Eager for Prabhupadas mercy (care of the Prabhupada connection)

July 30, 2016 in Damaghosa Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by: Damagosha Dasa

Prabhupada-car-medium

I was in Vancouver temple, and I heard that Srila Prabhupada was coming to L.A. I’d never seen Prabhupada before so I got very excited and I asked Bahudak, who was the temple president, that I wanted to go to meet Prabhupada. And he said, “If you want to please Prabhupada, you stay here.” So I said, “OK, prabhu.” And as soon as he left I ran upstairs to the brahmacari asrama and I didn’t even take any clothes, I just grabbed my coat and I ran out the back door. I didn’t have any money, and I was in Canada. So I start hitchhiking, went across the border, got across almost to the end of Washington state the first night. And Prabhupada is arriving the next day around 4:00 in L.A. So I think I was about a thousand miles away from L.A. As soon as the sun came up, I started hitchhiking. And the first car that came over was a brand new Corvette, and this guy was an Air Force pilot. He said, “Where are you going?” I said, “I’m going to L.A.” He said, “Jump in,” and amazingly enough he was driving about 120 miles an hour. It was great, it was fun. To make a long story short, he drove me two blocks from the temple in L.A. and I got there about 20 minutes before Prabhupada came in. I ran upstairs, took a shower, put on a dhoti, put on tilak, ran outside into the alleyway and flowers were showering from the top of the building, and Prabhupada’s car pulled up and the door got opened and Prabhupada came out. It’s the first time I saw him, and his smile was great. The devotees were jumping up and down, and it was like being in the spiritual world.

Janaspriha das

Book change articles [part 2]

July 29, 2016 in Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

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How to depend upon Krsna–and not some “job”

July 29, 2016 in Damaghosa Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by: Damagosha Dasa

Hare Krsna–
Below Srila Prabhupada nicely explains how this Hare Krsna Movement ran on in the beginning days.
Nobody had a “job”-literally nobody– because Krsna supplied everything we needed. He explains this
is the business of the brahmanas-to preach, and then depend upon the Lord  for whatever 
we need. Brahmana by definition should be independent from all money making schemes or employments,
but there are some exceptions in times of emergency, which is exactly what we have in this kali yuga. And
one nice way to avoid the Kali yuga “rat race” is to grow ones own food, which typically brahmanas did at
their cottages/ashrams . Below we have some pictures of just such a scenario here at Sri Sri Gaura
Nitai Mandir
damaghosa das
————————————–
Melbourne May 20 1975
Prabhupāda: No. I am brāhmaṇa yes. Yes. But we are not… We do not recognize brāhmaṇa by birth. Brāhmaṇa by these qualities. Anyone who has got… This is the shastric injunction, that if the qualities are found somewhere else—that means one who is not born in a brāhmaṇa family but he has the qualities of the brāhmaṇa—then he should be accepted as a brāhmaṇa. That is shastric injunction. Yasya hi yal lakṣaṇaṁ proktaṁ varṇābhivyañjakam, yad anyatrāpi. Anyatra means elsewhere. Tat tenaiva vinirdiśet [SB 7.11.35]. “He should be accepted as such.” Similarly, if a man, born in brāhmaṇa family but he has the qualities of the śūdras… Paricaryātmakaṁ kāryaṁ śūdra-karma svabhāva-jam [Bg. 18.44]. Paricarya means service. To accept… [break] So therefore, according to Bhagavad-gītā, nobody is brāhmaṇa. A brāhmaṇa should remain independent. He should live by his qualities. People will honor him. Just like we are training. We do not serve anyone, but we are maintaining big establishment.
This is brāhmaṇa. We do not serve anyone, any merchant, officer, any… No. We chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. That’s all. If Kṛṣṇa wants, He will give us food, or we shall starve. We are not going to serve.(others) This is the proof. We are spending not less than twenty lakhs of rupees for maintaining our establishment throughout the whole world, but we do not know what is our next moment’s income. We do not know We have eaten today. We do not know whether we shall have any eatable next day. This is our position. If it is available, we shall eat; otherwise we shall starve.

