First steps of preaching

Hare Krishna!

Ramanand Prabhu (a resident Brahmachari of Sri Sri RadhaKunjabihari Temple) had come today for taking the morning class. Here are some of the points that he made.

Before preaching to others, one must realise the tremendous importance of the preaching we are going to do. The first teaching that we give is "You are not the body, you are the soul!" This teaching is so so important, that even on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Krishna gave this as the first teaching to Arjuna!

Also, we must pray to Guru, Prabhupada, and Krishna before starting to preach. We should pray that "Even though I am not following all the teachings myself, I am preaching because this is your order. Kindly let such words come out of my mouth that the hearer can understand your message nicely."

Also, we must preach to the heart and not to the head. Meaning that we must try to change people's hearts and not try to intellectually defeat them just by logic and argument. There is a famous saying, "A man convinced against his will, has the same opinion still!" Even if you defeat the hearer logically, because of the bloated ego, the other person wont change his opinion. Therefore, if we want to be effective preachers, we must try to speak to the heart very politely.

And finally, he said that education has 4 steps:

- adhiti (I dont remember the exact word)
Meaning thorough study of the subject matter.

- bodha
Meaning contemplation on what was studied.

- acharan
Meaning abiding by those teachings in day-to-day life.

- pracharan
Meaning preaching.

But, in Kali Yuga, because everyone is going to hell in wholesale :) we can start preaching and meanwhile also trying to perfect our bodha and acharan. How to start preaching I have already told -- by praying appropriately to Guru, Prabhupada, And Krishna.

Your servant, Abhijit.

Romapada Swami Maharaj : Can impersonalism be defeated?

I had asked His Holiness Romapada Swami Maharaj a few questions. He has very kindly replied. Here is his reply.

Question part 1: There are still people (at least in India) who believe God is impersonal and say that devotion is just a stepping stone for realizing the Supreme Truth which they say is actually impersonal.

I am really eager to know what the Absolute Truth is.
And I don't like this confusion about the Absolute
Truth. I am aware of all counter arguments that the
Vaishnavas (that is us) give to defeat impersonalists.
But then, I am told (by Vaishnavas) that the
impersonalists will also have strong arguments for
defeating personalism. So, how will I know what the
Absolute Truth is? Is it Krishna (and I dearly want it
to be so) or is it the impersonal Brahman?

I really want to be absolutely fixed in my devotion to
Krishna, but this impersonal philosophy poses an
obstacle in my progress.

Answer: An axiomatic principle in understanding the
Absolute Truth is that it is NOT possible to be
ascertained through arguments, counter-arguments and
debates! Then how are we to know? By following the
mahajanas. This is the advice from Mahabharata (Vana
Parva 313.117):

tarko apratisthah shrutayo vibhinna
nasav rishir yasya matam na bhinnam
dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam
mahajano yena gatah sa panthah

"Dry arguments are inconclusive. One is not considered
a great muni unless he puts forward a new opinion
different from others. Simply by studying the Vedas,
which are variegated, one cannot come to the right
path by which religious principles are understood. The
solid truth of religious principles is hidden in the
heart of an unadulterated self-realized person.
Consequently, one should follow the path advocated by
the mahajanas."

Who these mahajanas are is also spelled out in the
Bhagavatam (6.3.20-21) - There are 12 mahajanas or
authorities on the subject of Absolute Truth: Lord
Brahma, Narada, Lord Shiva, the four Kumaras, Lord
Kapila, Svayambhuva Manu, Prahlada Maharaja, Janaka,
Grandfather Bhishma, Bali Maharaja, Sukadeva Gosvami
and Yamaraja.

Thus if one wants to know the Absolute Truth
conclusively, without doubts, one has to follow these
great mahajanas, and those strictly following in their
footsteps. By treading the path chalked out by such
great souls as Narada, Prahlada, Hanuman, Bhishma,
Arjuna, Sukadeva Goswami and so on up to the great
saintly acharyas of recent times such as
Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya or Lord Caitanya and even
the final teachings of Sankaracharya -- we can rest
assured that we are on the right track, regardless of
the opinion of others. None of these great authorities
have hinted in their teachings that devotional service
to Vishnu is simply a means to realize some higher
truth! Quite to the contrary, both by their precepts
and personal attainment they have demonstrated
devotional service as our eternal occupation, as both
the means AND the ultimate goal of life that can be
achieved.

Even if we were to simply accept the words of the
Supreme Lord Krishna, whose authority is indisputable,
then Krishna amply assures us, numerous times in the
Bhagavad-Gita, that His personal form is the highest.
In fact this very question you are posing was asked by
Arjuna directly to Krishna so that the Lord can give
His conclusive opinion leaving no room for ambiguity.
(See BG 12.1 http://www.vedabase.net/bg/12/1/en)
Krishna promptly replies that those who steadily
worship Him are the most perfect; although the path of
impersonal meditation may possibly bring one to the
same goal of surrendering to Krishna, it is simply
troublesome. (BG 12.1-8) He assures that there is no
truth superior to Him (7.7), that His abode and the
process of devotional service to Him are eternal
(15.6. 9.2) and those who think that He was impersonal
before and has assumed a human-like form later - He
declares them to be less intelligent! (7.24) And His
final instruction is that we give up all other
considerations and surrender to Him alone & become His
devotee (BG 18.65, 66). Is it reasonable to suppose
that the Lord would make so many assertions to mislead
us away from Reality? One who simply accepts Krishna's
direct statements with implicit faith will never be
let down and is sure to achieve the highest
destination of His Eternal Abode.

