1971 October 22: "Devotional service can be advanced by six processes: enthusiasm, patience, conviction, following the regulative principles, being honest in one's profession, and being in the association of devotees. Devotee means who are following the regulative principles."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 October 22: "Just like the tracks of a railroad line, both must be there, Bhagavata marga and pancaratriki marga - one side Bhagavata book, the other side Deity worship. Unless you follow both lines simultaneously you cannot make any progress in devotional service."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 October 22: "Our Krsna consciousness movement preaching depends on our personal behavior.We cannot preach without being solid in our standing as devotee. One should preach by behaving himself exactly what he preaches."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 October 22: "First you have to decide yourself whether you are prepared to surrender to our principles, because if you keep your independence your position is the same. To associate with me you are always welcome but not with your independence. That will not help me or you."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

Yesterday we visited Pavana-sarovara, a sacred lake near Nandagram. Our program was the same as everyday; hearing and chanting the glories of Lord. Such sravanam and kirtanam seems to be especially potent in the holy dhama. Local tradition says that the results of any spiritual practice done in Vrindavan dhama is magnified a thousand times. [...]

1972 October 22: "The pleasure of spending some days in Vrindaban is only exceeded by the pleasure of hearing the good news of our activities in Mayapur. Do not be anxious, I am coming there soon to live with you. And I shall speak thrice times what I am speaking here."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

Special Giriraj Diwali Grand Feast

When? Friday,Oct 25th,2014 Program starts at 7pm Where? 6 George Street South Brampton, Ontario L6Y 1P3, Canada Park underground(free) @ City Hall Phone:416-648-3312 New! Listen Click here to listen to previous class recordings on our blog Make a Donation

Program Schedule 7.00PM   GURU PUJA 7.20PM   GAURA AARTI 7.45PM   NRSINGADEV PRAYERS 7:50PM   WELCOME ANNOUNCEMENTS 8.00PM   GLORIES OF GIRIRAJ GOVARDHAN 8.30PM   DAMODAR AARTI AND KIRTAN 8.50PM   SUNDAY SCHOOL DRESS UP 9.05PM   GOVARDHAN MAHA AARTI AND PARIKARMA Followed by GIRIRAJ DIWALI MAHA FEAST OF THE NIGHT Offerings for Giriraj Govardhan "If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it."(BG-9.26) Let’s aim to offer at least 56 items You are invited to bring vegetarian offerings (no onion, garlic, eggs, vinegar) of food for Krishna.[In brand new aluminium one or two serving sized container] *Nothing store-bought. Must be fresh and home-made. *No tasting or sampling. Krishna must be the first to taste your offering. Please do contact mother Alka(alka74salwan@gmail.com) VOLUNTEERING: If you're looking for service opportunity for this event please do contact Radha Gopinatha Dasa(radhagopinathdas@hotmail.com) SPONSORSHIPS: If you are looking for an opportunity to finance the event please do contact Krishna Smaran Devi Dasi( kavitabalram@yahoo.com). Details: Giriraj Grand Feast-                      $251 Giriraj Maha Aarati-                      $151 Giriraj Govardhan-                        $101+101+101 Florals and Garlands-                   $151 Exquisite shringar for deities-   $301 About Govardhan Puja & Annakut The day after Diwali is referred to as Annakuta, or Govardhana Puja.On this day the inhabitants of Vrindavan (Lord Krishna’s abode on Earth) traditionally held a harvest festival in honor of the demigod King Indra who provided the rains essential for the harvest. Lord Krishna by defeating Indra's pride demonstrated that he is Deva Deva, Lord of the demigods, and that the purposes for which demigods might be worshiped could easily be served simply by worshiping Him, the cause of all causes. This day is also significant as the day on which, several thousand years later, Srila Madhavendra Puri established a temple for the self-manifest Gopala Deity on top of Govardhana Hill. To celebrate this festival, devotees build a replica of Govardhana Hill made of various opulent foods, worship Lord Krishna as the lifter of Govardhana Hill, worship the hill as His incarnation, and worship the cows and bulls which are dear to the Lord. Srila Prabhupada's Disapperance Day Fasting till Noon on Oct 27th 2014 **The festivities will be observed during our Sunday Love Feast Oct 26th 2014...Details will posted shortly**   Please note that ISKCON Brampton is a nut free environment in order to support those with allergies. Your cooperation is appreciated.   Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Chant and Be happy!

There is a general criticism on Srila Prabhupada that he only talks about Krishna and hence sectarian. This criticism is very common among mainstream "hindus" and Indians. This criticism also reveals the lack of proper philosophical understanding of the concept of Godhead and His concomitant material creation.

There are two ways to arrange things. One way is horizontal and the other vertical. When we arrange things linearly in horizontal fashion, then it seems all of things arranged have equal weights thus demanding equal attention from the viewer. If however, we adjust the heights in the vertical direction, then the top aligned items are given more importance. The same can also be applied with size. Two identical objects can be sorted if one is bigger in size than the other.

The misunderstanding about Krishna is that the general "hindu" population assumes Krishna to be on equal footing with other Gods like the horizontal arrangement of things as mentioned above. But actually Krishna should be seen vertical in that He is on the top and the others below Him. If we see Krishna with this arrangement, then by simply worshipping Krishna, all other subservient entities are included. One need not worship other celestial entities separately.

So when Srila Prabhupada focuses purely on Krishna as the object of worship, he does so because all other 330 million gods including Lord Siva and Lord Brahma are included in Krishna worship. One need not separately go to a Siva temple and worship Him. Of course to understand the super-inclusive  nature of Krishna requires purification from mundane desires and certain amount of faith.

Srila Prabhupada therefore is not preaching sectarian dharma but a super-dharma which includes all other subservient forms of dharma.

Hare Krishna

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 02 September 2014, Mayapur, India, Radhastami Lecture)

Krsna roams through the forest of Vrindavan and then, Krsna sees on a leaf his name written with red kumkum. Then Krsna plays his flute and when Krsna plays his flute, the entire universe becomes agitated…

When Krsna plays his flute, the cows in Vrindavan go mad! The cows cannot control themselves. Their ears are like cups on their heads and they are drawn to that sound; and when they hear that sound, they go mad! Therefore, they stand on their hind legs and cover their ears so as to not hear the sound but Krsna keeps on playing. Then the cows put blades of grass in their mouth as a treatise of humility and beg Krsna to stop but Krsna continues playing. Then the cows cannot contain themselves anymore and freeze on the spot and stand like statues…

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Bhagavatam-daily podcast

“On this date forty years ago, I went up to Srila Prabhupada’s quarters in Juhu, Bombay, as usual, at 6 a.m. But very unusually, his door was locked. I had never come and found his door locked before. I knocked and waited, and eventually his secretary opened the door a little and spoke very quietly. He said that during the night Srila Prabhupada had finished translating Sri Caitanya-caritamrta and that he had written the most beautiful glorification of his spiritual master after completing the work. He said that Srila Prabhupada was in a very ecstatic mood and instructed that the devotees should celebrate by having a feast.”

Kirtan
Srila Prabhupada’s “Concluding Words” for Sri Caitanya-caritamrta

Hearing good news about others affects people in different ways. Personally, the feelings it evokes within me serves as a barometer of how emotionally healthy I am and my relationship with the individual. Feelings of joy and "they totally deserve it" are what I aim for. However, in instances where it dredges up not so pleasant emotions, I realize I have internal work to do.

Just as pain serves as an indication that something is wrong with the body, similarly, negative emotions can serve as an indicator that we need to pay closer attention to an unfulfilled need or issue. That something can vary from person to person, but it's important to identify it and work to see what is needed to heal it. The importance of this topic was highlighted again by something that recently happened.

I have been extremely fortunate to be surrounded by practitioners of bhakti yoga my entire life. In order to invoke the blessings and share in the good news that I am to be married soon, my dear parents have been personally inviting well-wishers and friends for the occasion. Today I'd like to share with one reaction that melted my heart.

Although I wasn't physically present to witness the reaction, my parents later narrated that upon hearing the news and receiving an invitation, one well-wisher, who is an extremely deep and advanced bhakti yoga practitioner, immediately started to inquire as to my parents' assessment of my future husband's character. Satisfied with their responses, he expressed his heart-felt congratulations. That in itself totally melted my heart. An uncle-like figure in my life, I don't often get to see this well-wisher, but his genuine concern and care for my well being was palpable even through my parents voices.

Not soon after, he came back and immediately pressed a small gift in my father's hand. This was totally above and beyond the realm of anything any of us expected as his sincere well-wishes were all that we were seeking.

Although this may seem quite simple and ordinary, I assure you, it was anything but. The sense of reciprocation and gratitude to have such an exemplary well-wisher in my life was and is still overwhelming. In fact, while meditating on the incident a few days later, it was all I could do to restrain the tears filling my eyes.

As an aspiring practitioner of bhakti this is what I too long to be: the happy well-wisher to others, especially in their time of success and joy.

Bhagavatam-daily is a daily talk of approximately 10 min on a verse of Srimad Bhagavatam. This feature is especially meant to serve those devotees who want to hear the Bhagavatam regularly and systematically in short segments that they can conveniently fit into their schedules. The talk will involve a quick explanation of the Sanskrit verse followed by a devotional analysis of how we can take shelter of Krishna based on the import of that verse. In fact, my attempt to start this feature is essentially my way of taking shelter of the Bhagavatam by meditating and speaking on and thus serving each of its verses. I hope and pray that these talks will help hearers to similarly find greater shelter in the Bhagavatam.

In Krishna lila stava, Sri Sanatana Goswami glorifies the Srimad Bhagavatam: “ O holy Bhagavata, you are my only company, my only friend, and my guru. You are my greatest treasure and my personal saviour. You are the emblem of my highest fortune and the very form of ecstasy. I offer my obeisances unto you.” Several of our worshipable previous acharyas have commented insightfully on the Bhagavatam and our exalted Srila Prabhupada has given us through his illuminating Bhaktivedanta purports given us access to the vast universe of devotion that is the Bhagavatam. I offer my prostrated obeisances to our acharyas and pray that they bless this endeavor. I have sought and got the blessings of my spiritual guides - and I also seek the prayers, good wishes and blessings of the hearers so that I can render this service properly. Krishna willing, I will be taking various sections of the Bhagavatam verse-by-verse. To begin with, I have taken up the Uddhava Gita as it is one of the most important sections of the Bhagavatam, being its longest philosophical section, and is often quoted by our acharyas. It comprises the last words spoken by Krishna just before he departed from this mortal world and it was spoken to guide Uddhava to live with face the dark age of Kali.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given us a nice weapon for this age. The narayanastra, or weapon to drive away maya, is the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra in pursuance of the associates of Lord Caitanya, such as Advaita Prabhu, Nityanada, Gadadhara and Srivasa. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.11.1 Purport) Read more ›

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Chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is the easiest process of meditation in this age. As soon as one chants the Hare Krishna mantra, he sees the forms of Krishna, Rama and Their energies, and that is the perfect stage of trance. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.53 Purport) Read more ›

By chanting the Hare Krishna mantra one immediately concentrates on the sound vibration and thinks of the lotus feet of the Lord, and very quickly one is elevated to the position of samadhi, or trance. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.44 Purport) Read more ›

ISKCON juhu Presents "Hare Krishna Rock Kritan" by ISKCON YOUTH FORUM 2014. In this age, no one is expected to be highly educated in the Vedic ways of understanding because people are very slow, lazy and unfortunate. Therefore Lord Caitanya has recommended the sound vibration Hare Krishna. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.4.6 Purport) Read more ›

Oh, how glorious are they whose tongues are chanting Your holy name! Even if born in the families of dog-eaters, such persons are worshipable. Persons who chant the holy name of Your Lordship must have executed all kinds of austerities and fire sacrifices and achieved all the good manners of the Aryans. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.33.7 Purport) Read more ›

Lecture Podcast

2014 10 12 SB 10 51 45 Real Artha Servant of the Servant of Servants Radhanath Swami ISKCON Chowpatty

From Promila Mataji

Answer Podcast

I heard this in one of your classes. Can you please explain, especially when Prabhupada says that Krishna consciouness is a science that can take us God.

Answer Podcast

From Pancha Pandava Prabhu

Answer Podcast

Bhagavatam-daily podcast

 

Talk Podcast

Kapila’s Definition of Pure Devotional Service

Devahūti requested her son, “Please say more about the type of bhakti that pleases you the most, is within my reach, and will swiftly make my obstacles obsolete and eternally situate me with you in your abode.” [ŚB 3.25.28]

Her son, Kapila replied, “The most perfect form of bhakti is greater than any other perfection. It absorbs your consciousness in the All-Attractive by directing your activities and perceptions towards his spiritual reality, without interruption or ulterior motive. This can be done by following the instructions and mantras given by your guru from the śāstra, and is particularly excellent when it arises naturally from your own desire.” [ŚB 3.25.32]

I

First, Kapila makes it clear that there is no attainment to be achieved that is greater than this topmost bhakti. Not even mokṣa (liberation) can compare to this, because this automatically includes mokṣa right from the start (viz. Gītā 18.54).

II

Next, he explains the basic principle of how bhakti-yoga works: ”It absorbs your consciousness in the All-Attractive by directing your activities and perceptions towards his spiritual reality.

Kapila describes consciousness as “sentience” (sattva), and as, “the divine faculty which grants perception of sense objects” (davānāṁ guṇa-liṅgānām).

The essence of bhakti-yoga is to absorb our consciousness in the All-Attractive (bhāgavatī) — and the simple, practical way to do that is to focus our perceptions and activities (karmaṇām) on the All-Attractive. For example, if we look at a painting or mūrti of Krishna we absorb our visual perception in the All-Attractive. Another example is that we can absorbs our aural perception in the All-Attractive by hearing kīrtan of his name, or describing his beauty, attractive qualities, and loving pastimes.

Bhakti-yoga also entails direction our actions towards the All-Attractive. One example of such action is to host a party where people come together to perform kīrtan. Other examples: to dress Krishna’s mūrti, cook and offer food to him, clean his temple, offer ārati, visit his temple and sacred places, tend to the care of his devotees, and so on.

By directing our activities and perceptions towards the All-Attractive, our consciousness becomes absorbed in him, and this is the essence of what bhakti-yoga is all about.

III

Next, Kapila explains purity in bhakti-yoga. He says that our endeavor to absorb our consciousness in the All-Attractive should be, ”without interruption or ulterior motive.

Bhakti-yoga is “mixed” with “impurity” when it is used as a vehicle to some other goal. For example, if we visit a temple and donate money in the hopes that we will become rich as a result of that righteous sacrifice, our activities could in some ways be considered bhakti-yoga but it is impure (miśra-)bhakti-yoga. Ulterior motives are very subtle and difficult to completely root out. We can practice bhakti-yoga for decades only to find that in truth we were motivated to get three steady meals a day and a place to sleep, or to find some sense of community, or to convince at least a few people to respect us and listen to our opinions.

Kapila says that pure bhakti-yoga has no ulterior motive, using the words evaika-manaso which literally means “certainly with nothing else in mind.” To practice pure bhakti-yoga we should strive to absorb our consciousness in the All-Attractive simply because we wish to absorb our consciousness in the All-Attractive, not for any ulterior goal. Unfortunately it usually takes many years or lifetimes to root out ulterior motives by truly realizing that the All-Attractive is in fact “ALL-Attractive” and no other motive is attractive in comparison.

Kapila also indicates that pure bhakti-yoga as “no interruption” (animittā). The two principles (“no interruption” and “no ulterior motive”) go hand-in-hand, for if we have ulterior motive we will be distracted into other pursuits, or distracted by other concerns and tribulations. If we simply and purely desire to absorb our consciousness in the All-Attractive we will not be distracted from our pursuit of bhakti-yoga.

So, Kapila says that our endeavor to absorb our consciousness in the All-Attractive by direction our actions and perceptions towards him should be concentrated and attentive, which becomes possible only as we give up on hoping for other achievements and pursuing other motivations.

IV

Finally, Kapila says that there are two ways to do bhakti-yoga: “This can be done by following the instructions and mantras given by your guru from the śāstra, and is particularly excellent when it arises naturally from your own desire.”

The two ways are not at all mutually exclusive!

First Kapila indicates that our endeavor to practice bhakti-yoga should be “anuśravika” — following the instructions and mantras given by guru, from śāstra. Śrī Rūpa Goswāmī classifies this approach as “vaidhi — the endeavor that is directed by the instructions (vidhi) given by guru, from śāstra.

Not just bhakti-yoga but any spiritual endeavor, any yoga, must be directed by śāstra because our senses and intellect cannot yet directly comprehend spiritual reality on their own. Therefore the guru teaches us the śāstra and thus guides and informs our activities and perceptions, which then gradually become capable to directly interact with and perceive spiritual realities. It is something like an expert musician pointing out the specific notes and nuances in a sophisticated melody. Guided by such an expert, even a novice musician begins to appreciate the subtleties of music, and thus gradually becomes expert herself.

But Kapila also says, ”it is particularly excellent when it arises naturally from your own desire” (svabhāvikī tu). Śrī Rūpa classifies this as rāgānugā — the endeavor that arises naturally from pursuing (anuga) your natural passion (rāga) for the All-Attractive.

The greatest misconception is that when one pursues ones natural passion one does not follow the guidance of Guru. What foolishness!

The greatest misconception is that when one pursues ones natural passion one does not follow the guidance of Guru. What foolishness! If one passionately wants to become a great violinist, does she not carefully and fastidiously consider the advice of great teachers, does she not attentively listen to the playing and technique of great violinists? To counteract this dull mistake, Śrī Rūpa explicitly states that Rāgānugā also observes the viddhi (BRS 1.2.296) and quotes an important śloka from Brahma-yamala (BRS 1.2.101) stating that so-called bhakti-yoga that ignores śāstra is nothing but a disturbance.

It is said that bhakti-yoga motivated by spontaneous passion doesn’t “depend” on the instructions of guru and śāstra — but we can’t twist this to mean that it ignores or transgresses the instructions of guru and śāstra, unless we are foolishly content to fall outside the umbrella of the bhakti-yoga established on behalf of Śrī Caitanya by Śrī Rūpa — for in so interpreting we would contradict his explicit statements in BRS 1.2.296 and 1.2.101.

That spontaneous devotion “doesn’t depend on instructions” simply means that when one has inherent desire to absorb ones consciousness in the All-Attractive, that become the prime motivating factor, one doesn’t need any convincing or argumentation or logic. As a result of spontaneous passion for bhakti-yoga, one will seek out and apply the guidance of guru and śāstra with even more ardor and intent that then person without spontaneous passion for it. Again, the example of the violinist is useful.

In short, Kapila states that the most powerful form of bhakti-yoga is svabhāvakī — it arises naturally from our own inherent desire for the All-Attractive, and avails of the guidance of guru and śāstra as a result of that inherent passion.

Does Vaidhi Evolve into Rāgānugā?

No, vaidhi does not automatically become Rāgānugā, but it does eventually become bhāva-bhakti, and the bhāva-bhakti that arises from vaidhi-sādhana is svabhāvikī, a lot like rāgānugā-sādhana in some ways.

Commenting on this verse of Bhāgavatam, Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākur explains that vaidhi-sādhana naturally becomes svabhāvikī when it achieves perfection as bhāva-bhakti, but that rāgānugā-sādhana is svabhāvikī even in the stage of practice, even before attaining perfection as bhāva-bhakti. The svabhāvakī trait is therefore qualitatively greater in the perfection attained through rāgānugā-sādhana (termed rāgānugauttara-bhāva-bhakti) compared to that which can be attained through vaidhi-sādhana (termed vaidhyottara-bhāva-bhakti).

Correlation Between the Śrī Kapila and Śri Rūpa’s Definitions of Bhakti.

Śrīla Rūpa Goswāmīpāda defined the most perfect form of bhakti (uttama-bhakti) In Bhakti Rasāmṛta Sindhu 1.1.11:

anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ, jñāna-karmādy anāvṛttam
anukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-śilanam bhaktir uttamam

This definition is exactly analog to Kapila’s definition.

Kapila says that bhakti-yoga is absorption of the consciousness in the All-Attractive by focusing ones actions and perceptions on him. Śrī Rūpa says this with the words anukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-śilanam.

Kapila says that bhakti-yoga is to be done without ulterior motive or interruption. Śrī Rūpa says the same with the words, anyābhilāṣitā śūnyam, jñāna-karmādy anāvṛttam.

Kapila says that bhakti-yoga is done under guidance of guru and śāstra and is particularly effective when it arises from ones own spontaneous passion for it. Śrī Rūpa explains the same at great length in his sections on Vaidhi and Rāgānugā sādhanas.

Kapila says that bhakti-yoga makes all other perfections insignificant. Śrī Rūpa says the same, for example in BRS 1.1.17 and 1.1.33.

1947 October 21: "We have decided to open a manufactory branch in Berhampur. The bearer of this letter is a messenger on our behalf and we shall be thankful if you will kindly let us know the following points per bearer. Abhay Charan De, Director in chief, Vimaltone Laboratories Ltd."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1947-64

1968 October 21: "You are now three. One can play mrdanga and two can play cymbals and chant nicely. We are more or less concerned for preaching. It does not matter even if we have got a temple or not, but if the preaching work goes on that is a great satisfaction."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 October 21: "So far crying for Krishna is concerned, as we go on chanting Hare Krishna, in the pure status, we shall be on the loving platform and at that time, we shall feel the greatest separation from the Lord. These are all transcendental existential understandings."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 October 21: "In separation one relishes the loving relationship more tasty. So don't be disappointed that you are separated from me, I am also always thinking of you. And I am always expecting your letters that you have opened a center and how you are working very nicely."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968