Spiritual Communism—Talks with Professor Kotovsky in Moscow
“In 1971, during his historic visit to the Soviet Union, Srila Prabhupada was introduced to Professor Grigoriy Kotovsky, head of the India Department at the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences and chairman of the Indian studies department at the University of Moscow. “
Srila Prabhupada, Moscow, 22 June 1971: […] The actual words in Bengali are kiba vipra, kiba nyasi, sudra kene naya. Do you understand a little Bengali?
Prof. Kotovsky: A little.
Srila Prabhupada: Yes, as a vibration. Yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei ‘guru’ haya. “Anyone who understands the science of Krishna can become a spiritual master.” (Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 8.128)
Prof. Kotovsky: But by creating brahmanas from different social classes of society, you deny the old prescription of the Hindu scriptures.
Srila Prabhupada: No, I establish it.
Prof. Kotovsky: According to all scriptures–the Puranas, etc.–every member of one of these four classes of varnas has to be born within it.
Srila Prabhupada: No, no, no, no.
Prof. Kotovsky: That is the foundation of all the varnas…
Srila Prabhupada: No, no. I am sorry.
Prof. Kotovsky: The foundation of all the varnas…
[Read More…]
Simply depend upon Krishna and His protection at all times
“Gradually the city officials and constabulary will become embarrassed to arrest us further and gradually we will be allowed to carry on our Sankirtana unhampered”
(updated 18 September, 2018)
10 September, 1972
Dallas
My Dear Caru,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 31, 1972, and I have noted the contents carefully.
Now regarding this business of Sankirtana, the solution is simply to go on with Sankirtana activities as you have been doing, and let them arrest us if they like, we will not stop. Just like in London, they became arrested so many times and there was so much public display of arresting that gradually the police stopped arresting and now they have Sankirtana anywhere they like without any botheration.
[Read More…]
Radhastami: Srimati Radharani’s Appearance Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJzCPtDOXqI
Now today is our Rādhāṣṭami ceremony. I must speak now something about Rādhārāṇī, and then I shall go up, reach my apartment at twelve. In the meantime, you can observe the ceremonies. So, so far Rādhārāṇī, Rādhārāṇī, today is the birthday of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Rādhārāṇī is the pleasure potency of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Brahman. Just try to understand. Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Brahman. Paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān [Bg. 10.12]. So when paraṁ brahma wants to enjoy… That enjoying spirit is there in the paraṁ brahma. Otherwise we cannot have this enjoying spirit. Because we are part and parcel, therefore we have got that enjoying spirit; but that is materially contaminated. But the fact is there, because Kṛṣṇa, He is enjoying, this enjoying spirit we have got also, but I do not know how to enjoy. We are trying to enjoy in the matter, in the dull matter. That is spiritual. So brahman, brahman sukhānubhūtyā. People are trying to feel what is brahma-sukha, pleasure of brahmānubhāva. That is not material pleasure. So many yogis, they have given up their family life, their kingdom, and meditating to achieve that Brahman pleasure. Actually, the idea is Brahman pleasure. So many brahmacārīs, so many sannyāsīs, they are trying to achieve that Brahman pleasure, and in order to achieve that Brahman pleasure they are neglecting, they are kicking off all this material pleasure. Do you think that Brahman pleasure is ordinary, this material pleasure? To achieve a portion of Brahman pleasure, if they are kicking off all this material pleasure… [Read More…]
Kalakand Burfee Recipe | Manjula’s Kitchen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHAFUdIOGKs
Very traditional and delicious dessert, made with whole milk, variation of a burfee soft and grainy in texture.
Recipe makes about 12 to 16 pieces.
