Oddly Some "Poison" Conversations Are Missing?

http://vanisource.org/wiki/Category:1977_-_Conversations

[PADA: Thanks for your question prabhu. Yes, the November 1977 "poison conversations" were hidden from the devotees all along. Parts of the conversation were posted in the 1990 "Bhaktivedanta Archives" conversations books. Only 1,000 were printed under the orders of Tamal Krishna. We had a copy of those books and we read about "conversation about poison in Hindi," except the transcript was not included, it just mentions that a conversation took place. Why are these tapes and conversations being suppressed, even up to the present day? Isn't this called re-writing history?

In 1997 a devotee came to Los Angeles and gave me copies of the 1977 archives tapes, which I had translated by a Bengali editor, so he was very good at translations. The devotee who gave me the tapes said -- he did not want his name mentioned in public, ever, because he was afraid for his life. He just wanted me to publish the contents, and I did. In fact this devotee has never wanted his name released ever since.

And so we then transcribed the Bengali man's translation and published the very first copies of the poison tapes conversation, and distributed them around Los Angeles temple -- and mailed copies to people like Rocana, Naveen Krishna, Nityananada das and others who then became involved in the issue. So yes, from 1977 until 1997, no one had copies of these conversations. I was the first person to publicly release the conversations.

Oddly, shortly after we began to publish these tapes the Sanat / Muknda / Prahlad group began to argue that PADA should not get any credit for releasing these tapes, never mind no one else had made these tapes public before we did. And no one else could release the tapes -- even if they wanted to -- because I was the only person with a copy of the actual tapes at that time -- who wanted to make them public.

And so the Sanat / Mukunda / Prahald team began to publish the name of the devotee who gave me the tapes, who specifically did not want to be mentioned in public, nor would he have ever made the tape public himself -- as he made very clear to us all along. Yes, they wanted to strike fear into our contacts by publishing their names, to dry up our contacts and sources, so they could help the poisoners. They also said they did not want Nityananda das to be involved with the case, because he wrote the first book on this issue, had the hair sample analysed and so forth. So they wanted to check some of the most important parts of the investigation and stop the progress of the poison issue.

The good news is, their attempts did not work very well and a number of other "contacts" came forward with testimony on the issue despite these attempts to make the contacts fearful and not give us more details. So this was very shocking to me, instead of saying, jeepers, this is terrible, Srila Prabhupada is saying he is being poisoned, these people did not care hardly at all about that, all they just wanted to do was to have a huge side - discussion about "who will get the credit" for releasing the tapes, saying we should not get any credit, despite we are widely known as the one who released the tape -- to confuse and to discredit the issue, and they wanted to dry up our resources for the investigation by making them fearful to come forward, by releasing the names of some of our contacts without their permission.

They wanted to sabotage the whole case. Or, why else would the publish the name of a confidential source, unless they wanted to dry up these sources? They have never explained why they tried so hard to sabotage this investigation.

So this is really amazing, a person is saying he is being poisoned and the GBC ignores that, then the Sanat / Mukunda team publish the name of the person who gave us the tape so they could strike fear into the entire investigation and stop our sources from giving us more information, to help the poisoners.

They either wanted to dry up our contacts on the case -- to save the poisoners, or if there is some better reason, we never hear about it. So anyway, this is a little history of the story of that tape. We have to say that the cat is now out of the bag (Nityananda's book on the issue was read by several thousand people) and too many people now know about those tapes, its pretty much public info at this point. At the same time, it is a little amazing that so many people still want to remain anonymous, yes it means many / most people perceive this as a dangerous operation even today. ys pd  
       

Health Benefits of Bitter Melons

http://www.secondopinionnewsletter.com/Health-Alert-Archive/View-Archive/2172/Simple-plant-kills-up-to-98-of-cancer-cells--and-stops-diabetes.htm?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=POST&utm_campaign=SOHA11162013

[PADA: There are many such official medical link sites to the health benefits of bitter melons. Older people, including devotees -- or even especially devotees, can suffer from a slow down of bodily metabolism resulting in -- diabetes, cancer, tumors, liver infections, and other toxic blood conditions. Bitter melons in the diet seems to be a good counter-acting agent. The breast cancer society recommends them for women with cancer, or to be taken as a preventative against cancer.

Around here we can get them at various Indian shops, sometimes at larger market stores like "Food For Less" (but they seem to be a little older and mushy there). They also seem to be regularly available in various Philippine markets (often called some sort of Sea Food Markets). There is also a big "Oriental Grocery" store locally that carries them.

If you cut them open and the seeds are pink, that means they are not very fresh. Try to avoid those. Try to find a store that have ones that have white seeds when you cut them up, that means they are at their freshest. We get ours at various Philippine / Oriental Market shops because they are the most fresh there. They do not seem to last long and will get ugly spots on them if not used fairly soon.

We cook ours no longer than two days after purchase. You can boil them and add curry powder (which also purifies the blood), and save the cooking water to have later as a bitter tea, or fry them up until they are a little crispy. They cook up fairly quickly, do not over cook and remove all the good ingredients. They taste, well, bitter. You will feel better though. ys pd]      

Yummy!

Considering Vaishnava Calendars

[PADA: We'd like to know which Vaishnava Calender uses the system described below by Mahesh Raja. I am not sure who is using which system. If anyone knows please tell us. ys pd] 

By Mahesh Raja:

The situation today in ISKCON calendar is Ekadasi dates are not followed as it was back when Srila Prabhupada’s time from 1966-1977. Ekadasidates are supposed to be THE SAME in ANY time zone and Panjika was to be followed AS OBSERVED IN MAYAPUR. The new calendar has created Ekadasis to be followed by dates and times in different countries thus this has created a BIG MESS.

Please read below. Any comments/discussion welcome.

53. That the GBC accepts the Yoga Pitha Gaudiya Panjika calendar as authoritative for ISKCON on the instructions of Srila Prabhupada. It is also Srila Prabhupada’s instructions that the Panjika be followed in any time zone of the world according to the same Calendar date as observed in Mayapur. Bhakti Caru Swami shall secure and certify an official translation. [Provisional Order]

(GBC Resolutions February 25, 1988)

“on the instructions of Srila Prabhupada”

EKADASI

SB 4.28.35-36
We can definitely see that to advance in Krsna consciousness one must control his bodily weight. If one becomes too fat, it is to be assumed that he is not advancing spiritually. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura severely criticized his fat disciples. The idea is that one who intends to advance in Krsna consciousness must not eat very much. Devotees used to go to forests, high hills or mountains on pilgrimages, but such severe austerities are not possible in these days. One should instead eat only prasada and no more than required. ACCORDING TO THE VAISNAVA CALENDAR, THERE ARE MANY FASTS, SUCH AS EKADASI AND THE APPEARANCE AND DISAPPEARANCE DAYS OF GOD AND HIS DEVOTEES. ALL OF THESE ARE MEANT TO DECREASE THE FAT WITHIN THE BODY SO THAT ONE WILL NOT SLEEP MORE THAN DESIRED AND WILL NOT BECOME INACTIVE AND LAZY. Overindulgence in food will cause a man to sleep more than required. This human form of life is meant for austerity, and austerity means controlling sex, food intake, etc. In this way time can be saved for spiritual activity, and one can purify himself both externally and internally. Thus both body and mind can be cleansed.

SB 7.14.20-23
Visuva, or Visuva-sankranti, means Mesa-sankranti, or the day on which the sun enters the sign Aries. Tula-sankranti is the day on which the sun enters the sign Libra. Both of these days occur only once within a year. The word yoga refers to a certain relationship between the sun and moon as they move in the sky. There are twenty-seven different degrees of yoga, of which the seventeenth is called Vyatipata. On the day when this occurs, one should perform the sraddha ceremony. A TITHI, OR LUNAR DAY, CONSISTS OF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE LONGITUDE OF THE SUN AND THAT OF THE MOON. SOMETIMES A TITHI IS LESS THAN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. WHEN IT STARTS AFTER SUNRISE ON A CERTAIN DAY AND ENDS BEFORE THE SUNRISE OF THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE PREVIOUS TITHI AND THE FOLLOWING TITHI BOTH “TOUCH” THE TWENTY-FOUR-HOUR DAY BETWEEN THE SUNRISES. THIS IS CALLED TRYAHA-SPARSA, OR A DAY TOUCHED BY SOME PORTION OF THREE TITHIS.
Srila Jiva Gosvami has given quotations from many sastras stating that the sraddha ceremony of oblations to the forefathers should not be performed on Ekadasi tithi. WHEN THE TITHI OF THE DEATH ANNIVERSARY FALLS ON THE EKADASI DAY, THE SRADDHA CEREMONY SHOULD BE HELD NOT ON EKADASI BUT ON THE NEXT DAY, OR DVADASI. In the Brahma-vaivarta purana it is said:

ye kurvanti mahipala
sraddham caikadasi-dine
trayas te narakam yanti
data bhokta ca prerakah

IF ONE PERFORMS THE SRADDHA CEREMONY OF OBLATIONS TO THE FOREFATHERS ON THE EKADASI TITHI, THEN THE PERFORMER, THE FOREFATHERS FOR WHOM THE SRADDHA IS OBSERVED, AND THE PUROHITA, OR THE FAMILY PRIEST WHO ENCOURAGES THE CEREMONY, ALL GO TO HELL.

