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Hare Krishna Society

Srila Prabhupada’s SB classes-summary file–VOLUME 6 P: I

SB Vol 6

720619SB.LA                    Lectures

So altogether, it is a city of fifty thousand population, but there

are five thousand temples, Krsna. All Radha-Krsna. So this is a

chance, that “Come to Vrndavana, and wherever you go, you see

Radha-Krsna. That will make your life successful.” By seeing, seeing,

Radha-Krsna, Radha-Krsna, seeing, seeing, you’ll get an impression.

And if you continue… The inhabitants of Vrndavana, you’ll find if,

when you go there, that in the morning and evening, all of them, they

are going different temples and seeing the Deity Radha-Krsna. So there

is no need of education, there is no need of philosophy, there is no

need of science. Simply if you visit temples of Visnu, then your life

is successful. This is the Krsna consciousness process. Simply if you

move to the temple and see with your eyes; very simple process. Our,

this Krsna consciousness program is so simple, at the same time

sublime, that you become liberated at the end. Tyaktva deham punar

janma naiti. If you simply think of Krsna in that way.

 

720618SB.LA                    Lectures

Distress and happiness, they’re already destined, according to our

body. We have discussed this point. Take, for example, you American

boys and girls, you have got a body, by your previous activities. So

your standard of living is better than other country. So actually I

see that even if you go outside your country, your standard of living

is maintained. Because you have got already the body. Deha-yogena

dehinam.

 

720620SB.LA                    Lectures

There were many poets and writers used to come and visit

Caitanya Mahaprabhu when He was at Jagannatha Puri, and they would

present some writings, but these writings would not be presented

before Caitanya Mahaprabhu unless it was sanctioned by His secretary

Svarupa Damodara. That was the system. So one brahmana, he wrote one

poetry that… The purport of the poetry was that “Jagannatha is

Krsna. But He cannot move. He’s wooden Krsna. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu

is also Krsna, but He is moving Krsna.” That means he distinguished

between Jagannatha and Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So this is not siddhanta.

   This is not conclusion of the sastra. Sastra conclusion is: the

Deity and Krsna, the same. There is no difference. We have many times

explained this. Deity, the worshipful Deity in the temple, is not

different from Krsna. So Svarupa Damodara did not approve of the

poetry to be presented to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. At that time, he

chastised him that “You do not know the conclusion, and you dare to

write some poetry. Don’t do this.”

 

720622SB.LA                    Lectures

Prabhupada: So here is one word, “steel-framed.” Nowadays, the medical

science is changing the heart, steel-framed. So this modern science is

making steel-framed hearts, but we can understand that formerly, also,

there were steel-framed hearts. Otherwise how this word comes? Tad

asma-saram hrdayam batedam. So just like stone or steel does not melt

very easily, similarly, anyone’s heart which does not change after

chanting Hare Krsna mantra regularly, then it is to be understood that

it is steel-framed, made of stone or iron. Actually, harinama… Harer

nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam. It is especially meant for

cleansing the heart. That every… All misconception is within our

heart, beginning from the wrong identification, that “I am this body.”

That is the beginning of all misconception. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu

says, ceto-darpana-marjanam. So as you go on chanting, gradually the

heart will be cleansed, and you’ll be able to understand that you are

not this body.

… So this verse suggests that if a person is chanting Hare Krsna

mantra, but his eyes are not tearful or there is no ecstatic shivering

of the body, then that means he’s not coming to the perfectional

point.

So if we chant this Hare Krsna mantra without offense, according

to, and observing the regulative principles and numerical strength …

Sankhya-purvaka-nama-gana-natibhih. The Gosvamis, in Vrndavana, they

used to chant keeping in numerical strength. They were all liberated

persons; still, for teaching us an example, they also used to chant

keeping a numerical strength. Haridasa Thakura, he used to chant Hare

Krsna mantra keeping a numerical strength–300,000 times. 300,000

times. So our prescription is only 25,000. Not 100,000. So it is not

very difficult; it takes utmost 2 hours. We can find out, out of 24

hours, 2 hours. We can find out time. So if we actually follow the

rules and regulations and chant Hare Krsna mantra, then these symptoms

will come. Netre jalam gatra-ruhesu harsah. When this comes then you

know that “I am coming to perfection.” And if it is not coming, then

it is to be understood the heart is steel-framed. Steel-framed. So it

is steel only. Stone. Stone, if we keep our heart stone or

steel-framed, then it cannot be melted. This… These symptoms mean

heart is melting or changing…

… Now anyone is manufacturing

his own way of self realization, and there are rascals who are

supporting, that “Everyone, we are independent. We can find out our

own way of worship.” But Rupa Gosvami says, “This is simply creating

disturbance.” That is very natural to understand. Suppose here, in our

temple, we have got some regulative principles. But if everyone says

that “I can manufacture my own way of worshiping the Deity,” then what

will be the condition?

   It will be simply pandemonium. You see? So that is going on.

…authorized by the disciplic succession. We reject immediately. There

is example that inIndiathere is a tree, sagu, sagu(?) tree. I do not

know whether it is in your country. That, that tree has a very, I mean

to say, thick trunk. But a little jerking, it will break. A little

jerking. Sagu. And there is another tree which is called tamarind

tree. So even a fingerlike stem, you cannot break. It is so strong. So

our policy should be that when we are falling down, we must take

shelter of this tamarind tree, not that sagu tree. The tamarind tree

is Vedic instruction, infallible, without any mistake

..   Even if you say “primitive,” the primitive life is very nice.

Primitive life means simple life. Keeping pace with the nature’s law.

It is very nice. Primitive life … It gives you anxiety-free life,

and therefore, even if you take it as primitive, the saintly persons,

sages, they used to live long, long years, and their brain was so

sharp, because they were taking natural food, fruits, grains, and milk

that helps to develop human brain for understanding subtle subject

matter. So even Vyasadeva… You have seen the picture of Vyasadeva.

He’s writing books just near a cottage only. But he’s writing. Nobody

can create such literature. But he was leading very simple life, in a

cottage. Even, say, 2,000 years ago or little more, there was Canakya

Pandita. Canakya Pandita, he was a brahmana, but great politician. His

politics are studied even now in M.A. class. And because he was a

great politician, diplomat, under his name in ourIndia, inNew   Delhi,

the capital, there is a neighborhood which is called Canakya Puri, and

all the foreign embassies are there.

 

720624SB.LA                    Lectures

Prabhupada: So it takes not more than five minutes. If you practice,

then you become learned scholars, simply by chanting these mantras,

and the translation, transcendental vibration, will keep you fit for

spiritual advancement. Every verse in Vedic literatures, especially

Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam, they are not ordinary sounds.

Simply if you chant the mantras, you become purified. Srnvatam

sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah. Punya-sravana-kirtanah.

Simply by hearing and chanting you become pious.

Punya-sravana-kirtanah. Even you don’t understand the meaning, the

very sound vibration will help you.

…parampara system. The parampara system means… Just like we claim

parampara system from Krsna. So whatever Krsna says or He said 5,000

years ago, we are repeating the same thing. That is called parampara

system. Not that “The world has changed. Scientific advancement is

very great. Now we can interpret in this way and that way.” This is

all nonsense. All nonsense. You cannot change a single alphabet. They

are all unmistakable. They cannot be changed. So that is niscayam

atmanah.

If you want to know positively, what is God, then we should take

lesson from a self-realized soul who has understood, who has seen.

Jnaninas tattva-darsinah. Just like here it is tattva-niscayam

atmanah. So tattvam, the truth, so one must have seen the truth,

realized the truth. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet. That is

guru. Means one who has seen the truth. How he has seen the truth?

