Anwser Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post If we don’t see others’ faults, how can we guide them to improve – Hindi? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Anwser Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Can someone say that my nature is to talk insensitively – Hindi? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Nityananda Trayodashi class at ISKCON, Nasik]

Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Nityananda Trayodashi – How Nityananda Prabhu glorifies Lord Chaitanya – Hindi appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Gitamrita class at ISKCON, Nasik]

Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Sensitivity means to balance enlightenment with encouragement – Gita 17.15 – Hindi appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

“Nityananda Prabhu approached Jagai and Madhai at the risk of being personally injured and still He definitely delivered them. The world is full of Jagai’s and Madhai’s; namely drunkards, women-hunters, meat eaters, and gamblers, and we will have to approach them at the risk of insult, injury, and similar other rewards. To face such reverse conditions of life and to suffer thereby the results of actions is considered as the greatest penance and austerity in the matter of spiritual advancement of life.”

[ Srila Prabhupada letter, January 27, 1970 ]

 

“Невзирая на риск быть оскорбленным, Нитьянанда Прабху приблизился к Джагаю и Мадхаю и конечно же освободил их. Мир полон Джагаями и Мадхаями – пьяницами, охотниками за женщинами, мясоедами и картежниками – и мы должны будем приближаться к ним, рискуя получить в награду оскорбление, травму или еще что-нибудь эдакое. Сталкиваться с превратностями жизни и терпеть результаты действий считается величайшей аскезой, епитимьей в деле духовного продвижения общества”.

[ письмо Шрилы Прабхупады от 27 января 1970 ]

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208384018661011&set=a.3707173840886.2134384.1321748113&type=3&theater

Gita verse-by-verse Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Gita 12.16 Complement spiritual devotion with material dispassion appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 20 February 2016, Durban, South Africa, Nityananda’s Appearance Day Lecture)

Caitanya Caritamrta describes how the happiness of Lord Nityananda is so overwhelming and so intoxicating that he becomes drunk. He is drunk by that happiness, and one knows well that a drunk man cannot see clearly. So in this case, Lord Nityananda does not see clearly who is fallen and who is not fallen! It is too complicated. He gives mercy to everyone. He does not select anymore. It is Lord Nityananda who does not select, who just gives out the mercy regardless, due to his intoxicated state of ecstasy. Therefore Lord Nityananda is the most merciful.

Radhadesh (Belgium): Nityananda Trayodasi & 40 Years Installation of Sri Radha Gopinath (Album with photos)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/IEZp2t

By Vijaya Dasa

After losing the No. 1 position to Mayapur for a couple of years, New Delhi again is the No. 1 temple worldwide, with 1,050,559 book points in 2016. There is always a close transcendental competition between Russia and the USA. Well, in 2016 the USA finally conquered Russia after a decade of close competitions. 2016 was particularly close: the USA won by just 1,526 book points. The USA did 752,972 points; Russia 751,446. Nepal did really well for the year, with a 19% increase: 97,503 book points. We're raising donations for a new bus to hold the many sankirtan devotees in Kathmandu. They're inspired to give the Nepalese mercy in the form of Srila Prabhupada's books. If you want to help, please contact me. Continue reading "WSN December 2016 – World Sankirtan Newsletter – Delhi the No. 1 temple worldwide. USA conquers Russia after a decade
→ Dandavats"

A video and music by Dr. Sahadeva Dasa.

A video by Vrishabhanu das.

A video by Ananta Vrindavan.

Chant Anyway!

