The Ultimate Self Realization Course (tm)

Presenting the World's Leading Self Realization Training  System Guiding Thousands Around the Globe to the Highest Enlightenment

Under the guidance and inspiration of ISKCON Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Dedicated to bringing about  a spiritual revolution for the enlightenment of all living beings on the planet
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought for the Day:

Tasting the Nectar at New Goloka

Here in Germany nestled in little forested valley on the side of flowing mountain stream is New Goloka. As soon as we arrived we were treated with the warmest hospitality, especially by Vaisnava dasa who took care of all our arrangements. He provided us a nice room with a beautiful view. He fed us a sumptuous feast, washed my dirty laundry, and did everything possible to make us feel happy and comfortable. Our three days here is a great opportunity for giving morning and evening classes to an eager audience and for catching up on my emails during the day. Again and again wherever I travel it is simply reconfirmed that there is nothing more wonderful than to be a part of this awesome worldwide spiritual family, those souls who have taken shelter of the lotus feet of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

P.S. The local devotees are running a health bar business called Govinda's. They manufacture health bars and balls that are sold throughout Germany and in other European countries. Our visit to their factory was hosted by Rama Gopal Prabhu. All of the sweets are Krishna prasadam because they have all been offered to Krishna. Anyone who eats one of these wonderful Govinda's sweets has begun their journey back to home, back to Godhead. Here is Rama Gopal Prabhu on the job at the sweet ball factory:

We were loaded down with a bag full of sweets that we will distribute on our tour.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get Krishna's Special Mercy by Rendering Devotional Service

If you'd like to contribute something to help cover the expenses of Sankarshan Prabhu's European Lecture Series you can do so at:
http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/donate

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appreciation and Reply:

Thank You for Making Your Lectures Available Online...

Please accept my humble obeisances!

I wanted to say thank you so much for having made available your lectures online. They are such a blessing that many dark corners of my mind are enlightened as far as the science of Krishna Bhakti is concerned. I have come to have a glimpse of what a Guru's Vani (vibrational presence) is thanks to those wonderful lectures you give in all corners of the world. How much power it has to deliver a conditioned soul such as myself when it enters my heart through my ears. Wherever I am, whatever the time, listening to those lectures on my MP3 player just transports me to the platform of directly associating with you and your transcendental preaching efforts.

With infinite thanks,

Please please continue to bless us with your lectures and your daily editions of "Thought for the Day."

Your humble student,

Nithin

Editor's note:

Hear the lectures of Sankarshan Prabhu at:
http://www.spiritual-revolutionary.com/lectures.htm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It Is All by Srila Prabhupada's Mercy...

Just as you are feeling indebted to me, I am feeling indebted to my eternal spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Everything that I am revealing in my lectures is all by his mercy.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

Feel Energized instead of Drained

In this material world there is always disturbance. In so many varieties of ways we are tormented by the material energy. Sometimes we are praised; sometimes we are defamed. Sometimes we are feeling strong and healthy; sometimes we fall sick and become very much weakened. Sometimes we have sufficient money; sometimes we are impoverished. In spite of all the material advancement of the modern civilization we are still being tossed by the waves of these dualities because they are intrinsic to the material nature. There is truly nothing we can do to stop them.

But there is one thing we can do. We can change our attitude. This can make all the difference in the world. We can learn to see everything in relation to the Lord and understand that everything within the material energy happens to us for the ultimate purpose of our becoming delivered from the cycle of birth and death. When we can thus see everything in the transcendental light, we become energized instead of drained by everything

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get Krishna's Special Mercy by Rendering Devotional Service

If you'd like to contribute something to help cover the expenses of Sankarshan Prabhu's European Lecture Series you can do so at:
http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/donate

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

Is it Ethical to Leave One Spiritual Master for Another?...

Thank you for your kindness and for answering my questions. I just hope that I will be able to meet you in person one day. There are still some questions that I would like to ask.

What do you think about leaving one master and going to another one. Is this ethical or not?

For one who is seeking a teacher it is important to find the best one for himself/herself?

Of course God is the one who puts teachers on our path, but one would like to meet those who have conquered hatred, greed and ignorance. Very often in this world it is hard to find such a soul. Even though some people have attained high levels of consciousness they still can have impurities. Does devotion and complete surrender always protect the disciple? I mean what if we selflessly serve someone who is power thirsty or proud or too confident in his/hers abilities?

I know one gets teachers that ones deserves. Maybe that is the answer.

With all the best wishes for your tour,

Gordana

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If the Spiritual Master is not Bona fide, one Must Leave Him...

If the spiritual master is bona fide, it is the greatest offense to leave him and go the another. Such an offense will completely destroy one's spiritual life. If the spiritual master is not bona fide, one must leave him. To remain under the improper guidance of an unqualified spiritual master will completely destroy one's spiritual life.

One must seek out that teacher who is most favorable for one's advancement in Krishna consciousness. This must be a person who is free from the impurities of lust, anger, and greed. You must seek out a teacher who is not power thirsty or proud, thinking himself to be great.

It's a fact that we get the teacher that we desire. If we want cheap imitation spiritual life, we will get a cheating so-called guru. If we want genuine spiritual life, Krishna will send us a bona fide fully qualified spiritual master.

If we switch the letters "c" and "h" with the letter "t" in the word "teacher", we get the word "cheater."

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

Warm Send Off in the Snow

After an incredibly blissful three days at the Simhacala Farm in south Germany's Bavarian Forest it was finally time to move on to our next destination in Heidelberg, Germany. There is nothing more sweet and wonderful than to be a part of the worldwide family of Hare Krishna devotees. Wherever we travel throughout the world we are lovingly cared for by our intimate family members even if we have never met them before.

Everyone came to help us carry our luggage to the waiting van. Mataji and I didn't carry any luggage at all. And as we walked down the drive to a waiting van everyone was serenading our departure with a sweet Hare Krishna kirtan. Wherever there is so much love it is difficult to leave such a place. But we are pacified by the thought that we are returning to Simhacala this coming September on our upcoming around-the-world 2006-2007 lecture tour.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get Krishna's Special Mercy by Rendering Devotional Service

If you'd like to contribute something to help cover the expenses of Sankarshan Prabhu's European Lecture Series you can do so at:
http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/donate

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

Can a Soul Personally Meet Krishna?...

Can a soul meet Krishna personally and talk to Him in His eternal kingdom, Krishna-loka?

Thank You,

Jukka

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes..

Yes. Why not?

