By Radhanath Swami

(SB 11.10.17)

Translation

Although the performer of fruitive activities desires perpetual happiness, it is clearly observed that materialistic workers are often unhappy and only occasionally satisfied, thus proving that they are not independent or in control of their destiny. When a person is always under the superior control of another, how can he expect any valuable results from his own fruitive actions?

Purport

Although materialistic persons reject Kṛṣṇa consciousness and instead pursue temporary sense gratification, even that sense gratification is often beyond their reach. If a person could really control his destiny, why would he create problems for himself? No intelligent person would impose death, old age or disease upon himself or his loved ones. One should recognize that these unwanted miseries are forced upon one by a higher power. Since we are all obviously under superior control, the atheistic philosophy advising one to simply perform fruitive activities and create a happy life is most imperfect.

Due to the influence of time, happiness and misery are created. When a woman becomes pregnant, her husband, relatives and friends eagerly await the birth of the child. As time passes and the child is born, everyone feels great happiness. But as the child grows into old age and eventually dies, that same passage of time is a cause of suffering. Ignorant persons vainly seek help from scientists who work feverishly and fruitlessly in their laboratories to stop death. In modern times, inventions have been created to eliminate the inconveniences of life, but the maintenance and production of such conveniences has proven to be unbearably inconvenient for hundreds of millions of people throughout the world. Only the most foolish person will propose that there is no superior controller and that one can achieve favorable results by expert performance of material activities. Ultimately all material activities are useless because they end in annihilation. If one is driving a car but has only limited control, the situation is most dangerous and must lead inevitably to disaster. Similarly, although we are trying to direct the material body to happiness, we are not in full control of the bodily demands, and therefore there will inevitably be disaster. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (9.3),

aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā

dharmasyāsya parantapa

aprāpya māḿ nivartante

mṛtyu-saḿsāra-vartmani

“Those who are not faithful on the path of devotional service cannot attain Me, O conqueror of foes, but return to birth and death in this material world.” If one is not a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the eventual result of his activities is simply mṛtyu-saḿsāra — repeated birth and death.

This chapter is entitled as The nature of fruitive activities. It is herein explained by the Lord, how illusion of material life is that we are the controllers of our destiny. In the process of fruitive activities, people are thinking that they are the cause of the results of their actions. Krishna says in the Gita that this is Ahankaar, this is false ego. The foolish living being thinks himself to be the cause of the results of his actions. But actually they are carried out by the nature. They are carried out by the higher powers and the evidence of this is very clearly explained in the purport that in everyone’s performance of actions in this world they are seeking pleasure, they are seeking health, they are seeking long lives. But yet Mrtyu samasara comes upon everyone- the repetition of birth and death and the frustration. So ultimately there is higher power we are all under the control of.

Story of Cyavana muni

In Srimad Bhagavatam in ninth canto, there is a story of Cyavana muni. He was very powerful yogi. Millions of time more powerful than any materialist today in his ability to fulfill his material desires. He had attained very great mystic powers. And of course when one becomes very powerful spiritually or materially, the tendency is to become very proud and in pride the greatest danger is that we can offend saintly persons. So Chyavana muni , as it is described, somehow offended the great devotee Garuda. By doing this, although he was very respected for his very high position, if Krishna does not protect us then nobody however great we are , however advanced spiritually we are, we cannot control our senses even from the grossest activities. It is not possible. The greatest illusion even in spiritual life is to think that by spiritual advancement we can protect ourselves from falling into clutches of Maya, but the fact is

rāga-dveṣa-vimuktais tu

viṣayān indriyaiś caran

ātma-vaśyair vidheyātmā

prasādam adhigacchati

(BG 2.64)

It is only by the mercy of Krishna that we can maintain any spiritual position at all. It is only by the mercy of Krishna that we can control our senses, even from the slightest temptation of illusory energy . It is not by our own power. Of course we must follow the rules and regulations of Krishna Consciousness in spiritual life according to our capacity and when Krishna sees that we are sincere and we are humbly attempting and trying, He will give us the power to control our senses and overcome the temptations of illusion. But without Krishna’s help, we cannot do anything.

So Chayavan muni, although was very advanced in the yogic process, because of this pride he offended a great devotee and therefore Krishna simply withdrew His mercy and if Krishna can withdraw His mercy from a great spiritualist like this then what to speak of the gross materialist who is trying to look for pleasures in this world. Such a powerful yogi he was. He was in the Yamuna under the water for thousands of years performing meditations. Who of us could do that? Such power of control that he even had the power to control his breath. He did not even have to breathe air for thousands of years. This is the power he had to control his senses.

