27 Sep 2020
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krsna Consciousness, Nine Processes of Devotional Service, Practicing Krishna Consciousness at Home
Tags: a flower, a leaf, A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, devotion, fruit or water, God, Krishna, sloka, Sri Krsna, Srimad Bhagavatam
One of the first slokas I ever memorized from the Bhagavad-gita was 9.26 patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ… “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.” (Full text and purport follows). This was practically the beginning of my spiritual life. ‘Just try to love God by offering Him something, with devotion. A leaf, a flower, fruit or water.’
One does not need great wealth, education or opulence to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If one is fully absorbed in love and ecstasy, he need offer only a flower and a little water. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati: “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower. fruit or water, I will accept it.” (Bg. 9.26)
The Supreme Lord can be pleased only by devotional service: therefore it is said here that the Lord is surely satisfied by devotion and nothing else. Quoting from the Gautamīya-tantra, the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa states:
tulasī-dala-mātreṇa
jalasya culukena vā
vikrīṇīte svam ātmānaṁ
bhaktebhyo bhakta-vatsalaḥ
“Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is very affectionate toward His devotees, sells Himself to a devotee who offers merely a tulasī leaf and a palmful of water.” The Supreme Lord is causelessly merciful upon His devotee, so much so that even the poorest of men can offer Him a little water and a flower in devotion and thus please Him. This is due to His affectionate dealings with His devotees. (SB 5.3.6 purport)
Everyone is searching after peace of mind. This is obtainable only when one is completely freed from the desire for material sense gratification and is engaged in the devotional service of the Lord. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā: patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati (9.26). Worship of the Lord is not at all expensive. One can offer the Lord a leaf, a flower, a little fruit and some water. The Supreme Lord accepts these offerings when they are offered with love and devotion. In this way, one can become freed from material desires. As long as one maintains material desires, he cannot be happy. As soon as one engages in the devotional service of the Lord, his mind is purified of all material desires. Then one becomes fully satisfied. (SB 5.7.11, purport)
Full Text and Purport More
09 Sep 2020
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krsna's Beauty, Radha Krishna
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, blackish cloud, clouds of the rainy season, Hare Krishna, Krishna consciousness, Krsna, Lords beauty, peacock feather, Radha and Krishna, SB 4.24, Srimad Bhagavatam
This morning I was just reflecting on how hot the weather has been, and how much all the plants are in need of water. Then, as I was reading the following verses from the Srimad Bhagavatam and I was thinking that we are all in need of Krsna, who is like the rain, and who’s beauty is compared to the dark clouds in the sky.
…After the scorching heat of the summer season, it is very pleasing to see dark clouds in the sky. The Lord wears a peacock feather in His hair, and His bodily complexion is just like a blackish cloud.
…The Lord’s beauty is compared to rainfall because when the rain falls in the rainy season, it becomes more and more pleasing to the people. After the scorching heat of the summer season, the people enjoy the rainy season very much. Indeed, they even come out of their doors in the villages and enjoy the rainfall directly. Thus the Lord’s bodily features are compared to the clouds of the rainy season.
…No one can say that the body of the Lord is wanting in beautiful parts. It is completely pūrṇam. Everything is complete: God’s creation, God’s beauty and God’s bodily features. All these are so complete that all one’s desires can become fully satisfied when one sees the beauty of the Lord. Both materialists and spiritualists can enjoy the beauty of the Lord. Because the Supreme Lord attracts everyone, including demons and devotees, materialists and spiritualists, He is called Kṛṣṇa. (from purport to SB 4.24.45-46)
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05 Aug 2020
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Rudra-gita, Shiva, Uncategorized
Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, benedictions, hymn of liberation, Lord Siva, Pracetas, prayers composed by lord siva, Rudra-gita, Shiva, Siva, Srimad Bhagavatam, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu
The Supreme Lord (Viṣṇu) says: “Those who will offer Me the prayers composed by Lord Śiva, both in the morning and in the evening, will be given benedictions by Me. In this way they can both fulfill their desires and attain good intelligence.” (SB 4.30.10)
Chanting the Song Sung by Lord Śiva
Lord Śiva said to the Pracetās:
“Just execute your kingly duties with a pure heart and chant the prayer I have recited, fixing your mind on the lotus feet of the Lord. That will bring you all good fortune.” (p. 405)
The Rudra-gītā is Lord Śiva’s song to the Supreme Lord, Vāsudeva (Viṣṇu) and is known as the hymn of liberation. These prayers, which are contained in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.24.33-74, are presented by Lord Śiva to the sons (Pracetās) of King Prācīnabarhi for reaching the ultimate spiritual perfection.
