Hare Krishna Society

740619rc.germany Conversations Prabhupada: My idea is that all our centers should be self-supported. We do not like that idea that for your support you have to go 100 miles to get your bread. That is a very dangerous drawback. You produce your food locally and then support yourself. The main problem is what to eat, where to sleep. So we get some place and support ourself by producing our own food. We have already begun in New Vrindaban, New…, West Virginia, Virginia, and similarly in other centers, we are producing our food, grains, vegetables, fruits and milk. That is sufficient. …..

As the times all over this world , get even more tough to make a “living” and one has to

undergo so much austerity-just to– get to “work”, and then actually work

at a place one really doesn’t like, these instructions by Srila Prabhupada are starting

to sound more and more attractive to one so much harassed by modern day

so called “living”.

Hare Krsna,

Damaghosa das-go ahead shoot the messenger, see if I care…

SB 5.5.21-22 Lord Rsabhadeva’ s Teachings to His Sons

1) Of the two energies manifest [spirit and dull matter], beings possessing living force [vegetables, grass, trees and plants] are superior to dull matter [stone, earth, etc.]. Superior to nonmoving plants and vegetables are worms and snakes, which can move. Superior to worms and snakes are animals that have developed intelligence. Superior to animals are human beings, and superior to human beings are ghosts because they have no material bodies. Superior to ghosts are the Gandharvas, and superior to them are the Siddhas. Superior to the Siddhas are the Kinnaras, and superior to them are the asuras. Superior to the asuras are the demigods, and of the demigods, Indra, the King of heaven, is supreme. Superior to Indra are the direct sons of Lord Brahma, sons like King Daksa, and supreme among Brahma’s sons is Lord Siva. Since Lord Siva is the son of Lord Brahma, Brahma is considered superior, but Brahma is also subordinate to Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because I am inclined to the brahmanas, the brahmanas are best of all.

2) SB 5.5.23 O respectful brahmanas, as far as I am concerned, no one is equal or superior to the brahmanas in this world. I do not find anyone comparable to them. When people know My motive after performing rituals according to the Vedic principles, they offer food to Me with faith and love through the mouth of a brahmana. When food is thus offered unto Me, I eat it with full satisfaction. Indeed, I derive more pleasure from food offered in that way than from the food offered in the sacrificial fire.

3) SB 3.16.8 … The conclusion is that if one can feed a brahmana or Vaisnava, it is better than performing hundreds of thousands of sacrifices. In this age, therefore, it is recommended that harer nama–chanting the holy name of God–and pleasing the Vaisnava are the only means to elevate oneself to spiritual life.

Conclusion- So if Krsna is so much pleased by eating thru the mouths of His brahmanas,

then why would we offer to the brahmanas anything less than the very best of foodstuffs?

How can you satisfy a brahmana– with bad food?

Food which has been sprayed with chemicals, herbicides and pesticides is toxic, everyone knows.

These foods cause damage to ones bodily organs, everyone knows.

So now with the introduction of genetically modified food organisms, this new

so called frankensteinfood is also well known to be causing immense damage to body organs.

We are trying to get the word out so that everyone knows this as well.

Its the New Year, time for some good change !! Let us only offer to Krsna

and His devotees and brahmanas– ONLY the best of foodstuffs !!!

Hare Krsna

Damaghosa das

Sadhana Bhakti warnings from our Acarya-

NBS 13 P Narada-bhakti-sutra If a diseased person is being cured of the symptoms of his disease but does not care for the principles of healthy living, there is every possibility of a relapse. Similarly, the neophyte devotee serious about advancing in devotional service must carefully follow the principles of regulative devotional service; otherwise there is every possibility of his falling down. Strictly speaking, if a devotee ignores the regulative principles and acts according to his whims–if, for example, he does not eat krsna-prasadam but eats anywhere and everywhere, such as in restaurants–there is every possibility of his falling down. If he accumulates money without spending it for devotional service, there is every possibility of his falling down. If he applies his energy not in the service of the Lord but in some material activity, there is every possibility of his falling down. If the devotee does not engage himself always in hearing and chanting the topics of Krsna and His activities but instead indulges in idle talk, there is every chance of his falling down. If a neophyte devotee does not follow the orders of the spiritual master and simply officially sticks to the principles, or if he does not strictly follow the principles, there is every possibility of his falling down. To become greedy is another cause of falldown. And to associate with persons who

are not in devotional service is the last word in maya’s allurements for causing a devotee to fall down.

01212rc.ind Conversations sadacara means to become freed from sinful reaction. Unless one follows the regulative principles he cannot be freed. And unless one is fully freed from sinful reaction he cannot understand what is God.

