"From now on unless I order you do something change or in addition, go on with the usual standard way..."

3 short points-pride, knowledge and how to surrender to God

Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada who is forcing open our eyes with the
torchlight of knowledge.

Below are three short sections-
First-- a letter to Rayarama explaining that if one wants to
consider himself a "devotee", then he has to associate with other devotees. I find it sad
that in todays world, some "devotees" would rather associate with outright karmis and mudhas,
in their daily lives, than associate during kirtan with other devotees. Even given that these devotees may
have some faults, still that association is a million times better than one second with those who
are against the Supreme Lord and His instructions.
Second-In BG the Lord says that unless one is free from pride which is caused by delusions
of all sorts, then the surrendering process will not take place. Prabhupada also gives
this process of how to surrender in this purport.
Third-Anyone who takes to any path but surrender to the spiritual master, if simply wasting his
valuable time. And this process of how to surrender as Prabhupada mentions, begins with
associating with devotees of the Lord.

Hari bol
Damaghosa das
-------------------------------------------------------

71-10-22.Ray Letter: Rayarama
Srila Rupa Goswami has described that
devotional service can be advanced by six processes. Perhaps you know
them. They are as follows: enthusiasm, patience, conviction, following
the regulative principles, being honest in one's profession, and in
the association of devotees. So this Krishna consciousness society is
especially meant for giving people the opportunity to associate with
devotees. Devotees means who are following the regulative principles.
One cannot be independent and at the same time become a devotee
because all devotional activities are based on surrender. So in the
association of devotees we learn this important item--how to
surrender, but if we keep our independence and try to become devotees,
that is not possible.
You write to say that you cannot feel any taste for temple life or
Deity worship. This means you are keeping the same temperament you
entertained before leaving our society. Our process is to accept both
the lines of bhagavata marga and pancaratriki marga. Perhaps you might
have seen the picture of the Gaudiya mission. On one side there is the
bhagavata book and on the other side a picture of Laksmi Narayana for
Deity worship. You cannot make any progress in devotional service
unless simultaneously you follow both the lines. Just as the tracks of
a railroad line; both must be there. Similarly temple worship is
essential for purifying us from the material contamination and without
being purified we cannot glorify the Lord. As it is stated in
Bhagavad-gita that the Lord is completely pure and we cannot approach
Krishna without being purified. So as you say that you do not feel
very much encouraged in Deity worship and temple life, I see that your
disease is still continuing. Under the circumstances simple academic
career will not help you. If you want to live with us you must accept
temple life, namely cleanly shaven head, observing the regulative
principles, decorating the body with tilak, etc. You know all these
things.

Bg 15.5 -- One who is free from illusion, false prestige, and false
association, who understands the eternal, who is done with material
lust and is freed from the duality of happiness and distress, and who
knows how to surrender unto the Supreme Person, attains to that
eternal kingdom.

PURPORT

The surrendering process is described here very nicely. The first
qualification is that one should not be deluded by pride. Because the
conditioned soul is puffed up, thinking himself the lord of material
nature, it is very difficult for him to surrender unto the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. One should know by the cultivation of real
knowledge that he is not lord of material nature; the Supreme
Personality of Godhead is the Lord. When one is free from delusion
caused by pride, he can begin the process of surrender. For one who is
always expecting some honor in this material world, it is not possible
to surrender to the Supreme Person. Pride is due to illusion, for
although one comes here, stays for a brief time and then goes away, he
has the foolish notion that he is the lord of the world. He thus makes
all things complicated, and he is always in trouble. The whole world
moves under this impression. People are considering that the land,
this earth, belongs to human society, and they have divided the land
under the false impression that they are the proprietors. One has to
get out of this false notion that human society is the proprietor of
this world. When one is freed from such a false notion, he becomes
free from all the false associations caused by familial, social and
national affections. These faulty associations bind one to this
material world. After this stage, one has to develop spiritual
knowledge. One has to cultivate knowledge of what is actually his own
and what is actually not his own. And, when one has an understanding
of things as they are, he becomes free from all dual conceptions such
as happiness and distress, pleasure and pain. He becomes full in
knowledge; then it is possible for him to surrender to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead.

Adi 17.257--When all the students thus resolved, criticizing Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, their intelligence was spoiled. Thus although they were
learned scholars, because of this offense the essence of knowledge was
not manifest in them.

PURPORT

In the Bhagavad-gita it is said, mayayapahrta-jnana asuram bhavam
asritah: when one becomes inimical to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, adopting an atheistic attitude (asuram bhavam), even if one
is a learned scholar the essence of knowledge does not become manifest
in him; in other words, the essence of his knowledge is stolen by the
illusory energy of the Lord. In this connection Sri Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura quotes a mantra from the Svetasvatara Upanisad
(6.23):

yasya deve para bhaktir
yatha deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah
prakasante mahatmanah
The purport of this verse is that one who is unflinchingly devoted
to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, and similarly devoted to
the spiritual master, with no ulterior motive, becomes a master of all
knowledge. In the heart of such a devotee, the real essence of the
Vedic knowledge becomes manifest. This essence is nothing but
surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead (vedais ca sarvair
aham eva vedyah). Only unto one who fully surrenders to the spiritual
master and the Supreme Lord does the essence of Vedic knowledge become
manifest, not to anyone else. ... Sridhara Svami
confirms in his commentary that first one must surrender to the
spiritual master; then the process of devotional service will develop.
It is not a fact that only one who diligently pursues an academic
career can become a devotee. Even with no academic career, if one has
full faith in the spiritual master and the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, he develops in spiritual life and real knowledge of the
Vedas. The example of Maharaja Khatvanga confirms this. One who
surrenders is understood to have learned the subject matter of the
Vedas very nicely. One who adopts this Vedic process of surrender
learns devotional service and is certainly successful. One who is very
much proud, however, is unable to surrender either to the spiritual
master or to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus he cannot
understand the essence of any Vedic literature. Srimad-Bhagavatam
(Bhag. 11.11.18) declares:

sabda-brahmani nisnato
na nisnayat pare yadi
sramas tasya srama-phalo
hy adhenum iva raksatah

