Hare Krishna Society

Submitted by: Narasimha Dasa

I have been reading in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 10) about the main branches of Lord Chaitanya’s sankirtana movement. Srila Krishnadas Kaviraja Gosvami describes nearly eighty main branches of the movement of Sri Chaitanya and then states at the end of the chapter that the branches and sub-branches of Lord Chaitanya’s tree are unlimited and produce unlimited fruits and flowers. Lord Nityananda Himself forms the topmost, main branch of this tree, and in the next chapter (Madhya 11) Krishnadas Kaviraja describes this branch and some of its sub-branches. Some branches and sub-branches are considered especially important but all are totally spiritual and full of potency. Each branch is connected to the Complete Whole, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, through the mercy of at least one of His nitya-siddha associates.

“Each and every branch of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s tree has unlimited spiritual power and glory. Even if one had thousands of mouths, it would be impossible to describe the limits of their activities.” (Cc. Madhya 10.162)

Many of Lord Chaitanya’s personal associates are capable of liberating fallen conditioned souls simply by glancing at them or touching them. Lord Nityananda was such a great personality that by His desire even the most wretchedly fallen souls were liberated immediately– by His sweet will alone. In this connection Srila Prabhupada comments that it is by Lord Chaitanya’s mercy that so many western people have been able to take up the mission of Krishna consciousness. Because Srila Prabhupada received the full blessings of Lord Nityananda and Lord Chaitanya, he was able to spread the sankirtana mission worldwide, even in this most fallen age, within 11 years.

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Submitted by: Damagosha Dasa

Adi 1.35 : PURPORT :

The service of the spiritual master is essential. If there is no chance to serve the spiritual master directly, a devotee should serve him by remembering his instructions. There is no difference between the spiritual master’s instructions and the spiritual master himself. In his absence, therefore, his words of direction should be the pride of the disciple. If one thinks that he is above consulting anyone else, including a spiritual master, he is at once an offender at the lotus feet of the Lord. Such an offender can never go back to Godhead.

In the above quote Srila Prabhupada tells us that service to the guru is essential and if we don’t have a chance to serve him directly,physically, then we can still serve him by remembering his teachings or instructions. He also give us hints into the spiritual realm by saying there is no difference between the spiritual master and his instructions.

Not just a few, but many people may wonder how some words written on a piece of paper in a book , or a tape recording,can be the same thing as a “living, physical, spiritual master”? Herein lies the main problem facing grossly materialistic people. They cannot understand how a bona fide guru is the same as his words of instructions, just like they similarly cannot understand how Krsna is present in His Holy Names. If we can understand one, then we can understand the other, since both guru, his instructions, and Gods Holy Names are of the same Absolute substance. They both are not on the material plane but are coming from the spiritual strata and filter down to the material plane thru the material energies of false ego, intelligence, and mind to be grasped only by those who WANT to understand them. For those who are unfortunately polluted with too many material desires, this guru tattva principle to them, is like rocket science, or simply put, unobtainable to their intelligence. So they falsely conclude that one must have a “physically living guru”-a concept totally the opposite of what Srila Prabhupada teaches. Continue reading →

Submitted by: Narasimha Dasa

Notes on Bhagavatam, Canto One, Chapter 7.

The Value of Discrimination:

Lord Krishna said, “This man is an assassin and murderer of your own family members. Not only that, but he has also dissatisfied his master. He is but the burnt remnants of his family. Kill him immediately.” (S.B. 1.7.39)

In spite of this unequivocal instruction from Lord Krishna who was personally present, both Arjuna and Draupadi wanted to spare evil Ashvattama for the sake of being kind and gentle to all Brahmins and brahmana-bandhus. Neither Srila Prabhupada nor Lord Sri Krishna faults them for their sentiment because such rare sentiments illuminate the matchless quality of great Vaishnavas. Such kind and forgiving qualities can’t imitated by ordinary devotees. It would be beyond the imagination of lesser devotees to forgive a false Brahmin who had mercilessly and enviously attacked and killed ones sons—just for spite–while they were sleeping.

It would also be impossible, and beyond our duty or power, to forgive 1.) those who secretly fed poison to Srila Prabhupada or 2.) those who went along with persons who tried to hide this incident due to political motives. Devotees who are not great paramahamsa uttama-adhikaris should hear carefully Srila Prabhupada’s final conclusions on these matters.

