Sri Advaita Acarya avirbhava tithi (sacred appearance day of Sri Advaita acarya)
Subject: re: Sri Advaita Acarya avirbhava tithi (sacred appearance day of Sri Advaita acarya)
Saturday, February 1, 2020 [Mayapura, West Bengal, India time]
Sri Advaita acarya
Srila Prabhupada glorifies Sri Advaita acarya
compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa
Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura torbhav atithi (disappearance day)
Subject: Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur tirobhava tithi (disappearance day)
Monday, January 30, 2020
Srila Visvanatha Cakravartri Thakura Tirobhava tithi- disappearance day
Srila Pundariki Vidyanidhi appearance
Curing the disease of “failure” in Devotional service
June 23 1976 NV
Curing the disease of failure in DS
Devotee (3): So, Śrīla Prabhupāda, if at this platform we are not yet…, we are still desiring to depart from Kṛṣṇa’s service and enjoy, then we are not, we have not yet tasted devotional service, what is it that we have tasted that is keeping us temporarily connected to Kṛṣṇa?
Prabhupāda: That is the Vedic injunction: You keep yourself connected with Kṛṣṇa, then you will develop the taste. Just like a jaundice patient does not taste sugar as sweet, but if he continues to take sugar candy, then he will have the real taste for sugar candy, sweet, not bitter. So he has to continue to eat sugar candy continually. Śravaṇam, kīrtanam. Then he’ll have the taste.
Kulādri: But the patient must be intelligent to keep…. Even though he does not want…
Prabhupāda: Patient is always rascal fool. You cannot expect him to be intelligent. He must agree to the physician’s directions. That is intelligence. He must know that he’s diseased, he must follow the instruction of the physician. That much will help him. Unless one is rascal, he does not fall sick. As soon as you violate the hygienic principles, you become sick. All commit sinful activities on account of ignorance. So therefore the best advancement of civilization is not to open hospitals, but to give them a lesson that they may not fall sick and go to hospital. That is real…But they do not know. They keep the mass of people in ignorance, they fall sick and they come to hospital and number of hospitals increase, they think it is advancement. This is their idea. So even the Christians, religious persons, they also open hospital to give relief to the patient. So that is not the program. The program is why he should fall sick and come to the hospital? Precaution is better than cure. One comes to the hospital for cure, but why not take the precaution so that he may not have to come to the hospital for cure? That is Vedic civilization. They have different prescribed rules and regulations so that a person may not fall sick. The modern idea is that “Let them fall sick; we have got hospitals and treat them, and they’ll be cured.” But he is cured, again he falls sick. That is going on. They have no program for precaution. They have program for cure. But actually, precaution is better than cure. We are taking precaution. The other fools, rascals, they are thinking, “What these people are doing? They are (indistinct) to have no this program, that,” according to them. Just like our Vivekananda, he prescribed, daridra-nārāyaṇa-sevā. The same thing—hospital. We kill all animals, and the hospital patient is given the meat for improvement of the health. But he does not know that this is not curing; he is become implicated in his karma. He has to be killed again, and eaten by the other animals. That he does not know. They do not accept karma-phala. Eh? The result of fruitive activities, (indistinct). But you will have to accept. There is no excuse. If you contaminate some disease, you must suffer from that disease. There is no excuse. So kriya(?) karma, you have to enjoy or suffer the result of karma. Karma-bandhana. But when you act for Kṛṣṇa, then you are mukta. Yajñārthāt karmaṇo ‘nyatra loko yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ [Bg. 3.9]. Karma must be there. If you work for Kṛṣṇa, then it is all right, and if you act for your sense gratification, then there is bondage. If you do not take education, if you remain fools and rascals, then you will suffer and create disturbance for others also. Therefore everyone must be educated, good citizens. It is good for him, good for others. (long pause)
Rascal Editors-in Prabhupadas presence over 125 changes in one book!
So Caitanya Mahāprabhu, when He was traveling in the southern part of India, south India, Ādikeśava Mandira, there was a temple. Still that temple is there. He found out this Brahma-saṁhitā in handwritten. Formerly, there was no printing press. So any important Vedic literature was being copied. Suppose you have got some copy. I want it, so I borrow from you the book, and I copy in my handwriting or I engage somebody who has got good handwriting. In this way, in Vṛndāvana, still there are so many handmade, handwritten literatures. They have opened one association, one society. They are collecting all this handwritten literature. So this handwritten literature, Brahma-saṁhitā, was collected by Caitanya Mahāprabhu from a temple in South India, and He delivered to His immediate disciples, that “This is Brahma-saṁhitā, written by Brahmā. It is the summary of the Bhāgavata, Śrīmad-Bhāgavata.”
