Hare Krishna Society

Below is a very nice conversation by Srila Prabhupada with some students at Boston .

He explains to the intelligent questions first about How is the Name of Krsna selected for God, and then what is the actual process to find God? And how to find that person who can give you God. Very nice explanation and easy to follow his logic.

Hare Krsna

damaghosa das

———————————-

Boston Dec 23, 1969

Who is the Real Authority that will give me answers without error or fault?

Young woman: How do you know that a name is approved?

Prabhupāda: How do you know even your name? How do you know?

Young woman: It’s given by a human being.

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Young woman: It was told to me by a person.

Prabhupāda: So who? Who told you?

Young woman: I suppose my mother.

Prabhupāda: Why do you believe her? That is your name?

Young woman: Why do I believe her?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Why do you believe her? I say that it is not your name. Why do you believe that this is your name?

Young woman: I can choose my name if I don’t like the name I have.

Prabhupāda: That is all right. But why do you believe? When I say, “What is your name?” you put your name which is given by your parents? And why not by your friend?

Young woman: It’s arbitrary.

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Young woman: It’s arbitrary.

Prabhupāda: But you accept it.

Young woman: Yes.

Prabhupāda: So you have to accept because your mother is authority.

Young woman: Yes. But who is the authority for telling me…

Prabhupāda: That’s all right. This is the principle. So you have to accept the name of God from God. You cannot manufacture.

Young woman: How do you know that “Kṛṣṇa” is a name of God?

Prabhupāda: That, it will take some time. How do you know he’s your father? Some gentleman comes. Your mother says, “He’s your father.” How do you know it?

Young woman: I have no proof?

Prabhupāda: Can you have any proof, that he’s your father?

Young woman: I suppose there will be biological…

Continue reading →

Vrndavana Dec 7 1975

Devotee: I heard that if you pass stool more than once a day you become a bhogī? You are called a bhogī?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Devotee: Does that mean a serious devotee should only pass stool once a day?

Prabhupāda: Don’t artificially do that. (laughter) First of all become yogi. Then do it.

Devotee: Yes. Of course, it can only be done by Kṛṣṇa’s mercy, but one should at least try for that.

Prabhupāda: Hare Kṛṣṇa. Jaya. Don’t try for passing stool once. (laughter) That does not make you a yogi.

Devotee: Yoginām api sarveṣāṁ mad-gatenāntarātmanā [Bg. 6.47].

Prabhupāda: Antara… Yes. That makes you yogi, not by passing stool. (laughter) Hare Kṛṣṇa. [break] Huh?

————————————

Here we have yet another potential “Prabhupada says” story where sometimes you will hear something out of context and which will produce yet another “fanatic” in spiritual life. Most everybody always wants the “quick fix” solution to all our problems, and that is OK as long as it really fixes the problem. However, passing stool once a day is hardly a qualification for entering the Spiritual Dhama of Gokula. As Srila Prabhupada mentions above and quotes the Bhagavad Gita verse where if one is always thinking of Krsna, he is the best or topmost yogi, not one who passes stool only once a day.

For more information on how fanaticism ruins actual spiritual life check this article out…

https://harekrishnasociety.org/?p=13355

Hare Krsna

damaghosa das

Hare Krsna-
Below we have a short look at what constitutes viddhi bhakti and raganuga bhakti. It is a common thing to find some devotees who, after some time of chanting and doing some deity worship aspire to be included in the inner circle of Lord Krsna’s intimate friends and confidantes. This is a nice thing, but has to be done with intelligence and sincerely following the spiritual masters instructions. Otherwise if one is immature in understanding and behavior, his or her “seva” will only be a disturbance to the devotees and world in general.

damaghosa das
—————————-

Srila Prabhupada’s Letter to: Madhusudana — Los Angeles 24 January, 1969

Srila Prabhupada…”Regarding your question about why we dress the Deities in very opulent fashion and not as simple cowherds boy and girl, this is an intelligent question and the answer is that according to the regulative principles we cannot worship Radha-Krishna now. Radha-Krishna worship is meant for persons who have already developed spontaneous love of God. In the training period we are only worshiping Laksmi-Narayana. We worship Radha-Krishna because Laksmi-Narayana is there also, but actually we do not worship Radha-Krishna with our present Deity ceremonies; we are worshiping Laksmi-Narayana.
Narayana is there when Krishna is there, but actually we do not worship Radha-Krishna in Their Original Form. This is why we should worship Radha-Krishna in Their Laksmi-Narayana feature with all respect and reverence. If we deviate from this standard then we shall be prakrta sahajiya, or a person who takes things very cheap. We worship Laksmi-Narayana, and because Radha-Krishna includes Laksmi-Narayana, there is no necessity of installing a Laksmi-Narayana Deity. It is just like a king who is engaged in administering justice. Actually that business belongs to the justice department. But what is that justice department? It is all part of the kings energy, and the king also has the power to execute this function.”

Continue reading →

Here is one very good reason to chant Hare Krsna maha mantra–Real Time Protection

Security companies are always trying to sell us their so called security sytems, which may or may not work. But their systems are very limited, whereas Krsna’s All Encompassing Protection Plan covers ALL nastry things which can happen in this world to His Devotees. And besides that, whose promise to deliver- are you more inclined to trust and believe?

