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On the order of his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, Sankarshan Prabhu has dedicated his life for the most urgent work of spreading Krishna consciousness all over the world. The more that Krishna consciousness spreads, the more that the suffering, scarcity, and hate on this planet will be replaced with bliss, abundance and love. This is a golden opportunity for us to do the highest good for all living beings and receive the special blessings of the Lord. Therefore we should, as much as possible, sacrifice our time, energy, and resources to assist Sankarshan Prabhu in his most important work. If you would like to help out to any extent, little or big, kindly inform Sankarshan Prabhu of your desire. |
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Saturday 31 May 2008 from Brisbane, Australia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Solution for Drought There is a great increasing concern nowadays about the impending petroleum crisis, how we as a global society are quickly running out of petroleum, even though the world civilization functioned successfully without petroleum for thousands of years. But when it comes to water shortage we are dealing with something far more dangerous indeed. A human being can survive without petroleum, but he cannot survive without water. Food crops can be grown and harvested without petroleum, but they cannot survive without water. When we landed at the Brisbane, Australia airport I was warned by a prominent sign not to use much water because Brisbane is experiencing a drought. This is not the most encouraging way to be welcomed to a city. And even here at the ISKCON temple there is a government mandated warning sign posted in the bathroom limiting us to four minute showers. But since I've arrived and we've had some enthusiastic kirtans, as I write this, it is raining like anything. In fact it is raining so nicely that are happily being forced to dry our clothes inside instead of outdoors. Krishna assures us in the Bhagavad-gita that if we simply perform yajna or sacrifice we surely will get rain. And the prescribed yajna for this age is the congregationally chanting of the Lord's sweeter-than-honey holy names: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare So if the people here are really serious about putting a permanent end to their drought, they should regularly perform sankirtan, the congregational chanting of the Lord's holy names.
Australian Drought Devastation -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Friday 30 May 2008 from New Govardhan, Australia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Back to the City 29 May 2008--After two wonderful days out here in the clean air and open spaces of New Govardhan with the wonderful devotees, ecstatic kirtans, enlivening classes, cooing peacocks, and contentedly mooing cows, we are returning to the city, in this case Brisbane, Australia, for the all-important task of pushing forward the Krishna consciousness movement. The entire world is suffering due a lack of Krishna consciousness so we cannot just think of our own enjoyment forever remaining in the paradise of New Govardhan. We have to go to where the people are to give them Krishna consciousness, to give them the opportunity to get the information they need for escaping the cycle of birth and death and returning to their original state of enlightened consciousness in the transcendental existence far, far beyond the realm of repeated birth and death. Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Beautiful New Govardhan Panorama
Flowers at Dawn
Peaceful New Govardhan Cows will not be Slaughtered
New Govardhan Beckons Us to Return -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Thursday 29 May 2008 from New Govardhan, Australia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Turn on the Whole World Our mission is to turn on the whole world to Krishna consciousness because Krishna consciousness is the one switch that will immediately illuminate the entire world. At the present moment the entire world is in the darkness of ignorance. People have no idea who they are, where they are coming from, where they are meant to go, and how they are to get there. They are simply wandering aimlessly in the cycle of birth and death foolishly dedicating all of their energy to serving their material body, the covering of their actual self, instead of serving their actual self, the spirit-self, which is factually served through the sublime method of serving the Supreme Self, just as we water the leaves and branches of a tree by watering its root. Some people argue that there is no Supreme Self. But everywhere we see that different persons possess varying amounts of the opulences such as power, beauty, renunciation, knowledge, wealth, and fame. Since we all possess varying quantities of these six types of opulences, it is quite reasonable to understand that somewhere there is a person who possesses more of these opulences than anyone else. That person is the Supreme Person. If someone wants to deny the existence of the Supreme Person, he will have to scientifically demonstrate that every person possesses exactly the same quantity of power, beauty, renunciation, wealth, and fame. Of course, this he will not be able to do. Therefore we can understand that there necessarily must be a Supreme Person. Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Sri Sri Radha-Govardhandhari
Ecstatic Home Kirtan...
