Channel: vrsafilm

Srila Prabhupada founded the Hare Krishna movement in New York in 1966. His purpose was to spread the holy name of Krishna and the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita in the West. At the time many young people were disillusioned and searching for answers to the serious questions of life. Srila Prabhupada gave answers to those questions and helped improve the lives of thousands of people. His followers were seriously dedicated to serving his mission. Because of Srila Prabhupada's love, some of his disciples constructed a palace.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=118114

RESOLUTIONS OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2026

Resolved that: The document “Carrying Out Srila Prabhupada’s Order: The GBC as ISKCON’s Ultimate Managing Authority” is an official GBC paper and an important presentation that traces the vision and instructions of Srila Prabhupada in establishing the Governing Body Commission (GBC) as the ultimate managing authority of ISKCON. Drawing on key historical events, correspondence, and foundational documents, it highlights how the GBC serves as the instrument of Srila Prabhupada’s will and the thread that holds ISKCON together as a unified, spiritually vibrant global society.

Read more: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=118108

Channel: Indradyumna Swami Official

Dear devotees, A couple of months ago, we had the great fortune of visiting the home of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura — Bhakti Bhavan in Kolkata. There, I was blessed to worship the very deities once worshipped by him: his beloved Madhava deity, the Giriraja Sila given to him by Jagannatha Dasa Babaji, the Salagrama Sila …

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=118111

By Nityananda Asraya Dasa,

Under the flagship of ISKCON’s Congregational Development Ministry, a two-day Preaching Krishna Consciousness with Excellence training was held on 16th–17th May 2026 at ISKCON Jaipur, Rajasthan. More than 125 temple devotees from Jaipur and representatives from 25 neighboring centers gathered to strengthen their preaching skills and expand congregational outreach. The program was organized under the guidance of Pancaratna Dasa, Temple President of ISKCON Jaipur.

By Bhagavan Narada Das

On April 28, devotees and community members from Bliss House participated in San Antonio’s annual Fiesta Parade for the third consecutive year, sharing kirtan and the darshan of Lord Jagannath with hundreds of thousands of spectators gathered along the parade route. This year’s parade theme centered on toys, inspiring Bliss House to create a video game-themed presentation featuring Lord Jagannath and vibrant devotional chanting.

The Fiesta Parade is one of San Antonio’s largest public celebrations, drawing crowds of over 850,000 people to the streets and 1.5 million viewers on TV. According to organizers, this is the largest illuminated parade in North America, twice named “Best Parade in the World” by the International Festivals and Events Association, awarded “Best Parade in Texas” in both 2018 and 2019 by the Texas Festivals and Events Association, and recognized nationally as one of the most outstanding parades in its budget category.

During the procession, devotees performed harinam sankirtan as they accompanied a decorated float inspired by classic arcade and video game imagery. The creative presentation attracted enthusiastic responses from spectators and parade organizers alike.

As the procession moved through downtown San Antonio, many attendees along the route stopped to dance, wave, chant, and photograph the devotees and float. The sound of the Maha Mantra carried throughout the parade route as thousands witnessed the kirtan and received the darshan of Lord Jagannath.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/bliss-house-joins-thousands-at-major-san-antonio-parade/

Hare Krishna.

As aspiring devotes we should know that it is spiritual ‘best practice’ to
make prayers an important part of our daily sadhna.

Of course, we are aware (but are we conscious of it?) that prayer, vandanam,
is part of nine limbs of bhakti and even following a single limb perfectly
can help us reach our final goal. We should also know that each pranam
manatra which we speak is a prayer to Krishna, Deity, Acharaya & Guru.
Being aware of the importance of power of prayers, Srila Prabhupada very
much ingrained them into daily program of our society. In fact reading and
meditating on our daily temple prayer’s translation alone is a most
purifying and uplifting experience.

Yet many a times we fall into laziness, lack of faith, ignorance- I am
too junior for Krishna to hear me, I am not surrendered enough,….. a long
list of excuses. But actually it is to overcome these very impediments we
need to pray more. Personal prayers also help us establish a very solid
relation with Krishna, our favorite Deity , Srila Prabhupada, Srimad
Bhagavatam, Bhagavad Gita…. What matters most , at our baby stage,  is
our sincerity and an open heart.

Yet many, if not most, of the times, as conditioned Kali-yugians, whenever
we are faced with some challenge, we invariably fall for the below two
standard options

1. I will sort it out.
2. I will figure it out.

In reality we can neither sort it out (karma) nor figure it out (jnana). And
even when we come into devotional life, due to past conditioning, our
standard reaction is for most of the situations is still to opt for these
two solutions. We swing like a pendulum between these two options. 
Unfortunately they have a very limited, if at all any, role to play in our
daily struggle whether, so called, material or spiritual. The real solution
lies in taking shelter of lotus feet of Krishna and our prayers form a very
important part of this very process of taking shelter.
 

Lamentation is useless!

Both the mother and the son were lamenting Dhruva Mahäräja’s having been
insulted by his stepmother and his father’s not having taken any step on
this issue.

But mere lamentation is useless—one should find out the means to mitigate
one’s lamentation.

Thus both mother and son decided to

take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord because that is the only
solution to all material problems.

(SB 4.8.24p)

We are in a helpless condition..accept it..pray for help…and get released!

This is struggle for existence… Everyone is struggling. But what you will
struggle in the ocean? You may be a very big swimmer, but how long you shall
swim? You will be tired. The only means is to take you out of the ocean.
Even one inch above the ocean is your safety. It doesn’t matter how many
inches you are taken from the ocean. Similarly, the prayer is, “

My dear Lord Kåñëa, I am your eternal servant. Somehow or other, I am now
fallen in this ocean. Please pick me up and fix me again as the dust of
Your lotus feet.

” This is the prayer. So we should know in what dangerous position we are.
Then there is necessity of prayer. And prayer to whom? To the Supreme Person
to save us. Therefore there are so many prayers in the çästra.
Prayers means addressing the Lord to save us from this.
The real saving is to pick us up from this ocean of nescience, ignorance.
Then everything is all right.

(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Durban, 7th Oct, 1975)

Krishna is known as Uttamshloka!

Another name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is Uttamaçloka, which
means that
He is offered prayers with selected verses
. Bhakti means çravaëaà kértanaà viñëoù [SB 7.5.23], chanting and hearing
about Lord Viñëu. Impersonalists cannot be purified, for they do not offer
personal prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Even though they
sometimes offer prayers, the prayers are not directed toward the Supreme
Person. Impersonalists sometimes show their incomplete knowledge by
addressing the Lord as being nameless. They always offer prayers indirectly,
saying, “You are this, You are that,” but they do not know to whom they are
praying.
A devotee, however, always offers personal prayers.
A devotee says, govindam ädi-puruñaà tam ahaà bhajämi : “I offer my
respectful obeisances unto Govinda, unto Kåñëa.” That is the way to offer
prayers.

