Even Poor Devotees Can Serve Krishna (Srila Prabhupada)

"Hari Narayan" Godman Arrested for Rape

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/delhi-self-styled-godman-arrested-for-raping-woman-5380364/

PADA: Oh no, don't say someone calls himself "Hari Narayan" and then is not behaving properly? This is why its important to worship pure devotees and not self-styled "God men." Yes, as a matter of fact I am as good as Hari, and as good as Narayana, therefore -- I am a trouble maker? Say it ain't so! This is why Srila Prabhupada says -- be careful only to worship a bona fide person, otherwise its like putting all your money into -- the wrong bank account -- and then you lose everything. ys pd 

Isa Das (William Glick) Departs

http://www.equalsouls.org/

PADA: Isa Dasa was sort of friends with PADA. He conducted research that was a lot of help for us in getting the poison issue substantiated. And he helped some ex-gurukulis by telling them the GBC are bad actors who created an exploiting situation. 

Unfortunately, Isa was also promoting the Narayan Maharaja program, and we could not agree on this issue. For starters Narayan said that the GBC 11 (like Tamal Krishna) are "diksha gurus" (people who can absorb sins like Jesus) and that we Prabhupadanugas are the "bogus ritviks," because we still worship Srila Prabhupada. For starters, Srila Prabhupada said we neophytes cannot be diksha gurus and absorb sins. Apparently Narayan Maharaja does not think this is a valid or important instruction, or maybe he just thinks that such instructions can be tossed out, and overlooked whimsically and willy nilly. 

Did we forget to mention that by telling unqualified people to be diksha gurus and absorb sins will cause them to get sick, fall down, go mad, or die early because they will be overwhelmed with taking these sins (as we see happening left, right and center)? Followers of NM still promote him as some sort of hero who helped ISKCON, fine except -- the bogus gurus he encouraged and assisted -- suffered badly from taking sins. And then the ISKCON society suffered badly by having people who are falling and going mad etc. acting as its acharyas?

Taking sins is taking them down.

NM also says for example that there is "no precedent" for people to continue to worship the acharya after his body physically departs, and he went along with the Rocana / GBC program -- saying that we are worshiping the posthumous / post samadhi / post mortem person by worshiping Srila Prabhupada. There is "no precedent" for worship of Krishna's pure devotee? This is amazing and worse, Krishna and / or His acharyas are "post mortem"? And we need to promote the worship of the founder fathers of the illicit sex acharya's program like Tamal -- instead of Prabhupada? 

Narayan Maharaja never explained why he had been supporting such views? 

Radhanath / Narayan Maharaja

Odd huh? NM has hours / days / weeks / years to meet with these GBC guru folks, but after he invited me over to his ashram speak to him, he left me sitting for 10 hours and then sneaked off the property, leaving me without seeing him at all! He only has time to talk to the members of the debauchee messiah's club?

Then again, there were all sorts of crimes, including child molesting, going on in the GBC guru regime that NM was promoting, and he was enabling and empowering these deviants by aiding and abetting their program. Even worse, he was giving "rasika classes" to the regime's leaders, as if the leaders of an illicit sex acharya's program, which bans, beats, molests, sues and assassinates vaishnavas -- are worthy of discussing "the color of the gopis saris"? Really? 

Worse, NM said our idea of promoting Srila Prabhupada as the acharya is a ritvik deviation. He even said there is no such word as "ritvik" in the Vedas, apparently he has never heard of the brahmanas / ritviks / found in Vedic society? Yep there is no such thing as a priest, instead he supports the worship of illicit sex with men, women and children deviants as Krishna's successor acharyas. Where is that found in the Vedas? Did I forget to mention that Krishna's own family had a family priest, and -- we never heard about that in the Vedas?

At the same time, Isa was very encouraging of the child molesting lawsuit starting around 1997, and some of the ex-kulis told me Isa "saved their lives" by encouraging them to sign up for the lawsuit. Again, this does not make a whole lot of sense. Tamal Krishna is the founder father of the molester regime, simultaneously he is the sum total of the demigods / diksha guru / "as good as Krishna" personality, which is fine except -- we now have to take Tamal to court and have him sued for orchestrating child abuse? 

Then people wonder why there are so many nutty devotees? Maybe because, to say that someone is as good as God, at the same time -- he needs to be sued for creating molesting webs and nests, makes no sense? And to keep these contrary thoughts running simultaneously is -- nutty -- in itself. NM never really clarified that these GBC were only appointed as managers / at best ritviks / and he was wrong to have promoted or certified them as gurus.

Then again, Narayan Maharaja made a series of statements that are contrary to what Srila Prabhupada said, for example NM said that we should not have Lord Narasimghadeva images in a Radha Krishna temple because that "frightens away Srimati Radharani." Except, Srila Prabhupada wanted and ordered that we worship Lord Narasimghadeva in his Radha Krishna temples?

Then again Narayan Maharaja said that the worst offenders to Srila Prabhupada from the Gaudiya Matha are "acharyas just like Srila Prabhupada." Again, makes no sense? And people like Isa and Jadurani have promoted this nonsense idea, that the deviants from the Gaudiya Matha are equals to Srila Prabhupada. And when we tried to bring this up to Isa (or Jadurani etc.) they get offended, but never explained any of this? Srila Prabhupada says -- amongst my god brothers NO ONE is qualified to be acharya, and then all of a sudden NM is an acharya, the deviants from the Gaudiya Matha are also acharyas and so on?

Anyway, what can we do now? Isa has a mixed review with us. He has helped us on some issues, and helped have us suppressed on other issues. Overall, telling the ISKCON youth to run off to another guru's program has not helped ISKCON, or the youth, especially because telling them they need "a living guide" is not very useful after NM dies? Now what? And thus now the NM people are arguing over "who should be the REAL NM successor," and we heard some of the followers of a sannyasa NM guru have been threatening violence to Prem Prayojana, a housholder NM guru successor. So it looks like the same mess, no clear successor and / or false successors. Why not worship Srila Prabhupada instead? 

http://krishna1008.blogspot.com/2013/05/more-guru-trouble-in-bv-narayan.html

Anyway. Isa is still my God brother and I wish him all the best in his future situation.  

ys pd   

Confirming Judges VS ISKCON's GBC (A woman's perspective)

Unhappy faces?    

PADA: Had quite a long phone conversation with an ex-ISKCON lady who was comparing the "ISKCON Governing Body Commission" leaders to the current U.S.A. Judge confirmation imbroglio. She said, just like this photo above, ISKCON women were crying to the leaders and GBC's folks, and the leaders acted like they were very concerned. Maybe they were not really so concerned?

Yep. Then it seems, the ISKCON GBC folks went into the back room and were laughing and high fiving each other as if there was no problem. She said she has seen a similar pattern between the ISKCON GBC and the mundane politicians. The women are crying, they are pleading, but is anyone listening? And when these women (or PADA) come out and complain about certain events, then we are "trying to tear down the establishment" and so on and so forth, the issues become a little bit difficult to understand because of various vested interests in keeping "the status quo." 

Of course, there are some good people in ISKCON, and there are some good political people and judges and so on, but they are often overwhelmed by / juxtaposed with / the rotten apples -- which makes it harder for the good people to make changes as well. She also said that among the main complaints against the GBC's leaders -- and some of the government's leaders -- are from the same root issues, i.e. acquiescing, allowing others, or allowing themselves -- to act with improper sexual exploiting of others. 

I think this is why Srila Prabhupada says -- sex desires form the main building blocks of our jail cells keeping us in the material world. And that holds true in politics, religion, and many other important areas of human society. Many a big priest, bishop, cleric, corporate boss, swami, yogi or whatever it is -- has fallen prey to unwanted mundane sex attraction. And that is why -- recently -- more women have been going after these folks, whether from their church, their bosses, and / or other exploiters with their "Me Too" movement.    

This devotee also said, the looks on these women's faces (photo above) are the same looks her female companions have been having in ISKCON, i.e. they have been mortified, depressed, crying, upset, and felt as is their situation was being marginalized. Meanwhile, as women's voices were being placed into the back burner of the list of ISKCON GBC's priorities, it seems the GBC folks have been showing a lot of sympathy for deviants, molesters, sexual predators and so on. 

Has the Christian conservative's movement in the USA gone into having a lot of sympathy for "loose characters" in general as their leaders or representatives? This judge may not be among the bad applies for certain, that continues to be investigated, but it does seem to be a trend of "sympathy for the fallen types" in their program? 

