Planet ISKCON

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​How can we avoid pride while using our talents in Krishna’s service? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​What is the stage between self-pity and ego? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Does chanting with humility mean to think I am doing this for Krishna? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Why do we talk only about mind control and not about intelligence control? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

To release the dormant love within our heart is only possible by the grace of the Lords Hladini Shakti, his pleasure potency Srimati Radharani, She holds the key that can unlock the deepest mysteries of the soul. But it is natural that which is most rare, most inconceivable is often misunderstood. When you go into Air India, sometimes you see on the walls painted Rasa Lila and there is Radharani dancing. And people; that are our tradition Radha and Krishna, but it is a very deep subject. That is our tradition Radha and Krishna. In order to understand the nature of Sri Radha we must understand the nature of Love. Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami goes to great lengths to define, what is spiritual love and what is the love of the Gopi’s. A relationship based on the misconception that I am this body and mind or a relationship that is based on the concern for my enjoyment that is called Kama. A relationship that is based on the knowledge of our liberated condition that we are eternal spirit souls beyond the ego, the intelligence, the mind, the senses and the body. A relationship based on selfless unconditional service, completely for the purpose of giving pleasure to the object of love that is Prema. That is love that is the nature of the soul in its relationship with Krishna. Continue reading "Radhastami, a day to meditate on the deepest mystery
→ Dandavats"

It was first time Janmastami was celebrated at Gaya Gandhi Maidan. More than 10,000 people attended the festival, from 5 PM to night 2 AM. Prasadam was distributed profusely to all the attendants. Hg Rambhadra Prabhu, (Director, IYF- Bihar & Jharkhand) delivered a lecture. He highlighted Lord Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead quoting from scriptures such as Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. A drama entitled 'Advent of Lord Krishna' was performed. It was followed by aarti, abhishek etc. 136 ekadasi bhoga was offered to Lord though it was planned to offer 108. District Magistrate Gaya- Mr. Kumar Ravi, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Operation Gaya- Manoj Yadav were the guests of honor. There was a significant support provided by Mr Ramchandra Yadav, Director of Sri Krishna Janmastami Mahotsav Committee, in organisation of the festival. Continue reading "JANMASTAMI, 2016 at Gaya, Bihar, India
→ Dandavats"

Audio file and transcription of a lecture Srila Prabhupada gave on September 18, 1969 in London, on the occasion of the appearance anniversary of Srimati Radharani. Srila Prabhupada: The Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has got varieties of energies, as it is confirmed in the Vedic literature. Parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śruyate. Na tasya kāryaṁ karaṇaṁ ca vidyate. The Supreme Lord has nothing to do personally. Na tasya kāryam. He has nothing to do. Just like here in this material world we find some very big man, political head or business head; personally, he has nothing to do. Because he has got so many assistants, secretaries, that personally he hasn’t got to do anything. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full with six opulences, why He will have to do something? No. He has got many assistants. Sarvataḥ pāṇi-pādas tat. In the Bhagavad-gītā: “He has got everywhere His hands and legs.” You’ll find Kṛṣṇa, He has nothing to do. He’s simply engaged in enjoyment with gopīs and Rādhārāṇī. He’s not engaged in killing the demons. When Kṛṣṇa kills the demons He’s Vasudeva Kṛṣṇa; He’s not original Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa expands Himself. First expansion is Baladeva. From Baladeva—Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Vāsudeva. So by the Vāsudeva feature He acts in Mathurā and Dvārakā. Continue reading "Srimati Radharani’s Appearance
→ Dandavats"

BBT Art History - video presentation given in Los Angeles 8-26-2016.
Bharadraja Prabhu, one of the first artists who joined Iskcon, narrates how the Art Departement of Iskcon begun. This BBT Art team illustrated all of Srila Prabhupada’s books, created dioramas, museums etc. Srila Prabhupada called their paintings as “Windows to the Spiritual World”
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/083oXK

Sri Krishna Janmastami in Iskcon Thailand (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: On the mirror if there is dust, you cannot see ...

