SP explains 2 ways of living-the easy way and the hard way

May 14 1975 Australia–

 

Prabhupāda: But therefore, there are two ways of living. One way of living is called material enjoyment, or sense enjoyment. This is one way of life. In Sanskrit it is called pravṛtti-mārga, “How to enjoy more, more, more, more, more.” This is called pravṛtti-mārga. That is going on. The whole… At the present moment the whole civilization, throughout the whole world—everyone is trying to get more money. More money means more sense enjoyment. More money means more sense enjoyment. This is called pravṛtti-mārga.

Justin Murphy: Well, maybe less enjoyment but more possessions.

Prabhupāda: No, enjoyment in this way of life more sense enjoyment, you will never be able to enjoy or happiness. That is not possible. That is the nature’s way. (Aside:) You can close the door. If you simply want to enjoy, you can enjoy. But you will create more miseries. So this is one way of life, that you enjoy your senses and create more miseries. This is one way of life. And if you want to decrease your miseries, then there is another life, which is called simple life. Simple life means you produce your food and you produce your cloth so you dress yourself nicely, you eat, yourself, nicely, keep yourself fit and glorify the Lord. This is one way of life. And the other way of life, that “We don’t care for the Lord. Let us enjoy the senses to the topmost capacity and be happy…” So this way of life will never make you happy. You will simply go on struggling. This is one way of life. Another way of life, that the human life is meant for God realization…

Hare Krsna-below we have some pictures of the harvest now coming in this year.

canning tomato sauce and elderberry syrup    patty pan squash, and some peppers for dinner

Akane apples-sweet and tart same time

How to recognize who is authorized–SP

Lectures : Bhagavad-gita Lectures : Bg 10: Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 10.2-3 — New York, January 1, 1967 : 670101BG.NY :

Jñāne prayāsam udapāsya namanta eva and san-mukharitāṁ bhavadīya-vārtām. San-mukharitām means just try to hear about the glories of the Supreme Lord from the mouth of realized souls. Don’t go to the unauthorized persons. Now, how you can know what is the difference between unauthorized and authorized? That you can know also. There is description. That, in Bhagavad-gītā you’ll see, who is authorized, who is not authorized. The Lord says, evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ [Bg. 4.2]. This authority is handed over by disciplic succession.

 

.Lectures : Bhagavad-gita Lectures : Bg 13: Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 13:22 — Hyderabad, August 17, 1976 : 760817BG.HYD :

There is no use of interpretation. Interpretation is required when you cannot understand one statement. In the law court if one statement is ambiguous then two parties argue on it. “I think it is this,” “I think…” But when it is clear there is no question of interpretation. Unfortunately the Bhagavad-gītā is being interpreted by unauthorized persons unnecessarily, and people are kept into darkness. We are trying to protest against this process.

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Hari nama sankirtan more important than 16 rounds–SP

“I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 14th, 1969, and I have received a similar letter from Brahmananda also that you are finding some difficulty in keeping pace regularly with the routine work. My advice to you under the circumstances is that at least for one hour you must all go to have sankirtana outside on the streets or in the park. That is your life and soul, first business. The next business is completing the chanting of sixteen rounds every day.

The next business is your editing and if you find extra time then you can attend the temple ceremonies. Otherwise you can stop these activities, but outdoor kirtana, your editing work and chanting of sixteen rounds must be done. Outdoor kirtana must be done, even at the cost of suspending all editorial work. That is your first and foremost business. Temple worship is not so important. If need be, the whole temple can be locked, but the outdoor kirtana cannot be stopped.”

(SPL to Rayarama, 17th May, 1969)

 

Some Conclusions–

This is a very interesting letter by Srila Prabhupada where he is listing in order of importance our duties as devotees/disciples.

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How to get Krsna to shake hands with you

SB 2.9.20        Answers by Citing the Lord’ s Version    17365/530501
There are many renegades from the Brahma-sampradaya whose only
business is to make men more forgetful of the Lord and thus entangle
them more and more in material existence. Such persons are never dear
to the Lord, and the Lord sends them deeper into the darkest region of
matter so that such envious demons may not be able to know the Supreme
Lord.
   Anyone, however, preaching the mission of the Lord in the line of
the Brahma-sampradaya is always dear to the Lord, and the Lord, being
satisfied with such a preacher of the authorized bhakti cult, shakes
hands with him in great satisfaction.

