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Imported quote 13016 The significant point in Dhruva Maharaja's statement is that he wanted the association of pure devotees. Transcendental devotional service cannot be complete and cannot be relishable without the association of devotees. We have, therefore, established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Anyone who is trying to be aloof from this Krishna Consciousness Society and yet engage in Krsna consciousness is living in a great hallucination, for this is not possible. From this statement by Dhruva Maharaja it is clear that unless one is associated with devotees, his devotional service does not mature; it does not become distinct from material activities. The Lord says, satam prasahgan mama virya-samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanaḥ kathaḥ. Only in the association of pure devotees can the words of Lord Krsna be fully potent and relishable to the heart and ear. (Bhag. 3.25.25) Dhruva Maharaja explicitly wanted the association of devotees. That association in devotional activities is just like the waves of an incessantly flowing river. In our Krishna Consciousness Society we have full engagement twenty-four hours a day. Every moment of our time is always busily engaged in the service of the Lord. This is called the incessant flow of devotional service.
(More...) Imported quote 13192 A devotee is equipoised. He sees everyone on the same transcendental platform. A devotee knows that although a conditioned soul has a particular type of body according to his past fruitive activities, factually everyone is part of the Supreme Lord. A devotee sees all living entities with spiritual vision and does not discriminate on the platform of the bodily concept of life. Such qualities develop only in the association of devotees. Without the association of devotees, one cannot advance in Krsna consciousness. Therefore, we have established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Factually, whoever lives in this society automatically develops Krsna consciousness. Devotees are dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is only dear to devotees. On this platform only can one make progress in Krsna consciousness. Persons in Krsna consciousness, or devotees of the Lord, can please everyone, as is evident in the Krsna consciousness movement. We invite everyone, without discrimination; we request everyone to sit down and chant the Hare Krsna mantra and take as much prasada as we can supply-and thus everyone is pleased with us. This is the qualification. Sarva-bhūtanuranjanaḥ. As for purification, no one can be more pure than devotees. Anyone who once utters the name of Visnu immediately becomes purified, inside and outside (yaḥ smaret punḍarikaksam). Since a devotee constantly chants the Hare Krsna mantra, no contamination of the material world can touch him. He is, therefore, actually purified. Muci haya suci haya yadi krsna bhaje. It is said that even a cobbler or person born in the family of a cobbler can be elevated to the position of a brahmana (suci) if he takes to Krsna consciousness. Any person who is purely Krsna conscious and who engages in chanting the Hare Krsna mantra is the purest in the whole universe.
(More...) Imported quote 13209 It is said that only in the association of devotees can one understand the importance of the character and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His devotees. In this verse it is especially recommended that Dhruva Maharaja's character be discussed in a society of the twice-born, which refers to the qualified brahmanas, ksatriyas and vaisyas. One should especially seek the society of brahmanas who are elevated to the position of Vaisnavas. 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 organized 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. In this verse the word dvijanmanam means "of the twice-born." Anyone can join the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and be initiated to become twice-born. As recommended by Sanatana Gosvami, by the process of initiation and authorized training, any man can become twice-born. The first birth is made possible by the parent, and the second birth is made possible by the spiritual father and Vedic knowledge. Unless one is twice-born one cannot understand the transcendental characteristics of the Lord and His devotees. Study of the Vedas is therefore forbidden for sūdras. Simply by academic qualifications a sūdra cannot understand the transcendental science. At the present moment, throughout the entire world the educational system is geared to produce sūdras. A big technologist is no more than a big sūdra. Kalau sūdra-sambhava: in the age of Kali, everyone is a sūdra. Because the whole population of the world consists only of sūdras, there is therefore a decline of spiritual knowledge, and people are unhappy. The Krsna consciousness movement has been started especially to create qualified brahmanas to broadcast spiritual knowledge all over the world, for thus people may become very happy.
(More...) Imported quote 13284 Human society, however, has artificially created a type of civilization which makes one forgetful of his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Modern society even enables one to forget the Supreme Personality of Godhead's grace and mercy. Consequently modern civilized man is always unhappy and in need of things. People do not know that the ultimate goal of life is to approach Lord Visnu and satisfy Him. They have taken this materialistic way of life as everything and have become captivated by materialistic activities. Indeed, their leaders are always encouraging them to follow this path, and the general populace, being ignorant of the laws of God, is following their blind leaders down the path of unhappiness. In order to rectify this world situation, all people should be trained in Krsna consciousness and act in accordance with the varnasrama system. The state should also see that the people are engaged in satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the primary duty of the state. The Krsna consciousness movement was started to convince the general populace to adopt the best process by which to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus solve all problems.
