Joining ISKCON or Becoming a Disciple?
How many times have we heard Srila Prabhupada use the term joining ISKCON or joining the society? Well, I am not going to attempt to count every time Srila Prabhupada has used this term, but we can easily see that he has used this term many, many times in his books, letters and lectures. For the sake of discussion lets take a look at just one small book, The Nectar of
Srila Prabhupada starts the book in the preface with “This Krsna conciousness movement is conducted under the supervision of Srila Goswami”. So, from the very onset the very first idea that Srila Prabhupada is promoting is the concept of a “movement” or society of devotees which we must approach and join if we indeed seek the cultivation of Krsna conciousness under his guidance and the guidance of Srila Rupa Goswami. Conspicuous by it’s absence is the terminology “becoming a disciple of a guru” or “accepting a guru”. Quite contrary to the notion of accepting one person or one guru as one’s shelter and guide, Srila Prabhupada is clearly and unambiguously advocating the concept of “joining the society” or “joining the Krsna conciousness movement”.
The endless debate over the “rtvik” or “guru” issue has yet to be resolved by debating the “the final order” and all such directives and instructions of Srila Prabhupada. Debating the issue of whether “they are his disciples” means they are the rtvik’s disciples or Srila Prabhupada’s disciples has yet to be conclusively proven due to the problem of interpretation and jugglery of meaning. In the so-called “appointment tape” Srila Prabhupada’s intentions are clearly ellucidated in the very beginning where he responds to Satvarupa Maharaja’s question “Then our next question concerns initiations in the future, particularly at that time when you are no longer with us. We want to know how first and second initiations would be conducted“. Srila Prabhupada replies “Yes, I shall recommend some of you after this is settled up. I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acharyas.” Tamal Krsna Goswami asks “is this called rtvik acharya?” and Srila Prabhupada corrects him and says only “rtvik, yes“. We can see here that Srila Prabhupada left off the “acharya” from the “rtvik acharya” suggestion of TKG.
Now, this is clearly and unquestionably a statement where Srila Prabhupada says that the rtvik system will continue after his departure. Though Srila Narayana Maharaja adamently rejects both the term and concept of rtvik, we have documented evidence that Srila Prabhupada acted quite to the contrary and undoubtedly advocated and established the rtvik system for ISKCON. The confusion comes with the interpretation and extrapolation of meaning of his subsequent statements as his secretaries attempt to manipulate the conversation to arrive at the conclusion they wanted to hear rather than the clearly definitive conclusion Srila Prabhupada enunciated to them. In an effort to actually pressure Srila Prabhupada into saying what they wanted to hear, despite the fact that he just gave a clear and defintive answer to their inquiry, they pressed the issue further as Satavarupa Maharaja says “Then, what is the relationship of the person who gives the initiation?” and Srila Prabhupada says “he is guru, he is guru!”
Now, this is where the “guru” proponents begin to interprate and and construe that the rtviks will be the guru of the initiate. Though we can look back to course of the discussion and see that Srila Prabhupada was speaking in terms of a rtvik officiating on his behalf and easily see that the initiator is Srila Prabhupada and the appointees are rtviks, the “guru” proponents interprate this as Srila Prabhupada saying that the initiates will be their disciples and not disciples of Srila Prabhupada. However, when Srila Prabhupada answers SDG’s question he is speaking in terms of himself being the initiator and the rtvik being an officiator. So, the answer to question “What is the relationship of that person who gives the initiation?”, is that since Srila prabhupada is the one actually giving initiation, the answer to the question that “he is guru, he is guru” is referring to Srila Prabhupada and not the officiating person. However, by some wild stretch of the imagination the “guru” proponents interprate this statement by Srila Prabhupada to mean that the initiate will be disciple of the rtvik. This is clearly a jugglery of meaning and misinterpretation of Srila Prabhupada’s direct and concise pronouncement concerning this issue.
The course of the conversation then turns to SDG again who says “So, then they may also be considered your disciples?” and Srila Prabhupada replies “Yes, they are disciples“
“but why consider who?” Srila Prabhupada clearly says again here that the initiates would be his disciples and in essence chastises SDG for even questioning even further whose disciples they would be. Srila Prabhupada just said directly that he would appoint rtviks who would initiate disciples on his behalf and he is clearly getting disturbed by any further questioning about whose disciples future initiates would be.
Now, it seems that Srila Prabhupada’s statements are very clear, concise and self-explanatory on this issue, right? Well, it seems so, yet Tamal Krsna Goswami seems to be confused and unable to absorb what Srila Prabhupada is saying so he presses the matter further in pursuance of an extended explanation when he says “NO!” He is asking that these rtvik-acharyas (even though Srila Prabhupada already corrected him by leaving off the acharya part of rtvik-acharya), they are officiating, giving diksha, the people they are giving diksha to…………. who’s disciples are they?
Now, wait a minute! Did not Srila Prabhupada just answer that question when SDG posed it? Yes he did! The whole subject of the conversation was Srila Prabhupada appointing rtviks to initiate on his behalf after his departure, so why is TKG asking Srila Prabhupada whose disciples they would be?