with the Blissful New Govardhan Chanters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Wednesday 28 May 2008 from New Govardhan, Australia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Back to New Govardhan It is 27 May 2008 at 11:16 am. We have just flown overnight from Hong Kong and are due to land in one hour in Brisbane, Australia where my disciple, Syamasundar Das, will meet us and drive us to the beautiful, rural ISKCON community known as New Govardhan. New Govardhan is situated in a beautiful mountainous area of Australia laden with forests, rivers, and tropical fruits. It is a wonderful place for getting some sunshine, fresh air, and beautiful vistas. However, I am not going there for fun in the sun. I am going to there to lecture on the amazing transcendental science of Krishna consciousness, which transports the serious practitioner far, far beyond this material existence into the most amazing transcendental abode known as the paravyoma, the spiritual sky. The beauty and the majesty of that paravyoma far exceeds any of the most idyllic wonder spots of this material world. And there you will find that birth, death, old age, disease, terrorists, and escalating food and petrol prices are conspicuous by their absence. If you would like to go there, contact your friendly travel agent (a devotee of Lord Krishna) to book your ticket right way. Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Krishna's Wondrous Creation at New Govardhan
New Govardhan Rainbow -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Tuesday 27 May 2008 from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Airport -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Tasting Nectar in Klang, Malaysia On Sunday evening 25 May, our host, Vignesvara, drove us 45 minutes outside of Kuala Lumpur to Klang, Malaysia where there is a wonderful ISKCON center. There was a glorious kirtan, out of this world prasadam, and the devotees received my lecture very nicely. We studied from the Bhagavad-gita how the living entities in this material world are fallible while those in the spiritual world are infallible. I was very happy to meet some subscribers to my e-course who were in attendance at my lecture. This is a very common and wonderful experience I often have when making my around-the-world lecture tours. I meet persons who are regularly reading and very much appreciating my humble attempt to serve the mission of my beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, through this e-course. I take this as the great kindness of Srila Prabhupada upon me, that he has sent me so many souls who are eager to hear from me the science of Krishna consciousness. This gives me the greatest opportunity to be fully absorbed 24 hours a day in hearing about, describing, and remembering that supreme all-attractive personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna. Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Devotees Honor Prasadam at ISKCON Klang -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Monday 26 May 2008 from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Acharya Controversy Resolved The other day someone sent me an email indicating that because I am acting as an acharya I am most sinful and that at the time of death I will go to hell to be punished by Yamaraja for my heinous crime of acting as an acharya. So am I guilty as charged or am I innocent? That I am acting as an acharya is a fact. So this is not the issue. The issue is this: Is my acting as an acharya authorized by my spiritual master, or I am doing it without my spiritual master's authorization? If one acts as an acharya without his spiritual master's authorization, it is a great offense. But if one acts as an acharya with his spiritual master's authorization, it is the most auspicious and glorious activity. So am I am authorized by Srila Prabhupada to act as an acharya or am I not authorized by Srila Prabhupada to act as an acharya? This is the question. In a lecture delivered in Mayapur, West Bengal, India on April 6, 1975 Srila Prabhupada instructed us, his disciples, that he wanted and indeed preferred for us to become acharyas. The duty of the disciple is to always please his spiritual master. So when the guru instructs, "This is what I want, this I what I prefer." the loyal disciple surrenders himself unto pleasing his spiritual master by doing what his spiritual master wants him to do. This means that his disciples should in fact become acharyas. He also cautioned us not to become premature acharyas that we only should act as acharyas when we become mature. So what does it mean to become mature? Srila Prabhupada has perfectly and precisely answered this question by giving us this wonderful definition of spiritual maturity from Srila Rupa Goswami: vaco vegam manasah krodha-vegam jihva-vegam udaropastha-vegam etan vegan yo vishaheta dhirah sarvam apimam prithivim sa sishyat "A sober person who can tolerate the urge to speak, the mind's demands, the actions of anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals is qualified to make disciples all over the world." Nectar of Instruction 1 For the last 37 years since I surrendered at the lotus feet of my eternal spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, I have engaged my mind, words, anger, tongue, belly, and genitals only in the Lord's service. Thus according to his divine instructions I am qualified to act as an acharya and am duty bound to do so. Therefore I am not going to hell to be judged by Yamaraja. I am returning to the eternal abode of Lord Sri Krishna to serve Him forever in ever-increasing transcendental bliss and my disciples are coming with me. Sankarshan Das Adhikari -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: Developing Yogic Powers Dear Sankarshan Das Adhikari It was very nice to meet you again in Riga city on May 19. I have some question for you. I have heard about deep conditions of sub-consciousness when it is possible to walk on the water. Also I have heard that meditation masters in far East can sleep in