Krsna remembered Vidura
Now I shall leave the vision of this mundane world, and I see that Uddhava, the foremost of My devotees, is the only one who can be directly entrusted with knowledge about Me.�{SB 3.4.30}
Uddhava is not inferior to me in any way because he is never affected by the modes of material nature. Therefore he may remain in this world in order to disseminate specific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead. {SB 3.4.31}
Understanding that he was remembered by Lord Krishna [while quitting this world], Vidura began to cry loudly, overwhelmed by the ecstasy of love. {SB 3.4.35}
Love of God, the only purpose of the Vedas
He affirmed that we are all related with the Personality of Godhead eternally and that devotional service is our eternal function in exchanging the dealings of our relations. When love of Godhead is attained, love for all living beings automatically follows because the Lord is the sum total of all living beings.
The Lord said that but for these three items namely eternal relation with God, exchange of dealings with him and the attainment of love for him, all that is instructed in the Vedas is superfluous and concocted. {SB INTRO}
Visva dharma
The cult of Chaitanya philosophy is richer than any other and is admitted to be the living religion of the day with the potency of spreading as Visva Dharma or universal religion.
We are glad that the matter has been taken up by some enthusiastic sages like Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaj and his disciples. We shall eagerly wait for the happy days of Bagavat-Dharma or Prema-Dharma inaugurated by the Lord, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. {SB INTRO}
All senses awakened to render service�
Spiritual feelings of happiness and intense ecstasies have no mundane comparison. Therefore it is very difficult to give expression to such feelings. We can just have a glimpse of such ecstasy in the words of Cree Narada Muni. Each and every part of the body or senses has its particular function. After seeing the Lord, all the senses become fully awakened to render service unto the Lord because in the liberated state the senses are fully efficient in serving the Lord. As such, in that transcendental ecstasy it so happened that the senses became separately enlivened to serve the Lord. This being so, Narada Muni lost himself in seeing both himself and the Lord simultaneously. {SB 1.6.17}
Shyness of women
This incident from the Mahabharat period proves definitely that the ladies of the palace observed strict parade (restricted association with men) and instead of coming down in the open air where Lord Krsna and others were assembled, the ladies of the palace went on the top of the palace and from there paid their respects to Lord Krsna� by showers of flowers.
�This shyness is a gift of nature to the fair sex, and it enhances their beauty and prestige.
The material beauty of a woman is an illusion because actually the body is made of earth, water, fire, air, etc. And shyness is a check to the unrestricted mixing. Nature's gift, and it must be utilized. {SB 1.10.16}
The earth's separation from the Lord
Who, therefore, can tolerate the pangs of separation from that Supreme Personality of Godhead? He could conquer the gravity and passionate wrath of His sweethearts like Satyabhama by His sweet smile of love, pleasing glance and hearty appeals. When He traversed my [earth's] surface, I would be immersed in the dust of His lotus feet and thus would be sumptuously covered with grass which appeared like hairs standing on me out of pleasure. {SB 1.16.35}
There were chances of separation between the Lord and His thousands of queens because of the Lord's being absent from home, but as far as His connection with earth was concerned, the Lord would traverse the earth with His lotus feet, and therefore there was no chance of separation. When the Lord left the surface of the earth to return to His spiritual abode, the earth's feelings of separation were therefore more acute. {SB 1.16.35. PURPORT}
Steady bhava
Real steady bhava is definitely displayed in:
{SB2.3.24}
The true perspective in the light of Krsna
O lotus-eyed Lord, whenever You go away to Mathura, Vrndavana or Hastinapura to meet Your friends and relatives, every moment of Your absence seems like a million years. O infallible one, at that time our eyes become useless, as if bereft of sun. {SB 1.11.9}
For example, our eyes. As long as the sunshine is there, our eyes are useful to a certain extent. But in the absence of sunshine, the eyes are useless. Lord sri Krsna, being the primeval Lord, the Supreme Truth, is compared to the sun. Without Him all our knowledge is either false or partial. The opposite of the sun is the darkness, and similarly the opposite of Krsna is maya, or illusion. The devotees of the Lord can see everything in true perspective due to the light disseminated by Lord Krsna. {SB 1.11.9� PURPORT}
Environment and consciousness
We find herein the mention of pious trees which produce seasonal flowers and fruits. The impious trees are useless jungles only, and they can only be used to supply fuels. In the modern civilization such impious trees are planted on the sides of roads. Human energy should be properly utilized in developing the finer senses for spiritual understanding, in which lies the solution of life. Fruits, flowers, beautiful gardens, parks and reservoirs of water with ducks and swans playing in the midst of lotus flowers, and cows giving sufficient milk and butter are essential for developing the finer tissues of the human body. As against this, the dungeons of mines, factories and workshops develop demoniac propensities in the working class. The vested interests flourish at the cost of the working class, and consequently there are severe clashes between them in so many ways. The description of Dvaraka-dhama is the ideal of human civilization. {SB 1.11.12 PURPORT}
Raja Ghata
It was here that Lord Krsna disguised himself as a boatman, and when the gopi's came there to cross the Yamuna river, Krsna insisted that first he would have to wash one of the gopis's feet, otherwise, his boat could not take them across the river. When the gopi's asked who's feet he would wash, Krsna consulted the boat and informed them that it wash Radharani's feet that were to be washed. Upon hearing this, at first Radharani refused but when she was told by Krsna that the boat also refused to take them across the river, she relented and agreed to let Krsna wash her feet.
After washing her feet Krsna first sprinkled the water on his own head, then on the Yamuna, and then on his boat.
After this, the gopi's entered the boat and started to cross the Yamuna. When in the middle of the river Krsna suddenly stopped rowing and complained that he was feeling very weak due to hunger. Krsna then suggested to the gopi's, that they should feed him their milk sweets they were carrying. At first they refused, but when they saw there was no other alternative, they fed all the milk sweets to Krsna. Being completely bloated, Krsna lay down in the boat, unable to move. When the gopi's went to check what's wrong with the boat man, they found Krsna's flute� hidden in his cloth, they started laughing and clapped their hands.�{Vrndavan Rajashekar}
Austerity for Krsna is rewarded
The women who became the wives of the Lord are certainly not ordinary women, because to get the Lord as one's husband is the result of many, many millions of births of tapasya (austerity). {SB 1.11.35 PURPORT}
Personal matters publically discussed
Cruel death cares for no one, be he Dhrtarastra or even Maharaja Yudhisthira; therefore spiritual instruction, as was given to old Dhrtarastra, was equally applicable to younger Maharaja Yudhisthira. As a matter of fact, everyone in the royal palace, including the King and his brothers and mother, was raptly attending the lectures. While Vidhura is speaking very strongly to Dhrtarastra: ''You are living just like a household dog and are eating remnants of food given by Bhima'' {SB1.13.18. PURPORT}
Sannyasa
Dhrtarastra was advised by Vidura at least to become a dhira in the beginning if it were impossible for him to become a sannyasi or a narottama. Persistently endeavoring on the line of self-realization helps a person to rise to the conditions of a narottama from the stage of a dhira. The dhira stage is attained after prolonged practice of the yoga system, but by the grace of Vidura one can attain the stage immediately simply by willing to adopt the means of the dhira stage, which is the preparatory stage for sannyasa. The sannyasa stage is the preparatory stage of paramahamsa, or the first-grade devotee of the Lord. {SB 11.13.28 PURPORT}
Universal form
EKAMSENA STHITA JAGAT
''With a single fragment of myself �I pervade and support this entire universe."
