13 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Quotes by Srila Prabhupada, Remembering Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada Conversations, Srila Prabhupada's Books
Tags: Bhagavad Gita, Brahmananda dasa, conversations, Gaurasundara dasa, God-brothers, Govinda dasi, Hansadutta dasa, Jayananda dasa, Karandhara dasa, Krishna dasa, krsna consciousness, lectures, personal guide, physical association, Sivananda dasa, Srila Prabhupada letters, Srimad Bhagavatam, Suci devi, vani, vapuh, Vrindavan, walks
click on image to enlarge
I am always thinking of you (Srila Prabhupada)
Prabhupada: So there is nothing to be said new. Whatever I have to speak, I have spoken in my books. Now you try to understand it and continue your endeavor. Whether I am present or not present, it doesn’t matter. (770517ar.vrn Conversations)
“I shall remain your personal guidance, physically present or not physically, as I am getting personal guidance from my guru maharaja” (Srila Prabhupada to Tamal Krishna, 14 July 1977)
You write that you have desire to avail of my association again, but why do you forget that you are always in association with me? When you are helping my missionary activities I am always thinking of you, and you are always thinking of me . That is real association. Just like I am always thinking of my Guru Maharaja at every moment, although he is not physically present, and because I am trying to serve him to my best capacity, I am sure he is helping me by his spiritual blessings. So there are two kinds of association: physical and preceptorial. Physical association is not so important as preceptorial association. (SP Letter to Govinda Dasi, 18/8/69)
But always remember that I am always with you. As you are always thinking of me, I am always thinking of you also. Although physically we are not together, we are not separated spiritually. So we should be concerned only with this spiritual connection. (SP Letter to Gaurasundara, 13/11/69)
You write to say, ….I really miss Swamiji and my God-brothers’ association so much.” But I may remind you that I am always with you. And so wherever I am there, and you are there, all your God-brothers are there. Please remember always the humble teachings that you have received from me, and that will make you always associated with me, and with your other God-brothers. (Letter to: Sivananda dasa. Montreal , 24 August, 1968)
“However, the disciple and spiritual master are never separated because the spiritual master always keeps company with the disciple as long as the disciple follows strictly the instructions of the spiritual master. This is called the association of vani (words). Physical presence is called vapuh. As long as the spiritual master is physically present, the disciple should serve the physical body of the spiritual master, and when the spiritual master is no longer physically existing, the disciple should serve the instructions of the spiritual master.” (SB 4.28.47 purport)
Associate with Srila Prabhupada through his Vani
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12 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Devotee's, Sriman George Harrison
Tags: Bala Gopal, Bhaktivedanta Manor, England 1993, Gurudas, Lokadrsti, Malati, Mukunda, Shyamasundar, Sri Gandhari, Sriman George Harrison
Remembering George Harrison
By Lokadrsti devi dasi
Haribol!
I’ll try to put it down in print.
It was at Bhakitivedanta Manor in England 1993. The first Prabhupada reunion they had. So it was the first time the original devotees who went to England met up for the first time for 10 yrs. or more. Malati, Shyamasundar, Guru das, Mukunda Maharaja and alot of old Prabhupada disciples who had alot of association with Srila Prabhupada in England.
We had set up a large stage outside so everyone sat on the grass in the cow field. My service was decorating the stage to give it a more transcendental appearance. So I was a bit tired and sat at the back of all the devotees with my friend Bala Gopal to the left of me and my daughter, Sri Gandhari to the right.
Everyone was dressed in devotee garb so I noticed this person dressed in blue jeans and blue jean jacket and looked him straight in the eye. He seemed a little scared so I thought he was a new guest. Timidly, he sat right next to Sri Gandhari. Then my friend whispers “there’s George” and a fool as I am, says out loud ” George who?”
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11 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Book Distribution, Devotee's, Vaisesika das
Tags: BBT, Bhagavad Gita, Book Distribution, Caitanya Caritamrta, devotees, Goethe, Hari Nama Sankirtan, Helen Keller, Vaisesika Dasa
Be Bold
By: Vaisesika Dasa
Dear Devotees,
Please accept my humble pranams at your feet. All glories to the founder/Acarya of ISKCON and his unparalleled books.
Srila Prabhupada made our lives exciting. He pushed us and he was definitely not accustomed to thinking small. In thinking of what my life was like while Srila Prabhupada walked the planet, I often recall a famous quotation from Helen Keller: “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”
Life with Srila Prabhupada was and still is a daring adventure.
