ISKCON: From the Absolute Truth to Insanity…

Srila Prabhupada has given us the greatest gift. The absolute truth. Krishna consciousness, pure love of Krishna. He explains in great detail the simple and beautiful philosophy of Krishna consciousness. It is this beauty, perfection and simplicity of the timeless philosophy of Krishna consciousness so perfectly presented by Srila Prabhupada which attracted me to Krishna consciousness. Over the years, to my great dismay, I have seen ISKCON systematically reject, misinterpret and now, with the book changes,  change the teachings of Srila ...Read More

Guru: Everyone is lying to you…

The “Guru Issue”. Everyone wants to be a guru. It is such a nice thing to have all those disciples worshiping you and giving you all their money… Even the greatest ritvik leader shouting out “Prabhupada is the guru”, Krishna Kant, also wants to be a guru. He has his philosophy, “The Final Order”, and wants everyone else to follow his philosophy. But, as you may know, I have defeated Krishna Kant’s philosophy way back in 1996 when he first ...Read More

His Divine Grace Srila Sac-cid-ananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Appearance Day Lecture, London, September 23, 1969

So Bhaktivinoda Thakura is an ideal guru. He was not a sannyasi; he was grhastha, householder, living with family, wife, children. Still, he was guru. So anyone can become guru. Not that a sannyasi can become guru. A householder also can become guru, provided he knows the science. So today is a very auspicious day, Thakura Bhaktivinoda’s birthday. Here is the picture of Thakura Sac-cid-ananda Bhaktivinoda. He was one of the acaryas of this disciplic succession from Krsna. We have got ...Read More

Bhakti Caru Swami’s Disappearance Day offering to Srila Prabhupada

Why do we hesitate to tell a new comer who is searching for a guru that Srila Prabhupada, the best guru the world has ever seen, is still here, and one can surrender unto him and go back to Godhead very easily? When we have such a great good fortune, why do we not take full advantage of it? …Prabhupada did not say anything and then in a very soft voice he told me, “Didn’t I teach you that the spirit ...Read More

Srila Prabhupada Our Jagad Diksa Guru: Living Still–In Sound

Just like I have written in the first publications of Srimad-Bhagavatam, the spiritual master lives forever by his divine instruction and the disciple lives with him., because I have always served my Guru Maharaja and followed His teachings I am now even never separated from Him. 750716pc.sf Conversations Reporter (2): What will happen to the movement in the United States when you die? Prabhupada: I WILL NEVER DIE. Prabhupada: I SHALL LIVE FROM MY BOOKS, AND YOU WILL UTILIZE. 690113LE.LA Lectures …vani ...Read More

The Universal Teacher

(an article from Back2Godhead.com) Back To Godhead August 1975 The following speech was given by Abhay Charan Das (His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada) before the members of the Sri Gaudiya Matha in Bombay, in February 1936, on the occasion of the appearance anniversary of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya vande guroh sri-caranaravindam “In the revealed scriptures it is declared that the spiritual master should be worshiped like the Supreme Personality ...Read More

Srila Prabhupada’s July 9th. Letter.

An important point is that Srila Prabhupada’s final written instruction on initiations is a system whereby new devotees are initiated by a ritvik priest on his (Srila Prabhupada’s) behalf. Many new devotees are not aware of this nor have they read the letter that Prabhupada sent out to all temples on July 9th 1977. This letter very clearly states that henceforward all new devotees would be initiated in this way. The GBC argue that the ritvik system was a temporary ...Read More

The Blind Man and the Cow’s Tail

A blind man was once trying to negotiate the path to his father-in-law’s house with the help of only his walking stick. In a field nearby he heard a cowherd boy humming a tune to himself. The blind man hailed the boy and asked, Kindly lead me to the house of my father-in-law. It is nearby, but I can’t find the way myself. The cowherd boy replied, “I’m very sorry, but if I leave this field to go with you, what ...Read More

The Symptoms of a Self-Realized Person

“A person who neither rejoices upon achieving something pleasant nor laments upon obtaining something unpleasant, who is self-intelligent, unbewildered, and who knows the science of God, is to be understood as already situated in Transcendence.” (Bhagavad Gita 5.20) The first symptom of a self-realized soul is that he is not illusioned by the false identification of the body with his true self. He knows perfectly well that he is not this body, but is the fragmental portion of the Supreme Personality of ...Read More

The Absolute Necessity of a Bona Fide Spiritual Master

“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” (Bhagavad Gita 4.34) For one who actually wants to make advancement in spiritual life having a bona fide spiritual master to instruct him and show him the path is not optional, it is essential. Without a bona fide spiritual master we have no strength or power ourselves ...Read More