By great good fortune you have had the opportunity to
hear Krishna's message through His unadulterated
devotees and you also have natural devotion for Him,
so take shelter in Krishna's words whenever false
arguments sway your mind. Regularly meditate on the
purport of His statements quoted above and try to
enter into the spirit of this transcendental knowledge
Krishna has mercifully given to slash all our
misconceptions, and reassure us of His true nature.
Simply on the basis of our faith in Krishna, we can
proceed confidently on the path of pure devotion, free
from doubt, as so many great souls have done in the
past.

Question part 2) Is it possible to defeat impersonalism once and for all? I am told (by Vaishnavas) that the impersonalists will also have strong arguments for defeating personalism. So, how will I know what the Absolute Truth is?

Answer: Actually one who is a true knower of Truth
understands that both the impersonal and personal are
features of the same, non-dual Absolute. This is
stated in Srimad Bhagavatam (SB 1.2.11
www.vedabase.net/sb/1/2/11/en). And Krishna states
that He is the basis of the impersonal Brahman. (BG
14.27) Thus there is no real conflict between those
searching after Brahman realization and those seeking
to worship Bhagavan.

A beginning transcendentalist who is not yet
acquainted with the all-attractive Supreme
Personality, Bhagavan, may think of the Absolute as
non-differentiated Brahman, but when they come in
contact with Krishna's transcendental nature through
association with His message or His devotees, being
already purified of material attachments, they
immediately become attracted to the transcendental
glories of Krsna. This is demonstrated in the lives of
the four Kumaras and Sukadeva Goswami, who were all
initially Brahman-realized and later became devotees
of the Lord. In this instance, we see that quite
contrary to devotional service being a stepping ladder
to Brahman-realization, it actually happens to be the
other way around! So, how fortunate are those who are
right from the beginning trained to become attached to
His personal feature!

A sincere student on the path of Brahman-realization
(a brahma-vadi), however, does NOT minimize the
position of devotional service nor do they deprecate
the transcendental form, qualities and pastimes of
Krishna or consider them to be a temporary, material
manifestation - they have simply not realized this
feature of the Absolute, just as a person seeing a
hill from great distance thinks of it as a massive big
cloud but is not aware of the variegated objects
present on the hill. On the other hand those who
relegate the transcendental attributes of Krishna and
His devotional service to be a material, time-bound
phenomenon - they are known as the mayavadis and are
not in truth seekers of Absolute Truth but in fact
offenders at the lotus feet of Krishna. Their opinion
of devotional service is not substantiated by any
authority.

Apart from considering the authority of scriptures and
mahatmas, a compelling reason to reject the impersonal
philosophy is that it is not practicable. Aside from
the high sounding philosophical wrangling, it is not
something that one can conduct his day-to-day life by.
It is fraught with internal inconsistencies and cannot
really address fundamental concerns such as why are we
suffering and what is the remedy to end our suffering.
"If we are all particles of Brahman why is it that
Brahman is overcome by illusion now? And if it is
simply a lila/pastime (as the impersonalists often
tend to rationalize) then what is the meaning of
'striving' to attain liberation? And meanwhile what is
the point in pursuing one's present course of life in
this world if it is ultimately just illusion?" - these
crucial questions can never be satisfactorily answered
by the mayavadis. Their practical life hardly ever
reflects their theories. Whereas the life of pure
devotees of Krishna is fully consistent with the
philosophy they teach.

The Vaishnava theology explains that this material
world is created to accommodate those living entities
who want to be forgetful of God. By the process of
engaging everything we have in this world in the
course of our daily lives, once again in service to
God, we can purify our existence and return back to
Him again. And for those who are strongly averse to
the personal feature of Krishna, He allows them to
remain forgetful of His nature, and facility is
provided for their gradual purification by focusing on
the impersonal conception of God or the universal form
of God. Considering this, in all likelihood there will
always be a section of people in the material world
who subscribe to an impersonal understanding, with
reasons to justify their position - the Lord Himself
has purposefully allowed for this to happen. The fact
that there are some people who follow such an indirect
path does not preclude a sincere seeker of Truth from
accepting the true conception of Reality when it is
presented to them.

Your understanding that the impersonalists also may
have sound, consistent, justifiable arguments to
defeat personalism is not a fact. Arguments there may
be - in a court of law, two advocates may put forth
strong arguments to defend their respective stand, but
ultimately it is for the judge to hear both sides and
decide what the real situation is. Similarly, in spite
of all the arguments presented by both parties, we
rely on the final judgment of the mahajanas and the
great authorities in their line such as Lord Caitanya,
Ramanujacarya or Madhvacarya to conclusively know the
Truth.

Q part 3) These discussions about the impersonal feature and the arguments and the efforts to defeat the philosophy mean that we are also taking the impersonal philosophy seriously enough to try to defeat it.

Answer: Yes, Srila Prabhupada and all these other
previous acharyas seriously opposed and defeated the
impersonal Mayavada misconception - not due to viewing
contradictory opinions as a threat to their own
convictions, like mundane sectarians defend their
theories. A Vaishnava is by nature meek and humble,
not interested in arguments and asserting over others.
Rather, it is compassion that moves them to speak
forcefully against mayavada - because, in Srila
Prabhupada's words, it is the last snare of maya.

Our real disease is that conditioned souls want to
enjoy independent of God; when one is frustrated in
one's attempts for material enjoyment, one turns to
inquiring into the Absolute, but because of this deep-
rooted spirit of independent-mindedness one becomes
attracted to impersonal speculations by which one can
philosophically put God out of existence and
conveniently continue the illusion of being
independent of the Lord. Obviously, if ultimately
there is only non-differentiated Brahman, there is no
need for my surrender or submission to anyone, you
see! Therefore, not only the acharyas but even Lord
Krishna Himself soundly defeats this dangerous
misconception throughout the Bhagavad- Gita, for the
benefit of conditioned souls, so that we may not be
misled.

