The Spirit of Bhagavad Gita
As Bhagavad Gita As It Is will be the basis of our discussions on the Krishna Connect website I would like to give you a general overview of the book. This overview will continue in the next few articles.
Even if you have already read the Gita I think you will find this information interesting. Bhagavad Gita is an amazing book. Even if you were to read the entire book every day of your life, every day you will still find new inspiration in it. So please read this carefully. I may be asking you questions about it later!
Firstly I would like to offer my respectful obeisances to my spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhuapda, because without the knowledge he has most mercifully given us I would still be completely in darkness as far as spiritual knowledge is concerned. It is only because of his mercy that I can say anything of value.
Bhagavad Gita contains the essence of all spiritual knowledge spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krishna. Because Bhagavad Gita is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one need not read any other spiritual literature. One need only regularly and attentively hear and read Bhagavad Gita.
At the present time mankind is so absorbed with day-to-day activities related to simply surviving in this world that he does not have the time to read all the Vedic literatures. But that is not necessary, this one book Bhagavad Gita is sufficient.
Bhagavad Gita appears within the Mahabharata. Mahabharata means the “the history of Greater India.” So the conversation we hear between Krishna and Arjuna actually happened. It is history. And if you would like to understand everything that happened before and after this conversation, that is available also, in the Mahabharata. However Bhagavad Gita is the very essence, the very nectar of the Mahabharata. So simply studying the Gita is sufficient.
There are thousands of translations of Bhagavad Gita available and we are not just studying any translaton of Bhagavad Gita, and there is a very good reason for this. We are studying Bhagavad Gita As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and he describes that the reason he has given us this translation is as as far as he can see in America, and even in India, practically all the other translations of the Gita that are available in the market do not convey the real spirit of the Bhagavad Gita. In practically all the other editions the commentator expresses his own opinions without touching on the spririt of Bhagavad Gita.
And what is the spirit of Bhagavad Gita? Arjuna was the first student of the Gita, so we can understand the spirit of the Gita by seeing how Arjuna relates to Krishna, how he accepts Krishna and the instructions given by Krishna.
Arjuna accepts Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And he gives evidence that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead also, by saying that all the great authorities in the past also accepted Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And Krishna also establishes Himself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the Gita. Therfore we should take Bhagavad Gita in this spirit. Understand it as Arjuna understood it from Krishna.
Krishna tells Arjuna that the Bhagavad Gita is not new. He tells Arjuna that He originally spoke the Gita to the Sun god, Vivasvan, at the beginning of the creation, and that the knowledge was handed down through the saintly kings from generation to generation, but now that knowledge had become lost, so therefore Krishna again spoke that same original knowledge to Arjuna.
A very important question is why did Krishna decide to speak this topmost spiritual knowledge to Arjuna? Arjuna was a warrior. A fighter. There were many other, seemingly more qualified people who Krishna could have spoken the Gita to. Why did he pick Arjuna?
Krishna tells Arjuna that He is relating this supreme secret to him because he is His devotee and His friend. Therefore the Bhagavad Gita is best understood by a person who has qualities similar to Arjuna’s. That is to say he must be a devotee in a direct relationship with Krishna.
We all have a relationship with Krishna eternally. However in the material state of life that eternal relationship is covered and we are unaware of our relationship with Krishna. But the process of Krishna consciousness can revive that original relationship.
The way Arjuna accepted the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita from Krishna should be noted. His manner of acceptance is given in the Tenth Chapter.
“Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Brahman, the ultimate, the supreme abode and purifier, the Absolute Truth and the eternal Divine Person. You are the primal God, transcendental and original, and You are the unborn and all-pervading beauty. All the great sages like Narada, Asita, Devala and Vyasa proclaim this of You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me. O Krishna I totally accept as truth all that You have told me. Neither the gods, nor demons, O Lord, know thy personality. (Bg. 10.12-14)
So this is the spirit of Bhagavad Gita. Arjuna tells Krishna the he accepts whatever He says to be completely perfect, “I accept everything You say to be true.” Arjuna says that the personality of Krishna is very difficult to understand, that Krishna can not be known even by the great demigods. Therefore if even the beings greater than humans can not understand Krishna how can any human understand Him without becoming His devotee?
Therefore Bhagavad Gita should be taken up in a spirit of devotion. One should not think that he is equal to Krishna, nor should he think that Krishna is an ordinary personality or even a very great personality. Lord Sri Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, at least theoretically, according to the statements of Bhagavad Gita, or the statements of Arjuna, the person who is trying to understand the Bhagavad Gita.
We should therefore at least theoretically accept Sri Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and with that submissive spirit we can understand the Bhagavad Gita. Unless one reads the Bhagavad Gita in a submissive spirit, it is very difficult to understand because it is a great mystery.
Thank you for reading this newsletter. In a couple of days I will post the next instalment, “Just What is the Bhagavad Gita?“
Help to subscribe to Krishna Connect Newsletter please!
I tried subscribing your eamil and it worked no problem. So for me capacha is working. I am using Firefox on Mac, possibly there could be some problem with other browsers. So you can let me know what browser and platform you were trying to subscribe on, but it should be working with any reasonably modern browser.
I am extremely grateful to you for such an enlightening newsletter. However, there is one query. Is it imperative to do aachmanana ablutions and recite kilak mantra before reading the Bhagavad-Gita As It Is?
No. It is not necessary.
Hare krishna prabhu
Following are the words of srila prabhupada:
Satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-samvido bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ [SB 3.25.25]. Rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ. Unless you discuss Bhāgavata, Bhagavad-gītā, with sat-saṅga, devotees, it does not become relishable. Therefore he’s not attached. Tad-vāg-visargo janatāgha-viplavaḥ. In another verse…. Na yad vacaś citra-padaṁ harer yaśo pragṛṇīta karhicit [SB 1.5.10]. He may read one literature very decoratively written, very interesting, but there is no discussion about the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Yad vacaḥ citra-padam, very decorative. Na yad vacaś citra-padaṁ harer yaśo pragṛṇīta karhicit: [SB 1.5.10] “But there is no glorification of the Lord.” Tad vāyasaṁ tīrtham: “Such kind of literature is enjoyable by such persons who are like crows.”
Now I have read bhagavad gita and planning to someTime Buy srimad bhagavatam also. I have bought a few more books of Srila Prabhupada. But i cannot have association of pure devotees. As iskcon is now polluted. So is my reading going in vain??
How can i get association of srila prabhupada then. As you have Said that prabhupada is living in his books, but it will not Become relishable as prabhupada mentioned!
So I am really confused and discouraged to hear that. I really enjoy reading bhagavad gita asitis and other Srila prabhupada’s literature as they clear all my doubts regarding religion and God to such an extent that no one can do!
So will book reading be beneficial in my situation????????
Prabhupada is living in his books. Krishna has personally descended in the from of His holy name. So you can read Prabhupada’s books and chant Hare Krishna. That is perfection. So do it. But FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS Prabhupada gives you AS YOU READ HIS BOOKS. Krishna consciousness is not arm-chair philosophy. Chanting Hare Krishna is a prayer: ‘Please Krishna engage me in Your service’. So we have to do service. We have to work for Krishna.
Read the first post of the newsletter.
Thx
Lord Krishna is subprime .
His message to Arjuna is repeat of the message given to Sun god at the out set of creation . This knowledge is new to me,
Jai Shri Krosna !
Yes, Bhagavad Gita should be taken up in a spirit of devotion. Arjuna was a true devotee of krishna and he understood the message imparted to him by Krishna. He finally fought dedicating any outcome to krishna. May Krishna bless everyone with such a spirit.
Thank You.
Sincerely
C.Aubeeluck
Hare Krishna Prabhuji..
I have read in Teaching of Lord Chaitanya that one should accept what is favourable for developing Krishna consciousnes and reject everything that is unfavourable. How can I differentiate between the two? At times our friends and family become hurdle in our way. How should we tackle them?
Hare Krishna Vipra
As you read Srila Prabhupada’s books more and more you will learn what is favorable for developing Krishna consciousness and what is not. Certainly materialistic friends and family members can be a big hurdle in our progress in Krishna consciousness. So we have to make a vow that we will chant 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 read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day. Krishna consciousness is total absorption in Krishna. 24 hours a day engagement in serving Krishna. So we just do it. And we have to ignore friends and family members who are not interested in hearing about Krishna from us.
We can not associate with non-devotees and remain Krishna conscious at the same time. If we associate with materialists we will also gradually again fall down to the platform of materialistic life.
So we have to learn the art of preaching, which is giving our association without taking their association. It means we can talk to them about Krishna but we can not listen to them talking about maya…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Lord Krishna said Work hard or fo the Karma donot wait the fruits or other words award or reward.Today there is unemployment problem.Many people are trying very very hard but very few get succeses. Why is this happening?
Hare Krishna Geeta
Krishna did not say ‘work hard for karma.’ That is a meaningless statement. Work and karma are synonymous. Karma means work. So you are saying ‘Krishna said work hard for work.’ Which is nonsensical.
Actually Krishna says perform your duties without attachment to the results. But our duty is to serve Krishna. We have no other duty.
So you have not comprehended the message Krishna is trying to impart in Bhagavad-gita so I suggest you read Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is again very carefully and try and understand it in the mood of Arjuna.
Success means becoming Krishna conscious. There is no other success. That there is a big unemployment problem is not bad. There is unlimited work to do for Srila Prabhupada and Krishna.
Material world is meant for suffering. You have to understand that. No one is happy in the material world and no one will ever be happy in the material world. In the material world there is only the illusion of happiness in the future.
Happiness is only in the spiritual world and the way to go back home back to Godhead is by becoming Krishna conscious. So do not be very concerned about the situation in the material world, just concentrate on becoming Krishna conscious and encouraging as many others around you also to become Krishna conscious.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare krishna
I Read your letter and wish to gain some knowledge from you regarding the Bhagavad Gita. Please help me understand what thoughts should be kept in mind while chanting the 16 rounds of krishna Mantra. And how do we manage both materialistic and spirtual life parallely. Since all our actions in this life are rooted to material gains.
Hare Krishna Aditi
As far as what thoughts we should have while chanting Hare Krishna, we should simply concentrate on chanting all the words of the mantra clearly and hearing them clearly. This is the process, attentive chanting and hearing. So our attention should be focused on the chanting and hearing the Hare Krishna mantra, that is all. We should not be thinking about anything else.
Of course thoughts will come but instead of dwelling on these thoughts we should focus our attention back on attentively chanting and hearing the Hare Krishna maha mantra.
As far as materialistic life and spiritual life it is not the process of Krishna consciousness that these go on in parallel. The science of Krishna consciousness as Srila Prabhupada is teaching it to us in his books is one of transformation. We learn how to transform all the activities of our life from material to spiritual. We need to learn the science of transforming our lives so that every action we perform is for the pleasure of Krishna, it is a great science and we must learn it.
We have to give up our personal selfish interests and our extended selfish interests of family, society, nation, even global. All these concepts of humanitarism, alturism, socialism, etc, all these isms we have to give up. And our only interest should be Krishnaism… Serving Krishna, pleasing Krishna.
A devotee understands that we are all part and parcel of Krishna. So he understands that the only way to please everyone is to please Krishna. This is the real humanitarian activity. Because everyone is part of Krishna if we please Krishna everyone benefits. So we need to learn this and we need to transform our lives so there is no material part, so that our lives become completely spiritual, completely dedicated to serving Srila Prabhupada and Krishna.
This is a great science and Srila Prabhupada has written more than 80 books to teach us this science. So we need to take full advantage of Srila Prabhupada’s lessons and READ HIS BOOKS…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare krishna madhudvisa prabhu
Prabhu in my family onion and garlic is used everyday . I eat this type of food .but don’t offer to lord Krishna. Sir what should I do .
Your servant anshu
Hare Krishna Anshu
It is not a question of vegetarian food without garlic. It is a question of who the food was prepared and cooked for. A devotee will only accept the remnants of food that has been prepared for and offered to Krishna by devotees of Krishna. So we can not eat anything cooked by non-devotees. Even if it is vegetarian without garlic.
So you need to either convince your mother, or whoever cooks, to become a devotee of Krishna. And then she will not use garlic in the cooking because you can not offer garlic to Krishna. Or just cook for Krishna yourself, offer it to Krishna and accept Krishna prasadam…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Namaste Spiritual Guru Ji
Lord Krishna is everything in my life
He is the ocean of happiness.
I was lost my Father but Krishna come to near, very close to my life
Krishna is precious in my life
Without Krishna’s consciousness there is no life for me and our family
He is the real one He is the dear one
Thank you Guru Ji
Prabhu Chaitanya, Shri Ramakrishna
They are the Teachers of my life
I like very much Guru prabhu paada Ji
Daily I read Bhagavadgeeta
I always chant Hare Krishna mahamantra
It Gives real Happiness
Bhakti vedantha Darshana is my favourite Book
It is very Good.
I thank to Lord Krishna
I thank to sreemad A .C Bhaktivedantha swami Prabhupada
I thank to ISKCON
I Thank you too Guru Ji
I am very Happy to talk with u Guru Ji
Hare Krishna
Jai Sri Krishna
Jai Sri RadhaKrishna
Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum
Guru Ji (my english is very bad Don’t mind. I understand English but can’t speak well. I Know kannada ಕನ್ನಡ)
In the path of Krishna consciousness and realising the Atman in each one of us, I understand indulging in material, worldly duties will only take me away from my true self. Yet, one can not be justified by escaping his Karma. So how should I perform my duties and also remain blissful in my true self?
Hare Krishna Rashmi
Devotees who sincerely take to Krishna consciousness escape their karma. Karma is for karmis. Devotees are free from the reactions of karma.
Our only business is to serve Krishna. We have no other work.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hara Krishna, The contents of the news letters are very informative and excellent. it drives us to the spiritual path. It keeps us connected to Lord Krishna from the material world. Thanks for the wonderful information that I am receiving.
Small suggestion – If the text messages are in Audio we can listen to audio many times. Thanks
I have done some audio, I will send out in a few days and see if devotees like it or not.
I personally have read Bhagvad Gita As It Is…Please explain me the verse which fascinates me the most..(Chapter 3..verse 27)..The bewildered soul under the influence of material nature thinks himself to be the doer of all the activities which are carried out by nature, and proudly thinks “I am the doer”…what it actually says about the nature of reality..
I am very curious to know the meaning of this particular verse..
You should read Srila Prabhupada’s explanation:
TRANSLATION
The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities, which are in actuality carried out by nature.
PURPORT
Two persons, one in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and the other in material consciousness, working on the same level, may appear to be working on the same platform, but there is a wide gulf of difference in their respective positions. The person in material consciousness is convinced by false ego that he is the doer of everything. He does not know that the mechanism of the body is produced by material nature, which works under the supervision of the Supreme Lord.
The materialistic person has no knowledge that ultimately he is under the control of Kṛṣṇa. The person in false ego takes all credit for doing everything independantly, and that is the symptom of his nescience. He does not know that this gross and subtle body is the creation of material nature, under the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and as such his bodily and mental activities should be engaged in the service of Kṛṣṇa, in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The ignorant man forgets that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is known as Hṛṣīkeśa, or the master of the senses of the material body, for due to his long misuse of the senses in sense gratification, he is factually bewildered by the false ego, which makes him forget his eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa.
Hare Krishna. Please why does all spiritual wisdom come from India? Hare Krishna?
Hare Krishna Sosthene
All spiritual wisdom does not come from India. Spiritual wisdom comes from Krishna, God, and Krishna appears Himself and sends His representatives to every country and they distribute spiritual wisdom according to the ability of the people of that particular counties ability to understand it.
So you will find spiritual wisdom within every culture on the planet. Because Krishna has sent His representatives everywhere to establish it.
But spiritual wisdom is presented most completely and elaborately in the Vedas in India. That is the original and complete and perfect source. So you can find all the spiritual wisdom in its original pure form in the Vedas in India. That is why India is famous as the source of spiritual wisdom. Unfortunately today’s Indians disregard this spiritual wisdom and instead they worship technology…
Thank very much for your support. I will be acquiring a printed copy soon!
Hare Krishna Prabhuji
How to get Krishna I have done all sins 4 sins I have done and am really very sorry have realised and have promised wont repeat them.. pls tell me how to overcome this sin and get more and more attached to Govind.. m not scared of hell am just scared that what if again I stop trusting Govind and get into those habits 🙁 pls help me Prabhuji pls
The answers are in Prabhupada’s books. Read them. Yes. We have all performed sinful activities. But we have to give them up and take seriously to Krishna consciousness, following the four regulative principles, reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and chanting the Hare Krishna mantra every day at least 16 rounds. Just do these things seriously and you will not be interested in sinful activities.
Hare Krishna,
Spiritually enlightening article.
Looking forward to more of such spiritual readings.
Devendra
Thank you sir for telling me about bhagvat gita as it is, but to order from Krishna store I want to know the price in Indian currency so please help me about it
We have Indian Krishna store with prices in rupees:
https://krishnastore.in
Hare Krishna and Pranam to you.
In the news letter you had sent me today, you are referring Krishna as the Supreme God head. Even though, I am a devotee, I am still not able understand this in full. What is the difference between Vishnu and Krishna? How can we differentiate between them. I had learned from our weekly classes that there are different different Vishnus. Could you please explain who all are they and how Krishna became supreme God Head above all of these Vishnus.
Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna Krishna Kumar
Krishna is not easy to understand. Even demigods like Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva sometimes get confused about Krishna. Krishna can be understood not by intellectual speculation, but by surrender and service to a pure devotee of Krishna. So please read Srila Prabhupada’s books and chant the Hare Krishna mantra at least 16 rounds a day and strictly follow the four regulative principles [no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication]. Without these things it will be impossible to understand Krishna. But if you sincerely read Srila Prabhupada’s books and chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day and follow the regulative principles then gradually you will understand and realize everything.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
So the purpose of becoming a devotee is to get a more intimate connection to God, Krsna?
Others seem to think it is running away from “real life” in the material world…. Not that they can blame any of U..
|respectfully,
andria
We are all devotees in varying degrees of forgetfulness. So Krishna consciousness is not something we become. It is an awakening of our original consciousness, which is Krishna consciousness.
Thank you this was helpful. I am currently attending classes with a Krishna devotee and I have a developing relationship with Krishna.
Hare Krsna, Madhudvisa dasa
I ran across this article about ISKCON immediately after I read some of your comments about the problems with ISKCON.
This is the title of the article.
ISKCON Destroys a Whole Generation of Devotee’s Lives…
Perhaps I can shed some light on the issue.
I attended the lectures at the Houston Temple beginning sometime in the mid-70s.
The devotees would chant downtown on the sidewalks and then were taken to jail.
This was the way it was back then. Society was against the Hare Krsna Movement mainly because they would force themselves upon the passengers entering and exiting the airport.
The devotees were often very hostile in the temple. I attended the lectures for years trying to figure out why they claimed to be devotees. They had little mercy and were intent upon the destruction of the “false ego.”
They took it upon themselves to beat the Christianity out of your mind. It was common to be threatened with physical violence. New devotees were soon inducted into the “destruction of the false ego” thought police.
I couldn’t figure out why they wanted to be devotees. They didn’t care about Krsna, only this authority they were given over those below them. Nothing was real. Everyone went through the motions everyday, but why?
They were convinced that they were superior beings, but the only attraction seemed to be authority over someone. There were a few who seemed to be sincerely attracted to Krsna, but only a few.
I recall the first time I attended Kirtanam. They gave me the bells to ring with many other people. They said I could ring them anyway I wanted. In about a minute a devotee came up to me and jerked them out of my hands. He never did say what I did wrong.
I would often stop there in the afternoon to read the books in a nice little library they hand near the entrance. No one was around so I laid down on the couch to read and closed my eyes for a moment to think about something that I had read. A devotee came in and hit me in the head and said get off of the couch. He claimed that he was a superior being and consequently had authority over me.
The devotees knew me and knew that I studied religions at the time. The one that hit me was a new recruit who was empowered with authority. I was often looked down upon because I would not “shave up” and start the discipline. I was the waste of time, but I wasn’t going to join people who were so disconnected from God.
Many years later I ran across an article about the Hare Krsna Movement. It said that many of the devotees were actually AWOL from the military, or wanted by law enforcement. They were hiding.
I then remembered that many of the old houses around the Houston Temple were destroyed by fire. Some of the devotees were probably doing it. Many of the devotees were cruel and deranged enough to do this sort of thing. They enjoyed preaching about the evils of western society, but also wanted central air conditioning. I recall sitting in a lecture about western evils while they were unloading the air conditioning system off of the trucks.
If anyone so much as said the word Christ or Paul it was time for punishment and threats of being beat up. Prabhupada was greater than Christ and that was it.
Also in later years I read that Prabhupada started the Hare Krsna Movement with homeless people on the street.
The point here is that the Hare Krsna Movement got off to a bad start, too many bad eggs.
The disease thrived in the way the temples were organized. The senior devotees did little or nothing. The new devotees had to serve them. This caused a craving for authority, especially in those who had no attraction to Lord Krsna.
In Prabhupada’s book The Teachings Of Lord Kapila there is at the beginning a passage that describes the difference between eastern and western philosophy. Eastern philosophy is about liberation. Western philosophy is about other things.
The concept of liberation probably takes upon different connotations when heard by the western ear……..liberation through authority over others.
Prabhupada is not to blame.
Hare Krsna, Mark Huffman
Hare Krishna Mark
Yes. There was certainly insanity in the US temples in the early days…
This idea of becoming the master is actually the material disease. A devotee becomes a servant, not a master, he becomes humble, not puffed-up…
So somehow it did not work for many of the particularly Americans. Of course it is not just Americans, it is everywhere in the material world. We come to the material world trying to become the master. That is the materialistic, demonic nature. So demons take every opportunity to try and lord it over others…
But really Krishna consciousness is very different from what you experienced in the Houston ISKCON temple….
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Dear Prabhu,
Namaste, Thanks for your email. I must briefly introduce myself: I am from muslim heritage but regularly chant 16 rounds and read Srimad Bhagvad Gita As it Is and am very impressed from the personality of Srila Prabhupada.
I am in touch with His Grace Shankarshan das Adhikari to request him to initiate me as a disciple of Srila Prabhupada but reading your comments i am confused as to who shall i take as my Guru and initiation? Kindly enlighten me.
Why the book MOTHERS OR MASTERS has been banned by ISKCON written by a Devotee and a Disciple of Srila Prabhupada?
It is shocking to know that and therefore i want clarity about above matters because i have no Devotee association and i wish to go to Soho London Temple what do you advise on that please Prabhu?
Thanks
At your service
Anis MAHAR
Hare Krishna
I suggest you read Srila Prabhupada’s books. That is the solution. ISKCON has become so bogus as to ban a book that is 99% direct quotes from Srila Prabhupada and which presents the ideas that Prabhupada presents.
So from this we can understand ISKCON is against Srila Prabhupada. They have moved on. They are now modern, politically correct feminists….
It is all rubbish. So better avoid ISKCON. It is very difficult situation. Prabhupada’s ISKCON has turned against him. They ban books of their own devotees if they dare quote Prabhupada…
So it is all too crazy.
If you truly want to advance in Krishna consciousness it is not just devotee association that you need. You need to associate with a pure devotee of Krishna. Just devotee association with rascals like this who are banning books that are 99% direct Prabhupada quotes will not do you any good at all.
You need to associate with Srila Prabhupada by reading his books. So continue 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 make a serious program to read all of Srila Prabhupada’s books. If you can read them aloud that is better because we actually become Krishna conscious by hearing and chanting. Not so much by intellectual processes.
The Muslim practices and the Krishna conscious practices are similar in many ways. Both stress chanting the names of God, both stress worship in the temple or mosque, both stress the importance of protection of women and the importance of minimizing mixing of men and women, both allow men to take more that one wife in some situations. The difference is we have the Hare Krishna mantra which is a peaceful weapon that destroys the sins not the sinner. The Muslim system of destroying the sinner with the sword is not very practical these days. Because realistically, in Kali-yuga, everyone is a sinner, everyone is an infidel. So the problem with the Muslims is they will end up trying to kill everyone and then they will realize they are themselves infidels and then what to do…
So Krishna consciousness is the practical solution for sincere Muslims who are truly interested in reestablishing there lost and forgotten relationship with Allah and at the same time remaining compassionate to the infidels and instead of killing them we can give them the Hare Krishna mantra and uplift them to the platform of pure devotees of Krishna… It is much nicer than cutting their heads off…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare krishna. I follow the instructions given by Prabhu shree krsna gyaan in bhagwat geeta.
Hare Krishna,
I wanted to know that what are the qualities of a pure devotee that are different from other people.How can I judge a person whether he is Krishna conscious or not.
Hare Krishna Pravar
Neophyte devotee can not tell who is pure devotee and who is demon. That is why so many demons do such a great business by presenting themselves as gurus and cheating the innocent public.
Only a Madhyama-adhikari, a devotee on the middle platform, is capable of differentiating who is a pure devotee and who is a demon. And it is very important of course to know, who is a demon and who is a pure devotee, because if by mistake you happen to accept a demon as your spiritual master your whole life is spoiled.
So the idea is you have to make advancement in Krishna consciousness by chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day 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 gradually make advancement in spiritual life and will be able to tell the difference between a demon and a pure devotee of Krishna.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Since from my past life to the present , I have seen so much injustice, heard many bad abusive words and all the bad things which usually happens around a guy who goes through their childhood,school and through college life . I kindly request you to please tell me how should I clean myself from the bad thoughts and all those bad things which are stucked in my mind because of the society I live in and the company I get ,and also how to tackle these kind of situation if I am forced to get along with them anyway.
You just have to become Krishna conscious and all bad things will be washed away. But it is a serious process and you have to be prepared to follow it starting by chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day, 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. We need to develop a taste for Krishna consciousness. Once we have a taste for chanting Hare Krishna then the so-called pleasures of the material world will no longer have any power to attract us.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Thank you very much for the link.
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa dasa sir,
Thank you for sending me the news latter.I have been searching a way to know about Bhagawat Gita,since i donot have a hard copy of gita.
I want to request you to send me more information about the Gita and how to apply it in personal life.And if possible can i get a pdf version of the Book. Thank you.
PDF Gita you can download from:
https://krishna.org/bhagavad-gita-as-it-is-original-1972-edition-free-pdf-download/
Hare Krishna,
I am a vegetarian and I was a skinny boy. But since four years I am workout and my physique became very good but my nutrition was pure vegetarian as my parents are vegetarian and they worship AMBAJI. So no eggs and meat are eaten in my home. I ate lentils,dal and good vegetarian source of protein for diet. But 3 to 4 months before I have stared reading Bhagwat Geeta and Prabhupada books. I have completed reading Geeta. But the more and more I am inclining towards MY Krishna’s teachings the more I am not working out and not going to gym as it I said in that we also got attached to our body. So I am not working out too much and it feels that there is no meaning to gaining muscles. But as I have stopped it my body has become so irregular the gains that I had are getting converted in fat an it is becoming loose. I am also not feeling healthy I cant run on just I was running on treadmill for an hour. Its like there is no energy in me. When I was working out I use to feel fresh. I don’t know what to do. I am confused. Plzz tell me what should I do.???
Hare Krishna Ukarsh
Yes. We don’t care so much about the material body but still we have to keep it healthy so we can serve Krishna. So you need to be active. Not the artificial muscle building of a gym. That is always artificial. Everyone has a certain body type. Some a muscly built naturally. And others like you and me have skinny build. I remember before I was a devotee also I sometimes went to the gym for trying to build up some muscles. And after a lot of work in the gym my muscles would get a bit bigger… But then when I stopped like you it just went back to normal again.
So that is what you were trying to do with going to the gym. You were trying to convert your body into something that it is not. You were trying to make a big muscley body out of a skinny body… It is artificial. As soon as you reduce the gym work the ‘gains’ you have made will go away. So do not worry about building up your muscles. You have the body you have, just use the body you have for serving Srila Prabhupada and Krishna.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Prabhu,
Dandavat pranaam ,it’s by Krishnas mercy I could receive trancedental knowledge through ur website.
My question is that I’m looking for a spritual guru and I don’t have one.but I’m associated to many devotees and blogs from where I’m getting this mercy to read and understand KRSNA .will I be able to suceed in my spritual path .i do mangla aarti everyday and do 8-16 rounds daily.
Kindly advice.
Hari Bol
Ur servant
Hare Krishna Sachin
Srila Prabhupada is a pure devotee of Krishna and he is ready to teach and guide you through his books and lecture tapes. So please read Srila Prabhupada’s books and listen to his classes. In this way you will find your guru.
It is very good you are doing Mangal Aroti every day. Please keep doing it and increase your chanting to at least 16 rounds a day and 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 a day. So continue doing all these things regularly and you will be well situated in Krishna consciousness and will be making steady advancement in spiritual life.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna
I am very blessed be a part of the devotee group and it’s all because of the mercy of Lord Krishna on me.
Thank you very much
I realized myself to be so lucky to read Bhagavad Gita and also its Significance
Hare Krishna
Hare Krsna Madhudvisa dasa: I recall years ago when attending lectures at the
Houston temple that the teachings of Krsna Consciousness caused expectations of great changes. That is, that there could be a journey to another planet. There were expectations that chanting the Maha Mantra would result in a movement to another reality. In this age of Kali is it best to only expect that the knowledge of Krsna will give the understanding that leads to the control of material contamination? All we can hope for is to not be held captive by the filth that the world deposits in our minds? In other words, Vedic knowledge takes its place in our minds in order to keep contamination out. Rewards for having served Lord Krsna through devotional service will be given in our next life.
What do you think of this perspective, Madhudvisa dasa? Please use your own life as an example.
I was listening to a recording of Prabhupada commenting on scientific discovery. He emphasized that anyone who claims to be happy is a fool. This appears to be his way of saying that the age of Kali is powerful in its destructive energy.
Hare Krsna, Mark Huffman
Hare Krishna Mark
There are great changes for one who becomes actually Krishna consciousness. Freedom from material anxieties and a sense of spiritual happiness come quite quickly to a sincere devotee of Krishna. A sincere devotee realizes that he is not this material body but is the spirit soul trapped within this material body. So once we realize we are not the material body we become detached from the happiness and distress of the material body. This is certainly another reality and we can move this other spiritual reality simply by chanting Hare Krishna mantra at least 16 rounds a day and strictly following the four regulative principles: no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication and by reading Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day. If you surrender to these things and follow them strictly you will very quickly move to another spiritual reality where you will become detached from the pains and pleasures of the material world.
It is not that a devotee is interested in any reward for serving Krishna. The devotees get great pleasure by serving Krishna. The whole process of Krishna consciousness is very joyful and ecstatic. The only real happiness is in Krishna consciousness. There is no happiness in the material world. So if one is thinking he is happy in the material world that is ignorance. He is a fool.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Prabhu…….may I able to get the Marathi PDF of the bhagwadgita?
PDF files are only available in English.
Thank you very much prabhu ji.
I was wondering. In your letter you mentioned that the Bhagvad Gita is the only book that we actually need to read. So what about the Bhagvatam? I have associated a little bit with other devotees and according to them the Bhagvatam is very special book and should be read. They never said it straight out but by the way they talked about the Bhagvatam, it sounded like they thought it was more important than the Gita, not to mention that it is Krishna himself here to deliver us. Also, hasn’t Prabhupada said that if we don’t read all his books we will slowly fall down? I understand that there is unbelievable benefit that can be derived from reading the Bhagvad Gita. But I just want to know what exactly to read. Should I also get started with chaitanya Charitamrita or is it sufficient to just read the Bhagvad Gita and the Bhagvatam again and again? I have already read the Gita once and it is very pleasing to hear it’s vibration. There are so many books of Prabhupada and each of them have unlimited knowledge. Each time we read it, we get a new experience. So how should one begin reading Prabhupada’s books and how should one keep on reading each and everyone of them?
I am sorry for forcing so many questions upon you. But thank you very much for giving me a chance to ask them. Prabhupada did say that a doubtful man can never be krishna consciousness.
Thank You!!
I never said to only read Bhagavad-gita. We have to read all of Srila Prabhupada’s books. So please start a program to read all of Srila Prabhupada’s books. All small books, Bhagavad-gita, Science of Self-Realization, Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, etc, etc.
An actual follower of Srila Prabhupada will naturally want to read all of his books, and a real devotee will find great transcendental pleasure in all of Srila Prabhupada’s books.
How to read them. Just pick them up and read them. Best to read them aloud because this Krishna consciousness is learned by hearing and chanting. It is not actually an intellectual thing. It is a transcendental thing based on transcendental sound vibrations. So Srila Prabhupada’s books are full of transcendental sound vibrations. For the best effect we need to vibrate these transcendental sounds with our tongue and hear them with our ears. So read all of Srila Prabhupada’s books and read them aloud.
Hare Krsna Madhudvisa Dasa
You said: “We should therefore at least theoretically accept Sri Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and with that submissive spirit we can understand the Bhagavad-gita. Unless one reads the Bhagavad-gita in a submissive spirit, it is very difficult to understand because it is a great mystery.”
Yes, the following is how I agree with you. Submission is necessary, and submission is the gift. To be able to have a way to fall before the Lord and abandon this age of Kali is perhaps the greatest gift of all. This is the science, and it is so easy. Krsna Consciousness is not open to debate. It is not about debate. It is the science of submission.
Do not question in doubt, only inquire and learn to absorb the knowledge of the Absolute. Just as a baby is given a simplified communication from its Mother, Krsna has given our limited minds a path to Himself. It is a gift to be taken, not questioned.
There is no gamble, there is no cost. The proof is in the blessings received.
I look forward to your teachings. The Gita is not a novel. It is to be heard again and again, each time with a new understanding. Kali is about confict. The Gita is about agreement.
A question: Is there a picture of Lord Chaitanya such as a drawing or engraving, made while he was still on earth?
You can see the pictures of Lord Caitanya in Srila Prabhupada’s books, particularly in Sri Caitanya Caritamrta:
https://krishnastore.com/sri-caitanyacaritamrta-17-volume-set-1974-edition-h-krishna-3415.html
Greetings,
It is a benediction to begin his study of of the Gita with you.
You are correct in saying that only a devotee of the Lord can understand the Gita. Devortion is the tangible manifestation of love for God. No one can approach God without love. Sri Prahupada has given us a very nice way to develop love for God.
Thank you for your devotion to Srila Prabhupada. He is the manifestation of Krishna’s love reaching out to his lost devotees.
Would you kindly explain the process of taking a name in Krishna consciousness?
Initiation is a new birth. When one takes initiation his material life dies and his spiritual life begins. So old name, old life is finished and a new spiritual life begins. Therefore spiritual master gives his disciples a new spiritual name at the time of initiation.
Hello, I am Mark in Houston, Texas. I attended Krsna Consciousness lectures at the Radha-Krsna temple in Houston on Rosalie Street. Prabhupad was still alive at this time in the 1970s.
My understanding of the purpose of Krsna Consciousness is to escape from material contamination. There are so many aspects of this great religion that bring peace to the mind. This peace drives away contamination. Chanting, studying, or just admiring the astounding art are all ways to approach God.
Whatever brings peaceful remembrance of Krsna is the path to Him. It doesn’t matter what you do, so long as it brings Consciouness of Lord Krsna.
Yes, it helps greatly to understand who He is and what His messages really say, but nothing can be accomplished unless material contamination is replaced by remembrance of Him. To transcend the evil of the world is the ultimate purpose. It doesn’t matter how, so long as it is done. This is my understanding.
I never could chant. One verse and I stop and become the word Krsna. I can go no further. Krsna is a transcendental word. It is the most beautiful of all words. Hare Krsna
Keep trying to chant Hare Krishna. It is not difficult, it is very powerful and you will benefit greatly by chanting Hare Krishna.
Hare Krishna what is the Goal of student in this material world should our parent goals be our goals please explain
Goal in the material world is to become pure devotee of Krishna and get out of the material world and go back home back to Godhead, to the spritual world. There is no other purpose of human life except becoming a pure devotee of Krishna and remembering Krishna at the time of death and going back home back to Godhead.
Thanks from heart to you Madhudvisa dasa,
Of course that I read once the Bhagavad Gita,
this reading is transcendental for the one who
can estimate the divine knowledge from Lord
Krishna.
My health shines for his absence because I am
possessed by very perverse entities,I know that it
can look like a madness, but they are very real
and destructive, sorry but I need a true help on
the part of a devout one qualified for these
cases of Submission of mind and body due to
the vulnerability of a destructive karma like mine.
I do exercises to liberate my life of this cruel evil,
of course that I do 16 singings,
Our Lord knows it and I think that He directs me
to your protection.
I was born a 5 of december/1969
My name and surnames:
Santiago Garcia García
I live in Barcelona.
Greetings/Hare Krishna
Hello,
Hare Krishna,
I have received the email that was sent to me .I feel very glad to receive the mail.Looking forward to read more messages.
Regards.
Thank you sir for such a great thing …..at least by the help of this I have started to read with my full dedication…..Thank you very much
Hare Krishnaa , We all need to think of the supreme one and to understand the power of the divine which prevails and regulates our life. hare krshna. (thank you
0
Hare Krishna prabhuji,
I am a devotee at GAURANG INSTITUTE FOR VEDIC EDUCATION (GIVE) at Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
i have some doubts. kindly explain them in brief.
1. Spiritual master say that we can go back to our original home i.e Vaikuntha by krishna’s grace. In vaikuntha Lakshmi narayana is present. Radhe krishna is always present in GOLOK VRINDAVAN which is the supreme abode. I enjoy remembering and reading the lillas of shri krishna in vrindavan, in which krishna showed his PREM lilla with RADHA RANI JI and other GOPIS. Why prabhupada is preferring VAIKUNTHA instead of GOLAK DHAM?
2. Is our soul is different from krishna? Are we his internal energy? Do our soul merge within krishna when someone get moksha? What’s the difference between mukti and moksha?
3. It is said that whenever Krishna kills demon (bad person), he gets moksha. Then what will be the difference between the devotee who get salvation by BHAKTI and the demon who get salvation for his bad deeds?
RADHE RADHE
HARE KRISHNA
HARI BOL
Hare Krishna
Thanks for the nice questions.