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

Bliss in the Bleakness

Even though daylight savings time has just come indicating the advent of spring, here in Germany we are still in a bleak, gray winter. Last Sunday afternoon we had a Krishna conscious gathering at the home of Sucitra devi dasi. With fog and snow everywhere, driving from our temporary home base at the Simhacala Farm to her house was needless to say treacherous. Even once we arrived, navigating the ice while walking up her driveway was another challenge to overcome. Finally upon entering her house I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by an enthusiastic throng of devotees blissfully chanting the Hare Krishna mantra to welcome my arrival. After a traditional welcoming ceremony I then asked if anyone had any questions regarding the science of Krishna consciousness. This led to a very enlivening question and answer session which had to be cut short so everyone could return to the temple in time for the evening program.

Entering into Sucritra's temple room and bowing down before the beautiful altar of Krishna and Balarama I felt myself to be millions of light years from the cold, bleak German winter which appeared to engulf the entire world outside. It was a moment of sweet timelessness when the material world was like a vague memory of something experienced many lifetimes ago and the sweet reality of Krishna and the spiritual world surcharged the atmosphere with sweet nectar.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get Krishna's Special Mercy by Rendering Devotional Service

If you'd like to contribute something to help cover the expenses of Sankarshan Prabhu's European Lecture Series you can do so at:
http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/donate

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

Doesn't Cutting Hair Interfere with God's Scheme?...

God has given hair on the head to all men and women since birth as an integral part of our body. Why then are the hairs removed from the head and the face? Doesn't this constitute an interference with the scheme of God knowingly? No other part of the body is cut and thrown

An answer from you shall pacify the ever emerging questions in the mind and help realization of the the true bliss of chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Praskashsingh

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We Accept Whatever is Favorable for Our Krishna Consciousness...

We clip our nails also even though we were not born with nail clippers. For that matter we wear clothing and live in houses also. We were not born with these things, they are made by human beings just like we make clippers for cutting hair.

There is a type of renunciation where one never clips his nails, washes his hair or cuts it or combs it. One never wears clothes and never lives indoors. If you feel that such a life is more conducive for your Krishna consciousness, you may adopt it. But if you are going to follow this pathway, you must do it in full, not partially.

Our principle is to accept whatever is favorable for remembering Krishna and to reject whatever is unfavorable for remembering Krishna. Practically speaking to be neat and clean helps the mind to become peaceful. It is thus easier to remember God. Therefore devotees keep themselves always neat and clean. This includes their hair, their clothing, their nails, and their place of residence, etc.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

The Ship of Saintly Association

The ocean of birth and death is full of many varieties of waves consisting of goodness, passion, and ignorance mixed in unlimited ways. We, the living entities, are constantly being tossed hither and thither by those waves. Therefore sometimes we are happy, sometimes we are sad, sometimes we are peaceful, and sometimes we are agitated. Within that material ocean we never experience lasting peace and happiness and are therefore always frustrated. Krishna consciousness means to take shelter of the ship that crosses over that material ocean. What is that ship? It is saintly association, the company of the Lord's devotees. The spiritual master is the captain of that ship and the devotees are the crew members. Once we are safely aboard that ship we are no longer under the influence of the material waves. We can then safely cross the ocean and return to our original home in the spiritual world.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get Krishna's Special Mercy by Rendering Devotional Service

If you'd like to contribute something to help cover the expenses of Sankarshan Prabhu's European Lecture Series you can do so at:
http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/donate

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

Why Didn't God Create a World with One Religion?...

Why did God create this world and put us here to go through so many disasters i.e. rape, murder, poverty, diseases, different religions etc? Only if we are especially blessed can we remember Him, perform service to Him, and go back to Him. Why didn't He create the world with no murders rape, etc. with one religion only, to pray to Him? He has the power to do anything. Why did He create a place like this?

Lachhman

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He Did. But We Left It...

He did create a world with one religion, but we foolishly decided to leave it, each of us making a religion centered around ourselves. When the son demands to leave the father's house, the father out of love provides the son some kind of facility away from home, but always encourages him to come back home.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

 Keeping Up with my Correspondence

Since I began offering the Ultimate Self Realization Course(TM) three years ago on the Internet my life has literally revolved around keeping up with my correspondence. My two most important duties every day are to chant at least 16 rounds daily of the Hare Krishna mantra on my japa beads and to keep up with my correspondence. Wherever I go all over the world my laptop computer goes with me. I may read and reply to my emails while riding in a car, flying in an airplane, or while sitting in my room or an airport waiting for a flight. There is truly nothing that gives me more joy than to hear from my dear students and to share with them the topmost knowledge and mercy that I have received from my most beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answering emails at 30,000 feet:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get Krishna's Special Mercy by Rendering Devotional Service

If you'd like to contribute something to help cover the expenses of Sankarshan Prabhu's European Lecture Series you can do so at:
http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/donate


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

Why Do You Travel So Much?...

I just wanted to confirm that when you refer to one round of chanting it means one round of mala of Japa beads, right?

I also wanted to know if it is our duty to spread the word of Krishna Consciousness around. Why at your age do you travel so much and risk your own health? Is not just freeing oneself from the material miseries enough?

Also if I like some part of the "Thought for the Day" or your teachings, may I forward it to my friends and family to share it with them?

Mahima

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It Is a Natural Act of Compassion...

One round means one round of japa mala, which means 108 repetitions of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has ordered us to spread this Krishna consciousness movement all over the world. It is a natural act of compassion. If all around you people are dying and you have the medicine that will save their lives, will you remain peacefully in your house, or will you travel everywhere to dispense the medicine to save others? Only a selfish miser would remain at home. Anyone who possesses sensitivity or compassion would try to save as many dying souls as possible.

You are welcome to forward any and all of our materials to as many people as possible because our mission is to inundate the entire world with Krishna consciousness as soon as possible.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

From Springtime to Four Feet of Snow

I heard there was snow on the ground in Germany, so when we were landing on Thursday in Munich I looked for it but didn't see any. However after a 250 kilometer drive to our first stop at the Simhacala Farm in South Germany's Bavarian Forest, we saw higher snow than we ever experienced in our entire lives. The snow was at least four feet deep. The entrance to the temple was completely snowed under. We had to enter through a side door which had been shoveled clear.

We had just flown in from Austin, Texas where spring was just beginning to manifest. The flowers on the trees were beginning to bloom. The grass on the lawns was starting to wake up and grow again after its winter sleep. And now here we are in Northern Europe. The last time I checked the weather in Helsinki (our next stop after Germany) it was 12 degrees Fahrenheit.

So what does this weather report have to do with Krishna consciousness? The point is that we have to steadily go on executing our Krishna conscious duties through all varieties of dual circumstances such as heat and cold, happiness and distress, and honor and dishonor. We should not become disturbed or elated by these constant fluctuations of the material nature. We simply see them as waves of the material energy and become expert at riding these waves back to home, back to Godhead.

