“I Love Kṛṣṇa More Than Anything!”


Transcendental Teachings of Prahlada Maharaja
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter 4

I Love Kṛṣṇa More Than Anything!

Now Prahlāda Mahārāja makes a further statement about the complications of material life. He compares the attached householder to the silkworm. The silkworm wraps itself in a cocoon made of its own saliva, until he is in a prison from which he cannot escape. In the same way, a materialistic householder’s entanglement becomes so tight that he cannot come out of the cocoon of family attraction. Even though there are so many miseries in materialistic family life, he cannot break free. Why? He thinks that sex life and eating palatable dishes are most important. Therefore, in spite of so many miserable conditions, he cannot give them up.

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“Lord Caitanya-Life Force”


Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 7.1
Mayapur, March 1, 1974
Srila Prabhupada’s discourse follows below:

Pradyumna: Translation: “Let me first offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is the ultimate goal of life for one bereft of all possessions in this material world and is the only meaning for one advancing in spiritual life. Thus let me write about His magnanimous contribution of devotional service in love of God.”

Prabhupada:
agaty-eka-gatim natva
hinarthadhika-sadhakam
sri-caitanyam likhyate asya
prema-bhakti-vadanyata
[Cc. Adi 7.1]

So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu… This is the place of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, appearance site of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sridhama Mayapur. So in this place this is the appropriate literature, Sri-caitanya-caritamrta. We may try to discuss during these holy days. Last year some gentleman suggested, after seeing my all literatures, that “You kindly write a translation of Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta.”

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A short sketch of the life and teachings of Lord Caitanya


A short sketch of the life and teachings of Lord Caitanya,
The Preacher of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the great apostle of love of God and the father of the congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord, advented Himself at Śrīdhāma Māyāpura, a quarter in the city of Navadvīpa in Bengal, on the Phālgunī Pūrṇimā evening in the year 1407 Śakābda (corresponding to February 1486 by the Christian calendar).

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Cow Protection; Lord Krishna’s Example

<Lord Krishna’s Example
To teach by example, the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna and Lord Balaram show us when They descend into this world, how important is to protect, love and serve Cows and Bulls. Krishna is known as Gopala (protector of the Cows) or Govinda (one who gives pleasure to the Cows). Lord Balaram represents plowing the land for agriculture and therefore always carries a plow in His hand, whereas Krishna tends Cows and therefore carries a flute in His hand. Thus the two brothers represent krisi-raksha (protecting Bulls by engaging them in farming) and go-raksha (protecting the Cows). 10.5.20 Purport
“Offering respect to the Cows will help the devotee to diminish the reactions to his past sinful activities” (Skanda Purana)

Vrindavan’s Cows are constant remainders of Krishna’s ecstatic Cow herding lilas (pastimes). By serving the Cows one receives tremendous spiritual benefit. Feeding grains to the Cows, offering puja, or simply a scratch under the neck will please these peaceful personalities and attracts the attention of Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Govinda. The Gautamiya Tantra says, “One should gently scratch the body of a Cow, offer her a mouthful of green grass and reverentially circumambulate her. If Cows are maintained nicely and comfortably, Lord Gopal will be pleased.”

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The Hare Krishna Book on Vegetarian Cooking


The Hare Krishna Book on Vegetarian Cooking

One of the Best books on Vegetarian Cooking
By Adiraja Dasa

An introduction to Indian vegetarian cooking. Over 100 recipes and detailed instructions on preparing all the essential, unique ingredients that make up Indian vegetarian cuisine.