1. Srila Prabhupada does not prefer Vaikuntha to Goloka Vrindavan. Srila Prabhupada is very much an eternal resident of Goloka Vrindavan and does not have very much interest in Vaikuntha. In Vaikuntha there only way the residents worship Lord Visnu is in awe and reverence. Like the subjects of a King worship a King. Vrindavan is different. In Vrindavan one can be the friend of Krishna, the parent of Krishna and even like the gopis, Krishna’s girlfriend. So I do not know where you got this idea that Prabhupada prefers Vaikuntha. It is a totally false idea and I suggest you read Srila Prabhupada’s books and you will see everything is centered around Krishna and you will see Srila Prabhupada establishes everywhere that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and everyone else, even the many Visnu incarnations in the many Vaikuntha planets, are all expansion of Krishna.
2. We are all part and parcel of Krishna. There is nothing in existence that is not part of Krishna. We are brahman and Krishna is parambrahman. So we, as spirit souls, are brahman, the same quality as Krishna. But Krishna is unlimitedly great and we are very tiny. But we are individuals. Krishna is an individual person and we are individual persons. We have all the qualities of Krishna but in a very small quantity. This idea of merging with Krishna is false. We are individual eternally. So we never actually merge with Krishna. Srila Jiva Gosvami gives the example of the green bird flying into the green tree. It appears that the green bird has merged within the green tree, become one with the tree. But if you keep watching that tree after some time you will see that same green bird fly out of the same tree. So the bird did not merge with the tree. Mooksa or liberation, is the same. There is Krishna’s effulgence called the brahma jyoti, which is made of an unlimited number of shinning spirit souls. So we are spirit souls and we can ‘merge’ into this brahma jyoti. But it is like the green bird in the green tree. We do not merge actually. We become one of the shining individual spirit souls that make up the brahma jyoti. And after some time we are not satisfied there. Because we can not express our individuality or personality there. So we become bored and again desire to take birth in the material world. That is what happens to the impersonalists who achieve mooksa, impersonal liberation. They can go to the brahma joyti for some time but again they fall back down to the material world again. This is fully described by Srila Prabhupada in his books and I suggest you read them.
3. Yes. When Krishna kills a demon the demon gets mooksa. That is the same mooksa that the impersonalists and mayavadis get. So you can understand that their destination is the same destination as that of Krishna’s enemies. They become a shining spark in the brahma jyoti. But the destination of the devotees is different. The devotees enter Krishna’s planet Goloka Vrindavan in their original spiritual bodies and engage in the service of Krishna there. So the devotees get the personal association of Krishna and His devotees in the spiritual world whereas the demons and impersonalists only get to be shining sparks in the brahma jyoti. There are some exceptions. Like Putana got to take birth in Goloka Vrindavan as Krishna’s mother, that was Krishna’s special mercy on her. But generally demons go the impersonal brahmajyoti only.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna, I stared reading Gita and also purchased a book of Bhagavad Gita Jatha jato in bengali version from Mayapur. I have one question out of ignorance while reading the Gita that if the Lord Krishan is the controller of all of us then why He direct us to do wrong doing. In Gita it says that He stays in all human heart and from Him comes remembrance,knowledge and forgetfulness. Why then He control someone so that some one get His blessing of remembrance and Knowledge and some individual with forgetfulness and as a result that person do all bad things. Why don’t He control every one with remembrance and Knowledge when He is the All Mighty.
Hare Krishna Samiran
Krishna is an individual and we are also individuals. So we are the same as Krishna in quality but Krishna is unlimtedly great and we are unlimitedly small. So as Krishna is completely independent, we also have a little independence.
It is not that Krishna is forcing us to act in a particular way. We have a little independence and if we decide to misuse that independence to reject Krishna then Krishna will help us by enabling us to forget Him. So Krishna does not direct us to wrong doing. We want to do wrong by ourselves. That is the our own mistake. Krishna is not controlling us in that way. We are free to choose between serving Krishna and serving maya. So if we choose to serve maya then Krishna will help us by giving us forgetfulness and if we choose to serve Krishna Krishna will help us by giving us knowledge, remembrance.
Perhaps you should read Srila Prabhupada’s original Bhagavad-gita As It Is in English. Prabhupada describes very clearly all these things and much more better than I can describe them.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I have a some related questions
I note that you do not eat meat, fish or eggs. However you do consume correctly prepared dairy products. Why is this so? What right does a human have to consume the milk of a cow, when it is not produced for humans but for calves? How can a cow be kept for milk until they are unable to give any more, without them being forced to be pregnant for our benefit? How can this be good karma?
Yours respectfully.
Hare Krishna Mike
Cows produce milk for humans. They produce some for their calves but only a small amount is needed by the calves. The produce much, much more than the calves can drink. And they keep on producing milk long, long after the calves need it. So this is the arrangement of Krishna. The cows produce milk which is a miracle food that develops the finer tissues of the human brain. That is the arrangement of Krishna. Cows give milk for humans to drink.
Of course as devotees we milk the cows to offer the milk to Krishna. So we do not milk the cows for ourselves. We milk them for Krishna. And we use the milk for preparing many nice offerings to Krishna. So there is no karma in an activity which is performed for the pleasure of Krishna.
Devotees only work for Krishna, so the activities of a devotee do not generate any karma, good or bad.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna , my respects to all great persons here who are peaceful in trying to move towards Krishna through his prescribed way in Gita.I’m trying to understand Lord Krishna ,but not through mental speculation.But I feel one thing ,if I’m wrong in understanding this correctly please set my thinking in right way.I seek your direction.Lord Krishna had to marry Rukmini,Satyabhama,Jaambhavati and many others.Because of his Dharma ….but he never had them in his heart except for his Radharani.So Krishna as a lover also proved himself in his best way.So for Krishna everything seemed Dharma but not marriage in his knowledge. Please correct my way…..
Hare Krishna Parvati
I am not sure really what you are asking. Krishna is self-sufficient. He does not have to marry anyone. But sincere devotee who wants Krishna as husband, he will accept that devotee as His wife. As far as Srimati Radharani that is a big subject matter that can not be immediately understood very easily. We need to become Krishna conscious by 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 read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day, then gradually we will come to understand all these things.
Hare Krsna Madhudvisa
Thank you so much for your emails. I really appreciate it. Its so nice to come across this website. I am currently 26 years old plus and I had read finish the Gita for the second time in my life. The first time i read i was 17 years old, back then end of 2006 and finished early of 2007. The second time was mid last year and i finished this year…few weeks back. Strangely when reading the Gita for the second tim, more questions are bugging me. I really hope i could share my doubts..i mean find someone to clear my doubts soon.
Have a nice day, may Krsna bless you!!!!!!!!!!
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
You are welcome to ask your questions here and I can try to answer…
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa dasa sir,
I completely agree with you that Geeta is sufficient for a complete knowledge.No Vedas are required.And also i understand you are not neglecting vedas.In sense Geeta is a full meaning of veda given by supreme power Shree Krishna.
Actually I have no comments at all because i think there is not a single word in your post which have some contradiction.All words are true,true and true.You are doing work for Krishna.In Geeta Krishna says that those who will teach Geeta to his lovers they are more beloved for Krishna than others.
For all :
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Krishna’s Servant
Anand
Hare Krishna Shri Madhudvisa dasa.
Thank you for sending me the newsletter.
First & foremost you are not my servant. I look up to you as my friend who sharing valuable information with me, just like Arjuna was Shri Krishna’s friend with whom the Bhagvad Gita was shared.
Unfortunately the newsletters received on 22.03.16 and 23.03.16 are exactly the same. I did not receive any newsletter on 24.03.16.
Looking forward to hearing more from you.
Thanks & Regards
Shankar
Hare Krishna Shankar
Thank you for reading the newsletters. I do not know why you got the same one twice but you should get the next one today or tomorrow.
If there are any more problems please let me know.
I am into sales industry, I would like to read the whole character of Lord Krishna & implement in my life.
Just do it. Read Srila Prabhupada’s books. You will find everything you are looking for there.
Hare KRISHNA madhudvisa dasa,I just wanna ask that i want to learn vedic sanskrit so that i could read all vedas and bhagwad geeta in its own language so is there any arrangement in ISCON organisation to get that????
It is not necessary and even if you learn Sanskrit, etc, you will not be able to understand the Vedas.
The way to understand is only through humble submission and service to a bona fide spiritual master like Srila Prabhupada. It is not possible to understand though scholarship. It is only by service to a pure devotee of Krishna that understanding becomes possible.
So please read all of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Everything is there and there is no need to lean Sanskrit. But if you do want to learn Sanskrit everything is there in Prabhupada’s books. The Devanagari Script is there, the Roman transliteration is there, the word-for-word meanings of the Sanskrit words are there in English. So if you study Srila Prabhupada’s books you will learn Sanskrit automatically.
Hare krishna, I wanna ask that is that true that before the battle of kurukshetra supereme lord KRISHNA was not worshiped. And if im wrong then please do correct me.
Yes, you are wrong. Krishna is always worshiped.
Hare krishna ,
hi from childhood i have attraction about god.this is because of family background.i have gone through many books even i have read lots of ISKON books . i gone through bhagavad gita.I also know whatever contents of bhagavad gita are “TRUE”. But bhagavad gita says what we should do /what we should not that is right.but when i think about GOD he is capable to do everything.So there is one confusion in my mind if he has everything,then why people are suffering? when i search the answer of this question then i came to know people are suffering due to there Bad “Karmas”(Actions) and as we know all the bad actions happens due to the anger,Moh,maya,attraction,Ego then why god offer these bad things to all ,as he know it result in sorrow.This confused me all the time.why soul suffers through 84 lakh yoni If god capable to make evryone perfect. please make me correct if i am wrong this is my confusion.
Hare krishna !!!
Hare Krishna Anil
Our purpose is to serve Krishna. But our relationship with Krishna is based on love. Krishna does not force us to serve Him. So when living entities misuse their independence and reject the service of Krishna they are sent here to the material world. The material world is a place full of suffering by its nature. Here everyone is trying to enjoy themselves at the cost of everyone else. So this mentality naturally creates a hell for everyone.
So material world will always be a place of suffering. It is full of suffering and death only. The only way we can be happy is by becoming Krishna consciousness, by reestablishing our original relationship as servants of Krishna and by remembering Krishna at the time of death and in that way as Krishna promises in the Bhagavad-gita, “One who remembers Me at the time of death will surely return to Me…” we will go back home, back to Godhead and be happy there. We can not be happy in the material world.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy! [chanting Hare Krishna transfers us from the material world to the spiritual world even in the present body, so by becoming Krishna conscious we will become happy, but when we become Krishna conscious we will no longer actually be in the material world. Happiness is only in the spiritual world. There is no happiness in the material world]
Madhudvisa dasa
hare krishna prabhuji!! i thank you very much for your kindly taking interest in doing the very wonderful job in handling the devotees globally with new technologies.I am replying with reference to your mail from madhudvisa dasa prabhuji .you have sent me a very wonderful article named “The spirit of Bhagavadgita”.
hare krishna !! thank you very much.
Is it true that krishna responds to everyone according to their desires?
Can lord krishna cure a very ill person?
Hare Krishna Keshini
You can not engage Krishna in your service. We have to surrender to Krishna and become engaged in His service.
You have to understand we are not these material bodies. We are the eternal spirit souls within the material bodies. You have to understand the material bodies are temporary. We are destined to take birth in these bodies and we are destined to suffer a certain amount and enjoy a certain amount and then die. So this will happen. We will suffer according to our karma and we will enjoy according to our karma then this material body will die and we will be transferred to another body at the time of death.
So we can not preserve this material body. It is dying every day. And there is nothing we can do about the suffering and death. That is the nature of the material world. It is a place of suffering and death. We can not avoid it.
Rather than bothering about the body and trying to save it, which is not possible, we need to spend our time and energy chanting Hare Krishna and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and becoming Krishna conscious so we remember Krishna at the time of death and so we do not have to again take birth in this material world and again suffer the pains of birth, old age, disease and death.
Krishna responds to everyone’s desires in the sense that if you want to see Krishna, if you actually love Krishna, He will reveal Himself to you. But if you do not love Krishna He will hide Himself from you. And Krishna is sanctioning everyone’s desires, so nothing happens without the sanction of Krishna. But we can not expect Krishna to follow our orders. We can not order Krishna “please cure this ill person…”
We can go to some doctor and give some medicine according to the body but ultimate sanction is in the hands of Krishna.
Devotees do not consider death a bad thing. Rather death means giving up this old and useless body and if we are actually Krishna consciousness and if we can remember Krishna at the time of death then we will get the chance to go back home, back to Godhead, return to Krishna in the spiritual world. So that is a very wonderful opportunity. Even if we are not perfect devotees still if we are chanting Hare Krishna and in in Krishna consciousness at the time of death then we will at least get a good human birth in a family of devotees or wealthy people where we will have a good chance to continue our spiritual advancement in life.
So in any case leaving an old and diseased body for a Krishna conscious person is a wonderful thing.
The illness is this material body and the only cure for the illness is to get rid of the material body and the only way to get rid of the material body is by becoming Krishna conscious. So become Krishna conscious. That will solve all problems.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Non devotees are in more need of preaching and guidance than devotees. Being Godhead, isn’t it necessary and important for God to reach out to both devotee and a non-devotee?
Parents don’t forsake spoiled children. By some means or other, they try to teach good sense even to their spoiled children. Shouldn’t Krishna also not be doing likewise ? He is our super parent so he should make sure all his children, good and the bad all imbibe the great lessons he teaches.
It feels like he was partial to good and was hating the bad. Being a loving super parent, one would not expect Krishna to have this attitude.
Please correct my faulty view on Krishna before I embark on this journey of reading Gita. Otherwise I will be like the ant who tasted even the sweetest thing as salty as it had some salt in its mouth beforehand.
Hare Krishna Vijji
Non-devotees can not understand Krishna consciousness. It is inconceivable to them. So it is pointless to try and talk to them about it. You will see that Srila Prabhupada targeted almost all his preaching to the devotees. For the non-devotees preaching is different. For the non-devotees preaching means having ecstatic kirtan parties and engaging the non-devotees in hearing and chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and filling their stomachs with sumptuous Krishna prasadam. In this way by the association of the pure devotees and hearing the chanting of the pure devotees and tasting the Krishna prasadam the non-devotees become devotees and are then able to appreciate the philosophy of Krishna consciousness.
So the non-devotees have to be first purified otherwise they can not understand Krishna consciousness. So preaching is for devotees. Not non-devotees.
Of course Krishna would like all His children to imbibe His great lessons. But you do not understand. This is the material world. We are all rebels here. We have all rejected Krishna, we don’t want to surrender to Krishna, we don’t want to serve Krishna. That is what the material world is for. It is a place for us rebels. So you have to understand Krishna has given us a little independence. Of course He would like everyone to ‘imbibe His great messages’ but He is not going to force anyone to do this. Our relationship with Krishna is one of love. So in a loving relationship there has to be some freedom. So we have the choice to serve Krishna or to reject Krishna.
Spiritual world is the place for those who have chosen to serve Krishna and here, the material world, is the place for those who have choose to reject Krishna.
So Krishna consciousness is open to everyone but it is up to the individual to accept it or reject it. Of course the devotees are preaching to everyone but not everyone will accept Krishna consciousness. Actually only a very small percentage of the people will take Krishna consciousness seriously in the material world. Because this is the world of the rebels, not the world of the devotees.
But the mercy of Lord Caitanya is so great that this morbid material world can be easily flooded by the ocean of nectar of the Sankirtan movement if we can just get a serious sankirtan party going…
So just read Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is and stop making up excuses not to read it.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
hare krishna
prabhu i want to chant mahamantra at home what are the procedure.
please help me prabhu.
just chant it…
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
That’s all. And read Prabhupada’s books. Everything you need to know is in Prabhupada’s books.
I have done many lessons with you people and NOW I AM GETTING NOTHING TO COME IN. I don’t know who to write to. I have this email and received 60 lessons or chapters or whatever you call them and for 4 weeks NOTHING IS COMING IN. I already subscribed to the newsleter twice BUT getting now duplicates as I have 2 email address.
Hare Krishna Bhaktin Marcy
Very Sorry. This is the right place to write if you want to contact me. If you have any question you can always contact me here by posting your question on some relevant article.
I will start sending more emails soon. It should be at least one a week, hopefully more than that, from now on.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I am great full to almighty Krishna as well you sir to make me understand that how should I start taking my lessons from geeta.
Also but he translations of bg r done in many languages so that everyone can read it take the benefit then how can u say that other translations r not proper…!!
Other translations are not the original. The original is in English. So of course other translations are necessary but if one wants to read Prabhupada’s original books they are in English.
Nicely explained but I have question – firstly u said that Arjun is the first student and in the latter u say that Krishna had told bg to sun god before Arjuna ….?? Also can I get these newsletters in Hindi too. Since even I share these to other people and they want it in Hindi…!!
Actually Gita is eternal. So Krishna is always teaching it to Arjuna and Krishna is always teaching it to the sungod. Krishna’s lila is called nitya-lila. It means all of Krishna’s pastimes are going on eternally. So even right now Krishna is teaching Gita to Arjuna and Krishna is teaching Gita to sun god in some other universe.
So sometimes we may say ‘first’ but really there is no beginning and no end to Krishna’s pastimes. They are going on eternally with no beginning and no end.
“…if one actually understands Gita he will want to read Bhagavatam. It is like that.” I dont know if I actually understand all of it, but that is how I feel.
And thank you for your answer.
The reply to Ananthakrishnan has answered my dilemma. After BG and Ishopanishad I came across Bhagavatam. I am learning sanskrit language only few years, but slowly getting in touch with it. It is strangely close to may native language, Slovenian and I prefer to come in direct contact with the writings. And of course I am every day more and more close to this unspeakable spirit of kindness.
But: There is Samkhya karika too and may be it would be right to study it – to balance bhakti and jnana point of wiew?
NO. Just read Srila Prabhupada’s books. And not just the Sanskrit part. You need to read Srila Prabhupada’s Bhaktivedanta Purports also. Otherwise you will just become a bookworm with no actual spiritual realization at all.
Hare Krshna Prabhu Maharaj Madhudvisa Dasa Ji, Many Thanks for newsletters and website. Found Bhagwad Gita As It Is while visiting a Friend, while searching for the book on internet, found this website. Thank you for the Service that you are doing in the Satsanga of Bhagwan. Pranams. Hara Hara!
hare krishna sir,
i found that there are actually 12 cantos in bhagavatham but this web has only 10 of them and may i ask you where are other 2
Srila Prabhupada only translated Bhagavatam up to Tenth Canto Chapter 13.
He provided us with the whole Tenth Canto in the form of Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Only a pure devotee of Krishna can translate and explain Srimad-Bhagavatam. So there is no bona-fide English translation and explaination of 11 and 12 cantos. And it is not necessary because Srila Prabhupada has put everything in his books. There are 30 volumes of Prabhupada’s Bhagavatam and I am sure you have not studied all these books. And he has given us 17 volumes of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta and I am sure you have not studied them. So just study all the books Srila Prabhupada has given us. You will find there is a lifetimes work there.
Shri Krishna …Hare Krishna Prabhu,
Very Very Thanks for your Spiritual message…
Your Sincere..Rakesh
Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
Please forgive my bad english.I have read your mail.I have the English edition of the BG which i got iskcon and i have read upto ch14.I knew about the book changes but i didnot think they would be that serious.I thought they would have made only grammatical or some minor changes.But rececently i did some research on it and found that they have made unnecessary changes.Then i downloaded the original verson of BG from your site and reading that.After i finish that i will read the SB.There are some questions i want to discuss with you.Hare Krishna.
I felt nice to read the news letter, Bhagavad Gita is a part of my spiritual life since my childhood, read couple of times, feel really happy and binded to Lord Krishna after I read at least one chapter.
I believe in Karma.
Hare Krishna,
I just got my first news letter from Sri Madhudvisa dasa ..
I consider it a blessing to have got the opporrunity to read your thoughts…abt practising krishna conciousness through real bhakti nd living nd fullifillng all worldy duties nd not to fall in to wrong misrepresentations nd guidance..
I was seeking a real master nd I am glad that I am getting some ray of hope on getting the right path towards enlightenment.
I wish to start here…nd wish to read Srila Prabhupadas books nd bhagvad geeta..
I am eagerly waiting for my next newsletter..
The wrds in the newsletters are very easy to understand nd clear..
Thanks for taking such an effort to guide the true path to thousands nd thousands who are connected to you…
You state theoretically, why is it theory only?
Lord Sri Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, at least theoretically, according to the statements of Bhagavad Gita, or the statements of Arjuna
Hare Krishna Russell
No. It is not theoretical. It is a fact. Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To understand this statement you can not just chop out a sentence like this. You have to read it in the context. Then it will be clear what it means. This section is explaining the mood one has to have when reading the Bhagavad-gita if he is to get some benefit out of it. So one has to read it in a submissive mood, not in a challenging mood. If one reads it in a challenging mood, arguing with every point Krishna makes, and thinking that he has better ideas than Krishna, then he will not get any benefit from reading Bhagavad-gita. So the best thing is to accept Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and read it in that mood. But at least one has to theoretically accept that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that His book Bhagavad-gita contains the absolute truth, and that Bhagavad-gita is an authoritative book that one can not argue with. So that is the mood one needs to read Bhagavad-gita and get some benefit from it.
Of course not everyone who reads Bhagavad-gita will be able to accept Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead before he reads the book. That is a little unreasonable. So for those people, if they want to get benefit from the book, this advice is given, that they should at least theoretically accept Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and read His book in that mood.
Hope it is a little more clear.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
“Hare krishna hare krisha,krishna krishna hare hare,hare ram hare ram ram ram hare hare”
Haribol!
First time when I whose reading Bhagavad Gita, I had no idea of the Hare Krishna movement, I bought the book on ordinary bookstore. I whose surprised over and over, with every new line. I thought: „Finally I found a philosopher with whom I totally agree!“ Afterwards I realised that the book is not by some men-philosopher, but a text spoken by God Himself ! I liked it so much ( no comments at all, only B.Gita, small format) that as soon I saw Prabhupada`s Bhagavad Gita as it is (and that whose few months later again in a book store) I could not resist to bye it on the spot. I have to admit, Srila Prabhupada`s books are THE BEST books I ever read;so rich in variety of knowledge:philosophy, religion, psychology, vedic astronomy, history beyond expectations, sociology, ethics, principles for establishing stable and long-lasting society law`s and more…
salutations Madhudvisa Dasa,
in your letter, you have described reading Gita is sufficient. But people prefer Vishnu Sahasranama more. the reason they say is, “God himself heard it with smile when Bhishma recited those verses” which i can take?? help me…
Hare Krishna Navveen
What ‘people’ say has no meaning. You have to find a bona fide spiritual master, a pure devotee of Krishna, surrender to him, hear from him, and follow his instructions. That is the process of Krishna consciousness and the only way to make spiritual advancement. Of course chanting the names of God is the way to make advancement in this age so chanting Visnu Sahasranam [1000 names of Lord Visnu] is very good. But we hear from Lord Caitanya and from all the acharyas in His disciplic succession that the only way for making spritual advancement is chanting the names of Krishna. And they have put the emphasis particularly on chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
So we need to accept the instructions of Lord Caitanya and the disciplic succession and chant Hare Krishna…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Prabhu,
Very Thanks for Spirtual msg.
How to qualified we learn are Bagavat Gita
Hare Krsna. Thank you for the first newsletter. Actually, I have been reading the Gita for two years and am a member of a Sanga too. I am now very keen to read Srimad Bhagvatam. I have the first canto and have read it. I would like to purchase the entire set it I can not see it in your store. Please can you help me? Many Thanks.
.
Srimad-Bhagavatam set is there at KrishnaStore.com:
https://krishnastore.com/srimad-bhagavatam-1977-edition-compact-30-volume-h-krishna-502.html
Thank u for your letter, explains the devine power of bhagwatgeeta, that shows correct way of living
Hare Krishna ,
Your first newsletter is very good introduction to bhagwad gita waiting eagerly for next one .
From the newsletter i had received i understood that bhagavathgita is more holier than any other holy scriptures though it is only a part of mahabharatha. One has to be a true devotee and have complete on the supreme lord ‘ krishna’ in order to understand the ultimate essence of gita.
I would like to receive the newsletters on gita and lord krishna on a daily basis. Please kindly accept
My request and send the newsletters daily
I would regularly like to receive the newsletters of bhaghavathgita and lord krishna ..please see to it that you regularly send me the newsletter. This is my kind request.
This isn’t really a comment on the Gita but the Srimad . It is in krishna .com Q and
A . ” Why is Krishna always naughty ? Shouldn’t God be good ? “. there is a quotation from the SB saying that Krishna used to break into houses and pass stool and urine
on the floor . I don’t believe it ! – is this a new correcction of the Srimad by the revisionary ISKCON . This is not mentioned in the ” Krishna ” book I noticed .
Srimad Bhagavad, 10.8. 31 .
Hare Krishna Peter
The pastimes of Krishna are not understandable by the non-devotees. So they are not supposed to be discussed by the non devotees. Krishna understanding is only possible for the devotees.
Whatever Krishna does is good. When Krishna steels butter we worship Him as the butter thief.
People who are non-devotees can not understand Krishna. But devotees know that everything Krishna does is good. But this requires advancement in Krishna consciousness. So the pastimes of Krishna are not discussed in the general public. This is particularly true for the rasa-lila pastimes which are terribly misunderstood by the non-devotees. But even Krishna’s other pastimes, they can not be understood by the non-devotees. And ISKCON’s Tenth Canto Bhagavatam after Chapter 13 has a commentary by someone who turned out to be a nondevotee. So we should not go near that. I have never read it and will never read it. The author does not understand Krishna. So how can we understand Krishna by reading his bogus commentary.
So read Prabhupada’s Krsna Book. You will understand everything about the pastimes of Krishna from that.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa Prabhu!
I got your news letter and thank you very much for sending it.
Srila Prabhupada asked his sincere followers to distribute his books and he mentioned that’s the only way to please him.
But, now that his books have been modified against his will, it seems impossible for us to please Srila Prabhupada in this way.
Please let us know where we can get Bhagavat Gita as it is in India so that Srila Prabhupada can be pleased even a little by distributing his books.
I have been reading your articles for quite sometime and you are simply repeating what Srila Prabhupada said and wrote.
May all success come to you.
Hare Krishna!
Raj
Prabhupada’s original books are back in print and available on http://www.krishnastore.com
Also even BBT in India have printed now 100,000 copies of Prabhupada’s original Gita. So you can get from BBT in India also.
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa dasa
All glories to Shrila Prabhpada
Thank you for your reply. Yesterday I took shelter. All the things you have said in your email to do. I am doing. I have read more of your posts and have gained so much from your clarity. I am blessed to be part of Krishnas family and I will follow the instructions of Shrila Prabhupada to the very best of my ability. I will try to meet you one day. Thank you
Haribol Cello
Hare krishna prabhuji….
I am Daily chanting 16 rounds. I want to know abt eating prasadam and why it is important? How is the process of offering food to lord. At my home onions and garlic are used so what can I do in such condition? ? And please let me know how one can offer food to lord at home??? Can it be done through picture of krishna, if one don’t have deity at home??
Hare Krishna Rahul
Certainly you can cook for Krishna and offer it to Krishna at home. Actually we cook for Srila Prabhupada and offer to him and he offers it to Krishna through the disciplic succession. So you can have a small alter with a picture of Srila Prabhupada, Panca-Tattva and Radha Krishna and offer to the pictures. Pictures are also another kind of deity.
You can cook some things yourself without onions and garlic and offer them to Krishna. It is not difficult. You can make kittery in one small pot with rice, dhal and some vegetables and spice it nicely and there you have everything in one pot and it takes only 30 minutes if you cook in pressure cooker.
So the idea is Krishna only accepts food cooked by His devotees so if you are the only devotee living there then if you are going to have Krishna prasadam then you have to cook for Krishna yourself.
You can not eat food cooked by non-devotees and think that you can become a devotee. It is just not possible. If we want to become devotees we have to limit ourselves to only accepting Krishna prasadam.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Parbhu ji
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Prabhu ji , so Mahatma Gandhi ji was a Mayavadi Philosopher because he had focused on indian independence movement not on Krishna’s message , In his commentary of Bhagvad Gita
?
I know ,Prabhupada Ji had sent him also a Letter(I have seen it on Prabhupada books.com )
As He was requesting to him to Preach Krishna’s message and leave politics.
Please excuse me for any mistake if I have done a mistake.
Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna Ravi
You have spoken correctly. Gandhi was a politician. He had no idea about Krishna. He even said that he did not believe that the person Krishna ever lived. He preached non-violence from the Bhagavad-gita, but in Bhagavad-gita Arjuna is trying to be non-violent but Krishna does not approve of non-violence in politics. Non-violence does not work in politics. Even Gandhi’s non-violence failed with the British. He was having his non-violent movement for 20 or 30 years and nothing happened. The British stayed. It was only when Subash Bose started the Indian Independence Army [or something like that] and the British saw that the Indian soldiers were no longer supporting them and were instead becoming inclined to fight with them the British immediately pulled out of India. That was only because of Bose’s threatening violence. It had nothing to do with Gandhi’s non-violence…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa dasa
Please accept my humble obeisance’s. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for your news letter. I have recently subscribed. I am reading Srila Prabhupadas books and I am at the beginning. There are many comments and entries to read on this page. They are all helpful. I was drawn to your post on Jan 30 2009 at 9.09 am. I was introduced to Srila Parbhupada and the teachings of lord Krishna by a sincere and honest devotee. For this I am truly blessed. I look forward to reading more news letters and more posts. I chant 16 plus rounds per day and it is the only way. Thank you.
Cello
Bhagavad-Gita, which I have realized in my inner being, is true essence of divine, absolute, and transcendental knowledge. Teachings of Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krisna, make us free from all sin. I have fallen in love of Lord Sri Krisna after reading some verses of Bhagavad Gita because His teachings are nonparallel. Glory be to Lord Narayana, Lord Sri Kirsna.
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa-dasa
1.I’m studying in a college and staying in a hostel..there is no way I can cook food..I eat only what they cook for ud so how can I offer them to Krishna? Can I? What should I do?
2.And what should I do to follow karma yoga? How do I study for Krishna? Like how can I serve him when I’m doing my studies in college?
3.And how do I look at people for Krishna? What should I think?
And what do they mean by duty? Like the daily work that a person should do? Example for me because I’m studying in college, is my duty to study and do all the necessary things in college?
4.can I have a dream, meaning like to invent or do a research or discover for something and offer the results to Krishna?
5.how to offer my daily activities to Krishna?
6.how to look at people equally?we are souls…how to look at people as souls?
Thanks for the answer you gave last time.
7.and how do I get a spiritual guru?
My age is 18 and I’m from India and I want to do everything I do for Krishna but I don’t noe how? I want to follow karma yoga. Please help me.
Hare Rama Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna Prabhu
Becoming Krishna conscious is a process and the beginning of that process is surrendering to the basic principles. We have to surrender to strictly following the four regulative principles: no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication. We have to surrender to chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day without fail. We have to surrender to reading Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day. If you actually surrender to these things and follow them strictly then you will automatically and quickly make advancement in Krishna consciousness and the answers to all your questions will be given to you by Srila Prabhupada from his books and from Krishna within your heart.
But if you are not prepared to surrender to these basic principles you will not be able to become Krishna conscious and you will not be able to make any appreciable spiritual advancement.
So just concern yourself with strictly following the four regulative principles, chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day. The rest of your life you just have to fit it around these most important things. The purpose of our life is to become Krishna conscious. If we are going to be successful in this then we have to work at becoming Krishna consciousness very seriously.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Very nice
Im in college(hostel) and what if I want to eat snacks,how can I offer them to Krishna? It’s completely vegetarian but still I feel that I shouldn’t offer them to Krishna but I feel guilty eating without offering.what should I do?
Devotee does not want to eat snacks. He is always thinking about serving Krishna. He does not think about himself. So devotee is always making arrangements to prepare snacks for the pleasure of Krishna. He wants to make something that he can offer to Krishna that Krishna will enjoy. And after Krishna has enjoyed it then he is happy to respect the Krishna prasadam, Krishna’s mercy.
You have to understand Prabhu that if you do not take this simple vow, never to eat anything that is not Krishna prasadam, it is impossible to become Krishna conscious. So you just cook some nice snacks for Krishna, offer them to Krishna, then you can respect Krishna prasadam.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa Prabhu, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. According to Scripture and as confirmed by Srila Prabhupada there are two sides way of knowledge, Gyan and Vgyan. Means theoretical and practical application. Now,according to your statement at the last paragraph that one should at least understand the Krishna theoretical, how can one be convinced to prove that practically He is the Supreme Godhead?
Hare Krishna Maharaja
Yes. There are two things: jnana and vijnana. Knowledge and practical application of the knowledge. It is the same as in science classes. We learn in theory that water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen [jnana] but we also have to be able to practically produce water by combining hydrogen and oxygen [vijnana].
The point of the last paragraph is that if one does not know Krishna in truth then he should at least theoretically accept that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and read the Bhagavad-gita in that mood and then as a result of reading Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is in that humble and submissive mood he will get more knoweldge about Krishna and if he puts that knowledge into practical application in his live then he will get the vijanan, the practical result of that knowledge. So he reads the gita and Prabhupada tells him to chant Hare Krishna. So if he does practically do this, chant Hare Krishna, then he will start to experience the vijanan.
Krishna consciousness can not be understood by knowledge only. It can only be understood by surrender and service to a pure devotee of Krishna, a bona-fide spiritual master. Actually the vijana is only possible by pleasing a pure devotee of Krishna. That is the secret.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare krishna…… prabhuji what is karma yoga according to bhagvad gita??
Karma means work. So Karma yoga means working for Krishna. So any work, even not directly connected to Krishna, if you use the fruits of that work for serving Krishna, that is karma-yoga. So if you have a job that is not directly related to serving Krishna then when you get paid if you use that money for Krishna then the work becomes karma-yoga.
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa Prabhu, Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. First of all, I hope this Bhagavad Gita as it is, is not the changed Srila Prabhupada original Gita? I want the original Book of Srila Prabhupada, not those fake once.Well, if this is the original Book of Prabhupada, can it be possible for me to get the vedabase.com? The one I was using before is from the changed Books, therefore I quit it. I will be pleased if I can get it to replace the old one.
Hare Krishna
Sara A.
Hare Krishna Sara
Yes. ISKCON sells bogus changed versions of Srila Prabhupada’s books unfortunately. You can get Srila Prabhupada’s actual original books at http://www.KrishnaStore.com Specifically you can get Srila Prabhupada’s original Bhagavad-gita As It Is at:
http://krishnastore.com/bhagavad-gita-as-it-is-with-bonus-dvd-h-krishna-407.html
You can read it online at:
http://asitis.com
and at:
http://prabhupadabooks.com
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Prabhu ji
Accept my humble obeisances
All Glories to srila prabhupada
Am very glad to be in the service of srila prabhupada and lord Krishna
now am able to chant at least 16 rounds on my beads daily basis and participating in Harinam sankeerthan programmes and conducting Nagar sankeerthans, , distributing srila prabhupadas books as much as I can.
my question is, if now I want to take initiation from srila prabhupada, from whom shall I take now. if I take it from any of these ISKON centers they Consider me as a disciple of so called self announced Gurus rather srila prabhu pada,
I’m posted a comment regarding this in another post 2 months back but I did not got any reply from you , please kindly let me know what to do.
am looking for your reply
Hare Krishna…!
Hare Krishna Prabhu
There is no valid initiation process in ISKCON and there are no bona fide gurus in ISKCON.
ISKCON does not allow regular gurus. In a regular guru disciple relationship the disciple finds a spiritual master who he things is a self realized soul and who he things has the power to take him back home back to Godhead and he surrenders to that guru and accepts the orders of that guru as his life and soul. Such a standard guru disciple relationship is prohibited in ISKCON.
In ISKCON the ‘gurus’ are not gurus at all in the true sense of the term. In ISKCON gurus are representatives of the GBC. They are not representatives of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. It is required, according to ISKCON law, that the gurus surrender to the GBC and teach the philosophy and directions of the GBC to their disciples. Not only that the gurus have no real authority over their disciples in ISKCON. The disciples have to surrender to the Temple President and the GBC and if there is any contradiction the GBC overrides the guru.
So no bona fide guru will ever agree to such a thing. A bona fide guru can not guide a disciple unless he has the authority to guide the disciple. And this authority is not given to the so-called gurus in ISKCON. So the point is there are no bona fide gurus in ISKCON so if you accept initiation from anyone in ISKCON he will be a bogus guru and will only distract you from Srila Prabhupada and Krishna and that will be bad for both you and the so-called guru.
Prabhu you should just realize that Srila Prabhupada is living in his books and recorded vani like the audio and video recordings and associate with Srila Prabhupada by reading his books and hearing his lectures and bhajans. That is perfect association with a perfect pure devotee of Krishna.
Initiation is not the fire yajna. That is just a formal ceremony, in itself the fire yajna does not do anything. The real initiation is when the disciple actually surrenders to the bona fide spiritual master and follows his instructions making his instructions his life and soul. It is at that point the initiation takes place. Mostly the so-called devotees these days never get initiated because these days almost no one actually surrenders to their ‘guru’. They just take initiation to get a spiritual name and some position and prestige in the society of devotees, but they have no intention at all of surrendering to the guru and making the orders of the guru their life and soul. They don’t surrender. And even if they do surrender their life is spoiled because the guru is bogus.
So the point is Prabhu that the fire yajna you hanker after is not important. What is important is that you surrender to and serve Srila Prabhupada according to the instructions he gives you as you read his books.
We have to know that Krishna is within our hearts. He knows what we are thinking, He knows what we need. He will arrange everything for us at the correct time. So the point is to realize that if you are already following the regulative principles and already chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day and already going out on Sankritan and distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books then YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN INITIATED. Initiation just means to start out on this process of Krishna consciousness. So you have already started it, you are already initiated. And you were initiated by Srila Prabhupada. He is the one who convinced you about these things.