If one continues to offer such personal prayers to the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, he is eligible to become a pure devotee and return home, back
to Godhead.
 

(SB 6.9.47p)

Krishna accepts our prayers

No amount of chosen words are sufficient to enumerate the Lord’s glory, yet

He is satisfied by such prayers, just as a father is satisfied even by the
broken linguistic attempts of a growing child.
 

(TQK, chapter 26)

Difficult made easy for

kali-yugians!
 

Lord Siva says:

Although rendering devotional service to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead and worshiping Him are very difficult, if one vibrates or simply
reads this stotra [prayer] composed and sung by me, he will very easily be
able to invoke the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

To become a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Vāsudeva, is very, very difficult. The
word especially used in this connection is
durārādhyam.
The worship of the demigods is not very difficult, but becoming a devotee of
Lord Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, is not so easy. However,

if one adheres to the principles and follows in the footsteps of the
higher authorities, as advised by Lord Śiva, one can easily become a
devotee of Lord Vāsudeva.
 

(SB 4.24.76+p)

Sing prayers written by previous acharayas and Mahajans

Just like we offer prayers from Brahma-saàhitä. We cannot offer prayer from
any other persons, written by any other nonsense. No, that is not possible.
Viriïca-gétäù. There is power.

If you recite the prayers composed by mahäjana, it has got spiritual power.

( Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Mayapur, 25th Feb 1976)

What should be my mood while praying?
 

Prahläda said, “

I am not proud of being able to offer prayers to the Supreme Personality
of Godhead. I simply take shelter of the mercy of the Lord, for without
devotion one cannot appease Him.

One cannot please the Supreme Personality of Godhead simply by dint of
high parentage or great opulence, learning, austerity, penance or mystic
power. Indeed, these are never pleasing to the Supreme Lord, for nothing can
please Him but pure devotional service. Even if a nondevotee is a brähmaëa
qualified with the twelve brahminical symptoms, he cannot be very dear to
the Lord, whereas if a person born in a family of dog-eaters is a devotee,
the Lord can accept his prayers.

The Lord does not need anyone’s prayers, but if a devotee offers his
prayers to the Lord, the devotee benefits greatly.

Ignorant persons born in low families, therefore, can

sincerely offer heartfelt prayers to the Lord, and the Lord will accept
them.

As soon as one offers his prayers to the Lord, he is immediately situated
on the Brahman platform.

(SB 7.9 summary)

Then the final result..

According to great learned scholars, the whole Bhagavad-gétä contains many
authorized prayers, especially in the Eleventh Chapter, where Arjuna prays
to the universal form of the Lord. Similarly, in the Gautaméya-tantra all
the verses are called prayers. Again, in Çrémad-Bhägavatam there are
hundreds of prayers to the Lord.

So a devotee should select some of these prayers for his recitation

. In Skanda Puräëa the glories of these prayers are stated as follows:
‘Devotees whose tongues are decorated always with prayers to Lord Kåñëa are
always given respect even by the great saintly persons and sages, and such
devotees are actually worshipable by the demigods.’….

In the Nåsiàha Puräëa it is stated, ‘

Any person who comes before the Deity of Lord Kåñëa and begins to chant
different prayers is immediately relieved from all the reactions of sinful
activities and becomes eligible,

without any doubt,

to enter into the Vaikuëöhaloka.

‘

(NoD, chapter 9)

Prayers of Vritasura

• O my Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, will I again be able to
  be a servant of Your eternal servants who find shelter only at Your
  lotus feet? O Lord of my life, may I again become their servant so
  that my mind may always think of Your transcendental attributes, my
  words always glorify those attributes, and my body always engage in
  the loving service of Your Lordship?
   
• O my Lord, source of all opportunities, I do not desire to enjoy in
  Dhruvaloka, the heavenly planets or the planet where Lord Brahmā
  resides, nor do I want to be the supreme ruler of all the earthly
  planets or the lower planetary systems. I do not desire to be master
  of the powers of mystic yoga, nor do I want liberation if I have to
  give up Your lotus feet.
  
   
• O lotus-eyed Lord, as baby birds that have not yet developed their
  wings always look for their mother to return and feed them, as small
  calves tied with ropes await anxiously the time of milking, when they
  will be allowed to drink the milk of their mothers, or as a morose
  wife whose husband is away from home always longs for him to return
  and satisfy her in all respects, I always yearn for the opportunity to
  render direct service unto You.
  
   
• O my Lord, my master, I am wandering throughout this material world as
  a result of my fruitive activities. Therefore I simply seek friendship
  in the association of Your pious and enlightened devotees. My
  attachment to my body, wife, children and home is continuing by the
  spell of Your external energy, but I wish to be attached to them no
  longer. Let my mind, my consciousness and everything I have be
  attached only to You.
  
   

All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

your servant,

Giriraj dasa

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=34873

Our beloved Srila Prabhupada conforms to the sastric description of who exactly is a perfect devotee. His behavior is flawless, as his every word and deed is meant to glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna. He never deviates from that full attention to the Absolute Truth and he cannot be seen at any moment engaged in any frivolous talk or momentary material idleness. Each and every moment in a fully surrendered devotee’s life, even up to his last breath, is connected in some way to Krsna’s Name, Form, Instructions, or Pastimes.
Also, since he is no longer affected in any way by the three modes of nature, he is never forced to act, even for a moment. Everything is being directed personally by Krsna by His Internal Potency. Therefore, no one can ever find any fault because he is as good as Krsna Himself, and is completely under His care and protection at every moment. Krsna has all strength, all power, all everything. And He is never for a moment separate from such a perfect devotee but is eternally united with him through love and devotion.

So as we understand through hearing what transcendental characteristics describe a cent percent pure devotee, and as we see how he is spreading Krsna’s message all over the world, we gradually develop faith in such a rare soul. And if we are sufficiently blessed by Srila Prabhupada and by Krsna from within our hearts, we can develop unshakable faith in both Krsna and our spiritual master, at which time all the imports of the scriptures will be revealed to us. with all respect to the devotees, Mahananda dasa

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=54693

Channel: HH Krishna Kshetra Swami

Sat Sanga with HH Krishna Kshetra Swami Topics: Purushottama Masa – ISKCON’s Constitution – Try to Chant and Be Happy – Q&A on Tradition and Inclusion Song: Balya-lila (verses 35–44), from Srila Locana Dasa Thakura’s Sri Caitanya Mangala — The Loving Pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu …

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=118101

ISKCON devotees and members of the Indian diaspora were among the invited guests of the Indian Embassy to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Gothia Towers in Gothenburg, Sweden, on May 17, 2026.

