is like a sheet of impenetrable darkness that completely shuts out the light of the soul. The soul is by his nature self-effulgent and has nothing to do with the material mind which acts as a screen to cut off the light of the soul from the view of the observer who uses the mind for such a purpose.

>>>Ref. VedaBase => From the book “Sree Krishna-Chaitanya” 
 
“Ceto-darpana-marjanam. It wipes the material dust from the mirror of our mind. The mind is like the intermediate connecting medium between the spirit and that material external covering called the body. The soul has no material activity. When covered by maya, or illusion, the soul remains dormant in a state of suspended animation. The magnitude of the soul is so great, however, that it infuses consciousness on all sides. Through the mediurn of the mind, the senses act and we ‘know’ things. If this ‘glass,’ the mind, is put out of focus by the external nature, we suffer confusion, pain, disease, and death. Yes, death is a state of mind only, as the soul has no death. By the mind we mistakenly think ‘O! I’m dying!’ ‘I’m drowning!’ ‘I’m giving birth!’ ‘I’m sick!’ etc. When the mind is cleansed by the mahamantra, the mind is forcibly purified. All the material concoctions, which are the cause of our suffering, are forcibly murdered, starved to death. They thrive on material sense pleasures. Flooding the mind with transcendental sound is just like stepping on the pin of a bomb: All those misconceptions of material suffering and enjoyment are shattered, murdered, and the material mind is conquered wholly, leaving no enemies behind. The mind then reflects the spiritual knowledge, quality and energy of the soul itself.
 
>>>Ref. VedaBase => The Descent of the Holy Name
Mind and its speculative Nature 
The modern scientist or philosophers, they are engaged in studying this inferior nature. They have no information of the superior nature. But Krsna says that these five elements, eight elements. Five gross and three subtle. The mind is also material. Kham mano buddhir. These are material. People think this mental speculation, poetry, philosophy, that is spiritual. No. So long the subject matter is material, the concoction of the mind, speculation of the mind, the so-called philosophy, is also material.
 
>>>Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.5 — Aligarh, October 9, 1976
Mind and its contamination
 In this material world of conditional life, the fragmental portion of the Supreme Lord, the individual soul, is struggling due to his contaminated mind and consciousness. As part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, a living entity is supposed to think of Krsna, but here we see that King Puranjana (the living entity) is thinking of a woman. Such mental absorption with some sense object brings about the living entity’s struggle for existence in this material world. Since King Puranjana is thinking of his wife, his struggle for existence in the material world will not be ended by death. As revealed in the following verses, King Puranjana had to accept the body of a woman in his next life due to his being overly absorbed in thoughts of his wife. Thus mental absorption in social, political, pseudoreligious, national and communal consciousness is cause for bondage. During one’s lifetime one has to change his activities in order to attain release from bondage. 
>>>Ref. VedaBase => SB 4.28.20
 
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said that when a devotee wakes up in the morning he should beat his mind with a shoe a hundred times. Since the mind tends to be very puffed up, it must be beaten to keep it in the proper humble state. In the evening the mind should be beaten with a broomstick another hundred times. The mind is like a wild animal captured from the jungle, it is never fully dependable. If it gets the chance it will run off into the jungle again. Similarly, if the mind is not kept on a tight rope, it will wander off into material engagements and inadvertently one will lose the jewel of Krsna consciousness.>>>Ref. VedaBase => VK: Verse Eight
 unnamed

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by Yasoda nandana dasa

Book Changes

December 29, 2014 in Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Please accept my obeisances
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
Kindly note that the advocates of book changing under the pretext of so-called editing are the same individuals, in collusion with the GBC, who filed in the case against Hamsadutta dasa, in  a  court of law in Los Angeles, California in the late 1990s, that Srila Prabhupada was just a “worker for hire” and “an employee” of ISKCON under the control of the GBC. .[see enclosed attachment]

Deluded by the modes, he thinks he is divinely inspired

Srila Prabhupada: “Therefore, it is a hazardous path of elevation that depends on personal characteristics within the jurisdiction of the three modes of
nature. Without transcending these three material modes, a person will find himself securely in their clutches, and thus deluded, he will think that all his activities are divinely inspired. He will then broadcast this false concept, considering himself an advanced devotee and everyone else inferior. Impressed with his own knowledge, he will try to see God by dint of this knowledge instead acting in such a way that God will want to see him. Intoxicated by false ego, he will see
his activities, which are motivated by passion, as divine. Those who are proud of their knowledge do not surrender to the Lord; instead,
they try to attain the Supreme Lord’s mercy by the inductive method and thus exhibit an obnoxious mentality. One should constantly remember the Lord and pray to Him for mercy. The Lord, situated in the devotee’s heart, responds to such a prayer and illumines his heart with knowledge, which dissipates the darkness of ignorance.