So Caitanya Mahāprabhu gives reference of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with Brahma-saṁhitā. That means Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam also is eternal. They are not man-made, manufactured books. The Vedic literature means, as it is stated in this verse, tene brahma hṛdā. Brahma means Vedic literature, śabda-brahma. So He distributed the… Vāsudeva, original person, Absolute Truth, He, I mean to say, transferred this Vedic knowledge. Tene brahma hṛdā. Brahmā was alone. He could not see Kṛṣṇa eye to eye, but īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe arjuna tiṣṭhati [Bg. 18.61]. Kṛṣṇa is everyone’s heart, so He taught him from within. Kṛṣṇa’s name is Caitya-guru, “guru, spiritual master from within.” So Kṛṣṇa is trying to help us from within, and He manifests again externally also as spiritual master, directly teaching. So from within, from without, He is trying to help us. Kṛṣṇa is so kind. From within and without. Tene brahma hṛdā ādi-kavaye [SB 1.1.1].
So this Brahma-saṁhitā was written by Lord Brahmā, and in Brahma-saṁhitā the name of Kṛṣṇa is there. Īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ [Bs. 5.1], beginning. That is the fifth chapter. There were hundred chapters. Only fifth chapter is available. So in the beginning of that fifth chapter, Brahmā says, īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ [Bs. 5.1]. So how these rascals can conclude that Kṛṣṇa was liv…, some years, some hundred or five hundred years ago there was a beel boy, he was very powerful. So in this way, these rascal so-called scholars they are misleaded public. Therefore we call them simply rascals. They do not know what is the truth, and still, they write books, they write commentaries unauthorizedly and mislead public. This is going on. Kṛṣṇa is not manufactured. In the Brahma-saṁhitā there is complete description of Kṛṣṇa:
īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ
sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ
anādir ādir govindaḥ
sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam
[Bs. 5.1]
The cause of all causes. Janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1]. Vedānta-sūtra says, “The Absolute Truth is that which is the origin, original cause.” Original cause. The scientists, they are trying to find out the original cause of creation, but they are creating their own imagination. “There was a chunk, and it burst out, and then planets came out.” Like that. (laughter) And wherefrom this chunk came, you nonsense? So this is going on.
Prabhupada’s lecture – Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.1 – London, August 6, 1971
——————————————————————————————————————–
Comment-This is the Param Para system-from one self realized spiritual master to the next, this knowledge is handed down from time immemorial. Yet as Srila Prabhupada mentions above, those rascal editors think they know MORE than their own spiritual master , so they , without authorization, begin changing things.
Excerpt from Rascal editors conversations….
Yaśodā-nandana: In the Gurukula we were teaching Īśopaniṣad class to the children. So we took… [break] …Prabhupāda and the words which the recent edition of the Press is wrong. Many changes were brought. They were trying to make better English, but sometimes, to make better English, I think they were making philosophical mistakes also. There is no so much need of making so much better English. Your English is sufficient. It is very clear, very simple. We have caught over 125 changes. They’re changing so many things. We are wondering if this is necessary. I will show you today. I have kept the book.
Yaśodā-nandana: What is it going to be in five years? It’s going to be a different book
Yaśodā-nandana: In the Gurukula we were teaching Īśopaniṣad class to the children. So we took… [break] …Prabhupāda and the words which the recent edition of the Press is wrong. Many changes were brought. They were trying to make better English, but sometimes, to make better English, I think they were making philosophical mistakes also. There is no so much need of making so much better English. Your English is sufficient. It is very clear, very simple. We have caught over 125 changes. They’re changing so many things. We are wondering if this is necessary. I will show you today. I have kept the book.
Yaśodā-nandana: What is it going to be in five years? It’s going to be a different book
Ref. VedaBase => Conversation, “Rascal Editors,” and Morning Talk — June 22, 1977, Vṛndāvana
Sri Locana dasa Thakura tironhava tithi [disappearance – Friday, January 17, 2020 – [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time]
Srila Prabhupada glorifies Locana dasa Thakura
compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa
Many devotees of Lord Caitanya like Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura, Śrī Locana dāsa Ṭhākura, Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, Śrī Kavikarṇapūra, Śrī Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī, Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī and in this latter age within two hundred years, Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Śrī Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana, Śrī Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī, Śrī Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, Śrī Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and at last Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura (our spiritual master) and many other great and renowned scholars and devotees of the Lord have prepared voluminous books and literatures on the life and precepts of the Lord. Such literatures are all based on the śāstras like the Vedas, Purāṇas, Upaniṣads, Rāmāyaṇa, Mahābhārata and other histories and authentic literatures approved by the recognized ācāryas. They are unique in composition and unrivaled in presentation, and they are full of transcendental knowledge. Unfortunately, the people of the world are still ignorant of them, but when these literatures, which are mostly in Sanskrit and Bengali, come to light the world and when they are presented before thinking people, then India’s glory and the message of love will overflood this morbid world, which is vainly searching after peace and prosperity by various illusory methods not approved by the ācāryas in the chain of disciplic succession. Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/1/introduction/sb_introduction
Authorized prayers of Sri Locana dasa Thakura
These prayers were not ordinary concocted prayers. Prayers must be approved by Vedic literature, as indicated in this verse by the words daivībhir gīrbhiḥ. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement we do not allow any song that has not been approved or sung by bona fide devotees. We cannot allow cinema songs to be sung in the temple. We generally sing two songs. One is śrī–kṛṣṇa–caitanya prabhu nityānanda śrī–advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura–bhakta–vṛnda. This is bona fide. It is always mentioned in the Caitanya–caritāmṛta, and it is accepted by the ācāryas. The other, of course, is the mahā–mantra—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. We may also sing the songs of Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and Locana dāsa Ṭhākura, but these two songs—“śrī-kṛṣṇa–caitanya” and the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā–mantra—are sufficient to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although we cannot see Him. Seeing the Lord is not as important as appreciating Him from the authentic literature or the authentic statements of authorized persons. Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/8/5/25
Sri Locana dasa Thakura writes Caitanya-Mangala
ore mūḍha loka, śuna caitanya-maṅgala
caitanya-mahimā yāte jānibe sakala
SYNONYMS
ore—O all of you; mūḍha—foolish; loka—people; śuna—just hear; caitanya–maṅgala—the book of this name; caitanya—Lord Caitanya’s; mahimā—glories; yāte—in which; jānibe—you will know; sakala—all.