Modi visited Sweden on an official trip focused on strengthening cooperation between the two countries in areas such as trade, innovation, and the green transition.

During the visit, he warmly greeted the guests, who presented Indian dance, arati, and musical performances. When he approached the ISKCON devotees, he was greeted with “Hare Krishna,” and he warmly shook their hands. Asian News International (ANI) interviewed Kamala Priya Devi Dasi, who welcomed PM Modi on behalf of ISKCON Sweden. A video highlighting the visit and the interview has garnered over 12,000 views. Y

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-devotees-amongst-invited-guests-to-greet-pm-modi-in-sweden/

A devotee sees all as God’s dear children and wants to relieve their misery.

As eternal parts of Krishna, we naturally possess some of His quality of being concerned for the welfare of all living beings.

Krishna, the seed-giving father of all living beings (Gita 14.4), is also the well-wisher of all living beings (Gita 5.29). As a father wants the best for his children, Krishna wants the best for every one of us. And as a father provides for his children, so Krishna provides for all of us – eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman (Katha Upanishad 2.2.13): “The One fulfills the desires of the many.” Through His different expansions, the almighty Supreme Lord, Krishna, maintains all living beings, in their conditioned and liberated states.

As part of Him, we living entities have Krishna’s qualities to a minute degree, just as a drop of ocean water has the qualities of the ocean to a minute degree. By our nature we want to help others and we want the best for them. Even in lower species, parents care for their offspring, groups of the same species assist each other, and sometimes, in symbiotic inter-species relationships, different species help each other.

We humans naturally care not only for ourselves and our own family, but also for our community, our society, our nation, our kindred spirits, humankind, and other living entities. Many people are trying to save endangered species, rain forests, and coral reefs, trying to reduce pollution and eliminate exploitation, and so on.

The great moralist Canakya Pandita said that one of the characteristics of learned persons is that they see the suffering of others as their own. In other words, a learned person is not callous, but caring. Srila Prabhupada concurs: “A pure devotee is always aggrieved to see others suffering.” (Bhagavatam 7.9, Summary) A number of the twenty-six qualities of a devotee listed in the Chaitanya-charitamrita relate to caring, such as being kind to everyone, being equal to everyone, and being charitable, benevolent, friendly, and compassionate. A devotee, knowing that all beings are God’s children and dear to Him, sees them equally and wants to relieve their misery.

Krishna is pleased with those who care about others and try to help them, and evidence of His pleasure may be in the measurable growth and happiness such kind-hearted people experience. A recent Time magazine article declares: “Scientific research provides compelling data to support the anecdotal evidence that giving is a powerful pathway to personal growth and lasting happiness.” (https://time.com/collection/guide-to-happiness/4070299/secret-to-happiness/) Philanthropists and others who live more selfless lives are more fulfilled and happier than those who confine their focus to self-centered concerns.

In former ages, leaders felt responsible for the well-being of all the citizens: “King Gaya gave full protection and security to the citizens so that their personal property would not be disturbed by undesirable elements. He also saw that there was sufficient food to feed all the citizens.” (Bhagavatam 5.15.7)

“Citizens” included all beings under the leaders’ jurisdiction: “The king is meant to protect all living beings, namely the aquatics, plants, trees, reptiles, birds, animals and man. Every one of them is a part and parcel of the Supreme Lord (Bg. 14.4), and the king, being the representative of the Supreme Lord, is duty-bound to give proper protection to every one of them.” (Bhagavatam 1.12.4, Purport)

Spiritual Care

Protection and care are not limited to bodily protection and fulfilling bodily needs. Each one of us is an individual soul – an atma – incarcerated in a material body and mind. Spiritual care is to help free the atma from its awkward circumstance. Because of our spiritual identity as atma and our material predicament – our body and mind are mortal and subject to all sorts of suffering – we are kindred spirits with all beings. Krishna says, “One is a perfect yogi who, by comparison to one’s own self, sees the true equality of all beings, in both their happiness and their distress.” (Gita 6.32) Care and protection that ignore the atma and concern themselves only with the body and mind are incomplete and not approved by Krishna.

In a world full of “self-help” and “self-improvement” concerns, we can easily become self-engrossed and squelch our innate inclination to extend ourselves for others’ good – to desire that they benefit physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. If I suffer from a lack of caring, a callousness toward the spiritual and material suffering of others, that fault is my responsibility alone. I cannot command this unnatural, hard-hearted attitude to change, but I can control how I act and what I say. Even if I don’t feel like it, I can choose to act and speak as if I cared. This isn’t artificial or forced, but a reflection of who I really am – an atma, an integral part of God, who cares for and about all beings. It’s a lack of caring that’s artificial. Rather than act according to the dictates of callousness, I can try to care for and about others even when my emotions disagree. By tolerating whatever happens and by depending on my innate desire to care, which comes from the care Krishna has for all beings, I unfold a new dimension in myself.

Care isn’t stereotyped; it can even extend to negative relationships. Care directed toward someone who exploits or abuses others can include anger expressed without grudge or bias, and it can include punishment meted out to rectify the offense. Srila Prabhupada writes, “The Battle of Kurukshetra was fought according to the plan of God. Arjuna was refusing to fight, but he was told that he should fight in accordance with the desire of the Supreme Lord.” (Gita 11.33, Purport) Arjuna showed his care not by nonviolence, but by fighting aggressors.

How to best show care is not always easy or clear but is always necessary. Care can encompass sternness and softness, gravity and lightheartedness, chastisement and clemency. It can mean graciously accepting unpleasant, unlikely-to-change aspects of someone, or it can mean disassociating from someone. Care based on love and girded by spiritual knowledge and detachment withstands the onslaught of our fluctuating moods, phases, and vulnerabilities.

With the dignity worthy of spiritual beings, devotees remember their goal – to please Krishna with their service and love – and relate to others on the basis of achieving it. They do not allow heartlessness to strangle their mood of caring and constrict their vision, but they figure out how to extend themselves for others’ good.

In Sanskrit, care and protection is called poshana, which includes nourishing, cherishing, fostering, keeping, supporting, and maintaining. Poshana also refers to the Lord’s special care and protection of His devotees.

