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THE IMPORTANCE OF ASSOCIATION WITH DEVOTEES AND REJECTING MATERIALISTIC NON DEVOTEES FOR ADVANCEMENT IN THE DEVOTIONAL PATH OF KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS.
His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:
The process of advancing in Krsna consciousness and devotional service is described here. The first point is that one must seek the association of persons who are Krsna conscious and who engage in devotional service. Without such association one cannot advance. Simply by theoretical knowledge or study one cannot make any appreciable advancement. One must give up the association of materialistic persons and seek the association of devotees because without such association one cannot understand the activities of the Lord.
Generally, people are convinced of the impersonal feature of the Absolute Truth. Because they do not associate with devotees, they cannot understand that the Absolute Truth can be a person and have personal activities. This is a very difficult subject matter, and unless one has personal understanding of the Absolute Truth, there is no meaning to devotion. Service or devotion cannot be offered to anything impersonal. Service must be offered to a person.
Nondevotees cannot appreciate Krsna consciousness by reading the Srimad-Bhagavatam or any other Vedic literature wherein the activities of the Lord are described; they think that these activities are fictional, because spiritual life is not explained to them in the proper mood.
To understand the personal activities of the Lord, one has to seek the association of devotees, and by such association, when one contemplates and tries to understand the transcendental activities of the Lord, the path to liberation is open, and he is freed. One who has firm faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes fixed, and his attraction for association with the Lord and the devotees increases.
Association with devotees means association with the Lord. The devotee who makes this association develops the consciousness for rendering service to the Lord, and then, being situated in the transcendental position of devotional service, he gradually becomes perfect.
In all scriptures people are encouraged to act in a pious way so that they can enjoy sense gratification not only in this life but also in the next. For example, one is promised promotion to the heavenly kingdom of higher planets by pious fruitive activities.
But a devotee in the association of devotees prefers to contemplate the activities of the Lord--how He has created this universe, how He is maintaining it, how the creation dissolves, and how in the spiritual kingdom the Lord's pastimes are enacted. There are full literatures describing these activities, especially Bhagavad-gita, Brahma-samhita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.
The sincere devotee who associates with devotees gets the opportunity to hear and contemplate these subjects, and the result is that he feels distaste for so-called happiness in this or that world, in heaven or on other planets. The devotees are simply interested in being transferred to the personal association of the Lord; they are no longer attracted to temporary so-called happiness. That is the position of one who is yoga-yukta.
One who is fixed in mystic power is not disturbed by the allurement of this world or that world; he is interested in spiritual understanding. This is very easily attained by the easiest process, bhakti-yoga. Rjubhir yoga-margaih. A very suitable word used here is rjubhih, or "very easy."
There are different processes of yoga-marga, attaining yoga perfection, but this process, devotional service to the Lord, is the easiest. Not only is it the easiest process, but the result is sublime. Everyone, therefore, should try this process of Krsna consciousness and reach the highest perfection.
Sat means "existence," and asat means "that which does not exist," that which is temporary. The material world is asat; therefore the Vedas enjoin: asato ma sad gama: "Do not remain within this material world." Those who are interested in materialistic life are also called asat. When asked how a Vaisnava behaves, Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, asat-sanga-tyaga--ei vaisnava-acara: "A devotee first of all avoids the company of asat, those who are materially interested." (Cc. Madhya 22.87) We have established this Krsna consciousness movement in order to avoid asat-sanga, association with those who are interested in material things.
Because we are associating with Krsna, we do not wish to talk about anything but Krsna. Everyone is interested in this business or that, and we are exclusively interested in our Krsna consciousness business. Those who are asat are very much attached to sense gratification, and the culmination of sense gratification is sex.
In addition, Sri Sanatana Gosvami in his Hari-bhakti-vilasa recommends that one should not hear Bhagavad-gita, the puranas, the Srimad-Bhagavatam or any hari-katha from anyone who is not a Vaisnava in his actions. That means that we should not hear these Vedic literatures from the Mayavadis, who actually do not accept Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
How can one not accept Krsna as the Supreme Lord and yet dare to speak on Bhagavad-gita?
We will never derive any benefit from listening to the commentaries of such people. Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam should be heard from the devotees.We can hear Bhagavad-gita from Mayavadis for hundreds of years and yet never understand Krsna. It is therefore forbidden for Vaisnavas to hear talks given by Mayavadis.
