Hare Krishna Society

Prabhupāda: Yes. Sometimes the Māyāvādī philosophers, they give this example that “As all the rivers come down to the ocean, and then business is finished.” But our philosophy is not so scanty. We do not wish to mix with the ocean, we want to go deep into the ocean. They give this example, nirākāra. Because ocean is, it is not nirākāra but it is, still they say nirākāra. Ocean is ākāra, we see around place (indistinct). But anyway, their philosophy is that you come to the ocean by different paths, then it becomes mixed. But they do not know, even though you come to the ocean, immediately you’ll be evaporated. The ocean water is evaporated. The sun is always evaporating. Now you will be perhaps surprised, the modern science, they believe that the ocean water is,turns into cloud, but actually that is not the fact. The fact is that theocean water is taken by the sun. Now, now there is heat, ocean water is evaporated always, where is the cloud? Where is the cloud? For three years (India was in a drought ) the ocean water is being taken away by the sunshine, but why there is no cloud and no rain? Why? What is the answer of the scientist? Actually the cloud, when the sun, sun god that he ejects the water again, that becomes cloud. The rain comes from the sun, and the sun is taking the water, reserving, and when you deserve, it gives it. There is some control.

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Panca Dravida: Prabhupāda, why is it that a devotee falls down, that he wants to surrender to Kṛṣṇa and again he falls back to the material world to become a false enjoyer?

Prabhupāda: He’s more sinful. Yeṣām anta–gataṁ pāpam. He has not yet finished his sinful activities; therefore it takes some time. Neither he surrenders fully. Just like somebody said, “I want to enjoy material world.” Just see. That is sinful.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Kṛṣṇa will protect any living entity who surrenders?

Prabhupāda: Yes

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Even from all sinful reactions

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva–pāpebhyo [Bg. 18.66]

Prabhupāda: Yes, if he surrenders actually. He says. He says, ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo.

Gurukṛpā: That surrender has to be with perfect knowledge, or else itwon’t be strong enough.

Prabhupāda: If he surrenders, the knowledge will be there. That knowledge…. It is very psychological. If you surrender…. If I surrender to you, I must have some conception that you are very big. That much conception will help you, not more than this. Simply accept that Kṛṣṇa isthe Supreme. Kṛṣṇa bhakti kaile sarva karma kṛta haya. If you simply understand this, that “If I surrender to Kṛṣṇa, then everything is in my knowledge…” Sraddha śabde viśvāsa sudṛḍha niścaya, kṛṣṇa bhakti kaile sarva karma… And then he becomes immediately. And if I surrender to Kṛṣṇa, then my life is successful. This much. Is it very difficult?

Gurukṛpā: No, it’s the easiest thing.

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Conv Mayapur March 10 1976
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: He’s saying that sometimes the brahmacārīs, even thesannyāsīs, they may have a very strong aversion towards association with women and/or householder life, things of this nature. And sometimes the gṛhasthas will criticize the sannyāsīs and brahmacārīs that “This is fanaticism,” or it’s, to the other end, “It’s just as bad as the enjoying spirit, because you’re meditating on the same thing, but only you’re averse to it.” So what is the…? Bhāgavata dāsa’s question is “What is the condition?” Is it better to be neutral or to be averse?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Neutral.
Prabhupāda: These are all fanaticism. Real unity is in advancing Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva… In Kali-yuga, you cannot strictly follow, neither I can strictly follow. If I criticize you, if you criticize me, then we go far away from our real life of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: So is it correct to say that if we’re not Kṛṣṇa conscious, then if it’s not the gṛhastha problem, it would be some other problem?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: We’ll find something or another to absorb our time with besides Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: No, you should always remember that either gṛhastha orbrahmacārī or sannyāsī, nobody can strictly follow all the rules and regulations of them. In the Kali-yuga it is not possible. So if I find simply fault with you, and if you find fault with me, then it will be factional, and our real business will be hampered. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu has recommended that hari-nāma, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, should be very rigidly performed,whichiscommonforeveryone: gṛhastha,vānaprastha or sannyāsī. They should always chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.Then everything will be adjusted. Otherwise it is impossible to advance. We shall be complicated with the details only. This is calledniyamāgrahaḥ. I think I have explained.

Conv Mayapur March 1976
Madhudviṣa: You were talking about enviousness, Śrīla Prabhupāda. And we see that this even sometimes pervades in our own society.
Prabhupāda: Because you have, you are not yet perfect. That means. You are not yet perfect. You are trying to be perfect. Now be perfect.
Madhudviṣa: Is there a way, is there a specific way to counteract this bad quality of enviousness?
Prabhupāda: And yes, just chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Cleanse your mind. All dirty things will go. Because you neglect to chant regularly, therefore the dirty things remain.

one side note--Hansadutta once told me that in the very beginning (’66-’67) for him at least, in Montreal, he said that the “swami” told them that whatever problem they had or thing they needed, they should just do congregational Hari nama and that would solve their problem. So once they needed a van to get around, so they just decided to go out and chant-they did that, and all of a sudden a van showed up as a donation for their budding group. In this way faith was

developed not only in the “swamis” instructions, but ultimately in the process of chanting Hare Krsna mantra in association with devotees-everything we need, or need to get rid of, will happen, if we take this above instruction seriously..

A devotee who tries to preach, who has compassion upon innocent persons who have no knowledge of Krishna, is a superior devotee.