Krishna Takes Special Care of His Devotees

Krishna declares (Gita 9.29), “I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all,”  which may cause one to question how He can take special care and protection of His devotees. Yet He does. He continues, “Whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.” Isn’t that partiality? Is God playing favorites? Srila Prabhupada explains,

This is not discrimination; it is natural. Any man in this material world may be very charitably disposed, yet he has a special interest in his own children. The Lord claims that every living entity – in whatever form – is His son, and so He provides everyone with a generous supply of the necessities of life. He is just like a cloud which pours rain all over, regardless of whether it falls on rock or land or water. But for His devotees, He gives specific attention. (Gita 9.29, Purport)

Prabhupada further explains, “As a king maintains his kingdom and subjects but nevertheless gives special attention to the members of his family, so the Personality of Godhead gives special care to His devotees who are souls completely surrendered to Him.” (Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi 2.91–92, Purport)

This so-called favoritism is actually impartiality and makes complete sense when we consider Krishna’s famous statement “As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly.” (Gita 4.11) Since Krishna’s devotees are souls surrendered to Him, they are eligible to receive His special reward in the form of poshana: they are especially cared for by Him. How God reciprocates with each one of us is determined by what we give to our relationship with Him.

“Those who worship Me, giving up all their activities unto Me and being devoted to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, having fixed their minds upon Me, O son of Pritha – for them I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death.” (Gita 12.6–7) Srila Prabhupada explains: “It is explicitly stated here that the devotees are very fortunate to be delivered very soon from material existence by the Lord. . . . The Supreme Lord herein promises that without delay He will deliver a pure devotee thus engaged from the ocean of material existence.”

Even in the face of life’s inevitable reverses, a devotee feels the Lord’s care.

[A devotee] regards any reverses in life as blessings of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, instead of being agitated by such reverses, he continues his activities of devotional service, and Krishna takes care of him and enables him to be promoted to the spiritual world, back to Godhead. If a devotee has to suffer the reactions of his past misdeeds, the Supreme Lord arranges for him to be given only a token of these reactions, and very soon he is freed from all the reactions of material contamination. One should therefore adhere to devotional service, and the Lord Himself will very soon see to one’s promotion to the spiritual world. A devotee should not be disturbed by unfortunate circumstances, but must continue his regular program, depending on the Lord for everything. (Bhagavatam 8.4.11–12, Purport)

As Krishna takes special care of His devotees, so devotees, naturally, want to do the same – to take special care of Krishna’s devotees.

Devotees Care for Devotees

In our relationships, we usually get back what we give out. Generally, when we express our concern for others, they are also concerned about us; when we’re attentive to them, they reciprocate similarly. These exchanges are due to love, and what is love but to want what’s best for the other, to care about and care for the other?

Devotee care encompasses helping devotees who are in any way in need, and it is much more. Care is part of devotees’ lifestyle, for devotees are aware of the spiritual identity and value of every living being, as well as the goal of selfless love they and each living entity are meant to achieve. This dimension of care can create realizations as multifaceted as the atma is beautiful. Through Krishna’s unparalleled ingenuity, care between devotees can initiate ecstatic insights that reveal harmony amidst diversity, unity within differences.

Because devotees care about other devotees, they respect their personalities and are therefore gentle and polite and allow each other to be perfectly themselves. Caring for and about another devotee evokes that devotee’s innate acceptance, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and friendliness, and that can solve seemingly insoluble relationship problems.

Care expressed by both persons can help resolve relationship problems with freshness and vigor because it lets each person grasp the other’s feelings and opinions and, based on merit and mutual gain, find mutually agreeable resolutions to disagreements. And care allows us to be happy even if we don’t solve all our problems or overcome all adversity.

Care is vulnerable to pain and yet continues. It lessens the expectations we have of others, enlarges what we expect from ourselves, and nurtures affinity. It lets us appreciate our companions’ qualities and know the satisfaction of using ourselves well to benefit another. An uncaring person criticizes the fault within the person; a caring one speaks to the person behind the fault. An attitude of deeply caring about others, an attitude that originates in the atma, allows me to laugh at and become detached from my whimsical mind and its foibles. Besides humor, a remarkable sense of equality accompanies caring, for it can shrink our own conceit and make us aware that we are simply a friend among friends. We move closer to the importance, the uniqueness, and the sameness of all life.

A devotee’s care for other devotees is not ordinary, for it offers the supreme benediction. Srila Prabhupada writes, “Living entities under a devotee’s care get the opportunity for God realization by the management of a devotee-master.” (Bhagavatam 2.4.2, Purport) Why is this? Because Krishna cares for and reciprocates with those who do likewise. In his Krishna-lila-stava (112), Sanatana Goswami, a great Vaishnava disciple of Sri Chaitanya, writes, “You [Krishna] take special care for Your devotee’s devotee.”

To care is an expression of our free will; it radiates from the atma and wants to expand to encompass each atma we contact. Genuine care for others, Krishna’s gift to the grateful atma, is a powerful victory over the force of illusion that prevents us from coming closer to Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Source: https://btg.krishna.com/caring-krishna-and-his-caring-devotees/

From Morality to Spirituality

Until people gain the spiritual inspiration that underlies truly good behavior, attempts to legislate morality will inevitably fail.

Daily news reports of things like corruption, nepotism, favoritism, and infidelity have us fed up. Politicians say, “Education in ethics and values is the solution. ” But don’t most people already know right from wrong? I think so. They just feel they’ll fare better in life without following moral codes. And exhortation by moralists or legislation by politicians doesn’t inspire them to think differently.

Follow Rules for What?

Living by moral principles is like following traffic laws for smooth and safe travel. The purpose of travel, however, is not to follow the laws but to reach the destination. If a traveler feels that the traffic laws delay him or obstruct his reaching the destination, he may break them if he thinks he can get away with it.

Like traffic laws, moral principles promote order, specifically orderly social interactions. But modern education doesn’t teach us about the goal of social transactions or of life itself. Consequently people may stay moral out of deference to culture or tradition but give up morality when circumstances threaten or tempt them. Worse still, the incessantly glorified goals of modern consumer society—fame, wealth, luxuries, power, pleasure, prestige—encourage and even necessitate immoral behavior. The Bhagavad-gita (16.8–15) explains that a materialistic worldview leads to insatiable lust and greed, which impel corrupt actions. When people are surrounded and bombarded by materialistic allurements, they may feel that by being moral they stand to lose a lot and gain nothing tangible. Moreover, our godless education gives us no knowledge about any higher-order natural laws of cosmic accountability. And the fallibility of our penal systems is all too well known. The result? Morality appears entirely dispensable, especially for the shrewd or powerful. In such an environment, how can we expect mere platitudes to inspire people to be moral?