While he was living under the water one day, he saw a male and female fish enjoying the pleasures of sex together. Now what is our position in comparison to his as far as the ability to control our senses. And when we see birds or insects or fish having sexual pleasure together, does it disturb our minds? We just go on walking, doesn’t mean anything to us, but illusory energy of the Lord is so powerful, that if one is not protected by the lord then even something so insignificant as that, can completely infatuate one’s attention . So Chayavan muni was thinking when he saw all this that “Oh! the pleasures of sex are so wonderful .Look at how these fish are enjoying.” He thought I must have this facility. He came out of the water, simply hunting for a consort to enjoy material pleasures with and he came across some beautiful damsels who were princesses. He approached their father who said,” You are an old man and my daughters are not attracted to you. Besides being very old and having long-matted grey hair, and because he was under water for so long, his skin was all wrinkled from too much exposure to water. They were not at all attracted. After all young ladies do not wish to have a husband who is an old sadhu . They like someone who is very strong, handsome and wealthy. So by his mystic power he transformed his form into the most young beautiful, handsome prince . Who of us could do that? Then when he came, all the princesses wanted him. So he expanded himself to satisfy each and every one of them. In this way he married, he enjoyed like anything. He was given tremendous wealth , tremendous powers. By his mysticism, he was able to create beautiful kingdoms, wonderful wonderful facilities to enjoy. He had literally at his control everything he wanted by his mystic powers and by the inheritance of what he had been given by his father -in- law. With these beautiful princesses, to the extent that anyone could imagine, he was enjoying material life. But after a short time of doing like this, he realized that no matter in how many forms I expand myself, no matter how much wealth I create by my mystic powers, no matter how beautiful these young girls are, he is frustrated and they were frustrated. He could understand what a great mistake he had made and he realized that this is because I had offended this great devotee of the Lord that I lost all my intelligence completely. Ultimately he and his wives all renounced everything and accepted the renounced order. So what is there to be learnt from this story. First of all whoever we are, however great we are, unless we are humbly taking shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord it is not possible for us ultimately to control our senses because we are all under His power. He can take away our intelligence. He can cover us by Maya. He can cover us by yoga maya. He can do anything He wants. We are eternally His servitors.

Story of Vishvamitra muni

We read a similar story in the life of Vishvamitra muni. He was such a great powerful yogi that he was able to sit in meditation in the winter in the peaks of the Himalayas with breaking ice and keeping his body up to his neck in the ice for 6 months at a time. Sometimes we are afraid of a cold bath which lasts about 15 or 20 seconds . He spent 6 months in ice without being disturbed, such was his power. But by the power of the illusory energy, just the tinkling of the ankle bells of Menaka was able to bewilder his mind and cast him deeply into the abyss of the material sense enjoyment. But it is described that Srila Haridas Thakur, even the personification of Maya with all of her potencies came before him to try to dissuade him from his wows. Because with great humility he was taking shelter of Krishna through His name, ultimately Maya became his disciple. Ultimately she surrendered to him. So the conclusion is that the devotee of the Lord understands that it is only by the power of God, it is only by the power of Krishna that we can do anything. It is only by power of Krishna that we can be protected and therefore, the devotee with all humility is always seeking shelter of the lord. Therefore such a devotee is never vanquished by the material energy. But those foolish materialistic people and even those less intelligent spiritualists who are dependent on their own powers, on their own abilities, on their own opulence, they are birth after birth after birth frustrated , frustrated by the inflictions of the modes of material nature.

