Planet ISKCON

[Bhagavad-gita class on 05.22 at ISKCON, Adelaide, Australia]

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Answer Podcast

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Answer Podcast

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Srila Prabhupada’s New Vrindaban Visits

Written By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON New Vrindaban Communications

Archival Research by Chaitanya Mangala Dasa

ISKCON Founder-Acharya Srila Prabhupada visited New Vrindaban four times, giving the devotees there his association and dispensing practical advice for simple living that remains invaluable not only to New Vrindaban, but to all ISKCON rural farm communities to this day.

During his first visit, running for over a month from May 20th to June 23rd 1969, Srila Prabhupada encouraged the small group of devotees to embrace the austerity of New Vrindaban life. He praised their simple lodgings and savored their well water and fresh milk straight from ISKCON’s first cow, Kaliya.

“I haven’t tasted milk like this in fifty years,” he said, commenting that “the Vedas calculate a man’s wealth in cows and grains.”

Prabhupada explained that the devotees could get everything they needed from nature, without artificial amenities. He taught them how to see Krishna in the morning sun, the fresh water, the cows and every other element of natural beauty at New Vrindaban.

One day, watching the young men working in the fields, he expressed that the hard work of simple country life was perfect for developing Krishna consciousness. “That is samadhi,” he said. “Samadhi doesn’t mean inactivity. It means being completely absorbed in Krishna.”

During his visit, Srila Prabhupada sat daily with his followers underneath a persimmon tree.

Every day at New Vrindaban, Srila Prabhupada held meetings at his favorite spot beneath a persimmon tree with the devotees gathered around him on the grass, and gave them practical instructions on how to realize his vision.

He laid out a plan for establishing the varnashrama system; gave his own designs for low-cost homes and horse carts; and described how to protect cows and bulls, who could provide many of life’s necessities. He told devotees they should build temples named after the seven main temples of Vrindavan, and call their hills Govardhana and their lakes Radha-Kunda and Shyama-Kunda.

Prabhupada’s vision and ambition astounded everyone. But he assured them that it could all be done if they cooperated together, and saw Krishna in charge and themselves as simply assisting Him.

“With cooperation, everything will be possible,” he said. “Krishna will help you.”

He was right. By the time he visited New Vrindaban again from August 31st to September 8th, 1972, Prabhupada was greeted by a much larger group of devotees outside a new farmhouse temple. And the community had expanded to several farms including Vrindaban, Madhuban and Bahulaban.

Srila Prabhupada spoke his Bhagavat Dharma series on Govindaji Hill above the Bahulaban farm.

During his second visit, the ISKCON Founder focused on giving New Vrindaban residents spiritual education through a Bhagavat Dharma Discourse series. Over 500 devotees, guests and reporters from all over the US flooded in to hear him speak on the Bhagavatam for over a week. It was the biggest gathering ISKCON had seen so far.

Festivalgoers had to brave camping in the cold, rainy West Virginia Autumn weather, which turned Bahulaban into a sea of mud. Bathing and cooking were done outdoors. It was the full austere New Vrindaban experience. But the devotees faced it all with good humor and camaraderie, ready to do anything for Prabhupada’s association.

And it was worth it. Every evening, there was a transcendental party atmosphere as they carried him up “Govindaji Hill” in a palanquin, holding torches and lanterns and chanting ecstatically. At the top, Srila Prabhupada spoke from a large open-air pavilion, beautifully decorated and offering stunning views. And his words were nectar.

“In each successive discourse, Prabhupada took the devotees deeper and deeper into the meaning of Srimad-Bhagavatam,” recalls Suhotra Swami. “It was a perfect outline.”

Srila Prabhupada also gave ideal examples of how to put the teachings of the Bhagavatam into practice. He listened with rapt attention during a late night Janmastami reading of the Krishna book, while the other devotees struggled to stay awake. He humbly asserted, while being showered with praise on his seventy-sixth appearance day, that he was accepting the honor “on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not for his person.” And he was so overwhelmed with devotion to the Lord while leading the kirtan on his vyasa-puja, that he cried tears of love and moved hundreds of devotees to tears too.

During the festival, Prabhupada wrote,  “Yes, the Bhagavata Dharma discourses here in New Vrindaban are going on very nicely… it is truly a wonderful time.” And the devotees felt the same, emerging refreshed and rejuvenated in their services.