(The universal form is only a small portion of Krsna's greatness -comment) {Bhurijana-surrender
unto me 11.47}
Illusion, temporary cloud in eternal sky
The scriptures enjoin that one should associate with sadhus, pure devotees of the Lord. He said that even by a moment's association with a pure devotee, one can achieve all perfection. We are not ashamed to admit that this fact was experienced in our practical life. Were we not favoured by His Divine Grace Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, by our first meeting for a few minutes only, it would have been impossible for us to accept this mighty task of describing Srimad-Bhagavatam in English. Without seeing him at that opportune moment, we could have become a very great business magnate, but never would we have been able to walk the path of liberation and be engaged in the factual service of the Lord under instructions of His Divine Grace. And here is another practical example by the action of Vidura's association with Dhrtarastra. Maharaja Dhrtarastra was tightly bound in a network of material affinities related to politics, economy and family attachment, and he did everything in his power to achieve so-called success in his planned projects, but he was frustrated from the beginning to the end so far as his material activities were concerned. And yet, despite his life of failure, he achieved the greatest of all success in self-realization by the forceful instructions of a pure devotee of the Lord, who is the typical emblem of a sadhu. The scriptures enjoin, therefore, that one should associate with sadhus only, rejecting all other kinds of association, and by doing so one will have ample opportunity to hear the sadhus, who can cut to pieces the bonds of illusory affection in the material world. It is a fact that the material world is a great illusion because everything appears to be a tangible reality but at the next moment evaporates like the dashing foam of the sea or a cloud in the sky. A cloud in the sky undoubtedly appears to be a reality because it rains, and due to rains so many temporary green things appear, but in the ultimate issue, everything disappears, namely the cloud, rain and green vegetation, all in due course. But the sky remains, and the varieties of sky or luminaries also remain forever. Similarly, the Absolute Truth, which is compared to the sky, remains eternally, and the temporary cloudlike illusion comes and goes away. Foolish living beings are attracted by the temporary cloud, but intelligent men are more concerned with the eternal sky with its entire variegatedness. (GUNA NOT NIRGUNYA - COMMENT) {SB 1.13.29 purport}
LAW: OF MAN VS GOD
Every living being, whether a man or an animal or a bird, thinks that he is free by himself, but actually no one is free from the severe laws of the Lord. The laws of the Lord are severe because they cannot be disobeyed in any circumstance. The man-made laws may be evaded by cunning outlaws, but in the codes of the supreme lawmaker there is not the slightest possibility of neglecting the laws. A slight change in the course of God-made law can bring about a massive danger to be faced by the lawbreaker. Such laws of the Supreme are generally known as the codes of religion, under different conditions, but the principle of religion everywhere is one and the same, namely, obey the orders of the Supreme God, the codes of religion. That is the condition of material existence. All living beings in the material world have taken up the risk of conditioned life by their own selection and are thus entrapped by the laws of material nature. The only way to get out of the entanglement is to agree to obey the Supreme. But instead of becoming free from the clutches of maya, or illusion, foolish human beings become bound up by different nomenclatures, being designated as brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas, sudras, Hindus, Mohammedans, Indians, Europeans, Americans, Chinese, and many others, and thus they carry out the orders of the Supreme Lord under the influence of respective scriptural or legislative injunctions. The statutory laws of the state are imperfect imitation replicas of religious codes. The secular state, or the godless state, allows the citizens to break the laws of God, but restricts them from disobeying the laws of the state; the result is that the people in general suffer more by breaking the laws of God than by obeying the imperfect laws made by man. Every man is imperfect by constitution under conditions of material existence, and there is not the least possibility that even the most materially advanced man can enact perfect legislation. On the other hand, there is no such imperfection in the laws of God. If leaders are educated in the laws of God, there is no necessity of a makeshift legislative council of aimless men.� {SB 11.13.42 PURPORT}
CHEATING - MOST PROMINENT
All ordinary transactions and dealings become polluted with cheating, even between friends and familial affairs, there was always a misunderstanding between mothers, fathers, sons, well-wishes and brothers. Even between husband and wife, there was always strain and quarrel.�{SB 1.14.4} [THE DISSCUSSION OF Lord KRSNA]
A conditioned soul is endowed with 4 principles of malpractice namely errors, insanity, inability and cheating. These are signs of imperfection, and out of the four the propensity to cheat others is the most prominent. And this cheating practice is there in the conditioned souls are primary in this material world imbed with an unnatural desire to Lord it over the material world.�{SB 1.14.4 PURPORT}
LAST JOURNEY TO LONDON
He met with European ladies and made no criticisms. All pure gratitude, and many times throughout the day emotions of ecstasy ran unheeded, even at the mention of America his voice would choke up.
''I CANNOT FORGET MY OBLIGATION TO THEM, I WANT TO MAKE THEM HAPPY AND WANT TO MAKE THEM HAPPY AND THROUGH THEM THE WORLD.'' {EXERPT-REMEMBERING SHRILA PRABHUPADA �SATSVARUPA DAS GOSVAMI}
Vaisistayastakam
Composed in 1961 in Radha Damodar temple.
Second Vaisistya
Third Vaisitya
Bull and cow, offensless
The bull and the cow are the symbols of the most offenseless living beings because even the stool and urine of these animals are utilized to benefit human society. {SB 1.17.13. PURPORT}
Apad dharma (emergency principles)
�In the scriptures there is mention of apad-dharma, or occupational duty at times of extraordinary happenings. It is said that sometimes the great sage Visvamitra had to live on the flesh of dogs in some extraordinary dangerous position. In cases of emergency, one may be allowed to live on the flesh of animals of all description, but that does not mean that there should be regular slaughterhouses to feed the animal-eaters and that this system should he encouraged by the state. {SB 1.17.16. Purport}
Demigods live long
Similarly, in other heavenly planets one day is calculated to be six months of this planet, and the inhabitants get a life of ten million of their years. {SB 1.17.15. Purport}
Vaisnava apparadha (associates and followers share in reaction)
mahantera apamdha ye deasa-grame haya
eka janara dose saba desa ujadaya
Whenever an advanced devotee is insulted, for a man's fault there entire town or place is afflicted (CC Antyalila 3.164) (Ramacandra Khan offends Lord Nityananda).
Vaisnava apparadha- Lord Caitanya stressing
The Lord taught the Gosvmis about devotional service, comparing it to a creeper, and advised him to protect the bhakti creeper most carefully against the mad elephant offence against the pure devotees. In addition, the creeper has to be protected from the desire of sense enjoyment, monistic liberation and perfection of the hatha yoga system. They are all detrimental on the path of devotional service. Similarly violence against living beings, and desires for worldly gain, worldly reception and worldly fame are all detrimental to the progress of bhakti or bhagavata-dharma (Lord Caitanya to Rupa Gosvami) {SB intro}
Not Bramha nor Siva can deliver from Maya
Mam eva ye prapadyante {BG 7.14}Krsna katha purifies the place, hearer, inquirer, and speaker
The topics of Lord Krsna are so auspicious that they purify the speaker, the hearer and the inquirer. They are compared to the Ganges waters, which flow from the toe of Lord Krsna. Wherever the Ganges waters go, they purify the land and the person who bathes in them. Similarly, krsna-katha, or the topics of Krsna, are so pure that wherever they are spoken, the place, the hearer, the inquirer, the speaker and all concerned become purified. {SB 2.1.1 PURPORT}
Bhagavatam gives unflinching faith
yasya sraddadhatam asu
syan mukunde matih sate
One who gives full attention and respect to hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam achieves unflinching faith in the Supreme Lord, the giver of salvation. {SB 2.1.10. portion of text}
Apparent contradictions in philosophy
The sphere of outer space constitutes His eye pits, and the eyeball is the sun as the power of seeing. {SB 2.1.30}
To common sense the description in this verse appears to be somewhat contradictory because sometimes the sun has been described as the eyeball and sometimes as the outer space sphere. But there is no room for common sense in the injunctions of the Sastras. We must accept the description of the Sastras and concentrate more on the form of the virat-rupa than on common sense. Common sense is always imperfect, whereas the description in the Sastras is always perfect and complete. If there is any incongruity, it is due to our imperfection and not the Sastras. That is the method of approaching Vedic wisdom. {PURPORT}
Phantasmagoria
Those who are captivated by the illusory advancement of material civilization (following the way of phantasmagoria) are certainly madmen. The whole material creation is a jugglery of names only; in fact, it is nothing but a bewildering creation of matter like earth, water and fire. The buildings, furniture, cars, bungalows, mills, factories, industries, peace, war or even the highest perfection of material science, namely atomic energy and electronics, are all simply bewildering names of material elements with their concomitant reactions of the three modes. {SB 2.2.3.PUPORT}
Babble of the sea waves
Since the devotee of the Lord knows them perfectly well, he is not interested in creating unwanted things for a situation which is not at all reality, but simply names of no more significance than the babble of sea waves. The great kings, leaders and soldiers fight with one another in order to perpetuate their names in history. {SB 2.2.3 PURPORT}
A simple living
The civilization which aims at this utmost perfection never indulges in creating unwanted things, and such a perfect civilization prepares men only to accept the bare necessities of life or to follow the principle of the best use of a bad bargain. Our material bodies and our lives in that connection are bad bargains because the living entity is actually spirit, and spiritual advancement of the living entity is absolutely necessary. Human life is intended for the realization of this important factor, and one should act accordingly, accepting only the bare necessities of life and depending more on God's gift without diversion of human energy for any other purpose, such as being mad for material enjoyment. The materialistic advancement of civilization is called "the civilization of the demons", which ultimately ends in wars and scarcity. The transcendentalist is specifically warned herewith to be fixed in mind, so that even if there is difficulty in plain living and high thinking he will not budge even an inch from his stark determination. {SB 2.2.3. PURPORT}
Renunciates beware of Jana Sanga
For a transcendentalist, it is a suicidal policy to be intimately in touch with the sense gratifiers of the world, because such a policy will frustrate the ultimate gain of life. Curative Gosvami met Maharaja Pariksit when the latter felt a necessity for such a meeting. It is the duty of a transcendentalist to help persons who desire real salvation and to support the cause of salvation. One might note that Sukadeva Gosvami never met Maharaja Pariksit while he was ruling as a great king. {SB 2.2.3.PURPORT}
Measurement of Paramatma
The measurement of the localized Personality of Godhead is estimated to expand from the ring finger to the end of the thumb, more or less eight inches. {SB 2.2.8 PURPORT}
To conquer the mind
The mind is easily conquered simply by engaging it at the lotus feet of the Lord. Gradually, by such service, all the senses become automatically engaged in the service of the Lord. {SB 2.2.15 PURPORT}
Living the body at a proper time and place
O King, whenever the yogi desires to leave this planet of human beings, he should not be perplexed about the proper time or place, but should comfortably sit without being disturbed. {SB 2.2.15 portion of text}
In the Bhagavad-Gita (8.14) it is clearly stated that a person who is totally engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and who constantly remembers Him at every step, easily obtains the mercy of the Lord by entering into His personal contact. Such devotees do not need to seek an opportune moment to leave the present body. But those who are mixed devotees, alloyed with fruitive action or empirical philosophical speculation, require an opportune moment for quitting this body. (see BG 8.23-26) {SB 2.2.15 PURPORT}
The nature of false ego
� in the transcendental state the devotee is gunatita, or above the material modes of goodness, passion and ignorance. Thus the false ego of "I am the Lord of all I survey" does not arise there. In the material world the false ego of the living being trying to Lord it over the material nature is something like the moth's falling in a blazing fire. The moth is captivated by the glaring beauty of the fire, and when he comes to enjoy it, the blazing fire consumes. {SB 2.2.17 PURPORT}
Bhrgu's duration of life
This Sisumara is the pivot for the turning of the complete universe, and it is called the navel of Visnu [Garbhodakasayi Visnu]. The yogi alone goes beyond this circle of Sisumara and attains the planet [Maharloka] where purified saints like Bhrgu enjoy a duration of life of 4,300,000,000 solar years. This planet is worshipable even for the saints who are transcendentally situated. {SB 2.2.25 text}
Duration of life
Airships of residence of Maharloka
At the time of the final devastation of the complete universe [the end of the duration of Brahma's life], a flame of fire emanates from the mouth of Ananta [from the bottom of the universe]. The yogi sees all the planets of the universe burning to ashes, and thus he leaves for Satyaloka by airplanes used by the great purified souls. The duration of life in Satyaloka is calculated to be 15,480,000,000,000 years. {SB 2.2.26. text}
Diameter of the universe
- 4 billion miles
- the first stratum of the covering is 80 million miles, subsequent covering
ten times more (notes) {SB 2.2.28 PURPORT}
Study Vedas three times
Brahmaji, just like a scholar, studied the Vedas three times, as generally done by all scholars. {SB 2.2.34.PURPORT}
Desirelessness
Shrila Jiva Gosvami has explained this desirelessness as bhajaniya-parama-purusa-suka-matra-sva-sukhatvam in his sandkarbha. This means that one should feel happy only by experiencing the happiness of the Lord. {SB 210} (PURPORT TO AKAMAH SARVA KAMO VA )
Unmixed bhakti yoga
(trvrena bhakti yogena)
This implies that bhakti-yoga may be perfectly administered without any mixture of karma and jnana. As the unmixed sun ray is very forceful and is therefore called tivra, similarly unmixed bhakti-yoga of hearing, chanting, etc., may be performed by one and all regardless of inner motive. {SB 2.3.10.PURPORT.}
Akamah
gopi's loved the Lord without any return, and this is the perfect exhibition of the akama
Udhara-dhih
Udara-dhih means one who has a broader outlook. people with desires for material enjoyment worship small demigods, and such intelligence is condemned in the Bhagavad-Gita (7.20) as hrta jnana, the intelligence of one who has lost his senses. One cannot obtain any result from demigods without getting sanction from the Supreme Lord. Therefore a person with a broader outlook can see that the ultimate authority is the Lord, even for material benefits. Under the circumstances, one with a broader outlook, even with the desire for material enjoyment or for liberation, should take to the worship of the Lord directly. {SB 2.3.10 PURPOT}
Symptoms of steady bhava
{SB 2.3.24 PURPORT}
Farewell to karma kanda (Madavendra Puri)
sandhya-vandana bhadram astu bhavato bhoh snana tubhyam namo
bho devah pitaras ca tarpana vidhau naham ksamah ksamyatam
yatra kvapi nisadya yadava kulottamasya kamsa-dvisah
smaram smaram agham harami tad alam manye kim anyena me
O my evening prayer, all good unto you. o my morning bath, I bid you goodbye. O demigods and forefathers, please excuse me. I am unable to perform any more offerings for your pleasure. now I have decided to free myself from all reactions of in simply by remembering everywhere and anywhere the great descendant of the Yadu dynasty (Lord Krsna). I think that this is sufficient for me. So what is the use of further endeavours.
mugdham mam nigadantu niti-nipuna bhrantam muhur vaidikah
mandam bandhava-sancaya jada-dhiyam muktadharah sodarah
unmatattam dhanino -viveka caturah kamam dambhikam
moktum na ksamate manag api mano govind pada sprham
Let the sharp moralist accuse me of being illusioned. I do not mind. Experts in Vedic activities may slander me as being misled, friends and relatives may call me a fool, the wealthy ammonites may point me out as mad and the learned philosophers may assert that I am much too proud; still my mind does not bugde an inch from the determination to serve the Lotus feet of Govinda though I be unable to do it. (Madhavendra Puri) {SB 2.4.4 PURPORT}
Vaisnava apparadha unknowingly
Without understanding the essence of the devotional path I have committed a grievous offence by criticising a vaisnava. I would repeatedly shout and taunt "who is a vaisnava in kali yuga, what is kirthan"?
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied all the criticism you have made although unwillingly are equivalent to having drunk poison so now you must drink nectar, of Krishna's name and pastimes with that same mouth. Use the tongue that offended the vaisnava's from now on to glorify them�.I am telling you truly that this is the method of purification for one whop has criticized a vaisnava unwillingly. {CB Antyalila, chapter 3, page 186 (Puri mahi)}
Born as (devotee) worm
kita - janma hau jatha tuwa das
bahi-mukta brhama- janme nahi as
May I be born again even as a worm, so long as I may remain your devotee. I have no desire to be born as a bramhna averse to you. (Bhaktivinoda Thakura)
The glories of Sak
Mother Saci knows that Lord Caitanya is greatly satisfied with sak, therefore she cooked twenty different kinds of sak. The vegetable known as sak is more fortunate that any other preparation, for the Lord eats it again and again. Slightly smiling the Lord takes His meal, speaking, the glories of sak to everyone. The Lord says" this sak is called Acyuta, by eating the sak attraction for Krsna develops ( at the time of eating Lord Caitanya would call different kinds of sak different names of Krishna) by eating� patala, bastuka and kala sak, one gains the association of the vaisnava's life after life. If one eats salinca or helanca sak, he remain free from disease and gets devotion to Krishna {CB Antya 4.279, 293, 295, 298} (song book foot note to"eka-dina santipure")
Faith in devotional service and chanting
Radha Krsna bol (gitavali)
(jiv) krsna -das e biwas korle to ar dukho nai
(krsna) bolbe jabe pulak ha'be jhorbe arikhi, boli tai
If you have this faith that the soul is the eternal servant of Krsna, then there will be no misery. And when you chant the holy name of Krsna, your body will shiver in ecstasy and your eyes will shed tears in love of God. This is what I say. {Bhaktivinod Thakura}
Sradha bindu (a drop of faith)
ekaki amara nahi paya bala hari nama sankirtane
tumi krpa kori sraddha bindu diya deho krsna nama dhane
Alone I find, I have no strength to chant the holy name of Lord Hari. I beg you, therefore, please merciful and with a particle of faith, give me the great treasure of the holy name of Krishna {Ohe vaisnav's Thakura, Saranagati} (Bhaktivinod Thakura)
Mundane knowledge
1) With great confidence I passed the time in the pleasures of mundane learning, I never worshiped your lotus feet, o Lord but now you are my only shelter.
2) Reading on and on my hope grew, for I considered material knowledge to be life's true path. That hope was fruitless ; that knowledge proved feeble. I know now that all such knowledge is but the power of the Lord's illusory energy [Maya] and an impediment to your service. It makes an ass out of the eternal soul by bringing about infatuation for this temporary world.
4) Here is one such ass who has for so long carried o his back the burden of material existence. Now in my old age fo4 want of the power to enjoy nothing pleases me.
sei gadha ho'yen samsarera bojha bahinu aneka kala
bardhakye ekhano saktira abhave kichu nahi lage bhalo
Life has become agony now. That knowledge has become ignorance and the burning pain of ignorance has become intolerable . mundane knowledge has become just like a pointed shaft. {Vidyare vilase, Saranagagati} (Bhaktivinoda Takura)
What is faith?
Faith means that meant for giving service to that, that the path, In spite of all impediments. That is passing the test . generally, just like we are meant for preaching� Krsna consciousness. So there maybe some severe test, but still we shall remain determined. That is wanted. There may be so many impediments, punishments, still you should do that. That is the test. Not as soon as some difficulty comes you say ''I give up'' there may be test but still we shall not give up we must go o. that is determination
ei-baro karuna koro vaisava gosai
patita-pavana toma bina kelo nai
Oh vainava gosvami, please be merciful unto me now. There is no other one who can purify the fallen souls
jahara nikate gele papa dure jay
emona doyala prabhu keba katha pay
Where does anyone find such a merciful personality by whose mere audience all sins go away. {Natottam Das Thakur Prurthana.}
What is the symptoms of one who has received the mercy of the Lord Nityananda
ara kabe nitai-cander koruna hoibe
samsara-basana mora kabe tuccha habe
What are the symptoms of a person who has received the mercy of Lord Nityananada!
Narotama Dasa Takura says that the symptom of one who has actually received the causeless mercy of Lord Nityananda is that he has no material desire. Samsara-bhasana means 'desire for material enjoyment' and Narottama wonders when it will become very significant.
Surrender
Devotees like Brahma and Arjuna do not do anything on their own account, but as fully surrendered souls they always await indications from the Lord; therefore they attempt to do something which appears very wonderful to ordinary vision. One of the Lord's names is Urukrama, or one whose actions are very wonderful and are beyond the imagination of the living being, so the actions of His devotees sometimes appear very wonderful due to the direction of the Lord. Beginning from Brahma, the topmost intelligent living entity within the universe, down to the smallest ant, every living entity's intelligence is overseen by the Lord in His transcendental position as the witness of all actions. The subtle presence of the Lord is felt by the intelligent man who can study the psychic effects of thinking, feeling and willing. {SB 2.5.17 PURPORT}
ADHIBHUTA, ADHYATNA, ADHIDAIVA
By the covering power of the material energy, the material scientist cannot look beyond the material causes, but factually, behind the material manifestations, there are adhibhuta, adhyatma and adhidaiva actions, which the conditioned soul in the mode of ignorance cannot see. The adhibhuta manifestation entails repetitions of births and deaths with old age and diseases, the adhyatma manifestation conditions the spirit soul, and the adhidaiva manifestation is the controlling system. These are the material manifestations of cause and effect and the sense of responsibility of the conditioned actors. {SB 2.5.19.PURPORT}
ALL VAIKUNTHA ABODES ARE BALARAMA
The essential portion of the sandhini potency is suddha-sattva. Lord Krsna�s existence rests upon it. {CC ADI 4.64}
Krsna�s mother, father, abode, house, bedding, seats and so on are all transformations of Suddha-sattva. {CC ADI 4.65}
One variety of the pastimes of the spiritual energy is described as pure goodness [visuddha-sattva]. It comprises all the abodes of Vaikuntha. {CC ADI 5.43}
The six attributes are all spiritual. Know for certain that they are all manifestations of the opulence of Sankarsana. {CC ADI 5.44}
That Sankarsana, who is transcendental pure goodness, is a partial expansion of Nityananda Balarama. {CC Adi 5.48}
(ALSO BUI 160 -PUNDARIK) {BHAKTI SIDANTATHA}
suddha-sathva-murti-prabh dharena karunaya
ye-vigrahe sabara prakesa sulila
His form is completely spiritual and he manifests it only by his mercy. All the activities In this material world are��.
caitanya-caritra sphure yanhara krpaya
yesera bhandara vaise sesera jihvaya
By the mercy of Lord nityananada the pastimes of Sri Caitanya will become manifest� because his tongue is the store house of Lord Caitanya's glories. {CB ADI 1.81}
Just as diva, viral, and Brahman are different names pf the same person, Nityananada, Ananta and Balaram are similarly different names of the same Lord. {Bahi 1.79}
Love for one person only excluding all others
Great authorities like Bhisma (dev) have explained that love of Godhead means completely giving up all so called love for any other person. According to Bhisma, love means reposing one's affection completely upon one person, withdrawing all affinities for any other person. This pure love can be transferred to the Supreme Personality of Godhead under two conditions: out of ecstasy and out of the causeless mercy of the causeless mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. {Nectar of Devotion, chapter 19, page 143}
ananya-mamata visnau mamata prema-sangata
bhaktirity ucyate bhisma prahladoddhava naradah
{Narada pancaratra}
Declaration of will Krishna Balaram mandir, etc. Vrindavan 4th June 1977
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder Acarya for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, settler of the Bhakti Vedanta book trust, and disciple of Om Vishnupada 108 Sri Srimad Bhakti Sidanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaj Prabhupada, presently residing at the Sri Krishna-Balaram mandir in Vrindavan, make this my last will:
1) The governing body commission (GBC) will be the ultimate managing authority of the entire international Society for Krishna Consciousness.
2) Each temple will be an ISKCON property and will be managed by three executive directors. The system of management will continue as it is now and they is no need of any change.
3) Properties in India will be managed by three executive directors.
4) Properties on India will be managed by the following executive directors:
The executive directors who have herein been designated are appointed for life. In the event of death or failure to act for any reason of any of the set directors, a successor director may be appointed by the remaining directors. Provided the new director is my initiated disciple following strictly rules of the international society for Krsna Consciousness as detailed in my books, and provided that there are never less that (3) or more than (five) executive directors acting at one time.
5) I have created, developed and organized the ISKCON and as such I hear by will that non of the immovable properties standing in the name of ISKCON in India shall ever be mortgaged, borrowed against, sold, transferred, or in anyway encumbered, disposed of, or alieted. This direction is irrecoverable.
6) Properties outside of India in principle should never be mortgaged, borrowed against, sold, transferred or in anyway encumbered, disposed of, or alienated but if the need arises they may be mortgaged, borrowed against, sold, etc, with a concern of the GBC committee members associated with the particular property.
7) There are properties outside of India and their associated GBC members are as follows:
8) I declare, say and confirm that all the properties both movable and immovable, which stand in my name, including current accounts, saving accounts and fixed deposits in various banks, are the properties and assets of the ISKCON and the heir and the successors of my previous life, or anyone claiming through them, have no right claim, or interest in these properties whatsoever, except as provided here after.
9) Although the money which is in my Personal name in different banks is being spent for ISKCON belongs to ISKCON, I have kept a few deposits specifically marked fro allocating a monthly allowance of Rs.1000\-each to the members of my former family (two sons, two daughters and my wife) after the death of the members of my former family this specific deposits (corpus, interest and savings) will become the properties of ISKCON for the corpus of the trust and the descendants of my family or any body claiming through them shall not be allowed any further allowance.
10) I hear by appoint Guru Kripa Swami, Hrdaynanda Goswami, Tamal Krishna Goswami, Ramesvara Swami, Gopal Krishna das Adhikari, Jay Tirtha das Adhikari and Giriraj das Brahmacari to act as the executive of this will. I have made this will this 4th day of June, 1977 in possession of full sense and sound mind without any persuasion force or compulsion from anybody.
A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami
Notes for Ram Navami
The birth of Bali and Sugriva
Monkeys
Aruna
Kiskindha
Cause of enmity between and Sugriva
Rsyasrnga
Story one
Story two
Ravana
What Rama said to Bali why kill?
Laxmana
''one who is blessed with the right of service to the Lord''
About Rama by Tara, Bali's wife
Ram chases away fear, grief� and danger from the hearts of those that seen refuge in him, and brings them all good and happiness. He will not count us as good nor protect his since we had done Sugriva foul wrong. He identifies himself with the joys and sorrows of his dependants and thus from then everything from the means to the goal.
{this ends the notes� for Ram Navami}
Qualification of guru
Similarly the members of the Krishna conscious movement chant a minimum of 16 rounds a day, which can be done without difficulty and at the same time they must preach the cult of caitanya Mahaprabhu according to the gospel of the Bahagavat gita as it is. One who does so is quite fit to become a spiritual master, father the entire world. {CC.Ant 103 PURPORT}
Interaction between 3 kinds, superiors, equals and inferiors
Every man should act like this, when we find someone more qualified than ourselves, we become envious of him; when we find someone less qualified, we deride him; and when we find someone equal we become very proud of our activities. These are the causes of all material tribulations. The great sage Narada therefore advised that a devotee should act perfectly. Instead of being envious of a more qualified man, one should be jolly to receive him. Instead of being oppressive to a less qualified man, one should be compassionate toward him just to raise him to the proper standard. And when one meets an equal, instead of being proud of one's own activities before him, one should treat him as a friend. One should also have compassion for the people in general, who are suffering due to forgetfulness of Krishna. These important functions will make one happy within this material world. {SB 4.8.34}(Druva leaves home-nard is speaking)
gunadhikan mudam lipsed
one who is more qualified pleasure one should feel
anukrosam gunadhamat
compassion one who is less qualified
maitrim samanad anvicchen
friendship with an equal one should desire
na tapair abhibhuyate
not by tribulation become affected
{SB 4.8.34}
sri-suka uvaca
sri suka said
govinda-bhuja-guptayam
of Lord govinda by the arms protected
dvaravatyam kurudvaha
in the capital dvaravati o best of the kurus
avatsin narado 'bhiksnam
dwelled Narada Muni constantly
Krissopasana-lalasah
to engage in the worship of Krsna who had great eagerness
Sri Sukadeva Goswami said: Eager to engage in the worship of Lord Krishna, O best of the Kurus, Narada Muni stayed for some time in Dvaraka, which was always protected by the arms of Govinda. {SB 11.2.1 TEXT}
According to Jiva Goswami, the word abhiksnam' indicates that although Narada Muni was frequently sent by Lord Krishna here and there for various pastimes, such as inquiring about the affairs of the world, Narada continuously returned to reside in Dvaraka. The word Krissopasana-lalasah indicates that Narada was very eager to be near Krishna and worship Him. Because of the curse of Daksa, Narada is never allowed to live continuously in one place.
Sridhar Swami, however, has pointed out, na tasyam sapadeh prabhavah: in Dvaraka there is no influence of curses or other such evils, because Dvaraka is the abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is always protected by His arms, as shown by the word govinda-bhuja-guplayam. {SB 11.2.1. purport}
Narada instructed the sons of Daksa about spiritual life. First (10000) Haryasvas and then again another 10000 son of Daksa, all ordered their father to produce progeny.
The curse passed on in parampara
You have made me lose my sons once, and now you have again done the same inauspicious thing. Therefore you are a rascal who does not know how to behave toward others. You may travel all over the universe, but I curse you to have no residence anywhere. {SB 6.5.43. TEXT}
How Prabhupada took the curse and passed it to the sanyasis
Because Prajapati Daksa was a grhamedi who wanted to remain in household life, he thought that if Narada Muni could not remain in one place, but had to travel all over the world, that would be a great punishment for him. Actually, however, such a punishment is a boon for a preacher. A preacher is known as parivrajakacarya�an acarya, or teacher, who always travels for the benefit of human society. Prajapati Daksa cursed Narada Muni by saying that although he had the facility to travel all over the universe, he would never be able to stay in one place. In the parampara system from Narada Muni, I have also been cursed. Although I have many centres that would be suitable places of residence, I cannot stay anywhere, for I have been cursed by the parents of my young disciples. Since the Krishna consciousness movement was started, I have travelled all over the world two or three times a year, and although I am provided comfortable places to stay wherever I go, I cannot stay anywhere for more than three days or a week. I do not mind this curse by the parents of my disciples, but now it is necessary that I stay in one place to finish another task�this translation of Srimad-Bhagavatam. If my young disciples, especially those who have taken sannyasa, take charge of travelling all over the world, it may be possible for me to transfer the curse of the parents to these young preachers. Then I may sit down conveniently in one place for the work of translation. {SB 6.5.43 PURPORT}
The behaviour of a saintly person
Narada accepts the curse
Sri Sukadeva Goswami continued: My dear King, since Narada Muni is an approved saintly person, when cursed by Prajapati Daksa he replied, "tad bhadam" Yes, what you have said is good. I accept this curse." He could have cursed Prajapati Daksa in return, but because he is a tolerant and merciful sadhu, he took no action. {SB 6.4.44 TEXT}
"tad bhadam: Yes, what you have said is good. I accept this curse." He could have cursed Prajapati Daksa in return, but because he is a tolerant and merciful sadhu, he took no action. {SB 6.5.44 TEXT}
A sadhu takes no action, 'he tolerates'
�Indeed, a preacher must face many impediments. Not only is he sometimes cursed, but sometimes he must also suffer personal injury. For example, when Nityananda Prabhu went to preach Krishna consciousness to the two roguish brothers Jagai and Madhai, they injured Him and made His head bleed, but nevertheless, He tolerantly delivered the two rogues, who became perfect Vaisnavas. This is the duty of a preacher. Lord Jesus Christ even tolerated crucifixion. {SB 6.5.44. PURPORT}
Merciful
Now, it may be asked why Narada Muni stayed in the presence of Prajapati Daksa and tolerated all his accusations and curses� Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says that after being insulted by Prajapati Daksa, Narada Muni should have left immediately, but he purposely stayed to hear all Daksa's strong words so that Daksa might be relieved of his anger. Prajapati Daksa was not an ordinary man; he had accumulated the results of many pious activities. Therefore Narada Muni expected that after delivering his curse, Daksa, satisfied and freed from anger, would repent his misbehaviour and thus get a chance to become a Vaisnava and be delivered. When Jagai and Madhai offended Lord Nityananda, Lord Nityananda stood tolerantly, and therefore both brothers fell at His lotus feet and repented. Consequently they later became perfect Vaisnavas. {SB 6.5.44 PURPORT}
Prostitute
A woman who has no husband declares herself independent, which means that she becomes a prostitute. A prostitute generally dresses herself in various fashions intended to attract a man's attention to the lower part of her body. Today it has become a much advertised fashion for a woman to go almost naked, covering the lower part of her body only slightly, in order to draw the attention of a man to her private parts for sexual enjoyment. The intelligence engaged to attract a man to the lower part of the body is the intelligence of a professional prostitute. {SB 6.5.14 PURPORT}
Meditation
In real meditation ask ''where am I?'' ''what am I?''
We cannot find the answers to these questions by any effort, and because of this all the universities are setting these questions. They say it's too difficult a subject or they brush it aside. '' it's irrelevant'' thus engineers direct their attention to creating and attempting to perfect the horseless carriage and the wingless bird. Formally horses were drawing carriages and there was no air pollution.{MATCHLESS GIFT CHAPTER 1}
PRABHUPADA TRAINING HIS DISCIPLES IN AGUING WITH CRISTIANS
Prabhupada: �.What we should inform to the people in general?
Pancadravida: I try to remember Lord Caitanya, he informed us about the
purpose of all Vedic literature which is to acquaint people with their relationship
with God which they have forgotten, to teach them how to engage themselves in
that relationship and to understand that the goal is to come to pure love of
God. So when I speak I try to bring that into it because we are actually from
sastra, so we should acquaint people with the principles of devotional service.
Tell them that they have forgotten God, that they must serve God and practically
how to do it.
Prabhupada:�No, they will say that ''we have not forgotten God. We go
to church regularly''� and the Mohammedans will say ''we go to mosque"
so why we have forgotten God?
Pancadravida: Going to the church or the mosque� when people, we don't
discourage that they change their religion or anything.
Prabhupada: No, you, your charge is that they have forgotten God. They
will answer that ''we have not forgotten God, we are going to church and we
are going to mosque. ''When have we forgotten God?''
Pancadravida: Because they are not serving him. They are not actually
serving him. They are engaging themselves. We see practically that some people
say they are theists.
Prabhupada: Then what is the meaning of service?
Pancadravida: Service means a relationship of serving out of love. So
people simply serving their stomach or�
Prabhupada: So I haven't got love, then why am I coming to church?
Satsvarupa: Well, we are educating them what is God. They go to church
but they don�t know ''what is your idea of God" we ask them.
Prabhupada: Whatever it may be, when I offer my prayers I remember there
is same God. I may not have a clear idea? I have got my own conception of God.
So what is the answer?
Satsvarupa: Well, there are symptoms if you are following God, the best
religion is that which develops love of God.
Prabhupada: Yes. That is answered. ''if I have not got love for God,
then why I am I coming to church?''
Pancadravida: If you have love for God, why are you coming to church?
Prabhupada: No, because I have love for God therefore I am coming to
church, at that time I could have earned some money.
Pancadravida: But we are also teaching that this love is not based on
sentimentality. Love is always practical. Just like this in this world, when
there is relationship between man and woman, there is a practical exchange of
love. It is not simply that love is only based on actions. We can judge how
much a man is developing love by what his activities are.
Prabhupada: So what you found in me that you have concluded that I have
no love for God. What you have seen in me?
Pancadravida: I have not concluded that... When I speak with someone
I do not say that I have concluded that you have no love for God.
Prabhupada: You say. That you have charged. But on what account do you
say like that? What have I done?
Nitai: Because you go to church only for one hour a week. The rest of
the time is not spent in serving God.
Prabhupada: that may be. But that does not I don�t love God.
Satsvarupa: Well, we don�t criticize your love of God, but it can be
increased. Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita, always think of him in whatever you
do, during the week. We can teach you how to�. You like to go to church? That
shows you have some affection for God. We can teach you how. Wherever you are
to think of Krsna.
Prabhupada: This is not a proper answer.
Pancadravida: Then if you have love of God, then we are also spreading
this love of God all over the world to people who have not developed that love,
then you should willingly engage your self in supporting this work.
Prabhupada: But we are also preaching."Mohan medians will say"
we are preaching. We also take swords sometimes. If he does not believe in God
we cut his throat. The Christian missionaries, they will also say that "we
are also going on over the world. We have made so many big churches".
Pancadravida: We have also got our work and we show them.
Prabhupada: No, no. How do you say that you are better than him? If they
are also doing, it maybe differences of degrees but we are doing the same thing.
Pancadravida: If a person is having love of God, though, then his love
is not simple confined to his own work. You say you are having love of God,
we are also spreading this movement all over the world. So God is one.
Prabhupada: No,no, we are also preaching Christianity all over the world.
Our number of Christians is higher than your number of devotees. Our preaching
work is better than yours.
Pancadravida: We ourselves are coming from Christian country, and we
see that the entire society is so-called Christian, but �
Prabhupada: Do you mean to say that the entire society is after you?
Pancadravida: Pardon me?
Prabhupada: Can you prove that the entire society is after you only?
Pancadravida: We have got our society, this International Society for
Krishna Consciousness.
Prabhupada: That�s alright, we have got our society. But we are also
preaching and we have got many countries we have got devotees Christians. Number
of Christians is greater than you vaisnav devotees.
Aksayananda: So we are only requesting you to chant Hare Krishna.
Prabhupada: That is a process only. You are requesting chant Hare Krishna.
We are requesting prayer. Give us our daily bread that�s all and that is also
prayer. This is chanting and that is prayer. So there is no difference.
Aksayananda: You may be a very good example but we see most of the Christians
do not even follow the teachings.
Prabhupada: Here you have come to the real point. Here he has come to
the point, that�s the point. If you love God, why do you disobey His orders?
That means you do not love God. That is the real point. Continues. Though shall
not kill etc.
{Hyderabad April 22,74}
Sanskrit meaning of the word Bhagavan
Athake vatiti
{SP Lecture Bg 10.1, IV Dec 27, 1966}
The above relates to the entire tenth chapter entitled" the opulence of the absolute".
Aisvaryasya etc. from Parasasamuni.
Catur sloki Bhagavad Gita 10.8
(notes for seminar, not verbatim quotes)
1) AHAM SARVASYA PRABHAVO
''I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds''
Prabhupada quotes In the purport:
yo brahmanam vidadhati purvam yo vai vedams ca gapayati sma krsnah
''It was Krsna who in the beginning instructed Brahma in Vedic knowledge and who disseminated Vedic knowledge and in the past''� {Atharva Veda, Gopala-tapani Upanisad 1.24}
Following by more quotes establishing that is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, the source of everything.
Proof to support Krsna's supremacy are also:
- isvarah paramah krsna
- ete camsa kulaha purusah
{comments by KKS}
2) BUDHA BHAVA SAMANVITHAH
''the wise worship me with all their hearts''
Comments by Bhurijan:
3) SHRILA PRABHUPADA LECTURES DIRECTLY ON THIS VERSE
1st LECTURE
2nd LECTURE
3rd LECTURE
{Prabhupada spoke on Paris, July 31.76, the same thing as lecture two}
"the meaning is (of 10.8), the Supreme Personality of Godhead is emanating� from him. When one understands this fact, he becomes budha bhava samanvitah, this is ecstasy'' {Adau Sradda}
(this ends the notes for seminar)
Sad Guna
Because of the material body, every living entity in material existence is always disturbed by sad-guna, six whips�hunger, thirst, lamentation, illusion, invalidity and death. Furthermore, another sad-guna is the mind and five sense organs. {SB 5.1.34 PURPORT}
Subtle body changes by chanting
Also applicable to diksa, karma transfer between guru and disciple.
Sometimes caste brahmanas argue that unless one changes his body he cannot be accepted as a brahmacari, for since the present body is obtained as a result of past actions, one who has in the past acted as a brahmacari takes birth in a brahmacari family. Therefore, they contend, without such a brahminical body, one cannot be accepted as a brahmacari. Herein it is said, however, that even vidura-vigata, a candala�a fifth-class untouchable�is freed if he utters the holy name even once. Being freed means that he immediately changes his body. Sanatana Goswami confirms this:
yatha kancanatam yati
kamsyam rasa-vidhanatah
tatha diksa-vidhanena
dvijatvam jayate nrnam
When a person, even though a candala, is initiated by a pure devotee into chanting the holy name of the Lord, his body changes as he follows the instructions of the spiritual master. Although one cannot see how his body has changed, we must accept, on the grounds of the authoritative statements of the casters, that he changes his body. This is to be understood without arguments. This verse clearly says, sa jahati bandham: "He gives up his material bondage". The body is a symbolic representation of material bondage according to one's karma. Although sometimes we cannot see the gross body changing, chanting the holy name of the Supreme Lord immediately changes the subtle body, and because the subtle body changes, the living entity is immediately freed from material bondage. After all, changes of the gross body are conducted by the subtle body. After the destruction of the gross body, the subtle body takes the living entity from his present gross body to another. In the subtle body, the mind is predominant, and therefore if one's mind is always absorbed in remembering the activities or the lotus feet of the Lord, he is to be understood to have already changed his present body and become purified. Therefore it is irrefutable that a candala, or any fallen or lowborn person, can become a brahmacari simply by the method of bona fide initiation. {SB 5.1.35 PURPORT}
DIKSA / GURU must always carry the Lord in the heart
As indicated here by the word manastah, the Supreme Personality of Godhead was transferred from the core of Vasudeva's mind or heart to the core of the heart of Devaki. We should note carefully that the Lord was transferred to Devaki not by the ordinary way for a human being, but by dank, initiation. Thus the importance of initiation is mentioned here. Unless one is initiated by the right person, who always carries within his heart the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one cannot acquire the power to carry the Supreme Godhead within the core of one's own heart. {SB 10.2.18 PURPORT}
Worship guru as much as Krsna
My dear friend everyone should consider his father to be the first teacher because by the mercy of his father he gets this body. The father is therefore the natural spiritual master. Our next spiritual master is the one who initiates us into transcendental knowledge, and he is to be worshipped as much as I am. {Krsna Book, chapter 79 - Krsna to Sudama}
Diksa
diksa-kale bhakta kare atma samarpan
sei-kale krsna tare kare atma sama
''at the time of initiation, when the devotee fully surrenders to the service of the Lord, Krsna accepts him to be as good as himself'' {Bhakti Sandarbha 808 -Srila Jiva Goswami}
''diksa actually means initiating a disciple with the transcendental knowledge by which he becomes freed from all material contamination'' {CC MAD 4.111}
Diksa not required
diksa-purascarya-vidhi apeksa na kare
jihva-sparse a-candala sabare uddhare
�One does not have to undergo initiation or execute the activities required before initiation. One simply has to vibrate the holy name with his lips. Thus even a man in the lowest class [candala] can be delivered. {CC MAD 15.108}
The holy name is self-sufficient
�The holy name of Lord Krishna is an attractive feature for many saintly, liberal people. It is the annihilator of all sinful reactions and is so powerful that, save for the dumb who cannot chant it, it is readily available to everyone, including the lowest type of man, the candala. The holy name of Krishna is the controller of the opulence of liberation, and it is identical with Krishna. When a person simply chants the holy name with his tongue, immediate effects are produced. Chanting the holy name does not depend on initiation, pious activities or the purascarya regulative principles generally observed before initiation. The holy name does not wait for any of these activities. It is self-sufficient.� {CC MAD 15.110}
Perfection of feminine nature
Srimati Radharani is a transcendental feminine counter part of the supreme whole, resembling the perfect ional stage of the worldly feminine nature. {SB 2.3.23}
Sampradaya is bona fide
(in support of the siksa connections in our sampradaya - KKS comments}
So we may conclude from these quotes that it was possible for highly qualified personalities like Bhakti Vinoda Thakura and Gaura Das Babaji to take shelter of a siksa guru surrendering their full hearts.
As far as the maha mantra is concerned, the purity of the mantra does not depend on initiation. The purity depends on offenseless . initiation can purify the conditioned soul and change his offensive mentality, whereby offenseless is easier achieved. Whereas Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Gaura Das Babaji were so exalt they could take advantage of the name directly and avoid offences on the same strength of their purity, meanwhile taking full shelter of their respective siksa gurus.
So there is no argument to say that our sampradaya is not bona fide. - KKS
Who is saved?
What does it mean to be saved?
Think about it.
Then be an example.
Then try to save others.
The facts of compassion are difficult to discern.
They got a japa-mala, a mantra, a deity to worship and they received a name.
Who of them is a disciple?
What is the need?
The purity, the love, the potency.
{my opened window -Astaratha 26}
Astaratha
Obeisances unto you
O late hour of the day
Bless me to be able to stay awakeObeisances to you
A lamp shedding the light
Bless me to be always able to seeObeisances to you
O asana on the floor
Bless me to be able to sit politely (straight)Obeisances to you
O short-legged wooden desk
Bless me to be able to write the truthObeisances to you
O books filling the shelves
Bless me to be able to understand the truthObeisances to you
O two pairs of glasses
Bless me to be able read the truthObeisances to you
O paintings on the wall
Bless me to never become impersonal
(Astaratha)If they ask me
How to improve their lives
What will I say?In this world
Everyone is more or less insane
And trying to cure it is even worseFirst understanding what's wrong
Its not just nedice
Or a special practiceFirst you need to know where you belong
Sabandha jhana
First listen
For a long timeIf they ask
What they should do
How shall I reply?
There are unlimited ways to act
Designed by destiny
Where is your choice?FISRT UNDERSTAND YOUR DUTY
Its not just work
Or keeping yourself busyFIRST YOU MUST KNOW THE BENEFIT
Sreya, the real oneFIRST INQUIRE EXTENSIVELY
If you ask me
Where should you go
Then I can tell you only this
There are many places
As there are desires
You desires will follow you
Like shadowsFIRST UNDERSTAND THE UNIVERSE
Its not just a journey
Or a new adventureFIRST YOU MUST KNOW ITS PURPOSE
Param gati
First elevate yourself
Don�t go down
{Astaratha}Loud and noisy
They remain sworn in
To their won destructionHow can they give?
How can they receive?Dwelling
In the externals only
They miss every sign from withinPride
Always finds a fool
Lust
Money{Astratha 107}
Prabhupada said that he knew the pulse of his disciples
Thus he had recently sensed a tendency in his leading manager to be too absorbed in management and not enough preaching. He had been telling his secretary that GBC men should not simply sit behind their desks and try to centralize power that should become detached.
Api cet sudaracaroh confirmed In narsimha purana
bhagavati ca harav ananya ceta
bhrsa malino 'pi virajate manusyah
na� hi sasa-kalusac-chavih kadacit
tirma-para-bhavatam upaiti candrah
''if a person has completely engaged his mind, body and activities in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but externally he is found to be doing some abominable activities will surely be very quickly vanquished by the influence of his staunch devotional service. {NOD CHAPTER 18 - FROM NRIMHA PURANA}
piteva putram karano nodve jayati-yo janam
visuddhasya hrsikesas turnam tasya prasidati
''a person who does not disturbed or cause painful action in the mind of any living entity, which treats everyone just like a loving father does his children, whose heart is so pure, certainly very soon becomes favoured� by the Supreme Personality of Godhead'' {Mahabharata} {NOD CHAPTER 7 END}
Radharani: singing about Krsna and melting stones
One gopi informed Krishna that when Srimati Radharani was singing about His glories, She enchanted all of Her friends in such a way that they became stone like and dull. At the same time, the nearby stones began to melt away in ecstatic love. {NOD CHAPTER 27 PG.220}
Narada's chanting like the roar of Nrsimha
When there was stretching of the body of Narada Muni from chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, he chanted so loudly that it was apprehended that Lord Nrrsmha had appeared. Thus all the demons began to flee in different directions. {NOD CHAPTER 27 PG.220}
Srila Rupa Gosvami defines revealed scriptures as bhakti exclusively
sastram atra samakhyatam
yad bhakti pratipadakam
''any book which gives enlightenment in the matter of advancing in devotional service is considered to be revealed scriptures. {BRS 1.2.20}
Sri Madhavacarya has also defined revealed scriptures
As referring to books such as the Ramayana, Mahabharata, puranas, upanisads, Vedanta and any other written in pursuance of such revealed scriptures.
Skanda purana about literature on vaisnava devotional service
vaisnavani tu sastrani
ye srnvanti pathanti ca
dhanyaste manava loke
tesam krsnah prasidati
''a person who is constantly engaged in reading literature enunciating the cultivation of vaisnava devotional service is always a glorious in human society, and certainly Lord Krsna becomes pleased with him. A person who verily keeps such literature at home and offers obeisances t it becomes freed from all kinds of reactions and ultimately becomes worshipable by the demigods. {SKANDA PURANA}
Narayana manifests at home
tisthate vaisnavam sastram
likhitam yasya mandire
tatra narayana devah
svayam vasati narada
''my dear Narada whoever writes vaisnava literature and keeps such literature at home has Lord Narayana always residing in his house''{SKANDA PURANA}
'Bhagavatam'
sarva-vedanta-saram hi
sri bhagavatam isyate
tad-rasamrta-trptasya
sanitaria syad ratih kvacit
"Srimad-Bhagavatam is declared to be the essence of all Vedanta philosophy. One who has felt satisfaction from its nectarean mellow will never be attracted to any other literature."
Comments by KKS on above
1) Rupa Gosvami's definition is in the mood of bhakti, in his translations and purports Srila Prabhupada displays the same by always explaining everything in the light if bhakti. For example: In Bhagavad-gita 18.50 - siddhim prapto yatha brahma
''one can attain to the supreme perfect ional stage, Brahman''
Purport: One attains the supreme stage of Brahman simply by renouncing the result of his work for the satisfaction of the supreme Lord.
-in verse 51 to 53. the qualities of one in Brahman consciousness are listed:
Controlled mind, giving up sense gratification, free from false ego and lust.
- then in verse 54 Brahman is described.
- and then finally proving the point that the explanation of bhakti is the correct�
perspective on the previous verse.
Change the heart� (steel-framed heart)
1} Certainly that heart is steel-framed which, in spite of one's chanting the holy name of the Lord with concentration, does not change when ecstasy takes place, tears fill the eyes and the hairs stand on end. {SB 2.3.24 TEXT}
2} He whole process of spiritual culture is aimed at changing the heart of the living being in the matter of his eternal relation with the Supreme Lord as subordinate servant, which is his eternal constitutional position.
3} So with the progress of devotional service, the reaction of change in the heart is exhibited by gradual detachment from the sense of material enjoyment by a false sense of Lording it over the world and an increase in the attitude of rendering loving service to the Lord.
4} Vidhi-bhakti, or regulated devotional service by the limbs of the body (namely the eyes, the ears, the nose, the hands and the legs, as already explained hereinbefore), is now stressed herein in relation to the mind, which is the impetus for all activities of the limbs of the body.
5} Hearing and chanting are the basic principles of discharging devotional duties, and if they are properly performed there will follow the react ional ecstasy with signs of tears in the eyes and standing of the hairs on the body. These are natural consequences and are the preliminary symptoms of the bhava stage, which occurs before one reaches the perfect ional stage of prema, love of Godhead.
6} If the reaction does not take place, even after continuous hearing and chanting of the holy name of the Lord, it may be considered to be due to offences only. That is the opinion of the Sandarbha. {SB 2.3.24 PURPORT}
tad asma-saram hrdayam batedam
yad gthyamanair hari-nama-dheyah
na vihriyetatha yada vikaro
netre jalam gatra-ruhesu harsah
"Certainly that heart is steel-framed which, in spite of one's chanting the holy name of the Lord with concentration, does not change when ecstasy takes place, tears fill the eyes and the hairs stand on end." {SB 2.3.24 TEXT}
Overview on Srimad Bhagavatam chapters 1, 2 and 3
We should note with profit that in the first three chapters of the Second Canto a gradual process of development of devotional service is being presented.
1}�In the First Chapter the first step in devotional service for God consciousness by the process of hearing and chanting has been stressed, and a gross conception of the Personality of Godhead in His universal form for the beginners is recommended. By such a gross conception of God through the material manifestations of His energy, one is enabled to spiritualize the mind and the senses and gradually concentrate the mind upon Lord Vishnu, the Supreme, who is present as the Supersoul in every heart and everywhere, in every atom of the material universe. (focus on the universal form leads to worship of the Supersoul).