Depending on Krishna

The greatest, most powerful materialistic heroes in the world throughout history- where are they now? They have all succumbed to death. They have all succumbed to old age. They have all been defeated. Material nature defeats every one and this is the essential principle in the 11th chapter of the Gita, where Krishna manifests His universal form to show that I am devouring everyone, I am consuming everyone. In my form of time, everyone is completely under my control and nobody can escape it even for a second and the greatest illusion it is to think that we have escaped it. The difference between the sura or the asura, the demoniac and the devotee is simply that. And therefore I will act independent of Krishna’s will. In the universal form of God He showed that He is devouring every living being from the greatest most powerful heroes to the insignificant insects in His form of time. Devotee accepts it. Devotee admits it ,“Yes , KRISHNA You are in control. You have created, You are maintaining and you will annihilate. I surrender to you”. Srila Prabhupada used the example that a cat keeps a rat in her mouth holding with her teeth and the when rat looks when she looks upon that cat in great fear and horror, the rat is seeing this cat as death personified. The same cat when she is holding her kittens with the same mouth, the kitten sees the cat as the most protective loving mother. What is the difference? This is difference of perception. Because the rat is trying to act independent of the will of the cat. What is that saying, when cat is away the rats will play? Because the rat has a separate interest trying to enjoy separate therefore sees that cat as death personified and ultilmately is killed by the cat. But the kitten , because the kitten has learned to take shelter, to surrender to the cat, the same cat appears to the kitten as the most loved, blessed, protected mother. So similarly this human society is called rat race. What does rat race mean? That means when the cat is away the mice and rats will play. We are thinking there is no God. We are thinking that God is not in control therefore either the God doesn’t exist or He is somewhere else and therefore we are all doing our own thing. We are all trying to make our arrangements, our own grand plans for material enjoyment, for progress and civilization. Therefore when death comes, we view death as the most cruel, terrible cheater taking everything away. Krishna says,’ I am death personified. For a devotee’ , but because a devotee is conscious that I can do nothing without Krishna , Krishna is everything, I can only be His servant. Let me just serve His will and whatever the result is. We are not attached to the results of our activities. We understand that the results are in the control of Krishna This is the teaching of karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana(BG 2.47). A devotee simply does his service for the pleasure of the Lord and is not at all attached to the fruits of his actions because he knows ultimately Krishna is in control. Whether I am a success or a failure, it is not in my hands. It is in God’s hand. I simple have to try my best. Such a devotee who is always absorbed in loving , humility in devotional service, such a devotee understands that death is but my Lord so kindly taking me back to His eternal abode. Devotee is not afraid of death. Devotee sees Krishna in life and sees Krishna in death because the devotee is taking shelter of Krishna.

bhajahū re mana śrī-nanda-nandana
abhaya-caraṇāravinda re

My dear mind, please take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord. Surrender to Him. Be His servant. Only in this way you will be free from fear, anxiety, frustration and suffering. But any other arrangement we try to make be it on any various spiritual or material path, ultimately we will end in frustration and anxiety unless we learn to take shelter in all humility of the service of the Lord. Whoever we are, whether we are bramhacharis, grahasthas, vanprasthas,or sanyasis we must know that we do not have the power to control the mind, our senses even for a moment without the help of God, without the grace of God. Krishna’s illusory energy is so powerful. Even lord Shiva, the greatest of all vaishnavas and expansion of Lord Himself was completely mad after Mohini murti. Chasing after a young woman, even so intoxicated by this that Mohini Murti ran by his own disciples great sanyasis who were saying Om Namah Shivaya and performing great tapasya, giving up all forms of sensual experiences and here the lord they were worshipping comes by them running after a young woman, what is this? Lord Shiva what are you doing? We have given up all these things for you and you are doing. They could not understand. Ultimately lord Shiva became so completely intoxicated by the beauty of Mohini murti and finally in the end when he came back to his senses he was not even ashamed. He was proud. He was proud that my Lord is so great, that if He wants to take away my intelligence and make me into a complete sense enjoyer that is His glory. He was not ashamed thinking, oh I have lost my reputation. He was thinking no no if My lord wants to do like this, this is His power. I am completely subordinate to Him. So what to speak of us, our position. If Krishna wants to protect us nothing came disturb us and if Krishna wants to disturb us nothing can protect us. So therefore we simply have to try to please Krishna. Devotee has no other ambition. He doesn’t want to be great spiritualist. He doesn’t want to be powerful. He doesn’t want to attain mystic power. He doesn’t want to perform tremendous tapasya. He simply wants to please Krishna . If Krishna is pleased with our humble service nothing can harm us. If Krishna is not pleased then it is just the matter of time till through His illusiory energy we must succumb. So therefore this is the difference between the material consciousness and spiritual consciousness. One surrenders understanding our complete dependence on the Lord.
Real meaning of Independence