SB 4.17.26

So we have to learn how to chant. Therefore in the śāstras, in thePurāṇas, the ten kinds of offenses are described. And Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has given very much stress to avoid these offenses. Śuddha-nāma. In the beginning we cannot chant pure form of the (holy) name, because we are accustomed… But still, by chanting process, then it becomesnāmābhāsa, almost pure. Ābhāsa means just like before sunrise, you find the darkness is off, but it is not sunlight. It is different from sunlight, but still, there is the dawn, you can see everything distinctly. Similarly, first there is offensive name and, if you avoid, avoid the ten kinds of offenses, then gradually it becomes nāmābhāsa. And ŚrīlaHaridāsa Ṭhākura has

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From Srila Prabhupada’s Sept 9, 1972 letter to Krsna Das:

“Know that I am eternally your guide, but if you don’t accept me as your guide, what can I do? If my disciples do not take my guidance, what can I do? By bad association it so happens, so I remain silent. I see the pricks of maya …

“You mention that your pathway has become filled with stumbling blocks. But there are no stumbling blocks. I can kick out all those stumbling blocks immediately, provided that you accept my guidance. With one stroke I can kick out all stumbling blocks.”

Hare Krsna to all

Pranams

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Below is a 4 shot sequence of growing and processing beans-our main grain here.

This summer we had 5 rows, 6 feet high,and around 15 feet long of pole beans, and behind them

were the bush beans in about 6 rows. The slugs got most of the bush beans this year

and not Krsna. But thats gardening and farming-you take what Krsna gives you.

Hare Krsna

Damaghosa das

This below, is some of the beans drying in the greenhouse after all the tomatoes/peppers have

been removed . I leave them in here until they turn brown and crispy on their skins which

makes it easier to shell them.

Here is one bucket of various pole beans ready to come inside for shelling. We do

these one bucket at a time so an not to make it seem so cumbersome.

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Below we have compiled many verses, mostly from SB and BG

For Understanding why “good and bad” things happen to us,and more specifically how each of us individually reacts to such events as devotees or Vaisnavas. The ultimate goal of all action, according to our philosophy is to only act for the satisfaction of God, or Krsna, and in that way no personal karma is generated. OK here we go….

SB 1.17.18 O greatest among human beings, it is very difficult to ascertain the particular miscreant who has caused our sufferings, because we are bewildered by all the different opinions of theoretical philosophers.

PURPORT

There are many theoretical philosophers in the world who put forward their own theories of cause and effect especially about the cause of suffering and its effect on different living beings. Generally there are six great philosophers: Kaṇāda, the author of Vaiśeṣika philosophy; Gautama, the author of logic; Patañjali, the author of mystic yoga; Kapila, the author of Sāṅkhya philosophy; Jaimini, the author of Karma-mīmāṁsā; and Vyāsadeva, the author of Vedānta–darśana.

Although the bull, or the personality of religion, and the cow, the personality of the earth, knew perfectly well that the personality of Kali was the direct cause of their sufferings, still, as devotees of the Lord, they knew well also that without the sanction of the Lord no one could inflict trouble upon them. According to the Padma Purāṇa, our present trouble is due to the fructifying of seedling sins, but even those seedling sins also gradually fade away by execution of pure devotional service. Thus even if the devotees see the mischief-mongers, they do not accuse them for the sufferings inflicted. They take it for granted that the mischief-monger is made to act by some indirect cause, and therefore they tolerate the sufferings, thinking them to be God-given in small doses, for otherwise the sufferings should have been greater.

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My dear Sudama,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 27, 1972, and I have noted the contents carefully. So far the Road Show and this Yoga Village are concerned, these things should be stopped. Simply perform our kirtana. If we divert our attention in this way, the whole thing will gradually deteriorate. He is going far away. All these things are nonsense inventions. Such inventing spirit will ruin our this movement. People may come to see, some will become devotees, but such devotees will not stay because they are attracted by some show and not by the real thing or spiritual life according to the standard of Lord Caitanya. Our standard is to have kirtana, start temples. What is this “Road Show” and “Yoga Village?” It will be another hippie edition. Gradually the Krishna Consciousness idea will evaporate: another change, another change, every day another change. Stop all this. Simply have kirtana, nothing else. Don’t manufacture ideas.

Hoping this meets you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Isvarah paramah krsnah sac cid ananda virahah anadir adir govindah sarva karana karanam

How sad it is that despite our being taught this, we still want to manipulate the lives of others and exploit over them, (and for some of us), even to the point of [out and out] viciousness…

How, despite the understandings given to us, we still look for profit, adoration and distinction and for some of us will do anything to obtain it, compromising our spiritual life for social recognition, which in regards to eternity, lasts for much less than a truti.

Srila Prabhupada has given us such a precious gift. May we utilize it…

Hare Krishna Society

rain comes from sun god-not clouds–SP

Surrender to God-what is it?

How to solve all ” internal” devotee problems–SP

I once asked my TP-how does one make rapid spiritual advancement-here’s his answer

“Go on chanting, you will come to the right position”

Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya

BY HEARING FROM A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, ONE ADVANCES IN LIFE

UNDERSTANDING WHY AND HOW THINGS HAPPEN TO US-ACCORDING TO BG AND SB

Srila Prabhupada’s Letter To Sudama Prabhu‏

Isvarah paramah krsnah