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Book Changes

July 25, 2016 in Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

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Sri Lokanatha Goswami Tirobhava Tithi [disappearance day]

July 25, 2016 in Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Sri Lokanatha Goswami tirobhava [disappearance day]
Tuesday, July 26,.2016 [Los Angeles, California time]
Wednesday, July 27, 2016 [Mayapura, West Bengal time]
compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa
 dataudri-file qdimaqges
Srila Prabhupada glorifies Sri Lokanatha Goswami
Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 1: The Spiritual Masters : Adi 1.19 : PURPORT :
Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained this mode of devotional service in three stages, and therefore these worshipable Deities were installed in Vṛndāvana by different Gosvāmīs. They are very dear to the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas there, who visit the temples at least once a day. Besides the temples of these three Deities, many other temples have been established in Vṛndāvana, such as the temple of Rādhā-Dāmodara of Jīva Gosvāmī, the temple of Śyāmasundara of Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī, the temple of Gokulānanda of Lokanātha Gosvāmī, and the temple of Rādhā-ramaṇa of Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī. There are seven principal temples over four hundred years old that are the most important of the five thousand temples now existing in Vṛndāvana.
Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 7: Lord Caitanya in Five Features : Adi 7.164 : PURPORT :
When Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī went to Vṛndāvana, there was not a single temple, but by their preaching they were gradually able to construct various temples. Sanātana Gosvāmī constructed the Madana-mohana temple, and Rūpa Gosvāmī constructed the Govindajī temple. Similarly, their nephew Jīva Gosvāmī constructed the Rādhā-Dāmodara temple, Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī constructed the Rādhā-ramaṇa temple, Śrī Lokanātha Gosvāmī constructed the Gokulānanda temple, and Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī constructed the Śyāmasundara temple. In this way, many temples were gradually constructed. For preaching, construction of temples is also necessary. The Gosvāmīs not only engaged in writing books but also constructed temples because both are needed for preaching work. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted the cult of His saṅkīrtana movement to spread all over the world. Now that the International Society for Krishna Consciousness has taken up this task of preaching the cult of Lord Caitanya, its members should not only construct temples in every town and village of the globe but also distribute books that have already been written and further increase the number of books. Both distribution of books and construction of temples must continue side by side in parallel lines.

Srila Prabhupada’s instructions on editing are in his books themselves

July 25, 2016 in Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by: Yasoda nandana Dasa
Srila Prabhupāda’s instructions on editing are in his books themselves
12. March 2014 by Prabhupada News

im3agesthumsabnail_datauri-file

Srila Prabhupāda’s instructions on editing are in his books themselves
In this article we hope to bring to light how Srila Prabhupāda, the Acharya and Jagat Guru, has personally instructed the proper etiquette to all his followers in how to deal with seeming mistakes, or errors in the writings of an uttama-adhikārī and Acharya.
In this time of confusion and controversy, in regard to the editing of the BBTI, we humbly submit the following at the feet of all the Vaiṣṇava’s for their own contemplation and realization in spiritual life:
In the Caitanya-caritāmṛita, Madhya-līlā 9.358, Srila Prabhupāda cites his spiritual master Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, who points out that in the seventy-fourth verse of this same chapter there is an apparent error made by Kṛṣṇa dāsa, Kavirāja Gosvāmī. Srila Prabhupāda, just to teach us the principle of arsa-prayoga, [please see quotes from Srila Prabhupāda on “arsha-prayoga” at the end of this article] does not touch the words of Kṛṣṇadāsa Kaviraja Goswami, but leaves this apparent error as it is, out of respect for the transcendental book. Even though Srila Prabhupāda’s own spiritual master, the most pure and intimate confidential devotee and associate of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu himself, had clearly pointed out that this is an apparent error and is apparently wrong.

July 9 Appointments — Temporary or Permanent?

July 24, 2016 in Gadadhara Das by Yasoda nandana dasa

By Gadadhar Dasa  Submitted on 2013/02/12 at 5:47 pm

Untitleda

July 9 Appointments

 Temporary or Permanent?

Ritvik or Diksha Gurus?

Available Evidence

My Approach

Attempt is made here to come to conclusion

using direct, simple, and short path.

There is no DOR or TFO in this document except in this line.
I thank these devotees who wrote those two documents.

I thank all devotees who provided me requested information.

 

Special thanks to Rocana Prabhu

who prodded me into this, encouraged me at times,

 and demanded that I produce higher quality product.

