Hare Krsna–
Below are several directions given by Srila Prabhupada for our benefit, if we are serious about this process of chanting Hare Krsna maha mantra.
If you really don’t care that much about arriving in Krsna loka some day, because you are more interested in plan making within this material world, then don’t bother yourself to read further. After all, its 5 pages long, and that is a long time in computer on line time.
To read further means you are curious, like a normal human being,and want to hear what the real Spiritual Masters of the param para, tells us for this age what exactly we should be doing with our daily lives.
For those curious souls, I think you will find the following information, very useful.
Hare Krsna
damaghosa das
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The Acaryas Process for kali yuga of purification-chanting and deity worship-then the next stage is preaching, because without strong sadhana practice one cannot elevate himself to the second class platform. The 2nd class devotee is Madhyama and he does not fall down. For third class devotee, there is always a chance of falling down from the standard.
SB 3.5.3 Purport
Therefore any activity other than transcendental loving service to the Lord is more or less a rebellious action against the supreme will. All fruitive activity, empirical philosophy and mysticism are more or less against the sense of subordination to the Lord, and any living entity engaged in such rebellious activity is more or less condemned by the laws of material nature, which work under the subordination of the Lord. Great unalloyed devotees of the Lord are compassionate towards the fallen, and therefore they travel all over the world with the mission of bringing souls back to Godhead, back to home. Such pure devotees of the Lord carry the message of Godhead in order to deliver the fallen souls, and therefore the common man who is bewildered by the influence of the external energy of the Lord should avail himself of their association.
On reading BG – SB , and chanting Hare Krsna
March 6 1975 NY
So Arjuna says that “When I remember the teachings of Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā, then it relieves me. .. Whenever you are perplexed, you read Bhagavad-gītā you will immediately get relief. That’s a fact. Gandhi also said that. Gandhi was a politician. Although he could not understand Bhagavad-gītā neither he could understand Kṛṣṇa, still, he said that “When I read, I get great relief.” He was always very busy, so many political problems always coming. So there was no spiritual understanding of these politicians. Sometimes they take the spiritual shelter, so-called, for getting some benefit out of it so that his political movement may be increased or enhanced. So we do not wish to discuss, but Bhagavad-gītā, even if you read without any actual knowledge of the Bhagavad-gītā, still, you will feel relief. Still you will feel relief. Just like if you go to the fire, you will feel some warmth. That’s a fact. Even you do not know how to enjoy fire, still, because you are near the fire, you will get some warmth. So Bhagavad-gītā is like that. Even if you do not understand, by simply hearing the words of Kṛṣṇa
lecture in Mumbai on 5 October 1973
Just like some rascals say, “What is the use of accepting a guru?” Of course, they have got very bad experience. …It is not that, “If I like I can go to a guru and if I don’t like I can study books at home and learn everything.” No, that is not possible. It is practical. Just like if you purchase a medical book, study at home, and then begin to practice, you will be called a quack. The government will not recognize you. …Similarly, someone may say, “I have read Bhagavad-gita a hundred times.” But if you ask him what is Krishna he cannot say because he has not approached the acarya. This is the difficulty.He might have read Bhagavad-gita a thousand times but he will not understand a single word because he has not approached. (submissive service, inquiry, then realization comes)
Feb 9 1971 Gorakpur
Kṛṣṇa does not say everyone that sarva-dharmān parityajya , only to a selected devotee. Because unless one is very highly elevated devotee, he cannot accept this proposition. He is puffed up with his material, contaminated life. That’s all. “I am this. I am that. I am this. I am that. Why shall I surrender?” Actually they forgot. Dr. Radhakrishnan says, “This is sophistry, that Kṛṣṇa is demanding like that.” He is proud of his becoming a great philosopher, but he does not know he is a fool number one. He comments on the Bhagavad-gītā in a different way. That he does not know. Therefore he is surprised: “How this gentleman, Kṛṣṇa, is asking to surrender? I am so proud. I am so learned.” But this is the only process. What is that? He again explains it: man-manā bhava mad-bhaktaḥ. The same thing which was instructed in the Ninth…
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te
pratijāne priyo ‘si me [Bg. 18.65]
Priyo ‘si me: “Because you are My very dear friend, you have fully surrendered unto Me, therefore I am speaking to you.” Then He says, sarva-dharmān parityajya These three verses are the ultimate instruction of Bhagavad-gītā, sarva-guhyatamam. So people do not understand, and they read Bhagavad-gītā daily. And they are very much proud: “I am reading Bhagavad-gītā daily.” If anyone actually reads Bhagavad-gītā, then he will be Kṛṣṇa conscious. It is meant for that purpose. But they do not read actually. They simply make a show. Neither do they understand what is Bhagavad-gītā. Therefore we are presenting Bhagavad-gītā as it is. (example Ramanuja gave to Kuresh how to understand this surrender verse)
Adi 7.73
One can overcome all misconceptions and entanglement in the material world by practicing bhakti-yoga, and therefore Vyāsadeva, acting on the instruction of Śrī Nārada, has very kindly introduced Śrīmad-Bhagavatam to relieve the conditioned souls from the clutches of māyā. Lord Caitanya’s spiritual master instructed Him, therefore, that one must read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam regularly and with scrutiny to gradually become attached to the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
Adi 8.16
If one is infested with the ten offenses in the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, despite his endeavor to chant the holy name for many births, he will not get the love of Godhead that is the ultimate goal of this chanting.