ISKCON Hong Kong - 2016 Sri Krishna Janmastami (Album with photos)
Sri Krishna Janmashtami, the appearance day of Lord Krishna...

Krishna Janmastami 2016 @ ISKCON Baroda (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Decorate the Deity as nicely as possible with ni...

The post Conversation with Adi-guru appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Harinama and Janmashtami celebration in Vienna, Austria (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Vedic scriptures say: “Even if one distributes ten million cows in charity during an eclipse of the sun, lives at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuma for millions of years, or gives a mountain of gold in sacrifice to the brahmanas, he does not earn one hundredth part of the merit derived from chanting Hare Krishna.” (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.79 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/cvHWno

Ratha Yatra in Leipzig, Germany (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: One should never consider the chanting of the holy name o...

Iskcon of Silicon Valley - Janmashtami - 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna mantra is specifically mentioned in many Upanisads, such as the Kali-santarana Upanishad, where it is said: “After searching through al the Vedic literature, one cannot find a method of religion more sublime for this age than the chanting of Hare Krishna.” (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.40 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/XoeEGQ

“Betting” Our Whole Life on Swamiji

Krsna is the embodiment of love and affection. He sees the good qualities of a living entity, overlooking the bad. Even if someone is in a lowly position Krsna is so kind that He can raise him to the topmost position, even up to Krsnaloka.

Every year Sri Krsna Janmastami is celebrated by millions of people all over the world.  Krsna descends to give pleasure to His devotees and uphold religiousness.

The ISKCON Canberra temple celebrated with grand style in a prestigious function hall near our centre. An estimated 500 guests and devotees attended an evening of kirtan, drama, dance, abhiseka and arati.

Gita verse-by-verse podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post Gita 11.19 – The universal form is not just blinding but also burning appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

MY PRESSING QUESTIONS IN LIFE: Examining my heart, how are my material attachments still impeding my full practice of bhakti, or causing me to remain a mixed devotee? What do I want in my heart of hearts, and how is that causing me to act, or not act? In deep honesty, what truly moves and inspires me? As a result, what do I actually want to be absorbed in, demonstrated by my consistent thoughts and actions? What types of people I do think about or are attracted to in my daily life? Who do I want to become now, and forever? Knowing I will die, today or tomorrow, what must I give up, and what must I adopt to make my life a true success?

Having an ordinary materialistic upbringing until I was 19 years old I was still blessed with spiritual practices for many years. However, I have recently noted that I developed a cavalier attitude that I was “saved” and in the back to Godhead program. Being forced to face death has brought to light honest introspect of what is my true shelter. I have found that the old conditioned voices run deep below the surface of my consciousness. At present, those voices are much more prominent than I have dared admit, like an old disease I have a natural tendency for, when the conditions are right—like herpes.

I have found that I have been too willing to accommodate, or compromise with my materialistic tendencies rather than truly root them out. Now, praying to move beyond my complacency and comfort, I realize I can’t keep feeding the causes of my embodiment. Seeing my conditioned nature, I must keep casting those tendencies away which are unhelpful for my real life of spiritual progress, seeing them as ugly degrading darkness, and not to be simply tolerated. In my understanding this is what we devotees have signed up for, right—not the life of ease? I don’t want to only remember my spiritual connection when convenient, or to either get out of a jam, or obtain some desirable object.

