You are browsing the Blog for Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada tells a cartoon story

June 22, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa

740524r2.rom                 Conversations                Prabhupada: There was a cartoon. When I… One leader is  approached for food, that “We are in scarcity of food.” The leader says,  “Of course, it is very difficult to assure you for food grains. But  from next week you will have television.” (laughter) Next week you will have television. So these improvements are going on,  television, but they are starving. This is going on. Advancement of knowledge  and learning is going on in discovering television, but there is no  food. This is the mismanagement of the leaders. Dishonest.  There is enough food. Punjab still produces food grains. Bengal still  produces rice, but they are stocked by government men, and they are mishandling. They are lying on the station for dispatch, but they will not  be dispatched. They are rotting. Rainy season spoiled the whole  stock; still, they are not dispatched. Official: “There is no dispatch  order. There is no wagons available.” Simply mismanagement or bribe. This  is going on. And people are suffering.
…Somebody approached some politician, and he said, “Yes, I know there is food problem. So I cannot say what can I do for you, but  from next week, you will have television.” This is their program, “From  next week you will have television.” As if television will minimize  my hunger. This is the civilization. Hare Krsna. So you ask problem,  I will answer. Your energy, problems of energy, petrol, it will  be automatically solved. If we are localized, there is no question  of petrol.
——————————
Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
The above tells the story of kali yuga-because we are so “machine oriented”  practically everyone is forgetting the basic necessities of life-like FOOD  !!
I just read today an article about a study asking people how they would  value losing their cell phones.
The reply was that most of them would rather not have sex than lose their  cell phones. Others replied they would rather lose their wedding rings or wallet  than their cell phones.
This is how attachment works.

Tags: ,
No Comments »

What does it mean to be Surrendere​d to God?–SP

June 3, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa

740502mw.bom                 Conversations
Prabhupada:  Yes. When Krsna… Therefore we shall fully surrender to Krsna. As  Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, marobi rakhobi yo iccha tohara: “Now I  surrender. Now if you want to maintain me, that is all right, and if You want  to kill me, that is also all right.” This is surrender. It is not business, “If You maintain me, then I surrender. If You kill me, then I do not.” It is  not like that. Marobi rakhobi yo iccha tanhara. “As You like. If You  want to maintain, that is also good; if You want to kill, that is also good.” This is devotee’s view. Satsvarupa: Someone might say, “But if one is  surrendered why should Krsna give him trouble?” Prabhupada: Yes, it is  because he is always free. Why do you make Krsna dependent on your  so-called good-will, that “Krsna must give me always pleasure”? This is sense  gratification. This is sense gratification that you approach  Krsna for your comfort, sense gratification. That is not bhakti. That is  sense gratification. Prahlada Maharaja was given suffering by his  father so harshly, but he never said, “Oh, I am devotee and Krsna giving  me so much trouble? Oh! Give it up.” He never said that. Neither he  asked Krsna to come and save him. That is Krsna-bhakti. The Pandavas. The Pandavas, they were always with Krsna and they were suffering.  They never asked Krsna that “You are the Supreme, and why we are suffering?” Never said.  Never said. That is Krsna-bhakti.
Giriraja: “Because You are the  Absolute Truth, there is no difference between Your mercy and  punishment.”
Prabhupada: Yes. This is to be understood. If we understand  the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Absolute Truth, then this  is understanding, that either suffering or enjoying, it is all  Krsna’s mercy. There must be some purpose. When Krsna puts me into  suffering, there must be some purpose. So we should welcome because  it is Krsna’s mercy. Tat te ‘nukampam susumiksamano bhunjana evatma-krtam  vipakam. (Hindi) (break) “…misdeeds. It is Krsna’s mercy that He is  reforming me, slightly suffering. I would have suffered very greatly on  account of my past deeds, but He is kindly accommodating me by giving  little suffering. That’s all.”

