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Sripad Baladeva VIdyabhusana Tirobhava Tithi [disappearance day]

Gangamata Goswamini avirbhava tithi [appearance day]

Srila Prabhupada glorifies Sripada Baladeva Vidyabhusana

Friday, June 22, 2018 = Mayapura, West Bengal , Bharata Bhumi time and Los Angeles, California time [same day]

compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada explains how Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana wrote the Gaudiya-Bhasya on the Vedanta-sutras.

Lectures : Bhagavad-gita Lectures : Bg 13: Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 13.8-12 — Bombay, September 30, 1973 : 730930BG.BOM : But sometimes back, in Jaipur, there was a challenge that “The Gauḍīya Sampradāya has no commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra.” So at that time Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura was requested… Because he was grand scholar, grand old man scholar, at that time living in Vṛndāvana… So he was very old at that time; so he authorized Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana, that “You do it.” There was no need, but people are demanding, “Where is your commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra?” So Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana, with the order of Govindaji at Jaipur, he wrote the commentary on Brahma-sūtra. That name is Govinda-bhāṣya. So the Gauḍīya-Brahmā Sampradāya, they have got also commentary on Brahma-sūtra. That is required.

Conversations : 1976 Conversations : June, 1976 : Interview with Professors O’Connell, Motilal and Shivaram — June 18, 1976, Toronto : 760618iv.tor :

Prabhupāda: So, it is actually bhāṣyāyāṁ brahma-sūtrāṇām. It is stated. This is the real commentary on Brahma-sūtra by Vyāsadeva himself, author. Vyāsadeva is the author of Brahma-sūtra, and he has written personally, under the instruction of his guru, Nārada Muni, this Brahma-sūtra-bhāṣya. And it begins with the Brahma-sūtra aphorism: janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1]. The Brahma-sūtra begins with these words: janmādya, athāto brahma jijñāsā. Janmādy asya yataḥ. So these things are explained elaborately. Therefore Brahma-sūtra-bhāṣya, bhāṣyāyāṁ brahma-sūtra. Vedārtha paribṛṁhita. So therefore in our Gauḍīya, Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not write any bhāṣya of the Brahma-sūtra, neither the gosvāmīs, because they took it that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the real bhāṣya of Brahma-sūtra. But when…. Sometimes the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas are challenged that “You cannot be accepted as bona fide community, spiritual community, because you have no bhāṣya on Brahma-sūtra.” Then Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa wrote govinda-bhāṣya. But Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not like or ask His disciples to write, because He thought, “This is the Gauḍīya, Brahma-sūtra-bhāṣya.” Not Gauḍīya—for every Vaiṣṇava. Bhāṣyāyāṁ brahma-sūtrāṇām. So we have got now Gauḍīya Vedānta-bhāṣya. Rāmānuja Vedānta-bhāṣya is there. Madhvācārya Vedānta-bhāṣya is there, all. And Gauḍīya had not. But since this challenge was made in Jaipur, then Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa, he took: “Yes,” and he finished, Gauḍīya bhāṣya, and it is called Govinda-bhāṣya. Actually, in India, unless one follows the ācāryas and has given commentary on the Brahma-sūtra, he’s not a bona fide. Nyāya-prasthāna. Brahma-sūtra is called nyāya-prasthāna. Śruti-prasthāna, smṛti-prasthāna, nyāya-prasthāna. So any bona fide ācārya must give his understanding about these three prasthānas..

Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures : Canto 1: Lectures : SB 1.2: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.25 — Vrndavana, November 5, 1972 : 721105SB.VRN :

Now, the Vedānta, in the beginning it is, the first sūtra is: athāto brahma jijñāsā. So to inquire about Brahman, the Absolute. Now, the next answer is janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1]. Brahman, the Absolute Truth, is that from whom everything emanates. Janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1]. Now, this janmādy asya yataḥ is explained in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Therefore Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is explained by Vyāsadeva himself. Vyāsadeva is explaining Vedānta-sūtra in his book, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Bhāṣyaṁ brahma-sūtrāṇām **. Śrī Vyāsadeva says, “This is the real comment, or bhāṣya, of Vedānta-sūtra, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.” Therefore Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas, Gosvāmīs, they did not write any comment on the Vedānta-sūtra because they accept Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the natural commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra. So why they should write again? But still, when there was such question raised in Jaipur that the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava has no commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra, at that time, Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa, he wrote Govinda-bhāṣya on Vedānta-sūtra. But still, Vedānta-sūtra does not mean to understand impersonalism. No. That’s not the fact

Guest (1) (Indian man): …cultural affairs, Orissa government. Here there is a large stack of palm leaf manuscripts. Palm leaf manuscripts. We are editing the Sanskrit manuscripts, correcting them and publishing them.

