The Hare Krishna Movement

Ouotes by Srila Prabhupada

19 Feb 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Quotes by Srila Prabhupada Tags: chanting Hare Krishna, His abode, His form, His pastimes, His Qualities, Krishna, Prahladananda, Quotes

“The more you become in service attitude for Krishna; Krishna will reveal Himself to you. Krishna is within you and He is awaiting your surrender and service, and as soon as He sees that you are seriously in serving mood, you will understand everything about Krishna – His qualities, His form, His pastimes, His entourage, and His abode.”

– in a Letter to: Sachisuta, Montreal, June 17, 1968

“We are trapped souls in a state of forgetfulness of Krishna, and Krishna is giving you the chance now to re-establish your relationship with Him by this chanting process. So take full advantage of it and be happy.”

– in a Letter to Prahladananda, Feb. 14, 1969

Practicing Krishna Consciousness at Home

18 Feb 2011 1 Comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Devotional Service, Krishna Consciousness, Practicing Krishna Consciousness at Home Tags: Hare, Krishna, Krishna Consciousness at home, Padmapani das, Radha Krishna Temple Album, Rama

Practicing Krishna Consciousness at Home
by Padmapani Prabhu

Since the vast majority of our readers are coming to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna Consciousness for the first time through Internet searches, and without access to devotee association or a nearby Hare Krishna temple, many people have inquired about how they can set up an altar in their homes and start practicing Krishna Consciousness at their own pace.

The first and foremost principle of Krishna Consciousness is chanting the Hare Krishna mantra:
“Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”

This mantra is a prayer to the Supreme Lord which means: “O energy of the Lord (Hare), O all-attractive Lord Krishna, O Supreme Enjoyer (Rama), please engage me in Your service.”

On Chanting the Hare Krishna Mantra

18 Feb 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Chanting Hare Krishna Tags: bangalore, Iskcon, japa, kirtan, Krishna, Lord Caitanya, no hard and fast rules for chanting Hare Krishna, Rama, The Hare Krishna Movement

Bsn

You can chant these holy names of the Lord anywhere and at any time, but it is best to set a specific time of the day to regularly chant. Early morning hours are ideal.

The chanting can be done in two ways: singing the mantra, called kirtana (usually done in a group), and saying the mantra to oneself, called japa (which literally means “to speak softly”). Concentrate on hearing the sound of the holy names. As you chant, pronounce the names clearly and distinctly, addressing Krishna in a prayerful mood. When your mind wanders, bring it back to the sound of the Lord’s names. Chanting is a prayer to Krishna that means “O energy of the Lord [Hare], O all-attractive Lord [Krishna], O Supreme Enjoyer [Rama], please engage me in Your service.” The more attentively and sin¬cerely you chant these names of God, the more spiritual progress you will make.

Lord Nityananda’s Appearance Day Lecture

18 Feb 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Lectures, Sri Nityananda Tags: Baladeva, baladeva-tattva, Bhubaneswar, lectures, Lord Nityananda's Appeearance Day, Nityananda

Lecture by Srila Prabhupada given on Lord Nityananda’s Appearance Day in Bhubaneswar, on February 2, 1977.

Srila Prabhupada: So today, is the appearance day of Lord Nityananda Prabhu…Nityananda Prabhu is Baladeva, Baladeva-tattva. Vrajendra nandana yei, saci suta haila sei, balarama haila nitai: “Who was formerly the son of Nanda Maharaja, He has appeared as the son of Sacidevi.” Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mother’s name was Sacidevi. So Krsna… Krsna is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and Balarama is Nityananda Prabhu. Now… Vrajendra nandana yei, saci suta haila sei, balarama haila nitai. So Balarama… In the Vedic literature it is said, nayam atma bala-hinena labhyah na bahuna srutena. So bala means strength.

Sometimes some rascal philosophers, they take it that bala means bodily strength. They propagate this philosophy, that “Unless you are bodily stout and strong, you cannot achieve spiritual salvation. You must be very strong and stout and eat meat and fight, and then you’ll get next spiritual birth” No. This bala, this strength, is different. This is spiritual strength.