Tags: , , ,
No Comments »

Rags to riches story-and then some

May 31, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa

A rags to riches story-and then  some

A  jobless man applied for the position of ‘office boy’ at Microsoft. The HR  manager interviewed him then watched him cleaning the floor as a test.   ‘You are employed’ he said. Give me your e-mail address and I’ll send you the  application to fill in, as well as date when you may start.
The man  replied ‘But I don’t have a computer, neither an email’. ‘I’m sorry’, said the  HR manager. If you don’t have an email that means you don’t exist. And who  doesn’t exist, can’t have the job.’
The man left with no hope at all. He  didn’t know what to do, with only $10 in his pocket. He then decided to go to  the supermarket and buy a 10Kg tomato crate.
He then sold the tomatoes in  a door to door round. In less than two hours, he succeeded to double his  capital. He repeated the operation three times, and returned home with  $60.
The man realized that he can survive by  this way, and started to go every day earlier, and return late. Thus, his money  doubled or tripled every day. Shortly, he bought a cart, then a truck, and then  he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles.
5 years later, the man is one  of the biggest food retailers in the US. He started to plan his family’s future,  and decided to have a life insurance.
He called an insurance broker, and  chose a protection plan.
When the conversation was concluded the broker  asked him his email. The man replied, ‘I don’t have an email.’
The broker  answered curiously, ‘You don’t have an email, and yet have succeeded to build an  empire. Can you imagine what you could have been If you had an e mail?!!’ The  man thought for a while and replied, ‘Yes, I’d be an office boy at Microsoft!’ 

————————————————-
Although this story is fictitious, it  illustrates a good point.  That point is that if one learns how to
“think out of the box” as the karmis say, then a  whole new world unfolds for us. If we take the same old path trodden by   the majority of work people of this world, then we will most probably have our  9-5 job, possibly some security, and more remotely, even some retirement  benefits-maybe, although in todays financial world, none of these things are  100% for sure. 
On the other hand, if we are learning some  things from the great world Acarya Srila Prabhupada, then he will inform us that  taking the road traveled by millions isnt necessarily the best one, the safest  one, or the one sanctioned by Lord Krsna Himself.  Srila Prabhupada is  trying to get us all to start becoming more “independent” in our  thinking  and living patterns. And we all know to break old habits is  almost impossible to do. But break them we can do, if we submissively hear the  words of the Lords representative.
Let’s hear what he has to  say-
1. Hari-sauri: Should we try to make an effort to have  our householders go and live  on the farms, a special effort? If it’s ready  to do that? Prabhupada: Why   householders? Everyone.
2…” Indian people are little clever. They would come  from  the village to the city alone, not with family. They earn money and  send  to the family. And whenever they like, they go away. They’re not  dependent. And if you bring family, you have to  work. That system  is still going on. The village men, they come but  they do not bring their  family. Family remains in the village. He earns,  he lives some way or other  and sends money there, and the wife who is  intelligent. He (she) accumulates  the money and when there is enough money he (she)  purchases  land,investment. So… In after few years, when they  have got enough  land, they do not come back. They produce their own  necessities. Very  nice. Hare Krsna. As soon as they are self-sufficient from the  land they  no more work. That’s a good idea. Remain  in the village with  family…
3…  750514mw.per                  Conversations                 Prabhupada: The solution is  there. They won’t take it. Solution  is there, that everyone produce your  own food. There is so much  land; utilize it. The solution  is there. No. They want to sit down on  the table, chair, in a very nice  compartment, and making solution.
Amogha: He was saying that your solution was too simple. He   said that people will not accept it because it is too simple.
Prabhupada:That is his ignorance. They will say it is  primitive.That is the only solution.
4..Simple living and high  thinking is the solution to economic  problems. Therefore the  Krsna consciousness movement  in engaging devotees in producing their own  food and  living self-sufficiently so that rascals may see  how one can live  very peacefully, eat the food grains one has grown  oneself, drink milk,  and chant Hare Krsna.
5..Therefore I am asking so much here and…,  “Farm, farm, farm, farm…” That is not  my program–Krsna’s program. Annad bhavanti  bhutani. Produce greenness everywhere, everywhere.  Vrndavana. It is not this  motorcar civilization.
6..This  is our education. Don’t be after these motorcars, television, and all nonsense  things, sporting, wine, women. Don’t be after these.Simply eat sufficiently, keep your health nicely, chant Hare  Krsna,
realize Krsna, and go  back  to home This is our philosophy
7.. A little labor in  agriculture will be sufficient to produce the  family’s food stock for the whole year. You can stock. You work only three months, and you get sufficient  food for your whole family. And less nine months, you chant Hare Krsna.  But these rascals will not do that. They will work hard like ass  simply for eating.
8..We want two favours. One from guru, one from Krsna.That’s  all. We don’t want anyone’s favour.————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Below is some  spring pictures right now of the garden fields and basically getting it all  ready

Read the rest of this entry →

Tags: , , , ,
No Comments »

No more upadhis-material designations

May 20, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa

Jaya Srila Prabhupada

 Na Jayate  Mriyate va kadacin—For the soul,  there is never birth nor death, Nor having once been does he ever  cease to be. (Bhagavad Gita 2.20)

Self realization means to be able to see the soul. I look at you and  see your body, you look at me and see my body. This is not self  realization.
Aham brahmasmi means I am soul, not this body. ..”Dehino’ smin yatha  dehi… Deha and dehi means this body and the owner of this body. When  we  are able too see the soul we are on the brahma bhuta platform. This is  self realization.
If we want to be free of this material bondage and see ourselves as we  are, then we must purify our self of all the upadhis or material  designations.
Prabhupada writes…”Krishna consciousness is  actually a purificatory process. Its purpose is to make people free from  all designations. When our consciousness becomes purified of all  designations, the activities we carry out with our purified senses make us  perfect. Eventually, we reach the ideal perfection of human life. Krishna  consciousness is also a very simple process. It is not necessary to become a  great philosopher, scientist, or whatever. We need only chant the holy name of  the Lord, understanding that His personality, His name, and His qualities are  all absolute.”
Most everyone thinks that if he or she gets a nice  birth in a nice family, has good looks, education and some wealth, then all this  has been Divinely bestowed upon him by God. But from the spiritual  perspective all these things are no more than gifts of the illusory energy,  Maya. These things keep us trapped in the bodily conception of  life.  We see that is true when we hear the story of Nalakuvera and  Manigriva, the sons of Kuvera. They were both devas or demigods, and they were  devotees of some sort of the Supreme Lord, but because of the easy life their  material benedictions gave them, they condemned themselves to a life of  debauchery. They misused their material assets which is quite natural for one in  that position.This is what naturally happens for most if one takes to the field  of material piety instead of trying to purify the heart, thru bhakti  yoga, of all the (unwanted) anarthas present.
Prabhupada gives an example-when we are sitting comfortably in our easy  chair, we have the remote in one hand, our cell phone in the other, some chips  and fizz nearby , and we think , now I am comfortable!
But then somebody comes along and tells us NO, you have to come with me.  You MUST come with me dragging you off, and then your comfortable position  is now ruined. This is called Death. Nobody wants it, but it has to come to us  all. Yet how many of us are ready for this? How many of us are ready to get  ripped out of our comfortable situation and not even complain about  it? Only one who knows without any doubting that he or she is not this  material body.
He gave another nice example-once while on a train ride somewhere in India,  a few others were fighting over their train seat. He mentioned that even though  they know they will only be there a couple of hours, they are taking that seat  as some permanent arrangement and that is why it is worth fighting  over.  And we as kids, also had a similar situation while traveling  with parents in the family car. We would all fight over who got the window  seat !.
So how is this  child like fighting different than what we do as  adults on a daily basis fighting with others over some meager  material gains? Like the childs game of musical chairs whereby a group of kids  will circle a row of chairs which are one short of the number of participating  kids. When the music stops, everyone has to grab a chair. One kid is always  out of a chair ! This is how material life works. Its always a struggle for  everything. Nothing in this material world comes without some sort of  struggle-either with others or with our own limitations to accomplish  something.
Self realization means this material struggle for things related to this  body is over- because we realize without any doubt, that we are not matter,  not this body, not connected to any so called material family or race, do not  belong to some country and in fact have absolutely nothing to do with this  material world. Unfortunately for most of us we think we are free to do what we  like, but at any moment,  if the Devas disagree, we could lose motion  in our arms  hands or legs and become paralyzed. Yet we  all will  say, this is MY body. If its our body then why cant we make it do what WE want  it to do?
This conditional life always will be a source of problems to us.  In  this verse from BG it says we are never born and we never die, so if we  are eternal and believe it, why do we then bother so much- with the  temporary? BG says we dont take birth, yet all of us will say we were born on  such and such a date, and if we consult astrologers,  they say we will die  at such and such time as well. This is body consciousness only- because  according to BG we dont take birth and we do not die.
So the next question would be, then if we were originally with Krsna in the  spiritual world, how did we get ourselves into this present predicament? How did  we become so fallen?