69-09-30. Letter: Madhudvisa
REGARDING YOU FIRST QUESTION, WE OBSERVE EKADASI FROM SUNRISE TO SUNRISE. THE 12 MIDNIGHT IS WESTERN ASTRONOMICAL CALCULATION, BUT THE VEDIC ASTRONOMICAL CALCULATION BEGINS EITHER FROM THE SUNRISE OR THE MOONRISE. GENERALLY IT IS SUNRISE. OUR CALCULATION IS LIKE THIS: WHEN THE SUNRISE IS THERE, EKADASI TITHI (DATE) MUST BE THERE. IF EKADASI TITHI IS NOT IN THE SUNRISE AND THE TITHI BEGINS, SAY AFTER A FEW MINUTES AFTER THE SUNRISE, THEN WE ACCEPT THAT DAY AS PREVIOUS TO EKADASI. ALL OUR CEREMONIES ARE CALCULATED IN THAT WAY. THIS MEANS WE MUST SEE THE TITHI DURING SUNRISE. THEREFORE, SOMETIMES OUR DATES OF CEREMONIES DO NOT EXACTLY COINCIDE LIKE THE WESTERN CALCULATIONS. JUST LIKE CHRISTMAS DAY THEY HAVE FIXED UP ON THE 25TH DECEMBER, BUT OUR JANMASTAMI TITHI IS NOT FIXED UP LIKE THAT. MY BIRTHDAY IS ON THE 1ST SEPTEMBER, 1896, BUT THIS YEAR THE TITHI OF MY BIRTHDAY WAS FIXED FOR THE 4TH SEPTEMBER. SO IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CALCULATE, THEREFORE WE HAVE TO TAKE HELP FROM THE INDIAN EXPERT ALMANAC ASTRONOMERS.

70-04-29. Letter: Pradyumna
2. WHEN THERE IS AN IMPORTANT DVADASI, THE EKADASI FASTING IS TRANSFERRED ON THE DVADASI, AND THIS IS CALLED MAHADVADASI. THE 26TH OCTOBER, 1970, IS ACTUALLY DVADASI, SO THE FASTING IS OBSERVED TOGETHER, OR EKADASI

FASTING IS DISREGARDED, AND THE DVADASI (MAHADVADASI) FASTING IS TAKEN AS IMPORTANT.
You were give this old Panjika just to consult the names and spelling only. The dates are different, so whatever date I have given, that is correct. WHY YOU ARE SEARCHING BYANJALI DVADASI IN THIS LAST YEAR’S PANJIKA? WHAT I HAVE GIVEN IS FROM THIS YEAR’S PANJIKA, SO EVERYTHING WILL NOT COLLABORATE.

5. 7th February, 1971--Varaha-Dvadasi, I have explained the position in regard to #2.

6. SO FAR DETERMINING EKADASI IT IS COUNTED 11 DAYS AFTER THE FULL MOON AND 11 DAYS AFTER THE NEW MOON, BUT SOMETIMES IT SO HAPPENS AS YOU HAVE NOTED ONE DAY LATER. HOWEVER, WHAT I HAVE GIVEN IS CORRECT.

SB 8.16.25 AS WE GENERALLY PERFORM DEVOTIONAL SERVICE ON EKADASI BY NOT EATING GRAINS, IT IS GENERALLY RECOMMENDED THAT ON DVADASI ONE NOT CONSUME ANYTHING BUT MILK.

SB 9.4 Summary Ambarisa Maharaja Offended by Durvasa Muni

Once Maharaja Ambarisa was worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Vrndavana, observing the vow of Dvadasi. ON DVADASI, THE DAY AFTER EKADASI, WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TO BREAK HIS EKADASI FAST, the great mystic yogi Durvasa appeared in his house and became his guest. King Ambarisa respectfully received Durvasa Muni, and Durvasa Muni, after accepting his invitation to eat there, went to bathe in the Yamuna River at noontime. Because he was absorbed in samadhi, he did not come back very soon. Maharaja Ambarisa, however, upon SEEING THAT THE TIME TO BREAK THE FAST WAS PASSING, DRANK A LITTLE WATER, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADVICE OF LEARNED BRAHMANAS, JUST TO OBSERVE THE FORMALITY OF BREAKING THE FAST.

SB 9.4.29

TO OBSERVE EKADASI-VRATA AND DVADASI-VRATA MEANS TO PLEASE THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. THOSE INTERESTED IN ADVANCING IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS MUST OBSERVE EKADASI-VRATA REGULARLY.

Adi 10.71

In their two houses Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu begged food on the Ekadasi day and personally ate it.
Adi 10.71

THE INJUNCTION TO FAST ON EKADASI IS ESPECIALLY MEANT FOR DEVOTEES; ON EKADASI THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS REGARDING FOOD THAT MAY BE OFFERED TO THE LORD. LORD SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU TOOK THE FOOD OF LORD VISNU IN HIS ECSTASY AS VISNU-TATTVA.

Adi 14.39

The Caitanya-bhagavata, Adi-lila, Chapter Six, fully describes the Lord’s accepting visnu-prasada on the Ekadasi day at the house of Jagadisa and Hiranya. REGULAR PRASADA IS OFFERED TO LORD VISNU ON EKADASI BECAUSE, WHILE FASTING IS RECOMMENDED FOR DEVOTEES ON EKADASI, IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR LORD VISNU.

Adi 15.9

From the very beginning of His childhood life Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the system of observing a fast on the Ekadasi day. IN THE BHAKTI-SANDARBHA, BY SRILA JIVA GOSVAMI, THERE IS A QUOTATION FROM THE SKANDA PURANA ADMONISHING THAT A PERSON WHO EATS GRAINS ON EKADASI BECOMES A MURDERER OF HIS MOTHER, FATHER, BROTHER AND SPIRITUAL MASTER, AND EVEN IF HE IS ELEVATED TO A VAIKUNTHA PLANET, HE FALLS DOWN. ON EKADASI, EVERYTHING IS COOKED FOR VISNU, INCLUDING REGULAR GRAINS AND DAHI, BUT IT IS ENJOINED THAT A VAISNAVA SHOULD NOT EVEN TAKE VISNU-PRASADA ON EKADASI. IT IS SAID THAT A VAISNAVA DOES NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING EATABLE THAT IS NOT OFFERED TO LORD VISNU, BUT ON EKADASI A VAISNAVA SHOULD NOT TOUCH EVEN MAHA-PRASADA OFFERED TO VISNU, ALTHOUGH SUCH PRASADA MAY BE KEPT FOR BEING EATEN THE NEXT DAY. IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN FOR ONE TO ACCEPT ANY KIND OF GRAIN ON EKADASI, EVEN IF IT IS OFFERED TO LORD VISNU.

Adi 15.10

It is a PREJUDICE AMONGST SMARTA-BRAHMANAS that a widow must observe fasting on Ekadasi but a woman who has her husband should not. It appears that before the request of Lord Caitanya Sacimata was not observing Ekadasi because of her being sa-dhava, which means that her husband was living. SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU, HOWEVER, INTRODUCED THE SYSTEM THAT A WOMAN, EVEN IF NOT A WIDOW, MUST OBSERVE THE EKADASI DAY AND MUST NOT TOUCH ANY KIND OF GRAINS, EVEN THOSE OFFERED TO THE DEITY OF VISNU.

Adi 15.16

BETEL NUTS ARE AN INTOXICANT, and therefore the regulative principles prohibit eating them. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastime of fainting after eating betel nuts is a solid instruction to all of us that ONE SHOULD NOT TOUCH BETEL NUTS, EVEN THOSE OFFERED TO VISNU, JUST AS ONE SHOULD NOT TOUCH GRAINS ON THE EKADASI DAY.

Madhya 4.169

THE CATURMASYA PERIOD BEGINS IN THE MONTH OF ASADHA (JUNE-JULY) FROM THE DAY OF EKADASI CALLED SAYANA-EKADASI, IN THE FORTNIGHT OF THE WAXING MOON. THE PERIOD ENDS IN THE MONTH OF KARTIKA (OCTOBER-NOVEMBER) ON THE EKADASI DAY KNOWN AS UTTHANA-EKADASI, IN THE FORTNIGHT OF THE WAXING MOON. THIS FOUR-MONTH PERIOD IS KNOWN AS CATURMASYA. Some Vaisnavas also observe it from the full-moon day of Asadha until the full-moon day of Kartika. That is also a period of four months. 

This period, calculated by the lunar months, is called Caturmasya, but others also observe Caturmasya according to the solar month from Sravana to Kartika. The whole period, either lunar or solar, takes place during the rainy season. Caturmasya should be observed by all sections of the population. It does not matter whether one is a grhastha or a sannyasi. The observance is obligatory for all asramas. The real purpose behind the vow taken during these four months is to minimize the quantity of sense gratification. This is not very difficult. In the month of Sravana one should not eat spinach, in the month of Bhadra one should not eat yogurt, and in the month of Asvina one should not drink milk. One should not eat fish or other nonvegetarian food during the month of Kartika. A nonvegetarian diet means fish and meat. Similarly, masura dal and urad dal are also considered nonvegetarian. These two dals contain a great amount of protein, and food rich in protein is considered nonvegetarian. On the whole, during the four-month period of Caturmasya one should practice giving up all food intended for sense enjoyment.

Madhya 24.342

“YOU SHOULD RECOMMEND THE AVOIDANCE OF MIXED EKADASI AND THE PERFORMANCE OF PURE EKADASI. YOU SHOULD ALSO DESCRIBE THE FAULT IN NOT OBSERVING THIS. One should be very careful as far as these items are concerned. If one is not careful, one will be negligent in executing devotional service.

