Showing posts with label srila prabhupada. Show all posts

Thursday, 16 June 2016

DIFFERENCE IS SRILA PRABHUPADA AND SO-CALLED GURUS

DIFFERENCE IS SRILA PRABHUPADA SPEAKS WHAT KRSNA SPEAKS AND SO-CALLED GURUS HAVE TO JOG THE BRAIN TO GIVE ANSWERS.

760628bj.nv
Prabhupada:So-called gurus, they are so-called gurus. They are not gurus. That is already explained. If one does not speak what Krsna speaks, he is not guru. If you accept so-called guru, that is your misfortune. What can be done?
Pusta Krsna: Some of them will say some things that Krsna says, but they’ll take from other places also. What is the position of such persons?
Prabhupada: He’s MOST DANGEROUS. He’s MOST DANGEROUS. He is OPPORTUNIST. HE’S FINDING OUT CUSTOMER, SOMETHING HERE… ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOMER HE IS GIVING SOMETHING, AS THE CUSTOMERS WILL BE PLEASED. SO HE IS NOT GURU. He’s a servant. He wants to serve the so-called disciples so that he may be satisfied and pay him something. He’s servant. He’s not guru. Guru is the master. You cannot disobey guru. But if you become a servant, you want to please the disciple by flattering him to get his money, then you are not guru, you are servant. Just like a servant pleases the master. He’s not guru. He’s servant. So our position should be servant, yes, but servant of the Supreme. So guru means heavy. You cannot utilize him for satisfying your whims. That is not guru.

HIS DIVINE GRACE SPEAKS AS KRSNA SPEAKS

Antya 5.71
One is forbidden to accept the guru, or spiritual master, as an ordinary human being (gurusu nara-matih). When Ramananda Raya spoke to Pradyumna Misra, Pradyumna Misra could understand that Ramananda Raya was not an ordinary human being. A spiritually advanced person who acts with authority, as the spiritual master, speaks as the Supreme Personality of Godhead DICTATES FROM WITHIN. Thus it is not he that is personally speaking. WHEN A PURE DEVOTEE OR SPIRITUAL MASTER SPEAKS, WHAT HE SAYS SHOULD BE ACCEPTED AS HAVING BEEN DIRECTLY SPOKEN BY THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD IN THE PARAMPARA SYSTEM.

HIS DIVINE GRACE IS ALWAYS CONSULTING KRSNA

760714iv.ny
Bali-mardana: In other words, when you decide that someone is to be in charge of a particular temple does Krsna tell you that this person should be in charge.
Interviewer: Or do you by judging him say this person is qualified.
Prabhupada: YES, BECAUSE A DEVOTEE ALWAYS CONSULTS KRSNA AND HE GIVES ORDER.
Interviewer: IT’S A MORE DIRECT COMMUNICATION.
Prabhupada: YES. AND HE GIVES ORDER.
Ramesvara: Because intelligence, our philosophy is that intelligence comes from Krsna. So if I have some…
Interviewer: And your philosophy is that your daily necessities come from Krsna as well.
Ramesvara: Yes, try to understand. Suppose my intelligence sees that this person is qualified, that means Krsna has told me.
Prabhupada: NO, NOT NECESSARILY, KRSNA WILL TELL DIRECTLY. A DEVOTEE ALWAYS CONSULTS KRSNA AND KRSNA TELLS HIM, “DO LIKE THIS.” NOT FIGURATIVELY.
Interviewer: Does that apply then to other kinds of decisions and other kinds of activities as well?
Prabhupada: EVERYTHING. BECAUSE A DEVOTEE DOES NOT DO ANYTHING WITHOUT CONSULTING KRSNA.

Saturday, 3 August 2013

So, what is REAL wealth?

Hare Krsna

Pranams

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

I just sent out an email entitled- If you think by your work your getting rich-your not.

After thinking about it, I considered that many will think this is depressing news, and they would be correct.

However, there is a solution to this wealth malady now present on our Earth planet. And here it is...

We all want the Goddess of Fortune to reside in our homes, but 99% of most humans do not know the process of how this can take place. So Here is some sastric verses which gives us a hint.

Canakya Pandit a great Indian moralist and brahmana advisor to a King, once wrote:

In that city where a wealthy man, a brahmana, a king, a river and a physician are not all present, one should not live there for a single day. So just by this short explanation it would mean most if not all present day cities would be uninhabitable by human beings who want to be (at least economically) progressive in their lives.

OK, now let us see what Srila Prabhupada and Bhagavan Sri Krsna has to say.

1. 741208SB.BOM Lectures
Here it is said, rayah pasavo grhah. Rayah means wealth.
Formerly a man was considered to be wealthy--now also it is...
Dhanyena dhanavan, gavaya dhanavan. If you have got many number of
cows, then you are considered to be rich man, not papers. Nowadays, if
you have got bunch of paper written "one thousand dollar," but they
are paper only. You are dhanavan. Formerly, practical. Not dhanavan by
the papers, by the currency notes, but by how many cows you possess,
because that is life. You get milk. And dhanyena, if you have got food
grains, then you are rich, not by possessing some paper. No. Therefore
it it said here, rayah pasavo grhah. So these are the material
possession.

2. KB 5 Meeting of Nanda and Vasudeva
It is very important to note in this connection how wealthy the
inhabitants of Vrndavana were simply by raising cows. All the cowherd
men belonged to the vaisya community, and their business was to
protect the cows and cultivate crops. By their dress and ornaments and
by their behavior, it appears that although they were in a small
village, they were still rich in material possessions. They possessed
such an abundance of various kinds of milk products that they were
throwing butter lavishly on each other's bodies without restriction.
Their wealth was in milk, yogurt, clarified butter and many other milk
products, and by trading their agricultural products, they were rich
in various kinds of jewelry, ornaments and costly dresses. Not only
did they possess all these things, but they could give them away in
charity, as did Nanda Maharaja.

3. SB 9.14.47 P When there is sufficient rainfall, the earth becomes fit to produce everything
(sama-kama-dugha mahi). If one can utilize the land properly, one can
get all the necessities of life from the land, including food grains,
fruits, flowers and vegetables. Everything one gets for material
wealth is produced from the earth, and therefore it is said,
sarva-kama-dugha mahi (▼Bhag. 1.10.4). Everything is possible by
performing yajna.

4. 750716SB.SF Lectures
Prabhupada: So you have got big, big stock. That is required. There
may be scarcity at times, but if you keep stock, then there is no
trouble. This one, no foolish rascal should be worshiped, food grains
should be nicely stocked, and the third thing, most important,
dampatyoh kalaho nasti: "There is no disagreement between husband and
wife." If these three things are there, then you haven't got to pray
to the goddess of fortune, "Kindly be merciful." She will
automatically come. "Here is a very nice place. I shall stay here."

5. Bg 3.10 Karma-yoga
In the beginning of creation, the Lord of all creatures sent forth
generations of men and demigods, along with sacrifices for Visnu, and
blessed them by saying, "Be thou happy by this yajna [sacrifice]
because its performance will bestow upon you all desirable things."

6.In the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.32)

                       krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam
                       sangopangastra-parsadam
                      yajnaih sankirtana-prayair
                        yajanti hi su-medhasah

"In this Age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient
intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His
associates, by performance of sankirtana-yajna." (the chanting of

the Holy names of God)

Conclusion-So there we have it. Clear explanations given by Krsna Himself and a great Saint, Guru, Acarya, Pure Devotee, and Senapati Bhakta of the Supreme Lord about how all of us inmates of this kali yuga can live happily while in this material tabernacle called the "human body".

Hare Krsna

Damaghosa das

If you think by your work, you're getting richer-your not--here's the proof

family group AFTER experiencing the "outside world" for two years. They, when the youth reach the age of 16-18 go outside for two years, and look at the rest of the "world"-then they decide to go or stay)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

750304mw.dal ...Just like in the prisonhouse you have to work. Eh? So
they think this working is civilization. This is avidya. So therefore
they have created more work. From early morning, five o'clock, till
ten o'clock, simply working. They do not know that "This working is
our punishment." But because ignorant, they think that "Working is
life." This is called ignorance

740928SB.MAY...Therefore Krsna gives His instruction. He's the supreme ruler. He
gives this order: annad bhavanti bhutani: "You require food grains."
This is practical. Who will disagree with Krsna, that "We don't
require food grains; we require bolts and nuts in the factory"? Who
will say? This is practical... But Krsna does not say that
"You open slaughterhouse and industries and brothels and cinema." No.
Krsna does not say. Krsna says, "Grow more food, rascal! You'll eat
and become strong." And nobody is obeying Krsna. Is it not?