SB 2.9.31 P –Therefore, one cannot understand the Personality of Godhead unless one becomes a devotee and discharges devotional service. This mystery is love of Godhead. Therein lies the main qualification for knowing the mystery of the Personality of Godhead. And to attain the stage of transcendental love of Godhead, regulative principles of devotional service must be followed. The regulative principles are called vidhi-bhakti, or the devotional service of the Lord, and they can be practiced by a neophyte with his present senses. Such regulative principles are mainly based on hearing and chanting of the glories of the Lord. And such hearing and chanting of the glories of the Lord can be made possible in the association of devotees only. Lord Caitanya therefore recommended five main principles for attaining perfection in the devotional service of the Lord. The first is association with devotees (hearing); second is chanting the glories of the Lord; third, hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam from the pure devotee; fourth, residing in a holy place connected with the Lord; and fifth, worshiping the Deity of the Lord with devotion. Such rules and regulations are parts of devotional service.

Continue reading →

Guru-tyaga by the Prabhupada-anugas.

Srila Prabhupada explains: Who is Bali maharaja?

Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 4: “The Creation of the Fourth Order” : SB 4.24: Chanting the Song Sung by Lord Siva : SB 4.24.51 : PURPORT :

Lord Śiva is one of the twelve great authorities mentioned in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.3.20). These authorities are Svayambhū, Nārada, Śambhu, Kumāra, Kapila, Manu, Prahlāda, Janaka, Bhīṣma, Bali, Vaiyāsaki, or Śukadeva Gosvāmī, and Yamarāja.

Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 1:”Creation” : SB 1.12: Birth of Emperor Pariksit : SB 1.12.25 : PURPORT :

Bali Mahārāja: One of the twelve authorities in the devotional service of the Lord. Bali Mahārāja is a great authority in devotional service because he sacrificed everything to please the Lord and relinquished the connection of his so-called spiritual master who obstructed him on the path of risking everything for the service of the Lord. The highest perfection of religious life is to attain to the stage of unqualified devotional service of the Lord without any cause or without being obstructed by any kind of worldly obligation. Bali Mahārāja was determined to give up everything for the satisfaction of the Lord, and he did not care for any obstruction whatsoever. He is the grandson of Prahlāda Mahārāja, another authority in the devotional service of the Lord. Bali Mahārāja and the history of his dealings with Viṣṇu Vāmanadeva are described in the Eighth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Chapter 11-24).

As a Krpa-siddha by the mercy of Lord Vishnu.

Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 8: “Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations” : SB 8.20: Bali Maharaja Surrenders the Universe : SB 8.20.3 : PURPORT :

Bali Mahārāja had already been blessed by his grandfather Prahlāda Mahārāja. Therefore, he was a pure devotee, although born in a family of demons. There are two kinds of highly elevated devotees, called sādhana-siddha and kṛpā-siddha. Sādhana-siddha refers to one who has become a devotee by regular execution of the regulative principles mentioned in the śāstras, as ordered and directed by the spiritual master. If one regularly executes such devotional service, he will certainly attain perfection in due course of time. But there are other devotees, who may not have undergone all the required details of devotional service but who, by the special mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa—the spiritual master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead—have immediately attained the perfection of pure devotional service. Examples of such devotees are the yajña-patnīs, Mahārāja Bali and Śukadeva Gosvāmī. The yajña-patnīs were the wives of ordinary brāhmaṇas engaged in fruitive activities. Although the brāhmaṇas were very learned and advanced in Vedic knowledge, they could not achieve the mercy of Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma, whereas their wives achieved complete perfection in devotional service, despite their being women. Similarly, Vairocani, Bali Mahārāja, received the mercy of Prahlāda Mahārāja, and by Prahlāda Mahārāja’s mercy he also received the mercy of Lord Viṣṇu, who appeared before him as a brahmacārī beggar. Thus Bali Mahārāja became a kṛpā-siddha because of the special mercy of both guru and Kṛṣṇa. Caitanya Mahāprabhu confirms this favor: guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja (Cc. Madhya 19.151). Bali Mahārāja, by the grace of Prahlāda Mahārāja, got the seed of devotional service, and when that seed developed, he achieved the ultimate fruit of that service, namely love of Godhead (premā pum-artho mahān), immediately upon the appearance of Lord Vāmanadeva. Bali Mahārāja regularly maintained devotion for the Lord, and because he was purified, the Lord appeared before him. Because of unalloyed love for the Lord, he then immediately decided, “I shall give this little dwarf brāhmaṇa whatever He asks from me.” This is a sign of love. Thus Bali Mahārāja is understood to be one who received the highest perfection of devotional service by special mercy.

Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 5: “The Creative Impetus” : SB 5.24: The Subterranean Heavenly Planets : SB 5.24.18 : PURPORT :

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is described as Uttamaśloka, “He who is worshiped by the best of selected Sanskrit verses,” and His devotees such as Bali Mahārāja are also worshiped by puṇya-śloka, verses that increase one’s piety. Bali Mahārāja offered everything to the Lord—his wealth, his kingdom and even his own body (sarvātma-nivedane baliḥ). The Lord appeared before Bali Mahārāja as a brāhmaṇa beggar, and Bali Mahārāja gave Him everything he had. However, Bali Mahārāja did not become poor; by donating all his possessions to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he became a successful devotee and got everything back again with the blessings of the Lord. Similarly, those who give contributions to expand the activities of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and to accomplish its objectives will never be losers; they will get their wealth back with the blessings of Lord Kṛṣṇa. On the other side, those who collect contributions on behalf of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness should be very careful not to use even a farthing of the collection for any purpose other than the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 6: “Prescribed Duties for Mankind” : SB 6.3: Yamaraja Instructs His Messengers : SB 6.3 Summary :

Yamarāja continued, “The essence of sanātana-dharma, or eternal religion, is extremely confidential. No one but the Lord Himself can deliver that confidential religious system to human society. It is by the mercy of the Lord that the transcendental system of religion can be understood by His pure devotees, and specifically by the twelve mahājanas—Lord Brahmā, Nārada Muni, Lord Śiva, the Kumāras, Kapila, Manu, Prahlāda, Janaka, Bhīṣma, Bali, Śukadeva Gosvāmī and me. Other learned scholars, headed by Jaimini, are almost always covered by the illusory energy, and therefore they are more or less attracted by the flowery language of the three Vedas, namely Ṛg, Yajur and Sāma, which are called trayī. Instead of becoming pure devotees, people captivated by the flowery words of these three Vedas are interested in the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies. They cannot understand the glories of chanting the holy name of the Lord. Intelligent persons, however, take to the devotional service of the Lord. When they chant the holy name of the Lord without offenses, they are no longer subject to my rulings. If by chance they commit some sinful act, they are protected by the holy name of the Lord because that is where their interest lies. The four weapons of the Lord, especially the club and the Sudarśana cakra, always protect the devotees. One who chants, hears or remembers the holy name of the Lord without duplicity, or who prays or offers obeisances to the Lord, becomes perfect, whereas even a learned person may be called to hell if he is bereft of devotional service.”

Srila Prabhupada explains how Bali Maharaja attained perfection. .

Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 7: “The Science of God” : SB 7.5: Prahlada Maharaja, the Saintly Son of Hiranyakasipu : SB 7.5.23, SB 7.5.24, SB 7.5.23-24 : PURPORT :

“Parīkṣit Mahārāja attained salvation simply by hearing, and Śukadeva Gosvāmī attained salvation simply by chanting. Prahlāda Mahārāja attained salvation by remembering the Lord. The goddess of fortune, Lakṣmīdevī, attained perfection by worshiping the Lord’s lotus feet. Pṛthu Mahārāja attained salvation by worshiping the Deity of the Lord. Akrūra attained salvation by offering prayers, Hanumān by rendering service, Arjuna by establishing friendship with the Lord, and Bali Mahārāja by offering everything to the service of the Lord.”All these great devotees served the Lord according to a particular process, but every one of them attained salvation and became eligible to return home, back to Godhead

Srila Prabhupada explains under what circumstances Bali Maharaja rejected his so-called guru.

Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 8: “Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations” : SB 8.20: Bali Maharaja Surrenders the Universe : SB 8.20.1 : PURPORT :

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura remarks that Bali Mahārāja remained silent at a critical point. How could he disobey the instruction of Śukrācārya, his spiritual master? It is the duty of such a sober personality as Bali Mahārāja to abide by the orders of his spiritual master immediately, as his spiritual master had advised. But Bali Mahārāja also considered that Śukrācārya was no longer to be accepted as a spiritual master, for he had deviated from the duty of a spiritual master. According to śāstra, the duty of the guru is to take the disciple back home, back to Godhead. If he is unable to do so and instead hinders the disciple in going back to Godhead, he should not be a guru. Gurur na sa syāt (Bhāg. 5.5.18). One should not become a guru if he cannot enable his disciple to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The goal of life is to become a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa so that one may be freed from the bondage of material existence (tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mam eti so ’rjuna [Bg. 4.9]). The spiritual master helps the disciple attain this stage by developing Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Now Śukrācārya has advised Bali Mahārāja to deny the promise to Vāmanadeva. Under the circumstances, therefore, Bali Mahārāja thought that there would be no fault if he disobeyed the order of his spiritual master. He deliberated on this point—should he refuse to accept the advise of his spiritual master, or should he independently do everything to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead? He took some time. Therefore it is said, tūṣṇīṁ bhūtvā kṣaṇaṁ rajann uvācāvahito gurum. After deliberating on this point, he decided that Lord Viṣṇu should be pleased in all circumstances, even at the risk of ignoring the guru’s advice to the contrary,.

Continue reading →

WHAT IS BOGUS INITIATION?

Hare Krsna to all

Pranams

Glories to Srila Prabhupada

Below we have here more valuable information which confirms the principles of bona fide initiation vs. non bonafide and the symptoms by which one can judge for himself.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Maharj writes in the book Brahmana and Vaisnava….

