THE HARE KRISHNA BLOG

The Sex Change of King Sudyumna

2012-01-27T08:34:00.000-08:00

SANSKRIT: tata ūrdhvaṁ vanaṁ tad vai, puruṣā varjayanti hi, sā cānucara-saṁyuktā, vicacāra vanād vanam ENGLISH TRANSLATION "Since that time, no male had entered that forest. But now King Sudyumna, having been transformed into a female, began to walk with his associates from one forest to another" PURPORT In Bhagavad-gītā (2.22) it is said: vāsāṁsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya navāni gṛhṇāti

SPIRITUAL UNION

2012-01-09T20:27:00.000-08:00

"Political fraternity is not enough. Political friendship to remain true and permanent must be forged into a profound spiritual union. India has a stupendous chance today of leading the world back from the barbarism of bankrupt Western civilization and of realizing the spiritual civilization offered by Mahatma Gandhi, Aurobindo Ghosh, Rabindranath Tagore, and the entire luminous galaxy of

Vedas Predict Advent of Lord Chaitanya

2012-01-05T06:51:00.001-08:00

In the Srimad-Bhagavatam when Karabhajana Muni was elucidating the different incarnations of Godhead in different yugas, he said that "In the Kali-yuga the intelligent persons will worship the incarnation of Sri Krishna, by the transcendental sankirtana method. This incarnation of Sri Krishna will be non-blackish in the color of His body but will constantly chant the name of Krishna along with

The Medicine For Human Society

2011-12-30T08:45:00.000-08:00

In the spiritual line of disciplic succession from Sri Brahmaji who was first transcendental student of the Vedas down to my spiritual master [Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada] as above mentioned, the Vedic culture is aimed at reestablishing the eternal relation of living entity with the Absolute Truth, of Whom the living entities are but parts & parcels. Forgetfulness of that

The Passenger of a Temporary Railway Compartment

2011-12-22T04:57:00.000-08:00

Although Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī was situated in the order of renounced life of a sannyāsī, as Lord Śrī Caitanya was, none of them declared like the Māyāvādīs [those who think God is not a person] that this material world is a hallucination. Both of them preached that this material world is temporary, but is not unreal. There is much difference between a temporary and an unreal

To Wake Up The Sleeping Man

2011-12-12T12:41:00.000-08:00

Prabhupāda: Our movement is to revive God consciousness. Just like a man is sleeping, and he has got some engagement, say, in the morning, at six o'clock. But still he's sleeping. So somebody is trying to awake him. "Get up, get up! You have got this engagement. You have..." Our movement is like that. The human society is sleeping. So we are just trying to awake them: "Get up. Get up. You have

Action, Karma, Destiny

2011-12-04T11:47:00.000-08:00

Prabhupāda: So I have seen this instrument. Destiny is very strong. Karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa jantur deha upapattaye [SB 3.31.1]. Therefore śāstra says that you try for that thing which was not possible in many other lives. In each life everyone gets father, mother, son, and the father's duty to son, son, that is going on. When you take birth as demigod-Indra, Candra, Varuṇa—or as human being or as

What are the 99.9 percent engaged in?

2011-11-14T10:22:00.000-08:00

In the modern civilization, 99.9 percent of the people are engaged in the activities of sense gratification under the flags of industrialism, economic development, altruism, political activism, and so on. All these activities are more or less based on satisfaction of the senses, to the exclusion of the kind of God consciousness described in the first mantra. In the language of the Bhagavad-gītā

The Ten Kinds of Air Within The Body

2011-09-18T20:41:00.000-07:00

sādhyātmaḥ sādhidaivaś ca sādhibhūta iti tridhā virāṭ prāṇo daśa-vidha ekadhā hṛdayena ca SYNONYMS sa-ādhyātmaḥ—the body and mind with all the senses; sa-ādhidaivaḥ—and the controlling demigods of the senses; ca—and; sa-ādhibhūtaḥ—the present objectives; iti—thus; tridhā—three; virāṭ—gigantic; prāṇaḥ—moving force; daśa-vidhaḥ—ten kinds; ekadhā—one only; hṛdayena—living energy; ca—also. The

A body without consciousness is a dead body

2011-09-17T11:38:00.000-07:00

“O descendant of Bharata, he who dwells in the body is eternal and can never be slain. Therefore you need not grieve for any creature.” (Bhagavad-gītā 2.30) The very first step in self-realization is realizing one’s identity as separate from the body. “I am not this body but am spirit soul” is an essential realization for anyone who wants to transcend death and enter into the spiritual world

Hare Krishna - Allen Ginsberg: Film by Jonas Mekas 1966

2011-06-21T07:10:00.000-07:00

The Poor Man's Inheritance

2011-01-13T11:33:00.000-08:00

Concerning man's search for the ultimate goal of life, Caitanya Mahāprabhu relates a story from the commentary of Madhva which occurs in the Fifth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Madhva-bhāṣya) Sarvajña to a poor man who came to him to have his future told. When Sarvajña saw the horoscope of the man, he was at once astonished that the man was so poor, and he said to him, "Why are you so unhappy?

