Letter to: Satsvarupa
—
Los Angeles
14 November, 1968
68-11-14
My Dear Satsvarupa,
Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter of Nov. 9, 1968, and I have noted the contents carefully. It is good to hear that the temple is going on nicely, and you are selling Back To Godheads also 400 per month.
I understand you are trying to get more lectures at colleges, also in sociology and political classes and philosophy classes. You should not give political or social discussions, while speaking on Krishna Consciousness philosophy from Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam you can simply touch on some socio-political implications.
Krishna Consciousness is so broad and all inclusive that naturally when speaking in Krishna Consciousness we get so many opportunities to deal in politics although that is not our subject matter. To do so requires expert handling. You can take part in such classes and present the subject matter in such a way that it may at first appear like socio-political-philosophical affairs, but actually introduce our Krishna Consciousness philosophy.
That requires tactful handling. You can give it a political etc., headline, and then end it with our philosophy. This is Visokumbham Payomukhan. That means to give somebody a jar of poison with a label of nectarine or milk preparation on it. So we have to become politician in this way, just like in old politics there was presentation of Visokanya.
This visokanya is a poison beautiful girl. The idea was that a baby girl was from the very beginning administered little doses of poison everyday, which she could tolerate. And gradually increasing the doses, culminating in large doses when she was youth.
Such girls were engaged in killing enemies. The enemy will be received as a guest, and this girl will be engaged for looking after his comfort, and when they are friendly, as soon as the enemy will kiss the girl in the mouth, the poisonous effect will immediately affect, because with tongue the poison is very quickly effective. And the enemy would die.
Similarly, we have to introduce Krishna Consciousness in such a way that through politics and sociology they will be injected and become Krishna Consciousness. But instead of being a victim, they will be immortalized. That is the difference.
The story of Ramanujacarya as stated by you is not disobedience. It was a great fervor for the disciple to advance the missionary cause of the Spiritual Master. Such rare instances are sometimes visible in many places.
The story is like this: Caitanya Mahaprabhu after taking His lunch would rest for a while and Govinda was daily massaging His feet. So one day Caitanya Mahaprabhu fell asleep very soon and keeping His head on the threshold. So while He was sleeping, Govinda came crossing the body of Caitanya and massaged His Feet.
But he was sitting there, so when Caitanya Mahaprabhu was awake He saw that Govinda was sitting there although it was too late. So He inquired, “Govinda, you have not taken your Prasadam, you are sitting here?” So he replied, “Yes, I shall go now to take Prasadam.” Caitanya Mahaprabhu inquired, “Why so late?” He replied, “I could not go on the other side because You were lying on the threshold.” Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “How did you come in?” He flatly replied, “By crossing You.”
Then He inquired, “Why did you not go out by crossing Me?” Govinda said, “That I cannot do. I came crossing You inside the room for Your service, but I cannot go out crossing You for taking my lunch. That would be for my sense gratification.”
The idea is for service of the superior sometimes such violation appears to be in the scene. Ramanujacarya violated the order of the Spiritual Master to advance the cause of the Spiritual Master.
The Spiritual Master’s mission was to deliver fallen souls, therefore Ramanujacarya considered that if the mantra was so powerful to deliver the persons, why not deliver it to everyone as soon as possible. That was a little tactic to advance the cause of the Spiritual Master.
So everything has to be judged by the motive, and as the motive of such apparent violation was very good, Ramanuja’s Spiritual Master embraced him. This is not actually violating the order of the Spiritual Master. But such actions are very rarely to be done.
Yes, there is definitely a vast difference between initiated and non-initiated.
One who is initiated is authorized, and one who is not initiated is not authorized. Just like, for example, Pradyumna is attending class in Sanskrit in a college, he is given chance to learn Sanskrit, but he is not equal with the regular students.
One who becomes initiated is channelized to the authorities in the disciplic succession. One who isn’t initiated may chant Hare Krishna (and should certainly be encouraged to do so) and serve in his own way, and gradually by doing so he may want to be initiated. But otherwise he may fall away from following the rules and regulations.
The clothing is already painted on the Jagannathas, even there is no cloth. And even Krishna is naked, that does not make any difference. But when we dress Him, our service is appreciated. From Krishna’s side, naked or dressed, He is Krishna. And from our side, if we nicely dress Krishna and nicely feed Him, He is appreciating our service and we are certainly benefited.
Krishna is the same; He does not require us to dress Him, or feed him, etc., but the more I serve by dressing, feeding and caring for Him, He appreciates the service, and I become more Krishna Conscious.
Yes, it is all right to continue painting Lord Caitanya and the Gopis as you have been, in flesh tone.