770108mw.bom
...So in the human form of life, you cannot neglect the instruction of Bhagavan. Then you'll be punished.
Severe punishment. Tan aham dvisatah kruran ksipamy ajasram andha-yonisu

770111tt.ida...Ramesvara: Many people already have their jobs and their families.
Prabhupada: That job... They will be very soon jobless. Don't worry.
(laughs) They will come. They will be obliged to come. Now they have
got job, but as the days are advancing in Kali-yuga, they'll be jobless..

750514mw.per...Amogha: He was saying that your solution was too simple. He said that
people will not accept it because it is too simple.
Prabhupada: That is his ignorance. They will say it is primitive.

That is the only solution. According to the Vedic system, you cannot use
anything which you cannot produce

720916SB.LA....Now, whole modern materialistic civilization is depending on the
motorcars and aeroplanes, transportation. So if the petroleum supply
is stopped, then what will be the condition of the society?

We have created a facility for transport by motorcar or by aeroplane, but side by side,
we have created another difficulty, that a man has to go to his work
three hundred miles away. Side by side. Formerly, a man used to work
on his field, a few steps from his house. Now we have created facility
of transport; therefore we have to go to work three hundred miles away
from home. This is the position. But they have no brain. They're
thinking they're advancing. (chuckles)

One day, one grown-up child was asking his mother, "Who is this gentleman?" The
father was there. So the mother said, "He is your father, my dear
child." So he did not see his father until he grew three years or four
years old. Because when he was child, the father was rising early in
the morning. At that time, child was sleeping. And he was going to
office, and when he comes back, the child was sleeping. So unless the
child grew four years old, he could not see his father. Is it not the
position of this?

770618rc.vrn...Upendra: The reason the original faith was placed in the scientists
was because radio, airplanes, tape recorders have been manufactured,
and people are impressed by these originally.
Prabhupada: So what is the benefit? Without radio, people were dying,
or with radio they are not living?Upendra: They say they are living more comfortably.
Prabhupada: Nonsense comfortably When you ride on a car, full of anxiety... At any moment there
may be accident. It is not comfortable. If you are full of anxiety.
Aeroplane may be. At any moment you can die. It is your time only.
They're going in good faith: "I shall go there." But before rising to
the sky, finished, crash. So many airplane has been... So where is the
comfort? As soon as you get on the aeroplane, you are in full anxiety
that at any moment there may be crash. Is it not? Then where is
comfort? Real comfort is without anxiety. That is real comfort.

Canakya Pandita has given, real comfort means, arni akyavad(?): "One
who is not out of home and one who has no debts, he is happy."

Nowadays people are going out of home, and everyone is debtor to the
bank and so many... The economic machine is so made that one is put
always in debts for some so-called comforts, and he's full of anxiety.
The whole month he has to work to pay debts. (end)

SB 7.14.5 P...A wise man, however, learns from the sastras and

guru... He therefore concludes that in the human

form of life he should not endeavor for unnecessary necessities, but

should live a very simple life, just maintaining body and soul

together. Certainly one requires some means of livelihood, and

according ...  is the basic principle of Vedic civilization. One

should be satisfied with whatever means of life comes automatically.

The modern materialistic civilization is just the opposite of the

ideal civilization. .... the so-called leaders of modern society

invent something contributing to a cumbersome way of life that

implicates people more and more in the cycle of birth, death, old age

and  disease.

"The village organization is that the local people produce their necessities like grain, vegetables, milk, and cloth; and for recreation they have the chanting of Hare Krishna. They should live there comfortably and have spiritual recreation. They should not come to the cities.

I wish to introduce this ideal now. Then if we are successful this cheating civilization will stop. They have made these cities as hell. If people do not cooperate with them, then how will the factories run on?

We should utilize our time for elevating ourselves in Krishna Consciousness than for the so called economic development. If we are satisfied with plain living, with minimun time and the balance time is engaged for elevating our Krishna Consciousness program, then every man can be transferred to Goloka Vrndavana, just in this very life. letter to Hamsadutta Jan 11, 1968

I am the lowest of all

701219SB.SUR Lectures
Prabhupada:...paramahamsa is the highest stage of perfection. Just like as a
preacher we have to point out... Just like I told this boy, "You sit
down like this." But a paramahamsa will not say. A paramahamsa, he
sees, rather: "He is all right." He sees. But we should not imitate
paramahamsa. Because we are preacher, we are teacher, we should not
imitate paramahamsa. We must tell the right source, right course.
Revatinandana: You must be higher than the paramahamsa stage,
Prabhupada.Prabhupada: I am lower than you. I am lower than you.Revatinandana: You are so beautiful. You are paramahamsa, but still,
you are preaching to us.Prabhupada: No, I am lower than you. I am the lowest of the all
creatures. I am simply trying to execute the order of my spiritual
master. That's all. That should be the business of everyone. Try best.Try your best to execute the higher order. That is the safest way of
progressing. One may be in the lowest stage, but if he tries to
execute the duty entrusted upon him, he is perfect. He may be in
lowest stage, but because he is trying to execute the duty entrusted
to him, then he is perfect. .........

Saturday, 27 July 2013

Srila Prabhupada should continue as the diksha guru for ISKCON (Bhakti Ananda Goswami)

Bhakti Ananda Goswami: What do you think about this gender mainstreaming plan for the human society worldwide in compare with Vedic knowledge ?

The authentic Vedic Vaishnava Culture, based on the equanimity and equal-amity of Sri Krishna’s Samata Yoga, had nothing to do with mundane sexism. It included, respected and uplifted all people, regardless of their physical ‘sex’ or gender identity and expression. Even to the time of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the remaining Vaishnava Vedic Culture provided some place for intersex people, which can be seen in the fact some ‘Hijra’ music and dance performers were ‘auspiciously’ present to celebrate the birth of Nimai Gaurangadeva Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. I do NOT agree with Amara Dasa of GALVA that the Hijra Class of India was or is primarily made-up of ‘homosexuals’.

I have been to India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and have interviewed various kinds of ‘Hindu’ ‘Hijras’ there, and ALL of the people that I interviewed and studied would be scientifically classed as intersex people. Factually while Amara Dasa may be generally correct about the role of ‘Third Sex’ people in Vedic and ‘Hindu’ Culture, in my opinion, his own homosexual bias has blinded him to the purely biological, the scientific reality involved.

>And is Prabhupada the only real Diksa guru in Iskcon for you or not ? What is your knowledge about that point in guru tattva because you are a senior Vaisnava therefore you must know much more about this point ?

Is ISKCON Srila Prabhupada’s Institution? Is he ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya? Then HE is ISKCON’s Diksha Guru.

During the Zonal Acharya days I was told that it was Srila Prabhupada’s last will and ORDER that I had to accept one of my God brothers as a ‘living guru’! Apparently because some of his criminal associates wanted my farm property, for a year they put great pressure on me saying that I would be cut-off from Srila Prabhupada if I did not OBEY SRILA PRABHUPADA AND SUBMIT TO MY ISKCON ZONAL ACHARYA. Still I resisted, but finally relenting I told the ‘Acharya’ that “I am Srila Prabhupada’s man, not yours.”

He said that he accepted this but to please Srila Prabhupada I still had to formally take new vows with him. Of course later I learned that their whole plot was to usurp Srila Prabhupada’s Authority, and so I completely rejected my relationship with that ‘Zonal Acharya’, and any further connection to the “ISKCON” that fraudulently created the Zonal Acharya System.

A Vaishnava Acharya is always THE ACHARYA for the lineage or sub-lineage that he has founded. Srila Prabhupada is THE ACHARYA for the “ISKCON” sub-lineage of the Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Line of modern Gaudiya Vaishnavism. No one else can or should ever make this claim or try to assume any status equal to HIM in HIS OWN GAUDIYA VAISHNAVA SAMPRADAYA ISKCON SUB-LINEAGE.

If some follower legitimately becomes an ‘acharya’ in their own right, then it MEANS that they MUST establish their own ‘school’. If their teachings do not contradict that of their own Acharya, then their new school or sub-lineage should be accepted as a sub-branch of their own Acharya’s Lineage. If their teachings are contradictory then they should NOT be accepted as still-connected-to their own Acharya’s lineage or school of thought. If their teachings are acceptable but their behavior is not, they may also be rejected as part of their Acharya’s Sampradaya.

In religious history a disciple is either acting as the initiating agent on behalf of his or her own spiritual master, or she or he is acting as a DIKSHA guru and initiating disciples on his or her own behalf. This depends on many things. Most essentially it depends on what the nature IS of the contract of initiation between the guru and disciple? Is the guru vowing to ‘take the sins’ of the disciple? If so, then the guru must personally make that decision OR must have previously set the conditions for acceptance of a disciple, and for severing the relationship and rejecting a disciple. If the disciple breaks the initiation contract, then the diksha guru is no longer obligated to take any more post-initiation vi-karmic (sinful) reactions for the disciple.