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09 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Letters by Srila Prabhupada
Tags: 16 rounds, back to Godhead, bona fied spiritual master, devotional service, initiated disciple, Ravindra Gupta das, Srila Prabhupada
Vrindaban, Tuesday, 12 February, 1974:
Dear Ravendra Gupta, please accept my blessings. I have only recently received your letter of February 6, 1974, due to travelling.
I am very glad to hear you are following my instructions by chanting 16 rounds daily. In order to chant offenselessly, so that the chanting will have the greatest effect, one must avoid the four sinful activities.
You have asked “How serious would it be for me if I should miss the golden opportunity to become your initiated disciple?” You should know that the value of accepting a bona fide spiritual master is more than we can calculate.
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09 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Time
Tags: and much more, birth, cars produced, crime, death, energy, enviroment, food, health, population, Time, US National debt
Ran across this the today while I was “surfing the net”. Found it interesting so decided to post this link. Very scary!
A counter for time, population, birth, death, health, environment, energy, crime, food, US National Debt, Nigerian 409 scams, spam emails, cars produced, bicycles produced and much more.
via Hare Krishna Centre – Leicester, UK – The Clock is Ticking.
P.S. don’t forget to come back to our site after visiting this link. Hari bol!
09 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Festivals, Krishna Consciousness
Tags: Berkeley, dancing music, festivals, Gadadhara das, Gaur Nitai, Lord Caitanya, parade, vegetarian cuisine
Berkeley Lord Chaitanya Festival
BY: GADADHARA DAS
Mar 07, 2011 — BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA (SUN) — Dear Devotees, Please come to the Lord Chaitanya Spring Festival in Berkeley, CA. There will be a large parade with the Gaura Nitai floats down Telegraph Avenue, culminating at People’s Park with kirtan, exhibits and more!
ISKCON of the Bay Area Inc., a non-profit organization, presents the “Lord Chaitanya Spring Festival & Parade” on Sunday March 20th at 11:00a.m. in Berkeley, CA.
FREE ADMISSION!
The Lord Chaitanya Spring Festival and Parade will start at Stuart Street and Telegraph Ave in Berkeley, CA and proceed to People’s Park for MUSIC, FOOD, EXHIBITS, GIFTS, AND A FREE VEGETARIAN CUISINE and much more! The parade will feature large floats, dancing, and music. Bring your funky hats, instruments, and colorful attire!
We invite everyone to bring their family and friends to experience this extraordinary event, enjoy the sumptuous Vegetarian feast, and have fun in the parade. This festival is wheelchair accessible and family friendly. No drugs or alcohol will be permitted.
Information: http://www.lordchaitanyafestival.org
CONTACT:
Gadadhara das or Grantharaja das
ISKCON Bay Area Inc.
2334 Stuart Street
Berkeley, CA 94705
Phone: (510) 863-4711
email: lordchaitanyafestival@gmail.com
08 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Hayagriva das, The Hare Krishna Explosion
Tags: Allen Ginsberg, back to Godhead, hayagriva das, Krishna consciousness, Mantra Rock, Swamiji, the hare krishna explosion, The Hare Krishna Movement
The Hare Krishna Explosion
by Hayagriva das
Part I: New York, 1966
Chapter 6
Back to Godhead
“October 21, 1966. I walk into Swamiji’s room, offer obeisances, and he hands me the first three volumes of Srimad-Bhagavatam, which he had printed in India.
“Here,” he says. “Take and read.”
I open the books. In the front of each, he has written my spiritual name. “With my best blessings, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.”
“Oh, thank you, Swamiji,” I say.
“That’s all right,” he says, smiling. “Now you compile this Back To Godhead magazine.”
Back to Godhead! That is, we were there once. It’s a question of recovering a lost land. As Swamiji says: “I have come to remind you of what you have forgot.”
Following the orders of his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, Swamiji began Back To Godhead in 1944. Published bi-monthly in India from 1944 to 1956, Back To Godhead established Swamiji as one of India’s leading personalists. Now Swamiji enjoins Rayarama and me to introduce it to the West.
“Work sincerely,” he tells us,”and make it as big as your Time Magazine.”