Letters by Srila Prabhupada to the GBC

17 Feb 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Letters by Srila Prabhupada Tags: bhakta-visesa, devotees, diksa, GBC, Governing Body Commission, guru, Letters, siksa, Srila Prabhupada, Umapati das

The following is excerpts from letters written by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami about the duty and fuction of the GBC (Governing Body Commision)

In a July 9, 1971 letter to Umapati Das, Srila Prabhupada wrote:
“GBC members are simply to see that things are going on. Other centers have got president, secretary, etc. and they are managing separately. That is the formula. So how is it that the GBC are the final authority? They are simply to examine that things are going on nicely, that is all.”

“GBC men should not dictate very much, simply supervise and see that the standards are maintained.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, February 14th, 1972)

“What will happen when I am not here, shall everything be spoiled by GBC? So for the time being, let the GBC activities be suspended until I thoroughly revise the whole procedure.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, April 11th, 1972)

“I made the GBC to give me relief, but if you do like this, then where is the relief. It is anxiety for me. This is the difficulty, that as soon as one gets power, he becomes whimsical and spoils everything.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, September 12th, 1974 )

“I am training some of my experienced disciples how to manage after my departure. So if instead of taking the training, if in my lifetime you people say I am the Lord of all I survey, that is dangerous conspiracy.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, October 8th, 1974)

“But the difficulty is that our GBC men are falling victim to maya. Today I trust this GBC and tomorrow he will fall down. That is the difficulty. If the GBC men are so flickering then what to speak of the others. Unless this problem is solved whatever we may resolve it will not be very useful. “
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, December 16th, 1974)

“The GBC should all be the instructor (siksa) gurus. I am the initiator (diksa) guru, and you should be the instructor guru by teaching what I am teaching and doing what I am doing. This is not a title, but you must actually come to this platform. This I want.”(Srila Prabhupada Letter, August 4th, 1975)

“The GBC (Governing Body Commission) has been established by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to represent Him in carrying out the responsibility of managing the International Society for Krishna Consciousness of which He is the Founder-Acarya and supreme authority. The GBC accepts as its life and soul His divine instructions and recognizes that it is completely dependent on His mercy in all respects. The GBC has no other function or purpose other than to execute the instructions so kindly given by His Divine Grace and preserve and spread his Teachings to the world in their pure form.”;(GBC Resolution No.1, 1975)

“Now has the GBC become more than Guru Maharaja? As if simply GBC is meant for looking after pounds, shilling, pence. The GBC does not look after spiritual life. That is a defect.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, November 10th, 1975)

“It is now evident that some of our top men are very much ambitious and there has been so many fall-downs.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, January 27th, 1975)

“Our mission is to serve bhakta-visesa and live with devotees. Not that you take the place of the guru. That is nonsense, very dangerous. Then everything will be spoiled. As soon as you become ambitious to take the place of guru—gurusu nara-matih. That is the material disease.”( Srila Prabhupada Conversation, April 20th, 1977)

Pasted from

Srila Prabhupada’s Original Krishna Book Now On-Line

17 Feb 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Books by Srila Prabhupada Tags: Krsna Book, Madhudvisa dasa, On-line, Original Krishna Book, Srila Prabhupada, Sriman George Harrison

Srila Prabhupada’s Original Krishna Book Now On-Line
by Madhudvisa dasa

We have the great pleasure of announcing Srila Prabhupada’s original Krishna Book is now available for reading on the internet at http://www.krsnabook.com Reading Krishna Book is very important and we simply present a few quotes from His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada on the necessity and great spiritual benefits of reading Krishna Book.

Prabhupada: Yes. If you read Krishna book and if you believe, then you see Krishna. He’s not different from the book. (N98:760427CC.AUC)

Eight Beautiful Verses Glorifying Lord Nityananda

16 Feb 2011 1 Comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Sri Nityananda Tags: abode, devotional service, eight verses, Nityananda, pure devotee, Vrndavan Thakur

Eight Beautiful Verses Glorifying Lord Nityananda
By Vrndavan Dasa Thakur

1. I worship Lord Nityananda, the unlimited root of the tree of devotional service. He appears like an autumn moon, very splendid and free from any taint. Maddened with pure love for Lord Hari, His eyes constantly roll about and he walks as gracefully as an elephant. He is the Absolute Truth, His face is smiling, and holding a staff in His hand, He disperses the influence of the age of Kali.