the air above 0.5 meters from ground. Is it possible in really deep meditation? Yours faithfully Lauris -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Answer: I Teach the Supreme Yogic Power I was also very happy to meet you in Riga on 19 May. And I very pleased that you have written me with your questions. Now I shall try to answer them in a manner that will be most beneficial for your spiritual awakening. What you are describing are yogic powers. They can be developed by anybody who studies them under a qualified yogi. But they are not very important. They are not important because even if you develop them you will still remain entangled in the cycle of birth and death. The most important yogic power you can learn is how to elevate yourself beyond this material existence. That yogic power I can teach you. What good is sleeping 0.5 meters above the ground? I can sleep thousands of meters above the ground by flying on an airplane. Sankarshan Das Adhikari |
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Sunday 25 May 2008 from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Bowing Down Controversy Yesterday I wrote about bowing down, and I showed a photograph of devotees bowing down to our founder-acharya, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. Today I received an email from one of my readers who cancelled his subscription because in his view we should only bow down to Krishna and no one else. He has written me as follows: "I am interested in the Bhagavad-gita and Lord Krishna. I do not want to know about anything else or anybody else. You show people bowing to your Prabhupada, not to Lord Krishna, and I do not feel comfortable bowing to a person. I bow only to the creator of the universe." But bowing down to Krishna means to follow the instructions of Krishna. Without following the instructions of Krishna there is no meaning to bowing down to Krishna. Krishna instructs in the Bhagavad-gita that we should bow down to the spiritual master with humility, submission, and surrender. So if my disgruntled former reader was truly understanding what it means to bow down to Krishna, he would accept the instructions of Krishna and bow down to the spiritual master. He claims that he only wants to know the Bhagavad-gita, but he does not know the first thing about the Bhagavad-gita. Sadly, such ignorance and misunderstanding is very widespread and common at the present time. Therefore I have fully dedicated my life for giving the world population the proper understanding of the Bhagavad-gita. Whether they want to surrender to Krishna or not, that is up to them. But at least they must have the proper understanding of what is being taught in the Bhagavad-gita. Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Controversial Photograph of ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Saturday 24 May 2008 from Osaka, Japan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Bowing Down In the Vedic culture bowing down is part of one's regular daily life. It is a way of showing great respect. One regularly bows down to one's superiors such as one's parents and one's spiritual master. Also upon entering and leaving the temple one bows down to the Lord. Outside of the circle of devotees we nowadays rarely see this bowing down. So this morning here in Japan I was pleased to see that in this country this custom of bowing down to offer respect is still going on. We had to go to the Japan Airlines customer service desk to get our boarding passes reprinted. When we were finished and were walking away from the counter the two Japanese ladies who had serviced us both bowed down. Now if we can just get everyone to bow down to Krishna the entire planet will become non-different from the spiritual world. Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Devotees Bow Down to Srila Prabhupada -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Friday 23 May 2008 from Helsinki, Finland -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Global Enlightenment We are fully dedicated to the spiritual enlightenment of the entire human society. Because the entire world civilization is based on the false premise that we are this body we are facing so many unsolvable problems. If we want peace at all, a new outlook we must call, that we are not these bodies, that we are instead pure spirit-souls in quality one with Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and constitutionally meant to always render loving service unto Him. If we can simply understand and realize who we are and then act fully in this enlightened capacity, the entire world atmosphere will become quickly and easily transformed into a very wonderful and pleasing atmosphere for everyone. Sankarshan Das Adhikari -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: Why Avoid Onions and Garlic? Why we should avoid onions and garlic? I know that onions and garlic are not meant to be eaten by the devotees of Lord Sri Krishna, as they cannot be offered to Him. But I want to know why both scientifically and on the basis of scriptures. Thanking you in advance Regards Alok -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Answer: They Have a Bad Smell It is simple common sense thing. Onions and garlic have a bad smell. How could we think of offering such foul, low class things to the Lord? This is confirmed in Manusmriti 5.5 as follows: lasunam caiva palandu abhaksyani "Garlic and onions are unworthy of eating." Sankarshan Das Adhikari |