It is not mentioned how many hands the different Brahmas from the different universes have. Maybe four hands. Yes, they ride on swans.
I am sending herewith the tape, so you do the work on your dictaphone and send me regularly the typed copies. Don’t stop sending them, it makes me stop also.
Unless I get back the typed copies it doesn’t encourage me. So you send me the typed copies regularly and I shall send you the tapes regularly. What about the 3rd Canto? I know that I have made up to the 3rd Canto 7th chapter and the present tape is continuation, but I am in darkness where are the papers. So give me an account where are the papers.
I am concerned about Jadurani’s health condition—has she got any fever? If she has feverish condition, she should simply lie down and do no work.
Hope you are well, and please keep me informed of your temple affairs, as well as about Jadurani’s health condition.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
fantastic letter! thank you! Jay Srila Prabhupada!
pamho agtACBSP
SB 10.2 | The Summum Bonum — […] Thus the importance of initiation is mentioned here. Unless one is initiated by the right person, who always carries within his heart the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one cannot acquire the power to carry the Supreme Godhead within the core of one’s own heart.
_______________________________________________________________
Letter to John Darsinos — “[…] In answer to your question about the importance of initiation, it is to be understood that initiation means that power is coming from the Supreme by the bona fide disciplic succession.
This is required. Of course, for anyone to hear the message of Srimad-Bhagavatam will produce a favorable result but formally one should receive this knowledge from the disciplic succession. For example, Arjuna and Krishna were friends but still Arjuna submitted himself formally as Krishna’s disciple.
This is essential. We should take example from these great Personalities. Arjuna was hearing Krishna speaking Bhagavad-gita but still he submitted as Krishna’s disciple. “Now I submit unto You, please teach me.” So this is the process. I hope this will clear up your question sufficiently.”
If we chant Hare Krsna, read Prabhupada’s books and that’s the most important thing. SRI SRI GURU GAURANGA are our infallible authorities and we are THEIR servants eternally
ys seva das
haribol
In case any have been too engaged and have not had a chance to view the internet much, as vanaprastha and with limited knee health, I have made the internet my platform or ksetra for sankirtana. As a result, I’ve interacted a lot with different “spiritualist and new age” sites, such as Temple Illuminatis and Ashtara Command etc., in order to preach there.
It has been sufficiently succesful to be worth the effort, and I have learned a lot doing so. But all is not always well in info wars land;
There are a growing number of ex-new devotees, desensitized and traumatized and angry and determined, ruined or simply mislead by gangtser goorooos; such persons as Shaktipatseer and Gopa Aaron, who are concocting new cults and presenting themselves as authorities, rejecting any standard authorities.
Shaktipatseer gives magical kundalini initiations online in the name of Rupa Goswami, and regularly makes it a point to say ritivks are mad and deviants.
Aaaron “only prints blissful topics”, but rejects any correct critcism of nondevotee new age women cult leaders who sit in braless T-shirted hippy clothes, heads uncovereded, exhorting us to bizarre and conconcocted meditations on gayatri and Lord Caitanya. He tells all and wide that he knows the process, no gurus are needed. Then, using our Deities, he criticizes us!
Brahmananda Acarya, so-called, calls himself Hindu, his site is called Sanatana Dharma, but if you dig deep, you find he is a Christian evangelist minister ! He simply tellls lies about Hinduism, makes it look bad or silly or outdated, then suggests a better alternative, usually involving Jesus Christ. (pbuh)
One article on the b.i.f. site accuses all Gaudiya Vainavas of being a concocted cult and deviant, and of simply being rehashed Hindus. The same site runs exposes of Iskcon bogus gooroos and has interveiws with respected current ritivk Vaisnavas! A mix of milk and poison.
As a result?; One young man was following all the regulations for sannyasa including all the caturmasya dietary restrictions and non-shaving etc, although he wasn’t even a Krsna bhakta, and was told to worship “Laxmi-Shiva” by a so-called Shri Vaishnava to improve his material situation! He got involved with gaygoofawami David B Hughes Babaji, and is now wandering about in ” lala land ” trying to figure out what happened. He recently posted a vdieo dealing with intimate diksa affairs in our society. Whew!
DBH, “Babaji”, was exposed, no pun intended, by a hidden camera showing him engaging in “inappropriate touching” with his young brahmacary disciples. I guess he is an Iskcon Co. man at heart, though the leather and whips and such were not of pure Vedic origins. This individual had many followers, and ashramas even, and many of them recently left after this video was posted on Youtube! I t was shocking, shocked even a gay s&m enjoyer who commented.
