Hare Krishna Society

Below we have the stark reality of this material world explained

clearly by Srila Prabhupada: The dunking stool example

July 5 1976 Wash DC morning walk

Prabhupāda: Everything is conditioned. Therefore it is called conditioned life. There is no question of independence. That is foolishness. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gītā, that they are not independent, completely under the control of laws of material nature, and still they are thinking independent.

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670313SB.SF lectures

It is not that we are all liberated persons. We have got so many attachments to family, wife, country. But along with it, if we try to increase our attachment for Kṛṣṇa, automatically there will be detachment. Automatically. Without endeavoring separately. Vāsudeve bhagavati bhakti–yogaḥ prayojitaḥ [SB 1.2.7] . Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa. If we become engaged in bhakti–yoga…

So this is bhakti–mārga. If we follow these principles of bhakti–mārga we do not require to endeavor separately how to become detached. The detachment automatically follows. Vāsudeve bhagavati bhakti–yogaḥ prayojitaḥ janayati āśu vairāgyam [SB 1.2.7] . Vairāgyammeans detachment. The bhakti–yoga is known also as vairāgya.Vairāgya. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya wrote verses about this vairāgya.

Here is Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu who is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He has come to teach us vairāgya–vidyā. It is little difficult. It is very difficult for ordinary persons to understand this vairāgya–vidyā. Their business is how to increase attachment for this body, and Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is how to increase detachment for this material life. Therefore it is called vairāgya–vidyā. Vairāgya–vidyā can be very easily achieved, just like it is recommended, vāsudeve bhagavati bhakti–yogaḥ prayojitaḥ janayati āśu vairāgyam [SB 1.2.7] ,very soon, very soon.

Janayati āśu vairāgyaṁ jñānaṁ ca. Two things required in human life. One thing is jñānam, jñānaṁ–vijñānam āstikyaṁ brahma–karma sva–bhāva–jam. This jñānam means, beginning of jñāna means “I am not this body. I am spirit soul.” That is jñāna. And as soon as one is situated in that platform of jñānam, it is easy. People are engaged everywhere for the benefit of this body.

But if one understands, he come to the platform jñānam, then naturally he becomes detached, that “I am not this body. Why I am working so hard for this body?“

Jñānaṁ ca yad ahaitukam [SB 1.2.7].Automatically… Two things are required. Caitanya Mahāprabhu has many places, He has stressed on this, and by His life He is teaching jñānam and vairāgyam. One side jñānam, in His teaching to RūpaGosvāmī, teaching to Sanātana Gosvāmī, teaching to, talking with Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, talking with Rāmānanda Rāya. We have given all these things in our Teachings of Lord Caitanya. So that is jñānam. And by His example in His own life, taking sannyāsa, He is teaching vairāgya. Jñāna and vairāgya,these two things are required.

So not all of a sudden we can be situated on the platform of jñānam and vairāgyam, but if we practice, it is possible. It is possible. Not that it is impossible. That is recommended:

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Srila Prabhupada’s Books are Interactive

By Narasimha das

Many times when I become absorbed in thinking of a specific question, shortly thereafter in the course of my regular reading of Srila Prabhupada’s books, the answer is revealed. Sometimes while I am thinking of a specific question and randomly opening one of Srila Prabhupada’s books, the answer suddenly appears on the page. Someone may suggest this can happen because Srila Prabhupada’s books are full of repetitions of the same points. But this doesn’t explain it.

For instance, the other day I had a technical question about the etymological meaning of the word “sankhy. I was wondering how Lord Kapila taught this, and to whom, other than His mother. Specifically I was trying to remember how many creative elements there were—was it 24 or 25?—and whether sankhya could be called “metaphysics.” That same evening just before going to bed, I opened the Srimad-Bhagavatam at random (as I often do last thing at night) and read:“The fifth incarnation, named Lord Kapila, is foremost among perfected beings. He gave an explanation of the creative elements and metaphysics to Asuri Brahmana, for in the course of time this knowledge had been lost.” (SB. 1.3.10) In the first line of the purport to this verse, Srila Prabhupada explains: “The sum total of creative elements is twenty-fourin all. Each and every one of them is explicitly explained in the system of Sankhya philosophy. Sankhya philosophy is generally called metaphysics by the European scholars. The etymological meaning of sankhya is ‘that which explains very lucidly by analysis of material elements.’“ In these short statements above, Srila Prabhupada precisely answered my four very specific questions. All I needed to do was sincerely inquire by reading his books.

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Hare Krsna

Below Srila Prabhupada nicely explains what whatever intelligence we

have, that comes from God, and that amount is manifested according to

our ability which comes from surrender to Him. He also explains that the love of God or Krsna we are looking for, only comes after thorough study of sastra when we know HOW great is the Lord. This sentiment is called bhava, which develops into prema, or full love of Godhead.

The last item is Prabhupada explainging how one should select a spiritual master by whose order carrying or following we do not make mistakes !!

Hare Krsna

damaghosa das

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Lectures July 19 1976 NY CC Mad 20.111

So whatever intelligence we have got, that is not our intelligence; that is God’s intelligence. Mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca [Bg.15.15]. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said. That intelligence is coming, but the intelligence, why you’ll find different? So just like the bulb. There are fifteen–candle–power, there is fifty-candle–power, hundred-candle–power—according to the bulb, the energy is exhibited. Similarly, according to our power of reception, we can exhibit our intelligence, merit. But actually it is coming from God. Anything… The same principle. Janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1], the Vedānta philosophy, “Absolute Truth means the original source of everything.” Everything may be of different varieties, but the original source is Kṛṣṇa.The devotee, he can understand. By the grace of God he can understand wherefrom the energy is coming, how it is acting.… Iti matvā bhajante māṁ budhā bhāva–samanvitāḥ. Bhajante mām.This thing can be understood by the budhā. Budhā means one who is very intelligent, one who is in awareness of everything. He is calledbudhā. Bhāva–samanvitāḥ: “Oh, it is coming from Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” Then they become more and more a devotee. That is stated in the Caitanya–caritāmṛta:

siddhānta baliyā citte nā kara alasa
ihā ha–ite kṛṣṇe lāge sudṛḍha mānasa

Sentiment is no… Sentiment is bhāva, but that is after full knowledge. When you can understand Kṛṣṇa is so great, so powerful, then your devotion increases immediately. Thereforewe have to study śāstras for understanding His position, and if we understand Kṛṣṇa, then we become liberated person immediately. Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janmanaiti. Janma karma ca me divyam [Bg. 4.9]. So those who are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, they should study Kṛṣṇa scientifically, not by sentiment. After full knowledge of Kṛṣṇa, when you become absorbed in Kṛṣṇa’s form, that is called bhāva. Budhā bhāva–samanvitāḥ.

So that bhāva stage does not come immediately. You have to practice gradually.

ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu–
saṅgo ‘tha bhajana–kriyā
tato ‘nartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt
tato niṣṭhā rucis tataḥ
athāsaktis tato bhāvaḥ
[Cc. Madhya 23.14-15]

There are stages. So, this is the beginning………..

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Lectures : Bhagavad-gita Lectures : Bg 2: Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 2.7-11 — New York, March 2, 1966 : 660302BG.NY :

Now, to take such guidance means the spiritual master should also be a very perfect man. Otherwise, how can he guide? .. Therefore one has to select a spiritual master whose order, carrying, you’ll not commit a mistake. You see? Now, suppose if you accept a wrong person as spiritual master, and if you, if he guides you wrongly, then your whole life is spoiled. So one has to accept a spiritual master whose guidance will make his life perfect. That is the relation between spiritual master and disciple. It is not a formality. It is a great responsibility both for the disciple and for the spiritual master.