We have seen recently in Australia and California how the surfers are executing so many austerities to try to catch a big wave for riding with their surfboards. They spend hours paddling around on the surfboards just for an occasional wave ride of a few seconds only. The devotees of the Lord have a much better surfing program. By seeing everything in relationship with Krishna the expert devotees are able to constantly ride the waves of happiness and distress, heat and cold, honor and dishonor on the ultimate exciting journey back into the eternal pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the paravyoma, the spiritual sky.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Check out the snow at Simhacala here:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get Krishna's Special Mercy by Rendering Devotional Service

If you'd like to contribute something to help cover the expenses of Sankarshan Prabhu's European Lecture Series you can do so at:
http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/donate

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

How Can I Be Krishna Conscious When I Have to Work a Job?...

Thanks for being kind enough to answer my previous question. I want to keep on asking you as long I have questions about self realization. At this point of time, I can understand the concept of body and soul. I believe also that I am not the body but the soul. But I want to know what are the symptoms which make you realize that you are not the body but the soul ?

Though you have realized you are a soul, still you have to do all the activities to maintain your body like taking food, dressing up clothes and other bodily activities. Does this mean you are away from soul realization? What I have understood is that if one can control his senses from material sense gratification and use them for the service of Krishna and give him unconditioned love, then that would be the symptom of a realized soul.

But if one remains a grihastha (married man) working a job, then he will be remaining for the most part of his time in the influence of maya (the illusory energy). Though one has realized that he is the soul still he will have to be in maya to fulfill his grihastha dharma (duty) of earning a livelihood. In this way, he can't keep his mind always fixed upon Krishna. So sometimes he acts on bodily platform and other time he fixes his mind on Krishna. Does it mean that he is not a pure servant of Krishna? If one is a grihastha, then he serves less than a brahmacari (celibate student) who is always serving Krishna. Does Krishna love the brahmacari more than the grihasthas since the brahmacaris are pure devotees?

Your servant,

Debogiri

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Seeing Krishna Within Everything and Everything Within Krishna...

The symptoms which make you realize that you are not the body but the soul are that your body is always changing while the self inside is always the same. An old man would still like to run and jump like he did when he was young, but his old man's body will not allow him to do so.

A self-realized soul still engages in activities of bodily maintenance like everyone else, but his consciousness is different. He sees his body as the property of the Lord and fully engages it in the Lord's service.

By a strong morning program under the shelter of a spiritual master every day consisting of 16 rounds of chanting on japa beads, offering worship to Krishna and Tulasi devi and studying the Srimad Bhagavatam, you will be able to keep your consciousness nicely absorbed all day in Krishna consciousness. When you go to your place of employment you will see that it is within Krishna and that Krishna is within it. You will be able to see everything and everyone as the energy of Krishna and thus meant to be engaged in His service. By devoted daily practice you will gradually perfect the art and science of seeing Krishna within everything and everything within Krishna.

You should always remember that Arjuna was a grihastha who was able to remain fully absorbed in Krishna consciousness even while he was executing his external occupational duty as a warrior.

One's purity is not determined by whether he is a brahmacari or a grihastha. One's purity is simply determined by how deeply he is absorbed in Krishna consciousness.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

At Home with Krishna's Devotees

In our regular travels it is always the most enlivening experience to develop new relationships with Krishna's devotees in many varieties of countries throughout the globe and to further deepen our relationships with devotees that we already know. ISKCON, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, is an amazingly wonderful worldwide spiritual family because with the ISKCON devotees all over the world we can feel at home in any country or in any climate. All we have to do is associate with the kind-hearted members of this spiritual family. In spite of our having come from so many different varieties of backgrounds, there is one thing that brings us all together, our common desire to become pure devotees of Lord Sri Krishna.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get Krishna's Special Mercy by Rendering Devotional Service

If you'd like to contribute something to help cover the expenses of Sankarshan Prabhu's European Lecture Series you can do so at:
http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/donate

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

Why is Early Morning Chanting More Beneficial?...

Why is it said that there is more benefit for chanting the Hare Krishna mantra during the time in the early morning known as the brahma-muhurta hour? What is the exact time of the brahma-Muhurta hour?

Roshan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because the Mode of Goodness is Pre-Dominant in the Early Morning...

Because of the pre-dominance of the mode of goodness during the early morning hours, there is a much more peaceful atmosphere at that time. We can capitalize on this golden opportunity by rising early, taking our bath, and fully absorbing ourselves in chanting the Hare Krishna mantra on our japa beads. Our Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains the brahma-muhurta hour as follows:

The time early in the morning, one and a half hours before sunrise, is called brahma-muhurta. During this brahma-muhurta, spiritual activities are recommended. Spiritual activities performed early in the morning have a greater effect than in any other part of the day.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

Transported to the Spiritual Sky

There is a gulf of difference between being on the road and on the road for Krishna. Some people spend most of their time traveling, but they have to do this to earn their living. For them traveling becomes a drudgery. A lot of people slave it out in their jobs for most of the year and then travel to some distant exotic place for an all-too-short vacation. We are in neither category.

We are missionaries. We have been given the mission by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta to uplift the global consciousness by introducing the Sankirtan Movement, the movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in every town and village throughout the world. Traveling for Krishna helps one to become detached from any particular place of comfort in this material world. It enables one to more easily relish the comfort, the shelter of fully absorbing oneself in chanting and hearing the holy names of God:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

While traversing the globe we use many means of conveyance: cars, buses, airplanes, ships, rickshaws, ox carts, foot, etc. All these various forms of transportation factually take us nowhere. But if we will take shelter of the holy names of God we will find ourselves amazingly being transported to the ultimate exotic destination, Sri Goloka Dham in the Spiritual Sky.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

Advice for During Exams Requested...

I need your help, your guidance. My exams are approaching and I wanted to know how many rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra should I chant on my japa beads, especially during the exam week. (I am chanting 16 rounds daily).

Waiting for your reply and guidance,
Thank you

Vishal

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chant First...

Chant 16 rounds first and then study.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

Departing for Europe this Afternoon

This afternoon we depart for our Spring 2006 European Lecture Tour. Our first stop is Munich, Germany. After a couple of weeks traveling and preaching throughout Germany, we will then fly to to Helsinki, Finland for several days. Then by boat we will cross the Gulf of Finland to spend a week at three different cities in Estonia. From there by car we proceed to Riga, Latvia for two weeks of preaching there with a side trip to Lithuania also. And then we will fly south to Sofia, Bulgaria for two weeks of nectarean Krishna consciousness preaching before returning to the USA with a one night stop in Amsterdam.

The joy of this lifestyle is immeasurable. We are inconceivably blessed by Srila Prabhupada with the opportunity to travel widely for spreading Krishna consciousness and get the association of so many wonderful advanced devotees, aspiring devotees, and sincere seekers of Truth.