Radha Govinda Swami , Ex-swami Hanuman, and others also commented, revealing his cheating bogus nature, so he posted a new video saying that even our recent acaryas were engaged in tantric homosex, that that is the natural position of our disciplic successsion.
So, its a wild and weird world of psuedo-Vaisnavaism out there these days, and maya’s ideas proliferate like beggars dressed as sadhus at a kumbha mela. ” What the “great men” do…”
To sum up, the evidence supports the necessity of strict adherence to the instructions passed down through unbroken discilic succession as Srila Prabhupada has nicely and perfectly arranged for all of us, like the sun shining on the fields and oceans alike, no gambling required.
Haribol, Prabhus.
Hare Krishna!
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Please accept my fallen obeisances.
I would like to ask for some help dear Prabhus, since i’m new to Krishna consciousness and my english is not that good i hope for your understanding.
By the mercy of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in a short period of time( a few months) i was able to quit most of my bad habits that were part of my sinful life. But still my mind is full of nonsense rascal things and i hope you can help me clear a few things out.
If i have understood it correctly from the teachings of Srila Prabhupada then by reading his books we are initiated. Correct me please if i’m wrong and so before i understood this when i first read in the Bhagavad-gita that we cannot make any advancement in spiritual life without accepting a spiritual master i got really down because i didn’t know where i will find a bona fide guru. Then after some months of learning from Srila Prabhupada and by his mercy i understood what has happened in ISKCON and that he is the only guru and will be eternally. Common sense tells me that after i got the knowledge from the spiritual master about the soul being eternal, how could he who imparts and lives this knowledge ever cease to live and guide and instruct us. All of those who are preaching their self interest concoction forget by who’s mercy they have the perfect knowledge they distort. So, but before i get to carried away by my foolish mind please help me follow the instructions of Srila Prabhupada exactly.
When offering food to Lord Krishna is the last prayer the Hare Krishna Mahamantra 3 times?
Also when offering fruit(nuts), do i put all of the fruit on the offering plate?
And how is the water offered, do i take it away or always put fresh water and keep the cup there?
If there are no Tulsi leaves on the food offered does the Lord not accept it?
There are many questions and troubles in my ignorant mind and no sincere devotees here that i could associate with personally so please have some mercy on the useless soul that i am. Thank you Prabhus!
All Glories to Śrī Guru and Gaurāṅga!
No one has answered, so here is my simplistic version;
You have reasoned rightly in choosing to accept only a proven perfect master such as Srila Prabhupada. Why go to second hand renegade sellers when you can get direct from the authorized source?
GF Prabhu; Offerings are made according to degree of formal initiation. Being initiated within your heart, but without external acceptance by the authorized representatives of the sampradaya, in the form of name giving ceremony, vows, neck beads, etc. you will not have access to the Temples’s kitchens to cook for the Deities there. In fact, only second initiated, ie the brahmanas, are allowed to cook in Temples within Srila Prabhupada’s Iskcon. First initiated may however cook for devotees and/or for Gour Nitati and/or Srila Prabhupada, sometimes.
Having said that, realistically and at home, you may meanwhile offer in imitation by placing the offering before Srila Prabhupada and chanting one round of japa. Srila Prabhupada does not require Tulsi, as she is offered only to Vishnu tattva, ie Godhead Himself.
It is nice if the fruits can be offered timely and as ripe. For a larger offering, consider the food in the pots or etc offered once the maha prasadam is taken off the altar and the offering plate is washed.
It is very nice to daily change fresh water and cover the offering cup. Otherwise, change the water when each offering is made.
Consider joining an online Temple for more devotee association where questions re basics may be answered in enough depth. You will not have full access to the tantra or ceremonies etc of our sampradaya until you accept authorized diksa. It is exactly like studying to be an electrician; you may or may not know it, but unless you have a licensed ticket, you cannot do the work and be paid for it within the union.
Devotees will say you do not need any of this, and they may be right, but Srila Prabhupada has made it clear that there is a vast difference between merely licking on a honey bottle and tasting the honey for real. We can say that ideally, a person is spirit, they are entitled after all, and that is true, but in reality, no one is able to apporach Sri Krsna without the authorization of Srimati Radharani and Her associates in succession, and they set standards and have qualifiers for entrance. Our advancement is by their recognition of us as sincere and their wish for us to be advanced and freed from maya, krpa siddha ie perfection by mercy is possible, but power of self-deliverance, sadhana siddhi? – just forget about it. ( one still has to put in one’s 100%, or 70%, though!)
Basically, keep it clean and simple. Chant, chant, chant Hare Krsna and Sri Krishna Caitanya Prabhu Nityananada, Sri Advaita, Gadahara, Srivasadi, Gaura bhakta vrnda. Read, listen to Srila Prabhupada’s direct instructions in the form of his own videos and lectures. Everything will be added by Krsna as you will need. Take diksa, you will be recognized by Krsna in all ways.
