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Wednesday, November 30, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the sublime association of the ISKCON devotees in Malaysia =========================================================================== May There Be Good Fortune Throughout the Entire Universe Malaysia has been an amazing experience for us. The Hare Krishna movement is flourishing like anything here with 32 vibrant, well-attended centers strategically located throughout the country. In our brief stay we visited only seven of them. Everywhere we went Mataji and I were given the red-carpet V.I.P. treatment with the sweetest, warmest hospitality. I am writing this on Tuesday, November 29 as we are being driven from the north back down to the south to Sereban, which is south of Kuala Lumpur, where I will be giving an evening lecture. We are on the road for at least four hours today. This is a very good chance for me to catch up on answering my emails. I receive a steady flow of inquiries every day from all over the world. I am witnessing first hand that all over the world people are hungry for Krishna consciousness. They are tired of suffering within the cycle of birth and death. This Krishna consciousness movement is a tidal wave of mercy that is spreading good fortune throughout the entire universe. It is the unlimited kindness of Srila Prabhupada to allow me to participate in this, the most sublime spiritual revolution in the history of the world, even though I am totally unfit to do so. svasty astu visvasya khalah prasidatam dhyayantu bhutani sivam mitho dhiya manas ca bhadram bhajatad adhoksaje avesyatam no matir apy ahaituki "May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envious persons be pacified. May all living entities become calm by practicing bhakti-yoga, for by accepting devotional service they will think of each other's welfare. Therefore let us all engage in the service of the supreme transcendence, Lord Sri Krishna, and always remain absorbed in thought of Him." Srimad Bhagavatam 5.18.9 Sankarshan das Adhikari =========================================================================== Can Man Make Up a Religion? Namaste. I wanted to know. Can man make up a religion, if it has love of God in it? Or must he be a qualified and pure messenger of God like Srila Prabhupada was? =========================================================================== Religion Can Only Be Given by God Man cannot make up a religion. If a religious system is concocted it will not be effective in liberating its followers from the cycle of birth and death. It is confirmed in the Srimad Bhagavatam that religion can be given only by God. dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam "Real religious principles can only be given by God." Even though Srila Prabhupada is a most highly qualified and pure messenger of God, he did not make up a religion. He simply purely presents what Krishna is giving in the Bhagavad-gita. If a postman delivers you a letter, you want to receive it in its original pure form. You do not want the postman to change it or concoct a letter that is supposedly from your friend when they factually wrote you something else. In the same way we must learn religion directly from God Himself in the Bhagavad-gita or from his pure messenger who does not adulterate it in any way. The highly qualified and pure messenger will deliver God's teachings to you in their original pure form without even a slight tinge of adulteration, 100% pure. In spiritual life 99.99% pure is not good enough. We must be following a system that is 100% pure if we want to go back to Godhead. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Top of Page |
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Tuesday, November 29, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the sublime association of the ISKCON devotees in Malaysia =========================================================================== Tasting the Deathless Nectar of Krishna Consciousness Let's face it. Material existence is dry. What do you get in the ultimate issue in exchange for an entire lifetime of struggling hard to maintain your existence? You get nothing more than old age, disease, and death. What's the point then of struggling so hard for nothing? There is no point. That is the point. What we are really hankering for is amrita, deathless nectar. We want to always experience a sweetness which can never be impinged upon by any kind of material situation. We desire nothing short of a sort of happiness that goes on increasing more and more for all of eternity that cannot be restricted in any way even by death. That happiness is known as Krishna consciousness. na kascin mriyate tavad yavad asta ihantakah etad-artham hi bhagavan ahutah paramarsibhih aho nr-loke piyeta hari-lilamrtam vacah "As long as Yamaraja, who causes everyone's death, is present here, no one shall meet with death. The great sages have invited the controller of death, Yamaraja, who is the representative of the Lord. Living beings who are under his grip should take advantage by hearing the deathless nectar in the form of this narration of the transcendental pastimes of the Lord." Srimad Bhagavatam 1.16.8 Yesterday I tasted that deathless nectar in the association of my beloved Godbrother, His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami. It came as quite a surprise. It turned out that he was studying, writing, and preaching on an island just near to where I was stationed in northern Malaysia at the Bhaktivedanta Cultural Center. The local devotees me informed me that he had invited me for lunch and that a driver was already arranged. (The island is connected to the mainland by a long bridge.) When I arrived, as is the normal custom, we bowed down to each other offering our respectful obeisances. Then we warmly embraced and sat together talking on and on jumping from one Krishna conscious topic to another. The lunch was not ready at the time it was supposed to be because the gas for the stove ran out and more had to be obtained. This was not a problem because the conversation was a feast in itself. Our talk continued for well over an hour until finally is was topped it off with a wonderful lunch of many varieties of Krishna prasadam served with love by the local devotees. Those two hours I spent with him were truly some of the sweetest moments of my entire life. I will always remember and cherish the memory of that day when I tasted deathless nectar in the association of His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami. Sankarshan Das Adhikari =========================================================================== Receiving the Guru's Grace 1. Is it necessary to be in the presence of guru to receive the guru's grace? Is it irrelevant from the spiritual platform whether or not you are in physical contact? 2. How do you determine if grace has been received? How long does it take to receive grace and mercy? Hare Krishna, Bhakta Reese PS- I am reading Srila Prabhupada's authorized biography. =========================================================================== In a Fraction of a Second The grace of a spiritual master can be received even if you are not in his physical presence. There are two ways in which the spiritual master is present. One form is his physical presence. In Sanskrit language this is called "vapuh." The other form is his vibrational presence of his instructions. This is called "vani." Of the two vani is more important because access to vapuh is always limited by so many material considerations, while vani affords one unlimited eternal access to the spiritual master. The spiritual master's grace is manifest in the form of the seed of bhakti which is planted in the heart. When you submissively hear from of a bona fide spiritual master that bhakti seed becomes planted in your heart. Then, if you want that seed to fructify into a full grown plant of love of Godhead, you must regularly water the seedling and keep the garden of your heart free from any weeds that can choke the bhakti plant. The watering process is chanting Hare Krishna mantra at least 16 rounds daily on japa beads. The weeds are: 1. Illicit sex life 2. Meat eating 3. Intoxication 4. Gambling That grace can be received in a fraction of a second. As is confirmed in the Sri Caitanya Caritamrita: 'sadhu-sanga', ‘sadhu-sanga' -- sarva-sastre kaya lava-matra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya "The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by associating with a spiritual master for even one eleventh of a second one can achieve complete spiritual success." I am very happy to hear that you are reading Srila Prabhupada's authorized biography. I am sure you must be feeling that you are swimming in an ocean of unlimited nectar. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Top of Page |