read more

Krsna Janmastami and Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja in Lagos, Nigeria (Album with photos)
Kavicandra Swami: It was very nice!
Surely not gigantic like in UK or New Dwaraka, but everything is relative. We had many local Nigerian and devotees and new guests. Many devotees stayed for the night and mangal arotika for Vyasa Puja was very crowded.
Kirtans in Africans are always high energy and this time was very sweet, altho often TOO loud for me.
Many devotees worked at decorating and cooking. Nigeria is in the midst of a serious economic crisis. It is an interesting place. Although the climate is tropical there are hardly any flowers around. The roads are “inconceivable”. I should have filmed a bit while we traveled cross country, but there was always bouncing and jerking so I did not get to it.
I find the children in Africa to be especially sweet.. They love kirtan and are very simple. They cannot afford all kinds of sense gratification and really take shelter of the holy names.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/SWRbZ1

65 000 guests gathered to celebrate 25th Sri Krishna janmasthami at ISKCON Salem. Celebration started early morning 4.30 am and went ‘till 2 am in the morning next day. Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai alankara was “Kalpa-Vrksa”, surrounded by 108 delicious offerings made by devotees. The darshan queue was way out on the main road. HG Hari-pada Prabhu and HG Phalini Mataji were the chief guests. They lead most ecstatic kirtans, and Prabhuji gave inspiring lectures much appreciated by locals. Program consisted of eight lectures, eight hours bhajans, two dramas (at noon and at evening performed by Srila Prabhupada Theatres from Chennai) and maha-abhishek. The 50 years of ISKCON’s glories and achievements were showed at the 24x 12 feet LED screen continuously throughout the event. 5 lakhs worth of Srila Prabhupada’s books were distributed and of course free prasadam throughout the day: Chole subji, Vegetable rice, Dal, Naan, Puri, Aloo Bonda, Kesari and Boondi were distributed to 65 thousand visitors. Srila Prabhupadas Vyasa puja was also celebrated in great manner and thousands participated in hearing Srila Prabhupada’s glories. After the abhishek followed pushpanjali and arati. The celebration ended with feast prasadam coming right from Sri Ranganatha Swami temple. Continue reading "65.000 guests gathered to celebrate 25th Sri Krishna Janmasthami at ISKCON Salem
→ Dandavats"

This year on Janmastami day, ISKCON - Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Mandir received 5 lakh devotees. The temple was decorated using flowers from India and elsewhere along with several Jhakis depicting the pastimes of the Lord. The temple also featured prominently the theme of '50th Anniversary' along with posters informing the visitors of ISKCON's activities. The dress that the Lordships wore this time was designed by a high-end fashion designer who also designs the clothes of the Royal family of Morocco and Luxembourg. By the coordinated efforts of all the devotees several prominent Politicians,Bureaucrats, Businessmen, Judges of several different courts visited the temple for darshan of Their Lordships and later met Sripad Gopal Krishna Maharaja who spoke to them about ISKCON's contributions in the last 50 years to bring about a spiritual and cultural revolution in the hearts of the people. Continue reading "ISKCON Delhi Janmashtami Report
→ Dandavats"

Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON after Fifty Years

Srila Prabhupada’s disciple Dhananjaya Dasa told me that at his initiation Srila Prabhupada said, “Dhananjaya means ‘winner of wealth,’” and added, moving his arms all around, “Money is flying in all directions—you simply have to learn the art of catching it.”

The next morning, Dhananjaya raised a question related to a purport he had read in Prabhupada’s Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.12.33):

“Maharaja Marutta: . . . [He] conducted one sacrifice called Sankara-yajna by which the Lord was so satisfied that He was pleased to hand over to him the charge of a mountain peak of gold. This peak of gold is somewhere in the Himalaya Mountains, and modern adventurers may try to find it there.”

“Srila Prabhupada,” Dhananjaya asked, “Is it true that there is mountain peak in the Himalayas made of solid gold?”

“Yes, there is such a peak.”

“Do you know where it is?”

“Why do you want to know?” Prabhupada asked.

Dhananjaya perceived that ISKCON was not doing well financially, and so he said, “Well, if you tell me where it is, I’ll get a rucksack [back pack] and a special hammer and chisel and go to the top of that mountain, hack away at the gold, fill up the rucksack, and come down, and then we can use that gold in Krsna’s service. So would you let me know where that mountain peak is?”