And whether the current Judge being confirmed now has has had problems with certain women in the past or not, certainly there is the perception that he has had a few highly unfavorable run-ins with at least some of them. The problem -- the devotee lady said to us -- is that there seems to be a sort of good ole boys / frat boy / boys will be boys / mentality going on with at least a certain sector of men, both in the material and so-called spiritual societies. 

She says that its a relief to her that the FBI will look into this court appointment matter more closely, but who is going to look into the shenanigans of the GBC's leaders? She says that is the main problem, there are no checks and balances with the GBC's types. Anyway, she said that in the material society it seems like more and more people are really stepping up now to combat exploiters, and ISKCON needs to do the same thing. She says -- we need to have a parallel "Me Too" movement. Well lets see! ys pd    

Ex-kuli's most un-favored guy? 

Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami with his cheer leaders.

Love at first sight.

Eternal associates?

She says, we need more of this (video below) also going on in ISKCON. Maybe she is right? ys pd 

"God's Army" Leader Sentenced

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/ex-cult-leader-sentenced-kidnapping-155353232.html

PADA: Why is it that some alleged "God's Army" people seem to be such mean spirited, egotistical, foolish exploiters? Maybe they have no connection to what the God is all about? Hee hee! Just saying! ys pd

Nepal Ends Animal Sacrifice Event

https://www.animalsaustralia.org/features/nepal-ends-worlds-largest-animal-sacrifice-event-gadhimai.php

PADA: Lets hope this has ended for good. ys pd

Is the Universe Conscious?

https://awarenessact.com/science-now-believe-that-the-universe-itself-is-conscious/

According to Matloff, a physicist at New York City College of Technology, in his recently published paper, humans could be like the rest of the universe, in substance and in spirit. Futurism reported that a “proto-consciousness field” could extend throughout all space. Basically, in laymens terms, the entire cosmos could be self-aware.

Pope Admits Church Alienates Youth

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pope-francis-sex-abuse-young-catholics_us_5baa3da5e4b0f101d382e999

PADA: Same type thing happened in ISKCON. The GBC leaders did not protect and care for the youth, and thus the temples are practically devoid of the second generation of children -- especially in the West. Srila Prabhupada warned that if the youth are not treated properly, they can become alienated, and that has come to pass because people failed to heed his warnings. ys pd  

Pig Waste / Coal Ash / Sewage / mixing with North Carolina Flood Waters

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/hurricane-florence-brought-north-carolina-213200935.html

[PADA: Right on schedule, Kali Yuga makes the planet more and more uninhabitable. All of these contaminants will mix into the flood waters and make one giant toxic stew. And oddly, this was predicted to happen by many local people in the event of a flood, just like Srila Prabhupada predicted ISKCON would become contaminated if we allowed bogus gurus to emerge in his society. Yep, his warnings were also not heeded, and his society became toxic and uninhabitable for most. ys pd]

Disappearance of Srila Haridas Thakur September 23

Disappearance of Srila Haridas Thakur, 

Sunday, September 23, 2018 in California

Sri Haridas Thakur appeared in this world in the village of Buron, in the present district of Sat-kira, which was previously a sub-division of Khulna, Bangladesh. By this great fortune that land has been blessed, in that the chanting of the Holy Names of Hari-Nam Sankirtan, became revealed there. After remaining there for some time, he came to the banks of Ganga at Fulia, near Santipur. Advaita Acarya was overjoyed to get his association and roared very loudly. The two of them thus began to float in the waves of the mellows of pastimes of Sri Krsna - Govinda. [C. B. Adi 16.18]

Sri Haridas Thakur is an eternally liberated associate of the Lord. The associates of the Lord are worshipable wherever they make their appearance. Just as Garuda appeared as a bird, and Hanuman as a monkey, Haridas Thakur appeared in a family of Yavanas (Mohammedans). From his very birth he was very deeply devoted to the Holy Names of Sri Krsna.

When he came to live by the banks of the Ganges, Advaita Acarya was very happy to get his association. The brahmana residents of Fulia were very pleased to see how he worshipped the Holy Name, and they used to come everyday to have his darshan. Gradually word began to spread of his glories. When the Mohammedan administrator came to know of all this he began to burn with malice and went to the local Mohammedan king to inform him, "Though he is Mohammedan, he behaves as a Hindu, are therefore he should be brought here for trial." Hearing the words of that sinful man, the local king who was also very sinful, had Hari das Thakur brought there immediately. [C. B. Adi 16.37].

The Mohammedan King told Haridas, "Just give up this chanting and say the Kalma (prayer of the Mohammedans)."

Haridasa Thakura replied, "The Supreme Lord is one, though His names might be different. The Hindu shastras are the Puranas and the Muslim sastra is the Koran. Everyone acts as he is inspired by the Lord, as also do I. Some yavanas become Hindus and some Hindus become yavanas, to worship the Lord. O Maharaja, you can now judge me."

Hearing these words the Kazi replied that it would be necessary to punish him. Hearing the decree of the Kazi, the Muluk pati addressed Haridasa, "My brother, just follow your own religion. Then you will have nothing to worry about. Otherwise you will have to be punished."

In reply to this Haridasa Thakura exclaimed, "Even if you cut my body into pieces, I will never give up the chanting of Hari nama." [C. B. Adi 6.94]

After hearing these words of Haridasa spoken with great determination, the Kazi declared, "He should be beaten in twenty two market places. If he doesn't die after this, then I will know that the learned gentleman speaks the truth."

Thus having heard the words of the Kazi, the sinful Muluk pati then ordered that Haridasa Thakura be beaten in twenty two market places. Haridasa remembered the Lord by chanting "Krsna Krsna", and in the happiness of that remembrance, he didn't feel any bodily inconvenience. [C. B. Adi 16.102].

As the demoniac associates of Hiranyakasipu tried in so many ways to kill Sri Prahlada Maharaja, but were unsuccessful, similarly the demoniac Mohammedans, though they tried to harm Haridasa Thakura, were unable to do so. Haridasa Thakur was immersed in the nectar of the Name and thus gradually the Mohammedans could understand that he wasn't an ordinary person.

Thus they humbly submitted to the Thakura, "Haridasa! We can understand that you are a genuine saintly person. No one can do anything to you. But the Mulukpati won't understand any of this. Rather he will have our heads." Hearing their frightened please Haridasa's external consciousness ceased and he entered into deep meditation on the Lord's Holy Name.

Then the Mohammedans carried his body on their shoulders to the Mulukpati, who surmised that he was dead. Thinking as such he ordered that his body be thrown in the Ganga. Haridasa's body floated down the Ganga until he reached Fulia ghat, where he got out of the water and began to loudly chant Hari Nama. Seeing the greatness of Haridasa Thakura, the Mulukpati became fearful. Along with the other Mohammedans he came there and begged Haridas Thakur to forgive him for his offence.

Considering him to be a holy man, they all offered their salutations and thus were delivered from their offences. Having witnessed the pastimes of the Thakura the devotees were in ecstasy.

Haridasa Thakur used to chant Hari Nama in a hollowed out cave like hole at the base of a tree. This "cave" still exists near Fulia, on the banks of the Ganga. One can get there by train from Santipura. Within the roots of this tree also lived a poisonous snake. Being fearful of this snake the devotees couldn't remain there for very long and one day they mentioned to the Thakura about this snake which was worrying them. Seeing the distress of the devotees Haridasa Thakur called to that snake and spoke to him, "My dear sir, if in fact you are residing here, then I am requesting that you please leave by tomorrow, otherwise I myself will definitely leave here."

Hearing these words of the Thakura, that snake immediately came out of its hole and after offering namaskar to the Thakura, it went elsewhere. Seeing this pastime, the devotees were struck with wonder and they developed profound and deep devotion for Haridasa Thakura.

One time Haridasa Thakura came to a village within Jessore district named Harinodegram, which was predominantly inhabited by brahmanas. One day during a religious discussion one puffed brahmana approached Haridasa Thakura and remarked, "O Haridasa! Why do you chant the holy name loudly? In the scriptures it is recommended to chant within the mind." In reply Haridasa Thakura told him, "The birds, beasts and insects cannot chant themselves, but if they get to hear Hari Nama then they also become delivered. If one chants only to himself then he delivers only himself, but if one chants loudly, the benefit is a hundred times greater. This is the conclusion of the scriptures." [C. B. Adi 16.180]

Hearing this objective statement of Haridasa Thakura that sinful brahmana couldn't tolerate it and exclaimed, "In Kali yuga sudras will recite the shastras, now I am seeing this with my own eyes." In answer to this personal insult delivered by that miscreant brahmana, Haridasa Thakura simply silently walked out of that assembly. Within a few days that brahmana contracted ulcerous leprosy. The result of Vaishnava aparadha became immediately manifest. In Kali yuga, Raksasas take birth in brahmana families in order to give trouble to the honest, virtuous people. [C.B. Adi 16.300]

Another time, Haridasa desired to have darshan of the Vaishnavas of Navadwipa. Everyone there became overwhelmed with ecstasy, to see Haridasa. Adwaita Acarya loved Haridasa as much as His own life and he would offer the first prasadam to Haridasa Thakura (which is to be offered only to high class brahmanas) after performing Pitr-sraddha (worship of his forefathers).