Recently we were at the rainbow gathering and the 4th of July came and we were discussing this idea that throughout America this is a very holy day. It is the day of independence. I think the 4th of July was the day when first the American politicians wrote the declaration of independence. They wanted to declare their independence from the British. Then there was a great war, the revolutionary war and ultimately the American colonies were victorious and they gained independence. Every year on 4th of July there is this great celebration, ‘Independence Day’. They are blowing off the fireworks, and all sorts of speeches and celebration. But what type of independence. First of all we came here and we took away the independence of American Indians. What is this? First, some Europeans came and then they fought war with the American Indians to take away their independence. Then the British came and took away our independence . Then we fought against them and took our independence. But the fact is that of all those people who signed the declaration of independence, is anyone of them here today to tell us about their independence. They have all succumbed to the repetition of birth and death . They have all attained what every materialist must attain – old age, disease and death. Therefore what sort of independence. Real independence comes when we declare from the core of our hearts that we are utterly and completely dependent on Krishna, dependent on God. The greatest illusion, an obstacle for real happiness and joy in this entire existence is that we are independent. Therefore every day devotees celebrate beginning at 3 or 4 in the morning, we are to celebrate that we are 100% , 24 hours a day, dependent on the mercy of Krishna. And in that dependence we recognize that dependence and glorify who we are depending on in everything we do and everything we say and potentially in everything we think.

Krishna is everything. We are His insignificant parts. He is nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13) . That one Supreme Creator and controller of all that exists is completely masterminding this entire creation and all living beings are utterly dependent on His control. That is bhakti, to recognize that and to surrender. Bhagavad Gita gives this message. Arjuna wanted to act independently and what was the result. With all of his good qualities he was utterly frustrated but then he simply admitted that Krishna, You are my Lord, You are my Master, You are the creator, You are the maintainer, You are the destroyer, I surrender to You. What is Your will? Let me please You. Let me serve You. In that we are independent of all the material miseries. In total dependence on Krishna, on total dependence on the words of Guru we are completely independent of the illusions and frustration of this world. To the extent we are not surrendered, to that extent we must suffer the illusions of this world. So therefore a devotee sees only in these terms. He does not see that all I need is this and this and only if this happens and only if that happens then everything will be alright. The devotee understands that to the degree I am suffering it means to that degree I am not surrendering my will.

Sarva dharma parityajam mam ekam sarva vraja. Krishna says abandon all other occupations , all other dharmas, all other religions, just surrender with utter dependence on me. I will protect you from all sinful reaction, do not fear.

Thank you very much!

Hare Krishna!

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19661

The innovative sankirtan outreach project Fortunate People is inviting devotees to post videos of themselves and newcomers chanting the Hare Krishna mantra to its website fortunate-people.com, with an aim to gather 50,000 chants for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary.

Fortunate People is a UK-based project that allows distributors of Prabhupada’s books to keep in touch with people they’ve met on the street.

“We ask them to “Like” the Fortunate People Facebook page on their smartphones on the spot,” says book distributor and project manager Shaktyavesha Avatar Das. “Then we stay connected with them and share Krishna conscious culture with them through Facebook. The page has grown from 100 followers to nearly 5,000 today.”

During the December 2015 Prabhupada marathon, Fortunate People took things to the next level by filming those who just received a book chanting the Hare Krishna mantra for the first time. The videos are then uploaded to Facebook, where they’ve gone viral – the last one received 20,000 views, 1,000 likes and was shared more than 600 times in one day.

Now Fortunate People has launched its 50K Chants Campaign for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary. The campaign was presented at the International Leadership Sanga in Mayapur recently, where it was enthusiastically received by an audience of some 600 devotees including ISKCON leaders. It is now being officially promoted by the ISKCON 50 Committee.

Shaktyavesha Avatar is inviting everyone to add their chant on fortunate-people.com by filming either themselves or people they’ve met on the street chanting Hare Krishna.

“We explain to people that it’s to spread love and peace all over the world,” he says.

Devotees should then 1) Upload the chant video to Facebook, Instagram or Youtube 2) Share it to the Facebook.com/fortunatepeoplesmile page, and 3) Add the hashtag #fortunatepeople so that the project’s website fortunate-people.com can automatically find it.

All the videos that have been uploaded so far can be watched on the website, and are sure to lift your spirits – the sight of so many complete first-timers smiling, lauging and chanting Hare Krishna “for world peace” is heartwarming indeed.

The website also features a world map that shows which locations in the world have uploaded chants.

Shaktyavesha aims to reach 50,000 chants by July 13th 2016, the 50th anniversary of ISKCON’s inauguration. So far, only 163 chants have been uploaded, but the numbers are rocketing upwards fast.

“Bringing the Holy Name to Every Town and Village has never been so easy,” says Shaktyavesha. “We kindly invite you to take part in this offering to Srila Prabhupada.”