Tags: , , , , , ,
No Comments »

GBC vs. Prabhupada: Heresies of the Governing Body Commission Rejected

May 18, 2012 in Articles, Vikramasingha Dasa

The Iskcon GBC philosophy on guru-tattva and initiations has evolved over the years. In the late 1970s and early 80s, they conceded, due to the insistence of a few leading members, that eleven individuals had been appointed and empowered by Srila Prabhupada to act as zonal acharyas in Iskcon. The GBC conceded that these eleven could create their own authority structure called “The Acharya Board”. The GBC agreed that only these eleven could be initiating spiritual masters in Iskcon and, in the future, only they could appoint other spiritual masters, or diksa-gurus, from among their disciples or Godbrother followers.

In the latter part of the 1980s, after few of the “chosen eleven” fell down and went insane, these contentions were overturned under mounting pressure from a so-called guru reform movement. GBC reformists decided that these eleven “Iskcon acharyas” could no longer be zonal autocrats above the authority of the GBC. The GBC resolved that only a majority vote of the GBC body would have authority to sanction and regulate initiating spiritual masters in Iskcon. They resolved that any devotee sanctioned by the GBC could initiate his own disciples in Srila Prabhupada’s mission, and they recommended that “diksa-gurus” no longer accept elaborate public worship in Iskcon temples and titles and prayers meant for maha-bhagavatas. They thus tried to reduce the power and ritual status of “Iskcon acharyas” while opening the door for all senior preachers “in good standing” to covet the post of “Iskcon guru”. In this way the GBC quelled the “guru reform movement” within Iskcon.

GBC resolutions regarding initiations and guru-tattva have been inconsistent and contradictory. It is hard to find two “Iskcon gurus”, GBC members, or Iskcon devotees with the exact same views on these topics. New devotees often doubt whether the praises they sing to the spiritual master at mangala-arotika and guru-puja should be directed toward their so-called Iskcon guru or to Srila Prabhupada. Should they hear primarily from Srila Prabhupada, or more from their “living guru”? Should they offer prayers and worship to a picture of their “guru” on the altar before doing Deity worship or offering food? If so, would he even know? Are all prayers to the spiritual master just ritualistic hyperbole that can be applied to any so-called Iskcon (or gaudiya math) “guru”?

Below is summary of the stance of the GBC today and in the recent past, with samples of their clearly implied philosophical ideas that are against the teachings of Srila Prabhupada. Immediately after each GBC idea, we have provided the correct understanding of guru-tattva and diksa according the Srila Prabhupada’s books, conversations, letters, and classes. Authorized references are cited at the end.  Throughout Srila Prabhupada’s books there are many dozens of references similar to the few cited below.

GBC: The spiritual master may be a self-made guru who is nominated by his peers or followers and sanctioned by the GBC, an ecclesiastical board. There is no need for a direct, specific order from Srila Prabhupada to become a diksa-guru in Iskcon.