Haridasa Thakura lived for some time at Benapol, which was within Jessore district. Every day and night he would chant three hundred thousand Holy Names. At the time, when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu displayed His divine opulences by manifesting Himself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the courtyard at Srivasa Pandita's house, He was calling his dear devotees: "Haridasa! when those Mohammedans were beating you I was ready to destroy them with My Sudarsana Cakra, but as you were praying for their welfare I was unable to do anything." [C. B. Madhya 10.42]

Therefore I accepted their blows on My own body. Just see, the scars are still here on My body." Seeing those marks Haridasa fainted in ecstatic love. Regaining his consciousness he began to praise the Lord of his life, "O Lord Viswambhara, master of the universe, please have mercy on this sinner, who has fallen at Your feet. I have no good qualities and am a vile wretch, rejected by all classes of men. How can I describe Your divine character?" [C. B. Mad 20.58]

Thakura Haridasa was present during most of the Lord's pastimes in Nadia, and when the Lord went to Jagannatha Puri, Haridasa also went and took up residence there. Everyday, after attending Lord Jagannath's mangal arati, Lord Caitanya would come to see Haridasa Thakura and would bring him some of Lord Jagannath's prasadam. When Sri Sanatana Goswami and Sri Rupa Goswami would come from Vrindavana to Puri they used to stay with Haridasa Thakura. Haridasa, in order to maintain the etiquette, would not go near Lord Jagannatha's temple but would offer his obeisances to the Cakra on top of the temple, from a distance. As he was considered to be a Mohammedan by birth, his presence in the temple would be objectionable to those who were caste conscious.

Mahamaya devi took initiation in the maha-mantra from Haridasa Thakura and Caitanya Mahaprabhu appointed him as the acarya of the Holy Name. His departure from this world, in the presence of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, is fully described by Sri Krsna dasa Kaviraja Gosvami in the Antya-lila of Sri Caitanya Caritamrta.

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura's Appearance Sept 22

Book in PDF format:

http://www.prabhupadaconnect.com/Chaitanya-Mahaprabhu-His-Life-and-Precepts-PDF.html

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http://www.iskcontimes.com/srila-bhaktivinoda-thakura-appearance-day-sep-22-2018/

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https://www.iskconbangalore.org/blog/srila-bhaktivinoda-thakura/

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http://krishna1008.blogspot.com/2013/05/mana-mana-mandire-by-srila-bhaktivinode.html

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Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur appeared in 1838 in an aristrocratic family of Calcutta. Named Kedaranath, his youth was spent absorbed in studies. A prolific reader and writer, he authored many articles and poems in English. He entered the Hindu School as a student in the class in 1856 at the University of Calcutta, where he studied the philosophical works of Kant, Goethe, Hizel, Swedenburg, Schopenhuer, Hume, Voltaire and others. He later began to study the works of the Brahma movement, along with the Bible and other Christian books, debates between eastern and western thinkers, and the Koran. In his biography, he states that he preferred Christianity to Brahmoism because of Christianity's clarity as to the transcendence of the one Godhead.

He then moved to Orissa, and continued to write and publish various works. Becoming first a school teacher, and then a Deputy Magistrate at the age of 28. He later moved to Dinajpur where he was appointed Deputy Magistrate. There, he became familiar with Vaisnavism, which was supported under the patronage a great Zamindar of Dinajpur, who was the descendant of Ramananda Vasu, an ardent follower of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Absorbed in the Caitanya-caritamrita and the Bengali translation of the Bhagavata, he became seriously engaged in the study of Lord Caitanya's religion in the company of the Vaishnavas at Dinajpur. Continuing his study of comparative religions, he found Vaisnavism to be the perfect consummation of his own realizations.

He was next transferred to Champran, then moved his family to Puri, where his intense devotion to Sri Caitanya grew ever stronger. Along with Gopinatha Pandita, he studied the whole of the Bhagavata with commentary by Sridhara Swami. Two other pandits, who had studied the Nyaya and Vedanta in Navadvipa and Benares, joined him in studying Bhagavata. Kedaranath to learn Sanskrit grammar and literature, having begun these studies in Calcutta. He went on to study Jiva Goswami's Sadsandarbha, Baladeva Vidyabhusana's Govinda Bhasya, Prameyaratnavali, Rupa Goswami's Bhaktirasamrita Sindhu and Hari Bhaktikalpalatika, and other important Vaisnava literatures.

Having mastered the philosophy of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, he wrote additional books in Sanskrit on Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy. While taking charge of the Jagannath temple and teaching the philosophy, he began the Vidvat Sabha society for promotion of Bhakti literature. Kedernath stayed in Puri for five years.

Thereafter he was posted to Bengal, and became known as a great Vaisnava Magistrate. Taking initiation, and strictly following the Vaisnava practices, he began the first Vaisnava newspaper. After three years, he began to travel to holy places, and met Jagannath dasa Babaji at Vrindavan. He continued to write, authored many important Vaisnava books over the years.

While staying at Krishnager, he had a vision of a luminous building that filled him with wonder. With old maps and records in hand, he explored it the next day, and discovered there the birthplace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, which was marked by a large mound covered in Tulasi plants. Shortly afterwards, he authored one of his most famous manuscripts, "Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya", which glories all the holy sites within the circle of Navadvipa.

Thakur Bhaktivinoda's contribution to Vaisnavism is unparalleled. His writings educated many in Bengal and elsewhere in the Vaisnava philosophy, and he established worship of Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Mayapur, which continues as one of the most important sites for Vaisnavas today. Bhaktivinoda Thakur re-established the pure Vaisnava doctrine by expounding the teachings of Lord Caitanya, which had been lost or forgotten over time. Those purporting to be follows of Mahaprabhu had come to think that Smarta ritualistic practices aimed at sense enjoyment were actually devotional service. Srila Bhaktivinoda overturned these practices, along with voidism grown from Buddhism and Shankar's teachings.

Before disappearing from this world in 1914, His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur had firmly re-established the mission of Lord Krsna Caitanya through the ongoing efforts of his son, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, who was the second in this succession of three nitya-siddha, maha-bhagvata shaktaveysa avataras in the Gaudiya Sampradya.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s genuine humility
A maha-bhagavata feels, “I am the lowest.”

Just like Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung, amara jivana sada pape rata nahika punyera lesa. He says like that, that “My life is always engaged in sinful activities. I’ve not a trace of pious activity.” Amara jivana sada ape rata nahika punyera lesa. “I have given so much distress to all other living entities.” He’s representing common man, but he’s feeling like that. It is not that artificially speaking. He’s feeling like that.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on The Nectar of Devotion — October 23, 1972, Vrndavana

ISKCON Going More and More "Hindu"

[PADA: Notice that the Atlanta ISKCON temple and other ISKCON temples are promoting this Lal Govinda das fellow, who apparently gives some sort of "Bhagavat Sapta" type lectures at Hindu temples, and at various ISKCON temples. We are told Atlanta temple paid some fee to this fellow to come and speak there. 

Apparently, most or all of these lectures are geared for the Hindus and are spoken in Hindi language. The Bhagavat Sapta program is very popular in India among Hindus, and this seems like an attempt to rake in some more dollars from the Hindus by getting them into this program now in ISKCON. 

Notice! Srila Prabhupada's quotes below on this type of program. At the same time, there are many other quotes where Srila Prabhupada says he does not want his mission to be identified as a Hindu program. And look at how they are advertising as a HINDU program. 

Anyway, the GBC's plan is coming more together, they banned, beat and assassinated Westerners to shoo them out of the temples, that way they could make the temples into Hindu cultural centers and grab a lot of dollars from the Hindu congregations, and gradually shift away from even preaching in English and having full on Hindi programs. Its all about raking in cash, and the Hindus are good candidates to pilfer from because they do not study these issues very well (as Srila Prabhupada's quotes below also indicate). 