Through the parampara system. Krsna said this, and then Brahma said

the same thing, then Narada said the same thing, Vyasadeva said the

same thing, and then disciplic succession, Madhvacarya, Madhavendra

Puri, Isvara Puri, Lord Caitanya, Sad-gosvami, Krsnadasa Kaviraja

Gosvami, Srinivasa Acarya, Narottama dasa Thakura, Visvanatha

Cakravarti Thakura. In this way. Jagannatha dasa Babaji, Gaura Kisora

dasa Babaji, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. Then we are speaking. The same

thing. Not that “Because we are modernized… Your modern science has

changed.” Nothing has changed.-

 

►720624SB.LA                   Lectures

Jnana and tattva-darsi. Simply jnani, simply a-b-c-d knowledge,

academic education will not help. You must be jnani, at the same time,

tattva-darsi. That tattva-darsana cannot be possible by mental

speculation.

 

720627SB.LA                    Lectures

   Material thought means these fruitive activities. “I shall work

very hard, and I shall get so much wealth, and for this purpose I can

go to church and temple. If God gives me millions of dollars, then I

am ready to go there.” So real purpose is sense gratification. “If I

take to religious principles, then I’ll get more money without any

hard work, and if I get more money, then I’ll be able to satisfy my

senses.” This is called dharmartha-kama. And there is another stage,

which is called moksa, liberation. So people are not interested for

liberation. They want to become religious for material benefits. But

that is not the real purpose of life. Material benefit, you cannot get

more than what you are destined to have; that is already fixed up.

According to your body… You get the body. We get different types of

body, and according to the body, our material sufferings and enjoyment

are fixed up, already. You cannot have more or less. Otherwise…

you’ll see, one man is working so hard, day and night, and he could

hardly maintain himself or his family. And another man, he’s going to

the market, sits down for one hour, and earns 100,000 dollars,

immediately. You can see. Simply by touching the phone, he simply

asks, “What is the rate of this? What is the rate of that?” and he

makes one transaction, and immediately he gets one thousand dollars.

And this man is working hard, day and night, he could not get even two

sufficient meals.

.. So therefore, the conclusion is that so far material comforts are concerned, you cannot

get more. Or less. You will get. It is already fixed up. Deha-yogena

dehinam. Sukham aindriyakam daitya deha-yogena dehinam, sarvatra

labhyate… eh? Yatha duhkham ayatnatah. Prahlada Maharaja says.

Sarvatra labhyate. So far material comfort is concerned, what you are

destined to get, you’ll get it, in wherever you may live. It doesn’t

matter. Your allotment is already there. That is your body.

 

750210SB.LA                    Lectures

the Western countries all these philosophers… The Darwin’s theory…

He cannot give any reasonable cause. Some theory: “It may be, perhaps,

for millions of years there was no…” Speculate. And he admits that

“Whatever I am presenting, it is all my speculation.” We have seen his

letter, some, from 150 years ago. He wrote a letter to a friend. He

admitted that “Whatever I am presenting, that is speculation.” But

science is not speculation. Science cannot be speculation. That is not

science. “Two plus two equal to four”–this is science. And if you

speculate–“Two plus two equal to five” or “Two plus two equal to

three”–that is not science.

 

720420SB.TOK                   Lectures

Prabhupada: No, this same verse. Practice it. In this way you practice

one mantra daily. Each mantra will purify you hundred yards daily. Go

forward. These mantras are very powerful, given by Vyasadeva Gosvami,

vibrated. And spoken by… Suka-mukhad drava-samyutamrtam. That is

explained in the beginning. Just like a ripened fruit in the tree is

already very sweet, and if it is touched by the beak of the parrot, it

becomes sweeter. These are natural course. If the parrot touches the

fruit, he cuts little by his beak, beak. Beak, you call beak? Then it

becomes still sweeter. Suka-mukhad drava-samyutam. Similarly,

Srimad-Bhagavatam is already sublime, transcendental. And when it is

spoken through the mouth of Sukadeva Gosvami, it becomes still sweet,

just like the fruit. The parrot is also called suka. It is called

suka-paksi, suka bird. So this comparison is given.

…And if we chant that… Just like you are chanting

so many songs, similarly, if we chant one or two verses of

Srimad-Bhagavatam, that will make you very quickly advanced for

spiritual realization. We are therefore taking so much trouble to get

this transliteration, the meaning, so that the reader may take

advanced step, full advantage of the mantra. It is not that to show

some scholarship, that “I know so much Sanskrit.” No. It is just

offered with humility to learn the mantra because one who will chant

the mantra… They are all transcendental vibration. Just Hare Krsna

mantra… This is maha-mantra, but they are also mantras, all the

verses from Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, spoken by Krsna, spoken

by… Bhagavata also, spoken by Krsna. Vyasadeva is incarnation of

Krsna. They’re also mantras, infallible instructions. So try to get it

by heart, chanting. Either you chant by seeing the book or get it by

heart, it is all the same. But try to chant one, two slokas daily.

Chant.

 

720420SB.TOK                   Lectures

next. Come here. So you have to study like that. So many slokas, I am

taking so much labor. If you do not read it carefully… It is not for

that I am making business, for selling only, and not for my students.

You must all read like this, practice. Why so much trouble is being

taken, word to word meaning and then transliteration? If you chant

this mantra, that vibration will cleanse the atmosphere. And wherever

you go, in any part of the world, if you can chant this mantra, oh,

you’ll be received like God. It is so nice. And in India he’ll

actually receive like Gods if you chant this mantra. They will so

offer their respects, so many. Veda-mantra.

 

720420SB.TOK                   Lectures

Karandhara: “Now the next question will automatically be made as to

why the Lord influences the living entity to such consciousness and

forgetfulness. The answer is that the Lord clearly wishes that every

living entity be engaged in his pure consciousness as the part and

parcel of the Lord, and thus be engaged in loving service of the Lord

as he is constitutionally made. But because the living entity is

partially independent also, he may not be willing to serve the Lord,

but may try to become independent as the Lord is. The whole nondevotee

class of living entities are all desirous of becoming equally as

powerful as the Lord, although they are not fit to become so. The

living entities are…”

.. So the yogic siddhis… So Krsna gives him some power of

yogic siddhi and he thinks that “I have become God,” and some

flatterers, they also think, “Oh, you are God.” The same dream. And as

soon as death comes, everything finished, your Godhood and everything

finished. Now becomes doghood, come to the stage of doghood. Again,

another dream: “I am dog.” First of all “I am God,” then next stage,

“I am dog.” This is going on. Therefore Bhaktivinoda Thakura said,

keno mayar bose jaccho bhese’: “Why you are being washed away by the

waves of maya? Just fix up. Stand up.” Jiv krsna-das ei viswas korle

to ar duhkho nai. You simply remain fixed up on this standpoint, that,

“I am eternal servant of Krsna.” Then there is no more dream. And if

you allow yourself to be washed away, Krsna gives you facility, “All

right, come on. Be washed away.” Then?

.. Therefore the first sinful will of the

living entity is to become the Lord, and the consequent will of the

Lord is that the living entity forgets his actual life and thus dreams

of the land of utopia where he may become one like the Lord. The child

cries to have the moon from the mother and the mother gives the child

a mirror to satisfy the crying and disturbing child with the shadow of

the moon. Similarly the crying child of the Lord is given over to the

shadow of the material world to lord it over as a karmi and to give

this up in frustration to become one with the Lord. Both these stages

are dreaming illusions only. There is no necessity of tracing out the

history when the living entity desired this, but the fact is that as

soon as he desired such, he was put under the control of atma-maya by

the direction of the Lord. Therefore the living entity in his material

condition is dreaming falsely that this is ‘mine’ and this is ‘I.’ The

dream is that the conditioned soul thinks of his material body as ‘I’

or falsely thinks that he is the lord and that everything in

connection with the material body is ‘mine.’

