Lecture on Nothing happens without Lord's will by HG Radhe Shyam Prabhu on 10 Oct 2012 

(President of the Pune branch of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) that has over 600 centres worldwide Director of Vedic Oasis for Inspiration, Culture & Education (VOICE) Holds an M.Tech from IIT-Bombay)

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Lecture on Narsimha Katha by HG Mahatma Prabhu on 12 May 2014 at ISKCON Mayapur 

(HG Mahatma Prabhu joined ISKCON in 1969 and was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1970. He travels widely facilitating workshops and retreats on such important practices as japa, forgiveness, humility, vows and sexual purity.)

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Disappearance Day of Jayananda Prabhu by His Holiness Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Swami on 12 May 2014 at Punjabi Bagh

(His Holiness Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Swami was initiated by His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in October 1968, about two months before HH Jayapataka Swami, awarding him the name “Makhanlal das”.)

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Lecture on The Yoga Ladder by HH Romapada Swami in 09 May 2014 at Naperville

(Romapada Swami‘s first encounter with Krishna consciousness came in Buffalo, in the shape of a lecture at the State University of New York in 1969. The lecturer was His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The following year, Romapada Swami joined the movement in Boston and was initiated in 1971.)

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Srimad Bhagavatam Class (05.05.10-13) by Mahavishnu Goswami at ISKCON Vrindavan on 03 April 2014

(His Holiness Mahavishnu Swami appeared in this world on 10 February 1945, in Birmingham, UK. He entered the Bath Academy of Art at age 19, and graduated with honours in Fine Arts.)

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Lecture on Long Life is not appreciated but quality life is appreciated by HG Radhe Shyam Prabhu on 13 Jan 2014 

(President of the Pune branch of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) that has over 600 centres worldwide Director of Vedic Oasis for Inspiration, Culture & Education (VOICE) Holds an M.Tech from IIT-Bombay)

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Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Class (10.41.02-05) by HG Tamohara Dasa on 01 May 2014 at ISKCON Alachua

(His Grace Tamohara Dasa has been involved in ISKCON leadership for many years. In addition to services of temple president, BBT manager and director of two gurukulas, he served as the director of the ISKCON Child Protection Office,He has been a GBC member since 2006 and currently serves on the executive committee of the international GBC.)

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Once the lived Hiranyakasipu, the king of the demons. His brother, another demon who had been creating a disturbance, had been killed by Varaha, an incarnation of Lord Visnu. Hiranyakasipu also was creating a disturbance by harassing the sages and the demigods. Hiranyakasipu wanted to get revenge upon Lord Visnu for the killing of his brother so he performed severe austerities:

"Seeing Hiranyakasipu engaged in this austerity, the demigods returned to their respective homes, but while Hiranyakasipu was thus engaged, a kind of fire began blazing from his head, disturbing the entire universe and its inhabitants, including the birds, beasts and demigods. When all the higher and lower planets became too hot to live on, the demigods, being disturbed, left their abodes in the higher planets and went to see Lord Brahma, praying to him that he curtail this unnecessary heat. The demigods disclosed to Lord Brahma Hiranyakasipu's ambition to become immortal, overcoming his short duration of life, and to be the master of all the planetary systems, even Dhruvaloka." (Bhag. 7.3.intro)

Finally, Lord Brahma appeared before Hiranyakasipu but could not give him the boon of immortality for even Lord Brahma is not immortal. Therefore, Hiranyakasipu tried to ask for benedictions that would make him almost as good as immortal. Hiranyakasipu asked that he not meet death in any of the following conditions:

(a) by any living entity created by Lord Brahma
(b) within any residence or outside any residence
(c) during the daytime or at night
(d) on the ground or in the sky
(e) by any weapon, human being, or any animal
(h) by anything living or nonliving
etc.

Once having attained the powers from Lord Brahma, Hiranyakasipu began to harass all the living entities within the universe:

"All the demigods but Lord Visnu, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva came under his control and began serving him, but despite all his material power he was dissatisfied because he was always puffed up, proud of transgressing the Vedic regulations. All the brahmanas were dissatisfied with him, and they cursed him with determination. Eventually, all the living entities withinthe universe, represented by the demigods and sages, prayed to the Supreme Lord for relief from Hiranyakasipu's rule. Lord Visnu informed the demigods that they and the other living entities would be saved from the fearful conditions created by Hiranyakasipu. Since Hiranyakasipu was the oppressor of all the demigods, the followers of the Vedas, the cows, the brahmanas and the religious, saintly persons, and since he was envious of the Supreme Lord, he would naturally be killed very soon. Hiranyakasipu's last exploit would be to torment his own son Prahlada, who was a maha-bhagavata, an exalted Vaisnava. Then his life would end." (Bhag. 7.4.intro)

Prahlada Maharaja, the son of Hiranyakasipu, was a great devotee and he received initiation while within the womb of his mother:

"This transcendental knowledge is devotional service, and Prahlada Maharaja, while living in the womb of his mother, received instructions indevotional service from Narada Muni. Any person engaged in the service of the Lord through the instructions of a bona fide spiritual master is immediately liberated, and being free from the clutches of maya, he is relieved of all ignorance and material desires." (Bhag. 7.7.intro)

This point we have stressed throughout our newsletters that surrender to the order of the spiritual master is the only means of success in spiritual life. Devotional service is not dependent on material results or conditions; it can be practiced under any conditions as we can see from the example of Prahlada Maharaja:

"Regardless of the material condition in which one is situated, one can achieve this perfection. Devotional service is not dependent on the material activities of austerity, penance, mystic yoga or piety. EVEN WITHOUT SUCH ASSETS, one can achieve devotional service through the mercy of a pure devotee." (Bhag. 7.7.intro)