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Monday, November 28, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the sublime association of the ISKCON devotees in Malaysia =========================================================================== First Taiping and Then On to Seberang It's Sunday at 12:35pm. We have just finished a kirtan/lecture program at ISKCON's Taiping, Malaysia center. It is indeed an inspiration to see devotees dedicated to cultivating Krishna consciousness and serving Srila Prabhupada's mission in such remote corners of the world. It was a solid three hour drive through mountains and lush tropical forests to get here this morning from Kuala Lumpur. After my hour lecture they served Mataji and I the most amazing breakfast. Many of the preparations I had never tasted before. Now we are on the road to an evening lecture at the Bhaktivedanta Cultural Center in Seberang, Malaysia. Today I am forced to rise beyond a body that is feeling ill. It is my duty to always be engaged in the topmost welfare activity of distributing Krishna consciousness all over the world. Srila Prabhupada describes this duty as follows in his purport to the Srimad Bhagavatam, "The life of a sincere devotee of the Lord is thus explained in a nutshell by Narada Muni by his personal example. Such a devotee, after his initiation by the Lord or His bona fide representative, takes very seriously chanting of the glories of the Lord and traveling all over the world so that others may also hear the glories of the Lord. Such devotees have no desire for material gain. They are conducted by one single desire: to go back to Godhead. This awaits them in due course on quitting the material body. Because they have the highest aim of life, going back to Godhead, they are never envious of anyone, nor are they proud of being eligible to go back to Godhead. Their only business is to chant and remember the holy name, fame and pastimes of the Lord and, according to personal capacity, to distribute the message for others' welfare without motive of material gain." --Srila Prabhupada's purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 1.6.26 Whenever I get sick I take it as special blessing from Krishna to remind me that this material world is a place of misery and that my real home is in the spiritual world. Such remembrances are very favorable for our spiritual advancement. So I am trying to fully capitalize on this special mercy. This morning I had been thinking it would be nice to drink a dob. (A dob is a green coconut which is full of coconut water. The dob merchant chops off the top of the coconut and provides the customer with a straw to drink the coconut water.) Without my saying a word the devotees asked me if I would like a dob. I immediately accepted the offer. Rajashyama Prabhu pulled the van over and stopped in front of a roadside dob merchant's stand. Within two minutes he presented me a huge dob full of the most wonderful naturally produced and packaged-by-Krishna coconut water. After mentally offering the dob to Krishna and remembering that Krishna is the taste of all liquid things, I relished that dob with great delight. Krishna consciousness is so natural and wonderful that you can make spiritual advancement simply b by remembering that Krishna is the refreshing taste of all liquid things. Sankarshan das Adhikari =========================================================================== I Would Love to Know More Thank you for your reply which I thought I would not get. I fully understand what you are saying but its sometimes hard to get it across to others if you know what I mean (because most people have been brain washed). I would love to know more about my religion so if you have any more information which would make full sense to me then please can you send it tome? Thank you very much for your time. Ketan =========================================================================== Study and Follow Bhagavad-gita As It Is Simply you must study very carefully the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. It is available from us or from our nearest ISKCON center. You can find a list of our centers at: http://www.iskcon.com Our online store is at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/store By carefully studying and practicing the science of Krishna consciousness you will become fully convinced that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that you are His eternal servant. Then you will be able to convince anyone to take to the pathway of Krishna bhakti. Simply now you must acquire this book, study it every day, and strictly follow its injunctions. You will fully realize God and your relationship with Him. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Top of Page |
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Sunday, November 27, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the sublime association of the ISKCON devotees in Malaysia =========================================================================== On the Road to Klang, Malaysia It's Saturday night at 7:28pm. We are on the road from Kuala Lumpur to Klang where I will give the evening lecture. I am sitting in the back seat of a car composing tomorrow's "Thought for the Day" on my laptop computer while Ramananda Prabhu drives us through the evening rush hour traffic. While writing I listen to the sweet, sublime singing of Srila Prabhupada on the Krishna Meditations album. Srila Prabhupada is fully immersed of love of God and has so kindly shared with us the sublime science of bhakti yoga by which we can also taste the sweetest nectar of pure love of God. In my heart I thank Srila Prabhupada again and again for giving me this life which now fully belongs to him. My beloved spiritual master has saved me and ordered me to be a spiritual master for saving others just as he has saved me. Although I consider myself most unqualified for this service I still must execute it on his order. By always remembering that I am nothing more than his insignificant servant fully dependent on his mercy I can be successful in properly executing the duty he has given me. It's now 7:44pm. We have cleared the rush hour traffic and are now on the open highway. Srila Prabhupada is now singing of the holy places of Vrindavan and my mind sails back to that most sublime spiritual abode. There are billions of people on this planet who are trying their best to be happy and failing miserably at it. I have been handed the formula by which the entire world can be peaceful and prosperous. Now I beg Srila Prabhupada and Sri Krishna for the mercy of being able to find the ways and means of successfully delivering this formula to every man, woman, and child on this planet. Sankarshan das Adhikari =========================================================================== Society of the Cheaters and the Cheated? You have stated as follows: "Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur used to say that this material world is a society of the cheaters and the cheated...". I think that is taking a very pessimistic view of the world. There are so many good and noble people in this world including yourself. Taking a more positive view of society would certainly benefit the individual in particular and mankind in general. Thank you S. Ravishankar =========================================================================== The Actual Positive Position The doctor who tells every patient there is nothing wrong with him is useless. A competent doctor correctly diagnoses the disease of his patient and gives him the appropriate medicine. The root cause of all suffering in this world is our misidentification with a material body which is forcing us to experience birth, death, old qge and disease. The fact is that practically the entire human society is being fed the poison of this false bodily conception of existence. Because of this mis-education 99.99% of the population think that they are their bodies and they propagate this philosophy also. Thus the cheating and cheated society is going on. The situation is so deplorable that when a great spiritual master points out this defect, the ignorant persons criticize him. If an intelligent person does not understand something he inquires submissively for clarification rather than criticizing. The actual positive position is to see the world's problems as they are and then to act with knowledge for rectifying the situation, not to ignore the world's problems hoping against hope that they will go away. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Top of Page |