The History of Krishna Consciousness

2010-10-21T21:55:00.000-07:00

Prabhupāda: ...Personality of Godhead, who stops our struggle for existence and raises to the platform of eternal life, bliss, and knowledge. To be more clear, everyone is trying to get eternal life. The whole human society is trying to get the highest perfection of knowledge, and they are trying also, by so many methods, to become happy, blissful. But they are being confused and baffled.

A Godless Civilization

2010-10-17T07:12:00.000-07:00

The Nava Bharat Times of Bombay had published sometimes before a news from Mount Abu dated 18th Nov. 1958 where our Prime Minister Shri Nehru had spoken of misuse of public fund in the name of religion. It is rampant all over the country nay all over the world as much as there is misuse of public fund in the name of political progress. We have a number of cases of this nature in the High Courts

The Mass of People Are Tools In The Hands of Modern Politicians

2010-10-13T13:41:00.000-07:00

It is a qualification of the great thinkers to pick up the best even from the worst. It is said that the intelligent man should pick up nectar from a stock of poison, should accept gold even from a filthy place, should accept a good and qualified wife even from an obscure family and should accept a good lesson even from a man or from a teacher who comes from the untouchables. These are some of

Alexander The Great & The Cynic

2010-10-07T09:32:00.000-07:00

Just like there is a story, "Alexander and the Cynic." Perhaps most of you know. There was a cynic. He was saintly person. He was sitting in a solitary place, almost naked body. Alexander the Great went there and asked him, "If I can do something for you? You are a great man." He said, "Oh, please don't obstruct sunshine. Please be aside, That's all. (laughter) You may do this. Don't obstruct the

Universal Citizens Forum

2010-10-06T20:28:00.000-07:00

The Hindustan Times of India disclosed news from London d/- 23-9-1958 as follows: London, Sept. 23-The Commonwealth of World Citizens yesterday announced that "the first world-wide parliamentary general election in the history of mankind" will take place on Friday. Voting for candidates will be by postal ballot among the something less than 1,000 "world citizens" in 42 countries.

How Should One Cultivate Human Spirit

2010-08-22T20:07:00.000-07:00

Culture of human spirit by the human being is the prime duty of humankind. All great thinkers, philosophers, reformers and persons who thought for the whole of human society in terms of its welfare in general, thought like it from time immemorial. Out of them those who were perfect perfect ly self realised soul or the perfect human being, recorded their self realised experience in the books of

Manifestation of Dharma in the Human Being

2010-08-18T19:07:00.000-07:00

The word dharma translated into English as religion is not perfect. The exact meaning of dharma is characteristic. The living entity is constitutionally part and parcel of supreme personality of Godhead, Mamaivamso jiva-loke jiva bhutah sanatanah. . .(Bg. 15.17) as such, the characteristics of the Supreme personality of Godhead are present in the living entity as natural sequence. But the

International Institution for God Consciousness

2010-05-06T19:27:00.000-07:00

Teaching all over the world the scientific education to all people in the matter of understanding one God, one religion, one scripture, one hymn and one function. A man cannot be free from Fear, Bereavement, Anxiety, and Diseases, unless and until he knows his actual position as a living entity. He must, therefore, be educated about his real constitutional position. In knowing such

World Pacifist and the Bhagavad-Gita

2010-01-18T00:07:00.000-08:00

[Meeting with the Governor of Bihar, Jan. 7, 1968] Sri Abhay Charanarvindo Bhaktivedanta who is now at Patna on a cultural and peace mission, met His Excellency the Governor of Bihar on the 18th January and discussed with him on the prime necessity of starting a spiritualising movement without infringing the principles of a secular state. He said that the world pacifists who are now trying

The Teachings of Prahlāda Mahārāja

2009-12-07T21:44:00.000-08:00

Today I shall speak to you of the history of a boy devotee named Prahlāda Mahārāja. He was born in a family that was stubbornly atheistic. There are two kinds of men in this world: the demons and the demigods. What is the difference between them? The main difference is that the demigods, or godly persons, are devoted to the Supreme Lord, whereas the demons are atheistic. They do not believe in

Nationalism of Pure Consciousness

2009-11-22T07:30:00.000-08:00

When a man enters into the sitting room of a friend, the friend receives the man with all cordiality and offers him the best couches for his comfortable rest. The friend accepts this friendly welcome and sits along with his host in all security. Does this mean that the man who has entered the house of his friend will consider the sitting room his own property? Certainly he will not think like

How to Broadcast the Teachings of Bhagavad-Gita (Part 2)

2009-11-21T21:01:00.000-08:00

(Cont'd. from "How to Broadcast The Teachings of The Bhagavad-gita") The Bhagwat Geeta supports such scientific caste system in the following words viz. Chatur, Varnya, Maya, Sristam, Guna, Karma, Bivagasha, Tasya, Kartaram, Api, Mam Biddhi, Akartaram, Abyayam. (Bg. 4.13) Sama, Dama, Soucham, Khanti Arjabam Eba, Cha, Jnanam, Bijnanam, Astikyam, Brahma, Karma, Swabhabajam.(Bg. 18.42) Sourjam

