All Posts - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Dealings with devotees

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on February 16, 2011 at 10:02am

Dealings with devotees

Gurukrpa Swami has arrived from Japan. He came in to see Srila Prabhupada this morning to make his report. As he sat before His Divine Grace with Harikesa to his right, he began telling Prabhupada that his zone was too big. He said he could not visit Hawaii or Australia very much because of the distances and the expense involved. He also said he didn't like to go to Hawaii because he doesn't get along with Sukadeva prabhu and they simply fight whenever he goes.

Srila Prabhup

Volunteer

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Prabhupada's sublime character

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on February 16, 2011 at 10:01am

Prabhupada's sublime character

Prem Yogi returned this afternoon, without his friend, and fully prepared to stay. Prabhupada was so happy to see him that he invited him to sit by his side during his afternoon darsana under the tamala tree in the temple courtyard. Not only that, he even invited him to speak. Prem Yogi's talk however, lasted only five minutes. It was completely Mayavada. He began to describe the glories of Vrndavana-dhama, how one should meditate on the trees, and on the earth, and

Volunteer

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Offending spiritual master

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on February 16, 2011 at 10:01am

Offending spiritual master

Nitai dasa sent Srila Prabhupada a letter today, explaining his reasons for leaving ISKCON. At first, Harikesa Maharaja didn't want to read the letter to Prabhupada because it was so offensive. But when Hansaduta Maharaja saw it, he insisted that it be shown so that we could hear Prabhupada's rebuttals to the points. So this afternoon, after his nap, we went into his room and sat before him. Prabhupada was grave as Harikesa read out the letter. He responded point by poi

Volunteer

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Technology means sudra

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on February 16, 2011 at 10:00am

Technology means sudra

Prabhupada covered two verses for class. The first verse described how Arjuna pacified Draupadi by promising to capture and kill Asvattama. Prabhupada said that although the son of a brahmana, Asvattama had actually behaved like a butcher. He was an aggressor, and, according to Vedic law, should be killed immediately. Therefore it was not incorrect for Arjuna to decide to kill him.

In describing the Vedic educational system of training a person to work according to his varna

Volunteer

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Reply to the Blitz Article - 2

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on February 16, 2011 at 10:00am

Reply to the Blitz Article - 2

Skipping to another section of the article, Pradyumna went on, "Here he says, 'The mission of the present avatara is to make everybody realize that since the same God or divinity resides in everyone, people should respect, love, and ...'"

Prabhupada cut in. "No, no. If he resides in everyone, then why he has special claim?"

"Yes. Well, he says he has remembered."

"He remembers?" Prabhupada asked. "How God can forget?"

"That he says here. He says that, 'Take paddy or ric

Volunteer

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Reply to the Blitz Article - 1

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on February 16, 2011 at 9:59am

Reply to the Blitz Article - 1

Pradyumna prabhu had a lengthy meeting with Srila Prabhupada this afternoon to finalize his reply to the Blitz article on Sai Baba. Pradyumna read from the opening paragraph of the article which was entitled "God is an Indian." "'His contemporary avatara rests in the trinity of Sirti Baba, Sai Baba, and Prem Baba to come. So Satya Sai Baba, the second of the triple incarnation, asserted in the course of a marathon interview to add, 'In my present avatara, I have com

Volunteer

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Pastimes

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on February 16, 2011 at 9:59am

Pastimes

Prabhupada's classes are becoming noticeably shorter. His high blood pressure makes it a strain for him to speak for an extended period. Still, long or short, his speaking is imbued with the same depth and power, and his realizations illuminate the text and the hearts of the devotees.

This morning's verse described the lamentation of Draupadi for her five dead sons. Prabhupada began by making a social observation. "Draupadi's five sons were killed-five sons by five husbands. You know the

Volunteer

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Preach in any condition

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on February 16, 2011 at 9:55am

Preach in any condition

"People are suffering greatly presently due to having lost all proper vision. They are completely without knowledge as to what is the real purpose of life. They have forgotten what is the real purpose of life. It is up to you to reestablish their lost relationship with Krsna by being sincere to preach the message of Krsna purely by yourself following the instructions of the Lord and his bona-fide representative, the spiritual master. If you follow nicely our Krsna consciou

ABOUT EKACHAKRA THE BIRTH PLACE OF LORD NITYANANDA AND SOME OF HIS EARTHLY PASTIMES...

Posted by Vinayak Yadav on February 16, 2011 at 9:00am

Sri Nityananda is the personification of the love that originated in Lord Sri Caitanya. He was among the foremost of the league of illustrious men who had deepest sympathy and love for humanity. He helped people cross the barrier of color, creed, caste privilege, and united them with the knowledge that all are the children of the Divine. He had spontaneous love for each and everybody. He never discriminated while providing benevolence, even to thieves and dacoits. He never did demand from other

Nityanand Mahaprabhu...Who is He...???

Posted by Vinayak Yadav on February 16, 2011 at 8:57am

Lord Sri Krishna, as the Vedic literature ultimately explains, is the absolute Personality of Godhead, and His first expansion in a form for pastimes is Sri Balarama. In the age of Kali-yuga, Lord Krishna appears in this material world as Lord Caitanya, andBalarama appears as Lord Nityananda. Lord Nityananda, pictured to the right, is the spiritual brother of Lord Caitanya, and is the expansion of Lord Balarama, the brother of Lord Sri Krishna on the spiritual planet of Krishnaloka. He has desce

Volunteer

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Surrender to Krishna is individual

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on February 16, 2011 at 8:39am

Surrender to Krishna is individual

In class this morning, Prabhupada emphasized that no one can become Krsna conscious except by their own choice. "It is all individual; I have to surrender to Krsna individually. Just like when you go to the sky on airplane, it is all individual. If one airplane is in danger, other airplane cannot save him. That is not possible. Similarly, it is all individual. It is all paratah svato va. One has to take it seriously, personally, that 'Krsna wants, so I'll surren

Volunteer

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Print my books

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on February 16, 2011 at 8:38am

Print my books

As Srila Prabhupada sat quietly chanting in the back garden this evening, Harikesa Maharaja joined him. He said that many astrologers are predicting that there will be a big war as a result of Rahu and Mars meeting on October 23rd. Harikesa wanted to know if we should immediately begin printing many books just in case the materials become unavailable.