(More...) Imported quote 13680 Simple negation, or giving up the company of materialistic persons, will not do. We must have engagements. Sometimes it is found that a person interested in spiritual advancement gives up the company of material society and goes to a secluded place as recommended for the yogis especially, but that will also not help a person in spiritual advancement, for in many instances such yogis also fall down. As far as jnanis are concerned, generally they fall down without taking shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord. The impersonalists or the voidists can simply avoid the positive material association; they cannot remain fixed in transcendence without being engaged in devotional service. The beginning of devotional service is to hear about the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is recommended in this verse: vina harer guna-piyūsa-panat. One must drink the nectar of the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and this means that one must be always engaged in hearing and chanting the glories of the Lord. It is the prime method for advancing in spiritual life. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu also recommends this in the Caitanya-caritamrta. If one wants to make advancement in spiritual life, by great fortune he may meet a bona fide spiritual master and from him learn about Krsna. By serving both the spiritual master and Krsna he gets the seed of devotional service (bhakti-lata-bija), and if he sows the seed within his heart and waters it by hearing and chanting, it grows into a luxuriant bhakti-lata or bhakti creeper. The creeper is so strong that it penetrates the covering of the universe and reaches the spiritual world and continues to grow on and on until it reaches and takes shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna. An ordinary creeper also grows on and on until it takes a solid shelter on a roof; then it very steadily grows and produces the required fruit. The real cause of the growing of such fruit, which is here called nectar, is hearing and chanting the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The purport is that one cannot live outside the society of devotees; one must live in the association of devotees, where there is constant chanting and hearing of the glories of the Lord. The Krsna consciousness movement is started for this purpose, and there are hundreds of ISKCON centers to give opportunity to all people to hear and chant and to accept the spiritual master. By not associating with persons who are materially interested, one can make solid advancement in going back home, back to Godhead.
(More...) Imported quote 14162 Thus we are immediately relieved from traveling from one body to another and from one planet to another. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says: brahmanḍa bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva (Cc. Madhya 19.151). If, while traveling, a living entity becomes fortunate enough to become blessed by the association of devotees and to come to Krsna consciousness, his real life actually begins. This Krsna consciousness movement is giving all wandering living entities a chance to take to the shelter of Krsna and thus become happy.
(More...) Imported quote 14171 In this verse the word laksita-laksanam indicates that the human body attained in Bharata-varsa is very auspicious. Vedic culture is full of knowledge, and a person born in India can fully take advantage of Vedic cultural knowledge and the cultural system known as varnasrama-dharma. Even at the present time, as we travel all over the world, we see that in some countries human beings have many material facilities but no facilities for spiritual advancement. We find everywhere the defects of one-sided facilities and a lack of full facilities. A blind man can walk but not see, and a lame man cannot walk but can see. Andha-pahgu-nyaya. The blind man may take the lame man over his shoulder, and as he walks the lame man may give him directions. Thus combined they may work, but individually neither the blind man nor the lame man can walk successfully. Similarly, this human form of life is meant for the advancement of spiritual life and for keeping the material necessities in order. Especially in the Western countries there are ample facilities for material comforts, but no one has any idea of spiritual advancement. Many are hankering after spiritual advancement, but many cheaters come, take advantage of their money, bluff them and go away. Fortunately the Krsna consciousness movement is there to give all facilities for both material and spiritual advancement. In this way people in the Western countries may take advantage of this movement, and in India any man in the villages, unaffected by the industrial cities of India, can still live in any condition and make spiritual advancement.
(More...) Imported quote 14435 This is a description of material existence. Material existence is experienced when one becomes attached to a woman and forgets his real identity as the eternal servant of Krsna (nasta-smrtiḥ). In this way, in one body after another, the living entity perpetually suffers the threefold miseries of material existence. To save human civilization from the darkness of ignorance, this movement was started. The main purpose of the Krsna consciousness movement is to enlighten the forgetful living entity and remind him of his original Krsna consciousness. In this way the living entity can be saved from the catastrophe of ignorance as well as bodily transmigration. As Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung:
(More...) "Because of my past fruitive activities, I have now fallen into an ocean of nescience. I cannot find any means to get out of this great ocean, which is indeed like an ocean of poison. We are trying to be happy through sense enjoyment, but actually that so-called enjoyment is like food that is too hot and causes burning in the heart. I feel a burning sensation constantly, day and night, and thus my mind cannot find satisfaction."
(More...) Imported quote 14725 The great saint Prabodhananda Sarasvati, a devotee of Lord Caitanya, has stated: kaivalyam narakayate tridasa-pūr akasa-puspayate. For a pure devotee, kaivalya, merging into the existence of Brahman, the Brahman effulgence, is no better than living in hell. Similarly, he considers promotion to heavenly planets (tridasa-pūr) just another kind of phantasmagoria. In other words, a pure devotee does not place much value in the destination of the karmis (the heavenly planets) nor in the destination of the jnanis (merging into the Brahman effulgence). A pure devotee considers a moment's association with another pure devotee to be far superior to residing in a heavenly planet or merging in the Brahman effulgence. The topmost benediction for those who are living in this material world and are subjected to the repetition of birth and death (transmigration) is association with pure devotees. One should search out such pure devotees and remain with them. That will make one completely happy, even though living within the material world. This Krsna consciousness movement is started for that purpose. A person who is overly affected materially may take advantage of this movement and become intimately associated with it. In this way the confused and frustrated inhabitants of this material world may find the highest happiness in association with devotees.
