24 Aug 2019
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Uncategorized, Vyas-puja
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, New Vrindaban, Sri Vyasa Puja address, Srila Prabhupada, Vyasa Puja
Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā Address
New Vrindaban, September 2, 1972
by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
…So this Vyāsa-pūjā means one day in a year, on the birthday of the spiritual master, because he is representative of Vyāsa, he is delivering the same knowledge which has come down by disciplic succession without any change, he is offered the respect. This is called Vyāsa-pūjā…
Prabhupāda: Ladies and gentlemen, this ceremony… Of course, those who are my students, they know what is this ceremony. Those who are visitors, for their information, I may inform you something about this ceremony. Otherwise, it may not be misunderstood. A outsider may see it that “Why a person is being worshiped like God?” There may be some doubt. So this is the etiquette. This ceremony is called Vyāsa-pūjā. Vyāsa. Vyāsa means the original author of Vedic literature. He is incarnation of Nārāyaṇa. He gave us all Vedic knowledge. He received the knowledge from Nārada. Nārada received the knowledge from Brahma. Brahmā received the knowledge from Kṛṣṇa. So in this way, by disciplic succession, we get transcendental knowledge.
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08 Aug 2019
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya, Spriritual Master, Srila Prabhupada, Uncategorized
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, author, cultural ambassador, Founder Acharya, holy man, philosopher, religious leader, scholar, social critic, spiritual master, spiritual teacher, Srila Prabhupada
Srila Prabhupada
At various times people have called him a scholar, a philosopher, a cultural ambassador, a prolific author, a religious leader, a spiritual teacher, a social critic, and a holy man. In truth, he was all these things and more.
Over five hundred years ago, Lord Sri Krishna appeared as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Navadvipa, a village in West Bengal. The purpose of His appearance was to inaugurate the Sankirtana Movement, the Yuga Dharma for this age of Kali. He declared that the chanting of His holy names would spread beyond the shores of India to every town and village in the world. He predicted that His commander-in-chief would appear to accomplish this mission.
Yes… Srila Prabhupada appeared to fulfill this prophecy.
On September 01, 1896, the day after Janmashtami (the auspicious appearance day of Lord Sri Krishna) in a little house in the Tollygunge suburb of Calcutta, a male child was born. His father, Gour Mohan De, and his mother Rajani, named him Abhay Charan (one who is fearless – having taken shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Krishna).
An astrologer prepared the horoscope for the baby and revealed: When this child reaches the age of seventy, he will cross the ocean, become a great teacher of religion and establish 108 Krishna temples.
And this is exactly what happened.
Srila Prabhupada set out to America in 1965 and established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness at the age of sixty-nine. He travelled around the world fourteen times, established more than 100 temples of Krishna and initiated more than 10000 disciples into Krishna consciousness.
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28 Jul 2019
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Kali Yuga, Uncategorized
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna Mantra, Hare Krsna, Kali-yuga, Maha Mantra, Srila Prabhupada
We all have our favorite quotes and slokas from the pages of Srila Prabhupada’s books. One of mine is the following:
“My dear King, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age. It is that simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.” (Bhāg. 12.3.51)
Srila Prabhupada quotes this partictular verse from the Bhagavatam many times in his lectures, conversations, books etc., for instance:
“In the sastra it is said this Kali-yuga is full of faults, so many faults. It is the ocean of faults. But there is a very nice thing, asti hy eko mahan gunah, a very great quality. What is that? Kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet [SB 12.3.51]. If you simply chant Hare Krishna mantra, then you become perfect. Is it very difficult? Chant Hare Krishna and you become perfect. But we are so unfortunate, we are not even prepared to chant. This is our position. So you have to make little determination that ‘I shall chant henceforward Hare Krishna mantra.’ Then everything is all right.”
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18 Jun 2019
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Books by Devotees, Conversation with Srila Prabhupada, Devotee's, Hare Krishna devi dasi, Hare Krsna devi dasi, Suresvara das, Uncategorized, Varnasrama Dharma
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, BBT, conversations with Srila Prabhupada, Hare Krsna devi dasi, Speaking about Varnasrama, Suresvara, the bhaktivedanta book trust
A friend of mine recently shared a book with me that I found most interesting. This first volume, Speaking about Varnasrama, focuses on Srila Prabhupada’s actual spoken conversations and lectures about varnasrama. This post includes a brief descprition of Srila Prabhupada taken from back cover of book, as well an the table of contents.