Prabhupada: So as soon as you understand that “This is not… I am not

in contact with tiger. It is all a dream,” then you are delivered.

Similarly, as soon as you understand, “All this material condition of

life we are simply dreaming; I am actually servant of Krsna,” then you

are liberated. That is Krsna conscious. If you keep in Krsna

consciousness, that “I am eternal servant of Krsna,” then you are

liberated. Sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaa kalpate, Krsna says.

Immediately brahma-bhutah. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na

kanksati. He has no more lamentation, no more hankering. Samah sarvesu

bhutesu. He can see everyone on equal vision. Because he knows, “Here

is also another living entity.” He is not a Chinaman. He is a part and

parcel of God. He is not a Christian. He is not a Hindu. He is simply

thinking like that. So give him Krsna consciousness. That is real

benefit, to bring him to the original position. Yes?

.. Trivikrama: This feeling that we have, that we are fallen, that we are

very fallen…

Prabhupada: That is also illusion. That is also illusion. You are

fallen means you have got some certain desires except service of

Krsna. Therefore the conclusion is that if you keep yourself tightly

in Krsna’s service, there is no question of falling down or there is

no question of maya. You see?

Devotee: Even at that state, still the body is affected by the modes

of nature. We are experiencing desires.

Prabhupada: You are not experiencing. Your body is experiencing. You

are feeling cold due to this body. You are not feeling cold. You are

not feeling cold.

Devotee: But I think I am feeling cold.

Prabhupada: You are thinking. That is illusion. That is illusion.

Devotee: So rise above that.

Prabhupada: Yes. But not artificially, but this is the fact. You have

to gradually rise to that platform. The fact is this. Just like when

you are feverish, actually you are healthy, but it has come. So in the

feverish condition you are thinking, “I am now feverish.” But this

feverish will not, condition, will not stay. You will come to the

…these are coming and going. So if there is some feeling of pain and

pleasure, simply just tolerate it, but don’t be absorbed in that

thought. That’s all. Therefore titiksava. The first symptoms of a

saintly person is titiksava, tolerant. Tolerant. So go on reading, go

on understanding. Everything will be clear

 

 

720404SB.MEL                   Lectures

In this way, when we think that we are servant of the

servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna, that is our

perfection. Otherwise, even if we think that “I am not brahmana. I

have got sacred thread. I am very clean. I am taking bath.” That is

required, of course, because if you are actually servant of servant of

Krsna, then these qualities will be there as subordinate.

Just like when you have earned 100,000’s of dollars, it is not that

the ten dollar is not there. Ten dollar is there, but it is not very

important. Similarly, to become a servant of the servant of servant of

Krsna means that the brahminical qualification which is worth ten

dollars, that must be also there. But even at that stage, if your ten

dollar quality is lacking, then you cannot become proud of becoming

the servant of the servant. You cannot become proud of possessing

100,000’s of dollars if you cannot pay ten dollars. Do you follow? If

you say, “Now I am in possession of 100,000’s of dollars,” and if I

ask, “Give me ten dollars.” “No. I haven’t got.” So similarly, if you

actually have become transcendental servant of Krsna, if the qualities

of brahmana is lacking, then you are not perfect. The brahminical

qualification must be there. Then you are falsely possessing. If you

falsely say that “I possess 100,000 dollars,” and if I ask, “Give me

ten dollars.” “No. I…” This is false prestige. So these ten dollars

will not serve my purpose. I will have to acquire 100,000 dollars.

That is Vaisnava qualification. But when we are actually in possession

of 100,000 dollars, you must be able to pay ten dollars. You cannot

say, “No. I haven’t got ten dollars.” Then we are falsely advertising

that you have got 100,000.

So the conclusion is the expert manager, the bank manager, so, if

some man in the establishment, is absent, he can do the work

immediately because he has learned all the things. Bank manager

becomes from the lower clerk. When I was manager in Bose’s laboratory

there was a strike. So there was no packer. So I asked all the clerks

to, “Come on. Let us pack.” As soon as we begin packing, the strike

was broken. So a man claiming to be in the high position, he must be

expert in everything. He must be expert in everything. So therefore a

Vaisnava is called daksa, expert. Expert. So our, this Krsna

consciousness movement being the highest, topmost quality, so in case

we require to do the work, some lower quality, we cannot say that “I

do not know.” We must do it.

 

720404SB.MEL                   Lectures

Anyone who is not Krsna conscious, he

is a rascal. We accept him. He may be very big man, but a very big

means means amongst the rascals, another set of rascals, because they

are also under the influence of maya. Just like in the society of

asses, one ass is singing. (Imitates ass noise.) They ass feeling,

“Oh, how nicely he is singing.” (laughter) All asses. One ass is

singing, and they appreciate. “Oh, great singer.” And you are all,

“Stop it! Stop it! Please stop it! Stop it. Stop it.” This is going

on. So all these leaders, all these rascals, they are all rascals. At

least you must know. You may behave gentlemanly. That is your duty.

But you should know that he is a rascal number one.

 

720405SB.MEL                   Lectures

the association with the modes of material nature, we are getting

different types of body. And according to different types of body, we

are developing different types of consciousness. Is it very difficult

to understand? But when we transcend this bodily concept of life, then

we come to the one standard consciousness. That is Krsna

consciousness. That is Krsna consciousness. Try to understand. If

there is any difficulty, ask. It is very important. Why there are

different consciousness? Everyone could take up this Krsna

consciousness. But they cannot take it because they have got bodily

concept of life. And body means association with the modes of material

nature in a different way. Try to understand. Is there any question on

this point? Say it clearly. If you have understood, explain. It is

very important point…

…   There is sometimes question, “How one who lived in association with

Krsna, how he fell down?” Generally those who are living with Krsna or

Vaikuntha, they never fall down. But those who are in the effulgence

of Krsna, in the impersonal Brahman, they fall down. Because it is the

propensity of the living entity to enjoy. But one cannot enjoy; there

is no ananda. Those who are merging in the Brahman effulgence, they

are getting the department of eternity. The Brahman is sac-cid-ananda.

So they are simply accepting sad-amsa. Sad-amsa means only eternity.

Just like if you are asked to sit down in a place eternally, no, it

will be impossible. You must desire a change, variety, because we are

living entities, living beings. So therefore our Vaisnava philosophy

has varieties of enjoyment.

…make money. Now, if you simply take it formally… Hayagriva has taken

the formality. We have to keep some cows. Never mind we are to take

payment from others. That is not cow protection. Cow protection means

just like Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is tending

the cows. He is going, taking the cows personally from His royal

palace going to the forest whole day, working there. Is it not,

cowherds boy? And taken some little fruit, mother, whatever mother has

given. They are playing that. So this is cow protection, not that

“Somebody will give money and we shall keep some third class cows and

feed there and become cow protector.” We must tend the cows very

nicely so that they give us sufficient milk. And with that milk we

shall live. “No, because we are giving protection to cow, you send

money for the cows and the cow protectors, and earn money there and

give us money. We shall eat nicely and sleep.” As soon as this

practice is going on, then next will be: “Give me some LSD, give me

something else.” This will go on. We don’t want that.