On 26th March, we had a Prabhupada katha lecture in Mayapur Temple by His Excellency P.B Acharya (the governor of Assam, Tripura and Nagaland). He’s a Vaisnava born in Udupi, Karnataka and had the fortune of serving Srila Prabhupada at his house in Bombay for 40 days.

During that time he had many memorable experiences with Srila Prabhupada and he narrated some of them. We can’t replicate the nectarine experience of hearing this katha in Temple but we attempt to share some of the pastimes told by him.

Even before he met Srila Prabhupada, he was surprised to see His western disciples clean a bushy land even without caring for their meals. One day he asked Brahmananda prabhu for tea/coffee but he refused to have that. Then he invited him for a meal at his home. Brahmananda prabhu accepted food after knowing that it was prasad. Few other devotees also honored prasad at his home during next few days. When he first met Srila Prabhupada, He asked if he was a Vaisnava. He said yes and to his surprise Srila Prabhupada asked if He could stay at his home. He agreed and devotees cleaned His room very nicely. One day devotees objected to use of grinder as that may disturb His rest. He appreciated the attention His disciples had in serving Him.

During the Hare Krsna festival, he was amazed to see devotees from Western countries in Bombay dressed in Indian attire, chanting Hare Krsna while he was in shirt pant. He felt that Srila Prabhupada’s remarkable contribution is to spread the Holy Names and teachings of Lord Krsna throughout the world in a short time.

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MOOLA RAMA

https://www.sriraghavendramutt.org/srsm/content/sri-moola-rama-devaru

Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 9: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Travels to the Holy Places : Madhya 9.11 : PURPORT : yas tu narayanam devam brahma-rudradi-daivataih samatvenaiva vikseta sa pasandi bhaved dhruvam :

In the book known as Adhyātma-rāmāyaṇa, there are statements in Chapters Twelve to Fifteen about the worship of the Deities Śrī Rāmacandra and Sītā. There it is stated that during Lord Rāmacandra’s time there was a brāhmaṇa who took a vow to fast until he saw Lord Rāmacandra. Sometimes, due to business, Lord Rāmacandra was absent from His capital for a full week and could not be seen by citizens during that time. Because of his vow, the brāhmaṇa could not take even a drop of water during that week. Later, after eight or nine days, when the brāhmaṇa could see Lord Rāmacandra personally, he would break his fast. Upon observing the brāhmaṇa’s rigid vow, Lord Śrī Rāmacandra ordered His younger brother Lakṣmaṇa to deliver a pair of Sītā-Rāma Deities to the brāhmaṇa. The brāhmaṇa received the Deities from Śrī Lakṣmaṇajī and worshiped Them faithfully as long as he lived. At the time of his death, he delivered the Deities to Śrī Hanumānjī, who, for many years, hung Them around his neck and served Them with all devotion. After many years, when Hanumānjī departed on the hill known as Gandha-mādana, he delivered the Deities to Bhīmasena, one of the Pāṇḍavas, and Bhīmasena brought Them to his palace, where he kept Them very carefully. The last king of the Pāṇḍavas, Kṣemakānta, worshiped the Deities in that palace. Later, the same Deities were kept in the custody of the kings of Orissa known as Gajapatis. One of the ācāryas, known as Narahari Tīrtha, who was in the disciplic succession of Madhvācārya, received these Deities from the King of Orissa

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CC Adi 3.21

apane na kaile dharma sikhana na yaya

ei ta siddhanta gita bhagavate gaya

“Unless one practices devotional service himself, he cannot teach it to others. This conclusion is indeed confirmed throughout the Gita and Bhagavatam.”

Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu 1.1.11

anyabhilasita sunyam jnana karmadi anavrtam

anukulyena krsnanusilanam bhakti uttama

One should render [uninterrupted] transcendental loving devotional service exclusively for the pleasure of Lord Sri Krsna without any desire for material profit or gain through philosophical speculation or fruitive activities.

Any other desires or activities executed – such as looking to obtain money for our own materialistic purposes,looking for position, name/fame – which are outside of the realm of pure devotional service rendered exclusively for the pleasure of Krsna constitutes (compromised) devotional service mixed with other motive.

