Monthly Archives: April 2015

by Nityananda Rama dasa

What is the destination of one who worships Lord Gauranga?

April 20, 2015 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

Hare Krsna to All
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
After reading this during morning prasadam I just HAD to share it with others. The scene in the book Jaiva Dharma, by Bhaktivinode Thakur, is set up by the Thakur as a question- answer session between two great souls. Here it is…
Vrjanatha- What is the final destination of those who worship 
Sri Gauranga?
Raghunatha- Sri Krsna and Sri Gauranga are non different in terms of tattva. They are the same Absolute Truth and both are the fountainheads of madhura rasa, nectarean, honey like mellows. However there are two ways in which madhura rasa manifest. madhura, transcendental conjugal sweetness and audarya, transcendental magnanimity. When madhurya is pre eminent, Sri Krsna is manifest and when audarya is prominent, Sri Gauranga is manifest. In the original Vrndavana, Goloka there are two symmetrical halves-Krsna pitha the abode of Sri Krsna and Audarya pitha the abode of Sri Gauranga. In Krsna pitha reside those jivas whose devotional mood is primarily madhurya appended with audarya-they are the devotees of Sri Krsna.
In Gaura pitha reside those jivas whose devotional mood is most pronouncedly audarya supported by madhurya. They are the eternal servitors of Sri Gauranga.
In certain cases, some eternally liberated souls are present simultaneously in both the pithas, through svarupa vyuha, personal expansions.
In other instances particular parsadas participate in one pitha in their spiritual form being absent in the other.
Devotees who worship ‘Sria Gauranga exclusively in their period of sadhana attain Gaura pitha when they are liberated and perfect. Whereas those who worship Sri Krsna exclusively in their period of sadhana serve in Krsna pitha after liberation.Then there are those devotees  in their period of sadhana  worship both Sri Krsna and Sri Gauranga. After obtaining liberation they acquire two transcendental forms and serve Sri Krsna in Krsna pitha and Sri Gauranga in Gaura pitha simultaneoulsy. This is the divine and confidential mystery of the inconceivable simultaneous oneness and difference of Sri Krsna and Sri Gauranga.  
(pg 276 Jaiva Dharma.Tranlation by Sarvabhavana das)
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by Nityananda Rama dasa

What is the parampara system?-SP No one has the right to change it !

April 20, 2015 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

720624SB.LA                    Lectures                 
The parampara system means… Just like we claim parampara system from Krsna. So whatever Krsna says or He said 5,000
years ago, we are repeating the same thing. That is called parampara system. Not that “The world has changed. Scientific advancement is
very great. Now we can interpret in this way and that way.” This is all nonsense. All nonsense. You cannot change a single alphabet. They
are all unmistakable. They cannot be changed. So that is niscayam atmanah.     If you want to know positively, what is God, then we should take
lesson from a self-realized soul who has understood, who has seen. Jnaninas tattva-darsinah. Just like here it is tattva-niscayam
atmanah. So tattvam, the truth, so one must have seen the truth,
realized the truth. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet. That is
guru. Means one who has seen the truth. How he has seen the truth?
Through the parampara system. Krsna said this, and then Brahma said
the same thing, then Narada said the same thing, Vyasadeva said the
same thing, and then disciplic succession, Madhvacarya, Madhavendra
Puri, Isvara Puri, Lord Caitanya, Sad-gosvami, Krsnadasa Kaviraja
Gosvami, Srinivasa Acarya, Narottama dasa Thakura, Visvanatha
Cakravarti Thakura. In this way. Jagannatha dasa Babaji, Gaura Kisora
dasa Babaji, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. Then we are speaking. The same
thing. Not that “Because we are modernized… Your modern science has
changed.” Nothing has changed.  It is all foolishness.
—————————————————————————————-
Ok now contrast here what Srila Prabhupada says above, with what our “modern science” editors from the BBT say on the exact same topic of why they feel they can change the parampara conclusions…
“On the side of not changing the “initiated” phrases we have the strong bias against changing the books unless absolutely necessary and the fact that Srila Prabhupada did indeed say that Jagannatha das Babaji initiated Bhaktivinode.” (BBT Editor, Dravida Das)
Ok so now Dravida admits the Srila Prabhupada DID say that Jagannatha das babaji did initiate Bhaktivinode thakur .This admission on his part means he can read plain  english of an already published book written by Srila Prabhupada. So why change the text by taking out the word “initiated”?
Dravida says-  Leaving  one or both “initiated”s will strongly imply that the use of the phrases “direct disciple” and even “accepted [as his disciple]” indicate formal initiation as we know it in ISKCON, which is far from the truth.”  [bold font and underline emphasis is mine] (BBT Editor, Dravida Das)