(More...) Imported quote 14728 "My dear Narada, actually I do not reside in My abode, Vaikuntha, nor do I reside within the hearts of yogis, but I reside in that place where My pure devotees chant My holy name and discuss My form, pastimes and qualities." Because of the presence of the Lord in the form of the transcendental vibration, the Vaikuntha atmosphere is evoked. This atmosphere is without fear and anxiety. One living entity does not fear another. By hearing the holy names and glories of the Lord, a person executes pious activities. Srnvatam sva-kathaḥ krsnaḥ punya-sravana-kirtanaḥ (Bhag. 1.2.17). Thus his material hankerings immediately stop. This sahkirtana movement started by the Society for Krishna Consciousness is meant for creating Vaikuntha, the transcendental world that is without anxiety, even in this material world. The method is the propagation of the sravanam kirtanam process throughout the world. In the material world everyone is envious of his fellow man. Animalistic envy exists in human society as long as there is no performance of sahkirtana-yajna, the chanting of the holy names-Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. The Pracetas therefore decided to remain always in the society of devotees, and they considered that to be the highest benediction possible in human life.
(More...) Imported quote 15119 A human being born in the land of Bharata-varsa has the special prerogative to develop Krsna consciousness. Therefore those already born in Bharata-varsa should take lessons from the sastras and guru and should fully take advantage of the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in order to be fully equipped with Krsna consciousness. By taking full advantage of Krsna consciousness, one goes back home, back to Godhead (yanti mad-yajino 'pi mam). The Krsna consciousness movement is therefore spreading this facility to human society by opening many, many centers all over the world so that people may associate with the pure devotees of the Krsna consciousness movement, understand the science of Krsna consciousness and ultimately go back home, back to Godhead.
(More...) Imported quote 15217 This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.6.46). In the Hare Krsna movement, the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, the dancing in ecstasy and the eating of the remnants of food offered to the Lord are very, very important. One may be illiterate or incapable of understanding the philosophy, but if he partakes of these three items, he will certainly be liberated without delay.
(More...) Imported quote 15320 According to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's philosophy, yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya: anyone who knows the science of Krsna can become a spiritual master, without reference to whether or not he is a brahmana or sannyasi. Ordinary people cannot understand the essence of sastra, nor can they understand the pure character, behavior and abilities of strict followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's principles. The Krsna consciousness movement is creating pure, exalted Vaisnavas even from those born in families considered lower than those of sūdras. This is proof that a Vaisnava may appear in any family, as confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam:
(More...) Imported quote 15861 "In the course of traversing the universal creation of Brahma, some fortunate soul may receive the seed of bhakti-lata, the creeper of devotional service. This is all by the grace of guru and Krsna." (Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 19.151) The material world is a place of confinement for the living entities who are by nature anandamaya, pleasure-seeking. They actually want to be free from the confinement of this world of conditional happiness, but not knowing the process of liberation, they are bound to transmigrate from one species of life to another and from one planet to another. In this way the living entities are wandering throughout the material universe. When by good fortune one comes in contact with a pure devotee and hears from him patiently, one begins to follow the path of devotional service. Such an opportunity is offered to a person who is sincere. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness is giving such a chance to humanity at large. If by fortune one takes advantage of this opportunity to engage in devotional service, the path of liberation immediately opens.
(More...) Imported quote 16013 Regarding your good suggestion about permanent organization. This institution is already incorporated in New York State, and we are opening different branches under different states. So I shall be glad if our Indian friends in San Francisco, also come in the management of the local organization; I welcome it. So I would suggest that in your presence, a committee may be formed, combination of Indian and American, and a temple of our own may be organized, Radha Krishna Temple. So in your presence, if it possible to organize, I shall be very glad. And as soon as you call me I shall come to San Francisco. Because I have got an engagement in Montreal, from here I shall go there, and from there I can come. This is one point. Another point is that from India, I am not getting sufficient encouragement, either from the government or from the people. Now you have personally seen my activities and responses from the Americans, and if you kindly organize an Indian branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, it will be a great help. I am enclosing herewith a copy of the letter from Hanuman Prasad Poddar, which is sent to me unsolicited. He appreciated my activities here. And similarly I get many letters from unknown persons, but when I say some practical cooperation, they do not come forward. And so far government is concerned, they are not at all interested, that we have got our svaraja; But Hindus cannot make propagation of their religious activities, even outside of the country we are so much crippled. The Christians and Buddhists, they are making so much propaganda in India, and they are spending lots of money, but here although the response is so nice, there is no help from the people nor from the government. So after returning to India, if you can organize some opinion, at least the Vaisnava sect, in your Gujarat, there are so many Vaisnavas. All over there are so many Vaisnavas. So they should come forward to cooperate with me, then it will be a very nice organization. We want to establish that one God, Krishna; one scripture, Bhagavad-gita; one mantra Hare Krishna; and one work, service to the Supreme Lord. And people are responding. So please try to cooperate with me. So far government is concerned, they will not copperate. They have become secular. But even the people do not cooperate, how it will be successful? Please, therefore, try to organize Indian opinion to cooperate with me, that will be a great help. And so long you are here in America, just try to induce our Gujarati friends to cooperate, and have our own temple, at least in San Francisco.