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Saturday, November 26, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the sublime association of the ISKCON devotees in Malaysia =========================================================================== Cheated by the Counterfeit Material World As we were leaving India I decided to turn my leftover Indian rupees into US dollars. To my surprise one 500 rupee note was counterfeit. It didn't seem fair. I was victimized by someone else's cheating. But what could I do? I had no choice but to bite the bullet and accept the loss. I had no idea who had given me that bogus note. As I reflected on that counterfeit note I realized that this entire world is also a counterfeit note. It appears on the surface to be very nice. But in the ultimate issue it does not give the permanent satisfaction that we are hankering for at every minute. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur used to say that this material world is a society of the cheaters and the cheated. This worthless counterfeit note has reconfirmed his true non-counterfeit words of wisdom. Sankarshan das Adhikari =========================================================================== I Have Some Questions Hare Krishna. I have some questions: Is Caturmasya (four months of extra austerity observed during the India rainy season) observed all over the world or only in India where the monsoon season is actually occurring? How should I deal with material people who are surrounding me? Should I stay away from them or should I associate with them? As I develop more and more faith in Krishna consciousness I am losing my interest in mundane studies . I don't like to read my text books now because I can see that they contain many things that are not true. So I am worried how I should take all of this. Manju =========================================================================== Here Are the Answers Caturmasya is observed by all members of the Krishna consciousness movement all over the world as a means of increasing austerity even though they may not be experiencing the Indian rainy season. You should be very compassionate to the materialistic people that surround you by trying to help them come to the eternal shelter of the spiritual platform. I am very happy to hear that you are losing a taste for mundane subject matters. This is a sign that you are advancing very nicely in Krishna consciousness. Still as a matter of duty you should continue applying yourself to your studies so that in the future you will have increased earning power to make it easier to cover your living expenses. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Top of Page |
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Friday, November 25, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the sublime atmosphere of ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai, India =========================================================================== Last Day in India Today is the last day of our sojourn in the holy land of India. We've been here relishing the nectar for a month. This place is so very special. Whenever God descends to this universe this is the place where He comes. This is His favorite spot. This is where He feels at home. Nostalgia sets in as I start getting my things packed and ready for our flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this evening at 11:00pm. As I think back on the oceans of transcendental experiences that I have had here, I feel very grateful for the unlimited kindness of our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It is by his sweet mercy and the mercy of his many followers that I am able experience the real India that exists beyond the coverings of the modern day political India. I have visited so many holy places touching their sacred dust and their sacred waters, associated with so many great saintly devotees of the Lord, and have had the unlimitedly auspicious opportunity to hear about and describe the ultimate knowledge of Krishna consciousness in so many situations. Each of these circumstances has been an unlimited blessing, showering oceans of good fortune upon me. When I add up an entire month of such experiences the extent of the benediction becomes incalculable. All I can do is feel very, very grateful and become even more devoted to sharing my unlimited good fortune with the suffering souls of this world. What can I do now that I am leaving India, the ultimate destination of all transcendentalists? All I can do is pray for the mercy that I can be a completely pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that in spite of my innumerable disqualifications I can inundate this planet in an ocean of Krishna consciousness for the pleasure of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace Om Vishnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya Astottara Sata Sri Srimad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Tridandi Goswami Maharaja Prabhupada. Sankarshan das Adhikari =========================================================================== Hinduism Being Downgraded I have been told many times that my religion (Hinduism) is not real and that there is nothing to prove it and that its all based on stories about kings and queens. So I was wondering whether you could send me information to study in order for me to have answers ready at hand if anyone says anything to downgrade my religion. The majority of the times its the Muslims who say that in the Hindu holy books it is written that Mohammed is coming back and things along that line. They also say that Sikhism is based on Islam. So if you can could you help me out on this because the Hindu priests in my area seem to not know anything. Thanks Ketan =========================================================================== Real Religion is Beyond All Designations The idea of many different religions is a man-made invention. There is only one religion, to love God. This is the philosophy presented in India's ancient Vedic wisdom. Please note that we say "Vedic" instead of "Hindu" because the word "Hindu" was coined by the Muslims to describe the religious system of those who lived on the opposite side of the River Sindu. You will not find the word "Hindu" anywhere in the Vedic scriptures. It is an Muslim invention. Just as the one sun has different names according to the different languages of the world, similarly the one God can have many different names according to different languages. Even the names of God are many, still God is only one. Whether we call God as Krishna, Allah, or Jehovah is just a detail. It is not very important. The important thing is that we develop pure unalloyed love for Him. The difficulty nowadays is that everyone wants to proudly advertise that their conception of God is the only correct one, while at the same time their hearts are full of all material desires. If one is actually religious, He will develop pure love for and total surrender unto the will of the one Supreme Being. He will appreciate genuine devotion wherever it may be manifest, whether it is in the heart of a Muslim, a Christian, a Hindu, a Jew, or whatever. In the spiritual world these designations do not exist. Everyone there is in the spirit of one unified family absorbed fully in pure love of God. As long as we quarrel over designations we will not be qualified to return to the kingdom of God. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Top of Page |
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Thursday, November 24, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the sublime atmosphere of ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai, India =========================================================================== Living in Paradise Staying here at ISKCON's Juhu Hare Krishna Land temple is living in paradise. Why? Because Krishna is the center here. There is no one person here who makes himself the center. Everyone here molds their life around the principle that Krishna is the center. At 4:30am we all gather together, hundreds of us, to attend the Mangal Arati (auspicious welcoming ceremony) for the deities of Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari (Radha and Krishna) along with the deities of Sita Rama Hanuman Laksmana and Sri Sri Gaur Nitai. The temple room is indescribably beautiful like something out of a previous age. Everything is marble: the floors, the walls, the pillars. Hundreds of devotees are singing sweetly in congregation the most serene Gurvastakam prayers along with other prayers and the ever-increasingly blissful ever-present ultimate mantra of all mantras: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare This is the how the day begins every day, a powerful mystical experience. And from there it just keeps getting better and better until finally its time to take rest for the night with sweet transcendental dreams and then another day of simply wonderful nectar. You can experience this same exact sweetness in your home. All you have to do is make Krishna center of your home. Transform it into an ashram and you will be living in paradise also. Sankarshan das Adhikari =========================================================================== I Want to Know about Gayatri I am interested to learn about the antecedent history of Gayatri, this devi's life, history and origin. I want to know her life history and achievements culminating in the doctrine of the famous Gayatri Mantra. Thanks, S.R.Ananthanarayan Aiyar =========================================================================== Bhakti First, Then Knowledge First focus on developing pure bhakti. Then all knowledge will be yours. yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau tasyaite kathita hy arthah prakasante mahatmanah "Only unto those great souls who have unflinching faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed." Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.23 This is the secret of spiritual success. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Top of Page |