When someone dares to become a sin-taking diksha guru, ‘taking sins’ on their own, it means that they are willing to suffer the vi-karmic reactions of some disciple(s), rather than allowing their own guru to ‘take those sins’. Thus if they are very magnanimous, they may vow, like the Pure Land Buddhists or Vasudeva Raya, to ‘take’ the vi-karma of all of the sinners of the World! Of course it is ultimately only the Original Spiritual Master, the Second Person of the Godhead, Lord Ananta-Baladeva, Who ultimately “…takes away the sins of the World / Cosmos”.

As for the situation in ISKCON, it is not proper for any disciple to take the position of his or her Guru in a holy place established by their Guru and thus belonging to Him. Thus Srila Prabhupada should be the ONLY ACHARYA in HIS ISKCON ESTABLISHMENTS. His disciples should not receive ACHARYA VENERATION in any of his ISKCON ESTABLISHMENTS.

If any of his disciples want to start their own missions, establish temples etc. then they are certainly free to do so under their own credentials and authority, whatever that may be. BUT, whatever they do ON THEIR OWN should be honestly and properly labeled / identified, and NOT presented as being done under the EXPRESSED authority and permission of Srila Prabhupada. If, though, a disciple is truthfully and humbly continuing an expressedly approved, or ordered, or empowered service to Srila Prabhupada, then that service should continue. This principle is the same for the Books too. Sri Krishna’s permissive will allows everyone to be free to do what they can or want-to TO EITHER IMPROVE, OR TO RUIN Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai’s Non-Sectarian Hari Nama Sankirtan Movement. The freedom is there, but the reaction will be too.

Honesty and humility dictates that everyone honestly presents their offering to the Lord and to the public. This means that the public should not be cheated. Thus a teacher, a guru or spiritual intercessor, should first of all be honest and humble about what they are offering the public. This means that there should not be any ‘bait and switch’ where guru(s) USE Srila Prabhupada to attract the public and them give them something other and less than Srila Prabhupada. If a teacher or guru truly attracts and ‘makes’ their own disciples, based on their own merits, then they should have their own mission. In history this is the usual protocol.

Based on my knowledge of religious history in general and Vaishnava history and Gaudiya history and theology in specific, my conclusion has always been that Srila Prabhupada’s established Temples, Rites, Books etc. should have been kept the way that he established them, and that if any of his disciples wanted to establish anything differently, they should have started their own mission. This is what I personally told and wrote to Kirtanananda about his syncretistic changes at New Vrindavan. I was opposed to his New Age Syncretism, and pointed-out the many faults in it to him. Because Radhanath Swami was personally a staunch Vaishnava Traditionalist, I ask him, and NOT Kirtanananda, to ‘give me sannyas’.

Wednesday, 10 July 2013

WANTED-dead or alive, this body--SP

760527SB.HON Lectures
So we are concerned with the laws of God. God may be dead or
alive--it doesn't matter. Suppose by law we are prisoners, we are in
the prison house, and all of a sudden the president or the king dies.
Does it mean you shall be free? No. You have to rot. Just like Bengali
proverb says (Bengali), that if the king dies, his government is not
stopped. We should remember that, that that government is prakrti, the
material nature. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah. You are
reading Bhagavad-gita. So this is all foolish things, that "God is
dead," "I don't care for God." But God, actually, God is not dead. You
are dead. You are dead actually because this body, the bodily concept
of life, this body is dead. Just like you are driving one car. But if
you think that "I'm the car..." The car is dead. The car is moving
because you are alive. Similarly, this dead body, this body is dead,
already dead from the very beginning, but it is moving on account of
the soul. This is knowledge. It is dead from the very beginning.
Therefore in the sastra it is said that... What is that? I am just now
forgetting. Oh, apranasya hi dehasya mandanam loka-ranjanam. Apranasya
hi dehasya. Deha, deha means this body. So either it is dead or alive,
it has no life. Apranasya hi dehasya. Deha, he is not alive. It is
always dead. Simply we understand, because we are foolish rascals, we

understand that this body is dead when the soul is away. The body is
always dead. So bhagavad-bhakti-vihinasya jatih japas tapah kriyah. If
one is not Krsna conscious, bhagavata-bhakti-vihinasya, then his big
nationality, jatih, his achievement, japas tapah, his activities,
everything bhagavad-bhakti-vihinasya jatih japas tapah kriyah, all
these things are like decoration of the dead body. Apranasya hi
dehasya mandanam loka-ranjanam. Mandanam loka-ranjanam. We are
decorating this body with flower, ornaments, nice cloth. How long? So
long the life is there. Then it is beautiful. Otherwise no one will....

So, so far this body's concerned, either it is dead or alive, it is
not the subject matter of any talk. Nanusocanti panditah. Those who
are learned scholars don't talk about the body. They'll talk about the
soul. That is pandita. What is the... This is dead body. Suppose this
is cloth. Uh? Now if you talk about this cloth, you can talk. You can
write volumes of books: "This silk was purchased in that store and it
was manufactured in such and such day, and the man manufactured, he's
like this..." You can go on talking nonsense like that and can write
books. So all these rascal philosophers, they are writing about this
cloth. That's all. Yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke. But this is
not the subject matter for the learned scholars. Nanusocanti panditah.
What is this body? A combination of matter. It is already dead.
Because the living soul is there, it is moving, and as soon as the
living bo..., soul is out of the body, it is useless, dead matter. So
what is there important talking about this dead body? It is made of
this earth, earthly ingredient, bhumir apo 'nalo, and it will become
again. Either... There are three, how do you say, transformation of
this body. One transformation is ash. Another transformation is stool.
Another transformation is earth. There are three different types of
transformations. Just like Christian people, they bury the body. So,

in due course of time you'll find, say, after ten years, twenty, your
body's finished. It is now earth. The body has become earth. And
Hindus, they burn it, so the body becomes ash. And the Parsees, they
throw the body to be eaten by the vultures. It becomes stool. That is
the last, how would you say, transformation of this body. And we are
so much busy about this ash, stool, and earth. Just see how foolish we
are.

Therefore Krsna said to Arjuna, gatasun agatasums ca. Just like
motorcar, with driver or no driver, what is it? It is dead matter.That's all. Why one should be busy about this motorcar? One should be
busy about the driver, whether he's (indistinct) nicely, whether he's
eating nicely, he'll drive. If you don't take care of the driver,
simply you wash the car, what is the use? The car will not be moving
without driver. Similarly, the whole civilization should be on the
basis of understanding the soul. That is civilization. Unfortunately,
by the spell of maya... Just like this Ajamila. He's committing sinful
activities. He's now rogue, thief, cheater. He doesn't care for that.
But he's taking care of the body of the child. He's thinking, "This
child will save me when I'll be in danger." There is another verse in
the Second Canto:

                        dehapatya-kalatradisu
                       atma-sainyesv asatsv api
                       tesam pramatto nidhanam
                        pasyann api na pasyati

Deha means this body. Apatya means children. Dehapatya. Kalatra means

wife. Dehapatya kalatradisu atm-asainyesu. Here is struggle for
existence, and you're thinking that "This my strong body and my nice
children and my wife, they are my soldiers. Therefore I am saved."
Everyone is thinking like that. "Now I am in a good family. I've got
my family members very nice. I've got this strong body. Oh, what do I
care, God is dead?" That's all. So this is our misconception. We are thinking that this
paraphernalia--my country, my community, my countrymen or my family,
my wife, my children and so many things, mine, mine, mine--so I'm
thinking that they will give me all protection. No. Therefore, in the
Bhagavata it is said, dehapatya-kalatradisu asatsv api. He knows that
"They will be finished. They cannot give protection to themselves.
What protection they'll give to me?" This is knowledge. This is
knowledge. Dehapatya-kalatradisu atma-sainyesv asatsv api pramatta
tesam nidhanam. He knows that they will be finished, pasyann api na
pasyati. He has practical experience, yet still he does not see. This
is called maya. Maya means thing is one and he's thinking otherwise.His soldier, the so-called soldier, the protector, will be finished,
but still he's depending on him. Suppose a bird is flying with his
family in the sky. But if there is some danger, then no other bird can

help him. You have to help yourself. Just like aeroplane. If dozens of
aeroplane is flying, but if one aeroplane is in danger, no other plane
can give him any help. It will fall down and crash. Finished.
So we have to take care of ourself. Daily, we are thinking, "My
country, my community"--they're all busy in this way--"they'll save
me." No. When death will come, nobody will save you.

