16 Sep 2025
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Uncategorized
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, boston-harbor, Calcutta, faith, God, Jaladuta, Krishna, prayers-by-the-pure-devotee, Srila Prabhupada
Srila Prabhupada arrived in the USA on September 17th 1965, after a thirty-five-day sea journey from Calcutta. The following are some prayers he wrote aboard the ship, on that historic journey
“My dear Lord Krishna, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me.
But I guess You have some business here, otherwise why would You bring me to this terrible place?
Most of the population here is covered by the material modes of ignorance and passion. Absorbed in material life they think themselves very happy and satisfied, and therefore they have no taste for the transcendental message of Vasudeva [Krishna]. I do not know how they will be able to understand it.
But I know that Your causeless mercy can make everything possible, because You are the most expert mystic.How will they understand the mellows of devotional service? O Lord, I am simply praying for Your mercy so that I will be able to convince them about Your message.
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03 Jun 2025
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Qualities of a Devotee, Uncategorized, Vaisnava
Tags: 26 qualities, 26 qualities of a devotee, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, devotee, devotee qualities, Krishna, Krsna, Srila Prabhupada
Sometimes I ask myself, “are you making any spiritual advancement? Are you becoming free from lust anger and greed? And are you developing the qualities of a devotee?”. So, from time to time I like to look up the “qualities of a devotee”, and do a reality check.
Srila Prabhupada exhibits all the super excellent qualities of a devotee. He is the Acarya (one who teaches by example) and is exemplary in showing us how to develop the qualities of a devotee, in order to benefit all living beings and to serve Krsna.
The qualities of a devotee, twenty-six in number, are listed below:
1.) Kind to everyone, 2.) Does not quarrel with anyone, 3.) Fixed in the Absolute Truth, 4.) Equal to everyone, 5.) Faultless, 6.) Charitable, 7.) Mild, 8.) Clean, 9.) Simple, without material possession, 10.) Benevolent, 11.) Peaceful, 12.) Completely attached to Krsna, 13.) Has no material hankering, 14.) Meek, 15.) Steady, 16.) Self-controlled, 17.) Does not eat more than required, 18.) Sane, 19.) Respectful, 20.) Humble, 21.) Grave, 22.) Compassionate, 23.) Friendly, 24.) Poetic, 25.) Silent, 26.) Expert
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30 Apr 2025
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Uncategorized
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Bhagavad-gita, God, Hare Krishna, japa, Krishna, Krsna, mantra meditation, religion, sankirtan, spirituality, Srila Prabhupada
I’m sure everyone has a favorite picture of Srila Prabhupada, I particularly like this one in the morning when I am chanting Japa. It reminds me of the promise I made to chant every day.
When a mantra or hymn is chanted softly and slowly, that is called japa. The same mantra, when chanted loudly, is called kīrtana. For example, the mahā-mantra (Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare) when uttered very softly only for one’s own hearing is called japa. The same mantra, when chanted loudly for being heard by all others, is called kīrtana. The mahā-mantra can be used for japa and kīrtana also. When japa is practiced it is for the personal benefit of the chanter, but when kīrtana is performed it is for the benefit of all others who may hear.
In the Padma Purāṇa there is a statement: “For any person who is chanting the holy name either softly or loudly, the paths to liberation and even heavenly happiness are at once open.” (Nectar of Devotion Chapter 9)
Of all the sacrifices, the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare is the purest representation of Kṛṣṇa. (from purport; Bhagavad-gita 10.25)
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28 Apr 2025
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Uncategorized
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Bhagavad-gita, bhakti yoga, Bible, christianity, faith, God, Krishna, Krsna, perfection of yoga, seeing-god, spirituality, Srimad Bhagavatam, yoga
click on images to enlarge
“One has to qualify himself to see and understand God, and that process of qualification is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness. By engaging ourselves in God’s service, we become qualified to see God. Otherwise it is not possible.“
“One cannot understand the form, name, quality, or paraphernalia of God with one’s material senses.” (Cc Madya 17.136)
Just as God is eternal, we are also eternal, and when we establish our eternal relationship with the supreme, complete eternal, we realize our eternality.
Nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13).