"If one is learned in Vedic literature but is not a devotee of Lord
Visnu, his work is a useless waste of labor, just like the keeping of
a cow that does not give milk."
Anyone who does not follow the surrendering process but is simply
interested in an academic career cannot make any advancement. His
profit is only his labor for nothing. If one is expert in the study of
the Vedas but does not surrender to a spiritual master or Visnu, all
his cultivation of knowledge is but a waste of time and labor.

The vedas are meant for DIRECT understanding, not imaginations

Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

what follows is a short summary of how we are to understand Srila Prabhupadas books and instructions.
It is to be done directly,in the mode of goodness and not indirectly through mental concoctions of our own fertile imaginations. He gives the proof, and any sincere disciple should be eager to follow in this way.
And the last verse and purport give the results of such eager following.

Hari bol
Damaghosa dasa
-------------------------------------

Madhya 6.133-135 Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "The Vedanta-sutra is the summary of
all the Upanisads; therefore whatever direct meaning is there in the
Upanisads is also recorded in the Vedanta-sutra, or Vyasa-sutra.
"For each sutra the direct meaning must be accepted without
interpretation. However, you simply abandon the direct meaning and
proceed with your imaginative interpretation.
"Although there is other evidence, the evidence given in the Vedic
version must be taken as foremost. Vedic versions understood directly
are first-class evidence."

PURPORT

In his book Sarva-samvadini, Srila Jiva Gosvami has noted that although there are
ten kinds of evidence--direct perception, the Vedic version,
historical reference, hypothesis, and so on--and although they are all
generally accepted as evidence, the person presenting a hypothesis,
reading the Vedic version, perceiving or interpreting by his
experience is certain to be imperfect in four ways. That is, he is
subject to commiting mistakes, to becoming illusioned, to cheating and
to having imperfect senses. Although the evidence may be correct, the
person himself is in danger of being misled due to his material
defects. Apart from the direct presentation, there is a chance that an
interpretation may not be perfect. Therefore the conclusion is that
only a direct presentation can be considered evidence. An
interpretation cannot be accepted as evidence, but may be considered
proof of evidence... Therefore Srila Jiva Gosvami has warned
us not to depend on any kind of interpretation. It is better to take
the verses as they are, without interpretation.
Madhya 6.137 "The Vedic statements are self-evident. Whatever is stated there
must be accepted. If we interpret according to our own imagination,
the authority of the Vedas is immediately lost."

PURPORT

Out of four main types of evidence--direct perception, hypothesis,
historical reference and the Vedas--Vedic evidence is accepted as the
foremost. If we want to interpret the Vedic version, we must imagine
an interpretation according to what we want to do. First of all, we
set forth such an interpretation as a suggestion or hypothesis. As
such, it is not actually true, and the self-evident proof is lost.
...The Rg Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, Atharva Veda, Mahabharata,
Pancaratra and original Ramayana are all considered Vedic literature.
The Puranas (such as the Brahma-vaivarta Purana, Naradiya Purana,
Visnu Purana and Bhagavata Purana) are especially meant for Vaisnavas
and are also Vedic literature. As such, whatever is stated within the
Puranas, Mahabharata and Ramayana is self-evident. There is no need
for interpretation. The Bhagavad-gita is also within the Mahabharata;
therefore all the statements of the Bhagavad-gita are self-evident.
There is no need for interpretation, and if we do interpret, the
entire authority of the Vedic literature is lost.

750601SB.HON Lectures
... We have got four defects--means we commit
mistake, we become illusioned or bewildered, our senses are imperfect,
and, because everything is imperfect, still we want to become teacher,
that is cheating. I am imperfect. How can I teach? That is going on. A
imperfect person is teaching about transcendental knowledge. Therefore
people are being cheated. Our process is to take lesson from the
perfect person and distribute it, just we are doing. Krsna
consciousness movement means we are preaching what Krsna has said,
that's all. Not that we have manufactured something new. No. That is
not our business. How I can manufacture? I am imperfect. How can I
manufacture? But the spiritual master who follows the perfect teacher,
he is perfect. He is perfect because whatever he is speaking, that is
the statement of the perfect person.

SB 4.18.5 P- At the present moment it has become fashionable to disobey the
unimpeachable directions given by the acaryas and liberated souls of
the past. Presently people are so fallen that they cannot distinguish
between a liberated soul and a conditioned soul. A conditioned soul is
hampered by four defects: he is sure to commit mistakes, he is sure to
become illusioned, he has a tendency to cheat others, and his senses
are imperfect. Consequently we have to take direction from liberated
persons. This Krsna consciousness movement directly receives
instructions from the Supreme personality of Godhead via persons who
are strictly following His instructions. Although a follower may not
be a liberated person, if he follows the supreme, liberated
Personality of Godhead, his actions are naturally liberated from the
contamination of the material nature. Lord Caitanya therefore says:
"By My order you may become a spiritual master." One can immediately
become a spiritual master by having full faith in the transcendental
words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and by following His
instructions. Materialistic men are not interested in taking
directions from a liberated person, but they are very much interested
in their own concocted ideas, which make them repeatedly fail in their
attempts. Because the entire world is now following the imperfect
directions of conditioned souls, humanity is completely bewildered.