From the simple to the advanced. You’ll first learn how to use utensils already in your kitchen to replace some of those found in Indian kitchens. The 11-page chapter on spices and herbs is the best around. The ancient art of planning which dishes for each menu and how a meal is served is clearly explained. Learn the art of combining dishes in menu-planning, and preparing, offering and eating an Indian meal. Then come 120 tested recepies, carefully chosen by the best cooks in the Hare Krishna movement for their diversity and ease of preparation, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Preface by actress Hayley Mills.
Introduction on Vegetarian cooking
Chapters on Utensils, Menus, Spices & Herbs, The Science of Eating and Good Health etc.
Hardbound, 318 pages, 39 color photos, 6″ x 9″.
120 recipies, suggested menus, Appendixes, Glossary, Index, About the Author etc.
Price: $16.95
Company: BBT

You can order this book as well as many others by visiting us at http://www.theharekrishnamovement.com/page/vegetarian-cooking

“Do Not Change My Words” — Prabhupada


“Do Not Change My Words” — Prabhupada
Testimonials — By Gauridas Pandit dasa on January 30, 1998 at 8:37 am

Srila Prabhupada used to like to sit in his garden in Vrindavan especially in the mornings. He liked to hear his books read to him daily. One time Yasodanandan Prabhu was reading Sri Isopanisad when Srila Prabhupada stopped him and asked him to reread the last paragraph. After hearing it again Srila Prabhupada said, “Those are not my words! They are changing my words! Is my English not good enough?” Srila Prabhupada became very angry and continued, “This is the worst thing a disciple can do! Do not become like a leap frog and try to jump over the spiritual master thinking you know better than him. Tell them immediately [the editors] do not change my words!”

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Sri Madhavendra Puri


Sri Madhavendra Puri
Disappearance day – 17th March, 2011

Madhavendra Puri Discovers Gopala

Madhavendra Puri also known as Madhavendra Puri Goswami appeared in the 14th century.

After making an extensive pilgrimage of India as a sannyasi he passed his life in Vrindavana and Orissa. The main source of knowledge about him is Chaitanya Charitamrita. He belongs to the Madhva line being a disciple of Lakshmipati Tirtha and he was the founder of the Vaishnava centre at Mathura, Vrindavana. He is considered a fountainhead of devotional worship of Krishna and he has started the worship of the Gopala deity, better known as Shrinathji. He is attributed to the discovery of the famous deity of Gopala near Govardhana that was later worshiped by Vallabhacharya, follower of Vishnuswami in Rudra sampradaya, who in turn was influenced by devotional mood of Vrindavana.  He is also famed for receiving direct instructions and gifts from the deity of Gopinatha, who commanded him to travel for the supply of scarce sandal wood paste from Orissa to the Malaya Mountains.

Initiating the sankirtana movement
Madhavendra Puri is accepted as the initiator of the movement of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who accepted Madhavendra’s intimate disciple, Ishvara Puri as his diksa guru. He was preaching the principles of Gaudiya Vaishnavism prior to Lord Chaitanya.

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Arsha-Prayoga Part III – The Case Against Changing Prabhupada’s Books


EDITORIAL
BY LOCANANANDA DAS – 11-01-04

While planning to print the unabridged version of the Bhagavad-gita, Srila Prabhupada often referred to it as the revised and enlarged edition. When the BBT published its unauthorized adulterated Gita years later, they would henceforward refer to the 1972 printing as the original edition while calling theirs the revised and enlarged edition. This appears to be a subtle act of deception meant to validate the irreverent practice of changing Srila Prabhupada’s Books.

The remainder of this article will focus mainly on the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, which contains the essence of Vaishnava philosophy. Srila Prabhupada said that the Krishna consciousness movement is genuine, historically authorized, natural and transcendental due to its being based on the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. It was his conviction that the entire human society could embrace one God, Krishna, and live harmoniously by practicing one religion, devotional service to God, by chanting one mantra, the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, and by following one scripture, the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Because the Bhagavad-gita is so vitally important to the spreading of Krishna consciousness, the adverse effect of changing its original wording without the approval of the Acharya can hardly be estimated.

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Forever Grateful to Srila Prabhupada


Forever Grateful to Srila Prabhupada
By Sriman Padmapani Prabhu

Thinking back to the late sixties and early seventies, I fondly remember how the Hare Krsna mantra had already infiltrated contemporary culture due to Srila Prabhupada’s extraordinary efforts to spread the holy names throughout the world. A number of famous musicians and artists had begun to discover the chanting and were promoting it in their records and books.