How to Broadcast the Teachings of Bhagavad-Gita

2009-11-18T18:41:00.000-08:00

[This is the first part of the Gita Nagari series: written by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada for "Back to Godhead Magazine", dated May 20, 1956] 1. The Personality of Godhead Sree Krishna appears Himself in this mortal world by dint of his Internal Potency in order to be visible to the conditioned souls and specially to human being, although in essence He is eternally unchangeable

Immortality

2009-11-10T22:26:00.000-08:00

Prabhupada:. . .Now Krsna is giving a practical way of understanding the presence of soul. He says, yena sarvam idam tatam: "One thing, which is spread all over the body, that is avinasi." That means immortal. So what is that which is spread all over the body? It is not the skin, not the... This is also spread over the body. The skin, the bone, the marrow, the blood—they are also spread over

Ultimate Deception

2009-11-04T22:23:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time (as in a fairy tale), most of us believed that the food we ate was basically wholesome, nutritious and free from dangerous chemicals, that advertising may have been believable, and that product labels truly described the qualities and contents of what we fed ourselves and our families. Once upon a time, most of the world believed in the integrity of our heads of state,

Spiritual Death

2009-11-03T08:35:00.000-08:00

Prabhupada: So it may..., it can be taken figuratively, that when one forgets his position, that is a kind of death also. One forgets himself. But actually soul is eternal, and what Augustine says as spiritual death, that is his forgetfulness. Just like in unconsciousness one forgets his identity, but if he is dead then he cannot revive consciousness. Similarly, it is little difficult for the

Kill An Animal Kill A Plant: Same Sin

2009-11-02T22:18:00.000-08:00

Girl: Why is it all right to kill any plants? How are they different from animals? Tamala Krsna: She is asking, "What is the difference between killing a plant and eating it and killing an animal and eating it?" Prabhupada: The same fault. Either you kill animal or plant, the same sin is there just like if you kill an uncivilized and if you kill a big man, the punishment is the same,

Guru Nanak: Authorized Teachers Encourage Chanting Gods Name

2009-11-02T21:42:00.000-08:00

Guest (2): Srila Prabhupada, in the Sikh-dharma they say to chant the holy names of God,and so far I haven't encountered the name “Krsna” in the scriptures. Ihave encountered “Govinda,” “Mukunda,” “Rama” and…, but the main namethat is chanted is Viduh. And I was wondering if you could commenton…, on the Sikh-dharma. Prabhupada: It is very good. It is very good. Guru Nanak, he chanted the name,

United Nations: We Want to Unite The Nations

2009-10-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

Letter:To the People of Bangkok, ThailandPlease accept my best wishes. I am sorry I am not able to come but I must remain here in Bombay for some pressing matters. So I am sending my secretary His Holiness Brahmananda Maharaja who will represent me.The Krishna Consciousness mission is not sectarian. We want to do what the United Nations has failed to do. The human form of body is an opportunity

Travel to Other Planets; "only possible by psychological changes in the mind"

2009-10-28T14:32:00.000-07:00

The adaptability of organisms in different varieties of planets is described in the Brahma-saṁhitā as vibhūti-bhinnam, i.e., each and every one of the innumerable planets within the universes is endowed with a particular type of atmosphere, and the living beings there are advanced in science, psychology, etc., according to the superiority or inferiority of the atmosphere. Vibhūti means "specific

A Variety of Planetary Systems

2009-10-27T17:34:00.000-07:00

In the 'Brahma Samhita' fifth chapter there is a description of variegated planetary system even within the material world. And in the Bhagwat Geeta, such variegated planetary system in thousands and crores of material universes are considered to be the one-fourth part of the complete creative energy of Godhead. The major three-fourth part of the Lord's creative energy is manifested in the

Trying To Pluck A Flower From The Sky

2009-10-23T20:31:00.000-07:00

...(the scientists) they are simply childish. In my childhood I used to watch the tramcars go along the rail. Once I thought, “I shall take a stick and touch it to the wire, and I shall also go along the rails.” The scientists, with all their plans, are just as childish. They spend so much time and money, but what is their purpose? Their effort is hopeless because they do not actually know the

Who is giving the pushing?

2009-10-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

Prabhupāda:" Motion. So one must give the motion. Then another motion, another motion, another motion. Just like big, big, that trucks, railway, trucks. The engine pushes one truck. Have you seen shunting? The, the truck pushes. Another truck, another, kat, kat, kat, kat, kat, kat, kat, kat. Like that."Brahmānanda: Shunting, yeah.Prabhupāda: "So who is giving the pushing? The living entity,

Alexander The Great & The Robber

2009-10-19T22:08:00.000-07:00

Prabhupāda: Alexander the Great, you have heard the name? Mālatī: Yes. Prabhupāda: He conquered all over the world almost. He went to India also. So he met one robber. So he arrested, Alexander. He was king. The robber said, "Why you have arrested me?" "Because you are robber." "Oh, you are also great robber." When Alexander was charging him that, "You have done this," oh, he charges, "You have

Devotee and the Divinity

2009-10-13T06:55:00.000-07:00

A pure devotee is just like the Desire-Tree from whom we can have on request everything desirable. This is no myth or bluff but it is actual fact. The devotee can deliver to us the mercy of God and what is not obtainable by one who has got the mercy of God? Therefore the devotees are the most magnanimous in their charitable disposition of mind. They are also the deliverer of the fallen souls and

Crime: Why and How to Solve It!