TRANSLATION
O fools, just read Śrī Caitanya–maṅgala! By reading this book you can understand all the glories of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
PURPORT
Śrī Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura’s Caitanya–bhāgavata was originally entitled Caitanya–maṅgala, but when Śrīla Locana dāsa Ṭhākura later wrote another book named Caitanya–maṅgala, Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura changed the name of his own book, which is now therefore known as Caitanya–bhāgavata. The life of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is very elaborately described in the Caitanya–bhāgavata, and Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī has already informed us that in his Śrī Caitanya–caritāmṛta he has described whatever Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has not mentioned. This acceptance of Śrī Caitanya–bhāgavata by Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī indicates his acceptance of the disciplic succession. A writer of transcendental literature never tries to surpass the previous ācāryas. Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/adi/8/33
Locana dasa Thakura as disciple of Narahari Sarakara Thakura
Narahari dāsa Sarakāra was a very famous devotee. Locana dāsa Ṭhākura, the celebrated author of Śrī Caitanya–maṅgala, was his disciple. In the Caitanya–maṅgala it is stated that Śrī Gadādhara dāsa and Narahari Sarakāra were extremely dear to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, but there is no specific statement regarding the inhabitants of the village of Śrīkhaṇḍa. Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/adi/10/78-79
Locana dasa Thakura’s songs all authorized
Govinda Ghoṣa belonged to the kāyastha dynasty of the Uttara-rāḍhīya section, and he was known as Ghoṣa Ṭhākura. Even to the present day there is a place named Agradvīpa, near Katwa, where a fair takes place and is named after Ghoṣa Ṭhākura. As far as Vāsudeva Ghoṣa is concerned, he composed many nice songs about Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and these are all authorized Vaiṣṇava songs, like the songs of Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, Locana dāsa Ṭhākura, Govinda dāsa Ṭhākura and other great Vaiṣṇavas. Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/madhya/11/88
Śrīla Locana dāsa Ṭhākura has also sung, parama karuṇa, pahuṅ dui jana, nitāi–gaura–candra: “The two brothers Nitāi and Gaura are so kind that no one can compare to them.” Similarly, Śrīla Narottama dāsa ṭhākura has sung:
vrajendra-nandana yei, śacī-suta haila sei,
balarāma haila nitāi,
dīna-hīna yata chila, hari-nāme uddhārila,
tā’ra sākṣī jagāi-mādhāi
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s special mission is the deliverance of all fallen souls in Kali–yuga. Devotees of Kṛṣṇa must persistently seek the favor and mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to become fit to return home, back to Godhead. Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/madhya/14/16
Srila Prabhupada explains parama karuna
Srila Prabhupada: Parama koruṇa, pahū dui jana, nitāi gauracandra. This is a song by Locana dāsa Ṭhākura, a great devotee and ācārya of the Gauḍīya–sampradāya. He is declaring that pahū dui jana. Pahū means lords. Dui jana means two. Who are the two lords? Nitai Gauracandra. One is Lord Nitāi, Nityānanda; another is Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. So, he says that “These two Lords are very merciful.” Parama koruṇa, pahū dui jana. Parama koruṇa means very merciful. Nitai Gauracandra. Saba avatāra, sāra śiromaṇi. Avatāra means incarnation, and saba means all. “They are the essence of all incarnations.” Saba avatāra, sāra śiromaṇi, kevala ānanda–kanda: “And the specific significance of these incarnations is that to prosecute their ways of self-realization is simply joyful,” ānanda–kanda. They introduced chanting and dancing. No other incarnation There are many incarnations, just like Lord Rāma. Even Kṛṣṇa, He taught Bhagavad-gītā. That requires knowledge, understanding. But here Lord Caitanya, Nityānanda, introduced some process which is simply joyful: simply chant and dance. Kevala ānanda–kanda. Saba avatāra, sāra śiromaṇi, kevala ānanda–kanda.
