A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada | The Hare Krishna Movement

Having just returned from England, where we attended the 50^th Anniversary of the installation of Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda deities at the Bhaktivedanta Manor, I am reminded that you established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which we are all a part of. Having never been to England before, I had the fortunate opportunity of meeting so many Godbrothers and Godsisters from the English Yatra, whom I had never meet before. I realized how it is truly an International society, with temples and devotees practicing Krishna consciousness on every continent and in hundreds of countries throughout the world.

It is amazing that through you, just by becoming your disciple, it has connected me to thousands of other devotees throughout the world, in a very real way.

Krishna Kirtan

15 Aug 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, chanting, Chanting Hare Krishna, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Sankirtan Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, jadurani dd, Krishna, krishna kirtan, Srila Prabhupada

Nowadays, we find there are so many devotees getting paid to perform bhajana/kirtan like professional singers, I guess that is nice for them, but real Kirtan is explained by Srila Prabhupada in this 1967 letter to Jadurani dd.

Krishna Kirtan is not for earning livelihood. Krishna Kirtana is not meant for entertaining the public for demonstration of arts. It is dynamic service to the Lord. We do not therefore mind so much about the artistic presentation of Krishna Kirtan but we want to see how much a devotee is satisfying the Supreme Will. (Prabhupada letter to Jadurani 12th December, 1967)

Full letter

Back to Godhead Magazine

14 Aug 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead, Hare Krishna Movement, ISKCON Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bhagavad-gita, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Iskcon, Krishna, Srila Prabhupada

ISKCON History

For some reason this morning, I had a look back at some of the early Back to Godhead Magazine issues. This Movement had such humble beginnings as is evident from this second edition of Back to Godhead Magazine. It was published with the use of a type writer (remember those), and a mimeograph machine.

But in spite of all the changes in technology, the mission has remained the same; a mission devoted to promulgating bhakti yoga, the science of God as expounded by Lord Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita.

The Dearmost Person

29 Jul 2023 2 Comments

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Lectures, Prahlada Maharaja, Srimad Bhagavatam Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, demigods, demons, Krishna, Pralada, Pralada Maharaja, Srimad Bhagavatam, the dearmost person

The Dearmost Person

Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 7, Chapter 6, 1968

Today I shall speak to you of the history of a boy devotee named Prahlāda Mahārāja. He was born in a family that was stubbornly atheistic. There are two kinds of men in this world: the demons and the demigods. What is the difference between them? The main difference is that the demigods, or godly persons, are devoted to the Supreme Lord, whereas the demons are atheistic. They do not believe in God because they are materialists. These two classes of men always exist in this world. At the present moment, due to the Age of Kali (Age of Quarrel), the number of demons has increased, but the classification has existed since the beginning of creation. The incident I am narrating to you occurred very, very long ago, a few million years after the time of creation.

Prahlāda Mahārāja was the son of the most atheistic person and the most materially powerful as well. Because the society was materialistic, this boy had no opportunity to glorify the Supreme Lord. The characteristic of a great soul is that he is very eager to broadcast glorification of the Supreme Lord. Lord Jesus Christ, for example, was very eager to broadcast the glorification of God, but demoniac people misunderstood him and crucified him.

Vaikuntha Men

23 Jul 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Devotee's, Jananivasa das, Pankajanghri das Tags: devotees of Krsna, Jananivasa, Krishna, Krishna consciousness, Pankajanghri, Srila Prabhupada

Jananivasa And Pankajanghri Prabhus!

Tamala Krsna: These two pujaris, the two brothers…

Prabhupada: They’re ideal.

Tamala Krsna: …they look like they’re out of the Caitanya-caritamrta. They appear as two persons right out of that book.

Prabhupada: Yes. Very good boys.

Tamala Krsna: Vaikuntha men.

Prabhupada: Oh, yes. They do not know except the Deity. Very good boys.

Tamala Krsna: Perfect team of brothers.

Prabhupada: Oh, yes. Therefore Krsna has brought them here in Mayapur. Previously they were advanced. All of you. You are simply born because the mission was to be started. Just like in Yadu-vamsa Krsna ordered all the devotee demigods to “Go and take birth there to help Me.” Similarly, you are also… You were born in Europe, America, to help this. Otherwise you were devotees in your past lives.