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06 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Book Distribution, The Hare Krishna Movement
Tags: Back to Godhead Magazine, Book Distribution, books by Srila Prabhupada, bookseller, devotee, sankirtan, Seva devi dasi, The Hare Krishna Movement
Why We Distribute Books – A devotee-bookseller explains.
By Seva-devi dasi
Back to Godhead Magazine # 19-08, 1984
Have you ever met a Hare Krishna devotee in an airport, a parking lot, or on the street distributing books and collecting donations? Many people wonder why we do this. I’ve been distributing books for over six years, and I’d like to tell you something about the origin of book distribution.
Devotees are not ordinary booksellers; their bookselling is transcendental. It is sankirtana, the glorification of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Sankirtana can be executed very easily, without great endeavor or expense. One can simply chant the Hare Krishna mantra by himself or with others. Or one can read about and discuss the pastimes of the Lord and His devotees. When we give someone a book, we allow him to get in touch with the philosophy and pastimes of Krishna. Any donation he gives helps support the book publication and the temples of the Krishna consciousness movement. Temples worldwide distribute prasadam (spiritual food) free of charge and give people the opportunity to come and take part in spiritualactivities. And all of this is sankirtana, the glorification of Lord Krishna, which is what Krishna consciousness is all about.
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06 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Teachings of Pralada Maharaja
Tags: brahmacarya, devotees, family life, illusion, krsna consciousness, materialistic, Prahlada Maharaja, sense gratification, Spiritual Life, Srimad Bhagavatam, Transcendental Teachings of Prahlada Maharaja
Transcendental Teachings of Prahlada Maharaja
by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Family Illusion Chapter 3
Prahlāda Mahārāja told his friends, “You have to begin Kṛṣṇa consciousness immediately.” All the boys were born of atheistic, materialistic families, but fortunately they had the association of Prahlāda, who was a great devotee of the Lord from his birth. Whenever he found an opportunity, when the teacher was out of the classroom, he used to say, “My dear friends, let’s chant Hare Kṛṣṇa; this is the time to begin Kṛṣṇa consciousness.”
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05 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Krishna
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, forest of Vrndavana, karnikara flowers, Krishna, Krsna The Supreme Personality of Godhead, samadhi, topmost yogi, Vaijayanti garland
KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead
by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
“Wearing a peacocl-feather ornament upon His head, blue karnikara flowers on His ears, a yellow garment as brilliant as gold, and the Vaijayanti garland. Lord Krishna exhibited His transcendental form as the greatest of dancers as He entered the forest of Vrndavana, beautifying it with the marks of footprints. He filled the holes of His flute with the nectar of His lips, and the cowherd boys sang his glories”
“The highest perfection of the eyes is to see Krishna & Balarama entering the forest and playing Their flutes and tending the cows with their friends”
Persons who are constantly engaged in the transcendental meditation of seeing Krishna, internally and externally, by thinking of Him playing the flute and entering the Vrindavan forest, have really attained the perfection of samadhi. It is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita that anyone who is always absorbed in the thought of Krishna is the topmost yogi.
05 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Devotee's, Srila Prabhupada Conversations
Tags: always think of Me, devotional service, Krishna consciousness movement, Madhudvisa Swami, man mana bhava mad bhakto, sinful activity, surrender to Krishna, there is no difficulty
There is no difficulty
Madhudvisa prabhu (repeating question to Srila Prabhupada): “We have been here for many lifetimes performing sinful activities. So is it possible to counteract all those sinful activities in one lifetime, or does it require many…?”
Srila Prabhupada: “One minute. That is Krishna consciousness movement. One minute. You are not reading Bhagavad Gita? What Krishna says? sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayisyami (BG 18.66) ‘You surrender unto Me. Give up your all business. I will give you relief from all sinful reaction immediately.’ So it requires one minute. ‘My dear Krishna, I was forgotten. Now I understand. I fully surrender unto you.’ Then you become immediately free from all sinful reactions.
Without any reservation, without any politics, if you fully surrender, Krishna is assuring, aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah. He reassures, ‘Don’t worry whether I will be able to give you relief from all reaction’; ma sucah, finished, guaranteed. You do this. So how much time it requires to surrender to Krishna? Immediately you can do that. Surrender means you surrender and work as Krishna says.