God is the supreme living entity among all living entities, the supreme eternal among all eternals. By Kṛṣṇa consciousness, by purification of the senses, this knowledge will be realized, and we will come to see God.
The following post is Chapter 3 from the book “The Path to Perfection” which gives some instruction on Seeing God (Krsna) and on the yoga system.
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24 Apr 2025
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Rasa's (relationships), Uncategorized
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Bhagavad-gita, devotion-in-friendship, fraternal-devotion, Krishna, religion, sakhya-rasa, spirituality, The Nectar of Devotion
So we are continuing our series on the five types of relationships (rasa’s) with the Lord. Today we are exploring the Fraternal Devotional stage of Love of God (Sakhya-rasa) as explained in chapter 41 of “The Nectar of Devotion”. Also included in todays post are some select verses from the Bhagavad-gita describing Arjuna’s friendship with Krishna.
When a devotee is permanently situated in devotional service, and by different symptoms of ecstasy he has developed and matured a fraternal mellow or flavor in relationship with the Personality of Godhead, his feeling is called fraternal love of Godhead.
The impetus for such fraternal love of God is God Himself. When one is liberated and discovers his eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord, the Lord Himself becomes the impetus for increasing fraternal love. The eternal associates of the Lord in Vrindavan have described this as follows: “The Lord, Hari, whose bodily hue is like the indranīla jewel, whose smiling is as beautiful as the kunda flower, whose silk dress is as yellow as golden autumn foliage, whose chest is beautified with garlands of flowers and who is always playing upon His flute-this enemy of the Agha demon is always attracting our hearts by wandering about Vrindavan.”
There are similar statements of fraternal love expressed outside the jurisdiction of Vrindavan. When the sons of Pandu, headed by Mahārāj Yudhisthira, saw Krishna in His four handed form on the battlefield of Kuruksetra, holding His conchshell, disc, club and lotus flower, they completely forgot themselves and became merged in the ocean of nectarean happiness. This shows how the sons of Pandu-King Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva-were all caught up in fraternal love for Krishna.
From the Bhagavad-gita we are reminded of Arjuna’s friendship with Krishna.
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23 Apr 2025
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Nectar of Devotion, Rasa's (relationships), Uncategorized
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Devotional Service, hinduism, India, Krishna, Krsna, Nectar of Devotion, religion, servitude, spirituality, Srila Prabhupada
So today we are exploring the Servitude stage of Love of God (Dasya-rasa) as explained in chapter 36 of “The Nectar of Devotion”.
Each soul, according to its constitutional nature, possesses a unique loving relationship with Krishna in one of five principal categories. When devotees return to the spiritual world, they engage in direct loving devotional service to Krishna in their particular rasa.
Devotees engaged in servitude are attached to Krishna in the affection of reverence. Some of the inhabitants of Gokula (Vrindavan) as exhibited on earth) are attached to Krishna on this platform of affection in reverence. The inhabitants of Vrindavan used to say, “Kṛṣṇa is always manifest before us with a complexion like a blackish cloud. He holds His wonderful flute in His lotus hands. He is dressed in yellow silks and bedecked with a peacock feather on His head. When Krishna walks near Govardhan Hill with these personal features, all the inhabitants of the heavenly planets, as well as the inhabitants of this earth, feel transcendental bliss and consider themselves the eternal servants of the Lord.”
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07 Apr 2025
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, ISKCON, Uncategorized, Vrindavan
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, gaur-niti, India, ISKCON Vrindavan, Krishna, Krishna Balarama, Krishna Balarama Mandir, Radha Krishna, spirituality, Srila Prabhupada, travel
click on image to enlarge
Well the Golden Jubilee at Krishna Balarama Mandir is over, and its time for many of us to return to their respective homes. The above photo are the Prabhupada disciples, sannayasi’s, and other participants, taken on the last day of festival. Many thanks to the management and festival organizers, as well as all the Vrindavan residents who helped make this a memorable occasion.
The Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir, situated in the Raman Reti area of Vrindavan, holds a special significance for the devotees of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. This grand temple represents the fulfilled dream of Srila Prabhupada, Founder Acharya of ISKCON, who wished to construct a temple of unparalleled beauty for the worship of the transcendental brothers Krishna and Balaram in the same village where They played more than five thousand years ago. Srila Prabhupada directly oversaw all the aspects of design and construction and personally called the Lord to come and accept the worship of His devotees from around the world. He said, “Lord Balaram is the source of spiritual strength, and I have built this temple just to give strength to the devotees”.
