In the Bhagavad-gita 10.35, Krsna says that of all the months, “I am marga-sirsa,” which is a name for the November-December period. It is said that before Krsna, first comes Radha – Radha-Krsna,Radha-Syam, Sita-Ram, like that. First the consort of the Lord is mentioned. Therefore the month of Kartik, which comes before this month of marga-sirsa, is a month of Radharani. It is a month when we are meditating on pure devotional service because she is the proprietor of pure devotional service! No compromise at all, no self-interest whatsoever, only the interest of Krsna in mind and nothing but the interest of Krsna.

That is pure devotional service and that is found in Srimati Radharani, so this month of Kartik is about that. So everyone who is ordinarily sort of compromised in his devotional service, in the month of Kartik, will try for pure devotional service. In this month, one can take vows to perform some special service because this month is the month of Srimati Radharani. She is especially noticing the service that we render and when she recommends us to Krsna, then Krsna will also be inclined towards us. Radharani is very compassionate and soft-hearted. Therefore, this month is especially a very favorable time to try and attract the mercy. In that way, we prepare for the month of Kartik and see what special service can we offer?

Source:https://www.kksblog.com/2016/10/kartik-part-1/

Chaitanya Charan Das: In India, I usually speak on topics related to science & spirituality at colleges and youth centers, practically never in temples. 
During this trip to America, I am increasingly appreciating that speaking to Indians in America is substantially different from speaking to Indians in India. Indians in America are among the most materially intelligent Indians who have passed through rigorous competition with flying colours in order to make it to America.
Among our movement’s leaders in the West, there is great concern that not many Western people are coming to our movement, only Indians are taking it up. While the lack of Western participants is a matter of great concern, that concern shouldn’t lead to minimising of the Indians who are coming. These Indians are often high-caliber people, the kind whom we would be proud to welcome in our temples in India.
Whereas in India a science-spirituality topic in a Sunday class would often be met with many blank stares, in America it was met by most attendees with avid interest, thoughtful questions and enthusiastic appreciation.

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=32181

Dear prabhus,
Please accept my obeisances. Jaya Srila Prabhupada.

To avoid cows eating them and litter the Holy dham with them:
Please try to avoid accepting plastic bags, while in the Holy dham,
and if you have to, please don't throw them in a bin,
but recycle them or take them with you to the airport and dispose of them
there.
Hope this meets you well.
Hare Krishna.
Your servant in Srila Prabhupada’s service,

Parividha das

Lord Vishnu imparted the knowledge of reaching Him to four great personalities – Lakshmi Devi, Lord Shiva, Sri Brahma, and the four kumara. These four personalities imparted the knowledge to four great devotees who started the four Sampradayas. Lakshmi to Ramanujacharya – Sri Sampradaya, Shiva to Vishnuswami – Rudra Sampradaya, Brahma to Madhvacharya – Brahma sampradaya and the four Kumaras to Nimbarka – Kumara Sambradaya.

Today is the appearance day of Sri Madhvacharya. Madhvacharya (acarya means “one who teaches by his life”) lived in thirteenth-century India and appeared in the Brahma-Madhva – Gaudiya-Vaisnava-Sampradaya—the disciplic chain now represented by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. In this long disciplic chain of pure teachers, Madhvacharya is a most important link.  The Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya originates with the Madhvas. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His followers thoroughly studied Madhva’s works before compiling their philosophy. For the Sat Sandarbhas Shri Jiva Goswami drew heavily from Madhva’s writings. Jiva Goswami found ‘the Gaudiya philosophy of acintya-bheda-abheda tattva in Madhva’s Bhagavat-parya. Shri Chaitanya Himself visited Udupi, the seat of Madhva’s sect. The Lord introduced Hari Nama sankirtana into their sect.

In Vaishnava Siddhanta Mala, Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ordered all Gaudiya Vaishnavas to carefully observe the nine instructions of truth given by Shri Madhavacharya through our guru parampara.

Shri Madhvacharya’s Nine Teachings

   (1) Bhagavan Shri Krishna alone is the Supreme Absolute Truth, one without a second.

   (2) He is the object of knowledge in all the Vedas.

   (3) The universe is real, satya.

   (4) The differences between Ishvara (God), Jiva (soul) and Matter are real.

   (5) Jiva souls are by nature the servants of the Supreme Lord Hari.

   (6) There are two categories of jivas; liberated and illusioned.

   (7) Liberation (moksha) means attainmg the lotus feet of Bhagavan Krishna, in other words, entering an eternal relationship of service to the Supreme Lord.

   (8) Pure devotional service to Krishna is the only way to attain this liberation.

   (9) The truth may be known by pratyaksha (direct perception), anuman (inference or logic), sabda (spiritual sound or Vedic authority.

Shri Madhvacharya serves as Madhavi-gopi in Radha-Govinda’s eternal Vrindavana pleasure pastimes.

Here is a short life history and some pastimes of Sri Madhvacharya.

Madhvacharya took his birth in a brahmana (priestly) family at Udupi, a South Indian town on the Arabian Sea. There are some amazing stories surrounding Madhva’s early life. It is said that his father piled up many debts and that to pay them off, Madhva converted tamarind seeds into coins. It is also said that near Madhva’s house a demon named Maniman lived in the form of a snake. Madhva killed him with the big toe of his left foot. We are further told that whenever Madhva’s mother was feeling anxious, he would come before her in one jump—from wherever he happened to be playing.

Even as a young boy Madhva was renowned as a scholar. When he was only five he received spiritual initiation, and when he was twelve he accepted sannyasa,the most renounced order of spiritual life. At that tender age Madhva gave up all family ties to travel the length and breadth of India in quest of spiritual knowledge.

http://www.mayapur.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Madhvacharya-2-150x113.jpg 150w, http://www.mayapur.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Madhvacharya-2.jpg 450w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />

In the course of his travels Madhva visited Badarikashrama, a place of pilgrimage high in the Himalayas. There he met the great sage Srila Vyasadeva—Lord Krishna’s literary incarnation and the author of the Vedic literatures. By studying under Srila Vyasadeva, Madhva grew even greater in his scholarship.

After coming down from the Himalayas, Madhva at last returned to his birthplace, Udupi. Once, when he was sitting at the seashore and meditating on Lord Krishna, Madhva saw a huge merchant ship in danger and signaled the crew safely to shore. Since the boat’s owners wanted to reward him, Madhva agreed to accept a chunk of gopi-candana,clay from Krishna’s land of Vrindavana. As the crew members were bringing the big chunk before him, it broke apart and revealed a Deity form of Lord Krishna, with a stick in one hand and a lump of food in the other. At that moment Madhva composed a beautiful prayer to express his gratitude. Although the Deity was so heavy that not even thirty ordinary people could lift Him, Madhva carried Him back into town all alone. The people of Udupi still worship that Krishna Deity in the way Madhva established.

Madhva showed his overwhelming physical and spiritual strength on still other occasions. While he was walking on the road a band of thugs attacked him, but he killed them all. Another time a tiger attacked Madhva’s companion Satya Tirtha, but Madhva pulled the fierce animal off with his bare hands. People began to say his strength had no limit.

Madhvacharya’s learning and devotion to Krishna were famous throughout India. His life’s mission was to defeat the views of the impersonalist philosophers. They say that God’s form is simply illusion (maya), and thus they are called Mayavadis. “Even if God was a person in the beginning,” these people say, “He has distributed Himself throughout the creation and thus lost His individual identity.” Madhvacharya smashed this monistic (“all-is-one”) idea with the philosophy of shuddha-dvaita—pure dualism. He proved logically that God is always a person and is always distinct from His creation. As anyone can see, the sun is producing volumes of energy but remains the same sun. Similarly, a tree may produce many fruits, but it remains the same tree. Likewise, Lord Krishna produces the material world, but He Himself remains separate from it—He remains the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Here is the real teaching of the Vedas.Thus, Madhvacharya ‘s teaching is called tattva-vada—tattva means “truth,” and vada means “philosophy.”

The Mayavadis go on to say that the soul’s unique and individual identity is also an illusion—that in the end the soul will merge into an impersonal light. But Madhvacharya taught that the soul is actually the eternal servant of Krishna and that by practicing bhakti-yoga—devotional service—each of us can return to our original position in the spiritual world. Madhvacharya especially emphasized that even after the individual soul returns to the spiritual world, he and the Supreme Soul, Krishna, retain their separate identities. They do not become “one.”

Source:http://www.mayapur.com/2016/sri-madhvacharya-appearance-day/

On the occasion of Vijay Dasmi, HH Bhakti Charu Swami gave a wonderful class on Giving Up the Ravan Mentality at ISKCON Ujjain.
Listen to it here: https://goo.gl/8lVQvh

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=32186

Antivirus is a computer software used to prevent detect and remove malicious software. Some products also include protection from other computer threats, such as infected and malicious URLs, spam, scam and phishing attacks, online identity (privacy), online banking attacks, social engineering techniques, advanced persistent threat (APT) attacks. Nowadays all computers come with installation of antivirus, we just need to update it after some period of time, to overcome updated threats and malware. 

Just like computer gets attacked with viruses, our human mind also get succumbed to the viruses in the form of depression, stress, anxiety, anger, frustration, lust, greed, lethargy etc. we also need antivirus to deal with these viruses else our hard disk may get crashed (we call it as psychiatric problems). What's this antivirus for contaminated human mind? It's a Love of Godhead, which purifies our heart and frees us from material conditioning which is strongest malware to deal with and keeps us bound to this miserable world. But the amazing thing is that we have this antivirus already installed within, we just need to update it, off course it is not deactivated but it has stopped working due to our negligence.