Srila Prabhupāda: Sanskrit?

Guest (1): Sanskrit.

Prabhupāda: It is published in Sanskrit?

Guest (1): Yes.

Prabhupāda: Palm beach?

Guest (2) (Indian man): Palm leaves.

Hari–śauri: Some manuscripts on palm leaf.

Prabhupāda: Oh, palm leaf.

Hari–śauri: They’re translating and publishing. So he is the editor in charge of all that for the government.

Guest (1): What is the…?

Srila Prabhupāda: What is the śāstra?

Hari–śauri: What is the name of the śāstra?

Guest (1): Śāstra. I told yesterday Bhakti–bhāgavatam of Kavisurya Baladeva(?).

Srila Prabhupāda: Oh, yes, yes.

Guest (1): And ācārya, there is one… (quotes long Sanskrit verses) This is one Rādhā–Kṛṣṇa līlā by Kavisurya Baladeva of Orissa.

Srila Prabhupāda: Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana?

Guest (1): Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana who commented on, wrote Śrī Bhāṣyam..

Gurukṛpa: That’s the same one you just quoted? By who?

Guest (1): Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana.

Gurukṛpa: The one you just sang.

Guest (1): No. This is Kavisurya Baladeva.

Srila Prabhupāda: Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana, different.

Guest (1): Different.

Srila Prabhupāda: Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana belonged to Orissa or Bengal?

Guest (1): Yes, Orissa. And he has clearly mentioned that near Tilika, Tilika Lake he was born. It is clear mentioned.

Srila Prabhupāda: But he used to live in Balasore.

Guest (1): Yes. He used to live in Balasore, and then went to Bhastrana,(?) where he wrote Bhāṣya on Vedānta–sūtra and Gītā.

Prabhupāda: Vedānta–sūtra, Govinda–bhāṣya, he wrote in Jaipur.

Guest (1): Jaipur. Yes, last time, Jaipur.

Srila Prabhupāda: I have dedicated my Bhagavad-gītā to Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana.

Guest (1): Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana? Following Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana?

Hari–śauri: He dedicated it. Yes, this is… Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana.
Conversations : 1977 Conversations : January, 1977 : Room Conversation — January 24, 1977, Bhuvanesvara

Conversations : 1976 Conversations : July, 1976 : Conversation with Prof. Saligram and Dr. Sukla — July 5, 1976, Washington, D.C. : 760705rc.wdc :

Prabhupāda: Brahma-sūtra-padaiś caiva hetumādbhir viniścitaiḥ [Bg. 13.5]. Very…. Nyāya-praṣṭhāna. But Vedānta-sūtra is explained in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Therefore our Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas, they did not write any comment on the Vedānta-sūtra. They accept Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the real bhāṣya. But when the Gauḍīya-Vaiṣṇavas are challenged that “You have no Vedānta-sūtra-bhāṣya, therefore you cannot be accepted as transcendental party,” so Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana immediately gave Govinda-bhāṣya on Vedānta. Our Gosvāmīs, they did not write because they knew Brahma-sūtra bhāṣya, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Lectures : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures : Madhya-lila: Lectures : Madhya 20: Lectures : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.100-108 — New York, November 22, 1966 : 661122C2.NY :