For example, the Broadway musical “Hair” was a big hit and the accompanying record — which included the chanting of Hare Krsna — became a popular staple on the radio. George Harrison recorded the song “My Sweet Lord” with the melodious chanting of Krsna’s names in the background, and prior to that, the words “Hare Krsna” could be found on one of the Beatles’ albums. Poet Allen Ginsberg, a self-styled leader of the new counterculture, had visited India and picked up the mantra there. He subsequently wrote about the chanting in at least one or more of his poetry books. After meeting Prabhupada at 26 Second Avenue in the Lower East Side of New York, Ginsberg increased his dedication to the holy names and often chanted them during “be-ins” and poetry readings. When John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged their famous “bed-in” at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal in 1969, the devotees were there singing Hare Krsna during the recording of “Give Peace a Chance.” The “Radha Krsna Temple” album produced by George Harrison in 1970 in co-operation with the London devotees could be found in record stores throughout Europe and North America. Such was the widespread influence of Srila Prabhupada’s dynamic preaching efforts even though he had only been in the western world for a short period of time. Srila Prabhupada was already expertly fulfilling the order of his spiritual master, His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaj.

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Swami in Hippyland (Chapter 7)

The Hare Krishna Explosion
by Hayagriva das

Part II: San Francisco, 1967
Chapter 7

Swami in Hippyland

January 17, 1967. When Swamiji descends from the plane and enters the San Francisco airport, he is greeted by a group of about fifty young people. As he is questioned by the press, he extends his usual transcendental invitations.

“We welcome everyone, in any condition of life, to come to our temple and hear the message of Krishna consciousness,” he says.

“Does that include Haight-Ashbury hippies and bohemians?” a reporter asks.

“Everyone, including you or anyone else,” Swamiji says. “Whatever you are—what you call an acid-head, or hippy, or whatever—what you are doesn’t matter. Once you are accepted for training, you will change.”

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Narada-bhakti-sutra Text 3

Narada-bhakti-sutra Text 3
Translation & Purport by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

TRANSLATION

This pure love for God is eternal.

Purport

When a person attains to the perfectional stage of love of Godhead, he becomes liberated even in his present body and realizes his constitutional position of immortality. In the Bhagavad-gītā (4.9), the Lord says,

janma karma ca me divyam evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ
tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti so ’rjuna

Here the Lord says that any person who simply understands His transcendental activities and His appearance and disappearance in this material world becomes liberated, and that after quitting his present body he at once reaches His abode. Therefore it is to be understood that one who has attained the stage of love of God has perfect knowledge, and even if he may fall short of perfect knowledge, he has the preliminary perfection of life that a living entity can attain.

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I am always thinking of You. From, Letters, Conversations, Lectures, and Walks.

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I am always thinking of you (Srila Prabhupada)

Prabhupada: So there is nothing to be said new. Whatever I have to speak, I have spoken in my books. Now you try to understand it and continue your endeavor. Whether I am present or not present, it doesn’t matter. (770517ar.vrn Conversations)

“I shall remain your personal guidance, physically present or not physically, as I am getting personal guidance from my guru maharaja” (Srila Prabhupada to Tamal Krishna, 14 July 1977)

You write that you have desire to avail of my association again, but why do you forget that you are always in association with me? When you are helping my missionary activities I am always thinking of you, and you are always thinking of me . That is real association. Just like I am always thinking of my Guru Maharaja at every moment, although he is not physically present, and because I am trying to serve him to my best capacity, I am sure he is helping me by his spiritual blessings. So there are two kinds of association: physical and preceptorial. Physical association is not so important as preceptorial association. (SP Letter to Govinda Dasi, 18/8/69)

But always remember that I am always with you. As you are always thinking of me, I am always thinking of you also. Although physically we are not together, we are not separated spiritually. So we should be concerned only with this spiritual connection. (SP Letter to Gaurasundara, 13/11/69)

