Letter to Srila Prabhupada, by Javier Figuerola o Haripada dasa
On August 16 we celebrate the Transcendental Appearance of Srila Prabhupada, all the devotees we serve and love Srila Prabhupada we make a letter called the letter of Vyasa Puja, Vyasadeva is a literary incarnation of God or Krishna, He wrote all the Vedic literature , The Bhagavad-gita, the Srimad-bhagavatam, the Mahabharata, etc., and the birthday of our spiritual master is called the day of Vyasa Puja, on this day the spiritual master is glorified and thanked for all his mercy , All this spiritual knowledge that Vyasadeva gave us is transmitted from the guru to the disciple through the chain of disciplic succession, all those truths are eternal and never change, so Srila Prabhupada always said that the philosophy of Krishna consciousness is very easy , Because we do not have to invent anything, we just have to repeat what the previous spiritual masters said.
Thanks to Srila Prabhupada we have found the Truth and the Truth will set you free. Thanks to Srila Prabhupada we have come out of ignorance, which is the cause of all suffering. Thanks to Srila Prabhupada we have understood the purpose of human life, to understand and love God or Krishna, and since there is only God or Krishna and His energies, in doing this in a natural way one loves everyone and everything. Thanks to Srila Prabhupada we have understood that this material world is full of envy and is not a place for a gentleman, here are only deceivers and deceived. Thanks to Srila Prabhupada we hope to return home with God and Krishna and His devotees, and the experience of being in this material world will be a bad nightmare. Thanks to Srila Prabhupada we have understood that we are not the material body, but eternal spiritual souls, eternal loving servants of God or Krishna and His devotees. Thanks to Srila Prabhupada we are no longer a ship without a rudder, now Srila Prabhupada is the person we most trust and love the most. If Srila Prabupada had not come, it would have been us.
Vyasa puja offering from Vyasa asana dasa
Vyasasan Prabhu: Gurus and Godbrothers
Dear Srila Prabhupada,
Please accept my most humble obeisances, and kindly forgive my offences. In my last letter to you, which I titled “Return to the Hare Krishna Movement”, I was addressing some of the changes I witnessed to your movement since my return in 2006. I expressed some of my disappointments and concerns, and yet I still have faith in this mission of yours.
It was interesting to see which of my older God brothers was still practicing their Krsna Consciousness within the framework of ISKCON, who had remained and who had left. I read one very sad statistic the other day on the Internet, and am sorry to report that 90% of your initiated disciples are no longer practicing their KRSNA Consciousness within the structure of ISKCON. I was very alarmed by this, because it indicates to me there is a fatal flaw in the way the society is being managed.
This is not to say that they are not still practicing their Krsna Consciousness, for “once a devotee always a devotee”, or as is stated in the Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.19, a person who has once relished the taste of the lotus feet of the Lord can do nothing but remember that ecstasy again and again, but sadly most are not practicing their faith within the structure of ISKCON.
So who is still practicing within this once great society of ISKCON? I would have to say that today’s membership is mostly reduced to my Godbrothers who have become Gurus, their disciples, and those devotees who support the current Guru system as it was set up after your departure. Many of your devoted disciples are no longer practicing within the structure of ISKCON, but rather have formed their own separate groups or societies, (such as the Bhaktivedantas and Prabhupadanugas, Hare Krishna Society, etc.). Those devotees who are opposed to the new guru structure which was formed after your untimely departure, and believe that only you, Srila Prabhupada, are the true Sampradaya Acarya for this Hare Krishna Movement, are often banned from ISKCON temples altogether, and are not allowed to lead Kirtan, give Srimad Bhagavatam classes, or attend services at the temples. This I found to be very sad, and am sure is not very pleasing to you.
So who is still practicing within this once great society of ISKCON? I would have to say that today’s membership is mostly reduced to my Godbrothers who have become Gurus, their disciples, and those devotees who support the current Guru system as it was set up after your departure. Many of your devoted disciples are no longer practicing within the structure of ISKCON, but rather have formed their own separate groups or societies, (such as the Bhaktivedantas and Prabhupadanugas, Hare Krishna Society, etc.). Those devotees who are opposed to the new guru structure which was formed after your untimely departure, and believe that only you, Srila Prabhupada, are the true Sampradaya Acarya for this Hare Krishna Movement, are often banned from ISKCON temples altogether, and are not allowed to lead Kirtan, give Srimad Bhagavatam classes, or attend services at the temples. This I found to be very sad, and am sure is not very pleasing to you.