“No,” Prabhupada replied.

“Why not?” Dhananjaya asked.

“That would become too controversial,” Prabhupada said. Then he added, “Actually, more valuable than gold are devotees. You should make devotees.”

Dhananjaya took that instruction to heart and has always tried to make devotees—and along with making devotees, keeping devotees. Naturally, if we gain some wealth, we don’t want to lose it—we want to preserve it and increase it.

As Srila Prabhupada wrote, “It is better to maintain a devotee than to try to convince others to become devotees. It is the duty of the GBC to maintain the devotees, keep them in the highest standard of Krishna consciousness, and give them all good instruction, and let them go out and preach for making more devotees. Your first job should be to make sure that every one of the devotees in your zone of management is reading regularly our literatures and discussing the subject matter seriously from different angles of seeing, and that they are somehow or other absorbing the knowledge of Krishna consciousness philosophy. If they are fully educated in our philosophy and if they can get all of the knowledge and study it from every viewpoint, then very easily they will perform tapasya, or renunciation, and that will be their advancement in Krishna consciousness. So first thing is to instruct all of your temple presidents and the other devotees to read daily, just as we have done in our morning class in Los Angeles . . . reading one sloka each morning in Sanskrit and reciting it all together and then discussing it thoroughly by seeing different new things. So you introduce this system and train the devotees first. Don’t be too much concerned for the time being with nondevotees. Now we must fix up what devotees we have got in the knowledge of Krishna consciousness; then we will succeed. What good are many, many devotees if none of them are knowledgeable?” (Letter to Satsvarupa, June 16, 1972)

In a similar vein, Srila Prabhupada wrote, “So I want you leaders especially to become very much absorbed in the philosophy of Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and become yourselves completely convinced and free from all doubt. On this platform you shall be able to carry on the work satisfactorily, but if there is lack of knowledge, or if there is forgetfulness, everything will be spoiled in time. So especially you must encourage the students to read our books throughout the day as much as possible, and give them all good advice how to understand the books, and inspire them to study the things from every point of view. In this way, by constantly engaging our tongues in the service of the Lord, either by discussing His philosophy or by chanting Hare Krishna, the truth is that Krishna Himself will reveal Himself to us and we shall understand how to do everything properly. Now we have got so many students and so many temples, but I am fearful that if we expand too much in this way we shall become weakened and gradually the whole thing will become lost. Just like milk. We may thin it more and more with water for cheating the customer, but in the end it will cease to be any longer milk. Better to boil the milk now very vigorously and make it thick and sweet, that is the best process. So let us concentrate on training our devotees very thoroughly in the knowledge of Krishna consciousness from our books, from tapes, by discussing always, and in so many ways instruct them in the right propositions.” (Letter to Hansaduta, June 22, 1972)

Srila Prabhupada has a disciple named Tusta Krsna Dasa, who had been a follower of Sai in Hawaii and had joined ISKCON when Sai, along with other followers, had come to surrender to Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada initiated Sai as Siddhasvarupa Dasa, and Tusta Krsna eventually came to serve in Bombay, where he met and engaged with Mr. Nair, who eventually tried to cheat Srila Prabhupada and committed many grievous offenses against him, the Deities Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari, and the devotees. In response to a letter from Tusta Krsna, Prabhupada wrote,