(More...) Imported quote 16531 But there is defect. What is that defect? If this is the definition-that a living entity or a person born in that country, he is a national-then why not the animals? They are also born in that country. But we are not expanding our feelings beyond this human society. We don't think animals are national assets. Animals are sent to the slaughterhouse. So this is because the center of national feeling or international feeling is losing. The center is not fixed up. If the center is right, then you can make circle from that center, any number of circles, they'll never overlap. They'll be growing, growing, growing. They'll not interact with one another if the center is all right.
(More...) This brings us to the second characteristic of one who is situated in Brahman, or the Absolute Truth, which is that he exhibits spiritual activity at all times. The characteristics of material activity are easy to recognize. A materialistic person always tries to make the world conform to his plans for self-centered enjoyment of the gross body and subtle mind. Therefore he always busily engages in varieties of fruitive activities aimed at avoiding material pains and enjoying mundane pleasures. Sometimes we see that such persons extend their conception of self-interest to the interest of family, country, humanity, etc., seeing themselves at the center of such groupings and thinking, "If my wife, family, country, etc., are happy, I will be happy automatically." Unfortunately, the fruits of such ego-centered activities (be they very selfish or extended) are always limited and temporary, and no one, including the performer, is satisfied by them. The symptoms of one who is acting as a spirit, on the Brahman platform, are different from this, and according to Bhagavad-gita, a mahatma, or pure spirit, can be recognized by the fact that all his activities are not only renounced but also Krsna or God centered rather than basically self-centered. Krsna explains in the Gita that He is the Absolute Truth and the source of everything, including eternal happiness, and that the living entities, such as ourselves, are His eternally fragmental parts and parcels. As expanded parts and parcels of the Supreme Person, our eternal occupation is to render service to the Whole, to Krsna, for by thus being linked with the Supreme, we can enjoy perfect happiness on the Brahman platform.
(More...) Kavicandra also indicated a broader acceptance of the Krsna conscious life: "Everyone accepts what we are doing anyway. They are singing, dancing, eating, looking at pictures and hearing and speaking about someone's pastimes or qualities. We just perform these same activities in relation to Krsna, who is the Supreme Person. We would like everyone to know Krsna, the supreme attractive person. Actually, large-scale acceptance is happening. It's not a dream. We have a society, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness-ISKCON-and we're growing daily. Our spiritual master, Prabhupada, came to New York in 1965 to spread this teaching in the West, and now we have over a hundred centers and thousands of members worldwide. Anyone can take part. For instance, one of our active supporters is an extremely famous recording artist. He sings about Krsna in his songs and helps us a great deal with donations. He's famous, but there are thousands of others who are also participating whom you would not notice as readily as a famous person. In fact, this is not a new concoction. The Puranas-purana means "ancient history"-the Puranas tell of times in past history when Krsna consciousness was applied on a society-wide basis with phenomenal success. It includes a complete, spiritual, pure social structure that is not a dream but a historical fact. In the past and presently, this is a feasible life for peace and harmony. It doesn't mean that everyone must put on robes and live in a temple. You must simply gain the right conviction in life, and then you will follow it. You can begin Krsna consciousness from any station in life. This deals with the eternal spirit self and goes beyond temporary circumstances such as birth, age, color and so on. We beg people to consider Krsna consciousness impartially and also deeply. This is not a shallow or narrow understanding. It is universal, and if you can properly understand Krsna consciousness, you can attain the highest goal of life."
