So the material duties are not sense-gratification if performed to satisfy Krishna. I read the purport I have posted below yesterday and realized this very important information for me as well as all the devotees engaged in material duties as... moreSo the material duties are not sense-gratification if performed to satisfy Krishna. I read the purport I have posted below yesterday and realized this very important information for me as well as all the devotees engaged in material duties as householders. We must not give up our material duties using chanting Hare Krishna and reading Srila Prabhupada's books as an excuse. Rather we should do our duties related to body and use everything we get by Krishna's grace in the service of Krishna. However we must follow the four regulative principles, chant Hare Krishna at least 16 rounds daily, read Srila Prabhupada's books at least 1-2 hours daily and do what Srila Prabhupada instructs us to do. less
"The author of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta advises everyone to give up all engagements of sense gratification and, like the gopīs,dovetail oneself entirely with the will of the... morePurport, Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, Volume 1, Chapter 4, Verse 170
"The author of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta advises everyone to give up all engagements of sense gratification and, like the gopīs,dovetail oneself entirely with the will of the Supreme Lord. That is the ultimate instruction of Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā. We should be prepared to do anything and everything to please the Lord, even at the risk of violating the Vedic principles or ethical laws. That is the standard of love of Godhead. Such activities in pure love of Godhead are as spotless as white linen that has been completely washed. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura warns us in this connection that we should not mistakenly think that the idea of giving up everything implies the renunciation of duties necessary in relation to the body and mind. Even such duties are not sense gratification if they are undertaken in a spirit of service to Kṛṣṇa."
Hare Krishna!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada! less
An first class film documenting the second ISKCON Ratha-yatra festival in San Francisco 1968. Features the famous Jayananda Prabhu and includes building the carts and the actual festival--pulling Lord Jagannath to the beach. Also includes a great sound tr...
This is a very nice film of the second Ratha-yatra festival held by ISKCON in San Francisco in 1968. It has a beautiful bhajan and kirtan soundtrack and a very nice mood.
An first class film documenting the second ISKCON Ratha-yatra festival in San Francisco 1968. Features the famous Jayananda Prabhu and includes building the carts and the actual festival--pulling Lord Jagannath to the beach. Also includes a great sound tr...
Yes, reading my books will help you, philosophy must be there, but if you do not also apply the philosophy by participating in all temple affairs like rising early, attending mangal arati, performing devotional service, then simply learning the... moreYes, reading my books will help you, philosophy must be there, but if you do not also apply the philosophy by participating in all temple affairs like rising early, attending mangal arati, performing devotional service, then simply learning the philosophy will have no effect.
(Excerpt taken from Srila Prabhupāda's Letter to Dayananda -- New York 7 July, 1972)
“So anyone who will stop chanting, he will be a victim of māyā. Always remember it. Therefore we insist, "Please do not forget to chant at least sixteen rounds." That is minimum. The maximum is 300,000. [laughter] As... more*“Try, try, try your best”*
“So anyone who will stop chanting, he will be a victim of māyā. Always remember it. Therefore we insist, "Please do not forget to chant at least sixteen rounds." That is minimum. The maximum is 300,000. [laughter] As Haridāsa Ṭhākura used to do, three hundred.... Not impractical. But you..., we cannot do that. Even we cannot complete sixteen rounds, we are so unfortunate. But that does not mean because we are unfortunate, we shall give it up. Try, try, try your best. Then life will become perfect.”
- Śrila Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.16.25–30, January 21, 1974, Honolulu less
“So anyone who will stop chanting, he will be a victim of māyā. Always remember it. Therefore we insist, "Please do not forget to chant at least sixteen rounds." That is minimum. The maximum is 300,000. [laughter] As... more*“Try, try, try your best”*
“So anyone who will stop chanting, he will be a victim of māyā. Always remember it. Therefore we insist, "Please do not forget to chant at least sixteen rounds." That is minimum. The maximum is 300,000. [laughter] As Haridāsa Ṭhākura used to do, three hundred.... Not impractical. But you..., we cannot do that. Even we cannot complete sixteen rounds, we are so unfortunate. But that does not mean because we are unfortunate, we shall give it up. Try, try, try your best. Then life will become perfect.”