Thank you very much. (end)

Chant Hare Krsna at the time of departing this body, and we will be saved....

Thursday, 4 July 2013

The Continuing Transgression of the Absolute Truth

HastiGopalaDasa

This presentation is first and foremost not an action that is designed to specifically target the BBT and ISKCON leadership regarding their illegal and immoral tampering of SrilaPrabhupadas books. It is a presentation in the defence of my guru maharaja His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, this action is my duty. Whatever Krsna has said in His Gita and whatever SrilaPrabhupada has written in his Gita is applicable in any age. The BBT and ISKCON leadership have not written any commentaries on SrilaPrabhupadas books yet continue to construct elaborate presentations of changes to those books based on their belief that their changes to his and Krsnas books are as authoritative as writing their own commentaries. Those commentaries would reveal a more comprehensive and honest understanding of the works of Krsna and SrilaPrabhupada to their readers and would encourage others to read SrilaPrabhupadas original books while expanding their own understandings of this Krsna consciousness philosophy. That is leading by example and that example is obviously absent within the leadership of the BBT and ISKCON therefore they are not world leaders of the Krishna consciousness movement. The inadequacy of that particular aspect of leadership is clear indication not only of a serious shortcoming of the understanding and appreciation of Krsna’s and SrilaPrabhupadas books but a clear indication of direct targeting of the very foundations of the Hare Krsna movement to its detriment.

Since the leadership of the BBT and ISKCON have concluded (by the very ongoing acts of illegal book revisions) that the complete literary works of their founder acharya His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are material as opposed to transcendental literatures, their silent conclusion therefore is that the entire works of SrilaPrabhupada are not from the energies of Krsna. This conclusion is based on their materialistic revisionist ideology that does not recognise that SrilaPrabhupadas books exist as a result of the transformation of the Absolute Truth. This ideology is directly linked to the same theory proposed by SripadSankarcharya.

Those of SrilaPrabhupadas disciples and followers who believe and realise that SrilaPrabhupadas books were transformed directly from Krsna are considered by the leadership of the BBT and ISKCON to be suffering from illusion. The widely held notion that the BBT and ISKCON leadership are as academically and spiritually qualified as SrilaPrabhupada is their illusion. Their followers and supporters knowingly or unknowingly accept this propagated illusion to their spiritual and material detriment. Continuing to think, feel and act within their illusion, the BBT and ISKCON leadership confirm their arrogant belief that they are one with SrilaPrabhupada and Krsna. This BBT and ISKCON leadership position regarding the ongoing illegal changes to SrilaPrabhupadas books reflects the same ideology as that of the great Mayavadi guru SripadSankaracharya, which is an atheistic ideology. SrilaPrabhupadas original pre 1978 books, printed and bound are the conclusion to the transformation of the Absolute Truth.

It is not that those Mayavadis SrilaPrabhupada speaks of exist only in the past, they are spoken of in order to reveal to the readers a warning with evidence and advice to be followed. This was given to us in order to recognise that Mayavadi activity is in the midst of the BBT and ISKCON, to take decisive counter measures, and to re-establish the original works of Krsna and SrilaPrabhupada. SrilaPrabhupadas disciples and followers are engaged in this action as we speak.

The BBT does not explain their challenges to SrilaPrabhupadas original books and other writings for the supposed benefit of the Hare Krsna society or the world as a whole. That challenge and understanding they do not have, if they do they do not share it so they leave their followers and world readers blind to understanding the difference between what they claim is a much improved version of SrilaPrabhupadas works and his original works. Indeed his original works are not even presented so that the reader may know that they even existed or exist. So we can conclude two things. They do not understand themselves why they are changing what they are changing or they do not want the world to understand what they understand. Both of these positions are the positions of those who steal by stealth. Text 121 of the 7th chapter of the Adi-lila CC on paragraph two SrilaPrabhupada explains enough to write a book in itself that: ( one should read this whole text )

"For example, a father is one fact, and a son generated from the father is another fact. Thus both of them are truths, although one is generated from the other. This generation of a second truth, independent truth from a first truth is called vicara, or transformation resulting in a by-product." So the whole of ISKCON and the BBT leadership have been going down a blind alley, instead of looking for the opportunity to correct so called mistakes they should have been absorbing truths and realizations from SrilaPrabhupadas writings, making commentaries and expanding on his writings with their loving understanding of his most glorious works. By this time since the changes started some 35 to 40 years ago there would have been libraries of books based on realizations from SrilaPrabhupadas books by his disciples. Where are they? It was and is their lack of faith in the spiritual master and Krsna that has left them in that blind alley. So, the present devotees will write their books and commentaries based on SrilaPrabhupadas original writings leaving the BT and ISKCON to continue with their naval gazing. The continued illegal book revisions will stop, however their continuation is a clear indication that the BBT and ISKCON leadership have not and do not recognise that SrilaPrabhupadas and Krsnas books are a direct transformation of the Absolute Truth. They therefore do not recognise Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead or SrilaPrabhupada as His representative.

SrilaPrabhupadas and Krsnas books are the transformation of the Absolute Truth.

Adi7.121

TEXT 121

vyāserasūtretekahe ’pariṇāma’-vāda

’vyāsabhrānta’--bali’ tārauṭhāilavivāda

SYNONYMS

vyāsera—of ŚrīlaVyāsadeva; sūtrete—in the aphorisms; kahe—describes; pariṇāma—transformation; vāda—philosophy; vyāsa—ŚrīlaVyāsadeva; bhrānta—mistaken; bali’-accusing him; tāra—his; uṭhāila—raised; vivāda—opposition.

TRANSLATION

"In his Vedānta-sūtraŚrīlaVyāsadeva has described that everything is but a transformation of the energy of the Lord. Śaṅkarācārya, however, has misled the world by commenting that Vyāsadeva was mistaken. Thus he has raised great opposition to theism throughout the entire world.

Page 115 of the Purport SrilaPrabhupada and Krsna says: “Not believing in the fact that the energy of the Absolute Truth is transformed, Śaṅkarācārya has propounded his theory of illusion. This theory states that although the Absolute Truth is never transformed, we think that it is transformed, which is an illusion.Śaṅkarācārya does not believe in the transformation of the energy of the Absolute Truth, for he claims that everything is one and that the living entity is therefore also one with the Supreme. This is the Māyāvāda theory.”

For the leadership of the BBT and ISKCON to conclude, still to this day that all of SrilaPrabhupadas books need their immediate attention due to grammatical and philosophical faults is extremely blasphemous to Krsna and SrilaPrabhupada.

From the Purport of Text 121 on page 117 SrilaPrabhupada and Krsna say: “It is therefore to be concluded that Śaṅkarācārya, in order to present the Supreme Lord, the living entities and the material nature as indivisible and ignorant, tries to cover the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He maintains that the material cosmic manifestation is mithyā, or false, but this is a great blunder. If the Supreme Personality of Godhead is a fact, how can His creation be false? Even in ordinary dealings, one cannot think the material cosmic manifestation to be false. Therefore Vaiṣṇava philosophers say that the cosmic creation is not false but temporary. It is separated from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but since it is wonderfully created by the energy of the Lord, to say that it is false is blasphemous.”

SrilaPrabhupada and Krsna have never made any so called literary mistakes in regards to their collaboration in producing SrilaPrabhupadasbooks . For that matter they have not made any mistakes of any kind. SrilaJivaGoswami proves this from his Paramatma-sandarba: Purport to Chapter 7 Text 122 Adi-lia page 118. “ŚrīlaJīvaGosvāmī, in his Paramātma-sandarbha, comments regarding the vivarta-vāda as follows: “Under the spell of vivarta-vāda one imagines the separate entities, namely, the cosmic manifestation and the living entities, to be one with Brahman. This is due to complete ignorance regarding the actual fact. The Absolute Truth, or Parabrahman, is always one and always the same. He is completely free from all other conceptions of existence. He is completely free from false ego, for He is the full spiritual identity. It is absolutely impossible for Him to be subjected to ignorance and fall under the spell of a misconception (vivarta-vāda). The Absolute Truth is beyond our conception. One must admit that He has unblemished qualities that He does not share with every living entity. He is never tainted in the slightest degree by the flaws of ordinary living beings. Everyone must therefore understand the Absolute Truth to possess inconceivable potencies.” From Text 127 of the Adi-lila Chapter 7 on page 121 from the purport SrilaPrabhupada and Krsna teach us and give us a further understanding and appreciation of the very serious damage being done by the BBT and ISKCON leadership not only to SrilaPrabhupadas and Krsnas books but to the Hare Krishna movement as a whole.