Ingredients:
- 8 cups or 2 quart milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice (for making paneer)
- 1 tablespoon sliced almonds or pistachio for garnishing
Quoting Srila Prabhupadas Approved Bhagavad-gita As It Is (1972)
Quoting the Approved Bhagavad-gita As It Is (1972)
BY: GADADHARA DAS
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, USA (SUN) — Regarding Dravida dasa’s ” Reply to Madhudvisa “, we thank him for bringing these verses to light. A quick look into the Vedabase will reveal that in fact, Srila Prabhupada not only read these “so called” mistakes, but quoted them many times. Here are just three examples taken from Dravida’s sarcastic little tirade: [Read More…]
Book Changes: Devotee asked to stop his vyasa puja offering at ISKCON Mayapur
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5xka_y9IW8
A little bit of a pure thing is much better than huge volumes of impure, adulterated things
August 27, 1969
Hamburg
My Dear Brahmananda,
Please accept my blessings. I am pleased to inform you that our journey from New York to Hamburg was very comfortable, and we safely arrived at the scheduled time. The boys were present to receive us, and the apartment they have selected is very nice.
I am sending herewith a letter addressed to Hayagriva. The second part of the Ginsberg conversation article should not be published, and our policy should be to only publish our Krishna Consciousness articles in various forms.
We are not concerned with any other movement save and except Krishna Consciousness in its pure form. In India it is said that a little bit of a pure thing is much better than huge volumes of impure, adulterated things. So please try to follow this policy and publish in BTG only pure Krishna Conscious articles.
[Read More…]
Srila Jiva Gosvami advises that one not accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions
Adi-lila 1.35: I first offer my respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of my initiating spiritual master and all my instructing spiritual masters.
PURPORT BY SRILA PRABHUPADA
“There is no difference between the spiritual master’s instructions and the spiritual master himself. In his absence, therefore, his words of direction should be the pride of the disciple.”
Srila Jiva Gosvami, in his thesis Bhakti-sandarbha (202), has stated that uncontaminated devotional service is the objective of pure Vaishnavas and that one has to execute such service in the association of other devotees. By associating with devotees of Lord Krishna, one develops a sense of Krishna consciousness and thus becomes inclined toward the loving service of the Lord.
This is the process of approaching the Supreme Lord by gradual appreciation in devotional service. If one desires unalloyed devotional service, one must associate with devotees of Sri Krishna, for by such association only can a conditioned soul achieve a taste for transcendental love and thus revive his eternal relationship with Godhead in a specific manifestation and in terms of the specific transcendental mellow (rasa) that one has eternally inherent in him.
If one develops love for Krishna by Krishna conscious activities, one can know the Supreme Absolute Truth, but he who tries to understand God simply by logical arguments will not succeed, nor will he get a taste for unalloyed devotion. The secret is that one must submissively listen to those who know perfectly the science of God, and one must begin the mode of service regulated by the preceptor.
Srila Prabhupada – The Begin At Western World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEdSzemagFU
Srila Prabhupa’s walking
Soul has no pain
SOUL HAS NO PAIN
731217mw.la Conversations
Prajapati: Srila Prabhupada, are thoughts made of matter or spirit?
Prabhupada: Yes. Thoughts actually made by spirit, but it is covered by matter. Therefore in the material condition you can think only of matter. Just like this body is covered by so many material things, but actually, the spirit is covered. So the soul being spirit, so long it is covered by matter, it cannot act spiritually. It is obstructed. Not obstructed. Covered. It cannot be obstructed. If you like, you can get out of the covering of the matter. So matter cannot obstruct. But it is the will of the soul. Therefore it is called tatastha, marginal.
Prajapati: When we feel pain or discomfort, that is covering also?
Prabhupada: THAT IS TO THE MATERIAL. SOUL HAS NO PAIN. It is the material covering. Just like this chilliness. We are affected by the body, material body, not the soul. Matra-sparsas tu kaunteya sitosna-sukha-duhkha-dah. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. This pleasure and pain is due to the material covering. Otherwise soul is unaffected. Asango ‘yam purusah: “This purusa, the soul, is unaffected by any material condition.” The same example as I give, that you have a good car. You are identifying yourself. But you are not the car. You are affected if the car is smashed, because you have got absorption in the car that “This is my car.” The other man is not affected. Similarly, due to our absorption, aham mameti, “It is my, it is mine,” we are suffering. [Read More…]
Vyasa Puja Homage to Srila Prabhupada, September 4, 2018
Vyasa Puja Homage to Srila Prabhupada
by Yasoda nandana dasa
Srila Prabhupada, I simply want to pay my obeisances at your lotus feet for all the wonderful gifts and your causeless mercy, that you have bestowed upon the world and to your students, followers and disciples.