“The specific words used in this sloka are vama-swabhava, ‘mild and gentle by nature.’ A good man or woman accepts everything very easily, but a man of average intelligence does not do so. But, anyway, we should not give up our reason and discriminatory power just to be gentle. One must have good discriminatory power to judge a thing by its merit. We should not follow the mild nature of a woman and thereby accept that which is not genuine.” (S.B. 1.7.42, Purport)

Had he been killed for his heinous sins, as Lord Krishna had advised, Ashvattama may have been much better off. Instead he was fully humiliated, denuded of the magical jewel in his forehead, and cast out into the cold with nothing but a curse that made him suffer in his wretched body for another 2,000 years. Continue reading →

Submitted by: Damagosha Dasa

Dec 19 1968 LA

Prabhupāda: It is learned from Vedic literature that… Of course, they are showing us, Lord Śiva, Lord Brahmā. They were also sometimes attracted by sense objects. Just like Lord Brahmā, his daughter Sarasvatī… Sarasvatī is considered to be the most perfect form of beauty, womanly beauty, Sarasvatī. So Lord Brahmā became enchanted by the beauty of his daughter just to show us the example that even personalities like Lord Brahmā sometimes become enchanted. This māyā is so strong. He forgot that “She’s my daughter.” Then to penance this, Brahmā had to quit the body. These stories are there in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Similarly, Lord Śiva also, when Kṛṣṇa appeared before him in Mohinī-mūrti… Mohinī means the most enchanting, beautiful womanly form. Lord Śiva also became mad after Her. So wherever She was going, Lord Śiva was chasing. And it is stated that while chasing Mohinī-mūrti, Lord Śiva had discharges. So these examples are there. As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, daivī hy eṣā guṇamayī mama māyā duratyayā [Bg. 7.14]. The whole material energy is enchanting every one of us by this beauty, the womanly beauty. Actually, there is no beauty. It is illusion. Śaṅkarācārya says that “You are after this beauty, but have you analyzed this beauty? What is the beauty?” Etad rakta-māṁsa-vikāram. It is just like our student(s) Govinda dāsī and Nara-nārāyaṇa molding plaster of paris. At this time, there is no attraction. But this plaster of paris when it will be nicely painted, it will be so attractive. Similarly, this body is combination of blood and muscles and veins. Continue reading →

Submitted by: Damagosha Dasa

Hare Krsna-

Below Srila Prabhupada describes his first days in America-landing in Boston pier, taking a 9 hour bus ride to Butler Pa, eating a little chipped rice, staying at the YMCA, cooking his meals at The Agrawals home. Then he gives the example of forming Iskcon-finding an old pumpkin gourd, some wire, a piece of bamboo, and then putting it all together and calling it (us) the international string band !! Separately , he said, all useless, but together we formed a useful instrument.

damaghosa das

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Submitted by: Damagosha Dasa

Hare Krsna-
Below is a lecture by Srila Prabhupada where he explains that were it not for the mercy of Narada Muni and his Pancaratriki system of purification, nobody in this age could be accepted as a brahmana.

Why not? Because according to the strict Vedic system, anyone born without the parents performing the garbhadhana ceremony is automatically classified as sudra. Which turns out to be basically, practically, everybody. But if someone comes in contact with a pure devotee spiritual master who observes ones behavior after some time as being brahminical in quality, then that person,who can follow the 4 reg’s and chant 16 rounds a day without fail can be given the brahmana initiation. Without this touch from the spiritual master and Narada Muni’s system, everyone would be sudra in kali yuga.
Srila Prabhupada also gives a nice example from the Jabala Upanisad of a boy born without his mother knowing who his father was.When asked by Gautama muni who his father was, the boy couldn’t say-this at that time was a huge embarasment because it showed how low class was one’s mother. But when the boy answered truthfully, Gautama Muni accepted him as brahminical in quality because he told the truth. Today many people are wearing brahmana threads who lie to others, and without any shame, which makes them lower than a sudra.

Hari bol…
damaghosa das
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Compiled bv Damaghosa dasa and Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada explains about the glories of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

Books : Bhagavad-gita As It Is – Macmillan 1972 Edition : Bg: introduction :

1) Kṛṣṇa, 2) Brahmā, 3) Nārada; 4) Vyāsa, 5) Madhva, 6) Padmanābha, 7) Nṛhari, 8) Mādhava, 9) Akṣobhya, 10) Jayatīrtha, 11) Jñānasindhu, 12) Dayānidhi, 13) Vidyānidhi, 14) Rājendra, 15) Jayadharma, 16) Puruṣottama, 17) Brahmaṇyatīrtha, 18) Vyāsatīrtha, 19) Lakṣmīpati, 20) Mādhavendra Purī, 21) Īśvara Purī, (Nityānanda, Advaita), 22) Lord Caitanya, 23) Rūpa (Svarūpa, Sanātana), 24) Raghunātha, Jīva, 25) Kṛṣṇadāsa, 26) Narottama, 27) Viśvanātha, 28) (Baladeva) Jagannātha, 29) Bhaktivinode, 30) Gaurakiśora, 31) Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī, 32) His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Srila Prabhupada gives all credit to his Guru Maharaja