Dec 11 1970 Indore India

Prabhupāda: There was a famine in India in 1942, big famine. I particularly inquired among the disciples of my Guru Mahārāja, and even the remote village, they said that “We have no difficulty.” No. And another, there was a havoc, earthquake, in sometime in 1933 or that… And one of our Godbrother, Mr. Munshi Chatterjee, when he heard that quarter is completely demolished, so he was in the office. He was thinking, “What shall I do by going home? There is no more home. Everything is…” Then he said, “Let me go and see.” And when he came there, only his house was left. Only his house. All house dismantled. The Only. Kaunteya pratijānīhi name bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati [Bg. 9.31]. That we have seen in many instances. Kṛṣṇa–bhakta is never vanquished.

Devotee: Yes. We were thinking that he was getting special protection from the Lord.

Prabhupāda: That is a fact. So be sincere, do your duty. You will never be in trouble. Never.

BG 18.78-Wherever there is Kṛṣṇa, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion.

BG 9.31–O son of Kuntī, declare it boldly that My devotee will never perish.”

And for yet another “layer” of protection, then install Salagram Silas in one’s home along with Tulsi devi. ..

Continue reading →

THE PRABHUPADA CONNECTION

Compiled by Padmapani dasa

One Should Take Shelter of a Great Soul

(Click on photo to see a larger image of Srila Prabhupada and devotees)

“Because the common man is unable to control the senses and the mind, it is his duty to seek the shelter of a great soul or a great devotee of the Lord and just try to please him. That will make his life perfect. A common man cannot rise to the topmost stage of spiritual perfection simply by following the rituals and religious principles. He has to take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master and work under his direction faithfully and sincerely; then he becomes perfect, without a doubt.”

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.22.6, Purport)

“The summary is that one has to, first of all, seek the association of pure devotees who not only are learned in the Vedanta but are self-realized souls and unalloyed devotees of Lord Sri Krishna, the Personality of Godhead. In that association, the neophyte devotees must render loving service physically and mentally without reservation. This service attitude will induce the great souls to be more favorable in bestowing their mercy, which injects the neophyte with all the transcendental qualities of the pure devotees.”

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.34, Purport)

“The parampara system of disciplic succession is very important as a means of spiritual success. One becomes a mahat by the grace of his mahat spiritual master. If one takes shelter of the lotus feet of a great soul, there is every possibility of one’s also becoming a great soul.“

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.22.6, Purport)

THE PRABHUPADA CONNECTION

compiled by Padmapani dasa

No One Should Criticize a Pure Devotee

“The servants of God come to propagate God consciousness, and intelligent people should cooperate with them in every respect. By serving the servant of God, one can please God more than by directly serving the Lord. The Lord is more pleased when He sees that His servants are properly respected because such servants risk everything for the service of the Lord and so are very dear to the Lord. The Lord declares in the Bhagavad-gita [18.69] that no one is dearer to Him than one who risks everything to preach His glory.”

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.16, Purport)

“It is said, therefore, by Vaisnava authorities that even the most intelligent person cannot understand the plans and activities of a pure devotee. The exact words are vaisnavera kriya mudra vijne na bujhaya. A person who is thus always engaged in the service of the Lord or is always thinking and planning how to serve the Lord is to be considered completely liberated at present and in the future. His going back home, back to Godhead, is guaranteed. He is above all materialistic criticism, just as Krishna is above all criticism.“

(Bhagavad-gita As It Is 9.28, Purport)

“Even the most learned or experienced person cannot understand the movements of a Vaisnava, a pure devotee. No one, therefore, should criticize a pure Vaisnava. A Vaisnava knows his own business; whatever he does is precisely right because he is always guided by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 9.4.68, Purport)

“Caitanya Mahaprabhu has very strongly recommended that one not commit any offense at the lotus feet of a devotee. Such offenses are compared to a mad elephant because when a mad elephant enters a garden it causes devastation. Therefore one should be extremely careful not to commit offenses at the lotus feet of a pure devotee.”

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 9.4.68, Purport)

“The Lord can tolerate insults upon Himself by any miscreant because the father tolerates even insults from the son. But He never tolerates insults upon His devotees. By insulting a great soul, one has to forego all the results of pious acts and benedictions also.”

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.10, Purport)

“The devotee of the Lord does not retaliate against the wrongdoer, but the Lord does not tolerate any mischief done to the devotee by the miscreants. The Lord can excuse a person on his own account, but He excuses no one who has done harm to His devotees.”

(Bhagavad-gita As It Is 1.35, Purport)

THE PRABHUPADA CONNECTION

The Glories of Haridasa Thakura

(Namacarya Srila Haridasa Thakura chanting japa.)

“Although Thakura Haridasa happened to take his birth in a Muslim family, he was elevated to the post of namacarya by Lord Caitanya due to his rigidly attended principle of chanting three hundred thousand holy names of the Lord daily: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. And because he chanted the holy name of the Lord constantly, it is understood that in his previous life he must have passed through all the ritualistic methods of the Vedas, known as sabda-brahma. Unless, therefore, one is purified, one cannot take to the principles of Krishna consciousness or become engaged in chanting the holy name of the Lord, Hare Krishna.”