Source: http://iskconnews.org/global-50000-chants-campaign-launched-for-iskcon-50,5446

Dear Devotees, Well wishers

Please accept my most humble obeisances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga.

It is with very sad and heavy heart, that I convey the news that HG Vraja Bhakti Vilas Prabhu (53 Years), senior disciple of HH Lokanath Maharaja and one of the most profound Vaishnava Purohit of ISKCON has left his body on Tuesday 8th March at 7:40 am in Vraja Mandal Dham at Kosi Kalan. He left the world with all auspiciousness around him – Srila Prabhudpada Japa playing in his ears, devotees chanting around him, and having Vraja-raja and Ganges Water in his mouth and over his head.

He was being treated for liver failure at ILBS hospital Delhi under the care of devotees of Delhi-NCR. His sudden departure has left the devotee community across the world in great sorrow. The last rites were performed on the banks of Yamuna at Kesi Ghata in Vrindavan.

He was presently serving as Co-President of ISKCON Ghaziabad Temple
(INDIA). He is survived by his wife, a daughter, and a son. He had dedicated his entire life in serving the mission of Srila Prabhupada.

Born in a Vaishnava Brahmin family of South India, he joined ISKCON at a very young age in mid 80s. He received his Harinam Diksha in 1991 and Brahmin Diksha in 1992. He had served in many capacities in ISKCON Delhi which includes Sankirtan department, Head Pujari, Life Member preaching, and as Vice-President. He then served as Temple President of ISKCON Noida and contributed significantly with great determination and vigour for building the project. He is remembered by devotees as being soft spoken, caring, and as one of the most profound devotee for Bramhinical services like performing vaishnava Yagna, Deity installation, and diksha ceremonies. He was the head priest during the deity installation and opening festivals of many temples such as ISKCON Delhi, Aravade, ISKCON Kanpur, and ISKCON Alachua. We are all blessed to have such exalted souls on the planet with us.

As Krishna says in Bhagvada Gita “antakale ca mameva smarana muktva …”, One who remembers me at the time of death comes to my personal abode. The devotees who were closely serving HG Vraja Bhakati Prabhu in the hospital, could hear him chanting the shlokas and remembering the Lord of Tirupati, and this was when externally he was in great pain. This showed his mood of surrender towards Lord.

Let’s pray to Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Govind to give Their eternal service to Vraja Bhakti Prabhu and give strength to his immediate family to bear this great loss. Also let’s join hands in serving the remaining family of this Great Vaishnava devotee of Lord.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Your servant, Krishnabhakta Das

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19644

For Roger Siegel, the last half-century has been the proverbial long, strange trip. It started in New York, where, as an idealistic college dropout in the early 1960s, he tutored Harlem schoolchildren. It included civil rights marches in Alabama and peyote hikes in the Nevada hills.

It took a major turn in San Francisco in 1967, when Mr. Siegel became Gurudas, a disciple in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or Iskcon, a.k.a. the Hare Krishnas.

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/06/business/retirementspecial/krishna-devotees-look-to-provide-for-this-life.html?_r=1

This is the month of Lord Caitanya’s appearance in this world. He is Krishna himself in the guise of his own devotee. Blessing the land of India in the 16th Century, Lord Caitanya was a powerful force in the blossoming of the Krishna Bhakti movement during that time.

His only written work was eight prayers called the Siksastakam. These prayers are celebrated as containing the essential guide to uncovering our love for Krishna. Each verse could have its own book, so filled they are with deep and wide truths. Here they are in short form to give us an overview and entice us to the original text (link below)

1. coming clean

The first lesson is an understanding that pure love is clean love – love that is not motivated for any return. That’s compared to dust in our heart that has ‘accumulated for years’. We take up the chanting of Krishna’s sacred name to come clean. Our dusty heart will never be the same.

2. anytime anywhere

Here’s the good news – it’s an easy process. You can chant anywhere! No hard and fast rules! Chant and get that dust moving, so you can begin to feel some love for Krishna. Yet, there’s a problem: we aren’t attracted to that easiest of all processes. That should lead us to….

3. like a blade of grass

Humility. Perhaps the most important step, here we are given key ingredients to bump up our level of kirtan. We need to come to our chanting in a mood of humility, tolerance, and really, really, really not seeking respect, praise, or honor from others. Ouch. But if we truly seek pure love, otherworldly love, we have to withdraw ourselves from the center stage of this life and see ourselves from a whole different perspective.