Sometimes we find so-called devotees wasting their valuable time complaining and finding faults with others instead of sticking to their own devotional service. They should take the instruction that devotional service is not dependent on the material conditions:

"Progress in spiritual life cannot be obstructed by any material condition. This is called ahaituky apratihata." (Bhag. 7.7.1)

Just see how Prahlada stayed fixed in his service despite the impediments, which were much heavier than the impediments of today:

"The assistants of Hiranyakasipu struck Prahlada with sharp weapons, threw him under the feet of elephants, subjected him to hellish conditions, threw him from the peak of a mountain and tried to kill him in thousands of other ways, but they were unsuccessful. Hiranyakasipu therefore became increasingly afraid of his son Prahlada Maharaja and arrested him. The sons of Hiranyakasipu's spiritual master, Sukracarya, began teaching Prahlada in their own way, but Prahlada Maharaja did not accept their instructions.While the teachers were absent from the classroom, Prahlada Maharaja began to preach Krsna consciousness in the school, and by his instructions all his class friends, the sons of the demons, became devotees like him." (Bhag. 7.5.intro)

The teachers of Prahlada, Sanda and Amarka, became afraid that the students would become more and more devoted to the Lord so they informed Hiranyakasipu about Prahlada's preaching. So Hiranyakasipu decided to kill his son himself. Prahlada tried to instruct him:

"Prahlada Maharaja continued: My dear father, please give up your demoniac mentality. Do not discriminate in your heart between enemies and friends; make your mind equipoised toward everyone. Except for the uncontrolled and misguided mind, there is no enemy within this world. When one sees everyone on the platform of equality, one then comes to the position of worshipping the Lord perfectly." (Bhag. 7.8.9)

Controlling the mind is essential in spiritual life and is easily accomplished by becoming fixed in one's devotional service:

"The only bona fide process for controlling the mind is to fix the mind by service to the Lord." (Bhag. 7.8.9)

Although Prahlada tried to instruct Hiranyakasipu, he was not about take the bona fide instructions because he was not interested in devotional service:

"Hiranyakasipu replied: You rascal, you are trying to minimize my value, as if you were better than me at controlling the senses. This is over-intelligent. I can therefore understand that you desire to die at my hands, for this kind of nonsensical talk is indulged in by those about to die." (Bhag. 7.8.11)

Hiranyakasipu: "WHERE IS YOUR GOD?"
Prahlada replied that He is everywhere.
Hiranyakasipu: "IS HE IN THIS PILLAR, PRAHLADA???"
Prahlada: "Yes, he's everywhere."
Hiranyakasipu struck the pillar with his fists not believing Prahlada's statement; however Lord Nrsimhadeva, half-man and half-lion incarnation of the Supreme Lord, appeared with A ROAR!
A great fight ensued and Lord Nrsimhadeva killed Hiranyakasipu with his nails.

Lord Nrsimhadeva killed Hiranyakasipu without violating any of the boons Hiranyakasipu had received from Lord Brahma:

(a) Hiranyakasipu was killed by Lord Nrsimhadeva who is not a living entity created by Lord Brahma nor anyone else for He is eternal and unborn.
(b) Hiranyakasipu was killed in the doorway which is neither within any residence nor outside any residence.
(c) Hiranyakasipu was killed in the evening which is neither daytime nor night.
(d) Hiranyakasipu was killed on the lap of Lord Nrsimhadeva which is neither on the ground nor in the sky.
(e) Hiranyakasipu was killed by a half-man and half-lion which is neither a human nor an animal.
(h) Hiranyakasipu was killed by the nails which are neither living nor dead nor count as weapons. etc.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lord Nrisimhadeva's Appearance Day Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.22-34.
Los Angeles, May 27, 1972, 720527SB.LA

Prabhupada: So today, appearance day of Lord Nrisimhadeva. Lord Nrisimhadeva appeared on this N?simha Caturdasi on account of His devotee, Prahlada. As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata, abhyutthanam adharmasya [Bg. 4.7]. Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam, sambhavami yuge yuge [Bg. 4.8]. The Lord appears with two purposes. Paritranaya sadhunam: just to give protection and rescue the devotees, and to kill the demons, vinasaya ca duakrtam. So Prahlada Maharaja, five-years-old boy, his only fault was that he was K??sa conscious. He was devotee of Krishna. That was his only fault. And the father was so unkind to a child, even five years old. He could not excuse, "Oh, let this boy do whatever, chanting Hare Krishna." No. The demons are so much against God consciousness that even at his home he would not allow his own child to become God conscious. This is demoniac civili... So you'll find many critics, many enemies, because you are making progress in Krishna consciousness. So the demons are always against this Krishna consciousness movement. That is the whole history. Just like Lord Jesus Christ, he was crucified. What was his fault? He was preaching God consciousness, that's all. This society is so cruel. So Prahlada Maharaja was tortured in so many ways. The torturing methods, I think you will find as you will see in today's picture, how Prahlada Maharaja was tortured. So one day, Hiranyakasipu... After all, he was his son. Affection was there. So one day, Hiranyakasipu asked the boy,

prahradanucyatam tata
svadhitam kincid uttamam
kalenaitavatayusman
yad asiksad guror bhavan
[SB 7.5.22]

So he asked his son, "My dear son, what you have learned? The best thing, what you have learned from your teachers, so you kindly let me know." So Prahlada Maharaja informed that "I have learned like this." What is that?

sravanam kirtanam visnoh
smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam
sakhyam atma-nivedanam
iti pumsarpita visnau
bhaktis cen nava-laksana
kriyeta bhagavaty addha
tan manye dhitam uttamam
[SB 7.5.23-24]

