transcendental literature | The Hare Krishna Movement

One Who is Sufficiently Intelligent…

09 Jan 2015 1 Comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Prahlada Maharaja, Srila Prabhupada's Books, Srimad Bhagavatam Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, books by Srila Prabhupada, even though irregularly composed, fame, form and pastimes of the unlimited Supreme Lord, impious life, kaumara acaret pranjo, misdirected civilization, Preface to Srimad Bhagavatam, SB.7.6.1, sri prahrada uvaca, Srimad Bhagavatam, that literature which is full with descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, transcendental literature

It seems that every time I start a new volume of the Srimad Bhagavatam, I open it and read the Preface first. I must have read the preface now many times, but every time I read it, it seems fresh and new. One could argue that it because my memory is poor, or, that is just the nature of transcendental literature. But what is interesting is to me this morning, is how I never looked up the verse that Srila Prabhupada quotes in his Preface:

kaumāra ācaret prājñodharmān bhāgavatān ihadurlabhaṁ mānuṣaṁ janmatad apy adhruvam arthadam (Bhāg. 7.6.1)

This morning I was curious, so I went to the Seventh Canto, Chapter 6, Text 1, and it read:

Prahlāda Mahārāja said: One who is sufficiently intelligent should use the human form of body from the very beginning of life—in other words, from the tender age of childhood—to practice the activities of devotional service, giving up all other engagements. The human body is most rarely achieved, and although temporary like other bodies, it is meaningful because in human life one can perform devotional service. Even a slight amount of sincere devotional service can give one complete perfection.

Full text and purport follows the Preface More

Declaring Our Dependence on God

04 Jul 2013 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead, Conversation with Srila Prabhupada Tags: 4th of July, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, American Independence, Back to Godhead Magazine, BTG, Dependence on God, Independence day, life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, RDTSKP, transcendental literature

I remember as a younger man, back in 1976, when I was a member of the Radha Damodar Traveling Sankirtan Party (RDTSKP), I was in Washington D.C. distributing this very same issue of Back to Godhead Magazine. The thing about Transcendental Literature, is it remains ever fresh. 37 years later this article is still as important and significant as the day it was first published in Back to Godhead Magazine.

Declaring Our Dependence on God
Excerpted from Back to Godhead Magazine Vol. 11, No. 7, 1976

Two hundred years ago, Americans fought the War of Independence to assure life, liberty, and happiness in a fledgling nation. In a conversation with the BACK TO GODHEAD staff, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains that Americans can actually achieve these things only by maintaining a God conscious society, with God conscious leaders.

Under the Direction of God (Krishna)

15 Feb 2013 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Book Changes, Mahesh Raja das Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, book changes, conditioned souls, God, great scholar, Krishna, Krsna, Liberated souls, prakrta shajiyas, sahajiyas, srila prabhupada conversations, Srila Prabhupada lectures, Srila Prabhupada's writting, transcendental literature

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Under the Direction of God (Krishna)
His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada speaks as Krsna speaks

“It is not possible for a common man to write books on bhakti, for his writings will not be effective. He may be a very great scholar and expert in presenting literature in flowery language, but this is not at all helpful in understanding transcendental literature. Even if transcendental literature is written in faulty language, it is acceptable if it is written by a devotee, whereas so-called transcendental literature written by a mundane scholar, even if it is a very highly polished literary presentation, cannot be accepted. The secret in a devotee’s writing is that when he writes about the pastimes of the lord, the lord helps him; he does not write himself.

We Don’t Allow Any Literature Not Given by Liberated Soul
compiled by Sriman Mahesh Prabhu

The difference between Srila Prabhupada’s books and other so-called gurus’ (conditioned souls) writing is Srila Prabhupada’s instruction was coming directly from Krsna. This is the transcendental platform.

Srila Prabhupada encouraged his disciples, however, to write their realizations. Other conditioned souls may present their nonsense commentaries on Bhagavad-Gita etc., but they will never be quoted for references. Srila Prabhupada is on the trancendental platform and Krishna speaks through him, consequently only he will be quoted for reference.