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Srila Prabhupada really said ...

compiled by Dama Ghosha Dasa (Seattle, USA)

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Lectures - SB 5.5.1, 28 November 1975,  Delhi

Guest (3): My question: Do you think your quality to change... A person, if that soul becomes fate or lift...

 

Prabhupada: No fate can be changed. I understand. These questions are generally put. Fate can be changed.

 

Guest (3): By name.

 

Prabhupada: By Krishna consciousness. Karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam. Others cannot change their fate, but only the devotees can change. How? Krishna says, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami.

 

Krishna says, "I shall give you protection from all the resultant action of your sinful life." That is fate changed. If you don't surrender to Krishna, then you have to suffer or enjoy the actions of your fruitive activities. But when you surrender to Krishna, He takes charge of squaring up all your sinful activities and their reaction. That is... So you surrender to Krishna; then your fate is changed. Otherwise it is not possible.

 

SB 8.19.21

Anyone wh

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Narottama Dasa Thakura

 Shrila Narottama Dasa Thakura

   Appearing as the son of a king, Shri Narottama Dasa Thakura (Shri Thakura Mahasaya) showed all the bodily symptoms of a mahapurusha (an exalted divine person). He had long arms, a deep navel, golden-complexioh, beautiful eyes shaped like the  lotus petals. In school, he was a sruti dhara (able to memorize whatever he hears) Although he quickly mastered Sanskrit and the Vedas, he hankered to serve Krishna. He was a lifelong brahmachari. By the mercy of the Holy Name Gaura-Nitai, Narottama became detached, left his opulent family, and ran to Vrindavana. He took diksha from Shri Lokanatha Goswami and siksha in Gaudiya philosophy from Shri Jiva Goswami.

   When he arrived in Navadwipa-dhama all the Devotees asked him about the health and activities of the Goswamis in Vrindavana. They were eager to hear the news from Vrindavana. After visiting all of Gauranga's pastime places in Gaura Mandala, Narottama Dasa did the same in Shri Kshetra Dhama (Jagannatha Puri

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O Lord, although You are able to give all kinds of benedictions, I do not pray to You for the boon of impersonal liberation, nor the highest liberation of eternal life in Vaikuntha, nor any other boon. O Lord, I simply wish that this form of Yours as Bala Gopala in Vrndavana may ever be manifest in my heart, for what is the use to me of any other boon besides this?
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The splendor of the sun

"The splendor of the sun, which dissipates the darkness of this whole world, comes from Me. And the splendor of the moon and the splendor of fire are also from Me" Bagavad Gita 15:12 From this verse we can understand that the sun is illuminating the whole solar system. There are different universes and solar systems, and there are different suns, moons and planets also. Sunlight is due to the spiritual effulgence in the spiritual sky of the Supreme Lord. With the rise of the sun, the activities of human beings are set up. They set fire to prepare their foodstuff, they set fire to start the factories, etc. So many things are done with the help of fire. Therefore sunrise, fire and moonlight are so pleasing to the living entities. Without their help no living entity can live. So if one can understand that the light and splendor of the sun, moon and fire are emanating from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, then one's Krsna consciousness will begin. By the moonshine, all the vegetables are nourished. The moonshine is so pleasing that people can easily understand that they are living by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna. Without His mercy there cannot be sun, without His mercy there cannot be moon, and without His mercy there cannot be fire, and without the help of sun, moon and fire, no one can live. These are some thoughts to provoke Krsna consciousness in the conditioned soul.

"The splendor of the sun, which dissipates the darkness of this whole world, comes from Me. And the splendor of the moon and the splendor of fire are also from Me" Bagavad Gita 15:12

From this verse we can understand that the sun is illuminating the whole solar system. There are different universes and solar systems, and there are different suns, moons and planets also. Sunlight is due to the spiritual effulgence in the spiritual sky of the Supreme Lord. With the rise of the sun, the activities of human beings are set up. They set fire to prepare their foodstuff, they set fire to start the factories, etc. So many things are done with the help of fire.

Therefore sunrise, fire and moonlight are so pleasing to the living entities. Without their help no living entity can live.

So if one can understand that the light and splendor of the sun, moon and fire are emanating from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, then one's Krsna consciousness will begin.