It's said in our scriptures, 'nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema ‘sādhya’ kabhu naya', Love of godhead is already within our heart, but due to our contact of material energy since time immemorial we have forgotten to activate and use it and that's why we are getting troubled so much by these viruses. 2 things are necessary to update antivirus, first we need internet connection and other is product key, similarly to awaken our dormant love we need connection and product key to make the installation easy.

In the life of spiritualist this connection and keys are provided by Guru(spiritual guide or teacher) in the form of instructions. Next stanza explains the process of updating antivirus, 'śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya', just by hearing and chanting the glories of God this love naturally awakens in the heart. But after updating once you can't say now I have done it, no...everyday newer and newer viruses maya keeps introducing and if we want to be safe we also need to update this antivirus everyday by taking shelter of Holy name in the association of devotees. So let's update our antivirus before our hard disk get crashed!!

“So far your thinking about things and making so many plans, that is all right, but our first business is Krishna’s plan. That is the only plan, and no matter how many schemes we employ to adjust things in this material world, if they have no solid basis in Krishna’s plan, they remain merely dreams of phantasmagoria. So in this Krishna Consciousness Movement, I am training boys and girls all over the world how to act nicely by practically serving Krishna in their everyday lives. That is more important than trying for something which I may like to do but which will never happen.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, April 10, 1972)

“Our plan should be to accept Krishna’s plan, that’s all. Approved, authorized plan. That is very easy. Take any words of Krishna, it is very easy.” (Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, Tehran, August 12, 1976)

“If you follow Krishna’s instruction, you’ll always be happy. And if you create your own plans, then you’ll be unhappy. This is the whole instruction. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: (BG 18.66) ‘You give up your own plans, nonsense plan. You take My plan. You’ll be happy.’ This is the whole purpose of Bhagavad-gita. You take Krishna’s plan and you’ll be happy.” (Srila Prabhupada Conversation, April 22, 1976, Melbourne)

“We should stop all rascal plan and should take the plan given by God. Then it will be… Everything will be all right. Simple solution. The God’s plan is there in this book. Let us take it. Then everything solved. But ‘No, we are scientist. We are philosopher. We are big man, politician. We shall make our own.’ Do, and suffer. God has given freedom: ‘All right.’Yathecchasi tatha kuru (BG 18.63). Krishna said in theBhagavad-gita after explaining Arjuna everything, then He asked, ‘What you have decided? Your plan or My plan?’ So Krishna said, ‘I am giving you freedom. Whatever you like, you can do.’ The plan is there. Now it is up to us to accept it or reject it. If you reject, you suffer. If you accept, you become happy. So we are requesting people, ‘Accept it.’ This is Krishna consciousness movement. ‘Then you’ll be happy.’ But who cares for us? He is making his own plan. Therefore he must suffer. Nature’s law he cannot avoid. That’s not possible.” (Srila Prabhupada Conversation, Nov. 6, 1976, Vrindavan)

“Krishna is in everyone’s heart. So Krishna has to satisfy so many prayers. The burglar and the thief and the householder — so many prayers. So Krishna’s adjustment… But He’s still… That is Krishna’s intelligence, how He adjusts. He gives everyone freedom. And everyone is given facilities, but still He’s in botheration.

Therefore Krishna advises to his devotees that ‘Don’t plan anything. You rascal, you nonsense, you don’t give Me trouble. Please surrender unto Me. Just go under My plan; you’ll be happy. You are making plan, you are unhappy; I am also unhappy. I am also unhappy. So many plans are coming daily, and I’ll have to fulfill.’ But He’s merciful. Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams… (BG 4.11).

So except the devotee of Krishna, everyone is simply giving Krishna trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble. Therefore, they are called duskrtina. Duskrtina, most miscreant, the miscreants. Don’t make any plan. Accept Krishna’s plan. That will be simply giving trouble to Krishna. Therefore, a devotee does not pray even for his maintenance. That is pure devotee. He doesn’t give trouble to Krishna even for his bare maintenance. If he has no maintenance, he’ll suffer, fasting; still, he’ll not ask Krishna, ‘Krishna, I am very hungry. Give me some food.’ Of course, Krishna is alert for His devotee, but a devotee’s principle is not to place any plan to Krishna. Let Krishna do. Simply we have to do according to the plan of Krishna.

So what is our plan? Our plan is… Krishna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam (BG 18.66). Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji. So our plan is the same thing. We are simply canvassing for Krishna, that ‘You become Krishna conscious.’ We have to show our example, how we are becoming Krishna conscious, how we are worshiping Krishna, how we are going on the street for vibrating Krishna’s name, transcendental name.

Now we are distributing Krishna’s prasadam. As far as possible, our business is to induce persons how he becomes Krishna conscious. That’s all. For that reason, you can make your plan, because that is Krishna’s plan. But that should also be sanctioned by Krishna. Don’t make your own manufactured, concocted plan. Therefore, to guide you, a Krishna’s representative required. That is spiritual master.”(Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s Appearance Day Lecture, Gorakhpur, February 15, 1971)

“Krishna said, ‘My dear Arjuna, you are thinking that you’ll save your relatives, but you are wrong. It is already planned. Those who have come here, they must be killed. That is already My plan. You simply become a instrument.’ Nimitta-matram bhava savyasacin. So when Arjuna understood that ‘It is the Krishna’s plan. Then I am servant of Krishna; I must satisfy Krishna,’ Krishna therefore asked Arjuna, ‘Now, after hearing My instruction in the Bhagavad-gita, what you are going to do?’ Krishna said…, Arjuna replied, nasto mohah smrtir labdha: ‘My Lord Krishna, my illusion is now over.’ Smrtir labdha, ‘I have got my remembrance. Everything belongs to You. For Your satisfaction everything must be done.’ Karisye vacanam tava(BG 18.73). ‘Yes, I’ll fight.’

This is Krishna consciousness. So long you think it is for your satisfaction, that is material. And as soon as you think, as soon as you understand that everything belongs to Krishna and everything should be used for the service of Krishna, that is spiritual. That is the distinction between material and spiritual.” (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Bombay, September 29, 1973)

“Krishna never said to Arjuna that ‘You haven’t got to fight. You sit down, I shall do everything.’ He never said that. ‘You have to fight.’ Nimitta-matram bhava savyasacin (BG 11.33). ‘And the result is already created by Me, but you have to make a manifestation of fighting.’ Just like our Krishna consciousness movement. Within eight or ten years we have developed so much. Is it humanly possible? It is Krishna’s plan. But Krishna says that ‘You go and preach. Take the credit.’ Yes. It is His plan. Actually everything is done by Krishna. He gives the credit to His devotee, that’s all.” (Srila Prabhupada Conversation, New Vrindavan, June 24, 1976)

“Our plan should be to accept Krishna’s plan, that’s all. Approved, authorized plan. That is very easy. Take any words of Krishna, it is very easy.” (Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, Tehran, August 12, 1976)

“So this abodha-jatah, this rascal civilization, whatever they are planning, whatever they are doing, that is simply defeat. He does not know what is the aim of life. They are being defeated. So this time, this life I have become prime minister, and making so many plans and so many things and so many things. Next life I become a dog. That you cannot check. Karmana daiva-netrena (SB 3.31.1). The God’s law, nature’s law, will not take account of your premiership, prime ministership. What you are actually — that is nature’s law. Krishna is there within your heart. Outwardly you become a very big man — minister, president and so on — and God is seeing within what you are. Within.Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese ‘rjuna tisthati (BG 18.61). Within you are a dog, and outside if you are a president, that will not help you. That will not help you. Abodha-jatah.

Therefore whatever plan they are making, that’s all defeat. Plan-making is already there. Krishna has given plan gradually. The last plan is sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja (BG 18.66). This is real plan. Krishna has given so many plans: karma-yogi, dhyana-yogi, this yogi, that. But everywhere He has concluded that the real plan is how to become Krishna conscious. That is real plan.” (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, October 27, 1976)

“We chant Hare Krishna, everything will come out very good. But the rascals will not do that. That is the difficulty. They will make plan. Krishna’s plan they will not take. That is the difficulty.” (Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, Ahmedabad, Sept. 27, 1975)

“Man-made laws cannot work any rupture in Krsna’s plan. Better let us remain now under Krsna’s shelter fully dependent, and we shall remain unaffected by all the man-made difficulties.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, December 1, 1974)

“I am so pleased that you are feeling for me and listening to my old tapes with pleasure. As you are remembering our old meeting days on the second avenue, when I first started my lectures there, similarly I also remember the incidents and speak to so many friends and disciples. So our meeting was Krishna’s desire. Apparently it was accidental but actually it was Krishna’s plan. So we should always remember this plan of Krishna and must continue to work jointly for advancement of Krishna Consciousness movement in this part of the world. I shall always pray to Krishna to give you more and more strength and confidence in this great responsibility and I shall pray for your long life to execute this mission.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, November 18, 1968)

“So do not feel discouraged at all. By Krishna’s Plan everything will come out for the best. We have only to work very sincerely, depending fully on the Mercy of the Lord, and in this consciousness we can make very quick advancement in Krishna Consciousness.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, July 31, 1969)

Source:https://theharekrishnamovement.org/2016/10/07/accept-krishnas-plan/

The fourth Sydney Temple fund raising dinner for the year was attended by about 150 devotees and guests.