“Your next question, after leaving this material realm does the devotee remain forever with his spiritual master? The answer is yes. But I think you have got some mistaken idea in this connection. You speak of pure devotee, that he is saktyavesa avatara, that we should obey him only—these things are the wrong idea. If anyone thinks like that, that a pure devotee should be obeyed and no one else, that means he is a nonsense. We advise everyone to address one another as Prabhu. Prabhu means master, so how the master should be disobeyed? Others, they are also pure devotees. All of my disciples are pure devotees. Anyone sincerely serving the spiritual master is a pure devotee; it may be Siddhasvarupa or others, a-Siddhasvarupa [the Sanskrit prefix a means “not”]. This must be very clearly stated. It is not that only your Siddhasvarupa is a pure devotee and not others. Do not try to make a faction. Siddhasvarupa is a good soul. But others should not be misled. Anyone who is surrendered to the spiritual master is a pure devotee—it doesn’t matter if Siddhasvarupa or non-Siddhasvarupa. Amongst ourselves one should respect others as Prabhu, master—one another. As soon as we distinguish here is a pure devotee, here is a non-pure devotee, that means I am a nonsense. Why you only want to be in the spiritual sky with Siddhasvarupa? Why not all? If Siddhasvarupa can go, why not everyone? Siddhasvarupa will go, you will go, Syamasundara will go, all others will go. We will have another ISKCON there. Of course, Mr. Nair must stay.” (Letter to Tusta Krsna, December 14, 1972)

Another ISKCON in the spiritual sky—what would that be like? The supreme spiritual planet has different sections. In one, Sri Krsna Caitanya’s pastimes are taking place, and in another, Lord Krsna’s pastimes. “This Krsna consciousness movement is for approaching Radha-Krsna,” Srila Prabhupada said, “to be associated with the Supreme Lord in His sublime pleasure dance. That is the aim of Krsna consciousness, . . . to enter into the dancing party of Radha-Krsna.” (Lecture on the song Nitai-Pada-Kamala, December 21, 1968, Los Angeles)

In his letter to Tusta Krsna, after saying that we will have another ISKCON in the spiritual sky, Srila Prabhupada added, “And if somebody does not go, then I shall have to come back to take him there.” In other words, every one of Srila Prabhupada’s followers is meant to meet him in the spiritual sky and serve him eternally; and when we do meet him, we’ll find that his other followers are also there, and thus our relationships with one another are also eternal, through Srila Prabhupada.

Later, another of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples, Upendra Dasa wrote him, “There are times when I take all my relationships within ISKCON and the pleasures and difficulties as something like a dream only. I am reminded of the time you explained to me that there is no reality in this world save and except the Divine Name and service to Him. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam I have also read that all this having to do with past, present, and future is a dream only. I am understanding, ‘Yes, even these relations as my wife, my children, or my friends or close godbrothers in Krsna consciousness, ISKCON, are like sticks meeting in a stream, to be separated in time, but with the same end of krsna-bhakti, back to home, or the ocean—that they are still part of these past, present, and future of the measuring temperament, though the devotional service and sentiments therein are eternally developing or lasting.’ It was raised that ‘No, our relationships formed here in ISKCON with one another are eternal in themselves in addition to the service, that ISKCON and we members as we are known now shall be known there.’ All this I was unable to support scripturally, and lest I make an offense and direct error, I place this before you.”

Srila Prabhupada replied, “As to your question concerning whether relationships between devotees are eternal, the answer is ‘yes.’ This is confirmed by Sri Narottama dasa Thakura: cakhu-dan dilo yei, janme janme prabhu sei—‘He is my lord birth after birth.’ In this way you have to understand, by studying carefully the philosophy.” (Letter to Upendra, January 7, 1976)

Once, at the opening of a bank, Srila Prabhupada quoted the saying that “money attracts money,” that wealth attracts wealth, but where did the original wealth, the devotees in ISKCON, come from initially?

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 2.6) explains the mood and method of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: ‘loka nistariba’—ei isvara-svabhava: “‘I shall deliver the fallen souls.’ This statement characterizes the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” A few verses later (Antya 2.13–14), we find a description of His method for delivering people who could not meet Him personally:

ta-saba tarite prabhu sei saba dese
yogya-bhakta jiva-dehe karena ‘avese’ 

ei jive nija-bhakti karena prakase
tahara darsane ‘vaisnava’ haya sarva-dese

“To deliver people in regions throughout the universe who could not meet Him, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally entered the bodies of pure devotees. Thus He empowered living beings (His pure devotees) by manifesting in them so much of His own devotion that people in all other countries became devotees by seeing them.”