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Cartoon of kali yuga-the iron age in which we now “live”

5000 Year old predictions, sadly coming true…..

I would personally suggest the government. They   never go to jail.
SB 5.12.7 Purport-     It is stated in  Srimad-Bhagavatam that in Kali-yuga the heads of government will be  plunderers and thieves. These thieves and plunderers take the money and  property of the public by force or connivance. Therefore it is said in  Srimad-Bhagavatam, rajanyair nirghrnair dasyu-dharmabhih. As Kali-yuga advances, we can see that these characteristics are already visible. We can  certainly imagine how deteriorated human civilization will be by the end of Kali-yuga. Indeed, there will no longer be a sane man capable of  understanding God and our relationship with Him. In other words, human beings  will be just like animals. At that time, in order to reform human society, Lord Krsna will come in the form of the Kalki avatara. His  business will be to kill all the atheists because ultimately the real protector is Visnu, or Krsna.
740928SB.MAY Lectures 214172/530501 plunderers. That is the statement in the  Srimad-Bhagavatam. Dasyu-dharmabhih. The government men will be all  dasyu. Dasyu means plunderer. Not pickpocket. Pickpocket, somehow or  other, if you do not understand, takes something from your pocket, and the  plunderer, or the dasyu, he catches you and by force, “If you don’t  spare your money, I shall kill you.” They are called  dasyu.   So the, in the present age of Kali, the  government men will be dasyu. This is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam.  Dasyu-dharmabhih. You can, we can see practically. You cannot keep your  money. You earn with hard labor, but you cannot keep gold, you cannot keep  jewelry, you cannot keep money. And… They will take it away by laws.
741001SB.MAY                    Lectures                   214359/530501   So actual, actual value, to keep cows, to have  food grains or gold, jewelries, these are the signs of richness. But  Kali-yuga is so cruel that if you have got gold, if you have got jewels, then  government will take away. Dasyu-dharmabhih. Formerly there were  ordinary plunderers, thieves. Now, according to Srimad-Bhagavatam,  the government will be composed of organized thieves. That is  meant: dasyu-dharmabhih, rajabhih. Government officer means organized  thieves in every country. That will be the situation. So you cannot keep  now. You have to be satisfied with these papers. That’s all.
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Reply To Rocana das’s Obnoxious Article

Dear Rocana Prabhu (Sampradaya Sun Staff,etc)

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

In your recent article on June 7th 2012 “Hare Krishna Society and the Company They Keep” on https://www.harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/06-12/editorials8640.htm you have mentioned some serious inaccuracies and practical vicious lies regarding Jitarati Prabhu’s defense of Sakshi Gopal das’s many blasphemous statements to Srila Prabhupada, Lord Krsna and the Scriptures in his many articles. (For the record, you spelled Jitarati Prabhu’s name incorrectly, it should be Jitarati das, and not Jiterati as you mentioned).

For your kind information, dear Rocana Prabhu, and the protection of your own spiritual life creeper (Bhakti lata bija), in order that you will not keep making so many unnecessary dangerous offences, please understand that the person who is mentioned in the article BIF, Sakshi Gopal das Blaspheme Lord Krishna, Srila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita as “Sakshi Gopal’s close associate and chief right(wrong) hand man” is NOT Jitarati Prabhu, but Shyamasundara das, the Australian devotee, first initiated by Uncle Bhavananda, then by UncleJagdish, and now defacto by Sakshi Gopal.

It is Shyamasundara das who has all along been supporting Sakshi Gopal in his direct blasphemy of Srila Prabhupada, Krsna and scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita by Srila Prabhupada and theSrimad Bhagavatam, in his article “Grand Theft Atma” which you can find here and in his website you can find two further articles titled “Elephant In the Room” and “Sex Drugs and Syphillis”

Rocana Prabhu, you yourself are also familiar with the above mentioned blasphemous articles written by Sakshi Gopal, but what you are ignorant of (or at least pretend to be ignorant of ) is that the editing, proof reading, responsibility for publishing, and follow up of responses to these blasphemous articles was all along done by Shyamasundara das who is the right hand man of Sakshi Gopal das, and who unfortunately aided and abetted Sakshi in his many heinous offences against Srila Prabhupada, Krsna and the Sastras.

Thus you, Rocana Prabhu, have knowingly/unknowingly supported these two dangerous blasphemous personalities all along, and to add salt to the injury, you have now falsely implicated an innocent devotee Jitarati Prabhu as being the person who was involved with Sakshi’s blasphemous articles. Again please note for the record and for maintainance of the truth, that Jitarati Prabhu did NOT have anything to do AT ALL with Sakshi Gopal and Shymasundara on these articles. Indeed Jitarati Prabhu had long distanced himself from Sakshi’s and Shyamasundar’s association since around 2007,even from the investigation of the Poison issue (which they had initially worked on together with someother devotees).

Quite the contrary and indeed completely opposite to what you claim about Jitarati Prabhu being involved in Sakshi’s blasphemous articles, it was Jitarati Prabhu, myself and a few other devotees who decided to response to Sakshi Gopal das’s blasphemous articles, and thus we in turn submitted to you the article BIF, Sakshi Gopal das Blaspheme Lord Krishna, Srila Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita which you published in your website. We had mentioned the authors name in plurals “BY: A GROUP OF SRILA PRABHUPADA DISCIPLES AND FOLLOWERS” because we knew of your constant long allergy to us Rtvik devotees. We felt that if we had put our direct personal names, you would never bother to publish our article, as you had done with so many Rtvik devotees in the past when they submitted you their articles. In any case the article was a combined effort of a few devotees of which myself, and Jitarati Prabhu was a few amongst of, to counteract Sakshi and Shyamasundar’s blasphemy.

This silly and unecessary allergy of yours to us Rtvik devotees regardless ofwhether we are from the West Coast, East Coast, North Coast, South Coast, or from any part of the world should be completely given up by your good self, as it is only back firing on you. This is evidenced, because you have put your foot in your mouth by making these false and silly statements in public that Jitarati Prabhu was involved with Saksi’s blasphemous articles on Srila Prabhupada and Krsna. You have been caught red-handed with your hands stuck viciously in the cookie jar. Anyone who knows Jitarati Prabhu personally can see clearly what a total fool you have made of yourself, along of course with your foolishly concocted ‘Sampradaya Acarya ‘ philosophy which you have been preaching for so many years to so many devotees, but which till this day, only you can understand.

Indeed Rocana Prabhu , your pattern since these many years has always been to jump and seize on the slightest opportunity that you can get to put down the Rtvik devotees. This fact is shown in your latest article where you not only find fault with Jitarati Prabhu, but also Yasoda nandana Prabhu, Puranjana Prabhu, other West Coast Rtviks, and Madhu Pandit Prabhu in India who has accomplished so much in the field of preaching Srila Prabhupad’s teachings. Indeed these accomplishments would take you a few million lifetimes just to comphrehend. This is because you always fear and see these Rtvik devotees as a threat to your bogus ‘Sampradaya Acarya’ philosophy which again, only you can understand, or to be fair to you, one more person can understand, namely the alien PhantomGuru hiding in the alien ship patiently waiting one day to be anointed by you to save Iskcon and destroy the Rtviks. Please see below this letter to you the actual proof for yoursatisfaction to understand that it was actually Shymasundara das who is Sakshi Gopal’s right hand man by reading his e mail sent to me on Nov 17th 2011. This wasin response to my initial e mail to him and concern about Sakshi’s first blasphemous article “Grand Theft Atma”. Anyone can see how foolishly enthusiastic Shyamasundara is in his defense of Sakshi. My second e mail which is much longer is also available below the first one and where you will find myself chastising Shyamasundara das for his crazy comments and defence of Sakshi Gopal’s blasphemy.