One of our friends recently asked an ISKCON guru why they are promoting Jayadvaita swami as their guru after he said -- why in the hell are people chanting Srila Prabhupada's name? And the ISKCON guru replied, "so what, nobody cares for what he says, even among the GBC." Oh swell, he is a guy that no one cares for what he says, therefore he is worshiped as the successor to Krishna? And this Lal Govinda fellow seems to be promoting Gopal Krishna swami, the person who helps bury deviants in the holy dham in samadhis? 
  
ys pd]   


http://www.lalgovinddas.com/about/lal-govind-das/

The Hindu festival of Radha Ashtami commemorates the birth anniversary of ‘Shri Radha Rani’, the consort of Lord Krishna. It is celebrated on the ‘ashtami’ (8th day) of the Shukla Paksha (the bright fortnight of moon) during the month of ‘Bhadrapada’ in the Hindu calendar…..

SB Canto 1

One should not be misled by such a performance of bhāgavatam saptāha undertaken by ridiculous greedy fellows to maintain an establishment of material enjoyment.

SB 1.12.28, Purport: There is a sort of imitation of this reciting and hearing of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by professional men, and their foolish audience thinks that they will get free from the clutches of material attachment and attain the life of fearlessness. Such imitative hearing of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is a caricature only, and one should not be misled by such a performance of bhāgavatam saptāha undertaken by ridiculous greedy fellows to maintain an establishment of material enjoyment.

Professional speakers make a show of Bhāgavata-saptāha for the sake of family maintenance, and the materially disposed audience hears such discourses of Bhāgavata-saptāha for some material benefit, namely religiosity, wealth, gratification of the senses, or liberation.

SB 1.18.15, Purport: The speaker on the transcendental activities of the Lord should have only one object of worship and service, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And the audience for such topics should be anxious to hear about Him. When such a combination is possible, namely a qualified speaker and a qualified audience, it is then and there very much congenial to continue discourses on the Transcendence. 

Professional speakers and a materially absorbed audience cannot derive real benefit from such discourses. Professional speakers make a show of Bhāgavata-saptāha for the sake of family maintenance, and the materially disposed audience hears such discourses of Bhāgavata-saptāha for some material benefit, namely religiosity, wealth, gratification of the senses, or liberation. 

Such Bhāgavatam discourses are not purified from the contamination of the material qualities. But the discourses between the saints of Naimiṣāraṇya and Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī are on the transcendental level. There is no motive for material gain. In such discourses, unlimited transcendental pleasure is relished both by the audience and by the speaker, and therefore they can continue the topics for many thousands of years. Now Bhāgavata-saptāhas are held for seven days only, and after finishing the show, both the audience and the speaker become engaged in material activities as usual. They can do so because the speaker is not bhagavat-pradhāna and the audience is not śuśrūṣatām, as explained above.

SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13

Two classes of men will never be interested in hearing the message of Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam—those who are determined to commit suicide and those determined to kill cows and other animals for the satisfaction of their own tongues. Although such persons may make a show of hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam at a Bhāgavata-saptāha, this is but another creation of the karmīs, who cannot derive any benefit from such a performance.

SB 10.1.4, Purport: 

The instructions of Bhagavad-gītā and the descriptions of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam are so pleasing that almost anyone suffering from the threefold miseries of material existence will desire to hear the glories of the Lord from these books and thus benefit on the path of liberation. Two classes of men, however, will never be interested in hearing the message of Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam—those who are determined to commit suicide and those determined to kill cows and other animals for the satisfaction of their own tongues. 

Although such persons may make a show of hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam at a Bhāgavata-saptāha, this is but another creation of the karmīs, who cannot derive any benefit from such a performance. The word paśu-ghnāt is important in this connection. paśu-ghna means "butcher." Persons fond of performing ritualistic ceremonies for elevation to the higher planetary systems must offer sacrifices (yajñas) by killing animals. Lord Buddhadeva therefore rejected the authority of the Vedas because his mission was to stop animal sacrifices, which are recommended in Vedic ritualistic ceremonies.

nindasi yajña-vidher ahaha śruti-jātaṁ
sa-daya-hṛdaya darśita-paśu-ghātaṁ
keśava dhṛta-buddha-śarīra jaya jagadīśa hare

(Gīta-govinda)

Even though animal sacrifices are sanctioned in Vedic ceremonies, men who kill animals for such ceremonies are considered butchers. Butchers cannot be interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, for they are already materially allured. Their only interest lies in developing comforts for the temporary body.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta

CC Adi-lila

Another difficulty in understanding Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is that the professional reciters have introduced bhāgavata-saptāha, or seven-day readings of the Bhāgavatam. They want to finish Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in a week, although it is so sublime that even one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, if properly explained, cannot be completed in three months.

CC Adi 8.36, Purport: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the authoritative reference book from which to understand devotional service, but because it is very elaborate, few men can understand its purport. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the original commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra, which is called nyāya-prasthāna. It was written to enable one to understand the Absolute Truth through infallible logic and argument, and therefore its natural commentary, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, is extremely elaborate. 

Professional reciters have created the impression that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam deals only with Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa-līlā, although Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa-līlā is described only in chapters 29 through 33 of the Tenth Canto. They have in this way presented Kṛṣṇa to the Western world as a great woman-hunter, and therefore we sometimes have to deal with such misconceptions in preaching. 

Another difficulty in understanding Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is that the professional reciters have introduced bhāgavata-saptāha, or seven-day readings of the Bhāgavatam. They want to finish Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in a week, although it is so sublime that even one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, if properly explained, cannot be completed in three months. Under these circumstances, it is a great aid for the common man to read Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura’s Caitanya-bhāgavata, for thus he can actually understand devotional service, Kṛṣṇa, Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has said:

śruti-smṛti-purāṇādi-pañcarātra-vidhiṁ vinā
aikāntikī harer bhaktir utpātāyaiva kalpate

(Brs. 1.2.101)

"Devotional service to the Lord that ignores the authorized Vedic literatures—the Upaniṣads, Purāṇas, Nārada-pañcarātra, etc.—is simply an unnecessary disturbance in society." Due to misunderstanding Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, people are misled regarding the science of Kṛṣṇa. However, by reading Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura’s book one can very easily understand this science.

CC Antya-lila

Thus there is now a system of Bhāgavata business, with recitations called bhāgavata-saptāha that continue for one week, although this is not mentioned in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Nowhere does Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam say that the Bhāgavatam should be heard for one week from professionals.

CC Antya 5.131, Purport: Herein Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī instructs the poet from Bengal to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from a pure Vaiṣṇava and learn from him. In India especially, there is now a class of professional Bhāgavatam readers whose means of livelihood is to go from village to village, town to town, reading Bhāgavatam and collecting dakṣiṇā, or rewards, in the form of money or goods, like umbrellas, cloth and fruit. Thus there is now a system of Bhāgavata business, with recitations called bhāgavata-saptāha that continue for one week, although this is not mentioned in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. 

Nowhere does Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam say that the Bhāgavatam should be heard for one week from professionals. Rather, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.17) says, śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ: one should regularly hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from a self-realized Vaiṣṇava. By such hearing, one becomes pious: hṛdy antaḥ-stho hy abhadrāṇi vidhunoti suhṛt satām. As one thus hears the Bhāgavatam regularly and sincerely, his heart is purified of all material contamination:

naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā
bhagavaty uttama-śloke bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhikī

"By regularly hearing the Bhāgavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact." (SB 1.2.18)

Nowadays it is fashionable to observe Bhāgavata-saptāha and hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from persons who are anything but advanced devotees or self-realized souls.

CC Antya 13.113, Purport: Concerning the study of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu clearly advises that one avoid hearing from a non-Vaiṣṇava professional reciter. In this connection Sanātana Gosvāmī quotes a verse from the Padma Purāṇa:

avaiṣṇava-mukhodgīrṇaṁ pūtaṁ hari-kathāmṛtam
śravaṇaṁ naiva kartavyaṁ sarpocchiṣṭaṁ yathā payaḥ

"No one should hear or take lessons from a person who is not a Vaiṣṇava. Even if he speaks about Kṛṣṇa, such a lesson should not be accepted, for it is like milk touched by the lips of a serpent." Nowadays it is fashionable to observe Bhāgavata-saptāha and hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from persons who are anything but advanced devotees or self-realized souls. There are even many Māyāvādīs who read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to throngs of people. 

Many Māyāvādīs have recently begun reciting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in Vṛndāvana, and because they can present the Bhāgavatam with word jugglery, twisting the meaning by grammatical tricks, materialistic persons who go to Vṛndāvana as a matter of spiritual fashion like to hear them. All this is clearly forbidden by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. We should note carefully that since these Māyāvādīs cannot personally know the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, they can never deliver others by reciting it. 