CAITANYA-CARITAMRTA CONCLUDING WORDS
TODAY, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1974--CORRESPONDING TO THE 10TH OF KARTIKKA, CAITANYA ERA 488, THE ELEVENTH DAY OF THE DARK FORTNIGHT, THE RAMA-EKADASI--we have now finished the English translation of Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami’ s Sri Caitanya-caritamrta in accordance with the authorised order of His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Gosvami Maharaja, my beloved eternal spiritual master, guide and friend.

TLC12

However, one should generally accept the following principles to properly execute devotional service: (1) take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master, (2) receive initiation from the spiritual master, (3) serve the spiritual master, (4) inquire and learn love from the spiritual master, (5) follow in the footsteps of holy persons devoted to the transcendental loving service of the Lord, (6) prepare to give up all kinds of enjoyment and miseries for the satisfaction of Krsna, (7) live in a place where Krsna had His pastimes, (8) be satisfied by whatever is sent by Krsna for the maintenance of the body and hanker for no more, (9) OBSERVE FASTING ON EKADASI DAY (THIS OCCURS ON THE ELEVENTH DAY AFTER THE FULL MOON AND THE ELEVENTH DAY AFTER THE NEW MOON. ON SUCH DAYS NO GRAINS, CEREALS OR BEANS ARE EATEN; SIMPLY VEGETABLES AND MILK ARE MODERATELY TAKEN, AND CHANTING HARE KRSNA AND READING SCRIPTURES ARE INCREASED.),

TLC 16

Lord Caitanya also explained the symptoms of a holy man and the process of satisfying the sage and rejecting the society of undesirable persons. The Lord also advised that one should hear Srimad-Bhagavatam constantly. Also to be followed are duties of the day and duties of the fortnight, as well as fasting on Ekadasi day. ONE MUST ALSO FOLLOW THE DUTIES OF THE MONTH AND OBSERVE CEREMONIES LIKE THE BIRTHDAY OF THE LORD, THE THREE SPECIFIC DATES OF FASTING EKADASI, JANMASTAMI, VAMANADVADASI, SRI RAMANAVAMI AND NRSIMHACATURDASI. WHEN THE FAST DAYS OVERLAP WITH OTHER DAYS (VIDDHA), THEY ARE HELPFUL IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE.

NoD 7

IN THE BRAHMA-VAIVARTA PURANA IT IS SAID THAT ONE WHO OBSERVES FASTING ON EKADASI DAY IS FREED FROM ALL KINDS OF REACTIONS TO SINFUL ACTIVITIES AND ADVANCES IN PIOUS LIFE. THE BASIC PRINCIPLE IS NOT JUST TO FAST, BUT TO INCREASE ONE’S FAITH AND LOVE FOR GOVINDA, OR KRSNA. THE REAL REASON FOR OBSERVING FASTING ON EKADASI IS TO MINIMIZE THE DEMANDS OF THE BODY AND TO ENGAGE OUR TIME IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD BY CHANTING OR PERFORMING SIMILAR SERVICE. THE BEST THING TO DO ON FASTING DAYS IS TO REMEMBER THE PASTIMES OF GOVINDA AND TO HEAR HIS HOLY NAME CONSTANTLY.

NoD 26 Stimulation for Ecstatic Love

Some things which give impetus or stimulation to ecstatic love of Krsna are His transcendental qualities, His uncommon activities, His smiling features, His apparel and garlands, His flute, His buffalo horn, His leg bells, His conchshell, His footprints, His places of pastimes (such as Vrndavana), His favorite plant (tulasi), His devotee and the periodical occasions for remembering Him. ONE SUCH OCCASION FOR REMEMBRANCE IS EKADASI, WHICH COMES TWICE A MONTH ON THE ELEVENTH DAY OF THE MOON, BOTH WANING AND WAXING. ON THAT DAY ALL THE DEVOTEES REMAIN FASTING THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT AND CONTINUOUSLY CHANT THE GLORIES OF THE LORD.

KB 28

The Govardhana ceremony took place on the new-moon day. After this, there were torrents of rain and hailstorms imposed by King Indra for seven days. Nine days of the waxing moon having passed, on the tenth day King Indra worshiped Lord Krsna, and thus the matter was satisfactorily settled. After this, on the eleventh day of the full moon, there was Ekadasi. MAHARAJA NANDA OBSERVED FASTING FOR THE WHOLE DAY, AND JUST EARLY IN THE MORNING OF THE DVADASI, THE DAY AFTER EKADASI, HE WENT TO TAKE BATH IN THE RIVER YAMUNA. HE ENTERED DEEP INTO THE WATER OF THE RIVER, BUT HE WAS ARRESTED IMMEDIATELY BY ONE OF THE SERVANTS OF VARUNADEVA. THIS SERVANT BROUGHT NANDA MAHARAJA BEFORE THE DEMIGOD VARUNA AND ACCUSED HIM OF TAKING A BATH IN THE RIVER AT THE WRONG TIME. ACCORDING TO ASTRONOMICAL CALCULATIONS, THE TIME IN WHICH HE TOOK BATH WAS CONSIDERED DEMONIAC. THE FACT WAS, NANDA MAHARAJA WANTED TO TAKE A BATH IN THE RIVER YAMUNA EARLY IN THE MORNING BEFORE THE SUNRISE, BUT SOMEHOW OR OTHER HE WAS A LITTLE TOO EARLY, AND HE BATHED AT AN INAUSPICIOUS TIME. CONSEQUENTLY HE WAS ARRESTED.

690523SB.NV

So, paravare brahmani dharmato vrataih. So one should execute Krsna consciousness, dharmatah, in right path, and vrataih. Bhajante mam drdha-vratah. Just like today, ekadasi-vrata. Vrataih. This ekadasi-vrata is required. Just see. Here it is that “You have performed all the vratas.” The purpose of ekadasi-vrata is that today we should not eat much usual food, grains. The actual prescription is fasting. Nirjala-ekadasi. Nirjala means there are many devotees who does not take even water. Water, drinking water, according to sastra, it is taking food… It is drinking of food or no food. We can take both ways. So sometimes drinking of water is excused as upavasa also. BUT THERE ARE MANY DEVOTEES WHO EVEN…, DRINK EVEN A DROP OF WATER. WHOLE DAY AND NIGHT THEY FAST AND OBSERVE EKADASI-VRATA. AND THE NIGHT IS CALLED HARIVASARA. HARIVASARA MEANS THE WHOLE NIGHT THEY WOULD CHANT HARE KRSNA, HARE KRSNA, KRSNA KRSNA, HARE HARE. HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA… THIS IS CALLED VRATA. DRDHA-VRATA. DRDHA-VRATA. DRDHA MEANS VERY FIRM, STEADY.

730422SB.LA

Just like… The, everything is described in the Bhagavad-gita. Just like in hospital. IN HOSPITAL THERE ARE MANY PATIENTS, THEY ARE NOT EATING ANYTHING ON THE EKADASI DAY. DOES IT MEAN THAT IS OBSERVING EKADASI? HE IS SIMPLY HANKERING AFTER, “WHEN I SHALL EAT, WHEN I SHALL EAT, WHEN I SHALL EAT?.” BUT THESE STUDENTS, THEY VOLUNTARILY DON’T EAT ANYTHING. WE, WE DON’T SAY THAT YOU DON’T EAT ANYTHING. SOME FRUITS, SOME FLOWERS. THAT’S ALL. SO PARAM DRSTVA NIVARTATE. JUST LIKE A CHILD. HE HAS GOT IN HIS HAND SOMETHING HE’S EATING. AND IF YOU GIVE HIM BETTER THING, HE WILL THROW AWAY THE INFERIOR THING AND WILL TAKE THAT BETTER THING.

750303SB.DAL

But if you want to realize God, as it is said here, tapasaiva, only by tapasya, only by penance, one can realize. Otherwise not. Otherwise it is not possible. Therefore this word is used, tapasaiva. Tapasa eva: “only by tapasya.” There is no other means. Tapasa eva param. Param means the Supreme. If you want to realize the Supreme, the Absolute, then you must agree to certain type of tapasya. Otherwise it is not possible. THE PRELIMINARY LITTLE TAPASYA. JUST LIKE EKADASI. THAT IS ALSO ITEM OF THE TAPASYA. ACTUALLY ON THE EKADASI DAYS WE SHALL NOT TAKE ANY FOOD, EVEN DRINK WATER. BUT IN OUR SOCIETY WE ARE NOT DOING SO MUCH STRICTLY. WE SAY, “EKADASI, YOU DON’T TAKE FOOD GRAINS. TAKE LITTLE FRUIT, MILK.” THIS IS TAPASYA.

750913SB.VRN

So one day he came to Ambarisa Maharaja on the dvadasi day with sixty thousand disciples and ordered the Maharaja, “Maharaja, today we have come to take prasadam in your palace. Please arrange for this.” SO THAT WAS DVADASI DAY. YOU KNOW, ON THE DVADASI THERE WAS… THAT IS A REGULATIVE PRINCIPLE, THAT IN THE MORNING AT ABOUT NINE O’CLOCK ONE HAS TO TAKE SOMETHING, PRASADAM, TO BREAK THE VOWS, BREAK FAST. So this Durvasa Muni along with disciples, they went to the river Ganges to take bath, but they were willfully not coming back. So Ambarisa Maharaja asked the priest that “Durvasa Muni is my guest. I cannot take anything without offering him. So what shall I do? Now I have to observe the dvadasi breakfast.” SO THE BRAHMANA PRIEST ORDERED HIM THAT “MAHARAJA, YOU CAN TAKE LITTLE CARANAMRTA,” THE WATER. SO ACCORDING TO SASTRA, DRINKING LITTLE WATER IS NOT BREAKING FAST, SO IT WILL BE NOT TAKEN VERY… SO WITH THE ADVICE OF THE BRAHMANA… FORMERLY THE KINGS, THEY WERE GUIDED BY THE INSTRUCTION OF THE BRAHMANAS AND GREAT SAINTLY PERSONS. THEY WERE NOT DOING ANYTHING WHIMSICALLY. THAT IS NOT THE FACT. SO WITH THE INSTRUCTION OF THE BRAHMANAS, HE TOOK LITTLE CARANAMRTA.