It can be ordered from the site Exoitc India
It is a good book for anyone interested in the Varnasrama System and Farm Community Development.
Speaking About Varnasrama Volume 1
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Compiled by Hare Krsna-devi dasi
Edited by Suresvara-dasa
Published by The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
About the Author
In this work, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the foremost Vedic scholar and teacher of the modern age, and author of than sixty volumes of authoritative annotated translations and summary studies of the philosophical and religious classics of India, presents a vision of a spiritual society. Criticizing a mode society based on industrialism, materialism, and a callous disregard for the workers who support it, Srila Prabhupada calls for a spiritualized•social structure. Citing Bhagavad-gita, he advocates varnasrama, dharma, a social institution in which people gain spiritual satisfaction and spiritual advancement by doing their daily work as an offering to God.
Though his vision is based on Vedic scriptures of India, Prabhupada faults the modern caste system as a perversion of scriptural injunction. But India is not alone, he states, for materialistic social structures around the world impede spiritual progress. Thus, in the forty conversations, lectures, and interviews in this volume, we hear him present a society where occupations are determined by character and training, not by birth and wealth; a society based on opportunity and maximizing human potential rather than on stagnancy and oppression; one based on mutual appreciation and cooperation between classes rather suspicion and disdain. We hear about a society which is inclusive rather than exclusive, a society based on simple living and high thinking rather than on wealth and greed. Above all, van, uarnasrama society Prabhupada describes is consciously organized to bring each kind of person closer to the actual goal human life, attaining a loving relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna.
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15 Jun 2019
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Padmapani das, spiritual advancement, Uncategorized
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna consciousness, Padmapani das, Prabhupada connect, spiritual advancement, Srila Prabhupada
Spiritual Advancement – The Simple Method
by Padmapani Prabhu
Sometimes it appears very difficult to make advancement in Krsna consciousness, and we become impatient. If we expect immediate results and they aren’t forthcoming, we can easily become discouraged. For those of us who are unable to live in a temple (or even near a temple), this is especially true. So what’s the solution?
In November of 1969, while speaking in London’s Conway Hall, Srila Prabhupada stated the following:
“The process is very simple. Just keep a picture of Lord Caitanya with His associates. Lord Caitanya is in the middle, accompanied by His principal associates — Nityananda, Advaita, Gadadhara, and Srivasa. One simply has to keep this picture. One can keep it anywhere. It is not that one has to come to us to see this picture. Anyone can have this picture in his home, chant this Hare Krsna mantra, and thus worship Lord Caitanya. That is the simple method. But who will capture this simple method? Those who have good brains. Without much bother, if one simply keeps a picture of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at home and chants Hare Krsna, then one will realize God. Anyone can adopt this simple method. There is no expenditure, there is no tax, nor is there any need to build a very big church or temple. Anyone, anywhere, can sit down on the road or beneath a tree and chant the Hare Krsna mantra and worship God. Therefore it is a great opportunity.”
In this brief statement, Srila Prabhupada underlines the simplicity and accessibility of Krsna consciousness for everyone. Nothing fancy is required. Srila Prabhupada says here that one simply has to chant Hare Krsna, and keep a picture of Lord Caitanya and His associates (Sri Panca-Tattva) in his or her home. “That is the simple method,” he declares. But who will take to it? “Those who have good brains.”
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10 Jun 2019
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in Cow Protection, Vegetarianism
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, cow protection, cows and milk, FDA, health benifits of milk, healthy eating, Natural Prosperity, raw milk, Teachings of Queen Kunti, vegetarianisim
The following article was emailed to me from a devotee friend which he took from the web page “naturalnews.com In addition I have posted chapter 23 of “The Teachings of Queen Kunti” entiled “Natural Prosperity”. Milk is an important and beneficial requirement to a healthy diet and human prosperity.