Srila Prabhupada’s siddhanta: “A guru can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. That’s all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.” (See below references 1, 2 and 10.)

GBC: Srila Prabhupada authorized the GBC to sanction and dismiss diksa-gurus in ISKCON.

SPS: “Mundane votes have no jurisdiction the elect a Vaisnava acharya. A Vaisnava acharya is self-effulgent, and there is no need of any court judgment.“ Prabhupada authorized the GBC to select (or dismiss) representatives (ritviks), who initiate on His behalf. No one can be guru without the direct order of Krishna or His perfect devotee. (See below references 1, 2, 10 and 15.)

 GBC: Lord Caitanya gave a blanket order for every devotee to initiate his own disciples.

SPS: Lord Caitanya ordered His followers to become “gurus” by asking everyone they meet to chant Hare Krishna. He never ordered all devotees to initiate their own disciples. Even Lord Caitanya’s eternal associates, like Sri Gadadhara Pandita, refused to initiate disciples without a direct order from Lord Caitanya. Many great devotees never initiated their own disciples. (References 2 and 3.)

GBC: Persons who are not self-realized souls or topmost Vaisnavas can be diksa-gurus if the GBC approves.

SPS: “Only a topmost devotee, a maha-bhagavata, is eligible to occupy the post of guru.” (See below reference 4.)

GBC: Spiritual masters must be sanctioned, overseen, regulated and, if necessary, disciplined by the GBC.

SPS: The genuine spiritual master is never to be regulated or disciplined by ecclesiastical boards. (See below reference 5.)

GBC: A spiritual master may sometimes fall down and become demoniac.

SPS: “There is no possibility that a first-class devotee will fall down…” — “The bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession since time immemorial.” (See below references 6 and 18.)

GBC: One may ignore, neglect, or reject his spiritual master who falls from grace with the GBC.

SPS: A genuine disciple never rejects his spiritual master. (See reference 7.)

GBC: A student of Krishna consciousness may select any spiritual master, according his or her personal tastes and the ecclesiastical conventions current in Iskcon.

SPS: “Srila Jiva Goswami advised that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.” (See below reference 8.)

GBC: There are dozens of gurus in Iskcon and each is entitled to his or her own ideas and opinions.

SPS: “Guru is one. He has no independent ideas or opinions.” (See reference 9.)

GBC: Iskcon gurus who have fallen down, if rectified, may be reinstated by the GBC.

SPS: “A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord.” (See below reference 10.)

GBC: There are various levels of spiritual masters, or diksa-gurus, and not all are uttama-adhikaris.

SPS: “The spiritual master is always considered either one of the confidential associates of Radharani or a manifested representation of Sri Nityananda.” Only such a Vaisnava can impart transcendental knowledge into the heart of a disciple. (See below references 4, 7 and 11.)

GBC: The bona fide spiritual master dies, like all mortal men, and thus becomes useless in the matter of initiating and guiding students of Krishna consciousness.

SPS: “The spiritual master is eternal…” — “He lives forever through his divine instructions, and his follower lives with him.” — “He reasons ill who tells that Vaisnavas die!” (See reference 12.)

Read the rest of this entry →

Tags: , , ,
No Comments »

