Prabhupada: Our book distribution techniques must be honest |
Myths of the BBT and ISKCON GBC
Myths of the BBT and ISKCON GBC |
Guru in the singularr and clarify about falldowns
“Guru” in the Singular and Clarity about “Fall Down”by Dhira Govinda dasa
We need a guru in whom we have absolute faith and whom we are willing to follow unconditionally in order to spiritually progress to the realm of pure devotion to Sri Krsna. This statement is made with reference to the point that each of us has many gurus, with “gurus” used in the sense of “teacher”, or “person who inspires and guides us”. We have many gurus, and it is understood that we generally don’t consider these many gurus to be on the absolute platform. That is fine, realistic, to be expected. That said, we need one guru, or at least one guru, who is on that absolute platform and in whom our trust is implicit and absolute. Sincere followers of Srila Prabhupada agree that Srila Prabhupada exists on that absolute platform and is fully qualified as a shelter for the unconditional surrender of conditioned souls. As we assert in Srila Prabhupada: The Prominent Link, when a person contacts Srila Prabhupada’s movement, that person has found a guru, in the sense of finding a Vaisnava who is completely worthy of their absolute faith. In that sense, the person no longer needs to seek a guru, because s/he has found one. Of course, that person will naturally have so many other devotees guide, instruct and mentor him/her during their spiritual lives. Although the person may consider one or more of these other devotees to be on the absolute platform, it is not necessary that s/he considers as such, or that those guides and mentors be on that platform, because Srila Prabhupada is perfectly serving in that capacity for the aspiring devotee. Thus, to reiterate, Srila Prabhupada flawlessly fills the role of guru, in the singular sense of the term, for all who contact his movement. Continue reading
Cartoon “Science”
Rejecting Darwinian Myths of Evolution
by Narasimha das
National Geographic Society recently devoted an entire issue to Charles Darwin and his speculations regarding the origin of species. Their agenda was to show how Darwin’s ideas are now widely accepted by scientists and researchers while most religious leaders reject Darwin due to their blind faith in scriptures. They quoted Srila Prabhupada briefly, and out of context, saying, “Darwin’s ideas are nonsense.” The entire issue was aimed at illustrating how modern science is confirming the fundamentals of Darwin’s ideas regarding the evolution of species; yet instead of providing substantial evidence, they simply glorified Darwin and offered imaginative narratives on how species might have transformed themselves through long series of mysterious mutations.
Evolutionists like to believe that most leading scientists now support Darwin’s far-flung hypothesis that all life has evolved from chemical compounds and that every species has improved itself automatically through chance mutations and the process of natural selection. National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Science Channel and most of the academic community, apparently, have suspended scientific thinking when it comes to the topic of so-called evolution and the origin of species. Before I began studying the Darwinist teachings, I expected to encounter at least 3-star scifi script ramped up a few notches, perhaps, with elaborately devised academia speak. Instead of compelling mock science, I’ve found instead only Disney-style cartoon tales of amoebas learning to be fish, fish sprouting wings, learning to fly and breathe air, monkeys learning to make tools, build condos, wear pants, grow corn, and so on. All this is possible, the Darwinists claim, by the power of innumerable, progressive, genetic mutations. They believe these mutations have continuously improved millions of species over millions of years, due to the principle of survival of the fittest, or natural selection. Continue reading
Dark Energy and the Land of Light
By Narasimha das
This evening I saw a documentary called “What is Space?” (by NOVA). The documentary explains that physicists have recently discovered what some are calling “the fabric of the Universe.” The study of “dark matter” and “dark energy” is an exciting new field in physics that strives to answer many questions about the nature of material reality on all levels, micro and macro. Modern physicists have been surprised to learn that space is not a vacuum but is in fact another element with mass, or substance. Previously they had believed that only gravitational forces were holding the cosmos together but now they understand that space itself is exerting another great force, a force that (they now believe) is sustaining and precisely controlling the expansion of the whole cosmos. At giant research centers, with the help of huge atomic accelerators, nuclear physicists have demonstrated that dark energy exerts forces on all material objects, including galaxies and subatomic particles. This understanding has been verified primarily through complex calculations in the field of astrophysics.
Theoretical physicists have devised mathematical equations to demonstrate that dark energy affects all physical things. This understanding is considered a huge breakthrough that may lead to other amazing discoveries about everything from quasars to subatomic fields. These recent research advancements verify some of Einstein’s earlier ideas that space, or ether, exerts a significant influence on all matter. Space, previously understood to be a vacuum, turns out to be the greatest known element in the cosmos. Scientists have calculated that space, which is full of dark energy, comprises approximately 70 percent of the cosmos in total mass. Another 25 percent of mass in the known universe is called “dark matter.” Continue reading
The Value of Real Knowledge
By Narasimha das
My next door neighbor came over the other day and gave me his latest National Geographic magazine. Just the day before, I had seen it on a magazine stand and resisted the urge to buy it. Normally I have no interest in this atheist rag, but this issue was about the May 31st F5 monster tornado in Oklahoma this year (2013) and the death of Discovery Channel’s famous “storm chaser,” Tim Samaras, and his crew, which included his son Paul Samaras. I was born and raised in “Tornado Alley” and as a boy was fascinated to see tornadoes at a distance.