On the other hand, an advanced devotee of the Lord is free from material bondage. He personifies Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in life and action. Therefore we advise that anyone who wants to learn Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam must approach such a realized soul.
Lectures
Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

So actually, this Bhāgavata-saptāha is going on in India in village to village, but we see the effect is that they are not Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Lecture on SB 1.1.3 -- London, August 20, 1971: These professional readers, they won't read. Just like we are reading the philosophical side here. They won't go. People are not interested the philosophy. They immediately jump over the rasa dance, and they think, "Oh, Kṛṣṇa is enjoying with the gopīs." Just like we read some novel, one boy is enjoying with another girl. They take it like that. You see? So that is degradation. 

Avaiṣṇava-mukhodgīrṇaṁ pūtaṁ hari-kathāmṛtam, śravaṇaṁ naiva kartavyam. Therefore Sanātana Gosvāmī has warned that one who is not actually Vaiṣṇava, a realized soul of this Vaiṣṇava philosophy, one should not hear from him. Avaiṣṇava-mukhodgīrṇaṁ pūtaṁ hari-kathāmṛtam, śravaṇaṁ na kartavya... Don't hear.

So actually, this Bhāgavata-saptāha is going on in India in village to village, but we see the effect is that they are not Kṛṣṇa conscious. They are not as good Kṛṣṇa conscious as you are becoming. Because they take it as, as a matter of some refreshment. No. It should be taken very seriously and should be heard from the right source. Then you will get the result.

Not that Bhāgavata-saptāha, and finish, and whole year you can do all nonsense. I don't find any Bhāgavata-saptāha any authorized book. There are so many big, big stalwart commentators of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, beginning from Śrīdhara Svāmī. Nobody has recommended this Bhāgavata-saptāha.

Lecture on SB 1.2.12 -- Vrndavana, October 23, 1972: If all the unwanted things are vanquished, then you'll have firm faith. Bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhikī. Nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā, naṣṭa-prāyeṣu abhadreṣu... Naṣṭa (SB 1.2.18). Not that I am completely free from all sinful activities, but prāyeṣu, say, fifty percent, sixty percent is gone. 

At that time, naṣṭa-prāyeṣu abhadreṣu... How it has come to take place? Nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā. Nityam... We have to daily. Not that Bhāgavata-saptāha, and finish, and whole year you can do all nonsense. Not like that. Nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā.

I don't find any Bhāgavata-saptāha any authorized book. I don't find. There are so many big, big stalwart commentators of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, beginning from Śrīdhara Svāmī. Nobody has recommended this Bhāgavata-saptāha. But it has come to existence by the professional man. But actually nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā. How you can finish Bhāgavatam in seven days? You cannot finish even one word. My Guru Mahārāja explained Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the first verse, janmādy asya yataḥ (SB 1.1.1), in Dacca, for three months. 

Actually, it is so profound. Janmādy asya yataḥ. This very quote contains all the Vedānta philosophy. How you can finish Bhāgavatam within seven days? It is a farce. Actually, Bhāgavata should be relished. Nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā.
Just like there is the Bhāgavata-saptāha. You, within a week, nobody can understand what is Bhāgavata. And the speaker also does not know what he's speaking. But because somehow or other, they're hearing about Kṛṣṇa, there is some pious resultant action.

Lecture on SB 1.2.17 -- Vrndavana, October 28, 1972: Here it is stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ (SB 1.2.17). If we attentively hear about Kṛṣṇa, puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ, if we hear about Kṛṣṇa, it doesn't matter what I am, but simply by hearing Kṛṣṇa, about Kṛṣṇa, I shall acquire some resultant action of pious activities. Just like there is the Bhāgavata-saptāha. You, within a week, nobody can understand what is Bhāgavata. And the speaker also does not know what he's speaking. But because somehow or other, they're hearing about Kṛṣṇa, there is some pious resultant action. That's a fact.

21 Sept 2018 -Sri Vamana Dwadashi : Appearance of Sri Vamana Deva

"Vāmanadeva first expanded Himself to the universal form and then reduced Himself to the original Vāmana-rūpa. Thus He acted exactly like Lord Kṛṣṇa, who, at the request of Arjuna, first showed His universal form and later resumed His original form as Kṛṣṇa. The Lord can assume any form He likes, but His original form is that of Kṛṣṇa (kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam). According to the capacity of the devotee, the Lord assumes various forms so that the devotee can handle Him. This is His causeless mercy. When Lord Vāmanadeva resumed His original form, Lord Brahmā and his associates collected various paraphernalia for worship with which to please Him."

sb/8/21/5

The Personality of Godhead (LORD VAMANA DEVA) said: O my dear King, even the entirety of whatever there may be within the three worlds to satisfy one’s senses cannot satisfy a person whose senses are uncontrolled.

The material world is an illusory energy to deviate the living entities from the path of self-realization. Anyone who is in this material world is extremely anxious to get more and more things for sense gratification. Actually, however, the purpose of life is not sense gratification but self-realization. Therefore, those who are too addicted to sense gratification are advised to practice the mystic yoga system, or ashtanga-yoga system, consisting of yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara and so on. In this way, one can control the senses. The purpose of controlling the senses is to stop one's implication in the cycle of birth and death.

.... The Krishna consciousness movement is therefore establishing various farms, especially in America, to show how to be happy and content with minimum necessities of life and to save time for self-realization, which one can very easily achieve by chanting the maha-mantra -- Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. (SB 8.19.21)

Women's Liberation and ISKCON

Yes, a number of ISKCON women told me, the men in a society will become weak minded people, even less capable of protecting others than regular mundane women, when they worship sexual predators, homosexuals, child abusers and criminals as their acharyas. Thus a number of these ISKCON women had to flee the ISKCON society and protect themselves, and maybe find better qualified men in the mundane society. 

They were not feeling protected in ISKCON, and in fact many of them were exploited and then tossed out the door when they became sick or old, or when they did not want to worship deviants, fools and / or pedophiles as their acharyas etc. All because the weak if not foolish "men" were orchestrating that situation. 

Same type thing happened in the Gaudiya Matha. Sridhara Maharaja created a bi-sexual deviant as their acharya, and people began to worship that deviation, and voila, their post 1936 Gaudiya society filled up with sexual deviants, fools and deviants because -- we become what we worship. Even Narayana Maharaja was a big groupie supporter of the GBC's bogus gurus. 

So the women's liberation process is all part of this, the women as a class have been exploited by these rotten men and then they think they need to stand up for themselves and protect themselves, and be independent -- because, the men are not doing that for them. Well these women are in part correct, these men are not protecting them and in ISKCON these "men" crammed the worship of illicit sex with men, women and children acharyas down the throats of these poor women and their children, and then people wondered why these women and children later on wanted to escape and be independent. 

Why? Because a woman who is independent can then give herself at least some nominal protection on her own, whereas when women are exploited there is no protection for them, and they know that. So of course they will try to opt for being independent, that is natural common sense. 

Then the poor children in that situation will often end up being dysfunctional, being given the same options, -- surrender to ISKCON and worship their illicit sex deviants as acharyas or leave. So they will naturally be themselves tending to leave, if not be in dysfunction,because of being unable to participate in their parents bogus society. 

And they will then be left in a sort of limbo of being unable to find their footing in either the material or spiritual society. All of this is because the men as a class have been weak and unable to protect the women, in fact a lot of these ISKCON "men" harassed the heck out of me as soon as I said we cannot worship Sridhara's illicit sex acharya's program or it will destroy our women, children and then -- it will destroy the ISKCON society as a whole. And at this point, it is self evident that I was right. What is worse is that a lot of the ISKCON men then sent their women and children off to worship the biggest cheer leaders of the GBC's illicit sex acharya program like Sridhara and Narayana and so on, creating even more dysfunction among the youth. ys pd

Bhakti Vikas Swami re: Radhanath's Book (re-post from 2013)

Re-posted by special request

[PADA: Yes, currently the GBC is promoting Radhanath swami left, right and center. Yet other GBC's think, his writings are bogus? Then, after writing the article below, one week later Bhakti Vikas swami issued and apology for criticizing Radhanath. Politics? Money? Position? Who knows, but it shows how all of them are corrupt. ys pd]

(BHAKTI VIKAS SWAMI is removing his critical comments about Radhanath swami from his web site, fortunately, we have the entire article posted here below) 

Bhakta Gordon says: Somehow today in the early morning hours google reported that the editor removed (the Radhanath swami) article above from their website. No explanation, no comment. Capriciousness? Mental imbalance? GBC notice? In any case, BVKS is a GBC approved ISKCON guru who wrote article below. If one week later he figures writing such an article was wrong then what is the value of his writing?