Therefore he requests everyone, bhajo bhajo bhāi, caitanya nitāi: “My dear brothers, I request you. Just you worship Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda.” Sudṛḍha biśwāsa kori’: “With firm conviction and faith.” Don’t think that this chanting and dancing will not lead you to the desired goal. It will because there is assurance of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu that you will get all perfection by this process. Therefore Locana dāsa Ṭhākura says that “You must have firm faith and conviction.” It will act. Bhajo bhajo bhāi, caitanya nitāi, sudṛḍha. Sudṛḍha means firm. Biśwāsa kori’, with faith and conviction. But what is the process? The process is viṣaya chāḍiyā, se rase majiyā. If you want to be Kṛṣṇa conscious under that process, then you have to give up your engagement of sense gratification. That is the only restriction. You cannot do that. Then it will be very nice. If you give up sense gratification and come to this stage, then it is sure that you will reach to the desired goal. Viṣaya chāḍiya, se rase majiyā, mukhe bolo hari hari: “And you have to simply chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, ‘Hari Hari,’ that’s all, without any motive of sense gratification.”
Dekho dekho bhāi, tri–bhuvane nāi. He says, “My dear brothers, you just try and examine that within these three worlds there is nobody like Lord Caitanya or Nityānanda Prabhu.” Because, paśu pākhī jhure, pāṣāṇa vidare: “Their mercy and qualities are so great that even birds and beasts, they are crying, what to speak of human being?” Actually, when Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed through the forest of Jhārigrāma, the tigers, the elephants, the snake, the deer, all joined Him in chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. It is so nice. Anyone can join. Animals can join, what to speak of human being? Of course, it is not possible for ordinary man to enthuse animals to chant, but Caitanya Mahāprabhu did it actually. So even if we cannot enthuse animals, we can enthuse at least human being to this path of Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra chanting. Paśu pākhī jhure, pāṣāṇa vidare.
And it is so nice that even the most stonehearted men will be melted. Pāṣāṇa vidare. Pāṣāṇa means stone, and vidare. Pāṣāṇa, even stone, will melt. It is so nice. But he regrets that, viṣaya majiyā: “Being entrapped by sense gratification…” Viṣaya majiyā, rohili bhuliyā. He’s addressing himself, “My dear mind, you are entrapped in the sense gratification process and you have no attraction for chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa.”
Viṣaya bhuliyā, rohili majiyā, se pade nahilo āśa: “You have no attraction for the lotus feet of Caitanya–Nityānanda. So, what can I say? It is only…” Āpana karama, bhuñjāya śamana: “I can simply think of my misfortune only that Yamaraja, the superintendent of death, he is punishing me in this way, that he is not allowing me to be attracted to this movement.” This is the statement of Kahoye locana–dāsa: “This is the statement of Locana dāsa Ṭhākura.” (end)
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/songs/purport_to_parama_koruna_-_los_angeles_january_4_1969/purport_to_parama_koruna/los_angeles/january/04/1969
Locana Däsa Thäkura in his Caitanya Maìgala (Sütra-khanda) predicts the future appearance of Srila Prabhupäda (Lord Caitanya speaking of the reasons for His descent):
näma-guna-sankirtana vaisnavera sakti
prakasa karibe ami nija prema-bhakti
Chanting of the name and qualities of Krsna is the life and energy of the Vaisnavas. I will reveal these activities and rejuvenate pure devotional service unto Myself.
ei mate kali-papa karibe sanhara
sabe cala age pache na kara vichara
In this way, I will destroy all the sins in Kali Yuga. So, all of you, My associates, go ahead and take birth on the earthly planet before My advent and don’t remain behind.
ebe nama sankirtana tikshna khadaga
laiya antara asura jivera phelibe katiya
Taking the sharp sword of the congregational chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra, (nama-sankirtana) I will root out and destroy the demoniac mentality in the hearts of all the conditioned souls.
yadi papi chadi dharma dure dese
yaya mora senapati-bhakta yaibe tathaya
If some sinful people escape and giving up religious principles go to far off countries, then my Senapati Bhakta will come at that time to give them Krsna consciousness. (senapati – a military field commander, bhakta – a devotee. Lord Caitanya will empower His own devotee to spread Krsna Consciousness around the world.
____________________________________________________
akrodha paramananda nityananda ray
abhimana sunya nitai nagare beday
adhama patita jiver dvare dvare giya
hari-nama maha-mantra dicchen bilaiya
jare dekhe tare kohe dante trna dhori’
amare kiniya loho bolo gaura-hari
eto boli’ nityananda bhume gadi jay
sonara parvata jeno dhulate lotay
heno avatare jar rati na janmilo
locan bole sei papi elo ar gelo
1) The noble Lord Nityananda is never angry, for He is the personification of supreme transcendental bliss. Devoid of any concept of false ego, Nitai wanders about the town.
