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 CENTENNIAL DREAM
12 Feb 2011 Leave a comment
in Devotee's, Govinda dasi, Vyas-puja Tags: Govinda dasi, The Centennial Dream, Vyasas Puja
Transcendental Invitations (Chapter 2)
29 Jan 2011 1 Comment
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.
Initiation Protocols
28 Jan 2011 Leave a comment
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
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
“The Greatest Exponent of Krishna Consciousness in the Western World”
24 Jan 2011 Leave a comment
in Book Changes, Devotee's, Sravanananda das, Srila Prabhupada Tags: book changes, books by Srila Prabhupada, krsna consciousness, s, sravanananda das
“The Greatest Exponent of Krishna Consciousness in the Western World”
BY: SRAVANANANDA DAS (ACBSP)
Dear Srila Prabhupada,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to you.
All Glories to You and only You for submerging this earth planet with the Glories of Lord Sri Krishna (The Holy Name).
All Glories to You and only You for being “The Greatest Exponent of Krishna Consciousness in the Western World.” It was You that came up with that phrase to be put under your pictures in all of your books. Somehow? That phrase had been removed from your books, but I have been assured it was going to immediately be put back under your picture in all of your books again.
The response I had received was that the BBT leaders had no idea that it was missing nor how it had happened. I think I know…… due to the imperfect senses there are those who have forgotten who you are, and therefore it was ignored. Yet those same imperfect senses allow your books to be ravaged with changes.
I pray they humble themselves to bring back the Original Books as they were perfect, are perfect and always will be perfect. A small grammatical change may occur, but what has been done appears to be major. Therefore since we are all so covered, they should have been just left alone.
All Glories to You and only You for being the “Greatest Exponent of Krishna Consciousness in the WHOLE World “as before you came into this world even India was forgetting who Krishna is and beginning to give up all religious principals. Most people were worshipping everyone but Lord Krishna. They had ignored Lord Krishna and it was………..
Bhakti; Summit of Yoga
17 Jan 2011 Leave a comment
in Devotee's, Devotional Service, Vaisesika das Tags: Arjuna, bhagavad-gita, bhajate, bhakti, devotional service, dhyana yoga, karma yoga, Krishna, Vaisesika Dasa
Bhakti Notes:
by Vaisesika Dasa
FAQ: Why does it seem that Srila Prabhupada’s translations, word for word renditions and purports all seem to point only to Bhakti?
Answer: Srila Prabhupada’s purpose in presenting the Bhagavad gita As It Is, was to bring out Krsna’s ultimate conclusion of the Gita. This is the meaning of “As It Is.”
Some have speculated that in the Gita Krsna presents many paths and that any one of them is as good as another. However, Krsna clearly presents Bhakti as yoga’s summit even when He explains other processes like Karma Yoga and Dhyana Yoga to Arjuna.
In fact, all such processes are meant to bring one to surrender to the Lord in loving devotional service. The more one advances in devotional service, the more one is considered by Krsna to be advanced in yoga.
At the end of the sixth chapter in which Krsna has explained the arduous process of astanga yoga and meditation, He says:
Yoginam api sarvesam mad-gatenantar-atmana
sraddhavan bhajate yo mam sa me yutatamo matah
“And of all yogis, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me- he is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is my opinion.” Bg. 6.47
Visitor From Calcutta (Chapter 1)
17 Jan 2011 1 Comment
in Hayagriva das, The Hare Krishna Explosion Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Calcutta, guru, Hare Krishna, hayagriva das, New York 1966., spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, the hare krishna explosion, Visitor from Calcutta
The Hare Krishna Explosion
by Hayagriva dasa
Part I: New York, 1966
Chapter 1
Visitor From Calcutta
I first see him just after crossing the Bowery at Houston Street. As he passes before the iron-mesh fence of a playground, I distinctly glimpse the aura of saintliness. I watch him through the rushing traffic and stumbling derelicts.
He strolls almost jauntily down the sidewalk. He is an old man whom age has never touched. Aloof from the people and bustle about him, he walks proudly, independently, his hand in a cloth beadbag. He wears the saffron robes of a sannyasi, and on his feet are quaint, pointed white shoes.