Tan manye dhitam uttamam: one who is engaged in the matter of hearing about Visnu, sravanam kirtanamvisnoh. We are engaged in hearing and talking and chanting about so many things non-Visnu. Just like you'll find thousands of, millions of different types of magazines sold in your country, in all countries. Some of the magazines are sex literature, some cinema literature, some this literature, that... So many different types. There is one paper I have seen, "Diabetes Literature." There are many patients of diabetes, so they have formed a society, "Diabetic Society." I have seen it. (laughter) And there are many diabetic patients, they are being hoaxed, that "You pay two dollars per year, and you get all information how to protect yourself from diabetes disease." So in America two dollars is nothing, but it is collecting millions and millions of dollars, Diabetic Society. Diabetic magazine. So that sort of hearing and chanting is not needed. We are not interested in all these magazines, because we are followers of Prahlada Maharaja. He's our acarya. He's guru. Prahlada Maharaja's guru is Narada, and N?rada is also our guru. Narada is guru of Vyasadeva. So we are a branch, but the original guru is Narada, Brahma-samprad?ya. So Prahlada Maharaja is also a disciple of Narada Muni. So he teaches that sravanam kirtanam visnoh [SB 7.5.23]. We have to hear and talk and chant about Visnu. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smarana pada-sevanam. To remember Him always, to worship His lotus feet, pada-sevanam. Arcanam, temple worship, to keep the Deity nicely worshiped, offer foodstuff, arati, this is called arcanaà. Vandanam, offering prayers. Just like we offer prayer, govindam adi-purusà tam aham bhajami **. These are prayers. There are so many prayers. Kesava-dhrta buddha-sarira, kesava-dhrta narahari-rupa. These are all prayers. This is also part of devotional service.

sravanam kirtanam visnoh
smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyaà
sakhyam...
[SB 7.5.23]

Arcanam vandanam dasyam. To be always in service of the Lord, dasyam; sakhyam, to make friendship with Him, to consider Krishna as your friend. He says... Even if I do not say that He's my friend, He says, "I am friend of everyone." Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam [Bg. 5.29]. He's friend of everyone. We don't want His friendship, but He wants our friendship. He wants us to go back to home, Godhead; we don't want. So He is more anxious to take us, exactly like the father is more affectionate than the son. That's a fact. So He's the supreme father. So He wants that we may be happy, and therefore He comes to show us. He sends His representative, son. He leaves behind Him books so that we may go back to home, back to Godhead. So, sakhyam. He's always sitting with me, within my heart. I am in the heart, and Paramatma is also within the heart as friend to give me advice that "Why you are bothering in this material world? Please come back to home, back to Me." This is going on. Sakhyam atma-nivedanam. Atma-nivedanam means fully surrendered. So there are examples of devotees who, sarvatma-nivedanam. Just like Bali Maharaja. He gave everything to Krishna, even his body, everything, whatever, his kingdom, money, everything.

So Prahlada Maharaja says, iti pumsarpita visnau bhaktis cen nava-lak?ana. All these items means hearing. Hearing about Visnu, chanting about Krishna, giving everything to Visnu, offering prayers to Visnu, offering arcana, temple worship, Visnu. In this way Prahlada Maharaja summarizes that "Anyone who is doing like this, everything about Visnu..." iti pumsarpita visnau bhaktis cen nava-laksana, "this nine kinds of different devotional services," kriyeta bhagavatay addha, "directly to the Supreme Personality of Godhead," tan manye dhitam uttamam, "I think he is the best learned man in the world. He is the most learned." Tan manye dhitam. "He has studied everything very nicely." Actually, that is the fact. Jnana, knowledge Knowledge means to know Krishna, God, and the Vedic injunction is, yasmin vijnate sarvam evam vijnatam bhavanti. If you understand the Supreme Lord, then you understand everything. You haven't got to study differently different subject matters. Just like we sometimes talk of science, of astronomy, economics, politics. We talk sometimes. But we are not going to, or we didn't study all the subject matter separately. But in course of our studying Krishna consciousness, we know something of everything. So Prahlada Maharaja says, tan manye adhitam uttamam: "One who is engaged in these nine kinds of devotional services directly..." So Prahlada Maharaja recommends,

kriyeta bhagavaty addha tan manye dhitam uttamam.
nisamyaitat suta-vaco
Hiranyakasipus tada
guru-putram cedam rusa
prasphuritadharah

As soon as he heard, "Oh, what this nonsense boy is speaking?" he became so angry that sphuritadharah. When one becomes angry, his lips vi..., I mean to say, jumps. What is called? Quiver, yes. So he became so angry that it is said, sphuritadharah. (He) immediately called his teacher. He's king... Because he thought, "The rascal teachers, they have taught him like this. I have entrusted the boy to the teachers, to brahmanas, and they have taught this Krishna consciousness. So call him. Otherwise, how is that this small boy, five years old only, he's talking just like a great saint? So call his teacher!"

brahma-bandho kim etat
te vipaksam srayatasata
asaram grahito balo
mam anadrtya durmate

Hiranyakasipu became bitterest enemy of Visnu because his brother Hiranyaksa, he was killed by Visnu taking the shape of Varaha. You know the story. Since then, Hiranyakasipu was bitterest enemy. "Oh, He has, Visnu has killed my brother. So He is my greatest enemy." So he won't hear anything about Visnu. Any Visnu devotee, he will punish him, even his own son. That was his policy. So he immediately called him, the teachers, and addressed him,

brahma-bandho kim etat te
vipaksam srayatasata
asaram grahito balo
mam anadrtya durmate