PURPORT–One must come to the understanding that the holy name of the Lord and the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself are identical. One cannot reach this conclusion unless one is offenseless in chanting the holy name. By our material calculation we see a difference between the name and the substance, but in the spiritual world the Absolute is always absolute; the name, form, quality and pastimes of the Absolute are all as good as the Absolute Himself. As such, one is understood to be an eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead if he considers himself an eternal servant of the holy name and in this spirit distributes the holy name to the world. One who chants in that spirit, without offenses, is certainly elevated to the platform of understanding that the holy name and the Personality of Godhead are identical. To associate with the holy name and chant the holy name is to associate with the Personality of Godhead directly. (unless we preach, wont understand that there is no difference between the Name and Krsna)
751027SB.NAI Lectures
For the kanistha-adhikari, he cannot He, like parrot, he can say, “Krsna is everywhere.” He must be educated, “Here is Krsna in the temple.” Otherwise it is simply
blaspheme, that “Krsna is everywhere.” That’s a fact, but where is your realization? Krsna is within your heart. Have you got that realization? Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese ‘rjuna tisthati. Have you got that realization, that Krsna is within your heart? Can you talk with Krsna? He says, Krsna says, “I talk.” Buddhi yogam-dadami tam.
Krsna gives intelligence. Krsna is giving, but have you got that realization? So these are all facts, that Krsna is everywhere, Krsna is within your heart, Krsna is within the atom. Andantara stha-paramanu-cayantara-tham. That’s a fact, but where is your realization? Therefore you have to begin realization by arcana. That is very essential. Then more you become expert in arcana, ye yatha mam prapadyante, the more you become realized, then more you become advanced.
770225r2.may
Ramesvara: Just like this Alice Coltrane. She has done her small part.She made this record album with Govinda Jaya Jaya and Hare Krsna.
Prabhupada: That is… That will be a good thing. But when he (she) does it properly it will be more effective, because there is… If one does not chant in the process, then gradually it degrades. The offense will increase. There is chance.
Brahmananda: We want to bring them to the process.
Prabhupada: Yes, that is the ultimate. That is stated by Rupa Gosvami yena tena prakarena manah krsne nivesayet sarve vidhi-nisedha syur etayor eva kinkarah … that “Somehow or other, bring him to chant Krsna or to become little Krsna conscious. Then, when he’s little purified, then the vidhi-nisedhah…” He’s not rejecting the vidhi-nisedhah. Vidhi-nisedhah means regulative principles. It is not rejected, that… But when he’s a little purified, this vidhi-nisedha syur etayor eva kinkarah. So we must come to that point. In the beginning you may be very liberal: “All right, chant.” We do like that, and I have done it. There is no regulation. But that does not…,(mean) that (the rules) it should be neglected. He should be given affirmed, “By simply, whimsically chanting this…” No, that is not. .. The thing is that some way or other, if you are near the fire, you’ll get some heat, but there is a process how to take heat. That you cannot reject. “Because I am getting little heat, it is sufficient,” that is sahajiya.
Adi 7.95-96 – A person who cannot keep his faith in the words of his spiritual master but acts independently never receives the authority to chant the holy name of the Lord.
Det June 14 1976
Makhanlāl: It’s possible for even a neophyte to chant offenselessly?
Prabhupāda: There may be offense. You should go on chanting. That will be adjusted as you advance in chanting. Harer nama Harer nama, harer nama eva kevalam . Simply go on chanting. We shall see later on what is offense and not offense. (laughter) Chanting Hare Krsna mantra, not for any profit. But go on serving Him. That’s all.