81021SB.SEA

Tamala Krsna: How do we enter into the modes of goodness?
Prabhupada: Just try to follow the four principles as we have prescribed: no intoxication, no gambling, no illicit sex, and no meat-eating. That’s all. This is goodness. This is goodness. These prohibitions are there. Why? Just to keep you in goodness. In every religion… Now, in the Ten Commandments also, I see that “Thou shall not kill.” The same thing is there, but people are not obeying. That is a different thing. No religious person… Nobody can be religious unless he is situated in the modes of goodness. A passionate person or a person in ignorance, they cannot be elevated to the religious platform. 

Religious platform means in goodness. Then you can understand. On the platform of goodness, you can understand the All-good. If you are in ignorance platform, if you are in the passionate platform, how you can understand the All-good? That is not possible. So one has to keep himself in goodness, and that goodness means one should follow the prohibitions. Either you follow the Ten Commandments or these four commandments, the same thing. That means you have to keep yourself in goodness. The balance must be in goodness. In the Bhagavad-gita it is stated, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan. Arjuna accepted Krsna as the supermost pure. 

How you can approach the supermost pure without becoming yourself pure? So this is the steppingstone to become pure, because we are contaminated. So to become pure… THE EKADASI, WHY WE OBSERVE? TO BECOME PURE. BRAHMACARYA TAPASYA, AUSTERITY, PENANCE, CELIBACY, KEEPING THE MIND ALWAYS IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, KEEPING THE BODY ALWAYS CLEANSED--THESE THINGS WILL HELP US TO KEEP US IN GOODNESS. Without goodness, it is not possible. But Krsna consciousness is so nice that even one is in the modes of passion and ignorance, at once he’ll be elevated on the platform of goodness, provided he agrees to follow the rules and regulations and chants Hare Krsna. This chanting of Hare Krsna and following the rules and regulation will keep you intact in goodness. Rest assured. Without failure.

710407LE.BOM

So this process should be adopted, how to become sukrtina. Sukrti means yajna-dana-tapa-kriya. One must perform sacrifices as prescribed in the sastras, and they must give in charity their hard-earned money for Krsna’s cause. That is called dana. Yajna, dana, and tapasya. Tapasya. Just like tomorrow is Sri Rama-navami. The tapasya will be that all the devotees will observe fasting from morning till evening. This is called tapasya. JUST LIKE EKADASI DAY--THERE IS NO EATING SUMPTUOUSLY. SIMPLY YOU TAKE LITTLE FRUITS AND FLOWERS. TRY TO AVOID THAT ALSO. YOU DON’T TAKE EVEN WATER. THAT IS REALLY EKADASI. BUT BECAUSE WE CANNOT DO IT--IN THE KALI-YUGA THE TIME IS DIFFERENT--THEREFORE WE ARE ALLOWED TO TAKE LITTLE FRUIT AND MILK, WHICH IS CALLED ANUKALPA.

55-01-01.spl BROTHERS
(21) Initiated members shall observe the “Ekadasi Brata” twice in a month and on that day he will be allowed to take only fruits & none of the cereals.

68-02-01 Letter: Madhusudana
Ekadasi is observed for increasing the strength of devotion.

68-04-21 Letter: Malati
Yes, here everything is very joyous, because so many nice boys and girls have joined the society, and they are joyfully dancing and chanting. You can let Syamasundara. know that the calculation of Rathayatra was made one month ahead. The actual date is the 28th of June; beginning of Rathayatra is on the 28th, and it will continue till 8 days, and the general festival may be observed on the 7th of July, Sunday (BECAUSE SATURDAY IS EKADASI).

69-10-27 Letter: Govinda
I have duly received the bananas you sent, and you can send me these dried bananas tons and tons. It is very useful and can be nicely used for OUR EKADASI FOODSTUFFS. AFTER DRYING THE BANANAS YOU CAN MAKE POWDER, JUST LIKE FLOUR, AND OUT OF THIS YOU CAN PREPARE PURIS, HALAVA, PAKORAS AND OTHER FRUIT PRODUCTS.

69-11-11 Letter: Rudra
Regarding the vows and chanting method you have adopted, it is very nice. BUT DO NOT IMPOSE SOMETHING WHICH WILL BE DIFFICULT TO EXECUTE. THERE IS NO NEED OF FASTING ONCE VERY WEEK. TWO DAYS FASTING PER MONTH ON EKADASI IS SUFFICIENT. BESIDES THAT THERE ARE OTHER SPECIAL FASTING DAYS. SPIRITUAL REALIZATION DEPENDS ON AUSTERITIES AND VOWS, BUT IN THIS AGE, BY THE MERCY OF KRISHNA AND LORD CAITANYA, WE NEED NOT UNDERGO VERY SEVERE PENANCES, AS WE ARE UNABLE TO DO IT. THE RULES AND REGULATIONS WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY PRESCRIBED, THAT IS SUFFICIENT FOR ORDINARY MEN. But as you have increased the chanting of beads to 25 rounds daily, that is very nice

69-11-20. Letter: Gaurasundara
Srimati Jayasri Dasi sent me SOME DRIED BANANA CHIPS AND THEY ARE VERY NICE FOR MY EKADASI FOOD. Is it possible to send us in large quantity this foodstuff? If not, please try to send me at least one small packet like that every fortnight.

71-07-09 Letter: Jadurani
Why just 25 rounds? You should chant as many as possible. Real Ekadasi means fasting and chanting and no other business. When one observes fasting, the chanting becomes easier. SO ON EKADASI OTHER BUSINESS CAN BE SUSPENDED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE UNLESS THERE IS SOME URGENT BUSINESS.

76-11-26. Letter: Ramesvara
Because there is a little leniency, immediately faulty things are creeping in. So we should be known as shaven-headed, not hair-headed. This is discrepancy. AT LEAST ONCE IN A MONTH YOU MUST BE CLEARLY SHAVEN-HEADED. ON THE BRIGHT FORTNIGHT, ON THE DAY OF PURNIMA, FOUR DAYS AFTER EKADASI. ONCE IN A MONTH, IN THE BRIGHT FORTNIGHT we must be shaven-headed. It is not desirable that in grown up age also, you be chastised. that is not desirable-that is also difficult because when the disciple or son is grown up, if he is chastised, then he breaks. So before being chastised we should be conscious that this is our rules and regulations, we must observe. Therefore it is advised by Canakya Pandit (Sanskrit) After the 16th year of the disciple or son, he should be treated as friend because if you chastise when he is grown up then he will break up- that is also another risk. So our request is that instead of chastising, with folded hands I request you, don’t you become hippies again by growing hair. Keep your head cleansed at least once in a month.

720422r2.tok
Devotee: On ekadasi, we can offer the Deity grains?
Prabhupada: Oh yes. BUT NOT GURU. EKADASI OBSERVED BY JIVA-TATTVA, NOT BY VISNU-TATTVA. WE ARE FASTING FOR CLEARING OUR MATERIAL DISEASE, BUT RADHA-KRSNA, CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU… CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU ALSO MAY NOT BE OFFERED GRAINS BECAUSE HE IS PLAYING THE PART OF A DEVOTEE. ONLY RADHA-KRSNA, JAGANNATHA CAN BE OFFERED GRAINS. OTHERWISE, GURU-GAURANGA, NO. AND THE PRASADAM SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN BY ANYONE. IT SHOULD BE KEPT FOR NEXT DAY.

750508mw.per
Prabhupada: Huh? What do you mean by machine. First of all define what is your idea of machine. Just like the other day we saw, we saw the Thompson place, being printed, being collected, and so many things are being done. It is like this. By machine the seasonal changes are going on, the sun is rising, the moon is rising, the water in the ocean, the waves are there. Everything, machine working. It is machine. EVERYTHING BEING SYSTEMATICALLY DONE. Such a big ocean, vast water, it is just on the brink, no more. It is so organized. The sun is rising exactly in time, astronomically. The astronomical watch is one ten-thousandth part of a second. It is so accurate. You’ll find everything is going on. (break) Today is ekadasi, eleventh day of the moon, the moon shall be like this. THERE ONE CAN SEE THE MOON AND HE CAN CALCULATE. “TODAY IS EKADASI.” THIS IS NOT MACHINE? IT IS EXACTLY, MACHINE.

