DON'T BE WORRIED, DO YOUR BEST
"It doesn't matter, let us grow slowly but surely. Let us try our best to spread this Krishna Consciousness movement with sincerity. And Krishna will give us all facilities. After all, it is Krishna's business. We are simply servitors. Our sincere desire is to serve Him and this is our bona fide position. Krishna says that we should give up all engagements and be seriously in Krishna Consciousness and surrender unto Him. We believe in this philosophy and we try to follow the principles and we instruct others also to follow the same path. That is our bona fide position. We are representative of Krishna because we present Krishna's order as it is. And therefore we are bona fide representative. If somebody inquires whether we are as good as Krishna, the reply is that it does not matter. We may not be as good as Krishna, and that is also not possible anyway. Krishna is great and we are minute particles. So how we can become as good as Krishna. This is false t
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By Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Ref: Vedabase, Bhagavad-gita 2.15 -- Mexico City, February 15, 1975
Immortality...or Itching.
Prabhupada: (translated into Spanish by Hrdayananda throughout)
yam hi na vyathayanty ete
purusam purusarsabha
sama-duhkha-sukham dhiram
so 'mrtatvaya kalpate
[Bg. 2.15]
So we have been discussing for the last four days about the constitutional position of the soul. First thing, we have discussed that the living being... This body is not the living being, but the living being is within the body. Just like the motorcar is not the driver; the driver is within the motorcar. Now, that driver, or the soul, within the body is immortal. And it is transmigrating from one body to another. So this transmigration from one body to another is not very good business. Just like if you are living in some apartment and you have to change immediately for another, immediately for another, do you not get disgusted? Naturally we desire that "If I get s
Seems that the attitude of "go along to get along" has infiltrated Srila Prabhupada's Prabhupadanuga society, and I will make it my mission to help expose it and root it out....since very few are willing to even acknowledge it. Complacency is the festering grounds for weakness and idleness.
A good friend of mine, Kamsahanta das, gives the analogy... that this world is just like a theater or a stage, a great drama... and we are all playing our respective roles according to our nature, and like all great plays there is a Hero (Srila Prabhupada/the Pure devotee), his associates (his sincere followers), and a Villain (Kali/his associates) (anti-thesis of moral/saintly virtues)... and somewhere along the story there is a climax/ a resolution and the villain is defeated.
So ask yourself this, what role are you playing in this Prabhupada lila? Are you acquiescing with the villains and his associates by enabling their actions? Are you trying to work for some peaceful resol
Jesus Christ Was a Guru
Srila Prabhupada recognizes Lord Jesus Christ as "the son of God, the representative of God... our guru... our spiritual master," yet he has some sharp words for those who currently claim to be Christ's followers...
The Srimad-Bhagavatam states that any bona fide preacher of God consciousness must have the qualities of titiksa (tolerance) and karuna (compassion). In the character of Lord Jesus Christ we find both these qualities. He was so tolerant that even while he was being crucified, he didn't condemn anyone. And he was so compassionate that he prayed to God to forgive the very persons who were trying to kill him. (Of course, they could not actually kill him. But they were thinking that he could be killed, so they were committing a great offense.) As Christ was being crucified he prayed, "Father, forgive them. They know not what they are doing."
A preacher of God consciousness is a friend to all living beings. Lord Jesus Christ exemplified this by teaching, "Th
Everything works according to His Divine purpose, and only the arrogant and foolish ego believes otherwise. So as Kshatriya, Arjuna’s duty is to fight. He must not allow human fears and anguish over the consequences of his actions, consequences he has no real knowledge of, prevent him from obedience.
One should not be afflicted by the extremes of humanity. Some people are led by their desire to always be happy, and others are led by their fears and anguish, but the person who wants to be eligible for liberation should not be disturbed by happiness or distress since these things are only found within the material world. The liberated soul will transcend beyond. Those few who reach this level will understand that the material body is nothing, the cares of this world are fleeting, and that only the eternal soul is absolute. Even modern science will tell us that the body is constantly changing. Not only does it grow over the course of life, but the cells within are constantly dying and r
The soul is spread all over the body and is what animates that material body. In essence, the soul is consciousness. It is obvious that this consciousness is spread throughout the body since one feels sensation throughout the body. If one drops something on their foot, then it will be felt. If one slices their finger, it will be felt. If the rays of sunshine hit one’s face, it will be felt. However, if someone next to you were to do any of these things, you would not feel it. This demonstrates that there is not just one universal soul but also the individual soul that dwells inside of each body."
courtesy Dr. Ananta Sesa dasa, acbssp; from Bhagavada Gita Discussions / Study group, onsite
Hanuman Chalisa
by
Srila Tulasidasa
sri guru carana saroj raja nija mana mukura sudhar,
varanaun raghuvara vimala yasa, yo dayaka phala chara
"Having cleaned the mirror of my mind with the dust from the lotus feet of my Guru, I sing the pure glories of Lord Ramachandra, who bestows the four fruits of life: religion, wealth, pleasure and liberation."