Could it be because he was trying to coerce Srila Prabhupada into saying what he wanted him to say( which is that the initiaties would be the disciples of the rtvik). Srila Prabhupada replies “They are his disciples“. TKG again expresses his confusion and dissatisfaction by saying “They are his disciples?” and Srila Prabhupada says “Who is initiating, his grand-disciples”.
Could it be because he was trying to coerce Srila Prabhupada into saying what he wanted him to say( which is that the initiaties would be the disciples of the rtvik). Srila Prabhupada replies “They are his disciples“. TKG again expresses his confusion and dissatisfaction by saying “They are his disciples?” and Srila Prabhupada says “Who is initiating, his grand-disciples”.
Now, we get to the crucial point here in this conversation (a conversation that TKG is having problems understanding or accepting) with the interpretation of these words of Srila Prabhupada. Even though the whole discussion was about Srila Prabhupada appointing rtviks to initiate after his departure, TKG has managed to lead the conversation to a point to where he might be able to confuse the issue and get Srila Prabhupada to say what he wanted him to say. However, here again Srila Prabhupada says in clear terms “Who is initiating, his grand-disciple”. The meaning of this statement is quite clear. The initiates will be the grand-disciples of “who is initiating”. Who is initiating is Srila Prabhupada and that has been well established by the course of the entire discussion which was about Srila Prabhupada appointing rtviks to initiate on his behalf after his passing away. In an effort to ease the disturbance that TKG is clearly showing towards the whole issue of the post-samadhi rtvik system, Srila Prabhupada has tried to appease his disciples by referring to future initiates as “grand-disciples”, though it is clear from the course of the whole conversation that they will be formally considered disciples of Srila Prabhupada. In this sentence Srila Prabhupada goes to make a distinction that post-samadhi initiates will be considered “grand-disciples” of “who is initiating”. This slight compromise that Srila Prabhupada enunciated could very well have been just a measure meant to appease his direct disciples who might feel some sense of dis-satisfaction with the idea that future initiates would also be considered his disciples. Under pressure from TKG, who was showing some confusion and dis-satisfaction with Srila Prabhupada’s rtvik instructions for the future of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada coined future initiates as “grand-disciples” though it has been conclusively established that the rtvik system was to continue in the future of ISKCON.
Srila Prabhupada ended this topic by saying “When I order you to become guru, be becomes regular guru, thats all. He becomes disciple of my disciple thats it. Just see!”
Here Srila Prabhupada is being somewhat sarcastic as says “just see!” He says “he becomes disciple of my disciple, thats it!” What did Srila Prabhupada mean by saying “thats it”? Could he have been seeing that if he becomes disciple of my disciple in ISKCON, thats it……………. the end of ISKCON?
Where is the evidence that Srila Prabhupada ordered anyone to be guru in ISKCON after his departure? There is not one authoritative statement where Srila Prabhupada authorizes anyone to be diskha guru in ISKCON after his departure. There are however several statements where Srila Prabhupada says that he would appoint rtviks to officate on his behalf after his departure. Which system do we have the most evidence for? Clearly, the only indications we have for how Srila Prabhupada wanted ISKCON to continue was the rtvik system and not one iota of evidence that he wanted the rtviks to become diksha gurus after his departure. And, to think that Srila Prabhupada gave the GBC authority to appoint diksha gurus in ISKCON goes against everything we have been taught about the true nature of a real acharya, whom is never appointed by committee.
No real acharya has ever been appointed by committee, however Srila Prabhupada did authorize the GBC to appoint more rtviks as necessary from the senior sannyasis of ISKCON.
The brings us back to the orginal theme of this essay which is the question of whether devotees are being taught by Srila Prabhupada to sell out to one person in the form of a diksha guru, or to join ISKCON and the Krsna conciousness movement and learn how to serve a whole society of devotees. Everyone can do their own research on this issue, but for the sake of completness I will include a few references from Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and writings. (1)A follower of the Krsna conciousness movement should become a perfect goswami. (Upadeshamrita, preface.) Here Srila Prabhupada says we must be followers of “The Krsna conciousness movement”. He does not stress the idea of accepting one particlular guru, rather of accepting the movement, the society of devotees.
(2)This spiritual association offered by our ISKCON movement is increasing day by day. Many people from different part of the world are joining this society to awaken their dormant Krsna conciousness.(Upadeshamrita text 2 purport) Notice how Srila Prabhupada is using the term “joining this society” rather than “becoming my disciples” or “becoming disciples of my disciples“. (3) This Krsna conciousness movement offers a spiritual community that can bring about a peaceful condition in the world. Every intelligent man should purify his conciousness and rid himself of the above-mentioned hindrances to devotional service by taking wholehearted shelter of this Krsna conciousness movement.(Upadeshamrita text 2, purport). (4) The International Society for Krsna conciousness is opening many centers just to invite people to live in the company of devotees and practice the regulative principles of life.(Upadeshamrita text 2, purport) (5) Many interested people come to honor prasada, and whenever possible they invite members of the society to their homes and feed them sumptuously with prasada. In this way both the members of the society and the general public are benefitted. (Upadeshamrita text 4, purport) Notice how Srila Prabhupada is referring to devotees as “members of the society” as opposed to “my disciples” or “their disciples”. (6) Everyone is invited to join this movement , sit with us, take prasada and hear about Krsna. When we see that someone is actually interested in Krsna conciousness and wants to be initiated, we accept him as a disciple for the chanting of the Holy Name of the Lord.(Upadeshamrita text 5, purport).