Today, the Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir is a booming spiritual center. Every day of the week pilgrims flood in the gate in great numbers from all over the world. In fact, the large green government signs posted over the highway turn off to Vrindavan only give directions to two temples: Banke Bihari and ISKCON.
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02 Mar 2025
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Uncategorized
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, disciple, disciplic succession, guru, guru-prarmpara, history, Krishna, Krsna, science, space
The Disciplic Succession
Those who are followers of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and read from his books with faith and conviction, are receiving Transcendental Knowledge through the disciplic succession. Evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ. (Bhagavad-gīta, 4.2)
1) Kṛṣṇa, 2) Brahmā, 3) Nārada; 4) Vyāsa, 5) Madhva, 6) Padmanābha, 7) Nṛhari, 8) Mādhava, 9) Akṣobhya, 10) Jayatīrtha, 11) Jñānasindhu, 12) Dayānidhi, 13) Vidyānidhi, 14) Rājendra, 15) Jayadharma, 16) Puruṣottama, 17) Brahmaṇyatīrtha, 18) Vyāsatīrtha, 19) Lakṣmīpati, 20) Mādhavendra Purī, 21) Īśvara Purī, (Nityānanda, Advaita), 22) Lord Caitanya, 23) Rūpa (Svarūpa, Sanātana), 24) Raghunātha, Jīva, 25) Kṛṣṇadāsa, 26) Narottama, 27) Viśvanātha, 28) (Baladeva) Jagannātha, 29) Bhaktivinode, 30) Gaurakiśora, 31) Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī, 32) His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda.
Bhagavad-gita As It Is 1972 Edition
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Four, Text 1-2
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29 Dec 2024
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Krishna Consciousness Movement, Krsna Consciousness
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, God, India, Krishna, Rupa Goswami, spirituality, The Nectar of Devotion
The Nectar of Devotion is specifically presented for persons who are now engaged in the Krsna consciousness movement. I beg to offer my sincere thanks to all my friends and disciples who are helping me to push forward the Krsna consciousness movement in the Western countries, and I beg to acknowledge, with thanks, the contribution made by my beloved disciple Śrīmad Jayānanda Brahmacari. My thanks are due as well to the directors of ISKCON Press, who have taken so much care in publishing this great literature. Hare Krsna.
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
“Prabhupada: Hare Krsna. So we have published our Nectar of Devotion. So every one of you should read this Nectar of Devotion repeatedly. The whole substance of Vaisnava philosophy and activities, everything is there. So every one of you read this Nectar of Devotion once, twice, thrice.”
Srila Prabhupada’s Lecture; 70/06/23 Vrndavana
We have included a brief excerpt from the Preface
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20 Apr 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Conversation with Srila Prabhupada, Guru & Disciple, Science of Self Realization
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, accepting the shelter of a bona fide spiritual master, as it is, Bhagavad-gita, fake guru, Genuine Guru, God Krishna, guru and disciple, Science of Self Realization, Spiritual Life, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada
Saw this nice post in my mailbox this morning courtesy of my friend Padmapani Prabhu over at Prabhupada Connect and thought we would share it with all of you. The photo is by Mathuranath Prabhu I believe.
Finding a Genuine Guru
Excerpted from Science of Self Realization Chapter 2
Reporter: Have you ever had people come to you who had previously been involved with a fake
guru?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes, there are many.
Reporter: Were their spiritual lives in any way spoiled by the fakegurus?
Srila Prabhupada: No, they were genuinely seeking something spiritual, and that was their qualification. God is within everyone’s heart, and as soon as someone genuinely seeks Him, He helps that person find a genuine guru.
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23 Sep 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead, Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Back to Godhead Magazine, Idintity of Lord Chaitanya, Lord Chaitanya, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Sanatan Goswami, Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, Sri Swarup Damodar Soswami, Srila Narottam das Thakur, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Rupa Goswami, Viswambhar, Viswanath Chakrabarty
Identity of Lord Chaitanya
By A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Excerpted from Back to Godhead Magazine 1960 Vol. 3 Part 16
Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is no other than the combined form of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. He is the life of those devotees who strictly follow the footprints of Sri Srila Rupa Goswami.
Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Sanatan Goswami both are principal followers of Sri Swarup Damodar Goswami who acted as the most confidential servitor and constant companion of Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu whose name was known as Viswambhar in His early life.
And from Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami comes as the direct disciple and the author of Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita i. e., Sri Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami stands to be his direct follower.
From Goswami Krishna Das Kaviraj the direct disciple is Srila Narottam Das Thakur who accepted Viswanath Chakrabarty as his servitor. Viswanath Chakrabarty accepted Jagannath Das Babajee from whom Srila Bhaktivinode Thakore was initiated and Srila Gour Kishore Das Babajee the spiritual master of Om Vishnupada Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupad-the Divine spiritual Master of our humbleself.
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05 Sep 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Mukunda das Goswami
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Manhattan's bowery, MIchael Grant, mukunda das goswami, prabhupada, Science of Self Realization, Srila Prabhupada, svami, swami
I have read and re-read the Foreward to The Science of Self Realization by Mukunda dasa Goswami many times now, and every time I am moved by this written account.
…From the very start, I knew that His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda was the most extraordinary person I had ever met. The first meeting occurred in the summer of 1966, in New York City. A friend had invited me to hear a lecture by “an old Indian svāmī” on lower Manhattan’s Bowery. Overwhelmed with curiosity about a svāmī lecturing on skid row, I went there and felt my way up a pitch-black staircase. A bell-like, rhythmic sound got louder and clearer as I climbed higher. Finally I reached the fourth floor and opened the door, and there he was. (Mukunda dasa Goswami from Foreward to The Science of Self Realiztion)
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26 Aug 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Letters by Srila Prabhupada
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, disciples, guru, guru and disciple, Krishna consciousness movement, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Nandotsava, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, Vyasapuja
Vyasa Puja Reply
Letter to: Devotees
Los Angeles
26 August, 1972
72-08-26
My dear beloved Children,
Please accept my blessings. I am so much pleased with your kind and affectionate words on the occasion of my birthday anniversary on the Nandotsava day this year (1972). My Guru Maharaja wanted me to spread this Krishna Consciousness Movement in western world, and you are all helping in this great attempt.
My Spiritual Master knew it that alone I could not do this great work. Therefore He has very kindly sent you all to help me in this task. I accept you therefore as representatives of my Guru Maharaja playing as my affectionate disciples.
It is said that child is father of man. Kindly therefore continue your help in this great task and act as my young father and mother in my old age. I am
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/sda
02 Apr 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
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.
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11 Mar 2016
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Devotee's, Vidura das
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, disciple, Lord Nityananda's Appearance Day, New Vrindaban, Tryadhisa dasi, Vidura das
Vidura Prabhu holding the umbrella serving Srila Prabhupada
On Febuary 20th a friend and Godbrother, Vidura Prabhu, left his body peacefully at his home in New Vrindaban, WV, on the auspicious appearance day of Lord Nityananda, February 20, 2016, at the age of 71. Vidura Prabhu is survived by his wife of 45 years, Tryadhisa Dasi, and many friends around the world.
Vidura Prabhu 1944 – 2016
Vidura Das, born November 25, 1944, left his body peacefully at his home in New Vrindaban, WV, on the auspicious appearance day of Lord Nityananda, February 20, 2016, at the age of 71.
A disciple of Srila Prabhupada and long time resident of New Vrindaban, Vidura and his wife of 45 years, Tryadhisa, have been serving in the Dhama since 1984.
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08 Jan 2015
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavata Dharma Discourses, Srimad Bhagavatam
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Bhagavata Dharma Discourses, dharma means to become a devotee, dharmic life, hindu dharma, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, lectures on the Srimad Bhagavatam, liberation, New Vrindavan 1972, occupational engagements, philosophers, religious life, scientists, Vedic literature
This concludes our series on the “Bhagavata Dharma Discourses” at New Vrindavan in 1972.