So do not worry about the formal initiation. Just worry about becoming a pure devotee of Krishna. Just try and think how you can spread Krishna consciousness all over the world in the mood of Srila Prabhupada. The devotees feel that everyone is suffering simply due to a lack of Krishna consciousness. So they want to distribute Krishna consciousness to the people. So we should feel like that. And do it. Become pure devotees ourselves and distribute Krishna consciousness to others. It does not require formal initiation. It requires real initiation. It requires real surrender and real service to a real pure devotee of Krishna like His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Prabhu …
Accept my respectful obeisances
All Glories to srila prabhupada
Thank you very much prabhu for your information and suggestions. i’ll definitely and strictly follow the instructions of beloved spiritual master srila prabhupada
I have one more doubt regarding deity worship , we are having the deities Sri sri Nithai Gouranga and we are performing mangal harathi and all processes regularly.
my question is, while we are doing Nagar sankeerthans we are taking Nithai gouranga along with us for the pleasure of their lordships and for people to know about them. and doing Nagar sankeerthan which ends up in a near by temple and there lordships have a little Aarathi and we’ll come back again.
Is it Preferable to take the deities while performing Nagar sankeerthan. ?
if yes what would be the instructions to be followed while carrying the deities
Hare Krishna Prabhu
Yes. Gaura-Nitai are very merciful and They very much like the Sankritan so I am sure They will be very happy to accompany you on the Sankirtan. You just need to make some nice arrangement for them. Maybe a paliquin carried by two men. Or something practical. Krishna will give you the intelligence to arrange it and if you are not sure just keep on chanting Hare Krishna until you are sure. Krishna is in your heart, He will help, He will guide you, if you listen to Him.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krsna prabhu.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Please accept my Humble obeisances …
I am a neophyte devotee.
I am chanting 16 rounds most of the days. May i know, how important is deity worship @ home for spiritual progress ? Should all devotees have a deity of krsna @ home ? Or one has to reach certain level in the practice of Krsna Consciousness before attempting deity worship ?
Kindly clarify..
Lastly, thanks for including me in the email newsletter. It will help me in keeping my mind in the right path & with regular association / readings on prabhupada’s articles, my spiritual understanding would certainly improve over time.
Hare Krsna
Hare Krishna Sivakumar
It is very good Prabhu. So now chant 16 rounds every day and 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 a day.
As far as deity worship it is not the most important thing. The most important things are chanting at least 16 rounds a day, strictly following the four regulative principles, and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books. Then the most important things are distributing Prabhupada’s books, going on on Hari-Nama Sankirtan, and distributing Krishna Prasadam. Deity worship comes after all these things.
But Deity worship is also very important for neophyte devotees. It is the mercy of Krishna that He appears in the form of the Deity to accept our service. As neophyte devotees we can not see Krishna as Krishna is spiritual and we can not see Him with our materially contaminated eyes. But we can see Krishna, even in our neophyte state, in the temple in the form of the Deity. And we can render Him service. So in this regard Deity Worship is essential for neophyte devotees.
But the pictures of Krishna and Lord Caitanya and Srila Prabhupada are also deities. So for us neophyte devotees it is recommended that we set up an alter in our homes with the pictures of Srila Prabhupada and Panca-Tattva. And also Radha-Krishna pictures.
This is the best thing.
For the worship of actual Deities the worship has to be done regularly every day to a strict schedule. It can be simpler in the home than it is in the temple, but it must be done every day without fail. It is very offensive to invite Krishna into your house and then neglect Him by not worshiping Him properly every day.
So it is not recommended that devotees install deities in their homes unless they are very strictly following the regulative principles and chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day and that they can actually maintain the Deity worship program every day without fail. Once started the Deity Worship program must continue every day and can not be stopped. So one has to consider very, very carefully before installing Deities as to if he can actually maintain the daily deity worship program. If one can not maintain the worship he should not install the Deities.
But still we need an alter in our homes with the pictures of Srila Prabhupada, Panca-Tattva, etc.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa Dasa
I read Bhagwatgeeta in August 2011. Since then I have been chanting maha mantra and gayatri mantra. For me Krishna is everything. I meditate and chanting him every time. Basically I chant gayatri mantra on my breath rate. I am loosing my interest in my professional research work. Even I feel more enjoyment in chanting gayatri mantra and Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare. I have not at all interested in this material world. But As I have to live in this material world so I have to Continue my research work in physics.
As in Bhagwatgeeta in section of karma yoga Krishna says there is two method to achieve Krishna 1) Sankhya yog which is indirect method 2) Karma yog which is a direct method to achieve krishna
so I believe I m in sankhya yog how can I shift to karma yog.
Please help me in achieving my Krishna!!!!
We all have enough problems and in my experience i could solve all my problems almost correctly with the help of God and after solving all these I am not able to express that to others how I did all these and I am living almost a happy life with the help of god. Still I feel as an orphan sometimes. when I read your news let, I can solve some of my doubts and will read carefully them if I get e mails. And I feel happiness when I read it and it helps to me to understand more about Geetha and I am very thankful to you.
Jai Shri Krishna Madhudvisa-Dasa
Here I am new if I have made any mistake then please I am sorry. I have some questions in my mind can you please solve? The Questions are:
Q. Who Is God? Shri Krishna, Vishnu, Shiv, Brahama, Shri Ram, there are so many names. But everywhere is written the God is one. I would like to know about only God. Please solve my problem.
Q. If God is one then who are these persons. I Think these are only Great spirits whom we follow.
Q. I Think God is a creator who created Universe. Every thing in this Universe is created by God.
Q. The Brahma, Vishnu & Mahesh known as “Tridev” But my question is who created them?
Q. What is religion? Why there are so many religions? If God is one then religion should be one.
Q. Who creates the religion? God or Human? I think God cannot creates the religion.
Hare Krishna Deepak
Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Rama is also Krishna in a different form. These things are very clearly described in Srila Prabhupada’s books so why don’t you just read Srila Prabhupada’s books? That is what Prabhupada wrote his books for. To answer your questions. But you do not bother to read Prabhupada’s books. That is the problem…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I dnont hav any sort of argument with… nor with any other person… i just want a simple answer to my question…
Why onion and garlics… are not offered to god???
While god never differentiate between a gold and a stone…
I never got any satisfactory answer..
May u plzzz…
Narayan narayan
Onion are garlic are in the mode of passion. We can only offer foods in the mode of goodness to Krishna. So onions and garlic can not be offered to Krishna. Krishna consciousness means we must accept the authority of the disciplic succession. Srila Prabhupada and all the previous acharyas have instructed this, not to offer onions and garlic to Krishna, we have to follow the authorities.
Hare Krishna prabhu ji…I have made one facebook page regarding spread this most important Krishna Consciousness philosophy to everyone….so I just want to post your mails that u send me…it will really help….hari bol…
Yes. It is OK of course.
My soul from childhood loves RadhaKrishna…….and this love And respect connects me with The pure essence of GITA…..
Dear Madhudvisa-dasa, I have some questions in my mind regarding “Hare krishna sect” can you pls. answer me if u can?
Only if you ask the questions. Otherwise how can I answer them? I can not read your mind.
Hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
Hare Krishna Prabhu ji…..I have made a facebook page related to giving spiritual knowledge…..https://www.facebook.com/pages/VOICE-show-you-the-best-way-to-control-mind/1557883247820591?ref=aymt_homepage_panel….if you give your permission….I want to post your mails to me in my page….it will really help many people to become Krishna conscious….thank u
Yes. You can post the mails on your facebook page.
ITS JUST OCEAN OF INSPIRATIONS AND THOUGHTS
its a ocean of inspirations and thoughts
Lord KRISHNA’S idologies are everlasting for uplifting humanbeings from evil.
Hare Krishna I read bhagvad Gita ‘s translations but AC prabhupad swamyji is Unique and in depth I am already having Hard copy my first Quetion arise in mind 18 days and 18 chapter so either this was daily 1 or at a time All or as& when Arjun ‘s requirement?comment on this very common Q iam also reading GUJ Bhagvatam from Library taptray vinashay 1st sloka which starts from Shri Krushna
Hare Krishna Satish
Bhagavad Gita is a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna just before the start of the great battle of Kuruksettra. So it can not have taken any more than half an hour to an hour maximum.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Sir
I fully agree with your newsletter. I myself want to go deep within it but time and circumstances provide barrier.I am student at Indian Institute Of Technology Delhi. I want to carry it along with my studies , what “niyam” should I follow so that i remain in touch with it. I also made a facebook page gita consciousness to share the spirit of gita and keep myself involved but i couldnt involve much of my friends. They don’t see the practicality of bhagvad in daily lives. Thank you for keeping us motivated. Yours
Shivank Goel 🙂 🙂
hare krishna prabhu…..
I am chanting 16+ rounds from dec 2009 till date . Reading Srila Prabhupada original books . I know a little bit what is going on in iskcon after Srila Prabhupada have left his body . I was in touch with some Prabhupada ritvik initated deciples before 4 years back then due to ill plan by my father i was kept in my house forcebaly but with the time passed Krishna made all favourable arrangements at home only at the recomandation of Srila Prabhupada . I am married just three months before , and Krishna send a good girl for me who helps in morning sadhna and book reading . Prabhupada would be very glad if you like to guide me in my future life and I do not know much about you but i have heard from devotees that you are also a sincere deciple of Prabhupada …..please help me in making my life sublime and dedicated to Srila Prabhupada . You can direct me in the direction of Our spiritual master .
Hare Krishna Prabhu
There is no secret. Everything is in Srila Prabhupada’s books. Read them and follow Prabhupada’s instructions and your life will become perfect. But in the material world we have to always struggle. So better to struggle to become Krishna conscious rather than struggle to ‘enjoy’ maya, the illusion…
So do not become discouraged when you have to struggle to become Krishna conscious and do not become discouraged when maya puts big obstacles in your path. That is the way of the material world. We have to expect and not become discouraged by problems when we are trying to become Krishna conscious…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krsna Madhudvisa dasa prabhuji. Do we necessarily need to struggle in Krsna Consciousness when we develop a attraction for it. Spiritual life can be difficult at first but in the end it is nectar i have heard. And material life seems nectar in the beginning but is poison in the end.
So why are you saying and/or why do we always have to struggle or struggle at all in Krsna Consciousness if we are established in the four basic principles/instructions of surrendering to Srila Prabhupada.
Hare Krishna Mohan
Yes Prabhu. Krishna consciousness will always be a struggle in the material world. There is no way of avoiding that. But it will be a very nectarine struggle. So many examples are there of Krishna conscious persons suffering very severely. The followers of Lord Jesus Christ tried to kill him by nailing him to a cross only three years after he started preaching, Haridasa Thakura was beaten almost to death in 21 market places, even in Srila Prabhupada’s life we see from the material point of view he underwent so many material difficulties. He had three heart attacks on the boat traveling to the US and thought he would die on the journey. His health was very bad almost all the way through his preaching. He had more heart attacks and suffered from many material bodily problems. And he had many problems with his disciples. Many times they did not accept his authority and worked against him.
But Srila Prabhupada, a pure devotee of Krishna, was always transcendental to all these things, he is always seeing Krishna and always in transcendental ecstasy. But still he had to struggle in so many ways to establish Krishna consciousness all over the world.
So this material world is a place for struggling. That is the nature of the place. So we have a choice. We can struggle for maya or we can struggle for Krishna. The devotees choose to struggle for Krishna and that struggle is nectar. The karmi’s struggle is very painful. That is the difference. Struggling for Krishna is nectar…
But in the material world we always have to struggle.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krsna Madhudvisa Dasa Prabhu. I have read your mail about the introduction of Bhagavad Gita As It Is by Srila Prabhupada. I had bought Bhagavad Gita As It Is from Krishna Store.com for the original unedited 1972 Mcmillan edition last year. I have completed almost the introductory part in it. I have been informed about Krishna Consciousness from my brother-in-law about five years back. He gave me a Bhagavad Gita As It Is in Tamil Language five years back. From that time on wards I have been studying the book whenever time permits and also I am having most of the smaller editions of book by srila prabhupada and I am reading them too. But still I could not get into the chapter I since I was afraid of the book because it is a great mystery and also I fear that without the guidance of a proper spiritual master how I could be able to understand it practically. Another thing is that even though I try to control my senses I am frequently falling into the clutches of maya many times due to uncontrolled senses. I am unable to find a solution to this problem. Kindly Guide me Prabhu. All Glories to you and your god brothers who are truly preaching the message of god given by srila prabhupada and it is a great protection for you and your god brothers directly from the lord since you are able to preach and sell the original unedited versions of these timeless and valuable books by Srila Prabhupada. Because of your kindness I have got almost all the original books by srila prabhupada in Pdf version form krishna.org and krishnapath.org. All glories to You Prabhu. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Hare Krsna…
The solution to your problems is right there in Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is, yet you have had it for many years and have not finished reading the introduction. So read it. You will find all the answers there. Read it.
Prabhupada has given his Bhaktivedanta Purports with clear unambiguous explanations of all the verses so Prabhupada will guide you as you read it and make sure you understand it correctly and give you the keys to unlocking this great mystery. So just read the book…
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE,
HARE RAM HARE RAM RAM RAM HARE HARE
THANK YOU PRABHU…….PLS WRITE MORE.
How does the gita help you on everyday of life
Read it and see.
Hare Krishna Pr Ji dandvat parnam please accept my humble obeisance at your lotus feet and thanku for giving me your valuable time
Your insignificant servant
Padma Nayana Rupa Das
Hare Krishna.
Thank you prabhu,
It was really important for me.
But I am unable to understand the BG 10.8.
Here Supreme personality of Godhead says:
I am source of all spiritual and material worlds.
Everything emanates from me. The wise who
perfectly know this engage in my Devotional
Service and worship me with their all hearts.
Here I am unable to understand how to know
him.
It is impossible to understand Krishna directly. The only way you can understand Krishna is by the mercy of a pure devotee of Krishna. And you can not understand Krishna by mental speculation or intellectual endeavor. No. Understanding Krishna is only possible if we actually surrender to a pure devotee of Krishna and make his orders our life and soul. Understanding Krishna is not very easy or very cheap. We have to surrender our lives to a bona fide spiritual master and then by his mercy we can understand Krishna. That is the way. The only way.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Radhe krishna prabhuji, ,
prabhuji i some question regarding tulsi jap mala ,,
1)- when using tulsi mala for first time, do we have to
apply ghee on it or have to pour pure water ,, or simply
we can put in the lotus feet of shree krishna ?
2 ) – can i wear tulsi jap mala , and the same can i use it
for chanting also ,?
3 ) – do i have to remove tulsi jap mala before going to
washroom?
4 ) – i am following 4 regulatory principles but not able
to
quit tea , also sometime i occasionaly eats food
prepared with onion and garlics.
can i wear tulsi mala ?
radhe radhe
Hare Krishna Mahesh
1) Before using tulsi japa mala it has to be soaked. In India some do soak in ghee. Of course the temperature has to be high to do that so the ghee is liquid. It would not work if the temperature was not high. Generally we soak tulsi japa mala in mustard oil. That is very good and works very well. Generally you want to let it soak for a week at least. This soaking in mustard oil [or ghee] makes the tulsi very strong and good. If you do not soak in mustard oil the tulsi will not be strong and will crack and break. But if you soak it it becomes very, very strong.
2) Yes. If you want you can wear the tulsi japa mala but that is not what devotees generally do. Devotees generally keep their japa mala in a bead bag. So it is best always to follow the Mahajanas. Majanao yena gataha pantha… But if you really want to you can wear around your neck and chant while it is around your neck. There is nothing wrong with doing that.
3) Yes. You can not take japa mala into the bathroom. We keep our tulsi neck beads on at all times but you can not take your chanting beads into the bathroom. That is not permitted.
4) There is no question of drinking tea. That is breaking the regulative principles. We have to follow the regulative principles. There is no difficulty to give up drinking tea. That is a very easy thing if you are actually chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day. Eating food prepared with onions and garlic is not exactly breaking the regulative principles. Onions and garlic are not in the four regulative principles. But it is eating bhoga, it is eating food that is not offered to Krishna. Because obviously if someone cooks with onions and garlic they are not devotees and the food is not offerable to Krishna. So if we eat food that is not offered to Krishna then we will not be able to become devotees. So you need to adjust your life so you never eat anything at all that is not cooked by a devotee and offered to Krishna. This is very important. We can never eat anything that is not offered to Krishna. And if you follow this principle then automatically you will never eat anything with onions and garlic. Because things with onions and garlic can not be offered to Krishna.
So once you are strictly following the four regulative principles and have committed yourself to chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna maha mantra every day you can chant on tulsi beads. There is no question of not following the regulative principles. We MUST follow the regulative principles.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna hare Krishna Krishna Krishna hare hare what time is good to read Bhadvad gita in morning evening or night.
Bhagavad-gita is good to read anytime. 24 hours a day.
We want to be awake and chanting Hare Krishna and reading Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, etc, during the Brahma-muhurta. That starts 1.5 hours before sunrise. So if we are serious about spiritual life we have to get out of bed at least 1.5 hours before sunrise and be engaged in spiritual activities during these early hours of the morning. But reading Bhagavad-gita, you can do that any time.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
The essence of Gita will remain forever.
Hare Krishna,
Few days back I subscribed to your news letter beause I always tried my best to engage myself in the devotion of Lord Krishna. But, because my heart is not pure and is covered with the illusionary energy of Shri Krishna because I always kept my heart obsorbed in enjoying the illusion whether it is Television viewing at home, doing useless talks with the office colleagues etc. But agter reading your article I got inspiration to start reading Bhagvad Gita from today right now!
Hare Krishna!
Dear Parbhuji,
Glad to read about Krishna from a devotee of Lord Krishna, Hope that I will get the same in future also. I do 4 round chanting of Hare Krishna Mahamantra everyday and willing to do it atleast 8 rounds after my examination. My question is that can I chant Om namo Bhavate Vasudevay in place of Hare Krishna Mahamantra. Is there any rule for chanting Om namo bhagvate Vasudevya (i.g. can not chant in night or can not chant while wearing shoes)
Hare Krishna Manish
No. You can not chant anything instead of Hare Krishna. Chanting Hare Krishna is the way for Kali-yuga. There is nothing wrong with chanting Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudeva…. We chant that also of course. But nothing replaces chanting Hare Krishna. You have to chant at least 16 rounds [not 8 rounds…] a day of the Hare Krishna mantra EVERY DAY. Not just after your exams…
You know Krishna consciousness is a serious thing and if you don’t take it seriously you will never be able to understand it.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
16/Apr./2015.
To,
Dandawat Pranam, Madhudvisa dasa,
I have Bhagavad-gita As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhuapda, and I read it on every Ekadashi.
We arrange Satsang Sohala in our town ROHA once in a month. In the month of Margashirsha we distribute number of
Bhagavad-gita As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhuapda (Marathi Edition).
Thanks.
Hare Krishna.
Shirish Kelkar.
Swamin, i have a query, when lord says that we have to treat all as equal, one of my senior is translating it as both lies and truth are equal and everything is maya. So we can tell lie there is no wrong in it. I am not able to accept it.
Can you please clarify as to what lord meant?
Hare Krishna
People are rascals. They want to do something and they misconstrue something Krishna says and claim Krishna supports them. But it is all nonsense.
There are many points. There is a point that Krishna states in the Bhagavad-gita that in every activity there is some imperfection so just because there is some imperfection in our duty that does not mean we should give up our duty. And Srila Prabhupada gives as an example in this regard that sometimes a businessman can not be always strictly honest, but even though there is this imperfection in his duty he should not give up his duty.
So that principle is there. That if there is some imperfection in our duty it does not mean that we have to give up our duty.
But it does not mean that there is nothing wrong in it. It is accepted that it is wrong, but without this some businessman would not be able to do his business. So this wrong thing does not mean that he has to give up his duty.
But the place where Krishna says we should see everyone equal is there also. The dog, the cow, the elephant, the sage, the self-realized soul sees them all equal. He has equal vision. He sees the same soul within the hearts of everyone.
So there are many points and you really need to read the Bhagavad-gita yourself and get a clear understanding of what Krishna is saying in regard to this and other subjects.
But we can not take seriously any unauthorized person who is just trying to support his own ideas by misquoting Krishna.
The solution is that you get a very through understanding of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is yourself. Then you will be able to defeat any rascal and establish the correct conclusion.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I am reading Hindi version of Bhagwad Gita since the age of 20. I still find it mysterious as I have not experienced Krishna yet.
These days I daily read a chapter of Gita.
I am desperate to see HIM, talk to HIM, Huge HIM. How can I find HIM?
Knowingly and unknowingly I have committed many sins since my childhood. I couldn’t take care of my parents. I could not earn much for my family as I have limited needs and wished the same from my.family members. Now no body is with me although I have a family with two kids.
I know no body can always be yours except KRISHNA. I try to make myself understand the same but still I feel sad.
I do not wish remember myself. I want to mix myself completely with KRISHNA.
I wish to always serve HIM.
Please guide me.
Regards
Dinesh Kumar Singhal
Hare Krishna Dinesh
You have accepted the impersonal Mayavadi conception of the absolute that has currently drowned India and the whole world. So you will be unable to experience Krishna in your current state of mind. You say you want to “mix yourself completely with Krishna” in one place and in another place you say you want to serve Krishna, you want to see Him, talk to Him. So this is impossible. You can not mix yourself with Krishna and see Krishna, serve Krishna, talk to Krishna. If you merge with Krishna, mix with Krishna, then there is no question of seeing Krishna, serving Krishna, talking to Krishna.
This mixing with Krishna is spiritual suicide. And no devotee wants this.
So the problem is you have been totally contaminated by the “Hindu Hodgepodge”, the bogus thing that is today going on as Hinduism. So if you want to make spiritual advancement you have to break away from this Hinduism.
You need to hear the actual pure philosophy of Krishna consciousness from Srila Prabhupada. You can obviously read English so you should not read the Hindi Gita. Srila Prabhupada wrote his books in English. So you need to get Srila Prabhupada’s original books in English and read them. That will help you a lot.
The translations of Srila Prabhupada’s books are not perfect. So you will not get anywhere near as much benefit from reading Srila Prabhupada’s gita translated into Hindi as you will get by reading Srila Prabhupada’s original Gita in English. So these translations of Prabhupada’s books are only for the people who can’t read English. If you are can read English then read Srila Prabhupada’s original books in English.
You can get them at http://www.KrishnaStore.com and read them online at http://www.PrabhupadaBooks.com
This will help you, this will clear up your mind and remove the contradictions, this is the solution to your problems. Of course it is not just reading. We also have to follow the instructions we find Srila Prabhupada giving us as we read his books and implement these instructions from Srila Prabhupada in our day-to-day lives. Then it will be very successful. Then we will make rapid spiritual advancement.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Respected sir,
I am very happy with this newsletter. my question is shall i get this same newsletter in Marathi Language
Regards
Megha
No. Only in English.
Plz tell me what was written about prophet muhammad in veda i want to know the correct sentence in ckear words
There is NOTHING written about the prophet Mohammed in the Vedas. Why would there be? The Vedas were written down 5000 years ago and before that have existed since the beginning of time. The Vedas are eternal changeless knowledge. So they do not mention these temporary religious systems that come and go.
But whatever the Prophet Mohammad preached that is transcendental, spiritual knowledge, you will find it in the Vedas along with much more detail than what Mohammad was able to communicate to the savages in the desert he was preaching to.
We accept both the Prophet Mohammad and Lord Jesus Christ as empowered incarnations of Krishna. But they are limited as to how much transcendental knowledge they can actually explain to the people they are speaking to. The people Mohammad and Jesus were preaching to were very materialistic and they gave as much knowledge as the people they were preaching to could bear. Even in the case of Jesus he was only able to preach for three years before the people who he was preaching to murdered him.
So it is very difficult. Jesus said “There are so many things I have not yet told you but I can not because you could not bear it…” So that is the way. Both Lord Jesus Christ and the Prophet Mohammad were empowered incarnations of Krishna and they were explaining the Vedic knowledge as best they could to the materialistic people they were trying to preach to. This is the way. Krishna appears and sends His representatives time and time again whenever there is some disturbance in the practice of the religious principles to reestablish them. So this is what Mohammad and Jesus did, they reestablished the religious principles in the countries they appeared in. They were both preaching the same thing, the same Vedas, there is no difference in the message of Christianity and the message of Islam as they are both actually preaching the message of Krishna from the Vedas. It is the followers that misunderstand and create a sectarian religious system and who fight with others whom they perceive to be following a different religious system. But that is no different religious system. Religion is one. It is the science of how to know and love and serve God.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Can anyone tell me what was written in veda about islam i want to know the correct sentence
There is nothing written in the Vedas about Islam. Islam is a new thing. The Vedas were written down more than five thousand years ago and they have existed in aural tradition since the beginning of time. So there is no mention of this recent thing called Islam.
There are many temporary religious systems established at a certain point of time for a certain group of people to help them evolve spiritually and Islam is one of these temporary religious processes.
All spiritual knowledge is present in the Vedas in an eternal, timeless and unchanging way. So if you simply read the Bhagavad-gita, the Srimad-Bhavavatam, etc, and put the teachings into practice in your life you will receive all the spiritual benefits and knowledge you can get from every religious system and much more.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare krishna guruji,
Iam so interested to practice krishna consciousness but there is no iskcon temple nearest to my area. So i want any one guidance in online and i want to mingle with devotees to share my experiences. How to practice krishna consciousness even i do not go to temple. I WANT KNOW MORE ABOUT KRISHNA.
Read Prabhupada’s books. You can purchase at http://www.KrishnaStore.com and read online at http://www.PrabhupadaBooks.com
And stay away from ISKCON. You are very fortunate there is no ISKCON temple nearby. It is poison. Mostly these days in Kali-yuga every temple, church, guru, priest, etc, they are all demons, all poisoned, all materialistic.
You will not find Krishna consciousness in the ISKCON temples. You will find Krishna consciousness directly from Srila Prabhupada by reading his books. That is the way.
There is no excuse for not knowing more about Krishna. Srila Prabhupada has given us almost 100 books about Krishna, he has given us well over 1000 hours of audio recordings, many hours of video recordings, thousands of letters, hundreds of conversations, morning walks, press conferences, etc.
Prabhupada has given us so much, everything about Krishna, but you are writing “I want to know more about Krishna.”
So I say “WHY DON’T YOU READ SRILA PRABHUPADA’S BOOKS!!!!!”
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Who are demigods?
Why are they called so?
Demigods means a man who has some powerful godly qualities. So they are not god, they are men, but they have been elevated and got some opulence and power in the universal management. They are servants of Krishna, they are ordinary living entities like us, but due to their pious activities and austerities they have been promoted to the heavenly planets and have been given some power from Krishna to manage certain affairs in the material world.
So they are ordinary men ultimately and it is foolish to worship ordinary men. It is intelligent to worship Krishna the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare krishna guruji,
after i read the introduction part of bhagavadgita i have a following query that is: 1) THE LORD SAYS VERY LOUDLY IN THE LAST PORTION OF BHAGAVADGITA (18.66) “ABANDON ALL VARIETIES OF RELIGION JUST SURRENDER UNTO ME.I SHALL DELIVER YOU FROM ALL SINFUL REACTIONS.DO NOT FEAR”.
2) In this case if some one do sinful things like harrassment, fraud, theft, sabotage of property after that he surrendered to god god will relieve him from all these sinful reactions? this is only my doubt after read introduction part of bhagavadgita.
3) Requesting your views
Hare krishna
Yes of course. If one gives up all sinful activities and surrenders to Krishna will relieve him of all the sinful reactions. But he has to stop the sinful things. And he has to surrender.
Hare Krishna Prabhu.
I did have problem with my old computer and lose your web page…
i’am very glad to have the Page,now.
my Spanish name is Sebastian.
thank you.
your humble servant
Swarupa damodara das.(in Victoria,bc Canada)
So if one has to “at least theoretically accept Sri Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and be submissive”, can one substitute Jesus Christ for Sri Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead?
Hare Krishna Naresh
No. Jesus is not the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Jesus Christ himself identifies himself as the son of God, or the son of Krishna. So Krishna is the father of Jesus. And that is clearly there in his name. The system of names is first one mentions the person’s personal name then one mentions his fathers name. So Jesus is his personal name and Christ is his father’s name. “Christ” is the English version of the Greek “Krstos” and in India you may know another way of saying Krishna is Krsta. So this “Christ” is actually a mispronounced version of “Krishna.” So “Jesus Christ” really means “Jesus, son of Krishna”.
You can not substitute anyone for Krishna. Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Of course people refer to Krishna using different names but the person, God, is one, and the most perfect name of God is Krishna.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Dear Madhudvisa Dasa, Please accept my obeisances, AGTSP.
I do like your preaching spirit, keep up the good work.
Actually my reason for signing up for your news letter, was , that I am interested in as much info as i can get about, book changes, guruships, and the events surrounding Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance.
I am just getting up to speed regarding these topics.
Om Tat Sat, Your servant, Bala Bala D. Dasa
Hare Krishna!
I apologize if this has already been asked.
You mention in your letter that Krishna tells Arjuna that the Gita was originally spoken to Vivasvan, who passed it along, but the knowledge had been lost, and so he was giving the knowledge to Arjuna so that it could again benefit mankind.
However, in the introduction to BGAII, the discipline succesion is listed as beginning with Brahma, and neither Vivasvan not Arjuna is listed.
Can you please explain this seeming contradiction?
I have begun re-reading BGAII, I last read it over 20 years ago. I am reading 50 pages a day, and will surely have a great number of questions over the next couple weeks. I thank you in advance with your patience with my ignorance.
_/_
CD
Why do I never see or hear anything about Lord Krishna being incarnated on planet earth at this time? Is it supposed to be a secret?
Lord Krishna is incarnated personally on this planet in the form of His holy names.
If you chant:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
When your consciousness is purified you will be able to see Lord Krishna.
Please explain me the meaning in text 40, page 60.
It states
“women are generally not very intelligent and therefore not trustworthy ”
And since we say lord krishna refers to Body form of Sri krishna and we shall look for Goloka which is highest planet and where supreme power is not a body material than why we are referring lord krishna as a god and not as a lord.
My comment might get ambiguity, but it the darkness of little knowledge, doubts are bound to come and clearing them will only show the enlighten path.
It is very clear: “women are generally not very intelligent and therefore not trustworthy”. What don’t you understand about this? It is very clear.
I really do not understand what you are asking in the second part of your comment. We refer to Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead which is the way Srila Prabhupada translates the Sanskrit word “bhagavan” as it appears in Bhagavad-gita.
The idea is there are many ‘Personalities of Godhead’. The Godhead is one but He has many personalities. Like Lord Rama, Lord Nrsimha, etc, but among all the Personalities of Godhead, Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
That very passage about how unintelligent and trustworthy women are was very disturbing to me.
Hare Krishna Sumati
We have to get off the bodily concept of life. We are not men and women. We are spirit souls trapped in material bodies. The reality is men’s bodies and woman’s bodies are different and men and women need to be engaged in their respective duties in the material world otherwise the whole social system is destroyed as we see at the present time.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Respected devotees of krishna,
I am great full towards you. Life is nothing, it is given by god and will take away by him, Lets communicate our knowledge using available medium.
In which stanza of Gita, Guru is must to be devotees. A small part of god is inside us. If we clean the dust cover ov mirror we can see our face, similarly if we can stop our desires god will appear and be active in our body.It is quite difficult to find siddha guru and a place where god is available shortly.
I used to read Gita more. I think it gives deep knowledge. Since my childhood I used to think there must be some superpower to handle us. Its true that we can not face god with small effort because we can not see even state and government head with small effort. Only few Yogis can face god. I am only simple person in this life. I want to improve me in next life. Without efforts of previous life we can not be attracted to the spritual work. We are surrounding by materialistic world. It is difficult to trust that we can survive without worldy things, Since we have fear of death even its with us since our birth and will take away in any time..
I am requesting you for your important articles regularly, Thanks god and you and all devotees.
hi, i am a student pursuing C.A.. i am now free after my exams in November. i want to read & learn geeta and have my own bhagwad geeta now.. but i need to know at what time in a day i could read geeta, some says wake up at 5 am and read a full chapter in one sit. other says try to read one chapter in a day before sun sets… please guide me in making my routine to read & learn geeta.
Hare Krishna Sahil
Best routine is to get out of bed early in the morning. The Brahma-muhurta is the most auspicious time of the day and the best time for spiritual practices. Of course it is good any time, but this early morning time is specially good. So we get out of bed before 4:00 AM and have Mangal-Aroti and Kirtan at 4:30 AM and then from 5:00 we chant japa [the Hare Krishna maha mantra on our japa beads] So after this, Mangal-aroti, Kirtan, Japa, then read Bhagavad-gita. It is up to you. One chapter a day is very nice. But you should chant the Sanskrit verse, then the English translation and then Srila Prabhupada’s Bhaktivedanta Purport. So all this will take a while to read a whole chapter. So I think you could read for one hour, whatever you can read in that time.
That would be a nice routine. But of course you can adjust according to your needs. But the most important thing is to set up a regular routine and follow it strictly every day without fail. That will be very good for your determination and self-control also.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Prabhu
All the Glories to Srila Prabhupada
My question is what is the importance of Karma in our life. and how to come out from all those Karmas .
Krishna is ultimate destiny of every one , I will accept it , but my Question is weather it has any effect if we get married .
what is the best way to Pray our supreme lord
Hare Krishna Sumith
Karma means work and every time we work there is a reaction created for that work that we have to enjoy or suffer in the future. So what we think of as the meaning of karma is the reaction, the good karma that we get from performing pious activities and the bad karma we get from performing sinful activities.
But karma, good or bad, is material and both good and bad karma bind us to the material world. If we do some pious activity like feeding the hungry people, etc, then those hungry people have a debt to repay to us. That means they will be forced to take birth again in the material world and they will be forced to repay their debt to us and we will also be forced to take birth in the material world again and we will be force to accept the repayment of the debt from them.
So you see even “good” karma is bad because it is material and it forces us to again take birth in the material world. So a devotee lives in such a way that he never performs any work that causes any reaction good or bad. So how can you do this? The way it is done is a devotee performs all his actions in the service of and for the pleasure of Krishna. When we do things for Krishna that is completely spiritual and has no material reaction. So this always acting in Krishna consciousness is the real inactivity.
Of course a devotee is not inactive. He is very busy serving Krishna. But because serving Krishna generates no material reactions he actually achieves the platform of niskarma, no karma. It is like he is doing no work at all from the material point of view because there is no material reaction. But he is of course working for Krishna.
So it is a great science fully explained in Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Please read it.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hi,
I just brought bhagavad Gita and started reading..
But as I started reading I had questions but it was written one shd accept each word as it is.. Because they are words from God (not the body form of krishna Thou).
I has been written on Page 33 that one should read without motivational interpretations. Plz explain Because being a beginner I had to interprete myslef,it’s written one shd listen Gita from one who has Knowledge but I want to read.
These r questions relating to Gita Thou spiritual ambiguity may follow later.
I want email id where I can post my questions because its difficult to get on website.Pl help.
Just read Bhagavad-gita As It Is in a submissive mood, at least theoretically accepting the Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Hear it. Do not fight with the ideas. Just hear them and accept that these are the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and have great value. Not that you will be able to understand all of it, or even very much of it at all, on the first reading. But you have to start somewhere. But do not expect that you will understand everything instantly. It takes service and surrender.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hi, I am quite keen to know about Bhagavad Gita. Is it ok to have a Bhagavad Gita book at home. If I have purchase one book of Bhagavad Gita , What must I do?
Must I read it everyday with out fail or can randomly read it, because I am a lady, At time I can’t do pools at certain period of time. So i am really confused, to have one or not to have one.
Please, Kindly post the answers to my email. I have been receiving your newsletters but there isn’t any reply for my questions.
I am grateful and thankful if you can help me to answer about tulles plant.
1) Do I have to bathe hair everyday to water the tulasi plant, or just bathe body and water the plant ?
2) Do I need to light up a small ghee villaku everyday or just light up on tuesday and friday.
3) I am living in a flat, my tulasi plant is in a pot, I can’t go around the tulasi , Is it ok if i say read tulasi Mantra Infront of the plant.?
If ,I want to purchase Bhagavad Gita book, can I get it from you. I want a simple book where can understand easily and explain that to my children. How much is it.?
Thank you for taking your busy time to answer my question. God Bless you.
Thanks & Regards
Mages Singapore.
Yes. Of course you should get Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is and read it. You can get it here:
http://krishnastore.com/bhagavad-gita-as-it-is-with-bonus-dvd-h-krishna-407.html
Hi, I am.newly planting a tulasi.plant. can you please explain what should I follow so that my tulasi plant will grow well.I am living in a flat.So.I only plant it in a big pot,and put it outside at my corridor.can I put a wired fence around tulasi plant,so that when ppl walk pass they don’t touch the tulasi plant. I am from Singapore my neighbours are Chinese.So I need to protect my tulasi plant.
What should I do if young gals are not clean and how should I protect my tulasi plant.
I am grateful and thankful for reading my email and replying using your precious time .
Thanks
Mages
Hare Krishna Mages
I am not an expert on growing Tulsi plants so I really can not give much practical advice.
I do not think you need a very huge pot for a small plant. You can move to a bigger pot as Srimati Tulsi Devi grows. Yes. You can put some wire fence around to protect. Tulsi needs some sun.
Some hints from someone more experienced than me:
Growing Tulasi From Seed
To grow Tulasi from seed can be very rewarding. It is said that Tulasi will grow where there is devotion. However, the most common problem I hear from devotees of Srimati Tulasi devi is, “Why will Tulasi devi not come to me?” – “What am I doing wrong?” – “Is it me?” – “Am I just not devotional enough?” – and so it goes! If you have the same anxieties, then lets stop for a moment and consider just how merciful Tulasi is and from this state of grace how we can receive new insights. Instead of confusion, let’s look at some of the practical sides as to why it can be difficult to grow her from seed.
