Read My Books

Every day you have to read my books.

Do you know that every day even I read my own books?

Do you know why I read my books?

I read my books everyday because even I learn something new when I read them.

Do you know why I learn something new when I read my books?

Because these books are not my books – I do not write these books.

Every morning when I sit here to write my books Krsna comes personally and he dictates to me what to write, I simply take dictation from Krsna and I write these books.

Therefore when I read them even I learn something.”

-(Srila Prabhupada Room conversation with Bhagavat Das Vanachari, Bombay, 1974)

The Potency of Srila Prabhupada’s Books

Well we are back from our travels and can resume our posting.

One item we found in our email inbox was this nice PDF file “The Potency of Srila Prabhupada’s Books-108 Quotes” Compiled by Vidura Mahatma das.

PDF file courtesy of HareKrsna.org

Stealing the Garments of the Unmarried Gopī Girls

Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Chapter 22

I love the KRSNA Book. It was the first book I ever received by Srila Prabhupada, and was handed to me by a very compassionate Hare Krishna devotee at the Chicago Ohara Airport way back in 1972. Love all the stories and especially like the following one we share with you today.

Stealing the Garments of the Unmarried Gopī Girls

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Raja-Vidya The King of Knowledge

king-of-knowledge

This was the first book I ever read cover to cover. I remains my favorite small book by Srila Prabhupada. We share it in its entirety with you.

This is the index to the Contents of “Raja-Vidya The King of Knowledge” by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. This index will give you immediate access to the chapters by clicking on the following underlined links. And for a free PDF download click on link at bottom of post.

Chapter One Raja – Vidya: The King of Knowledge

Chapter Two Knowledge Beyond Saṁsāra

Chapter Three Knowledge of Kṛṣṇa’s Energies

Chapter Four Knowledge by Way of the Mahātmās, Great Souls

Chapter Five Parampara: Knowledge Through Disciplic Succession

Chapter Six Knowledge of Kṛṣṇa’s Appearances and Activities

Chapter Seven Knowledge as Faith in Guru and surrender to Kṛṣṇa

Chapter Eight Action in Knowledge of Kṛṣṇa

For a free pdf download of Raja-Vidya The King of Knowledge; Raja-Vidya-The-King-of-Knowledge

Easy Journey to Other Planets

Easy Journey to Other Planets
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

It is said that the perfect yogi can relinquish his body at death and journey, at the speed of mind, to antimaterial planets far beyond the limits of the material universe. Encompassing the systems of sankhya, astanga and bhakti, this absorbing publication treats the science of yoga, particularly in its application to out-of-body travel.

Easy Journey to Other Planets was one of the earliest small books available at the onset of The Hare Krishna Movement.  The following is a link for a free download of  the original edition that Srila Prabhupada printed in India before he ever came to the USA.  Just click on link at bottom of post.

From the Preface of the book:

A living being, especially civilized man, has a natural desire to live forever in happiness. This is quite natural because, in his original state, the living being is both eternal and joyful. However, in the present conditioned state of life, he is engaged in a struggle against recurring birth and death. Therefore he has attained neither happiness nor immortality.

The latest desire man has developed is the desire to travel to other planets. This is also quite natural, because he has the constitutional right to go to any part of the material or spiritual skies. Such travel is very tempting and exciting because these skies are full of unlimited globes of varying qualities, and they are occupied by all types of living entities. The desire to travel there can be fulfilled by the process of yoga, which serves as a means by which one can transfer himself to whatever planet he likes–possibly to planets where life is not only eternal and blissful, but where there are multiple varieties of enjoyable energies. Anyone who can attain the freedom of the spiritual planets need never return to this miserable land of birth, old age, disease and death.

One can attain this stage of perfection very easily by his individual effort. He can simply follow, in his own home, the prescribed method of bhakti-yoga. This method, under proper guidance, is simple and enjoyable. An attempt is made herein to give information to the people in general, and to philosophers and religionists in particular, as to how one can transfer oneself to other planets by this process of bhakti-yoga-the highest of all yogic processes.

