Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Holy Name retreat, Govardhana (Album of photos)
Day 4: Going Deeper- Friday, November 30
Seminar by HH Sachinandana Swami
Topic: “Learning The Living Name-” Learning to Chant with Absorption"
Find them here: https://goo.gl/UftHbh
In Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Srila Prabhupada explains the reasons for Sri Krishna Chaitanya’s appearance. Lord Krishna, in His pastimes, was unable to experience the glory of Srimati Radharani’s love for Him, the wonderful qualities in Krishna that She relishes through Her love, and the indescribable happiness She feels when She realizes the sweetness of His love. Thus, Lord Krishna, assuming the guise of a devotee, adopted the mood and complexion of Srimati Radharani and descended in Navadvipa-dhama to fulfill His innermost desire: to experience Srimati Radharani’s ecstatic love for Him.
So, Navadvipa-dhama is a manifestation of Srimati Radharani’s love for Krishna. The Puranas also describe that when, in the state of mahabhava, Srimati Radharani reached the extreme in ecstatic feelings of separation from Lord Krishna, He entered into Her heart and “stole” Her feeling of mahabhava. That mahabhava became manifest as Navadvipa-dhama.
Thus, to better understand Sri Mayapur-dhama and the mood of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, as well as Srila Prabhupada and our own devotional service, we should understand Radharani’s mood of separation.
Once, when Krishna left the company of the gopis, Radharani began to search for Him in one forest after another, crying in intense separation. She approached a kadamba tree, “Where is Krishna?” She approached Govardhana Hill, “Where is Krishna?” She wandered everywhere throughout Vrindavan, crying, “Where is Krishna? He is more dear to Me than My own life. How can I live without His service?” Then, in divine madness, She fainted.
After some time, when Krishna appeared, He addressed Srimati Radharani, “I am extremely pleased with You. You may ask from Me whatever You wish.” And Radharani requested three things: “Please promise Me that You will always remain in Vraja, unseen by those without devotion; please never disappoint the devotees who reside here, maintaining their lives by their love for You alone, hoping to attain Your lotus feet; and please always shower Your mercy on Your devotees and give them shelter at Your lotus feet.”
We see that even though Srimati Radharani had been experiencing extreme separation from Krishna, when Krishna asked Her what She wanted, She did not think of Herself; She thought of the suffering of others. This is the mood of separation. Srimati Radharani’s desire to please Krishna is so pure and so intense that She wants to engage every living entity for Krishna’s pleasure, to give them Krishna’s service and association.
Krishna has an unlimited desire to enjoy. Radha has the unlimited desire to fulfill Krishna’s desires. And Lord Chaitanya and Srila Prabhupada have the same desire to engage unlimited numbers of living entities in Krishna’s service. Like Srimati Radharani, the preacher wants to arrange for others to get Krishna’s association, to serve Him.
Srila Prabhupada especially wanted unlimited numbers of books to be distributed so that unlimited numbers of persons would be engaged in devotional service. Every book distributed means another brick for the Mayapur City temple, and as the city manifests, more and more devotees will be attracted to the dhama, to develop the same mood of sankirtana. And as they become inspired to distribute more and more books, more and more people will become devotees. And thus the Vaishnava’s desire will be fulfilled.
Hare Krishna.
Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami
ISKCON Communications Director Anuttama Das attended the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) in Denver, Colorado from November 17thto 20th, as a representative of the Hare Krishna Movement. Representatives of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust also participated with a booth at the event, which promotes the study of religion from an academic perspective.
Sri Harinam in Auckland New Zealand (Album of photos)
Giving out the mercy Friday night Harinam.
And the best gift ever f...
The devotees of ISKCON-London are known for their special yearly anniversary event festivities and this year was no exception with what can only be described as a spiritually uplifting theatre production that left the audience at the edge of their seats - entertained throughout.