This passage describes how Lord Caitanya empowered Srila Prabhupada, who elaborates on this principle in his purport:

“As stated in the Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 7.11):

kali-kalera dharma—krsna-nama-sankirtana
krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana

Unless one is empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, one cannot spread the holy names of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra throughout the world. Persons who do so are empowered. Therefore they are sometimes called avesa-avataras, or empowered incarnations, for they are endowed with the power of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.”

The first devotees in ISKCON were inspired and engaged by Srila Prabhupada—or by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu through Srila Prabhupada. And following Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Prabhupada manifested the same mood: loka nistariba—“I shall deliver the fallen souls.”

In our line, in ISKCON, we are meant to receive mercy and to distribute it, to taste Krsna consciousness and to share it with others—by the grace of Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga.

To distribute the mercy and message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Prabhupada translated many books, with full faith in his spiritual master—Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura—and Sriman Mahaprabhu. He wrote,

“It is to be admitted that whatever translation work I have done is through the inspiration of my spiritual master, because personally I am most insignificant and incompetent to do this materially impossible work. I do not think myself a very learned scholar, but I have full faith in the service of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. If there is any credit to my activities of translating, it is all due to His Divine Grace. . . . He was very fond of seeing many books published to spread the Krsna consciousness movement. Therefore our society, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, has been formed to execute the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.” (Caitanya-caritamrta, Concluding Words)

In 1971, one of our early life members in Calcutta, Shyamsunder Maheshwari, approached Srila Prabhupada when I happened to be in the room. He said, “So many spiritual organizations begin well, in the presence of the founder, but after the founder dies, the institutions break apart because the followers fight over the material assets of the institution. What will happen to ISKCON after you leave?”

Srila Prabhupada replied, “That will not happen in ISKCON, because these American and European boys and girls have had enough of material opulence and enjoyment, from before they came to Krsna consciousness. In fact, they have given up their material wealth and facilities to join ISKCON, so they will not fight over these things.”

In 1973, Srila Prabhupada was invited to be guest of honor at a series of lectures and discussions to be held at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Girgaum Chowpatty, South Bombay, on the subject of how the Bhagavad-gita could solve the world’s problems. The president of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Lilavati Munshi, was eager to meet Prabhupada, and she extended a personal invitation for him to join her for tea in the library of her quarters, also in the Bhavan building, just before the conference. And so Srila Prabhupada, accompanied by Syamasundara, Srutakirti, and me, went to meet Mrs. Munshi.

Several other conference presenters—sadhus, swamis, and political figures—and other important persons were also there to meet Srila Prabhupada, but even within this group of esteemed leaders, everyone accepted Prabhupada as the leader.

As soon as Prabhupada was seated, everyone started praising him for the wonderful work he had done in spreading Indian culture throughout the world. Mrs. Munshi in particular was astonished by Prabhupada’s success. “How did you do it?” she kept asking. “How did you get them to shave their heads? How did you get them to wear dhotis and kurtas and tilaka? How did you get the girls to wear saris?” Prabhupada explained that although there had been many editions of the Bhagavad-gita, it had not been presented “as it is” and there had not been any programs to train students to follow its principles. Although there were so many branches and institutions of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan—both within and outside India—and although they were disseminating books, there was no program for training young men and women to become followers of Vedic culture. Books were required, and training was also required. And he had given both.

Then Mrs. Munshi brought up a point that was on many people’s minds. “Quite often when the founder of a mission is present,” she said, “the mission is very successful—it’s flourishes and prospers—but after the founder leaves, things deteriorate. So what will be the future of your movement after you go?”