The Supreme Lord (Viṣṇu) says: “Those who will offer Me the prayers composed by Lord Śiva, both in the morning and in the evening, will be given benedictions by Me. In this way they can both fulfill their desires and attain good intelligence.” (SB 4.30.10)
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06 May 2020
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krsna is the Source of All Incarnations, Lord Nrsimhadeva
Tags: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Pabhupada, appearance day of lord nrsimhdeva, Lord Nrsimha, Pralada Maharaja, Pralada-Nrsimha, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam
In honor of the appearance day of Lord Nrsimha, we are posting a beautiful verse and purport from the Srimad Bhagavatam 5.18.8 glorifying the Lord and his devotees.
Om Namo Bhagavate Narasimhaya
oṁ namo bhagavate narasiṁhāya namas tejas-tejase āvir-āvirbhava
vajra-nakha vajra-daṁṣṭra karmāśayān randhaya randhaya tamo grasa
grasa oṁ svāhā; abhayam abhayam ātmani bhūyiṣṭhā oṁ kṣraum
TRANSLATION
I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, the source of all power. O my Lord who possesses nails and teeth just like thunderbolts, kindly vanquish our demonlike desires for fruitive activity in this material world. Please appear in our hearts and drive away our ignorance so that by Your mercy we may become fearless in the struggle for existence in this material world.
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14 Mar 2020
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead, Bhagavad-gita, Bhagavad-gita As It Is 1972 Edition, Krishna, Krishna Consciousness
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, Arjuna, Back to Godhead Magazine, Bhagavad Gita, body mind and soul, essence of all vedic wisdom, Krishna, Srimad Bhagavatam, Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vedic wisdom
1973 Back to Godhead cover
This morning I was reading from the Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1, Chapter 15, Text 27, wherein Srila Prabhupada was describing the glories and importance of the the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. The following is some excerpts from this amazing purport, followed by full text and purport. I found this one purport to be a very nice synopsis of the entire Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
…The Lord left behind Him the instructions of the Bhagavad-gītā not for the benefit of Arjuna alone, but also for all time and in all lands. The Bhagavad-gītā, being spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the essence of all Vedic wisdom. It is nicely presented by the Lord Himself for all who have very little time to go through the vast Vedic literatures like the Upaniṣads, Purāṇas and Vedānta-sūtras.
…the Bhagavad-gītā can be consulted in all critical times, not only for solace from all kinds of mental agonies, but also for the way out of great entanglements which may embarrass one in some critical hour.
…The merciful Lord left behind Him the great teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā so that one can take the instructions of the Lord even when He is not visible to material eyesight.
…There is no difference between the sound representation of the Lord and the Lord Himself. One can derive the same benefit from the Bhagavad-gītā as Arjuna did in the personal presence of the Lord.
…The Bhagavad-gītā begins with the problems of life by discriminating the soul from the elements of matter and proves by all reason and argument that the soul is indestructible in all circumstances and that the outer covering of matter, the body and the mind, change for another term of material existence which is full of miseries. The Bhagavad-gītā is therefore meant for terminating all different types of miseries, and Arjuna took shelter of this great knowledge, which had been imparted to him during the Kurukṣetra battle. (from Purport to SB 1.15.27)
Full verse and purport More
13 Feb 2020
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Yasodanandana das
Tags: appearance of Srila Bhaktisidhanta, Guru Maharaja, Madhya 19.160, SB 4.22, SB 4.23.5, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam, transendentalists
Today we honor the appearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami with a half day fast and readings from Srila Prabhupada about the glories os Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.
Srila Prabhupada explains about the glories of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
compiled by Yasodanananda dasa
Srila Prabhupada gives all credit to his Guru Maharaja
“…In Los Angeles many fathers and mothers used to come to see me to express their feelings of gratitude for my leading the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement throughout the entire world. Some of them said that it is greatly fortunate for the Americans that I have started the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement in America. But actually the original father of this movement is Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, since it was started a very long time ago but is coming down to human society by disciplic succession. If I have any credit in this connection, it does not belong to me personally, but it is due to my eternal spiritual master, His Divine Grace Om Viṣṇupāda Paramahaṁsa Parivrājakācārya 108 Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Mahārāja Prabhupāda..” (from Preface to Bhagavad-gita As It Is – Macmillan 1972 Edition)
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02 Feb 2020
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Kali Yuga
Tags: A.C. Bhaktiveanta Swami Prabhupada, age of kali, bad association, bickerings, cheating, cinemas, clubs, drinking, gambling, Kali-yuga, mundane libraries, pilfering, political creeds, SB1.1.10, smoking, sports, Srimad Bhagavatam
This morning I was reading from the First Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, the description of this Age of Kali. “In the Kali-yuga the whole atmosphere is surcharged with faithlessness. Men are no longer interested in spiritual values. Material sense gratification is now the standard of civilization.”
O learned one, in this iron age of Kali men have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed. (SB 1.1.10)
…In Kali-yuga, the duration of life is shortened not so much because of insufficient food but because of irregular habits. By keeping regular habits and eating simple food, any man can maintain his health. Overeating, over-sense gratification, overdependence on another’s mercy, and artificial standards of living sap the very vitality of human energy. Therefore the duration of life is shortened.
The people of this age are also very lazy, not only materially but in the matter of self-realization.
In this age, men are victims not only of different political creeds and parties, but also of many different types of sense-gratificatory diversions, such as cinemas, sports, gambling, clubs, mundane libraries, bad association, smoking, drinking, cheating, pilfering, bickerings, and so on. Their minds are always disturbed and full of anxieties due to so many different engagements. In this age, many unscrupulous men manufacture their own religious faiths which are not based on any revealed scriptures, and very often people who are addicted to sense gratification are attracted by such institutions…In the Kali-yuga the whole atmosphere is surcharged with faithlessness. Men are no longer interested in spiritual values. Material sense gratification is now the standard of civilization. For the maintenance of such material civilizations, man has formed complex nations and communities, and there is a constant strain of hot and cold wars between these different groups. It has become very difficult, therefore, to raise the spiritual standard due to the present distorted values of human society. (from purport)
Full Text and Purport
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15 Jan 2020
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, ahimsa, Buddha
Tags: A. c. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, ahimsa, animal slaughter, animal-killing, Bhagavad-gita, ego, Eightfold Path, four noble truths, Lord Buddha, nonviolence, Srimad Bhagavatam
Ever since I was a small child, I have been attracted to the statue of Buddha. Don’t know why, but I had a statue of Buddha in my bedroom, and it was a Christian home. I didn’t really know about Krishna then or who the Buddha was…but I was so attracted to everything Eastern. As I learned latter in life, Buddha was actually an incarnation of Krsna.
“From the Bhāgavatam we understand that Lord Buddha is the incarnation of Kṛṣṇa who appeared when materialism was rampant and materialists were using the pretext of the authority of the Vedas. Although there are certain restrictive rules and regulations regarding animal sacrifice for particular purposes in the Vedas, people of demonic tendency still took to animal sacrifice without reference to the Vedic principles. Lord Buddha appeared to stop this nonsense and to establish the Vedic principles of nonviolence. Therefore each and every avatāra, or incarnation of the Lord, has a particular mission, and they are all described in the revealed scriptures. No one should be accepted as an avatāra unless he is referred to by scriptures. It is not a fact that the Lord appears only on Indian soil. He can advent Himself anywhere and everywhere, and whenever He desires to appear. In each and every incarnation, He speaks as much about religion as can be understood by the particular people under their particular circumstances. But the mission is the same—to lead people to God consciousness and obedience to the principles of religion. Sometimes He descends personally, and sometimes He sends His bona fide representative in the form of His son, or servant, or Himself in some disguised form.” (from purport Bg 4.7)
I have included a short summary of the Four Noble Truths & The Eightfold Path, along with some references from the Vedic Perspective
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31 Dec 2019
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Tags: A. c. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Krishna, Krsna, material world, New Years Eve, peace formula, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam, temporary existence
Today marks the end of 2019 and the beging of a New Year. I guess everyone hopes for peace in the coming year, and the actual formula for peace is explained by Srila Prabhupada in the Srimad Bhagavatam 1.11.33 and Bhagavad-gita 5.29, wherein Srila Prabhupada is describing the factual formula for peace in this material world. Very interesting.
…In the material world no one is permanently fortunate, however clever one may be. There have been so many big empires in different parts of the world, there have been so many powerful kings all over the world, and there have been so many fortunate men, but all of them have been liquidated gradually. This is the law of material nature. But spiritually it is different. The spiritual relation with the Lord is so enlivening and resourceful that no one can leave the company of the Lord, once having taken shelter of Him. (SB 1.11.33 purport)
…The conditioned souls within the clutches of illusory energy are all anxious to attain peace in the material world. But they do not know the formula for peace, which is explained in the Bhagavad-gītā. The greatest peace formula is simply this: Lord Kṛṣṇa is the beneficiary in all human activities. Men should offer everything to the transcendental service of the Lord because He is the proprietor of all planets and the demigods thereon. No one is greater than He…Under the spell of illusion, living entities are trying to be lords of all they survey, but actually they are dominated by the material energy of the Lord. The Lord is the master of material nature, and the conditioned souls are under the stringent rules of material nature. Unless one understands these bare facts, it is not possible to achieve peace in the world either individually or collectively. This is the sense of Kṛṣṇa consciousness: Lord Kṛṣṇa is the supreme predominator, and all living entities, including the great demigods, are His subordinates. One can attain perfect peace only in complete Kṛṣṇa consciousness. (Bg 5.29 purport)
Full texts and purports More
15 Sep 2019
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead, Lectures, Srimad Bhagavatam
Tags: Back to Godhead Magazine, bhakti yoga, BTG, devotional service, Krishna consciousness, lectures by His Divine Grace, Lectures by Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam, Vedic literature
“On The Teachings of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu”
From The Lectures of Swami A.C. Bhaktivedanta
BTG Year-1967 Volume-01 Number-06
(Notes transcribed from a lecture given Wednesday, December 7, 1966.)
If you want Lord Krishna, then there is no other way except by devotional service. As for yoga, ritualistic performances, and the study of Vedic or other scriptural literature-all these forms are recommended to help us further ourselves. But, if you want to be in touch with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, you have to engage in devotional service.
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25 May 2018
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Book Changes, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam
Tags: A. C. Bhaktivdanta Swami Prabhupada, BBT, BBTI, Bhagavatam set printed by Jitarati, books by Srila Prabhupada, Iskcon, Jitarati das, KBI, Krishna Books, Krishna Books Inc., Srimad Bhagavatam
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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24 Dec 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, Acarya, gop tax plan, Krishna, principles of religion, rogues and non-devotees, SB4.28.48, Srimad Bhagavatam, Supreme Lord, Supreme Personality of Godhead, tax bill
Unfortunately, I have been following the News of late, and with some personal disgust, have had to watch the Republican Tax Bill, which was written in secret, and pushed through the House and Senate for final signing, become law. It puts the country into more debt, while giving a tax break to the very rich and largest corporations. The new tax bill lowers the tax rate for top earners, and gives a massive tax cut to corporations. Starting on Jan. 1, 2018, big businesses’ tax rate would fall from 35 percent to just 21 percent, the largest one-time rate cut in U.S. history for the nation’s largest companies. Seems like the swamp didn’t get drained after all.
O best of kings, please get up! Get up! Just see this world surrounded by water and infested with rogues and so-called kings. This world is very much afraid, and it is your duty to protect her.
“Whenever an ācārya comes, following the superior orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His representative, he establishes the principles of religion, as enunciated in Bhagavad-gītā. Religion means abiding by the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead… Unfortunately, when the ācārya disappears, rogues and nondevotees take advantage and immediately begin to introduce unauthorized principles in the name of so-called svāmīs, yogīs, philanthropists, welfare workers and so on.
The main business of human society is to think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead at all times, to become His devotees, to worship the Supreme Lord and to bow down before Him. The ācārya, the authorized representative of the Supreme Lord, establishes these principles, but when he disappears, things once again become disordered. The perfect disciples of the ācārya try to relieve the situation by sincerely following the instructions of the spiritual master. At the present moment practically the entire world is afraid of rogues and nondevotees; therefore this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is started to save the world from irreligious principles. Everyone should cooperate with this movement in order to bring about actual peace and happiness in the world. (from Purport to SB4.28.48)
Full text and purport follow: More
24 Dec 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhakti Yoga, Srimad Bhagavatam
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, atma-tattva, bhakti yoga, Brahma, jivatma, Paramatma, SB 2.9.4, Srimad Bhagavatam, yoga
Reading or hearing of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is also performance of bhakti-yoga
The sound of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is transcendental, and the resonance of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is as good as that of the Vedas. Thus the topic of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the science of both the Lord and the living entity.
…The sound of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is transcendental, and the resonance of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is as good as that of the Vedas. Thus the topic of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the science of both the Lord and the living entity. Regular reading or hearing of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is also performance of bhakti-yoga, and one can attain the highest perfection simply by the association of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Both Śukadeva Gosvāmī and Mahārāja Parīkṣit attained perfection through the medium of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. (from purport SB 2.9.4)
full text and purport follows: More
02 Oct 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Paratrika Ananda das, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada's Accomplishments, Srila Prabhupada's Books
Tags: A.C. Bhaktiveanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, books by Srila Prabhupada, Gita, Scholarly work of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada's Accomplishments, Srila Prabhupada's books, Srimad Bhagavatam
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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02 Sep 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Lectures, Lord Vamanadeva, Srimad Bhagavatam, Vamanadeva
Tags: 15th incarnation, appearance day of Lord Vamanadeva, Bali Maharaja, Krsna, Lord Vamanadeva, SB 1.3.19, Srila Prabhupada lectures, Srimad Bhagavatam
Today we celebrate the Appearance of Lord Vamanadeva, the fifteenth Incarnation, wherin Krsna assumed the form of a dwarf brahmana. We are posting a lecture given by Srila Prabhupada on Sept 24th, 1972, on the Srimad Bhagavatam telling the story of Bali Maharaja and Lord Vamanadeva.
“In the fifteenth incarnation, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf brāhmaṇa, Vāmana, and visited the arena of sacrifice arranged by Mahārāja Bali. Although at heart He was willing to regain the kingdom of the three planetary systems, He simply asked for a donation of three steps of land.” [SB 1.3.19]
Full lecture
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09 Aug 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Srila Prabhupada's Books, Srimad Bhagavatam
Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, back to Godhead, constructing temples, His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada, importance of printing books, publishing books, SB 8.1, spiritual master, Srila Prabhuada, Srimad Bhagavatam, Summary 8.1.
Important Instructions
The following is an excerpt from the summary for Canto 8, Chapter 1 of the Srimad Bhagavatam, wherein Srila Prabhupada is describing the instructions given to him at Radha Kunda in August of 1935, by his spiritual master His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami.
Summary
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.
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06 Aug 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, chanting, Chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, Kali Yuga, Sankirtan
Tags: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Pabhupada, chant Hare Krishna, chanting Hare Krishna, hare krishna maha mantra, kirtanad eva krsnasya, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam
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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21 May 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Book Changes, Book Distribution, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Devotee's, Hansadutta das, Jitarati das, Uncategorized
Tags: A. C. Bhaktivdanta Swami Prabhupada, BBT, BBTI, Bhima das, book changes, books by Srila Prabhupada, Jitarati, KBI, original books, Prabhupada News, Srila Prabhupada's original books, Srimad Bhagavatam
“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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25 Mar 2017
by The Hare Krishna Movement
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna Consciousness, Uncategorized
Tags: causeless mercy, Krishna consciousness, liberated, Nectar of Devotion, Prabhupada connect, respectful obeisances, rightful claim, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam, transcendental abode
This is perhaps my favorite sloka from the Srimad-Bhagavatam. It fills me with hope, and helps me to learn patience.
In the Tenth Canto, Fourteenth Chapter, verse 8, it is said; ‘My dear Lord, any person who is constantly awaiting Your causeless mercy to be bestowed upon him, and who goes on suffering the resultant actions of his past misdeeds, offering You respectful obeisances from the core of his heart, is surely eligible to become liberated, for it has become his rightful claim.’
This statement of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam should be the guide of all devotees. A devotee should not expect immediate relief from the reactions of his past misdeeds. No conditioned soul is free from such reactionary experiences, because material existence means continued suffering or enjoying of past activities. If one has finished his material activities then there is no more birth. This is possible only when one begins Kṛṣṇa conscious activities, because such activities do not produce reaction. Therefore, as soon as one becomes perfect in Kṛṣṇa conscious activities, he is not going to take birth again in this material world. A devotee who is not perfectly freed from the resultant actions should therefore continue to act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness seriously, even though there may be so many impediments. When such impediments arise he should simply think of Kṛṣṇa and expect His mercy. That is the only solace. If the devotee passes his days in that spirit, it is certain that he is going to be promoted to the abode of the Lord. By such activities, he earns his claim to enter into the kingdom of God. The exact word used in this verse is dāya-bhāk. Dāya-bhāk refers to a son’s becoming the lawful inheritor of the property of the father. In a similar way, a pure devotee who is prepared to undergo all kinds of tribulations in executing Kṛṣṇa conscious duties becomes lawfully qualified to enter into the transcendental abode.”
(Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 10)
text pasted from; Prabhupada Connect
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