Such references in the books, letters and lectures of Srila Prabhupada are numerous and plentiful. Srila Prabhupada clearly advocated the concept of “joining ISKCON” or “joining the Krsna conciousness movement“. Here in just the first six verses of Upadeshamrita we find several such references and such references are many throughout the teachings of Srila Prabhupada. We find not one statement where Srila Prabhupada says that any of his disciples would become diksha gurus in ISKCON after his departure. However, there is very profound and significant evidence that Srila Prabhupada did want the rtvik system to continue after his departure.
The current condition of ISKCON is a clear indication that something is awry, something is seriously amiss. The overwhelming majority of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples have all left ISKCON or been excommunicated or driven out to make room for the disciples of the initiating gurus.
Is this what Srila Prabhupada wanted? Did he want that a select group of disciples would take over ISKCON and accept their own disciples to displace hundreds of Srila Prabhupada’s own disciples that gave the best years of their lives to help Srila Prabhupada build ISKCON? The answer is no! Srila Prabhupada wanted that ISKCON would be a welcome home for all his dedicated devotees and not overrun by a generation of so-called grand-disciples in “guru-wars”. The rtvik system was the only hope to keep ISKCON a unified and united society dedicated to distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books all around the world, and anyone that can’t see that does not understand that Srila Prabhupada IS ISKCON and ISKCON IS Srila Prabhupada. What is more important, blindly hanging on to so-called tradition and formality, or keeping ISKCON united and flourishing in the spirit of dedication to Srila Prabhupada? The current guru system will never lead to a unified and united ISKCON, rather it will only splinter further and further a movement that was founded exclusively on the leadership of Srila Prabhupada.
Is this what Srila Prabhupada wanted? Did he want that a select group of disciples would take over ISKCON and accept their own disciples to displace hundreds of Srila Prabhupada’s own disciples that gave the best years of their lives to help Srila Prabhupada build ISKCON? The answer is no! Srila Prabhupada wanted that ISKCON would be a welcome home for all his dedicated devotees and not overrun by a generation of so-called grand-disciples in “guru-wars”. The rtvik system was the only hope to keep ISKCON a unified and united society dedicated to distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books all around the world, and anyone that can’t see that does not understand that Srila Prabhupada IS ISKCON and ISKCON IS Srila Prabhupada. What is more important, blindly hanging on to so-called tradition and formality, or keeping ISKCON united and flourishing in the spirit of dedication to Srila Prabhupada? The current guru system will never lead to a unified and united ISKCON, rather it will only splinter further and further a movement that was founded exclusively on the leadership of Srila Prabhupada.
My name is Ksamabuddhi das and I am a twice initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada since 1975.
About the Author
Related Posts
Better to Die in Vrindavan — Srila Prabhupada →
Cooperation among Prabhupadanugas →
Prabhupada Mela Upadate — Southern Oregon →
Namaste ,, I’m really hopeful That you can get back to me and let me know how I CAN become a hare Krishna thank you you can email me or call me. HAVE A JOYFUL DAY🙏🕉️
Hare Krisna Christian
The way to become a Hare Krishna is by reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and putting the instructions Srila Prabhupada gives you as you read his books into practice in your day-to-day life. So my suggestion is please get all of Srila Prabhupada’s books and read them:
https://krishnastore.com/books-srila-prabhupada-om-21_38.html
Krishna consciousness is a science, and you have to learn it, by reading the books. Then you have to put into practice what you learn from the books in your day-to-day life. And then when Krishna sees that you are seriously trying to follow and serve Srila Prabhupada He will make so many wonderful arrangements in your life to help you come closer to Him
So get Prabhupada’s books and read them and that will give you the strength and determination to follow the four regulative principles [no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication] and you will happily chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day and be enthusiastically reading Srila Prabhupada’s books for at least 2 hours a day.
Becoming Krishna conscious is like totally surrendering your life to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna, it means totally giving up our old ways and our old materialistic conception of life.
Materialistic conception of life is based on trying to make arrangements to satisfy our senses. We are always looking for opportunities to see beautiful things, to taste delicious food, to smell intoxicating scents, to find beautiful people to have sex with, and so on. This is all a futile attempt to attain pleasure and satisfaction by satisfying the senses of our material body. But we miss the fundamental point, we are not these material bodies. Our material bodies are simply machines that we, the spirit souls, are currently occupying and controlling.