…So this Bhāgavata discourse is meant for giving enlightenment to the people of the world. It is not a sectarian religion; it is meant for all human beings. They should take advantage of the instruction of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā, and make their life perfect. That is our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Lecture
Given by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
New Vrindaban, September 7, 1972
Canto One, Chapter 2, Text 9
Full Lecture More
04 Dec 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Gopis, Vrindavan, Vrndavana
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, ecstasy, gopis, great demigods like Brahma and Siva, krsna and the gopis, Lord Krsna, notorious as a teasing friend, Prabhupada books, SB3.2.14, Srimad Bhagavatam, The damsels of Vraja, transcendental love, unalloyed affection, Vrindaban, Vrndavana
…In His boyhood at Vṛndāvana, Lord Kṛṣṇa was notorious as a teasing friend in transcendental love to all the girls His age. His love for them was so intense that there is no comparison to that ecstasy, and the damsels of Vraja were so much attached to Him that their affection excelled that of the great demigods like Brahmā and Śiva. Lord Kṛṣṇa finally admitted His defeat before the transcendental affection of the gopīs and declared that He was unable to repay them for their unalloyed affection. (from purport SB 3.2.14)
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03 Dec 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Sankirtan, Sri Siksastaka
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, ceto-darpana-marjanam, darpanam, fire of conditional life, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, holy name, Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, marjanam, materialistic way of life, maya, o govinda, repeated birth and death, sankirtan movement, transcendental bliss
Although I have posted the Sri Siksastaka prayers from this site in the past, the importance of these eight prayers by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu can not be over emphasized. Therefore we are posting them again along with a Commentary by Srila Prabhupada and a sound file by Achutananda Prabhu.
…Although Lord Caitanya was widely renowned as a scholar in His youth, He left only eight verses, called Śikṣāṣṭaka. These eight verses clearly reveal His mission and precepts. These supremely valuable prayers are translated herein.
Śrī Śrī Śikṣāṣṭaka
Eight Instructions of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
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30 Nov 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Back to Godhead, Brahmananda das, The Hare Krishna Movement
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Back to Godhead Magazine, brahmacari, Brahmananda das, Brahmananda Swami, BTG, BTG Vol.10 No. 12, How the Hare Krsna Movement came to Africa, krsna consciousness, prabhupada, preaching in Africa, The Hare Krishna Movement
How the Hare Krsna Movement Came to Africa
by His Holiness Brahmananda Swami
Excerpted from; Back to Godhead Magazine 1975 Vol. 10, No. 12
The story of how the Hare Krsna movement came to Africa starts in 1971 in the United States. I was in Tallahassee, Florida, teaching an experimental course in Krsna consciousness at the state university, when I received a letter from my spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, instructing me to go immediately to West Pakistan for preaching work. I had very little money, and I knew the trip to Pakistan would be long and arduous. However, a disciple takes his spiritual master’s order as his very life and soul, and I was determined that nothing would stop me.
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29 Nov 2014
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Diksha, Disciplic succession, Guru & Disciple, guru-tattva, Hansadutta das, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Ritvik Initiation, Spiritual Master
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Ama das, Atmavidya das, Durgama das, Gobhata das, hamsadutta prabhu, Hrimati dasi, Jnanavigraha das, Kamaksi dasi, letter to hamsadutta, Nikhilananda das, Premchand das, Ram Mohan das, Ramgati das, Revantinandana Swami, Santimati dasi, Srila Prabhupada, Tirthada das, Uktal das, Vaidyanath das
I read this letter today, by Srila Prabhupada to Hamsadutta Prabhu, written in 1973, putting in practice, the process of ritvik initiation (although we did not have a name for it then, it was simply how it was done); “…Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated April 7, 1973 and am pleased to accept the following boys and girls as my initiated disciples.
I am also enclosing Gayatri Mantras for the 14 disciples and 10 sacred threads duly chanted upon by me for the men disciples. You show them how to count on the fingers, and let them hear the mantra chanted by me on the tape through the right ear.”
What I find interesting is how devotees today will decry and belittle the Ritvik Process of initiation, but this was how the initiations were performed in the early days of our movement. The majority of disciples, initiated by Srila Prabhupada when he was personally present, received initiation exactly as it was described in above letter. We almost all recieved Ritvik initiation from Srila Prabhupada. I know I did.
Anyway, food for thought.
Letter More
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