The following is a wonderful summary of a few of your amazing preaching accomplishments, expertly presented by your original editor, Hayagriva dasa. It is an auspicious day to always be mindful of the tremendous sacrifices and awesome preaching accomplishments of Your Divine Grace.
As Raghunatha dasa Goswami has nicely articulated his homages to Srila Rupa Goswami,
adadanas trinam dantair idam yace punah punah
shrimad-rupa-padambhoja-dhulih syam janma-janmani (2)
(Shri Mukta-carita, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami)
Clasping a straw between my teeth, I repeatedly beg to attain the dust of the lotus feet of Shrimad Rupa Gosvami birth after birth.
I offer my unconditional obeisances at your lotus feet.
adadanas trinam dantair idam yace punah punah
Prabhupada padambhoja-dhulih syam janma-janmani
Clasping a straw between my teeth, I repeatedly beg to attain the dust of the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada [HDG ACBSP] birth after birth. [Read More…]
Janmastami: Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s Appearance Day
Janmashtami Lecture London, August 21, 1973 [AUDIO]
——-
Prabhupāda: (chants maṅgalācaraṇa prayers) His Excellency, the High Commissioner; ladies and gentlemen, I thank you very much for your coming here and participating in this ceremony, Janmāṣṭamī, advent of Kṛṣṇa. The subject matter I’ve been ordered to speak on is advent of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā,
janma karma me divyaṁ
yo jānāti tattvataḥ
tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma
naiti mām eti kaunteya
[Bg. 4.9]
This fact, that we can achieve such a stage of life when we can stop our birth and death… Sa ‘mṛtatvāya kalpate. This morning, I was explaining this verse:
yaṁ hi na vyathayanty ete
puruṣaṁ puruṣarsabha
sama-duḥkha-sukhaṁ dhīraṁ
so ‘mṛtatvāya kalpate
Amrtatva means immortality. So the modern civilization, they have no idea, either the great philosopher, great politician or great scientist, that it is possible to attain the stage of immortality. Amṛtatva. We are all amṛta. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said, na jāyate na mrīyate vā kadācin. We living entities, we never die, never take birth. Nityaḥ śāśvato yaṁ, na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre [Bg. 2.20]. Every one of us, we are eternal, nityaḥ śāśvato; Purāṇa, the oldest. And after annihilation of this body, we do not die. Na hanyate. The body is finished, but I have to accept another body. Tathā dehāntara prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati. Dehino ‘smin yathā dehe kaumāraṁ yauvanaṁ jarā [Bg. 2.13].
This simple thing, at the present moment, they are lacking knowledge, that we, all living entities, part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa, we are eternal, we are blissful, and we are cognizant. Kṛṣṇa is described in the Vedic śāstras: [Read More…]
Damaghosa: Positive Alternative – Join us and live the good life!
One of our fields with 200 potato plants-15 different kinds-will produce enough spuds for our entire year in storage
Prabhupada: […] This land is very good land for producing potato, watermelon, this. Very good land. But who is doing that? This is the suitable land for producing watermelon. And watermelon is such a nice thing, and potato. You boil potato and take watermelon, you have full nourishment are supplied. Very innocent and simple food.
Devotee (1): Instead of using the land to grow potatoes and watermelons, they’re simply using it to build more offices for tables and chairs to study the situation.
Prabhupada: “… Anything grown in the garden, that is hundred times valuable than it is purchased from the market. …and if you ‘can’t’, or no soil, get dried beans, soak, and grow sprouts, and offer, and eat raw, in a few days” This farm project is especially for the devotees to grow their own food. [Read More…]
Vaishnava Calendar September 2018
Vaishnava Calendar: September 2018
Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja- The Appearance day Special Desktop Vaishnava Calendar for this upcoming September
Download:
http://harekrishnacommunity.org/Content/attachment/Desktop_Calendar-September-%202018.jpg
We are not asking money, that ‘First of all pay the fees’
Bhagavan, June 11, 1974, Paris: […] There’s a report that there’s so many Ph.D’s who are graduating from school now that there are not enough jobs for them. So they have to take jobs as truck-driver and taxi driver.