I must admit I am no where close to it.

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Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami Tirobhava tithi (disappearance day) 07 24.2016

July 24, 2016 in Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by: Yasoda nandana Dasa

Sunday, July 24, 2016 (Mayapur time, India)

aq qr rr

Srila Prabhupada describes the glories of Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami
śrī-gopāla bhaṭṭa eka śākhā sarvottama

rūpa-sanātana-saṅge yāṅra prema-ālāpana




Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 1:”Creation” : SB Introduction : SB Introduction :

Thus at the end of His twenty-fourth year the Lord accepted the sannyāsa order of life in the month of Māgha. After accepting this order He became a full-fledged preacher of the Bhāgavata-dharma. Although He was doing the same preaching work in His householder life, when He experienced some obstacles to His preaching He sacrificed even the comfort of His home life for the sake of the fallen souls. In His householder life His chief assistants were Śrīla Advaita Prabhu and Śrīla Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, but after He accepted the sannyāsa order His chief assistants became Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu, who was deputed to preach specifically in Bengal, and the six Gosvāmīs (Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī, Jīva Gosvāmī, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī and Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī), headed by Śrīla Rūpa and Sanātana, who were deputed to go to Vṛndāvana to excavate the present places of pilgrimage. The present city of Vṛndāvana and the importance of Vrajabhūmi were thus disclosed by the will of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 4: “The Creation of the Fourth Order” : SB 4.27: Attack by Candavega on the City of King Puranjana: the Character of Kalakanya : SB 4.27.24 : PURPORT :

“I offer my respectful obeisances unto the six Gosvāmīs, namely Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī and Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, who are very expert in scrutinizingly studying all the revealed scriptures with the aim of establishing eternal religious principles for the benefit of all human beings. Thus they are honored all over the three worlds, and they are worth taking shelter of because they are absorbed in the mood of the gopīs and are engaged in the transcendental loving service of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.
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Srila Prabhupada re Association with a pure devotee is the highest benediction

July 22, 2016 in Articles by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by: Yasoda nandana Dasa

Prabhupadas-Kindness

“Even a moment’s association with a pure devotee cannot be compared to being transferred to heavenly planets or even merging into the Brahman effulgence in complete liberation. For living entities who are destined to give up the body and die, association with pure devotees is the highest benediction.”
 
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.30.34)

False Ambition: The original sin

July 22, 2016 in Narasimha Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

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Srila Prabhupada’s unparalleled achievements

July 21, 2016 in Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

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Sri Sanatana Goswami Madan Mohan temple

July 20, 2016 in Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by: Yasoda nandana Dasa

affs

Sri Advaita Vata – Place where Sri Advaita Prabhu discovered Madan Mohana
HISTORY OF THE MADANA-MOHANA TEMPLE

Sanatana Gosvami established this temple. It is one of the first temples built in Vrindavan. The Deity of Madana-Mohan was originally known as Madana Gopala. Madan Mohan Temple on the riverside is the oldest structure in Vrindavan. 
 
Advaita Acarya discovered the original Deity of Madana-Mohan at the base of an old vata tree, when he visited Vrindavana. He found this Deity at Advaita Vata, which is the place where he did his bhajana. This place is just below the hill on which the Madana-Mohan temple is located. He entrusted the worship of Madana-Mohan to his disciple, Purusottama Chaube, who then gave the Deity to Sanatana Gosvami. Worshiped along with Madana-Mohan are Radharani and Lalita, who were sent to Vrindavana by Purusottama Jena, the son of Maharaja Prataparudra.
 
This 20m (60 ft) high temple was opened in 1580 on Aditya Tila, a 16m (50 ft) hill next to the Yamuna. Ram Das Kapoor of Multan (Punjab) paid to build the temple. One day a ship he owned, loaded with salt, went aground in the Yamuna. He was advised by Sanatana Gosvami to pray to Madana-Mohan for help. The ship came free and the owner of the ship made a big profit, which he used to build this temple. Ram Das Kapoor built another temple dedicated to Madana-Mohan in his hometown and installed a replica of Madana-Mohan. This Deity is still being worshiped. His entire family was initiated as Vaishnavas and they were followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
 
Krishna Dasa took care of worshiping Madana-Mohan after Sanatana Gosvami left his body. This temple is considered a historical site and is under the care of the Indian government.
 