Tulasi seeds will germinate quite nicely if they have been stored in an air tight container and kept in a cool dry place. The life expectancy of seeds can vary depending on how they are stored. I have successfully grown seeds over four years old. Seeds will deteriorate if left out in the open or in a greenhouse as they would be subjected to both unfavourable temperature and humidity levels. Other factors are due to seeds becoming damaged in transit – sown too deeply, imbalance in moisture, light or heat or the wrong choice of soil.
If the seed is good and the correct growing conditions are established, add a dash of love and Tulasi will flourish. Ask yourself these questions when sowing seeds do you have enough space, height/width for Tulasi to grow on to a mature plant? Will she receive enough sunlight and humidity? For home worship it is best to sow only one or two, unless you have adequate space to grow her.
Development Of A Manjari From Flower To Seed
A Tulasi manjari first starts to develop from a small bud with two small leaves, one either side of the bud. Once this bud starts to grow up into a point of about 2cm the individual clusters, or whorls which will develop from buds into sets of six flowers, can be seen more clearly as the manjari grows. As Tulasi devi’s flowers contain both male and female parts, she does not need a pollinator as they self-fertilise. Once the flowers have reached full bloom the petals fall away leaving a green coloured pod called a calyx. This pod will eventually swell slightly and become harder. It is at this time that the ovary inside the flower pod is developing into four tiny yellow nutlets, which will in time mature into brown seeds.
If you wish to collect seeds, wait for the whole process to complete before taking the manjari off the Tulasi. If you look down into the pod (calyx) and observe you will see the tiny yellow nutlets. Allow them to turn brown. If the manjari is taken off before the process is complete, it will not have had time to ripen the seeds to full maturity. When it’s time, carefully take the manjari off and store whole in an air-tight container in a cool dark place.
Soil
There are many brands and soil types available on the market today. For healthy plants it is important to have the correct pH level. The pH levels in soil range from pH7 which indicates “Neutral”. Above pH7 level indicates “Alkaline” (sweet). Below pH7 indicates “Acid” (sour). As Tulasi is related to the basil family, her requirements are for pH5.5 – 6.5.
The best soil recommended for growing Tulasi on the commercial market in England has the brand name “J. Arthur Bower’s John Innes No 2 Compost”, which is sterilized, has good drainage, a good pH level and is also completely free of animal by-products. Tulasi will grow strong and healthy and also grows from seed in this brand type.
Soils to avoid are those which contain sawmill by-products (poor drainage), sludge (a by-product of sewage treatment) and any which contain bone-meal, fish blood and bone or hoof and horn. Soil straight from the garden may contain disease spreading organisms.
For those who wish to make their own soil:
2 parts potting soil
1 part compost
1 part mason’s sand – to improve drainage
1 tablespoon of pulverized phosphate rock
1 tablespoon of potash
Mix all ingredients well
Planting The Seed
Always use clean containers as there is no point in using sterilized soil if it is going to be put into a container which isn’t itself free of possible sources of plant disease. A small propagator is really worth the money as they come with their own lids and air ventilators.
Whether using a propagator, seed tray, plastic bag or peat moss cups (which have been soaked first in water) place in seed compost and press down gently to firm in. Water the soil using a watering can with a fine rose cap and leave to drain through. Soil needs to be moist but not soggy. Next place the seed on top of the soil and cover lightly with very fine soil which has been passed through a sieve. The seed needs to be just barely covered so that it does not get lost under too much soil. Using a very fine mist spray, gently spray the top soil once or twice. Then, if using a seed tray or peat pots cover with glass or clean polythene bag. Place in a warm position with some sunlight; avoid really strong sun as it could burn the germinating seedlings. Wipe condensation from the underside of the glass daily and leave a small gap for air to circulate.
Once germination has taken place, which can take as little as 4-5 days or as long as 3-4 weeks depending on time of year sown, remove the glass or bag and place the Tulasi in a warm position where she will receive gentle sun. Once Tulasi has grown three sets of leaves, she will be strong enough to transplant on to her own little terracotta pot. (See illustration on page 11)
To Prune Or Not To Prune
When growing any shrub, bush or small tree, it is common practice to cut them back for a number of reasons. These can range from strengthening or thickening them out, or if overgrown, to reduce height and width. In cases of disease, cut down the foliage almost completely. In ornamental gardening the natural shape and beauty of the bush, hedge, or tree is lost altogether to make way for whatever design suits the fashion of the day. However, when growing Srimati Tulasi devi this practice is not used.
Once the Tulasi has germinated, she will continue to grow in an upward direction developing two new sets of leaves every 2cm or so, until she forms her first manjari. As this upward motion is continuing, smaller buds will develop at the stem next to the two sets of leaves which will form side branches. On removal of this first manjari the side shoots down the main stem, and also at the top of the stem, will develop into the new branches. This can make the main base stem quite tall, resulting in further growth of the top side shoots. If she receives the right growing conditions and providing there’s no problems with disease or pests, the end result will be a beautiful tall Tulasi tree, with a life expectancy between five to fifteen years. This is why it is important to plan ahead.
Do you have a big enough space to support this growth? If not but you still wish to grow her, then perhaps consider whether you have enough width for a low bushy Tulasi.
The only form of shaping which is allowed on Tulasi devi, without causing any offence, is to pinch out the apical growing point at the top of the stem. This will reduce her growth upwards. The small shoots at the side of the stem will grow into two separate branches. Once these branches have produced 3 or 4 sets of leaves, you can pinch out the apical growing points again and this will result in two more branches. Tulasi devi will then grow to become quite bushy. Tulasis which are very tall with a single stem measuring two or three feet in height, with foliage at the top, can be the results of not pinching out the apical growing point at the beginning stages.
If the Tulasi shows signs of disease on one side of the branch and the wood is dead, as in “Die-back”, then it is appropriate to remove the affected branch to save the rest of the foliage. (Die-back is the result of disease in the root system, which causes the leaves to suddenly go limp and wilt, starting from the top of the foliage and working its way down the branch).
Hare Krishna prabhu
am the STUDENT OF FOLK BOYS HOSTEL which is maintained by ISKON Hyderabad
am very glad to receive from you valuable messages and speeches of Prabhu padh and Lord Krishna
my question is what is the reason for our problems in life and mere reading of Geetha is enough to resolve all of them .
Hare Krishna Gaddam
The reason for our problems in life is that we are in the material world and this material world is a place for problems only.
There is another world, the spiritual world, the Kingdom of God, Krishnaloka. In that place there are no problems. That is our actual home, the spiritual world is where we belong, there we will be happy. But in the spiritual world there is only one business, that is serving Krishna in love. So we have a little independence. So if we misuse our little independence and instead of serving Krishna we want to become like Krishna ourselves, then that is not possible actually, we are eternally servants of Krishna. But is is Krishna’s great mercy that he has created this material world so we can come here and try to enjoy separately from serving Krishna.
But here in the material world we are not in our natural position. Here everyone is fighting to become the center of attention. Everyone wants to be the master and no one wants to serve. So this material world is a hellish place where everyone is fighting with everyone else, everyone trying to be the boss. Hell.
So that is the way of the material world and we have to expect that.
The only solution to these problems is to become Krishna conscious. And that requires not only reading Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is, but actually practicing the teachings of Lord Krishna in our life. Bhagavad-gita is a practical instruction book. We have to read it and then follow the instructions in our life. So this reading of Bhagavad-gita As It is and actually following the instructions we read is enough to resolve all the problems.
A devotee resolves all the problems of the material world by transcending the material world. By realizing that he is not this material body, he is a spirit soul, and his business is only to engage in the service of Krishna. So by this surrender to Krishna and service to Krishna he is no longer in the material world, he is in the spiritual world.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Prabhuji.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
Thank you very much for your great guidance.
Prabhuji, can I chant Hare Krishna in afternoon?
Hare Krishna Vivek
Yes. Certainly. You can chant Hare Krishna in the afternoon. There are no rules and regulations about the time we chant Hare Krishna. We should be chanting Hare Krishna 24 hours a day, so that certainly includes the afternoon.
Of course the Brahma-muhurta [starting 1.5 hours before] sunrise is a very auspicious time and we should make the effort and get out of bed before 4:00 AM and be offering Mangal Aroti and chanting Hare Krishna at this time for there is increased spiritual potency at this time early in the morning. But we can continue chanting Hare Krishna all day and all night. We should never stop chanting Hare Krishna.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Haribol Madhdvisa-dasa prabhu.
Thank you for sending me your Spirit of B.G.
I agree fully with this article, but I think next section might be edited for more clearety:
Therefore Bhagavad Gita should be taken up in a spirit of devotion. One should not think that he is equal to Krishna, nor should he think that Krishna is an ordinary personality or even a very great personality. Lord Sri Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, at least theoretically, according to the statements of Bhagavad Gita, or the statements of Arjuna, the person who is trying to understand the Bhagavad Gita.
Therefore Bhagavad Gita should be taken up in a spirit of devotion. One should not think that he is equal to Krishna, nor should he think that Krishna is an ordinary personality or even a very great personality. Lord Sri Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead according to the statements of Bhagavad Gita, or the statements of Arjuna; this should be the premisse of the person who is trying to understand the Bhagavad Gita.
bhakta Robert.
Hare Krishna prabhu ji
I have gone through your first newsletter. Thanking for sharing.
I have no doubts and I just want to say that I love to receive more and more newsletter about Lord Krishna and I love to read it.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare
Your Servant
Rahul
Dear. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhuapda. i so much appreciate the good work you have been doing. you have imparted great wisdom today in the world true your divine writing , i can see krishna in you, the knowledge that you have imparted today will continue to as time goes on. krish is truly Lord, their is always additional blessing any time i chant the holy of krishna. some time i see him in my dreams after chating .
thank you for Bhagavad Gita As It Is
ugoman.
dear madhudvisa,
1. I have a general query that i request if you can answer me, I have read bhagwad gita as it is and i have full faith on it. i want to ask you that why we are separated from god ,super soul. was it our desire to get separated or it was his wish to separate us from him.
2. secondly , if i as atma dont do anything then who does it . lord krishna says he does not do anything and he is only enjoyer and all the work is done by the three modes of material nature controlled by him. further, if we are under the infulence of three mode of material nature controlled by the lord krishna ,how can we go on wrong path .
3. finally is worshipping of lord krishna is mode of godness ,if it is then we are still in material bondage and how can we get out from it.
4. it is my humble request that pl dont take theses questions as any challenge to bhagwad gita but tehse are the queries that are generated from my heart and i love to hear from you.
Hare Krishna Vikas
We are not actually separated from Krishna. We are always with Krishna. But here in this material world maya creates the illusion that we are separated from Krishna. It was our desire to be separated from Krishna. Our eternal nature is to serve. We are constitutionally servants of Krishna. But if we choose not to serve Krishna, then that is really not possible, because we are servants of Krishna. But it is Krishna’s great mercy upon us that He creates this material world where we, the rebellious living entities who do not want to serve Him, can come and under the influence of maha-maya think that we are independent of Krishna.
So the illusion that we are under in this material world of being separated from Krishna is caused by us misusing our independence. We have a little independence. And if we misuse that independence then we come to this material world.
Your second question is totally illogical. You have no idea what you are asking. You are making grand statements that you understand the Bhagavad-gita but you are not giving any verses to support your statements. You are stating your own ideas and claiming that “Krishna said it.” You are completely confused and at the same time presenting things as if you know what Krishna says. So you should understand if you are confused you do not know what Krishna has said and you need to read Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is again with an open mind this time and not with your preconceived conceptions.
And without chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day and strictly following the four regulative principles [no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication] then you will not be able to understand the Bhagavad-gita.
From your third question I can see you have never read any of Srila Prabhupada’s books at all and you are in total ignorance as to what Krishna consciousness is. Worshiping Lord Krishna is NOT in the mode of goodness. Krishna is transcendental to the modes of material nature. Krishna has nothing to do with goodness, passion or ignorance. And worshiping Krishna has nothing to do with the modes of material nature. Krishna consciousness is suddha-sattva. Completely transcendental to the mode of goodness.
So you have to admit you have never read Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is, you have no idea about what Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita. Now you need to become a little humble and actually read what Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita As It Is instead of listening to the questions ‘generated by your heart’. That is not the process. You have to hear submissively from Krishna and the pure devotees of Krishna…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Nimai! Nitai! Hare Krsna!
Prabhuji –
Thank you for all you work. I am having trouble leaving a comment. It may be this Android.
Forgive me for trying again on his thread. Do you per chance happen to know of a way to obtain an original 17vol CC set? Much obliged!
All Glory to Sri Guru and Gauranga!
Jaya Jaganath!
K
It is not available at the moment but may be available early next year. Keep an eye on KrishnaStore.com
It will be there when and if it is available.
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa, prabhuji
please explain difference between spiritual world and material world
i am a new devotee and don’t know any thing so please … help me to get the right direction please open my eyes by your”s spiritual words .
hare krishna
If you don’t know anything then please read Srila Prabhupada’s books. That is where you will learn everything. That is the point. READ PRABHUPADA’s books… Everything is there. What do you expect me to do? You have to do something yourself. You have to read something at least.
hare krishna to all of you
so nicely explained
Prabhu… a year back i was just like any other girl who worshipped all the demigods and krishna togerther without knowing anything about the supreme power… and one day i was just thnkng about it..about wat is god who is god etc.. and i saw krishna through some of my relatives. They taught me about krishna .. about the material and spiritual world n evrythng..they gav me the bhagavad geeta as it is n asked me to read… this incident was really a surprse for me as i never tld them about this.. it was as if they read my mind.. and now i truly believe it was krishna who made me understnd through them.. and now i have read d geeta which they gave me..n i chant hare krishna 4rounds daily…n i c krishna in evrythng..i feel his presence around me.. i tried explaining this to my friends i tried to mke them understnd.. n the saddest part is that they r laughing on me..they jz thnk its funny n keeps questioning me… i have something to ask..this was the que asked by one of my friend….she said that she knows a person who doesnt believe in god at all..nvr goes to temple..a real atheist..but he is such a good soul that he lives for others.he helps the poor builds houses for them treats people free etc etc.. where does these people go??? Do they get liberated or do they take birth again????
1 more que i have to ask is about ekadashi vrat… its said if we take 1 ekadashi all our sins will be washed away..is it true??? But what if the person has conmitted crimes like kiling a child or a woman etc..n then if he takes d vrat will these sins be cleared????
I have even more doubts prabhu.. kindly give me answers to these..
Hare Krishna Krishna
A ‘good’ atheist who performs pious activities does not get liberated. An atheist does not want to get liberated. He does not believe in God or have any spiritual conception at all. So he does not believe in liberation. For the atheist this life is all that he believes in. He does not care or believe in life after death.
Of course what the atheist believes does not make any difference in the laws of nature which are the laws of Krishna. And the three modes of material nature are working and will award the results of one’s work, karma. So if one does good work he will get good results, if he does bad work he will get bad results. But this is all within the material world. There is no question of liberation for someone who is an atheist.
As far as the promises for observing ekadashi vrata this is not the mood of a devotee. A devotee does not follow the Vedic injunctions or serve Krishna because he wants to be free from sins or get some personal benefit. A devotee serves Krishna for Krishna’s benefit. He wants to please Krishna and Krishna’s pure devotees. That’s all. It may be that sins are washed away but unless there is some practical engagement in Krishna consciousness, devotional service, then the person will just start sinning again. So we do not follow the ekadasi because our sins will be washed away. We follow it because Srila Prabhupada and the other acharayas in the disciplic succession and Lord Caitanya tell us to follow it. We follow it because it is a very favorable day to increase our performance of devotional service.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare krishna Madhudvisa dasa,
I read your first newsletter. Dhanyavad Prabhu, I have just started to follow krishna consciousness and i hope to ask you questions. I will be writing soon.
Hare krishna!
Thank you , Madhu Dasa , I am looking forward and trying to open the Hare Krishna site to download a pdf version of Bhagavatam , canto 5.2 . As I already tasted the nectar of all 1 to 5.1 cantos. I am the ardent friend of Shrila . BBTirtha maharaj. He was kind enough to present me with the book of Gita with purports of Shrila P. Pada maharaj . I do have a simple version of Gita with the purports of Swami Chinmaya. Though the purports by Shrila Pada is latest in print . I read this every day.. I thank Shrila BB Tirtha Maharaj for the same.
I don’t indulge in passing opinions.
I had the pleasure of reading Cantos of 1,2,3,4 and 5.1. While I bought the 1st Canto in the Iskcon shop when I visited one of the temples. I admire and congratulate all the spirits that run this institution . The other cantos on the Internet . I am in self exile in this forest close to Mumbai. I find this the only way to be in the nonstop Krishna Consciousness. I indulge in social service in this village at the foots of these western ghats . Most are tribes and illiterate . I do my bits for them. My only outward contact is the internet. I successfully downloaded all the 2,3,4,5.1 Cantos of Shire Bhagavatam with Shrila Prabhu Pada’s purports and enjoyed . But I am perpetually defeated when I try to down load next cantos. I cannot afford to keep paper books as the monsoon spoils them with continuos moisture for three months in a unbroken stretch.
I wonder if you can help me with the rest of the Cantos so that I can continue the treat to my mind . Thank you Hare Krishna.
I have evolved from an ordinary worshipper to this state of enjoying Gita and Bhagavatam In my solitude. Hare Krishna.
Right
Hare Krishna Premavati Prabhu
It is wonderful you are enjoying Srila Prabhupada’s Srimad-Bhagavatam Prabhu.
I have checked and there is no problem with the PDF on the server. It is available at:
http://prabhupadabooks.com/pdf/SB5.2.pdf
This file is OK. It is large, around 40 megabytes. But as far as I can see it is perfectly OK. So if you can not download maybe it is because of some limitation on your internet connection?
So you can try on some different internet connection and you will probably be able to download it.
You can also read it at:
http://prabhupadabooks.com
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Your servant
Madhudvisa dasa
with faith i believe that everything writing in Bhagavad Gita as it is about Krishna is true. let every try as much as he can to come close to Krishna by chanting Sri Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. KRISHNA ALWAYS READY.
UGOMAN DEVOTEE OF KRISHNA FROM DUBAI.
Hare Krishna, I have many question of human creation,karma,and prakrti
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Hare Hare!
Hari Bol !
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa,
Thank you really very much for all your responses. Your responses are very helpful.
i already read bhagavad- gita. i am connect new delhi east of kailash temple. can i join temple? and why?
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa,
I am reading Science of Self Realization book these days and it is mentioned in the “Human Society or Animal Society” chapter that “The sun rises first in India, but that does not mean that the sun is Indian” (this is part of the response given by Prabhpada to the interviewer). I just want to know is it really a fact that the sun first rises in India on earth? I know this is a stupid question but i couldn’t find any clarified answer on google as well. Please tell me.
Hare Krishna Neha
The sun rises in the East and then sets in the West. Where the sun rises first these days is determined by where they put the international date line. If you look at the globe of the earth the sun basically goes around above the equator from east to west. So the sun is going around in circles and you could say that it rises at any point in the circle first. Depending on what point you pick.
They have put the international date line a little to the east of New Zealand so from that point of view the sun rises first in New Zealand, then Australia, then continues to the East and rises in India then in Europe then in USA, then in Hawaii, then in Fiji, then in New Zealand again.
So the sun does rise in the East first and India is in the East so the sun rises in India before it rises in Europe and the USA…
But the point of the analogy is that because you see the sun in India it is not the “Indian sun”, it is the same sun they will see in the USA a little bit later on..
So as the sun is not Indian or American, so Krishna also is not Indian or American. Like the sun rises first in India, Krishna has also appeared first in India. But like the sun this does not make Krishna Indian. Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the same God that they know in the USA. The same God that they know in Russia, the same God that the Muslims call Allah…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Radhy radhy…
All glories to Srila prabhupada..
Respected guru ji, my humble dandawat to you,
Guru ji in Bhagwatam Arjuna asked one question to Lord Krishna that why we become so helpless knowing that a particular kind of work is not good or wrong but still we do it and Krishna answered that by practicing we can make it n my question is even if the person is so fallen that she can’t cultivate habit also in that case what one should do?
Chant Hare Krishna. Everything will come out alright in time.
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa,
My name is Neha Aggarwal and just last to last week I started with the practice of chanting the maha mantra on Japa beads. I am using neam japa beads for this as the devotee who was there told me that one should start with the neam beads if they are taking onion, garlic or tea in their daily life. But as per the answers provided by you to other seekers, I have understood that these things doesn’t come under four regulative principles of Krishna consciousness. Though the consumption of these 3 are also prohibited but if I am following all other rules thn can I start using tulasi japa beads? Also I have started with only 2 rounds of Japa, so shd I increase the japa rounds gradually to 16 or immediately start with 16 rounds?
Please reply.
Hare Krishna Neha
No. You have to follow the regulative principles. So do not try chanting on tulsi beads until you have given up the garlic and onions. It is not so important really what beads you are chanting on. It is important to chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day. That is where the power is. So if we are not properly following it is better to chant on the neem beads and automatically as you make a little spiritual advancement you will not want to accept anything that is not Krishna prasadam. Anything that has onions and garlic in it was obviously not cooked by a devotee, not cooked for Krishna and is therefore unofferable to Krishna. So devotees will only accept Krishna prasadam. So we should come to this platform. It is very important to only accept Krishna prasadam. Realistically we will not be able to become Krishna conscious unless we give up eating things that are not prasadam. Not offered to Krishna. So the idea is to be seriously following the things before chanting on tulsi beads.
The thing is if you are making a little advancement you will stop eating these things with onions and garlic, so that is a sign that you are making some advancement. Then if you are following the regulative principles also and chanting 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day then you can by all means chant on Tulsi Japa beads.
When we find out that we are doing something that is not favorable for our advancement in Krishna consciousness we have to adjust our lives and avoid this thing. We have to accept whatever is favorable for our advancement in Krishna consciousness and reject anything that is not favorable for our advancement. So when you find out that devotees only accept Krishna prasadam and that Krishna does not accept garlic and onions, then we have to adjust our lives accordingly.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
All glories to Srila Prabhupada,
Radhy raddhy prabhu ji,
Thnx for ur precious time n d reply. My question is doing my household duty how will i manage between spirualism and wordly things? Arjun was so lucky that Krishna was there for answering his confusions and moreover what i feel if Krishna himself is saying something to do personally so there is no question of second thought but for us first of all its very difficult understand Bhagwadgita as my perception or specultion or understanding may not be that developed one . May be Krishna says something through Bhagwadgita n i’ll understand sumthing else as there is one proverb arath ka anarth krna. Arath stands for meaning n i understood sumthing else from that meaning n that turned into devastating. So what should one do of these kind of confusons?
Plz forgive me if i have written sumthing which can be offended.
Radhy radhy, waiting for ur kind reply.
Hare Krishna
You can chant Hare Krishna while doing your household work. You can install the Deity of Krishna in your house and then consider that it is Krishna’s house. Which it is. We do not own anything actually. Everything is Krishna’s. So once you understand that it is Krishna’s house then when you are doing your housework you are working to clean Krishna’s house, because it is Krishna’s house. So in this way all our daily activities can be transformed into Krishna consciousness. That is the point. Becoming Krishna conscious does not mean necessary that our activities will change much. We are cooking now, when we become a devotee of Krishna we will still be cooking. It looks the same. But actually it is very different. In the material conception of life we cook for ourselves or our families. But when we become Krishna conscious we cook for Krishna. So really the cooking does not change. But what changes is our consciousness while we are cooking. Once we start cooking for Krishna and offering what we cook to Krishna for His enjoyment then we are respecting Krishna prasadam and distributing Krishna prasadam to our family and friends. And this changes everything. This spiritualizes everything…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hello Sir… I read your first installment of the Newsletter: Very Nice Work,,, I chanted with the Krishna’s when I lived in Los Angeles, California during the time period around Easter Sunday 1968 and later bought of The Gita from them at an Airport and read it ( once only ) — I then joined The Ashtar Command and accepted the trinity of Ashtar, Sananda, and St Germain as my guides — But over these Amazing Personalities, I placed Babaji & Mataji and over them Krishna !!! ( This was done by intuition and from my Heart… I have seen Krishna on several occasions during meditations -and am a devotee )
I look forward to a long and mutually enjoyable relationship with you !! Commodore Heru Paule LeBreton, Heru Fleet, Ashtar Galactic Space Command – 5 D Terra Nova
hare krishna
hi my name is kartheek i want to follow gita and krishna consciousness but i am unable to control my sences i do not know what to do i require some guidance &presently i am chanting 2-4 rounds daily can you help me to control my sences and to follow KRISHNA CONSIOUSNESS
Hare Krishna Kartheek
The process of Krishna consciousness is simple and you just need to read Srila Prabhupada’s books and follow the process. But it requires commitment. You have to surrender to the process. Which means chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra daily, strictly following the four regulative principles and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day. If you do these things then you will be able to control your senses but if you are not prepared to surrender to these things you will not be able to control your senses. These things, chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra daily and strictly following the four regulative principles, this is the beginning only of Krishna consciousness. Really our Krishna consciousness does not begin until we at least surrender to these basic things…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
what is kali yuga?what are the positions of the living beings in this yuga?
Hare Krishna Shyamshankar
Kali-yuga is the final of four ages in the catu-yuga cycle. There is Satya-yuga, Treta-yuga, Dvarpa-yuga and then Kali-yuga. These things are elaborately explained in Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is so you need to read that and understand it in full from there.
But in summary Kali-yuga is the age of quarrel and hypocrisy. You can easily see that in this age whenever people get together there will be an argument. And everyone is hypocritical, it means he is speaking something very grand but in his own life his actions are very different from the things he speaks about. So it is a very difficult time for spiritual life generally, but Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has been so merciful to us that He has appeared in this Kali-yuga and given us a very simple way that we can all easily overcome the pernicious effects of the Kali-yuga. If we simply take seriously to the chanting of:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Then we can easily transcend all the problems and difficulties of Kali-yuga and very easily become Krishna conscious.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
hi i am kartheek,i started studying gita&chanting 2 rounds from 15 days in gita lord says not to get attracted to any material things that means i should not love my subject or he says with different intenction (this is my dought &i am not commenting i am unable to understand please don’t misunderstand)
hare krishna prabhuji.
please accept my pranam .all glories to guru maharaj.
thankyou soooo much prabhuji for helping.u cleared out many things.
but i have a Q (after reading your reply) how to become a pure devotee? what should i do ?
please explain.
and one more thing -that how to stop watching tv
everytime i pass through tv and some daily serial is going on (my mother is fond of them) then i just can not stop myself watching it.(while watching it keeps coming in my mind that i should not watch
it n its wastage of time but cant help it) and after all this when i get back to work i reallly feel very very bad and hate myself n make promises that i
will not watch it again but next day same thing
happens and ends witha guilt n promise
what to do why im so weak. i want to change .i want to become pure devotee of krishna
how to become a pre devotee please guide.
hare krishna.
Hare Krishna Pooja
Yes. It is difficult to change our bad habits. But you just have to change. We just have to make plans in our lives so that we avoid the things that are not conducive to our becoming Krishna consciousness.
So you just have to decide to stop watching the TV. But really you need some service. If we have some practical devotional service for Srila Prabhupada that we can become totally absorbed in then we will not even think of watching the TV…
So just keep on chanting Hare Krishna and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books anyhow. The more we chant Hare Krishna and read Prabhupada’s books the more strength we will get for controlling our bad habits.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
sir can i get all the previous magazine like 2013, 2012
i live in bareilly, u.p. , india
Hare krishna prabhuji.
please accept my humble obesiance. all glories to guru maharaj.
i have bhagvat gita and had read it before.
krishna has said in gita that working in devotion is good than renunciation of work. i also want to do everything in krsna consiousness .
i am a student pursuing BVA in painting in second year. iwant to paint for krsna . his pastimes.
i want to learn how to paint krsna like in bbt books.
prabhu ji please guide me.
i live in rajasthan india.is there any college or iskcon’s institute which can guide on this.or any devotee artists whom i can talk with if u know.
one more thing , i recently found something when i was searching about these questions on iskcon websites ,that in vrindavan krsna art classes are organised by dhriti devi dasi. i wanted to know when are these classes going to be held in 2014. i didnt find the dates for this year.
please help me please.
hare krishna.
Hare Krishna Pooja
Of all the states in India it is probably Rajasthan that has the most rich heritage in the arts and painting of Krishna. So this Krishna art is your local culture and I think you should try to rediscover it in your local area. Try to find the old people there, the old artists, who used to paint pictures of Krishna in their youth, they will be grandmothers now, but if you can find them they will be able to pass on this valuable art and skill to you.
I think you should forget about today’s ISKCON artists. ISKCON artists have not been able to paint Krishna since Srila Prabhupada left our physical vision in 1977. It is not so easy to paint Krishna. You can not actually paint Krishna. What you can do is become a pure devotee of Krishna, you can learn the technical skills of painting, so you know the techniques of how to put the paint on the canvas and how to get the images that you want to get on the canvas. So then once you have the technical skills to put the paint on the canvas you have to surrender to Krishna and beg that Krishna engage you in His service, that He use you as His instrument, and that through your surrender and service that He, Krishna, agrees to appear on your canvas.
So it is not that you can paint Krishna. By your devotion and service to Krishna you have to oblige Him to appear on your canvas. And if you can convince Krishna to appear on your canvas then the painting will be very successful.
But I think forget about ISKCON artists. Today’s ISKCON artists do not have this mood anymore, and they can not see Krishna, so they can not paint Krishna. To paint something you have to see it first. So if you are going to paint Krishna first you have to see Krishna. And Krishna only reveals Himself to his devotees. So to paint Krishna you have to become Krishna’s devotees so you can see Him…
‘
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Thanks for this precious communication. It contains the essence for understanding and coming closer to Lord Krishna through his teachings in the Bhagavad Gita. It is only through devotion and surrender to the Lord that we can have his grace.The points in this communication of yours can help us understand better the message of the God and permit us to follow the right track in this life where materialism is so rampant.Hope to be further enlightened by your next communication. Jugdish Lollbeeharry.
hare krishna
SADA chant hare krishna
Hare Krishna Prabhu,
Thank you so much for this wonderful service you are doing for Srila Prabhupada, it is soo inspiring.
I consider Srila Prabhupada my guru and don’t feel like taking initiation from anyone else. His books have turned me into a completely different person and cured my on going depression for 10 years. But I have one question, how will I get my spiritual name? and without the ‘formal’ initiation, will I be considered disciple of Srila Prabhupada and part of the gaudiya sampradaya?
Your servant,
Hare Krishna Sam
Yes. I understand completely. It is Srila Prabhupada who is convincing us to chant Hare Krishna, Srila Prabhupada who is convincing us that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Srila Prabhupada who is a pure devotee of Krishna and Srila Prabhupada who has the potency to give us Krishna consciousness.
So these external things do not matter actually. What matters is that we have a bona fide spiritual master and we surrender to him, offer obeisances to him, hear from him submissively, dedicate our lives to him and serve him. That is what matters.
There are so many with spiritual names, even many who where physically initiated by Srila Prabhupada. But it means nothing without surrender. If there is no surrender there is no initiation. So if you really surrender to Srila Prabhupada, if you really actually follow all the instructions you hear from him when you read his books, that is if you read his books of course, then because of your surrender and service Srila Prabhupada will accept you as his disciple. Then he will guide you what to do. And if you are actually his disciple you will become empowered by him to preach and it is through the bona fide spiritual master that we get Krishna. So Krishna is in your heart and He will guide you also.
Krishna consciousness is a personal thing between the disciple and the spiritual master. It doesn’t matter what anyone else things. Who cares if others consider we are disciples of Srila Prabhupada or part of the Gaudiya Sampradaya?
It does not matter. Srila Prabhupada’s godbrothers considered that he was unauthorized by the Gaudiya Matha to go to the West and preach and they were very offended by Srila Prabhupada’s bold preaching and very envious of his success. Even till today the Gaudiya Matha refuse to offer Srila Prabhupada any respect. They call him in a very degrading way, “Swamiji Maharaja.” They hate him still. But Prabhupada is a pure devotee of Krishna and Prabhupada’s preaching is unlimitedly successful and still ever-expanding and they could not do anything at all.
So you see it does not matter what anyone else thinks or anyone else considers. It only matters if we can surrender to, serve and please Srila Prabhupada.
So do not worry about initiation, worry about surrendering to and serving Srila Prabhupada, worry about increasing your distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s original books. That is the main thing. If you are a Prabhupada disciple then you must be a big book distributor because it is very clear that the only way we can really please Srila Prabhupada in the best way is by distributing his books. So become the biggest distributor of Srila Prabhupada’s original books. That will be great for you and great for Prabhupada. If you can make Prabhupada happy then your life is successful.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Prabhu,
Thank you very much for such a wonderful reply. I have seen these things about the Gaudiya math too and even some Iskcon devotees leaving Iskcon to join the Gaudiya math because they convinced them that Srila Prabhupada can only preach up to the level of Vaidha bhakti and only their Narayan Maharaja can preach up to the level of Raganuga Bhakti and other offensive things like that. So some matajis who used to serve really nicely at my local Iskcon temple went away like that to the Gaudiya maths.
And just another question, what about things like getting the Gayatri Mantra in second initiation? And can I chant on Tulsi beads? Because I had been chanting on Neem beads ever since because I was told that we should wait till initiation to chant on Tulsi.
your servant,
Hare Krishna Sam
We just have to surrender to Srila Prabhupada and serve him. We don’t have to worry about anything. We just have to worry about surrendering. That’s all. Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is in all our hearts, He knows what we want. We do not have to ask Him, we do not have to bother with these things. Krishna will make all the arrangements if we actually surrender to Srila Prabhupada and serve him.
As far as tulsi beads, yes, you can chant on tulsi beads if you are seriously chanting at least 16 rounds every day and following the four regulative principles. Certainly you can chant on tulsi beads.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Prabhu ji dandvat pranam,
Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Shri Shrimad A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada & All glories to Shrila Gurumaharaj.
Hare Krishna Prabhu ji, today I have gone through you first 2 mails & you have asked to go through Bhagvat Gita. Please guid me should we start from Chapter 1 or we should go through Setting the Scene & Preface also?
Hare Krishna Danadvat Pranam
Das-Nailesh Joshi
Hare Krishna Nailesh
You should read the complete Bhagavad-gita As It is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Starting from the very beginning to the end. And then you will want to read it again, and again, and again… Bhagavad-gita is like that. It is a very deep book and can not be fully appreciated on the first reading. You could read the whole Gita every day of your life and always you will find new meaning and inspiration in it. It is unlimited. The more you read it the more you will get from it.
So it is all important. Read it all.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Your servant Ujjwal das has finally come back to subscribe to your newsletter. Thank you for sending me valuable information about stuff I already read because I need to revisit and remind myself how little time I spend reading the Gita. I must read more. I will definitely read more. Thanks to you.
Hare Krishna Prabhu
I want to ask you this question. I am not sure if it is nice to ask but would want to know.
Can you please tell me who can I take as guru in this age after Srila Prabhupada.
Hare Krishna,
Sriram
You can accept Srila Prabhupada as your guru. But he will not accept you, no bona fide guru will accept you, unless you are actually prepared to surrender to the bonafide guru. These days people have a very cheap idea about what accepting a guru us. But it means surrender. And practically no one wants to surrender and the few who do want to surrender end up surrendering to some bogus guru who cheats them and destroys their chances for spiritual life.
So you need to read Srila Prabhupada’s books and understand just exactly what a bona fide spiritual master is and what is a bona fide disciple and understand the nature of surrender and actually surrender.
Anyhow you have to at least surrender to the basic beginning points of Krishna consciousness. You have to chant 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 have to read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day. This is the beginning point. And you can not expect to be able to understand what is a spiritual master and what is a disciple until you have been strictly following these basic things for at least 12 months.
So accepting a guru is not such a cheap thing. It requires surrender, and it requires a bona fide guru and a bona fide disciple. These are very rare things today…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna, Dandabata prabhu. I read your letter very very carefully. I would like to request you, please please please, if possible, post me such type of mail daily. Another thing, I am the follower of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhuapda since 2009. I chant 16 round of Japa daily. I strictly follow the four basic rules. I became a veg eater since 2012. Now I want to take DIKSHYA. wAHT ARE THE STEPS.
Bless me
Hare krishna
Hare Krishna Bhaskar
Formal initiation is not so important. It is most important to have a pure devotee of Krishna as your spiritual master. These people who are anxious get get initiated at any cost usually end up by being cheated by some bogus guru who has no potency to actually give diksha at all. That is the problem. A pure devotee who is qualified to give diksa, who actually has the seeds of the plant of bhakti, the bhakti-lata-bija, to give, is very rarely to be found. And if you do not find the qualified, bona fide guru, then you can not get diksa. So the question should be finding the bona fide guru, not when can I get diska. And even if you find the bona fide guru you can not get diksa actually without surrendering to him and serving him. So after finding the bonafide guru you have to first surrender to him and serve him. Then after 12 months or so of actual service and surrender to the bona fide spiritual master he may agree to give you diksa. Real diksa is not a very cheap thing and you can not get it on your own strength. It is by the mercy of Krishna that you get the chance to get access to the pure devotee of Krishna and it is by the mercy of the pure devotee that you get Krishna.
Most people do not surrender, or if they surrender they surrender to some cheating, bogus guru, so in either case, no surrender or surrender to a bogus guru, they can not get Krishna.
You can read Srila Prabhupada’s books, surrender to him, serve him, get his mercy, and in this way you can get Krishna. That is the way. But Krishna consciousness is not a very easy thing to get. You can not get it without actually surrendering. One can not become Krishna conscious, get diska, without completely changing his life. We currently live for our own sense gratification or for the sense gratification of our families or others. Becoming Krishna conscious means completely giving up this mentality of sense gratification and instead only working to gratify Krishna’s senses. This is a dramatic transformation to the way we live and without actually transforming our lives in this way we can never become Krishna conscious or get diksa.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa Dasa. Please accept my humble obeisance.
I am happy that you will be discussing the Bhagavad Gita As It Is. I started reading it and laid it down on Chapter 6 and I haven’t continued. You will help me a lot with my spiritual growth. I am looking forward toward this class.
Thank you,
Radha
Hare Krishna!! It was nice to read it.Thanks for sending the details. Waiting for your next email.
Hare Krishna!!
Nameste.
Just i have received the news letter “The Spirit Of Bhagavad Gita” and gone through once. Even though i am devoted to Lord Krishna, i have not read the Gita even once completely. Your introduction really inspiring me.But i have got so many questions (of course ignorant). Kindly bare with me for troubling you.My first understanding of Gita is that it is a complete question and answer series.Question arises because of confusion which is born out of half baked knowledge. Since i am ignorant , pl bear with me to enlighten me.With your permission and with your blessings, i may be permitted to write to you soon.
Sir,
Are the books like Bhagvad Geeta and Srimad Bhagvatam which are translated into other languages(like Kannada) by Prabhpada’s disciples a reliable translation. Some of the people to whom I tell to read these books do not understand or know how to read English. So are they trustworthy translations which also contain full spiritual bliss and pleasure?
Secondly, like websites in which we get to read English books online(say- prabhupadabooks.com) there are no websites for such books in other languages(Kannada) right?
Hare Krisha Rukmini
A translation of a book into a different language will never be as good as the original book. There will always be something “lost in the translation” and that is particularly true for Srila Prabhupada’s books that contain such delicate and subtle spiritual points. So it is always best to read Srila Prabhupada’s original books in the original language he wrote them [English]. That is the closest thing to Srila Prabhupada.
This issue was sometimes brought up in Srila Prabhupada’s presence and his reply was “A blind uncle is better than no uncle at all.”
So if the people can’t read English then they need to read Prabhupada’s books in their own languages so the foreign language translations are very important. So although the translations may not be perfect they are better than nothing.
And when devotees become very serious about Srila Prabhupada they will want to learn English so they can hear Srila Prabhupada preach in English and read the huge amount of literature he has given us in English.
So the foreign translations are not perfect, and will never be perfect, but “a blind uncle is better than no uncle at all.”
And there are no websites of Prabhupada’s books in the Indian languages as far as I am aware.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I recently went through the 7th Canto wherein I had two doubts:
1.In chap 13 Text 18
“It is also understood that you have no money for sense enjoyment. How then has your body become so fat? Under the circumstances, if you do not consider my question impudent, kindly explain how this has happened. “
Although the man like a python answered beatifully I felt that he did not answer the question properly. However my feeling is definitely wrong and I am sure the answer would be there. Could you kindly clear my doubt?
2.Is there any reason why the 10th chapter has been divided between parts 2 and 3 (which was probably not seen in any of the previos Cantos)?
As for my realizations regarding the universe structure, I am more or less very much confused and have to read the 5th Canto 4-5 times to understand atleast something. However, your article “The Universe is Not Chandelier Shaped” was very helpful.
Please forgive me for my foolish questions.
Hare Krishna.AGTSP.
Hare Krishna Divine
The Srimad-Bhagavatam is perfect but our understanding of it is not. So when you see something that you do not understand or you think is not right you have to think that your realization and understanding of it is not right. The mistake is with us, not with the Bhagavatam. And as we engage more and more in devotional service and read the Bhagavatam more and more then gradually all the points will become clear to us.
It is like that with the universe as well. We can not understand these things on our own strength. Krishna has to reveal them from within our hearts. So the reading is one thing but the realization of the reading comes through our service to Srila Prabhupada. So we have to read the Bhagavatam and put into practice what we read in our lives.
There is not much point just reading the fifth canto, we have to read all the books Srila Prabhupada has given us over and over again.
What we can know from reading the fifth canto is the actual situation of the universe is completely different from what the scientists and astronomers have imagined. They are wrong in so many ways. This we can say for certain. But it is rather difficult for us, who have been totally brainwashed by this incorrect ‘world view’ to conceive that the reality could be so different from our brainwashing.
But if you can just actually come to know it for a fact that in practically every respect the astronomers are wrong then that is a step in the right direction.
With reading and chanting and surrender and service gradually Krishna will revel everything to us.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I have some questions regarding Bhagavad Gita
1) There are many books available, so which to read and in which language Bhagavad Gita is best to read like Sanskrit, Hindi or English
2) It is said we should learn Bhagavad Gita from Guru but in todays world how to find a Guru and how to know that he is the real Guru as given in Bhagavad Gita.
3) If Gautam Buddha was 9th avatar of Lord Vishnu and Kalki will be his tenth avatar so how is Mahaprabhuji also considered Avatar of Lord Vishnu
4) What is the real Dharma as per Bhagavad Gita
5) It is said that Lord Krishna is the Original Godhead but he is avatar of Lord Vishnu so does not Lord Vishnu should be Original Godhead
6) In todays world on one hand people die due to lack of food and other hand people use food, oil etc in Mandir so what is correct as per current situation.
Jai Shri Krishna
Hare Krishna Rahul
Your answers are as follows:
1) Almost all the editions of Bhagavad-gita are translated and commented on by people who do not understand Krishna, who are not pure devotees of Krishna, and who have some personal interest in presenting their commentary on Bhagavad-gita. They almost all have their own philosophy which they try to present simply using Bhagavad-gita as a platform from which they can present their own ideas. Such unauthorized presentations of Bhagavad-gita are totally useless. Bhagavad-gita can only be understood and explained by a pure devotee of Krishna. Krishna does not reveal Himself to the nondevotees. So the only translation and commentary that is available “AS IT IS”, is Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is. So he is written it in English, therefore you should read it in English, of course the Sanskrit is also there, so you will read the Sanskrit as well as the English translation, the meanings of all the Sanskrit words and Srila Prabhupada’s explanation of the verses. You can purchase it at http://www.KrishnaStore.com and read it online at http://www.AsItIs.com
2) Yes. Today 99.9% at least of all the people presenting themselves as gurus are actually demons using the ‘guru business’ for pushing on some personal desires and ambitions. Such bogus gurus are useless and will be of no help whatsoever in understanding Bhagavad-gita. When you read Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is Srila Prabhupada is there in the form of his Purports. So you will find both the guru and the gita in Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
3) You are thinking of Dasa Avatar Strotra. That is listing ten avataras but there are many others. This is just ten selected avatars out of unlimited avatars. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is chana-avatara, a hidden avatar. He is not advertising Himself as an avatara, rather He is appearing in the mood of a devotee. You will understand these things only as you make advancement in spiritual life. Otherwise how can you know these things?
4) Real dharma, first you have to know what dharma means, and that is occupational duty. So what is our real occupational duty. If you analyze the common factor of everyone is they must render service to someone else. Everyone is serving. That is the nature, the dharma, of the living entity, to render service. Everyone has to render service. This is the thing that is inseparable from the living entity. It is like sugar is sweet, so sweetness is the dharma of sugar; fire is hot, so heat is the dharma of fire. So with us as living entities the inseparable factor is that we must render service. So that rendering of service is our dharma. And sanatana-dharama, or eternal dharma, is rendering service to Krishna.
5) Krishna is NOT an avatar of Lord Visnu. Lord Visnu is an avatar of Lord Krishna. This is a great misunderstanding that many Hindus have, I can not explain the details of all this in a few lines. But you can know it for an absolute fact, Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and everything, even all the Visnu incarnations, come from Krishna.
6) The correct thing is to engage everything in the service of Krishna. So everything can be used for Krishna, even material things, that is the proper use of everything. Everything belongs to Krishna so everything must be used in the service of Krishna. Otherwise if we take Krishna’s things and use them for ourselves then we are thieves and we will have to be punished for that. We offer everything to Krishna and then we accept Krishna prasadam. So we are very sumptuously satisfied by accepting Krishna prasadam.
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa,
Thank you for sending me such a quick response to receiving my Krishna Newsletter. I will learn much more here I am sure and appreciate your devotion.
I have a question. How do I find a place to grow in and serve Krishna with others where I currently live? I devote myself to Hare Krishna and would like to be near others who serve and chant Krishna.
Hare Krishna,
Amina
Just read Prabhupada’s books and apply the principles you read in the books in your own life and chant Hare Krishna and serve Krishna wherever you happen to be. You do not have to go anywhere else. Wherever you are you make that place Krishna conscious.
Recently it had come in the newspaper that ISKCON- Bangalore is going to build a very high temple which is given in this article.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Vrindavan-to-have-Indias-tallest-temple/articleshow/31128286.cms
1. I am curious to know whether we can get or buy a bonafide video which depicts the structure of universe and various planets as described in SB canto 5?
2. As I am resident of Bangalore, many of my interested friends ask me whether I am a part of ISKCON Bangalore or not. I say that I am totally separate from today’s ISKCON but ISKCON Bangalore in better than many of the other temples. Is my view correct??
Hare Krishna. AGTSP
Hare Krishna Divine
Yes ISKCON Bangalore appears to be better than ISKCON because ISKCON Bangalore accept that Srila Prabhupada is the spiritual master. So that is an improvement. But in Kali-yuga we have to be cautious about everything. What we can say for certain is that Srila Prabhupada is a pure devotee of Krishna and that by reading Srila Prabhupada’s original books and following the instructions Srila Prabhupada gives us as we read his books then we will also ultimately be able to become pure devotees of Krishna. So it is Prabhupada that is important, not the various flavors of ISKCON.
As far as a video that illustrates the structure of the universe as it is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam, currently such a video does not exist. As far as I am aware no one yet understands the description of the universe in the Srimad-Bhagavatam clearly enough to conceive of how it works, and without being able to conceive of how it works it is impossible to explain how it works.
I think the biggest problem is we are brainwashed so heavily by the current Western “scientific” world-view that most ‘devotees’ can not question the things they have come to accept as fact as result of all this brainwashing by the scientists.
I am very interested in this subject and hope one day we can actual comprehend the way the universe works according to the description in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, then we can make such a video.
The best thing is you should read it and try to conceive of how it is working yourself and let me know what are your realizations. I would be very interested to hear that.
There is one video, but it is bogus in many ways, it does not properly describe anything really. But it is all that I am aware that exists:
http://krishnatube.com/video/317/Vedic-Cosmos–The-Mystery-of-the-workings-of-the-universe
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Ever since I started Krishna consciousness, my only regret is that I could not chant on beads and I could not follow the four regulative principles(as my mother forces me to eat egg). These holidays I want to make sure I am sure to successful in both so that I can start my spiritual life.
1. If I bring japa mala bead without bag, can I keep it in my book shelf or empty pouch? Also, what are the offences I should avoid?
2.When I do these two things, my parents will surely get very angry and agitated. Of course it does not matter but while my parents are scolding me, what should I be thinking so that I do not get too much hurt?
Hare Krishna. AGTSP
Hare Krsna Prubhuji, many many thanks for my first newsletter so promptly. I fully agree Bhagavad Gita as It Is ranks as the best translation and I am reading it at present. I have struggled to understand the Holy Scripture all my life but now I am getting the Essence. Looking forward to the next email,
I have to respectfully disagree with the above comment about tilak, or at least ask for some deeper clarification about it… First however allow me to express a huge disclaimer – that I am still very much a neophyte devotee, have not taken initiation, and while I have purchased all of Prabhupada’s books and lectures, I have not yet completed reading all of them even once, so my opinion is by no means authoritative. What follows is my opinion and I humbly ask for it’s consideration and correction (references to scriptures would be especially nice) where I may be mistaken.
While I do agree that Krishna Consciousness is dormant within everyone’s heart, some other Gaudiya Vaisnava sects use a different style of forehead marking, other Vaisnava sects outside of Gaudiya use different styles still, and other Hindus such as Saivites use rather different styles. Some use tilak, others use other substances, or a combination thereof. I am not exactly sure how far back our specific style used within ISKCON (and at least Gaudiya Math) goes, but the differentiation in styles primarily serves the purpose of providing some recognition of what specific beliefs the wearer holds, and what practices he follows. This is most practically useful within India, though recognition particularly of the style we share is growing worldwide.
Within the movement, there are both spiritual/philosophical aspects that are really important to Krishna Consciousness (such as reading and trying continually to further understand the Gita, upholding rules and regulations designed to allow our mind to grow more spiritually, chanting, etc.), as well as cultural aspects that are not really tied to the philosophy (such as style of dress, terms used in speech, style of cooking, and other habits), but which can help us feel more firmly situated in our positions as servants of the supreme lord, and in our association with other devotees.
In any case, it provides us with a constant reminder of our status as a servant of Krishna, and provides us with many more opportunities to talk with others about Krishna Consciousness, when they ask us what the mark is. That said, I am friends with several direct initiates of Prabhupada who live a very Krishna Conscious life – chanting constantly, living in a home built for and around Krishna to whom they offer all foodstuffs and aratik regularly, talking to and encouraging others to take up the process, etc. who wear no tilak, have shaggy hair and beards, wear blue jeans, and otherwise don’t immediately appear to be devotees.
As I understand it (admittedly my knowledge here is a bit weak), Srila Prabhupada did not say we have to wear tilak, dhotis, or shave our heads, but referred to these things as nice. When we do these things as austerities they help our spiritual growth, however if we do them in a prideful way, they will hinder us, so in my opinion one should always ask themselves, “am I truly wanting to do this out of humility and a sense of duty as a servant, or out of desire for increased recognition and respect?” One thing that was made clear is that we should not try to imitate more advanced devotees and this is why. When our heart compels us to do something and it is not our ego driving, I think that is the appropriate time to listen and follow, not before.
Thank you for hearing me out, and I look forward to your reply as time allows.
Hare Krishna Casey
It is very good that you have Srila Prabhupada’s books and now you have them you can read them and then you will know everything that Srila Prabhupada is teaching us directly from Srila Prabhupada and that is the best way.
It is true that Srila Prabhupada said that it is not necessary for his disciples to wear dhotis, etc. In fact in the beginning he was encouraging the devotees to dress as gentlemen, but they decided to follow him and wear dhotis, etc. So it was their decision, not an order from Srila Prabhupada. But of course as you say it is very nice to dress as devotees in the traditional devotional clothing and Srila Prabhupada certainly encouraged and supported this, often giving the analogy of a policeman dressed in a police uniform. It makes everything very clear and everyone can see there is a policeman. You know. Our whole idea is to remind the people about Krishna, so if we are dressed as Hare Krishna’s then everyone who sees us will remember Krishna. We will also remember that we are supposed to be Hare Krishna’s when we are dressed as Hare Krishna’s and that will also encourage us to follow the regulative principles and actually act as Hare Krishna’s. So it is very good to wear the traditional devotional clothing but not necessary.
However on the points of tilak and shaving the head and face also Srila Prabhupada is very strong on these points that we have to wear tilak and shave our heads and faces. This is certainly an order from Srila Prabhupada and if we are truly followers of Srila Prabhupada then we have to follow his orders.
We can not trust our heart to compel us to do things. We have to find a bona fide spiritual master and surrender to him and serve him. He will tell us what to do and we have to do it whether we like it or not. That is the process.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
My sister is reading the SB almost everyday and has started chanting 1-2 rounds. She also listens to SP songs with great pleasure. Today she got hit hard by the scooter. As a witness, I felt that she should have died. However, she just escaped with minor injuries.
My doubt: did she escape from getting heavily injured because of her good karma or is it because of
her progress in Krishna consciousness??
Hare Krishna.AGTSP
Hare Krishna Divine
Your sister has also written a comment and I have replied to her also so you can read her reply.
We do not know the exact workings of Krishna and karma but the general principle is that when someone takes to Krishna consciousness although the karmic reactions will still come they are very much minimized. So Srila Prabhupada has given the example that according to my karma I may be meant to be killed by a knife in some attack but because I have become a devotee of Krishna Krishna may minimize that karma and instead I may cut my finger while chopping some vegetables.
So it may well be that if your sister was not engaged in Krishna consciousness she would have suffered from much greater injuries or even died in the accident. So as I wrote in her reply as devotees we consider everything is Krishna’s mercy. At times we may not be able to see how something is Krishna’s mercy. But Krishna does take a special interest in the lives of His devotees and He makes many special arrangements.
So there are many lessons in this. Your sister is very young and may be thinking that she has many, many years ahead of her to become Krishna conscious, but actually, as proven by this accident, there is no guarantee that we will live in this body even until tomorrow. So even if we are very young we should not think that “I have plenty of time, I will take to Krishna consciousness seriously later.” No. That is not the way. We have to think that we do not know even if we will live for one more hour. So we have to be always Krishna consciousness. Always thinking of Krishna. Because Krishna promises that “One who remembers Me at the time of death will come to Me.” So we never know when death may come. So we have to adjust our lives so that at every moment we are remembering Krishna. That is the science of Krishna consciousness. And we can learn how to do this from Srila Prabhupada by reading his books.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
pranam prabhuji all glories to our gurudev srila prabhupada
prabhuji please tell me how to read the gita do we first read the sloka and then read the purports and translation as well as the meanings of each words??please guide me
It is best to read Bhagavad-gita As It Is aloud. Chant the Verses aloud, read the translation and purport aloud. Personally I just chant the Sanskrit aloud, usually three times, then I read the verse aloud, then I read the purport aloud. This way if you read it aloud you are both chanting and hearing the Bhagavad-gita. Rather then just reading it in your mind. Actually we become Krishna conscious by hearing and chanting. Krishna consciousness is not arrived at by intellectual speculation. We become Krishna conscious by chanting and hearing.
So it does not matter actually, even if you do not understand the Bhagavad-gita, if you simply read it aloud and hear it over an over again then it will act and you will very quickly become Krishna conscious…’
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Thank U Sir.
HARE KRISHNA@
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa dasa,
I had a little trouble replying to your comment, so I just want to inquire as to whether my reply went through, containing the questions for my interview.
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa dasa,
I have signed up for the newsletter and I find it quite informative. I’ve just recently begun to learn about the Hindu religion and way of life and I feel as though a deep understanding of the Bhagavad Gita is key to this. I have begun to chant Hare Krishna on japa beads and have benefited greatly. I am also taking a class at my school related to Hindu beliefs and I was wondering if you and I could have a quick email interview (about five questions) regarding some of the major points of Hindu devotion and Krishna consciousness. This would mean a great deal to me and it would also give me a better understanding of being a devotee. Whatever you choose, I respect your wishes and will continue chanting and reading the newsletters.
Thank you and Hare Krishna.
Brianna
Hare Krishna Brianna
Krishna consciousness is not Hinduism. You will not find the word ‘Hindu’ anywhere in the the Vedic scriptures. This ‘Hinduism’ is a later invention. A sectarian religion like Christianity or the Muslim religion.
Krishna consciousness is not Hinduism.
Krishna consciousness is the original consciousness that is present within everyone, and through the practice of Krishna consciousness we can again uncover that original consciousness.
If you want to post the questions of your interview here I can answer them for you here.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa dasa,
I am sorry if I offended you or Krishna Consciousness in any way; thank you very much for clarifying. I would still like to ask you a few questions. Feel free to elaborate as much as you would like, or to correct any misgivings or incorrect information on my part. 1.) How do you (and Krishna Consciousness devotees in general) view varnasrama and carry it out, especially in today’s modern world? Do you find any day to day difficulty in this, living in such a chaotic and hectic society? 2.) How were you first introduced to the Krishna Consciousness? Through word of mouth, texts? What were your initial thoughts on it and the philosophy? Have they differed in any way after reading the texts and becoming a devotee? How has it impacted your life as a whole, spiritually? 3.) Are there any certain passages or texts within the Bhagavad Gita that speak the most to you in your own life? 4.) Do you find that individuals of different philosophies or religions are tolerant or accepting of Krishna Consciousness and can fit it into their own lives or belief systems? In other words, is Krishna Consciousness beneficial to any individual who reads the texts and truly comes to know their meaning and power, regardless of background or belief? How tolerant are the beliefs of Krishna Consciousness toward other philosophies and belief systems? 5.) In what ways do Krishna and Krishna Consciousness devotion take place in everyday life in the modern world. How can the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita be put into action each day? (Advice to someone just learning about Krishna Consciousness) 6.) If there are any other beliefs or core teachings that are important for one to understand about Krishna Consciousness, please feel free to add them. I would love to learn more. . Thank you in advance for taking the time to answer my questions. I am sure they will allow me a greater understanding of Krishna Consciousness and how Krishna and the Bhagavad Gita can make a large impact in my life! I will be anticipating the next newsletter! Hare Krishna!
Hare Krishna Brinna
Thank you for the questions and I apologize for the delay in replying.
Actually Krishna consciousness can not be understood unless one practices it. For a non-devotee the idea of giving up material sense gratification and surrendering to Krishna is not at all an attractive proposition. They can not understand why anyone would give up sex outside of marriage, all forms of intoxication, meat eating, gambling, etc. But a devotee receives a ‘higher taste’, a great transcendental pleasure, through serving Krishna, so much so that he is no longer attracted by the so-called pleasures of the material world. But without experiencing this transcendental pleasure for yourself Krishna consciousness remains only theoretical and one can not understand it…
1.) How do you (and Krishna Consciousness devotees in general) view varnasrama and carry it out, especially in today’s modern world? Do you find any day to day difficulty in this, living in such a chaotic and hectic society?
Varnasrama is not really possible in the current world situation. And realistically the traditional Vedic Varnasrama society is very difficult to reestablish. So we are not living in a Varnasrama society at the moment at all. Practicing Krishna consciousness as it is established by Lord Sri Caitanya-mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada does not require the Varnasrama society. Krishna consciousness can be practiced in any society. Varnasrama is actually an external thing. It is conducive to spiritual life and helpful for spiritual life but it is not necessary for spiritual life.
2.) How were you first introduced to the Krishna Consciousness? Through word of mouth, texts? What were your initial thoughts on it and the philosophy? Have they differed in any way after reading the texts and becoming a devotee? How has it impacted your life as a whole, spiritually?
Srila Prabhupada introduced me to Krishna consciousness through his books. I was very impressed first reading Srila Prabhupada’s books that anyone could present such a wonderful philosophy that answered all the questions I ever had and also answered so many questions that I would never have been able to ask. I had never read any philosophical books before that were so consistent and logical as Srila Prabhupada’s books. And when I started chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantara and engaging in practical devotional service I discovered a completely new world, the spiritual world. My life, both spiritually and materially, has been totally changed by Krishna consciousness. I now no longer live for trying to satisfy my material senses, trying to be happy in the material world, I now live for serving Srila Prabhupada and Krishna and that is my eternal natural constitutional position and I am very happy in this position.
3.) Are there any certain passages or texts within the Bhagavad Gita that speak the most to you in your own life?
Everything Krishna says in Bhagavad-gita is important and speaks to me.
4.) Do you find that individuals of different philosophies or religions are tolerant or accepting of Krishna Consciousness and can fit it into their own lives or belief systems? In other words, is Krishna Consciousness beneficial to any individual who reads the texts and truly comes to know their meaning and power, regardless of background or belief? How tolerant are the beliefs of Krishna Consciousness toward other philosophies and belief systems?
Krishna consciousness is the absolute truth. You will find everything that you can find anywhere else in Krishna consciousness but you will not find everything you can find in Krishna consciousness anywhere else.
Other philosophical and religious systems are not complete but certainly can serve a purpose for people searching for knowledge. But ultimately a sincere seeker of the truth will only be fully satisfied in Krishna consciousness.
We do not deal in beliefs and philosophies. We deal in the Absolute Truth. We do not have beliefs and philosophies. We have knowledge. So we know what parts of other religion and philosophy is actually knowledge and what is false.
Krishna consciousness is not a religion, a philosophy or a set of beliefs. It is the Absolute Truth. Krishna consciousness is not something external that we learn. Krishna consciousness is everyone’s natural original eternal consciousness. Krishna consciousness is within all of us, it has simply become covered over. So the practice of Krishna consciousness is a purificatory process that simply uncovers our original Krishna consciousness. Krishna consciousness is already there in our hearts, we simply have to uncover it.
As far as other religion and philosophy, generally we do not accept it as being very perfect, we can see it for what it is, we know the position of other religions and philosophies and can evaluate them on their individual merits if necessary. But we have no interest in them, we are interested in Krishna. We have no intolerance to other people and are not trying to force anyone to take to Krishna consciousness. But at the same time we do not place much value in the so many religious and philosophical systems of the world which at best have some vague concept of God but are practically all presenting materialistic ideas of piety and religious aimed at trying to live comfortably in this world and going to heaven or reaching some sort of salvation after death. Devotees of Krishna do not try to live happily in the material world and they are not interested in any sort of salvation or nice position for themselves. As devotees of Krishna we know that we are all eternally servants of Krishna and our pleasure is to render service to Krishna and Krishna’s pure devotees. We do not mind where we are serving Krishna, we have no desires other than to surrender to Krishna and serve Krishna. Whatever Krishna wants us to do we want to do that for Krishna. We have no interest in all these materially motivated religions and philosophies.
5.) In what ways do Krishna and Krishna Consciousness devotion take place in everyday life in the modern world. How can the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita be put into action each day? (Advice to someone just learning about Krishna Consciousness)
Devotees of Krishna do the same things as non-devotees. They cook, they eat, they work, the do everything. It may appear that a devotee of Krishna is doing the same things as a non-devotee, but there is an important difference. Every action of a devotee of Krishna is motivated by the desire to serve Krishna, to please Krishna. A devotee of Krishna has no personal interest. His only interest is to please his spiritual master and Krishna. So becoming Krishna conscious just means to learn how to do the same things we are already doing but to do them for Krishna. Krishna consciousness means doing everything for Krishna and doing nothing for ourselves.
No one can become Krishna conscious without the blessings and without pleasing a pure devotee of Krishna. That is the way. It is not possible to become Krishna conscious simply by study or by any other means. One must find an surrender to a bona fide spiritual master. It is only through this process of surrender, service and hearing from a bona fide spiritual master that Krishna consciousness can develop.
6.) If there are any other beliefs or core teachings that are important for one to understand about Krishna Consciousness, please feel free to add them.
Krishna consciousness is not possible without surrender to a pure devotee of Krishna. Most people who attempt to become Krishna consciousness either get cheated by a bogus so-called spiritual master who is not himself a pure devotee of Krishna and who therefore has no power to deliver Krishna consciousness to anyone else or if they are so fortunate to find a pure devotee of Krishna most people are not able to give up their personal interest and surrender to a bona fide spiritual master.
So as a result real Krishna consciousness is a very rare thing. But for a sincere student Srila Prabhupada is living in his books and a sincere person can easily find Krishna consciousness by reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and by surrendering to and serving His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Krishna consciousness is not such a simple thing to attain. It is the greatest treasure, and to achieve the greatest treasure one has to work for that. But even if one works very hard, if he does not have a pure devotee as his spiritual master to guide him, he will not be able to achieve Krishna consciousness on his own strength.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishana madhudvisa-dasa,
Happy to receive a news letter from you about the great literature of godhead sri krishna BHAGAVAD GITA. I expect more and more from you regarding the vedic literature.
Thank a lot.
Hare Krishna.
i want to ask one big question, whethere god is good or bad really and whether he is really perfectionist and why krishna is fond of girls and why krishna in bhagavat gita says detachment from material world, and why lord krishna alone always around with girls? is it moral ,please reply to my question
Hare Krishna Renuka
Krishna is all-good absolute. So na matter what Krishna does that is good. Krishna is not subject to the morals of the material world. Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is everyone’s lovable object.
It is not exactly that Krishna is fond of girls, Krishna is self-satisfied and complete in Himself. But the girls are fond of Krishna. Krishna has all the attractive qualities in full. Krishna has all beauty, all strength, all knowledge, all wealth, all fame and all renunciation. So the girls are very, very attracted to Krishna. And Krishna does appreciate very much the pure love and devotion and service of his devotees. And Krishna reciprocates the love and service of His devotees in the way they want to see Him. So if a girl is a pure devotee and wants to see Krishna as her lover then Krishna will appear as her lover. This is not immoral, this is the highest morality.
But really these things can not be understood in the neophyte stage. We should not be very anxious to try and understand the pastimes of Krishna with the gopis until we are actually advanced in Krishna consciousness because we will misunderstand them. Many people consider Krishna is an ordinary person and therefore they misunderstand his confidential pastimes in Vrindavan.
So what you need to do is become a pure devotee of Krishna. You can not hope to understand these things without becoming a pure devotee of Krishna. Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita that I am not manifest to the foolish and unintelligent, to them I am hidden by the curtain of maya. So we can not expect to understand Krishna while we are still in maya, it is not possible. And there is no point in hearing from all these other people who are in maya and who are giving their opinions on Krishna. Because only a pure devotee of Krishna can understand Krishna. To everyone else Krishna is hidden.
So to become a pure devotee of Krishna we have to associate with a pure devotee of Krishna and for us that is His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. You need to read his books and listen to his classes and you need to chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra every day and strictly follow the four regulative principles: no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication. This is the beginning, and if you strictly follow these things every day and read Srila Prabhupada’s books every day you will very soon see that you are beginning to understand everything from the spiritual point of view…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Haribol Madhudvisa,
I understood from another devotee in New Dvarka that things are a bit under the weather for you. I’ve been subscribing to your newsletter for a few years now and find it informative and inspirational. This message is merely to inform you that if you are reaching someone like me, you are positively imprinting the world. I am sure Srila Prabhupada is pleased with your service.
Your servant,
Vaikuntha Murti dasi
Hare Krishna Prabhu
I do not think a devotee at New Dwarka would have any idea at all what is my situation. Currently I am very happily engaged in serving Srila Prabhupada and Krishna… It is very nice…
Too much service. But it is better to be busy. The idea of Krishna consciousness as Srila Prabhupada has taught us is that we have to be engaged in serving Krishna 24 hours a day. As soon as there is some gap in our service to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna then maya will fill that gap. So we need to be fully engaged in Krishna consciousness 24 hours a day. That is the goal…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna, One God many names and many ways to worship. As stated by Krishna bakti yoga, worshiping the personal form of Lord Krishna, is the best way to God consciousness. A few days ago I was studying to learn what is the meaning of the the impersonal path. I soon remembered The Last Supper where Jesus taught his diciples to teach the practice of sharing his body and blood “in rememberance of me.” What a powerfull affirmation of worshiping the personal form of the Lord.
Hare Krsna!!!!!!!!!!
Actuall i need the bhagavatham english text for me to go thru and try to understand the teachings as much as i can. I need a pdf copy so that i can store the same in my i book library. I have been reading naarayaneeyam regularly, evry ekadashi, i read that. Now i would like to read bhagavatham as often as possible and enjoy my retired life thinking of lord krishna all the time. I am sure you could help me
Kumar
Hare Krishna Kumar
You can download the PDF of Srimad-Bhagavatam at:
https://krishna.org/srimad-bhagavatam-original-edition-pdf-download/
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare krishna, i want to study bhagwat geeta step by step by a krishna devotee, please help me
Subscribe to the Krishna Connect newsletter at the top right-hand corner of the krishna.org page. That is what we do there.
pranam prabhuji is it good to tell my friend to read gurudev’s bhgavat gita whn she is reading gita by swami sivananda pls reply
Hare Krishna Ananya
Yes. Somehow we have to convince others to read Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is, not bogus translations like the one your friend is reading.
It is so very rare to find a pure devotee of Krishna who will actually present Krishna’s words as they are. Almost everyone has their own personal opinion and when they write on Bhagavad-gita they actually use it as a vehicle to present their own ideas and philosophy. So that completely spoils the whole thing.
So yes. Somehow you have to convince your friends to read Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is…
But you know, some people are mayavadis and they like the mayavadi commentary and do not like to hear about Krishna actually.
So we have to preach to the people who are a little open at least to hearing about what we are saying about Krishna.
We can not force people who are against Krishna to accept Krishna. So all preaching has to be done somewhat tactfully so you end up getting the correct result.
The more you become Krishna conscious yourself by reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and following his instructions like chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra daily, strictly following the four regulative principles [no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication], etc, the more your spiritual intelligence will develop and the more potency you will have to present Krishna consciousness to others…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna
I want to know how can we not trap in to good karma and bad karma while fulfilling doing our duty towards mankind and god….
Hare Krishna Anand
You can not do your duty towards God and mankind. You can not have two masters. That is the beginning of Krishna consciousness. We have to first realize that we can only surrender to maya or Krishna. We have to decide who will be our master and surrender there. So if we are surrendered to Krishna then we only have duties to serve Krishna. We serve Krishna and that will automatically create all auspiciousness for mankind. And our duty is to engage mankind in the service of Krishna. That is all.
So if we can succeed in this, surrendering to Krishna and only serving Krishna and no one else then we will have succeeded in solving the good and bad karma problem. Because service to Krishna is transcendental to karma. Service to Krishna is on the spiritual platform. There is no material reaction, good or bad, from serving Krishna. The result of serving Krishna is that we become Krishna consciousness, we uncover our original spiritual nature and we enjoy an ever-increasing ocean of transcendental bliss. Not that we serve Krishna so we can enjoy transcendental bliss… No. The transcendental bliss is the result of serving Krishna. A devotee’s every action is motivated by the desire to please his spiritual master by following his orders and in this way to please Krishna.
So the first step to saving yourself from the trap of good and bad karma is you need to find a bona fide spiritual master and surrender to him and serve him. He can guide you. So read Srila Prabhupada’s books. Prabhupada put everything in his books and it is waiting there for you to read. So take advantage of Srila Prabhupada’s books and chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krsna Madhudvisa dasa prabhuji. You said “Not that we serve Krishna so we can enjoy transcendental bliss… No. The transcendental bliss is the result of serving Krishna. A devotee’s every action is motivated by the desire to please his spiritual master by following his orders and in this way to please Krishna.”
If we are not serving Krsna for transcendental bliss which you said then are we serving Krsna. Is it just to please Srila Prabhupada through which we will please Krsna( so “…..that we become Krishna consciousness, we uncover our original spiritual nature and we enjoy an ever-increasing ocean of transcendental bliss.”)
Really what is the purpose of serving Krsna?
The purpose of serving Krishna is only understandable to a devotee of Krishna. We serve Krishna because we love Krishna. It is not that we want or expect anything at all in return from Krishna for our service. Devotees serve Krishna because they love Him. That’s all. Devotees don’t want anything from Krishna, except the opportunity to engage in serving Him… Devotees become happy when they see that through their service they have pleased Krishna. It does not matter if for them that service creates a lot of problems and difficulties and suffering for the devotee. They do not care about that. The are happy if their service makes Krishna happy.
To understand this one has to become a devotee. Otherwise it is not possible to understand….
Hare Krsna, All Glories to Srila Prabhupada A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svami!!!
I thank you for the newsletters. I did read Bhagavad Gita previously. I also saw that changes were made. On this page: https://krishna.org/bhagavad-gita-as-it-is-original-1972-edition-free-pdf-download/ I downloaded the Bhagavad Gita As It Is, hoping that this would be the original one.
I compared chapter 13 verse 1 in here with the website link: http://bookchanges.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Bg-Chapter-13-diff.htm
You can see yourself that it is not 100% the same.
My question is, do you have an other link which contains unaltered version of Srila Prabhupada
s Bhagavad Gita As It Is?
For now I am reading from: http://prabhupadabooks.com/
Thanks in advance and please keep the newsletters coming.
Hare Krsna, All Glories to Srila Prabhupada A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svami!!!
Hare Krishna Vishal
The PDF of the Original Bhagavad-gita As It Is is correct. It is an exact scan of the book:
https://krishna.org/bhagavad-gita-as-it-is-original-1972-edition-free-pdf-download/
It is the original one. So you can read this and it is for sure Srila Prabhupada’s original Bhagavad-gita As It Is…
If there is any difference with the diff file on http://www.bookchanges.com the problem is with the diff file. The PDF file is like taking photographs of the pages of the original book. It is the best authority…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I am not a pure devotee, I am a big demon actually. But I like chanting Hare Krishna and hearing from Prabhupada and while I am chanting Hare Krishna and repeating what Prabhupada says I fell inspired and Krishna conscious. But if I stop my Krishna conscious activities I again fall back to my demonic nature. So we have to remain in Krishna consciousness constantly.
I do not think I have the power to bless anyone but if I do surely I can bless you to my ability. But realistically it is not my blessings that will help you advance in spiritual life, it is Srila Prabhupada’s blessings. And Prabhupada’s blessings are there, we simply have to accept them. So you have to surrender to the idea of at least following the basic things like chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra daily and strictly following the four regulative principles and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day. If you will surrender to these things you will get Srila Prabhupada’s blessings for sure and that is the most important thing.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Yes. Everything we cook at home we must cook for Krishna, not for ourselves or or family. This consciousness we have to develop. That is Krishna consciousness, doing everything, even cooking, for Krishna. And when the cooking is complete we can offer to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna and then distribute the Krishna prasadam to our family.
One round means you have to chant the complete Hare Krishna Mantra:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
One each bead, that means one round chanting the full Hare Krishna mantra on all 108 beads.
Yes. Of course eating non-veg food has a bad effect on us. But the real thing is we should only accept Krishna prasadam. Even non-veg food, if it is not Krishna prasadam, will have a bad effect on us. So the point is not really veg/non-veg. The point is to only accept Krishna prasadam which is of course automatically non-veg…
You have to adjust things so you can chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day in your life. Otherwise you will not be able to become Krishna conscious and your life will be wasted….
Hare Krishna Prabhuji,
I am delighted to inform you that by the blessings of Lord Sri Krishna The Supreme Personality of Godhead I have been blessed with four ‘Shaligram Shilas’ obtained from River Kali Gandaki (Muktidham in Nepal) – these are Laxmi Damodar Chakradhari Chaturbhuj Maha Vishnu, Laxmi Narayana, Matsya & Ladoo Gopal. I should mention that the crevice in Laxmi Damodar Chakradhari Chaturbhuj Maha Vishnu Shaligram shila has sparkling elements; when I consulted experts on this subject, they mentioned that this represents ‘Vaikunth’ and is very rarely found as this is the abode where Maha Vishnu and his consort Sri Laxmi reside and therefore it has glitter and sparkling elements. This is beauty of Lord is simply awesome to be experience in real.
By the sheer presence of these divine forms of Lord, my life seem to have changed. The events that led me to receive these blessed shilas cannot be described in words – it just happened as if it was all stage managed by Lord. The desire to posses Shaligram just erupted in me from nowhere and God instantly consented to come and reside in my home!
While I am continuing to read the wonderful eBooks from your website (currently reading Shrimad Bhagvatam), the daily puja of Shaligram, abhiskeha & decorating him with sandal paste, tulsi etc while chanting Purusha Suktam, Narayan Suktam & Vishnu Shasranam is simply divine. The more I read on the significance of Shaligram, more enchanting is the experience. I can actually feel presence of Lord at my home, anklet sounds late at night, Lord mentioning that he is hungry & its time for food, Lord saying that he is now sleepy & I should close the puja room door, in case by oversight if I have left the puja room door open he wakes me up asks me to close it, he wakes me up sharp at 4:30 am so that he can be bathed, decorated and fed etc. Its a live conversation that you can have with the Lord himself – its simply fabulous.
If any of the Hari bhaktas here have experience to share please do so, as such experiences reaffirms what has been written in epic scriptures by great sages and guru’s like Srila Prabhupada and confirms presence of God in Kali yuga.
I also urge you to share your knowledge about Shaligram to all the bhaktas, which will further elevate and bring all of us closer to the divine goal – of going back to Goloka Brindavana! Thanks to this divine act of God, that I came to know about the significance of ‘Tulsi in Lord’s puja’ and ‘Brindavan’ – one of the greatest devotee & consort of Sri Krishna is ‘Tulsi’ who was earlier born as ‘Brinda’ through whom the Lord manifested in the Shaligram form & she has appeared as tulsi plant to be always with the Lord! Such great are his pastimes for the benefit of mankind. No wonder Srila Prabhupada chose to rest in peace at Brindavan near Mathura. Brindavan is the place where Sri Krishna and Brinda even today continue their pastimes – such divine is this place and inseparable is Lord devotee relationship.
I am blessed that Lord gave me this human form, so that I can use my discretionary abilities in the right direction and reach the divine goal. Its just that we need to take the first few steps forward and experience of what Lord can do for us, he will carry you in his lap to the goal! Such ‘Dayanidhi’ is Lord Sri Krishna!
Sarvam Shri Krishnarpanamastu!
Achyut
PS: during my childhood everyone used to make fun of my name & I used to feel dejected (as ‘Achyut’ if pronounced incorrectly means untouchable & also has inappropriate connotations in slang Hindi). My parents used to tell me that Achyut is the name of Krishna so don’t worry, people who tease you are fools. Now after 44 years of my life, I realize why my name was kept as ‘Achyut’. Thank you Grandpa (who chose this name for me) and my Parents, who inculcated the ‘spiritual’ aspect in me and I am delighted that my name is Achyut. So everything that happens, is for a purpose and as per Lord’s divine plan. Hare Krishna!
hare krishna pr ji
In my home my mother is putting onion and garlic in food.
I eat food made by my mother as I still young and not allowed to do so. I know this affects my consciousness but sometimes on my request she make food without onion and garlic, and she asked me why onion and garlic is not eaten?
so please answer this question prabhu ji so i can tell her.
hre krshna
Hare Krishna Sumit
It is because onion and garlic are foods that are in the mode of passion. There are three modes of material nature: the mode of goodness, the mode of ignorance and the mode of passion. So for us to make advancement in spiritual life we need to raise our consciousness to the mode of goodness. So to do this we need to limit our eating to foods that are in the mode of goodness. So that is grains, milk products and fruits and vegetables. Onions and garlic are exceptions because they are foods that are in the mode of passion and agitate our body in ways that are not conducive to spiritual life.
Of course this is one reason but it is not the real reason. The real reason is that Krishna only accepts foods that are in the mode of goodness. So onions and garlic can not be offered to Krishna. That is the main thing.
So the real point actually is to only accept Krishna prasadam, only accept the foods that have been cooked by devotees and offered to Krishna. So I think your mother is an Indian and this Krishna culture is India’s culture and probably your mother does believe in Krishna and knows many things about Krishna and maybe her mother or grandmother was cooking for Krishna and offering food to Krishna. So the idea of preparing an offering for Krishna and offering it and then accepting the Krishna prasadam, the remnants of the foods offered to Krishna, is very familiar to most Indian mothers.
So perhaps if you just encourage your mother a little bit and tell her something about Krishna consciousness and get her to read some of Srila Prabhupada’s books she will easily understand that the best thing is to cook for Krishna, to offer the bhoga to Krishna, and then to distribute the Krishna prasadam to her family. She can easily understand this because of her Indian culture and I think if you explain these things to her nicely she will agree to cook without the onions and garlic and more importantly cook for Krishna and offer the bhoga to Krishna and distribute Krishna prasadam to her family.
It is not very difficult because she is cooking anyhow. It is not difficult to cook and offer to Krishna. And she can get hing, asofetetta, that is a strong spice that works something like onions and garlic in the food. And of course she can use ginger which is also a very good spice.
But the main thing is to convince her that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that we are all eternally servants of Krishna and that we are suffering here in the material world because of our forgetfulness of Krishna and that if we simply cook for Krishna, offer the bhoga to Krishna and accept the Krishna prasadam that will help us to always remember Krishna and then naturally at the time of death we will remember Krisha and Krishna promises in the Bhagavad-gita that “whoever remembers Me at the time of death certainly comes to Me.”
So that is the purpose of human life, to elevate our consciousness so that we are Krishna conscious at the time of death. And a very important part of elevating our consciousness is to only accept Krishna prasadam. And it is so easy because we are already cooking for ourselves anyhow, so just switching to cooking for Krishna takes no extra time and effort at all. All we have to do is to be very clean when we are cooking and not taste any of the food before it is offered to Krishna and not cook with onions and garlic. So there is no effort really, but the benefits we get by offering a nice meal to Krishna are unlimited. It is not that Krishna is hungry and needs us to feed Him, it is not like that. Everything we have already belongs to Krishna anyhow so really we only have His things so we have nothing of our own to offer to Him. But Krishna is very happy with us if we take the things He has given us and if we recognize that they are Krishna’s things and we use them to prepare a nice offering for His pleasure. Krishna will become really pleased with us if we use our limited independence like this in his service.
Of course the offering to Krishna is not direct. We only know about Krishna by the mercy of Krishna’s pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada, so our link to Krishna is through Srila Prabhupada. So actually we cook for Srila Prabhupada and offer the bhoga to him and he offers it to Srila Bhaktsiddhanta, his spiritual master an so on in this way the offering goes to Krishna via the disciplic succession.
So anyhow the idea is to preach to your mother nicely and get her to read Prabhupada’s books and get her to awaken the Krishna consciousness that is already there in her heart. This is easy and very natural for her because of her Indian culture.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Namaskar,Madhudvisa Dasaji
I am a Madhwa Brahmin(belonging to the Brahmana sect)We as a rule worship Krishna.I have observed that though it is so ALL our family members are highly materialistic..I was always inquisitive even as a child to know why we are here , where we go later etc.My husband and I suffered hell for the past 10 to 12 years.My husband lost his job and was without it for 2 years.Our own relatives are our enemies without any provocation. We have two teenaged children who are brilliant in their studies.I had also taught them everything that I read about Krishna, about Garuda Puran and how to lead our lives accordingly..My daughter is 16 years old now.When she was 13, she participated in an International yoga competition in Bangalore where among several hundreds and thousands of participants,she was one among the only two who could answer Questions from Bhakti yoga,Gnana yoga etc and won accolades for it.I am very religious and we at home just love and trust Krishna implicitly.We still are not free from our sufferings, but continue to believe that some day THE LORD will definitely show HIS mercy on us.we forgot what peaceful life is. Of course we can see how He has been with us. But I can tell you that I have read almost all the books by Acarya Prabhupada. My son and myself have had Krishna in our dreams three or four times showing us that we could just rely on Him. I was teaching in a College earlier but now I do not have the inclination or stamina for it. I spend time (apart from household work) going through the ancient scriptures instead of the English novels I had preferred earlier.Whatever the scriptures, the SUMMARY. is the same KRISHNA and SHREE HARI…Both my husband and I are staunch believers that every thing happens according to HIS wish alone.What I wish to state here is that my faith in Krishna increased manifold after I had the good fortune of reading books by Acharya Prabhupada ..Definitely I find your Newsletter inspiring.I would like to know from you how quickly we can gain peace of mind.
It’s so nice that Kṛṣṇa has given me this Śrīmad bhagavad gītā to read. Never did I imagine in that Mahabharat, was the Lord giving the most important message. All glories to his Divine Grace A.C
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada for helping to spread this authorised version of Gita through the grace of his Guru.
Hare Śrīmad bhagavad gītā ! Please engage me in your service.
JAI SRILA PRABHUPADA!
hare krishna prabhuji dantavat pranam,
please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to srila prabhupad.
my unfortunate day started with the arrival of my parents i am struggling very hard with my bhakti… just praying krishna to give me strength…. Prabhu ji i want to know in what category are these people who worship krishna, knows his pastimes, studied all vedic literature (BG, BHAG, chaitanya charitramirt etc) , bhagwat gita’s tough sanskrit verses is just in their tongue but waiting to complete thier responsiblity, waiting to get more old, addicted to tea and cigerate, fish…they dont do mala….(sometimes they utter the maha mantra though) ..sometimes use abusive languages… srila prabhupad mentioned three type of people- devotees, innocent and demons…. one can preach innocent but not demon. i wonder the type of devotee i explained above falls into which category.?
because this is what the scene in my home….. they dont like prabhupad, they dont appreciate me doing mala (though m never going to leave it), they say i have become terrorist, (as I refuse to budge from my lifestyle and don’t pay attention to their suggestion of leaving all this and enjoy life) … as terrorist brain wash the innocent people to attack in some place…. similarly this hare krishna people (iskcon people) brainwash the young generation……. and all rules regulations followed in iskcon just manufactured by prabhupad but they dont know that i became small devotee of krishna… by simply reading prabhupad’s Bhagwat gita as it is without associating with with any devotee or by visiting temple. though now i visit temple sometimes and associate with devotees. Parents just start critising me, my bhakti life style and prabhupad since the time I reach home from office till they go to bed for sleep. With patience I just keep listening and sing hare Krishna from inside sometimes it becomes hard to tolerate comments on srila prabhupad as I consider him as my spiritual master and believe Krishna only sent him to me… and he does not speak himself from his behalf he always quote vedic literatures. Unfortunately my parents not understanding my spiritual activities.
also i want to ask in BG as krishna promises in chapter 4 whoever knows his appearance and his transcendental qualities will attain his abode and will not come back to this material world. now i am not critizing my family just want to ask that my father he knows qualities, activities of krsna… everything he knows as he studied literatures but i actually find lack of bhakti in him ( as per what i have understood what actually bhakti is by reading prabhupad books).. he is against any guru including prabhupad, he says the literature is only guru, books will guide us towards godhead, but not by merely reading prabhupad books and do hare krishna hare krishna.
so tell me merely knowing krishna’s pastimes can we attain him as he told in BG chapter 4? One last question I started doing 1-2 rounds of mala each on behalf of my mom and dad after finishing my 16 rounds, so can one do mala on behalf of others, as I badly want my parents to love Krishna apart from just appreciating him being a god, I want their future to be bright. i just pray to krishna to give me strength , I want to be his gud devotee want to serve him and prabhupad and i shall never leave his lotus feet ….
Hare krishna
Hare Krishna Sonika
As you become a pure devotee of Krishna automatically your parents and other family members will benefit from your devotional service. So the main thing is, as you are doing, to stick very strictly to chanting Hare Krishna and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and following the regulative principles yourself. We get spiritual potency through these activities and that is the only way we can help others to come to Krishna consciousness, by being pure ourselves.
We can only try as far as preaching is concerned. We can ask the people to chant Hare Krishna, give them prasadam, have a kirtan and try and engage them in chanting Hare Krishna, etc. But ultimately devotional service is a voluntary thing and they have to want to perform devotional service and do it voluntarily. We can not force others to become Krishna consciousness. All we can do is try to awaken their dormant Krishna consciousness by getting them to chant Hare Krishna, to take Krishna prasadam and read Srila Prabhupada’s books… And if they don’t want to then ultimately that is there decision and we can not force them.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
1.I used to chant 5-6 round and am slowly increasing. By October end, I would be chanting 16 rounds. However as I progressing towards this goal,maya is making it tougher by making me get low marks in almost all the recent tests and thus demoralizing me. How should I deal with such strong maya?
2.I suffer from severe cold very frequently because of weak immunity.By honouring Krishna prasadam, could I get free from frequnt miserable cold?
Hare Krishna.AGTSP
Hare Krishna Divine
Just worry about improving your Krishna consciousness and everything else will be OK. Of course you have to do the other things. But realistically it only takes 2-3 hours to chant 16 rounds so that leaves you plenty of time to do the other things you have to do in your life.
As far as getting good marks you have to study the material and learn it and if you learn it then you will get good marks. But not everyone is actually able to study like this very well… Anyhow you should not get demoralized because you get low marks. We have to know that we are not in control. We can try our best and that is all. Ultimately the result is in Krishna’s hands.
We don’t honor Krishna prasadam to cure a cold. We all have so many material difficulties to overcome. That is absolutely everyone in the material world, devotees and non-devotees. Everyone is thinking they are suffering in the material world and that they should not be suffering and that it is Krishna’s fault and asking how they can stop the suffering. But this material world is for suffering only. Everyone is suffering here. So we have to expect that we will suffer in so many ways. Of course that suffering is only the material body. So once a devotee actually realizes that he is not the material body then even though the body is suffering he becomes transcendental to that. But we can not expect that our material body will not be affected by birth, old age, disease and death. That is the nature of the material world.
We all come to the material world with certain karma, certain reactions — good and bad — that we are destined to suffer and enjoy in this life, and these reactions will come. We will suffer to the extent that we are meant to suffer according to our karma, our work, and we will ‘enjoy’ to the limit that our good karma and pious activities permit.
Of course for an actual pure devotee of Krishna Krishna may adjust everything. But still we see it from the history that so many pure devotees of Krishna undergo extreme suffering from the material point of view. Of course because they are transcendentally situated they are not so much affected by it. But you know Srila Prabhupada was suffering from so many very serious health issues during the time he was traveling all over the world and preaching Krishna consciousness. But he just ‘made the best use of a bad bargain’ and kept on preaching in spite of so many problems with his body.
For severe cold you can just do the common sense things like keep warm and make ‘brahmastras’ [boil fresh ginger and after you take it off the flame add lemon juice and honey and offer it to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna and that will help you with your colds. And take vitamin C, etc… So we have to make some token attempt at lest to look after our bodies but we can not get too concerned about the material body. The material body is a source of pain and suffering only and we should know and expect that.
You know it is not just you that is getting a cold. So many people get colds and so many people get much, much worse… So you know that is the symptom of having a material body, it is going to get sick, get old and die… We have to get used to this and just go on with our Krishna consciousness in spite of all sorts of difficulties and problems…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
Hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
Prabhu ji,
In our universe whatever had done do or ill be do that all have fixed and ill be fix for human being.
so what is punya and what is paap but when we are not doing any thing without instruction of krishna so why we responsible for paap.
If you are actually doing everything for Krishna under the direction of a pure devotee of Krishna then your actions are completely transcendental and you are not going to experience any material reactions for your actions. When we work for Krishna under the direction of Krishna’s pure devotee then such transcendental activities generate no material reactions at all.
But of course most people are not actually working for Krishna under the direction of Krishna’s pure devotee. So they are responsible for the reactions to their activities.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I was filled with happiness when I read that a fallen devotee takes birth in family of devotees or rich people in next life. Therefore we should engage in Bhakti yoga as whatever progress we make is eternal and there is no loss.
A simple question. If a devotee falls in particular life, should he wait till next life when he gets a good parentage? Or is it possible for him to recover in the same life ?
Hare Krishna. AGTSP
Yes. Krishna consciousness is all-auspicious and even if we fall down whatever devotional service we have done sincerely is our eternal asset and will never be lost.
But we should not fall and if we do fall then we need to rectify ourselves in this life and continue with our Krishna consciousness in this life and not wait for the next life…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Divine
Yes. It is good news that whatever progress we make in Krishna consciousness is eternal and will never be lost. But we want to become Krishna conscious in this life, not fall down and wait for the next life. There is an English saying: “Trust no future no matter how pleasant.” It does sometimes happen that if we are born in the family of rich people, etc, that we may also get distracted from Krishna consciousness in that life also, and there is no guarantee that in our next life we will have such easy and direct access to such a wonderful pure devotee of Krishna as Srila Prabhupada. So it is always a risk, waiting for the next life.
And if we fall down in this life we should immediately pick ourselves up and again get ourselves back into properly following the process of Krishna consciousness. So certainly if we fall down we should not wait for the next life, we should rectify ourselves immediately and reinstate ourselves in the process of saddhana-bhakti that Srila Prabhupada is teaching us…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
mahamantra in japa beats means what?i cant able to understand?
http://krishnastore.com/mantra-meditation-kit-japa-chanting-beads-in-bead-bag-h-krishna-421.html
thanks ishan and guru ji)but one thing how come we controll of our jellosy.plz give me some advice.
Hi Sandhya! Hare Krishna!
Jealousy also exists in the spiritual world. Sometimes when Krishna is seeing some other gopi, Srimate Radharani becomes very angry!
However, her jealousy is in relation to Krishna. She wants Krishna’s love and attention. So that is the way to control our jealously. As we more and more desire to have Krishna’s love and attention in return for our love and attention – then we will not care how anyone else feels about us. We will become indifferent.
So the way to control jealousy is by becoming Krishna conscious.
Actually as long as we are not Krishna conscious we will always feel that there is some lack. We will want more food, more possessions, more money, more adoration from others. There is no end to this and this is our disease. But as we become Krishna conscious, all of these hankerings will decrease gradually, until all we desire is to serve Krishna.
So keep chanting and reading. We are in the same boat. We chant and read and tolerate these other feelings with the understanding that gradually they will deminish. This deminishing is a function of our advancing in Krishna consciousness. The more we do our practice, the more we will advance.
Think about this.
I read Bhagvat Geeta in Sanskrit language when I was very young. The fact is that I did not understand the meaning at all. The reason was that my Father and Mother (always in my memory now) insisted me to read the holy grantha. Fortunately I got opportunity to study the meaning of Bhagvat Geeta in Nepali language translated by local Hindu person. I was happy that at least I could know something about the Voice of the Parameswar himself. Afterward I read some translation into Hindi , English & Nepali. I found various interpretation and meanings sometimes with controversial teachings.
Now I am reading the grantha ‘Gita as it is’ by Srila Praphupada translated into Nepali ‘Yathartha Geeta’. I am trying to understand it slowly.
You would understand it faster if you read the original in English. Original is always better than translation:
http://asitis.com
Dear Prakash,
There are hundreds of translations of Bhagavd-gita. But in almost all of them the author has not given a translation, but rather an interpretation to put forward his own philosophy. Rather than having the courage to write his won book, he is trying to put words into Krishna’s mouth.
Krishna does not require anyone’s help in that way. These authors, and all of us, need Krishna’s assistance in understanding spiritual phiosophy, but these authors cannot accept Krishna’s help. In fact they are contradicting Krishna’s message. That is a very dangerous position to take.
Srila Prabhupada’s translation is direct. It is not an interpretation. It is easy to understand because there is no word juggley. His Divine Grace is not trying to squeeze some complex meaning out of the text. Srila Prabhupada says “When Krishna says this, that is what He means. Nothing else.” Others will say, “Yes, Krishna says this, but you cannot take it literally.” Then they put forward there own ideas. That is sinful. Asura.
So you can be confident when reading Srila Prabhupada’s Gita, because He is directly representing Krishna’s heartfelt message to all of us. As you are sincere and continue to read you will understand everything and your life will be successful. You will go back to Krishna.
Please consider most seriously. Hare Krishna
hare krsna prabhu ji
its my request to you that pls send me more about krsna conciousness though you are sending news letters to my id after long gaps and i feel that its not sufficient to learn the philosophy or about krsna conciousness,I want more about behaviour,soul our body etc as we are surviving in a matrialistic world
thank you
regards jushmi
Hare Krishna Jushmi
Certainly it is not sufficient to read my emails to become Krishna Consciousness.
But surely you have seen my constant requests to PLEASE READ SRILA PRABHUPADA’S BOOKS!!!
You will find everything you are looking for and much more as well in Srila Prabhupada’s books. PLEASE READ THEM.
All I am trying to do is encourage you to read Srila Prabhupada’s books, that is how you are going to become Krishna conscious, by reading Prabhupada’s books, not by reading my emails.
I am so very busy, Srila Prabhupada and Krishna have drowned me in service, so I can not write many emails at the moment. SO PLEASE READ ALL OF SRILA PRABHUPADA’S BOOKS…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
i always chanting mahamantra but still i am in deep darkness.everytime i feel the crying of orphan child…all the sorrow…of every people.i want to wipe out the tears of all innocense pepole…you all do that help all person..then realy god krishna bless you all…..
The best way to help them is by chanting Hare Krishna and getting them to read Srila Prabhupada’s books and chant Hare Krishna… That is what they need, that will solve all their problems.
That you want to help everyone is good. But your understanding is not scientific, not clear. People are not innocent as you are saying. Krishna wants all of our suffering to stop, but we refuse to give up our suffering.
We are pure spirit. We are not this body. We are not this mind. The spirit that is covered by the influence of this body and mind by false identification experiences the suffering of this body and mind, just as we do in a dream. Krishna wants us to wake up from this dream of material existence.
But there is only one way to wake up from this dream. Krishna will remove the dream. But there is a very, very great price! We have to fall in love with Krishna. As much as we love Krishna, the influence of this dream will dissolve.
It is not that this material world does not exist. But everything here is temporary. This body, this mind – all temporary – just like a bad dream. But if we do not awaken our dormant love for Krishna, we will have another material identity life after life.So the question arises. How much longer do you want to go on in this way?
Krishna wants us. But we do not want Krishna. Therefore we are not innocent. We are choosing at every moment.
To develop our love for Krishna, we have to read His words in Gita and try to understand His instructions. And we have to chant His holy Name.
But mechanical practice is not enough. Krishna wants our love! Whatever ability we have for feeling love, we have to direct that towards Krishna with a sincere heart. That will replace 1000 years of mechanical chanting.
That is called bhakti yoga. Yoga means to connect with God. And bhakti means love. We have to connect to God with a loving heart. Then our advancement will go into high gear. Krishna is a person, and He is simply waiting for us to have a change in heart.
Please think about this deeply.
hare krishna to all of you.i realy like the way you explain gita.it realy seems me so nice.but one question always rise in my mind tht who i am and why god krishna created us.we all know that ,in everyday life we all are in deep sorrow why we can’t able to over come this????and i am feeling soo sad because india is known as god shree krishna country…bt now a days so much corruption z seen at here…he krishna please help my country……..please bless all the people in the world……………..
thank you
Dear Sandhya,
Krishna has blessed not only your country, but the whole world. We are all in the darkness of this material existence. And there is no way out. But Krishna has spoken Bhagavad-gita as an instruction manual that we can follow in order to get out.
So the blessing is there, but we have to receive it. Otherwise our request for help is not sincere.
As pure spirit we cannot suffer or experience pain. But we like sleep-walkers living the dream of identification with our present material body and mind. This bad dream is Krishna’s kindness, because it forces us to look for an answer. When we come close to Krishna the dream will not disturb us. And we will feel spiritual bliss even while still in this material world.
This opportunity to wake up from this dream is available to everyone. But not everyone will receive it. Krishna wants everyone to receive it, but He will not force us. Therefore we have to accept responsibility for our suffering in this dream in which we identify with this body and mind as ourself.
How to do this is not a secret. We simply have to read Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Krishna’s mercy is not about making life good for our selfish desires in this material world. Krishna will not do this. Krishna wants us to wake up and live with Him in the spiritual world. But we are stubborn. Therefore this suffering is necessary. Krishna has left the decision in our hands. We have to become sober and mature and make our choice.
And Krishna asks for nothing from us. All He wants is our love. How to develop that love for Krishna? Krishna personally speaks to us through Bhagavad-gita. So it is not that Krishna has turned His back on us. Krishna has approached us. We have turned our backs on Him. So we have to read Gita and everything will follow.
Thank you for considering this. Hare Krishna!
Hare Krishna,
Was reading book Perfect Question and Answer, Pabhupada has mentioned four regulations principles. What are these four. so far I know is Chanting.
Regards,
Om Prakash
Keep reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and you will discover everything.
Four regulative principles are: no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication.
Hare Krishna.
I recently read about the difference between Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.
I am just wondering whether the residents of Vaikuntha have access to Goloka Vrindavana. And is the other way round possible?
Waiting for the reply
Hare Krishna.AGTSP
Hare Krishna Divine
The mood of Vaikuntha and the mood of Goloka Vrindavan is quite different. In Vaikuntha the residents worship Lord Visnu in the mode of awe and reverence, as one would worship a great personality like a king but in Goloka Vrindavan it is very different. There the mood is like in Vrindavan as we read in Srila Prabhupada’s Krishna book. There Krishna is a cowherd boy and He is served by His parents and His cowherd boyfriends and the gopis. So in Goloka Vrindavan actually no one really knows that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, so that worship in awe and reverence that is in Vaikuntha is not really there in Goloka Vrindavan at all. In Goloka Vrindavan the cowherd boyfriends of Krishna just consider that Krishna is one of their friends. Of course Krishna is the center of everyone’s attention. So He is everyone’s very special friend. But they are not thinking of Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They are thinking of Krishna as their friend. And sometimes they fight with Krishna in play-fighting, and sometimes they defeat Krishna also.
So in Goloka Vrindavan there is maya also. Here in the material world we have maha-maya, and maha-maya covers our intelligence and bewilders us into thinking that we are these material bodies and enables us to completely forget our eternal loving relationship with Krishna. In Goloka-Vrindava they have yoga-maya, that is also covering their intelligence, so they do not know that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But the yoga-maya enriches the pastimes of Krishna and enhances the loving relationships the devotees have with Krishna in the spiritual world.
These things are very elaborately described in Srila Prabhupada’s books so the best way to properly understand them is by studying Srila Prabhupada’s books.
As far as if the residents of Vaikuntha have access to Goloka Vrindavan, no they don’t. The qualifications for entering Goloka Vrindavan and the qualifications for entering the Vaikuntha planets are different. The residents of Goloka Vrindavan have no interest in the Vaikuntha planets. They are not so impressed with Visnu. They love Krishna…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna
Please tell me what are the rules to be followed after wearing a kanti mala and the benefits of wearing a kanthi mala. And can we consume onion, garlic and tea after wearing kanti mala. Is there any side effects if the required rules are not strictly followed.
Kindly clarify.
Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna Bidyut
To wear kunti mala you have to be a devotee, a Krishna bhakta, and that means that you do not eat anything that is not first offered to Krishna, so you can not offer tea to Krishna, you can not offer anything with onion or garlic to Krishna. So there is no question of a devotee of Krishna drinking tea or consuming onions or galic because he will never touch anything not offered to Krishna. And yes, it is offensive to do non-devotional things wearing tulsi neck beads. And there will be bad reactions to this.
The benefits of wearing tulsi neck beads are that Srimati Tulsi devi is a pure devotee of Krishna, so when we are wearing the neck beads around our neck we are directly associating with a pure devotee of Krishna. And it is a sign to others and more importantly it is a reminder to ourselves that we belong to Krishna, that we are Krishna’s…
But it is only for devotees. If one is drinking tea and eating garlic and onions it is not for him.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
hare krishna,
Am raju.am interested in reading bhagavad gita.recently i downloaded bagavad gita.started reading.but in that,for better understndng gita.instead of reading gita, it is better to listen from the person,who already understood gita.suggest me which is the better way to understand.as in dat nly says “whn krishna is telling arjuna just listened it and undrstd those thngs.”.if so…suggest me some online gita sitesto listen..
Hare Krishna Raju
You can read Bhagavad-gita As It Is online at:
http://asitis.com
That has Srila Prabhupada’s explanations [purports], so as you read it Prabhupada will explain it to you.
And you can listen to Srila Prabhupada speak on the Bhagavad-gita at:
http://krishna.tv
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Radhey Krishna,
I have read your newsletter and it was by krishna’s grace.
I have a simple question to ask. Krishna’s says death is decided as per our previous karma but those people who commits suicides neither go to hell nor heaven, as per garuda puran, and remained in the earth till their allotted time is completed.
I just simply want to know is committing suicide happens as per our previous karma’s or is it a sudden decision that makes the person suffer after death by giving punishments…
Please, help me and what Bhagawat Gita says on this.
Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna Bidyut
We always have a limited amount of independence. We can always, at any moment choose between serving Krishna and serving maya. So if we choose to serve Krishna then there is no question of committing suicide or any other sinful activity. So committing suicide or any other sinful activity is a result of us misusing our independence. It may have something to do with our past karma as well but our past karma can be changed if we use our independence to serve Krishna instead of serving maya.
People would not commit suicide if they had the knowledge that the situation they would be put into after committing suicide was thousands of times worse than the situation that caused them to do it. So people do this also because of ignorance, they do not know what they are doing and what the consequences will be.
A person who commits suicide may, as you say, be forced to be a ghost for some time, but he will go to hell also. Krishna has given us this material body to be used in His service. It is not our body actually, it is Krishna’s body and we are supposed to be using it to serve Krishna with. So if we destroy Krishna’s body like this then that is a great sin and we will have to suffer in hell for a long time to atone for this sin. So after being a ghost the person who commits suicide will also go to hell.
Bhagavad-gita does not say specifically what happens when a person commits suicide. It is an introductory book that is giving the general principles on spiritual life. So there is no verse in the Bhagavad-gita that specifically states what happens when one commits suicide.
But we know these things because we have heard them from Srila Prabhupada and the results of untimely death like this are discussed in Srimad-Bhagavatam. In the Bhagavatam also you can find out all the gory details of the hells that a person who commits suicide will be sent to…
The most important point to understand is we are not this material body, the body is Krishna’s and it is meant to be engaged in the service of Krishna and if we destroy this body then that is a very great sin and we will suffer terribly as a result of that sin, and that suffering will the thousands of times more than the suffering that caused us to consider committing suicide.
We have to know this material world is a place of misery and death and not be surprised if sometimes we encounter some frustration and suffering here. That is the nature of the material world: a place of suffering and anxiety and death.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
hare krsna prabhu.. PAMHO, AGTSP
Since feb…. my progress towards KC has increased, still long way to go…. by krsna’s arrangement progress became faster without hurdle as parents went to native place so they could not stop me, though my family incessantly telling to leave this drama…they say now limit is crossing do puja-path, chanting whatever but stop doing ekadashi & preparing bhog as they will not be able to leave non veg items, onion, garlic, tea all this. …as parents were away since march i started learning cooking and prepare bhog.. and started doing ekadashi. but my service to krsna and prabhupada in offering the food is not perfect. my kitchen is not proper… my brothers cook chicken very often and dont hv sense of cleanliness…but i try my best when i cook for krsna..i clean everything even stoves i hav bought separate kadai for making only veg items..but not at the stage where i can change all utensils in ktichen and making it perfect ,i am the youngest one in home.. no one listens to me and no one is devotee. as far as cleanliness is concerned while cooking bhog i try my best but i know this is not perfect but i cook out of love, i dont cook for myself or for any other. wat do u sugest , apart from little imperfection in kitchen should i continue preparing bhog.
hare krsna
Hare Krishna Sonika
It is very, very good news to hear that Krishna is making special arrangements in your life which make it easier for you to serve Him and Srila Prabhupada. You can see like this that all these things like your family members going to the native place and leaving you alone for chanting Hare Krishna and cooking for Prabhupada and Krishna, etc. It is all Krishna’s arrangement, and it is a chance for you to become stronger in Krishna consciousness. So it is all very good.
The thing is to always speak very sweetly with the family members and not unnecessary agitate them or unnecessary criticize your brother for cooking chicken, etc. Just be very pleasant and do not disagree with them but at the same time do not take any notice at all whatsoever about what they are telling you to do. So they may tell you to do all terrible things and you don’t have to protest, you can just smile sweetly and have a humble mood. Which will make them somewhat peaceful, but actually you do not listen to a word that they say and you just continue with your Krishna consciousness without any break and without any stop.
And make nicer and nicer offerings for Srila Prabhupada and Krishna and feed the family members like your brother and others with the sumptuous Krishna prasadam. He should feel so satisfied from honoring Krishna prasadam that the idea of eating chicken will never come into his mind again. This is more powerful preaching. It is not very effective to jump up and down and tell the family members to stop eating meat. That will not work. But if you simply make very nice offerings to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna and feed the family with sumptuous Krishna prasadam then automatically they will all become devotees.
So your becoming Krishna conscious is most auspicious for not only yourself but for your family members as well. They are all benefiting from your Krishna consciousness. If just you become a pure devotee of Krishna and the rest of the family members remain complete materialists still by the strength of your devotional service all the family members for seven generations or more will be liberated and will be going back home back to Godhead. So Krishna consciousness is so powerful and so auspicious. And many of your family members will become more open to Krishna consciousness as time goes on and will become much more favorable and some may even become devotees also. Particularly if you feed them up with nice Krishna prasadam.
So even if sometimes they are a little annoyed and a little angry at you it does not matter. You just peacefully listen to their complaints and smile like you are very sorry and it will never happen again. But of course you completely ignore everything they say and keep on chanting Hare Krishna even more… They are an Indian family and in the hearts of the Indians Krishna consciousness is there. So they know actually that you are doing the right thing, they know that Krishna consciousness is the traditional Indian way, and really they will not stop you from chanting Hare Krishna, and cooking the bhoga for Prabhupada and Krishna, and they will accept the Krishna Prasadam from you. Even the Indians may be most sinful and not following any regulative principles at all they still have a feeling for Krishna and a feeling for devotional service and they believe in the power of prasadam….
So do not worry. Actually to take birth in India one has to be very, very pious and has to have performed so many auspicious activities. So your family members have a history of spiritual life, if not in this life, in their previous lives, and that spiritual life can be easily reawakened.
So do not worry, do not be discouraged by anything, just do your best in the kitchen. Make everything as clean as possible and just do what you can and Srila Prabhupada and Krishna will accept the sincerity in your heart with which you are doing these things. Krishna accepts the love we put into the offerings we make Him actually. Krishna is not really hungry. He does not need us to feed Him. But He is truly happy when we take some grains and vegetables and fruits and prepare them very nicely for Him and offer them to Him. Actually all these things are Krishna’s anyhow. Krishna owns everything. So we are just offering to Krishna the things that belong to Him anyhow. But it is the love that we have voluntary made these things for Krishna and Prabhupada, rather than just making something for ourselves. So it is a very subtle thing. Krishna has given us a little independence. At any moment we can freely choose between serving Krishna and serving maya. We are servants eternally. We have to serve, and there are only two masters: Krishna and maya. So our little independence is we can choose our master: Krishna or maya. And if we use this free choice and out of love for Krishna choose Krishna as our master and reject all the temptations and nonsense of maya then Krishna is truly pleased with us. Krishna loves us more than we can possibly love Him. The Christians have a saying that if you take one step towards God then God will take ten steps towards you. So it is like that with Krishna also. He is more anxious to help us to serve Him than we are anxious to serve Him.
You know there is a verse in the Bhagavad-gita: annanyas cintayno man ye jananh paryaposate tesam nityam biyuktanam yogac sheman vahame aham. Krishna is telling Arjuna that “for My devotees I preserve what they have and I personally carry to them what they need.” And this is really very true and I have personally experienced this in my life many times. If we really surrender to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna and we make some grand plan to serve Srila Prabhupada, even though that grand play may seem impossible and it may be unimaginable to us how we could ever do such a thing, but if we just surrender to Prabhupada and if Prabhupada and Krishna like the plan then you will see Krishna knocking on your door carrying the things you need to you to carry out that plan.
I could tell you many stories how Krishna has carried things to me. When I only half-heatedly have an idea to do something for Prabhupada even. Like many years ago in Sydney I had an idea to print the Back to Godhead magazine in the way Prabhupada wanted it printed. It was really not a very serious plan but Krishna wanted it. I went to the charity shop that sells second hand clothing and they had a very good, very expensive printing press and plate maker there which they were selling for $50 for both things. It was worth about $5000. This doesn’t happen. So I could see that this was Krishna carrying the printing press to me because he wanted me to use it to print the Back to Godheads… So I purchased it for $50 and started printing the Back to Godhead Magazine and distributing it in Sydney and within a few months it had become a full color magazine and I was somehow printing and distribution 7000 copies every two months. It is just on example of doing seemingly impossible things just because when you sincerely try to do something for Srila Prabhupada Krishna get very excited actually. He likes it. And He really does carry everything you need to you personally…
There is no shortage of anything, Krishna is the owner of everything, and Krishna can give us anything and everything if we were just actually surrendered souls, servants of Srila Prabhupada. The only shortage is a shortage of Krishna consciousness. And that shortage can be remedied by chanting:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna! Divine,
I think that if you continue to do nicely in your school work, or even more nicely, then they will be convinced that the chanting of japa will not hurt your studies. And if you do even more nicely in your studies, then they may be enthusiastic for you to continue chanting. Because they are materialistic therefore they are thinking only of your material progress, out of concern over your material advancement in this lifetime. But once they they see that chanting is not going to hurt your material advancement, then they will not mind and consider it as not harmful to your material life.Then when you are legally old enough to make your own decisions, you can do whatever you like in that regard. Becoming materially qualified is not a bad idea, because all of these qualifications can be used in Krishna’s service one way or another. Unless you are very advanced and want only to preach Krishna Consciousness. In the meantime, consider yourself fortunate that your parents allow you to chant and attend to your studies in a nice way. I am not self-realized. I am just a neophyte devotee. But as an older person who has been though all that you are thinking about, that is my suggestion.
hare krsna prabhuji
i got your reply and make me feel good.another thing today i want to ask you though i am following krsna consciouness but in my family nobody likes it as they cant give up or unable to accept it.my family members are still non vege. and sometimes i have to cook for them to make them satisfied.and still i have not give up using garlic and onion in my food but yes i can and once i tried also but my husband who is totally against this ask me to cook separately and make separate kitchen.So do you think it create any problem mainly using garlic and onion in my meals though i am regularly doing reading japs etc.
another thing yes i really want to share that after accepting krsna conciousness i really feel more positive and stable .I am able to understand the real meaning of life.and the books and newsletters always give inspiration to me.
regads
jushmi
Hare Krishna Jushmi
You just have to learn how to cook for Krishna nicely and your husband will very much enjoy the Krishna prasadam. You can not offer anything to Krishna with onions and garlic. So you can not cook with it. But if your husband must have it then you can chop some up separately and not offer it to Krishna and your husband can mix it in. But you have to learn how to cook for Krishna and Srila Prabhupada so it is so nice that they accept it and your husband will also find it to be very nice.
As far as cooking meat there is no question of cooking meat for them. If they want meat let them cook it for themselves outside of the house. Or at least you do not cook it for them. That is a very basic thing and you are from the Indian culture and this cooking for Krishna and not eating meat is the Indian culture so your family, even if they are not following themselves, will not force you to go against the traditional Indian culture if you point this out to them.
They know it is sinful to kill animals to eat them, when there are perfectly good grains and milk products and vegetables and fruits available. So all you have to do is point out these things and point out that this is the ‘Hindu dharma’ and at least if they will not follow it themselves, you want to follow it yourself, and you are not going to bother them if they do not want to follow, but they can not expect you to cook meat or cook with onions and garlic…
Anyhow you know best how to communicate these things to your family members. Sometimes there may be some imperfections. But we have to always strive for perfection, even though in reality we may be far from perfection…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I am happy as now my parents have allowed me to chant 4-6 rounds everyday. Before even chanting one time was not allowed but now it has changed. This clearly shows that Krishna is very merciful and Krishna consciousness is dormant in every heart.
Could you tell me how I can gradually convince my parents to allow me to chant 16 rounds and also that this chanting wont affect my studies?
You have to use your own brain, your own intelligence. That is why Krishna gave you a brain…
hare krsna
thankyou for your reply.today one more question for you so that i can clear my doubts.while chanting how can i meditate properly.though i am able to complete 16 rounds not regularly but yes most of the time i am able to do and it took lots of time.but my problem is that i cant do chanting in one place by seating.so prabhu ji suggest me how can i do.And what time it is best to do chanting and what is the need of chanting in krsna conciousness?
regards
jushmi
Hare Krishna Jushmi
It is very good news that mostly you are able to complete the chanting of 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra each day. In the beginning as you are experiencing it may take a long time, this is natural, but as you become more practiced at it it will take less time, but still it is going to take 2-3 hours each day, even when you are practiced at it. But spending 2-3 hours out of 24 hours in each day chanting Hare Krishna is not much. Anyhow as devotees we like to get out of bed early in the mornings, typically before 4:00 am, so it is easy after some practice to chant 16 rounds in the morning like this.
So do not worry that it takes a long time to chant 16 rounds, just chant 16 rounds. And do not worry if you can not do it all sitting in one place. Some devotees do like this, sitting in one place, but many devotees also walk around while chanting Hare Krishna. Actually it is said that there are no hard and fast rules in regard to chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. So the important thing is that you chant the Hare Krishna mantra at least 16 rounds a day and it does not matter how long it take or if you chant sitting down or walking around or any way at all you find it is good for you to chant.
The chanting of Hare Krishna is good at any time at all. Best is to chant Hare Krishna 24 hours a day although that is not really possible for us, at least not at the moment. Of all the times throughout the day the brahma-muhurta, the period that starts 1.5 hours before sunrise is the most auspicious time of the day and this time is the best time for all spiritual activities.
So Srila Prabhupada established the system in ISKCON that the devotees would get out of bed before 4:00 AM and attend Mangal Aroti at 4:30 AM and after that they would chant japa on their beads and after that greet the Deities with kirtan then hear Srimad-Bhagavatam class then take breakfast prasadam then go about the daily activities.
So this idea of getting out of bed before 4:00 AM, taking bath and then engaging in spiritual activities like offering Mangal Aroti and chanting Hare Krishna and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books is a very, very good program to get into. It is a very nice program. We can be fully engaged in spiritual activities from 4:30 to 8:30 say, and in that time we can chant 16 rounds, offer Mangal-aroti and read Prabhupada’s books, and that becomes a very good start to the day and it means that we are awake and fully engaged in spiritual activities all through the brahma-muhurta, the most auspicious time of the day for spiritual activities. So this is the best system. Early morning. Of course even if we have this early morning spiritual program we can go on throughout the day serving Srila Prabhupada and Krishna and chanting Hare Krishna and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books. There is no limit. The goal is to chant Hare Krishna mantra 24 hours a day and to read the Srimad-Bhagavatam 24 hours a day. Of course we may not be able to achieve this but that is what we should be trying for…
So do not be discouraged by any difficulties or problems, rather expect that maya will present you will so many difficulties and problems as you try to become Krishna conscious. But you will always be able to overcome these obstacles maya puts in your path simply by chanting:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
hare krsna madhudvisa ji
i m reading and try to understand your newsletter every day .Iam chanting and reading bhagvatgita regularly but my problem is that nobody likes it in my home.i had give up all non vege and stated to follow up.now here i was not able to understand why people have great objection to follow krsna conciousness?in krsna conciousness why we cant worship other demigods?
regads
jushmi
Hare Krishna Jushmi
It is very good you have taken to Krishna consciousness and do not worry that others may not like it. That is natural. Krishna consciousness means surrendering to Krishna, serving Krishna, instead of the selfish self-centered lifestyle that most people are interested in. So it is a challenge to them to see someone becoming Krishna conscious and becoming disinterested in all the things that they are madly addicted to like meat eating, sex, intoxication, etc. So people object to following Krishna consciousness because following Krishna consciousness means giving up sense gratification and they are completely addicted to sense gratification… That is the problem.
There are always two types of people, the divine and the demoniac. There are also innocent people who can be influenced either way depending on who they associate with. But there are only two ways of life, serving maya and serving Krishna. So one who has surrendered to maya and is a very faithful servant of maya will fell challenged by someone who is trying to surrender to Krishna and serve Krishna.
But you should know it for sure and very certainly that in becoming a devotee of Krishna you are on the right path. Serving Krishna is our natural eternal constitutional position. It is only in this natural position of rendering service to Krishna that we can be happy. It is not possible to be happy in any other way. For the materialistic persons who are addicted to sex, intoxication, meat eating, etc, their lives are always full of suffering and anxiety. They can never be happy until they come to Krishna consciousness.
So do not worry that people may object to your becoming Krishna conscious. Just continue becoming more and more Krishna conscious. People will respect you for it and ultimately some of your friends and family members may also join you in becoming Krishna conscious. But really it does not matter what other people think. The only important thing is that we become pure devotees of Krishna ourselves for we can not help anyone else if we do not help ourselves first. First we have to learn how to become strong and competent swimmers ourselves, then we can think of trying to save a drowning man.
As far as the demigods as devotees of Krishna we have no disrespect for the demigods. We know they are servants of Krishna and engaged in their respective services in the material world and thus we offer our respects to the demigods. But they are not god like Krishna is God. The demigods are just like you and me, ordinary living entities, it is just that due to there penances and austerities and advancement they have been promoted to the higher planets and have taken birth in the bodies of demigods and have been given by Krishna some responsibilities in regard to the management of this universe.
So it is a mistake to worship the demigods as god. They are not god, they are simply powerful living entities, just like you and me, but they have become much more qualified and powerful within the material world than you and me.
You have to remember that the demigods are also within the material world and while they do have some power in regard to things within the material world they are not liberated themselves. They are still trapped within the material world themselves. So the demigods can not help us get out of the material world because they are still within the material world themselves.
So we offer our respects to the demigods as we offer our respects to other devotees who are engaged in the service of Krishna, but we do not make the mistake, as many do in India, of considering the demigods and Krishna on the same level. They are not on the same level at all. Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead but the demigods with the exception of Lord Shiva are living entities just like us, although more advanced. We can also become demigods but we can never become Lord Krishna or Lord Shiva.
As far as Lord Shiva he is described as being Krishna transformed in contact with the material energy in the same way that milk is transformed into yoghurt in the contact of something sour. Krishna is like the milk and Shiva is like the yoghurt. Yoghurt is only milk, it is made from milk only, but once the milk is transformed into yoghurt it then takes on properties that are completely different from milk. And once the milk has been turned into yoghurt you can never turn it back into milk.
So Lord Shiva is like this. He is not like the other demigods, he is not an ordinary living entity, but at the same time, although he is Krishna transformed by the contract of the material energy, like the yoghurt can not act as milk, Shiva can not act as Krishna.
The idea is that yes, we are dependent on the demigods for supplying us with the necessities of life like water, air, sunshine, moonshine, etc. So we do have a debt to the demigods but the demigods are all servants of Krishna so if we worship the master of the demigods, Lord Krishna, then automatically all the demigods will be very satisfied with us and Krishna will be satisfied with us. Actually through worshiping Krishna everyone becomes pleased. So there is no need whatsoever to worship anyone except Krishna because when we worship Krishna everyone else is included.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
As a resident of India, nowadays people everywhere are encouraging others to donate all organs like kidney, eyes after death. Some people also give some evidence from scriptures saying that scriptures recommend donation of organs after death.
I would kindly like to know if such donation is actually recommended in the scriptures? Is the soul affected in any way?
Eagerly waiting for your reply.
Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna Divine
Actually at the time of death the soul leaves the body so it does not matter what happens to the body after death. However as you know the system in India is that the body is burned after death and this is a good system. Because sometimes the soul is overly attached to the body and the bodily relations so if they body is not destroyed soon after death then the soul may hang around as a ghost which is not good for him. So it is better to follow the traditional Indian way and burn the body as soon as possible after death.
As far as the scriptures recommending the donation of bodily parts after death there is no such recommendation in the scriptures at all.
You have to be very careful with this and personally I would never agree to donate any body parts after death. This is a big business which people make a lot of money out of and they become very anxious to get the body parts and the body parts are better actually if the person has not yet died. So it has happened in many countries that when people who have signed these forms to donate their bodily parts happen to be in hospital for some reason and if there is a demand for their body parts then some criminal people may just take the body parts and let the person die. This has happened so many times in many countries so I would suggest that you do not agree to donate your body parts after death.
But strictly speaking, apart from this problem that they may take your body parts before your body is actually dead, I don’t think there is any actual prohibition for such a thing in the scriptures, but there is no recommendation for it either.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
hare krishna dear Madhudvisa dasa ,i am not clear of your veiw over the issue of donating body parts or eyes after death .if a normal person or even a krishna conciouss devotee wants to donate after death then whats the problem?its a sign of deattachment from the body and moreover it will be also considered as punya or good deed i think .releiving any blind person from his blindness by donating in a good eye donation centre is pious work .i think every body should pledge his/her own eyes but remaining in concioussness .the body is temporary will be destroyed but wats wrong in relieving any one from his suffering .wats your view?
There is no point in asking me a question if you are not going to accept my answer is there?
So find someone who you think is greater than you. Someone you think knows things better than you know them and ask him and accept the answer.
If you don’t know something you have to find out someone who knows it, someone who you respect, someone when they answer your question you will accept their answer.
I do not have any views. Views are useless. Who cares what is my view. I can have my view and you can have your view and they are completely useless.
Therefore I do not speak my view. I speak the Vedic knowledge coming in the disciplic succession down to me from Srila Prabhupada.
So as I have already explained to you according to the Vedic system the body has to be cremated very soon after death. Before sunset for example on the day of the death. And that is for a good reason. If the body is not destroyed the soul tends to hang around the body as a ghost and that is inauspicious for everyone. So the Vedic system of observing the death of someone is that the body must be cremated. So there is no question of being able to donate body parts if the body has to be cremated is there?
Why can’t you understand these simple things?
Everything in the Vedic culture is there for a reason and we have to follow it. So we have to follow cremation, burning the body, at the time of death, that is the Vedic system, so if the body is burnt then there is no question about donating body parts. They are all ashes. So that is the authoritative Vedic answer to your question, not my opinion, and if anyone tells you anything else they are wrong.
You do not know anything… “What’s wrong with relieving someone from his suffering?” You don’t understand karma. We suffer because of the sinful activities we perform in the past. No one can relieve anyone else of their suffering… Why don’t you read Prabhupada’s books Prabhu? If you just seriously read Prabhupada’s books you will understand everything correctly… These are very basic fundamental points and you have no idea at all…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
In 2.39 of Bhagavad Gita, Krishna advises Arjuna to Work without Fruitive Results.
My doubt is as follows.
Whether ” Working without Fruitive Results” is Devotional Service.
Regards
P.Magesh
Hare Krishna Magesh
Working without fruitive results means working out of duty without any attachment to the results that come from that work. The materialists are completely opposite to this. They work at things because they are very attached to the result they will get out of the work. So this working out of duty without any attachment to the fruitive results is not actually devotional service as such. It is in the mode of goodness which may create a conducive atmosphere for taking to devotional service.
Devotional service is working for Krishna under the direction of Krishna’s pure devotee. Surrendering to Krishna, working for Krishna. So as you continue reading the Bhagavad-gita you will see that ultimately this is what Krishna advises Arjuna to do and it is what Arjuna ends up doing. Surrendering to Krishna and working for Krishna. That is devotional service.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
hare krishna
y is it tht we shld chant hare krishna? y is krishna nly the supreme man of ths brahman?
i have many doubts in my mind might b because i haven’t studied gita..pls help me out
jai shree krishna
Hare Krishna Archi
Please read Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is, you can purchase it at http://www.KrishnaStore.com and you can read it online at http://PrabhupadaBooks.com or http://www.AsItIs.com
If you have questions while reading it or problems understanding it then feel free to ask your questions here. But you have to make the effort to read Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is, otherwise how can you expect to understand anything?
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Namaskaar. Thanks for the introductory newsletter. Received it 2 times in 2 days though. Await the next
topic.
One question : What does AC in Prabhupada’s name stand for?
Thank you
Abhay Charan, Fearless at the lotus feet of Krishna.
Hare Krishna Swamiji!
Firstly many congratulations on a new look & feel of the website! Its good!
The recent natural disaster in the state of Uttarakhand (Dev Bhoomi) is a reminder from Lord that nature is ruthless but has lots of patience and gives more than adequate ‘free will’ for mankind to amend its ways. That’s ‘God’ That’s Krishna! There are several such instances in Mahabharata where Lord Krishna gave more than adequate chance for ‘mad folks’ to mend ways, when nothing worked destruction followed.
So sooner we get in harmony with nature and respect it, the better it would be and what could be better way to learn than as told by Lord himself in Shrimad Bhagwat Gita!
Even the holy temple of ‘Kedarnath’ was not spared by nature – its a very strong message to humankind – don’t seek gods in temples:
‘Vyãsa Uvãcha
Vãsanaadh Vãsudevasya Vasitam Bhuvanatrayam
Sarva Bhoota Nivasosi Vasudeva Namosthuthe
There is Lord Vasudeva in every living being – if you are good to others & are harmonious with nature it good enough for the Lord. No need for torturing yourself to reach god, he is always with you, in you, just use the vacuum cleaner called as ‘Shrimad Bhagwat Gita’ to dust yourself find your friend, guide and philosopher Shri Krishna!
Kãyena Vãchã Manasendriyerva Budhyãtma Nãva Prakruté Swabhãvath
Karomi Yadyat Sakalam Parasmai Narãyanãyetu Samarpayãmi
Surrender and experience the bliss of life being transformed.
Shri Krishnarpanamastu!
Hare Krishna Prabhu!
Prabhu how much time and at what time of day we should read B.G for maximum benefit?
Hare Krishna Prabhu
There are two main instructions for this. Nityam bhagavata sevaya. One should read the Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita nityam, it means constantly, 24 hours a day and also kirtanya sada hari, one should chant the Hare Krishna mantra always, 24 hours a day constantly. Of course for us it is not possible to both read and chant 24 hours a day. But this should be our goal. At least we have to be constantly engaged in devotional service, Krishna consciousness, 24 hours a day.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna to everyone.
I recently visited Shri Shri Krishna Balram mandir in Vrindavan, India and I saw Swami Prabhupada’s special cooker in which he could cook 3 items at once. Can anybody give me an idea where can I buy a cooker like this in India? Also small desription on how he could cook all three items at once. I can pic of that..if some body wants I can post it with due permission.
Forgive me if I shouldn’t ask such a question
Hare Krishna
Hare krishana prabhu ji
i want to share my little knowledgeable views through you that in today’s life 85% people are living aimlessly. we need to organize them in a loop and help them with guidance.
there are lot of issues for this happenings but if we starts from today by guiding in accerlerating asending order multiples this percentage will come difinitly come down and most of the poeple will find their realy life aim.
best regards
raj kumar – sewak
By proffession i m a teacher. i met my very old friend after seventeen years the last month May2013.i m very happy to see him .my past comes back as a surprise because i like him very much at the present time also(not in a wrong way)though i m married.He told me that he is now a devotee of ISKCON.i met him and talk with him and i shared my some personal problems with him n the person talk with me so positively about all the problems that i had decided to surrender myself.i had give up eating non vege,start doing worship regularly,keeping fast on ekadasi n chanting also.
now my question is that did i had done the right thing to surrender my self on the suggestion of my friend ?i would also like to tell u that after meeting him i m feeling very positive .Every one was surprise to hear n see that i give up eating non vege.foods.Now pls suggest me how can i tell them that i m following Iskcon?still i had not told my husband also?
Hare Krishna Jushmi
Make sure you are following the right person… Get some of Srila Prabhupada’s books and read them and give them to your husband to read also and together you can discover the wonders of the real ancient culture of India. The real treasure of India. You will find that in Prabhupada’s books. It is no good to follow ISKCON, you have to follow Srila Prabhupada. So you have to find out what Srila Prabhupada is teaching you, so you need to read his books…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna ….
Sir u giving me first newsletter that’s very good.but i have to know about relation god with me.if i think i am devotee of krishna and radhey that’s true in my knowledge but my any work are complete in very difficult manner why this is for me.in many trouble i faced in everywork its good or bad .i don’t know please give direction for future.
thanks
Alankar
Keep reading the newsletters and read Srila Prabhupada’s books. You will find out.
I am the unfortunate son of two atheists. I tried to make my parents read BG As It Is but they openly refused saying that they have no interest! They read newspapers for 2 hours but not BG for even one second. Could you please give me some tips on how to convince my materialistic parents to become Krishna conscious by some quotes or some other way?
I need it quickly as they have totally obstructed me from progressing in spiritual life by making rules like no chanting and compulsory meat eating,etc.
Please note that my parents think that because ISCKON is corrupt, Srila Prabhupada is also corrupt and chanting is a waste of time(thoughts of rascals). I would also need some guidance to convince them that Srila Prabhupada is very very pure.
Eagerly waiting for your reply.
Hare Krishna. Jai Srila Prabhupada.
Hare Krishna Divine
You don’t have to convince your parents and you can not actually convince atheists about Krishna consciousness, at least not by preaching to them like this. There three types of people: the innocent, the envious and the devotees. We want to associate with the devotees, preach to the innocent and avoid the envious.
As far as rules like ‘no chanting’ and compulsory meat eating, obviously you can not follow such rules. So just don’t follow these rules. Chant Hare Krishna and only eat Krishna prasadam. You know we have to follow these things, and we have to become determined to follow them and follow them no matter what obstacles are put in our way. So just do it. Just chant Hare Krishna and don’t eat any meat. I think if your parents see you are determined on these points they will give up tormenting you on these points. Even if they keep complaining, who cares. Don’t take any notice of them.
But you can’t actually preach to people who are not at least a little bit interested in hearing from you about Krishna. They have to be a little interested, a little submissive, then we can preach to them. Otherwise there is no point preaching to them, they will just get more angry and offensive if we preach. In those cases we can encourage them to read one of Srila Prabhupada’s books, we can get them to accept prasadam, and we can get them to somehow or other chant Hare Krishna and hear the chanting of Hare Krishna. These things will purify them gradually and they will eventually become a bit interested in the philosophy and want to know something about it. At that time you can preach to them. But not when they have no interest in hearing about Krishna….
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
To be honest I believe in god but I wanted to know more about ramayana & mahabharath, is a Myth or true.
It is true.
hare krishna ..
prabhu did prabhu pad encouraged brahmachari(who will never marry and become sanyasis) system for devotees in youth?
thank you very much
Yes Prabhu. Srila Prabhupada instructs that all young male devotees must strictly practice brahmacary life. This is not just for those who will not marry, brahmacary is for every young man, even if he plans to get married still he must practice as a strict brahmacary in his youth. That will build his character and strength and determination. The idea is that it is best to remain brahmacary for the whole life but in reality most young men will end up getting married at some point and that is also perfectly OK. They can marry a devotee girl and together practice Krishna consciousness and bring nice Krishna conscious children into the world. But of course there is great danger of falling into maya in this way so it is best if one can to remain brahmacary throughout the whole life.
Of course in reality now we are in the midst of the craziness of Kali-Yuga it is very hard to find any real brahmacary who has never had sex life. But still we have to at least give up sex life and refrain from it. For most of us this is the most difficult problem but if we are to advance in Krishna consciousness and get free from the shackles of maya then we have to conquer this sex desire…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
hari bol !! thank you very much… that is all i wanted to know..
While chanting, I produce hissing sound sometimes while chanting Krsna. This helps me concentrate on mantra but one of my friends was telling that I should not do this sound. Is this sinful and should I stop doing this?
Hare Krishna. Jay Srila Prabhupada
You have to chant the 16 words and hear them clearly that is all. There is no hissing in it… Just:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
No hissing…
Respected Prabhu
Thank you for news letter. i have taken a copy of Bhagvat Gita as it is and started reading it. Please give me your valuable guidance to understand it and follow it in my life.
Thank you prabhu. Hare Krishna.
Hare Krishna Manish
It is very good you are reading Bhagavad-Gita. It is very important that you have Srila Prabhupada’s original Bhagavad-gita As It Is, the 1972 Complete Edition. That is the book you want to read and it is available at http://www.KrishnaStore.com
There are many translations of Bhagavad-gita but only Srila Prabhupada’s gita is “as it is”. Generally the people who translate and comment on the Bhagavad-gita have their own ideas and philosophy and they inject that into their translation and commentary on the gita. So really they are cheating. They are not presenting the Bhagavad-gita as it was spoken by Krishna and understood by Arjuna, but they are presenting their own ideas and their own philosophy in the guise of the Bhagavad-gita.
This is because Krishna and His Bhagavad-gita are very famous and if one publishes a “Bhagavad-gita” then people will be interested. But if he writes his own book on philosophy no one will be interested in him. Actually the people are interested in Krishna, so these demons use the Bhagavad-gita as a show but actually they have no real interest in what Krishna is teaching to Arjuna or what Arjuna is understanding from Krishna. They are only interested in somehow twisting everything so they can use this conversation between Krishna and Arjuna to convince the reader of their own philosophy.
This has been done by practically every translator and commenter in virtually every Bhagavad-gita that is available today except Srila Prabhupada’s original Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
So please get Srila Prabhupada’s original Bhagavad-gita As It Is and read that and you will find that in the purports Srila Prabhupada is personally giving his valuable guidance as to how you can understand the Bhagavad-gita and how you can apply it in your life. So please read Srila Prabhupada’s purports and you will find all the valuable information directly from him, how you can understand Bhagavad-gita As It Is and apply it in your life.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Prabhu,
I have a query which has been bothering me for sometime & would be obliged if you can guide me from spirituality standpoint. Everything that we see is created by the Supreme Personality of Godhead – Shri Krishna – whether good, bad or ugly for e.g.,
If I have committed a sin in any of my lives & I have to cleanse it to reach his lotus feet – why was the sin committed at the first place? We are all his child (Shri Krishna is our prapitamaha) so why didn’t he restrict me at the first place before I committed the ‘sin’? I would never allow my child to commit any sin right in front of my eyes – would anyone do? No!
Liquor, illicit sex, consuming non-veg are all sinful – then why was that ‘sense’ created at the first place? Our scriptures mention of ‘som rasa’, prostitution is one of the oldest trades etc. If marriages are carried out as per the rituals (vidhi vidhan) then why commit adultery – aren’t the rituals powerful enough?
So why did god allow ‘dilution’ to come into being at the first place? If the root cause of action is destroyed, then everything will be blissful? Doesn’t God want each one of us to reach his lotus feet?
More importantly, if enjoying is sinful (liquor, illicit sex, non-veg food are all so attractive to human beings and they are in the market because there is a demand, which means its being consumed) why cant god destroy this from the root? What restricts him from doing this?
Evil always initially succeeds and then the good has to fight back to regain its position – this is true even in case of gods – Shri Rama, Shri Krishna everyone…In case of Shri Rama, why couldn’t god keep it simple & could have given wisdom to Manthara / Ravana or similarly in case of Mahabharata Dhritarashtra could have been given a firm resolve by God to tame Duryodhana… so much bloodshed could have been avoided?
Why was the evil required? Why ‘good’ always has to fight back – good is good – so it has to succeed at the first time, but it seldom does! Why?
May please help & guide!
Hare Krishna Achyut
You have to understand that we and Krishna are the same in quality, only Krishna is unlimitedly great and we are unlimitedly small. So as Krishna is ulmimitedly independent we are also in a very limited way independent. Krishna will not take this independence away from us. It is part of us. We are all eternally parts and parcels of Krishna and our business is to serve Krishna. We can only actually be happy by serving Krishna. That is our natural constitutional position. But our relationship with Krishna is one of love. So love means that both the lover and the beloved are independent and they are in love with each other. You can not force someone to love you, so Krishna also does not force us to love Him.
The thing is that we are like Krishna in quality but we are very tiny and Krishna is very great. But sometimes we become envious of Krishna’s position as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Controller, the master of everyone. And we want to become the enjoyer like Krishna is the enjoyer. But actually we are not the enjoyer. Our constitutional position is to be enjoyed by Krishna. But we want to become the enjoyer, which is impossible actually. But Krishna, out of his great mercy, creates this material world, which is ‘maya’ or illusion. And that illusion is that we can become the master, we can become the enjoyer, just like Krishna, in the material world. So we come here to this material world in search of the impossible dream of becoming the master like Krishna. So this material world is really a product of our desire to become the lord and master of everything, just like Krishna. And Krishna, with His maya builds this illusory material world which gives us the impression that we can become happy here… But it is of course an impossible dream, to become happy in the material world, it is not possible to become happy in the material world. There is only suffering and death here. The idea that we can be happy here is maya, illusion.
So Prabhu you are taking this illusion of the material world very seriously… You should not be taking any notice of the material world at all. You should not be thinking that you can be happy here. You should not be surprised that the material world is simply full of suffering. You can not expect to be happy here. The material world is for suffering only. You can not be happy here.
We have come her because we misused our independence. Instead of surrendering to Krishna and serving Krishna we have rejected Krishna and want to become like Krishna ourselves, but that is not possible, and that is the reason for all our suffering in the material world.
If we again surrender to Krishna and become Krishna conscious then we will be in our natural constitutional position and we will be Krishna conscious and will no longer be on the bodily concept of life and will actually realize that we are not the material body but the spirit soul and we will be detached from what is happening to our bodies. We will not care what is happening to our bodies. And we will not care when we have to leave our material body [death] because we will be thinking of Krishna at the time of death and Krishna promises that “whoever thinks of Me at the time of death will come to Me…”
So really Prabhu you are feeling all these things because you are not Krishna conscious. Do not mind, Krishna consciousness is not a very cheap thing. I am asking everyone to please at least surrender to the basic things: chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day, strictly follow the four regulative principles: No illicit sex life, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication, and read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day. So you have to do these things at least. And this is only the beginning. This is the starting point only…
So you have to understand that we commit sins of our own accord. That is the misuse of our limited independence. It is not Krishna’s fault that we are committing sins. That is our choice. So we have to suffer for our sins. What would be the point if Krishna created a batch of robots whom He controlled and who had no independence? You can not become a friend of a robot that you control? There can be no relationship unless there are multiple independent persons. So we have a little independence and we can use that to serve Krishna or we can use it to serve maya.
If we decide to serve maya we come here to the material world and suffer the consequences. That is our fault, it is not Krishna’s fault. It is Krishna’s great mercy that time and time again He comes Himself personally to this material world in many incarnations and sends His pure devotees like Srila Prabhupada to reestablish the religious principles and to kill the demons and to protect the devotees. Krishna does this time and time again because in the material world time destroys everything. So even if the spiritual principles are nicely established in the material world they will not remain. They will be lost in the course of time… That is the way of the material world.
Anyhow Prabhu you have to come to grips with the fact that this material world is only a place of suffering and you can not be happy here and all the things that are going on here are temporary and not important. The only important thing is that we reestablish our eternal loving relationship with Krishna and remember Krishna at the time of death and go back home, back to Godhead. We have to do this, there is no alternative except for suffering in this hellish material world eternally…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare krshna hare krshna
my obeisances to you prabhuji,
krishna himself has come and held my hand ,taken me to a rehab called TULSI, and now it seems is with me 24×7 .i have been experiencing the love of krshna and how much he loves us.my history can be summed up in adjectives and nouns like, brilliant,artist,architect,alcoholic,womaniser,illicit ,champion,extreme egoistic,selfish,and suffered tubercolosis of spine, father wife beater, smokers, meat eating etc etc and etc.but, this was not what krshna was expecting . I WAS SUFFOCATING INSIDE AS TO WHY ME. then last year it happened at the janamashtami festival at radhaparthasarthi temple, new delhi when i got vip card from temple and experienced something of a heavenly experience while dancing in front of the lord. and my life changed forever. i have been followed by his majesty the lord himself to wherever i go as a teacher guardian to protect me from all sins of life. the result, i have given up lmost all practises which prabhupada recommends and read the gita and krshna and othe rprabujis books. i am at peace with myself and want to progress forward by loving krshna more than i can. hare krshna.i was wanting a friend always , and found krshna himself.
Dear Achyut,
Hare Krishna! Your questions are most intelligent, and most sincere. Only one who is coming closer to Krishna can ask such questions. It is Krishna who is giving you the intelligence to ask such questions.
Everything that Madhudvisa Prabhu is telling you is most correct. Also there are slightly different ways of explaining these things so that the answers will appeal to our intelligence.
As Madehudvisa Prabhu has written, we have actually become attracted to the idea of being God, of taking Krishna’s position for ourselves. And therefore Krishna has created the material world so that we can pursue this desire to become like a master, like a lord in so many different ways. In this material world, we are all afflicted with so many desires. But the origin for all of these desires has come from our own hearts. The origin is that we want Krishna’s position for ourselves. And the various shapes of this desire is all the self-centered and sinful desires that afflict us in this material world.
One can think of this material world as a great hospital for those who are spiritually insane. Instead of spontaneously wanting to please Krishna, we want to play the role of being Krishna. Krishna is the Supreme Doctor. And He has the ability to place us under a great hypnotic spell. This hypnosis is for our cure. Under the spell of this hypnosis, we are all having a dream. As spirit souls we are asleep. And we are dreaming. Actually this is a fact. But in this case the dream is gross. When we sleep at night we live within a very subtle dream and when we wake up the dream is gone. But this dream of our life in the material world is also not our real life. But the dream is not subtle. It is gross. And in this gross dream we take on so many different identities, man, woman, young, old, rich, poor, white skin, brown skin…….. All different identities, but none of them real. because we are not these bodies. Therefore we are actually dreaming, and taking these dreams so very seriously, accepting them as reality. But it is all a dream. And in these dreams, we suffer so much.
But the purpose of these dreams and these sufferings is part of our therapy. Actually nothing hurtful, or harmful is happening to us. Because we are not these bodies. No one is hurt. And no one dies. All these misfortunes are simply parts of our individual dreams, our individual hypnosis, implemented by Krishna, so that we can begin to seek for solutions. And when we begin asking for solutions to our suffering condition, we begin to be able to understand the teachings of Bhagavad-gita and other scriptures.
Part of the hypnotized condition forces us to have desires that will bring about more suffering. And therefore these desires are also an important part of our recovery from our spiritual insanity.
We must understand that Krishna is very, very kind, and He wants us to cultivate our love for Him. But in His kindness, He allows us to proceed each at his own speed. He is so indulgent. But He is always encouraging us. And it is up to us how much we wish to accept His encouragement.
It is said that a word to the wise is sufficient. And that word is in the scriptures. If we would agree to take it up, our lives would be immediately successful. But we are not wise. We are stubbornly perverse. And therefore in not taking God’s advice, we are forced by our dream mentality to commit sinful activities, and then we suffer. That suffering is another form of instruction. It is called the school of hard knocks. Those hard knocks are coming from Krishna’s kindness, because we are not agreeing to accept His kind words of advice. Then gradually we will have a change of heart and become interested to hear Krishna’s advice. So it is all kindness. Even the terrible things that we see in the material world. It is all kindness, specifically engineered so that we can be reclaimed. And no one is actually hurt. Because life in this world is all a dream. And the hope of Krishna, and the purpose of this therapy, is that we will come to our senses and wake up from this dream, and understand who we really are. That is called self-realization.
So you are beginning to wake up. And as you read Krishna’s message in Bhagavad-gita As It Is, you will become more and more understanding our good fortune and Krishna’s infinite kindness. Unless we were captivated by this dream we could not be cured. Therefore this harmless dream, which is a dream of great harmfulness, will gradually become understood, as we begin to wake up, as Krishna’s great love for all of us.
Dear Achyuta, I hope so much that this makes sense and is helpful for you. I also am just beginning to wake up. We are going home in Krishna consciousness. We are so fortunate.
My parents bought me Bhagavad Gita As it is 1972 version. I relished it, and I also read Canto 1 SB. On the other hand my parents are still Grhihamedhis eating eggs,fish,garlic,onion, drinking tea etc. I eat food made by my mother as I am still young and not allowed to do so. I know this affects my consciousness as I eat a materialist’s food three times a day. Therefore I am thinking that I will make my mother read BG As it is(Srila Prabhupada lives in his books) so that she becomes devotee.
I want to know whether I am doing correct and will I suceed in my mission ???
Yes. You are doing the right thing. That is the best idea, try and help your family to become Krishna conscious. And you may succeed, but the most important thing is that you try. To succeed in convincing another person to become Krishna conscious you have to be Krishna conscious yourself. And association is very powerful. If you simply become a pure devotee of Krishna yourself and then your family will associate with you and benefit form your good association.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Dear Sir,I donot qualify as a devotee or a Krsna conscious person yet but have started taking some steps to get there, having been influenced by reading some of your posts as well as the “Gita as it is” and “Krsna consciousness handbook”.Are you absolutely sure that just by chanting the mantra I shall attain peace and happiness and become Krsna conscious.I must say that after listening to the George Harrisson mantra song on the youtube(I have saved it in my pc)I felt a bit different,maybe a bit happy as well.I have 2 questions,would you be kind enough to answer.
How much is 16 rounds of chanting?(ie multiply 16 with what number).
In the introduction of “BG as it is”Shri Prabhupada says that “Lord and the lord’s name is no different,there is no difference between his name, form, quality and pastimes,Krsna and His inner spirit is not different”.I have thought over this statement for sometime.Please could you explain this line.Of course one’s name is not different from him as far as the name identifies the person but one’s name is certainly not the flesh and blood him.I can like a catchy name but I may not like him when I meet him in person.Thank you.Dipanka
Hare Krishna Dipanka
There is a quality to chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. Of course chanting the Hare Krishna mantra in any condition is wonderful. But there are things that hinder the effects of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. So that is why we have the regulative principles. It is necessary to follow the four regulative principles (no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication) otherwise if we continue with these sinful activities that will make it very difficult for us to advance by chanting Hare Krishna. Srila Prabhupada has given the analogy of trying to light a fire with one hand and pouring water on it with the other. The pouring water is like engaging in illicit sex, meat eating gambling and intoxication, as pouring water on a fire you are trying to light will make it very, very difficult to light the fire, similarly it will be very, very difficult to make any spiritual advancement by chanting Hare Krishna if we do not refrain from the four types of sinful activities. So as well as chanting Hare Krishna you need to follow the four regulative principles, and in the beginning to give you the strength and determination to keep chanting you need to understand the philosophy of why you are chanting Hare Krishna and for this you need to read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day.
So I am saying that you will be able to attain Krishna consciousness if you surrender to Srila Prabhupada and follow his instructions in this regard. Chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra daily, strictly follow the four regulative principles and read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day. This is the minimum. If you want to become Krishna conscious you have to surrender to at least this.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Dear Sir,thanks for your reply.
What books do you recommend other than ” Gita as it is” and”teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu”.
My other question remains unanswered.
In the introduction of “BG as it is”Shri Prabhupada says that “Lord and the lord’s name is no different,there is no difference between his name, form, quality and pastimes,Krsna and His inner spirit is not different”.I have thought over this statement for sometime.Please could you explain this line.Of course one’s name is not different from him as far as the name identifies the person but one’s name is certainly not the person.Thank you.Dipankar
Material names and spiritual names are different. You are confused because you think Krishna’s name is just like your’s. A material name. But that is not the case. Krishna’s name is Krishna. Krishna’s name is Krishna’s avatar or incarnation. So Krishna’s name is Krishna. It contains absolutely all the potencies of Krishna in full, Krishna’s name is Krishna. I know you can not understand this. It is something you have to realize by surrendering to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna and following their instructions and becoming a pure devotee of Krishna. Then you will experience it personally that Krishna’s name is Krishna 100% full and complete…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Dipankar
1 round is 108 times. Initially when you start it takes longer to get through one round. Like for me it took nearly 15minutes, i’ve been chanting 16 rounds for 2 odd years now and i now take 7 1/2 minutes for one round and in about 2hrs i complete 16 rounds. You don’t have to necessarily do all the 16 rounds at one go – the goal is, ultimately one should only be chanting The Lord’s name and believe me the more you do it the more you want to do it. It’s an eternal high – BLISS is the word i guess.
Follow the 4 regulatory principles strictly and start to chant. Or if you have any vices – ASK GOD to help you quit, be sincere in your request as well as your attempt to quit it. GOD helps those who help themselves. Surrender to Lord Krishna and you have NOTHING to fear or would you want ANYTHING for yourself, just to be with the LORD is what you’ll be craving for. At one point you’ll start to feel – it doesn’t matter what i am doing or where i am going – AS FAR AS I’M WITH SRI KRISHNA. The journey itself is the destination.
Hare Krishna
Sanat Attavar
Dear Sir,thanks for your reply.How do you chant,do I actually need to sing in a tune or just recite as one would recite a poem?Regards.Dipankar.
Hare Krishna Dipankar
You can watch this video of Srila Prabhupada chanting Hare Krishna:
http://krishnatube.com/video/70/Morning-Meditations–Chanting-Japa-with-Srila-Prabhupada
For chanting japa you do not sing it in a tune or recite it as a poem. You just chant the words:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
It is very simple… You just have to chant the words.
For Kirtan you sing the Hare Krishna mantra to a tune but for japa you just chant the words of the mantra.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
hare krisna prabhu
from past two months i chanted 16 rounds every day .by the my internals came i left chanting from then onwards i didnt chanted 16 rounds….and i purchased a bg as it is ..i didnt read it …simply i kept ……so telll some tips ….
I can not tell you anything except to follow the four regulative principles, chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra daily and read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day. If you refuse to do these things then how can I help?
It is not going to be easy to become Krishna conscious. We have to perform the tapasya [austerity] of chanting Hare Krishna when we don’t feel like chanting Hare Krishna, we have to do these things like following the regulative principles when we feel like breaking the regulative principles. We have to force ourselves to read Prabhupada’s books when we don’t feel like reading them.
Otherwise how will we ever become Krishna conscious?
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
sri hare krshna,namaskaar at the lotus feet of guruji,
what is very dear to sri krshna .How i will get my guruji how i find out pls tell me. or you can accept me as your student??? what r the priciples to fallow to me. but since iam diabetic person now a dys i cont do ekadasi earlier i was doing but now not doing is there any short cut to observe ekadasi.
thanking you. plssssssss write me something if not i will upset. plsssssssssssss
chary.
Just read Srila Prabhupada’s books and at least find out want a bona fide guru is first…
Dear Madhudvisa dasa!
Please accept my respectful obeisances! All glories to Shrila Prabhupada!
Is anybody in touch with you from Russia?
Do you know if original Bhagavad Gita 1972 is planned to be translated by somebody to Russian?
It seems to me that nobody in ISKCON in my country cares of the truth…I didn’t know of bookchanges until I was a little bit pushed to accept the spiritual master out of those 70 gurus. I felt a strong protest in my heart and started searching for the proof of my feelings. Thus I found IRM web site in russian and was surprised to know that nobody in ISKCON wants to read it, since it was prohibited for them. For me nothing is prohibited when it comes to the question ot the Truth. Then I found bookchanges site and was shocked and satisfied at the same time. I took all existing russian versions of Bhagavat Gita as it is from 1984 to 2012, but all of them not only had nothing to do with original 1972 version but had a lot of mistakes in the translation itself. (For instance, in the verses 1-3 of 13th chapter they still translate object as subject and misplace the field owner and field knower). Despite not everything is clear for the Russian they have been reading Bhagavad Gita for almost 30 years…I know that some Russian preachers of Vedas, who directly learned from India, know sanskrit, but it seems that they don’t care of the original translation for Bhagavat Gita. They could have compared sanskrit and Russian texts in BG as it is and been shocked, but they haven’t. So it would take me a lot of time, but I seriously think of translating Bhagavad Gita as it is 1972 Maximillian to Russian. Give me your input, what do you think of it?
Hare Krishna!
Hare Krishna Ilya
Yes. The state of the translations of Srila Prabhupada’s books into other languages is not very good and ISKCON do not seem to care very much about Prabhupada’s books in any language. But realistically a translation will never be the original book and I would encourage all Russian speaking persons who are serious about studying the teachings of Srila Prabhupada to learn English. Then they will have full and complete access to all the teachings of Srila Prabhupada including all his original books, his classes, his conversations, his letters, his morning walks, etc, etc, etc…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Dear sir, Sri Harekrshna HareRama.
The thousands names of sri MahaVishnu srivishnusahasranama is the name of supreme god head I am doing this in my daily prayer along with Purusha suktam from long 4 years .Since then I have many changes in me.I have read this site yesturday & I have seen your reply today Swamy I realy get very happy that I have received letter from lord directly & trilled with joy & happiness .Guruji pls tell me that , Is we have to chant hare krshna mahamantra compulsory r we can do many times the same sri vishnu sahasranama.I want to know more about of sri krishna consciouness but I want in kannada language to understand more easily to me.Guruji I am searching a Guru to guide me the spiritual knowledge towords sri krshna& more How I know that srikrshna accepting my daily prayer plssssssssssssss tell me .After seeying you I cant wait more.plsssssssss sir plss.
Hare Krishna
Of course chanting all the names of Krishna, Visnu is transcendental and very helpful in spiritual life. But for this Kali-yuga the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra is particularly empowered and very important. So we must chant it:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
At lest 16 rounds a day. This Hare Krishna mantra is specifically empowered with the potency to counteract all the bad effects of the Kali-yuga. So please chant it at least 16 rounds a day. You can also chant Visnu-sahasra-nama, but that is less important than chanting the Hare Krishna maha mantra.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Dear HRN,
According to shastra, veda, the name of God and God – they are one and the same. Gradually by chanting with sincerity, that realization will come.
But for the present you must obtain for yourself a nice picture of Radha and Krishna and place it on your altar, no matter how large or small. And you can offer nice incense, a glass of water daily, and nice flower or leaf. And if you do this with sincerity, daily, even if only for some short time, you will begin to feel some connection of love. And when you chant your japa, the names of God, then you can chant nicely before Radha and Krishna. They very much like to hear Their names chanted with love. And as you do this every day, you will begin to feel that Krishna is pleased with you. That is the recommended process for answering your question as to how you can know if God is pleased when you are chanting His holy name. When you become personal with God, God becomes personal with you.
And of course you must also give up eating meat, fish, eggs, all forms of intoxication, all sex outside of marriage, and all forms of gambling. And you must read Srila Prabhupada’s books. This is all part of one formula that is most scientific. It is the prescription, just like doctor’s prescription for disease. We are in a spiritually diseased condition, feeling out of touch with God. If we accept this prescription the disease will be cured. If we are serious, we must accept.
Hare Krishna!
Hare Krishna!
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Pamho
Prabhuji I would like to know if there any Spanish translation of the original Bhagavad Gita and other books written by Srila Prabhupada. I´m from Argentina and some people here can read English.
Thanks a lot for your service!
May Lord Krishna bless you!
Haribol!
Hare Krishna
The original Prabhupada books are in English so really if one wants to read the original Prabhupada books it is best to learn English.
A translation will always be a translation and not the original.
It can not be so difficult to learn English if one really wants to read Prabhupada’s original books. English is a very common language nowadays and many of the words are similar to the Spanish words also…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
The Bhagavad Gita is based on a disaster between two families, a battle for ruler ship and as a consequence over 600 million people died. Basically the Gita justifies war and death based on the notion we are not these bodies but spirit souls. Personally I think it would have been a more monumental tale if Krishna has brought peace and wisdom rather than whole sale slaughter. I think Arjuna should have retired to the forest and become a Sadu rather than kill those he loved! This is the problem with religion it justifies violence which all too often is the outcome. Something being perpetrated even today and that’s ok because the Gita says we are spirit souls! Religion is dangerous and the cause of much suffering throughout history and even today.
ISKCON even though it supports “Chant and be happy” is a deception because its history isn’t a happy one. Even on this web site you are squabbling over the Guru issue, yet love the same God, just like the Christians and Muslims etc. It will never be any different because this is the human condition and no matter how theological and knowledgeable it may be there will never be any harmony because it’s all based on human ego and religious ego whih is one of the most dangerous kind.
I hope you are not offended by this because that is not my intention, it’s just my opinion and nothng more. But this is my conclusion having spent over 50 years trying to fathom the human condition. Of course I wouldn’t expect you to share this on your comments page. I only came to your web site to purchase incense sticks but because you have shared your views with me I thought it only fair to share a few thoughts with you. If I offend as a consequence then please forgive me and remove me from your mailing list. I will continue to use your store which is the only reason why I came here in the first place.
God Is Love Lover and Beloved
Hare Krishna Steve
The Bhagavad-gita can only be understood by devotees of Krishna like Arjuna. As an outsider you can not understand it and I can relate to your confusion about it.
It is true as you note that this material world is a history of suffering only. And there is no happiness in the material world at all. But chanting the Hare Krishna mantra elevates one’s consciousness to the spiritual platform and actually takes you out of the material world and into the spiritual world. So in this way chanting Hare Krishna has the potency to raise your consciousness to the spiritual platform and that puts you in a position transcendental to all the suffering of the material world. The analogy has been given of the lotus leaf. Even though it is in the water it does not get wet.
So a devotee is actually in the spritual world although still externally within his material body. In that state one is full of transcendental ecstasy and is completely happy. So actually chanting Hare Krishna is really the only practical way to become actually happy…
As far as the Bhagavad-gita, you will not be able to understand it until you are prepared to surrender to a pure devotee of Krishna and serve him. You speak here of your opinion. We are all thinking that our opinion is something wonderful. But actually our opinion is useless. Our opinion is a product of our experiences and conditioning and education and of the imperfect information we have been able to gather through our imperfect senses. The result is nonsense. We need to realize that our opinion has no value and find a perfect source of perfect knowledge that does have value…
Anyhow, I am not offended by your statements and can understand where you are coming from but I humbly request that you keep reading Srila Prabhupada’s books more and more and you will find a great reservoir of knowledge opening up to you.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Yes, God is Love, Lover and Beloved. This is because there is nothing but God. At the same time, this does not mean that everything is God, as the creative Source or Fountainhead.
Just like the sun. From the sun comes the beautiful warmth that we feel and the sunshine that lights up our world. The heat and sunshine are also part of the sun. But they are not the source. Also those things that recieve the warmth of the sun and hold that warmth, they are also part of the sun. So one can say the sun is warmth, warming and the warmed. They are all sun, but they are not source.
So God is the creator. He creates through His different energies. Everything that we see is a manifestation of the energies of God. But God and His energies are One. So this creation is also God, as a manifestation of His energies. Similarly we are also an energy of God as spiritual beings. Therefore we are inseparable from God, and part of God, but we are not the source aspect of God. We are His tiny parts and parcels. And as such our constitutional position is to render loving service to the source, to God. Like leaves on the tree, if they water the root, they become nourished.
At present we cannot sense our loving reciprocal relationship with God because we are identified with the temporary covering of this material body. But by chanting the names of God, and living a godly life, gradually this illusory identification with the material covering is removed.
Of course I can understand that you want peace. But in this world there will always be bad elements. Just like in your city, there will be theives. Therefore you have a police force. That cannot be avoided. That police force is there to insure that you can peacefully live your life and draw your heart closer to God without having to be disturbed by those elements. Even Mohammed had to engage in battle just so that his followers could live a life of Godly pursuit. So sometimes these wars have to be fought.
After all, if you look at the material creation, all of the bodies that now exist, in plant and animal form – all will be destroyed by the workings of nature. And God has designed this material creation. This creation is also part of God. Therefore God is the deliverer of Death, the Dying process, and that which put to Death. If God is Love, Lover and Beloved, so also, God is Daath, Killer, and Killed. That is part of this creation , part of God.
Therefore the peace you are seeking, will not be had in this realm, because it is the realm of birth and death. Your Love, Lover and Beloved philosophy will not save you from that. We cannot be ostriches with our heads in the ground and pretend that all there is is love. Death will come and take everything away. Therefore we require a more comprehensive philosophy that can put the pieces of the puzzle in place. We cannot remain as hippie or as holder of these shallow “peace” values because they will endure the test of time.
Also to understand such things one has to lead a godly life, and give up the eating of animals. As long as one is part of this killing process, one cannot understand this kind of philosophy. You want to live in a world of Love, Lover and Beloved, while keeping the slaughterhouse in full swing. That slaughterhouse is the cause of war between peoples. That is nature’s law.
So you can think over some of these ideas, and according to your sincerity you will be guided from within your heart.
Hare Krishna! Allah ho akbar!
1.While reading SB Canto 2 Chapter 1, I came across a purport in which Srila Prabhupada says that VedaVyasa taught Sukadava Goswami from the very first verse.However the conversation between Saunaka Rsi and Suta Goswami took much after Veda Vyasa taught SB to Sukadeva Goswami. So how was it possible?
2.Is it ok to listen to Hare Krishna Kirtana and Nrsimha Mantra while doing maths sums or while reading. I ask this because heard that one of the offenses(while chanting) is lack of attention.
Hare Krishna! Jai Prabhupada!
Hare Krishna Krishna Dasa
Whatever Srila Prabhupada says is correct. We may not be able to understand it with our present level of realization but as we advance more in Krishna consciousness these things will be revealed to us. We can not think that we are so great and advanced and our minds are able to comprehend all the little details like this immediately. It is not like that at all. We are great fools. We simply have to submissively hear the pure Krishna katha from Srila Prabhupada and that is the cure for our material disease. So do not mind about these little things that your mind is telling you appear to be contradictions. There are no contradictions actually. It is simply our imperfect realization. But our realization is imperfect in the beginning. So be patient and just have faith that whatever Prabhupada has written is correct and you will see this is true in due course.
As far as listening to the Hare Krishna mantra while studying or reading this may be possible for listening to a kirtan or bhajan. But you can not listen to Srila Prabhupada giving a class for example while doing something else that requires you to concentrate your mind on it like doing mathematics for example.
You have to use your common sense and not worry too much about these fools that say everything is offensive. You are not actually chanting when you are playing a kirtan recording or a bhajan. You are hearing it and the hearing process even works when you are sleeping. So even if you are sleeping you will benefit from hearing a Prabhupada kirtan. So yes. You can play a Prabhupada kirtan while you are studying, etc. You have to use your common sense with these things…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
krishna
Hare Krishna! Prabhuji,
PAMHO!
AGTSGAG!
Thank you so much prabhuji for enlightening us with such a transcendetal knowledge of Bhagwat Gita As It Is in such an amazing way. we are eternally indebted to you. Kindly keep educating us in this manner.
I pray for your good health & long life.
Your eternal servant
Radharanidevi Dasi
hare krishna prabhuji,
i want to become krishna conscious even i am doing mala since 1 year, i initially started with 4 and than raised till 6 but i am very distractive, and that makes me irregular which later creates frustation in me, and all the negativity comes, and this time with more intensity, i dont know why the feelings of lust, anger and insecurity haunts me so much, that i become irregular in my jaap, i dont know whether its my atmosphere that affects or i am weak from myself, please guide me, i am very frustated! i want to be regular….. but its just not happening………
We are all weak and distracted. But we have to get the determination to actually chant Hare Krishna mantra at least 16 rounds a day, to actually 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 a day. If we can not become determined to do these things and actually do them then we will never be able to become Krishna conscious. We will never be able to understand what Krishna consciousness is… So you just have to do it, even though your mind is crazy and telling you not to do it… You have to surrender to Srila Prabhupada and ignore your mad mind…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Dear Kopal,
Hare Krishna! You are not alone. Many of us who have been chanting japa for so many years are afflicted in this manner. It is a question more or less of karma from this life or previous lives.
Now this is my personal experience. Prabhu, you must chant japa until Krishna’s holy name reaches your heart and neutralizes all that karma. Sometimes it will take 8 rounds, sometimes more, before my mind settles down, and I actually become comfortable chanting. Then I feel peaceful chanting japa and actually do not want to stop, because I feel relief and blessed by Krishna.
Srila Prbhupada once told me, “If you are chanting and maya is bothering you, then chant louder. And if you are still troubled, then chant even louder!”
So we are not great saints. We are ordinary people, each coming to Krishna consciousness from our individual backgrounds. So there will be these challenges. I was the son of a butcher, raised in the western world with every kind of anartha, and no Godly intention until I met Srila Prabhupada at age 25. By that time I had formed so many unmentionable habits. But if we give all our energy to our japa, chanting if necessary, so intensely as to make the roof lift off your room, you will find that the holy Name will give you mercy.
The formula for our minds, then, is to chant as many rounds as necessary and as intensely as necessary. Then you will surely feel relief. Like ghosts and demons, all nonsense thoughts will flee from your mind and you will feel safe taking shelter of the holy Name. So make this experiment. Put some time aside, and do a powerful 16 rounds, and you will be very pleasantly surprised at the mercy of the holy Name of Krishna.
You are a good soul. Now you must do the needful. Hare Krishna!, Prabhu.
thanku
I am a class 9 student. I am very much inspired by this Hare Krishna movement and want to become Krishna conscious. However my parents are not ready to buy me books of Srila Prabhupada . Instead they are very much against me becoming Krishna conscious. They have reprimanded me for chanting and have warned me not to do it again. They have the rascal idea that this is brainwashing. My spiritual life is in total disarray. Could you advise me on how to continue my spiritual life?
[Whenever I get time, I go to http://www.prabhupadabooks.com]
Hare Krishna!
Hare Krishna Divine
Just keep chanting Hare Krishna, don’t let your parents stop you. It is the nature of the material world that it is full of demoniac people who are all envious of Krishna and as soon as they see anyone developing a little Krishna consciousness they want to crush it. That is the way of the world. So we have to become strong and refuse to be crushed. Krishna will help you, do not worry. No one can stop you from chanting Hare Krishna because Krishna will protect you.
But try to be merciful to your parents. Even though the world is full of demons and they are against the devotees the devotees are not angry at the demons, rather they are always thinking of ways to help the demons become Krishna conscious. In Kali-yuga they are not very strong demons and Lord Caitanya is very merciful that He is distributing this Hare Krishna mantra without any consideration of if the people are qualified to receive it or not. So it is a very good time for the demons. It is easy for us to become Krishna conscious.
So just keep chanting Hare Krishna, following the regulative principles and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and do the things you find Srila Prabhupada instructing you to do as you read his books, even if it seems they are difficult things, do not worry, if you are trying to serve Srila Prabhupada Krishna will help you…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna to all!
We are encouraged?/commanded? to “…accept Sri Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead…”
Are there other devotees who accept others as their supreme?
James
Hare Krishna James
There is only one Supreme Lord. So if someone accepts someone else he is accepting a cheater.
Of course the one Supreme Lord Krishna manifests Himself in many apparently different ways. He incarnates in the material world time and time again and sends His empowered representatives. So Krishna and His representatives have appeared in all societies and cultures around the world and have established spiritual and moral principles in these societies in accordance with the particular time and place. So people tend to think these are all different religions and philosophies. But they are not. They are all established by Krishna, all Krishna consciousness, simply the explanation and language is different because a preacher has to explain things in the local language and has to present practical things that the people can actually follow at the time.
It is like Lord Jesus Christ, he is an empowered incarnation of Krishna. That means he is a living entity, but he is empowered by Krishna to preach. So Jesus is preaching Krishna consciousness to the extent the people he was preaching to at the time could understand and accept it. He said: “There are so many things I have not told you because you could not bear them.” So that is the way. He gave them as much of Krishna consciousness as they could take at the time. But it is not that Christianity is different from Krishna consciousness. It is the same, but not a complete explanation.
It is the same with even the primitive tribes who also have some spiritual knowledge. It is coming from Krishna consciousness. The Greek gods are demigods from the Vedas, only the names are changed. It is all the same. There is only one Supreme Lord and His name is Krishna. But He has many other names also by which different people understand Him, and He reveals Himself to the people as the people want to see Him.
So there is only different manifestations of the same Krishna consciousness. But these are all temporary representations, if you want to understand the complete philosophy that brings everything together then you have to read Srila Prabhupada’s books…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
HARE KRISHNA
JAI ACHARYAS, VAISHNAVAS, BHAKTI MAHARANI AND LORD
I still remember that day when I first commented on this website in this post.
I wrote:
“HARE KRISHNA PRABHU JI! DON’T MAKE ME sinful by calling yourself my servant, You are servant of Krishna and His devotees. I am servant of Maya till now so I am not eligible for any respect.”
Now I see a huge difference after knowing the philosophy. The only thing that I regret is that I am not able to do devotional service- most rare jewel one can get ever. I am not able to chant even 1 round as I feel mind wandering here and there into materialism and I think it is an offense of inattention. SO, I had stopped. But I have again tried to start from atleast 12 to 24 to 48 to 108 names to 2 rounds to… Please bless me. I want an inspiring blessing and a great detachment for materialism. I want to dissociate with my family memebers- all Smartas and ordinary Kaliyuga Indian emodied souls. Actually, now no one cares to follow scriptures. But I have got a reason but I can’t follow. I can’t preach to my parents as they feel I am inexperienced 17 yrs old child who has not seen world. Actually they are more or less Grhamedhi. Their aim is polished material enjoyment as is done in India’s Vaishya families from eras.
ASPIRING DASANUDAS
Hare Krishna Shubham
Just chant Hare Krishna Prabhu at least 16 rounds a day and 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. Don’t worry about preaching to your parents and don’t worry what they say or think. Be nice to them, friendly to them, humor them, but do not take seriously anything they say if it would be detrimental to your Krishna consciousness.
In the beginning naturally your chanting will be inattentive and there will be some offenses. But the only way to overcome this inattentiveness and offenses is by CHANTING HARE KRISHNA. So if you stop chanting Hare Krishna you are finished. So do not stop chanting even if you feel it is inattentive, even if you feel you are committing offenses, even if you are breaking the regulative principles. DON’T STOP CHANTING HARE KRISHNA! Because no matter how fallen or offensive or inattentive you are chanting Hare Krishna will solve all these problems for you if you just chant Hare Krishna at least 16 rounds a day. So please do this Prabhu. Just organize your life and force yourself to chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra a day and you will see a wonderful effect in your life…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I m so much into chantin nowadays that I feel hypnotic ……..I fear now that I might not go insane……pls remove my fear……..pls guruji hare Krishna 🙂
Hare Krishna Mataji
Don’t worry, you will not go insane by chanting Hare Krishna. You will become sane by chanting Hare Krishna. So just keep chanting Hare Krishna and reading Prabhupada’s books and follow the instructions you find Srila Prabhupada giving you as you read his books and you will see that your spiritual life develops wonderfully.
We have to realize that it is the materialists that are insane. They are trying to be happy by trying to satisfy their senses but they do not know they are not their material body or their senses and no amount of so-called satisfaction of the senses can make the soul even slightly happy. So they are insane, misidentifying their bodies as themselves and wasting all their time and energy and money in trying to satisfy the body which they are not. They are insane. The devotees are sane.
So don’t worry, keep chanting Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna to all!
I just discovered something & want to share it with all… just read this & you will find as to how we lost our treasures which eroded our value systems:
Lord McCauley in his speech of Feb 2, 1835, British Parliament:
“I have traveled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such caliber, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their native self-culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation”.
After this, Britishers established universities in India & started to teach English, which converted Indians into “Brown Babus” and we slowly started to forget Sanskrit & hence our spiritual and cultural heritage. What Lord McCauley did was his duty, but we fell for this & forgot the Supreme Personality of God Head. So this was not an accident but by design.
Its high time, we rekindle our spiritual heritage – else these rapes, murders, corruption, animosity and erosion of our value systems will go out of proportions & make life of our children & next generation hell.
Thanks to spiritual movement from Srila Prabhupadaji (I can now imagine the amount of resistance he would have faced in building this movement). For us, our next generation and for the unflinching efforts and sacrifice of Srila Parbhpadaji, lets get back to our roots and make sincere efforts to build a better world. The only solution I see is Bhagawad Gita & chanting the maha-mantra.
Jagath Prabhum Deva Devam Antham Purushothamam
Sthuvan Nãma Sahasréna Purusha Saththo Thithaha
Rushirnãmnãm Sahasrasya Védhavyãso Mahãmunihi
Chchando-Nushtup Thadha Dhévo Bhaghavãn Dhévaki-Suthaha
A composition by Vyasaraya Tirtha in Kannada language is so relevant in present context:
“Krishna Ni Begane Baro” means Krishna… please come quickly! We need you badly…adharma is on the rise & only you can stop to this & save us.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!
Hare Krsna Prabhu
PAMHO AGTSP
Thank you for the wonderful newsletters, I really am learning alot.
I am about to start reading my copy of Bhagavad Gita As It Is, I just wanted to know what’s the best way to start reading it, i.e.From cover to cover or just open it randomly read the first verse i see?
Thank you
ys
Shivanie
Hi Madam,
im BE(ECE) 2012 passed out..69.7% aggregate
i hav not got job from past 5 months..
im very confused…
can u give any solutions/suggestions please..
thanks & regards
chethan s
Hare Krishna Chethan
The reality is that the Indian economic boom is over and there are not so many jobs available now. There are now many more graduates from the educational institutions than jobs available. So not everyone will be able to get a job.
So of course you have to try in this regard but you can take this as Krishna’s mercy and use your time and energy in reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and chanting Hare Krishna and becoming Krishna consciousness.
You can use the skills of study that you have learned to study Srila Prabhupada’s books and that will give you the real education and will give you the proper idea what you should do with your life.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare krishna Madhudvisa ji…….
whatever you wrote that it is krishna’s mercy and using free time towards him is completely correct prabhu. as once i was also in the same condition, got angry with krishna for a while because i was fool asking for material things, like jobs all these. when i started reading Gita in that free time, i just stoped asking all material things. now when i got job I have to strugle with my busy time table to pray to lord daily and chant.
The whole point is its krishna’s arrangment as we are his nice children but forgot our father.
hare krishna 🙂
hare krisna prabhu
i am very mmuch ispired by leters .keep sending letters so we can improve more in krisna conciousness .i am chanting 16 rounds from last 8 days i am feeling some thing different &encouraged by chanting .i have one question prabhu.eating of onions and garlic brakes four regulative principle.
Hare Krishna Arun
Please keep chanting Hare Krishna and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books. Eating onions and garlic really does not actually break the four regulative principles. There is no ‘no eating onions and garlic’ in the four regulative principles. But that order is there and the reason for the order we have to understand. And that is onions and garlic are in the mode of passion and we can not offer foods in the mode of passion to Krishna. So we can not offer onions and garlic to Krishna and devotees do not accept anything which is not Krishna prasadam, not cooked by a devotee and offered with love to Krishna. So that is why we do not accept onions and garlic. They can not be offered to Krishna.
And eating onions and garlic will put you in the mode of passion also which is not conducive to advancing in spiritual life and it is food cooked by non-devotees because devotees do not cook with onions and garlic, so all these problems are there. But keep chanting Hare Krishna and read Prabhupada’s books and Krishna will give you the intelligence to sort out these issues.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna Sonikaji,
With permission of Madhudvisaji, I respond to you.
Firstly don’t think that you are not a devotee of Lord Krishna; everyone in this world is. Lord loves everyone, as he is residing in each one of us. We are a part & parcel of Shri Krishna. He is our “prapitamaha” (the great-grandfather).
As beautifully put by Srila Prabhupadaji in his various teachings and also by Madhudvisaji several times on these posts; its just the dust which has been accumulated on the surface. Lord will inspire you, but you need to take the first step to start dusting. Like in our home, dust accumulates & makes good things look dull; similarly all these dusts accumulated over many births has distanced you from Lord & you feel dull.
Use a vacuum cleaner (Bhagawad Gita) and suck the dust off you & see how beautiful you will look; how beautiful & serene the world will be. How purified the heart & mind would be.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!
Dear Achyut Rao,
I wish to say thank you for your heart-filled words to Sonika, because they have touched my heart as well, and made my day sweeter.
As devotees of Krishna, we are indeed a family, and we can touch each other through this wonderful medium.
Hare Krishna, Ishan das
hare krishna achyut rao…..
i dont know how to express… whatever you wrote is absolutely correct….i have to take first step and prove to be a sincere and good daughter 🙂 , .. i pray lord krishna gives me intelligent and forgives my silly mistakes .
hare krishna
Respected Madhudvisa Prabhu,
I heard that even in our Vedas we have the thing that god doesn’t have any form which we even see in Quran. My question is “Is Idol worship is advisable according to our vedas or from the sayings of Sri krishna?”
and
Are the 9 avatars of vishnu are the incarnations of krishna itself??
Hare Krishna Pramodh
In most of the Upanisads the impersonal concept of the Supreme Lord is stressed. So yes, it is true that there is an impersonal, all-pervasive feature of the Supreme Lord and of course that information is there in the Vedas. But no where in the Vedas does it say God had no spiritual form. But in some books the spiritual form is not described and the formless, impersonal all-pervading brahman aspect of the Supreme Lord is described. Actually understanding the form of the Lord is not possible for everyone.
But there are three aspects of the Supreme Lord: brahman, paramatam and bhagavan. Brahman is the impersonal and all-pervasive form, paramatma is the form of the Lord within everyone’s hearts and Bhagavan is Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
So those who do not have complete understand of the Supreme Lord may only perceive His impersonal manifestation and may not know about His personal form.
Ultimately everyone is an expansion of Krishna. In the ultimate issue there is only Krishna. So certainly all the avatars of Visnu are expansions of Krishna. But Krishna expands and then His expansions expand. So it works like that. It is a somewhat complex and lengthy explained that I can not put here but you can read it fully explained in Srila Prabhupada’s Caitanya-caritamrta Adi Lila.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Dear Krishna Pramodh,
Hare Krishna! As Madhudvisa Prabhu has written to you, there are many presentations in the Upanisads that tend to support the conception of an Absolute Truth that is formless. But also, there are unlimited vedic evidences that inform us that in the ultimate issue, God has all the qualities that we find within the creation.
Isopanisad invocation: OM PURNAM ADAH PURNAM IDAM …
tells us that God is Complete (purnam) in all ways and therefore these phenomenal worlds that come from Him also are complete with all detail. Actually if you think on the subject, this verse from Isopanisad makes perfectly good sense; for how can we obtain all variety from that which has no variety?
Similarly: In Sri Brahma Samhita (Prayers by Lord Brahma to Lord Krishna) we find:
ISHVARA PARAMA KRISHNA
SAT CHIT ANANDA VIGRAHA
In other words, Krishna is is the paramishvara, the supreme controller of all that be. And His form (vigraha), unlike our earthly forms, are SAT CHIT ANANDA,
Yes, SAT CHIT ANANDA VIGRAHA. Krishna’s form is eternal, full of spiritual bliss and spiritual knowledge. This verse goes on to state,
ANADIR ADIR GOVINDA
SARVA KARANA KARANAM
I.e., Krishna is without beginning, and He is the beginning from which everything comes. And, Sarva Karana karanam, He is the cause behind all causes of everything that exists.
You see, it is not so much that verses in Veda are not like this. but rather there is a class of spiritual seekers who are not in favor of understanding that God is personal, that we can love Him, and He can love us in return. Rather they prefer to think that they are God, that we are all God. They prefer to think that God is a great light of brahmajyoti into which we can all merge. But in Bhagavad-gita Krishna informs us clearly:
BRAHMANO HI PRATISHTAHAM
“This great light of brahman is actually coming from Me”, Krishna says.
Actually there is so much evidence that God is personal that it can and does fill up so many books; but some will never accept this.
Krishna says in gita: AVAJANANTI MAM MUDHA
Krishna says that those persons whose mentality is like the ass (mudhah), they cannot know who Krishna really is, and surrender completely to Him.
However, as you are a sinsere seeker, we repeatedly beg you to read the books of Srila Prabhupada and all of your doubts in this respect will be cleared up, and you will be able to approach Krishna with an open heart. It is very difficult to love that impersonal conception. But Krishna wants so much that we love Him:
YOGINAM API SARVESHAM MAD GATENANTARATMANA
SRADHVAN BHAJATE YO MAM SA ME YUKTATAMO MATATAH
“Of all yogis, that one who makes Me the goal within the core of his heart, and engages in bhajan to Me, I consider him to be the greatest yogi of all.” B.g. ch 6.
Hare Krishna Pramodh ! do not stop here, but read these books of Srila Prabhupada and yo will be amazed at the overwhelming evidence that God is indeed a person, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and this great impersonal manifestation is merely the effulgence emanating from His beautiful eternal form. Sat chit ananda vigraha.
I feel all the religions are human creation for discipline living. Everything depends upon one’s faith. Vyas was so talented,than through the divine power he wrote the “Bhagabat Geeta”. Valmiki was so talented, by the divine power he wrote Ramayan. Prophet Muhammad was so talented, that he founded Islam in the whole world. Jesus was so talented that his disciples founded Christianity after his crucifixion. Budha was so talented,that Budhim was founded. Like Jainism also. Nanaka was so talented, for whom Sikhism was established.
Still I am researching Geeta,Bible,Quran and other scriptures of different religion to arrive at the truth. Any how, I will complete the 700 verses of Geeta.
Hare Krishna Sambhunath
Vyas did not create the Vedas. He simply recorded it in writing. The Vedas existed since the creation of the universe, and even before that. Lord Brahma was the first created living entity in the universe and after his meditation and tapasya Lord Visnu manifested the Vedas within his heart. So the Vedas has been current from that time. It is not produced by man.
Other Religious scriptures like the Bible, the Koran, etc, are presented by empowered incarnations of the Lord, they may be living entities like you and me, but have been particularly empowered by the Lord for distributing transcendental knowledge. They could be as you say ‘so talented’, but you have to ask where did that special talent come from? And the answer is Krishna. These scriptures are not timeless like the Vedas. They have a beginning and are presentations of the same subject matter as the Vedas but targeted to a particular audience in a certain country at a certain time. So they are presentations of the Vedic knowledge according to time and place.
So there is some truth in your statements on the non-santana, or non-eternal religions. But the Vedas is certainly aparusa, not made by man…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Dear Sambhunath,
Your are a very intelligent person. You have thought very much about these subjects.
Now you must test this knowledge, this message of Krishna, as it is being presnted by Srila Prabhupada, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. Blind following is not recommended.
The process is that you must avoid the eating of meat , fish and eggs. This is simply to purify your mind/heart so that you can receive faith and inspiration. Then you must begin to vibrate the names of God as prescribed:
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE
And you must begin to read every day the books of Srila Prabhupada. And if you do these things with sincerity, then surely as you are sincere you will feel a change of heart so that you will understand that Krishna is God and your best friend in all ways.
There are so many scriptures. Most of them are like primary education, simply to bring people to the level of a human being (instead of animal looking like human being). So many rules. Do’s and don’ts. But none of this is actually spiritual. It is all prerequisite to spiritual life.
Then there is religion which is saturated with self-centered interest, wherein people take to spiritual life with the aim of achieving material gains of one kind or another. Some practitioners want mystic powers. Some want to control others, to have followers, adoration from the public. Some want material rewards of wealth, position in society. And some want to rise above all duality and sense their divinity as spiritual essence with the desire to feel that they themselves are God.
All of these approaches are misleading. For in fact we are eternal individuals, spiritual sparks, one in quality with God, but eternally minute.
And this minuteness has a specific function in relation to our Source. That function is to serve with feelings of spontaneous love, with no desire for any return. And this is because when one awakens his dormant love for God he (or she) becomes so filled with spiritual happiness, that one thinks there is no greater thing to be gained. And the desire to express this love for God simply continues to grow, routing out all self-centered conceptions and impulses from one’s heart.
In fact this relationship with God is our real life. And this material world is a kind of insane asylum for those souls who perversely are striving to have the position of God by receiving the service and adoration of others, and becoming lords over all that they can survey. Because we desire in this way, we must return to this dimension of reality, lifetime after lifetime.
But when under proper guidance we are able to rekindle our dormant love for God, wanting only to please Him, then we are relieved of this disease of forgetfulness, and the spiritual world becomes an open book that we can enter, even while we are still in this material body.
No other path of spiritual developement describes in complete detail the nature of the God, and the sprititual realm, and the nature of our relationships of loving exchange with Him. this is only available in Vedas, and further, only in very few books in the vedic literature.
If you read the writings of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, everything will be revealed in systematic way so that you can proceed along the path, not with blind acceptance, but with step by step realization.
So as you are a most intelligent person, I am putting this testimony before you. Now it is up to you to do as your heart dictates.
Thank you for considering our proposal, as it is being placed before you by this very insignificant person. Please do continue your search and surely you will blessed with all success.
In service to my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada,
Ishan das
Hare Krishna Madhudvisaji,
I want to share my similar experience as Arun & found a step towards Krishna Consciousness and its helping me significantly, I am sure this will be of help to others too.
Many-a-times, its not possible to strictly maintain prescribed dietary intake (hostel food, hotel food, conference, plane travel etc.). In Bhagwad Gita, God has prescribed very simple food items that he desires – fruit or flower or water or even a leaf. This is practically possible to offer to Lord Almighty in any situation.
So I try (as far as possible) to offer these as prasadam at least two times a day to the Lord before I take my main meals. My approach is that Lord should eat first & I partake portion of it, before I eat. This gives me immense satisfaction & I feel very happy. The day I miss this routine, guilty feeling hurts me from within; that my Lord did not have food today because of me.
Maybe this is the first step towards transformation, but make a beginning & Lord Krishna will guide you to his path.
I must confess, that I was addicted to chewing tobacco (gutkha); from the day I started partaking prasadam after regular puja & continued with my bad habit; my mouth used to burn & bleed (it suddenly turned ugly)! This forced me to quit “gutkha” and I am now a much healthier person – only due to Lord’s blessings & prasadam. So gradually all bad habits will leave you, just trust him & take the first step & then experience his magnanimity.
All stories given by astrologers (Sade-Sathi, Rahu Kalam etc) are all washed off if you get engrossed in Bhakti Yoga to Lord Krishna, as he controls all of this. So get going, keep reading Srila Prabhpadaji’s books – that’s the best way forward!
Another very small experience I would like to share; whenever I feel that I should do something & some unknown negative force pulls me down (e.g., getting up early on a cold morning); I remember “Uthisto Partha” – this word has been used by Lord several times in Bhagawad Gita & is so effective for me, that I just get going & all that negative force disappears!
These incidents may sound trivial, but its helping me a lot to self-realize and come closer to Supreme Personality of God Head – Shri Krishna!