Love: The Basis of Morality

“Morality means lack of opportunity.” This saying catches the tottering utilitarian approach to morality. The Vedic texts of ancient India assert that morality without spirituality is baseless and therefore short-lived. If we seriously want morality in society, we need to introduce systematic spiritual education centered on a positive goal of life. The Vedic texts inform us of a nonsectarian universal spiritual goal of life: to develop pure love for God. We are all spiritual beings and are meant to rejoice in our eternal loving relationship with the supreme all-attractive spiritual being, God. Being intrinsically spiritual, we find real happiness not in material acquisition but in spiritual awakening our innate love for God. The more we love God, the happier we become.

Love for God results in love for all living beings as our brothers and sisters in the one universal family of God. When we love all living beings, we will no longer desire to exploit or manipulate others for our selfish interests. Instead, our love for God will inspire us to love and serve each other. This will create a culture of warmth and trust, which engenders moral behavior. This contrasts sharply with the modern culture of alienation and suspicion, which fosters immorality.

Genuine spiritual practices, even in their preliminary stages, trigger our innate value system. We intuitively realize that God is our greatest well-wisher. Subsequently we voluntarily and lovingly choose to lead a morally and spiritually principled life, as ordained by God, knowing it to be in our ultimate interest. And as we find inner happiness by loving God, we become freed from selfish, lusty, greedy, and egoistic drives. No longer do we feel we are missing anything because of our morality. Morality ceases to be the “difficult but right” choice. Rather it becomes the easy and natural course of action for our spiritual growth.

Not Utopia, But Reality

Some may feel, “All this sounds good, but it’s unscientific and utopian.” In other words, we live in an age where only the scientific, practical worldview is considered reasonable and acceptable. But is the Vedic worldview really unreasonable or impractical?

We need to remind ourselves that science has never proven the non-existence of God or the soul. Rather the reductionistic approach chosen by most scientists for studying the universe just presumes the non-existence of any spiritual reality. Strikingly enough, even within this reductionistic framework some scientists conclude that the evidence strongly suggests a super-intelligent designer of the cosmos (God) and a non-material source of consciousness within the body (soul).

Love of God will appear utopian only as long as we do not know the coherent philosophy and the clear-cut path to its attainment. Through genuine spiritual practices like prayer, meditation, and chanting the names of God, anyone can experience spiritual enrichment. Once we taste immortal love, we realize that it is the defining and unifying goal of life.

Higher Morality

Someone familiar with episodes in the lives of Krishna and his devotees might object: “But Krishna Himself sometimes acts immorally. And so do his devotees. How can worshiping an immoral God help us become moral?”

To understand this, we need to first consider the ultimate purpose of all morality. We are lost in the darkness of ignorance in the material world, not knowing what to do and what to avoid. Like a torch, moral codes light the way for us. They protect us from being waylaid by selfish desires and keep us on the way toward our ultimate objective—achieving love for Krishna and returning to him. But Krishna is the source of all morality, just as the sun is the source of all light. Because he is fully satisfied in himself, he acts only out of selfless love for us, either to reciprocate with our love or to help us rectify our errant ways. He does not need moral codes because he has not the slightest trace of selfish desires. It is we who need moral codes because we are filled with selfish desires. But if we become proud of our morality and try to examine Krishna with our moral standards, that’s like searching for the sun with a torch. It’s foolish and futile.

When the sun rises by its own accord, its effulgence reveals its full glory. Similarly when Krishna decides to reveal himself by his own sweet will, we can understand his pure morality and glory. Until then it is best for us to scrupulously follow moral codes to please him so that he may eventually reveal himself. And we should be careful not to become proud of our righteousness.

If we accept Krishna’s position as the Supreme Lord, we can gain some understanding about how all his acts are moral. For example, Krishna steals butter from the houses of the cowherd women of Vrindavana. But how can he be considered a thief when he creates and owns everything? He takes the role of a child to reciprocate the maternal affection of his devotees. His stealing, a naughty childhood prank, enhances the sweetness of their loving exchanges. How can that be compared to our stealing, which leads to pain and punishment?

Similarly Krishna takes the role of a handsome youth to reciprocate with the devotees who desire a conjugal relationship with him. His love for the gopis (cowherd maidens) is based not on the beauty of their bodies but on the devotion of their hearts. Some people allege that Krishna’s pastimes with the gopis are like the lusty dealings of ordinary boys and girls. But then why would highly renounced saints who give up the sexual love of this world, seeing it as disdainful and distasteful, worship the pastimes of Krishna with the gopis? Even today thousands of people all over the world are becoming free from the control of lusty desires by chanting Krishna’s names and worshiping him. If Krishna himself were controlled by lust, how could he free his devotees from lust?

In the battle with the Kauravas, Krishna urges the Pandavas to act immorally. But that is like an authority’s urging policemen to break the speed limit to catch thieves who are speeding away. The policemen are (apparently) breaking the law to serve the purpose of the law. Similarly the Pandavas break moral codes to serve a higher purpose that Krishna wants to see fulfilled: to establish the rule of morality by removing the immoral Kauravas from power.

In exceptional circumstances, Krishna’s devotees may act seemingly immorally to do his will, which is meant for the ultimate good of all living beings. But generally devotees follow moral codes as an expression of their devotion to Krishna. In fact, without devotion, we will not have the inner strength to sustain lifelong adherence to moral principles.

We need to exercise caution in understanding Krishna’s actions, which are above morality. Otherwise, we may misunderstand him and reject his love, condemning ourselves to staying below morality and suffering the karmic reactions for our misdeeds.

If we want lasting morality, empty exhortation and ineffectual legislation won’t do. As long as people are taught to pursue material goals, they will feel morality to be impractical or even undesirable. Only when they know and pursue love for God as the goal of life will morality become desirable and practical for them. Therefore at a social level we need to introduce genuine spiritual education and practices leading to love for God and inner fulfillment. And at an individual level, recognizing the spiritual basis of morality is highly empowering. It opens for us a course of action far superior to apathy, tacit approval, helpless lamentation, or indignant self-righteousness. In a cancerous tissue, one healthy cell can activate the healing process. Similarly when the cancer of immorality afflicts modern society, each one of us can, by leading a life of spiritual and moral integrity, activate the process of social recovery.

