Hare Krishna Society

Submitted by: Navadvipa dasa

VEDIC VILLAGE REVIEW #45

August 16, 2015. Adventures in New Jaipur, Prabhupadanuga Farm in Fiji

On the way to the New Jaipur farm in Fiji, Govindapriya, SriGovinda, Radharani stop to pet a horse…

NEW ARRIVALS

After ten months of preparation, and a long time waiting on the not-so-fast wheels of the Fiji

bureaucracy, Braja Prabhu, with wife Govindapriya and daughter Radharani, finally landed in Fiji. They

had flown out of Budapest, Hungary, transiting Europe and Asia, coming non-stop from Hong Kong on

their last leg of the trip. Catching a domestic flight in Nadi on the main island of Viti Levu, they flew 45

minutes to Labasa on our island of Vanua Levu. Sridevi and I greeted them at the airport and

immediately we went… shopping! Of course, only for basic necessities suitable for simple country living.

We showed them a bit of the dusty main street of Labasa, a sugar town of Indians and local

natives which reminds one of a small Indian city. Then we drove two hours across the mountains and

backbone of the island to the wet, green side which receives the prevailing southeast tradewinds.

Stopping twice for stretching our legs, at the spring on the mountain top and at a waterfall called

Nasavu, we drove into the New Jaipur entrance. Passing the water cress, the dalo and kava fields,

crossing the river, through the orchards, along the cliffs and up to the cottages. The bright Jaipur

saffron-orange cottage was for Braja and family- an emotional entrance to their new residence, and

soon the ideas for decorations, modifications, and enhancements began to appear. The views over the

pastures and ocean were partly dimmed by a cloudy, dull first dayin Fiji. After all, it is not always

beautifully sunny here…

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Submitted by: Yasoda nandana dasa

Please accept my humble obeisances all glories to Srila Prabhupada.

The Bhagavad Gita As It Is ( original ) is surely the only real Book Of Hope for the world.

Re read this last verse of Chapter Seven Knowledge of The Absolute. Glorious!

Ys Hasti

“Well heh, maybe there’s a chance for me!” 🙂

Chapter 7: Knowledge of the Absolute

TEXT 30
sadhibhutadhidaivam mam
sadhiyajnam ca ye viduh
prayana-kale ‘pi ca mam
te vidur yukta-cetasah
SYNONYMS

sa-adhibhūta—the governing principle of the material manifestation; adhidaivam—underlying all the demigods; mām—Me; sa-adhiyajñam—sustaining all sacrifices; ca—and; ye—those; viduḥ—know; prayāṇa—of death; kāle—at the time; api—even; ca—and; mām—Me; te—they; viduḥ—know; yukta-cetasaḥ—with steadfast mind.

TRANSLATION

Those who know Me as the Supreme Lord, as the governing principle of the material manifestation, who know Me as the one underlying all the demigods and as the one sustaining all sacrifices, can, with steadfast mind, understand and know Me even at the time of death.

PURPORT

Persons acting in Kṛṣṇa consciousness are never entirely deviated from the path of understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the transcendental association of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can understand how the Supreme Lord is the governing principle of the material manifestation and even of the demigods. Gradually, by such transcendental association, one becomes convinced of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, and at the time of death such a Kṛṣṇa conscious person can never forget Kṛṣṇa. Naturally he is thus promoted to the planet of the Supreme Lord, Goloka Vṛndāvana.
This Seventh Chapter particularly explains how one can become a fully Kṛṣṇa conscious person. The beginning of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is association of persons who are Kṛṣṇa conscious. Such association is spiritual and puts one directly in touch with the Supreme Lord, and, by His grace, one can understand Kṛṣṇa to be the Supreme God. At the same time one can really understand the constitutional position of the living entity and how the living entity forgets Kṛṣṇa and becomes entangled in material activities. By gradual development of Kṛṣṇa consciousness in good association, the living entity can understand that due to forgetfulness of Kṛṣṇa he has become conditioned by the laws of material nature. He can also understand that this human form of life is an opportunity to regain Kṛṣṇa consciousness and that it should be fully utilized to attain the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord.
Many subjects have been discussed in this chapter: the man in distress, the inquisitive man, the man in want of material necessities, knowledge of Brahman, knowledge of Paramātmā, liberation from birth, death and diseases, and worship of the Supreme Lord. However, he who is actually elevated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness does not care for the different processes. He simply directly engages himself in activities of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and thereby factually attains his constitutional position as eternal servitor of Lord Kṛṣṇa. In such a situation he takes pleasure in hearing and glorifying the Supreme Lord in pure devotional service. He is convinced that by doing so, all his objectives will be fulfilled. This determined faith is called dṛḍha-vrata, and it is the beginning of bhakti-yoga or transcendental loving service. That is the verdict of all scriptures. This Seventh Chapter of the Gītā is the substance of that conviction.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Seventh Chapter of the Śrīmad-Bhagavad-gītā in the matter of Knowledge of the Absolute.