Your mind is wandering all over the universe when you chant. Chant anyway! Your mind is wandering to the past and future when you chant. Chant anyway! You are not able to concentrate on Krishnas names while you chant. Chant anyway! You have no taste for chanting. Chant anyway! You have lusty desires. Chant anyway! You are making offenses in chanting. Chant anyway! You are not praying to Krishna to help you chant better. Chant anyway! You often chant late at night. Chant anyway! So WHY? Why should you chant despite all the above obstacles? This is why: There is no vow like chanting the holy name, no knowledge superior to it, no meditation which comes anywhere near it, and it gives the highest result. No penance is equal to it, and nothing is as potent or powerful as the holy name. Chanting is the greatest act of piety and the supreme refuge. Even the words of the Vedas do not possess sufficient power to describe its magnitude. Chanting is the highest path to liberation, peace and eternal life. Its the pinnacle of devotion, the hearts joyous proclivity and attraction and the best form of remembrance of the Supreme Lord. The holy name has appeared solely for the benefit of the living entities as their lord and master, their supreme worshipful object and their spiritual guide and mentor. Whoever continuously chants Lord Krishnas holy name, even in his sleep, can easily realize that the name is a direct manifestation of Krishna Himself, in spite of the influences of Kali-yuga. Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Saranagati (quoted from Adi Purana) From the Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 13, No. 1 By Krishna-kripa das Read more: https://goo.gl/o8MwhM

From a seminar of Bhagavata Purana prabhu on karatalas:
Six important things are to understand about karatalas.
1. Direction
2. Pitch
3. Volume
4. Speed
5. Open and closed beats
6. Upbeat and downbeat
In the Prabhupada beat the final beat is half open and half closed.
The thumb is supposed to be fixed on the strap so you do not lose control of your instrument. Use your fingers not the thumb to dampen the sound.
The singer and the mrdanga player work as a team, and everyone else follows the mrdanga player.

The mrdanga is half as loud as the voice, and the other instruments should be half as loud as the mrdanga.

Srila Prabhupada would complain about karatalas clanging [playing all open beats].

Never put a microphone to record a kirtana next to the karatalas. The best place is near the large end of the drum because it is important to hear the bass.

Srila Prabhupada said that karatala and mrdanga is sufficient. The harmonium is not a Vedic instrument, but Srila Prabhupada said there is a small harmonium in the spiritual world. Lord Caitanya said if you do not have karatalas and mrdangas you can just clap your hands.

The whompers should be played open and sweetly. They are not a crash instrument.

Aindra Prabhu once sang for nine hours straight, from after Bhagavatam class to six in the evening. People did not even leave to use the bathroom.

Aindra Prabhu had a dream of Prabhupada in which Srila Prabhupada said, “Why is no one cleaning my toilets?” Thus Aindra Prabhu took up the service of cleaning the toilets.

Aindra Prabhu’s room was 50% mud and 50% cow dung.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 14 February 2003)
The lotus feet of Lord Nityananda are essential. Without the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, one cannot ever get the mercy of Radha and Krsna. In other words, one cannot ever be an eligible candidate to go back to the spiritual world therefore we need the mercy of Lord Nityananda.

Giriraj Swami gave this talk on February 12, 2014 in New Dvaraka, Los Angeles.

“We think of Srila Prabhupada staying in the Bowery with that young man, David Allen, who was taking the New York version of strong liquor—LSD. David just went mad. He could have done anything to Srila Prabhupada. And Srila Prabhupada went running down the stairs onto the street, not knowing where he would go. It was like Nityananda Prabhu and Haridasa Thakura running for their life from the drunken brothers Jagai and Madhai. I cannot imagine anyone since Nityananda Prabhu and His associates who has taken up that mission of approaching anyone and everyone without discrimination and giving them the message of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, as Srila Prabhupada did. And he is doing that through all of you; you are also doing the same thing. You are approaching people without discrimination and giving them the message of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the form of Srila Prabhupada’s books, or through or the hari-nama sankirtana party, which also carries books and magazines. By that activity we will get the mercy of Lord Nityanada and Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.”

Nityananda-trayodasi

Gita verse-by-verse Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Gita 12.15 Avoid agitation coming from the social and the mental appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

In the next few weeks the first shipment of the small dome Kalashes will arrive, they are on the way now in containers on boat.

These are completed and we will commence erecting them in late February.

Please see photos of the 2 Chakras that are almost completed that will be placed on top of the Kalashes. They will also be sent very soon.

We are very happy to see that the Chakras are made to the fine details that we specified in drawings and we are very happy with the results.

