Krsna is the well wisher of the cows and brahmanas

June 29, 2017 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

namo brahmaṇya-devāya go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya ca

jagaddhitāya kṛṣṇāya govindāya namo namaḥ.

“My Lord, You are the well-wisher of the cows and the brāhmaṇas, and You are the well-wisher of the entire human society and world.”

the formula given in Bhagavad gita–SP

June 28, 2017 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

June 6th 1974 Geneva

…And Bhagavad-gītā says, annād bhavanti bhūtāni [Bg. 3.14]. The maintenance of the living entities—bhūtāni means living entities—can be done by production of food grains. Annād bhavanti bhūtāni. Then parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ. And then it is said, parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ, yajñād bhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavam [Bg. 3.14]. This formula is given in the Bhagavad-gītā, that living entities, it doesn’t matter whether animal or men, they are flourished, they are raised very nicely, provided there is anna. Anna means food grain.So we can produce enough quantity of food grains all over the world. And if we actually produce food grains, we can feed ten times of the population which are at present. But unfortunately, we are not producing food grains. That is the problem. It is not the problem of overpopulation. It is the problem that we are not producing food grains. This is clearly stated, that unless you have sufficient food grains, how you can maintain? They have taken a policy that they would not… Especially in the Western countries, I see that they will not produce food. They will raise some cattles and send them to the slaughterhouse for eating. This policy is going on. And this is not a very good policy. You produce your food grain. 

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Srila Prabhupada’s 1961 Vyasa Puja Offering

June 28, 2017 in Articles, Padmagarbha Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja Offering–1961
Srila Prabhupada…”If everyone just initiates then there will only be a contradictory result. As long as it goes on there will be only failure. O shame! My dear brothers, aren’t you embarrassed? In the manner of businessmen you increase your disciples.”
A Vyasa-Puja offering of five prayers glorifying special characteristics of Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Goswami Thakura. Presented on the commemoration of his appearance, by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, at the Radha-Damodara 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 Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s judgement is that renunciation is most important. Not only that, but such knowledge 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 Caitanya’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 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 Vasistya Read the rest of this entry →

Faith explained by Srila Prabhupada

June 27, 2017 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

FAITH EXPLAINED BY SRILA PRABHUPADA
This is a very nice conversation with Srila Prabhupada regarding the beginnings of God/Krsna Consciousness-which is faith, without which we cannot go forward, as he says, one inch. He tells us how to develop it, why purity is necessary, and that we should associate with devotees.
Hare Krsna
damaghosa das
——————————
“faith begins from the tongue. You see? Therefore it is advised that you chant and take prasāda. Then faith will come. Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau. It begins… The faith begins from the tongue. “Why?”
(see below for more….)
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July 21 1975 SF Conversations
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda? What is that ingredient or what is that thing which causes faith to develop in one? From someone becoming…
Prabhupāda: Purity. Purity. The more you become pure, the faith is firm.
Nārāyaṇa: So faith comes from previous pious activities?
Prabhupāda: No, may not be previous activity. You believe the authority, spiritual master.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That comes from purity, faith.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: As purity develops, one becomes more faithful.
Prabhupāda: Yes. That purity is said, ādau śraddhā: “Beginning is faith.” Now tato sādhu-saṅgaḥ: “You mix with faithful men.” Then it will develop. Otherwise, if you take simply initiation and then sleep, then faith will be lost. That is happening. Therefore it is said, adau śraddhā tato sādhu-saṅgaḥ. You accept faith, maybe blindly. Now you make further progress by mixing with advanced devotees. Then it will remain fixed. Otherwise you will loss.
Bahulāśva: Faith is fixed by knowledge?
Prabhupāda: No, faith may be blind, but it increases. If you stick to faith and follow the principles, then it will increase. Svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ. Just like… Yasya deve parā bhaktiḥ yathā deve tathā gurau. So if you have got faith in spiritual master then you will advance. If you have no faith, then it will be lost.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: And unless one is pure, he will not have faith.
Prabhupāda: No.
Paramahaṁsa: Isn’t it is also like a child?