(More...) As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannatma. Immediately one understands his real identification as spirit soul, he becomes joyful. We are not joyful. Due to our material contact, we are always full of anxieties. By chanting Hare Krsna mantra, we shall immediately come to the stage of joyful life. Bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam. And this is called liberation. When one becomes joyful, free from all anxieties, that stage is actual liberation because every living creature, the spirit soul is by nature joyful. The whole struggle for existence is that he is searching after that joyful stage of life, but he missing the point. Therefore, in every effort for joyful life we are being defeated. This constant defeat can be overcome immediately by chanting this Hare Krsna mantra. That is the effect of this transcendental vibration. And after liberation, after being joyful, the material joys decreases. Whatever joy you want to enjoy, that decreases. Take, for example, for eating. If we want to eat some nice foodstuff, after eating a few morsels of food we do not like to take any more. That means here in the material world, whatever joy we accept, it will decrease. But spiritual joy, Lord Caitanya says anandambudhi-vardhanam, the spiritual joy is just like ocean. But here in the material world, we have got experience that ocean does not increase. Ocean remains within its limit. But the ocean of spiritual joyfulness increases. Anandambudhi-vardhanam. Sreyaḥ-kairava-candrika-vitaranam. How it increases? He is giving the example like the moon, rising moon. As the waxing moon. As the moon from the day of new moon, new moon night, the first day it is just like a small curved line. But second day, third day it increases, gradually it increases. Similarly, the spiritual life, the spiritual joyful life increases like the moon rays day after day, day after day, till it reaches the full moon night, yes. So,
(More...) Imported quote 17044 This Krsna consciousness movement is for this purpose. They are giving the opportunity to the human society that "You are suffering on account of your whimsical desires. Now you learn how to purify your desire. Then you become happy." This is Krsna consciousness movement. Desire cannot be stopped. That is not possible. You have to purify your desire. That's all. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc Madhya 19.170].
(More...) So you have to change your desire. That is Krsna consciousness movement. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam. You have to understand that "I am not this body. I am neither Indian, nor American, nor Russian. I am part and parcel of God. Therefore my business is to serve God." This is called bhakti. When you are self-realized... That is definition of bhakti: sarva upadhi-vinirmuktam. You have to get yourself cleansed from all these designations, that "I am Hindu," "I am Muslim," "I am Christian," "I am American," "I am this," "I am cat," "I am dog." These are all designations, because I am pure soul, aham brahmasmi, and these conceptions are designation. So you have to be educated how to become free from the designation. That is sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc Madhya 19.170], that when we become free from the designation...
(More...) It does not mean because I become free from the designation, therefore I become zero. No. I remain, because I am spirit soul, eternal. I may become sometimes American, sometimes Indian, sometimes cat, sometime dog, but that is change of designation, or body. But as spirit soul I am eternal. Na jayate na mriyate va kadacit, na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg 2.20]. These things are all clearly stated.
(More...) So our request is that all over the world they should take advantage of this knowledge. This Krsna consciousness movement is not a bluffing movement. It is scientific movement for the benefit of the whole world. They are suffering. So that is our request, that let us wash ourself from the designation. Then how it will be possible? It will be possible. What is that?
(More...) Hrdy an... This I am thinking, "American," "Indian," "Hindu," "Muslim," this is all dirty things in my heart. You cleanse your heart. Hrdy antaḥ-sthaḥ abhadrani. The dirty things are within my heart, so if we cleanse our heart, then we become free from this designation. Nasta-prayesu abhadresu nityam bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18]. Nasta-prayesu. These dirty things will be cleansed if we regularly hear Srimad-Bhagavatam or Bhagavad-gita. Nityam bhagavata... And bhagavata means the book Bhagavata and the person bhagavata. The person bhagavata is spiritual master or any exalted devotee. He is bhagavata, maha-bhagavata, bhagavata. So bhagavata-sevaya means not only reading Bhagavad-gita and Bhagavatam, but we have to study from the person bhagavata. That is required.
(More...) Imported quote 17284 This is the world. It is going on. It is simply full of suffering. Simply we are after this phantasmagoria, that our running after something which is actually not fact; it is illusion. So this is the life in the material world. So this Krsna consciousness movement is to save the person from this illusory life of material existence. Let them come to Krsna and go back to home, back to Krsna. This is our movement-the greatest beneficial movement. We don't want to keep these people in ignorance. They are in illusion, ignorance. So our business is to enlighten him. Kota nidra jao maya-pisacira: "You are sleeping. Get up, take this opportunity and be Krsna conscious. Go back to home. Give up this nonsense place, duḥkhalayam asasvatam [Bg 8.15], full of miseries, cheating."
(More...) Imported quote 17595 So at the present moment, the actually it is overburdened by the material activities. So Krsna has descended already. Krsna has descended already. Nama-rūpe kali-kale krsna avatara. Krsna has taken His incarnation in the form of Hare Krsna maha-mantra. So if people take to it, chanting Hare Krsna maha-mantra, the present situation of the world can be favorable for our living, and atmosphere will change. Therefore the Krsna consciousness movement is meant for this purpose, to give people relief from all these burdens so that they can peacefully live, understand the value of life and become spiritualized, so they live peacefully in this life and go back to home, back to Godhead. That is the mission of Krsna consciousness movement.