The fall harvest continues-apples, tomatoes sugar snap peas, etc etc

 

Meditation begins at Krsnas Lotus Feet

Hare Krsna-below we have some verses/purports by Srila Prabhupada describing how the devotee should begin to meditate upon the Lord which begins with His Lotus  Feet and corresponds to studying the first and second cantos of Srimad Bhagavatam. He also mentions (at the end) how if we are not free of gross sex life, then we should restrict our study of Srimad Bhagavatam to the first and second cantos, only. Third offense to chanting is to disobey the instructions of the spiritual master.

Hare Krsna

damaghosa das

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SB 4.24.52 purport–Lord Śiva has thus described the bodily features of the Lord authoritatively. Now he wants to see the lotus feet of the Lord. When a devotee wants to see the transcendental form of the Lord, he begins his meditation on the Lord’s body by first looking at the feet of the Lord. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is considered to be the transcendental sound form of the Lord, and the twelve cantos are divided in accordance with the transcendental form of the Lord. The First and Second Cantos of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam are called the two lotus feet of the Lord. It is therefore suggested by Lord Śiva that one should first try to see the lotus feet of the Lord. This also means that if one is serious about reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, he must begin by seriously studying the First and Second Cantos.

The beauty of the lotus feet of the Lord is compared to the petals of a lotus flower which grows in the autumn season. By nature’s law, in autumn the dirty or muddy waters of rivers and lakes become very clean. At that time the lotus flowers growing in the lakes appear very bright and beautiful. The lotus flower itself is compared to the lotus feet of the Lord, and the petals are compared to the nails of the feet of the Lord. The nails of the feet of the Lord are very bright, as Brahma-saṁhitā testifies. Ānanda-cinmaya-sad-ujjvala-vigrahasya: [Bs 5.32] every limb of the transcendental body of the Lord is made of ānanda-cinmaya-sad-ujjvala. In other words, everyone serious about understanding the transcendental science and seeing the transcendental form of the Lord must first of all attempt to see the lotus feet of the Lord by studying the First and Second Cantos of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. When one sees the lotus feet of the Lord, all kinds of doubts and fears within the heart are vanquished.

Nov 4 1974 Vrndavana lecture

So therefore Vyāsadeva has taken so much trouble to establish the Bhāgavata life in Twelve Cantos. One has to go, one after another, one after another, one after another. Not jumping. Daśama-skandha, the Tenth Canto is the face of Kṛṣṇa. So worshiping Kṛṣṇa means one should offer tulasī on the, on His lotus feet first of all. Not jump over to the mouth or to the face. So the First and Second cantos are the two lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. One should begin worshiping Bhāgavatam, or the sound representation of Kṛṣṇa, by worshiping the First Canto and Second Cantos. We are reading the First Canto. We are just worshiping one lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Then the other. Then the thighs. Gradually, you have to rise to the face. The Tenth Canto is the face of Kṛṣṇa. Don’t jump over immediately. Read it. But try to understand from the very beginning.

SB 3.28.21–text

“The devotee should first concentrate his mind on the Lord’s lotus feet, which are adorned with the marks of a thunderbolt, a goad, a banner and a lotus. The splendor of their beautiful ruby nails resembles the orb of the moon and dispels the thick gloom of one’s heart.”

(during his lecture on this verse)… This is the beginning of meditation, sañcintayet. ..First of all meditate on the lotus feet,caraṇāravindam, lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. And if you minutely see, then you will find the symptoms are there.Our feet and Kṛṣṇa’s feet, there is difference. Why difference? Because on the sole these marks are there. What is that? Vajra aṅkuśa, dhvaja, saroruha. Four things are there: thunderbolt, mark of thunderbolt; and kuśa, the mark of… What is that instrument which controls the elephant?