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A RESPONSE BY THE HARE KRSNA SOCIETY AGAINST THE FALSE STORIES PROPAGATED ON THE INTERNET AGAINST MANY SINCERE AND DEDICATED PRABHUPANUGA DEVOTEES

A RESPONSE BY THE HARE KRSNA SOCIETY AGAINST THE FALSE STORIES PROPAGATED ON THE
INTERNET AGAINST MANY SINCERE AND DEDICATED PRABHUPANUGA DEVOTEES
After the recent flurry of offenses cast by certain “devotees” against Yasoda nandan, Puranjana, Krsnacandra, and many others aligned with the Prabhupadanugas , I felt, while I was taking lunch prasadam today, that a short, but specific letter was in order to try and help those who seem to relish finding fault– where there is no fault.
Basically the problem, if you want to call it that, is this– some people who like to think of themselves as Vaisnavas, but who are far from that standard, continually thru the internet spread malicious lies about the above devotees. They think for some twisted reasons that one Srila Prabhupada disciple named Tattva Darshan who successfully founded and maintains the Bhaktivedanta Eco Village (BEV) in Karnataka India over 20 years ago- is a child molester. And they further think that the above named other devotees are of the same mentality since they and myself are giving him (Tattva) spiritual backing in his attempt to reform and continue to render service to Srila Prabhupada.
For those of you who love to hear this kind of smut, I will tell you the real story.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED– In Cambodia everyone knows there is a lively sex trade going on.
Tattva darshan (from BEV) used to go there and other places to collect money for his project back in India. (He personally told me that he has spent around a million collected dollars thru very hard work on this Varnashram project)
Somehow or other, he got involved in some sexual affair with a young woman, not a child mind you, and was caught in a sting operation by the local police. He went to jail for around two years and was eventually released. There never was any child sex going on, as was falsely reported by some agencies, it was simply a sexually agitated man who wanted some sex while he was far away from home. He is not a guru,or a sannyasi or anybody posing to be some renunciate. He is a very hard working married man with a wonderful family and a very understanding wife.
That is what happened. However these certain “devotees” seem to think that Tattva Darshan was some kind of pervert looking only for small girls for sex. This is totally wrong and false. The Hare Krsna Society let me say here, does not condone this kind of activity but when it does happen (regular prostitution amongst adults) then devotees who are mature should see if as it is. A temporary falldown which should be excused-especially in light of all the tremendous devotional work Tattva darshan has done in a very difficult country, foreign to natural birth.
At this point let me ask our readers this-
Have you ever committed any sinful acts? NO?
Then you shouldn’t even be reading this.
If you have done any sinful things, then you should understand and know that if God Himself forgives you for such things, then why would or could any ordinary mortal find fault with you? The answer is simply– envy.That’s all. (See full philosophical explanation by Visvanatha Chakravarti at the end)
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What is the Hare Krishna Society?

What is the Hare Krishna Society?

In the early days of Srila Prabhupada’s mission in the West, some ISKCON leaders wanted to install teletype machines in all the temples, but Srila Prabhupada did not approve of the idea. He expressed concern that his neophyte students would use the machines for politics and gossip and thus waste time.

”…The installing of telex communications for our main temples is not required. Then they will gossip more through the telex….” Srila Prabhupada letter, February 5, 1977

Today it is practically seen that many ignorant persons posing as preachers hide behind their computer screens and spread unfounded allegations against devotees or try to raise doubts about the activities and purposes of bona fide sangas of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples. Those with a political agenda, and other ignorant or malicious persons, sometimes spread false allegations about Srila Prabhupada’s faithful disciples and thus commit the offense know as sadhu-ninda. Sadhu-ninda can quickly ruin one’s forward progress in devotional service.  By hearing malicious rumors about disciples of Srila Prabhupada and by accepting and tolerating such nonsense without challenge or protest, internet surfers and sufferers may disrupt their forward progress on the path of bhakti-yoga.

“…Anyone who is a bona fide preacher of the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu must be respectful to the real devotees of Lord Caitanya; one should not be envious, considering one preacher to be very great and another to be very lowly. This is a material distinction and has no place on the platform of spiritual activities…”

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition  Adi 10.7 :

“… If a Vaiṣṇava, by the mercy of the Lord, is empowered by Him to distribute the Lord’s holy name all over the world, other Vaiṣṇavas become very joyful-that is, if they are truly Vaiṣṇavas. One who is envious of the success of a Vaiṣṇava is certainly not a Vaiṣṇava himself, but an ordinary mundane man. Envy and jealousy are manifested by mundane people, not by Vaiṣṇavas. Why should a Vaiṣṇava be envious of another Vaiṣṇava who is successful in spreading the holy name of the Lord? An actual Vaiṣṇava is very pleased to accept another Vaiṣṇava who is bestowing the Lord’s mercy. A mundane person in the dress of a Vaiṣṇava should not be respected but rejected. This is enjoined in the śāstra (upekṣā). The word upekṣā means neglect. One should neglect an envious person. A preacher’s duty is to love the Supreme Personality of Godhead, make friendships with Vaiṣṇavas, show mercy to the innocent and reject or neglect those who are envious or jealous. There are many jealous people in the dress of Vaiṣṇavas in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, and they should be completely neglected. There is no need to serve a jealous person who is in the dress of a Vaiṣṇava. When Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava sevā nistāra payeche kebā, he is indicating an actual Vaiṣṇava, not an envious or jealous person in the dress of a Vaiṣṇava…”

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – Madhya-lila 1.218

Over the years, a few antagonistic persons have tried to malign the Hare Krishna Society for ridiculous and selfish reasons. Some persons have apparently felt slighted by HKS because of our strict policy to ignore the various vitiated “iskcon” groups, the various members associated with these groups, senior devotees who are still confused about Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, and other misguided persons associated with various other groups, such as branches of the former Gaudiya matha. (See references below.)

We also tend to avoid persons who are obsessed with the idea of trying to reform corporate iskcon’s clerics. We also avoid those who want to advertise and exaggerate the alleged faults of specific devotees, particularly those who are unpretentious preachers who know the siddhanta.  Because we refrain from involvement in drawn out, rambling discussions on the internet with persons who are misguided or antagonistic, some devotees feel slighted. (See references below.) We feel the best way to deal with various misguided persons is to teach the truth about Srila Prabhupada and His instructions. If we attack something, we attack the sin and the sinful idea rather than all the individual sinners. We generally avoid discussing individuals—unless we are forced to do so. We have enough to do to explain the fundamentals of Krishna consciousness to innocent devotees who have been misled by bogus preachers.

“…If one hears the activities of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with this faith, he can be freed from his envious position. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is meant for such nonenvious persons (nirmatsarāṇāṁ satām)….”

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta  Madhya-lila 9.362 :

Our positive agenda is to preach the glories of Lord Caitanya, Srila Prabhupada and the bona fide parampara. In the course of preaching correctly about the mission and teachings of the Krishna consciousness movement all opposing elements are defeated naturally.  It is not HKS policy to attack and expose individual leaders for their sinful secret lives and extravagance. This is not practical.  Nor is it advised in shastra to chase after and try to reform unrepentant deviants. We naturally expose obvious deviations in siddhanta and sadhana by preaching the truth. (See references below.)

HKS generally avoids direct confrontation with the fallen branches of iskcon.  Some persons criticize us for 1) not attacking iskcon, 2) attacking iskcon,  3) not being under a gbc,  4) not supporting devotees who attack iskcon leaders, 5) supporting those who attack Iskcon leaders, 6) creating an organization separate from iskcon, and so on. (See references.)