Prabhupada smiled and said, "Whether there is a war or not we shall see when the time comes. But I have always said print many books

Volunteer

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - About other maths

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on February 16, 2011 at 8:37am

About other maths

Along with the details of B. V. Tirtha Maharaja's last days in hospital, it was also reported that his brother is not going to accept sannyasa and take over the running of the Caitanya Gaudiya Math. As Prabhupada took his noon massage, he told me that this means the brother must have good sense. "Actually the man is a successful barrister and in line for being a high court judge, so he may not be willing to give up his good position to become a sannyasi. What will he gain? The G

Volunteer

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Dealings with people

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on February 16, 2011 at 8:37am

Dealings with people

This morning Harikesa Maharaja discovered some elementary adding mistakes the Punjab National Bank staff had made on the balance sheet of Prabhupada's accounts. Harikesa was a bit annoyed. Thinking that a bank should at least know how to add, he called the manager to his little office at the entrance to Prabhupada's rooms. Pointing out the mistakes, he told the manager, "This is nonsense."

The man instantly became very offended. He yelled back, "What! You have called the Punja

Volunteer

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Work hard

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on February 16, 2011 at 8:37am

Work hard

Some devotees have recently informed Prabhupada of B. V. Tirtha Maharaja's condition in his last days. It seems he was taken from Mayapur to a Calcutta hospital, where he spent his last couple of weeks largely comatose. He was given injections and hooked up to all kinds of tubes and devices, which pumped fluids and medicines in, and sucked the wastes out. Although Srila Prabhupada didn't think very highly of Tirtha, he was sympathetic to such suffering of his Godbrother at the time of h

Volunteer

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Power of mantra

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on February 16, 2011 at 8:35am

Power of mantra

Prabhupada spoke again in this morning's class about the tremendous power of mantra. "This mantra weapon is so strong that it can be manufactured simply by touching water with mantra. Just like we take mantra, apavitrah pavitro va sarvavastham gato 'pi va yah smaret pundarikaksam sa bahya. The same process. Do not think that it is some ritualistic, external. No, it has got meaning, if you can chant the mantra properly, if you follow the rules. You must be expert in chanting mantra

Volunteer

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Revive Krishna Consciousness

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on February 16, 2011 at 8:34am

Revive Krishna Consciousness

Gour Govinda Maharaja sent another letter, expressing some frustration about the current state of affairs in India. "The opinion you have given in your [last] letter is true to the letter. 'In India the spirit is lacking' -- yes, it is a very naked truth. I have the same experience. But I wonder and sometimes feel myself very much aggrieved at this sort of attitude of the Indian people, from whom we expect something more. Guruji Maharaja! What is the background behind

Volunteer

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Personal possessions

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on February 16, 2011 at 8:34am

Personal possessions

Prem Yogi sat with Srila Prabhupada for an hour after breakfast, discussing the philosophy and doing his translation. Prabhupada personally arranged for him to have a nice room in the guest house, a special diet, and whatever other facilities he needs. He is not insisting that Prem Yogi comes to the full temple program just yet, and is instead just encouraging him to do some Hindi translation work. Prem Yogi uses a refined level of Hindi which has a high Sanskrit content, and

Volunteer

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Destroying the culture

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on February 16, 2011 at 8:34am

Destroying the culture

After class, and before his breakfast was served, Srila Prabhupada sat for a few minutes in his darsana room with Hansaduta, Harikesa and me. He was explaining how great devotees like Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis were expert managers, even in worldly affairs. He said that a devotee must be daksa, very expert, otherwise bad leadership of the general population will kill all spiritual culture. "There was one Britisher politician, Lord McCauley, he studied the whole Indian situa

Volunteer

Srimad-Bhagavatam - Canto 2 Chapter 9 Text 32

Posted by Saci Gaurasundara Dasa on February 16, 2011 at 8:33am

Srimad-Bhagavatam - Canto 2 Chapter 9 Text 32
yavan aham yatha-bhavo
yad-rupa-guna-karmakah
tathaiva tattva-vijnanam
astu te mad-anugrahat

yavan -- as I am in eternal form; aham -- Myself; yatha -- as much as; bhavah -- transcendental existence; yat -- those; rupa -- various forms and colors; guna -- qualities; karmakah -- activities; tatha -- so and so; eva -- certainly; tattva-vijnanam -- factual realization; astu -- let it be; te -- unto you; mat -- My; anugrahat -- by causeless mercy.

TRANSLATION
A

Blog

All Posts (34706)

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Dealings with devotees

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Prabhupada's sublime character

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Offending spiritual master

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Technology means sudra

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Reply to the Blitz Article - 2

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Reply to the Blitz Article - 1

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Pastimes

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Preach in any condition

ABOUT EKACHAKRA THE BIRTH PLACE OF LORD NITYANANDA AND SOME OF HIS EARTHLY PASTIMES...

Nityanand Mahaprabhu...Who is He...???

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Surrender to Krishna is individual

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Print my books

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - About other maths

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Dealings with people

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Work hard

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Power of mantra

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Revive Krishna Consciousness

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Personal possessions

Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Destroying the culture

Srimad-Bhagavatam - Canto 2 Chapter 9 Text 32

Note: this page contains paid content.