Srila Prabhupada​-the one whose blessings- never fail

May 11, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa

740412mw.bom                 Conversations
Prabhupada:  (break) …social divisions. Catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah.  The other varnas, they would give simply to the brahmanas charity. And the brahmanas were so advanced that simply by their blessing,  they will get all benefit. So there must be a class of men who  can actually benefit simply by blessing and the society must maintain them.  This is real society. And everyone is sudra, engaged  in technology–then what benefit you will get? Kalau  sudra-sambhavah. There must be a brahminical class, a  ksatriya class, a vaisya class, a sudra class. Not that all sudras. Then what  will be going on? That is the condition. Everyone is being educated as sudra.  Then what benefit you will get? That is the defect. Hare Krsna.  (break) Therefore there must be a brahminical class.
SB 10.7.13-15 P    The blessings of brahmanas who  are not envious, disturbed or puffed up with pride and false prestige and who  are fully qualified with truthfulness will be useful. Therefore a  class of men must be trained as brahmanas from the very beginning.  Brahmacari guru-kule vasan danto guror hitam (▼Bhag. 7.12.1). The word dantah  is very important. Dantah refers to one who is not envious, disturbing or  puffed up with false prestige. With the Krsna consciousness movement,  we are trying to introduce such brahmanas in society. Brahmanas must  ultimately be Vaisnavas, and if one is a Vaisnava, he has already acquired  the qualifications of a brahmana. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma (▼Bg.  18.54). The word brahma-bhuta refers to becoming a brahmana, or  understanding what is Brahman (brahma janatiti brahmanah). One who is  brahma-bhuta is always happy (prasannatma). Na socati na kanksati: he is never disturbed about material necessities.  Samah sarvesu bhutesu: he is ready to bestow blessings  upon everyone equally. Mad-bhaktim labhate param: then he becomes a Vaisnava. In this age, Srila  Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura introduced the sacred thread ceremony for  his Vaisnava disciples, with the idea that people should understand  that when one becomes a Vaisnava he has already acquired the  qualifications of a brahmana. Therefore in the International Society for  Krishna
Consciousness, those who are twice initiated so as to become  brahmanas must bear in mind their great responsibility to be truthful,  control the mind and senses, be tolerant, and so on. Then their life will  be successful. It was such brahmanas that Nanda Maharaja invited  to chant the Vedic hymns, not ordinary brahmanas. Verse thirteen  distinctly mentions himsa-mana. The word mana refers to false prestige or  false pride. Those who were falsely proud, thinking that they were  brahmanas because they were born in brahmana families, were never invited  by Nanda Maharaja on such occasions.
SB 7.7.17 P   In this verse the word bhuyat may be  understood to mean “let there be.” Prahlada Maharaja offers his  blessings to his class friends, saying, “Also become faithful like  me. Become bona fide Vaisnavas.” A devotee of the Lord desires for everyone  to take to Krsna consciousness. Unfortunately, however, people sometimes  do not have staunch faith in the words of the spiritual master who comes by  the disciplic succession, and therefore they are unable to  understand transcendental knowledge.

Tags: , , ,
No Comments »

4 seasons harvest-how to do it

May 7, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa

Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Prabhupada
Below is some photos of cauliflowers which over wintered in our  greenhouse and now
are giving us some food in springtime-the hardest time of the year to  have fresh food.
Srila Prabhupada has told us repeatedly to grow our own food and  thereby we will
become independent or at least somewhat self sufficient of the Karmi  rat race civilization.
Who doesn’t want to be free or have as much freedom in is life as possible and not be under
someone’s economic thumb all the time ?? I would guess almost  everyone.
As devotees we know nobody can ever be totally independent, but as  devotees, we should be as independent as possible of the materialistic  civilization at least in the food for eating department. Our dependence should  be  directly upon Krsna and His material energy for our sustenance-and that  one does
when one grows food for him self and family.
In the pictures below this particular variety of cauliflower has a  ripening time of about 210 days which is a
very long time to wait for some food. Like 7 months !  And being  somewhat impatient
I really dont like waiting that long. But in this case I had to wait.
So Krsna has kindly arranged other varieties of this same type plant  that can yield its
fruit (or vegetable in this case) in differing times of a growing  season.
For example just in the cauliflower species alone, one can plant 7  different kinds of
cauliflower and harvest them from sept thru may of the next spring.  Thats 9 months you
can have fresh vegetable subjis to offer to Krsna ! And then we  have the other 3 months in the actual
summer here where we grow all kinds of other things. So just with  cauliflower alone, one can have it fresh all year. This assumes of course,  that you  like cauliflower , which I do.
The types available here  are Amazing,  Cassius   Cheddar, Needles (the one below), Purple Cape, Galleon, and  Maystar. Each variety has a different germination time or staggered so  that if one plants them at the correct times, and is a little bit lucky as well,  he or she can have fresh cauliflower all year long.
So what I have given here is a brief look at just one vegetable and  how thru 4 seasons , you can have it.
And there are also many others which will give you fresh food all year  long. For example- beets, kohlrabi, brussel sprouts, spinach, brussel sprouts,  cabbage, all kinds of lettuce, radishes, etc etc etc.
One adds these fresh vegetables to one’s already harvested and stored  foodstuffs  like potatoes squash and beans, and you can make what  seems like unlimited varieties of delicious meals to offer to the Lord and then  honor that meal, savoring every morsel of that fresh food that Krsna has nicely  provided for you.