So Sanātana Gosvāmī, he’s ācārya in this disciplic succession from Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Caitanya. He is the first disciple of Lord Caitanya, and from him, Sanātana Gosvāmī, six Gosvāmīs. There were six among the first followers of Lord Caitanya. And then, from next step comes Raghunātha Gosvāmī and then this author of this book, Kṛṣṇa dāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, and from him, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, and then from him, Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa. In this way this disciplic succession is coming from Lord Caitanya. So as ācārya… Ācārya means one who knows the principles of scripture, properly being initiated by authority who knows things as they are, and they apply those things in their own life. They are called ācārya. Acinoti śāstrāṇi: he must know all the principles from authorities, and he should apply in his life those principles. Not that he knows but does not apply. He cannot be ācārya. Āpani ācari prabhu jīva disa (?). Lord Caitanya, He, although He is accepted as the, I mean to say, the personal, He’s Kṛṣṇa Himself, still, He behaved in such a way that others can follow. He also accepted Īśvara Purī. Īśvara, Īśvara Purī was His spiritual master, Lord Caitanya’s. This is the disciplic succession. Continue reading →

The spiritual culture, by Haripada dasa

The spiritual culture of India is so high that if a person does not follow these four regulative principles, 1- abandon the illicit sex life, 2- gambling, 3- coffee, stimulants and drugs and 4- consumption of meat, fish and eggs and sings every day The Maha-Mantra Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare (the H is read as J of Jota), 27,648 names of God in the rosary, if a person does not practice this is considered uncivilized.

I share that in the meaning of the verse of Srimad Bhagavatam, 1, 9, 26, Srila Prabhupada says: “Bhīṣmadeva recommended nine qualities that all human beings must exhibit: 1) not get angry, 2) not lie, 3) distribute wealth equitably , 4) forgive, 5) beget children only with one’s legitimate wife, 6) be pure-minded and healthy, 7) not hostile to anyone, 8) be simple, and 9) keep servants and subordinates. One can not be called a civilized person, if he does not acquire the aforementioned preliminary qualities.

By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, we understand and accept that the cultured person is identified because he has three basic qualities, these are: 1) He sees all women as mothers, except his own wife. There are seven mothers: the original mother, the wife of the priest, the wife of the king, the wife of the spiritual master, the nurse, the cow and the Earth.

2) See the properties of others as straw on the street, in other words, be satisfied with what you have and not want or envy the property of others and

3) Do to others what you would like them to do to you and Do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you. Can you imagine a society formed by people with these qualities? It would be a perfect society. We see how nowadays people consider all women as their wives and their wife and do not pay attention to them.

There is an excessive competition to surpass others, both personally and between nations and nobody thinks about the welfare of others. All are politicians, politician is one who makes plans to be happy without thinking about the welfare of others. Nowadays, a person is considered cultured for their diplomas and degrees and not for their qualities. The spiritual culture of India was killed by people who invented or speculated that one can belong to the upper class or be a priest by birth, But in the Sacred Scriptures, it is said that one belongs to the high class or priest by qualities, and his birth does not matter.

Srila Prabhupada was authorized and empowered by God to revive the spiritual culture of India, for his mercy and instructions he turned people from all over the world, who were like crows into swans.

https://haripadadasa.blogspot.com

“Yes our next program is to organize farming”–SP

May 15 1975 Perth

Prabhupāda: This man is unemployed, and if we engaged him for plowing, will he do that?

Paramahaṁsa: I don’t think so. (laughter)

Prabhupāda: Just see.

Amogha: That’s too hard, that’s work. “We don’t want to work like that, we just want some easy job.”

Prabhupāda: Then you suffer.

Śrutakīrti: That would mean they had to leave the city. They don’t want to leave the city.

Prabhupāda: Then go to hell.

Śrutakīrti: Yes.

Devotee (1): Śrīla Prabhupāda, we received news yesterday that one man in northern New South Wales is willing to sell us a farm, a great big farm out there in the southern tropics. Would this be a good place for engaging boys like the Indian, the Indian boy that came yesterday?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Our next program is to organize farming. Let anyone come. We shall give him free food and employment: “Come on.” Not that “I want to work as a clerk in the city.” You produce your own food. I give you ingredients. I give you land. And work for five, six hours, and take your food and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Some conclusions— So here we are some 43 years later and what devotees are leaving the cities to produce their own food? Not many, so Srila Prabhuapda tells them–then suffer. I was talking with one of my grown up children and he said to go 10 miles in Seattle to see a friend, takes him one hour to drive there. You could ride a bike and get there faster than that. This is just one reason why Prabhupada says-yesremain in your cities and suffer, what to speak of all the crime, filth, smog pollution, high costs of living there, taxes,thousands of homeless people everywhere, the list seems endless.