Srila Prabhupada BTG 1960
“Influenced by an envious temperament and dissatisfied because of an attitude of sense gratification, mundaners criticize a real acarya. In fact, however, a bona fide acarya is non-different from the Personality of Godhead. And therefore to envy such an acarya is to envy the Personality of Godhead Himself. This will produce an effect subversive to transcendental realization.”  Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Unrevised Edition . The Spiritual Masters Adi-Lila 1.46     
Yours in Srila Prabhupada’s service and in the service of His bona fide disciples.

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by Yasoda nandana dasa

Proposed Chandrodaya Mandir by ISKCON at Vrindavana

December 25, 2014 in Damaghosa Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

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http://www.news18.com/news/uttar-pradesh/in-pics-five-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-worlds-tallest-temple-640967.html

Speech of President of India:

http://presidentofindia.nic.in/speeches-detail.htm?357

Vrindavan, 16 November 2014

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee attended the Anantha Sthapana Puja at the Chandrodaya Mandir being established by ISKCON at Vrindavan today (November 16, 2014).

Speaking on the occasion, the President said India is one of the oldest and culturally rich civilizations in the world. As we now make the transformative change from being a developing to a developed economy, there will be immense pressures on our socio-economic and moral fabric. It is, therefore, imperative that we reconnect to our spiritual dimensions. There can be no better way of doing this than spreading the Bhagavad Gita’s message of universal love and humanity.

The President congratulated ISKCON for their efforts in highlighting and propagating the timeless teachings of Lord Krishna across the world. He expressed happiness that the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir will strive to disseminate the philosophical message of the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam in an easy to understand and rational manner. The President said that message is particularly relevant for us as a society today. While we as a nation move up the developmental ladder, it is essential that our spiritual core, which forms the bedrock of our civilization, remains undiluted and strong as ever.

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by Yasoda nandana dasa

PHALGUN KRISHNA PANCAMI—-VERY RELEVANT WORDS BY SRILA PRABHUPADA

December 24, 2014 in Damaghosa Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

HARE KRSNA–THIS MESSAGE DELIVERED BY OUR SRILA PRABHUPADA MANY YEARS AGO TO HIS GODBROTHERS IS STILL VERY RELEVANT TODAY AMONGST ALL OF US.  
KRSNA’S MERCY CAN ONLY BE  REACHED BY THE MERCY OF THE GURU, AND OUR GURU, SRILA PRABHUPADA, WRITES BELOW HOW TO RECEIVE THAT MERCY.
 