(More...) Imported quote 17605 Therefore Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, brahma-janme nahi mora asa, kita-janma hao yatha tuwa dasa. This is Bhaktivinoda Thakura's song, that "Let me become one insect where there is Your devotee, because if I fall down on the dust of the devotee, my life will be successful." Therefore Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, kita-janma hao yatha tuwa dasa, bahir-mukha brahma... Brahma-janma is not easy. It is very difficult. But if Brahma is bahir-mukha-bahir-mukha means not devotee of Krsna-it is possible. Because we are in ignorance, maya, at any time we can forget Krsna. Therefore we have to always be engaged in Krsna consciousness, so that we may not forget Krsna. And that is stated here, sravana-smarana-arhana. Sravana means hearing, and smarana means memorizing, and arhana means worshiping the Deity. If you engage yourself always in this business...
(More...) Imported quote 17779 So this inquiry should be there. So our Krsna consciousness movement is to enthuse people to make this inquiry. Just like political leaders: they were sleeping, and Gandhi and other political leaders, they made agitation that "Why you shall remain dependent on this British ruling?" Just like, similar... It is not like that; it is an example. Our movement is that, that "You are eternal. Why you should rot in this material world, where there is no question of eternity? Everything is temporary." Everything is temporary. So how we can attain that eternity? Krsna says,
(More...) "If you come to Me..." Krsna is saying to us, indicating Arjuna, that "If you come to, come back to home, back to Godhead... Why you are rotting in this material world, temporary world?" "No, I have got so many responsibilities, Sir. How can I join You?" So Krsna says, sarva-dharman pari...: "Give it up." "Then? I'll be in trouble?" "No, you'll not be troubled." Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucaḥ [Bg 18.66]. Krsna is giving assurance.
(More...) Imported quote 17991 So one has to learn how to describe the Absolute Truth, Bhagavan-how He's acting, how He's merciful, how He is so kind to the living beings that He comes personally. He's more anxious to give us education, enlightenment what is the goal of life. Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata [Bg 4.7]. And He leaves the literature, He leaves His devotee, He leaves His follower, the parampara system. Take advantage of this. This Krsna consciousness movement is meant for giving the whole human society this advantage of understanding what is the Absolute Truth. It is not a bogus thing. It is actually this anukirtaya. Anukirtaya. We are not manufacturing our philosophy. There is no business. Why shall I try for..., unnecessarily waste our energy for manufacturing? There are so many things to be learned which is already there in the Vedic literature. Just try to learn and distribute it. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission.
(More...) Imported quote 18073 So this material world is not false, as the Mayavadi philosopher says, brahma satyam jagan mithya. Jagat is not mithya. It is fact, but we are using it in a way which is false. We are using it in the way for our sense gratification. That is false. But the material world is not false. Our Krsna consciousness movement is just to teach people how to use it properly. That is Krsna consciousness movement. Just like we are utilizing this microphone. It is not false, but we are utilizing it for spreading Krsna consciousness. And if you use it for something else, for some political propaganda or some other propaganda, then it is false. But if you use it for propagating Krsna consciousness, it is not false. Therefore the conclusion is the microphone is not false; its use is false. So if you properly use, that is wanted. Krsna consciousness movement is for that purpose. Īsavasyam idam sarvam .
(More...) Imported quote 18122 So Krsna consciousness movement is giving this intelligence. That is the Krsna consciousness move... Unique movement, how to give the intelligence of becoming liberated. Moksa-dvaram apavrtam. Mahat... Mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimukteḥ [SB 5.5.2]. Mahat-seva. Mahat-sevam... Mahat means... Who is mahat, mahatma?
(More...) 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 asritaḥ, bhajanty ananya-manasaḥ. This is bhajana-Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama... There is mahatma. So mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimukteḥ [SB 5.5.2]. If you serve such 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 sahgi-sahgam. And if you associate with the materialistic person who are after sense gratification, then your tamo-dvaram... That is the way to the darkness. The life's business is not tamo-dvaram. Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya. Jyotir gama, go to the light. Don't remain in... This is Vedic instruction.
(More...) Imported quote 18332 So this Krsna consciousness movement is meant for giving education to the people of this sahkhya-yoga system, or bhakti-yoga system, because it is the recommended process by authorities. And all the amnaya, origin of the amnaya, just like Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, then Kapiladeva-here is Kapiladeva-they are mahajana. Mahajana means great authorities. Dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam mahajano yena gataḥ sa panthaḥ [Cc Madhya 17.186]. It is very difficult to understand the path of perfection. Therefore the sastra recommended that "You follow the mahajana." This is called amnaya. "You follow the mahajana." And who are mahajana? They are also described in the sastras: svayambhūr naradaḥ sambhuḥ [SB 6.3.20].
(More...) Imported quote 18793 Therefore Bhagavata says that in order to understand the supreme goal of life, sreya uttamam... Sreya means the best. Sreya and preya. Preya means immediately palatable, and sreya means ultimately beneficial. That is called sreya. Just like for a child, playing is priya, preya. He likes to play. But he is by force, by the parents, he is studied books. That is called preya. But because without education his future life will be dark, so parents know it. Therefore, although the child likes to play-that is preya-the parents engages them into sreya, into education. So that is the Vaisnava's duty. These rascals and fools, they are busy in material sense gratification, and it has become the duty of the devotee. Because the devotees mean the servant of the supreme father, Krsna. So they have been engaged. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128].