– Room Conversation — February 16, 1977, Mayapur

Built to Last

15 Jul 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Hare Krishna Movement, ISKCON, ISKCON History, Mukunda das Goswami Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, incorporation of ISKCON, Mukunda Goswami, Srila Prabhupada, Swamiji

INCORPORATION OF ISKCON

By Mukunda Goswami

ISKCON (the International Society for Krishna Consciousness) was incorporated in New York City, in the State of New York in the US, on 13 July 1966, around 53 years ago. This first incorporation of ISKCON was executed at Srila Prabhupada’s behest – then known to his followers only as ‘Swamiji’ and to others as A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.

The lawyer under whose aegis the fledgling movement was officially instituted was Mr Steven Goldsmith, an attendee at Srila Prabhupada’s Second Avenue lectures. I don’t know for sure, but I suspect Mr Goldsmith’s legal fees were low or non-existent.

One early (for me) morning in July of 1966, I was awakened and asked to sign papers pertaining to the incorporation of ISKCON. As a US citizen and resident, my signature appeared to be necessary. So I rather perfunctorily signed the document, thinking at the time it was a sort of ‘flight of fancy’ of Srila Prabhupada’s. Later I was instrumental in getting ISKCON incorporated in the State of California (US), as well as in England and India.

The constitution of these other three corporations was based on that of the original New York Corporation. I’ve drawn the conclusion that Srila Prabhupada’s vision in doing this was for ISKCON to endure in the face of his own and his followers’ inevitable physical disappearances. ‘Built to last’ was a slogan that wasn’t lost on Srila Prabhupada’s institution. In pursuance of Srila Prabhupada’s vision, as far as I know the highest administrative levels of ISKCON have been discussing and examining the ‘culture of succession’ principle.

My Devotee is Never Vanquished

05 Jul 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Devotee's, Letters by Srila Prabhupada Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Mukunda, My devotee is never vanquished, Srila Prabhupada

“So don’t be worried, do your best and success or failure does not matter. Krishna is absolute, so there is no such thing as success or failure in Krishna Consciousness, or in other words, there is no question of failure in Krishna Consciousness, whatever we do it is success. Whatever one may do in the material world, if he is even Rockefeller, it is all failure, defeat, because it will not exist beyond this body. He does not know that next life I may be dog or cat. But whatever service we can do for Krishna, even if somebody is not able to execute fully Krishna Consciousness, whatever amount of service he does it never goes in vain. It will eternally remain. And it will act. Even somebody does small amount of service, and not even very willingly, still, he is assured to get human body in next birth, and chance to execute some service further. So there is no question of failure in Krishna Consciousness. It is only success. Krishna says, My devotee is never vanquished. So we must try sincerely, that’s all.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, November 15, 1968)

Full Letter

Good Management

02 Jul 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Brahmananda das, Devotee's, Gargamuni Das Tags: Brahmananda das, disciples, Gargamuni Das, guru, Iskcon, Kirtanananda, Satsvarupa, Srila Prabhupada, temple president

“…Prabhupada had an uncanny way of knowing how to engage different disciples in various services according to their natures”

Good Management

by Gargamuni Prabhu

The first acting officers of ISKCON were appointed by Prabhupada in the Fall 1966. We were sitting in Prabhupada’s room, only five or six of us, when He asked, “So Who should be president?” Everyone looked at each other and then Brahmananda suggested, “I think that Kirtanananda should be the president because he was the first to join.” There were other suggestions but Prabhupada didn’t approve, and then said, “No. I think that Brahmananda should be the president.” Why? Because he was actually maintaining the temple by giving his entire paycheck; $400 a month, as a NYC public substitute school-teacher. We both stayed in the temple-storefront. All the other working devotees had apartments and so they couldn’t give much money or time. So Brahmananda became the first president of ISKCON and Satsvarupa was appointed as secretary. I became the first treasurer/accountant. Prabhupada had an uncanny way of knowing how to engage different disciples in various services according to their natures. I was sure that he chose Brahmananda because he was a natural leader. He had been the president of his senior-high school class, and was captain of the football team and was captain of the wrestling team, for which he received a scholarship to the USA Naval Academy at Annapolis. He had a natural tendency to lead. He had his own club called The Playmakers, for which he was president, and they had their own jackets which they wore to school. He was a born leader and Prabhupada knew that just by looking at him. He made Satsvarupa the secretary because he was an intellectual—an excellent writer and editor. He made me the treasurer because I was by nature interested in business. When I was seven I started my own business selling cherry bombs (a very powerful kind of firecracker) at school. The kids would buy them and blow up mailboxes. The police were called and they found out it was me, but because I was only seven, they didn’t do anything. Even as a child I made my own office out of card-board and played with my father’s old business letters. I never told Prabhupada about my business activities, but he knew my nature just by looking into my eyes. It is a common understanding that the eyes are the ‘mirror of the mind’. I didn’t know anything about accounting but Prabhupada taught me. He explained accounting the following way:

Chanting Hare Krishna 24 hours A Day

28 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, chanting, Chanting Hare Krishna, Krsna Consciousness, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Maha-mantra, Mantra Meditation, Uncategorized Tags: chanting, chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Maha Mantra, mantra meditation

The nice thing about mantra meditation or chanting the maha mantra:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama , Rama Rama, Hare Hare

is that one can do it anywhere, any time. In a plane, train or automobile, sitting, walking, or standing on one’s head. I find myself chanting when I am working in my shop, cutting the lawn, taking a shower, working in the garden. Chanting always makes me feel better.

“…one should learn the art of chanting the Holy name of Krishna 24 hours a day and that alone is the remedy for all problems of material existence.” (from letter to Susan Beckman August 29th 1973)

Prabhupada: The chanting is a process of purification. Just like we use soap to cleanse the body, this is material, but the chanting is spiritual cleansing. The three stages of cleansing are first

(1) To clean the mirror of the mind. In the Bhagavad Gita it is said:

“The mind is the best friend and the worst enemy, for one who has learned to control the mind it is the best of friends but for one who has failed to do so it is the worst enemy.”

Due to long term association, the mind absorbed in material things has become contaminated, or dirty, the chanting process purifies the mind.

(2) Then the next stage, when the mind is cleansed one becomes free from the symptoms of material existence. Material existence means to be always hankering and lamenting. I must have a new automobile, I must have more money, I must have good wife, I must have this I must have that. Then when I have the thing, I lament, I have lost my wife, I have lost my money, I have lost my car, simply lamenting. So the second stage is to be free from this anxiety.

(3) The third stage is “He never laments nor desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto me.”

“One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.”

Full Letter

Arsha Prayoga; The Case Against Book Changes

19 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, BBT, Book Changes, Locanananda das Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bhagavad-gita, book changes, Krishna, Locananda dasa, Srila Prabhupada

I have posted this article as well as other articles written by Locananda Prabhu before, but because of the significance and quality of the writing, we have decided to post it again.

Arsha Prayoga – Part One

by Locanananda Dasa

…For those who saw the Hare Krishna movement spread from city to city and from country to country, it was clear that the original version of Srila Prabhupada’s books was full of spiritual potency and did not require to be changed in any way for his words to act upon the hearts of the conditioned souls…

The question as to whether the writings of the acarya may or may not be revised by his disciples after his disappearance is answered by the rule of “arsa prayoga”. This principle states that one should not see mistakes in what the spiritual master has written or think that his writings may be changed to make them more effective or politically correct. To preserve his teachings in their originally published form is the way by which the acarya is honored, and to do otherwise is to dishonor him. That is the rule of “arsa prayoga”, a principle that devoted followers of a bona fide spiritual master must adhere to without deviation.

How Merciful is Krishna

14 Jun 2023 1 Comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Lectures Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna, Krsna, krsna consciousness, Srila Prabhupada

My wife shared this with me, a post she saw on Facebook. I thought it was rather funny.

The master may be a great millionaire, but still, he loves the dog so much that on the morning walk he takes his dog and the dog is passing urine… What, what business dog has got? To pass urine and stool and go this way and that way. But the master is attending. Similarly, God, or Kṛṣṇa, is so affectionate that we have come here in this material world simply to pass stool and urine, still He’s attending. Still, He’s attending. Just imagine what merciful is Kṛṣṇa. (Prabhupada lecture SB1.8.19 Māyāpura, September 29th 1974)

Visnujana Swami

03 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Deena Bandhu das, Vishnujana Swami Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, chanting Hare Krishna, Krsna, krsna consciousness, Visnujana Swami

Visnujana Swami

by Deena Bandhu das

Today June 2 is the English calendar birthday of my very dear older Godbrother Vishnujana. When I first joined the temple they sent me to LA to get trained up. Vishnjana was the temple commander and I fondly remember being trained by him. We would spend hours on the streets those days chanting the Holy Name with him!