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Wednesday, November 23, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the sublime atmosphere of ISKCON Mira Road, Mumbai, India =========================================================================== On the Road to Mira Road It's 6:30am. I'm in the back of a tiny Indian car en route from ISKCON's Juhu temple to ISKCON's Mira Road temple. Both are situated here in Mumbai, India about one hour's drive from each other. That should give you some idea of how expansive this city is. I am scheduled to give the morning and evening lectures at Mira Road. I will spend the day writing and meeting with some of my students. Then we will return to ISKCON Juhu tonight where we are situated with a room up until Friday night when we head out for Malaysia where I will be traveling and preaching for a week. I wouldn't trade this sublime life of Krishna consciousness for anything. This is the most opportune moment in the history of the world. Srila Prabhupada has just come and gifted us with his sublime books which give the complete formula for the total respiritualization of the human society. Somehow or other I had the greatest good fortune to come into contact with him and become his disciple. He has ordered us to expand this Krishna consciousness so far and so wide that the high court judges in every nation on the face of this planet will be wearing Vaisnava tilak. When we reach that point this entire planet will be transformed into a paradise. |
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Tuesday, November 22, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the sublime atmosphere of ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai, India =========================================================================== Invitation to the Golden Road of Unlimited Devotion The entire world is suffering due to a lack of Krishna consciousness. Therefore the greatest welfare work is to push forward the Krishna Consciousness Movement for the spiritual enlightenment of all beings. Presently the world population is completely engrossed in the false bodily concept of life and therefore unable to taste the true nectar of actual existence. Instead of drinking that sublime nectar they are drinking bitter poison. Sometimes the illusioned souls imagine that poison to be nectar, but it is not so. They concoct a dream world in which they imagine themselves to be enjoying in so many ways. But just as castles made of sand are washed into the sea, their dreams of happiness in this material world are abruptly terminated in due course of time. They can spare themselves that rude awakening by voluntarily entering the pathway of Krishna bhakti now. We are openly inviting the entire world to travel this golden road of unlimited devotion to the supreme destination. Those who are intelligent will accept our invitation. Sankarshan das Adhikari =========================================================================== How Do I Develop a Taste for Japa? How do I develop a genuine taste for chanting japa? Radhapriya devi dasi =========================================================================== Sing and Meditate Deeply on this Song To develop of a taste for japa you have to cry for it in the mood of Bhaktivinode Thakura's song "Kaba habe bolo se din amar." Sing it often with great intense feeling. By Bhaktivinode Thakura's mercy you will develop a very strong taste for Krishna's name. kabe ha'be bolo se-dina amar (amar) aparadha ghuci', suddha name ruci, krpa-bale ha'be hrdoye sancar "When, oh when will that day be mine? When my offenses ceasing, taste for the name increasing, when in my heart will your mercy shine, when, oh when will that day be mine?" trnadhika hina, kabe nije mani', sahisnuta-guna hrdoyete ani' sakale manada, apani amani, ho'ye aswadibo nama-rasa-sar "Lower than a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree. When will my mind attain this quality? Respectful to all, not expecting their honor, then shall I taste the name's nectar sublime. When, oh when will that day be mine?" dhana jana ara, kobita-sundari, bolibo na cahi deho-sukha-kari janme-janme dao, ohe gaurahari! ahaituki bhakti carane tomar "Great wealth or followers, feminine beauty, I won't care for them or the comforts of my body. Birth after birth give me, Oh Lord Caitanya, causeless devotion to Your feet divine, when, oh when will that day be mine?" (kabe) korite sri-krsna-nama uccarana, pulakita deho gadgada bacana baibarnya-bepathu ha'be sanghatana, nirantara netre ba'be asru-dhar "When will I utter Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, with words choked up and shivering body? When will I be trembling all over, lose bodily color, tears pouring from my eyes, when, oh when will that day be mine?" kabe navadwipe, suradhuni-tate, gaura-nityananda boli' niskapate naciya gaiya, beraibo chute, batulera praya chariya bicar "When in Navadvipa along the Ganges bank, shouting 'Gaura-Nityananda' as a surrendered soul, dancing, chanting, running everywhere, when will I become half mad of mind? When, oh when will that day be mine?" kabe nityananda, more kori 'doya, charaibe mora visayera maya diya more nija-caranera chaya, namera hatete dibe adhikar "When will Lord Nityananda show mercy upon me, when will I reject the world of maya? Bestow unto me the shade of Your lotus feet, let the right to preach the name be mine. When, oh when will that day be mine?" kinibo, lutibo, hari-nama-rasa, nama-rase mati' hoibo bibasa rasera rasika-carana parasa, koriya mojibo rase anibar "I will beg, borrow, or steal the nectar of the name. By the name's effect I will feel paralyzed. Oh! Enjoyer of the nectar of the name, When will I touch your lotus feet till the end of time? When, oh when will that day be mine?" kabe jibe doya, hoibe udoya, nija-sukha bhuli' sudina-hrdoya bhakativinoda, koriya binoya, sri-ajna-tahala koribe pracar "When kindness to all beings will be appearing, with free heart forget myself comforting, Bhaktivinoda in all humility prays, "Now I will set out to preach Your order sublime." When, oh when will that day be mine?" Sankarshan Das Adhikari Top of Page |
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Monday, November 21, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the sublime atmosphere of ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai =========================================================================== According to the Previous Acharyas We cannot concoct our own version of transcendental knowledge. That knowledge is carefully handed down to us from the previous realized teachers. Sometimes we see that persons who are materially motivated will concoct their own new philosophy which is not according to the standard knowledge which has transmitted to us by Krishna through the great realized souls. In the Bhagavad-gita Krishna confirms that the method of understanding transcendental knowledge is through the system of disciplic succession: |
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Sunday, November 20, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the sublime atmosphere of ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai =========================================================================== Purify Your Heart, Revolutionize the Planet I don't see any other life worth living. We simply must purify our hearts and revolutionize this planet. This world desperately needs a spiritual revolution that will solidly put God back in the center in every sphere of human existence: government, education, entertainment, business, etc. The entire world is engulfed in an ever-increasingly chaotic situation, practically an inescapable syndrome. The politicians are bought out by the businessmen who are motivated by greed. Therefore the lust for money rules the world situation. Something has to be done. The only solution is to elevate people between the platform of lust, anger, and greed to the transcendental platform. To do so effectively we must first solidly situate ourselves there. This transcendental platform is designated by the term "Krishna consciousness." This is the platform on which all material miseries become conspicuous by their absence and the devotee relishes at every moment the sweetest nectar of eternity, knowledge, and bliss in all situations. Sankarshan das Adhikari =========================================================================== Developing Constant Love for Krishna Hare Krishna! I'm trying to become a devotee. I follow all the regulative principles and chant 8 rounds a day. Why is that sometime I feel great love for Lord Krishna but other times I just serve him without any feelings and lot of doubts start attacking my mind. How can I develop constant love for Him? Thank you very much. Kalpana =========================================================================== Faithfully Chant At Least 16 Rounds Daily It is natural in the beginning of devotional service that sometimes we will be spiritually enlivened and sometimes not. We have to remain steady in our devotional service in spite of the many ups and downs we experience due to the residual influence of the material energy. If we will tolerate these dualities and continue faithfully chanting the Hare Krishna mantra at least 16 rounds daily, we will gradually rise beyond the influence of the modes of material nature and become solidly situated in pure devotional service. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Top of Page |