Hari-katha, talks about Sri Hari, or Krsna, are amrta, nectar. If one hears them from the right source, he attains amrta (so 'mrtatvaya kalpate). Mrta means "birth and death," and amrta means "the cessation of birth and death." Spiritual life means putting an end to birth, old age, disease and death. Getting amrta, nectar, means getting relief from birth and death, and that is the real aim of spiritual life. Lord Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (7.16) that spiritual life begins when one is pious:
catur-vidha bhajante mam
janah sukrtino 'rjuna
arto jijnasur artharthi
jnani ca bharatarsabha
"O best among the Bharatas [Arjuna], four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me--the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute."
If we actually want to become pious and develop our devotional life, we have to associate unflinchingly with a sadhu. Then we can acquire some taste for Krsna.
When we discuss Krsna with a sadhu, the discussion becomes very pleasing, and we develop some taste, which is called rasa, or mellow. Rasa is the enjoyment we derive from drinking something very nice when we are thirsty. Krsna has instructed us to think of Him when drinking water. This is not very difficult. Krsna also tells us to think of Him when we see sunlight in the morning.
Why do we say, "Can you show me God?" God is showing us Himself. Why do we close our eyes to try to see Him? He says, "I am this, and I am that." It is not that suddenly we can expect to see God, but we can become qualified to see God through the association of a sadhu. Presently many people are interested in receiving degrees from big universities, but education without God consciousness is simply an expansion of maya's influence.
Because knowledge is taken away by illusion, the universities are simply presenting impediments on the path of God consciousness. The living entity is already illusioned when he comes into the material world, and so-called advanced education simply increases his illusion. Trying to become happy in this temporary, material life, the living entity has forgotten that he is the eternal servant of Krsna.
Even if one becomes happy in this temporary life, his happiness is an illusion because no one is allowed to stay and enjoy his happiness. These points have to be understood in the association of devotees. A devotee knows everything because he has seen the Supreme Absolute Truth, Krsna.
[Excerpt from the book -Teachings of Lord Kapila -The Son of Devahuti -Chapter 12, Texts 25-26 Purport by His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedantaswami Prabhupada reproduced herein by this menial servant.]
Tamal Krsna Goswami: Actually, Prabhupada never appointed any gurus. He didn’t appoint eleven gurus. He appointed eleven ritviks. He never appointed them gurus. Myself and the other GBC have done the greatest disservice to this movement the last three years because we interpreted the appointment of ritviks as the appointment of gurus.
Topanga Canyon Pyramid House Talks,
December 3, 1980.
Joshua Davis quotes; “A wise person should not enter an assembly if he knows the participants there are committing acts of impropriety. And if, having entered such an assembly, he fails to speak the truth, speaks falsely or pleads ignorance, he will certainly incur sin.”
— Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.44.10
Read the feature called "New to site? start Here, amongst the features at page top. Join How to; Bhakta program among the gourps and services, by picking the "groups & services" tab at the page top, then selecting How to; Bhakta program group, and clik on that, then join, and please read your way through slowly and with comprehension before rushing on. There is no rush, there is a lot of material also! Also join the morning program group, and try to follow along with it a few times at least to cath the flow. Then, when ready, branch out to other groups as you like.
If you need books or beads or deities, the HareKrsna bookstore online here, is in agreement with our philosophy and has original books. We get a slight discount in the form of a very small percentage for orders placed via our site, so use it rather than others' if you can. Exactly the same price for you.
The articles pasted are sastric, means pure, whereas the news and views may not be. Newcomers should note that the news and views and some political items onboard are not necessarily pure or spiritual. But they are contained onsite such as to make that apparent. For example. the HK hiphop News group is clearly opinions, not scripture, though i highly recommend it for those with an eye to current issues.
Initiations are available, by ritivk process, though the number of brahmanas willing to devote themselves to that service is limited. We have three elected temple presidents, adress them on these matters. So make your friends and keep in touch with them. This regular contact with a mentor here is required for those seeking initiation.
There is no charge for our services, but kindly consider whether you can give a donation to the site for maintenanace fees etc. according to your ability, when you are able.
Ongoing free classes with qualified brahmas and/or teachers are available constantly. See the groupsMain Registry and classes/Sevas/Libraries for the schedule.
Make friends, say hello , be patient, as devotees are often quiet and busy in their at home services. But it is essential that you talk to the devotees onboard. Try the chat. Write an article, tell a tale, write a poem, add a video or your favorite photos. It is like a big family here, or so we wish it to be.