If you are anywhere near any of the places I am traveling to, I would very much like to meet you. Check my travel schedule through the following and let me know.

http://www.backtohome.com/itinerary

Sankarshan Das Adhikari


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

Is Okay to Enjoy the Good Things in Life?...

In the last couple of days, Krishna has drawn me more closer to Him and He is showering His merciful blessings on me so that I am trying to realize the purpose of this birth and am trying to awaken the dormant Krishna Consciousness in me.

Last couple of days, I have been completely absorbed in thinking about Krishna, listening to Krishna kirtans downloaded from your website, reading His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, apart from my professional work time. Last two days even after returning home, I have not seen TV neither have I listened to radio. I perform arati in my puja room and then again immerse myself in reading Srila Prabhupada's "The Science of Self Realization."

Today a thought aroused in me while I was reading the Bhagavad-Gita As It Is online version. There are so many good things in this world like good soul-stirring music, good and informative television programs and other magazines, good scenic sights, good vegetarian food etc. Is it that I should not even enjoy these good things and refrain from everything and direct all our energies towards Krishna or is it that I should be away from evil deeds and be a good devotee of Krishna?

If I am not supposed to do anything else except always be thinking and praying to Krishna, why has Krishna created so many things for the living entity to experience and enjoy? Why has Krishna allowed me to go away from Him and not made me on the right path, the path of Krishna Consciousness always? Why has Krishna placed me at a certain economic level so that I have to work and not focus 24 hours on Krishna? I have read in the Bhagavad-Gita that Krishna wants all His living entities to make devotion to Him and that He is very much pleased if a devotee pleases His senses rather than one's own senses. If this being the case why is Krishna testing the living entities? Why can't He make us please Him directly? He is the most merciful, ever attractive, all opulent and controller of all senses.

Why am I being tested? For what reason?

Please guide me and bring me out of the darkness in to the light of Krishna Consciousness.

Yours Truly,

Living by Krishna's mercy,

Vishnu

Hare Krishna

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We Have to Know What Are the Actual Good Things in Life...

Krishna allows this material world to exist for those who want to try to enjoy separately from Him. Because you stubbornly wanted to go away from Krishna He allowed you to do so. Krishna can make us do anything by force except for one thing: love Him. Love by its very nature must be voluntary. It cannot be forced. His mercy is that He gives you the free choice to love Him or leave Him. This is the only way that real love can exist. Now you must utilize your free will properly.

There are no good things in life outside of Krishna consciousness. They may appear to be good, but in fact they are all bad. How can I make such a heavy sweeping statement? The reason is that although many things give us a temporary sense of pleasure they keep us entangled in the four-fold miseries of birth, death, old age, and disease. The actual good things in life are those things which give us permanent deliverance from all material miseries by allowing us to enter and remain in the sweet atmosphere of pure love of Godhead where all material miseries are conspicuous by their absence.

Whatever level we are at economically is what we have earned by our past karma. If we analyze our karmic situation philosophically this will give us great impetus for being free from karma by taking complete shelter at the Lord's lotus feet. Therefore you should engage yourself 24 hours in pure Krishna bhakti under the expert guidance of the spiritual master and the advanced Vaisnavas.

If you want to graduate from the university, you must be tested.
If you want to graduate from birth and death, you must be tested.
If you take and follow our guidance very seriously, you will easily pass all tests.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

The Devotee's Thankless Task

The Lord's devotee is concerned to enlighten people in general by teaching them to engage in the devotional service to the Lord. This is his kindness. He knows that those who do not take to devotional will remain suffering in the repetition of birth and death. Therefore he travels all over the world, preaching, "Become Krishna conscious. Do not remain asleep in the clutches of maya or illusion. Human life is meant for self-realization." This is the mission of the Lord's devotee. He wants to save everyone from their suffering condition. He is not content to merely be liberated himself. No. He wants to save all others. Therefore there is no one in this world who is more compassionate than the Lord's devotee.

While engaged in spreading Krishna consciousness all over the world he faces many opposing elements. Therefore he has to be very tolerant. Sometimes he is very much mistreated, because the conditioned souls are generally not prepared to receive transcendental knowledge. In fact, they can't stand it. This is their diseased condition. The devotee accepts the thankless task of trying to awaken them and sometimes must face even violence for his humble effort to do the highest good for all others. Jesus Christ was crucified and Haridas Thakur was severely beaten in twenty-two marketplaces because they tried to awaken the dormant love of God in the hearts of the conditioned souls.

Because the devotee so selflessly executes the mission of the Lord by trying to spread Krishna consciousness all over the world, he is very, very dear to Lord and is fully qualified to go back home, back to Godhead at the time of his leaving his body at death. If we can follow in the footsteps of such a pure devotee of the Lord our perfection will be assured.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

How Do We Recognize God's Will?...

I really liked today's "Thought for the Day" about surrender to God. The question is, "How do we recognize Gods will for us in everyday life?" My humble contribution towards the answer is that we should always ask, "What would love do?" This is what I am trying to do

Gordana

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
God's Will is Revealed by the Bhagavad-gita and the Spiritual Master...

God's will is revealed in the Bhagavad-gita and by the spiritual master. He specifically orders the disciple, "Do this and don't do this." In this way the disciple is solidly connected with God's will.

Simply asking ourselves what would love do is nice, but it can be imperfect because we are currently in a state of imperfection. Arjuna thought that the loving thing to do would be to not the fight the battle, but it turned out that God's will was different.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

The Lord's Devotees Bless Us by Traversing the Earth

My spiritual master, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada explains:

"It is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.5.2) that if one actually wants to be liberated he must render service to the devotees (mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimukteh); but one who associates with materialistic people is on the path leading to the darkest region of existence (tamo-dvaram yositam sangi-sangam). All the devotees of the Lord traverse this earth just to recover the conditioned souls from their delusion."

Because we desperately need the opportunity to serve the Lord's devotees in order to become liberated from material existence, they very kindly take the trouble upon themselves to travel all over the world to give us conditioned souls the chance to engage in Vaisnava seva (service to the Lord's devotees). Especially we saw this quality in Srila Prabhupada. Even though his body was very old and he had suffered three heart attacks, still he constantly traveled to visit his over 100 centers, circling the globe thirteen times in twelve years.

There was truly nothing more enlivening for us than when Srila Prabhupada come to our temple or a nearby temple and we got the opportunity to sit at his feet and have our consciousness purified by the words emanating from his lotus mouth. With hundreds of disciples present it was always a great competition who would be the ones who would get the opportunity to render the personal service to him--cooking for him, doing his laundry, opening the door for him, etc. It was by no means begrudgingly that we served him. It was with great enthusiasm and joyfulness that we served him counting our lucky stars that we had been blessed with such a golden opportunity to serve a pure devotee and thus have the doorway for liberation opened wide for us.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

Questions from a Small Boy...

I have some questions:

What does heaven look like?