(Bhagavad-gita As It Is 6.44, Purport)

Continue reading →

(Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation, May 10, 1969, Columbus, Ohio)

“This boy hears very nicely. He does not go away,” the first impression he gave to other godbrothers. “So I shall make him disciple.” These very words he said. Actually I did not follow him in the beginning. High philosophical speaking and I was a new boy. I could not follow him, but actually I was so much glad to hear him. That’s all. So that was my qualification, whatever you may say. I was simply asking, “When Guru Maharaja will speak? When he will speak? When?” And I will sit down and go on hearing, and I will understand or not understand – -others will disperse — I will not disperse. That he marked. Yes. First. There was first one instance. At that time I was not initiated. There was a circumambulation of whole Vrndavana. So although I was not initiated, I was one of the important members of the… So I thought, “Let me go. What these people are doing, circumambulating all over Vrndavana?” So I went to Mathura. Then I went to the Vrndavana interior, which place was known as Kosi. So in that Kosi one of my godbrothers declared that “Prabhupada is going tomorrow back to Mathura. So he will speak this evening. So anyone who wants to hear him, they can stay. And others may prepare to…” …. So they were to go to see some other temple which is called Sesayi Temple. So although I was new man, I did not like to go to see the Sesayi Temple. I decided that “I shall hear.” So at that time I was new, so all other, some of my important godbrothers, they were sitting like this, and I was sitting. At last, you see. But he knew that “This boy is new.” Everyone has gone, all others except a few selected godbrothers. So he marked it that “This boy is interested to hear me.” So hearing is very important. Hearing. Just like Arjuna heard from Krsna. Come on. (People entering) (Break) …because I was serious for hearing, and therefore now I am serious about kirtanam, means speaking, or preaching. Do you follow what I say? Yes. So one who is serious about hearing, he can become a future nice preacher. Sravanam kirtanam. Next stage is developed. That is development. If one has actually heard nicely, then he will speak nicely. Sravanam kirtanam smaranam. Then consciousness will automatically develop because when you speak or you hear, unless your mind is concentrated, your consciousness is right, you cannot rightly hear or speak. Sravanam kirtanam smaranam pada-sevanam. And then the development, “How I shall serve Krsna? Krsna is so loving. Krsna is so great,” that automatically comes. Not silent, but activity.”

Hare Krsna–

Below is a conversation and part of a lecture where Srila Prabhupada is asking a disciple what he thinks it means to be- “Krsna Conscious” ? I am sure if it went on Srila Prabhupada would have gotten a lot of different answers, so he gives us the answer in a short clear way, which is easy to understand. Please read below for his answer. The following lecture next, he explains a little bit more of how to attain this God or Krsna Consciousness. There is another conversation, which I have repeatedly and unsuccessfully tried to find where Srila Prabhupada is speaking about being in Vrndavana as a young man and Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja is opening a new temple and practically all the disciples have left to see the installation of the new deity-except for our Srila Prabhupada and a very few others, whose guru basically tells him that “this boy likes to hear me” and what will the other disciples “see” when they go to the installation -they will see some stone statue of Krsna, but not actually “see” the Lord, personally. He said, we see first- by hearing from the guru. These things are significant.

Continue reading →

Sri Vamana Dvadasi- Transcendental appearance of Lord Vamana deva

Tuesday, September 13, 2016 [Los Angeles, California, USA time]

Wednesday, September 14, 2016 [Mayapura, West Bengal, India time]

A few words of nectar from Srila Prabhupada about Sri Vamanadeva, (courtesy of Damaghosa Prabhu)

Hare Krsna to All

Pranams

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Vamana Dev.

Today is Lord Vamana Dev’s appearance and we as devotees should hear about His lila and some of the philosophical points connected to it.

Below are a few verses and purports from Srimad-Bhagavatam which I think everyone will find very instructive.

Hari bol

Damaghosa das

SB 8.19.21 Lord Vamanadeva Begs Charity from Bali Maharaja
The Personality of Godhead said: O my dear King, even the entirety
of whatever there may be within the three worlds to satisfy one’s
senses cannot satisfy a person whose senses are uncontrolled.

Continue reading →

Hare Krishna Society

Who is the Real Authority- you can Always Trust??

Fanaticisim is religion-without philosophy-revisited with a humorus story

Srila Prabhupada explains the correct way to worship “Radha Krsna”–otherwise we are sahajiya

PRACTICAL PROOF— HOW KRSNA PROTECTS HIS DEVOTEES

Srila Prabhupada re One Should Take Shelter of a Great Soul

No One Should Criticize a Pure Devotee

Namacarya Srila Haridas Thakur-courtesy of the Prabhupada Connection

“so one who is serious about hearing, he can become future nice preacher”–SP

Srila Prabhupada asks a disciple-what does it mean-to be Krsna Conscious?

Srila Prabhupada glorifies the transcendental appearance of Lord Vamana Deva and Jiva Goswami Prabhupada