…”If an initiated person has not undergone the sacred thread ceremony, then according to the statement of Brhaspati, a compiler of Dharma sastra, he has simply transgressed religious principles. The scriptures state that after receiving initiation one becomes twice born. If this was not so, then it is to be concluded that he has certainly not been properly initiated. If one is properly initiated then the results must come. A cause is known by its effects. If one claims to be a Vaisnava guru while neglecting the tat tenaiva vinirdiset verse, (“he should be accepted according to those symptoms of classification” statement of Srimad Bhagavatam 7.11.35), then he should be rejected. This is the purport of the scriptures.

One who assumes the dress and position of an acarya, who speaks against conclusions of Srimad Bhagavatam and other scriptures or who performs kirtan opposed to the proper glorification of Sri Krsna, certainly goes to hell for countless lifetimes along with his disciples and whoever else hears such non devotional talks and kirtans….”

The above reference to SB is here—SB 7.11.35– If one shows the symptoms of being a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or sudra, as described above, even if he has appeared in a different class, he should be accepted according to those symptoms of classification.

And in Srila Prabhupadas purport to SB……

SB 8.20.1 Purport Anyone who is supposed to be a guru but who goes against the principle of visnu-bhakti cannot be accepted as guru. If one has falsely accepted such a guru, one should reject him. Such a guru is described as follows (Mahabharata, Udyoga 179.25):

guror apy avaliptasya karyakaryam ajanatah utpatha-pratipannasya parityago vidhiyate

Srila Jiva Gosvami has advised that such a useless guru, a family priest acting as guru, should be given up, and that the proper, bona-fide guru should be accepted.

Isopanisad 12 The pseudo religionists have neither knowledge nor detachment from material affairs, for most of them want to live in the golden shackles of material bondage under the shadow of philanthropic activities disguised as religious principles. By a false display of religious sentiments, they present a show of devotional service while indulging in all sorts of immoral activities. In this way they pass as spiritual masters and devotees of God. Such violators of religious principles have no respect for the authoritative acaryas, the holy teachers in the strict disciplic succession. They ignore the Vedic injunction acaryopasana–“One must worship the acarya”–and Krsna’s statement in the ▼Bhagavad-gita (4.2) evam parampara-praptam, “This supreme science of God is received through the disciplic succession.” Instead, to mislead the people in general they themselves become so-called acaryas, but they do not even follow the principles of the acaryas. These rogues are the most dangerous elements in human society. Because there is no religious government, they escape punishment by the law of the state. They cannot, however, escape the law of the Supreme, who has clearly declared in the Bhagavad-gita that envious demons in the garb of religious propagandists shall be thrown into the

darkest regions of hell (Bg. 16.19-20). Sri Isopanisad confirms that these pseudo religionists are heading toward the most obnoxious place in the universe after the completion of their spiritual master business, which they conduct simply for sense gratification.

SB 1.19.37 P The Appearance of Sukadeva Gosvami Unless one is perfectly anxious to inquire about the way of perfection, there is no necessity of approaching a spiritual master. A spiritual master is not a kind of decoration for a householder. Generally a fashionable materialist engages a so-called spiritual master without any profit. The pseudo spiritual master flatters the so-called disciple, and thereby both the master and his ward go to hell without a doubt. Maharaja Pariksit is the right type of disciple because he puts forward questions vital to the interest of all men, particularly for the dying men. The question put forward by Maharaja Pariksit is the basic principle of the complete thesis of Srimad-Bhagavatam.

CONCLUSIONS–So many come in Kali yuga and claim they are Guru–but the Srimad Bhagavatam

says one should judge these persons by their behavior first, then such persons can be classified as Brahmana, Ksatryia or whatever, etc. If one sees that a person who is claiming to be Vaisnava guru doesn’t even chant 16 rounds, the minimum given by his own Guru, then what kind of guru is he? If this same or similar person has also been found to be engaged in sinful acts, then how is he Guru?

Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaj also states that if one has been considered to be initiated by a bona fide guru then the symptoms in the disciple should manifest, namely brahminical behavior. Effect should follow proper cause. Yet if we see that so many of the new “disciples’ of this modern age, dont even chant Hare Krsna mantra, or follow the 4 regulative principles, then this simply means that person from whom they took “initiation” was not a bona fide guru in the first place. I read one story of a devotee who sat in on a discussion of some iskgurus who were saying that practically all of their disciples fall away in 2-3 years so get as much (money) out of them as soon as you can. This is the mentality of a family priest not a Vaisnava Acarya.

So after these two types of cheaters come together for some guru-disciple business, then what happens? Sastra states that the bogus guru and the bogus disciple both go to hell. Not a very pretty picture is it?

WHAT IS REAL INITIATION?