Is heaven above the sky?

Is God in heaven?

Why is God not on earth?

Why can't I see Him?

What does God look like?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
God and the Spiritual Sky...

The spiritual world (heaven) is very beautiful. The air is always fresh and sweet, carrying the aroma of many varieties of fruits and flowers. There are beautiful butterflies and crystal clear lakes in which swans are regally swimming. That heavenly spiritual world is situated above the sky. By the mercy of Lord Krishna the devotees travel beyond the sky through the thick coverings of this dark universe and enter into the spiritual sky where everything is self-illuminated. There is no need there for sunlight, moonlight, or electricity because everything and everyone there emits a beautiful effulgence from their transcendental bodies.

That heavenly spiritual world is the home of God. He doesn't live on the earth, but He does come here from time to time to bless those who are devoted to Him and to put a stop to evil. Because Krishna is God He has a special power to make Himself present before anyone who purely loves Him. This means that if you purely love Krishna He will come and visit you personally. He will make Himself fully visible to you. You will be able to see Him, talk to Him, makes friends with Him, show Him how much you love Him, and personally experience how much He loves you. There is no one more wonderful than Krishna. He is God.

God has hundreds and millions of names. You can address Him by any of His unlimited names. But out of all the names that people call Him, His favorite name is Krishna. If you develop love for Krishna you can see Him at every minute. The easiest way to develop your love for Him is to chant His names as much as possible:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

Krishna is more beautiful than any person you can ever imagine. He has a very attractive bluish-blackish complexion. He always wears a peacock feather in His hair and He loves to play the most beautiful music you have ever heard on his bamboo flute.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

The Trail Has Already Been Blazed

It is stated by Maharaja Yudhisthira in the Mahabharata:

mahajano yena gatah sa panthah

"Stick to the trail blazed by the great spiritual masters."

This is the real formula for spiritual success. If we prefer to invent our own system of self-realization, we will not be successful. It is foolish to try to re-invent the wheel when the wheel is already existing. We should always remember that it is false pride that got us into this predicament of material existence in the first place. And if we remain proud that I will become spiritually perfect only according to the way of my own choosing, we are sure to continue rotting in the cycle of birth and death. Therefore, if we are at all serious about self-realization, we must humble ourselves before the great enlightened teachers who are illuminating the roadway back to home, back to Godhead. There is no point in wandering aimlessly in the wilderness of material existence. The bona fide spiritual master is our guide who knows the pathway. If we follow him, we are safe. Otherwise we will remain lost.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

Am I Cheating Allah and My Family Members?...

After going through difficult times of chanting the Mahamantra 108 x 16 times, I find there is a great transformation in my life. Initially I found it hard to do it, but now I get up at 2.30 am and chant the required times.

My family thinks I am chanting the Muslim Allahu Akhbar. Am I cheating them and God? Please advise, although I am very comfortable chanting:

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

Your student

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You Are Doing the Best of All Possible Service...

I am very pleased to hear that you are chanting 16 rounds regularly. Since Allah and Krishna are the same person you are not cheating Allah, Krishna, or your Muslim family members by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. To the contrary, you are doing the best of all possible service.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

"Have You Seen God?"

Many people inquire, "Have you seen God?" as if seeing God is the most important qualification in spiritual life. The real fact of the matter however is that seeing God is not nearly so important as fully surrendering oneself unto the Lord. The soul who is fully surrendered unto the Lord is that person who is actually qualified to deliver the Lord to us. Not necessarily that person who has seen God.

Once there was an old woman carrying a bundle of sticks through the forest. She become very fatigued at holding such a burden on her shoulder and dropped the sticks. She called out to Krishna for help. He then appeared before her. She could have at that time begged for any benediction, but instead she asked the Lord to pick up the sticks and put them back on her shoulder. So, this old woman saw the Lord, but she did not take proper advantage of that opportunity.

If you are working at the Ford Motor Company can your status within the company be judged by whether you have seen Mr. Ford or not? No. Even an ordinary worker who is on the verge of losing his job might happen to see Mr. Ford as he walks by on the way to his office. That person who has the highest degree of status with the company is that person whose service is most appreciated by Mr. Ford, not necessarily those who have seen Him.

So instead of being so much concerned to see God, we should try to act in such a way that God will see us, how nicely we are serving Him. This is real advancement on the path of spiritual perfection.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

I Have a Continuous Doubt...

I have a continuous doubt whether I will be able to reach lord Krishna or not. I always have a fear of not being able to do so. This makes me depressed.

Please help.

Your student

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surrender and You Will Attain Lord Krishna...

There is no need to get depressed. Depression never helped anybody. If you surrender fully, you will easily attain Him. If you don't surrender, you will never attain Him. It's simply up to you. What do you want? Sense gratification or devotional service? If you are serious to surrender, Krishna will give you all facility to easily do so. What is your desire? Man proposes and God disposes.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

Which Side of the Bars are You On?

In the early 1970's I was arrested in Leesburg, Florida and put into jail for 36 hours for the heinous crime of offering people copies of Back to Godhead Magazine in exchange for a donation on a shopping center parking lot. Those 36 hours gave me a lot of time to reflect on the pathetic condition of the modern day society.

We commonly refer to someone who is imprisoned or incarcerated as being "behind bars". So from the common perspective I was certainly behind bars. But I realized as I absorbed myself more and more in Krishna consciousness that those on the other side of the bars were the ones who were actually behind bars. Because I was absorbed in chanting the Lord's names I was on the liberated side of the bars, while the entire world society being averse to chanting the Lord's names were the ones who were actually behind bars.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

Aren't We Vegetarians also Killing?...

Hare Krishna!

All Glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada!

My question is regarding vegetarianism. The human system is made for vegetarian food considering the teeth, length of intestine, the strength of acid in human stomach, etc. And there are ethical reasons also for going to vegetarianism.

However, if we eat vegetables, are we not killing plants (in some cases) for food? I am not able to understand this. Kindly help.

Manisha Makhijani

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Krishna is the Original Vegetarian...

Yes you are killing the plants in many cases. This is why Krishna orders you in the Bhagavad-gita that to become released from sin you must offer your vegetarian foods to Him before eating. It should be clearly noted that He will not accept meat offerings. Krishna is the original vegetarian.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

Nothing Tastier than Krishna Prasadam

In the spring of 1971, when I first took shelter of the lotus feet of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, I was instructed by my Godbrothers that the way to make spiritual advancement was to please the spiritual master. Not having a clue as to how I could do that, I was wondering how I would make any spiritual advancement. But then I learned that the spiritual master is pleased when he sees that his disciples are eating Krishna prasadam (vegetarian foodstuffs that have been offered to Lord Sri Krishna with love and devotion).