“The falsity of ŚrīpādaŚaṅkarācārya’s explanation of vivarta-vāda and pariṇāma-vāda has been detected by the Vaiṣṇavaācāryas, especially JīvaGosvāmī, whose opinion is that actually Śaṅkara did not understand the Vedānta-sūtra. In Śaṅkara’s explanation of one sūtra, ānanda-mayo ’bhyāsāt, he has interpreted the affix mayaṭ with such word jugglery that this very explanation proves that he had little knowledge of the Vedānta-sūtra but simply wanted to support his impersonalism through the aphorisms of the Vedānta philosophy. Actually, however, he failed to do so because he could not put forward strong arguments. In this connection, ŚrīlaJīvaGosvāmī cites the phrase brahma pucchaṁpratiṣṭhā (TaittirīyaUpaniṣad 2.5), which gives Vedic evidence that Brahman is the origin of everything. In explaining this verse, ŚrīpādaŚaṅkarācārya interpreted various Sanskrit words in such a way that he implied, according to JīvaGosvāmī, that Vyāsadeva had very little knowledge of higher logic. Such unscrupulous deviation from the real meaning of the Vedānta-sūtra has created a class of men who by word jugglery try to derive various indirect meanings from the Vedic literatures, especially the Bhagavad-gītā. One of them has even explained that the word kurukṣetra refers to the body. Such interpretations imply, however, that neither Lord Kṛṣṇa nor Vyāsadeva had a proper sense of word usage or etymological adjustment. They lead one to assume that since Lord Kṛṣṇa could not personally sense the meaning of what He was speaking and Vyāsadeva did not know the meaning of what he was writing, Lord Kṛṣṇa left His book to be explained later by the Māyāvādīs. Such interpretations merely prove, however, that their proponents have very little philosophical sense.

( Etymologically means in an etymological manner or according to etymology. Etymology is the study of the sources of words as well as their development)

Krsna and SrilaPrabhupada quote directly from sastra a timeless truth.

"The self-evident Vedic scriptures are the highest evidence of all, but if these scriptures are interpreted, their self-evident nature is lost.” Text 132 Chapter 7 Adi-lila.

These books presented by Krsna and SrilaPrabhupada reveal all truths that are applicable to any circumstance in one’s life. The circumstance in this case is illegal and nonsensical book changes.

“We quote Vedic evidence to support our statements, but if we interpret it according to our own judgment, the authority of the Vedic literature is rendered imperfect or useless. In other words, by interpreting the Vedic version one minimizes the value of Vedic evidence. When one quotes from Vedic literature, it is understood that the quotations are authoritative. How can one bring the authority under his own control? That is a case of principiisobsta.”

principiisobsta means “resist the beginnings” SrilaPrabhupada and Krsna books are self-evident Vedic scriptures and the BBT and ISKCON leadership continue to resist the beginnings.

In all of my other books-SrimadBhagavatam, Sri Isopanisad, etc-the system is that I give the original verse, it’s English transliterations, word-for-word Sanskrit English equivalents, translations and purports. This makes the book very authentic and scholarly and makes the meaning self evident.

Preface to Bhagavad Gita

Therefore it is evident that the BBT and ISKCON leadership are continuing their transgression of the Absolute Truth.

Truths generate new truths and realizations. As SrilaPrabhupada said. So for all of us to move ahead of the bad affects of the BBT and ISKCON leadership we must take and share with the world SrilaPabhupadas advice. Chapter 7 page 113 purport to text 120 of the Adi-lila last paragraph.." Therefore the Hare Krsna movement or Krsna consciousness movement is the only light for the foolish living entities who think either that there is no God or that if God exists he is formless and they themselves are also God. These misconceptions are very dangerous, and the only way to counteract them is to spread the Hare Krsna movement"

HastiGopalaDasa

Wednesday, 3 July 2013

The real lap of luxury-Devotional service/Bhakti Yoga---SP

760731r2.par Conversations
Prabhupada: Harer nama, harer nama. Everyone is
happy, the children, the woman. They don't demand anything, that "Give
us this, give us that." They have simplified, automatically they have
simplified their life. And gradually develop, make little cottages,
grow little vegetable, little barley or wheat and milk. That is
sufficient. We don't require much. We don't want luxury. We want just
to subsist. Yavad artha prayojana. We hate the idea of luxury,
unnecessary.

760731rc.par Conversations
Prabhupada: No, our life is simple. We don't want luxury. We don't
want luxury, but as we are accustomed in so many ways, as far as
possible. But life should be very simple. To increase unnecessarythings unnecessarily, that is material life.Jyotirmayi: I was thinking in that way, simple clothes, no jewels,
just like the boys, simple...
Prabhupada: Don't say "no." But give a taste for the good, then it
will be automatically "no." And if you say "no" then he'll, they will
rebel. The four "no's," that is very difficult. Still they are
breaking. No illicit sex, they are breaking. But if they develop Krsna
consciousness, this will be automatically "no." So don't bring many
"no's," but give them positive life. Then it will be automatically
"no." And if you say "no," that will be a struggle. This is the
psychology. Positive engagement is devotional service. So if they are
attracted by devotional service, other things will be automatically
"no." Param drstva nivartate.

760820rc.hyd Conversations
Prabhupada: No, they are very happy. All the boys and girls
are very happy. Sit down. So that I want, that I live happily and
chant Hare Krsna. That's all. We don't want unnecessary luxury.Anartha. Anartha-nivrttih syat. Anartha should be reduced, nil, bare
necessities. Anartha... Just like this material thing we require for
preaching. That is not anartha. But when it is used for sense
gratification, that is anartha. Anything for sense gratification, that
is unwanted, anartha. And anything for Krsna consciousness, that is
spiritual.

Thursday, 11 April 2013

Srila Prabhupada : "On My Behalf"

1972 Correspondence

The initiation of Michael Stein is approved and beads are being sent in separate cover.

Letter to Ravindra Svarupa -- Nairobi 25 January, 1972:

The initiation of Michael Stein is approved and beads are being sent in separate cover.

The initiation of David and Susan Shomaker, Bruce Jacobs and Daryl Nauyokas are approved by me and their beads are following in a separate cover.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Nairobi 29 January, 1972:

The initiation of David and Susan Shomaker, Bruce Jacobs and Daryl Nauyokas are approved by me and their beads are following in a separate cover.

*4 initiations.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
MS/jdb
SPIRITUAL NAMES BELOW
D. Shomaker—Bir Raghava
S. Shomaker—Birmala
B. Jacobs—Bir Krishna
D. Nauyokas—Bir Laksmana

Regarding the second initiation for Paramahamsa das, I approve and his thread and copy of mantra have been sent under separate post.

Letter to Gargamuni -- Honolulu 11 May, 1972:

Regarding the second initiation for Paramahamsa das, I approve and his thread and copy of mantra have been sent under separate post. Now you hold a fire yajna, and there have been several other threads recently sent to Bombay, so you hold yajna and give them all threads. I think Dayananda can send you copy of tape of me reciting Gayatri mantra, and this can be heard through the right ear by earphones during the yajna.

1973 Correspondence

It is becoming very expensive to send so many sets of beads such long distance, and it has become little bothersome for me also, so I think now you may be appointed by me to give first initiations to new disciples by chanting on their beads on my behalf. In America Kirtanananda Swami is going that.

Letter to Revatinandana -- Bombay 4 January, 1973:

Please accept my blessings. Just now I have received some more requests for giving first initiation from Dhananjaya, and now I am receiving weekly not less than ten to fifteen such requests from new students. So it is becoming very expensive to send so many sets of beads such long distance, and it has become little bothersome for me also, so I think now you may be appointed by me to give first initiations to new disciples by chanting on their beads on my behalf. In America Kirtanananda Swami is going that. So now if there are two of you that will give me great relief. Kirtanananda will chant on the beads for new devotees in America, Canada, like that, you can chant on the beads for the European continent new disciples. They shall, of course, still be considered as my disciples, not that they shall become your disciples, but you will be empowered by me to chant their beads and that is the same effect of binding master and disciple as if I were personally chanting. They may continue to send me their letters of request, along the President's recommendation, and I shall give them name and it will be entered by my Secretary in our records, only I will send my letter of reply to you and you will purchase beads there and chant them and send, along with my letter to the new initiates. Is that all right?

I shall continue to deal with the matter of second initiations. The sacred threads do not require so much postage to send airmail.

I have delegated Kirtanananda Swami to chant on the new devotees' beads on my behalf in your country. In Europe, Revatinandana Swami will chant on the new devotees' beads on my behalf.