750520mw.mel Conversations Devotee (3): Srila Prabhupada, if one goes to the temple, if one attends the temple regularly and inquires from the devotees about the devotional principles, and because of some reason, it’s not necessarily… it’s not convenient for him to live in the temple at that time, and he is living with people… Prabhupada: No, no, you live in temple or without temple, if you follow the instruction, that is wanted. If you live without temple and chant sixteen rounds and observe the regulative principle, that’s all right. It doesn’t require that you should live in the temple. And if you live in the temple and do all nonsense, then what is the use of living in the temple? Devotee: Is it wrong to think of initiation then? Or initiated also? (?) Prabhupada: Their “thinking” means they are not fixed up. That very word suggest that they are not fixed up. Oh, initiation can take place anywhere.

[In the above convesation we see Srila Prabhupada stressing that initiation can take place anywhere.

Many devotees think that initiation has to take place ONLY in a temple with the fire sacrifice, all your family members,TP, GBC sanction, etc. Yet here Srila Prabhupada states that initiation can take place anywhere.

Why is that?

Because initiation means it is an affair of the heart when the aspirant decides he or she wants to be guided by the Param para disciplic sucession as delivered down thru eternal time. When THAT time comes, THAT moment in time is considered “initiation”. Then a formal initiation can take place later, even decades later or 11 years, as was Srila Prabhupada’s personal case.]

761210DB.HYD Lectures 240636/530501 So anyway, from 1922 [when he first met Bhaktisiddhanta maharaj] to 1933 practically I was not initiated, but I got the impression of preaching Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s cult. That I was thinking. And that was the initiation by my Guru Maharaja. Then officially I was initiated in 1933 because in 1923 I left Calcutta. I started my business at Allahabad. So I was always thinking of my Guru Maharaja, that “I met a very nice sadhu.” Although I was doing business I never forgot him.

[So above is the proof by Srila Prabhupada himself. He states that he first met Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaj in 1923, at which point he considered himself “initiated” even though he waited until 11 years later for the formal initiation, due to business concerns which took him out of Calcutta and away from Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaj.]

761016iv.cha Conversations 452898/530501 Interviewer: What is the procedure of the movement? Do you initiate yourself all the disciples or do your other disciples also do that? Prabhupada: Well, initiation or no initiation, first thing is knowledge. (break) …knowledge. Initiation is formality. Just like you go to a school for knowledge, and admission is formality. That is not very important thing…. So our this movement is successful…

[In this conversation Srila Prabhupada states that for initiation, the first thing is knowledge, not the bananna throw into the sacred fire. First we have to be convinced about what we are hearing and doing, then that conviction becomes our desire for initiation within the heart by following the teachings laid down by the acaryas in our sampradaya.]

Hare Krsna

Damaghosa das

SB 10.13.54 The visnu-murtis all had eternal, unlimited forms, full of knowledge and bliss and existing beyond the influence of time. Their great glory was not even to be touched by the jnanis engaged in studying the Upanisads.

PURPORT

Mere sastra jnana, or knowledge in the Vedas, does not help anyone understand the personality of Godhead. Only one who is favored or shown mercy by the Lord can understand Him. This is also explained in the Upanisads (Mundaka Upanisad 3.2.3):

nayam atma pravacanena labhyo na medhasa na bahuna srutena yam evaisa vrnute tena labhyas tasyaisa atma vivrnute tanum svam

“The Supreme Lord is not obtained by expert explanations, by vast intelligence, or even by much hearing. He is obtained only by one whom He Himself chooses. To such a person, He manifests His own form.”

Crookedness in Devotional Service by Srila Jiva Goswami

— Bhakti-Sandarbha, anucchedas 153 and 154. Adapted from the English translation of Satya Narayan Das. Jiva Institute. Vrindavan. 2005. Sanskrit text taken from Gaudiya Grantha Mandira.

Due to the presence of many offenses, the Lord does not accept service from the crooked, even if they offer him many valuable items. This was seen when Krishna went to the capital of Duryodhan as a messenger on behalf of the Pandavas. Although Duryodhan tried to win Krishna over with a royal reception and great opulence, Krishna rejected Duryodhana’s hospitality because of Duryodhana’s offensive attitude towards Krishna’s devotees. At present, there are many people who make a show of devotion and who, in spite of having studied the scriptures, maintain an offensive mentality which causes them to disrespect the Lord, the spiritual master, and other devotees. The external worship offered by such persons is nothing but crookedness.