By the moo

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WHATEVER I HAVE INTRODUCED SHOULD REMAIN

One thing I received one letter from Gurukula regarding the Krsna Bowl contests, and I want you to know that nothing new should be added. Whatever I have introduced should remain. Nothing new should be added. New things means their brain is not clear. Carefully manage things what I have established.


Letter to: Rupanuga:Vrindaban, 4 September, 197474-09-04, Washington D.C.

WHATEVER I HAVE INTRODUCED SHOULD REMAIN One thing I received one letter from Gurukula regarding the Krsna Bowl contests, and I want you to know that nothing new should be added. Whatever I have introduced should remain. Nothing new should be added. New things means their brain is not clear. Carefully manage things what I have established. Letter to: Rupanuga: — Vrindaban 4 September, 1974 74-09-04 Washington D.C.
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"...Strictly speaking, when chanting the names of the Panca-tatttva, one should fully offer his obeisances: sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-chakta-vrnda. By chanting one is blessed with the competency to chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra without offense. When chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, one should also chant it fully: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare."................(CC Adi Chapter 7)

"If one commits offenses in chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, he does not achieve love of Godhead even after chanting for many years....One should seriously and sincerely continue to chant the Paca-tattva names sri-krsna caitanya prabhu nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda. All these acaryas will bestow their causeless mercy upon a devotee and gradually purify his heart. When he is actually purified, automatically he will experience ecstasy in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-ma

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Sri Krsna Saradiya Rasayatra

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The first full moon of the autumn season marks the celebration of Krsna's dancing with the gopis.

On this day the deities of Vrndavana are nicely decorated in white. Krsna lila dramas are enacted. Because the moon is very auspicious, the vraja vasis leave pots of sweet rice exposed to the full moon for the whole night, to turn the sweet rice into ambrosial amrta

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Laksmi Puja

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MAHA LAKSHMI ASHTAKAM
(The sloka chanted by Indra)

Indra Uvacha: Namasthesthu Mahamaye Sreepeethe Surapoojithe Sankha Chakra Gada Hasthe Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe

Indra speaks: I offer my worship to Maha Lakshmi, who symbolizes the great illusion and who is worshipped by all Devas. I worhip Maha Lakshmi who resides in Sri Peetam and who carries Sanku(Conch), Chakram(Disk) and Gadha(Club) in her hand.

Indra Uvacha: Namasthe Garudaroodhe Kolasura Bhayankari Sarva Papa Hare Devi Maha Lakshmi Namosthuthe

Indra speaks: I offer worship to the one who has Garuda bird as her vehicle and who was feared by even Demon "Kola". I worship Maha Lakshmi who destroys all sadness.

Indra Uvacha: Sarvagne Sarva Varade Sarva Dushta Bhayankari, Sarva Duhkha Hare Devi Maha Lakshmi Namosthute

Indra speaks: I offer worship to the one who is all knowing, giver of all boons, remover of all dangerous enemies. I worship Maha Lakshmi who is remover of all afflictions.

Indra Uvacha: Siddhi Buddhi Pradhe Devi Bhukthi Mukthi P

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Srila Murari Gupta Disappearance

Murari Gupta

Congratulating Murari Gupta, the Lord continued, "You are the incarnation of Hanuman, the eternal servant of Lord Rama. Therefore, why should you give up your worship of Lord Rama?" (In the image: Hanuman).

    Shri Murari Gupta, a disciple of Shri Chandrashekhara Acharya, possessed extraordinary humility. He had an intimate lifelong relationship with Lord Chaitanya. Although senior in class, Murari would always lose in debates with Shri Nimai Pandit. During one heated argument they began pushing each other. The scuffle continued into the Ganges. They stirred up so much mud that ladies couldn't fill their pots and brahmanas couldn't bathe properly.
 
   At the nightly kirtan in Shrivasa Angam Murari Gupta pleased Gaurahari with melodious chanting of the Bhagavata. He would also sing and dance expertly. Murari Gupta served Shri Chaitanya in all His Nadia lilas.
 
   Lord Chaitanya once tested Murari Gupta's attachment to his worshipable Lord Ramachandra. Lord Gaurasundara preached to Murari a
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Damodara Masa Begins

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The month of Damodara. Throughout this month, devotees commemorate the pastime of naughty Lord Krsna’s being bound with ropes by mother Yasoda. Devotees offer lamps daily.

Kartik is the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. It usually overlaps with the months October & November in the English calendar. Kartik Maas, also known as Damodar Maas, is described in the scriptures as the best among months for performing austerities.

Lord Shri Krishna says, “Of all plants, the sacred Tulasi is most dear to Me; of all months, Kartik is most dear, of all places of pilgrimage, My beloved Dwarka is most dear, and of all days,Ekadashi is most dear.” (Padma Purana, Uttara Khand 112.3)

Kartik or the festival of offering lamps to Lord Krishna, glorifies Lord Krishna’s pastime of being bound with ropes by Mother Yashoda. Observing vrata in the month of Kartik is glorified in the Puranas.

“As Sat-yuga is the best of yugas (ages), as the Vedas are the best among scriptures, as Ganga is best of rivers, so

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Fourth Month of Caturmasya Begins

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Fourth month: No mustard oil or sesame seeds.

Caturmasya stands for ‘four months’. It is the period between sayana and uttana ekadasis. The scriptures refer to this period as the duration of Lord Visnu’s sleep in this universe.

The main goal of observing Caturmasya is to decrease attachment to material things and to increase devotion to Krishna.
 
Srila Prabhupada writes in Caitanya Caritamrta, “Caturmasya should be observed by all sections of the population. It does not matter whether one is a grihasta or a sanyasi. The observation is obligatory to all ashramas.” He further explains how to observe the vow:  “This is not very difficult. In the month of Sravana one should not eat spinach (green leafy vegetables of the nature), in the month of Bhadra one should not eat yogurt (yogurt used as binding agent for cake is allowed), and in the month of Asvina one should not drink milk (milk sweets, milk by-products are fine). One should not eat fish or other non-vegetarian food during the month of
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Damodara-vrata

Dear Prabhus,

Please accept my most humble obeisance on this most auspicious day. There was a wonderful lunar eclipse this morning, 8 October 2014, the very day on which we have both Sri Krsna Saradiya Rasayatra and Damodara-vrata. Sri Krsna Saradiya Rasayatra is the first full moon of autumn and commemorates the day on which Lord Krsna danced with the gopis. Damodara-vratra is the start of Kartik, the holiest month of the year. The fact that these two celebrations coincide, and that the there was a lunar eclipse of the first full moon makes for great tidings. It would be an excellent time to offer a lamp to the Lord.

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The Glories of Offering a lamp during Karttika

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In the Skanda Purana it is said: "When one offers a lamp during the month of Karttika, his sins in many thousands and millions of births perish in half an eye blink."
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It is further said: "Please hear the glories of offering a lamp during pleasing to Lord Kesava. O King of brahmanas, a person who offers a lamp in

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Comment on Mantra 7 of Sri Isopanisad

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Comment on Mantra 7 of Sri Isopanisad:

This mantra attempts to build upon the previous mantra by reminding us of the Absolute Truth, namely that all things are part and parcel of the Lord. In this vein, we should see all living entities as “spiritual sparks”. Once a person has attained this understanding, illusion cannot deceive or create difficulties. Of course, very few people in the world truly come to this understanding. Only the madhyama-adhikari and uttama-adhikari discussed in the previous mantra are able to fully understand what this means.

When we say that all things are the spiritual spark or part and parcel of the Lord, many mistakenly believe that this means we are God, but of course this is mistaken belief. The sense of “Oneness” discussed in this mantra serves to explain that we are all linked together in the sense of a family or a nation. While we exist as independent parts, we share a common interest. Our common interest is enjoyment.

As stated in the Vedanta-sutra (1:1:12

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Raghunatha Dasa Goswami Disappearance

Raghunatha Dasa Goswami

Shrila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami.

   Born in a dynasty of Vaishnavas, Raghunatha Dasa Goswami was the only son of a wealthy land owner. As a boy, he received Haridasa Thakura's association and blessings. At fifteen he met Lord Chaitanya. By the mercy of Lord Nityananda he renounced a beautiful wife and an opulent family. He ran to Jagannatha Puri to intimately serve Shri Gaura Raya and his siksha guru Svarupa Damodara Goswami for sixteen years. Lord Gauranga gave His personal Govardhana Shila and gunja mala to Raghunatha Dasa Goswami.
 