So we have become confused, we are misidentifying ourselves with these material machines, these bodies, we are driving around. And we are mistakenly thinking that if we satisfy the senses of these material bodily machines, we will be happy. There is a total disconnect here. We are not these material bodies, we are the eternal spiritual souls trapped within the bodies. So our needs, the needs of the spirit soul, they are completely different from the needs and desires of our bodies material senses.
So this is how to become a Hare Krishna, first thing is to at least theoretically realize we are not these material bodies, and that everything we have been taught up to now in the material world is useless because it is all centered around the misconception that we are these material bodies and we have been trained that the purpose of life is to work endlessly in the futile attempt to satisfy the senses of the material body. When, in reality, the senses of the material body can never satisfy us.
So Krishna consciousness is simultaneously very simple and also very difficult for many of us to execute. The idea is very simple, even a child can understand the idea, that we are not this material body, we are the eternal spirt souls trapped in the material bodies. But because we have become so much conditioned over many lifetimes in the material world to misidentify our selves with our material bodies, it is not so easy to give up this misconception.
But it can be done by chanting:
Hare Krishna Hare Krsihna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I am 21 yr old
I m doing engineering, and I want to join Iskcon, but I want to continue my studies.
How can I do it ?
There is no need to join. Just become Krishna conscious wherever you are. You can get up in the morning and chant Hare Krishna and read Srila Prabhupada’s books and then go and do your engineering. You don’t have to join to become Krishna conscious.
Jai sree krishna
Let me know the actual chants to do it in the morning
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE
Hare krishna… I am 25 and I am sub inspector in police and i have very serious faith in shree krishna but due to my busy life because of my job i am not able to give sufficient time to krishna consciousness and I am unable to follow these rules like chanting 16 times a day but i want to do something for krishna which can make me satisfied, what should I do?
Get up earlier in the morning, then you will have plenty of time to chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra. There is no other way, this is the basic point. If you don’t have time to chant Hare Krishna how can you advance in Krishna consciousness?
Is it true that the books given by Iskcon are edited and not the original version of Srila Prabhupada ?
Yes.
I want to become Sannyasi in iskon …reading after bbagvadh geeta I would like to pass my whole life into chanting of hare Krishna and in worship of Krishna in any circumstances ….so what steps should I follow for becoming this and still I am 21 years old and single
Sannyasa is the end of the process, not the beginning. So first you have to become devotee, brahmacary, student, and study under the direction of a pure devotee of Krishna and surrender to him and serve him. That is the way. First become a devotee….
Thank you for presenting the truth in light of the present “power struggle”.
I am a Grand Discipile of Srla Prabhupada.
I am 65 years old. Kishana allways with me when any time i was in trouble he is appear i am very thankful for his eyes on me Thanks to Karishna with my soul.
I was afraid that this was true. I am a 59 year old celibate man who thought that I might find others like myself for friendship and spiritual growth. I just visited ISKCON for the first time recently. I immediately sensed a type of power plays that reminded me of large companies I have worked for. I never lasted in these companies. There was too much politics and not enough simply, getting the job done. Am I in for more disappointment? Any suggestions?
Yes. ISKCON will only lead to disappointment today unfortunately. They have lost the plot, given up Srila Prabhupada’s mission, which is Sankirtan, the congregational chanting of the Holy Name and the distributioof his transcendental books. They have stopped this more or less. It goes on, with so many problems, but only in a symbolic way, without any enthusiasm or faith. And the purpose of ISKCON was to create an inteernational society of devotees of Krishna living together in the association of devotees performing pure devotional service 24 hours a day. They have destroyed the society of devotees. ISKCON temples are now more like Catholic churches with a Sunday service and a congregational membership. ISKCON is not a congregational thing. Krishna consciousness is a way of life. Not a Sunday thing.
So anyway, Prabhupada has given us everything in his books. If you take shelter of Srila Prabhupada, read his books, and chant Hare Krishna there will be no disappointment for you. Do not bother with ISKCON, stay away from ISKCON. They can not help you, they can only hinder your natural advancement in Krishna consciousness.
Just become Krsihna conscious yourself guided by Srila Prabhupada through his books and by Krishna from within your heart. And gradually try to create some devotees around you. Family members, friends, people you meet, etc. Try to create some devotees around you and associate with them, talk about Krishna with them, read Prabhupada’s books with them, chant Hare Krishna with them.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare krsna ksamabuddhi das prabhu
PAMHO,AGTSP
I reside in Muscat and before that was in Bangalore when I started seeing you tube videos of HDG AC BV SWAMI SRILA PRABHUPADA
And started following his regular I’ve principles
I am chanting 16 rounds
Now here in Muscat I got a very very good congregational group of ISKCON but they are all disciples of JAIPATAKA MAHARAJ
I got my siksha guru also here
And she is going to introduce me to Jaipataka swami probably next month when he or his entourage visits here
Somehow I am not able to convince myself for the jaipataka swami
Also I have not told about my feelings to my siksha guru
Where should I go for initiation ????