4. release desires

Profit, fame and adoration are the three big desires that tie us to this world. Do not chase these as they will take us away from pure love and service. They are subtle, cunning and can sneak up on the sincerest of practitioners. Desire we must, it is who we are. But the art of bhakti is desiring only pure love. That is both our safety and sustenance.

5. request rescue

This is the point where we recognize that we can’t do it on our own. We are dependent on grace and help from above and begin to call out.

6. express longing

The desire to really feel some pure love is the focus of this verse. When, O when will that day be mine when will I be moved and feel some emotion while chanting? Nurture this longing. It will keep us moving in the right direction.

7. feel separation

As we mature in our spiritual practice and our love grows, we will want to be with Krishna. Feelings of separation nurture and blossom our chanting and relationship with the Lord.

8. loving vulnerability

When pure love for God is fully manifested one steps into the safe space of vulnerability – our love and trust is so deep and so wide that we have no fear, no matter what happens. All is well because the bonds of such pure love are unconditional.

We have the capacity to experience this highest level of pure love as outlined above. It is the inherent nature of the soul. The goal of life is to uncover it. What a wonderful goal to have – the pursuit of the purest love of all. May these eight verses bless our journey and guide us home.

Full Siksastakam here

Source: http://iskconofdc.org/8-steps-to-pure-love/

“Bhava” in Sanskrit means “ecstasy; the stage of bhakti just prior to pure love for God”. Today, the Lower Elementary class had the great fortune of having an art lesson from Krishna Bhava Devi, a very talented artist and devoted disciple of Srila Prabhupada. She is also the dear grandmother of Vara, our Kindergarten student, and a long-time resident of New Vrindaban.
Mother Krishna Bhava taught the young students a step-by-step method for creating a beautifully colored lotus flower. What a nice meditation on Lord Krsna, who lives in a land abounding with lotuses and whose limbs are compared to the beautiful and gentle lotus flowers. She further enhanced the mood and meditation with the accompaniment of soft Kirtan.
May our art and hearts lead us closer to the Lord with feelings of love, of bhava.

Source: http://www.tkgacademy.com/news-updates/in-the-classrooms/art-with-bhava/

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 13 May 2015, Melbourne, Australia, Lecture: Mindfulness and Meditation)

Love will follow when we are attracted; when we admire; when we see amazing qualities; when we see a wonderful nature; when we see mercy, kindness and compassion; when we see strength; when we see beauty… Love will follow. Love will follow naturally. Love cannot be pushed, “You have to love!” You have to love your country. Well I don’t, I am sorry, I like it but I don’t love it. In Sydney there is this plaque and it says, “The greatest good a man can do is to give his life for his country.” Well I don’t think so; I am not convinced about that.

Yes, so love, love will go where there is admiration; where we see great qualities; where we see great kindness, great compassion, mercy, determination; where we see an incredible example, where we see someone who is just greater than we are… then love will automatically awaken, it is not difficult! Then love will come there.

Source: https://www.kksblog.com/2016/03/love-follows/

There are two approaches to sādhana. One is motivated by an intellectual conception, the other is motivated by an emotional conception. Intellect and emotion are involved in both approaches, but the intellectual approach has intellect as the prime motive and emotion as the supporting instrument, while the emotional approach has emotion as the prime motive and intellect as the supporting instrument.

The intellectual approach is called śāstrik or vaidhik because intellect is born from śāstra (“śāstra yonītvā”). Therefore the intellect-motivated sādhanadepends heavily on the depth of ones comprehension of śāstra, especially the depth of the comprehension that all the conclusions point towards bhakti(love) being the supreme morality, the supreme rule, the supreme goal, and the Divine (Viṣṇu) being the supreme beloved.

Clear knowledge of these conclusions of śāstra is also essential in the emotionally-motivated approach to sādhana – because intellectual conceptions are important supporting instruments of the sādhana. The primary requirement, however, is the force, clarity and specificity of the emotional attraction to Divine Love, bhakti. 

Bhakti Purusottama Maharaja: Now we will hear from HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja. Actually he is the one who first started this book distribution here and he has been witnessing, the point he started book distribution and where it has reached now and I’ll tell you all this is happening because of his energy. Even if he is in hospital he is encouraging calling everyday the sankirtana buses during marathon period. And because of his dedication, he sacrificed for this book distribution, Srila Prabhupada that Mayapur has reached at this level. So we are very happy to hear from His Holiness now. Hare Krishna! 

HH Jayapataka Swami: I will speak in very brief. Srila Prabhupada said ‘Preaching is the essence. Books are the basis!’ 