Article by: Damagosha dasa

Today I was threshing a large pile of barley stalks mixed up with its grain today and was thinking-why am I doing this hard work when I can buy the same thing at the health food store for a lot less work?

This is hard, hot and dusty work, lets be honest about it. First you have to prepare/till the earth, rake it out, get all the weeds out, sow the seed, water it for a few days until it germinates, then let the sun do the rest. After it is ripe, and dies back, then you cut it with a hand scythe, pile it up on some tarp or the ground and let it dry in the sun some more. Then I set up my adapted grain thresher machine pile all the stalks into the hopper for grinding, and get whats left as barley grain and a huge pile of ground up stalks and seed husks.
Now you have to winnow it-or separate that chaff from the grain. This is real messy work. Anyway, while I am doing this I am thinking why am I doing all this work just for a few pounds of barley grain?

Then I started thinking about a very funny record album Bill Cosby the comedian, made about 40 years ago about the Biblical character called Noah, the Lord, and the Ark. that He, God, wanted him to build for the coming flood. It is a great story the way Cosby tells it.
He relates on the album…All Noah’s neighbors are coming by and laughing at him for building this huge ark in his “front yard”, making all kinds of jokes to him about it. So as the story goes, Noah is supposed to fill this ark with all the animals of the earth, both male and female. So Noah sets about doing this huge task demanded of him by God, and then Noah starts to get frustrated about so many things and especially all the animal poop down in the bottom of the hull and asks the Lord-“Have you seen all that crap down there? Who’s going to clean all that up? I’m not going to do it. If you want it cleaned up, you do it yourself !!
Just then lightening is seen and thunder is heard, and it starts raining very heavily,….and Noah looks around him, sees the rising water levels,… and says to the Lord–I’m with you Lord,I’m with you Lord, just you and me, I knew all the time this was going to happen….. no problem, I will clean up all that do do down in the bottom of your Ark…
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Below are pics of :

Hanuman being embraced by Lord Rama.

Our good friend, Rama Pujana Das Babaji, at age 95 (in 2012). He has fasted from all grains for 45 years and chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra constantly.

A huge languor monkey pretending to be a street chef at the Hampi Bazar.

Apsara Kunda, where Arjuna rescued the Apsaras who had be cursed to become crocodiles.

Me chanting japa in a cave on the bank of the holy Tungabhadra at the ashram of a Kishkindhya sadhu baba.

August 19, 1968 Montreal, Quebec Letter to Tamala Krishna

About my coming to San Francisco, I have already written to Jayananda. I am always hankering after going there, but because there are some other program, immediately, so please ask all the devotees on my behalf to wait and in the meantime, enjoy chanting Hare Krishna. The chanting Hare Krishna is our main business, that is real initiation. And as you are all following my instruction, in that matter, the initiator is already there. Now the next initiation will be performed as a ceremony officially, of course that ceremony has value because the name, Holy Name, will be delivered to the student from the disciplic succession, it has got value, but in spite of that, as you are going on chanting, please go on with this business sincerely and Krishna willing, I may be coming to you very soon. I have already written to Jayananda about this, so don’t be impatient. Pray to Krishna that I may meet you very soon

Article by: Purujit dasa

Submitted by: Yasoda nandana dasa

: Glossary: editing – also known as the first editing, these are the edited versions of Srila Prabhupada’s dictation tapes transcripts reediting–going over an already printed book, second editing.

The first time reediting of Srila Prabhupada’s books had been undertaken was in the case of the First Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam. Srila Prabhupada published this book in India in the early 1960′s and upon his arrival to America he instructed his disciple, Hayagriva das to revise it. Thus the 1972 version of the First Canto came about. After this Hayagriva reedited two more books — Easy Journey to Other Planets (from 1957-8? version) printed in 1972 and Teachings of Lord Caitanya (from 1968 version), printed in 1974.

