25 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Festivals, Krishna Consciousness, Krsna Book, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead
Tags: Birth of Lord Krsna, Janmastami, Krishna, Krishna Janmastami, Krsna

As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, the Lord says that His appearance, birth, and activities, are all transcendental, and one who understands them factually becomes immediately eligible to be transferred to the spiritual world. The Lord’s appearance or birth is not like that of an ordinary man who is forced to accept a material body according to his past deeds. The Lord’s appearance is explained in the Second Chapter: He appears out of His own sweet pleasure. When the time was mature for the appearance of the Lord, the constellations became very auspicious. The astrological influence of the star known as Rohiṇī was also predominant because this star is considered to be very auspicious. Rohiṇī is under the direct supervision of Brahmā. According to the astrological conclusion, besides the proper situation of the stars, there are auspicious and inauspicious moments due to the different situations of the different planetary systems. At the time of Kṛṣṇa’s birth, the planetary systems were automatically adjusted so that everything became auspicious. (Krsna Book Chapter 3)
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25 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Festivals, Free Downloads, Free eBooks, Janmastami, Krishna, Krishna Consciousness, Krsna, Krsna Book, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead
Tags: free scanned download, ISKCON Press 1970 edition, Krishna Janmastami Celebration, Krishna Janmastmi, Krsna Book

Today, being Krsna Janmastami, we are offering a free scanned copy of the original ISKCON Press 1970 Edition of KRSNA Book Vol. 1, which you can download. Just click on the following link to began downloading. This could take a while depending on the speed of your connection. This free scanned copy includes all the original art work as well.
KRSNA_Book_Vol.1_1970_ISKCON_Press_edition_SCAN

25 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Festivals, Janmastami, Krishna, Krishna Consciousness Movement, Krsna Consciousness, Quotes by Srila Prabhupada
Tags: A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Jai Sri Krishna, Krishna, Krishna Janmastami, Krishna Janmastami Celebration, Krsna consciousness movement, Prabhupada connect, quotes by SrilaPrabhupada, Srila Prabhupada
janma karma me divyam 
Today marks the auspicious celebration of the Appearence Day Of Lord Sri Krishna, Janmastami. We will fast all day and have a small feast at midnight. The following are some selected quotes by Srila Prabhupada on understanding Krishna.
“Let us understand Krishna. That is Krishna consciousness movement. Let us understand Krishna. And if you simply understand Krishna, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, janma karma me divyam yo janati tattvatah… Tattvatah, in truth, not superficially. Learn this science of Krishna. Janma karma me divyam yo janati tattvatah. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya (BG 4.9). This is the instruction: if you simply try to love. The process is that you worship the Deity, you take the prasadam, you chant the holy name, you follow the instruction of the spiritual master. In this way you’ll be trained up how to understand Krishna, and then your life is successful. This is Krishna consciousness movement.” (Srila Prabhupada lecture, September 9, 1973)
“Some way or other, be in relationship with Krishna, and you’ll be happy. You’ll be happy, this life and next life.
yo janati tattvatah
tyaktva deham punar janma
naiti mam eti kaunteya
This is the simplest point. You simply try to understand Krishna. There is no difficulty. If you do not foolishly misinterpret Bhagavad-gita, it is very easy to understand Krishna. Very easy. There is no difficulty. But we are rascals. We misinterpret.” (Srila Prabhupada lecture, January 7, 1973)
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21 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Temple of Vedic Planetarium, Temples, The Hare Krishna Movement, Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir, Vrndavana
Tags: devotee of Lord Sri Krishna, ISKCON Bangalore, Mayapur Chandodaya Mandir, Srila Prabhupada, temple construction, Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, Temples, TOVP, vedic planetarium, Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir

“This is Krishna conscious vision: ‘Oh, there are so many skyscrapers. Why not construct a nice skyscraper temple of Krishna?’ This is Krishna consciousness.”
– Srila Prabhupada
As long as I can remember, I have taken and interest in Architecture. Perhaps this was because I grew up in the city of Chicago, where the skyline was an ever changing array of looming Skyscrapers. I studied Architectural drafting & design in college, and for some time, thought that was my calling. Although I never became an Architect, I did in fact become a builder/carpenter/woodworker and my interest in Buildings, especially large monumental construction projects has always remained. Two project I have been keeping my eye on, are the two large temple projects being undertaken by devotees in India. Namely the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir, and the Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir. Today we are posting some images and information on both projects with some links for you to follow for more information.
Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir
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Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir
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17 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Balarama, Krishna
Tags: appearance day of lord balarama, balarama is nityananda, Krsna Balarama, Lord Balarama, SB 1.1.20, Srila Prabhupada

click on image to enlarge
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, along with Balarāma, played like a human being, and so masked He performed many superhuman acts. (SB 1.1.20)
Full Text and purport More
17 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Balarama, Festivals
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, appearance of balarama, Balarama, expansion of Balarama, Hare Rama, Lord Balarama, Lord Nityananda, Maha Mantra, Maha-Visnu, prakasa vigraha of Lord Krsna, Rama, SB 1.14.29, spiritual master, visnu-tattva