Bhagavad Gita -- Instructions and Information

Hare Krishna!

I was reading the book "Surrender unto Me" by Bhurijan Prabhu. This book is the textbook for the advanced "Bhakti Shastri" course. I got hold of the book because Amol Katkar Prabhu was reading it while we were going to Mumbai together in a train. I suddenly realised a very important point. And that is, Krishna speaks in the Bhagavad Gita two kinds of words.

1. Information. E.g., what is Karma Yoga, Dhyana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Gyan Yoga, and other information like the history of the Bhagavad Gita, modes of nature, and so on...

2. Instructions. E.g. "surrender all your work unto Me", or "give up all varieties of religion, and just surrener unto Me"... and so on.

I realised that we should undetrstand both the types of words, but do what Krishna tells in His instructions instead of doing something based on the other information while ignoring the instructions. E.g., Krishna explins that one can attain the Supreme by working without attachment to the result of the activities, but He also instructs us to totally surrender unto Him. So, we must understand the former, but instead of just working without attachment to results, one must surrender to Him, because thats the instruction.

Your servant,
Abhijit.

Mridangam Or Flute?

Hare Krishna!

What's the first step in learning how to play Mridangam? HariNaamAnand Prabhu told us while we were in Dehu with lot of our co-councelees of JaiNarsimha Prabhu. The first step is -- pray to Lord Nityananda :)

The picture is of us having HariNaam Sankirtan on a boat ride in Dehu. HariNaamAnand Prabhu is playing the Mridangam, and Manoj Mehta Prabhu is playing the Kartals.

Then he explained that when Chaitanya MahaPrabhu was going to descend to the earth with all His associates, His flute was upset. His flute said. "How can you go leaving me alone here?" Hearing this, the all-merciful Lord Krishna replied, "OK, you take the form of the Mridangam and come with Me."

Jai! So, the Mridangam is non-different from Krishna's Flute and therefore must be given all respects by taking the blessings of Lord Nityananda (who is the same AnantaShesh, and who is the one who takes the shape of all paraphernalia for the Supreme Lord Krishna).

Hari Naam Sankirtan Ki JAI!!

Your servant, Abhijit.

ThankYou JaiNarsimha Prabhu! and Importance of the councellor system!

Hare Krishna!

First, let me offer obeisances to Srila Prabhupada, who has connected the world again to Krishna. And then to His Holiness Radhanath Maharaj, who has started this wonderful councellor system. And then again my obeisances to JaiNarsimha Prabhu who has very kindly taken me under his shelter by allowing me to be his councelee. His picture is included in this entry.

I was studying the third verse of "The Nector of Instruction" (Srila Rupa Goswamis's Upadeshamrita) when I realised that this is the first time I am seriously studying a Prabhupada book. Till then, I used to just "read" them as opposed to "study" them. I was studying because we have an oral test every councellor meeting and I was studying for that.

I felt a lot of gratitude for JaiNarsimha Prabhu. He is doing so much for all his councelees. The councellor system has also connected me to ISKCON officially. That is such a great step in my advancement in Krishna Consciousness! Once one is connected to the branches of ISKCON, he/she will definitely get spiritually nourished very nicely.

Aspiring to serve the Vaishnavas,
Abhijit.

HG RadheShyam Prabhu’s JAPA Reform Speeches

HG RSP’s JAPA Reform Speech

His Grace RadheShyam Prabhu is Temple President of Sri Sri Radha KunjaBihari Temple, ISKCON, Pune.

These were noted down by a very very wonderful and sincere devotee -- Sandeep Chandrakar Prabhu.

RadheShyam Prabhu Ki Jai!

Sandeep Chandrakar Prabhu Ki Jai!

12/7/2006

One cannot capture the holy name by one's own endeavor and attentive chanting. Nor, one can control mind & senses by ones strenous efforts.

We should humbly surrender unto lotus feet of the Lord. So, one should endeavor to get the mercy of Spiritual Master in order to make great advancement. In Spiritual Life. In order to get that mercy, one should be sincere in following his intructions as service unto him and for one's purification of heart.

And, one should be very grateful to him for saving us from material life.

12/8/2006

One should not try to see Krishna, rather one should act in such a way that Krishna will want to see you. If one is not feeling taste in chanting the holy name of the Lord, one should take a second look at one's "attitude". Are we serving the Lord and His devotees lovingly or grudgingly?

One should endeavor to do "loving devotional service" to the Lord and His devotees; then, one will find the taste for chanting the Holy Name of Lord increasing."

12/11/2006

"In order to chant the holy name, one has to understand 2 things:
1. chanting is continuous struggle to get the mercy of Guru & Krishna
2. I am distinct from this body, a spirit soul. I am not going to die and Krishna is also not going to die. And love between Krishna & us will remain forever.

With these 2 understanding, one has to always put strenuous effort to be in "Offenseless zone of chanting" and keep on praying to Krishna

daily to give mercy to chant holy name with feelings & love for Him. One can't capture the holy name, even if one chants attentively and does not miss any word in hearing. Krishna says he is not attained by "Mechanical means of chanting".

The root cause for the continued struggle in chanting the holy name is "10th offense". We have to know that there is no happiness in this material world, if one engages in sense-gratification ; one goes towards horrible condition in this life. One's mind & senses becomes completely uncontrolled and the soul acts helplessly at the dictaction of senses.

