Planet ISKCON

Answer Podcast

Transcription by: Srimati Manju Agrawal Mataji

प्रश्न: हम भक्ति द्वारा अपने पूर्व जन्मों से मिलने वाली बुरी आदतों से कैसे निपट सकते हैं?

उत्तर: हम सभी पूर्व जन्मों से कुछ बुरी आदतें साथ लेकर आते हैं, जैसे क्रोध, लोभ, बदले की भावना इत्यादि। ऐसी आदतें हमारी भक्ति में बाधा बन जाती हैं। इनका सामना करने के लिऐ हमें दो बातों का प्रयास करना होगा।

पहला, हम जिस अवस्था में भी हैं, हमें भक्ति अवश्य करते रहना है। ऐसा कभी नहीं होगा कि रात में भगवान हमारे सपने में आयेंगे और सुबह उठते ही हमारी सारी बुरी आदतें समाप्त हो जायेंगी। हम सबमें अलग-अलग प्रकार की बुराईयाँ होती हैं। कुछ बुराईयाँ तो मात्र कुछ ही महीने भक्ति करने से चली जाती हैं, तो कुछ को कई वर्ष, यहाँ तक कि कई दशक तक लग सकते हैं। ऐसा नहीं है कि बुराईयों के कारण हमें भक्ति नहीं करनी चाहिये। जब हम भक्ति करते रहते हैं, तो परिवर्तन होता है और नम्रता आती है।

वास्तव में जब हम अपनी बुरी आदतों को देखें तो उससे हमारे अंदर नम्रता आनी चाहिए। इन आदतों को छोड़ना बड़ा कठिन होता है। हमें यह समझना चाहिए कि बिना भगवान की सहायता के हम अकेले अपनी बुरी आदतें नहीं छोड़ सकते। इसके लिए हमें भगवान से प्रार्थना करते रहना चाहिए।

दूसरा, यदि हमसे कोई ऐसा गलत बर्ताव हो जाता है तो हमें उसे अपनी पराजय न मानकर एक गलती या चूक मानना चाहिए। ऐसा नहीं है कि हम चौबीसों घंटे गलतियाँ करते हैं। दिन में एक बार, सप्ताह में या महीने में कभी गलती हो सकती है। हम सभी कभी सत्वगुण में, कभी रजोगुण में और कभी तमोगुण में होते हैं। जब हम रजोगुण या तमोगुण में होते हैं, तो हम स्वयं पर नियंत्रण नहीं रख पाते हैं। पर जब हम सत्वगुण में होते हैं, तब विचार कर सकते हैं कि मेरा गलत व्यवहार किस परिस्थिति में हुआ और मैं उसे कैसे टाल सकता था। इस तरह हम आंकलन कर सकते हैं और भविष्य के लिए बेहतर तैयार हो सकते हैं। किसी रास्ते पर पहली बार जाते समय, यदि कोई गड्ढा हो, तो गाड़ी को झटका लग जाता है। पर दूसरी बार जाने पर हम सतर्क हो सकते हैं और गड्ढे से बच कर निकल सकते हैं।

कई बार जब हम गलती करते हैं तो बाद स्वयं को कोसते हैं, कि मैंने क्या कर दिया, मुझे नहीं करना चाहिए था इत्यादि। इसके विपरीत हमें यह सोचना चाहिए कि भविष्य में ऐसी परिस्थिति को कैसे टाल सकता हूँ। कई बार मनःस्थिति और परिस्थिति दोनों विपरीत होने पर स्थिति विस्फोटक हो सकती है। पर यदि हम चौकन्ने रहें तो उस स्थिति को टाल सकते हैं। ऐसे परिस्थितियों में हमें तुरन्त प्रतिक्रिया नहीं देनी चाहिए है किन्तु उसे कुछ समय के लिए टाल कर उस पर विचार करना चाहिए।

मैं अपने उदाहरण से समझाने का प्रयास करता हूँ। मैं एक लेखक हूँ तथा बहुत से लोगों से ईमेल पर संदेशों का आदान-प्रदान करता हूँ। कभी-कभी क्रोध आने पर मैं तीखे शब्दों वाला एक लम्बा चौड़ा ईमेल लिख देता हूँ। इस परिस्थिति से बचने के लिए मैंने अपने लिए एक नियम बनाया है कि मैं कोई भी ईमेल लिखने के तुरन्त बाद नहीं भेजूँगा, बल्कि चौबीस घन्टे के बाद भेजूंगा। इससे मुझे शांत होने का अवसर मिल जाता है। अकसर ऐसा होता है कि जब मैं अपना वही ईमेल दोबारा पढ़ता हूँ तो उसे डिलीट कर देता हूँ या फिर फेरबदल करने के बाद भेजता हूँ। इससे मैं कई प्रकार की समस्याओं से बच जाता हूँ जो मेरे क्रोध के कारण सम्भवतः उत्पन्न हो जातीं।

हमें तुरन्त प्रतिक्रिया देने से बचना चाहिए। इस प्रकार की आदत विकसित करने के लिए हमें अपने भीतर सत्वगुण का विकास करना होगा। सत्व का विकास आध्यात्मिक कार्यों द्वारा जैसे जप, कीर्तन, भगवान के विग्रहों की सेवा, कथा श्रवण इत्यादि द्वारा हो सकता है।

हमें देखना है कि हमारे लिए अनुकूल साधन क्या है। हम कैसे भगवान कृष्ण का स्मरण आसानी से कर सकते हैं। फिर कभी कोई विपरीत परिस्थिति आए तो तुरंत प्रतिक्रिया देने से बचें और फिर कुछ समय विचार करने के बाद उचित निर्णय लें। इस प्रकार सकारात्मक प्रयासों द्वारा हम स्वयं को बदल सकते हैं।

End of transcription.

Haribol dear devotees.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Free Food Mondays ~ Gokula Cafe.

Monday 5th March was a great success! Easily the best day so far since we started in January ,with over fifty people coming to take prasadam. Hot drinks are also provided, and people are also encouraged to take away something to eat for later on. We also took over £70.00 in donations. When the devotees and everyday people are coming for something to eat, rather then charging them, we ask for a donation and they generally give either a Lady Godiva or an Ayrton Senna, that’s £5.00 or £10.00. All proceeds then goes to help FFA, FFM (Free Food Mondays) and Gokula Cafe, as the cafe is now under the umbrella of FFA since Parasurama prabhu has taken over the helm. We’re open from 10.30 am, although the prepping and cooking starts at around 7.30 am, and people are welcome to stay until we start to wind down at around 4.00 pm.

A lady called Raji came all the way from East London and distributed slippers and toiletries to anyone who wanted them. I was requested to cook cauliflower cheese, steamed vegetables and baked potatoes. A very English dish, whereas I’m used to cooking preps of a more exotic flavour. I just thought to keep you all updated, and please come along on a Monday if you have the time, or find yourself in Watford on a Monday.

This is only a very small seva, but still it’s nice to be engaged. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

Hare Krishna.

Ys Matty

Ratha Yatra with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Vrindavan on Parikrama Marg, Gaura Purnima Festival 2018, March, 4, 2018. (Album of photos)...

International Women’s Day.
Let us remember the great women from the Great Indian History.
Queen Kunti was the wife of King Pandu and mother of five illustrious sons known as the Pandavas. Kunti was gifted with beauty and character; she rejoiced in dharma and was great in her vows. She also possessed an unusual benediction that she could invoke any demigod and by him obtain progeny. Soon her husband died of a curse and Madri, another wife of Pandu gave her up life. Thus five Pandavas were left in the care of Kunti. She struggled a lot and raised the Pandavas in spite of the hurdles by Duryodhana and his relatives.
Kunti was Lord Krishna’s aunt (He had incarnated as the son of her brother Vasudeva), yet despite this conventional tie with the Lord, she fully understood His exalted and divine identity. She knew full well that He had descended from His abode in the spiritual world to rid the earth of demoniac military powers and reestablish righteousness. Just before the great war, Krishna had revealed all this to her son Arjuna in words immortalized in the Bhagavad-gita.
After Mahabharata War, just before Krishna was about to leave Hastinapura, Kunti prayed to Krishna not to leave. Kunti’s words—the simple and illuminating outpourings of the soul of a great and saintly woman devotee—reveal both the deepest transcendental emotions of the heart and the most profound philosophical and theological penetrations of the intellect. Her words are words of glorification impelled by a divine love steeped in wisdom.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by H.H.Bhakti Anugraha Janardana Swami at ISKCON Vrindavan, 07.03.2018 (video)

Where Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati chanted one billion holy names (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: One Billion Holy Names!
Yesterday I returned to Mayapura from Africa. Bright and early this morning I and several devotees went on parikrama beginning from Yogapith, where Lord Caitanya appeared. Walking through villages, fields, and forests we visited the bhajan-kutir of Jayadeva Goswami, the Madan Gopal temple and a large banyan tree where Mahaprabhu gave darshan to Nimbarka Acarya. But my favorite place of all was where Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati chanted one billion names of Krsna on his japa beads before starting his preaching mission. As we chanted japa there I prayed for “nama-ruci” - a genuine taste for chanting the holy names. I also prayed for more service in delivering the holy names to others, as I know such service gives great pleasure to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati and my own beloved spiritual master, Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/v7YvFA

Srivas  Thakura is the one of the members of  Panca-tattva and 9th March ( tomorrow) is His Divine Appearance Day. Honoring Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura on his appearance day is important to all who are or are aspiring to be gaura-bhaktas.  In the ISKCON Śrī Māyāpur Candrodaya Mandir, on this day Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura is decorated with many items of […]

The post The Leader of the Devotees of Lord Caitanya appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Interview with Radhanath Swami, member of the Governing Body Commission, ISKCON (6 min video)

Bangladesh Safari 2018 (Album of photos)
110 devotees from over 25 countries visited the Holy Place of Satkhira near the border.
Everyone was welcomed and happily dance with a wonderful reception. Later on we all held a wonderful program for the local people who came.
We will be spending this coming weekend at the Vaishnava Convention in Rupa & Sanatam Dham, with various sannyasis like Lokanath Maharaja and others. We are expecting an attendance of more than 3000 devotees!!
We are blessed by the wonderful association and classes by HH Bhakti Nityananda Swami and HH Bhakti Narasimha Swami !!
Listening to the early pastimes of Haridas Thakur in His Birthplace and in Satkhira with the prostitute who then became initiated as Hare Krsna Dasi.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/QyqVbe

By Sarvabhauma Dasa

Why are sports so popular? According to Vaishnava teachings, everything here, including the sporting propensity, is an imperfect or distorted reflection of the original, blissful activities of all-attractive Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Unfortunately, although in this material realm sports may be attractive, their charm is illusory. We can’t enjoy the Real Thing here. At best we can try to squeeze pleasure out of a perverted representation, like a mirage in the desert. Continue reading "Sri Krishna and the Original Sporting Propensity
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By Aradhika Radha Dasi

The Boat Festival has its roots in Goloka Vrindavan, the spiritual eternal realm. One of the boat pastimes is described in detail in Gopal Champu by Srila Jiva Goswami. One day the gopis, loaded with pots full of yogurt and butter, came to the banks of Manasi Ganaga, wishing to cross the river. They met a boatman who gladly agreed to help. When the boat was already far away from the bank the boatman stopped rowing, saying that He was too hungry. The gopis gave Him whatever food they had in their pots so that He could continue rowing. He continued. But after some time He stopped again. The gopis asked for what reason He was stopping. The boatman said that now He was too tired and that they had to massage His arms. Having heard this, the gopis told Him that they would throw Him out of the boat if He would not continue rowing. Suddenly clouds covered the sky, wind started to blow and the waters became very agitated. The boat started shaking from one side to another. The gopis were overwhelmed with fear. Radharani, searching for shelter, clung to the boatman. When She saw that He had a flute, She immediately realized that the boatman was none other than Her beloved Krishna. Then She showed the flute to the gopis to make them understand. They were very happy to spend the rest of their time in the company of Krishna. Continue reading "Annual celebration of the Boat Festival in Vrindavan’s Krishna-Balarama temple
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By Taru Das

Srila Prabhupada has stated that, “The first sense you will realize Krishna with is your tongue”. The meaning is clear. All of our advancement in spiritual life comes from chanting Hare Krishna. Therefore, by this process of chanting Krishna’s names, one will eventually learn to see Krishna everywhere. But for the prasadam addict, the statement has another meaning. He thinks, “The more I eat, the closer I come to God”. Or again, there is the statement that one should try to see Krishna in everything. The prasadam addict takes this to mean that wherever I am, I should seek out some prasadam. The super addict will even construe the injunction to be always engaged in Krishna’s service to mean that he should be taking prasadam twenty-four hours a day. Finally, when he hears that advanced devotees become mad after Krishna, he understands that anything he can do to get his hands on prasadam is authorized and righteous. Continue reading "Confessions of a Prasadam Addict: The Sunday Feast
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Nabhinandan Das: Today we were invited to a school in Wimbledon, London to deliver 3 workshops to Year 4 children on God, Sacred Texts, Lifestyle and Worship from the Sanatana Dharma perspective. This is the 6th year that the school has hosted us. The Head of Year told us that she always looked forward to the presentations as she would be God conscious for at least a few weeks after the workshops! 88 Higher Tastes were distributed to the children and teachers who very keenly flicked through the book and enjoyed looking at the pictures of the Prasad.

[Talk at MNC Salesforce, San Francisco, USA]

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Answer Podcast

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Answer Podcast

 

Transcribed by: Manju Agrawal Mataji

प्रश्न: परिवार में जब हमें अत्यधिक अपेक्षा रखने वाले किसी व्यक्ति की सेवा करनी होती है, तो हमें काफी समस्याओं का सामना करना पड़ता है। ऐसे परिस्थिति में हम आध्यात्मिक प्रगति कैसे कर सकते हैं?

उत्तर: सेवा के सम्बंध में तीन परिस्थितियाँ संभव हैं। पहली परिस्थिति में हम ऐसे लोगों के साथ सेवा करने का अवसर मिलता है जिसमें साथ-साथ सेवा करने में बड़ा आनन्द आता है। दूसरी परिस्थिति में हम अपनी सेवा अलग-अलग करते हैं और एक दूसरे से कोई लेना-देना नहीं रहता। तीसरी परिस्थिति में हम ऐसे व्यक्तियों के साथ होते हैं जिनके साथ सेवा करने में हमें बड़ी कठिनाइयों का समना करना पड़ता है। ऐसे लोगों के साथ सेवा करना ही अपने आप में एक अन्य सेवा के समान होता है। अर्थात पहली सेवा तो वह कार्य जिसे हमें पूर्ण करना है और दूसरी सेवा उन कष्टों को झेलना जो उस व्यक्ति के साथ कार्य करने से उत्पन्न होते हैं। हमें यह समझना चाहिए कि चाहे परिस्थिति कोई भी हो, हमें अपनी सेवा को आगे बढ़ाते रहना चाहिए। श्रीमद्भागवत में कुंती महारानी कहती हैं, “जैसे गंगा हमेशा सागर की ओर ही जाती है, वैसे मेरी चेतना भी भगवान की ओर जाती रहे।“

हमारे जीवन में अलग-अलग रिश्ते हैं, अलग-अलग जिम्मेदारियां हैं । वास्तव में ये सब अलग-अलग माध्यम हैं, जिनके द्वारा हमारी चेतना और सेवा भगवान की ओर जा रही है। कभी-कभी किसी माध्यम में अवरोध आ जाता है तो अन्य माध्यम सुलभ हो जाता है। ये हरेक की परिस्थिति में अलग-अलग हो सकता है। पर हमें ये देखना है कि मुझे भगवान की सेवा में लगे रहना है। तो यदि हमारे जीवन में ऐसे व्यक्ति हैं, जिनके साथ आदान प्रदान करने में हमें बहुत कठिनाई होती है, जिनके लिए सेवा करना बहुत कठिन है, तो इसे हमें अपने पूर्व जन्मों के कर्मों के क्षय के रूप में देखना चाहिए। साथ-साथ हमें अपने मन पर संतुलन भी रखना चाहिए। अपनी चेतना को भी स्वस्थ रखना चाहिए। मुझे यह भी देखना चाहिए कि मेरे जीवन में ऐसे व्यक्ति भी हैं जिनसे मेरा सम्बंध बड़ा मधुर है, जो मेरा बड़ा मान करते हैं, मेरी भावनाओं को भी समझ्ते हैं।

कुछ व्यक्ति ऐसे होते हैं, जिन्हें हम चाहें जितना भी प्रसन्न करने का प्रयास करें, वे प्रसन्न नहीं होते और कुछ ऐसे होते हैं, जिनके लिए जरा सी भी सेवा करने पर वे बहुत प्रसन्न हो जाते हैं। अकसर हम इन दूसरे तरह के व्यक्तियों पर हम ध्यान नहीं देते। कहने का भाव यह है कि कुछ सम्बन्ध ऐसे होते हैं, जिनके द्वारा हमें बहुत ऊर्जा मिलती है, और कुछ ऐसे होते हैं जिनको निभाने के लिये हमारी बहुत ऊर्जा लगती है। ये दोनों प्रकार के संबंध हर व्यक्ति के जीवन में होते हैं।

यदि हमारे कुछ संबंध ऐसे हैं, जिन्हें निभाने में हमारी बहुत ऊर्जा लगती है, किन्तु वह जिम्मेदारी अनिवार्य है तो यदि हम इस जिम्मेदारी को सेवा की भावना से करने का प्रयास करें तो हम उससे प्रगति करेंगे। पर यदि उस सेवा को करने में हमारा मन इतना विचलित होता है कि हम चिड़चिड़े हो जाऐं, मायूस हो जाऐं और चेतना का भी ह्रास हो, तो हमें कोई ऐसा सम्बंध या सेवा खोजना चाहिये, जिससे हमें ऊर्जा मिल सके। उदाहरणार्थ भक्ति के कोई ऐसा कार्य जिन्हें करने से शक्ति और आत्मिक शांति प्राप्त हो सके।

इस प्रकार दूसरों की सेवा करना यदि आवश्यक है, तो उसमें हमें अपनी सामर्थ्य के बाहर नहीं जाना चाहिए। यदि हम आदरभाव में, किन्तु दृढ़ संकल्पी रहते हैं तो वे लोग भी समझ जाते हैं। अलग-अलग सम्बंधों में अलग-अलग सीमाऐं होती हैं, और यदि कोई सीमा निर्धारित नहीं है, तो यह समस्याऐं पैदा कर सकता है। जब हम इस बात को समझ लेते हैं कि मेरी पहली आवश्यकता है – अपनी ऊर्जा का अर्जन, चेतना का विकास एवं शांति की प्राप्ति, तो वे कठिन सम्बंध भी मेरी सहनशीलता और नम्रता को बढ़ाने में सहायक हो सकते हैं। इस प्रकार शांति बनाए रख कर हम आध्यात्मिक मार्ग में प्रगति कर सकते हैं।

End of transcription.

Answer by His Grace Chaitanya Charan Prabhu
(www.thespiritualscientist.com)

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Why study Srila Prabhupada’s books (20 min video)
HH Bhakti Charu Swami is reminding us yet again this basic principle for our devotional life.

Power of Obedience by Gauranga Das (4 min video)
The ability to reciprocate with the changing demands of the Lord.

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Event Happiness presentation by HH Devamrita Swami (video)
UniMelb Bhakti Yoga Club Event at Melbourne University, 28 February ...

A nice review of Shyamasundar Das’ Chasing Rhinos With The Swami.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada changed the world. When he came to America from India in 1965, few Westerners knew the deep spiritual truths behind ancient Vedic culture and civilization. Within a decade most humans on the planet had heard the Hare Krishna mantra.
Shyamasundar Das (Sam Speerstra) was one of Bhaktivedanta Swami’s earliest disciples, helping him shape the Krishna Consciousness movement in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, in London, and then, as the Swami’s personal secretary, he traveled with Prabhupada in India, Russia, and all over the globe. “Chasing Rhinos With The Swami” is the intimate account of Prabhupada’s amazing adventures, describing in loving detail the seven years Shyamasundar spent at the side of the perfect person. Nothing was impossible for Srila Prabhupada, and he instilled this idea in the hearts of his first disciples: Go for the rhino!

Training Oxen by Voice Commands Lesson 4 The Lash (video)
We have devoted one lesson to the lash as it is crucial that it is no...

Jayapataka Swami’s message.
My dear devotees, Hare Krishna!
I spent some time at the
Chennai hospital and various doctors from Delhi, Bombay and Chennai said I should go for liver transplant as my liver is diseased. I have been put on the list to get a liver and kidney from a cadaver. Although my blood type is B positive, and I could, in emergency, use a living donor since the liver regenerates in less than a month, the doctor said it is better to have whole liver.
So I went to Mayapur for the Gaur Purnima festival but I should be ready within 6 hours if the liver becomes available so it takes more than 6 hours to reach Chennai from Mayapur. It would be useful if the devotees offer their prayers since it is a major surgery.
I will keep you updated about my health conditions. While I am in Chennai I would like to give some online classes if anybody would like they may contact Maha Varaha Das. For the time being I will be in Chennai.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Gaura Nitai.
Your well wisher always
Jayapataka Swami

Canberra Bhakti Vrksa (Album of photos)
Ramai Swami: The Canberra Bhakti Vrksa program has been going on for over 10 years. I was a guest at the last one and quite a number of devotees and friends attended.
What is a “Bhakti Vrksa program?”.
It is when a small group of congregational devotees meet every week to practice Krishna consciousness and to plan preaching activities. In these Bhakti-vriksha groups the devotees learn how to nourish their spiritual creeper and to cultivate their service attitude in cooperation with others.
Every group member is also active in preaching and in bringing new people into the group. Upon reaching fifteen members the group divides into two. This system keeps the groups small, maintaining an intimate atmosphere of personal care and nurturing, not possible in large groups.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/wYhF7G

By Bhakti Caitanya Swami

I have been chanting 45+ years. And some of you for longer, I know. And do not mind me saying it but at least from what I have observed, I have not seen any one displaying such symptoms like Lord Caitanya did. Please forgive me if that is inappropriate but I think it is not. Because I think we commit offenses, I think we are sometimes not attentive enough, And that’s why these things are not happening like they did with Lord Caitanya. I mean with Him it happened on a massive scale. With us, sometimes, oftentimes the chanting is nice, sometimes it’s very nice. But some experience like that is beyond most of us generally. So why… Why? Well, that is unfortunately because we are continuing to not chant purely, to chant offensively. Continue reading "Srimad Bhagavatam Class in Mayapur: The essence of all Vedic hymns
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BBT Press release

The “annotated scans” for Chapter Ten of Bhagavad-gita As It Is are now online at BBTedit.com/changes.

The scans for this chapter are the latest in a series that shows all the revisions done for the transliterations, word meanings, and purports of the second edition. Nearly every revision also has a note explaining why it was done, along with an image from the BBT’s oldest manuscripts, allowing you to verify the history for yourself.

Jayadvaita Swami did his revisions for the second edition on a physical copy of the first edition. The scans show that copy. (Revisions to the translations aren’t shown, because he edited them separately, not in the book itself.) Each chapter forms one downloadable pdf file.

The revisions to this chapter were extensive, so the scans for this chapter give you much to see.

• You’ll see twelve Sanskrit quotations and several lost passages in English now recovered.
  

• You’ll see various mishearings corrected. For example, in the purport to text 27 the demigods and the demons no longer take a “sea journey” in which nectar and poison are produced. In the manuscript the “sea journey” was a “journey of the sea,” which of course should have been “churning of the sea.” And in the purport to text 29 you’ll see that Aryama no longer mistakenly presides over a “planet of trees.”

• You’ll see several places where the original editor misunderstood what the manuscript intended and the 1983 edition has recovered the correct sense.

• In texts 28 and 29, you’ll see – from the original manuscript – why Krsna says He is Vasuki among serpents but Ananta among snakes.

• You’ll see restored to the purport of text 36 a biting comment about an “unfortunate commentator who wants to cheat Kṛṣṇa and the public by saying that there is something greater than Kṛṣṇa.”

Apart from images for specific changes, the scans for this chapter include six complete sample pages from the original manuscripts.

Whether you’re for “the changes,” against them, or neutral, here’s another opportunity to see what the changes actually are.

For devotees who have been critical of the second edition but are thoughtful and open-minded, the scans for this chapter provide ample food for thought.

See for yourself in the annotated scans for Chapter Ten, now online at BBTedit.com/changes.

The changes for the Preface, the Introduction, and the previous chapters are already online. See them all at BBTedit.com/changes.

The post Now online: “Gita changes” for Chapter Ten appeared first on Jayadvaita Swami.

By Navina Shyama Dasa

Sometimes the car becomes blocked. But some fellow pushes it. We have got this experience. What is that called? Chocked up? Then you get down and push the car and – brut-brut-brut-brut-brut – it goes. Similarly the bhakti-rasa [feeling of devotion] is there in everyone's heart. Nitya-siddha krishna-bhakti. Because we are part and parcel of Krishna. . . . So the fact is that we have got devotion for Krishna. That is a fact. But some way or other we are separated and we have forgotten. So as soon as, by this regulative principle, by the order of the spiritual master, by the injunction of the shastras, we begin devotional service Continue reading "What’s Wrong with Using a Crutch?
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By Iskcon Mayapur

Śrīla Prabhupāda describes in his purport to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.11.1: “Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has also given us a nice weapon for this age, as stated in the Bhāgavatam: sāṅgopāṅgāstra—in this age, the nārāyaṇāstra, or weapon to drive away māyā, is the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra in pursuance of the associates of Lord Caitanya, such as Advaita Prabhu, Nityānanda, Gadādhara and Śrīvāsa.” This weapon of the holy name was utilized perfectly by Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura. He took complete shelter of the holy names of the Lord. It is described by Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura that Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura and his brothers were constantly absorbed in singing the names of Lord Kṛṣṇa. It was in the home of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed His most intimate saṅkīrtana pastimes. Those nocturnal kīrtanas are compared to the rāsa-līlās of Lord Kṛṣṇa, for they are the topmost and most ecstatic of the Lord’s pastimes. Continue reading "The Leader of the Devotees of Lord Caitanya
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 17 August 2017, Radhadesh, Belgium, Srimad Bhagavatam 8.4.5-6)

We read about Vasudeva Datta who was such a great devotee. He wanted to deliver the entire universe by taking on the sinful reactions of everyone in the universe – he was ready to do that. Lord Caitanya was so impressed by Vasudeva Datta that he had said, “He has purchased me. He can sell me in the marketplace,” and then he said, “Whoever touches the body of Vasudeva Datta will go back to Godhead. Not only that, even the wind that has touched the body of Vasudeva Datta, if that wind now touches our body we will be purified.”

In this way, we see how a devotee carries the qualities of Krsna. It is said that the devotee gradually develops the qualities of Krsna by being focused on service to Krsna. The devotee becomes purified and whatever is important to Krsna becomes important to him; we see this in Vasudeva Datta.

We see it also in Srila Prabhupada. We see the places that he touched became transformed. Prabhupada transformed places and transformed the world. He transformed the tree in Tompkins Square. What a place Matchless Gifts is – the walls are vibrating. What can we say? It is just surcharged with this transcendental energy; completely spiritualised by Prabhupada. A very intense presence of all the Krsna consciousness that was within Srila Prabhupada is within that one little storefront. That was where it was all happening and one can still experience that it is not an ordinary place. It does not take much to appreciate that. So yes, Krsna transforms his devotees.

The Canberra Bhakti Vrksa program has been going on for over 10 years. I was a guest at the last one and quite a number of devotees and friends attended.

What is a “Bhakti Vrksa program?”.

It is when a small group of congregational devotees meet every week to practice Krishna consciousness and to plan preaching activities. In these Bhakti-vriksha groups the devotees learn how to nourish their spiritual creeper and to cultivate their service attitude in cooperation with others.

Every group member is also active in preaching and in bringing new people into the group. Upon reaching fifteen members the group divides into two. This system keeps the groups small, maintaining an intimate atmosphere of personal care and nurturing, not possible in large groups.

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Transcriber: Manju Agrawal Mataji

प्रश्न: इस भौतिक जगत में रहते हुए हम कैसे अनुभव करें कि हम भगवान के सेवक हैं और भगवान हमारे नियंत्रक?

उत्तर: हम अपने जीवन में अकसर अनुभव करते हैं कि हमारा जीवन केवल हमारे नियंत्रण में नहीं है। हमसे परे भी ऐसी कोई शक्ति अवश्य है जो हमारा जीवन नियंत्रित करती है। यह हम कुछ उदाहरणों के माध्यम से समझ सकते हैं।
एक टैनिस खिलाड़ी अपने एक कान में एक रिंग पहनता था और उसे पहनने के पश्चात वह अच्छा खेलता था। इससे वह यह समझने लगा कि वह रिंग ही उसके सौभाग्य का कारण है। इस बात से उस खिलाड़ी की मानसिकता का पता लगता है। कहीं न कहीं अपने मन में वह यह समझता था कि उसके नियंत्रण के परे भी ऐसा कुछ है जो उसके कार्यों के फलों का नियंत्रण करता है। उसका स्वयं का प्रदर्शन, उसका परिश्रम इत्यादि मायने रखता है, लेकिन वही सबकुछ नहीं है।

कई बार हम देखते हैं कि कोई क्रिकेट खिलाड़ी बहुत अच्छी बल्लेबाजी करता है पर कभी-कभी वह “आउट-ऑफ-फॉर्म” हो जाता है। उसमें क्षमता होते हुए भी वह अपनी क्षमता पर नियंत्रण नहीं रख पाता। ऐसा इसलिए क्योंकि उसकी क्षमता उसके अकेले की नहीं होती है अपितु भगवान की कृपा से मिलती है। वह क्षमता भी सदैव हमारे साथ नहीं रहती। कभी रहती है, कभी चली जाती है। हमारी उपलब्धियाँ हमारे अकेले की नहीं किन्तु भगवान से भेंट स्वरूप मिलती हैं।

कभी-कभी उचित प्रयास और मेहनत के पश्चात भी हमें यश और सफलता नहीं मिलती। तब हम अपने भाग्य को दोष देने लगते हैं। भाग्य कभी हमारे अनुकूल होता है तो कभी प्रतिकूल। कई बार पर्याप्त मेहनत के बिना भी सफलता मिल जाती है। इससे हम समझ सकते हैं कि हमारा कर्म हमारे नियंत्रण में है किन्तु फल नहीं।

हमारी चेतना दो प्रकार की होती है- भौतिक और आधात्मिक। भौतिक चेतना में हम सोचते हैं कि जो हमारे नियंत्रण में नहीं है, वह हमारी असफलता और दुर्बलता का लक्षण है। यदि हम अपना नियंत्रण बढ़ाऐंगे, तो सफलता प्राप्त कर लेंगे। इसके विपरीत, आध्यात्मिक चेतना में हम सोचते हैं कि जो हमारे नियंत्रण में है और जो नहीं है, वे दोनों ही भगवान के नियंत्रण में हैं। जो हमारे नियंत्रण में है भी, उसे नियंत्रित करने की क्षमता भी हममें भगवान से ही प्राप्त होती है। भगवान की हमारे लिए कोई योजना है जिसका हमें अभी ज्ञान नहीं पर उचित समय पर प्रकट हो जाएगा।

वास्तव में हम सब परम नियंता भगवान के अधीन हैं। यदि हम भगवान की अधीनता स्वीकार नहीं करते तो धीरे-धीरे हम विपरीत बुद्धि के अधीन हो जाते हैं। ऐसा मनुष्य धीरे-धीरे अपने मन और इन्द्रियों का दास बन जाता है। गीता 15.7 में भगवान बोलते हैं कि हम सब उनके अंश हैं अर्थात उनके सेवक हैं। यदि हम भगवान की सेवा नहीं करते हैं तो हम अपने मन और इन्द्रियों की सेवा करने लगते हैं अर्थात इन्द्रियों के दास बन जाते हैं।

यदि हम स्वयं के जीवन के विषय में विचार करें तो पायेंगे कि हम सदैव एक सेवक ही तो हैं। हम राष्ट्र के सेवक हो सकते हैं, परिवार के सेवक हो सकते हैं, अपनी इन्द्रियों के सेवक हो सकते हैं, अपनी आदतों के सेवक हो सकते हैं। हम यह भूल जाते हैं कि – राष्ट्र, परिवार, इन्द्रियाँ इत्यादि – ये सब जिस परमेश्वर के नियंत्रण में है, वास्तव में हम उस ईश्वर के सेवक हैं। यदि हम यह स्वीकार कर लें कि हम वास्तव में भगवान के सेवक हैं, तो उपरोक्त सभी सेवाओं से मुक्त हो सकते हैं।
इस प्रकार आत्म निरीक्षण कर हम समझ सकते हैं कि हम वास्तव में भगवान के ही सेवक हैं।

End of transcription.

Dear Prabhu,
Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Here is the latest snowy movie from The City of London’s new initiative.

There was a great Beast from the East,
With blizzards which never ceased.
But Krishna’s Castle was strong,
And all day long
They served out a great big feast.

Your servant
Parasuram das

alabdhe vā vinaṣṭe vā
bhakṣyācchādana-sādhane
aviklava-matir bhūtvā
harim eva dhiyā smaret

Even if a devotee is frustrated in his attempt to eat properly or clothe himself properly, he should not allow this material failure to disturb his mind; rather, he should use his intelligence to remember his master, Lord Kṛṣṇa, and thus remain undisturbed. - Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.114). As one becomes mature in this process of remembering Kṛṣṇa in all circumstances, he is awarded the title Mahā-Bhāgavata. - SB 11.2.49 Purport

Certainly not easy in this day and age!

Hare Krishna