That is surrender. What Krishna says to do? man mana bhava mad bhakto mad yaji mam namaskuru (BG 18.65); four things: ‘You always think of Me, and you become My devotee, you worship Me, and offer your respect, full obeisances unto Me’ You do these four things. That is full surrender. Mam evaisyasi asamsaya: ‘Then you come to Me without any doubt.’ Everything is there. Krishna has given everything fully. If you accept it, then life is very simple. There is no difficulty. Yes?”
05 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Devotee's, Pradyuma das
Tags: Acaryas, devotee, disciples, Godbrothers, guru, Initiation, Iskcon, Pradyumna das, Satsvarupa Maharaj, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, successor, Vrindavan
Same solution as desired by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
Pradyumna Prabhu (ACBSP): 7 August, 1978
Dear Satsvarupa Maharaj,
Please accept my most humble obeisances.
Maharaj, I am writing you this letter with GREAT anxiety in my heart and after days and days and long nights of thought and careful consideration.
I have been staying in Vrndavan for some time and have not visited any other center recently except Delhi. Therefore, my information I have about what is happening at our other centers comes only from devotees visiting here, occasional letters, newsletters and our society’s magazine and other publications. But the news I hear from these sources is very alarming and therefore I am writing you in some anxiety.
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05 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Shiva
Tags: Brahmananda Purana, devotion, Kashi, krishnasmercy.org, Lord Brama, Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Parvati, Shivaratri, Tulsidas, vaishnavas, worship
Lord Shiva; Greatest Devotee of Krsna
by krishnasmercy.org
Shivaratri is the celebration festival for Lord Shiva, one of the three presiding deities of the material world. To manage the material world, Lord Krishna incarnates as three guna avatars, Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, and Lord Shiva. Guna means qualities, and each of the deities preside over a specific quality of material nature. Lord Vishnu represents the mode of goodness, Lord Brahma the mode of passion, and Lord Shiva the mode of ignorance or darkness.
Lord Shiva is known as Mahadeva, or the great god or demigod. He is known as the highest demigod because he is a great devotee of Lord Vishnu or Krishna. Lord Shiva is always seen seated in a yoga posture and meditating, for his mind is in deep concentration on the lotus feet of Lord Krishna. Like other demigods, he has been deputed by Lord Krishna to provide material benedictions to those who worship him. Lord Shiva is generally the demigod to go to for people in the mode of ignorance. People in the mode of ignorance usually crave material benedictions and they know that Lord Shiva is very easily pleased, so they go to him to fulfill their desires.
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05 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Narada-bhakti-sutra
Tags: brahma-buta, brahman, brahmojyoti effulgence, devotional service, Narada Muni, Narayan, pure love of God, self realization, Spiritual Life, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam
Narada-bhakti-sutra Text 2
Translation & Purport by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
TRANSLATION
Devotional service manifests as the most elevated, pure love for God.
PURPORT
As stated before, after attaining the highest stage of self-realization, one becomes situated in devotional service to the Lord. The perfection of devotional service is to attain love of God. Love of God involves the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the devotee, and the process of devotional service. Self-realization, the brahma-bhūta stage, is the beginning of spiritual life; it is not the perfectional stage. If a person understands that he is not his body and that he has nothing to do with this material world, he becomes free from material entanglement. But that realization is not the perfectional stage.
The perfectional stage begins with activity in the self-realized position, and that activity is based on the understanding that a living entity is eternally the subordinate servitor of the Supreme Lord. Otherwise, there is no meaning to self-realization. If one is puffed up with the idea that he is the Supreme Brahman, or that he has become one with Nārāyaṇa, or that he has merged into the brahmajyoti effulgence, then he has not grasped the perfection of life. As the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.2.32) states,
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04 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Bhagavat das, Book Changes, Devotee's
Tags: bhagavad-gita, Bhagavat das, book changes, devotee, Gour Govinda Swami, Jayawaita Swami, Krishna, Sanskrit, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam, Surpreme Personality of Godhead
Leave the books alone!
by Bhagavat das
My Dear Godbrothers and Godsisters:
Please accept my most humble obeisances! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I am very glad that we as disciples of Srila Prabhupada are finally doing something about this great offense to our Spiritual Master. I would like to tell three stories that are personal experiences of mine with Srila Prabhupada and his books. It is my earnest hope that these stories will once and for all lay to rest the controversy of anyone ever editing Srila Prabhupadas books.
The first story takes place in Mayapur where Srila Prabhupada was talking about why he came to the material world.
