Every Town and Village
19 Aug 2019 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Guru das, Photos by Gurudas, Prabhupada, Roger Siegel, Srila Prabhupada Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, ISKCON photography, parikrama with Srila Prabhupada, photos by Gurudas, Photos of Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada, The Hare Krishna Movement
From time to time, I like to post some of the old photos from Gurudas Prabhu’s camera. He was one of the first ISKCON photographers and took many of the famous and beautiful pictures of Srila Prabhupada. The following were from Parikama with Srila Prabhupada in India.
03 Jul 2019 1 Comment
in Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Mukunda das Goswami, Syamasundara das, The Beatles Tags: Apple Records, Beatles, Hare Krishna record, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Mukunda das, Syamasundara das, The Beatles
…I am very glad to know that George is interested in recording some Krishna Consciousness album, and it is very happy news. I request you and, through you, your friends, George and John, to make a nice Hare Krishna record sung by the most popular Beatles and assisted by our devotees. That will be very nice. I have all encouragement for you for this purpose. Try to make this Hare Krishna Movement popular through any source that is possible. That is our business. (from Srila Prabhupada letter to Syamasundara das June 29, 1969)
…Regarding the Beatles, if they chant the Hare Krishna Mantra, give them all facilities. Because if they make some Hare Krishna record, that will be widespread, and we want simply that the Hare Krishna Mantra may be very popular all over the world. We do not care for any profit out of it. We should not try to make a profit out of the Hare Krishna Mantra; then our spiritual enlightenment will be hampered. (from Srila Prabhupada letter to Mukunda das July 2, 1969)
01 Jul 2017 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, George Harrison, Krsna Book, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Sriman George Harrison, Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Apple Records, Apple Studio, George Harrision, Krsna Book, Krsna The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Letters by Srila Prabhupada
February 16, 1970
My Dear George,
Please accept my blessings. I am so much obliged to you for your valued cooperation in spreading my movement of Krishna Consciousness throughout the whole world. I beg to acknowledge receipt herewith of your contribution of $19,000 (nineteen thousand dollars) for publication of my book, Krishna, now going to the press within the week.
Please note that every farthing of this money will be employed in the service of the Lord, and the Lord is so kind and grateful that He will bestow upon you benediction at least ten times more than that you have done for Him. It does not, however, mean that Lord Krishna is like a business man, and He bestows benediction when He is profited by our service. The Lord is full in Himself; He does not require our service, but if we render service unto Him in love and devotion, such action enriches our very existence.
31 May 2017 1 Comment
in Devotee's, George Harrison, Photos, The Hare Krishna Movement, Uncategorized Tags: chanting Hare Krishna, devotees, George Harrison, Gurudas, Malati devi, Mukunda, Sanatana Goswami, sankirtan, Shyamasundar, Sriman George Harrison, Yamuna devi
This is a classic photo from the early days of the Hare Krishna Movement in England.
22 Apr 2017 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Chanting Hare Krishna, George Harrison, Prabhupada, Prabhupada Connection, Sriman George Harrison Tags: chanting Hare Krishna, conversation with Srila Prabhupada, George Harrision, george harrison lyrics, Krsna Book, Living in the Material World, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada conversations with George Harrison, Sriman George Harrison
21 Apr 2017 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, George Harrison, Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, People, Sriman George Harrison Tags: chanting Hare Krishna, George Harrision, prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada, the hare krishna mantra, The Hare Krishna Movement, Vedic scholars
25 Mar 2017 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Photos, Photos by Gurudas, Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada Conversations, Uncategorized Tags: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhuada, Gurudas, photographs by Gurudas, photos by Gurudas, Srila Prabhupada
Today we are posting some of the very famous photographs taken by me dear friend and senior God brother Gurudas Prabhu. Gurudas was well known for his photography and he traveled around the world with Srila Prabhupada taking pictures and writting. We share some of them with you here today.
12 Mar 2017 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Senapati Bhakta, Sri Nandanandana das, Srila Prabhupada, Stephen Knapp, The Hare Krishna Movement
Today as we are celebrating the appearance day of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu we are further reminded of the great senapati bhakta Srila Prabhupada who Lord Caitanya foretold would take the sankirtana movement everywhere.
…Lord Caitanya foretold the coming of an empowered devotee who would take the sankirtana process everywhere: “I want to flood the whole world with the chanting of the holy names. I will personally preach and flood India with harinama sankirtana, chanting of the holy names. And My senapati bhakta (great devotee commander) will come, preach in different countries and flood the world with the chanting of Hare Krishna.” This means that, though Sri Caitanya came to establish and spread the process of congregational chanting of Krishna’s names in India, there would be one great devotee who would appear and spread it throughout the world.