 
PHALGUN KRISHNA PANCAMI By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada [Five prayers glorifying special characteristics of Srila 108 Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati GoswamiThakura. Presented on the commemoration of his appearance, by His Divine Grace, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, at RadhaDamodara temple, Vrindavana, India in 1961].
First Vasistya
1. On this day, O my master, I made a cry of grief; I was not able to tolerate the absence of my guru.
2. On this auspicious day I have come with this offering just to worship you, remembering your lotus feet.
3. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s judgment is that renunciation is most important. Not only that, but such knowledge of renunciation must be delivered to every conditioned being.
4. The beginner in devotional service has no ability to solve this dilemma, but you are a maha–bhagavata, you have given us direction.
5. One bewildered by ignorance, what kind of renunciate can he be? He will only be a “phalgu-vairagi”; renouncing externally.
6. Renunciation is actually the result of real spiritual emotion. Without such feeling it is simply known as “show bottle”.
7. But there is another “show bottle” for the purpose of preaching. That is the Lord’s sannyasa by which the mayavadis are defeated.
8. Lord Chaitanya’s philosophy is beyond Varnasrama; it is Bhagavata dharma, for putting an end to all cheating processes of religion.
9. Performing dry renunciation, there can be no real preaching. Therefore “yukta vairagya” is given as the highest essential understanding.
10. “That sannyasa which I have given you” is for preaching in devotion. The faithless sense enjoyers are unable to understand this.
Second Vaistya
11. Generally the sannyasis renounce everything and go and stay in the mountain caves, but you, o master, keep your sannyasis in mansions of marble.
12. To see a sense enjoyer is just like drinking poison, but you, o my master, go far and near, even abroad, to give them your darshan.
13. Mlecchas and Yavanas are forbidden to enter the Hindu temples, but you my Lord, make them chairmen and sit them in the assembly of devotees.
14. Hindus are not allowed to cross the ocean, but you send your devotees overseas to preach.
15. In the cities of Kali Yuga the instructions of the bona fide spiritual preceptors are forbidden. Still you remain there in any way possible.
16. The devotees want to hide in a secluded place to perform their bhajan. You, however, do not accept this in your judgment.
17. Whenever there is an increase in population, there in that place preaching work is to be found.
18. In London you want a student hostel. You explain that it must be very first-class.
19. In the land of barbarians a student hostel for preaching Hari–katha! Who can understand the significance of these things?
20. To resolve all the apparently contradictory statements is not the play of some incompetent fool.
Third Vasistya
21. If everyone simply sat down together and considered these things what nice preaching there could be.
22. What is your order also, that everyone, coming together, should merge in your message and preach it to the world.
23. If everyone just initiates then there will only be a contradictory result. As long as it goes on, there will be only failure.
24. Now even, my God brothers, you return here to the order of our master, and together we engage in his puja.
25. But simply a festival of flowers and fruits does not constitute worship. The one who serves the message of the guru really worships him.
26. The service of the message is the real meaning of the Vedas. Don’t be proud, brothers, Come back to this.
27. Kalidas nag (a learned man who was defeated by Srila Saraswati Thakuraand later became his disciple), that master said in public forum one day.
28. That Kali’s mission was to kill the entire world while the essential meaning of Lord Chaitanya’s message was kept locked up in a cage.
29. O shame! My dear brothers aren’t you embarrassed? In the manner of businessmen you increase your disciples.
30. Our master said to preach. Let the neophytes stay in the temples and ring the bells.
Fourth Vasistya
31. All these things are not our spiritual master’s preaching methods. These are all the things done by the caste Goswamis.
32. But just take a look at the terrible situation that has arisen. everyone has become a sense enjoyer and has given up preaching.
33. In the temples they have also begun to lock the doors. Preach thisbhagavata dharma, don’t hesitate.
34. Within this world there is another world, whose sound is the unequaled penetrating force.
35. The preaching that “the mullah [Muslim priest] only goes as far as the mosque and no further” should be put to an end today.
36. From the seas, across the earth, penetrate the universal shell, come together and preach this Krishna consciousness.
37. Then our master’s service will be in proper order. Make you promise today, Give up all your politics and diplomacy.
38. Everyone come together on this very day and make your valued comment. The five of you get together and decide what should be done.
39. You have become renouncers, brothers, so renounce everything. But if you also renounce the order of the spiritual master, then what kind of renunciation is that?
40. The one who renounces the guru’s order [guru tyagi] and the one who tries to enjoy the assets of his spiritual master [guru-bhoghi] are two kinds of useless persons. First become a servant of your spiritual master [guru–sevi] and then you will understand things clearly.
Fifth Vasistya
41. If there is only one Supreme Lord, then a true sadhu, if his faith increases, he gives up the desire for profit, distinction and adoration in the material world.
42. Your gold, brother, is the father of sense gratification. This meaningful statement was spoken by Srila Prabhupada himself.
43. Give up your wealth for preaching. Sit down together and make some special judgment.
44. The Supreme Lord Himself says that everything is Mine. Don’t protest. Just unite and preach.
45. Srila Prabhupada gave this final message himself. Take great care to follow that completely in all respects.
46. Otherwise your sannyas will be wasted and useless. O saintly ones, be careful; afterwards you will regret.
47. So what is the difficulty for all of us to come together in this way and why do all these things even have to be said to you?
48. Give up your stubbornness, there is no time. Come all my brothers on this auspicious holy occasion.
49. When will that day come when there will be a temple established in every house in every corner of the world?
50. When the big court judge will be a Gaudiya Vaishnava with tilak beautifully decorating his forehead.
Sixth Vasistya
51. A Vaishnava winning votes will be elected president of the land and preaching will spread everywhere.
52. The demons simply plunder the Lord’s wealth. The hapless populace cry “Hai Hai” in distress.
53. The demons want so many plans just to cheat the people. They see wheat flour at 32 rupees a mound
54. Will opening a factory fill a hungry man’s belly? Being oppressed by starvation they will eat grass and mango pits.
55. Wearing a two paisa string a man is called a brahmana. Wearing a saffron cloth he has become a sannyasi
56. The householders beg from the sannyasis, and why not? The sannyasis have tens of millions of rupees in the bank.
57. As the days pass the influence of Kali Yuga increases and the poor are crying in distress.
58. Ten thousand cows are killed daily and the nations expert leaders are all eating untouchable foodstuffs.
59. People of muddy intelligence increase day by day. A man and his wife separate on a mere word.
60. Everyone has become a witch by the influence of this age. Everyone is unhappy due to the absence of the mercy of the Vaisnavas.
Seventh Vasistya
61 The Vaishnavas are famous as “para dukhi dukhi.” This fame will increase as the preaching increases.
62. If eternally pure devotional service to Krishna is awakened in everyone, then Kali will flee, screaming of his own accord.
63. “Praninan upakaraya” do work for the benefit of all living beings. This is Mahaprabhu’s teachings. This is the storehouse of happiness in this life and the next.
64. So much work has fallen into your hands, so gather together and do it.
65. Vasudeva Datta said to the Lord, paying his obeisances, save all the living beings in the material world.
66. Give all their sins and suffering to me, who am the lowest of all. In this way all the suffering and miseries of the fallen will end.
67. He was the best of Vaishnavas, para dukhi dukhi. He knows that there is not real happiness in gratifying the senses.
68. And what kind of mercy can the non-Vaishnavas give? They simply make offenses by their Daridra Naranyan philosophy.
69. The mercy of the Vaishnavas is scientific and authorized, without their mercy this world is simply insurmountable maya.
70. If there is a kingdom of Vishnu and Vaishnavas on the surface of the earth, then the world will be happy so say all the great sages and rishis.
Eighth Vasistya
71. Why is everyone crying for Ram-rajya? The only way it can be had is if there is a Vishnu centered kingdom.
72. Lord Krishna enthroned King Yuddhisthira; then the whole world was rich and fortunate due to the qualities of a Vaishnava.
73. The streams, rivers, trees and fields and mountains, all full of fruits and flowers. The milk laden cows were floating in abundant milk.
74. The bird, beasts and lower creatures were all non envious. Material life in the Vaishnava kingdom was regulated and perfect.
75. All immerse in bliss, sing the glories of Hari. The hearts of the Vaishnavas dance in ecstasy to see this.