Today marks the auspicious appearance of Lord Balaram. We honor it with a half day fast and celebration. Our post today includes a few select excerpts, as well as a slide show on images of Sri Balarama in various pastimes.
…Mahā-Viṣṇu is actually an expansion of Balarāma, who is Kṛṣṇa’s first expansion and, in the Vṛndāvana pastimes, His brother. In the mahā-mantra-Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare-the word Rāma refers to Balarāma. Since Lord Nityānanda is an expansion of Balarāma, Rāma also refers to Lord Nityānanda. Thus Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Rāma addresses not only Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma but Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda as well. (from Introduction to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta 1975 Edition)
…Amongst various names of the relatives, the name of Rāma or Balarāma, eldest brother of Lord Kṛṣṇa, is added with the words “the Personality of Godhead” because Lord Balarāma is the immediate expansion of viṣṇu-tattva as prakāśa-vigraha of Lord Kṛṣṇa. The Supreme Lord, although one without a second, expands Himself as many other living beings. The viṣṇu-tattva living beings are expansions of the Supreme Lord, and all of them are qualitatively and quantitatively equal with the Lord. But expansions of the jīva-śakti, the category of the ordinary living beings, are not at all equal with the Lord. One who considers the jīva-śakti and the viṣṇu-tattva to be on an equal level is considered a condemned soul of the world. Śrī Rāma, or Balarāma, is the protector of the devotees of the Lord. Baladeva acts as the spiritual master of all devotees, and by His causeless mercy the fallen souls are delivered. Śrī Baladeva appeared as Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu during the advent of Lord Caitanya, and the great Lord Nityānanda Prabhu exhibited His causeless mercy by delivering a pair of extremely fallen souls, namely Jagāi and Mādhāi. Therefore it is particularly mentioned herein that Balarāma is the protector of the devotees of the Lord. By His divine grace only one can approach the Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and thus Śrī Balarāma is the mercy incarnation of the Lord, manifested as the spiritual master, the savior of the pure devotees. (from purport to SB 1.14.29)
Slide show More
16 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Caaitanya-caritamrta, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta, Srila Rupa Goswami
Tags: A. c. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Antya1.117, Kaviraja Goswami, kirtan, Madhya19.121, mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, sankirtana movement, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Rupa Goswami

The Sankirtan Movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Devotees acknowledge Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s special mercy upon Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in the following words:
śrī-caitanya-mano ’bhīṣṭaṁ-
sthāpitaṁ yena bhū-tale
svayaṁ rūpaḥ kadā mahyaṁ
dadāti sva-padāntikam
“When will Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī Prabhupāda, who has established within this material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet?”
The special function of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī is to establish the feelings of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. These feelings are His desires that His special mercy be spread throughout the world in this Kali-yuga.
pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi-grāma
sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma
His desire is that all over the world everyone, in every village and every town, know of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His saṅkīrtana movement. These are the inner feelings of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī committed to writing all these feelings of the Lord. Now again, by the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the same feelings are being spread all over the world by the servants of the Gosvāmīs, and devotees who are pure and simple will appreciate this attempt. As concluded by Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, however, those who are on the level of hogs and dogs will never appreciate such a great attempt. Yet this does not matter to the preachers of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s cult, for all over the world they will continue to perform this responsible work, even though persons who are like cats and dogs do not appreciate them.
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14 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krsna Consciousness, Science of Self Realization, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta
Tags: A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, forgetful conditioned soul, forgetful of God, glorification of the holy name, Krsna, krsna consciousness, Madhya 20.123, realized spiritual master, Science of Self Realization, Srila Prabhupada, supersou.