Prabhupada: Where?
Bhagavan: In the United States.
Prabhupada: Just see.
Pusta-krsna: And that is supposed to be the brahmana class too, the professors. They’re the educated class of people.
Prabhupada: No, no. They are not brahmanas. Those who give education in exchange of money, they are not brahmanas. Just like we are lecturing, educated, educating people. We don’t say that “Give us salary.”
We simply ask them, “Please come.” Therefore we are making food. I’ll give you food. I’ll give you good seat. Please come and hear. We are not asking money, that “First of all pay the fees. Then you come and learn Bhagavad-gita.”
We never say so. So those, these so-called teachers, they first of all set up salary, “What salary you’ll give me?” That is dog’s business. That is not brahmana’s business. Brahmana will never ask. Brahmana is eager to give lesson only.
That’s all. Brahmana is eager to see that people are educated. “Take free education and be educated. Be a human being.” This is brahmana’s business. I came here not to ask for any money. But I want to give lesson. This is brahmana’s business.
[Read More…]
Symptoms of Kali-Yuga
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b2tOVg6S1c
Note: this is from the old articles written by Srila Prabhupada. Interesting particularly to note that the newspapers -WORLD headlines- of today carry the SAME features of what is happening NOW. Only the names of the people and places have changed. SAME things happening as it was then. History repeats itself. Also – the SYMPTOMS of Kali Yuga are shown – in detail.
Man is the Architect of His Own Fortune
[This has been proofread against the original handwritten manuscript with corrections made for Folio.—Ed]
Man is the architect of his own fortune.
Man is the architect of his own fortune. That is an old well known English maxim and the good fortune that the man has evolved out for him at the present moment can be amply verified as soon as we receive our morning newspapers. The sample good news that we are receiving now in every morning are as follows:
(1) Bihar Government Deny starvation death. (A.B.P. 23.45)
(2) Rice selling at 55 and salt at 80/- per (?).
(3) People living on cotton & Potato leaves.
(4) 600 Viet Minh Troops Taken Prisoner.
(5) 500 mounds of food burnt in granary.
(6) Famine conditions in such and such places.
(7) Progressive decontrol urged in Conferences.
(8) Recovery of Abducted women. [Read More…]
Balarama Jayanti (Lord Balarama’s Appearance Day)
Lord Balarama Visits Vrndavana
[Balarama passed every night with the gopis in the forest of Vrindavan.]
Lord Balarāma became very anxious to see His father and mother, Mahārāja Nanda and Yaśodā. Therefore He started for Vṛndāvana on a chariot with great enthusiasm. The inhabitants of Vṛndāvana had been anxious to see Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma for a very long time. When Lord Balarāma returned to Vṛndāvana, all the cowherd boys and the gopīs had grown up; but still, on His arrival, they all embraced Him, and Balarāma embraced them in reciprocation. After this He came before Mahārāja Nanda and Yaśodā and offered His respectful obeisances unto them. In response, mother Yaśodā and Nanda Mahārāja offered their blessings unto Him. They addressed Him as Jagadīśvara, or the Lord of the universe who maintains everyone. The reason for this was that both Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma maintain all living entities, and yet Nanda and Yaśodā were put into such difficulties on account of Their absence. Feeling like this, they embraced Balarāma and, seating Him on their laps, began their perpetual crying, wetting Balarāma with their tears. Lord Balarāma then offered His respectful obeisances to the elderly cowherd men and accepted the obeisances of the younger cowherd men. Thus, according to their different ages and relationships, Lord Balarāma exchanged feelings of friendship with them. He shook hands with those who were His equals in age and friendship, and with loud laughing embraced each one of them. [Read More…]
Mayapura TOVP Project Deteriorating
OUR VEDIC UNIVERSE
Mayapura TOVP Project Deteriorating
BY: PADA
ABP, I now stay at Mayapur, next to the ISKCON TEMPLE. I am seeing the present situation of the Temple. It’s heart breaking. The foreign devotees have mostly gone, almost no foreigner is ever coming now to offer their seva to ISKCON, at mayapur. Few days back during the Chariot festival, I was there to participate the event, but I hardly found any foreign devotees there.