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04 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Chanting Hare Krishna, Krishna Consciousness
Tags: Caitanya-caritamrita, chanting Hare Krishna, hansadutta das, Hare Hare, Hare Krishna, Hare Rama, Krishna consciousness, Krishna Krishna, Srila Prabhupada
Krishna Consciousness in a Nutshell
By Sriman Hansadutta Prabhu
Self-realization the Aim of Life
Krishna consciousness is the original consciousness of every living being, and it is explained in different Vedic literatures. One of these literatures is the Chaitanya-charitamrita. Chaitanya-charitamrita means “characteristic of the eternal living force”. Every living being is eternal by nature, and because he is eternal, he cannot be happy in this material world, which is a temporary arrangement, however wonderful it may be. It is the duty of every living entity to learn the science of Krishna, or the science of the self, and to make himself perfect. He will attain freedom from the temporary world of material creation by reviving his original love of Krishna. In this way, he will return home, back to Godhead, which is the aim of all human endeavors, be they scientific, economic, artistic or cultural.
No one lives forever
Every living creature is subjected to four basic miseries, beginning with birth, continuing into old age and disease, and ending in death. No one wants to be miserable—everyone wants to be happy—but material nature functions in such a way that no one can be happy.
Ignoring this basic truth, modern thinkers, politicians, scientists, educators and artists are all struggling against the stringent laws of nature. They think by material adjustments they will find the happiness they hanker for. In spite of all comforts and the advancement of science, economics and politics, no one is happy—if for no other reason than life is temporary.
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04 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Hayagriva das, The Hare Krishna Explosion
Tags: beads, chant and sing the Lord's holy names, chapter 5, devotees, Hare Hare, Hare Krishna, Hare Rama, hayagriva das, Krishna Krishna, Mott Street, Rama Rama, Srila Prabhupada, Swamiji, the hare krishna explosion, The Hare Krishna Movement, vegetarian
The Hare Krishna Explosion
by Hayagriva Prabhu
Part I: New York, 1966
Chapter 5
The Hare Krishna Explosion
“If Krishna sees you are taking one step toward Him,” Swamiji says, “He will take ten toward you. He is so happy to see you turn to Him. He is more eager to see us return to Godhead than we are to go.”
Back in the Mott Street apartment, I stare at myself in the mirror and repeat my new name. “Now you are Krishna’s,” I think, inspecting the new kanthi beads around my neck. “These are Krishna’s dog collars, and they don’t come off.”
We all optimistically resolve to try to follow the rules. For most of us, meat eating and gambling pose no problems. Rules governing sex and intoxicants, however, force some rapid changes in living patterns. I decide to convert the old Mott Street apartment into a brahmachari ashram. Down come the psychedelic posters, and up go pictures of lotus-eyed Krishna.
The next day at the temple, we find a new notice posted on the bathroom door. There are additional rules and regulations written neatly in ink by Swamiji himself.
NOTICE
All initiated devotees must attend morning and evening classes. Must not be addicted to any kind of intoxicants, including coffee, tea and cigarettes. They are forbidden to have illicit sex-connections. Must be strictly vegetarian. Should not extensively mix with non-devotees. Should not eat foodstuffs cooked by non-devotees. Should not waste time in idle talks nor engage in frivolous sports. Should always chant and sing the Lord’s holy names, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna. Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
Thank you.
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Acharya
Umapati says nothing when he reads the notice. Rayarama simply chuckles.
“No coffee, no tea,” he says, shaking his head.
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03 Mar 2011
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Letters by Srila Prabhupada
Tags: communities, dairy, farm projects, grains, ideal life style, ideal society, Krishna consciousness, self-sufficient
Srila Prabhupada:
“Our farm projects are an extremely important part of our movement. We must become self-sufficient by growing our own grains and producing our own milk, then there will be no question of poverty. So develop these farm communities as far as possible. They should be developed as an ideal society depending on natural products not industry. Industry has simply created godlessness, because they think they can manufacture everything that they need. Our Bhagavad-gita philosophy explains that men and animals must have food in order to maintain their bodies. And the production of food is dependent on the rain and the rain of course is dependent on chanting Hare Krsna. Therefore let everyone chant Hare Krsna, eat nicely and keep their bodies fit and healthy. This is ideal life style. We do not condemn modern civilization but we don’t like to get it at the cost of God Consciousness, that is suicide.” (Letter to Rupanuga, 18 December, 1974)
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