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Saturday, November 19, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the sublime atmosphere of ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai =========================================================================== Walking on Juhu Beach With Mataji's suggestion and remembering how my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, would walk every morning on Juhu Beach whenever he was in Mumbai, I decided to walk this morning on Juhu Beach along with two of my disciples and their friend, Vinay. I love to walk on Juhu Beach when I come to Mumbai because Prabhupada did so. Taking a morning walk of Juhu Beach makes it very easy to remember Srila Prabhupada. By the touch of Srila Prabhupada's lotus feet this beach has been transformed into a holy place of pilgrimage. Srila Prabhupada carries Vrindavan with him wherever he goes and by his mere presence he transforms every place into Vrindavan. Having already completed my 16 rounds I was thinking that I would chant some extra rounds while walking. However, when the boys began asking me philosophical questions I was very happy to absorb myself in discussing Krishna conscious philosophy. Being asked about the meaning of ISKCON (the International Society for Krishna Consciousness) I explained that it is not a cult. It is a network of like-minded souls who desire to know who they are and be who they are. Is there any person in his right mind who would object to knowing who they are and being who they are? If we try to be something other than what we really are, it is sure and certain that we will be frustrated. Just as a fish cannot be happy outside of the water, we cannot be happy trying to be something that we are not. If we will simply try to understand who we are and be who we are, all happiness, satisfaction and success will be ours. How do we find out who we are? We have to seek guidance from a self-realized soul, someone who has realized who they are. Such a person can teach us who we are and guide and inspire how to actually be who we are. Such a person is known as a spiritual master. His association is compulsory if we actually want to realize the perfection of human existence. Otherwise, we will remain lost and confused in a state of false identification with the material nature. We will remain asleep in the dream of "I am a man," or "I am a woman"--"I am American," "I am Indian," etc. So many false things. In this way our philosophical discourse continued for an hour. We made it back to temple just in time for the most ecstatic ceremony which is held at all ISKCON centers throughout the world, the Greeting of the Deities. Sankarshan das Adhikari =========================================================================== Is Srila Prabhupada ISKCON's Only Guru? I am Manjunath from Bangalore. I heard that Srila Prabhupada will be the only guru for ISKCON for the next 10,000 years. I want to take shelter under ISKCON. How I should approach? Whether I have to take shelter of a living guru or Srila Prabhupada will be my guru? =========================================================================== There Will Be Many Gurus. Through the teachings given to us in his books Srila Prabhupada is undoubtedly the guru of us all. But when it comes to the matter of spiritual initiation Srila Prabhupada said that ISKCON would have many acharyas (initiating gurus), not just one. He also said that we must take our initiation from a guru who is physically manifest within this material world. Some people have concocted a propaganda that Srila Prabhupada is the only initiating guru for the next 10,000 years of ISKCON, but this is not what he told us. These people want us to ignore what Srila Prabhupada said and follow what they say. They are trying to induce us to deviate from what Srila Prabhupada taught us. Such a course of action, of disobeying the spiritual master, is tantamount to committing suicide. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Top of Page |
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Friday, November 18, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the sublime atmosphere of ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai =========================================================================== Heaven on Earth Last night we arrived at ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai. This place is truly heaven on earth, a spiritual oasis in the midst of a vast desert of hellish material existence. This a frequent stop for us as we travel again and again to India year after year for preaching and surcharging our spiritual batteries. There is nothing more sweet and wonderful than to be here surrounded by a loving family of Vaisnavas, devotees of the Lord. At every step we are reminded of Krishna. This remembrance pulls us out of the miserable material existence and brings us into the dimension of eternity, knowledge, and bliss. India needs this pure Krishna bhakti now more than ever. Even just a few years ago chastity was considered to be a very good thing here in India. Yesterday I was disgusted to see in the in-flight magazine on our airplane flight here that the unmarried girls of India are now cheapening themselves to the level of prostitutes. It was so disgusting I could not even tolerate to read the article. The headlines were sufficient to break my heart. They are asking the boys that "you please give me sex". This degradation of moral standards simply creates more and more of a hellish atmosphere on the planet. May this Krishna consciousness movement now expand like anything and engulf the entire world in a tidal wave of pure Krishna bhakti so that the ever-increasing sufferings of the materialistic society may come to an end. May heaven on earth become a reality in every town, city, village of every nation on this planet. Sankarshan das Adhikari =========================================================================== What is the Difference Between Devotional Service and Pure Devotional Service? I know the phrase "devotional service." There are the nine standard items of "devotional service" to Krishna, and devotional service would also include all that is done for the satisfaction of Sri Guru and Krishna. However, you use the phrase "pure devotional service" very often. What do you mean by "pure devotional service?" Is it different from "devotional service?" Sevananda Das =========================================================================== Devotional Service Means Pure Devotional Service Devotional service means to engage all of the senses in the service of the Lord. This is described in the Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu as follows: sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam hrsikena hrsikesa- sevanam bhaktir ucyate "Bhakti, or devotional service, means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the senses. When the spirit soul renders service unto the Supreme, there are two side effects. One is freed from all material designations, and one's senses are purified simply by being employed in the service of the Lord."--Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu (1.1.12). Pure devotional service means to render devotional service without any tinge of material desires, including desire for fruitive activity and empiric speculation. This is confirmed also in the Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu: anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam anukulyena krsnanu- silanam bhaktir uttama "When first-class devotional service develops, one must be devoid of all material desires, knowledge obtained by monistic philosophy, and fruitive action. The devotee must constantly serve Krishna favorably, as Krishna desires." So in answer to your question, devotional service ultimately means pure devotional service, but there are preliminary stages of devotional service before one comes to the mature platform. Even in the immature stages one already possesses pure devotional service. It is something like purchasing an unripened mango from the market. You have the mango, but it will take some time before it ripens. As soon as you take to the pathway of devotional service with all sincerity you already possess pure devotional service. It is simply a matter of gradually waking up and fully realizing what you have. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Top of Page |