Thank you very much dear Tamoharadasa Prabhu for taking the time to answer some of my inquies.
At the present moment i don’t really trust anyone first of all because of what has happened to our beloved spiritual master Srila Prabhupada and his ISKCON. Also because i went a few times to some lectures held by the so called ISKCON devotees from the nearby city who come here weekly once and the lectures are never centered on Krishna or Krishna consciousness, rather they present the weekly topic around itself (e.g. meditation) and only in the end they say well we meditate like this that we chant Hare Krishna. So after that i have asked some of the attendees who are going for years to these lectures, if they chant. Their answer was that some times yes they chant so i realized in that moment how much potency the lectures had/have.
Anyways, sorry for making it so long but i don’t have anybody to associate with directly (also i don’t know any online Temple [trusted]) that share the same interest, as a matter of fact all of my relatives and few of my remaining friends seem to find Krishna, their real self interest unimportant.
I’m not to good in communicating and even worse in doing it in writing but for some time now i have been reading Prabhupadanugas.eu and got some courage and trust in this community. So please kindly bare with me and help me with a few directions so that i can some how or other start serving Srila Prabhupada.
If i understand it right the most sins we commit with our tongue. This is why i have made up my mind to only eat food that i have cooked and offered to Srila Prabhupada – Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu – Sri Krishna and controll my tongue by this.
Is it offensive to offer food without qualification?
Should i better stop offering food if this is an impediment for executing other activity? What i mean by this is that since i started cooking i don’t have any time to read, listen or watch Srila Prabhupada except in weekends.
I would be really grateful if you could point me to a trusted forum if my comments/questions are to pushy or off topic here.
Thank you for sacrificing your valuable time for the cause of a less then useless soul and please help me engage in the service of our eternal spiritual master Srila Prabhupada.
All Glories to Śrī Guru and Gaurāṅga!
Hari bol! Hari bol!
Hare Krishna!
Anyone who signs off “less than useless soul” under the moniker “great fool” has got a little realization of things! A humble submissive mind is a rare thing in this world.
You are certainly invited to visit us at Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON ; SPIrit-net site. The Prabhus have us listed here among cooperative sites in a column to the right side of this page.
There, we have such groups as “How To; online bhakta program”, “New members” feature, “Brahmacary ashrama”, and “SPI morning program” groups, and others. It is all in a developing state always, and we invite content and comments from all. Everything needed is there, including one or three casual moderated classes leading to Associate Bhakti Sastri degrees. There is no fees, though we may soon start to ask membership fees in our attempts to raise funds towards 3-D temples and ashramas here and in India. I hesitated to advertise here on neutral grounds, but probably the Prabhupadanuga EU Editors will not mind so much.
Cooking should or can be simple; 1 hour daily cooking time should have you dahl, veggies, rice and bread with yogurt. Come join a cooking group, Baba! And yes, it is better to eat yogurt and nuts and not cook than to not chant, or have any time for philosophy. A balanced approach is Srila Prabhupada’s recommendation especially for sadhana bhaktas, ie those practising.
There is so much to learn, it never ends, as Krsna consciousness is a complete lifestyle. Adapt it to your life at home, as much as you like, neither being too slack nor overendeavoring.
Offer everything to Srila Prabhupada please, not directly to Radha Krishna, except in your heart. As you say, you do not have Tulsi leaves and so many necessary mantras etc. Best to maintain the external rules and regulations for the sake of order and correct parampara, ie things are not changed, and thus be on the safe side.
Do what is neccessary to take diksa and receive authorized processes and mantras etc.from bonafide brahmanas of Srila Prabhupada. Your experiences with I$con do not mean there are no followers of Srila Prabhupada left; we are the 90%.
We are imperfect, but maybe a little sincere and trying, and we surrender to the perfect master Srila Prabhupada; that is our saving grace. There are many devotees looking for Prabhupadanuga ashramas; help us to build them!
Your servant
Hariharibolo!
thanks for the good comments Tamohara Prabhu!
Dear Tamoharadasa Prabhu i would like to thank you again for everything.
Your sincere help i really appreciate as much as i can with this ignorant foolish mind that is filled with nonsense. I’ll follow the way you directed me and sign up to SPIrit-net, i hope we will be able to associate there also for without the association of devotees i know there is no possibility for me to become a devotee and advance in the service of Srila Prabhupada for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
All Glories to Śrī Guru and Gaurāṅga!
Obeisances. Thank YOU Prabhus! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada! I feel most encouraged!