Only seven months ago, I had seen many saffron-robed monks and holymen walking the dirt roads of Hardwar and Rishikesh, and stopping beside the Ganges to bathe. For me, that had been a futile journey to the mystic East in search of the all-knowing guru.
But now—what’s this?
I look again at the pointed white shoes. Did this man follow me all the way from North India? Or did he just suddenly descend from the clouds onto Manhattan sidewalks? I decide I must speak to him.
Arsha Prayoga And Shakespeare (I)
14 Jan 2011 1 Comment
in Arsha Prayoga, Book Changes, Locanananda das Tags: Adi-vani, Arsha Prayoga, book changes, Locanananda, MacMillan
Arsha Prayoga And Shakespeare (I)
By Sriman Locanananda Prabhu
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.
Without the self-realized soul at its head…
13 Jan 2011 Leave a comment
in Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Devotee's, Hansadutta das Tags: Hansadutta, pulpit, Putana, Srila Bhaktisiddanta, Srila Bhaktivinoda, Vani Vibhava
Without the self-realized soul at its head…
By Hansadutta Prabhu
“The heart has reasons that reason fails to understand.”—Blaise Pascal
When the Acharya comes, he gathers around him so many people, but they’re bringing their own baggage and cannot prevail. It seems to be the rule that a collection of disciples can go only so far before there’s an overwhelming of their past.
“O well-wisher of the devotees. May you obtain peace! The nature that the living entities have developed, according to their respective karma from birth after birth in this world, influences them to engage in fruitive activities. Until desires opposed to devotional service are destroyed from the heart, no amount of good instruction can bring any auspiciousness. Such instructions will simply come out of the ear-holes and will not enter into the heart. No amount of preaching to them or discussing devotional service will produce a good result because of their bad karma. Your discourses and discussions will therefore not yield any result. My order to you is that you should live at the place where I kept My dear Haridasa and where I loudly chanted the holy names of the Lord. You should constantly sing the glories of the holy names for the benefit of the fallen souls. As a result of the piety that people will achieve by hearing from you, and the faith they will develop, they will attain unduplicitious faith in pure devotional service in a future lifetime.”—Mahaprabhu to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur (Sri Bhaktivinoda Vani Vaibhava)
Letter by Govinda dasi
01 Jan 2011 1 Comment
in Book Changes, Devotee's, Govinda dasi Tags: Bhagaji, Govinda dasi, Haleys comet, Iskcon, Srila Prabhupada, Sruta Kirta
Letter by
GOVINDA DASI
Paul Howard has brought up some very pertinent points. One, that there were in fact many tapes missing from that time period. Yes, this is true, and my understanding is that Tamal had those tapes and they somehow vanished. They were from the same time period that the July letter was written.
Two, the question of whether Prabhupada’s disciples accepted the zonal acharya eleven. Most of them did not. It is noteworthy that at the time when Srila Prabhupada left, it was understood that the initiations would continue uninterrupted just as they had been going on for some years. This was common knowledge.
Remembering Srila Prabhupada
01 Jan 2011 Leave a comment
in Devotee's, Remembering Srila Prabhupada, Spiritual Life Tags: books, devotee, guru, Krishna, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, Vyasasan das
Your Ever Well Wisher
My First Book
by Vyasasan das
I think we all remember very clearly where we were and what we were doing the day Srila Prabhupada first entered our lives. Many of the older devotees remember where they were when President John F. Kennedy was shot, or where they were when “The Beatles” appeared on the Ed Sullivan show. But our remembrance of Srila Prabhupada will outlive any mundane event in our lives, as our relationship with our Srila Prabhupada is an eternal relationship.
Connecting with Srila Prabhupada
01 Jan 2011 Leave a comment
in Devotee's, Krishna Consciousness, Spiritual Life Tags: bona fied spiritual master, mahat-tattva, master of spirit, Padmapani das, Prabhupada connect, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada
Prabhupada connect
by Padmapani Prabhu
Yet many times we still receive letters asking us how to connect with Srila Prabhupada now that he is apparently absent from our material vision. This should not be a mystery, since after all, Srila Prabhupada is a bona fide spiritual master, i.e. a master of spirit.