You write to say, ….I really miss Swamiji and my God-brothers’ association so much.” But I may remind you that I am always with you. And so wherever I am there, and you are there, all your God-brothers are there. Please remember always the humble teachings that you have received from me, and that will make you always associated with me, and with your other God-brothers. (Letter to: Sivananda dasa. Montreal , 24 August, 1968)

“However, the disciple and spiritual master are never separated because the spiritual master always keeps company with the disciple as long as the disciple follows strictly the instructions of the spiritual master. This is called the association of vani (words). Physical presence is called vapuh. As long as the spiritual master is physically present, the disciple should serve the physical body of the spiritual master, and when the spiritual master is no longer physically existing, the disciple should serve the instructions of the spiritual master.” (SB 4.28.47 purport) 

Associate with Srila Prabhupada through his Vani

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Remembering George Harrison


Remembering George Harrison
By Lokadrsti devi dasi

Haribol!
 
I’ll  try to put it down in print.
 
It was at Bhakitivedanta Manor in England 1993. The first Prabhupada reunion they had. So it was the first time the original devotees who went to England met up for the first time for 10 yrs. or more. Malati, Shyamasundar, Guru das, Mukunda Maharaja and alot of old Prabhupada disciples who had alot of association with Srila Prabhupada in England.

We had set up a large stage outside so everyone sat on the grass in the cow field. My service was decorating the stage to give it a more transcendental appearance. So I was a bit tired and sat at the back of all the devotees with my friend Bala Gopal to the left of me and my daughter, Sri Gandhari to the right.
 
Everyone was dressed in devotee garb so I noticed this person  dressed in blue jeans and blue jean jacket and looked him straight in the eye. He seemed a little scared so I thought he was a new guest. Timidly, he sat right next to Sri Gandhari. Then my friend whispers “there’s George” and a fool as I am, says out loud ” George who?”

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Be Bold!

Be Bold
By: Vaisesika Dasa

Dear Devotees,

Please accept my humble pranams at your feet. All glories to the founder/Acarya of ISKCON and his unparalleled books.

Srila Prabhupada made our lives exciting. He pushed us and he was definitely not accustomed to thinking small. In thinking of what my life was like while Srila Prabhupada walked the planet, I often recall a famous quotation from Helen Keller: “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”
Life with Srila Prabhupada was and still is a daring adventure.

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“Value of accepting a bona fide spiritual Master is more than we can calculate”


Vrindaban, Tuesday, 12 February, 1974:

Dear Ravendra Gupta, please accept my blessings. I have only recently received your letter of February 6, 1974, due to travelling.

I am very glad to hear you are following my instructions by chanting 16 rounds daily. In order to chant offenselessly, so that the chanting will have the greatest effect, one must avoid the four sinful activities.

You have asked “How serious would it be for me if I should miss the golden opportunity to become your initiated disciple?” You should know that the value of accepting a bona fide spiritual master is more than we can calculate.

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The Body and Soul Marketplace om4me.com

It has been requested that I announce the launching of a brand new spiritually oriented on-line marketplace. In their own words “to ease the exchange of spiritually-oriented goods and services among devotees and spiritualists, the new site provides the spiritual community with a friendly forum to freely buy and sell products as well as announce events in their area.” We wish wish them the best!

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The Clock is Ticking

Ran across this the today while I was “surfing the net”. Found it interesting so decided to post this link. Very scary!

A counter for time, population, birth, death, health, environment, energy, crime, food, US National Debt, Nigerian 409 scams, spam emails, cars produced, bicycles produced and much more.

via Hare Krishna Centre – Leicester, UK – The Clock is Ticking.

P.S. don’t forget to come back to our site after visiting this link. Hari bol!

Berkeley Lord Chaitanya Festival

Berkeley Lord Chaitanya Festival
BY: GADADHARA DAS

Mar 07, 2011 — BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA (SUN) — Dear Devotees, Please come to the Lord Chaitanya Spring Festival in Berkeley, CA. There will be a large parade with the Gaura Nitai floats down Telegraph Avenue, culminating at People’s Park with kirtan, exhibits and more!