In order to go to Vaikuntha; one has to have a Spiritual Body. Eg. just like if one entering into fire must have a fiery body. So, one has to pray to Lord Krishna and Naam Prabhu daily in very simple, humble mood "To please give me strength, intelligence and mercy to control mind & senses and be able to chant your holy Name in devotion. I am totally helpless on my own to control mind & senses. Please give me mercy so that, I can utilize them in your service". Lord immediately reciprocates this kind of prayer offered by his sincere devotee.

One has to go on cultivating this "helpless dependance consciousness" on Guru & Krishna. Caution is one should also put 100% effort in following intructions of Guru & Krishna. At the same time, one must sincerely regret past sinful acts in very humble mood before Guru & Krishna. Combination of these 3 elements in our life, will help us to make rapid progress in the path of "pure devotion unto Guru & Krishna".

12/13/2006

"Practically everyday, during japa time; our mind runs away. So, we have to chant the holy name favourable calling out to Krishna please give me your mercy. Our japa should not be like a express runaway (i.e chanting fast and not hearing properly ). If we do this; then, we are asking Lord Krishna to run away from us. This is not good.

And, Lord Krishna does not care with what kind of our background rich or poor, educated or non-educated, beautiful or ugrly, intelligent or foolish.

He is free from material conceptions. His only concern is with the heart of His devotees and He perfectly, meticulously reciprocates with the heart of His devotees. So, before japa, during japa and after japa; we should be in prayerful mood unto Lord Krishna, saying "to please help me to chant holy name properly, so that I may come to You as Your eternal servant".

"The mood of studying SP Books should be that "it is for the benefit for all living entities, as it establishes the relationship between

Supreme Lord and ordinary living entities of this world". So, SP has specifically written for me and let me accept the teachings faithfully. Such a person makes lot of advancement.

12/14/2006

Chanting is prayer to Radha & Krishna to engage in their service. Because of chanting, we get inspiration to engage in so many services throughout the day. Also, Lord Krishna relishes our endeavor & sincerety to advance in Spiritual life. So, we should try to understand that Lord Krishna & Radharani are personally present, when we chant His holy name and He is every ready to help us " to come to Him". We should value that "I am associating with Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna ; He is the controller, origin of everything and He is making Himself so easily available to us. He knows our mentality, past life and sub-conscious mind also.

In this way, one will make leaps & bounds of spiritual progress. So, we should depend on Him & daily pray to Him sincerely to give us ability "to chant the holy name in proper attitude & devotion".

"One has to chant the holy name loudly & distinctly, endeavoring to hear each pronunciation in prayerful mood. A little extra, conscious endeavor in our part will help us to overcome the gushing thought process of the rambling mind."

12/15/2006

"Death is awaiting us like a truck behind man running on the highway. This body is going to deteriorate after some time and may be, we will get diseases in old age. So, just like a sparrow builds her nest and they build their family. But, they are not aware that after some time ; this tree will become old and it will be cut-down by the people. At the time of death; we also have to quit this body.

Similarly, we should not be too anxious to make this material world a happy and merry-making place. Rather, we should try our best to make home at Spiritual world, Vaikuntha. So, please chant the holy name with heart & soul, calling out to Krishna "please help me so that I can come to you in this life, please allow me to understand you and develop love for you and please engage me in your service".

Whoever chants the Holy name in this attitude and as service to his Guru; will make lot of spiritual progress. All his good or bad reactions will be removed by Lord Krishna Himself. Hari Naam Prabhu ki Jai!"

12/19/2006

"Krishna likes to hear His glorification and devotees chanting His holy name. It is so easy to please Krishna, just by chanting His holy name. I do not know what's Krishna's mind; when one chant's His holy name. But, we can understand from the simple example that a materialist person like to hear his names called lovingly by his dear relatives. Similarly, Krishna likes to hear His name, form & qualities sung in full love by His devotees. It is great mercy upon us that "It is so easy to please Krishna just by chanting His holy name".

12/21/2006

Please write gratitude journal for 15 minutes daily. Mention atleast 1-1 point of how Guru & his students are helping you in becoming KC. One becomes qualified to render menial services unto Guru ; when one actually has deep-down gratitude in one's heart for Guru's sacrifices, love, care, personal mercies and for all devotees who have helped & are helping us badly in times of need.

12/22/2006

From Jape Reform Notebook of HH Satsvarupa Goswami Maharaj

"One should regret deeply that I have not appreciated Supreme Lord Krishna. And, one should pray to holy name to know one’s actual position and Lord Krishna's position. Then, one should chant the holy name as attentively as possible to know more about Lord Krishna, praying Him to allow one to love Him more and to engage in His services".

1/2/2007

From HH Satsvarupa Goswami Maharaj's Japa Reform Notebook

"One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a helpless state of consciousness, understanding fully that only by the mercy of Guru & Krishna; one will succeed in chanting Holy Name properly. Lord Caitanya knew the fallen condition of this age and he expressed their condition in one sloka of the "Sikshastakam Prayer".

Although,Lord has invested all his transcendental energies in the holy name. I am so fallen that I do not have taste for chanting of holy names of the Lord, nor do I have taste to associate with devotees in proper mood. Rather, I am rather a "Maha maha aparadhi" unto Hari Naam Prabhu and unto lotus feet of Guru, Vaisnavas & Lord Krishna. So, please bestow your causeless mercy on me to be able to actually chant holy name.

In this way, one should daily desperately beg & cry for Guru & Lord Krishna's mercy."