2. I worship Lord Nityananda, the unlimited root of the tree of devotional service. He is the abode of the mellows of devotional service, no one can be compared to Him and He is the be all and end all for His devotees. He is the Lord of Jahnava Devi, the goddess Who considers Nityananda more dear than life. He is always maddened with pure love of Godhead and the unintelligent non-devotees, cannot understand that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.

3. I worship Lord Nityananda, the unlimited root of the tree of devotional service. He is very dear to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the son of Sacidevi and He is worshipped by the entire universe. He is very cheerful and He delivers the souls immersed in the Kali-yuga. By chanting the holy name of Lord Hari, He removes the false ego born from the ocean of material life.

4. I worship Lord Nityananda, the unlimited root of the tree of devotional service. He spoke to Lord Caitanya saying, “O, brother! The people will become infected with all the sins of Kali-yuga. How will they be able to atone for these sins? Please give them some way by which they can easily approach You.”

5. I worship Lord Nityananda, the unlimited root of the tree of devotional service. He went to each and every house and raised His arms saying, “O, brothers! If you will, please constantly chant the holy name of Lord Hari! If you do this, you will become free from the ocean of birth and death in the material world. Please give this gift of your liberation to Me.”

6. I worship Lord Nityananda, the unlimited root of the tree of devotional service. He is like Agastya Muni who forcibly swallows the ocean of material existence, and He is the rising full moon which is the friend of the lotus flowers and which increases the ocean, which is the welfare of the saintly devotees. He is the blazing sun which removes the darkness which is the community of demons.

7. I worship Lord Nityananda, the unlimited root of the tree of devotional service. He traveled on every path singing and dancing and repeating, “Hari! Hari!” Without considering His own interests, He was merciful to the people and he gave them His merciful side long glance.

8. I worship Lord Nityananda, the unlimited root of the tree of devotional service. He held the beautiful lotus hand of His brother, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and when They glanced at each others faces, Their hearts became full of transcendental bliss. They wandered through the towns of Bengal and delighted the people there.

These eight verses glorifying Lord Nityananda are the abode of the mellows of devotional service and they are the wealth of the pure devotees expert at relishing these mellows. These verses are very excellent, transcendental, and unprecidented. May the two lotus feet of Lord Nityananda continually appear in the hearts of those who read these verses and remember the Lord.

Pasted from http://www.harekrsna.com/philosphy/caitanya/astakam.htm

Nityananda Caritamrta

16 Feb 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Sri Nityananda Tags: Adi lila, carutanrtam caitanya bhagavat, Nityananda, Srila Prabhupada, Vrndavan das Thakura

Nityananda Caritamrta
Adi Lila Chapter Nine
by Vrndavana dasa

“All glories to Sri Krishna Chaitanya, the unlimited ocean of mercy. All glories to Lord Nityananda, the dearest friend of the distressed.

All glories to Lord Chaitanya, the life’s treasure and soul of Sri Advaita Acarya, and the priceless treasure house of Sri Gadadhara Pandita. All glories to Lord Visvambhara, the son of Sri Jagannatha Misra and Mother Saci. All glories to all the devotees who are such dear associates of the Lord.

Lord Ananta Sesha appeared in the Radha district on an order given previously by Sri Chaitanya. He remained in the material world according to Mahaprabhu’s transcendental desire.

Sri Nityananda Prabhu, the Lord of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas, appeared in the village of Ekacakra. His father was a brahmana named Hadai Pandita and his mother was Srimati Padmavati devi.

From His early childhood Sri Nityananda Prabhu had a serene disposition and was highly intelligent. He was a reservoir of excellences. His charming beauty overshadowed the attractiveness of millions upon millions of Cupids.