Today we honor not only Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu but his empowered devotee as well with this nice biography written by Stephen Knapp (Sri Nandananda dasa).
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
by Stephen Knapp (Sri Nandanandana dasa)
In the Brahma-vaivarta Purana, in a conversation with Ganga Devi, Lord Krishna describes that after 5,000 years of Kali-yuga have passed, His mantra upasaka, the great sage and worshiper of Krishna’s holy names, will appear and spread the chanting of Krishna’s names (in the form of the Hare Krishna mantra) not only in India but throughout the world. Lord Krishna explains that by the chanting of His holy names the world will become spiritualized and everyone will be hari-bhaktas, engaged in the process of devotion to the Supreme. The purified devotees will visit the holy places and holy rivers of India and will purify them. They will also purify those with whom they come in contact. Thus, Sri Krishna predicted the appearance of a powerful devotee who would spread the chanting of His names worldwide.
12 Mar 2017 Leave a comment
in Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Chanting Hare Krishna, Gaura Purnima, Gauranga, Stephen Knapp Tags: appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, biography of Sri Caitanya, Gaura Purnima, gauracanda, nima tree, nimi tree, sankirtana movement started by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Prabhupada, Stephen Knapp
click on image to enlarge
Today marks the appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu otherwise known as Gaura Purnima. We will honor it today with a fast till moonrise followed by a feast. The following post is a beautiful biography on Lord Caitanya, written by Stephen Knapp.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
by Stephen Knapp
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu [pronounced Chaitanya] (February 27,1486 to 1534 A.D.) was born in Navadvipa, Bengal, on a full moon night during a lunar eclipse. It is typical for people to bathe in the Ganges during an eclipse and chant the Lord’s holy names for spiritual purification. So, everyone in the area was chanting the holy names when He was born. His parents, Jagannatha Misra and Sachidevi, gave Him the name of Vishvambhara, meaning the support of the universe, because astrologers had predicted His super human qualities and that He would deliver the people of the world. He was also nicknamed Nimai because He had been born under a nima tree.
20 Jan 2017 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Lectures, Uncategorized Tags: 2017 Presidental inauguration, A.C. Bhaktivedanta, Ascot England, everyone should be humble, humility, Srila Prabhupada lectures, Tittenhurst Park
… Humility means that one should not be anxious to have the satisfaction of being honored by others. The material conception of life makes us very eager to receive honor from others, but from the point of view of a man in perfect knowledge-who knows that he is not this body-anything, honor or dishonor, pertaining to this body is useless. One should not be hankering after this material deception. People are very anxious to be famous for their religion, and consequently sometimes it is found that without understanding the principles of religion, one enters into some group, which is not actually following religious principles, and then wants to advertise himself as a religious mentor. As for actual advancement in spiritual science, one should have a test to see how far he is progressing. He can judge by these items. (from purport Bhagavad-gita As It Is 13.8-12)
28 Nov 2016 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, George Harrison, Srila Prabhupada Tags: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Pabhupada, George Harrison, i, I Me Mine, ignorance of self, let it be, living entity, living entity is entrapped, material consciousness, material intelligence, mine, SB4.29.5, Srila Prabhupada, The Beatles
This morning I was reading from the Fourth Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, wherein Narada Muni was discussing about material intelligence…
The great sage Nārada continued: The word pramadā mentioned in this regard refers to material intelligence, or ignorance. It is to be understood as such. When one takes shelter of this kind of intelligence, he identifies himself with the material body. Influenced by the material consciousness of “I” and “mine,” he begins to enjoy and suffer through his senses. Thus the living entity is entrapped. (SB4.29.5)
…and in the purport Srila Prabhupada explains
“…in material existence the living entity falsely claims things to be his. He thinks, “I am the monarch of all I survey.” This is ignorance. Actually, nothing belongs to him. Even the body and the senses do not belong to him, for they are given to him by the grace of the Lord to satisfy his different propensities through the material energy. Nothing actually belongs to the living entity, but he becomes mad after everything, claiming, “This is mine. This is mine. This is mine.” Janasya moho ’yam ahaṁ mameti [SB 5.5.8]. This is called illusion. Nothing belongs to the living entity, but he claims that everything belongs to him. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommends that this false intelligence be purified (ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]). When the mirror of intelligence is polished, the real activities of the living entity begin. This means that when a person comes to the platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, his real intelligence acts. At that time he knows that everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa and nothing belongs to him. As long as one thinks that everything belongs to him, he is in material consciousness, and when he knows perfectly that everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa, he is in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.” (from purport to SB4.29.5)
While I was reading this, the last song ever recorded by the Beatles, “I Me Mine” kept playing in my head. We have also included the song lyrics at bottom of post.