2) Going from door to door in the residences of the most fallen and wretched souls, He freely distributes the gift of the Hari-nama mahamantra.
3) He exclaims to whomever he sees while holding straw between his teeth, “Please purchase me by worshipping Gaurahari!”
4) Saying thus, Nityananda Prabhu rolls about on the ground, appearing like a golden mountain tumbling in the dust.
5) Locana Dasa Thakura says, “Whoever has not experienced the awakening of affection for such an avatara as this, that sinful person simply comes and goes uselessly in the cycle of repeated birth and death.”
gardening quotes-how to become highest yogi by such activity
Gardening quotes by SP
Is there any yoga system? Just try to understand. Is there any yoga system simply by digging earth for gardening one can become yogī? Is there any yoga system? Here the boys, when they dig earth for planting rose flower for Kṛṣṇa, he is thinking, “Oh, the flower will be nice. It will be offered to Kṛṣṇa.” There is immediately yoga.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => xxxBhagavad-gītā 7.1 — February 22, 1969, Los Angeles
We have got śrī-vigraha. The śrī-vigraha-sevā—all rising early in the morning, arrange for maṅgala āratrik, then dressing, then offering food, then āratrik, so many hours. The whole day can be used in that way. Then reading books, class, taking care of the temple. Tan-mandira-mārjanādau. Don’t think that if one is engaged in the Deity worship and if one is engaged in the gardening work there is distinction. No. The one who is working as a gardener, he is as good as the one who is dressing the Deity, because it is absolute plane. There is no difference between…
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.6-7 — June 8, 1975, Honolulu
Prabhupāda: Yes. That I want. I… Everywhere I go and say, “How these rascals…?” So much land is lying, and these rascals are not developing. And they are making… What is that? Coal stone. Coal. They are interested with these bricks and stones, not green vegetables. Such a rascal government. Give them facility. We know how to do it. Annād bhavanti bhūtāni parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ, yajñād bhavati parjanyaḥ [Bg. 3.14]. Let them engage in kīrtana. There will be more water for gardening, and it will be moist, and then produce fodder for the animals and food for you. And animal gives you milk. That is Vṛndāvana life. And they are absorbed in this so-called opulence. Kṛṣṇa has taken birth. They are bringing so many nice, pleasant foodstuff, coming very well-dressed and ornamented. These are description. In the morning we were reading. How they were happy, the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana with Kṛṣṇa and living and cows. That I want to introduce. At any cost do it and… Don’t bother about big, big buildings. It is not required. Useless waste of time. Produce. Make the whole field green. See that. Then whole economic question solved. Then you eat sumptuous. Eat sumptuously. The animal is happy. The animal even does not give milk; let them eat and pass stool and urine. That is welcome. After all, eating, they will pass stool. So that is beneficial, not that simply milk is beneficial. Even the stool is beneficial. Therefore I am asking so much here and…, “Farm, farm, farm, farm.” That is not my program—Kṛṣṇa’s program. Annād bhavanti bhūtāni [Bg. 3.14]. Produce greenness everywhere, everywhere. Vṛndāvana. It is not this motorcar civilization. If it has taken in his brain, then it is to be understood that he can do it, this plan. He’ll be able. Somebody said that he is eager to see me. Hmm?
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Conversation Pieces — May 27, 1977, Vṛndāvana
Now in Mayapur there are two much important programs, namely, first of all, a school must be started in English medium. The children may work in the temple compound for gardening and cleansing, then they shall attend class. If they are given sufficient comfort, they will stay with us and develop nicely. Comfort means no bodily discomfort, and for this Krishna Consciousness education, many Calcutta rich men will send their children.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Bhavananda — Auckland 14 April, 1972
Who gets the real guru and who doesnt–SP
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada
Only that person whom Lord Krishna sends us as spiritual master will manifest before us as our guru. By the Lord’s mercy we attain a spiritual master, and by the spiritual master’s mercy we attain Krishna. We are given a spiritual master according to our fortune. Different people have different mentalities, and the omniscient Lord sends each an appropriate spiritual master. There are those who desire the Lord’s nonduplicitous mercy and who completely depend on him for their success. These souls please the Lord with their simple sincerity. To bestow his mercy upon them, he appears before them personally. To those who want something else from the Lord, who are not actually aspiring for his complete mercy, the Lord sends through his illusory energy a spiritual master appropriate to their mentality. A sincere person never faces difficulty but quickly finds a bona fide guru. — From Amrta Vani, collected teachings of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Compiled in Bengali by Sri Bhakti Bhagavat Mayukha Maharaja. Adapted and translated into English by Bhumipati Das and Isvara Das. Touchstone Media. Mumbai. 2004. Page 28.