So here... Teachers are generally brahmanas. Not generally. To become teacher is the business of the brahmanas. Brahmana means they have got six kinds of... Everyone must have livelihood. This material world is that you must work; otherwise you cannot get your livelihood. That is the law, whatever you may be. So the brahmanas' means of livelihood, six things: pa?hana pa?hana yajana yajana dana pratigraha. Pa?hana means he must be a very learned scholar, study the Vedic literature, and must teach others also. That is brahmana's business. And in that way, whatever the disciples bring, that is his income. No salary, no contract, that "If you pay me hundred dollars or five hundred dollars weekly, then I can teach you." No. There is no such contract. Teaching is free. It is the business of a brahmana to give free education to everyone. Now, it is the... Just like in our institution, I am your teacher, but there is no such contract that you have to pay me. But you pay me more than anything. So pa?hana pa?hana, that is the means of livelihood of brahmana. And ksatriya, they are kings. They can levy tax of the citizens because they are giving protection from being hurt by others. Ksatriya means one who gives protection (to) a man being hurt by others. That is the real root meaning. Ksatriya. And vaisya means they should, krsi-goraksya-vanijyam, they should engage themselves in producing foodstuff, foodgrains, krsi, protect cows. Especially goraksya. As the king is meant for giving protection to the man, similarly, a vaisya is supposed to give protection to the cows, or they keep cows and produce milk products. They are vaisya. And sudra, simply service. So these are the different types of employment of different kinds of social order. And a king, the king has to see that everyone is employed. Not that hundreds of people are unemployed, and government has to give welfare, subsidy. Not like that. The king's duty is that everyone is independently earning his livelihood. That is king's duty.

So here the teachers are addressed here brahma-bandho. Brahma-bandho means a person who is born by a brahmana father but is not acting as a brahmana. He's called brahma-bandho, dvija-bandhu. Dvija-bandhu, one who is born of a, actually born of a brahmana father, but he's not acting as a brahmana. So Hiranyakasipu addressed the teachers brahma-bandho, not brahmana. "Because you are untrustworthy. I gave you, I entrusted you with my son to be taught, and you have taught him this Krishna consciousness. So against my will..." He says practically, brahma-bandho kim etat te vipaksam srayatasata: "I entrusted my child for being educated by you, and you have instigated him to speak in favor of my enemy, Visnu? Visnu is my enemy. How is that?" Asaram grahito balo mam anadrtya durmate. "This rascal boy, he does not care for me, and he has learned this Krishna consciousness, and you have taught him. How is that?"

santi hy asadhavo loke
durmaitras chadma-vesinah
tesam udety agham kale
rogah patakinam iva

"So I think these demigods who are followers of Visnu, they are coming in disguise and poisoning my son by teaching Krishna consciousness, and you did not take care of him. So what is this?" Then the teachers replied,

na mat-pranitam na para-pranitam
suto vadaty esa tavendra-satro
naisargikiyam matir asya rajan
niyaccha manyum kad adah sma ma nah

They said, "My dear King, don't think we have taught him like this. It is not... I know, it is not our duty to teach him against your will. But his Krishna consciousness is not due to our teaching; neither somebody is coming in disguise and teaching him." Na mat-pranitam na para-pranitam. "He is neither taught by us, nor by anyone else." Suto vadaty esa tavendra-satro. Indra-satro. The enemy... The Hiranyakasipu is the enemy of the demigods; therefore he is addressed as Indra-satro. As he addressed the brahmana, brahma-bandho, so they retaliated also, that "You are enemy of the demigods." Naisargikiyam, "By nature he is doing that. We try to forbid him. We try to stop him chanting Hare Krishna, but still he's doing." Matir asya rajan niyaccha manyum kad adah sma ma. "You don't be angry upon us. We never did it." So... "He is, by his own nature he chants, he preaches, he's doing all this."

gurunaivam pratiprokto
bhuya ahasurah sutam
na ced guru-mukhiyam te
kuto bhadrasati matih

Then he again asked his son, "Now I understand that your teacher has not taught you all these things. You rascal, where you have learned all this Krishna consciousness?" (laughter) Abhadra. Kuto abhadrasati matih: "Wherefrom you got this rascal wisdom? Tell me." So this is the position, you see. Even father becomes enemy. Now, Prahlada Maharaja is replying. Prahlada Maharaja is replying,

matir na krsne paratah svato va
mitho bhipadyeta grha-vratanam
adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram
punah punas carvita-carvananam
[SB 7.5.30]

"My dear father, don't be afraid. It is not a thing to be taught." Matir na krsne. "Nobody can become Krishna conscious," matir na krsne parato, "being taught by others," matir na krsne paratah svato va, "or by mental speculation or thinking oneself," mitho bhipadyeta, "or by making conference meeting, religious meeting, conference." No. Three things. One thing is to learn Krishna consciousness by speculative method, self-realization. Just like so many people are very much interested that "Why shall I go to a guru? I can realize myself. I shall meditate." So that is called svatah. And paratah means by others' instruction. And mitho, mitho means by assembly. So who? Now, grha-vratanam. If one is grha-vrata... There are two things: grhastha and grha-vrata, or grhamedhi. "So those who are grha-vrata..." because he is pointing out his father's position, that he's grha-vrata. He has no other business. He simply wants to get money, hiranya. Hiranya means gold, and kasipu, a nice apartment. That's all. So he says that grha-vratanam, "If one makes it his point to remain in a comfortable home life, for him, either by speculation or by teaching or by meeting, he'll never develop Krishna consciousness." Grha-vratanam. Then what is their position? Now, adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram: "They are unable to control their senses, and as such, they are entering into the darkest region of material existence." Punah punas carvita-carvananam: [SB 7.5.30] "Their only business is chewing the chewed." They have no other ways. Grha-vratanam, those who want to be happy materially, actually they are chewing the chewed. Material happiness means sex life, ultimate, utmost, topmost happiness. So people are simply trying to, how to utilize this sex life in so many ways, in pictures and in... I do not wish to discuss. In dancing, in club, in so many ways. Because they cannot control the senses. The same thing, same thing, the same sex life in different way. Sometimes a naked dance, sometimes in this way, sometimes in that way. Therefore it is called punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30]. I have heard that some people go to Florida and they spend fifty thousand dollars per week for organizing naked dance. So naked woman he has seen so many times, but still he spends more money to see it in a different way. That is called punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30], "chewing the chewed."