Prabhupada: You cannot expect perfect knowledge from imperfect person. (San Francisco, February 13, 1967)

============================================

“Journey Home” Issues -- Published April 24, 2013

By His Holiness Bhakti Vikasa Swami

And another question about this “I come across newer devotees who are more attracted to reading such and such a book, autobiography instead of Prabhupada’s books. This happened to me and I ended up discrediting that book and telling devotee to avoid such books and instead read Prabhupada’s book.

First, I have not read it, nor do I intend to, nor do I have the time but I have seen some excerpts in which so and so swami claims to receive the Hare Krishna mantra from the river Ganges before he met Srila Prabhupada. This looks very strange and sounds like self aggrandizement. Do you think it is wrong to openly discredit such a works in your devotees?”

“JOURNEY HOME” WILL NOT GIVE PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS

Actually it’s not an issue but what happens is people come newly and they are given this book, which I say is an act of violence, to give people this book. They should give people Prabhupada’s books. If they get this book first they are going to be … it’s going to be very difficult for them to have a proper understanding of Krishna Consciousness either. He gets started in the wrong way but on the other hand what can we do.

HOW TO STOP IT?

1. Inform local temples to promote Prabhupada’s books

I would take it up with the local ISKCON authorities and tell them, that look, we should promote Srila Prabhupada’s books.

2. Tell them to read Prabhupada’s biography

Or you could tell them if you like to read biographies read Prabhupada’s biography. It’s a lot more Krishna Conscious. But you know what happens people come new and then there is this whole hype going on and they get carried away and new people how much they can understand philosophy.

3. Show people the difference in quality between “Journey Home” and Srila Prabhupada’s books

You can may be tell them, “Ok that’s very good. But if you actually want to understand what is Krishna Consciousness and get instructions and then read Prabhupada’s books.” And you could maybe read a little bit with them and just show them what is the difference in quality.

MY EXPERIENCE OF READING SRILA PRABHUPADA’S BOOKS

I mean I remember when I first started reading Prabhupada’s books… then and now also even after so many years I was just astounded by the quality of Prabhupada’s books. This is something … I read so many books by so many intelligent people, so many insights and religious books and scriptures, translation of scriptures but reading Prabhupada’s books was just really a revelation. Very clear that Srila Prabhupada is a person in touch with reality, actual reality. He is not speaking from this plane at all. He is completely different from anything else. Every word is just full of spiritual meaning.

It doesn’t appeal to the mind, to the senses, the ego, or even the mundane intelligence, completely from the spiritual platform. So you could just sit down and read … especially I often mention that first verse of Srimad Bhagavatam that just that one verse … of course it’s a long verse but there is so much in there.

That one verse of Srimad Bhagvatam has got more actual spiritual substance then all the Bible, Koran and Buddhist books and even all the Upanisads, and everything put together and then you read verse 2 and … the first three verses of the Bhagavatam are just … actually the first two verses especially … The third verse can be especially appreciated by very advanced devotees but the first two verses, they are just revelatory. So you could try doing that but don’t expect to have too much luck.

MAKE PROPER POLICY TO DISTRIBUTE SRILA PRABHUPADA’S BOOKS

You could say to the local ISKCON authorities that they should … just you could appraise them of your concerns about this and then some policy could be made that we distribute Prabhupada’s books. Actually as I said before Prabhupada himself didn’t say that we should only distribute his books but some temples like to do that because it makes it easy because then you don’t have to sort out all the good books from the not so good books written by others apart from Prabhupada.

The problem with that is that some of them are very good and should be distributed while some of them are not at all good and shouldn’t be distributed. But if you make such a distinction then out of sentiment some people get upset. And then you get some temples where you can’t even find Prabhupada’s books for sale. There are all kind of other books for sale, even books by non-devotees, there are karmi translations of sastra, all kind of strange books. And time to … or may be its not time, may be you have to wait for the time to offer ISKCON back to Prabhupada.

hear Prabhupada (has many audio files)

http://hearprabhupada.com/

Has rare Gayatri mantra tape. ys pd

Radhastami (Appearance of Srimati Radharani) 2018

SRIMATI RADHARANI

Who is that girl with Krishna? Many wonder this. First we need to understand that God is not with a material woman. So Who is He with? Srila Prabhupada explains it best, so I will put his words on this web site.

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"Srimati Radharani is as fully spiritual as Krsna. No one should consider Her to be material. She is definitely not like the conditioned souls, who have material bodies, gross and subtle, covered by material senses. She is all-spiritual, and both Her body and mind are of the same spiritual embodiment. Because Her body is spiritual, Her senses are also spiritual. Thus Her body, mind and senses fully shine in love of Krsna. She is the personified hladini-sakti (the pleasure-giving energy of the Lord's internal potency), and therefore She is the only source of enjoyment for Sri Krsna." Adi 4.71

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"We often pray to Radharani because She is the pleasure potency of Krsna. The very word "Krsna" means all-attractive, but Radharani is so great that She attracts Krsna. If Krsna is always attractive to everyone, and Radharani is attractive to Krsna, how can we imagine the position of Srimati Radharani? We should try humbly to understand and offer Her our obeisances, saying, "Radharani, You are so dear to Krsna. You are the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, and You are Krsna's beloved. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You. Radharani is very dear to Krsna, and if we approach Krsna through the mercy of Radharani, we can easily attain Him. If Radharani recommends a devotee, Krsna immediately accepts him, however foolish he may be." ~ EK 5 (Elevation to Krishna Consciousness)

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"Radha and Krsna are one, and when Krsna desires to enjoy pleasure, He manifests Himself as Radharani. The spiritual exchange of love between Radha and Krsna is the actual display of the internal pleasure potency of Krsna. Although we speak of "when" Krsna desires, just when He did desire we cannot say. We only speak in this way because in conditioned life we take it that everything has a beginning; however, in the absolute, or spiritual, life there is neither beginning nor end. Yet in order to understand that Radha and Krsna are one and that They also become divided, the question "When?" automatically comes to mind. When Krsna desired to enjoy His pleasure potency, He manifested Himself in the separate form of Radharani, and when He wanted to understand Himself through the agency of Radha, He united with Radharani, and that unification is called Lord Caitanya." Adi, Intro
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"He brought so many presentations that no one could know them perfectly. Indeed, it was a fact that the supreme mother, Radharani, personally cooked in the house of Raghava Pandita." Antya, 6.115 T

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"Radharani is hari-priya, very dear to Krsna. So if we approach Krsna through Radharani, through the mercy of Radharani, then it becomes very easy. If Radharani recommends that "This devotee is very nice," then Krsna immediately accepts, however fool I may be. Because it is recommended by Radharani, Krsna accepts. Therefore in Vrndavana you'll find all the devotees, they're chanting more Radharani's name than Krsna's. Wherever you'll go, you'll find the devotees are addressing, "Jaya Radhe." You'll find still in Vrndavana. They are glorifying Radharani. They're more interested, worshiping Radharani. Because however fallen I may be, if some way or other I can please Radharani, then it is very easy for me to understand Krsna." Radhastami, London, Sept 18, 69.

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Caitanya Carinamrta, MadyaLila – TEXT 167

karunyamrta-dharaya snana prathama
tarunyamrta-dharaya snana madhyama

SYNONYMS

karunya-amrta–of the nectar of mercy; dharaya–in the shower; snana–bath; prathama–first; tarunya-amrta–of the nectar of youth; dharaya–in the shower; snana–bath; madhyama–in the middle.

TRANSLATION

Srimati Radharani takes Her first bath in the shower of the nectar of compassion, and She takes Her second bath in the nectar of youth.
PURPORT

"Srimati Radharani first smears Her body with the paste of affection for Krsna. She then takes Her bath in the water of mercy. After passing the pauganda age (from five to ten years), Srimati Radharani first appears as mercy. The second bath, taken at noon, is taken in the water of tarunyamrta, or the nectar of youth. This is the actual expression of Her new youthfulness. ~ Madya 8. 167.

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Caitanya Carinamrta, MadyaLila -TEXT 137

TEXT

anyera hrda ya–mana, mora mana–vrndavana,
'mane' 'vane' eka kari' jani
tahan tomara pada-dvaya, karaha yadi udaya,
tabe tomara purna krpa mani

SYNONYMS

anyera–of others; hrdaya–consciousness; mana–mind; mora mana–My mind; vrndavana–Vrndavana consciousness; mane–with the mind; vane–with Vrndavana; eka kari'–as one and the same; jani–I know; tahan–there, at Vrndavana; tomara–Your; pada-dvaya–two lotus feet; karaha–You do; yadi–if; udaya–appearance; tabe–then; tomara–Your; purna–complete; krpa–mercy; mani–I accept.