2009-10-08T04:07:00.000-07:00

Devotee: Your Divine Grace, this is Royal Kennedy from NBC television. Royal Kennedy: How do you do? Devotee (1): She would like to ask you some questions. Royal Kennedy: I would like to know what the occasion is. Why are you visiting Chicago? Prabhupāda: Just now I have seen one article in the Times, four five pages article, "Crime...," and what is that? Brahmānanda: "Why and How to

Without God-Centered Society, The Whole Thing is Dog-Centered Society

2009-10-05T06:22:00.000-07:00

"The difference between animal and human being is that an animal has no intelligence and therefore is not expected to follow any regulative principles, but human life is a life of responsibility and the human beings are meant for satisfying the material necessities of life under regulative principles or laws. In other words, religion is laws of God.Human life is especially meant for reviving our

India's Austerity Drive - "This is not actually tapasya"

2009-09-24T19:36:00.000-07:00

India's Austerity Drive - "This is not actually tapasya"Excerpt from the Srimad-Bhagavatam By A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acharya for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness "In the revealed scriptures, the ultimate object of knowledge is Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead. The purpose of performing sacrifice is to please Him. Yoga is for realizing Him. All

This Service Is Unimpaired, Unchecked By Any Material Condition

2009-09-22T19:43:00.000-07:00

This life of spiritual execution cannot be hampered by any material condition. From Srimad-Bhagavatam we understand that sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje [SB 1.2.6]. That is the highest type of religious performances by which one can achieve the perfection of loving God.Yato bhaktir adhoksaje. Bhakti means to offer transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord. Bhakti.

A Non-Sectarian Movement

2009-07-01T23:58:00.000-07:00

"Krishna claims that He is the seed-giving Father of all the 8,400,000 species of life visible within the material creation. They may be of different forms--some of them are aquatics, some of them are vegetables, plants, some of them are worms, some of them are birds, some of them are beasts, some of them are human beings. Krishna claims that all of them are His begotten sons. Neither Krishna

Religion Is Godly Life

2009-06-15T20:19:00.000-07:00

No religion of the world is without any connection with God. The principal religions of the world are 1. Hinduism, 2. Islam, 3. Buddhism and 4. Christianity. And all of them have some sort of direct or indirect connection with God. Such religions are made and propagated by God Himself or by His authorised agents. So far Hinduism is concerned and the Bhagavad-gita is accepted, all sects and

Srila Prabhupada now on Twitter

2009-05-02T16:39:00.000-07:00

http://www.twitter.com/backtogodhead

Love and Attraction

2009-05-01T08:34:00.000-07:00

"Outside God, there is no possibility of loving. Rather it is lusty desire the whole range of human activities, whatever and whenever, so long with this atmosphere of matter, the every activity of the human being - or any living entity - is based upon or given impetus, and thus polluted, by the attraction between male and female, sex-desire. For that sex-life, the whole universe is spinning round

Artificial vitamins for maintaining your body?

2009-04-28T20:36:00.000-07:00

Can any scientist say that this is the vitamin value in dry grass? If there is no vitamin value in dry grass, how the cow is producing so much milk, full of vitamins A and D? They prescribe some artificial vitamins for maintaining your body. Now, what is the vitamin there in the dry grass so that the cow is eating dry grass and giving you nice milk full of

Kritan

2009-04-23T13:55:00.000-07:00

When the chanting of the Name of the Lord is done individually or incompletely it is called 'kirtan'. But all the same Kirtan or Samkirtan is always meant for chanting of the Name of the Lord and never means a debating society of mundane words. Samkirtan is however the greatest common formula of universal religion acceptable in the present age of quarrel, called the 'Kali yooga'.In the Puranas it

Standard Morality

2009-04-20T19:41:00.000-07:00

Morality is the standard of activity by which the Supreme Authority is satisfied. So long we are concerned with the relative world, we must have to deal with relativities of actions and reactions accrued up by our routine work and to regulate such and such actions of daily affairs, we have to follow the standard codes so that our actions may be considered as moral. Development of human

Man proposes; God disposes

2009-04-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

tvāṁ śīla-rūpa-caritaiḥ parama-prakṛṣṭaiḥsattvena sāttvikatayā prabalaiś ca śāstraiḥprakhyāta-daiva-paramārtha-vidāṁ mattaiś canaivāsura-prakṛtayaḥ prabhavanti boddhum[Cc. Ādi 3.87] Naiva... Na, "never," asura-prakṛtaya, "those who are atheistic mentality, atheistic consciousness..." They have decided not to believe in God, so it is very difficult. Those who have decided atheistic conclusion,

The Rabbit Killed a Lion

2009-04-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

. . .Tṛtīyā śaktiḥ karma-saṅgā anyā. It is mentioned that the spiritual world is just manifestation of cic-chakti, and this material world is creation of material energy or karma-saṅgā, where everyone has to work. Without work, it is said, na hi suptasya siṁhasya praviśanti mukhe mṛgāḥ. That is very nice example. In the forest the lion is supposed to be the mightiest animal, and he is sometimes

The Cheating Business

2009-03-30T07:35:00.000-07:00

Prabhupada: Yes. The sinful activities have increased because the world has produced too much wealth. Because they can purchase sinful activities. And that is being increased by inflation. False money I have got, and with that false money I can purchase all this illicit sex, wine, intoxication, and... It is just like nowadays, bank is giving you a card, “Americard...” What is that?Karandhara

Man on the Moon? Very old concept!