Letter to Bhutatma -- Bombay 5 January, 1973:

I am very happy to hear from you that everything is going nicely in the San Francisco temple. Upon your recommendation I am very glad to accept the six new students as my duly initiated disciples. Their letter is enclosed herewith. As for chanting on their beads, I have delegated Kirtanananda Swami to chant on the new devotees' beads on my behalf in your country. In Europe, Revatinandana Swami will chant on the new devotees' beads on my behalf. Because it is such long distance, therefore it is very expensive to send beads airmail from here, and there are so many instances of the beads being lost in that way. And I am getting now requests up to 20 or 30 each week, so it is practically becoming impossible for me to chant the beads when I am so far distant. Therefore the new devotees may send their beads to Kirtanananda in New Vrindaban, and he will chant the beads and send back to them. Is this all right?

Now hold the fire yajna and give also second initiation to Sarvadarsan, Yajnapati, and Hari Ballav. Enclosed please find three sacred threads, duly chanted by me, along with three copies of Gayatri mantra. Now hold the fire yajna for all nine devotees, and for the second initiates teach them how to chant on the finger divisions and play for them the tape of me reciting Gayatri mantra into their right ear.

You may send your beads to Kirtanananda in New Vrindaban for chanting on them on my behalf. There is no difference if I chant them or he chants them; I have authorized him in that way.

Letter to Krsnakatha (Kris Carlson), Anala (Anna Carlson) Riddha (Roger May), Maharddhi (Morley Walkowski), Rohita (Randy Hyndeman), Kala (Carl Mulder) -- Bombay 5 January, 1973:

Please accept my blessings. Upon the recommendation of Bahudak I have gladly accepted all of you as my duly initiated disciples. You may send your beads to Kirtanananda in New Vrindaban for chanting on them on my behalf. There is no difference if I chant them or he chants them, I have authorized him in that way. I have given you the spiritual names as follows:

Kris Carlson/ KRSNAKATHA DAS ADHIKARI

Anna Carlson/ ANALA DEVI DASI

Roger May/ RIDDHA DAS

Morley Walkowski/ MAHARDDHI DAS

Randy Hyndeman/ ROHITA DAS

Carl Mulder/ KALA DAS

Now my request to all of you is that you very seriously and sincerely stick to the principles of devotional service, and especially observe strictly the four prohibitions, and without fail always chant at least 16 rounds on your beads daily. In this way you will be always happy.q

Now I am getting so many requests to take first initiation from temples in your country, and once before I had empowered you to chant the beads on my behalf, so henceforth, as long as I am away from America and Canada, I am requesting all of the temple presidents in that zone of North America and South America to send the beads of the new devotees to you at New Vrndaban.

Letter to Kirtanananda -- Bombay 5 January, 1973:

Please accept my blessings. Now I am getting so many requests to take first initiation from temples in your country, and once before I had empowered you to chant the beads on my behalf, so henceforth, as long as I am away from America and Canada, I am requesting all of the temple presidents in that zone of North America and South America to send the beads of the new devotees to you at New Vrndaban. The candidates for new devotees will send me their letters as usual, and I will give them names myself and enter in our records, simply you must chant on their beads and then return to them. Is that clear? Or, if you think it is better arrangement, I think that Bali Mardan has got many many beads in New York which we have sent him from Mayapur, so if you like you may get from him many sets of beads and you may chant them and, whenever requested by my letter only, you may send the new beads directly to the new devotees. Henceforth, then, I shall send copies of my letters of reply to the new devotees, wherever I am in the world, to you, and besides that the new devotees themselves will write to you and send you their beads. Similarly, I have appointed Revatinandana Maharaja in England to chant the beads of the new devotees on European Continent. Otherwise, in other parts of the world, I shall chant them as always.

You may send your beads to Kirtanananda in New Vrindaban for chanting them, as I have empowered him to act on my behalf. Or you may write him and request him to send you new beads, as you arrange.

Letter to Hasyakari (Howard Bernd), Rathangapani (Randy Buchert), Varuthapa (Warren Havens), Laksmivan (Lawson Knight), Bhaktavatsala (Barry Butler), Bhaktilila (Linda Butler) -- Bombay, India 9 January, 1973:

Upon the recommendation of Damodara I have gladly accepted all of you as my duly initiated disciples. Now you may send your beads to Kirtanananda in New Vrindaban for chanting them, as I have empowered him to act on my behalf. Or you may write him and request him to send you new beads, as you arrange. I have given you the spiritual names as follows:

Howard Bernd/ HASYAKARI DAS

Randy Buchert/ RATHANGAPANI DAS

Warren Havens/ VARUTHAPA DAS

Lawson Knight/ LAKSMIVAN DAS

Barry Butler/ BHAKTAVATSALA DAS

Linda Butler/ BHAKTILILA DASI

My request to all of you is that you very seriously stick to the principles of devotional service as you have learned them, and especially observe strictly the four prohibitions and without fail always chant at least 16 rounds on your beads daily. In this way you will be always happy.

You may request them to send their beads to Kirtanananda in New Vrndavana for chanting on them on my behalf.

Letter to Damodara -- Bombay, India 9 January, 1973:

Upon your recommendation I am happy to accept the six applicants as my duly initiated disciples, and their letter is enclosed herewith. You may request them to send their beads to Kirtanananda in New Vrndavana for chanting on them on my behalf. I have given that responsibility as it is too costly to send so many beads such great distance by air mail. Now I am getting so many requests for first initiation, therefore I have given that responsibility to Kirtanananda, and Revatinandana will chant on the beads for the European devotees.

Will you please send one copy of this letter to Kirtanananda Swami along with their beads of the aspiring devotees for I have authorized him to chant on the beads on my behalf.

Letter to Kurusrestha -- Melbourne 10 February, 1973:

Second initiations of Sudarsani dasi and Madhurya-lilananda dasi are duly approved by me. Enclosed you will find the Gayatri Mantra slips. You may have one fire ceremony and they may listen to the tape of me chanting the Gayatri Mantra in their right ear and repeat it. Regarding the first initiations, they are also approved by me and their names are as follows. Dan Swanson is now Dvijati Pujaka das, Christopher Beard is now Carucandra das, Phillip West is now Prabala das and Rebecca Strowger is now Rupa Ramesvari dasi. Will you please send one copy of this letter to Kirtanananda Swami along with their beads of the aspiring devotees for I have authorized him to chant on the beads on my behalf.

You may send one letter to Kirtanananda Swami along with their beads for chanting on. I have authorized him to chant on the beads on my behalf.

Letter to Nityananda -- Melbourne 11 February, 1973:

The initiation that you have recommended are approved by me. Victor Mistretta is now to be called Vrikodara and Darrel Martin is now Dvibhuja. You may send one letter to Kirtanananda Swami along with their beads for chanting on. I have authorized him to chant on the beads on my behalf. I hope this finds you in good health.

Letter to: Sukadeva 2
—
Calcutta
29 January, 1973

My dear Sukadeva das,

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 1/8/73, and I have noted the contents with satisfaction. Thank you very much for your kind sentiments. This attitude of serving first the spiritual master is the correct one, for only by the mercy of the spiritual master can one obtain the mercy of Krsna. Just as we sing every morning yasya prasadad bhagavad-prasado yasya prasada na gatih kuto 'pi, in this way the disciple advances more and more in understanding God. So if you simply execute with full faith the instructions that I have already given you, then you will see so many people will be sent by Krsna to become devotees because of your sincerity. So as you are my appointed leader, you must also see that the others are following very strictly the regulative principles like chanting 16 rounds, reading my books regularly, rising early for mangala aratrika, these things will keep us purified for advancing more and more in Krsna Consciousness.

So far your request for initiations for Patrick and Jane, that is approved by me. So far the infant is concerned, let him wait until he is older. You may receive the beads chanted upon by Kirtanananda Maharaja and hold the fire sacrifice. Concerning the second initiations for Ojasir das Brahmacari, Smaranananda das Adhikary and his wife Samsaramochan Devi Dasi, that is also approved, and you will find enclosed the Gayatri threads. So hold the fire yajna and for those who are initiated as brahmanas, teach them how to count on the finger divisions, and play the Gayatri mantra tape in their right ear and have them repeat it along with my vibration word for word, then hang sacred thread on his neck as usual. Girls don't require thread but can responsively chant the Gayatri mantra. In each individual case the instruction should be given and the mantra replayed. The giving of the Gayatri mantra can be held after the fire yajna and each devotee can come alone to you to receive the thread.

Yes, the spiritual master is also present in his picture, though more importantly he is present in his teachings. I think this is explained in one letter that has already been distributed. If you have further questions try to get them resolved by your GBC man, Karandhar, because now I wish to spend all of my time for translating my books like Srimad-Bhagavatam, so I may give them to you.