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Thursday, November 17, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the sublime atmosphere of Mayapur Dham situated beyond this material world. =========================================================================== Bathing in the Sacred Ganges This morning we depart Mayapur-Navadvip at 8 am for the three hour taxi ride to the Calcutta airport to catch a flight to Mumbai (Bombay) where I will be delivering a series of lectures and meeting with my students and disciples for a week before we fly to Malaysia. Yesterday I relished the sweetest nectar of taking a midday bath in the sacred Ganges River. In Mayapur we have easy convenient access to the Ganges. It flows just at the front edge of our temple property right across a small road. As our temple complex and its surrounding area was teeming with thousands and thousands of pilgrims, the bathing ghats on our side of the river were highly congested. So Mataji and I hired a boat to take us across the river where there was nothing but an isolated pristine beach. The boatman accomplished everything with one simple paddle maneuvering us across the Ganges at a very good clip. After a 20 minute cruise over the most divine waters the boatman secured the boat on the western bank. After donning my gamcha for bathing I chanted, "Gangamayi ki jaya! (All glories to Mother Ganges.)" and with great joy I entered the most sacred Ganges directly from the boat. I dipped myself three times into her transcendental waters and standing waste deep I chanted my noon Gayatri mantras as well as prayers to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya. A Ganges bath is truly the most exhilarating enlivening experience because not only is it refreshing and cleansing for the body. It purifies the soul from the contamination accumulated over millions of lifetimes. Sankarshan das Adhikari Top of Page |
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Wednesday, November 16, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the sublime atmosphere of Mayapur Dham situated beyond this material world. =========================================================================== A Global Inundation is Emanating from Sri Mayapur Dham From Navadvip-Mayapur Dham is emanating a tidal wave of Krishna prema (love of God) that is sweeping the entire world and inundating everyone. It was predicted five centuries ago by the great fully realized devotee, Krishna Das Kaviraj, saj-jana, durjana, pangu, jada, andha-gana prema-vanyaya dubaila jagatera jana "The Krishna consciousness movement will inundate the entire world and drown everyone, whether one be a gentleman, a rogue or even lame, invalid or blind." Caitanya Caritamrita Adi Lila, Chapter 7, Text 26 The words of such devotees as Krishna Das Kaviraj cannot go in vain. It is very wonderful to be right here in Mayapur, the place from which this divine merciful flood of love of Godhead is coming forth. I am simply praying to Lord Caitanya to bless me with the understanding and full appreciation of how fortunate am I to be in this place. Every second spent in this place is more valuable than all the wealth of the entire universe. Sankarshan das Adhikari =========================================================================== What is the Self? What is the Self? What is the "Self" in Self-Realization. Thank you Ravi =========================================================================== Both the Individual Self and the Supreme Self The Self refers both to the individual self and the Supreme Self. If one realizes either the individual self or the Supreme Self this means he must necessarily also realize the other self. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Top of Page |
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Tuesday, November 15, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the Most Amazing Transcendental Abode of Sri Vrindavan Dham in India =========================================================================== Special Announcements: Don't be cheated by false gurus. Discover the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master at the following web page: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/articles.php?articleId=52 =========================================================================== Entering Navadvip-Dham, the Most Sacred Place in the Universe I used the taxi ride from the Calcutta Airport to Mayapur as a golden opportunity to catch up on emails. It wasn't so easy in the back seat of a vehicle that was constantly bumping up and down and swerving from side to side as our driver maneuvered around everything imaginable or unimaginable that can be found on Indian highways. But I knew that I had a solid chunk of time (three hours) and that my second battery (the first one was drained on the airplane flight into Calcutta from Bangalore.) was sufficiently juiced up to make it all the way the Mayapur. After thirty six emails we made a 160 degree turn to the left off of the highway. This my cue to finish up that 36th email and pack up my computer. We were now approaching Mayapur in the heart of the most sacred place in the universe, Sri Navadvip Dham. Because Lord Caitanya appeared here it is the crest jewel of all holy places. Offenders are the object of punishment in other holy pilgrimage places, but in Navadvip-dham they are purified. The example is the two brothers Jagai and Madhai, who committed great offenses yet sill received the mercy of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda. What to speak of other places, at Vrindavan the offenders are punished. But a person who has committed hundreds of offenses can easily receive the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu and overcome those offenses in Navadvip-dham. For this reason the sages endlessly praise Sri Navadvipa-dham. Now it was time to worship Lord Caitanya and His most holy abode. I picked a bhajan (devotional song) by Narottam Das Thakur that focused exclusively on Lord Caitanya and His associates and began singing it with intense feeling calling out for the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His eternal associates: sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu doya koro more toma bina ke doyalu jagat-samsare "My dear Lord Caitanya, please be merciful to me, because who can be more merciful than Your Lordship within these three worlds?" patita-pavana-hetu tava avatara mo sama patita prabhu na paibe ara "Your incarnation is just to reclaim the conditioned, fallen souls, but I assure You that You will not find a greater fallen soul than me. Therefore, my claim is first." ha ha prabhu nityananda, premananda sukhi krpabalokana koro ami boro duhkhi "My dear Lord Nityananda, You are always joyful in spiritual bliss. Since You always appear very happy, I have come to You because I am most unhappy. If You kindly put Your glance over me, then I may also become happy." doya koro sita-pati adwaita gosai tava krpa-bale pai caitanya-nitai "My dear Advaita Prabhu, husband of Sita, You are so kind. Please be merciful to me. If You are kind to me, naturally Lord Caitanya and Nityananda will also be kind to me." ha ha swarup, sanatana, rupa, raghunatha bhatta-juga, sri-jiva ha prabhu lokanatha "O Svarupa Damodara, personal secretary of Lord Caitanya, O six Gosvamis; Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sri Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami, and Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami! O Lokanatha Gosvami, my beloved spiritual master! Narottama dasa also prays for your mercy." doya koro sri-acarya prabhu srinivasa ramacandra-sanga mage narottama-dasa "O Srinivasa Acarya, successor to the six Gosvamis! Please be merciful to me. Narottama dasa always desires the company of Ramacandra Cakravarti." Finally we came to Yoga Pitha, the spot where Lord Caitanya appeared in 1486. As our taxi drove past it I mentally offered my obeisances. Then after a few more minutes we arrived at the ISKCON property, the home of the Mayapur Chandradoya Mandir. Srila Prabhupada described this most holy of all holy places in a lecture that he gave here in Mayapur on April 8, 1975, "So from the very beginning of our life, we should try to become Krishna conscious. Not try, but we must. It is not, what is called, optional. It is compulsory. If you want to make your life successful, then this is compulsory, from the very beginning to become Krishna conscious. |
