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Long ago there lived a powerful sage named Astavakra Risi. The sage was curved in eight parts of his body, and when he walked his movements were quite peculiar and awkward. He was also very ugly, and ordinary people often laughed at the sight of him. Although externally he was awkward and crooked, internally his heart was pure because he had realized his eternal transcendental identity. He knew and realized the difference between the body and the soul. Once, Astavakra Risi was invited by the gre

(1) jagannatha-suta (2) mahaprabhu (3) vis

Higher Realizations

Summer of 1975, Detroit... We were on a morning walk and the devotees were consistently asking Srila Prabhupada questions about the gopis, their love for Krsna, and intimate dealings. It seemed it was a subject matter that Srila Prabhupada did not want to get into very much. It even appeared as if he was getting a little annoyed that the devotees continued to ask these questions about the gopis and their relationship with Krsna.

The morning walk continued in this way for some t

Higher Realizations

Some devotees become very excited about sadhus with "higher realizations," who regularly speak about confidential Vrndavana lilas in an intimate, attractive manner. Such devotees seem to think that Srila Prabhupada had a "lower realization" because he almost always spoke the simple, basic philosophy of Krsna consciousness and was most cautious about speaking of esoteric subjects. However, simply speaking about "high topics" does not constitute the highest realization. The high

On Fulfilling Srila Prabhupada's Desires

We know what Prabhupada said. We know what he did. We know what he wanted. Exactly why he said and did everything, we may not know in intimate detail. What we do know is that Srila Prabhupada intensely loved Krsna. He wanted us to do so also, and therefore everything he gave us, everything he told us to do, is meant to bring us to that point. Prabhupada loved Krsna so much, and us also, that he gave his last drop of blood just so that we might at least get

Srimad-Bhagavatam - Canto 2 Chapter 4 Text 15
yat-kirtanam yat-smaranam yad-iksanam
yad-vandanam yac-chravanam yad-arhanam
lokasya sadyo vidhunoti kalmasam
tasmai subhadra-sravase namo namah

yat -- whose; kirtanam -- glorification; yat -- whose; smaranam -- remembrances; yat -- whose; iksanam -- audience; yat -- whose; vandanam -- prayers; yat -- whose; sravanam -- hearing about; yat -- whose; arhanam -- worshiping; lokasya -- of all people; sadyah -- forthwith; vidhunoti -- specifically cleanses; ka