Continue reading →

Hare Krsna–Why do we remain stone hearted even after chanting for so many years? Stone hearted means tears do not come to our eyes when we chant nor do the hairs on our body stand up in ecstasy. The answers, for those interested, are given below in a few purports by Srila Prabhuapada

SB 2.3.24 text-Certainly that heart is steel-framed which, in spite of one’s chanting the holy name of the Lord with concentration, does not change when ecstasy takes place, tears fill the eyes and the hairs stand on end.

Purport…. The system of pañca-upāsanā, recommending five mental attitudes for the common man, is also enacted for this purpose, namely gradual development, worship of the superior that may be in the form of fire, electricity, the sun, the mass of living beings, Lord Śiva and, at last, the impersonal Supersoul, the partial representation of Lord Viṣṇu. They are all nicely described in the Second Chapter, but in the Third Chapter further development is prescribed after one has actually reached the stage of Viṣṇu worship, or pure devotional service, and the mature stage of Viṣṇu worship is suggested herein in relation to the change of heart.

The whole process of spiritual culture is aimed at changing the heart of the living being in the matter of his eternal relation with the Supreme Lord as subordinate servant, which is his eternal constitutional position. So with the progress of devotional service, the reaction of change in the heart is exhibited by gradual detachment from the sense of material enjoyment by a false sense of lording it over the world and an increase in the attitude of rendering loving service to the Lord. Vidhi-bhakti, or regulated devotional service by the limbs of the body (namely the eyes, the ears, the nose, the hands and the legs, as already explained hereinbefore), is now stressed herein in relation to the mind, which is the impetus for all activities of the limbs of the body. It is expected by all means that by discharging regulated devotional service one must manifest the change of heart. If there is no such change, the heart must be considered steel-framed, for it is not melted even when there is chanting of the holy name of the Lord. We must always remember that hearing and chanting are the basic principles of discharging devotional duties, and if they are properly performed there will follow the reactional ecstasy with signs of tears in the eyes and standing of the hairs on the body. These are natural consequences and are the preliminary symptoms of the bhāva stage, which occurs before one reaches the perfectional stage of prema, love of Godhead.

If the reaction does not take place, even after continuous hearing and chanting of the holy name of the Lord, it may be considered to be due to offenses only. That is the opinion of the Sandarbha. In the beginning of chanting of the holy name of the Lord, if the devotee has not been very careful about evading the ten kinds of offenses at the feet of the holy name, certainly the reaction of feelings of separation will not be visible by tears in the eyes and standing of the hair on end.

….The whole process can be summarized as follows: The advanced devotee who chants the holy name of the Lord in a perfectly offenseless manner and is friendly to everyone can actually relish the transcendental taste of glorifying the Lord. And the result of such realization is reflected in the cessation of all material desires, etc., as mentioned above. The neophytes, due to their being in the lower stage of devotional service, are invariably envious, so much so that they invent their own ways and means of devotional regulations without following the ācāryas. As such, even if they make a show of constantly chanting the holy name of the Lord, they cannot relish the transcendental taste of the holy name. Therefore, the show of tears in the eyes, trembling, perspiration or unconsciousness, etc., is condemned. They can, however, get in touch with a pure devotee of the Lord and rectify their bad habits; otherwise they shall continue to be stonehearted and unfit for any treatment. A complete progressive march on the return path home, back to Godhead, will depend on the instructions of the revealed scriptures directed by a realized devotee.

(Going back a few verses and purports in this section of SB Srila Prabhupada explains WHY this necessary change of heart does not take place.)

SB 2.3.21 purport… The common man who is puffed up with his material position and does not bow down before the Deity of the Lord in the temple, or who defies temple worship without any knowledge of the science, must know that his so-called turban or crown will only succeed in further drowning him in the water of the ocean of material existence.

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The five kinds of ignorance, by Haripada dasa

In the Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Adi-lila, 1, 102, it is said that in the Mahabharata, Udyoga-parva, chapter 43, the five kinds of ignorance are described, I will try to explain them.