SB 3.24.12 P A conditioned soul in the material world has the disqualification of cheating. He has four
disqualifications: he is sure to commit mistakes, he is sure to be
illusioned, he is ... others, and his senses are imperfect. But if one
carries out the order of the spiritual master by disciplic succession,
or the parampara system, he overcomes the four defects. Therefore,
knowledge received from the bona fide spiritual master is not
cheating. Any other knowledge which is manufactured by the conditioned
soul is cheating ....

740615rc.par Conversations
Yogesvara: "Is there some, any qualities, in the sense that some
people have more receptivity towards the divine than other people?"
Prabhupada: Yes. That I explained, sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna.
Those who are in sattva-guna, they can understand easily. Those who
are in rajo-guna, they have got difficulty. And those who are in
tamo-guna, they cannot.

SB 1.3.44 P--...That is the real process of receiving Bhagavatam. One should
hear with rapt attention from the real person, and then he can at once
realize the presence of Lord Krsna in every page. The secret of
knowing Bhagavatam is mentioned here. No one can give rapt attention
who is not pure in mind. No one can be pure in mind who is not pure in
action. No one can be pure in action who is not pure in eating,
sleeping, fearing and mating. But somehow or other if someone hears
with rapt attention from the right person, at the very beginning one
can assuredly see Lord Sri Krsna in person in the pages of Bhagavatam.

Adi 9.53- Persons who had formerly criticized Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
calling Him a drunkard, also ate the fruit and began to dance, saying,
"Very good! Very good!"

PURPORT

When Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu started the sankirtana movement, even
He was unnecessarily criticized by Mayavadis, atheists and fools.
Naturally we are also criticized by such men. They will always remain
and will always criticize anything that is actually good for human
society. But the preachers of the sankirtana movement should not be
deterred by such criticism. Our method should be to convert such fools
gradually by asking them to come and take prasada and chant and dance
with us. This should be our policy. Anyone who comes to join us, of
course, must be sincere and serious regarding spiritual advancement in
life; then such a person, simply by joining us, chanting with us,
dancing with us and taking prasada with us, will gradually also come
to say that this movement is very good. But one who joins with an
ulterior purpose, to get material benefit or personal gratification,
will never be able to grasp the philosophy of this movement.

Adi 9.51 yugayitam nimesena
caksusa pravrsayitam
sunyayitam jagat sarvam
govinda-virahena me

"O Govinda! Feeling Your separation, I am considering a moment to
be like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from My eyes like
torrents of rain, and I am feeling all vacant in the world in Your
absence." This is the perfectional stage of chanting the Hare Krsna
mantra and eating the fruit of love of Godhead, as exhibited by Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One should not artificially imitate this stage,
but if one is serious and sincerely follows the regulative principles
and chants the Hare Krsna mantra, the time will come when these
symptoms will appear. Tears will fill his eyes, he will be unable to
chant distinctly the maha-mantra, and his heart will throb in ecstasy.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that one should not imitate this, but a
devotee should long for the day to come when such symptoms of trance
will automatically appear in his body.

Srila Prabhupada explains who can understand?

Yogesvara: "Is there some, any qualities, in the sense that some people have more receptivity towards the divine than other people?"
Prabhupada: Yes. That I explained, sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. Those who are in sattva-guna, they can understand easily. Those who are in rajo-guna, they have got difficulty. And those who are in tamo-guna, they cannot. 740615rc.par Conversations

Srila Prabhupada explains how to hear properly?

One has to learn Bhāgavatam from the representative of Śukadeva Gosvāmī, and no one else, if one at all wants to see Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa in the pages. That is the process, and there is no alternative. Sūta Gosvāmī is a bona fide representative of Śukadeva Gosvāmī because he wants to present the message which he received from the great learned brāhmaṇa. Śukadeva Gosvāmī presented Bhāgavatam as he heard it from his great father, and so also Sūta Gosvāmī is presenting Bhāgavatam as he had heard it from Śukadeva Gosvāmī. Simple hearing is not all; one must realize the text with proper attention. The word niviṣṭa means that Sūta Gosvāmī drank the juice of Bhāgavatam through his ears. That is the real process of receiving Bhāgavatam. One should hear with rapt attention from the real person, and then he can at once realize the presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa in every page. The secret of knowing Bhāgavatam is mentioned here. No one can give rapt attention who is not pure in mind. No one can be pure in mind who is not pure in action. No one can be pure in action who is not pure in eating, sleeping, fearing and mating. But somehow or other if someone hears with rapt attention from the right person, at the very beginning one can assuredly see Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa in person in the pages of Bhāgavatam. Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 1:"Creation" : SB 1.3: Krsna Is the Source of All Incarnations : SB 1.3.44 : PURPORT

"... That is brahma-bhūtaḥ state. So this can be awakened by hearing. Therefore the Vedic mantra is called śruti. One has to receive this awakening through the ear. Śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ [SB 7.5.23]. Always one has to hear and chant about Viṣṇu. Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. Then ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12], everything will be cleansed, and he'll come to understand that "I am eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa."
Srila Prabhupāda: When you become Vaiṣṇava, the brahminism is already included. General process is, unless one does not come to the sattva-guṇa platform, he cannot understand what is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is the general rule. But this Kṛṣṇa, devotional service, Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, is so nice that simply by hearing about Kṛṣṇa, you come to immediately to the brahminical platform. Naṣṭa-prāyeṣu abhadreṣu nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā [SB 1.2.18]...." Bhagavad-gita Lectures : Bg 2: Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 2.20 -- Hyderabad, November 25, 1972

"... Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī says that unless we accept this principle that Kṛṣṇa or God has got inconceivable power, acintya-śakti, we cannot understand. If we put Kṛṣṇa within the jurisdiction of my limited understanding, that is not understanding of Kṛṣṇa..." Bhagavad-gita Lectures : Bg 2: Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 2.23-24 -- London, August 27, 1973

So less intelligent class of men, they cannot understand Kṛṣṇa. Therefore śāstra says, ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ [Cc. Madhya 17.136]. These indriya, these material senses, cannot speculate to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is not possible Lectures : Bhagavad-gita Lectures :

So our process is to receive the perfect knowledge from the perfect source and distribute it. We don't manufacture knowledge. Therefore we are presenting Bhagavad-gītā as it is, as it is. The Bhagavad-gītā is already perfect. Why shall I interpret with my imperfect senses? This is cheating. But people want to be cheated. Vaṣcita-vaṣcaka-sampradāya. The whole world is full of cheaters and cheated. Because we want to be cheated, there are so many cheaters. They don't want real thing. Here is the real thing, Bhagavad-gītā, the Supreme Personality of Godhead speaking personally about Himself. Why should we interpret? Does it mean that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supreme authority, left something unexplained to be interpreted later on by some rascals? No. But the rascals dare; they interpret. That is cheating. That is another faultBg 1: Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 1.13-14 -- London, July 14, 1973

So ordinary man cannot understand. Therefore they interpret foolishly, speculate, and demonstrate their rascaldom. That's all. Even big, big scholars. So they cannot understand because they are not devotee. It is meant for the devotee Lectures : Bhagavad-gita Lectures : Bg 1: Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 1.20 -- London, July 17, 1973

There is no difficulty. Simply one must be sincere, not sinful. But a sinful man cannot understand Him. Bhagavad-gita Lectures : Bg 1: Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 1.20 -- London, July 17, 1973

Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ [Bg. 18.55]. Only by devotion, simply. He could have said, "By high, topmost knowledge" or "By yogic process" or "By acting, becoming a very great karmī, worker, one can understand Me." No, he has never said, never said. So the karmīs, jṣānīs, yogis, they are all rascals. They cannot understand Kṛṣṇa. All rascals. Karmīs are third-class rascals, the jṣānīs are second-class rascal, and the yogis are first-class rascal. That's all. Lectures : Bhagavad-gita Lectures : Bg 1: Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 1.20 -- London, July 17, 1973

It is not so easy thing that "I do everything, whatever I like." Some rascals preach that "Oh, religion has nothing to do with your eating. You can eat anything you like, and still you become a religious man." This is all nonsense. Nobody can become religious man if he is attracted by sinful activities. It is not possible. You must stop sinful activities. That is first condition. Otherwise you cannot understand what there... People... Perhaps, in this Kṛṣṇa conscious, except this Kṛṣṇa conscious movement, all rascals, they do not know what is God. Lectures : Bhagavad-gita Lectures : Bg 1: Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 1.21-22 -- London, July 18, 1973

This knowledge has to be received by paramparā system. Evam paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ [Bg. 4.2]. So simply by academic career, by knowledge of ABCD, you cannot understand Bhagavad-gītā. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said, bhakto 'si priyo 'si me [Bg. 4.3], without becoming bhakta... Therefore Sanātana Gosvāmī has forbidden that "Don't hear anything about Kṛṣṇa from a person who is not a Vaiṣṇava." Avaiṣṇava-mukhodgīrṇa-pūta-hari-kathāmṛtaṁ śravanaṁ na karta... This is prohibited. You cannot hear. But this audience or the students, they also do not know that "Here is a rascal, he is not a devotee, he is not a Vaiṣṇava. Why shall we hear from him Bhagavad-gītā?" The first condition is bhakto 'si. And the prohibition is also by ācāryas. Avaiṣṇava-mukhodgīrṇa-pūta-hari-kathāmṛtaṁ śravanaṁ na kartavyam. Pūta-hari-kathāmṛtam. Hari-kathā, talks of Kṛṣṇa, they are by themselves pure. But still, it is prohibited that if it is spoken by an avaiṣṇava, nondevotee, one should not hear, should not hear. Must immediately reject. First of all, we have to see who is going to speak about Kṛṣṇa. Is it a devotee of Kṛṣṇa? Is he a Vaiṣṇava or not? If he is not, then immediately reject: "Oh, we are not going to hear from you." But people do not know. Any rascal speaking about Bhagavad-gītā we hear. That is not the process. Then you will misunderstand. Avaiṣṇava-mukhod..., sarpocchiṣṭaṁ payo yathā. Just like milk is very good food, everyone knows. But when it is touched by the tongue of the serpent, it is poison immediately. So we cannot drink poison. Don't hear Bhagavad-gītā or any talk about Kṛṣṇa from a person who is not a Vaiṣṇava, who is not a devotee of Kṛṣṇa. We'll misunderstand. Just like they will say, they will say, "Oh, Kṛṣṇa is engaging Arjuna for fighting, for committing so many sinful activities." No, that is not the fact. Kṛṣṇa is engaging Arjuna fighting, to fighting, just to serve His purpose. Paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtam [Bg. 4.8]. Lectures : Bhagavad-gita Lectures : Bg 1: Lectures : Bhagavad-gita 1.44 -- London, July 31, 1973

Evolution of Cartoon Science

by Narasimha dasa

National Geographic Society rencently devoted another entire issue to
Charles Darwin and his speculations regarding the origin of species.
Their agenda was to show how Darwin’s ideas are now widely accepted by
scientists and researchers while most religious leaders reject Darwin
due to their blind faith in scriptures. They quoted Srila Prabhupada
briefly, and out of context, saying, “Darwin’s ideas are nonesense.”
The entire issue was aimed at illustrating how modern science is
confirming the fundamentals of Darwin’s ideas regarding the evolution
of species; yet instead of providing substantial evidence, they simply
glorified Darwin and offered imaginative narratives on how species
might have transformed themselves through mysterious mutations.
Evolutionists claim that most leading scientists now support Darwin’s
hypothesis that all life has evolved from simple compounds and that
every species has improved itself automatically through chance
mutations and the process of natural selection. National Geographic
Society, Discovery Channel, Science Channel and most of the academic
community, apparently, have suspended scientific thinking when it
comes to the topic of evolution and the origin of species.