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Monday, November 14, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the Most Amazing Transcendental Abode of Sri Vrindavan Dham in India =========================================================================== Special Announcements: Don't be cheated by false gurus. Discover the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master at the following web page: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/articles.php?articleId=52 =========================================================================== On the Road to Mayapur Dham After a delightful three days with the nectarean ISKCON devotees in Bangalore, India, Mataji and I along with Sri Sri Radha Damodar are heading out for the holy abode of Lord Sri Caitanya, Sri Mayapur Dham. Our hearts have been very enlivened by association of Krishna's devotees at Bangalore's Jagannatha Mandir. There is truly nothing more sublime than the association of Krishna's devotees. The Lord has so much blessed us to hear and chant the glories of the Lord with so many wonderful devotees over these last three days. We are departing from Bangalore this morning at 9:55 am and will be flying straight to Calcutta to be taken on a three hour taxi ride through the beautiful, lush West Bengal countryside. There on the bank of the most sacred Ganges river is situated Sri Mayapur Dham, the place where Lord Sri Krishna manifested Himself a mere five centuries ago in February of 1486. vande sri-krsna-caitanya- nityanandau sahoditau gaudodaye puspavantau citrau san-dau tamo-nudau "I offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Krishna Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, who are like the sun and moon. They have arisen simultaneously on the horizon of Gauda to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benediction upon all." Sri Caitanya Caritamrita Adi Lila, Ch. 1, Verse 2 Visiting Mayapur Dham is the ideal opportunity to absorb ourselves in worshipping and meditating upon Lord Caitanya, begging His mercy that our hearts may become 100% pure and that by His blessings we may be able to powerfully and effectively spread Krishna consciousness all over the world. Stay tuned in for more nectar! Sankarshan das Adhikari =========================================================================== Are All of Our Sins Forgiven? Sir, does the Lord forgive all of our sins? S.R. Vaswani =========================================================================== Yes, If You Fully Surrender. If you fully surrender to Krishna, He will deliver you from all of your sins, otherwise not. Therefore you should fully surrender yourself and become actually free, once and for all. sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah "Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear." Bhagavad-gita 18.66 Sankarshan Das Adhikari Top of Page |
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Sunday, November 13, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the Most Amazing Transcendental Abode of Sri Vrindavan Dham in India =========================================================================== Special Announcements: Don't be cheated by false gurus. Discover the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master at the following web page: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/articles.php?articleId=52 =========================================================================== |
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Saturday, November 12, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the Most Amazing Transcendental Abode of Sri Vrindavan Dham in India =========================================================================== Special Announcements: Don't be cheated by false gurus. Discover the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master at the following web page: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/articles.php?articleId=52 =========================================================================== |
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Friday, November 11, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the Most Amazing Transcendental Abode of Sri Vrindavan Dham in India =========================================================================== Special Announcements: Don't be cheated by false gurus. Discover the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master at the following web page: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/articles.php?articleId=52 =========================================================================== |
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Thursday, November 10, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the Most Amazing Transcendental Abode of Sri Vrindavan Dham in India =========================================================================== Special Announcements: Don't be cheated by false gurus. Discover the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master at the following web page: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/articles.php?articleId=52 =========================================================================== Sankarshan Prabhu is residing in Vrindavan up until 10 November and is available for personal meetings. He may be traveling to Jaipur for one or two days within this time period, but the rest of the time he will be in Vrindavan. If you would like to meet with him for guidance on how to make your human form of life perfect you may meet with him. He is staying in MVT-Bhaktivedanta Ashram behind the Krishna Balarama Mandir in Building 101, Apartment #A17. If you plan to come send an email to: vrindavan_meet@backtohome.com =========================================================================== |
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Wednesday, November 9, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the Most Amazing Transcendental Abode of Sri Vrindavan Dham in India =========================================================================== Special Announcements: Don't be cheated by false gurus. Discover the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master at the following web page: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/articles.php?articleId=52 =========================================================================== Sankarshan Prabhu is residing in Vrindavan up until 10 November and is available for personal meetings. He may be traveling to Jaipur for one or two days within this time period, but the rest of the time he will be in Vrindavan. If you would like to meet with him for guidance on how to make your human form of life perfect you may meet with him. He is staying in MVT-Bhaktivedanta Ashram behind the Krishna Balarama Mandir in Building 101, Apartment #A17. If you plan to come send an email to: vrindavan_meet@backtohome.com =========================================================================== |
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Tuesday, November 8, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the Most Amazing Transcendental Abode of Sri Vrindavan Dham in India =========================================================================== Special Announcements: Don't be cheated by false gurus. Discover the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master at the following web page: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/articles.php?articleId=52 =========================================================================== Sankarshan Prabhu is residing in Vrindavan up until 10 November and is available for personal meetings. He may be traveling to Jaipur for one or two days within this time period, but the rest of the time he will be in Vrindavan. If you would like to meet with him for guidance on how to make your human form of life perfect you may meet with him. He is staying in MVT-Bhaktivedanta Ashram behind the Krishna Balarama Mandir in Building 101, Apartment #A17. If you plan to come send an email to: vrindavan_meet@backtohome.com =========================================================================== Govindaji and the other Deities of Mathura remained hidden until the early 1500s, during the time of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. * [*Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krishna Himself in the role of His own devotee. He appeared five hundred years ago in India to teach love of God through the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra.] At that time, two of Lord Caitanya's chief disciples, Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami, set about recovering Mathura's ancient Deities. The famous Govindaji Temple of Vrindavan
From the story of Govindaji we can see how Lord Krishna gives His devotees opportunities to serve Him in magnificent ways.