- Śrila Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.16.25–30, January 21, 1974, Honolulu less
Yes, reading my books will help you, philosophy must be there, but if you do not also apply the philosophy by participating in all temple affairs like rising early, attending mangal arati, performing devotional service, then simply learning the... moreYes, reading my books will help you, philosophy must be there, but if you do not also apply the philosophy by participating in all temple affairs like rising early, attending mangal arati, performing devotional service, then simply learning the philosophy will have no effect.
(Excerpt taken from Srila Prabhupāda's Letter to Dayananda -- New York 7 July, 1972) less
Hare Krishna, this is another video about the Polish preaching program, but this is not the rock festival, it is about the 2 week festival they do before the Woodstock festival. They go to the beach towns and put on Hare Krishna festivals there. They do... moreHare Krishna, this is another video about the Polish preaching program, but this is not the rock festival, it is about the 2 week festival they do before the Woodstock festival. They go to the beach towns and put on Hare Krishna festivals there. They do a festival every day in a different town for two weeks. So this is a bit different from the rock festival program. Still it is not perfect of course, but it shows what a few devotees can do if they try to preach. less
Documentary on the ISKCON Polish Festival of India tour of the beaches of Poland in Summer.
The Polish devotees lead by Indradyumna Swami and Sri Prahlada hold festivals every day for two months during summer and this video documents their festivals. Th...
Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
There is SO much hidden in Srila Prabhupada's conversations.
I request all devotees to make it a point to read all the conversations of Srila Prabhupada. They are so... moreHare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
There is SO much hidden in Srila Prabhupada's conversations.
I request all devotees to make it a point to read all the conversations of Srila Prabhupada. They are so encouraging!
(This is a short one, please read it. Lots to learn!)
Devotee (1) (girl): March 23rd, Stow Lake, walk with Swamiji.
Prabhupāda: First thing is that calculation of Candra, moon planet, there are different views. Different scientists, they have different views. It is not a standard. They have not agreed to the... Somebody says something, somebody says another thing. Speculation. That's all. But that idea, that it is very low in temperature, that is mentioned in Bhāgavata. You cannot live in the water. You have to qualify yourself. (Sound of ducks). Just see. Their body is made just suitable for the water. So you have to qualify yourself. That is... Just like, in the spiritual sky they can live only spiritual body, and material body cannot live there. Material body is not allowed there. Hare Kṛṣṇa. Ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti sattva-sthā madhye tiṣṭhanti rājasāḥ [Bg. 14.18]. Those who are too much passionate, they are meant to live in this planet. This planetary system, status. There are many other planets like this world. So they are allowed to live here. Here all living entities, they are very much passionate. And adho gacchanti tāmasāḥ. And there are other planets, they are dark, dark planets, below this earthly planet. And the animals, they are in darkness. Although they're on this park, but they do not know where they are, darkness. Their knowledge is not developed. This is the result of the modes of ignorance. And those who are Kṛṣṇa conscious, they are neither in darkness, nor in passion, nor in goodness. They are transcendental. So if one cultivates Kṛṣṇa consciousness nicely, he is at once promoted to the Kṛṣṇaloka. That is wanted. You are all chanting sixteen rounds? No? (laughs)
Śarādīyā: I did at first but then I slipped back.
Prabhupāda: Is it very difficult?
Mālatī: No, we do not know how yet to regulate our time too well. Some days we chant sixteen rounds and then the next day, I don't know what happens. I think we sleep too much, I mean I think I sleep too much.
Prabhupāda: How many hours you are sleeping?
Mālatī: About six to eight.
Prabhupāda: That is not much. Sixteen... It takes only two hours, sixteen rounds. Huh? Two hours, or more than that?
Mālatī: Two hours is all it takes to do the rounds.
Prabhupāda: So you have to spend two hours for Kṛṣṇa out of twenty-four. (walks for awhile and chants japa) Yes?
Devotee (1): Is there something wrong with sleeping eight hours?
Prabhupāda: Sleeping and eating, this is the material disease. Sleeping, eating, mating... So they should be reduced as much as possible.