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

The exalted position of the pure devotee, sakti avesa avatara, Srila Prabhupada!

April 20, 2015 in Articles, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

Jai Srila Prabhupada!
Sometimes they come, however, by the order of the Lord-not to hold any administrative post, but to associate with the Lord in person or to propagate the mesage of God in human society. Such empowered representative are called saktyavesha-avataras, or incarnations invested with transcendental power of attorney.
SB 3.5.21
Srila Prabhupada states that the nitya-siddha-parshadas [eternally liberated associates] are not ordinary living entities like us..
“…The personality of Godhead Lord Vishnu descends to the material planets in his innumerable  incarnations for particular purposes, and again He goes back to His own abode. When He descends He is called an avatāra because avatāra means “one who descends.” Neither the Lord Himself nor His specific devotees who come to this earth are ordinary living entities like us …” Srimad-Bhagavatam  “The Status Quo” The Appearance of Lord Varaha SB 3.13.47
 
Srila Prabhupada regarding the position of great liberated souls who appear from time to time in this world.
“… Regarding the first question in your letter about how do we know of the spiritual abodes since once going there no one returns, you should know that the great liberated souls and incarnations who appear from time to time in this material world are not actually coming back, because they are never subject to material contamination or the laws of material nature. For the purpose of delivering the fallen living entities they come here temporarily and then go back when their business is finished, and this is all under the direct order of the Lord. So the appearance of the Lord or the great liberated souls in the material is different from the appearance of the contaminated living entity who is forced to take birth in the material world due to his desire to lord it over the world. In your second question you asked if we will remember the earth, when in Vrindaban, and the answer is certainly. When Narada Muni was talking to Vyasadeva, as you may have read in first volume of our Srimad-Bhagavatam, he was in a spiritual body, but he remembered his previous life and explained it to Vyasadeva. In material life there is forgetfulness, but in spiritual life there is no forgetfulness. I hope this will sufficiently answer these questions for you…” Srila Prabhupada letter to Vrndavanesvari devi dasi – June 6, 1969.

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Sri Gadadhara Pandita avirbhava tithi [appearance]

April 18, 2015 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa, Narasimha Dasa, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa

Sri Gadadhara Pandita avirbhava tithi [divine appearance of Sri Gadadhara pandita]
compiled by damaghosa dasa, Narasimha dasa and Yasodanandana dasaSrila Prabhupada explains the glories of Sri Gadadhara Pandita

gadādhara-paṇḍitādi prabhura ‘śakti’-avatāra

‘antaraṅga-bhakta’ kari’ gaṇana yāṅhāra
SYNONYMS
gadādhara—of the name Gadādhara; paṇḍita—of the learned scholar; ādi—headed by; prabhura—of the Lord; śakti—potency; avatāra—incarnation; antaraṅga—very confidential; bhakta—devotee; kari‘-accepting; gaṇana—counting; yāṅhāra—of whom.
TRANSLATION
The devotees headed by Gadādhara Paṇḍita are to be considered incarnations of the internal potency of the Lord. They are confidential devotees engaged in the service of the Lord.
PURPORT
In connection with verses sixteen and seventeen, Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains in his Anubhāṣya: “There are specific symptoms by which the internal devotees and the unalloyed or pure devotees are to be known. All unalloyed devotees are śakti-tattvas, or potencies of the Lord. Some of them are situated in conjugal love and others in filial affection, fraternity and servitude. Certainly all of them are devotees, but by making a comparative study it is found that the devotees or potencies who are engaged in conjugal love are better situated than the others. Thus devotees who are in a relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead in conjugal love are considered to be the most confidential devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Those who engage in the service of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu and Lord Advaita Prabhu generally have relationships of parental love, fraternity, servitude and neutrality. When such devotees develop great attachment for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they too become situated within the intimate circle of devotees in conjugal love.” This gradual development of devotional service is described by Śrī Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura as follows:
gaurāṅga balite habe pulaka śarīra
hari hari balite nayane ba’be nīra
āra kabe nitāicāṅda karuṇā karibe
saṁsāra-vāsanā mora kabe tuccha habe
viṣaya chāḍiyā kabe śuddha habe mana
kabe hāma heraba śrī-vṛndāvana
rūpa-raghunātha-pade ha-ibe ākuti
kabe hāma bujhaba śrī-yugala-pirīti