750705mw.chi
Tamala Krsna: Sometimes we have heard that ekadasi is a inauspicious alignment of the planets and therefore one has to counteract this inauspiciousness by more chanting.
Prabhupada: (laughs) No, no. IT IS THE MOST AUSPICIOUS. AND CHANTING IS MORE EFFECTIVE. (break) Yes.
Tamala Krsna: I remember you were instructing once that all of your initiated disciples should chant twenty-five rounds…
Prabhupada: MINIMUM.
Tamala Krsna: Minimum on this day. Is that a rule that we should all follow in our temples?
Prabhupada: We are sixteen rounds.
Tamala Krsna: No, I mean on ekadasi.
Prabhupada: OH YES. EKADASI, SIMPLY YOU SHOULD CHANT. NO OTHER BUSINESS. NIRJALA.
Tamala Krsna: No preaching work? Should they go out for preaching?
Prabhupada: NO, THOSE WHO ARE PREACHING, NOT FOR THEM. THOSE WHO ARE SITTING IDLE, OR THEY… (LAUGHTER) (BREAK) …HAS NO OTHER REGULATION, SIMPLY PREACHING. A PREACHER IS SO EXALTED. HE HASN’T GOT TO FOLLOW ANY REGULATION. BUT DON’T TAKE IT. (LAUGHTER) AND ACTUALLY IF ONE IS BUSY IN PREACHING WORK, THAT IS FIRST-CLASS. (BREAK) …NOT MY MANUFACTURED WORD, MY GURU MAHARAJA, THAT THE… THAT MADHAVA MAHARAJA, WHEN HE WAS A BRAHMACARI, HIS NAME WAS HAYAGRIVA. SO HE WAS TO GO SOMEWHERE. SO BUT HE WAS SICK. GURU MAHARAJA WAS INFORMED THAT HE WAS SICK AND “TODAY IS EKADASI. HE CANNOT TAKE HIS REGULAR MEALS.” SO GURU MAHARAJA SAID, “NO. LET HIM TAKE IMMEDIATELY MEALS AND GO.”

760211mw.may
Tamala Krsna: We should always chant twenty-five rounds on ekadasi if initiated.
Prabhupada: INITIATED? EVERYONE. WHY INITIATED?
Tamala Krsna: So that should be standard for our movement on ekadasi day?
Prabhupada: Standard is sixteen, but if one can chant more, then he is welcome.
Tamala Krsna: It’s not mandatory for ekadasi.
Jayapataka: Recommended.
Prabhupada: No. EKADASI MEANS THAT, FASTING AND CHANTING.
Tamala Krsna: Sometimes I’m wondering, because our men have to go out on BOOK DISTRIBUTION.
Prabhupada: NO, NO. THAT IS ALSO PREACHING WORK. FOR THAT PURPOSE YOU CAN STOP THIS, BUT GENERALLY, ONE WHO HAS NO PREACHING WORK, HE CAN CHANT.

760607mw.la
Ramesvara: So I’ve been told that if one fasts on Bhima-ekadasi, that it is like fasting on all the ekadasis. Is that true?
Prabhupada: Yes. Ekadasi is meant for fasting, either Bhima or Arjuna. But we cannot fast, therefore we have to take little fruits and…. Otherwise, ekadasi means fasting.
Tamala Krsna: If it is possible, should we go without eating at all?
Prabhupada: Yes. But don’t lie down and sleep.
Mahendra: Eating maha-prasadam is also fasting.
Prabhupada: Who says?
Mahendra: You said that to Paramahamsa Swami once.
Prabhupada: And you heard from Paramahamsa.
Mahendra: No, I was in the room. It was when he was trying to observe Caturmasya.
Prabhupada: I NEVER SAID THAT.
Mahendra: Oh, okay, I must have heard wrong.
Prabhupada: IF THERE IS SERVICE AND, ON MY FASTING, SERVICE WILL BE STOPPED, THEN I CAN TAKE. FIRST CONSIDERATION, SERVICE. NOW IF SOMEBODY FEELS WEAK, HE CAN TAKE MAHA-PRASADA, RENDER SERVICE.

760628bj.nv
To advance in spiritual life these things are essential, tapasya. TAPASYA MEANS VOLUNTARILY ACCEPTING SOMETHING WHICH MAY BE PAINFUL. Just like we are recommending no illicit sex, no gambling, no meat-eating. So those who are accustomed to these bad habits, for them, in he beginning it may be a little difficult. But in spite of becoming difficult, one has to do it. That is called tapasya. To rise early in the morning, those who are not practiced, it is a little painful, but one has to do it. So this is called tapasya. So according to the Vedic injunction, there are some tapasyas that must be done. It is not, “I may do it or not do it.” It must be done. Just like in the Mundaka Upanisad it is ordered that one must go to the spiritual master. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet. So there is no question of voluntarily, but it must be. And one must carry out by the order of a spiritual master and the order of the sastra. That is called tapasya. JUST LIKE IN OUR LINE EKADASI IS COMPULSORY. ONE MAY FEEL SOME INCONVENIENCE FASTING OR SIMPLY EATING FRUITS. NO. IT MUST BE DONE. THERE ARE SO MANY RULES AND REGULATIONS WHICH IS ESSENTIAL. IT MUST BE DONE. THAT IS CALLED TAPASYA. Without consideration whether it is convenient or inconvenient for you, which is, must be done, that is called tapasya. Tapah, divyam… JUST LIKE RSABHADEVA ORDERS THAT THIS HUMAN LIFE IS MEANT FOR TAPASYA.

770125rc.pur
Prabhupada: Yes, that must be. Why Mayapura? Vrndavana, they are accustomed. Ya devi sarva-bhutesu nidra… This sleeping is the maya’s influence. It is stated in the… Ya devi sarva-bhutesu nidra-rupena samsthitah.(?) The Devi, this material energy, has captured everyone, and she is there… The more one sleeps, that means he’s under the control of maya. And the more he is not sleeping, he’s free from maya. Nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau. THE GOSVAMIS, THEY CONQUERED OVER THREE THINGS: NIDRA, SLEEPING; AHARA, EATING; AND MATING. THESE THINGS ARE THE CLUTCHES OF MAYA. More we have sex, more we have eating, more we have sleeping, that means I am entangled. THE MORE WE CONQUER OVER IT, WE ARE FREE. THAT WE HAVE TO TRY. Whether I am in the clutches of maya or not CAN BE TESTED--whether I am sleeping more, whether I am eating more, whether I am more sexually inclined. He can test himself. And bhakti means vairagya-vidya, to conquer over these three things. So practice this. They are… To rise early in the morning and attend mangala-arati is compulsory. It is part of this education, spiritual education. AND NOT TO EAT MORE THAN NECESSARY. THEN YOU’LL NOT SLEEP MORE. YOU’LL FIND, IF YOU OBSERVE FAST, YOU WON’T FEEL SLEEPY. HAVE YOU TESTED THIS?
Gargamuni: Yes. I can remember.
Prabhupada: THEREFORE EKADASI. ONE DAY OR TWO DAYS IN THE MONTH HE SHOULD PRACTICE FASTING, AND THEN HE’LL BE ABLE TO CONQUER OVER THESE THINGS. THESE ARE ALL PRACTICAL. SO WE SHOULD PRACTICE OURSELF AND TEACH OTHERS. THIS IS KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT. AND IF HE THINKS THAT HE’S QUITE ALL RIGHT IN THIS MATERIAL ATMOSPHERE, THEN HE’S DOOMED. MUDHAH NABHIJANATI. THAT MEANS APRAPYA MAM--WITHOUT ACHIEVING KRSNA--NIVARTANTE--AGAIN HE GOES BACK--MRTYU-SAMSARA-VARTMANI--THE CYCLE OF BIRTH AND DEATH. TAKE ONE BIRTH, SUFFER, AGAIN TAKE ANOTHER BODY, AGAIN TAKE ANOTHER BODY, ANOTHER BODY.

More Trouble in ISKCON Phoenix (Arizona, USA)

ISKCON Phoenix: 'My Way or The Highway'

BY: S. GUPTA

I would like to comment on "ISKCON Phoenix : Love of Power." The Governing principle of our activity should to do what is favorable for pleasing Krishna. My question is, by banning and threatening devotees, is the management trying to please Krishna. In fact, the Vice President of the Temple resigned when she came to know that five families were banned from the Temple.

The situation in Phoenix is in dire need of intervention by the GBC but nobody wants to do anything. I don't know what is stopping them from taking any action. Is it something that we don't know? The Temple President has no qualifications as a leader, cannot even lead the arati or give any lecture, but still is in the position.

The devotees at the temple are scared and treated like employees of a motel instead of devotees of Krishna. It's either 'my way or highway' for the management. Devotee of Radha Madhav Hari

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

[PADA: Right. We were told a while ago that the GBC had made the manager of a Subway Sandwich shop into one of their temple presidents here in the USA. So this person had little actual time to even participate in the temple's affairs, being full time engaged in running their shop. And so this temple suffered due to lack of "hands on" managing. At least that was the report we received.   

And then again there are complaints of just the opposite in other temples, that the temple president is always there acting as a mini-tyrant, watching the every move of everyone there, harassing the services of others, over managing, micro-managing and making it hard for people to function.  

At the same time we heard a report that a few years ago a devotee couple went to a USA temple to "manage," and they managed to remove some of the important people doing temple services there. And how did you guess -- that right now, after "getting rid" of various servants, they want to "leave and go to India." So after making the place an even worse disaster case than it was, now they want to simply run off and let the place sink further into the ground. 

We are not sure how far things have to deteriorate before the GBC actually declares that they have failed to properly manage the ISKCON society. We thought they were going to declare rock bottom after they created the New Vrndavana fiasco, but nope, they just keep on making more and more airplane crashes. The only good news is, we are getting more and more readers all the time, since it seems a lot more people are waking up to all this.   

Ultimately, its the GBC's responsibility for all these problems, since their main effort is to continue their personal worship, and very little effort is given to making sure these temples are running nicely. ys pd]      

Visakha Dasi Writes on Women's Issue

http://iskcon.us/visakha-dasi/prabhupadas-ladies-soul-concern/

[PADA: Good basic quotes and concepts, unfortunately she does not address the over top heavy anti-women mis-management of current ISKCON. If the root of the problem is not being addressed, it won't be solved.

