Hare Krishna Society

Subject: Srila Prabhupada: Follow the instruction. Then you are secure anywhere

compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. If you don’t follow the instruction of guru, then you are fallen down immediately. That is the way. Otherwise why you sing, yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo **. It is my duty to satisfy guru. Otherwise I am nowhere. So, if you prefer to be nowhere, then you disobey as you like. But if you want to be steady in your position, then you have to follow strictly the instruction of guru.

Devotee (1): We can understand all of your instructions simply by reading your books.

Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. Anyway, follow the instruction. That is required. Follow the instruction. Wherever you remain, it doesn’t matter. You are secure. Follow the instruction. Then you are secure anywhere. It doesn’t matter. Just like I told you that I saw my Guru Mahārāja not more than ten days in my life, but I followed his instruction. I was a gṛhastha, I never lived with the Maṭha, in the temple. It is practical. So many Godbrothers recommended that “He should be in charge in this Bombay temple, this, that, that…” Guru Mahārāja said, “Yes, better he lives outside. That is good, and he will do what is needed in due course of time.”

Devotees: Jaya! Haribol!

Srila Prabhupāda: He said like that. I could not understand at that time what does he expect. Of course, I knew that he wanted me to preach.

Yaśodānandana: I think you have done this in grand style.

Devotees: Jaya, Prabhupāda! Haribol!

Srila Prabhupāda: Yes, done grand style because I strictly follow the instruction of my Guru Mahārāja, that’s all. Otherwise I have no strength. I have not played any magic. Did I? Any gold manufacturing? (laughter) Still, I have got better disciples than the gold-manufacturing guru.

Yaśodānandana: Before you came, many gurus came, but they did not make any pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa.

Srila Prabhupāda: How they can? He is not pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa. How he can do? Kṛṣṇa–śakti vinā nāhe nāma pracāra: “Without being empowered by Kṛṣṇa nobody can turn a person to become devotee of Kṛṣṇa.” It is not… Artificially, you cannot make. He may make show of gold manufacturing, but he cannot make a devotee of Kṛṣṇa. That is not possible.

Srila Prabhupada morning walk, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, February 3, 1975

Srila Prabhupada Memories

“Do Not Change My Words”

Srila Prabhupada used to like to sit in his garden in Vrindavan especially in the mornings. He liked to hear his books read to him daily. One time Yasodanandan Prabhu was reading Sri Isopanisad when Srila Prabhupada stopped him and asked him to reread the last paragraph. After hearing it again Srila Prabhupada said, “Those are not my words! They are changing my words! Is my English not good enough?” Srila Prabhupada became very angry and continued, “This is the worst thing a disciple can do! Do not become like a leap frog and try to jump over the spiritual master thinking you know better than him. Tell them immediately [the editors] do not change my words!”

Srila Prabhupada was very upset about the changes in his books. I never saw him get so angry any other time. Continue reading →

VERY RELEVANT TESTIMONY FROM CYAVANA SWAMI

On September 6, 2017, Nityananda das received an email reply to questions he had put to Cyavana Swami, an very early Srila Prabhupada disciple who manages a preaching and gardening facility in Williston, Florida called Camp Garuda. The reply was:

“Yes, I have stated this many times….. some understand it, but most don’t and it usually causes some to become agitated. Most devotees never really understood who Srila Prabhupada is. The initiation means to begin on the path of Bhakti, each one must figure out how to take that first step. Srila Prabhupada made it perfectly clear to me that we are not his only disciples. His instruction was,”I have given you everything, don’t change anything… I will have millions of disciples.” These are the most important instructions Srila Prabhupada ever gave us for the future of his Movement.

“In my discussions with Prabhupada the subject of adding to and changing the books and philosophy came up frequently, but the question of what to do regarding initiations after he was no longer with us was very difficult to ask, it was almost unthinkable at the time that he would not always be with us. Myself and Brahmananda Swami were in Srila Prabhupada’s room one morning in Nairobi, Kenya in 1975, at first he seemed surprised at the question, as if he had already made it very clear.