“A pure devotee of the Lord does not live on any planet of the material sky, nor does he feel any contact with material elements. His so-called material body does not exist, being surcharged with the spiritual current of the Lord’s identical interest, and thus he is permanently freed from all contaminations of the sum total of the mahat-tattva. He is always in the spiritual sky, which he attains by being transcendental to the sevenfold material covering by the effect of his devotional service. The conditioned souls are within the coverings, whereas the liberated soul is far beyond the cover.”
Are Srila Prabhupada’s Books Being Changed?
31 Dec 2010 Leave a comment
in Book Changes, Devotee's Tags: Arsha Prayoga, bhagavad-gita, book changes, evil to prosper, good me to do nothing, Guru Issue, Srila Prabhupada
“All that is needed for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing.”
Arsha Prayoga Part (I) – Resistance To Change
31 Dec 2010 Leave a comment
in Arsha Prayoga, Book Changes, Locanananda das Tags: arsa prayoga, BBT, bhagavad-gita, book changes, Locanananda, prabhupada
Arsha Prayoga Part (I) – Resistance To Change
By Locanananda Prabhu
Let me first offer my prostrated obeisances unto the lotus feet of that supreme swan-like devotee of the Lord, our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, by whose mercy the fallen souls of Kali Yuga may taste the sweetness of the narrations of the pastimes of the Lord and His pure devotees. As the bonafide representative of Sri Vyasadeva, he composed a mountain of transcendental literature to enlighten the entire human society, explaining even the most confidential truths regarding vaisnava philosophy.
His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada displayed all of the symptoms of an empowered jiva soul, working tirelessly to distribute the transcendental message of love of Godhead throughout the world. It is therefore the duty of his followers to preserve the legacy and protect the honor of such a great spiritual personality whose every moment was dedicated to the spreading of Krishna consciousness.
“Hear, Sing and Accept Prabhupada’s Approved Editions”
29 Dec 2010 Leave a comment
in Book Changes, Devotee's, Narasimha das Tags: bhagavad-gita, book changes, Narasimha das, original, Srimad Bhagavatam, Sukadeva Goswami
BY: NARASIMHA DAS
Dec 28, 2010 — USA (SUN)
Srila Sukadeva Gosvami has answered our questions and concerns regarding the status of those who support the idea of changing Srila Prabhupada’s books. Srila Sukadeva Gosvami specifically predicted Srila Prabhupada’s original books from India — books “meant to bring about a revolution in the impious life of a misdirected civilization.”
As predicted, these editions exhibited some “irregularities” in composition due to Srila Prabhupada’s letting a sincere yet unqualified editor finish his proofs in New Delhi. This was His causeless mercy on one sincere soul and the fulfillment of Sukadeva Gosvami’s prediction. Srila Sukadeva Gosvami predicted that these books would be “heard, sung, and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.11). In fact, these editions were all we had in the early days when the genuine Krishna consciousness movement was spreading like wild fire all over the world. Sincere devotees relish these unique editions even today, never complaining about apparent “irregularities”.
What to Bring to Australia Kulimela
28 Dec 2010 Leave a comment
in Devotee's Tags: advaita myler, australia, kulimela, kulis
Advaita MylerDecember 23, 2010 at 6:07pm
Subject: What to Bring to Kulimela Australia
Hari Haribol
Fellow Kulis, friends and associates
With only a couple of days till we kick off week 1 of the Mela we would like to give you a quick checklist of things to bring for the week or 2.
Firstly it is important that you bring any spending money you anticipate needing over the period you are attending in cash as there is no ATM facility on the farm. We will have the internet set up for registration fees via Paypal or direct deposit but please bring cash money if you intend to purchase anything on site such as snacks, merchandise or souvenirs.
The weather here lately has been temperamental so please prepare for both extremes – hot sunny days, and cold rainy ones. We have been getting a lot of rain in the area this summer to please be prepared for that eventuality.