So persons who are too much attached to sense gratification, and they have made it their conclusion that "We shall be happy within our family life or this social life..." Vidyapati sings, tatala saikate vari-bindu sama suto-mita-ramani-samaj(?). Our society means... Society, friendship, and love. There must be woman, must be children, suto-mita-ramani-samaje. So there is some pleasure, undoubtedly. Otherwise, why people are working so hard to stick to this position? Vidyapati sings that tatala saikate vari-bindu sama suto-mita-ramani-samaj(?). There is undoubtedly some pleasure, but that pleasure is so insignificant that it can be compared: a drop of water on the desert. Desert, if you want to utilize desert to make it a garden or productive field, you have to pour water. The whole ocean water you have to pour there. Now, if somebody says, "All right, you want water. Now take this one drop water," then what it will do? Similarly, our heart is hankering after so many things. We are hankering... Actually we are hankering after Krishna, but we do not know. We are trying to satisfy our hankering in so many ways in material life. Actually we are hankering after Krishna. Just like a small child, it is crying. It cannot express, but it is wanting the mother's breast feeding. So you cannot stop him crying unless it is transferred to the mother. Similarly, actually we love Krishna. That is a fact. Because we love Krishna... Therefore you, who did not hear even the name of Krishna, say, four or five years ago, why you after so much Krishna? This is the proof, that actually we are after Krishna. This Krishna consciousness movement is being accepted in Western countries by the younger generation. Why? Because every one of us, we love Krishna. But it is now covered by maya. We have to simply take out the covering, maya; then we are Krishna conscious.

That is explained in the Caitanya-caritamrta,

nitya-siddha Krishna-bhakti sadhya kabhu naya
sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya

That Krishna consciousness is not an artificial thing, that we are making some propaganda on Krishna consciousness, publishing some books, magazines, and our preachers are going place to place. No, there are so many propaganda is going on. But they are not so effective. And our, what means we have got to make propaganda? We simply make this propaganda, "Please chant Hare Krishna." That's all. Of course, we do sincerely. So if we propagate sincerely and seriously, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu has ordered, yare dekha, tare kaha Krishna upadesa... [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. We must be sincere. Then, if we canvass, "Please chant Hare Krishna," it will be effective. It will be effective. The business is not very serious or very difficult. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, yare dekha, tare kaha 'Krishna'... "Anyone you meet, you simply request him about hearing about Krishna." So... But if one is so much covered by materialistic enjoyment, it takes little time. It takes little time. Otherwise, automatically there is love for Krishna, and sravanadi-suddha-citte...

Therefore Prahlada Maharaja says, sravanam. If we hear about Krishna constantly, through realized souls, not professional-if we hear, satam prasangan mama virya-samvido [SB 3.25.25]-then automatically, our dormant Krishna consciousness come out. So Prahlada Maharaja says, therefore, that "Those who are determined to become happy within this material world, they cannot be raised to Krishna consciousness either by personal teaching or by making conference or by mental speculation." That is not possible, because he is determined. So our duty is that we should know that in the materialistic way of life we shall never be happy. This is called knowledge. And vairagya. So this vairagya and knowledge is not so easy. Prahlada Maharaja says, adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram: it is not possible. That means he assures his father, "Don't be worried. You will never be Krishna conscious. (laughter) Because your only aim is to stick to home and money and women. Therefore rest assured, you'll not be ... It is not that a person like you will be raised to Krishna consciousness." Then? How you have done? The next question should be: Why they are sticking to this materialistic way of life?

That is answered by Prahlada, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. "These persons, those who are so much materially attached, they do not know the ultimate goal of life is Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu." That is actually the ultimate goal of life. We are here in this material world, forgetting Krishna, to enjoy, to lord it over the material nature. Everyone is trying to become the lord, master of material... That is struggle. Nobody can become lord or master of this material world. But that struggle to become master, they are taking it happiness. They are taking it happiness. That is the nature of persons who are influenced by the modes of passion. They'll work hard, and that will, they will take it is very good, pleasing. Because they do not know that the... Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah [SB 7.5.31]. They are hoping against hope to become happy within this material world. That is the whole history. Take the history, any history, modern history. There are so many empires: the Roman Empire, the Carthaginian Empire, the Greek Empire, the British Empire recently, Hitler's Nazism, and so many. For some time they become very powerful. Just like Hiranyakasipu, he's now very powerful. He's thinking, "Nobody can..." Now today he'll be killed. Kesava-dhrta narahari rupa is coming. So this demonic civilization will never be successful. That's a fact. But they are so fool, they do not see even historical evidences. So many empires failed. The Roman Empire failed, the British Empire failed. Still, somebody is trying to create another empire, another, different empire. Just like your President Nixon, he's trying to influence all other nations under his control. Why? Of course, I should not speak all these things. There may be criticism. But that is the way, going on. That is the way. We can understand. We can understand politics, economics, everything, but we do not bother about. But our aim is that this way of life, to increase materially happiness, it will never be successful. That is our conclusion. We are not fools that we have given up everything for advance in Krishna consciousness. Because we know that this, this way we shall never be happy. It is not possible. That is explained by Prahlada Maharaja. These rascal people who are so much materially attached... Krishna also says in the Bhagavad-gita,

bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam
tayapahrta-cetasam
vyavasayatmika buddhih
samadhau na nigacchati
[Bg. 2.44]