Srila Prabhupada’s third visit, from July 18th to 23rd 1974, lasted under a week. But it was deeply meaningful. For the first time, New Vrindaban residents got to show Prabhupada the Palace they were building for him to reside and translate his books in; he had often expressed the desire to retire to New Vrindaban for this purpose.

The Palace had started as a simple house, but the devotees’ overflowing love for their spiritual master had turned it into something much grander. Prabhupada beamed as he was shown where his bedroom, bathroom, Deity room and study would be, tapping the walls with his cane to make sure they were solid.

When one devotee asked if the Palace – then still just a construction site — would be illuminated with jewels, like Lord Krishna’s Palace in the Krsna book, Prabhupada turned to construction workers Soma and Gostabihari, who had been toiling hard all day.  “These devotees,” he said, “Are my jewels.”

When he was requested to be patient as the Palace would be ready soon, Prabhupada responded, “If you want, I am already living here.” Before he left, he personally said, “Thank you very much,” to the crew, swelling their hearts with love and inspiration.

Srila Prabhupada during an initiation ceremony at Bahulaban during his 1974 visit.

Srila Prabhupada continued to show his deep care for the devotees throughout this stay. One day, he visited one of the small cottages, built for householders based on a design he had provided himself. Laughing and chatting with Daivata Das, who had made his home there with his wife Parayana Dasi, Prabhupada asked, “You are happy here?” He also inquired about their four-month old daughter Devahuti, praised them for growing their own vegetables, and said, “You should make thousands of these nice houses.”

At other times during his visit, Prabhupada expressed concern for his female disciples, cutting through the crowd to give one devotee a sweet; and making sure another was warmly dressed in the cool weather.

In a lecture, he voiced the hope that the devotees would take care of each other in the same way, asking them once again to cooperate together “and then everything will go nicely.”

Upon his fourth and last visit to New Vrindaban from June 21st to July 2nd 1976, Srila Prabhupada was impressed to see more progress. Spotting the new buildings, including a hall for festivals, an ox barn, and a grain storage tank, he said, “Oh, much improvement.”

During this stay, Prabhupada spent some time emphasizing the importance of cow protection. On one occasion, he visited the cows at the recently completed Bahulaban barn. While there, he let one of the four new calves lick his hand as devotees told him how they were turning the cows’ milk into ghee, cheese and buttermilk.

Srila Prabhupada & Kaliya (ISKCON’s first cow) walked together on Parikram to the original New Vrindaban farmhouse.

On another day, he was taking a morning walk when one devotee, Advaitacarya Das, pointed to a small herd of cows at the top of a hill. “Srila Prabhupada, look!” he said. “There’s Kaliya. She’s our first cow. You used to drink her milk.”

As Prabhupada looked up, Kaliya, now a retired matriarch at fourteen years old, broke away from her herd and made her way down to the steep embankment to walk with Prabhupada as if she were his pet calf. “Ah,” Srila Prabhupada said simply. “My dear old friend Kaliya.” Although he had not seen her since 1969, there seemed to be an almost mystical connection between them that the devotees all felt.

Srila Prabhupada greeted Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Nath at the original New Vrindaban temple.

Srila Prabhupada also spent his last visit to New Vrindaban encouraging devotees in all the main areas of his vision for the community. He visited the gardens, appreciating that devotees were growing their own vegetables and their own hay for the cows, and extolling the virtues of simple living. He visited several different Deities being worshipped in the different “forests and groves of New Vrindaban,” to show that it was a place of pilgrimage nondifferent from the original Vrindavan. He spent time with the young children in the gurukula, and held daily evening meetings on Krishna consciousness with his disciples to support spiritual education. And he tied it all together with the simple message to love Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada hoped that in the future, others could benefit from the peaceful New Vrindaban village life too. “Make this ideal life here,’ he told the devotees. “America has got good potency. We have got so much land here. We can have hundreds of New Vrindabans or farms like that. And people will be happy. Invite all the world, ‘Please come and live with us. Why you are suffering congestion, overpopulation? Welcome here. Chant Hare Krsna.’ Make that.”

On July 2nd, 1976, Srila Prabhupada physically left New Vrindaban for the last time, as its residents showered his departing car with flowers and called out his name at the top of their lungs.

But he forever remains with the devotees in their hearts and in his clear instructions for an ideal spiritual village.

And his words, written in 1975 letter, continue to guide and inspire them: “I am always praying to Krishna that the New Vrindaban attempt will be more and more successful and ideal for your country. That is my only prayer.”

Srila Prabhupada spoke daily at Madhuban during his 1976 visit. For the past 40 years, this Vyasasan is in his study at his Palace.

From a recent seminar on Kirtan Standards.
Bhaktimarga Swami: “I am going to Montreal on Monday, June 3rd, and if I find Montreal quite suitable, I shall call you and some other students to assemble there to practice Sankirtana in a systematic way. Of course, chanting Hare Krishna does not require any artificial artistic sense, but still, if the procedure is presented rhythmically, then the people may be attracted more by the transcendental music.” (Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Upendra, June 1, 1968)

Devotees chant, bring the rain during a draught and the Mayor of Cincinnati gave the key to the city, the highest award the city gives out!
Candramauli Swami: In the U.S.A. there has been a 25% increase in suicides over the last 25 years.

“Bhakta” Patrick (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: This is a guest who came to our festival yesterday. His name is Patrick. He came a little late and only caught one minute of my lecture from the stage. But somehow the philosophy of Bhavagad Gita had a profound effect on him. He immediately went to the book table and purchased 12 books. When I met him there I said, “You must be an avid reader!” He replied, “Actually, no. In my entire life I’ve only read 3 or 4 books. But what you shared with us from the stage really touched me. I promise you I will read all 12 of these books within no time!” Jaya Srila Prabhupada!
Find them here: https://is.gd/mqPrsr

TOVP columns of the Main Temple area (Album of photos)
Sadbhuja Das: We just completed redoing in 3D the columns of the Main T...

The Bhadra scene in Toronto (Album of photos)
Team Toronto set a goal for 54 sets of which they’ve distributed 40 during the successful launch with HHGopal Krishna Goswami! Since then the teams been heading out door to door, and at festivals and through personal contacts - distributing more sets!
Find them here: https://is.gd/tlCHfT

Srila Prabhupada: “I just want to go back to the spiritual world and eat kachoris and laddus with Krishna.”
Srutakirti Prabhu: Srila Prabhupada was not just performing wonderful activities, but he teaching us by his activities how to be a pure devotee of the Lord.

Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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[Congregation program at Adelaide, Australia]

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The post WITH acronym – We may have to live with pain, but we don’t have to live in pain appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Sometimes people ask who is Lord Balarama? And the answer is that He is the brother of Lord Krishna. However, He does many things besides that. How we understand this is to first recognize that, according to Vedic scripture such as the Srimad Bhagavata Purana, it is described that Lord Krishna is the primeval Lord, the original Personality of Godhead, so He can expand Himself into unlimited forms with all potencies. They are no different from Him, but may exhibit differences in form and function. He first expands Himself into Baladeva, or Balarama, who is considered Krishna’s second body and brother. Balarama assists in Lord Krishna’s innumerable spiritual pastimes in both the spiritual and materials realms. Lord Balarama is also Lord Sankarshana, the predominator of the creative energy. He creates and is also the shelter of the material and spiritual worlds. By the will of Krishna and the power of the spiritual energy, Lord Balarama creates the spiritual world, which consists of the planet Goloka Vrindavana [the supermost spiritual planet] and the Vaikuntha planets [in the spiritual sky]. (Chaitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila, 20.255-6) Continue reading "Lord Balarama: Who is He
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The question is this: Does God choose certain individuals or groups for salvation? In other words, are there chosen people? And, alternatively, are certain persons selected for condemnation? The technical term for the matter under discussion is predestination, a word which implies that our final destination, be it heaven or hell, is programmed into our souls from the beginning of our existence. Thus the question of predestination is closely connected with the concept of free will. A lot has been spoken and written about all this, but most of it is highly speculative. Not surprisingly, many of the views expressed contradict each other. Speaking of the Judeo-Christian tradition, C. T. McIntyre writes in his article on predestination in The Encyclopedia of Religion, “Advocates of all positions have appealed to the scriptures, although the scriptures do not contain doctrines of free will and predestination, nor even these words.” Continue reading "Chosen People Or People Who Choose?
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In this age of Kali married life will be accepted on the consideration of sex only; when the boy and girl are pleased in sex, they get married, and when there is deficiency in sex, they separate. Srila Prabhupada spends most of his purport describing the accordance of marriage as a basis for practicing spiritual life and how that combination is a feature of the success of ones Krishna consciousness. Herein it is mentioned how character should be matched up and if it is not done Prabhupada uses the word unhappy, the relationships become difficult and it is very hard to practice Krishna consciousness. So in Vedic culture the authority of seniors was given so much importance. Here it is mentioned Lord Brahma is giving the recommendation on what to do. Kardama Muni could and he is in the position as the father of these daughters to make arrangements for the daughters. Continue reading "Suitable arrangements for marriages
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Answer Podcast