This morning I read the following verse from the Science of Self Realization;
“This is a simple method. All you have to do is bow down before Krishna with faith and say, ‘My Lord Krishna, I was forgetful of You for so long, for so many lives. Now I have come to my consciousness; please accept me.’ That’s all. If one simply learns this technique and sincerely surrenders himself to the Lord, his path is immediately open.” (Science of Self-Realization, Chapter 7)
I was moved by how simple this process is. Srila Prabhupada has said; “…it is so simple we can miss it”. But we are in a fortunate position, because Srila Prabhupada has given us the method to return home Back to Godhead through his books and instructions.
“The forgetful conditioned soul is educated by Kṛṣṇa through the Vedic literatures, the realized spiritual master and the Supersoul. Through these, he can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is, and he can understand that Lord Kṛṣṇa is his eternal master and deliverer from the clutches of māyā. In this way one can acquire real knowledge of his conditioned life and can come to understand how to attain liberation. (Madhya-līlā 20.123)
The following is the complete chapter 7 from the Science of Self Realization and the complete Text and purport to Madhya-lila 20.123 More
13 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Science of Self Realization, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada Conversations, The Hare Krishna Movement
Tags: Caitanya Mahaprabhu, causeless mercy, Krishna consciousness movement, Padmapani das, Prabhupada connect, Science of Self Realization, The Hare Krishna Movement

My friend Padmapani Prabhu (the webmaster for Prabhupada Connect has been coming out with so many beautiful posts of late…we share another one with you here. Please visit his site if you get the chance.
“This Krishna consciousness movement is not something new, something that we have introduced or manufactured. It is authorized on the Vedic principles, authorized by acaryas like Caitanya Mahaprabhu and others. And the method is very simple; there is no loss. We are not charging anything, we are not asking for fees and giving the people some secret mantra and promising them that they will become God. No. This is open for everyone — children, women, girls, boys, old people — everyone can chant and see the results.” (Science of Self-Realization, Chapter 5)
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13 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya, guru-tattva, Hare Krishna Movement, ISKCON, ISKCON History, Krishna Consciousness, Krishna Consciousness Movement, Krsna Consciousness, Vidura das
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, disciple, guru devotee, history of ISKCON, Iskcon, Krishna consciousness movement, materially concocted ideas, order of the spiritual master, spiritual advancement, Srila Prabhupada, The Hare Krishna Movement, Vidhura das

Here is another fine article compiled by Vidura Mahatma Prabhu, which appeared in my mailbox some time back. Some very nice quotes.
The Cause of Confusion and Dissension in the Krishna Consciousness Movement
by Vidura Mahatma Das
“When disciples do not stick to the principle of accepting the order of their spiritual master, immediately there are two opinions. Any opinion different from the opinion of the spiritual master is useless. One cannot infiltrate materially concocted ideas into spiritual advancement. That is deviation. There is no scope for adjusting spiritual advancement to material ideas.” (Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 12.9 purport)
“All the devotees connected with this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement must read all the books that have been translated (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā and others); otherwise, after some time, they will simply eat, sleep and fall down from their position. Thus they will miss the opportunity to attain an eternal, blissful life of transcendental pleasure.”
(Chaitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 25.278 : Purport by Srila Prabhupada)
“The order of the spiritual master is the active principle in spiritual life. Anyone who disobeys the order of the spiritual master immediately becomes useless.” (CC Adi 12.10)
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12 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krsna Consciousness, Pancha Tattva, Practicing Krishna Consciousness at Home, Saradiya devi
Tags: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Pabhupada, Advaita, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Gadadhara, God, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna Mantra, Lord Caitanya, Nityananda, practicing krishna consciousness at home, Srivasa

(Pancha-Tattva by Saradiya devi dasi)
Practicing Krishna Consciousness @ Home
The Simple Method
“The process is very simple. Just keep a picture of Lord Caitanya with His associates. Lord Caitanya is in the middle, accompanied by His principal associates — Nityananda, Advaita, Gadadhara, and Srivasa. One simply has to keep this picture. One can keep it anywhere. It is not that one has to come to us to see this picture. Anyone can have this picture in his home, chant this Hare Krishna mantra, and thus worship Lord Caitanya. That is the simple method. But who will capture this simple method? Those who have good brains. Without much bother, if one simply keeps a picture of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at home and chants Hare Krishna, then one will realize God. Anyone can adopt this simple method. There is no expenditure, there is no tax, nor is there any need to build a very big church or temple. Anyone, anywhere, can sit down on the road or beneath a tree and chant the Hare Krishna mantra and worship God. Therefore it is a great opportunity.” (Srila Prabhupada lecture, London’s Conway Hall, Nov. 1969)
more on Saradiya devi dasi
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11 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Bhagavad-gita As It Is 1972 Edition, Krishna, Krishna Consciousness, Krsna
Tags: A. c. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bg 15.19, Bg15.20, bona fide spiritual master, philosophy of krishna consciousness, revealed scriptures, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita, Supreme Lord, Supreme Personality of Godhead, transcendental knowledge