Devotee (1): If you're still tired...
Prabhupāda: No, you can sleep till you are refreshed. Somebody's refreshed by sleeping four hours. Somebody is refreshed by sleeping ten hours.
Mālatī: But we should not sleep when we have, in place of our devotional service.
Prabhupāda: No, of course not. Devotional service is first.
Mālatī: So if we miss some sleep we should do it.
Prabhupāda: We should forego sleeping even. The real regulated life is that if sixteen rounds is not completed, then we have to forego sleeping. You should take out hours from sleeping. We should be... The main thing is that we should always be careful that... We are going, we have taken up a very responsible task, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So we should be very much careful in discharging the duty. The devotee should be so much careful that he'll always see "Whether this moment is spoiled or utilized?" Avyartha-kālatvam [Cc. Madhya 23.18-19]. Avyartha-kālatvam, that "My time may not be wasted." He should be so careful, "Whether my time is being wasted?" and time wasted, the time we engage for our bodily necessities, that is wasted. Generally, conditioned souls, they are simply wasting their time. Only the period which we have engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that is utilized. So we should be very much careful whether time is being wasted or being utilized.
Devotee (1): Sometimes, well, if you (we) slept less, we could do more for Kṛṣṇa, but at the same time you (we) would be very tired. I mean, you could be... Well, you could regulate that.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Practically everything depends on practice. Abhyāsa-yoga-yuktena cetasā nānya-gāminā [Bg. 8.8]. Abhyāsa-yoga. Abhyāsa-yoga means yoga practice... Practice it. So this whole Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is to practice transferring from one kind of consciousness to another. So we require practice. Just like one man can run few miles. I cannot run even one mile. He has practiced. We see some boys, they run, run on. They practice. Practice it. Strength of the heart increasing by practice. And if I run, my heart will be palpitating. Because I have no practice. So by practice, everything can be attained. Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare. [break] ...determination. And this determination is increased by celibacy. Brahmacārya is recommended to keep oneself determined. A brahmacārī, if he determines something, he executes. He has got that strength of mind. Those who are too much addicted to sex life, they cannot be determined. They cannot be fixed-up. They are fluctuating, changing. People are, in modern day, they cannot sit down in a place for a long time. Therefore so much traveling. The traveling business is very prosperous. Everyone wants to travel. They cannot fix, fix up. So the processes recommended, they're very valuable, but it is not possible to follow them all in the present age because everything is reducing. So our method is to pray to Kṛṣṇa to give us the necessary strength. That's all. Otherwise, by regular practice, this age is very difficult. Unfavorable. First thing is memory is very short. We cannot remember. Life is very short. Life is short, at the same time, so much disturbed by anxiety, by disease, by natural disturbances. Roga-śokādibhiḥ. Short life; that is also disturbed by disease and lamentation. Every moment there is something for which you have to lament. "Oh!" Roga-śokādibhiḥ. And disease. This body is a breeding ground of all kinds of disease. Life is short and it is so much disturbed. So how it is possible to practice? Therefore, this one practice—chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, and hearing—that is very nice. And praying to Kṛṣṇa, "Please give me strength." Hare, "O Energy of Kṛṣṇa, O Kṛṣṇa, I am fallen, I have no strength. Please accept me." That's all. "I have no qualification. I am frail. I am trying, but I am failing." All these appeals should be made. And Kṛṣṇa is all-powerful, He can do anything. Even we, we do not perform, trying our best, if we fail, Kṛṣṇa will help us. Just like a child tries his best, but he falls down. The mother takes up and, "All right. Come on. Walk." Like that. Yes?
Devotee (1): Swamiji? Is doing something other than chanting, like going to school and paying attention to what's there, if you're doing that so you can spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness, is that just as good as chanting?
Prabhupāda: Chanting is good everywhere.
Devotee (1): Yes, but, I mean, if you can't chant all day.
Prabhupāda: If there is some inconvenience in chanting loudly, you can chant slowly. Loudly, slowly... Within mind you can chant. This simple practice, you'll give up all kinds of (microphone rattling)...