…Human prosperity flourishes by natural gifts and not by gigantic industrial enterprises. The gigantic industrial enterprises are products of a godless civilization, and they cause the destruction of the noble aims of human life…For real peace and tranquillity and a sufficient supply of milk, water, and everything else we need, we simply have to depend on Kṛṣṇa. (Teachings of Queen Kuinti Chapter 23 “Natural Prosperity”)
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would like us all to believe that raw milk is a flaming health hazard with the potential to cause a national disaster. What could be more toxic than raw food, right? That must be what is making our nation sick – not the over-consumption of genetically-modified, pesticide-laden foodstuffs.
However, a recent study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has shown that consuming raw milk will not, in fact, be a death sentence.
Researchers, doctors and other medical professionals from across Europe joined forces to investigate the effects of consuming raw milk, and revealed that raw milk isn’t just non-toxic, but also yields some impressive health benefits!
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18 Dec 2018
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, B. G. Sharma Art, Bhagavad-gita, Gita Jayanti, Subhamoy das
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Advent of Bhagavad-gita, ancient scripture, Arjuna, Bhagavad-gita, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, gita jayanti, Iskcon, Krishna, Kurukshetra, mokshada ekadashi
click on image to enlarge
Today we celebrate Gita Jayanti, which is an annual celebration to commemorate the day when Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna on the first day of the battle of Kurukshetra. Recital of the Bhagavad Gita is performed throughout the day in most ISKCON centers throughout the world.
Celebrating Bhagavad Gita Jayanti
by Subhamoy Das
The Bhagavad Gita is considered the most important and influential Hindu scripture for its philosophical, practical, political, psychological and spiritual value. Bhagavad Gita Jayanti, or simply Gita Jayanti, marks the birth of this holy book. According to the traditional Hindu calendar, Gita Jayanthi falls on the Ekadashi day of Shukla Paksha or the bright half of the Margashirsha month (November-December).
The Birth of the Gita and Origin of Gita Jayanti
Gita Jayanti is an annual celebration to commemorate the day when Lord Krishna rendered his philosophical teachings – immortalized in the epic Mahabharata – to prince Arjuna on the first day of the 18-day battle of Kurukshetra. When prince Arjuna refused to fight against his cousins, the Kauravas in the battle, Lord Krishna expounded the truth of life and the philosophy of Karma and Dharma to him, thereby giving birth to one of the world’s greatest scriptures, the Gita.
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23 Apr 2018
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vani
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, complete beauty, complete fame, complete knowledge, complete renunciation, complete strength, complete wealth, hearing the pastimes of the lord, incarnations, janma karma ca me divyam, Krsna The Supreme Personality of Godhead, six opulences, vani
The Importance of Hearing
Excerpted from: Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Chapter Seven The Salvation of Tṛṇāvarta
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is always full of six opulences–namely complete wealth, complete strength, complete fame, complete knowledge, complete beauty and complete renunciation. The Lord appears in different complete, eternal forms of incarnation. The conditioned soul has immense opportunity to hear about the transcendental activities of the Lord in these different incarnations. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said, janma karma ca me divyam. The pastimes and activities of the Lord are not material; they are beyond the material conception. But the conditioned soul can benefit by hearing such uncommon activities. Hearing is an opportunity to associate with the Lord; to hear His activities is to evolve to the transcendental nature–simply by hearing. The conditioned soul has a natural aptitude to hear something about other conditioned souls in the form of fiction, drama and novel. That inclination to hear something about others may be utilized in hearing the pastimes of the Lord. Then one can immediately evolve to his transcendental nature. Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes are not only beautiful; they are also very pleasing to the mind.
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21 Jan 2018
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Guru & Disciple, Spiritual Master, Srila Prabhupada
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Acarya, Adi1.46, guru and disciple, spiritual master, Sri Caitanya-carimrta, transcendental professor of spiritual science
This morning as we were reading from the Sri Caianya-caritamrta a sentence jumped out at me and I had to reach for my yellow highlighter pen. We were reading…
…how a brahmacārī should behave under the care of a spiritual master. A spiritual master is not an enjoyer of facilities offered by his disciples. He is like a parent. Without the attentive service of his parents, a child cannot grow to manhood; similarly, without the care of the spiritual master one cannot rise to the plane of transcendental service.