Therefore, sästra describes that even foolish people who are nonetheless free from crookedness attain perfection even by a semblance of bhakti, whereas he crooked cannot even practice bhakti. This is eidenced in a statement by the great sage Parashar from the Skanda-Puräna: na hy apuëyavatäà loke müòhänäà kuöilätmanäm bhaktir bhavati govinde kértanaà smaraëaà tathä In this world, impious, foolish and crooked people do not attain devotion to Lord Govinda, and they cannot chant about or remember the Lord. In consideration of this, the Viñëu-dharma states: satyaà çatena vighnänäà sahasreëa tathä tapaù vighnäyutena govinde nèëäà bhaktir niväryate The attempt of such crooked people to become truthful is obstructed by a hundred impediments, whereas their attempts to perform penances is obstructed by a thousand and their attempts to perform loving devotional service to Lord Govinda is obstructed by ten thousand impediments. Therefore, Sri Suta-Goswami says in Srimad Bhägavatam (3.19.36): taà sukhärädhyam åjubhir ananya-çaraëair nåbhiù kåtajïaù ko na seveta durärädhyam asädhubhiù

What grateful soul is there who would not render loving service to such a great master as the Personality of Godhead? The Lord can be easily pleased by spotless devotees who resort exclusively to him for protection, though the unrighteous man finds it difficult to propitiate him.

Similarly, the devotees of the Lord also bless those who are simple-hearted yet ignorant, but not those who are learned yet crooked, as the sage Sri Chamas told King Nimi in Çrémad Bhägavatam (11.5.4-5): düre hari-kathäù kecid düre cäcyuta-kértanäù striyaù çüdrädayaç caiva te ’nukampyä bhavädåçäm vipro räjanya-vaiçyau vä hareù präptäù padäntikam çrautena janmanäthäpi muhyanty ämnäya-vädinaù

There are many persons who have little opportunity to take part in discussions about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, and thus it is difficult for them to chant his infallible glories. Persons such as women, südras, and other fallen classes always deserve the mercy of great personalities like yourself. On the other hand, brahmins, members of the royal order, and vaisyas, even after being allowed to approach the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord by receiving the second birth of Vedic initiation, can become bewildered and adopt various materialistic philosophies. In the first of these two verses, the sage Chamas declares that out of the various divisions of human beings, those who are ignorant should be favored by devotees like King Nimi. But by the second verse, he intends to say that those who are proud of petty knowledge are incurable and should thus be avoided. ·

——————————————————-

And within Srila Prabhupadas purports there are numerous warnings and teachings

for the aspiring Transcendentalists of who he or she should and should not

associate with. Please consider the following purport and verse….

SB 3.29.17 P Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila … Friendship should be cemented between persons with mutual interests and understanding. Such persons are said to be sva jati, “of the same caste.” The devotee should avoid a person whose character is not fixed in the standard understanding; even though he may be a Vaisnava, or a devotee of Krsna, if his character is not correctly representative, then he should be avoided. One should steadily control the senses and the mind and strictly follow the rules and regulations, and he should make friendship with persons of the same standard.

SB 1.2.17 Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.

Hare Krsna

Damaghosa das

Hare Krsna to all

Pranams

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Below is a very famous and very instructive conversation with Srila Prabhupada where he explains how any person today can become aChristain or follower of Jesus Christ if he follows his teachings. Jesus is a pure devotee of Krsna and capable of delivering any soul back to Godhead-IF he follows his teachings.

Srila Prabhupada explains how one can do this even today, Jesus Christ being “gone” now for over 2000 years.

So below, in the conversation, I have added in red letters the name “devotee” instead for the word Christian and ” Bhagavad gita” for Bible.The two words, either devotee or Christian are interchangeable and the same goes for Bhagavad gita and Bible. In this way Srila Prabhupada nicely explains how anyone today can become a Christian or Hare Krsna devotee if he follows either Jesus or Srila Prabhupada-both being physically “gone”. In other words, one does not require a physically living spiritual master on this planet for one to accept him and for him to accept you.

It only requires one must follow either’s teachings.

SB 2.9.8 The potency of transcendental sound is never minimized because the vibrator is apparently absent. Therefore Srimad-Bhagavatam or Bhagavad-gita or any revealed scripture in the world is never to be accepted as an ordinary mundane sound without transcendental potency. One has to receive the transcendental sound from the right source, accept it as a reality and prosecute the direction without hesitation. The secret of success is to receive the sound from the right source of a bona fide spiritual master. Mundane manufactured sound has no potency, and as such, seemingly transcendental sound received from an unauthorized person also has no potency. One should be qualified enough to discern such transcendental potency, and either by discriminating or by fortunate chance if one is able to receive the transcendental sound from the bona fide spiritual master, his path of liberation is guaranteed.