Before I began studying the Darwinist teachings, I expected to
encounter at least 2-star scifi script ramped up a few notches,
perhaps, with elaborately devised academia speak. Instead of
compelling mock science, however, I’ve found only Disney-style cartoon
tales of amoebas learning to be fish, fish sprouting wings, learning
to fly and breathe air, monkeys learning to make tools, build condos,
wear pants, grow corn, and so on. All this is possible, the
evolutionists say, by the power of innumerable, successive, genetic
mutations. They believe these mutations have continuously improved
millions of species over millions of years due to the principle of
survival of the fittest, or natural selection.

Guru tattva explained --"the big picture"

Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
Glories to Srila Prabhupada

I am of the opinion that most devotees, can very easily get lost in the voluminous information contained within Prabhupadas books. Anyone can take one quote, to prove something , and another devotee can take the same quote and prove something just the opposite, at least in his own mind.

Therefore this "tunnel" vision, for lack of a better name, becomes very confusing and thats why we have so many devotees with so many opinions on the subject of guru tattva. I am proposing that one just hear/read the "big picture" quotes that are abundantly supplied by Srila Prabhupada so that one does not get lost in his quest for the truth.
An example of "big picture" quotes would be the example he gives of feeding the stomach or watering the trees roots as to why we must serve Krsna. There are hundreds of other quotes which explain the same principle in more detail, but one can get mentally lost easily by reading them all. But the "big picture" quotes makes this difficult philosophy easier to grasp by giving examples that anybody can understand.

Another way to understand this "big picture" idea is this- say you are lost in a big city, but know well where you want to go. It really doesnt matter in the long run if you dont know all the streets in detail, as long as you know WHERE you are going, because knowing that goal will get you there eventually. So to with guru tattva. If we understand the "big picture" of what and who is guru, then we wont get lost on all the side streets of the city of Maya.

Ok now lets hear some of these "big picture" quotes" of what Srila Prabhupada says.

1) Just like Krsna can be present simultaneously in millions of places, similarly the spiritual master also can be present wherever the disciple wants. A spiritual master is the principle, not the body. Just like a television can be seen in thousands of places by the principle or relay monitoring.(letter may 28 1968)

So in this statement it is very clear that Srila Prabhupada is telling us in this "big picture quote" that the bona fide guru is NOT that physical body, but thru some physical body or NO body he can act just like TV is seen in thousands of places. So this one quote alone destroys the "living guru" nonsense idea.You cannot show me one quote anywhere where he says you need a physically living diksa guru. But here, he clearly tells us that the guru is NOT the body but a principle. Not only does the bona fide guru not need a physical body to deliver Krsna, but he can appear wherever the disciple wants or needs him to. The guru is the principle not the body clearly is telling us that the Divine spirit of God can be experienced thru the disciplic sucession, whether in a physical body or no physical body. Otherwise how could so many thousands of disciples who never saw Prabhupada receive inspiration on a daily basis? And this inspiration goes on even after he physically has left our mortal material vision thru divine sound. And how could these thousands also receive diksa without the presence of a physical body in front of them and the sacred fire? Again, "spiritual master is not the body, but the principle." And that "principle" is what is living not the body.

Srila Prabhupada Addresses The World Health Organization

Compiled by: Hasti Gopala dasa
May 25, 2008 by srila-prabhupada
Filed under MP3 Audio, Society

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DOWNLOAD So we can produce enough quantity of food grains all over the world. And if we actually produce food grains, we can feed ten times of the population which are at present. But unfortunately, we are not producing food grains. That is the problem. It is not the problem of overpopulation. It is the problem that we are not producing food grains.

Lecture at World Health Organization
Geneva, June 6, 1974

Prabhupada: So Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you very much for your participating in this meeting. Our Krsna consciousness movement is based on the authority of this Bhagavad-gita. Bhagavad-gita, I think most of you know, Indians or foreigners. And some of you must have read Bhagavad-gita. We have published Bhagavad-gita as it is, without any malinterpretation. In the Bhagavad-gita, the author of the Bhagavad-gita is enounced as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the Hindus, especially the Vaisnavas… Vaisnava or not Vaisnava, Krsna is accepted as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We… Our Indian spiritual life is guided by the acaryas, sampradaya acarya, the Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Visnuswami and Nimbarka. There is… Whole Indian spiritual culture is dependent on the guidance of these acarya. And in the Bhagavad-gita also, in the Thirteenth Chapter, it is advised, acarya upasanam: “One should follow the instruction of the acarya.” That is our Vedic civilization. And in the Bhagavad-gita, also, it is said in the fourth chapter, evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh. The science of God… Imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam. This is a yoga system, this Bhagavad-gita. So Krsna says that “Formerly, this yoga system was spoken by Me to the sun-god, Vivasvan.” And visvasvan manave prahur, “Then the sun-god, whose name is Vivasvan at the present moment…”