   Raghunatha Dasa couldn't live after Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu left this world. So, he came to Vrindavana to end his life by jumping off Govardhana Hill. Shri Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis affectionately received him. They convinced him to live on and enlighten all the Vrajavasi Vaishnavas with Shriman Mahaprabhu's Puri pastimes. For three hours a day on the banks of Radha-kunda he spoke about Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
 
   Raghunatha Dasa did Radha-Krishna bh

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Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami

By the order of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami remained a lifelong brahmachari. His service was constant chanting of Hare Krishna and reading Shrimad Bhagavatam. In Jagannatha Puri, Raghunatha satisifed Lord Gauranga by his exceptional cooking and kirtana performances, which won him the title, kirtana acharya. (In the image: Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami).

   By the order of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami remained a lifelong brahmachari. His service was constant chanting of Hare Krishna and reading Shrimad Bhagavatam. In Jagannatha Puri, Raghunatha satisifed Lord Gauranga by his exceptional cooking and kirtana performances, which won him the title, kirtana acharya.
 
   When he came to Vrindavana, the Vaishnavas (including Shri Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis) would regularly listen to his singing of Bhagavata shlokas in four tunes as sweet as a cuckoo. His recitation was unparalleled; even Vyasadeva enjoyed it. He fulfilled Lord Chaitanya's order to preac

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Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami

Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami.

   Appearing near Katva, Krishna Dasa Kaviraja left for Vrindavana after Lord Nityananda told him in a dream: are are krishnadasa, na karaha bhaya, Vrindavana yaha tanha, sarva larya haya, "0 my dear Krishnadasa, do not be afraid. Go to Vrindavana. For there you will attain all things." (Chaitanya-charitamrta Adi 5.195)
 
   Krishna Dasa took diksha from Raghunatha Dasa Goswami. He lived a renounced life at Syama-kunda near Manasa Pavana Ghat, Radharani's midday bathing place.
 
   Shri Jiva Goswami, as per his custom of giving titles of honor to qualified Devotees, gave Krishna Dasa the title Kaviraja (the king of poets) for his poetic masterpiece Govinda-lilamrta. Shri Narottam a Dasa Thakura wrote in Prarthana: "Krishna Dasa Kaviraja, who composed the Shri Chaitanya-charitamrta, is the connoisseur among Devotees. His Govinda-lilamrta moves stones to tears, but alas, my mind is not attracted to it."
 
   During Krishna Dasa's time, all the Vaishnavas woul

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   BY: TAMOHARA DASA  (acbsp), Bh.S.

 

If we observe the real situation of the world around us, we can gain insight into what is the best direction for people to go; science or spiritual knowledge. A system of thought that correlates or explains more of what we can observe around us would, by Occam’s razor alone, have to be taken as more correct or true. And we also take it as a given that by following our own essential natures and thus a system of thought most akin to that nature, we will be most satisfied and happy.

   

At a basic physical level, gravity and the other forces of nature have no meaning except in realationship to things other than themselves. The law of Gravity, for example, must have an object, such as a planet, upon which to act. So the basic laws have their existence only in relation to there being an “other” to interact with.

 

 Even at a molecular level, we observe that molecules have a built-in capacity to interact with each other systematically, such as covalen

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Story THREE

Testimonials – By Bhagavat das


My Dear Godbrothers and Godsisters:


Please accept my most humble obeisances! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I am very glad that we as disciples of Srila Prabhupada are finally doing something about this great offense to our Spiritual Master. I would like to tell three stories that are personal experiences of mine with Srila Prabhupada and his books. It is my earnest hope that these stories will once and for all lay to rest the controversy of anyone ever editing Srila Prabhupadas books.

Now to Let us see how a purely devoted disciple of His Divine Grace approached the translating and editing process.

After Srila Prabhupada’s departure there is a little known pastime, that will not remain so after this letter goes on your website, where Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj helped to reveal the unrivalled perfection of Srila Prabhupada’s masterful translation of Bhagavad Gita. Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj was given the service by Srila Prabhupada of tran

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"Our only strength is chanting Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. So if we stick to the principle of chanting Hare Krishna Mantra, following the rules and regulations, that will give us strength to work on both sides - namely to enlighten people in Krishna Consciousness and cut down the bad government full of atheistic people." Letter to Madhudvisa Maharaja 15 September, 1971

"Our only strength is chanting Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. So if we stick to the principle of chanting Hare Krishna Mantra, following the rules and regulations, that will give us strength to work on both sides - namely toenlighten people in Krishna Consciousness

and cut down the bad government full of atheistic people."


Letter to Madhudvisa Maharaja,   Sept 1971

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