1/17/2007

"We may be chanting 16 rounds & following 4 regulative principles for many years. But, Lord Krishna is not very much pleased by that. If one is thinking that one is chanting good rounds; then, one is in fool's paradise. For us, chanting is always a constant struggle. Just like, a 1st standard student feels tough for his school examination. And, a 10th standard student also feels equally challenging to do well in his exam. Similarly, Lord Krishna will keep on testing us, till we become His pure devotee.

For pure devotee, there is no struggle in chanting, serving & loving Lord Krishna. In lives of such great personalities, I find that they always think themselves to be faulty. They consider consider themselves very fallen at heart. They think, they are not able to properly offer everything to Lord Krishna. That's why they are constantly immersed in serving & pleasing Lord Krishna 24 hours a day. And, Lord Krishna sheds tears upon seeing the surrender and love of His pure devotees.

I am practicing since 1994, but I still find my heart with lot of dirty things and it has not changed since then. I am maintaining my status quoi. If I think that my god brother, Gauranga Prabhu joined in February 1994 and I joined ISKCON in January and consider myself to be his equal. Then, there is no room for my improvement. But if I see, he so many good qualities, which I do not have; then, there is room for my improvement. I see new devotees joining so much advanced than me.

Similarly, we are not pure devotees at present. We should stop thinking ourselves to great devotees, thinking to have become perfect by following regulative principles for few years. That will not please Lord Krishna. That's why there is "System of Counselor and filling up of Sadhana Card" to show your exact position in KC. We are at ground zero position and pure devotees are at the sky. So, this Sadhana Card, Seva Card is the ladder. It will exactly show you at which level you are. So, we are not pure devotee and therefore, do not become complacent.

Counselors are there to show your deficiencies and help you to overcome that. They are watching you all the time. This world is full of duality and illusions. You will be bewildered in applying principles of KC. Just humbly ask them, "how can I improve in my KC; they will exactly give you the medicine. And be prepared to quickly apply that. Then, you will see how much advancement you will make". But, be prepared to have the courage to ask your counselor and apply his guidance with happy heart.

There are so many ISKCON Temple around the world. In many Temple, beginners do not have guidance on how to reach to pure devotion platform. Either, they think it to be too tough or they imagine they have already reached there. But, here there is wonderful facility of experienced counselors for all of you. And, for counselors also there is facility to reach to Uttama Bhakti stage.

So, we have to protest at our heart against our complacency, at our thinking to be a great devotee, at our thinking that I am chanting good japa, at our thinking that I am doing so much for Lord Krishna and at our show-bottle nature. No, you are doing just minimum for Lord Krishna. If you are not able to still chant, then you have to cry to Lord Krishna to give His mercy. And for improving yourself, you have to struggle to become purified anarthas hiding in your heart, which you are meticulously hiding from Lord Krishna & His devotees. You have to 1st acknowledge that I have this difficulty & that anartha before the Lord & His devotees in very humble mood. Submit to the Lord and His devotees and seek solution and struggle to become purified.

You have to be prepared to unlimitedly keep on struggling & endeavoring to improve services, love & devotion to Guru and Lord Krishna. This process is not static. It is dynamic and never ending process. Always think, "although I may be wearing dress of a devotee, putting on tilak, wearing kanthi mala"; I have still not become a devotee at heart. Devotee means an unalloyed pure devotee, who have no other desire except to serve and please Lord Krishna & His pure representative. Always measure, how much we are developing 26 qualities of a Vaishnava and what precaution we are taking to avoid 10 offenses meticulously. If you are not doing these things, then just stop imagining yourself to be a great devotee and feel complacent that I have made such a progress in KC.

Just taking prasadam, chanting some mala, doing some services mechanically does not make you a pure devotee. We have to struggle moment by moment to be very grateful to Guru, Lord Krishna and all Vaishnavas. We have to consider ourselves very fallen at heart every single moment. Then, we will become a true devotee and become an effective instrument at hands of Guru & Lord Krishna. Hari Naam Prabhu ki Jai!"

1/18/2007

From HH Satsvarupa Das Goswami Maharaj’s Japa Reform Notebook:

"We should not let mind drawn away on some thought processes. We should bring it & again & again to the hearing of the holy name of the Lord. Inattentive chanting means, we are asking Lord Krishna to go away from us. When we pronounce, Hare Krishna Mahamantra; Lord Krishna immediately appears and dances on our tongue. He wants us to remain focused on Him.

But, our lax approach toward chanting of holy name does not please Him. Rather, we should struggle hard to somehow or other focus on attentive chanting of the holy name ( with consciousness that it will please our Guru Maharaj ). Important point is that, we

keep on struggling for qualitative chanting with prayerful mood unto Guru & Krishna.

Guru & Lord Krishna wants us to understand that we are completely dependant on their mercy "to be a successful chanter". Lord Krishna will not allow us to chant successfully (He will not control our mind) unless we helplessly cry to Him and in helpless mood, surrender unto

His pure representative. Struggle will continue until our false ego, " I can chant the holy name with my endeavors" is completely removed.

When heart is loaded with gratitude for Guru and Lord Krishna; then, Lord Krishna allows us to peacefully chant the holy name."

1/19/2007

From HH Satsvarupa Das Goswami Maharaj’s Japa Reform Notebook:

"If we are sleeping during chanting; then, we should take it seriously. This may become a lifetime bad-habit; which will become very difficult to overcome. Practical method will be to take sufficient rest during nighttime ( at least 6 hours for beginners ). And, then struggle hard to be in

offense less zone of chanting ( i.e. endeavoring to avoid 10 offense ). And, keep praying to Guru & Lord Krishna for mercy to be able to chant properly before, during & after chanting of the holy name".