Devotee (1): Sometimes in school you have your, your mind is focused on their problems that they are, I mean... (plane going overhead)
Prabhupāda: Not sometimes. Practically, we are always disturbed. (Walks for awhile)
Devotee (1): Swamiji, would it be all right for Cathy to become a devotee?
Prabhupāda: I don't follow.
Devotee (1): To be initiated. Cathy. To be initiated. She's the girl with the baby.
Prabhupāda: Oh. If she can perform the..., there is no objection.
Devotee (1): She would like to.
Prabhupāda: You are very kind upon her. (laughs) Yes. Vaiṣṇava is very kind. (pause) It is very heavy?
Devotee (2) (boy): No, not too heavy. If I had a memory I wouldn't need this. (Prabhupāda laughs)
Mālatī: So you're carrying your memory in your hand?
Devotee (2): Yes.
Prabhupāda: Because memory is reducing, therefore nature is helping to manufacture so many machines.
Mālatī: Is that why people are making these machines, because they can't remember? Is that a sign of Kali that there's more machines to help people?
Prabhupāda: Yes, yes. And nowadays in the courts, they use machines. The judges also cannot remember what has been argued between the parties. So they take this tape recorder and give judgement. Because the argument is going on for two days, three days, how much he can remember? And when he gives judgement he has to take consideration of all the arguments, then give his judgement. So this machine helps.
Mālatī: If somebody had a big dollar bill the judge would remember.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Mālatī: If somebody gave the judge a big dollar bill he would remember.
Prabhupāda: Yes. That means truthfulness is not there, diminished. The same thing. Because truthfulness has diminished, therefore you can bribe anybody and he can tell lie for you. We are in a very precarious condition. Very unfavorable condition. The best thing is to pray Kṛṣṇa, "Please pick me up very soon and let me go back to Your place." If you have to come back again, oh, you do not know how much misery we have to undergo. Because with the advancement of Kali-yuga, everything is becoming more and more miserable. There is no happiness in family life, there is no happiness in social life, there is no happiness in political life, there is no happiness in earning livelihood. Everything is encumbered. All impediment, full of impediments.
Devotee (1): One of my friends said, "(inaudible), you want to tell us everything, so why don't you build a machine to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa for you?"
Prabhupāda: Huh? Yes. Machine was not made for chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, but we are utilizing it so that the machine-maker may be benefited. Because we employ everyone's energy to Kṛṣṇa. So by his energy he has manufactured this machine, so we are employing in Kṛṣṇa's service so that he may be benefited, purified. We are showing him the mercy. Just like one flower picked up from a plant offered to Kṛṣṇa is offering benefit to that plant. Because his energy is in the service of Kṛṣṇa. Similarly, the person who has manufactured this machine, when it is employed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness business, he's benefited. Indirectly, we are giving him opportunity, although he does not know it. But his energy is being utilized for Kṛṣṇa. We offer prasādam, the same principle. A man does not know about Kṛṣṇa. But he wants to eat. By eating, he'll be gradually Kṛṣṇa conscious. So you have... Our business is to give opportunity to all forgotten souls to be engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, today or tomorrow. The boys and girls who have come to this society, they have accumulated in that way, knowingly or unknowingly, some Kṛṣṇa conscious qualification, and therefore they have taken this opportunity. (Pause) We have no dog friend. (Laughs)
Mālatī: It's a dog taking a man for a walk.
Prabhupāda: We are all devotee friend. Where is your dog?
Mālatī: Oh, he's gone.
Prabhupāda: Gone? (laughs)
Mālatī: Yes. Some very nice people who worship dogs took him.
Prabhupāda: The dog saw that "My master has become devotee, so it is useless to keep here."
Mālatī: These people who took him, they think he is a person.
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Mālatī: They treat him like person.
Prabhupāda: He's a person. Dog is a person. Why imperson?
Mālatī: Pardon?
Prabhupāda: Dog is person also.
Mālatī: Yes, but they treat him like I would... They... Human person. They treat him like... They worship him.