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by Yasoda nandana dasa

rain comes from sun god-not clouds–SP

December 23, 2014 in Damaghosa Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

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Prabhupāda: Yes. Sometimes the Māyāvādī philosophers, they give this example that “As all the rivers come down to the ocean, and then business is finished.” But our philosophy is not so scanty. We do not wish to mix with the ocean, we want to go deep into the ocean. They give this example, nirākāra. Because ocean is, it is not nirākāra but it is, still they say nirākāra. Ocean is ākāra, we see around place (indistinct). But anyway, their philosophy is that you come to the ocean by different paths, then it becomes mixed. But they do not know, even though you come to the ocean, immediately you’ll be evaporated. The ocean water is evaporated. The sun is always evaporating. Now you will be perhaps surprised, the modern science, they believe that the ocean water is,turns into cloud, but actually that is not the fact. The fact is that theocean water is taken by the sun. Now, now there is heat, ocean water is evaporated always, where is the cloud? Where is the cloud? For three years (India was in a drought ) the ocean water is being taken away by the sunshine, but why there is no cloud and no rain? Why? What is the answer of the scientist? Actually the cloud, when the sun, sun god that he ejects the water again, that becomes cloud. The rain comes from the sun, and the sun is taking the water, reserving, and when you deserve, it gives it. There is some control.

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Surrender to God-what is it?

December 23, 2014 in Damaghosa Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

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Panca Dravida: Prabhupāda, why is it that a devotee falls down, that he wants to surrender to Kṛṣṇa and again he falls back to the material world to become a false enjoyer?
Prabhupāda: He’s more sinful. Yeṣām anta–gataṁ pāpam. He has not yet finished his sinful activities; therefore it takes some time. Neither he surrenders fully. Just like somebody said, “I want to enjoy material world.” Just see. That is sinful.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Kṛṣṇa will protect any living entity who surrenders?
Prabhupāda: Yes
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Even from all sinful reactions
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva–pāpebhyo [Bg. 18.66]
Prabhupāda: Yes, if he surrenders actually. He says. He says, ahaṁ tvāṁsarva-pāpebhyo.
Gurukṛpā: That surrender has to be with perfect knowledge, or else itwon’t be strong enough.
Prabhupāda: If he surrenders, the knowledge will be there. That knowledge…. It is very psychological. If you surrender…. If I surrender to you, I must have some conception that you are very big. That much conception will help you, not more than this. Simply accept that Kṛṣṇa isthe Supreme. Kṛṣṇa bhakti kaile sarva karma kṛta haya. If you simply understand this, that “If I surrender to Kṛṣṇa, then everything is in my knowledge…” Sraddha śabde viśvāsa sudṛḍha niścaya, kṛṣṇa bhakti kailesarva karma… And then he becomes immediately. And if I surrender to Kṛṣṇa, then my life is successful. This much. Is it very difficult?
Gurukṛpā: No, it’s the easiest thing.