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16679

Channel: Campaka

Preserve Locana Prabhu’s Lifelong Service to Srila Prabhupada Hare Krishna dear devotees, We are urgently trying to raise $5,000 to help Locana Prabhu repair his severely water-damaged studio and protect a groundbreaking new project that could revolutionize the creation of Srila Prabhupada murtis worldwide. For over 50 years, Locana Prabhu has lovingly created many of the lifelike Srila Prabhupada murtis worshiped throughout ISKCON temples around the world — including our own beloved Prabhupada murti here at New Goloka . We are incredibly fortunate that such a gifted and dedicated Vaishnava artist lives right here in our midst and continues to quietly serve Srila Prabhupada with such devotion. Now, in his later years, he is transitioning away from toxic fiberglass work and pioneering a safer, cleaner 3D printing method for devotional murti production that could greatly benefit temples and devotees for generations to come. Unfortunately, his workshop has suffered serious structural water damage, and urgent repairs are needed before further rain causes even greater harm to the building and specialized equipment. Please consider donating and sharing this fundraiser so we can help preserve and support this extraordinary lifelong service to Srila Prabhupada. https://gofund.me/a975dd210 Thank you very much. Hare Krishna! Campaka

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=118094

By Parijata Devi Dasi, 

Devotee Care (DC) is an important and growing initiative within ISKCON aimed at nurturing the well-being of devotees and fostering a culture of care and support within the ISKCON community. Rooted in the instructions of Srila Prabhupada, Devotee Care seeks to ensure that devotees feel valued, supported, and connected.

Devotee Care broadly addresses 12 Areas of Care, which together cover the holistic needs of a devotee: 1) Spiritual Life and Care, 2) Healthcare (Physical, Mental and Emotional), 3) Marriage, Sex and Relationships, 4) Child-rearing and Childcare, 5) Education and Training, 6) Career and Employment, 7) Financial Care, 8) Housing, 9) Travel and Immigration, 10) Consumer and Lifestyle, 11) Legal and Civic Care, and 12) Mediation Advice.

At the heart of this initiative is the vision of building a caring and spiritually nourishing community for all devotees. According to Gauranga Das, DC Global Director, “Devotee Care is an expression of Vaishnava culture, where devotees support one another with sincerity, compassion, and practical care, helping create an environment in which devotees can remain inspired and steady in their Krishna consciousness.”

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/devotee-care-in-iskcon-building-a-culture-of-care/

Purushottama Month, also known as Adhik Masa, is an extra lunar month that appears approximately every three years to harmonize the lunar and solar calendars.

While materially minded people once considered this month inauspicious because it was not assigned for worldly ceremonies and rituals, Lord Krishna Himself transformed its destiny by bestowing upon it His own name — Purushottama, “The Supreme Personality.”

The scriptures describe how this neglected month approached Lord Vishnu in deep sorrow after being rejected by all. Moved by compassion, Lord Krishna granted this month extraordinary spiritual potency, declaring that anyone who sincerely worships Him during this sacred time receives immense spiritual benefit and special mercy.

For devotees, Purushottama Month is not an ordinary time. It is a sacred invitation to deepen one’s relationship with Krishna through sincere chanting, hearing, service, prayer, simplicity, and spiritual reflection. Purushottama Month is a time for spiritual focus and inner reflection.

Source: https://ramaiswami.com/purusottama-month-2/

When hungry a child not only cries but tries to put anything and everything in his tiny little mouth. Once fed, he becomes quiet and either peacefully plays or simply sleeps. Our hungry heart also always creates tantrum like a child. A mother is aware of her child’s wants but we are unaware about our heart’s needs. Being constantly starved our heart soon makes our life miserable. And we anxiously search for the elixir to calm the angry heart. But none of our attempts completely succeeds. Our solutions are mostly old fashioned. We try to stuff it up with lots of money, loads of worldly things and tonnes of pride and prestige. The carnal pleasure in this world is celebrated and so many go for it thinking it to be the mother of all happiness. These attempts instead of satisfying the heart makes it more agitated. It’s like drinking salty sea water upon being thirsty. Not just the taste is disgusting but it increases our thirst.

Satisfaction and material opulence is not synonymous. Duryodhana is the best case study. He had succeeded in driving out Pandavas, though cunningly, out of the kingdom. And Pandavas lived frugally in the jungle in huts made of wood and mud but they were peaceful and non- complaining. But Duryodhana in spite of having all the comforts and luxury in his palace was in abject misery and in constant anxiety. Why? Because his heart was filled with envy, hatred and arrogance. Whilst the Pandavas were happy as love and piety dominated their heart. Love satisfies our heart and not lust. Satisfaction calms our heart and not material hankering.

Rupa Goswami and Sananta Goswami voluntarily gave up their high profile job, luxurious house and all the money. Instead they donned tattered clothes, lived under the trees in Vrindavan and begged for living. But still they were million times happier and content then the wealthiest person of this world. Why? Because they remained completely absorbed in chanting the holy names of the Lord and sharing the beautiful message of Krishna through words and actions. Rupa Goswami wished to have millions of tongues and ears so that he can chant unlimitedly and continuously taste the nectarine name of Krishna through his ears. The purpose of our life is to cleanse our hearts and mind of all the impurities and develop deep affection for Krishna. We can at least learn from these venerable sages that to be happy one just need to become a lover of Krishna. It gives lots of joy and tonnes of happiness.

Material attachment weakens our heart whilst spiritual affection strengthens it. Most of our material desires remain unfulfilled. And if somehow some gets fulfilled then soon we find that it does not give us same pleasure as we had expected and soon we get bored. This is why great minds in the past and holy scriptures have always spoken about the futility of material cravings. Then why to waste our invaluable life running after worldly things? Instead let us take a bold decision, step out from the material mindset and look towards Krishna. Our hungry and angry heart would soon be over flooded with love and the gate leading to perennial pleasure would wide open.

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=12765

“Is chanting all that your religion does? Don’t you do welfare or anything like that?”

Alex, my barber, works at the Pilatos salon in Queens, New York, on the cusp of a Hispanic neighborhood. The salon has mostly Latino hairdressers and clients, and it is bright and upbeat, with salsa music often playing softly in the background. On a recent visit there, instead of salsa, I heard the chanting of om namo bhagavate vasudevaya, which means “obeisance to the Supreme Lord Krishna.” I remarked to Alex that this is one of the Hare Krishna chants. He and I sometimes chat about Krishna consciousness, so he became quite interested. It seems the CD was a European compilation of various exotic chants and prayers from around the world and Alex was the one who had brought it to the salon.

He asked me about chanting. I explained that the basis of the Hare Krishna religion is sankirtana, or glorification of the Lord in everything one does. One kind of sankirtana is chanting the Lord’s holy names.

Alex had seen groups of people chanting on the streets, and he asked, “Is chanting all that your religion does? Don’t you do welfare or anything like that?”

“We do welfare work,” I responded, “but it’s welfare for the soul.”

Welfare for the Soul

In a previous conversation, I had explained to Alex that we are not these bodies; we are souls. The body is the vehicle for the soul. Still, the idea of welfare for the soul confused him, so I explained that my guru, Prabhupada, compares welfare for the body to saving the coat of a drowning person and letting the person drown, whereas welfare for the soul saves the drowning person. Nevertheless, Alex wondered aloud how one might do something to benefit the soul.