Madhya 4.137
One cannot understand Kṛṣṇa simply by reading Vedic literature. Although all Vedic literature is meant for understanding Kṛṣṇa, one cannot understand Kṛṣṇa without being a lover of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore along with the reading of Vedic literature (svādhyāya), one must engage in devotional worship of the Deity (arcana-vidhi). Together these will enhance the devotee’s transcendental understanding of devotional service
Feb 13 1971 Gorakpur
Our, this temple worship, Deity worship, we are following the principles of Deity worship because our ācāryas established temple, but main principle is chanting. Therefore, whatever we are doing, we offering prasādam to the Lord, we are having maṅgalārati, the main principle is chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. This temple worship, it can be avoided, but we cannot avoid chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. As such, we have introduced in several centers that “Begin with Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, keeping the picture of Guru-Gaurāṅga.” If it is not possible to worship the Deity according to the rules and regulation, there is no need of establishing temple. But if there are devotees who can actually keep the temple worship method in right order, then... Otherwise, simple, by chanting, everything is complete. But when there is temple worship, there is automatic purification because we have to rise early in the morning, we have to take bath. This kind of purification help…, is helped by temple worship. But when there is grossest type of people who cannot take to this, simply chanting will do. Hari nāmānukīrtanam. Kalau tad, kali, kalau. Kalau, means this age, that cleanliness is very difficult to maintain. Therefore kalau tad dhari-kīrtanāt. This is recommended.
….Even at the present moment, because here is temple, people are attracted. If you simply chant, very few people will come. Very few people will come. Therefore both things are recommended. Trayyāṁ jaḍi-kṛta-matiḥ. Their mind is so materialistic that they cannot give proper respect or importance to the chanting of the holy name. Trayyāṁ jaḍi-krta-matir madhu-puṣpitāyāṁ vaitāni ke mahati karmāṇi yujyamānāḥ (?). They are… Generally, they are attracted for karma-kāṇḍīya vicāra. That is explained here …If you do not arrange for this gorgeous system, people are not attracted. Therefore we have to do sometimes to attract people, this gorgeousness. Otherwise, chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra without any offense is sufficient. Therefore our Guru Mahārāja introduced both the processes. This arca, arca, this is pañcarātriki-vidhi. According to pañcarātrika system, Nārada-pañcarātra, this worship of the Deity is there. And bhāgavata-mārga, the path of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, is simply śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam. Out of the nine processes recommended, śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam [SB 7.5.23], so up to śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ smaraṇam, that is Bhāgavata-mārga. That is the best. And pāda-sevanaṁ arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyam, that is pañcarātriki-vidhi.
So both the viddhis, both the systems have been introduced. One will help the other. That is the way. ….Simply Bhāgavata-mārga… Just like in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, in the beginning, is simply śravaṇam-paraṁ satyaṁ dhīmahi; janmādy asya [SB 1.1.1]—smaraṇam, simply remembering, memorizing the Supreme Truth. But, of course, the pañcarātrika-vidhi is recommended in the Second Canto. That, another pañcarātrika-vidhi, is worshiping the gigantic form of the Lord. These things are there. But both, combined together, it is very much helpful. Bhāgavata-mārga will help the pañcarātrika-mārga, or process, and the pañcarātrika process will help Bhāgavata process. Both together is helpful. Therefore my Guru Mahārāja introduced… You have seen the, what is called? That (in)signia? One side, pañcarātriki-vidhi, one side bhāgavata-viddhi. That is… I have seen that Gauḍīya Math emblem. Yes. And, so actually, Bhāgavata-mārga is very strong. That is sufficient. But without pañcarātrika-vidhi this polluted body, polluted mind of the devotee, cannot be purified. Therefore both the process should be adopted in preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. (like washing coal-us)
March 12 1976 Mayapur
If you are engaged twenty-four hours in the service of the Deity, you cannot see except the Deity. This bhakti-yoga practice is so simple. Therefore kaniṣṭha adhikārī, those who are neophyte, they must take to Deity worship. By Deity worship he is elevated to the position of seeing the Lord within the heart. This is very important thing.
June 30 1974 letter Balakrsna Melbourne
As far as my blessing is concerned it does not require my physical presence. If you are chanting Hare Krishna there and following my instructions, reading the books, taking only Krsna prasadam etc., then there is no question of your not receiving the blessings of Lord Caitanya whose mission I am humbly trying to push on.