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Srila sac-cid-ananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura Tirobhava tithi [disappearance day] – Saturday, June 24, 2017

June 26, 2017 in Articles by Yasoda nandana dasa

In honor of His Divine Grace Srila Sacidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura — the pioneer of the program to benedict the entire world with Krishna consciousness — we have five offerings for you today.
1)  Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Appearance Day Lecture (by Srila Prabhupada):
2)  A Pure Vaisnava can Deliver Krishna to Anyone He Likes (a meditation):
3)  Saragrahi Vaisnava (a poem by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura):
4)  Manasa Deho Geha (audio with Vishnujana Swami):
5)  Kabe Habe Bolo (audio with Vishnujana Swami):
Or you can visit our “What’s New” page for September 14, 2016 (in red):
His Divine Grace Srila Sacidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura ki jaya!

Sri Svarupa Damodara Goswami tirobhava tithi [disappearance day] Sunday, June 25, 2017 Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata bhumi time

June 25, 2017 in Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Subject: Sri Svarupa Damodara Goswami tierobhava tithi [disappearance day]
Sunday, June 25, 2017  Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata bhumi time
Srila Prabhupada glorifies Sri Svarupa Damodara Goswami

compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada
Sri Svarupa Damodara Goswami trying to revive Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu


Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is none other than the combined form of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. He is the life of those devotees who strictly follow in the footsteps of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī are the two principal followers of Śrīla Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, who acted as the most confidential servitor of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, known as Viśvambhara in His early life. A direct disciple of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī was Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī. The author of Śrī Caitanyacaritāmṛta, Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, stands as the direct disciple of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 1: The Spiritual Masters
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 4: The Confidential Reasons for Lord Caitanya’s Appearance : Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī was the principal figure among Lord Caitanya’s confidential devotees. The records of his diary have revealed these confidential purposes of the Lord. These revelations have been confirmed by the statements of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in his various prayers and poems. Read the rest of this entry →

Ratha-Yatra Sunday, June 25, 2017 Jagannatha Puri, Orissa, Bharata Bhumi time

June 25, 2017 in Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

TEXT 48
vidāya samaya prabhu kahilā sabāre
pratyabda āsibe sabe guṇḍicā dekhibāre
 
SYNONYMS
 
vidāya—departing; samaya—at the time; prabhu—the Lord; kahilā—said; sabāre—unto everyone; pratyabda—every year; āsibe—you should come; sabe—all; guṇḍicā—of the name Guṇḍicā; dekhibāre—to see.
 
TRANSLATION
 
At the time of departure, the Lord requested all the devotees, “Please come here every year to see the Rathayātrā festival of Lord Jagannātha’s journey to the Guṇḍicā temple.”
 
PURPORT
 
There is a temple named Guṇḍicā at Sundarācala. Lord Jagannātha, Baladeva and Subhadrā are pushed in their three carts from the temple in Purī to the Guṇḍicā temple in Sundarācala. In Orissa, this Rathayātrā festival is known as Jagannātha’s journey to Guṇḍicā. Whereas others speak of it as the Rathayātrā festival, the residents of Orissa refer to it as Guṇḍicāyātrā. Link to this page: cc/madhya/1/48
 

Why everyone is frustrated

June 25, 2017 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ1c7O6ASIE&feature=youtu.be

DSCN9345.JPG
June 26 1971 paris
Every one of us who are sitting in this meeting must admit that he is giving service to somebody else. Somebody is rendering service to his family, somebody is rendering service to his country or to his society,or if one has nobody to serve, sometimes he keeps a pet like cats and dog and renders service unto it. All these factors prove that we want and we are constitutionally so made that we have to render service to somebody else. But in spite of our rendering service to the best capacity, we are not satisfied nor the persons to whom we are rendering service, they are satisfied. Therefore in spite of our rendering service to one another, every one of us are frustrated. The reason is that the service which we are rendering, that is not properly placed. 