This is the oldest temple in Vrindavan. The temple is closely associated with Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is considered the incarnation of the Supreme Lord Krishna in the iron age of Kaliyuga and spreading the congregational chanting ofthe holy names.
 

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Things equal to the same thing are equal to one another-An Axiomatic truth.

July 20, 2016 in Damaghosa Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by: Damagosha Dasa

Hare Krsna-Below we are attempting to show that spiritual life follows a certain pattern. 

Srila Prabhupada has several times used the expression-“things equal to one another are equal to each other” which comes from Euclid, a great mathematician and philosopher who lived thousands of years ago in Greece. His theorems have survived the test of time up to today, because they are true. And our Srila Prabhupada used this particular one to show how anything spiritual is equal to any other thing which  is also spiritual.This is called the Absolute nature of Transcendence. It is common for people to think that there is some difference between Vaisnavas-that those who are “brahmana Vaisnavas”, or “sudra Vaisnavas”  are “different” but in actuality there is no difference in quality.
We will attempt to show some of these facts by this principle.


69-10-31

My Dear Dinesh,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your letter dated October 21, 1969 along with a contribution of $25. I have already acknowledged receipt of your new record. Regarding the disciplic succession coming from Arjuna, disciplic succession does not always mean that one has to be initiated officially. Disciplic succession means to accept the disciplic conclusion. Arjuna was a disciple of Krishna and Brahma was also a disciple of Krishna. Thus there is no disagreement between the conclusions of Brahma and Arjuna. Vyasadeva is in the disciplic succession of Brahma. The teachings to Arjuna was recorded by Vyasadeva verbatim. So according to the axiomatic truth, things equal toone another are equal to each otherWe are not exactly directly from Vyasadeva, but our Gurudeva is a representative of Vyasadeva. Because Vyasadeva and Arjuna are of equal status, being students of Krishna, therefore we are in the disciplic succession of ArjunaThings equal to the same thing are equal to one another.
——————————-

LA May 7 1970
So this is explained here. This is Vedic mantra. This is the proof, Veda mantra. Why we are attached to Veda mantra? Veda mantra is the proof of everything. Whatever is said in the Vedas, that is fact. Unless you take some axiomatic truth in that way, you cannot make progress. Just like in geometry there are so many axiomatic truths, we have to accept it. “A point has no lengthno breadth.” “Things equal to the same thing are equal to one another.” These are axiomatic truths. Similarly the Vedas, they are truth. We have to accept. Just like I’ve given example in my book: The conchshell is the bone of an animal. So Vedic injunction is if you touch the bone of an animal, immediately you become impure and you have to take your bath. But here is a bone which is used in the Deity room. But you cannot argue, “Oh, you said that bone is impure. As soon as you touch it, you become impure. And you are putting into the Deity room?” No argument. You have to accept it. This is Veda. You cannot argue. Similarly, spiritual master’s order, you have to accept. There is no argument. In this way you can make progress.
———————————-
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Sixteen Points to Consider Regarding the Ṛtvik Issue

July 18, 2016 in Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by: Yasoda nandana Dasa