I learned so much from him especially about preaching. He would speak in such a way that child could understand and a scholar could understand. He made Krishna Consciousness so exciting! I remember someone asked what is that stuff on your forehead, a question that you stumble around dully trying to get them to understand. He said with a voice full of love, “This is a beautiful meditation that we perform in the morning where we take sacred clay and mark our bodies as a temple of God!”

Even now if I hear a recording of him, before even understanding that it is Vishnujana, my hairs stand on end. I miss him so much!

Vishnujana Swami: Vrindavana Ramya-Sthana

03 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas, Vishnujana Swami, Vrndavana, YouTube Tags: chanting Hare Krishna, krsna consciousness, Srila Prabhupada, vishnujana swami, Vrindavana Ramya-sthana

Srila Prabhupada knowing Visnujana Swami’s talents asked him to make a melody for this song. The very next day Visnujana had this amazing melody with a very sweet spoken purport. It is a heart melting song that shows Visnujana Swami’s amazing love and devotion that inspired and still inspires so many. -Gauridas Pandita das

The Noble Tree

03 Jun 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Caaitanya-caritamrta, Caitanya Mahaprabhu Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, benifical like trees, Caitanya Caritamrta, Krsna, tolerance, tolerant like a tree

6000 years old baobab tree in Senegal

I have been a woodworker almost my entire adult life, always admiring the beauty of wood, and enjoying the trees in nature. I have visited the Redwood forests in California, and the Douglas Fir forests in Oregon, but I have never seen a tree of this size or age. Truly awesome!

I am reminded of a verse from the Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 9.46, by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

” ‘Just see how these trees are maintaining every living entity! Their birth is successful. Their behavior is just like that of great personalities, for anyone who asks anything from a tree never goes away disappointed.’ “

PURPORT

According to Vedic civilization, kṣatriyas are considered to be great personalities because if anyone goes to a ksatriya king to ask for charity, the king will never refuse. The trees are compared to those noble kṣatriyas because everyone derives all kinds of benefits from them-some people take fruit, others take flowers, others take leaves, others take twigs, and others even cut the tree, and yet the tree gives to everyone without hesitation.

Unnecessarily cutting trees without consideration is another example of human debauchery. The paper industry cuts many hundreds and thousands of trees for its mills, and with the paper so much rubbish literature is published for the whimsical satisfaction of human society. Unfortunately, although these industrialists are now happy in this life by dint of their industrial development, they do not know that they will incur the responsibility for killing these living entities who are in the forms of trees.

This verse, quoted from Śrīmad-Bhagavatam, was spoken by Lord Krishna to His friends when He was taking rest underneath a tree after His pastime of stealing the clothes of the gopīs (vastra-harana-lila). By quoting this verse, Caitanya Mahaprabhu teaches us that we should be tolerant like trees and also beneficial like trees, which give everything to the needy persons who come underneath them. A needy person may derive many advantages from trees and also from many animals, but in modern civilization people have become so ungrateful that they exploit the trees and animals and kill them. These are some of the sinful activities of modern civilization.

Purely Prabhupada

26 May 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Free Downloads, Purely Prabhupada, YouTube Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bhagavad-gita, chanting Hare Krishna, Krishna, krsna consciousness, Purely Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam

A friend of mine recently sent me a couple of links to check out. The first is Purely Prabhupada.com ,which has the pre-1978 editions of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda’s books, there are videos, testimonials, and more. This site connects with its sister site Purely Prabhupada.org which is a treasure-house of podcasts, articles, narrations, kirtans, and instructional series for practical application of spiritual life.

I have spent a number of hours now reviewing both sites and there seems to be a wealth of information and links here.

Appearance Day of Lord Nrsimhadeva,

04 May 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Lord Nrsimhadeva, Srimad Bhagavatam Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, appearance day of lord nrsimhdeva, Lord Nrsimhadeva, Nrisimha, Srimad Bhagavatam

Today we honor the Appearance day of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, with a fast till sunset, followed by a nice vegetarian feast. We include the following texts from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. So shortly after the Lord killed Hiraṇyakaśipu, and his armies, the Lord sat Himself on the throne of Hiraṇyakaśipu, and was offered prayers by all the assembled saintly persons and demigods.

…The Lord not only killed Hiraṇyakaśipu, the King of the demons, but also killed many of his followers. When there was no one else to fight, the Lord, roaring with anger, sat down on Hiraṇyakaśipu’s throne.