Under the Influences-of Maya

June 25, 2017 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

June 13 1975 Philadelphia-conversations

Father: Does that mean to say that you can’t live a happy life without being religious?
Prabhupāda: Yes, certainly.
Father: I am eons away from this whole thing because I don’t believe any religion. My son knows this.
Prabhupāda: You do not follow any religion?
Father: None at all. I will give philosophical discussions…
Prabhupāda: And still you are happy?
Father: Yes, I’m very happy. I have my moments when I’m not, of course. Basically I’m happy with my family, with my work…
Prabhupāda: Do you think your father is happy?
Devotee: No. (laughter)
Father: I don’t feel very happy. (laughter) But…
Devotee: Prabhupāda, earlier today you were speaking in Bhāgavatam class about Ajamila and how by circumstances he fell down, and that because it wasn’t intentional, Kṛṣṇa forgave him. So, but still, at one point or another, he agreed to the desires of the prostitute. So isn’t that free will?
Prabhupāda: That is free will, but under the point of revolver. So māyā is very strong. māyā is very strong. So when you are under the māyā’s clutches, she dictates and you have to do. This is called māyā, daivī hy eṣā guṇamayī mama māyā dura… [Bg. 7.14], very, very strong. So mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taran… If one is staunchly Kṛṣṇa conscious, he can avoid. Otherwise not possible.
Ravīndra-svarūpa: But if someone purposefully sins, also that is māyā.
Prabhupāda: That may not be māyā. That is my discretion. But that is also māyā in another way, indirect way. So one must be strong in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Then he is not a victim of māyā.
.(the conversation now goes in a different direction)
 
Some conclusions- I am not sure what to make of this conversation where Srila Prabhupada says
to act sinfully may not be maya, but up to somebody’s discretion. If Ajamila had been strong in Krsna Consciousness originally, then he never would have fallen for the prostitute. But he did, and his ongoing desires were the results of a previous karmic mentality. These kinds of statements by Srila Prabhupada convince me all the more that at least for myself, I am not beyond the third chapter of Bhagavad Gita-Karma yoga. If some devotee thinks he or she is beyond  Karma yoga and its intricate understandings, then I bow to your lotus feet. As Lord Krsna tells us in His fourth chapter, “Even the intelligent are bewildered in determining what is action and what is inaction.” (BG 4.16)
 
So for me, I just continue to grovel in the dirt (pictures below) or in this case its called silage-mostly broken down grass mixed up with dirt and cow manure), and hope against hope that someday I will understand a small bit of what is there in His Bhagavad Gita.
 
damaghosa das
 
Today my dairy farmer friend across the road delivered here a large truckload of his silage which as you can see I began spreading around some of the winter squash plants. This will provide fertilizer and smother weeds as well.
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Unnatural Living– causes disease

June 25, 2017 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

Dec 28 1969 Boston
So our propagation is to present Bhagavad-gītā as it is, without any nonsensical commentation. There is no need of nonsensical commentation. Bhagavad-gītā is as clear as the sunlight. As you do not require to see the sun with another lamp, similarly, you do not (chuckling) require to study Bhagavad-gītā with another commentation of a common man who has no knowledge. Bhagavad-gītā as it is, you should study. Then you will get all this knowledge.
…So it is natural. If we keep ourself in natural life, it is natural. But because we are developed consciousness, we do not keep in natural life. We accept so many unnatural things. Therefore our knowledge becomes covered by unnatural material nature. So that has to be cleared by superior instruction. Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. Therefore we have to take; voluntarily we have to accept. Just like a man who lives naturally, he never gets disease. But one who lives… Just like you don’t find any disease amongst the animals. But amongst the human beings, oh, there are so many medical science, so many things. Why? They live unnaturally. So if you live naturally there is natural evolution, but if you block the natural course, then how you can do it? If you lit fire and let it go, it will grow. But if you pour water in it, how it will grow? So in the human form of life we do not go according to natural intuition. Just like amongst the animals, amongst the birds you’ll see. Take the pigeons. You give them some peas—they will eat. But if you give them some particles of meat, they’ll not eat because they are living natural life. A tiger, he will not accept. You give him nice foodstuff, prepare your vegetables, he’ll not accept. So natural life evolves up to the animal life. But when you come to the human form of life you have got developed consciousness, and instead of using your intelligence and consciousness for further develop naturally, you put unnatural impediments; therefore you are covered. That is called yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati, tadātmānam [Bg. 4.7]. Therefore you require instruction of Kṛṣṇa.
Guest: One of the major criticisms today of most religions are their irrelevance to tackling the social problems or immediate external problems. You talked about things beyond the self. In the Bhagavad-gītā I think you have references such as Arjuna being told not to become attached to the fruit of his actions, but act. Can you give us some idea of, more specific idea, of the principles which would guide one’s action while trying to develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness?
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Nobody gets outta here alive !!