Special speakers were HH Bir Krsna Maharaja, Gaura Gopal from Mumbai and myself.

The evening went well with kirtan, dance, progress report and construction commencement dates. Many gave generous donations for the new project.

Source:http://www.ramaiswami.com/new-sydney-temple-project-2/

Spiritual life starts with Sadhana - regulated practices under the guidance of an authentic spiritual teacher for purifying the mind and increasing our attachment to the Supreme. In it's maturity, spiritual life goes beyond regulations into the realm of constant spontaneous engagement. Regulation is required to deliberately engage the mind in spiritual ways when the mind is not completely spiritualised. But when the mind is fully attached to the supreme, it never wanders into non-spiritual or anti-spiritual thoughts.

On the spiritual path those that are most inclined to lead a peaceful existence that respects the value of all life often adopts the vegetarian lifestyle. It is in accordance with the yogic principle of ahimsa, which is to observe nonviolence and abstain from injuring any being in any way. However, in the process of bhakti-yoga, devotion goes beyond simple vegetarianism, and food becomes a method of spiritual progress. In the Krishna temples, food is offered to the Deities in a special sacrament, after which it becomes prasada orprasadam. This means the mercy of the Lord. Thus, the food we eat after it is offered to the Lord becomes a means for our purification and spiritual development. 

      Devotional service or Krishna consciousness is often described as a process of singing, dancing and feasting. But the feasting is done with spiritual food, Krishna prasadam. 

      In the Bhagavad-gita Lord Krishna says, “All that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me.” So offering what we eat to the Lord is an integral part of bhakti-yoga and makes the food blessed with spiritual potencies. Then such food is called prasadam, or the mercy of the Lord.

      The Lord also describes what He accepts as offerings: “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.” Thus, we can see that the Lord does not need anything, but if one offers fruits, grains, and vegetarian foods, He will accept it. The Lord does not accept foods like meat, fish or eggs, but only those that are pure and naturally available without harming others. So we offer what Krishna likes, not those items which are distasteful to Him. We also do not use garlic, onions, or mushrooms when we prepare food for Krishna.

      The Lord is fully satisfied in Himself. He is the creator of all so everything is already His. He supplies us with food through nature, but we give thanks to Him by offering it back in a mood of loving devotion. So if His devotee offers something with love, out of His causeless mercy Krishna accepts it. The Lord is never hungry for our food, but for the love and devotion we offer. And then He reciprocates with that love. 

      So on the spiritual path eating food that is first offered to God is the ultimate perfection of a vegetarian diet. The Vedic literature explains that the purpose of human life is reawakening the soul’s original relationship with God, and accepting prasadam is the way to help us reach that goal.

      The food is meant to be cooked with the consciousness of love, knowing that it will be offered to Lord Krishna. In the spiritual world, Radharani cooks for Krishna and She never cooks the same preparation twice. The temple kitchen is understood to belong toRadharani.

      The ingredients are selected with great care and must be fresh, clean and pure vegetarian. Also, in cooking for Krishna we do not taste the preparations while cooking. We leave the first taste for Krishna when it is offered.

      After all the preparations are ready, we take a portion of each one and place it in bowls on a special plate and take it to the altar to offer it to the Deities or pictures of Krishna.

      Then the preparations are presented with special prayers as we ask that God accept our humble offering. The Lord accepts it with the most important part being the love with which it is offered. God does not need to eat, but it is our love for God which attracts Him to us and to accept our offering. Even if the most sumptuous banquet is offered to God but without devotion and love, Krishna will not be hungry to accept it. It is our love which catches the attention of Lord Krishna who is then inclined to accept our service.

      After He glances over and tastes that loving offering of vegetarian preparations, He leaves the remnants for us to honor and relish. Krishna’s potency is absorbed in that food. In this way material substance becomes spiritualized, which then affects our body and mind in a similar way. This is His special mercy for us. Thus, the devotional process becomes an exchange of love between us and God, which includes food. And that food not only nourishes our body, but also purifies our consciousness.             

      By relishing the sacred food of Krishna prasadam, it purifies our heart and protects us from falling into illusion. In this way, the devotee imbibes the spiritual potency of Lord Krishna and becomes cleansed of sinful reactions by eating food that is first offered in sacrifice to God. We thus also become free from reincarnation, the continued cycle of life and death. This process prepares us for entering the spiritual world since the devotees there also relish eating in the company of Krishna.

      Not only do we make advancement, but also all of the plants that are used in the preparations as an offering to God are also purified and reap spiritual benefit. However, we become implicated in karma if we cause the harm of any living being, even plants, if we use them for food without offering them to God. Thus prasadam also becomes the perfect yoga diet.

      Therefore, the cooking, the offering and then the respectful eating or honoring of this spiritualized food all become a part of the joyful process of devotional service to the Lord. Anyone can learn to do this and enjoy the happiness of experiencing prasadam. The Sunday love feast in the Hare Krishna temples is the opportunity in which everyone can participate in this opulence of Lord Krishna. So we invite you to attend as often as you like and make spiritual advancement simply by relishing Krishna prasadam.  

[This article and more information at  www.stephen-knapp.com]

Source:http://www.stephen-knapp.com/prasada_the_power_of_sacred_food.htm

The phenomenon of something changing from material to spiritual is an extraordinary one, but it is something we as devotees are involved in daily—often several times a day. It happens when prasadam(unoffered food) becomingprasadam, or food sanctified by the Lord.

When I was a new devotee in Montreal, we arranged a program that was to be given on campus at McGill University. The leaflet advertising the program read, “See matter transformed into spirit before your very eyes.” That title certainly drew interest from a lot of people.

During the program, the temple president was giving the presentation, and he was leading up to this point. Finally he said, “OK, now it’s going to happen. You are going to see spirit manifest before your very eyes.”

The students were sitting on the edge of their seats. The plate of unoffered food, which was the feast for that day, was brought in and placed in front of a picture of Panca-tattva (Lord Chaitanya and His four main associates). A devotee then bowed down, rang the bell, and uttered some mantras.

Finally he stood and declared, “Here it is! We brought in ordinary food, and now it’s transformed into spiritual substance.”

And before anyone could challenge, he said, “The proof will be that you eat it now and see the effect that it has.”

As Krishna says, pratyakshavagamam dharmyam: “The principle of religion is understood by direct experience.” (Bhagavad-gita 9.2), or in this case, the proof is certainly in the tasting. Those who have tasted Krishna’s prasadam know that it has extraordinary potency, and eating it is a very different experience from eating food that isn’t offered to the Lord with love and devotion.

So when does prasadam become prasadam? When it is offered, certainly. But for an offering to be successful, it must be accepted. When Krishna accepts what we offer to Him, it becomes prasadam. The word prasadammeans “mercy,” and in the Bhagavad-gita Lord Krishna says, prasade sarva-duhkhanam hanir asyopajayate: “Receiving the mercy of the Lord destroys all misery.” Therefore, when we eat (or, as we say, honor)prasadam, we feel elated. prasadam destroys the results of our past sinful activities. Rupa Goswami says it makes us feel “very auspicious.”

And what is it that is really being accepted? Is it the foods itself? Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita (9.26),

patram pushpam phalam toyam

yo me bhaktya prayacchati

tad aham bhakty-upahritam

ashnami prayatatmanah

“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water, I will accept it.” He says, “I accept the bhakti.” You may offer a leaf, a flower, fruit, milk, or ghee-cooked preparations, but the devotion is what carries those preparations to Krishna, and that’s what makes Him inclined to accept it. Sri Ishopanishad (Mantra 5) tells us, tad dure tad v antike:although Krishna is very far away, He is also very close. So wherever we are when we offer something to Krishna, devotion brings Him right to us.

We should recognize, however, that not all offerings are on the same level; they depend on the nature of the devotee. Although there are many ways to categorize devotees, in this case we may consider three types: motivated, pure, and love-saturated devotees. Consequently, their offerings will fall into one of these three categories.

The Motivated Offering

A motivated offering is when something is offered to Krishna with the idea that some material benefit will come in return, such as liberation from material suffering: “If I give this to Krishna, I’ll be prosperous, I’ll be healthy, my children will find suitable spouses,” and so on. Or someone might desire to be free from suffering, or to recover from an illness—this is offering with motivation. But even that motivated offering can be done in two ways. If it is done through the guru-parampara, the succession of gurus, then Krishna will accept it, because pure devotees are very merciful, and to elevate motivated devotees they beseech Krishna to accept their meager offerings. In other words, it is the purity of the devotees in the guru-parampara that transforms the impure offering into a pure offering. If a motivated person just makes an offering whimsically, however, not through a guru-parampara, then the offering doesn’t becomeprasadam but remains prasadam. Yet still such offerings have value in the sense that the person is thinking, “At least I am offering this to Krishna.”

Of course, whatever way people think of Krishna is beneficial. Akama, sarva-kama, moksha-kama: without material desires, full of material desires, or desiring liberation. In each case they become gradually purified. But unless Krishna exercises some extraordinary mercy, He doesn’t accept food offered with ulterior motives. Yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto ‘pi: “Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement.” (Gurvashtaka 8) Krishna won’t accept something unless it comes through the guru-parampara.