Because of my health reason I went to Delhi. So HH Gopala Krishna Maharaja and Mohan Rupa dasa were helping me very nicely. 

Last year Mayapur sankirtana devotees were doing Vrajamandala Parikrama. Mayapur sankirtana devotees came to meet me in Delhi, Sant Nagar temple. Mayapur sankirtana devotees were talking to me, getting blessings and challenged that we will defeat Delhi and become number 1. (laughter) 

Gopala Krishna Maharaja was neutral, BBT Trustee, he just blessed them. (laughter) So I saw different devotees, from ashraya group, bhakti vrksa group, namahatta group and other devotees, for last two months they are preparing and pledging how many books they will distribute. I spoke to the Mayapur devotees, and asked that you have any shame! don’t feel shame? So then I told Mayapur devotees, in Delhi 2500 devotees are taking part in marathon in month of December, congregational devotees. But Mayapur only 100 sankirtana devotees! What they can do? So sankirtana devotees may be ati- rathi, maha-rathi, but they are 100. But Delhi 1000’s. 

So if Mayapur devotees, also namahatta devotees, if they take part in book distribution then there is a chance that we can show our face. Whether we can become number 1 or not but we can show our face at least! (laughter) Then Mayapur devotees took part in marathon and because of that by the mercy of Krishna became number 1. (Devotees: Haribol!) Devotees can do different kinds of service but each and every devotee irrespective of their service should do book distribution at least in the month of December. In the West its the Christmas marathon and in India its called Gita Jayanti month. In the month of December Krishna spoke Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna. 

Early days we used to distribute Gitar Gana, each book Re 1. I was asking how was the sankirtana, so now sankirtana devotees they don’t talk about sets, they talk about sets, Bhagavatam sets, Caitanya Caritamrta sets, other sets. Srila Prabhupada how much he will be pleased. I saw when the first set came, Prabhupada seeing that set of books he was crying! You are fulfilling the desire of Srila Prabhupada. Now in computer ebooks are available. In certain countries if you distribute books like that, and books are visible you may be in prison. But ebook that problem is not there. You can buy ebook from BBT and anywhere and everywhere you can use these books. 

Bhakti Caru Maharaja glorified Vaisesika Prabhu. So book distribution is our family business. We are very happy that congregational devotees are also taking part in book distribution. Srutidharma prabhu sent me a message. Out of India, the top book distribution temple out of India, is Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK. And he said, how they became number 1 because the bhakti vrksa devotees all of them took part in the book distribution marathon in the month of December because of that Bhaktivedanta Manor became number 1 outside of India. 

You are distributing books throughout the year. Other devotees if they distribute also, especially during marathon time, then it will be very nice. Golden jubilee year every devotee should distribute 50 books at least and sankirtana devotees will distribute 1000’s of books. So I spoke in brief. I’ll end now. Hare Krishna! By the way I personally distributed books in Delhi and in Bombay. 

Devotees: Haribol!

Sankarsana Nitai said, he was questioning, whether I am happy that Mayapur came first. I say Yes! Nobody in the world can defeat Mayapur! (Devotees: Haribol!) Mayapur has the biggest sankirtana army and these devotees are working hard, and distributing books all year.

So we all know the importance of book distribution. Why did Prabhupada encourage book distribution? Because his spiritual master encouraged it. Why did Bhaktisiddhantaji encourage it? Because Thakura Bhaktivinoda encouraged it. Why did Thakura Bhaktivinoda encourage? Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu encouraged it. And in the 18th Chapter of the Gita Krishna also says, that one who preaches is My dearmost devotee. 

So Prabhupada encouraged us to distribute books And Prabhupada worked hard to produce these books. Even before going to the West, Prabhupada was in Vrindavana. He had no facilities, old typewriter, staying in the Radha Damodar Temple, he was translating these books, coming by third class compartment to Delhi, getting his books printed and then he would go out and distribute the books himself. Why? Because these books contain transcendental wisdom and Prabhupada’s goal was to save humanity. 

Prabhupada met his spiritual master Bhaktisiddhantaji in Radha Kunda, I believe in 1935 and Bhaktisiddhantaji drew a picture of a mridanga and said, ‘If Krishna gives you facility, print and distribute books!’ What is that service called? Brhad mridanga. The big mridanga. An ordinary mridanga’s voice can be heard to a point. But you can distribute a book in Calcutta and the book can be read in England. We have so many instances, that somebody bought a book in one part of the world, read it in another part of the world, and became a devotee in another part of the world. 