June 25, 2017 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

 

“In this material world everyone is struggling to survive. But who is surviving? That way, materialistic way of life, will not help you to survive. That is… Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni(BG 3.27). Nature is so strong that you must die. ‘I am very strong.’ You may be very strong, that’s all right, but you must. There is a, I mean to say, joking story that one man thought, ‘How to avoid death?

Just like Hiraṇyakaśipu. So he thought that ‘Yamarāja is the superintendent of death. He comes to take, so I shall make such policy that he may not come to me.’ What is that policy? ‘So bring some stool. I shall smear over my body, and out of bad smell, he’ll not come.’ (laughter) So he began to smear stool on his body at the time of death. (laughter) So this is going on. They are making body very stout and strong so they’ll survive. Nobody will survive, sir, unless he is Kṛṣṇa conscious.”

 (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Honolulu, May 23, 1976)

Before you check out looking for a “guru”-read this first

June 25, 2017 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

SB 6.2.5-6–Translation-People in general are not very advanced in knowledge by which to discriminate between religion and irreligion. The innocent, unenlightened citizen is like an ignorant animal sleeping in peace with its head on the lap of its master, faithfully believing in the master’s protection. If a leader is actually kindhearted and deserves to be the object of a living entity’s faith, how can he punish or kill a foolish person who has fully surrendered in good faith and friendship?
PURPORT
The Sanskrit word viśvasta-ghāta refers to one who breaks faith or causes a breach of trust. The mass of people should always feel security because of the government’s protection. Therefore, how regrettable it is for the government itself to cause a breach of trust and put the citizens in difficulty for political reasons. We actually saw during the partition days in India that although Hindus and Muslims were living together peacefully, manipulation by politicians suddenly aroused feelings of hatred between them, and thus the Hindus and Muslims killed one another over politics. This is a sign of Kali-yuga. In this age, animals are kept nicely sheltered, completely confident that their masters will protect them, but unfortunately as soon as the animals are fat, they are immediately sent for slaughter. Such cruelty is condemned by Vaiṣṇavas like the Viṣṇudūtas. Indeed, the hellish conditions already described await the sinful men responsible for such suffering. One who betrays the confidence of a living entity who takes shelter of him in good faith, whether that living entity be a human being or an animal, is extremely sinful. Because such betrayals now go unpunished by the government, all of human society is terribly contaminated. The people of this age are therefore described as mandāḥ sumanda-matayo manda-bhāgyā hy upadrutāḥ [SB 1.1.10]. As a consequence of such sinfulness, men are condemned (mandāḥ), their intelligence is unclear (sumanda-matayaḥ), they are unfortunate (manda-bhāgyāḥ), and therefore they are always disturbed by many problems (upadrutāḥ). This is their situation in this life, and after death they are punished in hellish conditions.
Isopanishad -12-purport
In other words, the path of salvation from the material clutches fully depends on the principles of knowledge and detachment gained from serving the Lord. The pseudo religionists have neither knowledge nor detachment from material affairs, for most of them want to live in the golden shackles of material bondage under the shadow of philanthropic activities disguised as religious principles. By a false display of religious sentiments, they present a show of devotional service while indulging in all sorts of immoral activities. In this way they pass as spiritual masters and devotees of God. Such violators of religious principles have no respect for the authoritative ācāryas, the holy teachers in the strict disciplic succession. They ignore the Vedic injunction ācāryopāsana-“One must worship the ācārya”-and Kṛṣṇa’s statement in the Bhagavad-gītā (4.2) evaṁ paramparā-prāptam, “This supreme science of God is received through the disciplic succession.” Instead, to mislead the people in general they themselves become so-called ācāryas, but they do not even follow the principles of the ācāryas.