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What does it mean to be Surrendere​d to God?–SP

740502mw.bom                 Conversations
Prabhupada:  Yes. When Krsna… Therefore we shall fully surrender to Krsna. As  Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, marobi rakhobi yo iccha tohara: “Now I  surrender. Now if you want to maintain me, that is all right, and if You want  to kill me, that is also all right.” This is surrender. It is not business, “If You maintain me, then I surrender. If You kill me, then I do not.” It is  not like that. Marobi rakhobi yo iccha tanhara. “As You like. If You  want to maintain, that is also good; if You want to kill, that is also good.” This is devotee’s view. Satsvarupa: Someone might say, “But if one is  surrendered why should Krsna give him trouble?” Prabhupada: Yes, it is  because he is always free. Why do you make Krsna dependent on your  so-called good-will, that “Krsna must give me always pleasure”? This is sense  gratification. This is sense gratification that you approach  Krsna for your comfort, sense gratification. That is not bhakti. That is  sense gratification. Prahlada Maharaja was given suffering by his  father so harshly, but he never said, “Oh, I am devotee and Krsna giving  me so much trouble? Oh! Give it up.” He never said that. Neither he  asked Krsna to come and save him. That is Krsna-bhakti. The Pandavas. The Pandavas, they were always with Krsna and they were suffering.  They never asked Krsna that “You are the Supreme, and why we are suffering?” Never said.  Never said. That is Krsna-bhakti.
Giriraja: “Because You are the  Absolute Truth, there is no difference between Your mercy and  punishment.”
Prabhupada: Yes. This is to be understood. If we understand  the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Absolute Truth, then this  is understanding, that either suffering or enjoying, it is all  Krsna’s mercy. There must be some purpose. When Krsna puts me into  suffering, there must be some purpose. So we should welcome because  it is Krsna’s mercy. Tat te ‘nukampam susumiksamano bhunjana evatma-krtam  vipakam. (Hindi) (break) “…misdeeds. It is Krsna’s mercy that He is  reforming me, slightly suffering. I would have suffered very greatly on  account of my past deeds, but He is kindly accommodating me by giving  little suffering. That’s all.”
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Rags to riches story-and then some

A rags to riches story-and then  some

A  jobless man applied for the position of ‘office boy’ at Microsoft. The HR  manager interviewed him then watched him cleaning the floor as a test.   ‘You are employed’ he said. Give me your e-mail address and I’ll send you the  application to fill in, as well as date when you may start.
The man  replied ‘But I don’t have a computer, neither an email’. ‘I’m sorry’, said the  HR manager. If you don’t have an email that means you don’t exist. And who  doesn’t exist, can’t have the job.’
The man left with no hope at all. He  didn’t know what to do, with only $10 in his pocket. He then decided to go to  the supermarket and buy a 10Kg tomato crate.
He then sold the tomatoes in  a door to door round. In less than two hours, he succeeded to double his  capital. He repeated the operation three times, and returned home with  $60.
The man realized that he can survive by  this way, and started to go every day earlier, and return late. Thus, his money  doubled or tripled every day. Shortly, he bought a cart, then a truck, and then  he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles.
5 years later, the man is one  of the biggest food retailers in the US. He started to plan his family’s future,  and decided to have a life insurance.
He called an insurance broker, and  chose a protection plan.
When the conversation was concluded the broker  asked him his email. The man replied, ‘I don’t have an email.’
The broker  answered curiously, ‘You don’t have an email, and yet have succeeded to build an  empire. Can you imagine what you could have been If you had an e mail?!!’ The  man thought for a while and replied, ‘Yes, I’d be an office boy at Microsoft!’ 

————————————————-
Although this story is fictitious, it  illustrates a good point.  That point is that if one learns how to
“think out of the box” as the karmis say, then a  whole new world unfolds for us. If we take the same old path trodden by   the majority of work people of this world, then we will most probably have our  9-5 job, possibly some security, and more remotely, even some retirement  benefits-maybe, although in todays financial world, none of these things are  100% for sure. 
On the other hand, if we are learning some  things from the great world Acarya Srila Prabhupada, then he will inform us that  taking the road traveled by millions isnt necessarily the best one, the safest  one, or the one sanctioned by Lord Krsna Himself.  Srila Prabhupada is  trying to get us all to start becoming more “independent” in our  thinking  and living patterns. And we all know to break old habits is  almost impossible to do. But break them we can do, if we submissively hear the  words of the Lords representative.
Let’s hear what he has to  say-
1. Hari-sauri: Should we try to make an effort to have  our householders go and live  on the farms, a special effort? If it’s ready  to do that? Prabhupada: Why   householders? Everyone.
2…” Indian people are little clever. They would come  from  the village to the city alone, not with family. They earn money and  send  to the family. And whenever they like, they go away. They’re not  dependent. And if you bring family, you have to  work. That system  is still going on. The village men, they come but  they do not bring their  family. Family remains in the village. He earns,  he lives some way or other  and sends money there, and the wife who is  intelligent. He (she) accumulates  the money and when there is enough money he (she)  purchases  land,investment. So… In after few years, when they  have got enough  land, they do not come back. They produce their own  necessities. Very  nice. Hare Krsna. As soon as they are self-sufficient from the  land they  no more work. That’s a good idea. Remain  in the village with  family…
3…  750514mw.per                  Conversations                 Prabhupada: The solution is  there. They won’t take it. Solution  is there, that everyone produce your  own food. There is so much  land; utilize it. The solution  is there. No. They want to sit down on  the table, chair, in a very nice  compartment, and making solution.
Amogha: He was saying that your solution was too simple. He   said that people will not accept it because it is too simple.
Prabhupada:That is his ignorance. They will say it is  primitive.That is the only solution.
4..Simple living and high  thinking is the solution to economic  problems. Therefore the  Krsna consciousness movement  in engaging devotees in producing their own  food and  living self-sufficiently so that rascals may see  how one can live  very peacefully, eat the food grains one has grown  oneself, drink milk,  and chant Hare Krsna.
5..Therefore I am asking so much here and…,  “Farm, farm, farm, farm…” That is not  my program–Krsna’s program. Annad bhavanti  bhutani. Produce greenness everywhere, everywhere.  Vrndavana. It is not this  motorcar civilization.
6..This  is our education. Don’t be after these motorcars, television, and all nonsense  things, sporting, wine, women. Don’t be after these.Simply eat sufficiently, keep your health nicely, chant Hare  Krsna,
realize Krsna, and go  back  to home This is our philosophy
7.. A little labor in  agriculture will be sufficient to produce the  family’s food stock for the whole year. You can stock. You work only three months, and you get sufficient  food for your whole family. And less nine months, you chant Hare Krsna.  But these rascals will not do that. They will work hard like ass  simply for eating.
8..We want two favours. One from guru, one from Krsna.That’s  all. We don’t want anyone’s favour.————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Below is some  spring pictures right now of the garden fields and basically getting it all  ready

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No more upadhis-material designations

Jaya Srila Prabhupada

 Na Jayate  Mriyate va kadacin—For the soul,  there is never birth nor death, Nor having once been does he ever  cease to be. (Bhagavad Gita 2.20)