So Prabhupada encouraged book distribution because these books contain transcendental knowledge. And the desire of a devotee is to save humanity, para dukha dukhi, seeing others in distress a devotee also gets distressed and he meditates how can I save the suffering humanity. So Prabhupada laboured hard, all night he would translate books and he encouraged us to do book distribution. And devotees took his request seriously, engaged in this service and pleased Prabhupada. 

Prabhupada said ‘as long as book distribution goes on I will never die.’ That means through these books Prabhupada is preaching. And Prabhupada wanted these books distributed. Today Prabhupada’s books have been translated in more than 75 languages of the world. And all over the world people are reading these books and perfecting their lives. Narada Muni says in the Bhagavatam Fourth Canto that if you want to please the Lord, three things are necessary

dayaya sarva-bhutesu  
santustya yena kena va sarvendriyopasantya ca  
tusyaty asu janardanah (SB 4.31.19) 

One must be merciful and true mercy is giving people spiritual knowledge. He must have control over his mind and senses and be satisfied in any condition. So Prabhupada wanted us to distribute books. Caitanya Mahaprabhu called Nityananda and Haridasa Thakura and said, ‘Go house to house and preach!’ And what was His message, bolo `krishna,' bhajo krishna, koro krishna- shiksha, Request everyone to chant Hare Krishna, worship Krishna, follow Krishna’s instructions. So Prabhupada wanted expand book distribution in India also. And Prabhupada said, ‘India has very good scope of book distribution.’ So its very nice that Mayapur temple has taken book distribution as their main activity and nearly 100 brahmacari’s are engaged in book distribution. So you’re rendering very valuable service to the society. Prabhupada encouraged transcendental competition. So there is transcendental competition between temples and Mayapur wins every year. So keep winning every year and that is good inspiration to others. And these books have changed the lives of many of those people. If today we see more and more devotees coming to our temples, if today we see a bigger congregation the main reason is the influence of these books. Everything we need to know is in Prabhupada’s books. 

We should have faith that we don’t need to read anything, everything we need to know is in Prabhupada’s books. And we should be enthusiastic for book distribution. Once I had arranged a big display of Prabhupada’s books in Bombay and after 1 month not many books were sold. So I went to Prabhupada and said ‘Inspite of this heavy promotion we did not sell too many books!’ Prabhupada said, ‘My books are distributed because of the enthusiasm of my disciples.’ So we must be enthusiastic to preach, enthusiastic to serve, enthusiastic to distribute books and if we keep good sadhana, and we remain enthusiastic then Krishna will empower you to distribute these books. Prabhupada said, ‘These books are so powerful that even if you read one sloka thoroughly your life can be perfected. Even if you read one word and understand and mediate on that, you can perfect your life!” 

So we want to encourage devotees to read and study Prabhupada books. Not just distribute books but also study these books. And we want encourage devotees to distribute these books and Prabhupada said, ‘These books will be read for the next 10000 years!’ So you have to do sankirtana for how many more years? 10000 years. After that there will only be adharma. So thank you very much for distributing books and we want to encourage everyone to get into book distribution. How many of you distribute books on a regular basis? Please raise your hands! Thats all! And the others don't distribute? Sankirtana, full time or part time? Anybody, amongst all of you, who distributes books? So there are many who don’t distribute books, they did not raise their hand. So do you want the mercy of the Lord or not? (Devotees: Yes. Haribol!) Do you want the mercy of Prabhupada? (Devotees: Yes. Haribol!) Do you want the mercy of acharyas? (Devotees: Yes. Haribol!) Or are you thinking we have lots of mercy already! (laughter) If you want mercy, then engage in the service of preaching! 

So we are very grateful to the devotees of Mayapur, you have worked very hard, and because of this efforts your temple has come first worldwide. (Devotees: Haribol!) So you distribute the around the year. So now Prabhupada said, ‘Our goal should be, double it!’ Do you understand, Double it! If this year you have distributed 1 lakh Gita, then next year distribute 2 lakhs! So this year how many books did Mayapur temple distribute? So this year all the devotees collectively distributed 7 lakh books. (Devotees: Haribol!) So next year your goal should be how much? 14 lakhs to be distributed! So will you distribute 14 lakhs? (Devotees: Haribol!) Will you make an effort? (Devotees: Haribol!) If you make an effort, Prabhupada will give you strength by which you can be successful in this venture. Sankirtana yajna ki jaya! Transcendental book distribution ki jaya! Gaurapremanade Hari Haribol!