2} The system of pancopasana recommended five mental attitudes for the common man, is also enacted for this purpose, namely gradual development, worship of the superior, that maybe in the form of fire electricity,� the sun, the mass of living beings, Lord Siva and at last the impersonal Supersoul, the partial representation of� Lord Vishnu. {2nd chapter}
3}� in the third chapter further development is described after one has actually reached the stage of Vishnu worship, or pure devotional service, and the mature stage of Vishnu worship is suggested herein in relation to the change of heart. {SB 2.3.24 PURPORT}
Preaching not bhajan attracts mercy
We have to preach where we came from. We can't make it with our bhajan. We need the mercy of Mahaprabhu. {Pankajangri, Mayapur MAY'99}
Sanyasa-preaching managing
Take sanyasa travel and preach with this in mind he had awarded the sanyasa order to two of his GBC secretaries, TKG and Sudama. Now he advised that they not give up their managerial burden but follow his example of preaching and managing their GBC zones in a renounced spirit. {Lilamrta vol. 5, chapter 4, page 91}
Lion and lamb
Prabhupada said, "I am like a lion when I am out and lamb when I am home". {Lilamrta vol. 5, page 92}
Prabhupada gave sanyasa and said, now preach, preach, preach
Prabhupada had us up in his room. We asked him if there were any special instructions. He said there were two restrictions in sanyasa life. One was that when meeting a rich man and seeing his opulent wealth we must not think, "Oh I have given up everything, but I wish I could enjoy these things". And other restriction was that when we see a beautiful woman we must not think, "I had a beautiful wife, and now this beautiful woman is here. I could enjoy her". Iin other words do not have any regrets about having taken sanyasa. {Lilamrta vol. 5, page 95}
Qualities of ISCKON based on Gita
Our Krishna Consciousness movement is genuine, historically authoritized, natural and transcendental due to its being based on Bhagavad-gita as it is {Preface, Bhagavad-gita, page xvii}
All credit to guru and Prabhupada's persona credit.
1) 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 Vishnupadaya Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya 108 Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaj Prabhupada.
2) If�personally I have any credit in this matter, it is only that I have tried to present Bhagavad-gita as it is, without any adulteration. {preface pg. xviii}
Four sampradayas of personalismThe four principles of the vaisnava philosophic doctrine are suddha-advaita (purified oneness) dvaita-advaita (simultaneous and different), visistaadvaita and advaita. All four principles of vaisnava philosophy are based on the thesis of Srimad Bhagavatam explained in these two verses.
Jiva separate from The Lord - MAYAVADA
yatholmukad visphulingad
dhumad vapi sva-sambhavat
apy atmatvenabhimatad
yathagnih prthag ulmuka
The blazing fire is different from the flames, from the sparks and from the smoke, although all are intimately connected because they are born from the same blazing wood. {SB 3.28.40}
bhutendriyantah-karanat
pradhanaj jiva-samjnitat
atma
tatha prthag drasta
bhagavan brahma-samjnitah
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as Parambrahma, is the seer. He is different from the jiva soul, or individual living entity, who is combined with the senses, the five elements and consciousness.
Kuruksetra
The whole catastrophe was due to King Dhrtarastra, because he encouraged the policy followed by his sons. {Bg 1.18 PURPORT}
Enemies become friends
yatah padma
because in the padma purana
arir mitram visam pathyam
enemy friend poison health food
adharmo dharmatam vrajet
impiety piety becomes
suprasanne hrsikese
pleased when Lord Krsna is
viparite viparyayah
reversed� the opposite
In the Padma purana it is said:
When Lord Krishna is pleased enemies can become friends, poison can become saintliness everything can become its opposite. {Padma Purana HBV, 1st VILASA, text 109}
tatraiva sri bhagavat vakyam
there indeed the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
man nimittram krtam papam
caused by me done�sin
api dharmaya kalpate
even�for religion�becomes suited
mam�anadrtya�dharmo'pi
me�not respecting�religion even
papam syan�mat�prabhavatah
sin�becomes of me by the power
In the padama purana the Supreme Personality of Godhead said:
"if one sins for my sake his sins become pious deeds. If one refuses to worship Me, then by my power his pious deeds become sin". {Padma purana HBV 1st VILASA, TEXT 110}
Mahaprabhu took two principles from each sampradaya
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted two principles from each of the 4 Acaryas.
From Ramanuja:
From Madhavacarya:
From Vishnu Swami:
From Nimbarka:
Four bona fide Sampradayas
The Yadus destroyed due to offences
Prthu Maharaja warns his citizens who are actually engaged in the devotional service of the Lord to take care against offences to the brahmanas and Vaisnavas. Offences at their lotus feet are so destructive that even the descendants of Yadu who were born in the family of Lord Krishna were destroyed. {SB 4 21.37. PURPORT}
Not dry philosophy
First the student must be able to repeat exactly the words of the guru and then after some he may be qualified to apply the principles he has learned word-for-word to personal situations. Its not that we are dry philosophy of dogman and slogans. {SPL to Bhakta das, Nov 20th. 71}
When Nimai
(After Nimai returned from Gaya He acted like a devotee and explained in
grammer that every word meant Krishna. Then He met His mother at home.)
Mother Saci asked, "my son what book did you read today? And who did you have an argument with?" the Lord replied, "today we read about the holy name of Krishna, the glories of His lotus feet etc".
Scripture (definition)
That scripture is true and eternal that explains the process of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krishna otherwise such a book cannot be called a scripture it is an atheistic shallow book. The Vedic say, those scriptures which fail to establish the process of devotional service are to be rejected even if Lord Brahma was to come down himself and speak from it, one should never hear him speak {CB Madyalila, chapter 1, page 172, Purima version}
Origin of the tern Bhagavad-gita as it is
At� this time (mahapraksesa). He also asked Advaita to explain Bhagavad-gita as it is (gitara satya patha) {CC Madyalila 17.18 PURPORT}
The Lord breaks the injunctions
All the scriptures proclaim that Lord Krishna is everyone�s dearest friend; Lord Krishna never hates or dislikes anyone. He is equally disposed to all living entities. Yet, He is even willing to break this injunction for His pure and dedicated devotees. The proof of this statement is that Lord Krishna eliminated Duryodhana�s entire family.{CB Madyalila, chapter 2, page 182}
Namo Bramanya� chanted by
When Advaita acarya finally realized that Lord Caitanya was a Supreme Lord. He offered worship. Chanting namo bramanya govindaya namo namaha jagat hit aya krisnaya govindaya namo namaha over and over again.{CB Madyalila, chapter 2, page 190}
Great faith in Lord Nityananda
One day the Lord and Srivasa talked over the transcendental pastimes of Lord Krishna. The Lord wanted to test Srivasa and therefore asked him "why do you always keep this avadhuta in your house. His cast and race are not known to us. You are very liberal. If you want to keep your cast and race then don't keep Him any further" Srivasa Pandita smiled, and said, "Oh Lord, it is not good to test me. He who thinks about you even for one day, is my life. Nityananda and is non different from you. Even if Nityananda becomes addicted to wine or marries a Muslim woman spoils my life, property, cast etc. I will never dislike him. Hearing this from Srivasa, the Lord roared loudly and said," what did you say Pandita Srivasa? Do you have so much of faith in Lord Nityananda? Do you know Nityananda as He is and He is unknown to others. He is my life. I am satisfied with you. I offer you a boon. Even if Laksmi, the goddess of fortune has to beg door to door, you will not suffer poverty. All your family members along with the cats and dogs in your house will have strong faith and staunch devotion to me. I offer Nityananda to you and you take care of Him". {CB Madyalila, chapter 8, page 244}
While being whipped in 22 market places
Haridasa's one emotion was pity for sentries "Oh Lord Krishna, please be merciful upon these poor souls, so they may not be punished because of me"{CB Adyalila, chapter 16, page 143}
Atheistic literatures
Srila Jiva Goswami warns us in this regard that a devotee should not read atheistic literature, even with the purpose of refining arguments against atheism. Such literature should be entirely avoided. The above mentioned prohibited activities are so detrimental to the advancement of Krishna Consciousness that they should not be adopted even as a superficial show. {SB 11.18.31 PURPORT}
Definition of a liberated person
In the BRS it is said that although one who has a sincere desire to render loving service to the Supreme Lord is situated in the conditional state of material existence, he is to be considered liberated. Similarly we shall find in the Bhagavad-gita,10th chapter, that anyone who is engaged that way is a liberated person.
Separation
He asked one old lady where Nandanandana was and that the old lady replied" he went out to tend the cows along with His friends and elder brother Balaram, but now in the evening He will return". She also told Him that from the direction, where every vrajbasi even the leaves of the trees are looking. He would return. {Brhat Bhagavatamrta, part II, Fulfilment of desire}
No initiation can lead to animal birth
pasu yonim avapnoti
diksa virahito janah
For a person who is not properly initiated, all of his activities becomes fruitless. Such an initiated person can take birth in the animal kingdom in the future. {HBV 2.6 from Vishnu vamala}