Disappearance day of Srila Prabhupada-Nov 16
November 15, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa
November 15, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa
November 1, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa
November 1, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa
September 27, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa
….751027SB.NAI
devotional service, especially this sravanam, kirtanam and arcanam,
arcanam, worshiping the Deity, and sravanam kirtanam. Even if you
follow one, that is sufficient, but there are nine different
processes. As far as possible, we shall execute everything, and, at
least, sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam, arcanam. Arcana
is very important. For kanistha-adhikari, devotee in the lower stage,
arcana is very, very important.
( So for those of us who are wearing the brahmana thread or who have been given gayatri mantra, this is not a cheap title, it has to be earned. And we may wonder why tears do not
appear in our eyes while hearing or chanting??Ok, now back to the original lecture….. )
Although the devotee in the higher stage, he also offers worship, but Krsna is everywhere. For a neophyte devotee Just like some people say that “Why you should go to the
temple? Krsna is everywhere.” Who was asking that question? “Krsna
cannot be served…” Here, last night. I think those girls, svarna(?)
girls. Krsna is everywhere, that is a fact, but that is for the
paramhamsa, one who is very very advanced. For the kanistha-adhikari,
he cannot He, like parrot, he can say, “Krsna is everywhere.” He must
be educated, “Here is Krsna in the temple.” Otherwise it is simply
blaspheme, that “Krsna is everywhere.” That’s a fact, but where is
your realization? Krsna is within your heart. Have you got that
realization? Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese ‘rjuna tisthati. Have you
got that realization, that Krsna is within your heart? Can you talk
with Krsna? He says, Krsna says, “I talk.” Buddhi yogam-dadami tam.
Krsna gives intelligence. Krsna is giving, but have you got that
realization?
So these are all facts, that Krsna is everywhere, Krsna is within
your heart, Krsna is within the atom. Andantara
stha-paramanu-cayantara-tham. That’s a fact, but where is your
realization? Therefore you have to begin realization by arcana. That
is very essential. Then more you become expert in arcana, ye yatha mam
prapadyante, the more you become realized, then more you become
advanced. So therefore, for kanistha-adhikari, he has to raise
himself.
… arcayam eva haraye
yah pujam sraddhayehate
na tad-bhaktesu canyesu
sa bhaktah prakrtah smrtah
By executing this arca-vigraha, arcanam, gradually you advance. But if
you simply remain in the arcana-viddhi or arcana process, and you
cannot understand who is a bhakta and what to do with others… That
is also a bhakta’s duty, not that simply we shall remain engaged in
arcana. We must know how to respect devotee, how to do some service to
others also. That is madhyama-adhikari. Simply if you become
satisfied, that “Now I am initiated and I am offering arcana. I have
become perfect,” no, the perfection is still awaiting. You have to
understand who is a devotee. You have to understand how to give
service to the innocent. If you do not know that, then if you simply
become packed up by arca-vigraha-seva, arcana, then you will remain in
the material platform. Na tad-bhaktesu canyesu sa bhaktah prakrtah
smrtah. Prakrtah means material. He is trying to go to the spiritual
platform, but if he simply remains in the arcana and does not preach,
this is na tad-bhaktesu canyesu. Anyesu. Anyesu means those who are
innocent. That is madhyama-adhikari, middle stage.
isvare tad-adhinesu
balisesu dvisatsu ca
prema-maitri-krpopeksa
yah karoti sa madhyamah
Isvara. Then, by arca-vigraha worship, by sravana-kirtana, by making
your properly advanced you will understand what is the position of
Krsna, isvara.
Some conclusions–
This bhakti yoga is a gradual process. Practically speaking, everyone begins from the material platform and if he or she follows the actual process of sadhana bhakti, then they will come eventually to the spiritual platform. As Srila Prabhupada describes, there are 4 platforms of realization. The sensual, the mental the intellectual and eventually the spiritual platform. To actually come to the spiritual platform requires austerity or purification of the senses. We all know what this means.