Somehow while reading the Srimad Bhagavatam the other day, I was reminded again that all the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is contained in the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. It is such an important book. The song of God, sung by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Himself. Hare Krishna!
Whoever knows Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is to be understood as the knower of everything, and he therefore engages himself in full devotional service, O son of Bharata (Bg 15.19)
This is the most confidential part of the Vedic scriptures, O sinless one, and it is disclosed now by Me. Whoever understands this will become wise, and his endeavors will know perfection. (Bg 15.20)
The Lord clearly explains here that this is the substance of all revealed scriptures. And one should understand this as it is given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus one will become intelligent and perfect in transcendental knowledge. In other words, by understanding this philosophy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and engaging in His transcendental service, everyone can become freed from all contaminations of the modes of material nature. Devotional service is a process of spiritual understanding. Wherever devotional service exists, the material contamination cannot coexist. Devotional service to the Lord and the Lord Himself are one and the same because they are spiritual—the internal energy of the Supreme Lord. The Lord is said to be the sun, and ignorance is called darkness. Where the sun is present, there is no question of darkness. Therefore, whenever devotional service is present under the proper guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, there is no question of ignorance. (from purport to Bg 15.20)
full text and purports More
10 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Jayadratha
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, Aujuna, Bhima, books by Srila Prabhupada, Draupadi, Krsna, Mahabhrata, Maharaja Yudhistira, Pandavas, SB 1.15.16, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam, story of Jayadratha

Jayadratha: Another son of Mahārāja Vṛddhakṣetra. He was the King of Sindhudeśa (modern Sind Pakistan). His wife’s name was Duḥśalā. He was also present in the svayaṁvara ceremony of Draupadī, and he desired very strongly to have her hand, but he failed in the competition. But since then he always sought the opportunity to get in touch with Draupadī. When he was going to marry in the Śalyadeśa, on the way to Kāmyavana he happened to see Draupadī again and was too much attracted to her. The Pāṇḍavas and Draupadī were then in exile, after losing their empire in gambling, and Jayadratha thought it wise to send news to Draupadī in an illicit manner through Koṭiśaṣya, one of his associates. Draupadī at once refused vehemently the proposal of Jayadratha, but being so much attracted by the beauty of Draupadī, he tried again and again. Every time he was refused by Draupadī. He tried to take her away forcibly on his chariot, and at first Draupadī gave him a good dashing, and he fell like a cut-root tree. But he was not discouraged, and he was able to force Draupadī to sit on the chariot. (from purport to SB 1.15.16) More
09 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Time, yugas
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bg 8.17, Brahma, Dvapara, human calculation, iron age of quarrel, Kali, kali yuga, kalpas, Satya, SB 1.1.21, Treta, yugas

This morning I was doing some study on the different yugas, or ages. I have included a verse from the Bhagavad-gita, one from the Srimad Bhagavatam, as well as a brief description of the four yugas from the Bhakta Handbook.
The duration of the material universe is limited. It is manifested in cycles of kalpas. A kalpa is a day of Brahmā, and one day of Brahmā consists of a thousand cycles of four yugas or ages: Satya, Tretā, Dvāpara, and Kali. The cycle of Satya is characterized by virtue, wisdom and religion, there being practically no ignorance and vice, and the yuga lasts 1,728,000 years. In the Tretā-yuga vice is introduced, and this yuga lasts 1,296,000 years. In the Dvāpara-yuga there is an even greater decline in virtue and religion, vice increasing, and this yuga lasts 864,000 years. And finally in Kali-yuga (the yuga we have now been experiencing over the past 5,000 years) there is an abundance of strife, ignorance, irreligion and vice, true virtue being practically nonexistent, and this yuga lasts 432,000 years. In Kali-yuga vice increases to such a point that at the termination of the yuga the Supreme Lord Himself appears as the Kalki avatara, vanquishes the demons, saves His devotees, and commences another Satya-yuga. Then the process is set rolling again. These four yugas, rotating a thousand times, comprise one day of Brahmā, the creator god, and the same number comprise one night. Brahmā lives one hundred of such “years” and then dies. These “hundred years” by earth calculations total to 311 trillion and 40 million earth years. By these calculations the life of Brahmā seems fantastic and interminable, but from the viewpoint of eternity it is as brief as a lightning flash. In the causal ocean there are innumerable Brahmās rising and disappearing like bubbles in the Atlantic. Brahmā and his creation are all part of the material universe, and therefore they are in constant flux. (from purport to Bhagavad-gita 8.17)
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08 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Nectar of Devotion Lecture, Photos by Gurudas
Tags: 1972, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Pabhupada, Gurudas, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, lectures on Nectar of Devotion, October 19, photos by Gurudas, Pradyumna das, srila rupa, Srila Rupa Goswami, Vṛndāvana, Vrndavan India