Vishaka's husband is YADUBARA DASA and he told me once "ISKCON is like a place where everyone is sitting around a big table, and there is a dead body hanging over the table, and no one wants to discuss it." I said -- that is really amazing, I am officially launching the poison issue this week, you are totally correct. 

In any case he is right on all levels, there are a lot of problems and not too many people are discussing, for one thing, because they will be banned and shunned if they do. Or worse. And if they do speak up, like we have been doing, then one will be attacked by just about everyone -- as we have been. Its called denial of the problem. And this is what has also plagued the Christian with abuses in their church also not being discussed and so on.

In any case, we are glad at least some counterpoints are being made by a few people. As we see with DUSYANTA DAS, he tries to argue against the ritviks, but he ends up giving all the best arguments of the ritviks, -- i.e. The guru is eternal; Serving the Vani is the real point; The guru lives on forever in his Vani, etc. -- ok he is saying what we have been saying all along. That means our arguments are filtering into the ISKCON society, like it or not. These people are parrots of us, even though -- they do not know it! Visaka now says the women are not being treated well, ok and -- thats what we said all along. She is now parroting what we said decades ago.  

If anyone knows who "ISKCON.us" is, let us know, its looks like they support Gaudiya Matha, Sridhara Maharaja, Mahanidhi swami, ISKCON gurus, it seems to be a mish mash. ys pd]

Sri Kaliya Krishna Dasa Disappearance Day (+ other news)

Hare Krishna,

Sri Kaliya Krishna Dasa Tirobhava tithi (disappearance day) - November 30, 2013

In Vraja, Kala Krishna Das was Krishna’s cowherd friend named Lavanga.

(Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 132) 

Kaliya Krishna Das was known throughout the three worlds.

Read More

Fate: How to change it? - Srila Prabhupada

By Krishna consciousness. Karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam. Others cannot change their fate, but only the devotees can change. How? Krishna says, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami. Krishna says, "I shall give you protection from all the resultant action of your sinful life." That is fate changed.

Read More

The mudal-alwars initiate Thirumozhisai-alwar

Being exalted devotees, the mudal-alwars were very grateful to the Lord for blessing them by revealing Himself to them, out of His causeless mercy. Having thus fulfilled the purpose of their lives, the alwars, who had overcome the cravings for all sorts of material desires, prayed to the Lord to bless them with unlimited unflinching devotion towards Him and refrained from seeking any boons. 

Read More

Jai Srila Prabhupada!

Read More

* Join us on facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/iskcontimes

* If you want to unsubscribe from this mailing list please reply to this email with “unsubscribe” in the subject.

Online Team

ISKCON Times

Bangalore

Original Krishna Book and Art Now Available Online

http://www.krishnapath.org/original-krsna-book-vol-1-and-art-now-released/

Vaishnava Calendar Site (with daily quotes)

http://harekrishnacalendar.com

[PADA: Most of these dates and times are from India's time zone, that means generally we in USA follow the day before. For example November 29th on their calendar is often November 28th USA date and time. There are also excellent daily quotes and photos of Srila Prabhupada here. This is an official ISKCON site. ys pd]   
======================================================

Srita Kamala Song (by Jayadeva) With Nice Krishna pics!

http://youtu.be/R33QChJhN8E

Sannyasi Should Not Be Given any Money (Really!)

http://www.dandavats.com/?p=12079

Srila Prabhupada Vani DVD (copies of microfiche)

http://krishnastore.com/prabhupada-vani-samadhi-dvdrom-h-krishna-2640.html

[PADA: Sulochana das obtained  a microfiche copy of the letters in 1985 by bribing a person in the archives, and that is how we began to publish various letters. We went out and purchased two old microfiche readers and started to view the letters, and that is when we both said, "no wonder they want to suppress these letters"! No one else was posting or citing the letters in their writings at the time. This DVD above appears to be the complete copy of all the archived materials. And its available as a FREE DOWNLOAD (see below) or on DVD for only $4.95, what a deal! ys pd.]  

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

Hare Krishna Pratyatosa Prabhu

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

There are two possibilities here as I am sure you know Prabhu. One as you have mentioned, that the transcriber just invented "‘Oh, you are so nice, you have got so good quality.’ That is spiritual." because he thought that would have been a nice thing that Prabhupada should have said. But, at least to me, unless the transcriber was insane, that seems to be not very likely. Because the tape is there without Prabhupada saying this so if the transcriber was regularly inventing things like this then he is sure to be discovered sooner or later.

The other possibility is that on the tape the transcriber transcribed this from Srila Prabhupada did actually say "‘Oh, you are so nice, you have got so good quality.’ That is spiritual." and that has since been edited out of the tape. We know they have done a lot of tape editing and, of course I do not know, either thing could be correct, but to me it seems more likely that the tape has been edited than the transcriber inventing this.

Way back in around 1991 I was staying in an ISKCON temple in the US and there were a number of Archives devotees there also and they had a strange program of having a Prabhupada class directly after the Mangal Aroti and all the devotees were carefully checking the transcriptions of the classes and the reason was they were editing the transcriptions to match the classes... This was before the Bhaktivedanta Archives released their "New Tape Ministry" tapes. That is something more than 300 cassette tapes released in the early to mid 90's. The original tapes were 711 cassette tapes and they many of them go back to the times you know very well about at Golden Avatara, etc.

So I know that in the early 90's there was a project by BA to edit the transcriptions to match the [edited] tapes...

I don't know if you know about the Bhaktivedanta Archives "Vani Samadhi" project?

http://krishnastore.com.au/prabhupada-vani-samadhi-dvdrom...

It was done in 1983, before the folio and it was microfiching all of the original transcriptions of Prabhupada's lectures and conversations. Many of these transcripts were done when Prabhupada was still present on the planet.

So in the 'Vani Vault' we should have unedited versions of these transcripts that BA edited in the early 90s. So it may be interesting to check these original transcripts also. Perhaps that may help clear up some of the mystery here...

It is available for free download as PDF files here:

http://krishna.org/prabhupada-vani-samadhi-microfiche.../

All glories to your service.

Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!

Your servant

Madhudvisa dasa

Al Gore Adopts Vegan Diet

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/25/al-gore-vegan_n_4340462.html

Cow cries for lost baby (with happy ending)

http://www.godvine.com/Cow-Cries-All-Night-Over-Loss-of-her-Calf-Then-They-Reunite-1903.html

Bhakti Ballabha Tritha swami's Health Issues

Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha (on left) with Narayana Maharaja

[PADA: Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha is a disciple of the Gaudiya Matha's Madhava Maharaja. When we were in India in 1972, Madhava Maharaja attacked and insulted Srila Prabhupada -- and he said that ISKCON could not use the title of "Prabhupada." So it is a little amazing that the team that originally insulted Srila Prabhupada later on became some sort of consultants and "gurus." We discuss this odious 1972 incident in this video: 

Mayapura 1972: http://youtu.be/YqCFMHLisBI 

Anyway Madhava Maharaja, Sridhara Maharaja and Naryana Maharaja all said "you need a living guru" and guess what?, they are all dead and gone now. So their followers no longer have them as their living guru. Bhakti Bhallabha Tirtha seems to be on his way out as well. Srila Prabhupada said clearly, "among my God brothers no one is qualified to be acharya," and yet some of his deviated followers tried to prop up these God brothers as some sort of acharyas after 1977.

As some devotees said to us recently, these bogus gurus will never change, they just have to die out. It seems that is happening more and more. Bhakti Bhallabh Tirtha has also been seen "consulting" with some of the GBC's gurus, as was Narayan Maharaja one of the GBC guru's "consultants." These consultants were being used to try to prop up the credibility of the GBC gurus, but it seems their "consultants" are being taken away one by one. The good news is -- as more of these "guru" people drop off by the wayside, it is making more and more people decide to simply take shelter of the bona fide acharya Srila Prabhupada, and to read his books, and to take shelter of his instructions. ys pd]  

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

Revered Vaishnavas,
Dandavat Pranams.

Most Revered Gurudev His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad 108 Sree Sreemad Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj got admitted today morning at 6.15 AM in the ICU section of Guwahati Neurological Research Center (GNRC) under Dr. N. C. Borah, neurologist and chairman. His Divine Grace is diagnosed with brain haematoma after coming here. The bleeding in the brain is quite considerable in size.

Dr. N. Barua, a neurosurgeon, also visited His Divine Grace. Both neurologist and neurosurgeon along with a team discussed the critical nature of the case. After an elaborate discussion Dr. N. C. Borah came back to us with this message, "The bleeding might have happened yesterday evening. This is a second stroke in the last 2 months. Usually surgery is performed in the case of brain haematoma. But given his age and the medicines he is taking, surgery is not suitable. On a conservative basis we will give him medicines. We can only hope that he will repond and recover. However, there is no surety. Pray to the almighty. He is the only One who can help."

The message has been conveyed to prominent God brothers of revered Gurudev. Srila Bhakti Bhushan Bhagavat Maharaj said, "Harinam is the only shelter. In all maths there should be continuous chanting of Harinam. Devotees should take one hour turns and continue to chant all through the day, without fail. The chanting should be in loud voice while sitting on the same aasan." The sadhus and now the doctors say only one thing 'PRAY' - anather nath daki tava nam ekhona bharosa tumi (Oh! Lord of the destitute I call your names loudly, You are my only hope).

While it is true that we are trying to reach the best available neurologists and neurosurgeons across India to get their opinion and advice, there is no decision or consideration at this stage for shifting His Divine Grace outside Guwahati. Many doctors are of the opinion that we are currently at one of the best neurological centers in India under the assessment of an expert and competent doctor. Any plans of moving outside Guwahati will be updated to you.

Sree Guru Vaishnava Dasanudas,
Prahlad Das
From GNRC, Guwahati

http://www.bvml.net/SBBTM/

Guru Issue Update by Dusyanta Das

[PADA: Dusyanta is a brave soul to be writing on behalf of the GBC guru program. Notice that hardly no one else is writing to defend it nowadays.]

GURU ISSUE UPDATE (From Dandavats web site)

By Dusyanta dasa

This article is not exactly originating from whether women can be Diksa Gurus. But the recent articles have brought up some interesting points. And I read all the articles including the comprehensive download called “Did Srila Prabhupada want Women Diksa Gurus” from eye of the storm books. In this download it came across that the book was biased towards trying to prove that Srila Prabhupada did want women Diksa Gurus. And I think that when you try to prove a point in this way the article takes on a biased colour and this colour shone through the whole download, unfortunately.

... Unless a person has attained this standard of maintaining the nine gates in the mode of goodness there is every chance of misunderstandings, misapplications and mis representation. And have we not already seen as historical fact this mode of operations in Iskcon since Srila Prabhupada is not here to correct all the failings.

[PADA: Dusyanta says (A) that the GBC's gurus are constantly falling, failing and making gross errors, simultaneously, (B) they are -- (pure devotee diksha) -- gurus. How can that be? It means Dusyanta himself has mis-understood what is a diksha guru. If a person is only a janitor, but he thinks he can perform brain surgery, why would we wonder when there are "errors" in his bogus surgery process? First of all -- the janitor is not qualified to perform brain surgery.]

*** The down load was a comprehensive writing but unfortunately from my point of view there were serious mistakes in its presentation. This was due to the fact that it was trying to prove the point rather than to present the truth. To present truths we have to be at least in the mode of goodness to make those presentations and we have to know the whole guru-tattva subject from every angle or else we will keep repeating Iskcon historical mistakes.

[PADA: Notice how this keeps going downhill, i.e. gurus are making all kinds of mistakes, and worse, the GBC's "diksha gurus" are out there making these "mistakes, illusion and cheating" often, every day and "repeatedly." Srila Prabhupada says that the guru must be free from the platform of mistakes and illusion, free from duality, free from mundane attractions (anartha nrvrtti) and so forth -- or else, he is not a guru. 

Srila Prabhupada also says that if we say gurus are defective, this is an offense to the platform of guru (guru-avajnya, guruvaparadha). One of the ten offenses is to consider that the guru is ordinary and defective, and yet Dusyanta keeps saying -- the guru is ordinary, defective and mistaken. He has not even understood what the ten offenses are, never mind higher principles.]

*** So for me the first mistake it made was the title. “Did Srila Prabhupada want women Diksa Gurus?” That is not the first consideration and it came across that we have learnt to run but can’t walk. Firstly we need to understand what Sri Guroh is, not what gender Sri Guroh is. We need to understand the function of Sri Guroh, the differences between the Diksa Guru and Shiksa Guru, and what happens to our relationship with Sri Guroh after He is no longer physically present.

[PADA: This is actually good. The post of guru is not based on male or female bodies, its based on the internal realization of Krishna. So the whole argument of male or female is a red herring to start with. They need to discuss the actual qualities of guru. Good! Mother Yasoda has a woman's body and yet she has been given visions of the universal form from inside Krishna's mouth -- that are not seen even by the most advanced sages, yogis, demigods and even some of the greatest "men" devotees. A woman can have much higher realizations, so being a woman is not a disqualification for understanding Krishna. It is good that this is being forwarded at this point, albeit a day late and a dollar short.]

*** So just to show one example of the misrepresentation of the download there is a quote from the Chaitanya Charitamrta 1.34; "The Initiating and Instructing Spiritual masters are equal and identical manifestations of Krishna."

That’s how it appears in the down load but actually from Srila Prabhupada’s Book itself it reads like this;
"The Initiating and Instructing Spiritual masters are equal and identical manifestations of Krishna, although They have different dealings."

[PADA: Good, its quite common in "GBC guru world" to find that quotes are hidden, lost, mis-stated, mis-represented, changed, altered, chopped off, ignored and so on. Anyway, the neophyte devotee is a type of guru, aka agent, representative, preacher or teacher -- and he can preach in a limited manner to the conditioned souls. He can give the public some basic instructions, but as the "Nectar of Instruction" says, a neophyte cannot imitate the acharya or else he will become degraded. And denying that instruction is therefore the prime cause of the current epidemic of guru fall downs in ISKCON, they are imitating the guru and this causes degradation.]

*** Considering the length of the download why does the five words that are omitted not get included into the presentation. And these five words also illustrate the difference between the Diksa Guru and the Shiksa Guru. In fact in the down load they actually put a full stop after the word “Krishna” as if it were the end of the sentence not even some dots……… to indicate there is more to the sentence.

So this extra part that they neglected to put in “ although they have different dealings” means that there are also differences and they are not just equal. So what are the differences between the Diksa Guru and the Shiksa Guru? What is the difference between the dealings and how do they affect our relationship? And lastly how does the Diksa Guru and Shiksa Guru change functionality after they no longer physically exist?

Now if we start answering these questions then we are on the right road of understanding who is Sri Guroh not what gender Sri Guroh is. If we actually start reading Srila Prabhupada’s books all the answers are there but we have to ask the right questions and the question of gender is not the right question, because it is not dealt with in a transparent way.

[PADA: Good, the "gender issue" is not the real issue, its a smoke screen to avoid the real issue, that these neophytes are always failing because they are not qualified to be gurus.]

In Srimad Bhagavatam the right answers are there if we find them and we seek from a transparent place. If we are trying to consciously prove what we believe then we have already made the mistake of colouring our inquiry. That’s why we have so much debate in Iskcon because we colour our enquiries and therefore our answers are also coloured. And the more we actually study the down load the more we can see its colouring. It looks as though it’s a brilliant and comprehensive article but there are so many mistakes in it that we would need another book to rebut the misunderstandings, mistakes and misapplications.

I thought that the presentation really supports the ritvik ideology. If there is no difference between the Diksa Guru and the Shiksa Guru then the relationship and dealings are equal.

[PADA: This is not ritvik ideology? The ritvik ideology in a nutshell is: (we) neophytes can ONLY act as some form of instructing gurus (i.e. shiksha representatives of the guru). And thus we neophytes are not EVER equal to diksha gurus. Where do we say that the neophyte shiksha gurus "equal" the messiah level diksha gurus? We never said this? 

We also previously cited the Chaitanya Charitamrta that the diksha guru is a PARISAD (associate of Krishna) whereas the neophyte Shiksha gurus are SADHAKA devotees. In other words, there are many levels of shiksha gurus, some of  whom may only be kindergarten level devotees in training. We never said the PHD level diksha guru and the kindergarten level sadhaka are the same thing? 

There are different levels of shiksha (instructing) gurus, some may be pure -- or they may also be only kindergarten level -- sadhakas, but the diksha guru must be a parisad associate. This is why Srila Prabhupada says that the acharya must be a resident of Krishna loka, an uttama adhikary and so on. The sadhaka might attain Krishna loka -- maybe so -- and maybe not -- and as such, he might fall down and start taking LSD, having illicit sex, and behaving like a fool, and drop straight back into the material ocean, as we see among the GBC's so-called acharyas. 

What we say is, the (neophytes) sadhakas are not EVER to be considered as, and worshiped as, a pure devotee diksha guru (parisad). And we have never said that we (neophytes) are equal in any way to diksha gurus, or that neophytes in general are diksha gurus,or that the dealings with the neophytes are "equal" to dealings with a pure devotee diksha guru. This is Dusyanta's mis-quoting what we said, that is the problem here. He is creating a straw man argument. Either that, or he never actually read what we wrote and stated?] 

*** If the Diksa Guru is Diksa Guru after he is no longer physically present then why can't Srila Prabhupada be everyone’s Diksa Guru after He has departed.

[PADA: The books of Srila Prabhupada are, since the 1960s and until the present day, the ongoing source of divyam jnanam that destroy sins (diksha) for the devotees and the mass of public. Dusyanta fails to identify his source of pure divyam jnanam that destroys sins in his proposal? Dusyanta implies that the GBC guru's idea is correct, that neophytes are "equals" to the diksha gurus who absorb sins, and thus these neophytes are giving diksha, but that is not possible as we pointed out many times earlier:

--- Neophytes cannot absorb sins:

http://krishna1008.blogspot.com/2013/03/gbc-accepting-sins-is-not-authorized.html

--- Neophytes will get sick and fall down if they artificially become diksha gurus:

http://krishna1008.blogspot.com/2012/02/kanistha-cannot-be-diksha-guru.html]

--- Neophytes are not capable of absorbing sins like Jesus:

http://krishna1008.blogspot.com/2012/01/taking-sins-like-jesus-is-not-for.html

*** According to the GBC resolution, Srila Prabhupada is everyone’s Pre-eminent Shiksa Guru after He has departed, especially after He departed. So if the Shiksa Guru is exactly equal to the Diksa Guru then Srila Prabhupada must also be everyone’s Diksa Guru after He physically departed. There is no difference between the Diksa Guru and Shiksa Guru according to the download article so that supports the ritvik notion that Srila Prabhupada is everyone’s Diksa Guru, period.

[PADA: We never said there is no difference between us neophytes, who may act as shiksha gurus, and the pure devotee diksha guru? Where did we say that? The (shiksha) preacher in the Church is not the same as Jesus. We never said they are equal. This is a total distortion of what we said.] 

*** So that’s wrong then. The Diksa Guru and Shiksa Guru are not equal because their dealings and therefore the relationship for the disciples are different. (Cc 1.34.) . So what we have to establish is how the dealings are different and what criteria has to be in place to apply that difference. For instance if Srila Prabhupada is everyone’s Diksa Guru after He departed then He must have also been everyone’s Diksa Guru before He appeared. But He wasn’t. We did not even know Him until He made His presence felt. This is another difference between the Diksa Guru and the Shiksa Guru.

[PADA: Jesus cannot be the current guru of the Christians, because otherwise he would have had to have been the guru before he appeared? What? No, the guru manifests, then he empowers his disciples to act as his shiksha representatives. That is what Srila Prabhupada did, he appeared, then he empowered people to act as his book distributors, temple presidents, preachers, leaders and so on, and his movement expanded thereby. 

The ritviks are saying, that is the only way forward, to re-establish the system he created. Srila Prabhupada's books were giving the divyam jnanam all along since the 1960s, and still are now. And that is how the Christians have had so much success, they act as shiksha representatives of their guru -- and so they are able to make a cooperative program that includes millions of followers. 

They have a Governing body, a Council of Churches or etc. which promotes the acharya Jesus and everything else operates on that principle, and so they are able to grow and build things all over the planet. Whereas the so-called current GBC guru system of worship of conditioned souls artificially posing as messiahs, and acting as independent mavericks, is not working.]

*** In fact if you read Cc 1.34 from a different angle of English language all it is saying is the Diksa and Shiksa Gurus are equal-manifestations of Krishna not that they themselves are equal to each other. And in the introduction to Chapter one of Cc we find this corroborating evidence; "The first manifestation described is the Spiritual master, who appears in two plenary parts called the initiating spiritual master and instructing spiritual master. They are identical because both of them are phenomenal manifestations of the Supreme Truth." This quote does not support the concept that the Diksa Guru and Shiksa Guru are equal and identical to themselves but “identical manifestations” of the Supreme Truth.

[PADA: The Chaitanya Charitamrta also says there can be many (includes neophytes) shiksha gurus but only one diksha guru. That means many neophytes can preach unitedly as shiksha gurus to support their diksha guru, and that is the process used by Srila Prabhupada to form ISKCON. Guru also means teacher, so there are pure gurus and there are neophyte preachers who support the pure guru, BUT the sadhaka preachers and the parisad acharas are not in the same category. The PHD professor is never the same as the kindergarten child, they are not equals.]

*** They are identical manifestations, not identical to themselves. And they are identical manifestations of the Supreme Truth. And simply they are described as “two” plenary parts; otherwise it would state they appear in “one” plenary part called the initiating spiritual master and the instructing spiritual master. Why have two words “Diksa” and “Shiksa” to describe a manifestation of the same equality and identity?

[PADA: No, the neophyte book distributors, the temple presidents, the temple priests and preachers and so on are only shiksha gurus, not diksha gurus, they are not equals to the diksha guru. Where does Dusyanta get the idea the neophytes and the uttamas are "equals"? And where did the ritviks say that?]

*** If we consider the relationship and dealings we have with our Spiritual master we have to understand what our service is to our Spiritual Master and how it is functioning and the presence of the Spiritual master that bears down on that relationship. So how do we know what it is? How to apply it and what changes with physical disappearance?

[PADA: Srila Prabhupada said, after I depart DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING. He also said, change is dangerous and so on.] 

*** When Srila Prabhupada was physically present He was Shiksa Guru and Diksa Guru.

[PADA: No, he said he is the diksha guru and his followers are the shiksha gurus. And he said, after I am gone, do not change anything. This process needs to continue.]

*** He instructed us to serve His physical body when He was physically present.

[PADA: No, he said -- even when he was here, we have to serve his words, his Vani. Most of his devotees hardly ever saw Srila Prabhupada, except on very few rare visits. A number of his disciples never even met him at all, they were initiated by him via a letter. He never said his followers would have to serve his physical body when he was present here? Where is this stated? No, he had his devotees serving his instructions all over the planet, they could not serve him physically because they were almost never with him physically.

Only a very small group of people acted as his personal secretaries, while the mass of disciples were expected to serve his mission, serve the Vani, and "serve in separation." There was never any great expectation that the mass of devotees would serve him personally, or that they could even see him personally. 

That was not the mood of his mission. Dusyanta seems to think the 5,000 disciples were all with Srila Prabhupada serving him direct and in person. No, they were spread all over the planet. Most of them did not see him at all, except very rarely. And only a few spoke to him personally. Many never saw him at all in person, ever. There was no "direct personal service" going on except in a few rare cases. And even when he was here, he said we have to serve the Vani (his words) and not the Vapuh (body).]

*** But the service and dealings and relationship ALL change when He is no longer physically present.

[PADA: Srila Prabhupada said, do not change anything, where does he say everything was supposed to change when he departed? He said the exact opposite, when I am gone DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING. Where did he say that everything has to change when he departs? He said, serve my Vani , and he said that even while he was here, what was supposed to change?]

*** Srila Prabhupada says the disciple has to change the service, at the time when He is no longer physically present, from serving His physical body, His Vapuh, to serving His words, His instructions, His Vani. From serving His Vapuh we are instructed to serve His Vani only when He is no longer physically present.

[PADA: The devotees were all along serving his Vani, even when he was here. Almost all the devotees associated with Srila Prabhupada via his books and instructions, hardly any associated with his vapuh form. And many of those who served his "personal form" got into maya anyway, because they did not serve the Vani.]

*** The two different conceptions of the presence of the Spiritual Master are the physical conception and the vibrational conception. Srila Prabhupada says the physical conception is temporary and the vibrational conception is eternal.

[PADA: So now Dusyanta is making the same exact point the ritviks are making, that the relationship with the Vani is eternal, it does not change, ever. Meanwhile he says the GBC guru program is faulty, defective, and not eternal. He is agreeing with us, and is arguing with his own shadow.]  

*** The eternal relationship with our Spiritual Master then is through the eternal vibrational presence not the physical presence. When He is physically present the Spiritual Master is served through His physical body, which is temporary, but when He is no longer physically present the service is changed to serving His eternal Vani, sound vibrational presence.

[PADA: You got it, that is what the ritviks actually are saying, and you are saying the same thing. Good!]

*** The Spiritual Master exists eternally through His Vani, that’s before He physically exists and after He physically exists.

[PADA: No, he always exists in his Vani, whether he is here or not? His books convinced people to become devotees when he was here, and his books are doing that now. Its eternal.]

*** This is an absolute requirement for a disciple to relate eternally with the Spiritual Master.

[PADA: Right, so when the GBC gurus fall down left, right and center, there is no eternal relationship.]

*** Otherwise how is the eternal relationship exhibited through a temporary physical presence? The Diksa Guru only exists temporarily when He is physically present and only accepts service and therefore relationship through His physical body.

[PADA: Except hardly no one was serving his body, the mass of the devotees served his vani, even when his body was here.]

*** Krishna Himself teaches us as the Instructing Spiritual Master (Shiksa Guru) from within and without. From within He teaches as Paramatma, our constant companion, and from without He teaches from Bhagavad-gita As It Is as the Instructing Spiritual Master (Shiksa Guru). The Bhagavad-gita is Lord Krishna’s Vani and in this form He teaches as the eternal Instructing Spiritual master and Srila Prabhupada our Spiritual Master is also our eternal Shiksa Guru in His Vani.

[PADA: OK, except divyam jnanam which destroys sins is also called diksha. There is no difference between the shiksha and diksha gurus when we are discussing Krishna and His Pure Devotees.]

*** When the Spiritual Master instructs us to serve Him after He is no longer physically present it is through His Vani as Shiksa Guru.

[PADA: The Vani is called divyam jnanam (di) -- that is the "di" in diksha. The Vani is the source of the divyam jnanam. Divyam jnanam is part of the word "diksha."]

*** But when He is physically present He instructs us to serve His physical body as Diksa Guru. We serve our Diksa Guru when He is physically present through His temporary physical body and when He is no longer physically present we serve His eternal vibrational presence, His Vani.We cant and don’t serve the Diksa Guru after He is no longer physically present or before He is physically present, this is how the dealings and relationship are different between the Diksa Guru and the Shiksa Guru.

[PADA: We do not serve the guru's Vani when he is no longer present? Where is this stated? Meanwhile, he just said we serve the guru's Vani eternally. He is fighting with his own shadow.]

*** Service to the Diksa Guru is only whilst He is physically present, whilst service to the Shiksa Guru is eternal.

[PADA: Where is all this stated?]

*** This is just dealing with only one small part of the download book that is found as a link from the article by Kaunteya dasa. This item is dealing with the synthetic premise that the Diksa Guru and Shiksa Guru are equal in all respects and at all times and with the same functionality. Clearly that premise is flawed by the evidence that they present in the downloaded book by missing out applicable points even within the same sentence. To provide a comprehensive book that is trying to establish truth means it has to be transparent. Transparent in its questioning and transparent in its answering and I think it fails on both accounts.

Whether the Diksa Guru is male or female is tertiary and irrelevant in all cases, what we have to establish in a transparent way are the primary questions on Guru tattva. Otherwise we just wind up with another inconclusive book that answers another coloured idea.

And another Iskcon mistake on the guru tattva subject. In material life it is said that mistakes are the pillars of success but in spiritual life mistakes are the pillars of more mistakes and this down loaded book is an illustration of how this is exhibited. If we want to build a foundation of spiritual strength in Iskcon it would be more favourable to ask questions and answer questions in a transparent way, only then will we start to progress.

[PADA: OK so answer the questions herein about your article and lets make progress. ys pd]