Full text purport and lyrics More
22 Nov 2016 2 Comments
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Padmapani das, Prabhupada Connection, Pure Devotee, Qualities of a Devotee, Srila Prabhupada Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, advanced in spiritual knowledge, disciple, humility of Srila Prabhupada, pure devotee, qualities of Srila Prabhupada, quotes by Srila Prabhupada, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada
click on image to enlarge
Srila Prabhupada’s Humility
by Padmapani das
“Although my Guru Maharaja ordered me to accomplish this mission, I am not worthy or fit to do it. I am very fallen and insignificant. Therefore, O Lord, now I am begging for Your mercy so that I may become worthy, for You are the wisest and most experienced of all.” (Prayer to the Lotus Feet of Krishna, on board the ship Jaladuta, September 13, 1965)
“It is all Krishna’s Grace that He has sent such a nice assistants to me, for executing the mission of my Spiritual Master. Personally, I am nonentity; I have come here on the order of my Spiritual Master, and He has kindly sent you all boys to assist me. So whatever is being done, there is no credit for me, but all the credit goes to my Spiritual Master, because He has arranged everything, and I am simply to abide by His order.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, October 16, 1968)
“I am just trying to disseminate this message of my Spiritual Master and if there’s any credit for this service, everything goes to Him.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, March 14, 1969)
09 Nov 2016 1 Comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Donald Trump, Padmapani das, People, Quotes by Srila Prabhupada Tags: calamities, Donald Trump, duhkhalayam asasvatam, Krishna consciousness, material world, Padmapani das, President on the United States of America, Safety in a Dangerous World, Srila Prabhupada, temporary world
This morning I awoke to the news that Donald Trump has been elected as President on the United States of America. For some Americans this is frightening news. Others are rejoicing. I think we can all agree that the world is a dangerous place. This post by Padmapani Prabhu is really quite timely.
Safety in a Dangerous World
by Padmapani das
Ever since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the world has been faced with unprecedented danger and uncertainty. Recent headlines suggest that the threat of terrorism has reached critical proportions. News of another possible attack in the U.S. has been circulating in the press and the rhetoric of war has dominated world politics for quite some time. Once again we are forced to contemplate our fragility and mortality in this material world. Anything can happen now and we know it.
18 Sep 2016 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Sankirtan, Susan Beckman, Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, The Hare Krishna Movement Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, conditional life, conditioned living entities, Lord Caitanya, love of God, material existence, Nityananda, sankirtan movement, sankirtana, transcendental activities
click on image to enlarge
…The saṅkīrtana movement inaugurated by Lord Caitanya is a transcendental pastime of the Lord. “By it I live simultaneously to preach and popularize this movement in the material world.” In that saṅkīrtana movement of Lord Caitanya, Nityānanda and Advaita are His expansions, and Gadādhara and Śrīvāsa are His internal and marginal potencies. The living entities are also called marginal potency because they have, potentially, two attitudes-namely the tendency to surrender unto Kṛṣṇa and the tendency to become independent of Him. Due to the propensity for material enjoyment, the living entity becomes contaminated by the material world. When a living entity is dominated by a desire for material enjoyment and becomes entangled in material life, he is subjected to the threefold miseries of material existence. He is just like a seed sown in the earth. If a seed is overpowered by too much water, there is no possibility of its fructifying. Similarly, if a man is captivated by material enjoyment, and even if the seed of such enjoyment is within the heart of the conditioned soul, he can be overpowered by a flood of transcendental activities performed in love of God. In this way his potential seed cannot fructify into a conditional life of material existence. The conditioned living entities in the material world, especially in the present age of Kali, are overpowered by the flood of love of God inaugurated by Lord Caitanya and His associates. (from Teachings of Lord Caitanya Chapter 17)
27 Jul 2016 Leave a comment
in ahimsa, Bill Clinton, Vegetarianism Tags: ahimsa, Bhagavad-gita, Bill Clinton, def of ahimsa, healthy diet, nonviolence, plant based diet, road to a healthier diet, spiritual happiness, spiritual realization, vegan, veganism, vegetarian
Last night former President Bill Clinton spoke at the Democratic National Convention. I was able to catch part of his speech. I woke up this morning thinking that sometime back Bill Clinton had stopped eating meat, fish and eggs, and became a vegan. Veganism, by definition is; “Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.” (this quote was taken from the Vegan Society). Although I personally am an avid vegetarian, and believer in offering everything to Krsna, I very much appericate the ideals of veganism and its attempt to practice ahimsa, or the idea of causing no injury and harm to other living entities, as well as it being a healthy lifestyle. There is a definition of ahimsa, or nonviolence, at end of post.