buddhina tanu janike sumiraun pavana kumara,
bala buddhi vidya dehu mohin, harau klesa vikara
"As I know I am an ignorant fool, I meditate on the Son of Wind, Hanuman, and pray him to give me strength, wisdom and knowledge, purifying me from all defects and bad things."
siyavara ramachandra ki jaya,
pavanasuta hanumana ki jaya,
umapati mahadeva ki jaya
"All glories to Mother Sita, all glories to Lord Ramachandra, all glories to the Son of the Wind, Hanuman, all glories to Lord Shiva, consort of Parvati."
jaya hanumana jnana guna sagara, jaya kapisa tihun loka ujagara,
rama duta atulita bala dhama, anjani putra pavana suta nama
"Glory to Hanuman,
(Lord Balarama with plow and Sri Yamuna Devi personified)
(Reprinted from the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust)
Lord Balarama became very anxious to see His father and mother, Maharaja Nanda and Yasoda. Therefore He started for Vrndavana on a chariot with great enthusiasm. The inhabitants of Vrndavana had been anxious to see Krsna and Balarama for a very long time. When Lord Balarama returned to Vrndavana, all the cowherd boys and thegopis had grown up; but still, on His arrival, they all embraced Him, and Balarama embraced them in reciprocation. After this He came before Maharaja Nanda and Yasoda and offered His respectful obeisances unto them. In response, mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaja offered their blessings unto Him. They addressed Him as Jagadisvara, or the Lord of the universe who maintains everyone. The reason for this was that both Krsna and Balarama maintain all living entities, and yet Nanda and Yasoda were put into such difficulties on account of Their absence. Feeling like this,
The purnima or full moon of Damodara month is the second full moon of the autumn season, and rasa lila is again celebrated. This second rasa yatra is celebrated more in Bengal, whereas the first one is celebrated more in Vrndavana. On this day one should perform full worship of Radha and Krsna with many flowers, and place them in a rasa mandapa surrounded by the gopis. Sri Krishna Vasant Rasa is similar excepting that it is in the Spring (Vasant), at this time everyone dresses in yellow. On this full moon night the devotees usually leave out pots of sweet rice payasam for the Lord to enjoy during His rasas.
Vamshivadanananda Thakur was Krishna’s flute in Vraja.
(Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 179)
The gopis praised the good fortune of Krishna’s flute, for he was able to constantly drink the nectar of Krishna’s lips. Everything in Vraja is spiritual, i.e., conscious, and so the flute could take human form as Sri Vamshivadanananda Thakur. His life story has been recounted by his grandson, Shrivallabha Das, in the book Vamshi-vilasa. Other books which contain details of his life are Shripata-paryatana and Bhakti- ratnakara, and the Gaudiya Vaishnava Abhidhana also gives a brief biography.
Vamshivadanananda Thakur was known by five names in Gaudiya Vaishnava society: Vamshivadana, Vamshidas, Vamshi, Vadana, and Vadanananda. He was a well-known writer of devotional songs. His appearance took place on the day of the spring full moon (in the month of Chaitra) in either 1416 (according to Vamshi-shiksha) or 1427 of the Shaka era (1495 or 1506 AD.).
Vamsh
Gouridas was born at Shaligram, about 18 kms from Shridham Navadwip in Bengal. His father was Kansari Mishra, mother Kamala Devi. Suryadas was his elder brother. Suryadas had two daughters, Vasudha and Jahnavi.
Suryadas was a boyhood companion of Shri Chaitanya MahaPrabhu. He was a sadhaka in the sakhya bhava, i.e., in the mood of friendship with God.
He told Gouridas, “Go and live at Ambika-Kalna and do your sadhana and worship at a lovely place near the river Ganga.” What could have been more close to the heart of Gouridas? Joyfully, he left for Ambika-Kalna.
One day Shri Gauranga was returning from Shantipur. He took a boat at Harinadi village. Pulling the oars with His own hands, He crossed the wide Ganga and arrived at Ambika. But He did not leave the oar behind. Carrying it in His hands, He went to Gouridas’ house. Gouridas was astonished. MahaPrabhu said, “This oar is for you.”
“What shall I do with it?”
“What shall you do? You shall take people across th
"''It is above your calculation. What is really your inner aspiration, your calculation can never guide you there. It is more. That calculation path you are to shun, to abandon. And take another path - of faith. Your faith also very meagre. To infinite possibility - how your faith can conceive? That is also within limitation. But there are things, you will be astounded to think.
As Swami Maharaj told Acyutananda - You will faint. Your understanding can never reach that standard. Such great things are there. So please give up that mania, depending on your calculation, reason, judiciousness, all these things. Give up this shackle, undesirable shackle. Faith also - very meagre - how much you can put faith in? It is more and more infinite. And your internal aspiration is for that. So give up calculation life, come to faith, and try to increase the boundary of your faith, only in the company of the sadhus, who are dealing with that faith substance.