In the above segments Srila Prabhupada clearly explains that the neophyte or materialistic bhakta must perfrom Arcana or daily worship of the Vigraha Form of the Lord. This is not optional if one wants to eventually within his heart, see or talk with the Lord. If one is satisfied with just knowing he or she is doing some spiritual activity daily, then he or she can just chant Hare Krsna or read the books. This is good, but is not the final goal. The end goal is to have the realization of the Lord in one’s own heart where you and He can talk with each other, as Srila Prabhupada explains above. And that level of realization will develop, he says with Arcana, or daily worship of the Lord, and of course this is along with the chanting of Hare Krsna maha mantra.
Srila Prabhupada gives the proof of the materialistic bhakta in this lecture by saying
…”He is trying to go to the spiritual platform, but if he simply remains in the arcana and does not preach…”this is na tad-bhaktesu canyesu.
So we can see by the above statement, what has to be individually done.
And all along that path it is just like biting into some sugar-because wherever you bite, you will always taste sweetness-Krsna !!
Hari bol
Damaghosa das
September 24, 2012 in Articles, Kanhaiya Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa
Hare Krsna Dear Devotees of the Lord…
Please accept my humble obesiances with all gloiries to Srila Prabhupada!
We had a wonderful festival celebrations of Smt Radha Rani’s appearance day.
Lots of Beautiful Devotees from United States, and from Canada came, mesmerizing ecstatic Kirtans, Wonderful Prayers and class of Radha Rani’s Pastimes, Beautiful poem by Anu Prabhu….delicious Prasaadam (actually never ending Prasaadam)…and Gifts exchanges….and finally a very intimate and personal, deep realizations of Srila Prabhupada by devotees….(I wish I had recorded it….)
I would like to share the moments with all of the dear ones out there for Your pleasure….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/
Our Revered Spiritual Master Srila Prabhupada
Our Beautiful Queen Smt Radha Rani….
Beautiful Cake By Radhika Devi Dasi (Riya) for Radhika
And “The MOST MAGNIFICIENT Shri Shri Radha ShyamSundar ji…with His new Friends….
Hari Bol
Your Humble Servant
-Kanhaiya DasAnudas
“He reason ill who tells that Vaisnavas die, When thou art living still in sound! The Vaisnavas die to live, and living try, To spread the Holy Name around !”
(Poem by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura)
“I will never die. I shall live from my books, and you will utilize.”
His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
(Interview, July 16th, 1975, Berkeley, California)
September 19, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa
Srimate Tulsi Devi
4 huge cauliflowers
fresh corn, fresh garden salad, a fruit drink, rice and watermelon
Lord Nityananda
bowls of elderberry (later made into canned syrup), fresh plums, cucumbers, patty pan squash,beans, corn and eggplant–all just gotten from the gardens outside
fresh cut up vegetables for roasting along with some spices and olive oil
one evenings offering-roasted vegetables, corn, combo fruit drink, sliced tomatoes with cheese,cole slaw from cabbage and carrots sitting nicely in a cabbage leaf “bowl” , butter, and blackberry piewith cream on top, and rice
3 baskets of some very ripe tomatoes-this weighed in at 28 pounds, and there is a lotmore where these came from –good harvest this year for tomatoes. Some get canned assauce or juice, and the rest are dried
August 26, 2012 in Articles by Nityananda Rama dasa
Hare Krishna, Prabhus, obeisances, all glories to SrilaPrabhupada. Please permit me to recommend some articles of interest,pertaining to these topics: —
WHETHER SRILA PRABHUPADA BROKE WITH TRADITION, CONTRADICTINGSHASTRA (The argument of “NO PRECEDENT”)
More Vaishnava Acharyas Accept Ritvik – Madhu Pandit das
“There are several suchinstances in Sri Vaishnava Parampara (tradition). Take the example ofSri Ramanujacharya himself, who was the foremost amongst theSrivaishnavacharyas. He was initiated into the Srivaishnava texts andsecrets by five great acharyas who are the disciples of AcharyaYamuna. That is why is called Panchacharya Pradarshita. Though he wasa disciple of these five Acharyas, just like the Ritviks appointed byHH Srila Prabhupada ji, these ritviks never claimed that they were theAcharyas of Ramanujacharya.”
(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/ART_NAMHATTA/Sri-Sam-rittvik231107.php)
SrilaPrabhupada is Shastra -Praghosa das
“[Prabhupada] IS THE SHASTRA.THE SHASTRA IS ONLY RELEVANT IF IT AUTHENTICATES THE REALITY OF THEFULL INDEPENDENCE OF THE LORD AND HIS PURE LOVINGDEVOTEES!!”
(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/ART_NAMHATTA/shastra190908.php)
Whatare the Shastras? – Hansaduttadas
“In one essay [ThakurBhaktivinode] Srila Bhaktisiddhanta says, ‘What are the shastras? Theyare nothing but the words of the devotees (pure devotees) orsadhus.'”
(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/ART_NAMHATTA/shastra210908.php)
Formalities – MaheshRaja
“ALL Srila Prabhupada did waschange FORMALITIES in the way initiation was to be conducted in firstand second initiations: ‘The formalities may be slightly changed hereand there to make them Vaisnavas.'”
(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/ART_NAMHATTA/rittvik-formalities190908.php)
Last MinuteThoughts – Hansaduttadas
“If Srila Prabhupada isshaktavesha avatar (which we do recognise that he factually is), hecan do anything, and it becomes LAW. Because the fully liberated soulis always in touch with Krishna, whatever he does or says is shastra,law, absolute, non-different from Krishna. Because we do notunderstand does not mean it is incorrect.
‘Except for God, no one canestablish the principles of religion. Either He or a suitable personempowered by Him can dictate the codes of religion.’-purport,Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.43
Many things were never done before.Ramanujacharya engaged dacoits for collection, then had them killed.Madhvacharya pummeled his opponents. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu sang anddanced in public–never done before by sannyasis . Buddha rejected theVedas. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada created a GBC to manage hispreaching mission, leaving no successor acharya , as was traditionallydone. Srila Prabhupada made the same arrangement. In both instances,the order was disobeyed, and in both instances the result was thesame–chaos, confusion and disintegration of the Acharya’s mission.Great acharyas like Srila Prabhupada do establish the principles ofreligion according to time, place andcircumstances.”
(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/ART_NAMHATTA/SPMAY11.html)
WHETHER WE NEED A LIVING GURU
Living Guru – Hansaduttadas
“What is your idea of living? Amoving body? A warm body? The body is never living. It is the soul,the spirit within the body. … ‘You need a living guru.’ What do theymean by ‘living’? Do they mean to say that Srila Prabhupada is dead?Do they mean to say that Krishna is dead? Lord Chaitanya is dead?Vyasadeva is dead?
“If you say we need to have someone physically present givinginstructions, that also is not a fact. That is helpful, but it is nota fact. It is not a fact. Because there are many examples of boys andgirls who received Srila Prabhupada’s books, and although he was notphysically present, by reading and capturing the spirit, they becameawakened to Krishna consciousness. It is not true that I need a livingbody through which this message, this spirit will come. It will comethrough the book, or it may come through the sincereservant…”
(http://www.bhaktivedantas.com/ART_NAMHATTA/livingguru180309.php)
QUESTION OF BREAKING THE PARAMPARA
LastMinute Thoughts – Hansaduttadas
“First of all, neither SrilaPrabhupada nor we say guru parampara should be abandoned. Rather,Srila Prabhupada has given specific instructions how it should becontinued and its integrity preserved.
August 25, 2012 in Articles, Kanhaiya Dasa by Nityananda Rama dasa
Dear Devotees of the Lord, Hare Krsna,
Please accept my humble obesiances with all glories to Srila Prabhupada!
We had a wonderful Saturday Feast Program here at Shri Radha Kunja Snohomish Aashram, WA. We had wonderful Hari Naam, Nice Tulsi aarti, and Narsimha Dev Aarti, Bhajans, BG Purushotam Chapter 15 recitation and class, and a very nice feast… I would like to share the program pictures with you all…Hope you like it… Hari Hari… http://www.flickr.com/photos/vikasnoble/sets/72157631246313258/show/
If you think you have received this email by mistake..Please ignore this. Thanks
Hari Bol
Your Humble Servant
-Kanhaiya DasAnudas
August 25, 2012 in Articles by Nityananda Rama dasa
Dear Bhagvatamrita Prabhu,
Please accept my humble obeisance’s. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
You asked yesterday why one would list Srila Prabhupada as a “sannyasi” in the MOA of Iskcon-India, rather than the” Founder Acharya” as Srila Prabhupada has originally listed. This happened around 1980 by a commission of the Bureau of Iskcon-India. You say it was for legal purposes? I begged to submit that this commission may not just be a simple legal maneuver but a symptom of the still ongoing conspiracy to remove Srila Prabhupada as the Founder Acharya of Iskcon and replace others unlawfully in that position.
FOUNDER ACHARYA OF ISKCON-HIS DIVINE GRACE A.C.
BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI SRILA PRABHUPADA
This point of Srila Prabhupada being the FOUNDER-ACHARYA of Iskcon is very pertinent and important. The quotations, examples and even attempts to remove Srila Prabhupada as the Founder-Acharya were there even when Srila Prabhupada was with us, what to speak of after His samadhi or in this case within the official documents which are now being scrutinized by the Supreme Court in the case between the Bureau of Iskcon-Mumbai vs. Iskcon Bangalore.
For the time being we will leave most of those historical quotes and incidents aside, besides the few quoted below, just to give the gist. As i hope we both agree that Srila Prabhupada is the Founder-Acharya of Iskcon? Correct? Not only Founder but Acharya! The principle of who is the Acharya, and how one becomes Acharya is the subject of another discussion (such as my claim that a Acharya has to be an Uttama adhikari and your claim that the Acharya can be a Madhyam Adhikari !) . We will confine this dialog to establishing the eternal principle of Srila Prabhupada as the FOUNDER-ACHARYA of ISKCON, which did not cease in November of 1977, nor did Srila Prabhupada ever intend that He would not be the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON after His samadhi. Did He? If you disagree, then please show where and when the principle of Srila Prabhupada being the FOUNDER & ACHARYA of ISKCON ceases to be the principle?
A few quotes from Srila Prabhupada on His being Founder-Acharya:
“So you can go ahead and register our Society there with taking all proper and necessary steps. Before the finalization of registration takes place I would request you to send me one copy of the constitution for our society there so I can approve it finally. My name should be there as the Founder-Acharya, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. I should have full authority in all matters. ” (Letter December 29th, 1974)
note: Srila Prabhupada still has the “full authority” through His books, Letters and Conversations as well as His Directives of Management of His Society.
“The Ambassador of the United States of America, Canakya Puri, New Delhi May it please Your Excellency, I beg to introduce myself as the Founder-Acharya of the above institution.”
(Letter to the Ambassador of the United States of America dated 27, July, 1976 -Delhi)
” “The deed for the property and temple should be made in favor of “His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.” It cannot be dedicated to any of the office bearers. So I suggest that you become the president of the temple and Upendra become the secretary, and either your brother or your wife can become treasurer. There is no need of trustees. But in any circumstance the temple can’t be a private property in the name of ISKCON. If you want to keep it a private property then the ISKCON name should not be utilized.”
(Letter – New Vrindavna June 30, 1976)
Letter signed by Srila Prabhupada on September 28th, 1976;
“A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Founder Acharya ISKCON (all over the world) Vrindaban 28/9/76”
“I am not going to manage Spiritual Sky. This is ridiculous. Why they are dragging me into the management. Now the Acharya is meant for handling business? Jayatirtha should handle this. He is the manager. Jayatirtha and Karandhar are the chief men. They should manage. Why I have to manage? They have big, big brains. Why they are failing? Now the Founder-Acharya has to manage. Without my consent the BBT has financed.” (Vrindvana Agust 31st, 1974)
“TOPMOST URGENCY AMENDMENTS TO BE IMMEDIATELY ADDED TO ALL OFFICIAL REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS, CONSTITUTIONS, INCORPORATION PAPERS, ETC.
1.) It is declared that His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is the Founder-Acharya of (ISKCON) International Society for Krishna Consciousness. He is the supreme authority in all matters of the society. His position cannot be occupied by anyone else, and his name and title must appear on all documents, letterheads, publications, and buildings of the Society. In particular it shall be clearly understood that no real estate may be purchased or sold by any officer of the Society without the express permission of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON.
2.) There shall be a Governing Board Committee of trustees appointed by the Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad according to the document Direction of Management dated July 28, 1970. The GBC is to act as the instrument for the execution of the will of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupad. Dated at New York, July 22, 1974. Approved: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Founder-Acharya”
“As more publications arrive from ISKCON Press in Boston, Prabhupäda is startled to see they have printed His name on one small paperback simply as A.C. Bhaktivedanta, leaving out “His Divine Grace” and “Swami Prabhupäda.” Another booklet ascribes him the title “Acharya” rather than “Founder-Acharya.” If that’s not bad enough, upon opening the book the binding cracks and some of the pages fall out. Prabhupäda is furious.” “It appears that a veil of mäyä descended over ISKCON in 1970. Seemingly innocent mishaps, or lapses in consciousness, led Srila Prabhupäda to conclude there was a conspiracy to minimize His position as the Founder-Acharya of His own institution. He understood that he was being pushed into the background—that his supreme authority was being challenged, even doubted, and that this would be dangerous for the spiritual well being of his disciples. This was the first major heresy on a societal level in Prabhupäda’s young movement. At the heart of the heresy, of course, was the direct challenge to his authority, which, he believed, originated in India. Even though it seemed to begin with seemingly harmless incidents, Prabhupäda immediately saw the potential for the corruption of Vaisnava philosophy.” “July 7 1970 as quoted in the biography) S
In the above historical reference Srila Prabhupada has taken special concern that the minimization of Him as the Founder Acharya would be “dangerous for the spiritual well being of His disciples”. How many 1,000’s of sincere souls have had their spiritual lives destroyed because they could not accept Srila Prabhupada as their Founder-Acharya and instead had to accept a conditioned soul as the Acharya due to institutionalized mandates?
Another point I was thinking is this. If a person admits that they are fallen, then there is the possibility of undertaking the process of Krsna consciousness and becoming un-fallen. After all, Caitanya Mahaprabhu is “patita pavana”. And Srila Prabhupada is ”maha-patita-pavana”. But is someone artifically proclaims themself, or allows themself to be proclaimed, as a pure devotee/Acarya, and accepts worship, while actually being fallen, it is a great offence. And there is no possibility of such a person getting the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. What they are doing is what the Srimad-Bhagavatam calls ”kaitava dharma”, or “cheating religion”, which is rejected by Srimad-Bhagavatam and all our Vaisnava acaryas. Think about it.
Srila Prabhupada describes below his vision as to how he wants to structure and operate (Materially and Spiritually) ISKCON. This letter is dated February 1967. Thus may understand that HDG Srila Prabhupada was very clear in the beginning days of ISKCON about the model he wanted to use for the future development and operation of ISKCON.
Srila Prabhupada: “I wish that each and every branch shall keep their separate identity and cooperate keeping the Acharya in the center. On this principle we can open any number of branches all over the world. The Rama Krishna mission works on this principle and thus as an organization they have done wonderfully.”
(Letter, February 11, 1967)
August 22, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa