Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Not All Things Are Equal (by Srila Saraswati Thakura)
Not All Things Are Equal
by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvatī Ṭhakura Prabhupada
Question 1: Who is known as harijana*?
* ‘Hari’ is the Supreme Lord; ‘jana’ refers to those who are His people. In other words, harijana refers to the true devotees of God. A contemporary use of the word was introduced during India’s Independence Movement in an attempt to elevate the social status of those born in lower castes. For this reason, the original meaning will be elucidated here.
Answer: Nowadays, the word harijana is being used inappropriately. Truly speaking, harijana refers to the aprakrta bhaktas (transcendentally situated devotees) of the Supreme Lord, whose svarupa (true constitutional identity) has been awakened. In whatever lineage one may be born, by whichever identity one may be known externally, only one who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of sri guru and exclusively serves the Supreme Lord is harijana. Such persons have no duty or desire other than rendering service to the Supreme Lord.
To address those who are non-devotees, whose svarupa has not awakened, as harijana is both inappropriate and against scriptural injunctions. Although everyone is constitutionally an eternal harijana, as long as someone is still oblivious of their svarupa, they are not yet identified by that eternal characteristic. Let their svarupa be awakened and let them become engaged in hari-seva; then we shall have no objection to referring to them as harijana. It is true that every paddy seed contains rice, but paddy seed is not rice. Only after the covering is removed can it be called rice.
It is true that every living entity is haridasa, or harijana, but one can only be called haridasa when one is engaged in serving the Supreme Lord, and not before.
Question 2: Some say that everyone is equal. Are they right?
Answer: The real and the unreal, the devotee and the non-devotee, the sinful and the virtuous, the educated and the illiterate, the demigod and the Supreme Lord, the chaste and the unchaste, religion and non-religion, light and darkness, atma-dharma and anatma-dharma, devotion and non-devotion – how can these be equal to each other?
Everything is considered acceptable by those who remain unaware of internal realities and who have yet to enter into contemplation of the subtlest of subtle subject matters. An ignorant child may claim that his illegible writing must have meaning; for if the writings of knowledgeable men have meaning, then his scribbles must as well.
A foolish man will accuse someone who sees a difference between illegible scribbles and meaningful writing of being sectarian and partial. If one tries to discuss true principles in relation to the Supreme Lord and harikathā with those who are unaware of their internal imports, this mass demographic will reply, “Making people aware of the absolute principles and conclusions revealed in scripture is nothing but sectarianism; and refuting the false conceptions of others is nothing but criticism.”
Their opinion is, “I am ignorant, so it is best if I blend all conceptions together and say that everything is the same. That way everyone will be satisfied and I shall have no disagreement with anyone.”
Truth can never be the same as untruth, and devotion can never be the same as non-devotion. But for those who have no bhakti, who do not realize the necessity of serving the Supreme Lord, and who do not wish for their true welfare but only for material sense-gratification and worldly recognition, the pure and the adulterated are regarded as equal.
Question 3: How do pure devotees perceive sri guru?
Answer: Sri guru is known to ordinary men in one way and to intimate devotees in another. To the pure devotees, sri guru is experienced as the one who is dearest to their atma (parama-atmiya), as most dear to Sri Krsna, as the sole recipient of their affection, and as their eternal, worshipful master, their life and their everything. Sri guru is extremely dear to Sri Krsna and is non-different from Him; it is not possible to become the servant of Sri Krsna without serving sri guru. Only those who serve sri guru are truly devotees of the Lord, or true Vaisnavas.
It is not possible to have darsana of sri guru through eyes covered by iniquity. To see sri guru as an ordinary man is to not have true darsana of him. By perpetuating such a perception one only attains hellish realms. Sri guru is not insignificant; he is not a mortal man. He is isvara (non-different from the Lord), he is the dear-most associate of Sri Bhagavan, he is a mahajana (the greatest of men), he is the acarya (preceptor) of chanting the holy names, and he is krsna-prestha (the intimate beloved of Sri Krsna).
Question 4: Why is it that the obstacles in our path are not being removed and why are we unable to attain our cherished wishes?
Answer: We still consider sri guru, who is non-different from Bhagavan, to be an ordinary mortal being. Consequently, our tendency to perceive faults in him has not yet been dispelled. This is why we are unable to sincerely surrender at his lotus feet. We dishonour the words of the Vedas, the words of the Supreme Lord and the words of Srimad Bhagavad-gita when we consider sri guru to be an ordinary human being, the Vaisnavas as belonging to an earthly caste decided at birth, and the Lord’s deity form to be a sculpture made of stone, wood or earth. This is the reason for our deplorable condition.
Question 5: What are the innate activities of the jivas?
Answer: Vrajendra-nandana Sri Krsna is Kamadeva, the single-most worshipful primeval object for all souls. The jivas’s eternal duty, or natural activity, is to render service to Him. Due to forgetting this, the jiva sometimes becomes a nirvisesa jnani and thus considers himself to be the Supreme Lord by misconceiving the purport of “aham brahmasmi – I am supreme spirit”. Sometimes he becomes a material enjoyer and seeks the material fruits of performing varnasrama-dharma*. And sometimes he simply engages in enjoying the company of women and nothing more. This is why it is said, “O jiva, you should relinquish your false pride and your adoration and worship of women, along with your doting submissiveness to them. You should become the kinkari** of Śrī Rūpa Manjari and surrender yourself unto serving Srimate Radharanī. You should always remain engaged in serving Sri Krsna under the guidance of the damsels of Vraja.”
* The occupational duties of the righteous citizen (their dharma) fall into one of four divisions of work (varna) and one of four phases of life (asrama).
** Kim – what; kari – should I do? The loving servants of Rupa Manjari exist always in the state of seeking to engage in some meaningful service to Sri Sri Radha Krsna.
Question 6: Why do material desires arise even while chanting the holy names?
Answer: One attains spiritual welfare by chanting the holy names under the guidance of sri guru. One should not slacken in one’s chanting of the holy names due to the appearance of material thoughts while chanting. By progressively and regularly engaging in chanting the holy name, all of these useless thoughts shall gradually be dispelled. One need not worry for that. The final result cannot be achieved in the very beginning. As extreme love for sri krsna-nama manifests, greed for material thought shall diminish. How can one’s material thoughts diminish unless one has developed intense desire for sri krsna-nama? Only when one serves the holy name with one’s body, mind and words does nami – Sri Krsna (the one whose name we chant) – make His all-benevolent, true svarupa manifest before us.
Translated by the Rays of The Harmonist team
from Śrīla Prabhupādera Upadeśāmṛtam
by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvatī Ṭhakura Prabhupada
Question 1: Who is known as harijana*?
* ‘Hari’ is the Supreme Lord; ‘jana’ refers to those who are His people. In other words, harijana refers to the true devotees of God. A contemporary use of the word was introduced during India’s Independence Movement in an attempt to elevate the social status of those born in lower castes. For this reason, the original meaning will be elucidated here.
Answer: Nowadays, the word harijana is being used inappropriately. Truly speaking, harijana refers to the aprakrta bhaktas (transcendentally situated devotees) of the Supreme Lord, whose svarupa (true constitutional identity) has been awakened. In whatever lineage one may be born, by whichever identity one may be known externally, only one who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of sri guru and exclusively serves the Supreme Lord is harijana. Such persons have no duty or desire other than rendering service to the Supreme Lord.
To address those who are non-devotees, whose svarupa has not awakened, as harijana is both inappropriate and against scriptural injunctions. Although everyone is constitutionally an eternal harijana, as long as someone is still oblivious of their svarupa, they are not yet identified by that eternal characteristic. Let their svarupa be awakened and let them become engaged in hari-seva; then we shall have no objection to referring to them as harijana. It is true that every paddy seed contains rice, but paddy seed is not rice. Only after the covering is removed can it be called rice.
It is true that every living entity is haridasa, or harijana, but one can only be called haridasa when one is engaged in serving the Supreme Lord, and not before.
Question 2: Some say that everyone is equal. Are they right?
Answer: The real and the unreal, the devotee and the non-devotee, the sinful and the virtuous, the educated and the illiterate, the demigod and the Supreme Lord, the chaste and the unchaste, religion and non-religion, light and darkness, atma-dharma and anatma-dharma, devotion and non-devotion – how can these be equal to each other?
Everything is considered acceptable by those who remain unaware of internal realities and who have yet to enter into contemplation of the subtlest of subtle subject matters. An ignorant child may claim that his illegible writing must have meaning; for if the writings of knowledgeable men have meaning, then his scribbles must as well.
A foolish man will accuse someone who sees a difference between illegible scribbles and meaningful writing of being sectarian and partial. If one tries to discuss true principles in relation to the Supreme Lord and harikathā with those who are unaware of their internal imports, this mass demographic will reply, “Making people aware of the absolute principles and conclusions revealed in scripture is nothing but sectarianism; and refuting the false conceptions of others is nothing but criticism.”