2009-03-28T20:58:00.000-07:00

"In these days, when men are trying to go to the moon, people should not think that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is concerned with something old-fashioned. When the

Death: The Ultamate Philosophy

2009-02-25T05:36:00.000-08:00

Prabhupada: But the size of the body has changed.Brahmananda: The size has changed. It has grown, increased.Pusta Krsna: It looks different, completely… It looks different. There is no similarity.Prabhupada: Yes. There is no similarity. Why the child… There was no mustaches. Why you have mustaches? How you can say “The same body”? You shall have to give your own argument. Child had no

Who Is KRISHNA?

2009-02-17T10:23:00.000-08:00

In these Western countries, when someone sees the cover of a book like Krsna, he immediately asks, "Who is Krishna? Who is the girl with Krishna?" etc.The immediate answer is that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. How is that? Because He conforms in exact detail to descriptions of the Supreme Being, the Godhead. In other words, Krishna is the Godhead because He is all-attractive.

Leading Men of the World Join Together to Fight the Danger of a Godless Civilization

2009-02-09T08:55:00.000-08:00

Leading Men of the World Join Together to Fight the Danger of a Godless Civilization Dr. Y.G. Naik, M.Sc., Ph.D., Principal & Prof. of Physics, Dean, Faculty of Science, Gujarat University, agrees to join this noble mission. Some of the letters exchanged between the Professor and the Swamiji are published herewith to draw the attention of the people in general, philosophers and leading men of

Identity of Lord Chaitanya

2009-02-03T08:29:00.000-08:00

Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is no other than the combined form of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. He is the life of those devotees who strictly follow the footprints of Sri Srila Rupa Goswami. Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Sanatan Goswami both are principal followers of Sri Swarup Damodar Goswami who acted as the most confidential servitor and constant companion of Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

Purifying the Mind for Self-realization

2009-01-30T18:17:00.000-08:00

ahaṁ-mamābhimānotthaiḥkāma-lobhādibhir malaiḥvītaṁ yadā manaḥ śuddhamaduḥkham asukhaṁ samam TRANSLATION "When one is completely cleansed of the impurities of lust and greed produced from the false identification of the body as “I” and bodily possessions as “mine,” one’s mind becomes purified. In that pure state he transcends the stage of material happiness and distress." PURPORT Kāma and

Pleasing the Perfect Master

2009-01-28T21:23:00.000-08:00

During a lecture given in September 1968 in Seattle, Washington, Śrīla Prabhupāda says, “Can anybody in this meeting say that he’s not the servant of anybody or anything? No, because our constitutional position is to serve.” Then he proposes an idea new to most of his listeners: “If you agree to serve Kṛṣṇa, gradually you will realize that Kṛṣṇa is also serving you.” Śrīla Prabhupāda goes on to

First Lesson-Who Am I

2009-01-25T08:51:00.000-08:00

"First Lesson-Who Am I" listen Pusta Krsna: "My dear Lordship, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the whole cosmic creation is caused by You, and the cosmic manifestation is the effect of Your energy. Although the whole cosmic creation is Yourself, still, You keep Yourself aloof from it. The conception of 'my' and 'yours' is certainly a kind of illusion, maya. Because everything is

"Scholars Deluded" Continued

2009-01-24T11:28:00.000-08:00

Scholars Deluded (A critical review of Dr. Radhakrishnan's edition of the Bhagwat Gita) (Cont'd. from previous issue) We had no intention to enter into arguments with Dr. Radhakrishnan but the Brahmachary repeatedly requested to review the Bhagwat Gita of Dr. Radhakrishnan as there are so many self contradictory statements committed by the great scholar. We have all respects for Dr.

The Six Principles of Bhakti

2009-01-20T16:22:00.000-08:00

utsāhān niścayād dhairyāt... (Nectar of Inst. txt 3) There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service: (1) being enthusiastic, (2) endeavoring with confidence, (3) being patient, (4) acting according to regulative principles [such as śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇam [SB 7.5.23]—hearing, chanting and remembering Kṛṣṇa], (5) abandoning the association of nondevotees

Lord Buddha - The emblem of Theism

2009-01-16T19:41:00.000-08:00

Transcendental Poet Shree Joydev Acharya worshipped Lord Buddha in his prayer song of the ten incarnations of the Personality of Godhead Keshava (Sree Krishna). He sang like this. (In Devanāgarī:) "nindasi yajña-vidher ahaha śruti-jātaṁsadaya-hṛdaya darśita-paśu-ghātamkeśava dhṛta-buddha-ṣarīra jaya jagadīśa hare" Wordings Nindashi, Yajna, Bedhe, Aharaha, Shruti, Jatam, Sadya, Hridaya,