The post Update on Chakras appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Today is Varaha-dvadasi, Lord Varaha’s appearance day. Srila Prabhupada spoke on this occasion in Los Angeles on February 18, 1970:

“Today is the incarnation day of Lord Krishna’s appearing as the Boar. He lifted the world when it was submerged within the water of Garbhodaka Ocean. The universe which we are seeing, it is only half. The other half is filled with water, and in that water Garbhodakasayi Visnu is lying.

“So, one demon, Hiranyaksa, pushed this earthly planet within that water, and Lord Krishna delivered this earthly planet from water in the shape of a boar. So, that auspicious day is today, Varaha-dvadasi. On this day [we] sing,

vasati dasana-sikhare dharani tava lagna
sasini kalanka-kaleva nimagna
kesava dhrta-sukara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
jaya jagadisa hare, jaya jagadisa hare

‘O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a boar! All glories to You! The earth, which had become immersed in the Garbhodaka Ocean at the bottom of the universe, sits fixed upon the tip of Your tusk like a spot upon the moon.’ (Dasavatara-stotra, 3)

“This Varaha, boar, or hog, delivered this earthly planet by the tusk, and He kept the whole world on His tusk. We can just imagine how big He appeared. And the world at that time appeared just like the moon disc with some marks on it. So kesava dhrta-varaha-sarira. The poet says, ‘My dear Lord, You have appeared as the great boar. So let me offer my respectful obeisances unto You.’ ”

May Lord Varaha bless us and uplift us.

Hare Krishna.

—Giriraj Swami

When is seva not seva?

Sadly I hear more and more individuals stating they want a paid job at one of the large established temples that regularly advertise such post’s, many state after all they have been devotee for many years and now deserve to be paid for their services.

Sadly I’ve also heard some who are in such post complaining that during festival times they are being asked to work more hours, but worse is that it’s without pay, I mean who works for free.

For me there’s some sadness when seeing devotees doing sincere seva in a restaurant were it is being run for profit, and that the profit is for individual wealth not to assist in supporting either the temple or preaching centre.

It is of note more see devotional life as a way of creating personal wealth or a right to be paid for doing seva and smiling whilst encouraging others to do seva for free. So what is my own personal thoughts and realisations on this based on my reading and listening to Srila Prabhupada?

Srila Prabhupada was clear seva is free and unconditional, that if full time devotee then minimum support (the bear necessity of life, simple living high thinking); of note he never spoke about wages in all the research I’ve personally done.

Srila Prabhupada noted that if we as individuals wanted more than minimum simple living then they should take a job outside of the temple; and I admire those who have opened up restaurants and the like to show how amazing vegetarian meals are (prasadam), but it is a private enterprise and anyone working for you as a private enterprise should be paid.

I’ve noted many who are in paid roles and it’s large enough to pay for mortgage and a reasonable good lifestyle, Srila Prabhupada noted no material gain the gain is spiritual the opportunity to dedicate one life to serving Sri Guru and share love of Krishna giving real education and showing the way home back to Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada noted support of individuals and families, food, clothing a place to stay simple living reliant on Sri Krishna and serving the devotee community, he was however very compassionate in as much as he spoke of how Sri Krishna can deal with any individual and if business then that is fine “Sri Krishna I do this for you and you pay me”, Srila Prabhupada gave a warning that this is business not devotional service and Sri Krishna owes you nothing; pure devotional service comes with no strings and no motivation for personal gain and Sri Krishna remains indebted to you.

So was Srila Prabhupada wrong?

Seeing the ongoing success of paid devotional jobs which means devotees live in some cases better than a majority of the congregation member’s it appears so, but then it’s business and well Srila Prabhupada said that’s fine.

However for me the higher taste is not to deal with Sri Krishna in business mentality but following Srila Prabhupada instructions, so just seva and work outside of the temple.

It’s a thought but do you think we should have more paid jobs and any objection anti ISKCON and an attack on senior devotees who take a wage?

Depending on personal view but my mind always returns to the warning from Srila Prabhupada take a wage then it’s business not devotional service, I feel it couldn’t be clearer than that; unless it’s a small maintenance pay where you make no personal gain and it’s just simpke maintenance were you make zero personal gain.