Beautiful Vrindavana (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: As I was leaving Vrindavan I stopped by Varsana and did a quick tour around the sacred home of Srimati Radharani with a small number of devotees. The local villagers fed us hot chapatis, we visited the Mystic Forest of desire trees, paid our respects to various sadhus … and then I left for Africa taking the mood of Vrindavan with me.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/vPCZan
Kirtan Ras Festival from the Gulf is LIVE - and is amazing (video)
Srila Prabhupada: In the Bhagavad-Gita it is advised that o...
Harinama in Moscow, Russia (13 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: The process of chanting the holy name of the Lord is always superb...
By Vijaya Dasa A lot of temples did really well in October. Among large temples, Radhadesh looked really good, for a rural community, increasing by 296%, with 1,632 book points. Nice to see Radhadesh in the newsletter again. Among the medium temples, Sydney-North made a comeback, with an increase of 218% (7,572 book points), putting it in the No. 2 spot worldwide in this category. Mira Road was right behind, with an increase of 158% and 3,671 book points. There's a new marble temple there and a sincere congregation. Among the small temples, Cueramaro (Mexico) had a huge month: an increase of 387% and 14,568 book points. It appears that the marathon already started. Among the maha-small temples, Baltimore did great, increasing 151%, with 10,263 book points. This temple is like ISKCON Silicon Valley: all sincere householders and also under the able guidance of Vaisesika Prabhu. Continue reading "WSN October 2018 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
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Cadets dance during Harinam in Russia (6 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: This Krishna consciousness movement insists that everyon...
Most temples around the world encourage devotees to hold programs in their homes as well as attend temple functions. These can be informal gatherings or more structured like Bhakti Vrksa programs.
I attend many of these in my travels and whilst in Perth I was able to be with the devotees who are under the guidance of Punya Sloka Prabhu. We started with a little prasadam, then kirtan and discussion on verses from Bhagavad-gita.
Vrindavan Pastimes of Lord Shri Krishna (video)
A lecture by HH Bhakti Charu Swami, 17 November 2018 at ISKCON New Jersey.
Answer Podcast
The post How can I see spiritually my scientific research for solving serious problems such as incurable diseases? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
The post Gita 02.06 The decision that seems a no-brainer turns out to be a brain-exhauster appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Kalakantha Das: This fall, the seven-member staff at the Bhakti Academy at the Krishna House (ISKCON of Gainesville, Florida, USA), has been blessed with one of its best classes in its ten-year history, with eleven new bhaktas and seven new bhaktins taking part in the fall semester along with four young adults from devotee families. This diverse group has established tight Vaishnava friendships, all of them living in an ISKCON ashram in the West for the first time. 
Kartik Parikrama Braj Badrinath (Album of photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Nanda Lala didn’t want the Brijbasis to go to any tirtha outside of Braja, so He created Badrinath within Braja for Nanda Baba. Very beautiful serene place with forests, hills, kundas, peacocks, and lovely cows! Come along to this wonderful place through the pics of my dear Vittalrukmini Das
Find them here: https://goo.gl/aaGwUK
A visit to Sri Rangam, the biggest functional temple in the world. (6 min video)
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: It has 7 walls, each ...
After a very bumpy ride on the bus, Day 7 of the Vrindavan parikrama led us to Sunhera at the Sudevi Sakhi Temple. It was not arranged for us to be here but somehow the driver took a different turn. Sudevi is one of the eight principle varistha gopis. This temple was very small but quaint with a painted courtyard.
As we all stumbled out of the bus, we were welcomed by streaming heat from the sun that penetrated down to us. It was a clear blue morning with not a cloud in sight. The sound of the birds chirping was getting louder with the imminent arrival of HH Kadamba Kanana Maharaj who was accompanied by HH Bhakti Ashraya Vaishnava Maharaj.
As Bhakti Ashraya Vaishnava Maharaj had been residing in Vrindavan for many years, Kadamba Kanana Swami kindly suggested that Vaishnava Maharaj should elaborate on Sudevi and the gopis:
“Sudevi Temple is an important place. Our destination is to get love of Godhead by sanctioning Radharani. Narottama Das Thakura narrated Vraja as a Cintamani dhama: a golden lotus with eight petals, where each petal represents one of the eight gopis. At the centre of the lotus is Radharani and Krsna. The asta-sakhis’ main focus is on Radharani and to assist her in every way in order to attract Krsna. The asta-sakhis in turn are assisted by the manjaris, headed by Lalita who is assisted by Rupa Manjari. This mood is very specific to her group of gopi followers. There are other groups of gopis who are in competition with Radharani’s group of gopis. We are always in the mood of assisting the living entities. As Srila Prabhupada states that the nature of the jiva is to be a servant, therefore the highest service is to be the servant of the servant.”
Our next stop was Kamyavan, the place where the original deity of Vrinda devi resided. It is a very small and simple temple. Kamyavan is one of the twelve main forests of Vrindavan. The deity of Vrinda devi was installed by Vrajranabha who was Lord Krsna’s great-grandson. When the muslims sieged Vrindavan, most of the deities were moved to Jaipur. However, Vrinda devi refused to leave since she could not bear to be separated from Vrindavan.
As we walked to take the darshan of Vrinda devi, the markings of our footprints had heavily etched onto the thick layer of the sacred Vrindavan dust. Kadamba Kanana Maharaj explained that a few days ago, we were meditating on Vrinda devi who organised the pastimes of Radharani and Lord Krsna and that she is actually the manifestation of Radharani.
Maharaj said that the Radha Govinda deities were pratibhu deities (the replacement of the original deities). They were installed after the departure of the original deities that were taken to Jaipur. In Jaipur, the original Radha-Govinda deities are still there. The devotees there are worshiping these deities. So Vrindavan is manifested over there, according to Maharaj. One time Maharaj was there in the Radha-Govinda Temple and an old lady was pulling at his cloth. Then she gave him a little binocular which he used to take darshan of the deities close up. He noticed that Govinda-ji was wearing a watch. Even Gopinatha was wearing a watch!
“The devotees there are giving the Lord everything. They know that if they neglect the deities, then the deities will come back to Vrindavan. The mood of Lord Caitanya – distributing love of God – is everywhere. The people of Jaipur are also distributing. When water is distributed there, then it is lots of water due to lots of mercy.”
Maharaj points out that Srila Prabhupada classed Vrindavan as his home, Mayapur as a place where he worships, and Bombay as his office. The goswamis were also mentioned because it was them who had excavated all of the forgotten places here in Vrindavan as per Lord Caitanya’s instructions.
Vaishnava Maharaj then recited the daily prayers to Vrinda devi and retold a pastime about Radha-Krsna and the gopis.
The final destination was Vimal Kund which is the main place in Kamyavan. This beautifully forest-coloured kund was surrounded by ancient russet buildings.
“So how to cover it in one day? We need to travel in our mind to all the other places, then we can do it. It is not possible by any other means. Here in Kamyavan, we see that many pastimes took place. Pandavas were here.”
Maharaj retold the following pastimes that took place here:
“We are developing our relationship with the dhama as we are visiting these places. The shadow reflection of ecstasy – chaya bhava – can be gained by visiting the dhams or through devotee association. We become more and more purified and so the dhama gives us chaya bhava. In the Gopala Campu, Srila Jiva Goswami states how the dhama has so much love for Krsna. So that love is everywhere and some of it has rubbed off onto this kund. We pray that we may get some of that love for Krsna. We are here to meditate and to pray to get some ecstasy and love of God. Lord Balarama provides Vrindavan. His love for Krsna is very deep. By being here, some can get that shadow reflection and develop some love for Krsna. Vrindavan is also one of the five principles limbs of bhakti which can quickly give us the love of God.”
Vaishnava Maharaj then recited some more pastimes of Lord Krsna as per Kadamba Kanana Maharaj’s request.
“One can only see the dhama with the ears.”
The article " Vrindavan Braj Parikrama – Day 7 " was published on KKSBlog.
The importance of spiritual association (sat-sanga) (video)
Our consciousness and behavior are certainly affected by the company we keep. This is especially true for those who want to enhance their spiritual consciousness. In this episode, Mahatma dasa explores some of the many reasons why building relationships with spiritually-focused people can profoundly help awaken our own Krishna consciousness.
Bhakti Yoga—A Method of Nonmechanistic Science.
Sadaputa Dasa: How can we study nonmaterial aspects of reality when we’re living in a world of matter? Modern mechanistic science rests on the premise that reality is ultimately reducible to a simple set of mathematical equations. Such a view fails to account for two important aspects of reality: consciousness, and complex biological form. Here, in the first of a series of articles excerpted from the conclusion of the book, Sadaputa describes how an alternative, nonmechanistic model can be verified through the science of bhakti-yoga. He begins with a summary of the essential features of this model.
“What’s that?” I asked. “I-S-K-C-O-N,” he spelled the letters out.
“ISKCON—International Society for Krishna Consciousness.” Then he laughed. He was obviously having fun.
It was also in early August that we began attending the early morning meetings. None of us had ever gotten up before ten or eleven in the morning, but the magnetism of Srila Prabhupada drew us out of our dark Mott Street dens at 6:30 and down from fifth-floor apartments into deserted Lower East Side streets.
We’re spirits inside material bodies. If we do something about our own spiritual life—like find out who we really are and what we’re meant to do—life can only improve. We generally prefer consciousness to unconsciousness, except during surgery. Putting zero effort into finding our true identity and purpose while keeping our bodies and minds pleasantly occupied is like always stopping for gas but never eating. What good is keeping our car’s fuel tank full if we’re starving? How can we have a balanced spiritual diet, though, with all the stuff we have to do?
By Narendra Modi I am pleased to learn that the International Gita Festival is being organized by ISKCON in December, 2018 at New Delhi to celebrate the profound relevance of Srimad Bhagavad Gita in the contemporary world. Encapsulating the wisdom of our several millennia old civilization, the Gita holds the vision for fulfilling the true meaning of existence of each and every human. Its teachings transcend the confines of language and cultures. The whole humanity has woken up to receive and appreciate the enlightening knowledge radiated by it. ISKCON has been playing a significant role in helping the entire humanity benefit from the profound wisdom and guidance of the Gita. I hope that the International Gita Festival will be an occasion for scholars from across the globe to contemplate on the insights offered by the Gita for the contemporary world. I convey my best wishes for the success of the Festival. Continue reading "India Prime Minister’s Message for Iskcon’s International Gita Festival
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
The post Gita 02.05 Deliberation is desirable, but depth of deliberation is decisive appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
The post For devotees practicing bhakti in the West, is it better to educate our children in India or in the West? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
In the first verse of the Bhagavad-gita, the low-minded king Dhrtarastra asks his secretary, “O Sanjaya, after my sons and the sons of Pandu assembled in the place of pilgrimage at Kuruksetra, desiring to fight, what did they do?” Kim akurvata: “What did they do?” Srila Prabhupada says that this is a foolish question. The two armies had gathered to fight, so what is the question of what they did? Srila Prabhupada gives the example that if someone sits down before a plate of food, intending to eat, what is the question of “What did he do?” He would eat—that’s all.
So why did Dhrtarastra ask? Because Kurukshetra is dharma-ksetra, a holy place of pilgrimage. And under the influence of this religious place, his sons might have been influenced toward the good, to give up their intention to fight. Srila Prabhupada explains, “Yuyutsavah. This word yuyutsu [jujutsu] is still used in Japan. Perhaps you know, yuyutsu, fighting. So, yuyutsavah—‘desirous of fighting.’ Now, both parties were desiring to fight, and they assembled. Why is Dhrtarastra asking the question Kim akurvata: ‘What did they do?’? Because he was a little doubtful. These boys, after being assembled in dharma-ksetra, might have changed their ideas. They might have settled up. The sons of Dhrtarastra might have admitted, ‘Yes, Pandavas, you are actually the owners. What is the use of unnecessarily fighting?’ So he was very much anxious whether they had changed their decision. Therefore he is asking.”
Such is the influence of holy places. They can elevate one’s consciousness, even the consciousness of one habituated to low thoughts. And people who go to holy places—Mayapur, Vrindavan, Jagannath Puri—can immediately feel the difference. With reference to the power of living in Mathura-Vrindavan, The Nectar of Devotion explains, “Srila Rupa Gosvami has described Mathura-mandala: ‘I remember the Lord standing by the banks of the Yamuna River, so beautiful amid the kadamba trees, where many birds are chirping in the gardens. And these impressions are always giving me transcendental realization of beauty and bliss.’ This feeling about Mathura-mandala and Vrndavana described by Rupa Gosvami can actually be felt even by nondevotees. The places in the eighty-four-square-mile district of Mathura are so beautifully situated on the banks of the River Yamuna that anyone who goes there will never want to return to this material world. . . . Such transcendental feelings are aroused immediately and without fail after one arrives in Mathura or Vrndavana.” (Chapter 13)
Many pilgrims travel to Vrindavan and other holy places during the month of Karttika, and as they prepare to leave to return to their homes and places of service, they may wonder how they can keep the experience of Vrindavan with them. It is a challenge. The influence of materialistic cities, surcharged with passion and ignorance, can be daunting. And our own busy schedules may leave little time for direct service to Krishna. How can we keep the good influence of the holy places in our lives even after we leave?
Srila Rupa Gosvami advises,
krsnam smaran janam casya
prestham nija-samihitam
tat-tat-katha-ratas casau
kuryad vasam vraje sada
“The devotee should always think of Krsna within himself and should choose a very dear devotee who is a servitor of Krsna in Vrndavana. One should constantly engage in topics about that servitor and his loving relationship with Krsna, and one should live in Vrndavana. If one is physically unable to go to Vrndavana, he should mentally live there.” (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.294, quoted as Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.161)
We should always engage in remembering and discussing Krishna—His names, forms, qualities, pastimes, and associates in Vrindavan—and even our own experiences there. By such engagement, we can experience Vrindavan wherever we are, with Krishna as the focus of our lives.
And we should spread the message of Vrindavan, the message of Mayapur. Once, on a morning walk in Mayapur, a devotee said to Srila Prabhupada, “Mayapur is so nice, I wish I could just stay here,” and Prabhupada responded, “You must go out and make the whole world Mayapur.”
To experience Vrindavan outside Vrindavan is difficult; to create Mayapur outside Mayapur is difficult. But Srila Prabhupada said, “Spiritual life is difficult, but material life is impossible.” So let us make an honest effort to engage in Krishna consciousness, and Krishna and His devotees will surely help us.
—Giriraj Swami
I will never forget the moment when I heard that George Harrison had passed away, shortly after Thanksgiving in 2001. My strong feelings of separation surprised me—and made me think how important and dear George must have been to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Krishna. And I remembered my own little experience with George in Bombay.
In 1974, George came to visit Srila Prabhupada at Hare Krishna Land, in Juhu. He was wearing a white kurta and white yogi pants and had a plain bead bag. I took him around the property, and he expressed his appreciation for our work and encouraged us in our efforts. When at twelve-thirty we heard the conch shell blow for raja-bhoga arati, we proceeded to the small temple shed, where George chose a pair of kartalas and sang with the other devotees. Puri dasa, originally from Scotland, was doing the arati, and when he turned to offer the ghee lamp to the devotees and saw George, his hand started trembling so much that he thought he might drop the lamp.
After the arati, I arranged a full plate of maha-prasada for George and accompanied him to meet Prabhupada in his apartment. Prabhupada greeted him warmly, and I left them together and returned to my office.
“Prabhupada was behind his desk, with George in front of him,” Kishor das later described. “I barely remember what was said, but I remember the feeling of love that went back and forth between them. It was tangible. I didn’t really understand what this relationship was. I was young, and here was a big rock star, and a pure devotee of Krishna, and there was I somewhere. But I could just feel this feeling of love that went back and forth between Prabhupada and George.”
About two hours later, a pudgy twelve-year-old boy with glasses—the son of our friend and supporter Pranjivan G. Valia of the “Hare Krishna” house in the Juhu Vile Parle development—came to my small office at the back of the property. “I heard George Harrison is here,” he said.
“Yes,” I replied, “he is.”
“I want to see him,” he stated.
“Well, you can’t. He’s meeting with Srila Prabhupada.”
He looked me straight in the eye, sizing me up, and, concluding that he wasn’t going to get anywhere with me, turned, dashed to the stairs, and bolted down the steps.
Oh my God, I thought. He’s going to try to find him. So I bounded down the stairs in hot pursuit.
I ran across to the next building, and when I reached the second landing, in front of Prabhupada’s flat, I found the door ajar. The boy stood just inside, and beyond him George sat cross-legged with his back erect, like a yogi—a perfect disciple listening attentively at the feet of his master.
With the boy’s abrupt appearance, Prabhupada and George ended their meeting, exchanging some final words. George was gracious and appreciative, Prabhupada affectionate and kind. I was upset that the boy had interrupted them, but they took it as a matter of course. Maybe it was time for the meeting to end; maybe they took it as Krishna’s arrangement.
Shyamasundar and I accompanied George back to the temple shed for darshan of the Deities. He paid full dandavats, lying completely flat on the floor before Them for a long time, and then left.
The next year, on a morning walk in Sanand, Gujarat, Prabhupada recalled the meeting: “He is very nice boy—George. I have studied. Very good boy. He showed me in Bombay. He came to see me in Bombay, last year. He is keeping Jagannatha within his bead bag and chanting.”
I and many thousands—perhaps millions—of people are thankful to George for all the service he rendered to Srila Prabhupada and the Krishna consciousness movement, for making the holy name of Lord Krishna—the Hare Krishna maha-mantra—and the principles of Krishna consciousness so accessible to people all over the world and for attracting so many souls to the all-attractive Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna.
Hare Krishna.
Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami
Although he had serious health problems for many years, he never complained or even talked about his struggle with disease; nor did he give up.
Clear instructions by His Divine Grace.
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your kind letter dated November 13, 1972, and I have noted the contents with great care. I am so glad to receive your report after such long time, and it appears that everything is improving more and more, by Krishna’s grace. I like this idea of distributing books and preaching, that is Lord Caitanya’s plan, and because you are doing it so nicely you are already making the greatest contribution, so what need there is for some special instruction from me? But if you want, I must give, because you are serving Krishna so nicely, so in that case my request to you is that you enter into the universities and colleges wherever possible and preach there with a view to recruiting some first-class devotees for helping me manage and push on this movement all over the world. Overall there is shortage of first-class, experienced men to manage things just to the highest standard, as you are doing.
Life Of A Devotee - His Grace Sri Sanatan Goswami Das (18 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: In this age, it is more important to cr...
I have a little story about the time I distributed a Bhagavad-gita As It Is to the then-future Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau and his fiancee Sophie-Gregoire. They married in 2005 so it must have been a year or two before that when I met them.The Montreal Hare Krishna devotees from the ISKCON community of Sri Sri Radha Manora were doing Harinam Sankirtan, the congregational chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra in a parade down trendy St. Laurent Blvd. The parade was commemorating the celebration of “India Independence Day” Each ethnic group of India had their float or representation of drummers, dancers and colorful saris and traditional dress from Punjab, Bengal, Gujarat South India, etc… and then there was our group of Hare Krishna devotees with the Vaisnavis dancing in colorful festive saris and the men in dhotis, kurtas playing kartals and mrdangas
Vidura Dasa ACBSP: In Nairobi, many moons ago, Kenya was hosting the annual meeting of the African Union where the heads of state of all countries in Africa gather. We happened to have recently received a container of Bhagavatams and Gitas cleared through customs. I went to the Kenyatta Conference Centre and tried my luck at getting in. If you think Western politicians are paranoid about security you should see these African ‘Boss Men’ and their ever nervous heavy dudes.
Why “Bhagavad-gita As It Is?
The Bhagavad-gita has been translated many times since Krishna spoke it on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra thousands of years ago. Srila Prabhupada chose "Bhagavad-gita As It Is” as the title for his own translation and commentary, first published in the late 1960s. It has since attracted a worldwide following of spiritual seekers and scholars of Vedic culture.
World famous cricketer receives Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita (1 min video)
Jhulan Nishit Goswami is an all-around cricketer and former captain of India national women’s cricket team.
After receiving a copy of Bhagwat Gita in London last week, Jhulan Goswami appeared to be elated. She said, “This is for the first time I received a full version of Bhagwat Gita in Bengali language. I know this holy book defines the way of life. I feel blessed to have it today”.
Srila Prabhupada’s Books - all we need! Lecture by HG Vaisesika Dasa Prabhu, 11.25.18 in ISKCON Silicon Valley (video)
Answer Podcast
Transcription :
Transcribed by: Bhaktin Raji Nachiappan
Question: Does practicing bhakti at only the cultural level deprive us of intellectual and spiritual growth?
Answer: Cultural bhakti in not wrong or bad in any way. Yena kena prakarena – by any means, if we can fix the mind on Krishna, it is good. However, we all need some level of philosophical understanding. Some of us may be very intellectual and philosophical and may want to go deep into philosophy. Some of us may not be so philosophically inclined. However, if we have some level of philosophical understanding that Krishna is the ultimate reality, then we will not be too shaken by the ups and downs of life.
To what extent our bhakti needs to be intellectual, that will depend our own our intellectual capacity and interest. However, we need to have a basic understanding of philosophy. Without that basic understanding of philosophy, if we stay too much at bodily level, then bhakti will not make sense. Once a devotee in a class said, “You are not your body”. Then, a person in the audience raised a hand and asked, “If I am not my body then whose body am I?”. Here, the conception is that we are our bodies and that if we are not our bodies, then we are someone else’s body. The point is that ignorance of the bodily conception can be very deep-rooted.
When I spoke about rising from cultural bhakti to spiritual, it is about understanding that Krishna is the ultimate reality. If we do not have this understanding, then we see our relationship with Krishna through the filter of our attachment with others. We start thinking that when the Lord fulfils our prayers, he loves us and when he does not, he does not care about us. Just like a child, when he/she wants a toy and the parents do not buy it, the child assumes that the parents do not love the child. The parents may have done so much for the child, but the child reduces the love of the parents to whether or not they purchase the toy.
Hence what happens is when we do not have an adequate philosophical understanding, then our mind becomes child-like. When one thing is not given, we think that Krishna does not love us.
We may think that the things we need in our life are very important and they are not akin to toys. Yes, they may be very important, however from the perspective of eternity, what we may have considered vitally important five years ago, it may not be that important now.
When we discuss about practicing intellectual or philosophical bhakti, it simply means understanding Lord Krishna as the ultimate reality and that we should not let our practice of bhakti be conditional to the fulfilment or non-fulfillment of desires. We should stay fixed on Lord Krishna whether or not our desires get fulfilled.
End of transcription.
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
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