…”I just decided that I was the high-risk person, and I didn’t want to fool with this anymore. And I wanted to live to be a grandfather. So I decided to pick the diet that I thought would maximize my chances of long-term survival.” -Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton Explains Why He Became a Vegan
by Joe Conason
Full article More
14 Jul 2016 1 Comment
in Chanting Hare Krishna, George Harrison, Hare Krishna Movement, Mantra Meditation, Meditation, Mukunda das Goswami, Srila Prabhupada Tags: All Things Must Pass, Apple Records, Apple Studio, Awaiting on You All, chanting, chanting Hare Krishna, George Harrison, japa, japa beads, mantra meditation, meditation, My Sweet Lord, silent deditation, The Beatles, Thw Beatles and Hare Krishna
George Harrison Interview: Hare Krishna Mantra–There’s Nothing Higher (1982)
This entry is part 3 of 10 in the series The Beatles and Hare Krishna
George: It’s really the same sort of thing as meditation, but I think it has a quicker effect. I mean, even if you put your beads down, you can still say the mantra or sing it without actually keeping track on your beads. One of the main differences between silent meditation and chanting is that silent meditation is rather dependent on concentration, but when you chant, it’s more of a direct connection with God.
02 Apr 2016 2 Comments
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Allen Ginsberg, Back to Godhead, BTG magizine, Guru das, People, Roger Siegel Tags: 518 Frederick Street San Francisco, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Allen Ginsberg, BTG, conversation with Srila Prabhupada, Guru das, Krishna Consciousness Temple, swami
This morning I was cleaning out one of the sheds, and found this old suitcase filled with cassette tapes. There were some of the old Bhaktivedanta Archive tapes, Golden Avatar tapes, various lectures, bahjans and kirtans. I started to listed to some of the old vintage kirtans and lectures and I was filled with a nostalgic mood of yearning, for the early days of the Hare Krishna Movement. This lead me to re-examine the old Back to Godhead magazine issues. The following is one article I found very reminiscence of those early days.
A Conversation between A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami & Allen Ginsberg
Recorded by Guru Das Adhikary
Swamiji had come to San Francisco in late January, 1967 for the opening of the Krishna Consciousness Temple there, at 518 Frederick Street. Allen Ginsberg had always shown friendly and helpful interest in the Society; and he agreed to attend a giant “Mantra Rock Festival,” which the temple members were planning to hold in the Avalon Ballroom. And so, a few days before that event, the good poet came to early morning Kirtan (7 A. M.), and later joined the Swami upstairs in the apartment his pupils had rented for him.
We were sitting in the glow of this holy man, munching on Indian sweetballs cooked by the Swami, when Allen Ginsberg came through the door, a warm smile on his face.
The Swami offered him a sweetball: “Take.”
They sat in silence for a few moments, radiating mutual love.
20 Mar 2016 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, appearance of Lord Caitanya, free pdf download, Gaura Purnima, Gauranga, Lord Caitanya, pdf file, Srila Prabhupada's books, The Hare Krishna Movement
With the advent of the Gaura Purnima, or the Appearance day of Lord Caitanya, rapidly approaching, I thought it would be nice to again offer the free pdf file of the Teachings of Lord Chaitanya. Just click on link to read it online or save it to your computer. Hare Krishna!
21 Dec 2015 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Ganges, Places of Pilgrimage, Srimad Bhagavatam, Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, dirt of material attachment, great acaryas, Hare Krishna Movement, hear about the Lord, holy places, Krsna, krsna consciousness, Krsna's activities, Krsna's form, Krsna's name, Krsna's qualities, materially attached mind, River Ganges
20 Dec 2015 1 Comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Bhagavad-gita As It Is 1972 Edition, Bhagavad-gita As It Is Study Guide, Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita As It Is study guide, Bhagavad-gita study guide, books, books by Srila Prabhupada, free pdf download of bhagavad gita study guide, Original edition of bhagavad-gita, study guide bhagavad gita
This morning I happened upon this nice Study Guide on the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. It begins with the Introduction to the Bhagavad-gita, some notes on the Original Edition, the significance of the Bhagavad-gita, a philosophical synopsis, chapter by chapter summary, Q & A, and a suguested teaching syllabus. All in all ,a very nice presentation prepared by disciples and followers of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
We are offing it here as a free pdf download that you can view, save or print, by clicking on the following link:
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