Hare Krsna

Damaghosa das

————————–

THE RITVIK SYSTEM EASILY EXPLAINED BY SRILA PRABHUPADA, SEATTLE 1968

681002LE.SEA Lectures Madhudvisa: Is there any way for a Christian (devotee) to, without the help of a spiritual master ( Prabhupada ), to reach the spiritual sky through believing in the words of Jesus Christ (Prabhupada ) and trying to follow his teachings? Prabhupada: I don’t follow. Tamala Krsna: Can a Christian (devotee) in this age, without a spiritual master, but by reading the Bible (Bhagavad gita) and following Jesus’s (Prabhupadas ) words, reach the… Prabhupada: When you read Bible, (Bhagavad gita) you follow spiritual master.(Prabhupada) How can you say without? As soon as you read Bible, (Bhagavad gita) that means you are following the instruction of Lord Jesus Christ, (Prabhupada) that means you are following spiritual master. So where is the opportunity of being without spiritual master? Madhudvisa: I was referring to a living spiritual master. Prabhupada: Spiritual master is not the question of… Spiritual master is eternal. Spiritual master (Prabhupada) is eternal. So your question is without spiritual master. Without spiritual master (Prabhupada) you cannot be, at any stage of your life. You may accept this spiritual master or that spiritual master . That is a different thing. But you have to accept. As you say that “by reading Bible,” (Bhagavad gita) when you read Bible (Bhagavad gita) that means you are following the spiritual master (Prabhupada ) represented by some priest or some clergyman (ritvik) in the line of Lord Jesus Christ.(Prabhupada) So any case, you have to

follow a spiritual master.There cannot be the question without spiritual master. Is that clear? Madhudvisa: I mean like we couldn’t understand the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita without your help, without your presentation. Prabhupada: Similarly, you have to understand Bible (Bhagavad gita) with the help of the priest (ritvik) in the church. Madhudvisa: Yes. But is he receiving a good interpretation from his disciplic succession or his bishop? Because there seems to be some kind of a discrepancy in the interpretation of the Bible.(Bhagavad gita) There’s many different sects of Christianity (devotees) that interpret the Bible (Bhagavad gita) in different ways. Prabhupada: Of course, there cannot be any interpretation in the Bible.(Bhagavad gita) Then there is no authority of Bible (Bhagavad gita). If you interpret something… Just like “Call a spade a spade.” So if you call something else, that is a different thing. He’s not spiritual master. Just like this is watch. Everybody has called it watch, and if I call it spectacle, then what is the value of my being spiritual master? I’m misleading. (laughter) It is watch, that I must say. So when there is misinterpretation, he’s not a bona fide spiritual master. He’s not spiritual master, what is called a bona fide. then what kind of a spiritual master I am? Reject him immediately. That intelligence you must have, who is a pseudo spiritual master or real spiritual master. Otherwise you’ll be cheated. And that is being done. Everyone is interpreting in his own way. The Bhagavad-gita, there are thousands of editions, and they have tried to interpret in their own way, all nonsense. They should be all thrown away. Simply you have to read Bhagavad-gita as it is. Then you’ll understand. There is no question of interpretation. Then the authority is gone. As soon as you interpret, then there is no authority.

Hare Krsna to all

Pranams

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Because it is Kali yuga, the age of quarrel and hypocrisy, it is very very easy for one

who desires spiritual life to become cheated. He or she will be cheated by practically

everyone who poses as a spiritualist. This is not my opinion, but the words of

Srila Prabhupada, the Acarya or Guru for the worldwide Hare Krsna Movement.

He often would tell us that if you don’t know what gold looks like and someone offers you

pyrite (imitation gold) and wants to sell it to you, then because you don’t actually know what

real gold is, you will be cheated. Therefore it is incumbent upon every aspiring spiritualist, to

make him or herself familiar with the terms of “real gold”. That very valuable information is to follow.

This article is a follow up to the previous one I just sent out yesterday, entitled “The process of accepting a bona fide guru”.

Hare Krsna

Damaghosa das

——————–

A First class person wants to make his life spiritually perfect.

A Second class person wants great riches by political or business means

A Third class person wants riches by industry or mercantile work

A Fourth class person wants only to fill the belly.

Some Qualifications of bona fide guru

“UNLESS ONE IS UNDER THE SHELTER OF A REALIZED SPIRITUAL MASTER, HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE SUPREME IS SIMPLY FOOLISHNESS.” TLC.

SOME OF THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER.

1) Above the 4 defects-mistakes, illusion, imperfect senses, cheating.

2) When a devotee is perfectly qualified in chanting the Transcendental vibration of the Holy Names, he is quite fit to become SM and deliver all the people of the world. (TLC)

3) The guru must be situated on the top most platform of devotional service. There are 3 classes of devotees and the guru must be accepted from the top most class. When one has attained the top most position of maha bhagavata, he is to be accepted as a guru and worshipped exactly like Hari, the Personality of Godhead. ONLY such a person is eligible to occupy the post of guru. CC Mad24.330

4) Since one cannot visually experience the presence of the supersoul, He appears before us as a liberated devotee. Such a SM is none other that Krsna Himself. CC Ant 5.171

5) When a pure devotee speaks, he speaks perfectly. How is this? His speech is managed by Krsna Himself within the heart.”

Continue reading →

Hare Krsna to all

Pranams

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Below we have summarized a few lectures by Srila Prabhupada where he nicely explains

who will find a real guru, and how to determine who is a real guru.