 

click on link for a free download of original;  Easy-Journey-to-Other-Planets-Original-India-SP-edition-scan

Pleasing Srila Prabhupada by reading his books

Reading Srimad Bhagavatam

By Gauridas Pandita Prabhu

Vrndavan India June 1977. I used to take Srila Prabhupada’s paraphernalia to translate his books up to the rooftop before sundown every evening. Part of the roof was covered and part was open and there is an inside room also and a bathroom. Srila Prabhupada would come up just at about sunset to start his translation work for the night.

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Srimad Bhagavatam Court Case Settled

I would like to offer my humble obeisances to Jitarati Prabhu, and all the devotees involved in printing and distributing this beautiful set of Srimad Bhagavatam’s. I am gladdened by the news that the court case was finally settled, and all parties involved, have agreed to work together for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada! -Vyasasan das

BBT Court Case Against Jitarati’s Bhagavatam-Set, Finally Settled
by Jitarrati das

www.iskcon-truth.com/bhagavatam-set/bbt-court-case-settled.html

BBT India and Jitarati Das court case amicably settled in Bombay High Court!

Justice Kathawala before whom the matter of printing the Srimad Bhagavatam 10 volumes by Jitarati Das came up on 16th May 2018, requested the parties to try to mediate and settle the matter out of court and come back to him.

BBT India represented by HH Gopal Krishna Goswami, HG Bhima Das and Ananda Tirtha Dasa mediated with Jitarati Das and has settled the matter. Both parties have resolved their differences and have agreed to work together for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada.

BBT India will print and make available the Srimad Bhagavatam in 10 volumes format (Nine Cantos and Krishna Book) WITHOUT 11th and 12th Canto. Jitarati Das has agreed to distribute the present printed sets outside of India by developing a new market outside of ISKCON circles.

This court settlement was recorded by the Justice and the suit is closed.

Jitarati Das

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A Summary of Prabhupada’s Miraculous Accomplishments

A Summary of Prabhupada’s Miraculous Accomplishments

Compiled by Paratrika Ananda das

In reading many of the profiles of Srila Prabhupada, I’m saddened that a number of his important projects, programs and achievements are never mentioned. In the following summary I’ve tried to compile a more comprehensive list of his credits. Although this list is also incomplete, I hope it presents a fuller picture of Srila Prabhupada’s greatness.  (Paratrika Ananda das)

 

A Summary of Srila Prabhupada’s Miraculous Accomplishments from 1965 to 1977

 

In 1965, at seventy years of age, he ventured outside India for the first time to fulfill the order of his spiritual master. During his voyage at sea, he suffered two severe heart attacks. He reached the shores of America with the equivalent of seven dollars to his name.

 

He founded the International Society for Krsna Consciousness with a small group of disciples, after a year of struggling alone in New York City. This marked the only time in history that a Krsna devotee successfully trained non-Indians in the strict disciplines of Vaisnavism. Amazingly, this was achieved during the blossoming of America’s hedonistic counterculture movement.

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Sri Isopanisad Mantra One

sri-isopanisad1

 

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;—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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Srimad-Bhagavatam Sets Being Held Up

Bhagavatam-Set-

“The presence of the Bhagavatam in any house makes the house sanctified and free of all inauspiciousness. Worshiping the Bhagavatam is equivalent to worshiping Lord Krsna. Hearing and reading the Bhagavatam is unalloyed devotional service. There are two meanings of the word “Bhagavat” – one is the book Srimad-Bhagavatam and the other is the person Bhagavat who is the personification of Lord Krsna’s mercy. By daily worshiping, studying and hearing the Srimad-Bhagavatam, one is actually elevated to become a person Bhagavat.” (Antya Lila Chapter 3)


Bombay
India – Attention: To All Devotees Worldwide!
By: News Correspondent Bombay

Please note that BBT India is trying very hard (at the present moment) to completely destroy Srila Prabhupada’s original Books.