From the time of Nityananda’s birth, everything became auspicious in the district of Radha. Famine, poverty and all kinds of disturbances were totally dispelled.

On the day of Lord Chaitanya’s appearance in Nabadwip, Sri Nityananda, Who was still in Radha, roared with jubilation.

The sound of that roar filled the universe and robbed everyone of his senses.

Some people speculated, “It must be a thunder-clap.” Others thought it was the sound of some impending disaster. Still others said, “We know the reason for this sound. Lord Nityananda, the Lord of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas, is roaring in ecstasy.”

No one can know the Plan of the Lord

12 Feb 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Spiritual World, Srimad Bhagavatam Tags: Battle of Kuruksetra, Bhismadeva, King Yudhisthira, Pandavas

O King, no one can know the plan of the Lord [Śrī Krsna]. Even though great philosophers inquire exhaustively, they are bewildered. SB 1.9.13

Bhīṣmadeva was certainly satisfied by seeing the triumph of virtue, and he was glad to see King Yudhiṣṭhira on the throne, although he himself fought against him. Even a great fighter like Bhīṣma could not win the Battle of Kurukṣetra because the Lord wanted to show that vice cannot conquer virtue, regardless of who tries to execute it. Bhīṣmadeva was a great devotee of the Lord, but he chose to fight against the Pāṇḍavas by the will of the Lord because the Lord wanted to show that a fighter like Bhīṣma cannot win on the wrong side.

THE CENTENNIAL DREAM

12 Feb 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Devotee's, Govinda dasi, Vyas-puja Tags: Govinda dasi, The Centennial Dream, Vyasas Puja

THE CENTENNIAL DREAM (Vyas Puja offering written in 1996)

This offering was written in 1996, but never published, so I am submitting it now, in 2010, as it is as valid today as it was in 1996. Thank you, your servant, Govindasi

The Disappearance of Bhismadeva

12 Feb 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Spiritual Life, Srimad Bhagavatam Tags: BBT, Bhisma, Bhismastami, HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Lord Krishna, purports, Srimad Bhagavatam

Feb 10, 2011 — CANADA (SUN) — Bhismastami, observed on February 11th, from Srimad Bhagavatam Chapter Nine with select Purports by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

The Passing Away of Bhismadeva in the Presence of Lord Krsna

TEXT 1

Suta Gosvami said: Being afraid for having killed so many subjects on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, Maharaja Yudhisthira went to the scene of the massacre. There, Bhismadeva was lying on a bed of arrows, about to pass away.

PURPORT
In this Ninth Chapter, as it is willed by Lord Sri Krsna, Bhismadeva will impart instructions to King Yudhisthira on the subject of occupational duties. Bhismadeva will also offer his last prayer to the Lord on the verge of passing away from this mortal world and thus become liberated from the bondage of further material engagements. Bhismadeva was endowed with the power of leaving his material body at will, and his lying down on the bed of arrows was his own choice. This passing away of the great warrior attracted the attention of all the contemporary elites, and all of them assembled there to show their feelings of love, respect and affection for the great soul.

Premanjana “Seeing God”

11 Feb 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Krishna Consciousness, Spiritual World Tags: Absolute Truth, God, Krishna, Krishna's Mercy, Srila Prabhupada, Surpreme Personality

Article written by Krishna’s Mercy . org

“Everyone is seeing God in His different aspects; the only difference is that the theist sees God as the Supreme Personality, the most beloved, Krishna, and the atheist sees the Absolute Truth as ultimate death.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 2, Ch 32)

“Have you seen God? Can you show Him to me?” These are some of the challenging questions often directed at those who are religiously inclined and those who are actively preaching the message of love and respect for the Lord found in India’s most famous religious text, the succinct and complete treatise on Vedic philosophy known as the Bhagavad-gita. Any time a preacher takes to kindly passing on information pertaining to spirituality, there will surely be skeptics, uninterested observers, and those who are not willing to listen. When engaged in ordinary conversation, wherein points and counterpoints are exchanged, generally no conclusion is reached in the end. Therefore in order to learn properly, one must take instruction from someone who has weight, a guru, or spiritual master, one who knows the truth as explained to them by previous authority figures. Yet even when hearing from a guru there is a natural urge to see proof, tangible evidence that God indeed exists. The devotees, those whose eyes have been anointed with transcendental love, see the influence of the Lord everywhere. Yet even the atheists, those who are staunchly against religious principles, are forced to see the influence of the same loveable Divine Entity at every turn, especially at the time that matters most: death.