Also I would like to tell u that I always attend mangal aarti
Bhagwatam classes and Gita classes
Please reply to me
it Is important for me to know things right
I want to be a disciple of SRILA PRABHUPADA ONLY
Yes. JPS is a rascal. Don’t take initiation from him. Take shelter of Srila Prabhupada by reading his books and follow the instructions he gives you as you read his books. Then you will be properly situated in Krishna consciousness. JPS can’t help you at all…
Same problem with me.
Photo of JPS is kept near the Gurus of Iskcon ( Srila Prabhupada and other Gurus of Gaudiya Vaishnavism) under Lord Krishna’s feet.
And also they have his photo inside the room of brahmacharis.
After seeing this pic, At first I thought that the person in the photo may have been died recently.
therefore his photo is been placed in there.
But after I get to know that he is alive, I’m shocked.
Why are they worshipping his photo ?
And If they follow this tradition,
Then how many Gurus pic will they keep under the lord’s feet.
Now they have seven photos including JPS.
Hare krishna prabhu ji …..
I can’t live without krishna ,,I wanna become a small permanent servant of krishna,,if I come vrindavan ,,can I have some duties there…I will everything for my krishna..Pls help
You can serve Krishna wherever you are. You don’t need to go to Vrindavan to serve Krishna. Read Prabhupada’s books wherever you are. Better not to change your situation dramatically. Just add Krishna consciousness to your existing life.
I have also joined the ISKCON society
And then tell you what I would do
Hare Krishna madhudvisa prabhu,
Prabhupada met his spiritual master person to person, eye to eye he met with him. And in past all pure devotees met their spiritual masters person to person. But in our case we met our spiritual master in book bhagwat form not in person bhagwat form.
So does it mean that we have to still look for a person bhagwat while following prabhupada’s rules and regulations ?
I hope I am able to put forward my point and question properly if not please tell I will again ask in a proper way because I am really looking for my answer
Your servant,
Vicky Sharma
Pure devotee is very rare. We know Prabhupada is a pure devotee and he is available in his books. So why not meet him there???
I want to become a servent and disciple of Lord KsnA
I want to be a disciple
READ PRABHUPADA’s BOOKS…
one round consist how many chants of mahamantra?? plz tell me
Why don’t you read Prabhupada’s books… One round is Hare Krishna maha-mantra chanted 108 times. So that is chanting:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
108 times. That is one round… So do this at least 16 times a day. That is 108 x 16 = 1728 round or x 16 = 27648 names.
So how does one practice Krishna consciousness? Should those of us with an interest avoid all contact with iskcon?
Yes. If you value your spiritual life then you have to avoid ISKCON unfortunately.
You can practice Krishna consciousness anywhere. You can read Prabhupada’s books anywhere, you can chant Hare Krishna anywhere, you can cook and offer to Srila Prabhupada and distribute prasadam anywhere. You can preach anywhere. You can distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books anywhere. You can start your own preaching center or temple anywhere. So just do it.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
i want a peace in my life .
Chant Hare Krishna, it is the only way for peace.
I want become a god servent i am healthy wealthy and young .
Read Prabhupada’s books and seriously follow the instructions you find Srila Prabhupada giving you as you read. You will become a pure servant of Krishna and will be very happy and will be able to help others become happy also by helping them to also awaken their dormant love for Krishna.
I want to study and gain more knowledge about hinduism .with your speeches.how can i study?
There is no “Hinduism” in the Vedas. Hindu is a Mohamaden world. It is given by the Muslims to the people who live on the other side of the Indus river. The Muslims can’t say I so it became Hindus from Indus and now it is Hindus. So Hindu does not mean anything and those people are totally confused and misdirected. I have nothing to do with Hindus.
Pravuji
Hare krishna
I want to become a disciple of pravupada and sacrifice myself to krishna. How can i? Plz help me
Hare Krishna Deba
It is very easy. Chant the Hare Krishna mantra at least 16 rounds every day, strictly follow the four regulative principles: no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication, and read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours every day. Then, as you are reading Srila Prabhupada’s books, you will find that Srila Prabhupada is giving you many practical instructions. So you need to put these instructions from Srila Prabhupada into practice in your life. In this way Srila Prabhupada will guide you through his books and Krishna will guide you from within your heart. This way, from Srila Prabhupada and Krishna, you will understand how you can sacrifice yourself for Krishna.
Sacrificing ourselves for Krishna means using everything we have, our minds, our intelligence, our money, our property, everything, in the service of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. It means giving up our own personal interest and instead working for the interest of Krishna.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
i am of 13 year old boy i want to become iskcon disciple how to become the disciple and what are the step to do so??
Hare Krishna Arharva
You can do it were you are at the moment. Simply chant the Hare Krishna mantra at least 16 rounds a day, follow the four regulative principles: no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication and read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day. In this way you will find as you read the books Srila Prabhupada will give you many instructions. So follow these instructions in your day-to-day life. In this way you can become a devotee of Krishna in your present situation.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I want to became sanyasi and join isckon
You do not understand. Sannyasa is the final stage. You can not become a sannyasi. You have to become student, servant under the direction of a bonafide spiritual master and study the Vedas under him and serve him for many years. Sannyasa is far down the track. It is for the actual advanced devotees. You have to learn the science of Krishna first, otherwise it is impossible to become a sannyasi.
