Three new initiations on Lord Balaram’s App Day

August 31, 2015 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

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Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Yesterday on Lord Balaram’s Appearance day at the Sri Sri Krsna Balarama Temple in New Westminster BC Canada, three new bhaktas took first initiation from Srila Prabhupada via his officiating acarya system of ritvik priests.Not less than 30 devotees were present, and everyone had a great time-even thru the smoke filled
temple room. His Grace Yasoda Nandan Prabhu presided over the fire sacrifice.The new devotees names are Vidura Mahatma dasa, Ananta Vijaya dasa, and Ananda devi dasi. It is said that after this ceremony all ones past sins are lifted, and anyone could see how happy each of the new bhaktas looked.

We put these announcements out to the devotee world at large so that they can see– that Srila Prabhupada’s original Hare Krsna movement is STILL going on and– increasing daily.

Param Vijayte Sri Krsna Sankirtan
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

damaghosa das
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#3)  https://youtu.be/71z-dHv3Izg

#4)   http://youtu.be/UkkvLqBenTM

#5)   https://youtu.be/b806ZwKDu-I

#8)  http://youtu.be/um5jYPq30C0

#9)  https://youtu.be/UOJDfA7Q9Io

#11) http://youtu.be/sUDyfowl3F8

#12) http://youtu.be/zOyI800OMRQ

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Caitanya did kirtan for hours but never discussions-that only for submissive, scholarly devotees

August 31, 2015 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

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Hare Krsna

Below we have some nice instructions by Srila Prabhupada regarding doing kirtan 4 hours in the public as opposed to just trying to give them basic Vedic instructions from BG or SB.   
Kalau sudra sambhava-everyone is born a sudra in kali yuga but by following the sadhana bhakti process of purification, eventually we all become eligible to hear the words of instructions of the Mahatmas, such as Srila Prabhupada. But,before that-just do kirtan, because they  wont understand a word you say. And will waste your time by arguing.

At the end of this lecture Srila Prabhupada explains how the param para is lost by people making their own interpretations. This is what we had before Srila Prabhupada preached all over the world, and now that he has physically left, so many concoctions and mis-interpretations are once again going on. And done in his name !!

Hare Krsna
damaghosa das
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 Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.2 — Vrndavana, October 24, 1976 : 761024SB.VRN : 

This is mahātmā. So you have to approach such mahātmā. That is recommendation in the Bhaktirāsamṛtasindhu: ādau gurvāśrayam sadhu mārgānugamanam saddharma pṛcchāt. These are things wanted. So if you actually want to execute tapasya, then you must approach a person who has already executed tapasya, tapo divyam [SB 5.5.1]. Then you’ll get the things. Mahatsevām. And there you have to render your service. In humbleness, service, sevayā. You can question mahātmā not by challenging but surrounded by praṇipāt and sevā. Otherwise, you have no right to question. Just like this man went to Rūpa Gosvāmī. He has no right to waste time. So actually this discussion, instructions, are to be executed amongst the guru and the disciples, where there is submission. Otherwise there is no need of. Nowadays we hold some meeting. Some ordinary people they come to hear. But that kind of discussion Caitanya Mahāprabhu never did. Never did. Because these outsiders, they are not submissive. They come to see the fun. They do not come to learn something. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu never made any big meeting. In big meeting He was present, but kīrtana, saṅkīrtana. He was meeting in big meeting daily in the evening for four hours in Jagannātha temple, but the whole period of time was engaged in chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. But when there was a person like Sarvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya or Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī or Rāmānanda Rāya, like such exalted person, He used to discuss. Otherwise, He was not discussing. There was no need of discussing, because they do not approach with that humbleness. They think… Just like Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna. So long Arjuna was thinking that “Kṛṣṇa is my friend. I shall reply Him equally,” then Kṛṣṇa was very gravely speaking. But when Arjuna understood that “This kind of talking there will be no benefit,” then he became His disciple: śiṣyas te ‘ham śādhi māṁ prapannam [Bg. 2.7]. “There is no more discussion. Now I accept You as my guru.”

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Srila Prabhupada’s early advice to his blooming disicples

August 27, 2015 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

Article by: Damagosha dasa

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Letter to: Upendra

Los Angeles
6 August, 1970
70-08-06
My Dear Upendra,
Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated August 4, 1970 and have examined the contents. A reply to your last letter was previously sent.
Now all my disciples must work combinedly and with cooperation to spread this Sankirtana Movement. If you cannot work together then my work is stopped up. Our Society is like one big family and our relationships should be based on love and trust. We must give up the fighting spirit and use our intelligence to push ahead. You should accept help from your Godbrothers.

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When we have lost that loving feeling–SP

August 24, 2015 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

Article by: Damagosha dasa

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If we think that “Here is a stone statue,” then it will not prolong many days. It will not… Galagraha. No more vigraha, but galagraha. Suppose I have established this temple. Now under my direction, my disciples are worshiping vigraha. Vigraha means the form of the Lord, rūpa. But if there is no following of the regulative principles, then after my death it will be galagraha, a burden, that “Our rascal Guru Mahārāja established this temple, and we have to worship, early rise in the morning, all botheration.” This will be… That is called galagraha, a burden, “He has left with us a burden.” This is the risk. Then this, such a big temple will be mismanaged, and you’ll find that “This is breaking” and “This is unclean,” and there is no attention. This will be our… That is called galagraha. “The rascal has given us a burden.”