Bombay BBT filed a new copyright infringement lawsuit in India and had KBI’s associate Jitarati Prabhu’s beautiful Srimad Bhagwatam 5,000 boxed sets blocked from delivery to him at the printer’s warehouse. All the BBT trustees are involved in the law suit, untruthfully claiming that there is no legality to the printing. They are holding the already printed books hostage. Who knows for how long? BBT India has further applied to the court that the printed books should be destroyed.

BBT India is planning to have Srila Prabhupada’s original books completely banned from printing (in India and USA) by trying to revoke the licence given to KBI, claiming that the KBI given license has expired. BBT India wants to end the printing & distribution of unchanged, original books.

KBI – Krishna Books Inc is licensed by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust to print and publish the pre-1978 literary works of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda.

BBT Licensed KBI to Print Original Books
http://harekrsna.com/sun/editorials/12-09/editorials5481.htm
NOWHERE is it stated that the license will expire

 

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The Importance of Srila Prabhupada’s Books

This is a very nice compilation of quotes by Srila Prabhupada on the importance of reading his books.

The Importance of Prabhupada’s Books
Quotes compiled by Padmapani dasa

“Thank you for reading my books and appreciating them. Please continue to do so. That will help you advance nicely in spiritual life. By reading my books and chanting Hare Krishna, your life will become perfect.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, March 14, 1975)

“Sometimes I become surprised how I have written this. Although I am the writer, still sometimes I am surprised how these things have come. Such vivid description. Where is such literature throughout the whole world? It is all Kṛṣṇa’s mercy. Every line is perfect.” (Srila Prabhupada Conversation, June 28, 1977)

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The Divine and Demoniac Natures

hiranyakashipu

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)

Full texts and purports More

Beyond Birth and Death

Beyond_Birth_and_Death-cover

I love these small books by Srila Prabhupada printed in the early days of ISKCON by the BBT. They were beautiful publications, which explained the philosophy of Krisnna Consciousness in a simple format. Thanks to Krishna Path for making these books available to the world.

Please note that Srila Prabhupada took birth on September 1, 1896 — 120 years ago today

For a free pdf download click on the following link:

Beyond-Birth-and-Death-His-Divine-Grace-A.C.Bhaktivedanta-Swami-Prabhupada

BBT Media

BBT media

This morning I was visiting the web site of H. H. Hridayananda Dasa Goswami. I was there for a specific reason, I wanted to read his recent paper on the ISKCON justice system. The paper is entitled “ISKCON, GBC & Justice”, HDGessay_iskconsgbc (1) (click on link to read or download).

But while I was at his site I noticed a link to BBT Media which I followed. I was surprised to find the Original Bhagavad-gita As It Is, as well as many other of the original books available on various formats such as EPUB, iBooks, and Kindle. I was excited to find this link and just wanted to share it with all our readers.

BBT Media

Story of Jayadratha

Jayadratha captures Draupadi

Jayadratha: Another son of Mahārāja Vṛddhakṣetra. He was the King of Sindhudeśa (modern Sind Pakistan). His wife’s name was Duḥśalā. He was also present in the svayaṁvara ceremony of Draupadī, and he desired very strongly to have her hand, but he failed in the competition. But since then he always sought the opportunity to get in touch with Draupadī. When he was going to marry in the Śalyadeśa, on the way to Kāmyavana he happened to see Draupadī again and was too much attracted to her. The Pāṇḍavas and Draupadī were then in exile, after losing their empire in gambling, and Jayadratha thought it wise to send news to Draupadī in an illicit manner through Koṭiśaṣya, one of his associates. Draupadī at once refused vehemently the proposal of Jayadratha, but being so much attracted by the beauty of Draupadī, he tried again and again. Every time he was refused by Draupadī. He tried to take her away forcibly on his chariot, and at first Draupadī gave him a good dashing, and he fell like a cut-root tree. But he was not discouraged, and he was able to force Draupadī to sit on the chariot. (from purport to SB 1.15.16) More