Scholars Deluded

2009-01-12T15:24:00.000-08:00

In the Srimad Bhagbatam description of the Supreme Truth is given as follows:- "Janmadyasya yato'nvayaditara. . ."(Bhag. 1.1.1) This realisation of the Supreme Truth was achieved by Shri Vyasdeva by the initiation of Shri Narada when Shri Vyasdeva was unable to achieve perfect satisfaction even after His compilation of many many scriptures like the Vedas, Puranas, Vedanta histories like the

Everything is growing on account of Krishna

2008-12-28T07:30:00.000-08:00

The abode of Lord Sri Krsna is described in the Bhagavad-gita, Fifteenth Chapter, sixth verse:na tad bhasayate suryo na sasanko na pavakahyad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama“That abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by electricity. And anyone who reaches it never comes back to this material world.” (Bg. 15.6)This verse gives a description of that eternal sky. Of

Everyone Is Trying To Become The Supreme, So There Will Be Volence

2008-12-25T14:06:00.000-08:00

"...tasmad yudhyasva bharata"[Bg. 2.18] Yuddha, fighting, Arjuna was ksatriya. It is his duty. Because here, in this material world, violence is also required. Violence. Because everyone is competitor, everyone is trying to become the Supreme, so there will be violence. Just like in your state, at the present moment, there is violence because one party is trying to become Supreme than the other.

Space Travel

2008-12-22T11:18:00.001-08:00

A living being, especially civilized man, has a natural desire to live forever in happiness. This is quite natural because, in his original state, the living being is both eternal and joyful. However, in the present conditioned state of life, he is engaged in a struggle against recurring birth and death. Therefore he has attained neither happiness nor immortality.The latest desire man has

Never Think 'I Have Become Big'

2008-12-20T07:35:00.000-08:00

Hrdayananda: Oh. "Thereafter Lord Brahma requested Prahlada Maharaja, who was standing very nearby, and asked Prahlada Maharaja to go forward and said, 'My dear son, Lord Nrsimhadeva is very, very angry upon your demonic father, and you can go forward and appease Him, the Lord.' " Prabhupada: prahradam presayam asabrahmavasthitam antiketata prasamayopehisva-pitre kupitam prabhum[SB 7.9.3

Krsna - The Original Person

2008-12-19T17:42:00.000-08:00

advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam adyam purana-purusam nava-yauvanam ca vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami[BrahamaSamhita 5.33] So advaita. Advaita means without duality. Advaita acyuta, Krsna and Krsna’s expansion. Krsna’s expansion: Baladeva, Sankarsana, Aniruddha, Pradyumna. Then Narayana, then Maha-Visnu, Karanodakasayi Visnu—innumerable

What is an Avatāra?

2008-12-18T14:15:00.000-08:00

In the Chaitanya-caritamrta of Krishnadasa Kaviraj, the following verses summarize these principles of incarnation: "sṛṣṭi-hetu yei mūrti prapañce avatare..." "The avatāra, or incarnation of Godhead, descends from the kingdom of God for material manifestation. And the particular form of the Personality of Godhead who so descends is called an incarnation, or avatāra. Such incarnations are

Hare Krishna Mantra

2008-12-16T07:24:00.000-08:00

Krsna consciousness is not an artificial imposition on the mind. This consciousness is the original energy of the living entity. When we hear the transcendental vibration, this consciousness is revived. And the process is recommended by authorities for this age.By practical experience also, we can perceive that by chanting this maha-mantra, or the Great Chanting for Deliverance, one can at

Tapasya- A Requirement for Spiritual Life

2008-12-15T07:18:00.000-08:00

Nitai: "By penance only can one even approach the Personality of Godhead, who is within the heart of every living entity and at the same time beyond the reach of all senses." Prabhupada: tapasaiva param jyotirbhagavantam adhoksajamsarva-bhuta-guhavasamanjasa vindate puman From this verse we can understand the Absolute Truth is realized in three features: bhagavantam adhoksajam, jyoti, param

The Frog In A Well

2008-12-14T08:27:00.000-08:00

Scientists, for instance, may speculate about distant stars and planets, but they can never come to any conclusions without experience. One may go on speculating throughout his life and never reach any conclusions. It is especially useless to speculate about God. Therefore Srimad-Bhagavatam recommends that all sorts of speculation should be given up. It is recommended instead that one become

VIDEO: Srila Prabhupada Installing Mahaprabhu

2008-12-13T15:42:00.000-08:00

Better Than Fame, Welth, Sex, Followers. . .