TRANSLATION

Speaking in the mood of Srimati Radharani, Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, " 'For most people, the mind and heart are one, but because My mind is never separated from Vrndavana, I consider My mind and Vrndavana to be one. My mind is already Vrndavana, and since You like Vrndavana, will You please place Your lotus feet there? I would deem that Your full mercy.

PURPORT

Only when the mind is free from designations can one desire the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The mind must have some occupation. If a person is to be free of material things, his mind cannot be vacant; there must be subject matters for thinking, feeling and willing. Unless one's mind is filled with thoughts of Krsna, feelings for Krsna and a desire to serve Krsna, the mind will be filled with material activities. Those who have given up all material activities and have ceased thinking of them should always retain the ambition to think of Krsna. Without Krsna, one cannot live, just as a person cannot live without some enjoyment for his mind. ~ Madhya 13. 137

radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite
gokula-taruni-mandala-mahite

damodara-rati-vardhana-vese
hari-niskuta-vrnda-vipinese

vrsabhanudadhi-nava-sasi-lekhe
lalita-sakhi guna-ramita-visakhe

karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite
sanaka-sanatana-varnita-carite

radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite

This song was sung by Rupa Gosvami. He is the real person, actual person, to understand Radha and Krsna. So he says, "All glories to Radharani." Radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite. "She's so dear to Krsna." Krsna, everyone is trying to love Krsna, but Krsna is trying to love somebody. Now how great She is. Just try to understand. Everyone, the whole world, the whole universe, all living entities, they are trying to love Krsna. Krsna-prema. Lord Caitanya describes, prema-pumartho mahan. And Rupa Gosvami described that "You are distributing krsna-prema." So krsna-prema is so valuable, but Krsna is after Radharani. Just see how Radharani is great. Just try to understand the greatness of Radharani. Therefore She is so great, and we have to offer our respect. Radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite. How She is? Gokula-taruni-mandala-mahite. Taruni, taruni means young girls. You'll see the pictures, they are all young girls. But of all the young girls, She is the most beautiful. She is enchanting to the young girls also. She is so beautiful. Gokula-taruni-mandala-mahite. Damodara-rati-vardhana-vese. And She always dresses Her so nicely that Damodara, Krsna, becomes attracted by Her beauty.

Hari-niskuta-vrnda-vipinese. And She is the only lovable object of Krsna, and She is the queen of Vrndavana. This queen of Vrndavana… You'll find in Vrndavana, if you go to Vrndavana, everyone is worshiping Radharani. Rani means queen. They are always speaking, "Jaya Radhe!" Radharani. All the devotees in Vrndavana, they are worshiper of Radharani. Hari-niskuta-vrnda-vipinese. Vrsabhanudadhi-nava-sasi-lekhe. And She appeared as the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, and Her companion, Lalita-sakhi and Visakha-sakhi, and the devotees… So on behalf of the pure devotees of Krsna, Rupa Gosvami is praying, karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite. "Oh, my worshipable Radharani, You are full of mercy. So I am begging of Your mercy because You are so merciful, very easily You offer, bestow Your mercy. So I am begging Your mercy." Karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite, sanaka-sanatana-varnita-carite. Now somebody may say, "Oh, you are so great, learned scholar, you are so great saintly person, and you are begging mercy from an ordinary girl? How is that?" Therefore Rupa Gosvami says, "Oh, this is not ordinary girl." Sanaka-sanatana-varnita-carite. "This girl's description is possible to be made by great saintly persons like Sanaka-Sanatana. She is not ordinary."

So the lesson is that we should not treat Radharani as ordinary girl, or Krsna as ordinary man. They are the Supreme Absolute Truth. But in the Absolute Truth, there is the pleasure potency, and that is exhibited in the dealings of Radha and Krsna. And Radha's expansion all the gopis, and Krsna is the Supreme Lord.

Thank you very much. Chant Hare Krsna. You can chant? Can you chant? Janardana? All right, you can chant. What is that? No, I have explained that one sloka from this Rama-carita-manasa. Chant Hare Krsna. (end) ~ Montreal, Aug 30, 68, Srimati Radharani's Appearance Day.

Devotee: Swamiji, if all things here are a reflection of what is perfect in the spiritual world, then shouldn't hate and frustration and despair and prejudice also appear in the spiritual world?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Devotee: Does it?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Devotee: Then isn't that… Aren't they bad?

Prabhupada: But that frustration has no disappointment. (laughter) That is the beauty. Just like Lord Caitanya is manifesting that spiritual frustration. "Oh Krsna, I could not see You." He's jumping on the sea in frustration. But that frustration is the highest perfection of love. Yes. Everything is there. But without inebriety. You are very intelligent boy. I thank you. Yes. Yes. There is frustration, but not this frustration. Yes. That frustration, I mean to say, enriches one's eagerness of love for Krsna. Everything is there, but without inebriety. Everything is there. Yes. Now see, Visnu? Of course, in Vaikuntha-jagat there is no violence. But Visnu is taking the symbol of violence. Otherwise what is the meaning of this disc and club? So when He wants to be violent, He comes here as Nrsimha-murti. (laughter) And He sends some of His devotees to play violence. That is Hiranyakasipu. Because there the devotees are so much in accord with Krsna and Visnu that there is no question of disagreement. But violence is when this disagree-ment, atheist. Therefore sometimes a devotee is deputed in this world to play as atheist, and Krsna comes to kill him. To teach these people that "If you become atheist, then here is disc and club for you." But it is not possible to be displayed in the Vaikuntha. Otherwise, if there is no the propensity of violence… Just like there is sometimes mock fight. A father is fighting in mock with a small child, and he has become defeated. But there is pleasure. So anandamayo 'bhyasat. 

The Lord is joyful. So there is joy in fighting also sometimes. So your question that everything is there, that is a fact. Everything is there. Otherwise if everything is not there, they cannot be manifested here because it is reflection. Just like in… Of course, this discovery is by the Vaisnava, Gaudiya Vaisnava. Just like the love between Radha and Krsna, it is called parakiya. They are not married husband and wife. 

But Radharani appears to be wife of some other gentleman. But Krsna, from childhood, They were friends. So Radharani could not forget Krsna. She used to come to Krsna and stand like that. That's all. And He was playing. Kisora-Kisori, They were boy and girl. But there is no inebriety. Just like here the boy and girls mix and there are so many abominable things. Distressful, which is binding their material bondage. So that friendship between boy and girl is there, but without inebriety. Krsna had so many gopis, girlfriend, but there was no contraceptive pills. (laughter) That is the beauty. Here, the so-called love is lust. 

And there, that is the highest. The same thing, obverted, perverted reflection. Just like in the original tree the topmost part has come down to the down. Similarly, in the spiritual world the highest, topmost level of love, parakiya… Parakiya means love not by marriage life, by friendship. That is there. But there is no such inebriety. It is pure. So perverted means the topmost thing has come down to the lowest. Here, this parakiya, loving other's wife or other's husband, is most abominable, adultery. 

Not allowed by society, not allowed by the state. But tendency is there. Even one is married, he wants to love another's wife. Or if the girl married (s)he wants to love another husband. Why? That is there. But without inebriety. That is the beauty. So everything is there, but here, that thing is reflected, pervertedly. Therefore misunderstood. There is so many other corollaries. You see? But you must know everything, that without being in the Absolute Truth there cannot be relative manifestation. This world is relative manifestation. So these things are not to be understood in the beginning, but as the questions came we discussed something. But you must know, as the Vedanta-sutra says, janmady asya yatah. Everything is emanated from that Absolute Truth. 

That is the fountainhead of everything. We cannot manufacture anything. It is not possible. But this is shadow and that is reality. And in the shadow… Just like photograph. You find that everything in detail of your beautiful face in the photograph, but that is not reality. That's all. So you'll find everything in details, all… Or you can understand actual photograph, actual idea, actual notion of the spiritual world by scrutinizingly studying this material world. The impersonalists, they think that in the material varieties there are so many abominable inebrieties, therefore in the spiritual world all these things should be minus, void. That is their material calculation. 

They cannot think that in the spiritual world also there is love. Because here, in this world, the so-called love or lust is frustrated and followed by so many calamities that therefore they cannot conceive that in the spiritual world also there is love. Their idea, in one sense, is right, that how these nonsensical things can exist in the spiritual world? Therefore they make it altogether minus. No variety. Impersonal. That is less intelligence. They cannot understand that photograph is the reflection of the actual person. There is everything in detail. A movie. Actually, the same man is laughing, walking, dress, everything, but it is all false. That they cannot understand. Therefore the Vaisnavas say they are less intelligent. 

The real understanding should be that if in the real person all these features are not present, how they can be reflected in the photograph? The Mayavadi says, brahma satyam jagan mithya. Brahman, the Absolute Truth, is real truth, and this world is mithya. Then mithya means it is a reflection or shadow. Mithya does not mean that it has no existence. The shadow is also existence. Therefore Vaisnava philosophers say that mithya means temporary. Now you have got this body. This is temporary. That's the real understanding. And if I say it is mithya, then if I kill you, then why I am punished? I can say, "Oh, it is mithya, it is false. So what is their fault?" 

No. It is not mithya. It is temporary. Not mithya. Mithya how can it be? Because it is reflection of the reality, therefore it cannot be mithya. Then the reality becomes mithya. Mithya means not fact. The real explanation is that this is shadow. Shadow, but the reality is in the spiritual world, and that is indicated in the Vedanta-sutra, janmady asya yatah. The fountainhead of all emanation. That is Absolute Truth. ~ RC, April 11, 69, NY

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"This material attraction, therefore, certainly cannot attract the Supreme Lord. When He wants to be attracted by a woman, He has to create such a woman from His own energy. That woman is Radharani. It is explained by the Gosvamis that Radharani is the manifestation of the pleasure potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When the Supreme Lord wants to derive transcendental pleasure, He has to create a woman from His internal potency." ~ S.B. 3.31.38 P

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"The special significance of Krsna's bearing a flute in His hands in Vrajabhumi, Vrndavana, is described as madhuri. .. virajate. The form of the Lord with a flute in His hands is most attractive, and the one who is most sublimely attracted is Srimati Radharani, Radhika. She enjoys supremely blissful association with Krsna. Sometimes people cannot understand why Radhika's name is not mentioned in Srimad-Bhagavatam. Actually, however, Radhika can be understood from the word aradhana, which indicates that She enjoys the highest loving affairs with Krsna." ~ SB 10. 3.31 P

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"This process of devotional service is taught by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Not that very easily, "We have seen Krsna or seen Radharani in rasa-lila." No, not like that. Feel the separation. The more you feel separation from Krsna, you should understand that you are advancing. Don't try to see Krsna artificially. Be advanced in separation feeling, and then it will be perfect. That is the teachings of Lord Caitanya. Because with our material eyes we cannot see Krsna. Atah sri-krsna- namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih. With our material senses we cannot see Krsna, we cannot hear about Krsna's name. But sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. 

When you engage yourself in the service of the Lord… Where the service begins? Jihvadau. The service begins from the tongue. Not from the legs, eyes, or ears. It begins from the tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. If you begin service through your tongue… How? Chant Hare Krsna. Use your tongue. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. And take Krsna prasadam. The tongue has got two business: to articulate sound, Hare Krsna; and take prasadam. By this process you'll realize Krsna.

Devotee: Haribol!

Prabhupada: Don't try to see Krsna. You cannot see Krsna with your material eyes. Neither you can hear about Him with your material ears. Neither you can touch. But if you engage your tongue in the service of the Lord, then He'll reveal Himself to you: "Here I am." That is wanted. So feel separation of Krsna just like Radharani, as Lord Caitanya teaches us, and engage your tongue in the service of the Lord; then, one day, when you are mature, you'll see Krsna eye to eye.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Haribol! All glories to His Divine Grace! (offer obeisances) (end)" ~ Radhastami, London, Sept 18, 69

"The sahajiyas, they immediately try to understand the love affairs of Krsna and Radharani. That is sahajiyism. Here we have to take instruction from Narottama dasa Thakura. First of all we have to take the mercy of Rupa-Raghunatha, Gosvamis. Then if there is, our luck is good, then we can understand what is Radha-Krsna prema. You, it is not a thing to be understood by the common man in the bazaar, Radha-Krsna. Therefore, in spite of hearing Radha-Krsna lila for many, many years, they remain in the same position, not a single step forward, what to…, to understand Krsna? Because they do not try to understand Radha-Krsna through the channel chalked out by Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Gosvamis. We must know. Radha-Krsna is not ordinary. Radha krsna-pranaya-vikrtir hladini sakti. This is the manifestation of the ahladini sakti of Krsna. Krsna does not enjoy any material thing. The gopis and Radharani, they are not these ordinary girls.

Ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhis tabhir ya eva nija-rupataya kalabhih.

So this is the process. We don't, therefore, advise people that immediately come to understand rasa-lila. No. We never do so. First of all, understand Krsna by the channel, by the proper method. Then gradually, when you are actually purified, they you'll understand Radha-Krsna.

rupa-raghunatha-padehaibe akuti
kabe hama bujhaba sri-yugala-piriti

They don't become sahajiya, to understand Radha and Krsna just like ordinary… They're understanding Radha and Krsna, and they're inclined to so many nonsense things. If one understands Radha-Krsna, his impulse for sex life, vita raga kama, immediately will be finished. He'll never think of… As Yamuna, Yamunacarya says, yad-avadhi mama cetah krsna-padaravindayor. You know the verse?
Indian man: Yes.
Prabhupada: Cite it. Yad-avadhi mama cetah krsna-padaravindayor. Yamunacarya.
Indian man: Oh, ahh…
Prabhupada: No. This verse:

yad-avadhi mama cetah krsna-padaravindayor
nava-nava-(rasa-)dhamany (udyatam) rantum asit
tad-avadhi mama bata nari-sangame smaryamane
bhavati mukha-vikarah susthu nisthivanam ca

So this is the test. If actually one understands Radha-Krsna lila, then they'll forget forever this sex life of the material world. This is the test. So our request is that don't try to understand Radha-Krsna. Just worship Radha-Krsna according to the arcana-vidhi. Then gradually Radha-Krsna will be pleased, Caitanya Mahaprabhu will be pleased, and svayam eva sphuraty adhah. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. When They are pleased by your seva, then They will reveal. Don't try to jump over to understand Radha-Krsna. That will not help us.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)" ~ Bombay Lecture, NOD, Jan 6, 73

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"The Lord thought that undoubtedly Radharani enjoyed His company and He enjoyed the company of Radharani, but the exchange of transcendental mellow between the spiritual couple was more pleasing to Srimati Radharani than to Sri Krsna. Radharani felt more transcendental pleasure in the company of Krsna than He could understand without taking Her position, but for Sri Krsna to enjoy in the position of Srimati Radharani was impossible because that position was completely foreign to Him. Krsna is the transcendental male, and Radharani is the transcendental female. Therefore, to know the transcendental pleasure of loving Krsna, Lord Krsna Himself appeared as Lord Caitanya, accepting the emotions and bodily luster of Srimati Radharani." ~ Adi 4

"In the beginning of Caitanya-caritamrta it is said that Lord Caitanya appeared in order to taste the feelings Radharani felt upon seeing Krsna. Krsna Himself could not understand the ecstatic feelings of Radharani toward Him, and therefore He desired to accept the role of Radharani and thereby taste these feelings. Lord Caitanya is Krsna with the feelings of Radharani; in other words, He is a combination of Radha and Krsna. It is therefore said, sri-krsna-caitanya radha-krsna nahe anya. By worshiping Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu alone, one can relish the loving affairs of Radha and Krsna together. One should therefore try to understand Radha-Krsna not directly but through Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and through His devotees. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura therefore says, rupa-raghunatha-pade haibe akuti, kabe hama bujhaba se yugala-piriti: "When shall I develop a mentality of service toward Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami and the other devotees of Lord Caitanya and thus become eligible to understand the pastimes of Sri Radha and Krsna?" ~ Adi 13, 43

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"In the beginning one should very regularly chant Sri Gaurasundara's holy name and then chant the holy name of Lord Nityananda. Thus one's heart will be cleansed of impure desires for material enjoyment. Then one can approach Vrndavana-dhama to worship Lord Krsna. Unless one is favored by Lord Caitanya and Nityananda, there is no need to go to Vrndavana, for unless one's mind is purified, he cannot see Vrndavana, even if he goes there. Actually going to Vrndavana involves taking shelter of the six Gosvamis by reading Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Vidagdha-madhava, Lalita-madhava and the other books that they have given. In this way one can understand the transcendental loving affairs between Radha and Krsna. Kabe hama bujhaba se yugala-piriti. The conjugal love between Radha and Krsna is not an ordinary human affair; it is fully transcendental. In order to understand Radha and Krsna, worship Them and engage in Their loving service, one must be guided by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu and the six Gosvamis, Lord Caitanya's direct disciples." Adi 8. 31