This fly is disturbing-this is not the problem.....SP

Prabhupada: Yes. And He says, suhrdam sarva-bhutanam: "I can adjust things." So we are not taking. (Hindi) From all angles of vision, if you study Bhagavad-gita, everything is perfectly there. And if you take it seriously, you become happy in this life and dehantare. If you simply take, accept Krsna as He says, then what is result? Krsna says, janma karma me divyam yo janati tattvatah tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti. Punar janma, tatha dehantara-praptih, but one who has understood Krsna perfectly--it is not possible to understand Him, but as far as possible, as far as our knowledge is concerned--if we understand Krsna, then immediate result is that we are freed from the bondage of janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi. So that is the real problem. We are solving problems, this problem, that problem, that... They are not problems. That is natural in this material world. Just like this fly is disturbing. This is not a problem because the fly is made for that purpose. How... You cannot stop him. You can protect yourself. It is not possible to stop him. This is not problem, how to drive away the fly. The real problem, Krsna says, janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam, that you are in the cycle of birth, death... Tatha dehantara-praptih. You get another life and you suffer. Again you get another life. This is your problem. So that problem, Krsna says, that "You can solve it. Simply try to understand Me." Janma karma me divyam yo janati tattvatah, tyaktva deham. That is our business. But we are being deviated from the real business, and we are being engaged in so-called this ism, that ism, that ism. This is spoiling the whole thing. asraddadhanah purusa dharmasyasya parantapa aprapya mam nivartante mrtyu-samsara-vartmani This life, this human form of life, is meant for understanding the real problem of life and to solve it. This is the opportunity. And Krsna personally coming to instruct you, "You solve in this way." But we are so doggish, we will not take. What can be done? Then become a dog. Nature's law, you work. Karanam guna-sango 'sya sad-asad-janma-yonisu. If you remain doggish--you do not become human being--then, all right, you become a dog next life. Tatha dehantara-pra... Then take life of the street and "Gow! Gow! Gow!" Mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. This... For this purpose we request every one of you that you study Bhagavad-gita very seriously as it is, apply it in your practical life, and teach it to others. That is perfection. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's... He says that "You become guru, everyone." (break) You simply repeat. Don't misinterpret. Boliye. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's... Every one of you become a guru, not a bluffer, but a guru, real guru. "How real guru? What can be done? I have no qualification." Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa: "You simply take the words of Krsna and preach." Krsna says, mattah parataram nanyat. You simply repeat, "Sir, Krsna is the Supreme Being, God." What is the difficulty? Krsna says, "There is no superior authority than Me." You simply say, "Krsna is the supreme authority." That's all. Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam... You preach, "Come here in the temple. See Krsna's Deity and always think of Him." Where is the difficulty? Now, these Europeans and Americans, what I have done to them? I have not given any bribe. I say, "Here is Krsna. He is God." They accept it, worship Him. Man-mana bhava mad-bhaktah. Just if you cannot do anything, just offer one obeisances, namaskara. Any child can do. They have done it, and they are going ahead. (Hindi) Krsna-upadesa is there, perfect upadesa. (Hindi) As Krsna says, you try to assimilate it and distribute it.

Bhagavad gita and Nectar of Devotion on the nature of Fruitive activities

First a quick look at NOD, explaining how sins occur and mature as bad karma. Even good acts incur karma which means reactions we must come back to experience. NoD 1.... In Bhagavad-gita, the Lord says that one should surrender unto Him, giving up all other engagements. The Lord also gives His word there that He will protect surrendered souls from the reactions of all sinful activities. Srila Rupa Gosvami says that the distresses from sinful activities are due both to the sins themselves and to sins committed in our past lives. Generally, one commits sinful activities due to ignorance. But ignorance is no excuse for evading the reaction--sinful activities. Sinful activities are of two kinds: those which are mature and those which are not mature.

Krishna Darshan....

Hare Krsna dear Devotees of the Lord,
Please accept my humble obesiances

with all Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I added some new Krishna pictures to

my Krsna Darshan album - sending them your way.....

Click here to see album

Sri Giri-Govardhana Ki Jaya!

CC Madhya-līlā,Chapter 18 Text 38

vāmas tāmarasākṣasya bhuja-daṇḍaḥ sa pātu vaḥ krīḍā-kandukatāṁ yena nīto govardhano giriḥ

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “‘May the left arm of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, whose eyes are like the petals of a lotus flower, always protect you. With His left arm He raised Govardhana Hill as if it were a toy.’”

Krsna Janmastami/Vyasa puja Report-Sedro Woolley Wa 2009

Hare Krsna to all Obeisances All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Bhagavan Sri Krsna We experienced yet again, another wonderful festival, by the blessings of Srila Prabhupada. Sukadev dasa came up from LA and he and I were just watching our video clips of the play done by Kanhaiya and his eldest daughter, Elisha, about Bilvamangala Thakur during Janmastami evening. Wonderful depiction of the mood and story of Sura das (Bilvamangala Thakur). Thank you Kanhaiya and family for this very very nice service. Ok, now lets turn to the Prasadam, since that is what happened first. Here is some pictures of that "event" notice all the locally grown (our back yard) flowers....the lilies, which are all over the place, are too sweet smelling right now....

Srila Prabhupada Quote of the Day

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder~Acharya of the Krsna Consciousness Movement

February 2, 1970

Los Angeles

My Dear Lalita Kumar,

My open advice is that if any one can remain a Brahmacari, it is very nice, but there is no need of artificial Brahmacaris. In Bhagavad-gita it is stated that one who exhibits outwardly as self restrained, but inwardly he thinks of sense gratification he is condemned as mithyacara which means false pretender.

We do not want any false pretenders in numbers, but we want a single sincere soul. There is no harm in accepting a wife and living without any disturbance of the mind and thus sincerely advancing in Krishna Consciousness.