Tim Samaras had a cult following of storm chasers and was working for National Geographic on a grant for studying tornadoes and lightning. While he and his crew were gathering data on tornadoes with equipment invented by Samaras, they got sucked into a vortex with 300 mph winds. Their car was found the next day in a crumpled ball. It had been dropped like a ball of trash half a mile away. Witnesses saw it falling out of the sky.
The story mentioned other cases illustrating the power of large tornadoes. It is often noted that these storms seem to have a mind of their own and are unpredictable. I learned that India has tornadoes but they are rare everywhere in the world except Tornado Alley, or the US Midwest and Texas. This issue of NG glorified Samaras as a great researcher, explorer, investigator and inventor who devoted his life, at great risk, to unlocking the mystery of these great storms. Continue reading
Srila Prabhupada and Prahlada Maharaja
By: Narasimha das
Dear Srila Prabhupada,
Please accept millions of my prostrated obeisances at your most divine lotus feet. Please forgive my millions of offenses at your feet. My mind remains attached to matter in spite of all your good instructions.
You once wrote me and said, “Please study all of my books very thoroughly.” I have tried to do that, although insufficiently to fully control my turbulent mind, which is harder to control than the wind. The only hope for me is full engagement in your transcendental service. Your mercy is the only hope for all conditioned souls. You are the real acharya for this age. You once wrote to leading preachers in ISKCON and asked, “What is the use of so many devotees if none of them are knowledgeable?” I hope to one day become your useful disciple.
The only way of success for all devotees is to hear from you constantly and understand your glories. Unfortunately, most ISKCON leaders have been neglecting to thoroughly teach new devotees that you are still present in your books, recordings, pictures, and murtis and thus as much available now as you were before. Many devotees who have joined ISKCON in recent years have been told they cannot accept you as their guru. There has been much confusion and chaos due to false ambitions to tap an influx of money and devotees who are attracted to you but not properly engaged in hearing you with rapt attention. The so-called “guru issue” and other issues such as the “book changes issue”, could be immediately resolved if ISKCON leaders and all devotee would agree to hear from you with rapt attention and without ulterior motives. In fact, this is may be the only way human society can avoid world war three. Continue reading
Arati Changes in ISKCON
Arati Changes in ISKCON
Jun 01, INDIA (SUN) — It was interesting to read Locanananda prabhu’s article, “Kirtana Guidelines“, about the changes in kirtan in ISKCON. Often times when we go to visit ISKCON temples in India, I am just amazed how devotees sing the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra in all different Bollywood Hindi tunes – so much so that instead of remembering Krishna, we are remembering the Hindi songs of yesteryear before we came to Krishna consciousness.
Envy begins with envy of guru
Fate can be changed–SP
751128SB.DEL
Guest (3): My question: Do you think your quality to change… A
person, if that soul becomes fate or lift…
Prabhupada: No fate can be changed. I understand. These questions are
generally put. Fate can be changed.
Guest (3): By name.
Prabhupada: By Krsna consciousness. Karmani nirdahati kintu ca
bhakti-bhajam. Others cannot change their fate, but only the devotees
can change. How? Krsna says, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami.
Krsna says, “I shall give you protection from all the resultant action
of your sinful life.” That is fate changed. If you don’t surrender to
Krsna, then you have to suffer or enjoy the actions of your fruitive
activities. But when you surrender to Krsna, He takes charge of
squaring up all your sinful activities and their reaction. That is…
So you surrender to Krsna; then your fate is changed. Otherwise it is
not possible.
SB 8.19.21 . Anyone who is in this material world is extremely anxious to get more and more things for sense gratification…. Therefore the Vedic culture or brahminical culture teaches one how to be satisfied with possessing the minimum necessities in life.
To teach this highest culture, varnasrama-dharma is recommended. The aim of the varnasrama divisions–brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa–is to train one to control the senses and be content with the bare necessities. Here Lord Vamanadeva, as an ideal brahmacari, refuses Bali Maharaja’s offer to give Him anything He might want. He says that without contentment one could not be happy even if he possessed the property of the entire world or the entire universe. In human society, therefore, the brahminical culture, ksatriya culture and vaisya culture must be maintained, and people must be taught how to be satisfied with only what they need. In modern civilization there is no such education; everyone tries to possess more and more, and everyone is dissatisfied and unhappy. Continue reading