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How to solve all ” internal” devotee problems–SP

December 22, 2014 in Damaghosa Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Conv Mayapur March 10 1976
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: He’s saying that sometimes the brahmacārīs, even thesannyāsīs, they may have a very strong aversion towards association with women and/or householder life, things of this nature. And sometimes the gṛhasthas will criticize the sannyāsīs and brahmacārīs that “This is fanaticism,” or it’s, to the other end, “It’s just as bad as the enjoying spirit, because you’re meditating on the same thing, but only you’re averse to it.” So what is the…? Bhāgavata dāsa’s question is “What is the condition?” Is it better to be neutral or to be averse?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Neutral.
Prabhupāda: These are all fanaticism. Real unity is in advancing Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva… In Kali-yuga, you cannot strictly follow, neither I can strictly follow. If I criticize you, if you criticize me, then we go far away from our real life of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: So is it correct to say that if we’re not Kṛṣṇa conscious, then if it’s not the gṛhastha problem, it would be some other problem?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: We’ll find something or another to absorb our time with besides Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: No, you should always remember that either gṛhastha orbrahmacārī or sannyāsī, nobody can strictly follow all the rules and regulations of them. In the Kali-yuga it is not possible. So if I find simply fault with you, and if you find fault with me, then it will be factional, and our real business will be hampered. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu has recommended that hari-nāma, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, should be very rigidly performed,whichiscommonforeveryone: gṛhastha,vānaprastha or sannyāsī. They should always chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.Then everything will be adjusted. Otherwise it is impossible to advance. We shall be complicated with the details only. This is calledniyamāgrahaḥ. I think I have explained.

Conv Mayapur March 1976
Madhudviṣa: You were talking about enviousness, Śrīla Prabhupāda. And we see that this even sometimes pervades in our own society.
Prabhupāda: Because you have, you are not yet perfect. That means. You are not yet perfect. You are trying to be perfect. Now be perfect.
Madhudviṣa: Is there a way, is there a specific way to counteract this bad quality of enviousness?
Prabhupāda: And yes, just chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Cleanse your mind. All dirty things will go. Because you neglect to chant regularly, therefore the dirty things remain.

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one side note--Hansadutta once told me that in the very beginning (’66-’67) for him at least, in Montreal, he said that the “swami” told them that whatever problem they had or thing they needed, they should just do congregational Hari nama and that would solve their problem. So once they needed a van to get around, so they just decided to go out and chant-they did that, and all of a sudden a van showed up as a donation for their budding group. In this way faith was
developed not only in the “swamis” instructions, but ultimately in the process of chanting Hare Krsna mantra in association with devotees-everything we need, or need to get rid of, will happen, if we take this above instruction seriously..
 

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I once asked my TP-how does one make rapid spiritual advancement-here’s his answer

December 20, 2014 in Damaghosa Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

A devotee who tries to preach, who has compassion upon innocent persons who have no knowledge of Krishna, is a superior devotee.
 
SB 4.17.26
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“Go on chanting, you will come to the right position”

December 18, 2014 in Damaghosa Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

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So we have to learn how to chant. Therefore in the śāstras, in thePurāṇas, the ten kinds of offenses are described. And Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has given very much stress to avoid these offenses. Śuddha-nāma. In the beginning we cannot chant pure form of the (holy) name, because we are accustomed… But still, by chanting process, then it becomesnāmābhāsa, almost pure. Ābhāsa means just like before sunrise, you find the darkness is off, but it is not sunlight. It is different from sunlight, but still, there is the dawn, you can see everything distinctly. Similarly, first there is offensive name and, if you avoid, avoid the ten kinds of offenses, then gradually it becomes nāmābhāsa. And ŚrīlaHaridāsa Ṭhākura has

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Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya

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

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

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

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

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by Yasoda nandana dasa

BY HEARING FROM A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, ONE ADVANCES IN LIFE

December 17, 2014 in Articles, Damahosa Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
 
Below is a 4 shot sequence of growing and processing beans-our main grain here.
This summer we had 5 rows, 6 feet high,and around 15 feet long of pole beans, and behind them
were the bush beans in about 6 rows. The slugs got most of the bush beans this year
and not Krsna. But thats gardening and farming-you take what Krsna gives you. 
 