Back to Godhead

08 Feb 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Lectures

The following is an excerpt from the book “Science of Self Realization” by His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

If one protects the tender creeper of devotional service nicely, then gradually it will produce the fruit of unalloyed love for God. Unalloyed love for God means love that is not tinged by desire for material benefit, for mere philosophical understanding, nor for fruitive results. Unalloyed love is to know, “God is great, I am His part and parcel, and therefore He is my supreme lovable object.” This consciousness is the highest perfection of human life and the ultimate aim of all methods of self-realization.

If one reaches this point—God is my only beloved, Krishna is the only lovable object—then one’s life is perfect. And when one tastes that transcendental relationship with Krishna, then one feels real happiness. The devotional creeper will then be so strongly protected that just by catching it, one will be able to reach the supreme destination. If one climbs steadily up a tree, one eventually comes to the very top. Similarly, if one can achieve love of Godhead by catching that devotional creeper, there is no doubt that one will reach the transcendental abode of Krishna and will associate with Him personally, just as we are associating here, face to face.

God is not fictional or imaginary. He is as real as we are. (Actually, we are under illusion; we are living as if this body were our factual self, although this body is not at all reality, but only a temporary manifestation.) We dare to presume that there is no God or that He has no form. This mental speculation is due to a poor fund of knowledge. Lord Krishna and His abode exist, and one can go there, reach Him and associate with Him. That is a fact. Spiritual life means to be in association with the Supreme Lord and to exist in bliss and knowledge eternally. Such eternal association means to play with Krishna, to dance with and love Krishna. Or Krishna can become your child—whatever you like.

Radharani’s Dream

03 Feb 2011 2 Comments

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Chanting Hare Krishna, Krishna Consciousness, Spiritual Life Tags: Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Gauranga, Lord Krishna, loving ecstasies, spiritual dream, Srimati Radharani, vaisnava aparadha

Once Srimati Radharani woke up with a start.

She was next to Sri Krishna on the flower bedecked pastimes bed – and looked
with deep questioning eyes into His eyes:

“O My beloved,” She asked, “I dreamt of someone extraordinarily – I am
ashamed to admit, He stole My heart. Could it be You, of whom I dreamt – but
in a different form? It must be!”

Krishna was smiling: “Tell Me more.”

Simple Living, High Thinking

03 Feb 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Krishna Consciousness Tags: High Thinking, Jahnaya das, life style, self realization, Simple Living, Spiritual Life

Simple Living, High Thinking
by Jahnaya Das

If one is truly serious about achieving the ultimate goal of human life by perfecting his spiritual inquiry, he must adopt a life style that is conducive to the cultivation of self-realizing knowledge. This life style can be beautifully summarized in the phrase ‘simple living and high thinking’. Here simple living is in relation to maintenance of the body, and high thinking is in relation to the aim of one’s intellectual pursuits.

In order to exist in this world it is necessary to maintain one’s bodily existence, but as will be shown in later lessons, maintenance of the body is not progress towards the goal of life. Maintenance just allows one to perform the activity of existing in a particular body, which does not denote any accomplishment of a goal. This maintenance of the body involving mainly our activities of eating, sleeping, mating and defending is not in itself any great feat opr achievement. Even the animals are engaging in these activities of bodily maintenance. The cows also eat, the birds also mate, the hogs also sleep and the dogsalso defend. Simply engaging in theseactivities of maintenance does not actually make one human. For this reason, one who is interested in achieving the real, permanent goal of life does not focus solely on these activities of bodily maintenance, but he rather focuses primarily on the path of perfection. This is why he adopts the process of simple living.