The spiritual master is also called ācārya, or a transcendental professor of spiritual science…
I thought this was very funny and a beautiful description of Srila Prabhupada: A Transcendental Professor
Full text and purport More
29 Aug 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Qualities of Srimati Radharani, Srimati Radharani, Teachings of Lord Chaitanya
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, appearance of srimati radharani, Qualities of Srimati Radharani, Radha Krishna, Radhastami, Sri Radha, Srimati Radharani, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, twinty-five transcendental qualities
As we are celebrating the appearance day of Srimati Radharani, otherwise known as Radhastami, I was reminded of the transcendental qualities of Srimati Radharani. She has twenty-five transcendental qualities, and She can control even Krsna by them.
Her Transcendental qualities are as follows:
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29 Aug 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Qualities of Srimati Radharani, Quotes by Srila Prabhupada, Radha Krishna, Radha Madhava, Radhastami, Srimati Radharani
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, jaya radhe, mercy of Srimati Radharani, pleasure optency of Lord Krishna, pure devotees, Radha Krishna, Radharani, Srila Prabhupada, Srimati Radharani, Vrindavana
Today marks the Appearance of Srimati Radharani. We honor it with a half day fast, puspanjali, discussion on the glories of Srimati Radharani, followed by a feast.
The following are just a few of the many quotes from Srila Prabhupada which encourage us to approach Krishna through the mercy of Srimati Radharani, Krishna’s eternal consort. For those of us who feel that there is no hope of making spiritual progress in this lifetime, Srimati Radharani, Who is compassion personified, kindly comes to our rescue if we can humbly invoke Her divine blessings.
tapta-kancana-gaurangi radhe vrndavanesvari
vrsabhanu-sute devi pranamami hari-priye
“I offer my respects to Radharani whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Vrndavana. You are the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, and You are very dear to Lord Krishna.”
(Sri Radha Pranama)
“So this is our philosophy, to please Krishna through Radharani, and just today is the auspicious day of Radharani appearance. So we should offer puspanjali and pray to Radharani that ‘Radharani, kindly be merciful and tell about me to Your Krishna. To Your Krishna. Krishna is Yours.’ Krishna, Radha-Krishna. Krishna is not independent. Krishna is Radharani’s property. So you have to approach Krishna through Radharani. That is, today is the auspicious day. Worship Radharani very nicely and be happy.”
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, September 5, 1973)
“The beauty of Srimati Radharani’s eyes forcibly devours the beauty of newly grown blue lotus flowers, and the beauty of Her face surpasses that of an entire forest of fully blossomed lotuses. Her bodily luster seems to place even gold into a painful situation. Thus the wonderful, unprecedented beauty of Srimati Radharani is awakening in Vrindavana.”
(Caitanya-caritamrita Antya 1.169)
“I emphatically say to you, O brothers, you will obtain your good fortune from the Supreme Lord Krishna only when Srimati Radharani becomes pleased with you.”
(Prayer to the Lotus Feet of Krishna, September 13, 1965)
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21 Aug 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krsna Book, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, full solar eclipse, Krsna Book, Lord Krsna and Balarama meet the Inhabitants of Vrndavana, solar eclipse, the rare occasion of a full solar eclipse
Today all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. I wanted to get some reference from Srila Prabhupada’s books on some historical events that took place during the rare occasion of a full solar eclipse. One such event took place some 5,000 years ago when Lord Krsna and Balarama meet with the inhabitiants of Vrndabana.
Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Chapter Eighty-two
Lord Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma Meet the Inhabitants of Vṛndāvana
Once upon a time while Lord Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were living peacefully in Their great city of Dvārakā, there was the rare occasion of a full solar eclipse, such as takes place at the end of every kalpa, or day of Brahmā. At the end of every kalpa the sun is covered by a great cloud, and incessant rain covers the lower planetary systems up to Svargaloka. By astronomical calculation, people were informed about this great eclipse prior to its taking place, and therefore everyone, both men and women, decided to assemble at the holy place in Kurukṣetra known as Samanta-pañcaka.
full chapter More
12 Aug 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead, Bhagavata Dharma Discourses, Bhakti Yoga, Yoga
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead Magizine, Bhagavad-gita, Bhagavata Dharma Discourse, bhakti yoga, hatha yoga, Krsna consciousness movement, science of understanding God, topmost yoga system, yoga, yoga system
The Perfection of Yoga: Pure Love of Krsna
excerpted form; Back to Godhead Magazine Volume 10, Number 4, 1975
“Yoga” is a word becoming increasingly familiar top people all over the world. Many are asking, “What is yoga? What does the yoga practitioner seek to achieve? And what is the ultimate goal of yoga?”