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Thursday 22 May 2008 from Helsinki, Finland -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Always Unfazed In this material world there are so many dualities. Sometimes we are honored. Sometimes we are dishonored. Sometimes we are healthy. Sometimes we are sick. Sometimes we are wealthy. Sometimes we are poor. Sometimes we are young. Sometimes we are old. Sometimes we are born. Sometimes we die. If we allow ourselves to become affected by these dualities, we will never have peace of mind. Therefore Krishna advises that we must tolerate these dualities without being disturbed. The easy way to rise beyond all these dualities is to fix our mind in Krishna consciousness. And then once we are situated in the eternal bliss of Krishna consciousness, the dualities will no longer faze us because we will situated far, far beyond them. Sankarshan Das Adhikari -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: Why Did Krishna Create the Universe? Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! I have a small question to ask you, which one of my friend asked me and I could not reply him. The question is: Why did Krishna made this universe? Waiting for your response with keen interest. Thanks, Your humble servant, Anurag Gupta -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Answer: For Our Satisfaction and Education This universe in which we are situated is one of millions and billions of universes which together constitute this material world. The material world is created by the Lord as a facility for those who desire to live separately from Him as independent enjoyers. In this world they can satisfy their desire to live separately from the Lord and at the same time they can be educated how to regain their original eternally blissful positions in the spiritual world. Sankarshan Das Adhikari |
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Wednesday 21 May 2008 from the road to Tallinn, Estonia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Never Humdrum
"Who Are You?" Lecture -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Tuesday 20 May 2008 from Kaunas, Lithuania -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Initiations One of the most auspicious features of our 2008 spring tour of Europe is that we have held four initiation ceremonies bringing eight new members into Srila Prabhupada's family. I initiated two disciples in Germany, one in Estonia, two in Latvia, and three in Lithuania. There is nothing more auspicious than the moment of initiation because that is the moment when the disciple fully enters into eternity. Then if he or she faithfully executes their initiation vows, they remain eternally in their deathless position as servants of Krishna. At initiation the disciple vows to chant at least 16 rounds daily of the Hare Krishna mantra on japa beads as well as strictly avoiding illicit sex life, meat eating, intoxication, and gambling. Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Ecstatic Initiation Ceremony
Initiates (front row left to right): -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Monday 19 May 2008 from Kaunas, Lithuania -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Finishing Up Our Baltic Tour Today we are beginning the finish up of our Baltic tour. It has been several weeks of incredibly sweet nectar spreading Krishna consciousness here in the Baltic countries: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Oblast (Baltic portion of Russia). My disciple Damodar das will be driving us today to Riga, Latvia. Tomorrow he will be driving us from Riga, Latvia to Tallinn, Estonia from where we will travel by ship to Helsinki for a two day layover before we fly out to Malaysia. No matter how sweet Krishna consciousness becomes it amazingly becomes more and more sweet. We are looking for people who would like to dedicate themselves to striving their very best to become ideal examples of Krishna conscious devotees. Such Krishna conscious persons will have a powerful impact on the global consciousness for counteracting the influence of the Kali yuga and nudging the world step by step into the golden age of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Loving Farewell in Vilnius, Lithuania -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Sunday 18 May 2008 from Kaunas, Lithuania -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Visa to Goloka in Visaginas On 17 May 2008 we headed out on all day trip to Visaginas, Lithuania where there is a small group of very wonderful devotees. It was a three hour drive from Kaunas, which gave me a lot of time to catch up on my emails. (Going and coming I was able to complete 71 emails and almost get caught up.) The devotees fed us a wonderful lunch and for the evening program they had rented a hall and publicly advertised my lecture. We got a packed hall. I explained to the audience how we can make the entire world prosperous and peaceful by the wide scale introduction of the Krishna consciousness movement. I then invited them to join us by purchasing our books and attending our regular meetings in Visaginas. Many people purchased our books. Some of them traveled all the way to Kaunas to hear my lecture there. Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Introducing Krishna Consciousness in Visaginas, Lithuania
Visaginas Farewell -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Saturday 17 May 2008 from Kaunas, Lithuania -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: The Supreme Adventure The secret of spiritual success is to live your life in such a way that it is completely filled up with Krishna. Make all of your life's goals Krishna conscious, and then fully dedicate yourself to achieving all of them. This is thousands of times more enjoyable and satisfying than being even the most successful sense gratifier in this world. Design your day in such a way so that at every moment you are somehow or other connecting with Krishna. Be creative. Have fun. You are embarking on the supreme adventure. It will do nothing but get better and better for all of eternity. Sankarshan Das Adhikari -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Friday 16 May 2008 from Kaunas, Lithuania -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Relishing the Bliss in Kaunas The ocean of Krishna bhakti is so unlimitedly sweet and deep that there is no limit to how much you can relish it. Here in Kaunas, Lithuania we are diving deeply into that ocean. There are unlimited waves of ecstasy in that ocean and each wave is more amazing than the wave that came before it. The key to remaining always in this ocean is not allow any selfishness, lust, or greed to enter into your heart. You've got to always remain in a loving, giving, sharing, caring mood. This is not difficult when we always remember and try to model ourselves after the wonderful, unlimitedly loving example of our most beloved Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Sankarshan Das Adhikari -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Answers According to the Vedic Version: Questions: Hare Krishna Mantra a Placebo? Dear Gurudeva, Is the Hare Krishna mantra a placebo (it works because the person doing it thinks it is going to work)? My friend asked me this and I wasn't sure what to say to him. He asked why it isn't a placebo. Hare Krishna, Ashwin -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Answer: No, it Universally Beneficial The Hare Krishna mantra acts whether one thinks it will act or not. Therefore it is not a placebo. Thus even an animal or a plant, who have no conception of what is the Hare Krishna mantra, are benefited by coming in contact with the Hare Krishna mantra. It is beneficial for all, believers and non-believers as well. Sankarshan Das Adhikari |
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Thursday 15 May 2008 from Kaunas, Lithuania -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Vast, Deep Vedic Wisdom Here in Kaunas my disciples have arranged a wonderful series of lectures in different colleges and halls. I have spoken on how to solve the environmental crisis, how to develop fully one's talents, how to make the entire world peaceful and prosperous, how to enter permanently and immediately into a land of transcendental bliss, and many other topics. It was enlivening for me to see halls packed to capacity for my lectures and to see so many customers for our transcendental literatures at the end of the lectures. Our Vedic wisdom is so vast and so deep that it touches upon and indeed perfects every field of knowledge that exists within the universe. Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Speaking on Solving the Environmental Crisis
Happy Book Customers after a Lecture -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Wednesday 14 May 2008 from Kaunas, Lithuania -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Beyond this Universe Beyond this universe, beyond the realm of time and space there exists another dimension, a land of unlimited bliss and knowledge, where everyone lives an eternal life free from the pangs of birth, death, old age, and disease. One does not have to wait for death to enter into that transcendental realm. One can enter into it right now by fully entering into the highest stage of enlightened consciousness, known as Krishna consciousness. This consciousness is to be learned by taking completely shelter of Lord Sri Krishna under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master. There is no reason to live one temporary term of misery and illusion after another such term again and again ad infinitum. If one will adopt the simple process of bhakti yoga under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, he will quickly regain his eternal all-blissful, full-of-knowledge existence. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Watch a Nectarean Video Clip Now! http://www.backtohome.com/video/Russian-kirtan.wmv
Answers According to the Vedic Version: |
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Tuesday 13 May 2008 from Kaunas, Lithuania -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Sweet Memories of Russia 12 May 2008--Today we are leaving Russia heading back to Lithuania. As I write these words we are being driven by Lila Avatar Prabhu from Kaliningrad to Sovetsk, where we will walk across the border by crossing the bridge over the Neman River to be picked up by my Latvian disciple, Damodar Das. These few days in Russia were truly the sweetest nectar. We had the most enlivening kirtans, the most enlivening classes, and the most enlivening association. Now with joyful anticipation we are already planning our next visit in October from the 17th through the 20th. This is how life should always be, filled to the brim with ecstatic Krishna consciousness. And this indeed is how it can always be. All we have to do is make a little endeavor each day to plug ourselves into Krishna, just as a lamp becomes illuminated when it is plugged into an electrical outlet. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Extra Special Nectar!
Hare Krishna Kirtan from Russia with Love (Video):
Sweet Transcendental Russian Farewell -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Monday 12 May 2008 from Kaliningrad, Russia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: The Best of Everything In Krishna consciousness we are not lacking in anything. We have the best music, the best food, the best clothing, the best philosophy, and the best friends. We get the best possible life style in this world, and then at the time of death we attain the supreme destination of going back home, back to Godhead. When one fully dives into Hare Krishna culture he enters into an eternal existence, full of knowledge, and full of bliss. Anyone with even half a brain who understands what is the difference between material consciousness and Krishna consciousness will always opt for Krishna consciousness because it is far, far superior to material consciousness in every conceivable and inconceivable way. Therefore out of kindness upon the suffering souls of this world, who are blinded by the darkness of ignorance, the members of the Krishna consciousness movement should now through educational and cultural conquest take the leadership role on this planet for the deliverance of all. Sankarshan Das Adhikari
The Best Music
The Best Philosophy
The Best Friends