Transcription :

Transcribed by: Raji Nachiappan

Question: How can we persuade followers of other Vaishnava sampradayas to accept that Lord Chaitanya’s teachings are the climax of the historical evolution of theism?

Answer: Generally, when we share knowledge with others, we have to understand what pramana will be acceptable to the person and speak accordingly. Pramana means an authoritative source of knowledge. If we are speaking to new people, who have no understanding of Bhagavad-gita or dharma and we explain to them that they are not their body but the soul, they may retort by saying, “Who says so?”. If we answer “Krishna says so”, then they may not necessarily accept, because they do not accept the authority of Lord Krishna yet. If we want to talk with such people, then we have to see what kind of pramana they find acceptable. For example, if certain people believe in science, there is a lot of scientific evidence of past life memories, evidence of consciousness not being material, near-death experiences etc. with which they may connect. Therefore, we need to present Krishna consciousness according to the pramana the other person accepts.

Srila Prabhupada says that realisation means to speak knowledge in such a way that is interesting to the audience. The knowledge becomes interesting when it clicks and makes sense within their world view. Ultimately, we want to change their worldview to Krishna’s worldview in Bhagavad-gita. However, at present, they have a specific worldview and we should try to present Krishna conscious knowledge within the reach of their understanding.

Also, nobody lives without accepting authority. Everybody accepts some authority. If we do not accept scriptures as an authority, then we will google it and thereby accept Google as an authority.

The understanding that there is an evolution in the revelation across the tradition is an insight that is given by the Gaudiya acharyas. This, however, may not be acceptable for those who have not accepted the authority of the Gaudiya acharyas. Therefore, there is no need to unnecessarily stress this point.

In general, knowledge has to be presented according to the adhikar of the people. For example, let us take the point that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is a combined manifestation of Radha and Krishna. Now, this is a very important truth of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, however, this is not important for new people to be immediately aware of.

Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur offers a very non-confrontational way of presenting Gaudiya Vaishnavism. In the introduction to his book, Life and Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, he says that as far as the Gaudiya Vaishnavas are concerned, they accept Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as Lord Krishna himself. For them, the many miracles that Lord Chaitanya has performed, are testimonies of his divinity. However, Bhakti Vinod Thakur himself plays the devil’s advocate and says that miracles are no proof of divinity. Even demons like Ravana could perform miracles like changing their form etc. Therefore, he concludes by saying that he will leave it to his esteemed readers to decide upon the position of Lord Chaitanya, but what he requests his readers is that Lord Chaitanya has come to give the gift of love of God and that we sincerely follow the process to take advantage of that gift and experience love of God.

Suppose, somebody comes to us and says, “This doctor is the best doctor in the world”. We may naturally question the authority of the person to make such a big claim. That person may say, “I had a terrible disease and hundreds of doctors could not cure it, yet this doctor cured it”. Since, this has been the experience of this person, that is why they have developed such conviction. This person, however, cannot expect everyone else to have the same conviction because they have not had similar experiences. Therefore, if the person wants to recommend that doctor he will have to talk about the qualifications of that doctor in a manner, that is intelligible for others. He will have to talk about the education, work and treatments that the doctor has done so far and then let people try out the doctor’s treatment. When they try it and they get cured, then the conviction increases. Therefore, when we are practicing Krishna bhakti, there is no need for us to get into what we can call as religious one-upmanship – that we go around proclaiming that Gaudiya Vaishnavism is highest amongst all forms of theism. The intention may not be religious one-upmanship, but it can be perceived as such.

We focus primarily on elevating people’s consciousness from where they are. We need to educate people on how they are not their bodies but souls, how by chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra the consciousness can be elevated, how to manage the mind and become free from anarthas as well as on how to become better human beings. These are universal principles and practically applicable to everyone’s lives. To the extent people practice these principles and get benefitted, to that extent they will be inclined to go further. Srila Prabhupada is the most prominent representative of Gaudiya Vaishnavism which centres on Srimati Radharani, the topmost devotee. Srila Prabhupada when writing his foremost book for outreach, the Bhagavad Gita As It Is, refers to Srimati Radharani only once – in the introduction, when he prays, tapta-kanchana-gaurangi radhe vrindavaneshvari vrishabhanu-sute devi pranamami hari-priye (O Srimati Radharani, I offer my respects to You whose bodily complexion is like molten gold. O Goddess, you are the queen of Vrindavana. You are the daughter of King Vrishabhanu and very dear to Lord Krishna). Besides this, he does not refer to Radharani at all in the entirety of the Bhagavad-gita. Srimati Radharani, the feminine divine, is a very elevated subject matter and it is not relevant for that audience. Hence, Srila Prabhupada does not get into that.

In general, there is no use in getting into confrontation with people who do not accept the pramana that we accept. We have to find out what is the pramana that they accept and speak to them at that level. Along with the pramana, is also the adhikara of the person. What is it that they need to know now?

Sometimes people come and start asking very advanced questions about Krishna lila and when we give the answer and tell them that Krishna is God, then they question whether God exists. While they have very advanced questions, they do not have clear basic conceptions. Therefore, we cannot really do significant outreach to them at this point and we need to go step by step.
Once people start practicing Gaudiya Vaishnavism and experience the sweetness of bhakti as offered by the Gaudiya Vaishnavas, then the authority of the acharyas of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, becomes intelligible to them. Also, if somebody is from a Sri-Vaishnava family or a Madhva-Vaishnava family and they do not accept the evolution of theism, that does not mean that they are lesser devotees. If they are following their path, they are devoted to Lord Krishna or Vishnu, and practicing a pure life, they will also get elevated.

Therefore, we have to recognise what the thrust of our outreach should be and speak those things that help people rise upwards from where they currently are.

End of transcription.

The post How can we persuade followers of other Vaishnava sampradayas to accept that Lord Chaitanya’s teachings are the climax of the historical evolution of theism? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Bhakti Rasamrita Maharaja + Harinama Ruci + London crowds = Bliss (3 min video)
If the surface of the globe is overflooded with the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, the people of the world will be very, very happy. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.10 Purport)

2 years old kirtaniya (3 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: In this age human beings only live for sixty or eighty years, and even t...

The Art of Krishna Conscious Parenting (video)
By Aruddha devi dasi and Gopal Hari dasa, Aug 14, 2018 at ISKCON St. Louis.

Ex Prime Minister’s Inaugural Speech.
Speech by Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Honorable Prime Minister of India, at the inauguration of the Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Temple and Glory of India Vedic Cultural Center. Rama Navami, April 5, 1998.

Newbury Rathayatra, UK (Album of photos and videos)
Vishal Gauranga dasa: On the 11th of August we once again had our colorful 3rd Annual Jagannath Rathayatra in Newbury with great pomp and reverence. Deputy mayor of the town joyfully engaged in the inauguration ceremony with other senior delegates from ISKCON. People from all walks of life took part in this colorful festival. On a mild cloudy day the Rathyatra began at the marketplace famous in the UK for it’s corn exchange in yesteryears Food For All - our food distribution charity headed by Parasuram prabhu distributed more than 2,000 plates of hot free vegetarian meals to everyone who attended the festival site and everyone relished the feast as usual and more than 1,000 free fruits were also distributed to the public. Local newspaper the Newbury Times and BBC Berkshire Radio covered the event. So the Newbury Rathayatra Festival 2018 was very successful bringing the community together and people of all age groups were engaged in the devotional mood all through the day. Many commented that this festival had brought a lot of PEACE, a very colorful way of celebrating the joy of life and brought UNITY in DIVERSITY among the local communities who want us to conduct more festivals which can bridge any gaps between the different ethnic groups.
Here is the link to the photos from the festival: https://chriscaswell.zenfolio.com/p401363697/hb3cba96b#hb3cce669
and videos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ajXLohd5ENN4JkFa6

Srila Prabhupada values his disciples and granddisciples enormously and would inquire where someone was when he visited a temple and did not see them present. Once he even sent a entire temple in Switzerland to visit a godsister who was in hospital. Srila Prabhupada’s ability to be concerned about everyone but himself is one example of his greatness. The celebration of Vyasa-puja, is an impetus for us to come together and think of each other’s wellbeing throughout the year. Srila Prabhupada initiated some 4,750 disciples of whom approximately 600 have departed. We are still to locate over 3,200 members of our lineage family and to ask what service we can render them. Continue reading "The Open Vyasa-puja book 2018 now online
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All of the followers of Srila Prabhupada for generations to come to adhere to the guidance, association and serve the mission of His Divine Grace, while deepening one’s individual connection and relationship with and recognizing him as the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON and our primary Siksha Guru for all time. Always celebrating Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa-puja as a grand event is the essential way to assure that this Vision is the present and future reality of the movement of our beloved Srila Prabhupada. Continue reading "Srila Prabhupada Vyasa-puja 2018 posters for free download
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It is said the test of a man’s greatness is to measure the long-term impact of his life and teachings—to see if his legacy continues to inspire and guide others after his passing from the world. Here are a few examples of the millions of Vaiṣṇavas who are carrying the Seven Purposes of your ISKCON Mission forward, proving that the life, teachings, and legacy of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda continue to bring positive changes in the world. Continue reading "How the legacy of Srila Prabhupada continues to bring positive changes in the world fifty-plus years since the establishment of ISKCON
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Answer Podcast

The post If we should be purpose-driven, not goal-driven, why do we set goals for new devotees to increase their rounds? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Congregation program at Adelaide, Australia]

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The post Devotion is not just emotion – it is conscious continuous cultivation appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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In 1976, on August 15, Indian Independence Day, some of the tenants assembled in the garden at noon, stood in silence for a minute before the small statue of Gandhi, and then proceeded with their annual celebration—hoisting an Indian flag, garlanding the statue, singing the national anthem, and distributing sweets.

“Where is the question of independence?” Prabhupada challenged as Hari-sauri gave him his massage on the balcony adjoining his bedroom. “We are all dependent at every step on Krishna’s mercy. The Indians struggled to become independent of the British, but who is independent of the laws of material nature?”

Prabhupada cited the ongoing drought in England, which was afflicting so many people: the vegetation was drying up, animals were being killed prematurely because there was no fodder, factories in Wales were closing, and there was talk of importing water. “No one can do anything about it, and they think it is all happening by chance,” Prabhupada said. “There is not a single person in the whole world who actually knows anything.”

“No one except you, Srila Prabhupada,” Hari-sauri commented.

“Is that just flattery, or do you actually acknowledge that?” Prabhupada asked, smiling.

Hari-sauri assured him that it was not just empty praise and, as he related in his diary, “Prabhupada accepted it with pleasure as a heartfelt submission.”

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

16th August, 2018: The International Sodety for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) joins the country in mourning and paying tribute to one of India's most iconic leaders, Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee. We offer our condolences to his family members and to the entire nation. From a young age Mr. Vajpayee was drawn towards working for the betterment of others. Over the years, this led him to take on several different roles and strive for the welfare of others despite challenges and difficulties. Mr. Vajpayee, a recipient of the Bharat Ratna, was equally approachable to everyone regardless of their languages, cultures and spiritual beliefs for which he was respected by one and all. ISKCON was privileged to have a well-wisher and a friend in Mr. Vajpayee who inaugurated the ISKCON temples in New Delhi and Coimbatore in 1998. Continue reading "ISKCON Joins in Mourning the Death of Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
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Bhaktivedanta Academy (Iskcon Alachua) Authorized by International Baccalaureate!
Dear Friends,
I am very happy to announce that Bhaktivedanta Academy is now an authorized International Baccalaureate World School for the Middle Years Programme!
This means that our Krishna Sharanam Middle Years Programme, serving 7th - 10th grades, is recognized as providing a holistic educational experience that emphasis connecting what a student learns with real-world experiences that emphasis being service-minded global citizens. We are now part of a select world-wide community of schools who have made a commitment to educational excellence.

Ratha Yatra Zagreb 2018 (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Instead of actively taking part in politics, saintly persons shoul...

ISKCON Founder-Acharya Srila Prabhupada visited New Vrindaban four times, giving the devotees there his association and dispensing practical advice for simple living that remains invaluable not only to New Vrindaban, but to all ISKCON rural farm communities to this day. During his first visit, running for over a month from May 20th to June 23rd 1969, Srila Prabhupada encouraged the small group of devotees to embrace the austerity of New Vrindaban life. He praised their simple lodgings and savored their well water and fresh milk straight from ISKCON’s first cow, Kaliya. Continue reading "Srila Prabhupada’s New Vrindaban Visits
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KOLKATA: Want to watch little Krishna slay giant Kalia snake in the Yamuna? Want to steal butter or go cow grazing with him? If all goes well, visitors to Nadia’s Mayapur, will be able to do all this and much more in a Disneyland like massive park that’s being planned as the centre of a tourism hub of international standards just outside the Iskcon temple premises. The project will be done in collaboration with the state government, because none other than CM Mamata Banerjee had personally requested the religious order to do so during her visit to Mayapur in February. Continue reading "Rs 2,000 crore Ford fund for Disneyland-like tourism hub project at Mayapur
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Agnigarh, in the city of Tezpur, which lies north of Brahmaputra river, at a distance of 198 km (via Nagaon) and 181 km (via Mangaldoi) from Guwahati, is connected to Lord Krishna, Banasura and Lord Siva’s pastime. This is the place where Lord Krishna and Lord Siva had a great fight, and Lord Krishna cut off Banasura’s thousand arms. The name ‘Tezpur’ is derived from the Sanskrit words 'teza' (meaning blood) and 'pura' (meaning town or city). The original name of this place was 'Sonitapura' ("sonit" in Sanskrit also means blood). There was so much bloodshed that the place was stained red. This led to the name of the place becoming Tezpur. Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 10 chapters 62 & 63 mentions: The meeting of Aniruddha and Usa, which caused a great fight between Lord Krishna and Lord Siva, is very mysterious and interesting. Continue reading "Assam Yatra – Guwahati and Tezpur
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Answer Podcast

Transcription :

Transcriber: Dr Suresh Gupta

Edited by: Sharan Shetty

bQuestion: When Dhruva Maharaj started with a selfish motive, how did he attain Vaikuntha, the abode of selflessness?

Answer: There is some starting impetus and whatever it is, initially we start with, yena kena prakarena manah krishna niveshayat – “Somehow or other one must associate with Lord Krishna.”
Srimad Bhagavatam (2.3.10) says akamah sarva kamo va moksha kama udara dhih (A person who has broader intelligence, whether he be full of all material desire, without any material desire, or desiring liberation, must by all means worship the supreme whole, the Personality of Godhead.)

Thus, the initial starting purpose does not matter so much if we are ready to change the purpose afterwards. The most dramatic change that happened to Dhruva Maharaj was when he had the darshan of Lord Vishnu. He had come with a desire to attain a kingdom but after having darshan of Lord Vishnu he said, “I do not want a kingdom”.

A similar incident took place in Mumbai. There was a devotee (a disciple of Srila Prabhupada), who was a thief before he came to Krishna consciousness. One day he saw a picture of Srila Prabhupada wearing a Rolex watch. He thought of stealing that watch but when he came to the temple, Prabhupada was not there. He investigated and as devotees were doing some service, he also started doing some service waiting for Swami ji to come.

For days he kept thinking, “When will Swami ji come? When will Swami ji come?” and eventually as days passed, he stopped keeping time but continued his engagement in service. He started practicing bhakti and the day Prabhupada came, other devotees introduced this person to Prabhupada and praised his service. Prabhupada himself took out his watch and gave it to him but he smiled and said, “Prabhupada, I do not want this watch”.

Thus, we can see that a transition happened. But how did that transition happen? In the case of Dhruva Maharaj, it happened when he got the darshan of Lord Vishnu. He got a higher taste and that higher taste made him understand that this is better. This was a very conscious decision that Dhruva Maharaja made.

Selflessness and selfishness can both be dispositions and decisions. All of us at different levels are selfishly disposed where we think of ourselves first but when a conscious or an important juncture comes in our life, we may either simply act according to disposition or we may take a different decision, and so, Dhruva Maharaj took that decision to turn towards the Lord.

The Srimad Bhagavatam describes how King Pururava, when he lost Urvashi became so agitated that he performed a yajna to please Lord Vishnu and eventually Lord Vishnu appeared in front of him. Although Lord Vishnu was supremely attractive, Pururava’s mind was still filled with the attractiveness of Urvashi and so he desired for her. Finally, he got what he desired and after that, Lord Vishnu went away. In this case, even when Pururava saw Lord Vishnu, his attachment was so strong that it could not change him, however, the darshan of Lord Vishnu did not go waste. Later on, when again Urvashi left him and he was frustrated, that frustration inspired him to go towards devotion. Similarly, we have to make such decisions when we are practicing bhakti.

At present, we may have some selfish motive – I want to be famous, I want to be appreciated, I want people to follow me or want a certain position. But along with this, there is also the desire to serve Krishna. If somebody was hundred percent selfish; that person would not be in bhakti because while practicing bhakti, one has to obey rules and regulations which involves giving up of certain amount of selfishness. At the same time, to be hundred percent selfless, it takes a lot of efforts. We cannot artificially imagine that we are at a selfless level. We will do our services the way we do and at some point, eventually we will come across a crossroad where we have to make a choice – do we choose a selfish self-centred alternative or we choose a selfless alternative? These decisions will determine our further trajectory.

The change in consciousness happens gradually but sometimes it is manifested dramatically at particular moments. It Is like the rising of a sun in the morning. Although the rising of a sun is a gradual event, there is a particular moment when we notice it and suddenly say, “Oh, the sun has risen”. Our realisation that the sun has risen happens at a particular moment although the sun is rising constantly. Similarly, in practice of bhakti the journey from selfishness to selflessness is automatically happening but there are certain moments when we become aware of it and make a conscious choice, which we might not have made earlier.

Although Dhruva Maharaj’s motive was selfish but when he saw Lord Vishnu, he chose the selfless option rather than a selfish option. As far as his own endeavour was concerned, it was not an individual endeavour because he also received directions from sage Narada. As Narada Muni instructed him, he followed those instructions accordingly.

Therefore, endeavour is very important on the path of bhakti. Srila Prabhupada himself endeavoured so much. He travelled across the world in old age, translated hundreds of books, barely slept and woke up early in the morning, managed many different temple projects. He was tireless in his effort to share Krishna bhakti with the world.

An important point to note is that although our endeavour alone does not bring the results, we need to endeavour to show Krishna that we want to offer the results. Arjuna practiced tirelessly for becoming an expert archer and then offered it in Krishna’s service. Therefore, whichever service we are doing we need to endeavour whole heartedly. Only when we endeavour whole heartedly do we show Krishna our diligence. The endeavour itself will not produce the results but endeavour shows Krishna that we want the result.

Srila Prabhupada gave an example in this context. Once he was going with his disciples on a morning walk and there was a man who was feeding some ducks in a pond. The ducks were quacking, and this man kept throwing some food to them and there was one duck who was quacking very loudly, and the man was giving comparatively more food to that duck. Srila Prabhupada said we should be like that duck. Now, the duck’s quacking itself does not produce the food neither the ducks quacking necessarily compel the man to give that duck more food, but the duck’s quacking shows the eagerness and the man reciprocates. Similarly, our endeavour shows Krishna that we want His mercy.

If we think that our endeavour alone results in advancement, then it is a misunderstanding. Although we often make plans to study shastra, to chant attentively etc. still our mind wanders and we are just not able to do those things attentively. Even if we are able to do those activities externally, our consciousness does not remain focussed internally. But sometimes, even after having a stressful day, we are able to experience sweet absorption while chanting. Sometimes we study shastra and feel like doing something else. At times we study shastra and experience tremendous absorption. Why does this difference happen? Because in reality, our endeavour is not the only important factor, but Krishna’s mercy also comes into the picture.

It is said in Srimad Bhagavatam (1.2.18),
nashta prayeshv abhadreshu nityam bhagavata sevaya
bhagavaty uttama shloke bhaktir bhavati naishthiki
In purport, Srila Prabhupada explains that just the mechanical activity of hearing and chanting also wipes off some anarthas but interestingly not all anarthas (prayeshu — almost to nil). The full transformation happens when it is not mechanical but devotional. Therefore, we invest our consciousness in it and when we do that, Krishna reciprocates, and he reveals himself to us. For us our endeavour is to try to keep ourselves in Krishna consciousness. We should engage in devotional service, be in a devotional association and try as much possible to have a devotional disposition. However, ultimately it is Krishna who will attract us and when Krishna attracts us then the inner trouble ceases. Till the point Krishna uses his mercy, we show our endeavour by our struggle to focus. When Krishna shows his mercy the inner struggle ceases and we become spontaneously attracted to him.

End of transcription.

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[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Brisbane, Australia]

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