A Bhagavata Dharma Discourse—an address on the science of understanding God, delivered in Delhi, India.
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
This Krsna consciousness movement is the topmost yoga system. You have perhaps read in the Sixth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita, wherein Arjuna declined to accept the hatha-yoga system, the following words of Krsna:
yoginam api sarvesam
mad-gatenantaratmana
sraddhavan bhajate yo mam
sa me yuktatamo matah
“And of all yogis, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all” (Bg. 6.47)
Krsna is known as Yogesvara, the master of all yogis, and if one takes Krsna within his heart, he becomes the topmost yogi.
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05 Jul 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Uncategorized
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, D.C., In God We Trust, Independence day, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Office of the President of the United States, Washington, White House
Yesterday as America celebrated “Independence Day”, a devotee friend texted me saying we should celebrate instead “Dependence Day”. Depend on Krsna.
The following is a Letter by Srila Prabhupada addressed to the Office of the President of the United States.
In God We Trust
May 9, 1976
Personal Secretary to the President
Office of the President of the United States
White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
On your new $2 note it is stated “In God We Trust,” and directly beneath “Declaration of Independence, 1776.” On the 200th anniversary of this occasion, why not begin teaching the science of God as described in the Vedic literatures, like the Srimad-Bhagavatam, which is authorized and appreciated by all learned professors in the universities throughout the whole world. This Krishna Consciousness Movement is going on since 1966 throughout the whole world, especially in the United States of America. It is a great fortune for the American people that they “Trust in God.” Why shouldn’t this spiritual education be given to the American people in an organized way? The whole world is going down and becoming Godless. If the American people, who trust in God, constitutionally, take this movement seriously, it will be a great service to the human society. We are prepared to cooperate in this connection if the American Government takes it very seriously.
Awaiting your reply with interest.
Yours sincerely,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
01 Jul 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
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.
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25 Jun 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Sri Isopanisad, Uncategorized
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, all that is animate or inanimate, Bhaktivedanta purports, books by Srila Prabhupada, Brahma, cheating propensity, commit mistakes, imperfect senses, isavasyam idam sarvam, Iso 1, Krishna, mantra one, Sri Isopanisad, subject to illusion, Supreme Controller, Supreme Personality of Godhead
This is a continuation on the Sri Isopanisad (The knowledge that brings one nearer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna). It begins with the Invocation and is followed by eighteen mantras and purports by Srila Prabhupada. The following is mantra one.
Mantra One
īśāvāsyam idam sarvaṁ
yat kiñca jagatyāṁ jagat
tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā
mā gṛdhaḥ kasya svid dhanam
īśa—by the Lord; āvāsyam—controlled; idam—this; sarvam—all; yat kiñca—whatever; jagatyām—within the universe;jagat—all that is animate or inanimate; tena—by Him;tyaktena—set-apart quota; bhuñjīthāḥ—you should accept;mā—do not; gṛdhaḥ—endeavor to gain; kasya svit—of anyone else; dhanam—the wealth.
TRANSLATION
Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.
PURPORT
Vedic knowledge is infallible because it comes down through the perfect disciplic succession of spiritual masters, beginning with the Lord Himself. Since He spoke the first word of Vedic knowledge, the source of this knowledge is transcendental. The words spoken by the Lord are called apauruṣeya, which indicates that they are not delivered by any mundane person. A living being who lives in the mundane world has four defects: (1) he is certain to commit mistakes; (2) he is subject to illusion; (3) he has a propensity to cheat others; and (4) his senses are imperfect. No one with these four imperfections can deliver perfect knowledge. The Vedas are not produced by such an imperfect creature. Vedic knowledge was originally imparted by the Lord into the heart of Brahmā, the first created living being, and Brahmā in his turn disseminated this knowledge to his sons and disciples, who have handed it down through history.
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27 May 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Devotee's, Diksha, Guru & Disciple, Initiation, ISKCON History, Uncategorized
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, disciple notebook, disciples of Srila Prabhupada, free download, free pdf, names of initiated disciples, Srila Prabhupada disciples, Srila Prabhupada's initiated disciple notebooks
These two files are scans of Srila Prabhupada’s original notebooks of his initiated disciples which was maintained while he was on the planet.