This is a continuation of Lectures on the Nectar of Devotion, given by Srila Prabhupada in Vrndavan India at Srila Rupa Goswami’s samadi in 1972. Photos are by Gurudas Prabhu.
…So this movement, Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, is a process to give chance everyone. Just like we are holding this meeting. It is a chance given to everyone to hear about Kṛṣṇa, to learn about devotional service. And if it attracts him, if he says, “Yes, it is nice,” then it is called śraddhā. So śraddhā, by repeated hearing, śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam [SB 7.5.23]. If we hear repeatedly, then we develop our dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In everybody there is dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So that is also stated in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta: nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-bhakti sādhya kabhu naya. Kṛṣṇa bhakti is there. It is not artificially we acquire it. It is already there. But we are in the forgotten stage. Therefore, by repeated hearing, it is awakened. Śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya. If we hear Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare/Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare, then śuddha-citta. Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. The, the heart, the mirror of the heart, will be cleansed. And as soon as it is cleansed, we awaken, we remember, “Oh, I am eternal.” Jīvera svarūpa haya nitya kṛṣṇa dāsa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. This remembrance comes, that “I am eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa.” And when he understands that he’s eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa and he engages himself in that service, then immediately he becomes liberated. (Vṛndāvana, October 19, 1972)
Full Lecture More
08 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Dhrtarastra
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhaktivedanta purports, Dhrtarastra, Duryodhana, Kunti, Kuruksetra, Mahabharata, Pandavas, political field, political season, Purocana, SB 1.13.18, SB 1.13.8, Srila Prabhupada's books, Varanavata, Yudhisthira

This morning I did a quick study on Dhrtarastra, the father of the Kurus. This being a political season, the description of Dhrtrastra seems very approiate. I was particularly amused by this statement by Srila Prabhupada from the first canto of the Bhagavatam…
…Five thousand years ago there was one Dhṛtarāṣṭra, but at the present moment there are Dhṛtarāṣṭras in every home. (purport to SB 1.13.24)
more on Dhrtarastra More
05 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Free Downloads, Padmapani das, Vaisnava Journal
Tags: A. c. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, free pdf, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, Iskcon, Padmapani das, Srila Prabhupada, The Hare Krishna Movement, Vaisnava Journal

Recently my good friend Padmapani Prabhu, sent me this link to his page Prabhupada Connect where he has just posted the Vaisnava Journal in a pdf format. We will be posting all five issues here as well, for our readers, so you can download and save to your computer or just read online. Today we are posting Vol. 1, No. 1 as a free pdf download.
click on link to veiw or save; Vaisnava Journal Vol 1, No. 1 VJ-1
Note: this may take a few moments to load.
The Vaisnava Journal
by Padmapani das
The Vaisnava Journal was created to help devotees work through our differences in a respectful and co-operative manner with the aim of preserving the loving mood in our spiritual family after the physical departure of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. Although only five issues were printed and distributed over the next two-and-a-half years, the magazine was popular and well received by many leaders, members and friends of ISKCON.
Read more…
Over the years, I’ve been approached by numerous devotees requesting copies of The Vaisnava Journal. Since I have only one set available, I was unable to comply until now. Please have a look at our humble attempt to serve Srila Prabhupada and his great mission during a time of change in our movement’s history.
In particular, I’d like to draw your attention to the Vaisnava Forum (letters section) which was launched to help facilitate a healthy dialogue among all participants. The mood was friendly and hopeful to which the devotees responded in kind. Writers and contributors read like a who’s who list of ISKCON members at the time. If anything, the journal proved that devotees of all persuasions can relate to one another with respect and godbrotherly love. This was Srila Prabhupada’s instruction and desire for us all.
“Perhaps you may know that there are many political parties in a country but when the country’s total responsibility has to be executed, they become combined. To have some little disagreements among yourselves is not very unnatural because we are all individual beings. But as we are working on behalf of Krishna, we should always forget our personal interests and see to the prime cause.” (Srila Prabhupada letter, January 21, 1969)
04 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Book Changes, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Free Downloads, Free eBooks, veda base
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhaktivedanta Vedabase folio, collection of all Srila Prabhupada's original books, folio views software, free downloads of prabhupada;s books, original books, Prabhupada News, prabhupadanugas, transcendental teachings, veda base