———————————————————————
Morning Walk—December 7, 1973, Los Angeles:
Bali Mardana: If someone is actually sincere, can he be cheated or will he always get a bona fide guru?
Prabhupāda: No, if he is sincere he’ll get. Yes. Guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. Guru and Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is within you. As soon as He sees that you are sincere, He’ll give you the right person.
Bali Mardana: So if you are not completely sincere, you might get a Guru Maharaji.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Bali Mardana: If you’re not completely sincere, you might get someone else.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Because you want to be cheated, you go to the cheater. That’s all. Ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham [Bg. 4.11]. Kṛṣṇa is intelligent, superintelligent. If you are a cheater, He’ll cheat you. He’ll cheat you. First-class cheat, Kṛṣṇa. But if you’re actually sincere, then He’ll give you the right thing. That is stated in the Bhag…, mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca: [Bg. 15.15] \”Everything is coming from Me: smṛtiḥ, remembrance, and forgetfulness.\” If you are a cheater, Kṛṣṇa will give you such intelligence, you’ll forget Kṛṣṇa forever.
Dr. Wolfe: Śrīla Prabhupāda, so it is so, \”Birds of a feather flock together.\” The cheaters flock together.
Prabhupāda: Yes. \”Birds of the same feather flock together.\”
TLC 18–Unless one is under the shelter of a realized spiritual master, his understanding of the Supreme is simply foolishness.
Yaśomatīnandana: Sometimes they even say that \”You have your guru and I have my guru. It’s all the same thing.\”
Prabhupāda: Yes, and a thief has also a guru. Then that guru is also the same thing. (Hindi) Here guru means tasmād gurum prapadyeta jijñāsur śreya uttaman [SB 11.3.21]. (Hindi) Nāpnuvanti mahātmānam saṁsiddhiṁ paramaṁ gataḥ. SP conv Nov 14, 1975
TEXT 13–TRANSLATION–Sometimes, to mitigate distresses in this forest of the material world, the conditioned soul receives cheap blessings from atheists. He then loses all intelligence in their association. This is exactly like jumping in a shallow river. As a result one simply breaks his head. He is not able to mitigate his sufferings from the heat, and in both ways he suffers. The misguided conditioned soul also approaches so-called sādhus and svāmīs who preach against the principles of the Vedas. He does not receive benefit from them, either in the present or in the future.
PURPORT-Cheaters are always there to manufacture their own way of spiritual realization. To get some material benefit, the conditioned soul approaches these pseudo sannyāsīs and yogīs for cheap blessings, but he does not receive any benefit from them, either spiritual or material. In this age there are many cheaters who show some jugglery and magic. They even create gold to amaze their followers, and their followers accept them as God. This type of cheating is very prominent in Kali-yuga. Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura describes the real guru in this way.saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-
trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvamprāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
One should approach a guru who can extinguish the blazing fire of this material world, the struggle for existence.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.3.21) gives similar advice:
tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta
jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam
śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ
brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam
“Any person who seriously desires to achieve real happiness must seek out a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of his spiritual master is that he must have realized the conclusion of the scriptures by deliberation and be able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, are to be understood as bona fide spiritual masters.”…
\”Now, to take such guidance means the spiritual master should also be a very perfect man. Otherwise, how can he guide? .. Therefore one has to select a spiritual master whose order, carrying, you’ll not commit a mistake. You see? Now, suppose if you accept a wrong person as spiritual master, and if you, if he guides you wrongly, then your whole life is spoiled. So one has to accept a spiritual master whose guidance will make his life perfect. That is the relation between spiritual master and disciple. It is not a formality. It is a great responsibility both for the disciple and for the spiritual master.\” Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 2.7-11 — New York, March 2, 1966
Devotee: Srila Prabhupada, why has it taken so long for a pure devotee to come to the West? Has the West been so sinful that no pure devotee has come before Your Divine Grace?
Prabhupada: Don’t be sorry. At that time, you were so sinful that you could not receive a pure devotee.
Devotee: Yes. Once in a lecture a lady asked you why hadn’t you come sooner, and you just said, \”Well, you weren’t ready for me.\”
Prabhupada: Yes, \”Because you were not ready.\” Yes, I told. Yes. Now the Western boys, the descendant of the Western people, they are fortunate; therefore they receive Kṛṣṇa. Kona bhāgyavān jīva (CC Madhya 19.151). It is Kṛṣṇa’s desire that \”These people are suffering so much; let some devotees come here.\” So you are all devotees. You have come to join together.
(Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, Los Angeles, December 7, 1973)
\”You have asked ‘How serious would it be for me if I should miss the golden opportunity to become your initiated disciple?’ You should know that the value of accepting a bonafide spiritual master is more than we can calculate. It is not a mere formality. Of course everyone is encouraged to chant Hare Krishna, but until one gives up sinful activities and becomes determined to serve Krishna through His representative then the firm fixing up of devotional service will not take hold, and there is every chance that one will fall prey to all sorts of material desires and have to come back again in the next life—and one cannot guarantee that he will be born in the form of life he may desire.\”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter to Ravendra Gupta, February 12, 1974)
The Burmese pot of poison-and they think its like nectar
March 6 1974 Mayapur
Jayapatākā: Thailand. And there they would offer the people rasagullā, but they would put soy sauce on it.