(More...) Imported quote 18849 So this Krsna consciousness movement is at least trying to give the people what is the aim of life, how he can be happy, how he can regain his eternal position of blissful life. These are the things. And they are authorized. What we are presenting, that is nothing manufactured by concoction of the brain. No. It is all authorized, all authorized. So if we take advantage of this movement, then we become happy, we become in the perfect knowledge, blissful life, even in this life, and next life you go back to home, back to Godhead.
(More...) Imported quote 19466 So to save us from death... That is the first business of humankind. We are teaching this Krsna consciousness movement for this purpose only. That should be the purpose of everyone. That is the sastric injunction. Those who are guardians... The government, the father, the teacher, they are guardians of the children. They should know it, how to give protection to the world's... Na mocayed yaḥ samupeta mrtyum [SB 5.5.18]. So where is this philosophy, all over the world? There is no such philosophy. This is the only, Krsna consciousness movement, which is putting forward this philosophy, not whimsically but from authorized sastra, Vedic literature, authorities. So that is our request. We are opening different centers all over the world for the benefit of the human society, that they do not know the aim of life, they do not know that there is next life after death. These things they do not know. So we are trying to educate them that "There is next life undoubtedly, and you can prepare your next life in this life. You can go to the higher planetary system for better comfort, material comfort. You can remain here in a secure position." Secure means this material life. Just like it is said,
(More...) Imported quote 19777 So Krsna doesn't want anything else. Krsna does not say, "Give Me meat. Give Me eggs. Give Me fish." No. He says, patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati. So if you are devotee, you cannot take anything which is not offered to Krsna. So Krsna... I should offer to Krsna what He wants. Just like if you want to offer me something, so you inquire that "What shall I offer you? What do you like?" So similarly, if you invite Krsna to live in your house or temple, then you should ask Krsna, "Sir, what can I offer You?" The Krsna said, patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati [Bg 9.26]. Krsna said that "You give Me patram, means vegetables, flowers, fruits, and phalam, fruits, and some liquid, water or milk." Krsna does not say, "You give Me meat or egg or fish." No. Krsna can eat everything, He's all-powerful, but He does not eat. Although He is all-powerful; He can eat everything. He can eat fire. That is another thing. But because we have to take prasadam, remnants of foodstuff, Krsna, therefore He says, "Give Me this: food grains, milk, or fruits and flowers." Prepared or unprepared, it doesn't matter. Krsna wants that. We... So far the Vaisnava is concerned, sometimes they come forward to fight with us: "Why we should be vegetarian?" No, no, we have no quarrel with the nonvegetarian. Let them eat at their risk. But because we recommend, "You take Krsna's prasadam," therefore we must be satisfied with this patram puspam phalam toyam [Bg 9.26], nothing more than that.
(More...) So this is going on. So in this way we cannot be happy. We shall become more and more entangled in sinful resultant action, and we have to take different types of body. So perpetually it will go on. Therefore this movement, Krsna consciousness movement, is to awaken every man to God consciousness and just to stop his activities in sinful life, so that he will be purified and he will understand God. Without being purified, nobody can understand what is God. That is not possible.
(More...) Imported quote 20867 I am very much pleased that you have taken our Krishna consciousness movement a little seriously. That is very good. Lord Krishna says that when the leading men of the society accept it, then it is followed by the common men. I wish the leading men of the human society may understand the background of this great movement. It is on the basis of God consciousness. Every living entity especially in the human form of life is potentially God conscious. Unfortunately the modern leaders of the society have made the common man forget God somehow or other. Our humble attempt is to revive the forgotten consciousness of the human society.
(More...) Imported quote 20881 Although there may be some difficulties within our Society, these things are not very important. What is important is that we should simply fix our mind on Krishna's Lotus Feet. This is His instruction in the Bhagavad-gita. So we associate with one-another so that we can assist each other in hearing and chanting about Krishna. That is the purpose of our Society. This you will not find in the materialistic society where all hearing and chanting is simply concerned with sense gratification. So our desire is Krishna and we want to go back home-Back to Godhead where Krishna lives eternally. So you simply follow my instructions as I have given to you and surely your life will be a success. I hope this meets you in good health, Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami N.B. I understand that you are translating "Bhagavad-gita As it Is''. Please continue this work and Krishna will bless you. I want to see that my literature is widely distributed. In Spanish language there is great scope for distributing our literature and preaching to the people of South America
(More...)ACBS/BS/vdd Imported quote 21439 In reply to your letter dated 26 November 1975, I beg to submit herein that our International Society for Krishna Consciousness is a Bhakti yoga asram as it is enunciated in the Bhagavad-gita. The main purpose of the society is to understand the nature of God and our relationship with Him. The very word yoga means connecting link with the supreme being. We accept Krishna as the supreme being, and nobody is equal to him or greater than him. How he is supreme is lucidly explained in the Bhagavad-gita, and we try to revive our eternal relationship with him. In the Bhagavad-gita itself there are different processes of yoga systems, karma yoga, jnana yoga, dhayana yoga, hatha yoga, bhakti yoga and so many patterns of yoga. Others may practice different patterns of yoga, and we can understand that everyone is trying to pass on the path of yoga, but bhakti yoga is the ultimate goal, and if anyone is actually interested to understand God as he is, he has to come to the platform of bhakti yoga.
