Author Archives: Dandavats.com

A Little Sunshine!
All it takes is a shaft of sunshine to flood our room and voila! we feel better already. Here’s a great quote that speaks to that:
“If the sun can penetrate within your room, cannot Krishna penetrate within your heart and room and every corner? He is so useless? He’s everywhere, but you have to realize, how He is everywhere.” – Srila Prabhupada
When we look at our growing relationship with Krishna so much of it is linked to the ‘sunshine’ experiences of personal spiritual disciplines. These happen in scheduled and unscheduled ways. The scheduled ones are those daily/ weekly practices that we put on our calendar which are recommended in sastra (Vedic scriptures) – a commitment to a number of mantras chanted, books read, or services offered. It also includes prayers, financial contributions, good conversations with friends and mentors, and quiet reflection.

While such personal discipline is one of the five key ways we grow towards trust in Krishna, they can sometimes be challenging. Life can be full, busy, interrupted, and feel like a never ending list of ‘to-do’s’. If our sadhana (spiritual practices) becomes another to-do, we have a problem. If our chanting stresses us out, our time with Krishna is forced, or giving money creates fear or even bitterness – we really have a problem. We lock down the very thing that can lift us up.

We need to look out for that. We need to create times and environments that really work for us on an individual basis. This may change as our life changes, but the commitment to sadhana should not. A nice definition of spiritual discipline or austerity is finding our best time of the day or week and giving that time to Krishna. We’ll be at our best and what we give will be our best.

A personal discipline means something you commit to again and again to gain a result. The result we are looking for is our faith growing to be ‘unflinching trust in something sublime’. We are building our spiritual muscles so we become strong enough to trust, and thus to love Krishna. That’s the sunshine we want to be shining through the windows of our heart and enlightening our soul, our very self. That’s the place we want to be.

Devotee means…

Vaiṣṇava devotee means give me simply a place to lay down, little prasādam, whatever little service you have got please give me, that’s all. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Letter to: Gurudāsa, Yamunā — Bombay 19 December, 1972

Devotee means he is able to tolerate all kinds of discomfort and whims of the material nature, and because he is so much absorbed in serving Kṛṣṇa, he takes no time to become angry or take offense with others or find out some fault. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Letter to: Haṁsadūta — Ahmedabad 10 December, 1972

Devotee means very liberal and kind to everyone, always gentleman under all kinds of conditions of life. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Letter to: Haṁsadūta — Ahmedabad 10 December, 1972

Devotee means one should be firmly convinced of his being the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Letter to: Mr. Kair — Los Angeles 8 July, 1969

So to become devotee means to do the best service to the family. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Discussion on Deprogrammers — January 9, 1977, Bombay

A devotee means he knows everything. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s room Conversation with Professor Francois Chenique — August 5, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm)

Devotee means the first sign will be happy, brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā [Bg. 18.54]. If he’s not prasannātmā, he’s a rascal. He has not entered even devotional life. He’s outside. That is the test.-Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Morning Walk — April 24, 1976, Melbourne

Devotee means tattva-darśī. He has seen the real truth. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Morning Walk — March 25, 1976, Delhi

Devotee means who follows Kṛṣṇa. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Morning Walk — March 25, 1976, Delhi

Devotee means sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate [Bg. 14.26]. He is above these material laws. That is devotee. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Morning Walk — March 25, 1976, Delhi

Devotee means brahmacārī. Pure devotee means brahmacārī. Anyabhilasita-sunyam [Brs. 1.1.11]. He has no other desire. That is brahmacārī. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Morning Walk — November 3, 1975, Bombay

Devotee means serious devotee. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Conversation with Professor Hopkins — July 13, 1975, Philadelphia

Devotee means he has no sense gratification. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Room Conversation with Tripurāri — March 2, 1975, Atlanta

Devotee means one who has taken shelter of Kṛṣṇa. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Morning Walk — June 13, 1974, Paris

Devotee means he does not know anything better than Kṛṣṇa, that’s all. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Room Conversation — November 4, 1973, Delhi

The devotee means who is always pleasing Kṛṣṇa. He has no other business. That is devotee. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Talk with Bob Cohen — February 27-29, 1972, Māyāpura

Devotee means to hear about Kṛṣṇa, to chant the glories of Kṛṣṇa, to think of Kṛṣṇa, to offer fruits and flowers to Kṛṣṇa. -Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Departure Address — Los Angeles, July 15, 1974

Devotee means to become fully qualified with all the noble qualities. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.119-121 — New York, November 24, 1966

Devotee means he must be sinless.-Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.1 — Madras, January 2, 1976

Devotee, means he is prepared to do anything for God. That is pure devotee. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.5.22-30 — London, September 8, 1971

Devotee means not with four hands or four legs, no. The hands, legs are the same. But his mode of thinking different. That’s all. That is devotee. Devotee does not depend on the country, color or religion or circumstance. Devotee means the mind. Anyone who is always thinking of Kṛṣṇa, he is devotee. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.50 — Detroit, June 16, 1976

Devotee means he’s not blind.-Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam1.7.40 — Vṛndāvana, October 1, 1976

Devotee means he does not ask anything from God.-Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam1.3.7 — Los Angeles, September 13, 1972

A devotee means who is abiding by the laws given by God. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam1.1.2 — London, August 17, 1971

Devotee means complete spiritual. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Bhagavad-gītā 4.2, Bombay, March 22, 1974

Devotee means he is firmly convinced about his relationship with God.-Śrīla Prabhupāda, Bhagavad-gītā 4.1-6 — Los Angeles, January 3, 1969

Devotee means servant—not paid servant—but servant by affection. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Bhagavad-gītā 4.1 — Delhi, November 10, 1971

Devotee means he can act anything and everything for the Lord. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Bhagavad-gītā 4.1 — Montreal, August 24, 1968

Devotee means one who has engaged his senses cent percent for the service of the Lord, he is devotee, pure devotee. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Bhagavad-gītā 3.6-10 — Los Angeles, December 23, 1968

Devotee means although he is very, very powerful, he never thinks that “I am powerful.” He thinks that “I am acting simply by the order of the powerful.” -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Bhagavad-gītā 2.15 — London, August 21, 1973

Devotee means to finish all miserable conditions of materialistic life. -Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.12.46

First Ratha Yatra Of Natal – Brazil (Album with photos)
Radha Gopali devi dasi: Here in Brazil we have a very famous festival that is called “Carnaval”
So we decided to make the first Ratha Yatra in the middle of this Carnaval.
It was last Saturday February 25.
It was very very nice….we built 3 cars…Jaganatha, Baladeva and Subhadra,
another one with Goura & Nitai and the other with Radha and Krishna.
More than 5.000 thousand people chanted the Maha mantra HARE KRISHNA!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/0gEK2C

Mantra dancing Prague (3 min music video)
Srila Prabhupada: Yes, kirtana and prasada will appeal to even the uneducated. We have means to preach to both the educated and uneducated, the sinful and the pious–dhiradhira-jana-priyau. Letter to Dvarakesa: 76-09-29
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/CLkrtq

A new, shining temple after the earthquake brought everything down in Christchurch Hare Krishna Centre, New Zealand (Album with phot…Read More…

4th generation devotee, 6 years old Madhurika Dasi chants during the Kirtan Mela in Mayapur (17 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: My Guru Maharaja explained that you haven’t got to learn anything extra for Krsna’s service. Whatever you know, you just apply it. Then you become successful. Because our time is very short. We do not know when I am going to die. (Srila Prabhupada, Conversation – July 16, 1968 – Montreal)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/B2O2lu

Man Sarovar (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Last week we went to Maan Sarovar, the Lake of Radharani’s Tears. The pujari let us get rare pictures of the Radharani Shila there. Then we went to Bhandirvan, where Lord Brahma did the marriage of Radha and Krishna. Finally we came to Baelvan, where Laksmiji is engaged in penances to be able to enter the Rasa Lila. We returned by boats floating down the Yamuna. Come along with us through the pics of Vittalrukmini Das!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Smh1U5

Madhuvan Talavan 17-02 (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: We came to Vrindavan expecting to see forest. In Madhuvan we can …Read More…

King Of The Zulu Nation (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Today, myself and several devotees met with His Majesty King Go…Read More…

Sri Mayapur Dham Harinam Sankirtan (Album with photos)
Srila Thakura Bhaktivinoda, standing on the balcony of his house in God…Read More…

HH Tamal Krishna Goswami Disappearance ceremony in Sydney 27/02/17 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Only an animal is not pessimistic about life in this material world. A man is capable of knowing the threefold sufferings of material life. There are sufferings of the mind and body, sufferings offered by other living entities, and sufferings forced upon us by natural catastrophes and the laws of nature. The world is full of suffering, but under the spell of maya, illusion, we think we are progressing. Ultimately, whatever we do, death is there to annihilate the results. Under these circumstances, there is no happiness within this material world. We may make all arrangements for happiness, but at any moment, death may capture us. So what happiness can we have here? Therefore an intelligent man is always pessimistic about material life. He knows that he will not be allowed to be happy here. As we further advance, we understand the orders of Krsna: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja. “Abandon all religions and just surrender unto Me.” [Bg. 18.66] We must surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and after surrendering and understanding Him fully, we can go to the world that is full of bliss, knowledge, and eternal life. Unless we take a pessimistic view of this material world, we will remain attached to it, and the repetition of birth and death will ensue. >>> Ref. VedaBase => William James [1842-1910]
Find them here: https://goo.gl/2Zzl1S

Mahadyuti Swami Sannyasa Ceremony (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: You have to accept anything from the authorized source. So according to Vedic civilization, all knowledge is received from the Vedas, perfect authorized source. Sruti-pramana, evidence from the sruti, from the Vedas, that is perfect. Therefore, according to Vedic civilization, if you want to establish something you have to quote the section or the injunction from the Vedas. Then it is perfect. In learned circle you cannot say anything hodgepodge. That will not be accepted. If you support your statement from the evidence of the Vedas, then you are accepted as authority. Therefore our principle is… Not only our; this is the Vedic principle. You’ll find Caitanya Mahaprabhu giving instruction to Sanatana Gosvami, to Rupa Gosvami, or He was talking with Ramananda Raya – in Caitanya-caritamrta you’ll find – and quoting support from the Vedas. Although Caitanya Mahaprabhu is God Himself, Krsna, Krsna-Caitanya, but He is not, what is called, autocratic or, what is called, dictator. No. You’ll never find Him. Whatever He’ll say, immediately He is supported by Vedic evidence. He can say anything. He can manufacture anything. No, that He does not do. He does not violate the principle. In the Bhagavad-gita also… Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He’s also quoting from Vedas. He does not say, “I say.” He says, but He says on the Vedic authority. He doesn’t say anything superfluous. ——From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bhagavad-gita 16.9 – February 5, 1975, Honolulu
Find them here: https://goo.gl/H1c9BA

Remembering the ‘Quiet Beatle’
February 25 is the birth anniversary of George Harrison, the popular British songwriter and musician known best as a member of the famous Beatles Group.
Harrison , known as the “Quiet Beatle”, …

Kirtan Mela Mayapur 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krsna consciousness means, “I am Krsna’s,” that’s all. Krsna says, mamaivamsah: “All these living entities, they are My part and parcel.” So you have to understand this relationship with Krsna, that you are Krsna’s. And Krsna, what is Krsna? Bhagavan. -From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bhagavad-gita 16.1-3 – January 29, 1975, Honolulu
Find them here: https://goo.gl/a2URKQ

Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2017 already started! (Album with photos)
Nitya Kishora Dasi: After the most wonderful kirtan …Read More…

Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk.
Krishna-kripa das: I have Harinama videos from different parts of the world.
I have a nice quote by Srila Prabhupada about the importance of the association of spiritually minded people. I share an excerpt from Satsvarupa dasa Goswami’s Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name. I share notes on lectures by Mother Madhumati, Caitanya Carana Prabhu, Ekayani Devi Dasi, Abhimanyu Prabhu, and Bhakta Hanan.
To read the entire report click here: https://goo.gl/im1oy2

ISKCON Auckland NZ: Holi 2017 (Album with photos)
Around10 thousand guests joined today`s annual holi festival at our farm in …Read More…

George Harrison Appearance Day 2017 London Harinama Sankirtan (Album with photos)
This weekend’s London Saturday night harinama sankirtan coincided with the 74th anniversary of George Harrison’s appearance day (birthday).
The weather was wet so there were fewer people out and about, but still many members of the public did stop to watch or join in.
Actually, one of the things that had endeared the devotees to the
Beatles was that they went out on the streets of London no matter what the weather.
Videos:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=56928266%40N05&view_all=1&text=25%2F02%2F2017%20video

Photo slideshow:
http://davidc.zenfolio.com/george_harrison_appday_harinama_sankirtan_25022017/slideshow

Photo gallery:
http://davidc.zenfolio.com/george_harrison_appday_harinama_sankirtan_25022017

Scenes from Mayapur 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: A king or governmental official should be so well qualified that he acts as a father, maintainer and protector of the citizens because of affection and love. He should give the citizens good advice and instructions according to the standard scriptures and should be equal to everyone. Yamaraja does this, for he is the supreme master of justice, and so do those who follow in his footsteps. However, if such persons become polluted and exhibit partiality by punishing an innocent, blameless person, where will the citizens go to take shelter for their maintenance and security? PURPORT The king, or in modern times the government, should act as the guardian of the citizens by teaching them the proper goal of life. The human form of life is especially meant for realization of one’s self and one’s relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead because this cannot be realized in animal life. The duty of the government, therefore, is to take charge of training all the citizens in such a way that by a gradual process they will be elevated to the spiritual platform and will realize the self and his relationship with God. This principle was followed by kings like Maharaja Yudhisthira, Maharaja Pariksit, Lord Ramacandra, Maharaja Ambarisa and Prahlada Maharaja. The leaders of the government must be very honest and religious because otherwise all the affairs of the state will suffer. Unfortunately, in the name of democracy, rogues and thieves are electing other rogues and thieves to the most important posts in the government. Recently this has been proven in America, where the president had to be condemned and dragged down from his post by the citizens. This is only one case, but there are many others. Because of the importance of the Krsna consciousness movement, people should be Krsna conscious and should not vote for anyone who is not Krsna conscious. Then there will be actual peace and prosperity in the state. When a Vaisnava sees mismanagement in the government, he feels great compassion in his heart and tries his best to purify the situation by spreading the Hare Krsna movement. >>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 6.2.3
Find them here: https://goo.gl/2YqBEu

Sannyasa initiation of Mahadyuti Swami (Video and album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: CC Antya 6.220 mahaprabhura bhakta-ganera vairagya pradhana yaha dekhi’ prita hana gaura-bhagavan Renunciation is the basic principle sustaining the lives of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s devotees. Seeing this renunciation, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is extremely satisfied. PURPORT: Anyone, whether an ordinary materialistic person or a pure devotee, can understand the behavior of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s devotees if he studies it minutely. One will thus find that the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are not at all attached to any kind of material enjoyment. They have completely given up sense enjoyment to engage fully in the service of Lord Sri Krsna and dedicate their lives and souls to serving Krsna without material desires. Because their devotional service is free from material desires, it is unimpeded by material circumstances. Although ordinary men have great difficulty understanding this attitude of the devotees, it is greatly appreciated by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Find the photos here: https://goo.gl/bY2T9m
Watch the video here: https://goo.gl/iAfIiR

Kisumu, Kenya Preaching (Album with photos)
We visited Kisumu, Kenya on the shores of Lake Victoria, 2nd largest lake in the w…Read More…

National media reports about the Festival of Colour at Hare Krishna Temple in New Zealand.
NZ Herald: They came dressed in whit…Read More…

A new sannyasi for Iskcon.
HG Mahadyuti Prabhu entered the sannyasa ashrama after receiving initiation by HH Kavicandra Swami e…Read More…

Krishna Lunch (Album with photos)
“When I eat Krishna Lunch, I feel that my soul is being healed!” ~Lissette
Lissette is our regular Krishna Luncher! She went to UF and had Krishna Lunch in Gainesville. Now she is a Masters student at UMD and enjoys Krishna lunch here!
We love having you Lissette and thanks for all your support and help
Find them here: https://goo.gl/wbFfaJ

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Onion Seeds.
Kurma das: Bhakti V. Madhava Swami wrote me yesterday, concerned that ka…Read More…

Srila Prabhupada and the children.
I may inform you that all our children born of the Krishna conscious parents, they are welcome and I want hundreds of children like that. Because in future we expect to change the face of the whole world, because chi…

Harinama in Puri (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: You have asked me for suggestions of what to say to different persons on Sankirtana Party, but there is no specific saying to any person. Whatever we say we say to everyone. It doesn’t matter what is his age. Krishna Consciousness teaching does not depend on the age. It is the eternal platform of the soul. This is the meaning of transcendental; that is is beyond any consideration of material qualifications such as age or intelligence. Just like thunder in the sky does not need any explanation to any old person or to a young child, similarly, the transcendental sound vibration of Hare Krishna and preaching of Bhagavad-gita philosophy will act on everyone, regardless of whether or not they are understanding at first. When preaching you only repeat what you have heard from the disciplic succession and this will act. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Prahladananda – Tittenhurst 5 October, 1969
Find them here: https://goo.gl/eiSFS3

TOVP: Monitoring te progress (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: The team today took a tour with Ambarish prabhu to the GRC facto…Read More…

Harinama in Mayapur 2017 (Album with photos)
Dharmatma Das: The transcendental Harinam Party begins! Every evening beginning at…Read More…

TOVP: CLADDING THE RIBS (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: We have completed concreting the Domes, the next phase is cladding t…Read More…

Ancient temple in Nabadwip (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Those engaged in broadcasting the holy name of Narayana, Krsna, through the Krsna consciousness movement should always consider what our position was before we came and what it is now. We had fallen into abominable lives as meat-eaters, drunkards and woman hunters who performed all kinds of sinful activities, but now we have been given the opportunity to chant the Hare Krsna mantra. Therefore we should always appreciate this opportunity. By the grace of the Lord we are opening many branches, and we should use this good fortune to chant the holy name of the Lord and serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly. We must be conscious of the difference between our present and past conditions and should always be very careful not to fall from the most exalted life. (Srila Prabhupada’s purport to SB 6.2.34)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/qKh039

Crack the Code to Your Inner Joy – Read with us Everyday! (Based on Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.27 — Los Angeles, December 5, 1973 ) Real meaning of being in this world
Just like in this winter season, we cover ourselves very nicely with gloves, with overcoat. It is simply counteracting the suffering. But a man who has got a nice overcoat and gloves, he is thinking he is enjoying. This is maya. He forgets that he is simply trying to counteract the suffering. There is no enjoyment in this material world.This counteraction of suffering , we are accepting as enjoyment. So this material world means you must suffer. That is the position of the material world.

Just now we got this car, horseless car. But now there is a problem. They are thinking, “If there is no petrol available, then what will happen?” So this is material existence. Anxiety . That anxiety is suffering, “What will happen? What will happen?” That is material existence. Always full of anxiety.

Real Medicine in Every Circumstance
So Narottama dasa Thakura says: “The heart is burning on account of this material existence. But I did not try to find out the means by which I can get out of this.” The medicine is Krishna’s teachings, Krishna’s name, Krishna’s glorification. That is the real medicine. So actually, if we want to enjoy life, then we should take the instruction of Bhagavad-gita, That will give us relief from the blazing fire. [Image: gita-logo2] This is the only way.You can derive the same benefit as Arjuna by reading Bhagavad-gita. People say that Arjuna was enlightened because Krishna was present before Him. But Krishna is present before you also, by His words, by His sound representation… Bhagavad-gita is nondifferent from Krishna . As Krishna is everywhere, similarly, Bhagavad-gita can be appreciated in every country, every season, every circumstances.
Daily Reading Sessions for adults and kids
Read more: https://goo.gl/Rw23mJ

Krsna-krida – The Art of Engaging Children’s Playful Attitude.
Children have a natural attraction to play. And, Krsna’s playful pastimes are a natural attraction for a conditioned soul. Hence children can from very beginning of life cultivate a taste …

Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami has described in Sri Caitanya Caritamrta that the first sprout of the desire tree of devotion was manifested in the person of Sri Madhavendra Puri, and that that sprout developed into a sapling in the person of Sri Isva…

Parikrama in Javat – Ter Kadamba 17-02 (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Yesterday we did my favorite parikrama, going to …Read More…

New Raman Reti Policy on Non-ISKCON Vaisnava Groups.
The President: Alachua is the home of the largest ISKCON temple in North America. A vibrant Gurukula, world famous Deity darshans, exhuberant kirtan and daily prasad distribution are just some of t…

Gita Nagari Eco Farm (6 min video)
Gita Nagari is a 350-acre farm situated in scenic Port Royal, Pennsylvania. The community lo…Read More…

HG Jagajivan das’s ashes immersed in Ganges (2 min video)
Here is a link to a video of HG Jagajivan das ACBSP ashes immersed in the Ganges on Monday, Feb 20th, Sridham Mayapur. In attendance were many GBC, Sannyasis, and Senior devotees.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/FXHe1v
Offering of lamps to Mother Ganga after the ceremony.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/2ISkWV

No Ugly Gopis, Please!
Srila Prabhupada: I don’t know who has given you this idea of shaving your head and wearing white garments. In India only the widows are allowed to shave their head. I have never suggested to your husband to take sannyasa. We can discuss this matter further when we shall meet again in London for Ratha-yatra. You remain the beautiful maidservant of Krishna. That is your business, and you should dress yourself always very nicely so that by seeing you Krishna will be pleased. Don’t try to be ugly before Krishna. Krishna does not like ugly gopis. We are transcendental artists, musicians, writers, so everything should be beautiful for Krishna. After all we are members of Krishna’s family, just like Krishna had 16,000 wives and each wife had thousands of servants and maidservants, and all of them were very beautiful for serving Krishna and his queens. So the servants of the gopis and queens cannot be ugly; they are as beautiful as the queens. In the Vaikuntha world there is no need of serving anything because everything is already clean and beautiful. It is so clean that just like a mirror when the maidservants would sweep the floor they could see the reflections of their bodies. So remain always in Vaikuntha y a; na, simply by thinking of the glories of the Lord. Don’t try to do anything artificially. That is sahajiya, which means a class of men that take everything very cheap. You want to perform sacrifice so continuously read our Vedic scriptures and perform the Vaikuntha yajna. It — Letter to Himavati. 15 June 1972.
To read the entire article click here: https://archive.org/details/bindu394

Doubts cloud market surge.
Vaisesika das: Yesterday the front-page headline of The San Mateo Times read: “Doubts cloud market surge.”
The simple facts behind this headline are that hopeful economic news stimulated a weeklong stock market rally.
But yesterday, as traders got mixed economic reports, they pulled back, stopped buying, and the trading surge stalled.
The reason according to the Times: doubts.
When doubts cloud one’s mind or heart, a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction creeps in and the result is that one holds back. (The word, doubt, in fact comes from a Latin word that means, “hesitate”.)

Our free movement in any realm of life comes only when we are free from doubt.

For example, we require confidence even to cross the street.

Indeed, in the scripture doubts are often compared to clouds. And in the Gita, Arjuna refers to doubts as demons.

At Kuruksetra, Arjuna was at first paralyzed by doubts about his duty and he asked Krsna to remove them.

After hearing from Krsna, Arjuna “regained his memory, was firm and free from doubt and ready to act according to Krsna’s instructions.”

To achieve such enthusiasm, one must follows Arjuna’s example.

Confirming this, Rupa Goswami says that the first and most important steps in devotional service are:

1) Taking shelter of a vaisnava guru (adau gurv-asrayam); and 2) inquiring from the guru (sad-dharma-prccha).

Srila Prabhupada writes:

“One must accept a Vaisnava guru and then by questions and answers one should gradually learn what pure devotional service to Krsna is. That is called the parampara system.”

(Cc Antya-lila 7.53)

Any sincere person who follows this system will become free the burden of doubts and will advance to the highest stage of devotional service.