These rogues are the most dangerous elements in human society. Because there is no religious government, they escape punishment by the law of the state. They cannot, however, escape the law of the Supreme, who has clearly declared in the Bhagavad-gītā that envious demons in the garb of religious propagandists shall be thrown into the darkest regions of hell (Bg. 16.19-20). Śrī Īśopaniṣad confirms that these pseudo religionists are heading toward the most obnoxious place in the universe after the completion of their spiritual master business, which they conduct simply for sense gratification.
So the two above verses and purports explain how dangerous can be this business of assuming the post of Acarya, spiritual master, priest, etc especially if one has not been authorized to take up such a task by his own spiritual master.
Srila Prabhupada explains it as “cheating” and “extremely sinful”. Not a very pretty picture for a person one has assumed, has taken up some spiritual path .
Now let us take a very brief look at who this very powerful person actually is that CAN take up such a task as taking on all the sins or karma of his disciples-and not be carried away by Maya devi (the illusory energy) due to this risk. We also should understand what is the proper position of mukti or liberation.
Who is qualified to be Guru or Spiritual Mater? Here below is the qualities needed:
SB 6.4.26 Translation-When one’s consciousness is completely purified of the contamination of material existence, gross and subtle, without being agitated as in the working and dreaming states, and when the mind is not dissolved as in suṣupti, deep sleep, one comes to the platform of trance. Then one’s material vision and the memories of the mind, which manifests names and forms, are vanquished. Only in such a trance is the Supreme Personality of Godhead revealed. Thus let us offer our respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is seen in that uncontaminated, transcendental state.

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Sunday morning Darshan June 11, 2017–Beautiful, all attractive Krsna

June 11, 2017 in Articles by Damaghosa dasa

Sri Syamananda Goswami tirobhava tithi [disappearance day] – Saturday, June 10, 2017 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhuimi time]

June 11, 2017 in Narasimha Dasa, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada explains the exalted position of Shyamananda Goswami
compiled by Narasimha dasa and Yasoda nandana dasa

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Sri Sridhara Pandita tirobhava tithi [disappearance day] Friday, June 9, 2017 Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time

June 11, 2017 in Articles, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Sri Sridhara Pandita (kholaveca) tirobhava tithi [disappearance day]
Sri Mukunda datta tirobhava tithi [disappearance day]
Snana yatra
Friday, June 9, 2017 Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time
compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa
Srila Prabhupada describes the glories of Sridhar Kolaveca
Srila Prabhupāda: “That is karma” means that whatever happiness he has to enjoy, that will come automatically. Otherwise, he is destined to have something—that will come. Yathā dukham ajajñātaḥ. So our only point is that human life is very valuable. We should not waste it for nothing. Modern…, modern method of civilization is to develop economic development, to live very comfortably. That’s all right. Do it. Everyone do his own business. But you don’t forget Kṛṣṇa. That is not good. The point is, our real business is to understand Kṛṣṇa. But people do not try to understand Kṛṣṇa; they simply try for economic development. Their first business should be to understand Kṛṣṇa. Other business should be secondary. So at the present moment, it is very difficult task.

Devotee: Śrīla Prabhupāda?

Srila Prabhupāda: Hmm.