Their opinion is, “I am ignorant, so it is best if I blend all conceptions together and say that everything is the same. That way everyone will be satisfied and I shall have no disagreement with anyone.”
Truth can never be the same as untruth, and devotion can never be the same as non-devotion. But for those who have no bhakti, who do not realize the necessity of serving the Supreme Lord, and who do not wish for their true welfare but only for material sense-gratification and worldly recognition, the pure and the adulterated are regarded as equal.
Question 3: How do pure devotees perceive sri guru?
Answer: Sri guru is known to ordinary men in one way and to intimate devotees in another. To the pure devotees, sri guru is experienced as the one who is dearest to their atma (parama-atmiya), as most dear to Sri Krsna, as the sole recipient of their affection, and as their eternal, worshipful master, their life and their everything. Sri guru is extremely dear to Sri Krsna and is non-different from Him; it is not possible to become the servant of Sri Krsna without serving sri guru. Only those who serve sri guru are truly devotees of the Lord, or true Vaisnavas.
It is not possible to have darsana of sri guru through eyes covered by iniquity. To see sri guru as an ordinary man is to not have true darsana of him. By perpetuating such a perception one only attains hellish realms. Sri guru is not insignificant; he is not a mortal man. He is isvara (non-different from the Lord), he is the dear-most associate of Sri Bhagavan, he is a mahajana (the greatest of men), he is the acarya (preceptor) of chanting the holy names, and he is krsna-prestha (the intimate beloved of Sri Krsna).
Question 4: Why is it that the obstacles in our path are not being removed and why are we unable to attain our cherished wishes?
Answer: We still consider sri guru, who is non-different from Bhagavan, to be an ordinary mortal being. Consequently, our tendency to perceive faults in him has not yet been dispelled. This is why we are unable to sincerely surrender at his lotus feet. We dishonour the words of the Vedas, the words of the Supreme Lord and the words of Srimad Bhagavad-gita when we consider sri guru to be an ordinary human being, the Vaisnavas as belonging to an earthly caste decided at birth, and the Lord’s deity form to be a sculpture made of stone, wood or earth. This is the reason for our deplorable condition.
Question 5: What are the innate activities of the jivas?
Answer: Vrajendra-nandana Sri Krsna is Kamadeva, the single-most worshipful primeval object for all souls. The jivas’s eternal duty, or natural activity, is to render service to Him. Due to forgetting this, the jiva sometimes becomes a nirvisesa jnani and thus considers himself to be the Supreme Lord by misconceiving the purport of “aham brahmasmi – I am supreme spirit”. Sometimes he becomes a material enjoyer and seeks the material fruits of performing varnasrama-dharma*. And sometimes he simply engages in enjoying the company of women and nothing more. This is why it is said, “O jiva, you should relinquish your false pride and your adoration and worship of women, along with your doting submissiveness to them. You should become the kinkari** of Śrī Rūpa Manjari and surrender yourself unto serving Srimate Radharanī. You should always remain engaged in serving Sri Krsna under the guidance of the damsels of Vraja.”
* The occupational duties of the righteous citizen (their dharma) fall into one of four divisions of work (varna) and one of four phases of life (asrama).
** Kim – what; kari – should I do? The loving servants of Rupa Manjari exist always in the state of seeking to engage in some meaningful service to Sri Sri Radha Krsna.
Question 6: Why do material desires arise even while chanting the holy names?
Answer: One attains spiritual welfare by chanting the holy names under the guidance of sri guru. One should not slacken in one’s chanting of the holy names due to the appearance of material thoughts while chanting. By progressively and regularly engaging in chanting the holy name, all of these useless thoughts shall gradually be dispelled. One need not worry for that. The final result cannot be achieved in the very beginning. As extreme love for sri krsna-nama manifests, greed for material thought shall diminish. How can one’s material thoughts diminish unless one has developed intense desire for sri krsna-nama? Only when one serves the holy name with one’s body, mind and words does nami – Sri Krsna (the one whose name we chant) – make His all-benevolent, true svarupa manifest before us.
Translated by the Rays of The Harmonist team
from Śrīla Prabhupādera Upadeśāmṛtam
Liberated Souls / Padmanabhaswamy / Inquiry is Intelligence (+News)
To Me
Today at 12:27 AM
Hare Krishna,
Liberated is he who is engaged in the service of the Lord (Part-1)
Pradyumna: (reading:) "...but his whole advancement of material happiness immediately terminates along with his body as soon as his life is over. Death is therefore taken as the representative of God for the atheistic class of men. The devotee realizes the presence of God by devotional service, whereas the atheist realizes the presence of God in the shape of death.
Civilization of the spirit soul
The more one spiritually advances by devotional service to the Lord, in exchange for his temporary possessions, the more one is freed from the attachment of material illusion. To achieve this stage of life one must be firmly convinced about spiritual existence and its permanent effects.
Enquiry is intelligence
Jai Srila Prabhupada!
Excavation on at Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State archaeology department officials started the excavation work on Monday to study the archaic and historic facts behind the three underground rocky footsteps identified at the north entry of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
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ISKCON TimesSunday, April 27, 2014
Muslims Always Welcomed // Prabhupada's Devotees Banned
http://iskconnews.org/vaishnavas-and-muslims-discuss-peacebuilding-in-5th-annual-dialogue,4372/
[PADA: Notice that Ravindra Swarupa has set up his entourage in the Potomac Temple, after being driven out of Philadelphia. Notice as well how he schmoozes with some Muslims, but he tears up our publications glorifying Srila Prabhupada. Also notice, he is still the biggest leader posted on the ISKCON site, they love this guy! ys pd]
[PADA: Notice that Ravindra Swarupa has set up his entourage in the Potomac Temple, after being driven out of Philadelphia. Notice as well how he schmoozes with some Muslims, but he tears up our publications glorifying Srila Prabhupada. Also notice, he is still the biggest leader posted on the ISKCON site, they love this guy! ys pd]
Someone's Hat is WAY too big!
Inquiry About the Guru Parampara
Hare Krishna!
I believe this email goes to Puranjana prabhu, correct me if I am wrong.
[PADA: Correct.]
I first randomly typed in “HareKrsna.org” in 2007 when I started getting interested in KC and ISKCON, I also got exposed to the other side of things; Ritvik views, IRM etc. Whatever is contained in these sites talk about things that happened in ISKCON almost 30 years ago.
*** Surely the current state of ISKCON is much aligned to Srila Prabhupada’s ideals right?
[PADA: What Srila Prabhupada taught us is -- that it is a severe offense to consider that the guru parampara / representatives of God / shaksat hari tvena gurus are (or could be) debauchees. Whereas GBC spokesman Jayadvaita swami writes for example, that in ISKCON, gurus are often caught engaged in illicit sex with men, women and maybe children. Srila Prabhupada says that the guru is a resident of Krishna loka, so how can the residents of Krishna loka behave like fallen debauchees?
That means they are insulting the residents of Krishna loka by saying they are often fallen debauchees. Then again, even us common neophytes are not engaged in illicit sex with men, women and children. So the GBC are making the standards for acharyas to be -- less than the ordinary man. At the same time, anyone who says the parampara is NOT contaminated is shunned, banned, kicked out, harassed, threatened etc.]
*** And surely not all of the over 100 sannyasis are deviants.
[PADA: The official position of the GBC is that Lord Krishna's successors gurus are often deviants. If any one of the 100 sannyasas has complained that the GBC policy is wrong, who is that person? We have never seen any one of these 100 people write a position paper saying that the GBC idea that gurus are often debauchees, is the wrong idea? Who has made an official complaint about this policy?]
*** Much of the ‘sannyasis’ that were more criminal in nature fell down and left ISKCON, correct?
[PADA: OK this is the whole problem right here, the GBC says that gurus are often criminals who fall down and leave ISKCON. The members of the parampara are falling down and have been criminals? And when we said this criminal behavior needs to be fixed, we were kicked out. So they enforced the criminal behavior. Which GBC leader or sannyasa has come out in public and decried the GBC policy that acharyas are often debauchees and criminals? And that the people who support that system are bona fide?]
*** The only reason I got interested in ISKCON is because of hearing recordings of Niranjana maharaj lectures and the lectures of Prabhupada disciples in Alachua. And there are so many sincere devotees in ISKCON.
[PADA: OK that is nice, but to say that the successors to God are often debauchees is not the teachings of any of the acharyas, or Krishna. If the acharyas are falling down left, right and center, then how can the neophyte expect to make any progress? Its not only an offense to the acharyas, its creating a hopeless and helpless attitude -- that progress is almost impossible, or progress can never be made, so people give up altogether. And many thousands have done so already. If the acharya is often falling down, then, why bother trying at all, its hopeless-ness. There are many sincere people, ok that may be, but there were many sincere people in the Catholic church in the medieval times -- who thought that it was a good idea to burn witches. They were sincere, but mis-informed. So first of all, we'd like to know your feelings on these points.]
*** I am interested to know your comments on what I’m saying about ISKCON right now in 2014. And what would you recommend a person like me who is a fairly new bhakta, someone who wants to take initiation etc. How should I pursue the path of bhakti. Should I take initiation from a guru or not.
Thank you,
[PADA: Here are some additional considerations:]
Dear Gaura Kesava and all Prabhus, Please accept my respectful obeisances.
All glories to our jagat guru Srila Prabhupada!
The debate goes on. I’ve been watching on the sidelines this internet istagosthi and now I had to jump in. I will be short and to the point because I am typing on my iphone.
I was personally serving Srila Prabhupada back in 1977 when he first decided he was going to leave the planet. I heard him say that he wanted the ritvik initiation system for his movement after his departure. This is documented in the July 9th 1977 Newsletter to all Temple Presidents and G.B.C.’s. That letter was dictated from a July 7th 1977 Garden conversation which I heard. That is our sastra! That is specific. You say we must follow sastra; there it is. Is there anymore sastra after that date that would change anything?
We need the guru to explain the sastra to us; otherwise we will pick and choose whatever suits us and end up not following the real orders of the spiritual master. Srila Prabhupada warned us about ‘over-intelligence’ and I think that is what we have here. Instead of us trying to figure out how initiations should go on from (which) sastra we should instead try to figure out what our guru said and did. He had the ritvik system up and running for years before he left, physically and he wanted that to continue as he said on July 7th 1977. It’s on tape!
I have been trying to speak to the GBC for 32 years now but so far my requests have fallen on deaf ears. They say they have no time every time every year I ask to attend their meetings to discuss this most important issue. Most of them are initiating on their own so you can imagine why they won’t discuss it. It might mess up their retirement plans. Profit, distinction and of course adoration.
If we leave it up to the new devotees to check out their gurus they will be misled. Then later if their ‘guru’ falls down they will probably be disheartened and leave KRSNA Consciousness altogether as so many have. That is why Srila Prabhupada most intelligently set up the ritvik initiation system for his movement.
If someone wants to be a diksa guru he or she must be able to deliver them back to Godhead. They must have full KRSNA prema. They must do this in their own temples; not Srila Prabhupada’s! That is Vaisnava ettiquette. Srila Prabhupada did not try to become a diksa guru in the Gaudiya Math. The self-effulgent acharya can attract the souls and build his/her movement from the ground up. That’s what Srila Prabhupada the acharya did; that’s what we need to do.
We’ve got guru fever. Sikas gurus we can and should be but diksa guru is one for ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada! It’s simple for some but complicated for the over-intelligent speculators. I hope this helped.
Haven’t seen you for many years since you were with Dristadyumna I’m Hawaii. Glad to see you are hanging in there but have faith in His Divine Grace; he’s there also if you let him.
Hoping this meets you and all the Vaisnavas well and advancing in KC
Your servant,
Gauridasa Pandita Dasa
I believe this email goes to Puranjana prabhu, correct me if I am wrong.
[PADA: Correct.]
I first randomly typed in “HareKrsna.org” in 2007 when I started getting interested in KC and ISKCON, I also got exposed to the other side of things; Ritvik views, IRM etc. Whatever is contained in these sites talk about things that happened in ISKCON almost 30 years ago.
[PADA: The GBC has not changed their core issue problems in 30 years? For example, they said in 1979 that Lord Krishna's guru successors are subject to illusion, failure, illicit sex, criminal behavior and so forth. That is STILL their position. For example, GBC spokesman Anuttama dasa said at their 2014 GBC meeting -- that its common for gurus (in our Vaishnava line) to fall into mundane illusion, and this was going on at the time of Lord Chaitanya -- and previous to Him.
In short, they have been establishing that the guru parampara from Krishna is -- eternally populated by deviants, and it has been that way all along since time immemorial. Since God is the leader and source of HIS guru parampara, how is it contaminated at any point?
Worse, the big GBC leaders just NOW buried Kirtanananda in a "samadhi" in Vrndavana, so they are still promoting the worship of their worst deviants, even today. Rupa Goswami is buried in a samadhi, and so are their worst criminal deviants? That means they are going backward, not forward. That also means they are insulting and attacking the holy dham, in addition to attacking the guru parampara. Only a person of parampara member qualification is fit to be buried in a samadhi in the holy land, and yet the GBC does just the opposite, they select their worst case deviants to be buried in a samadhi there.
And just because they have been promoting the worship of deviants for 30 years, and they are NOW placing their worst case deviants into "Vrndavana samadhis," this does not make their process bona fide? If we say "the sun is the same color as a green apple," ok -- even if we say that for 30 years, that does not make the sun the same color as a green apple?
Whereas our Prabhupadanuga / ritvik idea is to say -- the acharyas are NOT subject to falling into debauchee behavior, and that is why we are banned from ISKCON. In short, anyone who says that acharyas are ETERNAL, PURE and are NOT falling down is banned from the current ISKCON society. That would be like -- anyone who proclaimed that people like Jesus must be pure, being banned from Christianity? What kind of society bans anyone who says the guru is pure and is not a debauchee?
The leaders of current ISKCON are preaching that the guru parampara from Krishna is commonly contaminated by mundane degradation. This is the basic premise they had all along since 1978, and that is the principle they STILL operate on, i.e. the guru has to be worshiped as if he is "as good as God" (shaksat hari tvena) simultaneously, he may be subject to mundane illusion, failure, illicit and criminal behaviors etc. If the guru is "as good as God," and he can fail, then they de facto are saying God is subject to failure.
Of course the next problem is -- that the same people who brought about the policy of demonizing the Srila Prabhupada disciples, resulting in our being banned, beaten and even assassinated, are still in charge, such as Jayapataka, Hrdayananda and others. And many of their henchmen like Umapati, Devarmrta, Kuladri, Radhanath, Svavasa, Badrinaryana and many similar others -- are also still in charge.
So their bogus "gurus are falling down" siddhanta has not changed, and many of the people who caused all the troubles in the first place are still in posts of higher authority. What has actually changed, other than a few cosmetics? In 1986 they had a "guru reform," so now they are saying gurus deviate into illicit behaviors and thus need reform. Which previous acharyas needed reform from deviations?
Sorry, none of these issues has ever been cleared up. Instead, its just getting worse, now they are openly saying the entire guru parampara has had gurus falling into debauchee behaviors the whole while. The parampara has never been pure at any time apparently? So if we say that the guru is subject to illusion and debauchee behavior, then what is the standard for guru? There is none.]
In short, they have been establishing that the guru parampara from Krishna is -- eternally populated by deviants, and it has been that way all along since time immemorial. Since God is the leader and source of HIS guru parampara, how is it contaminated at any point?
Worse, the big GBC leaders just NOW buried Kirtanananda in a "samadhi" in Vrndavana, so they are still promoting the worship of their worst deviants, even today. Rupa Goswami is buried in a samadhi, and so are their worst criminal deviants? That means they are going backward, not forward. That also means they are insulting and attacking the holy dham, in addition to attacking the guru parampara. Only a person of parampara member qualification is fit to be buried in a samadhi in the holy land, and yet the GBC does just the opposite, they select their worst case deviants to be buried in a samadhi there.
And just because they have been promoting the worship of deviants for 30 years, and they are NOW placing their worst case deviants into "Vrndavana samadhis," this does not make their process bona fide? If we say "the sun is the same color as a green apple," ok -- even if we say that for 30 years, that does not make the sun the same color as a green apple?
Whereas our Prabhupadanuga / ritvik idea is to say -- the acharyas are NOT subject to falling into debauchee behavior, and that is why we are banned from ISKCON. In short, anyone who says that acharyas are ETERNAL, PURE and are NOT falling down is banned from the current ISKCON society. That would be like -- anyone who proclaimed that people like Jesus must be pure, being banned from Christianity? What kind of society bans anyone who says the guru is pure and is not a debauchee?
The leaders of current ISKCON are preaching that the guru parampara from Krishna is commonly contaminated by mundane degradation. This is the basic premise they had all along since 1978, and that is the principle they STILL operate on, i.e. the guru has to be worshiped as if he is "as good as God" (shaksat hari tvena) simultaneously, he may be subject to mundane illusion, failure, illicit and criminal behaviors etc. If the guru is "as good as God," and he can fail, then they de facto are saying God is subject to failure.
Of course the next problem is -- that the same people who brought about the policy of demonizing the Srila Prabhupada disciples, resulting in our being banned, beaten and even assassinated, are still in charge, such as Jayapataka, Hrdayananda and others. And many of their henchmen like Umapati, Devarmrta, Kuladri, Radhanath, Svavasa, Badrinaryana and many similar others -- are also still in charge.
So their bogus "gurus are falling down" siddhanta has not changed, and many of the people who caused all the troubles in the first place are still in posts of higher authority. What has actually changed, other than a few cosmetics? In 1986 they had a "guru reform," so now they are saying gurus deviate into illicit behaviors and thus need reform. Which previous acharyas needed reform from deviations?
Sorry, none of these issues has ever been cleared up. Instead, its just getting worse, now they are openly saying the entire guru parampara has had gurus falling into debauchee behaviors the whole while. The parampara has never been pure at any time apparently? So if we say that the guru is subject to illusion and debauchee behavior, then what is the standard for guru? There is none.]
*** Surely the current state of ISKCON is much aligned to Srila Prabhupada’s ideals right?
[PADA: What Srila Prabhupada taught us is -- that it is a severe offense to consider that the guru parampara / representatives of God / shaksat hari tvena gurus are (or could be) debauchees. Whereas GBC spokesman Jayadvaita swami writes for example, that in ISKCON, gurus are often caught engaged in illicit sex with men, women and maybe children. Srila Prabhupada says that the guru is a resident of Krishna loka, so how can the residents of Krishna loka behave like fallen debauchees?
That means they are insulting the residents of Krishna loka by saying they are often fallen debauchees. Then again, even us common neophytes are not engaged in illicit sex with men, women and children. So the GBC are making the standards for acharyas to be -- less than the ordinary man. At the same time, anyone who says the parampara is NOT contaminated is shunned, banned, kicked out, harassed, threatened etc.]
*** And surely not all of the over 100 sannyasis are deviants.
[PADA: The official position of the GBC is that Lord Krishna's successors gurus are often deviants. If any one of the 100 sannyasas has complained that the GBC policy is wrong, who is that person? We have never seen any one of these 100 people write a position paper saying that the GBC idea that gurus are often debauchees, is the wrong idea? Who has made an official complaint about this policy?]
*** Much of the ‘sannyasis’ that were more criminal in nature fell down and left ISKCON, correct?
[PADA: OK this is the whole problem right here, the GBC says that gurus are often criminals who fall down and leave ISKCON. The members of the parampara are falling down and have been criminals? And when we said this criminal behavior needs to be fixed, we were kicked out. So they enforced the criminal behavior. Which GBC leader or sannyasa has come out in public and decried the GBC policy that acharyas are often debauchees and criminals? And that the people who support that system are bona fide?]
*** The only reason I got interested in ISKCON is because of hearing recordings of Niranjana maharaj lectures and the lectures of Prabhupada disciples in Alachua. And there are so many sincere devotees in ISKCON.
*** I am interested to know your comments on what I’m saying about ISKCON right now in 2014. And what would you recommend a person like me who is a fairly new bhakta, someone who wants to take initiation etc. How should I pursue the path of bhakti. Should I take initiation from a guru or not.
Thank you,
[PADA: Here are some additional considerations:]
Dear Gaura Kesava and all Prabhus, Please accept my respectful obeisances.
All glories to our jagat guru Srila Prabhupada!
The debate goes on. I’ve been watching on the sidelines this internet istagosthi and now I had to jump in. I will be short and to the point because I am typing on my iphone.
I was personally serving Srila Prabhupada back in 1977 when he first decided he was going to leave the planet. I heard him say that he wanted the ritvik initiation system for his movement after his departure. This is documented in the July 9th 1977 Newsletter to all Temple Presidents and G.B.C.’s. That letter was dictated from a July 7th 1977 Garden conversation which I heard. That is our sastra! That is specific. You say we must follow sastra; there it is. Is there anymore sastra after that date that would change anything?
We need the guru to explain the sastra to us; otherwise we will pick and choose whatever suits us and end up not following the real orders of the spiritual master. Srila Prabhupada warned us about ‘over-intelligence’ and I think that is what we have here. Instead of us trying to figure out how initiations should go on from (which) sastra we should instead try to figure out what our guru said and did. He had the ritvik system up and running for years before he left, physically and he wanted that to continue as he said on July 7th 1977. It’s on tape!
I have been trying to speak to the GBC for 32 years now but so far my requests have fallen on deaf ears. They say they have no time every time every year I ask to attend their meetings to discuss this most important issue. Most of them are initiating on their own so you can imagine why they won’t discuss it. It might mess up their retirement plans. Profit, distinction and of course adoration.
If we leave it up to the new devotees to check out their gurus they will be misled. Then later if their ‘guru’ falls down they will probably be disheartened and leave KRSNA Consciousness altogether as so many have. That is why Srila Prabhupada most intelligently set up the ritvik initiation system for his movement.
If someone wants to be a diksa guru he or she must be able to deliver them back to Godhead. They must have full KRSNA prema. They must do this in their own temples; not Srila Prabhupada’s! That is Vaisnava ettiquette. Srila Prabhupada did not try to become a diksa guru in the Gaudiya Math. The self-effulgent acharya can attract the souls and build his/her movement from the ground up. That’s what Srila Prabhupada the acharya did; that’s what we need to do.
We’ve got guru fever. Sikas gurus we can and should be but diksa guru is one for ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada! It’s simple for some but complicated for the over-intelligent speculators. I hope this helped.
Haven’t seen you for many years since you were with Dristadyumna I’m Hawaii. Glad to see you are hanging in there but have faith in His Divine Grace; he’s there also if you let him.
Hoping this meets you and all the Vaisnavas well and advancing in KC
Your servant,
Gauridasa Pandita Dasa
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Supporting False Gurus is "Rascal"
Art from Satsvarupa Das goswami: GBC's main "position paper" writer after 1978.
BY: DRAVINAKSA DAS
"And the most degraded man, previously he was praised by millions of people and next day he's condemned. That means who elevated him to the post, they're all rascals."
(A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami - Bombay Morning Talk, April 25, 1977)
Remember Bhagavan's retinue of swamis, parading behind him like ducks following their mother? Or the Kirtanananda cult leaders keeping the show going in Bhaktipada land? Does the above revelation from Srila Prabhupada give us a hint of their spiritual status?
The disciplic succession from the gang of 11 hasn't done much better, being created from the same mold. Srila Prabhupada is giving us another lesson here: you are responsible for your actions either as the mis-leader or the supporter of the mis-leader, rascals all. The mode of ignorance is no excuse.
We can't enter into real Krishna consciousness in the lower modes. We have to come to goodness and be free from all material motivation. We may get a big seat in the assembly and some false followers but the import of the Srimad Bhagavatam will remain far from our heart. Did you ever see leaders who treat their followers like dirt? Deep inside they know: "These people are a bunch of rascals, or why would they follow a rascal like me?"
(A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami - Bombay Morning Talk, April 25, 1977)
Remember Bhagavan's retinue of swamis, parading behind him like ducks following their mother? Or the Kirtanananda cult leaders keeping the show going in Bhaktipada land? Does the above revelation from Srila Prabhupada give us a hint of their spiritual status?
The disciplic succession from the gang of 11 hasn't done much better, being created from the same mold. Srila Prabhupada is giving us another lesson here: you are responsible for your actions either as the mis-leader or the supporter of the mis-leader, rascals all. The mode of ignorance is no excuse.
We can't enter into real Krishna consciousness in the lower modes. We have to come to goodness and be free from all material motivation. We may get a big seat in the assembly and some false followers but the import of the Srimad Bhagavatam will remain far from our heart. Did you ever see leaders who treat their followers like dirt? Deep inside they know: "These people are a bunch of rascals, or why would they follow a rascal like me?"
[PADA: This is a great analysis. All of the GBC and most of the rank and file opposed us in 1979 when we said Jayatirtha is bogus, and he is NOT the "parampara guru successor to God." Even Sridhara Maharaja was saying we need to keep Jayatirtha and "none should protest." Yet, it was well known at the time that Jayatirtha was offering LSD to his shalagram deity, he was smoking marijuana in the holy land of Vrndavana, he was having illicit sex with at least one female follower, and he was starting a drug taking program among his inner circle etc.
Despite almost everyone knowing "the king has no clothes," in 1979 the entire GBC and 99.99 percent of the rank and file fully backed the idea of keeping Jayatirtha on the sacred Vyasasana, while having him worshiped "as good as God." And they backed the idea of banning us "dissenters" to Jayatirtha's acharya worship from ISKCON, so they could keep their illicit sex and drug addict's guru pooja going on. As Srila Prabhupada correctly points out here, that makes all of them rascals - for "elevating him to the post." People should have joined us in protesting these deviations and helped us REMOVE these deviations instead of CEMENTING them into the ISKCON society. Rascals! Agreed. ys pd]
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Saturday, April 26, 2014
Poison Tape Audio from ISKCON Truth
http://youtu.be/krXOSe27M0g
[PADA: ISKCON Truth Web Site was hacked, but its all back -- better and more secure than ever. Good try GBC bone heads. ys pd]
[PADA: ISKCON Truth Web Site was hacked, but its all back -- better and more secure than ever. Good try GBC bone heads. ys pd]
Complaints About Current ISKCON
Hello, I am just writting to warn persons who may be in or may have friends or family members in the present ISKCON cult to be very careful.
I was in various ashrams in ISKCON for a few years, and I have found that present day ISKCON is not like the ISKCON Srila Prabhupada left us with and today's ISKCON is maybe even dangerous to some of us. I was in one particular ashram for two years and they tried to segregate me from seeing any of my family and treated me like a work horse, wouldn't give me enough sleep, would always criticize me and made me feel worthless.
My words for persons in present day ISKCON.. please be careful and make sure your mind is you own.
I love Srila Prabhupada and the Bhagavad Gita and Krsna, but I think present day ISKCON is dangerous and not healthy. I agree with Jesus Christs commandments to love God with all your heart and treat your neighbor as yourself, but present day ISKCON doesn't follow the second commandment in my opinion.
Thank you for listening to my story and I hope you can get something out of my story. I am thankful that God is helping me to heal from my time in present day ISKCON. I learned a lot from present ISKCON and for that I am thankful, but at the same time it messed me up a lot and bottom line is -- I cant go back again.
I was in various ashrams in ISKCON for a few years, and I have found that present day ISKCON is not like the ISKCON Srila Prabhupada left us with and today's ISKCON is maybe even dangerous to some of us. I was in one particular ashram for two years and they tried to segregate me from seeing any of my family and treated me like a work horse, wouldn't give me enough sleep, would always criticize me and made me feel worthless.
They hardly ever complimented me in the end or thanked me, then I literally had a metal breakdown and they kicked me out from the ashram and pretty much and said I could only visit again if I stayed for a week ( well I was in no mental state to stay for a week). When I first joined they were all really nice and friendly and the perfect people to be around, but the end of the second year things changed.
When I moved back in with my mother after getting severe mental health issues, hardly anyone ever contacted me to ask how I was? Despite they made out they were my good friends, they didn't seem to care about their own sevakas. I was very unwell.
I got the odd occasional e-text, which was them -- but only asking if I could come back to work again, as they didn't have many other helpers. After I left ISKCON I felt very suicidal, and I feel that many of the members were manipulating me and had an unhealthy control over me where I was seen to be insignificant. And they insisted that I had to be 100% subservient and surrendered to my superiors, like a slave, and was preferred not to have my own opinion, or to have any say on any matters, but to just act and think as they said and think. And if I didn't listen to things they wanted me to, or that I did not feel comfortable doing, they would sometimes say rude things to me in person or gossip behind my back and wreck my reputation and do things to make my life difficult for me, in other words -- bullying tactics.
Also in ISKCON one is supposed to accept and worship many ISKCON gurus "as good as God" when many of them have been taking intoxicants, if not sleeping with prostitutes, and not even following the regulative principles. Yet we are supposed to be 100% surrendered to them and do whatever they say, give them all our money etc. And if we rebel and use our intelligence, and say these "guru" people aren't qualified, we are ridiculed and labeled deviants, bullying tactics again are used.
When Srila Prabhupada was present on earth, ISKCON was all fine and safe, but since he left there are many unqualified people running ISKCON with too much power which can makes ISKCON dangerous. I love Srila Prabhupada and his books, but modern ISKCON under today's management can be dangerous and more than a few persons / devotees in present day ISKCON under the new leadership have had major mental health problems, and some committed suicide.
I am glad that I recovered and now see things in a different light and see how I was manipulated, and taken advantage of, it seems that the mind control is wearing off.
My words for persons in present day ISKCON.. please be careful and make sure your mind is you own.
I love Srila Prabhupada and the Bhagavad Gita and Krsna, but I think present day ISKCON is dangerous and not healthy. I agree with Jesus Christs commandments to love God with all your heart and treat your neighbor as yourself, but present day ISKCON doesn't follow the second commandment in my opinion.
I am sick of being judged by people in ISKCON who feel they own me and that they can control my every action and that they are qualified to judge me when they are also sinners too and are not perfect. I agree with Jesus Christs statement "judge not lest ye be judged" -- and "before you pull out the beam from others eyes first pull out the beam from your own eye." I found present ISKCON to be an "elitist" group and I'm sorry that I have come across many arrogant, foolish and judgemental people, that have put me off wanting to belong to any religious institution.
Thank you for listening to my story and I hope you can get something out of my story. I am thankful that God is helping me to heal from my time in present day ISKCON. I learned a lot from present ISKCON and for that I am thankful, but at the same time it messed me up a lot and bottom line is -- I cant go back again.
Hare Krishna! Hare Krsna!
Trivrikrama swami "Final Order"
http://www.oneiskcon.com/the-guru-initiating/
[PADA: OK, yet we still find no evidence that Srila Prabhupada appointed 11 guru successors, nor does Trivrikrama swami even mention where that was done? Trivrikrama just says there will be initiating gurus, but he never says who they will be? The GBC, the same group that Trivrikrama supports, says their 11 gurus were appointed on May 28th, yet when and where the 11 were appointed as gurus is never shown on May 28th?
In fact, no names are given in any of the material Trivrikrama swami cites? Nor does Trivrikrama swami even seem to know that his 11 guru successor's project has failed miserably? Trivrikrama swami was voted in as guru by Bhavananda's recoronators, how does that make him a bona fide acharya? Trivrikrama swami says he is bona fide, because he promotes known deviants as acharyas, and is voted in by said deviants?
"I am the messiah, -- because the Pharisees voted me in as one"? ys pd]
======================================================
[PADA: OK, yet we still find no evidence that Srila Prabhupada appointed 11 guru successors, nor does Trivrikrama swami even mention where that was done? Trivrikrama just says there will be initiating gurus, but he never says who they will be? The GBC, the same group that Trivrikrama supports, says their 11 gurus were appointed on May 28th, yet when and where the 11 were appointed as gurus is never shown on May 28th?
In fact, no names are given in any of the material Trivrikrama swami cites? Nor does Trivrikrama swami even seem to know that his 11 guru successor's project has failed miserably? Trivrikrama swami was voted in as guru by Bhavananda's recoronators, how does that make him a bona fide acharya? Trivrikrama swami says he is bona fide, because he promotes known deviants as acharyas, and is voted in by said deviants?
"I am the messiah, -- because the Pharisees voted me in as one"? ys pd]
======================================================
Friday, April 25, 2014
Karnataka temple "feeding non-brahmins" dispute
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/karnataka-refusing-food-to-nonbrahmins-at-temple-kicks-off-a-row/467020-62-129.html
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Notice that Srila Prabhupada's system gives prasadam to all classes of people, and allows all classes to offer bhogha to Krishna so they can make their own prasadam. ys pd
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Notice that Srila Prabhupada's system gives prasadam to all classes of people, and allows all classes to offer bhogha to Krishna so they can make their own prasadam. ys pd
Updates from ISKCON Bangalore (04/25/14)
http://www.iskcontruth.com/2014/04/brahmotsava-festival-at-iskcon.html
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ISKCON Times
Bangalore
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ISKCON Times
How can they be saved?
Cittahari das: I went on this morning walk, and I was sitting next to Prabhupada. There were only a few of us. Prabhupada was looking out at the people all going to work along Saint Kilda Road, and they were all dressed up in their suits, men and women. It was one of the very up-market parts of Melbourne, and all these people were dressed up and all rushing off to work.
Jai Srila Prabhupada!
Natha Muni revives all the works of the alwars
Once Natha Muni went on a pilgrimage to Kumbakonam and visited Lord Aravamudan’s temple. Some devotees were singing Nammalwar’s hymns before the Lord and in the end they sang the phala-shruti, which reads, “We dedicate these ten hymns from the thousand sung by Kurugur Sadagopan to thee.”
Curtains fall on Brahmotsava with Dhvaja-avarohana
The concluding day of the 12-day-long Brahmotsava festival at ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna Temple was chock-full of festivities such as Pushpa-pallakki, Theppotsava, Dhvaja-avarohana and Maha-samprokshana.
'Condition of Kerala temple pathetic'
A fresh administrative committee, under the chairmanship of Thiruvanathapuram district judge, was set up on Thursday by the apex court for better management of Kerala’s Sree Padamanabhswamy Temple.
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ISKCON TimesThursday, April 24, 2014
Narayan Maharaja Issue (ONE ISKCON site)
http://www.oneiskcon.com/narayana-aparadha-maharaja-on-prabhupada-and-iskcon-2/
=====================================
[PADA Does not explain, why the GBC made Narayana Maharaja their "shiksha guru" from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. Why was he leading the GBC's "rasika club" and so on, for years. Why was he helping the GBC write their "guru reform" papers? And why the GBC allowed people like Mahanidhi swami to continue for years, knowing he was connected to the babajis and so on? If these people are "bad influences" -- why did the GBC bring these people in? ys pd]
=====================================
[PADA Does not explain, why the GBC made Narayana Maharaja their "shiksha guru" from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. Why was he leading the GBC's "rasika club" and so on, for years. Why was he helping the GBC write their "guru reform" papers? And why the GBC allowed people like Mahanidhi swami to continue for years, knowing he was connected to the babajis and so on? If these people are "bad influences" -- why did the GBC bring these people in? ys pd]
How My Guru Became A Guru
From ***** Many times I think why do I not spend a lot of times glorifying my gurudeva like many other grand disciples of Srila Prabhupada do. Yesterday I was going through old magazines and I found a copy of my guru's address to his disciples at his 1999 vyasa puja and I would like to share a few words from it that will explain why I don't and he would I think prefer that I don't glorify him as a "pure devotee"
He speaks quite a bit about "guru reform" and the change it made to ISKCON in 1986 and that as a leader, the personal change it made to his role in ISKCON. From now on this will exact quotes from his address to us his disciples, He says, "At any rate our policy was that the GBC should make the process of authorizing people to initiate much more liberal. So, we had an emergency meeting of the GBC and also an istha ghosti of Prabhupada disciples at New Vrndavan. During this emergency meeting, the GBC agreed to our new proposal, and they said that any Prabhupada disciple who got the approval of three GBC members could become an initiating guru. That, in effect, eliminated the "property requirement." (zonal guru). Before this, I think, you had to have a two thirds vote of the whole GBC body -- so very few people were becoming initiating gurus.
After the GBC passed this resolution, there was a meeting of our Prabhupada's disciples' group and the North Amerian Temple Presidents and they said, "They've done it. They've opened it up. Now some people have to immediately take advantage of this and become initiating guru." Then everybody looked at me, as if to say "you have to do it" because I was the leader.
I hadn't really thought about this very much. I said, "Well, you know I have to think about this" The -- this is one of those things where you just "open a book" -- I opened to a purport in Bhagavatam, Fourth Canto, in which Prabhupada said, in essence that the qualification for being a guru is that one has to be a strict follower:
"This Krishna consciousness movement directly receves instructions from the Supreme Personality of Godhead via persons who are strictly following His instructions. Although a follower may not be a liberated person, if he follows the Supreme, liberated Personality of Godheard, his actions are naturally liberated from the contamination of the material nature. Lord Caitanya therefore says: "By My order you may become a spirtual master." (Bhag. 4.18.5 purport)
I realized, first of all, that I did not have to go around thinking of myself as some big, maha-bhagavat or something like that, but I had to be a strict follower. The other thing was, as long as I could understand that guru means a teacher, I was comfortable with that. I knew didn't have what it takes to do something like write Prabhupada's books, but I could teach them.I'd already ben doing that, and I knew I could teach Prabhupada's books.
So I said, ok.
This is how my guru became a guru.
He speaks quite a bit about "guru reform" and the change it made to ISKCON in 1986 and that as a leader, the personal change it made to his role in ISKCON. From now on this will exact quotes from his address to us his disciples, He says, "At any rate our policy was that the GBC should make the process of authorizing people to initiate much more liberal. So, we had an emergency meeting of the GBC and also an istha ghosti of Prabhupada disciples at New Vrndavan. During this emergency meeting, the GBC agreed to our new proposal, and they said that any Prabhupada disciple who got the approval of three GBC members could become an initiating guru. That, in effect, eliminated the "property requirement." (zonal guru). Before this, I think, you had to have a two thirds vote of the whole GBC body -- so very few people were becoming initiating gurus.
After the GBC passed this resolution, there was a meeting of our Prabhupada's disciples' group and the North Amerian Temple Presidents and they said, "They've done it. They've opened it up. Now some people have to immediately take advantage of this and become initiating guru." Then everybody looked at me, as if to say "you have to do it" because I was the leader.
I hadn't really thought about this very much. I said, "Well, you know I have to think about this" The -- this is one of those things where you just "open a book" -- I opened to a purport in Bhagavatam, Fourth Canto, in which Prabhupada said, in essence that the qualification for being a guru is that one has to be a strict follower:
"This Krishna consciousness movement directly receves instructions from the Supreme Personality of Godhead via persons who are strictly following His instructions. Although a follower may not be a liberated person, if he follows the Supreme, liberated Personality of Godheard, his actions are naturally liberated from the contamination of the material nature. Lord Caitanya therefore says: "By My order you may become a spirtual master." (Bhag. 4.18.5 purport)
I realized, first of all, that I did not have to go around thinking of myself as some big, maha-bhagavat or something like that, but I had to be a strict follower. The other thing was, as long as I could understand that guru means a teacher, I was comfortable with that. I knew didn't have what it takes to do something like write Prabhupada's books, but I could teach them.I'd already ben doing that, and I knew I could teach Prabhupada's books.
So I said, ok.
This is how my guru became a guru.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Kirtanananda "has caused me much pain"
“this has caused me much pain”—SP
April 23, 2014 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by KHD
Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Below are a few points about the basics of Krsna Consciousness.This means we are originally servants, and to regain this mentality one must chant Hare Krsna mantra. The problem arises when we add our “own” twist to the tune….
————————-
67-10-14. Letter: Brahmananda
“Swami Kirtanananda has returned to the United States and is causing quite a stir among the devotees. Following his suggestions, we have stopped wearing robes and have cut off our flags. He said these appurtanences are too strange-looking to outsiders and only make it more difficult for them to consider chanting Hare Krishna. Swami Kirtanananda has said we must avoid appearing to be Orientalists if we are to have 108 centers in the US.”
This is very much disturbing to me; has caused me much pain. Please therefore stop Kirtanananda from making his mental concoctions. Do not be misled by him. I have never advised him to act like that. If he is causing such disturbances he should not be allowed to indulge in such nonsensical activities. I have already written you to inform you that somehow or other he has become crazy; otherwise he would not have disobeyed me to go directly to N.Y. For the time being he has cut all link with me, therefore any instruction given by him is unauthorized; should at once be rejected. He has no right to dictate as he has without my sanction. Whatever is to be done will be executed when I return.
He is too much puffed-up nonsensically…
67-09-23. Gargamuni
I entrusted this matter to Kirtanananda but he has disobeyed which has given me a shock. Once he disobeyed my order and we lost $1200.00 in connection with Mr. Payne. This time he has again disobeyed me. If he sets such example in the Society it will be a great impediment. Obedience is the first law of discipline. We are thinking of a great world wide organization which is not possible to be executed if there is disobedience.
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
710215SB.GOR Lectures
There is a Bengali proverb that how God works, that one man, a householder is praying to God, “My dear Lord, there may not be any theft case, burglary, in my home this night. Please save me.” So one man is praying prayer, praying like that. Another man is praying, the thief, “My dear Lord, this night I shall commit burglary in that house. Please help me to get something.” Now, what is Krsna’s position? (laughter) Krsna is everyone’s heart. So Krsna has to satisfy so many prayers. The burglar and the thief and the householder, so many prayers. So Krsna’s adjustment… But He’s still… That is Krsna’s intelligence, how He adjusts. He gives everyone freedom.
And everyone is given facilities, but still He’s in botheration. Therefore Krsna advises to his devotees that “Don’t plan anything. You rascal, you nonsense, you don’t give Me trouble. (laughter) Please surrender unto Me. Just go under My plan; you’ll be happy. You are making plan, you are unhappy; I am also unhappy. I am also unhappy. (laughter) So many plans are coming daily, and I’ll have to fulfill.” But He’s merciful. If a… Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams… So except the [pure] devotee of Krsna, everyone is simply giving Krsna trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble. Therefore, they are called duskrtina. Duskrtina, most miscreant, the miscreants. Don’t make any plan. Accept Krsna’s plan. That will be simply giving trouble to Krsna. Therefore, a devotee does not pray even for his maintenance.
That is pure devotee. He doesn’t give trouble to Krsna even for his bare maintenance. If he has no maintenance, he’ll suffer, fasting; still, he’ll not ask Krsna, “Krsna, I am very hungry. Give me some food.” Of course, Krsna is alert for His devotee, but a devotee’s principle is not to place any plan to Krsna. Let Krsna do. Simply we have to do according to the plan of Krsna.
690221BG.LA;Lectures
Devotee: Prabhupada, I heard it said that the spiritual master will always come back until his devotees, his disciples, have achieved God realization. Can you explain that?
Prabhupada: Yes. But don’t try to take advantage of it. (laughter) Don’t try to give trouble to your spiritual master like that. Finish your business in this life. That is especially meant for those who are slack. His devotee, his disciple should be serious in serving spiritual master. If he is intelligent he should know that “Why should I act in such a way that my spiritual master has to take the trouble to reclaim me again? Let my business be finished in this life.” That should be the right way of thinking. Not that, “Oh I am sure my spiritual master will come, let me do all nonsense.” No. So if you have got any, I mean to say, affection for the spiritual master, then you should finish your business in this life so that he may not come again to reclaim you. Is that all right? Don’t take advantage of this business. Rather, be serious to finish your business. That is a fact.
710211SB.GOR Lectures
In this life we want to finish this material existence for good. That should be the responsibility, that “We are going to finish this material existence for good. No more coming.” Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti. If you take responsibility in that way, then everything will be adjusted. Serious. My Guru Maharaja used to say like that, that “Finish this business in this life. Don’t delay for the next life.” He was telling also that “Don’t give me trouble again to come here to deliver you.” That is the responsibility of spiritual master. Spiritual master responsibility is to take the disciple to Krsna, until he is able to do, to help him, to help him, to help him. That is the verdict of the sastras.
SB 4.18.5 A foolish person who manufactures his own ways and means through mental speculation and does not recognize the authority of the sages who lay down unimpeachable directions is simply unsuccessful again and again in his attempts.
PURPORT At the present moment it has become fashionable to disobey the unimpeachable directions given by the acaryas and liberated souls of the past. Presently people are so fallen that they cannot distinguish between a liberated soul and a conditioned soul. A conditioned soul is hampered by four defects: he is sure to commit mistakes, he is sure to become illusioned, he has a tendency to cheat others, and his senses are imperfect. Consequently we have to take direction from liberated persons.
Conclusions: When one gives us the mentality of wanting to serve his spiritual master and the Vaisnavas, he becomes asara, or useless. Prabhupada tells us there are three kinds of “disciples”. Guru bhogi, gutru tyagi and guru sevi. The disciple who wants to enjoy the assets of his guru maharaj is useless as he only wants to imitate Krsna as enjoyer, completely forgetting his actual position as servant.
For example, -the “devotee” who comes to regular programs,likes prasadam and kirtan, but refuses to do things when asked,or finally does something after being badgered a hundred times. This person has not understood the servant mentality, even though he or she may have a dasa or dasi after their name. The guru tyagi renounces the orders of his guru because he thinks there is something “else” better, or that what his own guru has given him is no longer relevant in so called modern times. For example, all the Prabhupada book changes currently going on is an example of one who has renounced the order of his guru because he thinks he knows better than his own guru.
And the guru sevi disciple the one who actually tries to understand and serve his gurus orders, without concoction,he is disciple, and no others. Srila Prabhupada gives a nice example above about the position of the Supersoul who has to “adjust” the position of those who pray to Him for all kinds of material things. The thief and the householder, both want something and Krsna is being troubled by this constant wanting wanting wanting of Himself by these people. The same principle can be applied to aspiring devotees, if we have not learnt or have forgotten, that when we chant Hare Krsna maha mantra,we are supposed to be praying for selfless service—not this— Dear Lord Krsna, Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, please give me this or that, or remove this or that.
The more we understand our actual position as servant, the less pain or bother we will be giving to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krsna. After all, pure devotional service is supposed to be without mental speculation or fruitive desire and that which is favorably rendered to please Sri Guru and Sri Krsna. Hare Krsna
Damaghosa das
April 23, 2014 in Articles, Damaghosa Dasa by KHD
Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Below are a few points about the basics of Krsna Consciousness.This means we are originally servants, and to regain this mentality one must chant Hare Krsna mantra. The problem arises when we add our “own” twist to the tune….
————————-
67-10-14. Letter: Brahmananda
“Swami Kirtanananda has returned to the United States and is causing quite a stir among the devotees. Following his suggestions, we have stopped wearing robes and have cut off our flags. He said these appurtanences are too strange-looking to outsiders and only make it more difficult for them to consider chanting Hare Krishna. Swami Kirtanananda has said we must avoid appearing to be Orientalists if we are to have 108 centers in the US.”
This is very much disturbing to me; has caused me much pain. Please therefore stop Kirtanananda from making his mental concoctions. Do not be misled by him. I have never advised him to act like that. If he is causing such disturbances he should not be allowed to indulge in such nonsensical activities. I have already written you to inform you that somehow or other he has become crazy; otherwise he would not have disobeyed me to go directly to N.Y. For the time being he has cut all link with me, therefore any instruction given by him is unauthorized; should at once be rejected. He has no right to dictate as he has without my sanction. Whatever is to be done will be executed when I return.
He is too much puffed-up nonsensically…
67-09-23. Gargamuni
I entrusted this matter to Kirtanananda but he has disobeyed which has given me a shock. Once he disobeyed my order and we lost $1200.00 in connection with Mr. Payne. This time he has again disobeyed me. If he sets such example in the Society it will be a great impediment. Obedience is the first law of discipline. We are thinking of a great world wide organization which is not possible to be executed if there is disobedience.
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
710215SB.GOR Lectures
There is a Bengali proverb that how God works, that one man, a householder is praying to God, “My dear Lord, there may not be any theft case, burglary, in my home this night. Please save me.” So one man is praying prayer, praying like that. Another man is praying, the thief, “My dear Lord, this night I shall commit burglary in that house. Please help me to get something.” Now, what is Krsna’s position? (laughter) Krsna is everyone’s heart. So Krsna has to satisfy so many prayers. The burglar and the thief and the householder, so many prayers. So Krsna’s adjustment… But He’s still… That is Krsna’s intelligence, how He adjusts. He gives everyone freedom.
And everyone is given facilities, but still He’s in botheration. Therefore Krsna advises to his devotees that “Don’t plan anything. You rascal, you nonsense, you don’t give Me trouble. (laughter) Please surrender unto Me. Just go under My plan; you’ll be happy. You are making plan, you are unhappy; I am also unhappy. I am also unhappy. (laughter) So many plans are coming daily, and I’ll have to fulfill.” But He’s merciful. If a… Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams… So except the [pure] devotee of Krsna, everyone is simply giving Krsna trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble. Therefore, they are called duskrtina. Duskrtina, most miscreant, the miscreants. Don’t make any plan. Accept Krsna’s plan. That will be simply giving trouble to Krsna. Therefore, a devotee does not pray even for his maintenance.
That is pure devotee. He doesn’t give trouble to Krsna even for his bare maintenance. If he has no maintenance, he’ll suffer, fasting; still, he’ll not ask Krsna, “Krsna, I am very hungry. Give me some food.” Of course, Krsna is alert for His devotee, but a devotee’s principle is not to place any plan to Krsna. Let Krsna do. Simply we have to do according to the plan of Krsna.
690221BG.LA;Lectures
Devotee: Prabhupada, I heard it said that the spiritual master will always come back until his devotees, his disciples, have achieved God realization. Can you explain that?
Prabhupada: Yes. But don’t try to take advantage of it. (laughter) Don’t try to give trouble to your spiritual master like that. Finish your business in this life. That is especially meant for those who are slack. His devotee, his disciple should be serious in serving spiritual master. If he is intelligent he should know that “Why should I act in such a way that my spiritual master has to take the trouble to reclaim me again? Let my business be finished in this life.” That should be the right way of thinking. Not that, “Oh I am sure my spiritual master will come, let me do all nonsense.” No. So if you have got any, I mean to say, affection for the spiritual master, then you should finish your business in this life so that he may not come again to reclaim you. Is that all right? Don’t take advantage of this business. Rather, be serious to finish your business. That is a fact.
710211SB.GOR Lectures
In this life we want to finish this material existence for good. That should be the responsibility, that “We are going to finish this material existence for good. No more coming.” Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti. If you take responsibility in that way, then everything will be adjusted. Serious. My Guru Maharaja used to say like that, that “Finish this business in this life. Don’t delay for the next life.” He was telling also that “Don’t give me trouble again to come here to deliver you.” That is the responsibility of spiritual master. Spiritual master responsibility is to take the disciple to Krsna, until he is able to do, to help him, to help him, to help him. That is the verdict of the sastras.
SB 4.18.5 A foolish person who manufactures his own ways and means through mental speculation and does not recognize the authority of the sages who lay down unimpeachable directions is simply unsuccessful again and again in his attempts.
PURPORT At the present moment it has become fashionable to disobey the unimpeachable directions given by the acaryas and liberated souls of the past. Presently people are so fallen that they cannot distinguish between a liberated soul and a conditioned soul. A conditioned soul is hampered by four defects: he is sure to commit mistakes, he is sure to become illusioned, he has a tendency to cheat others, and his senses are imperfect. Consequently we have to take direction from liberated persons.
Conclusions: When one gives us the mentality of wanting to serve his spiritual master and the Vaisnavas, he becomes asara, or useless. Prabhupada tells us there are three kinds of “disciples”. Guru bhogi, gutru tyagi and guru sevi. The disciple who wants to enjoy the assets of his guru maharaj is useless as he only wants to imitate Krsna as enjoyer, completely forgetting his actual position as servant.
For example, -the “devotee” who comes to regular programs,likes prasadam and kirtan, but refuses to do things when asked,or finally does something after being badgered a hundred times. This person has not understood the servant mentality, even though he or she may have a dasa or dasi after their name. The guru tyagi renounces the orders of his guru because he thinks there is something “else” better, or that what his own guru has given him is no longer relevant in so called modern times. For example, all the Prabhupada book changes currently going on is an example of one who has renounced the order of his guru because he thinks he knows better than his own guru.
And the guru sevi disciple the one who actually tries to understand and serve his gurus orders, without concoction,he is disciple, and no others. Srila Prabhupada gives a nice example above about the position of the Supersoul who has to “adjust” the position of those who pray to Him for all kinds of material things. The thief and the householder, both want something and Krsna is being troubled by this constant wanting wanting wanting of Himself by these people. The same principle can be applied to aspiring devotees, if we have not learnt or have forgotten, that when we chant Hare Krsna maha mantra,we are supposed to be praying for selfless service—not this— Dear Lord Krsna, Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, please give me this or that, or remove this or that.
The more we understand our actual position as servant, the less pain or bother we will be giving to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krsna. After all, pure devotional service is supposed to be without mental speculation or fruitive desire and that which is favorably rendered to please Sri Guru and Sri Krsna. Hare Krsna
Damaghosa das
BBTI prints 100,000 Original Gitas!
BBTI India prints 100,000 original Gitas with "Original Edition" on the front cover!
New Articles on Kanhaiya Das's Site
Hare Krsna Dear Devotees of The Lord
Please accept my humble obeisances with all glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Here are some latest articles posted on our website for your benefit by Prabhupadaanugas all over the world. Please take some time to read them. Thank you.
Hari Bol
Your Humble Servant
-Kanhaiya DasAnudas
"He reason ill who tells that Vaisnavas die, When thou art living still in sound!
The Vaisnavas die to live, and living try, To spread the Holy Name around !"
(Poem by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura)
"I will never die. I shall live from my books, and you will utilize."
His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
(Interview, July 16th, 1975, Berkeley, California)
Please accept my humble obeisances with all glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Here are some latest articles posted on our website for your benefit by Prabhupadaanugas all over the world. Please take some time to read them. Thank you.
Your Humble Servant
-Kanhaiya DasAnudas
"He reason ill who tells that Vaisnavas die, When thou art living still in sound!
The Vaisnavas die to live, and living try, To spread the Holy Name around !"
(Poem by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura)
"I will never die. I shall live from my books, and you will utilize."
His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
(Interview, July 16th, 1975, Berkeley, California)
PADA updates: Mad gurus / Ram Mohan / Christians /
Now the GBC has two of its bigger gurus running off to the Krishna West-ville, if not more. Krishna West says Srila Prabhupada has -- over stepped his authority, dhotis look like big diapers, devotees look foolish worshiping a plant, devotees need to use toilet paper, gay marriage is ok, etc. Even the GBC knows they have to curb that or else look compromised and implicated.
But what can they do really? That means the main body of GBC, whatever that is nowadays, is no longer followed or respected even by their own members, and they have no power to correct deviations.
Ravindra Swarupa was told to ditch his younger female companion, ok he did not listen to that either. Of course Satsvarupa did not listen to them when they warned him about his female companion many years ago, and so on and so forth, thus there is no authority. Bhakti Vikas came out swinging against Radhanath swami, but he was forced to retreat and apologize. There is no line of authority.
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Srila Prabhupada
Room Conversation
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PADA top list of readers last 24 housr
02) India
03) United Kingdom
04) Russia
05) Australia
06) Malaysia
07) Singapore
08) Sweden
09) Moldova
10) Ireland
11) Colombia
12) Luxembourg
13) Cyprus
14) Germany
15) South Africa
16) Ukraine
17) Canada
18) Brazil
19) Spain
20) China
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Christians?
Why do we praise some Christians (my neighbor) and also criticize them (some of the leaders)? Well ummm, some of them are are sincere and some of their leaders are causing problems, ok like ISKCON. Duh! ys
==============================
Yes, there is one ex-devotee in LA who ran back to the Christians, he is thinking we devotees are all going to start eating beef steaks again, so we will all get coronary heart diseases, like his folks are doing. Yep, not going to fly is it? He wants to give other people coronaries to "save" them? Sheesh!
But on Easter Sunday, he sent us maybe ten messages all through the day, meaning he is not at Church worshiping Jesus on Easter, rather he is mediating on us, while all the rest of the bona fide Christians are in church, this fellow is writing to and about PADA.
Yep, he claims he wants us to join him in worship of Jesus, but he is not even worshiping Jesus on Easter, he is simply another fraud. We hate to have to break it to this guy, but Jesus is more important than PADA, as all our ACTUAL Christian friends know already. So he is another version of frauds, he is not even worshiping Jesus, even on Easter, while writing his holier than thou pontifications to us. Another fraud. If someone want to go back to Jesus, fine, we encourage that if that's your path, but do not write us ten messages on Easter because you are not really interested in Jesus either? That is sometimes called "false flag-ism." ys pd
==================================
You also want us to go back to the Christian diet, and that is the same diet that killed your girlfriend. You want us to join you in -- dying? You want us to support your progressive kill babies, support gay marriage, and die from your diet program? All this, after you wrote a public message that you have nothing to do with the Krishnas, then you started writing us 5000 messages, even on Easter Sunday, because PADA is more important to you than Jesus?
Sorry, your abortion, gay marriage, meat diet program, we are not buying it! You also need to get a job so you can pay your rent and fix your car, and quit living in your mother's garage smoking dope, which is why you forgot you told us you had nothing to do with us, then started writing us. Real Christians are not dope heads who cannot hold a job, except the fake ones, just like the fake Krishnas do not follow. ys pd
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Tuesday, April 22, 2014
35 New Prabhupada Disciples!
PADA: 35 new devotees took shelter of Srila Prabhupada by taking diksha formally from him as per the July 9th Letter, May 28th tape, the Will, and hundreds of conversations regarding continuing the society "without changes." The ceremony took place on 18th April during the auspicious Brahmotsava festival.
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Christian's Pat Robertson Predicts Asteroid Hit
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/21/pat-robertson-doomsday-asteroid_n_5189084.html
[PADA: Asteroid hit will "wrap it all up," could be next week? Apparently the post-1977 Hare Krishna's are not the only people with fake gurus who make paranoid predictions to terrify their flocks. Pat Robertson has a TV show seen by millions of Christians in the USA, and actually around the world. Another Christian preacher we had over here, with big billboards and radio ads, who predicted the end of the world three different times -- giving three dates and times (and he got everyone to sell their houses and etc.) recently died, and yet the world is oddly, still here? Heh heh heh. ys pd]
[PADA: Asteroid hit will "wrap it all up," could be next week? Apparently the post-1977 Hare Krishna's are not the only people with fake gurus who make paranoid predictions to terrify their flocks. Pat Robertson has a TV show seen by millions of Christians in the USA, and actually around the world. Another Christian preacher we had over here, with big billboards and radio ads, who predicted the end of the world three different times -- giving three dates and times (and he got everyone to sell their houses and etc.) recently died, and yet the world is oddly, still here? Heh heh heh. ys pd]
Gold Theft at Padmanabhaswamy Temple? 04/22/14
Hare Krishna,
Krishna doesn’t like what you offer with pride
Krishna doesn’t like what you offer with pride
Amogha das: So we used to try to think of some gift to give to Srila Prabhupada. What can we think of? So one morning in the Saint Kilda temple in Melbourne, which was quite small and all the devotees from all over Australia were crowded in there, Prabhupada entered the room and we all offered obeisances.
Jai Srila Prabhupada!
Maha Pallakki Utsava: A treat for the eyes
The ninth day of Brahmotsava celebrations on April 21, 2014 at Sri Radha Krishna temple, ISKCON, Bangalore featured the Maha Pallakki utsava wherein Their Lordships Sri Radha Krishnachandra were carried on a grand pallakki by the devotees.
Hema Malini: I want to stay here and work for Braj Bhoomi
“I am a devotee of Lord Krishna. I want to stay here and do work for the Braj Bhoomi. A deal for purchasing a house in Mathura is almost in the final stage,” Hema told reporters.
SC official finds serious lapses in Padmanabhaswamy temple treasure
There are "serious lapses" in management of Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple and the invaluable wealth its underground vaults contain, according to a report submitted in Supreme Court by the amicus curiae that favoured a direction for scientific audit of the treasure.
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