BG 11.54; 18.55

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ULTIMATELY, EVERYTHING IS SPIRITUAL

Hare Krsna

Below we have a lot of statements by Srila Prabhupada regarding how everthing is spiritual-as long it is connected with Krsna that is. When the marginal energy (us) decides we want to utilize anything for our selves or our sense gratification, then that thing or person becomes part of the material energy. But as soon as that same thing is utilized for the purposes of Krsna, it regains its original spiritual energy. This is called acintya abedabeda tattva-how everthing is inconceivably one and different from the Lord.

Hari bol

damaghosa das

Points covered below

1.Lord Brahmas body and soul come from the sanskrit alphabet

2.For self realized souls, nothing exists but spirit.

3.Husband and wife can turn home into Vaikuntha by giving up sense gratification and “forget” they are living in the material world.

4.One filled with material desires creates distinction-this is matter, this is spirit.

5.Maha Bhagavat doesnt renounce anything but sees how to utilize everything for Krsna seva.

6.When we forget Krsna, that is materialism, when we constantly remember Krsna, that is spiritualism.

7.Because we forget Krsna, therefore it appears as “material”.

8. And more…

SB 3.12.47 Brahmā’s soul was manifested as the touch alphabets, his body as the vowels, his senses as the sibilant alphabets, his strength as the intermediate alphabets and his sensual activities as the seven notes of music.

PURPORT

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July 10 1976 NY CC Madhya 20.104

The beginning of spiritual life is to understand that “I am not this body.” That is the beginning. So if I am properly trained up to understand that “I am not this body,” then where is my tāpa–traya, miserable condition? Because miserable condition is due to this body.…

So when one understands that “I am not this body,” he is not very much affected.Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, deha–smṛti nāhi yāra,saṁsāra–bandhana kāhāṅ tāra. Deha–smṛti: it is simply to understand. Just like I have given several times this example: you are in a very nice car, Cadillac, and you are very proud of it, and if by chance the car is by accident broken then your heart breaks. Why? You are not the car. But because your thoughts are absorbed in the car, that “This is my car,” therefore your heart becomes broken. Actually you have nothing to do with the car. Even the car is broken into pieces, you are not affected. But because I have got affection for the car, therefore I am… So this affection can be withdrawn by cultivation of knowledge. That I am not this car, it is a fact, but on account of my ignorance and attachment I am thinking, “Now I am finished because my car is broken.” It is simple truth. Similarly those who are too much absorbed in the thought that “I am this body,” their sufferings are more on account of this misconception that “I am this body.“

… Here in this material world we are advanced in so-called civilization, but we are very much attached to this body. This is misconception. This is called illusion. This is, the dog is also thinking like that: “I am this body.” So where is the difference? If the dog thinks, “I am this body,” “I am Indian…” I think, “I am Indian”; Americans thinks he is… So where is the difference between the dog and me? There is no difference. Simply by dressing nicely… If you dress a dog very nicely, does it mean that he becomes a human being? A dressed dog, that’s all. Dog dancing. So śāstra says that if one is still in the bodily concepts of life, then he’s no better than animal.Yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṇape tri-dhātuke [SB 10.84.13]. Tri-dhātuke.

Conclusion-Chant the Holy Names of Krsna and Rama without

offenses and transcend this bodily consciousness-then no more suffering

Hare Krishna Society

drowning a man in water- still we say–I am independant !

In one lifetime, it is possible–SP

Srila Prabhupada’s Books are Interactive

“whatever intelligence we have got, that is not our intelligence”–SP

Prabhupada katha lecture by His Excellency P.B Acharya (the governor of Assam, Tripura and Nagaland)‏

Srila Prabhupada relates the story of of Sri Mula rama

MOOLA RAMA

The Holy Places of Lord Rama, by Stephen Knapp

Pleasing Krsna‏

everything is ultimately spiritual

“the beginning of spiritual life-I am not this body”–SP