by Damaghosa dasa

Disappearance day of Srila Prabhupada-Nov 16

November 15, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami  Prabhupada
Just as a devoted wife becomes afflicted at the passing away  of her husband, when a spiritual master passes away, the disciple becomes  similarly bereaved. (Purport to Bhäg. 4.28.49)
 
The spiritual master, äcärya, is always situated in the  spiritual status of life. Birth, death, old age and disease do not affect  him. According to the Haribhakti- viläsa, therefore, after the disappearance  of an äcärya, his body is never burnt to ashes, for it is a spiritual  body. The spiritual body is always unaffected by material conditions.  (Purport to Bhäg. 10.4.20)
SB 7.7.30-31       What Prahlada  Learned in the Womb     The words guru-susrusaya  mean that one should personally serve the spiritual master by giving him  bodily comforts, helping him in bathing, dressing, sleeping, eating and so  on. This is called guru-susrusanam. A disciple should serve the spiritual  master as a menial servant, and whatever he has in his possession should  be dedicated to the spiritual master. pranair arthair dhiya vaca. Everyone  has his life, his wealth, his intelligence and his words, and all of them  should be offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the via  medium of the spiritual master. Everything should be offered to the spiritual  master as a matter of duty, but the offering should be made to the spiritual  master with heart and soul, not artificially to gain material prestige. This  offering is called arpana. Moreover, one should live among devotees, saintly  persons, to learn the etiquette and proper behavior of devotional service.  Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura remarks in this connection that  whatever is offered to the spiritual master should be offered with love  and affection, not for material adoration.
Whenever an äcärya comes, following the superior orders of the  Supreme Personality of Godhead or his representative, he establishes the  principles of religion. Unfortunately, when the äcärya disappears, rogues and  non-devotees take advantage and immediately begin to introduce  unauthorized principles in the name of so-called svämés, yogés,  philanthropists, welfare workers, and so on. The äcärya, the  authorized representative of the Supreme Lord, establishes these  principles, but when he disappears, things once again become disordered. The  perfect disciples of the äcärya try to relieve the situation by sincerely  following the instructions of the spiritual master. (Purport to Bhäg.  4.28.48) ·

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by Damaghosa dasa

Grhamedi vs Grhastha Mahatma–SP

November 1, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
Glories to Srila Prabhupada
Below you will find some interesting points in this abbreviated lecture  about:
1) how to turn a kali yuga debauch- into a mahatma
2) Human life should be for very easy living and not be for hard  working
3) Symptoms of a Mahatma
4) Prabhupada is creating ideal grhastha mahatmas
5) Difference between a grhamedi and grhastha and how to deal with  grhamedis
6) Grhastha has one aim-how to develop love for God
Hare Krsna
Damaghosa das
—————————
690917SB.LON                    Lectures                 They  are simply engaged in sense gratification: eating, sleeping, mating, and  defending. That’s all. Their business finished. They do not know anything  else. If I call some animals… Why people are not taking part in this  Krsna consciousness? Because they are animals. They are appearing with  four hands and legs, but they have been trained to become animals. So  they cannot take. But we are trying to train them from animalism  to humanism by associating with this Krsna consciousness movement. This Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s movement is to give chance to this  animalistic civilization to associate with devotees and mahatmas so that they  can also become devotee and mahatma. You associate with mahatma,  you become mahatma. You associate with debauch, you become  debauch. Practical. We have taken from the debauchery condition  all our disciples. But they are now mahatmas. It is possible. By this Krsna consciousness movement we can turn debauch into  mahatma. That is possible. Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s movement is so  nice.
Sat-sanga chadi’ kainu asate vilas. If people give up the association of  this Krsna consciousness society and they simply indulge in the sense  gratificatory process, then more and more they’ll be entangled. Sat-sanga  chadi’ kainu asate vilas, te-karane lagila ye karma-bandha-phans. People  are now entangled in hard working. Actually, human life should be  very easy, very easy. No hard work. Living very  simple life and eating very healthy food, living in open space, no quarrel,  no antagonism, everyone is happy, everyone is free. That is human  civilization. Not to become entangled. But at the present moment we have  become entangled. So Rsabhadeva says that mahat-sevam dvaram ahur  vimukteh. If we actually want liberation from this entanglement, then we  should associate with mahatmas, great souls. And who is a great soul? That  is being described.
  