There is honestly no more delicious food in all the three worlds than Krishna prasadam. I love it! So when I realized that pleasing the spiritual master was as fun and easy and tasty as enjoying Krishna prasadam, I knew that I could handle this Krishna consciousness movement. So now for thirty-five years I have put nothing into my mouth except for Krishna prasadam. And it keeps getting tastier and tastier and tastier.

You can also get this nectar by taking your meals at your nearest Hare Krishna center or restaurant. Or you can also transform all of your meals at home into Krishna prasadam. If you'd like to learn how check out the following article:
http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/articles.php?articleId=53

Sankarshan Das Adhikari


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

What Do You Mean When You Say "Form"?...

About worshipping Krishna, you said that He is the original form of God. I can accept that because that is what we know according to the Vedic literature. But when you say "form" do you mean vibrational form contain within the name "Krishna" or His actual form?

I hope I do not take too much time from your busy schedule. All the best for your lecture tour in Europe

Gordana

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two Hands, Two Legs, Face, etc....

You have asked me, "When you say 'form' do you mean vibrational form contained within the name Krishna or His actual form?"

The answer is that the vibrational form of Krishna's name and His visible form consisting of two hands, two legs, face, etc. are one and the same. There is no distinction between His name and He Himself. This is why we are especially enjoined to always vibrate His name.

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

This brings us into direct contact with Him.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

Getting Ready for the Road

Now that we have celebrated Gaura Purnima, the appearance day of Lord Caitanya, with an ecstatic, gorgeous festival and have thus gotten Lord Caitanya's extra special mercy, it is time now to get ready to head out on another ecstatic transcendental lecture series tour on behalf of Lord Caitanya.

We're departing on 22 March for 2 months in Europe to include Germany, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, and the Netherlands. It will be most auspicious to associate with so many of Lord Krishna's devotees and most enlivening to see how they are pushing forward the Krishna consciousness movement in their respective countries. So many different languages and cultures will be experienced. But actually we all speak the same language and share the same culture--Krishna. This Krishna culture is the future hope of a fragmented, devastated world society.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

God Has Many Forms. Why Worship Krishna?...

My question is.....as some other teachers say that God is one but the names and images are many, what would be an argument to pick Krishna as the one you want to serve? Is that a personal choice, just something you feel in your heart, like when you meet a long lost friend?

I understand that whom you serve they naturally come to your mind. But how do you find the face of God?

Gordhan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Krishna is the Original Form of God...

It's a fact that God has many names and many different forms. One can worship Him in any one of these names and forms and achieve the supreme result. It's also revealed in the Vedic scriptures that the original form of God is Krishna. All the other forms of God are emanations from Sri Krishna. Although I could focus on the Lord in His other forms, I prefer to worship Him in His original form of Krishna because by doing so I am worshipping all the forms of God simultaneously.

Krishna is indeed our long lost friend and our best of friends!!

The fact that the form of Krishna is the original form of God is confirmed in the Srimad Bhagavatam as follows:

ete camsa-kalah pumsah
krsnas tu bhagavan svayam

"All the lists of the incarnations of Godhead submitted herewith are either plenary expansions or parts of the plenary expansions of the Supreme Godhead, but Krsna is the original Personality of Godhead." --Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.28

You are wondering how to find the face of God. In this regard it is stated in the Brahma Samhita that the face of God is only revealed to those whose eyes have been anointed with the salve of love of God. So you must reawaken the dormant love of God that is currently sleeping within you, and then you shall be able see God face to face.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

Tomorrow is Gaura Purnima

Tomorrow is the most sacred of all holy days. It is the appearance day of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He appeared in Mayapur, India in 1486 to bestow what no other incarnation has freely bestowed before, pure love of Godhead. Those who strictly celebrate Gaura Purnima fast all day up until moonrise, at which time they offer Lord Caitanya an opulent feast, have kirtan and offer arati to Him, hear a lecture about Him, and then partake of the remnants of the feast which was offered to Him.

If possible, go to the your nearest ISKCON center to celebrate Gaura Purnima in the association of the devotees. If that is not possible, then you should celebrate at home. Anyone who observes Gaura Purnima in a mood of devotion will receive the special blessings of Lord Caitanya for the awakening of Krishna consciousness within their heart.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

Feeling Depressed and Helpless...

Please accept my humble 'pranams'. Thank you for such inspiring thoughts that you give us everyday.

Can you please clarify some of my confusion? We have been told to surrender everything to God. My question is how do you apply this practically?

For example I feel very strongly about women and children who are trafficked for sexual purposes against their will, but there is nothing I can do. What does one do in this case?

And the recent murder of the US hostage in Iraq. Did he deserve that especially when he was there to help, not fight. I feel very disillusioned. In this case how do we go on without feeling guilty or responsible?

Please advise how to apply Krishna Consciousness. I have been feeling very depressed and helpless.

Your student

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Make a Difference...

The practical means of surrendering to God is to surrender to God's representative, the spiritual master. Just like if you become an employee of a company, you are meant to serve the company. But how do you know if you are doing that properly? The company gives you a manager whom you report to. You do everything in such a way that your manager is pleased. In this way you can know that you are very nicely serving the company.

You have rightly observed the increasingly cruel and hostile nature of today's ever-increasingly fragmented world. However, there is no reason for you to feel depressed and helpless. The present devastating world situation offers the best opportunity for anyone to step forward and become a powerful force for the respiritualization of the human society by joining and pushing forward the Krishna consciousness movement.

Krishna consciousness means to reconnect with the original source of our existence, Krishna or God. When we do that we become completely peaceful and happy and feel no need to exploit others for some so-called sense of pleasure. When the people of this planet revive their dormant Krishna consciousness a new era of peace and prosperity will sweep this planet unlike anything the modern history books have ever described.

Instead of being part of the problem by not doing anything about the world situation, we can become an integral part of the solution by fully dedicating ourselves to the Krishna consciousness movement. So now you kindly take up chanting the Hare Krishna every day on your japa beads, taking Krishna prasadam, and dedicating your spare time for assisting us in our missionary activities. In this way your mind will become fully peaceful and happy and you will be able to spend your life making a difference instead of just making a living.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought for the Day:

Enlightenment at the End of the Tunnel

Today's world leaders are taking us into deeper and darker chaos. What's the problem? God wants all of His children to live joyful, prosperous, peaceful lives. Why isn't this happening? What are they doing wrong? The difficulty is that they've constructed our modern day civilization based on the principle, "I am this body."

Thus misguided we base our sense of happiness on the satisfaction of the bodily senses. But this is only a covering, a garment worn by the soul. It is not us. Can we be satisfied by feeding our shirt? Of course not. We must feed ourselves.

The science of Krishna consciousness is the ancient science known as atma tattva, the science of the self. It teaches us how to become actually happy by satisfying the soul seated within the body.