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Srila Prabhupada discussed KC with scientist devotees over origins of life

August 20, 2015 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

Article by: Damagosha dasa
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Hare Krsna–

This is a very nice presentation by some of the devotee scientists (all Phd’s in chemistry, math, and physics) to Srila Prabhupada regarding laws of nature and the origins of life. They show that the “laws” the material scientists know of are too limited to produce complex development in living things. Simply put, no matter how many times you drive a volkswagen beetle around the block, it will never become a Cadillac Escalade .  They showed to Srila Prabhupada by mathematical theorems that cellular evolutionary theory is simply, statistically, impossible-and even a small celled organism would take more years to evolve (if it could) than the lifetime of Lord Brahma ! Which from our standpoint, in years of time, is beyond our imagination, and according to them (the scientists)  longer or older than the age of this universe!  So who is going to wait around for that to- supposedly happen?

They also showed by quantum mechanics that to observe something, when you take the observer and the observed back further from the microscope, back to eyeball, and further back, that still to explain something, you still needed the “observer”.,or something non physical- the  consciousness or the soul . It is a very good presentation on the “science” of God Consciousness as opposed to atheistic theory.

Hare Krsna

damaghosa das
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July 3 1976 Wash DC-Life comes from Life

Prabhupāda: So you are searching, you are surprised how this direction is coming. Here is the answer, mattaḥ, “from Me.” The answer is there.

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VEDIC VILLAGE REVIEW # 45

August 19, 2015 in Articles, Nityananda Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by: Navadvipa dasa

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VEDIC VILLAGE REVIEW #45

August 16, 2015. Adventures in New Jaipur, Prabhupadanuga Farm in Fiji

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On the way to the New Jaipur farm in Fiji, Govindapriya, SriGovinda, Radharani stop to pet a horse…

 

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After ten months of preparation, and a long time waiting on the not-so-fast wheels of the Fiji

bureaucracy, Braja Prabhu, with wife Govindapriya and daughter Radharani, finally landed in Fiji. They

had flown out of Budapest, Hungary, transiting Europe and Asia, coming non-stop from Hong Kong on

their last leg of the trip. Catching a domestic flight in Nadi on the main island of Viti Levu, they flew 45

minutes to Labasa on our island of Vanua Levu. Sridevi and I greeted them at the airport and

immediately we went… shopping! Of course, only for basic necessities suitable for simple country living.

We showed them a bit of the dusty main street of Labasa, a sugar town of Indians and local

natives which reminds one of a small Indian city. Then we drove two hours across the mountains and

backbone of the island to the wet, green side which receives the prevailing southeast tradewinds.

Stopping twice for stretching our legs, at the spring on the mountain top and at a waterfall called

Nasavu, we drove into the New Jaipur entrance. Passing the water cress, the dalo and kava fields,

crossing the river, through the orchards, along the cliffs and up to the cottages. The bright Jaipur

saffron-orange cottage was for Braja and family- an emotional entrance to their new residence, and

soon the ideas for decorations, modifications, and enhancements began to appear. The views over the

pastures and ocean were partly dimmed by a cloudy, dull first dayin Fiji. After all, it is not always

beautifully sunny here…

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The Book Of Hope

August 16, 2015 in Articles, Hasti Gopala Dasa, Srila Prabhupada's quotes & purports by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by:  Yasoda nandana dasa

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Please accept my humble obeisances all glories to Srila Prabhupada.

The Bhagavad Gita As It Is ( original ) is surely the only real Book Of Hope for the world.

Re read this last verse of Chapter Seven Knowledge of The Absolute. Glorious!

Ys Hasti

“Well heh, maybe there’s a chance for me!” 🙂

Chapter 7: Knowledge of the Absolute

TEXT 30
sadhibhutadhidaivam mam
sadhiyajnam ca ye viduh
prayana-kale ‘pi ca mam
te vidur yukta-cetasah
SYNONYMS

sa-adhibhūta—the governing principle of the material manifestation; adhidaivam—underlying all the demigods; mām—Me; sa-adhiyajñam—sustaining all sacrifices; ca—and; ye—those; viduḥ—know; prayāṇa—of death; kāle—at the time; api—even; ca—and; mām—Me; te—they; viduḥ—know; yukta-cetasaḥ—with steadfast mind.

TRANSLATION

Those who know Me as the Supreme Lord, as the governing principle of the material manifestation, who know Me as the one underlying all the demigods and as the one sustaining all sacrifices, can, with steadfast mind, understand and know Me even at the time of death.