2008-12-13T07:35:00.000-08:00

“O Almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor to enjoy beautiful women. Nor do I want any number of followers. What I want only is the causeless mercy of Your devotional service in my life, birth after birth.” (Śikṣāṣṭaka 4) In this verse, Caitanya Mahāprabhu addresses the Supreme Lord as Jagadīśa. Jagat means “universe,” and īśa means “controller.” The Supreme Lord is the

The Matchless Gift

2008-12-12T13:09:00.000-08:00

The aim of this Krsna consciousness movement is to bring all living entities back to their original consciousness. All living entities within the material world are, to varying degrees, afflicted with a type of madness. This Krsna consciousness movement aims at curing man of his material disease and reestablishing his original consciousness.In a Bengali poem a great Vaisnava poet has written, “

The ambition to be a learned scholar

2008-12-11T10:29:00.000-08:00

TEXT 11 bahu-śāstre bahu-vākye citte bhrama haya sādhya-sādhana śreṣṭha nā haya niścaya TRANSLATION If one becomes a bookworm, reading many books and scriptures and hearing many commentaries and the instructions of many men, this will produce doubt within his heart. One cannot in this way ascertain the real goal of life. PURPORT "In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.13.8) it is said, granthān

Man's Corruption and Economic Solution

2008-12-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

"With the progression of the age of Kali, people are becoming very proud, and attached to women and intoxication. By the influence of the age of Kali, even a pauper is proud of his penny, the women are always dressed in an overly attractive fashion to victimize the minds of men, and the man is addicted to drinking wine, smoking, drinking tea and chewing tobacco, etc. All these habits, or

The Importance of Hearing

2008-12-06T18:30:00.000-08:00

"In the material world, we manufacture many things for our material comfort simply by hearing. They are already there, but just by hearing, one can transform them. If we want to build a very high skyscraper, this does not mean that we have to create it. The materials for the skyscraper—wood, metal, earth, etc.—are already there, but we make our intimate relationship with those already created

Hindus and Muslims Living in Peace

2008-12-03T11:00:00.000-08:00

"In India, even in the interior villages, all the Hindu and Muslim communities used to live very peacefully by establishing a relationship between them. The young men called the elderly members of the village by the name cācā or kākā, "uncle," and men of the same age called each other dādā, "brother." The relationship was very friendly. There were even invitations from Muslim houses to Hindu

How Should One Cultivate Human Spirit

2008-12-02T15:30:00.000-08:00

[Draft of Lecture Meant to be Delivered at the International Congress in Japan 1961. Published October 1962 in ‘The Mother’ (India) by Aurobindo of the Aurobindo Ashram Part 1] by Tridandi Goswami A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Culture of human spirit by the human being is the prime duty of humankind. All great thinkers, philosophers, reformers and persons who thought for the whole of human

This Material World is Meant for HARD LABOR

2008-12-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

Teachings of Queen Kunti, Chapter 26:The letter pa is for parisrama, which means “labor.” In this material world, one must work very hard to maintain oneself. In Bhagavad-Gita (3.8) it is said, sarira-yatrapi ca te na prasiddhyed akarmanah: “one cannot even maintain one’s own body without work.” Krishna never advised Arjuna, “I am your friend, and I shall do everything. You just sit down and

WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH THE WORLD?

2008-10-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

On the 16th of February 1957 a meeting was held at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan to discuss the above subject matter. Distinguished gentlemen from different categories spoke on the subject, but practically nobody could give us a definite direction as to what actually the matter was that was troubling the whole situation.This feeling of pinching in the existence of our life is a good sign for

Christ and Krishna

2008-10-13T09:12:00.000-07:00

Srila Prabhupada: What is the meaning of the word Christ? Father Emmanuel: Christ comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning "the anointed one". Srila Prabhupada: Christos is the Greek version of the word Krishna. Father Emmanuel: This is very interesting. Srila Prabhupada: When an Indian person calls on Krishna, he often says, "Krsta". Krsta is a Sanskrit word meaning "attraction". So when

Dog Race in a Dangerous Place

2008-10-11T13:03:00.000-07:00

Dog Race in a Dangerous Place morning walk in Denver, Colorado, on June 28, 1975. Srila Prabhupada: Until these world leaders read my books and take to this Vedic culture, what kind of civilization will they have? Dog race. Horse race. They want this. Rat race. That's all. Their civilization is a race.

Like We Identify With Our Car

2008-10-05T10:03:00.000-07:00

This is stated in the Bhagavad-gita:isvarah sarva-bhutanamhrd-dese 'rjuna tisthatibhramayan sarva-bhutaniyantrarudhani mayaya[Bg. 18.61]So isvara, the Supreme Lord, is there. Now He's giving chance, "You living entity, you did not surrender to Me. You wanted to enjoy this material world. So you take this chariot and take this driver and go on." This is going on. Krsna is very kind. Ye yatha mam

Boatman & The Technology Student

2007-11-06T13:41:00.000-08:00

[The Story of the Boatman & The Technology Student]In India, especially in Bengal, there are many rivers. The land is full of rivers. Because it is on the bank of the Bay of Bengal, all rivers are falling. Therefore Bengal, the land of, especially the east Bengal, is full of rivers. One student of technology was going home, and he was on the boat. So the student was asking the boatman, "Do you

When you are with Krishna, where is the question of darkness?