Postscript:
Above: Arati ceremony as seen from the Palace
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Monday, November 7, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the Most Amazing Transcendental Abode of Sri Vrindavan Dham in India =========================================================================== Special Announcements: Don't be cheated by false gurus. Discover the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master at the following web page: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/articles.php?articleId=52 =========================================================================== Sankarshan Prabhu is residing in Vrindavan up until 10 November and is available for personal meetings. He may be traveling to Jaipur for one or two days within this time period, but the rest of the time he will be in Vrindavan. If you would like to meet with him for guidance on how to make your human form of life perfect you may meet with him. He is staying in MVT-Bhaktivedanta Ashram behind the Krishna Balarama Mandir in Building 101, Apartment #A17. If you plan to come send an email to: vrindavan_meet@backtohome.com =========================================================================== |
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Sunday, November 6, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the Most Amazing Transcendental Abode of Sri Vrindavan Dham in India =========================================================================== Special Announcements: Don't be cheated by false gurus. Discover the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master at the following web page: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/articles.php?articleId=52 =========================================================================== Sankarshan Prabhu is residing in Vrindavan up until 10 November and is available for personal meetings. He may be traveling to Jaipur for one or two days within this time period, but the rest of the time he will be in Vrindavan. If you would like to meet with him for guidance on how to make your human form of life perfect you may meet with him. He is staying in MVT-Bhaktivedanta Ashram behind the Krishna Balarama Mandir in Building 101, Apartment #A17. If you plan to come send an email to: vrindavan_meet@backtohome.com =========================================================================== Tea drinking was never a part of the culture of India. It was introduced by the British as another way of exploiting Indians. Tea was being grown in India for British consumption. But then the British thought that if we can convince the Indians to drink tea we can make a good profit. So they opened free tea stalls all over India and kept serving the Indians free tea until they became addicted. Then they starting selling it to them. |
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Saturday, November 5, 2005 The Disappearance Day of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ============================================================================= Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the Most Amazing Transcendental Abode of Sri Vrindavan Dham in India =========================================================================== Special Announcements: Today is Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance Day. All of his followers must fast until noon and then break their fast after noon with a sumptuous feast that was prepared for and offered to him at noon. =========================================================================== Don't be cheated by false gurus. Discover the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master at the following web page: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/articles.php?articleId=52 =========================================================================== Sankarshan Prabhu is residing in Vrindavan up until 10 November and is available for personal meetings. He may be traveling to Jaipur for one or two days within this time period, but the rest of the time he will be in Vrindavan. If you would like to meet with him for guidance on how to make your human form of life perfect you may meet with him. He is staying in MVT-Bhaktivedanta Ashram behind the Krishna Balarama Mandir in Building 101, Apartment #A17. If you plan to come send an email to: vrindavan_meet@backtohome.com =========================================================================== |
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Friday, November 4, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the Most Amazing Transcendental Abode of Sri Vrindavan Dham in India =========================================================================== Special Announcements: Don't be cheated by false gurus. Discover the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master at the following web page: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/articles.php?articleId=52 =========================================================================== Sankarshan Prabhu is residing in Vrindavan up until 10 November and is available for personal meetings. He may be traveling to Jaipur for one or two days within this time period, but the rest of the time he will be in Vrindavan. If you would like to meet with him for guidance on how to make your human form of life perfect you may meet with him. He is staying in MVT-Bhaktivedanta Ashram behind the Krishna Balarama Mandir in Building 101, Apartment #A17. If you plan to come send an email to: vrindavan_meet@backtohome.com =========================================================================== |
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Wednesday, November 2, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the Most Amazing Transcendental Abode of Sri Vrindavan Dham in India =========================================================================== Special Announcements: Don't be cheated by false gurus. Discover the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master at the following web page: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/articles.php?articleId=52 =========================================================================== Sankarshan Prabhu is residing in Vrindavan up until 10 November and is available for personal meetings. He may be traveling to Jaipur for one or two days within this time period, but the rest of the time he will be in Vrindavan. If you would like to meet with him for guidance on how to make your human form of life perfect you may meet with him. He is staying in MVT-Bhaktivedanta Ashram behind the Krishna Balarama Mandir in Building 101, Apartment #A17. If you plan to come send an email to: vrindavan_meet@backtohome.com =========================================================================== Sankarshan das Adhikari |
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Tuesday, November 1, 2005 Broadcast from the Ecstatic Road Back to Godhead In the Most Amazing Transcendental Abode of Sri Vrindavan Dham in India =========================================================================== Special Announcements: Don't be cheated by false gurus. Discover the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master at the following web page: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/articles.php?articleId=52 =========================================================================== Sankarshan Prabhu is residing in Vrindavan up until 10 November and is available for personal meetings. He may be traveling to Jaipur for one or two days within this time period, but the rest of the time he will be in Vrindavan. If you would like to meet with him for guidance on how to make your human form of life perfect you may meet with him. He is staying in MVT-Bhaktivedanta Ashram behind the Krishna Balarama Mandir in Building 101, Apartment #A17. If you plan to come send an email to: vrindavan_meet@backtohome.com =========================================================================== Yesterday was spent in Kamyavan. It's at the farthest edge of Vraja Mandala (Vrindavan Dham) and is rather a rough ride on dirt roads to get there. (It took us almost three hours.) But it was well worth it. When our party of about 30 devotees arrived there our first stop was Bhojan Sthali. This is where Krishna would often take lunch with His cowherd boy friends. We joined with another group of many hundreds of devotees who got there before we did. I was asked to speak some words of Krishna consciousness before the assembled Vaisnavas. I quoted the famous verse of Narottam Das Thakura: "All glories to Krishna's divine father and mother, Nanda and Yasoda. All glories to the cowherd boys, headed by Sridama, the older brother of Srimati Radharani and Ananga Manjari. All glories to the cows and calves of Vraja." On the way they stopped at different places, such as Radha Kunda and finally Kamyavan, which is very near the border of Vraja Mandala. After some days, when the party was preparing to resume their journey they found to their amazement that no one was able to move the deity of Vrinda Devi. Despite all efforts Vrinda Devi remained. Since she is the presiding deity of Vrindavan, she was not willing to leave Vraja Mandala. Therefore a Radha Govinda temple was established in Kamyavan and Vrinda Devi resides there. Vrinda Devi is described by Srila Rupa Goswami in his "Radha Krishna Gannoddesh Dipika": |
One such true story concerns Govindaji, a Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. Devotees of Lord Krishna have traditionally worshiped Him in His Deity incarnation, which is made of stone, wood, clay, or other material elements. Since Krishna is the all-powerful Supreme Lord, He can appear anywhere, even in a form fashioned from matter. The Deity is not an idol -- an imaginary form worshiped according to whim -- but is shaped and worshiped according to directions given in the Vedic literature.
Jai Singh's grandfather, Man Singh, was able, by the Lord's grace, to build a magnificent temple for Govindaji. And although that temple was later partially destroyed, Jai Singh had the opportunity to rescue and protect Govindaji and to later construct for Him an entire city. Thus the devotee is always unshaken, seeing even a dangerous situation as an opportunity offered by the Lord to render loving service.
Our last stop in Kamyavan was the cream. We went for a darshan of the enchantingly beautiful deity of Vrinda Devi, the orchestrator of Lord Sri Krishna's Vrindavan pastimes. This deity was originally installed by Krishna's grandson, Vrajanabha 4,900 years ago and was rediscovered by Rupa Goswami on the bank of Brahma-Kunda 500 years ago in Vrindavan. He installed the deity in a small temple next to the Radha-Govinda Temple.