(More...) The actual path to understand God is bhakti yoga as it is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita, bhaktya mam abhijanati, yevan yas casmi tattvatah, tato mam tattvato jnatve, visate tad anantaram. [Bg 18.55] "One can understand the Supreme Personality as he is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.'' This bhakti yoga is identical with Krishna consciousness this is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita, Yoginam api sarvesam, mad gatenanteratmana, sraddhavan bhajate yo mama, sa me yuktatamo matah. (Bg. 6.47) 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.
(More...) So we teach our students how to think of Krishna 24 hours and thus become devotees of Krishna. When one becomes a devotee he worships Krishna by the above nine varieties of bhakti processes and remain always an obedient servant of Krishna, and the vivid example is Arjuna, how he engaged himself on the battlefield of Kuruksetra although he was not willing to kill the enemies on the other side, although they happen to be very near and dear kinsmen of Arjuna.
(More...) The conclusion is, when one gives up his concocted ideas of perfection and takes to Krishna consciousness just to render service to the Lord by following his direct order this perfection is actually attained by a pure devotee, so much so that a pure devotee constantly engaged in the service of the Lord can get direct orders from the Lord, and then follow perfectly the instructions of the Lord.
(More...) Our society is open to everyone without any discrimination of cast, creed, color, sex, or position, anyone can join us and be trained up in Krishna consciousness. That is evidently proved that we have got more than 100 centers all over the world, including Africa, or other supposed backward countries. Everywhere the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra is being chanted without any difficulty and all of them are becoming pure Vaisnavas. They are completely giving up the four principles of sinful activities, namely illicit sex life, meat eating, intoxication, and gambling, and thus they are making progress in the matter of understanding Krishna consciousness very perfectly.
(More...) Imported quote 22878 Prabhupada: It is a little difficult to understand this movement, because it is spiritual movement. People practically have no information what is spirit and what is spiritual movement, but they can simply understand that the body is there. Body is the machine, and the driver of the machine is the spirit soul. So we are beginning our movement from that platform, the driver of the machine. People are very much engrossed with the machine only, but they have no information who is driving the machine. That is the difficulty.
(More...) Imported quote 24359 So the International Society for Krishna Consciousness is specifically formed by Srila Prabhupada to help those of us who are lost and entangled in this material condition to associate with one another under his guidance and achieve, by this process recommended by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, chanting the holy name, we can achieve rapid purification, and in this one lifetime, Srila Prabhupada has promised that we can go back to home, back to Godhead. So we should try to cooperate together. There is no other purpose. Once one comes in touch with the pure devotee and understands his message, and there's no other purpose for living in this material world than to serve the mission of the Lord. And that mission of the Lord, as already explained, is to reclaim the conditioned souls who have fallen into the material world and are lost, helplessly entrapped. So we should try and cooperate together. Learn Srila Prabhupada's instructions very perfectly and try to carry them out, following the four regulative principles, chanting sixteen rounds and working together to spread the Krsna consciousness movement all over the world so that its influence can affect all the living beings who are living on the face of the earth. Actually in the Caitanya-caritamrta, Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami has stated that the Krsna consciousness movement will spread all over the universe. So Srila Prabhupada is undoubtedly empowered by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He's doing such wonderful service, spreading Krsna consciousness all over this globe, and we should pray that we can help in some small way. Thank you very much.
(More...) Imported quote 24360 "One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India [Bharata-varsa] should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people." (Cc. Adi 9.41) It is therefore the duty of every advanced and cultured Indian to take this cause very seriously. All Indians should help the Krsna consciousness movement in its progress, to the best of their ability. Then they will be considered real followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Unfortunately, even some so-called Vaisnavas enviously refuse to cooperate with this movement but instead condemn it in so many ways. We are very sorry to say that these people try to find fault with us, being unnecessarily envious of our activities, although we are trying to the best of our ability to introduce the Krsna consciousness movement directly into the countries of the yavanas and mlecchas. Such yavanas and mlecchas are coming to us and becoming purified Vaisnavas who follow in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One who identifies himself as a follower of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu should feel like Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who said, iha-sabara kon mate ha-ibe nistara: "How will all these yavanas be delivered?" Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was always anxious to deliver the fallen souls because their fallen condition gave Him great unhappiness. That is the platform on which one can propagate the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
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