“…In Los Angeles many fathers and mothers used to come to see me to express their feelings of gratitude for my leading the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement throughout the entire world. Some of them said that it is greatly fortunate for the Americans that I have started the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement in America. But actually the original father of this movement is Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, since it was started a very long time ago but is coming down to human society by disciplic succession. If I have any credit in this connection, it does not belong to me personally, but it is due to my eternal spiritual master, His Divine Grace Om Viṣṇupāda Paramahaṁsa Parivrājakācārya 108 Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Mahārāja Prabhupāda..”
Books : Bhagavad-gita As It Is – Macmillan 1972 Edition : Bg: Preface :

Srila Prabhupada explains his birth in a family of transcendentalists and his meeting His Guru Maharaja
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Submitted by Yasoda nandana Dasa

There is no comparison. There is no literature throughout the universe like Srimad-Bhagavatam. There is no competition. Every word is for the good of the human society. Therefore we stress so much in the book distribution. Somehow or other, if the book goes in one hand, he will be benefited. At least he will see, “Oh, they have taken so much price. Let me see what is there.” If he reads one sloka, his life will be successful. This is such nice things. Therefore we are stressing so much, “Please distribute book, distribute book, distribute book.” A greater mridanga. We are chanting, playing our mridanga. It is heard within this room or little more.
But this mridanga will go home to home, country to country, community to community.

– Lecture, Srimad Bhagavatam, 1.16.8 — Los Angeles, January 5, 1974

Submitted by Narasimha Dasa

In the first and second cantos of Srimad-Bhagavatam emphasis is given to the importance of hearing Bhagavatam for the sake of liberation. This hearing is best done in an assembly of devotees and regularly, such as in a daily class or discussion group. The Bhagavatam was originally imparted in the assembly of great sages headed by Srila Sukadeva Gosvami, who heard it from Srila Vyasadeva, and then again in the assembly of devotees headed by Sri Suta Gosvami, who heard it from Sukadeva Gosvami.

TEXT 32: That very Srimad-Bhagavatam I shall recite before you because you are the most sincere devotee of Lord Krishna. One who gives full attention and respect to hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam achieves unflinching faith in the Supreme Lord, the giver of salvation.

Purport: “In Bhagavad Gita it is confirmed that to be in association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead by full surrender in transcendental love frees one from the miseries inflicted by the laws of material existence.” (SB. 2.7.32, Purport)

Non-sectarian God Realization:

Various scriptures in the Vedic world and outside where created especially for certain classes of men of different times and places. In other words, such scriptures are not universal or timeless or fully spiritual. Because Srimad-Bhagavatam focuses primarily on pure devotional service and never encourages karma-kanda, astanga-yoga, jnana–kanda, mundane piety, or other external paths that aim at material elevation, Lord Chaitanya highly praised Bhagavatam, calling it “the spotless Purana.”

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Submitted by Vidura Mahatma Dasa

Harikeśa: I’m curious about the destination of a neophyte devotee. If a neophyte devotee is with determination endeavoring for purification but he were to meet with death as he is still influenced by the lower modes, although he is seriously trying, then does he take another birth or does he go to Kṛṣṇa?

Prabhupāda: No, he has to take another birth. If he is not completely purified, he has to suffer another birth. Nobody is allowed to enter into the spiritual unless he is cent percent pure. No allowance. Then he has to… Therefore it is said, śucīnāṁ śrīmatāṁ gehe yoga-bhraṣṭo sañjāyate [Bg. 6.41]. He is given chance, another chance, to take birth in a very pure brāhmaṇa family or rich family so that he may take again the chance, not in, he is allowed to enter. He is given a good chance again. That is his benefit. Even if you are failure, still, your next birth as a very first-class human being is guaranteed. Not for others. It is only for the yogis. If he is… Therefore it is said that “What is the loss even if he is failure?” Tyaktvā sva-dharmaṁ caraṇāmbujaṁ harer bhajann apakvo ‘tha patet tato yadi yatra kva va abhadram abhūd amuṣya kim [SB 1.5.17]. This verse is very important. Even by sentiment one comes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and discharges the regulative duties, chants Hare Kṛṣṇa, his next life is guaranteed as a human being. Even he does it for some time—he is not perfect—still, his next life is guaranteed. But others, there is no such guarantee. Even if he discharges his so-called duties, material duties, there is no guarantee that he’ll become a human being. [break] Continue reading →

Hare Krishna Society

Branches of Sri Chaitanya’s Tree: The Eternal Parampara

the guru tattva principle made simple by Srila Prabhupada

The Value of Discrimination

UNLESS WE GET THE HIGHER TASTE, WE WILL BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF MAYA, PERPETUALLY-SP

Srila Prabhupada talks about his very first days from off the boat into America

Only by Narada Muni’s mercy–do we have brahmanas in kali yuga

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada Tirobhava tithi (Disappearance day)

Srila Prabhupada on the power of Srimad-Bhagavatam

The Importance Hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam

The Special Concession For A Devotee