The entire universe was thus relieved of the rule of Hiraṇyakaśipu, and everyone was jubilant in transcendental bliss. Then all the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, approached the Lord. These included the great saintly persons, the Pitās, the Siddhas, the Vidyādharas, the Nāgas, the Manus, the prajāpatis, the Gandharvas, the Cāraṇas, the Yakṣas, the Kimpuruṣas, the Vaitālikas, the Kinnaras and also many other varieties of beings in human form. All of them stood not far from the Supreme Personality of Godhead and began offering their prayers unto the Lord, whose spiritual effulgence was brilliant as He sat on the throne. (from the chapter summary)

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Canto 7, Chapter Eight, Text 35-56

Understanding Radha and Krishna

03 May 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna Consciousness, Krsna Consciousness Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna, prakrta-sahajiya, pseudo devotees, Radha Krishna, Radha-Krishna philosophy, Vaisnavas

”If we want to understand Radha-Krsna very quickly, then there will be so many prakrta-sahajiya.”-(pseudo devotees of Krsna who take devotional service cheaply and do not follow the regulations of the scripture; materialistic so-called Vaisnavas who imagine themselves to be confidential devotees.)………….

Prabhupada: I do not indulge in the discussions of Radha and Krsna so easily. Rather, go on with the regulative principle at the present moment. Gradually, as you become purified, as you become on the transcendental platform, you’ll understand what is Radha-Krsna. Don’t try to understand Radha-Krsna very quickly. It is a very big subject. If we want to understand Radha-Krsna very quickly, then there will be so many prakrta-sahajiya. In India there are prakrta-sahajiya. Just like Radha-Krsna dancing. Radha-Krsna has become a plaything. The painting Radha-Krsna, Krsna is kissing Radha, Radha is kissing. These are all nonsense. Radha-Krsna philosophy has to be understood by the liberated person, not by the conditioned soul. So we shall await for the fortunate moment when we are liberated, then we shall understand. ( Radhastami Lecture – August 30, 1968, Montreal)

Tattva-vivek; A Comprehensive Outline of the Absolute Truth

03 May 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Kusakratha das, Tattva Vivek Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Absolute Truth, Kusakratha das, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, who am I

Preface to Tattva-vivek
a spiritual book by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura

To our esteemed readers, this work by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has been translated by Sriman Kusakratha Dasa, late disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada – Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The reader can find biographical material at the end of this work. Click on link below.

Also there is some short biographical material on Kusakratha das as well

Tattva-vivek is a short, yet comprehensive outline of the Absolute Truth, and why it’s diluted into relative truth by the conditioned souls. Totally absorbing, and an empowering read.
Srila Bhaktivinoda begins:

“ Who am I? What is this world? What relation have I with this world?” To learn the truth, a
soul in this material world will always ask himself these questions.

click on link to veiw Tattva-vivek

For a more on Kusakratha das

The Story of Spiritual Sky

26 Apr 2023 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Devotee Bussiness's, Devotee's, Gargamuni Das, spiritual sky Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Gargamuni Das, Krishna Conscious, spiritual sky, Spiritual Sky Incense, Srila Prabhupada, the Hare Krishna Movement in Germany

This is an interesting story/history, of the beginning of the Spiritual Sky Incense business started, as told by H.G. Gargamuni das.

How I started Spiritual Sky Incense

by Gargamuni das

This is the Story of How I started Spiritual Sky Incense in the winter of 1968 at 61 2nd Ave Iskcon NYC– with the motto, ”Krsna Makes the Best Scents” (Sense), which increased Sankirtan Literature Distribution 20 times. Myself and Brahmananda thought of the name Spiritual Sky, with Srila Prabhupada’s blessings in the winter of 1968. I started making the Spiritual Sky incense in the very small cellar at the temple. I not only made stick incense but I also packaged resin incense, which I bought from an old East European man who was 90 years old. He used to make frankincense that was used in churches. He had several other mixes with spices and resins which were very fragrant. You would put these on self-igniting charcoal. There were little round charcoals, you would light a match and touch it, and it would self-ignite. Then you would sprinkle on these resins with spices and you’d get very nice fragrance. I made different names with small containers, and sold them to the stores. I also bottled fragances in designer dripless perfume bottles. In this way, I was practically the only one making extra money for the temple.