Notes to myself today:
Listen to your japa with rapt* attention. Beware of plateaus* and comfort* zones. Cultivate* humility*. Remember that Krsna is the maintainer* of everything and everyone. Say an encouraging* word to everyone you meet. Drink lots of water, eat healthy* prasadam and get enough* rest. Do the best* you can with what youve got at every moment. *Definition of rapt: 1. Completely fascinated by what one is seeing or hearing. 2. Indicating or characterized by such a state of fascination. 3. Having been carried away bodily or transported to heaven. ORIGIN: Latin, raptus , seized. *Definition of plateau : reach a state of little or no change after a time of activity or progress. ORIGIN: French: plat, level. *Definition of comfort : Prosperity and the pleasant lifestyle secured by it. ORIGIN: Latin: com, (expressing intensive force) + fortis, strong. *Definition of cultivate: Try to acquire or develop (a quality sentiment or skill). ORIGIN: Latin: cultivat, prepared for crops. *Definition of humility: a modest or low view of ones own importance. ORIGIN: Latin, humus, ground. *Definition of maintain: 1. Cause or enable (a condition or state of affairs) to continue. 2. Provide with necessities for life or existence. ORIGIN: Latin, manu tenere , hold in the hand. *Definition of encourage: Give support, confidence, or hope to someone. ORIGIN: French, en, in + corage, courage. *Definition of healthy: 1. Conducive to, or promoting good health. 2. Desirable, beneficial, sensible, balanced. ORIGIN: Old English, haelth , related to whole. *Definition of enough: as much or as many as required. *Definition of best: Of the most excellent, effective, or desirable type of quality. Notes to myself today: Listen to your japa with rapt* attention. Beware of plateaus* and comfort* zones. Cultivate* humility*. Remember that Krsna is the maintainer* of everything and everyone. Say an encouraging* word to everyone you meet. Drink lots of water, eat healthy* prasadam and get enough* rest. Do the best* you can with what youve got at every moment. *Definition of rapt: 1. Completely fascinated by what one is seeing or hearing. 2. Indicating or characterized by such a state of fascination. 3. Having been carried away bodily or transported to heaven. ORIGIN: Latin, raptus , seized. *Definition of plateau : reach a state of little or no change after a time of activity or progress. ORIGIN: French: plat, level. *Definition of comfort : Prosperity and the pleasant lifestyle secured by it. ORIGIN: Latin: com, (expressing intensive force) + fortis, strong. *Definition of cultivate: Try to acquire or develop (a quality sentiment or skill). ORIGIN: Latin: cultivat, prepared for crops. *Definition of humility: a modest or low view of ones own importance. ORIGIN: Latin, humus, ground. *Definition of maintain: 1. Cause or enable (a condition or state of affairs) to continue. 2. Provide with necessities for life or existence. ORIGIN: Latin, manu tenere , hold in the hand. *Definition of encourage: Give support, confidence, or hope to someone. ORIGIN: French, en, in + corage, courage. *Definition of healthy: 1. Conducive to, or promoting good health. 2. Desirable, beneficial, sensible, balanced. ORIGIN: Old English, haelth , related to whole. *Definition of enough: as much or as many as required. *Definition of best: Of the most excellent, effective, or desirable type of quality. Vaisesika das

Surrendering the Fruits of one’s Actions.
Question: In Bhagavad-gita 2.47, Lord Krishna says, “…but you are not entitled to the fruits of action.” What does it mean here to be not entitled to the fruits of action? Does it mean that we aren’t the proprietors of the fruits that we get from our work, or does it mean that we don’t have a right to obtain or receive the reactionary fruit itself, good or bad, of anything that we do?
For example, consider that a student has appeared for an exam. Now does it mean that he does not have the right to obtain the result of exam, whether pass or fail, or does it mean that he has no proprietorship over the result when they are declared?