Transcendental Invitations (Chapter 2)

29 Jan 2011 1 Comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Hayagriva das, The Hare Krishna Explosion Tags: Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, hayagriva das, Lord Chaitanya, Mott St., playing musical instruments, singing, Srimad Bhagavatam, swami

The Hare Krishna Explosion
by Hayagriva das

Part I: New York, 1966
Chapter 2

Transcendental Invitations

The next morning, when I go alone to see the Swami, he seems to be expecting me. Directly and simply, he begins to explain that he needs help in spreading Krishna consciousness around the world. Noticing that he has been typing, I offer to type for him, and he hands me the manuscript of the First Chapter, Second Canto, of Vyasadeva’s Srimad-Bhagavatam.

“You can type this?”

“Oh yes,” I say.

He is delighted. We roll a small typewriter table out of the corner, and I begin work. His manuscript is single spaced without margins on flimsy, yellowing Indian paper. It appears that the Swami tried to squeeze every word possible onto the pages. I have to use a ruler to keep from losing my place.

The first words read: “O the king.” I naturally wonder whether “O” is the king’s name, and “the king” stands in apposition. After concluding that “O King” is intended instead, I consult the Swami.

“Yes,” he says. “Change it, then.”

As I retype another paragraph, I notice certain grammatical discrepancies, perhaps typical of Bengalis who learned English from British headmasters in the early 1900s. Considerable editing is required to get the text to conform with current American usage. After pointing out a few changes, I tell the Swami that if he so desired, I could make all the proper corrections.

“Very good,” he says, smiling. “Do it! Put it nicely.”

Thus my editorial services begin.

King Indra’s fall from Heaven

28 Jan 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Indra, Srimad Bhagavatam Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, hog, Lord Indra, Lord Kapila, maya, Srimad Bhagavatam

King Indra cursed to become a Hog

Taken from the Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3, Chapter 30, Text 5-6
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

“The conditioned living entity is satisfied in his own particular species of life; while deluded by the covering influence of the illusory energy, he feels little inclined to cast off his body, even when in hell, for he takes delight in hellish enjoyment.”

It is said that once Indra, the King of heaven, was cursed by his spiritual master, Bṛhaspati, on account of his misbehavior, and he became a hog on this planet. After many days, when Brahmā wanted to recall him to his heavenly kingdom, Indra, in the form of a hog, forgot everything of his royal position in the heavenly kingdom, and he refused to go back. This is the spell of māyā. Even Indra forgets his heavenly standard of life and is satisfied with the standard of a hog’s life. By the influence of māyā the conditioned soul becomes so affectionate towards his particular type of body that if he is offered, “Give up this body, and immediately you will have a king’s body,” he will not agree. This attachment strongly affects all conditioned living entities. Lord Kṛṣṇa is personally canvassing, “Give up everything in this material world. Come to Me, and I shall give you all protection,” but we are not agreeable. We think, “We are quite all right. Why should we surrender unto Kṛṣṇa and go back to His kingdom?” This is called illusion, or māyā. Everyone is satisfied with his standard of living, however abominable it may be.

Such satisfaction with one’s standard of living is due to deep-rooted attraction for body, wife, home, children, animals, wealth and friends. In such association, the conditioned soul thinks himself quite perfect.

This so-called perfection of human life is a concoction. Therefore, it is said that the materialist, however materially qualified he may be, is worthless because he is hovering on the mental plane, which will drag him again to the material existence of temporary life. One who acts on the mental plane cannot get promotion to the spiritual. Such a person is always sure to glide down again to material life. In the association of so-called society, friendship and love, the conditioned soul appears completely satisfied.

Initiation Protocols

28 Jan 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Devotee's, Locanananda das Tags: GBC, Initiation, Iskcon, july 8th, Locanananda dasa, May 28th, officating Acarya, ritvik

May 28th, Initiation Protocols
Interview with Sriman Locanananda Prabhu

May 26, NEW YORK — Interviewer: The issue of initiations in ISKCON has divided devotees for several decades and appears to have evolved into a schism. What is your personal perspective on this issue?

