The Acharya-Sampradaya methodology (Follow-Up 2)
In this article about the Spiritual Master(s) for the usage of definitions I will be referring to Srila Prabhupada’s works. It appears that Srila Prabhupada would use the word “guru” and “spiritual master” as synonyms, that is the words are interchangeable. But at a closer inspection the definitions of the word “spiritual master” breaks down into two manifestations. So for clarity of this article I will be using the words that Srila Prabhupada does for the word “spiritual master” which are found in the Chaitanya Charitamrta.
“The first manifestation described is the spiritual master, who appears in two plenary parts called the initiating spiritual master and instructing spiritual master. They are identical because both of them are phenomenal manifestations of the Supreme Truth.”
Cc Adi Lila Chapter 1 introduction, page 18.
In the beginning of Chaitanya-caritamrta, Srila Krsnadasa kaviraja Goswami writes;
“I offer my respects to my spiritual masters.” He uses the plural here to indicate the disciplic succession. It is not that he offers obeisances to his spiritual master alone but to the whole parampara, the chain of disciplic succession beginning with Lord Krishna Himself. Thus the spiritual master is addressed in the plural to show the authors high respect for all Vaisnavas. [Read More…]
Lord Nityānanda Prabhu’s Appearance Day
Lord Nityānanda Prabhu’s Appearance Day
Nitāi-Pada-Kamala Purport
LA, January 31, 1969
690131PU.LA
Nitāi-Pada-Kamala Purport [AUDIO]
Prabhupāda: (sings)
nitāi-pada-kamala, koṭi-candra-suśītala, je chāyāy jagata jurāy heno nitāi bine bhāi, rādhā-kṛṣṇa pāite nāi, dṛḍha kori’ dharo nitāir pāy
se sambandha nāhi jā’r, bṛthā janma gelo tā’r, sei paśu boro durācār nitāi nā bolilo mukhe, majilo saṁsāra-sukhe, vidyā-kule ki koribe tār
ahaṅkāre matta hoiyā, nitāi-pada pāsariyā, asatyere satya kori māni nitāiyer koruṇā habe, braje rādhā-kṛṣṇa pābe, dharo nitāi-caraṇa du’khāni
nitāiyer caraṇa satya, tāṅhāra sevaka nitya, nitāi-pada sadā koro āśā narotamma boro dukhī, nitāi more koro sukhī, rākho rāṅgā-caraṇera pāśa
Nitāi-pada-kamala, koṭi-candra-suśītala, je chāyāy jagata jurāy. This is a song by Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, a great ācārya of the Gauḍīya-vaiṣṇava-sampradāya. He has written many songs about the Vaiṣṇava philosophy, and they are approved as completely corresponding with Vedic instructions. So here Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura is singing that “The whole world is suffering under the blazing fire of material existence. Therefore, if one takes the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda…,” whose birthday is today, 31st, January, 1969. So we should relish this instruction of Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura that in order to get relief from the pangs of blazing fire of this material existence, one should take shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda because it is as cooling as the moon rays combined together of millions of moons. That means one will immediately find peaceful atmosphere. Just like a man works whole day and if he comes under the moonshine he feels relief. [Read More…]
Why is it so difficult to liberate even one soul from the material world? (Question by Bhakta Waldemar)
Śrimad-Bhagavatam 4.12.33
From the meaning :
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura used to say, “If I could perfectly deliver even one soul back home, back to Godhead, I would think my mission—propagating Kṛṣṇa consciousness—to be successful.” [Read More…]
“Revised and Enlarged Second Edition” of Srila Prabhupāda’s Bhagavad-Gita???
Hare Krsna Dear Prabhus,
Dandavats… Jaya Srila Prabhupada.
FISKCON/BBT International Incorporated (not a Trust), state they produced a
“Revised and Enlarged Second Edition” of Srila Prabhupāda’s Bhagavad-Gita.
So, they claimed all 3 reasons below for ‘revising’, as well as even more
insidious ones??
Also ‘translations and elaborate purports’ are NOT ORIGINAL as stated, as
the evil ‘book changer’ changed many of them!
Cambridge Dictionary:
“Revised”.. meaning…
“a document, book, etc. that has been revised, has been changed in order to improve it, correct mistakes, or make it contain the most recent information:”
As I understand, with all of Srila Prabhupada’s books published during his
vapu presence with us, the actual ‘editing’ was done in consultation with
his chosen editors, prior to the final manuscript (not draft) being
submitted to the publishers. As we can see below, an editor works with the
writer to prepare that final manuscript, not changing his published work
after his passing. [Read More…]
prabhupadanugas
- Manah-siksa (Teachings to the Mind) by Srila Narottama dasa Thakura
- Srila Prabhupada glorifies Sri Advaita Acarya
- Myth: “Krsna-bhajanamrta proves that bona fide diksa gurus fall down by dozens”
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow
- Myth: “Bg. 9.30 verse proves that despite falldowns diksa gurus remain saintly and properly situated”
- The Antidote
- Myth: “Falldowns of diksa gurus in ISKCON after 1977 it’s not a big deal it’s normal”
- Question: How will Prabhupada’s disciples, initiated in the ritvik system, touch Prabhupada’s lotus feet ?
- D.O.A.
- Ritvik Acarya or Diksa Guru?
- Be Happy and make others Happy
- All Day
- Myth: “Nonliberated gurus chant purely and their disciples will reach shudha nama”
- Bhaktivinoda Thakur – Surrender
- Bhuliya Tomare – Forgetting You
- Quench Your Thirst
- Myth: “Non-liberated persons can act as transparent via medium to God”
- How the GBC changed Deity worship in ISKCON
- Clean Out Your Ears
- Please Don’t Ignore the Cries of Srila Prabhupada’s Abused Children!
- Myth: “Worshipping nonliberated gurus is not idol worship”
- Perspectives on “These kind of symptoms are seen when a man is poisoned”
- Flock of Fools
- Myth: “Srila Prabhupada’s letters to Acyutananda and Hamsaduta authorized them to become initiating gurus”
- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada Tirobhava tithi (Disappearance day)
- Narendra Modi presenting Bhagavad-gita to Wladimir Putin
- Supreme Court Order dated 25.11.2025 – Meaning, Impact and Next Steps
- Truth Serum
- Srila Prabhupada re Advent of Bhagavad Gita – Gita Jayanti
- Question by Bhakta Derek from Scotland
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