Romapada Swami: Srila Prabhupäda describes the proper approach to work in his purport to BG 2.47: “Arjuna was therefore advised by the Lord to fight as a matter of duty without attachment to the result. His non-participation in the battle is another side of attachment. Such attachment never leads one to the path of salvation. Any attachment, positive or negative, is cause for bondage. Inaction is sinful. Therefore, fighting as a matter of duty was the only auspicious path of salvation for Arjuna.”

Krsna explains the proper consciousness in which to work in the next verse 2:48.

When one works and is unattached to the fruits of such work, he is performing karma-yoga. Detachment is then perfected when he offers the fruits of his work to Krsna. Therefore Krsna tells Arjuna not to renounce work, but to renounce the fruits of work.

Krishna is not saying here that the results should be ignored or that the duties be carelessly performed without concern for the results. What He is saying is simply that we are not entitled to be the enjoyer of the fruits of our duties or activity. They are meant to be dedicated to Him. We have the right to do our duty - very nicely and conscientiously - not so we can enjoy the results but for Krishna to enjoy. If you are cultivating a garden, for example, you should make every effort to get the best yield; however, the actual yield of that garden is up to Krishna. Whatever is produced, offer those fruits to Krishna.

Krishna is the actual beneficiary or enjoyer of the results. This is only natural, because Krishna is the actual proprietor of everything, including the strength and intelligence with which we perform our work. Motivation for work in this case comes not from the expectation of how the results will benefit oneself, but from the expectation of pleasing Krishna, which is far more satisfying, and hence far more motivating than any meager material achievements.

Deity Worship Ministry seminar Part 3

Two disciples of Srila Prabhupada left their bodies.
Kavicandra Swami: Gopinatha Acarya prabhu, (ACBSP) from Australia has left this world,
He was the first devotee to sell full sets of SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM.
He later took to cow and bull protection very seriously.
His body was found in the cow’s place
May he be surrounded by cows.
——-
Srimati Krishna Kamani dasi passed away in Vrndavana.
She was from Chile and had lived in Vrndavana-dhama for many years. She kept herself as very insignificant, was extremely humble, simple living, and dedicated to her Krsna conscious development and sadhana/bhajan.
Krsna Kamini dasi left her body in her sleep due to smoke inhalation from a fire which started in her room, apparently due to faulty electrical connections.
Her body was not burned by the fire. Neighbors apparently saw smoke coming from her room, went in and discovered her body lying on her bed.
Her funeral and cremation at Yamuna River has happened in recent hours.
She was a lively, sprightly person.
She was (for a Westerner) astoundingly simple living, and staying in Vrndavana-dhama all year round. Once asked how she handled the summer heat. She said, “I just tolerate.” That was quite amazing, as she did not have air conditioning.
She lived on a shoestring, and had the simplest accommodation in the holy dhamas, with such a standard of facility which not many could bear.
Krsna Kamani dasi was the epitome of simple living and high thinking.
Very sad to hear of the passing of that wonderful exemplary lady, though spirit-cheered that it was in the holy dhama.

By BVV Narasimha Swami

In the Caitanya Bhagavata there is a description how one day Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had been hearing the glories of Lord Varaha. And while He was relishing the mood of Lord Varaha, He came to the home of Murari Gupta. And at time He chanted the name Sukara! Sukara! Which is boar! Boar! Right? its the name of the boar, Sanskrit for boar. So He chanted the name of Sukara and then He actually, Lord Caitanya actually assumed the form of Lord Varaha while He was in the home of Murari Gupta. Continue reading "The Battle Between Boar and Hiranyaksha
→ Dandavats"

By Chandan Yatra Das

“EKACHAKRA”: “EKA” means one and “CHAKRA” means wheel; this place is named “Ekachakra” because this is the place where the chariot-wheel fell, which Lord Sri Krishna took to kill Bhismadeva on the Battle of Kurukshetra. Ekachakra is the birthplace of Lord Nityananda (Nitai). Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna Himself thus inaugurated His Harinam Sankirtan movement from the Dwapar-yuga itself. Ekachakra is located 165km north-west of Mayapur and is easily assessable by car or bus. Ekachakra village extends north and south for an area of about eight miles. Other villages, namely Viracandra-pura and Virabhadra-pura, are situated within the area of the village of Ekachakra Continue reading "“Ekachakra Dhama” – Birthplace Of Lord Nityananda
→ Dandavats"