Editorial: Sixteen Points to Consider
Regarding the Ṛtvik Issue
By Pratyatoṣa Dāsa (ACBSP), August 30, 1998 (Appearance Day of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī) (Updated: March 2, 2014)
(Pratyatosa.com, pratyatosa@gmail.com)
Dear Prabhus, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!
Concerning the “ṛtvik issue” (initiation on Śrīla Prabhupāda’s behalf by a ṛtvik representative of the Ācārya), please consider the following sixteen points:
1. Follow the Latest Order
From a lecture by Śrīla Prabhupāda on the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Hyderabad, India, April 15, 1975:
I may say many things to you, but when I say something directly, “Do it”, your first duty is to do that. You cannot argue, “Sir, you said me like this before.” No, that is not your duty. What I say now, you do it. That is obedience.
If the captain of the ship says “5° starboard” and the first mate replies, “But captain, before you told me ‘10° port,’” then it can be understood that the first mate has gone insane.
2. The July 9th Letter (http://pratyatosa.com/?P=25)
Letter by Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Gosvāmī to all GBC’s and temple presidents, Vṛndāvana, India, July 9, 1977:
To All G.B.C. and Temple Presidents
Dear Mahārājas and Prabhus,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. Recently when all of the GBC members were with His Divine Grace in Vṛndāvana, Śrīla Prabhupāda indicated that soon He would appoint some of His senior disciples to act as ritvik – representative of the ācārya, for the purpose of performing initiations, both first initiation and second initiation. His Divine Grace has so far given a list of eleven disciples who will act in that capacity:
His Holiness Kīrtanānanda Swami
His Holiness Satsvarūpa dāsa Gosvāmī
His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami
His Holiness Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Gosvāmī
His Holiness Hṛdayānanda Gosvāmī
His Holiness Bhavānanda Gosvāmī
His Holiness Haṁsadūta Swami
His Holiness Rāmeśvara Swami
His Holiness Harikeśa Swami
His Grace Bhagavān dāsa Adhikārī
His Grace Jayatīrtha dāsa Adhikārī
In the past Temple Presidents have written to Śrīla Prabhupāda recommending a particular devotee’s initiation. Now that Śrīla Prabhupāda has named these representatives, temple presidents may henceforward send recommendation for first and second initiation to whichever of these eleven representatives are nearest their temple. After considering the recommendation, these representatives may accept the devotee as an initiated disciple of Śrīla Prabhupāda by giving a spiritual name, or in the case of second initiation, by chanting on the Gāyatrī thread, just as Śrīla Prabhupāda has done. The newly initiated devotees are disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, the above eleven senior devotees acting as his representative. After the temple president receives a letter from these representatives giving the spiritual name or the thread, he can perform the fire yajña in the temple as was being done before. The name of a newly initiated disciple should be sent by the representative who has accepted him or her to Śrīla Prabhupāda, to be included in His Divine Grace’s “Initiated Disciples” book.
Approved: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami [signed]
Please note that the above is the last formal instruction that Śrīla Prabhupāda gave on initiations within his beloved ISKCON before his physical departure on November 14, 1977. If someone quotes Śrīla Prabhupāda as having said, “My disciples should become gurus.,” then this obviously does not mean diksha (initiating) gurus within ISKCON, because his last instruction (See point #1 above) for ISKCON was to have ṛtviks (priests) initiate on his behalf “henceforward.” If you search the Vedabase for “henceforward,” you will see that Śrīla Prabhupāda always meant “from this time forth; from now on,” which, according to the dictionary, is the only literal meaning that the word “henceforward” can have.
3. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Testifies
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Gosvāmī, one of the 11 original, ṛtvik – representatives of the ācārya (See point #2 above) said on December 3, 1980 (Transcribed from a tape recording of the actual conversation):
Actually Prabhupāda never appointed any gurus. He appointed eleven ritviks. He never appointed them gurus. Myself and the other GBC have done the greatest disservice to this movement the last three years because we [falsely] interpreted the appointment of ritviks as the appointment of gurus.
 

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The yogi should meditate upon the laughter of Lord Visnu

July 18, 2016 in Damaghosa Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Submitted by: Damagosha Dasa

krishna

Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.28.33

With devotion steeped in love and affection, the yogi should meditate within the core of his heart upon the laughter of Lord Vishnu. The laughter of Vishnu is so captivating that it can be easily meditated upon. When the Supreme Lord is laughing, one can see His small teeth, which resemble jasmine buds rendered rosy by the splendor of His lips. Once devoting his mind to this, the yogi should no longer desire to see anything else.

PURPORT

It is recommended that the yogi visualize the laughter of the Lord after studying His smile very carefully. These particular descriptions of meditation on the smile, laughter, face, lips and teeth all indicate conclusively that God is not impersonal. It is described herein that one should meditate on the laughter or smiling of Vishnu. There is no other activity that can completely cleanse the heart of the devotee. The exceptional beauty of the laughter of Lord Vishnu is that when He smiles His small teeth, which resemble the buds of jasmine flowers, at once become reddish, reflecting His rosy lips. If the yogi is able to place the beautiful face of the Lord in the core of his heart, he will be completely satisfied. In other words, when one is absorbed in seeing the beauty of the Lord within himself, the material attraction can no longer disturb him.

Lecture – Vrindavana, September 20, 1976

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