1- To believe that the body is the self. I, the soul, remember that when I was little in school some children wanted to hit me, I told my grandmother and she was talking to the school principal to defend me. The child body that I had has already changed, or in other words no longer exists. The self, the soul, remembers it because it is the same, never changes and is eternal. The first lesson one should learn in the spiritual life is to understand and accept that I am not the body.

2 – To make the material satisfaction of the senses the model of happiness. The most practical proof that happiness is not in sense gratification is that in rich countries like Denmark and Sweden and others are the countries with the highest suicide rates, one does not commit suicide because he is very happy, but because he is full of frustrations and sufferings.

3- Being in anxiety due to identification with the subject. We should not envy anyone, because envy is the cause of anxieties and fears. All relationships of materialistic people are based on envy, so they always live full of anxieties and fears. Materialists do not understand because the pure devotees of God or Krishna live happily without anxieties and without fears.

4- To lament. People complain about everything because they are not happy in God or Krishna consciousness. When a person is conscious of God, he lives with God and is happy and does not regret anything. He who is wise does not mourn for the living or for the dead. He who does good will never be overcome by evil.

5- To believe that there is something beyond the Absolute Truth. The Absolute Truth is the cause of all causes and He has no cause. There is only God or Krishna and His energies. When a person awakens his natural love for God, he will naturally love everything and everyone, since there is only God and His energies. There is the inconceivable unity and difference simultaneously.

From time immemorial the greatest problem of people is that they are attached to ignorance. When they know someone who is full of knowledge, bliss and eternity, instead of rejoicing, they envy him. I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my most respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada..

www.fflv.org https://haripadadasa.blogspot.com

May 22 1975 Melbourne conversations

Prabhupāda: Yes. But a pure devotee goes back to home. There is no more material body. That is the… So we are advocating that you come to this stage where you will not to have accept this material body. Then you are really happy. And if you want to enjoy the flickering, illusory māyā, then you are subjected to the māyā. You are enjoying as American. Then you enjoy as a dog. That is māyā’s control. But if you don’t enjoy material things then you become purified. You come to the eternal life, back to home, back to Godhead. But they are not willing to give up this material enjoyment. That is the defect. So it requires education. It requires knowledge. It requires training.

Devotee 7: Prabhupāda, when you leave this material world, will there be another spiritual master after you? Another pure soul?

Prabhupāda: Then that spiritual master is Kṛṣṇa Himself. There is no need of education. Everyone is free. Everyone is full knowledge. There is no need of spiritual master.

(He is talking here of the spiritual world, not the material world)

Devotee 8: Śrīla Prabhupāda, many people who live outside the temple have Jagannātha Deities and Gaura-Nitāi Deities.

Prabhupāda: Hmm?

Devotee 8: Śrīla Prabhupāda, many people who live outside the temple have Jagannātha Deities and…

Prabhupāda: Better Gaura-Nitāi Deities.

Devotee 8: Huh?

Prabhupāda: Better Gaura-Nitāi.

Devotee 8: So they have to do full Deity worship when they have these Deities?

Prabhupāda: Hmm?

Devotee 8: They have to do full Deity worship to have these Deities? Dress the Deities every day?

Prabhupāda: They are supposed to do so, but whether they are able to do so, that is the point. If you can worship properly, that’s all right. But whether you are able to worship?

Devotee 7: Prabhupāda, can a person go back to a spiritual planet without initiation?

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Continue reading →

May 21 1975 Melbourne

Madhudviṣa: …cannot become a medical practitioner by simply reading the books. He must study under a medical practitioner. So in the case of your books, is it possible to become a devotee without actually having personal association with you? Just by reading your books?

Prabhupāda: No, it is not that you have to associate with the author. But one who knows, if you cannot understand you have to take lesson from him. Not necessarily that you have to contact with the author always.

Devotee: Just like the textbooks are not written by the teachers; they’re written by other professors.

Devotee: Usually you don’t even meet the author.

Prabhupāda: Simply one who knows the subject matter, he can explain.

Madhudviṣa: But can your, would your purports, would that serve as explanation besides…

Prabhupāda: No, no, anyone who knows the subject matter, he will be able to explain. Not necessarily the author is required to be present there. [break] …to study from a medical man, I never said you have to study from the author. Or one who understood the author’s purpose. Just like we are explaining Bhagavad-gītā as it is. Not that one has to learn directly from Kṛṣṇa. One who has understood Kṛṣṇa, from him. That is paramparā system.