Those who are too much attached, bhoga, material enjoyment, aisvarya, material opulence ... Bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam tayapahrta-cetasam. Persons whose heart has been misled by this kind of civilization, they cannot take to Krishna consciousness. Therefore to become too much materially opulent is a disqualification for attaining Krishna consciousness. It is a disqualification. Because they don't care. Just like in our temple, not very rich men, they are coming, because they (say,) "What is this nonsense, Krishna consciousness? We have got everything. These boys, they haven't got to eat anything; therefore they are chanting Hare Krishna on the street. That's all." They think like that. "They're needy. All right, they are needy. Give them some money." That's all. They don't like to take anything from us because the same business, matir na krsne paratah svato va. They'll never understand, because their aim is grha-vratanam. They want to be happy... Although they are seeing there is no happiness, they never can be happy, still... This is called punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30], chewing the chewed. One, the sugarcane, is chewed by somebody. It is thrown away. And if somebody else comes and chew it again, what juice he will have it? So punah punas carvita... Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. Durasaya ye durasaya visaya vasi (reads Sanskrit commentary) tantraya karanam te hi visnum na viduh. Tatra hetu svasminn eva arthe purusartha yesam tesam gatim gramyam. Na tu te 'pi guru pati syat visnu jnasyasi tatra bhak bahir visaye bahavo yesam te bahir arthas tann eva guru tena mantra silam yesam te.

So one who is fixed up in this conclusion, that "We shall become happy with this materialistic way of life," they cannot take to Krishna consciousness. And they do not know also that our ultimate goal of life is Krishna, Visnu. Then why it is so? Now, andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te pisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhah. They have become blind. They are blind themselves, and they are also led by blind leaders. The leaders, at the present moment, leaders, they say that "Why you are going to church? Why you are going to temple? If you want your bread..." Just like in Christian religion you go to church, "O God, give us our daily bread." But the atheist class, they are propagating, "For bread, why you are going to church? You make industry, you make business, and you get bread." But actually... We were just talking that there are so many unemployment. Our Karandhara prabhu was... No. Who was talking? Syamasundara. Syamasundara said that the computer... What is called, computer? It can do thousands of men's business. So they have discovered this machine. That means thousands of men will be unemployed. That is actually happening in your country due to so many machines. Now, take for example, formerly... You have seen the picture, Krishna, Vrndavana picture, Krishna's father transferring Krishna. They were going on bullock carts, no motorcar. You have seen the picture. So formerly, transport was bullock carts. The cows and the bulls, the bulls were employed for agricultural purpose, for drawing the carts. So there was no necessity of motorcar. Now you have got motor, motor-tractor. You don't want the bullocks. Therefore kill them. How you can utilize them? Therefore you must have slaughterhouse to kill them. And as soon as you kill them, then you have to eat them. So this is the, I mean to say, entanglement. If you kill, then you become responsible for being killed. The subtle laws... Therefore, without knowing our ultimate goal of life is Visnu, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum... [SB 7.5.31]. That is our interest. The human form of life is offered by nature after so much evolutionary process. Just to understand Visnu, God, this is the only business. But instead of attending our real business, we are trying to be happy in other ways. Then you can say that "If we are engaged in real business, then how the economic question will be solved? We have to work." That's all right, you work. But work simple. Why you have invented so much botheration? Work is there. If you have cows and if you have got land, then you till the land, get grains, and there is milk, there is fruit, there is flower. Anywhere, you can live peacefully. Whole economic question is solved. And because we have forgotten, we have missed the real point, that our life is meant for God-realization. We are simply increasing botheration. Punah punas carvita. Adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. The leaders are blind; we are also blind. So they are advising that "If you want to solve your economic problem, why you are going to church? Why you are going to temple? Come here, increase business, industry. Take loan and start business." That's all. This is going on. But actually, the more we are trying to mislead this people... Because they are thinking it is all right. They are... That the social condition is becoming more and more grave. That's a fact. We are trying to solve one problem, but many other problems are coming because we do not know what is the ultimate goal of life. Because we are missing the real point.

Therefore Prahlada Maharaja said, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah [SB 7.5.31]. These rascals, they are thinking that by so-called economic development, by exploiting material resources, we shall be happy. That is not possible. The best example your country has given. You have exploited the material resources, and other countries are also following, but where is the happiness? Instead of happiness, there is "hippyness." (laughter) So still, they have no eyes to see that "Where we are going?" Adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30]. Because we cannot control our senses, we are driving, we are being pushed towards the darkest region of material existence, very hard to leave. Darkest region means that we are going to become animals next life. Because this is animalistic civilization. Nature gave us the opportunity to realize God, but God-realization is meant for human being. The human being, if he does not realize God, he's simply engaged in animalistic way of life-eating, sleeping, mating-then nature will call, "All right, sir, again become animal." Punar musiko bhava: "Again become a mouse." You know this story? Punar musiko bhava. There is a story. There is a very nice story. One rat, mouse, he came to a saintly person. Everyone comes to saintly person for some blessing, you see. Real blessing they don't want. Some material blessing. Real blessing, Krishna, they don't want. If you give him some blessing that "You become very rich man and..." These are all very well, this. So this mouse also came and begged the saintly person, "Sir, I am in difficulty. If you give me some blessing?" "What is that?"