The Ten Offenses in Chanting the Hare Krishna Mantra

The Hare Krishna mantra is unlimitedly powerful and has the potency to immediately cleanse us of all the reactions from our sinful activities from this an so many other lifetimes. It has the power to awaken within us our original pure love for Krishna. The Hare Krishna mantra has the power to connect us with an ever-increasing ocean of transcendental pleasure. On the other hand one can chant the Hare Krishna mantra for many, many births and not achieve any ...Read More

Prabhupada Speaks on Bona Fide and Bogus Gurus

SB 2-3-25 LA 1972-06-23 Prabhupada on Bona Fide and Bogus Gurus [ 27:47 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Translation: “O Sūta Gosvāmī, your words are pleasing to our minds. Please therefore explain this to us as it was spoken by the great devotee Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who is very expert in transcendental knowledge, and who spoke to Mahārāja Parīkṣit upon being asked.” Prabhupāda: So Parīkṣit Mahārāja was asking and Śukadeva Gosvāmī was replying. Both of them were fit ...Read More

The Importance of Having a Qualified Guru

It may sound strange but the biggest danger to your spiritual advancement is if you accept as your guru a person who is incapable of guiding you back home, back to Godhead. It is Kali-yuga and this age is called the age of quarrel and the age of hypocrisy. Almost everyone is cheating and almost everyone is presenting themselves as something which they are actually not. This is the age of the cheaters and the cheated. Practically every guru is a ...Read More

Lord Vamanadeva, Bali Maharaja and His Non-Bona Fide Guru

Bali Maharaja is Mahajana because he wanted to serve Visnu by disobeying his non-bonafide spiritual master… one should be anxious to accept a spiritual master who is bona fide in spiritual knowledge. And if need be one should relinquish the connection of hereditary spiritual master and accept a real bona fide spiritual master. Montreal 3 July, 1968 My Dear Satsvarupa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated June 28, 1968, and I thank you ...Read More

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day, Lecture (1)

DOWNLOAD Now, you American boys and girls who have taken to this movement, please take it more seriously and… That is the mission of Lord Caitanya and my Guru Maharaja, and we are also trying to execute the will by disciplic succession. You have come forward to help me. I shall request you all that I shall go away, but you shall live. Don’t give up pushing on this movement, and you’ll be blessed by Lord Caitanya and His Divine ...Read More

Sri Vyasa-puja Hyderabad, August 19, 1976 [MP3 Audio]

DOWNLOAD So anyone of you, you can become guru. It is not that I am an extraordinary man, an extraordinary god coming from some mysterious place. It is not that–it is very simple thing. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says yare dekha tare kaha krsna’-upadesa. So I request you follow the Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s instruction that you also, you become a guru at your home. (Srila Prabhupada’s lecture is preceded by several speeches in Hindi and one in English by a disciple.) Prabhupada: Sripada Sampatkumar ...Read More

Sri Vyasa-puja Lecture London, August 22, 1973 (MP3 Audio)

DOWNLOAD One who is doing this humble service of preaching work, Krishna consciousness, nobody is dearer than him to Me [Krishna]. So if you want to become recognized by Krishna very quickly, you take up this process of becoming spiritual master, present the Bhagavad-gita as it is. Your life is perfect. My dear sons and daughters, I am so much obliged to you that you have become so enthusiastic for offering Vyasa-puja. Now try to understand. Several times we have explained ...Read More

Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja Offering–1961

If everyone just initiates then there will only be a contradictory result. As long as it goes on there will be only failure. O shame! My dear brothers, aren’t you embarrassed? In the manner of businessmen you increase your disciples. A Vyasa-Puja offering of five prayers glorifying special characteristics of Srila 108 Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Goswami Thakura. Presented on the commemoration of his appearance, by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, at the Radha-Damodara temple, Vrindavana, India, in 1961.) First ...Read More

Spiritually There is No Difference Between Appearance and Disappearance

DOWNLOAD Although this is the disappearance day of Om Visnupada Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, so there is nothing to be lamented. Although we feel separation, that feeling is there, but spiritually, there is no difference between appearance and disappearance. There is a song, Narottama dasa Thakura’s song, ye anilo prema-dhana. Do you know, any one of you? Can you sing that song anyone? His Divine Grace ...Read More

Questions About Initiation and Preaching

When someone is initiated they have received transcendental knowledge and their past karma is burned up, they must be a bit like a new born baby. Why is it they still appear and behave the same and even fall down, where has that divine knowledge gone? Dear Prabhu Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! It’s wonderful to receive your questions as it gives me a chance to think about how to answer them. It’s inspiring to both ask ...Read More

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