Srila Prabhupadas mercy
In 1974,Srila Prabhupada came to Melbourne to attend the Rathyatra festival.He had just come from a preaching tour in Europe.Madhudvisa prabhu had learnt that Srila Prabhupada had changed his preaching activities to include more external types of programmes and to preach to VIP,s.Recently in Europe he had met with Cardinals and city mayors.Before this ,most of Srila Prabhupadas preaching was just to his followers.
My service was to arrange with VIP,s to meet with Srila Prabhupada.So I made arrangements for Srila Prabhupada to meet with the Catholic Bishop of Melbourne,the head of the Australian Jesuits,The moderator of the Presbyterian church,various Govt departmental heads,and scientists from the CSIRO.
Also I arranged public speaking programmes at the Melbourne town hall,Ormond hall,Saint Pascals Franciscan seminary college and at Latrobe University.
All of these programs were a resounding success and Srila Prabhupada was so pleased.Everything was wonderful except for the University Pragram at La Trobe University.
We had plastered the University with posters advertising Srila Prabhupadas lecture.
The programme was held in the Universitys main lecture hall.More than 500 students came,all the seats were full and many had to stand in the side aisles.
But unbeknown to us ,a group of radical left wing students had come to disturb Srila Prabhupadas lecture.
The vietnam war had just ended,but the radical students were still trying to disrupt civil society,and were still very militant.
Srila Prabhupad began to speak.After a couple of minutes one of the students yelled out and accused Srila Prabhupada of being a puppet of the CIA.We were all totally confused,why was this guy yelling at Srila Prabhupada? Srila Prabhupada stopped speaking momentarily,the abuse stopped,Srila Prabhupada continued to speak.After another minute the student again yelled out abusing Srila Prabhada.Again Srila Prabhupada stopped,then resumed speaking.By this time the devotees were becoming disturbed by the students abuse The audience were also becoming unsettled.
The 3rd time the student yelled at Srila Prabhupada.That was it ,we had had enough.
Immediately Myself,Buddhi Manta,Ugrasrava(there was one other devotee,I cant remember,It may have been Caru)charged through the crowd ,grabbed the offender and dragged him out the side door.Many in the crowed booed us,and said leave him alone,you are supposed to be a religion of peace.No one fought with us,because Buddhi Manta and Ugrasrava are big guys,6ft3,and no one wanted to meddle with them.
Srila Prabhupada on how to stay away from material entanglement
If you always chant Hare Krishna, read my books, and preach this philosophy sincerely,then Krishna will provide you with all facility, and you will not fall down into material entanglement.
Srila Prabhupada letter to Devotees, March 30, 1967
Bonds of Love-Jyotirmayi devi dasi remembrances of Srila Prabhupada
Bonds of Love: Jyotirmayi Devi Dasi
compliments of Aprakrita das from vedaveda.com
Jyotirmayi was planning to go to Nepal to become a Buddhist monk when the devotees in Paris suggested that she and her friend, Mondakini, visit Prabhupada in London instead.
When I met Prabhupada, I expected something mystical to happen, but he was practical, and that put me off. Yet, I was attracted when Prabhupada looked at me because I felt he was seeing everything inside me.Three other things made me become a devotee instead of a Buddhist: First, I loved chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, and the most extraordinary thing I’d ever heard was Prabhupada chanting it. Prabhupada made kirtana a meditation; he was completely absorbed in the mantra and he absorbed us in it.
Effects of bad association
na sabhāṁ praviśet prājñaḥ sabhya-doṣān anusmaran abruvan vibruvann ajño naraḥ kilbiṣam aśnute
“A wise person should not enter an assembly if he knows the participants there are committing acts of impropriety. And if, having entered such an assembly, he fails to speak the truth, speaks falsely or pleads ignorance, he will certainly incur sin.” — Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.44.10
nindāṁ bhagavataḥ śṛṇvaṁs tat-parasya janasya vā tato nāpaiti yaḥ so ’pi yāty adhaḥ sukṛtāc cyutaḥ
“Anyone who fails to immediately leave the place where he hears criticism of the Supreme Lord or His faithful devotee will certainly fall down, bereft of his pious credit.”
— Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.74.40
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Organized Religion
by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur
Sri Krishna manifests His eternal birth, the pure cognitive essence of the serving soul who is located above all mundane limitations. King Kamsa [the demon king who wanted to kill Lord Krishna] is the typical empiricist, ever on the lookout for the appearance of the truth for the purpose of suppressing Him before He has time to develop. This is no exaggeration of the real connotation of the consistent empiric position. The materialist has a natural repugnance for the transcendent. He is disposed to link that faith in the incomprehensible is the parent of dogmatism and hypocrisy in the guise of religion. He is also equally under the delusion that there is no real dividing line between the material and the spiritual. He is strengthened in his delusion by the interpretation of scriptures by persons who are like-minded with himself. This includes all the lexicographic interpreters.
The lexicographical interpretation is upheld by Kamsa as the real scientific explanation of the scriptures, and is perfectly in keeping with his dread of and aversion for the transcendental. These lexicographical interpreters are employed by Kamsa in putting down the first suspected appearance of any genuine faith in the transcendental. King Kamsa knows very well that if the faith in the transcendental is once allowed to grow it is sure to upset all his empiric prospects.
There is historical ground for such misgivings. Accordingly if the empiric domination is to be preserved in tact it would be necessary not to lose a moment to put down the transcendental heresy the instant it threatens to make its appearance in earnest. King Kamsa, acting on this traditional fear, is never slow to take the scientific precaution of deputing empiric teachers of the scriptures, backed by the resources of dictionary and grammar and all empiric subtleties to put down, by the show of specious arguments based on hypothetical principles, the true interpretation of the eternal religion revealed by the scriptures.
ENVY of Srila Prabhupada-Everything you ever wanted to know about the Gaudiya Matha
Hare Krsna-
These two files are excellent source material for anybody who has any inclination at all, for visiting, buying their books or associating with members of the Gaudiya matha in India or elsewhere in the world.
If one considers himself a follower, well wisher, or disciple of A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada then these quotes directly from Srila Prabhupada himself should be a definite guide for us to be very careful of their “association”.
Canakya Pandit once gave the example in his book that if you introduce only one very very small drop of wine in a large vat of milk, then the entire thing becomes poisonous or useless, such is the power of one single “drop”. Not only is the “milk’ spoiled, but the vat itself becomes contaminated as well.
Please consider these things carefully-these two files are highly valuable information for any sincere seeker of the truth.
Hare Krsna
damaghosa das
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Truth About Godbrothers
Truth About Tirtha Sridhara Maharaj
Jan 8 1977 Bombay conversations
Snake is very envious. ..There are similarly men also. Unnecessarily they are envious, offensive, unnecessary. They cannot tolerate others’ opulence. Just like our Godbrothers. They are envious. What I have done to them? I am doing my business, trying to serve my Guru Mahārāja. But they are envious because I am so opulent. I have got so much fame, so many influence, so much influence all over the world. Everyone is praising me about… That is ignorance. And this is regrettable because they are posing themselves as Vaiṣṇava. Ordinary man can do that, but they are dressing like Vaiṣṇava, and they are so envious. That Tīrtha Mahārāja, unnecessarily he was envious, whole life fighting, fighting..
Warnings from Srila Prabhupada and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura compiled by Damaghosa dasa
Warnings from HDG Srila Prabhupada and HDG Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada
compiled by Damaghosa dasa
na sabhāṁ praviśet prājñaḥ
sabhya-doṣān anusmaran
abruvan vibruvann ajño
naraḥ kilbiṣam aśnute
“A wise person should not enter an assembly if he knows the participants there are committing acts of impropriety. And if, having entered such an assembly, he fails to speak the truth, speaks falsely or pleads ignorance, he will certainly incur sin.” — Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.44.10
nindāṁ bhagavataḥ śṛṇvaṁs
tat-parasya janasya vā
tato nāpaiti yaḥ so ’pi
yāty adhaḥ sukṛtāc cyutaḥ
“Anyone who fails to immediately leave the place where he hears criticism of the Supreme Lord or His faithful devotee will certainly fall down, bereft of his pious credit.”
— Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.74.40 Continue reading
Srila Prabhupada’s Quote
Never think that I am absent from you.
Physical presence is not essential; presence by message (or hearing) is real touch.
Lord Krishna is present by His message which was delivered 5,000 years ago.
We feel always the presence of our past Acharyas simply by their immutable instructions.
– Letter to: Students, Vrindavan, August 2, 1967
Vidura Mahatma Dasa’s Brahmana Initiation
Dear Prabhus,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
The link below are some photos taken during Vidura Mahatma Dasa’s Brahmana Initiation.
Your Servants,
Navadvipa Dasa and Family