It’s due to the management of ISKCON, which should take steps to restore the normal situation. The construction work of the new TEMPLE has about stopped, the equipment are slowly moving out. Situation is devastating. Plz save ISKCON, MAYAPUR, PLZZZ. PLZZ. I appeal to all devotees , plz come to mayapur, come to ISKCON… LORD KRISHNA is there….. Plz come…..
KS: Perhaps it is the misrepresentation of the Universal structure that is bringing disfavor from Lord Visnu, Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva and their consorts / Shaktis ….. no worries…. Krsna is ALWAYS in complete control in all circumstances …. HareKrsna!!!
TOVP – Temple Of Vedic Planetarium – Model
Mistakes in the Models for the Temple of Vedic Planetarium Part-1
Mistakes in the Models for the Temple of Vedic Planetarium Part-2
ABP: Yes mataji, but still I earnestly request all members of the ISKCON family to come to Mayapur once again. It’s the same place, same minded people. We can make it better with our offerings and devotion. Plz come to mayapur, plz plz.
[PADA: Yes, someone told me more local Muslims are being employed by the Mayapura program to keep it up and running, because fewer and fewer devotees are present there. The GBC thought — if we steal the buildings and deities, then we will capture Krishna and everyone will be forced to come to us, never mind we will force these poor people to worship debauchees, drunkards, drug addicts, sexual predators, criminals etc. as “Krishna’s guru successors.” OK great idea except, the same type thieves who stole Krishna and His buildings, and who made deviants into acharyas, were not having much success in the post-1936 Gaudiya Matha. Their temples ALSO became ghost towns, and so will ours under this scheme. Meanwhile our Prabhupadanuga temple here is packed out with people. This is not a coincidence. ys pd]
O DEAREST SHRILA PRABHUPADA
O dearest Shrila Prabhupada
please force open my eyes to Krishna God
although I be a most sinful dog
only by thy grace I know who you are.
You have blessed me with faith in you
so now I know I must pray to you
I can not do one thing right
with out being in thy light.
Thy light of transcendental knowledge
the stream of nectar from Lord Krishna’s lips
who loves to blow on His sweetest flute
enlightening Brahma with Krishna consciousness.
Only by thy intervention on planet earth
I know now what human life is worth
so I am begging birth after birth
force me thy way to cleanse all this dirt. [Read More…]
JAMBŪDVĪPA center island of Bhū-maṇḍala
The seven islands of Bhū-maṇḍala
1. Definition of Bhū-maṇḍala and its seven islands [dvīpas]
2. Defining Jambūdvīpa the center island of Bhū-maṇḍala
3. Division of Jambūdvīpa into Nine Varṣas or Regions
4. Definition of Bhārata-varṣa as one of the nine regions of Jambūdvīpa
5. The Nine Varṣas, different parts of Jambūdvīpa
6. The Math & Dimensions of Jambūdvīpa
7. New Puranic Maps of Jambūdvīpa
STUDYING THE STRUCTURE OF THE UNIVERSE
Description and Quotes from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
Compiled by: Pariksit Das
1. Defining Bhū-maṇḍala and its seven islands or dvīpas
The definition of Bhū-maṇḍala and its center island Jambūdvīpa has been given in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as follows:
The planetary system known as Bhū-maṇḍala resembles a lotus flower, and its seven islands resemble the whorl of that flower. The length and breadth of the island known as Jambūdvīpa, which is situated in the middle of the whorl, are one million yojanas [eight million miles]. Jambūdvīpa is round like the leaf of a lotus flower. (sb/5/16/5)
This earth planet [Bhū-maṇḍala] is divided into seven dvīpas by seven oceans, and the central dvīpa, called Jambūdvīpa, is divided into nine varṣas, or parts, by eight huge mountains. (SB 1.16.12, Purport)
According to Purāṇic cosmography, the world (Bhū-maṇḍala) is divided into seven concentric island continents (sapta-dvipa) separated by the seven encircling oceans, each double the size of the preceding one (going out from within). The seven intermediate oceans consist of salt-water, sugarcane juice, wine, ghee, yogurt, milk and water respectively. [Read More…]
prabhupadanugas
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- our request, Sri Krsna, please rescue us
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