Apart from that a few basics that will get you through the week/s are:
Bedding – sleeping bag, foam mat
Torch
Towel and swimmers/boardies
Any required medication
Sun cream
Poncho/rain coat/umbrella
Insect repellent
Toiletries
Short and Long Sleeve pants and shirts
Hiking shoes or decent joggers – for bush walks and climbing mount Warning
Spiritual clothing and beads for temple programs
Travel insurance and copies of travel and legal documents
A big smile and an open heart
We know that this will be an amazing festival for all if you come in to it with an open heart and a positive attitude. We have dedicated a lot of time and money to making this happen over the past two years and we have done everything in our power to make this event a success. What you take out of it is now up to you.
We wish you all a safe and hassle-free journey and we look forward to your association soon.
Humbly yours,
The Kulimela Australia Team.
Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadari Ki Jai!
Arsha Prayoga
27 Dec 2010 1 Comment
in Arsha Prayoga, Book Changes, Locanananda das Tags: arsa prayoga, Arsha Prayoga, BBT, book changes, Hare Krishna Movement, Locanananda, original, revised, Srila Prabhupada
Arsha Prayoga – Part One
April 26, 2010 by Locanananda Prabhu
…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.
Letter on Book Changes
13 Dec 2010 1 Comment
in Book Changes, Devotee's, Govinda dasi Tags: book changes Hayagriva das, Govinda dasi, Jayadvaita Swami, MacMillan Bhagavad-gita, original books, Prabhupada's divine mercy
Letter on Book Changes
by Govinda Dasi (ACBSP)
Dear Yashoda Dulal Prabhu,
Pamho. Yes, the BBT always gives that one worn-out example of cattle, and of course the other one, planet of the trees. Yes, those are typos, mistakes. They fail to mention the other four thousand and nine hundred and ninety eight changes they made!
And had these two errors been corrected, along with any misspelled words, etc. there would have been no cause for alarm–or for a million dollar lawsuit with bbt defending the edited version–one which they lost in the courts. That court case is the only reason that now the world has an option to read Prabhupada’s original words. But the 5000 changes that were made, and changing the “writer’s voice” was unwarranted and factually criminal.
In a meeting at Honolulu temple some years back, Jayadvaita M. actually stated, “Oh, those (original) books were horrible!” Those “horrible” original books, filled with Srila Prabhupada’s divine mercy, made thousands of devotees in the ’70s. More books were distributed then than now.
It seems you believe the propaganda that Hayagriva was never around Prabhupada much, and there were many editors etc. What can I say? This is simply not true. I knew Hayagriva from the time I joined Prabhupada in San Francisco, January of 1967. Hayagriva was there, and was already editing the Gita, and spending hours every day with Srila Prabhupada going over every verse!
Kirtan: Ancient Medicine for Modern Man
07 Dec 2010 Leave a comment
in Chanting Hare Krishna, Devotee's, Hansadutta das Tags: Ancient Medicine for Modern Man, chanting Hare Krishna, hansadutta das, kirtan, Krishna consciousness, material happiness is temporary, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, transcenental happiness
Kirtan: Ancient Medicine for Modern Man
By Hansadutta Prabhu
The singing and dancing of Hare Krishna is known as Kirtan. My spiritual master Srila Prabhupada said, “This is not ordinary dancing; this is the dancing of the soul, a soul awakened to his original consciousness, Krishna consciousness.” There is no motive in performing Kirtan. It is the song and dance of ecstasy, the dance of the soul. The soul is dancing; therefore the body is dancing. Actually, the body cannot dance without the soul. A body without the soul is a dead body.
Pleasing Srila Prabhupada by reading his books
07 Dec 2010 1 Comment
in Devotee's, Srila Prabhupada's Books Tags: Gauridas Pandit das, monkeys in Vrindavan, person Bhagavata, Reading Srimad Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada's books
Reading Srimad Bhagavatam
By Gauridas Pandita Prabhu
Vrndavan India June 1977. I used to take Srila Prabhupada’s paraphernalia to translate his books up to the rooftop before sundown every evening. Part of the roof was covered and part was open and there is an inside room also and a bathroom. Srila Prabhupada would come up just at about sunset to start his translation work for the night.
The Hare Krishna Movement 