Prabhupāda: Eh?
Jayapatākā: They would put this bitter sauce on it. Then only they would take.
Prabhupāda: And in Burma, my Guru Mahārāja opened a branch. So when they were frying puri, the, nice ghee, all the tenants, “Oh! What you are…!?” (laughter) They cannot tolerate. But in Burma, there is a preparation which is called nafi. The nafi means that a, a big jar will be kept on the door, and whatever animals, insect, cockroaches will die, they’ll put in that. And during rainy season, it will be filled with water. And it will be kept for years. Then… And the bad smell was so terrible that if somebody would open the lid, it will immediately create very bad smell. So after some years, they will strain the water and keep in bottle. And when there is festival, they’ll supply it in small… That is called nafi. And they’ll take it very pleasantly. And when they were frying ghee, “Oh! What you are doing, this?!” Therefore Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says that
nānā yoni sadā phire, kadarya bhakṣaṇa kare,
tāra janma adhah-pate yāya,
karma-kāṇḍa jñāna-kāṇḍa, kevala viṣera bhāṇḍa,
amṛta baliyā yebā khāya
Karma-kāṇḍa. There are three kāṇḍas: karma-kāṇḍa, jñāna-kāṇḍa and upāsanā-kāṇḍa. So upāsanā-kāṇḍa is bhakti. So instead of accepting this upāsanā-kāṇḍa, worshiping the Supreme, sarva-dharmān parityajya [Bg. 18.66], if one takes to the other processes, karma-kāṇḍa, jñāna-kāṇḍa, they are viṣera bhāṇḍa, they’re all poison pots. The result is, if they take to that path, then their, this transmigration of the soul, will continue, and they’ll have to eat all nasty things. Because this time you may be human being. And next time you may be hog. So this is karma-kāṇḍa jñāna-kāṇḍa kevala viṣera bhāṇḍa, the all poison pots. Simply bhakti-kāṇḍa, we have to take. Otherwise our life is at risk. The jñāna-kāṇḍa is also not safe, because their ultimate goal of jñāna-kāṇḍa is to merge into Brahman. But there, they cannot stay. Because in Brahman simply it is eternal life, eternity, but there is no ānanda. but we are seeking ānanda. In the Brahman… Suppose if you are asked that “You will eternally live in this land, will you like that? You’ll never die. You’ll live eternally, but nobody will come here. Nobody will talk with you.” Will you like that?
The saying goes-“different strokes for different folks”. Same with religion and accepting a spiritual guide for your life. Unless we are careful and fortunate, we will walk down a road that will not produce the blissful effect for which we are looking.
Action in freedom-has some meaning-SP
1.)London Aug 31 1973
Prabhupāda: So, in this way, as soon as we understand or become convinced that I am not this body, then spiritual education begins. (If) I am different, then the next question will be, then what for I am working? Naturally at the present moment we are working for this body, maintenance of the body. For eating, sleeping, having facility for sex life or sense gratification and to protect this body from being harmed. This is our business. But if I am not this body, then, I am spirit soul, then the next question will be, what I am doing for the spirit soul? When actually I am working for this body because I, spirit soul, is within this body. Just like we are keeping this room fit for habitation because I am living here. Three months or four months ago we are not in possession of this room. So we were not anxious about this room. Because we were not living. So actually I am keeping my body fit, nice, just to live within this body. Therefore actually I do not love this body, I love myself. And to keep myself in a nice position, I love this room or this house. My main business is to get me, as I am, comfortable. Not that it is my business to keep this house neat and clean only. No. No, my business is to keep myself fit. So actually I love my soul. Then if you analyze, studying your soul, what is the constitution, you’ll find the soul is part and parcel of God. Then you come to the platform that you love the soul because you love God. The ultimate issue is God. As you love this body because you love the soul, similarly you love the soul because you love God. And that is now lost. We are embarrassed in the affairs of loving this body. The background we have forgotten. This is our present stage. Therefore we are in confusion. There is no satisfaction.