Later on Jayadvaita, another chief editor of Srila Prabhupada’s books, reedited the 1972 version of the First Canto and it was printed in the late 1976. He has also reedited the 1972 Second Canto shortly after the 1972 version had been printed. We have also found evidence of reediting in certain volumes of the Third and Fourth Canto.

In the case of the first printings of the first four Cantos we have sufficient evidence that these versions have been authorized by Srila Prabhupada, however in this article we would like to point out a lack of substantial evidence of Srila Prabhupada approving the later printings.

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If we think that “Here is a stone statue,” then it will not prolong many days. It will not… Galagraha. No more vigraha, but galagraha. Suppose I have established this temple. Now under my direction, my disciples are worshiping vigraha. Vigraha means the form of the Lord, rūpa. But if there is no following of the regulative principles, then after my death it will be galagraha, a burden, that “Our rascal Guru Mahārāja established this temple, and we have to worship, early rise in the morning, all botheration.” This will be… That is called galagraha, a burden, “He has left with us a burden.” This is the risk. Then this, such a big temple will be mismanaged, and you’ll find that “This is breaking” and “This is unclean,” and there is no attention. This will be our… That is called galagraha. “The rascal has given us a burden.”

So it is very difficult. If we lost, if we have lost that feeling that “Here is Kṛṣṇa. Here is a chance to serve Him…” Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta–śāstraiḥ… Not that. Śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya–nānā–śṛṅgāra–tan–mandira-mārjanādau **. As soon as… Therefore we are very much vigilant, “Why you did not this? Why you do not this? Why…?” As soon as the feeling of devotional service will be lost, this temple will be a burden. This is the way. It will be such a big temple. To manage, it will be a great burden. So they are feeling burden. Therefore they don’t mind if somewhere is broken sometimes. “All right, let us, whatever money we have got, let us eat first of all.” This is the position. Vigraha and galagraha. You should understand. If we forget that “Here is Kṛṣṇa personally present. We have to receive Him very nicely. We have to give Him nice food, nice dress, nice…” Then it is service. And as soon as the feeling comes that “Here is a stone idol…” They say sometimes “idol worship.” “And we have been instructed to dress Him, to give Him…, all botheration.” Then finished. Finished. That has come everywhere. I have seen in Nasik in many, many big temples there is no pūjārī, and the dogs are passing stool. Not only they’re breaking. In Western countries also the churches are being closed-big, big churches. In London I have seen, very big, big churches, but they’re closed. When there is meeting on Sunday, the caretaker, two, three men, and some old lady, they come. Nobody comes. And we are purchasing. We have purchased several churches. Because it is now useless. It is useless. In our Los Angeles we have purchased and several others. In Toronto. That recently we have purchased. Big, big churches. But they would not sell us. One church, the priest said that “I shall set fire in this church, still I shall not give to Bhaktivedanta Swami.” (laughter) This Toronto church was like that also. And in Melbourne, the condition was, sale condition was, that you have to dismantle this church building. We said, “Why?” He said, “Utilize as temple now, then we shall not give you.” They refused. You know that? So they do not like that “This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement will purchase our churches and install Rādhā–Kṛṣṇa Deity.” They do not like that. But it is not(?) going on.

So not only the churches in the Western countries, here also. As soon as you will lose the spirit of service, this temple will become a big go-down, that’s all. No more temple. So we have to maintain that service spirit. Therefore we are so much particular—”Why fresh flower is not there?” If you think, “Here is a stone statue. What is the meaning of fresh flower or old flower? We have to give some flower. That’s all.” But no feeling, that “Here is Kṛṣṇa. We must give fresh flower.” Just like I’m a living man, if you give me a fresh flower, and if you bring some garbage, and if you give me, shall I be pleased? Do you think? So this feeling is losing even in the beginning, that “We shall satisfy this statue with some rubbish, garbage flowers. He’s not going to protest.” Yes, He’ll not protest. But your life will be finished. The protest will come like that. As soon as you lost the feeling, bhāva, budhā bhāva–samanvitāḥ [Bg. 10.8]. Who can worship Kṛṣṇa? When there is bhāva. Sthāyi–bhāva. This has been discussed in Bhakti–rasāmṛta–sindhu, what is bhāva. But if you have no bhāva, then you are on the material, kaniṣṭha–adhikārī. Simply show. A show cannot go on many days. Show will be finished very soon.
——————-

Devotee (4): The difficulty is that we cannot understand, we cannot feel what pleases Kṛṣṇa now, yet we can feel what pleases us, and that is the difficulty?