I told him that the chanting itself is the greatest welfare, because it invokes the presence of the Lord in the form of His name. When we chant in public, everyone who hears is benefited by association with the Lord. Thus, Mem>sankirtana is welfare. Alex, who is Catholic and from Costa Rica, said that some of the nuns he knew in school recited the rosary almost all day. He wondered whether that was like our sankirtana.

“Yes,” I replied, “it is similar to sankirtana. And Prabhupada once told me that the Muslims’ chanting of Allah’s name is also like sankirtana.”

Alex said that he didn’t want to offend me, but he had noticed that many people who see the Hare Krishna chanting groups don’t understand what we’re doing.

He asked, “How is that welfare, if they don’t understand?”

I explained that the effect of the chanting doesn’t depend on our understanding. I used the example of a medicine we take to cure a disease. We swallow the pills, but we don’t need to know how they act. After some time, the medicine takes effect, and the disease goes away. Similarly, the chanting acts to cure the soul of its disease, which is bondage to maya.

Alex recalled that we had spoken of maya in our last conversation.

“Yes,” I said, “maya is illusion, and it keeps us focused on this world, clouding our ability to connect with Krishna.”

He liked my explanation of the mysterious effect of chanting, but he still thought it impractical to chant among people who had no idea that their maya was being cured.

“In fact,” I replied, “we do tell people about maya and Krishna. Our welfare work includes disseminating Krishna’s teachings and glories. And, yes, you’re right(when people understand Krishna, they receive a greater benefit from sankirtana welfare.”

I added that book distribution is our most effective means of informing people of the significance of sankirtana.

He asked, “Do you sell your books in the subway, like the Scientologists and Jehovah’s Witnesses?”

I explained that we have a number of books.

“One is called the Gita, which has Krishna’s teachings, and another is the Bhagavatam, which is a set of books containing Krishna’s glories. And we distribute them widely, sometimes even in the subway.”

Emboldened by my candor, Alex expressed concern that a religion where everyone simply chanted all the time didn’t seem practical.

“Well,” I said, “some of our saints were examples of constant chanting, but Prabhupada advised me not to follow that example. He asked me to chant about one and a half to two hours a day as a disciple’s duty, but he said that for the remaining hours of the day working for Krishna is as good as chanting. He cautioned that lazy might people chant to avoid such work. Because I was a family man, Prabhupada encouraged me to have an honest profession and use my efforts and money for sankirtana.”

Transcendental Welfare Formula

Alex was wary when I mentioned money. He said that the Catholic priests he knows are always asking for money and he didn’t much like that. I explained that Chaitanya had prescribed a kind of formula for sankirtana welfare that addresses his concern.

“Chaitanya urged everyone to do sankirtana welfare by offering their words, intelligence, wealth, and life. He taught that the basis for sankirtana welfare is the offering of words, including public chanting or the distribution of the printed word. Intelligence is also used for welfare by organizing the festive chanting and book distribution. For example, every year here in New York we have a grand procession down Fifth Avenue called Rathayatra that has large, colorful carts adorned with flags and tall canopies. Many Hare Krishna people apply their intelligence to obtain permits for the festival, organize displays, prepare food, and coordinate cleanup.”

In the mirror I could see Alex’s face light up. He stopped trimming my hair and told me that he had walked in the Rathayatra parade in June 2002, just months after the attack on the World Trade Center. He commented that the devastation from the attack had depressed him, and he felt that the parade had nourished his soul. It had reminded him of Catholic processions in Costa Rica.

Still, he asked, “What about the money you mentioned? Who gets the money?”

I replied, “The important point is that giving money is based on the offering of words and intelligence, so we are supposed to use our intelligence when we give and not depend on others to dictate or intercede. We give our money for the chanting festivals and book distribution. We also use it to maintain temples, which are centers for sankirtana welfare. Prabhupada taught that we should see to it that our offerings to sankirtana are not misused. Part of the mission of the organization he founded—the International Society for Krishna Consciousness—is to govern the proper use of contributions. It is especially important to offer money, because Krishna’s Gita teaches that such an offering is part of a yoga called karma-yoga.”

When I mentioned yoga, Alex told me that he does a little yoga at home and sometimes goes to classes. I explained that karma-yoga is different from exercise yoga.

“Karma-yoga is the offering of one’s efforts and money to Krishna as a way to connect with Him. Krishna taught that using money selfishly is the cause of worldly bondage, but sacrificing it for welfare frees one from maya. Also, Krishna taught that karma-yoga is an essential part of the highest and most powerful yoga, which is bhakti-yoga, or devotional service to Krishna. Bhakti-yoga is the highest yoga because it awakens love for Krishna.”

My haircut had been finished for a few minutes, and Alex had another client waiting. I reminded him that everything is based on the chanting. He asked whether I could write down the words to the prayer on the CD, so I wrote om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. Underneath the prayer, I wrote: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

I told him, “The prayer on the CD has the power of Krishna’s name, and chanting it will benefit you. However, Prabhupada taught his followers to chant Hare Krishna because it is especially recommended for this age. I find chanting Hare Krishna to be wonderful.”

Alex asked his next client to go for a hair wash, and I went to the cashier to pay for the cut. I came back to give him a tip and said that next time I would bring him Krishna’s Gita. That way, he could learn how to offer his intelligence as well as his chanting. At that point he joked that he was a long way from the money part. I laughed.

“That’s no problem,” I said. “Krishna says you can begin by offering Him even a leaf.”

As I prepared to leave, Alex asked me how much money I give to sankirtana. I replied that Prabhupada had asked me to give fifty percent of what I earn, so that is what I try to give. He was surprised and said that it seemed to be quite a lot.

“I’ll tell you frankly, Alex,” I replied, “I was deeply grateful for Prabhupada’s affection and training, so I felt that it was the least I could do. Moreover, Chaitanya likened sankirtana welfare to distributing fruit that cures old age and death. I was enchanted by that analogy and have definitely experienced the benefits of giving and seeing others benefited.”

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17536

My first contact with the Hare Krishna movement came in the summer of 1969 when I saw its members chanting on the streets of Hollywood. My initial reaction to the shaven heads, saffron-colored robes and seemingly strange activity was one of bewilderment and, to some degree, comic relief. It was not until a year later that I was able to appreciate the sound philosophy which stems from one of the world’s oldest religious traditions, as explained in their Back to Godhead magazine. I soon realized that there was a tremendous wealth of knowledge and logic behind the activities of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and that it was far from being a new “hippie” cult. In fact, the information contained in that first magazine concisely answered all the questions I ever had regarding life, its purpose and more.