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 09 October 2009, Durban, South Africa, Ramayana Lecture)

This evening, our meditation is on Lord Ramachandra, who appeared one million years ago and yet is still such a prominent personality that no one forgets. I was in India during the years that the television series based on the Ramayana was shown. It was very popular. At that that time, people in India bought television sets just to see the Ramayana! And every week, when there was an episode of the Ramayana broadcast, the whole country would just stop! On the railways, people would just pull the emergency brake, get off the train, find a village and a television and sit down to watch the Ramayana! And if in a village during the Ramayana the electricity would go out then the villagers would march to the power houses and burn it down! The Ramayana had to be seen… it was not just a television series, it was a whole nation just virtually entering so deeply into the Ramayana. It was not a movie, it was as if the spiritual reality became visualised before the eyes of the people!

Gita verse-by-verse Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Gita 12.14 To sustain satisfaction, seek absorption appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScBp-mBqd1vvkEaGX73RwVybJxrde439mPG5USZhKhtuXFbaQ/viewform

Samapriya devi dasi: Betrothed by Srila Prabhupada the holy name to wed, vowing not to put another in His sacred bed. You rest upon my tongue, taking me a journey far, throughout the worlds and inner space revealing who You are.

Read More...

Only a disciplined disciple develops love for Krishna
Purushottam Nitai Das: We are so serious, so enthusiastic and so happy when we are just about to receive the beads from our spiritual master during the initiation ceremony. We promise to ourselves that as soon as we will get the beads we will chant not just 16 rounds but many more rounds with utmost sincerity, will follow the 4 regulative principles not just carefully but with extraordinary determination and with extraordinary zeal will serve the mission of Srila Prabhupada.
And in fact, for few days or weeks or even for few months we live up to our expectations. But gradually the enthusiasm starts waning and we start taking our devotional life casually.
We chant just to complete our rounds, follow regulative principles only grossly and do services casually.
Initiation isn’t a formality or a name giving ceremony but it’s a very serious commitment, it’s connection of the heart. A disciple is utterly serious about serving Krishna and he knows that the best way to be Krishna Conscious is by consciously serving as per the instructions of his spiritual master. Spiritual master isn’t just a designation, he is not an ordinary soul but he represents the guru parampara and so the mercy of Krishna is reaching to us through him.
Great souls in the past through their exemplary examples have shown us the importance of having a spiritual master and how to practice devotional life as per the instructions of the spiritual master.

Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura was seriously contemplating to give up his life when Srila Gaur Kishore Das Babaji Maharaj, out of his humility, was not willing to initiate him. With tears in his eyes, Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura said, “karuna na haile kandiya kandiya prana na rakhibe ara – If there is no mercy, weeping and weeping, I can sustain my life no more. If I do not receive your mercy I do not see any need in holding onto life”. The prayer melted the heart of Srila Gaur Kishore Das Babaji and he happily accepted him as his disciple.

Lokanath Goswami had taken a vow not to accept any disciple so he was finding ways so that he can avoid initiating Narottama Das Thakura. But Narottama Das Thakura desperately wanted to take initiation from Lokanath Goswami. With utmost humility, he pleaded, “The guru guides his disciple in practical spiritual life. I have no spiritual insight, and I am feeling separation from the Lord. For this reason, I beg for your mercy.” In his heart, he had already accepted Lokanath Goswami as his spiritual master. He followed his instructions seriously, happily served him even doing menial services for him and patiently but eagerly waited to get initiated. After waiting for a year, he again approached Lokanath Goswami, “I am like a young woman who has already chosen her husband. My heart is clear without any doubt. A young woman who makes up her mind in this way prays that her father will agree with her choice. I pray that our Father in heaven agrees with my choice.” Lokanath was so moved by his sincerity. Accepting him as his disciple, the great sage said, “Your fierce determination has exceeded my own – but you are the only disciple I will ever make.”

These great devotees of the Lord through their conduct have demonstrated that for our spiritual progress we need a bonafide guru.