Tags: , , , ,
No Comments »

Jai Srila Prabhupada​…

May 2, 2012 in Articles, Kanhaiya Dasa

Obesiances to all the Devotees of The Lord

Please accept my humble obesiances with all glories to Srila Prabhupada
I was meditating this morning on Srila Prabhupada’s Orders/Dream/Vision/Desires/aspirations….
And thinking that we, as His disciples, should fulfill them even at the cost of our lives…..
 
        4 Principles:
                –       No meat eating
                 –       No Intoxication
                –       No Illicit relationship
                –       No Gambling
        Morning Program:
  • At least Chant 16 rounds everyday (with no offences)
  • Attend Mangala Aarti (early morning 4:30AM)
  • Tulsi Seva and Aarti
  • Narsimha Aarti
  • Read Smd Bhagwatam (at least one verse and purport)
  • More association with Lord Devotees (all day long via sound vibrations, if physically not possible) – and Less association with Karmis:
        Srila Prabhupada on Association:http://www.iskcontimes.com/Srila_Prabhupada_is_eternally_living
        “So we should associate by vibration, and not by the physical presence. That is real association.”.  Srila Prabhupada lecture, Srimad Bhagavatam, August 18, 1968
        Real association means hearing the teachings of the spiritual master, not physically associating with him. Srila Prabhupada speaks about some of his god brothers, who had extensive physical association with Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, but have become USELESS due to their NOT following the orders of their spiritual master:
       
        “So far as personal association with Guru is concerned, I was only with Guru Maharaj 4 or 5 times, but I have never left his association, not even for a moment. Because I am following his instruction, I have never felt any separation. There are some of my God brothers here in India, who had constant personal association with Guru      Maharaja, but who are neglecting his orders. This is just like the bug who is sitting on the lap of the king. He may be very puffed up by his position but all he can succeed in doing is biting the king. Personal association is not so important as association through serving.”
        “I went to your country for spreading this information of Krishna Consciousness and you are helping me in my mission, although I am not physically present there but spiritually I am always with you.” – Srila Prabhupada letter to Nandarani, Krishna Devi and Subala, October 3, 1967

Tags: , , ,
No Comments »

Removing the steel from our hearts by chanting Hare Krsna-SP

April 17, 2012 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa

 

 

720622SB.LA Lectures

Prabhupada: So here is one word, “steel-framed.” Nowadays, the medical

science is changing the heart, steel-framed. So this modern science is

making steel-framed hearts, but we can understand that formerly, also,

there were steel-framed hearts. Otherwise how this word comes? Tad

asma-saram hrdayam batedam. So just like stone or steel does not melt

very easily, similarly, anyone’s heart which does not change after

chanting Hare Krsna mantra regularly, then it is to be understood that

it is steel-framed, made of stone or iron. Actually, harinama… Harer

nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam. It is especially meant for

cleansing the heart. That every… All misconception is within our

heart, beginning from the wrong identification, that “I am this body.”

That is the beginning of all misconception. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu

says, ceto-darpana-marjanam. So as you go on chanting, gradually the

heart will be cleansed, and you’ll be able to understand that you are

not this body.

… So this verse suggests that if a person is chanting Hare Krsna

mantra, but his eyes are not tearful or there is no ecstatic shivering

of the body, then that means he’s not coming to the perfectional

point.