1/22/2007

"A tree has fruits, flowers, leaves and a big shadow to give soothing shelter. It gives shelter to birds, snakes, human beings who are passing by the road. It does not discriminate and never says no to anybody. Sometimes, a bird makes hole in the tree. And, the tree does not protest. And, human beings sometimes cut the tree and the tree does not protest. So, similarly in order to attract the mercy of the Lord, we should cultivate qualities of "trinad api sunicena" ie humility & tolerance. If required, a Vaisnava is one who is willing to be cut down to pieces for the pleasure of the Lord.

Holy name's mercy showers on those persons who are actively trying to cultivate humility and tolerance in their life."

1/23/2007

From HH Satsvarupa Das Goswami Maharaj’s Japa Reform Notebook:

"Actual worship of the Spiritual Master ( SM )means chanting 16 mala attentively and following 4 regulative principles. In any situation, we must strictly follow these 2 main principles of KC. Then, only we can know that; we are showing proper respect & regard for our SM.

When he is fully pleased by our hard endeavors to act & live for his explicit pleasure ; then, by his mercy we become actually qualified to chant the holy name nicely "

1/24/2007

"Chanting of the holy name is deceptively simple. It just contains Hare, Krishna and Rama. But, when Hare Krishna Mahamantra is formed, it contains Lord Krishna's form, qualities, name, pastimes and the whole spiritual world. It is the compact, Supreme and causeless mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So, it produces great results when one chants with this great faith. Also, one should think, "Holy name is non-different from Lord Krishna and I am directly associating with Supreme Lord Krishna".

Even mlecchas, yavanas, sudras and low qualified persons become completely purified. They became great personalities, worshippable by the whole world and are worshipped by even great demigods and Lord Brahma. Eg. Mrgari, the hunter, Valmiki and Narada Muni. Just like,

a CD contains all lectures of Srila Prabhupada. Although it is made of silicon elements, taken from sands. But, when these sands become CD; it can contain so many lectures of Srila Prabhupada.

So, although chanting of the holy name seems deceptively simple. It is not so. It is a great boon. we should take it with great sincerity, praying to Lord for giving great faith in His holy name and chant attentively with great faith. Hari Naam Prabhu Ki Jai!"

1/29/2007

"In order to derive full benefit from chanting of the holy name. One has to have proper understanding who is the Supreme Lord? One should have proper conception about the holy name and it should be performed in proper consciousness.

Proper consciousness is that of service-attitude unto Guru, who has ordered us to chant the holy name. So, whole process hinges around how much respect & regard; we have for our Guru in our heart. Combination of proper service-attitude and motivation during chanting will bring rapid spiritual advancement"

2/13/2007

Verse1... In a liberated stage, when one walks on this planet, one does not feel pulls, pains & paings of material desires and material existence. Just like when one takes medicine even unknowingly, it has effect on the body. We do not know how it acts on the body and after some time, one gets cured of the disease. Similarly, chanting of "Hare Krishna Mahamantra" removes material desires from the heart. Only this is the potent medicine for this age.

"Apuryamanam achalam pratishtham,..samudramapi pravisanti tat dvat"...A self realized person remains unaffected by thousands of material desires, just like an ocean remain full despite being constantly filled by thousands of rivers.

So, we have to chant the holy name with motivation to remove material coverings from the heart and to get maddened in love for Supreme Lord Krishna.

2/14/2007

"We have to have firm faith in the Lord's inconceivable plans and arrangements. When, we have such faith in the Lord, then we do not worry about many worries & problems coming in our life. We have to know each one of us have individual good and bad karmas. If we have worries in our mind, then mind gets absorbed in thinking about those worries. Like , somebody is thinking

about going to foreign, somebody is worried about marriage, somebody's money is lost and somebody's is thinking "why this is happening to me?". We have to clearly understand that whatever is happening around us is "for our purification".

Mind will not be peaceful and we will not be able to chant the holy name properly. We have to give up "Karta mentality, ie I am the doer". No, you have to give charge of your life to Lord Krishna. Just like a child is not bothered whether summer is coming, winter is coming.

Or he is getting food or not. Mother takes care of all needs of the child. Not a blade of grass moves without the will of the Lord. Lord is the Supreme Controller. He has individual plans for us for our purification. Just like, a mataji weaves a woolen cloth. If we see the cloth upside down, it will be like so many mis-shapes and round & round threads.

But, outside is perfectly woven designs. Similarly, we may see so many ups & downs in our life and we may not understand "why it is happening?". But, from Supreme Lord's point of view it is perfect arrangement for our purification. All things are happening to give ultimate injection of "the holy name". And by your behavior, you are running away from the "Injection of the holy name".

So we have to pray to Lord Krishna that, "Please take charge of my life and please control my raging mind. And, please let my mind focus on chanting the holy name". Hari Naam Prabhu ki Jai!"

Modern day Jagai-Madhai Pastime!

Hare Krishna!

Here is a real life story of a modern day version of Jagai-Madhai becoming great Vaishnavas. I wont take any names in this particular blog because I do not want anyone to refer to the pre-ISKCON lives of the now great devotees.

This story was told to me by a senior devotee friend of mine. It was told to him by the same devotee whose story this is! So, this is very similar to stories from the Bhagavatam, which are told and retold by one great devotee to another to another and finally to us all, through the purports by Srila Prabhupada. These events, when they happen in today's world, help increase our faith so much in the words of the Bhagavatam!