2007-11-04T09:48:00.000-08:00

"The example is given that when the sun is in the sky then where is the question of darkness? Similarly, when Hare Krishna mantra is vibrating on your tongue and you are hearing attentively, then your consciousness become clear or Krishna Consciousness, and there is no question of maya or hazy consciousness. Just as when the darkness and the light come together the darkness cannot stand before

Cultivate Our Spiritual Potencies By Knowledge

2007-10-31T08:53:00.000-07:00

"We want freedom, and we want to travel all over the world and all over the universe. Indeed, that is our right as spirit soul. The spirit soul in Bhagavad-gita is called sarva-gatah, which means that he has the ability to go wherever he likes. In the Siddhalokas there are perfected beings or yogis who can travel

Ivabhati - as if it has got a body

2007-10-28T10:15:00.000-07:00

Prabhupada:bahu-rupa ivabhatimayaya bahu-rupayaramamano gunesv asyamamaham iti manyateBahu-rupa means varieties of forms, 8,400,000s of forms. Ivabhati: “It appears like that.” Therefore, when one is advanced in spiritual consciousness, he does not see the varieties of form because these varieties of form are not real. Anyone can understand that. Any form Today we have got a form. Take a

The Story of The Cobbler and The Brahmana

2007-10-25T08:41:00.000-07:00

[Excerpt from "Raja - Vidya: The King of Knowledge", Ch.3]It may be noted at this point that the Ninth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita is especially meant for those who have already accepted Sri Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, it is meant for His devotees. If one does not accept Sri Krsna as the Supreme, this Ninth Chapter will appear as something different from what it

KRSNA & His Expansions

2007-10-18T22:38:00.000-07:00

Sri-bhagavan uvaca. Now we will explain. So sri-bhagavan uvaca. Bhagavan, this word, I have explained many times. Bhagavan means the supreme authority. So far authoritative power is concerned, that is analyzed by Srila Rupa Gosvami. Cent percent power or cent percent qualification is in Krsna. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam. There is... This is called savisesa, personal analysis, not that ...Even

The Roads of the Foolish and the Wise (PART ONE...)

2007-10-16T17:02:00.000-07:00

Krsna is thus explaining Himself as He is. Yet we are not attracted to Him. Why is this? The reason is given by Krsna Himself:daivi hy esa guna-mayi mama maya duratyaya mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te“This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.” (Bg. 7.14)The

A Second Chance (CH. 1) -PART ONE

2007-10-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

Separating the Men From the AnimalsSukadeva Gosvami said to King Pariksit: In the city known as Kanyakubja [Kanauj in present-day India] there lived a brahmana named Ajamila who married a prostitute maidservant and lost all his brahminical qualities because of the association of that low-class woman. Ajamila gave trouble to others by arresting them, by cheating them in gambling, or by directly

A Second Chance PART 1 (Intro.)

2007-10-13T10:12:00.000-07:00

As the sinful Ajamila lay on his deathbed, he was terrified to see three fierce humanlike creatures coming to drag him out of his dying body and take him away to the abode of Yamaraja, the lord of death, for punishment.Surprisingly, Ajamila escaped this terrible fate. How? You’ll find out in the pages of A Second Chance: The Story of a Near-Death Experience.You’ll also learn many vital truths

The Devotee Realizes God by Devotional Service. The Atheist Realizes God in the Shape of Death

2007-07-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Pradyumna: (reading) “...happiness immediately terminates with his body as long as his life, as soon as his life is over. Death is therefore taken as the representative of God for the atheistic class of men. The devotee realizes the presence of God by devotional service, whereas the atheist realizes the presence of God in the shape of death.”Prabhupada: Yes. This point we have discussed last

Chasing The Mirage

2007-05-16T06:52:00.000-07:00

Prabhupada: As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. The whole material energy is enchanting every one of us by this beauty, the womanly beauty. Actually, there is no beauty. It is illusion. Sankaracarya says that “You are after this beauty, but have you analyzed this beauty?What is the beauty?” Etad rakta-mamsa-vikaram. It is just like our

Chant, Dance, Take Prasadam

2007-05-10T07:55:00.000-07:00

Chant, Dance, Take Prasadam (food offered to the Lord)So in this age we ask the mercy of Lord Caitanya because we have all forgotten what is our relationship with God. But we have got the dormant love for God. Just like a son and father—the son may forget, he may become a crazy fellow and go out of home, but that does not mean that his relationship with the father is broken. No. That is not

Why Do We Chant HARE KRISHNA?

2007-04-28T07:58:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, this Krsna conscious movement is reviving our original consciousness. At the present moment, due to our long association with matter, the consciousness has become contaminated, just like when the rain water falls down from the cloud, the water is uncontaminated, distilled water, pure, but as soon as the water falls down on this earth, it becomes mixed up with so many dirty

Humbug Civilization for Temporary Happiness

2007-04-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

Prahlada Maharaja continues: “There is only one source of anxiety for me.” Just see—although he had no anxiety for himself, he still had anxiety. He says, soce tato vimukha-cetasah: “I am anxious for those persons who are not Krsna conscious. That is my anxiety. for myself I have no anxiety, but I am thinking of those who are not Krsna conscious.” Why aren’t they Krsna conscious? Maya-sukhaya

Who is the Authority?

2007-04-11T22:57:00.000-07:00

"...even the most advanced scientist depends on the statements of authorities. Science begins on some definite data, just like Sir Isaac Newton discovered the law of gravitation, and so much scientific advancement depends on such authoritative statements. So even scientific knowledge has to stand on the evidence of authority. He admits that we are all spirit soul inside the body entrapped, and he