Our modern day leaders are trying to solve the world's problems on the material platform of "I am this body." This approach is doomed to failure. We urge all the world leaders to take heed of the Vedic wisdom and do their actual duty of leading the world out of chaos. As long as they proudly ignore the Vedic wisdom they will lead us into deeper chaos instead of out of it.

Oh, when will that glorious day come when the people of this planet will demand Krishna conscious leaders? That will be the day when the entire world society will be able to see enlightenment at the end of this dark tunnel of material existence.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

Does Any Scripture Answer This Anomaly?...

I would like to have a clarification.

I have read in the teachings of Srila Prabhupada that as souls, we existed always. But due to the desire to enjoy separately from the Lord we left (were forced to leave) the spiritual universe and thus entered the material universe.

Now we are striving to get back into the spiritual universe (get back home). Let's assume, one person currently leading a life in the material universe is striving hard to get back home (the spiritual universe). Finally, after leading a life of bhakti yoga, he manages to get liberated and goes back to the spiritual universe. Now he is back in the spiritual universe from where he originally came to the material universe temporarily.

What is the guarantee that he'll never have to come back to the material universe again?

What if the desire to enjoy separately from the Lord, that brought him to the material universe in the first place, traps him again and thus forces him to come back to the material universe for another temporary period?

In that case, why is it mentioned in the Gita and other scriptures that the spiritual universe is a place from where there is no return to the material universe? If that was the case, then we would not be currently present in this material universe, in the first place.

Does any scripture answer this anomaly?

Vinod

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once Burned, Twice Shy...

There is no anomaly or inconsistency in the Vedic scriptures. Krishna clearly states in the Bhagavad-gita:

a-brahma-bhuvanal lokah
punar avartino 'rjuna
mam upetya tu kaunteya
punar janma na vidyate

"From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains to My abode, O son of Kunti, never takes birth again."
Bhagavad-gita 8.16

A soul who falls from the spiritual world into the material world, realizes his mistake, and goes back to Godhead, back to the spiritual world, will not come back again to this material world. As it is said, "Once burned, twice shy."

Of course, due to his eternal independence he could fall down again, but having tasted the bitter fruit of material existence he wouldn't dream of ever making this stupid mistake again. The scriptures do not say that no one falls into this material existence. They say that no one falls a second time into this material existence.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

Celebrating Reality at Every Second

Krishna consciousness means to celebrate reality at every second. When we forget Krishna we will either become disturbed by the many sufferings of this material existence or we will be carried away by a false sense of enjoyment. Whether we are in material happiness or distress--either position is not favorable for our ultimate welfare, our lasting peace and happiness. The actual conducive position is to always remember that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that we are His eternal servants.

This is not a matter of sectarianism or dogmatism. Krishna is a name which indicates the Supreme Absolute Truth.

Some people assert that there is no Absolute Truth. But if they try to absolutely assert this, they have done nothing more than contradict themselves and expose their hypocrisy. It cannot absolutely be true that there is no Absolute Truth because that in itself would then be an Absolute Truth. Since the negation of Absolute Truth is not a philosophically sound position, we can by cutting away the untruth that there is no Absolute Truth, arrive at the positive conclusion that there must indeed be an Absolute Truth.

To discover that Absolute Truth and live in perfect harmony with it then should be the real goal of our human lives, not that we simply confine ourselves to a thoughtless life of eating sleeping, mating, and defending. To live in that Absolute Truth and celebrate that Absolute Truth at every moment is the sum and substance of the Krishna consciousness movement. When one fully realizes that Absolute Truth, he will blissfully discover that it is a person--the most sublime, beautiful, powerful, wise, famous, renounced, wealthy person who is awesome beyond anything that we could ever conceive. His name is Krishna. When we learn how to perfectly love Krishna and fully surrender at His lotus feet, our realization of the Absolute Truth will be perfect.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

The Meaning of "Tat Tvam Asi"...

I have heard much talk of the statement "Tat Tvam Asi", and I would like it if you could please explain its full meaning to me clearly.

Thank you very much,

R.J.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One and Different, Not One and the Same...

In the Chandogya Upanisad (6.8.7) we find the verse, "Tat tvam asi". It literally means "you are the same". This indicates that the living entity is a spiritual particle of the supreme spirit qualitatively one with the Lord. This verse is often misunderstood to mean that the living entity is one and the same as God, i.e. that he is God Himself. The actual fact is the living is simultaneously one with and different from the Lord. Just as a gold nugget is qualitatively the same as and quantitatively different from the gold mine, so the living entity is qualitatively the same as and different from the Lord.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

Krishna Consciousness for a Stress-Free Existence

The nature of this material world is that we repeatedly face stressful situations. Foolish persons accept that there is nothing we can do about it, that we just have to tough it out and take the suffering. However, those who are intelligent inquire, "I don't want stress. How can I become completely free from it?"

Nowadays there are stress gurus everywhere who will teach us how to deal with stress. But the ultimate stress guru is Krishna because He teaches us not only how to tolerate stress; He teaches us how we can completely escape from it altogether by entering into that dimension where stress does not even exist, the Spiritual Sky.

The four basic underlying causes of stress in this world are birth, death, old age, and disease. Of course we don't remember the stress we experienced when we were born. We are fortunate that experience has been blocked out of our memories. Otherwise we would spend our entire lives suffering from PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder. The other three are a great source of stress. From the beginning of childhood we suffer so many varieties of sickness, and as soon as we become adults we start to become more and more in anxiety about getting old and dying.

What other stress guru teaches us how to become completely liberated from the cycle of birth and death? That is only Krishna. Krishna is the adi-guru, the original spiritual master. Those who repeat His teachings verbatim are the real spiritual masters on this planet for freeing the people from stress. The guru who repeats Krishna's teachings as they are is the one one should approach for the ultimate in stress relief.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

Thank You For Living in our Homes...

Please accept my humble respects. I wanted to thank you (which I will not be able to do enough of) for living in our homes through your "Thought for the Day" and daily communications. Waking up to read your "Thought for the Day" is the most enjoyable experience that I have ever experienced in my life.

I have two silly questions which are probably not worthy of your valuable time. One thing I was trying to clarify from local devotees at the center is:

If plants have souls and life just like humans and animals, are we not inflicting severe pain and suffering by cutting the crops and eating the grains and leaves?

Another question is bugging me since I talked to one of my relatives few days ago is:

I was mentioning to her how promptly you reply to our emails even through busy traveling schedules, she said that the Gurudeva may have disciples who are entrusted to answer the questions for him and present to him only the ones needing some thought to answer. Is this true?

Probably neither of the above questions are worthy of your time but please throw some light at your convenience.

Hare Krishna

Your student

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is my Labor of Love...