We were performing initiations his behalf all over the world for some years, so he said to simply continue as he had been training us, “on my behalf ” was not just for then, it is for always. His answer was clear and simple.

“I am encouraged, especially over the past few years, by the many devotees who are clearly understanding this and Srila Prabhupada’s unique and exalted position in our Sampradaya. If someone wants to add to or change a book they can do so in their own name, and of course we must have “instructor gurus” and teachers to guide disciples on the path, but only Srila Prabhupada will fulfill the promise to take us all home, that is certain. I share this with you as a friend. As far as the general population devotees, let them think whatever they want, at least they have a start, many here including me are inspired by your work.”

RECAP:
(1). “I have given you everything, don’t change anything… I will have millions of disciples.”
(2). “We were performing initiations on his behalf all over the world for some years, so he said to simply continue as he had been training us, “on my behalf ” was not just for then, it is for always.”
Satyahit das confirmed that Cyavana Swami has been consistently stating these memories for many years.

Below we have two separate quotes from Jaiva Dharma(Bhaktivinode Thakur) which should prove to everybody the folly of “bad association”. There is a common saying-“the road to hell is paved with good intentions” and it also applies to us devotees who are in ignorance of all the very subtle aspects of this great Vaisnava philosophy.

Srila Prabhupada has often spoken of spiritual life as like a “razors edge” or as the line of demarcation on a floor where light and shadow(darkness) meet. How fine is that point? Very fine. Verily this application of our energy towards pleasing the Supreme Lord is not meant for “the less intelligent” as we have to become thoroughly familiar with all her subtle aspects.

A personal experience--I had on one occasion (about 20 years ago) to take part in some Hari nama sankirtan led by one iskcon “guru-sannyasi”, and afterwards I felt completely unfocused/bewildered in my mind, or spaced out I think is the term we used to us for that. I had never felt like that after any kirtans I led or attended. I only could conclude that it was due to “the momentary association” I had then with these iskcon devotees who all were following this bogus guru/kali-cela.

So this experience was confirmed to me by the Acaryas words and warnings of advice that if we want to develop actual God or Krsna Consciousness, we better well be very careful of whom we associate with. It is not that all who dress in dhoti and sari are devotees, otherwise why does Bhaktivinode call them Kali chelas?

Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, Kali-cela. He indicates that there are other Vaishnavas, pseudo-Vaishnavas, with tilaka on their nose and kunti beads around their neck. Such a pseudo-Vaishnava associates with money and women and is jealous of successful Vaishnavas. Although passing for a Vaishnava, his only business is earning money in the dress of a Vaishnava”. (CC.Madhy.,Ch.1, Text 218 / 220, purport)

Hare Krsna

damaghosa das

One must taste the nectar of devotion by reason, argument and knowledge, and then he must pass it on to others. One should not think that Krishna consciousness is mere sentimentality. The dancing and singing are all scientific. There is science, and there is also loving reciprocation. – On the Way to Krishna 4: The Roads of the Foolish and the Wise

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1.) An envious person is generally very self opinionated-hence if he hears praises or explanations about the science of pure bhakti he will immediately start an unnecessary argument, which will be of use to neither you nor to him.Instead of such barren debates, one should simple restrain ones dealings to a social level with such persons.

If someone whimsically proposes to include the envious persons into the ranks of the balisa,(innocent or ignorant) so that compassionate association may be practiced upon them, then such a person should first understand that this course of action would be very detrimental to his own spiritual progress. It is essential for the madhyama to act according to these 4 guidelines as any slackness in this regard will culminate in malpractice, increased lethargy and apathy towards executing spiritual discipline. In the end the deviation will become too overwhelming.

Thus in accordance with scriptural injunctions the prime duties of a madhyama vaisnava are to cultivate love for the Lord, friendship with pure devotees, compassion for the innocent and aloofness from the envious.