For the purpose of this writeup, I'll refer to this wonderful devotee as XYZ Prabhu :) So, the story is as follows. XYZ Prabhu was a powerful Shiv Sena activist! Well, so that explains the resemblance with Jagai-Madhai :) To consolidate this fact, let me also tell you that our XYZ Prabhu had decided that he would kill a particular very very senior devotee! Lets call this very very senior devotee as VVS Prabhu :) He had taken this decision because VVS Prabhu had inspired XYZ Prabhu's sister's husband to take on Krishna Conscious activities. This the sister did not like very much and she complained to XYZ Prabhu. So, XYZ Prabhu decided to kill VVS Prabhu.

Somehow, XYZ Prabhu boldly declared his plans to another very very senior devotee (AVVS PRabhu :) ). And now comes the very very inspiring part. AVVS PRabhu told XYZ Prabhu: "VVS Prabhu is a devotee of Krishna. You will not be able to even touch him, what to speak of killng him. If you are able to hurt VVS Prabhu, I will stop chanting".

Stop Chanting? Stop Chanting!!! For a devotee, this is as good as death! Isn't it? Srila Prabhupada once told his disciples (ref: By His Example -- GuruDas Prabhu) "If a devotee of Lord Chaitanya stops chanting Hare Krishna (or in other words stops Krishna Consciousness) then it is as good as committing suicide." Because, where is there a shelter for one who has left the shelter of the Lotus Feet of Gauranga?

Coming back to our story... After saying this, AVVS Pr also asked XYZ Prabhu that if XYZ Prabhu cant harm VVS Prabhu, then XYZ Prabhu should start chanting. XYZ Prabhu accepted this proposal.

For 6 months, XYZ Prabhu was trying to kill VVS Prabhu. And all his attempts were in vain. It rarely (or perhaps never) happens that a powerful Shiv Sena leader cant kill a person he is bent upon killing. It never happens... unless that person is protected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead - Sri Krishna!

And today. XYZ PRabhu is a wonderful initiated devotee! And who is his councellor? Yes, you guessed right -- VVS Prabhu, the devotee he wanted to kill!!

Need I say more?

Srila Prabhupada Ki... JAI!! JAI!! JAI!!

Your servant, Abhijit.

Better than Giridhar Gopal?

The fundamental difference between ISKCON and other social welfare organizations is that ISKCON serves Krishna (God) and others serve man. However, a little more analysis reveals that there is more to this fundamental difference. And that is -- the others serve man and do not serve Krishna, whereas ISKCON serves Krishna and as a mere side-effect, serves all humanity more effectively than others by bringing them under the protection of the Supreme Shelter of All - Lord Krishna.

So, which is better?

In the midst of the torrential rains (in the form of the incessant miseries of material existence), who can give better shelter than Lord Sri Giridhar Gopal (in the form of His own Holy Name)?

Wake up! Wake up! Oh ignorant Me!

Hare Krishna!

The three ropes that bind us.

This was the topic of discussion in today's morning class. We all know about the three ropes, they are the three modes of material nature -- goodness, passion, and ignorance. I just noted down some remarkable quotes and thoughts, which I will post in this entry.

1. Lord Jesus Christ said:

"Don't try to make a house on a bridge."

The purport is that this material world is like a bridge, crossing which we go to the other side -- to the Kingdom of God (Spiritual world). Therefore, one should not attempt to make a permanant settlement on this bridge (the material world), but instead try to cross over this bridge.

2. Quote:

"There are enough material enjoyments in this world to keep us attached to our sufferings."

Even though we are suffering in this world, we are attached to the so-called illusory and fleeting happiness that this world provides. We must sever such attachments (and ofcourse get attached to devotional service to Krishna) if we really want freedom from all misery.

3. Easy-going life and Krishna Consciousness go ill together.

Hmmm.. this one is specially meant for me. One has to struggle hard to improve ones devotional service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna.

Wake up! Wake up! Oh ignorant Me!
Open your eyes, and let them see,
Look this side, so full of misery,
But on the other, you'll be so free,
Wake up! Wake up! Oh ignorant Me!
Which side do you want to be?

Your insignificant servant,
Abhijit.

Srila Prabhupada's purports put things in perspective

Hare Krishna!

Today in the morning program, we heard Prabhupada's lecture on Bhagvad Gita 9.18-19. In the discussion that followed, a point was made that how, unlike other scholars, Prabhupada always mentions Bhakti as the highest even in sections that are mainly speaking of Karma Yoga etc.

The reason for this is that Prabhupada always wanted to put things into perspective and in their proper place, and not just make a scholarly commentary on the scriptures without connecting them to the ultimate goal -- Krishna Prem.

Another reason is that not all will read the Bhagvad Gita completely. So, the idea is that even if someone is interested in reading only (say) Karma Yoga, he will be made aware that actually Bhakti Yoga is the highest.

Your servant, Abhijit.

First Trip to Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Temple, Chowpatty, Mumbai, India

August 13, 2006.

Had gone to Mumbai this weekend with Amol Katkar. A most rewarding trip. We left on Saturday at around 1445 by a shared taxi (Cool Cab, Tata Indica). The ride was very nice as one would expect in the rainy season on the Bombay-Pune Expressway.

We statyed overnight just outside IITB in one of our IITB friend's house. Visited IITB to meet Krishna (Prof Krishna : ) ) but she had gone out somewhere. The next morning we visited the Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha (ISKCON) Temple in Chowpaty. This is why we had come to Mumbai. We reached the temple at around 0700.