ISKCON of the Bay Area Inc., a non-profit organization, presents the “Lord Chaitanya Spring Festival & Parade” on Sunday March 20th at 11:00a.m. in Berkeley, CA.

FREE ADMISSION!

The Lord Chaitanya Spring Festival and Parade will start at Stuart Street and Telegraph Ave in Berkeley, CA and proceed to People’s Park for MUSIC, FOOD, EXHIBITS, GIFTS, AND A FREE VEGETARIAN CUISINE and much more! The parade will feature large floats, dancing, and music. Bring your funky hats, instruments, and colorful attire!

We invite everyone to bring their family and friends to experience this extraordinary event, enjoy the sumptuous Vegetarian feast, and have fun in the parade. This festival is wheelchair accessible and family friendly. No drugs or alcohol will be permitted.

Information: http://www.lordchaitanyafestival.org
CONTACT:
Gadadhara das or Grantharaja das
ISKCON Bay Area Inc.
2334 Stuart Street
Berkeley, CA 94705
Phone: (510) 863-4711
email: lordchaitanyafestival@gmail.com

Back to Godhead (Chapter 6)

The Hare Krishna Explosion
by Hayagriva das

Part I: New York, 1966
Chapter 6

Back to Godhead

“October 21, 1966. I walk into Swamiji’s room, offer obeisances, and he hands me the first three volumes of Srimad-Bhagavatam, which he had printed in India.

“Here,” he says. “Take and read.”

I open the books. In the front of each, he has written my spiritual name. “With my best blessings, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.”

“Oh, thank you, Swamiji,” I say.

“That’s all right,” he says, smiling. “Now you compile this Back To Godhead magazine.”

Back to Godhead! That is, we were there once. It’s a question of recovering a lost land. As Swamiji says: “I have come to remind you of what you have forgot.”

Following the orders of his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, Swamiji began Back To Godhead in 1944. Published bi-monthly in India from 1944 to 1956, Back To Godhead established Swamiji as one of India’s leading personalists. Now Swamiji enjoins Rayarama and me to introduce it to the West.

“Work sincerely,” he tells us,”and make it as big as your Time Magazine.”

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Why We Distribute Books – A devotee-bookseller explains

Why We Distribute Books – A devotee-bookseller explains.
By Seva-devi dasi
Back to Godhead Magazine # 19-08, 1984

Have you ever met a Hare Krishna devotee in an airport, a parking lot, or on the street distributing books and collecting donations? Many people wonder why we do this. I’ve been distributing books for over six years, and I’d like to tell you something about the origin of book distribution.

Devotees are not ordinary booksellers; their bookselling is transcendental. It is sankirtana, the glorification of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Sankirtana can be executed very easily, without great endeavor or expense. One can simply chant the Hare Krishna mantra by himself or with others. Or one can read about and discuss the pastimes of the Lord and His devotees. When we give someone a book, we allow him to get in touch with the philosophy and pastimes of Krishna. Any donation he gives helps support the book publication and the temples of the Krishna consciousness movement. Temples worldwide distribute prasadam (spiritual food) free of charge and give people the opportunity to come and take part in spiritualactivities. And all of this is sankirtana, the glorification of Lord Krishna, which is what Krishna consciousness is all about.
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108 Imporant Slokas from the 1972 Bhagavad-gita As It Is

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The Hare Krishna Cookbook

Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas

Bhagavad-gita As It Is 1972 Edition “Online”

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Srimad Bhagavatam Online

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Raja-Vidya the King of Knowledge

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Important Slokas from the Brahma-samhita

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Slokas from the Sri Isopanisad

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Prayers By Queen Kunti (Slokas)

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Gajendra’s Prayers of Surrender (Slokas)

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A Short Statement of the Philosophy of Krishna Consciousness

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July 9th Letter

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The Hare Krishna Explosion

Reference Material/Study Guide

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