.. So aṅkuśa; vajra, thunderbolt; then aṅkuśa; then dhvaja, flag; and saroruha, lotus—these four things are there. You have seen. Sometimes Viṣṇu lotus feet is painted and these signs are there. So sañcintayet. What about, sañcintayet? These things, minutely, that “Here is the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, and on the sole, upon the sole, these marks are painted.” Lāñchanāḍhyam, deriving. It is very brilliant, beautiful. Kṛṣṇa’s everything is beautiful. Uttuṅga-rakta-vilasan-nakha-cakravāla. This is the special significance of Kṛṣṇa’s hand, that these nails are raised and reddish, uttuṅga-rakta-vilasan-nakha-cakravāla. It is just like cakravāla bird. Jyotsnābhiḥ. And from the effulgence of the nails, jyotsnābhiḥ, āhata, if you see the brilliance and effulgence of the nails of Kṛṣṇa, nails in the finger of Kṛṣṇa, then the result will be that āhata-mahad-dhṛdayāndhakāram.

…Kṛṣṇa’s body is bluish or blackish; therefore you see the sky bluish because the rays in the spiritual world is effulgence, bluish effulgence, and that is being reflected through the sky. Yasya prabhā prabhavato jagad-aṇḍa-koti [Bs. 5.40]. His bodily light is being reflected in millions and trillions of universes.

He’ll give you intelligence. He is within you. Therefore I was saying, “First of all become fit. First of all deserve. Then desire.” Why foolishly you desire something for which you do not deserve? That is your fault. That is misuse. Don’t desire something without being deserving. So these are the process given how to think, how to meditate upon Kṛṣṇa. So practice it. Become qualified. Then you’ll see everything. Without being qualified, why you want to see? This devotional service means practicing how to become qualified.

 

SB 2.2.12 purport–

Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura clearly defines the import of purification as cessation from sex indulgence. He says, yathā yathā dhīś ca śudhyati viṣaya-lāmpaṭyaṁ tyajati, tathā tathā dhārayed iti citta-śuddhi-tāratamyenaiva dhyāna-tāratamyam uktam. And as one gets free from the intoxication of sex indulgence by purification of intelligence, one should step forward for the next meditation, or in other words, the progress of meditation on the different limbs of the transcendental body of the Lord should be enhanced in proportion to the progress of purification of the heart. The conclusion is that those who are still entrapped by sex indulgence should never progress to meditation above the feet of the Lord; therefore recital of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by them should be restricted to the First and Second Cantos of the great literature. One must complete the purificatory process by assimilating the contents of the first nine cantos.Then one should be admitted into the realm of the Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Srila Prabhupada Arrives at Boston Harbor

Compiled by Padmapani dasa – Prabhupada Connection

(Srila Prabhupada at Commonwealth Pier, Boston, 1968)

 

THE PRABHUPADA CONNECTION

compiled by Padamapni dasa.

Markine-Bhagavata Dharma

 

By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

_____________________________________________________________________

 

Srila Prabhupada arrived in Boston on September 17, 1965. He carried within his heart the order of his spiritual master to spread the teachings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to the Western world. The following poem, written on board the Jaladuta, perfectly illustrates Srila Prabhupada’s complete humility and dependence on the Supreme Lord Krishna for the success of his great mission.

_____________________________________________________________________

 

boro-kṛpā kaile kṛṣṇa adhamer prati

ki lāgiyānile hethā koro ebe gati

 

My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me.

 

āche kichu kārja taba ei anumāne

nahe keno āniben ei ugra-sthāne

 

But I guess You have some business here, otherwise why would You bring me to this terrible place?

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Gopinatha!

Today we have a transcendental treat for our readers — Gopinatha! — one of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s most beloved Vaisnava songs.

The accompanying photo is of Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha in Toronto during the 1970s.  The translation is from the original Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas prayer book by Acyutananda dasa, 1972 edition.  And the mp3 sound files — both singing and translation — are of Vishnujana Swami recorded in the 1970s.  So it’s a trip down memory lane for the older devotees and a sweet introduction to the blissful mood of the Krishna Consciousness movement during the early days for our younger readers.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, a great Vaisnava acarya and pure devotee of Krishna, is assuming the role of a conditioned soul to teach us how to advance in Krishna Consciousness.  His devotional sentiments are the perfection of the soul’s yearning to be reunited with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Gopinatha, the Lord of the gopis. 