Spiritual master is our spiritual father who is very much interested in our spiritual growth. A father knows the best for his child so our spiritual master knows what is the best medicine which should be administered to us to cure our manifold material miseries.
We can never repay our debt to our spiritual father who has taken the responsibility to take us back to the kingdom of Krishna. But yes, we can at least become a responsible disciple and try our best not to commit any sinful activities. We should not be just sentimentally attached to our spiritual master and neither be a pretender trying to portray ourselves as a dedicated soul.

But in fact, we should be devoted and determined. And should always accept the fact without any doubt that our spiritual master is more elevated than us and is our best well-wisher.

Srila Prabhupada explains, “Chaitanya Mahaprabhu taught us this instruction that we shall always remain a foolish student before our Guru Maharaja. That is the Vedic culture. I may be very big man, but still, I should remain a foolish student to my guru. That is the qualification. Guru more murkha dekhi karila sasana (Chaitanya Charitamrita Adi 7.71). We should be always prepared to be controlled by the guru. That is very good qualification. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadaḥ. Ara na kariha mane asa. So, we should become always a very obedient student to our guru. That is the qualification. That is the spiritual qualification.” His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day, Lecture – Hyderabad, December 10, 1976:

Initiation is a serious commitment and if we are serious to seek shelter of Krishna then we must seriously practice our devotional life by enthusiastically following the vow which we take during initiation.

Only a disciplined disciple develops love for Krishna and is welcomed in the kingdom of Krishna.

By Akruranatha Dasa

In Srimad-Bhagavatam culture, there is not such a breakdown between prosaic reality and poetic metaphor. Actual reality is far more enchanted and magical and strange than our modern scientific, mechanistic, deracinated conception. Things that we think of as concepts -- like fear, love, intelligence, decay and so on -- are actually living beings who can interact with other, similar beings. The universe is full of demons, demigods, ghosts, goblins, sages, yogis, siddhas, gandharvas, caranas, apsaras, humans, animals, plants, and all kinds of mystical beings. They are not symbols sprung from the imagination of a human artist, who in turn sprung from unconscious, soul-less chemical interactions. They are actual living beings, souls expressing themselves through different kinds of actual bodies (many of which are imperceptible to the limited vision of humans). Continue reading "Reality, Poetry, Consciousness, Enlightenment, Metaphor and Srimad-Bhagavatam
→ Dandavats"

By Gaur Govinda Swami

How long will you sleep in the lap of the ugly witch Maya? How long? You have already slept for such a long time, lakhs and lakhs of lives. Do you want to sleep in the lap of the ugly witch Maya? Mahaprabhu is your only well-wishing friend. He loves you so much that He descended here! Krishna says, jivanam sarva- bhutesu - I am the life in all living entities." If you are not carrying Krishna in you, have you love? You have no life. You are dying at every moment. You are a dead body. You are living but dead. You are breathing like the bellows of a blacksmith. If there is no Krishna in you, what is the value of that life? That man or woman, who has no Krishna in them, is dead. Continue reading "Only Dead Bodies Stay In Their Houses!
→ Dandavats"

By Mahatma Das

The husband as the guru of the wife is an interesting topic. Some men operate under the paradigm that since I am the guru of my wife, she is duty-bound to do anything I ask of her. I am not saying it is not the duty of the wife to submissively serve the husband, but the idea that a husband has a right to be over-demanding of his wife reflects a misunderstanding of the duty of the husband. You might think, "Are there really many men today in Iskcon who are that demanding?" Not only are there demanding men in Iskcon, some (perhaps many) are more demanding of their wives than men outside of Iskcon. My experience shows me that many men have misunderstood Prabhupada's statements about the duty of a husband and the duty of a wife. We have a higher divorce rate in Iskcon than in the outside society. We also have a high rate of unhappy marriages (devotees who remain married because they are dutiful, not because they are happily married). This problem is commonly caused by male devotees misunderstanding what it means to be a man. Continue reading "Husband as Guru
→ Dandavats"

Deity Worship Ministry seminar Part 2