I am very happy that by the causeless mercy of Srila Prabhupada I have been able to assist you in your Krishna consciousness. It is his kindness that he has sent me such a sincere soul as yourself whom I can inspire in her spiritual life.

Your questions are not at all silly. They are both very nice.

It's a fact that plants have souls like humans and animals. Thus they also feel pain. Therefore just like it is sinful to eat meat, it is also sinful to eat vegetables. But we have to survive on something. This is why Krishna prescribes in the Bhagavad-gita that we should subsist on fruits, grains, dairy products, and vegetables only after first offering them to Him. By offering them first to the Lord before eating, we are freed from all sin and the soul in the body of the vegetable is especially fortunate that his body was offered to the Lord. We cannot on the same principle offer meat because Krishna prescribes that we can only take vegetarian foodstuffs.

I don't know why your relative has to speculate that I am not personally answering my correspondence. How does she know? Every email that is sent with my name as the sender is personally written by me in direct response to an email that I received. I spend hours every day to answer the questions sent in by my sincere readers all over the world. I also travel all over the world so I can personally meet them also. This is my labor of love on the order of my spiritual master to do the highest welfare work for all living beings.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

 Take Off on the Hare Krishna Airplane

At every step we are being harassed by the material nature. There are miseries of the mind and body, miseries caused by other living beings, and miseries caused by natural disasters. At every minute we are being pinched by at least one of these type of miseries.

So what to do about this? Is there a way to get free from these threefold miseries of material existence? Yes, there is.

Just as an airplane after taking off from an airport on a dreary, raining day immediately enters into a beautiful sunny atmosphere, one who takes shelter of the transcendental airplane of the Hare Krishna mantra is quickly elevated beyond the miseries of material existence. Therefore a sane person will chant these names 24 hours daily or as much as possible:

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

The flight is now boarding!

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

How to Keep Oneself Busy?...

I want to ask that how one should keep busy? I am really fed up with my life. I don't know why I don't want to live anymore. So please help me. Tell how I should start my new life and how I should keep myself busy.

Richa Khurana

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chant Hare Krishna and Read 24 Hours Daily...

To reach the point of material exhaustion like you have is the most wonderful opportunity. Now you can dedicate your life fully to Lord Sri Krishna and taste unlimited bliss at every minute. Begin your new life by completely surrendering unto Lord Krishna under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master. And chant these names as far as possible 24 hours daily:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

When you get tired of chanting you can read Bhagavad-gita As It Is.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

The Supreme Lifestyle

Krishna consciousness is the ultimate adventure. It's living at the cutting edge, at the vanguard of human history. We are currently 5,000 years into the dark age of Kali, the most materialistic of all ages. This Kali yuga lasts for 432,000 years. But by the special mercy of Lord Caitanya there is a most wonderful blessing for us in this age. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began a spiritual revolution 500 years ago in India that is sweeping the world like a tsunami of mercy and delivering all those who are fortunate enough to be inundated by it. It is predicted in authoritative scripture that Lord Caitanya's Krishna consciousness movement will bless this troubled world with a 10,000 year golden era of spiritual enlightenment. This Caitanya Era will liberate the entire Planet Earth from all forms of anxiety. By joining this movement and dedicating one's life fully to pushing it forward, one experiences the sweetest happiness and the most profound feelings of satisfaction.

If you haven't joined already, make your commitment right now within your heart to dedicate your entire life for this movement. You'll be oh so glad that you did. If you decide to make this commitment, you will look back on this moment as being the most significant and profound turning point in your entire life.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

It's Seem Logical that Formlessness is Superior to Form...

The question of God with form or the formless God is of some interest. I have given it some consideration. I read about the Saguna and Neguna Brachman. Is this the same as the God with form and the formless God? Could you perhaps offer some advice on this?

If the gunas are mere qualities of God then it would seem logically that the Neguna Brachman is superior, i.e. stands before.

Perhaps again you might offer some guidance.

Thank you,

Chris Heeks

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Formlessness Means Without Material Form...

When God is described in the Vedas as "nirakar" or without form, it means that He has no material form that is subject to birth, death, old age, and disease like my form or your form. When He is described as "sarkar" or possessing form, it applies to His eternally youthful form that is full of bliss and full of knowledge. So in the context of the above understanding it can be stated that God is simultaneously both with form and without form.

You have mentioned the term neguna brachman. This is a misspelling of the Sanskrit term "Nirguna Brahman," which means the Supreme Absolute Truth, which is devoid of all material qualities. "Saguna Brahman" means the Supreme Absolute Truth, which is full of qualities.

This Saguna Brahman and Nirguna Brahman are very similar in meaning to the terms "God with form" and "God without form". You are asking, "If the Gunas are mere qualities of God then it would seem logically that the Neguna Brachman (Nirguna Brahman) is superior, i.e. stands before." But since the Lord is eternally and simultaneously possessing all spiritual qualities and devoid of all material qualities, there is no question that either stands before the other. Both Saguna and Nirguna are eternal qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna.

If we minutely analyze the meanings we will see that the positive description is superior to the negative description. A wealthy man can be described as having no debts or he can be described as possessing ten billion dollars. Which term gives a more complete description? Obviously the positive description.

Thank you very much for your sincere interest in these matters.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

 Just Add Krishna Consciousness

There is nothing so ecstatic and wonderful as Krishna consciousness. By this simple process of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra our heart, our consciousness, becomes completely transformed and we are empowered to do the highest welfare work of transforming the world. We are suffering due a lack of Krishna consciousness and the whole world is suffering due a lack of Krishna consciousness. Just as certain prepare-it-yourself food items come with the instruction, "Just add water," and by doing so you get a nice tasty ready-to-eat food item, similarly this human form of life comes with the instruction, "Just add Krishna consciousness." If we will follow this simple instruction we will become completely transformed and the entire world will become completely transformed. So what are you waiting for? Do it and see the magic.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions and Answers:

Could You Give Tips on Chanting?...

All glories to A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
All glories to the humble devotees of ISKCON.

Keep up the good work. Could you give some tips on chanting to a fallen soul? It seems so hard to get by it daily.

Hare Krishna

Lach Ram

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chant like a Child Crying for her Mother...

You must chant like a child crying out for her mother. Chant 16 rounds in the morning before you take your breakfast and before the passion of the day begins. Rise early before the sunrise. Take your morning bath and immediately finish your 16 rounds.

If you do this every day, you will taste ever-increasing nectar day after day, week after week, and year after year.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Top of Page

The Sweetest Time of my Day

It's now 5:55 am. This is undoubtedly the sweetest time of my day. I've been up since 2:25 am. Until now I was engaged in taking my morning shower, chanting 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra on my japa beads, waking the deities (Sri Sri Radha Damodar), offering them bhoga (foodstuffs) and then Mangala Arati, worshipping Srimati Tulasi devi, ba