PURPORT

Persons acting in Kṛṣṇa consciousness are never entirely deviated from the path of understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the transcendental association of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can understand how the Supreme Lord is the governing principle of the material manifestation and even of the demigods. Gradually, by such transcendental association, one becomes convinced of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, and at the time of death such a Kṛṣṇa conscious person can never forget Kṛṣṇa. Naturally he is thus promoted to the planet of the Supreme Lord, Goloka Vṛndāvana.
This Seventh Chapter particularly explains how one can become a fully Kṛṣṇa conscious person. The beginning of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is association of persons who are Kṛṣṇa conscious. Such association is spiritual and puts one directly in touch with the Supreme Lord, and, by His grace, one can understand Kṛṣṇa to be the Supreme God. At the same time one can really understand the constitutional position of the living entity and how the living entity forgets Kṛṣṇa and becomes entangled in material activities. By gradual development of Kṛṣṇa consciousness in good association, the living entity can understand that due to forgetfulness of Kṛṣṇa he has become conditioned by the laws of material nature. He can also understand that this human form of life is an opportunity to regain Kṛṣṇa consciousness and that it should be fully utilized to attain the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord.
Many subjects have been discussed in this chapter: the man in distress, the inquisitive man, the man in want of material necessities, knowledge of Brahman, knowledge of Paramātmā, liberation from birth, death and diseases, and worship of the Supreme Lord. However, he who is actually elevated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness does not care for the different processes. He simply directly engages himself in activities of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and thereby factually attains his constitutional position as eternal servitor of Lord Kṛṣṇa. In such a situation he takes pleasure in hearing and glorifying the Supreme Lord in pure devotional service. He is convinced that by doing so, all his objectives will be fulfilled. This determined faith is called dṛḍha-vrata, and it is the beginning of bhakti-yoga or transcendental loving service. That is the verdict of all scriptures. This Seventh Chapter of the Gītā is the substance of that conviction.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Seventh Chapter of the Śrīmad-Bhagavad-gītā in the matter of Knowledge of the Absolute.

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Why I grow grains

August 14, 2015 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

Article by: Damagosha dasa

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Today I was threshing a large pile of barley stalks mixed up with its grain today and was thinking-why am I doing this hard work when I can buy the same thing at the health food store for a lot less work?

This is hard, hot  and dusty work, lets be honest about it. First you have to prepare/till the earth, rake it out, get all the weeds out, sow the seed, water it for a few days until it germinates, then let the sun do the rest. After it is ripe, and dies back, then you cut it with a hand scythe, pile it up on some tarp or the ground and let it dry in the sun some more. Then I set up my adapted grain thresher machine pile all the stalks into the hopper for grinding, and get whats left as barley grain and a huge pile of ground up stalks and seed husks.
Now you have to winnow it-or separate that chaff from the grain. This is real messy work. Anyway, while I am doing this I am thinking why am I doing all this work just for a few pounds of barley grain?

 Then I started thinking about  a very funny record album Bill Cosby the comedian, made about 40 years ago about the Biblical character called Noah, the Lord, and the Ark. that He, God, wanted him to build for the coming flood. It is a great story the way Cosby tells it.
He relates on the album…All Noah’s neighbors are coming by and laughing at him for building this huge ark in his “front yard”, making all kinds of jokes to him about it. So as the story goes, Noah is supposed to fill this ark with all the animals of the earth, both male and female.  So Noah sets about doing this huge task demanded of him by God, and then  Noah starts to get frustrated about so many things and especially all the animal poop down in the bottom of the hull and asks the Lord-“Have you seen all that crap down there? Who’s going to clean all that up?  I’m not going to do it. If you want it cleaned up, you do it yourself !!
Just then lightening is seen and thunder is heard, and it starts raining very heavily,….and Noah looks around him, sees the rising water levels,… and says to the Lord–I’m with you Lord,I’m with you Lord,  just you and me, I knew all the time this was going to happen….. no problem, I will clean up all that do do down in the bottom of your Ark…

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India Pictures

August 13, 2015 in Articles, Narasimha Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

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Below are pics of :
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Hanuman being embraced by Lord Rama.
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Our good friend, Rama Pujana Das Babaji, at age 95 (in 2012). He has fasted from all grains for 45 years and chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra constantly.
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A huge languor monkey pretending to be a street chef at the Hampi Bazar.
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Apsara Kunda, where Arjuna rescued the Apsaras who had be cursed to become crocodiles.
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Me chanting japa in a cave on the bank of the holy Tungabhadra at the ashram of a Kishkindhya sadhu baba.
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Srila Prabhupada re real Initiation

August 13, 2015 in Articles, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

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August 19, 1968 Montreal, Quebec Letter to Tamala Krishna

About my coming to San Francisco, I have already written to Jayananda. I am always hankering after going there, but because there are some other program, immediately, so please ask all the devotees on my behalf to wait and in the meantime, enjoy chanting Hare Krishna. The chanting Hare Krishna is our main business, that is real initiation. And as you are all following my instruction, in that matter, the initiator is already there. Now the next initiation will be performed as a ceremony officially, of course that ceremony has value because the name, Holy Name, will be delivered to the student from the disciplic succession, it has got value, but in spite of that, as you are going on chanting, please go on with this business sincerely and Krishna willing, I may be coming to you very soon. I have already written to Jayananda about this, so don’t be impatient. Pray to Krishna that I may meet you very soon

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