Wanna learn art of bhakti n about lord.
Read Srila Prabhupada’s books…..
Read the book of Shri Prabhu Pad mahraj Ji,s Purna Prashna Purna Uttar & know the facts of life.I want to
know more about Bhagawat Gita in simple language.
I will finish my all responsibility in my family.now I want spent my rest of life in ashram .how can I do.where I can go.i need help.give me full direction&show me the right path.guide me plz.
You can become Krishna conscious anywhere, even in the family life. And that is what is generally recommended by Lord Caitanya for this age. Stay where you are and become Krishna conscious by chanting Hare Krishna and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books wherever you are.
Prabhuji pl clarify
What is BhaktiYoga actually?
And what’s krishna Consciousness?
Hare Krishna
Yoga means to link with Krishna. So Bhakti yoga is the process by which we can reestablish our original forgotten relationship with Krishna through bhakti, or devotion.
Krishna consciousness is being always, 24 hours a day, conscious of Krishna. Always remembering Krishna and never forgetting Krishna. This is Krishna consciousness.
Hi I have been studying about the krishna movement for two year off and on I want to have a good spiritual life and get salvation I want to join and move to one of your communities willing to save money to come there is no hare krishna around were I live near bristol Tennessee please contact me I am 31 years old tired of living a worldly life need a more simple life I need something in my life it’s empty I have thought a lot about you and I feel you are what I am looking for. I am tired of secular life it is not for me I want a spiritual life willing sacrifice all I have to understanding of God please email me
I love you Krishna…
I want to become a disciple and want to stay their for entire life..how can I get the chance to live there for the rest of my life?
First you become a devotee wherever you are now. That is the way. Not that we have to change the situation of our life. We just have to add Krishna consciousness. So just become Krishna conscious now, in your current situation of life. Just start chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day, read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day and strictly follow the four regulative principles [no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication]. That you can do anywhere…
Hi would like to surrender myself for lord krishna.. Pls Suggest.
Read Srila Prabhupada’s books. It is a process. It is like you write ‘I want to be a brain surgeon’ and you expect me to write back to you a one paragraph reply and then you will be a brain surgeon. No. It is not possible like that. You have to attend the medical college, study very hard, pass the exams, get experience working in the hospital, and gradually when you have mastered both the theoretical and practical knowledge then you become a brain surgeon. So it is the same with Krishna consciousness. There is a process and you have to follow it. And the beginning of that process is hearing from a pure devotee of Krishna. So please read Srila Prabhupada’s books….
I would like to know everything about Sri Krishna and Srimad Bhagwad Gita
Why don’t you just read Bhagavad-gita As It Is
http://krishnastore.com/
http://asitis.com/
Hare Krsna Prabhu
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
Prabhu Can u tell little information about iskcon Bangalore
Because they are preaching about Prabhupada is the only guru so surrendere to Him
Fallow His Instructions!
I don’t know what to believe!
Hare Krishna Madhukar
I have no idea about ISKCON Bangalore. I know Prabhupada. That is all. And I suggest you also come to know Prabhupada by reading his books and by following the instructions you find Srila Prabhupada giving you as you read his books. Then you will know what Prabhupada wants and you will be no longer confused. That is required. We have to hear the correct thing from the correct authority. And the proper authority is His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. If we hear from him and follow him then we will never go wrong.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I want to inculcate within me lord krisna’s teachings
Read Srila Prabhupada’s books….
Hare krishna !
I had read that lord krishna have incarnation in kaliyuga and the avatar name will be kalki avatar!
Is it true? If it is pls tell me when it gonna happen?
Hare Krishna Ketan
Yes. Lord Krishna will incarnate as Kalki avatara towards the end of this Kali-yuga. He will appear on a white horse and be carrying a sword. Kalki’s only business will be to kill the demons because by that time the situation will be so degraded that preaching will no longer be possible. So He will just kill the demons and then the Kali-yuga will end and after some time a new golden age, Satya-yuga will begin.
It is not going to happen for a long time. We have just begun this Kali-yuga about 5,000 years ago. And this Kali-yuga is going to run for 432,000 years, so we have already passed only 5,000 years leaving about 427,000 years. So you can expect Kalki Avatar to appear more than 420,000 years into the future.
By that time the situation on this planet will be horrible. We do not want to stick around to see that…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Can You please tell me that how i can live in Iskcon tempel for forever .I want to know the full procedure to join .
You do not need to join an ISKCON temple to become Krishna conscious. That temple life is only for preachers. Devotees can live anywhere. So you simply become Krishna conscious wherever you happen to be. That is Lord Caitnaya’s recommendation, He says you do not need to change your occupation or your situation in life, just wherever you are add Krishna consciousness.
Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna
I want to become Sanyasi and leave job and home, as I am 28 and dont want to marry and take burden of family. But whenever I meditate and chant name of Krishna for some time, I get distracted by my family and work. So please tell me how should I awaken in Krishna concious
Hare Krishna Nitin
There is no good taking to spiritual life as an escape from the responsibilities of family life. You can awaken your Krishna consciousness anywhere. You do not have to leave your family and work. That is what Lord Caitanya recommends. Stay where you are and add Krishna consciousness to your life.
Sannyasa is an elevated stage that one has to actually reach. It is not possible to leave your family and take sannyasa. It does not work like that. You have to be first elevated to the platform of Sannyasa before taking sannyasa. Sannyasa means total detachment from the materialistic way of life.
You have to become Krishna conscious, that is the point. These external designations like sannyasa really do not mean anything. It is not the designation or the color of our clothes that are important. It is the state of our consciousness. Our consciousness has to become sannyasa.
Krishna consciousness is a science and if you want to learn it you have to read the books. So please read Srila Prabhupada’s books and follow the instructions you find Srila Prabhupada giving you as you read his books and you will make rapid advancement in Krishna consciousness.
You can not jump immediately to taking sannyasa.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna
I am srishti arora Putting up in Delhi my age is 26 I wanted to Be disciple of krishna and wanted to join iskon Teachings i chant everyday and chanting from last 15 years of my life i Visit Vrindavan at Iskon and bihariji trample Every month but also need teaching of Respected Gita.. Kindly Guide
hare krishna
my name prashant your any base in ankleshwar dist-bharuch
bcs i want join iskcon
hi, i want to joien iskcon. so please tell me about what is the prossior to join this organisation.
I am interested to join
Kiran
sir,
i am 23 years boy n i want to join ashram and i want live my rest of live in asram…my live becoming hell day by day i dnt what to do.
Hare Krishna Prasenjit
There is no proper ashram to join at the moment unfortunately.
It is not that you have to join an ashram to become Krishna conscious. You can become Krishna conscious anywhere, in any condition of life. So do that. Read Srila Prabhupada’s books, surrender to his instructions, follow his instructions, and wherever you are you can become Krishna conscious.
These days in the ashrams you will be mislead by maya, you will not become Krishna conscious unfortunately. They have drifted away from the basic principles of surrender to and following the instructions of a pure devotee of Krishna.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I wannt to take sannyas from all this family life.
i feell my self happy in worshiping lord krishna and want to live my rest of life for krishna.
how can i go for it.
please advise me sir ….!
You can live your life for Krishna in your family. In this Kali-yuga sannyasa is not recommended. It is prohibited actually. Because in Kali-yuga, generally the so-called sannyasis are not real sannyasis. They are not becoming sannyasis to serve Krishna, they have some personal ambitions to fulfill.
So sannyasa is not recommended. It is recommended by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu that you stay in your current position and become a pure devotee of Krishna there. There is nothing that can stop us from becoming Krishna conscious in any situation of life.
So the practical thing you have to do now is surrender to the process of saddhana-bhakti as Srila Prabhupada is instructing us. You need to surrender to chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day, strictly follow the four regulative principles [no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication] and you need to read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day. And by following these things you will gradually come to understand what Krishna consciousness actually is and you will see that you can practice it in your family life with your family.
It is very good if you can engage your whole family in Krishna consciousness. That is your responsibility actually. To instruct your family members in such a way that they can all go back home, back to Godhead after leaving the present material bodies.
And your family life will become very nice if you can convince all the family members to take to Krishna consciousness. This is the best thing. Sannyasa is not practical at the current time.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna!!
PAMHO!!!
But prabhu.. if m not mistaken then in Vrindaban majority of devotees have taken sanyaas.. are those sanyasee’s really fake??? ….I mean do dey mislead others?????
Your servant
Amit Mehra
In Kali yuga, the age of quarrel and hypocrisy you have to presume everyone is bogus, everyone is fake. And almost always you will be correct. To find anyone in Kali yuga who is not bogus or fake is such a very rare thing. That is why we are so fortunate to have found Srila Prabhupada who is a pure devotee of Krishna on the highest platform. Such a great soul is very rare.
So we can not say absolutely that everyone else is bogus and fake, but certainly we can say that almost everyone else is bogus and fake.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
i work hard but didn’t find peace… i love my family but something is thr…i wanna mental peace…. help me to
The only way to get peace is to become Krishna conscious. There is no peace in the material world. Becoming Krishna conscious is a process, it is a science, and you have to learn that science. Srila Prabhupada has written about 80 big books on the science of Krishna consciousness. If we are to learn the science then we have to read Srila Prabhupada’s books.
So read Srila Prabhupada’s books and chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I want to join an ashram where I can spend the rest of my life and need peace of mind away from any pleasure. Kindly help Me
It is very difficult at the moment. I do not know where such a place exists in this crazy world at the moment. Temples and ashrams have generally attracted a most low quality of materialistic people who are there to live free at the cost of others and to get some fame, profit, adoration and distinction as sadus or holy men. It is a terrible situation. I recommend you just stay where you are and read Srila Prabhupada’s books and chant Hare Krishna. You can become Krishna conscious anywhere, but today it is very unlikely you will become Krishna conscious in an ashram. I know it is unfortunate and we naturally want to practice devotional service in the association of other devotees. But these organizations which were established for this purpose have been taken over now by totally materialistic people who have no peace of mind or spiritual realization themselves, and who can not help us advance in Krishna consciousness.
We need to associate with a pure devotee of Krishna, that will help us. Srila Prabhupada is a pure devotee of Krishna and he is living in his books so read him and take his personal association in this way and obey the instructions you find him giving you as you read his books and you will make rapid spiritual advancement in this way.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare,hare rama hare rama reama rama hare hare…..
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare \!/ Hari bol
Hare Krishna
Hi Madhudvisa dasa,i have been following all that you have said about nowadays ISKCON,and its true.I have witnessed this first hand and its quite true and really disheartening, disappointing and shamefull, especially when you think the struggles Shrila Prabhupad overcame to form this international movement. I chant at home and am quite happy.My first experience at a ISKCON ashram was awefull.Insead of feeling welcomed as a newcomer,i felt i didnt belong there.devotees were not as friendly to me the way Shrila Prabupada whould have welcomed new devotees,really sad.
Hi, I am Pankaj goyal living in Noida and working as an enggineer. I don’t want to live the regular family life that mosty people are living. I love lord Krishna and want to join iskcon community. So can you please tell me the way how I can join iskcon permanently and can stay there permanently.
Hare Rama hare krishna
It is no good to join ISKCON now. They have disconnected themselves from Srila Prabhupada and thus disconnected themselves from Krishna. It is a waste of time joining ISKCON. You will get a lot of headaches from it and you will not get Krishna from today’s ISKCON.
It is not good to run away from your responsibilities in an immature state. You can become a pure devotee of Krishna wherever you happen to be. So just become Krishna conscious where you are. Start by surrendering to Srila Prabhupada’s basic instructions of chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra daily and strictly following the four regulative principles [no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication] and read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day. In this way you will actually become Krishna conscious. Stay away from ISKCON. They will poison you and after that it will be very, very hard for you to ever actually become Krishna conscious.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
srila prabhupada gives to world all human beings a hare krishna mahamantra so many people accept this mahamantra and this people after death they are going to gaulok vrindavan dham and so many people not acceptance this kalyug pavankari hare krishna mantra so this people after death going to nark so I requested that all people you r come in world alone and u r leaving world alone so u will take only pap and bhakti
sri mukund madhve govind bol hari bol
Hare Krishna
Iam Priya from Australia, in my last year of studies now. Since childhood I have been chanting Krishnas name. I now think the time has come for me to fully dedicate my life to the Lord. Please tell me how I can join a asharam where I can learn more about Lord Krishna and dedicate the rest of my life chyanting his name.
Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna Priya
A bona-fide Krishna conscious ashrma that you can join is not available at the moment. If you join ISKCON they will brainwash you against Prabhupada and teach you everything in a rather different way that what Prabhupada teaches. So you will spoil your life in this way. They will force you to take initiation from one of their “living gurus” and will tell you, “yes they are conditioned souls, but that doesn’t matter, when he falls down we have plenty more and you can take re-initiation from another one…” In this way your spiritual life will be completely destroyed.
So ashram is not available.
Therefor you have to become Krishna conscious by surrendering to Srila Prabhupada and reading his books and following the instructions you find Prabhupada giving you as you read his books.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hi i am shrikant telang i am locate at Pune i have heard about ISCKON a lot & I am Doing the JAPA of Mahamntra since last tow to three months I know how to work on it but before wearing the TULSI mala just want to conform whether we need to take any specific time for the same or can do at any time.?
Hare Krishna Shrikant
You can wear the tulsi neck beads if you are chanting 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra daily and following the four regulative principles [no illicit sex,no meat eating, no gambling, and no intoxication.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
thankyou for listening but my prblm is my parents does not give me permission for this so what can i do please help me hare krishna
Thankyou for listening me but it is very hard i am chanting Hare Krishna whenever i was free time my ISKCON joining wish is not true in this life becoz my parents does not give me permission for this in this life so what can i do please help me HARE KRISHNA
Im Sindhu 24 forcefully married last month July 25th. I do not like having a family I have never dreamt about it I have always been so spiritual meditating at home. I want to join an ashram where I can spend the rest of my life and need peace of mind away from any pleasure. Kindly help me
It is better to just be Krishna conscious where you are. You can never find the perfect arrangement in the material world. You can chant Hare Krishna anywhere and you can also engage your wife and family in chanting Hare Krishna….
I am a very big fan of ISCKON. Whenever I get a chance, I visit the ISCKON temple in Bangalore. This is to inquire what are the requisites to join ISCKON as a full time disciple.
Thanks and regards,
Nabarun.
You will have to ask them at the temple Prabhu. I do not know what are their conditions.
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE………………………………….
my name is dalia and i want to join ISCKON .I DNT KNW HOW CAN I JOIN IT,so want help to knw what all to do to join ISCKON.
My minds asked about Krishna, I want to learn about lord.