“The future of my mission is very bright,” Srila Prabhupada replied, “as long as my disciples follow my instructions. Just like Gandhi—he had so many programs, but after he left, his followers changed everything. He wanted village organization, he wanted the economy to be based on agriculture, and after he left, Nehru and others changed the whole program. They wanted to industrialize India and imitate the West. So, he had his program, but after he left his so-called followers changed everything and everything became spoiled. So in the same way, if I leave and my followers change what I’ve given, what can I do?” By saying this, he challenged us, his followers, with the responsibility of remaining faithful to his instructions.

Krsna consciousness, or bhakti-yoga, begins—and progresses—with faith (adau sraddha). This sraddha, faith and attraction, matures and intensifies into prema, pure love of Godhead, and ultimately maha-bhava, the most exalted stage of ecstatic love for Krsna.

ISKCON is built on the foundation of Srila Prabhupada’s faith in his guru maharaja and Krsna:

yasya deve para bhaktir
yatha deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah
prakasante mahatmanah

“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.” (Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.23)

Srila Prabhupada’s faith in his spiritual master and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is manifest in every aspect of ISKCON and is the cause of its success. He wrote, “We took up the mission of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and Bhaktivinoda Thakura to preach the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu all over the world, under the protection of all the predecessor acaryas, and we find that our humble attempt has been successful. . . . ‘To one who has staunch faith in the words of the spiritual master and the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the secret of success in Vedic knowledge is revealed.’ The Krsna consciousness movement is being propagated according to this principle, and therefore our preaching work is going on successfully, in spite of the many impediments offered by antagonistic demons, because we are getting positive help from our previous acaryas. . . . The success of the ISKCON party, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which strictly follows guru and Gauranga, is increasing daily all over the world. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura wanted to print as many books as possible and distribute them all over the world. We have tried our best in this connection, and we are getting results beyond our expectations.” (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi 12.8 purport)

And in his last year with us, Srila Prabhupada explained, “Now, I’ll say from my practical life . . . It is not pride. Actually everyone knows that my guru maharaja had thousands of disciples. So out of thousands of disciples, practically I am a little successful. That everyone knows. Why? Because I firmly believed in the words of my guru. That’s all. There may be many other godbrothers, maybe very learned and very advanced, favored, whatever it may be. . . . So I think sometimes that ‘Why this wonderful thing has happened to me?’ So I search out. I search out only that I cent percent believe in the words of my spiritual master. That’s all, nothing else. Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya, ara na koriho mane asa. Don’t think any nonsense. Simply execute what your guru has said. That is success.” (Conversation, Bhubaneswar, January 28, 1977)

Faith in Srila Prabhupada and his line is our greatest treasure. If we lose that, then everything is lost. In the same conversation in Bhubaneswar, a disciple gave the translation of guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya—“My only wish is to have my consciousness purified by the words emanating from his lotus mouth”—and Prabhupada responded, “Then he’s safe. And as soon as he manufactures—finished. So don’t do it. Yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau, tasyaite kathita. This is the secret of spiritual success.”

I can only pray to develop such faith, and to remain in the association of devotees who have that faith, whether in this realm or that, in ISKCON here or in the spiritual world.

Hare Krsna.

Srila Prabhupada’s aspiring servant eternally,

Giriraj Swami

The Flute Player of Vrindavan: Srimati Radharani, the eternal divine consort of Sri Krishna, is known as the Queen of Vrindavan. Vrindavan is where Krishna loves to be, because of Her love – and the love of all those who live there.
Vrindavan is at the center of the lotus of the spiritual world – no place is sweeter or more beautiful because it is saturated in the purest, most intimate love for Krishna. It is there that every word is a song, and every step is a dance. And the flute is Krishna’s constant companion.

The child-sages smiled lovingly and happily when they heard Pṛthu’s words, so sweet, appropriate, essential, accurate, and to the point. Sanat Kumār replied on behalf of them all.