More Quotes

P R A S A D A M

complied by Mahesh Raja

SPL 70-08-05 SUBHADRA

Yes, you are certainly right when you say Radharani cooks prasadam for Lord Krsna. Whenever He returns in the evening from herding cows with His cowherd boy friends, Radharani has a nice preparation waiting for Lord Krsna.

BG 2.63

Whereas an impersonalist tries to avoid good eatables, a devotee knows that Krsna is the supreme enjoyer and that He eats all that is offered to Him in devotion. So, after offering good eatables to the Lord, the devotee takes the remnants, called prasadam. Thus everything becomes spiritualized, and there is no danger of a downfall. The devotee takes prasadam in Krsna consciousness, whereas the nondevotee rejects it as material. The impersonalist, therefore, cannot enjoy life, due to his artificial renunciation; and for this reason, a slight agitation of the mind pulls him down again into the pool of material existence. It is said that such a soul, even though rising up to the point of liberation, falls down again due to his not having support in devotional service.

BG2.64

prasadam—the mercy of the Lord;

BG 6.17

Thakura Haridasa would not even accept prasadam nor even sleep for a moment without finishing his daily routine of chanting with his beads three hundred thousand names.

ENVY

Two presentations about Srila Prabbhupada talking about:

Prabhupada, The truth about my God-Brothers:

Prabhupada, The truth about Tirtha & Sridhara Maharajs:

Sri Govardhana Puja Festival-Sedro Woolley Wa 2009

Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Giri Govardhana
On sunday Oct 18, 2009 at Sri Sri Gaura NItai Mandir in Sedro Woolley Wa, some of the local devotees observed the annual and always very blissful Sri Govardhana Puja Festival which honors the Supreme Lord, when He was only 6 or 7 years "old" by lifting the mountain Govardhana with the little finger of His left hand for 7 days thereby protecting His devotees from the unseasonal wrath of King Indra.
The kirtans were sweet, and the feast was very tasty due to the variety and nutritiousness as most of it was grown locally.

Fanaticisim vs practicality to spread Krsna Consciousness

770415rc.bom 480882/530501
Prabhupada: And if you kill, then wholesale will be killed. No... There will be no candidate for learning. You have to kill everyone.That will be at the end, Kalki-avatara, simply killing, bas, finish. They'll have no capacity to understand. Nowadays there are... They cannot understand this philosophy. But there are some, they are trying to understand. But at the end of Kali-yuga there will be no brain to understand or to hear all these things. Mleccha. That is mleccha. Mleccha means they are so unclean, unstandardized, they have no brain. That is Europe, America. That's ... Mleccha. Kill animals. Eat. Mleccha, they are, according to Vedic, untouchable. If you touch, then you infect. Tamala Krsna: Of course, Srila Prabhupada, but you did not become infected by our association. Prabhupada: But the danger is there. Danger is there. Tamala Krsna: Therefore traditionally the sadhus will not go outside India. They won't cross the ocean. Prabhupada: And I took the risk. I told you the story, that I was keeping my foodstuff in the same Frigidaire that dog's flesh is here. What can I do? Circumstance. Therefore this rascal, Ginsberg, he used to say, "Swamiji, you are very conservative." And "You do not know what is conservative. I'm so lenient. You do not know what is the meaning of conservative," I used to reply him. If I was conservative, then for a single moment I could not stay here. Immediately I would have gone. Tamala Krsna: But with yourself you were very conservative. With others you were very lenient, but in your own personal... Prabhupada: No, no, strictly I am not doing because I am keeping my foodstuff in the same Frigidaire where there is leftover and meat and dog's food is kept. (end)

Do some tangible service-otherwise no Krsna for you....

Hare Krsna to all Obeisances All glories to Srila Prabhupada Below is a very instructive letter to a disciple about just wandering around this world, doing basically nothing for his spiritual master. Srila Prabhupada tells him, unless one fixes his mind upon some tangible service, that disciple will NOT obtain Krsna. Hari bol Damaghosa dasa ------------------- 68-07-25. 265405/530501 Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 8, 1968, and regarding your previous letter or any other letters, it is my habit to reply each and every letter. ... ... And I think if you want to do some real service to Krishna, and to the society, you should now fix up your mind to follow my instructions and do some tangible work. Unless you fix up your mind to serve your Spiritual Master, Who is direct representative of Krishna, it is not possible to approach Krishna. Krishna is approached through the transparent via media, of Spiritual Master. Anyway, the letter which you sent me 3 weeks prior was duly received by me and I have duly replied them point to point, and if you have not received that letter, I am enclosing a true copy of the reply which will clear all the points raised by you. Regarding the Murtis, the letter will explain. ...Acyutananda has formally opened a branch in Delhi, c.o Radha Press, but I do not think it is acting very nicely. Because you are not combined. If you combine together there, following my instructions, you can develop a branch in India anywhere very nicely. How to do it, that I shall give you instructions. You have simply to carry out my instructions in that respect. But at the present moment you are not prepared to follow my instructions. You are simply visiting different places, for sight seeing recreation. This sort of service is not accepted by Krishna. You are thinking of coming back to USA because your sight seeing business is now finished. But now you should think what service you have rendered to Krishna by going to India. Sometimes back, when you were in Navadvipa, I asked you to send some mrdangas, but you declined to execute the order. I asked you also to develop one asrama at Mayapur, that also you declined. Similarly, Acyutananda was bent on opening a center at Kanpur, and the result is that instead of opening a center, there, he has lost two typewriters, taken away by force by some rogue there. So, so long whatever you have done, both you and Acyutananda, let us forget those things. Now if you decide to work rigidly on my instructions in India, then I can give you necessary instructions. Otherwise, you can do whatever you like. Thanking you once more, and hoping you are keeping in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami ------------------------------------------------------- Bg 2.44 T Contents of the Gita Summarized In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence, and who are bewildered by such things, the resolute determination of devotional service to the Supreme Lord does not take place. SB 2.1.2 The First Step in God Realization Those persons who are materially engrossed, being blind to the knowledge of ultimate truth, have many subject matters for hearing in human society, O Emperor.