Welcome, Gaura Haribol! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada! (AGTSP)
Prabhupada, London, August 20, 1973: [...] My Guru Maharaja used to say that if we pray to God for all these nonsense things, it is just like a man goes to a king and the king says, “Whatever you want you can ask from me,” and if the man says, “Kindly give me a pinch of ashes.” It is like that. If we ask from God for some material benefit, it means that I am asking from a king a pinch of ashes. Full Lecture
Śrīla Prabhupāda Quote of the Day:"...a pure devotee is never under the modes of nature." |
 His Divine Grace Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda Founder~Acharya of the Krsna Consciousness Movement February 14, 1970 |
Maintaining the Routine Work
This routine work, such as chanting, speaking, rising early, cleaning, cooking and offering prasadam, arati, reading books--these activities are the backbone of our Society, and if we practice them nicely in a regulative manner, then our whole program will be successful. If we become slack or neglect these things, then everything else we may try will fail.Spoken about Srila Prabhupada, in response to one of the vidoes .
Must confess, although I am a Christian, you are a wonderful person, a holy person, sent by God. I consider you a Man of God,much better than our pope, bishops, and company..
Now you are in the Heaven. Thank you for being so good person. Pray for me.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati;
422. How does a genuine disciple think? (p.338)
For the genuine devotee of a spiritual master, the genuine disciple, the spiritual master is his entire life, his ideal. His vow is to serve the spiritual master, and though he adores both Krishna and the spiritual master equally, he gives special preference to his spiritual master.
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Srila Prabhupada Quote of the Day:"... this will deviate your principle of sannyasa." |
 His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Founder~Acharya of the Krsna Consciousness Movement 9 January, 1974 Los Angeles Letter to Revatinandana Swami
"I know you are a very good cook and I can understand that you have found the books useful for distribution. I have no objection to your printing it with the name "Revatinandana Swami's Cookbook," but the royalty should go to the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Just as I am publishing Bhagavad-gita As It Is with Macmillan Co. but the royalty is going to the BBT. I think this method is appropriate. 9 January, 1974
Los Angeles Letter to Revatinandana Swami "I know you are a very good cook and I can understand that you have found the books useful for distribution. I have no objection to your printing it with the name "Revatinandana Swami's Cookbook," but the royalty should go to the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Just as I am publishing Bhagavad-gita As It Is with Macmillan Co. but the royalty is going to the BBT. I think this method is appropriate. |
Seattle, Washington
Letter to Krishna das
"To feel separation from the Spiritual Master or Krishna is very good position. That means one who is in pure love with Krishna and His Representative, Spiritual Master, he thinks always of Them. And this thinking process is Krishna consciousness. If we can think always of Krishna even in separation, that is Krishna Consciousness. And in the absolute platform, there is no difference of separation and meeting.
The separation is also meeting, rather in separation one relishes the loving relationship more tasty. So don't be disappointed that you are separated from me, I am also always thinking of you how you are making progress there."
 His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Founder~Acharya of the Krsna Consciousness Movement Wednesday, 16 August, 1972 "Go on in this way, reading, chanting, worshiping the deity, and offering the fruits of your labor to Krishna, and attend Mangala Arati at the temple and classes as much as possible, and very soon you will feel yourself becoming perfectly happy. This spot life is meant for becoming God conscious and there is no other purpose or meaning to life outside of this.
So now you have got the right spiritual master, the process I've given you, so now it is up to you. If you really want to achieve the goal of your life, then become very serious to always pursue it at every moment and not be distracted by anything false." |
Not Hindu
BY: B. RADHA-GOVINDA
Jun 20, 2010 — USA (SUN) — In a June 10, 1969 letter to Mukunda prabhu, Srila Prabhupada wrote:
My Dear Mukunda,
Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter of June 3, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. Regarding Mataji Syamadevi's temple in Leicester, your version is all right, and I am not very interested to establish a Hindu temple. Perhaps you know from the very beginning I never described my movement as Hindu religion.
Certainly SO MANY within ISKCON are deluded, they're still thinking that these "upper positioned folks" "are pure," but it seems more devotees are awake and also beginning to wake up.
Looking at everything in a "positive" way, I feel Krsna is allowing for all of this to happen so that we will all learn the various lessons we as individuals are supposed to be learning from the various goings on. As Srila Prabhupada described in SB 1.15.50, ultimately we have to "fly our own airplane," use all of these experiences to get the ULTIMATE result: Attaining the Lotus Feet of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, and Their Eternal Associates.