He says-

1. accept a guru who is infallible

2.If you dont get a qualified guru, then everything is bogus

3.if you dont find such a guru, that means Krsna is not pleased or your not serious

4.guru must be accepted from highest order- paramahamsa

5.who has been cheated by bogus gurus? He says-“Practically everyone”

Hare Krsna

Damaghosa das

————————–

761003SB.VRN Lectures … Sisyas te ‘ham sadhi mam prapannam: “Now, Krsna, I accept You as my guru. Not as friend.” Because friendly talking is useless waste of time. He accepted Him as guru. When guru speaks, you cannot argue. That is not the process. You should accept a guru who is infallible. Otherwise it is useless. He accepted guru Krsna because Krsna is infallible. If we accept guru, a bogus guru, then it is no benefit. Guru means Krsna’s representative. Not that everyone can be guru.

720911rc.arl Conversations Prabhupada: Just like Dhruva Maharaja. He was advised by his mother that “If you go to the forest you can see God.” So he went there. But when he was very serious, then Krsna sent him Narada Muni. So if you are actually serious about Krsna, then Krsna will send you some of His representative and he will take charge of you. That is the process. If you do not find a guru, that means Krsna is not yet pleased, either you are not serious.

720629rc.sd Conversations Devotee: What determines, Srila Prabhupada, if one is serious or one is not serious? What makes one… Prabhupada: Well, this seriousness comes after many, many births. It is also not so easy. Rupa Gosvami says, tatra laulyam api mulyam ekalam janma-koti-sukrtair na labhyate. He wrote a verse, krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matih kriyatam yadi kuto ‘pi labhyate: “The krsna-bhakti, Krsna consciousness, this thing, if you can purchase somewhere, just immediately purchase it.” Krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matih kriyatam: “Just purchase.” Yadi kuto ‘pi labhyate. First of all, if you want to purchase, the things must be available. Yadi kuto. Therefore kuto ‘pi, “If it is available, immediately purchase.” Then next question is, “What is the value? What is the price I have to pay?” Then he said, tatra laulyam ekalam mulyam, “Simply your serious eagerness to have it. That is the price.” “Oh, that I can have very easily.” “No.” Janma-koti-sukrtair na labhyate: “That laulyam, that seriousness, is not obtained after thousands of years’ pious activities.” It is so difficult. Janma-koti-sukrtair na labhyate. People are acting piously, but that kind of seriousness is not available even after executing pious activities for thousands of lives. So that seriousness is also very difficult, to become very serious that “In this life I shall finish my business and go home, back to home, back to Godhead.” Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate. Krsna says, “After many, many births, when actually one becomes in knowledge, he surrenders unto Me.”

761101SB.VRN Lectures So for that there are so many practices, regulative principles, mentioned here. The first thing is hamse gurau mayi bhaktyanuvrtya. This is religion. Adau gurvasrayam. If you do not get a qualified guru, then everything is bogus. If you, by good fortune, if you get the association of a guru, qualified hamsa, paramahamsa… Paramahamsa guru means sannyasi’s last stage is paramahamsa. Kuticaka, bahudaka, parivrajakacarya, and paramahamsa, these are the different stages.

Continue reading →

761101SB.VRN Lectures

So for that there are so many practices, regulative principles, mentioned here. The first thing is hamse gurau mayi bhaktyanuvrtya. This is religion. Adau gurvasrayam. If you do not get a qualified guru, then everything is bogus. If you, by good fortune, if you get the association of a guru, qualified hamsa, paramahamsa… Paramahamsa guru means sannyasi’s last stage is paramahamsa. Kuticaka, bahudaka, parivrajakacarya, and paramahamsa, these are the different stages. When one takes sannyasa, he lives outside the village in a kuti, in a cottage, and the family members goes and delivers him the food, because he is not practiced. So in the beginning, he keeps up this association of neighborhood or family, but he is not practiced. He therefore lives outside the village, and if somebody gives some food, he eats.

Then when he becomes experienced, then he does not accept food from one, either his own home or one home. He takes foodstuff from many homes: “Give me a little piece of capati.” So somebody gives half, because they are also not overburdened. If they have to deliver, so many sannyasis come, and sumptuous food, then how the grhastha will provide? Therefore though… They do not overburden. There may be other sannyasis, therefore little only. Madhupuri. The Gosvamis practiced this madhupuri in Vrndavana.

Continue reading →

Hare Krishna Society

More proof for self sufficiency-SP

How Krsna eats food –thru the mouths– of His brahmanas

Here’s some good- new years resolutions–SP

Guru-tyaga by the Prabhupada-anugas

What is real and what is bogus initiation?

Crookedness in Devotional Service-by Srila Jiva Goswami

Prabhupada explain show anyone today can become a disciple of Jesus or Prabhupada

Some qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master

The process of accepting a bona fide guru-SP

If you do not get qualified guru, then everything is bogus-SP