Continue reading →

“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.

Continue reading →

Brahmi Devi Dasi
My first memory of our beloved Srila Prabhupada was my discovery of him in a book I found in a secondhand bookshop called Krishna Consciousness: The Topmost Yoga System. I also found Easy Journey to Other Planets. I was so intrigued by these titles that I bought them both. One paragraph made such an impression on me. It was, as I remember it, “Why are we sending all these young men to the war in Vietnam when there is a fighting class of men?” That is when I recognized my spiritual master, and I said aloud to myself, “This man is beautiful.” I looked at the back of one of the books, saw the number of the Toronto temple, and called and asked if I could visit. When I was told I could, I took my baby daughter, Visakha, and went to meet the devotees.

I have loved Srila Prabhupada from the moment I read that first one of his books. He has been my life and soul from that moment on. I am, by Krishna’s mercy, now in a 77-year-old body – in the dwindling stage, to be precise. When I think of how my life would have been without Srila Prabhupada’s loving guidance and teachings – well, I shudder to think about it.

Continue reading →

I MUST BE HONEST

I MUST BE HONEST
I AM NO ONE AT ALL
BUT SINCE I HEARD FROM SHRILA PRABHUPADA
I MUST ANSWER SHRILA PRABHUPADA’S CALL.

I MUST ALWAYS PRAY TO PRABHUPADA
PLEASE KEEP FORCING OPEN MY EYES
YES I MUST PRAY TO SHRILA PRABHUPADA
TO ASSIST EVERYONE’S SPIRITUAL LIVES

WE MUST BECOME SHRILA PRABHUPADA’S TOOLS
TO DEEPLY CONQUER THE HEARTS OF ALL FOOLS
WE MUST BECOME SHRILA PRABHUPADA’S TOOLS
TO SHOW ALL THE FOOLS WHO PERFECTLY RULES. Continue reading →

Continue reading →

Dont be lazy to discuss siddhanta

Allahabad jan 15 1977–

And to pin our staunch faith in Viṣṇu, we should discuss about Viṣṇu-tattva . That is called siddhānta. Siddhānta boliyā citte nā kara alasa: “Don’t be lazy to discuss about siddhānta.” Ihā haite kṛṣṇe lāge sudṛḍha mānasa: “The more you discuss the thesis—not thesis; the factual presentation of Viṣṇu-tattva, māyā, and jīva-tattva, śakti-tattva—then it will be clear what is Kṛṣṇa.” Kṛṣṇa is the origin of everything. Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate [Bg. 10.8]. We should try to understand this fact, that Kṛṣṇa is the origin of everything, and if we take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness… Kṛṣṇe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya. If you become Kṛṣṇa conscious, then your all other duties automatically… The same example, as we have given: If you pour water on the root of the tree, then all other duties are automatically done. There is no question of separate attempt-philanthropy, philosophy and nationalism, this “ism,” that “ism.” We have discovered so many things and diversion of the real duty. That we shall have to concentrate. That is siddhānta.

siddhānta boliyā citte nā kara alasa

iha haite kṛṣṇe lāge sudṛḍha mānasa

We become more and more faithful to Kṛṣṇa by understanding the siddhānta.

Hare Krishna Society

Srila Prabhupada: Follow the instruction. Then you are secure anywhere

Do not change my words (Gauridasa Pandita dasa)

About Future Initiations (Cyavana Swami)

Harmful kirtans and bad association-warnings from our Acaryas

Daily Hari nama Sankirtana more important than 16 rounds a day–SP

Bonds of Love for Srila Prabhupada

I MUST BE HONEST

Srila Namacarya Haridasa Thakura Tirobhava Tithi [disappearance] – Tuesday, September 5, 2017 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time]

Dont be lazy to discuss Siddhanta (conclusions of sastra)–SP

How to taste the nectar of devotion