Prabhupāda: Yes, but what is the difference between human person and dog person? No difference. So far eating, sleeping, mating, and defending, they are equal. Human personality is there when he's Kṛṣṇa conscious. Otherwise he's an animal, as good as dog.
Mālatī: So these... If you do not take to Kṛṣṇa conscious, you are a dog.
Prabhupāda: Yes, equal to dog. Because he has no other conception except those four principles, eating, sleeping, mating and defending. That is there in the animals. Don't you see the swans? They are enjoying sex life. So what is the difference between man... A man also does like that. So long one is not above these four principles of animal demands, he's as good as animal. To meet animal demands in a polished way is not civilization. One must be above the animal demands. That is civilization. You have read that poetry, "Alexander and the Robber"? Have you read?
Mālatī: I don't think so. Say again?
Devotee (2): "Alexander and the Rabbit"?
Mālatī: No.
Prabhupāda: Alexander the Great, you have heard the name?
Mālatī: Yes.
Prabhupāda: He conquered all over the world almost. He went to India also. So he met one robber. So he arrested, Alexander. He was king. The robber said, "Why you have arrested me?" "Because you are robber." "Oh, you are also great robber." When Alexander was charging him that, "You have done this," oh, he charges, "You have done this. I have entered a private house; you have entered a private state. So you are a big robber." Then he released him, "Yes, what is the difference between robber and me?" And Alexander, from that day, he stopped his conquering propaganda. "Alexander and the Robber." The robber proved that "You are a big robber only. But because you are big robber, therefore you are called 'Alexander the Great.' But my business is the same as yours-encroaching upon others' property. Why do you think that I am culprit and you are innocent? You are also culprit. If I had power, I could have punished you. And you have now power, you are trying to punish me." So Alexander the Great was convinced by robber.
Devotee (1): (Inaudible)
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Devotee (1): Did he kill himself?
Prabhupāda: Who?
Devotee (1): Alexander the Great?
Prabhupāda: He killed himself?
Devotee (1): I don't know.
Prabhupāda: Oh, I do not know.
Devotee (2): He died from a... He died. (end of walk recording)
Gargamuni: This was recorded at Stow Lake in San Francisco on March 23rd, 1968, about 7:30 in the morning. Stow Lake is Swamiji's favorite walking place. (end)
Madhudvisa dasaYes Mataji. There is so much hidden nectar in all of Srila Prabhuapda's writings and in all of his conversations so we have such a huge amount of nectar from Srila Prabhupada and just hearing it will take us quite some time and the amazing thing is it is... moreYes Mataji. There is so much hidden nectar in all of Srila Prabhuapda's writings and in all of his conversations so we have such a huge amount of nectar from Srila Prabhupada and just hearing it will take us quite some time and the amazing thing is it is always fresh. We can hear the same thing from Prabhuapda over and over again and it never gets old, every time we hear it we get more realization, it seems even more ecstatic and even better than when we heard it the previous time. Very mystical. Chant Hare Krishna and be happy! less
Hare Krishna. The attached video shows a preaching program in Poland in about 2005. It is connected to a heavy music festival where the people are all getting drunk and listening to demonic music. But still the devotees manage to have a Krishna conscious... moreHare Krishna. The attached video shows a preaching program in Poland in about 2005. It is connected to a heavy music festival where the people are all getting drunk and listening to demonic music. But still the devotees manage to have a Krishna conscious part at the rock music festival. There are many things not perfect. But at the same time it shows us what is possible if some devotees try and do some preaching. less
[COMPLETE VERSION IN HD] Woodstook festival Poland. 200,000 People at Krishna's Village of Peace. A professionally produced documentary on the Hare Krishna "Village of Peace" at Poland's Woodstock Festival. Features Indradumna Swami and Sri Prahlad.
BECO...
Srila Prabhupada is always available to you, just call him from your heart.
A Russian member of the Hare Krsna ( ISKCON) named Purnamasi devi dasi told the story of when she was imprisoned by the KGB (during USSR times) for practicing and preaching... moreSrila Prabhupada is always available to you, just call him from your heart.