Its the most gorgeously beautiful temple you would ever see. Huge temple hall (in which deities are kept), with polished wooden flooring, beautiful large paitings adorning the walls, chandeliers lighting up the hall, and so on. It is like a palace hall where the King presides. Well, the King does preside over it! Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Gopinatha! It is impossible to describe the sheer beauty of Lord Gopinatha. The deity is carved out of marble which has a very slight buish hue. One just cannot take one's eyes and mind and heart away from Him. No wonder, because He is Lord Hari who steals the hearts of everyone!

In the temple we attended two lectures. One was given by the temple president of the temple at around 0800 and the next one by His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj at 1330. The 1330 lectures are very popular and are called the Sunday Feast Lectures. Radhanath Maharaj had come to Mumbai from another tour to Kerala and so his disciples from all over had come just to see him and attend his lecture. And what a lecture!!

Meanwhile, after the morning lecture we had very wonderful hot varan-bhat breakfast that was served in the temple. There is also the "Matchless Gifts" shop from which one can buy various things like sweets, books, kurtas, photos and so on. Then we chanted a few rounds and then relaxed a little before again going into the temple hall for a one hour of ecstatic Kirtan with singing and dancing. After that HH Radhanath Maharaj gave the Sunday Feast Lecture. More than 2000 people attended it and lot were listening to it from outside the hall. There also was on-the-fly Hindi translation going on in another hall for those who didnt understand English.

After the Sunday Feast Lecture, we had the Sunday Feast :) And then boarded the Deccan Queen at 1710 to come back to Pune.

A very very rewarding trip. In the midst of that very filthy chowpatty area, there is this gorgeous little replica of Vaikuntha where their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Gopinath and Sri Sri Gaur Nitai and Lord Giridhar Gopal are bestowing their causeless mercy upon us all fallen souls.

Abhijit.

Most Merciful Lord Balaji!

July 09, 2006.

I'll tell you a wonderful story that will make you very very happy and jubilant. Its a pastime of Lord Balaji (Lord Venkateshwara of Tirupathi). Kindly go through the following.
...
One day a devotee was going to go home early from work and do some material activity to which he was attached. It was not any offensive activity but still, for a devotee to really approach the Supreme Lord, all material attachments must be severed. But this devotee was fortunate to have some great Vaishnav association and that senior devotee asked him to not go home just for sense gratification, instead he suggested that they should read some Hari Katha. The junior devotee agreed to sacrifice his material enjoyments for listening to Hari Katha in devotee association.

That evening, the two devotees after coming back from work, decided to go to the bank of a nearby river. While on the way to the bank, they came across a quite old and serene Lord Shiva temple. Overjoyed with the tranquility of the Shiva temple, the devotees decided to chant the Holy names of Hari -- Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Raam Hare Raam Raam Raam Hare Hare. They offered their obeisances to the Shiva Linga and then sat beneath the beautiful shady canopy of one of the trees which had together formed an umbrella over the Shiva Temple. Cool breeze was blowing and an old man was playing melodiously on a flute. The whole atmosphere was surcharged with serenity and peace. After some time the devotees decided to continue on their way to the banks of the river. They paid their obeisances to Lord Ganesh and then left the temple.

The atmosphere at the 'ghat' (bank of the river) was equally refreshing. Cool breeze blowing, the river flowing from left to right, and the sun was setting. Kids were playing and their moms were washing clothes at the ghat. The whole scene was a picture of a typical rural evening. Full of simplicity and life.

In such a setting, the two devotees started doing what they do best! Chanting the Holy Names of Hari!! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Raam Hare Raam Raam Raam Hare Hare. The chanting was especially more beautiful to them because they were chanting just because they love to. Their prescribed number of rounds were already over in the morning. Very soon, these two devotees, with bead bag in their hands, and Hari Naam on their tongues, attracted a couple of 10-12 year old kids. They stood their blatantly watching these two devotees of the Supreme Lord, who were chanting this mystical mantra from Vaikuntha.

One of the devotees asked the boys to sit down and repeat the mantra after them. And they did! For a few minutes the boys listened and once in a while chanted the Holy Names of Hari! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Raam Hare Raam Raam Raam Hare Hare. Then the kids got up and busied themselves in playing. These kids had also come to the Lord Shiva temple which the two devotees had visited earlier.

The senior of the two devotees then took out the Bhagvad Gita and started reading from Chapter Nine. After finishing reading, the devotees were about to leave. Just then one of the two kids came to the devotees and excitedly offered them a small circular Balaji badge that seemed to have come from Tirupathi itself! The kid told that he had just found the badge lying on the ground near the river and thought that the devotees would be interested in having the badge. The devotees very very eagerly accepted the Balaji badge and thanked the kid for giving it to them. The devotees couldn't believe what was happening. They were overjoyed. This story seemed right out of the Bhagvatam!! Lord Balaji had a played a pastime and included these two devotees in it. What mercy? Such is the way of the most munificiient Supreme Personality of Godhead!

The devotees could see for themselves that just by sacrificing a little material sense enjoyment, and by chanting the Holy Names of Hari -- Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Raam Hare Raam Raam Raam Hare Hare, they had got the great mercy of the Lord. Lord Balaji had appearred before them in the form of that badge! What mercy!
...

And now to the spcial part of this story. This pastime of Lord Balaji happened day before yestereday! The two devotees involved were Amol Katkar Prabhu (senior devotee) and I. And that material sense enjoyment that I had sacrificed was Wimbledon Men's Singles SemiFinals.

I hope this story exilerates all who read it and most importantly encourages everyone to chant the Holy Names of Hari!! Hari Bol! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Raam Hare Raam Raam Raam Hare Hare.

Your servant,
Abhijit.