"When flying an airplane, one cannot take care of other planes. Everyone has to take care of his own plane, and if there is any danger, no other plane can help another in that condition. Similarly, at the end of life, when one has to go back home, back to Godhead, everyone has to take care of himself without help rendered by another. The help is, however, offered on the ground before flying in space. Similarly, the spiritual master, the father, the mother, the relatives, the husband and others can all render help during one's lifetime, but while crossing the sea one has to take care of himself and utilize the instructions formerly received".
Your servant,
B. Radha-Govinda
Hare Krsna
 Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. PAMFO
From Srila Prabhupada:
Pressman: "Do you know how many followers there are in the United
States now?" Prabhupada: "Unlimited. Some of them admit and some of them do not admit. That's all. (laughter) Everyone is eternally servant of God, but some of them admit and some of them do not admit. That is the difficulty. But anyone who does not admit, he is servant of somebody. That is a fact. He cannot be master. Everyone is servant. But one who knows that "I am servant of Krsna," his life is perfect. That's all. Please try to understand this point that everyone is servant. Even your president is servant of the nation. So nobody can say that "I am no one's servant." He is servant, but he does not know that actually he is the servant of the Supreme Lord. That is his ignorance. We are just eradicating this ignorance, that "You are servant, but you admit that you are servant of God. That will make your life successful." That's all. Therefore I say that there are unlimited followers. Some of them admit and some of them do not admit. That is the difficulty. But if anyone comes to me, I shall make him to admit." Your servant, B. Radha-Govinda Hare Krsna |
In Madhya Leela, CC the Supreme Lord Shree Chaitanya instructs Raghunatha Das as follows:
amānī mānada hañā kṛṣṇa-nāma sadā la'be
vraje rādhā-kṛṣṇa-sevā mānase karibe
Be humble like the grass and always chant the name of Krishna /
Within your mind serve Radha and Krishna.
Hari bol
Avadhoota Maharajah
Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya!
Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please accept my fallen obeisances.
In a July 9, 1971 letter to Umapati Das, Srila Prabhupada wrote:
"GBC members are simply to see that things are going on. Other centers have got president, secretary, etc. and they are managing separately. That is the formula. So how is it that the GBC are the final authority? They are simply to examine that things are going on nicely, that is all."
Your servant,
B. Radha-Govinda
Hare Krsna
Srila Prabhupada – "This material creation is the spirit soul's dream. Actually all existence in the material world is a dream of Maha-Vishnu, as the Brahma-Samhita describes – "This material world is created by the dreaming of Maha-Vishnu. The real, factual platform is the spiritual world, but when the spirit soul wants to imitate the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is put into this dreamland of material creation".
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.29.83)
Srila Prabhupada - "Everything happening within time, which consists of past, present and future, is merely a dream. This is the secret in understanding in all the Vedic literature."
( Srimad-Bhagavatam. 4.29.2)
Srila Prabhupada - "Our contact with matter is just like dream. Actually we are not fallen. Therefore, because we are not fallen, at any moment we can revive our Krishna consciousness, we break the dream. Similarly, we can break this So this situation"
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam 2.9.1, Tokyo Japan 1972)
Srila Prabhupada - "When the dream is finished, we come to another dream: "Oh, this is my house. This is my family. This is my bank balance." This is going on. Dream. One dream at night, one dream at daytime. But who is dreaming? That is the living entity. So his business is different. Not dreaming, daytime dreaming and night-time dreaming. He has to come to the actual platform. That is Krsna consciousness. If he takes to Krsna consciousness, that is his actual life. Otherwise, he's in the dreamland"
(Srila Prabhupada, Bombay, December 27, 1972)
Srila Prabhupada - "Our separation from Krishna is like that. We dream this body and so many relationships with other things. Just like in a dream we are thinking very long time, but as soon as we awaken we look at our watch and see it has been a moment only".
( Srila Prabhupada Letter to Australian devotees)
Sriman Madhavananda Prabhu said;
Our humble obeisances to all the Vaishnavas!
Jaya Sri Sri Guru Gauranga!
You will find attached to this text issue #217 of Sri Krishna Kathamrita
Bindu. All back issues of Bindu are available for free download. Just copy
and paste the following link into your web browser:
http://www.gopaljiu.org/bindu
Jaya Sri Sri Guru Gauranga!
You will find attached to this text issue #217 of Sri Krishna Kathamrita
Bindu. All back issues of Bindu are available for free download. Just copy
and paste the following link into your web browser:
http://www.gopaljiu.org/bindu