2.) June 20 1972 class
Gāy gauracand madhu sware. This is a song sung by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. He says that Lord Caitanya, Gaura, Gaura means Lord Caitanya, Gaurasundara, the fair complexion. Gāy gauracand madhur sware. In sweet voice, He is singing mahā-mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
In very sweet song He’s singing, and it is our duty to follow His footsteps to sing the mahā-mantra. So Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura advises, gṛhe thāko, vane thāko, sadā ‘hari’ bole’ ḍāko. Gṛhe thāko means either you stay at your home as a householder, or you stay in the forest as the renounced order of life, it does not make difference, but you have to chant the mahā-mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa. Gṛhe vane thāko, sadā ‘hari’ bole’ ḍāko. Always chant this mahā-mantra. Sukhe duḥkhe bhulo nā’ko, “Do not forget chanting either in distress or in happiness.” Vadane hari-nāma koro re. So far chanting (is concerned), there cannot be any check, because in whatever condition I may be, I can go on chanting this mahā-mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
So Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura advises, “Never mind, you are in distress or happiness, but go on chanting this mahā-mantra.” Māyā-jāle baddha ho’ye, ācho miche kāja lo’ye. You are entrapped by the network of illusory energy, māyā-jāle baddha ho’ye, just like the fisherman catches from the sea all kinds of creatures within the network. Similarly we are also within the net of illusory energy, and because we have no freedom, therefore all our activities are useless. Action in freedom has got some meaning, but when we are not free within the clutches of māya, within the network of māyā, then our so-called freedom has no value. Therefore, whatever we are doing is simply defeat. Without knowing our constitutional position, if you are forced to do something by the pressure of the illusory energy, it is simply useless waste of time. Therefore, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says, “Now you have got full consciousness in the human form of life. So just chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Rādhā-Mādhava, all these names. There is no loss or great profit.” Jīvana hoilo śeṣa, nā bhajile hṛṣīkeśa. Now gradually everyone is on the verge of death, nobody can say that, “I shall remain, I shall stay for more hundred years.” No, any moment we can die. Therefore, he advises jīvana hoilo śeṣa: “Our life is at end at any moment, and we could not serve Hṛṣīkeśa, Kṛṣṇa. Bhaktivinodopadeśa.” Therefore Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura advises, ekbār nām-rase māto re: “Please be enchanted, nām-rase, in the mellow of chanting the transcendental name. Dive yourself within this ocean. That is my request.”
3.) April 13 1973 LA
We have got our spiritual body. That is now covered by the material dress, subtle dress and gross dress. So if we give up the propensity for material sense gratification, that is mukti. So long we have a pinch, a drop of desire to enjoy material happiness, we’ll have to accept a body, different types of body, out of the 8,400,000. But if we become satisfied with service of Kṛṣṇa, then we have no more interest with this material happiness. That is mukti. When we shall be detestful with this material happiness… Kṛṣṇa will give you all facility. He’ll give you facilities, whatever you want. Ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy a… [Bg. 4.11]. Therefore we see varieties of life. It is arranged by Kṛṣṇa through the agency of material potency. Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sar… [Bg. 3.27]. It is going on. But if we say, “Kṛṣṇa…,” to Kṛṣṇa, “Now, from this day, I surrender unto You. My Lord, I don’t want anything material,” then you are mukta, liberated. And if you keep the standard, māyā will not touch you. Just after giving up this body, you go back to home, back to Godhead. It is very easy.
Some Conclusions-The first lecture Prabhupada explains in a very logical way that because we are at present in our bodies, is why we love our bodies, and being part and parcel of God-Krsna, means we also love Krsna, but at present we are forgetful of this eternal position. The next lecture he very nicely explains how action without freedom has NO meaning. He gives the example of Bhaktivinode Thakur who tells us that fish within the net of the fisherman are tossing around but that movement and activity has no meaning. Why? Because they are caught up by the fishermans net and are sure to die. Therefore no freedom. Same with us, if we are “forced” by the pressure of the illusory energy of God, Maya to act in some way, then how is that freedom? It is not freedom but simply actions due to previous karmic reactions.
BG 2.41 purport…When one is engaged in the duties of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he need not act in relationship to the material world with obligations to family traditions, humanity, or nationality. Fruitive activities are the engagements of one’s reactions from past good or bad deeds.
And the last one Prabhupada is telling us that if we learn how to surrender to God-Krsna, then Maya will no longer touch us, and we will go back home back to Godhead. This means we will want nothing material, not even a pinch of material desire, then we can go back Home.
Hare Krsna
damaghosa das
—————————-
BG 2.41 purport…When one is engaged in the duties of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he need not act in relationship to the material world with obligations to family traditions, humanity, or nationality. Fruitive activities are the engagements of one’s reactions from past good or bad deeds.
BG 3.27 purport-Two persons, one in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and the other in material consciousness, working on the same level, may appear to be working on the same platform, but there is a wide gulf of difference in their respective positions. The person in material consciousness is convinced by false ego that he is the doer of everything. He does not know that the mechanism of the body is produced by material nature, which works under the supervision of the Supreme Lord. The materialistic person has no knowledge that ultimately he is under the control of Kṛṣṇa. The person in false ego takes all credit for doing everything independantly, and that is the symptom of his nescience. He does not know that this gross and subtle body is the creation of material nature, under the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, … The ignorant man .. due to his long misuse of the senses in sense gratification, he is factually bewildered by the false ego, which makes him forget his eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa.