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There are no hard-and-fast rules for chanting Hare Krishna. The most wonderful thing about mantra meditation is that one may chant anywhere--at home, at work, driving in the car, or riding on the bus or subway. And one may chant at any time.

There are two basic types of chanting. Personal meditation, where one chants alone on beads, is called japa. When one chants in responsive fashion with others, this is called kirtana. Kirtana is usually accompanied by musical instruments and clapping. Both forms of chanting are recommended and beneficial.

You Need a Set of Japa Beads

To perform the first type of meditation, one needs  a set of japa beads. These may be purchased from KrishnaStore.com:

Mantra Meditation Kit

Or, if you like, you can make your own japa beads at home.

If you decide to make your japa beads, follow these simple instructions:

1. Buy 109 large round beads (at least as big as a dime), and some strong, thick nylon thread.
2. Tie a knot about six inches from the end of a long piece of the thread and then string the beads, tying a knot after each one.
3. After stringing 108 beads, pull the two ends of thread through one large master bead.
4. This bead is called the Krishna bead. Tie a knot next to it and cut off the excess thread. You now have your own set of japa beads.

To meditate with the beads, hold them in your right hand. Hold the first bead with your thumb and middle finger (see illustration at the top of the article) and chant the complete maha-mantra--Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Then go to the next bead, holding it with the same two fingers, again chanting the entire mantra. Then go on to the next bead and then the next, continuing in this way until you have chanted on all 108 beads and have come to the Krishna bead.

You have now completed "one round" of chanting. Do not chant on the Krishna bead, but turn the beads around and chant on them in the opposite direction, one after another. Chanting on beads is especially helpful, for it engages the sense of touch in the meditative process and helps you concentrate even more on the sound of the mantra.

You may want to chant japa indoors, but you can chant just as comfortably walking along the beach or hiking in the mountains. Just bring your beads along with you. If you chant sitting down, you should assume a comfortable position (preferably not lying down or slouching, for there's always the tendency to fall asleep).

You can chant as loudly or as softly as you like, but it's important to pronounce the mantra clearly and loudly enough to hear yourself. The mind may have a tendency to wander off to other matters when you chant, for the mind is flickering and unsteady, always looking for something new and pleasurable to absorb itself in. If your mind wanders (to anything except Krishna and things related to Him), gently bring it back to the transcendental sound vibration. It won't be difficult, because the mind is easily satisfied when absorbed in the divine sound of the Lord's holy names (unlike other meditational practices, where one may be asked to fix his mind on "nothing" or "the void").

One may chant japa at any time, but the Vedic literatures note that certain hours of the day are most auspicious for performing spiritual activities. The early morning hours just before and after sunrise are generally a time of stillness and quietude, excellently suited to contemplative chanting. Many people find it especially helpful to set aside a certain amount of time at the same time each day for chanting. The recommended minimum for serious chanters is sixteen rounds. In the beginning you may find the chanting difficult but the more you chant Hare Krishna the more you become purified and the more you become attached to chanting Hare Krishna.

While japa is a form of meditation involving you, your beads, and the Supreme Lord, kirtana, on the other hand, is a form of group meditation, where one sings the mantra, sometimes accompanied by musical instruments. You may have seen a kirtana party chanting on the streets of your city, for the devotees frequently perform this type of chanting to demonstrate the process and allow as many people as possible to benefit from hearing the holy names.

One may hold a kirtana at home with family or friends, with one person leading the chanting and the others responding. Kirtana is more of a supercharged meditational process, where in addition to hearing oneself chant, one also benefits by hearing the chanting of others. Musical instruments are nice, but not necessary. One may sing the mantra to any melody and clap his hands. If you have children, they can sing along as well and make spiritual advancement. You can get the whole family together every evening for chanting.

The sounds of the material world are boring, hackneyed and monotonous, but chanting is an ever-increasingly refreshing experience. Make a test yourself. Try chanting some word or phrase for even five minutes. If you chant "Coca-Cola" over and over again, even for a few minutes, it becomes practically unbearable. There's no pleasure in it. But the sound of Krishna's names is transcendental, and as one chants he wants to chant more and more.

Enhancing Your Chanting

Although one receives immense benefit however and whenever one may chant Hare Krishna, the great spiritual masters who are authorities on chanting suggest that the practitioner employ certain practical techniques that will enhance the chanting and bring quicker results as well.

The more one chants, the more easily he will be able to follow the principles listed below, for as one chants, he gains spiritual strength and develops a higher taste. When one begins to relish spiritual pleasure from chanting, giving up bad habits that may hinder one's spiritual progress becomes much easier.

1. Just by chanting Hare Krishna, one will automatically want to follow the four regulative principles of spiritual life:

A. No eating of meat, fish, or eggs.
B. No intoxication.
C. No gambling.
D. No illicit sex (sex outside of marriage or not meant for the procreation of God conscious children).

The four above-mentioned activities make it especially difficult for one to progress in spiritual life, because they increase one's attachment to material things. Therefore they are not recommended for one who has taken up the chanting of Hare Krishna. The chanting is so powerful, however, that one may begin chanting at any stage, and the chanting will help one to make the necessary adjustments.

2. One should read Srila Prabhupada's books every day, especially the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. If one simply hears about God, His uncommon activities and transcendental pastimes, the dust accumulated in the heart due to long association with the material world will be cleansed. By regularly hearing about Krishna and the spiritual world, where Krishna enjoys eternal pastimes with His devotees, one will fully understand the nature of the soul, true spiritual activities, and the complete procedure for obtaining release from the material world.

3. In order to be more fully immunized against material contamination, one should eat only prasadam, vegetarian foods that have been spiritualized by being offered to the Supreme Lord. There is a karmic reaction involved when one takes the life of any living being (including plants), but the Lord Krishna states in the Bhagavad-gita that if one offers Him vegetarian foods, He will nullify that reaction.

4. One should offer the fruit of one's work to the Supreme Lord. When one works for his own pleasure or satisfaction, he must accept the karmic reactions to his activities, but if one dedicates his work to God and works only for His satisfaction, there is no karmic reaction. Work performed as service to the Lord not only frees one from karma, but awakens one's dormant love for Krishna.

5. As much as possible, one who is serious about chanting Hare Krishna should associate with other like-minded persons. This gives one great spiritual strength.

Srila Prabhupada has instructed that serious devotees must follow the four regulative principles mentioned earlier and chant each day on japa beads a minimum of sixteen rounds of the Hare Krishna maha mantra. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the incarnation of Krishna who popularized the chanting of the holy names five hundred years ago in West Bengal, India, introduced the system of chanting a fixed number of rounds each day. Careful completion of sixteen rounds daily will help the disciple to remember Krishna always.

In essence the main principle of Krishna consciousness is to always remember Krishna and to never forget Krishna. And chanting Hare Krishna is the simplest way of maintaining this constant state of God consciousness, for the mystical potency contained in the mantra's vibration will always keep you in touch with Krishna and your own original, spiritual nature.

All of Krishna's innumerable spiritual potencies, including His transcendental pleasure principle, are contained in His holy names. Therefore, the pleasure you will feel as you begin to chant will be far, far greater than any material happiness you have ever experienced. And the more you chant Hare Krishna, the happier you will feel.

We can follow Haridasa Thakura's example, however, by chanting sixteen rounds of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra on our beads every day and offering respect to the Tulasi plant. This is not at all difficult for anyone, and the process of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra with a vow before the Tulasi plant has such great spiritual potency that simply by doing this one can become spiritually strong.

Important Mantras to Chant First

As preachers of the Krishna consciousness movement, we first offer our obeisances to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by chanting this Panca-tattva mantra; then we say Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. There are ten offenses in the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, but these are not considered in the chanting of the Panca-tattva mantra, namely, sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is known as maha-vadanyavatara, the most magnanimous incarnation, for He does not consider the offenses of the fallen souls. Thus to derive the full benefit of the chanting of the maha-mantra (Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare), we must first take shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, learn the Panca-tattva maha-mantra, and then chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. That will be very effective. (Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 7.4)

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet."

"Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvati Gosvami. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism."

Panca-Tattva Maha-Mantra:
sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda
sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda.

Hare Krishna Maha Mantra:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

We always have to chant Srila Prabhupada's pranam mantras and the Panca-Tattva mantra before chanting Hare Krishna. But different devotees have different opinions on the fine details. Personally I chant Srila Prabhupada's pranam mantras before I start chanting on beads and before chanting each round I chant the Panca-Tattva maha-mantra once. Some devotees suggest chanting Prabhupada's pranam mantras also before every round and some other devotees will just chant Hare Krishna with no other mantras before each round.

These are small details and the main point is we have to chant Prabhupada's pranam mantras and the Panca-Tattva maha-mantra before we chant the Hare Krishna mantra. Everyone agrees on this although different devotees may achieve this in slightly different ways. Personally I recommend you chant Srila Prabhupada's pranam mantras before you start chanting on beads and chant the Panca-Tattva maha-mantra once before each round of the Hare Krishna mantra you chant.

Respect for Japa Beads

We need to respect our japa beads. They should be kept in a bead bag generally and we should not allow the beads to touch the floor or our feet and in general we should be careful with our japa beads. Although there are no rules and regulations as to where we can chant Hare Krishna, for example it is perfectly OK to chant Hare Krishna in the bathroom, we can not take our japa beads into the bathroom.

Become Spiritually Strong

Haridasa Thakura used to chant the holy name on his beads 300,000 times daily. Throughout the entire day and night, he would chant the sixteen names of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. One should not, however, imitate Haridasa Thakura, for no one else can chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra 300,000 times a day. Such chanting is for the mukta-purusa, or liberated soul.

We can follow his example, however, by chanting sixteen rounds of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra on beads every day and offering respect to the tulasi plant. This is not at all difficult for anyone, and the process of chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra with a vow before the tulasi plant has such great spiritual potency that simply by doing this one can become spiritually strong.

Therefore we request the members of the Hare Krishna movement to follow Haridasa Thakura's example rigidly. Chanting sixteen rounds does not take much time, nor is offering respects to the tulasi plant difficult. The process has immense spiritual potency. One should not miss this opportunity.

Chant 16 Rounds Every Day Without Fail

It is most important that our activities be regular or, in other words, on a schedule. Everyone should chant his beads sixteen rounds daily without fail and follow the regulative principles strictly. These basic Krishna Conscious duties are essential to be performed regularly, and they will give you the necessary strength of spirit to keep always fixed up in devotional service. As soon as a devotee is regularly engaged in this way, always engaged in Krishna Consciousness, Krishna will reveal the whole spiritual science from within the heart of such sincere devotee. (70-02-19 Letter: Sucandra)

Please follow the regulative principles strictly, and chant daily sixteen rounds of beads regularly without fail. This is the essential process for dissolving the clouds of illusion or maya; and when the cloud of illusion is removed, then we can understand Krishna Consciousness perfectly and that is the highest perfection of human life. So be fixed in devotional service, chant Hare Krishna mantra and be happy. I am waiting to hear of your further progress in spreading this Krishna Consciousness movement for the benefit of all concerned. (70-03-06 Letter: Nityananda)

My request to all of you is that you very seriously stick to the principles of devotional service as you have learned them, and especially observe strictly the four prohibitions and without fail always chant at least 16 rounds on your beads daily. In this way you will be always happy.

Now you have got the golden opportunity of this human form of life, and it is not by accident that you have met your spiritual master, so if you are actually intelligent you will stick very tightly to your position of Krishna Consciousness and go back to home, back to Godhead. The essential point to remember is that you should try always to please your spiritual master under every condition. That means to follow his orders and instructions very carefully. My first instruction to all of my disciples is that they should help me spread this Krishna Consciousness movement all over the world, utilizing their energy as best they are able to do it. In this way, keeping yourselves always engaged in Krishna's business 24 hours, you will become free from all attachment to maya by Krishna's grace. Just as when the darkness and the light come together, the darkness cannot stand before the light, so maya cannot remain in the presence of Krishna. Always remember therefore to chant Hare Krishna and that will save you in all circumstances without any doubt. (73-01-09 Letter: Hasyakari )

In the Naradiya Purana it is directed: "One should not accept more than necessary if he is serious about discharging devotional service." The purport is that one should not neglect following the principles of devotional service, nor should one accept the rulings of devotional service which are more than what he can easily perform. For example, it may be said that one should chant the Hare Krishna mantra at least 100,000 times daily on his beads. But if this is not possible, then one must minimize his chanting according to his own capacity. Generally, we recommend our disciples to chant at least 16 rounds on their japa beads daily, and this should be completed. But if one is not even able to chant 16 rounds, then he must make it up the next day. He must be sure to keep his vow. If he does not strictly follow this out, then he is sure to be negligent. That is offensive in the service of the Lord. If we encourage offenses, we shall not be able to make progress in devotional service. It is better if one fixes up a regulative principle according to his own ability and then follows that vow without fail. That will make him advanced in spiritual life. (Nectar of Devotion 7)

Immense Spiritual Potency

"We request you to chant Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, and your life will be sublime. (69-10-08 Letter: Krsna dasa)

Haridasa Thakura used to chant the holy name on his beads 300,000 times daily. Throughout the entire day and night, he would chant the sixteen names of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. One should not, however, imitate Haridasa Thakura, for no one else can chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra 300,000 times a day. Such chanting is for the mukta-purusa, or liberated soul.

We can follow his example, however, by chanting sixteen rounds of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra on beads every day and offering respect to the tulasi plant. This is not at all difficult for anyone, and the process of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra with a vow before the tulasi plant has such great spiritual potency that simply by doing this one can become spiritually strong. Therefore we request the members of the Hare Krishna movement to follow Haridasa Thakura's example rigidly. Chanting sixteen rounds does not take much time, nor is offering respects to the tulasi plant difficult. The process has immense spiritual potency. One should not miss this opportunity. (Caitanya-caritamrta Antya-lila 3.100)

Please do not reply to this message, instead click on the following link and you can comment or ask me a question about this email there:

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Arjuna said: O Madhusudana, the system of yoga which You have summarized appears impractical and unendurable to me, for the mind is restless and unsteady. The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it is, it seems to me, more difficult than controlling the wind. (Bhagavad-gita 6.33-34)

After this Krishna tells Arjuna that it is possible to control the mind by practice and determination and then goes on to discuss the position of a fallen yogi. A fallen yogi is someone who starts on the spiritual path but for some reason or other is unable to complete the path. Arjuna is thinking that such a fallen yogi has lost everything because he has not been successful in material life and also he was unable to complete the spiritual path. Arjuna compares the unsuccessful yogi to a 'riven cloud'. Sometimes we see that a small piece breaks off a big cloud and, because it is small, in the vast sky it simply fades away into nothingness. But Krishna assures Arjuna this is not the case, He stresses that any spiritual advancement one makes, no matter how small, is a permanent asset and will never be lost.

The Blessed Lord said: Son of Prtha, a transcendentalist engaged in auspicious activities does not meet with destruction either in this world or in the spiritual world; one who does good, My friend, is never overcome by evil. (Bhagavad-gita 6.40)

Krishna then goes on to explain to Arjuna that a fallen yogi, in his next life, will take birth in either the families of rich people or the families of transcendentalists. In either case, because of his practice of spiritual life in his previous birth, he will automatically be attracted to spiritual life and will continue his practice where he left off in his previous life.

So activities in Krishna consciousness are all auspicious. Even if we are unable to complete the path of Krishna consciousness, still any service we have rendered is our eternal asset. And once on starts on this path of Krishna consciousness he will complete that path. It may take some more time than others, but once started it will be completed.

Krishna concludes the Sixth Chapter by assuring His friend Arjuna:

And of all yogis, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. (Bhagavad-gita 6.47)

So here Krishna affirms to Arjuna that the best yogi is the devotee who is always following Krishna's instructions and always worshiping Krishna in transcendental loving service.

The culmination of all kinds of yoga practices lies in bhakti-yoga. All other yogas are but means to come to the point of bhakti in bhakti-yoga. Yoga actually means bhakti-yoga; all other yogas are progressions toward the destination of bhakti-yoga. From the beginning of karma-yoga to the end of bhakti-yoga is a long way to self-realization. Karma-yoga, without fruitive results, is the beginning of this path. When karma-yoga increases in knowledge and renunciation, the stage is called jnana-yoga. When jnana-yoga increases in meditation on the Supersoul by different physical processes, and the mind is on Him, it is called astanga-yoga. And, when one surpasses the astanga-yoga and comes to the point of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krishna, it is called bhakti yoga, the culmination.

Factually, bhakti-yoga is the ultimate goal, but to analyze bhakti-yoga minutely one has to understand these other yogas. The yogi who is progressive is therefore on the true path of eternal good fortune. One who sticks to a particular point and does not make further progress is called by that particular name: karma-yogi, jnana-yogi or dhyana-yogi, raja-yogi, hatha-yogi, etc. If one is fortunate enough to come to the point of bhakti-yoga, it is to be understood that he has surpassed all the other yogas. Therefore, to become Krishna conscious is the highest stage of yoga, just as, when we speak of Himalayan, we refer to the world's highest mountains, of which the highest peak, Mount Everest, is considered to be the culmination.

It is by great fortune that one comes to Krishna consciousness on the path of bhakti-yoga to become well situated according to the Vedic direction. The ideal yogi concentrates his attention on Krishna, who is called Syamasundara, who is as beautifully colored as a cloud, whose lotus-like face is as effulgent as the sun, whose dress is brilliant with jewels and whose body is flower garlanded. Illuminating all sides is His gorgeous luster, which is called the brahmajyoti. He incarnates in different forms such as Rama, Nrsimha, Varaha and Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and He descends like a human being, as the son of mother Yasoda, and He is known as Krishna, Govinda and Vasudeva. He is the perfect child, husband, friend and master, and He is full with all opulences and transcendental qualities. If one remains fully conscious of these features of the Lord, he is called the highest yogi.

This stage of highest perfection in yoga can be attained only by bhakti-yoga,as is confirmed in all Vedic literature: "Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed." "Bhakti means devotional service to the Lord which is free from desire for material profit, either in this life or in the next. Devoid of such inclinations, one should fully absorb the mind in the Supreme. That is the purpose of naiskarmya." (Gopala-tapani Upanisad 1.15)

Therefore Arjuna is the perfect yogi because He is always thinking of Krishna, always abiding by Krishna's orders and always worshiping Krishna in transcendental loving service. Krishna consciousness is the ultimate success that all the different types of yogis are aiming at. In Krishna consciousness we are able to directly and immediately reach the topmost platform of yoga by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya and Krishna. Persons practicing other yoga systems, if perfected, will also ultimately reach the platform of Krishna consciousness. But these other yoga systems are not direct and it will take a long time. And particularly in this Kali-yuga it is not possible to successful practice any system of yoga except Krishna consciousness.

Please do not reply to this message, instead click on the following link and you can comment or ask me a question about this email there:

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There is a new Krishna Conscious social media site where you can meet and talk with like minded devotees. It is called KrishnaConnect.com.

KrishnaConnect.com enables members to post to their timelines and to make friends with other devotees and associate with devotees and talk Krsihna Katha with each other.

To advance in Krishna consciousness it is very essential to associate with devotees. These days we often find ourselves in situations where we have very little devotee association. So KrishnaConnect.com is an attempt to enable devotees to associate with each other and talk about Srila Prabhupada and Krishna wherever they find themselves.

So please go to:

http://krishnaconnect.com

and sign up and become an active member of the Krishna Connect community!

Therefore the Bhagavad-gita prescribes:

A man must elevate himself by his own mind, not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well. (Bhagavad-gita 6.5)

In this sixth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna is describing the system of meditational yoga to His friend Arjuna. Here, in this verse, Krishna is establishing that the mind is the central point of yoga practice. The purpose of the yoga system is to control the mind and draw it away from attachment to sense objects.

The mind has to be trained in such a way that it can deliver the conditioned soul from the darkness of the material world and bring him into the light of Krishna consciousness.

Material life means being subjected to the influence of the mind and the senses, in fact the pure soul is entangled in the material world only because of the mind's ego which desires to lord it over material nature. Therefore the mind should be trained so it is not attracted to the glitter of material nature and in this way the conditioned soul may be saved.

One should not degrade oneself by attraction to the things that will satisfy one's senses. The more one is attracted by sense objects, the more one becomes entangled in material existence. The best way to disentangle oneself is to always engage the mind in Krishna consciousness. In this verse it is emphasized that one must do this. In this way the mind will elevate one and not degrade him.

It is said: "For man, mind is the cause of bondage and mind is the cause of liberation. Mind absorbed in sense objects is the cause of bondage, and mind detached from sense objects is the cause of liberation." Therefore the mind which is always engaged in Krishna consciousness is the cause of supreme liberation.

This is a very simple, short and easy to explain point, but it is very essential that we really understand this point and actually bring our mind under control by always engaging it in Krishna consciousness and in this way completely detach the mind from the desires of senses. In this way instead of being servants of our senses (godasa) we can become the masters of our senses (goswami) and this is the prerequisite for further advancement in Krishna consciousness.

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I am requesting all of my students to read my books very seriously every day without fail. In this way, if your mind becomes absorbed at least one or two hours daily in the subject matter of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, and other books then very easily you will make your advancement in Krishna Consciousness.

Los Angeles
13 June, 1972

New York

My Dear Bhargava,

Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated May 31, 1972, and I have noted the contents. Our advancement in Krishna Consciousness is made possible in two ways, by Knowledge and renunciation, jnana and tyaga or tapasya.

The more we become renounced from this material world, the more we advance in Krishna Consciousness. But we are only able to make such sacrifices and perform tapasya if we have got knowledge. So first thing is to become knowledgeable in Krishna Consciousness, then the tapasya or voluntary life of austerity will result automatically.

So I am requesting all of my students to read my books very seriously every day without fail. In this way, if your mind becomes absorbed at least one or two hours daily in the transcendental subject matter of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, and other books then very easily you will make your advancement in Krishna Consciousness.

It is not a matter of changing our engagement, adjusting this or that material condition, in order to find our real happiness. Krishna Consciousness is not like that. It is able to be performed under any variety of material conditions or with any type of engagement. Therefore if your duty as a photographer is very much helpful to our propanganda work and for improving our BTG then there is very much need for your remaining in that occupation and doing it to your best capacity. It is a fallacy to say that my present engagement with the press is not the best for my spiritual advancement, and if we think in this way we may go on trying out one engagement after another and always say the same excuse. This restlessness or agitation of the mind cannot be rectified by altering the material circumstances. If we are Krishna Conscious, any type of occupation will suit me and we shall always be satisfied.

Therefore, I recommend you to read books more and more and try to understand the subject matter from different angles of vision and be always discussing it with your godbrothers even while you are working at the press, and when you are working and you cannot read, then listen to the tapes of my lectures and hear in that way. And never neglect to chant your 16 rounds of beads daily, rise early without fail, attend mangal arati, take bath, and follow the other regulative principles, and everything will come out very successfully, you can rest assured of that.

I am feeling the tendency more and more to retire behind the scenes for translating work, and I want to turn over the management of everything to the GBC and other senior leaders amongst my disciples, so if you have in future any more matters for discussing you may assist me in training these leaders and managers by placing your questions before them. I think Rupanuga will be able to answer all of your questions satisfactorily, so you can be confident that he is giving you all good advice.

Hoping this will meet you in good health,

Your ever well-wisher,

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS.sda

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This hearing process is very important. Lord Caitanya, who preached Krishna consciousness in the modern world, gave great stress to hearing because if the common man simply hears from authoritative sources, he can progress, especially, according to Lord Caitanya, if he hears the transcendental vibration Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

It is stated, therefore, that all men should take advantage of hearing from realized souls and gradually become able to understand everything. The worship of the Supreme Lord will then undoubtedly take place.

Lord Caitanya has said that in this age no one needs to change his position, but one should give up the endeavor to understand the Absolute Truth by speculative reasoning. One should learn to become the servant of those who are in knowledge of the Supreme Lord.

If one is fortunate enough to take shelter of a pure devotee, hear from him about self-realization and follow in his footsteps, he will be gradually elevated to the position of a pure devotee. In this verse particularly the process of hearing is strongly recommended, and this is very appropriate.

Although the common man is often not as capable as so-called philosophers, faithful hearing from an authoritative person will help one transcend this material existence and go back to Godhead, back to home. (http://prabhupadabooks.com/bg/13/26)

To make it easy for you to hear from Srila Prabhupada, a pure devotee of Krishna, we have released USB sticks containing the complete collection of Prabhupada Kirtans, Bhajans and purports and his complete collection of Classes, Conversations, Morning Walks, Press Conferences, Interviews, etc.

Srila Prabhupada so much stressed on the importance of hearing, he was very careful to make sure all his classes and conversations were recorded. So please get these supremely valuable recordings of the transcendtal nectar coming from the lips of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and hear from Srila Prabhupada and become a pure devotee of Krishna yourself.

CLICK HERE TO GET PRABHUPADA AUDIO!

You're Not the Body!

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http://krishna.org/youre-not-the-body/

We are Motivated by Pleasure:

Material Pleasure Does Not Last Long:

We Have the Propensity to Love Someone:

How to Create Peace and Harmony:

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http://krishna.org/pleasure-is-our-motivation/

But I don't love Krishna?

From the last newsletter we understand that we are all searching for pleasure but material pleasure can not satisfy us because it is temporary and very insignificant. We discovered that real pleasure can be experienced by serving Krishna in love and devotion. But I don't have any love for Krishna?

The problem is generally we are still very much attached to material pleasure, we are still trying to satisfy the demands of our senses for nice food, nice women, lots of money, fame, power, profit, adoration, etc. Because we have no love for Krishna our minds are full of material desires and we are spending our time and energy trying to satisfy the demands of our senses.

So what to do? Of course this is natural. We may theoretically understand that there is no point in pursuing material sense gratification, but without a higher taste, without experiencing at least some transcendental pleasure from serving Krishna, we will continue to be attached to the animalistic demands of our material body and mind for eating, sleeping, mating and defending.

In this condition, being attached to sense gratification, we have no taste, no attraction to Krishna consciousness. We do not like to chant Hare Krishna, it is not attractive to us. That is because we are in a diseased condition of life. We are suffering from the material disease. We are like a man suffering from the jaundice disease. We don't have much experience of this disease in the west but one symptom of the jaundice disease is that the patient looses his taste for sweet things. If you give a man with jaundice some sugar candy it will taste bitter to him so he does not like to eat it, he has no taste for it. But it so happens that the cure for the jaundice disease is taking sweet things. So as the jaundice patient forces himself to eat sweet things, which he does not like to eat because they taste bitter to him due to the disease, gradually his disease is cured and he can again appreciate the sweet tastes of things. We are in the same condition, we are suffering from the material disease and as a result we have not taste, no attraction for Krishna consciousness. We don't feel any transcendental pleasure in chanting Hare Krishna, but just as the sweet things like the sugar candy are the cure for jaundice and the patient forces himself to eat them even though he dislikes that taste, chanting Hare Krishna is the cure for the material disease and if we want to be cured from the material disease we have to force ourselves to chant the Hare Krishna mantra even though we have no taste for it, we don't like it, it tastes bitter to us.

Cleaning the Contaminated Heart of Material Desires:

So this is how we can develop love for Krishna. We have to force ourselves to chant Hare Krishna, even though we have no taste for chanting Hare Krishna. In our current state our consciousness is contaminated, covered by the dirt of the reactions to the unlimited sinful activities we have performed in unlimited births in the material world. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu likens such a contaminated mind to a dirty mirror. If you can imagine that you have a mirror that is caked over with layers and layers of mud then in that contaminated condition you can not see yourself in that mirror. First you have to clean off all the layers of mud from the mirror, then you will be able to see your true reflection in the mirror. Lord Caitanya uses the words "ceto darpanam marjanam" in his famous prayer, Siksastakam:

"All glories to the Sri Krishna sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious."

Marjanam means "cleanse," and darpanam means "mirror." The heart is a mirror. It is like a camera. Just as a camera takes all kinds of pictures of days and nights, so also our heart takes pictures and keeps them in an unconscious state. Psychologists know this. The heart takes so many pictures, and therefore it becomes covered. We do not know when it has begun, but it is a fact that because there is material contact, our real identity is covered. Therefore ceto-darpana-marjanam: one has to cleanse his heart. There are different processes to cleanse the heart—the jnana process, the yoga process, the meditation process, pious activities. Karma also cleanses the heart. If one acts very piously, his heart will gradually be cleansed. But although these processes are recommended for cleansing the heart, in this age they are all difficult.

To follow the path of philosophical knowledge one must become a very learned scholar, one must read so many books, one must go to learned professors and scholars and speculate. One must search out a person who has seen the light. So these are all philosophical processes.

Meditation is also a recommended process. One should question, "What am I?" Just consider: Am I this body? No. Am I this finger? No, this is my finger. If you contemplate your leg, you will see, "Oh, this is my leg." Similarly, you will find everything to be "mine." And where is that "I"? Everything is mine, but where is that "I"? When one is searching for that "I," that is meditation. Real meditation means concentrating all the senses in that way. But that meditation process is very difficult. One must control the senses. The senses are dragging one outward, and one has to bring them inward for introspection. Therefore there are eight processes in the yoga system. The first is controlling the senses by regulative principles. Then sitting postures—that will help to concentrate the mind. If one sits leaning over, that will not help; if one sits up straight, that will help. Then controlling the breathing, then meditation, then samadhi. But today these are very, very difficult processes. No one can immediately perform them. The so-called yoga processes are fragmental—only the sitting postures and a few breathing exercises are practiced. But that cannot bring one to the perfectional stage. The actual yoga process, although a recommended Vedic process, is very difficult in this age.

Similarly one can try to get knowledge by the speculative philosophical process: "This is Brahman, this is not Brahman, so what is Brahman? What is spirit soul?" Such empiric philosophical discussion is also recommended, but it is useless in this age. 

The Problems of the Material World Can Not Be Solved:

God is Supplying Us With Everything:

Understanding Our Relationship With God:

Summary:

So the summary is that we can revive our dormant love for Krishna by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. The chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra will clean the mirror of our heart and when all the dirty things are washed away by the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra we will be able to see things as they are, we will realize the pointlessness of sense gratification in the material world and we will realize our eternal loving relationship with Krishna and our dormant love for Krishna will be reawakened and we will feel love for Krishna. And as our love for Krishna increases automatically our attachment to sense gratification in the material world will decrease. This is the "higher taste" that we must achieve if we are to become firmly fixed in Krishna consciousness.

[adapted from Srila Prabhupada's Science of Self-Realization, Chapter 8]

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Hare Krishna Jon

Devotees who have just become interested in Krishna consciousness often immediatly want to get initiated. It is a natural question so please read this email and let me know if you have any questions or comments.

"I've just looked at your web page and I would like to ask you a question. I have been visiting the temple for a while now but I have never really been told any thing about initiation. Is there any specific time that you can be initiated, I am already practicing the 4 renunciations."

Dear Erin

Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

One first needs to know what initiation is, what a bona fide guru is, what are his qualities and what are the requirements of a disciple. Otherwise there is a big chance that you will select [or be encouraged to select by the temple authorities] someone as your guru who is not qualified to take you back home, back to Godhead. There is a big history of unqualified gurus in ISKCON so there is a real danger that you may select someone who even himself is not a pure devotee. So how could such a person help you to become a pure devotee?

It is recommended in the Hari-Bhakti-Vilas that one should study under and live with his intended spiritual master for at least 12 months to make sure that he is actually qualified to take you back home, back to Godhead. And the spiritual master has to test you also to see if you are qualified as a disciple.

Accepting a guru means accepting someone as your master and becoming his servant. You have to find someone who you truly believe is greater than you and who you can truly surrender to. And that person has to be himself a pure devotee who is really greatly advanced in Krishna consciousness.

In reality such great souls are very rare. It is a great fortune to meet a bona fide spiritual master as they are so very rare. We have the great fortune of associating with Srila Prabhupada through his Vani [instructions]. There are two ways of associating with a spiritual master. One is by Vapu [physical presence] and the other is Vani [by following his instructions]. Of the two following the vani is much more important. So we should take advantage of Srila Prabhupada's vani. We should read all his books, listen to all his classes, watch all the Prabhupada videos, read all his letters, etc. That is Prabhupada's gift to us. Prabhupada is still with us and still quite capable of initiating us if we really surrender to him.

It is a very bad idea to rush into being initiated just because you want to be "properly initiated." First things first. You have to find a proper guru. That should be your main interest. And the only way you can find a proper guru is if you have the knowledge and understand what are the qualities of a bona fide guru, and the only way you can know that is by hearing from Srila Prabhupada.

So at this point I think your main business should be reading Prabhupada's books and hearing from Prabhupada. To make this easy we distribute all Prabhupada's Vani. We have all Prabhupada's books, letters, conversations and transcripts of his morning walks, classes, conversations, etc on "The Complete Works of Srila Prabhupada" folio infobase and online at http://prabhupadabooks.com we have all the audio recordings ever made of Srila Prabhupada and all the video and film footage of Srila Prabhupada on DVD. You can get more information about all this at http://krishnastore.com

So my humble suggestion is that you should take it easy and not be in a rush to be initiated just for the sake of initiation. First you have to find a qualified guru, someone you can completely surrender to. If you can not completely surrender to someone it is a great mistake to accept him as your spiritual master.

Hope it is of some help.

Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!

Your servant

Madhudvisa dasa

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Knowing God:

Krishna is the All-Attractive Person:

1. Wealth
2. Power, strength
3. Fame
4. Beauty
5. Wisdom, knowledge
6. Renunciation

One who is in possession of all six of these opulences at the same time and possesses them to an unlimited degree, is understood to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna.

So "Krishna" is the perfect description of God. "Krishna" means the person who possesses all the attractive qualities in full. So God is the person who possesses all attractive qualities in full.

In this material world we have seen many rich people, many powerful people, many famous people, many beautiful people, many learned and scholarly people, and we have seen some persons in the renounced order of life unattached to material possessions. But we have never seen, in the history of this world, any one person who is simultaneously wealthy, powerful, famous, beautiful, wise and unattached, like Krishna.

Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is a historical person who appeared on this earth five thousand years ago. He stayed on this earth for one hundred and twenty-five years and played exactly like a human being, but His activities were extraordinary. From the very moment of His appearance to the moment of His disappearance every one of His activities is unparalleled in the history of the world. Therefore, anyone who understands that "Krishna" means the person who possesses all opulences in full will accept Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

There are many people all over the world who speak of God in various ways but according to the Vedic literatures and according to the great acharyas, the authorized persons vested with the knowledge of God, all unanimously agree that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Human Histories Billions of Years Ago:

As far as we, the followers of the Vedic civilization, are concerned, we accept the Vedic history of the whole universe, which consists of different planetary systems consisting of the higher, middle and lower planetary systems. The modern historians of this earth can not supply historical evidences of events that occurred before five thousand years ago, and the anthropologists say that fourty thousand years ago the homosapians speices [man] had not appeared on this planet because evolution had not reached that point. But the Vedic histories disagree. The Puranas and the Mahabharata relate human histories which extend millions and billions of years into the past.

For example the Vedic literatures give the history of Krishna's appearances and disappearances millions and billions of years ago. In the Bhagavad-gita Krishna tells Arjuna that both He and Arjuna had had many births before and that He (Krishna) could remember all of them but that Arjuna could not. This illustrates the difference between the knowledge of Krishna and the knowledge of Arjuna who was playing the part of an ordinary human being. Arjuna was a very great warrior and a well-cultured member of the royal Kuru dynasty, but after all, he was an ordinary human being, whereas Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the possessor of unlimited knowledge, Krishna has a memory that is boundless.

Krishna's knowledge is so perfect that He remembers all the details of His appearances millions and billions of years in the past, but Arjuna's memory and knowledge are limited by time and space, for he is an ordinary human being. In the Forth Chapter Krishna states that He can remember instructing lessons of the Bhagavad-gita millions of years ago to the sun-god, Vivasvan.

Krishna Never Becomes God:

Sometimes atheistic men claim try to become God by following some mystic process. Generally athiests claim to be God by dint of their imagination or by some process of meditation. Krishna is not that kind of God. He does not become God by manufacturing some mystic process of meditation, nor does He become God by undergoing the severe austerities of the mystic yoga exercises. Krishna never becomes God because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead in all circumstances.

Krishna did not appear in this world in the same way an ordinary child appears. Within the prison of his uncle, the king Kamsa, where His father and mother were confined, Krishna appeared outside His mother's body as the four-handed Visnu-Narayana. Then He turned Himself into a baby and told His father to carry Him to the house of Nanda Maharaja and his wife Yasoda. When Krishna was just a small baby the gigantic demoness Putana tried to kill Him, but when He sucked her breast He pulled out her life. This is the difference between Krishna, the real Supreme Personality of Godhead, and a so-called god manufactured in a mystic factory.

Krishna did not practice any mystic process, nor did he undergo any severe austerities to become God yet He manifested Himself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead at every step, from infancy to childhood, from childhood to boyhood, and from boyhood to man. Although Krishna plays as a human being, He always maintains His identity as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

We Should Focus All our Desires on Krishna:

Since Krishna is all-attractive one should know that all his desires should be focused on Krishna. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that the individual person is the proprietor or master of each and every individual body, but Krishna, who is the Supersoul present in everyone's heart, is the supreme proprietor and supreme master of each and every individual body. Therefore if we concentrate our loving propensities on Krishna only then immediatly universal love, unity and tranquility will be automatically realized. When one waters the root of a tree, he automatically waters the branches, twigs, leaves and flowers; when one supplies food to the stomach through the mouth he satisfies all the various parts of the body.

We Can only be Happy by Loving Krishna:

The art of focusing one's attention on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, and giving one's love to Him is called Krishna consciousness. The purpose of the Krishna consciousness movement is to give everyone the chance to satisfy his propensity for loving others simply by directing his love towards Krishna.

The whole world is very anxious to satisfy their dormant propensity for loving others but the inventions of various methods like socialism, communism, altruism, humanitarianism, nationalizm and whatever else may be manufactured for the peace and prosperity of the world, are all useless and frustrating because of our gross ignorance of the art of loving Krishna. Generally people think that by advancing the cause of moral principles and religious rites they will be happy. Others may think that happiness can be achieved by economic development, and yet others think that simply by sense gratification they will be happy. But the real fact is that people can only be happy by loving Krishna.

Krishna perfectly reciprocates one's loving propensities in different relationships called mellows or rasas. Basically there are twelve loving relationships we can share with Krishna:

1. One can love Krishna as the supreme unknown
2. One can love Krishna as the supreme master
3. One can love Krishna as the supreme friend
4. One can love Krishna as the supreme child
5. One can love Krishna as the supreme lover

One can also love Krishna indirectly in seven different relationships, which are apparently different from the five primary relationships. All in all, however, if one simply reposes his dormant loving propensity in Krishna, then his life becomes successful. This is not fiction but is a fact which can be realized by practical application. One can directly perceive the effects that love for Krishna has on his life.

Knowing Krishna is the King of all Knowledge:

In the Ninth Chapter of the Bhagavad-gita this science of Krishna consciousness is called the king of all knowledge, the king of all confidential things, and the supreme science of transcendental realization. Yet we can directly experience the results of this science of Krishna consciousness because it is very easy to practice and is very pleasurable. Whatever percentage of Krishna consciousness we perform will become an eternal asset to our life, for Krishna consciousness is imperishable in all circumstances.

It is said that if one executes severe austerities, penances and sacrifices in his life but fails to awaken his dormant love for Krishna, then all of his penances are useless. On the other hand, if one has awakened his dormant love for Krishna, then what is the use of executing penances and austerities uselessly?

The Krishna Consciousness Movement:

The Krishna consciousness movement is the unique gift of Lord Caitanya to the fallen souls of this age of Kali. It is a very simple method and there is do doubt that this movement can satisfy the dormant loving propensities of humanity. It is said in the Bhagavad-gita that even a little effort expended on the path of Krishna consciousness can protect one from the greatest danger. Hundreds of thousands of examples can be cited of people who have escaped the greatest dangers of life due to a slight advancement in Krishna consciousness.

[Inspired by Srila Prabhupada's Introduction to Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead. Please read the book!]

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Hare Krishna Jon

It seems the vast majority of people are under the impression that somehow we can turn this world into a happy, peaceful place. They seem to be thinking this is the purpose of religion and spiritual life.

When people come to understand there is a God, and He is all-powerful, their natural tendency is to try and get God to help them solve their problems of life.

So many people write: “Will Krishna help me get a promotion at work,” or “Will Krishna help me pass my exams.” or “Will Krishna find me a nice wife…” It is endless. It seems that everyone wants Krishna to do something for them and they are asking me how they can get Krishna to do these things for them…

In one sense this is good. Of course Krishna is God and He can do anything, and it is the nature of someone who believes in God to turn to Him in times of need. This is also good. Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita (7.16):

O best among the Bharatas [Arjuna], four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me–the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.

So there are four types of good people who turn to Krishna or God and perform devotional service: one who is distressed, one who wants money, one who is inquisitive and the one who is searching for knowledge of the absolute.

Krishna goes on to say that of these four types of people the one who is searching for knowledge of the absolute is the best because his motivation is a genuine search for spiritual knowledge. Still Krishna says the other three types: the ones who are distressed, who want money and who are inquisitive; are all great souls, because when they have some need they turn to Krishna for it.

But these three types of people are not really rendering pure devotional service. When they need something they approach Krishna and ask him for it. But they are pious, they believe in Krishna but they want to use Krishna to satisfy their own desires in the material world.

There is a very nice story that illustrates these people. There was once an old lady who lived in the forest. Every day she would go out into the forest to collect a big bundle of wood to burn in her cottage for cooking and for keeping warm. So one day she had collected a very big bundle of nice dry wood and was carrying it on her back when suddenly it fell off he back, it was very heavy. So she called out “Oh God help me…” And God appeared in front of her and asked, “You called, what do you want?” So she asked God, “Can you please help me get this bundle of sticks on my back again…”

So you see this is not very intelligent. All the old lady could think about was getting the sticks back to her cottage so she could get the fire going and start the cooking… So when she got the chance to see God, instead of asking for something really valuable, all she could think of was “Please get this bundle of sticks on my back again…”

Of course this is not going to help her in the long run. She will get the sticks back to the cottage and light the fire and do the cooking and burn the sticks and will be out in the forest again the next day looking for more sticks. And that is the nature of this material world. Nothing is permanent here. But we are looking for a permanent situation.

And all these questions I am getting: “Will Krishna help me pass my exams, Will Krishna get me a promotion at work, Will Krishna find me a nice wife…” It is all the same as this old lady asking God to put the heavy bundle of sicks on her back again.

Practically everyone is “worshiping” God in this mood. The Christians are praying to God, “Give us our daily bread…” It is always “Give me this, give me that…”

However as devotees of Krishna our idea is completely different. We know things are going on in this material world as a result of our karma and are not very concerned about changing that. Whatever is meant to come will come, whatever position in the world we are meant to have that will be, we don’t care for that. All a devotee cares about–-in whatever position of life of situation he finds himself in-–is how to serve Krishna, how to please Krishna.

A devotee never wants to take service from Krishna. He never wants to ask Krishna for anything. he wants to render service to Krishna. That is why Krishna consciousness is called “devotional service.” Krishna consciousness means to engage our mind, our body, our senses; everything, in the service of Krishna. And if we can do that then we will become happy. Because our natural, eternal constitutional position is that we are servants of Krishna.

A devotee is not very concerned about anything else because he understands that these things are not under his control. Things are happening in our lives. People are coming into our life and people are leaving our life. Sometimes we are rich, sometimes we are poor. Sometimes we are happy, sometimes we are sad. These things are coming and going like the waves in the ocean. Just like you can not stop the waves in the ocean and you can not stop the tides coming in and going out similarly in our lives these situations will be constantly changing. Happiness and distress, heat and cold, poverty or good fortune. It is going on according to the modes of material nature and according to our karma. It is fixed up and we have no control over it. There is no point trying to change it…

The best way is to simply accept things as they unfold and not be attached to any particular position and simply, “make the best use of a bad bargain.” Having a material body is a bad bargain, but we can use this material body in the service of Krishna and that is making the best use of it.

I do not really know how to express this as what I am speaking here goes so much against all the modern education and brainwashing we have all been subjected to. But really we can not change our material situation very much. The mood of the devotee is to simply accept the material situation he finds himself in and engage himself in the service of Krishna.

I am trying to express that this material world is not our home, we do not belong here. We are spiritual living beings, all part and parcel of Krishna. We belong in the spiritual world, in the Kingdom of God, serving Krishna there. That is our home, that is where we can be eternally happy. We can not be happy here in this material world any more than a fish can be happy if you take it out of the water and provide it with all riches and comforts on the land. The fish is a creature of the water. He belongs in the water. There is no way he can be happy out of the water.

Similarly with us. We are spiritual living entities, we belong in the spiritual world, we can not be happy out of the spiritual world. Here in the material world we are exactly like the fish out of the water. We can’t breathe here… Our nature as spirit souls is sat, cit, ananda. It means we are eternally young, we are full of knowledge and our nature is to be ever increasingly blissful. But here, in the material world, we are covered by and are identifying with this material body which is just the opposite. It is asat–getting old and dying; acit–full of ignorance and nirananda–full of distress. So like the fish out of water here in the material world we living entities are our of our natural environment and no matter how much money or how many beautiful women or how many followers we get there is no way we can be happy here. Just like there is no way the fish can be happy out of the water. The only way is you have to put the fish back in the water.

For us the only way is we have to get out of this material world and go back home, back to Godhead. And to do that we have to stop asking Krishna for things and instead ask Him to engage us in His service. Instead of asking Krishna to do things for us we need to be learning from Srila Prabhupada how we can do things to please Krishna…

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What Does Krishna Look Like?

Is Krishna Like Us?

The Material World as a Reflection:

We are Made in the Image of God:

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http://krishna.org/what-does-krishna-look-like/

“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” (Bhagavad Gita 4.34)

For one who actually wants to make advancement in spiritual life having a bona fide spiritual master to instruct him and show him the path is not optional, it is essential. Without a bona fide spiritual master we have no strength or power ourselves to escape from the clutches of maya. We can not become free from this prison of maya without the help of a bona fide spiritual master.

If you simply look at Krishna’s words here in this verse you will see that the whole principle of the guru disciple relationship is that the disciple wants to become self-realized, he wants to become liberated, he wants to develop pure love for Krishna and go back home back to Godhead and the spiritual master has to be able to guide his disciples in such a way that they can achieve these benefits by following his instructions. It is of course simple logic that if you want to learn something you have to find a teacher who knows that subject perfectly. He can teach it to you because he knows it himself. If you want to learn to become a carpenter there is no point in going to a baker and asking him to teach you how to be a carpenter. No. The baker does not know anything about carpentry. If you want to learn that art you have to find a teacher who has perfected that art himself. Otherwise he may bluff you and charge you some big fees for teaching you but he can not teach you actually because he does not know the art himself.

Therefore naturally if one wants to advance in spiritual life he has to find a teacher who is advanced in spiritual life. But of course we don’t want to just advance in spiritual life, we want to become liberated from the material concept of life and we want to uncover our original constitutional positions as eternal servants of Krishna and we want to engage in in pure devotional service. So Krishna is clearly giving the qualifications of such a bona fide guru in this verse. Krishna is stressing that the qualifications of the guru we are looking for is that he is self-realized and that he has seen the truth. Otherwise, if he is not himself self-realized and if he has not seen the truth himself he is not capable of guiding you in such a way that you will become self-realized and see the truth. No. If you have a guru who is not himself a liberated soul he can not help you become a liberated soul. So we have to be very careful to accept only a pure devotee of Krishna as our guru.

Another very important qualification of the spiritual master is he must be following the bona fide disciplic succession. No one can be a bona fide spiritual master without this principle of disciplic succession. The Lord is the original spiritual master and a person in the disciplic succession can convey the message of the Lord as it is to his disciples. No one can become spiritually relized by manufacturing his own process as we see so many modern so-called gurus are doing. The Srimad Bhagavatam says that the path of religion is directly enunciated by the Lord. Mental speculation and dry arguments can not help one progress in spiritual life.

One must approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge. Such a spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige. Satisfaction of the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life. Inquiries and submission constitute the proper combination for spiritual understanding. Unless there is submission and service, inquiries from the leaned spiritual master will not be effective. One must be able to pass the test of the spiritual master, and when he sees the genuine desire of the disciple, he automatically blesses the disciple with genuine spiritual understanding.

So one can not get transcendental knowledge without surrendering to, and serving in a humble and submissive way a self-realized spiritual master who has himself “seen the truth.”

It is not that one should only hear from the spiritual master but he must actually get a clear understanding from him and this is only possible by genuine submission, service and inquiries.

A bona fide spiritual master is by nature very kind towards his disciples, therefore when the student is submissive and always ready to render service, the reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect.

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In the Sixth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita Krishna instructs His friend and disciple, Arjuna, on the process of meditational yoga. Krishna has outlined the practice of yoga as sitting in the lotus position and meditating with half-closed eyes and He has explained that to do this one has to go to a solitary sacred place like on the bank of the Ganges River or the Himalayan mountains for example. It is not that one can stay home and practice yoga. No. One has to leave home and live in a solitary and sacred place. And then there are so many rules and regulations regarding the sitting place and many other details. After hearing all of this Arjuna was feeling dejected and he tells Krishna that this yoga system is impossible for him to follow.

Arjuna said: O Madhusudana, the system of yoga which You have summarized appears impractical and unendurable to me, for the mind is restless and unsteady. The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it is, it seems to me, more difficult than controlling the wind. (Bhagavad-gita 6.33-34)

The system of yoga described by Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the Sixth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita is here being rejected by Arjuna out of a feeling of inability. It is not possible for an ordinary man to leave home and go to a secluded place in the mountains or jungles to practice yoga in this age of Kali. The present age is characterized by a bitter struggle for a life of short duration. People are not serious about self-realization even by simple, practical means, and what to speak of this difficult yoga system, which regulates the mode of living, the manner of sitting, selection of place, and detachment of the mind from material engagements.

As a practical man, Arjuna thought it was impossible to follow this system of yoga, even though he was favorably endowed in many ways. He belonged to the royal family and was highly elevated in terms of numerous qualities; he was a great warrior, he had great longevity, and, above all, he was the most intimate friend of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Five thousand years ago, Arjuna had much better facilities than we do now, yet he refused to accept this system of yoga. In fact, we do not find any record in history of his practicing it at any time. Therefore this system must be considered generally impossible in this age of Kali. Of course it may be possible for some very few, rare men, but for the people in general it is an impossible proposal. If this were so five thousand years ago, then what of the present day? Those who are imitating this yoga system in different so-called schools and societies, although complacent, are certainly wasting their time. They are completely in ignorance of the desired goal.

The mind is so strong and obstinate that it sometimes overcomes the intelligence, although mind is supposed to be subservient to the intelligence. For a man in the practical world who has to fight so many opposing elements, it is certainly very difficult to control the mind. Artificially, one may establish a mental equilibrium toward both friend and enemy, but ultimately no worldly man can do so, for this is more difficult than controlling the raging wind. In the Vedic literatures it is said:

"The individual is the passenger in the car of the material body, and intelligence is the driver. Mind is the driving instrument, and the senses are the horses. The self is thus the enjoyer or sufferer in the association of the mind and senses. So it is understood by great thinkers."

Intelligence is supposed to direct the mind, but the mind is so strong and obstinate that it often overcomes even one's own intelligence. Such a strong mind is supposed to be controlled by the practice of yoga, but such practice is never practical for a worldly person like Arjuna. And what can we say of modern man? The simile used here is appropriate: one cannot capture the blowing wind. And it is even more difficult to capture the turbulent mind. The easiest way to control the mind, as suggested by Lord Caitanya, is chanting "Hare Krishna," the great mantra for deliverance, in all humility. The method prescribed is one must engage one's mind fully in Krishna. Only then will there remain no other engagements to agitate the mind.

So we can understand from Arjuna's inability to follow Krishna's outline of the meditational system of yoga that such a process is not practical for us now. Arjuna was so much more qualified than we are, he was a great leader five thousand years ago and he was Krishna's personal friend. If Arjuna could not practice meditational yoga in such favorable circumstances then we should understand that it is not possible for us as Kali-yuga has now advanced greatly making it even more difficult to practice meditational yoga now.

Fortunately Lord Krishna is very merciful upon us. He knows that we are so fallen and have practically no ability to follow any religious principles in this Kali-yuga so He appeared five hundred years ago in West Bengal as Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu to spread the yuga-dharma, the religion of the age, the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

As we will find out in future Bhagavad-gita verses, even though he was unable to practice the meditational system of yoga, Krishna considered that Arjuna was the best yogi. And Arjuna was the best yogi because the purpose of yoga is to concentrate the mind upon Krishna, and as Krishna's friend Arjuna was always thinking of Krishna, always serving Krishna. So he was the best yogi.

For this age of Kali Krishna consciousness, centered around the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, is the only practical form of yoga. It is very easy to perform and does not cost anything and the results are very great....

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Yasodanandana: Before you came, many gurus came, but they did not make any pure devotee of Krsna.Prabhupada: How they can? HE IS NOT PURE DEVOTEE OF KRSNA. HOW CAN HE DO? Krsna-sakti vina nahe nama pracara: “WITHOUT BEING EMPOWERED BY KRSNA NOBODY CAN TURN A PERSON TO BECOME DEVOTEE OF KRSNA.” It is not… ARTIFICIALLY, YOU CANNOT MAKE. HE MAY MAKE A SHOW of gold manufacturing, but HE CANNOT MAKE A DEVOTEE OF KRSNA. THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. (750203mw.haw)

“…Because ONE WHO HAS UNDERSTOOD KRSNA PERFECTLY… THIS IS THE QUALIFICATION OF GURU. So that qualification, to attain, is not very difficult. BUT BECAUSE WE ARE RASCALS, WE DO NOT TRY TO TAKE THE QUALIFICATION. THAT QUALIFICATION IS VERY SIMPLE. One… Who can understand Krsna? KRSNA IS NOT SO CHEAP THING. He has said already that yatatam api siddhanam kascin mam vetti tattvatah. SO IT IS NOT VERY EASY. BUT IT IS VERY EASY IF YOU TAKE THE PROCESS, easiest process. What is that easiest process? That easiest process: YOU DON’T TALK NONSENSE; YOU SIMPLY TALK WHAT KRSNA HAS SAID. THAT’S ALL. And many times they give me very great credit that I have done wonderful. Yes, I have done wonderful. But what is the reason? Because I AM NOT A RASCAL. I SPEAK WHAT KRSNA HAS SPOKEN. THAT’S ALL. VERY EASY. EVERYONE CAN DO THAT. NOT ONLY I. ANY OF YOU, YOU CAN DO THIS. SIMPLY SPEAK what is…, WHAT KRSNA HAS SAID. That’s all. DON’T MAKE ADDITION, ALTERATION. Then you become rascal. Immediately you become rascal.” (740810SB.VRN)

Of course a bona fide guru is free from all material desires and always relishing transcendental bliss on the spiritual platform. He no longer has any attachment to the material world at all. He is enjoying a higher, spiritual taste. He’s always thinking of Krishna and Krishna’s pastimes, he’s always chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. He’s very anxious to use every moment in Krishna’s service, therefore he does not like to waste even a second without thinking of Krishna and doing some practical service for Krishna. Therefore he does not sleep very much or eat very much. He considers sleeping a great waste of time and tries to minimise it as much as possible and he respects Krishna’s prasadam, but he relishes seeing his disciples and the fallen conditioned souls enjoying Krishna’s prasadam more than enjoying eating it himself. His pleasure is in seeing his disciples prepare and offer sumptuous, first-class food to Krishna and to see that sumptuous prasadam distributed to the fallen conditioned souls.

“…Therefore real, steady bhava is definitely displayed in the matter of CESSATION OF MATERIAL DESIRES (ksanti), UTILISATION OF EVERY MOMENT IN THE TRANSCENDENTAL LOVING SERVICE OF THE LORD (avyartha-kalatvam), EAGERNESS FOR GLORIFYING THE LORD CONSTANTLY (nama-gane sada ruci), ATTRACTION FOR LIVING IN THE LAND OF THE LORD (pritis tad-vasati sthale), COMPLETE DETACHMENT FROM MATERIAL HAPPINESS (virakti), and PRIDELESSNESS (mana-sunyata). One who has developed all these transcendental qualities is really possessed of the bhava stage, AS DISTINGUISHED FROM THE STONEHEARTED IMITATOR OR MUNDANE DEVOTEE.” (SB 2.3.24)

“This is the injunction, Vedic. If you want to know things which is beyond your conception, beyond your sense perception, then you must approach a bona fide spiritual master. What is the symptom of bona fide spiritual master? EVERYONE WANTS TO BECOME SPIRITUAL MASTER. So that is also stated. Sabde pare ca nisnatam. One who has taken complete bath in the ocean of the Vedic literature, sabde pare ca nisnatam. Just like if you take bath, you become refreshed. If you take nice bath, you feel refreshed. Sabde pare ca nisnatam. Without refreshness, one cannot understand this sublime subject matter. And the guru, or the spiritual master, should be refreshed by taking bath in the ocean of Vedic knowledge. And what is the result? Sabde pare ca nisnatam brahmany upasamasrayam. By, after such cleanliness, he has taken shelter of the Supreme Absolute Truth, without any material desires. HE HAS NO MORE ANY MATERIAL DESIRES; HE’S SIMPLY INTERESTED IN KRSNA, or the Absolute Truth. These are the symptoms of guru, or spiritual master.” (720908BG.PIT)

“…There may be many great souls–jnanis, yogis… Bhaktas, or pure devotees, are also called great souls–-but THEY ARE VERY RARELY FOUND. One can find many great souls amongst yogis and jnanis, but a truly great soul, A PURE DEVOTEE OF THE LORD, WHO IS FULLY SURRENDERED TO THE LORD, IS VERY RARELY FOUND (sa mahatma sudurlabhah, Bg. 7.19). A DEVOTEE’S MIND IS ALWAYS CALM, QUIET AND DESIRELESS because he is always anyabhilasita-sunyam, HAVING NO DESIRE OTHER THAN TO SERVE KRSNA as His personal servant, friend, father, mother or conjugal lover. Due to his association with Krsna, a devotee is always very calm and cool…” (SB 4.24.20)

“‘A SOBER PERSON WHO CAN TOLERATE THE URGE TO SPEAK, THE MIND’S DEMANDS, THE ACTIONS OF ANGER, AND THE URGES OF THE TONGUE, BELLY, AND GENITALS IS QUALIFIED TO MAKE DISCIPLES ALL OVER THE WORLD.’ In this verse Rupa Gosvami mentions six “pushings” (vegam). This pushing is a kind of impetus. For instance, when nature calls, we have to go to the toilet, and we cannot check this urge. So this urge is called vegam, a kind of pushing. According to Rupa Gosvami, there are six vegams. Vaco vegam is the urge to talk unnecessarily. That is a kind of pushing of the tongue. Then there is krodha-vegam, the urge to become angry. When we are pushed to anger, we cannot check ourselves, and sometimes men become so angry that they commit murder. Similarly, the mind is pushing, dictating, “You must go there at once,” and we immediately go where we are told. The word jihva-vegam refers to the tongue’s being urged to taste palatable foods. Udara-vegam refers to the urges of the belly. Although the belly is full, it still wants more food, and that is a kind of pushing of the belly. And when we yield to the pushings of the tongue and the belly, the urges of the genitals become very strong, and sex is required. If one does not control his mind or his tongue, how can he control his genitals? In this way, there are so many pushings, so much so that the body is a kind of pushing machine. Rupa Gosvami therefore tells us that ONE CAN BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER ONLY WHEN HE CAN CONTROL ALL THESE URGES.” (PoP 5)

After Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance from our mundane vision in 1977 the GBC (in conjunction with senior members of the Gaudiya Math) concocted the “Zonal Acarya System,” claiming Srila Prabhupada appointed eleven acaryas as his successors. They continued to preach the same “Guru-Tattva” Srila Prabhupada taught us and showed us by his personal example, claiming that Srila Prabhupada’s “successors” were on the same level of spiritual advancement as him. Unfortunately, the new “Acaryas” were not actually as advanced as Srila Prabhupada and could not live their lives according to the philosophy or exhibit the symptoms of a pure devotee so the whole thing was a fas. Any devotee who noticed this and mentioned something was immediately branded an “envious snake,” an offender of the “pure devotee” and treated accordingly (bashed, sometimes killed, blasphemed, thrown out and banned from all ISKCON temples, etc.) The same treatment was given to any initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada who was not prepared to surrender to and worship the “Zonal Acarya” [his godbrother] as if he was his spiritual master!

“Gosani means gosvami. A person who has full control over the senses and mind is called a gosvami or gosani. ONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE SUCH [SENSE] CONTROL IS CALLED GODASA, OR A SERVANT OF THE SENSES, AND CANNOT BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER. A spiritual master who actually has control over the mind and senses is called gosvami.” (Adi 7.13)

From the beginning, any intelligent person could see these men were not the acaryas and pure devotees described in Srila Prabhupada’s books at all. Of course they may have been sincere devotees, but they falsely elevated themselves to a very high position without any authority and without the necessary purity, realization or spiritual advancement and violently suppressed any of their godbrothers who objected. It’s human nature that when one is elevated to a very high post he thinks he’s qualified to accept it. I just read that yesterday in the Sri Caitanya-caritmrta. When Sanatana Gosvami was in prison and was trying to get out by bribing the prison officer who was a Muslim he addressed him as a great holy man and a very advanced scholar of the Koran and Srila Prabhupada says in his purport that it appears Sanatana Gosvami was trying to cheat the jail officer:

“It appears from this statement that Sanatana Gosvami, who was formerly a minister of the Nawab, was trying to cheat the Mohammedan superintendent. A jail superintendent had only an ordinary education, or practically no education, and he was certainly not supposed to be very advanced in spiritual knowledge. However, just to satisfy him, Sanatana Gosvami praised him as a very learned scholar of the Scriptures. THE JAILKEEPER COULD NOT DENY THAT HE WAS A LEARNED SCHOLAR BECAUSE WHEN ONE IS ELEVATED TO AN EXALTED POSITION, ONE THINKS ONESELF FIT FOR THAT POSITION…” (Madhya 20.6)

“So these are to be practiced. Etan vegan yo visaheta dhirah: ‘One who has become successful in controlling the urges of all these things,’ prthivim sa sisyat, ‘now he’s free to make disciples all over the world.’ And they’re not, that… I CANNOT CONTROL EVEN MY TONGUE AND CONTROL MY GENITAL, AND I BECOME SPIRITUAL MASTER? THIS IS NONSENSE. THIS IS NONSENSE. YOU LEARN FIRST OF ALL. TRY TO CONTROL. BECOME FIRST-CLASS CONTROLLER, dhirah. That is called dhirah, not disturbed by any urges. Etan vegan yo visaheta dhirah. Dhiras tatra na muhyati. This word is used, dhirah. DHIRAH MEANS VERY SOBER, FULLY CONTROLLED. That is called dhirah. Dhiras tatra na muhyati. UNLESS YOU BECOME DHIRAH, YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IS SPIRITUAL LIFE. THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. Therefore Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati. Dhiras tatra na muhyati.” (740116SB.HAW)

There were a number of visits to one of Srila Prabhupada’s godbrothers by some members of the GBC soon after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance and some reports suggest he told them that they were qualified to be acarya’s, just like Srila Prabhupada. Of course there is a possibility he was trying to cheat the leaders of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON, knowing well the appointment of unqualified men as Acarya had destroyed the Gaudiya Math and it was sure to have the same effect on ISKCON…

“..In the latter days of my Guru Maharaja he was very disgusted. Actually, he left this world earlier, otherwise he would have continued to live for more years. Still he requested his disciples to form a strong Governing body for preaching the cult of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. HE NEVER RECOMMENDED ANYONE TO BE ACARYA OF THE GAUDIYA MATH. BUT Sridhara Maharaja IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DISOBEYING THIS ORDER of Guru Maharaja, and he and others who are already dead unnecessarily thought that there must be one acarya. IF GURU MAHARAJA COULD HAVE SEEN SOMEONE WHO WAS QUALIFIED AT THAT TIME TO BE ACARYA HE WOULD HAVE MENTIONED… SO Sridhara Maharaja and his two associate gentlemen UNAUTHORIZEDLY SELECTED ONE ACARYA AND LATER IT PROVED A FAILURE. THE RESULT IS NOW EVERYONE IS CLAIMING TO BE ACARYA EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY BE KANISTHA ADHIKARI WITH NO ABILITY TO PREACH. In some of the camps the acarya is being changed three times a year. THEREFORE WE MAY NOT COMMIT THE SAME MISTAKE IN OUR ISKCON CAMP….

But the GBC did not care to follow Srila Prabhupada’s clear instructions and immediately after his disappearance they were off to the Gaudiya Matha for “advice” on how the initiations for new devotees should go on. And they came back puffed-up and thinking they were just like Srila Prabhupada and they appointed themselves “acaryas” “just like Prabhupada”…

“THE JAILKEEPER COULD NOT DENY THAT HE WAS A LEARNED SCHOLAR BECAUSE WHEN ONE IS ELEVATED TO AN EXALTED POSITION, ONE THINKS ONESELF FIT FOR THAT POSITION…”

“In the Bhagavad-gita (18.5), Krsna clearly states that sacrifice, charity, and penance are never to be given up by a transcendentalist. If he is at all intelligent he must continue these three activities, even if he is highly elevated. A DEVOTEE IS NATURALLY VERY HUMBLE, AND EVEN IF HE IS HIGHLY ELEVATED HE DOES NOT CONSIDER HIMSELF TO BE SO. A practical example is found in the life of the author of the Caitanya-caritamrta, Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami. He was a vastly learned scholar and a first-class devotee, yet he still referred to himself as the lowest of mankind, lower than the bacteria in the stool. He wrote that he was so sinful that no one should even utter his name, lest that person fall down! Of course, when a great devotee speaks this way, we should not believe that he is actually in the lower status of life; we should rather take it as evidence that out of humility A PURE DEVOTEE NEVER THINKS HE IS ELEVATED. HE ALWAYS THINKS HE IS IN THE LOWEST STATUS OF SPIRITUAL LIFE.” (NBS 13)

So we all know the result of the “Zonal Acarya” system… Tens of thousands of innocent devotees were fooled into thinking these men were appointed by Srila Prabhupada as his successors and if one did not surrender to the “Zonal Acarya” and serve him in every way he was an “envious snake” and was disobeying Srila Prabhupada. So these acaryas collected disciples, not on the strength of their own preaching and purity, but on the strength and purity of Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada attracts and convinces new devotees by their reading of his books and by the association and preaching of sincere devotees who are actually following Srila Prabhupada. Once the new devotees were attracted by Srila Prabhupada the Zonal Acaryas took over and stopped them from worshiping Srila Prabhupada in any way, shape or form, and forced them to direct that worship to them INSTEAD. Unfortunately they were not transparent via-mediums to Krishna as Srila Prabhupada is. Therefore instead of understanding the offerings and service of their disciples were not meant for their sense gratification, rather their position was to offer whatever their disciples offered to them to Srila Prabhupada, then Srila Prabhupada would offer it to Srila Bhaktsiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur and so on up to Krishna, they hijacked the offerings and service of their disciples and enjoyed themselves!

“OTHERWISE DON’T TRY TO BECOME GURU. Impersonalists, half-understood, partially understood, HE CANNOT BECOME GURU. This is the Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s formula. Therefore FIRST OF ALL TRY TO UNDERSTAND KRSNA. YOU WILL UNDERSTAND IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU CAN REFUTE ALL OTHERS’ ARGUMENT, ALL OTHERS’ OPPOSITION. THERE ARE SO MANY OPPOSING ELEMENTS. THEN YOU ARE GURU. OTHERWISE YOU CANNOT BECOME A GURU. GURU IS NOT SO TEENY THING OR TRIFLE THING THAT EVERYONE BECOMES GURU MAHARAJA, no. THAT IS NOT GURU. Sa mahatma… Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah. (750128BG.TOK)

“One who cannot deliver his dependents from the path of repeated birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a father, a husband, a mother or a worshipable demigod.” (770217rc.may)

“…The conditioned souls, therefore, must hear with appreciation and devotion the Lord’s pastimes in relationship with the external energy, and such acts are as good as the hearing of rasa-lila in the liberated stage. A CONDITIONED SOUL SHOULD NOT IMITATE THE ACTIVITIES OF LIBERATED SOULS. Lord Sri Caitanya never indulged in hearing the rasa-lila with ordinary men.” (SB 2.7.53)

The result was all the sincere devotees who were fooled into thinking it was Srila Prabhupada who wanted them to surrender to these men and serve them, and who thought they were serving Srila Prabhupada and Krishna by serving them, did not get the results they expected from their “devotional service.” Because the result of serving a person who is materially interested is NOT NOT NOT the same as the result of serving a pure devotee. One is the path to hell and the other is the path back home, back to Godhead…

“Those who are always engaged in bhajana–Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare–-they are mahatmas. Mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah, bhajanty ananya-manasah. This is bhajana–-Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama… There is mahatma. So mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimukteh. IF YOU SERVE SUCH A MAHATMA, JUST LIKE HARIDASA THAKURA, WHO IS ALWAYS ENGAGED IN CHANTING HARE KRSNA, HARE KRSNA, THEN YOUR PATH OF LIBERATION IS OPEN. And tamo-dvaram ahur yositam sangi-sangam. AND IF YOU ASSOCIATE WITH MATERIALISTIC PERSONS WHO ARE AFTER SENSE GRATIFICATION, then your tamo-dvaram… THAT IS THE WAY TO DARKNESS. The life’s business is not tamo-dvaram. Tamasi ma jyotir gama. Jyotir gama, go to the light. Don’t remain in… This is Vedic instruction.” (741120SB.BOM)

So these devotees serving Srila Prabhupada’s “successors” found, even thought they were sincerely following the process of Krishna consciousness to their best ability, their material desires were increasing rather than decreasing… For that is the result of serving someone who has material desires…

“Therefore, THE GURU IS ALWAYS ENGAGED IN CHANTING. Mahaprabhoh kirtana-nrtya-gita-–chanting and dancing. UNLESS HE PERFORMS IT HIMSELF, HOW CAN HE TEACH HIS DISCIPLES? So his first symptom is that he will give you such instructions that IMMEDIATELY YOU WILL FEEL RELIEF FROM ALL ANXIETY, and his second symptom is that HE IS ALWAYS PERSONALLY ENGAGED IN CHANTING THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD AND DANCING. Mahaprabhoh kirtana-nrtya-gita vaditra-madyan-manaso rasena–-the spiritual master enjoys transcendental bliss within his mind by chanting and dancing. Unless you become blissful, you cannot dance. You cannot dance artificially. When devotees dance, it is not artificial. They feel some transcendental bliss, and therefore they dance. It is not that they are dancing dogs. No. Their dancing is performed from the spiritual platform… “The spiritual master is always thinking of the pastimes of Krsna with His consort–-Srimati Radharani–-and the gopis. Sometimes he is thinking about Krsna’s pastimes with the cowherd boys. This means that he is always thinking of Krsna engaged in some kind of pastime. Pratiksanasvadana-lolupasya. Pratiksana means he is thinking that way twenty-four hours a day. That is Krsna consciousness. ONE MUST BE ENGAGED TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY IN THINKING OF KRSNA. You have to make yourself a program like this. We, at least, have made such a program–-ALL THE BOYS AND GIRLS IN THE KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT ARE ENGAGED TWENTY-FOUR HOURS DAILY–not just officially, not that once a week they meditate or go to some temple. No, THEY ENGAGE TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY.” (JSD 4.2)

So it was very difficult. Most devotees blamed themselves for their inability to follow the process and principles and gradually fell down from the regulative principles and left the movement disappointed, frustrated and bewildered, not really understanding what went wrong at all.

“Just like anger, tongue. then jihva-vegam. Then udara-vegam. From tongue come little down. Udara means belly. The belly is already filled up, still I want to fill it more. That is called vegam, pushing of the belly. And when there is so much pushing of the tongue and pushing of the belly, the next underneath the genital, there is force of the genital. Then I require some sex. If I eat more, if I use my tongue unnecessarily, if I allow my mind to do anything and everything, then I cannot check my genital also. There will be sex urge which I cannot check. In this way there are so many pushing. Rupa Gosvami says ONE WHO HAS CONTROL OVER ALL THIS PUSHING MACHINE, HE CAN BECOME SPIRITUAL MASTER. NOT THAT SPIRITUAL MASTER IS MANUFACTURED. ONE HAS TO LEARN THIS. How to check the pushing of these things. Etan vegan yo visaheta dhirah. ONE WHO CAN CONTROL OVER THESE PUSHINGS AND REMAIN DHIRAH, STEADY, prthivim sa sisyat: HE CAN MAKE DISCIPLES ALL OVER THE WORLD. Open. Yes. (690218BG.LA)

Gradually it became so obvious the “Zonal Acaryas” were not qualified and the whole system collapsed. The “solution,” dreamt up by an ISKCON sannyasi and a disciple of one of Srila Prabhupada’s godbrothers, was to invent a new type of “guru.” They conceived of a “guru” who would be under the jurisdiction of the GBC, who was not absolute, who could break the regulative principles, yet still remain a “bona fide ISKCON guru”, who didn’t have to chant 16 rounds even or get out of bed for Mangala Aroti, who didn’t have to exhibit any of the symptoms of a guru clearly mentioned in Srila Prabhupada’s books, and above all ISKCON would no longer take any responsibility at all for any of these “gurus”. There was to be no guarantee to devotees at all that these “bona fide ISKCON gurus” were even devotees in good standing!! Let the buyer beware! This is the current ISKCON guru system…

Under this system the GBC is quite happy to approve any disciple of Srila Prabhupada as a “guru” as long as they have some “aspiring disciples” and there are no serious objections from the Temple Presidents or the GBC… There is apparently no other qualification…

Now the GBC quite openly hold “GBC appraisals” and “guru appraisals” and also warn and suspend gurus to indicate to their disciples that it’s time to start thinking about getting “reinitiated” yet again… The GBC publish the findings of their appraisals informing us that many of their “Gurus” and GBC’s are not even able to come up to the basic standard that was expected of a new bhakta who wanted to live in a temple in Srila Prabhupada’s physical presence. Then it was very clear that to live in the temple it was required all devotees actually follow the four regulative principles [no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication], if they couldn’t follow they couldn’t stay in the temple. All the devotees [even the married ones] got out of bed before 4:00am, took bath and attended the whole morning program [Mangala-aroti, Tulsi-puja, chanting japa, Deity Greeting, Srila Prabhupada’s Guru-puja, Kirtana, Class, Kirtana, Prasadam] and everyone voluntarily agreed to be engaged FULL TIME in some service for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna [most often distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books]…. Actually this is the medicine to cure the disease we are all suffering from in the material world. This is sadhana-bhakti, Krishna consciousness… This material disease is so acute that if we don’t engage in Krishna consciousness 24 hours a day, Maya is so strong she will divert us from the path, back home, back to Godhead.

“As Brahma, the first created being, had to undergo tapasya to get information from the Supreme… The Supreme Lord is within you. He’s there. But He will advise. When you are fixed up by tapasya, determined with vow, then He will talk to you. He’s ready to talk, but you require to acquire the qualification to hear Him. And what is that qualification? This Krsna consciousness, devotional service. As it is said in the Bhagavad-gita, tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam. Such persons… Tesam satata-yuktanam. SATATA MEANS ALWAYS, TWENTY-FOUR HOURS, NOT THAT FIVE MINUTES I MEDITATE AND REST OF THE TIME I LIVE LIKE CATS AND DOGS. No. This kind of meditation will not help you. Krsna says, satata. Satata means twenty-four hours. YOU HAVE TO MOLD YOUR LIFE IN SUCH A WAY THAT TWENTY-FOUR HOURS YOU’LL THINK OF KRSNA. THIS IS KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS. IF YOU THINK, ‘NOW I HAVE CHANTED MY SIXTEEN ROUNDS. NOW I’VE FINISHED MY BUSINESS. NOW I CAN DO WHATEVER NONSENSE I LIKE, ‘NO’. KRSNA SAYS NO. Satata. THEREFORE WE HAVE TO PLAN OUR LIFE IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE HAVEN’T GOT ANY OTHER ENGAGEMENT THAN SERVICE OF KRSNA. THIS IS REQUIRED. Tesam satata-yuktanam. SATATA MEANS TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. Yukta means engaged. WHAT FOR? What is that engagement? Bhajatam. Bhajatam, bhaja sevayam: TO SERVE KRSNA. Bhajatam. How? Priti-purvakam. Not that ‘Oh, Krsna has said. All right, let me do.’ No. WITH LOVE AND AFFECTION. Then you’ll get attachment. UNLESS YOU DEVELOP LOVE FOR KRSNA, YOU CANNOT BE ENGAGED TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. Therefore it is said, priti-purvakam: NOT OFFICIALLY, BUT WITH LOVE. If you acquire this qualification, then you will talk with Krsna who is within your heart.” (750403CC.MAY)

“According to your recommendation I am accepting for second initiation Amala-harinama das Brahmacari and Viraja dasi. Now hold a fire ceremony for attendance of devotees only. YOU MUST BE SURE THAT THESE DEVOTEES ARE VERY STRICTLY FOLLOWING THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES AND CHANTING A MINIMUM OF SIXTEEN ROUNDS DAILY. THEY MUST BE FULLY ENGAGED IN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, 24 HOURS PER DAY. Please find enclosed two gayatri mantra sheets and one sacred thread. After the fire sacrifice, play the tape of me reciting the gayatri mantra into the right ear of these initiates and show them how to count on their fingers.” (76-10-24.Rad)

“…A PURE DEVOTEE MUST ENGAGE IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY, WITHOUT CESSATION; HIS LIFE IS SO MOLDED THAT AT EVERY MINUTE AND EVERY SECOND HE ENGAGES IN SOME SORT OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE TO THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD.” (SB 3.29.11-12)

“Thus discussion of Srimad-Bhagavatam, which describes the character and pastimes of devotees and the Lord, is very quickly effective. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness has been organised for this purpose. IN EVERY CENTER OF THIS SOCIETY–-NOT ONLY IN THE MORNING, EVENING OR NOON, BUT PRACTICALLY TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY–-THERE IS CONTINUOUS DEVOTIONAL SERVICE GOING ON. Anyone who comes in contact with the Society automatically becomes a devotee. We have actual experience that many karmis and others come to the Society and find a very pleasing and peaceful atmosphere in the temples of ISKCON.” (SB 4.12.48)

“‘King Ambarisa always fixed his mind on the lotus feet of the Lord and talked of Him only.’ (Bhag. 9.4.19) We should also take this opportunity in life to become as good as a great saint simply by NOT TALKING UNNECESSARILY WITH UNWANTED PERSONS. WE SHOULD EITHER TALK OF KRSNA OR CHANT HARE KRSNA UNDEVIATINGLY. This is called muni-vrata. The intelligence must be very sharp (samahita-dhiyah) and should always be acting in Krsna consciousness. The words etad abhyasatadrtah indicate that if one takes these instructions from a spiritual master with great reverence (adrta) and practices them accordingly, he will find this bhakti-yoga process to be very, very easy.” (SB 4.24.71)

“This Krsna consciousness movement is therefore the greatest boon to humanity because it keeps one always engaged in Krsna’s service. THE DEVOTEES THINK OF KRSNA, ACT FOR KRSNA, EAT FOR KRSNA, SLEEP FOR KRSNA AND WORK FOR KRSNA. THUS EVERYTHING IS ENGAGED IN THE SERVICE OF KRSNA. A total life in Krsna consciousness saves one from material contamination.” (SB 4.30.19)

“Why should you try for any hard process? Simply chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. And YOU CAN CHANT TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY. THERE ARE NO RULES OR REGULATIONS. EITHER IN THE STREET OR IN THE SUBWAY, AT YOUR HOME OR IN YOUR OFFICE–THERE IS NO TAX, NO EXPENSE. WHY DON’T YOU DO IT?” (JSD 5.2)

“Asakrt means continuously. NOT THAT PERFORM KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS FIFTEEN MINUTES’ MEDITATION, AND THEN DO ALL NONSENSE THINGS, TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. NO, NO, NO, NO. NOT THAT KIND OF… TWENTY-FOUR HOURS ENGAGED IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, THAT IS WANTED. That is called asakrt. Twenty-four. SO YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR FORMULA OF LIFE IN SUCH A WAY THAT NOT A SINGLE MOMENT IS GONE WITHOUT KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS.. Avyartha-kalatvam. This is Rupa Gosvami’s… A devotee, A PURE DEVOTEE OF KRSNA, HE ALWAYS SEES: “WHETHER MY TIME IS WASTED UNNECESSARILY?” He should be very much alert: “WHY I’M SLEEPING SO MUCH, WASTING SO MUCH TIME?” That is devotees, Krsna conscious. “OH, I AM WASTING SO MUCH TIME WITHOUT ANY ENGAGEMENT OF KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS?” That is called asakrt.” (741022SB.MAY)

“So we have to STICK TO THESE PRINCIPLES to keep ourselves on the transcendental platform, RISING EARLY IN THE MORNING, OFFER MANGALA ARATI, THEN GRADUALLY, ONE AFTER ANOTHER, ATTENDING CLASS, GURU-PUJA, AND SO ON, SO ON. UP TILL YOU GO TO BED, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE ENGAGED. Then you will be above these three gunas…So our these rules and regulation, restriction, means to keep one on the vasudeva platform. We should remember always that. And if you keep yourself on vasudeva platform, these things will not entice you. Otherwise we shall be enticed and fallen down.” (750828SB.VRN)

So this full-time engagement in Krishna consciousness is not fanatical. It’s the ONLY WAY out of the material way of life. In the beginning we may find such “full-time” Krishna consciousness a little austere, but it will purify our heart [if we are serving a pure devotee that is] and the dormant spark of Krishna consciousness will awaken within our hearts and serving Krishna will become transcendental bliss, spiritual ecstasy…

“It is said that one who has unflinching faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which means unflinching faith in the Vaisnava or the pure devotee of the Supreme Lord, develops all the good qualities of the demigods. Yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana. sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah (Bhag. 5.18.12). Prahlada Maharaja also said, naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim (Bhag. 7.5.32). UNLESS ONE TAKES THE DUST OF THE LOTUS FEET OF A PURE VAISNAVA ON ONE’S HEAD, ONE CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD IS, and unless one knows the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one’s life remains imperfect. A GREAT SOUL WHO HAS FULLY SURRENDERED TO THE SUPREME LORD AFTER UNDERSTANDING HIM FULLY and after repeatedly undergoing austerities and penances for many, many lives IS VERY RARE.” (SB 4.21.43)

“So that is the position of guru. Guru is respected as good as God. Why? Only for this qualification, that HE DOES NOT SPEAK ANYTHING NONSENSE. HE SPEAKS ONLY WHAT HE HAS HEARD FROM THE ACARYA…” (760904SB.VRN)

ISKCON has constantly ignored the point of the GURUS QUALIFICATIONS and advertised so many UNQUALIFIED men as “bona fide ISKCON gurus”… The only “qualification” they have is approval by the GBC… Their argument is “Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to become gurus, we are Srila Prabhupada’s disciples therefore we must be the gurus!” But ISKCON have NEVER consider the QUALIFICATIONS of a bona fide guru and checked to see if their “gurus” actually possess all of these QUALIFICATIONS… And now they are very busy trying to concoct a watered-down “guru tattva” to accommodate this…

“…You can thin milk by adding water and you can make it thick by boiling. Now is the time for us to begin the boiling process. Now you know everything how to be a Vaisnava brahmana, now YOU MUST PRACTICE THESE THINGS OR THE WHOLE THING WILL BE A SHOW ONLY. BETTER TO DEVELOP THE SMALL NUMBER OF DEVOTEES WE HAVE, MAKE THEM TRULY KRISHNA CONSCIOUS BOYS AND GIRLS THAN TO GO ON GETTING MANY FOLLOWERS WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND AND PRACTICE THE REAL PRINCIPLES. BETTER ONE MOON THAN MANY STARS. (72-05-09.Dam)

“This is instruction, that anyone who has become competent to control the tongue, to control the mind, to control the anger, to control the belly and control the genital…, if six kind of control is there, he is fit for becoming spiritual master; he can make disciples all over the world. AND IF YOU CANNOT CONTROL YOUR TONGUE, IF YOU CANNOT CONTROL YOUR ANGER, CONTROL YOUR MENTAL CONCOCTION, THEN HOW YOU CAN BECOME EVEN A SPIRITUAL MASTER? THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. Prthivim sa sisyat. One who did… That is called gosvami, gosvami or svami, master of the senses. Master of controlling these six kinds.” (730804BG.LON)

This nonsense watered-down ISKCON philosophy has spoiled everything. What is the use? They’re trying to create sentimental followers of unqualified gurus. They’re trying for a few twinkling stars. But what will a few stars do? It’s completely useless. THE GURU IS A PURE DEVOTEE… What more can I say? Srila Prabhupada has said it all already so many times… Why not listen to him and follow his instructions? That is the path of true auspiciousness and the success of every disciples life…

“It is said that A SINGLE PURE DEVOTEE OF THE LORD CAN DELIVER ALL THE FALLEN SOULS OF THE WORLD. Thus one who is actually in the confidence of a pure devotee like Narada or Sukadeva Gosvami and thus is empowered by one’s spiritual master, as Narada was by Brahmaji, can not only deliver himself from the clutches of maya, or illusion, but CAN DELIVER THE WHOLE WORLD BY HIS PURE AND EMPOWERED DEVOTIONAL STRENGTH…” (SB 2.8.5)

“So sometimes people give me very much credit that I have done wonderful throughout the whole world. But I do not know that I am wonderful man. But I know one thing, that I AM SPEAKING WHAT KRSNA HAS SPOKEN. THAT’S ALL. I AM NOT MAKING ANY ADDITION, ALTERATION. Therefore I am presenting Bhagavad-gita as it is. This credit I can take, that I don’t make any nonsense addition or alteration. And I see practically it has become successful. I have not bribed so many Europeans and Americans. I am poor Indian. I came to America with forty rupees with me, and now I possess forty crores. So there is no magic. So this is the secret, that if you want to become guru honestly… If you want to cheat, that is another thing. There are so many cheaters. People also want to be cheated. As soon as we say that “IF YOU WANT TO BECOME MY DISCIPLE, YOU WILL HAVE TO GIVE UP FOUR THINGS: NO ILLICIT SEX, NO INTOXICATION UP TO DRINKING TEA AND SMOKING CIGARETTE, NO MEAT-EATING AND NO GAMBLING,” and they criticize me, “Swamiji is very conservative.” And if I say that “You can do all nonsense, whatever you like. You simply take this mantra and give me $125,” they will like. Because in America, $125 is nothing. Any man can pay immediately. SO I WOULD HAVE COLLECTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IF I WOULD HAVE CHEATED LIKE THAT. BUT I DO NOT WANT THAT. I WANT ONE STUDENT WHO FOLLOWS MY INSTRUCTION. I DON’T WANT MILLIONS. Ekas candras tamo hanti na ca tara-sahasrasah. If there is one moon in the sky, that is sufficient for illumination. There is no need of millions of stars. SO MY POSITION IS THAT I WANT TO SEE THAT AT LEAST ONE DISCIPLE HAS BECOME PURE DEVOTEE. Of course, I have got many sincere and pure devotees. That is my good luck. But I would have been satisfied if I could find out one only. There is no need of so-called millions of stars.” (750715AR.SF)

Instead of concentrating on creating some pure devotees ISKCON is busy in so many other watered-down money-making projects involving the Hindu Community mainly… For example, the Melbourne Temple in Australia is encouraging their “devotees” to come up to the standard of: (1) Chanting ONE round of the Hare Krishna mantra daily. (2) Reading ONE Verse & Purport of Bhagavad-gita daily.(3) Giving at least ONE DOLLAR A DAY to the temple. (4) Offering ONE hour of service per week. (5) Coming to the temple ONCE a week (Sunday Feast). And the temple president states: “If we can develop a core group of persons committed to these five principles we can increase the spiritual mood and enthusiasm of our whole community beyond our expectations.” So they have their five principles. BUT WHAT ABOUT SRILA PRABHUPADA’S FOUR REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES? There is ABSOLUTELY NO MENTION of them at all… [no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling and no intoxication] And chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra daily? Does anyone remember that principle?

“Well, this is a very difficult job, naturally. We don’t have a large number of followers. AS SOON AS YOU TRY TO SELL A DIAMOND, YOU CANNOT EXPECT MANY CUSTOMERS. NONETHELESS, A DIAMOND IS A DIAMOND, EVEN IF THERE ARE NO CUSTOMERS. The number of customers is not the test. THE CUSTOMER MUST PAY THE VALUE OF THE ITEM. IN THIS SOCIETY WE PROPOSE THAT YOU GIVE UP ILLICIT SEX, MEAT-EATING, INTOXICATION AND GAMBLING. WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THIS, THEY GO AWAY SAYING, ‘OH, SWAMIJI IS VERY CONSERVATIVE.’ But I cannot become liberal and tell everybody, ‘Go ahead and do all nonsense and you can become God conscious.’ I cannot possibly recommend that. THEREFORE MY FIRST CONDITION IS THAT IF SOMEONE WANTS TO BECOME MY STUDENT HE HAS TO FOLLOW THESE FOUR REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES. CONSEQUENTLY I DO NOT HAVE MANY FOLLOWERS, BUT I DO HAVE A SELECT FEW. BECAUSE THEY ARE SELECT, THEY WILL BRING ABOUT A REVOLUTION IN THE WORLD. One moon is sufficient to dissipate darkness. IF THERE IS ONE MOON, THERE IS NO NEED FOR MILLIONS OF STARS. IT IS USELESS TO EXPECT A LARGE NUMBER OF FOLLOWERS. WE WANT ONLY ONE GOOD FOLLOWER. IF I CAN GET ONE MAN TO BECOME KRSNA CONSCIOUS, I WILL CONSIDER MY MISSION FULFILLED. If you talk to whatever small number of followers I have, you will find that they talk better than any great philosopher, better than any scientist or politician. That is the quality of my students. What’s the point in talking nonsense? ONE’S WORDS MAY BE SIMPLE, BUT THEY SHOULD BE VALUABLE. Every day your employer is printing so many newspapers. On Sunday, especially, the paper is so big that one can hardly carry it. But after reading it an hour, people throw it away. Here is this book, BHAGAVAD-GITA, and PEOPLE KEEP IT AND READ IT FOR A LIFETIME, and in this way it has been read for the past 5,000 years. GIVE SUCH LITERATURE AND IT WILL BE TAKEN AND KEPT FOREVER.” (720902iv.nv)

“No, we don’t take that, by number of people. … Ekas candras tamo hanti: ‘IF ONE MAN ACCEPTS, THEN HE CAN BECOME THE BRIGHT MOON.’ Na ca tarah sahasrasah: ‘THE SO-CALLED STARS HAVE NO VALUE.’ ONE MOON IS SUFFICIENT. So our preaching is: Let one man understand Bhagavad-gita As It Is. WE DON’T WANT DISCIPLES. I NEVER COLLECTED DISCIPLES. I NEVER COMPROMISED that “You can do whatever you like, and you become my disciple. “No. YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THIS. Now also, this morning, I accepted so many… ‘First promise whether you are going to do this. Then I initiate.’ This is my policy. IF I WOULD HAVE SAID, ‘NO, YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU LIKE, AND GIVE ME SOME MONEY. I SHALL GIVE YOU MANTRA,’ THEN YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN MILLIONS, BUT I ACCEPT VERY SELECTED DISCIPLE, not that anyone, everyone comes, and I accept disciple. No. HE IS FIRST OF ALL TRAINED UP SIX MONTHS. THEN, WHEN HE IS ABLE TO PROMISE TO FOLLOW THE REGULATIVE [PRINCIPLES]….” (750520rc.mel)

“I don’t make any compromise with these rascals. No words. No, no. I never made that. Even if I don’t get any disciples, I’ll be satisfied. But I can’t make any compromise like these rascals. I cannot make. Ekas candras tamo hanti na ca tara sahasrasah. IF I CREATE ONE MOON, THAT IS SUFFICIENT. I DON’T WANT MANY STARS. THAT WAS MY GURU MAHARAJA’S PRINCIPLE, AND THAT IS MY PRINCIPLE. WHAT IS THE USE OF HAVING NUMBER OF FOOLS AND RASCALS? IF ONE MAN UNDERSTANDS RIGHTLY, HE CAN DELIVER THE WHOLE WORLD.” (740323mw.bom)

“…how to love God. It is not our proposition that you are Christian, you become Hindu, or you are Mohammedan, you become Christian, increase our numerical strength. We don’t want. WE DON’T WANT ANY NUMERICAL STRENGTH. WE WANT ONE SINCERE PERSON WHO HAS LEARNED TO LOVE GOD, KRSNA. That’s all. I have come to your country with this mission, and if I find one or two boys or girls sincerely have learned how to love God, Krsna, then my mission is successful. I’m not after any number of… Because IF I CAN TURN ONE SOUL TO THIS KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, HE’LL DO TREMENDOUS WORK, BECAUSE HE’LL BE FIRE. You see? He can do tremendous work. Ekas candras tamo hanti na ca tarah sahasrasah. ONE MOON IS COMPLETE TO DRIVE AWAY THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT, NOT MILLIONS OF STARS REQUIRED. WHAT THESE MILLIONS OF STARS CAN DO? One moon is sufficient. So our propaganda is to create one moon. You see? But fortunately, by Krsna’s grace, many moonlike boys and girls have come to me. You see? Many moons. (chuckles) I was thinking of having only one moon, but Krsna… I AM HOPEFUL THAT THERE ARE MANY MOONS, and in future they’ll be doing very nice. This is para-upakara. To spread this Krsna consciousness movement is the best service to the humanity. Please try to understand this. It is not a bluffing thing. To love God, prema pumartho mahan… Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that the highest achievement in the human form of life is to attain perfectional stage to love God. That is the highest. Not dharmartha-kama-moksa.” (690412LE.NY)

Anyhow we have all seen what the current watered-down unauthorized “Non-Liberated Guru System” has done to ISKCON. I can’t bring myself to describe it. Everyone knows these 100+ “bona fide” ISKCON gurus are not all “bona fide” and serving them is NOT NOT NOT the same as serving Srila Prabhupada… Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting they’re not devotees or they’re demons or anything like that. They’re just not self-effulgent pure devotee Vaisnava acaryas capable of taking themselves and their disciples back home, back to Godhead. Such a great soul is very, very rare. For ISKCON to present them as such and force innocent bhaktas to take initiation from them knowing well they are not capable of taking them back home, back to Godhead, is the most heinous type of fraud, the greatest criminal activity.

“One also has to associate with such a mahatma who has accepted Krsna as the supreme source of the entire creation. WITHOUT BEING A MAHATMA, ONE CANNOT UNDERSTAND KRSNA’S ABSOLUTE POSITION. A MAHATMA IS RARE AND TRANSCENDENTAL, AND HE IS A PURE DEVOTEE OF LORD KRSNA. Foolish people consider Krsna a human being, and they consider Lord Krsna’s pure devotee an ordinary human being also. Whatever one may be, ONE MUST TAKE SHELTER AT THE LOTUS FEET OF A DEVOTEE MAHATMA AND TREAT HIM AS THE MOST EXALTED WELL-WISHER OF ALL HUMAN SOCIETY. We should take shelter of such a mahatma and ask for his causeless mercy. ONLY BY HIS BENEDICTION CAN ONE BE RELIEVED FROM ATTACHMENT TO A MATERIALISTIC WAY OF LIFE. When one is thus relieved, he can engage in the Lord’s transcendental loving service through the mercy of the mahatma.” (Madhya 22.51)

“The perfection of transcendental life can be achieved simply by touching the holy dust of the lotus feet of a holy man. In the Bhagavatam it is said, mahat-pada-rajo-‘bhisekam, which means to be blessed by the holy dust of the lotus feet of a mahat, a great devotee. As stated in Bhagavad-gita, mahatmanas tu: those who are great souls are under the spell of spiritual energy, and their symptom is that they fully engage in Krsna consciousness for the service of the Lord. Therefore they are called mahat. UNLESS ONE IS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE THE DUST OF THE LOTUS FEET OF A MAHATMA ON ONE’S HEAD, THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF PERFECTION IN SPIRITUAL LIFE.” (SB 3.22.6)

Accepting a bogus guru is generally the end of one’s spiritual life. If one is fooled into surrendering to an unqualifed person and is cheated by him it’s very difficult to surrender again… The heart is broken, so these ISKCON “gurus,” even though they may think they’re just like Prabhupada and just as good as Prabhupada, should not be allowed to initiate in ISKCON unless they show some potency just like Prabhupada’s potency, unless they are self-effulgent Vaisnava acaryas. We have to see the symptoms first.

“‘ANY PERSON WHO SERIOUSLY DESIRES TO ACHIEVE REAL HAPPINESS MUST SEEK OUT A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER AND TAKE SHELTER OF HIM BY INITIATION. THE QUALIFICATION OF HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER IS THAT HE MUST HAVE REALIZED THE CONCLUSION OF THE SCRIPTURES BY DELIBERATION AND BE ABLE TO CONVINCE OTHERS OF THESE CONCLUSIONS. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, are to be understood as bona fide spiritual masters.’ Similarly, Visvanatha Cakravarti, a great Vaisnava, also advises, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah:’By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the mercy of Krsna.’ This is the same advice given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija). This is essential. ONE MUST COME TO KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, AND THEREFORE ONE MUST TAKE SHELTER OF A PURE DEVOTEE. Thus one can become free from the clutches of matter.” (SB 5.14.41)

Just look at what Srila Prabhupada did from 1966-1977, eleven years, and compare his one-man effort to the results of his “successors” preaching from 1977-2017, 40 years. They’ve had four times as long and there are 100+ ISKCON gurus compared to just one Prabhupada! Have they done 100 times as much as Srila Prabhupada? Even combined together have they done as much as Srila Prabhupada? NO NO NO… They have UNDONE almost all the good work done by Srila Prabhupada! They have turned his society, ISKCON, into a completely mundane watered-down religious organization and driven out anyone at all who is seriously interested in strictly following Srila Prabhupada’s instructions. Also they train all the devotees to become offensive toward anyone who wants to seriously follow Srila Prabhupada!

“‘Only unto one who has unflinching devotion to the Lord and to the spiritual master does transcendental knowledge become automatically revealed.’ SUCH RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DISCIPLE AND THE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS ETERNAL. ONE WHO IS NOW THE DISCIPLE IS THE NEXT SPIRITUAL MASTER. AND ONE CANNOT BE A BONA FIDE AND AUTHORIZED SPIRITUAL MASTER UNLESS ONE HAS BEEN STRICTLY OBEDIENT TO HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER. Brahmaji, as a disciple of the Supreme Lord, received the real knowledge and imparted it to his dear disciple Narada, and similarly Narada, as spiritual master, handed over this knowledge to Vyasa and so on. THEREFORE THE SO-CALLED FORMAL SPIRITUAL MASTER AND DISCIPLE ARE NOT FACSIMILES OF BRAHMA AND NARADA OR NARADA AND VYASA. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRAHMA AND NARADA IS REALITY, WHILE THE SO-CALLED FORMALITY IS THE RELATION BETWEEN THE CHEATER AND CHEATED. It is clearly mentioned herewith that Narada is not only well behaved, meek and obedient, but also self-controlled. ONE WHO IS NOT SELF-CONTROLLED, SPECIFICALLY IN SEX LIFE, CAN BECOME NEITHER A DISCIPLE NOR A SPIRITUAL MASTER. One must have disciplinary training in controlling speaking, anger, the tongue, the mind, the belly and the genitals. One who has controlled the particular senses mentioned above is called a gosvami. Without becoming a gosvami one can become neither a disciple nor a spiritual master. THE SO-CALLED SPIRITUAL MASTER WITHOUT SENSE CONTROL IS CERTAINLY THE CHEATER, AND THE DISCIPLE OF SUCH A SO-CALLED SPIRITUAL MASTER IS THE CHEATED.” (SB 2.9.43)

“…In this verse, yogesvara-upasana means to render service to a pure devotee. Thus Narottama dasa Thakura says, chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba: WITHOUT SERVING A PURE DEVOTEE, ONE CANNOT ADVANCE IN SPIRITUAL LIFE.” (SB 4.22.22)

Anyhow the ISKCON devotees should wake up and rectify everything and return everything to the way it was in Srila Prabhupada’s physical presence, it’s not too late yet. It’s the last chance really, otherwise ISKCON will no longer exist and Srila Prabhupada’s mission will have to spread in other ways. But it will go on. There’s no stopping it. Even “ISKCON” cannot stop Srila Prabhupada’s mission or his sincere followers, no matter how hard they try.

“Lord Caitanya then asked Ramananda Raya, “Out of many so-called liberated souls, who is actually liberated?” Ramananda replied that HE WHO IS ACTUALLY COMPLETELY SATURATED WITH THE DEVOTIONAL LOVE FOR RADHA AND KRSNA IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE BEST OF ALL LIBERATED PERSONS. It is stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.14.4) that A DEVOTEE OF NARAYANA IS SO RARE THAT ONE CAN ONLY FIND HIM OUT OF MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.” (TLC 32)

So, in summary, since 1977 ISKCON has forced new devotees to give up their relationship with Srila Prabhupada, to stop worshiping Srila Prabhupada [or at least to meditate on their own “Guru” instead of Srila Prabhupada while apparently worshiping Srila Prabhupada!], to stop offering bhoga to Srila Prabhupada, to stop chanting Srila Prabhupada’s pranam mantras, and INSTEAD to take initiation and OFFER EVERYTHING to the institutionalised “ISKCON LIVING GURUS” who ISKCON quite openly admit are generally not pure devotees at all… The result of conditioned souls taking the post of acarya and guru is plain and clear for all to see. These non-liberated ISKCON gurus have NOT been able to “deliver the goods” (pure devotional service to Krishna) to their disciples and in the process Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON has been destroyed and so many sincere followers of Srila Prabhupada have been branded as “heretics” and bashed, blasphemed and banned from ISKCON temples.

“…In the Garuda Purana IT IS said to be MORE RARE TO BE A FAMOUS DEVOTEE OF THE SUPREME LORD IN THE AGE OF KALI THAN TO BE A DEMIGOD such as Brahma or Lord Siva…” (TLC 32)

The result is tens of thousands of devotees spiritual lives have been servery damaged and the whole world is now without any association of pure devotees dedicated to practicing and preaching pure devotional service as taught by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

“Thus Lord Caitanya told Sanatana Gosvami that ALL SCRIPTURES STRESS ASSOCIATION WITH PURE DEVOTEES OF THE GODHEAD. THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSOCIATE WITH A PURE DEVOTEE OF THE SUPREME LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF ONE’S COMPLETE PERFECTION. This is also confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.18.13) where it is said that the facilities and benedictions which one achieves by association with a pure devotee are incomparable. They cannot be compared to anything–-neither elevation to the heavenly kingdom nor liberation from material energy. Lord Krsna also confirms this in the most confidential instruction in Bhagavad-gita…:” (TLC 11)

There are thousands of relevant quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s books, letters, classes, etc. I would like to put in here but if I put in thousands of quotes who will read it? So my humble request is that you please read and hear all Srila Prabhupada’s books, letters, classes, conversations, etc. for yourself. It’s the most wonderful thing. Personal association with a real bona fide pure devotee!

“…This is simply a bodily concern. Here Dhruva Maharaja plainly says that a devotee has no more bodily interest. HE KNOWS THAT HE IS NOT THE BODY. From the very beginning, therefore, without wasting time in bodily exercises, A DEVOTEE SEARCHES OUT A PURE DEVOTEE and simply by his association becomes more advanced in spiritual consciousness than any yogi. BECAUSE A DEVOTEE KNOWS THAT HE IS NOT THE BODY, HE IS NEVER AFFECTED BY BODILY HAPPINESS OR DISTRESS. He is not interested in bodily relationships with wife, children, home, bank balance, etc., or in the distress and happiness which come from these things. This is the special advantage of being a devotee. THIS STATUS OF LIFE IS POSSIBLE ONLY WHEN A PERSON IS INTERESTED IN ASSOCIATING WITH A PURE DEVOTEE, who always enjoys the fragrance of the lotus feet of the Lord.

“Bhattacarya offered him his due respect and replied, “My dear Gopinatha Acarya, it is through your mercy that I have received the mercy of the Supreme Lord.” THE MERCY OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD CAN BE OBTAINED BY THE MERCY OF A PURE DEVOTEE. Lord Caitanya’s mercy was bestowed upon Bhattacarya because of Gopinatha Acarya’s endeavour. ‘You are a great devotee of the Lord,’ Bhattacarya continued, ‘and I was simply blinded by my academic education. Yes, I have obtained the mercy of the Lord through your agency only.’ Lord Caitanya Himself was greatly pleased to hear Bhattacarya say that a man can obtain the mercy of the Lord through the agency of a devotee. He appreciated his words and embraced Bhattacarya, confirming his statement.” (TLC 26)

Thank you for reading this. All glories to your service. Please give me your blessings. Chant Hare Krishna and read Srila Prabhupada’s books and be happy!

“There are many liberated souls and perfected souls, but out of all of them he who is a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is best. THE DEVOTEES OF THE SUPREME LORD ARE ALWAYS CALM AND QUIET, and THEIR PERFECTION IS VERY RARELY SEEN. EVEN IN MILLIONS OF PERSONS.” Prakasananda also quoted another verse (Bhag. 10.4.46) in which it is stated that ONE’S DURATION OF LIFE, PROSPERITY, FAME, RELIGION AND THE BENEDICTION OF HIGHER AUTHORITIES ARE ALL LOST WHEN ONE OFFENDS A DEVOTEE. Prakasananda also quoted another verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.5.32) which said that all the misgivings of the conditioned soul disappear at the touch of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. However, ONE CANNOT TOUCH THE LOTUS FEET OF THE SUPREME LORD UNLESS ONE RECEIVES THE BENEDICTION OF THE DUST OF THE LOTUS FEET OF THE LORD’S PURE DEVOTEE. In other words, ONE CANNOT BECOME A PURE DEVOTEE OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD UNLESS HE IS FAVOURED BY ANOTHER PURE DEVOTEE of the Lord.” (TLC 22)

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The basic principle of Krishna consciousness is unacceptable to most people, still many are attached to the idea of presenting themselves as pious persons and great devotees even though they reject the basic principle. They can not understand Krishna consciousness because they do not surrender to a pure devotee of Krishna.

Actually it is not possible to understand Krishna consciousness by practicing austerities, by following regulative principles, by chanting a certain number of rounds; even by reading books one can not understand Krishna consciousness. The secrets of Krishna consciousness are hidden within the hearts of Krishna’s pure devotees and there is absolutely no way we can ever understand and realize this ‘confidential knowledge’ unless we find a pure devotee of Krishna and surrender to him completely and make his instructions our life and soul. Then, if we are successful in getting the blessings and mercy of Krishna’s pure devotee it will be possible for us to understand Krishna consciousness. Otherwise Krishna consciousness will remain for us forever something theoretical and we will never experience the transcendental bliss, the happiness, the ecstasy and the real spiritual realizations that a real devotee experiences when practicing Krishna consciousness under the directions of his bona fide, pure devotee spiritual master.

The thing that makes Krishna consciousness possible is the ‘higher taste’, the nectar, the transcendental bliss that one experiences by engaging in the service of Krishna under the direction of Krishna’s pure devotee. Without this ‘higher taste’ there is no Krishna consciosuness actually, it is just a dry philosophical process. It is this ‘higher taste’ that gives us the power to renounce all sense gratifactory activities and simply work for the pleasure of Krishna and His pure devotee…

Even if we have a bona fide spiritual master, a pure devotee who has unlimited power to bless us with advancement in Krishna consciousness, unless we surrender to him and make the mission of his life our mission in life then also we will not be able to understand what Krishna consciousness is…

It doesn’t matter how much we strictly follow the brahminical principles, how much we chant, how much we read, how much we become great scholars and pundits, how many austerities we practice, how early we get up in the morning. All these things, without surrender to an actual bona fide spiritual master, will not help us to become Krishna conscious. Everything will remain theoretical for us and we will have no taste for Krishna consciousness and we will still in our minds be desiring sense gratification. If we see a beautiful women we will want to have sex with her. This thought does not come into the mind of an actual devotee like Haridas Thakur who, when a very beautiful woman was sent to him by an envious king to try and get him to fall down, was not interested in her advances. Rather he was interested in helping the beautiful woman to become Krishna conscious and he turned her into a great devotee. This is a real devotee. We have to come to this platform. Otherwise we are cheating the people we are ‘preaching’ to and our preaching will have a negative effect. Unless we are strictly following and have the correct consciousness we should not try to preach Krishna consciousness to others.

We may know the philosophy of Krishna consciousness very nicely but if when we see a beautiful boy or a beautiful girl we are thinking of sex then we are not Krishna conscious. We are in maya.

Of course sex is a very gross thing and some ‘devotees’ may be able to conquer this sex desire for the time being by the practice of austerities and penances and in this way they can also become very attractive and strong and determined and powerful. And they can attract many followers of course. But still they may have no understanding of what Krishna consciousness actually is.

There are so-many of these non-devotees in the dress of gurus and sadhus on the Indian guru channels and they are doing a great business. Some of them have some shakti as a result of their penances and austerities and they use that shakti to take the general publics’ money and collect unlimited numbers of followers and disciples. And unfortunately the people in general like this sort of cheating guru. This is why Srila Prabhupada often mentions that this word is the world of the cheaters and the cheated.

Actually most people do not want a real guru. They want a cheating guru. If the real guru comes they will reject him and search out a cheater. Why? We can find the answer from Krishna directly in the Bhagavad-gita.

What is called renunciation is the same as yoga, or linking oneself with the Supreme, for no one can become a yogi unless he renounces the desire for sense gratification. (Bhagavad-gita As It Is 6.2)

So Krishna is very clearly stating here that no one can become a yogi or link himself with the Supreme unless he renounces the desire for sense gratification. This is the core principle of Krishna consciousness and the basic prerequisite without with no actual advancement in spiritual life will be possible. The beginning of Krishna consciousness means giving up completely all our personal desires for sense gratification and in place of these desires we develop the desire to satisfy Krishna and His pure devotees. Of course many may talk about this but to find anyone who has actually given up all desires for personal sense gratification and really his only desire is to please Krishna and His pure devotees is very, very rare.

And when we reveal this truth most people will not be interested in Krishna consciousness. Because practically everyone is living for personal sense gratification. That is the purpose of their lives. And Krishna is saying that to become Krishna conscious one must give up all personal sense gratifactory activities… So it may be that the real guru who delivers this actual message of Bhagavad-gita may not be very popular with the people in general… But the general public love the cheating gurus who put no limits on the disciples’ sense gratification…

Even if some devotee does understand and realize this basic principle of Krishna consciousness and knows that he needs to surrender to a bona fide guru, Krishna’s pure devotee, then there are so many rascal cheating gurus elsewhere who are just waiting to meet such a surrendered soul and to trick him into surrendering to and serving them instead of Krishna’s pure devotee and Krishna…

In the current age of Kali the situation is so difficult that even most of the sincere seekers of the truth end up being cheated by a bogus guru and are exploited by him because he is engaged in the ‘guru business’ not for Krishna but for satisfying some personal desires. He may be very pious and very ‘spiritual’ and very advanced in knowledge of the Vedas. But it is not possible to clean out the desire for sense gratifaction from within the heart without surrendering to Krishna’s pure devotee and accepting and following his instructions.

These bogus gurus who are dressing as sannyasis and posing as Vaisnava acharyas and gurus are actually the greatest demons and Krishna has reserved the worst hellish planet for them. There is no more violent activity that can be exerted on another person than falsely posing as a spiritual leader for some personal benefit. This is the greatest sin as confirmed in Sri-Isopanisad (from Srila Prabhupada’s purport to Text 12):

The ignorant pseudo religionists and the manufacturers of so-called incarnations who directly violate the Vedic injunctions are liable to enter into the darkest region of the universe because they mislead those who follow them…

The Lord states that as soon as one reaches Him by devotional service–which is the one and only way to approach the Personality of Godhead–one attains complete freedom from the bondage of birth and death. In other words, the path of salvation from the material clutches fully depends on the principles of knowledge and detachment gained from serving the Lord.

The pseudo religionists have neither knowledge nor detachment from material affairs, for most of them want to live in the golden shackles of material bondage under the shadow of philanthropic activities disguised as religious principles. By a false display of religious sentiments, they present a show of devotional service while indulging in all sorts of immoral activities. In this way they pass as spiritual masters and devotees of God. Such violators of religious principles have no respect for the authoritative acaryas, the holy teachers in the strict disciplic succession. They ignore the Vedic injunction acaryopasana–“One must worship the acarya“–and Krsna’s statement in the Bhagavad-gita (4.2) evam paramparm-praptam, “This supreme science of God is received through the disciplic succession.” Instead, to mislead the people in general they themselves become so-called acaryas, but they do not even follow the principles of the acaryas.

These rogues are the most dangerous elements in human society. Because there is no religious government, they escape punishment by the law of the state. They cannot, however, escape the law of the Supreme, who has clearly declared in the Bhagavad-gita that envious demons in the garb of religious propagandists shall be thrown into the darkest regions of hell (Bg. 16.19-20).

Sri Isopanisad confirms that these pseudo religionists are heading toward the most obnoxious place in the universe after the completion of their spiritual master business, which they conduct simply for sense gratification.

Unfortunately this statement very accurately describes most of the “gurus” you will find these days. This problem has made spiritual advancement very difficult, practically impossible for the general public.

So [I keep saying this and please forgive me that] if you want to become Krishna conscious you have to find an actual pure devotee of Krishna and really surrender to him and serve him. And he will instruct you to stop sense gratification and instead work for the satisfaction of Krishna’s senses.

Anyhow, back to the basic principle of Krishna consciousness that practically all ‘devotees’ refuse to surrender to.

Actual Krishna consciousness means that one must know his constitutional position as the living entity and act accordingly.

The living entity has no separate independent identity. He is the marginal energy of Krishna. This is often compared with the situation at a beach on the shore of the ocean. Sometimes the sand on the beach is uncovered and open and at other times, when the the tide comes in, the beach disappears and is covered by water. So in this way the beach can be open or it can be covered by the water. Similarly when the living entity is entrapped by material energy, he is conditioned, and when he is Krishna conscious, or aware of the spiritual energy, then he is in his real and natural state of life. Therefore, when one is in complete knowledge, one ceases all material sense gratification, or renounces all kinds of sense gratificatory activities.

A Krishna conscious person therefore only uses his senses in the service of Krishna for the pleasure of Krishna. He has no personal desires for sense gratification at all. He understands that he is part and parcel of Krishna and that as the part and parcel of Krishna it is his natural and constitutional position to render service to Krishna. And he knows that if he can please Krishna in this way then he will also become satisfied because he is a part and parcel of Krishna. If the whole [Krishna] is satisfied then automatically the part [the living entity] will also be satisfied. In reality this is the only way a living entity can become satisfied–by surrendering to Krishna and serving and satisfying Him.

If one is unable to give up the activities of his selfish nature, sense gratification, then knowledge and yoga are of no benefit to him. The real aim is for a living entity to give up all selfish satisfaction and to be prepared to satisfy the Supreme. A Krishna conscious person has no desire for any kind of self-enjoyment. He is always engaged for the enjoyment of the Supreme. One who has no information of the Supreme must therefore be engaged in self-satisfaction because no one can stand on the platform of inactivity.

So without giving up the propensity for personal sense gratification and without real surrender, submission and service to an actual bona fide spiritual master, a pure devotee of Krishna, advancement in Krishna consciousness is not possible.

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"There is no possibility of one's becoming a yogi, O Arjuna, if one eats too much, or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough." (Bhagavad-gita 6.16)

If we want to become Krishna conscious we have to live a regulated life. We can not eat too much or too little or sleep too much or too little.  Too much eating means eating more than is required to keep the body and soul together.

There is no need for humans to eat animals because there is a good supply of grains, vegetables, fruits and milk available. Such simple foods are considered to be in the mode of goodness according to the Bhagavad-gita. Animal food is for those in the mode of ignorance therefore those who eat animal food and engage in other sinful activities like drinking alcohol and smoking will suffer sinful reactions because of eating only polluted things.

Anyone who eats for his own sense pleasure, or cooks for himself, not offering his food to Krishna, eats only sin. One who eats sin and eats more than is allotted to him can not practice perfect yoga. One should only eat the remnants of food offered to Krishna. A person in Krishna consciousness does not eat anything which is not first offered to Krishna. Therefore only the Krishna conscious person can attain perfect yoga practice.

It is also impossible for a person who artificially abstains from eating, manufacturing his own personal practice of fasting, practice yoga.

The Krishna conscious person observes fasting as it is recommended in the scriptures. He does not fast more or eat more than is required and he is thus competent to perform yoga practice. One who eats more than required will dream very much while sleeping, and he must therefore sleep more than required. One should not sleep more than six hours daily. One who sleeps more than six hours out of the twenty-four is certainly influenced by the mode of ignorance. A person in the mode of ignorance is lazy and prone to sleep a great deal. Such a person can not perform yoga.

"He who is temperate in his habits of eating, sleeping, working and recreation can eliminate all material pains by practicing the yoga system." (Bhagavad-gita 6.17)

Extravagance in the matter of eating, sleeping, defending and mating--which are all demands of the body--can block advancement in the practice of yoga. As far as eating is concerned it can be regulated only when one is practiced to take and accept prasadam, sanctified food. Lord Krishna is offered, according to Bhagavad-gita (9.26), vegetables, flowers, fruits, grains, milk, etc. In this way a person in Krishna consciousness becomes automatically trained not to accept food which is not meant for human consumption, or which is not in the category of goodness.

As far as sleeping is concerned, a Krishna conscious person is always alert in his discharge of duties in Krishna consciousness, and therefore any unnecessary time spent sleeping is considered a great loss. A Krishna conscious person can not bear to pass a minute of his life without being engaged in the service of the Lord. Therefore his sleeping is kept to a minimum. His ideal in this respect is Srila Rupa Gosvami, who was always engaged in the service of Krishna and who could not sleep more than two hours a day, and sometimes not even that. Haridas Thakur would not even accept prasadam nor even sleep for a moment without finishing his daily routine of chanting with his beads three hundred thousand names of Krishna.

As far as work is concerned, a Krishna conscious person does not do anything which is not connected with Krishna's interest, and thus his work is always regulated and is untainted by sense gratification. Since there is no question of sense gratification there is no material leisure for a person in Krishna consciousness. And because he is regulated in all his work, speech, sleep, wakefulness and all other bodily activities, there is no material misery for him.

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The Bhagavad-gita contains eighteen chapters containing a total of seven hundred verses. We have just gone through some important verses in the sixth chapter, so now we will move on to the seventh chapter. Srila Prabhupada titled this seventh chapter: "The Knowledge of the Absolute" and it begins with the following verse:

Now hear, O son of Prtha [Arjuna], how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt.

In this chapter the nature of Krishna consciousness is fully described. Krishna is full in all opulences, and how He manifests such opulences is described herein. Also, four kinds of fortunate people who become attached to Krishna, and four kinds of unfortunate people who never take to Krishna are described in this chapter.

In the first six chapters of Bhagavad-gita, the living entity has been described as nonmaterial spirit soul which is capable of elevating himself to self-realization by different types of yogas. At the end of the Sixth Chapter, it has been clearly stated that the steady concentration of the mind upon Krishna, or in other words Krishna consciousness, is the highest form of all yoga. By concentrating one's mind upon Krishna, one is able to know the Absolute Truth completely, but not otherwise.

Impersonal brahmajyoti (the destination of the impersonalists) or localized Paramatma (the Lord in the heart, the subject of meditation for the yogis) realization is not perfect knowledge of the Absolute Truth because it is partial. Full and scientific knowledge is Krishna, and everything is revealed to the person in Krishna consciousness. In complete Krishna consciousness one knows that Krishna is ultimate knowledge beyond any doubts.

Different types of yoga are only steppingstones on the path of Krishna consciousness. One who takes directly to Krishna consciousness automatically knows about brahmajyoti and Paramatma  in full. By practice of Krishna consciousness yoga, one can know everything in full--namely the Absolute Truth, the living entities, the material nature, and their manifestations with paraphernalia.

One should therefore begin yoga practice as directed in the last verse of the Sixth Chapter. Concentration of the mind upon Krishna the Supreme is made possible by prescribed devotional service in nine different forms, of which hearing is the first and most important. The Lord therefore says to Arjuna, "Hear from Me." No one can be a greater authority than Krishna, and therefore by hearing from Him one receives the greatest opportunity for progress in Krishna consciousness. One has therefore to learn from Krishna directly or from a pure devotee of Krishna--and not from a nondevotee upstart, puffed up with academic education.

In the Srimad-Bhagavatam this process of understanding Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth, is described in the Second Chapter of the First Canto as follows:

"To hear about Krishna from Vedic literatures, or to hear from Him directly through the Bhagavad-gita, is itself righteous activity. And for one who hears about Krishna, Lord Krishna who is dwelling in everyone's heart, acts as a best-wishing friend and purifies the devotee who constantly engages in hearing of Him. In this way, a devotee naturally develops his dormant transcendental knowledge. As he hears more about Krishna from the Bhagavatam and from the devotees, he becomes fixed in the devotional service of the Lord. By development of devotional service one becomes freed from the modes of passion and ignorance, and thus material lust and avarice are diminished. When these impurities are wiped away, the candidate remains steady in his position of pure goodness, becomes enlivened by devotional service and understands the science of God perfectly. Thus bhakti-yoga severs the hard knot of material affection and enables one to come at once to the stage of understanding of the Supreme Absolute Truth Personality of Godhead." (Bhag. 1.2.17-21)

Therefore only by hearing from Krishna or from His devotee in Krishna consciousness can one understand the science of Krishna.

So we see the only way one can understand Krishna consciousness is by hearing from a pure devotee of Krishna, and it is not very common to find a pure devotee of Krishna, we are very fortunate therefore that Srila Prabhupada has come to us and given us his books. Reading Srila Prabhupada's books is hearing from a pure devotee of Krishna. So by reading Srila Prabhupada's books we can become Krishna conscious.

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There is Another World!

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As we continue reading the Seventh Chapter of Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita As It Is we find Krishna explaining Himself to His friend Arjuna.

O son of Kunti [Arjuna], I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man. (Bhagavad-gita 7.8)

Here we can see how Krishna can be understood by both His spirtual and His material energies. Even if one does not have spiritual vision still Krishna can be preliminarily perceived by His different energies, and in this way He is realized impersonally.

As the sun god is a person in the sun planet and he can be perceived in an impersonal way by his all-pervading energy, the sunshine, similarly, Krishna, although in His eternal abode, is perceived by His all-pervading, diffusive energies.

The taste of water is the active principle of water. No one likes to drink sea water because the pure taste of water is mixed with salt. Attraction for water depends on the purity of the taste, and this pure taste is one of the energies of Krishna. The impersonalist perceives the presence of the Lord in water by its taste, and the personalist also glorifies the Lord for His kindly supplying water to quench man's thirst. That is the way of perceiving the Supreme.

Practically speaking, there is no conflict between personalism and impersonalism. One who knows God knows that the impersonal conception and personal conception are simultaneously present in everything and that there is no contradiction. Therefore Lord Caitanya established His sublime doctrine: acintya-bheda and abheda-tattvam--simultaneously one and different.

The light of the sun and the moon is also originally emanating from the brahmajyoti, which is the impersonal effulgence of the Lord. Similarly pranava or the omkara transcendental sound used in the beginning of every Vedic hymn to address the Supreme Lord also emanates from Him. Because the impersonalists are very much afraid of addressing the Supreme Lord Krishna by His innumerable names, they prefer to vibrate the transcendental sound omkara. But they do not realize that omkara is the sound representation of Krishna. The jurisdiction of Krishna consciousness extends everywhere, and one who knows Krishna consciousness is blessed. Those who do not know Krishna are in illusion, and so knowledge of Krishna is liberation, and ignorance of Him is bondage.

I am the original fragrance of the earth, and I am the heat in fire. I am the life of all that lives, and I am the penances of all ascetics. (Bhagavad-gita 7.9)

Everything in the material world has a certain flavor or fragrance, as the flavor and fragrance in a flower, or in the earth, in water, in fire, in air, etc.

The uncontaminated flavor, the original flavor, which permeates everything, is Krishna. Similarly, everything has a particular original taste, and this taste can be changed by the mixture of chemicals. So everything original has some smell, some fragrance, and some taste.

Fire is Krishna and without fire we cannot run factories, we cannot cook, etc. The heat in the fire is Krishna. According to Vedic medicine, indigestion is due to a low temperature in the belly. So even for digestion fire is needed.

In Krishna consciousness we become aware that earth, water, fire, air and every active principle, all chemicals and all material elements are due to Krishna.

The duration of man's life is also due to Krishna. Therefore by the grace of Krishna, man can prolong his life or diminish it. So Krishna consciousness is active in every sphere.

O son of Prtha, know that I am the original seed of all existences, the intelligence of the intelligent, and the prowess of all powerful men. (Bhagavad-gita 7.10)

Krishna is the seed of everything. In contact with material nature, the seed fructifies into various living entities, movable and inert. Birds, beasts, men and many other living creatures are moving living entities; trees and plants, however, are inert—they cannot move, but only stand.

Every entity is contained within the scope of 8,400,000 species of life; some of them are moving and some of them are inert. In all cases, however, the seed of their life is Krishna.

As stated in Vedic literature, Brahman, or the Supreme Absolute Truth, is that from which everything is emanating. Krishna is Parabrahman, the Supreme Spirit. Brahman is impersonal and Parabrahman is personal. Therefore, originally, Krishna is the source of everything. He is the root.

As the root of a tree maintains the whole tree, Krishna, being the original root of all things, maintains everything. This is also confirmed in the Vedic literature. "The Supreme Absolute Truth is that from which everything is born." He is the prime eternal among all eternals. He is the supreme living entity of all living entities, and He alone is maintaining all life.

Krishna also says that He is the root of all intelligence. Unless a person is intelligent he cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna.

I am the strength of the strong, devoid of passion and desire. I am sex life which is not contrary to religious principles, O Lord of the Bharatas [Arjuna]. (Bhagavad-gita 7.11)

The strong man's strength should be applied to protect the weak, not for personal aggression. Similarly, sex life, according to religious principles (dharma), should be for the propagation of children, not otherwise. The responsibility of parents is then to make their children Krishna conscious.

All states of being—be they of goodness, passion or ignorance—are manifested by My energy. I am, in one sense, everything—but I am independant. I am not under the modes of this material nature. (Bhagavad-gita 7.12)

All material activities in the world are being conducted under the three modes of material nature. Although these material modes of nature are emanations from the Supreme Lord, Krishna, He is not subject to them.

Under the state laws one may be punished, but the king, the lawmaker, is not subject to that law. Similarly, all the modes of material nature—goodness, passion and ignorance—are emanations from the Supreme Lord Krishna, but Krishna is not subject to material nature. Therefore these modes of nature, although issuing from Him, do not affect Him. That is one of the special characteristics of Bhagavan, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Deluded by the three modes [goodness, passion and ignorance], the whole world does not know Me who am above the modes and inexhaustible. (Bhagavad-gita 7.13)

The whole world is enchanted by the three modes of material nature. Those who are bewildered by these modes of nature cannot understand that transcendental to this material nature is the Supreme Lord, Krishna.

By nature living entities have particular types of body and particular types of psychic and biological activities accordingly.

There are four classes of men functioning in the three material modes of nature. Those who are purely in the mode of goodness are called brahmanas. Those who are purely in the mode of passion are called ksatriyas. Those who are in the modes of both passion and ignorance are called vaisyas. Those who are completely in ignorance are called sudras. And those who are less than that are animals or animal life. However, these designations are not permanent. I may either be a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or whatever—in any case, this life is temporary. But although life is temporary and we do not know what we are going to be in the next life, still, by the spell of this illusory energy, we consider ourselves in the light of this bodily conception of life, and we thus think that we are American, Indian, Russian or brahmana, Hindu, Muslim, etc. And if we become entangled with the modes of material nature, then we forget the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is behind all these modes.

So Lord Krishna says that men, deluded by these three modes of nature, do not understand that behind the material background is the Supreme Godhead.

There are many different kinds of living entities—human beings, demigods, animals, etc.—and each and every one of them is under the influence of material nature, and all of them have forgotten the transcendent Personality of Godhead. Those who are in the modes of passion and ignorance, and even those who are in the mode of goodness, cannot go beyond the impersonal Brahman conception of the Absolute Truth. They are bewildered before the Supreme Lord in His personal feature, which possesses all beauty, opulence, knowledge, strength, fame and renunciation.

When even those who are in goodness cannot understand, what hope is there for those in passion and ignorance?

Krishna consciousness is transcendental to all these three modes of material nature, and those who are truly established in Krishna consciousness are actually liberated.

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In the previous verse (Bhagavad-gita 7.13) we have seen Krishna explain to His friend Arjuna that here, in the material world, everyone is enchanted by the three modes of material nature: goodness, passion and ignorance. Because of this influence of the three modes of material nature the people of the world are bewildered and blinded so they can not know Krishna who is beyond the modes of material nature.

After describing this almost hopeless conditon of the people of the world Krishna continues:

This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it. (Bhagavad-gita 7.14)

So although it is very difficult, almost impossible to overcome the three modes of material nature, for a devotee who is actually surrendered to Krishna overcoming the modes of material nature and crossing over them, going back home back to Godhead, becomes very easy.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead has innumerable energies, and all these energies are divine. Although we, the living entities, are part of Krishna's energies and are therefore divine, due to contact with material energy, our original superior power is covered. Being covered by material energy, we cannot possibly overcome its influence. Both the material and spiritual natures, being emanations from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are eternal.

We, the living entities, belong to the eternal superior nature of Krishna, but due to contamination by the inferior nature, matter, our illusion is also eternal. The conditioned soul is therefore called nitya-baddha, or eternally conditioned. No one can trace out the history of his becoming conditioned at a certain date in material history. Consequently, his release from the clutches of material nature is very difficult, even though that material nature is an inferior energy, because material energy is ultimately conducted by the supreme will, which the living entity cannot overcome.

Inferior material nature is defined herein as divine nature due to its divine connection and movement by the divine will. Being conducted by divine will, material nature, although inferior, acts so wonderfully in the construction and destruction of the cosmic manifestation. The Vedas confirm this as follows: "Although maya [illusion] is false or temporary, the background of maya is the supreme magician, the Personality of Godhead, who is Mahesvara, the supreme controller."

Another meaning of guna is rope; it is to be understood that the conditioned soul is tightly tied by the ropes of illusion. A man bound by the hands and feet cannot free himself--he must be helped by a person who is unbound. Because the bound cannot help the bound, the rescuer must be liberated.

Therefore, only Lord Krsna, or His bona fide representative the spiritual master, can release the conditioned soul. Without such superior help, one cannot be freed from the bondage of material nature. Devotional service, or Krsna consciousness, can help one gain such release. Krsna, being the Lord of illusory energy, can order this insurmountable energy to release the conditioned soul. He orders this release out of His causeless mercy on the surrendered soul and out of His paternal affection for the living entity who is originally a beloved son of the Lord. Therefore surrender unto the lotus feet of the Lord is the only means to get free from the clutches of the stringent material nature.

The words mam eva are also significant. Mam means unto Krsna (Visnu) only, and not Brahma or Siva. Although Brahma and Siva are greatly elevated and are almost on the level of Visnu, it is not possible for such incarnations of passion and ignorance to release the conditioned soul from the clutches of maya.

In other words, both Brahma and Siva are also under the influence of maya. Only Visnu is the master of maya; therefore He can alone give release to the conditioned soul. The Vedas confirm this in the phrase tam eva viditva or "Freedom is possible only by understanding Krishna." Even Lord Siva affirms that liberation can be achieved only by the mercy of Visnu. Lord Siva says: "There is no doubt that Visnu is the deliverer of liberation for everyone."

So the summary is that the material energy, the three modes of material nature, although they are the inferior energy of Krishna, still the material energy is the energy of Krishna and therefore it is divine and also very, very strong. Because of this strong bewildering power of the material energy it is practically impossible for anyone to escape from the material world. However for a devotee who surrenders to Krishna, overcoming the modes of material nature and crossing beyond the material world to the spiritual world becomes very, very easy.

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Currently humanity is stuck in a very materialistic civilization which is completely degrading and not at all conducive for the spiritual evolution of the general public. One of the fundamental causes of this materialistic society is the widespread belief in the completely false theory that life comes from matter. If the people can believe life comes from matter simply by random chance then they can avoid all spiritual considerations completely.

In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna completely smashes this idea by asserting that He is the source of everything and that everything emanates from Him. Bhagavad Gita is so clear but because of the tendency of people to be envious, because they do not want to accept anyone is greater them themselves, they reject these very clear statements of Krishna and try and explain them in some other way. This is very dishonest but that is what practically every commentator on the Bhagavada Gita does, except of course for His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada simply explains Bhagavad Gita "As It Is", he simply presents what Krishna actually says.

Of all that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain that I am both its origin and dissolution.  (Bhagavad-gita 7.6)

Everything that exists is a product of matter and spirit. Spirit is the basic field of creation, and matter is created by spirit. Spirit is not created at a certain stage of material development. Rather, this material world is manifested only on the basis of spiritual energy. This material body is developed because spirit is present within matter; a child grows gradually to boyhood and then to manhood because of that superior energy, spirit soul, being present. Similarly, the entire cosmic manifestation of the gigantic universe is developed because of the presence of the Supersoul, Visnu. Therefore spirit and matter, which combine together to manifest this gigantic universal form, are originally two energies of the Lord, and consequently the Lord is the original cause of everything.

A fragmental part and parcel of the Lord, namely, the living entity, may by manipulation of material energy construct a skyscraper, factory or city, but he cannot create matter out of nothing, and he certainly cannot construct a planet or a universe. The cause of the universe is the Supersoul, Krsna, the supreme creator of all individual souls and the original cause of all causes.

These are very radical statements in today's world. Nowadays 'educated' people do not believe in the existence of anything except matter. For them the only thing in existence is the gross material elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether. Some even don't believe in ether… So they are like children who do not understand how something works. They are in complete ignorance as to the way the world is functioning. And they are worshipped as great scientists and scholars. This is the world we live in. Complete fools in complete ignorance are telling us that there is no spiritual energy, everything is matter, everything is chemicals and that life comes from a random combination of chemicals.

But we can understand from this verse of Bhagavad Gita that Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the source of all life and all matter. So life--and also matter--comes from life. It does not come from chemicals or from a primordial soup… Life and matter come from Krishna. Life comes from life! If we can just establish this fact it will be a great step forward for human civilization.

O conquerer of wealth [Arjuna], there is no Truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread. (Bhagavad Gita 7.7)

There is a common controversy over whether the Supreme Absolute Truth is personal or impersonal. As far as Bhagavad-gita is concerned, the Absolute Truth is the Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna, and this is confirmed in every step. In this verse, in particular, it is stressed that the Absolute Truth is a person.

That the Personality of Godhead is the Supreme Absolute Truth is also the affirmation of the Brahma-samhita: the Supreme Absolute Truth Personality of Godhead is Lord Krsna, who is the primeval Lord, the reservoir of all pleasure, Govinda, and the eternal form of complete bliss and knowledge.

These authorities leave no doubt that the Absolute Truth is the Supreme Person, the cause of all causes. The impersonalist, however, argues on the strength of the Vedic version given in the Svetasvatara Upanisad: "In the material world Brahma, the primeval living entity within the universe, is understood to be the supreme amongst the demigods, human beings and lower animals. But beyond Brahma there is the Transcendence who has no material form and is free from all material contaminations. Anyone who can know Him also becomes transcendental, but those who do not know Him suffer the miseries of the material world."

The impersonalist puts more stress on "no material form". But this "no material form" is not impersonal. It indicates the transcendental form of eternity, bliss and knowledge as described in the Brahma-samhita quoted above. Other verses in the Svetasvatara Upanisad substantiate this as follows:

"I know that Supreme Personality of Godhead who is transcendental to all material conceptions of darkness. Only he who knows Him can transcend the bonds of birth and death. There is no way for liberation other than this knowledge of that Supreme Person."

"There is no truth superior to that Supreme Person because He is the supermost. He is smaller than the smallest, and He is greater than the greatest. He is situated as a silent tree, and He illumines the transcendental sky, and as a tree spreads its roots, He spreads His extensive energies."

From these verses one concludes that the Supreme Absolute Truth is the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is all-pervading by His multi-energies, both material and spiritual.

So from these two verses of Bhagavad Gita we can understand it very clearly and very conclusively from Krishna Himself that everything--both the living entities and matter--comes from Krishna and that everything is resting on Krishna just like the pearls are resting on a thread.

So this very simple point (that everything comes from Krishna, that life comes from Krishna, life comes from life) will, if understood and accepted by the general public, take humanity to the next level of spiritual evolution.

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Hare Krishna Jon

Bhagavad-gita in just a few words sheds so much light on the subject of reincarnation. In the Eighth Chapter Sixth Verse Lord Krishna says:

"Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail."

The process of changing one''s nature at the critical moment of death is explained here. It is a very scientific process and in one line only we can understand the whole thing. Our state of mind at the time of death determines the state we will attain after death.

So we can understand from this that we are eternal. Even though our bodies will get old and die, we, the spirit souls within the bodies, do not die. Death is simply the soul leaving one body and going somewhere else.

And this verse very clearly and scientifically states what determines our destination after leaving this body. And that is our state of mind.

So there are many examples. If one is very much attached to swimming and surfing in the ocean then the human form of body is not very good for that. So if at the time of death one is dreaming about swimming and surfing in the ocean then Krishna may mercifully award him the benediction of getting the body of a fish in his next life. In that way he can swim in the ocean to his hearts content.

But a fish does not have the ability to ponder the meaning of life. All a fish is conscious of is how to eat, how to sleep, how to have sex and how to defend himself. His thoughts will never be able to rise above these basic animal needs. It is only in the human form of life that we have the ability to question: "Why am I here?", "What is the purpose of life?", "Where did I come from?", "What will happen after death?". Finding the answers to questions like this is the purpose of human life. This is how the Brahma Sutra starts: ahato brahma jijnasa: "The purpose of life is to question about brahman." Brahman means the spirit.

So the human form of life is a great facility which we can use to raise our consciousness form the material platform to the spiritual platform. And from reading this verse we can understand if we die in Krishna consciousness then after death we will certainly attain the state of Krishna consciousness.

So how can one die in the proper state of mind? Maharaja Bharata thought of a deer at the time of death and so was transferred to that form of life. However, as a deer, Maharaja Bharata could remember his past activities.

Of course the cumulative effect of the thoughts and actions of one''s life influences one''s thoughts at the moment of death; therefore the actions of this life determine one''s future state of being. If one is transcendentally absorbed in Krishna''s service,then his next body will be transcendental (spiritual), not physical. Therefore the chanting of Hare Krishna''s is the best process for successfully changing one''s state of being to transcendental life.

Srila Prabhupada has given us a very perfect method so that we can live in this material world but at the same time remain conscious of Krishna constantly. So if we practice this, constantly thinking of Krishna, constantly chanting Hare Krishna, then naturally at the time of death we will be thinking of Krishna and we will attain the state of Krishna consciousness after death.

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Hare Krishna Jon

To make the most out of life then we need to know what is the greatest achievement possible in life.

If we were to ask the average person what the greatest thing he could achieve in his life was the answers would almost all center around increasing material facilities for the gratification of his, or his families, material senses. People would like to become very wealthy, very beautiful, very powerful, very famous, etc. It is all self-centered. In this materialistic, selfish, self-centered world we have come to think a successful life means providing for our personal sense gratification.

The truth is this concept of sense gratification is only an illusion. It is not actually possible for us to enjoy in the material world. The actual enjoyable substance is not present here in the material world. This material world is called maya, it means "that which is not". We have the idea of pleasure, the idea of love, etc. But the actual pleasure, the actual love, it is not to be found here in the material world. This material world is a perverted reflection of the spiritual world. The spiritual world is the Kingdom of God. The place where Krishna lives in association with His devotees. The real pleasure is there in the spiritual world. Trying to enjoy in the material world is like trying to enjoy the taste of the mangoes on a tree that is reflected in the water of a lake. We can not taste the mangoes in the reflection of the tree. We can get the idea of the mangoes from the reflection, but to taste them we need the actual tree, not the reflection.

Although we strive to be the master the reality is we are all eternally servants. We have no choice but to serve. That is our nature. You can study any person in this world, even the so-called greatest man, and you will find he is a servant. The President is the servant of his countrymen and if they are not happy with his service they will drag him down from office. So in this way everyone is a servant. No one is independent. But serving in the material world is not satisfying. We can only be actually happy by serving Krishna.

Before spiritual life is really possible we have to realize that this material world is not our home. We are in a very hostile foreign country. And we can never be happy here in this hostile foreign country. To be happy we have to go back home, back to Godhead. So there is no point in trying to make a comfortable arrangement here in the material world. It is not possible. We can never be happy in the material world. That is like a fish trying to be happy out of the water. It is not possible. The fish needs to live in the watery atmosphere. The fish can never be happy on the land. Similarly we are spiritual entities and we can only be happy in the spiritual atmosphere. We can never be happy in the material atmosphere.

We all have our karma, our destiny. It is already fixed up, how much we will ‘enjoy’ and how much we will suffer here in the material world. We can not change it. So once we understand this we can "make the best use of a bad bargain" and use this human form of life as a way to elevated our consciousness to Krishna consciousness. The human form of life is a very valuable boat and we can use this valuable boat to cross over this material world, which is likened to an ocean of darkness, and reach the spiritual world on the other side.

Krishna saying in the Bhagavad-gita (Chapter 8, Text 5):

And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.

In this verse the importance of Krishna consciousness is stressed. Anyone who quits his body in Krishna consciousness is at once transferred to the transcendental abode of the Supreme Lord. The word “remembering" is important. Remembrance of Krishna is not possible for the impure soul who has not practiced Krishna consciousness in devotional service. To remember Krishna  one should chant the maha-mantra, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna  Krishna Krishna  Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, incessantly, following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya, being more tolerant than the tree, humbler than the grass and offering all respect to others without requiring respect in return. In such a way one will be able to depart from the body successfully remembering Krishna  and so attain the supreme goal.

So here we have the key to understanding the perfection of the human form of life. Our human form of life is perfect if we can remember Krishna at the time of death. We should never forget this. And we will not be able to remember Krishna at the time of death unless we practice remembering Krishna during our lives. The purpose of Krishna consciousness is to live in such a way that we always, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, are constantly remembering Krishna. Death can come at any moment. We do not know if we will still be living in this body in one hours time. At any moment we can die. So the devotee is very careful to fill every moment of his life with Krishna consciousness. We need to adjust our lives so our every action is performed for Krishna under the direction of a pure devotee of Krishna.

This art of living for Krishna, working for Krishna, doing everything for Krishna, this is the science of Krishna consciousness and Srila Prabhupada has given us all the secrets as to how to easily practice Krishna consciousness in his books. So we need to read Srila Prabhupada’s books and put the instructions of Srila Prabhupada into practice on our practical day-to-day lives. That will lead to a very blissful and ecstatic existence for us in the material world and will cause us to remember Krishna at the time of death which will guarantee that at the time of quitting this material body we will go back home back to Godhead to serve Krishna there in the association of the pure devotees of Krishna.

Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!

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In Chapter 7 Text 15 of the Bhagavad-gita Krishna lists four types of miscreants were mentioned who will never surrender:

1. The grossly foolish
2. The lowest of mankind
3. Those whose knowledge is stolen by illusion
4. And those who partake of the atheistic nature of demons.

So then the question naturally arises: "Who will surrender to Krishna?" This is answered by Krishna in the next verse (Bhagavad-gita 7.16):

O best among the Bharatas [Arjuna], four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me--the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.

The common factor shared by all the men who surrender to Krishna is they are pious. Unlike the miscreants, they follow the regulative principles of the scriptures, the moral and social laws, and are, more or less, devoted to the Supreme Lord.

Among these pious men there are four classes who surrender to Krishna:

1.  The distressed.
2.  Those who are in need of money.
3.  Those who are inquisitive,
4.  And those who are searching after knowledge of the Absolute Truth.

These persons come to the Krishna for devotional service under different conditions. These are not pure devotees because they have some aspiration to fulfill in exchange for devotional service.

Pure devotional service is without aspiration and without desire for material profit. The Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu defines pure devotion thus: "One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Krishna favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service."

When these four kinds of persons come to the Supreme Lord for devotional service and are completely purified by the association of a pure devotee, they also become pure devotees.

As far as the miscreants are concerned, for them devotional service is very difficult because their lives are selfish, irregular and without spiritual goals. But even some of them, by chance, when they come in contact with a pure devotee, also become pure devotees.

Those who are always busy with fruitive activities come to the Lord in material distress and at that time associate with pure devotees and become, in their distress, devotees of the Lord.

Those who are simply frustrated also come sometimes to associate with the pure devotees and become inquisitive to know about God.

Similarly, when the dry philosophers are frustrated in every field of knowledge, they sometimes want to learn of God, and they come to the Supreme Lord to render devotional service and thus transcend knowledge of the impersonal Brahman and the localized Paramatma and come to the personal conception of Godhead by the grace of the Supreme Lord or His pure devotee.

On the whole, when the distressed, the inquisitive, the seekers of knowledge, and those who are in need of money are free from all material desires, and when they fully understand that material remuneration has nothing to do with spiritual improvement, they become pure devotees.

As long as such a purified stage is not attained, devotees in transcendental service to the Lord are tainted with fruitive activities, and they search after mundane knowledge, etc. So one has to transcend all this before one can come to the stage of pure devotional service.

Of these, the wise one who is in full knowledge in union with Me through pure devotional service is the best. For I am very dear to him, and he is dear to Me.

Free from all contaminations of material desires, the distressed, the inquisitive, the penniless, and the seeker after supreme knowledge can all become pure devotees. But out of them, he who is in knowledge of the Absolute Truth and free from all material desires becomes a really pure devotee of the Lord.

Of the four orders, the devotee who is in full knowledge and is at the same time engaged in devotional service is, the Lord says, the best.

By searching after knowledge one realizes that his self is different from his material body, and when further advanced he comes to the knowledge of impersonal Brahman and Paramatma. When one is fully purified, he realizes that his constitutional position is to be the eternal servant of God.

By association with pure devotees, the inquisitive, the distressed, the seeker after material amelioration and the man in knowledge all become themselves pure. But in the preparatory stage, the man who is in full knowledge of the Supreme Lord and is at the same time executing devotional service is very dear to the Lord. He who is situated in pure knowledge of the transcendence of the Supreme Personality of God is so protected in devotional service that material contaminations cannot touch him.

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Hare Krishna Jon

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness is simply intended to keep us in constant touch with Krsna. Krsna can be in constant companionship with us because He is omnipotent. Therefore, He can be fully in touch with us by His words. His words and He are not different. That is omnipotence.

Krsna—this sound is transcendental. Krsna means the highest pleasure. All of us, every living being, seeks pleasure. But we do not know how to seek pleasure perfectly. With a materialistic concept of life, we are frustrated at every step in satisfying our pleasure because we have no information regarding the real level on which to have real pleasure. For the last few weeks we have been learning that we are not this body; we are consciousness. Not exactly consciousness, for consciousness is actually the symptom of our real identity: we are pure soul, now merged within this material body. Modern material science lays no stress on this; therefore the scientists are sometimes misled in their understanding of spirit soul. But spirit soul is a fact, which anyone can understand by the presence of consciousness. Any child can understand that consciousness is the symptom of the spirit soul.

Now the whole process we are trying to learn from the Bhagavad-gita (The Song of God) is how to bring ourselves to this level of consciousness. And if we act from the level of consciousness, then we may not be pushed again into the level of this bodily conception; and, if we can continue on that level, if we can continue to act in pure consciousness, then, at the end of this body we shall be free from material contamination, our spiritual life will be revived, and the ultimate result will be that in our next life, after leaving this body, we shall have our full, eternal spiritual life. Spirit, as we have already discussed, is described as eternal.

Even after the destruction of this body, consciousness is not destroyed. Rather, consciousness is transferred to another type of body and again makes us aware of the material conception of life. That is also described in the Bhagavad-gita. At the time of death, if our consciousness is pure, we can be sure that our next life will not be material—our next life will be spiritual. If our consciousness is not pure at the point of death, then, after leaving this body, we shall have to take another material body.

That is the process which is going on. That is Nature’s law. We have now a final body. The body which we see is the gross body. It is just like a shirt and coat: within the coat there is a shirt, and within the shirt there is a body. Similarly, the pure soul is covered by a shirt and coat. The garments are the mind, intelligence and false ego. False ego means the misconception that I am matter, that I am a product of this material world. This misconception makes me localized. For example, because I have taken my birth in India, I think myself Indian. Because I have taken my birth in America, I think myself American. But as pure soul, I am neither Indian nor American. I am pure soul. These others are designations. American, or Indian, or German, or Englishman; cat or dog, or bee or bat, man or wife: all these are designations. In spiritual consciousness we become free from all such designations. That freedom is achieved when we are constantly in touch with the supreme spirit, Krsna.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness is simply intended to keep us in constant touch with Krsna. Krsna can be in constant companionship with us because He is omnipotent. Therefore, He can be fully in touch with us by His words. His words and He are not different. That is omnipotence. Omnipotence means that everything relating to Him has the same potency. For example, here in this material world, if we are thirsty and we want water, simply repeating “Water, water, water, water,” will not satisfy our thirst, because this word has not the same potency as water itself. We require the water in substance. Then our thirst will be satisfied. But in the transcendental, absolute world, there is no such difference. Krsna’s name, Krsna’s quality, Krsna’s word—everything is Krsna and provides the same satisfaction.

Some people argue that Arjuna was talking with Krsna because Krsna was present before him, whereas in my case, Krsna is not present. So how can I get directions? But that is not a fact. Krsna is present by His words—the Bhagavad-gita. In India, when we speak on the Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam, we regularly perform worship with flowers, or with other paraphernalia, as is required for worshiping. In the Sikh religion also, although they have no form of the Deity, they worship the book Granthasahib. Perhaps some of you are acquainted with this Sikh community. They worship this Grantha. Similarly, the Moslems worship the Koran. Similarly, in the Christian world, the Bible is worshiped. It is a fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is present by His words. Krsna is also present by His words.

These personalities, either God or the son of God, who come from the transcendental world, keep their transcendental identities without being contaminated by the material world. That is their omnipotence. We are in the habit of saying that God is omnipotent. Omnipotence means that He is not different from His name, from His quality, from His pastimes, from His instruction. Therefore, the discussion of Bhagavad-gita is as good as discussion with Krsna Himself.

Krsna is seated in your heart, and in my heart too. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd dese ’rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. God is situated in everyone’s heart. God is not away from us. He is present. He is so friendly that He remains with us in our repeated change of births. He is waiting to see when we shall turn to Him. He is so kind that though we may forget Him, He never forgets us. Although a son may forget his father, a father never forgets his son. Similarly, God, the original father of everything, everybody, all living entities, will never forsake us. We may have different bodies, but they are our shirt-coats. That has nothing to do with our real identity. Our real identity is pure soul, and that pure soul is part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. There are 8,400,000 species of life. Even the biologist and the anthropologist cannot calculate this accurately, but from authoritative, revealed scripture we get this information. Human beings represent 400,000 species, and there are 8,000,000 other species. But Krsna, the Supreme Lord, claims that all of them, whether beast, man, snake, god, semi-god, demigod—anything whatever—all of them are, in reality, His sons. The father gives the seed, and the mother receives the seed. The body is then formed, according to the mother’s body. And when the body is completely formed, it comes out—either from cats, from dogs, or from man. That is the process of generation. The father gives the seed, and it is emulsified with two kinds of secretion in the womb of the mother, and on the first night the body is formed just like a pea. Then, gradually, it develops. There are nine holes that develop: two ears, two eyes, nostrils, a mouth, a navel, a penis, and an anus.

According to his last karma, or action, one gets this body to enjoy, or to suffer. That is the process of birth and death. And after finishing this life, again one dies, and again one enters into the womb of some mother. Another type of body then comes out. This is the process of reincarnation.

We should be very diligent as to how we can discontinue this process of repeated birth and death and change of body. That is the prerogative of the human form of life. We can stop this process of repeated change through birth and death. We can get our actual spiritual form again and be blissful, full of knowledge and eternal life. That is the purpose of evolution. We should not miss this. The entire process of liberation begins just as we have now begun this chanting and hearing. I wish to point out that this chanting of the holy name of God (Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare) and hearing the truths of the Gita is as good as bodily association with Krsna. That is stated in the Gita. This process is called kirtana. Even if one does not understand the language, still, just by hearing, he acquires some piety. His assets lead him to a pious life, even if he does not understand—it has such power.

There are two topics concerning Krsna. Two kinds of topics, actually. One topic is this Bhagavad-gita. It is spoken by Krsna. And the other topic concerning Krsna is Srimad-Bhagavatam. That is spoken about Krsna. So there are two types of Krsna katha (topics), and both of them are equally potent because they are connected with Krsna.

Because the Bhagavad-gita is spoken on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra some people have asked what we have to do with the battlefield. We have nothing to do with any battlefield. We are after knowledge of the spiritual sphere. Then, why should we bother about this battlefield? Because Krsna is on the battlefield, and therefore the whole battlefield has become Krsna-ized. Just as when an electric current is passed into some metal, the whole metal becomes surcharged with electricity; so too, when Krsna is interested in some matter, that matter becomes Krsna-ized. Otherwise, there would be no need of discussing the Battlefield of Kuruksetra. That is His omnipotence. This omnipotence is also described in Srimad-Bhagavatam. There are many Krsna kathas. The Vedic literature is full of them. Vedas mean that they are Krsna kathas. Scripture, including the Vedas, may appear to be different, but they are all meant for Krsna katha. If we simply hear these topics on Krsna, then what will be the result? It is pure transcendental vibration, and the result will be spiritual consciousness.

We have accumulated many inauspicious things within our hearts due to our material contamination during the course of many, many births. Many, many births—not only this birth, but part births as well. So, when we search into our hearts with the Krsna katha, then the contamination we have accumulated will be washed off. Our hearts will be cleansed of all rubbish. And, as soon as all the rubbish is cleared off, then we are situated in pure consciousness.

It is very difficult to eradicate all the false designations from oneself. For example, I am Indian. It is not very easy to immediately think that I am not Indian, but pure soul. Similarly, it is not a very easy task for anyone to end his identification with these bodily designations. But still, if we continue hearing the Krsna katha, it will be very easy. Make an experiment. Make an experiment to see how easily you’ll be able to free yourself from all these designations. Of course, it is not possible to clear out the rubbish from the mind all of a sudden, but we are immediately aware that the influence of the material nature has become slackened.

The material nature is working in three modes—goodness, passion, and ignorance. Ignorance is hopeless life. Passion is materialistic. One who is influenced by the modes of passion wants this false enjoyment of material existence. Because he does not know the truth, he wants to squeeze out the energy of the body just to enjoy this matter. That is called the mode of passion. As for those in the mode of ignorance, they have neither passion nor goodness. They are in the deepest darkness of life. Situated in the mode of goodness, we can understand, at least theoretically, what I am, what this world is, what God is, and what our interrelationship is. This is the mode of goodness.

By hearing Krsna katha, we will be freed from the stages of ignorance and passion. We will be situated in the mode of goodness. At least we’ll have the real knowledge—knowledge of what we are. Ignorance is like the animal existence. The animal’s life is full of suffering, but the animal does not know that he is suffering. Take the case of a hog. Of course, here in New York City no hog is seen. But in villages in India one sees the hog. Oh, how miserable his life is, living in a filthy place, eating stools and always unclean. Yet the hog is very happy by eating stools, and having constant sexual intercourse with the she-hog and just getting fat. The hog gets very fat, because of the spirit of enjoyment which is there—although, for him, it is sensual enjoyment.

We should not be like the hog, falsely thinking that we are very happy. Working hard all day and night, then having some sex life—we think that in this way we are very happy. But this is not happiness. This has been described in the Bhagavatam as a hog’s happiness. Man’s happiness is when he is situated in the mode of goodness. Then he can understand what true happiness is. In our daily routine, if we hear this Krsna katha, the result will be that all the dirty things in the heart, accumulated life after life, will be cleared out. As a matter of fact, we will see that we are no longer in ignorance or in passion, but are situated in the mode of goodness. What is that position? We will find ourselves joyful in every circumstance of life. We will never feel morose. In the Bhagavad-gita we find that this is our brahma-bhuta (highest stage of goodness) situation. The Vedas teach us that we are not this matter. We are Brahman. Aham brahmasmi. Lord Sankaracarya preached this gospel to the world. We are not this matter; we are Brahman, spirit. When spiritual realization is actually accomplished, then our symptoms will change. What are those symptoms? When one is situated in his own spiritual consciousness, then he will have no hankering and no lamentation. Lamentation is for loss, and hankering is for gain.

Two diseases characterize this material world: What we do not possess, we hanker after. “If I get these things I’ll be happy. I have no money, but if I get a million dollars, then I’ll be happy.” And when we have a million dollars, somehow it will be lost. So we’ll cry, “Oh, I have lost it!” When we hanker for earning, that is a kind of distress. And when we suffer loss, that is also distress. But if we are situated in brahma-bhuta, we will neither be distressed nor will we hanker. We will view equally everyone and everything. Even if we are situated in the midst of fiery turbulence, we will not be disturbed. That is the mode of goodness.

Bhagavatam means the science of God. If the science of God is persevered in, we will be situated in the brahma-bhuta status. From that brahma-bhuta status, we have to work, for work is recommended here. So long as we have this material body, we have to work. We cannot stop working; it is not possible. But we have to adopt the tactics of yoga, and in this way, even by doing some ordinary work, which, by destiny or circumstances we are put into, there is no harm. Suppose that, in one’s own occupation, one must speak a lie or his business can’t go on. Lying is not a very good thing, so one concludes that the business is not based on very moral principles and one should therefore give it up. In the Bhagavad-gita, however, we find instruction not to give it up. Even if we are put in such circumstances that our livelihood cannot go on without some unfair practice, we should not give it up. But we should try to make it purified. How is it purified? We should not take the fruitive result of our work. That is meant for God.

Sukrta means pious activities. And duskrta means impious activities. On the material level we can be pious or impious. Either we are performing some pious activities, or we are performing some impious activities—or we have a mixture, pious and impious. Lord Krsna advises that we should act with knowledge of, or devotion to the Supreme. What does that knowledge mean? It means that I am the part and parcel of the supreme consciousness, or that I am not this body. If I identify myself as an American, as an Indian, or this or that, then I am on the material Plane. We should identify ourselves as neither Americans nor Indians, but as pure consciousness. I am a subordinate consciousness of the supreme consciousness; in other words, I am the servant of God. God is the supreme consciousness, and I am His servant. So, for our present understanding, subordinate means servant.

We don’t ordinarily carry out the work of a servant in relationship to God. Nobody wants to be a servant, but everyone wants to be the master, because to become a servant is not a very palatable thing. But to become the servant of God is not exactly like this.

Sometimes the servant of God becomes the master of God. The real position of the living entity is to be the servant of God, but in the Bhagavad-gita we can see that the master, Krsna, became the servant of Arjuna. Arjuna is sitting in the chariot, and Krsna is his driver. Arjuna is not the owner of the chariot, but in the spiritual relationship we should not cling to the concept of the material relationship. Although the whole relationship, just as we have experience of it in this world, is there in the spiritual world, that relationship is not contaminated by matter. Therefore it is pure and transcendental. It is of a different nature. As we become advanced in the spiritual conception of life, we can understand what the actual position in the spiritual, transcendental world is.

Here the Lord instructs us in buddhi-yoga. Buddhi-yoga means that we have full consciousness that we are not this body; and if I act with this understanding, then I am not body—I am consciousness. That is a fact. Now, if we act on the level of consciousness, then we can overcome the fruitive result of good work or bad work. It is a transcendental stage.

It means that we are acting on another’s account—on the Supreme’s account. We are not liable to loss or gain. When there is gain, we should not be puffed up. We should think, “This gain is for the Lord.” And when there is loss, we should know that this is not our responsibility. It is God’s work—His. Then we will be happy. This we have to practice: everything on account of the Supreme. This transcendental nature we have to develop. This is the trick of doing work under these present circumstances. As soon as we work on the level of bodily consciousness we become bound by the reaction of our work. But when we work through spiritual consciousness, we are not bound either by pious activities or by vicious activities. That is the technique. Manisinah—this word is very significant. Manisi means thoughtful. Unless one is thoughtful, he cannot understand that he is not this body. But if one is a little thoughtful he can understand, “Oh, I am not this body. I am consciousness.” Sometimes, in our leisure time, we can see, “Oh, this is my finger, and this is my hand. This is my ear, and this is my nose. Everything is mine, but what I, what I?” I am feeling this is mine, and that I am. Simply a little thought is required. Everything is mine—my eyes, my finger, my hand. My, my, my, and what is the I? The I is that consciousness, in which I am thinking, “This is mine.”

Now, if I am not this body, then why should I act for this body? I should act for myself. Then, how can I work for myself? What is my position? I am consciousness. But what kind of consciousness? Subordinate consciousness—I am part of the supreme consciousness. Then, what will my activities be? My activities will be under the guidance of the supreme consciousness, just as in the office, the managing director is the supreme consciousness. For example, in the office everyone is working under the direction of the manager; therefore they have no responsibility. They have only to discharge their duties. Either pious or impious duties—never mind. In the military line, too, the order of the captain or the commander is there. The soldier has to execute it. He does not consider whether it is pious or impious. That does not matter. He simply has to act, then he is a real soldier. He acts in that way and he gets his reward. He gets title and honor. He doesn’t care. The commander says, Just go and kill the enemy, and he is rewarded. Do you think that by killing one gets reward? No—it is for the duty discharged.

Similarly, here the situation is that Krsna is instructing Arjuna. Krsna is the supreme consciousness. I am consciousness, the part and parcel of the supreme consciousness. So my duty is to act according to that supreme consciousness. For example, I consider my hand as a part of my body. Now, it is moving in its own way. “As I want, let my hand be moved. Let my legs be moved. Let my eyes be opened and see.” So, I am dictating, and these parts are working. Similarly, we are all part s and parcels of the Supreme. When we train ourselves to move and act in accordance with supreme consciousness, then we become transcendental to all these pious or impious activities. That is the technique. What will the result of this technique be? We become free from the bondage of birth and death. No more birth and death.

Modern scientists and philosophers do not think about these four things: birth, death, disease, and old age. They set them aside. “Oh, let us be happy. Let us enjoy this life.” But human life is meant for finding a solution to this bondage of birth, death, disease and old age. If any civilization has not found a solution to these four problems, then that is not a human civilization. Human civilization is meant for finding a complete solution to these things.

So here in the Bhagavad-gita, the Lord says, karma-jam buddhi-yuktah. Karma-jam means whenever there is action there will be some reaction. If one acts in badness, there will be a bad reaction. But reaction, either good or bad, is, in the higher sense, all suffering. Suppose that by good action I get a good birth, fine bodily features, and a good education. All these good things I may have, but that does not mean that I am free from material pains. The material pains are birth, death, old age and disease. Even if I am a rich man, a beautiful man, an educated man, born in an aristocratic family, etc., I still cannot avoid death, old age, and disease.

So, we must not be concerned with pious activities or impious activities. We must be concerned with transcendental activities only. That will save us from this bondage of birth, death, old age and disease. That should be our aim in life. We should not be hankering after good or bad things. For example, suppose one is suffering from some disease. He is lying in bed, eating, passing nature’s call uncomfortably, and taking bitter medicines. He always has to be kept clean by the nurses; otherwise there is an obnoxious smell. While he is lying in this condition some friends come to him and ask how he is feeling. “Yes, I am feeling well.” What is this well? Lying in bed uncomfortably taking bitter medicine, and unable to move! Yet despite all these inconveniences he says, “I am well.” Similarly, in our material conception of life, if we think, “I am happy,” that is foolishness. There is no happiness in material life. It is impossible to have happiness here. In this condition, we do not know the meaning of happiness. That’s why this very word is used, manisinah—thoughtful.

We seek happiness by some extraneous, artificial means, but how long does it last? It will not endure. We again come back to sorrow. Suppose, by intoxication, we feel happy. That is not our actual happiness. Suppose I am made unconscious by chloroform, and I don’t feel the pain of an operation. That does not mean that I am not having an operation. This is artificial. Real pleasure, real life exists.

As is commanded in the Bhagavad-gita by Sri Krsna, the thoughtful give up the reaction of work, being situated on the level of pure consciousness. The result is that this bondage of birth and death, disease and old age comes to an end. This end is in union with the true identity, Krsna, the reservoir of pleasure and eternal bliss. There, indeed, is the true happiness for which we are intended.

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Hare Krishna Jon

We are living in the material world and every aspect of this world is being managed and maintained by intelligent persons. That is our experience here. If you go into some large department store it is not that everything is going on automatically. No. There is a managing director, and he has many department managers and all the department managers have a group of workers they supervise and in this way all the activities of the big department store are going on.

Krishna manages this universe in a similar way. Krishna appoints a managing director [Lord Brahma] and Brahma has many departmental managers who are responsible for the many different departments of the material world. These managers of the material world are called ''demigods.''

Many materialistic persons become attached to worshiping these demigods to get some temporary, materialistic benefits. Krishna discusses this demigod worship in Bhagavad-gita:

"Those whose minds are distorted by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures." (Bhagavad-gita 7.20)

Less intelligent people who have lost their spiritual sense take shelter of demigods for immediate fulfillment of material desires. Generally, such people do not go to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, because they are in ignorance and passion and therefore worship various demigods. Worshipers of demigods are motivated by small desires and do not know how to reach the supreme goal.

In Vedic literature there are recommendations for worshiping different gods for different purposes (e.g., a diseased man is recommended to worship the sun), those who are not devotees of the Lord think that for certain purposes demigods are better than the Supreme Lord. But a pure devotee knows that the Supreme Lord Krishna is the master of all. In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is said that only the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is master and all others are servants. Therefore a pure devotee never goes to demigods for satisfaction of his material needs. He depends on the Supreme Lord. And the pure devotee is satisfied with whatever He gives.

I am in everyone''s heart as the Supersoul. As soon as one desires to worship the demigods, I make his faith steady so that he can devote himself to some particular deity. (Bhagavad-gita 7.21)

God has given independence to everyone; therefore, if a person desires to have material enjoyment and wants very sincerely to have such facilities from the material demigods, the Supreme Lord, as Supersoul in everyone''s heart, understands and gives facilities to such persons. As the supreme father of all living entities, He does not interfere with their independence, but gives all facilities so that they can fulfill their material desires.

Some may ask why the all-powerful God gives facilities to the living entities for enjoying this material world and so lets them fall into the trap of the illusory energy. The answer is that if the Supreme Lord as Supersoul does not give such facilities, then there is no meaning to independence. Therefore He gives everyone full independence--whatever one likes--but His ultimate instruction we find in the Bhagavad-gita: man should give up all other engagements and fully surrender unto Him. That will make man happy.

Both the living entity and the demigods are subordinate to the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; therefore the living entity cannot worship the demigod by his own desire, nor can the demigod bestow any benediction without the supreme will. As it is said, not a blade of grass moves without the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Generally, persons who are distressed in the material world go to the demigods, as they are advised in the Vedic literature. A person wanting some particular thing may worship such and such a demigod. For example, a diseased person is recommended to worship the sun-god; a person wanting education may worship the goddess of learning, Sarasvati; and a person wanting a beautiful wife may worship the goddess Uma, the wife of Lord Siva. In this way there are recommendations in the sastras (Vedic scriptures) for different modes of worship of different demigods. And because a particular living entity wants to enjoy a particular material facility, the Lord inspires him with a strong desire to achieve that benediction from that particular demigod, and so he successfully receives the benediction.

The particular mode of the devotional attitude of the living entity toward a particular type of demigod is also arranged by the Supreme Lord. The demigods cannot infuse the living entities with such an affinity, but because He is the Supreme Lord or the Supersoul who is present in the heart of all living entities, Krishna gives impetus to man to worship certain demigods.

The demigods are actually different parts of the universal body of the Supreme Lord; therefore they have no independence. In the Vedic literature it is stated: "The Supreme Personality of Godhead as Supersoul is also present within the heart of the demigod; therefore He arranges through the demigod to fulfill the desire of the living entity. But both the demigod and the living entity are dependent on the supreme will. They are not independent."

Endowed with such a faith, he seeks favors of a particular demigod and obtains his desires. But in actuality these benefits are bestowed by Me alone. (Bhagavad-gita 7.22)

The demigods cannot award benedictions to the devotees without the permission of the Supreme Lord. The living entity may forget that everything is the property of the Supreme Lord, but the demigods do not forget. So the worship of demigods and achievement of desired results are not due to the demigods but to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by arrangement. The less intelligent living entity does not know this, and therefore he foolishly goes to the demigods for some benefit. But the pure devotee, when in need of something, prays only to the Supreme Lord. Asking for material benefit, however, is not a sign of a pure devotee.

A living entity goes to the demigods usually because he is mad to fulfill his lust. This happens when something undue is desired by the living entity, and the Lord Himself does not fulfill the desire. In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is said that one who worships the Supreme Lord and at the same time desires material enjoyment is contradictory in his desires. Devotional service of the Supreme Lord and the worship of a demigod cannot be on the same platform because worship of a demigod is material and devotional service to the Supreme Lord is completely spiritual.

For the living entity who desires to return to Godhead, material desires are impediments. A pure devotee of the Lord is therefore not awarded the material benefits desired by less intelligent living entities who prefer to worship demigods of the material world rather than engage in devotional service of the Supreme Lord.

Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet. (Bhagavad-gita 7.23)

Here it is clearly stated that the worshipers of demigods go to the different planetary systems where various demigods are situated, just as a worshiper of the sun achieves the sun or a worshiper of the demigod of the moon achieves the moon. Similarly, if anyone wants to worship a demigod like Indra, he can attain that particular god''s planet. It is not that everyone, regardless of whatever demigod is worshiped, will reach the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is denied here, for it is clearly stated that the worshipers of the demigods go to different planets in the material world, but the devotee of the Supreme Lord goes directly to the supreme planet of the Personality of Godhead.

If one knows that both the demigods and himself are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, his knowledge is perfect. But if he does not understand this, he achieves different planets where the demigods reside. This is not the same destination the devotee reaches.

The results achieved by the demigods'' benedictions are perishable because within this material world the planets, the demigods and their worshipers are all perishable. Therefore it is clearly stated in this verse that all results achieved by worshiping demigods are perishable, and therefore such worship is performed by the less intelligent living entity.

Because the pure devotee engaged in Krishna consciousness in devotional service of the Supreme Lord achieves eternal blissful existence that is full of knowledge, his achievements and those of the common worshiper of the demigods are different. The Supreme Lord is unlimited; His favor is unlimited; His mercy is unlimited. Therefore the mercy of the Supreme Lord upon His pure devotees is unlimited.

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Hare Krishna Jon

Often people ask why Krishna does not just appear in this world so everyone can see Him? It is a very interesting question and Krishna Himself explains this in Bhagavad-gita 7.25:

"I am never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent. For them I am covered by My eternal creative potency [yoga-maya]; and so the deluded world knows Me not, who am unborn and infallible."

It may be argued that since Krishna was present on this earth and was visible to everyone five thousand years ago, then why isn''t He manifest to everyone now? But actually He was not manifest to everyone. When Krishna was present there were only a few people who could understand Him to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

In the assembly of Kurus, when Sisupala spoke against Krishna being elected president of the assembly, Bhisma supported Him and proclaimed Him to be the Supreme God. Similarly, the Pandavas and a few others knew that He was the Supreme, but not everyone. He was not revealed to the nondevotees and the common man.

Therefore in the Gita Krishna says that but for His pure devotees, all men consider Him to be like themselves. He was manifest only to His devotees as the reservoir of all pleasure. But to others, to unintelligent nondevotees, He was covered by His eternal potency yoga-maya. So even when Krishna was present on this planet in Vrindavan in India five thousand years ago and was enjoying there with His cowherd friends and the gopis most people could not understand that He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Even the demigods like Lord Brahma and Lord Indra became confused and could not recognize Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

In the prayers of Kunti in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.8.18) it is said that the Lord is covered by the curtain of yoga-maya and thus ordinary people cannot understand Him. Kunti prays: "O my Lord, You are the maintainer of the entire universe, and devotional service to You is the highest religious principle. Therefore, I pray that You will also maintain me. Your transcendental form is covered by yoga-maya. The brahmajyoti is the covering of the internal potency. May You kindly remove this glowing effulgence that impedes my seeing Your eternal form of bliss and knowledge."

This yoga-maya curtain is also mentioned in the Fifteenth Chapter of the Gita. The Supreme Personality of Godhead in His transcendental form of bliss and knowledge is covered by the eternal potency of brahmajyoti, and the less intelligent impersonalists cannot see the Supreme on this account.

Also in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.7) there is this prayer by Brahma: "O Supreme Personality of Godhead, O Supersoul, O master of all mystery, who can calculate Your potency and pastimes in this world? You are always expanding Your eternal potency, and therefore no one can understand You. Learned scientists and learned scholars can examine the atomic constitution of the material world or even the planets, but still they are unable to calculate Your energy and potency, although You are present before them."

So this is the nature of the material world. Krishna is present everywhere but the non-devotees can not see Him because He is hidden by the curtain of yoga-maya. So many so-called intelligent scientists will study this material world and although Krishna is right there in front of them they will not be able to see Krishna. But for His devotees this curtain of yoga-maya is lifted and Krishna becomes visible to them very easily.

So we can see Krishna, we simply have to become devotees of Krishna and then Krishna will lift this yoga-maya curtain and we will be able to see Him. But the non-devotees will never be able to see Krishna.

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