Self realization means to be able to see the soul. I look at you and  see your body, you look at me and see my body. This is not self  realization.
Aham brahmasmi means I am soul, not this body. ..”Dehino’ smin yatha  dehi… Deha and dehi means this body and the owner of this body. When  we  are able too see the soul we are on the brahma bhuta platform. This is  self realization.
If we want to be free of this material bondage and see ourselves as we  are, then we must purify our self of all the upadhis or material  designations.
Prabhupada writes…”Krishna consciousness is  actually a purificatory process. Its purpose is to make people free from  all designations. When our consciousness becomes purified of all  designations, the activities we carry out with our purified senses make us  perfect. Eventually, we reach the ideal perfection of human life. Krishna  consciousness is also a very simple process. It is not necessary to become a  great philosopher, scientist, or whatever. We need only chant the holy name of  the Lord, understanding that His personality, His name, and His qualities are  all absolute.”
Most everyone thinks that if he or she gets a nice  birth in a nice family, has good looks, education and some wealth, then all this  has been Divinely bestowed upon him by God. But from the spiritual  perspective all these things are no more than gifts of the illusory energy,  Maya. These things keep us trapped in the bodily conception of  life.  We see that is true when we hear the story of Nalakuvera and  Manigriva, the sons of Kuvera. They were both devas or demigods, and they were  devotees of some sort of the Supreme Lord, but because of the easy life their  material benedictions gave them, they condemned themselves to a life of  debauchery. They misused their material assets which is quite natural for one in  that position.This is what naturally happens for most if one takes to the field  of material piety instead of trying to purify the heart, thru bhakti  yoga, of all the (unwanted) anarthas present.
Prabhupada gives an example-when we are sitting comfortably in our easy  chair, we have the remote in one hand, our cell phone in the other, some chips  and fizz nearby , and we think , now I am comfortable!
But then somebody comes along and tells us NO, you have to come with me.  You MUST come with me dragging you off, and then your comfortable position  is now ruined. This is called Death. Nobody wants it, but it has to come to us  all. Yet how many of us are ready for this? How many of us are ready to get  ripped out of our comfortable situation and not even complain about  it? Only one who knows without any doubting that he or she is not this  material body.
He gave another nice example-once while on a train ride somewhere in India,  a few others were fighting over their train seat. He mentioned that even though  they know they will only be there a couple of hours, they are taking that seat  as some permanent arrangement and that is why it is worth fighting  over.  And we as kids, also had a similar situation while traveling  with parents in the family car. We would all fight over who got the window  seat !.
So how is this  child like fighting different than what we do as  adults on a daily basis fighting with others over some meager  material gains? Like the childs game of musical chairs whereby a group of kids  will circle a row of chairs which are one short of the number of participating  kids. When the music stops, everyone has to grab a chair. One kid is always  out of a chair ! This is how material life works. Its always a struggle for  everything. Nothing in this material world comes without some sort of  struggle-either with others or with our own limitations to accomplish  something.
Self realization means this material struggle for things related to this  body is over- because we realize without any doubt, that we are not matter,  not this body, not connected to any so called material family or race, do not  belong to some country and in fact have absolutely nothing to do with this  material world. Unfortunately for most of us we think we are free to do what we  like, but at any moment,  if the Devas disagree, we could lose motion  in our arms  hands or legs and become paralyzed. Yet we  all will  say, this is MY body. If its our body then why cant we make it do what WE want  it to do?
This conditional life always will be a source of problems to us.  In  this verse from BG it says we are never born and we never die, so if we  are eternal and believe it, why do we then bother so much- with the  temporary? BG says we dont take birth, yet all of us will say we were born on  such and such a date, and if we consult astrologers,  they say we will die  at such and such time as well. This is body consciousness only- because  according to BG we dont take birth and we do not die.
So the next question would be, then if we were originally with Krsna in the  spiritual world, how did we get ourselves into this present predicament? How did  we become so fallen?
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Posted in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa Tagged birth, Damaghosa, death, purificatory process, self realization, Srila Prabhupada, upadhis Leave a comment

Lessons from Kishkindya (Part 2): “Vaisnavas Live Forever”

The Vijayanagar Empire

In my first article on Kishkindya Kshetra I mentioned that this area was the former center of the famous Vijayanagar Empire, which historians believe was the most opulent empire on Earth in the last three thousand years. The whole empire suddenly declined, shortly after the disappearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and was sacked by a conspiracy of three other kings around 1565 AD. Mysteriously, no other kingdom, city or town every reemerged at Hampi, its capital. This empire reached its zenith during the times of Lord Caitanya, under the leadership of the renowned Vaisnava emperor, Krishna Deva Raya, who is adored in the region to this day. Interestingly, he was born and departed this world around the same dates as Lord Caitanya. He was the son-in-law and ally of Lord Caitanya’s great devotee Maharaja Prataparudra.

This powerful empire based at Hampi helped make the whole of South India a safe place for pilgrims. Had this not been the case, Lord Caitanya’s confidential associates might have found it even more difficult, or nearly impossible, to allow Him to leave on His long tour of South India with only one servant. Lord Caitanya had preferred to go alone, but His devotees, specifically Lord Nityananda, begged Him that if He was unwilling to go with a party of Vaisnavas, He should at least take one brahmacari servant who could assist Him without breaking His mood of manifesting full ecstatic symptoms of  nama-sankirtana all over South India.

Most western people come to Hampi to tour the ruins of the Vijayanagar Empire or view the amazing scenery, but many Indians come here with the understanding that this unique tirtha on the banks of Tungabhadra Nadi is highly sacred. I have met Christian and Muslim pilgrims here who also appreciate the powerful sanctity of the Hampi area and visit regularly.

Lord Caitanya Visits Kishkindya

Srila Krsnadas Kaviraja Goswami

mentions in Sri Caitanya-caritamrita that Lord Caitanya did not manifest His spiritual potencies in Navadvipa Dhama but waited until he went to South India. In this connection Srila Prabhupada cites Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura saying there are three principle dhamas of Gauidiya Vaisnavas: Vrindavan, Navadvipa and Jagganath Puri, or South India. The whole of South India is considered the third principle dhama of Gaudiya Vaisnavas, along with Jagganath Puri itself.

“Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not manifest His spiritual potencies at Navadvipa, but He did manifest them in South India and liberated all the people there.”

(Cc. Madhya 7.109)

Lord Caitanya visited Kishkindya and bathed at Pampa Sarovar, where there is an ancient temple of Sri Lakshmi Devi and a large temple tank with granite steps all around. The pond is crystal clear and overgrown with lotuses. Not much detailed information about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s visit here is found in Gaudiya Vaisnava literature, but the Kishkindya-vasis and local sadhus say He used to chant japa under a large mango tree at Pampa Sarovar. This tree survived until recently when some electrical workers mistakenly cut it down. Many of the local residents are the descendants of the great souls who were liberated when Lord Caitanya toured South India and visited Kiskindya Kshetra, where He manifested His full spiritual potencies through hari-nama sankirtana. To this day the fortunate people of Kishkindya spontaneously chant the holy names of Hare Rama and Hare Krishna.

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GBC vs. Prabhupada: Heresies of the Governing Body Commission Rejected

The Iskcon GBC philosophy on guru-tattva and initiations has evolved over the years. In the late 1970s and early 80s, they conceded, due to the insistence of a few leading members, that eleven individuals had been appointed and empowered by Srila Prabhupada to act as zonal acharyas in Iskcon. The GBC conceded that these eleven could create their own authority structure called “The Acharya Board”. The GBC agreed that only these eleven could be initiating spiritual masters in Iskcon and, in the future, only they could appoint other spiritual masters, or diksa-gurus, from among their disciples or Godbrother followers.

In the latter part of the 1980s, after few of the “chosen eleven” fell down and went insane, these contentions were overturned under mounting pressure from a so-called guru reform movement. GBC reformists decided that these eleven “Iskcon acharyas” could no longer be zonal autocrats above the authority of the GBC. The GBC resolved that only a majority vote of the GBC body would have authority to sanction and regulate initiating spiritual masters in Iskcon. They resolved that any devotee sanctioned by the GBC could initiate his own disciples in Srila Prabhupada’s mission, and they recommended that “diksa-gurus” no longer accept elaborate public worship in Iskcon temples and titles and prayers meant for maha-bhagavatas. They thus tried to reduce the power and ritual status of “Iskcon acharyas” while opening the door for all senior preachers “in good standing” to covet the post of “Iskcon guru”. In this way the GBC quelled the “guru reform movement” within Iskcon.

