Hare Krishna Society

The Spiritual World, by Javier Figuerola or Haripada dasa

Now I am in Vrindavana, India, the pure devotees of God or Krishna say that the Vrndavana of this material world and the Vrndavana of the spiritual world are made of the same spiritual substance, as the great spiritual master Srila Narottama dasa thakura says that one can see Vrndavana when one is purified of the anxieties and the material desires. There is a Sacred Scripture called Brahma-Samhita and there the spiritual world is described in a very beautiful way: “I adore that transcendental abode known as Goloka Vrndavana, where as loving consorts, the Goddesses of Fortune in their immaculate spiritual essence practice the loving service to the Supreme Lord Krishna, as His only lover, where every tree is a gem of spiritual purposes, there all the water is nectar, every word is a song and every step a dance, the flute is the Lord’s favorite assistant Sri Krishna and the effulgence of this place is full of spiritual bliss. There the supreme spiritual entities are all pleasing and enchanting and the innumerable surabhi cows provide oceans of transcendental milk. I adore that abode where transcendental time is always present – without past or future – and therefore, it is not subject to the nature of the extinction even for the lapse of half a moment. To that Kingdom are known as Goloka Vrindavana very few realized souls of this world “.

Our heart is like a television, and there are only two channels, material and spiritual, when we connect with the spiritual channel through chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Krishna. Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare (the H is read as J de jota), God or Krishna reveals the spiritual world and His eternal pastimes, and when we connect with the material channel we only see a lot of suffering and everything is temporary.

https://alimentosparalapaz.blogspot.com https://haripadadasa.blogspot.com

Can somebody go back to Godhead without initiation?

May 22 197 Melbourne

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

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Devotee 7: Can a person go back to a spiritual planet…

Prabhupāda: No, there is no more init… Initiation here required when the living entity is in darkness. Just like uneducated person requires to go to school. One who is educated, in his full knowledge, he doesn’t go.

Madhudviṣa: The question was, Prabhupāda, is it possible for a person to return to the spiritual world without taking initiation from a bona fide spiritual master?

Prabhupāda: No, that is not possible. Therefore Rūpa Gosvāmī said, ā dau gurv-āśrayam. First business is to accept spiritual master. Ā dau gurv-āśrayam.

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Sound- when it becomes material or spiritual

May 21 1975 melbourne

Madhudviṣa: When you were speaking with the priest yesterday, he was saying the chanting is material because it comes out of the mouth and it’s made like a material sound vibration. Would it be possible for them to run scientific tests on the chanting, the sound of Hare Kṛṣṇa, to make a distinction between that sound and let’s say the sound of an automobile’s horn? Would that be perceptible?

Prabhupāda: No, the same sound. Sound is the same; when you are impure, this is material. Just like the tongue is the same, but when you are suffering from jaundice, you are tasting sugar as bitter, and when you will be cured, then the same tongue will taste it is sweet. So it depends on the purification of the body. Whole this bhakti-yoga or any yoga, the whole system is purification. Tapo divyaṁ yena śuddhyet sattvam [SB 5.5.1].Our existence is now impure. Therefore we have to accept birth, death, old age, and disease. And when it is purified, without any contamination, then there is no birth, death, old age. In diseased condition you cannot relish. Even if you are given actually rasagullā you will not taste it very nice. If there is no appetite, even it is rasagullā, it is useless. Spiritual life means curing the contamination of material disease. That is spiritual life. And when you are purified, you relish the spiritual taste.

Madhudviṣa: That is a subjective experience. When you chant Hare Kṛṣṇa you can say, “Oh, I feel good,” but to someone who won’t chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, if there was some objective way of measuring the difference between the Hare Kṛṣṇa sound and the sound of, let’s say, someone’s name.

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Spiritual Advancement

By Narasimha das

“All these are pitfalls of personal sense gratification. Just to cheat some innocent people, one makes a show of advanced spiritual life and becomes known as a sadhu, mahatma or religious person. All this means that the so-called devotee has become victimized by all these unwanted creepers and that the real creeper of bhakti-lata-bija has been stunted.” (Cc. Madhya 19.160, PURPORT) See purport below.

Any intelligent devotee who knows iskcon history since 1978 to the present day can easily understand the meaning and context of the above statement and how it applies to many or most iskcon leaders. But the question has been raised whether the “innocent people” who follow such posers can make tangible spiritual advancement. Any devotee or group can ask others to chant Hare Krishna and begin devotional life but not every sanga can assist us to advance further. Unless innocent people learn to follow the self-realized acharya and hear from him with rapt attention, they risk losing their innocence by associating with offenders posing as sadhus. This is practically seen all over the world, and most of these innocent people end up leaving the mission or compromising with deviants.

It may be wrong to suggest that because we might not be perfect we therefore have no right to preach or judge who is making spiritual advancement– and who is on a deviant path that leads to degradation. It’s our duty as disciples to try to protect our own devotional service and the mission of the guru. How to do this? We must discriminate to understand and preach the correct path. We must accept the right association with genuine devotees. If we are content remain in a blind society of pretenders, we may leave the path of devotional service and fall down completely.

Srila Prabhupada once said, “I may be perfect or I may not be perfect, but I am repeating the message of the all-perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead without the slightest change. That is perfect.” Continue reading →

Compiled by Dama Ghosha Dasa (Seattle, USA)

Below we have a concise analysis (from Srila Prabhupada’s quotes) that food offered thru bogus Iskcon gurus is not Krishna Prasadam. Sounds alarming? Then please read further…..

Over the years, we have all seen a lot of damage to the once prestigious worldwide Iskcon organization. Now, it is only a mere shadow of its past glory. And here below is one key reason. The present leaders of Iskcon have minimized the actual instructions of Srila Prabhupada, and created their “own” version of Bhakti Tattva. Starting every day with the offering of bhoga to turn it into Krishna Prasadam thru the un-authorized gurus of Iskcon, everyone there is eating sinful foodstuffs, and not Krishna prasadam.

See the proof below.

Conversations, June 13, 1973, Detroit

Prabhupada: Who is my disciple? First of all let him follow strictly the disciplined rules.

Devotee (2): As long as one is following, then he is…

Prabhupada: Then he is all right.

Letter: Jayapataka, July 11, 1969

Out of the ten kinds of offenses, the number one offense is to disobey the orders of the Spiritual Master. The instructions given to the disciple by the Spiritual Master at the time of initiation should be strictly followed. That will make one advance to the spiritual path. But if one deliberately defies such instructions, then his advancement is hampered from the very beginning. This defying means to disconnect the relationship with the Spiritual Master. And anyone who defies and therefore disconnects the relationship with the Spiritual Master can hardly expect the assistance of the Spiritual Master life after life. I hope this will clear up this question sufficiently for you.’

Without going into all the hundreds of changes the Iskcon GBCs have authorized, merely changing whimsically, only ONE instruction, disconnects themselves from the param para and renders that “service” useless. What to speak of main instructions-like first of all-HOW TO OFFER FOOD TO GOD !! Now here below is the actual words of Srila Prabhupada , where he tells his early disciples the process of offering bhoga or food to God, Krishna. And there are many other quotes like this one. Continue reading →

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

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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“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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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

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.

Hare Krishna Society

The Spiritual World

Can somebody go back to Godhead without Initiation?

Sound-when it becomes material or spiritual

Spiritual Advancement

Food Offered Through bogus Iskcon Gurus is not Krishna Prasadam

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

How to recognize who is authorized–SP

Hari nama sankirtan more important than 16 rounds–SP

How to get Krsna to shake hands with you

Meditation begins at Krsnas Lotus Feet