 We have discussed some of the symptoms  of great soul. The great soul is sama-citta, equal to everyone. Great  soul is never angry; they are friend to everyone. And sadhava.  Sadhava means sadacara, clean habits. A mahatma cannot be implicated  with those four principles of sinful life. That is the first test. No illicit  sex life, no gambling, no meat-eating, and no intoxication. This is called  sadacara, clean habit. Anything beyond this: unclean habit. Here it is  stated,
sadhava. Sadhava means sadacara, clean habit. Then it is said, ye  va mayise krta-sauhrdarthah. Now this mahatma is specifically  indicated for a sannyasa, a perfect sannyasi, renounced order.  Their characteristics is that. And another mahatma… Suppose one is  in household life. Question may be whether a mahatma can be in  the household life or not. That is being described: Yes. In household  life also there can be mahatma. Just like Advaita Mahaprabhu.  Caitanya Mahaprabhu even, Nityananda Mahaprabhu. They were all  householders. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He was a householder. He married twice.  His first wife died–He married for the second time. Regular  householder, although He left household life very early. He was only  twenty-four years old; therefore He had no children. But Nityananda Prabhu  had one child, Virabhadra, and Advaita Prabhu had two, three children,  of which buddhi was very highly elevated. Similarly, Srivasa Thakura,  he had children. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu does not say that one has  to become in the renounced order or sannyasi, then he becomes a  mahatma. No. We also do not propagate such idea. At least, I am not doing  that. I am creating householder, ideal householder. And my ideas are  being fruitful. Here in London I sent six householders, and they are  doing nice, sincerely they are working. Therefore I am very much proud  of
them.
 
   So here is also the statement that  even… It’s not required that sannyasi is only mahatma, but a grhastha can  be, is also mahatma. So grhastha-mahatma, his symptoms are described: ye  va mayise krta-sauhrdarthah. Their only business is to please Krsna. That is  the first qualification. They have no other business. Ye va  mayise krta-sauhrdarthah. Then how they deal with others? A  grhastha has to live… A sannyasi may live alone in forest or in Himalaya or  in a secluded place in Vrndavana or somewhere, but a grhastha, he has  to deal with ordinary persons, so many others, businessmen or  ordinary people. So that is stated here, that a grhastha-mahatma, his  first symptom is that he has no other business than to please Krsna. That  is his first business. And so far dealing with others, that is  janesu dehambhara-vartikesu grhesu jayatmaja-ratimatsu na  priti-yukta yavad-arthas ca loke. Very nice. What does he say? That people  who are simply interested in maintaining this body and sense  gratification, dehambhara-vartikesu. Deha means this body, and bhara  means maintaining, and vartika means occupation.
    Now you analyze everyone in this world. What is their business? Their  business is how to maintain this body. That’s all. If you ask
somebody, “My dear sir, what you are doing?” “Oh, I am doing  this business.” “Why you are doing this business?” “Oh, I must get  money. Otherwise how can I maintain myself?” This is  called dehambhara-vartikesu. Their only engagement is how to maintain  this body. This is their business. So janesu dehambhara-vartikesu.  And grhesu, a householder has got home. And jaya, jaya means wife.  Atmaja, atmaja means children. Rati, some money, bank balance or some  wealth, rati. Or persons who are engaged simply for the business  of maintaining this body, their only business is how to maintain a  home, how to maintain a wife, how to maintain children, how to have  good bank balance. In this way their life is like that. But a  householder who is mahatma, whose only business is to satisfy Krsna, for  him, these things are not priti-yuktah, not very pleasing. Not  very pleasing. Na priti-yuktah.
   Then what is their  dealing? Yavad-arthas ca loke. They deal as much as required  only. That’s all. I have to deal with some gentleman who is  completely out of our, this Krsna consciousness movement, but I have to deal  with him. Then how I have to deal? As much as possible to avoid him, but  so far the business is concerned, all right. This is all. Just like a  businessman talks with another businessman so far
profit is concerned. That’s all. No more talk. A businessman, a lawyer,  talks with his client so much… Especially in America, they cannot waste  their time. Any businessman will not waste their time. They will talk.  Similarly, a householder devotee whose only business is to satisfy Krsna,  they will deal with other persons… Other person means those who are simply  interested for maintaining this body, wife, children, in this way. They have  no other ideas. We should not have any very intimate relationship, but we  shall have to deal with them only as far necessary. No more. That’s all. We  shall try to avoid them as far as possible. But because we are living with  the human society we have to deal with such persons. So our dealings should  be so far as required. Not more than that. Then, if one lives a  householder life in this way, keeping his viewpoint only in Krsna, in the  lotus feet of Krsna, and other dealings superfluous, he is also mahatma. He’s  also mahatma. Na priti-yukta yavad-arthas ca loke. Mayi  ise krta-sauhrdarthah purusartha yesam.
   A householder mahatma has only one aim: how to attain  the perfectional stage of love of God. That is the aim. Generally, a householder in the modern civilization, they are simply  trying to accumulate money, increase the bank balance and make the  society,
friendship and love as the aim and object of life, and they have  no other business. But a person who is mahatma, his aim is different.  His aim is “How to make my life perfect in Krsna consciousness. How  to please Krsna, how to make friendship with Krsna.” Everyone is  seeking some friend. That is a fact. The businessmen or lawyers  or politicians, everyone is seeking some friend. Without  friend… Society, friendship and love, these things are required. But a  mahatma householder, he is seeking actual friendship with Krsna.  Ise sauhrdarthah. Because he knows, “If Krsna is my friend…” Just  like Arjuna sought friendship with Krsna; Duryodhana sought friendship  with Krsna’s power. Krsna divided Himself. Because it was a family  warfare between two cousin brothers, and Krsna was also related with both  of them by family relationship, so He said, “How can I take part with  one and not with the other? Then that will be partiality. So anyway,  I divide Myself into two. I am alone, one side, and in which side I shall  go, I shall not fight. I shall not touch even a weapon. And the other side,  all My soldiers.” Krsna had many soldiers. So Duryodhana thought that “I  shall take Krsna’s soldiers,” and Arjuna thought, “I shall take Krsna only,  even He does not fight.”   So this is the  determination of mahatmas, that they want simply Krsna’s friendship.  Mayi sauhrdarthah.
                     ye va mayise krta-sauhrdartha
                      janesu  dehambhara-vartikesu                        grhesu  jayatmaja-ratimatsu                   na priti-yukta yavad-arthas ca loke
Yavad-arthas ca loke, just to deal with other persons as much  as necessary, not more than that. But to keep friendship with  devotees, that is necessary. Not that I shall not intimately mix,  intermingle with the devotees. That is required. A devotee has got four  business: isvare priti, love for God, Krsna; friendship with devotees;  and kindness to the neophyte; and rejection to the nondevotees. These  four principles. A devotee’s only lovable object is Krsna. His only  friend is devotee, another devotee.
                          isvare  tad-adhinesu                           balisesu dvisatsu  ca                          prema-maitri-krpopeksa                         yah karoti sa madhyamah
Isvare means krsna-prema, love, to love Krsna. Maitri  means friendship. Maitri with whom? Tad-adhinesu, those who are under  the
control of Krsna. Everyone is under the control of Krsna by this way or  that way, but those who are given to Krsna voluntarily, surrendered souls,  I am speaking of them. Tad-adhinesu.
 

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by Damaghosa dasa

Deity worship and simultaneously one and different-SP

November 1, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

740612mw.par                 Conversations                 366516/53050 Satsvarupa: But by that argument, then, this body is also Krsna,  made of earth and water. Prabhupada: Yes, it is Krsna’s. But you are  thinking you are. That is Krsna’s. Therefore this body should be engaged  for Krsna’s service. That is Krsna consciousness. You, as soon as  you accept this body is Krsna’s, then you cannot employ it for other  purposes. But that realization you have  no. Why do you say it is Krsna’s? You are thinking your body. Or  you are body. Where is that consciousness?…..
Paramahamsa: They argue that Krsna’s in the heart of every  living entity. Prabhupada: Yes. Paramahamsa: Therefore, every living  entity is Krsna. Prabhupada: Why? If I am in the room, I am room? Is that  very good argument? Because I am in this room, I have become room? Is  that argument very sound? Krsna is within this body. I am also within  this body. But does it mean I am body, or Krsna is this body? Devotees:  No. Prabhupada: Krsna is everything; again Krsna is… That is… What  is the verse? maya tatam idam sarvam jagad avyakta-murtina: “I am  spread all over the universe in My impersonal feature.”  Jagad avyakta-murti…, mat-sthani sarva-bhutani. “Everything is in  Me.” Naham te…, “But I am not there.” This is called simultaneously  one and different. Acintya-bheda, that one has to understand. Where there is no Krsna consciousness, that is different from  Krsna. Otherwise, everything is Krsna. Bhagavan: The other  religions do not give any… Prabhupada: We are not talking of religions. We  are talking of science.
Bhagavan: Yeah. Prabhupada: So don’t bring in any religion. A type of  religion is made, “Believe something blindly.” So that is not our concern. We  are talking of the science. If I say that stone is also Krsna, is not  that the science? Bhagavan: It’s the science of how God’s energies are  working. Prabhupada: Yes. Just like if I say heat is also fire. Is there  any wrong? Bhagavan: No. Prabhupada: Is there any wrong? Devotees:  No. Prabhupada: Heat is also fire. But at the same time, heat is not  fire. What is the difficulty to understand? If I say heat is also  fire, but it is not fire, where is the wrong? Devotee: Heat comes from  the fire. Prabhupada: Yes. Therefore the fire quality is there. Heat is  the quality of the fire. Just like I taste sugar. The sweetness is  also sugar. And the form is also sugar. Yogesvara: Well, they would  say, “If stone is also Krsna, then why aren’t we worshiping all  stone?”
Prabhupada: Eh? Yogesvara: Then why don’t we worship all… Here is also  some stone. Why don’t we worship this? Prabhupada: You worship. Because  you are rascal, you worship. Yogesvara: No, they… Prabhupada: We, we  worship Krsna in His form, but you are formless.(the  impersonalists)
You worship that stone. When we make the form of Krsna in stone,  then we worship, not that any stone. Because Krsna  is everything, that does not mean I have to worship the dog. That  you worship. Because you are impersonalist, you worship dog.  And you are doing that. In the morning, you take a dog and worship it. That  is your business. Our business is to worship the form of Krsna. That  is the, required. (pause)
Bhagavan: Could we say that anyone who is engaged in glorifying the body  is actually engaged in idol worship? Prabhupada: Hmm? Bhagavan: Anyone  who’s engaged in… Prabhupada: That is already answered. Krsna says, “The  body is Myself, but still, I am not there.” So you cannot say by worshiping  your body, you’re worshiping Krsna. At that time, he’s not there, although  the body’s also Krsna. Paramahamsa: Sometimes, they argue, “How do  you know this Deity is Krsna, and this one isn’t? Because each Deity looks a  little different to the material eyes.” Prabhupada: So we  have to pluck out the material eyes. Then you’ll see that it is  all right. First of all, let me pluck out your material eyes. Then you’ll  see. Therefore it is said,  premanjana-cchurita: “Eyes with love of Godhead.”  Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He saw Jagannatha Deity, Jagannatha Deity’s  not very beautiful. But immediately He saw Krsna and fainted. You have to  make that eyes, then you’ll see. So your present eye have to be plucked out.  Then you’ll see. Hare Krsna. …..
 

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by Damaghosa dasa

Are we really on the spiritual platform, or somewhere else??

September 27, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada who is  forcing open our eyes with the lamp of transcendental
knowledge.
Below is a very short excerpt from two  lectures which very clearly explain the process of bhakti yoga
beginning with  the 3rd class  or materialistic bhakta employing sravanam kirtanam and arcana seva–then  on to Madhyama or 2nd class bhakta.
These things are important to  hear for one who is somewhat serious about coming at least to the  actual spiritual platform.
Hare Krsna,
Damaghosa das
—————— ———–———————————————–

….751027SB.NAI                   Lectures                 

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.

( let us take a little diversion for a moment,  and see what Srila Prabhupada has to say about
the 3rd class devotee…. kanistha  adhikari…. )
770214r2.may                                             Prabhupada: Kanistha-adhikarimeans he must be a  brahmana. That is kanistha-adhikari. The spiritual life,  kanistha-adhikari, means he must be a qualified  brahmana. That is kanistha. What is esteemed as very high  position in the material world, brahmana, that  is kanistha-adhikari.
                           arcayam eva  haraye                         pujam yah  sraddhayehate                         na tad-bhaktesu  canyesu                        sa bhaktah prakrtah smrtah
   The brahmana means from the material stage gradually he is elevated to the spiritual  stage. And below the brahmana there is no question  of Vaisnava.

 

( 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

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Shri Radhaashtami Celebrations at Shri Radha Krsna Kunja aashram, Snohomish WA USA

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/vikasnoble/sets/72157631600116490/show/

 

 

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)

 

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by Damaghosa dasa

Thank you Krsna !!

September 19, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

Hare Krsna To all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Well its the end of summer now and as you will see from the photos, God has  been good to us here in terms
of a bountiful harvest of fresh vegetables and fruits to offer to Him on a  daily basis. Radhastami is coming up this weekend and I want to make something  special for the pleasure of Srimate Radharani since she is always making Krsna  something delectable every day. I think it will be something to do with milk ,  squash and squash flowers since she likes them a lot.
As Prabhupada once said, food from one’s own garden is a hundred times more  delicious than anything store bought. One of the reasons I continually put out  these beautiful pictures of Krsna’s creations in the area of food is to inspire  others to find out for themselves, what we enjoy, on almost a daily  basis. As we all know living in a city is mode of passion and living in the  country is mode of goodness. If one is not transcendental to the modes of  nature, then he or she will definitely be affected by those modes. So this  is why Srila Prabhupada encouraged us all to live closer to nature, grow our own  food,  and from the sattvic mode of goodness,thru the liberating  process of bhakti yoga, or devotional service, one can then eventually  transcend this material world, altogether.
Hare Krsna
Damaghosa das
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 pie
with cream on top, and rice
3 baskets of some very ripe tomatoes-this weighed in at 28 pounds, and  there is a lot
more where these came from –good harvest this year for tomatoes. Some get  canned as
sauce or juice, and the rest are dried

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Did Srila Prabhupada break tradition? Contodicting Sastra? MAYBE NOT!

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.

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Wonderful program in Snohomish, WA USA

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

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by Nityananda Rama dasa

Srila Prabhupada -Founder Acharya of Iskcon

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)

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by Damaghosa dasa

Real yoga process is to see Krsna/God within our hearts-SP

August 22, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by Damaghosa dasa

Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Below are small parts of a wonderful lecture by Srila Prabhupada where he  explains to us:
1.Srimad Bhagavatam, the ripened fruit of all Vedic literatures, is  not just for Rasa Lila, the ultimate
   pastimes of the Lord.
2.To know and love God means to know in detail how this material  energy/world works.
3. If we dont know God in truth then we will be mistaken and take Him to be  an ordinary man or some
    imaginations.
4. Advanced devotees do not see fire air or sky, they see Krsna and His  energies.
5. Therefore we must make a study of these energies.
6. First class yogi sees God within his own heart, others hearts, and  everywhere, 24 hours a day.
7. How to do this? Increase our Love for God, Krsna.
8. First love Him more and more, then we can surrender totally to  Him.
Hare Krsna
Damaghosa das
750115SB.BOM                    Lectures                   223164/530501 Nitai: “Fire is appreciated by its light and by its capacity to  cook, to digest, to destroy cold, to evaporate, and to give rise to  hunger, thirst, eating and  drinking.” Prabhupada:
So people may be astonished, that “They are reading  Srimad-Bhagavatam. Why they are discussing the action and reaction of  fire?” Generally, they think Bhagavata reading means rasa-pancadhyaya,  bas, immediately jump over to the rasa-lila of Krsna. Actually to know God  means to know everything in detail. Kasmin tu bhagavo vijnate sarvam  idam vijnatam bhavati. That is the Vedic injunction. If we  understand Krsna, then we must understand also how Krsna’s different energies  are working. That is called tattvatah. Krsna says in the  Bhagavad-gita, manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye. The other day  I was reading Gandhi’s discourses on Bhagavad-gita. He said that “I can
imagine any way Krsna. I do not accept the historical Krsna.” In  this way, so many things. He was a big man. He can say like that. But  we cannot imagine or manufacture Krsna. That is not possible. That is  not Krsna. God is never imagined or speculated or manufactured by  my limited knowledge and limited senses. That is not Krsna. Of  course, Krsna is everything. But if we want to know tattvatah Krsna,  in truth, how Krsna has created the panca-bhuta and how each bhuta or  each material element is working, that is being discussed. This is  perfect knowledge, tattvatah.   So because  they do not want to know Krsna in tattvatah, factually, therefore they  mistake Krsna. Especially they attack Krsna, that “He killed so  many demons. He had rasa-lila with so many gopis. He married so many wives,”  misunderstand Krsna. But if Krsna is all-powerful, almighty, then what is  difficulty for Him to marry 16,108 wife? Krsna has many, many millions and  millions of devotees.
… So to understand Krsna, krsna-upadesa, to know about Krsna, that  is Krsna consciousness movement. Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission is  like that. Yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna’-upadesa. If you study just like here, analytical study of fire… Dyotanam,  illumination; pacanam, digesting; panam, increasing thirst. If you don’t feel  thirsty, that means the agni, or the fire element within the stomach, is  not working. Agni-mandya. Mandya, the word comes from manda. Manda  means slow. So the Ayurvedic treatment, they say it, agni-mandya. So  when there is agni-mandya, there is medicine how to ignite the fire  again. … So to know Krsna means know everything, because Krsna  is everything. How Krsna is working in everything, even in different parts  of our limbs, represented by demigods, they are all  described. Even our eyelids moving under the direction of some  demigod. And
demigods, they are different parts and parcels, bodily limbs of  whole Krsna. So do not mind, “Why Bhagavata is studying Krsna  so analytically?” That is required. If we understand Krsna by  analytical study, how His divine power is working throughout the whole  universe, within the atom, within myself, within the movable,  immovable, everywhere, antaryami… Eko ‘py asau racayitum  jagad-anda-kotim. Jagad-anda-koti. This universe, that is not one universe.  We are in one of the universes…..
  Therefore in the advanced stage of devotional life a  devotee does not see fire. He sees Krsna. A devotee does not see air, but he  sees Krsna. A devotee does not see sky, but he sees Krsna. Sarvatra  haya nija ista-deva-sphurti. Ista-deva. Krsna is the worshipable Deity  of the devotee. So immediately, he sees anything, because he knows it  is Krsna’s energy… Just like we, generally, as soon as we see in  the morning light, we can understand there is sun, immediately. There  is no delay. “Now there is sun.” The sun may not be visible  immediately, but because the darkness is gone and there is light, although  glimpse light, now we understand this is morning, and now there is  sun. Similarly, a advanced devotee, because he knows everything is  Krsna’s energy… So this is energy study. Therefore in  the Bhagavad-gita it is said, raso ‘ham apsu kaunteya: “Apsu, in the water,  the taste I am,” because every one of us becomes thirsty and we take water.  And actually it is so; the taste of water is Krsna. Otherwise who can  give taste unless Krsna is there? Now take. There are big, vast water  in front of Bombay. Now change the taste. Then there is no need  of acquiring water from here and there, bringing big, big pipes. No.  You take and change the taste, salty taste, and making drinkable. No.  That you cannot unless Krsna does it. Therefore the taste is Krsna. It  is
not difficult to understand.   So if we study in this way,  analytically, everything, Krsna’s energy… Sasi-suryayoh. Prabhasmi  sasi-suryayoh. Krsna says, “I am the illumination of the sun and the  moon.” So you can create by… Scientists, they say the sun is  combination of so many chemicals. Now you create one sun and illuminate  the whole universe. That you cannot do because that is Krsna. You cannot  create Krsna. You cannot imagine Krsna. That is not possible. Foolish  persons, they may say, “Krsna is my imagination.” No, He’s not imagination.  He’s fact. Simply one has to know how Krsna is present in  everything. That is described in the Bhagavad-gita.
                        raso ‘ham apsu  kaunteya                         prabhasmi  sasi-suryayoh                          pranavah sarva-vedesu
sabdah khe paurusam nrsu    So there is list of  understanding Krsna. Don’t say that “We have not seen God. Can you  show me God?” Why don’t you see? The God says, “I am here,” but why don’t  you see? God says, “I am the taste of
water.” So when you drink water, why don’t you see God in the  taste? He is visible in every step. Every working of this nature, He is  doing that. Simply we have to make our eyes to see. That is  Krsna consciousness. Everything is there, present. Krsna, God, is  present everywhere. Andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham. Krsna is  present here. Krsna is within your heart. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam  hrd-dese ‘rjuna tisthati. But when you learn the art to see Him within  your heart, that is called mystic yoga. Dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena  manasa pasyanti yam yoginah.   The yogic process  is to see Krsna within the heart. That is real yoga. That is real yoga  system. Try to see Krsna within the heart. Then you first-class yogi. That is  the perfection of topmost yogic process.
                          yoginam api  sarvesam                          mad-gatenantar-atmana                        sraddhavan bhajate yo  mam                          sa me yuktatamo matah
If you can learn how to see Krsna within the heart always,  twenty-four
hours, then your life is successful. That is perfection of life.  That is Krsna consciousness movement, how you can learn to see Krsna  within your heart, within other’s heart, and everywhere.  Sthavara-jangama dekhe na dekhe tara murti. This is  wanted.
So this is possible by increasing our love for Krsna. Simply  we have to increase our love. Just like in practical life also,  we begin to love somebody, one after another, gradually, not all of a  sudden, similarly, we have to increase our love for Krsna. That  love for Krsna is the devotional process.
                        sravanam kirtanam  visnoh                          smaranam  pada-sevanam                         arcanam vandanam  dasyam                          sakhyam atma-nivedanam
Then surrender. That is the ultimate state of loving  affairs, surrender. Why one should surrender to another person unless  there is love? Just like wife surrenders to husband and husband protects  the wife. This is general duty. So why one man is interested with  one woman for giving her all protection, and why one man is surrendered
to…, one woman is surrendered to one man? What is the  basic principle? The basic principle is love. So similarly, our  full surrender, full Krsna consciousness, can be achieved when we  develop our love for Krsna little by little, little by little, and then  come to the perfection. When we come to the perfection, then we  cannot live without Krsna. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught us. In the  last stage of His life He exhibited such manifestation of love that He  was dying without Krsna. Sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena  me. Sunyayitam. Sunyayitam, everything is vacant. Sunyayitam jagat  sarvam govinda-virahena me. “Without Govinda, I see everything  vacant.” Sometimes we have got experience. If we lose a friend, a son, at  that time, everything becomes vacant without my son, without my lover.  That is practical. So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was exhibiting that type  of love for Krsna, that He was feeling that “Without Krsna, everything  is void.” Sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena me. This He  taught personally, how to raise oneself to the topmost stage of love  for Krsna. That is the ultimate aim and object of life. Preman…  (break) …yam syama-sundaram acintya-guna-svarupam govindam adi-purusam  tam aham bhajami. To see Krsna within the heart always, how…  (end)

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