Thank you very much for assisting me in this way. Hope this finds you in good health.

Your ever well wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Your request for initiation is approved by me, and I have sent a letter in this regard.

Letter to Gunagrahi -- Calcutta 31 January, 1973:

Krsna Consciousness means always increasing, so I am glad to see that you are remaining enthusiastic to push on this Krsna Consciousness movement more and more. Your request for initiation is approved by me, and I have sent a letter in this regard. You are president of Buffalo temple, so in consultation with your GBC man you may discuss how to push on the spreading of this Krsna Consciousness movement through street sankirtana, book distribution, etc., whatever is practical for you to follow. In regard to preaching the glories of the Lord there are no hard and fast rules, we must simply always remain ourself fixed in Krsna Consciousness and then Krsna will give us the good guidance how to push things on. So since Rupanuga Maharaja is coming there you may discuss with him. I am desiring now to turn over the management of the society to my disciples, the temple presidents and GBC men especially, so cooperatively you may work out the management details.

Regarding the question of your wife's initiation, that is certainly approved by me.

Letter to Rajiblocan -- Calcutta 31 January, 1973:

Regarding the question of your wife's initiation, that is certainly approved by me. You may arrange with Kirtanananda Maharaja for receiving beads duly chanted upon by him. Now both of you cooperate for pushing on this Krsna Consciousness movement as this is our only business in this human form of life.

Second initiations of Sudarsani dasi and Madhurya-lilananda dasi are duly approved by me.

Letter to Kurusrestha -- Melbourne 10 February, 1973:

The initiation of Bhakta Olaf das is duly approved by me and his new name is Asok Kumar.

Letter to Guru-gauranga -- Melbourne 11 February, 1973:

The initiation of Bhakta Olaf das is duly approved by me and his new name is Asok Kumar. You may also have him send his beads along with a cover letter from you to Rebatinandan Swami, who is in London and has been authorized by me to chant on the beads. I hope this finds you in good health.

I am in due receipt of your letter and I approve of the initiations of Bill Allan who is now to be called Balaji das, Paul Terry who is now to be called Parambrahma das, Richard Selvin who is now Radhanatha das and Tom Meyers who is now Taru das.

Letter to Kirtanananda -- Melbourne 11 February, 1973:

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter and I approve of the initiations of Bill Allan who is now to be called Balaji das, Paul Terry who is now to be called Parambrahma das, Richard Selvin who is now Radhanatha das and Tom Meyers who is now Taru das. I hope this meets you in good health.

The initiation that you have recommended are approved by me.

Letter to Nityananda -- Melbourne 11 February, 1973:

You may consult with Karandhara das and request him to approve your second initiation. I hope this meets you in good health.

Letter to Tosana -- Melbourne 11 February, 1973:

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated January 25th. and have noted the contents carefully. Your dedication to Srimati Tulasi-devi is very laudable and I am sure that if you consult with Karandhara das he will give you all assistance to help make your dream come true. But carving tulasi beads should not be your sole occupation. You should also go out for street sankirtana and distribute my literature for the cripple minded masses, and whatever spare time you have you can carve some tulasi beads for me to sanctify. But whatever you do should be done with wholehearted enthusiasm and strict adherence to the principles of chanting 16 rounds, rising for mangala arati, following the four basic principles, always remaining clean etc. You may consult with Karandhara das and request him to approve your second initiation. I hope this meets you in good health.

I am approving of the initiation of John Favors who is now to be called GHANASYAMA DASA.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Sydney 15 February, 1973:

I am approving of the initiation of John Favors who is now to be called GHANASYAMA DASA. From your description he is to be a very nice and intelligent boy so please train him up properly. You may send his beads on to Kirtanananda Maharaja for chanting. I hope this meets you in good health.

I am approving of the first initiation of Debra Hillard. However it is not our policy to give first and second initiations at once.

Letter to Nityananda -- Sydney 18 February, 1973:

I am approving of the first initiation of Debra Hillard. However it is not our policy to give first and second initiations at once. It is better she wait some time. Her new name will be DEBRAJA DASI and also I am agreeing to the second initiation of Shanti dasi. Now you please arrange it so that the Deities are worshiped very very properly and always remain humble in their presence.

I am approving of second initiation for Hari-puja dasi as you requested.

Letter to Bali-mardana -- Calcutta March 7, 1973:

I am approving of second initiation for Hari-puja dasi as you requested.

Also I give approval for the one brahminical initiation. Please find one Gayatri mantra enclosed.

Letter to Govardhan 2 -- Los Angeles 8 May, 1973:

Upon your recommendation I am glad to accept these devotees as my initiated disciples. So now you may hold a fire yajna and send their beads to Kirtanananda Swami for chanting. Also I give approval for the one brahminical initiation. Please find one Gayatri mantra enclosed. After the fire yajna you may play the tape of me chanting Gayatri mantra into the right ear in private. Teach how to count on the finger divisions.

1974 Correspondence

I have accepted the devotees recommended by you for first initiations, and their spiritual names are as follows. Dan McGready—Divyanga dasa Michelle—Maharajani devi dasi Paula—Pramada devi dasi.

Letter to Batu Gopala -- Bombay 23 March, 1974:

Dear Batua Gopala,

Please accept my blessings. I have accepted the devotees recommended by you for first initiations, and their spiritual names are as follows.
Dan McGready—Divyanga dasa
Michelle—Maharajani devi dasi
Paula—Pramada devi dasi
Their beads may be chanted on by Jagadisa Prabhu. Please impress upon them that their chant must avoid the ten offenses, and that they must chant the minimum 16 rounds without fail, and be very careful to keep themselves free of the four sinful activities. They are in your charge so you must set the example.
I am also sending gayatri and sacred thread for Rasikhananda das Brahmacari for his second initiation, and also Gauranga devi dasi.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/sdg

1976 Correspondence

Concerning the initiation of your wife, Revatinandan Swami has approved her being recommended for first initiation, and he has been informed accordingly of her spiritual name.

Letter to Tarun Kanti Ghosh -- Los Angeles 9 June, 1976:

Concerning the initiation of your wife, Revatinandan Swami has approved her being recommended for first initiation, and he has been informed accordingly of her spiritual name. As disciples you must strictly chant 16 rounds of japa, Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, daily. Also strictly avoid the unwanted habits of illicit sex-life, meat-eating, gambling, and intoxication, and in this way make progress in Krishna Consciousness and be happy.

1977 Correspondence

Letter from Tamala Krishna Goswami (on Srila Prabhupada's behalf) to Hansadutta.

July 31^st 1977
My Dear Hansadutta Maharaja,
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your feet. I have been instructed by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada to thank you for your letter dated July 25^th 1977.
You have written to Srila Prabhupada saying you do not know why Srila Prabhupada has chosen you to be a recipient of his mercy. His Divine Grace immediately replied, "It is because you are my sincere servant. You have given up attachment for a beautiful and qualified wife and that is a great benidiction. You are a real preacher. Therefore I like you. (Then laughing) Sometimes you become obstinate, but that is true of any intelligent man. Now you have a very good field. Now organize it and it will be a great credit. No one will disturb you there. Make your own field and continue to become ritvik and act on my behalf."
Srila Prabhupada listened with great enthusiasm as I read to him the newspaper article. His Divine Grace was very pleased: "This article will increase your prestige. It is very nice article. Therfore the newspaper has spared so much space to print it. It is very nice. It must be published in Back to Godhead. Now there is a column in Back to Godhead called "Prabhupada Speaks Out". Your article may be entitled "Prabhupada's Disciple Speaks Out". Yes, we shall publish this article certainly. Let this rascal be fool before the public. I have enjoyed this article very much. I want my disciples to speak out...backed by complete reasoning. "Brahma sutra sunisthita", this is preaching. Be blessed. All my disciples go forward. You have given the challenge. They cannot answer. This Dr. Kovoor should be invited...For Dr. Svarupa Damodara"s convention on "Life comes from Life". He can learn something at this scientific convention."
Yes, you should certainly get some ISKCON Food Relief money. For your program American money collected and sent for food distribution. That is my proposal. Three hundred people coming is no joke. You mentioned so many nice preperations. I would like to eat but I cannot. At simply hearing these names (of preperations) it is satisfying. Just thinking this morning of you, and now you have written me.
(last paragraph illegible)
Your Servant
Tamala Krishna Goswami
Secretary to Srila Prabhupada
(signature appears on the original)

Letter From Ramesvara, July 21 1977

BBT
THE BHAKTIVEDANTA BOOK TRUST
Founder - Acarya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
July 21st, 1977

ALL GLORIES TO SRI GURU AND GOURANGA!