“When will there be eruptions on my body as soon as I chant the name of Lord Caitanya, and when will there be incessant torrents of tears as soon as I chant the holy names Hare Kṛṣṇa? When will Lord Nityānanda be merciful toward me and free me from all desires for material enjoyment? When will my mind be completely freed from all contamination of desires for material pleasure? Only at that time will it be possible for me to understand Vṛndāvana. Only if I become attached to the instructions given by the six Gosvāmīs, headed by Rūpa Gosvāmī and Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, will it be possible for me to understand the conjugal love of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.” By attachment to the devotional service of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu one immediately comes to the ecstatic position. When he develops his love for Nityānanda Prabhu he is freed from all attachment to the material world, and at that time he becomes eligible to understand the Lord’s pastimes in Vṛndāvana. In that condition, when one develops his love for the six Gosvāmīs, he can understand the conjugal love between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. These are the different stages of a pure devotee’s promotion to conjugal love in the service of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in an intimate relationship with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 7: Lord Caitanya in Five Features : Adi 7.17

jaya jayādvaita ācārya kṛpāmaya
jaya jaya gadādhara paṇḍita mahāśaya
SYNONYMS
jaya jaya—all glories; advaita—unto Advaita Prabhu; ācārya—teacher; kṛpāmaya—very merciful; jaya jaya—all glories to; gadādhara—of the name Gadādhara; paṇḍita—learned scholar; mahāśaya—great personality.
TRANSLATION
Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Advaita Ācārya, who is very merciful, and also to that great personality Gadādhara Paṇḍita, the learned scholar.Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 8: The Author Receives the Orders of Krsna and Guru : Adi 8.3 :
puṇḍarīka vidyānidhi–baḍa-śākhā jāni
yāṅra nāma lañā prabhu kāndilā āpani
SYNONYMS
puṇḍarīka vidyānidhi—of the name Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi; baḍa–śākhā—another big branch; jāni—I know; yāṅra nāma—whose name; lañā—taking; prabhu—the Lord; kāndilā—cried; āpani—Himself.

TRANSLATION

Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi, the third big branch, was so dear to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu that in his absence Lord Caitanya Himself would sometimes cry.

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by Riya

Why we come and stay in this material world-and what to do about it-SP

April 17, 2015 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Riya

Hare Krsna

Below are two different lectures-the first one explains why we come into this world and stay here. The second was given in 1966 in NY where Srila Prabhupada easily explains why concept and practice  of how to Love God or Krsna has to be the predominant motivating factor in our lives, otherwise there will never be religious life (dharma), there will never be economic growth (artha), there will never be sense enjoyment (kama), and there will never finally be liberation from this place (moksa). He ends with saying these things are all nice, but with no love for God they are all nonsense, or useless.

Damaghosa das

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by Riya

Fearfulness-how to stop it–SP

April 15, 2015 in Article, Damaghosa Dasa by Riya

Hare Krsna
Below is a very nice summary of Krsna Consciousness given early on by Srila Prabhupada.
He explains:
1. Why we all suffer and fear things in this material world
2. How to fix that problem
3. How to get all our material necessities without huge endeavor 
4. One should be developing the 26 saintly qualities
5. One must accept the “rope” given by guru to one fallen in a material hole-by     initiation.
 
damaghosa das

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by Riya

drowning a man in water- still we say–I am independant !