On a personal note, this song is a favorite.  When Vishnujana Swami visited Vancouver in 1974, he asked me to play karatals on some of the bhajans which he recorded in the temple, of which Gopinatha! was one of them.  When Vishnujana chanted the songs of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Narottama das Thakura, we were instantly transported to the spiritual realm.  Here’s a taste of the nectar.  Please enjoy!

https://www.prabhupadaconnect.com/Gopinatha.html

Note: Daily offerings are posted on our “What’s New” page for your convenience in case you don’t have time to read them immediately:

https://www.prabhupadaconnect.com/WhatsNew.html

Hari Hari bol!

Credit to Padmapani dasa.  The Prabhupada Connection

Do what you can for Srila Prabhupada

Subject: Do what you can for Srila Prabhupada

compiled by Padmapani dasa

Over the years I’ve received numerous messages from readers expressing their dismay that they didn’t have a chance to see and serve Srila Prabhupada while he was physically present on the planet. My reply has always been that Srila Prabhupada is not limited by time and space like an ordinary conditioned soul and he can reciprocate with anyone who sincerely prays to him and follows his instructions to the best of one’s individual capacity. Srila Prabhupada has made this abundantly clear in his books and letters which have been quoted on this website many times.

“As far as my blessing is concerned, it does not require my physical presence. If you are chanting Hare Krishna there, and following my instructions, reading the books, taking only Krishna prasadam etc., then there is no question of your not receiving the blessings of Lord Chaitanya, whose mission I am humbly trying to push on.”

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, June 30, 1974) Continue reading →

Potency of BTG disquisition by Sabhapati dasa

Dear Prabhus.

Pamho,Agtsp.

I very much appreciate Gauridas Pandita,s concerns about the Back to Godhead magazine.

As he stated, Srila Prabhpada saw the BTG and Hari Nama Sankirtana as the back bone of the movement.

I came across a BT G in late 72 and I was immediately mesmerised by its transcendental potency.My life changed forever after reading it.

After joining at the Melbourne Rathyartra in June 1973,Caru(Utah)preached to me so nicely about the importance of book distribution,and asked me If I would like to go out distributing books.

Having been fully convinced about the potency of Srila Prabhupadas books I had no hesitation in going out.

I had fully realised what effect Srila Prabhupadas books had on me,and how they bought me to Krishna Consciousness.In such a short time the experience of Rathyartra,the incredible Madhudvisa kirtans,prasadam and the amazing energy of all the devotees who were on fire due to Rathyartra altered my consciousness.In just 1 week I experienced this higher taste,and all I wanted to do was to share it with the world by distributing Srila Prabhupadas books.

So just 3 days after shaving up,I was out selling BTG!s.

Srila Prabhupada wanted the BTG to be as big as Time magazine.And in the mid 70,s there was a time when 1 million BTG,s were being sold monthly.

When distributing books on the street,first I would offer a book,and If they declined the book I would then offer the much smaller BTG,which most people would accept.I set myself the quota of 1 box of BTG,S per day.

Mid 1975 my self and Bhakta Peter( Adi Purush)distributed 70 boxes of BTG,s and with that luxmi we purchased our TS Bus.For 18 months we travelled all over Australia preaching and holding programs fully funded from BTG sales.

A BTG Tale.

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The Material Concoction That Infiltrated ISKCON

The Material Concoction That Infiltrated ISKCON

BY: VIDURA MAHATMA DAS

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 — LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

The idea that one must approach or take shelter of a “living” guru is undoubtedly one of the biggest and most damaging of lies within the Krishna consciousness movement. This lie was started by a few deviated disciples after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance in order to support their claim that Srila Prabhupada had appointed them to begin accepting disciples of their own and thereby become full-fledged diksa gurus.

If you take away the need for a living guru lie, what is left unclouded in the minds of so many bewildered people is the July 9^th 1977 Directive issued by Srila Prabhupada (via his secretary) wherein Srila Prabhupada’s ongoing acceptance of disciples even after his disappearance is expressed in legal form. Moreover, the hundreds of quotes by Srila Prabhupada which the ritviks have continually presented over the years may also become unclouded to the minds of thousands of bewildered people. As of right now, Srila Prabhupada’s ritvik order – a clear and simple issue – seems like a big gray area to most people at best, if not outright rejected as a deviant philosophy itself. Could things be any more topsy-turvy? “The intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched.” (Bg 2.41) Continue reading →