Dear GBC Godbrother Prabhus,
Please accept my most humble obeisances in the dust of your feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! I have just received some letters from Tamal Krishna Maharaja, and am enclosing herein two documents: 1) Srila Prabhupada's final version of his last will, and 2) Srila Prabhupada's initial list of disciples appointed to perform initiations for His Divine Grace. This initial list is also being sent to all centers.
From Tamal"s letter it seems that Srila Prabhupada is enthusiastic despite poor health, and is translating full force. He especially becomes enthused when reports arrive from different GBC men and temples with preaching results, general good news, etc. and Tamal Krishna Maharaja has stressed that we should all be sending such reports, as His Divine Grace often asks, "What is the news?" An outstanding example of Srila Prabhupada's mood was shown after receiving an encouraging preaching report from Hansadutta Swami in Ceylon. Srila Prabhupada said, "I want to go to Ceylon. I can go. I can go anywhere by chair. It is difficult only in the imagination. The swelling is touching the skin, not my soul.
More than anything else, Tamal has stressed the genuine need for a visiting GBC member to come every month for personal service. Since Srila Prabhupada has recently said that now this regular visiting is very important, all GBC members should be anxious to do this, as it not only involves important work which will help relieve Prabhupada from management, but also involves attending Srila Prabhupada personally, giving him massages and many other nectarian services, and in general affords an unusual amount of personal association, even more than in the past. Out of over 23 GBC members there should never be one month not filled up.
One final news report is that Srila Prabupada has appointed a new GBC member for North India (including Delhi but not Vrndavana) - His Holiness Bhakti Caitanya Swami. Tamal Krishna Maharaja said that His divine Grace appointed him to encourage him for the outstanding preaching work he is doing in Punjab.
Jai, I hope this finds you all well, and fully absorbed in preaching and thus satisfying Srila Prabhupada fully.
                                             Your most unworthy servant,
                                            (signature appears on the original document)
                                             Ramesvara dasa Swami

Letter to Kirtanananda July 11th, 1977

ISKCON
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS

Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
July 11^th 1977
My dear Kirtanananda Maharaja,
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your feet. His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada has just received the latest issue of Brijabasi Spirit, Vol.IV,No.4, which brought Him great joy. As He looked at the cover showing Kaladri performing a fire ceremony, He said, "Just see his face how devotee he is, so expert in everything". When Srila Prabhupada opened the first page, His eyes fixed on the picture of Radha- Vrindavana Chandra, and He said, "Vrindavana Bihari - so beautiful. There is no danger wherever Vrindavana Chandra is." After enjoying the whole magazine throughly Srila Prabhupada said, "It is printed on their own press. It is very good progress." His Divine Grace very much appreciated the article "How I Was Deprogrammed" by the young devotee boy. Prabhupada was feeling great sympathy when he heard his story and said, "If one man is turned like this boy then this movement is successful. There is good prospect, good hope. You all combine together and push this movement on and on. Now I am assured that it will go on." While going through the magazine, Srila Prabhupada also saw your good photo on the page "Istagosthi" and Srila Prabhupada bestowed a long loving look upon your good self expressing his deep appreciation for how you have understood this Krishna Consciousness.
A letter has been sent to all the Temple Presidents and GBC which you should be receiving soon describing the process for initiation to be followed in the future. Srila Prabhupada has appointed thus far eleven representitives who will initiate new devotees on His behalf. You can wait for this letter to arrive (the original has been sent to Ramesvara Maharaja for duplicating) and then all of the persons whom you recommened in your previous letters can be initiated.
His Divine Grace has been maintaining His health on an even course and most amazingly has doubled His translation work keeping pace with the doubling of book distribution. Hoping this meets you well.
Your servant,
Tamala Krishna Goswami
Secretary to Srila Prabhupada
(signature appears on original)
His Holiness Kirtanananda Swami
c/o ISKCON New Vrndavana

Letter to Hamsadutta July 10th, 1977

ISKCON
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS
Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

July 10th 1977

My dear Hamsadutta Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. Srila Prabhupad has received your letters dated July 4th and July 5th, 1977 respectively, and has instructed me to reply to them.
Srila Prabhupad was very pleased to hear how you have organized everything in Ceylon, and that so many people are now taking interest seriously is proof of the effectiveness of your preaching. His Divine Grace said, “You are a suitable person and you can give initiation to those who are ready for it. I have selected you among eleven men as “rittvik” or representative of the acharya, to give initiations, both first and second initiation, on my behalf.” (A newsletter is being sent to all Temple Presidents and GBC in this regard, listing the eleven representatives selected by His Divine Grace. Those who are initiated are the disciples of Srila Prabhupada, and anyone who you deem fit and initiate in this way, you should send their names to be included in Srila Prabhupada’s “Initiated Disciples” book. In this way the Temple Presidents will send their recommendations for initiation direct to the nearest representative who will give a spiritual name or chant on the Gayatri thread just as Srila Prabhupada has been doing.)
Srila Prabhupad smiled very broadly when he heard of the successful program organized by the local people in which 2000 persons attended. When he heard that you have introduced a full feasting program on Sundays, he said, “You are a good cook, so teach others now how to cook just as I taught you.”

Regarding the printing going slowly, His Divine Grace stated, “Never mind. Go surely. It doesn’t matter slowly.” I inquired from Pradyumna Prabhu about the Sinhalese translation which you mentioned. He said that “On Chanting Hare Krishna Mantra” was translated into Sinhalese, and that translation is in his trunk in Bombay. We will try to get it to you as soon as possible. I do not know if Gopal Krishna has any Tamil manuscript, but if he does, when I see him in about ten days, I will tell him to send it to you. You may also write him directly. Pradyumna says it will be faster just to get a new translation – it is only 1 page.

Srila Prabhupada was very glad to know that you would try to bring some Ceylonese devotees to Mayapur and said, “Oh, that is very good!” He did not know whether the story about Bhaktisiddhanta’s disciples seeing a man eating a rat was true or not. Regarding the exact position of Sri Lanka, this is the opinion of some people. Srila Prabhupad advised that we not discuss this matter publicly at this time. Prabhupad also recommended that from Hari Sauri you take ghee. He said that you could have one fifth of whatever Hari Sauri sends to India. Regarding whether you should use the name Swami or Goswami, Srila Prabhupad said, “Stick to one. Swami is better.”
Your servant,

(signature appears on the original document)

Tamal Krishna Gosvami
Secretary to Srila Prabhupad
His Holiness Hamsadutta Swami
c/o ISKCON Colombo

Letter Of July 9, 1977

Original Letter Of July 9, 1977

Letter to: All G.B.C., All Temple Presidents

Vrindaban
9 July, 1977
77-07-09
To All G.B.C., and Temple Presidents
Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. Recently when all of the GBC members were with His Divine Grace in Vrndavana, Srila Prabhupada indicated that soon He would appoint some of His senior disciples to act as ritvik - representative of the acarya, for the purpose of performing initiations, both first initiation and second initiation. His Divine Grace has so far given a list of eleven disciples who will act in that capacity:

His Holiness Kirtanananda Swami
His Holiness Satsvarupa dasa Gosvami
His Holiness Jayapataka Swami
His Holiness Tamala Krsna Gosvami
His Holiness Hrdayananda Gosvami
His Holiness Bhavananda Gosvami
His Holiness Hamsaduta Swami
His Holiness Ramesvara Swami
His Holiness Harikesa Swami
His Grace Bhagavan dasa Adhikari
His Grace Jayatirtha dasa Adhikari

In the past Temple Presidents have written to Srila Prabhupada recommending a particular devotee's initiation. Now that Srila Prabhupada has named these representatives, Temple Presidents may henceforward send recommendation for first and second initiation to whichever of these eleven representatives are nearest their temple. After considering the recommendation, these representatives may accept the devotee as an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada by giving a spiritual name, or in the case of second initiation, by chanting on the Gayatri thread, just as Srila Prabhupada has done.

The newly initiated devotees are disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, the above eleven senior devotees acting as His representative. After the Temple President receives a letter from these representatives giving the spiritual name or the thread, he can perform the fire yajna in the temple as was being done before. The name of a newly initiated disciple should be sent by the representative who has acceted him or her to Srila Prabhupada, to be included in His Divine Grace's "Initiated Disciples" book.

download original jpg.-image here

Hoping this finds you all well.

Your servant, Tamala Krsna Gosvami
Secretary to Srila Prabhupada

Approved:(signed) A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
(Prabhupada signature appears on the original)

The above is the Original Letter Of July 9, 1977 of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, his originally signed and approved paper for appointing some of His senior disciples to act as ritvik - representative of the acarya