You still don’t have the VedaBase ?
by Prabhupada News
I saw this post this morning on the Prabhupada News website, and thought it a good idea to share it with our readers. You can click on the following link to visit the post and download for free the original books on Veda Base.
http://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/news/?p=45802#more-45802
If you still don’t have the VeadaBase you can download it for free:
“This Vedabase-2003 free download of the Bhaktivedanta Vedabase folio program (see below) is a collection of all Srila Prabhupada’s original books, articles, transcribed lectures and more! The Folio Views software is a powerful integrated tool for viewing and searching all the recorded written and spoken unchanged words of our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. Any devotee will find that this software will become an indispensable tool and a integral part of their spiritual life for personal study or research into the vast transcendental teachings left to us by Srila Prabhupada.”
04 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Journey of Self-Discovery, Krishna Consciousness
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, books by Srila Prabhupada, devotee, devotion, eagerness to see Krishna, gopis, heart and soul, Journey of Self-Discovery, JSD 2.1, Krsna, Krsna's flute

…The gopīs are another example of great eagerness to see Kṛṣṇa. The gopīs came to Kṛṣṇa, being captivated by His beautiful features. They were young girls, and Kṛṣṇa was so beautiful. Actually they were lusty when they came to Kṛṣṇa, but Kṛṣṇa is so pure that they became first-class devotees. There is no comparison to the gopīs’ devotion, because they loved Kṛṣṇa with heart and soul. That is the qualification. They loved Kṛṣṇa so much that they didn’t care for family or reputation when they went out in the dead of night. Kṛṣṇa’s flute was sounding, and they were all fleeing their homes. Their fathers, their brothers, their husbands all said, “Where are you going? Where are you going in this dead of night?” But the gopīs didn’t care. They neglected their children, their family, everything. Their only thought was, “We must go to Kṛṣṇa.”
This eagerness is required. We must be very, very eager to see Kṛṣṇa. Many gopīs who were forcibly stopped from going to Kṛṣṇa lost their lives because of their great feelings of separation. So this eagerness is wanted; then you can see God. Whether you are lusty or a thief or a murderer or whatever it may be—somehow or other you must develop this eagerness, this desire: “I must see Kṛṣṇa.” Then Kṛṣṇa will be seen. (JSD 2.1)
Full chapter More
02 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita As It Is 1972 Edition, Devotee's, Nanda Kumar das, Srila Prabhupada's Books
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita As It Is 1972 Edition, Nanda Kumar das, Srila Prabhupada's books

Srila Prabhupada Receives the First Big 1972 Original Bhagavad Gita As It Is
by Nanda Kumar Das
One day, when I was first with His Divine Grace in L.A., Brahmananda Prabhu came from New York and they were talking about the printing of a Bhagavad Gita with Sanskrit included. Evidently, there was a question as to whether the western people could pronounce the transliteration with diacritic marks.
Srila Prabhupad rang his bell, and I came into his room. Brahmananda was there. Srila Prabhupad handed me a paper with Sanskrit transliteration and said “Read this!” I have been able to read since I was three, so evidently, I made the pronunciations close enough. Srila Prabhupad said to Brahmananda, with great enthusiasm, “See! I told you they could do it!” He was very happy.
So the printing went on, and in New York, when His Divine Grace was there, Brahmananda brought in the first edition of the big Gita with all the Sanskrit in it. Remembering the LA experience, he very kindly gave the Gita to me, and said “Here, you can give this to Srila Prabhupad.” I was overjoyed, and went to His room to offer it to Him, followed by a photographer. I gave it to Him and said “Here is the first copy of Your new Bhagavad Gita, Srila Prabhupad.”
In His amazing way of innocence and childlike excitement, He took it and held it to His head, saying “Jai! Jai!” It was awesome to be present for such an important and empowering moment. Srila Prabhupad was so kind to me. Even though I was/am a deeply entrenched rascal, He has engaged me so many times in wonderful service. All Glories to Srila Prabhupad!
Nanda Kumar Das
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