The next year in Dallas, Texas, it was my good fortune to actually come in personal contact with the author of that Back to Godhead magazine, the founder of the Hare Krishna movement, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. I greeted him along with the other devotees at the airport and then followed the procession back to the temple where Prabhupada gave a Sunday Feast lecture. What struck me most about that lecture more than anything was one question that was asked of him by a member of the audience. Srila Prabhupada had been stressing the importance of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare, and the guest asked what Srila Prabhupada personally felt when he chanted this mantra. Without hesitation, Srila Prabhupada answered, “I feel no fear”; Because his response was so immediate and filled with such conviction, I sensed that not only what he said was true, but I felt an urgency to try the same mantra-meditation process myself.

Over time, it became apparent to many who observed him firsthand that Srila Prabhupada was steadily situated in a higher state of consciousness, beyond anything that was part of our common experience. But that was not all. After a further study of the teachings in his books and observing his interactions with others, I realized that here was a person who was not materially motivated. He was not interested in mundane acquisition, exploitation or adoration. He was also in complete control of his senses, the very foundation of all yoga practice. By his own example, he was a perfect teacher of the divine process of devotional service, or bhakti-yoga. And by means of his unconditional love and devotion, he was in touch with and connected to the Supreme Being. His mission appeared to be for all of our best interests by making me and everyone else who cared to listen, spiritually happy by engaging our mind, body and soul in serving God, Krishna. Srila Prabhupada taught that as a fish out of water cannot be happy out of its constitutional element, water, similarly, we as spiritual beings cannot be happy simply engaging in activities meant to satisfy our material senses.

Years later, after accepting Srila Prabhupada as a pure representative of God and having taken spiritual initiation from him in Denver, Colorado, I had the opportunity to be with him again. Previously I had been convinced on an intellectual level that Prabhupada was in direct contact with the Absolute Truth, but not until I offered flowers at his feet and looked at him as I offered my obeisances did I understand on an emotional level the depth of my guru. When Srila Prabhupada looked at me, he looked right through the external me, touching the internal me, the soul. I felt naked in front of him, feeling as though he could not only read my mind, but my heart as well. It was the most humbling experience of my life.

That morning during Srila Prabhupada’s daily walk, he was talking about prasadam, food offered to God before it is personally consumed. Prabhupada said prasadam is so spiritually potent that if a human being simply eats prasadam once, in his next life, he will take birth in a family of devotees. He then stated that if an animal eats prasadam, in its next life it will immediately take birth in the human form of life, jumping over all other species of life that a soul would normally have to pass through before obtaining a human birth.

After this discussion, I was contemplating asking him about something that had been bothering me for some time. I had become affected by so many people I met when distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books who would say that we as devotees should get jobs and not take from society by asking for donations. I said to Srila Prabhupada, “People think we are just trying to escape material life by joining this sankirtan movement.” Srila Prabhupada turned to me, smiled and asked, “A rich man, does he work? We are rich men. We don’t work. Any rich man, he is not working. Is he escaping? He is engaging everyone in the factory but he is not working. So is that escaping? We are rich men. We are Krishna’s sons.” He said the problems we have are eating, sleeping and mating, and we can arrange for these things very easily. Prabhupada taught the philosophy of “Simple Living, High Thinking.” One can till the ground anywhere and get some food. He said, “I keep some cows and I have got land. My whole economic question is solved.” He asked, “Why shall I make big, big arrangements for these things?” He continued, “You may do it, but why should you forget your real business? That is the defect, that you are so foolish that only for maintaining this body, you have forgotten your real business-self-realization.” Prabhupada then said, “In the spiritual world there is no question of working. You get everything. So why not endeavor to go there?”

Prabhupada then looked around the beautiful park that we were walking in, surrounded by trees, lakes and swans. He noted how there was no one else in the park and how we were the only ones who were taking advantage of the park and all its beauty. He said, “They worked so hard, yet they are sleeping. We are taking advantage.” He then told the story of the mouse and the snake. The mouse builds a nice home for himself underground and lives comfortably. Then the snake comes and eats the mouse and lives comfortably in the home the mouse has built. He finished by telling me and the others that accompanied him on his morning walk that we can tell people that actually, “Yes, we are escaping this horrible condition of life, meat-eating, drinking and intoxication. We are escaping these things, but not happiness.”

In his kindness, Prabhupada dispelled my doubt about distributing books rather than living to fulfill the expectations of the public by having a 9-to-5 job. I had been affected by the negative feedback I received from the people I met, but Prabhupada, who was unaffected by them, reminded me that the point of life is self-realization and our role in the varnashram scheme of things was to remind others about that fact.

Later on I realized that if I had this small glimpse of truth from being with Srila Prabhupada for such a brief period of time, there must be many more realizations from other devotees who had as much or more association with His Divine Grace. It was obvious that each devotee’s encounter would be unique and would reveal other aspects of Srila Prabhupada’s personality and boundless wisdom that were not necessarily contained in his books which could help me and others in our daily lives. It is with that belief that I ventured out to acquire the stories contained in this book. These stories are not only informative but also entertaining in the way the devotees express themselves, seemingly going into a regression-type trance as they recall those times spent with Srila Prabhupada. From an historical standpoint, it seemed important to record these personal instructions thinking that if someone had been able to record the recollections of the disciples of Jesus Christ, that these memories would be meaningful today. So starting in 1991, the process of obtaining the oral histories of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples began through videotaped sessions and subsequently transcribed to be presented in this book form.

There are no hard and fast rules in reading this collection of memories as they are not recorded in any chronological order or by subject matter. The memories are simply a stream of consciousness by each devotee, and therefore, can be read in a non-linear fashion. This book is meant to be, as Srila Prabhupada stated once about his books, readable in such a way that one can start in the middle and still derive sweetness, as biting into candy anywhere will result in the same sweet taste. As there were some 5,000 initiated disciples, this process has just begun, and we hope that there will be more volumes to come in the future.

We must thank Nitai das, Kartika, Kishore das, Raghunath das, Vikram das, Jalandhar das, and Kalpalatika dasi for their hard work in the transcription process, Kapila das and Ram Prasad das for their proofreading, Visakha dasi for her tremendous work in refining the transcriptions and Bhojadev das for his assistance with the Introduction. We want to acknowledge Bhakta Jack Stephens, Dr. Desai and Ambarish das for their encouraging words and financial support in bringing Srila Prabhupada’s message to the world. I also want to acknowledge my wife, Ajita devi, and daughters Kartika and Renukah for their emotional and spiritual support in this ongoing project. We of course would be remiss not to give our heartfelt appreciation to all the devotees who shared their memories of Srila Prabhupada, and we pray that we have delivered their stories accurately.