So if we chant this Hare Krsna mantra without offense, according

to, and observing the regulative principles and numerical strength …

Sankhya-purvaka-nama-gana-natibhih. The Gosvamis, in Vrndavana, they

used to chant keeping in numerical strength. They were all liberated

persons; still, for teaching us an example, they also used to chant

keeping a numerical strength. Haridasa Thakura, he used to chant Hare

Krsna mantra keeping a numerical strength–300,000 times. 300,000

times. So our prescription is only 25,000. Not 100,000. So it is not

very difficult; it takes utmost 2 hours. We can find out, out of 24

hours, 2 hours. We can find out time. So if we actually follow the

rules and regulations and chant Hare Krsna mantra, then these symptoms

will come. Netre jalam gatra-ruhesu harsah. When this comes then you

know that “I am coming to perfection.” And if it is not coming, then

it is to be understood the heart is steel-framed. Steel-framed. So it

is steel only. Stone. Stone, if we keep our heart stone or

steel-framed, then it cannot be melted. This… These symptoms mean

heart is melting or changing…

…disturbance. So such things are happening. Now anyone is manufacturing

his own way of self realization, and there are rascals who are

supporting, that “Everyone, we are independent. We can find out our

own way of worship.” But Rupa Gosvami says, “This is simply creating

disturbance.” That is very natural to understand. Suppose here, in our

temple, we have got some regulative principles. But if everyone says

that “I can manufacture my own way of worshiping the Deity,” then what

will be the condition?

It will be simply pandemonium. You see? So that is going on.

…(not)authorized by the disciplic succession. We reject immediately. There

is example that in India there is a tree, sagu, sagu(?) tree. I do not

know whether it is in your country. That, that tree has a very, I mean

to say, thick trunk. But a little jerking, it will break. A little

jerking. Sagu. And there is another tree which is called tamarind

tree. So even a fingerlike stem, you cannot break. It is so strong. So

our policy should be that when we are falling down, we must take

shelter of this tamarind tree, not that sagu tree. The tamarind tree

is Vedic instruction, infallible, without any mistake. As I have given

you several times the example that Vedas says that stool of animal is

impure, and in another place it says that stool of cow is pure….

Read the rest of this entry →

Tags: , , ,
No Comments »

Today I desire….

April 2, 2012 in Articles, Kanhaiya Dasa

 

Today I desire

 

(Dedicated To My Beloved Spiritual Father Srila Prabhupada)

 

Today I desire to live in Vrindavan, where there is The Lotus Dust of my beloved Lord Shri Krishna,

Today I desire to smear myself with that Dust, with which the most sinful become purified as the milky ocean…

Today I desire to chant and glorify the names of Shri Radha and Krishna, and want to know nothing else more than this…

Today I desire to become mad with ecstasy, when I chant their names…

Today I desire to be in the mad people, who have even forgotten their own names and only remember Madhava’s ..

If being mad is the criteria, I desire to be mad, knowing no obligations, nothing else but remember Keshva’s names…

How long do I need to pretend to be one of these materialistic people, who only want to satisfy their own senses…

Today I desire to forget my own senses forever and satisfy the senses of my most dear Friend Krishna…

Today I desire to abandon everything, today I desire to give up all the opulences I have,

Today I desire to even give up my remaining breaths, if they don’t recite the names of Krishna…

The world has taken the shelter of that Madhusudan, and I am left here alone tied up my unnecessary worldly desires…

Today I desire to break up all unnecessary relations and reestablish my forgotten relationship with my Friend…

Tell me where can I find Him… I am looking everywhere, having no sign of Him –

but when I am in the association of His pure devotees, who simply want nothing else but to hear/chant His names..

I find Him – I find HIM right in the center – enjoying the ecstasies that His devotees relish…

Today I desire to sing His glories out loud – as loud as I can so the everyone can hear and revive their lost relationship with that Govardhan lifter….

Read the rest of this entry →

Tags: , ,
No Comments »

 
← Previous Entries
Next Entries →