An interesting question often arises regarding congregation members or new devotees who are not initiated but who are making offerings: Are the offerings prasadam or prasadam? In this case we should consider the potency of the disciplic succession. The disciplic succession is not restricted to initiated devotees. If someone receives an instruction from an authorized Vaishnava to offer food, then Krishna will accept their offering. Krishna won’t reject their sincere approach, because such persons are, in effect, accepting the guru-parampara even though they have not yet gone through the process of diksha.

The Pure Offering

The second type of offering is the pure offering, when a devotee offers something to Krishna to please Him. A devotee has no selfish motives; he only wants please the Lord. Therefore at home he offers food to a picture, to a deity, to a shalagrama-shila. And in the temple, pure-heartedpujaris try to please Gaura-Nitai and Radha-Krishna. But even in this category there are two types of offerings: regulated and spontaneous. Regulated offerings are done out of duty, following all the rules and regulations. The other also involves the devotee doing everything just right, but out of a spontaneous attachment to the Lord. Such a devotee has a certain degree of affection, and the dominant thought is not one of obligation—"I will do this because I’ve been instructed to by guru andshastra.” Yet by doing things according to guru and shastra, devotees awaken their natural attraction to Krishna and perform spontaneous acts of devotion out of affection. This affection is a little different from mature love, spiritual love, but it is genuine. Still, both these pure offerings have to be made through the guru-parampara.

The prasadam is also different in this category. When you offer something to Krishna out of duty, He accepts it out of duty. He feels duty-bound. In the Bhagavad-gita (3.24) Krishna says, “If I didn’t follow the rules and regulations, then other people would be misled.” Krishna is acting out of duty. But Krishna considers that of all the devotees who are surrendered to Him, the one who is offering things to Him with affection is most dear to Him. Consequently, Krishna reciprocates in kind: He responds with loving affection toward that devotee.

Naturally the question arises, Are there different kinds of prasadam? And the answer, then, is yes. Krishna says, ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamyaham: “As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly.” (Bg. 4.11) According to the quality and quantity of devotion with which one makes an offering to Krishna, that offering proportionately becomes prasadam. It is interesting to note that a devotee’s ability to taste prasadam will also be in proportion to his or her ability to offerprasadam. In other words, devotees will taste the spiritual nature ofprasadam in the same degree they are manifesting devotion in the offering.

The Offering in Pure Love

The third kind of offering is that which is done with pure love. When devotees come to the stage of loving devotion, Krishna directly accepts offerings from their hands, and He reciprocates with them in kind. Loving devotion is that which is exhibited by Krishna’s eternal associates in the spiritual world, where He is directly engaged in tasting all the types of love His devotees offer.

So what is it that’s different, and how is it that prasadam becomes spiritual? The food looks the same before and after the offering, but what actually happens is that Krishna reciprocates with the devotion of the devotee by manifesting His svarupa-shakti, or His daivi-prakriti, His internal spiritual potency, to the degree that the devotee allows. By “allows” I mean to the degree the devotee wants, or to the degree that he manifests a quality and quantity of devotional service. When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was in Jagannatha Puri and tasted Jagannatha prasadam, He became overwhelmed by the ecstatic taste of the prasadam. He glorified the prasadam and could directly taste the saliva of Krishna’s lotus lips mixed in with the food. He went on to glorify the effect of the touch of Krishna’s lips.

This is what happens when someone in loving devotion tastes food that has been offered to the Lord. And in this case, no doubt, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s ability to taste the potency of the prasadam exceeds that of the brahmanas who offered it to Lord Jagannatha. But, still, thatprasadam is Krishna’s internal potency. It is non-different from Krishna, and it is dynamic. A loving devotee may taste more of the spiritual potency present in prasadam than was originally manifest to the pujariwho offered it.

We may also consider the examples of Prahlada Maharaja and Mirabai: Both were given poison to drink, but because of their great loving devotion, the poison was transformed into nectar and had no effect. Why is that? Because both poison and nutritious food are part of the relativity of this material world. But when we offer something with love to Krishna, then Krishna’s sac-cid-ananda potency manifests in that food. In this way, poison becomes as much prasadam as a pakora does.

Offering Our Lives

We shouldn’t think, however, that an “offering” is simply the prasadam or food we offer to Krishna. Devotees make their entire life an offering:

yat karoshi yad ashnasi

yaj juhoshi dadasi yat

yat tapasyasi kaunteya

tat kurushva mad-arpanam

Krishna is saying, “Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform—do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me.” (Bg. 9.27) Ultimately every breath a devotee takes is an offering: when devotees sleep because they need to maintain their bodies for Krishna’s service, then that sleep becomes an offering to the Lord; their eating to maintain their bodies so they can remain healthy to serve Krishna is an offering to the Lord; when they receive anything—food, soap, money—all of these things are offered to Krishna. In New Vraja Dhama (the devotee farm community in Hungary) anything the devotees acquire or receive, they first offer to Radha-Syamasundara, the presiding deities, on a tray that sits before the altar. In this way the practice of offering everything to Krishna becomes natural.

We should learn how to offer everything. We rise early in the morning, and the first thing we do is offer prayers to the Lord. We chant Hare Krishna not as entertainment but as an offering to glorify Krishna. And when someone lives like that, then in one sense the act of making the offering becomes unnecessary (although devotees do it to set the example) because such devotees are always absorbed in doing everything for Krishna. Therefore, yo me bhaktya prayacchati—the bhakti is already there, and Krishna is very eager to receive it. In fact, Krishna follows behind devotees to accept their loving devotion every moment of the day, in every movement of their bodies, and in every thought they manifest in relation to their devotional service to Him.

Ultimately this is what we aspire for, and this is what loving devotees do: they live for Krishna, and thus everything they do becomes Krishna conscious—it becomes prasadam. The cowherd boys simply sit down with Krishna and eat from their lunch packs—they don’t make any offering to Krishna. When they offer something to Krishna, they take from their lunch packs and put it right in Krishna’s mouth. Or they may even bite off half a sweetball and then say, “Oh, Krishna, just see how wonderful this sweetball tastes!” and put the rest in Krishna’s mouth. Yo me bhaktya prayacchati: it’s just their love. The formality and technicality of offering is no longer relevant, because what Krishna really wants is the love and devotion. That’s all that actually interests Him. And whether Mother Yashoda offers her breast milk, the gopis offer their bodies, the cows offer their milk, the cowherd boys wrestle and jump on Krishna’s shoulders—everything becomes prasadam because everything is an offering of love.

Our business in Krishna consciousness, therefore, is to live in this world of prasadam and thereby become prasadam ourselves. This is what Krishna concludes in the Bhagavad-gita (4.24) when He says,brahmarpanam brahma havir brahmagnau brahmana hutam ...: “A person who is fully absorbed in Krishna consciousness is sure to attain the spiritual kingdom because of his full contribution to spiritual activities.” If we’re thinking about offering everything to Krishna, if our physical acts are an offering to Krishna, if our words are an offering to Krishna, then ultimately we become an offering to Krishna. Then we become prasadam. And Krishna is always very eager to taste the wonderful mellows of our loving offerings to Him.

Source:http://www.krishna.com/when-does-food-become-prasadam

Srila Prabhupada: Whenever there is unwanted population these three things will naturally, by nature’s course, appear- famine, pestilence, and war- and the population will be finished. There was some unwanted population at that time also for which Krishna arranged the war. If we want very good population, very good generation, then we have to follow the principles of Bhagavad-gita. New York, May 30, 1966.

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=32124

After months of planning and meditation we were able to offer the first Rathayatra in Arkansas for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada. The celebration was on Sunday October 2nd at River Market in Little Rock, AR.

Preparations for the event began in March when my husband and I bought a farm cart that was abandoned in a field in North Arkansas. We had a vision to turn this antique cart dating from the early 1900s into a beautiful chariot that we could pull Srila Prabhupada and Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra along the streets of different towns in Arkansas.

The cart wheels and axels were made of steel so we began by removing all the wood. I then painted the steel frame and began drawing a plan on how to build the wooden structure. My husband and I had never tried building anything before. But with care and a prayer the chariot gradually began to take shape.

A trip to Dallas Rathayatra in May allowed us to study how the canopy of their chariot was attached and the mechanism for raising and lowering the canopy. On returning home to Arkansas my husband figured out a similar method for our chariot.

Whilst the Chariot began manifesting in our front yard we had to decide which town we would hold the festival, how we could arrange it and where the deities were to come from. I checked online and could not find any large Jagannath deities to buy.

Little Rock is the state capital of Arkansas so it was appropriate that the first Rathayatra should take place there. Alongside the Arkansas River is a very cosmopolitan area called River Market. Families enjoy walking and cycling along the river, the Clinton Presidential Library is located there and there are restaurants, bars, museums. It is popular with locals and tourists.

In Little Rock is an international manufacturing company from India called Welspun. The company has a Radha Krsna Temple on their property. The pujaris and the senior vice president were very excited at having a Rathayatra in the city. They immediately mobilized their employees and we had the help we needed to put on the festival and parade. One employee came from Jagannath Puri and he had his father arrange for carving of the deities. He then had Them flown over.

The festival began with talks about Rathayatra and its promotion of peace and love, from HG Devakananda Prabhu GBC in Mumbhai, HG Visvambara Prabhu from Dallas and HG Nityananda Dasa GBC in Dallas. Devotees from Washington DC led 300 people singing and dancing in the streets of River Market, as the divine glance of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra graced everyone who saw Them .

Through mercy everything came together.

Sri Rangavati devi dasi is a disciple of HH Indradyumna Swami her husband Bhavananda dasa is a disciple of HH Hridayananda Dasa Goswami. They live in Arkadelphia, AR where they now serve the Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra deities.

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=32126

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=32192

Urmila Devi Dasi: A BOY AND HIS DOG, at least in America, is a symbol of friendship and of healthy psychological development. Srila Prabhupada, however, said that keeping pet dogs is a symptom of how the world has lost Vedic culture. People sometimes say that giving children pets to love helps children develop universal love. But we can easily see that it doesn’t work. Children love their dogs, cats, hamsters, and lizards, yes, but they eat cows, fish, sheep, and chickens. Some children on farms even learn to arrange for the slaughter of animals they pampered as pets. Both pampering and slaughtering stem from a desire to please oneself, or, more accurately, from a desire to please the senses and mind with which one falsely identifies. So teaching a child to love a pet because the pet is cute or loyal or cuddly simply binds the child to valuing bodily pleasure instead of spiritual pleasure. Couldn’t a child being trained in Krsna consciousness keep a pet without becoming materially entangled?
In a few instances in the scriptures, pure devotees of Krsna have shown affection to an animal in such a way that the devotee wasn’t degraded and the animal spiritually benefited. One story concerns Sivananda Sena’s kindness to a dog. While Sivananda was leading a group of devotees to Puri to see Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, a stray dog joined them. Sivananda arranged for the dog’s food and even paid its passage on a ferry. Sivananda’s association so spiritually purified the dog that it got Lord Caitanya’s audience and attained Vaikuntha, the kingdom of God.
But not all elevated souls have the same effect on an animal. Bharata Maharaja, an emperor of the world who had retired to the forest for spiritual practices, took pity on an orphaned deer and raised it. But he became so attached to the deer that he neglected his spiritual life, died thinking of the deer, and had to spend one life as a deer before returning to the human form to perfect his realization. We don’t read that the deer received spiritual benefit from Bharata Maharaja’s care.
We need to teach our children lessons from both these examples. From Sivananda Sena’s story we can teach them to give animals prasadam, food offered to Krsna, and to chant the Hare Krsna mantra to the soul in the animal’s body. From Bharata Maharaja’s story we can teach that we should not take an animal into our lives and hearts in place of the Lord. In neither story did the devotee buy an animal with the idea of loving it. The animals came for shelter, and the devotees simply wanted to benefit them. If even under such circumstances Bharata thought of his own material pleasure in the animal’s company, then how much more difficult it would be for our children to maintain the proper attitude with an animal we have 
bought to please them. Children don’t need pets. If an animal comes, we can guide our children in giving it material and spiritual care. Devotees of Krsna may use animals in practical ways in the Lord’s service. A dog can guard the temple or catch animals that disturb crops. A cow can give us milk to offer to Krsna and dung to fertilize the land. If we are fortunate enough to have working animals under our care, our children will certainly benefit from having chores related to the animals and seeing how to engage them in Krsna’s service.
To keep a cow, especially, is considered a religious activity. The cow is a symbol of religious life, and Lord Krsna is known as the protector and well-wisher of the cow. So helping care for a cow, though not much of an option for city dwellers, is a Vedic way for a child to advance in Krsna consciousness.
Finally we need to train our children in specific guidelines about animals. Carnivorous animal such as dogs and cats should never be allowed in a house. Prabhupada calls such animals untouchable, because touching them invites disease and make one’s clothes and body unclean for worshiping Krsna. Indeed, it is offensive to offer food to the Lord that a lower animal such as a dog or cat has seen first. And while a carnivorous animal freely living outside can catch and eat other animals without sin, if we buy pet food made from meat, fish, or eggs we contribute to the slaughter of innocent creatures.
Let us teach our children to show spiritually equal vision by giving all creatures the opportunity to engage in Krsna’s service. Let us not allow our children to develop material attachments for an animal body.

How did you become a devotee?
I met devotees in place called Denver, Colorado in 1972 and I officially joined the temple in New Vrindavan in March of 1973, which was about 9 months later. Searching, looking for something spiritual. I had been involved in many social and political issues, prior to my joining the HK movement. I suppose? social and political interests or evangelistic spirit lead me to eastern religion and through yoga, reincarnation, vegetarianism I somehow came in contact with people who knew Hare Krishna people and I ended up on one SF in Denver. Somehow or other I came to the temple, liked it but wasn’t thinking of joining. I became interested in philosophy and asked questions. Then in the beginning of 1973 I went back to east coast of America and decide to visit the temple in New York City and then I started regularly go to the SF. And from there I really became attracted to the philosophy, life style, to the devotees. Two things really attracted me: devotees, philosophy and, especially devotees. I saw people were really genuinely happy. I was inspired to take that association and then found out what is their philosophy, their lifestyle. I had been practicing few things on my own, but nothing really serious. I asked questions, read the books, and finally I decided to give it a try. I met some devotees who were visiting New Vrindavan and they invited me to come to visit. I was inspired by the rural atmosphere so in March 1973 I decided to stay.

How long did you stay there? You were serving there as a cook and pujari?

My first service was to take the milk from the cows (I wasn’t milking them. They would give me the milk) and I would separate cream from the milk. And then from the butter I would make cream, like mother Yasodha. Gopi lila. My first service was to churn butter. I used a little milk can, stick, and round thick disc with holes … I would make butter for the Lord. And also distribute the milk to different places where they needed it. That went on for a few months. On Radhastami, September 1973 I got initiated.

Was Prabhupada present there?

Prabhupada came in April 1974 and he gave initiations but I didn’t see much of Srila Prabhupada that time. I attended one of his classes but that was it.

How was for you meeting Srila Prabhupada for the first time?

In New Vrindavan we have an area for sitting outside and he was there surrounded by devotees. He was looking and he looked at me for about … I guess it was like a long second … I was just picked up by enthusiasm. Of course we heard about Prabhupada, we were reading his books, so we were inspired. There was always news where was Prabhupada, what he was doing. That news would come as often a possible and everyone would listen. So we learn about Prabhupada mostly by hearing about him. When I first saw him it was a nice experience but it was really quick. And I sat at one class but I was always in the background, I was never up front.

Was it difficult for you to maintain the relationship with him although you didn’t have so much personal association?

Yes, it was but I was inspired to read his books and through his books and hearing about his activities. … The community leader Kirtananda was very close to Prabhupada, one of his first disciples. So he was all the time talking about Prabhupada, glorifying him. So we learnt a lot about Prabhupada through him. My relationship was mostly with Kirtananda Swami, he was SP’s representative. When you have personal contact you have a tendency to develop strong relationship with that person, so that was more strong even from my relationship with SP although SP was my spiritual master.

One time you said that those devotees who had personal association were attached to this physical association.

Some of them. There is philosophical precept that is explained in Srimad Bhagavatam that real attachment to the spiritual master is through the instructions. Personal association brings about attachment but unless one thought that association goes with the instructions, then if association is not there then what is the association. Instructions remain prominent as our association. Those who were attached to his body then when SP’s body was gone they also were gone. Prabhupada’s presence was very powerful impact to people’s lives. You can see that even today. When spiritual master leaves, others leave or they become more serious because they are attached to the personal form. Spiritual master many times leaves in order to get rid off the nonsense people and to inspire those who are serious to go on a higher level. Because those who are serious once when spiritual master leaves they go deeper to relationship. For the other ones they haven’t really imbibed the instructions into the heart therefore they have a hard time and many they just go. It is a phenomenon of that relationship, it’s historical, not only with Srila Prabhupada but with any spiritual master. There are always those who are attached to the form and those who are attached to instructions.

How did your spiritual life changed since you officially became initiating spiritual master?

It has become a bigger headache. (Laugh) It is like having children. I was always doing it in unofficial way but now it is like there is more of a requirement to do it. I like to do it. I always have done it as a service anyway. When formalization came it was nothing different but now it’s like you have to really become more determined to help that person. Even if they don’t want help. When it is unofficially if they don’t want help you can also back off and there is nothing lost. But if people are falling away you have to go after and try to bring them back. It becomes more active on the part of the guru.

You have deity of Laksmi Narasimha and Jagantaha, also Gaura Nitai …

I have them in Chicago. I also have Prahlada Nrsimhadev.

Who is taking care for them?

One devotee in Chicago, Murari Caitanya Prabhu. He has many deities himself.

How did Lord Nrsimhadeva come to you?

I remember I had another Lord Narasimhadev. I gave it to someone to take care because I was traveling a lot. I don’t remember how this deity came. It’s a mystery. Well it’s not a mystery I just don’t remember. (Laugh) Somehow my memory is blocked on that area. I remember for other deities but for this deity I don’t.

How did you get Prahlada Nrsimhadev?

That is a nice story. When I first saw that deity in German farm I was really attracted to that deity. And then in Croatia, at the camp I saw a deity. I really wanted to have my own. I heard that there was one devotee who was actually making that deity. I made some inquiry to try to get it. That was the first time that I was on this camp, it was in 2002. I couldn’t at all somehow or rather reach him. Some devotees tried for me because I wanted to have this deity but nothing happened. Then one day when I was in Spain I was invited to someone’s house. Over lunch we were talking and I told a story how I wanted to have a deity like that. One man who was there came to me the next day with a box. With a big smile on his face he said: I have a gift for you. And I though what is this I have a lot of stuff to carry. When I opened it up it was Prahlada Nrsimhadev. It was his deity which he put to rest.

Are you maybe attached to some particular form of the Lord?

I like all the forms. I like Balarama. One day devotees from Chicago congregation asked me to give a talk to the kids (ranging from 6 to 14). They said you speak on Krishna forms. I spoke a little bit and asked all the kids what are their favorite forms and at the end they also asked me. And I said Balarama. He is the original spiritual master; he serves the Lord in different ways, he is the actual God who gives service and accepts service. He gives service in the form of expanding himself in the form of the spiritual world. Spiritual world is Balarama, all the planets of the spiritual world are Balarama, Balarama expands and finally becomes Maha Visnu, who expands in ultimately material manifestation of the creation. Maha Visnu, Garbodaksayi Visnu, Balarama is very interesting person. Lord Nityananda and Lord Balarama is the same person. Same person, two different forms. If we want mercy we have to approach him. Gaura Nitai. Krisna Balarama.

You were also actively involved in the preaching program Prison Ministry. Can you say something about that?

There was one devotee, SP’s disciple named Candrashekara. He was requested by SP to preach to people in (…….) and he didn’t do until 1989. He begun 12 years after SP left, by correspondence. He was writing to so many people. He was also putting out some newsletter by ISKCON Prison Ministry so I became inspired. And also before I met Candrasekara there was one devotee who was put into jail (1986/7) and I started to visit him and send him books. He was preaching there and distributing books and I was sending him all kinds of books. Finally I would visit him with other devotees. He was in prison just outside of New Vrindavan, West Virginia prison. After some time I got inspired by that and one thing led to another – I started writning to some prisoners. And when I came in contact with Candrasekara it really started off. In the early days 1986-91 I was actually visiting people in prisons, in 1996/7 I started to write letters more. Now I do both. We also have a newsletter coming out from Chicago written by one ex-inmate. I am involved with that. Prabhupada wanted this kind of preaching, in 1952 he did program in one prison, place called Tihar jail. That was the place where Gandhi was put into prison. Prabhupada was doing this preaching and he also requested from us. It didn’t really get off the ground until lately. Now we have newsletter, devotees in different places of America who are writing to prisoners and sending books. Syama dasi, she does so much, sends tapes, books, videos … she lives out side. Candrasekara write at least 20 handwritten letters a day. I was doing that for years and I still do. Majority of my postal correspondence is at least 95 % with inmate. We also have a program from New Vrindavana where …….. kesh Prabhu and he also sends tests to inmate to learn. I also do Bhagavad Gita test. As far as making devotees is very difficult because when they get out they go to their material life again. But we have good success. One person just came out last year that time and he joined Chicago temple – he is doing newsletter. But when they are in prison they chant and read SP books. In 2002 we did Vyasa puja book for SP – offering from prisoners. You wouldn’t believe their writings. They never met Prabhupada except maybe one or two who were devotees when they were put into jail. 99 % of them never met Prabhupada and they became devotees in jail. Bir Krishna Maharaja has got the most disciples that are inmate – at least 3.

How can we maintain good sadhana and quality sadhu-sanga?

They go together. Sadhu sanga is done in relationship to sadhana. Real sadhu sanga comes by way of sadhana, not separate. When we perform hearing and chanting together with devotees, attend the morning program we attend the real sadhu sanga. Whatever else is necessary becomes easier when we have this hearing and chanting together. Hearing and chanting, sadhana is the basis of all out spiritual advancement. Prabhupada has written: Attend mangala arotik, chant 16 rounds, and hear Srimad Bhagavatm class. If we don’t do this we will become lack, we will fall down. In many letters he states like this. For those who live outside they also have to have some type of sadhana: they must chant, worship their deities and also associate with devotees. It’s a fact when you go for the morning program your Krishna Consciousness becomes strong, if you don’t go it becomes weak. We need that. It’s our life, our spiritual nourishment.

If you live in temple …. There is no quality sadhu sanga…

We should find other times to associate. We associate through service – that is there. We associate at festivals and preaching programs. We can get so much wrapped up in service that it seems that we are not associating. But actually if you are absorbed in service you are actually associating with everybody because that is the real association. But we must also have sadhana type of service (?), just being there and discussing. Prabhupada talks about devotees should get together and discuss the philosophy. You can also do that separately, you can have classes during the day.,.. bodya…….. (Sanskrit) to discuss the different angles of philosophical teachings in my books. That way we become more fixed and more inspired to continue in our devotional life. Association is not simply coming together and maintaining the building.

Tomorrow Radhanath Maharaja is coming. As far as I know you are friends since small …

Well he joined New Vrindavan 1972 , I joined 1973. At that time we had bramacari asram. So we started KC at the same time. Our services were connected. In bramacari asrama he was pujari and I was the cook for a few years. That meant when other devotees were gone, in the building Prabhupada’s palace there was just myself, Maharaja and one other person. We were taking lunch together. But we hardly saw each other – he was fully engaged in deity worship and me also.

I heard that even before as children you actually lived in the same street?

No, I was born on the east coast, he was born in Chicago. That is nice but it is not true. What rumors get around? (laugh) Somehow or other things always get changed. Even Prabhupada said: ‘’Some say Prabhupada said but Prabhupada didn’t say.’’ There are a lot of Prabhupada things that Prabhupada didin’t say. It is just the way the mind is, it likes to recreate into a new way.

What would be your most important message for Slovenia devotees? And also how do you feel here?

Try to develop real, genuine vaishnava relationships, see each other more important than yourself and serve the other devotees in that mood and Krishna will take care of you. If we develop real friendships with devotees that mean that our KC is nice. Friendship means we have to give up our false ego which is hard. We should be concerned about other devotees and not only about our spiritual development. It’s not that temple president is the only one who is concerned about everyone and everyone else are concerned about themselves. That is not the idea. Devotees are concerned about each other because we are all for the same thing, we all try to develop our relationship with Krishna. When we help each other we help ourselves. There must be genuine vaishnava relationships based on spiritual principles not anything different. Devotee relationships go very deep because Krishna consciousness is deep. There should be genuine concern and care for each devotee. If some devotees have trouble it’s not that he/she is in maya. Why not help them to get out of maya?

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=32202

The eighth offense to the holy name is, “To consider the chanting of Hare Krsna to be one of the auspicious ritualistic activities offered in the Vedas as fruitive activities, karma-kanda.” We have said this many times but what does it mean. There are different meanings that we can draw from it but the main meaning that I draw from it is:  A karma-kanda ritual is a material activity, a Vedic ritual which fixes our material situation. So when you do a karma-kanda ritual then you expect auspiciousness, “Now all my problems are gone. The brahmana came to my house and he did this yagna so now all will be fine!”

But chanting the holy name is a transcendental process and it has a different purpose. Its purpose is not to fix our material life! The purpose of chanting is to please Krsna and attract his mercy… and that mercy of Krsna may or may not fix our material life. You may say, “I am a devotee, how could this happen! How could this calamity happen to me?” and just give up chanting. This process is not meant to fix our material life; it is meant to take us back to Krsna and back to devotional service to him.

South Africa is a dangerous country because there is a lot of violence and there were some devotees who were murdered. I remember one program when someone asked, “How could this happen to a devotee? Isn’t Krsna protecting his devotee?” and one of the sannyasis present said, “No, Krsna is always protecting his devotee but Krsna may or may not protect the body but he will always protect the soul!”

In this way, Krsna consciousness is different from karma-kanda and is not going to fix our material problems, so we should not fall into that illusion.

Source:https://www.kksblog.com/2016/10/the-eight-offense-to-the-holy-name/

On the 6th day of the September month 2016, His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj arrived in Bhopal. There was a program organized in the central hall of a reputed hotel of the city. Maharaj chose the topic “How to become immortal”, as the most of the listeners were students and few were congregational devotees. The moment Maharaj reached the forecourt of the hotel; he was greeted and received with rose petals and garlands. Maharaj also encountered around 100 students from different BACE’s (Youth Preaching centres), congregation members and ISKCON Bhopal devotees, dancing in ecstasy for receiving him. In the hall Maharaj was welcomed with lots of haribols!!

Maharaj started the class with differentiating the body and soul. He stated that the entire society is engaged for decorating and maintaining the body without considering the cause of the all things (the spirit soul). He said that any burning object burns till that time when it is in contact with the main fire source and loses its fieriness as gets separated from the fire and turns into ash. But again as it amalgamates with fire it gets its fieriness. After that He said, we all are conditioned soul and had lost our relation with the lord but as we will come in the association of the devotees we will be able to establish the same relation with the lord we had earlier. Maharaj concluded by saying that we should keep a watch on our activities and as we find that Krishna is not in the center, we should bring him in the center again. Also, as you will realize that we are not this body rather we are spirit soul that very moment we become immortal.

Maharaj also asked for questions, but students were hesitating. He then said that please don’t hesitate and feel free to ask any kind of question. Thereafter there was an avalanche of questions and finally Maharaj had to refrain taking question furthermore, due to time constraints. Then there was a very vibrant Kirtan by him and students enjoyed a lot.
Finally Maharaj requested students to come Ujjain in their vacations for few days. And gracefully left the hall and proceeded for the hotel.  He was accompanied by different devotees from ISKCON Ujjain, Bimala Krishna Das, Raghav Pandit Das, Rasananda Das, Sitanath Das and Indresh Das. It was very enlivening and enchanting experience for all the devotees of Bhopal.

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=32210

Goptritve Varana Song 2

1) Within my heart I have always been anxious for the maintenance of my wife and children, my own body and relatives.

2) How will I earn money? How will I obtain fame? How will I arrange the marriages of my sons and daughter?