These notebooks have surfaced recently on the internet, and the links to veiw and save them are as follows:
*Please allow a few moments to download
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27 May 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Conversation with Srila Prabhupada, Disciplic succession, Guru & Disciple, guru-tattva, Uncategorized
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, conversation with Srila Prabhupada, disciple, disciples of Srila Prabhupada, disciplic succession, guru, guru and disciple, guru tatva
The following conversation between Srila Prabhupada and Mr. Malhotra recorded in Poona, December 22, 1976, is a good instruction on our relationship between guru and disciple.
Prabhupada: Not equal; representative. Not equal. I send one representative of this man, and he may be very expert, doing very good business, still he cannot be equal with me. He is acting as my representative, that’s another thing. But not that he has become the original proprietor.
.
Disciple Never Becomes Equal to Guru
Prabhupada: These my disciples, they are part and parcel of me. Whole mission is going on with their cooperation. But if he says that “I am equal to my Guru Mahārāja,” then that is offense.
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23 Jan 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, chanting, Chanting Hare Krishna, Maha-mantra, Music
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, chanting Hare Krishna, chanting of Hare Krishna, Happening Album, illusion is called maya, illusory struggle, Krishna consciousness, material nature, stringent laws of material nature, struggle for existence, transcendental plane
click on image to enlarge
Hare Krishna Address
Click Here to listen to Srila Prabhupada’s address in mp3 format
As explained on the cover of the record album, this transcendental vibration — by chanting of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare — is the sublime method for reviving our Krishna consciousness. As living spiritual souls we are all originally Krishna conscious entities, but due to our association with matter since time immemorial, our consciousness is now polluted by material atmosphere. In this polluted concept of life, we are all trying to exploit the resources of material nature, but actually we are becoming more and more entangled in her complexities.
This illusion is called Maya, or hard struggle for existence over the stringent laws of material nature. This illusory struggle against the material nature can at once be stopped by revival of our Krishna consciousness.
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16 Jan 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Bhagavad-gita As It Is 1972 Edition, Demons
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bank balance, Bg16.16, Bhagavad-gita, books by Srila Prabhupada, demoniac man, desire to acquire money, law of karma, sinful life, the divine and demoniac natures
I have read and re-read this chapter many times this election year, and this is a perfect description on the demoniac man.
The demoniac man knows no limit to his desire to acquire money. That is unlimited. He only thinks how much assessment he has just now and schemes to engage that stock of wealth farther and farther. For that reason, he does not hesitate to act in any sinful way and so deals in the black market for illegal gratification. He is enamoured by the possessions he has already, such as land, family, house and bank balance, and he is always planning to improve them. He believes in his own strength, and he does not know that whatever he is gaining is due to his past good deeds. He is given an opportunity to accumulate such things, but he has no conception of past causes. He simply thinks that all his mass of wealth is due to his own endeavor. A demoniac person believes in the strength of his personal work, not in the law of karma. According to the law of karma, a man takes his birth in a high family, or becomes rich, or very well educated, or very beautiful because of good work in the past. The demoniac thinks that all these things are accidental and due to the strength of his personal ability. He does not sense any arrangement behind all the varieties of people, beauty, and education. Anyone who comes into competition with such a demoniac man is his enemy. There are many demoniac people, and each is enemy to the others. This enmity becomes more and more deep—between persons, then between families, then between societies, and at last between nations. Therefore there is constant strife, war and enmity all over the world. (from purport to Bhagavad-gita 16-16)
Arrogance, pride, anger, conceit, harshness and ignorance—these qualities belong to those of demonic nature, O son of Pṛthā. (Bg 16.4)
In this verse, the royal road to hell is described. The demoniac want to make a show of religion and advancement in spiritual science, although they do not follow the principles. They are always arrogant or proud in possessing some type of education or so much wealth. They desire to be worshiped by others, and demand respectability, although they do not command respect. Over trifles they become very angry and speak harshly, not gently. They do not know what should be done and what should not be done. They do everything whimsically, according to their own desire, and they do not recognize any authority. These demoniac qualities are taken on by them from the beginning of their bodies in the wombs of their mothers, and as they grow they manifest all these inauspicious qualities. (From purport to Bg. 16.4)
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