Prabhupāda: You have no feeling, that everyone knows. Therefore you have to carry out the order of spiritual master, that’s all.

Devotee (1) : If we try to please Kṛṣṇa with all of our service and activities, that automatically brings pleasure to the self?

Prabhupāda: You cannot please Kṛṣṇa directly. You please your spiritual master, Kṛṣṇa will be pleased. If you want to please directly Kṛṣṇa, that is not possible. That is concoction You cannot please. Yasya prasādād bhagavat–prasādaḥ **. You have to please your spiritual master, then Kṛṣṇa will be pleased.
Conv june 23 1976 NVRN
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Somebody was talking that “Your Deity is just like trying to talk with me.” Prasanna-vaktra. Yes. He is here to talk with you, but He is waiting whether you’re interested to talk with Him. That’s all. Kṛṣṇa says that teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam, buddhi-yogaṁ dadāmi tam [Bg. 10.10]. He talks, but with whom? Teṣāṁ satata-yuktānām. One who is twenty-four hours engaged with love and faith in the service of the Lord. To whom? Just like if you want to talk with some big man, then you must have qualification. Is it possible that if you want to talk with the big man here, immediately you like? No. You cannot talk. You must be fit to talk with him. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa is ready to talk with you. He has come. He has descended in arcā-mūrti to talk with you, to be visible by you. Now you make yourself ready and fit to talk with Kṛṣṇa. Then He will exchange conversation. Santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti. This is possible. This is a qualification. Bombay Dec 4 1974 lecture

Some Conclusions–The beginnings of Bhakti is to chant Hare Krsna-along with Deity worship.
Both must go on side by side. But after some time it is possible,for many reasons that we lose that
feeling for love or devotion to the Lord and then we think it is OK to offer Krsna some dried flowers or dried up tulsi leaves when we are completely able to offer something fresh instead. That should be a warning sign that things are not quite right, and need to be fixed.

Hare Krsna
damaghosa das

THE PRABHUPADA CONNECTION

Photo Album (#873)

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(*Click on photo to see a larger image of Srila Prabhupada offering obeisances.)

“From my personal point of view, I think that I am so sinful that I cannot even approach Krishna to show me any favor. But I have only one hope — my Spiritual Master — He is very kind. So someway or other He is dragging me towards Krishna. That is the only hope. Sri Caitanya Caritamrta says therefore: Guru Krishna. By the mercy of the Spiritual Master, and by the mercy of Krishna, one gets into Krishna Consciousness. Narada Muni is our original Spiritual Master and he has dragged so many fallen souls towards Krishna, and we are also hoping to be dragged by Him through the disciplic succession. Otherwise, if we study our own qualifications, there is none — rather I have got so many disqualifications.”

(Srila Prabhupada letter, March 10, 1969)

Hare Krsna-below we have a very instructive conversation by Srila Prabhupada with a reporter. Srila Prabhupada directlys communicates with Lord Krsna-He says a pure devotee does this DIRECTLY, NOT FIGURATIVELY.
Unless one is on this level he cannot be spiritual master.

Hare Krsna
Damaghosa das
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Conversations : 1976 Conversations : July, 1976 : Interview with Newsday Newspaper — July 14, 1976, New York : 760714iv.ny :
Interviewer: In the same way I’m curious with respect to the way Kṛṣṇacommunicates with you, whether it’s in a similar kind of way that He gives you your necessities.

Bali–mardana: In other words, when you decide that someone is to be in charge of a particular temple does Kṛṣṇa tell you that this person should be in charge.

Interviewer: Or do you by judging him say this person is qualified.

Prabhupāda: Yes, because a devotee always consults Kṛṣṇa and He gives order.

Interviewer: It’s a more direct communication.

Prabhupāda: Yes. And He gives order. Continue reading →

I thank all of you very much for accepting me as your spiritual master, and I promise that I will take you back home, back to Godhead. I ask you all to promise me to always chant at least sixteen rounds, follow the regulative principles, read our books and try to preach this Krishna consciousness movement all over the world.

Letter to Nityananda, Nov. 12, 1971

Hare Krishna Society

VEDIC VILLAGE REVIEW # 45

The Book Of Hope

Why I grow grains

India Pictures

Srila Prabhupada re real Initiation

Book Changes

When we have lost that loving feeling–SP

Prabhupadas real humility‏

How a pure devotee directly communicates with God‏

At initiation what Prabhupada promises and what he expects of us‏