April 15, 2015 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Riya

Below we have the stark reality of this material world explained
clearly by Srila Prabhupada: The dunking stool example
 
July 5 1976 Wash DC morning walk
Prabhupāda: Everything is conditioned. Therefore it is called conditioned life. There is no question of independence. That is foolishness. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gītā, that they are not independent, completely under the control of laws of material nature, and still they are thinking independent.

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by Riya

In one lifetime, it is possible–SP

April 12, 2015 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Riya

670313SB.SF lectures
 
 It is not that we are  all  liberated  persons. We have got so many attachments to  family, wife, country. But along with it, if we try to increase our attachment for  Kṛṣṇa, automatically there will be detachment. Automatically. Without endeavoring separately.  Vāsudeve bhagavati bhakti–yogaḥprayojitaḥ [SB  1.2.7] .  Vāsudeva,  Kṛṣṇa. If we become engaged in bhakti–yoga…  
 
So this is  bhakti–mārga. If we follow these principles of  bhakti–mārga we do not require to endeavor separately how to become detached. The detachment automatically follows.  Vāsudeve bhagavatibhakti–yogaḥ prayojitaḥ janayati āśu vairāgyam [SB  1.2.7] . Vairāgyammeans detachment. The  bhakti–yoga is known also as  vairāgya.Vairāgya. Sārvabhauma  Bhaṭṭācārya wrote verses about this  vairāgya.
 
Here is Śrī  Kṛṣṇa  Caitanya  Mahāprabhu who is  Kṛṣṇa Himself. He has come to teach us  vairāgya–vidyā. It is little difficult. It is very difficult for ordinary  persons to understand this  vairāgya–vidyā. Their business is how to increase attachment for this body, and  Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is how to increase detachment for this material life. Therefore it is called vairāgya–vidyā. Vairāgya–vidyā can be very easily achieved, just like it is recommended,  vāsudevebhagavati bhakti–yogaḥ prayojitaḥ janayati āśu vairāgyam [SB  1.2.7] ,very soon, very soon. 
Janayati āśu vairāgyaṁ jñānaṁ ca. Two things required in human life. One thing is  jñānam, jñānaṁ–vijñānamāstikyaṁ brahma–karma sva–bhāva–jam. This  jñānam means, beginning of  jñāna means “I am not this body. I am spirit soul.” That is  jñāna. And as soon as one is situated in that platform of  jñānam, it is easy. People are engaged everywhere for the benefit of this body. 
But if one understands, he come to the platform  jñānam, then naturally he becomes detached, that “I am not this body. Why I am working so hard for this body?“ 
 Jñānaṁ ca yad ahaitukam [SB  1.2.7].Automatically… Two things are required.  Caitanya  Mahāprabhu has many places, He has stressed on this, and by His life He is teaching jñānam and vairāgyam. One side  jñānam, in His teaching to  RūpaGosvāmī, teaching to Sanātana Gosvāmī, teaching to, talking with Sārvabhauma  Bhaṭṭācārya, Prakāśānanda  Sarasvatī, talking with Rāmānanda  Rāya. We have given all these things in our  Teachings of Lord Caitanya. So that is  jñānam. And by His example in His own life, taking  sannyāsa, He is teaching vairāgya. Jñāna and  vairāgya,these two things are required.
 
So not  all of a sudden we can be situated on the platform of jñānam and vairāgyam, but if we practice, it is possible. It is possible. Not that it is impossible. That is recommended:

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by Riya

Srila Prabhupada’s Books are Interactive

April 10, 2015 in Articles by Riya

Srila Prabhupada’s Books are Interactive
 
By Narasimha das
 
Many times when I become absorbed in thinking of a specific question, shortly thereafter in the course of my regular reading of Srila Prabhupada’s books, the answer is revealed. Sometimes while I am thinking of a specific question and randomly opening one of Srila Prabhupada’s books, the answer suddenly appears on the page. Someone may suggest this can happen because Srila Prabhupada’s books are full of repetitions of the same points. But this doesn’t explain it.
For instance, the other day I had a technical question about the etymological meaning of the word “sankhy. I was wondering how Lord Kapila taught this, and to whom, other than His mother. Specifically I was trying to remember how many creative elements there were—was it 24 or 25?—and whether sankhya could be called “metaphysics.” That same evening just before going to bed, I opened the Srimad-Bhagavatam at random (as I often do last thing at night) and read:“The fifth incarnation, named Lord Kapila, is foremost among perfected beings. He gave an explanation of the creative elements and metaphysics to Asuri Brahmana, for in the course of time this knowledge had been lost.” (SB. 1.3.10) In the first line of the purport to this verse, Srila Prabhupada explains:  “The sum total of creative elements is twenty-fourin all. Each and every one of them is explicitly explained in the system of Sankhya philosophy. Sankhya philosophy is generally called metaphysics by the European scholars. The etymological meaning of sankhya is ‘that which explains very lucidly by analysis of material elements.’“  In these short statements above, Srila Prabhupada precisely answered my four very specific questions. All I needed to do was sincerely inquire by reading his books. 

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by Riya

“whatever intelligence we have got, that is not our intelligence”–SP

April 10, 2015 in Damaghosa Dasa by Riya

Hare Krsna 
 
Below Srila Prabhupada nicely explains what whatever intelligence we
have, that comes from God, and that amount is manifested according to
our ability which comes from surrender to Him. He also explains that the  love of God or Krsna we are looking for, only comes after thorough study of sastra when we know HOW great is the Lord. This sentiment is called bhava, which develops into prema, or full love of Godhead.
The last item is Prabhupada explainging how one should select a spiritual master by whose order carrying or following we do not make mistakes !!
 
Hare Krsna
damaghosa das
—————————
 
Lectures July 19 1976 NY CC Mad 20.111
 
So whatever intelligence we have got, that is not our intelligence; that is God’s intelligence. Mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca [Bg.15.15]. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said. That intelligence is coming, but the intelligence, why you’ll find different? So just like the bulb. There are fifteen–candle–power, there is fifty-candle–power, hundred-candle–power—according to the bulb, the energy is exhibited. Similarly, according to our power of reception, we can exhibit our intelligence, merit. But actually it is coming from God. Anything… The same principle. Janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1], the Vedānta philosophy, “Absolute Truth means the original source of everything.” Everything may be of different varieties, but the original source is Kṛṣṇa.The devotee, he can understand. By the grace of God he can understand wherefrom the energy is coming, how it is acting.… Iti matvā bhajante māṁ budhā bhāva–samanvitāḥ. Bhajante mām.This thing can be understood by the budhā. Budhā means one who is very intelligent, one who is in awareness of everything. He is calledbudhā. Bhāva–samanvitāḥ: “Oh, it is coming from Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” Then they become more and more a devotee. That is stated in the Caitanya–caritāmṛta:

Sentiment is no… Sentiment is bhāva, but that is after full knowledge. When you can understand Kṛṣṇa is so great, so powerful, then your devotion increases immediately. Thereforewe have to study śāstras for understanding His position, and if we understand Kṛṣṇa, then we become liberated person immediately. Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janmanaiti. Janma karma ca me divyam [Bg. 4.9]. So those who are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, they should study Kṛṣṇa scientifically, not by sentiment. After full knowledge of Kṛṣṇa, when you become absorbed in Kṛṣṇa’s form, that is called bhāva. Budhābhāva–samanvitāḥ.

So that bhāva stage does not come immediately. You have to practice gradually.

ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu–
saṅgo ‘tha bhajana–kriyā
tato ‘nartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt
tato niṣṭhā rucis tataḥ
athāsaktis tato bhāvaḥ
[Cc. Madhya 23.14-15]

There are stages. So, this is the beginning………..
—————————————————————————
Lectures : Bhagavad-gita Lectures : Bg 2: Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 2.7-11 — New York, March 2, 1966 : 660302BG.NY :
Now, to take such guidance means the spiritual master should also be a very perfect man. Otherwise, how can he guide? .. Therefore one has to select a spiritual master whose order, carrying, you’ll not commit a mistake. You see? Now, suppose if you accept a wrong person as spiritual master, and if you, if he guides you wrongly, then your whole life is spoiled. So one has to accept a spiritual master whose guidance will make his life perfect. That is the relation between spiritual master and disciple. It is not a formality. It is a great responsibility both for the disciple and for the spiritual master.
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