"The cat chases after me always. I'm very unhappy."
"So what do you want?"
"Now, if you make me a cat, then I can get relief from this thing."
"All right, you become cat." So he became cat.
So after few days, again he comes. "Sir, again I am in trouble."
"What is that?"
"The dog is chasing me." (laughter) Don't laugh, hear seriously.
"Dog is chasing me."
"All right, then, what do you want?"
"Now, make me a tiger."
"All right, you become a tiger."
So when he became a tiger he was staring on the saintly person like this. So he asked, "Why you are staring upon me? You want to eat me?"
"Yes."
So he again curses, punar musiko bhava: "Again you become mouse. Again you become mouse."
So that is our position. We are advanced in civilization. Now we want to kill God. So we are again going to be uncivilized, to remain in the forest and to remain naked. Actually, they are practicing that: nature's way. So again they are going to be aborigines. And that is being practiced. They are going to the forest, they remain naked. So actually, punar musiko bhava: "Again become mouse." Civilized human being means God conscious, happy life, no trouble, no enviousness, everything happy, no hard labor. Why hard labor? Everything is there. You just employ your little intelligence, you get sufficient food by grains, by fruits, by flowers, milk. There is no difficulty if we remain in our own way. So that is the difficulty, that we do not know that our ultimate goal of life is God-realization. Then God has got all arrangement. You cannot produce fruits and grains in factory. They are given by God. Why? That "You eat them and be Krishna conscious, chant Hare Krishna." But we don't want that. We want slaughterhouse, unnecessarily. Actually, if you go to the store... There are so many stores. How many stores are selling only meat? It is not possible. Ninety-nine percent fruits, vegetables, grains you are taking, and maybe a little percentage of meat. So why you cannot give up this little percentage? If you think that meat is very palatable, why don't you live on meat? Russia is also trying like that. That has become the fashion. In Moscow, it was very difficult to find out nice grains. With great difficulty Syamasundara used to spend two hours daily to secure these things. So this is the problem. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durassaya ye bahir-artha maninah [SB 7.5.31]. They are trying to be happy by the arrangement of these material activities. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te pisa-tantryam. They do not know that the material nature is so strong that you cannot get out of it unless you are prepared to suffer more and more. If you take to natural life and live peacefully and take to Krishna consciousness, that is your real life. And if you simply increase botheration and problems, then you'll have to suffer. That is the position of modern civilization. Actually, superficially we see that material advancement of material science, people have got so many machines, so many facilities. But actually, they are in trouble. Just like I gave you one example: the computer machine. It can work for thousands of men. So thousands of men means the thousands of men must be unemployed. And especially in your country, they are taking advantage of this machine because the salary is If you want to pay to the worker, a big, big salary. So they want to save. They are taking machine, and they think they will save money, so many workers. But the workers are becoming unemployed. The government has to give them welfare. The government will tax. That's all. (laughter.) Government will not give money, welfare, from government's pocket. The government will increase your taxation. So you are..., you stop payment by importing some machine, now you have to pay that money to the government. This is called entanglement. This is a crude example. I don't say that you stop all this business, but the material world is like that. You want to solve something; instead of solving, you'll create so many problems. This is material life. Because our life is not meant for solving problems and creating problems. Our life is meant for understanding God. Then everything is all right. But that you have given up.

na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum
durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah
andha yathandhair upaniyamanas
te pisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhah
[SB 7.5.31]

They do not know that you cannot go an inch beyond the stringent laws of material nature. That is not possible. Then the next question is that how... People are not interested in Krishna consciousness, and then, they are misled by blind leaders. So how, what is the solution? That is Prahlada Maharaja saying,

naisam matis tavad urukrama?ghrim
sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah
mahiyasam pada-rajo-bhisekam
niskincananam na vrnita yavat

Therefore one has to take shelter of a pure devotee. That is the only solution. He says, naisam matis tavad urukrama?grhim. The beginning was that "They are not interested in Krishna consciousness." Then how to become Krishna conscious if that is the solution? Then Prahlada Maharaja says, naisam matis tavad: "So long one does not approach a pure devotee," mahiyasam niskincananam, "great personalities, who has no more any material interest," niskincana, "and takes the dust of his lotus feet on the head..." Naisam matis tavad urukrama?ghrim: "So long one does not approach such personality, there is no possibility of becoming Krishna conscious." Naisam matis tavad urukrama?ghrim. As soon as one approaches the pure devotee and takes the dust of his lotus feet and puts it on his head, immediately, anartha apagamah, he'll be freed from all this nonsense. That means he'll forget this idea that "Materially we can advance." This is the process. So we have to approach a niskincana, who has nothing to do with this material world. His only ambition is to serve more Krishna. And if somebody approaches him and takes the dust of his lotus feet, then he can understand. Mahiyasam pada-rajo-bhisekam niskincananam na vrnita yavat. (aside:) Our time is over? All right.