Note—some people these days say you cannot understand the books or the Krsna philosophy unless you go thru somebody who was physically there with Srila Prabhupada. This statement proves that is false.

Continue reading →

Who and How to understand SB

1.) SB 2.1.10 purport…In the Padma Purāṇa, it is mentioned that Gautama Muni advised Mahārāja Ambarīṣa to hear regularly Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as it was recited by Śukadeva Gosvāmī, and herein it is confirmed that Mahārāja Ambarīṣa heard Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from the very beginning to the end, as it was spoken by Śukadeva Gosvāmī. One who is actually interested in the Bhāgavatam, therefore, must not play with it by reading or hearing a portion from here and a portion from there; one must follow in the footsteps of great kings like Mahārāja Ambarīṣa or Mahārāja Parīkṣit and hear it from a bona fide representative of Śukadeva Gosvāmī.

2.) SB 2.2.13 purport…According to the Bhāgavata school, the Lord’s rāsa dancing is the smiling face of the Lord. Since it is recommended in this verse that one should gradually progress from the lotus feet up to the smiling face, we shall not jump at once to understand the Lord’s pastimes in the rāsa dance. It is better to practice concentrating our attention by offering flowers and tulasi to the lotus feet of the Lord. In this way, we gradually become purified by the arcanā process. We dress the Lord, bathe Him, etc., and all these transcendental activities help us purify our existence.

…..Our intelligence in the present conditioned state of life is impure due to being engaged in sense gratification. The result of meditation on the transcendental form of the Lord will be manifested by one’s detachment from sense gratification. Therefore, the ultimate purpose of meditation is purification of one’s intelligence.

Those who are too engrossed in sense gratification cannot be allowed to participate in arcanā or to touch the transcendental form of the Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu Deities. For them it is better to meditate upon the gigantic virāṭ-rūpa of the Lord, as recommended in the next verse. The impersonalists and the voidists are therefore recommended to meditate upon the universal form of the Lord, whereas the devotees are recommended to meditate on the Deity worship in the temple. Because the impersonalists and the voidists are not sufficiently purified in their spiritual activities, arcanā is not meant for them.

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The ascending and descending process, by Haripada dasa

There are two processes to receive knowledge, the ascending and descending process. I will try to explain them. A person believes that by his mental and intellectual power he will understand everything, who I am, who is God, who is the material creation, etc., this is called the ascending process. In this connection I share a very interesting story, St. Augustine is considered the greatest philosopher of the Christian Church, this saint walked on the beach speculating several philosophical issues, and saw a child with a shovel who was making a hole in the sand. The saint asked the child what he was doing, and the boy replied that I’m going to put all the ocean water in this hole. St. Augustine laughed and said that was impossible, The child then said that it was more impossible to understand things through speculation, and that the only way to understand things is when God is pleased with you and he will will reveal everything. The only way to understand things is by the mercy of God. There St. Augustine understood the essence of spiritual life.

We see that we are all born with four defects, 1- we have the tendency to make mistakes, to err is human, 2- we tend to fall into ignorance, 3- we tend to deceive others and 4- we have imperfect senses. Descending process means that God or Krishna transmits all eternal truths to Brahma, the first creature created, then Brahma transmits it to his son Narada, Narada to Vyasadeva, Vyasadeva to Madhvacharya, etc., this is called guru parampara or disciplic succession. This knowledge comes pure and does not change. That is why Srila Prabhupada, who is the number 32 spiritual master of this guru parampara chain, always said that the philosophy of Krishna consciousness is very easy because we do not have to invent anything, we just repeat the messages that the predecessor spiritual masters have given us.

There are four sampradayas or spiritual schools authorized by God or Krishna that transmit descending knowledge, 1- the Brahma sampradaya whose Acharya or founding Master is Madhvacharya, 2- the Kumara sampradaya, the 4 Kumaras, whose Acharya or founding Master is Nimbarkacharya, 3- the Laksmi sampradaya, whose Acharya or founding Master is Ramanujacharya and 4- the Rudra or Siva sampradaya, whose Acharya or founding Master is Visnuswami. One must receive spiritual knowledge and mantras from these 4 spiritual schools. When Srila Prabhupada’s teacher, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada, preached Krishna consciousness all over India, he once met a guru and he asked him: “Who has authorized you to be a guru?” Then he said that all these manufactured gurus are first class deceivers. That is why Srila Prabhupada says in Srimad Bhagavatam, 4, 8, 54 that one should receive initiation from a guru who is authorized by the guru who preceded him.

www.fflv.org https://haripadadasa.blogspot.com

Our well-wisher, by Haripada dasa

Srila Prabhupada from 1966 to 1977 answered more than 7,000 letters from his disciples and admirers, and he always put at the en, Your well-wisher Bhaktivedanta Swami. Do not think that finding a bona fide representative of God or Krishna is an easy thing. The problem is that there are many deceivers. Srila Prabhupada always said that what people dislike the most is suffering and being cheated. Another thing he always said is that people can not understand the simplest things in life because they are full of sinful activities. People do not understand the difference between a materialistic person and an atheist and a true devotee of God or Krishna. The atheist and materialist has no good feeling for anyone, nor for himself, and the devotee of Krishna is a person full of compassion. He cannot bear the afflictions of others and tries through the preaching of Krishna consciousness, so that people chant Hare Krishna, lead a pure and sinless life and be happy. Srila Prabhupada sacrificed his life for others. That is the practical proof that he is a representative of God or Krishna, and he is Acharya, which means the one who preaches with his personal example.

Srila Prabhupada is saktyavesa avatara. The word avatara means that that descends from the spiritual world, and saktyavesa means the one that God or Krishna sends to be His representative. When Srila Prabhupada was born the astrologer said that this child when he is 70 years old will leave India to go to the Western countries to preach the conscience of Krishna. He will open over a hundred temples of Krishna, he will write 80 books and these books will be the law books for the next 10,000 years for all mankind. Up to now, more than 500 million books have been distributed in all the languages of the world. Srila Prabhupada did not come to make a new religion, but to preach concepts and truths that are eternal, as Jesus Christ said that I did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.

Srila Prabhupada taught us that the real problems are liberating us from birth, death, old age and disease. He taught us that the only spiritual process in Kali yuga or the present era is to chant the Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare (the H is read as J de jota), and taught us that the pure and intimate devotees of God or Krishna never die, they live eternally in their instructions. Those who obey his instructions live with them. Srila Prabhupada taught us to love our enemies, I am going to tell a story that illustrates this, Srila Prabhupada bought a piece of land in Bombay, India, to make a Krishna temple, a Hotel, a Theater and a vegetarian restaurant. He bought land from one Mr. Nair, a very powerful character, President of the Supreme Court and Director of a newspaper. Nair before had also sold that same land to the C. Company, with traps took away the land and money. The C. Company sued Nair, but Nair won the lawsuit.

Srila Prabhupada knew it and so and everything took a risk. Nair and his lawyer wanted to do the same with Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada sued Mr. Nair in the courts, but Nair died of a heart attack. His mistress continued with the litigation and made a big mistake, she bribed City Hall officials to tear down the temple which the devotees were already building. She was trying to throw all the devotees of Krishna who lived on the land. This backfired, the devotees of Krishna called all his Hindu friends and told them everything. All the most important people of Bombay condemned this act and Mrs. Nair was devastated. After Mrs. Nair all regretted went to see Srila Prabhupada and crying he threw himself at his feet to forgive her, Srila Prabhupada full of mercy told him that you are for me as my daughter, never in life will you lack anything, I would I will take care of you. Now that temple is one of the most important temples of spiritual India.

Hare Krishna Society

Sri Baladeva Vidya Bhusana Tirobhava tithi – Friday, June 22, 20187 = Mayapura, West Bengal , Bharata bhumi time and Los Angeles, California time [same day]

The spiritual culture

“Yes our next program is to organize farming”–SP

Why do we remain stone hearted even after years of chanting? SP explains

The five kinds of ignorance

which deities are householders allowed to worship??—SP answers

more proof you don’t need a “physically present guru”—SP

Who and How to understand SB and BG—SP

The ascending and descending process

Our well-wisher