Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-06-25 14:30:00 →
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
Websites from the ISKCON Universe
On the hundredth anniversary of the disappearance day of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, this brand new video about the TOVP project, which was so dear to Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur has been released. Many of prominent leaders in ISKCON have spoken very well to encourage participation from all members of ISKCON society. This video was produced by a young devotee, resident of Sridham Mayapur, as a seva for the new Sri Mayapur Chandradoya Mandir. A video by Jaganath Kirtan Das.
The post June 25th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Should gay bhakta X marry a gay bhaktin in order to satisfy his unknowing authorities and be able to be engaged as a pujari?
The post This is a delicate one appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Russian/English Skype Conference.
The post Going to the festival in Ukraine or not, pirating of books and a series of short questions and answers appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Sri Giriraja, the Goverdhan Sila who is worshipped and carried around the world by Kadamba Kanana Swami, is currently having His eyes painted. Here is a special darshan for you! You may also view our gallery for more pictures.
HG Syama Dasa – SB 10.69.17 – 20.06.2014
This talk is a part of the "Fascinating Mahabharata Characters" series. To know more about this course, please visit: bhakticourses.com
During the festival of Fiji devotees traveled to the Sigatoka temple of Sri Sri Radha Damodara. This 3 storey temple sits majestically on top of a hill that overlooks the town.
Thank you. It was a pleasure to meet you as well. I enjoyed learning about the ancient Indian culture and I have different views of the world now. Thank you so much!to see the pics that you missed click here.
Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.
Recently, I attended the beautiful wedding of two friends, one from a Jewish family and one from a Christian family. The ceremony largely followed the Jewish tradition with occasional mention of the bride’s Christian upbringing.
I began to wonder, witnessing this blending of two people into one couple bound under God, what place separate faiths really serve in our society. If we are honest, there is no justifying the fundamental difference in belief between Christians and Jews or the other major faiths. But in cases like these, it is our cultural homogeneity that is more important than the tenets of our faith.
Given that, what does faith really mean in circumstances like these? Is faith or religion simply ceremonial? Or are we overcoming divisions in the name of something greater – that is – love?
Read our panelists’ responses below.
Marriage is not just about an attraction of two parties but also those two parties working together to help each other to attain true happiness. True happiness is found by connecting beyond the temporary to the Supreme Being. Because marriage relates to that progressive spiritual advancement in the service of God, considerations of compatibility should not be ignored. The spiritual ideology, or how we see ourselves at our core, and how we individually apply such spiritual ideology must be taken into consideration. Incompatibilities certainly exist within those of the same tradition. Therefore it is important in all cases to see that both parties can properly help each other's growth towards true spiritual happiness.To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 08 June 2014, Stockholm, Sweden, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.5.14)
Everything ultimately reminds us of Krsna and attachment to Krsna becomes very deep. This is where philosophy comes to life. What is the point of philosophy without attachment? What is the point? It is nice to understand that Krsna is behind everything. Knowledge helps to sort of see the purpose of life. There is no point really in getting so attached to material things.
Without attachment to Krsna, philosophy has not found its real meaning. Therefore it is attachment to Krsna that makes all the difference. That is the key. Attachment to Krsna is the key that changes reality. When we look upon this world with attachment to Krsna, then we see endless opportunities for the glorification of Krsna. Such nice flowers… for Krsna. Everything!
So it is attachment to Krsna that is really going to automatically change our vision. (Acquiring) knowledge that is a cumbersome exercise. Philosophical knowledge provides us a cumbersome exercise to again apply it to reality.
“This looks really attractive. Wait a minute, wait a minute. It is temporary. Okay. Fair enough but, ah, I see.”
Philosophy relativizes it. “You know, it is damn beautiful but it is temporary therefore do not bother.”
Attachment to Krsna does not require us to relativize anything. Anything is seen in its relationship with Krsna. “How can I use it for Krsna?” The more one sees like that, the more one finds an application.
One of my favourite stories is how Prabhupada did this program and a mayavadi was also there. Some mayavadi from India was also speaking and at the end, he gave Prabhupada brochures of his ashram.
He showed him the brochure and Prabhupada said, “Oh, nice brochure, very nice.” It was one of those three-fold brochures, glossy and everything. Prabhupada said, “Oh, very good quality. Nice brochure.”
The man said, “Oh, you like the brochure?”
Then he said, “Yes, yes.”
“Then I will give you a whole box!”
So he gave Prabhupada a whole box. Prabhupada said, “Thank you very much.”
Then he told the devotees to keep the box and at one point during the Sunday feast lecture, Prabhupada asked for the box. He said, “Those brochures from the program, we have that box?”
“Yes, yes, yes.”
“Please bring.” So they brought the box and then Prabhupada said, “Distribute the brochures.”
The devotees were thinking, “Mayavadi brochures? Distribute the brochures? What is going on?”
All the brochures were distributed and Prabhupada said, “Did everyone get a brochure? Did everyone get a brochure?” Then he said, “Okay, now open the brochure. Yes, open the brochure and put it in front of you.”
Then he asked the devotees to serve prasadam on those brochures and he used the brochures as plates because they were so glossy; they used them as plates! In this way, Prabhupada engaged these mayavada brochures in the service of Krsna and in that way, the mayavadi, for his sincere offering to Prabhupada, of giving him a whole box, made so much advancement. This is seeing with attachment to Krsna.
When one sees with attachment to Krsna, one sees all kinds of applications. When one sees with knowledge, then it may be, “Oh…whisky, whisky, whisky,” but Prabhupada simply said, “Krsna is the taste in whisky.” That is seeing with attachment to Krsna so it is that attachment to Krsna that is the key, the key to actually see things as they are and to really appreciate everything in the service of Krsna.
Who says you cannot use whisky in the service of Krsna? You can! The only thing is it is meant for the outside, not for the inside. If you have a cut on your finger, it is a good disinfectant. It does the job. I have seen it in many Western movies, right, where the cowboys take the whisky and put it on the bullet wound, and it always seemed to work. So in this way, application of matter in the service of Krsna requires intelligence and attachment to Krsna and that is the key, dadāmi buddhi-yogaḿ taḿ (Bhagavad-gita 10.10). Krsna gives us the intelligence by which we can come to him.
“WE ARE THEIR GOOD FORTUNE.”
Once on a morning walk in St James’ Park in London (1972/3) after passing a hippy sleeping on a park bench, Srila Prabhupada said
“By good fortune they can all come to Krsna Consciousness”
…
Wishing to understand further what His Divine Grace meant by ‘good fortune’
I said
“Srila Prabhupada, we understand from your books and teachings that nothing happens by chance, can you please explain what you mean by ‘good fortune’
After walking on for about a minute, all of a sudden Srila Prabhupada stopped, turned and looked me directly in the face, and stated firmly
“WE are their good fortune”
In this beautiful video you will see my favourite street kirtaneer, his Grace Govinda Prabhu, leading the distribution of this ‘good fortune’ to thousands of West End visitors last night.
Special thanks to the many enthusiastic Vaisnavas who help every Saturday Night to distribute 2,000 copies of the FULL COLOUR, 16 page booklet, “ON CHANTING HARE KṚṢṆA”.
This MOST important little booklet is full of “Good Fortune”.
It has an invitation to the two prominent London temples as well as Govinda’s Vegetarian Restaurant on the inside front cover. PLUS a clear and straight forward explanation of
What is the Hare Krsna Movement
Who is Srila Prabhupada
What is REAL peace formula – written by Srila Prabhupada
How and why one should Chant Hare Krsna – written by Srila Prabhupada
And finally another short piece by Srila Prabhupada explaining the origins of the Hare Krsna Movement
All in all it is the PERFECT introduction to the Krsna Consciousness Movement.
At present we have about 100,000 in stock here in the UK for anybody that wants to hand them out around a Kirtan Party.
These were printed by a business man disciple of Srila Prabhupada, His Grace Palaka prabhu from Washington DC. He pays for them with the fruit of his hard work and makes them available for world wide distribution – completely FREE of charge. So far he has printed and distributed over 2.3 million copies. His goal is to distribute 10 million. In this service he is fully backed by his local GBC man – His Grace Anuttama prabhu. Please help this MOST sincere effort.
Lecture Outline:
1. Association is the most precious blessing
2. Association with like-minded and affectionate devotees
3. Surrender is not just an emotion but also an action - surrender by choosing favorable association within devotee circle.
4. Two kinds of favourable association: that which inspires us to serve Krishna generically and that which inspires us in our specific service to Krishna
5. Inspiration from association can be cultural, intellectual or emotional.