The Best Food -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Sunday 11 May 2008 from Kaliningrad, Russia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Ecstatic Bhagavatam Class 10 May 2008--I am relishing every minute here in Kaliningrad, Russia as the sweetest nectar. This morning's Srimad Bhagavatam class enabled all of us, speaker and hearers alike, to dive deeply into an unlimited ocean of bliss and sport enthusiastically in its waves. It was so enlivening and there were so many sincere questions coming from the devotees that I considered the idea of continuing the class all day long letting it roll uninterruptedly into the evening's class. But then remembering that I am one week behind on answering my emails I opted to end the class on time and return to my quarters for a day of writing before the evening lecture. I offer to you, my beloved readers, this following verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam which can be recited daily for the deliverance of the entire world from chaos: svasty astu visvasya khalah prasidatam dhyayantu bhutani sivam mitho dhiya manas ca bhadram bhajatad adhokshaje 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." SB 5.18.9 Stay tuned into Krishna. Tomorrow there will be more nectar coming to you from Kaliningrad, Russia. Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Ecstatic Devotees after Bhagavatam Class -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Saturday 10 May 2008 from Kaliningrad, Russia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Smooth Crossing 9 May 2008--Kaliningrad, Russia. Our crossing into Russia was the smoothest ever. After Damodar Das drove Mataji and me for one and half hours from Kaunas, Lithuania to the Russian border we then crossed by foot with our luggage across the wide Neman River. It was a beautiful spring day. Our trek across the bridge was made easy by the help of Damodar and Madhuri who joined us on the walk to help us with our luggage until just before the customs check. Within minutes we cleared customs and there on the other side of the gate were Gopinath Das and Lila Avatar Das waiting to drive us to Kaliningrad. Now having reached Kaliningrad and having gotten some prasadam and a little rest, I am ready for an evening lecture. Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Crossing into Russia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- sri krishna caitanya prabhu nityananda Sankarshan Das Adhikari |
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Friday 9 May 2008 from ISKCON Kaunas, Lithuania -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Back to Russia Today is a very sweet day because today we are crossing the border into Russia. There is a lot of red tape and we have to walk across a long bridge with our luggage. But it is well worth it. There is no story more heart warming than the story of the Soviet Hare Krishna devotees who suffered unspeakable persecution including imprisonment and death at the hands of the cruel godless former communist regime to establish the Krishna consciousness movement in Russia. Here is their story told by them: PLANTING THE SEED OF KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS ON THE RUSSIAN SOIL During the eleven years of his preaching in the West, Srila Prabhupada [Founder Acharya for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON] traveled around the world fourteen times. Among other countries he also visited Soviet Russia which at that time was behind the Iron Curtain. The four days visit of Srila Prabhupada to Moscow in 1971 miraculously brought many changes to that country of atheism. During his visit he discussed philosophy with Prof. Kotovsky, a Soviet scholar of Hinduism, but most significantly met with one young, educated Russian boy who later became his first and only initiated disciple from the Soviet Union, Ananta Shanti. This Russian boy single-handedly started preaching the eternal message of Bhagavad-Gita, and in this way the teachings of Srila Prabhupada became known to the hundreds and hundreds of Soviet people, so much so that in the beginning of the 1980's the KGB declared ISKCON one of the greatest threats to the Soviet nation. In this way, the war was declared............the war of the totalitarian state against the handful of first devotees of Krishna in Soviet Russia. THE YEARS OF STRUGGLE FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM The KGB started massive persecution campaigns against the first followers of ISKCON. For their belief, around hundred of the first Russian devotees were thrown into prisons, labor camps and psychiatric hospitals. They underwent tremendous sufferings and tortures, but kept their strong, unflinching faith in Lord Krishna and His words in Bhagavad-Gita. One of them, Sarkis Ohanjanyan was only 21 when he was put in prison. His only "guilt" was that he believed in God, chanted the Hare Krishna mahamantra and refused to eat meat. One and a half years later he died in the winter of 1986 in a labor camp out of malnutrition and tuberculosis. Before departure he was chanting on the beads made from the prison bread, and had applied tilaka on his body with the toothpaste. Olga Kiselyova was put in prison in 1983 when she was pregnant. Her "crime" was that she helped in translating the Bhagavad-Gita into the Russian language. After undergoing tortures and long, arduous interrogations she delivered a baby girl Marika in prison who died only two months later. Amala Bhakta Das father of 5, was sentenced for 5 years of labor camps, and was only released on the personal plea from Nancy Reagan. These are only a few stories among many. Early devotees in Russia sacrificed their health, freedom and sometimes even life for the preaching and for the service to Srila Prabhupada. Hare Krishna devotees around the world started a campaign of protest against religious persecution in the USSR. As a result, in 1988 all Soviet Hare Krishna devotees were released by Mr. M. Gorbachev and the new era of religious freedom in Russia had begun. **************** So remembering the above story as I cross the river today into Russia, I will be feeling so grateful to Lord Krishna for the privilege of being able to openly preach the glories of Krishna in Russia. Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Srila Prabhupada in Moscow--June, 1971 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Thursday 8 May 2008 from ISKCON Kaunas, Lithuania -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Back to Our Original Home We're back in Kaunas, Lithuania now relishing the sweet, loving association of the devotees here. It's amazing how we can travel to so many different places in the world where the devotees are enthusiastically practicing Krishna consciousness and in each and every location feel that we have returned to our home. Why is it like this? The reason is that wherever Krishna is the center that place is not in the material world. Such Krishna centered places are existing in the spiritual world. So whenever we enter such an atmospheres we are re-entering the spiritual world, our original home. Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Kaunas, Lithuania--Radio Show Interview ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Wednesday 7 May 2008 from ISKCON Kaunas, Lithuania -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Capitalizing on Calamities In this world there will always be calamities. They are an unavoidable concomitant factor of material existence. Learned transcendentalists wisely deal with these calamities in such a way that they are not disturbed by them. Rather they utilize them in such a way as to enhance and strengthen their position in transcendental Krishna consciousness. Just as an expert businessman uses both an up market and down market to enhance his business, the expert transcendentalists ride all varieties of waves of the material existence in such a way to carry them faster and further along the pathway of spiritual perfection. Sankarshan Das Adhikari -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: Why is Krishna Reluctant? Krishna Himself can take all souls to Him by empowering their free will towards Him. Why is He reluctant? -your servant -Gayathri -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Answer: It's We Instead Who Are Reluctant Krishna is not reluctant to bring us back to His eternal abode. He is most eager to do so. It is we who are reluctant to go there. But if Krishna were to manipulate our free will, it would no longer be free will. Free will means our decision to go back to Godhead or remain in the cycle of birth and death must be totally up to us. If Krishna were to take us prisoner by psychological kidnapping and thus force us to return to His abode, we would be not be there out of love. We would instead be there out of coercion. Such a situation would not be pleasing to the Lord or to us. In this connection, just imagine if you kidnapped someone and forced them to marry you against their will. Do you think that would make for a happy marriage? Krishna wants us to return to His abode much more than we want to return there. He wants us to come of our own free will due to reviving long lost loving relationship with Him. Therefore He never interferes with our free will. He simply does everything He can to attract us to choose devotional service to Him over a foolish, wasted life of sense gratification in this material world. Sankarshan Das Adhikari |
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Tuesday 6 May 2008 from ISKCON Riga, Latvia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Super Ecstatic Home Program On Sunday 4 May 2008, Ananda Govardhan Prabhu organized the most ecstatic home program in the outskirts of Riga. The large living room of the home was full of guests and we were all blessed with the most enlivening and uplifting opportunity to dive deeply into the Hare Krishna kirtan and Bhagavad-gita philosophy. Such events a very encouraging sign of how Krishna consciousness can inundate the world even where there are no temples. Every home can become a temple. Simply we must gather together and chant the sublime holy names of the Lord: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Sankarshan Das Adhikari May 4, 2008--Home Program in Riga, Latvia
Ecstatic Chanting
Ecstatic Chanters
Ecstatic Philosophy
Ecstatically Distributing Bhagavad-gita -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Monday 5 May 2008 from ISKCON Riga, Latvia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Most Auspicious Turning Point On Saturday 3 May 2008, the most auspicious ceremony was held at Riga, Latvia's Hare Krishna temple. Two devotees were initiated by me and two devotees received formal shelter from me. The new initiates were Guru Das, owner of two of Latvia's leading radio stations, and Damodar Das, his highly trusted assistant. Vita, the wife of Guru Das, and Madhuri both took formal shelter, the preliminary step to initiation. It was a celebration of great spiritual bliss for everyone--initiates and the temple room full of guests alike. The atmosphere reverberated with cheers of joy when I gave the initiates their new names and formally accepted them as my disciples. The ancient Vedic fire sacrifice ceremony (agni hotra yajna) performed in conjunction with the initiation created an awe-inspiring atmosphere. This initiation ceremony marks the most auspicious turning point for those who have taken initiation and for those who are preparing for initiation. Sankarshan Das Adhikari May 3, 2008--Initiation Ceremony in Riga, Latvia
Vita Takes Formal Shelter:
Madhuri Takes Formal Shelter:
Guru Das Accepts Initiation:
Damodar Das Accepts Initiation:
Fire Sacrifice Ceremony: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Sunday 4 May 2008 from ISKCON Riga, Latvia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Greatest Hits in the Universe While radio listeners all over the world are tuning in to hear the greatest hits in different musical genres, Krishna conscious persons are hearing every morning the Srimad Bhagavatam class. These Bhagavatam classes are truly the greatest hits in the entire universe. There is nothing more powerful, enlivening, or exciting than the daily recitation of the glories of Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. No matter how big of a hit the previous morning's Srimad Bhagavatam class was, today's class is even a bigger hit. How can this be? Once we are fully connected in love with Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the topmost enjoyer in all of existence, we enjoy ever-increasing pleasure on an equal level with Him at every moment. There is no easier or more sublime way to lovingly connect with Him than to attend the morning Srimad Bhagavatam class every day. Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Srimad Bhagavatam Class in Riga, Latvia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Saturday 3 May 2008 from ISKCON Riga, Latvia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: The Supreme Nirvana Here in Riga we are getting a very nice turn out every day at both the morning and evening classes. It is so enlivening to describe the amazingly sublime glories of Lord Sri Krishna that once we dive into this ocean we don't want to come out. This is real happiness. This is nirvana-paramam, the supreme nirvana. The whole world is hankering to taste such nectar. Now we have to teach them how to swim in this ocean. Sankarshan Das Adhikari -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: How to Conquer Depression? I am an avid reader of this course. I am in a problem. I frequently I find myself in depression. I try to overcome it, but I am not getting any permanent solution. I know that without proper guidance I cannot get rid of it, so please guide me. Indira -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Answer: Transform It Into Transcendental Bliss If you will accept whatever depression you are experiencing as the special mercy of Krishna to help you become detached from the false, illusory happiness of this temporary material world, your depression will become transformed into transcendental bliss. Sankarshan Das Adhikari |
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Friday 2 May 2008 from ISKCON Riga, Latvia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Ecstatic Life on the Road I can think of nothing sweeter than being on the road for spreading the glories of Lord Sri Krishna all over the world. When we make Krishna the center of all of our relationships, there is no limit how much they can become deeper and sweeter. So all over the world I am tasting ever-increasingly wonderful relationships with so many great saintly Krishna conscious persons. This ever-expanding network of Krishna conscious relationships, in which the members of the Krishna consciousness movement participate, will grow more and more and more until it eventually engulfs the entire world. Sankarshan Das Adhikari -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: Who is the Next Spiritual Master? In the Bhagavad-gita As It Is Srila Prabhupada stresses the importance of following the bona fide spiritual master and the line of disciplic succession, which starts with Krishna and runs up to himself. Please forgive my ignorance for not being aware of the current situation with ISKCON. I am aware on some level there seems to be area of dispute on the way the organization should be run now that Srila Prabhupada has left his body to join Krishna. My questions is: Who follows His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada as the next in the line of disciplic succession? Please forgive my ignorance on such matters. P.E. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Answer: The Faithful Disciples When you are saying that the disciplic succession runs only up to A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada your statement is incorrect. The disciplic succession does not stop with Srila Prabhupada. He instructed us, his disciples, that we are the next in the line of disciplic succession after him. He told us this as follows in an arrival lecture given on 18 May 1972 in Los Angeles: "My Guru Maharaja is tenth from Caitanya Mahaprabhu, I am eleventh, you are the twelfth. So distribute this knowledge. People are suffering." So the next in the disciplic line are all of those Srila Prabhupada disciples who are faithfully following his instructions. For those who have obeyed Srila Prabhupada to remain within ISKCON, there is no dispute as to how ISKCON should be run. The only dispute exists among those who disobeyed Srila Prabhupada by leaving the spiritual shelter of the wonderful ISKCON that he created. Disobeying the instructions of one's spiritual master is tantamount to spiritual suicide. So we are always hoping and praying that those who have left us will revive their spiritual lives by rejoining us. We are awaiting their return with open arms ready to warmly, lovingly embrace them. Sankarshan Das Adhikari |
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Thursday 1 May 2008 from ISKCON Riga, Latvia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Thought: Flood the World with Krishna's Glories There is nothing sweeter than the transcendental glories of Lord Sri Krishna. The more that His glories are vibrated and heard throughout this world, the more the people of this planet will become peaceful and happy. Therefore as much as possible Krishna's glories must be loudly broadcasted in each city, town, and village throughout the globe through every means of communication. This and only this will bring permanent peace and happiness to the suffering people of this world. Sankarshan Das Adhikari -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: Why Desire to Change Things? If all of creation is existing in accordance with God's plan, then what is the point in desiring to change things? Why should we worry about the small trials of man? my sincere appreciation, Corvas -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Answer: We Create Hell or Paradise God's plan includes giving us free will to serve Him or not. When we choose not to, we turn our lives into hell. When we choose to serve Him, we turn our lives into paradise. Therefore if we are intelligent, we will choose to serve Him and turn this world into a paradise. Sankarshan Das Adhikari |