Locanananda dasa: When I was President of the Amsterdam temple in 1977, I received a copy of the Summary Report of the GBC meetings held in Vrndavana that year from the 27th through the 29th of May. In that report, two of the three questions Srila Prabhupada answered on May 28th were included, but the answer to the question about future initiations was not. A few weeks later, I received a copy of the July 9th letter explaining the new initiation protocols. It didn’t seem as if much had changed. Initiations would resume despite Srila Prabhupada’s ongoing illness. The letter also addressed the selection of “rittik” representatives of the acarya and referred to the May 28th meeting with Srila Prabhupada, but there was no detailed explanation as to how the two were connected. We were really left in the dark for years as to what instructions Srila Prabhupada had actually given the GBC as a mandate for future initiations.

Interviewer: Would you say it was a cover-up and hijacking of the movement?

On Chanting Hare Krishna

28 Jan 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Chanting Hare Krishna, Devotee's Tags: Book Distribution, devotional service, Krishna movement, mantra meditation, On Chanting Hare Krishna, sankirtan, Wholesale books by KBI

On Chanting Hare Krishna

On Chanting Hare Krishna Booklet

Great for Distribuiton!!! 800 booklets per case!

Wholesale for Book Distributors “On Chanting Hare Krishna” is a small 16 page full-color booklet which gives a wonderful introduction to the Hare Krishna movement and it’s Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It was originally published in balck & white. Now for the first time it is available in FULL COLOR!

Special thanks to Palaka Das for financing this printing.

800 booklets to the Case!
Price: $45.00
Author: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and disciples
Full-color Booklet 5″x7″
Pages: 16

This case of booklets can be purchased online by visiting http://www.theharekrishnamovement.com

Mantra Rock

24 Jan 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Krishna Consciousness, The Hare Krishna Movement Tags: Allen Gensberg, Big Brother & The Holding Company, Grateful Dead. Janis Joplin, Haight Asbury, Krishna consciousness, San Franscisco, Srila Prabhupada

Mantra Rock Concert

“Sunday, January 29, 1967 marked the major spiritual event of the San Francisco hippie era, and Srila Prabhupada, who was ready to go anywhere to spread Krishna Consciousness, was there.

The Grateful Dead, Moby Grape, Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Company, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service — all the new-wave San Francisco bands — had agreed to appear with Srila Prabhupada at the Avalon Ballroom’s Mantra-Rock Dance, proceeds from which would go to the local Hare Krishna temple.

Thousands of hippies, anticipating an exciting evening, packed the hall.

At about 10 p.m., Srila Prabhupada and a small entourage of devotees arrived amid uprorious applause and cheering by a crowd that had waited weeks in great anticipation for this moment. Srila Prabhupada was given a seat of honor onstage and was introduced by Allen Ginsberg, who explained his own realizations about the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and how it had spread from the small storefront in New York to San Francisco.

The chanting started slowly but ryhthmically, and little by little it spread throughout the ballroom, enveloping everyone. Hippies got to their feet, held hands, and began to dance as enormous, pulsing pictures of Krishna were projected around the walls of the ballroom in perfect sync with the beat of the mantra.

By the time Srila Prabhupada stood and began to dance with his arms raised, the crowd was completely absorbed in chanting, dancing and playing musical instruments they had brought for the occasion.

As the tempo speeded up, the chanting and dancing became more and more intense, spurred on by a stageful of top rock musicians, who were as charmed by the magic of the maha-mantra as the amateur musicians had been at the Tompkins Square kirtanas only a few weeks before.
The chant rose; it seemed to surge and swell without limit. When it seemed it could go no further, the chanting stopped. Srila Prabhupada offered prayers to his spiritual master into the microphone and ended-by saying three times, “All glories to the assembled devotees!” The Haight-Ashbury neighborhood buzzed with talk of the mantra-Rock Dance for weeks afterward.

Allen Ginsberg later recalled, “We sang Hare Krishna all evening. It was absolutely great — an open thing. It was the height of the Haight-Ashbury spiritual enthusiasm.”