Eagerness To See God

Krishna Balarama

…The gopīs are another example of great eagerness to see Kṛṣṇa. The gopīs came to Kṛṣṇa, being captivated by His beautiful features. They were young girls, and Kṛṣṇa was so beautiful. Actually they were lusty when they came to Kṛṣṇa, but Kṛṣṇa is so pure that they became first-class devotees. There is no comparison to the gopīs’ devotion, because they loved Kṛṣṇa with heart and soul. That is the qualification. They loved Kṛṣṇa so much that they didn’t care for family or reputation when they went out in the dead of night. Kṛṣṇa’s flute was sounding, and they were all fleeing their homes. Their fathers, their brothers, their husbands all said, “Where are you going? Where are you going in this dead of night?” But the gopīs didn’t care. They neglected their children, their family, everything. Their only thought was, “We must go to Kṛṣṇa.”

This eagerness is required. We must be very, very eager to see Kṛṣṇa. Many gopīs who were forcibly stopped from going to Kṛṣṇa lost their lives because of their great feelings of separation. So this eagerness is wanted; then you can see God. Whether you are lusty or a thief or a murderer or whatever it may be—somehow or other you must develop this eagerness, this desire: “I must see Kṛṣṇa.” Then Kṛṣṇa will be seen. (JSD 2.1)

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Prahlāda Mahārāja, the Saintly Son of Hiraṇyakaśipu

pralad-hiranyakashipu

Prahlāda Mahārāja, the Saintly Son of Hiraṇyakaśipu

Yesterday was the appearance day of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, and at the evening darshana with the Lord, I was reminded of the whole story of Prahlada Maharaja and his demonic father Hiranyakasipu. So I went to the 7th Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam this morning and began to read this wonderful pastime of the Lord and his devotee. I have included in this post, the entire scanned copy of Canto 7, Vol. 1. You can download by following the link below (it will take a few moments to open).

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
Canto 7, Vol.1 “The Science of God”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

click the following link to veiw or save the entire scanned copy of SB-07-01-1976

Cover 7.1

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Original 30 Volume Srimad-Bhagavatam Set Available Again!

_20160418_101846

Original 30 Volume Srimad-Bhagavatam Set Available Again!

We are delighted to announce that Srila Prabhupada’s original Srimad-Bhagavatam 30 Volume set is back in print.

This new printing includes all the original color plates and the original covers.

The books are beautifully printed on first-class paper and the color plates have come out better than ever before. The size is almost the same as the original Bhagavatam set. The height of the books is about half an inch less. But the size of the text in the books is exactly the same as in the original books.

“This Srimad Bhagavatam is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krishna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the Age of Kali shall get light from this Srimad Bhagavatam.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.43)

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Srila Prabhupada’s Books

Srila Prabhupada's Books

First of all, let me offer my humble, respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Prabhupāda. Sometime in the year 1935 when His Divine Grace was staying at Rādhā-kuṇḍa, I went to see him from Bombay. At that time, he gave me many important instructions in regard to constructing temples and publishing books. He personally told me that publishing books is more important than constructing temples. Of course, those same instructions remained within my mind for many years. In 1944 I began publishing my Back to Godhead, and when I retired from family life in 1958 I began publishing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in Delhi. When three parts of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam had been published in India, I then started for the United States of America on the thirteenth of August, 1965.

I am continuously trying to publish books, as suggested by my spiritual master. Now, in this year, 1976, I have completed the Seventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and a summary of the Tenth Canto has already been published as Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Still, the Eighth Canto, Ninth Canto, Tenth Canto, Eleventh Canto and Twelfth Canto are yet to be published. On this occasion, therefore, I am praying to my spiritual master to give me strength to finish this work. I am neither a great scholar nor a great devotee; I am simply a humble servant of my spiritual master, and to the best of my ability I am trying to please him by publishing these books, with the cooperation of my disciples in America. Fortunately, scholars all over the world are appreciating these publications. Let us cooperatively publish more and more volumes of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam just to please His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura.

by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
from Summary to the 8th Canto, Chapter 1

Kindly Help Me2

Teaching and Study Guide to the Bhagavad-gita As It is

Krsna and Arjuna

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:

Teaching_and_Study_Guide_to_Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is

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Previous Older Entries

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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