3) Now, through self-surrender, I have been purged of all anxiety. O Lord, surely You will provide for the maintenance of Your household.

4) Surely You will preserve me, knowing me to be Your own servant. O Lord, in Your devotional service I feel great happiness.

5) All events take place by Your will, O Lord. The deluded soul of this world declares, “I am the doer,” but this is pure folly.

6) If You do not act first, then what is a tiny soul actually able to do? By Your will he can only desire to act, and unless You fulfill his desire, he cannot do anything.

7) I will serve You free from all anxiety, and at home, if any good or evil should occur, it will not be my responsibility.

8) Bhaktivinoda thus gives up his independence and engages in the exclusive service of Your lotus feet with no other interest in life.

Goptritve Varana Song 3

1) Now that I have surrendered all I possess, I fall prostrate before Your house. You are the Supreme Lord. Kindly consider me Your household dog.

2) Chain me nearby and maintain me as You will. I shall remain at the doorstep and allow no enemies to enter Your house. I will keep them at the bounds of the moat surrounding Your home.

3) Whatever remnants Your devotees leave behind after honoring Your prasada will be my daily sustenance. I will feast on those remnants with great ecstasy.

4) While sitting up, while lying down, I will constantly meditate on Your lotus feet. Whenever You call, I will immediately run to You and dance in rapture.

5) I will never think of my own maintenance but rather remain transported by a multitude of ecstasies. Bhaktivinoda accepts You as his only support.

Source:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=32214

Overcoming Material Desires

Statement of the problem. What are we here for?

Madhya‑lila: Chapter Twelve, Text 135

ei‑mata puradvara‑age patha yata sakala sodhila taha ke varnibe kata

TRANSLATION

Outside the gateway of the temple, aIl the roads were also.cleansed, and no one could tell exactly how this was done.

In commenting on the cleansing of the Gundica temple, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was personally giving instructions on how one should receive Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, within one’s cleansed and pacified heart. If one wants to see Krsna seated in his heart, he must first cleanse the heart, as prescribed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His Siksastaka (ceto‑darpana‑marjanam). In this age, everyone’s heart is unclean, as confirmed in Srimad‑Bhagavatam (hrdy antah‑stho hy abhadrani).To wash all dirty things accumulated within the heart, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised everyone to chant the Hare Krsna mantra. The first result will be that the heart is cleansed (ceto‑darpana‑marjanam). Similarly, Srimad Bhagavatam (1.2.17) also confirms this statement:
srnvatam sva‑kathah krsnah punya‑sravana‑kirtanah
hrdy antah‑stho hy abhadrani vidhunoti suhrt‑satam

“Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who relishes His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.”

If the devotee at all wants to cleanse his heart, he must chant and hear the glories of the Lord, Sri Krsna (srnvatam sva‑kathah krsnah). This is a simple process. Krsna Himself will help cleanse the heart because He is already seated there. Krsna wants to continue living within the heart, and the Lord wants to give directions, but one has to keep his heart as clean as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu kept the Gundica temple. The devotee therefore has to cleanse his heart just as the Lord cleansed the Gundica temple. In this way one can be pacified and enriched in devotional service. If the heart is filled with straw, grains of sand, weeds or dust (in other words, anyabhilasa‑purna), one cannot enthrone the Supreme Personality of Godhead there. The heart must be cleansed of all material motives brought about through fruitive work, speculative knowledge, the mystic yoga system and so many other forms of so‑called meditation. The heart must be cleansed without ulterior motive. As Srila Rupa Gosvami says: anyabhilasita sunyam jnana‑karmady‑anavrtam. In other words, there should not be any external motive. One should not attempt material upliftment, understanding the Supreme by speculative knowledge, fruitive activity, severe austerity and penance, and so on. All these activities are against the natural growth of spontaneous love of Godhead. As soon as these are present within the heart, the heart should be under-stood to be unclean and therefore unfit to serve as Krsna’s sitting place. We cannot perceive the Lord’s presence in our hearts unless our hearts are cleansed.

A material desire is explained as a desire to enjoy the material world to its fullest extent. In modern language, this is called economic development. An inordinate desire for economic development is considered to be like straws and grains of sand within the heart. If one is overly engaged in material activity, the heart will always remain disturbed. As stated by Narottama dasa Thakura:
samsara visanale, diva‑nisi hiya jvale, judaite na kainu upaya

In other words, endeavor for material opulence is against the principle of devotional service. Material enjoyment includes activities such as great sacrifices for auspicious activity, charity, austerity, elevation to the higher planetary system, and even living happily within the material world.

Modernized material benefits are like the dust of material contamination. When this dust is agitated by the whirlwind of fruitive activity, it overcomes the heart. Thus the mirror of the heart is covered with dust. There are many desires to perform auspicious and inauspicious activities, but people do not know how life after life they are keeping their hearts unclean. One who cannot give up the desire for fruitive activity is understood to be covered by the dust of material contamination. Karmis generally think that the interaction of fruitive activities can be counteracted by another karma, or fruitive activity. This is certainly a mistaken conception. If one is deluded by such a conception, he is cheated by his own activity. Such activities have been compared to an elephant’s bathing. An elephant may bathe very thoroughly, but as soon as it comes out of the river, it immediately takes some sand from the land and throws it all over its body. If one suffers due to his past fruitive activities, he cannot counteract his suffering by performing auspicious activities. The sufferings of human society cannot be counteracted by material plans. The only way suffering can be mitigated is by Krsna consciousness. When one takes to Krsna consciousness and engages himself in the devotional service of the Lord‑‑beginning with chanting and hearing the glories of the Lord‑‑the cleansing of the heart begins.

Impersonal speculation, monism (merging into the existence of the Supreme), speculative knowledge, mystical yoga and meditation are all compared to grains of sand. They simply cause irritation to the heart. No one can satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead by such activities, nor do we give the Lord a chance to sit in our hearts peacefully. Rather, the Lord is simply disturbed by them. Sometimes yogis and jnanis in the beginning take to the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha‑ mantra as a way to begin their various practices. However, when they falsely think that they have attained release from the bondage of material existence, they give up chanting. They do not consider that the ultimate goal is the form of the Lord or the name of the Lord. Such unfortunate creatures are never favored by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for they do not know what devotional service is. They are described in Bhagavad‑gita in this way

tan aham dvisatah kruran samsaresu naradhaman ksipamy ajasram asubhan asurisv eva yonisu

“Those who are envious and mischievous, who are the lowest among men, are cast by Me into the ocean of material existence, into various demoniac species of life.” (Bg. 16.19)

The demons are always envious of the Lord and are therefore most mischievous. By His practical example, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has shown us that all the grains of sand must be picked up thoroughly and thrown outside. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also cleansed the outside of the temple, fearing that the grains of sand would again come within.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura explains that even though one may become free from the desire for fruitive activity, sometimes the subtle desire for fruitive activity comes into being within the heart. One often thinks of conducting business to improve devotional activity. However, the contamination is so strong that it may later develop into misunderstanding, described as kuti‑nati (faultfinding) and pratisthasa (the desire for name and fame and for high position), jiva‑himsa (envy of other living entities), nisiddhacara (accepting things forbidden in the sastra), kama (desire for material gain) and puja (hankering for popularity). The word kuti‑nati means duplicity. As an example, one may attempt to imitate Srila Haridasa Thakura by living in a solitary place. One’s real desire may be for name and fame‑‑in other words, one thinks that fools will accept one to be as good as Haridasa Thakura just because one lives in a solitary place. These are all material desires. A neophyte devotee is certain to be attacked by other material desires as well‑‑women and money. In this way the heart is again filled with dirty things and becomes harder and harder, like that of a materialist. Gradually one desires to become a reputed devotee or an avatara (incarnation).

The word jiva‑himsa (envy of other living entities) actually means stopping the preaching of Krsna consciousness. Preaching work is described as paropakara, welfare activity for others. Those who are ignorant of the benefits of devotional service must be educated by preaching. If one stops preaching and simply sits down in a solitary place, he is engaging in material activity. If one desires to make a compromise with the Mayavadis, he is also engaged in material activity. A devotee should never make compromises with nondevotees. By acting as a professional guru, mystic yogi or miracle man, one may cheat and bluff the general public and gain fame as a wonderful mystic, but all this is considered to be dust, straw and grains of sand within the heart. In addition, one should follow the regulative principles and not desire illicit sex, gambling, intoxicants and meat.

To give us practical instructions, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu cleansed the temple twice. His second cleansing was more thorough. The idea was to throw away all the stumbling blocks on the path of devotional service. He cleansed the temple with firm conviction, as is evident from His using His own personal garments for cleaning. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to see personally that the temple was thoroughly cleansed as clean as marble. Clean marble gives a cooling effect. Devotional service means attaining peace from all disturbances caused by material contamination. In other words, it is the process by which the mind is cooled. The mind can be peaceful and thoroughly cleansed when one no longer desires anything but devotional service.

Even though all dirty things may be cleansed away, sometimes subtle desires remain in the mind for impersonalism, monism, success and the four principles of religious activity (dharma, artha, kama and moksa). All these are like spots on clean cloth. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also wanted to cleanse all these away.

By His practical activity, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu informed us how to cleanse our hearts, Once the heart is cleansed, we should invite Lord Sri Krsna to sit down, and we should observe the festival by distributing prasada and chanting the Hare Krsna maha‑mantra. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to teach every devotee by His personal behavior. Everyone who spreads the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepts a similar responsibility. The Lord was personally chastising and praising individuals in the course of the cleaning, and those who are engaged as acaryas must learn from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu how to train devotees by personal example. The Lord was very pleased with those who could cleanse the temple by taking out undesirable things accumulated within. This is called anartha‑nivrtti, cleansing the heart of all unwanted things. Thus the cieansing of the Gundicamandira was conducted by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to let us know how the heart should be cleansed and soothed to receive Lord Sri Krsna and enable Him to sit within the heart without disturbance.

Srila Rupa Goswami’s padyavali, Sudainya-ukti, verse 59.

namani pranayena te sukrtinam tanvanti tundotsavam
dhamani prathayanti hanta jalada-syamani netranjanam
samani sruti-saskulim muralika jatany alankurvate
kamanivrta-cetasam iha vibho nasapi na sobhate

namani-the names; pranayena-with love; te-of You; sukrtinam-of the saintly devotees; tanvanti-manifest; tunda-for the mouth; utsavam-a jubilant festival; dhamani-the bodily splendor; prathayanti-manifests; hanta-indeed; jalada-of a raincloud;(who gives water) syamani-the dark color; netra-for the eyes; anjanam-ointment; samani-the music; sruti-saskulim-the ears; muralika-from the flute; jatani-produced; alankurvate-decorates; kama-in material sense gratification; anivrta-finding happiness; cetasam-in our hearts; iha-here; vibho-O almighty Lord; na-does not; asa-desire; api-also; nah-to us; sobhate-appear beautiful.

O My Lord! Your holy name has affectionatly manifested a festival in the mouths of pious people. (devotees). Your bodily splendor, like a dark raincloud, are the black ointment for their eyes. The music of Your flute has decorated their ears. But our heart has been occupied with material desires, so, we do not desire to relish this. It does not appear beautiful to us.

Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati’s Caitanya-Candramrta, verse 49.

Kalah kalair balina indriya‑vairi‑vargah sri‑bhakti‑marga iha kantaka‑koti‑ruddhah
ha ha kva yami vikalah kim aham karomi caitanyacandra yadi nadya krpam karosi

kalah‑the time; kalih‑the age of Kali; balinah‑very strong; indriya‑senses;vairi‑vargah‑enemies; sri-bhakti‑ of devotional service; margah‑the path; iha‑here; kantaka‑of thorns; koti‑with millions; ruddhah‑obstructed; ha‑alas; ha‑alas; kva‑where?; yami‑shall I go; vikalah‑weak and agitated; kim‑what?; aham‑shall I; karomi‑do; caitanyacandra‑ O Lord Caitanyacandra; yadi‑if; na‑not; adya‑now; krpam‑mercy; karosi‑You do;

Now it is the age of Kali. My enemies, the senses, have become very strong. The splendid path of pure devotional service is blocked by millions of brambles. I am weak and agitated. Alas! Alas! Where can I go? O Lord Caitanyacandra, if now You will not give me Your mercy, what can I do?

Srila Rupa Goswami’s astadasa-cchandah-stava verse 11 (part 2)

api spharamode pratipada sudha-koti-madhure purana-gramantar vahati tava lila-rasa-jhare
mano-vatsah patum visaya-visa-garte visati me krpa-yastya turnam damaya tam amum tarnaka-pate

api-although; sphara-intense; amode-sweet fragrance; pratipada-at every moment; sudha-of nectar; koti-millions; madhure-sweetness; purana-of the Puranas; grama-the multitude; antah-within; vahati-flowing; tava-of You; lila-of transcendental pastimes; rasa-of nectar; jhare-in the swift stream; manah-of the mind; vatsah-the calf; patum-to drink; visaya-of material sense happiness; visa-of the poison; garte-in the hole; visati-enters; me-of me; krpa-of mercy; yastya-with the stick; turnam-quickly-damaya-bring under control- tam-it; amum-him; tarnaka-pate-O Lord of the calves.

Although the very sweet nectar stream of Your transcendental pastimes swiftly flows through the Puranas, the calf of my mind has now entered a ditch to drink the poison of material sense happiness. O Lord of the calves, please quickly curb him with Your stick of mercy.
Srimad‑Bhagavatam Canto 7: Chapter Nine, Text 40

jihvaikato ‘cyuta vikarsati mavitrpta sisno ‘nyatas tvag‑udaram sravanam kutascit
ghrano ‘nyatas capala‑drk kva ca karma‑saktir bahvyah sapatnya iva geha‑patim lunanti

jihva‑‑the tongue; ekatah‑‑to one side; acyuta‑‑O my infallible Lord; vikarsati‑‑attracts; ma‑‑me; avitrpta‑‑not being satisfied; sisnah‑‑the genitals; anyatah‑‑to another side; tvak‑‑the skin (for touching a soft thing); udaram‑‑the belly (for various types of food); sravanam‑‑the ear (for hearing some sweet music); kutascit‑‑to some other side; ghranah‑‑the nose (for smelling); anyatah‑‑to still another side; capala‑drk‑‑the restless eyesight; kva ca‑‑somewhere; karma‑saktih‑‑the active senses; bahvyah‑‑many; sa‑patnyah- co‑wives; iva‑‑like; geha‑patim‑‑a householder; lunanti‑‑annihilate.
TRANSLATION

My dear Lord, O infallible one, my position is like that of a person who has many wives, all trying to attract him in their own way. For example, the tongue is attracted to palatable dishes, the genitals to sex with an attractive woman, and the sense of touch to contact with soft things. The belly, although filled, still wants to eat more, and the ear, not attempting to hear about You, is generally attracted to cinema songs. The sense of smell is attracted to yet another side, the restless eyes are attracted to scenes of sense gratification, and the active senses are attracted elsewhere. In this way I am certainly embarrassed.

PURPORT

The human form of life is meant for God realization, but this process, which begins with sravanam kirtanam visnoh‑‑hearing and chanting of the holy name of the Lord‑‑is disturbed as long as our senses are materially attracted. Therefore devotional service means purifying the senses. In the conditioned state our senses are covered by material sense gratification, and as long as one is not trained in purifying the senses, one cannot become a devotee. In our Krsna consciousness movement, therefore, we advise from the very beginning that one restrict the activities of the senses, especially the tongue, which is described by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura as most greedy and unconquerable. To stop this attraction of the tongue, one is authoritatively advised not to accept meat or similar uneatable things nor to allow the tongue to hanker to drink or smoke. Even the drinking of tea and coffee is not permitted. Similarly the genitals must be restricted from illicit sex. Without such restraint of the senses, one cannot make advancement in Krsna consciousness. The only method of controlling the senses is to chant and hear the holy name of the Lord; otherwise, one will always be disturbed, as a householder with more than one wife would be disturbed by them for sense gratification.

Srimad‑Bhagavatam Canto 9: Chapter Nineteen, Text 14

na jatu kamah kamanam upa bhogena samyati havisa krsna‑vartmeva bhuya eva bhivardhate

na‑‑not; jatu‑‑at any time; kamah‑‑lusty desires; kamanam‑‑of persons who are very lusty; upabhogena‑‑by enjoyment of lusty desires; samyati‑‑can be pacified; havisa‑‑by supplying butter; krsna‑vartma‑‑fire; iva‑‑like; bhuyah‑‑again and again; eva‑‑indeed; abhivardhate‑‑increases more and more.
TRANSLATION

As supplying butter to a fire does not diminish the fire but instead increases it more and more, the endeavor to stop lusty desires by continual enjoyment can never be successful. [In fact, one must voluntarily cease from material desires.]

Bhagavad‑gita As It Is: Chapter Three, Text 37

sri‑bhagavan uvaca
kama esa krodha esa rajo‑guna‑samudbhavah
mahasano maha‑papma viddhy enam iha vairinam

sri‑bhagavan uvaca‑‑the Personality of Godhead said; kamah‑‑lust; esah‑‑this; krodhah‑‑wrath; esah‑‑this; rajah‑guna‑‑the mode of passion; samudbhavah‑‑born of; maha‑asanah‑‑all‑devouring; maha‑papma‑‑greatly sinful; viddhi‑‑know; enam‑‑this; iha‑‑in the material world; vairinam‑‑greatest enemy.
TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all‑devouring sinful enemy of this world.
PURPORT

When a living entity comes in contact with the material creation, his eternal love for Krsna is transformed into lust, in association with the mode of passion. Or, in other words, the sense of love of God becomes transformed into lust, as milk in contact with sour tamarind is transformed into yogurt. Then again, when lust is unsatisfied, it turns into wrath; wrath is transformed into illusion, and illusion continues the material existence. Therefore, lust is the greatest enemy of the living entity, and it is lust only which induces the pure living entity to remain entangled in the material world. Wrath is the manifestation of the mode of ignorance; these modes exhibit themselves as wrath and other corollaries. If, therefore, the mode of passion, instead of being degraded into the mode of ignorance, is elevated to the mode of goodness by the prescribed method of living and acting, then one can be saved from the degradation of wrath by spiritual attachment.
The Supreme Pewrsonality of Godhead expanded Himself into many for His ever‑increasing spiritual bliss, and the living entities are parts and parcels of this spiritual bliss. They also have partial independence, but by misuse of their independence, when the service attitude is transformed into the propensity for sense enjoyment, they come under the sway of lust. This material
creation is created by the Lord to give facility to the conditioned souls to fulfill these lustful propensities, and when completely baffled by prolonged lustful activities, the living entities begin to inquire about their real position.

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