So in this way Prahlada Maharaja talked with his father, and the father became more angry. Instead of taking the lesson ... Murkhaya upadesa hi prakopaya na santaye. If you teach lesson to a foolish person, he'll be simply angry. He'll not take your lesson. How it is so? Payah-panam bhuja?ganam kevalam visa-vardhanam. If you keep a snake and if you want to make friendly behavior with him, that, "My dear snake, don't bite any more. I'll give you milk and banana. You eat here and stay here nicely," he'll not... His poison will increase, and one day he will... There is a story in the Hitopadesa: one day, one... The same thing. So payah-panam bhuja?ganam kevalam visa-vardhanam. So these are lessons, stories. So his father, Hiranyakasipu, became more and more angry. So one day... Because after all, son and father... The son was simple boy. So one day he said, "Prahlada, I shall now kill you. I shall see how your Krishna saves you." So immediately, Prahlada was seeing to the pillars of the hall. He was king. So Hiranyakasipu asked him, "Is your God, Krishna, in the pillar?" He said, "Yes, sir. Yes, my father, He is there." So immediately, with anger he broke the pillar and Nrisimhadeva came out.

Now we can honor Him. (end)

(Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.22-34. Los Angeles, May 27, 1972. )

Lecture on Pastimes of Sita Mata by His Holiness Prabodhananda Sarasvati Swami at ISKCON Juhu on 08th may 2014

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Lecture on Using Setbacks to Accelerate our Love of Krishna by Devamrita Swami on 21 April 2014 at Los Angeles

(His Holiness Devamrita Swami entered this life on October 16, 1950 in New York City, as the firstborn in a family dominated by a very devout and education-motivated Christian mother.)

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Lecture on Appreciating Krishna's greatness before Sweetness by HG Radhe Shyam Prabhu on 13 Jan 2014 

(President of the Pune branch of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) that has over 600 centres worldwide Director of Vedic Oasis for Inspiration, Culture & Education (VOICE) Holds an M.Tech from IIT-Bombay)

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Lecture on Knowing the goal of life by HH Romapada Swami in 11 May 2014 at Naperville

(Romapada Swami‘s first encounter with Krishna consciousness came in Buffalo, in the shape of a lecture at the State University of New York in 1969. The lecturer was His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The following year, Romapada Swami joined the movement in Boston and was initiated in 1971.)

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Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Class (SB 05.05.24) by His Holiness Prabodhananda Sarasvati Swami at ISKCON vrindavan

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Lecture on Bhagavad Gita (03.27) by HH Bhakti Vikasa Swami on 02 April 2014 at Salem

(His Holiness Bhakti Vikasa Swami appeared in this world in 1957 in England. He joined the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in London in 1975 and was initiated in that year with the name Ilapati dasa by ISKCON's founder-acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.)

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Lecture on Causeless Knowledge and Detachment by HH Bhakti Caitanya Swami on 11 Apr 2014 at South Africa

(Originally from New Zealand, Bhakti Caitanya Swami joined the Hare Krishna movement in London, early in 1973. Almost a year before, as a philosophy student at Auckland University, he had first seen his future spiritual master walking across the campus with his followers. Srila Prabhupada initiated Bhakti Caitanya Swami later in 1973, giving him the name Raghubir Dasa. )

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Lecture on Congregational Chanting - The Austerity for this age by HH Romapada Swami in 09 May 2014 at Naperville

(Romapada Swami‘s first encounter with Krishna consciousness came in Buffalo, in the shape of a lecture at the State University of New York in 1969. The lecturer was His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The following year, Romapada Swami joined the movement in Boston and was initiated in 1971.)

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"The fourth incarnation is Nrisimhadeva. Nrisimhadeva appeared to save Prahlada Maharaja, who was five-years-old boy and he was being tortured by his atheistic father. So He appeared from the pillar of the palace as a half-man, half-lion. Because this Hiranyakasipu took benediction from Brahma that he’ll not be killed by any man or any animal. So the Lord appeared neither man nor animal. This is the difference between the Lord’s intelligence and our intelligence. We are thinking that we can cheat the Lord by our intelligence, but the Lord is more intelligent than us. This Hiranyakasipu wanted to cheat Brahma by indirect definition. First of all he wanted to become immortal. Brahma said, “That is not possible because even I am not immortal. Nobody in this material world is immortal. That is not possible.” So Hiranyakasipu, the demon... The demons are very intelligent. He thought that “Round about way I shall become immortal.” He prayed to Brahma that “Please give me the benediction that I shall not be killed by any man or any animal.” Brahma said, “Yes, that is all right.” “I shall not be killed in the sky, on the water or on land.” Brahma said, “Oh yes.” “I shall not be killed by any man-made weapons.” “That’s all right.” In this way he utilized his intelligence in so many ways just to come to the conclusion of being immortal. But the Lord is so cunning that He kept intact all the benediction given by Brahma, still he was killed. He said that “I’ll not be killed either during daytime or night.” Brahma said “Yes.” So he was killed just in the evening, just in the junction of day and night. You cannot say it is day or night. He took the benediction that “I shall not be killed in the sky, on the water, on the land.” So he was killed on His lap. He took the benediction that “I shall not be killed by any man-made or any God-made weapons.” That was given, “All right.” So he was killed by the nails. In this way, all the benedictions were kept intact, still he was killed. Similarly, we may make plan, we may make very advancement in scientific knowledge, but the killing process of nature will be there. Nobody can escape. By our intelligence we cannot escape. The four principles of material existence means birth, death, old age and disease. We can manufacture many medicines, many weapons, many means, many methods, but you cannot escape these four principles of material existence, however great you may be. That was proved by Hiranyakasipu. Hiranyakasipu was one of the stalwart materialistic and he wanted to live forever, enjoy, but he also could not live. Everything was finished" (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 18th February 1970. Class on Sri Varaha-dwadasi purporting the Dasavatar-stotra - Ten main incarnations of the Lor. Los Angeles.) 

Bhajans by Sri Srinivasa Acharya on www.vaishnavsongs.com

Read more about Disappearance Day of Sri Paramesvari Dasa Thakura on www.harekrishnacalendar.com