Nimai and Murari pandit pastime--sweet nectar.....

Nimai Spoils Murari’s Lunch
Adapted from Srila Lochan Das Thakur’s
Śrī Caitanya-mangala
Ādi-khanda, Bālya-līlā, texts 373-403

One day, the learned scholar and physician Murari Gupta visited Nabadwip, accompanied by his followers. While walking down the road, they were discussing yoga-sāstras. The young boy Nimai, walking directly behind Murari Gupta, began mimicking Murari’s way of speaking. Murari noticed this from the corner of his eyes but continued speaking to his followers. Nimai and his friends then increased their mocking of Murari by exactly imitating both his walking style and hand-gestures. Finally, Murari became furious and rebuked Nimai, “Who says that this boy is well-behaved? I recognize him. He is the son of Jagannath Mishra. Everywhere I have heard his glories. His name is Nimai.”
Hearing his words, out of kindness to his devotee Murari Gupta, Lord Gaurahari became angry. Knitting his eyebrows, the eloquent young boy said, “When you take your meal I will teach you something.” Bewildered by this oblique statement, Murari returned to his residence. He became absorbed in his domestic activities and forgot about the incident.
At noon he sat down to peacefully take his meal.

All Glories To My Gurudeva

today I am a different man and that’s because of what I know my conscience drives my feeble brain at 61 my life is changed let not the truth be killed by fear Krsna please let me be sincere return me to Thy lotus feet someone (but who?) has poisoned me never a man showed so much love at the last stage don’t torture me procrastination stay away or my last breath will be in vain it’s possible from Vaisnava lips so many years for it to show oh why did it turn out this way never a deed so sinful known eleven men sat on a thrown deceived by Putana the witch Patita Pavana is gone returning to his rightful home and we are left upon the shore but everything is in my books however now the books have changed unto my heart I can’t restrain perhaps the world cannot be saved and Kali Yuga wins the day do not believe the fight is lost all glories to my Gurudeva

Mahasana dasa June 12, 2009

Who is the real Acarya?

Adi 3.98 The External Reasons for Lord Caitanya' s Appearance

Seeing the activities of the world, the Acarya felt compassion and began to ponder how He could act for the people's benefit. PURPORT This sort of serious interest in the welfare of the public makes one a bona fide acarya. An acarya does not exploit his followers. Since the acarya is a confidential servitor of the Lord, his heart is always full of compassion for humanity in its suffering. He knows that all suffering is due to the absence of devotional service to the Lord, and therefore he always tries to find ways to change people's activities, making them favorable for the attainment of devotion. That is the qualification of an acarya. Although Sri Advaita Prabhu Himself was powerful enough to do the work, as a submissive servitor He thought that without the personal appearance of the Lord, no one could improve the fallen condition of society. In the grim clutches of maya, the first-class prisoners of this material world wrongly think themselves happy because they are rich, powerful, resourceful and so on. These foolish creatures do not know that they are nothing but play dolls in the hands of material nature and that at any moment material nature's pitiless intrigues can crush to dust all their plans for godless activities. Such foolish prisoners cannot see that however they improve their position by artificial means, the calamities of repeated birth, death, disease and old age are always beyond the jurisdiction of their control. Foolish as they are, they neglect these major problems of life and busy themselves with false things that cannot help them solve their real problems. They know that they do not want to suffer death or the pangs of disease and old age, but under the influence of the illusory energy, they are grossly negligent and therefore do nothing to solve the problems. This is called maya. People held in the grip of maya are thrown into oblivion after death, and as a result of their karma, in the next life they become dogs or gods, although most of them become dogs. To become gods in the next life, they must engage in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; otherwise, they are sure to become dogs or hogs in terms of the laws of nature. The third-class prisoners, being less materially opulent than the first-class prisoners, endeavor to imitate them, for they also have no information of the real nature of their imprisonment. Thus they also are misled by the illusory material nature. The function of the acarya, however, is to change the activities of both the first-class and third-class prisoners for their real benefit. This endeavor makes him a very dear devotee of the Lord, who says clearly in the Bhagavad-gita that no one in human society is dearer to Him than a devotee who constantly engages in His service by finding ways to preach the message of Godhead for the real benefit of the world. The so-called acaryas of the Age of Kali are more concerned with exploiting the resources of their followers than mitigating their miseries; but Sri Advaita Prabhu, as an ideal acarya, was concerned with improving the condition of the world situation. JUDGE BY THE RESULT.......BEFORE AND NOW...... What happened when Srila Prabhupada was here and what happened when he left? Srila Prabhupada actually cared for his devotees, he cared for all humanity, and above all,he cared for His Lord Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu who gave him solace when he took the Jaladuta across the Atlantic ocean. Compare him then to what we have now. There is just NO comparison at all, for none of us are on that level of devotion. Our best and safest position is to humbly follow, somehow or other, in his grand footsteps as the most humble servants of the servant.

Hare Krsna

your humble servant

Damaghosa das

Upcoming Programs & Festivals:

SEDRO WOOLLEY:

LOS ANGELES:

Next program will be on Thursday, January 28, 2010 for Nityananda Trayodasi at Delmas terrace@ 6:00 PM.

TRENTON, NJ:

OTHER CENTER/TEMPLES ETC....

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