A Russian member of the Hare Krsna ( ISKCON) named Purnamasi devi dasi told the story of when she was imprisoned by the KGB (during USSR times) for practicing and preaching Krishna Consciousness in the Soviet Union.
While she was in jail she would encourage other prisoners to chant Hare Krsna Maha mantra but the authorities tried to stop her in many ways including threatening to kill her. But nothing worked. So finally they did something very unusual. They brought a real witch to the prison to stop Purnamasi and deprogram her.
The witch arrived with her assistant and KGB officers. They tied Purnamasi to a chair and the witch and her assistant started hexing, doing passes, chanting spells, with their eyes rolled in trance. They were trying to infuse a dark creature into Purnamasi's body. She could sense it and all around became covered with fog. Realising she was coming under their control, she started chanting the Hare... less
Srila Prabhupada is always available to you, just call him from your heart.
A Russian member of the Hare Krsna ( ISKCON) named Purnamasi devi dasi told the story of when she was imprisoned by the KGB (during USSR times) for practicing and preaching... moreSrila Prabhupada is always available to you, just call him from your heart.
A Russian member of the Hare Krsna ( ISKCON) named Purnamasi devi dasi told the story of when she was imprisoned by the KGB (during USSR times) for practicing and preaching Krishna Consciousness in the Soviet Union.
While she was in jail she would encourage other prisoners to chant Hare Krsna Maha mantra but the authorities tried to stop her in many ways including threatening to kill her. But nothing worked. So finally they did something very unusual. They brought a real witch to the prison to stop Purnamasi and deprogram her.
The witch arrived with her assistant and KGB officers. They tied Purnamasi to a chair and the witch and her assistant started hexing, doing passes, chanting spells, with their eyes rolled in trance. They were trying to infuse a dark creature into Purnamasi's body. She could sense it and all around became covered with fog. Realising she was coming under their control, she started chanting the Hare... less
Srila Prabhupada is head and shoulders above so many so many other teachers. I have a friend who sends me videos of different teachers Indian and American teachers. I won't mention who, as you likely know them, and it doesn't matter, but two things I... moreSrila Prabhupada is head and shoulders above so many so many other teachers. I have a friend who sends me videos of different teachers Indian and American teachers. I won't mention who, as you likely know them, and it doesn't matter, but two things I keep noticing in the videos he sends me that I do NOT see with Prabhupada. Maybe I'm wrong about this, but it keeps re-affirming in my mind why Prabhupada is so great and why he teaches a path that does not lead us astray. > 1. Other teachers keep coming up with another person who they are an incarnation of, both past teachers and a different God, to impress everyone with and show how amazing they are. One of them in a recent video declared on top of the tons of folks he is an incarnation of, he's now an incarnation of Avatar Adi Da Samraj. Yet the video post about this revelation sounds more like 'I found this video of Adi Da, I like him, so I'm declaring myself a devotee, and now his devotees will follow me and bring me more book sales and take my expensive classes.' I don't get that from Prabhupada. He's not out to impress anyone. He's out to be himself and love Krishna and teach us to do the same. He's not trying to be anyone. Can you imagine him saying: "I'm an incarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba and Vivekananda?" 2. Other teachers keep coming up with new mantras, meditations, etc that were just revealed and now you need to buy their new books. Yet again, Prabhupada didn't come up with anything, but instead gifted the western world what already existed in the Gita! He didn't re-invent the wheel. ......... Most of the videos my friend sends me I don't watch. I just thank him. less
Aaron JoyI do and leave it there. But, wow, I have one friend who sends me videos and then asks what is "wrong" with me since I'm not interested, even telling me he'd help me on with my practice since I'm so lost. To which I say - I have Krishna Consciousness,... moreI do and leave it there. But, wow, I have one friend who sends me videos and then asks what is "wrong" with me since I'm not interested, even telling me he'd help me on with my practice since I'm so lost. To which I say - I have Krishna Consciousness, I'm focused on this path now. When you are living in cafeteria style religion where today you are all about Mother Meera and tomorrow Sadguru and then Satya Sai Baba and then Sailer Bob, it can be hard to see that focusing on one path, honoring one tradition, is good. It seems so limiting. It is not. less
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