GBC resolutions regarding initiations and guru-tattva have been inconsistent and contradictory. It is hard to find two “Iskcon gurus”, GBC members, or Iskcon devotees with the exact same views on these topics. New devotees often doubt whether the praises they sing to the spiritual master at mangala-arotika and guru-puja should be directed toward their so-called Iskcon guru or to Srila Prabhupada. Should they hear primarily from Srila Prabhupada, or more from their “living guru”? Should they offer prayers and worship to a picture of their “guru” on the altar before doing Deity worship or offering food? If so, would he even know? Are all prayers to the spiritual master just ritualistic hyperbole that can be applied to any so-called Iskcon (or gaudiya math) “guru”?

Below is summary of the stance of the GBC today and in the recent past, with samples of their clearly implied philosophical ideas that are against the teachings of Srila Prabhupada. Immediately after each GBC idea, we have provided the correct understanding of guru-tattva and diksa according the Srila Prabhupada’s books, conversations, letters, and classes. Authorized references are cited at the end.  Throughout Srila Prabhupada’s books there are many dozens of references similar to the few cited below.

GBC: The spiritual master may be a self-made guru who is nominated by his peers or followers and sanctioned by the GBC, an ecclesiastical board. There is no need for a direct, specific order from Srila Prabhupada to become a diksa-guru in Iskcon.

Srila Prabhupada’s siddhanta: “A guru can become guru when he is ordered by his guru. That’s all. Otherwise nobody can become guru.” (See below references 1, 2 and 10.)

GBC: Srila Prabhupada authorized the GBC to sanction and dismiss diksa-gurus in ISKCON.

SPS: “Mundane votes have no jurisdiction the elect a Vaisnava acharya. A Vaisnava acharya is self-effulgent, and there is no need of any court judgment.“ Prabhupada authorized the GBC to select (or dismiss) representatives (ritviks), who initiate on His behalf. No one can be guru without the direct order of Krishna or His perfect devotee. (See below references 1, 2, 10 and 15.)

 GBC: Lord Caitanya gave a blanket order for every devotee to initiate his own disciples.

SPS: Lord Caitanya ordered His followers to become “gurus” by asking everyone they meet to chant Hare Krishna. He never ordered all devotees to initiate their own disciples. Even Lord Caitanya’s eternal associates, like Sri Gadadhara Pandita, refused to initiate disciples without a direct order from Lord Caitanya. Many great devotees never initiated their own disciples. (References 2 and 3.)

GBC: Persons who are not self-realized souls or topmost Vaisnavas can be diksa-gurus if the GBC approves.

SPS: “Only a topmost devotee, a maha-bhagavata, is eligible to occupy the post of guru.” (See below reference 4.)

GBC: Spiritual masters must be sanctioned, overseen, regulated and, if necessary, disciplined by the GBC.

SPS: The genuine spiritual master is never to be regulated or disciplined by ecclesiastical boards. (See below reference 5.)

GBC: A spiritual master may sometimes fall down and become demoniac.

SPS: “There is no possibility that a first-class devotee will fall down…” — “The bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession since time immemorial.” (See below references 6 and 18.)

GBC: One may ignore, neglect, or reject his spiritual master who falls from grace with the GBC.

SPS: A genuine disciple never rejects his spiritual master. (See reference 7.)

GBC: A student of Krishna consciousness may select any spiritual master, according his or her personal tastes and the ecclesiastical conventions current in Iskcon.

SPS: “Srila Jiva Goswami advised that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. One should simply try to find a genuinely qualified spiritual master for actual advancement in spiritual understanding.” (See below reference 8.)

GBC: There are dozens of gurus in Iskcon and each is entitled to his or her own ideas and opinions.

SPS: “Guru is one. He has no independent ideas or opinions.” (See reference 9.)

GBC: Iskcon gurus who have fallen down, if rectified, may be reinstated by the GBC.

SPS: “A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord.” (See below reference 10.)

GBC: There are various levels of spiritual masters, or diksa-gurus, and not all are uttama-adhikaris.

SPS: “The spiritual master is always considered either one of the confidential associates of Radharani or a manifested representation of Sri Nityananda.” Only such a Vaisnava can impart transcendental knowledge into the heart of a disciple. (See below references 4, 7 and 11.)

GBC: The bona fide spiritual master dies, like all mortal men, and thus becomes useless in the matter of initiating and guiding students of Krishna consciousness.

SPS: “The spiritual master is eternal…” — “He lives forever through his divine instructions, and his follower lives with him.” — “He reasons ill who tells that Vaisnavas die!” (See reference 12.)

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Posted in Articles, Vikramasingha Dasa Tagged GBC, guru tattva, Siddhanta, Srila Prabhupada Leave a comment
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Recent Posts

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Study Guides

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Srila Prabhupada Siddhanta Book

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Krishna Consciousness Fundamental Documents

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Atma (Soul)

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Science and Darwinism

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Varna-Asrama

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Editorials

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  • OUR LIVING GURU
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  • An Open Invitation

By Mahesh Raja

  • Formalities
  • Eighty-eight miles
  • P R A S A D A M
  • The Prediction
  • Disciplic Succession
  • Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah
  • WHEN I Order
  • Diksa Given to Madhyama-adhikari is Not a Formality
  • WHO IS SRILA PRABHUPADA'S DISCIPLE?
  • Writing From The Transcendental Platform

By Damagosha dasa

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By Radha Krsna dasa

  • Some Obey Him
  • RITVIK SUMMARY Elementary, My Dear Watson
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By Narasimha dasa

  • Dark Energy and the Land of Light
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By Yasodanandana dasa

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By Gauridas Pandit dasa

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By Hasti Gopala dasa

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  • A Question Of Authority
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  • Detecting Srila Prabhupada's Original Books
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  • HIDDEN CO-AUTHORS
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Vapu/Vani

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Festivals/Events

  • Photos from the First Palmdale, CA Ratha-Yatra
  • Seattle Harinama 2009
  • Sri Gaura Purnima Mahotsava-​Sedro Woolley,Wa​. USA 2011
  • Sri Govardhana Puja festival report-Sedro woolley Wa USA

Acaryas-Pure Devotees

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Srila Prabhupada's Srimad Bhagavatam Classes Summary

  • Srila Prabhupada's SB classes-summary file–VOLUME 1
  • Srila Prabhupada's SB classes-summary file–VOLUME 2 P:I
  • Srila Prabhupada's SB classes-summary file–VOLUME 2 Part II
  • Srila Prabhupada's SB classes-summary file–VOLUME 3
  • Srila Prabhupada's SB classes-summary file–VOLUME 4 P:I
  • Srila Prabhupada's SB classes-summary file–VOLUME 4 P:II
  • Srila Prabhupada's SB classes-summary file–VOLUME 5 P: I
  • Srila Prabhupada's SB classes-summary file–VOLUME 5 P: II
  • Srila Prabhupada's SB classes-summary file–VOLUME 5 P: III
  • Srila Prabhupada's SB classes-summary file–VOLUME 5 P: IV
  • Srila Prabhupada’s SB classes-summary file–VOLUME 6 P: I
  • Srila Prabhupada’s SB classes-summary file–VOLUME 6 P: II
  • Srila Prabhupada’s SB classes-summary file–VOLUME 6 P: III
  • Srila Prabhupada’s SB classes-summary file–VOLUME 7 P: I
  • Srila Prabhupada’s SB classes-summary file–VOLUME 7 P: II

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