“What a wonderful question you’ve asked, Emperor, about the welfare of all living beings,” the boy-sage said. “Although very learned, sādhus always ask questions. That is how their intellect works. Just as you are happy to be in our company, we are happy to be in yours. The meeting of sādhus is certainly wonderful, because their questions and answers allow peace and prosperity to unfold for everyone.”

The king humbly scoffed at the sage’s calling him a sādhu, so the boy explained, “It is obvious, King, that you have real desire to hear about the qualities of the lotus-like feet of the slayer of ignorance, Madhudviṣa. This desire washes away the impossibly rooted muddy stain of selfishness from the inner core of our beings.”

The king could not speak, so the boy continued. “Let me answer your question. We have carefully examined all the śāstra and reached a definite conclusion: the true cause of relief from suffering is to lose attachment to a self-concept that has nothing to do with the true self, and to fall solidly and strongly in love with the conscious entity who is beyond all conventional qualifications.”

“Please tell us,” the King eagerly asked, “how can we fall solidly and strongly in love with that transcendental being?”

“The auspicious method is to practice bhagavat-dharma by thoroughly and wholeheartedly learn the spiritual philosophy about the nature of All-Attractive Bhagavān. Worship the Master of Mystic Potency by consistently hearing about and discussing him.”

“How will we be able to engage in this auspicious method consistently?” The king asked.

“You will have to distance yourself from those who consistently want to do other things, due to their relentless hunger for indulging in sensual pleasures with sexual partners.”

“How can we distance ourselves from these people,” the king asked, “when we are those people?”

“Drink the nectar of Hari’s qualities,” Sanāt Kumār said delightfully, “and you will experience a sense of satisfaction so profound that you will give up all other ideas of pleasure.”

“Once we gain an initial taste for Hari’s qualities,” the king asked, “how do we develop and deepen it?”

“Cause harm to no one,” the boy replied swiftly and clearly. “And try to live the way great, peaceful spiritualists live: always expressly intent on remembering the nectarean flavor of lotus-faced Mukunda. Also, observe the restraints of self-control – by living with minimal needs, and prevent yourself from insulting anyone – by tolerating loss and gain.

“To summarize,” the boy-sage concluded, “we can most easily fall in love with that transcendental consciousness beyond conventional qualification by always decorating our ears ever more and more devotionally with the beautiful sound of Hari’s wonderful qualities, described by his devotees. This devotion also easily causes detachment from the self-irrelevant world of cause and effect.”

– Excerpt from an early draft of Part 4 of

Beautiful Tales of the All-Attractive

A translation of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam’s fourth canto

By Vraja Kishor

Parts 1, 2, and 3 of Beautiful Tales of the All Attractive

are available at VrajaKishor.com

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Is begetting children a duty to one’s ancestors? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​How can we balance humility with self-confidence? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​What is the destination of spiritualists who don’t follow scripture properly? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Are brahmanas allowed to eat meat? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Where is the soul present in plants? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Ekadashi recipes (playlist of brief video-recipes)
Srila Prabhupada: Because we live in the temples of Radha-Krishna and continuously hold hari-nama-sankirtana – the chanting of Hare Krishna – we consequently live in Vrndavana and nowhere else. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 16.281 Purport).
Watch them here: https://goo.gl/JmHZJE

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Is it right to kill large quantity of grass to cultivate one plant or grain? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Why should we avoid speaking points just because they are unpopular? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Should we improve the material skills needed for service or improve our consciousness? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Answer Podcast

Download by “right-click and save content”

The post ​Can the Gita’s verses be translated differently from what Prabhupada did? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

The post The temple and pastime of Kodandarama appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The post Talk at Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa-puja, Tirupati appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Ratha Yatra at the Banana Festival - August 2016 - Iskcon New Govardhana (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Chanting of th...

A beautiful cake resembling the Temple of Vedic Planetarium was offered to Srila Prabhupada yesterday in Iskcon Los Angeles!