Hare Krsna 
 
Damaghosa das
farm1
 This below,  is some of the beans drying in the greenhouse after all the tomatoes/peppers have
been removed . I leave them in here until they turn brown and crispy on their skins which
makes it easier to shell them.
 farm2
Here is  one bucket of various pole beans ready to come inside for shelling. We do
these one bucket at a time so an not to make it seem so cumbersome.

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by Yasoda nandana dasa

UNDERSTANDING WHY AND HOW THINGS HAPPEN TO US-ACCORDING TO BG AND SB

December 17, 2014 in Damaghosa Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Below we have compiled many verses, mostly from SB and BG

For Understanding why “good and bad” things happen to us,and more specifically how each of us individually reacts to such events as devotees or Vaisnavas. The ultimate goal of all action, according to our philosophy is to only act for the satisfaction of God, or Krsna, and in that way no personal karma is generated. OK  here we go….

SB 1.17.18  O greatest among human beings, it is very difficult to ascertain the particular miscreant who has caused our sufferings, because we are bewildered by all the different opinions of theoretical philosophers.

PURPORT

There are many theoretical philosophers in the world who put forward their own theories of cause and effect especially about the cause of suffering and its effect on different living beings. Generally there are six great philosophers: Kaṇāda, the author of Vaiśeṣika philosophy; Gautama, the author of logic; Patañjali, the author of mystic yoga; Kapila, the author of Sāṅkhya philosophy; Jaimini, the author of Karma-mīmāṁsā; and Vyāsadeva, the author of Vedānta–darśana.

Although the bull, or the personality of religion, and the cow, the personality of the earth, knew perfectly well that the personality of Kali was the direct cause of their sufferings, still, as devotees of the Lord, they knew well also that without the sanction of the Lord no one could inflict trouble upon them. According to the Padma Purāṇa, our present trouble is due to the fructifying of seedling sins, but even those seedling sins also gradually fade away by execution of pure devotional service. Thus even if the devotees see the mischief-mongers, they do not accuse them for the sufferings inflicted. They take it for granted that the mischief-monger is made to act by some indirect cause, and therefore they tolerate the sufferings, thinking them to be God-given in small doses, for otherwise the sufferings should have been greater.

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by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada’s Letter To Sudama Prabhu‏

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

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

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by Yasoda nandana dasa

Isvarah paramah krsnah

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

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

Krishna plays flute with the cows

Srila Prabhupada

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

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by Yasoda nandana dasa

A spiritual master must have seen Krishna– to be guru–SP‏

December 14, 2014 in Damaghosa Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Must see God to be guru

1.) A spiritual master must have seen Krishna. Without seeing, he cannot be spiritual master. SB lect, LA, Jan 12, 1969
2.)  Recorded on December 7, 1973,On the shores of the Pacific Ocean
Near Los Angeles  Śrīla Prabhupāda is accompanied by Dr. Singh, Dr. W. H. Wolf-Rottkay and another student. (Life comes from life book)
 
Student. For the last one hundred fifty years, one of the major problems of Western theologians has been the relationship between reason and faith. They have been seeking to understand faith through reason, but they have been unable to find the relationship between the reasoning abilities and faith. Some of them havefaith in God, but their reason tells them there is no God. For instance, they would say that when we offer prasāda to the Lord, it is only faith to think that He accepts it, because we cannot see Him.
Śrīla Prabhupāda.They cannot see Him, but I can see Him. I see God, and therefore I offer prasādato Him. Because they cannot see Him, they must come to me so I can open their eyes. They are blind—suffering from cataracts—so I shall operate, and they will see. That is our program.
 
 3.)SB 2.8.7 Purport  In the process of devotional service, the first step is to take shelter of the spiritual master and then inquire from the spiritual master all about the process. This inquiry is essential for immunity to all kinds of offenses on the path of devotional service. Even if one is fixed in devotional service like Mahārāja Parīkṣit, he must still inquire from the realized spiritual master all about this. In other words, the spiritual master must also be well versed and learned so that he may be able to answer all these inquiries from the devotees. Thus one who is not well versed in the authorized scriptures and not able to answer all such relevant inquiries should not pose as a spiritual master for the matter of material gain. It is illegal to become a spiritual master if one is unable to deliver the disciple.

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