Give up life of calculation. Connect y
"Prabhupāda: When I was a child my father gave me one red gun, and then I was not more than eight years. Then, after getting one, I said, "I must have another one." Eh? Then father said, "Why another one? You have got already one." So I said, "No, I have got two hands. I must have two guns." Then my father, "No, you are not.... I am not going..." Then I made so much agitation, he was obliged to give me two guns. (laughter) I was very pet child of my father and very pet son-in-law also. And I am very pet guru also. (laughter) Hare Kṛṣṇa. Thank you. What is this?
Dr. Patel: This is Hanumān jayantī today.
Prabhupāda: Oh.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Today is also the rāsa-yātrā of Balarāmajī.
Prabhupāda: Oh, rāsa-yātrā. Oh. So you have some festival?
Dr. Patel: Yes, they have got the festival in the Rāma-mandira.
Girirāja: We're having a bigger festival in our mandira.
Dr. Patel: Good.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Also it is the appearance day of Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī and Vaṁśī-vadana Gosvāmī.
Prabhupāda: How many stories
Jaya Tamoji!
Yeah, I can relate to your pain, Prabhu. ..... Whatever it is, it's just another straw on the camel's back. (And I know all about camels!)
(Home sweet home -- the dry parched sands of the Arabian desert -- reminds me of my state of mind, i.e. very bleak and without a drop of nectar!)
Anyhoo, I hope you feel much better soon. They say that "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." That may be true, but sometimes I wish I could figure out an easier way to become strong. Ain't it the damn truth that "youth is wasted on the young"? :(
Ha ha, funny story about the lota in New York. Hey cool, you did the freight train gig. Wow, you're my hero. I once hopped onto a freighter car parked in a train yard and waited for hours and hours for it to get moving. Finally I got fed up and decided to hitch-hike on the freeway. That probably saved my life, as knowing my luck, I probably would have fallen off the freight car or froze to death!
Yeah, that's my little
"In the Lalita-madhava, Rupa Gosvami explains that the movements of Krsna's eyebrows are just like the Yamuna, and the smiling of Radharani is just like the moonshine. When the Yamuna and the moonshine come in contact on the bank of the river, the water tastes just like nectar, and drinking it gives great satisfaction. It is as cooling as piles of snow."
(Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 44)
Krishna does not like to see His sincere devotee suffer or become frustrated or depressed. He will not stand idly by in any such case, so do not fear on that account. Krishna has got some plan for you, always think in that way, and very soon He will provide everything to your heart's desire.
Srila Prabhupada
( Letter to: TejiyasBombay19 December, 1972)
Lord Rama, of course, is Lord Krsna. In addition, just as Radha is with Krsna, Sita is with Rama, and Sita, as the feminine aspect of the divine, is known as the goddess of fortune, which shows providence to be on the Pandevas’ side. To aid in his battle, Shiva enters into the world in the form of a monkey, as Hanuman, who will serve Lord Rama.
Hanuman plays the role of suffering servant within the story. Hanuman is God, and has tremendous powers, yet He is so humble that unless reminded of those powers, He forgets that He has them. There is no sense of ego or arrogance within Hanuman. At one point, Hanuman asks Lord Rama for a teaching, and Sri Rama replies that the most beloved to him is the person who sees himself as the servant and everyone and everything else as his master. That is the image of the pure devotee, which Hanuman exemplifies. Hanuman has completely surrendered to Sri Rama to serve as His devotee, just as Arjuna will need to completely surrender to Sri Krsna, to se
B. Radha-Govinda Swami (ACBSP);
I came across this in regards to Mr. Sethi, the first life member in Mumbai, (obviously a gentleman who gave his heart to Srila Prabhupada), and felt to share with devotees. May we be blessed with such a sense of devotion and dedication to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha-Krsna:
Although he was never officially initiated into ISKCON, Sethi always regarded Prabhupada as his guru. From the moment the two first met in 1971, Sethi became a life member and a staunch, loyal follower of Srila Prabhupada.
That same year, ISKCON acquired four acres near Juhu Beach in Mumbai, dubbed it “Hare Krishna Land,” and erected a temporary temple there. But former owner Mr. Nair wasn’t letting go easily. In the early 1970s, his wife Mrs. Nair convinced the Bombay Municipal Council through one of its members, Pushpakant Mhatre, to issue a demolition order on ISKCON’s temporary temple.
Backed up by a large team of police, Nair’s demolition squad invaded Hare Krishna Lan
ONLINE ACCREDITTED UNIVERSITY !!
Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON ; SPIRITNET would like to invite devotees to participate in the creation of a fully accreditted university level series of courses leading to Bhakti Sastri etc. We already have some eight or so graduates from our five year courses, and recently a full university professor with PhD. in philosophy and ethics and religious studies has taken diksha and is teaching a Gita class. We hope to implement a more rigorous and world-standard set of courses online for devotees seeking excellence.
Devotees are surprised that we offer such degrees and have been doing so for several years now. WE ARE THE REAL FOLLOWERS OF SRILA PRABHUPADA. JOIN US, HELP US, LET US FIGHT MAYA TOGETHER.
Please join, take up a class, teach a class, bring new students, lets us cooperatively push on the Hare Krsna Movement. We could use so many volunteers, we could use a lot of money donated, kindly consider to what extent and degree you may wish to be invovled in a
